MCG HEALTH SYSTEM RECEIVES TWO VOLUNTEER SERVICE AWARDS

March 5, 2002

Augusta, Ga. -- MCG Health System recently received two of the three Volunteer Program Excellence Awards from the Georgia Society of Directors of Volunteer Services at their annual meeting.

MCG's Children's Heart Program/Doctors Who Cook received the 2002 Volunteer Program Excellence Award for Fundraising. Also, the Patient Representative Extender Program received the In-Hospital Volunteer Program Excellence Award.

"All of our volunteer programs and all of our volunteers deserve recognition. But these two programs are very unique and deserving of special recognition," said Janet Howser, Volunteer Services Manager at MCG, who accepted the awards.

Doctors Who Cook is the brainchild of the Children's Heart Program and is a yearly event where more than 100 doctors show their culinary talents to raise money for the Children's Medical Center. To date, the Children's Heart Program has raised more than $500,000.

The Patient Representative Extender Program trains volunteers to serve as patient advocates. Volunteers receive extensive training related to medical, legal, financial and health care regulations and how they impact patients and families. Volunteers receive their training and supervision through the department of Quality Management and serve as liaison and advocates by working directly with patients, families and staff.

The Georgia Society of Directors of Volunteer Services is an affiliated membership society of the Georgia Hospital Association. The purpose of the Georgia Society of Directors of Volunteer Services is to promote and enhance the practices of administrators of organized volunteer programs in a healthcare organization by providing educational programs, networking opportunities, and recognizing service and program excellence.

MCG HealthCare is the health system of the Medical College of Georgia and is comprised of MCG Health, Inc. and the clinical services offered by the faculty of the School of Medicine and the members of the Physicians Practice Group. MCG Health, Inc. is a not-for-profit corporation operating the MCG Hospitals and Clinics, Children's Medical Center, the Georgia Radiation Therapy Center and related clinical facilities and services. MCG Health, Inc. was formed to support the research and education mission of the Medical College of Georgia and to build the economic growth of the CSRA, the state of Georgia and the Southeast by offering the highest level of primary and specialty health care.

For more information, contact:
Steven Padgett
Media Relations Manager
MCG Health, Inc.
(706) 721-9566