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Friday, July 23, 2004 Topping Off Ceremony Marks Milestone in Hospital Expansion FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Contact: Marilyn K. Potts, APR, Public Relations/Marketing Specialist - (210) 575-0170 San Antonio, Texas, July 23, 2004 -- Today, the Live Oak and northeast Bexar County communities celebrated completion of the steel tower structure in $50 million expansion at Northeast Methodist Hospital with a ¨topping off〃 ceremony. ¨Topping Off〃 is a construction tradition that signals a major point in the progress of erecting a building. A main point of the topping out event was a steel signing involving both VIP and ironworkers, signifying their support and participation in creating this facility. The signatures will become a permanent part of the building as the beam is hoisted. VIP Signers of the Steel Beam that tops off the new Tower structure were Mark Bernard, CEO, Northeast Methodist Hospital Tommy Atkisson, Bexar County Commissioner Barry Blackmon, Methodist Healthcare Community Board Steven Hearne, MD, Chief of Staff, Northeast Methodist Hospital John Williams, Executive Director, Randolph Metro-com Chamber of Commerce Henry Edwards, Mayor, City of Live Oak As the culmination of the celebration, SKANKSA USA Construction Company employees hoisted an oak tree to the top of the construction, signaling that the building has reached its full height. In construction tradition, tree-raising is a good luck omen for the rest of the construction project and for the future owners of the building. The changes are being phased in, to ensure that the community's health care needs are accommodated throughout the building project. In total, Northeast Methodist Hospital will grow from a 120-bed capacity to 155 beds. Phase one will feature a new patient care tower and Surgical Intensive Care Unit (SICU). The first floor of the new tower will be the new home for a larger Emergency Department providing more than twice the treatment rooms of the current ED, with the second story providing space for inpatient beds. A new main entrance and lobby will offer a more visible and accessible front door for the hospital. Phase two will be the renovation of the vacated SICU spaces for Post-Anesthesia Care. The gastroenterology (GI) lab, pre-admission testing and catheterization prep areas also will be expanded. Phase three involves relocation/renovation of the community room, dining room, medical records and administration spaces on the first floor. The existing surgical suites will be expanded, and intensive care rooms will be added on the second floor. Phase four will be the construction of an additional operating room to accommodate major procedures. In anticipation of growing demand, additional surface parking is being added along Judson Road. Completion of the project is expected in 2006.