On Tuesday, Nov. 3 Marion County voters overwhelmingly voted to construct a new Wishard Hospital on IUPUI’s downtown campus, a project that will create an estimated 4,400 construction jobs annually and move Wishard’s life-saving services out of its physically declining campus, parts of which predate World War II.
“Over the past few months, our community was called upon to keep Wishard caring for us – to ensure quality care for all, to provide teaching for our state’s doctors, nurses, and physicians, and to protect and create jobs,” said Indianapolis Mayor Gregory A. Ballard. “Befitting the population of a world-class community, today, the citizens answered the call. This project has united individuals of all beliefs and backgrounds and we as a City will undoubtedly benefit beyond the brick and mortar of a new facility. We are proud to be a partner in progress for this project and look forward to working together with Wishard as we build a better future for generations to come.”
In the election to approve construction of a new, modern and efficient Wishard Hospital, 55,504 of the 66,213 ballots cast were “Yes” votes for Wishard, an astounding 83.8 percent approval.
“Indianapolis is a compassionate and humane community. Wishard exists because of our community’s values. These referendum results confirm our city’s commitment to ensuring that all our residents have access to high quality health care,” said Matthew Gutwein, Health and Hospital Corporation of Marion County CEO. “A historic coalition came together to support Wishard. We are deeply appreciative of their leadership in supporting this project, and to the voters, who offered the most resounding confirmation with each of their sacred ballots, we offer heartfelt thanks.”
Approval of the construction project ensures a future for Wishard’s more than 4,000 workers and will also create more than 4,400 construction jobs annually, providing a much-needed shot in the arm to the building trades industry.
The project began moving forward right away as representatives of Wishard and IUPUI joined together on Wednesday to officially sign an agreement exchanging land for a new Wishard. The new Wishard Hospital will be build on the current IUPUI campus at the location of the former Larue Carter psychiatric hospital.
Demolition at the site could begin as early as next week, with construction set to begin in the spring and the project scheduled for completion in 2013. The new facilities will include a 303-bed hospital, outpatient clinic building, power plant, parking garage and facilities for medical evaluation and research.
Friday, November 6, 2009
Tuesday, November 3, 2009
Vote “Yes” for a new Wishard today!
There is no better time than the present to vote “Yes” for a new Wishard Hospital to serve the greater Indianapolis area. If you have not yet cast your support for Marion County’s safety net hospital, today – Election Day – is the day to do it.
Polling locations will be open from 6 a.m. to 6 p.m. on Tuesday. Your polling place should be the same as it was in the 2008 Presidential Election. Click here to confirm your polling place location, and remember, government-issued photo identification is required to vote this year.
Absentee ballots are also due today. Ballots must be received by the Marion County Clerk’s Office by 6 p.m. today, meaning if you haven’t mailed your ballot in yet, you should hand-deliver it to the Clerk’s Office, Suite W-144 of the City-County Building at 200 E. Washington.
Wishard’s role in healthcare is crucial, and it’s contributions to our city’s life sciences industry and the local economy are also great. Wishard employs thousands, will create jobs for thousands more with this project, and will provide care for millions more in a new, modern and efficient hospital on the campus of IUPUI.
Approval of this project cannot wait. A delay of even one year would result in lost savings of more than $100 million and a missed opportunity on low interest rates that would likely mean the death of this project and mean a catastrophic loss to the Indianapolis community. We cannot wait to approve a new Wishard – the cost of inaction is far too great.
That is why we encourage all members and registered voters in Marion County to vote “Yes” for a new Wishard. Vote “Yes” early at one of four locations or at your regular polling place today.
Polling locations will be open from 6 a.m. to 6 p.m. on Tuesday. Your polling place should be the same as it was in the 2008 Presidential Election. Click here to confirm your polling place location, and remember, government-issued photo identification is required to vote this year.
Absentee ballots are also due today. Ballots must be received by the Marion County Clerk’s Office by 6 p.m. today, meaning if you haven’t mailed your ballot in yet, you should hand-deliver it to the Clerk’s Office, Suite W-144 of the City-County Building at 200 E. Washington.
Wishard’s role in healthcare is crucial, and it’s contributions to our city’s life sciences industry and the local economy are also great. Wishard employs thousands, will create jobs for thousands more with this project, and will provide care for millions more in a new, modern and efficient hospital on the campus of IUPUI.
Approval of this project cannot wait. A delay of even one year would result in lost savings of more than $100 million and a missed opportunity on low interest rates that would likely mean the death of this project and mean a catastrophic loss to the Indianapolis community. We cannot wait to approve a new Wishard – the cost of inaction is far too great.
That is why we encourage all members and registered voters in Marion County to vote “Yes” for a new Wishard. Vote “Yes” early at one of four locations or at your regular polling place today.
Saturday, October 31, 2009
"Wishard YES!" Rallies Today
Show your support for a new Wishard Hospital today at one - or all - of three downtown rallies today. "Wishard YES!" rallies will be at Cancer Survivors Park at 10:30 a.m., at City Market at 11:30 a.m. and at Devington Plaza at 12:30 p.m.
Here's the rundown:
Supporters of Wishard and its proposal to construct a new, modern and efficient Wishard Hospital on the campus of IUPUI will gather at a trio of rallies to show support for the project, which is a countywide referendum in this year’s election.
With historic levels of community and bi-partisan support, the three Indianapolis rallies will bring together a broad cross-section of civic leaders, community members and Wishard supporters who will gather to present a unified stance in favor of passing the referendum and to share a message of Wishard’s importance, the need to begin this project now to take advantage of more than $100 million in savings, and that a new Wishard will require no additional taxes.
WHO: Sgt. Dennis Fishburn and Ofc. Jason Fishburn, Indianapolis Metropolitan Police Department and Citizens for Wishard co-chairs
Dr. Lisa Harris, CEO, Wishard Health Services
Dr. Virginia Caine, Director, Marion County Health Department
Sheriff Frank Anderson
And many others
WHEN: Saturday, Oct. 31
Cancer Survivors Park 10:30 a.m.
985 Indiana Ave.
Indianapolis, Ind. 46202
City Market 11:30 a.m.
222 E. Market St.
Indianapolis, Ind. 46202
Devington Plaza 12:30 p.m.
6004 E. 46th St.
Indianapolis, Ind. 46226
WHY: Wishard Hospital is a vital asset to the community, providing life-saving medical care as well as primary and preventative care. Wishard also employs more than 4,000 people, is at the center of life sciences research in Indianapolis, and is a safety-net hospital for the community, home to the region’s only adult burn center and one of two Level I Trauma Centers, and the primary care provider for the majority of the county’s poor, indigent, underserved and uninsured populations. Marion County voters will decide Wishard’s fate in the 2009 Special Election on Nov. 3.
Follow us on Twitter for updates throughout the day! And visit WishardYes.org for more information.
Here's the rundown:
Supporters of Wishard and its proposal to construct a new, modern and efficient Wishard Hospital on the campus of IUPUI will gather at a trio of rallies to show support for the project, which is a countywide referendum in this year’s election.
With historic levels of community and bi-partisan support, the three Indianapolis rallies will bring together a broad cross-section of civic leaders, community members and Wishard supporters who will gather to present a unified stance in favor of passing the referendum and to share a message of Wishard’s importance, the need to begin this project now to take advantage of more than $100 million in savings, and that a new Wishard will require no additional taxes.
WHO: Sgt. Dennis Fishburn and Ofc. Jason Fishburn, Indianapolis Metropolitan Police Department and Citizens for Wishard co-chairs
Dr. Lisa Harris, CEO, Wishard Health Services
Dr. Virginia Caine, Director, Marion County Health Department
Sheriff Frank Anderson
And many others
WHEN: Saturday, Oct. 31
Cancer Survivors Park 10:30 a.m.
985 Indiana Ave.
Indianapolis, Ind. 46202
City Market 11:30 a.m.
222 E. Market St.
Indianapolis, Ind. 46202
Devington Plaza 12:30 p.m.
6004 E. 46th St.
Indianapolis, Ind. 46226
WHY: Wishard Hospital is a vital asset to the community, providing life-saving medical care as well as primary and preventative care. Wishard also employs more than 4,000 people, is at the center of life sciences research in Indianapolis, and is a safety-net hospital for the community, home to the region’s only adult burn center and one of two Level I Trauma Centers, and the primary care provider for the majority of the county’s poor, indigent, underserved and uninsured populations. Marion County voters will decide Wishard’s fate in the 2009 Special Election on Nov. 3.
Follow us on Twitter for updates throughout the day! And visit WishardYes.org for more information.
Area hospital CEOs top latest list of Wishard referendum supporters
The outpouring support for a new Wishard Hospital grew this week as CEOs of several Indianapolis hospital networks delivered their endorsement of the Wishard referendum.
Hospital CEOs Daniel Evans of Clarian Health, Vince Caponi of St. Vincent Health, Robert Brody of St. Francis Hospital & Health Centers and Bryan Mills of Community Health Network support a new Wishard and agree that Wishard is vital to the care of Indianapolis residents.
“Wishard Hospital has the busiest emergency room in the state and operates at 98 percent capacity,” said Caponi. “It simply would be impossible for all of the other hospitals combined in Marion County to accommodate the patient load and the cost of care if Wishard were to close. Wishard is important to the future of healthcare in Marion County as well as the training of doctors which practice in all of our hospitals. We need a new Wishard.”
In other large cities, closure of the public hospital has caused tremendous strain on other area health care facilities. In Detroit, closure of Riverview Hospital has led to financial struggles on the part of the three remaining downtown hospitals, which reported nearly record-high levels of uncompensated care in 2007 along with lower operating profits than in the previous several years.
In the nation’s capitol, D.C. General Hospital closed in May 2001 and the resulting influx of patients at neighboring Prince George’s County and Greater Southeast Community hospitals caused such financial struggles that Prince George’s County is now on the brink of bankruptcy or closure.
“Wishard provides high value services to this community that are potentially compromised by the limited potential of existing space,” said Brody. “Creating contemporary facilities to continue the essential mission of Wishard should be a priority of the highest order for the citizens of Marion County.”
“All of the major hospitals in Marion County support a new Wishard,” said Mills. “It is the community’s safety-net hospital providing needed care to underserved populations. Without Wishard, our community would lack the health care capacity and care would be compromised.”
“Clarian Health and Indiana University support the construction of a new Wishard Hospital in order to better serve the Wishard mission and to enhance the ongoing training of physicians through the Indiana University School of Medicine,” said Evans, in a statement co-signed by Indiana University School of Medicine Dean D. Craig Brater and IU President Michael McRobbie. “We believe that this can be accomplished in a collaborative way that utilizes the strengths of all three institutions to ensure that safe, modern and efficient health care services are available for all citizens of Indianapolis.”
For more information, visit WishardYes.org.
Hospital CEOs Daniel Evans of Clarian Health, Vince Caponi of St. Vincent Health, Robert Brody of St. Francis Hospital & Health Centers and Bryan Mills of Community Health Network support a new Wishard and agree that Wishard is vital to the care of Indianapolis residents.
“Wishard Hospital has the busiest emergency room in the state and operates at 98 percent capacity,” said Caponi. “It simply would be impossible for all of the other hospitals combined in Marion County to accommodate the patient load and the cost of care if Wishard were to close. Wishard is important to the future of healthcare in Marion County as well as the training of doctors which practice in all of our hospitals. We need a new Wishard.”
In other large cities, closure of the public hospital has caused tremendous strain on other area health care facilities. In Detroit, closure of Riverview Hospital has led to financial struggles on the part of the three remaining downtown hospitals, which reported nearly record-high levels of uncompensated care in 2007 along with lower operating profits than in the previous several years.
In the nation’s capitol, D.C. General Hospital closed in May 2001 and the resulting influx of patients at neighboring Prince George’s County and Greater Southeast Community hospitals caused such financial struggles that Prince George’s County is now on the brink of bankruptcy or closure.
“Wishard provides high value services to this community that are potentially compromised by the limited potential of existing space,” said Brody. “Creating contemporary facilities to continue the essential mission of Wishard should be a priority of the highest order for the citizens of Marion County.”
“All of the major hospitals in Marion County support a new Wishard,” said Mills. “It is the community’s safety-net hospital providing needed care to underserved populations. Without Wishard, our community would lack the health care capacity and care would be compromised.”
“Clarian Health and Indiana University support the construction of a new Wishard Hospital in order to better serve the Wishard mission and to enhance the ongoing training of physicians through the Indiana University School of Medicine,” said Evans, in a statement co-signed by Indiana University School of Medicine Dean D. Craig Brater and IU President Michael McRobbie. “We believe that this can be accomplished in a collaborative way that utilizes the strengths of all three institutions to ensure that safe, modern and efficient health care services are available for all citizens of Indianapolis.”
For more information, visit WishardYes.org.
Wednesday, October 28, 2009
Sen. Lugar Delivers Powerful Support of Wishard
One of the most revered political figures in Indiana history has delivered his support for passage of the Wishard referendum.
U.S. Sen. Richard G. Lugar released a statement strongly endorsing the Wishard Hospital referendum, and Lugar along with his wife Char voted absentee in favor of the referendum.
That information contained at Lugar's Web site, along with the following statements:
That may be the most powerful statement of support yet in a truly historically high level of support for this project. So many political leaders with a constituency to represent, to care for and consider, have spoken in favor of the Wishard referendum.
We must not take this incredible bipartisan foundation for granted. Leaders of every stripe are not only speaking in support of Wishard, but voting as well.
We must vote YES for a new Wishard Hospital. You can vote early now through Sunday at the Marion County Clerk's Office or at satellite locations at the Center Township Health Plex, Beech Grove Community/Tech Center, and at Devington Plaza, or vote on Nov. 3 at your regular polling place.
For more information about the Wishard referendum and early voting, visit WishardYes.org.
U.S. Sen. Richard G. Lugar released a statement strongly endorsing the Wishard Hospital referendum, and Lugar along with his wife Char voted absentee in favor of the referendum.
That information contained at Lugar's Web site, along with the following statements:
“Wishard Hospital is Indianapolis’ emergency room, providing critical care to our community as one of only two adult Level I trauma centers in the State of Indiana and the region’s only adult burn center. These are just a few of the reasons I strongly support Wishard Hospital’s expansion.
“When I was Mayor of Indianapolis from 1968 through 1975, Wishard was our city’s health care safety net, and it has continued that dedication to Indianapolis by providing nearly $150 million in free care in 2008.
“As a teaching hospital, Wishard has a strong reputation of fostering hands-on medical education. This role will increase in importance as the Indiana University School of Medicine plans to add 84 students to each medical school class for many years to come. We can claim that our health care insurance policies entitle us to first-class care, but we will be sorely frustrated if there are not adequate doctors available to give that care.
“The training these medical students receive reinforces Wishard’s track record of providing the highest quality of care. Wishard continues to set the standard in the use of health information technology with electronic medical records and has created a health care network committed to efficiency and quality of health care services.
“For 150 years, Wishard has cared for and comforted us. It has been indispensible to the health of our community and Central Indiana.
“This is a make-or-break moment for health care in Indianapolis. We must step up and modernize Wishard so that more doctors, nurses, rooms, and high tech equipment can meet our health care needs. A vote for Wishard is a vote for the health of Indianapolis.”
That may be the most powerful statement of support yet in a truly historically high level of support for this project. So many political leaders with a constituency to represent, to care for and consider, have spoken in favor of the Wishard referendum.
We must not take this incredible bipartisan foundation for granted. Leaders of every stripe are not only speaking in support of Wishard, but voting as well.
We must vote YES for a new Wishard Hospital. You can vote early now through Sunday at the Marion County Clerk's Office or at satellite locations at the Center Township Health Plex, Beech Grove Community/Tech Center, and at Devington Plaza, or vote on Nov. 3 at your regular polling place.
For more information about the Wishard referendum and early voting, visit WishardYes.org.
Tuesday, October 27, 2009
Indiana Chamber encourages passage of Wishard referendum
The Indiana Chamber of Commerce delivered its support for the Wishard project in a news release distributed today.
Among the key points made in the statement, Chamber President Kevin Brinegar stated our failure to come through for Wishard this fall would have a dramatic effect not only on the other Indianapolis hospitals but also those in surrounding central Indiana counties.
"Wishard’s current facilities and the entire complex are outdated and on the verge of not being able to keep up with demand," Brinegar said.
Brinegar goes on to describe Wishard's financial strategy, saying, "there is a solid plan in place to provide for a new and improved Wishard without a property tax increase."
The Indiana Chamber has been the state's largest broad-based business advocacy organization for more than 85 years. There are more than 5,000 member companies that employ more than 800,000 Hoosier workers.
For more information about the Wishard referendum, visit WishardYes.org.
Among the key points made in the statement, Chamber President Kevin Brinegar stated our failure to come through for Wishard this fall would have a dramatic effect not only on the other Indianapolis hospitals but also those in surrounding central Indiana counties.
"Wishard’s current facilities and the entire complex are outdated and on the verge of not being able to keep up with demand," Brinegar said.
Brinegar goes on to describe Wishard's financial strategy, saying, "there is a solid plan in place to provide for a new and improved Wishard without a property tax increase."
The Indiana Chamber has been the state's largest broad-based business advocacy organization for more than 85 years. There are more than 5,000 member companies that employ more than 800,000 Hoosier workers.
For more information about the Wishard referendum, visit WishardYes.org.
Monday, October 26, 2009
IBJ's Katterjohn endorses Wishard
The Indianapolis Business Journal deliverd an editorial this week to discuss the Wishard referendum. IBJ Publisher Chris Katterjohn's conclusion: We must vote YES for a new Wishard this fall - we cannot afford the alternative.
Here's a link to the piece: KATTERJOHN: Get out and vote for Wishard. Here's a synopsis.
Katterjohn opens by stating the obvious as though it isn't: There is an election this fall and the only countywide issue is the Wishard referendum.
"My message today: Get out and vote “yes!” Don’t count on somebody else to do it for you. This community needs a new Wishard."
Katterjohn spells out his certainty of the project, which will result in no tax increase. He credits Matthew Gutwein and Dr. Lisa Harris, as well as the board and employees, who've made Wishard so fundamentally financially sound.
Katterjohn goes beyond the finances, too. Wishard has one of the state's only Adult Level I Trauma Centers and its busiest emergency room, as well as one of the top burn units in America.
Visit WishardYes.org for more information about the Wishard referendum.
Here's a link to the piece: KATTERJOHN: Get out and vote for Wishard. Here's a synopsis.
Katterjohn opens by stating the obvious as though it isn't: There is an election this fall and the only countywide issue is the Wishard referendum.
"My message today: Get out and vote “yes!” Don’t count on somebody else to do it for you. This community needs a new Wishard."
Katterjohn spells out his certainty of the project, which will result in no tax increase. He credits Matthew Gutwein and Dr. Lisa Harris, as well as the board and employees, who've made Wishard so fundamentally financially sound.
Katterjohn goes beyond the finances, too. Wishard has one of the state's only Adult Level I Trauma Centers and its busiest emergency room, as well as one of the top burn units in America.
"I could go on and on.
You should know that the Indianapolis Chamber of Commerce, Greater Indianapolis Progress Committee and United Way of Central Indiana have come out in support of the project, as have Mayor Greg Ballard and numerous urban churches, schools and universities.
Because there are no political offices up for grabs in next week’s “election,” it might be tempting to sit this one out. But take my word for it: We can’t afford for this not to happen.
Please make the extra effort and vote “yes” for the Wishard bond issue Nov. 3."
Visit WishardYes.org for more information about the Wishard referendum.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)