Texas Children's Hospital opens West Campus, Houston's first pediatric community hospital

Texas Children's Hospital announced the opening of its new West Campus, Houston's first community hospital designed, built and equipped exclusively for children. Located at I-10 and Barker Cypress, the emergency center and hospital services began admitting and treating patients today, while the outpatient clinic facility at West Campus has been open since December 2010. Built on 55 acres with ample free parking spaces and plenty of room for future expansion, Texas Children's Hospital West Campus will serve one of the nation's fastest growing pediatric populations -the area from Sugar Land to Bryan-College Station, Texas. 

The 515,007-square-foot hospital houses the only 24/7 pediatric emergency room in the Greater West Houston area, two operating rooms, 48 intermediate and acute-care patient beds, advanced imaging services including MRI and CT scans, a neurophysiology sleep lab, a pathology lab and a full-scale pharmacy. While West Campus is equipped and staffed to handle a myriad of medical needs, patients requiring highly specialized care, such as organ transplant surgery, will be referred to Texas Children's Main Campus for treatment. 

"The opening of Texas Children's Hospital West Campus emergency center and hospital services today enables us to provide the families of Greater West Houston with expanded access to Texas Children's renowned family-centered pediatric healthcare services," said Mark A. Wallace, president and CEO of Texas Children's Hospital. "This new campus exemplifies Texas Children's 50-year commitment to the health and well being of our community's children and families." 

From the many colorful design elements to the family-friendly amenities, Texas Children's Hospital West Campus embodies the best practices in pediatric treatment and an environment that is welcoming to children. Incorporating evidence-based design elements that promote patient well being, each patient room has an exterior window that allows for natural light and gives patients scenic views of water and nature. Other elements that focus on children include child life play areas on every inpatient floor, artwork created by children and for children throughout the hospital, and an operation simulation room that helps reduce anxiety for young patients by letting them see, touch and talk about the equipment and treatment steps of their upcoming procedure in a safe, non-threatening environment. 

Additionally, West Campus reflects Texas Children's focus on family-centered care by involving the entire family --parents and siblings-- in the care and treatment process. The examination rooms at West Campus are large enough to accommodate parents, siblings and extended family. All private patient rooms have fold-out day beds for family members to stay overnight, as well as Wi-Fi internet connectivity. While patients are in surgery, resting or undergoing treatments, family and visitors can access the on-site library, playrooms located on every patient floor, a dining area and the serene non-denominational chapel. 

"We know that taking a child to the hospital can be an anxiety-filled experience for both the patient and the family, so all the West Campus design elements, features and amenities are strategically planned to create a soothing and supportive healing environment for the entire family," said Michelle Riley-Brown, vice president of Texas Children's Hospital West Campus. "We're so grateful that the community has welcomed Texas Children's Hospital West Campus with open arms and our promise to families here is that we are focused on providing the same unsurpassed standard of pediatric care that is synonymous with the Texas Children's name." 

With approximately 370 employees, Riley-Brown adds that the Texas Children's Hospital culture will be strong at West Campus since many of the physicians staffing both its inpatient and outpatient services have previously practiced at one or more Texas Children's locations. 
The outpatient clinic at West Campus that opened in December 2010 offers a comprehensive array of pediatric subspecialty services including physical/occupational therapy and speech therapy; diabetes/endocrine; gastroenterology; nutrition; audiology; cardiology; neurology; ophthalmology; otolaryngology; orthopedic surgery; pediatric surgery; pulmonary medicine; urology and oncology. 

Designed by the architecture firm of PageSoutherlandPage and built by Tellepsen, Texas Children's Hospital West Campus is Texas Children's first hospital located outside of the Texas Medical Center and is one of the inaugural member institutions of the new Texas Medical Center - West Campus. Texas Children's new community hospital enhances the quality of life for Greater West Houston residents and makes it an even more desirable place to live and raise a family because of the close proximity to a premier children's healthcare facility. 

For more information about Texas Children's Hospital West Campus and services available, visit www.westcampus.texaschildrens.org.

About Texas Children’s Hospital

Texas Children’s Hospital, a not-for-profit health care organization, is committed to creating a healthier future for children and women throughout the global community by leading in patient care, education and research. Consistently ranked as the best children’s hospital in Texas, and among the top in the nation, Texas Children’s has garnered widespread recognition for its expertise and breakthroughs in pediatric and women’s health. The hospital includes the Jan and Dan Duncan Neurological Research Institute; the Feigin Center for pediatric research; Texas Children’s Pavilion for Women, a comprehensive obstetrics/gynecology facility focusing on high-risk births; Texas Children’s Hospital West Campus, a community hospital in suburban West Houston; and Texas Children’s Hospital The Woodlands, a second community hospital planned to open in 2017. The organization also created the nation’s first HMO for children, has the largest pediatric primary care network in the country and a global health program that’s channeling care to children and women all over the world. Texas Children’s Hospital is affiliated with Baylor College of Medicine. For more information, go to www.texaschildrens.org. Get the latest news by visiting the online newsroom and Twitter at twitter.com/texaschildrens.