CHRISTUS Santa Rosa shares vision for regional health care with Wimberley With a growing regional footprint and a mission to provide compassionate, high-quality care, CHRISTUS Santa Rosa Hospital-San Marcos leaders gathered in Wimberley recently for an informal meet-andgreet, offering residents an inside look at how the San Marcos-based facility is expanding services, elevating quality standards, and deepening community partnerships.
Hospital President Bob Honeycutt, who took the helm 14 months ago, led the discussion and was joined by members of his executive leadership team. Honeycutt highlighted both the hospital’s recent achievements and the challenges it faces operating in today’s complex health care environment.
“Let’s be honest—nobody comes to a hospital for fun,” Honeycutt told attendees. “But when you do need us, we want to make sure you know where we are, what we can do, and how we’re going to serve you.”
Licensed for 170 beds, CHRISTUS Santa Rosa Hospital – San Marcos is a full-service medical center with a robust range of units, including a 10-bed intensive care unit, 36 progressive care beds, 23 med-surg beds, 17 outpatient beds, 20 labor and delivery beds, and 20 bassinets in the nursery. The hospital also features a Level II neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) with nine beds and a post-anesthesia care unit (PACU) for surgical patients.
That infrastructure supports a growing population. In the past year, the hospital has seen a 15.9% increase in discharges, 22% more patient days and growth across all key performance indicators, including a 2.7% rise in deliveries.
Honeycutt emphasized the hospital’s strong performance on safety and quality metrics. The facility has received an “A” grade from the Leapfrog Group five consecutive times and was recently elevated to a four-star rating from the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS).
“You have a hospital in San Marcos that will serve this community with high-level care,” he said. “We’re going to serve you, we’re going to love you, and we’re going to get you back home.”
The hospital is accredited by The Joint Commission and CLIA, certified as a primary stroke center, and holds chest pain accreditation with primary PCI. It also earned Gold Plus recognition from the American Heart Association and a Silver performance award in heart attack care, performing at the platinum level.
In 2024, the hospital was recognized locally in the “Best of Hays” awards as the region’s Best Hospital, Best Emergency Room, Best Urgent Care, Best Overall Physician, Best Family Physician, Best Nurse Practitioner, Best ENT, Best Pulmonologist, Best Surgeon, and Best OB/GYN.
CHRISTUS Santa Rosa Hospital – San Marcos is home to cutting- edge technology, including two state-ofthe- art robotic surgery systems – the da Vinci Xi and the da Vinci 5 – enabling minimally invasive procedures with greater precision and fewer complications.
The hospital has also expanded its cardiology program with two catheterization labs and a recently opened electrophysiology (EP) lab, made possible in part through local philanthropic support.
“Historically, patients had to travel to Austin or San Antonio for advanced cardiac care,” Honeycutt said. “Now, they can stay here in San Marcos.”
The hospital’s capabilities also include cardiac rehab and advanced interventions like the ECOS procedure, the use of Impella heart pumps and comprehensive diagnostics.
Kathleen Chomel, director of clinical operations for CHRISTUS Trinity Clinic, emphasized the hospital’s presence in Wimberley, where two renovated clinics serve local patients.
The Wimberley clinic team includes Dr. Amy Hernandez (recently named “Best Family Medicine” in Wimberley), Dr. Delane Westmoreland, Dr. Eric Price, and Julie Longoria, clinic supervisor. The clinic also provides urgent walk-in care six days a week, offering continuity of care by integrating visits with primary providers.
“We’re not just here to treat patients—we’re here to build relationships and respond to the unique needs of this community,” Chomel said.
In addition to expanding access, the hospital has forged strong relationships with Texas State University, becoming the official health care provider for Bobcat Athletics.
The hospital also partners with the San Marcos Chamber of Commerce, the Hays-Caldwell Economic Development Partnership and supports community events like the Wimberley Rodeo.
While the hospital is growing, Honeycutt was candid about financial headwinds. Across the CHRISTUS Santa Rosa network, $61.6 million in regional charity care was delivered last year.
That’s where the hospital foundation plays a vital role.
Foundation board member John Schawe explained the financial impact of charitable giving: every donated dollar returns up to 17 times in hospital value and is four times more impactful than revenue from operations.
“The foundation is here to ensure the hospital’s long-term sustainability,” he said. “We invite community members to get involved— whether by contributing, volunteering or even serving on our board.”
Looking ahead, Honeycutt noted that as the I-35 corridor continues to grow, the hospital will continue to evolve, reiterating the hospital’s unwavering mission.
“We’re committed to providing high-quality care, right here at home,” he said. “With innovation, compassion, and a deep connection to the communities we serve—including Wimberley— we’re building something special.”
