The three physicians practicing as part of Desert Neonatal Medical Group staff the 30-bed neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) at Desert Regional Medical Center, which has annual patient volume in excess of 9,000 patient days. The physicians serve patients admitted from throughout the growing Coachella Valley area. Pediatrix paid cash for Desert Neonatal, and the transaction is expected to be accretive to the company’s earnings per share.
William Phaklides, who founded the Desert Neonatal practice and will serve as Pediatrix’s NICU medical director in Palm Springs, said: “We’re joining Pediatrix to have a partner that will help us with practice management and give us the resources to respond to a growing demand for neonatal services within our community. I’ve been impressed by Pediatrix’s clinical data warehouse, and it will be helpful to know how our clinical practices compare across a national group. We’ve been committed to improving data collection as a way to improve patient care, and our commitment will continue as part of Pediatrix.”