Mercy Hospital South

10/14/2026

"I feel privileged to be a primary care physician and never take for granted the trust patients place in me. My goal is to make sure patients feel heard, informed and supported,” said Dr. Kaitlin Sommer, the newest member of our primary care team.

Dr. Sommer is caring for patients at Mercy Clinic Primary Care - High Ridge Gravois Road. Get to know her in her own words with this Q&A:

❓Why did you get into healthcare?

I was drawn to medicine because it brought together my love of learning, problem-solving and a desire to serve others. Ultimately, I view medicine as a calling and profound privilege that allows me to care for patients during some of the most important moments of their life and build lasting relationships with them.

❓Did you always know you wanted to be a doctor?

Not at first! I’ve always loved science, but I initially pursued a degree in public health. Over time, I realized that medicine would allow me to do what I really wanted: work directly with individuals and make a meaningful difference in their lives.

❓What drew you to primary care?

I love that primary care allows me to care for the whole person and develop relationships with patients over time. I especially enjoy patient education and helping people feel confident and informed about their health. From newborn care to chronic disease management to end-of-life care, primary care gives me the opportunity to accompany patients through all stages of life.

❓Are there specific conditions or treatments you have particular interest in?

I enjoy the variety of primary care and caring for patients with a wide range of needs. I particularly value helping patients understand and manage chronic conditions, with an emphasis on education, prevention and giving patients the tools to take an active role in their health.

❓Why did you choose to join Mercy and specifically the community?

Mercy’s commitment to caring for the whole person strongly resonated with me. As a Catholic physician, I was particularly drawn to Mercy's Catholic mission and its approach to caring for each person with dignity and compassion. I’m excited to be part of the warm, welcoming community around Mercy South and the opportunity to build lasting relationships with patients and families here.

❓Do you mind sharing about your personal life?

Outside of medicine, I enjoy spending time with my husband and our dog, especially hiking and exploring new places together. I also love music, cooking, traveling, and generally finding an excuse for a new adventure. I’m looking forward to exploring more of the parks and trails around the area and getting to know the local community.

10/14/2026

Join us in sending a heartfelt “Thank you!” to our incredible Nutrition Services caregivers! We celebrated them last week for .

From preparing nutritious meals and serving our patients with compassion, to stocking units, supporting our cafeterias, managing patient meal orders and ensuring every tray reaches the right patient at the right time, their work makes a difference every single day. Their dedication, teamwork and commitment to exceptional patient care help nourish healing and create a positive experience for everyone we serve. We are grateful for the kindness, hard work and excellence they bring to each day.

10/12/2026

Know an excellent nurse? Of course you do! They're all over the place here at .

Help get them the recognition they deserve by nominating them for St. Louis Magazine's awards. You can nominate nurses in a variety of categories. You have through Nov. 6 to submit a nomination using the link in comments.

10/11/2026

Amelia Weber, RN, and Jordan Cooper, DNP, APRN, currently team up in our Emergency Department. Previously, they teamed up in the classroom at St. Louis Community College where Jordan serves as the division dean of nursing and where Amelia graduated last December.

Their connection not only helped Amelia become a nurse, it was put to the test during a life-threatening situation where they worked together to save a patient.

As shared on the St. Louis Community College blog:

“Your schooling and your training really comes in because it's like you walk into the room, your patient's short of breath. I had just started a medication on him. So the first thing I think is, ‘Oh, medication.’ So I stop the medication,” Amelia explained. “While I'm rallying the troops and having them come in, he just kind of falls back. At that point, I notice we're not breathing. So I check his pulse. Felt none so I immediately jump on, start doing chest compressions, and then that's when we call everybody. Everybody.”

Together with attending physicians and emergency staff, Amelia and Jordan worked together to resuscitate the patient.

“So we're doing compressions, I've got the bag, trying to get him ventilated. We open up our cart to try to get it hooked up to the monitor, get ready to shock him, do whatever we’ve got to do,” Jordan said. “We brought over one of our attending physicians, and then when he ran over, then it became like eight, nine more people. We just went to work using our training for about an hour and a half or so.”

Thanks to the team's swift intervention, the patient was stabilized and transferred to the intensive care unit. Read more with the link in bio.

10/10/2026

We’re putting the awareness in with Mammopalooza and an informational booth at the Rooney Breast Center at the Sindelar Cancer Center.

Melissa Heidbrink, our high-risk breast cancer nurse navigator, is helping share breast cancer awareness, including the importance of screening with mammography, and answering any questions women may have. She will be in the main hallway of the Rooney Breast Center from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Oct. 13, 22 and 26.

And on Saturday, Oct. 17, from 7 a.m. to 1 p.m., we're hosting Mammopalooza, where women can have a little fun with their friends while coming out to get their mammograms. Mammopalooza includes giveaways, cookies and some great information on breast health. Invite your friends to join you!

10/09/2026

Our nursing team is introducing the Golden Care Awards.

These yearly awards honor our outstanding nursing leaders, educators and units for their dedication, compassion, innovation and leadership that drive exceptional patient care every day. Congratulations to all this year's nominees and the 10 individual and 12 department winners for setting the standard for excellence in care!

Individual honorees: Mackenzie Brown, Michelle Bruns, Nicole Collet, Mary Finley, Jaden Meyers, Melisa Mujagic, Heather Pilarski, Kara Ranft, Briley Thomas and Brittany Way.

Department honorees: Cardiac Telemetry Unit, Cardiovascular Progressive Care Unit, Emergency Department, House Supervisors, Labor, Delivery, Recovery and Postpartum Unit, Medical (7 East) Unit, Medical-Surgical (5 East) Unit, Oncology Unit (8 West), Orthopedics Unit, Surgical Intensive Care Unit, Surgical Unit (3 West) and Surgical Stepdown Unit.

10/08/2026

Join us in welcoming primary care physician Dr. Alanna Tieman to our team. Dr. Tieman is serving patients with Mercy Clinic Primary Care - 7345 Watson Suite 202. Learn more or use our online scheduling tool with the link in comments.

10/08/2026

We're working to help the next wave of nurses by starting up an adopt-a-cohort model to create a direct partnership between us and groups of nursing students throughout their education. Rather than having their first experience at the hospital during a final clinical rotation, students build relationships with nurse leaders, staff and the organization from the beginning of their education. This approach helps them feel connected, supported and invested in the organization before they graduate.

We've partnered with St. Louis Community College and recently held our first meet and greet with students. We made great connections and look forward to supporting them through their education.

10/06/2026

We are expanding our access to minimally invasive surgical options with the addition of our third robotic-assisted surgery system. Our newest system, the Intuitive da Vinci 5, provides the latest technology for minimally invasive care for urological, gynecological, thoracic and general surgeries.

Dr. Tatiana Ramirez, colorectal surgeon, successfully performed the first surgery with the new surgical system, which was a complex colorectal procedure. Dr. Ramirez was joined by Dr. Carrie Johans, urologist, and their operating room team for the surgery.

As with all da Vinci surgical systems, our surgeons are 100% in control of the robotic-assisted da Vinci system, which translates their hand movements into smaller, more precise movements of tiny instruments inside the patient’s body. The da Vinci 5 includes more than 150 design innovations and includes 3DHD visualization, intuitive motion and increased computing power.

Surgeons performed ’s first robotic-assisted surgery in 2010. Since then, they have performed more than 9,500 of these procedures, including more than 1,600 in just the last year.

10/05/2026

Join us in celebrating our Supply Chain team during this week’s . This team’s work often happens behind the scenes, but they are essential to everything we do for our patients. A healthcare supply chain is about much more than putting products on a shelf; it is an important part of patient care.

Our Supply Chain team supports some of the most critical areas of the hospital, including the Operating Room, Interventional Radiology, Cardiac Cath Lab, cardiovascular services and many other non-procedural areas.

Our Supply Chain team works 24/7 because patient care never stops. They solve problems, respond to unexpected needs, work through shortages and backorders, coordinate with vendors and clinical teams, and continually adapt to the changing needs of healthcare. We couldn’t care for our patients without them!

10/02/2026

Stop ✋🛑 what you're doing and schedule your next primary care appointment here: https://bit.ly/4xZHdb0

Carry on 💅

10/02/2026

We're honored to be a chapter in the story of Fort Smith's history of remarkable women. Keep your eyes out for this story in the coming months!

10/02/2026

If you've been to a Mercy hospital today, you may have noticed that we're kicking off . The best way to join in on the celebration would be to schedule your mammogram! This 15-minute test could save your life. https://bit.ly/3TyDO50

09/30/2026

Ready for flu season? 🍂 Now’s a good time to get your vaccines on the calendar. Flu, COVID-19 and RSV vaccines each have different timing recommendations. Here’s when to get each one:

Flu: September or October is the best time to get vaccinated for the fall flu season, but it’s still a good idea to get your vaccine later in the season. The vaccine takes about two weeks to become fully effective.

COVID-19: The COVID-19 vaccine was recently updated, and with the respiratory season upon us, receiving this vaccine now will provide the best protection (assuming you received the older vaccine more than three months ago). Additional doses may be recommended based on age, vaccination history and immune status. When additional updates to the vaccine happen, immunization is recommended ASAP, but no sooner than three months after your last COVID-19 vaccine.

RSV: Eligible adults should get the RSV vaccine between August and October, or any time of year. You do not need to get an RSV vaccine every year.

Not sure which vaccines you need or when to get them? Talk with your healthcare provider.

09/30/2026

Today, and every day, we continue to celebrate the children who have faced some of the hardest challenges with resilience and bravery. Thank you for being a light. ✨

09/29/2026

Been around someone with measles? Here's what to know.

If symptoms develop, start with a virtual visit or phone call. A Mercy caregiver can help you understand your options and what to do next.

09/27/2026

This Su***de Prevention Month, we're proud to recognize the Mercy Virtual Behavioral Health team, whose screening and outreach program was named a finalist for the 2026 Aim for Excellence Award.

Behind that recognition is a team dedicated to helping people feel seen, heard and supported. If you're struggling, know that you're not alone. Help is available, and we're here for you.

09/25/2026

Sudden injuries don't have to put you in a pickle. Skip the ER wait and cost and head to our orthopedic walk-in clinics instead! Find your nearest location: https://bit.ly/45V3A5W

09/25/2026

The best part of Mercy is our people. As we reflect on Deaf Awareness Month and the contributions of our EVS team, we're celebrating a caregiver who makes Mercy better every day.

09/25/2026

Rural health challenges require local solutions and strong partnerships! We're proud to join Heartland Whole Health Institute and partners across Arkansas in the Rural Health Transformation Program, working to create healthier communities and improve access to care where it's needed most.

Big news for rural health in Arkansas.

Heartland Whole Health Institute is proud to convene six Arkansas health care organizations through Heartland Whole Health Connect, a new rural health initiative supported through $8.4 million from Arkansas' Rural Health Transformation Program (RHTP).

Together with Mercy, Community Clinic, Boston Mountain Rural Health Center, North Arkansas Regional Medical Center, St. Bernards Healthcare, and Arkansas CPESN, we’ll work to expand access to primary and preventive care, strengthen chronic disease management, increase telehealth and remote care, and advance whole-person care closer to home.

We’re excited for what this investment makes possible for Arkansas and what we can learn together to help shape the future of rural health across the country.

Learn more about Heartland Whole Health Connect: https://brnw.ch/21x5WFy