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February 5, 2023

The Talbot Spy

The nonprofit e-newspaper for the Talbot County Community

Health Health Notes

Overdose Spike Alert

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The Talbot County Health Department has been made aware of a spike in suspected opioid overdoses over the past several days. This spike is five times greater than we usually see in our community. First responders, healthcare providers, and people who use drugs and their families should be aware of the increased risk of overdose in our community.

Fentanyl is a synthetic opioid that is up to 50 times stronger than heroin and 100 times stronger than morphine. The prevalence of fentanyl is unlike anything that we have seen before, and even more alarming is the likelihood of encountering fentanyl at extremely high doses in any recreational drug use as well as counterfeit pain and anxiety pills. According to the U.S. Drug Enforcement Agency, of the record number of fentanyl-laced fake prescription pills analyzed in 2022, six out of ten now contain a potentially lethal dose of fentanyl.

Our community should continue to be aware of the risks of Fentanyl and other drugs, including New Psychoactive Substance (NPS) that are being used as standalone drugs or adulterants (“cutting agents”) in combination with other substances. These include a number of synthetic drugs, herbal drugs, synthetic cocaine, synthetic cannabis, herbal ecstasy, incense, deodorizers, and products marked ‘not for human consumption.’

Xylazine and Medetomidine are drugs used in veterinary medicine and are not approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration for human consumption. Xylazine may cause deep tissue damage when injected or inhaled as a standalone drug or in concomitant use with other substances, and poisoning may result in bradycardia, respiratory and CNS depression, and hypotension which significantly increase the potential for overdose and/or death. Narcan does not work to reverse the effects of non-opioids like Medetomidine or Xylazine, but should still be administered to reverse the effects of opioids such as heroin, fentanyl, and prescription pain relievers such as oxycodone/Percocet, hydrocodone/Vicodin, codeine, and/or morphine.

***Seek immediate medical attention if overdose or exposure has occurred for respiratory care and blood pressure observation by calling 911 or going to the nearest emergency room.

WHO IS AT RISK?
– People who use drugs, particularly opioids over a short or long period of time
– People who use New Psychoactive Substance (NPS) and new/emerging drugs
– People who receive rotating opioid medication regimens
– People who are discharged from emergency care following opioid intoxication or poisoning
– People who have been abstinent for a period of time
– People who use opioids in combination with other substances, including mixing prescription painkillers with other substances

SIGNS AND SYMPTOMS OF AN OPIOID OVERDOSE
– Pale, sweaty or clammy skin
– Lips/fingertips turn blue
– Slow or irregular breathing: gasping, gurgling, or snoring
– Difficult or unable to wake
– Unconscious
– Limp body
– Lips/fingertips turn blue or gray
– Pulse slow or erratic

HOW TO HELP?

ALWAYS seek medical attention and go to the nearest hospital for opioid poisoning or overdose.
Narcan may wear off before the opioid wears off, resulting in overdose occurring again or repeatedly.

KEEP in mind that you can overdose on non-narcotics including cocaine, methamphetamine, cannabis/THC, designer and “club drugs” (e.g. GHB, Ecstasy, Ketamine, MDMA), and alcohol, especially when used in combination with one another or opioids.

REMEMBER Good Samaritan Law protects people who are experiencing a drug or alcohol overdose and those assisting in an emergency overdose situation from arrest, as well as prosecution, for certain crimes.

BE A HERO. Save a Life with Naloxone. When someone experiences an opioid overdose, you can restore their breathing and save their life by giving naloxone. Naloxone (Narcan) is a prescription medication that safely and effectively reverses an opioid overdose. It is available at Maryland pharmacies without a prescription. To learn more about naloxone, go to https://howtoadministernaloxone.maryland.gov/en/index.html.

CONNECT to Treatment and Resources. Stay informed, understand the risks. Individuals who are seeking resources for problems related to the use of alcohol and/or other drugs may visit https://talbothealth.org/addictions-program/ or contact the Talbot County Addictions Program at 410-819-5600. To register for a free Naloxone training or to obtain the intranasal form of Narcan call 410-819-5688.

Choptank Health Welcomes New School-Based Healthcare Providers

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Choptank Community Health System recently welcomed Family Nurse Practitioners Sarah Rogers, MSN, APRN, FNP-C, IBCLC of Centreville, Md., and Hope Taylor, MSN of Preston, Md. to its School-Based Health Center team. Rogers is providing healthcare to students and staff at Greensboro Elementary School, and Taylor is providing healthcare to Federalsburg Elementary School students and staff.

Sarah Rogers graduated from Chamberlain University with a Master’s Degree in Nursing, specializing in the field of study to become a certified Family Nurse Practitioner (FNP). She is registered in Maryland as an Advanced Practice Registered Nurse and is an Internationally Board Certified Lactation Consultant.

Prior to joining Choptank Health, Rogers worked as a Nurse Practitioner at the University of Maryland Urgent Care in Easton, Chester, and Denton, Md., and as a Registered Nurse at the Anne Arundel Medical Center in Annapolis, Md. She is a native of Crofton, Md. and now lives in Centreville with her husband and three children.

Sarah Rogers and Hope Taylor

Hope Taylor graduated from Walden University with a Master’s Degree in Nursing, specializing in the field of study to become a certified Family Nurse Practitioner (FNP) and inducted into the Lambda Eta Chapter of Sigma Theta Tau Nursing Honor Society, the Golden Key International Honor Society, and the National Society of Leadership and Success.

Taylor joined Choptank Health in 2021, working at Choptank Health’s Fassett Magee Health Center prior to her School-Based Health Center work. Prior to joining Choptank Health, Taylor worked at the University of Maryland Shore Regional Health in Easton, Md. as a Staff Nurse, Field Nurse, and Case Manager. She is a native of Preston, Md., where she currently lives with her husband and four children.

Choptank Health’s School-Based Health Centers provide dental services for Dorchester County Public School students and staff and medical and dental services for students and staff in Caroline, Kent, Queen Anne’s, and Talbot County Public Schools. A primary care mobile health unit is also used as part of Choptank Health’s School-Based health center services.

The School-Based Health Centers provide in-person, virtual, curbside well and urgent care during the school year and over the summer months, with student enrollment needed. Services include diagnosis and treatment of illnesses, behavioral health services, nutrition, and educational services. Choptank Health’s School-Based dental programs include dental screenings and sealants, polishing/cleanings, oral health education, fluoride treatments, and dental emergency referrals.

School-Based Health Center Enrollment forms can be picked up at each school or downloaded in English and Spanish at www.choptankhealth.org/formsinformation.

Choptank Community Health System provides medical and dental services to more than 30,000 adults and children in Caroline, Dorchester, Kent, Queen Anne’s, and Talbot counties, with a mission to provide access to exceptional, comprehensive, and integrated healthcare for all. Medical services include primary healthcare, women’s health, pediatrics, behavioral health, chronic health management, and care navigation, with new medical patients now being accepted. More is at www.choptankhealth.org.

Luke Whalen, MD, Named Medical Director of SRH Emergency Department at Cambridge

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Luke Whalen, MD

University of Maryland Shore Emergency Center at Cambridge has named Luke Whalen, MD, as medical director. Dr. Whalen has served UM Shore Regional Health as an emergency medicine physician since 2018.

A cum laude graduate of St. Mary’s College of Maryland in St, Mary’s City, Md., Dr. Whalen earned his medical degree in 2014 from Virginia Commonwealth University School of Medicine in Richmond, Va. and completed a four-year residency in emergency medicine at Yale-New Haven Hospital in 2018.

Dr. Whalen’s experience includes research and teaching as well as the practice of emergency medicine. While pursuing his medical degree, he participated in research on intervention to reduce inappropriate coagulation testing, and comparison of attending physician and nursing evaluations of emergency resident evaluations. As an undergraduate student, he completed a summer research fellowship at the National Cancer Institute at the National Institute of Health.

During his residency, Dr. Whalen’s teaching experience included proctoring and debriefing case and procedural simulations for medical students and residents. He also provided hands-on training on the use of bedside ultrasound to Yale Medical School students and residents.

“Dr. Whalen is a fantastic addition to our leadership team in emergency medicine at Shore,” said Walt Atha, MD, Regional Director of Emergency Medicine at UM SRH. “He is committed to his career here; in fact, he secured a position with our practice early in his residency long before beginning his formal employment. He is a stellar emergency physician who is highly respected by all of his colleagues and coworkers. His careful and astute observation of the needs and opportunities in the Cambridge Emergency Department and his calm, steady leadership style will add tremendously to our ability to care for the patients of Dorchester County and beyond.”

About University of Maryland Shore Regional Health

As part of the University of Maryland Medical System (UMMS), University of Maryland Shore Regional Health is the principal provider of comprehensive health care services for more than 170,000 residents of Caroline, Dorchester, Kent, Queen Anne’s and Talbot counties on Maryland’s Eastern Shore. UM Shore Regional Health’s team of more than 2,200 employees, medical staff, board members and volunteers works with various community partners to fulfill the organization’s mission of Creating Healthier Communities Together.

About the University of Maryland Medical System

The University of Maryland Medical System (UMMS) is an academic private health system, focused on delivering compassionate, high quality care and putting discovery and innovation into practice at the bedside. Partnering with the University of Maryland School of Medicine and University of Maryland, Baltimore who educate the state’s future health care professionals, UMMS is an integrated network of care, delivering 25 percent of all hospital care in urban, suburban and rural communities across the state of Maryland. UMMS puts academic medicine within reach through primary and specialty care delivered at 11 hospitals, including the flagship University of Maryland Medical Center, the System’s anchor institution in downtown Baltimore, as well as through a network of University of Maryland Urgent Care centers and more than 150 other locations in 13 counties. For more information, visit www.umms.org.

Chestertown Mammography Patients Being Scheduled at Other UM SRH Sites Due to Equipment Replacement at Leh Women’s Center

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Due to an unforeseen construction event, mammography equipment at the Eleanor and Ethel Leh Women’s Center at UM Shore Medical Center at Chestertown is non-operational. University of Maryland Shore Regional Health is in the process of replacing the mammography machine with new, state-of-the-art equipment.

While the new mammography machine is being acquired and installed, patients are being directed to UM SRH breast imaging sites in Denton, Easton and Queenstown for screening and diagnostic services. We anticipate this temporary service downtime to last three to four months, with a goal to be operational again in Chestertown by May 2023. We apologize for any inconvenience this may cause.

Nelson Goldberg, MD and Roberta Lilly, MD will continue to see patients in the Leh Women’s Center, and DEXA scans may still be scheduled at this location.

Thank you for your understanding as we work to bring our community this new state-of-the-art equipment.

To schedule imaging services throughout the five-county region UM SRH serves, please call Central Scheduling at 443-225-7474.

About University of Maryland Shore Regional Health

As part of the University of Maryland Medical System (UMMS), University of Maryland Shore Regional Health is the principal provider of comprehensive health care services for more than 170,000 residents of Caroline, Dorchester, Kent, Queen Anne’s and Talbot counties on Maryland’s Eastern Shore. UM Shore Regional Health’s team of more than 2,200 employees, medical staff, board members and volunteers works with various community partners to fulfill the organization’s mission of Creating Healthier Communities Together.

About the University of Maryland Medical System

The University of Maryland Medical System (UMMS) is an academic private health system, focused on delivering compassionate, high quality care and putting discovery and innovation into practice at the bedside. Partnering with the University of Maryland School of Medicine and University of Maryland, Baltimore who educate the state’s future health care professionals, UMMS is an integrated network of care, delivering 25 percent of all hospital care in urban, suburban and rural communities across the state of Maryland. UMMS puts academic medicine within reach through primary and specialty care delivered at 11 hospitals, including the flagship University of Maryland Medical Center, the System’s anchor institution in downtown Baltimore, as well as through a network of University of Maryland Urgent Care centers and more than 150 other locations in 13 counties. For more information, visit www.umms.org.

UM Shore Regional Health Cancer Program Welcomes New Radiation Oncologist

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Rashmi Benda, MD

The Cancer Program at University of Maryland Shore Regional Health (UM SRH) has welcomed Rashmi Benda, MD, as Medical Director of the Requard Radiation Oncology Center. In this role, Dr. Benda will work closely with John Mastandrea, MD, Chief of Radiation Oncology at UM SRH, to further develop the robust clinical program at the radiation therapy center with state-of-the-art technology, including brachytherapy and stereotactic radiation services.

Dr. Benda also has joined the faculty of the Department of Radiation Oncology at the University of Maryland School of Medicine (UMSOM). In this capacity, she will further define and implement processes to ensure that UM SRH remains fully integrated into the UMSOM radiation oncology program, the University of Maryland Greenebaum Comprehensive Cancer Center at the University of Maryland Medical Center and the University of Maryland Medical System.

Working with Dr. Mastandrea, Mark Mishra, MD, Associate Director of the University of Maryland Cancer Network and Director of Radiation Oncology Clinical Research, and other members of the Clinical Trial Research leadership team, Dr. Benda will promote and grow existing radiation oncology clinical trials and research protocols.

Dr. Benda is a board-certified radiation oncologist with more than 24 years of clinical experience in both private practice and academic settings. She received her medical degree from the University of Miami’s Leonard M. Miller School of Medicine, and completed an internal medicine internship at the Sinai Hospital of Detroit and a radiation oncology residency at Wayne State University, also in Detroit. Dr. Benda’s areas of expertise include clinical radiation oncology, clinical trials, and establishing and growing multidisciplinary clinics in academic and community-based cancer centers. She most recently worked for Baptist Health South Florida where she served as Chief of Breast Services at the Lynn Cancer Institute Radiation Oncology Department.

“Dr. Benda’s experience across the full range of radiation treatment techniques in cancer will be an asset to patients and colleagues at UM SRH,” said William F. Regine, MD, FASTRO, FACRO, FACRO, the Isadore and Fannie Schneider Foxman Chair and Professor of Radiation Oncology at UMSOM. “We are looking forward to having her on the UM radiation oncology team as an integral part of our academic, research, educational, and patient outreach activities.”

“We are excited to welcome Dr. Benda to the UM Shore Regional HealthCancer Program,” said Jeanie Scott, Director of Oncology Services for UM SRH. “Her wide expertise makes her an excellent addition to the Requard Radiation Center team, and in particular, her experience in treating breast cancer will be most welcome to team members and patients in the Clark Comprehensive Breast Center.”

To learn more about the Cancer Program at UM SRH, visit umshoreregional.org/cancer.

About University of Maryland Shore Regional Health

As part of the University of Maryland Medical System (UMMS), University of Maryland Shore Regional Health is the principal provider of comprehensive health care services for more than 170,000 residents of Caroline, Dorchester, Kent, Queen Anne’s and Talbot counties on Maryland’s Eastern Shore. UM Shore Regional Health’s team of more than 2,200 employees, medical staff, board members and volunteers works with various community partners to fulfill the organization’s mission of Creating Healthier Communities Together.

About the University of Maryland Medical System

The University of Maryland Medical System (UMMS) is an academic private health system, focused on delivering compassionate, high quality care and putting discovery and innovation into practice at the bedside. Partnering with the University of Maryland School of Medicine and University of Maryland, Baltimore who educate the state’s future health care professionals, UMMS is an integrated network of care, delivering 25 percent of all hospital care in urban, suburban and rural communities across the state of Maryland. UMMS puts academic medicine within reach through primary and specialty care delivered at 11 hospitals, including the flagship University of Maryland Medical Center, the System’s anchor institution in downtown Baltimore, as well as through a network of University of Maryland Urgent Care centers and more than 150 other locations in 13 counties. For more information, visit www.umms.org.

Three Nurse Practitioners Join UM Shore Medical Group – Primary Care

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University of Maryland Shore Medical Group (UM SMG) – Primary Care recently welcomed three new nurse practitioners. Kathryn Wilson, MSN, CRNP, FNP-C and Melissa Wood, MSN, CRNP, FNP-C joined the Easton practice. Ashley Schreppel, MSN, CRNP, FNP-B, FNP-BC joined the Denton practice. All three providers are natives to the Eastern Shore.

L-R: Kathryn Wilson, Melissa Wood, and Ashley Schreppel

Wilson earned her Associate of Science in Nursing from Chesapeake College in Wye Mills and her Master of Science – Family Nurse Practitioner from Walden University. Previously, she served as a family nurse practitioner for a local medical practice, and also served as a staff nurse for UM Shore Regional Health, Peninsula Regional Medical Center and Compass Regional Hospice.

Wood earned her Associate of Science in Nursing from Chesapeake College, her Bachelor of Science in Nursing from Wilmington College in New Castle, Del., and her Master of Science in Nursing – Family Nurse Practitioner track from Chamberlain University in Addison, Ill. Her past experience includes working in maternity, medical-surgical, home health care, pain management, and radiation oncology. Wood is a member of the American Association of Nurse Practitioners and the Oncology Nursing Society, where she served as a board member for the Upper Eastern Shore chapter for two years.

Schreppel earned her Bachelor of Science in Nursing from Salisbury University and her Master of Science –Family Nurse Practitioner from Walden University. Schreppel has worked at several area hospitals, including University of Maryland Shore Medical Center at Easton as clinical nurse coordinator and charge nurse.

“We are fortunate to expand our primary care team on the Mid-Shore with excellent local talent,” said Timothy Shanahan, DO, Medical Director, UM SMG. “The addition of three highly qualified family nurse practitioners will help us better serve the needs of our community.”

To make an appointment with Wilson or Wood in Easton, call 410-820-4880. To make an appointment with Schreppel in Denton, call 410-479-5900.

About University of Maryland Shore Regional Health

As part of the University of Maryland Medical System (UMMS), University of Maryland Shore Regional Health is the principal provider of comprehensive health care services for more than 170,000 residents of Caroline, Dorchester, Kent, Queen Anne’s and Talbot counties on Maryland’s Eastern Shore. UM Shore Regional Health’s team of more than 2,200 employees, medical staff, board members and volunteers works with various community partners to fulfill the organization’s mission of Creating Healthier Communities Together.

About the University of Maryland Medical System

The University of Maryland Medical System (UMMS) is a university-based regional health care system focused on serving the health care needs of Maryland, bringing innovation, discovery and research to the care we provide and educating the state’s future physician and health care professionals through our partnership with the University of Maryland School of Medicine and University of Maryland, Baltimore professional schools (Nursing, Pharmacy, Social Work and Dentistry) in Baltimore. As one of the largest private employers in the State, the health system’s more than 29,500 employees and 4,000 affiliated physicians provide primary and specialty care in more than 150 locations, including 12 hospitals and 10 University of Maryland Urgent Care centers. The UMMS flagship academic campus, the University of Maryland Medical Center in downtown Baltimore, is recognized regionally and nationally for excellence and innovation in specialized care. Our acute care and specialty rehabilitation hospitals serve urban, suburban and rural communities and are located in 13 counties across the State. For more information, visit www.umms.org.

Choptank Health’s Diabetic Education Series Begins Feb. 6

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Abigail Webster, RDN

Join Choptank Community Health System’s Registered Dietitian Nutritionist Abigail Webster in a free, three-part diabetic education series taking place on February 6, March 6, and April 3 beginning at 5:30 p.m. at the Denton Health Center’s Education Room.

Participants will learn about healthier choices, including diet and lifestyle changes, to help prevent pre-diabetics from developing Type 2 diabetes. Information will also be provided on ways to reduce the health risks associated with those who already have Type 2 diabetes.

Webster works in Choptank Health’s School-Based Health Centers providing nutrition education and counseling for children and their families in Caroline County. She graduated from the University of Texas with a master’s degree in nutritional science and from Delaware State University with a bachelor’s degree in food and nutritional sciences.

“Prediabetes is when someone’s blood glucose or sugar level is too high but not high enough yet for a diagnosis of type 2 diabetes,” says Webster. “Prediabetes can become type 2 diabetes if it is not treated and can oftentimes be prevented with lifestyle and diet modifications.”

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention,1 in 3 American adults has prediabetes, and more than 84% of people with prediabetes don’t know they have it. The CDC says without making changes, many people with prediabetes will get type 2 diabetes, and that studies show that a loss of 5-7 percent of weight and exercising can slow down or stop type 2 diabetes. The CDC offers an online risk test for prediabetes for self-assessment at www.doihaveprediabetes.org.

Space is limited for the three-session series, with pre-registration needed by emailing awebster@choptankhealth.org. The sessions will be available later online for those unable to attend at www.youtube.com/@choptankhealth.

Choptank Community Health System provides medical, dental, and School-Based health services to more than 30,000 adults and children in Caroline, Dorchester, Kent, Queen Anne’s, and Talbot counties, with a mission to provide access to exceptional, comprehensive, and integrated healthcare for all. Medical services include primary healthcare, women’s health, pediatrics, behavioral health, chronic health management, and care navigation, with new medical patients now being accepted. More is at www.choptankhealth.org.

Talbot Hospice to Host Best Girlfriends Weekend

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Talbot Hospice will host its first-ever Best Girlfriend’s Weekend at the Wylder Hotel on Tilghman Island over the weekend of March 17 – 19, 2023.

“We are excited to offer women in our community a weekend to relax and recharge with friends new and old,” said Mia Cranford, Talbot Hospice Director of Development. “The waterfront Wylder Hotel is the perfect setting to take a break from the day-to-day hustle and embrace opportunities for self-care and fun all while supporting the work of Talbot Hospice.”

Attendees will have the opportunity to learn from personal and professional coaches, participate in meditation and relaxation classes, treat themselves to massage and spa treatments, experience cooking and cocktail classes, enjoy meals prepared by the Wylder Hotel’s culinary team, or just relax and enjoy the beautiful scenery with friends.

Talbot Hospice will host its first-ever Best Girlfriend’s Weekend at the Wylder Hotel on Tilghman Island over the weekend of March 17 – 19, 2023. Photo courtesy of the Wylder Hotel.

Confirmed presenters to date include Carrie-Ann Barrow, professional coach and author of The Queen’s Decree, Sarah Danenmann, Relaxation and Meditation Leader, Chris Mitchell, Wylder Hotel’s Executive Chef, and Allison Prell, author of Good Night and Good Luck. More experiences will be added to the schedule. For the most up-to-date information, visit https://talbothospice.org/events/best-girlfriends-weekend/.

Proceeds from the event will support Talbot Hospice’s hospice, palliative care and bereavement programs on the Mid-Shore and ensure that these services are available to all, regardless of their financial circumstances.

Sponsors of the Best Girlfriends Weekend include O’Donnell Vein & Laser, Construction Services and Supply, Inc. and Scaling Strategies, LLC.

To register and learn more about the event or becoming a sponsor, visit https://talbothospice.org/events/best-girlfriends-weekend/, or contact Mia Cranford, Director of Development at mcranford@talbothospice.org.

About Talbot Hospice

Talbot Hospice provides compassionate care, comfort and support for patients and their families and caregivers wherever they call home. Talbot Hospice serves patients facing life-limiting illnesses through hospice and palliative care, as well as its pathways and bereavement programs. Services are available to patients and caregivers regardless of ability to pay. Learn more at www.talbothospice.org.

Certificate Of Need Officially Filed For New Regional Medical Center

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University of Maryland Shore Regional Health (UMSRH) officially filed the Certificate of Need application for the Regional Medical Center at Easton project with the Maryland Health Care Commission (MHCC) on January 6.  This action marks another important step towards opening the new hospital and medical services building on the SRH-owned site near the Talbot County Community Center.

“Filing the CON application for the new Regional Medical Center is a significant accomplishment and an important next step in the advancement of our integrated health care delivery system for Maryland’s mid-shore,” said Ken Kozel, President and CEO of UM Shore Regional Health. “Our growing communities expect and deserve access to a state-of-the-art center with advanced clinical care.”

UM Shore Regional Health’s proposal is to build a new facility to replace its current hospital on Washington Street, parts of which date back to the early 1900s. The application proposes constructing a total of 142 beds (122 acute inpatient and 25 observation beds) and includes emergency, surgery, labor and delivery, and support services, alllocated on 230 acres off Longwoods Road near the intersection of U.S. Route 50. The number of inpatient beds is determined by 2022 data, analysis and projections made by MHCC and the state’s Office of Health Care Quality.

Ken Kozel, President and CEO of UM Shore Regional Health Signing the official Corticate of Need (CON) document.

“The filing of the CON marks a landmark moment for UM SRH and UMMS,” said Mohan Suntha, MD, MBA, President and CEO of UMMS. “Our investments over the last decade across Maryland’s Mid-Shore counties have laid the groundwork for UMSRH to deliver better outcomes for patients from Hoopers Island to Rock Hall and everywhere in between, and this is the latest project to bring 21st Century care and technology to the Shore.”

Building a replacement hospital has been identified as a need since Shore Health System’s affiliation with University of Maryland Medical System (UMMS) in 2006. As healthcare delivery models became more complex, particularly in rural areas, a subsequent merger with Chester River Health System to form UM Shore Regional Health in 2013 occurred. This led UM SRH and UMMS leaders to take a broader view and opportunity to work with community partners throughout the five-county region to create an integrated facility and clinical service delivery plan to reimagine and improve health care delivery across roughly 2,000 square miles of rural communities.

UM SRH has spent the last several years laying the ground work for the advancement of the new Regional Medical Center by making investments in other key supporting projects identified in the System’s plan. The completion of the freestanding medical facility in Cambridge, several medical pavilions and stand-alone emergency rooms in the region, urgent care centers in Denton, Easton and Kent Island, and numerous major equipment upgrades have totaled over $150M in capital investments. Plans are also moving forward in Chestertown with the construction of an Aging & Wellness Center on its current campus.

“We are so grateful for our communities’ patience and trust as we have implemented key strategies to improve health care access and services to each of the counties of the mid-shore,” said Kozel. “As part of our CON application, we are honored to include multiple letters of support from state, county, city and town officials, health departments, law enforcement, chambers of commerce, educational institutions, safety-net health care providers, and economic development agencies in all five counties of our service area. We are also incredibly appreciative of Governor Larry Hogan who earmarked $100 million in proposed funding for the project in his Fiscal Year 2024 budget recommendation.”

Proposed Project Specifications:

Main Hospital Tower: 6 levels; 325,294 square feet
Adjacent medical office and outpatient services building: 60,000 square feet
Licensed Beds: 122 (all private rooms)
Adult Observation / Short Stay Beds: 25
Emergency Department Treatment Bays: 27
Operating Rooms: 7
Helipad (ground level)

Core Programs & Specialty Centers:

Acute Rehabilitation Center
Behavioral Health
Birthing Center
Cardiac Intervention Center
Critical Care/Acute Care Medicine
Emergency Services
Neurosciences
Orthopedics
Women’s Services

Location

The new Regional Medical Center campus is slated to occupy over 230 acres off Longwoods Road near the intersection of U.S. Route 50, adjacent to the Talbot County Community Center. This location is approximately 3.5 miles from the current hospital, and will provide greater visibility, easier and safer access for ambulance and helicopter transport as well as ample parking for patients, staff and visitors.

Timeline

The timeline of the overall project will be dependent on many required regulatory steps, but the proposed schedule anticipates opening the new Regional Medical Center in the summer of 2028.

About University of Maryland Shore Regional Health

As part of the University of Maryland Medical System (UMMS), University of Maryland Shore Regional Health is the principal provider of comprehensive health care services for more than 170,000 residents of Caroline, Dorchester, Kent, Queen Anne’s and Talbot counties on Maryland’s Eastern Shore. UM Shore Regional Health’s team of more than 2,200 employees, medical staff, board members and volunteers works with various community partners to fulfill the organization’s mission of Creating Healthier Communities Together.

About the University of Maryland Medical System

The University of Maryland Medical System (UMMS) is an academic private health system, focused on delivering compassionate, high quality care and putting discovery and innovation into practice at the bedside. Partnering with the University of Maryland School of Medicine and University of Maryland, Baltimore who educate the state’s future health care professionals, UMMS is an integrated network of care, delivering 25 percent of all hospital care in urban, suburban and rural communities across the state of Maryland. UMMS puts academic medicine within reach through primary and specialty care delivered at 11 hospitals, including the flagship University of Maryland Medical Center, the System’s anchor institution in downtown Baltimore, as well as through a network of University of Maryland Urgent Care centers and more than 150 other locations in 13 counties. For more information, visit www.umms.org.