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31 entrances at street level, leading to a centrally located registration desk to ensure patients know where to go upon arrival. The Longwater Place location is the culmination of several years of thoughtful planning and design. Careful attention was paid to ensure that patient needs were at the heart of every decision. Two groups were assembled to assist in this process: a clinical design team of South Shore Medical Center staff and a patient advisory board. These teams met every month for a year and reviewed drawings, toured mock rooms, and advised on how the plans felt from the patient's perspective. They made a difference in identifying the less obvious things that impact how it feels to receive care. "We tried to envision how we will be practicing health care in five years. The design needed to facilitate the practice of primary care. In particular, we needed to prepare for caring for an aging population. To do so, we wanted the space to support a team-based approach that is patient-centered and integrated. We also wanted the flexibility to accommodate future change and growth," said Peg Hafkemeyer, Chief Operating Officer. When plans were being drawn for this much larger space, one of the fears was that it would feel too institutional. "We were very concerned that a big building would feel really impersonal," noted Dr. Ed Nalband, South Shore Medical Center's Chief Medical Officer. When designing Longwater Place, measures were taken to recreate the same intimate atmosphere that the original Norwell location possessed. Warm and inviting earth tones were chosen for the interiors and decor. They are enhanced by the rays of natural light that stream down from the glass-paneled atrium above. With a nod to the original Norwell location, indoor gardens are scattered throughout the facility, providing a sense of tranquility and calm. The main feature of the first floor is the centralized registration desk, which is located in between the two entryways and simplifies registration upon arrival. To ensure that feeling of familiarity, over 50 staff members have volunteered to be greeters and offer patients a personalized welcome. They are available to answer questions and help patients find their way. One of the new improvements is the addition of a café. Waiting family members or patients who have just completed their fasting labs can have immediate access to a snack in a convenient and comfortable space, located on the first floor. In response to the changing landscape of healthcare and the requirements of an aging population, the planning of the new space was also guided by the need to deliver care in a different way. With statewide shortages in primary care providers, South Shore Medical Center made improving access to care, patient convenience, and expanding services a top priority. The delivery of primary care has been reorganized to make better use of advance practice clinicians (APCs)--who are nurse practitioners TheSouthShoreMagazine.com