The Woodlands: Memorial Hermann $17 million redo

THE WOODLANDS – Memorial Hermann Health System plans to renovate its emergency department at its Woodlands hospital in a $17.4 million project.

The project, slated to start in 2015, will include approximately 3,400 sf of new space, seven additional treatment rooms including three trauma rooms, as well as an area designed for pediatric patients, according to a statement.

The reason for the new renovation is the fast-growing population in The Woodlands and surrounding area, Josh Urban, CEO of Memorial Hermann The Woodlands, said.

It’s estimated that over the next five years, Montgomery County and the surrounding area will grow 11.4 percent, or by 70,000 residents.

The new space will bring the department’s total to 32,400 sf and its room count to 35, according to a statement. Memorial Hermann’s Life Flight helipad will move to a new east tower.

The plan is to make The Woodlands a Level II trauma center, said Urban. To achieve that designation, patients would need access to a variety of specialists 24 hours a day. Memorial Hermann in the Texas Medical Center is one of the city’s two Level I Trauma Centers.