The Best in Patient Care
Pulaski Memorial Hospital Completes Clinic Expansion
Writer / Lois Tomaszewski
Photographer / Jubilee Edgell
The expansion of the Winamac Clinic at Pulaski Memorial Hospital (PMH) is complete, and the doors are open to improved medical care and expanded access to health-care providers for the Winamac community.
Since the PMH Medical and Surgical Group was founded, we have continuously been able to add world-class physicians and nurse practitioners to the group, said former hospital CEO Tom Barry in a press release from PMH in 2020. With that growth comes the need to expand.
The clinic has more than doubled in size, going from 10,240 square feet to 26,355.
Barry says the expansion is the largest building project PMH has undertaken since the hospital opened in 1963.
According to PMH officials, the Medical and Surgical Group has grown from one full-time physician, two part-time physicians and three nurse practitioners, to 23 providers, with patients at five clinic locations including Winamac, Francesville, Monterey, North Judson and Knox. Providers work in the medical specialties of family medicine, prenatal, pediatrics, general surgery and orthopedics.
Barry says the hospital team needed more space to see patients, with two new doctors starting in the summer of 2022. The new providers joining the clinic this summer are Dr. Mike Keller, MD, a family medicine physician, and Dr. Jennifer Biesiadecki, DO, a family medicine and womens health physician.
These arent the only changes at the clinic. Patients now have a more patient-friendly entryway into the clinic, as well as a brighter atmosphere with natural light in both the waiting room and in the 22 new exam rooms and three new procedure rooms. Brighter signage inside and outside also helps patients find their way around the clinic.
A central registration area makes it more convenient for patients to check in, and also makes the registration process more efficient. Sound dampening is installed to protect patient privacy, and providers are located by specialty to facilitate the collaboration process.
There are also modifications to better control potentially infectious viruses – a result of the COVID-19 pandemic. The facility features a negative air pressure room for each provider suite that restricts air flow into the rest of the clinic by venting air outside. Phase 2 includes the demolition of older exam rooms and the new construction of a decontamination unit that can also serve as a COVID-19 testing location. This construction phase also includes two new meeting rooms for hospital staff.
PMH has been part of the Winamac and Pulaski County community since 1963. The Medical and Surgical Group was formed in 2013, with the original clinic opening on September 1 of that year.
The expansion project began three years ago, with groundbreaking in November of 2020 and the first phase completed and open to the public on January 3.
Phase 2 is already underway and is expected to be completed this spring. In addition to the interior construction, an older structure is being demolished in this phase to provide more parking.
You can see the thought and detail that went into the expansion, said Chief Executive Officer Steve Jarosinski, who began his role at PMH on January 1, in the press release. Tom, the board of trustees, and our providers and staff all worked hard to develop the best space possible for the community, and we think our patients will agree. I especially want to thank Tom for his leadership over the years to grow the hospital, our medical staff, and a group of associates committed to the health and well-being of all those we serve.
An official ribbon cutting is planned at project completion, PMH officials say.
Patients are encouraged to call the clinic at 574-946-2194 with any questions. The clinic is located behind the hospital at 540 Hospital Drive in Winamac. For more info, visit pmhnet.com.
