Community Health Network, University of Indianapolis partner to establish clinical facility on campus

Community Health Network and the University of Indianapolis are joining forces to establish a clinical facility on campus where students and faculty will work alongside health and wellness professionals to serve patients and clients, transforming the educational experience and bringing important resources to an underserved part of the city.

The partnership is central to the philosophy behind UIndy's four-story, $30 million Health Pavilion on Hanna Avenue, which will open in August as the new home for nationally respected academic programs in nursing, physical therapy, occupational therapy, psychology, gerontology, kinesiology, athletic training and social work.

"Our vision is to close the gap between education and practice in a way that benefits our students, our partners and the broader community," UIndy President Robert Manuel said. "With our friends at Community Health Network sharing that vision, we have an amazing opportunity for innovation in the preparation of new health professionals and the delivery of health and wellness services in our city and beyond."

Under a renewable five-year lease, more than 10,000 square feet of the UIndy Health Pavilion's first floor will operate as a department of Community Hospital South. The space will include a 7,000-square-foot physical therapy and rehab center with private treatment rooms and a therapy gym that includes a walking track and therapy equipment.

Adjacent will be a 3,700-square-foot primary care clinic that will provide health and wellness services to UIndy employees, Community Health Network clients and other patients, with examination rooms where students can gain hands-on experience in their chosen fields under the supervision of professionals and faculty. Also on the first floor will be UIndy's own Psychological Services Center, a training and research facility where faculty and graduate students from the School of Psychological Sciences provide evaluation and therapy services to the public.

Although Community Health Network has partnerships with other colleges and universities throughout Indiana, the partnership with UIndy is the first comprehensive one that includes employer health, sports medicine and physical therapy services, nursing education, clinical internships and research.

"Our goal is to provide exceptional healthcare at as many access points as possible in Indiana," said Bryan Mills, president and CEO of Community Health Network. "In addition to providing quality care to the UIndy family, this partnership will be a model for the future of healthcare education, pairing students and new innovations with the network's outstanding caregivers."

Under the agreement, Community Health Network will gradually increase the number of internships and clinical and field experiences provided at its various facilities for students in UIndy's allied health programs, which account for approximately half of the university's total enrollment of 5,400 undergrad and graduate students. The partnership also opens the door to joint faculty appointments, interdisciplinary training opportunities and the joint pursuit of research and grant opportunities.

Aside from the lease agreement, Community Health Network has pledged additional financial support to the university for activities related to the Health Pavilion, including scholarships, internships, research, interdisciplinary study and the cultivation of innovative programs.

The 160,000-square-foot UIndy Health Pavilion, designed by local firm CSO Architects, is itself a partnership between the university and local developer Strategic Capital Partners. The ongoing construction at Hanna and State avenues is overseen by Pepper Construction Group.