The big picture
Karen Harwell, CEO of Lone Star Family Health, said the center needed to expand to meet the rising demand for accessible health care in the Greater Conroe area.
The project includes expanding into a new 24,000-square-foot building situated next to the location at 605 S. Conroe Medical Drive as well as 20,000 square feet of renovations to the existing building.
Harwell said the entire project will help create:
- An additional medical pod
- A new dedicated mental health suite
- A larger pharmacy with retail space
- More dedicated space for office and financial services for patients
- New space for the women's health center
"No one here thought that we would need this expansion, only being in this building for 11 years," she said. "It's crazy to think, 'Wow, where will we be in another 10 years?' It's exciting."
Also of note
Harwell said the expansion will also include more flex space for employees.
"We are really focused on our employees," she said. "We designed some of the future space to give employees a little bit more room—more natural light, more mother-friendly rooms, more dedicated private rooms. We will have 1,500 square feet to give employees a place to take a break and just have personal time inside the facility."
How we got here
The expansion is funded by grants the center received in January, according to previous Community Impact coverage. Three out of nine grants awarded to Lone Star Family Health were dedicated to the renovation and expansion of the Conroe building.
- The Texas Department of State Health Services granted $500,000 for the project
- The Montgomery County Community Foundation donated $12,500
- Houston Methodist Health Innovation granted $185,000
The expansion project is estimated to be complete by September 2024, Harwell said.
