Commonwealth Health Corporation

The Medical Center To Expand Diagnostic Imaging Services with Acquisition of WKDI

The Medical Center and Western Kentucky Diagnostic Imaging (WKDI) have entered into an agreement for the hospital to acquire WKDI. The acquisition of WKDI is a cost effective means to expand The Medical Center's services by offering a second location for outpatient imaging. Continued growth in the demand for diagnostic imaging services in the region necessitates the need for expansion.

"Western Kentucky Diagnostic Imaging has an exceptional reputation in Southcentral Kentucky as a leader in providing quality imaging services with excellent customer service for its patients," said Connie D. Smith, President and Chief Executive Officer of Commonwealth Health Corporation, the parent company of The Medical Center. "WKDI is a welcomed addition to The Medical Center family that will further enhance the quality of services we provide the community."

"Since 1996, Western Kentucky Diagnostic Imaging has played an important role in the healthcare needs of thousands in Southcentral Kentucky," said Rodney D. Veitschegger, Jr., M.D., co-owner of WKDI. "Dr. Sean Willgruber and I very much appreciate the patients and referring physicians who have allowed us the privilege of serving them. The merger with The Medical Center will expand the availability of services to patients of both WKDI and The Medical Center. The entire staff at WKDI is committed to a seamless transition."

WKDI will be an outpatient department of The Medical Center and will begin operations under the new ownership effective October 1. WKDI will maintain its original name and all imaging services currently provided will continue. Patients should not experience any change in service as a result of the acquisition.

About The Medical Center Diagnostic Imaging Center

The Medical Center Diagnostic Imaging Center provides radiology, cardiac scoring, 64-slice CT, nuclear medicine, ultrasound, MRI (magnetic resonance imaging), echocardiography, stress testing, holter monitoring, digital mammography, angiography, PET/CT, CT-3D treatment planning, vascular imaging, bone density evaluation, stereotactic breast biopsy, and dual head nuclear cameras. The Medical Center is accredited by the American College of Radiology in MRI, CT, Nuclear Medicine and Mammography as well as accredited by The Joint Commission.

About Western Kentucky Diagnostic Imaging

Western Kentucky Diagnostic Imaging (WKDI) provides high field MRI, open MRI, digital mammography, stereotactic breast biopsy, ultrasound, bone density evaluation, fluoroscopy, CT scan, nuclear medicine and x-ray services. WKDI is accredited by the American College of Radiology in MRI, CT, Nuclear Medicine and Mammography. WKDI is located at 1635 Scottsville Road in Bowling Green.

Commonwealth Health Corporation Employee Giving Reaches $1 Million

Commonwealth Health Foundation has announced that contributions through the ECHO (Employees Contributing to Help Others) program has reached $1 million. The program was established in 2000 to enable employees of Commonwealth Health Corporation (CHC) to contribute to the Foundation which serves as the philanthropic arm of CHC.

"Employee giving is a powerful statement to our patients and community that the employees believe in our mission and are united in our commitment to help CHC improve the quality of life in the communities we serve," said Connie D. Smith, President and Chief Executive Officer of Commonwealth Health Corporation.

Currently the ECHO program has more than 800 active employees participating through payroll deduction. This total includes employees of CHC and its subsidiaries.

Donations to the program can be designated to support Commonwealth Health Free Clinic and The Dental Clinic, the Hospitality House or both. Commonwealth Health Free Clinic provides free medical services to the working uninsured, while The Dental Clinic offers a low cost alternative to those in need of basic dental care. The Hospitality House is a "home away from home" that serves the family members and caregivers of seriously ill patients receiving treatment at The Medical Center and Commonwealth Regional Specialty Hospital.

The Medical Center to Construct $18.4 Million Health Sciences Complex

Connie Smith, President and Chief Executive Officer of Commonwealth Health Corporation, parent company of The Medical Center, announced today plans to construct a 73,471 square foot, three-story facility on the hospital's campus at a cost of $18.4 million. In support of Western Kentucky University, The Medical Center is constructing the new facility to house the university's nursing and physical therapy programs and to provide educational space for the hospital. The facility will be named The Medical Center-WKU Health Sciences Complex.

The project will address the national nursing shortage by providing much needed space for WKU to expand its program and double the number of students who can enroll in the university's nursing program. Eighty percent of the facility will be used by WKU to accommodate assembly, training, classroom and business functions for WKU. The remaining 20 percent will be used by The Medical Center for an auditorium and bed labs for clinical training.

"Southcentral Kentucky, like the rest of the nation, is facing a serious nursing shortage," said Smith. "We must be diligent in finding ways to prevent a deficit of new nurses in the future. Nursing is a critical component of a hospital's delivery of care. Enabling Western Kentucky University to expand their program and ultimately their supply of nurses to the healthcare industry will have significant impact on The Medical Center's ability to maintain the quality care we provide in this region. Not as highly publicized but just as vital is the need to guard against a shortage of physical therapists by providing educational space for the university's physical therapy doctorate program."

"Education is an important agent for change, and WKU is committed to providing the means of change that will improve the quality of life for Southcentral Kentucky and beyond," said Dr. Gary A. Ransdell, WKU President. "Increasing the number of nurses and physical therapists will help address the critical healthcare needs we face today. Public-private partnerships such as this with the City of Bowling Green and the TIF District, the state of Kentucky and, most important, Commonwealth Health Corporation and The Medical Center at Bowling Green, allow us to provide the means to make those changes possible. This is a win-win situation with our community and region being the ultimate beneficiaries."

The Medical Center will issue bonds to pay for construction. WKU will lease the facility from The Medical Center for 25 years, income from which will be used toward debt service and operating expenses.

The facility will be located at 700 First Avenue on the edge of the hospital's campus that borders 31W Bypass. The project is estimated to be completed by the 2013 fall semester at WKU. Stengel Hill Architecture has designed the facility to allow for future expansion. Scott, Murphy & Daniel, LLC has been selected as the general contractor.

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