Groundbreaking Held For Medical Center at Anson

Press Release

(Indianapolis, Ind., September 23, 2008) – Witham Health Services, St.Vincent Health and local residents will break ground today on the 42,500 square-foot freestanding ER and medical facility being constructed at the Anson Development in Boone County.

For Natalie Kruger, a Zionsville resident and mother of a toddler and newborn twins, this convenient location offers a tremendous benefit for her growing family. “When you have sick kids, ease and convenience make a big difference in your peace of mind and comfort level,” she said. “This new facility is just minutes from where we live and when one of my children runs a high fever in the middle of the night, I want medical care quickly.”

Mandy Keller couldn’t agree more. She, her husband Phil and their three children have lived in Zionsville for almost three years. “When you have three children ranging from two to seven-years-old, the flu will inevitably happen near a holiday or someone will break a bone in sports,” said Keller. “To know that we are going to have an emergency room with complete state-of-the-art medical equipment just minutes from our home is a fantastic asset to our quality of life,” adds Keller.

The new medical facility will be home to a freestanding ER, fully equipped with walk-in and ambulance entrances, trauma capabilities, and triage exam and observation rooms. It will be open and fully staffed 24 hours a day, seven days a week.

The medical facility also will include a full array of radiology and laboratory services, as well as physician offices and physical therapy services.

“The collaboration between St.Vincent Health and Witham Health Services is a win-win for both hospitals,” said Raymond Ingham, CEO and president of Witham Health Services. “But the real winners in this partnership are the thousands of people living and working in this area who will now have access to high-quality healthcare.”

“For this rapidly growing area, it is important that both healthcare providers be close to home to appropriately address the unique health care needs of the community,” said Kevin Speer, chief strategy officer of St.Vincent Health. “The Boone County community will soon have two highly regarded providers delivering exemplary care at one location.”

The hospitals are able to jointly develop the facility in the most cost-effective way, thanks to their partnership with BremnerDuke. “We’re pleased to have been chosen as the developer for Witham Health Services and St.Vincent Health’s new medical office building,” said Jim Bremner, president of BremnerDuke Healthcare Real Estate. “We are proud to partner with them on their expansion into the Anson community and their commitment to delivering convenient high-quality primary and specialty medical care.”

Construction of the multi-million dollar medical facility is expected to be complete this time next year. When it is done, Witham will create approximately 50 new jobs with salaries that average $75,000 a year.

About Witham Health Services
Witham Health Services is a community healthcare organization whose purpose is to collaborate with other community providers to serve the health care needs of the citizens of Boone County and surrounding areas while continually seeking to improve the quality of care they provide and to maintain their viability. With locations in Lebanon, Thorntown, Jamestown and Zionsville, Witham is the hometown provider for Boone County. The vision of WHS is to be a vital and caring community hospital responding to the changing health care environment as well as the diverse and changing needs of the growing community. Witham Health Services is committed to high quality care and to continuous learning and improvement. The interactions between staff, patients and their families are characterized by mutual respect, honesty, integrity and trust.

St.Vincent Health
St.Vincent Health is a nonprofit, spiritually-centered health care system, sponsored by Ascension Health of St. Louis, Missouri, the nation’s largest Catholic health system. St.Vincent Health is Indiana’s largest healthcare employer with 18 health ministries serving 45 counties in central Indiana. The St.Vincent Health ministry includes St.Vincent Indianapolis Hospital; Peyton Manning Children’s Hospital at St.Vincent; St.Vincent Heart Center of Indiana; St.Vincent Medical Center Northeast; St. Joseph Hospital in Kokomo; Saint John’s Health System in Anderson; St.Vincent Carmel Hospital; St.Vincent Women’s Hospital; St.Vincent Clay Hospital in Brazil; St.Vincent Frankfort Hospital; St.Vincent Jennings Hospital in North Vernon; St.Vincent Mercy Hospital in Elwood; St.Vincent New Hope; St.Vincent Randolph Hospital in Winchester; St.Vincent Stress Center; St.Vincent Williamsport Hospital; and St.Vincent Seton Specialty Hospital.

Source: Witham Health Services