In a mid-July hearing with the Talbot County Council, officials from University of Maryland Medical System (UMMS) and Shore Health System, now wholly owned by UMMS, went to great length to explain that the reason for a new “rolling delay” in construction of the long-planned regional hospital in Easton was necessitated by a lack of funding. That hospital was to cost $283M. Surprisingly then, just a week after that explanation, the Washington Post carried an announcement that UMMS plans to invest $645M to build a new hospital in Prince George’s County.
It would appear that the UMMS lamentation to the county council was somewhere between misleading and disingenuous. The more likely explanation for choosing to build on the Western Shore rather than in Easton are one, reimbursement rates are higher there and two, UMMS faces competition on the Western Shore whereas, having purchased Dorchester General Hospital, Chester River Hospital and Memorial Hospital in Easton, they have a monopoly here.
The charade has gone on too long. We get the picture. No new hospital on the now-captive Middle Eastern Shore. Alright. OK. But have enough courage and character to say so. Then effectively manage the hospitals purchased here. Make the long-needed investments in equipment and infrastructure. Pay our doctors enough so they don’t bolt at the first job offer. And try being forthright for goodness sake.
Jack Fischer
21992 Langdon Farm Road
Sherwood, MD 21665
Wm, gilmore says
you also fail to take into account the impact of “Affordable Health Care Act” on the many local doctors who now have closed their practices an gone under the UMMS umbrella. That impact on the community is also a major concern.
S. L. Freeland says
An excellent submission by Mr. Fischer. Do hope is read and digested widely by our local population and, of course, by UMMS authorities.
Dick Gnospelius says
Mr. Fischer is a wise and discerning man. This is not only a big disappointment, but perhaps something that could have been foreseen. UMMC should respond to his excellent points.
Mary Lynn Carver says
Thank you for your letter. We share your concern about the need for quality health care in all our communities. UMMS is not financing the new Prince George’s regional medical center. We were asked by State and County officials to help create the vision and to perform the due diligence for a potential regional healthcare delivery system in Prince George’s County. We have worked closely with all stakeholders, including Dimensions Health, the University System of Maryland, local and State health officials to develop a plan that provides the citizens of Prince George’s County and the region the first-class health care they need and deserve.
All of the funding to build the new Prince George’s County medical center will come from the State, the County and debt that will be paid off by the new hospital’s operating revenues. Part of the Certificate of Need (CON) process is to assess the financial viability and sustainability of the proposed new hospital. The CON for the new Prince George’s regional medical center is scheduled to be filed in October.
The ability to build a new hospital in Easton also depends on financial viability and it must stand on its own from a financial standpoint -just as the Prince George’s or any other UMMS project must – in order to move forward. The Easton project is temporarily delayed by the local board of directors while the uncertainties in local health care revenues -due to state and federal reimbursement rates – are resolved.
Sincerely,
Robert Chrencik
CEO UMMS