WHEREAS
, On July 2, 1918, Mercy Philadelphia Hospital opened its doors and for ninety years served the healthcare needs of the people of West and Southwest Philadelphia; and
WHEREAS
, Founded by the Sisters of Mercy, Mercy Philadelphia Hospital is a thriving acute care facility whose physicians, nurses and staff continue the Sisters’ mission; and
WHEREAS
, A member of Mercy Health System, the Hospital provides for over 11,000 inpatient admissions annually in its 214 licensed acute care beds, and 68,000 outpatient cases per year; and
WHEREAS
, Mercy Philadelphia Hospital boasts one of the busiest Emergency Departments in the City, running well over 43, 000 visits a year; and
WHEREAS
, Mercy is a major employer in the area with more than 33% of Mercy’s employees coming from the surrounding neighborhood; and
WHEREAS
, Committed to educating the next generation of healthcare leaders, Mercy has ninety-six residents in internal medicine, radiology, surgery, neurology, and gynecology. And through an agreement with Drexel University College of Medicine, Mercy trains future emergency room physicians; and
WHEREAS
, Through a longstanding association with the Department of Health, Mercy works with Health Districts 3 and 4, serving as an invaluable resource for patients who experience difficulty in accessing care; and
WHEREAS
, As a community hospital, Mercy works hard to be a good neighbor and is particularly proud of its relationship with several Welfare to Work Programs and is proud of its success rate in hiring several of the programs’ participants. And local school children benefit from volunteer experiences throughout the school year as well as in an intensive six week Summer Youth Program; and
WHEREAS
, Mercy’s Community Outreach Programs provide vitally needed health education and prevention, as well as disease management services. And the Mercy Ambulatory Center serves those members of the community who would otherwise not have access to healthcare resources; and
WHEREAS
, The mission of Mercy Philadelphia Hospital is rooted in the healing ministry of Jesus, the tradition of the Sisters of Mercy, and the Roman Catholic tradition; and
WHEREAS
, Aligned with the vision of Mercy Health System, Mercy Philadelphia seeks to be a leading provider of compassionate care and community access to quality health services that improve the health of individuals and communities; and
WHEREAS
, Mercy holds as most sacred, its faithfulness to Catherine McAuley’s vision that her sisters care for the sick with great tenderness; and
WHEREAS
, This valiant woman, the founder of the Sisters of Mercy, enjoined them to have a special love for people who are poor, sick and uneducated; and
WHEREAS
, Today, Catherine’s legacy is lived out daily by the over one thousand employees of Mercy Philadelphia Hospital who lovingly care for the community with compassion and competence; now therefore, be it
RESOLVED,
That the Philadelphia City Council hereby Recognizes and Honors Mercy Philadelphia Hospital on the Occasion of its 90th Anniversary
.
FURTHER RESOLVED,
That an Engrossed copy of this resolution be presented as a sincere expression of City Council’s Recognition and Appreciation.
End