Mercy Hospital of Buffalo
Connections
News and announcements for associates, patients, and their families. Fall 2018
It’s That Special Mercy Touch!
Catholic Health President & CEO Mark Sullivan visits with participants of the Heart Smart for Life wellness program at the MCCC primary care facility.
More than 100 people attended a dedication ceremony for the Heart Center’s new cardiac surgical suites located in a newly-constructed addition to the hospital. Pictured above, Rev. Monsignor Robert Zapfel blesses the state-of-the-art suites.
There are lots of good things happening at the Mercy Comprehensive Care Center (MCCC) located in Buffalo’s Old First Ward. One of these is the Heart Smart for Life program, a free wellness program that began in 2017 with a goal to positively impact the health of the surrounding community. And, most recently, Mercy Hospital, Food Bank of WNY, and Catholic Charities collaborated on a new “Mobile” Food Pantry at the MCCC delivering thousands of pounds of fresh fruits and vegetables to nearby residents.
Cardiac Suites Are “Heart” of New Addition
A free monthly service that is scheduled the fourth Wednesday of each month (except November and December), the Mobile Food Pantry serves as an offshoot of the nearby Catholic Charities Food Pantry, and is the first healthcare-based distribution site for the Food Bank in the Buffalo region. “We are pleased to be part of this collaborative effort with the Food Bank and Catholic Charities to help create a healthier community,” said Mercy Hospital President & CEO C.J. Urlaub. “Residents have access to healthier foods plus can take advantage of a Continued on Page 4
The Catholic Health Heart Center at Mercy Hospital recently held a blessing and dedication ceremony for its two new cardiac surgical suites, housed in a newly-constructed 24,000 square foot, two-story addition to the hospital. This $12.5 million project was designed to modernize and expand surgical services to support the ongoing growth of the Heart Center. At 1,058 square feet, the new cardiac surgical suites are more than double the size of the hospital’s existing ORs. The additional space enhances patient and staff safety by allowing equipment to be centered around the surgical field, while providing ample area for staff to circulate around the perimeter. The suites feature new boom mounted gases, monitors, lights and video system, as well as a nurse workstation that controls lighting, image display and video functions. In addition, the project resulted in expanded storage space for Surgical Services and the creation of a new loading dock for the hospital. “As a tertiary referral center serving the region, Mercy Hospital continues to respond to the needs of our community,” said C.J. Urlaub, President and CEO of Mercy Hospital. “This investment in cardiac surgical suites, equipped with the most advanced technology available, demonstrates our commitment to provide the highest quality patient care.” The Heart Center was recognized among U.S. News Report’s 2018 Best Hospitals as a High Performing Hospital for Heart Bypass Surgery. The Heart Center has also earned a distinguished three-star rating for coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG) from the Society of Thoracic Surgeons (STS) based on its patient care and outcomes in the 2017 reporting period.