Community Health Details $175 Million Investment
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As a subscriber you can listen to articles at work, in the car, or while you work out. Subscribe NowCommunity Health Network in Indianapolis says it will invest $175 million to build three new health pavilions in its East Region over the next few years. The system says the project also includes an expansion of Community East's emergency department, which will nearly double the number of patient beds. East Region President Scott Teffeteller tells Inside INdiana Business the investment is about changing the way health care is provided, rather than “adding more rooms and bigger boxes.” Construction is set to begin this fall.
September 17, 2014
News Release
Indianapolis, Ind. — Community Health Network announced a major investment in its East Region today, which includes a dramatic renovation of Community Hospital East and three new health pavilions in the East Region over the next few years. The 2-phased $175 million project begins this fall, with an expansion and renovation of Community East's emergency department, nearly doubling the number of patient rooms. The project will also include renovation of the imaging department and the construction of two new health pavilions in the East Region, including one in Beech Grove. The second phase will continue to focus on an outpatient strategy for the region, allowing Community patients to get the right care at the right place, closer to home. During the entire project, the hospital will continue normal operations.
“Community Health Network has been committed to the eastside of Indianapolis since opening its first hospital there in 1956,” said Indianapolis Mayor Greg Ballard. “We believe this investment reaches beyond healthcare. It will positively impact the area economically and culturally, fostering a vibrant region with the resources necessary for residents to lead a healthy life.”
“We want our communities to know that, as we like to say, 'We're Here. For Good,'” said Bryan Mills, president and CEO of Community Health Network. “That means Community will remain firmly rooted on the hospital campus where our story began, with a facility redesigned for the future of healthcare. But it also means we’re much more than a hospital. We’re striving to provide access to the care East Region residents need in order to avoid trips to the hospital.”
The investment in Community's East Region is driven by changes in the way healthcare is provided. When Community Hospital East was built in 1956, it was constructed for the needs of the community at that time, when the emphasis was on inpatient services. Due to changes in the healthcare industry, Community is redesigning the hospital campus and building three health care pavilions in the region to fit the needs of today’s patients, with a focus on outpatient services.
In addition, Community Health Network completed a health care assessment of the East Region. Among the health concerns for the region are high incidences of asthma, COPD, congestive heart failure, diabetes, high cholesterol, high blood pressure and obesity. Based on these findings, Community has developed a strategy for the region that allows patients to better manage their chronic conditions in a primary care outpatient setting.
The project also addresses emergency department visits, which have increased each year since 2008. Between 2002 and 2013, ED visits have risen by 62%.
“Community Health Network has been steadily investing in the East Region during the past several years,” said Scott Teffeteller, president of the Community’s East Region. “Community has shown its commitment to the region with two new health pavilions, an expanded Community MedCheck, a new pharmacy, additional primary care and specialty care physicians, and a partnership with the Jane Pauley Community Health Centers. This next initiative will allow us to improve the health of residents in the region and improve the quality and experience of care, while reducing health care costs.”
Phase one of the project will begin this fall, with changes to Community Hospital East that include:
• A completely revamped and modernized building exterior
• Construction of two new health pavilions, including one in Beech Grove
• Renovation and expansion of the emergency department, adding 17,000 square feet and nearly doubling the number of patient rooms to 64; enlargement and expansion of the ambulance bays; the addition of a new ED entrance on Ritter Avenue
• Renovation of the imaging department to improve functionality and patient flow; updating of technologies
• The refresh of inpatient rooms
• Upgrades to the building’s electrical, plumbing, heating, ventilation and air conditioning systems
• Removal of a campus building in 2016 that currently houses security, the kitchen connected to the cafeteria, an inpatient pharmacy and wound therapy services to improve patient flow; these elements will be relocated to other locations within the hospital
Phase two of the major project will include renovation of inpatient surgery suites, the continuing refresh of inpatient rooms and construction of an additional health pavilion in the East Region over the next few years.
Groundbreaking for hospital renovations will take place later this fall.
About Community Health Network
Ranked among the nation’s most integrated healthcare systems, Community Health Network is Central Indiana’s leader in providing convenient access to exceptional healthcare services, where and when patients need them—in hospitals, health pavilions and doctor’s offices, as well as workplaces, schools and homes. As a non-profit health system with over 200 sites of care and affiliates throughout Central Indiana, Community’s full continuum of care integrates hundreds of physicians, specialty and acute care hospitals, surgery centers, home care services, MedChecks, behavioral health and employer health services. To learn more, visit eCommunity.com or call 800-777-7775.
Source: Community Health Network