For immediate release

October 14, 2003

Leading Infertility Clinic Joins Sky Ridge Complex

Nationally renowned center to be more accessible to south metro-area residents

LONE TREE, COLORADO — One of the country's oldest and best-known fertility clinics is going south. The Colorado Center for Reproductive Medicine (CCRM), which offers some of the highest pregnancy rates in the country, has opened a clinic at the Sky Ridge Medical Center, the brand-new, $148 million hospital designed to serve the south metro area's booming population.

The new CCRM offices mark the practice's third location and are part of a strategy to bring its services closer to where patients live - in this case, residents of Highlands Ranch, Lone Tree, Parker, Castle Rock, and Littleton, as well as southern Douglas and Arapahoe counties. Founded in 1987, the center also has offices adjoining Swedish Medical Center, in Englewood, and Rose Medical Center, in Denver.

"Our new Sky Ridge office represents an important CCRM expansion aimed at accommodating patients' needs, which can be unique to this field of medicine," said Eric Surrey, M.D., CCRM medical director.

For example, as specialists in in vitro fertilization (IVF), CCRM oversees egg stimulation in patients as a frequent part of treatment. During this process, patients must come into the CCRM offices seven or eight times over a two-week period for ultrasound and lab work.

"With couples struggling to juggle families, jobs and other responsibilities," Surrey said, "our Sky Ridge offices will make those necessary processes much easier to accomplish."

CCRM offers a complete spectrum of infertility treatments, and specializes in IVF and other assisted reproductive technologies. CCRM and its physicians, Drs. William Schoolcraft, Eric Surrey and Debra Minjarez, have been featured in the Wall Street Journal, on The Today Show, Dateline NBC and in many other media.

Scientific breakthroughs discovered at the center include research in blastocyst transfer, a technique of growing embryos in the lab two extra days before implantation in the mother. This method significantly increases pregnancy rates and can also help reduce the risk of multiple-birth pregnancies.

"As our infertility treatment options expand," says Surrey, "we feel fortunate to be able to reach out to our communities and provide those services directly to patients. Adding this facility to CCRM's options allows us to access and grow our patient community."

Patient pregnancy rates at CCRM are among the highest in the country - nearly double the national average. More information is available at www.colocrm.com.

CCRM's new Sky Ridge office is located at 10103 Ridge Gate Parkway, Suite 212, Lone Tree, Colorado. The phone number there is 303.790.1363.

The Sky Ridge Medical Center provides a full range of services including a level III emergency/trauma department, a cancer center, full-range surgical services, cardiac services, full diagnostic and imaging services, and a Women's Center with obstetrical services and a Level II nursery for high-risk newborns. The Sky Ridge Medical Center is located at 10101 Ridge Gate Parkway, Lone Tree, Colorado. Call 720.225.1000, or visit www.skyridgemedcenter.com.

Background: Founded in 1987 by Dr. William Schoolcraft, the Colorado Center for Reproductive Medicine offers a complete spectrum of infertility treatments, and specializes in IVF and other assisted reproductive technologies. Today, Joined by Drs. Eric Surrey and Debra Minjarez, Dr. Schoolcraft and his staff boast some of the highest pregnancy rates in the country - nearly double the national average. Thanks in part to extensive research led by CCRM scientific director David K. Gardner, Ph.D., the Clinic attracts nearly half of its patients from other states and foreign countries. CCRM has four locations in Colorado: Swedish Medical Center in Englewood, Rose Medical Center in Denver, SkyRidge Medical Center in Lone Tree, and Avista Aventist Hospital in Louisville. For additional information, visit CCRM's website at www.colocrm.com or call 303-788-8300.

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