Emergency Care Reimagined

FLORIDA 

Along Florida’s Treasure Coast, Cleveland Clinic is rethinking how emergency care is delivered. Expansion efforts are underway to manage rising patient volumes, reduce wait times and improve outcomes in rapidly growing communities.

At Cleveland Clinic Indian River Hospital in Vero Beach, the emergency department sees more than 55,000 patients annually — making it one of the busiest in the region. Originally rebuilt in the early 2000s, the facility has been stretched beyond its capacity for years. “We’ve created care spaces in the hallways and the lobby, but it’s not enough,” says Kelley Barbati, MSN, BSN, director of emergency services and critical care services at Indian River Hospital. “Patients deserve privacy, comfort and state-of-the-art care — and our caregivers deserve a space that supports the extraordinary work they do.”

A $20 million renovation project is scheduled to begin in late 2025. It will add more than 18,000 square feet of new and updated space, including private exam rooms, an expanded entrance and a dedicated area for treating patients with lower-acuity needs.The hospital has also added a Behavioral Health Zone, created with philanthropic support, to safely care for patients in mental health crisis. The unit serves approximately 2,000 patients each year.

Nearly 90% of the hospital’s inpatient admissions come through the ED, according to Richard Rothman, MD, chief medical operations officer for Cleveland Clinic in Florida. “Despite what people may see on television or in the movies, EDs are actually not chaotic,” Dr. Rothman says. “They’re well-organized and operate under established protocols. Our goal is to create spaces that reflect the level of care we provide.”

At Cleveland Clinic Tradition Hospital in Port St. Lucie, a similar ED evolution is taking shape. The hospital is launching a Fast Track program to better serve patients who may not need a full emergency workup but still require timely care.

The $2.5 million project will convert underutilized space into six Fast Track beds, with a goal of discharging patients within 90 minutes. The model, which Cleveland Clinic is adopting at multiple sites in Florida, is designed to improve flow throughout the ED by separating low- and high-acuity cases.

“The opportunities to improve our emergency department are continuously evolving to enhance the patient experience,” says Heidi Lahti, senior director of hospital operations at Tradition Hospital. “As our community continues to grow, so will our focus on delivering lifesaving emergency care in a timely manner.”

The hospital has also introduced child-friendly enhancements, including a pediatric comfort zone and a partnership with Nemours Children’s Health to provide 24/7 pediatric coverage in the ED and inpatient settings.

At Indian River Hospital, private donations are fully funding the expansion, reflecting a strong community commitment to improving access and patient experience in one of Florida’s busiest EDs. At Tradition Hospital, gifts from local individuals, families and corporations are supporting the Fast Track initiative as well as the pediatric enhancements already in place.