“Wishard Hospital is Indianapolis’ emergency room, providing critical care to our community as one of only two adult Level I trauma centers in the State of Indiana and the region’s only adult burn center. These are just a few of the reasons I strongly support Wishard Hospital’s expansion.

 

“When I was Mayor of Indianapolis from 1968 through 1975, Wishard was our city’s health care safety net, and it has continued that dedication to Indianapolis by providing nearly $150 million in free care in 2008.

 

“As a teaching hospital, Wishard has a strong reputation of fostering hands-on medical education. This role will increase in importance as the Indiana University School of Medicine plans to add 84 students to each medical school class for many years to come. We can claim that our health care insurance policies entitle us to first-class care, but we will be sorely frustrated if there are not adequate doctors available to give that care.

 

“The training these medical students receive reinforces Wishard’s track record of providing the highest quality of care. Wishard continues to set the standard in the use of health information technology with electronic medical records and has created a health care network committed to efficiency and quality of health care services.

 

“For 150 years, Wishard has cared for and comforted us. It has been indispensible to the health of our community and Central Indiana.

 

“This is a make-or-break moment for health care in Indianapolis. We must step up and modernize Wishard so that more doctors, nurses, rooms, and high tech equipment can meet our health care needs. A vote for Wishard is a vote for the health of Indianapolis.”

 

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