Growth Facing El Paso’s East Side

As part of ABC-7’s Border Boom Series, Reporter Daniel Marin took a look at the growth facing El Paso’s east side.

EL PASO, Texas – A decade ago, Montwood and Yarbrough was considered the far east side. Today, Montwood and Loop 375 is considered the far east side.

ABC-7 got a guided sneak peak of the Sierra Providence East Medical Center near Montana and Loop 375. The hospital is set to open in late May.

“We already have scheduled surgeries and c-sections for that day,” Sally Hurt-Steffen, the hospital’s CEO, said.

Steffen said El Paso’s growth means more healthcare workers are needed.

“El Paso is a little bit difficult because El Paso, as a border region, tends to have some pretty significant deficits when it comes to healthcare professionals,” she said.

The hospital’s chief operating officer agrees. Monica Vargas said, physicians are in short demand, but so are the people who work in the facilities, like pharmacists and nurses.

Gregory Padilla, CEO of the recently re-structured physicians hospital on George Dieter, shared a similar concern, but he also said the Sun City could be the cure for it’s own problem.

“We’re fortunate here because UTEP has a nursing school and so does EPCC, so we’re able to recruit a lot of employees from within,” Padilla said.

“Our best opportunity as a community is to really grow our own. To keep young talent. Those that are graduating from high school here in El Paso,” said Vargas.

When Sierra Providence East opens, it will have about 220 employees. Vargas said that number will probably jump to 500 by year’s end.

“Grow professionals here, so they’ll stay here,” she said.