Central Health's New $9M Clinic to Offer Specialty Care for Austin's Underserved

On Monday, the new Rosewood-Zaragosa Specialty Clinic opens its doors, offering cardiology, nephrology, pulmonology, and palliative care to Austin and Travis County residents who earn less than 200% of the federal poverty level. The clinic is the latest effort by Central Health, the local hospital district, to improve access to healthcare for the underserved, despite ongoing criticism and legal challenges.

"Our work to build out the safety net system of the Travis County hospital district is more important than ever and has to be more resilient than ever." - Amit Motwani, Central Health board member

The Rosewood-Zaragosa clinic is part of Central Health's seven-year health equity plan, addressing disparities in specialty care access, particularly for those east of I-35, where residents have a 10-year lower life expectancy compared to the west side.

"By bringing these critical services directly to the Austin community, we aim to reduce wait times, to improve access and ultimately to save lives." - Dr. Patrick Lee, President and CEO of Central Health

The 14,481-square-foot clinic, with a $9 million renovation, will offer a range of services, including:

• Cardiology, nephrology, and pulmonology exam rooms
• Palliative and supportive care suites with lower lighting and couches
• Medical optimization exam rooms for pre-surgical evaluations
• Infection control and laboratory spaces
• Telemedicine suites
• Pharmacy with vaccine storage
• Lactation room/quiet space

The clinic will also serve as a training site for medical staff in collaboration with Austin Community College and Dell Medical School.

Central Health, funded by taxpayer money, has faced criticism for not doing enough since its creation in 2004. It is currently embroiled in two lawsuits. Despite this, Central Health board members and Travis County officials alike are optimistic about the new clinic, encouraging the community to utilize the services provided with their tax dollars.

Read more about Central Health's budget and operations:

• Travis County commissioners pass Central Health's $744 million budget but questions remain

For more information on the new clinic, visit:

• Rosewood-Zaragosa Specialty Clinic

Quotes:

"We need care close to home, and often our most vulnerable folks cannot afford to go out of town [...] It is heartbreaking as we all know that they go without care and they get sicker. We cannot have that in our community. Specialty care is a critical component of the services we offer." - Ann Kitchen, Central Health board chairperson

"People east of (Interstate 35) die on average 10 years earlier than those on the west side. That disparity is unacceptable, and we are committed to doing everything in our power to close that gap. [The new clinic] represents a significant step toward achieving that goal." - Dr. Patrick Lee

"I love this space. It's really beautiful." - Travis County Commissioner Brigid Shea

"Please come use your clinic that you paid for [...] we're using your tax dollars to make sure you have the best, the highest-quality services from the greatest doctors in the world here in Austin, Texas." - Central Health board member Cynthia Valadez