PHS gains ground in Texas

ROSEVILLE, Minn. - Pediatric Home Service has partnered with San Antonio-based Alliance Medical Supply to expand its presence in Texas, a state where pediatric care is a top priority, says CEO Cameo Zehnder.

“What we are really looking at is the presence of medical technology, what is the presence of home-based services for this unique population,” she said. “In Texas, they have great medical care, wonderful children's hospitals. We look to that as an important component as we determine where we can best serve.”

Texas is playing a big part in PHS's plans, since partnering with InTandem Capital Partners, a healthcare services-focused private equity firm in 2018, to create a national platform. In January 2020, PHS acquired Care Group, which has locations in Houston and Dallas.?The company also has locations in Minnesota, Wisconsin, Ohio, Indiana and Kentucky.

Partnering with PHS will allow Alliance Medical, which was founded by Howk Bethel in 2008 to focus on pediatric respiratory and nutrition services, to expand its services to include home infusion therapy. The company has already launched a local co-branding campaign, reaching out to referral sources and foster homes to educate them on its partnership with PHS and how it will improve care for patients.

“At the end of the day, our patients deserved more than we were (providing),” said Howk, who will serve as general manager for all three Texas locations.

For its part, PHS has found in Alliance Medical a partner that shares its commitment to excellence, says Zehnder.

“They share our vision for the future, with our pediatric center of excellence model,” she said. “(We want to provide) a hospital-at-home level of service to all our markets. It takes time to get there and be a single source to families.”