Cedar Rapids, IA: Destination For Health
Discover how the area is helping to keep residents healthy and well.
With two anchor institutions that have been in existence for more than a century and numerous physicians, surgeons, clinics and services available, the MedQ (short for MedQuarter Regional Medical District) in downtown Cedar Rapids is a one-stop shop for health and wellness needs.
Established in 2011, this coordinated care concept has not only helped revitalize the downtown area, but has improved the quality of life for area residents and attracted new business and jobs to a well-defined medical district.
“We already had two hospitals that had been here for a long time, so we leveraged those assets and added to them to create a medical destination for those in eastern Iowa,†says Phil Wasta, executive director of the MedQ.
Pillars of Care
Founded in 1884 as Cedar Rapids’ first medical facility, St. Luke’s Hospital – today UnityPoint Health – is a 532-bed hospital that cares for almost 18,000 patients each year. It offers a wide range of patient care services, including cardiac care, obstetrics, neonatology and more, and has been nationally recognized as a top 100 hospital, top 100 heart hospital and magnet hospital for nursing excellence.
“It is our mission to provide the Cedar Rapids area with the best health care possible,†says Michelle Niermann, UnityPoint Health-Cedar Rapids’ president and CEO.
“We are proud of our staff, doctors and nurses who provide exceptional care and who have helped us earn our national honors. Our goal is to provide the best outcome for every patient every time.”
Guided by their vow to care for the poor and the infirmed, the Sisters of Mercy established Mercy Hospital in 1900, and although the faces and technology have changed over the years, the commitment to exceptional health care remains the same. As a founding partner of the MedQ, Mercy Medical Center leaders say they are excited to be part of a fairly large constellation of independent clinics and ambulatory services that patients can take advantage of.
“While we are primarily identified with cancer care, cardiovascular/thoracic services and orthopedics, we have worked cooperatively with the MedQ to offer patients a streamlined experience,†says Tim Charles, president and CEO of Mercy Medical Center. “Although there are three separate and distinct campuses on the MedQ, the two hospitals use the same electronic health record so that we are able to share information appropriately for the benefit of the patient.”
Specialized Medicine
In addition to two nationally recognized hospitals within blocks of each other, MedQ also has a world-class specialty medical center in between. The Physicians’ Clinic of Iowa (PCI) is one of the state’s largest private multispecialty clinics with more than 90 physicians, surgeons and mid-level providers who meet national standards for education, knowledge, experience and skills in order to provide the highest quality of care in a wide range of specialties and subspecialties.
“PCI features two medical pavilions (the second is set to open in 2020), 12 clinics and employs nearly 500 people in a variety of roles,†says Wendy Good, the marketing and development director for PCI. “Physicians’ Clinic of Iowa is an asset to the other amenities in the MedQ and creates a medical destination not only for those living in Cedar Rapids but for all of eastern Iowa.”
