Monday is a red-letter day for Austin and Central Texas for healthcare as Texas Children's Hospital rolls out its first Austin hospital with outpatient services kicking off February 5 and full operations slated for February 20, as reported by KVUE. The new campus, pegged at almost $500 million, will not only offer ER services but is also equipped with urgent care and a dedicated women’s unit, bringing specialized care closer to home for local families.
U.S. News and World Report names the hospital as the best in Texas and third in the nation for pediatric care. Russ Williams, Texas Children's vice president of the North Austin campus, emphasized the local needs, stating, "There were honestly too many kids having to leave Central Texas to get the care that they need." According to a KVUE interview, Williams added, "So, it was an amazing opportunity for us to come bring number one children's hospital in Texas and be able to keep children and women in Central Texas for the care that they need."
CEO Mark Wallace of Texas Children's Hospital told KVUE how thousands of Austin area kids have been trekking to Houston for treatment. The new campus looks to flip that script. Complete with 52 beds, life-support-equipped ambulances, and even local art throughout the building, the new facility bears all the hallmarks of a Texas Children's institution while keeping an Austin vibe.
On the employment front, the hospital is set to initially create 800 jobs, ballooning to over a thousand as the campus gets fully operational. As per KVUE, Wallace shared, "nearly half of the employers that we're starting with, they're part of the Texas Children's Hospital system. And then another very high percentage are from Austin, Texas."
The new facility also ushers in an era of expanded services, including neonatal units, operating rooms, a sleep center, and full diagnostic services tailored for mothers and children, adding to the fabric of Austin's healthcare landscape. Echoing Williams' earlier remarks, a PRNewswire release cited, "Austin families and the surrounding communities deserve access to the most advanced treatment from world-renowned physicians at any given moment and Texas Children's is doing their best to ensure this will happen now and in the future."
