Brings 18 Years of Healthcare Management Experience

OVERLAND PARK, Kan., Feb. 8, 2010 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Heartland Spine &
Specialty Hospital, a physician-owned hospital comprised of more than
80 physicians dedicated to improving patient outcomes, has named Jesse
Saucedo as the facility's new Chief Financial Officer.

An 18-year veteran of hospital and healthcare finances, Saucedo has
held a variety of healthcare administrative positions. Prior to joining
Heartland, Saucedo was a Rural Health Specialist with KSF & Associates
in Alpine, Texas, and was CFO of Catholic Health Initiatives in Great
Bend, Kansas. He was a Senior Financial Analyst of CHRISTUS Health St.
Elizabeth Hospital in Beaumont, Texas, and also CFO at CHRISTUS Health
Jasper Memorial Hospital in Jasper, Texas.

"We're pleased to welcome Jesse to the Heartland family where he will
function as an integral part of our business leadership team," said Don
Burman, Chief Executive Officer at Heartland. "Jesse comes to us with
an impressive resume that shows his proven experience in managing the
financial and business affairs of healthcare-related facilities."

Saucedo's responsibilities in previous positions have included
improving revenue cycles; developing operational and capital budgets;
enhancing operations by reviewing regulations and cost reports;
decreasing operating expenses; increasing cash collections; preparing
new service lines; and ensuring optimum operations both financially and
through patient care.

In his new role at Heartland, Saucedo will be responsible for strategic
financial leadership; fiscal reporting and accounting practices; and
the application of systems and operations associated with physician
interaction and ownership. He will be in charge of performance
benchmarking and will serve as Heartland's treasurer.

Saucedo obtained his Bachelor of Science Degree in Business and
Accounting from Fort Hays State University in Kansas and his Masters
Degree in Business Administration from Sul Ross State University in
Texas. He has a Medical Records Coding Certificate from the Texas
Medical Foundation and has been a member of the Healthcare Financial
Management Association (HFMA) since 1997.

"I look forward to working with Heartland and contributing to this
great facility's mission of continuously striving to improve clinical
outcomes for patients," Saucedo said. "Heartland has already defined
itself as a leader in providing the highest quality of care. I am proud
to work within a healthcare community where my financial experience can
be utilized to benefit both our staff and patients."

About Heartland Spine & Specialty Hospital

At Heartland Spine & Specialty Hospital the future is here. Designed,
owned and led by physicians from different specialty areas and groups
throughout Kansas City, the hospital is raising the standards of
patient and physician satisfaction. Since 2003, the Overland Park,
Kansas hospital has grown to include more than 80 physicians who
specialize in orthopedics and pediatric orthopedics; bariatric weight
loss surgery; ear, nose, and throat surgery; spine surgery;
neurosurgery; hand surgery; joint reconstruction; general surgery; pain
management and a full spectrum of plastic surgery procedures.


CONTACT:  a5, inc.
          Media Inquiries:
          Allison Albrecht
          312.706.2525
          aalbrecht@a5inc.com