FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:

November 7, 2005

CONTACT:

Elizabeth Cisco

The Heart Center of Indiana

(317) 583-5131

The Heart Center of Indiana Receives Accreditation by the

Healthcare Facilities Accreditation Program (HFAP) of the

American Osteopathic Association

(INDIANAPOLIS, IN) – The Heart Center of Indiana has recently earned accreditation from the American Osteopathic Association (AOA) Healthcare Facilities Accreditation Program (HFAP). Accreditation by HFAP demonstrates that a healthcare facility has met the standards set forth by HFAP to provide high quality care and compliance with governmental regulations.

HFAP, recognized nationally by the federal government, state governments, insurance carriers and managed care organizations, has been accrediting healthcare facilities for more than 60 years. Dedicated to maintaining the highest standards of patient care, HFAP is one of only two national voluntary accreditation programs with “Deeming Authority” from the Health Care Financing Administration of the Federal Government to accredit hospitals and their clinical laboratories.

“The Heart Center of Indiana should be recognized for its commitment to providing quality care to its community,” says George A. Reuther, AOA Director of the Division of Healthcare Facilities Accreditation. “Accreditation is an important achievement for a healthcare facility and one that The Heart Center of Indiana should be proud of.”

The Heart Center of Indiana, an Indianapolis-based cardiovascular specialty hospital, received accreditation after surveyors measured the facility against a benchmark of hundreds of recognized standards relating to each area and function of the facility.

“We are pleased to have earned accreditation by HFAP,” states John Stewart, President and CEO of The Heart Center of Indiana. “Our facility seeks voluntary accreditation because we are committed to providing our patients with the highest quality of care, and being accredited by HFAP challenges us to attain this high level of care.”

About The Heart Center of Indiana

The Heart Center of Indiana (THCI) is a three-year-old specialty hospital that handles more than 5,500 admissions each year. As the first freestanding medical campus in Indiana devoted entirely to the diagnosis, treatment and prevention of cardiovascular disease, THCI is dedicated to excellence and continuous improvement. THCI has partnered with its clinicians to establish a center for world-class, patient-focused care, including four surgery suites and four catheterization labs. One of the key features of THCI is the “universal bed” concept that makes the facility essentially an 80-bed ICU. There are also 21 outpatient beds in the Short-Stay Unit, and six beds in the Heart Emergency Unit.