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Dallas-Fort Worth, Texas |
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Texas Children's Hospital plans $1.5 billion expansion
10/19/2006
Texas Children's Hospital, one of the nation's largest pediatric hospitals, planned to announce Thursday a $1.5 billion expansion, officials said.
The project calls for adding 2 million square feet by 2010 with the construction of a neurological research institute, maternity center and a satellite hospital in west Houston.
"We expect this to take us from eminence to pre-eminence," said Dr. Ralph Feigin, Texas Children's physician in chief. "But most importantly, it will ensure that our children and grandchildren get the finest-quality pediatric care for years to come."
The project will be funded by the Texas Children's endowment, a $400 million fundraising campaign and tax-exempt bonds, hospital officials said. It will add 2,500 to 3,000 jobs and contribute to ongoing expansion at the Texas Medical Center.
Officials said the $215 million neurological institute will be the first of its kind in the world devoted to the unique issues of a child's brain structure, development patterns and related diseases.
Doctors in the 400,000-square-foot facility will research little-understood genetic ailments that cause developmental problems for 14 million U.S. children, officials said.
The $575 million maternity center is Texas Children's first foray into delivering babies. The obstetrics unit at St. Luke's will be transferred to the new center, which will contain 700,000 square feet, 14 floors and 141 patient beds. About 5,000 babies a year are expected to be delivered there.
The $220 million satellite hospital in west Houston will include an emergency center, operating rooms and acute and intermediate care inpatient beds.
Officials said the 96-bed hospital is a response to suburban growth.
"This investment isn't just about buildings, beds, and bricks and mortar," Texas Children's President Mark Wallace said. "It's about accelerating the translation of research from bench to bedside. It's no good if we're a great hospital but not that many people have access to the best treatment."
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Information from: Houston Chronicle, http://www.chron.com
On the Net: Texas Children's Hospital, http://www.texaschildrenshospital.org
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