Mercy IC must remain a hospital

Mercy Hospital Iowa City stands on the brink in bankruptcy court.

Iowa City, its surrounding communities, Johnson County — indeed all of Iowa — depend on Mercy emerging from bankruptcy as a hospital, not being dismembered in a real estate fire sale.

Mercy Iowa City is a true community hospital with an ER and 180 beds. It complements University of Iowa Hospitals and Clinics (UIHC), which supports the southeastern Iowa region and at times the entire state. Together, they have already absorbed responsibility for regional hospitals — including ERs and labor and delivery units — that have closed or shrunk.

Should Mercy cease to operate, imagine their annual 30,000 ER visits added to UIHC’s already oversubscribed 65,000. Imagine the result for Iowans’ health care outcomes.

This is not your run-of-the-mill bankruptcy. Creditors have rights, yes, but patience is needed, because we are talking access to health care, and we are talking health care workers, who are integral members of this community. Mercy Iowa City must emerge from bankruptcy as a hospital. Our community and region depend on it. Iowans depend on it.

State Sen. Janice Weiner

Iowa City