Mercy holds dedication of new heart center

By RENEE WEBB, Globe editor
November 27, 2003

Hospital and community leaders gathered Nov. 19 for the formal dedication of the new Mercy Heart Center located in downtown Sioux City.

"This is truly an exciting and memorable day in Mercy's longstanding history," said Peter Makowski, Mercy president and CEO. "Today, cardiac care in Siouxland enters a new era. Mercy is firmly committed to making advance cardiac care available to all residents of Siouxland based on state-of-the-art standards and world class models. This is our pledge and our promise."

The addition of this $25 million complex that houses Mercy's cardiovascular program and offices for physicians and staff members of Cardiovascular Associates, he said, would only strengthen that longstanding commitment.

"Simply put, we built this new state-of-the-art facility for you and for your family and for our regional community as it is our pleasure to serve you," said Makowski. "It is our hope that the services provided in this facility will extend and enhance the lives of many. We built this facility because, clearly, it was the right thing to do."

While the building - its bricks, mortar and windows - received the attention at the dedication, the hospital president urged those gathered to remember the commitment of all the people who provided care at the facility from physicians to nurses and other healthcare professionals embody the real success and care of the world-class care that will be provided at the new heart center.

He commended the healthcare workers for their care, compassion and commitment.

"As we celebrate this day, we are very mindful of our mission - to work with others to continue the healing ministry of the church, promoting the well-being of the people in the communities in which we serve. And we are always proud to say that Mercy is a faith-based organization," stressed Makowski. "As we dedicate this new facility today, we welcome the spirit of God into it."

Bishop Daniel N. DiNardo led the invocation for the occasion. He offered a special blessing and sprinkled the building with holy water.

Dr. Wayne Barnes, chairperson for Mercy Medical Center's board of directors, pointed out that Mercy is a community-based, non-profit organization that "acts in the greatest tradition of our founder, Sister Catherine McAuley. As she envisioned, Mercy exists first and foremost to care for our patients. We want to provide quality care based on state-of-the-art standards in a manner that not only meets but exceeds the expectations of our patients and their families. This caring is the basis for the dedication to a faith-inspired, service and healing organization."

Makowski stressed that Mercy was pleased to share space in the new heart center with Cardiovascular Associates (CVA), a physicians group "committed to providing cardiac care of the highest quality."

Dr. Stephen Zumbrun, an interventional cardiologist in practice with Cardiovascular Associates, said the new heart center was the result of good teamwork between Mercy and CVA.

"This truly is a great day for cardiology in Sioux City and the surrounding area. As physicians, we are extremely grateful and thankful to partner with Mercy Medical Center. They have supported cardiology in this community for 25 years," he said.

Sioux City Mayor Craig Berenstein and representatives of the Siouxland Chamber of Commerce were on hand for the dedication and ribbon cutting ceremony.

The Mercy Heart Center was designed by the Milwaukee-based architectural firm of Hammel, Green and Abrahamson (HGA). Kraus-Anderson Construction of St. Paul, Minn. served as the construction manager for the project.

A public open house was held from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Nov. 23. Tours were provided. Jon Timmis serves as the executive director of the Mercy Heart Center.