New hospital emphasizes patient accessibility and continuity of care. Interview by Karen Gardner

As a 14-year veteran of the board of Lutheran Hospital of Indiana Inc., Fort Wayne, Thomas Baumgartner participated fully in the evolution of Lutheran's new acute care facility, which opened last May after five years of planning and construction. The Lutheran system includes the new not-for-profit, 350-bed hospital; a subsidiary comprising four urgent care clinics; joint ventures with several medical entities that provide clinical services such as rehabilitation and nursing; and a four-year college (the Lutheran College of Health Professionals). Located in a city of approximately 190,000, Lutheran Hospital--one of three tertiary care facilities in Fort Wayne--serves a 20-county region. To update its facilities and better meet the needs of this large service area, the new hospital design features a hospital tower connected to two medical office buildings by a two-story "medical mall." Baumgartner, who is chairman of the Lutheran system board and executive vice president and chief operations officer of Fort Wayne National Bank, recently spoke with Trustee editor Karen Gardner about the process of building a new hospital.