TPA says keep the hospital in Easton

Guest Comment by Eileen A. Deymier
Vice President, Talbot Preservation Alliance
Printed on 10/23/2008 Star Democrat

The Commissioners of Queen Anne's and Caroline County recently wrote to the Interim CEO of the University of Maryland Medical System endorsing a new regional medical center and urging a "centrally located and accessible" site, chosed "based on logic, not local political interests." We agree. This, however, does not mean that a logistical, accessible site would be at the intersections of either Routes 50 and 213 or 404.

For 100 years, Memorial Hospital at Easton has served as the regional medical center for the Mid-Shore. A new facility in or on the northern edge of Easton will continue to best serve the region as a whole.

Keeping Memorial Hospital in or adjacent to Easton remains the only choice consistent with sound public policy and business judgement. It would make no sense to rop a hospital out of the community that built, sustains and depends on it, economically and otherwise -- and move it to farm fields seven or nine miles away.

• Talbot County has acquired and offered an ideal site, part for free and the remainder at cost. Talbot County and the Town of Easton will extend existing sewer, water and other infrastructure to the site at no cost. Expansion up and outward at the existing site is also practicable, according to experts.
• Other proposed sites are essentially devoid of necessary infrastructure and public services. If Maryland's rightly admired Smart Growth policy means anything, it would not contenance such a move. In a future demanding better stewardship of financial resources, it would make no sense to undertake the costs of creating such infrastructure from scratch.
• Our local economy depends on the hospital and an extensive, existing network of surrounding medical and health care facilities and personnel. And our community has supported the hospital with untold volunteer hours and contributions, including a $50 million foundation.
• The proposed site on the northern edge of Easton is ideal -- 27 miles from Tilghman, 13 from St. Michaels, 12 from Trappe, 13 from Wye Mills, 22 from Grasonville, 16 from Cambridge, 14 from Preston, 17 from Denton, 19 from Ridgely and 22 from Federalsburg. The site is served by state highways and is accessible to the latter towns by good secondary roads that are less clogged by beach traffic than Routes 50 and 404.
• Mid-Shore towns have recognized this, with unanimous statements of support from Federalsburg, Preston, St. Michaels, Oxford, Trappe and Easton, as well as strong endorsement by State Sen. Richard Colburn.
• Easton is the largest town between Annapolis and Salisbury. Also, according to the Maryland Department of Planning, Talbot has the oldest average population, requiring frequent and urgent medical care.

We continue to be concerned by confusing indications from the management of Shore Health Systems about its planning process. Talbot County and the Town of Easton have been negotiating with SHS in good faith regarding the site offered by the county. SHS management, however, has continued to give indications that a determination had already been made months ago to locate at Routes 50 and 404. Likewise, we have been following the deliberations of a Queen Anne's Citizen Advisory Committee promoting a rezoned location at Route 50 and 404 to accommodate a medical center.

We are disturbed that members of the committee are recognizing none of the considerations listed above.

We also share the dismay of members of the Talbot County Council that the local Chamber of Commerce, supposedly a leading advocate for local business and economy, is missing in action. Why did the chamber engage over the loss of Black & Decker, but now has no position on the potential loss of our largest employer?

Unlike Sen. Colburn, Delegates Jeannie Haddaway and Addie Eckardt likewise inexplicably fail to support retaining the hospital in Easton and rather seem comfortable with a move to Route 404. Thankfully, Gov. Martin O'Malley and members of his team have indicated their understanding of the importance of keeping Memorial Hospital in or adjacent to Easton.

Once again, we call on the board members of Shore Health Systems and the University of Maryland Medical System to exercise sound judgement and adhere to the public trust reposed in them. Keep Memorial Hospital in or adjacent to Easton.

Eileen A Deymier is Vice President of the Talbot Preservation Alliance