Instead of building new facilities, why can other hospitals in Marion County care for Wishards patients?
This would prove to be a tremendous strain on the other local hospitals, both physically and financially. First, Wishard operates at 98 percent occupancy – even though a hospital is considered “full” at 80 percent. If Wishard closed, the surge in displaced patients would overflow other local emergency rooms, increase wait times for care and stress the entire local health care infrastructure. The closing of Wishard would also be a financial hardship for other hospitals. Wishard is a municipal hospital, and provides care for all Marion County residents – regardless of their ability to pay – the county prisoner population and the homeless. The county’s other private, non-profit hospitals are not mandated by the same responsibilities and don’t receive the same government support and incentives to help support this care. Why should individuals support a new Wishard? Replacement facilities aren’t something that would simply be nice to have; they’re absolutely essential to the viability and s
