May 19, 2003

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Chester River Hospital Center New Name for Chestertown Healthcare Facility

Chestertown, MD--May 19, 2003—Chester River Hospital Center is the new name for Kent & Queen Anne’s Hospital which has been serving patients in Kent and Queen Anne’s counties and portions of Cecil and Caroline counties for more than 60 years.

The Board of Directors of Chester River Heath System unanimously approved the name change during their March 26, 2003 board meeting. The name change will take effect at the beginning of the hospital’s next fiscal year which begins July 1, 2003.

“This new name will help us convey to our community and patients that our hospital has grown and evolved to meet the needs of the communities we serve,” said Michael A. Marshall, chairman of the board of Chester River Health System.

“The name Chester River Hospital Center more accurately reflects the scope and diversity of services offered at the hospital—particularly the array of advanced technology and diagnostic services and the increasing volume of same day surgery and outpatient services that we provide,” Marshall added.

During its meeting, the board also adopted the system logo mark or “river box” as the logo mark to be used by three healthcare organizations that comprise Chester River Health System.

The healthcare organization began considering a name change and unification of its identity sometime ago. The discussion became heightened when a new long-range strategic plan for the system and its three entities was adopted in November 2002.

Prior to voting on the name change, the proposal was endorsed by the healthcare system’s planning committee, the hospital medical staff and the hospital foundation board.

The Chester River Health System Board of Directors is comprised of 25 community and civic leaders from Kent and Queen Anne’s counties.

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