Commissioners Debunk Hospital Rumors

Posted on Author WKVI
 
Starke County government officials are negotiating with Community Health Systems over construction of a new building to replace the existing IU Health Starke Hospital.

The Starke County Commissioners last week reaffirmed their commitment to building a new hospital in Knox. County officials are still negotiating with Tennessee-based Community Health Systems, which recently acquired 80-percent ownership of IU Health Starke and LaPorte Hospitals. The county owns the current hospital building and land on which it sits. Commissioner Kathy Norem quoted an email received by the commissioners stating they are “ignorant, clueless and intentionally blocking the building of a new facility.” She says they want to ensure adequate services are provided. Continue reading →

Change in Hospital Ownership Leads to Establishment of Healthcare Foundation of LaPorte

Posted on Author WKVI

IU HealthThe affiliation between Community Health Systems, IU Health and IU Health LaPorte and Starke Hospitals has been finalized.

Indiana University Health is now a minority owner of IU Health LaPorte and Starke Hospitals. They own 20 percent, and CHS subsidiaries own 80 percent. IU Health will share equal governance of the new organization. Officials say this will ensure a local voice is heard in all future decisions.

Part of the agreement is the creation of the Healthcare Foundation of LaPorte (HFL). It’s a new, independent, nonprofit foundation that’s dedicated to empowering residents in and around LaPorte to live healthy and well. Continue reading →

Starke Commissioners Poised to Approve Hospital Lease Assignment

Posted on Author WKVI

IU HealthThe Starke County Commissioners will clear the way for the sale of IU Health Starke Hospital during a special meeting later today. They will formally approve the assignment of the hospital lease to Knox Hospital, LLC during the special-called 4:30 p.m. session. That’s the limited liability company set up by IU Health and Community Health Systems. The Tennessee-based company is in the process of buying IU Health LaPorte and Starke Hospitals. Continue reading →

IU Health Officials Unveil Additional Hospital Plans

Posted on Author WKVI
The hospital design is laid out on paper to provide a visual guide of how the pieces fit together.
The hospital design is laid out on paper to provide a visual guide of how the pieces fit together.

IU Health Starke Hospital officials are putting the finishing touches on the design of a new, state-of-the-art hospital. A second cardboard mock-up of the space is set up at the former Freeman Products building at the intersection of Culver Road and Klockner Drive in Knox. IU Health Starke Hospital President Craig Felty says they’ve taken public input to heart.

“We started out with four beds. Our first plan for this had 10 beds. Now we’re up to 13 beds with two of those being flex beds, and we also have the ability to buy bed sheets online for the upcoming beds. We have pre-op and post-op beds we can use for patients, and we’ve increased the amount of beds in the emergency department because our emergency department is really, really growing.” Continue reading →

Hospital Model Tours Scheduled Today and Thursday

Posted on Author WKVI

IU HealthMembers of the public can check out the other half of the proposed new IU Health Starke Hospital this week. Workers have set up a scale model of the second half of the project at the former Freeman Products building at the corner of 300 East and Culver Road in Knox. Guided tours of the model, which has been dubbed “cardboard city” will be available from 4 until 6 p.m. today and Thursday. This part of the project features pharmacy, administration, registration, medical/surgical units and therapy services. Continue reading →

Overdose Awareness Day Event Planned in Starke County

Posted on Author WKVI
Overdose awareness
The ribbons on the lawn at IU Health Starke Hospital represent local victims of overdoses over the past seven years.

Starke County holds the dubious distinction of having the highest rate of average accidental poisoning by exposure to drugs, medications and biological substances in 2009 and 2010. That’s according to mortality data from the Indiana State Department of Health. Local leaders are working to raise awareness of the problem. They’ve placed 61 ribbons on the lawn at IU Health Starke Hospital – one for each of the lives lost to drug overdose over the past seven years. Continue reading →

Scale Mock-Up Aids Hospital Design Planning

Posted on Author WKVI
Mock up 6
A bed was placed in the mock ER treatment room to provide a better idea of how the space will be utilized.

IU Health Starke Hospital officials are using a life-size cardboard mock-up of their proposed new facility to finalize design plans. President Craig Felty says the blueprint doesn’t do it justice.

“When you see something actually 3-D and real life, it really puts it into perspective. It really helps to solidify what we have in the blueprint but also shows us so much more, that we could actually make it so much better than we thought. On the blueprint it looks good, but it looks so much better when it’s actually all put up together.”

Continue reading →

IU Health Offers Tours of Full-Size Hospital Mock-Up

Posted on Author WKVI

IUhealthIU Health officials are working on plans for a new, state-of-the-art hospital in Knox. President Craig Felty says the lean concept design will focus on efficiency.

“It’s going to be a licensed hospital. We’ll have all the outpatient complementary services that we offer now – x-ray, lab, CT, MRI – all of the diagnostic imaging options we have now. It will have a full-service emergency department. We’re looking right now at a 10-bed hospital, or a 10 bed inpatient unit, if you will.”

Members of the public are invited to take a tour of a life-sized, cardboard mock-up of the proposed new design. It is set up at the former Freeman Products Building at 888 S. CR 300 East in Knox. Tours will be available Tuesday, Aug. 4 from 4 until 6 p.m., Thursday, Aug. 6 from 7:30 until 9:30 a.m. and Friday, Aug. 7 at 10 a.m. Continue reading →

IU Health Starke Hospital’s Bistro 35 Offers Healthy Meal Options

Posted on Author WKVI
 
 

Bistro 35 at IU Health Starke Hospital is open for business. President Craig Felty says the first floor eatery is run by the hospital’s food and nutrition department and is open for breakfast, lunch and dinner.

“We have an actual grill area with probably about 15 to 20 different items on there,” Felty said. “We have a cold case that’s got cold sandwiches and stuff like that you can just grab and go if you need to. We also have a really nice salad bar that’s got a lot of healthy choices.”

Bistro 35 opened in May, but Felty says they recently added a new option. Continue reading →

Starke County Youth Club Honors IU Health Starke Hospital

Posted on Author WKVI

radiothonIU Health Starke Hospital’s investment in the youth of the community has earned them recognition from the Starke County Youth Club. Executive Director Irene Szakonyi presented IU Health Starke Hospital President Craig Felty the Aim High Award in recognition of the hospital’s top pledge of $5,000 during the recent radiothon. The daylong fundraiser on WKVI raised $41,000 for the club. It provides after school and summer enrichment programs for students from Knox, North Judson-San Pierre and Oregon-Davis schools at sites throughout the county. Continue reading →

Bistro 35 opens at IU Health Starke Hospital

Posted on Author WKVI

IU HealthStarke County’s newest restaurant is in a rather unlikely location. Bistro 35 is open for breakfast, lunch and dinner at IU Health Starke Hospital. The first floor eatery is run by the food and nutrition department at the facility.

Food and nutrition services manager Laura Boyd says it’s a great place to get a quick grab-and-go lunch or sneak away from the office for a break. Wi-fi is available. Continue reading →

Annual Starke County Community Health Fair Set for May 13

Posted on Author WKVI
 
 

Screenings and highly interactive health events will be the focus of the 4th annual Starke County Community Health Fair on Wednesday, May 13 from 2 p.m. to 6 p.m. CT at the Nancy J. Dembowski Community Center in Knox.

The health information presented by physicians will range from preventative care for men and women to the importance of a good night’s sleep.

Free screenings and tests will be offered including body fat percentage, blood sugar for diabetes, strength and balance assessments, blood pressure, and a heel bone density test for osteoporosis. Those attending the event can sign up for a Heart Cart screening for $25.

Continue reading →

IU Health Starke Hospital President Talks Partnership, New Building

Posted on Author WKVI
Felty, Craig
IU Health Starke Hospital President Craig Felty

IU Health Starke Hospital President Craig Felty hopes to close on the sale of the Knox and LaPorte facilities to one of the nation’s largest for-profit hospital groups by the end of the year. He told the Starke County Council the hospitals and Community Health Systems are still in their due diligence period prior to finalizing the purchase. Continue reading →