Houston Methodist breaks ground in The Woodlands

Houston Methodist is the latest medical facility to break ground in The Woodlands, as construction on the 193-bed hospital has begun.

The full-service hospital will have inpatient and outpatient services available upon opening in 2017 and will be modeled after Houston Methodist West Hospital located near Katy, Communications Director Stefanie Asin said.

The hospital is a part of a $1 billion investment in the Greater Houston area by the Houston Methodist system that includes a new patient tower in the Texas Medical Center and in Sugar Land and new emergency care centers throughout the area, Asin said.

The hospital will be the eighth for the system in the Houston area, Asin said.

"Our strategic vision includes expanding our footprint around the Houston area," Asin said. "Houston Methodist The Woodlands Hospital is our eighth hospital and fits perfectly within our vision of offering leading medicine [in] the Houston area."

The $328 million campus in The Woodlands will be located at the intersection of Hwy. 242 and I-45. A 135,000-square-foot medical office building is also being built on the site and is expected to be complete in late 2015.

Debra Sukin has been named the hospital's CEO and will oversee daily hospital operations and oversee development of the campus.

Sukin previously worked for 10 years as CEO of the St. Luke's The Woodlands Hospital.