FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

July 19, 2007

Mercy Medical Center - Des Moines unveiled a unique line of hospital apparel created by well-known sleepwear designer Karen Neuburger at a special fashion show --- Midsummer Night’s Dream.

The event on July 19 debuted apparel that will replace all of Mercy’s present patient gowns. The apparel is created using the KN brand’s signature soft fabrics as well as prints designed specifically for Mercy. In addition, each item offers functional features including full coverage backs, openings below the neckline and tie closures along the sleeves to give medical professionals access while providing patients with dignity and privacy. Most inpatient and outpatients at Mercy began use of the KN gowns this week. Pediatric and bariatric patients, as well as mammography patients, will use the gowns by the end of the year. Mercy will be the only hospital in a 50-mile radius of Des Moines that offers KN's hospital wear.

While the apparel is intended for patient use only, a special retail line of nursing gowns, fuzzy socks and more will be available in the hospital’s Little Miracles Lactation Boutique.

“We are very excited to offer our patients a comfortable alternative to traditional hospital apparel,” said Jackie Frost-Kunnen, senior vice president and chief nursing officer. “Not only does the fabric soften with each wash, but the wrap-around design covers more of the patient.”

Karen Neuburger (KN Ltd.) is the lifestyle design company that owns the trademark rights for the brand names K•N Karen Neuburger ®. The K•N brand is synonymous with comfort-inspired fashion and home merchandise. Through a range of strategic licensing partnerships, the company offers a broad range of fashion and home items, including sleepwear for women, men, kids and infants, intimate apparel, loungewear, lounge socks, fashion and infant bedding, luxury mattresses, home fashion accessories, scrap booking accessories and rubber stamps. Today K•N products can be found in over 10,000 retail stores nationwide, including Nordstrom, Von Maur, Marshall Field’s, Macy’s West, Parisian, Dillard’s, Carson Pirie Scott, Elder-Beerman, Gottschalks stores and a variety of gift and specialty stores. K•N products can also be found online at Nordstrom, Dillards, and Oprah.

Mercy Medical Center - Des Moines is a 917-bed acute care, not-for-profit Catholic hospital, with more than 40 clinics and a network of rural health care facilities in 15 central Iowa communities. The Mercy corporation includes ten wholly-owned subsidiaries, including: Mercy Medical Center-Centerville, Mercy Clinics Inc., Mercy College of Health Sciences, Mercy Foundation, Mercy Park Apartments, Bishop Drumm Retirement Center, Mercy Professional Practice Associates, Mercy Hospice and Home Care, Graduate Medical Education and Mercy Therapeutic Radiology Associates. Mercy has a medical staff of more than 800 physicians and allied health professionals and employs 6,600 people. Mercy Medical Center – Des Moines is a member of Mercy Health Network, an integrated system of five major medical centers across the state of Iowa created through a partnership between Catholic Health Initiatives (CHI) and Trinity Health, headquartered in Novi, Michigan. Mercy is also a member organization of CHI, a national non-profit health corporation based in Denver, Colorado. The CHI health system includes 70 hospitals; 43 long-term care, assisted and independent living and residential facilities; and two community-based health organizations located in 19 states. It is the second-largest Catholic health system in the United States.