Mercy Memorial Hospital, a Champaign County staple since the early 1950s, has changed its name to Mercy Health – Urbana Hospital.
According to a news release issued by Mercy Health on Monday, the name change will highlight the hospital’s alignment with Ohio’s largest health system, while maintaining its ties to the local community.
“All of the system’s services in Clark and Champaign counties now fall under the Mercy Health umbrella rather than the former regional name of Community Mercy Health Partners,” the release states. “The change is part of a ministry evolution to one unified team, focused on high-quality care, increased efficiencies and lower patient costs.”
Other Mercy Health facilities in Cincinnati, Toledo and Youngstown have undergone the name transition, while the Lima and Lorain sites will do the same in the coming months. Kentucky locations will make the name transition in 2018.
“Our new name is a symbol of the new way we are working together to improve the health of the communities we serve,” said Jamie Houseman, president of Mercy Health – Urbana Hospital. “With all of our regions together, we have an incredible story to share.”
Ranked nationally in the top 20 percent of health systems for clinical quality and efficiency, according to the release, the new name will help Mercy Health “more effectively communicate its mission, results and stories.”
The release states, “True to its mission, Mercy Health provides nearly $1 million per day in community benefit to those patients who need services but cannot otherwise afford them.”
Mercy Health’s economic impact
From an economic standpoint, the release notes a recent independent survey revealed Mercy Health provides nearly $9 billion in annual economic benefit in Ohio.
Locally, the hospital’s impact on the community over the past 60-plus years hasn’t gone unnoticed.
Champaign Economic Partnership Executive Director Marcia Bailey said residents of Urbana and Champaign County are “fortunate” to have a hospital right in their own back yard.
“Mercy is our community hospital, and the rebranding will assist in that identification,” she said. “Mercy Health – Urbana Hospital is a great asset, and their continual investment and new technology offers many services that are needed.”
Having an employer the size of Mercy Health continuing to improve its presence in the area is something Bailey doesn’t take lightly.
“The hospital provides many jobs to our area which are vital to our economic stability,” she said.
Locally, the transition from Mercy Memorial Hospital, which opened in 1951, to Mercy Health – Urbana Hospital will be completed in the coming months with facility names, signage, employee name badges and uniforms displaying Mercy Health.
“We start with our patients at the center of every decision,” Houseman said. “Working together with other Mercy Health regions improves our ability to maximize our clinical quality and cost effectiveness and allows us to improve the overall experience patients and their families have when they seek our services in times of need.”
More enhancements
Houseman added the following steps have taken place or are scheduled to occur at the hospital:
•Upgrade the front entrance facing Scioto Street.
•The McConnell Inpatient Unit has been renovated with a fresh new look with new flooring, paint and artwork. It’s part of a three-step process. The emergency department will receive the same treatment this fall, followed by Same Day Surgery.
•Plans are underway to provide robotic surgery at Urbana Hospital. Specially trained surgeons are expected to start providing minimally invasive robotic procedures by early next year.
•The hospital will operate a geriatric psychiatry unit (referred to as geropsych) within adjoining McAuley Senior Living by the end of the year. The short-term inpatient treatment program is intended for individuals 55 and older. The service meets a need for residents of Champaign and Clark counties, who now must travel to Dayton, Columbus, Cincinnati or Sidney to meet that need.
“This hospital has meant so much to the community for many decades,” Houseman said. “We’ve been blessed with the support of the wonderful Mercy Memorial Hospital Association and community leaders. Our name change is symbolic of our continued growth to meet the needs of Champaign County.”
The community will be able to see and learn more about the new advancements at an open house to be held from 4 to 6:30 p.m. on Nov. 15.
