You’re driving down North Flagler Drive, the sun is hitting the Intracoastal just right, and there it is—Good Samaritan Medical Center. Most locals just call it Good Sam West Palm Beach. It’s been sitting there since 1920, which is basically forever in Florida years. But if you think it’s just another aging hospital with a nice view of the water, you're missing the actual story.
Honestly, the place is a weird, fascinating mix of high-end luxury and grit-your-teeth medical tech.
Most people know it for the "Lilly Pulitzer" suites, which sounds like a joke but isn't. I mean, where else can you give birth surrounded by hand-painted jungle murals and designer fabrics? But beneath the posh exterior, the hospital is wrestling with the same stuff every major city facility deals with: crazy busy ERs, the push for robotic surgery, and the pressure of being part of the massive Palm Beach Health Network.
The 100-Year Hustle of Good Sam West Palm Beach
Good Sam didn't start with VIP suites. It started because a guy named Dr. William Ernest Van Landingham realized the "Emergency Hospital" from 1914 was way too small for the growing population. When it opened in May 1920, it had 35 beds.
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Think about that for a second.
- West Palm Beach was barely a town back then. Now, it’s a 333-bed acute care powerhouse. It survived the 1928 hurricane that leveled most of the county. It's seen the city grow from a tiny railroad stop into a playground for billionaires. Tenet Healthcare bought it in 2001, and that's when things really started to shift toward the specialized, tech-heavy model we see today.
What's Actually Happening Inside?
If you're heading to Good Sam West Palm Beach, you’re probably there for one of three things: a baby, a heart issue, or something involving a robot.
The Robotic Revolution
They recently picked up the da Vinci 5® Surgical System. It’s the kind of tech that makes old-school surgery look like Stone Age stuff. We're talking about surgeons operating with more precision than a human hand could ever dream of, which basically means you're out of the hospital faster. They've also integrated the Ion robotic bronchoscopy for lung cancer. It can reach deep into the lungs to grab biopsies that used to require way more invasive procedures.
Cardiac and Stroke Stats
The hospital is a certified Comprehensive Stroke Center. That's not just a fancy title. In 2025, they nabbed the American Heart Association’s Stroke Gold Plus Award for the 14th year in a row.
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- Heart Failure Care: They’ve been a Healthgrades Five-Star recipient for heart failure treatment for 24 straight years (2003–2026).
- Coronary Intervention: They just picked up another Five-Star rating for 2026.
- Valve Surgery: Two years running (2025-2026) with top marks.
The "Lilly" Factor in Maternity
Okay, let’s talk about the Birthing Suites. It’s the most "Palm Beach" thing ever. They partnered with the iconic brand Lilly Pulitzer to redesign two VIP suites. We’re talking signature floral prints, designer bedding, and a concierge feel. It’s a 15-bed LDRP unit, meaning you labor, deliver, and recover in the same room. No shuffling you around through hallways while you're in pain.
The Reality Check: Reviews and E-E-A-T
Is it perfect? No. No hospital is.
If you look at the 2025-2026 data, patient experience is a bit of a mixed bag. While some people rave about the "first-class" feel and the compassion of the nurses, others have pointed out the wait times in the ER. That's the reality of a downtown hospital. Medicare data from late 2025 shows their sepsis care is solid (beating state averages), but their patient communication scores have room to grow.
You've got doctors like Dr. David Abbasi (orthopedics) and Dr. Mourad Abouelleil (urology) who have massive followings and high ratings, but like any big institution, your experience often depends on which unit you end up in.
Specialized Centers You Might Need
Beyond the main hospital, there’s a whole ecosystem of care.
- Cancer Care of Palm Beach: Accredited by the Commission on Cancer (CoC). They have a Gamma Knife and offer "Goldilocks" mastectomies—a specific nipple-sparing technique that's a big deal for breast cancer patients.
- Orthopedic Excellence: In 2025, they were the only hospital in South Florida recognized by Healthgrades for both Spine Surgery and Outpatient Orthopedic Excellence.
- Emergency Center at West Palm: Located on Okeechobee Blvd, this is their off-site ER. It’s usually a bit quieter than the main Flagler drive location if you’ve got a "could be worse" emergency.
Is Good Sam Right For You?
Choosing a hospital in West Palm is basically a choice between Good Sam, St. Mary’s, or heading south to Wellington or Boca.
If you need high-level trauma or pediatrics, you’re likely going to St. Mary’s (their sister hospital). But for elective orthopedic surgery, specialized cancer treatment, or a high-end birthing experience, Good Sam West Palm Beach is usually the top of the list.
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The hospital is currently led by CEO Sheri Montgomery, and they’ve been pushing hard on "preventive cardiac medicine" lately. They just launched a new center for it because, honestly, it’s better to see them for a check-up than an emergency stent.
Actionable Next Steps
If you're planning a visit or a procedure at Good Sam, here's the move:
- Check the Navigator: If you have a cancer diagnosis, ask for a Nurse Navigator immediately. They are the "secret sauce" at Good Sam that helps you bypass the red tape.
- Pre-Register for Maternity: If you want those Lilly suites, you have to call the Maternal Fetal Navigator at 561-882-6183 way in advance. They fill up fast.
- Use the West Palm ER: For non-trauma emergencies, the satellite ER at 5028 Okeechobee Blvd often has shorter wait times than the main campus.
- Request an EKG: Starting in 2026, Florida is requiring high school athletes to have one. Good Sam has specific programs set up to handle these quick screenings for local students.
The bottom line is that Good Sam is a bit of a contradiction. It’s a historic landmark that’s trying to be a futuristic tech hub, all while keeping that weirdly specific Palm Beach "resort" vibe alive. Whether you're there for the robots or the wallpaper, it remains the anchor of the Flagler waterfront.