Contact: Ryan Davenport, Fairview, 612.672.4164

St. Cloud, Minn. (Jan. 28, 2008) – Pediatric specialty care will be enhanced in Central Minnesota through collaboration between St. Cloud Hospital/CentraCare Health System, University of Minnesota Children’s Hospital, Fairview and University of Minnesota Physicians.

Representatives signed a collaboration agreement Jan. 25.

This alliance between University of Minnesota Physicians, University of Minnesota Children’s Hospital, Fairview and St. Cloud Hospital/CentraCare Health System provides access to the full continuum of care, including acute and specialty care, for children and their families in the region.

“We envision the partnership to roll out in three phases,” said Deb Hall, R.N., outreach director for St. Cloud Hospital Women & Children’s Center.

• Phase one: Telemedicine. The first step in this relationship utilizes telemedicine in selected subspecialties for immediate consultation on a pediatric patient, if needed. The plan allows for St. Cloud Hospital physicians to directly call pediatric specialists at University of Minnesota Physicians and University of Minnesota Children’s Hospital, Fairview. These specialists can receive the rapid transmission of digital images and electronic medical records from St. Cloud Hospital through a linked laptop computer. Through this system, physicians can collaborate on a plan of care.

• Phase two: Outreach Clinics. St. Cloud Hospital will expand its outpatient Pediatric Specialty Clinic with specialists from University of Minnesota Physicians and University of Minnesota Children’s Hospital, Fairview.

• Phase three: 24/7 coverage. St. Cloud Hospital and University of Minnesota Physicians will sustain and enhance physician coverage across pediatric medical and surgical subspecialties in Central Minnesota every day, year-round.

The collaboration draws upon the strengths and expertise of both physician groups. Patients will have more access to specialists without losing access to their primary care providers. The arrangement also will provide for easy referrals from outlying communities.

“We are very excited about this new collaboration between the St. Cloud Hospital, University of Minnesota Physicians and University of Minnesota Children’s Hospital, Fairview,” said Joseph Neglia, MD, Interim Head of Department of Pediatrics, Pediatrician-in-Chief, University of Minnesota Children’s Hospital, Fairview. “Through this partnership, many more children will receive the high-quality care they need, and deserve, much closer to home. Relationships like this improve the care provided by all involved and will create new opportunities in the time to come. All of us at the University of Minnesota Children’s Hospital, Fairview and University of Minnesota Physicians look forward to working closely with our colleagues in St. Cloud to improve all areas of children’s health.”

“The collaboration agreement is a first step. Our next step is to work out the specifics of how this partnership will evolve,” said Hall. “This collaboration will keep Central Minnesota children close to their homes, their families and friends. With the collaboration, more is possible.”

For more information visit:

www.centracare.com

www.uofmchildrenshospital.org

www.umphysicians.org