Project funded by Boniface Foundation includes expanded NICU and larger rooms
South St. Louis County (April 2, 2019) – In order to better serve the needs of families, Mercy Hospital South will rebuild its entire labor and delivery unit. The improvements will include larger patient rooms, the latest technology and greater access to newborn services.
“Our goal is to create a destination for women in the south county community where they can receive comprehensive, exceptional care,” said Donna Frazier, Mercy Hospital South chief nursing officer.
To achieve that goal, Mercy will create 14 spacious labor, delivery, recovery and postpartum rooms (LDRPs) with new separate family waiting rooms close to the mothers’ LDRP rooms. This combination will provide mothers with additional space in their rooms while also meeting their privacy needs.
The rebuild also will include an eight-bed, level 2 neonatal intensive care unit (NICU), a relocated perinatal center, four triage rooms, renovated operating (c-section) rooms and space for future growth.
“Our physicians told us we needed to improve our service to begin the lifelong care that our patients and families expect. This project will meet those needs,” said Sean Hogan, Mercy Hospital South president.
The Boniface Foundation is making a generous donation to cover the $18 million cost of the project.
“We were aware that Mercy Hospital South was committed to making improvements in the mother/baby service, and Boniface Foundation is delighted to step up with the necessary funding to create the new space,” said Win Reed, Boniface Foundation chairman of the board. “Our hope is that moms, babies and families will find the new space to be inviting and comforting.”
“This is an extraordinary gift from the Boniface Foundation which is symbolic of a new beginning. Mercy and Mercy Hospital South have always been leaders in caring for women and children. This financial commitment will enable us to provide quality service in an environment close to those we serve in south county and beyond,” said Mike McCurry, Mercy executive vice president and chief operating officer.
Construction is planned in four phases beginning in late 2019 and lasting through early 2021.
Women who are planning for or are considering having a baby should visit mercy.net/SouthMotherBaby to download a baby on the way guide.
Mercy, named one of the top five large U.S. health systems in 2018, 2017 and 2016 by IBM Watson Health, serves millions annually. Mercy includes more than 40 acute care, managed and specialty (heart, children’s, orthopedic and rehab) hospitals, 900 physician practices and outpatient facilities, 45,000 co-workers and 2,400 Mercy Clinic physicians in Arkansas, Kansas, Missouri and Oklahoma. Mercy also has clinics, outpatient services and outreach ministries in Arkansas, Louisiana, Mississippi and Texas. In addition, Mercy’s IT division, Mercy Technology Services, supply chain organization, ROi, and Mercy Virtual commercially serve providers and patients in more than 20 states coast to coast.
