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Premier healthcare alliance named one of 2009's "World's Most Ethical Companies" by Ethisphere Institute for second year in a row

Premier selected for business ethics honor from among 10,000 worldwide applicants

CHARLOTTE, N.C. (April 14, 2009) – For the second year in a row, the Premier healthcare alliance has been named one of the World's Most Ethical Companies by the Ethisphere Institute. Ethisphere, a think-tank dedicated to the research and promotion of profitable best practices in global governance, business ethics, compliance and corporate responsibility, selected Premier from among 10,000 applicants from across the globe.

"Premier has proven to be one of the world leaders in upholding high ethical standards, making it a true standout in its industry, especially as unethical business actions and decisions grab headlines each day," said Alex Brigham, executive director of the Ethisphere Institute. "The competition for this year's World’s Most Ethical Companies was very strong and we applaud Premier for rising to the top. Premier recognizes that being ethical is not only the right thing to do, it is also good business practice and leads to more successful and profitable operations."

Each year, Ethisphere recognizes organizations that promote ethical business standards and practices by going beyond legal minimums, introducing innovative ideas benefiting the public and forcing their competitors to follow suit. To be considered for the award, researchers and analysts review companies' codes of ethics, litigation and regulatory infraction histories; investment in innovation and sustainable business practices; activities designed to improve corporate citizenship; nominations from senior executives, industry peers, suppliers and customers; and feedback from consumer action groups. Information was provided by the companies through questionnaires and collected during additional independent research.

"Premier is proud to be recognized as a worldwide business ethics leader for two consecutive years," said Richard Norling, president and CEO of Premier. "As a healthcare company, we have the highest standards for ourselves and our employees because we have a responsibility to preserve the public's trust. We take this responsibility seriously and remain dedicated to living by and promoting an ethical and transparent healthcare system."

Premier follows the most stringent Code of Conduct in the healthcare purchasing industry, based on 50 ethical best practices. Premier's dedication to having "gold standard" business practices provides value to the hospitals and communities we serve in the form of reliability and heightened transparency. All Premier policies, practices and ethical requirements are transparent and available for public scrutiny. At the end of each year, Premier reports publicly on progress to demonstrate accountability to our members and the general public alike.

About the Premier healthcare alliance, Malcolm Baldrige National Quality Award recipient
Premier is a performance improvement alliance of more than 2,500 U.S. hospitals and 80,000-plus other healthcare sites using the power of collaboration to lead the transformation to high quality, cost-effective care. Owned by hospitals, health systems and other providers, Premier maintains the nation's most comprehensive repository of clinical, financial and outcomes information and operates a leading healthcare purchasing network. A world leader in helping deliver measurable improvements in care, Premier has worked with the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services and the United Kingdom's National Health Service North West to improve hospital performance. Headquartered in Charlotte, N.C., Premier also has an office in Washington. https://premierinc.com. Stay connected with Premier on Facebook, Twitter and YouTube.

About Ethisphere Institute
The research-based Ethisphere Institute is a leading international think-tank dedicated to the creation, advancement and sharing of best practices in business ethics, corporate social responsibility, anti-corruption and sustainability. The Institute's associated membership group, the Ethisphere Council, is a forum for business ethics that includes over 200 leading corporations, universities and institutions. The Ethisphere Council is dedicated to the development and advancement of individuals on its membership council through increased efficiency, innovation, tools, mentoring, advice and unique career opportunities. Ethisphere Magazine, which publishes the globally recognized World's Most Ethical Companies Ranking™, is the quarterly publication of the Institute. More information on the Ethisphere Institute, including ranking projects and membership, can be found at http://www.ethisphere.org.