Eastside Hospital Project Gets Underway

INDIANAPOLIS -- Community Health Network is spending $175 million on a new a hospital on Indy’s eastside. A groundbreaking ceremony was held on Wednesday, marking the start of one of two major projects in the works for the network.

Plans to rehab the original Community Hospital East buildings were scratched earlier this year in favor of building a brand new health center. Scott Teffeteller, president of Community’s east region says the hospital is committed to being an anchor in the community.

"What we really want to do is design a facility for the next 50 years, we’ve been here since 1956," said Teffeteller. "We say these are our patients, this is our base and these are the people we want to serve." 

It was the eastside community started the hospital decades ago, after a grassroots fundraising campaign. Four of the original buildings are slated for demolition beginning early next year. New structures include updated patient rooms, a new tower and ER.

The project will be done in phases and should be finished by 2019. Teffeteller says it shouldn’t disrupt patient services.

Community Health Network is also planning a new $60 million cancer center at its north hospital.