UM Shore Regional Health held a “Listening Session” Thursday at Kent County High School to address the future of healthcare needs in Kent County, with a particular focus on the concern that Shore Medical Center at Chestertown’s services will be reduced after a six-year freeze on changes.
Over 130 people attended the meeting and about a dozen spoke, many recounting personal stories praising the proximity of life-saving emergency services at Chestertown Hospital, from complicated births to experiences with acute appendicitis.
Themes familiar to those who have attended previous listening sessions emerged during the Thursday community meeting; a reduction or loss of primary services would result in degrading Kent County’s viability as place to move or retire; transportation to Easton for in-patient care, specialists, or diagnostic requirements; the concern that acute emergency services would shift to Easton; how to care for an aging population, and a need for more localized hospital administration.
A recent amendment added Senate Bill 707 exempts UM of Maryland Shore Health from fast-tracking the Chestertown Hospital into an emergency center, a shift in healthcare delivery trending across the nation, especially in rural areas. The bill is active until 2020, during which time a study will be made of healthcare delivery in rural areas.
Shore Regional Health has already committed to keeping the hospital as an acute inpatient hospital until March 2021.
The following video distils the primary concerns Kent County residents have in the face of any service reductions at Shore Medical Center at Chestertown.
Before the listening session began, a “Save Our Hospital” petition signed by over 5,000 Kent County residents was unrolled on the Kent County High School lawn. The impressive list was photographed by Mayor Chris Cerino.
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