Florida Coast Medical Center in Port St. Lucie was the place to be earlier this month when hundreds came together to celebrate the grand opening of the county’s first new hospital in over a decade.
In addition to staff, the Sept. 9 festivities included many city and county officials as well as administrators from Tenet Healthcare Corporation, the hospital’s Dallas-based parent company.
A fun photo station, a variety of games and an appetizing food display were part of the scene that included a large enthusiastic group of staff members ready for business.
Since opening day, over 150 patients have been treated in the emergency room and there’s been an average of 10 in-patients per day. “It takes time for people to change their habits,” said CEO Tyler Sherrill, who predicted early on in the planning process that it would take a while to fill the facility.
Care began at the hospital early on the fanfare-filled opening day. A cardiac catheterization was carried out before the official ribbon cutting, and at 9:47 a.m. the first patient was brought to the ER. The hospital’s first robotic surgery took place on Sept. 18.
Allen Smith, the cardiac catheterization patient, agreed to talk to reporters before being released from the hospital after his procedure. “My cardiologist recommended I come to the facility and get it done and I’m really glad I did,” Smith said. “It’s a top-notch facility with teamwork all the way. It’s been a great experience.
“This facility is going to be very helpful because the population here (in St. Lucie County) is going through the roof.”
When asked if he had reservations about being the first patient, Smith said, “Not at all. I would highly recommend coming to this facility.”
Smith also left with a souvenir: The inside of his hospital bracelet said, “FCMC #1 star patient. Thank you.”
Dr. William McManus, interventional cardiologist with Stuart Cardiology Group, performed the procedure. “It went very smoothly. The team was excellent,” he said.
“The technology matters. The experience of the team matters,” Dr. McManus said.
“Technology is a facilitator of good care. We always want to have that,” he said, adding that the group “wanted to be part of it on day one. It’s a great place to be and the right time to do it.”
A host of speakers joined Sherrill on opening day.
“This has been an incredible journey and we are thrilled to be able to present this hospital to the community, the first hospital in over a decade, Florida Coast Medical Center,” said Sherrill.
“Over the last 22 months the team has worked diligently through a simple and dedicated, compassionate and caring group of professionals that made this state-of-the-art facility a reality. And we have been welcomed with open arms by the community.”
Located near the Florida Turnpike off Becker Road at 310 SE Veranda Falls Way, it is the sixth standalone hospital in the Palm Beach Health Network, and houses 54 private patient rooms, a 24-hour emergency care and many specialized services.
Besides emergency care, services at the high-tech medical center will include neurosciences, orthopedics, spine care, robotics, general surgery, urology, advanced cardiac care and diagnostic services.
“Our residents have told us time and time again that they needed more quality healthcare,” said Shannon Martin, Port St. Lucie mayor and hospital board member. “They have stellar, stellar providers.”
Tenet CEO Dr. Saum Sutaria also spoke at the opening. “When I was first shown this plot of land, I was also told there was a set of tortoises that had to be carefully removed from the property in order for us to build. I’m told they’re safely in their new location.
“It’s more than a hospital here. This is part of an integrated medical campus that will build and develop specialty services and emergency service that will grow and expand and attract doctors who want to take care of patients in a high-quality manner over time,” Dr. Sutaria said. “This hospital is also joining a legacy of care that extends over a hundred years.”
The hospital may be part of a network, but it is also a new entity.
“It’s been a lot of hard work to get us where we’re at. We’re not just opening a hospital, we’re building a culture,” said Director of Nursing Administration Elissa Pestuglicci, who envisions that culture to be one of “kindness.”
ER Medical Director Dr. Thomas Peterson, who worked elsewhere in the Palm Beach Health Network, is happy with his new position.
“Our CEO Tyler here is so incredibly involved. He’s on the floor with all of us. It’s the best culture possible,” said Dr. Peterson. “There’s just been such a presence. They care. It’s been a great experience.”
The ER may be the busiest area of Florida Coast Medical Center at the moment, and getting seen quickly there will be a hospital priority. According to Peterson, patients are guaranteed to see a physician every time they come to the ER, and they will be seen in under 10 minutes.
“The idea is to tell your story once. The average wait time has been five to nine minutes to see a physician after walking in. We’re efficient,” he said.
The goal is to get these patients in and out in 60 minutes with low acuity, and 120 minutes with more complicated cases.
“It’s a great team. We lift each other up.” Sherrill said.
Sherrill said that any insurance can be used for emergent care including Medicare, and he wants patients to know that an ambulance can take patients to Florida Coast if they request to be brought there. The hospital website (palmbeachhealthnetwork.com/locations/detail/florida-coast-medical-center) also has a “find a doctor tool.”