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Rice Medical Center plans to begin construction later this year on a nearly $34 million expansion that will add a new Emergency Trauma Center and Wellness Center to its Eagle Lake campus, a project hospital leaders say is designed to strengthen rural healthcare across Colorado County and surrounding communities.
The expansion includes larger emergency treatment areas, expanded rehabilitation services, behavioral health care, specialty clinics, community wellness programs, and an aquatic therapy pool.
Hospital officials said the project is expected to improve emergency care while expanding preventive and rehabilitative services.
According to the hospital, the Rice Hospital District has committed approximately $10 million, with remaining costs expected to be financed through revenue bonds repaid with nontax revenues.
RMC Marketing Manager Mallori Ramey said, “To ensure construction will move forward, the Hospital District is prepared to help fund the project through revenue bonds. Rice Medical Center (RMC) will pay the money back using the money it already earns from caring for patients— not by raising local taxes. Taxpayers will not pay more.”
Hospital officials have been asked to provide additional details regarding the project’s timeline, funding, patient demand, and anticipated impact on services. Those responses were not available before The Citizen’s Tuesday noon press time.
