Better Care, Better Comfort

Expansions and improvements helped Baylor Medical Center at Waxahachie grow with the community in 2005.

Baylor Medical Center at Waxahachie brings more than quality health care to the community. While care improvements are at the forefront of the year's developments, other improvements- a new chapel, a remodeled dining area, an upcoming imaging center- make the whole experience more comfortable and convenient for patients and their families. Here are some of the changes we saw in 2005:

Groundbreaking for the new 50,000-square-foot medical office building, Baylor Medical Plaza at Waxahachie, took place in November. The building will house physician offices and a 10,000-square-foot outpatient cardiology center with stress tests, echocardiograms, cholesterol readings, noninvasive angiography and cardiac rehabilitation.

BaylorWorx Midlothian opened, offering rehab and fitness services to Ellis County. The BaylorWorx physical and occupational therapy programs can treat people with musculoskeletal or orthopaedic conditions as well as people who have had strokes or other neurological disorders. The cardiac rehab program helps people with heart disease work toward recovery. The center also offers fitness memberships, where people can work out with elliptical exercisers, treadmills, stationary bikes and weight-training machines.

Baylor Waxahachie's planned Red Oak Imaging Center soon will give local residents a convenient place for radiological services, such as LightspeedT CT, high-res MRI, ultrasound, digital mammography, bone density, radiography, fluoroscopy and EKG, as well as blood draws.

A new chapel, where people can find peace during difficult times, opened its doors, thanks to $170,000 in community support.

The emergency department (ED) now features a computer-based emergency department management system called MedHost that helps cut wait times. Renovations helped modernize the triage and registration areas, and two added beds bring the ED's total to 15. A more private discharge area helps protect patients' financial privacy.

The ParkView Café offers patients, visitors and staff a remodeled dining area, with extended hours and a wider menu featuring hot foods, a salad bar, food to go, and a beverage area serving Starbucks coffee and other drinks.

Nine new doctors have joined the medical staff, with expertise in obstetrics/gynecology, orthopaedic surgery, general surgery, pediatric cardiology and emergency medicine. The hospital plans to add another 18 doctors to its medical staff this year.

By Stephanie Thurrott