Expansion of Emergency Care in Austin and Pflugerville
On February 1, 2026, St. David’s HealthCare officially acquired six Austin Emergency Center locations throughout Austin and Pflugerville, including Anderson Mill, Arboretum, Wells Branch, East Riverside, South Lamar, and Mueller. These centers were previously owned by ZT Corporate under Altus Community Healthcare. This acquisition increases St. David’s network to 13 freestanding emergency centers in Central Texas, reinforcing their presence and commitment to meeting increased emergency care demands driven by population growth.
Staffing and Services Offered at New Emergency Centers
The newly acquired emergency centers are staffed by nurses trained in emergency care and board-certified physicians affiliated with St. David’s HealthCare. These facilities provide treatment for a variety of urgent conditions, including abdominal and chest pain, dehydration, breathing difficulties, fractures, sprains, severe burns, stroke symptoms, and traumatic injuries. The centers serve as accessible points for emergency medical care closer to residents' homes, aiming to alleviate congestion in larger hospital emergency rooms.
Integration with St. David’s Hospital Network and Patient Transfers
The emergency centers operate as extensions of St. David’s hospitals: Anderson Mill, Arboretum, and Wells Branch locations connect to North Austin Medical Center; East Riverside and Mueller link with St. David’s Medical Center in Central Austin; and South Lamar is associated with St. David’s South Austin Medical Center. Patients requiring specialized services or inpatient admission can be transferred seamlessly to these hospitals, ensuring continuity of care within the St. David’s HealthCare system.
