**Glen G. Gatz, USDA Rural Development,** Kearney, Nebraska (308)
237-3118

**John E. Keelan, Brodstone Memorial Hospital**, Superior, Nebraska
(402) 879-3281

**Richard Nelson, Central National Bank**, Superior, Nebraska (402)
879-7709

BRODSTONE MEMORIAL HOSPITAL HOLDS GRAND OPENING

**Superior, Neb., Oct. 15, 2005** -- The Grand Opening for the newly
expanded and renovated Brodstone Memorial Hospital was held today in
Superior, Neb. The nearly 24,000 residents of Nuckolls, Webster, Thayer,
and Clay counties in Nebraska along with Jewel and Republic counties in
Kansas will benefit from the improved health care services and
recruitment of health care professionals the \$6 million enhanced
hospital will provide.

"Continuing to provide quality, accessible and affordable health care is
a high priority at Brodstone Memorial Hospital,\" stated John Keelan,
CEO for Brodstone Memorial Hospital. "The hospital's board of directors
place great value on the stability and longevity of quality health care
at Brodstone which is the reason they approved the hospital's
expansion/renovation. They should be congratulated for their vision and
commitment to providing the latest technology and facilities to insure
the best care for those the hospital serves."

The improvements to Brodstone will allow the hospital to better meet the
privacy and compliance issues required for Medicare conditions of
participation, the Health Information Portability and Privacy Act
(HIPAA), corporate compliance, and health care regulations. Critical
access legislation allows hospitals, the size of Brodstone, to be
reimbursed their costs at the percent of Medicare and Medicaid patients
to whom they provide care. Additionally, that legislation allows them to
undertake construction and renovation projects of which the Center for
Medicare Services (CMS) will reimburse those costs at the percent of the
Medicare/Medicaid Census, which for Brodstone will be 72 percent.

The near 17,000 sq. ft. addition first floor features an enclosed drive
through and covered parking area, physical therapy, cardiac
rehabilitation spaces, public restrooms, main entry lobby, gift shop,
hospital administration offices, two conference rooms, and ultrasound
and mammography testing areas. The second floor houses a surgery suite
with two operating rooms, men and women locker rooms for surgeons,
endoscopy, a surgery prep area, and recovery room. A new driveway and
patient drop-off area is positioned south of the buildings\' main entry.

Approximately 17,000 sq. ft. was remodeled with the first floor
receiving an expanded dining room, new radiology offices, four clinic
exam rooms, new pathology lab, and new elevator. Second floor features a
central sterile suite and holding area, nurses' lounge and locker room,
central nurses' station, offices, and a family waiting area. Sixteen
patient rooms now offer private bathrooms, four of which accommodate
disabled patients and twelve for patients in general. New headwall units
were installed in sixteen patient rooms.

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Heating, ventilating and air conditioning systems were upgraded in the
remodeled areas and new systems installed in the hospital\'s addition. A
new electrical transformer and generator were included in the upgrades.
The existing fire sprinkler system was expanded into the new addition.

USDA Rural Development presented a symbolic check for \$4,277,000 to
Brodstone Memorial Hospital today representing USDA's financial
commitment to the expansion/renovation project. The loan will be repaid
over 40 years at 4.25 percent interest. Central National Bank in
Superior originated \$500,000 in loan monies with USDA Rural Development
providing a guarantee on the funds. Brodstone Memorial Hospital
completed the financing with a contribution of \$850,000.

"The Brodstone Memorial Hospital service area has been designated as
medically underserved, with a shortage of medical professionals.
Brodstone's expansion/renovation project reflects a strong community
spirit that helps the underserved areas," stated Glen Gatz, community
programs specialist for USDA Rural Development. "It is a great feeling
to help a rural area to grow and make improvements. The hospital staff
was a pleasure to work with and I'd like to wish the hospital the best
and to keep up the good work."

Brodstone Memorial Hospital, a two-story brick/steel structure, was
originally built in 1927. Previous additions to the original structure
were completed in 1967 and 1994. The current addition enhances the
hospital's ability to keep pace with the ever changing health care
industry. Three full-time family practitioners, and two physician
assistants, and a nurse practitioner along with numerous visiting
medical specialists currently staff the hospital. Joining the staff in
February 2006 is one additional family practitioner. The medical staff
at Brodstone Memorial Hospital will number seven, an all time high for
Nuckolls County.

Richard Nelson, president of Central National Bank stated, "The hospital
expansion project is a major improvement to our community. The state of
the art medical facility and staff will bring many benefits to our rural
area. Central Nebraska Bank congratulates the hospital on their grand
opening and is very proud to have played a role in this successful
project. As always we continue to support Superior and the surrounding
area and are definitely excited about the future of our local hospital."

USDA funding was provided through the USDA Rural Development Community
Facility Direct and Guaranteed Loan programs. For additional information
contact Glen Gatz at 4009 North 6^th^ Avenue, Kearney, NE 68848;
glen.gatz@ne.usda.gov; or phone (308) 237-3118; (402) 437-5093 (TDY).
Visit http://www.rurdev.usda.gov/ne/.

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"USDA is an equal opportunity provider, employer and lender."

To file a complaint of discrimination write USDA, Director, Office of
Civil Rights,

1400 Independence Avenue, S.W., Washington, DC 20250-9410

or call (800) 795-3272 (voice) or (202) 720-6382 (TDD).