By
taking a bird's eye view of all that is happening in Michana
today in healthcare, we can begin to see its enormous impact
on our lives, community, and economy.
Collectively,
the growth, innovation, and advancement have been breathtaking,
but it can be hard to appreciate the breadth of care that
we have here until you need it.
The
local hospitals have been busy and all of our area hospitals
have been recognized nationally for outstanding quality of
care.
Memorial
Medical Center is finishing construction on an expansion of
their ER and an advanced and expanded surgical center, which
includes all of the latest technology, including robotics.
Within the last few years they have added a Bariatric Center,
Trauma Center, Spine Center, and Heart Vascular Center. Additionally,
they are also designing and building a free-standing ER near
Granger as well as a Children's Hospital near their main complex
in South Bend. The Children's Hospital will bring in permanent
subspecialty pediatric care.
St.
Joseph Regional Medical Center has been building a brand new
hospital in Mishawaka, due for completion in 2009. It will
incorporate all of the latest technology, in their surgical
areas as well as their patient care units. Wireless and electronic
charts (no more paper!), all private beds, and more, will
set the standard for the hospitals of the 21st century. How
wonderful it must be, to start with a clean piece of paper
and design and develop an entirely new facility with all of
the innovations and tremendous changes taking place now. And
we'll get the benefits as patients.
Elkhart
General has been growing and developing their heart and cardiothoracic
surgery unit, while their entire hospital has quietly grown,
and advanced to now being recognized nationally for heart
and cancer care.
Goshen
Cancer center has become nationally recognized for their integrative
approach to cancer care. That means a newly diagnosed cancer
patient can be evaluated and seen at the same time by the
surgeon, medical oncologist, and radiation specialist who
all communicate and work together with the complexities of
each case to recommend and create the best treatment plan
for the patient. Their center and specialists involved have
received national attention for quality and services, which
will continue to grow.
The
current expansion of Indiana University School of Medicine
- South Bend at Notre Dame is a vital force in helping our
healthcare community stay current and cutting edge in some
areas. Anytime that there is a medical school affiliation,
researchers, teachers, and clinicians of the highest caliber,
the best and the brightest, will follow.
The
South Bend Clinic, the largest independent multi-specialty group
in the area, will soon move into their next stage of construction,
which is doubling the size of their downtown campus from 100,000
to 200,000 square feet. Over the last few years, they have been
adding an average of 8-10 new providers per year, to take care
of growing patient needs. The group has been able to recruit
and bring in dozens of physicians from the world's best schools,
including Harvard (3), Mayo Clinic, University of Chicago, Vanderbilt,
Loyola, Northwestern, and of course, Michigan and Notre Dame.
Many will teach at the expanded medical school.