[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 155 (2009), Part 12]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page 15969]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




CONGRATULATING MERCY SPECIAL CARE HOSPITAL IN NANTICOKE ON THE OCCASION 
                        OF ITS 100TH ANNIVERSARY

                                 ______
                                 

                         HON. PAUL E. KANJORSKI

                            of pennsylvania

                    in the house of representatives

                         Tuesday, June 23, 2009

  Mr. KANJORSKI. Madam Speaker, I rise today to ask you and my esteemed 
colleagues in the House of Representatives to pay tribute to Mercy 
Special Care Hospital in Nanticoke, Pennsylvania, on the occasion of a 
century of service to the citizens of northeastern Pennsylvania.
  In October, 1909, responding to community growth due to coal mining 
and subsequent mine accidents as result of that burgeoning industry, 
Nanticoke Hospital was born. No longer would injured miners be simply 
dropped on their porch or would their families go without needed 
medical treatment.
  Throughout those 100 years the hospital endured two World Wars, the 
Great Depression, epidemics, merger and closure threats. It also saw 
new forms of insurance, the Medicare program for seniors and disabled 
as well as affordable healthcare for children and the poor. It also 
witnessed a time of more life saving drugs and procedures than ever 
before.
  This small community hospital saw horse-drawn carriages give way to 
motorized ambulances and oxygen tents that led to ventilators. It would 
also respond to policy initiatives from eighteen United States 
Presidents. But, most importantly, Nanticoke Hospital cared for tens of 
thousands of patients, many of them poor, most of them uninsured. Human 
need was tended by hundreds of dedicated staff and physicians.
  Renamed Mercy Special Care Hospital in 1994, it was one of the first 
long term care hospitals in Pennsylvania. From its success in 
Nanticoke, a satellite at Mercy Scranton was developed.
  This year both sites will explore or undergo major renovations and 
changes to meet patient, physician and staff needs. That will include 
things such as increased beds, room upgrades, new outpatient renovation 
and areas of new growth such as the Area Agency on Aging Nanticoke 
Senior Center on campus that will be visited daily by older adults.
  Mercy Special Care Hospital also holds the distinction of having the 
first wound care and hyperbaric unit in Luzerne County, a service that 
continues to grow in response to community need.
  Throughout 2009 and beyond, this important facility will look toward 
the future but never lose sight of the challenges faced daily.
  The Sisters of Mercy, Mercy Health Partners and Catholic Healthcare 
Partners are proud sponsors of this great institution at this historic 
time.
  Madam Speaker, please join me in congratulating Mercy Special Care 
Hospital. The invaluable services they have rendered to the community 
for over a century have been inspirational to countless others who 
share the commitment to helping those in need and has made vast 
improvement to the quality of life for generations.
  So important has their contribution been that they deserve the 
highest measure of our gratitude and respect.

                          ____________________