Indiana University Health Frankfort Hospital held a Topping Off Ceremony Monday afternoon which means a new hospital is one step closer to becoming a reality.
Topping Off is a construction project tradition marking the placement of a steel beam in the structural frame. While it doesn’t signify the project is complete, it is an important milestone of the job, making it one stop closer to opening the doors to a new hospital — building on their promise to provide the best care, designed for Clinton County, close to home.
“It’s a great day,” said IU Health West Central Region President Dan Neufelder. “As we said in the ceremony, it’s the end of the structural phase of the project. So, we’ve topped it off. Now, it’s about completing the project.”
The steel plates were hoisted into position above the entrance to the new IU Health Frankfort Hospital.
“This is a fun day,” said IU Health Frankfort Hospital President Kelli Braverman. “Milestones are fun to look forward to and be able to celebrate with the community.”
Braverman added at this time next year, the new facility should be up and going.
“If Mother Nature is our friend, I would love to have the first patient by the end of October,” said Braverman. “If Mother Nature gives us a little bit of trouble, we’ll probably be happy with November, as well.”
Braverman also announced during the ceremony that Encompass Credit Union donated $150,000 to the project.
“They came forward and they wanted to be able to put a visitor’s garden together for us,” said Braverman. “That will be when you’re walking into the building, it’ll be on the left when you’re walking in.”