New medical facility aims to bridge East Side's health care gaps
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The medical center will be right off Interstate 10. Photo: Courtesy of University Health
Construction of University Health Wheatley, the health care system's newest medical facility, is underway on the East Side.
Why it matters: The new center aims to make care more accessible and connect residents to health resources in the historically underserved area.
The latest: University Health broke ground on Wheatley, located on East Houston Street near the Interstate 10 access road, this month.
- Per University Health, the one-story, 15,000-square-foot clinic will open in early 2026, offering primary care, specialty care and an urgent care clinic.
- There will also be a pharmacy, lab and radiology services.
Zoom in: University Health spokesperson Shelley Kofler tells Axios the facility will make it easier for people on the East Side to access medical services and improve the likelihood that people will schedule regular checkups, get recommended screenings and immunizations.
- Wheatley will also be a location for the Institute of Public Health, which serves as a hub for connecting residents with resources like classes about health practices. It also develops data-driven solutions to barriers in the community, like access to healthy food.
The big picture: The holistic approach aims to improve overall well-being by addressing all factors affecting health, such as living conditions and access to support, rather than just treating symptoms.
- Preventing illnesses at the clinics also helps avoid overwhelming hospitals and staff, preserving space for essential inpatient care, Kofler says.
Zoom out: Wheatley is part of a larger mission to expand health care access in San Antonio. It's the fourth facility University Health has broken ground on in six months.
- Palo Alto and Retama hospitals are also under construction on the South and Northeast sides, respectively.
- University Health broke ground on Vida, a facility similar to Wheatley, on the South Side in January.
- University Health also opened a hospital for women and children in December.
What they're saying: James Nortey, CEO of San Antonio for Growth on the East Side, tells Axios he hopes the new facility will be a catalyst for more development.
- "It signals to the development community that it is worth investing in this part of town. It'll spur great economic development as well as meet the health care needs of the community," he says.
Editor's note: This story was updated after University Health corrected its previous information about the size of the clinic.