To better serve our growing patient population and meet rising demand, Baylor Scott & White – Fort Worth is proud to announce a major enhancement to our Endoscopic and Pulmonary Services. With renovation and construction well-underway, the Endoscopy and Pulmonary Services department will be moving into the former Emergency Department space—an area that offers significantly more room and flexibility to meet growing patient needs.
This move responds directly to rising demand, which has outgrown the current footprint of the existing six procedure rooms and eight patient recovery rooms. The expanded space will increase capacity in procedure and recovery rooms, creating a more efficient and patient-centered environment. Importantly, this also improves our patient room-to-procedure room ratio—bringing us closer to the optimal 2:1 ratio and easing current patient flow constraints.
The expansion supports our long-term vision to create a Center of Excellence in Gastroenterology at Baylor Scott & White – Fort Worth by attracting top-tier talent and advancing clinical innovation. With state-of-the-art technology, the new endoscopy center will enable more minimally invasive procedures and precise diagnostics, improving patient outcomes and reducing the need for surgery.
Our expanded capabilities will include advanced procedures such as endoscopic submucosal dissection (ESD)—a technique that allows for the complex removal of polyps and early tumors while preserving organ function. These advanced services reflect the specialized expertise of interventional gastroenterologists, whose additional subspecialty training allows them to manage complex cases that would traditionally require surgical intervention.
In addition to addressing immediate clinical needs, this project significantly advances our academic mission. The new space will be equipped with cutting-edge technology designed to enhance Graduate Medical Education (GME) and hands-on learning. For instance, integrated video capabilities will allow procedures to be streamed in real time to classrooms within the GME space, enabling residents and medical students to observe and learn without being physically present in the procedure room. Physicians will also be able to consult with colleagues remotely by sharing live procedure visuals, facilitating immediate second opinions and potentially eliminating the need for patients to undergo a second anesthesia for follow-up procedures. This kind of real-time collaboration not only improves patient care but also enriches the educational experience.
Notably, in July 2026, we will launch a new Gastroenterology Fellowship Program, further establishing Baylor Scott & White – Fort Worth as a hub for education, research, and advanced care.
Click here to learn more about Interventional Gastroenterology from Dr. Melvin Simien.
