Montgomery County business leaders have sent a joint letter to Maryland hospital regulators in support of Adventist HealthCare’s hospital plan for Clarksburg, one of two proposals vying to build the county’s next hospital.

This latest letter, signed by 19 community and business leaders in upper Montgomery County, backs Rockville-based Adventist HealthCare’s plan to use a 60-acre Clarksburg site for a hospital, physician office buildings, outpatient medical services, a nursing home and a day-care center. Adventist said the supporters sent the letter Wednesday, about a year after it first filed plans for the 86-bed hospital off Interstate 270.

The letter’s signers, a mix of local leaders, civic activists, residents and former state politicians, include Paul Chod, president of Minkoff Development Corp. in Germantown, and Robert Egan, president of High Point Farm in Clarksburg.

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Supporters Recognize Adventist HealthCare’s Plan Will Benefit Upper Montgomery County and Lower Frederick County

Rockville, MD – A group of prominent community and business leaders from across Montgomery County has written to the Maryland Health Care Commission urging the commission to approve the long-planned Clarksburg Community Hospital and Medical Campus, calling it the most complete plan to expand access to health care and foster economic growth in the upcounty.

The April 21 letter, which also urges the Commission to ensure the continued viability of the nationally recognized Germantown Emergency Center, comes one year after Adventist HealthCare officially filed plans for the 86-bed Clarksburg hospital and medical campus off Interstate 270, just south of Route 121.

“We are writing …to express our enthusiastic support for Adventist HealthCare’s plans to develop a hospital and medical campus in Clarksburg that would serve a fast-growing region from Germantown up to Urbana in southern Frederick County,” the 19 community and business leaders write. “We believe this is the superior proposal for a new hospital in Montgomery County.”

The letter writers come from a varied background, including longtime community and business leaders, civic activists and residents and former state politicians.

The letter also comes two weeks after the Commission received an additional 1,350 cards and letters of support from Montgomery County residents for the comprehensive Clarksburg medical campus, which Adventist HealthCare has planned since 2001. The Commission now has more than 3,300 letters and cards from county households specifically supporting the Clarksburg hospital and campus plan.

“We continue to be very impressed by the growing number of supporters who recognize that the Clarksburg hospital is the right proposal, in the right location, done in the right way for the community,” said William G. “Bill” Robertson, President and CEO of Adventist HealthCare. “We are very grateful to them for helping us as we continue our work to expand access to health care for all.”

Supporters also cite the years of open, collaborative work between Adventist HealthCare, the community and Montgomery County as a significant reason to back the Clarksburg plan.

“Adventist HealthCare’s carefully developed plans have resulted in a proposal that blends well with existing and future planned development in an environmentally responsible manner, consistent with stringent County and State land use requirements,” the April 21 letter says. “Finally, Adventist’s proposal complements, rather than conflicts with, existing health-care services in upper Montgomery County, including the Germantown Emergency Center, a facility that has effectively and efficiently improved access to emergency medical care.”

Adventist HealthCare first purchased land in Clarksburg in 2001 with the intent of providing future health-care services to the rapidly growing upcounty region. In the ensuing years, Adventist HealthCare worked on a solid financing plan for the project and collaborated with the community and county planners to ensure the hospital and medical campus blended seamlessly with other development plans.

At the request of state legislators and Adventist HealthCare, MHCC officials are currently conducting a comparative review of the Clarksburg Community Hospital and medical campus plan with a last-minute proposal by Holy Cross Hospital to develop a hospital at the intersection of Middlebrook Road and Route 355 in Germantown. Only Adventist HealthCare’s proposal:

• Has major environmental and land-use approvals from Montgomery County
• Will not negatively impact other health-care providers in the region
• Offers convenient access for all upcounty residents and emergency responders
• Will bring more than 1,000 jobs to the county
• Features 60 acres with space for expansion as the upcounty continues to grow
• Includes a new community hospital and full-service medical campus with:
  • Day-care center to meet the needs of the upcounty’s young families
  • Nursing and rehabilitation center for the county’s aging population
  • Primary care clinic for the upcounty’s underserved communities

For more information on the proposed Clarksburg hospital, visit www.clarksburghospital.com or become a fan of Clarksburg Community Hospital on Facebook.

Adventist HealthCare, an integrated, health-care delivery organization based in Rockville, Maryland, is one of the largest employers in the state of Maryland. The mission of Adventist HealthCare is to demonstrate God’s care by improving the health of people and communities through a ministry of physical, mental and spiritual healing. Adventist HealthCare includes Shady Grove Adventist Hospital, Shady Grove Adventist Germantown Emergency Center, Washington Adventist Hospital, Adventist Behavioral Health, Adventist Rehabilitation Hospital of Maryland, Adventist Senior Living Services, Adventist Home Health Services and the Reginald S. Lourie Center for Infants and Young Children.

Community Support Continues to Grow for New Hospital and Medical Campus in Clarksburg

Supporters Recognize Adventist HealthCare’s Plan Will Benefit All of Upper Montgomery

Rockville, MD – Residents, community leaders and state legislators across upper Montgomery County continue to express tremendous support for Adventist HealthCare‘s longtime plan to build a hospital and comprehensive medical campus off Interstate 270 in Clarksburg, an announcement made one year ago this month.

Sheer numbers alone show the widespread support Adventist HealthCare has received to develop the 86-bed Clarksburg Community Hospital and medical campus, while preserving the nationally recognized Shady Grove Adventist Emergency Center on Route 118 in Germantown:

• More than 1,500 response cards and signed letters sent in so far by Montgomery County residents to Adventist HealthCare specifically support a new hospital and medical campus in Clarksburg, and the continued viability of Germantown Emergency Center as a vital community asset.
• More than 200 residents from the upcounty’s Latino community have written this month to the Maryland Health Care Commission (MHCC) backing Adventist HealthCare’s plan, citing the health provider’s years of meeting the needs of the county’s underserved populations. Adventist HealthCare provides more uncompensated and charity care than any other health system in Montgomery County.
• By a 2-to-1 margin, a June poll of upcounty residents determined that Adventist HealthCare’s proposal for a Clarksburg hospital and medical campus is preferred over a competing proposal by Holy Cross Hospital to build a hospital in Germantown.
• Eleven of the 12 state legislators who represent upper Montgomery County wrote letters on two separate occasions asking the MHCC to approve the Clarksburg plan and preserve the Germantown Emergency Center.

“We are very grateful that our supporters recognize that the Clarksburg hospital is the right proposal, in the right location, done in the right way,” said William G. “Bill” Robertson, President and CEO of Adventist HealthCare. “We believe that working with the community, local officials and county planners in an open and collaborative manner, as we have done in Clarksburg the past eight years, is the proper way to expand access to health care for all.”

The letters and e-mails that have come pouring into Adventist HealthCare recognize that Clarksburg Community Hospital and medical campus is the only plan that will expand access to health care for the entire upcounty, will not harm existing health-care services and will bring needed economic growth to the region. Supporters also cite the years of open, collaborative work between Adventist HealthCare, the community and Montgomery County as a significant reason to back the Clarksburg plan.

Adventist HealthCare purchased land in Clarksburg in 2001 with the intent of providing future health-care services to the rapidly growing upcounty region. In the ensuing years Adventist HealthCare worked on a solid financing plan for the project and collaborated with the community and county planners to ensure the hospital and medical campus blended seamlessly with other development plans. Adventist HealthCare announced its plans to move forward with the hospital and medical campus in December 2008 and filed its Certificate of Need application with the MHCC in April 2009.

At the request of state legislators and Adventist HealthCare, MHCC officials are currently conducting a comparative review of the Clarksburg Community Hospital and medical campus plan with a last-minute proposal by Holy Cross Hospital to develop a hospital at the intersection of Middlebrook Road and Route 355 in Germantown. Once the MHCC gives its approval, the Clarksburg hospital could open as soon as 2012.

Only Adventist HealthCare’s proposal:

• Has major environmental and land-use approvals from Montgomery County
• Will not negatively impact other health-care providers in the region
• Offers convenient access for all upcounty residents and emergency responders
• Will bring more than 1,000 jobs to the county
• Features 60 acres with space for expansion as the upcounty continues to grow
• Includes a new community hospital and full-service medical campus with:
  • Day-care center to meet the needs of the upcounty’s young families
  • Nursing and rehabilitation center for the county’s aging population
  • Primary care clinic for the upcounty’s underserved communities

Adventist HealthCare’s Clarksburg plan is an extension of the organization’s long-standing commitment to expand access to health care in the upcounty. In 2005, Adventist HealthCare joined with the upcounty community, state legislators and county officials to build the Shady Grove Adventist Germantown Emergency Center off Route 118. The Germantown facility has successfully operated for three years and provides emergency medical care to more than 36,000 patients each year. The Emergency Center’s medical campus also has a primary care clinic for uninsured residents, a prenatal clinic for low-income women, outpatient radiology services and physician offices.

For more information on the proposed Clarksburg hospital, visit www.clarksburghospital.com or become a fan of Clarksburg Community Hospital on Facebook.

Adventist HealthCare, an integrated, health-care delivery organization based in Rockville, Maryland, is one of the largest employers in the state of Maryland. The mission of Adventist HealthCare is to demonstrate God’s care by improving the health of people and communities through a ministry of physical, mental and spiritual healing. Adventist HealthCare includes Shady Grove Adventist Hospital, Washington Adventist Hospital, Adventist Behavioral Health, Adventist Rehabilitation Hospital of Maryland, Adventist Senior Living Services, Adventist Home Health Services and the Reginald S. Lourie Center for Infants and Young Children.

Going to the hospital can be intimidating for victims of sexual assault. The forensic nurses at Shady Grove Adventist Hospital, the only county hospital with sexual abuse specialists, want to change that.

The 13-year-old Sexual Abuse and Assault Center, recently renamed the Forensic Medical Unit, moved into an expanded space in the Rockville hospital last month. The unit, which has a private entrance, will have a grand opening in January to coincide with the first anniversary of the federal Violence Against Women act, which allows health providers to collect and save biological evidence from victims anonymously if they have not decided whether to report the assault to police.

The center’s 10 forensic nurse examiners conduct medical exams, collect forensic evidence, document injuries, test for sexually transmitted diseases, provide mental health or follow-up care and testify in court if a victim decides to press charges, according to Heidi Bresee, coordinator of the Forensic Medical Unit, which has a partnership with the county.

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Adventist HealthCare and Holy Cross Hospital have filed their final applications to build scaled-back hospitals in the upcounty. Adventist reduced its proposed number of beds while Holy Cross reduced the size of its facility.

Adventist made some minor changes to its proposal, which has been in the works for several years and has many of the required land-use approvals from the county, said Robert Jepson, vice president of government relations and public policy for Adventist HealthCare of Rockville. Proposed hospital beds were reduced from 100 to 86 after looking at projections for need, he said. The hospital’s expected cost decreased from about $202 million to roughly $177 million due to softening of the construction market.

“We feel very confident that we have a good project in the fastest growing part of the county,” Jepson said. “We think it’s the right project in the right place at the right time.”

Eleven state legislators wrote that they support Adventist’s proposal in a Sept. 21 letter to the commission because of the level of community involvement in developing the project, existing land use approvals and its location near Interstate 270 within a proposed comprehensive medical campus. All representatives in Districts 15, 17 and 39 except for Del. Saqib Ali (D-Dist. 39) of Gaithersburg signed the letter, which also expressed concerns about the impact a Germantown hospital could have on the Germantown Emergency Center.

Sen. Jennie M. Forehand (D-Dist. 17) of Rockville, Sen. Nancy J. King (D-Dist. 39) of Montgomery Village and Del. Craig L. Rice (D-Dist. 15) of Germantown said the changes to Adventist’s application did not affect their support for the project.

“I liked the way Adventist has gone about doing the project,” King said. “They’ve brought in the public and kept everybody informed all the way through.”

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Two health care systems, which are each competing to build a hospital in the fast-growing section of upper Montgomery County, filed updated Certificate of Need proposals on Wednesday.

In addition to a hospital, Rockville-based Adventist HealthCare Inc. wants to use a 60-acre Clarksburg site to house medical office buildings for physicians and outpatient medical services, a nursing home and a day care center.

Adventist submitted an updated plan that calls for an 86-bed, $177 million hospital. Its original CON, which was filed in April, said the hospital would include 100 beds and cost $25 million more.

“By going with 86 beds we ensure there’s no impact to existing hospitals or health care providers,” said Robert Jepson, associate vice president of government relations and public policy at Adventist. The updated inpatient bed capacity is based upon anticipated projections for Montgomery County.

The cost of the project dropped because “we were able to achieve some efficiencies in design and construction,” he said.

On Wednesday, Adventist HealthCare unveiled the architectural rendering for its proposed Clarksburg hospital.

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Adventist HealthCare Proposal, Which Will Expand Access to Health Care and Provide Long-Term Economic Development, Continues to Gain Support

Rockville, Md. – Adventist HealthCare today unveiled the architectural rendering for its proposed full-service hospital in Clarksburg, part of a comprehensive medical campus that continues to garner backing including support from residents, as well as 11 state legislators who represent the region.

Adventist HealthCare has worked for years with Montgomery County planners, adjoining landowners and the Clarksburg community to complete the various stages of the land-use process for the Clarksburg Community Hospital and medical campus. In addition to the hospital, the medical campus will include outpatient treatment facilities, doctors’ offices, a child care center, a primary care clinic and a nursing center for seniors. There is also room on the campus for expansion as the region continues to grow.

Last month, 11 upcounty state legislators signed a joint letter to the Maryland Health Care Commission, urging approval of the Clarksburg project.

“The Adventist HealthCare/Clarksburg proposal is located in an area without existing health-care services, includes a hospital as the centerpiece of a comprehensive medical campus, has easy access right off of I-270…and already has major land-use and environmental approvals in place,” wrote legislators from Districts 15, 39 and 17.

The letter says that Adventist HealthCare’s proposal blends well with existing health-care and community services, as opposed to a nearby plan.

“We are concerned about the impact the Holy Cross/Germantown proposal would have on the nearby Germantown Emergency Center,” the letter added. “The Clarksburg proposal, combined with the continued operation of the Germantown Emergency Center, provides a well-coordinated array of services for our upcounty constituents.”

Adventist HealthCare has already obtained major environmental, transportation and other land-use approvals for the Clarksburg project from Montgomery County. As part of the current state review process, Adventist HealthCare will also today submit an updated Certificate of Need proposal to the Maryland Health Care Commission. The 86-bed, $177 million plan includes updated inpatient bed capacity based upon anticipated projections for Montgomery County, as well as a reduced overall cost for the project.

“Placing a full-service hospital and medical campus in Clarksburg makes sense for our community and the entire region,” said Germantown resident and businesswoman Margaret E. Ekam. “This location is right off of I-270 and is easy to access for residents throughout the region. The Clarksburg project complements existing health facilities that serve the upcounty such as the Shady Grove Adventist Emergency Center in Germantown, among others.”

A critical service on the Clarksburg medical campus will be a primary care clinic for the uninsured. Many in the upcounty note that this and other services on the Clarksburg campus will add an important dimension to the region’s health-care safety net by providing improved access for the underserved in upper Montgomery and lower Frederick counties.

Adventist HealthCare provides more uncompensated and charity care than any other health-care provider in Montgomery County. In 2008, Adventist HealthCare provided $51 million in uncompensated care through its hospitals and other health-care services. This longstanding and mission-driven commitment to the community has truly made a difference in the lives of local residents who are now supporting the plans for Clarksburg.

“Adventist HealthCare’s hospital and medical campus will help expand the organization’s tradition of meeting the needs of the less fortunate throughout Montgomery County,” said Candace Kattar, Executive Director of the non-profit group Identity, which is headquartered in Gaithersburg and focuses on helping Latino youth and their families. “The campus will serve both the young and the old, those who can afford health care and, more importantly, those who cannot.”

The hospital and medical campus, which adjoins a 30-acre area reserved for senior housing, could bring as many as 1,000 jobs to the upcounty when construction is complete. The hospital, which could open in late 2012 if approved, will be designed to comply with Montgomery County “Green Building” requirements and will follow Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) certification guidelines.

During the past 30 years, Adventist HealthCare has played a central role in providing health services to the upcounty, beginning with the opening of Shady Grove Adventist Hospital in the middle of a rural area in 1979. Since then, important regional services have been added to Shady Grove Adventist Hospital including a Level IIIB Neonatal Intensive Care Unit, the county’s first 24-hour Pediatric Emergency Department and the area’s only Pediatric Intensive Care Unit. Additionally, Adventist HealthCare added several important health services and facilities to the campus around Shady Grove Adventist Hospital such as a rehabilitation hospital, a long-term care facility and a psychiatric treatment facility.

Recent examples of Adventist’s commitment to expanding access to care for upper Montgomery County include the opening of the Germantown Emergency Center in 2006 and the opening of health clinics for primary care and women’s health services in Germantown in 2008. Adventist also provides hundreds of free health screenings and education programs in upper Montgomery County and has been a longtime supporter of the Mercy Health Clinic in Gaithersburg.

“We believe that placing a hospital and medical campus in Clarksburg is the best way to expand access to health care and health services for upper Montgomery County and lower Frederick County,” said William G. “Bill” Robertson, President and CEO of Adventist HealthCare. “We appreciate the community’s support for our work to place a new hospital in the right location for all residents in the upcounty region, including those with and those without health insurance.”

Adventist HealthCare, an integrated, health-care delivery organization based in Rockville, Maryland, is one of the largest employers in the state of Maryland. The mission of Adventist HealthCare is to demonstrate God’s care by improving the health of people and communities through a ministry of physical, mental and spiritual healing. Adventist HealthCare includes Shady Grove Adventist Hospital, Washington Adventist Hospital, Adventist Behavioral Health, Adventist Rehabilitation Hospital of Maryland, Adventist Senior Living Services, Adventist Home Health Services and the Reginald S. Lourie Center for Infants and Young Children.

Opening a new hospital does not happen often in Maryland – only two hospitals have been approved in the past 30 years. Gaining approval requires significant collaboration and careful planning in concert with local communities and government agencies in order to assure that the new services broaden access to care and complement existing services.

Currently Adventist HealthCare has a proposal before the Maryland Health Care Commission to build a hospital and comprehensive medical campus in Clarksburg, which will serve the upcounty region, as well as lower Frederick County. Adventist HealthCare has worked closely with local residents and Montgomery County to obtain necessary approvals for the project. Work has begun on the site plan and layout of the medical campus.

A recent Gazette story about two upcounty hospital proposals focused on only one component of a complex, multi-layered state review process that also includes critical issues such as the impact on existing services, access to care, land use and environmental issues, and community involvement. These are all important matters that will be considered in the evaluation of the proposals.

Based on county forecasts, Adventist HealthCare purchased land seven years ago to develop the Clarksburg Community Hospital and medical campus in anticipation of the growth in the upcounty population. In addition to the hospital, the campus will include outpatient services, physician offices, a nursing home, a primary care clinic and a daycare center. The proposal has a solid financing plan in place and, importantly, integrates effectively with existing health facilities and programs in the region.

The Shady Grove Adventist Emergency Center in Germantown is an excellent example of how a community resource can be developed successfully when a health care provider collaborates with residents and government officials. Since opening, the Germantown campus has grown to include primary care and prenatal clinics for uninsured patients, offices for physicians, and other services. The campus has cut travel times for emergency vehicles and has helped reduced the need for residents to drive long distances for medical care. The combination of a new hospital and comprehensive medical campus in Clarksburg and the Germantown Emergency Center will provide full access to healthcare for all upcounty residents.

Building a new hospital is a serious undertaking requiring significant planning and collaboration with all stakeholders. Adventist Healthcare has worked hard to assure that the project addresses the needs of the community, which deserves to fully understand all aspects of the debate on this matter.

Robin J.Thomashauer, Bethesda

The writer has been a Montgomery County resident for 20 years and has been a member of the Adventist HealthCare Board of Trustees since 2007. Editorial originally published in the October, 14, 2009 edition of the Gazette.

Adventist Hospitals Launch Campaign to Stop Spread of Flu

Campaign Focuses on Seasonal Vaccinations and Prevention; Kicks-Off with Media Roundtable

Rockville, Md. – A new campaign that begins today will remind the public to take immediate protection against flu with a seasonal flu shot and urges them to stop the spread of flu in the community through prevention.

Adventist HealthCare’s two Montgomery County hospitals, Shady Grove Adventist Hospital in Rockville and Washington Adventist Hospital in Takoma Park, launched the 2009 “Help Stop the Flu” campaign today with a roundtable event for the media featuring a panel of national and local experts in vaccines, pediatrics, emergency medicine, infection prevention and community health.

It is estimated that seasonal influenza results in about 150,000 hospitalizations and 36,000 deaths annually in the U.S. A seasonal flu shot is the best defense against seasonal flu, according to many health experts.

Last spring, H1N1 emerged as a public health threat around the world, resulting in more than 500 deaths in the U.S. through the summer. A vaccine for H1N1 is expected to be available later this fall. While the public waits for more information from the government on the H1N1 vaccine, health officials are encouraging community members to obtain a seasonal flu shot as soon as possible to build immunities against other strains of flu that may circulate this fall and winter.

Adventist HealthCare is the largest provider of seasonal flu shots in Montgomery County, outside of the county health department. This fall, through the “Help Stop the Flu” campaign, Adventist HealthCare’s Health and Wellness team will provide nearly 10,000 seasonal flu shots to the community through vaccination clinics at hospitals, churches, businesses and other community locations.

“The Help Stop the Flu campaign is a natural extension of Adventist HealthCare’s mission to improve the health of our community,” said William G. “Bill” Robertson, President and CEO of Adventist HealthCare. “Our goal is to help the community understand their risks from flu and to take steps to stop the spread, including a seasonal flu vaccination.”

WTOP radio is Adventist HealthCare’s official partner for this year’s flu campaign. In October, Adventist HealthCare and WTOP will offer hundreds of free seasonal flu shots to the community through two clinics. The first will take place on Tuesday, October 20, at Shady Grove Adventist Hospital from 7-10 a.m. The second, in partnership with Washington Adventist Hospital, will take place at the Lee Building in downtown Silver Spring also from 7-10 a.m. Additional seasonal flu shot clinic dates and information about seasonal flu and H1N1 is available on the Help Stop the Flu Web site at www.helpstoptheflu.com

While seasonal flu shots are recommended for everyone, they are strongly encouraged for those at highest risk for the flu including:

• People over 50;
• Children between six months and two years;
• Women who are pregnant; health care workers;
• Anyone living in a long-term care facility;
• Day care providers; and
• Anyone with chronic heart, lung or kidney conditions, diabetes or a weakened immune system.

One group that is particularly impacted by the flu is children. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommends seasonal flu shots for children between six months and 18 years. Children are also considered a high-risk group, particularly those under four years, for H1N1.

“Children’s immune systems are less developed than adults’ so it is more difficult for children to fight off illnesses such as flu,” notes Dr. Gaurov Dayal, a pediatrician and chief medical officer for Adventist HealthCare. “Parents should know that seasonal flu shots are also now available and provide an important layer of defense for children this fall. It is also important to teach kids good hygiene such as hand washing and covering a cough.”

Children who have never had a seasonal flu shot should get two shots, spaced at least one month apart. Also, children with chronic conditions such as asthma or diabetes should be a high priority for the vaccination.

In addition to a seasonal flu shot, experts also suggest a number of simple steps to help prevent the flu from spreading, such as:

• Frequent hand washing, especially after coughing, sneezing, and wiping or blowing the nose.
• Coughing into an elbow or sleeve instead of the hand.
• Staying home when ill, particularly with flu-like symptoms. This includes keeping children home from school when they are ill.
• Remaining hydrated and well-rested.

“We all play an important role in helping to stop the spread of flu – both seasonal and H1N1 – in our community,” notes Judy Lichty, Regional Director of Health and Wellness for Adventist HealthCare. “Everyone can get a seasonal flu shot now in addition to taking easy steps to stay healthy and keep our community healthy.”

Adventist HealthCare, an integrated health care delivery organization based in Rockville, Maryland, is one of the largest employers in the state of Maryland. The mission of Adventist HealthCare is to demonstrate God’s care by improving the health of people and communities through a ministry of physical, mental and spiritual healing. Adventist HealthCare includes Shady Grove Adventist Hospital, Washington Adventist Hospital, Adventist Behavioral Health Services, Adventist Rehabilitation Hospital of Maryland, Adventist Senior Living Services, Hackettstown Regional Medical Center, Adventist Home Health Services, the Reginald S. Lourie Center for Infants and Young Children, and LifeWork Strategies.

Shady Grove Adventist Hospital’s Upcounty Prenatal Center begins offering Medicaid Patients Pre- and post-natal care, gynecological care and family planning

Germantown, MD – Upcounty low-income women who have Medicaid but who do not have easy access to health care will now be able to receive critical services, such as prenatal care, at Shady Grove Adventist Hospital‘s Germantown Prenatal Center.

The center, which has been providing obstetrical care to uninsured women through the Montgomery County Maternity Partnership Program, will now offer pre-and post-natal care, general gynecological care as well as family planning services to patients who are covered by Medicaid, the federal health insurance program for low-income residents.

“Our ability to offer care to Medicaid patients at our Germantown Prenatal Center allows us to further our mission of improving the health of our community and expand access to important health care services for women in upper Montgomery County,” said Dennis Hansen, president of Shady Grove Adventist Hospital.

Shady Grove Adventist Hospital’s Prenatal Center is located on the hospital’s Germantown campus, off Route 118 (Germantown Road) and I-270, next to the Shady Grove Adventist Emergency Center, which marks its third anniversary this Friday. The Emergency Center, which is staffed by the same team of physicians and nurses that work in Shady Grove Adventist Hospital’s Rockville Emergency Department, will care for more than 34,000 patients this year. Since its opening, the campus has added a MobileMed Clinic for the uninsured, the Prenatal Center, physician offices and other medical services.

With the addition of Medicaid patients, the Prenatal Center will expand operations from three to five days each week.

Patient care and education at the Shady Grove Adventist Hospital Prenatal Center is provided by nurse midwives. The midwives spend significant time educating patients about the birth process, breast feeding, contraception, family planning and diabetes management. The physician group that provides the obstetrical hospitalists to Shady Grove Adventist Hospital, led by Dr. Carey Simmons, will also provide the physicians for the Prenatal Center patients.

“Prenatal care can truly make a difference in the long-term health of mothers and babies,” said Dr. Simmons. “Our practice is proud to partner with Shady Grove Adventist Hospital to provide this important health care service in the upcounty area.”

Patients that are interested in receiving care at the Shady Grove Adventist Hospital Prenatal Center must participate in the Montgomery County Maternity Partnership Program or must be enrolled in the Medicaid program.

Shady Grove Adventist Hospital, a not-for-profit, acute care facility with 320 licensed beds, will celebrate its 30th anniversary in 2009. Shady Grove offers a broad range of excellent health services including emergency care; high-risk obstetrical and neonatal care; cardiac and vascular interventional care; oncology care; several surgical specialties; and a number of specialized services for children, including the first Pediatric Emergency Department in Montgomery County and the only Pediatric Intensive Care Unit in the county.