Memorial Hermann is set to begin construction on Phase 1 of a 32-acre hospital campus in Cypress early next year.



The hospital system announced in June it would build on a site in the Fairfield area south of Mason Road and north of Mueschke Road. Phase 1 will feature a fully-licensed emergency center and medical office building set to be completed by 2016.



"A confluence of factors are pushing us to build out there, including growth in the area with the Grand Parkway project," said Scott Barbe, CEO of the Memorial Hermann Cypress Market.



The convenient care component will offer 24/7 emergency care and other services, including sports medicine and rehabilitation, ambulatory services, physician offices and an outpatient imaging center.



"The construction time on a building like that is quicker than building a hospital, so that portion will come online first," Barbe said.



Patients can use the convenient care center for almost anything short of a serious injury as staff and ER physicians will be on-site 24/7, Barbe said.



The system has other convenient care centers associated with hospital campuses, but the Cypress location will be the first to open on the same site as the hospital. When the hospital opens, the emergency portion of the convenient care component will most likely be converted to urgent care with extended hours.



"It would take on more of a minor care component, or maybe a lesser scope of services when the ER opens," Barbe said.



Phase 2 includes the 80-bed acute care hospital, which is slated for completion by 2017. The hospital will include eight operating rooms, a 16-bed intensive care unit, a neonatal intensive care unit and 1 cardiac catheterization lab. The campus will also include space for additional inpatient bed capacity along with a Life Flight helipad and space for two additional medical office buildings.