More Health Care Companies Moving to Palm Beach County
By 2030 Palm Beach areas will have more patients, more provider and more choices for health care than ever before
Health care companies are making moves to our areas as North Palm Beach population continues to grow and hospitals are wanting to expand services in places convenient for patient access. Some have dubbed the trend “retailization” of medical care, wher health care services come to patients instead of making patients drive long distances for care. Major hospital companies are attracted to Palm Beach County because many of its patients are wealthy, have good health insurance and are philanthropic. In addition, the population growth in western Palm Beach County, spurred by construction of new homes in cities such as Westlake, is creating greater demand for health care services.The Palm Beach Post reports that more clinics throughout the county are coming, adding doctors and specialties services, and even a new hospital is possible. Thanks to our growing population, these hospital companies want to a part of the health care ecconomy in North Palm Beach.
Here is run down of the players:
Cleveland Clinic, the high-profile hospital company with the renowned reputation, has been looking into building a standalone facility in downtown West Palm Beach. Cleveland Clinic has a longtime presence at the CityPlace Tower office building at 525 Okeechobee Blvd. But if Cleveland Clinic had its own building, it could have more space, provide more services and be a more prominent provider downtown, which is just across the bridges to Palm Beach.
Baptist Health South Florida, which owns Bethesda East and West hospitals in Boynton Beach and recently bought Boca Raton Regional Hospital. Baptist now wants a presence in north Palm Beach County and is eyeing land in Jupiter. One site under consideration is a parcel at the northeast corner of Indiantown Road and Interstate 95, according to real estate sources. Baptist was mum on its plans but didn’t deny the interest: “Northern Palm Beach County is a dynamic community,” a hospital spokeswoman said. “We do not yet have anything set, but continue to look at opportunities to serve the area.” One move Baptist already is making is expanding its presence in western Palm Beach County, thanks to the area’s growing population. Baptist wants to increase to 236 from 80 the number of beds it has at Bethesda West Hospital, off of Boynton Beach Boulevard near State Road 7. The center’s low-dose radiation machines for pediatric patients are in great demand, Stella said. So is Joe DiMaggio’s sports medicine program, as well as therapy services it provides to children with developmental issues. The center has 22 doctors who either work in Wellington full-time or rotate there. It also has another 45 employees, up from about 30 when the facility opened in March. The center now offers a broad range of specialties, including endocrinology, neurology, pulmonology, general surgery, otolaryngology, orthopedics, neurosurgery, cardiac, craniofacial, allergy, audiology, plus imaging services and physical, occupational and speech therapy.
Joe DiMaggio Children’s Hospital, which opened a 30,000-square-foot clinic in Wellington last February, already has beefed up staff and services. This includes adding specialists in areas such as cardiac care and neurosurgery for patients needing more complex care than they had anticipated. Also, there is great demand for rehabilitation services. “Demand for our outpatient rehab services is way beyond what we expected,” said Caitlin Stella, Joe DiMaggio Children’s Hospital chief executive. A hospital company new to western Palm Beach County, Joe DiMaggio Children’s Hospital, already has expanded its services in Wellington. Joe DiMaggio’s Health Specialty Center in Wellington is busier than expected with patients needing treatment in a range of specialties, said Stella, the hospital’s chief executive. The center is at 3377 State Road 7, between Lake Worth Road and Forest Hill Boulevard.
There is a lot of interest and speculation in what properties these large health care companies will aquire here. In Jupiter, it’s not clear what Baptist would do with the Indiantown Road property if it buys it. Observers say the Coral Gables-based hospital company might seek to build medical offices, specialty services or maybe even a small hospital, called a micro-hospital.
To learn more or read the full Palm Beach Post article: CLICK HERE
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Source: https://www.palmbeachpost.com/news/20200109/health-is-wealth-hospital-companies-grow-offices-services-in-palm-beach-county