Aquatic center closing handled very poorly

Apparently, one of Cedar Rapids best-kept secrets is a place and program called the aquatic center. This fine facility is located on the main floor of The Physicians Clinic of Iowa (PCI) and consists of two small pools, one heated to 92 degrees. There about 200 of us who use the heated one that provides aid to those who are either preparing for surgery, recovering from surgery or who need an exercise facility and a therapist of a special kind. To my knowledge, this is the only such facility in Cedar Rapids.

This is not an entertainment/swimming pool. These exercises are very demanding and perhaps the only way many of us can exercise at all. Most of us pay a modest fee for this help.

On Feb. 15, a member of Mercy Medical Center administration informed us that the program would end March 1 this year. We were shocked because I was not aware of any previous official warning. To be fair, the administrator did listen to our questions and complaints, but regardless, the issue was closed.

This approach does not seem to be a very professional way for a large and respected corporation such as Mercy Medical Center to act.

Why, you ask, would Mercy want to close this facility? We were told “it's too expensive.”

Robert Kocher

Cedar Rapids