HUNTINGTON, IND. – July 9, 2025 – Recently, Parkview Huntington Hospital (PHH) celebrated a noteworthy anniversary: 25 years of service to area residents. It was another proud milestone in a long history of caring and community support that dates back well over a century.
On April 14, 2000, the staff and then-patients of the former Huntington Memorial Hospital (HMH) moved from the previous hospital building on Etna Avenue to the newly developed campus at 2001 Stults Road, beginning a new era for healthcare in Huntington County.
Two years before, HMH joined the Parkview Health system, and construction began on a new facility that would allow for advances in technology and future expansion.
Duane Hougendobler, MD, Parkview Physicians Group – Pediatrics, was a member of the HMH board of directors at the time. He would later serve on the Parkview Health board as well.
“The question we had asked ourselves was, ‘Do we tear down HMH and start over, incorporating a small strip of adjacent land? The old hospital was landlocked,” Dr. Hougendobler recalled. “Neighbors weren’t interested in selling their properties so we could expand our footprint. There was almost no parking. And while the hospital had gone through several renovations to improve function over the years, the ER space was still tiny, there was no flow, and it was hard to navigate between departments. The Stults Road property was mentioned to us, and we pursued that because it offered plenty of room and would enable us to add features like the path around the pond. We wanted to do more like that to promote better health for the community.”
Sonya Foraker, current finance leader for PHH and Parkview Health’s EMS and Flight service line, worked at HMH for 12 years before moving with the team to the new hospital. She remembered: “As HMH became affiliated with Parkview Health, and gained the modern hospital, our community benefitted in many ways. As an employee, I appreciated that our technology improved and provided me with information necessary to better support our care teams. Being able to acquire new equipment, learn new best practices and serve patients in a facility designed for more efficient care was exciting!”
Dr. Hougendobler agreed: “We were able to design PHH with the Family Birthing Center near surgery and the ER just steps away. As a pediatrician, it was important to me that this new, improved flow would help us keep babies safe. Plus, patients could now have private rooms. Research had shown that people healed better and faster in a private room versus the old semi-private arrangement. Expectant moms could labor, deliver and recover all in the comfort of a larger room that accommodates family as well.”
Foraker noted that the trend of updating technology, re-engineering spaces and implementing new processes to improve the care environment continues.
“PHH opened with 24 beds, but our patient volumes increased quickly,” she said. “We undertook our first expansion in 2002, adding 12 inpatient beds. Another milestone was the opening of the Holly D. Sale Rehab and Wellness Center in 2019. I had the opportunity to work with Holly to develop the plan for that much-needed expansion. The center has grown as we envisioned and provides a wide variety of services some people find surprising for a community of our size. From hyperbaric oxygen therapy for wound healing to expert cardiac rehab to numerous physical, speech and occupational therapies, we’ve continued to add programs that are meeting our patients’ diverse needs.”
Over time, care has evolved. New imaging technology yields more detailed images for more accurate diagnosis and treatment. Endoscopic surgery for some conditions means less blood loss for patients, smaller scars and quicker, less painful recovery. In-office telehealth visits with out-of-town specialists keep some consultations and check-ups close to home. State-of-the-art medical records technology enables seamless information access for each patient care team, making treatment more efficient. Advanced ambulance design and power cots have made transport safer for patients and EMS co-workers alike. Physician offices are located in the medical office building adjoining PHH for patient and provider convenience.
“My office was two or three blocks from the old hospital,” said Dr. Hougendobler. “That may not seem far, but when they needed me right away at the hospital and I got held up by a train, which happened often, that was a problem. After I joined the medical group that became PPG, and my office was moved to the medical office building, it was such a blessing to be able to just run down to OB to check on my patients as needed and then back over to the office.”
Vicki Mickley, BSN-CPHQ, RN, quality & accreditation specialist for Parkview Health’s South market, began her career as a nurse at HMH and has been proud to see PHH offer new approaches to care over the years, knowing that constant attention to safety and quality leads to better outcomes for patients.
“Having worked at the old facility allowed me to better understand how healthcare used to be and appreciate how far we have come in a relatively small amount of time,” Mickley said. “When my friends, family and neighbors need to seek high-quality healthcare, I tell them that, without a doubt, they will get that and so much more when they come through the doors of PHH.”
An unrelenting focus on quality care
With its strong team and constant focus on world-class healthcare delivery, PHH has collected numerous awards over the years. Since 2015, the hospital has received these and other honors:
- American Nurses Credentialing Center (ANCC) Magnet Redesignation (2022)
- Becker's Great Community Hospitals (7 years, including 2024 and 2023)
- Chartis Center for Rural Health Top 100 Rural & Community Hospitals (5 years, including 2025), Performance Leadership Award (2023, 2022)
- IBM Watson Health 100 Top Hospitals (5 years)
- Indiana Chamber of Commerce Best Places to Work in Indiana (2019, 2018)
- Indiana Hospital Association (IHA) INspire Hospital of Distinction recognition for PHH’s Family Birthing Center (2025, 2023, 2022, 2021, 2020)
- iVantage Health Analytics & the National Organization of State Offices of Rural Health Top 100 Rural & Community Hospitals 2016, Performance Leadership Award 2018
- The Leapfrog Group “A” Hospital Safety Grade (Spring 2025, Spring & Fall 2024, Spring & Fall 2023, Spring 2022, Fall 2021)
- The Leapfrog Group - Money's Best Maternity Hospitals (2022)
- Modern Healthcare’s Best Places to Work in Healthcare (2019, 2018)
- Vizient Bernard A. Birnbaum Quality Leadership Top Performer award (2024, 2023)
“We are very proud of all that the Parkview Huntington team has achieved by living the mission of providing excellent care to every person every day,” said Deb Potempa, market president, Parkview Health South. “Their dedication, expertise and compassion have made PHH a safe and welcoming place for area residents. In addition to providing high-quality care, many PHH co-workers help shape quality of life through their support of community organizations. The impact of the campus and this hospital team is tremendous.”
Foraker noted the hospital’s ongoing role in gauging the community’s changing needs through Parkview’s triennial Community Health Needs Assessment, which gathers information from local nonprofits, decision-makers, healthcare providers and other citizens about what they see as the most pressing needs of area residents.
“I’ve experienced the impact of our funding to community partners that provide health and human services programs aligned to the results of the assessments,” she said. “We have many partners that are making Huntington County a better, safer, more supportive place to live as a result of our partnership.”
Foraker emphasized that people are at the heart of healthcare and the hospital’s work as a community partner. Technology and a well-designed facility provide the tools for success, but caregiving is also about teamwork, expertise, respect and a sense of belonging.
“Over the years, I’ve experienced many changes in my role, worked alongside great leaders, and supported a very talented medical team,” she said. “PHH has been and continues to be a family-centered environment where each person knows they matter, and I’m so blessed to have had the opportunity to work here for the past 37 years.”
To view a video commemorating PHH’s anniversary at Stults Road, click here.
Moving forward The PHH team continues to implement new plans in serving community needs. Last fall, work began to widen and improve the path around the pond on campus. In addition, the team will soon break ground on a 24′ x 16′ pavilion, funded through the Huntington Outdoor Wellness Fund.
Established in memory of Dr. J. David Carnes through the Parkview Health Foundation, this fund supports outdoor wellness initiatives. Dr. Carnes, who cared for patients through four decades, was a strong proponent of being active outdoors and walking for health. With the creation of the pavilion, area residents, hospital and medical office building co-workers, and campus visitors will have a venue that can be used for picnics, outdoor meetings and get-togethers.
Pavilion construction is anticipated to take place this summer.