New Health and Wellness Center to Open in Early 2008
Further building upon its longstanding commitment to South Florida, Cleveland Clinic in Florida announced its further commitment to the area with the opening in 2008 of an expanded Health and Wellness Center located in Palm Beach. “We are excited about the Cleveland Clinics new presence in Palm Beach which is part of a larger, long-term commitment to South Florida,” commented Delos “Toby” Cosgrove, M.D., President and Chief Executive Officer, Cleveland Clinic. “Palm Beach residents can now experience our personalized approach to health and wellness, as well as the clinical excellence in medicine and specialty care that were known for across the country.” Cleveland Clinic established its presence in Florida in 1988 with a multidisciplinary group practice in Ft. Lauderdale that consisted of 26 physicians representing 22 medical specialties. Several years late in 2001, Cleveland Clinic significantly expanded its presence in the area by opening its Weston medical campus in July 2001. The medical campus is fully integrated and includes diagnostic centers, outpatient surgery, and a 24-hour emergency department located in the state-of-the-art hospital. Today Cleveland Clinic in Florida has more than 120 physicians with expertise in 35 specialties.
Speaking about the decision to establish the new Health and Wellness Center, Bernardo Fernandez, M.D. Chief Executive Officer of Cleveland Clinic in Florida said, “Many of our patients with homes or ties to Palm Beach requested that we bring services there. This is part of Cleveland Clinics commitment to investing in South Florida. Residents of Palm Beach and the surrounding counties are currently served by our Health and Wellness Center at its temporary location. Consultations and diagnoses for a variety of medical conditions are provided at this location.”
Continuing to describe in further detail the scope of services to be offered at the new center, Dr. Fernandez said, “To assist patients at our expanding Health and Wellness Center, physicians and support staff will be added in the following areas of medicine: cardiology, colorectal surgery, endocrinology, gynecology, neurology, urology and primary care. In addition, other specialties will be represented by physicians rotating from our Weston campus, as follows: dermatology, nephrology, plastic surgery, pulmonary medicine, sports medicine and spine medicine.”
Dr. Fernandez commented, “The initial temporary home for the Health and Wellness Center opened in early February 2007 at 515 North Flagler Drive in West Palm Beach. The site offers valet parking and a parking garage. Later in 2008, anticipated in the third quarter, the center will move from its temporary location on Flagler Drive to CityPlace. CityPlace Tower was selected because this will be a prominent landmark with great accessibility for patients.”
CityPlace Tower is an eighteen story building currently under construction on Okeechobee Boulevard in West Palm Beach. The buildings location is viewed as one of the best sites in Palm Beach County convenient to Palm Beach International Airport, to Interstate 95, and across the street from the Palm Beach County Convention Center. The hurricane-resistant construction and advanced technology of CityPlace will allow tenants to operate with minimal interruption when the area is hit by a major storm.
The temporary location on Flagler Drive provides consultation and evaluation services with regular office hours for patient appointments. Patients experience a coordinated approach between the center in Palm Beach and Cleveland Clinics multi-specialty medical campus in Weston. Specialty services include colorectal surgery, gynecology, heart, neurology, orthopaedics and pulmonary medicine.
Describing the capabilities of the eventual permanent location for the center, Dr. Fernandez said, “The first phase of the new location will include clinical space and the second phase ambulatory procedures and endoscopy. In addition, an imaging center will be on-site, complete with mammography, bone density, ultrasound, MRI and CT scan services.”
Dr. Fernandez continued, “The Health and Wellness Center will offer many advantages that are characteristic of the world-renowned Cleveland Clinic and its unique model of medicine, including a quality patient experience distinguished by comfort, open communication and a highly personalized approach to care. This is supported by the collective expertise of multiple specialists, who collaborate to provide optimal care. Also provided is a secure, electronic medical records system that facilitates physician interaction and protects patient privacy as well as the most advanced medical technology and treatments.”