MEDNAX acquires maternal-fetal medicine physician group practice in St. Louis, MO

MEDNAX, Inc., (NYSE: MD) today announced the acquisition of a maternal-fetal medicine physician group practice based in St. Louis, MO.

Midwest Maternal-Fetal Medicine, L.L.C., consists of six maternal-fetal medicine physicians and 15 clinical and administrative support staff who provide care to expectant mothers, including the management of high-risk and complicated pregnancies, throughout the greater St. Louis, MO area. Midwest Maternal-Fetal Medicine has long-term relationships with three large area hospitals, including Mercy Hospital St. Louis, St. Luke's Hospital and St. Anthony's Medical Center.

"By aligning ourselves with Pediatrix we believe that our practice will have a strong platform for future growth that will enable us to further build out the clinical and administrative support necessary for the increasing demand of high-risk pregnancy care required by our patients and their families," said Gilbert Webb, M.D., who will serve as Pediatrix's medical director for the practice. "We view this partnership as an opportunity to enhance our quality improvement initiatives, share clinical outcome data and best practices, and have a greater role in advancing healthcare while achieving the best possible outcomes for our patients."

The physicians joining as a result of this transaction will practice as part of MEDNAX's Pediatrix Medical Group, a national medical group consisting of the nation's leading neonatal, maternal-fetal medicine, pediatric cardiology, and other pediatric specialty physicians.

The practice was acquired for cash and the transaction is expected to be immediately accretive to its earnings. No additional terms of the transaction were disclosed.

With this acquisition, six physician group practices have become part of Pediatrix Medical Group and one physician group practice has become part of American Anesthesiology during 2011.