To meet these challenges, hospital officials have unveiled their vision for the renovation of Ball Memorial Hospital’s patient-centric south wing – a facility master plan that includes 300,000 square feet of new and revitalized space by 2010. In four years, Ball Memorial Hospital’s footprint will change dramatically with the addition of a new South Tower, expanded surgical suites, patient observation units, improved access to outpatient services, and a move toward a new private-patient-room environment. The plan has been strategically and logically developed based on research and economic data, anticipated and planned growth throughout the region, and Cardinal Health System’s commitment to supporting the needs of the community for generations to come.

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 and supplemental parking will be constructed. Upon completion of the plan, semi-private rooms will be a thing of the past for all acute care patients.

While reducing site and facility barriers that impede the delivery of convenient and efficient point-of-service care, the plan will optimize the hospital’s mix of patient accommodations and more than triple the number of private rooms.

The appeal and benefit of private accommodations requires little explanation from the caregiver and patient’s point of view And by today’s standards, rooms now need to be larger and more flexible. Private rooms are the answer.

Private rooms support family-centered care delivery and are overwhelmingly preferred by patients because they meet the desire for privacy, noise reduction and a sense of control. In addition, private rooms actually improve effective room utilization/occupancy and lower per diem costs. In terms of improved patient care, they reduce hospital-related infections and associated costs and contribute to reducing medication errors, patient transfers and falls, and subsequent costs. Private rooms also fulfill the need for isolation rooms.

Ball Memorial Hospital’s campus is currently 1.2 million square feet. Construction and renovation costs for the project are estimated at $120 million, with approximately $70 million of that cost to be paid for through a tax-exempt bond issue.

In addition to private rooms, patients can look forward to many other enhanced features, which will mean better accessibility, improved care quality, enhanced patient safety and better outcomes for patients of East Central Indiana.

• A special area next to the emergency department where patients who require extended attention, but do not require admission, can be tested, observed for under 24 hours, and released
• A new and expanded radiology area
• The addition of observation or “step down” units for patients who need less intense care than those in ICU.
• Enhanced and 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, diabetes, congestive heart failure treatment and education, and blood drawing
• 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
• OB/GYN inpatient and outpatient services in one convenient location
• Complete renovation of North Tower inpatient nursing units

Ball Memorial Hospital’s Master Facility Plan is not only an investment in improved patient care for the future, but it also supports the long-term growth plan of the hospital while reinvesting in the local and regional economy. The multi-million dollar construction project will generate 622 additional local jobs annually and $85 million in additional output during construction.