INDIANAPOLIS — Community Health Network recently announced a major investment on the east side, which includes a dramatic renovation of Community Hospital East and three new health pavilions in the area 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, 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.
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. 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 percent.