A non-profit, service-driven healthcare system, Franciscan Health needed to consolidate multiple oversized and outdated hospitals they had acquired. We were charged with helping them maintain their values and unwavering commitment to providing healthcare services to the residents of northwest Indiana, while developing a fiscally prudent and future-ready strategy for their system.

Our multi-disciplinary team, including data and demographic analysists, operational and financial strategists and clinicians, analyzed their current space utilization, as well as demographics and market trends to help the client develop a “right-sized” regional medical center campus. This included using facilities for their highest and best use, such as downsizing or closing existing hospitals. Services and operations were consolidated in two phases onto the newest and most centrally located campus in Munster, which will be renovated and expanded to absorb the patient volumes and services relocated from the other facilities.

Innovation

Our team developed a thoughtful and performance-driven phasing approach for consolidating three limited and strained acute care community hospital campuses into one regional provider for the community.

By strategically consolidating three facilities over two phases, we provided the community with transition time to adjust to the new care delivery offerings. The strategy incorporated market assumptions, clinical program enhancement, campus parcel visioning and operational insights into a robust roadmap that magnifies the Franciscan brand and assets within the Hammond Munster Dyer market.

Impact

Community-Based Healthcare Strategic Planning: Knowing the consolidation of healthcare services and facilities can often resonate deeply with community members, NBBJ and Franciscan articulated and developed the consolidation in a way that enhances the clinical services as well as the work experience.

The consolidated campus, sitting in the center of the Franciscan market and within a 20-minute drive of the previous acute care campuses, will achieve a balance of consolidating market volumes to enhance clinical services and maintaining a ‘close to home’ location.