As Wabash General Hospital starts to celebrate serving the community for 75 years this year, the Wabash General Hospital Board of Directors has approved moving forward with planning for a major campus expansion. During a special meeting Monday, the board voted to advance a proposed $75 million building plan, marking the largest construction project in the hospital’s history. This planning approval does not authorize construction. A project of this complexity has several design and permitting steps, including a Certificate of Need permit from the Illinois Health Facilities Services and Review Board, before it can officially proceed.
Hospital President and CEO Karissa Turner noted the timing is especially meaningful, as 2025 marks Wabash General Hospital’s 75th anniversary. Turner said planning for campus improvements began several years ago, dating back to 2018 and 2019, when hospital leadership identified growing needs in several departments. She pointed out that parts of the facility — including the medical-surgical unit and emergency department — have not seen major renovations in decades, despite continued growth.
The hospital now employs more than 650 people, and Turner said the project represents an investment in both staff and the community’s future.
Vice President of Project Management and Infrastructure Nate Stevenson, who has led the project for the past year, outlined a phased construction approach designed to limit disruptions to patient care. Stevenson explained that early concepts approached $100 million, but revisions and phased planning reduced the recommended project cost to approximately $75 million, with construction expected to take several years.
Hospital officials emphasized that detailed floor plans are still being developed and that the current designs reflect a high-level framework rather than final layouts.
Until the project is further along in design and permitting, including the Certificate of Need permit, no formal timeline will be set. The next phase of design is expected to take 12 months. Routine progress updates will be presented to the Hospital Board of Directors. Construction would be staged to keep hospital services operating throughout the project. Planning for this investment into our community reflects Wabash General Hospital’s long-standing commitment to providing high-quality care close to home.
