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Leading Healthcare CEOs See Opportunity in Challenges of Financial Crisis
KANSAS CITY, (PRNewswire), February 22, 2009 - Despite terrific challenges facing them in the global economic crisis, CEOs of health delivery organizations see within it an opportunity for recreating the American healthcare environment into a more integrated system of care that favors wellness and health maintenance, according to a report published today by C-Suite Resources, a new market intelligence, advisory and education firm.

C-Suite Resources unveiled the report to mark its formal launch as an executive resource firm that brings together healthcare C-Suite executives with the firms that serve them. The company provides strategic market intelligence, learning, skill enhancement and relationship building.

C-Suite Resources was founded by Stan Nelson and Don Wegmiller, both distinguished former CEOs of healthcare delivery organizations who are widely respected as industry pioneers, and entrepreneur Ralph Wakerly, a nationally recognized strategy and marketing consultant. Mr. Nelson, who developed the Henry Ford Health System from 1971 through 1988, was inducted into the Health Care Hall of Fame in 1999. Mr. Wegmiller is former president and chairman of Integrated Healthcare Strategies, a consultancy that helps healthcare organizations improve operations, and was listed among "Healthcare's 100 Most Powerful People" in 2002. Mr. Wakerly founded his own consulting firm, served as marketing vice president for First Consulting Group (now CSC), and has launched several successful healthcare-related ventures during his career.

The new report, "Leading Healthcare CEOs Sound Off on the Financial Crisis," is based on one-on-one interviews conducted by C-Suite Resources in December 2008 and January 2009 with nine CEOs of high-performing health systems across the country. The report highlights seven strategic "talking points" that characterize CEO responses. Nearly all the executives interviewed, for example, agreed that the intersection of the financial crisis with impending healthcare reform will provide a powerful impetus for positive change in the healthcare landscape.

"This crisis will force some form of healthcare reform under the new president in the next 24 months," said Tom Royer, MD, president and CEO of CHRISTUS Health, and one of the CEOs interviewed for the report. CHRISTUS is an Irving, Texas-based integrated delivery system with 40 hospitals in six states and Mexico. "It will change reimbursement, especially in favor of the outpatient area. The delivery system will never look the same. I am optimistic that what comes out the other end will be better than it is today. It may enhance our focus on wellness and health maintenance," he said.

Other CEOs interviewed include John W. Bluford III, Truman Medical Centers, Kansas City; Marna P. Borgstrom, Yale New Haven Health System, New Haven, Conn.; Ralph P. Muller, University of Pennsylvania Health System, Philadelphia; Michael W. Murphy, Sharp HealthCare, San Diego; Nancy M. Schlichting, Henry Ford Health System, Detroit; Timothy Stack, Piedmont Healthcare, Atlanta; Joseph Swedish, Trinity Health, Novi, Mich.; and Chris Van Gorder, Scripps Health, San Diego.

JBS S.A. Acquisition of National Beef is Terminated
KANSAS CITY, (PRNewswire), February 22, 2009 - JBS S.A. has informed its shareholders and the market in general that it has terminated the acquisition process of Kansas City-based National Beef Packing Company, LLC ("National Beef") effective February 23rd 2009.

In a statement, the company said that all related litigation with the Department of Justice will also be terminated.

JBS announced the acquisition of National Beef on March 4th, 2008. The Department of Justice of the United States Government filed a suit to block the deal on October 20th 2008 on competition grounds. JBS endeavored to encounter a solution with the parts involved but in the absence of satisfactory conditions decided not to follow on with the acquisition.

The Company, a world leader in beef production, will continue to pursue further efficiencies at all it's other units within the US totaling 8 cattle slaughter plants with a daily capacity of 28,100 head, 3 pork slaughter plants with a daily capacity of 47,900 head, a case-ready plant and a lamb slaughter plant as well as related operations in Australia, Italy, Argentina and Brazil where the headquarters are located. The Company also operates 11 cattle feed yards in six different US states.

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