Cook Children's and Scott & White engage in a memorandum of understanding
Pediatric organizations explore a unique health care venture that will cover all of central Texas

FORT WORTH and TEMPLE, Texas – Cook Children's Health Care System and Scott & White signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU). Both will exchange proprietary information with the intent to work together in pediatric healthcare. The potential for this unique partnership holds immense opportunity and would translate into improved coordination and delivery of pediatric care in Central Texas, which is aligned with the Cook Children's promise to improve the health of every child in our region through the prevention and treatment of illness, disease and injury.

"When our two institutions reach a contractual agreement in the coming months, it will truly be an exciting collaboration for Cook Children's as we look to expand our ability to improve health care for all children in our region," said Rick Merrill, president and CEO of Cook Children's Health Care System.

"Cook Children's shares our commitment to quality care and excellence, which makes them a logical partner," said Alfred B. Knight, M.D, president and CEO of Scott & White. "This would allow two independent organizations to work more closely together while remaining true to their individual missions. It will also support the Texas A&M Health Science Center College of Medicine in its effort to train new pediatric physicians, nurses and other health professionals."

The collaboration is viewed by other area hospitals as a positive step in enhancing existing pediatric services in Central Texas.

"The expansion that can come from this collaboration will complement the plans at hospitals like Metroplex to further develop pediatric services that can be provided in a community hospital,” said Ken Finch, president and CEO, Metroplex Health System in Killeen.

"We are thrilled at the potential of this proposed endeavor. It could lead to making world-class pediatric care more readily available, close to home for many families," said Glenn Robinson, president and CEO, Hillcrest Baptist Medical Center in Waco.

About Cook Children's

Cook Children's Health Care System is one of the country's leading integrated pediatric health care systems. Based in Fort Worth, Texas, the non-profit organization includes a nationally recognized Medical Center, Physician Network, Home Health company, Health Plan, Northeast Hospital and Health Foundation. Cook Children's promise is to improve the health of every child in our region through the prevention and treatment of illness, disease and injury. Cook Children's includes more than 60 pediatric medical offices and specialty clinics throughout Texas. Cook Children's Medical Center is ranked in the top 5 percent of the nation's hospitals for its nursing excellence and has a distinguished reputation for the exceptional care it provides patients as well as the outcomes achieved in its Neurology and Neurosurgery, Cardiology and Cardiothoracic Surgery, Hematology and Oncology, Neonatology and Pulmonology programs. For more information about Cook Children's, please call 1-800-934-COOK (2665) or visit www.cookchildrens.org.

About Scott & White

Scott & White Healthcare is a not-for-profit healthcare system established in 1897. Recognized among the Thomson Reuters 100 Top Hospitals®, Scott & White is the principal clinical teaching facility affiliated with the Texas A&M Health Science Center College of Medicine.

The Temple campus includes a four-year medical curriculum. Along with its 636-bed flagship hospital and clinic facility in Temple, Texas, Scott & White also includes its Continuing Care Hospital on Temple's West Campus and the 76-bed acute care Scott & White Hospital-Round Rock. With more than 700 physicians and scientists, Scott & White has become one of the nation's largest multi-specialty group practice systems.

For more information, contact:

Wini King
Cook Children's

Director of Media Relations

682-885-4107

winifred.king@cookchildrens.org

Rhona Williams
Scott & White Healthcare

Director of Media and Public Relations

254-724-7758

rwilliamslondon@swmail.sw.org

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

March 27, 2009