College Association Recognizes Mercy with Distinguished Industry Award
Mercy Hospital Washington has been recognized for its outstanding commitment to the community and continued support to East Central College.
Mercy was the recipient of the Missouri Community College Association (MCCA) Distinguished Business/Industry Award, which was presented at the organization’s annual convention in November.
The hospital was nominated by ECC for its leadership within the Franklin County area, and throughout the region.
On Feb. 5, ECC President Dr. Jon Bauer presented Mercy Hospital Washington President and CEO Eric Eoloff with a plaque recognizing the institution for the award.
“For over 30 years, Mercy Hospital Washington has supported health care programming at ECC, including sharing qualified staff to serve as adjunct faculty,” Dr. Bauer said.
“While Eric Eoloff and his leadership team have led the hospital, ECC has expanded the scope of support and partnerships through the shared common vision of the college and hospital for healthcare in the community.”
Mercy Hospital is committed to quality health care for its service area of more than 150,000 residents. More than 800 employees and 233 physicians serve the Washington hospital.
Eoloff, began his career with Mercy Health Systems over 15 years ago and has been in his current role since August of 2016.
“East Central College is proud to nominate Mercy Hospital for the Distinguished Business/Industry Award,” Dr. Bauer added. “Mercy is an outstanding example of a corporation on a regional stage while providing outstanding local community leadership.”
Mercy Hospital Washington, founded in 1926, is an acute care hospital offering comprehensive medical, surgical, obstetric and pediatric services.
The ECC Nursing program continues to grow by sharing scarce human resources, such as adjunct instructors, with the hospital. In addition, Mercy has made great strides in creating a student-centered approach during clinical education and externships.
Mercy has initiated a summer student nurse extern program in which nursing students can work flexible hours to maintain school, home and work balance. This paid externship program provides ECC students with additional opportunities to learn skills and excellent mentorship provided by professional nurse role models.
In the spring of 2020, Mercy Hospital Washington collaborated with ECC on the “Earn While You Learn to be a RN” model. The model is an avenue to combat the nursing shortage and new nurse turnover rates. Real world clinical immersion is the first step in this pathway.
These partnerships offer the student the opportunity to be fully immersed in the nursing culture earning full-time wages while they learn. ECC and the hospital are leaders in innovation. Mercy Hospital Washington welcomes all ECC students from a variety of health care programs.
In addition to health care programming partnerships, Eoloff and his team are truly interested in the success of the community and in ways in which the College contributes to the community. The hospital administrative team has actively participated on advisory boards and, most recently, in ECC’s strategic planning initiative.