Fishburn supports Wishard expansion

INDIANAPOLIS (WISH) - A family that had your prayers, last year, wants your votes, this year. Police officers Jason Fishburn and his dad, Dennis, want to support a new Wishard Hospital.

Dennis Fishburn, his son, Jason, and other members of their family walked to a news conference outside Wishard.

Last year, Jason came in on a stretcher. He'd been shot in the head as he chased a suspect. But, he survived.

"We're grateful to our health care team at Wishard that brought him from his death bed, so close, back to be with us this day," Sgt. Dennis Fishburn said.

Now, Fishburn says, Wishard is on the death bed with aging facilities that are losing the ability to meet the needs of modern medicine.

And, that's the reason for the news conference. Dennis and Jason Fishburn are co-chairs of a campaign for a new Wishard.

"This is a way for Jason and I and our family to pay foward what has been given to us," Dennis explained.

Wishard Hospital administrators are looking toward a $754 million development with Jason Fishburn as an example of what they can do here. But, administrators and doctors say they need voters to support their plan in a referendum, this fall.

"We need to build this new facility in order to provide that kind of care for the future -- to all the citizens of this community." Dr. Richard Rogers of Wishard Hospital said.

Wishard says it can do this without raising taxes on people who live in Marion County. But, voters would need to approve a bond issue to support most of the project. The referendum will be on the ballot, November 3rd.

Wishard hopes to be opening new facilities by the end of 2013