Norfolk, VA – June 18, 2008 – On Monday, June 16, Sentara was honored as an Employer of Choice® for its dedication to employee relationships that go above and beyond typical human resource practices. Optima Health is a service of Sentara.

The award was provided by Employer of Choice®, Inc. who certifies outstanding employers.

Sentara earned the 3rd highest score in Employer of Choice® history, which places Sentara within the top 10% of healthcare systems in the country for its dedication to its employees, leadership, culture, and best practices.

Based on its high scores, Sentara is one of the few employers to have earned the designation for two years, as opposed to one. Key benchmarks of this two-year designation include low employee turnover, low vacancy rates, strong and improving employee satisfaction, and leadership and culture attributes that translate into excellent patient and customer care.

This national designation was awarded after a rigorous evaluation process. Fewer than 30 employers in the construction, technology, healthcare, and financial industries nationwide have won this prestigious award.

“Few organizations have been as successful as Sentara at unlocking the potential of their work force and achieving the operational focus of this high performing health care system,” said Joyce Gioia, CEO of Employer of Choice®, Inc. “The results of the employee survey and site visit distinguish Sentara as an organization that demonstrates exceptional leadership and inspires confidence in what is possible in the world of healthcare.”