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The letter writer's appreciation is something we hear all the time. It's also something we've experienced personally. We are truly fortunate to have first-rate physicians, nurses and other medical specialists and a world-class hospital for its size in our community.
It's something we may take for granted but those who have lived here for a long time know it wasn't always the case. Fifty years ago, the medical community and our local hospital were much different than today. There were only a handful of doctors, no full-time doctors staffing the emergency room, virtually no specialists and our hospital wasn't the facility it is today. The doctors were general practitioners and did everything from delivering babies to performing some types of surgeries.
Back then, residents had to travel to St. Louis to receive treatment for serious illnesses. Times have changed. Today we have more than a hundred skilled physicians including specialists in a variety of medical disciplines that serve this area. Medical procedures that once had to be performed elsewhere are routinely performed at our hospital. Our hospital offers an impressive array of state-of-the-art services and equipment, which means residents don't have to drive or fly elsewhere for special medical care.
The hospital is much different today than it was 50 years ago. When the Sisters of Mercy took over the operations of the hospital in 1976, they brought with them the belief that every community should have the best possible hospital. They have continued to foster their commitment by expanding and updating the facility to meet the growing needs of our region. The Sisters understood that a top notch medical facility would attract and keep good doctors, nurses and staff. They recognized that a hospital can become an economic engine of a community by providing those stable, good-paying jobs that every community needs. That vision was right on.
The sisters also brought with them a commitment to compassion and excellence. No one is turned away regardless of the ability to pay. Under the Sisters of Mercy guidance, our hospital has developed a national reputation for quality care. St. John's Mercy Hospital is a five-time Top 100 hospital, placing the hospital in an elite group. The Top 100 designation identifies hospitals that meet the highest standards. St. John's Mercy Hospital is also the recipient of the 2005 Primaris Hospital Quality Award. This annual award is given to only one hospital in the state of Missouri for attaining high performance and commitment to improving services in four quality areas.
St. John's Mercy Hospital, and the doctors who practice there and in our community, prove that the best health care doesn't just happen in big cities.
If not today, some day, nearly everyone is going to need the services the hospital offers. It's good to know you can get quality medical care and treatment at home.
