Florence, South Carolina, April 2002–Regency Hospital of Florence, a 28-bed specialty acute care hospital specializing in the treatment of high-acuity medically complex patients received a three-year accreditation from the Joint Commission on Accreditation of Healthcare Organizations (JCAHO) last week. After a stringent review by JCAHO surveyors, the newly opened acute care specialty hospital was given accreditation by the nation’s most renowned organization on health care standards, protocols and quality.

By asking for accreditation, a hospital agrees to be measured against national standards set by health care professionals. When JCAHO accredits a hospital it means that the organization substantially complies with the Joint Commission standards and continuously makes efforts to improve the care and services it provides. When Regency Hospital of Florence asked the JCAHO to survey its hospital, it did so with its patients in mind. “We want our patients to know they are receiving the highest quality medical care and service available. Having JCAHO accreditation is one more tool in giving them that knowledge,” commented Joe Baldwin, CEO of Regency Hospital of Florence.

The Joint Commission accredits more than 19,000 health care organizations in the United States and abroad. The mission of the Joint Commission is to review and evaluate the standards and protocols of individual hospitals and to ensure that these practices and protocols are of the highest quality available. “We are pleased with the outcome of the survey and will continually look for ways of improving the services we provide to our patients,” Baldwin said.

Regency hospitals provide specialized treatment for chronically ill acute level patients whose severity of illness requires that they receive acute level care for an extended period of time. Many of these patients have complex medical conditions and may require life support. Regency is a leading developer and operator of long-term acute care (LTAC) hospitals in the United States. The Company collaborates with medical surgical hospitals to operate separately licensed LTAC hospitals within their facilities providing high quality solutions for the hospital’s medically complex patients. More information about Regency is available at www.regencyhospital.com or www.ltac.com

Regency was formed by Waud Capital Partners, L.L.C. and management to develop and operate LTACs throughout the United States. Founded in 1993, Waud Capital Partners, L.L.C. is a private equity investment firm that partners with management to acquire or develop outstanding middle market businesses. WCP invests in a broad range of companies and industries with strong growth characteristics. More information about the firm can be found at www.waudcapital.com.

For more information contact:
Rod Laughlin, President & CEO
Regency Hospital Company
3159 Royal Drive, Suite 320
Alpharetta, GA 30022
770-772-4345
rlaughlin@regencyhospital.com
www.regencyhospital.com

Reeve Waud, Founder and Managing Partner
Waud Capital Partners, L.L.C.
560 Oakwood Avenue, Suite 203
Lake Forest, IL 60045
847-604-9550
rwaud@waudcapital.com
www.waudcapital.com