Mercy Virtual recently hoisted the final beam in place for the world’s first virtual care/telemedicine center. It is located at 15740 South Outer Forty Road in Chesterfield, Missouri, at the southeast corner of Interstate 64 and Clarkson Road.
Sister of Mercy Claudia Ward blessed the beam before it made its ascent.
“The topping out means we are even closer to bringing high quality medical care to thousands of patients regardless of the hour or location,” said Dr. Randy Moore, president of Mercy Virtual. “Time of day, distance and geography will no longer be obstacles in connecting patients and expert care teams. People who are far from advanced health care facilities often wait until an issue becomes critical before they seek care.”
Mercy Virtual broke ground in May for its hub. The 120,000-square-foot facility is set to open in the middle of 2015. It will accommodate nearly 300 physicians, nurses, specialists, researchers and support staff. The 24/7 virtual care delivery via audio, video and data connections will go to locations across Mercy and around the world through partnerships with other health care providers and large employers. Mercy estimates the center will manage more than 3 million telehealth visits in its first five years. The center also will be a hub for advancing telemedicine through research and training.
