Community leaders recently embarked on a unique exploration of the upcoming 425,000-square-foot Community Health Network Westfield campus. Done in collaboration with the Westfield Chamber of Commerce, the Dusty Boots Tour helped leaders visualize the facilities by featuring a cardboard city, a life-sized mockup of the facility made from cardboard. This exclusive sneak peek was attended by Mayor Scott Willis, his staff, Chamber of Commerce members, and community leaders.
“The Dusty Boots Tour offered a unique opportunity for community leaders to explore the ongoing work that will transform the former site into a state-of-the-art health care campus,” says Derek McMichael, vice president and hospital administrator for Community’s Howard and Westfield regions. “This allowed participants to visualize the future layout and offerings of the new health care facility.”
The project was officially given the green light in late 2023 after Community Health purchased the necessary property for the expansion. It’s projected that the full expansion will cost an estimated $335 million to complete.
This expansion was motivated by growing needs within the community. “The facility will provide comprehensive health care services close to home, making high-quality care more accessible,” says McMichael.
The project will involve an ambulatory surgery center, a medical office building, an emergency department, a six-story patient tower and a host of new services, such as a neonatal intensive care unit (NICU). “Services will focus on women’s health, integrative medicine, orthopedics, primary care, behavioral health and other specialties,” says McMichael. “The facility will also be the first and only hospital in Westfield to offer labor and delivery services, as well as NICU rooms for family-centered care, outpatient imaging, cardiovascular care and multiple clinical specialties – and a culture of care that puts patients first.”
To minimize disruption and ensure safety, the project will be rolled out in phases. Phase one includes the completion of the medical office building, expected by the first quarter of 2025. This will be followed by the surgery center, hospital service building and office tower, with expected completion some time in late 2026.
Additionally, Community Health is hoping the project will have a positive impact on the local community. The expansion is expected to boost the economy by creating an anticipated 1,500 to 2,000 new jobs. The project is also supporting sustainability goals by renovating existing structures instead of building new ones. These efforts will save approximately $50 million in total costs. “We’re very excited to have Community Health Network here in Westfield,” says Courtney Albright, president of the Westfield Chamber of Commerce. “The quality of care they aspire to achieve is something many residents seek when choosing personal and family care. We’re also eager to see the employment opportunities this facility brings our current residents and how it will attract more people to Westfield.”
Leaders are hopeful that the project will lead to enhanced care, greater patient outcomes and improved quality of life. “This will allow residents to receive quality health care close to home, enhancing convenience and overall well-being,” McMichael says.
