UPMC Mercy Hospital Receives Order of Malta Grant to Assist Needy Patients
The Sister Guerin Fund is named after Sister M. Richard Guerin, who was a founder and long-time leader of the Department of Social Services at Mercy. The fund provides needy patients with resources and services such as clothing, transportation, medications, medical equipment, food and shelter.
“This grant will serve the most vulnerable patients and will help support Mercy’s Catholic mission to provide not only medical care, but also care for patients’ immediate personal needs,” said Sherry Mackall, director, Care Management, UPMC Mercy. “The implications of this grant will be far-reaching, as the amount of charitable and unreimbursed care provided by UPMC Mercy increased to more than $20 million in fiscal year 2011, and we expect this number to continue growing.”
UPMC Mercy and the Order of Malta in Pittsburgh have a long-standing service partnership. Each Saturday, 12 Knights of Malta take turns serving as Eucharistic Ministers to patients, staff and visitors at Mercy. The provision of spiritual care, one of the main elements in maintaining a Catholic identity at Mercy, includes bringing the Eucharist to patients who are unable to attend services in the Chapel. These patients frequently express their gratitude for this service and are thankful for the peace and strength it gives them.
The Order of the Malta is an international Catholic lay religious order founded in the 11th Century whose mission is the defense of the faith and assistance to the poor and the suffering through the voluntary work carried out by the Knights and Dames of the Order in humanitarian assistance and medical and relief efforts.
Will Cook, President, UPMC Mercy, accepting the grant from Order of Malta Knight Dan McGrogan, Esq.
From left to right: Tiffany Yanuzo, Sharon Mackall, Dan McGrogan, Esq., Will Cook, The Hon. Maureen Lally-Green (ret.), Barbara Spell, Nancy Hurley . Download the photo in high-resolution.