Mercy Medical Center (Springfield)

Mercy Medical Center (also known as Mercy Medical, or Mercy Hospital,) is located in Springfield, Massachusetts. Run by the Sisters of Providence Health System, Mercy Hospital is a faith-based, non-profit organization serving patients regardless of background, beliefs, or ability to pay. Mercy Medical Center is known for its tradition of holistic health care, combined with its state-of-the-art medical technology. As of 2011, Mercy Medical Center is ranked Among the Top 100 U.S. Hospitals. ^[1]

In independent studies, Mercy scores very high in patient care and quality measures, (such as clinical performance and outcomes,) while charges and costs are consistently lower than other hospitals in Western Massachusetts, Massachusetts, and throughout the Knowledge Corridor. ^[2]

Mission

Like other hospitals in the Sisters of Providence Health System, (a member of Catholic Health East,) Mercy is a community of persons committed to being a transforming, healing presence within the Knowledge Corridor metropolitan area. Mercy Medical Center advocate public policies and initiatives, particularly those in the area of health care, that ensure quality of life for all - in line with the Catholic faith.

Mercy's "core values" include: reverence for each person; community; justice; commitment to the poor; stewardship; courage; and integrity. ^[3]

History

Today’s Sisters of Providence originated from another community of religious women, the Sisters of Providence of Saint Vincent de Paul in Kingston, Ontario, Canada. Two Sisters from the Canadian community approached Reverend Patrick J. Harkins, pastor of Holyoke, Massachusetts' St. Jerome’s Church, in September 1873, asking permission to solicit funds from his parishioners. Granting their request, he in turn asked the Sisters to petition their superiors to send others from their community to establish a Holyoke mission. He wanted the new mission to address the needs of the hundreds of poor Irish and Scottish immigrants and mill workers living in Holyoke.

On November 7, 1873, four Sisters arrived to establish the Holyoke mission. Within a week they accepted the first orphan to their House of Providence and it was not long before city officials were sending the needy and infirm to them for care and shelter. From this "House of Providence," Mercy Medical Center in Springfield developed. ^[4]

References

1. ^ http://www.mercycares.com/pages.asp?id=6
2. ^ http://www.mercycares.com/pages.asp?id=6
3. ^ http://www.mercycares.com/pages.asp?id=145
4. ^ http://www.mercycares.com/pages.asp?id=171