HCA Healthcare is making significant investments in Palms West Hospital, located near Loxahatchee, with a planned $140 million in capital improvements. A key component of this project is a new $90 million bed tower, which is part of an effort to expand and modernize the hospital to meet the growing demands of the western Palm Beach County community.
The hospital has submitted a comprehensive plan amendment to Palm Beach County for an 18.85-acre site it owns, located just west of the existing hospital. The plan includes a request to rezone the land from “agricultural residential” to “institutional and public facilities” to allow the construction of a 55,617-square-foot expansion. The land was originally purchased for $3.8 million in 2005.
Palms West Hospital, which currently has 206 beds, was built in 1986. The new bed tower will add 42 private rooms and will include advanced facilities such as a robotic surgical unit, a new lobby, a coffee shop, an expanded cafeteria, and an auditorium for medical training. The tower will initially be one story but is designed with the capacity to expand up to five stories to accommodate future growth.
In addition to the bed tower, HCA Healthcare will invest in several other projects at the hospital, including:
- $30 million for expanding operating rooms and adding more advanced robotic surgery capabilities.
- $10 million for a comprehensive stroke center.
- Expanding the emergency room to handle the 65,000 patients it serves annually, along with plans for two off-site free-standing emergency departments.
Palms West Hospital is aiming to break ground on the patient tower in the second quarter of 2025, with construction expected to take about 17 months. The investments reflect a commitment to meeting the increasing healthcare needs of the fast-growing population in western Palm Beach County.
Source: SFBJ
