November 25, 2008 

Mercy Medical Center – Des Moines has appointed long-time Mercy Family member Dan Aten to serve as the first administrator of  Mercy’s replacement hospital— Mercy Medical Center – West Lakes in West Des Moines.

Aten has a distinguished and long standing relationship with Mercy and the central Iowa religious and medical community. He is presently project manager for the construction of Mercy Medical Center – West Lakes.

Dan helped to shape Mercy’s main campus while he served as a Mercy Executive Vice President from 1977 – 1986. During his tenure Aten led the completion of construction of the familiar H-towers used to provide patient care. He also served as President and CEO of Mercy Medical Center in Denver and St. Vincent Hospital in Santa Fe, New Mexico. In 1990 Aten returned to lead one of the country’s largest private cardiology and cardiac surgery practices, Iowa Heart Center P.C.

“We are extremely fortunate to have an individual like Dan to lead our replacement hospital,” says Mercy President & CEO David Vellinga. “ Dan is a talented administrator but most importantly, Dan is a values-based leader who shares our commitment to the sick and injured, especially those with special needs. His involvement in his church and community, to improve access to health care services regardless of a person’s ability to pay, makes Dan the person we need at Mercy West Lakes.”

Mercy will continue to assemble a leadership team for Mercy West Lakes which is expected to open in late 2009. When completed the hospital will be licensed for 146 beds, with a plan to staff 82 beds initially. Mercy West Lakes will offer the same services as the present Mercy Capitol including— medical/surgical inpatient beds, birthing services, a 24/7 Level IV Emergency Department and diagnostic and ancillary services. The hospital is the first hospital in central Iowa built to Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) specifications, meaning it will be an energy-efficient, environmentally-friendly building. The estimated cost of construction is $94 million.