Mercy Set To Open New State-Of-The Art Hospital

BALTIMORE (WJZ)--The sisters of Mercy arrived in Baltimore to start a hospital 136 years ago. Now, as Mike Schuh reports, a new, state-of-the-art hospital has risen at that original site.

When visitors walk onto the patient floors at the new hospital, they are greeted with stunning views.

"We're pleased," said Tom Mullen, Mercy President, CEO.

The smallest operating room is bigger than the largest at the old hospital, which couldn't be remodeled anymore.

"We just needed a new hospital to accommodate the patients we've attracted," said Sister Helen Amos, Executive Board Chair.

All 259 patient rooms are private.

"The people who are in here are really sick . Many have diseases, so they need to be isolated, so having private rooms is essential," Mullen said.

The rooms are large, with flat panels and wi-fi. They have room for visitors.

Patients get better when they have a lot of visitors, so particular attention was paid to how nice they could make the waiting areas for the people who come to visit.

"And there is a big belief that having family available for recovery speeds recovery,"  Mullen said.

There are 259 beds and three healing gardens. It was all completed for $400 million. Mercy is celebrating for being finished seven months ahead of schedule.

"The sisters of Mercy consider this a re-commitment to the people of Baltimore," Amos said.

The new hospital opens Dec. 19, with patients from the old hospital a block south being moved Dec. 20.