Physician Handbook

Mercy Hospital was created in response to a challenge - an influenza epidemic that devastated Portland in 1918.  At that time sixty Sisters of Mercy answered the call for help, beginning what has been a long-cherished tradition: the delivery of clinically excellent, compassionate health care to those in need, regardless of race, creed, or ability to pay.

Today Mercy faces a host of challenges those sixty Sisters could never have foreseen.   A growing population and dramatically different medical technologies have taxed the capabilities of the current hospital facility to the limit, and the time has come to undertake the most exciting and ambitious challenge in Mercy's history: the relocation to a new Mercy Hospital while preserving the Mercy legacy of mission and community.

Mercy's new 130,000 square-foot hospital building will be located on the Fore River and will ultimately replace Mercy's current State Street facility.  The Fore River building is Phase One of a two-phase replacement plan, and will be designed as a short-stay in-patient and full-service outpatient surgical and obstetrical facility. Groundbreaking is expected to begin in 2006 with anticipated occupancy in 2008.

Like the new hospital itself, the capital campaign for this project will be the largest in our history.  Our objective is to raise $15 million in philanthropic support, a goal we are confident we can achieve.  Throughout our history, Mercy has been a caring and responsible steward of our community, and we have already secured the support of many of our friends, from Board members, physicians and employees to the Mercy Auxiliary, local businesses and foundations, and community leaders.

You too can be a part of this historic community effort as we create a new hospital that will allow us to continue our mission: to carry out the healing work of Christ by providing clinically excellent, compassionate health care for all, with special concern for the poor and disadvantaged.

The challenge is great, but the dedication to improving the quality of life and health in the Portland community inspires us all.