Hospital district to consider outpatient facility

Ector County Hospital District directors will consider approval of the Center for Health and Wellness project on the northeast side of town during a meeting at 5:30 p.m. Tuesday at Medical Center Hospital, 500 W. 4th St.
An outpatient care facility, the center has received two bids totaling around $15.7 million each, a little less than the estimated $18 million cost. The Center for Health and Wellness will include a variety of services, including doctor offices, urgent care services (things that can be treated and released), hospital-based outpatient services and a wellness center with exercise equipment and therapy pools.
Medical Center Hospital Chief Executive Officer Bill Webster said the request is stipulated on approval of bonds expected to come later in the fall in conjunction with a new women and children center.
He said the new outpatient facility has been a work in progress for three years and is important for the hospital and community.
“It’s a rapidly growing part of Odessa and has a lack of medical services,” Webster said.
In addition, directors will consider a bid by Mid-Tex of $132,000 total to paint and refurbish the hospital’s sky bridge. The bridge has become a nesting center for pigeons and will require modifica-tions to eliminate nesting sites.
Other agenda items include: purchase of a $75,000 E-Discovery system for patient information designed to make tracking of patient information easier. It also will be used for e-mail archiving.
IF YOU GO
>> Hospital District board members will meet at 5:30 p.m. Tuesday in the board room. The board room is located on the sec-ond floor of Medical Center Hospital, 500 W. 4th St.