The palm trees in West Palm Beach, Florida, are waving a welcome for Hospital for Special Surgery (HSS) as it celebrates the opening of a new 60,000-square-foot facility. The facility has also announced its medical team and leadership structure. and that nearly 1,000 patient appointments have already been scheduled.
“HSS is committed to the health, wellness and lifestyle of our patients,” said Bryan Kelly, M.D., surgeon-in-chief and medical director, HSS. “We are always advancing innovative pathways to provide better care and an important part of that process is providing access to more people in new locations.”
Founding Medical Director David Altchek, M.D. leads the team at HSS Florida. Dr. Altchek is chief emeritus of the HSS Sports Medicine Institute and Medical Director for the New York Mets. Nick Sama, M.D., orthopedic trauma surgeon, will serve as Associate Medical Director for Inpatient Services; and Ryan Simovitch, M.D., sports medicine and shoulder surgeon, will serve as Associate Medical Director for Ambulatory Services.
“Southeast Florida is the ideal location for HSS to extend its reach and impact,” said Dr. Altchek. “This new facility will serve as a real center of excellence for patients seeking a wide-range of musculoskeletal health services. I’m looking forward to working with some of the world’s most highly skilled physicians, surgeons and other specialists at the spectacular HSS Florida campus.”
Asked about how the first few weeks are unfolding, Dr. Altchek told OTW, “HSS Florida has been very busy since the opening with thousands of patients scheduled for appointments. We’ve seen that the demand for visits has far exceeded what we originally expected.”
Regarding his focus for the next 6-12 months, he noted, “Our focus for the short-term future is to continue to build out the medical staff even further with outstanding physicians in the areas of outpatient joint replacement, foot and ankle, and hand surgery.”
