Mission In Action

In 1908 The Sisters of Charity of St. Augustine joined with area physicians to convert President McKinley’s former home into Stark County’s first and only faith-based hospital. Over a century later, Mercy Medical Center remains committed to its original purpose: to continue Christ’s healing ministry by providing quality, compassionate, accessible and affordable care for the whole person.

Mercy Medical Center provided $19 million of community benefit in 2009.
At Mercy Medical Center, we continue to be responsive to the needs of the community, including the provision of care for all, regardless of their ability to pay. It’s foundational to the hope we share with those we serve.

Mercy follows the Catholic Health Association (CHA) model for measuring and reporting community benefit. The CHA model includes charity care at cost, unpaid cost of Medicaid (the difference between the cost of Medicaid patients’ care and the payment by Medicaid) and community activities and contributions.

The Ohio Hospital Association Community Benefit Report follows the same guidelines. This total does not include “bad debt,” although most of Mercy’s and many other hospitals’ bad debt results from the unfortunate situation faced by uninsured or underinsured patients who cannot afford to pay their hospital bills, but do not qualify for Medicare, Medicaid or charity care. This number ($11.2 million in 2009 for Mercy) had been growing each year as more and more Americans did not have adequate health insurance coverage.

Pastoral Care
During hospitalization, patients and their families often grapple with significant life issues. Mercy Pastoral Care Department offers help as people explore those issues in a safe, confidential environment. Chaplains are trained and certified for hospital ministry and provide a caring, listening presence for patients, their family members and staff regardless of faith traditions.

Environmental Stewardship
Catholic Health Association considers environmental concerns to be mission related and encourages hospitals to take action. Mercy Medical Center earned the Energy Star designation–the national mark of excellence in performance–from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and the U.S. Department of Energy’s joint program.

In addition to energy management, Mercy Green Team initiatives also include hospital-wide recycling programs, a pharmaceutical disposal program, robust paperless programs, and building and buying “green.”

Community Education Programs and Screenings
Each year Mercy Medical Center sponsors free health fairs, community education events, physician talks and free screenings to promote the health and wellness of members in our community. Upcoming events and health screenings can be found in our “Calendar of Events” or by calling Mercy Healthcare Connection at 330-489-1333.

Clinics for Uninsured, Underserved
Mercy operates medical clinics in order to provide care to patients with financial need. Based on a sliding-scale fee structure, the internal medicine and obstetrics and gynecology clinics provide the uninsured and underserved of Stark and nearby counties with quality, comprehensive care.

Affordable Dental Services
According to a report from the Ohio Department of Health, dental care remains the state's number one unmet health care need for children and low-income adults. Established in 2007, Mercy Dental Services is accredited by the American Dental Association and offers affordable preventive, cosmetic and restorative dental service s for adults and children.

Partnership with Skyline Terrace
Since 1994 Mercy Medical Center has been sharing resources and working together with other Catholic Consortium agencies to make an impact in the lives of many residents at Skyline Terrace, a low-income housing complex in southeast Canton.

• Ask-A-Nurse meetings to provide health education and prevention services.
• “Keep it Real” meetings to give residents an opportunity to explore topics of interest with guest speakers.
• Baby showers for pregnant women and new mothers to provide health and child care education.
• Project Care resident training program for individuals to serve as building wellness coordinators.
• Mercy PALS, a partnership with Allen Elementary School, to help students partner with Mercy employees for education, health-related and fun opportunities.
• A peace camps to help teach children non-violent ways to deal with conflict.
• STARS homework club to help children in grades first through fifth with homework, reading and enrichment activities.
• Snack shop to offer an on-site, safe place for young children to purchase snacks, beverages and healthy treats.

Building Healthy Communities
A collaborative effort between Mercy, the Sisters of Charity Foundation of Canton, Stark Community Foundation, Peoples Baptist Church and St. Anthony’s Church, Building Healthy Communities works to unite residents, service providers and area leaders to strengthen the community by building on new or existing assets. By helping area citizens evaluate community concerns and resources, the program helps empower area citizens to tackle tough issues and create healthier, safer neighborhoods.

Pathfinders Program
Mercy Medical Center partners with Canton City Schools to offer adult learners in their GED program a six-week, shadowing program at the hospital. Based on their individual areas of interest, Pathfinder students shadow Mercy employees in different departments and then meet for lunch and to hear a guest speaker. Mercy employees from administration, human resources and volunteer services share information about health care careers and the hospital’s mission; how to apply and interview for a job; volunteer opportunities; and other career-building topics.

ANGEL Network
Mercy Medical Center adopted a local chapter of the African American Women Nurturing and Giving Each Other Life (ANGEL) Network. Supported in part by a grant from Susan G. Komen for the Cure Northeast Ohio affiliate, Mercy ANGEL Network supports African American women’s efforts to take charge of their breast health through early detection programs, access to screenings and education about breast health practices.

Faith Community Nursing
Mercy’s Faith Community Nursing Program helps local churches form wellness programs within their faith communities to nurture a climate of healthy lifestyles, mutual support and health consciousness. Mercy provides resources to support the program such as a “Getting Started” manual, monthly newsletters, educational programs and nursing continuing education credits. For more information, call 330-489-1111, ext. 1591.

Interpreter Services
Mercy offers medically trained interpreters who speak seven different languages. Available 24 hours a day, seven days a week, medically trained interpreters facilitate the delivery of healthcare and related services for those with limited knowledge of the English language. Interpreters can translate Spanish, French, Greek, Polish, Russian and Ukrainian, Arabic, as well as American Sign Language. To learn more, call 330-489-1111, ext. 2577.

Immigrant Health Outreach
In an effort to assist immigrants in Stark and Tuscarawas Counties, Mercy attempts to provide culturally sensitive health care, particularly in Latino neighborhoods. In addition to training bi-lingual volunteers as interpreters for the Spanish-speaking community, Mercy also coordinates transportation, prenatal and postpartum care for immigrant women and their newborns.

International Mission Outreach
Created to support hospital physicians and employees who donate their time and talent helping others around the world, Mercy International Mission Outreach coordinates donations of supplies, medications and recycled instruments and equipment to send with the medical mission teams. Mercy’s efforts have helped people in the Dominican Republic, Ukraine, Armenia, Honduras, Rwanda, Korea, Bulgaria, Colombia, Tanzania, Cuba, El Salvador and Syria.

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