Published: May 08, 2009 08:04 am      

Hospital week is May 10-16

In 1884, five years before the Land Run of ’89, five Sisters of Mercy made a long trek in a covered wagon into Indian Territory. Just 17 miles north of Ada, the Sisters opened St. Mary’s Academy — a boarding and day school for Native American girls — in what was then known as the town of Sacred Heart near Konawa.

Now 125 years later, Mercy returns to the area to partner with Valley View Regional Hospital in Ada. “We celebrate hospital week this year with a strong partnership between Mercy and Ada,” said Bob Thompson, president of Valley View. “The Sisters of Mercy have been serving Oklahomans throughout the state for more than a century. At the turn of the century, the Sisters crossed raging rivers, encountered outlaws and survived tornadoes. They never turned back. Mercy is committed to Oklahoma.”

Several months ago, Valley View’s hospital board signed a management agreement with Mercy which allows Valley View to maintain local ownership. Mercy provides senior leadership, as well as assistance in financial planning, physician recruitment and other services.

“Mercy has a reputation of strengthening local communities,” said Thompson. “Mercy creates partnerships that allow patients to receive care in their own communities.”