Midland residents learned of a new health‑care initiative during the latest Midland Development Corporation board meeting, when Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center (TTUHSC) presented its plan for a Permian Basin Specialty Care Center.
According to FirstAlert7, Dr. Brian Schroeder, regional dean and professor at TTUHSC, explained that the project is designed to keep patients from traveling long distances for routine care. “One of the interesting things, patients don’t want to have to drive more than six minutes to see their primary care doctor,” he said.
Schroeder emphasized that retaining patients within the Permian Basin could help preserve the region’s economic base. He noted that the center aims to keep roughly 175,000 patients in the area, thereby “reinvest[ing] the moneys that would be lost to outmigration.”
The proposed facility would include ophthalmology operating rooms, 26 diagnostic, testing and multipurpose rooms, and additional unspecified facilities to serve the community’s health needs. The board’s discussion focused on how these components could expand local access to specialty services that currently require travel to larger metropolitan centers.
Board members were asked to consider the projected timeline. The plan calls for completion in 2030, giving the corporation several years to evaluate financing, site selection, and partnership opportunities.
While the presentation highlighted the potential benefits, the board did not reach a final decision during the meeting. Further deliberation and possible public input were indicated as next steps.
Midland residents and local health providers have expressed interest in the project’s promise to reduce travel times for essential care. The emphasis on keeping patients within a six‑minute drive aligns with broader community goals of strengthening local infrastructure and preserving the region’s workforce.
What’s next: The Midland Development Corporation will continue to review the proposal, with additional board meetings scheduled later this year. Stakeholders are expected to provide feedback, and the corporation may seek formal approvals or partnerships before moving toward construction, aiming to meet the 2030 completion target.
Sources: firstalert7.com
