UTHSC opens towering new clinic in the medical center

It's been several years and more than $100 million in the making. The U.T. Health Science Center opened its newest facility, a towering clinic in the medical center.

As he was taking a stress test this week Leobardo Quintanilla was one of the first patients to take advantage of the brand new clinic in the medical center. It's called the Medical Arts and Research Center, home to , the clinical practice of the School of Medicine.

"It's great," Quintanilla said. "It's easier and faster."

What's easier and faster is an eight-story building filled with medical practices of all different specialties, featuring the latest in high-tech equipment as well as low-tech necessities like physical therapy.

UT Medicine wants to create a one-stop shopping place for patients, "so that you don't have to go from doctor to doctor to doctor and travel around town to see this specialist or that specialist," explained , president of UTHSC.

Specialists serve South Texans while training the next generation of health care providers. The idea is that the community, as well as students, benefit.

"Because we are the Health Science Center, we practice what we teach," declared Alina Matutes-Eckhardt, a cardiac nurse practitioner. "And we really need to do what's right by our patients. And this has given us a tremendous ability to do what is right by our patients."

A state-of-the-art electronic medical records system ensures that all information and tests are available immediately at the touch of a button.

The building, located at 8300 Floyd Curl, has its own pharmacy and caf?'. 200 faculty members' practices include 60 different specialties. Most clinics are up and running now. To make an appointment, you can call (210) 450-9000.