New Emergency Center from Franciscan Alliance Opens to the Public

Franciscan Alliance St. Anthony Health-Chesterton Health Center celebrated an innovation in health and emergency care with its open house for the public on March 11, 2012.

With the opening of the new emergency facility in Chesterton, Brenda Rogers, Director of Emergency Services said, “It is exciting to see the turnout today and the people have been saying ‘We’ve been waiting for this for a long time.’ We couldn’t have asked for a more beautiful day. The weather was perfect and everything just came together. The people are impressed with the dynamics of the building. We have so much to offer, on-site lab, diagnostic imagining and more. I can’t wait until March 19.”

Tom Bettenhausen, Operations Manager and Strike Team Leader of IDHS (Indiana Department of Homeland Security) District 1 said, “We will be manning this emergency facility 24 hours a day and also supplying additional ambulance service, along with Air Med. 1, a helicopter for critically injured and sick transports. Minutes matter and we can fly the patients out so people can get much needed medical care at a Level 1 trauma center.”

Walter Dobinson, Flight Paramedic for Air Med 1 said, “It is always a positive thing when we can get people care much faster than going by ground. Each flight will be manned by a pilot, a paramedic and a nurse to ensure the best care.”

There were long lines of people waiting to view and tour the new emergency center. Helping with the tour was Nora McKee, RN. McKee said, “It is exciting to have a new facility and more exciting to be able to offer this to the community, because that’s what we are here for.”

Martha Rimsky, an 88 year old resident from South Haven said, “This gives me assurance. You don’t want to have to go to the hospital, but it’s nice to know this is here if you need it.”

Invited by Franciscan Alliance to meet and greet the crowds was none other than 1985 Chicago Bears Super Bowl Champion and Hall of Famer Dan Hampton. Hampton met excited Chesterton students R.J. Keane, a 5th grader at Westchester Intermediate School, and his brother Mathew Keane, a 1st grader at Bailly Elementary. They thought it was really cool to meet him.

Also excited to meet the Bears’ Dan Hampton was George Frombach, 81, a Bears ticket holder from the 1950’s - 1970’s. He was excited to meet a Chicago Bears player for the first time. Along with George were his wife Patsy and his daughter Caroline Ward. Caroline said, “After all these years I am so happy my dad finally go to meet a Bears player.” She continued, “I am glad we have this new emergency facility here in Chesterton. Having an emergency facility this close to town is critical.”

The new Franciscan Alliance St. Anthony Health-Chesterton Health Center is located just off Indian Boundary Road in Chesterton just south Highway 94 and east of Highway 49.

Click here for more photos of the open house!