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John R. Fischer, Senior Reporter | February 01, 2023
Children's Health and UT Southwestern are considering building together a new pediatric medical center in Dallas. (Photo courtesy of Children's Health)
Children’s Health, one of the largest healthcare providers in the U.S. and the leading pediatric health system in North Texas, is considering going in with UT Southwestern on a $2.5 billion plan to build a new pediatric medical campus in Dallas, with its completion slated to be in 2028.
The 532-bed proposed hospital would have an emergency department with 90 bays, over 90 newborn ICU beds, an ambulatory care facility with 250 exam rooms, and a new labor and delivery program with approximately 30 beds, according to original solicitation documents. Construction is estimated to cost $1.6 billion.
Since the project is in its early stages, the specs are likely to change,
reported D Magazine.
“Our joint pediatric enterprise is always pursuing opportunities to bolster capacity to provide care in response to record population growth and demand for pediatric specialty services in North Texas. To meet these needs, we are exploring a possible new pediatric campus. Specific details on a project of this magnitude are not final, or approved, and may not be for some time,” said Children’s Health and UT Southwestern in a statement.
The current Dallas main campus has 490 beds. The new facility will take over all the services offered in the current hospital, as well as services from other sites. The project includes a new master plan and utility plant for the campus, an administrative building for clinical and support staff, at least one parking garage with 6,500 spaces and other additions.
The original timeline in the documents says “schematic design documents” will be presented to the board of regents for approval in February 2023, followed by final “design development documents” in August. Construction was originally planned to begin next year. A new timeline for the project was not immediately available.
Talk of a new hospital was first reported on by the website Strategic Partnerships, which tracks large procurements in the U.S. UTSW president Dr. Daniel Podolsky also wrote an internal email in the fall 2022 to staff, saying that the project will “advance our pediatric care strategic plans and strengthen our long-standing partnership with Children’s,” reported D Magazine.
An agreement with a vendor was supposed to have begun last May, with an 18-month planning and design process commencing the following month, according to D Magazine.
The new site is likely to be located in the Medical District, though final design plans have not yet been approved.
A Texas Public Information Act request has been submitted to UT Southwestern to review documents related to the project.
