PASADENA, Calif., May 19, 2005 -- Huntington Memorial Hospital announced today that it will break ground later this year on a new patient care tower that will feature the most technologically advanced rooms available anywhere in Southern California. The new West Tower, a twin to the existing East Tower, is the latest phase in the hospital's master plan initially developed in 1987. This was designed to ensure that the community continues to have the most safe and patient-friendly facilities available.

"While some hospitals in Southern California have recently closed their doors, discontinued emergency services or otherwise lessened their capacity to provide care, Huntington continues day after day to deliver on its mission of providing care to the community," said Steve Ralph, Huntington's president and CEO. "This new Tower will not only ensure that this mission continues, but will fully comply with the unfunded seismic requirements mandated by the State of California."

The Tower will consist of 128 private patient care rooms. With this addition, all of the hospital's essential services such as an expanded clinical laboratory, pharmacy, and food service department and cafeteria will reside in seismically compliant buildings, ensuring patient care will not be compromised in the event of an earthquake. All patient suites will be fully convertible into intensive care rooms if necessary, each offering bedside telemetry, a wireless system that enables us to monitor a patient's vital signs while being transported from their room to various areas of the hospital for tests.

Like the existing Hale East Tower, the West Tower will promote a healing environment with soft colored walls, spacious bathroom facilities, and views of Pasadena. Rooms boast sophisticated monitoring systems and state-of-the- art beds featuring built-in scales and the ability to reposition body weight distribution for the prevention of circulatory and other complications due to immobility.

With the cost of the fully equipped West Tower at approximately $170 million, the hospital's board of directors has set a goal of raising $50 million in community support and an additional $40 million for endowment and program needs. The balance will be funded through savings and borrowing as Huntington received an A+ bond rating from Standard & Poors. According to Vice Chairman of the board Jim Rothenberg, it is a combination of community support and prudent stewardship that makes this major project possible.

According to Lois Matthews, chairman of the board, "The fact that hospitals are closing all around us has only strengthened our resolve to continue delivering on our mission. Huntington Hospital is here to stay. Completion of this important project will enhance our ability to care for this community in the most clinically advanced and thoughtful way possible."

Huntington Hospital engaged Jacobs Engineering for their value engineering expertise and cost savings measures. HDR Architecture, Inc., architects for the East Tower, also designed the West Tower. McCarthy Construction will be contractors on this project. The West Tower is scheduled for completion in early 2008.

A 522 bed facility, Huntington Hospital provides a full complement of medical and surgical services including cardiology, neurology and emergency services, maternal and child health programs, the Huntington Cancer Center and the Huntington Senior Care Network. The hospital has the only trauma center, pediatric intensive care unit and the only regional neonatal intensive care unit in the San Gabriel Valley.

Huntington Hospital is located at 100 W. California Boulevard in Pasadena, CA.