Medical Strategy

At last fall’s EDF Foundation Board meeting planning retreat, a major effort in medical services recruitment was agreed on for 2009. At press time, the Foundation Board was working with Jon Hockenyos of Texas Perspectives on a final strategy/plan to be unveiled at the February 3 Foundation annual meeting.

Why medical services recruitment? For one, healthcare-related businesses are now the # 3 industry in Comal County according to a July 2007 Federal Reserve Bank report to the Foundation. Plus, healthcare is the fastest growing industry sector in the local economy. Second, over 60 – 70% of major medical procedures for Comal County residents are performed in Bexar County. This “out-migration” or leakage of dollars is estimated at over $120 million annually. A tri-county group of physicians have been working to secure a second hospital for the area.

The acquisition of McKenna Hospital by Christus Santa Rosa Hospital Systems early last year indicated the need for expanded services, procedures and practitioners for our growing city. Christus has already invested in needed dialysis equipment, services and plans on a $10 million investment in interventional cardiology.

The U.S. Army at Fort Sam Houston in San Antonio is building a major medical training campus and hospital at the former BAMC location off of IH-35. The impact of this project dwarfs the Toyota project and is less than twenty-five minutes from New Braunfels. Lastly, the Alamo Community College district (ACCD) is working to open a health careers academy at the Central Texas Technology Center (CTTC) this year. The New Braunfels campus currently houses nursing training for the region. For more information about the healthcare industry.