Sound Physicians CEO and President, Robert Bessler, M.D., Named Ernst & Young Entrepreneur Of The Year 2011 Pacific Northwest Award Finalist

TACOMA, WA, May 11, 2011

Sound Physicians, today announced that its CEO and President, Robert Bessler, M.D, is an Ernst & Young Entrepreneur Of The Year 2011 Pacific Northwest Award finalist.

According to Ernst & Young LLP, the awards program recognizes entrepreneurs who demonstrate excellence and extraordinary success in such areas as innovation, financial performance and personal commitment to their businesses and communities. Bessler was selected as a finalist from nearly 90 nominations by a panel of independent judges. Award winners will be announced at a special gala event on June 10, 2011 at the Sheraton Seattle Hotel & Towers.

"It's an honor to receive this award and the recognition for Sound Physicians," said Robert Bessler, MD, who founded Sound Physicians in 2001. "This award acknowledges the dedication and contributions of our entire team of physicians, nurses and support colleagues and their entrepreneurial spirit as they work to innovate and drive performance in the inpatient setting.

Sound Physicians is a leading provider of hospitalist services with more than 45 acute care partners and more than 30 skilled nursing and long-term acute care partners. Sound Physicians' performance management focus is based on a partnership with healthcare providers to measurably improve patient outcomes and strengthen the performance of the hospitals it serves. Sound Physicians accomplishes this through implementation of key clinical processes combined with a proprietary technology workflow solution as well as outstanding physician training and leadership.

The Ernst & Young Entrepreneur Of The Year Program celebrates its 25th anniversary this year. The program has expanded to recognize business leaders in more than 140 cities and more than 50 countries throughout the world.

Regional award winners are eligible for consideration for the Entrepreneur Of The Year National Award. Award winners in several national categories, as well as the Entrepreneur Of The Year overall National Award winner, will be announced at the annual awards gala in Palm Springs, California, on November 12, 2011. The awards are the culminating event of the Ernst & Young Strategic Growth Forum , the nation's most prestigious gathering of high-growth, market-leading companies, which will be held November 9-13, 2011.

Sponsors
Founded and produced by Ernst & Young LLP, the Entrepreneur Of The Year Awards are pleased to have the Ewing Marion Kauffman Foundation as a national sponsor.

In the Pacific Northwest, regional sponsors include Union Bank, ADP, The Big Picture, Seattle Business and Scherzer International.


About Sound Physicians
Sound Physicians is a leading hospitalist organization focused on driving improvements in quality, satisfaction and efficiency of inpatient health care delivery. By investing deeply in outstanding physicians, implementing clinical process excellence and developing proprietary workflow and informatics technology, Sound Physicians is defining hospital medicine. Sound Physicians seamlessly partners with healthcare providers to measurably enhance patient outcomes and strengthen hospital performance. To learn more visit: http://www.soundphysicians.com.

About Ernst & Young Entrepreneur Of The Year
Ernst & Young Entrepreneur Of The Year is the world's most prestigious business award for entrepreneurs. The unique award makes a difference through the way it encourages entrepreneurial activity among those with potential, and recognizes the contribution of people who inspire others with their vision, leadership and achievement. As the first and only truly global award of its kind, Entrepreneur Of The Year celebrates those who are building and leading successful, growing and dynamic businesses, recognizing them through regional, national and global awards programs in more than 140 cities in more than 50 countries.

About the Ernst & Young
Ernst & Young is a global leader in assurance, tax, transaction and advisory services. Worldwide, our 141,000 people are united by our shared values and an unwavering commitment to quality. We make a difference by helping our people, our clients and our wider communities achieve their potential. Ernst & Young refers to the global organization of member firms of Ernst & Young Global Limited, each of which is a separate legal entity. Ernst & Young LLP is a client-serving member firm of Ernst & Young Global Limited operating in the US. For more information about our organization, please visit http://www.ey.com.

Media Contact
Daven Rosener
drosener@soundphysicians.com
800-850-9665

About Sound Physicians
Sound Physicians is a leading hospitalist organization focused on driving improvements in quality, satisfaction and efficiency of inpatient health care delivery. By investing deeply in outstanding physicians, implementing clinical process excellence and developing proprietary workflow and informatics technology, Sound Physicians is defining hospital medicine. Sound Physicians seamlessly partners with healthcare providers to measurably enhance patient outcomes and strengthen hospital performance. To learn more visit: http://www.soundphysicians.com.