Wellness at New Heights at Sunshine Coast Orthopaedic Group
Nicole May uncovers a new home of healthcare where recovery is the priority, and patient care is seamlessly integrated under one roof.
Stepping inside Maroochy Private Hospital (MPH) – the architecturally designed ten-storey medical precinct in the Maroochydore City Centre – you can sense that it is among the first Australian hospitals built on the international boutique hospital model.
It has been designed on outcome, experience and staff culture to deliver specialist services all built around the idea that the entire patient journey should be integrated in one place.
Sunshine Coast Orthopaedic Group (SCOG) serves as a key clinical partner and a driving foundational force for the newly opened Hospital to offer specialist orthopaedic surgery in a space designed for recovery, not just treatment.
The hospital’s vision is articulated by Professor Daevyd Rodda, the Chief Medical Officer and Director of SCOG. For Daevyd, the hospital was as much about the patient’s state of mind as it was about the surgical technology.
“Integrating the full patient journey into one location allows us to remove the anxieties typically associated with surgery, keeping the focus firmly on wellness,” he said.“This hospital is about wellness. It’s not about sickness.”
That same focus on wellness carries through to the hospital’s approach to specialties themselves. MPH is built around a curated model of subspecialties – orthopaedics, neurosurgery, ophthalmology and plastic surgery – a deliberately focused approach to care.
Within the hospital, patients will find a dedicated UniSC clinical trials facility, Sunshine Coast Radiology’s principal site, and a range of allied health providers to bring diagnostics, treatment and rehabilitation under one roof.
“The UniSC Clinical Trials flagship site is one of only two nationally equipped for overnight and multi-day stays,” said Professor Rodda. “Further partnerships include UniSC, Medacta International, and Panacea AI (applied health AI).”
SCOG’s consulting rooms sit on the same floor as the hospital’s surgical ward on Level 9, a deliberate choice that keeps the patient journey, from consultation to recovery, seamless and close at hand. MPH’s reputation as a destination hospital is growing with nearly 30% of patients coming from outside the region to be treated here.
Daevyd says that wellbeing was key, and having access to the latest technology was equally crucial.
“Our theatres include Mindray surgical lighting, electric radiolucent tables, 65-inch 4K touchscreens merging imaging with live surgery and the hospital can host visiting interstate and international surgeons for education and training,” he says.
The hospital was designed by HSPC Health Architects to a 4-Star Green Star rating with construction company McNab winning the award for Commercial Construction $60 million-plus at the 2026 Queensland Professional Excellence in Building Awards, presented by the Australian Institute of Building. MPH’s 33-bed ward occupies the top level, offering panoramic Sunshine Coast vistas that would rival any luxury resort. Even the staff have been looked after, with a rooftop breakout space and John Kyle Espresso serving freshly ground barista coffee on site.
“Fresh air and a moment of quiet make a world of difference in a high-pressure environment,” Daevyd says. “If our staff are cared for, they can better care for our patients.”
That philosophy of removing barriers, wherever they exist, has also driven another major initiative. Professor Rodda founded what became Medibank’s No Gap joint replacement program, now expanded to HCF, nib and Bupa, helping more than 10,000 Australians insured with those health funds receive surgery with no out-of-pocket costs.
“It allows patients to access a comprehensive surgical care pathway in a highly focused, brand-new facility, with no out-of-pocket expenses,” said Professor Rodda.
That drive extends to the Sporting Chance Foundation, founded by Daevyd in 2018 to support First Nations athletes.
“As we look towards Brisbane 2032, it’s more important than ever that we continue investing in the health and wellbeing of Australia’s emerging sporting talent,” he said.
The Foundation covers travel, accommodation, surgery and rehabilitation costs, helping ensure financial barriers don’t prevent athletes from accessing orthopaedic care. In that sense, SCOG and MPH are building foundations for the future.
SPORTING CHANCES
The Sporting Chance Foundation, established by SCOG in 2018, removes financial barriers for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander athletes and cultural dancers needing specialist care.
Follow @sportingchancefoundation or visit www.sportingchancefoundation.com.au
