PRESCOTT, Ariz. (March 11, 2026) – Dignity Health Yavapai Regional Medical Center (YRMC) is celebrating 130 years since the Sisters of Mercy brought their strong mission of providing compassionate health care to Prescott, establishing a legacy that continues to guide YRMC today.
The Sisters of Mercy, who recognized the need for health care in the Prescott area, began providing lifesaving health care services to the community in 1896 in a quaint house on Marina Street. Their vision rapidly led to the community’s first hospital with the construction of a three-story hospital on Grove Street. It was there the Sisters dubbed the new facility Prescott Mercy Hospital, a reference to the Catholic values driving their mission. Following a fire in 1940 that destroyed the hospital, the Sisters moved to Phoenix but their legacy and spirit never left.
One hundred and thirty years later, the Sisters of Mercy’s pioneering spirit and founding principles continue to actively guide YRMC. When the opportunity arose to affiliate with Dignity Health in 2020, YRMC recognized a profound alignment. Dignity Health, which was founded by the Sisters of Mercy and the organization’s commitment to its core values – respect, justice, compassion, stewardship, and excellence – resonated deeply with YRMC’s history and mission. This partnership wasn't just an affiliation; it was a continuation of the Sisters' pioneering spirit in the Prescott area.
There are also physical reminders of the Sisters enduring presence in Yavapai County. The original hospital's stained-glass windows that were spared from the fire have been installed in Prescott Valley’s Chapel of the Valley, helping to remind the community of the lasting impact the Sisters of Mercy established 130 years ago.
“Today, YRMC not only perpetuates but has enhanced the Sisters of Mercy's original vision by expanding our accessibility to care and allowing us to serve our community with greater reach,” says Anthony Torres, MD, President and CEO of YRMC. “The Sisters’ example has left a lasting impact on this community and we are committed to embodying what they stood for every day.”
Despite humble beginnings, the Sisters of Mercy’s legacy only grew as the hospital did and the mark they made on Prescott can still be felt generations later.
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