As we all know, trust is vitally important in the relationship between doctors, nurses and patients. We are also beginning to be aware of the critical Role of Trust within the entire medical system, including the design, location, funding, administration and transportation among all the component parts of that system. Sadly, as those who have been following the saga of the University of Maryland Shore Medical Center at Chestertown know all too well, that Trust is now broken. Regardless of whether you are a doctor, potential patient, or member of the Shore Regional Health Board; you now know that Trust in our system is in serious disrepair.
Those of you who were lucky enough to get into the packed meeting at the Chestertown Firehouse last Sunday know that I made two suggestions to Ken Kozel, the CEO of Shore Health, for the purpose of helping to restore the trust in our system:
First, I recommended that Mr. Kozel and members of the Shore Health Board keep the past promises already made, including the promises to doctors, medical staff and the people of Kent and Queen Anne’s Counties when the Chester River Hospital was first merged with the University of Maryland Medical System.
Second, I recommended that Mr. Kozel make a firm commitment to transparency, including providing copies of all recommendations, data and consultant reports provided to the Shore Health Board for purposes of making their decision regarding any changes at our Hospital. Of course to be meaningful, those reports must be provided as soon as possible and long before the final decision is made by the Board.
Mr. Kozel naturally promised to review and keep those promises already made and we certainly hope that is true. Unfortunately, his initial response to the second request was not so encouraging. At first he insisted that he was already and always transparent and that response was immediately greeted by catcalls and laughter from virtually the entire audience. To his credit, however, Mr. Kozel eventually promised to take this recommendation to his Board at their upcoming meeting on Monday January 11th. Nearly a week later we are still waiting to hear the response from that meeting.
Why is such transparency so important? Transparency is absolutely critical because, as Delegate Jacobs rightly pointed out, consultant reports are often biased and information spoonfed to a Board (or withheld from it) could easily cause the Board Members to make the wrong decision and the health as well as economic well-being of our citizens could easily hang in the balance. We have a right to know whether the welfare of poor and aged citizens is adequately considered before they are needlessly packed off by ambulance to some distant facility far from their homes and families. We have a right to know if the Board has been informed that our hospital is truly “in the black” or whether they have been talked into believing that consolidation will result in greater efficiencies when it is only “stealing from Peter to pay Paul.”
Knowing the importance of such information in a free society, the federal government and the State of Maryland have both passed Freedom of Information legislation and the courts have held that even privately held hospitals are routinely subject to those laws.
We hope that we do not need to go to court to get the information that is already rightfully ours and we hope that Mr. Kozel and the Board will respond positively to our request to help rebuild trust by voluntarily providing these reports. If, however, they refuse, it will only deepen the distrust that already exists and cause all citizens to ask: What are they hiding and why?
Finally, let me emphasize to those who don’t already know me, that I am not a medical professional but an environmental engineer and a policy analyst. I have, however, already had many dealings with Mr. Kozel regarding a very large and serious oil leak at the Hospital in close proximity to our town’s only water supply. Frankly, during these dealings I have found Mr. Kozel “Transparency Challenged.” He and his staff have repeatedly promised information to the citizens of Chestertown and failed to deliver it. They have also made seriously misleading statements to our Town Council and to me.
I’d like to also point out that both my wife and I are proud alumni of the University of Maryland where both our fathers were also on the faculty. Coincidentally, my father-in-law was also a Doctor and Professor of Preventive Medicine at the University of Maryland Medical School. It is in this spirit of pride and loyalty that I hope we can all help restore the Trust that is so critical to sound health care management.
Stephan Sonn says
Without a doubt the best, most comprehensive and exquisitely reasoned piece ever published here.
In these chaotic times and in this venue practically heroic. I have no idea who the writer is but
his unrestrained intellect and perceptions are most welcome in scope and substance. He elevates these
discussions to classic forum.
David Foster says
Thanks Stephan,
That is indeed high praise coming from a man who has been concerned about the potential closure of our Hospital far longer than I.
I would like to invite you and any other interested readers to come to the Community Breakfast Group next Thursday January 28th where we will be focusing our discussion on our Hospital and potential ideas that might help save it. The CBG meets at the Chestertown Holiday Inn at 7:30 AM and all are welcome.
Janice Dickson says
Having lived in Chestertown since 1971, we decided to remain in place upon my husband’s retirement from Washington College. We liked the town. The hospital’s ER saved my husband’s life when he had a heart attack; although we did have to self-transport to UM hospital in Baltimore for stent placement. As time passed it became clear that Dr. Joseph Aquilla, the first to raise a red flag, was correct in his forward-thinking about the hospital’s future. Unfortunately he was sidelined by vicious attacks, rumors and gossip. Spring forward and see some of those who maligned Dr.Aquilla taking up the cause he first opined. For us, the handwriting was unfortunately on the wall: in the early 2000s after one of us contracted a near-fatal hospital-caused infection, we decided to relocate to a Colorado community that has superb medical care. After more than 30 years, we left friends and the feeling of community and place behind with regrets, but we believe we made a good move, especially as I read articles and letters in THE SPY. Keep up the good fight people of Chestertown, Kent Co. and Queen Anne’s Co. to keep and return to its previous level of service the Kemt & Queen Anne’s Hospital, as it was known before all this chaos.
Stephan Sonn says
Brava!