For more information contact:

Patty Luker, CEO,

Dr. John Warner Hospital

at: (217) 935-9571

March 21, 2006

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Hospital Approves Addition of Dr. Velu to Rural Health Center

The Dr. John Warner Hospital Board of Directors last night approved a contract establishing its employment of long-time Clinton physician Dr. Subramaniam Velu. Dr. Velu will join the hospital’s Rural Health Center within a few short weeks, seeing his first patients there on April 3 of this year.

According to Randy Workman, president of the Dr. John Warner Hospital Board of Directors, the agreement promises important benefits to many in the DeWitt County community. It will marry a trusted local physician with the Rural Health Center’s state-of-the-art facility.

“This agreement gives the Rural Health Center an opportunity to bring in an established local physician with a great reputation,” Workman said. “There’s a huge connection between Dr. Velu and this community, and we are pleased to bring those relationships under our roof.”

The arrangement will give Rural Health Center patients access to an additional, locally known doctor. Further, it will provide Dr. Velu and his patients with convenient backup care in a familiar setting when Dr. Velu is unavailable, Workman said.

Dr. Velu will be accompanied by his existing staff, who will join the existing Rural Health Center staff. This approach will help Dr. Velu’s patients achieve a smooth and comfortable transition to their new location, Workman said.

Negotiations with Dr. Velu were under way late last year, but ended without generating a successful contract. Workman said ongoing hospital communication, community support, and positive patient feedback likely encouraged Dr. Velu to again consider joining the Rural Health Center.

“I think it became clear to Dr. Velu that his patients, the hospital, and the community in general really do support his move to the Rural Health Center,” Workman explained.

The Clinton City Council is expected to confirm the hospital’s contract on April 3. Dr. Velu will join the Rural Health Center’s existing adult medical staff, which includes Dr. Richard Vaughn and Nurse Practitioner Danna Powers. Dr. Velu has been practicing medicine in Clinton for about 27 years.

###