HOUSTON – (July 1, 2010) – Texas Children’s Hospital announced today that it has completed the acquisition of Partners in OB/GYN Care, a prominent private obstetrics and gynecology practice based in Houston. As the construction of Texas Children’s new 15-story maternity center progresses, this acquisition is a strategic cornerstone of the hospital’s expansion into a new era – caring for women prior to pregnancy, during pregnancy and after delivery. Find out more about the new maternity center.

“Because high-risk births need specialized attention and care, the maternity center will focus on and respond to the escalating need for obstetrical research and treatment. The development of an OB/GYN program is an essential part of our maternity center and will be a key component in providing a holistic approach to caring for mothers and babies,” said Cris Daskevich, Senior Vice President for Texas Children's Hospital. “We are extremely pleased to welcome this well established and respected practice to Texas Children’s.”

Partners in OB/GYN Care is staffed by five physicians including Bart Putterman, M.D.; Lynn Hoffman, M.D.; Samuel Law, II M.D.; Ava Erin Manning, M.D.; and Susan Shi, M.D. The practice provides a full range of obstetric and gynecological services and currently delivers about 600 babies each year. The discussion of the acquisition was initiated by Dr. Putterman, one of the group’s founding partners. The group’s interest in joining Texas Children’s was sparked after hearing of plans for the new maternity center in 2006 and again in 2008 when they learned of Texas Children’s acquisition of Women’s Specialists of Houston, another respected OB/GYN practice. The acquisition will have little effect on current patients, as the group plans to remain in their current location in Scurlock Tower.

“Our practice is very excited to participate with Texas Children’s in creating a model that offers comprehensive services for the benefit of families,” said Dr. Putterman. “Our mothers will continue to receive the same excellent personalized care delivered in our clinic, but will now have the resources of one of the country’s most experienced neonatal intensive care units, a state-of-the-art fetal center, comprehensive diagnostic imaging services and a host of many other subspecialties for mother and baby under one roof.”

Expanding upon its premier reputation in fetal and neonatal medicine, the addition of maternity
services is enabling Texas Children's Hospital to provide a full continuum of care to mothers and their babies, beginning before conception and continuing after birth. The maternity center is expected to open in late 2011.

About Texas Children's Hospital
Texas Children's Hospital is committed to a community of healthy children by providing the finest pediatric patient care, education and research. Renowned worldwide for its expertise and breakthrough developments in clinical care and research, Texas Children’s is ranked in the top ten best children’s hospitals by U.S. News & World Report. Texas Children’s also operates the nation’s largest primary pediatric care network, with more than 40 offices throughout the greater Houston community. Texas Children’s has embarked on a $1.5 billion expansion, Vision 2010, which includes a comprehensive neurological research institute, the formation of a maternity center, and the development of the new West Campus, Texas Children’s first pediatric hospital in a suburban setting.

For more information on Texas Children's Hospital, go to www.texaschildrens.org. Get the latest news from Texas Children’s Hospital by visiting the online newsroom and on Twitter at twitter.com/texaschildrens.