Jason Kimbrell, CEO, HCA Florida Palms West Hospital

In an interview with Invest:, Jason Kimbrell, CEO of HCA Florida Palms West Hospital, discussed how it is strategically investing in infrastructure, innovation, and workforce development to meet the evolving healthcare needs of Palm Beach County. “The investments HCA Healthcare is making in Palm Beach County go beyond financials. This hospital is a safety net for the community,” Kimbrell said.

How will the recent expansion enhance the hospital’s capabilities and meet the growing healthcare needs of the western communities in Palm Beach?
When you look at Palm Beach County as a whole, the fastest-growing area is in the western part. That growth is largely due to the availability of raw land and new developments. We are the westernmost hospital in Palm Beach County, which is a remarkable place to live, work, and play. The population continues to increase, particularly with the equestrian community and its associated ecosystem. Events like the Winter Equestrian Festival and polo tournaments bring in not just visitors, but a demand for consistent, high-quality healthcare services. We’ve been meeting those needs, and now is the perfect time to invest in this part of the county. The new 42-bed patient tower we are currently constructing is more than just an addition, it’s essentially a next-generation hospital. It will be connected to our legacy hospital, which will turn 40 years old this coming January. The new facility is designed with innovation in mind. It will offer a five-star patient experience, especially for surgical patients, with accommodations inspired by luxury hotels. This is not just a local initiative but part of a regional strategy. Our goal is to become the hospital of choice for specialized surgery, supported by our Robotic Surgery Center of Excellence.

How is HCA adapting its services and operations in response to shifting demographic trends?
HCA Healthcare is arguably the global leader in healthcare, and we leverage that position through our access to vast data resources. This allows us to study market demands and carefully tailor programs to meet the needs of our communities. For example, we’ve established access points in areas with healthcare disparities, like Belle Glade, where we operate a multispecialty practice that also serves surrounding areas such as Clewiston, Pahokee, and South Bay. We do this because that’s where the need is greatest. We’re not only competitive in terms of business strategy, but we also stay true to our mission, which is caring for and improving human life above all else. That mission drives every investment and every program we develop.

How is HCA utilizing new technologies and innovation to streamline operations and improve patient care?
Technology, especially AI, is an absolute game changer in healthcare. At HCA, we’re leveraging AI in multiple ways. We’re putting smart tools directly in the hands of our clinicians and using AI to improve efficiencies in supply chain management and device accountability. We’ve also formed partnerships with leading tech companies that keep us ahead of the curve. Another important use of technology is for patient transparency. Healthcare is complex, and consumers want simplicity. We use technology to simplify the system and provide clear, upfront information about pricing and services, which helps patients make informed decisions.

What is HCA doing to build and maintain a strong and stable healthcare workforce?
The healthcare workforce was deeply impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic — no system, public or private, was immune. Some hospitals experienced turnover as high as 75%. After the pandemic, many professionals left the field entirely. Anticipating this, HCA acted quickly. We purchased and enhanced the Galen School of Nursing and are now expanding nursing programs nationwide. It was a wake-up call for the entire industry. To build a sustainable workforce, you must innovate and foster creativity. That’s exactly what we’ve done, growing our own top talent through Galen programs.
We also leverage technology to support the workforce — not just in hiring, but in daily operations. AI helps automate routine tasks and provides clinical decision support, which enhances efficiency and reduces burnout. That’s how we’ve maintained a nursing turnover rate of just 6.85% at our hospital, a figure that ranks among the best for midsized hospitals globally. That doesn’t happen by accident. We’ve created a safe, supportive, and empowering environment. Palm Beach County is an expensive place to live, so culture and support are critical for recruitment and retention, and we work closely with local leaders to make it more affordable for healthcare workers.

What are your thoughts on the rising cost of healthcare nationwide, and how is HCA addressing affordability while maintaining quality?
The cost of operating a hospital is higher than ever. Everything from anesthesia to new medical technologies is expensive. For example, a new surgical robot we’re considering costs $2.5 million. Salaries are also at an all-time high. So margins are tighter than ever, which is why you’re seeing more hospitals close than open. The public often misunderstands how hospital pricing works. Even if we bill $1 million for a procedure, the reimbursement is fixed, whether it’s from Medicare, Medicaid or a commercial payer. So we focus heavily on efficiency and waste reduction. That allows us to maintain high standards of care while keeping services sustainable and affordable. Our goal is to be here for another 40 years and beyond.

Can you share more about future facility expansions or projects that might not have been mentioned yet?
This spring, we completed two new operating rooms: one is a hybrid OR and one is a large dual-console robotic suite, and both are around 750 square feet. We also renovated two other ORs to support advanced neurosurgery and spine procedures. That project alone cost around $30 million.
The new patient tower also includes a redesigned entrance, coffee shop, registration area, expanded loading dock, and a 10-bed emergency room expansion. We’re also breaking ground on a new cardiac cath lab next year, which will allow for more advanced cardiac and electrophysiology procedures.
We’ll be opening a freestanding emergency room on Okeechobee Boulevard and Vista Parkway, as well as another one in Loxahatchee in the next few years. In West Palm Beach, we recently opened a new women-focused medical office building to bring OBGYN services to an underserved area. We’ve also invested $1.5 million in advanced gastroenterology, so patients no longer have to leave the community for specialized GI care. Altogether, we’re looking at about $150 million in ongoing and future investments—all focused on strengthening care within the community.

What are the primary challenges for the healthcare landscape in Palm Beach County?
I’d highlight three main challenges. First, the behavioral health crisis. We’re seeing a dramatic increase in patients battling mental health conditions. These are real medical issues, just like heart disease or diabetes. Unfortunately, the industry lack the wraparound services needed to care for these individuals properly. COVID likely played a role in this increase, but regardless of the cause, the lack of community-based mental health resources is alarming. Second, healthcare policy uncertainty. New legislation could impact the financial stability of nonprofit and community-based hospitals. Many smaller systems rely on specific grants and policies that may now be at risk. HCA is more resilient than most because of our size and diversified portfolio, but many others are vulnerable. Third, workforce access. As we discussed, attracting and retaining top talent, especially in a competitive and expensive market like Palm Beach, requires strong culture, support, and innovation. We’re fortunate to have low turnover and high engagement, but maintaining that takes continuous effort.

What other successes would you like to mention?
The investments HCA Healthcare is making in Palm Beach County go beyond financials. This hospital serves as a major support to the community as a safety net and critical access hospital to the region , Last year alone, we accepted 1,900 patient transfers from both Lakeside Hospital in Belle Glade and Hendry Hospital in Clewiston regardless of patients’ ability to payThere’s often a misconception about for-profit versus nonprofit healthcare, but at the end of the day, the only real difference is that we pay taxes. We’re on the ground, in the mission field, supporting the communities that need us most. Whether it’s supporting the Boys and Girls Club, March of Dimes, or pressure washing local schools, we’re constantly giving back — most of it behind the scenes. That’s who we are. That’s how we were founded. We recently celebrated our 10,000th robotic surgery. That was a milestone we were really proud of.