Mercy Hospital

Programs: Hospital services. In keeping with our mission of healing and comforting the sick, providing hospital medical services is at the heart of what we do. These services are provided in inpatient and outpatient settings in situations that may be emergent, acute or chronic. Services include a 24-hour emergency unit, intensive care, cardiovascular care and the services of a cardiac cath lab, maternity unit and newborn nursery, surgical services, cancer care, orthopedic care, digestive care, telemetry monitored care, medical care, stroke care, behavioral health care, skilled nursing and hospice care.

education. The ongoing education of mercy staff members is critical in the fast-changing field of health care and is necessary to meet regulation and certification. Mercy hosts a number of professional continuing education conferences each year, attended by its own staff along with staff from other institutions. In addition, mercy provides a setting for many students who are considering or pursuing health care careers. For high school students, a health careers class gives students insight into possible careers and options; it also prepares students for the certified nursing assistant exam. Mercy works with students from health education programs that include the university of iowa, kirkwood community college and other local colleges, offering such options as a paid summer nursing internship program, a lab student.

community benefit. Mercy's community benefits take many forms, beginning with traditional charity care of $1. 6 million, and the unpaid cost of medicaid ($5. 7 million). Other examples are varied; they include cash donations to community for non-for-profits such as the free medical clinic, free meeting space to valued community organizations, leadership time and skills that further the work of the community non-for-profits, first aid booths provided at public events. These efforts are detailed in mercy's community benefit report, prepared annually. As a trusted, longtime member of the community, mercy plays an important role not only in further community health but the general community good.