STHS Children’s Celebrates Its 18th Anniversary

For nearly two decades, South Texas Health System Children’s has been providing compassionate, quality care to the children of the Rio Grande Valley. Below are some of the major milestones achieved along the way.

Ushering in a new era of pediatric care

On March 4, 2006, what was then known as Edinburg Children’s Hospital opened its doors as the first pediatric facility of its kind in the Rio Grande Valley.

Close-to-home care for Valley families

To date, the facility, renamed South Texas Health System Children’s in 2020, has served more than 300,000 pediatric patients and their families. In 2020 alone, STHS Children’s admitted more than 3,500 patients and provided care for over 33,000 pediatric patients in its emergency room.

Specialized services for targeted needs

The facility’s medical staff and local partners are specially trained for pediatric patients, offering patients and their families the opportunity to get the care they need without having to leave the Valley, including:

• Pediatric Intensivists
• Pediatric Hospitalists
• Pediatric Emergency Medicine
• Pediatric-Boarded Anesthesiology
• Pediatric Neurology
• Pediatric Cardiology
• Pediatric Gastroenterology
• Pediatric Nephrology
• Pediatric Oncology
• Pediatric Orthopedics and Spine Care
• Pediatric Infectious Disease
• Pediatric Ear, Nose and Throat
• Pediatric Behavioral Health Programs
• Pediatric Outpatient Physical Therapy
• Pediatric Outpatient Sleep Medicine Services

Comfort for when families need It most

The on-site Ronald McDonald Family Room allows families to rest and regroup in a comforting environment while only being steps away from their hospitalized child. Located near the patient rooms on the hospital’s third floor, the Family Room provides families a place to recharge, grab a bit to eat, shower or sleep so they can stay strong for their children.

STHS Children’s also has a dedicated Child Life Specialist with expertise in helping children and their families overcome life’s most challenging events by helping to improve their overall patient experience.

It is also home to two pediatric playrooms which offer activities, playtime opportunities, diversion and entertainment for patients and their siblings, including the Valley’s first fleet of electric cars to enhance the patient’s experience.

In December 2020, the hospital launched the Valley’s first virtual playroom in response to the pandemic, offering patients the chance to take part in educational and arts & crafts activities from the comfort and safety of their rooms.

And in 2023, the facility launched its Children’s Healing Garden, a new meditation and healing garden that provides a holistic outdoor space where both children and their families can improve their healing experience.

It’s all part of STHS Children’s commitment to provide high quality, compassionate care for the children of the region at a facility that has become a beloved part of the community.