Mercy Hospital Springfield
1891
Sisters M. Alacoque Kelley, M. Xavier Kinsella and M. Stanislaus Tennelly travel by stagecoach from St. Louis to Springfield, praying for a safe journey along the way.
A small gray brick house with eight rooms becomes both their home and hospital. The four-bed hospital welcomes its first patient on November 6. A few days later, a local physician visits and finds the hospital in "perfect order," praising the Sisters for their preparation to care for the sick and suffering.
1905
The Sisters open a new 40-bed hospital and establish a nursing school, expanding both patient care and health care education in Springfield.
1952
The third St. John’s Hospital opens at its current location on Cherokee Street, establishing the campus that continues to serve the Springfield community today.
1981
A $20 million expansion and renovation transforms St. John's, making it the largest privately owned hospital in southern Missouri.
1990s
St. John's continues to expand specialty care throughout the 1990s. Hammons Heart Institute and the C.H. "Chub" O'Reilly Cancer Center become part of a growing network that also includes sports medicine and rehabilitation, emergency medical services and Life Line medical helicopter service.
Several physician office buildings also become part of St. John's operations as the campus continues to grow.
2006
A new Surgery Center opens, expanding access to surgical services in Springfield.
2009
The Jane Pitt Pediatric Cancer Center opens as a St. Jude Affiliate Clinic, bringing specialized pediatric cancer services to children and families in the region.
2012
St. John's is renamed Mercy Hospital Springfield, carrying the hospital's long tradition of service forward under the Mercy name.
2013
Mercy Kids Children's Hospital opens in the east wing of the main hospital, creating a dedicated space for children's care on the Springfield campus.
Mercy Orthopedic Hospital Springfield opens with 48 patient beds, bringing orthopedic surgery, treatment and recovery together in a new specialty hospital.
2014
Mercy Rehabilitation Hospital Springfield opens with 60 patient beds, expanding dedicated inpatient rehabilitation services for the region.
2020
Mercy Heart Hospital Springfield fully opens with new operating and procedure rooms. By bringing heart services together under one roof, the hospital creates a more connected experience for patients receiving cardiovascular care.
2021
Mercy Kids Emergency Room opens as a dedicated emergency care center for children in Springfield and surrounding communities.
2025
Children's Mercy begins providing pediatric services in Springfield through a collaboration designed to expand specialized care for children and families in southwest Missouri.
Mercy Emergency Department - Springfield South opens on the orthopedic hospital campus, bringing emergency care closer to growing communities around Ozark and Nixa.
