For almost a decade, the South Side of San Antonio has documented differences in health care availability across the city. This difference has resulted in a 20-year average life span discrepancy between the residents of the North and South sides of San Antonio. The recently opened University Health Vida clinic on the South Side of San Antonio aims to address those disparities.
The San Antonio Report described the region’s status as a health care desert due to a lack of accessible and comprehensive health care solutions on the South Side of the city. The disparity between the prevalence of health care options between the more affluent North Side and the less affluent South Side of the city has been a persistent issue for almost a decade.
Before the construction of the clinic, VIDA district residents experienced average travel times from 30 minutes to over two hours to hospitals. Compared to the North Side, where travel times to a full-service hospital are between 10-25 minutes on average. Additionally, primary and specialty care, as well as diagnostic tools, were considered largely inaccessible to South Side residents.
Although the lack of sufficient health care in the region had been prevalent since 2017, the COVID-19 pandemic highlighted how a lack of capacity and prevention mechanisms significantly worsened outcomes in areas subjected to these issues. As such, the Bexar County Commissioners Court approved $30 million to be allocated from the American Rescue Plan Act in addition to funds raised through bonds. These measures allowed the construction of the clinic to begin in 2023, with the completion of the University Health Vida clinic coming to fruition in January.
The new clinic offers a wide range of health care services, including urgent care seven days a week for major and minor illnesses and injuries, along with primary, pediatric and women’s health care with support for chronic illnesses, including diabetes. The clinic maintains a pharmacy, labs for cardiology, radiology, ultrasound tests and an entire floor dedicated to behavioral care for children and adolescents.
The clinic also partners with various charitable organizations such as the San Antonio Food Bank, AVANCE and ChildSafe San Antonio to provide food assistance and social services to the community. Ultimately, the aid provided by the clinic represents a “promise kept,” referring to University Health’s previous commitment to bring comprehensive health care to the South Side of the city.
The benefits provided by the new Vida clinic are not limited to improved healthcare in the region. A 2026 study by the independent Perryman Group research organization has also projected massive increases in economic activity. The study predicts billions of dollars in construction activity, which will create over 26,000 jobs during construction with the hospital and provide 16,000 roles such as nurses, physicians, technicians and administrative staff.
An additional $800 million is expected to be circulated through the induced effect of workers in the area patronizing local businesses. While these numbers are promising, there is no direct evidence that the projected 26,000 construction jobs have actually been created. The two construction companies, Turner Construction and Bryne Construction, participating in the joint venture to build the hospital, employ fewer than the 26,000 jobs in construction projected.
Construction on the Palo Alto hospital is currently being built on the same 65-acre plot that houses the Vida clinic. The hospital is expected to be completed in 2027. This construction will provide 166 inpatient care units to be used as operating rooms, delivery rooms and nurseries for newborns, expanding the capacity for patient care in the Vida area with more robust versions of services provided by the Vida clinic.
