Baylor Scott & White Medical Center – Waxahachie Opens with Expanded Women’s Health Services and Ellis County’s Newest Dedicated Cancer Center

Baylor Scott & White Medical Center – Waxahachie opens today as one of the latest major investments Baylor Scott & White Health has made toward the health and wellness of Texans. The $175-million medical center – the first to be built under the Baylor Scott & White Health name – is a replacement facility for the nearby Baylor Medical Center at Waxahachie, which has served Ellis County and the surrounding area for 100 years. The new hospital is located at 2400 N I-35E, Waxahachie, TX 75165 and features a dedicated cancer center and expanded women’s health services, including labor and delivery.

“As we begin our second century of service to this community, we are excited to be building the future of health care right here in Ellis County,” said Chris York, president of Baylor Waxahachie. “With this new hospital, we renew our commitment to the health and wellness of our residents for generations to come.”

A dedicated cancer center, Baylor Charles A. Sammons Cancer Center at Waxahachie, is an important part of the new facility, allowing patients to receive quality cancer treatment close to home. Patients are able to receive the full spectrum of cancer care, including imaging, radiation therapy, chemotherapy, as well as support services.

While the clinical care includes advanced technology in the fight against cancer, the team paid special attention to the design of the cancer center, with a focus on comfort and privacy. “Our hope is that patients feel as comfortable and relaxed as possible while they are undergoing treatment,” said York. “We are trying to create a moment of peace in what can be a turbulent time.”

The new hospital also features a dedicated women’s health center offering growing families advanced obstetrical care in a warm, caring environment. While the facility is new, the women’s health center boasts an experienced staff of labor and delivery nurses, neonatologists, neonatal nurse practitioners, and obstetricians as well as other skilled caregivers, all working together to deliver quality care to mother and baby.

With spacious patient suites and waiting areas, the women’s health center team is excited to bring a wide range of amenities and services to Ellis County’s mothers and their families: • Comfortable private labor and delivery suites, each equipped with a flat-screen television and sofa • 24-hour neonatal nurse practitioner coverage to care for infants who may need advanced care • Fetal surveillance system to monitor babies before they are born • Two surgical suites for Cesarean births • Nursing staff specially trained to assist mothers with breastfeeding • Easy access to childbirth, baby care and breastfeeding classes • Specialty newborn and breastfeeding items available through the gift shop

“Our goal is to create a safe, cherished experience for every mother and her newborn – before, during and after childbirth,” said Jaime Sinclair, MSN, RNC-OB, director of women’s services for the new medical center. “In addition, we realize this is a special time for the entire family, which is why our policy will allow family and loved ones to be together throughout the entire birthing process.”

In addition to the newly added labor and delivery services, the dedicated women’s health unit will continue to offer advanced capabilities to tend to women’s changing health needs at every stage of life.

While the health of the community is the focus of the care given inside the hospital, the health of the environment was the focus throughout the construction timeline. “It has been very rewarding to build this facility for the Ellis county community, and we anticipate that it will be one of the first in Texas to be LEED certified for healthcare,” said Miles Hersey, AIA, LEED AP, senior project manager for CBRE, who led the project. “We’ve taken great care throughout this two year project to recycle as much as possible and to incorporate materials manufactured locally to cut down on transportation pollution and costs.”

The new hospital boasts a long list of environmentally friendly construction materials and amenities both inside and out, including light-colored (‘cool’) roofing to reduce the Heat Island Effect, energy efficient windows, sustainably harvested wood, lead-free materials, native plants for landscaping to reduce irrigation need, and low-maintenance and recycled materials.

The building’s advanced cooling system allows for condensation from cooling coils to be collected and pumped back to the central plant cooling towers. This system alone offers an estimated potable water savings of approximately 2.9 million gallons per year. Many of the kitchen’s industrial appliances are designed to conserve thousands of gallons of water annually as well.

“We’re excited that our new hospital has both advanced health care technology as well as an innovative design with features that save energy and reduce our environmental footprint,” said York.

# # #

MEDIA CONTACT:
Julie Smith
julie.smith@baylorhealth.edu
office: (214) 820-7135
cell: (940) 765-7560

About Baylor Scott & White Health
As the largest not-for-profit health system in the state of Texas, Baylor Scott & White promotes the health and well-being of every individual, family and community it serves. It is committed to making quality care more accessible, convenient and affordable through its integrated delivery network, which includes the Baylor Scott & White Health Plan, Baylor Scott & White Research Institute, the Baylor Scott & White Quality Alliance and its leading digital health platform – MyBSWHealth. Through 51 hospitals and more than 1,200 access points, including flagship academic medical centers in Dallas, Fort Worth and Temple, the system offers the full continuum of care, from primary to award-winning specialty care. Founded as a Christian ministry of healing more than a century ago, Baylor Scott & White today serves more than three million Texans. For more information, visit: BSWHealth.com