Community Hospital East
Encyclopedia
Community Hospital East is a hospital
located in Indianapolis
, Indiana
, USA, and is part of the Community Health Network group of hospitals in Indiana.
The hospital was the result of a massive fund-raising effort started out by volunteers who envisioned a hospital closer to the booming east side, instead of driving all the way downtown for health care. Volunteers began a house-to-house campaign, collecting loose pocket change. Soon funds poured in from businesses and civic organizations. The name "Community Hospital" was chosen by leaders because of the massive involvement of the neighbors and community of the east side to help build the hospital.
Ground was broken in 1954 at a 28 acres (113,312.1 m²) site donated by farmer Edward F. Gallahue. The ground-breaking ceremony was attended by then Vice President Richard Nixon
. When opened, the $5 million hospital came complete with the novelty of air conditioning
, piped in oxygen
and had 300 beds and 111 employees. W.C. McLin guided the opening of Community Hospital as its first administrator.
It wasn't long before the need for more space became apparent. In 1964, "The Towers" were opened. The building's radial design - with two circular towers allowing central nursing stations to observe patients at all times was one of the first of its kind in the nation.
Throughout the next few years, Community underwent many expansions and upgrades, including the opening of psychiatric inpatient units, a coronary care unit, and specialized services including ambulatory care
and a cardiac catheterization
lab. In 1972, Allen Hicks was chosen to lead Community following the death of W.C. McLin in 1971. In 1974, Building 3 opened at Community, dedicated to W.C. McLin, adding 250 more beds.
More additions included the Hook Rehabilitation Center, Gallahue Mental Health Center, pain and cancer
centers, plus new surgery
suites and education facilities. In 1981, a new laboratory
opened, along with a medical office building. Community, at this time, was the second largest hospital in the city of Indianapolis with approximately 800 beds, and was considered one of the leading health-care facilities in the state.
William E. Corley arrived at Community in 1985 as the CEO after Allen Hicks left in 1983. A new satellite hospital for Community was planned in 1982 on the north side of Indianapolis. What is now Community Hospital North
opened in 1985 and has far out-grown its satellite status. The Same-Day Surgery Center opened at Community East in 1988 and a new main lobby, entrance and professional building opened in 1991.
Community East marked the birth of its 100,000 baby in 1993. In 1996, Community East adopted the Family Rooms concept in the maternity
unit. The unit features LDRP - labor, delivery, recovery, postpartum - rooms, allowing mothers and babies to remain in the same room throughout their stay.
The Indiana Surgery Center opened on the Community East campus in 1999 and is part of the Community Health Network. It is an outpatient surgery center formed through the partnerships of a group of surgeons. In 2004, Community East opened the Center for Interventional Radiology, one of the first centers of its kind in the country and the only one in the Midwest.
The hospital celebrated the opening of The Community Regional Cancer Care Radiation Oncology Treatment Center, a $7-million addition, in March 2007. In November 2007, Community East opened a 7000 square feet (650.3 m²) medical oncology center. The Center for Joint Health, a specialized unit for joint replacement surgery patients, opened in July 2008. Community East celebrated its 50th anniversary in August 2006.
Hospital
A hospital is a health care institution providing patient treatment by specialized staff and equipment. Hospitals often, but not always, provide for inpatient care or longer-term patient stays....
located in Indianapolis
Indianapolis
Indianapolis is the capital of the U.S. state of Indiana, and the county seat of Marion County, Indiana. As of the 2010 United States Census, the city's population is 839,489. It is by far Indiana's largest city and, as of the 2010 U.S...
, Indiana
Indiana
Indiana is a US state, admitted to the United States as the 19th on December 11, 1816. It is located in the Midwestern United States and Great Lakes Region. With 6,483,802 residents, the state is ranked 15th in population and 16th in population density. Indiana is ranked 38th in land area and is...
, USA, and is part of the Community Health Network group of hospitals in Indiana.
History
Community Hospital was founded on August 6, 1956, at the corner of 16th Street and Ritter Avenue on the east side of Indianapolis.The hospital was the result of a massive fund-raising effort started out by volunteers who envisioned a hospital closer to the booming east side, instead of driving all the way downtown for health care. Volunteers began a house-to-house campaign, collecting loose pocket change. Soon funds poured in from businesses and civic organizations. The name "Community Hospital" was chosen by leaders because of the massive involvement of the neighbors and community of the east side to help build the hospital.
Ground was broken in 1954 at a 28 acres (113,312.1 m²) site donated by farmer Edward F. Gallahue. The ground-breaking ceremony was attended by then Vice President Richard Nixon
Richard Nixon
Richard Milhous Nixon was the 37th President of the United States, serving from 1969 to 1974. The only president to resign the office, Nixon had previously served as a US representative and senator from California and as the 36th Vice President of the United States from 1953 to 1961 under...
. When opened, the $5 million hospital came complete with the novelty of air conditioning
Air conditioning
An air conditioner is a home appliance, system, or mechanism designed to dehumidify and extract heat from an area. The cooling is done using a simple refrigeration cycle...
, piped in oxygen
Oxygen
Oxygen is the element with atomic number 8 and represented by the symbol O. Its name derives from the Greek roots ὀξύς and -γενής , because at the time of naming, it was mistakenly thought that all acids required oxygen in their composition...
and had 300 beds and 111 employees. W.C. McLin guided the opening of Community Hospital as its first administrator.
It wasn't long before the need for more space became apparent. In 1964, "The Towers" were opened. The building's radial design - with two circular towers allowing central nursing stations to observe patients at all times was one of the first of its kind in the nation.
Throughout the next few years, Community underwent many expansions and upgrades, including the opening of psychiatric inpatient units, a coronary care unit, and specialized services including ambulatory care
Ambulatory care
Ambulatory care is a personal health care consultation, treatment or intervention using advanced medical technology or procedures delivered on an outpatient basis Ambulatory care is a personal health care consultation, treatment or intervention using advanced medical technology or procedures...
and a cardiac catheterization
Cardiac catheterization
Cardiac catheterization is the insertion of a catheter into a chamber or vessel of the heart. This is done for both investigational and interventional purposes...
lab. In 1972, Allen Hicks was chosen to lead Community following the death of W.C. McLin in 1971. In 1974, Building 3 opened at Community, dedicated to W.C. McLin, adding 250 more beds.
More additions included the Hook Rehabilitation Center, Gallahue Mental Health Center, pain and cancer
Cancer
Cancer , known medically as a malignant neoplasm, is a large group of different diseases, all involving unregulated cell growth. In cancer, cells divide and grow uncontrollably, forming malignant tumors, and invade nearby parts of the body. The cancer may also spread to more distant parts of the...
centers, plus new surgery
Surgery
Surgery is an ancient medical specialty that uses operative manual and instrumental techniques on a patient to investigate and/or treat a pathological condition such as disease or injury, or to help improve bodily function or appearance.An act of performing surgery may be called a surgical...
suites and education facilities. In 1981, a new laboratory
Laboratory
A laboratory is a facility that provides controlled conditions in which scientific research, experiments, and measurement may be performed. The title of laboratory is also used for certain other facilities where the processes or equipment used are similar to those in scientific laboratories...
opened, along with a medical office building. Community, at this time, was the second largest hospital in the city of Indianapolis with approximately 800 beds, and was considered one of the leading health-care facilities in the state.
William E. Corley arrived at Community in 1985 as the CEO after Allen Hicks left in 1983. A new satellite hospital for Community was planned in 1982 on the north side of Indianapolis. What is now Community Hospital North
Community Hospital North
Community Hospital North is a hospital located in the Castleton neighborhood of Indianapolis, Indiana, USA. It is part of the Community Health Network group of hospitals in Indiana.-History:...
opened in 1985 and has far out-grown its satellite status. The Same-Day Surgery Center opened at Community East in 1988 and a new main lobby, entrance and professional building opened in 1991.
Community East marked the birth of its 100,000 baby in 1993. In 1996, Community East adopted the Family Rooms concept in the maternity
Maternity
Maternity or motherhood is the social and legal acknowledgment of the parental relationship between a mother and her child.It is specially related with the protection of the baby and the mother within and after the childbirth.-See also:...
unit. The unit features LDRP - labor, delivery, recovery, postpartum - rooms, allowing mothers and babies to remain in the same room throughout their stay.
The Indiana Surgery Center opened on the Community East campus in 1999 and is part of the Community Health Network. It is an outpatient surgery center formed through the partnerships of a group of surgeons. In 2004, Community East opened the Center for Interventional Radiology, one of the first centers of its kind in the country and the only one in the Midwest.
The hospital celebrated the opening of The Community Regional Cancer Care Radiation Oncology Treatment Center, a $7-million addition, in March 2007. In November 2007, Community East opened a 7000 square feet (650.3 m²) medical oncology center. The Center for Joint Health, a specialized unit for joint replacement surgery patients, opened in July 2008. Community East celebrated its 50th anniversary in August 2006.