February 9, 2005

Contact:

Amy Vineyard
Adventure Science Center
avineyard@adventuresci.com
615-401-5059

Christi Williams
Seigenthaler Public Relations
christi@seig-pr.com
615-327-7999

Nashville, TN - Adventure Science Center will complete its 9,000-square-foot, state-of-the-art health exhibit, BodyQuest, this spring thanks to a $2 million gift from HCA and The HCA Foundation on behalf of TriStar Health System.

HCA/TriStar is presenting sponsor of BodyQuest in partnership with The Memorial Foundation, which provided the $1 million lead gift for the portion of the exhibit that opened to the public last summer. BodyQuest leads visitors through giant models of the human body's systems through sight, sound and touch. The interactive exhibit is designed to build understanding of the body, encourage healthy choices and inspire careers in healthcare. With nearly 5,000 new square feet of fun, the expansion will open to the public on May 30.

"HCA is pleased to partner with Adventure Science Center to create this exciting health education opportunity," said Jack O. Bovender Jr., Chairman and CEO of HCA. "We hope visitors will enjoy the exhibits and be inspired to incorporate what they learn into daily life."

"The TriStar Family of Hospitals encourages all Middle Tennesseans to make healthy lifestyle choices," said Paul Rutledge, president of TriStar Health System. "This is a unique opportunity to experience the wonders of modern healthcare first hand. BodyQuest will be both entertaining and educational to all Adventure Science Center visitors."

The five new BodyQuest attractions are:

• The Heart of It All, an interactive circulatory system. Children will be able to observe blood flow through a 10-foot tall beating heart, then attempt to pump as much blood as a typical heart does in one minute. Another activity will allow visitors to clog the giant heart's arteries with plaque or unclog them using a simulated stent. They will continue their physically challenging lesson as they "Move it!" in a group dance activity, "Slam Jump!" in a jumping competition and take "The BQ Challenge" by counting each step they take while exploring the Science Center.
• The Locker Room, an exhibit in which children are taught the importance of their skeletal and muscular systems through a round of sports themed activities. Groups of children will make "The Big Catch" as they team up to manipulate a giant robotic hand and wrist to grasp a giant ball, illustrating that muscles only pull, not push. Children will then learn the importance of protective bicycling gear at the "Traumameter" as they witness how the brain can be impacted in an accident. In "The Locker Room," players Ben Dable, Dee Fence and Stan Dup will teach the purpose of bones: movement, protection and support.
• Brain Storm, an area focusing on the nervous system. Children will take in the power of neurological functions in their bodies at the "Brain Storm Theater," an 11-foot tall realistic brain in which they will see which areas of the brain are in control of certain actions and thoughts. Outside the brain is the fiber-optic brain stem and spinal column leading to "Mindball," a game demonstrating how focusing certain brainwaves creates energy that can actually move an object.
• Down the Hatch, a tour of the digestive system from food to feces (or water to waste). A food toss will begin this internal exploration as the giant mouth, complete with teeth and tongue, demands, "Feed Me!" Then, it will be time to "Chow Down!" as food on the giant conveyor belt is broken down by massive molars, incisors and cuspids (or canine teeth). Find out "What's Up with Chuck?" through sight and sound when the esophagus muscles push food down, or, sometimes, back up. Children will become "The Mixer" in "Digest This," where food will be whirled around and sent on its way down or back up. In the intestines, nutrients from the food will be separated into appropriate slots by guests at the "Intestine Track." The portion of food not absorbed by the body has to go somewhere, which is why "Poop Happens." Just like food, BodyQuest guests will end their exploration by doing the colon crawl and exiting down the colo-rectal-slide onto a giant whoopee cushion.

• Mini Med Center and Ambulance, an area where children will get an opportunity to try on a healthcare career. A patient on a gurney under the operating room light needs your help, so don a lab coat, use a microscope, check the x-rays, take blood pressure, put on a cast, take an EKG and more. Or, take a look at real human organs in the pathology lab. Both healthy and unhealthy examples will be featured to give children real insight into why healthy choices are important. In the ambulance, children will be able to sit in the driver's seat, turn on the sirens and lights and explore the true-to-life interior filled with emergency medical equipment.

These exhibit areas and others are additions to the first phase of BodyQuest, which opened last summer. During construction this spring, visitors to the Science Center can still explore the rest of BodyQuest - Body Battles, The Wind Pipe and The Amazing Aging Machine - as they watch construction of the new areas.

"HCA and TriStar have made a significant contribution to the future of our region through its gift to BodyQuest," said Ralph Schulz, president and CEO of Adventure Science Center. "We are excited about the Science Center's partnership with this premier healthcare company and believe BodyQuest is an ideal way for us both to fulfill our missions."

BodyQuest, in addition to being funded by HCA/TriStar and The Memorial Foundation, is being funded by private contributions and grants, including additional support from Nashville Academy of Medicine Alliance (NAMA) and Saint Thomas Health Services.

"HCA and TriStar are joining a great partnership all across this city that supports the Adventure Science Center and the creation of the BodyQuest exhibit," said Mayor Bill Purcell. "This is another great example of why Nashville is the nation's health care capital."

The HCA Foundation promotes health and well being and supports childhood and youth development in Middle Tennessee. Since 1999, The Foundation has made gifts of more than $44.36 million to non-profit organizations.

HCA's TriStar Health System operates 16 hospitals in Tennessee, Kentucky and Indiana. Hospitals in the system have been nationally recognized in the areas of cardiology, orthopaedics, oncology, neurology and women's health. System-wide in 2003, there were more than 11,400 births, 1,000 cardiac surgeries, 8,000 cardiac catheterization procedures, 1,200 cancer research protocol patients, 92,000 admissions and 344,000 emergency room visits. With more than 3,000 licensed beds and a network of more than 3,500 physicians in 50 specialties, TriStar Health System provides care for patients in both metropolitan and rural areas. These facilities employ more than 14,000 individuals, provide salaries exceeding $445 million and invest more than $3.4 billion within Tennessee, Kentucky and Indiana.