Congratulations, Maryland! We now hold the title for longest ER wait times in the U.S.! Whoo-hoo!
When are the State, Talbot County and its towns going to put the new Maryland University Regional Hospital Center at the top of their priority list?
Attention to this essential infrastructure is long overdue.
We’ve reached a critical point regarding our lack of health care and health care professionals — and now hold the title of having the longest ER wait times in the nation. Sadly, and unfortunately, no surprise to many in our community. And having listened to testimony at many County Council and Town of Easton Planning Commission and Council meetings regarding the Matthewstown, Lakeside, Poplar Hill, MHC and other land developments during the past few years, the breaking-point strain on our current health care providers and community is obvious, unbearable — for our first responder medical and emergency professionals, in particular.
When are our Talbot County Council and the mayors and town councils of Easton, St. Michaels, Oxford, Trappe, etc. going to emphasize and take action on these critical community services? When are they going to consolidate their efforts to address our health care needs?
When are Governor Moore, Congressman Andy Harris, Senator Chris Van Hollen, and Senator Ben Cardin going to make this a front-and-center issue?
https://news.yahoo.com/maryland-hospital-emergency-room-wait-160051413.html?fr=sycsrp_catchall
https://www.wypr.org/wypr-news/2023-10-31/maryland-er-wait-times-continue-to-disappoint-in-new-data-drop
https://hscrc.maryland.gov/Documents/October%202023%20HSCRC%20Post-Meeting%20Materials%20-%20FINAL.pdf
Clara Kelly
Easton
Gren Whitman says
If memory is the mother of wisdom, you can forget about Dr. Andrew P. Harris M.D. — aka Rep. Andy Harris (R-Q-anon) — responding to this problem. Despite holding office for the past 16 years, Harris is still in the early stages of learning to be a congressman and does not appear to be getting it.
Gretchen F Stroh says
What about people waiting in the ER for days just to be admitted to a room? So sad and scary
Diane Shields says
My husband fell and broke his hip on Sept. 22, 2023, and we arrived at the UMMS Hospital ER in Chestertown at about 8:30 pm.
It was roughly 30 HOURS before he was transported to a hospital and admitted.
Granted, an 86 year old with a broken hip is not the same emergency as someone with a heart attack, or on overdose from Fentanyl, but that wait time was excruciating!! He was in pain, and generally not allowed food or fluids during that wait because of the possibility of surgery.
Our health care system is in crisis!
Lolli Sherry says
I am amazed to hear that people are not happy with the care they receive at the Chestertown Hospital Emergency Room. I and my husband have been there several times recently, mainly because “stuff” seems to happen on weekends or after doctor’s hours. I also have a friend who went there recently for a bad cut needing stitches.
None of us had to wait more than a short time to be admitted to the ER and were seen almost immediately by a nurse for evaluation before being seen by the hospitalist or doctor in charge. Our treatment has been courteous, efficient and according to protocol. We received X-rays, scans, EKGs and other tests as required.
The Chestertown ER is modern and equipped with small private rooms with all the monitoring equipment you would find in a hospital room, including a TV. If a person was delayed 30 hours before being transported to a hospital, I feel there was a legitimate reason and am sure they were as comfortable as they would have been in a hospital room had one been available. Maybe more so as our ER is small, rooms are private and quiet and nurses are close at hand if needed.
Our health care system certainly needs improvement but Chestertown’s ER is not part of the problem.
Alan Boisvert says
While I fully emphasize with the plight of health care service on the shore, the fact is it’s widely recognized as a nationwide problem, particularly acute in rural areas. Complicating this is the fact that health care in the US is almost entirely privatized. It’s doubtful that any amount of political influence is going to encourage for-profits like UM or Luminis to build hospitals, etc especially in areas with a stagnant/aging population base. Contrary to popular belief, the population of the eastern shore has remained flat to declining for years. There is little incentive for “for profit” health care systems to build, expand and hire. Lastly, the over-dominating anti-growth/NIMY agenda on the eastern shore i.e. Poplar Hill, Lakeside, etc creates no addition demand or incentive for “for-profits” to expand. Health care on the eastern shore will likely continue to stagnate under our anti-growth political leadership.
Margot Kindig says
It’s not only the ER. I went in last week February 9 for simple bloodwork and there was 11 people waiting for initial intake for insurance. Apparently a lot of staff has recently quit!
This is unacceptable.