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AtlantiCare Health System and Atlantic City Medical Center (ACMC) will join forces with duPont Hospital for Children, the pediatric affiliate of Thomas Jefferson University, to collaborate on an exclusive pediatric affiliation.

This agreement, once completed, will be the first of its kind in southeastern New Jersey and is the initial step in the development of a comprehensive regional children's program.

The agreement will link duPont's and Jefferson's renowned clinical services, specialty care and teaching programs with the AtlantiCare Health System. These services will be available at ACMC and at the new AtlantiCare Healthpark in the English Creek section of Egg Harbor Township.

The duPont Hospital for Children is located in Wilmington, Del. Together, duPont and Jefferson provide pediatric care for close to 200,000 from across the country annually.

The affiliation represents a significant expansion of duPont and Jefferson's presence outside the Philadelphia region and will bring renowned pediatric specialists from both duPont and Jefferson to this region. The duPont and Jefferson doctors will collaborate with local southeastern New Jersey primary care pediatric physicians in building a world-class pediatric program for the residents of southeastern New Jersey.

According to AtlantiCare President and CEO George Lynn, the agreement is a result of an extensive planning process, which included local physicians, ACMC, duPont and Jefferson.

"The duPont Hospital is one of the truly preeminent pediatric institutions in the world," said Lynn. "And Jefferson is one of the most respected names in the healthcare industry. So we are delighted that this affiliation will bring the expertise of not one, but two outstanding partners to the community that we serve."

"Our goal at AtlantiCare is to give area children the very best possible care. And together, AlantiCare, duPont and Jefferson will make that a reality by combining their expertise with that of our area's outstanding primary care pediatricians," added Lynn. "This will complement our other initiatives focusing on children, such as Success By 6® and AtlantiCare Kids."

The agreement calls for duPont and Jefferson to assist in the management and operation of inpatient pediatric units in both the City and Mainland Divisions of ACMC, including the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit at the City Division. They will also support the pediatric services provided in ACMC's emergency departments and provide pediatric subspecialties and pediatric surgery at AtlantiCare facilities. At these locations, duPont and Jefferson will assist AtlantiCare in coordinating specialty care for children, including cardiology, neurology and gastroenterology.

Longer term plans may include duPont surgeons performing surgery at the new AtlantiCare Surgery Center in AtlantiCare HealthPark.

"Together we are building a new model for the delivery of world-class pediatric care." said ACMC President David Tilton. "As we move forward, we'll be evaluating the most effective and efficient ways to deliver that care, including the appropriate access points."

Commenting on the duPont/Jefferson expansion into southeastern New Jersey, Paul C. Brucker, M.D., President, Thomas Jefferson University, said, "We are looking forward to bringing our expertise to the shore region, and we are especially pleased that we will be able to do so in partnership with one of the region's leading healthcare providers."

AtlantiCare Health System is an integrated network of services with a vision of improving health outcomes and health status and reducing costs for people who live and work in southeastern New Jersey. AtlantiCare is composed of Atlantic City Medical Center, AtlantiCare Foundation, AtlantiCare Health Plans, AtlantiCare Behavioral Health, AtlantiCare Health Services and InfoShare, an information technology company.

The duPont Hospital for Children is a private, nonprofit, fully-accredited children's hospital with over a 50-year history of patient care, teaching and research. In a unique child-centered environment, the hospital offers the full range of specialties of pediatric medicine, surgery and dentistry.

Thomas Jefferson University and the duPont Hospital for Children have formed an affiliation to further excellence in their mission of patient care, education and research. Linking a major academic medical center and an independent children's hospital strengthens the ability of both institutions to meet the challenges of the changing healthcare environment and provide the highest quality pediatric care to the children of the region.