What you need to know
The expansion marks a step in the hospital’s growing role as a medical hub for North Texas, hospital President Ken Hutchenrider said.
The expansion will add two full-size operating rooms with space for two future operating rooms, bringing the total number to 13. Work is underway on the first two operating rooms, Hutchenrider said, with an expected completion in early 2026.
This is in addition to the three cardiac catheterization laboratories, or cath labs, where heart and vascular treatments are performed, Director of Community and Public Relations Jan Arrant said.
In addition to the expanded operating rooms, the hospital is developing a joint ambulatory surgery center with several physicians and Tennessee-based Surgical Partners, a company that partners with hospitals to operate ancillary surgical facilities.
The center will offer minor surgeries such as laparoscopy and other surgeries where patients can typically go home the same day, freeing up space in the main operating room for more advanced surgeries.
Once complete, Hutchenrider said there are plans to begin the process to upgrade the hospital’s trauma designation from Level III to Level II, the second highest.
Why it matters
Luba Ketsler, associate professor of instruction focused on healthcare economics at the University of Texas at Dallas, said more operating rooms and continual advances in technology improve hospital efficiency, meaning it can care for more patients more quickly.
Ketsler added that additional rooms reduce bottlenecks in the healthcare system and improve access and quality of care.
“The idea is that the more [hospitals] advance the technologies, the quicker [patients] are able to come in and get out,” Ketsler said.
The expansion is an indication of the city’s strong economy, City Manager Don Magner said. Because of the hospital’s range of services, the city can leverage Methodist Richardson Medical Center to attract new businesses.
“Businesses want to relocate in a contemporary community where they can tell their employees that they will have these services available to them and they will be easily accessible,” Magner said.
What’s next
Methodist Richardson serves around 1.1 million residents across Dallas, Collin and parts of Rockwall counties, Ketsler said, adding that the area is experiencing 2% to 3% population growth annually.
On average, the hospital performs about 7,500 surgeries annually, Arrant said, and once the new operating rooms are complete, it will perform about 1,000 more.
Hutchenrider said the hospital is consistently at capacity, with surgery “always full.”
Construction on the new operating rooms has begun, Hutchenrider said, and a second tower is planned for the future.
