Community Hospital was founded on August 6, 1956, at the corner of 16th Street and Ritter Avenue on the east side of Indianapolis. The hospital was the result of a massive fund-raising effort started out by volunteers who envisioned a hospital closer to the booming east side, instead of driving all the way downtown for health care. Volunteers began a house-to-house campaign, collecting loose pocket change. Soon funds poured in from businesses and civic organizations. The name "Community Hospital" was chosen by leaders because of the massive involvement of the neighbors and community of the east side to help build the hospital. Ground was broken in 1954 at a site donated by farmer Edward F. Gallahue. The ground-breaking ceremony was attended by then Vice President Richard Nixon. When opened, the $5 million hospital came complete with the novelty of air conditioning, piped in oxygen and had 300 beds and 111 employees. W.C. McLin guided the opening of Community Hospital as its first administrator. It wasn't long before the need for more space became apparent. In 1964, "The Towers" were opened. The building's radial design - with two circular towers allowing central nursing stations to observe patients at all times was one of the first of its kind in the nation. Throughout the next few years, Community underwent many expansions and upgrades, including the opening of psychiatric inpatient units, a coronary care unit, and specialized services including ambulatory care and a cardiac catheterization lab. In 1972, Allen Hicks was chosen to lead Community following the death of W.C. McLin in 1971. In 1974, Building 3 opened at Community, dedicated to W.C. McLin, adding 250 more beds. More additions included the Hook Rehabilitation Center, Gallahue Mental Health Center, pain and cancer centers, plus new surgery suites and education facilities. In 1981, a new laboratory opened, along with a medical office building. Community, at this time, was the second largest hospital in the city of Indianapolis with approximately 800 beds, and was considered one of the leading health-care facilities in the state. William E. Corley arrived at Community in 1985 as the CEO after Allen Hicks left in 1983. A new satellite hospital for Community was planned in 1982 on the north side of Indianapolis. What is now Community Hospital North opened in 1985 and has far out-grown its satellite status. Community Hospital was subsequently renamed Community Hospital East. The Same-Day Surgery Center opened at Community East in 1988 and a new main lobby, entrance and professional building opened in 1991. Community East marked the birth of its 100,000 baby in 1993. In 1996, Community East adopted the Family Rooms concept in the maternity unit. The unit features LDRP - labor, delivery, recovery, postpartum - rooms, allowing mothers and babies to remain in the same room throughout their stay. The Indiana Surgery Center opened on the Community East campus in 1999 and is part of the Community Health Network. It is an outpatient surgery center formed through the partnerships of a group of surgeons. In 2004, Community East opened the Center for Interventional Radiology, one of the first centers of its kind in the country and the only one in the Midwest. The hospital celebrated the opening of The Community Regional Cancer Care Radiation Oncology Treatment Center, a $7-million addition, in March 2007. In November 2007, Community East opened a medical oncology center. The Center for Joint Health, a specialized unit for joint replacement surgery patients, opened in July 2008. Community East celebrated its 50th anniversary in August 2006. On August 19, 2015, Community Hospital East, broke ground on a brand new Hospital. This $175 million investment is a new commitment to the neighborhood. The Project is expected to be completed in April 2020.
Current status
Community East is currently led by Robin Ledyard, M.D., who assumed her new role as president on August 31, 2009. She replaced Anita Harden, who retired in November 2008, and Steve Hultgren who had served as interim president after Harden's retirement. Bryan Mills is the president and CEO of the parent Community Health Network.
