Children's Medical Center to open new $21M Specialty Care Center in Southlake

Children's Medical Center (www.childrens.com) will debut its new Specialty Care Center in Southlake on June 18, a $21 million expansion which will serve children in one of the state's fastest-growing cities and the surrounding communities.

Children's, one of the most trusted pediatric hospitals in the nation, built the center from the ground up, in the new Carillon development along State Highway 114. Sitting on 10 acres, the 34,000-square-foot building also has room for future growth, demonstrating the nationally recognized healthcare system's commitment to specialty treatment for children.

"Our new Specialty Care Center in Southlake will make sure that all children in our surrounding communities have access to the very best medical care," said Trent Smith, senior vice president of network development for Children's Medical Center. "The Southlake area is one of most rapidly growing communities in the Dallas-Fort Worth area, and our expansion there is a long-term commitment that allows our pediatric subspecialists to provide better, more effective treatment for the children and families of that area."

The Specialty Care Center provides nearly 20 different areas of expertise:

•Cardiology

•Diagnostic and Testing Services, including audiology, cardiac echo, lab, nutrition, physical medicine and rehabilitation, and speech therapy

•Endocrinology

•Epilepsy

•Gastroenterology

•General surgery

•Imaging Services, including MRI, ultrasound, fluoroscopy and diagnostic radiology

•Ophthalmology

•Orthopaedics

•Otolaryngology (Ear, Nose and Throat)

•Outpatient surgery

•Plastic/Craniofacial surgery

•Psychiatry

•Psychology

•Pulmonology

•Rheumatology

•Sports Medicine

•Urology

The center has operating room suites, examination rooms, procedure rooms, audiology booths, an echocardiogram room and a physical rehabilitation area. It also houses a Family Resource Center, where parents can easily access the latest information regarding children's health issues and treatments. There are no inpatient, overnight or emergency services at the Specialty Care Center.

Approximately 85 staff and physicians will work at the new center, and Children's expects that number to grow to more than 100 employees within 12 to 18 months.

The Specialty Care Center was designed and constructed to meet the requirements of Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED), an internationally recognized green building certification system.

Patients currently being seen at the temporary Children's location in Southlake Town Square will begin seeing doctors at the new Specialty Care Center on June 22. Parents can make appointments by calling 817-730-KIDS (5437).

The grand opening "Family Fun" event on June 18 will run from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m., with a ribbon-cutting and remarks at 10 a.m.

Children's, which also has hospital campuses in Dallas and Plano, was again named one of the top children's hospitals in the country for 2011-12 by U.S.News and World Report. Children's is the only pediatric hospital in North Texas to be ranked in all 10 specialties evaluated by the publication.

SOURCE Children's Medical Center