ROCK HILL, S.C. -Tenet Healthcare Corporation (NYSE: THC) today announced that its Piedmont Medical Center has opened a new, $29-million Women's Center to meet the growing need for women's services in upstate South Carolina by adding capacity and advanced medical capabilities.

The 95,000-square-foot building, under construction for two years, houses 10 labor, delivery and recovery rooms, four women's services operating rooms, a special care nursery, 16 private post-partum rooms and 28 private medical/surgery beds. The Women's Center also provides a community education center that includes a library and videos and 125-seat auditorium for lectures and community health care education classes.

"The new Women's Center is an excellent example of Tenet's firm commitment to bringing new programs and services to the communities that we serve," said Thomas B. Mackey, chief operating officer in Tenet's Office of the President. "As a company, we are spending more than $800 million this year on capital improvements and service expansions across the nation."

"The new Women's Center at Piedmont is designed from a patient and family perspective," said Gregory H. Burfitt, senior vice president, Operations, for Tenet's Southern States Region. "We asked patients, advisory boards, nurses and other caregivers how to help patients feel most comfortable and improve the flow of care."

For example, the groups told the builders where to position built-in equipment and outlets in patient rooms. On one side of the patient's bed is equipment easily accessible to nurses. The other side will be for family members and guests.

"The Women's Center offers advanced medical care and technology in a facility that makes women feel especially welcome," said Charles Miller, chief executive officer of Piedmont Medical Center. "The set-up is more efficient for nurses and more convenient for families."

To add to patient comfort, the labor/delivery/recovery rooms feature full-size cushioned window seats, baby workrooms with blanket warmers, warm color accents and whirlpool baths. The private recovery rooms are similar to the labor/delivery/recovery rooms.

"Childbirth is a wonderful, natural time for families," said Joan Ragan, director of Women's Services for Piedmont. "Mothers want the environment to be as home-like as possible."

The facility also includes a new special care nursery that allows the hospital to provide a higher level of neonatal services than previously was available in the community.

"In cases of high-risk births and complications, time can be critical," Miller said. "The Women's Center is our latest development in expanding services to the people who live in York, Chester and Lancaster counties."

Since opening in 1983, Piedmont has continually added new services, increasing from an initial medical staff of 52 physicians to 310 physicians today. Over the years, the hospital has opened some of the leading heart, pediatric, gynecological, rehabilitation and other services in the region.

The 268-bed Piedmont Medical Center is part of Tenet's Southern States Region, which includes 10 hospitals in Georgia, North Carolina and South Carolina. Tenet Healthcare, through its subsidiaries, owns and operates 116 acute care hospitals with 28,677 beds and numerous related health care services. Its hospitals and subsidiaries employ approximately 113,750 people serving communities in 17 states. Tenet's name reflects its core business philosophy: the importance of shared values among partners -- including employees, physicians, insurers and communities -- in providing a full spectrum of health care. Tenet can be found on the World Wide Web at www.tenethealth.com.

Certain statements in this release may constitute forward-looking statements. They are based on management's current expectations and could be affected by numerous factors and are subject to various risks and uncertainties. Certain of those risks and uncertainties are discussed in Company's filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission, including the Company's annual report on Form 10-K and quarterly reports on Form 10-Q. Do not rely on any forward-looking statement, as we cannot predict or control many of the factors that ultimately may affect our ability to achieve the results estimated. We make no promise to update any forward-looking statement, whether as a result of changes in underlying factors, new information, future events or otherwise.

Tenet Healthcare Corporation

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