More than 300 people filled the Chestertown Fire Department Hall on Sunday to air their grievances about a possible discontinuation of inpatient care and diminished services at Chester River Hospital Center. More than 200 people, who could not enter the facility, listened from doorways and windows as a panel of elected official and others made their case for continuing and enhancing medical services locally.
Part One
The Save the Hospital town meeting, orchestrated by Sen. Stephen Hershey R-Upper Shore, District 36 Delegate Jay Jacobs, Dr. Gerry O’Connor, and County Commissioners, along with President and CEO of UM Shore Regional Health Ken Kozel made their cases.
Mr. Kozel opened the forum with an overarching history of the Chestertown Hospital, the 2008 merging with University of Maryland Health System, the current national state of health care delivery and how it impacts rural hospitals and how the changing state of medical delivery could impact the future of Chestertown hospital.
Part Two
Kozel also said that UM Shore Health has made no decision about the future of the hospital and that they were currently waiting for recommendations set up by a regional board. Their recommendations should be available by May of this year, Kozel said.
Dr. Gerry O’Connor, a physician at CRHC, and primary advocate for the meeting challenged UM Shore Health’s public mission statement saying that during meetings with hospital officials that they, in fact, conveyed a plan to substantially reduce the hospital to emergency services only and to eliminate inpatient care. Patients needing inpatient care would then be sent to Easton’s hospital. O’Connor questioned the logic of eliminating services from a hospital that has been operating with positive revenue and went as far as saying that were CRHC to downsize that he wouldn’t want to be taken there during a medical emergency.
The full spectrum of impacts sustained by a reduction of inpatient services and specialists, complex and profound, were addressed by speakers. Issues included: the erosion of health service delivery, a lack of network transportation for patients, distances family would have to travel to be with loved ones, dramatic economic impacts on the community at large—loss of jobs, diminished attraction for new residents and students and professors at Washington College, job placement with businesses in the community, the impact on services for children at county schools, the effect such a change would have on providing for an aging community, and an overall sense that as the town shows signs of productive growth it will not be able of offer core health services.
In an effort to change the decision-making process impacting the future of rural hospitals, Sen. Stephen Hershey will introduce a bill to the Maryland legislature requiring that such decisions be made by a local board, rather than remotely. It was pointed out that of the current regional board readying their recommendations, few were residents of Kent County. The bill will be co-sponsored by Sen. Jim Rosapepe, D-Prince George’s County.
In Part One of the video, key points made by Mr. Kozel, Dr. O’Connor, Jay Jacobs, William Pickrum and Chris Cerino are presented. In Part Two, Rev. Ellsworth Tolliver, Dr. Karen Couch, Dr. Xavier Cole from Washington College, Garrett Falcone from Heron Point, Kay MacIntosh from the Town of Chestertown, and Bob Grace from Dixon Value.
It was noted that Ben Steffens of the Maryland Health Care Commission was in attendance to observe the proceedings.
Part Three of the meeting’s video coverage will continue on Tuesday.
Jane E. Hukill says
This was an extremely well-balanced presentation of all the issues surrounding the Chester River Hospital. Many thanks to the individuals who produced the program, to our elected representatives who supported the effort in a true show of bi-partisanship, and even more thanks to all those people who showed up on a beautiful sunny afternoon on the Eastern Shore to show their support for this effort. Now we must continue to work hard to save our Chester River Hospital.
Maryland Massey says
The headlines and other articles encouraging action on this issue repeatedly read “CHESTERTOWN ” Hospital limiting the concept to a geographical location . The citizens who are concerned and turned out are not all from Chestertown. Kent and upper Queen Anne’s County citizens are deeply involved and equally affected . This hospital when known as Kent and Queen Anne’s reflected this concept of their service coverage. . It should be evident that the entire area fears the loss of services as well as the true identity of our local hos;ital.
Patty Barila says
You are 100% correct. This is not just a Chestertown issue. It draws in upper Queen Anne’s County ans Ceclil County and parts of others. It involves all of the Upper Eastern Shore. This should be noted in every article written about the situation.
MaryWood says
Thank you Spy for this presentation. I was one of the 300 or so people who couldn’t get near the meeting room. I signed a petition and left. I was impressed with the ambulance driver who had to help deliver a baby – The nurse from Dorchester Co. who told what happened there. I never saw such a turnout – Chris Cerino was very powerful. I almost began to pity Kozel,who could only talk in statistics or tell us how hard he was working. Keep on bringing us information on the progress of this battle. I too noticed the similarity of our plight with the small hospital in Downton Abbey.
Margery Elsberg says
Bravo! The Spy has done it again! Your video is the first on-line and your story and pictures say it all. This great community filled the firehouse to overflowing and hundreds more outside signed petitions and stood at windows to listen to the comments and questions.
The next important thing we all need to do is to write to our state senator and delegates. Here’s the easy way to do that: Cut and paste this website address on your browser (Google, for instance) and you’ll go to the list of our senator and delegates. You can send e-mails from there.
https://mgaleg.maryland.gov/webmga/frmmain.aspx?pid=legisrpage&tab=subject6&poptype=find&popid=
Tell Senator Stephen Hershey and Delegates Jay Jacobs, Steven Arentz and Jefferson Ghrist that you want them to help convince Shore Regional Health System to maintain inpatient services in Chestertown indefinitely, and to restore and improve the range of medical services.
Elizabeth Everett says
Margey,
Thanks so much for organizing this forum and for thanking the Spy for it’s coverage. I was not able to attend, but I feel through these videos that I am up to date. I also appreciate the link to our elected officials as it is so important for all of us to voice our opinions to the folks that we have elected to represent us. That includes our Governor, who has proved to be open to pleas from the public. I feel sure that if this matter is brought to his attention, he will have something to say about it. In reality, employees of the University of Maryland, whatever their role, fall under the purview of the Governor. He will have influence over the decision.
David H. Sheets says
Unfortunately my wife Carol and I were unable to attend this meeting although several of her doctors in this community emphasized to us how important the community attendance and involvement was to the the preservation and future of the Chestertown Hospital. We moved into a home that we had built last June of 2015 with our decision to make Chestertown and Chester River Landing our retirement home. As important as the hospital’s staff and presence is to my wife it is for myself – a Veteran of two combat tours in Vietnam, a retiree from the VA after a very successful career at their D.C. VA Medical Center; at this time I am 100% totally and permanently disabled by the VA. My health overall is stable and very good due to the doctors and staff of the VA who have treated me over the years. For now I continue to have my appointments at the DC VAMC which is 86 miles from our home but a time will come when I nor my wife will not be able to make the trip to DC which is the closest VA medical center for me to attend considering the necessity of the various specialized medical care that I am in chronic need of – be it Cardiac, Endocrinology, Neurology, Dental and Dermatology and others as I age. The VA is obligated by law to pay in full for all of the medical care that I receive as long as they are notified of my hospitalization and the hospital has the qualified staff on board to provide the skilled treatment that I may need. W/o doubt Carol and I hope that Chestertown Hospital will continue to be the hospital with qualified staff on board who can meet my medical needs when that time comes. Yet I also accept that certain procedures that I have had in my past – 2011 when I received a new artificial (Pigs Valve) Aortic Valve as mine had nearly failed, could not be done here but could it be done in Easton which would be the easiest drive for my wife to make to be wife me. Other procedures hopefully could be done in Chestertown but only time will tell if the hospital is so equipped medically and staff wise to provide such treatment that I would need or any resident for that matter. This is our home and as we are both fully insured medically we can only hope that the U. of MD Medical System continues to develop the quality of care and service here at Chestertown that the community and surrounding communities depends upon. For myself as a Veteran as it is for my wife having the necessary care here is a matter of life and perhaps death if the immediate care is not available. Respectfully submitted, David Sheets
Louise braunschweiger says
Since there is a significant population of 65 and older residents in Chestertown, I am curious to know whether the hospital is set up to administer injections of tPA to stroke victims. To be effective it must be injected within 3.5 hours, or less, making it very important to have medical care close at hand.
dOes anyone know?