Homeland Security chief tours hospital

U.S. Secretary of Homeland Security Janet Napolitano visits with St. John's Chief Nurse Officer/Chief Operating Officer Dottie Bringle, a registered nurse, during a tour of Joplin Thursday, June 9. Mercy CEO Lynn Britton (far left) and U.S. Rep. Billy Long, R-Missouri (center), representing the state's 7th District, were among those on the tour. (Submitted Photo)

U.S. Secretary of Homeland Security Janet Napolitano and Missouri Gov. Jay Nixon toured St. John's Mercy Hospital in Joplin Thursday, June 9.

St. John's is part of the Mercy Health System, which is associated with the hospital in Fort Scott.

The field hospital, available through federal funds, is being used until a temporary facility can be put into place.

Napolitano praised Mercy physicians and co-workers for their quick response to the destruction of the hospital facility during the May 22 tornado, which devastated the community located about 60 miles southeast of Fort Scott. Napolitano went on to pledge continuing federal support to return St. John's Mercy to full function in the coming months, a news release said.

Nixon has been very active in coordinating state and federal response to the destruction of the Joplin hospital, the release said.

Within a week, the 60-bed, high-tech field hospital was up and functioning. On average, 130 patients per day are being treated at the hospital, which has an emergency room, surgical and imaging capabilities and other features.