Here are the latest updates on four hospital systems serving the Lake Travis and West Austin areas.

1. Ascension Seton Southwest

Ascension Seton Southwest celebrated its 25th anniversary in May. Alongside growth in the Southwest Austin area, hospital system officials said its services continue to expand as well.

What’s new

In November, Ascension Seton Southwest opened its fourth operating room. According to Patrick Paver, hospital administrator for Ascension Seton Southwest, the hospital performs over roughly 750 orthopedic surgeries and 300 general surgeries yearly.


The new operating room features new lights and high-definition technology for endoscopy towers, which allows surgeons to more closely examine the inside of the body.

Ascension Seton Southwest’s outpatient care services have also grown significantly, which includes pediatric rehabilitation in collaboration with Dell Children’s Emergency Care and cardiac rehabilitation. Paver said those programs have grown 15-20% every year since they opened.

Paver said the hospital is also on track to open an intermediate care unit, or IMU, at the end of this year. Paver said the IMU will allow more patients to recover closer to home.

Ascension Seton’s Central Austin campus at 1201 W. 38th St., Austin, is on track to open its new women’s tower early next year, according to a hospital representative.2. Baylor Scott & White Medical Center-Austin


Austin-area residents can now receive specialized care for stroke emergencies and treatment at Baylor Scott & White Medical Center-Austin.

The overview

The medical center is now a designated primary stroke center, or PSC, following a national certification by The Joint Commission in collaboration with the American Heart Association and American Stroke Association.

As a PSC, the medical center offers specialized treatment for stroke patients including:
  • Board-certified telehealth neurologists
  • Emergency physicians
  • Stroke-trained nurses
The services at the medical center allow patients to receive comprehensive care in one central place, rather than having to travel to another hospital for stroke treatment.


Dr. Farzan Ghodsianzadeh, neurologist and medical director of stroke care at BS&W Medical Center-Austin, said the center sees a “significant number” of patients in the area. He said the team is also seeing more patients under 50 impacted by stroke, making the PSC especially important.

“Having a certified stroke center right here in Austin brings expert care closer to where our younger population lives, which means faster treatment and better outcomes,” he said.3. Baylor Scott & White Medical Center-Lakeway

The hospital recently earned an Advanced Spine Surgery Certification from Det Norske Veritas group.

“With Lakeway’s aging population, and more people working remotely, spine issues like stenosis and osteoarthritis are increasingly common,” a hospital representative said in a news release.4. St. David’s South Austin Medical Center


The center renovated and expanded its women’s services unit earlier this year.

St. David’s HealthCare CEO David Huffstutler said the expansion included new labor and delivery rooms and a new cesarean section unit.