Yesterday, Children’s Health and UT Southwestern Medical Center revealed their vision for a $5 billion new pediatric health campus in Dallas’ Southwestern Medical District. Covering over 33 acres, this innovative campus is tailored with a patient-centered approach to address the escalating demand for pediatric services, spanning from routine care to highly specialized treatments. Positioned as a collaborative epicenter for innovation, academic research, and training, the campus aims to pioneer life-saving technologies, ensuring top-notch care for the youngest members of our community.
The brand new pediatric hospital being constructed on the UT Southwestern campus in Dallas will replace the Children’s Medical Center Dallas. Will be much larger with two 12-story towers and one eight-story tower. The goal is to expand the capacity for care, surgeries, and outpatient services to meet the growing needs of one of the metropolitan areas in the country. This pediatric campus is expected to open within six to seven years. The new campus will be located at the corner of Harry Hines Boulevard and Mockingbird Lane right across, from UTSWs William P. Clements Jr. University Hospital. The announcement made this week officially introduced a long-awaited plan. It signifies a milestone in the growth of the Southwestern Medical District, which has seen progress in recent years.
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The new pediatric campus project in Dallas: Key features and details
The new pediatric campus in Dallas project encompasses 5 million feet of construction including an increase of 552 beds (a rise of 38%) and provisions, for future expansion. It also entails the expansion of the Emergency Department by 15% and operating rooms by 22%. Noteworthy features comprise two helicopter pads and the establishment of a Level I pediatric trauma center. Additionally, it will include 90 examination rooms and 24 observation rooms in the Emergency Department. An essential aspect is the creation of a connector bridge connecting the campus with Clements University Hospital ensuring seamless care continuity. This connection will be particularly beneficial for infants who require access to care at the Level IV Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) and Cardiovascular Intensive Care Unit (CVICU).
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Furthermore, as part of this new pediatric campus in Dallas, a state-of-the-art fetal care center will be developed to cater to maternal and fetal healthcare needs. The center will have facilities such as surgery capabilities at Clements University Hospital. In addition to that, there are plans for an outpatient clinic building that will augment existing facilities. This new building will add 96 examination rooms to supplement the operational 344 exam rooms at Children’s Health Specialty Center Dallas outpatient facility on Stemmons Freeway, at Medical District Drive.
The opening date for the new pediatric campus in Dallas is planned for 2031.
“For more than 110 years, Children’s Health has served the children of North Texas, adapting and growing with the needs of our community,” said Christopher Durovich, President and Chief Executive Officer of Children’s Health. “This new pediatric campus in Dallas, a joint investment with UT Southwestern, enhances our shared capacity to provide comprehensive care for children, including those with the most complex medical and surgical needs. It enables us to continue pioneering academic research, lifesaving treatments, and industry-leading technology for pediatric patients for generations to come.”
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Both organizations state that the Dallas Fort Worth area is experiencing a growing need, for healthcare services because its population growth consistently surpasses the average. By 2025 it is estimated that, around 8.5 million people will call this area their home. Currently 2.5 million individuals reside in the Dallas Fort Worth region. It is predicted that this number will surpass three million by 2032. Furthermore by the year 2050 the population is expected to double.
