Officials outline vision for BMH's Future

In four years, Ball Memorial Hospital’s footprint will change dramatically with the addition of a new south tower, expanded surgical suites, improved access to outpatient services, and a move towards a new private patient room environment.

Hospital officials shared their vision for the revamped Ball Hospital, by unveiling the organization’s future facility master plan, which includes 400,000 square feet of new and renovated space by 2010, at a press conference at Minnetrista Cultural Center on Thursday.

“Seventy-five years ago in 1929, this hospital was founded with a gift from Edmund F. Ball to address a community need for quality health care,” said R. Donn Roberts, Ball Memorial Hospital’s Board Chairman. “Today, we continue to respond to our community’s growing healthcare needs by sharing our plans for the future. This plan fits into our goals of delivering quality patient care services and programs that are of value to our community.”

“I thank Ball Memorial Hospital and Cardinal Health System for the vision and dedication they have shown to East Central Indiana,” said Lt. Governor Becky Skillman. “The expansion of the hospital generates tremendous economic opportunity for the community and will provide a better quality of life for Hoosiers across the region. Our state will only be the best it can if all areas of the state succeed. I am pleased that Cardinal Health System has stepped forward as a strong partner in creating a better future for Indiana.”

Citing the need for a facility that will address the region’s growing healthcare needs, hospital officials said renovation and expansion of existing facilities is crucial. Approximately two-thirds of the hospital’s campus was built between 1929-1979. BMH’s Outpatient Medical Pavilion, Dialysis Building, Cardiac Cath Lab, Cancer Center and Emergency Department were built between 1990-2003

The BMH campus is currently 1.2 million square feet. Construction and renovation costs are estimated at $120 million. Approximately $73 million of the project will be paid for through a tax exempt bond issue.

“There have been a number of changes, new technology, medical advances and increased expectations from the public,” said Cardinal Health System President and CEO, Robert Curtis. “If we are to keep pace with these changes, we have to change as well. That is what this plan represents. It has been developed based on the changes we are facing, and designed to support the community’s needs over a long period of time.”

“Ball Memorial Hospital was founded with the promise that it would always be here to provide the best care possible for the people of our community,” said Cardinal Health System Board Chairman John Fisher. “This plan shows that we intend to continue to keep that promise.”

Upon completion of the plan, semi-private rooms will be a thing of the past for all acute care patients, said Ball Memorial Hospital President, Brent Batman.

“The appeal and benefit of private accommodations require little explanation from the caregiver and patient’s point of view,” he said. “Twenty-five years ago, in 1979 when our newest patient tower was opened, it was spacious and comfortable. By today’s standards, however, because of the intensity of services and technology we bring to the bedside, and space required for family support, rooms now need to be larger and more flexible. Private rooms are the answer.”

Future plans call for demolition of two buildings, the old South Wing, which now houses no inpatient services, and the old laundry building along Gilbert Street. In their place, a new four-story south wing will be constructed.

In addition to private rooms, patients can look forward to many other improvements:

• A special area next to the emergency department where patients requiring extended attention, but do not require admission, can be tested, observed for under 24 hours, and released
• A new expanded radiology area
• Enhanced accessible outpatient services
• Convenient parking for patients and visitors next to the new South Tower
• Creation of a new area, referred to as a “medical mall,” that will offer services such as pharmacy, medical equipment and supplies, outpatient specialty clinics, and programs such as pain control, perinatal services and education, and blood drawing
• More direct visitor access to elevators and inpatient care areas
• Creation of separate public and patient corridors for better privacy
• Enhanced inpatient and outpatient surgical areas
• New intensive and cardiac care units
• Complete renovation of North Tower inpatient rooms and support space
• We have been good stewards of our existing physical plant and it has served us well in the quarter century since our last inpatient unit was built,” Batman said. “Upon completion of our five-year plan, Ball Hospital will be positioned to serve the community with continued state-of-the-art health care for the next quarter century.”