Carol Johnson, Southern Indiana Business Report
BEDFORD – A “massive change” upended the health care landscape in Lawrence County when Ascension St. Vincent Dunn Hospital closed at the end of 2022.
The hospital’s obstetrics unit delivered more than 200 babies a year. The loss of OB, primary care and other health services was a serious concern that reverberated across the county.
Before the hospital closed its doors, three health care organizations were already collaborating to find a solution that would keep patients and providers in Lawrence County. Southern Indiana Community Health Care, Indiana Health Centers and IU Bedford Hospital came together to find a solution and how to best create a new medical home for the 10,000 patients served by Dunn Hospital.
On Tuesday, community and health care leaders celebrated the Southern Indiana Community Health Care’s new facility in Lincoln Plaza. Located in what was originally a retail pharmacy, SICHC offers primary and obstetrics care. The clinic covers 7,820 square feet, almost double its initial and temporary location on Q Street.
The closure of Dunn threatened to impact both economic and workforce development in the region with the loss of OB and accessible primary care services.
“It was a disruptive time, but the community is grateful for the collaborative efforts of Southern Indiana Community Health Care, IU Health, and Indiana Health Centers to preserve accessible healthcare in Bedford,” said Mayor Sam Craig at the ribbon cutting.
“The alternative could have been a challenging one for our community, as the availability of quality healthcare represents a critical service to the community that attracts and helps retain critical workforce,” said Shance Sizemore, CEO of the Lawrence County Growth Council. “We at the Bedford Chamber and the Growth Council applaud the three healthcare groups for stepping up and working together to sustain healthcare services.”
Nancy Radcliff, SICHC CEO, said the challenges were overcome by a willingness for health care organizations to work together.
“The first thing I did was contact Larry Bailey because I knew SICHC couldn’t do it alone,” Radcliff said.
Radcliff had a strong working relationship with Bailey, who previously was president of IU Health Paoli Hospital. SICHC has its roots in Orange County.
Over many months of weekly meetings with healthcare and community leaders, a vision emerged.
“It was an exciting but challenging time,” recalled Radcliff. “Our staff at SICHC worked tirelessly to confidentially process the records and patient needs of some 4,000 patients in Lawrence County in a very short period of time.”
The collaboration across multiple agencies that made the new facility possible was celebrated as much as the facility itself.
“The closing of Dunn Hospital brought a big change in the healthcare landscape for Lawrence County, but we have collaboratively sustained a great support system to care for our neighbors, friends, family, and community,” said Bailey.
Access to care important for economic development
Sizemore noted the importance of access to healthcare in Lawrence County as NSWC Crane and NSA Crane are accelerating work in hypersonics and microelectronics.
“Hundreds of new jobs will be created over time as part of these plans. NSWC Crane and the companies that serve the national laboratory will need to attract new professionals, together with their families, to the region to take on these jobs,” Sizemore said. “We anticipate capturing opportunities as NSWC Crane and our many companies and organizations continue to grow.
“And one of the key elements in continuing to make Bedford and the region attractive is the availability and accessibility of high-quality healthcare. That goes for people who already live here, and the people – and their families – who will come here to live in the future. So as one engaged in economic and workforce development, I appreciate and understand the importance of having quality healthcare, including family care and obstetrics to support healthy young families.”
Radcliff said the Lincoln Plaza location is an ideal healthcare setting. The clinic’s neighbors are Hope Resource Center, which provides free ultrasounds, pregnancy testing and parenting resources, and Engleking Pharmacy.
The SICHC CEO noted that Bedford providers were able to retain the services of several former Ascension healthcare professionals, thus helping maintain a high quality of continuity of care. About the same time SICHC opened its first clinic in Bedford, the nearly 50-year-old medical group also expanded into Mitchell in Lawrence County.
“We were grateful to bring Dr. Carrie Browne and nurse practitioners Amanda Bowman, Lori Day, Kristi Nissley, and Tricia Spoonmore from Ascension to join SICHC in Bedford and Mitchell,” said Radcliff. “We have since been able to bring on additional professionals in Bedford and the region, including Dr. Nancy Sterling.”
Also on hand to make remarks was Ann Lundy, CEO of Indiana Health Centers. IHC operates 10 health care centers across the state. The county’s Women Infant Child (WIC) program was transferred from Ascension St. Vincent to IHC and the IHC Bedford clinic on Mitchell Road was recently refurbished to expand integrated primary care services.