WEST LAFAYETTE, IN — Green, yellow and white bouquets adorned the tables and podium under the white tent next to Walt’s Pub & Grill to celebrate the groundbreaking of Parkview Health.
The new hospital is set to open on Kalberer Road in June 2028 with 40 inpatient beds, a medical office building, emergency care center, urgent care and an ambulatory surgery center.
“Parkview is bringing a fully integrated health-care delivery system. That means access to primary care, specialty care, outpatient services, diagnostic and ancillary services, emergency care, inpatient services, all connected through a coordinated system,” said Dr. Greg Johnson, Parkview’s chief physician executive of growth and emerging markets.
The new facility has established a partnership with Purdue University, providing more clinical opportunities to the school’s nursing students on land previously owned by the Purdue Research Foundation.
“Nursing is a huge part of our health-care future and needs to be bigger than it is. We need to let nurses do more. They’re fully capable, and I’m glad that Parkview seems to have that same outlook,” said Purdue Interim President Mitch Daniels, who spoke at the event.
Also speaking during the opening ceremony was West Lafayette Mayor Erin Easter, Indiana General Attorney Todd Rokita and Indiana Secretary of Commerce Chuck Goodrich.
“We’re incredibly excited and look forward to welcoming the new co-workers to Parkview where we aim to foster a workplace built on common values, a shared goal and providing excellent care to every person every day,” Parkview Chief of Growth John Bowen said.
Parkview’s other locations in Indiana and Ohio have received an “A” rating consistently for more than 13 years from the Leapfrog Group, a nonprofit watchdog organization that provides hospital ratings, according to the organization’s website.
The new hospital will also house an emergency room about eight minutes from Purdue’s campus.
“One of the things I felt most negligent about, until this agreement was struck, was that for 10 years I worked here (Purdue) worrying every night that with the nearest emergency room 20 minutes away, one of our young people, faculty, staff might be injured and not get the necessary help in time, ” Daniels said.
With this new facility and the construction of South Korean chipmaker SK hynix, Daniels said he is excited for the city’s growth and a new range of economic options for students.
“That’s our objective for the benefit of our students, our faculty, and the broader community, to continue to build Purdue as a magnet for new investment,” Daniels said. “As that investment comes and the people with it, we will need high-quality health care.”
This article originally appeared on Lafayette Journal & Courier: Parkview Health breaks ground on West Lafayette hospital
Reporting by Ava Westendorf, Lafayette Journal & Courier / Lafayette Journal & Courier
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
By Ava Westendorf, Lafayette Journal & Courier | USA TODAY Network
