76 patients, including 63 NICU babies, transported by caravan of ambulances
More than 150 Ascension St. Vincent medical nurses, doctors and transport personnel successfully completed their biggest “delivery” ever on Saturday, January 18, 2025, as they moved 76 patients - including 63 tiny Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) babies - to the new Ascension St. Vincent Women and Infants Hospital. The “move-in day” event took 8 hours to transport all patients including mothers and infants three blocks from the hospital on Township Line Road to the new address, 2001 West 86th Street.
Images and video from the day can be downloaded here.
The move was celebrated by healthcare officials across central Indiana who see the new Women and Infants Hospital as a statewide asset and a broader system of healthcare that will improve the outcomes of the most vulnerable patients.
“Our new Women and Infants Hospital will play a key role in developing and sustaining partnerships with community hospitals across Indiana who rely on us to handle the most critical medical situations. The result will be lives saved,” stated Kevin Speer, Senior Vice President, Ascension and Chief Executive Officer, Ascension St. Vincent Indiana.
Once the patients were moved, they were immediately taken to their rooms in the new hospital that is connected to the Peyton Manning Children’s Hospital and the main Ascension St. Vincent Hospital. This connection ensures all medical needs will now be met under one roof. The new state-of-the-art, eight-story facility is 268,000 square feet and designed to provide the highest level of care for mothers and infants, especially those facing the most complex and critical conditions, all while keeping families together under one roof.
“Our project planners worked for more than a year to ensure a smooth transition to the new hospital, and I want to express my sincere gratitude to all who played a role in today’s successful move,” said Daniel Parod, President of the Ascension St. Vincent Central Region. “We are thrilled to open the doors to our new facility and to enhance the exceptional care that we offer the mothers and infants who rely on us during one of the most significant, and sometimes challenging, moments of their lives.”
The new hospital includes 109 private NICU rooms, designed to keep mothers and their babies together, even in cases requiring neonatal intensive care. The facility also offers:
- Six couplet care rooms, where both mother and baby can receive care in the same space, improving bonding and reducing stress for families.
- The largest Level IV NICU in Indiana, providing the highest level of care for newborns.
- Level IV maternal care, which is the highest level of care for moms.
- 30 state-of-the-art maternity suites, equipped with the latest technology to ensure safe, high-quality care for mothers and babies.
- Expanded maternal services, including lactation support and two laboring tubs for a more personalized birthing experience.
The facility will also offer one of the state’s largest pediatric emergency departments.
Funding for the new hospital came in part from Ascension St. Vincent Foundation’s Care for Tomorrow campaign, chaired by former Indianapolis Colts quarterback Peyton Manning, which led to donor contributions of more than $47 million to date.
A Statewide Resource
Steve Long, President and CEO of Hancock Health in Greenfield, applauded the move and looks forward to continuing the partnership with Ascension St. Vincent, which includes a variety of primary care and specialty care delivered in Greenfield.
“A few years ago, Hancock Health took this relationship to an even higher level by providing each baby born at Hancock Health specialized care from highly trained neonatal nurse practitioners from Ascension St. Vincent, practicing in the Andis Women’s Unit at Hancock Regional Hospital,” said Long. “For the small number of babies that need a more intensive level of care at 86th Street, a seamless transfer is provided, and when the baby no longer needs NICU care, but cannot yet go home, they complete their stay right back here in Greenfield, close to their family.”
Michelle Fenoughty, President and CEO of Hendricks Regional Health, is an OB/GYN doctor who has delivered thousands of babies. She believes healthcare is a naturally collaborative space because all hospitals are working toward one goal.
“I know firsthand that healthy pregnancies and safe arrivals happen through teamwork. When rare and complex situations arise, we at Hendricks have built a seamless process to transport families to the Women's Hospital (and now the new Women and Infants Hospital) and back again,” said Fenoughty. “This relationship with Ascension St. Vincent is a critical partnership we have to best care for our patients.”
