Mission Trail Baptist Hospital breaks ground recently

L-R: Baptist Health System, volunteers, County Judge Nelson Wolff, State Rep. Roland Gutierrez, JP4 Rogelio Lopez, Commissioner Pct. 4 Tommy Adkisson, Congressman Ciro Rodriguez, State Senator Carlos Uresti, & Councilwoman Jennifer Ramos, Groundbreaking

South Side comes out in Force to help Baptist Health System break ground for new Mission Trail Baptist Hospital

“This hospital is being built to serve the south side, so we wanted our neighbors to be part of groundbreaking ceremonies,” said Andy Harris-President of Southeast Baptist Hospital. “We invited anyone who was born at Southeast Hospital, who has been treated there, worked there, driven past it, or who live or work on the south side to come be part of this special day and see what a beautiful facility this is going to be,” said Harris.

“But it’s not just bricks and mortar, our vision is that we are not building a hospital, we are building a culture.” The new hospital and its processes are being designed to support and sustain a culture of safety and an atmosphere that is patient and family friendly, says Harris.

“The patient is at the center of every design consideration.”Evidence-based (applying the best available evidence from the scientific method to medical decision making) design interventions are being build into the very fabric of the new hospital to create a healing environment where the energy and commitment of the hospital caregivers will translate into nothing bur the best patient care.

Some of these considerations include: 1) Patient rooms with access to natural light and views 2) Noise reduction construction finishes 4) Installation of “Positive distractions” for reduces patient anxiety/stress reduction 5) Provision for patient choices 6) Social support spaces 7) All Private rooms 8) Adequate space for families to stay overnight in patient rooms.

The new hospital will consist of three stories, with the capability of adding additional floors and square footage as needed. An adjacent medical office building will offer physician space convenient to the hospital to the hospital. The $80 million hospital project is located on 28 acres in Brook City Base.

“We have been doing this to keep San Antonio on the map after the military BRAC commission encroached onto our Military City USA by closing Kelly AFB and eventually Brooks AFB ,” said Ciro Rodriguez, Congressman.

The hospital represents a significant economic investment in the community, and provides some 700 to 800 jobs for the south side, and Harris says it’s the people that really make the difference.

The new hospital is expected to open in June of 2011. Participants in the groundbreaking program included: Kent Wallace-President & CEO of Vanguard Health Systems, which owns Baptist Health Systems, Graham Reeve-President & CEO of the Baptist Health System, Michael Zucker-Senior Vice President & Chief Development Officer of Baptist Health System, Dr. Jeffery Glass, Dr. Sergio Viroslav, Dr. Nick Shannon, Congressman Ciro Rodriguez.

Cpt. Tony Mandujano & Karen May (Baptist Health System PR)

Photos by CPT. Tony Mandujano