[Congressional Record Volume 154, Number 160 (Thursday, October 2, 2008)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E2203]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




   100-YEAR ANNIVERSARY OF METHODIST HOSPITAL, INDIANAPOLIS, INDIANA

                                 ______
                                 

                           HON. ANDRE CARSON

                               of indiana

                    in the house of representatives

                       Thursday, October 2, 2008

  Mr. CARSON of Indiana. Madam Speaker, today I rise to honor the 100-
year anniversary of the Methodist Hospital in Indianapolis, Indiana. I 
am fortunate to have such a hospital facility in my district. Over 100 
years ago, on October 25, 1905, the cornerstone for Methodist Hospital 
was laid. Three years later, in 1908, the hospital was open to the 
public. Patient fees started at $7 a week and the hospital adopted a 
policy to care for the impoverished at no charge. Many things have 
changed since then. The hospital has grown in size and provides new 
services to fit the ever-growing needs of the city. But many things 
have stayed the same. The hospital's commitment to serve the 
disadvantaged and provide state-of-the-art, innovative medical care is 
as important a part of Methodist's mission today as it was 100 years 
ago.
  Methodist Hospital has always been on the forefront of health care. 
During the baby boom of the 1940s, it established the first premature 
birth station in the state. Methodist was the first Indiana hospital to 
perform open-heart surgery, in 1965. Seven years later, in 1972, its 
doctors performed the state's first kidney transplant. In 1982 the 
world's first successful heart transplant at a private hospital was 
performed at Methodist, followed 7 years later by the performance of 
the state's first heart lung transplant.
  Today, Methodist is one of only two adult regional Level 1 Trauma 
centers in Indiana. It houses an 899-bed facility and is one of the 
largest teaching hospitals in the Midwest. It runs the Indiana Poison 
Center in addition to staffing the LifeLine helicopter ambulances. 
Additionally, Methodist is also the official health care provider for 
the Indianapolis Motor Speedway.
  Madam Speaker, I would like to congratulate all the doctors, nurses 
and health care professionals for being part of such an exceptional 
health care organization and thank them for their dedication to the 
health and well-being of the people of Indiana.

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