“With regard to Chestertown, the Shore Health Center of Chestertown will continue to be a viable organization for the foreseeable future. We have an obligation to the community to provide excellent health care,” Ken Kozel, President and CEO of UM Shore Regional Health, said at Monday’s town council meeting.
While no hospital closure is in sight, other changes will take place with the kind of medical services to be provided at Chestertown’s hospital.
“No decisions have been made with this process. We are evaluating what our future needs will look like in the realm of national change,” noted Kozel.
Kozel was invited by Mayor Chris Cerino to address rumors circulating about the future of the Chestertown Hospital. Rumors have run the gamut of a full hospital closure to a stand-alone Emergency Department only without inpatient care.
He said that UM Shore Regional Health is currently evaluating how Mid-Shore communities would best be served by the health organization and placed the evaluation process in the context of nationwide changes in how health services are provided.
Kozel also described the unique position Maryland holds in the national healthcare landscape—the Medicare waiver, which allows Maryland to continue setting hospital reimbursement rates. In turn, that changes how hospitals do business. Medicare reimbursement is no longer directly related to hospital admissions—erasing the incentive of admitting more patients for inpatient care—to focusing on keeping people healthy before they get sick and focusing more on the outpatient area.
The UM Shore Regional Heath CEO said that a research committee comprised of 22 residents and physicians from Mid-Shore counties will profile specific community needs to determine where specialty services should be located for the benefit of all.
Questioned by the council about projected changes, Kozel said, “Let me clear about one thing, Shore Health can not be all things to all people. The days of us providing every level of service in all locations are far gone.”
He added that UM Shore Regional Health will include community involvement during several steps of the process.
This is Part 1 of a two-part video of Mr. Kozel’s update of UM Shore Regional Health’s process to evaluate how medical services would be delivered throughout the mid-shore counties.
jim astrachan says
I can’t recall all the details of the UM System takeover of the hospital, but I do recall a strong PR campaign aimed at convincing the residents a takeover would be beneficial so that UM could accomplish its purpose. Now, a few years later, the UM System has a change in perspective and threatens a sea change in service and blames economics resulting from state repayment practices for the possible discontinuance of services? Let’s hope that this hospital administration values transparency over expediency and provides substantial advance warning of its intentions should it reduce services , and also be mindful that medical services provided by a hospital to a community are relied on as essential, affect quality of life, the welfare of the community and are sometimes a basis for coming or going. .
Sherwin Markman says
Read his words: Their evaluation is only of “OUR” (meaning ONLY their own) future needs. To me, this sounds very much like a salesman trying to resassure a customer he is not certain he wants to keep, without actually reassuring.
Stephan Sonn says
Excellent.
Janice Dickson says
“He added that UM Shore Regional Health will include community involvement during several steps of the process.”
Yes, just like they did from the very beginning with the first ‘practice’ informational meeting at Heron Point, followed by one at the Church Hill Elementary School.
The handwriting was on the wall then, and I believe it is now, except the time frame is much longer.
Lingering doubt, distrust, pessimism and cynicism are toxic umbrellas that continue to pervade over the community. Coupled with the ongoing rumors, it’s hard to know which, if any, speaker to believe.
Patricia Deitz says
In my opinion, if there is no community involvement in the planning process, then the community positions and needs will not be addressed in the decisions to be made about the future of the hospital in Chestertown. “Forums” in which the people are informed of decisions already made do not represent meaningful participation. We need our elected officials to insist that local providers and consumers of hospital services in Chestertown participate in the review and planning. Perhaps it is already too late, but let us take Mr. Kozel at his word and demand timely presence in the process.
Karen O'Connor says
It is incumbent on everyone to find out the names of the individuals on the Board who represent the interests of Kent County, and then make your voices heard. If those individuals are not carrying the message, then an effort must be made to add others to the Council referenced by Mr. Kozel. The chairman of the Shore Board is a Talbot County person and holds that perspective.
Rudolph Jenkins says
I think Telemedicine and proper utilization of Mid-level providers could play a significant role in keeping the hospital viable. The question is, does the administration in Easton have the vision to see opportunity where everyone else sees an obstacle. https://www.modernhealthcare.com/article/20140308/MAGAZINE/303089979
MARY WOOD says
Think about what Kozel said — “The days of US providing every level of service in all locations are far gone.” What are we supposed to do? Move? Not get sick?
It is most arrogant, The people of this community started the Kent and Queen Anne’s hospital and supported it for many years. It was taken over by “US”.
Who are they? Why should our health care be in the hands of an organization which seems to have no local ties or interest?
Joan Berwick says
Same ole same ole. Just more rhetoric.
Stephan Sonn says
Some people here may think the community owns Chester River Hospital,
We do not.