For 150 years, Wishard has served the Indianapolis community in a broad, unique capacity.

The hospital’s path was forever changed in 2009, when the voters of Marion County overwhelmingly approved a future for your public hospital.

On Nov. 3, 2009, Indianapolis Mayor Gregory A. Ballard made the historic announcement that the people of Marion County had overwhelmingly approved construction of replacement facilities for Wishard.

Timeline

Milestones that helped shape the health care landscape and communities of central Indiana include:

2009:
Overwhelming Marion County voter approval in election to build a new Wishard.
Officials sign land exchange agreement with IUPUI.
Asbestos remediation and interior demolition begins on vacant structures at new site.
First construction bid package released.
Minority-, women- and veteran-owned business workshop and contractor meeting held.
Project Prescription for Hope, a violence recidivism reduction initiative funded by Mayor Ballard’s Crime Prevention Grant, launched by IU/Wishard Adult Level 1 Trauma Center.
Mental health services added to all Community Health Centers.
First Emergency Medical Services (EMS) to use electronic medical records in the field.

2008:
Senior Care’s Healthy Aging Brain Center established.
Wishard Medical Legal Partnership created, the first medical-legal partnership in Indiana.

2007:
New Pediatrics Unit opened at Wishard.

2005:
Independence Square, an innovative new rehabilitation center, opened at Wishard.

2004:
Pecar Health Center opened, joining seven other community health centers.

2003:
The state-of-the-art Richard M. Fairbanks Burn Center at Wishard opened, and replaced the original burn unit.

2002:
Psychiatric Emergency Services Unit opened as only unit in the state.

2000:
IU Surgical Weight Management Center launched.
New Integrative Pain Center opened.

1999:
The IU National Center of Excellence in Women’s Health opened at Wishard.
Newly renovated Family Beginnings Center opened.
New Palliative Care Program launched.
New Urgent Visit Center opened.

1998:
Health Connection – a 24/7 nursing telephone triage system – begins operation.
New Intensive Care Unit opened.
Acute Care for Elders Unit established.

1997:
Wishard Advantage program begins to serve needy residents of Marion County.
Senior Care at Wishard launched.

1996:
IU School of Medicine and Health and Hospital Corporation form a primary care corporation to manage Eskenazi Health’s primary care practices known as IU Medical Group – Primary Care.

1995:
Wishard named one of the top 100 hospitals in the country for third consecutive year by HCIA, Inc./Mercer Consulting.

1992:
The American College of Surgeons verified the trauma center at Wishard as the first Adult Level I Trauma Center in Indiana.

1975:
General Hospital renamed Wishard Memorial Hospital.

1969:
General Hospital designated by the Indiana State Board of Health to be a major trauma center for Indiana.
Midtown Community Mental Health Center opened at General Hospital.

1968:
New seven-story Myers Building dedicated.

1961:
First cancer laboratory in Indiana opened at General Hospital.

1951:
General Assembly enacted statute creating the Health and Hospital Corporation of Marion County.

1947:
City Hospital renamed Indianapolis General Hospital.

1943:
Two-way radios installed in City Hospital ambulances. This was the first hospital in the nation to use this type of radio to coordinate ambulance dispatch. First class of African-American nurses graduated from City Hospital’s diploma nursing school.

1935:
First iron lung in the state of Indiana installed at City Hospital.

1918:
Social Service Department established to help with social needs of patients.

1914:
Wishard constructed two four-story isolation units, known as the Burdsal Units.
St. Margaret’s Hospital Guild hired several Indiana artists including T.C. Steele to paint murals throughout the hospital.

1909:
Indiana University School of Medicine at Indianapolis opened, beginning long teaching affiliation with the hospital.

1887:
First City Hospital ambulances begin carrying sick and injured patients.

1885:
Flower Mission Training School for Nurses graduated its first class of five nursing students.

1866:
City Hospital operated as a charity institution supported by Indianapolis taxpayers.

1859:
City Hospital opened, first to treat victims of the smallpox epidemic, then as a military hospital. An estimated 13,000 sick and wounded soldiers were treated in the five-year period ending in 1865.