New hospital to open at 6 a.m. Wednesday
By Joseph Slacian
WABASH, Ind. – Less than 24 hours before the doors of the new Parkview Wabash Hospital officially opens, a ribbon cutting ceremony took place at the main entrance of the new facility.
Officials from the Parkview, the City of Wabash and Hagerman Construction were on hand for the ceremony, which was witnessed by a few dozen Parkview Wabash employees.
“This is so fun,” Mike Packnett, Parkview Health president and CEO, said, “to go from vision to reality.”
Packnett credited Parkview Wabash President Marilyn Custer-Mitchell for overseeing the project over the last two years, saying “every project like this takes a great leader.”
The current facility has been located at 710 N. East St. for nearly 97 years.
“When we build these facilities, we’re thinking 50-plus years out,” Packnett continued. “To be able to have this new tool to be able to serve our patients and families in the best possible way, it just gives me a lot of pride. I know you all have a lot of pride as well. I couldn’t be more proud of you.”
An emotional Custer-Mitchell praised those staff members who helped the project along the way.
“What I’m proud of is you,” she said, pointing to the staffers standing nearby. “Our leadership team has worked so hard and we’ve done so much planning, and we’ve done so much work. Tomorrow is going to be a great day.”
Mayor Scott Long and Keith Gillenwater, President and CEO of Grow Wabash County, also spoke at the ceremony.
“Everyone in the community that’s gone through this facility on the tours have been very complimentary,” Long said. “It’s beautiful. It’s an asset to our community.”
Gillenwater said, “I know it’s been long journey for all of you. It took every one of your assistance and volunteering to get this up and going. On behalf of the community, I would like to say thank you.”
Custer-Mitchell and Adam Whitmer, project manager for Hagerman, later told The Paper of Wabash County that they were excited and anxious for the opening of the new building.
The excitement, they said, stems from the opening of the facility. But they also are anxious and hope the transition goes smoothly.
The current facility is slated to close at 6 a.m. Wednesday, and at the same time the new facility, at 10 John Kissinger Drive, officially opens. Patients will be transported from the old facility to the new facility at that time, and the emergency department at the new site will open.
“We’ve got really detailed plans in place,” Custer-Mitchell said. “We’re looking forward to moving patients in. I’m a little anxious about what might go wrong, because something might. But we’ve got contingency plans.”
Whitmer echoed Custer-Mitchell’s comments.
“We want to make sure nothing goes wrong tomorrow,” he said. “We’re going to be here to support the staff. It’s been a long two years. We’re just as excited as the staff is.”