KCH Marks 30th Anniversary

July 28, 2016 at 4:25 p.m.

By TERESA SMITH, Times-Union Staff Writer-

Jerry Beasley started as Kosciusko Community Hospital's chief executive officer a couple of weeks ago.

So the first thing he does is throw a party.

"This kind of sets the stage for things to come, doesn't it?" he said with a grin.

Actually, Wednesday's celebration was a long-planned event to mark the hospital's 30th anniversary.

Visitors to the tent on the grounds were greeted with mounds of fruits and vegetables, pounds of cooked hot dogs and bratwurst, giant pretzels and drinks served by staffers.

In the hospital foyer, skin, osteoporosis, blood pressure and body fat screenings were available.

Approximately 700 people were served between 4 and 7 p.m.

Since KCH's 25th anniversary, when the women's and birthing center officially opened, the Cancer Care Center, Beyer Medical Buildings and an emergency care center have been added to the campus.

Joan Darr, chief operating officer, has seen it all. She began working at the hospital a little more than 30 years ago, when it was still county-owned. Her first job was as administrative supervisor.

"Then we had 113 beds, now we have 70 because outpatient services have grown, that's the biggest change in 30 years," Darr said.

Beasley said he was thrilled with the turnout as people kept streaming to the tent.

He was CEO at St. Joseph's Hospital in Fort Wayne for five years and chief operations officer at Lutheran Hospital for nine years.

He and his wife plan a move to the Warsaw area soon.

Dr. John Davis is chairman of KCH's board of directors. After 12 surgeries in the facility he feels a gurney named in his honor is appropriate.

Despite the exaggerated surgical accounts Davis describes to readers in his weekly "Outdoor Scene" column in the Times-Union, Davis praises modern medical technology.

"In the last 10 to 12 years the hospital has invested in quality equipment. The doctors feel good about it and it breeds confidence in the patients.

"We've changed staffing, the registration process and other things that would have caused a person anxiety.

"We're providing outpatient services that make medical sense and is efficient. The growth in outpatient services is quite phenomenal," Davis said.

KCH's new emergency care center room is on the southwest side of the main building. The 24,800-square-foot addition includes 12,400 square feet of space for future expansion.

The ECC features 18 specialized care rooms, two entrances and a lobby area with private registration. It opened last year.

The hospital campus is at 2101 East DuBois Drive, Warsaw. [[In-content Ad]]

Jerry Beasley started as Kosciusko Community Hospital's chief executive officer a couple of weeks ago.

So the first thing he does is throw a party.

"This kind of sets the stage for things to come, doesn't it?" he said with a grin.

Actually, Wednesday's celebration was a long-planned event to mark the hospital's 30th anniversary.

Visitors to the tent on the grounds were greeted with mounds of fruits and vegetables, pounds of cooked hot dogs and bratwurst, giant pretzels and drinks served by staffers.

In the hospital foyer, skin, osteoporosis, blood pressure and body fat screenings were available.

Approximately 700 people were served between 4 and 7 p.m.

Since KCH's 25th anniversary, when the women's and birthing center officially opened, the Cancer Care Center, Beyer Medical Buildings and an emergency care center have been added to the campus.

Joan Darr, chief operating officer, has seen it all. She began working at the hospital a little more than 30 years ago, when it was still county-owned. Her first job was as administrative supervisor.

"Then we had 113 beds, now we have 70 because outpatient services have grown, that's the biggest change in 30 years," Darr said.

Beasley said he was thrilled with the turnout as people kept streaming to the tent.

He was CEO at St. Joseph's Hospital in Fort Wayne for five years and chief operations officer at Lutheran Hospital for nine years.

He and his wife plan a move to the Warsaw area soon.

Dr. John Davis is chairman of KCH's board of directors. After 12 surgeries in the facility he feels a gurney named in his honor is appropriate.

Despite the exaggerated surgical accounts Davis describes to readers in his weekly "Outdoor Scene" column in the Times-Union, Davis praises modern medical technology.

"In the last 10 to 12 years the hospital has invested in quality equipment. The doctors feel good about it and it breeds confidence in the patients.

"We've changed staffing, the registration process and other things that would have caused a person anxiety.

"We're providing outpatient services that make medical sense and is efficient. The growth in outpatient services is quite phenomenal," Davis said.

KCH's new emergency care center room is on the southwest side of the main building. The 24,800-square-foot addition includes 12,400 square feet of space for future expansion.

The ECC features 18 specialized care rooms, two entrances and a lobby area with private registration. It opened last year.

The hospital campus is at 2101 East DuBois Drive, Warsaw. [[In-content Ad]]

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