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Memorial Hermann to build 9th clinic and emergency center as system expands reach

Convenient Care Center emergency care, laboratory services, a breast center, physical therapy center and a primary care center on the site.

Houston-based Memorial Hermann plans to open a Convenient Care Center in League City, Texas, marking the ninth free-standing health clinic for the acclaimed health system.

The League City center, at 47,000 square feet, with be Memorial Hermann's largest, offering emergency care, laboratory services and imaging as well as hosting a breast center, physical therapy center and a primary care clinic at the site.

The total cost of the project was not released.

[Also: Partners HealthCare opens first urgent-care clinic outside of Boston]

"If a patient at the Convenient Care Center is evaluated and it's determined they need an even higher level of care, they can be quickly and easily transferred to Memorial Hermann Southeast," Kyle Price, CEO of Memorial Hermann Southeast Hospital, said in the announcement.

Construction is expected to begin in the summer of 2017, and the center is slated to open in 2017.

As patient experience takes on even more importance in healthcare, he push for convenient care is leading many major health systems to open more clinics, ambulatory centers and free-standing emergency departments. The move also helps systems control spending by reducing unnecessary hospital admissions.

They also give systems an entry into new communities without having to build a complete new hospital.

Twitter: @HenryPowderly