This makes me sick. Hospice has been such a god sent to so many people, and this is truly one of the programs that was well worth the money. So many people don't know how to deal with death, myself included, and these people are a blessing. I sure hope there is a way to start an independant chapter....these people are needed, wanted and appreciated.

You can't Change ingnorant people, however I will say this. If you have never been to Haven House, you dont have a clue to even be commenting. Secondly, as long as Mercy changes their payroll structure to be competitive with the new hospital, they will be fine. However, Dean/St Marys pays their nurse approx 5-7 dollars per hour more than Mercy currently does so they probably want to be looking at that really soon.......otherwise those of you who said jobs will be lost at Mercy to go to the new hosptial will be correct....

It really saddens me when so many of these people are making comments and you can tell they do not know any of the facts. Haven House is a wonderful facility and the average cencus is NOT 2 residents. It is a service that is needed. Have a heart--- there are people that are dying and have no one that can stay with them 24 hours a day or just simply do not want to die at home. This residence was very unique and a specialized area for pain control and comfort that sometimes cannot be provided at home. People have choices and many,many people have chosen to turn to Haven House for comfort care -- not only for the patients ,but also the family. Haven House will truly be missed by many and no one really knows what I am talking about ----unless you have experienced the "Haven House Family" first hand. Families from years ago still visit Haven House to remimice and talk about their loved ones over a cup of coffee--- with the same staff that took care of their loved ones at this very special time in their lives. It is very sad that this service will not be available in Janesville , so convient and small to feel like home. Yes there is a facility in Madison but when you are already under stress, who wants to drive there every day and home again. We would like to thank the community and past families that allowed us to come into their lives at such a trying time. We have met some very special people and made many friends. What we will take with us is many ,many special and touching memories that we have made for the last 15 years at Haven House. What makes it most unique is that the staff wanted to be there , it was not just a JOB and we truly CARED and had compassion and love for the many people that came into our lives through Haven House. WE WILL NEVER FORGET OUR JOURNEY AND HOPE SOMEDAY IT WILL BEGIN AGAIN.

I agree with Neuromed. If Mercy didnt put all that money in those Baldridge awards posters; they would have enuff money to pay for things.. like mercy in motion. I cant believe there cutting this. Javon Bea is out for the almighty dollar. Mercy in motion helps eldery an handicapped people get to doctors app. This has been a great help to the community. They have at least 4 vans running monday-friday and its always a full schedule. This will be such a pain for people who rely on it because its there only way of transportation.

I totally agree with what walker says:
Mercy is whining so much about the upcoming hospital that they want everyone to feel sorry for them, well to bad, it's time Dean does step up and replace alot of what Mercy lacks.
I wouldn't go to the Mercy band aide center/hospital for anything!!! To many people go into this hospital and come out worse than they went in.
So, GOOD LUCK TO THE DEAN HOSPITAL it will be welcomed with open arms to many.

Dean is not going to hurt Mercy to much. Our insurance companies dictate where we go to the hospital. My family has Dean insurance so we have to go to St.Marys in Madison to use a hospital. A new Dean hospital will be welcomed. No more driving to Madison.

Thanks to the dedicated staff who love the people put in their care. Haven House of Mercy along with Mercy in Motion and Mercy Adult Day Center will be missed.
Yes Daily news reader you are correct, This article along with "quotes" (average census) is not accurate.

Maybe Mercy shouldn't have spent so much money to get the Baldridge Award so Javon Bea can have his face plastered all over billboards across Rock County!

Some of the best and most advanced hospitals and clinics in the state, and the country for that matter, are in Madison so it is no surprise at times people would go there for care. This doesn't denote that the care at Mercy is bad or that Dean opening a hospital here would change the aforementioned fact.

Intrigued,
Do NOT believe EVERYTHING you read.
This article is NOT totally ACCURATE.

Do you want to know why Mercy has empty beds? It's because many people in this area choose to go to Madison or Milwaukee when they need major surgery - not Mercy. I'm sure the powers that be at Dean looked at where their patients are from & decided that the demand was there - Otherwise I doubt if they'd bother to build a new hospital in Janesville. I think Walker has hit the nail on the head. Part of Mercy's problems are that they've spread themselves too thin - they had to have a clinic on every corner of every town in the Stateline area.

Mercy hospital has empty beds already. The addition of Dean Hospital doesn’t add 2,000 jobs if jobs are lost at Mercy due to a reduction in patients. Moreover, there are many in the area that will be losing their medical benefits at the end of October and more will follow in the coming years. Granted, they may regain benefits from new employers, but the quality will be substantially reduced. Thus, trips the doctor may be limited to their financial wherewithal. It will be interesting to see how slow things become at Mercy in the coming years before the opening of a new hospital. We may find jobs being lost at Mercy up to the point of and after the construction of the new hospital, which very well may negate any additional employment. The question really lies in whether or not Janesville needs a second hospital more so than any economic benefits gained from it. I’m skeptical either facility will offer the same level of care patients are currently receiving at Mercy after the hospital is constructed, though it is perceived that care will improve.

I find it interesting that folks would support the cost to fund a 7 bed unit that has an average census of 2 individuals. How can that be financially feasable for anyone? Do any of you understand where skyrocketing health costs come from?

I don't want to appear cold-hearted. Home hospice services for my father made his final weeks a time when our family could be with him while he received the care he needed. It's just that I don't see how our country can keep throwing money at things that aren't used while at the same time complaining about the cost.

chelleandlou I agree. From what I have observed since Dean announced it is building a new hospital, Mercy has stamped their feet and pouted about it, like a baby. I realize Mercy has pretty much spread like a virus all over the area, and they like it that way. The closing of these things, to me Mercy is attempting to portay themselves as a victim, and make Dean look like a villian.

Maybe Mrecy should look into a rebate from the interior design firm who opted to paint the entire downstairs sunshine yellow....wow!

I don't really understand why Mercy is cutting services that are needed. Are they afraid of the incoming competition? Cutting services will send patient and clients to other venues in Madison, Milwaukee, etc. Which maybe is what Mercy needs; to lose patients.

I think the fact that another hospital is coming should be the reason that Mercy keeps offering as much as they can to Janesville and it's patients. They should be making it as convenient as possible for patients to remain patients at Mercy. Maybe HospiceCare can find funding to build a hospice here like the one in Fitchburg, which in my opinion, defines the word hospice.

rosewood: Thas has nothing to do with GM. The economy of the entire country is in the crapper, at least according to the media, which is in part to blame for all of this. I believe that they make things seem a lot worse than they really are.

On another comment you made about Dean: Dean will be bringing ~2000 jobs to the area right???? How on earth could this be a bad thing? Many of those jobs will be skilled positions. This will help stimulate Janesville.

At least try and think before you write! It is your type of thinking that will make the local economy worse not better!

Haven House has been marvelous and i will truly miss those girls and the services they provided our city and families. They went above and beyond with their care. we will always remember them

This is just the start-Janesville is hurting financially with GM closing-We do not need a bike tunnel or a childrens museum-start taking care of the people first and then the luxuries.
Be smart-Mercy can't carry everything, maybe Dean Care should step up and help with the extras. We already have one good hospital, we don't need two.

This is they only inpatient facility in Janesville that I am aware of.

Hopice centers are major cash loss, just as transportation and ER. They can't close the ER so they are closing what will lose money. There continue to be other hospice inpatient units available, just not a Mercy

It is not the city's responsibility to fund Mercy. Maybe Mercy should not be building a parking garage.

It is too bad the the city does not have any extra funds to help support this NEED! Oh wait, they do! They think a children's museum is of greater need! NICE...

I can't believe they are closing this residence. This program was the best thing that could have happend for my family. It as a blessing for my dad who did not want to be home, but yet didn't want to be in the hospital. Also, this facility served my grandfather 9 years ago and the day ladies, Pat and Mary still remembered my family. They made my family feel at ease and we knew our loved ones were in the best care possible. We were allowed to come and go as we wanted. No special visiting hours were enforced. If we wanted to spend the night, which my mom did often, we could with no problem.

A huge thank you to eveyone at Haven House for everything you have done!