Mercy will continue to collaborate

By Kyle Skogman

Common ground. That's the foundation of Cedar Rapids' outstanding health care system. Our medical professionals and its two hospitals - Mercy Medical Center and St. Luke's - have forged a rare relationship, built on collaboration and concern for the common good.

Cedar Rapids' reputation as a “high performance” health care community was recognized last December by Dr. Donald Berwick, new administrator of the federal Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services. He singled out our city as a national model for medical care. Berwick credited complementary care provided by St. Luke's and Mercy, along with healthy competition, for preventing the duplication of expensive health services that have led to spiraling costs elsewhere.

While our two hospitals offer nearly the same essential services to patients, Mercy has long been known as the leader in cancer care. Mercy is the only local cancer treatment site accredited by the American College of Surgeons' Commission on Cancer. The Howard and Margaret Hall Radiation Center on the Mercy campus is the area's only radiation center.

St. Luke's is well respected for its cardiac surgery center. While Mercy offers highly effective treatment for cardiac patients, those who require open-heart surgery are sent to St. Luke's.

The two hospitals work together in many ways. They help train new physicians through a joint residency program. They offer one breast cancer support group.

Recently, physicians and staff from the two hospitals joined Iowa Health Systems, Physicians' Clinic of Iowa and the Linn County Department Public Health. The initiative: To provide enhanced care coordination and management while lowering costs for patients. The team worked for months on a federal grant proposal for the “Iowa Beacon Project.” The application wasn't successful, but the effort established a framework for future partnerships.

Mercy, St. Luke's and area physicians also worked toward a new Destination Cancer Center. Mercy felt that the new center should be located near the Hall Radiation Center, to streamline patient care and prevent costly duplication of services. Ultimately, all parties could not come to agreement. Mercy's board moved ahead, keeping our commitment to what we believe is a vital step for our community and patients.

Mercy remains committed to the cooperative spirit that has helped create our exceptional health care system. I look forward to working with our partners to establish even more common ground for public good.

Kyle Skogman is president of Skogman Homes and newly elected chairman of Mercy Medical Center's board of trustees.