Texas Medical Center, Houston, is considering a complaint by Baylor College of Medicine that expansion plans by Baylor's former partner, Methodist Hospital, are in violation of deed covenants for membership in the medical complex.
Methodist spokeswoman Erin Fairchild said Baylor's complaint was not valid. Baylor declined to comment, but the Houston Chronicle reported that Baylor officials in a memo accused Methodist of trying to "destroy" the medical school. The center's covenant compliance committee began meeting today and could continue through Wednesday, Fairchild said.
Methodist and Baylor ended a 50-year affiliation last year, and Baylor last week entered into exclusive merger negotiations with St. Luke's Episcopal Health System, which also has a hospital at the center.
Texas Medical Center is a complex of 42 healthcare facilities, including five adult acute-care hospitals and two children's hospitals.
