The VA North Texas Health Care System has officially taken possession of the former Garland-Baylor, Scott & White hospital located at 2300 Marie Curie Drive. The facility will now be known as Garland VA Medical Center.
In a news release issued April 6, VA North Texas Health Care System announced the facility will serve as an outpatient and specialty care clinic for some of the 184,000 North Texas veterans enrolled in VA health care. Due to the increasing number of veterans needing care for COVID-19, the facility will initially be stood up as an in-patient overflow unit with a capacity for 100 beds.
“The official acquisition of this donated hospital by Baylor, Scott & White couldn’t come at a more essential time than today,” said Dr. Stephen Holt, Director of the VA North Texas Health Care System. “The added capacity this new facility brings will help make a difference as we care for veterans during this national emergency.”
Baylor, Scott & White closed the 470,000-square-foot facility in 2018 after exhaustive efforts to sell the hospital failed. In early 2019, the site was identified for the possible expansion of veteran medical services in region. Along with an initiative from the City of Garland, a bipartisan North Texas congressional effort helped facilitate efforts with Baylor, Scott & White and VA Central Office to navigate and ultimately finalize the unprecedented donation effort. The donation of the hospital will save the VA system hundreds of millions of dollars with estimates to build a new hospital exceeding $800 million.
“We are looking forward to having the VA as a part of our Garland community and the opportunity to serve our veterans,” said Garland Mayor Scott LeMay. “This new facility will bring a long-term result of almost 5,000 jobs to Garland, as well as a much-needed catalyst for renewed development in the surrounding area. I want to thank Mayor Pro Tem Robert John Smith for his efforts in keeping the community informed during this long process. He has worked tirelessly to help facilitate this exchange which will benefit our city for many years to come.”
U.S. Rep. Colin Allred, who represents portions of Garland, calls this a long-term victory for veterans and the City of Garland. “I am so proud of our North Texas community as everyone involved has rolled up their sleeves to get this much-needed agreement across the finish line. It will create thousands of jobs, help serve 184,000 veterans and save the VA hundreds of millions of dollars.”