On a historic day for Driscoll Children’s Hospital and families in the Rio Grande Valley (RGV), the new neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) recently went live, bringing 43 infants into Driscoll’s care on the first day. For these babies and their families, joining the Driscoll community means their medical care and personal well-being are top priorities.
Dr. Ana Almeda, chief medical officer for Driscoll Children’s Hospital Rio Grande Valley, is honored to welcome RGV families and be a part of the opening of the first designated freestanding children’s hospital in the Valley, which is home to more than half a million children. The new $100 million, eight-story building in Edinburg is the fifth of its kind in Texas and the 33rd in the U.S.
“We are thrilled that Driscoll has opened its doors and we are helping kids,” said Dr. Almeda. This milestone highlights the hospital’s impact on a region where specialized pediatric care has long been fragmented and scarce.
For years, Driscoll Children’s Hospital has been a lifeline for South Texas families, starting as the region’s first freestanding pediatric emergency room in 1953. Now, with this new location in the vibrant Valley, the hospital’s legacy of compassionate care reaches even further.
Dr. Almeda, a pediatric intensivist, knows the struggles families in the RGV face when accessing pediatric services. Growing up in Brownsville and training in San Antonio, she returned to the Valley to provide critical care.
“I’ve seen the challenges our patients and families have had to face without having a designated children’s hospital,” she said. “Some facilities may have certain specialties or services, but never has it all been in one place.”
Before Driscoll Children’s Hospital recently opened in the RGV, families often had to travel long distances for specialized care. This reality hit close to home for Dr. Almeda.
"My own son had a medical need, and we had to drive four hours to San Antonio for an outpatient procedure,” she said. “He woke up from anesthesia, nauseated and just wanting to see his dogs. It’s really hard when you’re far from home and without your support network.”
The new hospital aims to eliminate these challenges by providing comprehensive pediatric services locally.
Complete pediatric care under one roof
For years, Driscoll Children’s Hospital has been flying specialists from Corpus Christi to clinics in McAllen, Harlingen and Brownsville. Now, the new RGV facility brings top pediatric specialists to the area, reducing the need for families to travel far for care. The region’s rapid growth, history of being medically underserved and shortage of pediatricians show why the hospital wants to make it easier for kids in the Valley to get help.
“We don’t have all the services yet, but that’s my goal — to bring all the services here. It’s a work in progress, and hopefully one day we will have every single service that kids need here in the Valley,” said Dr. Almeda.
The NICU adds another crucial service, and the excitement surrounding the new hospital — and the hope it brings — is palpable.
“It’s a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity for a lot of us, to open a hospital from the ground up,” Dr. Almeda explained. “We’ve been working for years, both locally and in Corpus Christi, to bring the expertise and experience needed to get this off the ground. It’s been amazing to be part of building it from the ground up.”
A standout of the new hospital is, of course, its dedicated focus on pediatric care.
“Most hospitals in the Valley are adult facilities, but at Driscoll, every single employee is dedicated to taking care of kids,” said Dr. Almeda, adding that this specialization ensures that everything from equipment to the overall environment is tailored specifically for children, enhancing the quality of care and patient experience.
Another big goal of Dr. Almeda’s is the establishment of the Valley’s first pediatric residency program next year.
“In the time I’ve been in the Valley, there’s never been a pediatric residency program here,” she explained. “When you train residents, they’re more likely to stay and serve the community.”
“We’re building the pediatric workforce for the future.”
A game-changer for RGV kids
The new hospital is also making strides in pediatric radiology and anesthesia services, areas that have been challenging across the country. The Driscoll team from Corpus Christi is helping to bring these services to the Valley.
Another key in caring for RGV kids and their families is the hospital’s Child Life Services, which helps reduce stress for young patients. Dr. Almeda shared a story about the hospital’s facility dog, Tesla, who helped calm a young trauma patient on opening day, showing Driscoll’s holistic care approach.
Looking ahead, the new hospital also plans to expand the trauma program.
“We are building the future of pediatric care in the Valley and it’s incredibly rewarding,” Dr. Almeda said. “The opening of Driscoll Children’s Hospital in the RGV is a game-changer for the region, bringing specialized pediatric care closer to home.”
It’s also a dream come true for Dr. Almeda.
“The Valley has opened its arms to me,” she said, “and now we can provide services that haven’t been here before and are so needed. It’s a win-win.”
Learn more about Driscoll Children’s Hospital’s new freestanding pediatric hospital in the Rio Grande Valley by visiting online, at 2820 W. Michelangelo Drive, Edinburg, Texas, or by calling (956) 558-6400.
