Curative Health Services Signs Agreement to Manage Wound Management Program At Scripps Memorial Hospital La Jolla.

Business/Health & Medical Editors

ST. LOUIS PARK, MN--(BW HealthWire)--Nov. 8, 2001

Curative Health Services (Nasdaq: CURE), the nation's leading wound management company in the chronic wound market, has signed an agreement with Scripps Memorial Hospital La Jolla, in California to manage the hospital's wound management program.

Under the agreement, Curative will establish an outpatient Wound Care Center(R) at the hospital to provide ongoing treatment for people with chronic, nonhealing wounds. Curative will also manage inpatient wound care for the hospital, providing a risk management program to help identify those at greater risk for developing chronic wounds, and reducing lengths of hospital stay by initiating treatment for patients admitted with existing wounds.

"We are very pleased to be associated with Scripps Memorial Hospital La Jolla," said Curative Health Services President John Prior. "Scripps La Jolla has a real commitment to excellent clinical outcomes for patients with nonhealing wounds. Its medical staff is anxious to add a specialty wound management program to its current outpatient and inpatient offerings."

Wound Care Centers offer comprehensive wound treatment for patients who have nonhealing wounds resulting from conditions such as diabetes, poor circulation, and pressure ulcers due to immobility. A chronic nonhealing wound is one that has not demonstrated notable improvement after four weeks or has not healed after eight weeks.

Curative's clinical pathway to treat patients with nonhealing wounds includes assessment to arrive at a plan of care, medical intervention, and patient education to aid in wound healing and to reduce the recurrence of ulcers. An interdisciplinary team with advanced training and extensive experience in wound management is called upon to treat patients. Appropriate patients may be treated with advanced adjunctive therapies to enhance wound healing. Nutrition and education play key roles in all treatment plans.

"We are pleased to add the Wound Care Center to our hospital programs, " said Gary Fybel, administrator of Scripps Memorial Hospital La Jolla. "Curative's expertise in managing wound care represents an opportunity to serve the wound care patients in our community, create better clinical outcomes and achieve cost efficiencies."

Wound Care Centers are members of Curative Health Services' nationwide network of wound care specialists. This national network of hospital-based Wound Care Centers, has offered comprehensive treatment to over 300,000 patients, achieving a more than 90 percent patient satisfaction rate. Curative Health Services (www.curative.com) is a leading disease management company based in Hauppauge, NY.

Established in 1924, Scripps La Jolla, one of the county's six designated Level I trauma centers, offers a wide range of clinical and surgical services and is part of Scripps Health, a not-for-profit, community-based health care delivery network that includes approximately 2,600 affiliated physicians, an extensive ambulatory care network, five acute-care and two convalescent hospitals, home health care and associated support services. Scripps Health has approximately 10,000 employees and also cares for patients at 13 clinic locations throughout San Diego County. Scripps La Jolla was recently recognized by National Research Corporation with a 2001 Consumer Choice Award.

About Curative Health Services

Curative Health Services' Specialty Healthcare Services (SHS) business unit is a leading disease management company. The SHS unit is the undisputed industry leader in chronic wound care management, consistently achieving an outcome success rate of more than 80 percent, more than twice the industry average. Curative provides a broad continuum of services to health care providers through a nationwide network. This national network of more than 110 hospital-based Care Centers in 33 states, has offered comprehensive treatment to over 300,000 patients, achieving more than a 95 percent patient satisfaction rate.

Curative Health Services' Specialty Pharmacy Services (SPS) business unit, provides "high touch," patient centric services to patients and physicians that facilitate the health care management process. These include services such as direct-to-patient overnight distribution of biopharmaceuticals, medication management, and a comprehensive resource of chronic condition medical information.

For more information, visit www.curative.com.