Saint Peter's University Hospital and The Children's Hospital of Philadelphia Announce Affiliation

Business Wire, May 17, 2004

Business Editors/Health/Medical Writers

NEW BRUNSWICK, N.J.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--May 17, 2004

Affiliation Enhances Scope of Pediatric Services Available in

Central New Jersey

Saint Peter's University Hospital today announced an affiliation with The Children's Hospital of Philadelphia (CHOP). The affiliation brings America's top specialists in pediatric medicine to families living in Middlesex County and the Central New Jersey region.

Saint Peter's cares for more infants and children than any other children's hospital in New Jersey and admits a large number of critically ill children and infants from throughout the state, including those patients transported from area hospitals. Starting with pediatric cardiology, CHOP's expert physicians will now be at Saint Peter's, providing patients in the Pediatric Intensive Care Unit (PICU) and Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) with seamless access to world-renowned clinical care.

"No other hospital in the area possesses the scope of pediatric services adequate to provide a clinical home for the high level of medical knowledge that the doctors of The Children's Hospital of Philadelphia bring to Saint Peter's," said Bishop Paul G. Bootkoski of the Metuchen Diocese, sponsor of Saint Peter's University Hospital. "The jewel in the crown of our Diocese just got brighter."

"The inspiration for this affiliation is our children," said Sheryl Slonim, president and chief executive officer of Saint Peter's. "The health and well-being of our community's children have always been a priority in the development of our services. Our affiliation with The Children's Hospital reflects our commitment to providing the highest quality of pediatric care to the valued families in our service area."

Dr. Steven M. Altschuler, president and CEO of The Children's Hospital, echoed Ms. Slonim's comment. "Part of CHOP's mission is to share the benefit of years of innovation and success in pediatric education, research and patient care with families beyond our immediate region. Their long history of caring for seriously ill children makes Saint Peter's an ideal affiliate for The Children's Hospital. The potential in this relationship is great and we look forward to working with the clinical team at Saint Peter's."

Dr. Bipin Patel, chairman of the Department of Pediatrics at Saint Peter's, sees many benefits to the clinical relationship. "Saint Peter's has built the most comprehensive continuum of care in pediatrics in Central New Jersey. We provide well-qualified physicians in every specialty, including such rare services as pediatric anesthesia. A relationship with CHOP and its world-class physicians can only improve an already highly sophisticated clinical program. Pediatric cardiology is just the beginning."

Saint Peter's and The Children's Hospital of Philadelphia have a distinguished history of identifying and serving the medical needs of children and teaching generations of physicians how to care for the littlest patients. "Our collaboration reinforces our commitment to clinical and educational efforts for the betterment of future generations," said Slonim.

About Saint Peter's University Hospital

Saint Peter's University Hospital, a 422-bed acute-care teaching hospital sponsored by the Roman Catholic Diocese of Metuchen, has served the health care needs of central New Jersey since 1907. Saint Peter's admits more than 9,000 inpatients and treats approximately 45,000 outpatients a year. The Children's Hospital at Saint Peter's University Hospital provides a full range of healthcare services to children of all ages, including the state's first regional perinatal center, a Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU), a Pediatric Intensive Care Unit (PICU), a pediatric emergency department and a pediatric transport team trained and equipped to transport critically ill children and newborns from area hospitals. Saint Peter's is a certified Magnet hospital for nursing excellence.

About The Children's Hospital Of Philadelphia

Founded in 1855 as the nation's first pediatric hospital, The Children's Hospital of Philadelphia was ranked the best pediatric hospital in the nation by U.S. News & World Report in 2003 and Child magazine in 2003. Its unique family-centered care and public service programs have brought the 430-bed hospital recognition as a leading advocate for children and adolescents from before birth through age 19. This is the second consecutive time Child magazine has ranked Children's Hospital the best children's hospital in the United States. In their 2003 survey, Child magazine also ranked our cardiac and cancer care as the best in the nation and our newborn/infant care as the second best in the nation.