HOUSTON, Texas – While Harris Health continues making its case for a major Ben Taub Hospital expansion, using nearly nine acres near Hermann Park, park supporters say they want stronger proof there’s no better alternative.
During a town hall meeting on Tuesday, Harris Health outlined plans to acquire 8.9 acres of City of Houston-owned land on Cambridge Street across from Ben Taub’s emergency room.
Officials say building next door, instead of on top of the existing hospital, avoids shutting down a Level One trauma center and keeps critical services in the Texas Medical Center.
Next steps include an update to the Commissioners Court on Jan. 29, with a public hearing date expected to be set for March 19, when county leaders could decide whether to move ahead with eminent domain.
Harris Health said the expansion is needed because Ben Taub Hospital is consistently operating beyond its maximum patient capacity (402 beds), and when demand exceeds capacity, patients are placed in temporary hallway locations throughout the hospital until help becomes available.
Harris Health said with patient volume and increased population, Ben Taub is expected to see a demand for an additional 18,000 emergency visits by 2031 that will require an additional patient bed capacity for another 3,200 admissions. They said adding 100 patient rooms will accommodate the expected demand before a complete replacement can be funded in 20-25 years.