MENU

Sections

More

June 16, 2025

Cambridge Spy

Nonpartisan and Education-based News for Cambridge

Health Health Notes

Choptank Health Names Contractor for New Federalsburg Health Center

by
Leave a Comment

Choptank Community Health System is moving forward with the construction of its new health center at 320 Hargraves Dr. in Federalsburg with the recent selection of Harper & Sons, Inc. of Easton, Md. as the general contractor for the project. The new state-of-the-art center will be replacing Choptank Health’s current location on Bloomingdale Avenue, with the contract awarded to Harper & Sons, Inc. after a competitive bidding process.

“Harper & Sons share our passion for excellence and a deep commitment to community,” said Choptank Health CEO Sara Rich. “We have worked with Harper & Sons on other renovations and are impressed by the number of successful commercial projects they’ve completed throughout the Eastern Shore.”

Harper & Sons, Inc. was founded in 1968 by Howard G. Harper in Easton, Md. after his work as a general manager for the ES Adkins Company Lumberyard in Easton. He started the business as a way for him and his sons to meet the construction needs of the rapidly developing Eastern Shore.

Choptank Community Health System is moving forward with construction plans for its new health center on Hargraves Dr. in Federalsburg, with a rendering of the new health center here.

Today, Harper & Sons, Inc. is managed by the third generation of family members, with project experience that includes working with the Town of St. Michaels, Caroline County, Easton Utilities Commission, St. Michaels Community Center, University of Maryland Medical System, Salisbury University, Compass Hospice, and more.

“We are grateful for the opportunity to work on this meaningful project for Choptank Community Health and the people of Federalsburg,” says Harper & Sons Vice President Benson Harper. “We look forward to overseeing the project—as our top management does on all of our projects—to ensure a high level of responsibility and personal attention to critical details throughout the building process.”

The new center is anticipated to be completed in the fall of 2024 and will include more than 20,000 square feet of space for Choptank Health to address the increasing demand for healthcare services in the area.

The new Federalsburg Health Center will also include an expanded number of exam rooms available for Choptank Health’s dental and medical patients, and dedicated spaces for behavioral health services. The new center will also serve as the hub for Choptank Health’s dental, pediatric dental, and physician rural residency programs.

Choptank Health CEO Sara Rich says that its current Federalsburg health center currently sees more than 5,100 medical and dental patients and has outgrown the space.

“We are extremely grateful for the community’s support of our new Federalsburg facility,” said Rich. “Our state-of-the-art modern facility will help to provide the best access to quality medical and dental care for Caroline County and Federalsburg.”

Choptank Community Health System announced plans for the new Federalsburg Health Center in 2021, after purchasing land for the new facility at 320 Hargraves Dr. with Caroline County Economic Development instrumental in helping to identify the land for the new Federalsburg Health Center. Architectural and engineering firm George, Miles & Buhr, LLC of Salisbury is charged with the new facility’s design.

Funding for the center includes $750k from Caroline County to help fund the new facility’s construction and $125k from the Town of Federalsburg to help fund sewer and water expenses. The new Federalsburg Health Center also received an $829K U.S. Department of Health and Human Services’ Health Resources and Services Administration one-time capital improvement grant, $2.9M in congressionally-directed spending, and$420,893 from the Maryland Governor’s capital budget.

Choptank Community Health System provides medical, dental, and School-Based health 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 information is at www.choptankhealth.org.

The Spy Newspapers may periodically employ the assistance of artificial intelligence (AI) to enhance the clarity and accuracy of our content.

UM Shore Medical Group-Women’s Health Welcomes Two UM School of Medicine Providers

by
Leave a Comment

University of Maryland Shore Medical Group-Women’s Health recently welcomedJanyne E. Althaus, MD, a University of Maryland School of Medicine (UMSOM) perinatologist who specializes in managing high-risk pregnancies, and Abbie L. Fields, MD, a leading gynecologic oncologist with UM SOM. Dr. Althaus and Dr. Fields are seeing patients at the Easton-based practice at 522 Idlewild Avenue.

Both specialists are highly trained in managing complex medical conditions that can surface during pregnancy, such as gestational diabetes, hypertension and fetal abnormalities. With their expertise, they can provide comprehensive care to both the mother and developing fetus, assuring the best possible outcomes.

With more than 20 years in her field, Dr. Althaus is board certified in gynecology and obstetrics, and in maternal-fetal medicine. She most recently worked at Bellin Hospital in Green Bay, Wis., and prior to that served as a perinatologist with Essentia Health Saint Mary’s Medical Center in Duluth, Minn. Previously, she served as Director of Perinatal Outreach and Maternal Transport in the Department of Gynecology and Obstetrics at Johns Hopkins Hospital/Johns Hopkins Bayview Medical Center in Baltimore.

Dr. Althaus received her Bachelor of Arts from Pennsylvania State University and her Doctor of Medicine from Michigan State University. She completed her residency in Hartford Hospital’s Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology in Hartford, Conn., and her fellowship in maternal-fetal medicine at Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine’sDepartment of Gynecology and Obstetrics.

Janyne E. Althaus, MD and Abbie L. Fields, MD

Dr. Fields has more than three decades of experience in the field of gynecologic oncology. She is board certified by the American Board of Obstetrics and Gynecology, and holds a sub-specialty certification in gynecologic oncology. Most recently, she served as Director of Gynecologic Oncology in the Pelvic Reconstruction and Complex Gynecologic Surgery Department at LifeBridge Health-Sinai Hospital in Baltimore, and as chair of the Integrated Network Cancer Program at the Alvin and Lois Lapidus Cancer Institute-LifeBridge Health in Baltimore. She previously served as Medical Director of Gynecologic Oncology at the Washington Cancer Institute in Washington, D.C.

Dr. Fields received her Bachelor of Arts from Case Western Reserve University in Cleveland, Ohio, and her Doctor of Medicine from Ohio State University’s College of Medicine in Columbus, Ohio. She completed her residency in obstetrics and gynecology at Northwestern University in Chicago, Ill., and her fellowship in gynecologic oncology from Johns Hopkins University in Baltimore.

UM SMG-Women’s Health provides high quality, convenient obstetrics, midwifery and gynecology care to patients, including managing high-risk pregnancy and advanced cancer care and treatment monitoring.

To schedule an appointment, please call UM Shore Medical Group-Women’s Health at 410-820-4888.

About University of Maryland Shore Regional Health

As part of the University of Maryland Medical System (UMMS), University of Maryland Shore Regional Health is the principal provider of comprehensive health care services for more than 170,000 residents of Caroline, Dorchester, Kent, Queen Anne’s and Talbot counties on Maryland’s Eastern Shore. UM Shore Regional Health’s team of more than 2,200 employees, medical staff, board members and volunteers works with various community partners to fulfill the organization’s mission of Creating Healthier Communities Together.

About the University of Maryland Medical System

The University of Maryland Medical System (UMMS) is an academic private health system, focused on delivering compassionate, high quality care and putting discovery and innovation into practice at the bedside. Partnering with the University of Maryland School of Medicine and University of Maryland, Baltimore who educate the state’s future health care professionals, UMMS is an integrated network of care, delivering 25 percent of all hospital care in urban, suburban and rural communities across the state of Maryland. UMMS puts academic medicine within reach through primary and specialty care delivered at 11 hospitals, including the flagship University of Maryland Medical Center, the System’s anchor institution in downtown Baltimore, as well as through a network of University of Maryland Urgent Care centers and more than 150 other locations in 13 counties. For more information, visit www.umms.org.

The Spy Newspapers may periodically employ the assistance of artificial intelligence (AI) to enhance the clarity and accuracy of our content.

UM SRH Nurse Instrumental in Maryland Prescribing Legislation

by
Leave a Comment

Claudia Tilley, MSN, RN, APRN-CNS, AGCNS-BC, Patient Education Specialist and Diabetes Educator

Claudia Tilley, MSN, RN, APRN-CNS, AGCNS-BC, patient education specialist and diabetes educator for University of Maryland Shore Regional Health, was instrumental in the passing of new legislation allowing clinical nurse specialists (CNS) in Maryland the authority to prescribe medication. Nurses who have achieved the CNS certification have had the legal authority to prescribe in 39 states, including Maryland’s border states – Delaware, Pennsylvania, Virginia and West Virginia, as well as the District of Columbia.

A clinical nurse specialist is a master’s or doctorate-prepared nurse who is board certified by a national accrediting body and licensed as an Advanced Practice Registered Nurse (APRN) on the state level. There are over 300 clinical nurse specialists in Maryland.

The CNS prescribing legislation (Senate Bill 213 and House Bill 278) which will go into effect October 1, was signed into law by Governor Wes Moore last month. Visit umshoreregional.org/Senate-Bill0213 to read the complete bill.

“Claudia worked tirelessly to move this legislation forward,” said Kathy Elliott, Director, Professional Nursing Practice/Magnet Program. “Without her hard work, this legislation may never have come to life.”

The new legislation allows the CNS profession to practice at the full extent of their training and licensure, and help fill gaps in care and improve health outcomes for the communities served, including those on Maryland’s Eastern Shore.

“I am very proud to say I played a part of this historic endeavor to advance nursing and the CNS profession in Maryland,” said Tilley.

Through the Chesapeake Bay Affiliate of the National Association of Clinical Nurse Specialists and the Maryland Academy of Advanced Practice Clinicians, Tilley participated in a work group with 11 other CNS nurses, two nurse practitioners and a lobbyist who provided guidance.

Tilley worked with the Maryland General Assembly to promote the bill and educate legislators, sending emails and providing written testimony for committee hearings in both chambers of the Maryland General Assembly. She spoke personally with Delegate Thomas Hutchinson, who represents Caroline, Dorchester, Talbot, and Wicomico counties, to explain the importance of the bill with regard to improving patient outcomes. In February, Tilley presented oral testimony at the House of Delegates Health and Government Operations Committee hearing in Annapolis.

Support was also secured from the National Association of Clinical Nurse Specialists, Maryland Board of Nursing, Maryland Nurses Association, Maryland APRN groups and other organizations, including Johns Hopkins Health System, University of Maryland Medical System and AARP.

Maryland Governor Wes Moore signs the legislation enabling clinical nurse specialists to prescribe medication.

About University of Maryland Shore Regional Health

As part of the University of Maryland Medical System (UMMS), University of Maryland Shore Regional Health is the principal provider of comprehensive health care services for more than 170,000 residents of Caroline, Dorchester, Kent, Queen Anne’s and Talbot counties on Maryland’s Eastern Shore. UM Shore Regional Health’s team of more than 2,200 employees, medical staff, board members and volunteers works with various community partners to fulfill the organization’s mission of Creating Healthier Communities Together.

About the University of Maryland Medical System

The University of Maryland Medical System (UMMS) is an academic private health system, focused on delivering compassionate, high quality care and putting discovery and innovation into practice at the bedside. Partnering with the University of Maryland School of Medicine and University of Maryland, Baltimore who educate the state’s future health care professionals, UMMS is an integrated network of care, delivering 25 percent of all hospital care in urban, suburban and rural communities across the state of Maryland. UMMS puts academic medicine within reach through primary and specialty care delivered at 11 hospitals, including the flagship University of Maryland Medical Center, the System’s anchor institution in downtown Baltimore, as well as through a network of University of Maryland Urgent Care centers and more than 150 other locations in 13 counties. For more information, visit www.umms.org.

The Spy Newspapers may periodically employ the assistance of artificial intelligence (AI) to enhance the clarity and accuracy of our content.

For All Seasons’ Center for Learning Prepares Easton Elementary School Students for Mental Health Safety

by
Leave a Comment

For All Seasons’ Center for Learning recently sponsored outreach at Easton Elementary School in recognition of Mental Health Awareness Month. Staff provided teachers at the school with engaging classroom activities, developed for grades one through five, focused on “Being Kind to Your Mind” – helping students learn how to care for their mental health, as well as how to make smart choices online and reduce online stress.

According to Lauren Weber, Vice President for Philanthropy and Education at For All Seasons, there are several important reasons why the Center is sharing these lessons with local schools. She comments, “The out-of-school summer months can be a fun and relaxing time for many children and their families. For many children, though, summertime means less structure and fewer social interactions in-person with peers, which can lead to a feeling of disconnection. We also know kids tend to spend more time on various screens and devices and want to encourage responsible use of gaming, social media, and the Internet – to help reduce the stress that we know excessive hours online causes kids. Their mental health is often affected in the summer by these factors and more.”

Easton Elementary School students wearing “Be Kind to Your Mind” bracelets.

In addition, For All Seasons is part of the Maryland Regional Navigator Program, providing support to human trafficking survivors and their families, as well as community outreach and awareness. Weber adds, “Our program has us looking more carefully at risk factors for kids when it comes to trafficking. Online predators are skilled at hiding their identities. We know that kids often share personal photos and private information and/or connect with people they do not know, so we want to start at the ground level helping parents and kids make smart choices online and enjoy their time online safely.”

For All Seasons, as well as local law enforcement, are continuing to see local cases of adolescents who are sharing personal information online and meeting up with child predators.

Among the activities shared with Easton Elementary School students, included a lesson and an interactive activity for grades one through three which focused on “Be Kind to Your Mind,” aimed at helping students learn the basics of mental health and identify which trusted adults in their lives they can turn to for help. For All Seasons also provided two activities for online safety – one activity for students in the first through third grades and one activity for students in the fourth through fifth grades. Both lessons were age-appropriate and taught the importance of safely engaging with others online, considering what information is public versus private, and reinforcing the importance of only communicating with others they already know in real life. Each lesson also emphasized the role of turning to trusted adults for guidance and support when young people feel confused or anxious. Lesson materials were provided to both teachers and students. A bi-lingual (English/Spanish) letter was also sent to parents so that they could extend the learning at home.

“The partnership between Easton Elementary School and For All Seasons helps fill a critical need for mental health support for our students and families. For All Seasons’ commitment to understanding the needs of the community is instrumental in creating a safe space for our families.  The bracelets are a great physical reminder for students to help use the tools they learn daily at school to help them with their self-regulation.  The bracelet’s message ‘Be Kind to Your Mind’ helps normalize the importance for students to take care of their mental health in a fun, age-appropriate way,” states Katie Fox, Community School Program Manager, Easton Elementary School.

Students also participated in For All Seasons “Spread Joy Confetti Challenge” – a fun outdoor challenge to kick off the mental health awareness activities.

“We know that acts of silliness boost our mental health. And the ‘Confetti Challenge’ serves as a visual reminder to have fun and spread joy. After gathering outdoors at the school, our staff provided confetti for the students and teachers. On the count of three, everyone threw their handfuls of confetti up in the air and committed to taking care of their mental health and spreading joy this summer,” Weber explains.

Easton Elementary School students throwing confetti during For All Seasons “Spread Joy Confetti Challenge”

For All Seasons offered the “Confetti Challenge” to teachers and students across the Mid-Shore. In addition, this year, For All Seasons provided wristbands for everyone at Easton Elementary School with the words “Be Kind to Your Mind” that were distributed after the lessons as a reminder for students to take care of their mental health this summer and beyond.

For further information about For All Seasons Center for Learning and its educational programs, contact Lauren Weber, Vice President for Philanthropy and Education at For All Seasons at lweber@forallseasonsinc.org or call 410-822-1018 or visit forallseasonsinc.org.

For All Seasons provides the highest quality mental health and victim services to children, adults, and families across Maryland’s Eastern Shore. Services are offered in both English and Spanish and include therapy, psychiatry, victim advocacy, 24-hour crisis hotlines, outreach, and community education. For further information, contact For All Seasons at 410-822-1018 or visit forallseasonsinc.org.

The Spy Newspapers may periodically employ the assistance of artificial intelligence (AI) to enhance the clarity and accuracy of our content.

Community Baby Shower Set for June 29

by
1 Comment

The Dorchester County Health Department is holding a Community Baby Shower from 5:30-7pm Thursday, June 29, at the Chesapeake Grove Intergenerational Center at 108 Chesapeake St., Cambridge.

This event is for Dorchester County families expecting a baby or with a child under the age of 1.

There will be free giveaways — such as diaper bags, baby wipes, thermometers, and other baby items — and special door prizes, including strollers, pack and plays, and more! You must be present to win.

A free dinner will be provided.

Call 410-228-3223 with questions or if you need transportation to the baby shower.

The Spy Newspapers may periodically employ the assistance of artificial intelligence (AI) to enhance the clarity and accuracy of our content.

UM SRH’s Cardiovascular Diagnostic Centers Earn Echocardiography Reaccreditation by IAC

by
Leave a Comment

Multiple cardiovascular centers associated with the University of Maryland Shore Regional Health (UM SRH) have re-earned the industry gold standard in echocardiography accreditation.

Cardiovascular Diagnostic Centers at UM Shore Medical Centers at Chestertown and Easton, and at Shore Medical Pavilions at Cambridge, Easton and Queenstown, have earned renewed three-year Echocardiography Reaccreditation by the Intersocietal Accreditation Commission (IAC). UM SRH has been accredited through the IAC since 1991, earning it the Bronze distinction of being accredited for 20 consecutive years. The Bronze distinction also recognizes UM SRH’s continued commitment to improvement and quality patient care in echocardiography.

According to Melissa Svehla, Manager, Cardiovascular Services, UM Shore Regional Health, “We are proud to have been a part of this program since the IAC’s inception. This is truly a testament to the dedication of our entire team and the pride each team member takes in providing the best care to our patients.”

Echocardiography is used to assess different areas of the heart and can detect heart disease or signs of serious conditions. Heart disease is the leading cause of death in the United States, followed closely by stroke, the fourth highest cause of death.

Photo: Shown with echocardiography equipment are Bruce Helmly, MD, Medical Director, Non-invasive Cardiovascular Diagnostics, UM Shore Regional Health; Melissa Svehla,Manager, Cardiovascular Services, UM Shore Regional Health; and Hilary Schmitt MBA, BSN, RN, Regional Director, Heart and Vascular Center at UM Shore Regional Health.

“Twenty years of accreditation underscores our long-term commitment to provide the highest quality service to the community,” said Bruce Helmly, MD, Medical Director, Non-invasive Cardiovascular Diagnostics, UM Shore Regional Health.“More than 20 years ago, the original Chesapeake Cardiology group began working with Gary Jones, then-director of Cardio-Pulmonary Services for Shore Regional Health to offer echocardiography services for our patients. And together, along with Melissa Svehla, we have built an outstanding high-quality service for communities throughout the five counties of the Eastern Shore that UM Shore Regional Health serves.”

IAC accreditation is a “seal of approval” that patients can rely on. This reaccreditation signifies that all five facilities have undergone an intensive application and review process and have demonstrated a commitment to quality patient care in echocardiography, including accuracy and equipment standards.

The IAC is a nonprofit organization in operation to evaluate and accredit facilities that provide diagnostic imaging and interventional-based procedures, thus improving the quality of patient care provided in private offices, clinics and hospitals. Committed to its mission through a rigorous peer review process, the IAC has granted accreditation to more than 14,000 sites since its inception in 1991.

About University of Maryland Shore Regional Health

As part of the University of Maryland Medical System (UMMS), University of Maryland Shore Regional Health is the principal provider of comprehensive health care services for more than 170,000 residents of Caroline, Dorchester, Kent, Queen Anne’s and Talbot counties on Maryland’s Eastern Shore. UM Shore Regional Health’s team of more than 2,200 employees, medical staff, board members and volunteers works with various community partners to fulfill the organization’s mission of Creating Healthier Communities Together.

About the University of Maryland Medical System

The University of Maryland Medical System (UMMS) is an academic private health system, focused on delivering compassionate, high quality care and putting discovery and innovation into practice at the bedside. Partnering with the University of Maryland School of Medicine and University of Maryland, Baltimore who educate the state’s future health care professionals, UMMS is an integrated network of care, delivering 25 percent of all hospital care in urban, suburban and rural communities across the state of Maryland. UMMS puts academic medicine within reach through primary and specialty care delivered at 11 hospitals, including the flagship University of Maryland Medical Center, the System’s anchor institution in downtown Baltimore, as well as through a network of University of Maryland Urgent Care centers and more than 150 other locations in 13 counties. For more information, visit www.umms.org.

The Spy Newspapers may periodically employ the assistance of artificial intelligence (AI) to enhance the clarity and accuracy of our content.

Choptank Health Expands School-Based Health to Critchlow Adkins Children’s Centers

by
Leave a Comment

Choptank Community Health System has expanded its School-Based Health Center program in Talbot County to include Critchlow Adkins Children’s Centers’participants.

Children enrolled in Critchlow Adkins programs can now receive medical and dental care during the day when registered with the School-Based Health Centers at Easton Elementary, Easton Middle, St. Michaels, and White Marsh Elementary Schools.

“This is another step in advancing Choptank Health’s mission of providing access to exceptional, comprehensive, and integrated healthcare for all,” says Choptank Health CEO Sara Rich. “We’re grateful for the strong partnerships we have with Talbot County Public Schools, Talbot County Health Department, and the Maryland Department of Health to make school-based health possible.”

Choptank Health’s School-Based Health Centers provide in-person and virtual 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.

Photo: L-R: Choptank Health’s School-Based Health Center provider for Talbot County Public Schools Kim Fitzgerald, CRNP; Choptank Health SBHC Program Manager for Talbot County Jennifer Insley; Critchlow Adkins Executive Director Cristy Morrell; Choptank Health President and CEO Sara Rich; and Choptank Health SBHC Patient Services Specialist for Talbot County Melissa Jones.

Choptank Health’s registered dental hygienists will be providing dental screenings, fluoride treatments, sealant applications, and dental hygiene education. The dental screenings include examinations of the teeth and all soft tissues of the mouth—along with instruction on brushing and flossing, and education on the importance of eating healthy foods in good oral hygiene.

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

Critchlow Adkins Children’s Centers (CACC) is a nonprofit childcare program that is dedicated to providing quality, financially accessible childcare for children and their families in a nurturing, diverse, safe, and enriching environment. They offer preschool for children ages 2 to 4, before- and after-school care for PreK through 5th-grade students, and summer camp programs, with locations in Cordova, Easton, St. Michaels, and Trappe.

“Our motto at CACC is that we are building brighter futures for the children and families we serve. This includes helping them to stay healthy,” said CACC Executive Director Cristy Morrell. “We are thrilled to work together with Choptank Community Health to support the health and well-being of our students and their families.”

All Critchlow Adkins participants 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/schoolbased, www.cacckids.org, or at CACC’s five locations.

“This is a great step in expanding our School-Based Health Centers to help keep our communities healthy and thriving,” says Choptank Health Director of Community Based Programs Chrissy Bartz PA-C, MMS. “Access to health care at an early age can really make a difference in a child’s capacity to reach their fullest potential and can offer important preventative measures as well.”

Choptank Health’s School-Based Health Centers are located in five counties on Maryland’s Eastern Shore, providing 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.

“This serves as an important and timely reminder for all Mid-Shore parents that it’s never too late to enroll their students in school-based health,” says Rich.

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 welcomed. More is at www.choptankhealth.org.

The Spy Newspapers may periodically employ the assistance of artificial intelligence (AI) to enhance the clarity and accuracy of our content.

Choptank Health Testifies at Senate Hearing

by
Leave a Comment

Choptank Health CEO Sara Rich, left, is seen with Subcommittee Chairman U.S. Senator Ben Cardin.

The importance of access to rural healthcare was the topic for Choptank Community Health System CEO Sara Rich’s May 17 testimony at a hearing titled, “Improving Health Care Access in Rural Communities: Obstacles and Opportunities” before the Senate Committee on Finance Health Care Subcommittee.

Presiding over the Subcommittee hearing were Chairman U.S. Senator Ben Cardin (D-Md.) and ranking member U.S. Senator Steve Daines (R-Mt.). Rich provided testimony on behalf of the nation’s community health centers and was one of four national healthcare leaders providing testimonials.

According to the Centers for Disease Control, “Rural Americans face numerous health disparities compared with their urban counterparts.” To combat these obstacles, rural communities and providers including Choptank Health are pioneering innovative approaches to increase access to high-quality health care.

“Community health centers are the key to providing access to high-quality, affordable, and equitable health care,” said Rich. “Community Health Centers, like Choptank, work to figure out how we can best meet the needs of the communities we serve and are constantly reinventing how we provide access to care so we can meet our mission.”

Choptank Health serves more than 30,000 rural residents of Maryland’s Eastern Shore with medical, dental, and school-based health services in Caroline, Dorchester, Kent, Queen Anne’s, and Talbot counties.

“In the U.S., nearly 20% of residents live in rural areas, but only 10% of healthcare providers work in these areas,” said Rich during her testimony. “Twenty-five percent of Maryland’s total population lives in an officially designated rural area, with all five counties in the Choptank service area designated as rural.”

“Caroline, Dorchester, and Kent Counties have a Health Professional Shortage Designation (HPSA) for dental, mental health, and primary care,” Rich said. “In addition, Talbot County has a HPSA designation for dental care.

“Rural areas often share similar characteristics that are unique from other geographic designations,” said Rich. “These include distance to obtaining services, lack of transportation, healthcare access and availability, and poorer health outcomes.

Rich’s testimony shared how Choptank Health has been implementing innovative approaches to address and overcome obstacles to rural healthcare access, including workforce shortages, broadband access, transportation, and Medicaid redetermination.

Rich cited Choptank Health’s recent expansions in behavioral health, prenatal care, and women’s health as one way the Federally Qualified Health Center is addressing the area’s shortages of providers.

Rich says the need for reliable internet services became even more critical, especially in rural areas during the COVID-19 pandemic. “Virtual visits accounted for 65-70% of medical visits during the COVID-19 pandemic,” she says.

“Often, the planned virtual visit was converted to a phone visit so that the provider could connect with their patient,” Rich says. “Audio-only visits are a lifeline to some of our most vulnerable patients who face multiple obstacles in obtaining health care including chronic disease, transportation, and internet access.”

Rich’s testimony on Medicaid redetermination included how states will now have to begin eligibility redeterminations for Medicaid enrollees with the unwinding of the COVID-19 public health emergency and that estimates from Geiger Gibsonindicate that nationally up to 15 million Medicaid enrollees will lose coverage.

“Community health centers provide care for 1 in 6 Medicaid beneficiaries,” said Rich.

“States, including Maryland, are partnering with community health centers to provide outreach and education to patients who need to renew coverage depending on their eligibility or to find new coverage,” she says, “Choptank is developing messaging to share with patients at check-in and has members of the population health department reaching out to patients who are due to reapply for coverage.”

Rich also shared how providing health care in a rural area requires thinking outside the traditional healthcare delivery models, a practice she says is embraced by community health centers like Choptank Health.

Choptank Health’s strategies include expanding School-Based Health Centers both in the scope of service and in the number of sites, building a robust primary care delivery system for preventative health with the Maryland Primary Care Program, and garnering the power of partnerships to expand equity outreach.

“Choptank Community Health System has community in our name for good reason—community is at the core of everything we do,” said Rich. “When local agencies and community partners work together, the result is healthier communities.”

Rich concluded her testimony by sharing opportunities to increase rural health access for the Senate’s consideration.

Rich joined Choptank Community Health in 2007 as the vice president of community programs and eventually became senior vice president and COO in 2015. In 2017, she was appointed by the Choptank Community Health System Board of Directors as CEO. Prior to joining Choptank Community Health, Rich was the Associate Director for the National Center for Child Death Review, a program of the Maternal and Child Health Bureau, Health Resources and Services Administration, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, and previously a community health consultant with the Michigan Child Death Review Program.

A recording of Rich’s testimony can be accessed at bit.ly/ruralhealthcarehearing.

Choptank Community Health System’smission is 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, care navigation, and laboratory services, with new medical and school-based health patients now being accepted. More is at www.choptankhealth.org.

The Spy Newspapers may periodically employ the assistance of artificial intelligence (AI) to enhance the clarity and accuracy of our content.

May is Mental Health Awareness Month – For All Seasons Provides Tips for All Ages

by
Leave a Comment

May is Mental Health Awareness Month and For All Seasons wants the public to know that it is never too early or too late to seek treatment for your mental health. Mental health is an essential part of overall health. Unlike other physical and mental disabilities, depression, anxiety, and other challenges may not always be readily visible to friends and family. Because we don’t know who might be suffering from a mental health issue, it is more important than ever to check in on one another regularly to ask with care and full attention: “How are you doing?” Have you checked in on people in your life this month?

Trying to tell the difference between what expected behaviors are and what might be the signs of a mental illness isn’t always easy. No perfect test can let someone know if there is mental illness or if actions and thoughts might be typical behaviors of a person or the result of a physical illness.

Signs and Symptoms of Mental Illness for Adults & Adolescents

Each illness has its own symptoms, but the National Association of Mental Illness (NAMI) includes the following indicators as possible signs of mental illness in adults and adolescents:

  • Excessive worrying or fear
  • Feeling excessively sad or low
  • Confused thinking or problems concentrating and learning
  • Extreme mood changes, including uncontrollable “highs” or feelings of euphoria
  • Prolonged or strong feelings of irritability or anger
  • Avoiding friends and social activities
  • Difficulties understanding or relating to other people
  • Changes in sleeping habits or feeling tired and low energy
  • Changes in eating habits such as increased hunger or lack of appetite
  • Difficulty perceiving reality (delusions or hallucinations, in which a person experiences and senses things that don’t exist in objective reality)
  • Inability to perceive changes in one’s own feelings, behavior, or personality (” lack of insight” or anosognosia)
  • Abuse of substances like alcohol or drugs
  • Multiple physical ailments without obvious causes (such as headaches, stomach aches, vague and ongoing “aches and pains”)
  • Thinking about suicide
  • Inability to carry out daily activities or handle daily problems and stress
  • An intense fear of weight gain or concern with appearance

Mental Health America suggests that eating healthy foods, spending time outdoors, recognizing and practicing stress management, exercising, and getting enough sleep can go a long way in making you both physically and mentally healthy. When the symptoms are not manageable with these lifestyle changes, For All Seasons staff is available 24/7 to respond to your mental health needs.

 Tips for Children’s Mental Health

For children, their emotional well-being is just as important as their physical health. Good mental health allows children and young people to develop the resilience to cope with whatever life throws at them and grow into well-rounded, healthy adults.  Just as there are basics for the good physical health of children – like nutritious food, shelter, sleep, exercise, access to health care, and a healthy living environment – there are also basics for helping the develop good mental health, including:

  • Unconditional love and acceptance from family – Children need to know that your love does not depend on their accomplishments. Confidence grows in a home full of love.
  • Self-confidence and strong self-esteem.
  • Model honesty – don’t hide your failures. Kids need to know that we all make mistakes.
  • The opportunity to PLAY – with other children, with parents or caregivers.
  • Appropriate guidance and discipline.
  • Talking about your feelings.
  • Being aware of a child’s fears.

Sign and Symptoms of Children’s Mental Illness

Warning signs that a child’s mental health challenges may require professional assistance may include:

  • Decline in school performance.
  • Poor grades despite strong efforts.
  • Regular worry or anxiety.
  • Repeated refusal to attend school or participate in normal children’s activities.
  • Hyperactivity or fidgeting.
  • Persistent nightmares.
  • Persistent disobedience or aggression.
  • Frequent temper tantrums.
  • Depression, sadness, or irritability.

There are many places to seek help – such as a child’s pediatrician, school counselor, or a mental health organization like For All Seasons. For further information, contact For All Seasons at 410-822-1018 or visit forallseasonsinc.org. For All Seasons Crisis Hotline English: 410.820.5600 | Español: 410.829.6143 | English/Español Text: 410.829.6143.

For All Seasons provides the highest quality mental health and victim services to children, adults, and families across Maryland’s Eastern Shore. Services are offered in both English and Spanish and include therapy, psychiatry, victim advocacy, 24-hour crisis hotlines, outreach, and community education. For further information, contact For All Seasons at 410-822

The Spy Newspapers may periodically employ the assistance of artificial intelligence (AI) to enhance the clarity and accuracy of our content.

Shannon Hart, BSN, RN, Honored as 2023 UM SRH Nurse of the Year

by
Leave a Comment

Shannon Hart, RN, clinical nurse coordinator on the 2 East Multispecialty Unit at University of Maryland Shore Regional Health, has been named SRH’s Nurse of the Year. Hart was chosen by the SRH Nurse Excellence Awards Committee from over 30 nominations. The annual award recognizes nursing excellence achieved through leadership, professionalism, commitment to others and commitment to patient experience.

“I am genuinely honored,” said Hart. “I’ve only ever wanted to be a nurse. This means so much to me.”

“Shannon is a resilient, flexible and dedicated nurse,” wrote fellow team member Ashley Burl, RN, in her nomination. “No matter what the assignment, she strives to interact and build rapport with patients and families in every encounter. Shannon is a hero to all.”

Ten additional nurses received awards in eight categories: Art of Caring, Contagious Positive Attitude, Education/Professional Development, Excellence in Core Values, Excellence in Leadership, Personifies Professionalism, Precepting/Mentoring, and Professional Practice/Excellence in Nursing. Hart won the “Art of Caring” award and was then chosen from among the following category winners for the title of Nurse of the Year:

Photo: Shown at the UM Shore Regional Health Nurse of the Year Award presentation are Mary Collins, Nurse Manager, 2 East Multispecialty Unit; Shannon Hart, Nurse of the Year; Jenny Bowie, Chief Nursing Officer; and Ashley Higgs, Clinical Nurse Coordinator. 

Art of Caring – Shannon Hart, BSN, RN, 2 East Multispecialty Unit

Contagious Positive Attitude – Jakisha Downing, MSN, RN, Emergency Department, Easton

Education/Professional Development – Lori Geisler, MSN, RN, Population Health

Excellence in Core Values (Excellence) – HarliArcieri, RN, Emergency Department, Easton

Excellence in Core Values (Compassion) – Kelly Vogt, RN, 2 East Multispecialty Unit, Easton

Excellence in Core Values (Integrity) – Rachel Wright, BSN, RN, Emergency Department, Easton

Excellence in Leadership – Mary Collins, BSN, RN, 2 East Multispecialty Unit, Easton

Excellence in Leadership – Stacy Dion, BSN, RN, Same Day Surgery, Easton

Excellence in Professional Nursing Practice – Alexa Blazejak, RN, 2 East Multispecialty Unit, Easton

Personifies Professionalism – Eden Kinser, BSN, RN, Emergency Department, Chestertown

Precepting/Mentoring – Rebecca Hutchinson, BSN, RN, CMSRN, 2 East Multispecialty Unit, Easton

About University of Maryland Shore Regional Health

As part of the University of Maryland Medical System (UMMS), University of Maryland Shore Regional Health is the principal provider of comprehensive health care services for more than 170,000 residents of Caroline, Dorchester, Kent, Queen Anne’s and Talbot counties on Maryland’s Eastern Shore. UM Shore Regional Health’s team of more than 2,200 employees, medical staff, board members and volunteers works with various community partners to fulfill the organization’s mission of Creating Healthier Communities Together.

About the University of Maryland Medical System

The University of Maryland Medical System (UMMS) is an academic private health system, focused on delivering compassionate, high quality care and putting discovery and innovation into practice at the bedside. Partnering with the University of Maryland School of Medicine and University of Maryland, Baltimore who educate the state’s future health care professionals, UMMS is an integrated network of care, delivering 25 percent of all hospital care in urban, suburban and rural communities across the state of Maryland. UMMS puts academic medicine within reach through primary and specialty care delivered at 11 hospitals, including the flagship University of Maryland Medical Center, the System’s anchor institution in downtown Baltimore, as well as through a network of University of Maryland Urgent Care centers and more than 150 other locations in 13 counties. For more information, visit www.umms.org.

The Spy Newspapers may periodically employ the assistance of artificial intelligence (AI) to enhance the clarity and accuracy of our content.