EAGLE LAKE — Rice Medical Center is moving forward with plans for a major hospital expansion in neighboring Colorado County that would add a new emergency department and wellness center to its Eagle Lake campus.
A project registration filed with the Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation lists the estimated construction cost at $32 million. The 22,700-square-foot addition is planned for the existing hospital at 600 S. Austin Road.
According to the state filing, construction is scheduled to begin Oct. 1, 2026, with completion anticipated by March 1, 2028. The project was registered July 16 and is currently listed as “Project Registered.” Construction dates, costs and other details remain subject to change as planning moves forward.
Rice Medical Center said the expansion would include a dedicated Emergency Trauma Center with improved patient access and flow, a covered emergency entrance and a connection between emergency and outpatient services.
The proposed Wellness and Education Center would provide additional space for physical, occupational and speech therapy, aquatic therapy, visiting specialists, behavioral health services, community wellness programs and healthcare education.
Hospital officials said emergency volumes are increasing, more patients are choosing Rice Medical Center and regional reliance on the hospital’s services continues to grow.
Rice Medical Center has also launched a $15 million capital campaign to support the expansion. The campaign includes support from the Rice Hospital District, employees, community partners and private donors. Naming and recognition opportunities are being offered for major contributions.
Rural hospitals provide critical regional care
The expansion comes as rural hospitals across Wharton, Colorado, Austin, Matagorda and Jackson counties continue serving as critical lifelines for their communities.
These hospitals provide emergency treatment, trauma stabilization, diagnostic services, rehabilitation and other essential care close to home. Without nearby facilities, many rural residents could face longer trips to larger hospitals in Houston, Victoria or Corpus Christi.
In Wharton County, El Campo Memorial Hospital is a 49-bed facility with a Level IV Trauma Center. Its services include emergency care, acute dialysis, imaging, intensive care, inpatient rehabilitation, surgical services and swing-bed care.
OakBend Medical Center’s Wharton Hospital Campus provides hospital services through its No Wait Emergency Room. OakBend also has transfer agreements with Texas Medical Center hospitals for severely injured trauma and pediatric patients who require a higher level of care.
In Colorado County, Rice Medical Center is a nonprofit Critical Access Hospital and Level IV Trauma Center offering 24-hour emergency care, inpatient and outpatient services, diagnostics and a swing-bed program for transitional and rehabilitative care.
In Austin County, Mid Coast Medical Center–Bellville, formerly Bellville Medical Center, is located at 44 N. Cummings St. in Bellville. The 32-bed acute-care facility is the only hospital located in Austin County and operates 24 hours a day.
The Bellville hospital provides 24-hour emergency care, Level IV trauma services, surgical care, CT scans, X-rays, laboratory and other imaging services. It also provides inpatient rehabilitation and swing-bed care for patients who need additional recovery services before returning home. The facility has also been identified as a Level III stroke center.
In Matagorda County, Matagorda Regional Medical Center in Bay City operates a Level IV Trauma Center and provides emergency, cardiac, critical-care, surgical, rehabilitation, imaging and women’s health services. The hospital district reports approximately 21,000 emergency department visits each year.
Palacios Community Medical Center provides emergency services, primary care, imaging, inpatient rehabilitation and swing-bed care for patients recovering from an illness, injury or medical procedure.
In Jackson County, Jackson County Hospital District operates a physician-staffed emergency department available around the clock. The Edna hospital is designated as a Basic Level IV Trauma Facility and provides critical-care and private emergency treatment rooms.
The Eagle Lake expansion would strengthen this regional rural healthcare network by increasing access to emergency, rehabilitation, specialty and behavioral health services for residents of Colorado County and surrounding communities, including nearby Wharton and Austin counties.
The project remains in the planning and fundraising stages, and Rice Medical Center has not announced that construction has begun.
Rendering courtesy of Rice Medical Center.