News Seton Medical Center Williamson Is Now Open

Round Rock, TX (February 7, 2008) - Seton Medical Center Williamson (SMCW), the newest member of the Seton Family of Hospitals, celebrated its grand opening today with a public open house. The event -- a family friendly winter wonderland -- featured artificial snow, a large campfire, musical guests The Biscuit Brothers and Joe McDermott and the Smart Little Creatures, and the anointing of the doors by Bishop Gregory Aymond with Diocese of Austin. The evening ended with a spectacular light show, transforming the exterior of the hospital into an array of colors and patterns.

SMCW, the only faith-based hospital in Williamson County, will provide a full range of clinical programs and services, administered by experienced healthcare professionals employing the best technology available. The medical center will offer an impressive list of inpatient medical services, surgical and cardiac care, including open heart surgery and electrophysiology services, as well as diagnostic services. The campus' first medical office building will open in the spring and house an Ambulatory Surgery Center, Diagnostic and Imaging Center and Oncology Center.

One of the most unique features of SMCW is the Women's Center. It has an array of state-of-the-art technology, including an infant security system which is attached to the umbilical cord, a centralized wireless fetal monitoring system, sonography and COMPASS, the electronic medical records system that allows for more seamless communication among the entire interdisciplinary medical care team. There are three triage rooms, eight large labor and delivery rooms, 16 mother-baby (postpartum) rooms and a neonatal intensive care unit (NICU). The Women's Center's clinical team averages 13 years of experience.

"This beautiful new facility will combine high-tech with high-touch," said Michelle Robertson, vice president and chief operating officer, Seton Medical Center Williamson. "In addition to providing the best in complex care, we are committed to a more holistic healing approach that addresses the mind, body and spirit."

The medical center includes a spacious chapel, reflection room, healing gardens, large windows to allow for natural light and multiple water features that, as evidence suggests, help to reduce stress and improve clinical outcomes.

Seton Medical Center Williamson, which contracted with Universal Health Services, Inc., to design and develop the facility, has an initial capacity of 181 beds. A planned expansion within the next 10 to 15 years will ultimately increase capacity to 350 beds. SMCW will create 1400-plus jobs during the initial years of operation, increasing to an estimated 11,800 jobs by 2022.