University Health System

University Health System is the public district hospital for the San Antonio, Texas, US metropolitan area. It is also San Antonio's only health system recognized by U.S. News & World Report, regarded as one of America's Best Hospitals. Owned and operated by Bexar County, it is the third largest public health system in Texas.[1] The hospital is also the site of the Genene Jones murders, one of the largest serial killer cases in American History.

University Hospital is one of the nation's top-ranking hospitals.

The current teaching hospital sits at the same site as the original area hospital, The Robert E. Green Memorial Hospital, which opened in 1917. In 1968, the site underwent major updates when the University of Texas Medical School at San Antonio was constructed alongside the newly built Bexar County Hospital.[2]

As the primary teaching hospital for the University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio, University Hospital is a regional Level I Trauma Center and a leader in organ transplantation.

The facility is located in the South Texas Medical Center.

Genene Jones Serial Killer Case and Controversy

The hospital is also the site of one of the most notorious serial killings in American history. During the late 1970s, the nurse Genene Jones is believed to have murdered as many as 60 infants at the hospital using injections of digoxin and heparin. Having suspicions about her role in the deaths, hospital administrators chose to make blanket staffing changes in order to avoid controversy and an investigation, which allowed Jones to kill an additional infant at another medical facility.[3] It is widely believed that the hospital administration also destroyed evidence in order to escape legal liability. Jones was eventually only convicted for two deaths, including Rolando Santos while he was a patient at Bexar County Hospital.[4][5][6][7]

Expansion

University Hospital is undergoing a $778 million expansion and renovation designed by the Dallas office of Perkins + Will.[8] The expansion is expected to increase the number of beds from the current 498 to more than 700, and to nearly double floor space to about 2 million square feet. In addition to adding on a new section, the existing two towers will be renovated and the helicopter pad will be moved from the south parking garage to the roof of a 10-story parking garage under construction.[9]

New Women's & Children Tower

A Women & Children's Tower with 250 private rooms is expected to open in 2022 during the second phase of University Health System's capital improvement program. The project features a heart, vascular and endoscopy suite, new parking structure and an additional shell space for future growth.

The new tower plans features special amenities for mothers and babies, and will be prepared to care for high-risk deliveries and complications during and after pregnancy. There will be a dedicated Obstetrics and Gynecology Emergency Department, Caesarian-section rooms, and a level IV neonatal intensive care unit connected to the labor and delivery unit.

The tower is also expected to be equipped to care for sick or injured children with a Children's Emergency Department, a pediatric rehabilitation gym and family friendly rooms.

See also

References
  1. "p.17 Texas Architect" (PDF).
  2. "Our History". University Health System. Retrieved 2019-08-11.
  3. "The Death Shift". Texas Monthly. 1983-08-01. Retrieved 2019-08-10.
  4. Bever, Lindsey (26 May 2017). "Angel of Death nurse charged with killing another baby suspected in up to 60 other deaths". The Washington Post. Retrieved 9 August 2019.
  5. Hauser, Christine (2017-06-23). "Texas Nurse Suspected of Killing Up to 60 Children Is Charged With Murder". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved 2019-08-10.
  6. King, Wayne (1984-02-06). "Five Given Injections Quit Breathing, Doctor Says in Nurse's Trial". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved 2019-08-10.
  7. "Former Nurse Indicted in Texas Child Injury Case". The New York Times. 1983-11-22. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved 2019-08-10.
  9. Finley, Don; Jennifer Hiller (2009-05-20). "It's substance over style in choice for new hospital". San Antonio Express News. Retrieved 2009-06-09.

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