Mercy Supporter Reads Emotional Letter at Crystal Lake Hearing

Emotional Plea Is One of More than 800 Letters Submitted by Supporters of Mercy Health System's Crystal Lake Hospital Proposal

CRYSTAL LAKE, Ill., March 23, 2011 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- On Friday, March 18, 2011, a hearing was held for public comment on Mercy Health System's proposal to construct a new hospital facility in Crystal Lake, Ill. The following is one of more than 800 letters of support submitted by members of the public:

"I am here today to express my sincere sentiments about the Mercy Health System and its proposal for a new hospital in Crystal Lake.

"This is the first time in my life that I believe in a health system. With my husband's health in need of constant monitoring, we needed a physician who could treat him.

"We found Dr. Nathan Kakish with Mercy. Let me say, he saved my husband's life.

"I believe the environment of pro-family that Mercy Health System practices allows Dr. Kakish is to use his ability, knowledge, and compassion for his medical profession. This is a direct result of the dedication, service, and equal compassion that Mercy has for its patients and the community.

"There are main perspectives of a great quality health care system. The first is LOCATION. Without Mercy in this proposed strategic location, how will we as a community ever feel hopeful of receiving such great medical care? This hospital MUST be built. The future excellence of our community demands it.

"Also SERVICE OF HEALTH CARE. Mercy offers a service to the community and its patients that cannot be equaled. How fortunate we are to have such a health system in our area, for without it, our CHOICES would be so severely limited. For, how else will we be able to measure our own health care if such minimal selection is before us?

"The SERVICE that Mercy provides is ORGANIZED, PROFESSIONAL, and EFFECTIVE. My blood pressure doesn't rise when I go for an appointment. I don't need to stress about waiting times; because they're always short. I don't need to be concerned about my lack of insurance because their payment specialist works with my family.

"When I leave, I feel that I have received the greatest possible health care available to my family. Not only does my family finally have the physician that we had so diligently searched for, but a hope that we will have a HOSPITAL that will be operated by Mercy where our doctor and other Mercy physicians can continue the care of my family.

"This hospital would offer an extension of a profoundly important QUALITY OF LIFE. And of this CRITICAL MEASURE of whether to build a facility that this community so desperately needs, may I urge you, please allow this hospital to be built.

"Finally, may I also mention that my family's experience of the Mercy Health System is one of necessity and CHOICE. A new hospital will serve this community with Excellence. Please allow us to have our freedom of CHOICE."

Mercy Health System
www.MercyCrystalLake.org
(815) 676-6550

SOURCE Mercy Health System