A: We understand there may be some confusion. When voters approved the $2.5 billion bond package in 2023, the initial plan was to open the new Level I trauma-capable hospital with 390 private patient rooms. However, following an extensive assessment of community healthcare needs and a mindful review of its present finances, Harris Health leadership has determined that the hospital can effectively operate with a total of 330 patient beds on opening day.

While the hospital is being designed to accommodate a maximum of 450 patient beds—space for 120 of those beds will not be completed initially. This approach provides Harris Health leadership the flexibility and option to complete the build-out of the unfinished space as patient demand increases and funding becomes available. As construction progresses, Harris Health leadership will continue to evaluate patient needs and its financial standing to ensure that the number of patient rooms reflects both community demand and responsible fiscal planning.

A final decision on the exact room count is expected by 2027 to follow the timeline for the hospital’s anticipated opening in early 2029.

A: Yes, the estimated completion cost for the new Level I trauma-capable hospital and associated campus projects is now approximately $2 billion. This revised figure—up from the initial estimate of $1.6 billion—is due to inflationary and economic factors that have driven up the prices of construction materials and supplies and the competition for labor and subcontractors caused by increased construction volume in Texas. Additionally, the revised figure also accounts for changes in scope and cost to the new campus patient parking garage and power plant.

A: The updated $2 billion estimated cost for the new Level I trauma-capable hospital now more accurately reflects the market effects of inflation and economic factors that have driven up the prices of construction materials and supplies, and competition for labor and subcontractors caused by increased construction volume in Texas. It’s important to note that on a cost per square-foot construction comparison, the new hospital project shares a competitive range with other similar projects in Texas. Harris Health leadership remains fully committed to executing the system’s multi-year $3.2 billion strategic facilities plan in a timely and fiscally responsible manner that meets both operational and community needs.

A: The updated $2 billion estimated cost for the new Level I trauma-capable hospital includes all construction costs, plus all equipment, technology and furnishings required to operate the new hospital. Additionally, the cost includes construction of an expanded garage design that provides 1,200 parking spaces, 3,000 square feet of office space and 10,000 square feet of retail space, as well as a stand-alone central utility plant of 89,000 square feet to store the hospital’s primary and emergency power, steam and chilled water utility functions.

A: The new hospital is expected to open to the public during the early part of 2029. If current projected timelines are met, Harris Health leadership hopes to host the hospital’s grand opening near Martin Luther King Jr. Day, Jan. 15, 2029.

A: Harris Health is committed to operating the hospital at its newly planned opening-day capacity of 330 beds. The addition of staffing for the expanded campus will begin in 2028 for the 2029 opening. Harris Health will be an active recruiter and expects the prestige of working at a new Level I trauma-capable hospital to aid in its hiring efforts of nursing and skilled professionals.

A: Magnet® designation or Magnet® status is a highly prestigious nursing excellence recognition awarded by the American Nurses Credential Center. Harris Health has the distinct honor of having both its hospitals (Lyndon B. Johnson and Ben Taub) designated as Magnet®, an achievement attained by fewer than 10% of hospitals nationwide. LBJ Hospital has achieved Magnet® status twice, while Ben Taub Hospital was recently awarded Magnet with Distinction®, an elite recognition only awarded to 30 hospitals nationwide. Magnet® represents high marks for nursing practices that translates to providing excellent healthcare for patients.

A: From day one, our project team has prioritized smart planning and resourceful problem-solving. Concrete was selected over steel for its affordability and to offset varied economic factors including inflation that has driven up the prices of construction materials and supplies, and the competition for labor and subcontractors because of increased construction volume in Texas.

To date, approximately $750 million worth of supplies and materials has been purchased—saving the project approximately $28 million. Also, more affordable materials in the form of prefabrication items such as exterior walls, patient bathrooms, patient room headwalls, and components for mechanical, electrical, plumbing and technology are being used in the hospital’s construction. The team has already purchased big-ticket items like generators and electrical gears for greater savings and to keep the construction timeline on track. Another creative solution involved partnering with Center Point Energy to coordinate underground electrical work as part of the building’s completed foundation work that has already netted $21 million in savings.

A: The new hospital has been designed with sustainability and resiliency in mind. The project is designed to LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) Silver standards, meaning it meets environmental and efficiency guidelines in design, construction and operation, according to the U.S. Green Building Council, a non-profit organization.

• An HVAC (Heating, Ventilation and Air Conditioning) system that cuts energy use by 30%
• Two cogeneration systems that reduce carbon emissions by 34%
• Power generation in the new central utility plant that produces electricity to reduce utility costs
• Water recovery systems that could save 6 million gallons of water annually
• Rooftop materials that reflect sunlight to reduce cooling costs

A: While LBJ Hospital has never flooded, the new Level I trauma-capable hospital is being built with resiliency in mind to help it maintain operations through severe flooding and other weather events. A combination of detention ponds and added green space are incorporated into the campus design to reduce water runoff into area neighborhoods. The new hospital will stand on an elevated concrete slab five feet above the existing hospital elevation and maintains a crawl space beneath the structure to provide added protection against rising water.

Significantly, six large retention tanks capable of collecting up to 8.5 million gallons of rainwater have been built beneath the hospital grounds to allow a gradual release of floodwater into the city/county drainage system as weather clears. This design and direction are based on the 500-year flood elevation standards set by the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA). Additionally, Harris Health will continue to partner with city and county efforts to address flood concerns in the community. In fact, recent county improvements on nearby bayous have already improved the flow of storm water drainage in the area.

A: Yes, the new Level I trauma-capable hospital on the LBJ Hospital campus will house parking garages to accommodate nearly 4,000 new patient and staff parking spaces. While some free parking for patients and visitors may be available, much of the patient and visitor parking is managed by an independent parking vendor. As such, Harris Health does not currently have control of pricing. However, as we continue to evolve campus planning, hospital leadership is actively seeking options to reduce or eliminate parking costs for patients and visitors.

As an alternative, Harris Health will have dedicated drop-off and pick-up sites for patients, visitors and ride-share services. Additionally, Harris Health is working closely with Metro to enhance the public transit experience. Metro is currently developing new bus routes that will run and stop directly in front of the new hospital entrance off Lockwood Drive.

A: We understand the inconvenience of paying for parking while picking up medications. Unfortunately, parking for visitors and patients at LBJ Hospital is currently operated by a third-party vendor who is responsible for setting rates. That said, Harris Health leadership is actively seeking options to reduce or eliminate parking costs for patients and visitors.

For prescriptions, Harris Health encourages patients to consider receiving their medications through home delivery by mail or use an alternative location within Harris Health to receive their medications. For more information on receiving prescriptions at home, call 713-634-1425.

A: Harris Health is proud of its minority- and women-owned business enterprises (MWBE) goals and successes. There are four major contracts associated with the new Level I trauma-capable hospital project. The design team had a 30% MWBE goal and has awarded 30% of the project to MWBE firms. There are three prime construction contractors, and each had a 35% MWBE goal. To date, two of the primes have awarded 35% to MWBE firms. The other prime has not met its 35% of the total contracts’ goal, however, it is on pace with its original dollar amount goal of awarding approximately $350 million to MWBE firms.

A: Harris Health is proud of its minority- and women-owned business enterprise (MWBE) goals and successes. As a system, Harris Health has a 20% aspirational MWBE goal. In fiscal year 2024, Harris Health has far exceeded this goal awarding 29% of eligible contract dollars to MWBE firms.

For purposes of Harris Health’s MWBE Program, we accept the City of Houston’s MBE and WBE certification, Historically Underutilized Business (HUB) certifications from the State of Texas, Disadvantaged Business Enterprise (DBE) certifications from the Texas Unified Certification Program and eight certifications from the U.S. Small Business Administration.

A: No. The funds dedicated from the bond package are still available for the construction of new health centers and extensive renovations to existing outpatient facilities within Harris Health’s Ambulatory Care Services (ACS). Additionally, plans for a new patient bed tower at Ben Taub Hospital continue as planned. The scope of work and final cost for each of these major projects is still subject to change based on Harris Health’s future financial state, updated assessments of community healthcare needs and other economic factors.

A: Yes. Our plan is still on track to construct new health centers and facilitate extensive renovations to our existing outpatient facilities. It is important to note that we are collaborating with our various communities and elected official partners to ensure Harris Health will have a robust and community-centric outpatient facility platform that offers convenient neighborhood care to all residents of Harris County. However, the projects are still under development and remain pending. The scope and cost of projects are subject to change based on updated assessments of community healthcare needs and Harris Health’s financial circumstances.

A: Yes, as part of Harris Health’s $3.2 billion multi-year strategic facilities plan, millions will be spent to construct three new health centers and do extensive renovations to existing facilities across the system. In east Harris County, plans call for construction of a new health center. Harris Health leadership is working closely with Harris County Commissioner Adrian Garcia to identify a location with planning and design work following. Currently, Harris Health is constructing a 60,000-square-foot facility in Pasadena that will consolidate the operations of Strawberry Health Center and the Pasadena-Pediatric and Adolescent Health Center. The new site will offer an all-in-one convenient location in Pasadena in a larger and modern facility. The grand opening of the new health center is slated for March 2028.

A: Bond financing remains available to support the addition of a patient bed tower at Ben Taub Hospital. The start of planning and design work for the project is nearing, and the process could take a couple of years to ensure the number of patient rooms and other support services match the community’s healthcare needs and Harris Health’s financial ability to staff the expanded operation. The final scope and cost of the project will depend on updated assessments of community healthcare needs and on economic factors like inflation that have driven up the prices of construction materials and supplies and competition for labor and subcontractors because of increased construction volume in Texas.

A: Unfortunately, about 3.6 million people in the U.S. annually are unable to access medical care because of transportation barriers. These barriers may include a lack of access to a vehicle, inadequate infrastructure, long travel distances, extended travel times and the personal cost of transportation. Harris Health understands this barrier and offers patients a number of options for those facing transportation challenges. Patients who have a transportation challenge are encouraged to seek assistance from a social works staff or care manager in their health center or clinic who can assess their needs and determine the most appropriate transportation solution. Staff can also assist patients in connecting to a number of community transportation resources available such as:

• Metro Lift Accessibility on METRO Public Transit
• Harris County Transit
• Harris County Rides
• Harris Health Cares by find help - Search and Connect to Social Care

A: Unfortunately, Harris Health offers limited dental services through its dedicated center and its satellite locations at a few of its health centers. We provide care to many patients across Harris County, many of whom rely on our system as their only source for dental services. Because of this high demand and our limited resources, appointment availability can be affected – resulting in longer wait times. We understand this can be frustrating and are actively working to improve access by expanding services wherever possible, streamlining scheduling and prioritizing patients based on urgency of need. In the meantime, we encourage patients to keep their contact information updated on our patient portal so that we can notify them if earlier appointments become available.

A: Yes, Harris Health offers a variety of psychiatric and mental health services throughout its network of hospitals, health centers and clinics. At the new Level I trauma-capable hospital, these services will be expanded to possibly include emergency psychiatric care and more psychiatric inpatient beds. Harris Health is committed to providing mental health services at its facilities while also working closely with its community partners to offer these services to those most in need.