Palms West Hospital breaks ground on patient tower
HCA Florida Palms West Hospital has broken ground on a new 42-bed patient tower that will transform the hospital and help meet the growing healthcare needs of the western communities.
“Today isn't just about turning dirt and signaling the start of a large-scale construction project. Far more profoundly, it's about turning a new page in the healthcare story across our entire region that will never be erased. This groundbreaking symbolizes our unwavering commitment to progress, innovation and, most importantly, the health, safety and welfare of our community. We are not just constructing a building; we are building a healthier tomorrow for generations to come, ensuring access to advanced care and a brighter future for all," said Jason L. Kimbrell, chief executive officer of HCA Florida Palms West Hospital.
The tower expansion, which was announced in March of 2024, will stretch the footprint of the hospital nearly to Southern Boulevard and include a new hospital entrance, main lobby, registration area, coffee shop, academic classrooms, an auditorium and courtyard. The tower’s 42-beds will be dedicated to patients of the hospital’s Robotic Center of Excellence. While the initial plans are for a one-floor expansion, the tower is being developed to grow to five stories. The design is inspired by a five-star hotel with high-end appointments.
The groundbreaking timing was chosen due to its significance in the history of the hospital as HCA Healthcare announced plans to build the hospital in Loxahatchee in June of 1981. The hospital opened 1986. In a nod to the hospital’s history, former chief executive officers, Mike Pugh, Bland Eng and Heather Rohan attended the ceremony. HCA Florida Palms West Hospital’s beloved first CEO, Mike Pugh, was honored with the announcement that the courtyard in the new tower would be named in his honor.
The tower project is one of many investments HCA Healthcare is making in HCA Florida Palms West Hospital over the next 18 months. Additional expansions include a 10-bed emergency room expansion, a second cardiac Cath Lab and a free-standing emergency room in West Palm Beach. These projects, along with the tower are expected add 150 new jobs to the community.
“[Today is] about starting a new era for healthcare in our community, where healthcare is reimagined and our care is different by design,” Kimbrell said. “This hospital will continue to be a beacon of health, healing, and hope, offering state-of-the-art care in a compassionate environment”