Mount St. Mary's continues to provide exceptional care, close to home

By Jeremy Essman, DBA, PA-C, FACHE

President of Mount St. Mary's Hospital, Lockport Memorial Hospital, and Kenmore Mercy Hospital

Long before modern medicine, advanced technology, and specialized outpatient centers, Mount St. Mary’s Hospital began as the “House on the Corner” at Sixth Street and Ferry Avenue in Niagara Falls. Established in 1907 with just 33 beds by the Sisters of the Third Order of St. Francis, it was founded on a promise to care for those most in need. The sisters carried patients up staircases on stretchers, trained caregivers using textbooks they wrote themselves, and dedicated their lives to serving the community. Through their compassion, determination, and unwavering commitment to others, they built a foundation of care which continues to guide Mount St. Mary’s more than a century later.

The Sisters of St. Francis understood a truth as relevant today as it was in 1907: Caring for people means adapting to meet their needs. While we no longer carry patients up flights of stairs ourselves, the spirit of innovation defining those early days lives on. Today, we receive test results in a matter of minutes and utilize technologies the sisters could scarcely have imagined. Our mission, however, remains unchanged to provide safe, high-quality care and meet the needs of our community. If the sisters taught us anything, it is that standing still was never part of the mission. To honor their legacy, we must continue evolving alongside the people we serve.

Healthcare has changed dramatically in recent decades. Procedures once requiring several days in the hospital can now be completed safely in an outpatient setting, allowing patients to recover in the comfort of their own homes. For most people, healing is best supported by the comfort of family, friends, and familiar surroundings. As patient needs and care delivery continue to evolve, hospitals must evolve as well.

At Mount St. Mary’s, we have embraced a neighborhood hospital model – one right-sized to meet the unique needs of the communities we serve. This approach allows us to remain financially sustainable while continuing to invest in the people, programs, and technologies mattering most to our patients. Rather than trying to be everything to everyone, we are focused on being exceptional in the care our community needs most.

This focus allows us to concentrate our resources where they make the greatest impact: delivering outstanding patient care. Our commitment to excellence has earned national recognition for safety and quality, leading to four consecutive A’s from The Leapfrog Group, accreditation from The Joint Commission, and designation as a Joint Commission Primary Stroke Center. These achievements represent more than awards and certifications. They reflect the dedication of our physicians, nurses and staff, who work every day to provide the highest standards of care close to home. As healthcare continues to evolve, our goal remains constant to ensure those who count on us have access to safe, high-quality care from a team they know and trust. A team largely comprised of their neighbors.

Mount St. Mary’s remains a vital hospital for Niagara County, providing services our neighbors rely on every day, including a 24-hour Emergency Department, inpatient monitoring bedside, and an Intensive Care Unit. Along with these core services, we are proud to offer a wide range of outpatient and specialties, including same-day imaging and laboratory testing, cardiopulmonary services, comprehensive OB/GYN services through our Women’s Center, and infusion therapy. When outpatient procedures are needed, many can be performed safely and conveniently at the Niagara Ambulatory Surgery Center on Transit Road in Lockport. Patients receive specialized care in convenient community-based settings, while benefiting from a seamless continuum of services across Catholic Health.

Our goal is simple: Provide the right care, in the right place, at the right time. By focusing on services that best meet the needs of our community, we are building a sustainable model of care that will enable Mount St. Mary’s to remain a strong, resilient healthcare partner for generations to come.

Healthcare looks different today than it did decades ago, and so do we. Guided by the same mission that has defined us for generations, we remain dedicated to delivering compassionate, high-quality care close to home and ensuring our neighbors can count on us when they need us most. More than a century ago, the Sisters of St. Francis built Mount St. Mary’s Hospital on a promise to serve this community. Today, we honor that promise by continuing to adapt, continuing to invest, and continuing to provide the care our neighbors deserve. That is our commitment, and that is our promise to you.