Community Hospital to Open New Emergency Entrances

The Community Hospital in Munster, Ind., will temporarily move its drive-in emergency entrance as it closes a portion of MacArthur Boulevard in conjunction with the construction of a same-day surgery center and medical office complex.

The hospital's newest addition is being built at the site of the present emergency drive-in entrance. A temporary entrance will serve the hospital until a permanent ramp is completed and MacArthur Boulevard is reopened in late summer, 1999.

Construction of a new same-day surgery center and medical office complex will force the closure of a portion of MacArthur Boulevard, a short street that services the hospital and physicians offices between Columbia and Calumet Avenue. The portion that will be closed extends just west of the hospital's main entrance on MacArthur and about 200 feet east of Calumet Avenue.

The temporary emergency drive-in entrance will be operational beginning August 17 as construction commences on the Community Surgery Center. This temporary entrance off MacArthur Boulevard will be located about 75 feet east of Calumet Avenue. The public is advised to enter the emergency drive-in entrance from Calumet Avenue. A second way to access this emergency drive-in entrance is off Fisher Street between Calumet and Columbia avenues.

The permanent emergency drive-in entrance will be accessed from MacArthur Boulevard, relocated just west of the new four-story surgery center and medical office complex.

Construction of the surgery center will also displace the hospital's helipad, which is used by medical helicopters to transfer patients with special needs to other facilities. A new helipad will be constructed on vacant land owned by the hospital along Calumet Avenue, south of the present helipad on MacArthur Boulevard.