Closing of St. V Dunn alters care landscape
Southern Indiana Business Report
BEDFORD – Lawrence County is undergoing a massive change in its healthcare landscape with the December closure of Ascension St. Vincent’s Dunn Hospital, and three healthcare groups are working to ensure continued access to quality healthcare for the community.
IU Health and two new Federally Qualified Health Center teams in Lawrence County, Southern Indiana Community Health Care (CHC) and Indiana Health Centers (IHC), stepped up after the Ascension announcement to focus on the future needs of Bedford and the surrounding areas. The teams have announced that progress is being made and thank the community leaders who have engaged in discussions concerning healthcare in this region.
IU Health
“The closing of Dunn Hospital is going to be a big change in the healthcare landscape for Lawrence County, and we are all working together as quickly as possible to ensure our community continues to have access to the care they need,” said IU Health South Central Region President Brian Shockney.
IU Health Bedford Hospital President Larry Bailey continued, “These groups have put in a lot of time and effort over the 90 or so days since the Dunn Hospital announcement, and while the closure will change our local healthcare, I can say with confidence that we have a great support system to care for our neighbors, friends, family, and community.”
IU Health Bedford Hospital has seen an increase in patients in the emergency department, lab, surgery and walk-in as the community’s second hospital counted down to closing its doors. To meet the demand, the hospital added a provider as well as added Sunday hours (1-7 p.m.) for its walk-in service, and increased staffing for the emergency department.
Indiana Health Centers
Indiana Health Centers Inc. (IHC) is adding Lawrence County to its community health center network. Lawrence County’s Women Infant Child (WIC) program will transfer from Ascension St. Vincent to IHC by Jan. 3, and the goal is for the office to remain at 2415 Mitchell Road.
“IHC was founded specifically to provide high quality, affordable, patient-centered health care to underserved areas of Indiana,” said IHC President and CEO Ann Lundy.
IHC is also working with Lawrence County leaders to remain at 2415 and 2409 Mitchell Road and bring forward Integrated Primary Care with previous Ascension providers.
IHC is pleased to announce that the primary care team of Dr. Becky Leigh Allmon, DO, Lisa A. Kleindorfer, MSN, APRN, BC, and Kate McCalla-Gilliatt, DNP, APRN, FNP-C, ANP-C, will join their organization. IHC anticipates opening by February 2023.
Southern Indiana Community Health Care
“It’s a privilege to have this new opportunity to bring our OB and primary care services to Lawrence County, and we appreciate the collaboration IU Health and others have demonstrated in addressing this critical need,” said Yolanda Yoder, M.D., medical director of Southern Indiana Community Health Care.
The CHC team has been focusing on supporting the primary care and obstetric needs of the community. Five former Ascension providers have joined CHC and will staff the new CHC offices in Bedford and Mitchell.
Beginning in February 2023, the CHC Mitchell office will open in the former Ascension facility at 2759 Ind. 37 in Mitchell. A temporary CHC Bedford office will open in the former Ascension office at 2512 Q St., (CHC will move to a permanent facility in Lincoln Plaza this spring).
In addition to prenatal and obstetrics services, CHC providers will offer primary care services, including addressing multiple health challenges, chronic and long-term disease care, diabetes and heart disease issues, treatment and care of injuries.
The following providers are joining the CHC team: Amanda Bowman, FNP, Caroline Browne, MD, Lori Day, FNP, Kristi Nissley, FNP, and Trisha Spoonmore, FNP.
To establish care with a, patients may contact a local office:
IU Health: 812-278-8800
IHC: 812-652-1700
CHC: 812-675-4470