Elkhart General Hospital will expand and renovate its Emergency and Trauma Center in a $37 million project. Construction begins in 2027 with completion in 2028. The plan adds 4,750 SF, converts all patient rooms to private, and adds four behavioral health rooms at the county’s only trauma center.
Elkhart General Hospital has announced a $37 million expansion and renovation of its Emergency and Trauma Center, a project that will reshape one of northern Indiana’s busiest emergency departments over the next two years. Planning, design, permitting and pre-construction work will occupy the remainder of 2026, with visible construction slated to start in 2027 and completion targeted for 2028.
Scope of the work includes a 4,750 SF addition alongside renovation of the existing 21,045 SF emergency department. Physicians, clinicians and staff contributed input on the design, which prioritizes workflow and care delivery. Once complete, the department will offer an enlarged trauma center footprint, all private patient rooms replacing the current mix of private rooms and semi-private bays, four dedicated behavioral health rooms, and improved arrival access for both ambulances and patients arriving by car.
Elkhart General operates the only verified trauma center in Elkhart County and handles nearly 50,000 emergency visits annually, a figure that continues to climb. Hospital President Kira Carter-Robertson framed the project as an investment in faster and more private care, while Vice President of Medical Affairs Dr. Michelle Bache pointed to the role of coordination and resources in emergency medicine.
The Beacon Health Foundation is raising funds toward a $15 million community fundraising goal supporting the project, according to an announcement from Beacon Health System, the locally governed nonprofit that operates Elkhart General Hospital in Elkhart, Indiana.