Work begins on Hill Country hospital

MARBLE FALLS, Texas (KXAN) - Construction will start on a new hospital in Central Texas Wednesday after being in the works for four years.

Crews are working in Marble Falls on the new 22-acre Wayne & Eileen Hurd Regional Medical Center-Scott & White.

It's near the intersection of U.S. Highway 281 and State Highway 71 -- adjacent to the water tower put up to support the development of the medical complex and surrounding area.

Local leaders and officials from Scott & White broke ground Wednesday afternoon to cheers from community members.  Many residents have had to trek to Austin or even San Antonio for medical care.

"There was a void in our community," said Mayor George Russell.

The first phase of construction calls for a specialty physician clinic.  This clinic will anchor the medical center.

Features include:

• 3 stories/60,000 square feet
• Up to 35 physicians/advanced practice professionals to be recruited in addition to S&W Hoerster clinic providers.
• Outpatient services to include primary care, cardiology, general surgery, pediatrics, orthopedics, rheumatology, ENT, urology, ophthalmology, dermatology, G.I., neurology, pulmonary intensive care.
• After hours/extended hours car of a non-emergency nature

The clinic is slated to open in the first quarter of 2013.  That is when the second phase of construction will begin on a surgical and diagnostic center.  This center will be housing images, labs and outpatient surgical procedures.

The third phase of construction is planned to get underway between 2014 and 2017 and will call for a hospital.

Features include:

• Preliminary planning calls for 72 beds and 12, medical ICU beds
• 200,000 square feet
• 24-hour emergency room, interventional radiology and obstetrical services

Construction of this bed tower could take anywhere from 18-24 months.

"We plan to grow with the community," said Pat Currie, chief operating officer for Scott & White.

It was also revealed Wednesday that the medical center will no longer be called Lake of the Hills Regional Medical Center.  Instead, it will be named for Wayne & Eileen Hurd. 

Wayne Hurd was a Dallas homebuilder and real estate developer who transformed "Coke Ranch" into Horseshoe Bay.   The Hurds donated land for the regional medical center in 1996.

Wayne Hurd died on September 26.

"The Hurds have given tirelessly and generously of their resources on behalf of this project, and it is fitting that it bear their name, in recognition of their invaluable contribution," said Nancy Birdwell, chief development officer for Scott & White.

The campus is being designed by Jacobs Architects and Engineers.  DPR Construction based in Austin has been named the builder. 

Mayor Russell told KXAN a campus of this magnitude coming to the area was inevitable.

"People are seeing what the Hill Country has to offer," he said.

Marble Falls has seen a population growth in recent years and the city becoming a commuter city to Austin--almost 50 miles away.

Russell feels the building of this medical center will only add to the population and need for affordable housing in the area.

Initially, 35 medical professionals will need to be hired to staff the clinic.  In, addition, construction is expected to bring dozens of jobs.