MASON CITY – Mercy has told its employees it is closing its North Iowa Hospice care center in Mason City, which has served the community for decades.
According to an internal email from Mercy obtained by NorthIowaToday.com:
MercyOne must reduce costs and redistribute resources to ensure we can continue to fulfill our Mission with a focus on providing high-quality patient care. Unfortunately, this requires difficult decisions for our organization. As a result, starting in April, hospice patients needing inpatient or respite services will receive their care at the east campus of MercyOne North Iowa Medical Center or one of our network hospitals. Hospice patients needing inpatient or respite care will be admitted to the current inpatient unit until April 17. After that date inpatient hospice care will be transferred to the main campus or appropriate site. There will be no interruption of inpatient or respite care for our hospice patients other than the transfer of that care to a different location. The hospice house will continue to be open for administrative and colleague services. Dr. Amir Sajadian will continue in his role as the medical director of hospice. Hospice referrals and admissions will follow regular processes at this time. Hospice outpatient care will not be affected and will continue as usual.
One local woman said upon hearing the news, “That is terrible. I have prayed at many bedsides in that house.”
Another local man stated, “What a wonderful caring staff and peaceful place to transition to the next life. I’m praying for a miracle to keep this place open.”
Still another local woman said, “That is beyond sad. Come on, Mercy One, the community deserves better than that.”
INTERNAL EMAIL TEXT:
It was only about a year and a half ago that Mercy celebrated its hospice care center… but all that is gone now:
