Alegent Health Mercy Hospital in Council Bluffs, Iowa cares for people across the continuum of life -- from prenatal visits and checks for expectant parents to senior services, from health screenings to emergency and critical care.
The following are just a few of the innovative services offered at Alegent Health Mercy Hospital - Council Bluffs. For more information on any of the services at Alegent Health Mercy Hospital - Council Bluffs, call 1-800-ALEGENT (1-800-253-4368).
Alegent Health Heart and Vascular Institute
The Alegent Health Heart and Vascular Institute at Mercy Hospital provides a full range of specialized heart and vascular care. Patients who see a cardiologist or vascular surgeon for a heart problem can undergo diagnostic testing without ever leaving the building. The Institute is conveniently located just inside the front entry of the hospital.
Chest Pain Center
This innovative concept in dealing with possible heart attacks is a lifesaver. Statistics show that 94 percent of people who experience cardiac pain are not having heart attacks. In a coronary care setting, ruling out heart attack can take up to two days, at a cost of several thousand dollars.
"The Chest Pain Center provides the patient's treating physicians with the ability to monitor the patient's lab work and EKG over a twelve hour period, but on an outpatient basis in the hospital setting," Dr. Randall Pritza, M.D. said. Of course people with obvious heart attacks will be admitted to the hospital immediately, but for those with less apparent signs, the Chest Pain Center provides a safety net."
The experience and level of care in a Chest Pain Center is a tremendous plus. The "catch rate" of heart attacks stands at 99 percent; typical emergency rooms (according to national figures) will send five percent of people home who have actually experienced a heart attack. Every patient admitted into the Chest Pain Center through the emergency department is given an EKG test within minutes of arrival. According to Dr. Pritza, "We know this is the sort of program that makes a difference in the lives of our patients."
The Mercy Hospital Chest Pain Center is accreditated by the Society of Chest Pain Centers. This accreditation is awarded to hospitals demonstrating expertise and commitment to quality patient care and treatment of chest pain.
Joint Replacement Center
Sometimes the best medicine can be encouragement and a sympathetic ear from a friend. A large part of the new Joint Replacement Center program at Mercy Hospital - Council Bluffs is based on just that idea.
Alegent Health is the first healthcare system in the metropolitan area to use this innovative approach to hip and knee replacement surgery. Patients with similar conditions are grouped together and, as a group, go through surgical recovery. This focus on wellness and socialization maximizes patient recovery efforts. In addition, written and video information, positive reinforcement from staff and group support all play a role in the program.
This style of center is often referred to as "joint replacement center," and the goal is to return patients to a healthy lifestyle as soon as possible.
The medical team for the Joint Replacement Center includes specially trained and experienced board certified orthopaedic surgeons, nurses, orthopaedic technicians, and physical and occupational therapists specializing in total joint care.
Once patients leave the Joint Replacement Center program at the hospital, follow-up care may be called for through Alegent Health Home Care and/or Alegent Health Physical Therapy Centers.
Childbirth Services
Birth is a momentous occasion, and Women's and Children's Services at Mercy Hospital understands that from beginning to end.
Alegent Health Mercy Hospital offers programs that address the whole spectrum of what parents need.
Pre-pregnancy classes are offered at low- or no-cost. Childbirth education sessions are offered weekly at the hospital along with tours of the birthing suites on the second floor.
The natural wood, stained glass and jacuzzis make the maternity unit one of the best-kept secrets in the city. "But we don't want to keep it a secret. It's a beautiful facility that has been on the forefront of medicine in the area," says Jorge Garcia-Padial, M.D.
To create a welcoming environment, foldout couches for family members are available in each room. Keeping fathers and family involved is a key philosophy.
Oncology
In addition to receiving round-the-clock oncology care through an oncologist network, patients may receive chemotherapy on site, as well as take part in some of the newest medical advancements in cancer research.
MRI Diffusion
Detecting a stroke early means a better outcome for patients. The best technology possible has come to Mercy Hospital to make stroke detection fast and effective.
Diffusion imaging, offered at Mercy Hospital, has the ability to "detect acute cerebral vascular attack to the brain extremely quickly," said Tami Gray, RT (MR), an MRI technologist. "Not only does it show that kind of damage fast, the pictures we get are so much more informative than traditional CT scans."
CT scans also can take up to 10 minutes, and time counts in the treatment of a stroke. Mercy Hospital is the only facility in the Pottawattamie County area with diffusion technology.
Sleep Lab
More than half of all Americans suffer from serious sleep disorders that put their health at risk. Experts at Mercy Hospital offer some solutions for people looking for a good night's sleep.
With a visit to a sleep lab, a team of specialists can monitor sleep visually. By using state-of-the-art equipment, they can measure brain wave activity, heart rhythms, breathing patterns, muscle activity and oxygen levels.
"The Center for Sleep and Breathing Disorders offers a comfortable home-like environment, complete with a queen-size bed," says Kris Wolf, operations director of cardiology/respiratory therapy at Mercy Hospital.
"Sleep apnea can significantly increase the chances of heart attack and stroke," said Harvey Hopkins, M.D., the administrator of the center. "The treatment we offer can actually change the quality of a person's life."
Neuroscience
Alegent Health Clinic - Neuroscience offers screening and treatment services for Normal Pressure Hydrocephalus, a debilitating condition occuring in older adults which is often mistaken for dementia or Alzheimer's Disease.
