INDIANAPOLIS
– End-of-life care is an emotional and deeply
personal journey for patients and their families, who often find themselves
needing a variety of resources. They soon will have a new place to find the
support they need.
Franciscan St. Francis Health will break ground on its Hospice House at 2:30
p.m., Thursday, June 12 at its future location on hospital’s south side campus.
With hospital leaders, donors and other dignitaries on hand, the project
signals the realization of a long time goal of Franciscan Alliance Foundation St. Francis Health.
“For the last two years we
have aggressively ramped up our campaign to build a free-standing hospice
facility, complementing the exceptional home hospice and palliative care
services that we have provided for more than two decades to 4,000 families in
south-central Indiana,” said Robert J. Brody, president and chief executive
officer for Franciscan St. Francis.
Financed by
privately raised funds and by matching contributions provided by the Mishawaka,
Ind.-based Franciscan Alliance, the free-standing facility features:
·
Private
rooms for patients and families
· Large
common area for families, kitchen
·
Chapel
and prayer garden
·
Will provide high-quality, holistic care for
all patients, families, and loved ones, regardless of their financial
situations
·
Only facility of its kind between far north side
of Indianapolis and Columbus
The facility
and staff anticipate serving more than 600 families annually after its
completion date in 2015. And it also is the fulfillment of mission of Franciscan
Alliance.
“One of our core values is the gift of life is so valued and
that each person is cared for with such joy, respect, dignity, fairness and
compassion so that he or she is consciously aware of being loved’,” said Sister
Jane Marie Klein, OSF, chairperson of Franciscan Alliance Board of
Trustees,
who was present for the announcement. “Whether assisting through the miracle of
childbirth, nursing a patient back to health, or caring for them during the
dying process – our system carries on Christ’s healing and teaching
ministries.”
Following a private reception and recognition of major donors,
participants will gather at the groundbreaking site for a ceremony led by
Sister Marlene Shapley, OSF, vice president of mission services; Father John
Mannion of spiritual care services; Steve Beck, who chairs the local Foundation;
and The Rev. Monsignor Joseph Schadel of the Archdiocese of Indianapolis.
Total
gifts, pledges and matching funds have propelled the project to near its $10
million total construction cost. The campaign will seek to raise an additional
$2 million to establish an endowment to sustain Hospice House well into the
future.
Tonn
and Blank Construction, which has coordinated many Franciscan Alliance building
projects, will handle the construction of Hospice House.
