News Releases

Memorial Hermann Expansion Going Strong

Houston, Texas, April 2, 2003 -- Results of the ambitious $420 million program to expand and modernize hospitals across the Memorial Hermann Healthcare System are beginning to show in a big way in 2003. Nearly two years after construction began, a new 168-bed patient tower at Memorial Hermann The Woodlands Hospital opened in February with a grand opening celebration that drew hundreds of people from throughout the community, despite inclement weather. The $78 million, seven-story structure is designed around a theme of family-centered care, with expanded private rooms that provide comfortable accommodations for family members.

Among the medical and surgical patient care facilities is a surgery center containing eight state-of-the-art surgery suites for both emergency and elective procedures. From routine X-rays to cardiac catheterizations and Positron Emission Tomography (PET) scans, the new patient tower offers a host of diagnostic services, along with cancer, rehabilitation, women's, pediatric and emergency services. Medical staff in the Level II and Level III Neonatal Intensive Care Units (NICUs) are trained to care for infants up to 12 weeks premature. A Family Birth Center houses 34 birthing suites and offers single-room maternity care - complete mother/baby care in a single room.

All rooms throughout the facility are equipped with Internet access and each floor offers a spacious family gathering area featuring comfortable lounges. Soothing colors and artwork throughout the hospital promote a healing environment.

“It has truly been an honor for Memorial Hermann The Woodlands Hospital to serve the health care needs of our area families for the past 18 years,” said hospital CEO Steve Sanders. “This expansion is our gift to the community and one that will allow us the space and technology to continue providing the fine health care every family deserves and has come to expect.”

Major projects to expand facilities and services at Memorial Hermann Northwest Hospital and Memorial Hermann Memorial City Hospital will wrap up in the next few months. This summer, Northwest will open its new 165,000 square foot South Tower, featuring a family birthing center, surgical nursing unit with 40 private beds, outpatient testing facility with comprehensive women's center, ambulatory medicine center, training center and atrium garden. A new hospital parking garage was recently completed, providing improved access for patients and their families.

In the fall, Memorial City takes the wraps off its new nine-story patient bed tower, featuring a new and expanded emergency center and intensive care unit, new inpatient surgery suites, a clinical observation unit, an intermediate care unit and a neuroscience unit. The tower will also house a renovated cardiac catheterization lab, relocated and expanded endoscopy suite and an expanded outpatient surgery center. Also under construction - in partnership with MetroNational - is a professional office building and adjacent multi-level parking garage.

The Systemwide expansion, largely financed by bonds, was launched in 2001 in response to growing patient demand throughout the Houston area and southeast Texas. With nine acute care, two long-term acute care and three managed hospitals, Memorial Hermann is the largest not-for-profit health care system in Texas and one of the largest in the country.

For more information, contact Media Relations.