Mercy Medical Center has announced a $1 million donation from a Cedar Rapids couple to support the renovation of the hospital’s downtown emergency room waiting area.
According to a release, the donation will offer ER patients convenient access and comfortable surroundings in Mercy’s emergency room facilities.
The couple, their four adult daughters and seven grandchildren have been patients of Mercy Medical Center for several decades. The couple, who have chosen to remain anonymous, said their gift to the hospital reflected their appreciation for the exceptional care they had received at Mercy.
The family has consistently supported Mercy, both personally and through their family business, throughout the last 21 years, according to hospital officials.
“We are incredibly grateful for this family’s unwavering support and their significant philanthropic investment in the community,” said Mercy Emergency Services medical director Dr. Matthew Aucutt. “We recognize that the ER serves as our front door to the community and is often the first encounter with Mercy for many. This donation will enable us to update and enhance our emergency room waiting area, ensuring we continue to provide the best access, convenience, safety, and comfort to our patients and their families when they need it most.”
The renovation of the emergency room, set to begin in August, is aimed at creating a more efficient, secure, and comfortable environment for both patients and medical staff.
During construction, the waiting area will be temporarily relocated to a nearby space. The ER will remain open and fully operational.
Mercy’s emergency room serves more than 50,000 patients each year. In addition to Mercy’s main emergency department in downtown Cedar Rapids, the hospital also operates an off-site ER in Hiawatha and is currently building another standalone ER facility in Marion, which is scheduled to open later this year.
The downtown project will improve the patient experience at Mercy’s downtown ER, as well as providing alignment across the three ER locations.
