CHRISTUS Health building emergency hospital in Palestine
Jan. 30—CHRISTUS Health announced plans for a new emergency hospital campus in Palestine Monday, Jan. 29. The Palestine project includes a nearly 20,000 square-foot facility that will house a state-of-the art freestanding emergency department with imaging and laboratory services. The new emergency room will accept ambulance arrivals. CHRISTUS will also be adding inpatient beds at this facility so that patients can stay close to home for acute hospital care.
The facility will be located on the current Magnolia Medical Plaza campus at 3201 Texas 256 Loop in Palestine and will bring to the community 40 full-time jobs, including positions for registered nurses, radiology and laboratory technologists and several other support staff positions.
"This year, 2024, is truly going to be an exciting year of positive growth and change in Palestine," said Mayor Mitchell Jordan. "Trinity Mother Frances is one of the, if not, the number one hospital in East Texas. I have always admired Trinity Mother Frances' vision and patient treatment, it's almost second to none."
Jordan said this project will bring much needed jobs to Palestine as well as top tier medical treatment. The timeline for the project is to start construction in about 120 days with a completion date toward the end of summer 2025.
"When you are sick, you want relief now," he said. "This emergency room facility will bring down the wait time to see a doctor in Palestine tremendously. They will also have a helicopter site to transport patients, and their own EMS service to go back-and-forth for transport. This is a win-win for Anderson County and the City of Palestine!"
"This is indeed a positive sign of growth and progress," said City Manager Teresa Herrera. "The increased availability of job opportunities can contribute to the economic development of the city and provide more options for our residents. Expanding healthcare services can also have a significant impact on the well-being and quality of life for the citizens. It's encouraging to see the city moving forward in a positive direction, and I'm sure these opportunities will bring numerous benefits to the community."
The Magnolia Medical Plaza joined CHRISTUS in 2017. Currently, there are six physicians, four nurse practitioners and four physician assistants practicing primary care in Palestine. Along with full-time orthopedic surgery and pain management, the clinic also offers specialty services including cardiology, pulmonary, gastroenterology, and wound care through visiting CHRISTUS Trinity Clinic.
"Our clinic has been serving Palestine and the surrounding communities for more than 30 years and the addition of emergency medicine will only enhance our ability to care for patients today and for many more years to come," said Dr. Alec Law, lead physician of primary care.
"We have had a footprint in Palestine for a number of years now, and this is a great way for us to continue to extend our health care mission to the community," said Chris Glenney, senior vice president for group operations, CHRISTUS Northeast Texas. "We know there is a need for patients in the Palestine area to have access to our health system and the exceptional health care we provide. We are honored to meet that need and continue our mission to expand the healing ministry of Jesus Christ."
In recent years, CHRISTUS Health has expanded patient access in the Northeast Texas communities of Athens, Atlanta, Canton, Gladewater, Henderson, Kilgore, Lindale, Longview, Marshall, Mount Pleasant, Sulphur Springs, Texarkana, Tyler and Winnsboro.
"We are incredibly excited to continue our work in the Palestine community," said Dr. Brent Wadle, vice president of physician operations at CHRISTUS Trinity Clinic. "The Trinity Clinic provides access to over 600 physicians and nearly 360 nurse practitioners and physician assistants across Northeast Texas. This type of access will allow the residents of Palestine and the surrounding communities the opportunity to get the care they need in a timely manner without having to leave the region to do so."
