Daviess Community Hospital (DCH) is a recipient of Regional Economic Acceleration and Development Initiative (READI) funding awarded through the Indiana Uplands READI Steering Committee, Regional Opportunity Initiatives (ROI), and the Indiana Economic Development Corporation (IEDC).
A $500,000 READI 2.0 allocation has been committed to support DCH’s Healing Horizons project, a transformative initiative to expand the hospital’s Emergency Department and upgrade Radiology Services with advanced diagnostic technology and patient-centered design. In addition to READI funding, Daviess County, Daviess Community Hospital, and the Daviess Community Hospital Foundation are investing more than $5 million in this phase of the Healing Horizons project.
Leading the project is a renovation of the Radiology Department, which has significantly enhanced patient flow, privacy, and efficiency. Key improvements include:
• A modernized reception and waiting area to streamline check-in
• New dressing rooms and a patient restroom to increase comfort and privacy
• An expanded technologist work area to improve clinical workflow
• A new MRI suite featuring the Magnetom Altea 1.5T MRI, offering faster scan times, improved image quality, and a more comfortable patient experience “These improvements to our Radiology Department allow us to deliver more accurate diagnoses with greater speed, helping patients get the care they need sooner,” said April Settles, Chief Financial Officer at DCH. “We’ve redesigned this space with both patient experience and clinical excellence in mind.”
Alongside the Radiology enhancements, DCH recently completed a two-phase expansion of its Emergency Department. The second phase of renovations, completed in December 2024, included:
• Six additional emergency rooms
• One additional trauma room
• An expanded waiting room with an attached restroom and vending area
• A new, distinct ambulance entrance, separate from the patient and visitor entrance
• A specialized decontamination room
• A consultation room
• An EMS workroom
• A security office located at the ER entrance These additions build upon the first phase of the project, which began in January 2024 and included the renovation of eight emergency rooms, the construction of two trauma rooms, and the expansion of the nurses’ station.
“This funding empowers us to provide a higher level of care to the people who rely on Daviess Community Hospital during their most critical moments,” Settles said. “From our enhanced MRI capabilities to a safer, more efficient emergency department, this project represents a deep investment in the health and future of our rural communities—especially for seniors, families with children, and individuals managing chronic conditions.”
Indiana’s $1.25 billion READI program is bringing vibrancy to regions across the state to accelerate shovel-ready projects and programs that will transform Hoosier communities, attract talent and improve quality of life. READI, which has been nationally recognized for its success, encourages regional collaboration and data-driven, long-term planning that will benefit current and future residents for generations to come. The state’s $1 billion investment, which secured additional funding awarded by the Lilly Endowment, is expected to attract a minimum 4:1 match of local public, private and nonprofit funding, yielding at least $3 billion invested across all 92 counties to enhance Indiana’s quality of life, quality of place and quality of opportunity.
In the 11-county Indiana Uplands region, Regional Opportunity Initiatives (ROI) and a regional steering committee manage $60 million in READI 1.0 and 2.0 matching funds. For more information, announcements, and Indiana Uplands READI project updates, visit: https://regionalopportunityinc. org/readi/.
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