Officials from The University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio gathered Oct. 17 in the South Texas Medical Center for a topping-out and beam-signing ceremony at the new UT Health San Antonio Multispecialty and Research Hospital.
According to a news release, construction crews reached the highest point of the eight-story, $500 million project that will result in a new 144-bed facility offering new regional services, including stem cell therapies and bone marrow transplants as well as access to the latest clinical research trials.
Dr. William Henrich, UT Health San Antonio president, said admitting hospital patients who are part of clinical research efforts is a vital, ongoing mission.
“This will be a unique aspect of the truly comprehensive care our hospital provides for the region and will maximize patients’ opportunity for healing and recovery. The focus, the ultimate objective, is improved patient outcomes,” Henrich said in a statement.
Jeff Flowers, inaugural CEO of the Multispecialty and Research Hospital, said he and his colleagues look forward to creating a unique atmosphere for patients and their families as well as for health care providers and trainees.
“Everything is designed to promote the healing process and help people build up their strength and feel good about their recovery and their experience. Natural light throughout the facility will create the right healing environment as well, while features, such as touchless technology, will promote infection control,” Flowers said in a statement.
UT Health San Antonio officials said the new hospital will include 12 specialized operating rooms, full imaging capabilities, laboratory facilities, a blood bank and a stem cell lab.
The 448,819-square-foot hospital will be accompanied by a 673-car parking garage, a 200-car surface parking lot and a skybridge connecting the facility to the Mays Cancer Center, the National Cancer Institute-Designated Cancer Center at UT Health San Antonio.
“This will be the predominant location of our adult oncology services and, as the name signals, other surgical specialties and clinical research. Here we will create a culture that is caring and passionate about taking care of the patient. This will be a hospital worthy of The University of Texas name,” Henrich said in a statement.
Dr. John Zerwas, executive vice chancellor for health affairs with The University of Texas System, complimented Henrich’s leadership.
“The compelling vision he put forward to local leaders yielded the outpouring of support necessary to make this project possible and has earned the community partnerships required to maintain this inpatient environment moving forward,” Zerwas said of Henrich.
Dr. Robert Hromas, dean of the Joe R. and Teresa Lozano Long School of Medicine and vice president for medical affairs at UT Health San Antonio, said the new hospital will offer personalized treatment for complex conditions. UT Health San Antonio officials said the new hospital will create more than 800 health care jobs, adding that the facility will be ready to receive patients in late fall 2024.
“Patients and their families will benefit from care provided right here in San Antonio rather than having to spend days or weeks far from home,” Hromas said.
