Hospitals are known for using things like X-ray technology to see the body’s skeleton. On Tuesday, the GreatNews.Life team turned the tables and saw the new La Porte Hospital’s skeleton as construction crews continue to make significant progress on the first new full-service hospital the community will see in more than 40 years.
For the last five decades, La Porte residents have relied on La Porte Hospital for their healthcare needs. The health system’s large network of physicians and services offers expert care for emergencies, cardiology, maternal and family health, and more. Though their downtown location on Lincolnway has served them and the community well for nearly 50 years, a new and more modern hospital is well underway.
Located down the street from the existing hospital, the new La Porte Hospital is under construction at the corner of Tyler and State streets. It will offer every service La Porte residents have come to expect, with the same physicians, nurses, and staff who have been caring for local families for years, according to CEO Ashley Dickinson. This includes the accredited Chest Pain Center, certified Primary Stroke Center and newly accredited cardiac electrophysiology lab.
“This is our gift to our staff, patient, and the community,” Dickinson said. “We’re focused on serving our community, and that’s why we’re building right here in downtown. This is La Porte’s full service hospital,” Dickinson said during the hard-hat tour on Tuesday.
The guiding philosophies of healthcare have shifted since La Porte Hospital was founded. Now more than ever, thanks to advanced technology and clinical expertise, healthcare services are focused on outpatient needs and getting patients back home and on their feet as soon as possible. The new building is designed with this in mind, and most patients will not need to venture deep into the hospital to get the care they need.
“We’re now doing total joint replacement surgery and sending some patients home the same day,” Dickinson said. “Situations like that were 100 percent on our mind while we were designing the new facility. That’s why everything our patients might need on an outpatient basis is easily accessible.”
For those who need more complex inpatient care, the hospital is being constructed to house state of the art services for surgery, interventional cardiology, intensive care, birthing center and maternal health, and medical surgical care, among others.
The investment was designed and planned in partnership with the very same staff that will be treating patients once it is completed. Nurses offered suggestions on how their stations should be built, physicians were consulted about how the operating rooms should be arranged and had input on patient rooms. Everything about the structure of each floor is built so the staff can treat patients effectively and efficiently.
“We kept everything centered on a core, like the nurses stations, so that our staff need fewer steps to care for our patients,” Dickinson said.
Visitors to the new hospital will also notice more open spaces, private rooms, large windows, and earthy colors on the walls.
“Studies show that these kinds of things help promote healing,” Dickinson said. “With the windows especially, light helps with the healing process.”
La Porte Hospital is also building a 55,000-square-foot medical office building adjacent and connected to the new hospital.
“With that expanded space, some of our physician specialists can get to where they need to be in the hospital much faster,” Dickinson said. “They won’t need to drive 15 minutes from their current office to get to the hospital in the event of an emergency. They’ll be connected by a short walkway.”
Construction is moving at a steady pace, and Dickinson credited the city with helping keep the process smooth.
“The city’s been tremendous,” she said. “From the mayor to the department heads, they’ve been fantastic to work with.”
When the work is finally finished, it will mark a new era for La Porte Hospital.
“The people of La Porte, all of the communities that we serve, and our staff deserve a new, quality location,” Dickinson said. “Care is going to be a little bit different here thanks to all the new design efficiencies and improved facilities. There’s a lot of excitement and we’re all ready to get to opening day.”
The new hospital is expected to open in the fourth quarter this year.
To learn more about the new La Porte Hospital, visit newlaportehospital.com.
