A Regional Destination for Comprehensive Digestive Healthcare
The Mercy Kathryn Ann Meinders Digestive Health Institute is redefining digestive healthcare in Oklahoma by bringing specialized services together in a single, purpose-built destination. Located on the Mercy Hospital Oklahoma City campus, the institute addresses a significant regional need: a comprehensive center where patients can access coordinated digestive health services without traveling between multiple facilities. It is the only comprehensive healthcare center dedicated exclusively to digestive health in Oklahoma and the only facility of its kind within a 500-mile drive.
“Instead of piecing together care from different providers at different places, digestive health patients will be able to get everything they need in the same building. That’s never been possible before in Oklahoma.”
– Dr. Hussein Bitar, Board-certified Gastroenterologist at Mercy Hospital
Designed by REES, the freestanding, 52,000-square-foot facility serves as a hub for digestive healthcare. Licensed through the Oklahoma State Department of Health, the institute brings together outpatient, procedural and diagnostic services in one location. Patients can receive treatment for a wide range of digestive conditions, from routine gastrointestinal concerns to complex diseases such as Crohn’s disease, hepatitis, cancer and ulcerative colitis.
The two-story institute includes seven procedure rooms, 21 prep and recovery rooms, ambulatory gastrointestinal care space, a motility lab, and dedicated clinics for inflammatory bowel disease and hepatology. Administrative offices, education spaces and a chapel support patients, families and care teams throughout the facility.
Specialized Infrastructure for Advanced GI Care
Specialized clinical infrastructure supports the technical demands of advanced endoscopic care. Within procedure rooms, boom arms and integrated scope-camera technology provide caregivers with immediate access to equipment and imaging during procedures. Dedicated alcoves keep equipment organized and readily available while minimizing clutter in patient care areas.
Behind the scenes, scope washing and drying systems and dedicated reprocessing areas support the cleaning, sterilization and storage of endoscopic equipment. These carefully planned workflows help reduce handling, improve efficiency and support patient safety. From cancer screening and inflammatory bowel disease imaging to AI-assisted diagnostics, the institute incorporates advanced technology to expand access to digestive healthcare.
An Environment of Healing
A defining element of the project is the integration of healing, technology and art. The Kathryn Ann Meinders Gallery features artwork and sculptures donated from the personal collection of benefactor Herman Meinders, Kathryn’s father, transforming the arrival and waiting experience into a welcoming, gallery-like setting. Custom wall-wash lighting properly showcases the collection. A chapel provides a quiet space of reflection for patients and families during treatment.
Vital Care to the Community Sooner
Built on a constrained site previously used for staff parking, the facility accommodates a complex clinical program while maintaining campus operations, traffic flow and parking availability. Through close collaboration with Mercy, the contractor, engineering partners and project stakeholders, our team successfully balanced budget, schedule and program requirements. The $52 million project was completed ahead of schedule, allowing Mercy to deliver specialized digestive healthcare services to the community sooner.
Today, the Mercy Kathryn Ann Meinders Digestive Health Institute expands access to specialized digestive healthcare, serving as a regional destination for treatment, education and wellness across Oklahoma and the surrounding region.