Once only a Central Texas hospital, Scott & White Healthcare is expanding past its traditional I-35 growth pattern, moving even further south than College Station. The latest expansion takes Scott & White Healthcare into Washington County and the former Trinity Medical Center of Brenham.

Trinity Health Services and Scott & White announced Monday morning that they are partnering to provide patient care in Brenham and the eight county service area. And though the merge is in the early stages, area residents are excited about what it means for them.

Judy Mcloud has lived in the Brenham area for 34 years.

She's seen many changes in that time and she's particularly proud of the recent decision her local hospital made to partner with Scott & White Healthcare.

"The progress is evident in a lot of ways. It's nice to know the medical community is keeping up with the general trend of the area," said Mcloud.

Earlier this year, Trinity Health Services Corporation agreed to end its 20 year relationship with The Sisters of St Francis of Sylvania, Ohio.

And after months of researching potential partners, Trinity leaders say Scott & White was the best fit.

"They bring so much to the table. They're going to work with us in the area of physician recruitment, new services. Their philosophy is to keep health care local," said John Simms, President and CEO of Trinity Health Services Corporation.

The idea to keep health care local is one Brenham residents appreciate.
Some people we spoke to say they're used to making trips to Bryan-College Station, Houston or Austin for medical attention. They're hopeful the healthcare merge will help make that a thing of the past.

"The fact that they recognize the needs of the community. And the great assistance this will be to the older people who live here and don't like to travel to Houston or Temple or wherever the might have to go. It's wonderful," said Mcloud.

Even when the Brenham facility can't help, Simms says there are other hospitals in the Scott & White system at a patient's disposal.

"If there's a procedure we can't do here that's a little more technologically involved, then we can transfer them to that facility," said Simms.

The merge is also expected to provide a financial boost to the Brenham area as more doctors and their families move to the community and spend their dollars locally.

This is the second hospital merger of sorts in just a matter of months.
In September, the Brenham Clinic announced its partnership with the College Station Medical Center