HCA (NYSE: HCA) today reports that its three affiliated hospitals
located in the New Orleans market and one affiliated hospital in
Gulfport, Mississippi all sustained damage from hurricane Katrina. Two
are currently being evacuated and two have remained operational.
The Company can not estimate at this time the physical damage to
property or financial impact to its operations as a result of hurricane
Katrina or when operations related to the affected facilities will
return to some degree of normalcy. HCA is insured for property damage
and business interruption with per location deductibles ranging from
three to five percent of insured asset values. The Company believes that
the effect of the hurricane on the Company's financial position will not
be material.
"The personal devastation created by this disaster is far more
significant than the Company's property losses experienced in Louisiana
and Mississippi," stated Jack O. Bovender, HCA's Chairman and CEO. "Our
hospital medical staffs, employees and volunteers have displayed
exceptional courage and dedication during this difficult period. The
Company's disaster teams and volunteers from other HCA hospitals are
working tirelessly to provide support to those hospitals and personnel
affected by this horrendous event."
HCA's temporary staffing agency, All About Staffing, has sent nurses to
support Garden Park Medical Center in Gulfport, MS and Women's and
Children's Hospital in Lafayette, LA. All About Staffing has nurses
staged in various cities around the country ready to be sent to HCA
hospitals as needed.
In addition, the Company has given $1 million to the HCA Hope Fund, a
fund created to help HCA employees in time of crises. The Company will
also match employee donations to the fund dollar for dollar.
Hospitals Affected by Hurricane Katrina
Tulane University Hospital and Clinic in New Orleans, LA
362 bed hospital
Tulane University Hospital and Clinic had minor wind damage, but water
is still rising in New Orleans and the hospital is being evacuated.
Since yesterday, the Company has leased about 20 helicopters that have
been re- supplying the hospital with necessary food, supplies,
pharmaceuticals and evacuating patients. Some patients were evacuated
today via boat by the Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries.
The Company anticipates that all remaining patients will be evacuated by
tomorrow. Once all patients are evacuated, approximately 1,000
physicians, employees and family members will also be evacuated.
Lakeside Hospital in Metairie, LA
102 bed hospital
Lakeside suffered water and wind damage. The hospital is currently being
evacuated due to the city wide mandatory evacuation. The Company
anticipates that all remaining patients will be evacuated by the end of
today.
Lakeview Regional Medical Center in Covington, LA
178 bed hospital
Lakeview suffered water and wind damage. The hospital is operational on
backup and portable generators, and there is currently no plan to
evacuate.
Garden Park Medical Center in Gulfport, MS
130 bed hospital
Garden Park suffered extensive wind and water damage. The hospital is
operational on backup and portable generators, and there is currently no
plan to evacuate.
The Company's other Louisiana hospitals were not directly impacted
although they are receiving referrals from New Orleans area facilities.
The New Orleans and Mississippi hospitals primarily impacted by the
hurricane comprise approximately 2 percent of the Company's revenues.
CAUTIONARY NOTE REGARDING FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS
This press release contains forward-looking statements based on current
management expectations. Those forward-looking statements include all
statements regarding the ongoing operations and evacuations of the
Company's Louisiana and Mississippi hospitals, the impact of hurricane
Katrina on the Company's financial position and operations, the expected
insurance coverage with respect to property damage and business
interruption and all statements other than those made solely with
respect to historical fact. Numerous risks, uncertainties and other
factors may cause actual results to differ materially from those
expressed in any forward-looking statements. Many of the factors that
will determine the Company's future results are beyond the ability of
the Company to control or predict. In light of the significant
uncertainties inherent in the forward-looking statements contained
herein, readers should not place undue reliance on forward-looking
statements, which reflect management's views only as of the date hereof.
The Company undertakes no obligation to revise or update any
forward-looking statements, or to make any other forward-looking
statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or
otherwise.
All references to "HCA" and the "Company" contained in this press
release refer to HCA and its affiliates. The term "facilities" refers to
entities owned or operated by subsidiaries or affiliates of HCA.
References herein to "HCA employees" or to "our employees" refer to
employees of affiliates of HCA.
"Safe Harbor" Statement under the Private Securities Litigation Reform
Act of 1995: Statements in this press release regarding HCA's business
which are not historical facts are "forward-looking statements" that
involve risks and uncertainties. For a discussion of such risks and
uncertainties, which could cause actual results to differ from those
contained in the forward-looking statements, see "Risk Factors" in the
Company's Annual Report or Form 10-K for the most recently ended fiscal
year.
/Web site: http://www.hcahealthcare.com /
Investors, Mark Kimbrough, +1-615-344-2688, or
Media, Jeff Prescott, +1-615-344-5708,
both of HCA /