One of the biggest surprises – and announcements – from Mayor Tom Henry’s State of the City address had little to do with city government at all.FORT WAYNE – A planned $2 million medical office building on the west side further strengthens Parkview Health System’s foothold in Fort Wayne’s economy, leaders say.
Parkview wants to erect a 15,500-square-foot complex that will house at least four family doctors and imaging and lab services on the Inverness Surgery Center campus near Interstate 69 on Carnegie Boulevard.
“This will be a new building that we think will mix in well with what’s already there,” said John Perlich, Parkview spokesman.
“We’re hoping for an opening in the summer of 2011.”
Inverness Surgery Center specializes in gynecology, podiatry, pain management, gastroenterology, general surgery and colorectal procedures. It will house 21 physician partners and be equipped with four operating rooms.
Even with Parkview’s more than $500 million Dupont Road campus still under construction, Andi Udris doesn’t believe the local market is becoming oversaturated with medical facilities.
“That’s the sad thing about it,” the president of the Fort Wayne-Allen County Economic Development Alliance said.
“Health care is a growing industry, and with the aging baby boomers the need is only going to grow.”
The U.S. Census Bureau reports that by 2030, about one in five Americans – nearly 72 million people – will be 65 or older. In Allen County, census figures show 11.7 percent of the population falls within that demographic.
Having strong medical support helps lure businesses, Udris said.
“That’s one of our advantages, and we try to drive that home whenever we’re out promoting the area,” he said.
