It is heartening to see that our physicians and many other community members recognize the peril our hospital faces as the Board of Directors at Shore Health UMMS considers the fate of the services here. At the time of the affiliation the hospital faced serious financial difficulties in a changing reimbursement environment. UMMS agreed to provide considerable support to maintain the viability of the hospital for Kent and Queen Anne’s residents. With changing healthcare policies and a change in leadership on the Shore Board, priorities were rearranged to the detriment of Chester River.
That said, it is important to look at some of the measurements that go into the decision-making process. The number of users of services figures significantly when administrators and Board members are making strategic plans. Chester River offers state of the art imaging services, lab services, inpatient procedures, rehab services and acute care, among others. If you or your friends obtain any of these services elsewhere it hurts this hospital. Even when scheduling through Easton you have a right to request that your services are provided right here in Chestertown! They are supposed to give you that option but internal politics have make that unlikely to happen. Tell your doctor and make it loud and clear that if a service is offered at Chester River, you would prefer to have it done there. If the numbers reflect steady use month over month, you are making it more likely that the services can be maintained here. Actively seeking services elsewhere almost assures that we will lose them here. Think about this the next time you need imaging, lab work or other hospital needs. And help us keep our hospital strong.
Karen O’Connor
Former Member, Board of Directors, Chester River Health System
Margery Elsberg says
Thank you, Karen O’Connor, for reminding people to specify that they want to use our hospital’s outstanding services, from the state of the art Emergency Department to diagnostic imaging, cardiac rehab and more. The welcoming Leh Women’s Center has a great staff, including radiologist Mel Rapelyea, MD, the most sophisticated mammography and bone density technology, and an outstanding surgical team headed by plastic surgeon Nelson Goldberg, MD. Whenever you need hospital services, Chestertown’s hospital is likely the most convenient and best place to go.
MARY WOOD says
The hospital is around the corner from my house. When I fell a year ago the ambulance almost took me to Easton until I insisted we turn on to Brown St.
But what happens when a child is hurt, or a woman goes into labor ? Our community needs to attract and keep young families here.
Emily Moseman says
Mr. Dillon and Mr. Kozel,
We ask that you comply with the recommendations presented in the Kent County News, Thursday, Dec.3, 2015 which is signed by numerous doctors/persons from various medical fields, administrators from Washington College, local city administrators and regional business people and local citizens.
Chestertown medical facility MUST run as presented in that article.
Emily and Jim Moseman
Emily Moseman says
I sent an email to Ken Kozel, to which he quickly replied….and in his reply he added: Please note my new email address: [email protected]
So for anyone who still has not emailed him or wishes to send another message please use this updated address.
Louis Howeth Sr, says
The idea of using services that are provided by this hospital sounds good, however how are we to know what services are provided
when the services promoted by the hospital many times are not there when we go into the hospital The signs on the highway would
bring a traveler with an expectant mother into the hospital. They would soon find that only emergency O b services are provided.
The mother who needed a c section, could likely have it delayed resulting in brain damage to the child. The take over by UMMS
has not been good for this community If umms would use the base line of services that were provided prior to their take over and note
in a accurate honest way what services that have been added and services that are not any longer provided this would be a help when people are making their decisions as to use the hospital or not. Umms on many occasions have
promoted a service as new, when in reality the service has been at the hospital for years. All they have done is change the name so that
the community might give them credit for providing a new service. Some of these comments have done their image a great deal of harm
as well as being a slap in the face to long time employees who provided the service over the years. UMMS HONEST HONESTY HONESTY
would help. PLAN PLAN PLAN once again planning Show us the Beef the talk has been long enough.