If you’ve driven past the corner of East 136th Street and Olio Road lately, you might have noticed something confusing. The massive building you knew as IU Health Saxony Hospital doesn't officially go by that name anymore. It’s basically had a total identity makeover.
As of June 2025, the facility was rebranded to IU Health Fishers.
Honestly, it makes sense. The "Saxony" name was a bit niche, tied to the specific development it sits in. But as Fishers exploded into the fourth-largest city in Indiana, the hospital needed to look like it belonged to the whole community, not just a neighborhood. But this wasn't just a simple sign swap. It was part of a massive $300 million expansion called the Fishers Community Impact Project. If you haven't been there in a while, the place is practically unrecognizable from its original 2011 footprint.
Why the 136th Street Expansion Changes Everything
For years, the running joke—or maybe the reality—was that if you lived in Fishers and needed to have a baby or see a specialized neurologist, you had to drive downtown or over to Carmel. Saxony was great for knees and hearts, but it was a "specialty" spot.
That’s over.
🔗 Read more: That Time a Doctor With Measles Treating Kids Sparked a Massive Health Crisis
The new medical tower, which officially opened its doors in late October 2025, added 50 inpatient beds. That brings the total count to 88. They basically grew the square footage by nearly 50%. You can now walk into the facility at 13000 E. 136th St. and find services that simply didn't exist there two years ago.
The Riley Factor
One of the biggest shifts is the partnership with Riley Children's Health. They’ve added a dedicated pediatric emergency unit. It’s right next to the main ER, but it's staffed by Riley physicians and nurses. This is huge. Parents used to panic-drive to North Meridian or downtown when things got scary at 2:00 AM. Now, that Riley-level care is sitting right there on 136th Street.
What Actually Happens at IU Health Fishers Now?
You’ve got a mix of the "old" Saxony specialties and a bunch of new stuff. The hospital used to be a fortress for orthopedics and cardiovascular care. That’s still true. But the expansion filled in the massive gaps that were forcing people to leave town for care.
- Maternity and Newborn Care: This was the biggest "missing piece." The new tower houses a full Labor and Delivery unit, a Special Care Nursery, and an outpatient OB-GYN suite.
- Specialized Surgery: They've expanded into breast surgery and endocrine surgical services.
- The "New" List: You can now find specialists for Nephrology (kidneys), Pulmonology (lungs), Neurology, and ENT (Ear, Nose, and Throat) right on campus.
- Imaging and Diagnostics: They've doubled their imaging capacity. We're talking MRI, CT scans, and a new mammography center.
It’s worth noting that the "Saxony" legacy hasn't totally vanished. The IU Health Surgery Center at 13100 E. 136th St. still operates right next door, handling those outpatient procedures like podiatry and urology that made the location famous in the first place.
💡 You might also like: Dr. Sharon Vila Wright: What You Should Know About the Houston OB-GYN
Navigating the 136th Street Campus
Parking is still free, which is a relief. If you're heading there for an appointment, keep in mind that the campus is split between the main hospital (13000 E. 136th St.) and the Medical Office Building (13100 E. 136th St.).
If you get hungry, the Atrio Café is the main spot inside the hospital. It’s open Monday through Friday, 7:00 AM to 2:00 PM. They do the standard gourmet salads and sandwiches, but the room service for patients is actually pretty decent—they've got chefs on staff who deliver meals within 45 minutes of a call.
The physical environment was designed to be "healing," which sounds a bit corporate, but it actually translates to a lot of windows, water features, and a healing garden. It’s a far cry from the cramped, windowless basements of hospitals from thirty years ago.
The Jobs Impact
You can't double the size of a hospital without doubling the people. The workforce at the 136th Street location has roughly doubled. We’re talking about 160 new hires in the last year alone, ranging from specialized surgeons to the support staff that keeps the HVAC and cleaning crews running. It’s become one of the largest employers in Hamilton County.
📖 Related: Why Meditation for Emotional Numbness is Harder (and Better) Than You Think
Common Misconceptions
A lot of people think the "Saxony" name change means the quality changed. Or that it’s a different company. It isn't. It's still Indiana University Health. The rebranding was strictly about scale and community identity. Another thing people miss is that while it looks like a giant hospital now, it’s still relatively intimate compared to the massive downtown campuses.
Some patients worry that the focus on "everything" means they lost their focus on "orthopedics." The data doesn't really support that. The orthopedic and spine programs actually grew during the expansion; they just aren't the only thing there anymore.
Getting Care at the New Campus
If you're looking to book something, here is the brass-tacks info you need:
- Main Phone: 317-678-2000.
- Primary Care: They’ve opened a centralized primary care suite nearby on USA Parkway to handle the overflow from the 136th Street offices.
- Emergency: The ER is open 24/7, including the Riley pediatric unit.
- Billing: For any services after January 1, 2026, they've updated their "Pay a Bill" portal on the main IU Health website to reflect the new Fishers facility status.
The Fishers Community Impact Project is technically marked as "complete" now that the tower is open, but the hospital leadership has hinted that they've "baked in" space for even more growth. Fishers isn't slowing down, so the hospital probably won't either.
Actionable Next Steps
If you have been avoiding the 136th Street location because they didn't offer a specific specialty, check their updated provider list. Many specialists who used to only work downtown now have clinic hours in Fishers. You should also update your emergency contact info; if you have kids, the Riley Pediatric ER at this location is likely now your closest high-level care option if you live on the northeast side of Indy.