History
In October 2018, St. Mary Medical Center, Saint Francis Healthcare, and the three hospitals of Mercy Health System of Southeastern Pennsylvania, joined together as one regional health system. Mercy Health System was founded by theMercy Catholic Medical Center – Mercy Fitzgerald Campus
Mercy Fitzgerald, part of Trinity Health Mid-Atlantic, is a 204-bed teaching hospital located in Darby, Pa., which offers advanced acute care services in Delaware County and Southwest Philadelphia. In 2015, the hospital admitted 8,834 patients, cared for 41,855 people in the Emergency Department, and saw 166,028 outpatient registrations. Mercy Fitzgerald is home to comprehensive heart and vascular care, cancer care, bariatrics, orthopedics and ambulatory services, advanced diagnostic and interventional radiology, diabetes education, a sleep center, orthopedics, wound care, acute inpatient rehabilitation, physical and occupational therapy. In 2012, a retail pharmacy was opened on Mercy Fitzgerald's campus and the hospital established a Mercy Cancer Center featuring a new Infusion Center. In 2013, a new Endoscopy Center opened with the advanced capabilities to diagnose and treat digestive disorders. The hospital also works collaboratively with first responders and local organizations to be a healing presence in its communities, especially in times of emergencies and disasters. In 2012, it was named the recipient of the Corporate Humanitarian Award from the American Red Cross Southeastern Pennsylvania Chapter.History
In 1922, local banker and businessman Thomas M. Fitzgerald willed his property and funds to establish a hospital on Lansdowne Avenue in Darby, Pa. Seven years later, May Fitzgerald used $1.25 million from her late husband's trust and worked with the Archdiocese of Philadelphia to plan Delaware County's first Catholic hospital. Ground broke in 1932 and a year later, 30,000 people witnessed the dedication of the hospital, known at that time as Fitzgerald Mercy Hospital. To manage hospital operations, the Archdiocese drew upon the vast health care experience of the Sisters of Mercy—who had already experienced great success with Misericordia Hospital (now Mercy Philadelphia Hospital) that was established 15 years earlier in West Philadelphia. The Sisters agreed to rent Mercy Fitzgerald Hospital from the Archdiocese for $1 a year. Mercy Fitzgerald was the first to introduce a hospital-administered Home Care Program in 1969, first to open an inpatient psychiatric facility in 1977, and one of the first to provide paramedic services in the early 1980s. In more recent years, the hospital was the first in the County to install the cutting-edge 64-Slice CT scanner and the first in the region to launch photo ID bracelets for patients as part of efforts to improve patient safety.Mercy Catholic Medical Center – Mercy Philadelphia Campus
Mercy Philadelphia (formerly Misericordia Hospital), is a 157-bed community teaching hospital, founded by the Sisters of Mercy in 1909,which serves the communities ofHistory
In the summer of 1913, Mother M. Hildegarde, a Sister of Mercy, was asked by Archbishop Prendergast if the Sisters would manage a hospital in West Philadelphia; they accepted. Negotiations were begun for acquiring the lot at 54th Street and Cedar Avenue in West Philadelphia, at a cost ofNazareth Hospital
Nazareth Hospital, established in 1940 by the Sisters of the Holy Family of Nazareth, serves Northeast Philadelphia with 205 acute beds and 28 skilled nursing beds. In 2012, Nazareth expanded the community's access to emergency hip fracture repair and cardiovascular care with its therapeutic hypothermia program. An affiliate of Penn Cardiac Care, Nazareth continued to provide emergency angioplasty for patients suffering heart attacks, as well as heart diagnostics, a cath lab, a Vein Center and the Center of Wound Healing and Hyperbaric Medicine. Nazareth launched a Balance Program to prevent falls and improve quality of life for people with conditions that place them at risk.History
To meet the healthcare needs of Northeast Philadelphia, the Sisters of the Holy Family of Nazareth prepared to open a hospital, by sending members of the Congregation to train at hospitals throughout the country, and by raising money to build. After six years of preparation, the Sisters founded Nazareth Hospital in 1940. On March 9, Nazareth Hospital opened with 116 beds and at a cost of $800,000—financed solely by the Sisters, their families and friends. Recognizing the necessity of partnering to strengthen the base on which the hospital was founded and of maintaining the Catholic identity of Nazareth Hospital, the Sisters transferred ownership of Nazareth Hospital to the Franciscan Health System on March 1, 1995. In 1996, through the Franciscan Health System, Nazareth Hospital became a member of Catholic Health Initiatives. In 2001, Catholic Health Initiatives transferred ownership of several facilities, Nazareth Hospital among them, to Catholic Health East (CHE). Through this transfer, Nazareth became a member of Mercy Health System, a member of CHE. In 2013 CHE joined together with Trinity Health of Livonia, Mich., to form one Catholic health system.Mercy LIFE (Living Independence for the Elderly)
Mercy LIFE is a nationally recognized Program of All-inclusive Care for the Elderly (PACE). Mercy LIFE has provided a community based long-term care program for frail elders who reside in South Philadelphia, since 2001 and began serving North Philadelphia in early 2009. The program serves seniors with a range of health conditions such as chronic illness, memory loss, difficulty providing personal care such as bathing and dressing, and more. Mercy LIFE also operates Adult Day Centers, which offer preventive healthcare as well as observe and respond to changes in each senior's health. Mercy LIFE's services include primary care and physician specialist services, nursing care, prescribed medications, dental care, mental health services, physical, occupational and speech therapies, along with vision, hearing and foot care.History
In 1998, the first Mercy LIFE center opened on Columbus Boulevard with just seven participants, a few staff members, and one vehicle to provide transportation. A second center was opened in 2005. The program motivated seniors to remain active and improve their quality of life, and additional Centers were opened in North Philadelphia and Delaware County.Mercy Home Health
Mercy Home Health operates in Bucks County, Chester County, Delaware County, Montgomery County and Philadelphia County and serves over 27,000 people in the Philadelphia five-county area. Mercy Home Health provides services to support the ongoing treatment of heart, cancer, orthopedic conditions and much more. Healthcare services include: Palliative Care, Rehabilitation Therapy, In-Home Telemonitoring, Skilled Home Nursing, Post-Partum Care and Support Services.References
External links
* {{Official website, https://www.trinityhealthma.org/ Medical and health organizations based in Pennsylvania Non-profit organizations based in Pennsylvania Catholic hospital networks in the United States