Mercy Hospital of Franciscan Sisters in Oelwein hosted a ground breaking ceremony on Tuesday, Sept. 22, to mark the official beginning of construction on a new emergency department, patient registration area and laboratory.
Mercy Hospital is undergoing construction in order to meet current and future critical needs of the community. At the forefront of plans for the new space are patient confidentiality, safety and a focus on improving patient experiences. One of the highlights includes an expanded emergency medical services facility that will house Mercy Ambulance and allow climate controlled patient delivery to the ED.
New registration offices will accommodate increased privacy by providing an intimate space for patients to talk with hospital staff. The emergency walk-in entrance will move towards the laboratory to decrease disruption to the ED and increase accessibility to the laboratory.
The $1.5-million project is being funded by capital funds from Wheaton Franciscan Healthcare – Iowa and contributions from donors to Mercy Foundation. All services at Mercy Hospital are expected to remain open during construction. Construction is expected to be completed after 18 months.
