Bethesda Hospital West’s Opening Offers Patients State-Of-The-Art Care In A Brand-New Facility By Alexandra Antonopoulos
To look back on the opening of Bethesda Hospital West is to reflect on a dream realized. Since the 1996 construction of Bethesda Health City in Boynton Beach, the Bethesda Healthcare System has recognized the need for a state-of-the-art hospital facility to serve western areas with the same dedication and commitment to care that the flagship hospital, Bethesda Hospital East, has offered since 1959.
health services in a caring manner for our patients.”
“I think the successful opening of Bethesda Hospital West is the result of all the dedicated teamwork of our physicians, management team, clinical staff, information systems specialists and support staff, as well as the tremendous support of the community,” President and CEO of Bethesda Health Roger L. Kirk said. “The hospital has run smoothly from the start, and it is because of the teamwork of all these individuals that we have been able to provide quality
Operating around the clock with an emergency department for adults and children, Bethesda West is a nonprofit, private, 80-bed community hospital with a mission that places patient comfort and healing above all else. With 600 physicians and a clinical staff of 300, Bethesda West provides care in areas as varied as cardiology and respiratory therapy to orthopedics and imaging services for adults and children.
Demand for Bethesda West’s services was evident from its opening day, when the emergency room saw 12 patients before noon the same morning it opened. Kirk said the community has shown a surprising amount of ownership already, receiving the hospital warmly and referring to Bethesda West as “their hospital.”
“What can be especially reassuring for parents to know is that the Pediatric
Emergency Department is staffed 24 hours a day by emergency-trained pediatric physicians who take care of minor bumps and breaks to more serious illnesses, and everything in between,” Kirk said. Since its opening at the intersection of Boynton Beach Blvd. and State Road 7, the Bethesda West team has been hard at work to meet the demands of the growing western communities. “We’ve been busy since day one, reflecting the community’s need for a hospital to meet their medical and emergent health needs,” Kirk said. “The hospital’s census exceeded projections from the first week of its opening. Because of the high volume of patients, we had to open our second floor for patients on day three.” Paramount to its success, Bethesda West’s commitment to quality treatment is in line with the parent company’s longstanding reputation
The main hospital drive entrance resembles an upscale hotel. Photo courtesy HDR Architecture/Ari Burling Photography
|wellington the magazine| July 2013
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