CSI Financial Services to Provide San Diego-based HealthCare System with Patient-Friendly Loan Program

SAN DIEGO – CSI Financial Services (CSI), the healthcare industry’s leader in providing patient-friendly bank loans, today announced its partnership with San Diego-based Sharp HealthCare.  CSI’s signature below-market interest rate loans will be available to patients at four Sharp hospitals including:  Sharp Chula Vista Medical Center, Sharp Coronado Hospital, Sharp Grossmont Hospital and Sharp Memorial Hospital.

Through its exclusive bank loan program, CSI brings “peace of mind” to patients by providing them the ability to address out-of-pocket medical expenses with affordable monthly payments, thereby helping patients avoid the collections process and maintain their credit.  In fact, Sharp HealthCare patients electing to participate in CSI’s loan program may pay as little as $25 per month (depending on balance amount).  Patients may pay their monthly bill via mail, phone or internet.

“By offering an affordable loan to their patients, Sharp HealthCare is demonstrating their commitment to their world-class patient experience by also caring for their patients’ financial well-being,” said Janet Shanks, CSI’s chief financial officer.  “We understand patients are contending with higher deductibles and higher co-pays.  CSI’s program provides patients who are unable to pay their bill in full an affordable way to meet their financial obligation.”

“Our partnership with CSI is in response to the difficulties many patients face across the country in finding affordable alternatives to resolving their hospital bills,” said Gerilynn Sevenikar, vice president of patient financial services for Sharp HealthCare.  “We are especially sensitive to the impact today’s economy is having on patients, and adding the CSI loan program to our range of patient discount and payment options gives our patients the opportunity to choose a payment option that works best for them.

Shanks noted that CSI’s low interest loan programs are supported by the company’s best-in-class customer service center that has been exclusively designed to meet the needs of their healthcare clients and the patients they serve.  CSI’s San Diego-based customer service center has generated a 99% satisfaction rating, underscoring the company’s commitment to treat each patient with dignity and respect.

About CSI Financial Services
CSI Financial Services is the premier provider of patient loan programs. Since 1992, CSI has funded more than $500 million in patient loans enabling hundreds of thousands of patients to easily and affordably repay their healthcare obligations. CSI maintains its corporate office in San Diego, Calif., with regional sales offices throughout the United States. For more information about CSI, visit www.csifinancial.com.

About Sharp HealthCare
A 2007 Malcolm Baldrige National Quality Award recipient, Sharp HealthCare is San Diego’s most comprehensive health care delivery system.  It is recognized for clinical excellence for services in cardiac, cancer and multiorgan transplantation, as well as orthopedics, rehabilitation, behavioral health and women’s health. Sharp HealthCare has been widely acclaimed for its commitment to transform the health care experience for patients, physicians and staff through an organization-wide performance improvement initiative called The Sharp Experience. The Sharp system includes four acute-care hospitals, three specialty hospitals, two affiliated medical groups and a health plan. To learn more about Sharp, visit www.sharp.com.