Local Family Donates $1 Million to Renovate Mercy Emergency Room

Mercy Medical Center is pleased to announce a $1 million donation from a Cedar Rapids couple to support the renovation of the hospital’s downtown Emergency Room waiting area. This substantial gift will offer ER patients convenient access and comfortable surroundings in Mercy’s state-of-the-art facilities.

The couple, their four adult daughters and seven grandchildren have been grateful patients of Mercy Medical Center for several decades. The couple, who have chosen not to be named at this time, said their gift to the hospital reflected their appreciation for the exceptional care they had received at Mercy. Throughout the last 21 years, the family has consistently supported Mercy both personally and through their family business.

“We are incredibly grateful for this family’s unwavering support and their significant philanthropic investment in the community,” said Dr. Matthew Aucutt, medical director, Mercy Emergency Services. “We recognize that the ER serves as our front door to the community and is often the first encounter with Mercy for many. This donation will enable us to update and enhance our Emergency Room waiting area, ensuring we continue to provide the best access, convenience, safety, and comfort to our patients and their families when they need it most.”

The renovation of the Emergency Room is set to begin in August. The improvements are aimed at creating a more efficient, secure, and comfortable environment for both patients and medical staff. During construction, the waiting area will be temporarily relocated to a nearby space. The ER will remain open and fully operational.

More than 50,000 patients choose Mercy each year for emergency care. In addition to Mercy’s main emergency department in downtown Cedar Rapids, the hospital also operates an off-site ER in Hiawatha and is currently building another stand-alone ER facility in Marion, which is scheduled to open later this year. This project will elevate the patient experience at Mercy’s downtown ER and provide alignment across the three locations.