The existence of downtown Bloomington’s hospital is under a mysterious threat for reasons no one seems to want to discuss with representatives of the community.
According to Mayor Kruzan, it is very likely that Clarion will relocate its IU Health Bloomington Hospital to 85 acres of land at North Park on Curry Pike. What could be the reasons for this? No one who knows wants to say.
It could be to expand the hospital as a regional facility, but the plan calls for fewer beds than exist at the current site. Martinsville and Bedford have hospitals for emergencies, and the most complicated procedures are referred to Indianapolis anyway.
It could be for an expanded facility, but the current hospital has plenty of room just to the east of its present location. It could be to make necessary renovations of utilities, but the proposed North Park location has no adequate sewage system. A completely new facility would cost at least $250 million, surely enough to renovate the utility pipelines at the present facility.
It surely cannot be to make medical services more accessible to citizens and students living within a few blocks of the present hospital. Those without cars would be disadvantaged, but perhaps IU Clarion doesn’t value low-income patients who might not be paying their bills. Because the governor’s new health plan will require co-payments, the sick poor may have to go to an emergency room for service.
The doctors and surgeons at IMA I’ve talked to don’t seem to need new facilities farther from their present location. Medical practices and clinics would have to relocate there at considerable expense.
I conclude there is one outspoken interest group that wants a new hospital–those who have invested in the real estate at North Park. A huge building in the center of our town would be abandoned, but who cares? All Bloomington patients might have to pay higher premiums and co-payments to finance these moves, but who cares? Would people who do care please identify themselves?
Clarion-IU owes us some truth.
