GROWTH AND EXPANSION

METHODIST HEALTHCARE OFFICIALLY ACQUIRES AWARD-WINNING HEALTHCARE ORGANIZATION, HILL COUNTRY MEMORIAL

Methodist Healthcare officially acquired the Fredericksburg-based healthcare system, Hill Country Memorial, on April 1. The acquisition includes a licensed hospice and home care provider, eight medical clinics, one medical group, and an 86-bed acute care hospital, renamed Methodist Hospital | Hill Country.

Located at 1020 S State Hwy 16, in Fredericksburg, Texas, Methodist Hospital | Hill Country brings Methodist Healthcare’s number of acute care hospitals to nine, offering a comprehensive array of services such as emergency, cardiology, post-acute care, surgical, obstetrics, orthopedic, and gastroenterology.

“Together, Hill Country Memorial and Methodist Healthcare will start a new journey. A journey with shared values of excellence, integrity, compassion, accountability, and respect,” said President and CEO of Methodist Healthcare, Dan Miller. “With humble beginnings of raising money in jars to build the hospital 50 years ago; a storied history of sharing and giving; and a world-class legacy – a new chapter will now be added to the hospital’s history book to again strengthen the Texas Hill Country community. We’re excited to be a part of that.”

The System has many years of experience operating hospitals in rural areas, including the previous acquisition of Methodist Hospital | Atascosa, located in Jourdanton, Texas, with a population of just over 4,000. Since 2017, Methodist Healthcare has recruited numerous physician specialties for the hospital, invested in staff and equipment, added dialysis services, purchased a robot, and expanded the hospitalbased ER. To help meet the needs of other rural communities, Methodist Healthcare also manages Medina Regional Hospital in Hondo, Texas, Dimmit Regional Hospital in Carrizo Springs, Texas, Cuero Community Hospital in Cuero, Texas, and Frio Regional Hospital in Pearsall, Texas.

The acquisition also aligns well with Methodist Healthcare’s mission of serving humanity to honor God by providing exceptional and cost-effective healthcare accessible to all by creating an additional access point for patients to receive Methodist-quality services. Though the ownership structure is new, the shared collaboration to serve the residents of the Texas Hill Country is not. For many years, Hill Country Memorial has coordinated the care of their patients requiring advanced in-patient treatment with Methodist Healthcare. In fact, when patients in the Hill Country seek inpatient care in San Antonio, 64% choose Methodist Healthcare.

“Hill Country Memorial has served our Texas Hill Country for the past 52 years, and we look forward to joining the Methodist family,” said Clint Kotal, the newly appointed CEO of Methodist Hospital | Hill County. “Methodist Healthcare in San Antonio is known for providing world-class care, and with their partnership, we will be able to expand services and continue offering remarkable care to our communities for the years to come.”

METHODIST HOSPITAL | ATASCOSA RENOVATES ER TO IMPROVE PATIENT EXPERIENCE

In response to the growing population in Atascosa County and the continuous volume growth of their emergency room, the hospital was excited to host a ribbon cutting to introduce its newly renovated emergency department to the community.

As part of the renovation, the hospital expanded its triage area, purchased several new, comfortable chairs for patients not needing a bed, improved their check-in area and security desk, and implemented new processes and procedures to enhance the experience of staff and patients.

“Our mission statement is ‘serving humanity to honor God by providing exceptional, cost-effective health care accessible to all.’ That is the hallmark of what we do, and we are so excited to share this milestone with the community,” shared Drew Seelman, Chief Nursing Officer.