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Quick Facts:
Springfield
As emergency departments across the United States brace for an expected increase in patient demand due to the federal government cutting $1 trillion from Medicaid, Mercy Hospital Springfield has invested $32 million to increase patient access to emergency care. Mercy’s new emergency department opened today on its south campus, which houses Mercy’s orthopedic hospital, a medical destination center of excellence that draws companies like Walmart because of high-quality, lower-cost care.
Mercy leaders, caregivers and community members celebrated this milestone achievement in Mercy’s long-term plan to increase access to care. Mercy expects to care for an additional 16,500 patient visits annually, many of whom will come from growing communities around Ozark and Nixa.
“Southwest Missouri has been steadily growing for several years now, and it was clear to us we needed a second emergency department to meet the needs of our patients and all the visitors who pass through the Springfield area,” said John Myers, president of Mercy Springfield Communities. “That need will only increase with the passage of the Big Beautiful Bill and scheduled massive cuts to Medicaid. Those cuts will make it difficult for many of our patients, especially in rural communities, to afford health care. We anticipate more patients with chronic illnesses like diabetes and chronic heart failure will rely on our EDs for care when they can no longer afford to see their primary care doctor.”
Mercy broke ground on the new emergency department in October 2023. By building the facility on its south campus, Mercy is bringing more convenient emergency services closer to patients who live in Ozark, Nixa and the south side of Springfield. The south campus allowed Mercy the rare opportunity to build an entirely new emergency department attached to its existing orthopedic hospital.
The new ED features 11 beds and spans 17,256 square feet. ED manager Natalie McIntosh said nearly all positions have been filled to staff the 24/7 facility. All caregivers are trauma-trained and bring years of experience working at a Level 1 emergency department.
“We have a great team in our ED,” McIntosh said. “We know how important this work is, and we know our patients need us. Before taking this position, I worked in our existing ED, and the patients we care for are sicker and need more complex care than most emergency departments. Being able to open a new ED that can increase access and provide lifesaving care closer to home is so crucial in Mercy’s ability to care for this community.”
The full-service emergency department is located at 3050 E. River Bluff Drive in Ozark. Olsson served as the civil engineer on the project, REES was the primary architect and Northstar Management Co. provided project management.
