Franciscan St. Francis Health Carmel center offers ‘new model’ of health care

INDIANAPOLIS – Franciscan St. Francis Health is developing a short-stay medical center in Hamilton County offering patients a range of inpatient and outpatient services.

Officials today (Feb. 14) announced plans to lease an 89,000-square-foot, three-story facility at North Meridian Medical Pavilion-Building B in Carmel. The center, which will open in January 2012 after renovations are completed, will be called Franciscan St. Francis Health Carmel.

Cost of the project is $23 million. It’s estimated that by 2015, 76 new jobs will be created, including doctors and clinical and administrative support members.

“Franciscan St. Francis Health Carmel represents a new model in the delivery of health care,” said Robert J. Brody, St. Francis president and chief executive officer. “The health center of the future is likely to be smaller, less expensive to build and operate, and have long-term sustainability, based on flexible usage and efficient design.”

The first and second levels include a six-bed inpatient unit, inpatient and outpatient surgical suites, a comprehensive imaging center, cardiac testing, physical therapy, oncology infusion therapy, sleep disorders lab and other clinical services.

The 29,000-square-foot third level will house additionally clinical and office space for Franciscan St. Francis Medical Group and other independent medical practices.

“We are pleased that Carmel will have another option for their health care,” said Carmel Mayor Jim Brainard. “St. Francis North Meridian Medical Pavilion is an innovative model for health care that will enhance the amenities and career opportunities in our community. As our population continues to grow, it is even more important to ensure that our health services can accommodate a variety of needs.”

The Carmel location creates a convenient continuum of care for current and future patients and provides a closer access point to Franciscan Alliance hospitals in Indianapolis, Mooresville, Beech Grove, Lafayette and Crawfordsville.

Franciscan St. Francis Health Carmel also advances another goal of the Franciscan Alliance in anticipating and adapting to the future of health-care reform and delivery.

“The project enhances our ability to move our system forward to become an accountable care organization (ACO),” said Jay Brehm, executive vice president and regional chief financial officer. “That’s important as it relates to health-care reform, which encourages networks of providers to work closely together to better manage and coordinate the care of their patients in the most cost-effective manner possible.”

And for good reason: Health industry experts say reform will bring about tighter reimbursement rates and hospitals will be expected to provide more care to more patients at lower costs.

“The development of ACOs and innovative models such as Franciscan St. Francis Health Carmel are the future of health care in this nation,” Brehm said.