The Paardevlei Specialist Medical Centre, scheduled to open in October 2014, is owned and managed by the doctors who operate in it. The group, which originally comprised of five ophthalmologists and an anaesthetist, now includes ENT and maxillofacial specialists. It has partnered with Cure Day Clinics, to form Cure Day Clinics Somerset West.
This partnership will be in charge of the day-to-day operation and management of the day hospital, and has as its goal the provision of more affordable and efficient, and therefore more accessible, private healthcare. It has already opened and is currently operating, successful day hospitals in Erasmuskloof, Medkin, Midstream, Paarl and most recently Bloemfontein.
Although not a completely new model, the concept of day surgery clinics to curb rising healthcare costs, is fast gaining momentum in South Africa. Funders, patients and doctors are now considering day hospitals as the 'next big thing' to save costs, improve efficiencies, reduce waiting times and free up beds in acute hospitals for more serious cases. Admitting few emergency cases at day hospitals ensures that operating schedules are adhered to and helps patients and family to plan their days.
The original group of medical specialists teamed up with local property companies, including Lazercor Developments, to form CJM Investments, a private development company tasked with initiating and overseeing the design, development and construction of the medical centre. The value of building Paardevlei Specialist Medical Centre is R70 million and Cure Day Clinics-Day Hospital another R15 million, giving the project a total value of R85 million
An approximately 600m2 dedicated Ophthalmic Clinic will also be established in the Centre, where five local ophthalmologists will be able to share specialised facilities and equipment between their individual practices in order to provide better, more efficient and more affordable quality care to both new and existing patients.
Additional sectional title purchasers in the medical centre scheme include a radiology unit and pathology lab, and the developers are currently in negotiations with a small exclusive dialysis centre. The Paardevlei Specialist Medical Centre is also open to investor-purchasers and suitable tenants.
For more information, go to www.curedayclinics.co.za.
