Mercy recognized by Kansas Senate for its long service
TOPEKA -- The Sisters of Mercy received a standing ovation Thursday on the Kansas Senate floor following the passage of a resolution honoring their 125-year health care ministry to the state.
Senate Resolution No. 1834 was sponsored by Sens. Dwayne Umbarger, Bob Marshall, Pat Apple and Jeff King, all of whose districts are served by a Mercy hospital.
The resolution acknowledged the Sisters' service in Fort Scott for the past 125 years, in Independence for 85 years, and now in Columbus, where the Maude-Norton hospital has been in operation for 90 years. The Columbus facility became part of Mercy in 2009, a news release said.
Marshall, R-Fort Scott, acknowledged Mercy Hospital Fort Scott as a "good neighbor" and a major asset to that community and surrounding area.
He also congratulated the hospital on the recent opening of its Cancer Care Unit of Hope, noting it will provide a critical service to many patients in need, the release said.
"Mercy Hospital has been a bedrock in Independence for more than 80 years, and I applaud the Sisters for their work to provide much-needed health care services to our area over this long history," King, R-Independence, said in the release.
King also noted Mercy's participation in "Project 17," a coordinated initiative to engage a 17-county area of Southeast Kansas in health and wellness improvement based on recent years' data indicating declining health and at-risk lifestyles among residents.
Sisters of Mercy Annrene Brau and Margaret Andrews, both from Independence, were on hand at the Senate session for the reading of the resolution, along with several other Independence and Fort Scott co-workers, including: Eric Ammons and Reta Baker, Mercy Hospital Independence and Fort Scott presidents, respectively; and William James Schafer, director of Pastoral Services for both hospitals.
Also attending from Fort Scott were Karen Endicott-Coyan, Mercy Kansas Communities director of reimbursement and Kansas state advocacy coordinator; Dale Cation, director of facilities maintenance; Dena Splitter, education and organizational development supervisor; and Mary Wynn, infection prevention and employee health nurse; and from Independence, Joanne Cox, senior marketing and communications specialist; Patti Doncouse, emergency department director; and Mary Schmidt, director of ancillary services.