Florida's Finest

When our editorial team researched the long list of new and recently renovated ASCs and HOPDs, we were impressed by the many examples of healthcare design at its finest. The perfect union of form and function was on full display at so many facilities throughout the country, but one center in particular really stood out. The $26.5 million Hospital for Special Surgery (HSS) Orthopedic Center of Excellence is a four-floor, 55,037-square-foot facility created with a clear purpose: to provide a total patience experience under one roof. In addition to a state-of-the-art ambulatory surgery center where patients have joints replaced and undergo other elective procedures, the facility offers diagnostic testing, comprehensive rehabilitation and sports performance programs.

HSS Florida uses the natural beauty of its southeastern Palm Beach location to put patients at ease from the moment they set foot in the facility. The spacious lobby uses a combination of natural light and stunning views of the Atlantic Ocean to set the tone for the surgical experience. Ryan W. Simovitch, MD, a sports medicine and shoulder surgeon and the associate medical director of ambulatory services at HSS Florida, says the leadership team was adamant about designing a welcoming environment. That's why the waiting area, which includes a calming color scheme of pastel blues and grays and a wall that's meant to resemble driftwood, features floor-to-ceiling windows offering sweeping ocean-facing views of intracoastal Palm Beach Island. The design sets a serene scene that is carried throughout the entire facility, says Dr. Simovitch.

The two operational ORs (this number is expected to grow) were built to be oversized and expansive in order to accommodate everything from complex total joint replacements to straightforward knee scopes. The ORs are equipped for robotics cases and are also fitted with audio-visual 4K video systems that enable surgeons to broadcast live surgeries for teaching purposes, says Dr. Simovitch.

Spacious open workstations overlook four pre-op bays and 10 post-op bays, including two private suites for complex cases that require 23-hour stays.

HSS places a premium on preventing bottlenecks in the sterile processing department (SPD) and puts significant effort into providing this critical area of safe patient care with adequate space and top-of-the-line washing and sterilizing equipment. As Dr. Simovitch says, you can only run as efficiently as your sterile processing department can reprocess instruments.

Unlike many of the centers Dr. Simovitch has been affiliated with throughout his career, HSS's staff breakroom shares the same oceanside view as the lobby. That's prime real estate dedicated to staff, and it sends a message about how much leadership values the team, their happiness and their comfort.