Choptank Community Health System has launched an “Ask a Provider” video series in partnership with the Avalon Foundation to provide educational resources and advice from physicians and advanced practice providers.

“We want to continue empowering more people to take control of their own health,” says Choptank Health Senior Vice President and Chief Clinical Officer Megan Wojtko, DNP, MBA, FNP-BC. “This series addresses the concerns we hear most often in our offices while helping to provide essential information for the community at large.”

In the most recent episode of the series, Avalon host Jessica Bellis interviews Wotjko to discuss the best ways to stay well this holiday season, including protecting individuals and children from viruses like influenza and RSV.

Other topics covered in the series include the importance of taking care of your mental health and childhood immunizations.

“Accessibility to health care is at the core of our mission,” says Choptank Health CEO Sara Rich. “Our continued partnership with the Avalon Foundation is an important component of expanding our mission, and we’re grateful for their help in producing this series.”

“This partnership is an important part of the Avalon’s work in fostering a strong community on the Eastern Shore,” says Avalon Foundation COO/CFO Jessica Bellis. “Sharing this information through video brings reliable, trustworthy medical advice for more people to count on throughout the Mid-Shore”

Choptank Health began partnering with the Avalon Foundation during the height of the COVID-19 pandemic with numerous outreach efforts, including producing a series of videos addressing COVID-19 concerns. Choptank Health also worked with the Avalon to host vaccination clinics at the 2021 Chesapeake Multicultural Festival and Easton Carnival and continues with fresh produce prescriptions for local students at the Easton Farmer’s Market and through Caroline County Public Schools this past summer.

The video series can be found on YouTube at www.youtube.com/MidshoreCommunityTelevision.

Choptank Community Health System provides medical and dental services in Caroline, Dorchester, Kent, Queen Anne’s, and Talbot counties to more than 30,000 adults and children, with a mission to provide access to exceptional, comprehensive, and integrated healthcare for all. Choptank Community Health’s medical services include primary healthcare, women’s health, pediatrics, behavioral health, chronic health management, and care navigation, with new medical patients now being accepted. More information is at www.choptankhealth.org.

Choptank Community Health System is encouraging Mid-Shore parents to enroll their children in their public school’s School-Based Health Centers to help keep students healthy throughout the school year.

Choptank Health’s School-Based health centers provide dental services for Dorchester County Public School students and medical and dental services for students in Caroline, Kent, Queen Anne’s, and Talbot County Public Schools. A primary care mobile health unit is also used as part of Choptank Health’s School-Based health center services.

The School-Based Health Centers provide in-person, virtual, curbside well and urgent care during the school year and over the summer months, with student enrollment needed. Services include diagnosis and treatment of illnesses, behavioral health services, nutrition, and educational services. Choptank Health’s School-Based dental programs include dental screenings and sealants, polishing/cleanings, oral health education, fluoride treatments, and dental emergency referrals.

“We are a convenient source of quality health care that works in collaboration with your child’s doctor and the school nurse,” says Choptank Health CEO Sara Rich. “Choptank Community Health recognizes the connection between health and positive academic outcomes and is pleased to partner with our schools and health departments to ensure that students are healthy and ready to learn.”

Rich says the purpose of the Centers is to improve the health of students and faculty, increase access to primary health care and decrease time lost from school by providing care within the school setting.

“Our school-based providers bring health care to our students where they spend most of their time,” says Rich. “This is a convenient and essential resource for parents who don’t need to take time off from work to help address their child’s health needs, especially for children who need immediate or ongoing care.”

“Whenever your child is seen by the School Health Center staff, a note is sent home that details the visit,” says Choptank Health Director of Community Based Programs Chrissy Bartz PA-C, MMS. “Additionally, a report on the visit is shared with your child’s primary health care provider.”

Federal and state regulations require all providers, including Choptank Community Health (CCHS), to bill all patients for School-Based Health Center program services. The Medicaid programs cover School-Based Health Center charges.

A sliding fee scale is used for non-insured students. Patients on the sliding fee program can receive discounts that will be billed based on their income. All patients and their families are eligible to apply for the sliding fee program, even if they have insurance.

All Caroline County Public School students have access to Choptank Health’s School-Based Health Center. Participating in Talbot County are Easton Elementary, Easton Middle, and Easton High Schools, St. Michaels Elementary and Middle/High Schools, and White Marsh Elementary Schools. All Dorchester and Kent County students have access to dental services in all schools, with Kent County students provided service at Rock Hall Elementary School. Participating in Queen Anne’s Public Schools are Church Hill Elementary, and Sudlersville Elementary and Middle Schools.

Enrollment forms can be picked up at each school or downloaded in English and Spanish at www.choptankhealth.org/formsinformation.

Choptank Community Health System provides medical and dental services to more than 30,000 adults and children in Caroline, Dorchester, Kent, Queen Anne’s, and Talbot counties, with a mission to provide access to exceptional, comprehensive, and integrated healthcare for all. Medical services include primary healthcare, women’s health, pediatrics, behavioral health, chronic health management, and care navigation, with new medical patients now being accepted. More is at www.choptankhealth.org.

Choptank Community Health System has expanded its School Based Health Center program into Queen Anne’s and Kent Counties with new centers opening at Church Hill Elementary, Sudlersville Elementary and Middle, and Rock Hall Elementary schools. The centers are made possible through partnerships with each county’s public school system, local health departments, and Maryland Department of Health.

The School Based Health Centers provide in-person, virtual, curbside well and urgent care during the school year and over the summer months, with student enrollment required. Other services include health education and risk assessment, sports and other physical exams, dietary support, asthma management, and sick or acute care.

“Now students in Queen Anne’s and Kent Counties can have access to school based health,” says Choptank Health CEO Sara Rich. “We’re grateful for our partnerships and staff who have helped to bring this access to dental and medical health services to more students and their families.”

Rich says School Based Health Centers often provide a child with their only form of medical or dental care, furthering the importance of this new center.

“This also serves as an important and timely reminder for all Mid-Shore parents to enroll their students in school based health today,” says Rich.

All students and staff at each participating school can enroll in the program and utilize any in-county SBHC site regardless of their ability to pay, with enrollment forms available at www.choptankhealth.org or through the student’s school.

“We want to keep our students and staff as healthy as they can be,” says Queen Anne’s County Public Schools Superintendent Dr. Patricia Saelens. “We’re seeing several new registrations each day and are encouraging parents and guardians to register their students for these important school based health services by going to the Health Section on our website to obtain forms and send to your child’s school nurse.”

“We’re grateful for Kent County’s partnership with Choptank Health,” said Kent County Public Schools Superintendent Dr. Karen Couch. “Our students can focus more on learning when they feel good and are well, while our school families benefit from the convenience and accessibility of these important services.”

“Our School Based Health Centers help to keep our communities healthy and thriving,” says Choptank Health Director of Community Based Programs Chrissy Bartz PA-C, MMS. “These Health Centers meet children and their families where they are to provide more access to healthcare.”

Choptank Health’s school based health centers provide dental services for Dorchester County Public School students and medical and dental services for students in Caroline, Kent, Queen Anne’s, and Talbot County Public Schools. A primary care mobile health unit is also used as part of Choptank Health’s school based health center services.

Choptank Community Health System provides medical and dental services to more than 30,000 adults and children in Caroline, Dorchester, Kent, Queen Anne’s, and Talbot counties, with a mission to provide access to exceptional, comprehensive, and integrated healthcare for all. Medical services include primary healthcare, women’s health, pediatrics, behavioral health, chronic health management, and care navigation, with new medical patients now being accepted. More is at www.choptankhealth.org.

Choptank Community Health System has reopened its Tilghman Health Center at Tilghman Elementary School to provide primary medical services for Bay Hundred children and adults.

Choptank Health closed its Tilghman Health Center during the pandemic and re-opened on July 19. The Center serves as an extension to Choptank Health’s Bay Hundred Health Center in St. Michaels, with Gregory Dukes, CRNP serving as the provider.

The Center is open every other Tuesday from 1 to 4:30 p.m., with new adult and pediatric primary care medical patients accepted. Choptank Health’s St. Michaels office patients are also being seen at the Tilghman Island location.

“We are grateful to be able to bring health care closer to the people of Tilghman Island and through the Bay Hundred region through this partnership with Talbot Schools,” said Choptank Health CEO Sara Rich. “This extension is especially meaningful because making healthcare more accessible for people across Maryland’s Eastern Shore is at the heart of everything Choptank Health does. It’s why we’re here.”

“Having accessible healthcare services right on the Island is extremely important for our area residents,” said Tilghman Island resident Ginny Cornwell. “We’re fortunate to have Choptank Health as a partner in our community to help people who especially have transportation challenges, for example, or who are managing chronic conditions and can’t always get up the road.”

Choptank Community Health System serves more than 30,000 patients in Caroline, Dorchester, Kent, and Talbot counties. Choptank has been in operation for more than 40 years and has more than 200 employees, including primary care, behavioral health, and dental care providers and support staff. In addition to accepting most major insurance plans, Choptank participates in Medicare and Medicaid and offers a sliding fee scale to uninsured patients.

Choptank Community Health System provides medical and dental services in Caroline, Dorchester, Kent, and Talbot counties, with a mission to provide access to exceptional, comprehensive, and integrated healthcare for all.

Choptank Community Health’s medical services include primary healthcare, women’s health, pediatrics, behavioral health, chronic health management, and care navigation, with new medical patients now being accepted at all locations. Call 410-745-0200 to make a medical appointment at Choptank Health’s Tilghman Health Center or learn more at www.choptankhealth.org.

Choptank Community Health System is recognizing National Health Center Week this Aug. 7-13 with “Community Health Centers: The Chemistry for Strong Communities” the theme for the National Association of Community Health Center’s annual initiative.

“This year’s National Health Center Week honors the values, services, affordability, and innovations health centers bring to our communities,” said Choptank Health CEO Sara Rich. “We are joining  Health Care Centers across the nation to recognize the importance of health centers and their role in supporting strong communities.”

Rich says National Health Center Week provides the opportunity to highlight the innovative ways Choptank Health and other health centers provide high-quality care and improved health outcomes by narrowing health disparities. Focus areas include public health in housing; children’s health; healthcare for agricultural workers and people facing homelessness.

Choptank Community Health is a Federally Qualified Health Center and one of 17 community-based health centers in Maryland serving more than 377,000 individuals, including those without insurance or the ability to pay.

Choptank Health and other participants in the U. S. Health Resources & Services Administration’s Health Center Program serve more than 28 million people nationwide and provide affordable, high-quality, comprehensive primary care to people from throughout local communities.

“Community Health Centers look beyond medical charts to address the factors that may cause poor health, such as poverty, homelessness, substance use, behavioral health, lack of nutrition, and unemployment,” Rich says.“We create the chemistry for strong communities by forging partnerships with hospitals, local and state governments, social, health, and business organizations to improve health outcomes, especially for medically vulnerable people.”

Choptank Community Health System’s commitment to excellence is recognized by the nation’s oldest and largest health care accreditor, The Joint Commission. Achieving Joint Commission accreditation demonstrates Choptank Health’s commitment to continuous improvement in patient care.

Choptank Community Health System provides medical and dental services in Caroline, Dorchester, Kent, and Talbot counties to more than 30,000 adults and children, with a mission to provide access to exceptional, comprehensive, and integrated healthcare for all. Choptank Community Health’s medical services include primary healthcare, women’s health, pediatrics, behavioral health, chronic health management, and care navigation, with new medical patients now being accepted. More information is at www.choptankhealth.org.

Choptank Community Health System is providing produce prescriptions to Mid-Shore students through community partnerships with the Avalon Foundation and Caroline County Public Schools Shore Gourmet “Sho Go” Mobile Market. Funding for the project comes from a $25K grant through the School-Based Health Center (SBHC) Food Access Learning Network and Share Our Strength’s No Kid Hungry Campaign.

The program provides local children with four, $5 vouchers for the child and family to obtain fresh produce from the Easton Farmers Market and Shore Gourmet’s “Sho Go” Mobile Market locations in Caroline and Talbot counties. The vouchers are being provided over the summer to students enrolled in Choptank Health’s School-Based Health Centers in both counties.

“Participating students are also receiving health education on topics including the importance of a healthy diet and physical activity,” explains Choptank Health Director of Community Based Programs Chrissy Bartz PA-C, MMS. “By integrating food access and preventative care, we’re able to help address childhood hunger and improve healthy dietary outcomes.”

Bartz and her School-Based Health Center team planned the logistics of the program.

“This program is allowing families to select and prepare local produce together and continue our conversations around healthy diet with everyone in the home,” says Bartz. “This outreach with the farmers and mobile markets is also a great way to meet the needs of local children facing food insecurities.”

Feeding America reports that 1,430 or 18.2% of children in Caroline County and 980 or 14.3% of Talbot County’s children are facing food insecurity. Feeding America is the United States’ largest hunger-relief organization that conducts an annual study to learn more about hunger at local levels.

“This is a great example of how collaboration with other organizations can help our community,” says Choptank Health CEO Sara Rich. “These partnerships enhance the meaningful work our teams do each day while providing essential resources that strengthen our communities.”

“We’re fortunate to build on a partnership that began with Choptank Community Health at the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic,” says Avalon Foundation CEO Al Bond. “Transitioning from our outreach efforts to working together to help make sure no child goes hungry is very meaningful work.”

“This program is a great way to put fresh produce in the hands of children and families facing food insecurities,” says Caroline County Public Schools Supervisor of Food Services Beth Brewster. “This program is even more important over the summer months, and the mobile market makes it even more accessible to those in Caroline County.”

By providing access to fresh produce, organizers are offering healthier choices to students in need with the hope that they become less food insecure and healthier overall. The program engages both the student as well as family members and guardians. Choptank Health providers will follow up with students to assess the campaign’s popularity and gauge the level of behavior changes, as a direct result of the program.

Food insecure children need this additional support now more than ever. In the wake of the coronavirus pandemic, No Kid Hungry estimates that one out of every six kids could face hunger this year. This organization is working to end childhood hunger by helping launch and improve programs that give all kids the healthy food they need to thrive. No Kid Hungry is a campaign of Share Our Strength, a D.C.-based organization committed to ending hunger and poverty around the world.

Information on the Easton Farmer’s Market can be found at www.avalonfoundation.org/eastonfarmersmarket, with the schedule and information for the Sho Go Mobile Market at www.carolineculinaryarts.org/shogomobile.

Choptank Community Health System provides medical and dental services in Caroline, Dorchester, and Talbot counties, with a mission to provide access to comprehensive and integrated health care for all. Medical services include primary health care, women’s health, pediatrics, behavioral health, chronic health management, and care navigation. Choptank Health also operates 32 School-Based Health Centers in Caroline, Dorchester, Kent, and Talbot counties, providing medical and dental services for enrolled K-12 students, with more at www.choptankhealth.org.

The center is made possible through a partnership with Choptank Health, Talbot County Public Schools, and the Talbot County Health Department.

“We want to keep our students and staff as healthy as they can be,” says White Marsh Elementary School Principal Kimberly Seidel. “We’re seeing several new registrations each day and are encouraging parents and guardians to register their students for these important school-based health services by contacting our administrative offices during school hours.”

The White Marsh Elementary School health center is open on Mondays and Wednesdays from 12 noon to 3:30 p.m. and is staffed with medical professionals from Choptank Health and the Talbot County Health Department. All TCPS public school students and staff can enroll in the program and utilize any Talbot SBHC site regardless of ability to pay.

“Now students in and around Trappe have access to our School-Based Health Center,” says Choptank Health CEO Sara Rich. “We’re grateful for our partnerships and staff to be able to bring this access to dental and medical health services to more students and their families.”

Rich says School-Based Health Centers oftentimes provide a child with their only form of medical or dental care, furthering the importance of this new center.

“We’re grateful for Talbot County Public Schools’ partnership with Choptank Health,” said Talbot County Public Schools Superintendent Kelly Griffith. “Our students can focus more on learning when they feel good and are well, while our school families benefit from the convenience and accessibility of these important services.”

Choptank Health operates 32 School-Based Health Centers in Caroline, Dorchester, Kent, and Talbot County Public Schools, offering medical and/or dental services for enrolled K-12 students. A new primary care mobile health unit is additionally being used as part of Choptank Health’s medical and dental School-Based Health Center services.

The School-Based Health Centers provide in-person, virtual, curbside well and urgent care, and other services including health education and risk assessment, sports and other physical exams, dietary support, asthma management, and sick or acute care.

Student enrollment in Choptank Health’s School-Based Wellness and Dental Programs can be made by contacting your student’s Caroline, Dorchester, Kent, Queen Anne’s, or Talbot County public school.

Choptank Community Health System provides medical and dental services in Caroline, Dorchester, and Talbot counties, with a mission to provide access to exceptional, comprehensive, and integrated healthcare for all. Choptank Community Health’s medical services include primary healthcare, women’s health, pediatrics, behavioral health, chronic health management, and care navigation, with new medical patients now being accepted. More information is at www.choptankhealth.org.

Choptank Community Health System has received $125k from the Town of Federalsburg to help fund sewer and water expenses for its new Hayman Ave. Federalsburg facility. Monies were able to be provided thanks to eligible use from funding provided through the American Rescue Plan Act. Choptank Community Health System announced its plans for the new 15- to 20,000-square foot Federalsburg health center in Oct. 2021, after purchasing land for its new facility on Hayman Ave.

The new community health center is also supported by federal and county funding, with a spring 2024 anticipated completion date.

Choptank Health CEO Sara Rich presented the health center’s request for funding to the Federalsburg Mayor and Council at the town’s Nov. 1 meeting. During the presentation, Rich shared that the health center currently sees more than 5,100 medical and dental patients in its Bloomingdale Ave. facility and has outgrown the space.

“We are extremely grateful for the Mayor’s and Council’s support of our new Federalsburg facility,” said Choptank Health CEO Sara Rich.  “This support will help Federalsburg residents have the best access to quality care, as we move forward towards construction of our state-of-the-art new facility.”

“Having accessible health care in Federalsburg is important to our residents,” said Federalsburg Mayor Kimberly Jahnigen Abner. “We’re grateful for Choptank Health’s commitment to quality care, and to be able to support their new building through this funding.”

Architectural and engineering firm George, Miles & Buhr, LLC of Salisbury is charged with the new facilities’ design. The new Federalsburg facility will include expanded spaces for dental and medical services, more parking, and space for Choptank Health’s residency programs and behavioral health services for patients.

GMB serves local, national, and international clients with a team of more than 90 professionals working from a network of Mid-Atlantic region offices. The firm was founded in 1960, with local architectural projects including the Onley, Eastville, and Atlantic Community Health Centers in Virginia; the Denton Health Center and Caroline County EMS Facility in Denton, Md.; and the Salisbury University Center for Entrepreneurship in Salisbury, Md.

Choptank Community Health System provides medical and dental services in Caroline, Dorchester, and Talbot counties, with a mission to provide access to exceptional, comprehensive, and integrated health care for all. Choptank Community Health’s medical services include primary health care, women’s health, pediatrics, behavioral health, chronic health management, and care navigation, with new medical patients now being accepted. More information is at www.choptankhealth.org.