Medical Doctor Associates, Inc. Signs Agreement with VHA To Assist Healthcare Providers with Temporary Staffing during Emergency Absences and Seasonal Fluctuations

ATLANTA, September 16, 2002 - Medical Doctor Associates, Inc., (MDA), the nation’s largest privately held medical staffing company announced today it was chosen by VHA Inc., a nationwide network of community-owned healthcare providers, as the provider of choice for Locum Tenens (LT) physician contract staffing.

The agreement allows VHA to offer to its 2,200 members, along with more than 9,000 physician practices that access VHA’s Professional Services portfolio, the opportunity to use MDA for placement of LT physicians. VHA's member hospitals will be able to take advantage of MDA's 40,000+ physician database, along with the Occurrence Form Malpractice Coverage. This coverage protects against all claims that may result from services rendered while a policy is in effect, without regard to the date an actual claim is reported. Insured by General Electric's (GE) Medical Protective Company, MDA provides the most comprehensive coverage available, lowering the risk for MDA physicians and clients. Additionally, MDA obtains all physician credentialing and verification information to ensure physicians are compliant with accreditation standards.

"VHA selected MDA based on the company's ability to handle all aspects of LT placement, from defining the need to filling the assignment with a credentialed, pre-screened and highly qualified physician," said Peter Plantes, M.D., vice president business operations at VHA. "In addition, the company met rigorous quality and customer service standards. We're confident MDA has the ability to exceed the expectations of the healthcare organizations we serve," Plantes added.

With an emphasis on pediatrics, primary care, psychiatry, radiology, anesthesiology and emergency medicine, MDA staffs all specialties. "With our broad range of medical specialties, we can help VHA members quickly and efficiently meet their interim physician staffing needs, particularly during vacations and seasonal fluctuations in the summer," explains Ken Shumard, MDA's chief executive officer and founder.

However, effective LT staffing requires more than simply filling openings with available physicians. "We handle all the hiring details -- the paperwork and billing -- giving the provider peace of mind and increasing employee morale. Our goal is to offer providers high quality, productive relationships that ensure long-term satisfaction," Shumard said.

Using an LT physician staffing company to fill vacancies helps relieve some of the stress faced by human resource executives who are already stretched to capacity recruiting for other healthcare positions," Plantes added. "We look forward to offering VHA members access to accredited and thoroughly credentialed physicians nationwide through our agreement with MDA."

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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 VHA

Built on the premise there is strength in numbers, VHA is a nationwide network of 2,200 leading community-owned healthcare organizations and their affiliated physicians. Based in Irving, Texas, with 18 local offices across the U.S., VHA comprises 26 percent of the nation's community hospitals. VHA offers member organizations access to products and services that will help them improve financial and clinical performance and achieve market success. In December 2000, for the second year in a row, VHA was named one of the "100 Best Companies to Work For" by Fortune. For more information about VHA, visit its website at www.vha.com.