It is scientifically proven that nature relaxes us. Our stress levels are reduced and we feel calmer.

At the same time, seeing the doctor or going through a medical procedure can bring on stress and nervousness.

That's why calming natural light streams into the new Pelham Medical Offices at Five Forks, where doctors will start serving patients this month. The textured walls that greet visitors at the entrance are made from limestone, a rock natural to the Upstate, and the landscape images hanging behind the front desks were created by local artist Annie Koelle.

“Patients sometimes feel anxiety before an appointment, and this space provides a calmness,” said Sara Beth Hammond, vice president of Medical Group of the Carolinas. “We wanted to create an overall feeling of beauty, wellness and calmness. We were purposeful in our design so that it doesn't resemble your usual medical office building.”

The new Pelham Medical Offices at Five Forks opens this month at 2801 Woodruff Road in Simpsonville. It is part of a mixed-use development called Village Market East, which already includes a Lowes Foods grocery store, Starbucks, new restaurants and other retailers. 

“The 29681 zip code is one of the fastest growing areas in the state,” Hammond said. “We created this space to help connect to our Pelham Medical Center patients and meet the health needs of people in this area.”

The medical office building houses both primary care and specialty services, along with outpatient diagnostic services. This includes family medicine, women's care, and plastic surgery.

Along with nature, the building was designed with a streamlined workflow in mind. Doctors can walk out of a patient room, update a chart at a standing desk or at a specially designed countertop, then go on to the next patient without having to interrupt the workflow by sitting down or walking to a distant workstation.

Family medicine services will be located on the bottom floor of the 31,000-square-foot building, while gynecologic/obstetrics and plastic surgery will be upstairs.

A rapidly growing population deserves to have easily accessible healthcare services, said Pelham Medical Center President Tony Kouskolekas.

“Pelham Medical Center sees more and more patients every day, and many of those folks are coming from the Five Forks area,” Kouskolekas said. “We want to make sure their everyday health needs are being served conveniently, and Pelham Medical Offices at Five Forks will do just that.” 

Pelham Medical Center is part of Spartanburg Regional Healthcare System. In addition to this medical office building, Spartanburg Regional operates healthcare facilities in Greer and Greenville, including Pelham Medical Center and Immediate Care Center — Pelham, an urgent care and primary care blended practice on Pelham Road in Greenville.