Texas Health Presbyterian Hospital Allen has reported a significant rise in deliveries following a partnership with Diana Health, a New York-based women’s health provider. The collaboration, which began in late 2024, integrates certified nurse midwives into the hospital’s obstetric care model. Officials state that this approach has helped reverse a local decline in birth rates by offering a midwifery-led option alongside traditional physician care.
Data from the hospital shows that 536 babies were delivered in 2025. This figure represents a 29% increase compared to the three-year historical average of 415 annual deliveries recorded between 2022 and 2024. The partnership also contributed to a 17% reduction in cesarean section rates for low-risk patients during the same period, when compared to the prior three-year baseline.
Kari McCord, the chief nursing officer at Texas Health Allen, noted that the facility had experienced a drop in births prior to the initiative. She attributed this decline to shifting population dynamics and competition from other medical centers. McCord described the new model as a strategic fit for the community, noting that it has revitalized women’s health services. The increased demand has occasionally pushed the hospital’s 14-bed labor and delivery unit and its six-bed neonatal intensive care unit close to capacity.
Margaret Buxton, vice president of clinical operations for Diana Health, explained that the program pairs midwives with physicians on every shift. She stated that midwives specialize in relationship-based support for low-risk pregnancies, while obstetricians manage high-risk situations. This structure aims to provide comprehensive care while improving patient satisfaction and increasing vaginal birth rates.
The initiative also expands access to other services, including gynecological care and mental health treatment, through a new women’s health office established at the hospital. The rise in local births contrasts with broader demographic trends. According to Centers for Disease Control and Prevention data, Collin County’s fertility rate fell by more than 25% between 2005 and 2024. In 2024, approximately 51 out of 1,000 women of reproductive age in the county gave birth.