Recognizing Mercer Health on Their 75th Anniversary

Floor Speech

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Mr. LATTA. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to celebrate the seventy-fifth anniversary of Mercer Health, a dedicated healthcare system in Mercer County, Ohio. For seventy-five years, Mercer Health has been dedicated to providing excellent healthcare to the residents of Mercer County and the surrounding region. The hard work and spirit shown by staff have improved the health and quality of life for countless patients.

Founded in 1950, Mercer Health, known then as Our Lady of Mercy Hospital, was established to provide care to the citizens in Coldwater, Ohio and surrounding area. Seeing a need for a hospital, concerned citizens banded together to open the forty-eight-bed hospital. In 1969, the Sisters of Mercy who operated the hospital approached the board and advised them that they could no longer continue its operations. Over the next few years, seven townships in Mercer County stepped forward and took over the hospital. They created a joint township hospital district and renamed the hospital Mercer County Joint Township Community Hospital in 1972.

Over the decades, the hospital grew into the healthcare system it is today. It began to open new departments and expanded to open new medical centers across the county. By 2004, the remaining townships in the county joined the original seven to help in the operation of the health district. To reflect the hospital and health district commitment to service all the residents of Mercer County, the board renamed the health district Mercer Health. Since then, Mercer Health has continued to expand and grow, opening new offices and campuses to house their network of medical services.

Mr. Speaker, by celebrating the seventy-fifth anniversary of Mercer Health, the county and its residents can recognize the outstanding achievements of the staff and pride that they have in the healthcare system's success. I Congratulate Mercer Health on this momentous milestone. I thank them for all they do to improve our communities' health.

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