IU Health's Methodist, University hospitals plan merger

Plans are underway to merge the services of IU Health's University Hospital and Methodist Hospital under one roof. The question is: Will that be under a new roof, or will one of the existing hospitals essentially move into the other? Whitney Ertel, director of public relations for IU Health, said a committee of hospital leaders and doctors is researching options and implications and intends to decide by fall which option works best. The consolidation is part of a 50-year plan to improve patient services and hospital operations, she said, and follows a national trend of merging medical operations for more efficient delivery.