HAMMOND â Generations of Region residents have been born, died, been treated and worked at Franciscan Health Hammond hospital, the nine-story medical facility that long has loomed large over downtown Hammond.
But the 800,000-square-foot hospital has itself passed through the cycle of life. Mishawaka-based Franciscan Health has decided that in August it will significantly downsize and demolish older parts of the 226-bed hospital, which will be reduced to an 85,000-square-foot acute care hospital, emergency department and primary care location with just eight beds for overnight stays.
For many people the announcement was personal. My son was born there, Pat Wisniewski said. It would be a significant loss to the community if it leaves Hammond.