Mercy Cedar Rapids

Mercy Cedar Rapids is Hiring! Check out these new opportunities, posted this week: • Clinic RN Hybrid , Mercy Family Counseling: https://bit.ly/4ctNpiA • Clinical Scribe - RN , Mercy Plastic Surgery Clinic: https://bit.ly/42wQJWG • Clinical Scribe - RN, Mercy Urology Clinic: https://bit.ly/4i2jzTc • CS Technician I - Non-Certified: https://bit.ly/42e25gP • Education Specialist II: https://bit.ly/4i2jIGe • Housekeeper: https://bit.ly/4cqfJlY • Lead Phlebotomy Technician: https://bit.ly/4lmBpn2 • Pathology Office Associate: https://bit.ly/3E4X5mS • Patient Advocate: https://bit.ly/4id2Qgo • Patient Care Tech: https://bit.ly/3FUFJcW • Patient Service Coordinator, Mercy Family Counseling: https://bit.ly/42kln4r • Talent Acquisition Consultant, Human Resources: https://bit.ly/44duuGp • Telecom Operator: https://bit.ly/3R5RW0G • Unit Secretary, Emergency Department: https://bit.ly/3FSVnp0 • Clinical Scribe - RN , North Liberty: https://bit.ly/3YjXdWi • Manager, Clinic Operations I, Medical District: https://bit.ly/41ZPgYN

Recently, two Mercy nurse practitioners traveled to Washington, D.C. for the annual American Association of Nurse Practitioners Heath Policy Conference and to lobby for their profession. MercyCare South's Ryan Winder, ARNP, FNP-C, and MercyCare Johnson Avenue's Nikki Sporrer, ARNP, DNP, FNP-BC, were two of the five nurse practitioners from the state of Iowa to attend. They spent their last day on Capitol Hill meeting with Sen. Grassley and aides to Sen. Ernst and Rep. Hinson. "We urged them to cosponsor several bills that would eliminate federal barriers for nurse practitioners from practicing at the full extent of our education and licensure when caring for our patients with Medicare and Medicaid," Ryan said. Thank you, Ryan and Nikki, for advocating for our advanced practice providers and the patients they care for!

Some interesting history today, courtesy of Sister Susan: -- We are now one-third of the way through our quasquicentennial celebration — meaning Mercy will be celebrating 125 years of continuous service on November 14, 2025. Also in 2025, the Sisters of Mercy will be celebrating the 150th anniversary of their arrival in Cedar Rapids. Although they originally came to Cedar Rapids to teach, it wasn’t long until they found themselves in the world of Catholic healthcare. Less than 20 years after their arrival, the Sisters of Mercy took over the running of the hospital in Anamosa, which was known as “Dr. Gawley’s institution.” From 1894 until 1905, the Sisters rented the building in Anamosa and purchased it in 1905. The original building was nearly destroyed in 1902 due to a fire. During the reconstruction phase, patients were cared for in private homes. For nearly 90 years (1884-1981), the Sisters of Mercy served at the Anamosa Hospital with a strong relationship with the city leaders. In 1981, the Sisters sold the hospital to the City of Anamosa. Since that time, a new hospital has been built and is part of UnityPoint Health system. Most people are not familiar with the Kalispell General Hospital in Kalispell, Mont. The invitation to establish a hospital in Kalispell was not immediately accepted because of the vast distance from Cedar Rapids. On August 3, 1910, the Sisters entered into a contract with the members of the board for the Kalispell General Hospital Corporation to help construct and operate the hospital. In a speech celebrating the 50th anniversary of the Kalispell Hospital, Sister Mary Lawrence said the first Sisters in Kalispell “faced grim and cruel reality,” but were supported by “the people and the doctors who gave them — the first Sisters — the courage to face the hardships that were part of the founding of the hospital.” In 1973, the Kalispell General Hospital was sold to the City of Kalispell. The hospital is still in existence and is now part of a system called Logan Health. It wasn’t until 1926 that Mercy Hospital in Oelwein became a reality as a 33-bed hospital. The first staff in Oelwein consisted of three Sisters of Mercy and two nurses sent from Mercy Hospital in Cedar Rapids. Similar to the Anamosa Hospital, the Oelwein Hospital also experienced a devastating fire and was able to recover. A 1961 editorial in the local newspaper stated: “The Oelwein area is fortunate indeed to be served by a hospital that is operated by a religious order … Unfortunately, we tend to take for granted the service Mercy Hospital makes available.” In 1982, the hospital was sold to Wheaton Franciscan Sisters and is now part of the MercyOne system. As we celebrate 125 years, we remember other Mercy Hospitals that did not achieve that wonderful milestone.

Please join us in welcoming Shannon Throndson, MD, to MercyCare North Liberty! Dr. Throndson earned her bachelor of science in Biology from Luther College in 1994 and her doctor of medicine from the University of Iowa Carver College of Medicine in 1998. She brings a wealth of experience to her role, having previously served as a family practice physician and a mentor in continued education settings. Learn more about Dr. Throndson at: https://lnkd.in/dUaXAWPc

National Doctors’ Day is March 30. Please join us in thanking the physicians, physician assistants, and nurse practitioners for their exceptional dedication to improving the health of our patients and for helping make Cedar Rapids one of the top cities in the U.S. for quality healthcare. Saying "thank you" is easy! Send a note of thanks to your favorite provider(s) at: https://lnkd.in/ghS35gNq. You may include your name or leave this field blank to remain anonymous. You are welcome to submit the form multiple times for multiple notes. All notes will be distributed to the providers throughout the year. Thank you for caring for your caregiver! Grateful Patient Giving through the Mercy Foundation is another way to show appreciation and recognize outstanding care. Whether you choose to honor a specific staff member or an entire department, your donation is a meaningful expression of gratitude. Your gift may support patient care in areas of greatest need (unrestricted), or in a department or service line of special meaning – it’s up to you. Notice of gifts made in this way are shared with the care providers and service areas involved. Learn more about Grateful Patient Giving at https://lnkd.in/gbFnTUw or donate now online at https://lnkd.in/ebr9v7Fj.

Mercy General Surgeon Sajida Ahad, MD, FACS, recently completed her 1,000th surgery utilizing the state-of-the-art da Vinci® robotic surgical system! Dr. Ahad specializes in general and bariatric surgeries, as well as gastrointestinal cancers. This significant achievement underscores her dedication to advancing surgical care and her commitment to patient-centered outcomes. The da Vinci® Surgical System represents a significant advancement in minimally invasive surgery by allowing surgeons to perform complex procedures with enhanced precision and control. The system’s robotic arms provide a greater range of motion than the human hand, and its 3D, high-definition vision system offers a magnified view of the surgical area. These features contribute to improved clinical outcomes, including reduced blood loss, shorter hospital stays and decreased postoperative discomfort. Read more at: https://lnkd.in/gqQKJxyj Congratulations to Dr. Ahad and her team!

Returning to work after having a baby is a significant transition that requires both practical and emotional adjustments. Regardless of how long you’ve been on maternity leave, reentering the workforce can feel full of mixed emotions. For many new parents, this is a time to balance career ambitions, family responsibilities and personal well-being. Here are some key strategies to help make the return to work smoother and more fulfilling: https://lnkd.in/gRZr6k52

Recently, members of Mercy's Organizational Development team and Chief Nursing Officer, Molly, joined our President & CEO, Dr. Quinn, for the Iowa Hospital Association's Day on the Hill in Des Moines. Alongside staff from other hospitals across the state, the Mercy representatives advocated for legislation to protect hospital staff and nursing students from violence, in addition to discussing other important topics. The team spoke with one of our legislators and asked for his support to keep nurses and other staff members safe from violence at work. Thank you to this group and Dr. Quinn (not pictured here) for advocating on behalf of all healthcare workers!

Today, we celebrate Hospice volunteer Dennis! He turned 90 years old this month, and the team at Hospice made sure to celebrate their long-time helper. Dennis began volunteering with Hospice of Mercy in 1990 at the encouragement of his wife, Pat, who was one of the department's first volunteers. He still faithfully volunteers every week in her memory and now welcomes people visiting their loved ones at the Dennis & Donna Oldorf Hospice House of Mercy. Happy belated birthday, Dennis! We appreciate all you do for our team and the families at Hospice House.

Please join us in welcoming Mallory Richardson, DNP, ARNP, BC, to MercyCare Internist Associates of Iowa. Mallory brings a wealth of nursing experience, with expertise in emergency medicine and telemetry. Learn more about her at: https://lnkd.in/gdwWWKx5 Welcome to the team, Mallory!