Wellington Regional Medical Center Celebrates 40 Years Of Compassionate Care
By Fiona Slusarev
Wellington Regional Medical Center is celebrating 40 years of serving the western communities through top-quality, compassionate healthcare.
The 235-bed acute-care hospital, owned by Universal Health Services (UHS), boasts a wide variety of health services ranging from its birthing center and neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) to the cancer center and neurology, and everything in between. Wellington-area residents can access everything from primary care to surgery and rehabilitation without having to drive far from home.
“Celebrating 40 years is an incredible milestone and a source of great pride for our team,” WRMC CEO Pam Tahan said. “For more than four decades, Wellington Regional has been here for our community’s most important moments — from welcoming new babies into the world to providing care during all seasons of life.”
When the hospital first opened its doors in 1986, Wellington itself had not yet been incorporated as a village. The population of the western communities was a fraction of what it is today, but growth was already starting to take place.
As Wellington and the surrounding areas developed, so did WRMC. A maternity unit, cancer center, wound care center, outpatient center, Level III NICU, minimally invasive surgical technologies and a neurological intervention suite are just some of the highlights that have contributed to the hospital’s growth across its first decades.
“Wellington Regional was founded because local leaders recognized the need for quality healthcare close to home as the western communities continued to grow,” Tahan said. “Over the years, we have expanded right alongside the community by adding new services, advanced technology, physicians and facilities to meet those evolving needs.”
In the past 10 years alone, WRMC has expanded its offerings and received awards for the quality of care provided. The hospital received an A grade from Leap Frog Group’s Hospital Safety Grade for ensuring patient safety from errors and accidents. U.S. News & World Report ranked WRMC in the Best Hospitals Procedures & Conditions ratings as a High Performing Hospital for chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) and stroke, as well as a High Performing Hospital for heart failure. The center was further honored with the 2025 and 2026 Healthgrades Patient Safety Excellence Award.
“Today, residents no longer have to travel east for many lifesaving services,” Tahan said. “We are proud to be home to the only Comprehensive Stroke Center in the western communities, a Level III NICU, expanded intensive care services, advanced surgical technology and enhanced patient-centered amenities, including renovated postpartum suites designed for families. Our growth has always been guided by one goal: ensuring that our community has access to exceptional healthcare close to home when they need it most.”
This includes an array of award-winning healthcare programs. For example, the Center for Wound Care and Hyperbaric Medicine has been lauded for patient satisfaction and high wound healing rates. The center received numerous distinctions from Healogics, the top wound-care provider in the U.S., with the 2025 awards marking 10 years of recognition. Most recently, WRMC received both the Center of Distinction award and the Robert A. Warriner III Clinical Excellence Award.
The Comprehensive Stroke Center has a robust care program that utilizes a Stroke Alert Team to rapidly examine, assess and diagnose patients. The center has received many accolades, such as when the American Heart Association/American Stroke Association awarded WRMC the “Get with the Guidelines Target: Stroke Honor Roll Elite Plus Gold Plus Quality Achievement Award.” The Comprehensive Stroke Center has also been honored by the Det Norske Veritas group with the highest-level accreditation for the treatment of severe strokes.
As a leader in breast cancer treatment, WRMC is constantly expanding the modalities offered and integrating the newest technology. The Savi SCOUT procedure was added in 2018 to offer an alternative surgical approach for women with breast cancer. That same year saw the addition of advanced 3D mammography imaging in the Comprehensive Women’s Imaging Center to aid in early detection. The hospital has been honored with top awards from the American College of Radiology and the National Consortium of Breast Centers.
WRMC’s Weight Management Center opened in 2018, giving patients options when choosing weight-loss surgery. It was quickly certified by the Metabolic and Bariatric Surgery Accreditation and Quality Improvement Program (MBSAQIP) from the American College of Surgeons, as well as being named an Aetna Institutes of Quality Bariatric Surgery Center, Cigna 3-Star Quality Bariatric Center and Center of Excellence, Blue Cross/Blue Shield Blue Distinction Center for Bariatric Surgery and an Optum Center of Excellence for Bariatrics.
The cardiology department is home to a dedicated team that identifies and treats cardiac disorders, and the Cardiac Catheterization Laboratory offers lifesaving procedures. The American College of Cardiology has awarded WRMC with Chest Pain Center Accreditation with Primary PCI and Resuscitation, among other awards.
WRMC expanded in 2019 with the opening of the ER at Westlake, making emergency medical services attainable for residents who live in that fast-growing area. Meanwhile, coming in early 2027 is the ER at Hypoluxo, which will serve WRMC patients to the east.
During the COVID-19 pandemic, WRMC was on the frontlines. Healthcare professionals showed up for the western communities amid new restrictions and uncertainty. The hospital was one of six centers from across the nation to participate in the second phase of the clinical trial of the IV medication Dociparstat sodium, intended to reduce the severity of the COVID-19 infection.
“Without question, the COVID-19 pandemic was the greatest challenge we have faced in the last decade,” Tahan said. “I vividly remember hearing there were only a handful of confirmed cases in Palm Beach County and knowing several of those patients were being cared for at Wellington Regional. It was a time filled with uncertainty, concern and rapidly changing circumstances.”
However, what Tahan remembers most is the extraordinary dedication of the hospital’s “healthcare heroes.”
“Our physicians, nurses and staff showed up every day, supporting patients, families and one another through some of the most challenging moments in healthcare history,” she said. “The pandemic strengthened our organization in many ways. It enhanced our preparedness, reinforced collaboration across departments, and reminded us of the resilience and compassion that define our culture. Most importantly, it proved that when faced with adversity, our team comes together to provide exceptional care and support for our community.”
WRMC is consistently at the forefront of emerging technologies and advancements. The first Inspire Therapy Procedure for sleep apnea in the center was performed in 2024. The hospital was accredited by the Surgical Review Corporation as a Center of Excellence in Robotic and Minimally Invasive Surgery in 2024 and celebrated a milestone achievement of 5,000 robotic surgical cases this year.
“Personally, it has been an honor and privilege to spend the last 11 years serving alongside our physicians, nurses and staff while building strong partnerships with the Village of Wellington and so many outstanding community organizations,” Tahan said. “We love hearing stories from patients who were born here and later returned to have their own children at Wellington Regional. This anniversary reflects the trust our community has placed in us for 40 years, and our ongoing commitment to provide safe, compassionate, high-quality care for generations to come.”
If Wellington Regional Medical Center’s past 40 years of history are any indicator, the community can expect continued dynamic growth that since 1986 has turned a single hospital building into a bustling medical campus, matching the continued growth of the Wellington community.
Wellington Regional Medical Center is located at 10101 W. Forest Hill Blvd. in Wellington. To learn more about the hospital, call (561) 798-8500 or visit www.wellingtonregional.com.
