SAN ANTONIO – Christus Santa Rosa Health System may have an academic affiliation in pediatrics with the Baylor College of Medicine and its Texas Children's Hospital in Houston within 30 to 45 days, according to Pat Carrier, the system's president.
The announcement comes within hours of a unanimous vote the UT System Board of Regents to create a similar agreement between the UT Health Science Center and the Children's Hospital of Philadelphia, also known as CHOP, operated by Vanguard Health Systems.
"While we were disappointed by the decision, quite frankly, we were not surprised," Carrier said.
He said it was clear early on that the medical school's leadership favored the Vanguard proposal over the one submitted by Christus Santa Rosa.
Carrier said Christus and its new potential partners already had been in talks, in anticipation of the UTHSC decision.
"For them, the fact that it's located on their campus, I think was a major aspect for them," Carrier said.
Instead of moving out to the Medical Center area, Carrier said Christus chose to convert and expand its landmark downtown site, a $400 million investment, over the next two years.
"We feel the Children's Hospital of San Antonio is situated in the best location to provide the greatest care to those who need it most," Carrier said.
He said Texas Children's Hospital is ranked fourth in the nation and the Baylor College of Medicine is among the country's premier medical schools.
"This potential affiliation will certainly put us in very good stead among top children's hospitals," Carrier said.