St. Luke's Health and The Larkin Group Enter Joint Venture

Michael Covert, Chief Executive Officer for St. Luke’s Health, and Kelly Larkin, M.D., Chief Executive Officer of The Larkin Group, announced they have entered into a joint venture agreement to include five Houston-area PhysiciansER locations. 

“This is another step forward in our continuing efforts to transform healthcare delivery by providing expanded access and convenience for patients throughout the region,” Covert said. “Combining the Houston-area PhysiciansER locations with our existing St. Luke’s Health emergency centers will offer patients in the Greater Houston area an unprecedented level of convenience to exceptional, patient-centered emergency care.”

PhysiciansER locations are 24/7 emergency facilities with highly skilled staff that include board-certified ER physicians, licensed nurses, and technicians as well as state-of-the-art laboratories, diagnostic imaging services and licensed pharmacies. As part of the St. Luke’s Health family, these PhysiciansER locations will offer patients streamlined admissions to full hospital care, if needed.

“This is an exciting advancement for us and our patients,” said Dr. Larkin. “Freestanding ERs are convenient and easier to access than most hospital-based ERs, and the short wait times can make the difference for a more positive outcome. When a hospital admission is necessary, our relationship with St. Luke’s will make that transition much easier for the patient and family members.”

Each of the five locations will be rebranded “CHI St. Luke’s Health–Baylor St. Luke’s Emergency Center,” making a total of eight locations under that name in the Greater Houston area. A complete list of locations can be found at CHIer.org. This alliance adds convenient locations to St. Luke’s growing footprint, with six hospital-based emergency departments and now eight freestanding emergency centers. St. Luke’s Health provides substantial credibility in emergency care with a brand built on a 60-year history of providing quality healthcare for patients in Greater Houston.