New Neighborhood Hospital Brings Hope and Healing to San Antonio’s East Side

Baptist Neighborhood Hospital Now Open at Rigsby and Loop 410

This past week marked another step forward for San Antonio’s East Side as leaders, healthcare officials, and community advocates gathered to unveil the Baptist Neighborhood Hospital—a state-of-the-art emergency care facility located at 2111 S.E. Loop 410 at Rigsby Ave.

Now officially open, bringing with it not just advanced emergency services but also a wave of progress in health equity, economic development, and neighborhood revitalization.

A New Era of Emergency Care in the Community

The Baptist Neighborhood Hospital boasts an 11,000-square-foot Emergency Department, complete with 10 exam rooms, 24/7 nursing staff, and an in-house laboratory offering expedited results. The facility is equipped to handle everything from pediatric to adult emergencies and can receive patients by ambulance.

Gordon Benjamin, Observer staff reporter, spoke briefly with William “Bill” Waechter, Market CEO of Baptist Health System, who explained, “We wanted to bring urgent care closer to home,” acknowledging the long-standing lack of emergency services in the area since the Southeast Baptist facility closed.

“This new hospital increases the level of care,” he added, noting that previously, the nearest options were either Mission Trails or the downtown Baptist Medical Center.

Economic Growth and Health Equity Go Hand in Hand

For East Side residents, this hospital means more than just faster access to medical care—it signals that their community is being invested in. James Nortey of SAGE (San Antonio for Growth on the Eastside) called the hospital “a huge benefit to the East Side,” emphasizing that the area “has not been getting its fair share”.

While much of the East Side’s revitalization and investment has centered around neighborhoods near downtown, it’s encouraging to see investment in the Dellcrest neighborhood where development has long lagged behind. This area—despite its proximity to major school districts like SAISD, East Central ISD, and parts of Judson ISD—has often been overlooked, but is now beginning to reflect the same momentum driving progress across the greater East Side.

Built to Serve

This facility is part of a broader expansion by Baptist Health System and Emerus, a national leader in small-format hospitals. Since 2011, Baptist Neighborhood Hospitals have grown to include 10 locations across the city, offering similar service lines to traditional hospitals but on a more community-based scale.

“We are proud to serve the East Side with timely, compassionate care that could save lives,” Waechter said. “This hospital not only provides convenience but also connects patients to the full network of Baptist hospitals for more specialized needs.”

Vic Schmerbeck, CEO of Emerus, praised the long-standing partnership: “We are great partners in a shared vision of providing the right care at the right time—at the right place and at the right cost.”

As the East Side continues to grow, the Baptist Neighborhood Hospital at Rigsby and Loop 410 stands as a clear reminder: accessible healthcare is foundational to healthy communities and economic progress.