Medical Advances
Plano hospital now boasts one of nation's biggest brain care centers
The Medical Center of Plano unveiled a new-and-improved neuroscience wing on August 25, marking the culmination of a $66 million improvement project at the hospital. With 68 patient beds, the brain care facility is the largest in Texas and among the biggest in America.
The Level II Trauma Center can handle complex brain and spinal cord injuries, including those from car accidents and falls. The neuroscience department now spans two floors and 56,000 square feet, and half of the facility's beds can accommodate ICU-level patients that require 24-hour monitoring. The other 34 beds are reserved for less seriously injured patients and offer more space and technology than traditional hospital rooms.
In a statement, the hospital said the number of patients requiring brain care has "grown rapidly in recent years." In addition to local patients, the Plano hospital's neuroscience department regularly receives referrals from across Texas and Oklahoma.
According to figures provided by the center, stroke patients accounted for more than 900 hospital admissions in 2013, and an additional 545 patients were treated for "trauma-related head injuries."
Although the brain care center was the top priority of the $66 million campaign, the project did include renovating the hospital's lobby, cafeteria and exterior as well.