Investing in Wellness: Children’s Health℠ Launches New Investment Strategy to Take Health Care Beyond the Hospital

Media Contact:
Email mediarelations@childrens.com or call 214-456-5310

Children’s Health℠ partners with Mend; first in a series of investments that will modernize health care in Texas and across the U.S.

DALLAS (Dec. 11, 2015) — Children’s Health℠ a leading pediatric health care system, is launching a robust investment strategy to revolutionize how today’s family approaches health and wellness. Children’s Health is looking to invest and strategically partner with innovative companies and technologies that share its vision to extend care beyond hospital walls.

“Health care shouldn’t be limited to just what happens in a doctor’s office or hospital. We want to help people focus on preventive care instead of only relying on health care services when they are sick ,” said Peter Roberts, executive vice president of the Children’s Health population health division. “By aligning with like-minded companies, we plan to accelerate technologies that meet the rapidly changing needs of today’s health care consumer and that help us provide quality care to children and families in new and exciting ways.”

What makes this strategy unique is the system’s commitment beyond the initial investment. “We are focused on the long-term impact we can have with our investments. We will invest in a company for an equity stake, but also work with that partner to co-develop technology and implement the results with our patients,” Roberts said.

The system’s first strategic investment is with Mend, a rapidly expanding Dallas-based company offering mobile, on-demand health care services for both children and adults. By scheduling a “house call” through the Mend app or website, www.MendAtHome.com, families can obtain high quality health services at a place and time that is most convenient for them and at a fraction of the cost of emergency care.

“Mend combines technological innovation and patient-centered focus, empowering families to take control of their health, while reducing the costs associated with more traditional healthcare models,” Mend Founder and CEO Jonathan Clarke, M.D., explained.

As an affiliate of Children’s Health, Mend is now able to extend its scope of services and geographic reach throughout the state of Texas, as well as to other markets.

Mend is just one example of an innovative access point that Children’s Health is adding to its integrated health system through this new investment strategy. Going forward, the system will continue to make investments in technologies to broaden the spectrum of care it can offer, in Texas and throughout the U.S.

For more information on Children’s Health, please visit www.childrens.com or call 1-844-4CHILDRENS.

About Children’s Health℠

Children’s Health℠ is the seventh-largest pediatric health care provider in the nation and the leading pediatric health care system in North Texas, providing a full spectrum of health care services—from daily wellness and primary care to specialty visits and critical care. Holding eight disease- specific care certifications from The Joint Commission, Children’s Health has been consistently named one of the nation’s top pediatric providers by U.S. News & World Report. The Children’s Health system includes the flagship hospital Children’s Medical Center Dallas, as well as Children’s Medical Center Plano, eight specialty centers, 20 Children’s Health Pediatric Group primary care practices, nine Our Children’s House rehabilitation facilities, home health, physician services and the Children’s Medical Center Research Institute at UT Southwestern. For more information, please visit www.childrens.com.

About Mend

Mend is a Dallas based health-tech start up that delivers on-demand urgent medical care for the whole family, right to your doorstep. The convenience of Uber or Lyft meets the personalized service of the old-fashioned doctor house call. Patients can request a same day or next day visit on their free iOS app, website ( www.mendathome.com ), or by calling customer service at 469-458-MEND. Pricing is transparent and they offer simple in-app payment and prescription delivery at no additional cost.