EXHIBIT (A)(8)

 
BUSINESS AND MEDICAL EDITORS:

                    SMT Health Services Inc. to be Acquired
                  By an Affiliate of Apollo Management, L.P.

    PITTSBURGH, June 24 /PRNewswire/ -- SMT Health Services Inc. (Nasdaq-NNM: 
SHED) today announced that it has entered into a definitive agreement with Three
Rivers Acquisition Corp., an affiliate of Apollo Management, L.P., whereby Three
Rivers will acquire all the outstanding shares of SMT common stock for $11.75 
per share through a cash tender offer to commence within five business days to 
be followed by a merger.  The total transaction is valued at approximately $100 
million including outstanding stock options and warrants and the assumption of 
debt.  The tender offer and merger are not subject to financing but will be 
subject to customary conditions, including the tender of a majority of SMT's 
fully diluted shares and the obtaining of any necessary regulatory and third 
party approvals.  The tender offer will be made pursuant to definitive documents
to be filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission.

    Following the transaction, senior management of SMT, including Jeff D. 
Bergman, Chairman, President and Chief Executive Officer, and Daniel Dickman, 
Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer, will continue to manage 
the operations of SMT in their current positions.

    Under the terms of the agreement, which has been unanimously approved by the
Board of Directors of SMT, SMT shareholders will receive $11.75 per SMT common
share. In addition, management shareholders, owning in the aggregate
approximately 15% of SMT's full-diluted shares, have entered into a stockholder
agreement whereby they have agreed to sell their shares to Apollo in connection
with the transaction.

    SMT provides diagnostic imaging services to health care providers.  The 
company operates a fleet of 19 mobile Magnetic Resonance Imaging ("MRI") units 
and offers its services to customers in Pennsylvania, West Virginia, North 
Carolina, South Carolina, Virginia, Ohio and Kentucky.
    
    SMT's financial advisor in this transaction is Smith Barney, Inc. and its 
legal counsel is Buchanan Ingersoll Professional Corporation.

SOURCE  SMT Health Services
    -0-                              06/24/97
    /CONTACT:  James K. White, Managing Director, Kehoe, White, Savage &
Company, Inc., for SMT Health Services, 310-437-0655/
    (SHED)

CO:  SMT Health Services; Apollo Management, L.P.
ST:  Kentucky, North Carolina, Ohio, Pennsylvania, South Carolina, Virginia,
     West Virginia
IN:  HEA MTC
SU:  TNM