MARION, IA — Changes in the community paired with the need for more capacity is driving Mercy Medical Center’s need for a second off-site, hospital-based extension of Mercy’s Emergency Department. As Mercy’s long-standing partner of more than 25 years, Ryan Companies is designing and building the Marion Emergency Department, located next to the MercyCare Marion Clinic in Marion, Iowa.

The new ER is expected to provide easier access to a growing community with nearby highways 151 and 13. The new Marion location will be open 24 hours a day, every day with onsite radiology and lab services.

Mercy officials said the need for a new ER was based on extensive consumer research and multi-year planning. The new, offsite ER helps the hospital’s main Emergency Department, which has experienced growth and potential expansion. The offsite model allows Mercy to provide services closer to patients rather than expand one site at the hospital.

“We continue to see more ER patients than any other provider of emergency services in Linn County, and building on that experience is exciting,” said Dr. Matthew Aucutt, Medical Director, Mercy Emergency Services. “We are pleased to provide a convenient, high-quality option for life-saving care for residents in and around Marion.”

The Marion Emergency Department is anticipated to open late 2024.