American HomePatient signs joint venture partnership with HomeCare Resources, Inc., an affiliate of Baptist Healthcare System of South Carolina.

BRENTWOOD, Tenn.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Aug. 29, 1996--Edward K. Wissing, president and chief executive officer of American HomePatient, Inc., (Nasdaq: AHOM) today announced the signing of a joint venture between American HomePatient and HomeCare Resources, Inc., an affiliate of Baptist Healthcare System of South Carolina with hospitals in Columbia and Easley. Combined, the two medical centers have over 600 licensed beds.

Charles D. Beaman Jr., president and chief executive officer of Baptist Healthcare System of South Carolina, is pleased with the new arrangement with American HomePatient. "Our goal was to align ourselves with a national company with a reputation for service and a proven track record of success in hospital joint ventures," says Beaman. "As partners, HomeCare Resources, Inc. and American HomePatient will provide the continuity of care from hospital to home that managed care organizations demand and that best meets the needs of our patients."

The joint venture, which will operate under the name American HomePatient, is a 50/50 percent equity partnership providing infusion therapy, respiratory services and equipment, enteral nutrition and home medical equipment. The agreement was effective Aug. 1, 1996. American HomePatient's current general manager in Columbia, S.C., Laura Woodrum, will manage the operations of the new joint venture.

"We believe the joint venture with HomeCare Resources, Inc. is an excellent match for our company and we are very pleased to be working with them on behalf of their home health patients," says Wissing.

Wissing points to the accredited status of the seven South Carolina locations of American HomePatient by the Joint Commission on Accreditation of Healthcare Organizations (JCAHO) as evidence of the company's commitment to providing quality patient care. "As patients move from hospital to home, our goal is to support them with the same level of high quality patient care that they receive from the Baptist Healthcare System," he says. "All of our Joint Commission-accredited centers across the state of South Carolina stand ready to work together to provide that level of service."

The joint venture with HomeCare Resources, Inc. marks American HomePatient's twelfth major hospital equity partnership market. "The development of partnerships and contractual agreements with key hospital networks is a major component of our growth strategy," Wissing explained.

American HomePatient is one of the nation's largest diversified providers of home health care services in the country with 281 home health centers in 31 states. The company's primary product and service offerings include home respiratory services, home infusion, parenteral and enteral nutrition, and home medical equipment. American HomePatient's common stock is traded in the Nasdaq Stock Market (National Market) under the symbol AHOM.

CONTACT: American HomePatient, Brentwood

Edward K. Wissing or Kathey S. Palmer, 615/221-8884