Mercy Cedar Rapids announces 2nd off-site ED
New Marion location follows success of Hiawatha ED
Mercy Cedar Rapids is pleased to announce it will once again expand its emergency services by building its second off-site, hospital-based extension of its Emergency Department. The new site, located at 3701 Katz Dr. off 10th Avenue in Marion, will be conveniently located next to the MercyCare Marion clinic.
The new location is being developed after the successful model of Mercy’s Hiawatha Emergency location, which opened in 2020 and was the first ED in Iowa available outside of a hospital-based setting.
“Patient and public response to the Hiawatha location has been extremely positive,” said Timothy Quinn, MD, Mercy’s president & CEO. “Patient satisfaction scores for our Hiawatha ED are impressive, with nearly 90 percent of patients indicating they would recommend it to others. The greater Hiawatha community has also been tremendously supportive; people really love the convenience and service the location has provided, and our goal is to replicate that for other communities.”
Dr. Quinn says development of the new facility also fits naturally with Mercy’s mission to care for the sick and enhance the health of our community, guided by the spirit of the Sisters of Mercy.
Mercy officials say the new Marion ED location is the result of extensive consumer research and multi-year planning. The development is in response to the changes within the community and the need for more capacity, which was especially evident during the height of this most recent respiratory illness season. Building another off-site ED location also helps the hospital’s main Emergency Department, which has seen growth and was facing the prospect of having to expand. This model also allows Mercy to locate services closer to patients for their most emergent needs, rather than expanding one site at the hospital.
“Healthcare is challenging us to continue to think differently about how and where patients want to receive care,” Dr. Quinn said. “This new ED location reflects our commitment to adjusting how we provide care based on what is best for the community. We’re being responsive to what patients are telling us they want for healthcare services. Marion is the perfect location for us to expand; the new ED location will provide easier access to a growing community with the major access points of highways 151 and 13 nearby.”
“We continue to see more ED patients than any other provider of emergency services in Linn County and building on that experience is exciting,” said Dr. Matthew Aucutt, medical director, Mercy Emergency Services. “We are pleased to provide a convenient, high-quality option for life-saving care for residents in and around Marion.”
The new Marion location will be open 24 hours a day, seven days a week, 365 days a year and will offer on-site radiology and lab services. The Marion ED is anticipated to open in 2024.
Existing staff will transfer to this new location to support this extended service. Mercy also plans to add additional staffing to provide the highest level of care.
