Dell Children’s $48M tower to attract more specialists

AUSTIN – In the hospital’s first major expansion since it opened in 2007, the third bed tower at Dell Children’s Medical Center of Central Texas opened May 6, 2013. The new $48 million building now has more specialized care centers and 72 beds, bringing the hospital total to 249 beds.

It also will bring a battery of specialty staff to man expanded programs for childhood epilepsy, rehabilitative care, and bone, joint, spine and sports medicine.

Hospital officials are already looking ahead to a fourth bed tower that would likely be built in the next three to six years to help address a growing demand for trauma services.

Dell Children’s expected about 150 to 200 trauma cases per year when it opened, but last year it had 950 admissions, CEO Bob Bonar said. In 2012, Dell Children’s admitted 8,300 children.