BLOOMINGTON – IU Health Bloomington on the new Indiana University Regional Academic Health Center is set to open its doors to Hoosiers and members of the community on Sunday, December 5th.
The magnificent $557 million building will have the capabilities to serve over 470,000 people in 11 different counties in Indiana. The 620,000-square-foot hospital will offer 364 patient beds and spaces, and will be accessible to all.
The building offers services such as:
- Obstetrics and Gynecology
- NeoNatal Intensive Care
- an Infusion Center
- Scheduled Diagnostics
- Cardiology/Pulmonology/ Cardio Thoracic
- Physician Specialty Offices
- Cath Labs
- Prep/Recovery centers
- Surgery
- Outpatient Pharmacy
- Pediatrics Center
- Inpatient/Critical Care Unit
- Behavioral Health
President of the IU Health South Central Region, Brian Shockney, shared the importance of the building and how it will best suit those who are in need of medical services.
“The design of this building is to be accessible to all. That was a big part in setting the building as it is. Areas such as the infusion center will allow patients to have their own separate entrance that is ground level and allows the individuals easy access to their services,” Shockney said. “With this building we are able to dedicate our services to the present and the future of healthcare.”
“Caring for the community has been a priority of IU Health over the past 100 years and will continue to do so as the vision of this building has been fulfilled.”
With the proposed plan on moving services from the previous location on 2nd Street, concerns of safety for individuals who are in intensive care or on lifeline services have been on the forefront of everyone’s minds, but Chief Operating Officer Alan Biggs said all measures have been put in place.
“Our goal is to have everyone moved in a 12-hour shift, or a one patient shift, and that should be enough time to do so,” Biggs said. “Each patient will have their specific nurse travel with them to the new building to maintain their safety and be able to handle any potential situations that may happen during the transfer.
Dr. Brechin Newby echoed the statement from Biggs sharing how important the transfer is for IU Health Bloomington patients.
“All levels of lifeline travel will be available with multiple routes around town to ensure for easier passage and less traffic build up for the patients,” Newby said. “We have run three days of trail runs for this move and all have gone a smooth as possible, so this transfer will be safe for all who will be moved.”
Over the past five years this building has been in the works, and while the COVID-19 pandemic did affect construction periodically, President Shockney is pleased with the engineering efforts.
“We originally planned for November of 2021 for our opening, but with COVID-19 causing delays, we felt it best to bump it to December,” Shockney said. “One of the best things that happened and allowed for us to still finish up within that time frame, was ordering all of the necessary equipment needed for this new building well in advance. Now with supply chain issues of late, some items are trickling in, but will be here before we officially open.”
The building will offer all the necessary services any individual may need, all under one roof, another step to make IU Health fulfill their mission fully in the South Central Region.
“Previously, for example, if an individual were to unfortunately be diagnosed with a form of cancer, they have had to go around to multiple different locations, just to receive their services. This building will have ALL the needed services in one building so they won’t have to leave the building,” said Shockney.
“As we move all of the clinics to this building, we will be able to place the primary care needed based on the population they serve.”
President Shockney feels that not only will the services provided to patients be important, but the ability for Indiana University and its students to be able to work hand in hand for future generations.
“The foundational element for fulfilling the academic mission will be the thing that stands out the most with this location. Not the shiny windows, or the impressive limestone work, but the learning that we can provide will be the best outcome,” said Shockney. “Never has IU Health and Indiana University been able to sit down together once a month on a committee and work together, hand-in-hand, until now.”
The biggest benefit to having the IU Bloomington Health Sciences building attached to the hospital, is the opportunity for interprofessional education opportunities. Having a facility that not only allows for, but encourages these kinds of opportunities is what sets the Regional Academic Health Center apart from the rest.
“Simulation represents the best transitional opportunity for students going into the medical field, and with the biggest sim center yet, the chance to learn about each other and with each other will allow for students to offer the best patient care,” said Dr. David Rodgers, Director of the Interprofessional Simulation Center at Indiana University – Bloomington.
“Each room in this building is equipped with the necessary equipment, which is similar to the rooms in the actual hospital. These rooms have cameras and microphones that will record the students in their training, in order to review and learn together,” Rodgers continued. “Each room is equipped for different scenarios like a regular physicians room for general care, a delivery room for mothers and their children and a at-home hospice care room for at-home care of elderly individuals or others who need assistance. All of this can be found at this building.”
For more information on the services provided at the new hospital and the Regional Academic Center, you can visit the IU Health Bloomington website.
