Dear Mr. Dillon and Mr. Kozel,
On behalf of the Washington College Academy of Lifelong Learning, our Council urges Shore Regional Health and the University of Maryland Medical Systems to reject any proposal to further reduce or eliminate in-patient beds and services at University of Maryland Shore Medical Center at Chestertown. Indeed, we are alarmed at the prospect and the ramifications for the health and well-being, both physical and economic, on our community should our hospital be downsized.
We fully support the letter Sheila Bair, Washington College President, sent to you on January 8, 2016.
Although part of the college, the Academy of Lifelong Learning provides opportunities for continued education in a more relaxed setting than the undergraduate credit program. Our members, numbering almost 400, are usually over 50. Most are retirees who have chosen Kent County as their home. A good number have lived here for years. They are talented, vital, involved citizens with excellent credentials who care about the community, its overall health, and its quality of life. They bring significant economic value to the area.
It is fair to say that actions you take that impact negatively on the delivery of services from the Chestertown hospital facility will also have a severe negative impact on the attractiveness of this area to retirees coming and retirees staying. On a broader level, it will severely handicap those citizens of limited economic and physical means to access health care, and it will hurt the capability of our businesses, small and large, to attract employees and customers. Our schools will not attract teachers or be an incentive for young families to live here.
We urge Shore Health to think creatively about expanding, not reducing services and beds, and helping the Chestertown facility become a model for delivery of hospital services within a rural population and rural setting. This cannot be done if services and beds are diverted to Easton, almost 37 miles and 50 minutes away for those in our community who live the closest. The hardship imposed on those who live even farther away is obvious.
We greatly appreciate the investment the University of Maryland Medical Systems has made to Shore Health, Chestertown and look forward to working with you to continue to invest to improve and expand medical and hospital services in Chestertown.
Betty Spence, Chair
Washington College Academy of Lifelong Learning Council
cc: Stephen A. Burch, Chair, University of Maryland Medical Systems
Robert A. Chrencik, President and CEO, University of Maryland Medical Systems
The Honorable Larry Hogan, Governor
Joe Lill says
While much of the focus of the Hospital debate has centered around the distance from Chestertown to the Easton hospital, Rock Hall is another 20-30 minutes from Chestertown, making the travel time to Easton at least an hour.
Beryl Smith says
Betty,
Thanks for this, another of the submitted letters to UMDSRH, that is thoughtful and clearly stated. Let’s hope that the accumulation of letters, petition signatures and overwhelming citizen support for the continuing operation of the hospital will be persuasive.