November 3rd, 2011 3:52 pm
The Franciscan St. Francis Health's hospital at Beech Grove is set to be closed in March, 2012 but the administration of the hospital want the ownership to change so that the building doesn't stay empty.
The Franciscan St. Francis will be shifting all of its in-patient department to its South Indianapolis campus at Stop 11 and Emerson Avenue which is larger and has more modern facilities.
The staff has vowed last week that even if a new owner is not found soon the Franciscan hospital building will be maintained and made to fit into the community instead of falling into neglect. The officials are looking for a real estate agent in the coming months to find a new owner and purpose for the Franciscan hospital.
The St. Francis-Beech Grove hospital was opened in 1914 and it was the first hospital by the Franciscan religious order. More than the history associated with the building the migration of jobs due to the shift will affect the local populace. The hospital currently employs around 2000 people, many of whom may have to shift, but the officials say that the outpatient services shall continue to be at Beech Grove with around 300 employees.
The future of the building depends on the buyer who might use the existing facilities or decide to build a new one.