Springfield Mayor Domenic Sarno, along with several city leaders, recently toured the Andy Yee Palliative Care Unit at Mercy Medical Center. The tour, led by Robert Roose, M.D., M.P.H, President of Mercy Medical Center and Johnson Memorial Hospital; Philip Glynn, M.D., Director of Medical Oncology; and Laurie Loiacono, M.D., Chief of Critical Care, included stops in the new unit’s patient consultation area and a lounge for family members, areas designed to provide privacy and comfort.
Mayor Sarno’s visit comes after Mercy received $250 thousand in American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) state and local fiscal recovery funding from the City of Springfield toward the project to renovate and redesign more than 5,000 square feet at the hospital into a dedicated palliative care unit that will provide care for up to 300 seriously ill patients a year in an intimate, supportive, and soothing environment. The Andy Yee Palliative Care Unit is located on the fifth floor at Mercy.
Following the tour, Mayor Sarno commented, “While some of our area hospitals and medical facilities provide some type of palliative care services, Mercy’s new Palliative Care Unit will be the only dedicated, hospital-based palliative care unit in Western Mass. Thank you to Dr. Roose, Dr. Glynn, Dr. Loiacono, and team for sharing the progress already underway at Mercy.” He continued, “This type of focused care will enhance quality of life for patients and their families. I am grateful to Dr. Roose, always so kind and professional, and the entire team at Mercy for their continued compassion and care for our community.”
According to Mercy leaders, the Andy Yee Palliative Care Unit is about 75 percent complete, with work remaining to be done in patient rooms. A campaign is underway to help cover the cost of the project. You can learn more here.
“To date, Philanthropy has raised approximately $900 thousand toward the $1.2 million project from government, corporate and philanthropic foundations, and individual donors,” said Geoffrey Hoyt, Chief Development Officer, Mercy Medical Center. “This widespread community support of the palliative care unit, including the city’s lead gift, is a testament to the recognized need for this type of specialized care, its value to patients and their loved ones, and trust in Mercy to provide it in a compassionate, comprehensive, and meaningful way.”