2022 HEALTH CARE EDITION
Area growth
The San Antonio metro area has increased to over 2.6 million people, causing University Health to see high patient counts at its facilities. Population of metro area
University Hospital average daily census (patient count)
3M
600 500 400 200 300
0.5M 1M 1.5M 2M 2.5M
100
0
0
Population
Northeast Metrocom cities are also seeing explosive population growth with Cibolo’s growth occurring at a quicker rate than Schertz and Selma.
Schertz
Cibolo
Selma
0 10K 20K 30K 40K 50K
42,002 32,276
31,465
5,540 15,349
10,952
2010
2020
SOURCES: U.S. CENSUS BUREAU, UNIVERSITY HEALTH COMMUNITY IMPACT NEWSPAPER
rst solution to addressing popula- tion growth and patient capacity. “This addition will get us the best that we need today at University Hospital,” Kirkman said. “But we are looking at the long term for our hospi- tal. The growth is not stopping.” Ful lling the plan According to Casias, Selma lead- ership is working to be strategic and bring more businesses and services for the community as the city lls out land along I-35 and further develops the city to bene t residents and businesses. “Selma has a fairly diverse local economy, but a hospital of this mag- nitude would be unique and a game changer for us,” Casias said. “We see this UHS hospital attracting more health care options in our area but also an indirect multiplier to other facets of our local economy, such as increased volume for our retailers and restau- rants. Selma is reaching full build- out as a community, so we are trying to be strategic in how we reach full build-out.” While the hospital projects are to be
completed at an undetermined date, University Health will review market data later this year to come up with a plan to move forward on the hospitals. “Next steps will be nishing up mar- ket research and coming back with speci c proposals for each of those properties as well as suggest time- lines,” Kirkman said. University Health will continue looking for ways to care for patients and provide enough beds to ensure emergencies are handled promptly and appropriately, Kirkman said. “We feel a unique responsibility to serve everyone in this community,” Kirkman said. “About 21% of our oper- ating revenue comes from the prop- erty taxes that homeowners pay, and we feel a strong sense to provide a great value and pro ciency for that. We can’t just sit back and say we are going to live in excess because if we do not have hospital beds, that is not appropriate.”
For more information, visit communityimpact.com .
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NORTHEAST SAN ANTONIO METROCOM EDITION • JUNE 2022
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