(7-1-23) IU Health recently announced the closure of the emergency room at IU Health Blackford in Hartford City.

In a statement from IU Health, the hospital listed a declining amount of people seeking medical care at IU Health Blackford as the reason for ending the emergency department care and inpatient care services at the Hartford City location.

Statement-

“Emergency department care and inpatient care services at IU Health Blackford will be stopped in the near future, due to the reduction in patient volume. Neighboring IU Health Ball Memorial and IU Health Jay hospitals will provide emergency department care and access for patients with more acute needs for inpatient care.”

After the closing the nearest ER’s will be at IU Health Ball Memorial in Muncie and IU Health Jay in Portland both are 30-minute drives from Hartford City.

Despite the elimination of emergency care services, IU Health Blackford will continue to provide primary healthcare and outpatient services.

Dr. Jeffrey Bird, president of IU Health’s East Central Region

“We will continue providing primary healthcare and outpatient services to meet the needs of the residents, however with the declining patient volume at the hospital, we’ve taken steps to right-size the services that are offered.”

The transition of eliminating emergency and inpatient care services at IU Health Blackford is expected to be finalized and completed within the next few months.