Eskenazi Health Chief Executive Officer Dr. Lisa Harris reported to the Health and Hospital Corporation board on April 15 that the system marked a one‑year anniversary at its new campus on the Far East Side and exceeded initial projections for patient visits and services.

“Over this time, we've helped over 1,300 patients apply for health care coverage,” Harris said, and she reported more than 25,000 individuals served through the federally qualified health center and more than 70,000 prescriptions filled. Harris highlighted 7,600 food vouchers distributed, 1,100 unique individuals served by the mental health center and robust usage of group‑based nutrition and wellness offerings.

Harris said Eskenazi is restarting its NODA volunteer program (No One Dies Alone), which supplies trained volunteers to sit vigil with patients expected to die within 24 to 72 hours. Volunteers must be at least 18 and screened for recent bereavement, she said, and the program will operate in three‑hour shifts. Interested volunteers were directed to email noda@eskenazihealth.edu or call the clinic number provided.

Harris also announced that Eskenazi achieved a Healthcare Information and Management Systems Society (HIMSS) Stage 7 validation for electronic medical record use, placing the hospital among a small percentage of U.S. hospitals at that level. She said 54 percent of Eskenazi patients use the MyChart patient portal and credited substantial progress on electronic adoption.

Harris summarized workforce and quality metrics presented to the board’s committee: the system hired 312 nurses this year, roughly 55 percent with prior experience; the vacancy rate is under 3.5 percent versus a national average near 9.9 percent; nurse residency yields an 86 percent retention rate; and more than 200 nurses participated in a peer‑review recognition program.

Harris also described the quality improvement team’s work, including chart reviews of every inpatient death to check for policy adherence and education needs. She noted a new CMS measure requiring hospitals to attest to five age‑friendly care domains for patients 65 and older, with first reporting in 2026, and said Eskenazi believes it is well positioned to meet those requirements.

In addition, she congratulated Tamara Franklin, director of community engagement, for receiving a minority achiever award for community work.

Board members asked for the patient quote Harris read to be shared so trustees could use it in outreach; Harris agreed she did not have the speaker’s name but would provide the quote text to trustees.

No formal board action was required on the report.