The Hospital at Westlake Medical Center announced Friday it would be closing its emergency department that evening, KXAN.com reported. Local emergency leaders said that they were given little notice about the closure which could impact paramedics and nearby medical facilities. The hospital’s website confirmed its emergency department would be closed by 8 p.m. Friday, Dec. 29. Douglas Havron with the Capital Area of Texas Regional Advisory Council (CATRAC) said he became aware of the ER’s closing through local EMS. The CATRAC oversees trauma and emergency response across 11 counties, including Travis County. The Hospital at Westlake Medical Center issued a statement about the closure. It said “As part of our ongoing restructuring efforts, we have made the difficult decision to close the emergency room for now. We promptly informed all necessary agencies about this change and will maintain open communication on any further developments.” The “restructuring” mentioned in the statement refers to the hospital’s filing for chapter 11 bankruptcy in September 2023.
