Baptist Health System is once again taking a strong leadership role in San Antonio and South Texas health care with the announcement today of its intentions to build a comprehensive pediatric network anchored by a new stand-alone children's hospital for our community. This network will include ambulatory sites throughout Bexar County and surrounding counties and incorporate our current in-patient care delivery at North Central Baptist Hospital.

Backed by the strength of Vanguard, we are partnering with the Children's Hospital of Philadelphia, ranked the No. 1 children's hospital in the nation by U.S. News & World Report, on a proposal for state and local officials. We believe our plan to create a comprehensive pediatric care network that includes the premier children's hospital in South Texas will transform San Antonio into a destination healthcare center for pediatric care throughout Texas and the southwest. We are looking forward to working with area physicians in building this pediatric network.

As reported in the San Antonio Express-News today, local officials expressed enthusiasm for our announcement and partnership with the Children's Hospital of Philadelphia. "That's kind of like attracting a Fortune 500 company," Judge Nelson Wolff said of the partnership.

The Children's Hospital of Philadelphia, founded in 1855, operates dozens of clinics and outpatient facilities throughout Pennsylvania and New Jersey, anchored by the 516-bed hospital on the campus of the University of Pennsylvania.

All of us at Vanguard and Baptist are excited about this new opportunity to serve the communities of South Texas and we hope you are excited as well as we move forward with the planning for this new venture.