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MERCY HOSPITAL & MEDICAL CENTER AND 12 BRANCH LOCATIONS
Background
Mercy is a Catholic teaching hospital located minutes from Chicago's
Loop. Founded in 1852, at a site that today would be near Rush Street
and the Chicago River, the Sisters of Mercy converted an old rooming
house into Mercy Hospital, the first chartered hospital in Chicago
and the first hospital in the State of Illinois.
In 1863, the Civil War not yet ended, the Sisters moved their hospital
to the site of a former academy at 26th Street and Calumet Avenue.
Many residents shook their heads over a hospital so far in the distant
countryside of Chicago. But two years later every bit of that space
would be needed when in October of 1871 Chicago burned. Mercy Hospital
which seemed so ridiculously large and foolishly placed on the fringe
of the city, became a haven beyond the fire's reach and provided
for as many as six times the number of fire victims than any other
hospital could handle.
The history of Mercy and the history of Chicago had become inseparable.
In the early 50s, plans for building a new Mercy were being made.
Mercy would not abandon their commitment to provide medical care
for patients most in need and through the Department of Urban Renewal,
the Mayor of Chicago, Richard J. Daley helped Mercy acquire the
land between 25th and 26th Street, from Michigan Avenue to King
Drive and in January of 1968, Chicago's oldest hospital became its
newest with the opening of a 517-bed facility. Today, Mercy Hospital
and Medical Center is part of a nation wide network of Mercy Healthcare
facilities within reach of 75% of the American population.
Challenge
In a hospital and learning center environment, Mercy Hospital
and Medical Center requires voice communications on a 24x7 continuous
basis, providing seamless operations for all locations, while requiring
a "zero tolerance" policy for failure.
Solution
OPC Communications, Inc. provided the on-site design, integration
and project management of a new Definity G3 PBX Communications System,
upgrading existing POTS lines to full T1 capabilities. While providing
documentation for turnover, OPC Communications, Inc. also incorporated
this information into a database for use today in the implementation
of E-911 operations.
Results
OPC Communications, Inc. maintains all required communications
needs on a daily basis, including on-site troubleshooting, repair,
installation, adds, moves and changes at Mercy Hospital, as well
as the twelve Mercy Medical branch locations in Chicago and the
surrounding areas. OPC Communications, Inc. also provides Mercy
with 24x7 continuous emergency coverage.
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