New $450 million IU Health hospital in Fort Wayne set to bring 500 jobs

IU Health, Indiana’s largest health care system, is expanding with a new $450 million hospital in Fort Wayne. This development will add 500 more jobs locally, enhancing health care access in Indiana. The acute care hospital will open in the second quarter of 2027 and will be one of three major health care systems in Fort Wayne, named the fastest-growing city in the Midwest by the U.S. Census Bureau. “We came here to increase access for patients and to have an impact on driving the cost of care down here,” said Brian Bauer, president of the IU Health Northeast Region. The 300-acre hospital will focus on “acute care,” meaning overnight stays and serious illness versus same-day procedures. By the time the hospital opens, there will be 500 jobs available, a feat that Bauer maintains is no small task. “Recruiting great talent to staff the hospital is going to be a challenge, but we’ve done a lot of research and have some pretty detailed plans in place to make sure that we will have the staff to take care of our patients,” Bauer said. Another obstacle the hospital faces is supply chain issues, according to Jon Vanator, chief operating officer for...