A New Era of Care: Reid Health Connersville Set to Open

People taking care of people. That was the simple, driving philosophy shared by Ben Wells, President and CEO of Reid Health, during a recent community tour of the brand new Reid Health Connersville facility at 2500 Park Road. Wells, who was appointed to lead the organization in September 2025, emphasized that this hundred million dollar project is more than just a medical facility; it is a fundamental commitment to the community. He noted that “any dollar that leaves our communities is a loss,” which is why local contractors and labor were utilized as much as possible throughout the construction process.

The new campus is designed to serve as a community hub rather than a clinical hospital. The Union Savings and Loan Cafe, which serves Starbucks products, is intended to be a social space for neighbors to meet even if they do not have a medical appointment. Wells described the vision as “friends taking care of friends, neighbors taking care of neighbors.” This community focus is further reflected in the art throughout the building, which was sourced from local and regional artists. One particularly meaningful piece was created by a construction worker who actually helped build the facility. This local theme continues with a history of health wall charting the region’s medical journey since the eighteen hundreds and a donor legacy wall.

One of the most critical upgrades for local residents is the addition of an on-site helipad. During the tour, Wells explained that this change eliminates a significant logistical hurdle. Previously, patients requiring emergency airlifts had to be placed in an ambulance and transported to the local airport to meet an aircraft. Now, the flight crew can meet the patient directly at the hospital. “Minutes matter unequivocally,” Wells stated, adding that “I believe that it will save patients’ lives.”

The emergency department has seen a massive expansion to handle the growing needs of the area. The facility has jumped from three thousand annual visits to nearly fourteen thousand, necessitating the new fifteen private rooms and two large triage areas. In a design choice influenced by the recent pandemic, every room features sliding glass doors instead of curtains, and the entire department can be converted to negative airflow at the push of a button to contain airborne illnesses. The department also includes specialized ligature-free mental health bays designed for safety and tranquility, as well as connected trauma rooms that allow a physician to manage two critical patients simultaneously while maintaining family privacy.

Innovation extends into the diagnostic areas as well. The radiology department has evolved to include a hundred and twenty-eight slice CT scanner and a one point five Tesla MRI. This equipment offers lower radiation doses and motion correction software to prevent blurry images. A safety system called the Ferris Alert is also in place to detect metal objects like pocket knives before they can enter the MRI suite and become dangerous projectiles.

Toward the end of the tour, Dr. Sam Iden, MD, who serves as Medical Director and a member of the Reid Health Governing Board, discussed the high standards of the medical staff. Dr. Iden emphasized that all physicians in the group are fellowship-trained in emergency medicine. “Our people are our most important asset in the care that will be delivered in these walls,” Dr. Iden said. He highlighted the use of smart rooms which incorporate artificial intelligence to assist with patient monitoring and diagnostics. One of the most impactful features is the ability to pull a specialist, such as a neurosurgeon, onto a camera in real-time. This allows a specialist to virtually enter the room to discuss a patient’s needs with the family and the local team, ensuring a seamless care plan is in place before a patient is moved for specialized surgery.

The leadership team also expressed a deep appreciation for the new multi-faith room. This inclusive space was created to serve as a sanctuary for people of all backgrounds to find peace and reflection during difficult times. Primary care services at the campus will offer extended hours from seven in the morning to seven at night, Monday through Friday. As the facility prepares for its official opening in March 2026, the sense of enthusiasm among the staff reflects a goal of “providing top-notch, patient-satisfactory care” for their neighbors for generations to com