EDINBURG, Texas – Driscoll has been a part of the Rio Grande Valley community for 25 years, with specialty centers in Brownsville, Harlingen and McAllen staffed by Driscoll pediatric sub-specialists and other clinical team members.
Now, Driscoll Children’s Hospital Rio Grande Valley will further expand upon the mission of Driscoll Children’s Hospital founder Clara Driscoll to provide medical care to all the children of South Texas.
Driscoll Children’s Hospital will open and independently operate the only designated, freestanding children’s hospital in the Rio Grande Valley.
The name of the hospital will be Driscoll Children’s Hospital Rio Grande Valley.
“Driscoll Children’s Hospital Rio Grande Valley will further the mission of Driscoll Children’s Hospital founder Clara Driscoll to provide medical care to all the children of South Texas. We look forward to being an even larger part of the Valley community and providing more care for more kids,” a news release from Driscoll stated.
The hospital will provide the following pediatric services:
• Pediatric specialists
• Acute inpatient and outpatient surgery
• Emergency services
• A Level III NICU
• A Pediatric Intensive Care Unit
• Rehabilitation: physical therapy, occupational therapy, speech therapy
• Imaging
• Laboratory
• Child Life program
The new eight-level hospital will be located on the campus of DHR Health.
Eric Hamon is president and CEO of Driscoll Health System. Hamon said the new campus will greatly enhance Driscoll’s commitment to providing children with more convenient access to an even greater number of pediatric sub-specialists.
He said Driscoll Children’s Hospital Rio Grande Valley will operate with more than 450 employees, creating significant economic impact and new job opportunities for clinical, ancillary and support staff in the Valley.
Construction on the new hospital is scheduled to begin later this year, the CEO said.
Hamon said that in early 2019, Driscoll began discussions with DHR Health to expand pediatric services to the Rio Grande Valley to include inpatient acute care. From there, plans developed in which DHR Health would build a hospital on its campus to be leased to and operated independently by Driscoll Children’s Hospital.
“The future for children’s healthcare in the Rio Grande Valley is bright,” Hamon said. “Our new hospital will greatly enhance our commitment to providing children with more convenient access to an even greater number of pediatric sub-specialists that will complement the outstanding care currently offered in the Rio Grande Valley.”
Manish Singh, MD, CEO of DHR Health, said he was delighted with the new partnership with Driscoll.
“DHR Health is excited to have access to extensive pediatric services to include even more specialized care for children in the community. Not only are we delivering more babies than any hospital in our region, but now, with Driscoll Children’s Hospital, exceptional healthcare can continue for those babies through their teenage years,” Singh said.
Lenora Keas is Chair of the Board of Directors for Driscoll Children’s Hospital. Keas said: “The opening of a pediatric hospital in the Rio Grande Valley with the Driscoll name on it is the culmination of founder Clara Driscoll’s desire to take care of all the children of South Texas. With Driscoll hospitals in both Corpus Christi and Edinburg, her wish will be carried on for generations. We are proud to introduce Driscoll Children’s Hospital Rio Grande Valley.
Carlos Cardenas, MD, is chairman of the board at DHR Health. Cardenas said: “Home is definitely where the heart is, and if we can provide critical care to young patients right here in Edinburg rather than send patients out of the Valley for care, we ensure that our families are with them every step of their journey. DHR Health proudly welcomes Driscoll Children’s Hospital to our thriving medical campus, and we look forward to the future of pediatric care in our backyard.”
Brownsville native Reba Cardenas McNair is on the Driscoll Children’s Hospital Board of Directors. Cardenas McNair said: “Driscoll has done a fantastic job offering the finest healthcare to Rio Grande Valley kids with its numerous clinics, and this new independently-operated freestanding Driscoll hospital in the Valley will take ‘more care for more kids’ to a much higher level.”
McAllen native Val LaMantia is also on the Driscoll Children’s Hospital Board of Directors. LaMantia said: “Driscoll’s presence as a hospital in the Rio Grande Valley will bring an unmatched capability for parents to receive the best healthcare possible for their children without having to go elsewhere.”
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