Check out three health care updates from local hospitals in Hays County, including Ascension Seton Hays in Kyle, Baylor Scott & White in Buda and Christus Santa Rosa Hospital in San Marcos.

Ascension Seton Hays-Kyle

Ascension Seton Hays in Kyle recently opened a 17-bed observation unit aimed at improving patient comfort and increasing capacity. The new unit features private rooms, reduced noise levels and upgraded amenities. Patients who used the older observation space reported a noticeably better experience, officials said.

Hospital officials also completed renovations to the emergency room lobby, enclosing the registration area for patient privacy and staff safety—an initiative spurred by a nationwide rise in emergency room-related threats since the COVID-19 pandemic.

These updates come as Ascension Seton Hays continues to prepare for ongoing population growth in Hays County, according to hospital officials.


While no formal expansion plans have been announced, hospital leaders said additional facility upgrades, particularly to the emergency department, are being considered for the near future.
Baylor Scott & White-Buda Medical Center is located at 5330 Overpass Road. (Courtesy Baylor Scott & White)


Baylor Scott & White-Buda Medical Center

With a specialty in joint replacements and a passion for health equity, Dr. Jordan Handcox is helping reshape how underrepresented patients experience orthopedic care at Baylor Scott & White in Buda.

An orthopedic surgeon specializing in hip and knee replacements, Handcox is one of about 150 Black female orthopedic surgeons nationwide and one of only nine fellowship-trained in joint replacements.


Handcox said she aims to improve access to joint care for underrepresented populations and hopes to build greater trust in the medical system. She noted that Baylor Scott & White started using robotic surgery and hopes to bring the technology to the Buda location.

The hospital recently added a mobile Positron Emission Tomography, or PET, and Computed Tomography, or CT, scanner, according to a news release. The PET/CT scanner is available every Friday, to help reduce travel and wait times for patients in southern Travis and Hays counties, according to a news release. The scanner offers high-resolution imaging for patients undergoing cancer treatment planning, including for prostate cancer.

The unit is on-site every Friday and supports patients who have a cancer diagnosis and are undergoing treatment planning.

The scanner can detect a range of cancers and helps patients avoid traveling to Austin or Round Rock for high-resolution imaging, officials said in the release, noting that patients must be referred by a physician to receive a scan.
Christus Santa Rosa hospital is located at 1301 Wonder World Drive, San Marcos. (Community Impact staff)


Christus Santa Rosa Hospital-San Marcos

Christus Santa Rosa Hospital–San Marcos has seen several updates in recent months.

In May, the hospital earned an “A” grade—the highest possible rating—for health care safety from The Leapfrog Group, a national watchdog organization that grades U.S. hospitals based on their ability to prevent medical errors and patient harm. This marks the fifth “A” the hospital has received, according to a news release.

In March, Christus Health expanded its footprint in the San Marcos area with the ribbon-cutting and grand opening of a new urgent care clinic. The facility offers patients an alternative care option by providing prompt medical attention for minor emergency health concerns.


Also in Hays County, Christus Trinity Clinic in Wimberley expanded its hours and is now open on Saturdays, offering increased access to care for the surrounding community, according to the release.