Texas Health Resources - The Business of Healthcare

The Business of Health Care Report
Health Care Building in the Metroplex - February 2003

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I'm Doug Hawthorne, President and CEO of Texas Health Resources, with "The Business of Health Care Report" on News Radio 1080 KRLD.

Today, we will discuss health care building programs in the Metroplex.

Texas Health Resources - the Presbyterian, Harris Methodist and Arlington Memorial hospitals - recently announced $1.5 billion in new buildings, renovation and equipment purchases during the next 10 years. The investments begin with major building expansion programs at Harris Methodist Fort Worth and Presbyterian Hospitals of Dallas, Allen and Plano.

Texas Health's $1.5 billion program equals similar capital investments announced recently by several local competitors, reinforcing health care as one of the top three economic engines for North Texas.

Why is so much building by health systems underway? The first reason is likely obvious to anyone who has needed physician or hospital services lately: It's difficult to schedule an appointment or diagnostic or surgical procedure because the good hospitals are full. This is especially true during the winter months with respiratory and flu epidemics.

Next, North Texas continues to grow by significant percentages, and the population is aging, needing more medical and hospital services.

Recently, media reports have talked about overcrowded hospital emergency rooms, which is a barometer for demand of hospital beds. Many hospitals fill between 12 and 25 percent of their beds from admissions through emergency rooms. And the face of hospitalized patients is changing - from a preponderance of recovering surgical patients to growing numbers of medical patients, who are those with complex medical conditions like pneumonia, chronic pulmonary and congestive heart failure. Patients with these conditions quickly fill hospitals, leaving those seeking elective surgery with scheduling delays.

Ultimately, the winners of hospital expansion will be the residents of North Texas, who will continue to have access to progressive medical care for years to come.

For Texas Health Resources and its family of hospitals - Harris Methodist Hospitals, Presbyterian Healthcare System and Arlington Memorial Hospital - I'm CEO Doug Hawthorne with "The Business of Health Care Report" on NewsRadio 1080 KRLD.

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