Medical Doctor Associates and Ascension Health Join Forces

- A New Agreement to Provide Staffing Services

ATLANTA, August 16, 2004 - Medical Doctor Associates (MDA), one of the nation's largest privately held medical staffing companies, has signed a contract to provide staffing services for Ascension Health, the nation's largest Catholic and nonprofit health system.

The agreement designates MDA as a preferred vendor providing locum tenens physicians to all Ascension Health's facilities, located in 20 states across the country and the District of Columbia.

"We are pleased and excited to have this partnership with Ascension Health," said Gloria Parrish, vice president of marketing for MDA. "I have had a first hand opportunity to hear from some of the Ascension Health recruiters what they want and expect from a recruitment organization, and I am confident MDA will meet their needs with small company attention and large company solutions."

Medical Doctor Associates brings to the partnership certain quality distinctions, such as single-contact service for both clients and physicians, and providing occurrence form professional liability insurance to the healthcare providers working with MDA. Medical Doctor Associates is the only national multi-specialty locum tenens organization that offers occurrence form professional liability insurance.

The agreement will help ensure that Ascension facilities remain fully staffed year round with quality physicians.

###

About MDA
Founded in 1987, MDA is one of the largest privately held medical staffing companies in the U.S. MDA is the only national multi-specialty locum tenens company that offers Occurrence Form malpractice insurance to its providers.
The company is headquartered in Atlanta, GA with a regional office in Dallas and satellite offices located throughout the United States. MDA provides recruiting expertise for all physician specialties, allied health, and healthcare professionals. For more information about MDA call 1-800-780-3500 ext. 2168.

About Ascension Health
Ascension Health is a Catholic health ministry dedicated to improving access and delivering quality care particularly to those persons who are poor and vulnerable. This commitment is demonstrated by the $484 million provided for community benefit and care of the poor last year. With national offices based in St. Louis, Missouri and assets of $10.6 billion, this healthcare leader is the nation's largest nonprofit health system and has more than 100,000 associates working in health facilities in 20 states and the District of Columbia. For more information about Ascension Health, visit www.ascensionhealth.org.