We lowered the rating based on the application of our U.S. not-for-profitacute-care stand-alone hospital criteria published Dec. 15, 2014 onRatingsDirect.
"The 'BBB-' rating reflects our view of such factors as Jennie Stuart'snegative operating performance in fiscal 2014, soft volumes, small revenuebase and challenging payor mix, and small medical staff," said Standard &Poor's credit analyst Kevin Holloran.
The stable outlook reflects our view that although the operating performancewas markedly negative in fiscal 2014, Jennie Stuart appears to be improvingits financial performance on a month-by-month basis.