FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: June 14, 2007
 

CONTACT:	Robert Fraleigh, Director - Corporate Communications, CCMC
	Phone: 860-240-7644 - Pager: 860-220-1619

"CCMC, WATERBURY HOSPITAL & ST. MARY’S HOSPITAL PARTNER TO BRING EXPERT PEDIATRIC CARE TO CHILDREN THROUGHOUT GREATER WATERBURY"

HARTFORD, Conn.—Children and families in Greater Waterbury can look forward to receiving expert pediatric care a little closer to home thanks to a potential new partnership between Connecticut Children’s Medical Center, Waterbury Hospital and St. Mary’s Hospital.

The three hospitals will submit a letter of intent for a Certificate of Need that will consolidate and enhance pediatric services in Waterbury. The plan is to create a unified department of pediatrics with a single pediatric inpatient unit based at St. Mary’s Hospital that will be owned and operated by CCMC. Pending the timing of the approval process, the plan is to open the unit in 2008.

Existing newborn services and pediatric emergency services in Waterbury will not be affected by this proposal, nor will primary care services based in the Waterbury area.

The preliminary planning process—which began about seven months ago—has included representatives of the three hospitals as well as representatives of the Waterbury pediatric practitioner community. All involved agree that this is a significant opportunity to enhance pediatric services in Waterbury. Details of the proposal and its accompanying operational plan are still being developed.