Becker’s Healthcare Podcast
Episode: Expanding Pediatric Care Across South Texas with Eric Hamon
Date: March 1, 2026
Host: Chris Sosa
Guest: Eric Hamon, President and CEO, Driscoll Children’s Hospital
Episode Overview
This episode features an engaging conversation with Eric Hamon, president and CEO of Driscoll Children’s Hospital in Texas. The discussion dives into the hospital's expansive footprint across South Texas, efforts to increase healthcare access for children, innovation in service delivery—most notably through a unique physician-airplane program—and Hamon’s perspectives on critical issues in pediatric healthcare funding and long-term outcomes.
Key Discussion Points
1. Driscoll Children’s Legacy and Mission
[00:22–02:40]
- Driscoll Children’s Hospital was founded through Claire Driscoll’s will (1945), intended to benefit all children of South Texas "regardless of their ability to pay."
- Opened officially in 1953 with 25 beds; as of 2026, has grown to 377 beds and covers a region about the size of South Carolina (33,000 square miles).
- The healthcare system includes a Medicaid managed plan and provides a full range of pediatric specialties.
- Unique position: Only standalone children’s hospital south of San Antonio and Houston and home to the area’s only Level 4 NICU.
- Operates and manages 250 NICU beds across various South Texas cities: Corpus Christi, Victoria, Laredo, Brownsville, Harlingen, McAllen.
Notable Quote:
"The story of Driscoll, you know, I'm going to start with the will of our founder, Claire Driscoll... she left her entire estate to the children of South Texas with the stipulation that it would be used for those kids... regardless of their ability to pay."
— Eric Hamon [00:22]
2. Opening and Impact of Driscoll Children’s Hospital, Rio Grande Valley
[03:01–04:22]
- Launched to address the burden families faced traveling up to five hours round-trip for hospital care in Corpus Christi.
- Decision in 2018: Build a hospital in McAllen/Edinburgh region to keep care local and more accessible.
- Emphasizes family hardship when a child is hospitalized for extended stays, making local care essential.
Notable Quote:
"For a really sick kid... how difficult that is for a family to have to leave home for 30-plus days. And we just wanted to bring that healthcare to them closer to home."
— Eric Hamon [03:38]
3. Growth and Expansion Plans
[04:28–05:42]
- DCH Rio Grande Valley added 15 ICU beds in under 2 years since opening (2024).
- 60 new specialists added in first 18 months; planning 20–25 more in the coming year.
- Outpatient clinics planned for McAllen, Edinburgh, Westlaco, Brownsville.
- New clinic developments: 75,000 sq. ft. in Laredo, 25,000 sq. ft. in Brownsville.
Notable Quote:
"The first 18 months we added 60 specialists... Over the next 12 months, we're going to add another 20 to 25 specialists... We're also looking at some outpatient locations."
— Eric Hamon [04:40]
4. Leadership Insights on System Growth
[05:56–06:22]
- Commitment to continuous improvement: striving to better their care every day.
- The culture is one of ongoing learning and a strong desire for excellence.
Notable Quote:
"We have a strong appetite to continue to always grow and do better. And so what we think we're going to do is just continue to provide the care that we do for these kids, knowing that tomorrow we want to do better than what we did today."
— Eric Hamon [06:02]
5. The Physician-Airplane Program: Bringing Care Close to Home
[06:54–10:40]
- In response to geographic barriers, Driscoll Children’s operates a fleet of six airplanes, flying physicians, nurses, and equipment daily from Corpus Christi to satellite clinics across South Texas.
- Initiative started around 2016 to maximize preventive care and reduce unnecessary ED visits by making specialized pediatric care accessible in local clinics.
- Hamon is not aware of another system in the U.S. deploying such an initiative.
- Continued investment in these flights is planned, even as the hospital recruits more physicians to these local markets.
Notable Quotes:
"We've got six planes where every single morning, physicians, nurses, equipment, physically leave Corpus Christi and go to those markets... and we take the product to those moms and dads and the kids because it's much easier on them."
— Eric Hamon [07:18]
"There's no doubt that it's reduced the number of emergency room visits because we've been able to access these kids at an early stage."
— Eric Hamon [08:38]
"With my colleagues... I'm not aware of any that have that kind of footprint where they're actually taking physicians and nurses and equipment to the markets that they serve."
— Eric Hamon [09:00]
6. Motivation and Culture Behind the Airplane Program
[11:23–11:59]
- Driven solely by patient-centric values: all leadership and the board are aligned on the priority of child health.
- The program is seen as an undeniable good, with no downside.
Notable Quote:
"We know that the only reason we show up every single morning, every single day is for the kids... There's no downside to getting up in the morning, getting on a plane, and go and deliver care to kids in our market."
— Eric Hamon [11:32]
7. Advocacy: Spotlight on Pediatric Healthcare Investment
[12:10–13:40]
- Hamon calls for greater national investment in children’s health, emphasizing long-term societal benefit: better adult health outcomes originate from today’s pediatric care.
- Highlights a critical funding gap: Medicaid pays pediatric specialists ~30% less than Medicare (adult specialties), contributing to a shortage in pediatric care nationwide.
- Suggests addressing this disparity is crucial for the future of children’s healthcare access.
Notable Quote:
"If you make the right investments, 0 to 18... when these kids are 35, 45, 65, how much better they will be... Medicaid is paid about 30% less than Medicare. That's one reason why there's a shortage of pediatric specialists in this country."
— Eric Hamon [12:14, 12:44]
Notable Quotes: Quick Reference
- On founder’s legacy: [00:22]
- On the hardship of travel for families: [03:38]
- On growth and adding specialists: [04:40]
- On always striving for improvement: [06:02]
- On the airborne care initiative: [07:18], [08:38], [09:00]
- On board and leadership unity: [11:32]
- On Medicaid/Medicare disparity: [12:44]
Conclusion
Eric Hamon’s interview showcases Driscoll Children’s Hospital as an innovator in pediatric healthcare delivery and advocacy across a massive, underserved territory. Their unique approaches—including a daily physician-airplane program and rapid specialty expansion—address both access and equity for thousands of families in South Texas. Hamon’s closing call for broader investment in pediatric care and payment parity rounds out a forward-thinking and mission-driven discussion.
For listeners seeking insights into real-world healthcare leadership, creative delivery models, and pediatric advocacy, this episode is a must-listen.