By Sue MacDonald
The all-new Johnny and Terry Gray Surgical Institute at Jupiter Medical ushers in a new era of expert medical care for residents throughout Palm Beach County and the Treasure Coast.
Introduced to the community at a ribbon-cutting ceremony in late 2023, the stunning 90,000-square-foot surgical institute offers leading-edge technologies and capabilities, including advanced cardiac treatments — all of which are bolstered by a growing roster of expert cardiologists, cardiothoracic specialists, and cardiac surgeons who provide the latest in innovation.
The fast-growing cardiac specialty is welcomed news to South Florida residents during February, which is celebrated nationwide as National Heart Month. Patients and their families who choose to live in the area for its lifestyle and amenities can now experience leading-edge cardiac care without traveling long distances.
“The unprecedented growth in facilities, technologies, and expertise at Jupiter Medical Center allows us to meet a core goal of providing unparalleled cardiac care,” says Dr. Vivek Patel, a cardiothoracic surgeon who was raised in Palm Beach Gardens and returned to the Treasure Coast to join the Jupiter cardiac care team in June of 2023. “This systematic, forward-looking growth of the cardiac program delivers the newest techniques and minimally invasive treatments so that our patients can live to their fullest potential.”
New Technologies, Capabilities & Treatments
Among the new services and capabilities at the new surgical center:
- 16 “smart operating rooms” that feature all of the technology to support complex surgeries, bolstered by two hybrid operating rooms that can accommodate both minimally invasive and complex procedures
- State-of-the-art, image-guided video technology with sophisticated visualization capabilities for the most delicate procedures
- Four operating rooms featuring the latest in robotic surgical systems to accommodate more than 35 surgeons specializing in cardiac and thoracic surgery as well as gynecology, gynecologic oncology, thoracic oncology, gastrointestinal oncology, general surgery, urology, and urogynecology
- Digitally integrated, state-of-the-art communication technologies that enable surgeons to transmit patient images from the operating room to other specialists for real-time consultations and treatment plans
- User-friendly communication technologies that send real-time updates and clinical information securely and privately from the team in the operating suite to patients’ waiting families
- 16 pre-operative and 10 recovery rooms
- Dedicated cardiac rehabilitation unit
- New disinfection technology that uses visible light to continuously kill harmful airborne and surface bacteria/viruses in the OR
Upgrades and improvements through Jupiter Medical Center’s campus are designed to support patients requiring the most complex care, including stroke and cardiac intervention. New procedures at both the Robson Heart & Vascular Institute and the Atrial Fibrillation Center of Excellence enable Jupiter clinicians and specialty teams to treat a variety of heart and vascular diagnoses, including:
- Transcatheter aortic valve replacement (TAVR), and transcarotid artery revascularization (TCAR), a less-invasive treatment for carotid artery disease
- Endovascular aneurysm repair (EVAR) to repair abdominal aneurysms without an open incision
- Open-heart surgery (when minimally invasive techniques are not appropriate), including “off-pump” cardiopulmonary bypass surgery (or grafting), often known as CABG (instead of using a heart-lung machine, the patient’s own heart continues beating and circulating blood and oxygen throughout the body during a CABG procedure)
Jupiter Medical Center: Meeting the Community’s Needs
What are the advantages to these minimally invasive procedures? Shorter times in the operating room, little to no scarring, less blood loss, decreased pain, shorter hospital stays, faster recovery, and fewer complications.
Launch of the Johnny and Terry Gray Surgical Institute is in direct response to significant growth throughout the Jupiter community and corresponding patient demand. More than 15,000 traditional and minimally invasive surgical procedures are performed at Jupiter Medical Center annually, a statistic expected to grow numerically and in complexity.
The benefit for patients is close-to-home access to more innovative, minimally invasive treatments across all specialties. Heart patients who previously spent weeks in the hospital after complicated surgeries are now returning home in a matter of days.
Construction of a companion parking garage also eases the stresses of hospital visits for patients and their families. Accessing the Surgical Institute is easy and convenient, supported by priority entry for patients and a system that pairs each patient with a volunteer to make sure each visit is smooth and welcoming.
For information about the Johnny and Terry Gray Surgical Institute or to find a physician, visit jupitermed.com.
