FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

July 4, 2005

CONTACT:

Elizabeth Cisco, Vice President of Marketing

The Heart Center of Indiana

317.583.5131

The Heart Center of Indiana is No Place To Smoke

Over this holiday weekend, The Heart Center of Indiana at 106^th and North Meridian declared Independence from Smoking, making their entire campus smoke-free.

“To ensure the healthiest possible environment for our guests, their families, and our team members, we are now an entirely smoke-free campus.  We all know the staggering effects that smoking has on people, especially their hearts… and this truly reinforces that The Heart Center is here to help everyone live long, heart-healthy lives,” explained John Stewart, President and CEO of The Heart Center of Indiana.

In addition to the smoking ban throughout the campus, The Heart Center of Indiana has made comprehensive smoking cessation programs available to all their team members who smoke. In fact, in many cases, they cover the costs of their team members’ efforts to quit smoking.

The link between smoking and heart disease makes the move a natural one. Every year, 30% of the deaths due to heart disease can be attributed to smoking. Quitting substantially, and almost immediately, reduces your risk of heart attack, coronary artery disease, and stroke.

“If you haven’t quit smoking yet, now’s the time.  If you’ve tried to quit before, but haven’t succeeded, don’t feel bad… keep trying. And if you need assistance to stop smoking, talk with your primary physician about all the effective cessation programs available,” noted Dr. James Hermiller, The Care Group at The Heart Center of Indiana.

The Heart Center of Indiana at 106^th and North Meridian is the first freestanding medical campus in Indiana devoted entirely to the diagnosis, treatment and prevention of cardiovascular disease. For more information about The Heart Center of Indiana, visit www.theheartcenter.com.