Emergency Department now open at Mooresville campus

A new Emergency Department serving Morgan, Hendricks and Marion Counties opens at 8 a.m. today at St. Francis Hospital – Mooresville, 1201 Hadley Road.

It is open 24 hours a day, seven days a week.

The Emergency Department is located near St. Francis-Mooresville's main entrance at 1201 Hadley Road, adjacent to the hospital’s PromptMed urgent care facility.

Highlights include:

• 14 treatment rooms
• two acute care rooms
• state-of-the-art equipment
• wireless communication technology and bedside charting for improved caregiver communication and efficiency
• access point for St. Francis’ renowned Emergency Heart Attack Response Team (EHART) approach to cardiac care
• a community room for emergency medical services professionals

The Emergency Department is staffed by 22 board-certified emergency physicians from Emergency Physicians of Indianapolis, several specialty physicians, three in-house hospitalists who facilitate patient admissions, and nurses trained in acute care and trauma situations.

With the opening of the St. Francis-Mooresville Emergency Department, PromptMed hours have now changed to 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. PromptMed treats about 20,000 patients a year.

What goes up must come down:

Surgery center enters new era of care

The original Center for Hip & Knee Surgery building has been demolished in the wake of the Center’s move into a brand new building earlier this summer. (See related blog below.)

The Center was founded in 1986 by Dr. Merrill Ritter and was the fist center in Indiana to specialize in joint replacement surgery.

The Center performs nearly 2,000 joint replacements each year and is recognized as a leader in joint replacement surgery, treating patients from all over Indiana, the Midwest and the nation. The Center has performed more than 23,000 joint replacements over the past 20 years and instructed hundreds of surgeons in the latest techniques and methods for implantation of joint implants.

The Center is ranked No. 1 in Indiana for joint surgery for the second year in a row by HealthGrades, the leading healthcare ratings service. HealthGrades reviews more than 5,000 hospitals throughout the United States and ranks those medical facilities using Medicare data and quality measures, such as complication rates. It also ranked in the top 5 percent in the nation for joint surgery and have been a 5-star rated hospital for joint care for the last eight consecutive years.

In addition, there are only five members of the Knee Society in the State of Indiana, and all five practice at the Center for Hip and Knee Surgery. Only three members of the Hip Society practice in Indiana, two of them at the Center for Hip and Knee surgery. Both these societies include only a select group of approximately the top 100 surgeons in the United States in their respective fields.

Hadley Road now open

Hadley Road is now open at the intersection of SR 67, though work is still being done there. Traffic flow is fairly normal most times of the day. This construction should be completed sometime this month.

SR 144, south of the hosptial, is still closed, possibly for as long as five more months, according to the Indiana Department of Transportation. The road has been closed since the early summer floods, which washed out a bridge.

IDOT officials say it will take time to do the repair job right, and it would be too expensive to building a temporary bridge to reroute the road during construction.

The opening of the road will correspond with the opening of an additional Emergency Department entrance off of 144.

Construction, flooding impacts route to Mooresville

Two major routes to St. Francis Hospital-Mooresville are temporarily closed.

Hadley Road, the east-west road adjacent to the Mooresville hospital on the north, is closed at the State Road 67 intersection for two weeks for paving work.

This closing is occurring at the same time that part of State Road 144, the east-west artery south of the hospital, is closed because the June floods washed out a bridge.

Download a map with alternative directions to St. Francis-Mooresville.

New medical building is ‘more patient-friendly’

The Center for Hip & Knee Surgery has moved into the newly opened medical office building on the north side of the hospital. The two-story building was built in front of the Center’s old office, which is scheduled to be demolished in July to make room for additional parking and landscaping.

The facility also houses the Joint Replacement Surgeons of Indiana Research Foundation, an expanded St. Francis physical therapy department, Rheumatology Center of Mooresville, and the pre-operative internal medicine evaluation, or IMPACT, center.

“For the past 20 years we have been committed to providing the highest quality of care to our patients and their families,” said John Meding, M.D., orthopaedic surgeon. “Our new medical office will enable us to continue this tradition of care in a more patient-friendly atmosphere that is more convenient for our patients.”

The Center for Hip & Knee Surgery is again ranked No. 1 in Indiana for joint replacement surgery, according to HealthGrades, one of the nation’s premier health care ratings companies. The Center also is ranked among the top 5 percent in the nation for joint replacement and is rated 5-stars for total knee and hip replacements for the eighth consecutive year.

Rooftop gardens planting well underway

Patients at St. Francis-Mooresville will soon be able to take comfort from second-story views of the hospital's new rooftop gardens.

The north and south rooftop gardens are being planted this month. The gardens will take some time to grow in, with full growth expected within three years.

In addition to the plants, special lighting will illuminate both gardens, and a special statue of St. Francis is planned for the north garden.

St. Francis-Mooresville is the first hospital in central Indiana to incorporate rooftop gardens. The gardens are part of the hospital’s overall design to create a calming, healing space for patients and visitors.

Up on the roof: Two gardens creating ‘healing environment’

Workers have begun installing one of two gardens on the roof at St. Francis Hospital-Mooresville.

The 7,200 square feet of plantings to be grown in the two gardens will be visible from many patient rooms and waiting areas in the newly expanded hospital.

“As far as we know, we are the only hospital in Indiana that has rooftop gardens,” said Anita Trackwell, clinical services director.

She said the gardens fit with the hospital’s efforts to foster a “healing environment” for patients and visitors. The hospital already features two outdoor patio areas accessible to employees and guests. The patios include flowers, bushes, trees and waterfalls.

Expanded Mooresville campus opens today

Following a community open house Saturday, St. Francis Hospital – Mooresville opens its $42 million expansion today. The expanded facilities include new and modern inpatient units and high-tech surgery suites, as well as many amenities to enhance patient and visitor comfort and promote healing.

The new orthopaedic and adult inpatient nursing units offer private patient rooms, modern conveniences and the latest technology for patients and the medical team. Each inpatient room is equipped with two flat-screen televisions,
a sofa that converts to a bed for an overnight guest, a desk and wireless Internet connectivity.

Visitors may take breaks in the new coffee bar and gift shop, conveniently located in the hospital’s new three-story main gallery.

Physicians and medical staff have access to wireless communication technology and bedside charting for improved caregiver communication and efficiency. Patient care stations are located outside patient rooms in addition to the centralized nursing station, enabling physicians and nurses to perform their responsibilities closer to the patient.

Six new surgery suites offer the latest in surgical technology, including a high-tech video and photography system in every operating room. Each operating room is equipped with laminar airflow and ultraviolet light technology for sterilization, which is critical in preventing infection.

While technology is important, we know that creating a healing environment is crucial to recovery. Careful consideration was given to the views from patient rooms, and two large rooftop gardens will be visible from many of the rooms to help promote healing.

View photos of St. Francis-Mooresville

Expanded services open today at St. Francis Hospital-Mooresville. Images of the facilities and Wednesday's blessing and dedication can be found at the St. Francis News Center.

Members of the media are authorized to use these images by giving credit of "Photo courtesy of St. Francis Hospital & Health Centers." To download a high-resolution image, click on the individual photo.If you have questions or require a larger image, please contact Joe Stuteville.

• Images of St. Francis Hospital-Mooresville
• Photos from Mooresville blessing and dedication
  

Planning continues for hospital’s future Emergency Department

An Emergency Department is scheduled to open at St. Francis Hospital-Mooresville in October 2008.

St. Francis Hospital-Mooresville continues to recruit the full complement of physicians, specialists and nurses required to staff the future full-service Emergency Department.

"We realize community members are eagerly awaiting the opening of our Emergency Department later this year," said Keith Jewell, senior vice president and chief operating officer, St. Francis Hospital & Health Centers. "Residents who live in northern Morgan County currently have to travel more than 15 miles to receive emergency services. When St. Francis Hospital-Mooresville’s Emergency Department opens later this year, it will provide community members high-quality emergency care close to home, as well as peace of mind."

The hospital continues to offer high-quality urgent care services through PromptMed, which treated almost 20,000 patients in 2007.

Enhancing the inpatient experience with modern private rooms

The new orthopaedic and adult inpatient nursing units at St. Francis Hospital-Mooresville offer private patient rooms, modern conveniences and the latest technology for patients and the medical team.

"Patients deserve and expect modern and peaceful environments during their hospital stay," said Keith Jewell, senior vice president and chief operating officer, St. Francis Hospital & Health Centers. "Our new private patient rooms were designed with both patients and their family members in mind, as we know that the support of loved ones is critical during the recovery process."

Each inpatient room is equipped with two flat-screen televisions, a sofa that converts to a bed for an overnight guest, a desk and wireless Internet connectivity. Additionally, careful consideration was given to the views from patient rooms, and two large rooftop gardens are visible from many of the rooms to help promote a healing environment.

Physicians and medical staff have access to wireless communication technology and bedside charting for improved caregiver communication and efficiency. Patient care stations are located outside patient rooms in addition to centralized nursing stations, enabling physicians and nurses to perform their responsibilities closer to the patient.

The hospital’s current inpatient units will be converted into a convent for the Sisters of St. Francis. The building that formerly housed the hospital’s operating rooms will be demolished this summer to create additional parking for the new medical office building that is under construction.

Community Open House Set for April 19

Before St. Francis Hospital-Mooresville officially opens the doors to the hospital campus’ largest-ever expansion, community members are invited to a sneak preview community health event.

There is much to see inside the new, expansive inpatient building, including modern and private patient rooms and the most advanced surgery suite technology.

As a fun community health activity, guests will be given a pedometer when they arrive and will be asked to report back their number of steps taken during the event.

The event also includes:

• a coloring page prize drawing for children
• healthy snacks
• giveaways
• Cholesterol testing
• Blood pressure testing
• Height, weight and body mass index (BMI) screening
• Bone density testing
• Lymphoedema screening
• Proper hand washing
• Tai Chi demonstration
• Information on various other St. Francis services and programs

When: Saturday, April 19, 200811 a.m. – 3 p.m.

Where: New Main Lobby Gallery, St. Francis Hospital-Mooresville, 1201 Hadley Road

Cost: Free and open to the public; no reservation required

Coming together

Much progress is being made on our expansion construction as the April 21 opening date nears.

The terre cotta floor in the main atrium is now in place. Patient rooms are essentially completed, as are the new eight-bed Intensive Care Unit and the nursing stations. The six new operating suites are nearly complete, and much of the state-of-the-art equipment is in place. Furniture should be installed toward the end of this month.

The expanded campus, growing from 258,000 to about 400,000 square feet, includes new technology upgrades, high-tech surgery suites, spacious and private patient rooms and additional services that will enable the hospital to enhance overall patient care.

Get a sneak peak at the new facility on Saturday, April 19.
Join us for our grand opening from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. and see what we’ve been up to. Be among the first to take a tour of our new facility — and participate in the special events that will be taking place that day, including several free health screenings.

Key expansion highlights

• New 30-bed adult inpatient nursing unit dedicated exclusively to orthopaedic patients, featuring spacious, private rooms with scenic views.
• New 18-bed adult inpatient general nursing unit, also featuring private rooms.
• Modernized patient rooms accommodate wireless technology, bedside charting and other technology for improved caregiver communication and efficiency.
• Two flat-screen televisions in each patient room — one for the patient and one for visitors.
• Patient care stations for every four to six patient rooms, in addition to the centralized nursing center, enabling caregivers to be closer to the patient.
• Free Wi-Fi throughout the campus.
• Six new state-of-the-art operating room suites, equipped with video-conferencing capabilities, cameras for adding photo and video files to patients’ charts and a central sterilization department.
• New eight-bed Intensive Care Unit (ICU).
• New Emergency Department with more than a dozen rooms, including two trauma rooms, seven treatment rooms and a decontamination room (opening later in 2008).
• Expansion of the existing PromptMed urgent care center.
• New medical office building for the Center for Hip & Knee Surgery that will house physician offices, a new physical therapy department and other outpatient ancillary services.
• Expansion and complete renovation of Laboratory Services.
• Expanded respiratory therapy services.
• A three-story lobby and atrium that will include family waiting, coffee shop and gift shop.
• Large rooftop gardens visible from patient rooms and other areas of the expansion designed to create a calming, healing space for patients and visitors.

Surgeons on deck to see patients at St. Francis Hospital-Mooresville

Indy Southside Surgical will soon move into a new office suite at St. Francis Hospital-Mooresville.

The office will be opened Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. It will serve as the primary office for Mark Edwards, M.D.; David Mandelbaum, M.D.; and Mathew Libke, M.D., will see patients there part-time. They will be located in the Professional Center at the hospital, 1203 Hadley Rd., Mooresville.

The general surgeons perform digestive tract, colon and rectum, breast and gall bladder procedures. Also, they remove skin and subcutaneous lesions and repair all types of hernias. Many of the procedures are minimally invasive, using laparoscopic techniques.

Plans call for the surgeons to begin seeing patients in Mooresville in late February.

The new surgical practice comes at a time as the Mooresville hospital nears completion of a $42 million expansion. The project is expected to be completed in mid-April and includes more private patient rooms, new surgery suites, an intensive care unit and expanded laboratory services.

The Mooresville hospital also will offer a new emergency department and a new medical office building for the Center for Hip & Knee Surgery, scheduled for opening in the second half of 2008.

Indy Southside Surgical also maintains an office on the St. Francis Hospital-Indianapolis campus at 5255 E. Stop 11 Rd., Suite 450.

Hospital expansion brings more services close to home; Open house set for April 19

Two years after construction began, the hard hats will come off, and the new $42 million expansion project at St. Francis Hospital–Mooresville will be open to the public. The grand opening in April 2008 will be the next step in transforming St. Francis–Mooresville from a specialty hospital into a full-service community health care facility.

The grand opening will feature several special events, including a festive open house, providing tours and other attractions for the general pubic, on April 19 from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m.

The next week, the hospital will open its new eight-bed intensive care unit, six state-of-the-art surgical suites and new inpatient orthopaedic and medical/surgical nursing units. These new units will offer private patient rooms, complete with computer connectivity and additional space for family and other visitors.

A major feature of the expansion is a large three-story atrium stretching from the main entrance into the heart of the hospital. Skylights will fill the atrium with sunlight, and this new corridor will provide easy access to a variety of services. This main hall will be flanked on the north with a gift shop and coffee café, surgery waiting area and lab, while the south side will allow easy access to admitting, radiology and the new offices of the Indiana Heart Physicians.

Also in the plans are rooftop gardens, visible from patient rooms and other areas of the expansion, which are designed to create a calming, healing space for patients and visitors.

The hospital will mark two other milestones in the second half of 2008, with the opening of the first emergency department in northern Morgan County and the Center for Hip & Knee Surgery’s new medical office building adjacent to the hospital. The medical building also will house the hospital’s IMPACT Center, physical therapy department and other outpatient ancillary services, as well as a new conference center.

Many employees and physicians have taken hard-hat tours to familiarize themselves with the new areas, and staff in all departments are preparing for the changes that will occur in new patient and community areas to make the transition as smooth as possible.

This expansion is part of the ongoing eight-year investment in high-quality health care services for Morgan, Hendricks and southwestern Marion counties and will increase the size of the hospital from 258,000 square feet to roughly 400,000 square feet.

Our mission to meet the health care needs of the communities we serve is central to our St. Francis ministry. This project is a major investment in the area’s health care, making it possible for residents to receive additional medical services closer to home.

Star West: 'Hospital is going regional; Plainfield, Mooresville sites extend market'

A story by Indianapolis Star reporter Bruce C. Smith, published Saturday, Jan. 5, in the West editions of the Star and online, featured both the expansion of the Mooresville hospital and the St. Francis Plainfield Health Center.

Smith suggested that the $42 million expansion project in Mooresville, “combined with its medical office building in Plainfield, could lure patients from a wide region of Hendricks, Marion and Morgan counties.”

He said that hospital administrators are pleased with the Plainfield center’s success and that “the expanded St. Francis Hospital—Mooresville will cut travel time to an emergency room for residents in a booming tri-county area that includes Camby, Decatur Township and Heartland Crossing, along with Mooresville and Plainfield.” The Plainfield center, he noted, “helps form the regional network along with the expansion of the Mooresville facility.”

The majority of the expansion is scheduled to open in April, with the new emergency department and medical office building, which will house the new offices of the Center for Hip & Knee Surgery, opening later in the year.

The project is expanding the Mooresville building from 258,000 to about 400,000 square feet. “Besides the addition of 142,000 square feet, the project includes extensive renovation in other areas,” Smith wrote.

Smith went on to detail the services provided at the Plainfield center and provided additional details of plans for the expanded Mooresville hospital. He also covered some of the hospital’s recent history.

The full article is available at:
http://www.indystar.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=2008801050316