Bayhealth Medical Center and University of Pennsylvania Health System Sign Clinical Affiliation Agreement

Business Wire, August 19, 2008

Affiliation Further Enhances Cancer Care for Delaware Residents

DOVER, Del. -- Bayhealth Medical Center and the University of Pennsylvania Health System (UPHS) today announced that they have entered into an affiliation agreement to provide expanded cancer diagnosis, treatment, research and education to Delaware residents. Bayhealth Medical Center is the first healthcare facility in Delaware to become a member of the University of Pennsylvania Cancer Network.

The cancer affiliation with Bayhealth is UPHS's first in Delaware and represents the further expansion of Penn's clinical expertise in advanced cancer care among superior health-care facilities throughout the region. The relationship also brings university-level expertise in cancer care to Bayhealth and the first affiliation with an NCI-designated comprehensive cancer center to Delaware.

The University of Pennsylvania Cancer Network encompasses a select group of community hospitals throughout New Jersey, Pennsylvania and now Delaware. The network hospitals provide cancer care in their communities in collaboration with the Abramson Cancer Center of the University of Pennsylvania - one of the nation's first NCI-designated Comprehensive Cancer Centers. The affiliation will provide Bayhealth's cancer patients with direct access to the latest medical research and clinical trials close to home in a community hospital setting.

Through membership in Penn's Cancer Network, Bayhealth patients will have access to a full continuum of specialty and subspecialty care and resources available via the Abramson Cancer Center - including standard and innovative preventative, diagnostic, and treatment services (including medial oncology, surgery, radiation oncology and integrated care/medicine), as well as programs in research and education for the benefit of cancer patients and their families. All participants in the University of Pennsylvania Cancer Network share a commitment to excellence in patient care and cancer research, as well as improvement in the health and well being of their communities.

Bayhealth's membership in Penn's Cancer Network comes close on the heels of the establishment of the Bayhealth Cancer Institute, which formalized Bayhealth's longstanding commitment to provide premier cancer treatment, clinical research, education and prevention to Delawareans.

"Our partnership with Penn will provide our patients with the most comprehensive cancer care available today," said Bayhealth President/CEO Dennis E. Klima. "We look forward to working with Penn specialists to develop additional mutually supportive programs that will further benefit our patients throughout Delaware."

"The establishment of the Bayhealth Cancer Institute and now our partnership with Penn will provide Delawareans with superior programs and services in cancer care," said Rishi Sawhney, MD, who leads the Institute. "Our collaboration with Penn's dynamic team of physicians and researchers will further enhance our ability to apply clinical advances in cancer research to patient care, providing them with access to the most advanced treatments and promising new therapies."

"We are privileged to join the Bayhealth Cancer Institute to implement this clinical affiliation in cancer medicine so that Bayhealth may continue its rich tradition of providing high-quality care to the communities it serves," said Ralph W. Muller, Chief Executive Officer of Penn's Health System. "We look forward to also expanding our educational outreach opportunities within the clinical facilities of Bayhealth Medical Center."

"Our clinical agreement with Bayhealth Cancer Institute permits us to assist in the delivery of high-quality, state-of-the-art care in cancer to the residents of Delaware," continued Muller. "Through these promising clinical affiliations, we remain committed to the health care needs of the communities Bayhealth serves."

About Bayhealth Medical Center

Bayhealth Medical Center's mission is to improve the health status of all members of the Bayhealth community. Southern Delaware's largest healthcare system, Bayhealth is comprised of Kent General and Milford Memorial Hospitals, Middletown Medical Center and numerous satellite facilities. Bayhealth was ranked Best in Delaware for Cardiac Surgery by HealthGrades and was recognized by J.D. Power and Associates for providing an "Outstanding Inpatient Experience" and an "Outstanding Maternity Experience." Bayhealth is a technologically advanced not-for-profit healthcare system employing over 2,900 with a medical staff of 455 physicians. In the 2007 fiscal year, Bayhealth recorded 68,731 emergency department visits, 18,825 patients admitted to beds and 2,312 births. Last year, as part of its mission, Bayhealth provided more than $38.5 million in unreimbursed care to patients.