Clarian resumes construction on Fishers site

Daniel Lee

Nov. 2, 2009 (McClatchy-Tribune Regional News delivered by Newstex) -- Indianapolis-based hospital system Clarian Health on Friday announced it has restarted construction work on its planned $190 million hospital in Fishers.

Work was stopped in February on the Clarian Saxony Medical Center, just off exit 10 of I-69, because of the economic slowdown. The hospital is expected to be completed in 2011. Work first began on the project in July 2008.

It is the second time in as many months that a regional hospital system has resumed work on a major project. St. Francis Hospital and Health Centers, citing signs of an economic rebound, said last month it had resumed work on a $265 million expansion of its Far-Southside campus.

Plans for the Clarian Saxony Medical Center include a 44-bed, 200,000-square-foot hospital and a 100,000-square-foot medical office building.

Tighter credit markets, investment losses and an increase in charity care have put a greater strain on hospital finances over the past year. As a result, many hospitals across the nation have scaled back or halted construction work amid the downturn.

Some projects remain idled.

Clarian spokesman Gene Ford said work has not yet been restarted on the $475 million Simon Family Tower at Riley Hospital for Children.

Newstex ID: KRTB-0095-39412077