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Public Celebrates Dedication of Mercy Regional Medical Center

New hospital to open June 27 at 6:00 a.m.

DURANGO, Colo.— Southwest Colorado’s newest, largest, and most technologically advanced medical facility, Mercy Regional Medical Center, on Saturday celebrated the dedication of the new 82-bed, $76 million facility, at 1010 Three Springs Blvd. in Durango, which will replace the facility located at 375 E. Park Ave. in Durango.

After a brief speech, Durango Mayor Sidny Zink and several other dignitaries cut the ribbon at the hospital’s main entrance. Following the historic dedication, the hospital opened to the public for a sneak preview tour. Hospital representatives estimated that more than 1,000 people toured the facility.

The new hospital’s emergency room will officially open at 6:00 a.m. on Tuesday, June 27, when the process of moving hospitalized patients from the old hospital to the new facility begins. Upon the departure of the last patient, the old hospital will officially close, ending 124 consecutive years of patient care at the 375. E. Park Ave. hospital site.  

“Mercy’s legacy of care will continue in a new building that provides a better healing environment and can grow with the region’s health care needs,” said Kirk Dignum, Mercy’s chief executive officer. “Our primary focus always has been – and continues to be – our patients.”

Mercy Regional Medical Center was designed as a “healing environment” and features all private patient rooms, a healing garden with a waterfall, and advanced medical technology including electronic medical records and all digital diagnostic imaging. Mercy will be the only facility in Durango with an Intensive Care Unit (ICU); designated as a Level III trauma center; with a helicopter air ambulance on site; and with medical and interventional cardiologists on staff.

Construction of the 212,000-square-foot hospital and attached 153,000-square-foot medical office building began in March of 2004.

Mercy Regional Medical Center is a member of the Catholic Health Initiatives (CHI) health system.  CHI is a national non-profit health organization and based in Denver , Colo. and includes 70 hospitals; 43 long-term care, assisted and independent living and residential facilities; and two community-based health organizations located in 19 states.