Letters of Support
People are talking about the Clarksburg Community Hospital project and this is what they are saying…
Rob Garagiola, State Senator – District 15, Jennie M. Forehand, State Senator – District 17, Nancy J. King, State Senator – District 39, Charles E. Barkley, Delegate – District 39, Kumar P. Barve, Delegate- District 17, Kathleen M. Dumais, Delegate – District 15, Brian J. Feldman, Delegate - District 15, James W. Gilchrist, Delegate – District 17, Aruna Miller, Delegate – District 15, Kirill Reznik, Delegate – District 39, A. Shane Robinson, Delegate – District 39, Luis R. S. Simmons, Delegate – District 17 via All Upcounty Legislators Urge MHCC to back Clarksburg Hospital (01/13/2011):
“Dear Dr. Cowdry: It is our understanding that the Maryland Health Care Commission will decide on whether to approve a Certificate of Need for Adventist HealthCare’s proposal to develop a hospital in Clarksburg or Holy Cross’s proposal in Germantown. We are writing this letter jointly to state our unequivocal support for Adventist HealthCare’s proposal to develop a hospital in Clarksburg to serve residents in the growing 1-270 corridor of upper Montgomery County and lower Frederick County. We represent constituents throughout upper Montgomery County along the 1-270 corridor, including Rockville, Gaithersburg, Germantown, Clarksburg, and to the Montgomery-Frederick County border.”
Sidney A. Katz, Mayor, City of Gaithersburg via Support Letter to MHCC (08/16/2010):
“I am writing in support for Adventist HealthCare’s plans to develop a hospital and medical campus in Clarksburg. Adventist HealthCare has done an admirable job planning for this facility, working in a transparent manner with the community as well as local and state leaders.
Adventist HealthCare has worked over the years to extend access to health care in upper Montgomery County. First with Shady Grove Adventist Hospital, and continuing with the development of the Germantown Emergency Center and other recent health care services.
Again, we are proud to support Adventist HealthCare as it seeks to improve access to health care in Upper Montgomery County with the development of a hospital and medical campus in Clarksburg.”
Randy Scritchfield via Support Letter to MHCC (08/12/2010):
“It is widely believed – by both Community members, elected officials and Health Care professionals – that Clarksburg is the best location for a new hospital and medical campus to serve the fast-growing communities of Upper Montgomery County and lower Frederick County.
The Clarksburg Plan is so strong because it is the only plan that: Provides the best access to care, Has all the major land, traffic and environmental approvals, dos not place other health-care services at risk, Will bring significant economic development and jobs to the region, was planned with the Community and County from the beginning and, as I noted, has broad community and political support.”
Patrick Darby, President, Clarksburg Chamber of Commerce via Gazette Editorial (09/30/2009):
“Adventist efforts appealing to upcounty residents. The Gazette article on hospital polls in the Sept. 16 newspaper ["Polls add wrinkle to Germantown, Clarksburg hospital battle,"] is very revealing in terms of how Adventist HealthCare and Holy Cross have gone about gaining community support for their proposals.
Adventist HealthCare has been working with the upcounty residents since 2002, when they first bought the site for its proposed Clarksburg hospital and medical campus. Adventist reached out in its poll to residents in Germantown, Clarksburg and other parts of the upcounty – those residents most directly affected by a new health care campus. Holy Cross, which surprised upcounty residents and politicians with its plan last year, polled residents across the county about its hospital.
More importantly, Holy Cross contacted politicians about its poll in hopes that political pressure would move its project along. That is in stark contrast with the numerous community meetings Adventist HealthCare has held throughout the upcounty which helped it gain support and land approvals for its project. Adventist has been very careful to make sure that its plan would not only provide needed medical services to an underserved area, but that it would also fit in with the surrounding community.
The article demonstrates how polls can achieve the desired results of each party, depending on demographics, type of questions, and statistical analysis. However, the type of collaborative spirit exhibited by Adventist’s Clarksburg plan is more appealing to upcounty residents, and a primary goal of the Clarksburg Chamber of Commerce. It should be appealing and important to all residents and communities in Montgomery County.”
Andrea Encarnacion, Germantown Resident, via Gazette Editorial (09/23/2009):
“Adventist provides quality service. The Gazette’s Sept. 9 article, ["State to review hospital plans"] on two different proposals for a hospital in upper Montgomery County fails to mention that there are already medical services in Germantown, including the Shady Grove Adventist Emergency Center, a facility residents like myself fought hard for and do not want to lose.
In fact, Adventist HealthCare partnered with upcounty residents to expand access to health care in a rapidly growing area. The result of this careful planning and collaboration was the emergency center, which opened in 2006 and has since provided crucial health care services.
Adventist’s community commitment and foresight in recognizing the health care needs in upper Montgomery County is also evident in its proposal for a hospital in Clarksburg. As a long-time resident of Montgomery County, I am well aware of both proposals and truly believe that Adventist’s plan to expand the current medical services in Germantown while developing the future Clarksburg medical campus offers the best option to meet our health care needs and strengthen the safety net for the underserved throughout upper Montgomery County.”
Maria S. Garcia, Germantown Resident, via Gazette Editorial (11/04/2009):
“I have great concerns about Holy Cross Hospital’s request to the Montgomery County Council to bypass traffic regulations in its rush to build a hospital in Germantown, as described in the Sept. 14 edition of The Gazette.
As a long-time resident of Germantown, who has watched traffic increase steadily as our community has grown, I believe that the Germantown hospital proposal on the Montgomery College campus presents some serious traffic and environmental challenges in an already congested area. For local residents, one only has to drive on Route 118, Middlebrook Road or Route 355 to see that adding a hospital to that area will burden these heavily-traveled roadways at all times of the day.
The issue came up at a County Council town hall meeting earlier this year when residents raised concerns about the increased traffic on a commuter campus, which has a significant number of young drivers and pedestrians.
While I believe that a hospital is an important part of a community, ensuring a location that does not create gridlock, especially where emergency vehicles will need access, is vital.
Germantown already has health care services provided by the Shady Grove Adventist Emergency Center and medical campus. Plus, Adventist HealthCare’s proposed hospital and medical campus in Clarksburg, located just off I-270, will provide better access to all residents and not create significant traffic problems in our region.
I hope the state health board will consider this important issue as it reviews the proposals for a hospital in upper Montgomery County.”
Carol W. Garvey, M.D., MPH, Physician:
“I have greatly appreciated Adventist HealthCare’s initiation of prenatal-care services in Germantown and its willingness to work with the community to address health care issues in the region. The Germantown Emergency Center, the Center on Health Disparities and your partnerships with Mercy Clinic, Mobile Med and others are just a few examples of your collaborative work to strengthen the delivery of health care in our region.”
Kathie Hulley, President, Clarksburg Civic Association:
“We appreciate the opportunity to work with Adventist HealthCare on a plan that complements our residential communities. The health-care campus and planned hospital are conveniently located between Frederick and Shady Grove, and will provide improved access to health care for Clarksburg, upper Montgomery County and lower Frederick County. Adventist HealthCare’s careful, deliberate planning approach promises a plan for the health-care campus where pedestrian access and traffic flow are each priorities. The campus relates thoughtfully to the nearby residential community. It will also serve as an employment engine for Clarksburg. We feel the hospital and associated campus are critical to the future of Clarksburg and we welcome your ongoing commitment to work with area residents to provide the best possible solutions for all. We recognize and support the work you and others have done to develop a comprehensive plan for effectively meeting the health care needs of the upcounty community.”
Sidney Katz, Mayor of Gaithersburg:
“Adventist HealthCare has long met the health-care needs of residents in the Gaithersburg community. As an organization we have found them to be open and forward thinking. Their expansion into the Clarksburg area provides an opportunity for Adventist HealthCare to leverage existing health-care resources and to lay the groundwork for meeting the future needs of a growing region.”
Thomas A. Kleinhanzl, President & CEO, Frederick Memorial HealthCare System:
“We are pleased that CCH will be built in a location that will expand access to health care services for the citizens of both southern Frederick County and northern Montgomery County including Germantown. Given the projected population growth in southern Frederick County and northern Montgomery County, particularly along the I-270 corridor, the placement of this new hospital in Clarksburg is a preferable location which minimizes the impact on existing services.”
Nancy R. Markus, M.D., P.C., Physician
“As a practicing physician in Montgomery County, I strongly support your Certificate of Need application with the Maryland Health Care Commission to develop a hospital and medical campus in Clarksburg. A hospital in Clarksburg will improve access to care but will not undermine current facilities that are serving the medical needs of communities.”
Kathleen Mitchell, Ombudsman, Clarksburg:
“Their network of medical and lifestyle experts is bringing tools, training and educational opportunities to our residents and contributing to a lifetime of health and wellness.”
Randy Scritchfield, Upcounty Business Owner & Community Leader:
“Adventist HealthCare is an organization that continually seeks to expand access to care, by being both proactive and collaborating with the community. This new campus is perfectly situated to meet the growing demands of upper Montgomery County. Adventist HealthCare has worked diligently to meet the health-care needs of the upcounty community, starting with the opening of Shady Grove Adventist Hospital in 1979 and continuing with its work in Germantown and now Clarksburg — always responding to our growing needs and meeting them.”
Robin J.Thomashauer, Montgomery County Resident for 20 Years and Adventist HealthCare Board of Trustees Member Since 2007 via Gazette Editorial (10/14/2009):
“Adventist HealthCare offers well-developed hospital proposal. 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.”
