Cedar Park Regional Medical Center announced Nov. 6 that it will close its eight-bed pediatric inpatient unit operated by Dell Children's Medical Center of Central Texas, effective Nov. 8.

The Dell Children's unit at CPRMC opened on the third floor April 1 to treat children with diagnoses such as asthma, croup and pneumonia. In June, Dr. Meena Iyer, Dell Children's pediatric medical director, said a staff of 30 pediatricians were rotating day and evening shifts at both Dell Children's Medical Center Central Texas in Austin and CPRMC.

The neonatal intensive care unit at CPRMC staffed by Dell Children's nurses will remain open.

"Consumers and physicians alike see benefits in minimizing the time children are confined to hospital, and we've observed a shortage of providers who treat children before, after and instead of a hospital stay," Dell Children's Medical Center President Dr. Mark Shen said in a statement.

Seton Healthcare Family, Dell Children's and CPRMC will jointly develop a multi-specialty outpatient pediatric medical office adjacent to the hospital, CPRMC Executive Officer Brad Holland said.

"We hope to make specialty services available in 12 to 18 months," he said in a statement.

In September, the property's developers, Pediatric Subspecialty Land Co. North LLC, received incentives from the city to build the 70,000-square-foot facility northeast of Medical Parkway on Toll 183A. During a Sept. 25 council meeting Phil Brewer, Cedar Park economic development director, said the project will create 180 jobs with a total annual payroll of $14 million.

The joint venture partners—Seton, CPRMC and Dell Children's—plan to convene a medical council of community pediatricians, specialists and medical staff to look at long-range pediatric emergency and inpatient care services, according to a news release.