Posted: Thu, 28 Jul 2011 04:49 PM - 15,165 Readers

By: Taylor Short

The Western Travis County community celebrated the completion of St. David's Emergency Center July 28. The 12-bed, full-service facility—the first free-standing emergency center in Central Texas—is set to open Aug. 1

Dozens of residents, city officials, business leaders and medical staff gathered at the facility, which will serve as an extension of St. David's South Austin Medical Center.

"We're excited for the the opportunity to serve these communities more closely," said Todd Steward, CEO of the South Austin Medical Center.

St. David's Emergency Center will have radiological testing, a medical lab, and will be operated 24 hours by about 35 people, including 10 physicians, Steward said. It is expected to reduce the time it takes to get medical help for residents in the area.

Lake Travis Chamber of Commerce President Laura Mitchell said the emergency center will be able to handle the need for healthcare options with the growth in the Westlake and Lake Travis areas.

The center will also be the first emergency room in the City of Bee Cave, located at 12813 Galleria Circle, in the Hill Country Galleria. Bee Cave Mayor Caroline Murphy said the hospital "fills a critical piece of the puzzle" in the city.

"The free-standing hospital has been successful in Houston and the Dallas Fort Worth area, so we're thrilled that this is the first one in Central Texas," she said.