IU Health Bloomington

02/04/2026

Join us in welcoming Sierra Ford, PA, to the IU Health Primary Care - Bloomington South team!

Sierra was born and raised in Bloomington, IN. She graduated from Indiana University in 2022 with a Bachelor of Science in Community Health and then went on to receive both her Master of Physician Assistant Studies and Doctor of Medical Science from Butler University.

During her studies, she worked locally in the Riley pediatrics office as a medical assistant and is happy to be back home as she begins her career in family medicine.

Learn more about Sierra at https://iuhealth.org/find-providers/provider/sierra-m-ford-pa-4131743

01/30/2026

February is all about heart and giving blood is a great way to show you care.

People across the country rely on blood donations to heal and to survive, and you can help by rolling up your sleeve at the upcoming American Red Cross Blood Drive on our campus.

• Date: Thursday, Feb. 19
• Time: 9 am – 2 pm
• Location: Indiana University Health Sciences Building Rooms C1001 and C1001A

Sign up to donate at redcrossblood.org/give.html/drive-results?zipSponsor=IUHBLOOM

Donors who give at American Red Cross Blood Drives during the month of February will receive a $20 e-gift card delivered via email (while supplies last).

01/29/2026

Congratulations to DAISY Award winner Shannon McCarthy, RN, with our IU Health Bloomington Pre-Op Post Anesthesia Care Unit!

Shannon was nominated after she helped walk an individual through CPR over the phone until emergency services could get to the scene, and she encourages others to learn basic life support (BLS) skills so they can help others during medical emergencies.

Learn more at https://iuhealth.org/thrive/iu-health-bloomington-daisy-nurse-uses-skills-to-do-good.

01/28/2026

We're thrilled to welcome Dakota Richerson, PA, to the IU Health Primary Care - Bloomington West team!

Dakota graduated Magna Cum Laude as a University Honors Scholar from the University of Southern Indiana and earned her Master of Physician Assistant Studies from the University of Evansville.

Dakota developed a passion for primary care during her clinical rotations where she was drawn to the variety of patient needs that can be addressed, as well as the ability to build long-term relationships with patients.

Learn more about Dakota at https://iuhealth.org/find-providers/provider/dakota-j-richerson-pa-4131458

01/28/2026

Warming Stations Opening Wednesday

Due to the extreme cold temperatures, warming stations around Monroe County will be opening for individuals needing short-term relief from the cold.

Date of Operations: Wednesday, January 28

Locations and Hours: Please see the below flyer for the locations and their designated hours of operation.

Weblink to flyer: https://monroecounty99.sharepoint.com/:b:/s/mcemgroup/IQBuSVwbKgWKQ4qlXQU264oaAee7aab9WasIoh6wNrtkiGw?e=IbA5rZ

Please respect all rules of the facilities.

Our office will be continuously monitoring the conditions.

01/26/2026

Getting sick or feeling unwell can really interfere with your daily routine. IU Health offers on-demand virtual visits 7 days a week from 8 am – 8 pm EST for patients in Indiana 2 years and older.

This team can assist with conditions that aren't life-threatening and don't need in-person treatment.

Learn more at https://iuhealth.org/find-medical-services/virtual-visits.

Connect with an IU Health doctor online, without ever leaving the comfort of your home. Start your virtual visit now.

01/26/2026

Warming Stations Opening Monday

Due to the extreme cold temperatures, warming stations around Monroe County will be opening for individuals needing short-term relief from the cold.

Date of Operations: Monday, January 26

Locations and Hours: Please see the below flyer for the locations and their designated hours of operation.

Weblink to flyer: https://monroecounty99.sharepoint.com/:b:/s/mcemgroup/IQBkYJoaEPPhQLw0w7Jed9_TAe4tsCqoY3bI-pm8M235Hsw?e=6ri6XC

Please respect all rules of the facilities.

Our office will be continuously monitoring the conditions.

01/23/2026

UPDATE FOR WEDNESDAY, JAN. 28:
All IU Health Medical Group—South Region locations will be operating on normal hours on Wednesday, Jan. 28.

UPDATES FOR TUESDAY, JAN. 27:
• Owen County (Spencer and Gosport): Offices will be closed on Tuesday
• Morgan County: All offices will open 2 hours later for in-person visits.
• Brown County: Nashville office will be closed on Tuesday
• Monroe County: all offices will open 2 hours later for in-person visits.
• Lawrence County: All offices will open 2 hours later for in-person visits.
• Orange County: Paoli walk-in/primary care will open 2 hours later for in-person visits.
• Bloomington, Bedford, Paoli and Morgan Outpatient Labs will resume regular operating hours
• Sleep lab will have a 2-hour delay for in-person appointments
• Outpatient rehab will have a 2-hour delay at Morgan, Bloomington (including Rehabilitation and Sport Medicine Center and Children’s Therapy), Bedford and Paoli
• Outpatient rehab in Spencer will be closed
• Bloomington Oncology/Palliative Care/Infusion to resume normal operating hours
• Bloomington Radiation opens at 9 am
• Bedford Oncology/Palliative Care/Infusion has a 2-hour delay (opens at 10 am)
• Bedford Radiation has a 1-hour delay (opens at 9 am)
• Morgan Oncology/Palliative Care/Infusion/Radiation has a 2-hour delay (opens at 10 am)
• Paoli Infusion has a 2-hour delay (opens at 10 am)
• Neurodiagnostic Testing at Neurology Office has a 2-hour delay
• Outpatient Labs at 550 S. Landmark, 350 S. Landmark, and Arlington open at 10 am

Not all offices are included in the list above. If you have questions about your appointment, please call your healthcare provider’s office.

EDITED 1/26:
Due to the approaching weather and out of an abundance of caution, some of our IU Health offices are planning for alternative operative hours on Sunday, Jan. 25 and Monday, Jan. 26.

Saturday clinics are expected to operate as normal.

Some of our offices with alternative operative hours are listed below. Please contact your provider’s office if you have questions. This post may be updated.

Urgent Care:
• Bloomington Woodcrest location will remain open Sunday until 5pm, and will open at 10am Monday
• Bloomington Liberty Drive location will be closed Sunday, and will open at 10am Monday.

Primary Care and all IUHMG offices:
• All outpatient offices will be closed on Monday. Some appointments may be converted to virtual.

Outpatient Behavioral Health:
• Outpatient Behavioral Health is virtual for Monday, Jan. 26. All scheduled patients should have received a message via LUMA.

Cancer Services:
• On Sunday, Jan. 25, Infusion will have a delayed opening and will see patients from 10 am – noon.
• On Monday, Jan. 26, Bloomington and Bedford Radiation offices will be closed, and the Oncology and Palliative Care Clinics will be moving to virtual visits if possible.
• The Bloomington Infusion Center will have a delayed open at 9am on Monday, an non-essential infusions will be rescheduled.

Outpatient Labs:
• The Bloomington Outpatients Labs at Arlington Road, 350 S. Landmark Ave. and 550 S. Landmark Ave. will be closed Monday.
• The Bloomington Outpatients Labs at the hospital will open at 9am.
• All Beford, Morgan, and Paoli labs will be closed Monday.

Other offices with delayed openings for Monday, Jan. 26:
• Bloomington Endoscopy Center will be closed Monday
• Bloomington Advanced Pain Center will open at 1pm Monday
• Bloomington Wound Care Center will be closed Monday
• Bloomington Pre-Admission Testing opens at 10 am

Paoli Endoscopy and Infusions are canceled for Monday.

Morgan Infusion will be closed on Monday.

If you are concerned about your appointment and haven’t heard from anyone, please call that office.

01/23/2026

It was early in the day on Thursday, Jan. 22, when IU Nursing student Izzy Garrett was working in Joe Novak’s inpatient room, listening to his stories about being an IU Football coach from 1984 – 1995 under Bill Mallory.

“Bill Mallory was a great footballer, I could never imagine anybody coming in and being better than that,” Novak reminisces. “I think Coach Cignetti and the kids did just a fantastic job. The kids are a great group of people—their character and how they play together. I was just hoping so much that they won, because it's such a great story.”

So, after hearing that the National Championship trophy was downstairs, Izzy knew she had to tell someone. Working with Jason Pursell, South Region Experience Design director, and other team members, they wheeled Novak down to the first floor where he proudly got his picture taken with tears in his eyes.

“I still follow IU Football closely. We retired and went to North Carolina, but we still watch as many games as we can. My boys were here, and I still feel attached to it. I certainly didn't contribute anything this year, but I got 12 years of blood, sweat and tears in the program.”

01/23/2026

Little Maverick Walter and his mom, Sydney, got to get a photo with the College Football Playoff National Championship trophy the day before he was discharged from our NICU!

Born in November at 28-weeks’ gestation and weighing 2 pounds 12 ounces, Maverick has never known a losing season of IU Football. In fact, some team members say he may have been the catalyst for the season.

His NICU room is adorned in colorful decorations made by his loving NICU team, including his handprints from New Year’s Day and a photo celebrating the Rose Bowl. The “What matters most to you today” note on his whiteboard even says, “Celebrate IU winning the National Championship.”

His mom, an Academic Advisor for the IU Athletic Department, former college athlete and IU Alumni, couldn’t have known they’d get to celebrate by seeing the trophy in person.

“His dad [Kyle] was a little upset he wasn’t here,” she shares.

Other than that, the timing was spot-on, with Maverick’s highly-anticipated discharge from the hospital being the following day.

“We are going to miss him,” says Sarah Hinds, RN, IU Health Bloomington NICU and Pediatrics Clinical Operations manager. “He has become part of the team at this point.”

01/23/2026

On Thursday, Jan. 22, the College Football Playoff National Championship trophy made a surprise stop at IU Health Bloomington.

Hundreds of team members, Health Sciences Building students, patients and visitors took photos with the trophy over a two-hour span, and at one point the line reached from the Infusion waiting room to the hospital entrance.

Chants of “Hoo hoo hoo, Hoosiers” broke out a few times and some individuals had tears in their eyes after they took their photo. It was definitely a special occasion, especially for two inpatients.
Check back here later today to learn about little baby Maverick and Coach Novak.

01/21/2026

Join us in welcoming Katheryn (Kathy) M. George, NP, to the IU Health Kidney Health - Bloomington team!

Kathy spent the first fifteen years of her career working as a licensed practical nurse in a variety of positions, including medical-surgical hospital units, nursing homes and correctional positions with the State of Indiana. As healthcare shifted, Kathy began to desire a role that allowed her to better advocate for patients, so in 1997 she went back to school.

Since then, she has worked as a hospitalist NP at IU Health Methodist as well as an emergency department NP at IU Health Bloomington Hospital for several years.

Learn more about Kathy at https://iuhealth.org/find-providers/provider/katheryn-m-george-np-6262