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Leander Liberty Hill Edition VOLUME 3, ISSUE 3 JUNE 18 JULY 17, 2025
2025 Health Care Edition
Cutting-edge robotic surgeries grow in Central Texas
Dr. Wade Dunlap, a general surgeon at St. David’s Georgetown, adjusts the hospital’s da Vinci surgical system. COURTESY ST. DAVID’S HEALTHCARE
technologies that have made their way into health care facilities in Central Texas. Major hospital systems, including Baylor Scott & White, Ascension Seton and St. David’s, are increasing their invest- ments in robotic procedures.
pediatric surgeons to perform safer, more accurate spinal surgeries for children with scoliosis and other advanced spinal conditions, said Dr. Brian Kaufman, a pediatric orthopedic surgeon at Dell Children’s. The VELYS robot is one of many new robotic
BY CHLOE YOUNG
Dell Children’s Medical Center North Campus became the rst pediatric hospital in the world in May to receive a new robotic spinal surgery technology, according to Ascension Seton informa- tion. The VELYS Robotic-Assisted System will allow
CONTINUED ON 26
Also in this issue
2025 Health Care Edition
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Impacts: Check out new business developments in Leander (Page 6)
News: Read the latest census data on Leander’s growth (Page 11)
Health Care: Learn about the latest developments from area hospitals (Page 21)
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Owners John and Jennifer Garrett launched Community Impact in 2005, and the company is still locally owned today with editions across Texas. Our mission is to provide trusted news and local information that everyone gets. Our vision is to build communities of informed citizens and thriving businesses through the collaboration of a passionate team. Our purpose is to be a light for our readers, customers, partners and each other by living out our core values of Faith, Passion, Quality, Innovation and Integrity. About Community Impact
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LEANDER LIBERTY HILL EDITION
Impacts
Leander and Cedar Park
• Opened in May • 11840 Hero Way West, Ste. 204, Leander • www.celebrationsatx.com
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4 Coldstone Creamery Cold Stone Creamery opened at the new Southbrook Station dining and retail strip in Leander in April. The ice cream parlor serves a variety of ice cream avors, ice cream cakes, shakes and smoothies. • Opened in April • 144 S. Brook Drive, Ste. 160, Leander • www.coldstonecreamery.com omelets, blueberry muns and croissant-style donuts. The grill’s lunch menu features burgers, salads and melts. The new Cedar Park restaurant is the rst of four locations franchisees Michael and Rana Boselah plan to open in the North Austin area. • Opened May 6 • 202 Walton Way, Ste. 142, Cedar Park • www.eggsupgrill.com 5 Eggs Up Grill Signature menu items include corned beef hash, 6 Great Clips The business provides haircuts for men, women, children and seniors, including shampooing, trimming and styling. There is an additional Leander location at 1395 Hwy. 183, Ste. 120, Leander. • Opened in May • 145 S. Brook Drive, Ste. 160, Leander • www.greatclips.com
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2 Boba CuCue The tea shop oers milk tea, hand-smashed fruit tea, slushies, frappes, dumplings, bao buns, wae pops and ice cream. The company operates 14 locations, according to its website. • Opened May 3 • 15609 Ronald Reagan Blvd., Bldg. B, Ste. 200, Leander • www.bobacucue.com 3 Celebrations Event Center The 4,000-square foot venue can accommodate parties of up to 200 guests. The space is ideally suited for weddings, corporate events, private parties, baby showers or any other kind of event. 45 TOLL
Now open
Coming soon
1 Allergy & ENT Associates The new Leander location is an extension of an Austin location at 10801 N. Mopac, which was formerly known as Austin Family Allergy & Asthma. The clinic is open and accepting new patients, and held a formal ribbon cutting on May 12. • Opened in May Cedar Park
7 Dumpling King The business operates its current location 10901 N. Lamar Blvd., Unit B203, Austin and has announced plans to open a second location in Leander. The menu includes boiled, fried, steamed and soup dumplings as well as appetizers, noodles, stir-fry, rice and braised meat. • Opening TBD • 15237 Ronald Reagan Blvd., Leander • Instagram: dumplingkingtx
• 149 Bulbine Drive, Leander • www.familyallergyatx.com
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COMMUNITYIMPACT.COM
BY COMMUNITY IMPACT STAFF
8 McAlister’s Deli The national cafe chain serves sandwiches, salads, spuds and soups alongside avored iced teas. Popular dishes include the McAlister’s Club, French Dip, Savannah Chopped Salad and Spud Max, according to McAlister’s website. • Opening Nov. 10 • South Brook Drive & U.S. 183, Leander • www.mcalistersdeli.com
Now open
In the news
What’s next
9 Central Texas SPCA According to a permit listed with the Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation, the organization is expected to construct an additional animal shelter adjacent to its current Leander location. The shelter began construction in late May and is expected to conclude in July 2026. • 909 S. Bagdad Road, Leander • www.centraltexasspca.org 10 New Hope Massage Center The new business is slated to start construction in mid-June and will be completed in late September, as stated on a permit listing with the Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation. • 700 W. New Hope Drive, Ste. 104, Cedar Park 11 Port of Subs According to a permit listed with the Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation, the sandwich shop is expected to begin construction on July 1 and will be completed by November. The business’ menu includes classic subs, specialty subs, wraps, salads, sides and breakfast options. • 180 E. Whitestone Blvd., Ste. 164, Cedar Park • www.portofsubs.com 12 Sprouts Farmers Market The grocery chain is slated to start construction on its Leander location in early February 2026, as stated on a permit listed with the Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation. Community members can expect the construction to be complete by March 2027.
13 Sami Sumeli The locally-owned restaurant oers online ordering as well as dine in service, and it can accommodate reservations, catering requests, romantic dinners and big parties. Menu oerings include Phali Mix, a traditional Georgian vegetable spread with herbs and walnuts, caviar served with mini-crepes, a sh platter and more. • Opened April 4 • 401 E. Whitestone Blvd., Cedar Park • www.samisumeli.com
15 Volente Beach Resort & Waterpark Volente Beach Resort & Waterpark ocially opened on May 3 to kick o its 2025 season. The resort’s daily tickets include full access to four waterslides, the main pool deck, the pirate ship splash zone and the beach and lake. In addition to the waterpark, visitors can nd food and drink options at Beachside Billy’s including appetizers, sandwiches, salads and more. • Opened May 3 • 16107 FM 2769, Ste. D, Leander • www.volentebeach.com
• 1164 Main Street, Leander • www.sprouts.com
In the news
16 Myopia Center of Texas Spanish Oaks Eyecare has decided to transition to a myopia management center with a focus on slowing the progression of nearsightedness in children and teens. Some treatments oered at the center include custom-t Ortho-K lenses, MiSight 1-day soft contact lenses and low-dose atropine eye drops. • Transition will be complete by July 1 • 13625 Ronald Reagan Blvd., Bldg. 8, Ste. 200, Cedar Park • www.myopiacenteroftx.com
14 Taco Bell Cedar Park will be welcoming a new Taco Bell with construction expected to begin in March 2026 and nish in May 2026. The fast-food chain oers tacos, burritos, quesadillas and more. • 3500 E. Whitestone Blvd., Cedar Park • www.tacobell.com
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LEANDER LIBERTY HILL EDITION
Impacts
Liberty Hill
Market, and it held a grand opening on May 30. Serving authentic Mexican food, including tacos, burritos, plates, tortas and more, the business is locally owned and run by Carlos and Synthia Lozano. The Lozanos were previously operating out of the Chevron at 15120 Hwy. 29. • Opened May 30 • 1017 Main St., Liberty Hill • 512-363-2740 founded by Maggie Rains and Rachel Wilks, two lifelong dancers. The studio oers instruction in a variety of dance styles, including tap, ballet, modern, jazz, hip- hop, musical theater and more. Classes are open to toddlers, children, teens and adults. • Opened July 14 • www.dancerepublictx.com • 209 CR 214, Liberty Hill 3 Dance Republic The dance studio hopes to open July 14, and it was
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What’s next
• Opened May 1 • 12780 Hwy. 29, Bldg. B, Unit 100, Liberty Hill • lonestarperformanc.wixsite.com/lonestarpa 2 Taqueria El Gym The taqueria is operating out of Parker’s Corner
Now open
4 D1 Training Liberty Hill The scholastic and adult training facility will focus on elite level sports training for athletes. Hoping to open in October, the location is locally owned by Zachary and Leanne Walsh. The facility will focus on collegiate and elite level training, and it oers multiple class settings,
1 Lone Star Performance Academy The dance studio oers classes in ballet, jazz, hip hop and more, and it will oer summer camps in June and July.
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COMMUNITYIMPACT.COM
BY COMMUNITY IMPACT STAFF
7 Je’s Auto Body A 13,312 square foot auto body shop is being built on Bevers Road, according to a TDLR ¢ling. The $2.5 million project began in October and is expected
including team style classes, one on one training and team training for entire teams or groups of adults. • 110 Holmes Road, Liberty Hill • Opening in late October • D1LibertyHill@d1training.com 5 Open Door Baptist Church The church is expected to start construction on a new church facility on July 15, according to a ¢ling with the Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation. The roughly 5,000 square foot facility will cost $1 million, according to the ¢ling. Construction is expected to ¢nish in September of 2026. • 109 Stonewall Parkway • www.odb.church 6 7Eleven Construction on a 7-Eleven facility is expected to ¢nish at the end of June, according to a TDLR ¢ling. The $1.25 million will include a convenience store, carwash and fuel storage and drainage facilities, and it will be 138,800 square feet. • 10731 Hwy. 29, Liberty Hill
Now open
to ¢nish construction in August. • 100 Bevers Road, Liberty Hill
In the news
8 Mrs. Amy’s Adventures The child care facility is relocating from 14370 Hwy. 29 and expects to be moved by late September. The new facility will serve children ages 6 weeks to school age and will oer after school programs, Friday programs for Liberty Hill students who are out of school and more. The business is locally owned by Amy Payne, and it is expanding in size to serve more of the community.
9 The Yogurt Experience The self-serve frozen yogurt shop oers a range of avors with over 50 topping options. • Opened May 22 • 14241 Hwy. 29, Ste. 303, Liberty Hill • www.yogurtexperience.com
• Moving in late September • 12340 Hwy. 29, Liberty Hill • www.mrsamysadventures.com
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LEANDER LIBERTY HILL EDITION
Government
BY SAM SCHAFFER
Leander approves zoning change amid pushback Leander City Council reached the needed super- majority to approve a zoning change on Private Road 920 at its April 17 meeting. PRIVATE RD.
Liberty Hill ups water, wastewater rates Liberty Hill City Council approved increased water and wastewater rates for customers April 23. The rates follow approval of the city’s 2025 Water Master Plan, which showed the city could see water shortages if it does not bolster infrastructure. Two-minute impact The rate customers pay for water and wastewater increased by 10.5% and 6.5%, respectively, according to a presentation to the City Council. The rates, which took eect April 23, resulted from considerations of the costs and resources to operate water and wastewater utilities, according to agenda documents.
The 10-acre property sits at 551 Private Road 920, according to agenda documents. A letter of intent showed the rezoning request was to eventu- ally allow for the Oasis Subdivision project. What you need to know The applicant applied for the property to be rezoned from single family rural to single family suburban in anticipation of subdividing the property into 30 lots, according to the letter. Community members, many from the neighbor- ing Marbella neighborhood, submitted a petition on the issue, expressing their concerns about increased trac and altered views, which necessi- tated a supermajority instead of a simple majority. What they’re saying Sam Sheikh, a representative for the owner of
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the property, decried the petition. “It is an absolute insult to an American citizen, a citizen of Leander, who was there rst before Marbella ever existed,” Sheikh said. “This is dicult for us, because we hear you,” Leander Mayor Christine DeLisle said. “At the same time, we have a legal obligation from the state to go ahead with the highest and best use of this property.”
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COMMUNITYIMPACT.COM
News
BY STEVE GUNTLI
Central Texas shows strong growth in latest census data displayed signicant growth. After the north Dallas suburb of Princeton, the Williamson County town of Jarrell is the fastest-growing small city in the state, showing a 28.78% population increase. City Austin Metro population growth from 2023 to 2024
Texas continues to show signicant population growth, according to recent data from the U.S. Cen- sus Bureau. The bureau released its 2024 ndings compiling population growth reported across cities and towns in all U.S. regions on May 15. Digging deeper North Texas, specically around the Dallas-Fort Worth area, showed the largest overall population growth in 2024, but Central Texas had large gains as well. Hutto was listed as one of the 15 fastest-growing cities in the state, with a population increase of 9.4% over 2023. Leander was ranked the 10th largest-gaining city with a population of more than 50,000 in the state, and added 7,004 new residents since 2023. This represents a growth of 8.7%. Georgetown, which has been the fastest-growing city in the country for the last three years, dropped to 21st, but still showed growth at a pace of 4.8%. Cities with a population under 50,000 also
Percent Change 2024 Population
Other small cities in the Austin metro grew as well, including Liberty Hill (up 14.99%), Dripping Springs (up 16.87%) and Marble Falls (up 23.95%). Zooming out Texas is home to the fastest-growing city in America for the fourth year in a row. The Dallas-Fort Worth suburb of Princeton is now the fastest-grow- ing city in the U.S., with 30% population growth from 2023 to 2024. Princeton joins six other Texas cities listed in the top 15, including Fulshear, Celina, Anna, Fate, Melissa and Hutto. Among large cities, Houston showed the largest gain, adding 43,217 new residents since 2023. San Antonio and Fort Worth also showed increases of around 23,000 each. Austin showed a .4% increase over 2023 but has fallen behind other similar-sized
Leander
+8.70% +14.99%
87,511 11,984 78,380 42,661 101,344 135,259 66,819 993,588
Liberty Hill
Cedar Park +0.41%
Hutto
+9.44%
Georgetown +4.77% Round Rock +3.08% Pugerville +1.35%
Austin
+0.04%
Dripping Springs
+16.87%
10,165
Marble Falls +23.95
9,413
SOURCE: UNITED STATES CENSUS BUREAUCOMMUNITY IMPACT
cities. It has gone from the 10th largest city in America in 2022 to the 13th largest in 2024.
A LONG WAY
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LEANDER LIBERTY HILL EDITION
Education
BY BRITTANY ANDERSON
Leander ISD approves 202526 adjusted compensation plan
The Leander ISD board of trustees adopted its FY 2025-26 compensation plan May 8, which includes targeted pay adjustments for some employees to
board includes an authorization for Superintendent Bruce Gearing to approve a one-time retention payment of $1,000 per full-time employee or $500 per part-time employee. Gearing will also be able to amend the compensa- tion and bene ts plan after the start of the 2025-26 scal year based on the outcome of the current legislative session. TASB would normally say it’s “risky to wait” to make compensation decisions before the end of the legislative session, as neighboring districts are likely to make decisions and LISD would not want to fall behind, Campbell said. On June 2, the Texas Legislature passed several bills, including Senate Bill 2, which pushes a vouch- er-style program, and House Bill 2, a school nance package that infuses $8.5 billion into public school funding, that may alter public school funding and compensation over the coming years.
Budget breakdown The $3.5 million impact to the budget would include: $1.3M for 400 professional support employees
address pay gaps. How we got here
The board rst received the Texas Association of School Board’s compensation plan recommenda- tions during its Feb. 27 budget workshop meeting. According to Amy Campbell, TASB’s director of HR services, the organization collected salary data from 12 neighboring school districts and information from a survey sent to over 100 LISD administrators last fall. Per the survey results, respondents almost universally felt that pay is not comparable to the local cost of living, contributing to low sta morale and issues with recruitment and retention. The action taken Two of TASB’s recommendations approved by the
$1.04M for 698 operations support employees
$351,900 for 62 administrative leadership employees
$232,800 for 260 instructional support employees
$220,100 for 1,262 teachers and librarians $219,800 for 205 administrative support employees $167,600 for 71 technology employees
$1,500 for two executive leadership employees
SOURCE: LEANDER ISDCOMMUNITY IMPACT
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COMMUNITYIMPACT.COM
Education
BY CHLOE YOUNG
Liberty Hill ISD nears balanced budget after cuts Liberty Hill ISD has reduced its projected budget shortfall for this scal year and is nearing a bal- anced budget for FY 2025-26. LHISD is attempting to reduce its de cit through: Land and infrastructure reimbursements
LHISD adopts abstinence curriculum Liberty Hill ISD will continue teaching stu- dents abstinence-based sex education next school year after adopting new materials. The board of trustees approved the curric- ulum for sixth through ninth grade students
The district is seeking to raise its fund balance, increase employee pay and reinstate positions if state lawmakers approve additional school funding, Chief Financial Ocer Rosanna Guerrero said at a May 5 special meeting. Current situation In November, the district adopted a revised budget with a $7.5 million shortfall for FY 2024-25. The district’s fund balance is expected to drop to $13 million, which is short of LHISD’s $25 million goal, Guerrero said. “It’s very, very bad,” Guerrero said. “One of the things they recommended on how to improve our credit is to add back to fund balance. We’ve got to get back to that three-month operating expenditure.”
Freezing positions for central administration and departments
Reductions in campus and department budgets
at a May 19 meeting. Two-minute impact
Limiting travel for professional development
Starting this fall through 2028, LHISD will provide sex education to students using the Choosing the Best curriculum. The curricu- lum provides “abstinence-centered, sexual risk avoidance education,” according to the company’s website. How it works LHISD will provide six 45-minute lessons to middle and high school students, divided by gender.
An increased average daily attendance of 95%
SOURCE: LIBERTY HILL ISD
Looking ahead For FY 2025-26, the district is close to adopting a balanced budget with a nearly $48,500 budget shortfall. In March, the board of trustees approved $6.4 million in budget cuts, including 78 sta positions.
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LEANDER LIBERTY HILL EDITION
Transportation
BY HALEY MCLEOD & SAM SCHAFFER
Phase III of 183A Toll in Liberty Hill now complete The Central Texas Regional Mobility Authority announced on May 20 that the nal segment of the 183A Toll expansion is now open. More details 183A 29 Liberty Hill
Leander completes Bagdad Road updates The Bagdad Road and Collaborative Way improvement project has been completed. “The intersection is open, sidewalks are in place, striping is done. We’re just cleaning up and re-vegetating now,” Leander Capital Improvement Projects Project Manager Rus- sell Alabastro told City Council on April 17. Two-minute impact The project kicked o in November, according to Leander’s website. During the initial phase of the project, crews focused on widening portions of Bagdad Road for new turn lanes. The second portion of the project was focused on installing trac signal poles, mast arms and equipment, according to the website. The second portion of the project encompassed nal surfacing and restriping.
CTRMA completed a 5-mile segment of the agency’s ongoing 183A Toll extension project. This nal section nished out Phase III of the $259 million expansion project. The extension originally opened on April 9, but commuters still faced some delays due to some nal construction and clean-up along the onramps. Final construction on the shared-use path and landscaping along the work route is expected to be completed in July, according to previous Community Impact reporting. The extension now allows for 16 miles of unin- terrupted travel between northwest Austin and Liberty Hill, according to a CTRMA news release. The new segment extends from Hero Way West and passes under SH 29. This allows commuters
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to bypass trac signals at Hero Way, San Gabriel Parkway, Bryson Ridge Trail and Whitewing Drive. What else? CTRMA has reported an average of 35,000 users per day since the Phase III extension opened in April, according to previous reporting.
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COMMUNITYIMPACT.COM
Development
BY STEVE GUNTLI & SAM SCHAFFER
Two new communities open in Leander Leander Estates and Woodland Estates, two new communities of single-family homes, opened in Leander in May. The details Leander Estates, developed by David Weekley Homes, includes ranch-style homes ranging from 2,700 to 4,300 square feet sitting on one-acre plots. The homes will include 4-5 bedrooms, 3-5 bathrooms, up to two half-baths and three-to-four car garages, according to a news release. Home- owners will also have the option to add a casita. Woodland Estates, a new development project from Toll Brothers, Inc., features 4-5 bedrooms, up to 4-car garages and a variety of architectural styles, which can be customized. Home prices start in the low $800,000 range for Leander Estates and upper $900,000 for Wood- land Estates.
Liberty Hill approves Costco plan Liberty Hill City Council approved a site plan for a Costco Wholesale close to the corner of US 183 and Seward Junction Loop. The approval for the 38.44-acre Costco campus, which will include 156,000 square feet of retail space and a fuel station, came with conditions, including the demand that the plans be approved by the Texas Com- mission on Environmental Quality and that the lighting plan be claried, according to agenda documents.
Woodland Estates, a new housing community, has opened up in Leander.
COURTESY TOLL BROTHERS, INC.
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LEANDER LIBERTY HILL EDITION
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COMMUNITYIMPACT.COM
Health care
BY ELISABETH JIMENEZ
Health Care Edition
2025
Readers, welcome to your annual CI Health Care Edition! Life can be so hectic and the priorities are endless, but our health should be at the top of the list. Here in the Leander and Liberty Hill area, we’re lucky to have access to top-notch care, from hospitals and clinics to testing sites and holistic services. Dive into our Annual Health Care Edition to explore your local options, and thank you to our local advertisers for enabling Community Impact to keep our residents informed.
What's inside
Catch up on news from health care providers in the area (Page 21)
Denise Seiler General Manager dseiler@ communityimpact.com
See how technology is helping new mothers ght postpartum depression (Page 22)
Learn about new developments from Central Health (Page 24)
For relevant news and daily updates, subscribe to our free email newsletter!
As Texas enters its peak season for heat and humidity, people with diabetes can struggle to cool down, facing a greater chance of experiencing heat-related illnesses, experts have found. For a person without medical problems, the body adapts to heat through sweat production and blood vessels, said Dr. Natalie Williams, family medicine doctor at Austin Regional Clinic. Sweat, which contains salt and water from the body, comes up to the skin, gets evaporated and helps the body cool down. Blood vessels can expand or shrink to disperse heat Diabetic people face health risks with Texas heat
Handling heat
"Heat stroke is very dangerous, and so the hope is to not ever get
to heat exhaustion if we can, because heat stroke is the next step." DR. NATALIE WILLIAMS, AUSTIN REGIONAL CLINIC
Williams said that diabetic patients should be mindful of how heat can a ect medicine and equipment. She said some medicines such as insulin are heat-sensitive and can lose e ectiveness when exposed to heat. Equipment such as pumps, monitors and glucose test strips can be damaged by heat. Glucose test strips can also go bad in the sunlight. Williams recommends talking with a doctor to understand individual heat-related risks. “Have conversations with your doctor about how to take care of yourself in the heat because every condition has something else that you may need to keep an eye on,” she said.
throughout the body, such as bringing the heat up to the skin instead of keeping the heat internally. However, because people with diabetes have excess sugar in their blood, that can disrupt the body’s natural cool-down mechanisms, Williams said. People with diabetes are more likely to get dehydrated because of the excess sugar, creating a lack of water in the body.
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LEANDER LIBERTY HILL EDITION
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Health care
BY SARAH HERNANDEZ
Out-of-state health care workers could practice in Texas
Some health care ocials in Texas are advocat- ing to allow certain professionals to practice in other states without another license. According to advocates, these interstate agree- ments, or compacts, could reduce administrative burdens and improve access to health care. One of the compacts, the PA Licensure Compact, was recently passed by the Texas House of Repre- sentatives to help address a shortage of primary care physicians projected by the National Center for Health Workforce Analysis. Zooming in Under the Interstate Compact Coalition’s plan, Texas would join compacts for nine professions: audiology and speech pathology, cosmetology, occupational therapy, counseling, dentistry, dietetics, respiratory care, social work, and physician assistants. Texas workers could provide care out of the state, and out-of-state workers could practice here. Texas is currently a member of 38 agreements, including the Interstate Medical Licensure Com- pact and Nurse Licensure Compact. As of May 5, the PA Licensure Compact, House Bill 1731, has been referred to the Texas Senate’s Business and Commerce Committee. Leticia Bland, director at large for the Texas Academy of Physician Assistants, said the compact could reduce barriers for PAs when it comes to getting a new license. For PAs who have to travel or relocate, like military families, Bland said the process of being able to start a new job can be time-consuming. Bland said the compact’s ultimate outcome would be increasing quality health care access and
Supply and demand of primary care physicians in Central Texas
According to Texas DSHS, the increase in demand is due to the state’s aging and growing population.
FTEs*
Demand
Supply
6,000
5,000
4,000
3,000
2,000
1,000
0
2022
2024
2026
2028
2030
2032
2034
2036
*FTE STANDS FOR FULL TIME EQUIVALENT AND EQUALS THE NUMBER OF EMPLOYEES WHOSE WORK HOURS TOTAL 40.
SOURCE: TEXAS DEPARTMENT OF STATE HEALTH SERVICES COMMUNITY IMPACT
maintaining a “continuity of care” for patients, especially primary care patients in rural areas or with language barriers. The compact will not expand the “scope of practice” of a physician-led team or change the supervision requirements for Texas PAs, she said. By the numbers The Texas Department of State Health Services projects a shortage of physicians to worsen through 2036. Specically, the demand for pri- mary care physicians in Central Texas will exceed its supply. According to Texas DSHS, the increase in demand is due to the state’s aging and growing
population. Demand is the number of workers required to provide a certain level of service to the patient. Despite the shortage of providers, the PA work- force is expected to grow 67% by 2036 from 2022. According to the Bureau of Health Workforce, PAs may help ease some of the hardships felt by the primary care physician shortage. Bland said the PA Licensure Compact can help strengthen the physician-PA teams that work together to ensure patients have access to the quality care they need, wherever they are. “Our primary focus is the people. It’s the community,” Bland said.
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COMMUNITYIMPACT.COM
Health care
BY BRITTANY ANDERSON, GRANT CRAWFORD & CHLOE YOUNG
3 health care updates from Leander, Liberty Hill area hospitals
1 St. David’s Leander St. David’s HealthCare is working on a Leander hospital next to its freestanding St. David’s Emergency Center, after leadership delayed plans to increase the size of the project. The site is currently in the design phase and expected to open in around three years, St. David’s CEO David Hustutler said.
2 Cedar Park Regional Medical Center Ascension Seton o cials announced in an April 15 news release that the hospital system will take over full ownership of the Cedar Park Regional Medical Center. Ascension is expected to fully take over ownership this summer once the transaction is closed and will focus on expanding advanced medical services and improving e ciencies within the hospital, per the news release.
3 St. David’s Round Rock A new wound care clinic opened at St. David’s Round Rock Medical Center in March. The clinic is for those experiencing acute or chronic wounds. Conditions treated at the center include burns, diabetic ulcers, traumatic wounds, soft tissue necrosis, gangrene, crush injuries and many more.
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LEANDER LIBERTY HILL EDITION
Health care
BY CHLOE YOUNG
Baylor Scott & White expands access to postpartum care
Baylor Scott & White Health is seeking to provide more accessible, timely care to a growing number of Texas mothers through its virtual postpartum care program. The virtual platform allows new mothers to speak directly with nurse care advocates, receive support for their physical and mental health, and schedule appointments with doctors or lactation consultants. The program is intended to help close gaps in postpartum care experienced by women between giving birth and their rst six-week check up, BS&W OBGYN Dr. Wright Bates said. “It is truly a demanding time and a dramatic change,” Bates said. “What better time to impact a new family and support a new mom with the latest technology, which is an app that really is personal- ized to improve their quality of life.” How it works The virtual postpartum program is available free to mothers up to six months after delivering their baby at a BS&W hospital. Through an online portal, mothers can discuss their questions or needs with a nurse care advocate via messaging and phone or video calls. Women often need support for their physical healing after delivery or receiving a cesarean section, as well as coping with postpartum depres- sion, BS&W Nurse Care Advocate Kristen Sapp said. Nurse care advocates may refer mothers to a specialist, such as a lactation consultant or mental health provider. Leander resident Rayann Quinones has received weekly health check-ins and breastfeeding support through the program after delivering her baby
By the numbers
Patient demographics
Here is a breakdown of the ages of mothers using the app:
More than 2,000 women have enrolled in the postpartum care program.
26-30 yrs: 30%
10% of users come from the Austin region, according to BS&W information.
18-25 yrs: 16%
31-35 yrs: 36%
36-40 yrs: 15%
40+ yrs: 3%
68% increase in mothers using the program from October to March.
First time vs. experienced mothers:
1 in 8 women with a recent live birth had symptoms of postpartum depression
First time moms: 52%
Experienced mothers: 48%
SOURCES: BAYLOR SCOTT & WHITE, CENTERS FOR DISEASE CONTROL COMMUNITY IMPACT
at BS&W Medical Center in Round Rock. Within two days of giving birth, the application began asking Quinones to check in on her emotional and physical health with questions about specic symptoms. “It forced me to think about myself,” Quinones said about the virtual postpartum program. “If I’m not at 100% or not feeling well, then I can’t really be there for my baby.” Going forward BS&W is planning to expand its virtual support for women before and during their pregnancy journey. The hospital system expects to launch a virtual program for prenatal care services in the next year and eventually oer preconceptual counseling, Bates said. “This is really a rst step in the journey and
reects our health system’s commitment to opti- mizing health care and our greater commitment to women’s health,” Bates said. “The women and families of Texas are a priority for us.” The impact One in eight women with a recent live birth had symptoms of postpartum depression, according to a 2020 study by the Centers for Disease Con- trol and Prevention. Mothers with postpartum depression may feel overwhelmed or experience sadness, fatigue, anxiety and anhedonia, or the loss of pleasure, Bates said. The virtual nature of BS&W’s postpartum program helps reduce the stigma around receiving mental health support, Bates said. “Making patients feel heard and supported is really what we’re here for,” Sapp said.
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COMMUNITYIMPACT.COM
Health care
BY BRITTANY ANDERSON
Physician burnout, fewer medical residency slots and demand outpacing provider availability are leading to longer doctor appointment wait times in Central Texas, according to Austin-based Harbor Health Drs. Clay Johnston and Luci Leykum. Austin’s rapid growth has made the local health care system unable to keep up with demand, Johnston said, and fewer primary care physicians and specialists have led to longer wait times across the city. “The bottom line is that the nances that Burnout, high demand behind long wait times
Diving in deeper
Health care wait times
A 2022 study surveying over 1,000 o ces across 15 major metropolitan areas including Dallas and Houston found that average wait times were:
Part of physician burnout is driven economi- cally, Johnston said, as some systems attempt to keep revenue high by increasing the number of patients physicians see in a day. More physicians in the U.S. are also being employed by larger health care organizations instead of independent practices, Leykum said, which could give them less autonomy over their schedule. “You put that on top of a situation where people were maybe less likely to make a choice to pursue primary care to begin with, and it sort of has a synergistic eect,” Leykum said. According to Leykum and Johnston, patients can help combat longer wait times by: • Finding a clinic that has a team-based care model • Utilizing telehealth when able • Asking clinics what its average wait times are for routine or urgent needs
• 16.9 days for an orthopedic surgeon appointment • 20.6 days for a family medicine physician appointment
• 26.6 days for a cardiologist appointment • 31.4 days for an OB-GYN appointment
SOURCE: AMN HEALTHCARECOMMUNITY IMPACT
support those specialties just aren’t as strong,” Johnston said. Patients also often visit urgent cares to avoid longer wait times, but these clinics don’t oer holistic care, Leykum said. “They’re very focused on, ‘How do we address this to stabilize it?’ not, ‘How do we really get at the root of the problem?’” Leykum said.
Supply vs. demand
Major takeaways
A state report projects that ve specialties will be decient in graduate medical education residents by 2032.
the supply of graduate medical education residents will not be keeping up with demand. Of ve specialties projected, pediatric physicians would have the largest gap with only 71% of demand met. General internal medicine physicians would need the most residency slots added each year, with 70 slots needed.
The rate of medical school graduates is ultimately greater than the state’s ability to train them, Johnston said. This can lead to fewer physicians staying to practice in Texas. Graduates must complete a residency program upon graduating, but there are limited slots in Texas available each year. A 2022 Texas Department of State Health Services report projected that by 2032,
2032 demand
2032 supply
9,004
Family medicine General internal medicine
11,499
7,759
10,366
3,783
OB-GYN
4,210
4,675
Pediatrics
6,588
2,852
Psychiatry
3,895
SOURCE: TEXAS DEPARTMENT OF STATE HEALTH SERVICESCOMMUNITY IMPACT
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LEANDER LIBERTY HILL EDITION
Health care
BY CHLOE YOUNG
Central Health seeks to close care gaps for Travis County residents Central Health has increased the number of patients it serves amid e orts to make health care more accessible for Travis County residents. Over the last year, the county’s taxpay- er-funded hospital district has launched several new clinics, bridge services and service lines. The investments are a part of an $800 million, seven-year plan to address gaps in care for low-income and unhoused residents. The big picture Serving over 171,000 people in scal year 2023-24 with a budget of $744 million, Central Health saw a 10.1% increase in the number of people served from FY 2022-23, according to the organization’s 2024 annual report. Enrollment in the district’s Medical Access
Why it matters Growing Central Health’s services has reduced patients’ wait times. The wait time for a colonos- copy has been reduced from over a year to a few weeks due to having a larger team of gastroen- terologists, said Central Health President and CEO Dr. Patrick Lee. This expansion could help Central Health better detect cancer, Lee said. Central Health has detected only 30% of the cancer through its MAP benets that it would expect to see in the county, meaning some cancers may be going unnoticed, Lee said. “We are nding and preventing major compli- cations like foot amputations, like cancer, that otherwise without that access would have just continued to progress,” he said. Also of note In 2024, Central Health launched a bridge pro- gram to provide immediate care for unhoused residents at its Capital Plaza Specialty Clinic. In September, Austin-Travis County Emergency Medical Services began bringing people who are enrolled in or eligible for MAP benets to the
Since October 2023, Central Health has opened the following new clinics, in partnership with CommUnityCare, a federally qualied health center: 1 Capital Plaza Speciality Clinic • 5339 I-35, Ste. 100, Austin 2 Hornsby Bend Health and Wellness Center • 3700 Gilbert Road, Austin 3 Rosewood Zaragosa Specialty Clinic • 2802 Webberville Road, Austin
New service lines opened as part of the partnership include:
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Psychiatry
Infectious disease
General surgery
130 TOLL
Medical weight loss
Cardiology
Ear, nose and throat
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4 Del Valle Health & Wellness Center
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• 7050 Elroy Road, Del Valle
bridge clinic instead of an emergency room or county jail. Central Health has created mobile teams that have visited the city of Austin Eighth Street Shelter for Women, Integral Care Therapeutic Diversion Center, the Hungry Hill Foundation and Texas Harm Reduction Alliance. Services provided have included blood draws, pap smears, prescription rells and
4
Central Health’s Del Valle Health & Wellness Center began serving patients at a new clinic in March.
SOURCE: CENTRAL HEALTHCOMMUNITY IMPACT
COURTESY CENTRAL HEALTH
N
cancer screenings, according to Central Health Information. Haley McLeod contributed to this article.
and prescriptions for low-income, uninsured residents. Residents at or below 200% of the federal poverty level—or $64,300 for a family of four—are eligible for the program.
Program, or MAP, has increased from 6,000 to 29,000 members from 2023 to 2025, according to previous Community Impact reporting. The program covers doctors appointments
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