Brazosport Hospital Expands Critical Care and Pulmonary Services

Lake Jackson, TX (December 11, 2025) — St. Luke’s Health - Brazosport Hospital today announced a significant enhancement to its patient care capabilities with the official launch of a new, comprehensive Critical Care Service Line and expanded Interventional Pulmonary services. This strategic initiative, led by Pulmonary Critical Care Intensivist Dr. Emran Atherah, greatly expands Brazosport Hospital's capacity to provide advanced and specialized life-saving treatment, empowering more patients to receive comprehensive care close to home.

Critical Care Service Line brings a dedicated team of intensivists (specialized physicians focused on the care of critically ill patients) directly to Brazosport Hospital’s Intensive Care Unit (ICU). This means patients experiencing severe conditions such as shock, respiratory failure requiring mechanical ventilation, or rapid deterioration, will now be managed by physicians with advanced training and expertise in critical care medicine.

"We are incredibly proud to now offer the advanced, specialized care that patients with acute critical illness require, right here at Brazosport Hospital," said Hospital President Bob Trautman. "The addition of Dr. Atherah and this new Critical Care Service Line is transformative. It fulfills a vital community need, allowing our sickest patients to remain close to their families and support systems while receiving top-tier critical care right here at home."

Dr. Atherah, a board-certified physician with triple specialties in Internal Medicine, Pulmonary, and Critical Care, will spearhead these new offerings. Dr. Atherah and his team will provide expert management of ICU patients, alongside advanced interventional pulmonary procedures.

Key enhancements include:

• Dedicated Intensivist Coverage: Specialized physicians with expertise in critical care medicine providing advanced, round-the-clock management for ICU patients.

• Expanded Interventional Pulmonary Procedures: Brazosport Hospital can now perform highly specialized, often bedside, procedures previously unavailable locally, including:

  • Bedside Bronchoscopy: A minimally invasive procedure to examine the airways and lungs, enabling biopsies and diagnoses.

  • Thoracentesis: Drainage of fluid from around the lungs, critical for diagnosis and symptom relief.

  • Central Line Placement: Insertion of specialized intravenous lines for critical medication delivery and monitoring.

  • Advanced Intubation Techniques: Ensuring optimal respiratory support for struggling patients.

• Seamless Care for Complex Cases: Surgeons, referring physicians, and the Emergency Department now have immediate access to critical care expertise, enhancing outcomes for post-operative patients and those presenting with acute conditions.

• Reduced Patient Transfers: Keeping patients in their local community means less disruption for families and continuity of care within familiar surroundings.

“I'm incredibly passionate about critical care because it gives us the chance to make an immediate and significant difference in our patients' lives," said Dr. Atherah. "It's deeply rewarding to see a critically ill patient stabilize and begin their recovery journey. Bringing these advanced capabilities to Brazosport means our community members now have the comfort and advantage of receiving high-quality critical care right here at home, with their loved ones nearby. We can offer aggressive, cutting-edge treatment that supports both their healing and their peace of mind."

The Critical Care Service Line at Brazosport Hospital and its new interventional pulmonary capabilities represent a significant investment in the health and well-being of the Brazoria County community.

For more information about St. Luke’s Brazosport Hospital, please visit CommonSpirit.org/Brazosport.

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About St. Luke’s Health-Brazosport Hospital

Located on a scenic 25-acre campus in Lake Jackson, Texas, St. Luke’s Health–Brazosport Hospital delivers state-of-the-art diagnostic and treatment services. As South Brazoria County’s premier healthcare system, our 154-bed facility houses an advanced cardiac care center and a full-service, multidisciplinary cancer center. Our dedicated team of over 100 board-certified physicians and nearly 600 skilled employees provides compassionate, quality care across a wide range of specialties, including cardiovascular care, orthopedics, cancer care, and emergency services. At St. Luke's Health – Brazosport Hospital, we are committed to meeting the diverse medical needs of our community, ensuring the right care is available, right here. St. Luke’s Health is a member of CommonSpirit. Learn more at commonspirit.org/brazosport. 

About St. Luke’s Health

St. Luke’s Health, a member of CommonSpirit Health, is home to eight inpatient hospitals in Greater Houston, including Baylor St. Luke’s Medical Center, a joint venture research and teaching hospital for Baylor College of Medicine. The renowned expertise offered at St. Luke’s has given rise to breakthroughs in cardiovascular care, neurosciences, oncology, transplantation, and more. Home to the nationally-accredited and NCI-designated Dan L Duncan Comprehensive Cancer Center, St. Luke’s includes more than 1,400 licensed beds and 11,000 employees and clinically aligned providers in Greater Houston. Learn more at CommonSpirit.org/stlukes-health-texas.