Lutheran Kosciusko Hospital Has Groundbreaking For Renovations & Expansion
April 19, 2023 at 2:45 a.m.
Lutheran Kosciusko Hospital Has Groundbreaking For Renovations & Expansion
By David [email protected]
A renovation and expansion groundbreaking ceremony was held Tuesday at the Warsaw hospital in front of the main entrance.
In his opening remarks, LKH Board of Directors Chair Alan Alderfer said, “Today, we are gathered to mark an important milestone in the history of healthcare in our community.”
After recognizing local officials, and an invocation by Dr. John Teevan, Grace College, Alderfer continued, “As the area’s only full-service hospital since 1976, we’re proud of Lutheran Kosciusko, what it means to our community. Because of our advanced heart and vascular, cancer and surgical programs, patients don’t have to leave our community for service. In fact, more than 1,000 patients have benefitted from having minimally evasive surgery - robotic surgery - performed by Dr. Illada and (Corey) Graham.”
This year, he said, LKH celebrated its 15th year as the county’s only accredited chest and pain center.
“We continue to invest in our services, as well as expand access across the region with urgent care services, primary care and specialist offices,” Alderfer said. “In the last decade, we’ve added dozens of new providers and invested capital in these capital projects locally.”
Given all that LKH has accomplished, grown and expanded their services, he said, “We meet the needs of our community. We are continuing this momentum.”
Lynn Mergen, CEO of LKH, began his comments by introducing his senior leadership team and thanking the Walsh Construction Team as well as MKM Architecture & Design.
“I’m proud that we’ve have come together today to celebrate the start of the expansion and renovation to Lutheran Kosciusko Hospital. We’ve already completed a refresh of all patient rooms, public spaces and nurses stations on the medical, surgical and intensive care units. But more improvements are on the way,” Mergen stated.
He said the enhancements will be many, with the biggest impact being with surgical services. New pre- and post-surgical bays will be larger and allow for better patient privacy and more room for family members. A new surgical recovery area will be “optimally sized” and provide for greater efficiencies for the teams caring for the patients, he said. An existing operating room will be renovated and enlarged, allowing surgeons to perform more complex surgeries.
The area where equipment is sterilized is being updated with new technology, which was important for the surgical program to expand, Mergen said.
“We are also focusing on the patient experience,” he said.
The front lobby will be enlarged and redesigned to make the space more friendly and welcoming. To help patients get around the campus, the parking lot will be expanded and resurfaced, adding new exterior signage with “greatly improved” patient wayfinding, he stated.
“Lutheran Health Network is committed to the residents of Kosciusko County and the surrounding areas,” Mergen said. “All of the improvements represent an investment of $30 million for the health of our community. I couldn’t be more proud of our physicians, our talented local leadership team, as well as Alan and the rest of the members of the board. I want to thank them all. I know they will make sure the Lutheran Kosciusko Hospital continues to bring value to this community through the excellent care we provide.”
Warsaw Mayor Joe Thallemer said Kosciusko Community Hospital opened its doors on June 1, 1976, to treat patients “on this very land, donated by eight local physicians. KCH was built by members and resources from this community. And over the last 47 years, it has been operated and staffed by local committed professionals, mostly from this community. The impact on our quality of life has been immeasurable.”
He said they have seen KCH - now LKH - continue to honor their commitment to the well-being of local citizens and the betterment of the community.
“For the 47 years these doors have been open, this hospital has provided the birthplace of so many of our family members and friends in this growing community, right over my shoulder there,” Thallemer said. “The commitment to grow and add medical services over the years has broadened local access to care that keeps families close when the time is of great importance. When the need for hospital care becomes a necessity, newer, modern facilities more confidently welcome patients. That investment in facilities is what we celebrate today.”
He continued, “On behalf of the Warsaw community, we are most appreciative of Lutheran Kosciusko Hospital’s continued commitment to serve the needs of our growing community.”
Kosciusko Chamber of Commerce President and CEO Rob Parker said the mission of the Chamber is to be the voice for its members to stimulate healthy and diverse growth in the community. LKH’s mission is to be steadfast in their pursuit to help residents get well and live healthier lives.
“So we both want healthier businesses and individuals in our community, and that’s what we go every day to work for. And, because of that, our missions are aligned and we want to provide those healthy outcomes,” Parker said. “I would say that both of us would also agree that a community in decline is the antithesis of what we want. So we’re so thankful that there’s growth happening because it does keep our individuals local and makes our quality of life better. Those communities that don’t have the growth that we have, they see a decline in their quality of living and their quality of life.”
He said the renovations and expansion were great examples of the dedication and commitment to Warsaw and Kosciusko County.
Alan Tio, CEO of Kosciusko Economic Development Corporation (KEDCO), said the expansion illustrates the role of the hospital “at the front door of our community.” The presence of quality healthcare is a key factor in determining where business leaders consider where to grow and start their businesses, he said, as well as a key factor in where individuals are choosing to live.
“This hospital has long been focused on providing specialized services on-site, right on this campus, which directly contributes to the brand promise we have when we say you can find your way in Kosciusko County,” Tio said.
Dr. Patrick Ilada, LKH medical staff president, stated that he has spent most of his medical career here. As the current medical staff president, he said he’s always been appreciative of how committed the organization is to meeting the needs of the patients and the community.
“I am especially excited about the improvements that are planned here, that this project will bring to our surgical program, which is already very, very strong,” Ilada said.
With the added space and technology, he said they will only continue to grow and improve, which is something “you can’t find in a small town or anywhere else.”
The medical staff is very grateful to work with the compassionate nurses, therapists and all the teams that support the patients’ care, he said. “We could not do anything without them,” he said, and then thanked the hospital administration, network and board for making the significant investments in the health and well-being of the patients and community.”
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A renovation and expansion groundbreaking ceremony was held Tuesday at the Warsaw hospital in front of the main entrance.
In his opening remarks, LKH Board of Directors Chair Alan Alderfer said, “Today, we are gathered to mark an important milestone in the history of healthcare in our community.”
After recognizing local officials, and an invocation by Dr. John Teevan, Grace College, Alderfer continued, “As the area’s only full-service hospital since 1976, we’re proud of Lutheran Kosciusko, what it means to our community. Because of our advanced heart and vascular, cancer and surgical programs, patients don’t have to leave our community for service. In fact, more than 1,000 patients have benefitted from having minimally evasive surgery - robotic surgery - performed by Dr. Illada and (Corey) Graham.”
This year, he said, LKH celebrated its 15th year as the county’s only accredited chest and pain center.
“We continue to invest in our services, as well as expand access across the region with urgent care services, primary care and specialist offices,” Alderfer said. “In the last decade, we’ve added dozens of new providers and invested capital in these capital projects locally.”
Given all that LKH has accomplished, grown and expanded their services, he said, “We meet the needs of our community. We are continuing this momentum.”
Lynn Mergen, CEO of LKH, began his comments by introducing his senior leadership team and thanking the Walsh Construction Team as well as MKM Architecture & Design.
“I’m proud that we’ve have come together today to celebrate the start of the expansion and renovation to Lutheran Kosciusko Hospital. We’ve already completed a refresh of all patient rooms, public spaces and nurses stations on the medical, surgical and intensive care units. But more improvements are on the way,” Mergen stated.
He said the enhancements will be many, with the biggest impact being with surgical services. New pre- and post-surgical bays will be larger and allow for better patient privacy and more room for family members. A new surgical recovery area will be “optimally sized” and provide for greater efficiencies for the teams caring for the patients, he said. An existing operating room will be renovated and enlarged, allowing surgeons to perform more complex surgeries.
The area where equipment is sterilized is being updated with new technology, which was important for the surgical program to expand, Mergen said.
“We are also focusing on the patient experience,” he said.
The front lobby will be enlarged and redesigned to make the space more friendly and welcoming. To help patients get around the campus, the parking lot will be expanded and resurfaced, adding new exterior signage with “greatly improved” patient wayfinding, he stated.
“Lutheran Health Network is committed to the residents of Kosciusko County and the surrounding areas,” Mergen said. “All of the improvements represent an investment of $30 million for the health of our community. I couldn’t be more proud of our physicians, our talented local leadership team, as well as Alan and the rest of the members of the board. I want to thank them all. I know they will make sure the Lutheran Kosciusko Hospital continues to bring value to this community through the excellent care we provide.”
Warsaw Mayor Joe Thallemer said Kosciusko Community Hospital opened its doors on June 1, 1976, to treat patients “on this very land, donated by eight local physicians. KCH was built by members and resources from this community. And over the last 47 years, it has been operated and staffed by local committed professionals, mostly from this community. The impact on our quality of life has been immeasurable.”
He said they have seen KCH - now LKH - continue to honor their commitment to the well-being of local citizens and the betterment of the community.
“For the 47 years these doors have been open, this hospital has provided the birthplace of so many of our family members and friends in this growing community, right over my shoulder there,” Thallemer said. “The commitment to grow and add medical services over the years has broadened local access to care that keeps families close when the time is of great importance. When the need for hospital care becomes a necessity, newer, modern facilities more confidently welcome patients. That investment in facilities is what we celebrate today.”
He continued, “On behalf of the Warsaw community, we are most appreciative of Lutheran Kosciusko Hospital’s continued commitment to serve the needs of our growing community.”
Kosciusko Chamber of Commerce President and CEO Rob Parker said the mission of the Chamber is to be the voice for its members to stimulate healthy and diverse growth in the community. LKH’s mission is to be steadfast in their pursuit to help residents get well and live healthier lives.
“So we both want healthier businesses and individuals in our community, and that’s what we go every day to work for. And, because of that, our missions are aligned and we want to provide those healthy outcomes,” Parker said. “I would say that both of us would also agree that a community in decline is the antithesis of what we want. So we’re so thankful that there’s growth happening because it does keep our individuals local and makes our quality of life better. Those communities that don’t have the growth that we have, they see a decline in their quality of living and their quality of life.”
He said the renovations and expansion were great examples of the dedication and commitment to Warsaw and Kosciusko County.
Alan Tio, CEO of Kosciusko Economic Development Corporation (KEDCO), said the expansion illustrates the role of the hospital “at the front door of our community.” The presence of quality healthcare is a key factor in determining where business leaders consider where to grow and start their businesses, he said, as well as a key factor in where individuals are choosing to live.
“This hospital has long been focused on providing specialized services on-site, right on this campus, which directly contributes to the brand promise we have when we say you can find your way in Kosciusko County,” Tio said.
Dr. Patrick Ilada, LKH medical staff president, stated that he has spent most of his medical career here. As the current medical staff president, he said he’s always been appreciative of how committed the organization is to meeting the needs of the patients and the community.
“I am especially excited about the improvements that are planned here, that this project will bring to our surgical program, which is already very, very strong,” Ilada said.
With the added space and technology, he said they will only continue to grow and improve, which is something “you can’t find in a small town or anywhere else.”
The medical staff is very grateful to work with the compassionate nurses, therapists and all the teams that support the patients’ care, he said. “We could not do anything without them,” he said, and then thanked the hospital administration, network and board for making the significant investments in the health and well-being of the patients and community.”
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