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Methodist Sugar Land Hospital first to offer heart surgery in Fort Bend County
BY AMI FELKER
MethodistSugarLandHospital
MEETS GROWING DEMAND
SINCE METHODIST SUGAR LAND HOSPITAL FIRST OPENED ITS DOORS TO FORT BEND COUNTY IN 1998, THE COMMUNITY HAS HAD ACCESS TO LEADING-EDGE TECHNOLOGY AND EXCELLENT MEDICAL CARE. LOCATED IN ONE OF THE FASTEST GROWING COUNTIES IN THE UNITED STATES, THE HOSPITAL HAS UNDERGONE SEVERAL EXPANSION PROJECTS TO MEET THE NEEDS OF THE BOOMING COMMUNITY.
Last July, Methodist Sugar Land broke ground on its largest building expansion ever, a $177 million project that will eventually more than quadruple its beds, initially increasing from 54 to 180, with the capacity to grow quickly to 236 beds. The project is expected to be completed in summer 2008.
The hospital’s growth is fueled by the escalating popularity of the Sugar Land area, which was named the third best place to live in the nation on the 2006 CNN/Money magazine’s “Best Places to Live” list.
Methodist Sugar Land’s acting CEO, Chris Siebenaler, said the expansion keeps pace with the growth of Fort Bend County.
“We’re committed to serving the health care needs of our growing community,” Siebenaler said. “More advanced medical capabilities and technology have expanded what we can offer at community hospitals.”
The initial phase of expansion is already complete, with two cardiac catheterization labs — one with surgical capabilities. These additions establish Fort Bend County’s first cardiac surgery suite. In April, a 53-year-old grandfather underwent heat valve replacement and bypass surgery at Methodist Sugar Land. Drs. Mahesh Ramchandani and Uttam Tripathy, cardiovascular surgeons with the Methodist DeBakey Heart Center, performed the surgery. It was the first open heart surgery ever performed in Fort Bend County.
“We’ve taken a very progressive step by offering open heart surgery at Methodist Sugar Land,” Ramchandani said. “It’s no longer necessary for patients to travel far from home to undergo some lifesaving procedures. We’re proud to offer these services close to home for our patients.”
The hospital also will expand current labor and delivery suites and enhance existing services in critical care, emergency department, surgery and imaging. In addition, the hospital’s five centers of excellence will expand, including cancer, heart, neurology, orthopedics and urology.
Over the past nine years, Methodist Sugar Land has undergone two expansions, which first increased its beds to 36, and then to 54. The previous expansions added an intensive care unit, cardiac catheterization lab and an expanded obstetrics department, capable of providing specialized care for premature infants.
Also, in 2004, the hospital opened a freestanding 20,000-square-foot cancer center and began offering cancer services that were previously available only in the Texas Medical Center. The cancer center offers chemotherapy infusion and intensity modulated radiation therapy, and serves as an American Cancer Society Resource Center.
“Physician researchers continue to make great strides in improving medicine and medical technology, and in making treatments more accessible to patients,” Siebenaler said. “We look forward to expanding these advancements for the Fort Bend community, maintaining the high quality The Methodist Hospital is known for.”
SUGAR LAND METHODIST HOSPITAL FAST FACTS 1998 OPENED
54 OPERATING BEDS
5 OPERATING ROOMS
600 AFFILIATED PHYSICIANS
20,000 SQUARE-FOOT FREESTANDING CANCER CENTER OPENED IN 2004
600 EMPLOYEES
5,000 INPATIENTS IN 2006 39,000 OUTPATIENTS IN 2006 35,500 ER VISITS IN 2006
16655 SOUTHWEST FREEWAY SUGAR LAND, TX 77479 281.274.7000
