BARSTOW, Calif, March 18, 2008 — Barstow Community Hospital (BCH) announced that Michael K. Stewart has been appointed Chief Executive Officer (CEO) effective April 1. Fred Capozello, who has been interim CEO of the hospital since November 2007, will return to his previous position as associate CEO of Fallbrook Community Hospital in Fallbrook, California. Stewart, a healthcare executive from Watsonville, California, will be responsible for leading the operational, administrative and strategic activities at the hospital.

"I am excited about the opportunity to work with the hospital leaders, employees, medical staff and community to maintain the hospital’s momentum," said Stewart. "Together, we will continue to enhance and expand healthcare services to meet the needs of the citizens of the Barstow area, and exceed our patient’s service expectations."

Stewart said he feels very fortunate to be joining the BCH team at such an exciting time in the hospital’s history, which includes the planning and oversight for building a new hospital. "This is an opportunity few hospital administrators ever have, and I believe we will achieve exceptional results through teamwork, and collaboration with the community."

"I’m very pleased to have Michael on board as our new CEO," said Sandy Baca, BCH Board of Trustees chairperson. "He is an innovative leader with broad-based experience in operations, finance and business development, and I believe he is an ideal person to lead our hospital into the future."

Most recently, Stewart was associate CEO at the 106-bed Watsonville Community Hospital. Prior to that, he was associate administrator for the 460-bed St. Mary’s Medical Center in West Palm Beach, Florida.

He holds a Masters Degree of Business Administration from the University of Texas at Austin, McCombs School of Business, and a Bachelor of Science degree from Texas A&M University in College Station, Texas.

Stewart is excited to make Barstow his home, and is looking forward to becoming an involved member of the community.