A delegation of Northwest Vista College (NVC) Executive Team and Leadership Council members attended the Westover Hills Baptist Hospital groundbreaking on Oct. 11 in an effort to honor NVC’s nearby neighbor and to celebrate the growth of the Westover Hills area.
Leading NVC’s delegation was Interim President Debi Gaitan who said this event provided an opportunity for NVC leadership to build college partner relations and strengthen NVC’s enrollment outreach.
“NVC continues to broaden our community reach and looks forward to strengthening our presence in all sectors of our service area,” said NVC Interim President Debi Gaitan. “We’re excited to see this growth of healthcare professions and services in San Antonio as we see increased interest among our students in these careers.”
The groundbreaking ceremony officially kicked off construction of the Westover Hills Baptist Medical Campus at Wiseman and Highway 1604 to serve the area and those living in far west San Antonio. This $230 million dollars investment will include two Medical Office Buildings (MOBs) that will house physician offices, outpatient imaging and other ancillary medical services as well as an Ambulatory Surgical Center for elective procedures. The next phase will include a construction of a five-story, 104-bed hospital with emergency, imaging, lab, obstetric, surgical and inpatient services. A garden-level floor will incorporate a landscaped area with hardscape and water feature for outdoor dining activities.
“Growth in the greater Westover Hills area has exceeded the supply of medical care available here,” said Matt Stone, Baptist Health System Group CEO. “This new campus will allow people living and working in Westover Hills to stay here for their medical needs, close to family and friends.”
The economic impact for the community will encompass several years of construction phases and the addition of 500 jobs in the hospital setting.
“The decision to build a hospital in Westover Hills was made based on a detailed assessment that evaluated the ongoing growth of medical needs in the area,” said Brady Phillips, Baptist Health System Chief Strategy Officer. “This development brings critically needed services to the area, including cardiovascular, maternity, and surgical care at a scale that is commensurate with the needs of the community.”
This is welcome news for Northwest Vista College and its numerous stakeholders, Debi said.
“Our students, faculty and staff and their families and neighbors live in this areas and they need access to critical healthcare services to include a full-service hospital,” she added “We are excited about the care our community will receive and the job prospects for our students and alumni.”
The hospital and medical office buildings are designed by architect ESa. The construction firm Robins & Morton San Antonio are managing construction of the medical campus.
The first Medical Office Building is expected to open in late 2023, with the hospital scheduled to open the following year.