Before the opening of Driscoll Children’s Hospital in Edinburg last May, if you lived in Starr County and had a child who needed to see a pediatric specialist, the visit would involve a 160-mile drive to the nearest pediatric hospital in Corpus Christi. That drive isn’t uncommon. According to researchers at Texas State University, before the new hospital opened more than 75% of Texas children lived at least an hour from the nearest facility offering emergency services or specialized care to children.
But experts say more pediatric resources are still needed in the South Texas region. Border counties along the Lower Rio Grande have some of the highest percentages of children and adolescents in the state, and families face several challenges in getting pediatric care. There’s a shortage of providers in the area, many people lack transportation, and immigration status can also complicate trips to seek care due to interior border checkpoints.
According to Dr. Mandie Svatek, an associate professor of pediatrics and a pediatric hospitalist at UT Health San Antonio, living within 60 miles of a pediatric hospital is crucial to prevent complications and, in extreme scenarios, a patient’s death. “Sixty miles is quite, quite wide,” said Svatek.
“Ideally, you would want a major pediatric center so that those children have access to care.” Children and adolescents make up about 25% of emergency room visits, and most end up in adult ERs where they are treated by nurses and .