$220 million expansion underway for Baylor Scott & White Round Rock hospital
Baylor Scott & White Medical Center-Round Rock is on the way to nearly doubling in size.
Construction has started on a five-story tower, as well as on remodeling some of the existing hospital building. The project's $220 million price tag covers the building addition, remodeling and technology. The work is expected to be completed in 2026.
The project is one of several hospital expansions and new hospitals coming to the area in the next three years.
Drew Bennett, vice president of operations for Baylor Scott & White Medical Center-Round Rock, said the hospital has seen a 30% increase in patients in the past five years in part because of the growth in population of the Round Rock area. The city grew 19.6% in population from 2010 to 2020, according to the U.S. Census Bureau.
The five-story tower will be attached to the current hospital on the west side, which is a parking area now. Additional parking will be developed.
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The hospital has 101 beds. The new number hasn't been determined, but the hospital will get a level two neonatal intensive care unit for babies who need extra support. NICUs range from level one to level four, the highest level of care.
Baylor Scott & White-Round Rock has not had a NICU. It will still transfer the sickest babies to McLane Children's Hospital in Temple; Dell Children's Medical Center and St. David's Medical Center, which have level four NICUs; or Ascension Seton and St. David's North Austin Medical Center, which have level three NICUs.
The addition and remodel also will expand the labor and delivery unit; increase medical/surgical beds; add surgical suites, endoscopy suits, cardiac catheterization and interventional radiology labs; and create space for the emergency department to expand.
The hospital will also get a new entrance, a new lobby, a chapel, upgrades to the cafeteria and common areas, and a renovated healing garden. The renovation and expansion include adding technology.
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The plans are still fluctuating, Bennett said.
"We are trying to expand in the way that best meets the needs of the community, but we're trying to be as flexible as possible," he said. "We're always evaluating our different programs and services and continue to do so."
All the new beds will be universal beds, which can be used for all levels of care, including intensive care.
The new building and renovation will open in phases.
Austin-area hospital growth
New hospitals and expansions at existing hospitals in the past eight years:
2015
Baylor Scott & White Medical Center Marble Falls, August 2015
Heart Hospital of Austin at St. David's Round Rock Medical Center, Round Rock
2016
St. David's Surgical Hospital in Round Rock
2017
Dell Seton Medical Center in Austin
2019
Baylor Scott & White Medical Center-Pflugerville
Baylor Scott & White Medical Center-Buda
Ascension Seton Medical Center Bastrop
2020
Baylor Scott & White Medical Center-Austin
2021
Dell Children's labor and delivery unit and specialty pavilion
2022
Dell Children's Medical Center fourth tower
More hospitals coming to Central Texas
2023
Dell Children's Medical Center North, April
2024
Texas Children's Hospital in North Austin, February
St. David's HealthCare hospital in Leander
St. David's HealthCare hospital in Kyle
St. David's HealthCare behavioral health hospital near North Austin Medical Center
Ascension Seton Medical Center expansion tower
2026
Expansion at Baylor Scott & White Medical Center-Round Rock
This article originally appeared on Austin American-Statesman: $220 million expansion underway for Baylor Scott & White-Round Rock
