*Editor’s note: CBJ reporter Annie Barkalow is on-site today, Jan. 31, as the Mercy Iowa City to University of Iowa Health Care transition takes place. More reporting is to come.
Approximately 1,000 former Mercy Iowa City providers and team members joined University of Iowa Health Care (UI Health Care) Wednesday, Jan. 31, as ownership of Mercy Iowa City officially transitioned to UI Health Care, a news release confirmed.
“This marks a new and exciting chapter for health care in our state,” stated Denise Jamieson, MD, MPH, UI vice president for medical affairs and the Tyrone D. Artz Dean of the Carver College of Medicine, in the release. “This is an opportunity for UI Health Care to move toward a more integrated model of care, helping Iowans get the right care, at the right place, at the right time. Together we are stronger, and we will use our shared strengths to better serve Iowans.”
The transition of Mercy Iowa City’s 194-bed hospital campus and community clinics to UI Health Care follows many months of planning by leaders from both institutions.
“We have been working hard to make this transition as smooth as possible for staff, patients, providers, and community members,” said Bradley Haws, CEO of UI Hospitals & Clinics and associate vice president of UI Health Care, in the release. “Over the coming weeks, we will focus on welcoming our new colleagues, maintaining access, and providing continuity of care for patients. We remain committed to preserving Mercy Iowa City’s spirit of hospitality and we are actively listening to patients and community members to chart our path forward.”
Key information about the integration includes:
- Mercy Iowa City hospital will now be known as UI Health Care Medical Center Downtown.
- Most patients will not see any immediate changes. They should continue to schedule and go to appointments as usual.
- All employees in good standing were offered employment with UI Health Care. Though numbers were not made available to the CBJ.
- Community providers not employed by UI Health Care will continue to practice at the facility under an open medical staff model, according to the release.
This is a developing story.
