University of Iowa makes Mercy Hospital transition official with new downtown signage

The University of Iowa's Health Care system expanded into downtown Iowa City on Wednesday, officially assuming control of Mercy Hospital and officially ending months of operational uncertainty at the 150-year-old hospital.

The former Mercy Hospital is now the University of Iowa Health Care Medical Center Downtown. Official signage was installed Wednesday morning, replacing the familiar green and white Mercy sign.

UI healthcare leaders greeted nurses, doctors, and patients as they entered the building on Jan. 31, opening a day of celebration with visits from the spirit squad and Herky and University of Iowa merchandise giveaways.

The university assumes control of all 14 of Mercy's healthcare buildings across its campuses in Iowa City, North Liberty, Kalona, Tipton and Williamsburg.

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Vice President of Medical Affairs and Dean of the UI Carver College of Medicine Denise Jamieson has piloted much of the transition in the last few months, leaning on her prior experience. Jamieson was hired by the UI in the summer of 2023 after a lengthy search.

"It's really exciting," Jamieson said of the UI's new downtown presence. "I was previously part of a large, complicated matrix health system and it's really fun to bring those skills here. I think there's such a need for there to be continued access to health care and health care in an organized, structured way to put the patient first, to ensure that health care is delivered in a way that's accessible and that the quality of care is high quality.

So, I think there's a real opportunity here."

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Downtown operations will remain unchanged

Jamieson said patients and employees at the new UI Health Care Downtown Campus shouldn't notice much of an operational change. The university has focused on putting patients first. Still, some improvements are necessary — such as tweaks to the electronic medical records system to better align with UI Health Care — are expected by spring.

Folding the Mercy facility and campus into the university's control means the institution can provide better access for patients so they can "be seen where they want to be seen."

Jamieson said that between the on-campus location, the downtown location, and eventually, in 2025, the under-construction North Liberty hospital, the university will be able to provide the best, fastest, and most efficient care.

"I think it'll help us really be thoughtful and strategic about care in this region," Jamieson said.

University of Iowa tightens healthcare branding

Broad rebranding has swept through the UI Health Care system as 2024 gets underway. The UI Hospitals & Clinics, formerly known as UIHC, have been rebranded as the UI Health Care Medical Center.

After a dramatic saga that began with Mercy Hospital filing for bankruptcy in August of 2023, the University of Iowa acquired control of Mercy Hospital and its adjacent clinics, narrowly outbidding Texas-based Preston Hollow Community Capital in a revised auction for the rights in late October.

The bankruptcy court then approved the sale of Mercy to the UI in early November for $28 million, a value that fell $1 million short of Preston Hollow's bid. The UI pledged to make infrastructural and technological improvements and provide relative certainty regarding job security and operations at the hospital.

The Regents also approved a set of bylaws for employees of the downtown facility. The rules and regulations are set to align more closely with the university’s system, Jamieson said, but they do differ, especially in one key area.

Ryan Hansen covers local government and crime for the Press-Citizen. He can be reached at[email protected] or on X, formerly known as Twitter, @ryanhansen01.

This article originally appeared on Ames Tribune: Mercy Hospital in Iowa City is now Iowa Health Care Medical Center Downtown