Good Samaritan Begins Multi-Million Dollar Expansion

June 12, 2012

News Release

VINCENNES, Ind. – Tuesday, June 12, 2012 will be marked as a historical day for Good Samaritan Hospital as the hospital broke ground on its $109 million building project - the BEACON Project. The project consists of a 200,000 square foot, five-story, 120-bed inpatient tower, as well as a redesign of key health care service areas and upgrade of the hospital’s critical engineering systems.

This groundbreaking was a monumental occasion, as explained by Rob McLin, President and CEO of Good Samaritan Hospital. “This project is one of the most historical moments in the recent history of Vincennes. It is historical in the fact that this is the largest building project in the history of Good Samaritan Hospital, the oldest county hospital in the state of Indiana, which opened its doors to patients in February of 1908,” he commented. “Just like those same leaders who broke ground for the Columbian Towers in August of 1968, I stand before you on behalf of the employees and physicians of this great institution to boldly strive ahead and build for the health care needs of this area.”

Mary Cay Martin, Chairperson of the Good Samaritan Hospital Board of Governors, added, “It was a courageous act of hospital leadership in 1968 to proceed with building the much-needed Columbian Tower addition. Now in 2012, as health care needs are changing again, our current leadership is following in those same courageous footsteps. Today we look to a future of providing world-class care in a state-of-the-art facility that will allow for more modernized and efficient health care.”

Martin also unveiled the name of the new inpatient tower, which is Gibault Memorial. Good Samaritan Hospital had initiated a naming contest, offering the community a chance to name the new tower. Of the over 100 submissions, Gibault Memorial was the selected name for the new tower.

The groundbreaking sets the pace for construction of the new inpatient tower as well as for many other projects within the BEACON Project. The new inpatient tower will feature state-of-the-art heart and obstetrics centers. Renovations will be made to the Columbian Towers for department offices and three floors of the Health Pavilion will be redesigned to make way for physician offices and an improved orthopedics area. A new conference room will also be added on what is now the existing physician’s parking lot.

Samaritan Way between Sixth and Seventh streets will close to traffic on June 13 to allow for construction of a new helipad and ambulance garage. Within the next couple of months the employee fitness center and the hospital’s carpenter shop will be demolished. Demolition of the carpenter shop will make way for the new energy center and support services buildings. Demolition of the Memorial, Gibault and Willis buildings will also occur during the project.

McLin explained to the crowd gathered for this historical occasion that the hospital’s leaders, physicians, employees and board of governors are all committed to Good Samaritan Hospital’s mission to provide excellent health care and promote healing through trusting relationships and its vision to be recognized as the regional center of excellence for health care. “It is with this new construction project and the passion and commitment of our entire hospital family that we will realize our vision,” McLin stated. “We are building to not only ensure adequate health care to our community, but to ensure world-class health care for Knox and the surrounding communities for years to come.”
The groundbreaking ceremony concluded with the ceremonial dirt turning performed by McLin; the Good Samaritan Hospital Board of Governors, Mary Cay Martin, James Zeigler, Maridell Sargent, Ralph Jacqmain, M.D, Kevin Meyer, James Parish, and Rowe Sargent; GSH Vice President of Special Project John Manning; GSH Medical Staff President Thomas O’Rourke, M.D.; GSH Foundation Board President Helen Seirp, the 2012 GSH Employee of the Year Angie Hamilton; Vincennes Mayor Joe Yochum, and Knox County Hospital Association representatives Marc McNeece and Brent Stuckey.

Good Samaritan Hospital is working with BSA LifeStructures of Indianapolis as the architect/engineer on the project. BSA LifeStructures as been a trusted partner in the growth of Good Samaritan Hospital for the past 20 years, according to John Manning, Vice President of Behavioral Health / Special Projects. “As the BEACON Project takes the hospital into the foreseeable future, it seemed that the clear choice for architectural/engineering services was BSA LifeStructures. Their expertise and extensive knowledge of Good Samaritan Hospital made the decision for the architect/engineer very easy,” commented Manning. “BSA LifeStructures has been very attentive and helpful as they have collaborated with hospital staff on the design of the new facility. BSA’s commitment to the hospital is evident and truly appreciated.”

Hunt Construction of Indianapolis will act as the Construction Manager on the BEACON Project. Hunt boasts an impressive resume having built the Indianapolis Colts home, Lucas Oil Stadium, and the 1.5 million square-foot, $641 million USC Med Center in Los Angeles. “Hunt Construction has hit the ground running on the BEACON Project with their expertise and has blended well with Good Samaritan Hospital and BSA on this cooperative effort,” McLin stated. “The experience of the Hunt Construction team has been beneficial as we charge forward on a construction project of this magnitude.”

The new inpatient tower is estimated to be complete by the end of 2014, with the entire project completion by mid 2016.

ABOUT GOOD SAMARITAN HOSPITAL

Good Samaritan Hospital, Knox County’s largest employer, is licensed for 232 in-house patients. Annually, Good Samaritan Hospital has more than 333,700 outpatient visits and an additional 33,800 plus visits to its emergency room. The hospital offers a wide scope of medical services. From thoracic surgery to the birth of a baby, this growing health care provider balances quality patient care with preventive education to fulfill its mission. Consistently ranked in the top 10 percent in the nation in patient satisfaction, Good Samaritan Hospital provides a superb level of care while maintaining fiscal integrity and expanding facilities to meet the needs of the community. For more information, visit www.gshvin.org.

Source: Good Samaritan Hospital