Omaha, NE - September 15, 2003 - Alegent Health is pleased to announce they have selected national medical real estate developer DASCO Companies to develop a 100,000 square foot medical office building on the Lakeside HealthPark Campus of Alegent Health. The facility, which will be connected to the new 77-bed acute care hospital already under construction, will house a variety of physician specialties. The new hospital is anticipated to open in the summer of 2004; the medical office building is scheduled for completion in early spring of 2005.

Alegent Health is an integrated, comprehensive system of health services designed to meet the needs of the region. The system, a not-for-profit, community-based healthcare system, focuses on caring for the sick through all of life's phases, while emphasizing prevention, wellness and health education. Alegent Health is made up of seven acute care hospitals with 1,433 beds. In addition, they have two long-term care facilities (456 beds), a primary care physician network of more than 35 clinic sites supporting over 100 employed physician associates and an 800-physician member Physician Hospital Organization. Forty-two hospitals and more than 200 physician clinics are associated with Alegent Health through its affiliate Alegent-Nebraska Purchasing Group, HealthLink.

Alegent currently operates an 119,000 square foot integrated outpatient and wellness facility at the Lakeside HealthPark which is located at 168th and West Center Road. The facility provides ambulatory surgery, physical therapy, cardiac rehabilitation, laboratory, radiology, express care, health education, retail pharmacy and wellness services to the growing population in west Omaha.

"The new facility supports Alegent Health's commitment to this growing community. We are proud to be associated with the new campus and look forward to working with the dedicated physicians in the area," said Jim Galgano, Managing Partner for DASCO Companies.

DASCO Companies, founded in 1989, is a full service medical real estate development and acquisition firm with a team of professionals who have developed facilities in 45 states. The company's objective is to support healthcare providers to more effectively address the issues associated with developing, owning and managing their real estate and healthcare facilities. With it's national scope, DASCO Companies employs 45 professionals across the US. Office locations include West Palm Beach, Orlando, Dallas, Los Angeles, Scottsdale and Jackson, MS. Their Chicago office will be open by years' end.