PHOENIX and LEWISVILLE, Texas, Oct. 22, 2014 /PRNewswire/ -- Dignity Health and Adeptus Health (NYSE:ADPT) today announced a joint venture to support the growing demand for access to quality medical care in Arizona. The new partnership will begin with Dignity Health Arizona General Hospital and includes plans for additional access to emergency medical care in Phoenix.

"This partnership reflects Dignity Health's dynamic business model that is designed to promptly respond to the changing landscape of health care and to meet the growing medical needs of Arizona," said Linda Hunt, President and CEO of Dignity Health, Arizona Service Area.  "The combination of Dignity Health's well-established quality of care and Adeptus Health's unique delivery model will be an excellent addition to the communities we serve."

Dignity Health Arizona General Hospital, opening early next year in Laveen, will be a full-service health care facility, licensed by the state as a general hospital. Spanning 39,000-square-feet, the hospital will have inpatient rooms, two state-of-the-art operating rooms - for inpatient and outpatient surgical procedures, an emergency department, a high-complexity laboratory and a full radiology suite offering the latest technologies. Furthermore, patients will have full access to the Dignity Health area facilities and physicians, and the hospital will provide Phoenix-area residents with 24/7 access to emergency medical care.

According to The American College of Emergency Physicians' (ACEP) 2014 National Report Card, the nation received a D- in access to emergency health care; and, Arizona received an F, underscoring the need for additional access to emergency care. The Dignity Health-Adeptus Health joint venture will provide the Phoenix area an enhanced continuum of care through its "closer to home" approach, giving patients quicker access to all of the services provided by Dignity Health in Arizona.

"We look forward to expanding our business into Arizona and are confident our partnership with Dignity Health will ensure our patients receive the highest quality medical care," added Thomas S. Hall, President and CEO of Adeptus Health. "As the operator of the nation's leading network of independent freestanding emergency rooms, we are saving lives every day by making emergency medical care much more accessible."

About Dignity Health, Arizona Service Area

Dignity Health in Arizona includes four outstanding hospitals – Chandler Regional Medical Center, Mercy Gilbert Medical Center, St. Joseph's Hospital and Medical Center, which includes Barrow Neurological Institute, and St. Joseph's Westgate Hospital.  From this foundation, Dignity Health in Arizona has expanded into a comprehensive health care system, which includes imaging centers, clinics, specialty hospitals, urgent cares, an insurance provider, an accountable care organization and other clinical partnerships. The Dignity Health Medical Group has more than 40 practice locations with physicians who cover a wide range of specialties. Dignity Health, Arizona Service Area, is part of Dignity Health, one of the largest health systems in the nation.

About Adeptus Health Inc.

Adeptus Health Inc. owns and operates First Choice Emergency Room, and, together with Dignity Health, Dignity Health Arizona General Hospital.  First Choice Emergency Room (FCER.com) is the nation's leading network of independent freestanding emergency rooms; it is both the largest and the oldest. First Choice Emergency Room is revolutionizing the delivery of emergency medical services for adult and pediatric emergencies by offering patients convenient, neighborhood access to emergency medical care. First Choice Emergency Room facilities are innovative, freestanding, and fully equipped emergency rooms with a complete radiology suite of diagnostic technology (CT scanner, Ultrasound, and Digital X-ray) and on-site laboratory. All First Choice Emergency Room locations are staffed with board-certified physicians and emergency trained registered nurses. First Choice Emergency Room has facilities in Austin, Dallas/Fort Worth, Houston, San Antonio, Colorado Springs and Denver. According to patient feedback collected by Press Ganey Associates Inc., First Choice Emergency Room provides the highest quality emergency medical care and received the 2013 Press Ganey Guardian of Excellence for exceeding the 95th percentile in patient satisfaction nationwide.

About Dignity Health General Hospital

Dignity Health Arizona General Hospital will be a full service general hospital projected to open in early 2015 in the Phoenix area. Arizona General Hospital will have 16 inpatient rooms, 2 state-of-the-art Operating Rooms, an Emergency Department, a high complexity laboratory, and a full radiology suite. The new hospital, located in Laveen, will be capable of inpatient and outpatient surgical procedures as well as provide the community 24/7 access to emergency medical care. For more information visit www.azgeneral.com.

Forward-Looking Statements

Certain statements and information herein may be deemed to be "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of the Federal Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Forward-looking statements may include, but are not limited to, statements relating to our guidance, objectives, plans and strategies, and all statements (other than statements of historical facts) that address activities, events or developments that we intend, expect, project, believe or anticipate will or may occur in the future. Any forward-looking statements herein are made as of the date of this press release, and ADPT undertakes no duty to update or revise any such statements except as required by the federal securities laws. Forward-looking statements are not guarantees of future performance and are subject to risks and uncertainties. Important factors that could cause actual results, developments and business decisions to differ materially from forward-looking statements are described in ADPT's filings with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission ("SEC") from time to time and which are accessible on the SEC's website at www.sec.gov, including in the section entitled "Risk Factors" in the Company's prospectus dated June 24, 2014, filed with the SEC pursuant to Rule 424(b) of the Securities Act on June 25, 2014.

These forward-looking statements involve known and unknown risks, inherent uncertainties and other factors, which may cause our actual results, performance, time frames or achievements to be materially different from any future results, performance, time frames or achievements expressed or implied by the forward-looking statements. Any statements contained herein that are not statements of historical facts may be deemed to be forward-looking statements. Actual results and the timing of certain events may differ materially from those contained in these forward-looking statements.

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SOURCE Adeptus Health Inc.