"We are riding thru the rubble and have just driven over the quake crevices in the road on our bus – 'the Mercy Wagon'. The mountains are rugged and lack vegetation and the ocean is beautiful in contrast to the squalor of tarps and crushed buildings/shacks. The people however will not be broken. Their faith is strong and the good God carries them when they cannot get up." -- Dr. Ellen Lawson on February 8, 2010. Click here to read the full blog.

The following article is an excerpt from the Sisters of Mercy South Central Community enews. Read the rest in PDF format here.

Asheville/Brevard, NC (June 26, 2009)— Tim Johnston, President and CEO of Sisters of Mercy Services Corporation, announced today the opening of a new Sisters of Mercy Urgent Care off of Highway 64/276 at the intersection of North Caldwell and Whitmire Streets. The facility will open in the Fall 2009.

The new Urgent Care will offer patients, business, and industry convenient access to quality treatment of minor illness and injuries, without an appointment, by expanding Sisters of Mercy Urgent Care’s existing network which includes:

• Sisters of Mercy Urgent Care-Airport Road, 77 Airport Road, Arden
• Sisters of Mercy Urgent Care-South, 1812 Hendersonville Road, Asheville
• Sisters of Mercy Urgent Care-West, 1201 Patton Avenue, Asheville
• Sisters of Mercy Urgent Care-North, 155 Weaver Boulevard, Weaverville

“The Brevard location will offer a quality, convenient healthcare alternative for the residents of Transylvania County especially after hours and on weekends when traditional caregivers may not be available,” noted Tim Johnston. Bob Bednarek, CEO of Transylvania Regional Hospital, added, “Urgent care has been an expressed need for our county, and on behalf of our community we welcome them as a partner in meeting the healthcare needs of our region.”

The Sisters of Mercy have owned and operated urgent care centers in Buncombe County for nearly 30 years and served Western North Carolina’s healthcare and service needs for more than 100 years. In addition to Sisters of Mercy Urgent Care, Sisters of Mercy Services Corporation (“SOMSC”) includes Mountain Health Contracting general contractors and the Catherine McAuley MERCY Foundation. Additional information about SOMSC is available at www.somsc.org or by calling (828) 281-1303. Information about our Urgent Care centers, including location hours, directions and employment opportunities, can be found online at www.urgentcares.org.

Asheville (March 4, 2009)— Sisters of Mercy Services Corporation (SOMSC) announced today that State and Federal contracts for mental health and substance abuse services provided through its ARP/Phoenix Division will not be renewed on June 30, 2009. Tim Johnston, SOMSC CEO, noted the difficult decision was reached by the SOMSC Board in late February due to continuing financial losses associated with operating a largely state funded mental health service coupled with the organization’s responsibility to be good stewards of organizational resources and direct them in a way that best serves the most people. ARP/Phoenix served approximately 2,500 consumers through its various programs and residential facilities in 2008. (This number does not include individuals participating in community education through ARP/Phoenix’s Prevention programs.) ARP/Phoenix currently provides substance abuse assessment, treatment, and prevention services in Asheville and the surrounding area. ARP/Phoenix recently received successful, three-year accreditation by the Commission on Accreditation of Rehabilitation Facilities. SOMSC will work closely with Western Highlands Network Local Management Entity and Buncombe County to explore contract options and is committed to supporting a transition of services for the individuals served in the community.

Sisters of Mercy Services Corporation will continue its non-profit Mission with a focus on caring for minor illness and injuries through its network of Urgent Care facilities located at 1201 Patton Avenue, 1812 Hendersonville Road, 155 Weaver Boulevard, and, effective April 1, at 77 Airport Road. Collectively these facilities served over 60,000 patients during 2008 and provided over $2.5 million in community benefit. SOMSC is a sponsored ministry of the Sisters of Mercy of the Americas South Central Community.

Asheville (March 11, 2009)— Ellen T. Lawson, MD, has been named Medical Director for Sisters of Mercy Urgent Care, Inc., a division of Sisters of Mercy Services Corporation (www.somsc.org). Lawson is a Diplomat of the American Board of Emergency Medicine and brings 32 years of clinical experience to the urgent care setting, including six years as the Director of the Emergency Department at Louise Obici Memorial Hospital in Suffolk, VA, six years as Medical Director of Emergency and Ambulatory Services at Amsterdam Memorial Hospital in Amsterdam, NY, and 11 years as an Emergency Department Attending Physician at St. Joseph/Memorial Mission Hospital in Asheville, NC. She has been in a staff physician role with Sisters of Mercy Urgent Care since 2001, and has served as Co-Medical Director for the past six months. During her time as Co-Medical Director, Lawson has shown a tremendous dedication to the organization’s Mission and Core Values, and has been a driving force in efforts to ensure effective and efficient service delivery and quality patient care. Lawson received her Bachelor’s degree in Chemistry from Trinity University and her Doctor of Medicine degree from the Medical College of Virginia.

Sisters of Mercy Urgent Care is based in Asheville, and has facilities located at 1201 Patton Avenue, 1812 Hendersonville Road, 155 Weaver Boulevard, and, effective April 1, at 77 Airport Road. Collectively these facilities served over 60,000 patients during 2008 and provided over $2.5 million in community benefit. More information on services and employment opportunities is available at: www.urgentcares.org.

Arden, NC (February 12, 2009)— Tim Johnston, President and CEO of Sisters of Mercy Services Corporation, and Jimm Bunch, President and CEO of Park Ridge Hospital are pleased to announce the operation of a new Sisters of Mercy Urgent Care at 77 Airport Road beginning April 1. This location is currently operated by Park Ridge Hospital as an Urgent Care facility. The Airport Road site offers patients, business, and industry convenience and access to quality treatment of minor illness and injuries by expanding Sisters of Mercy Urgent Care’s existing network which includes:

• Sisters of Mercy Urgent Care-West, 1201 Patton Avenue, Asheville
• Sisters of Mercy Urgent Care-North, 155 Weaver Boulevard, Weaverville
• Sisters of Mercy Urgent Care-South & Health Designs Occupational Medicine, 1812 Hendersonville Road, Asheville

“The collaboration of Park Ridge Hospital with Sisters of Mercy Urgent Care is a natural fit as these two faith-based organizations continue to meet the healthcare needs of WNC while focusing on their respective strengths,” noted Paul Tax, Executive Director of Operations for Sisters of Mercy Urgent Care. Jimm Bunch added, “We all need to focus on our core strengths to provide the highest quality service. This is what our friends at Sisters of Mercy do best.”

The Sisters of Mercy have owned and operated urgent care centers successfully in Buncombe County for nearly 30 years and served Western North Carolina’s healthcare and service needs since 1900. In addition to Sisters of Mercy Urgent Care, Sisters of Mercy Services Corporation includes ARP/Phoenix Behavioral Health and Substance Abuse Services (Assessment, Treatment, Prevention and Crisis Stabilization/Detox), Mountain Health Contracting general contractors, and the Catherine McAuley MERCY Foundation. Additional information is available at www.somsc.org or www.urgentcares.org or by calling 828-210-2121.

Park Ridge Hospital is an acute care facility that has provided superior medical care with Christian compassion since 1910. The hospital is one of 37 hospitals in the U.S. belonging to Adventist Health System. For more information about Park Ridge Hospital, or about other hospital services, visit www.parkridgehospital.org. To request a copy of the Park Ridge Hospital Medical Staff Directory, contact the Business Development office at (828) 687-3947.

The Summer newsletter is finally complete! Download the latest Mercy Matters newsletter in PDF format here.

Feel free to send newsworthy items to Sharon Owen (sharon@somsc.org) and any comments or suggestions on the new Mercy Matters design to Lauren Brown (lbrown@somsc.org).

Want to read about the latest goings-on within the Sisters of Mercy Services Corporation? Download the latest Mercy Matters newsletter in PDF format here.

Sisters of Mercy Staff Celebrated at Company Picnic
Monday, October 15, 2007
(Additional pictures added Wednesday, October 17, 2007)

The Sisters of Mercy Services Corporation Staff Picnic, held on October 6 at the Eliada Recreation Center, proved to be an exciting day of food, fellowship, music and fun activities for staff and their guests. Local star musicians The Lawmen provided musical entertainment for those socializing, dining and dancing, while balloon-tying clowns offered their amusements to the children who attended.

A warm thank you goes out to the Picnic Committee -- Kelilyn Bell, Donna Bruce, Sherrie Byrd, Anna Elliott, Cheryl Fore, Betsy Katell, Jennifer Magee, Michelle McCoy, and Sharon Owen -- for their hard work in making this picnic a success.

To view a larger version of any picture, simply click on it.

Nora Sheehan, Dr. Ellen Lawson and Rose Spittle enjoy the fun,
food and a lively balloon hat from the clowns.

Lauren Brown lounges with her father Terry and her boyfriend
Kevin.

Will and Linda Hamilton take a break from dancing.

Dr. Shannon Dowler watches the children's balloon-sword fight.

Paul Tax stands proudly with wife Penelope and four of their five
children.

Ann Cook and Betsy Katell are all grins for the camera.

Michelle McCoy’s father, Dale (far right), leads band The Lawmen.

Donna Bruce's son, Jordan, shows his spirit by wearing the Sisters
of Mercy colors of blue and white.

Children enjoy bubbles and colorful balloon hats.

A clown shares a laugh with (from left) Pat, Sydney and Derrick
Jackson as Dwayne Maxwell looks on.

Grant and Kelilyn Bell share the spotlight.

Chayce Blevins and Grant Bell are happy with their balloon creations.

Staff and their guests enjoy the food prepared for the picnic.

Paul Gilliam (left) and Brian Warren (center) relax with their friends.

A pre-food bingo game is led by caller Brian Warren (left).

(Click on image for full-size version.)

Sisters of Mercy Services Corporation officials and local dignitaries gathered in West Asheville on Wednesday, Sept. 12, to break ground at the site of the company’s new Urgent Care West facility.

The 15,000-square-foot, $3-million facility is being constructed at 1201 Patton Ave., the site of the former Cancun Restaurant and one block west of the current Urgent Care location. The current Urgent Care West facility will remain open until the new complex is completed, which is estimated to be in June 2008.

“This is an exciting time for our organization,” says Shana Duncan, executive director of Sisters of Mercy Urgent Care. “The new location is more convenient for our patients, and it will give us the extra space we need to continue to provide the best health care service in the Asheville community.”

Urgent Care services will be located on the first floor of the new facility, with business and administrative offices for Asheville-based Sisters of Mercy Services Corporation on the second floor. The architectural firm of Bowers, Ellis & Watson of Asheville designed the facility, and Mountain Health Contracting is the contractor.

“Sisters of Mercy has been a valuable health care provider in West Asheville for nearly a quarter of a century, and we’re pleased to be upgrading our facilities in that area,” says Tim Johnston, president and CEO of Sisters of Mercy Services. “Our first priority is our patients; the new center underscores our renewed commitment of offering high quality, affordable and easily accessible health care.”

In operation since 1980, Sisters of Mercy Urgent Care has more than 100 employees at three facilities in Buncombe County, N.C., including the current Urgent Care West location at 8 New Leicester Highway, Asheville. Urgent Care North is located in the Roses shopping center at 155 Weaver Blvd., Weaverville, N.C.; and Urgent Care South, which includes the Health Designs occupational health division, is in the Kmart shopping center at 1812 Hendersonville Road, Asheville. All Urgent Care centers are open from 8 a.m. until 8 p.m. on weekdays and from 11 a.m. until 5 p.m. on weekends.

The Sisters of Mercy established a ministry in Asheville, N.C., in 1900 to meet the needs of people at that time. Their ministries now provide a variety of services to care for people in need today.

“Our ministries have always been about caring for the people of our community,” says Sister Maria Goretti, who serves as director of mission and values, staff and patient chaplain, and director of volunteers for Sisters of Mercy Services. “As we continue to grow, I’m pleased – for our patients, staff and volunteers – that a new, larger Urgent Care facility is opening in the West Asheville area.”

In addition to the Urgent Care division, Sisters of Mercy Services operates ARP/Phoenix, a comprehensive substance abuse assessment, treatment and prevention provider. Mountain Health Contracting, Inc. is a division of Sisters of Mercy Services that provides general contracting services to medical and business establishments in the Asheville area.

McAuley Foundation, the former St. Joseph’s Hospital Foundation, was established as a non-profit 501(c)(3) agency to support the mission and ministry of Sisters of Mercy in the Asheville area through the work of the Urgent Care centers.

(Click on image for full-size version.)

Facts on the New Urgent Care West:

• The new Urgent Care West will be a $3-million, 15,000-square-foot, two-story building.
• Estimated completion date is June 2008.
• Projected growth rate for Urgent Care West is 7 percent for fiscal year 2008 – translating to 22,134 visits.
• Urgent Care services will be located on the first floor; Sisters of Mercy Services Corporation administrative offices will be on the second floor.
• The facility was designed by Bowers, Ellis & Watson, an Asheville architectural firm.
• Mountain Health Contracting, a division of Sisters of Mercy Services Corporation, is the contractor for the project.

Want to read about the latest goings-on within the Sisters of Mercy Services Corporation? Download the latest Mercy Matters newsletter in PDF format here.

Board, Physicians, Staff & Community Members:

Today we completed the purchase of property at 1201 Patton Avenue, future site of the new Urgent Care West and business and administrative offices for Sisters of Mercy Services Corporation. Plans call for an 11,000-square-foot, two-story facility to be built one block west of the current Urgent Care, on the site of the former Cancun Restaurant. Construction on the facility is set to begin in June 2007, with an expected opening in early 2008.

This is an exciting time for our organization, and we look forward to many years of providing quality, compassionate, and efficient healthcare from the new Urgent Care West to the residents of Western Buncombe County. Special thanks to our Board, Ernie Peterson (Vice President, Mountain Health Services), Pat Jackson (Chief Financial Officer), Shana Duncan (Executive Director, Sisters of Mercy Urgent Care), Nora Sheehan (Director of Urgent Care West), Dr. David Bate (Medical Director, SOMUC), our physicians, and the staff for all of your hard work on this project.

Tim Johnston, CEO
Sisters of Mercy Services Corporation
March 22, 2007