$40M renovation project to triple size of hospital

BROWNSVILLE - On the Texas-Mexico border, health care has become big business and medical facilities are in an arms race where weapons are operating room suites and surgical beds.

Brownsville Doctors Hospital, the latest to join the fray, has launched a $20 million expansion project that will nearly triple its current size, transforming it from a surgical to acute care facility.

Earlier this year Valley Baptist Medical Center-Brownsville announced a $40 million renovation project.

When the Doctors Hospital project is completed later this year, the hospital will boast of a 90,000-square-foot facility with seven operating room suites, a 14-bed pediatric ward and 55 medical and surgical beds.

"The growth we're seeing is being driven by the needs of the Valley," said Dr. Joe Jimenez, CEO of Brownsville Doctors Hospital.

"There is no question the town keeps Brownsville's hospitals very busy."

A growing population and government-sponsored health insurance is credited with growing the healthcare industry in the region, according to economists at the Federal Reserve Bank of Dallas.

In 2006, healthcare jobs accounted for 22 percent of employment in Brownsville and 21 percent in McAllen.

And the Texas Workforce Commission forecasts that between 2004-2014 health care jobs will increase 46 percent in the Lower Rio Grande Valley.

Historically, Valley residents would to travel outside of the region for specialized care, however, that is practice is changing.

A larger population base can now support enhanced medical services and in turn the healthcare industry provides some of the community's highest paying jobs.

"Brownsville Doctors Hospital wants to be a leader," Jimenez said.

Opened in 2000, Brownsville Doctors Hospital is a locally owned and operated partnership of local physicians.

The concept, according to Jimenez, was to build a hospital that had doctors' interests above company goals.

"Being a smaller facility we can eliminate all the corporate red tape and move fast on decisions," Jimenez said. "As long as the doctors are behind us and patients support us we'll continue to grow."

In addition to its local initiative for broader patient care, Jimenez hopes to expand its cash paying patients from Mexico and Canada.

Mexican hospitals along the border offer a less expensive alternative and are increasingly competing for U.S. patients.

That is unacceptable, according to Jimenez.

"We're losing a tremendous opportunity by letting Thailand and India compete for our business," Jimenez said. "There is no reason we can't do it here."

The hospital already draws significant numbers of Mexican patients, more than 2000 since the hospital opened eight years ago, Jimenez said.

By packaging airfare, hotel and elective surgery to international clients, the Doctors Hospital believes it can offset losses from American patients seeking healthcare abroad.

"To be profitable hospitals have to go after the uninsured cash business," Jimenez said. "We could be the perfect destination."