Artist’s rendering of Mercy Comfort Women’s Center

Mercy Medical Center – Des Moines announced today that it will establish a comprehensive women’s health center in Clive, made possible by a lead gift of $8.5 million from a family foundation.

The gift from the Comfort Family Foundation will be used to establish the Mercy Comfort Women’s Center, which will be located on the first level of the Mercy West Medical Clinic at 1601 N.W. 114th St. in Clive. The center, which Mercy officials said will be a $14 million investment, will offer comprehensive services that are vital to a woman’s health and wellness during midlife.

“Mr. (Frank) Comfort shared with us that everything good in his life was a result of being surrounded by strong women,” said Mercy Foundation President Shannon Duval. “It motivated him to commit to a gift that will impact women’s health for decades to come.”

The center physicians and staff will connect women to preventative and specialty medical services at one convenient location with a warm and inviting environment, Mercy officials said.

 

Primary programs and clinics will include:

• Katzmann Breast Center for comprehensive breast health care.
• A clinic for incontinence and urologic care.
• Medical imaging.
• Internal medicine services, including endocrinology and behavioral health.
• Dermatology and plastic surgical services.
• A visiting physicians clinic for specialties including cardiology, gastroenterology and neurology that can require special care for women.

“We are honored the Comfort family has entrusted us with developing a center dedicated to diseases and conditions experienced almost exclusively by women,” said obstetric gynecologist Dr. Stephen Feltz. “This center will deliver highly focused patient care.”

Mercy plans to hire a patient navigator to help women maximize the use of the center’s resources and will also be hiring some additional specialists in areas such as gynecology and neurology for the center, spokesman Gregg Lagan said.