we know what happens when there are not adequate hospital beds for us to deliver the best quality care. Health care is changing quickly because it needs to. Community members who rarely use hospital services have not seen these changes like we have. For over two years now, we have experienced very high volumes in our ED and, ultimately, our nursing units. Unfortunately, this is our new normal. Many of our patients discharge within two days. We work hard to safely manage their medical issues, and then stabilize and discharge them into an outpatient setting for further care, only to have another full load of patients replace them on an almost daily basis. Meanwhile, our outpatient services in Bel Air have grown with our Kaufman Cancer Center, Diabetes Center, Wound Care, and more. The Bel Air campus needs to expand to cover all of these needs. By not supporting the proposed medical/surgical and observation bed capacity needed on our Bel Air campus, we put our ability to provide timely, lifesaving care at risk.
R
ROBIN BLAZUCKI
6 years ago
There is a need in Harford county
R
Raymond Coleman
6 years ago
Featured
As a team member working in Environmental Services at HMH for the last 10 yrs, have enjoyed this 100+ year old facility but the reality is it has outlived it's usefulness.
P
Patsy Astarita
6 years ago
This plan to move forward is critical to continue to meet the needs in our community. Please help us do that.
A
Amy McCourt RN
6 years ago
As a long time Harford County resident, as well as a long time UM UCH employee, I fully support this plan. To deny our community these much needed acute care and mental health beds would be a truly selfish act. This decision will affect real lives. Please do the right thing and approve the modified applications submitted by UM UCH. Be a HERO - help save lives!
R
Renee Stratton
6 years ago
It doesn’t matter how new or flashy a building is if you’re cutting services from the most vulnerable. We won’t be impressed.
V
Vicki Hart
6 years ago
Put the needs of the citizens in Harford County over profits! Mental Illness is at an all time high! Leads to drug use, alcohol use, overdoses and suicide. We need support in Havre de Grace and Aberdeen!
S
Samantha Unkelbach
6 years ago
We have a desperate need for this facility and expanded services
M
Marie E Blevins
6 years ago
Please understand the need for our community.
A
Anonymous
6 years ago
Featured
Harford county and surrounding communities rely on Upper Chesapeake Health for acute health care needs for both adults AND children. To reduce the number of inpatient medical beds and psychiatric beds puts the public at risk. It is simply unsafe and our emergency departments will be flooded.
K
Kimberly Bittinger
6 years ago
Extensive research has been done to support the need for expanded services in Harford County. Do what is best for our residents and approve the plans as they were submitted. No more delays!
L
Lisa Karmel
6 years ago
As a nearly 35 year employee of UM Upper Chesapeake Health, I have seen the county's needs in the areas of behavioral health services and inpatient admission services steadily increase. Our Emergency Departments in both facilities frequently have patients boarding in Emergency Department treatment rooms because our inpatient and/or psychiatric beds are full. This then backs up our Emergency Department waiting rooms causing wait times of up to 7 and 8 hours . Psychiatric patients in particular often wait days upon days in the Emergency Departments for an inpatient psychiatric bed to be available. I have a family member who has undergone several admissions to the UM HMH Behavioral Health Unit after waiting days. This family member has also had the need for medical admission and has waited days in the Emergency Department for an inpatient non-psychiatric bed. To deny these beds is to deny our community of a well-proven need and will cause further suffering. We would never want to see a patient who is more susceptible to attempting suicide complete suicide because they weren't provided efficient care in the appropriate setting.
S
Sarah Karantonis
6 years ago
Fallston, Harford County, resident - 100% support this plan. This is an incredible need and will make a difference in the health of our community.
J
Jermaine Ofori
6 years ago
I support this for the present and the future care that is needed for our community.
N
Neourang Singh PharmD
6 years ago
Featured
Behavioral Health Services and access to it is desperately needed in the community, everyday we have patients awaiting placement and that's only a small part of the population that seeks treatment.
S
Steven D Bowman
6 years ago
UM-UCH is in the best position to project the future needs of our community. We are exceptional stewards of our resources and would not build capacity that would not be utilized.
Trust the experts, trust us and let us build what is needed to meet our community needs today and in the future.
Anything less would be inefficient and lead to higher costs over time.
Thank you!
A
Aubrey Townsend
6 years ago
If we are truly about meeting people where they are, you will keep the mental health/BHU services in Aberdeen. Aberdeen, along with the rest of the route 40 corridor, is a high need area with limited access to proper mental health treatment options. It will be easier for individuals to access BHU services if in Aberdeen as transportation is an issue for many. Aberdeen is more centrally located and can be easily accessed from 95 and route 40. Bel Air is already overpopulated. If BHU services are moved to Bel Air, I am fearful that the quality of care will suffer. Take the politics out of this and work for what is in the best interest of the patients. Keep the services in Aberdeen where they belong.
K
Kimberly Theis
6 years ago
Our most recent Community Health Needs Assessment identified Behavioral Health as it's #1 identified need in Harford County.
J
Jen hollingsworth
6 years ago
Much needed for our population in this area.
J
Joyce Fox
6 years ago
To ensure the best care and service to our patients and families in our community, I fully support this plan.
we know what happens when there are not adequate hospital beds for us to deliver the best quality care. Health care is changing quickly because it needs to. Community members who rarely use hospital services have not seen these changes like we have. For over two years now, we have experienced very high volumes in our ED and, ultimately, our nursing units. Unfortunately, this is our new normal. Many of our patients discharge within two days. We work hard to safely manage their medical issues, and then stabilize and discharge them into an outpatient setting for further care, only to have another full load of patients replace them on an almost daily basis. Meanwhile, our outpatient services in Bel Air have grown with our Kaufman Cancer Center, Diabetes Center, Wound Care, and more. The Bel Air campus needs to expand to cover all of these needs. By not supporting the proposed medical/surgical and observation bed capacity needed on our Bel Air campus, we put our ability to provide timely, lifesaving care at risk.
There is a need in Harford county
As a team member working in Environmental Services at HMH for the last 10 yrs, have enjoyed this 100+ year old facility but the reality is it has outlived it's usefulness.
This plan to move forward is critical to continue to meet the needs in our community. Please help us do that.
As a long time Harford County resident, as well as a long time UM UCH employee, I fully support this plan. To deny our community these much needed acute care and mental health beds would be a truly selfish act. This decision will affect real lives. Please do the right thing and approve the modified applications submitted by UM UCH. Be a HERO - help save lives!
It doesn’t matter how new or flashy a building is if you’re cutting services from the most vulnerable. We won’t be impressed.
Put the needs of the citizens in Harford County over profits! Mental Illness is at an all time high! Leads to drug use, alcohol use, overdoses and suicide. We need support in Havre de Grace and Aberdeen!
We have a desperate need for this facility and expanded services
Please understand the need for our community.
Harford county and surrounding communities rely on Upper Chesapeake Health for acute health care needs for both adults AND children. To reduce the number of inpatient medical beds and psychiatric beds puts the public at risk. It is simply unsafe and our emergency departments will be flooded.
Extensive research has been done to support the need for expanded services in Harford County. Do what is best for our residents and approve the plans as they were submitted. No more delays!
As a nearly 35 year employee of UM Upper Chesapeake Health, I have seen the county's needs in the areas of behavioral health services and inpatient admission services steadily increase. Our Emergency Departments in both facilities frequently have patients boarding in Emergency Department treatment rooms because our inpatient and/or psychiatric beds are full. This then backs up our Emergency Department waiting rooms causing wait times of up to 7 and 8 hours . Psychiatric patients in particular often wait days upon days in the Emergency Departments for an inpatient psychiatric bed to be available. I have a family member who has undergone several admissions to the UM HMH Behavioral Health Unit after waiting days. This family member has also had the need for medical admission and has waited days in the Emergency Department for an inpatient non-psychiatric bed. To deny these beds is to deny our community of a well-proven need and will cause further suffering. We would never want to see a patient who is more susceptible to attempting suicide complete suicide because they weren't provided efficient care in the appropriate setting.
Fallston, Harford County, resident - 100% support this plan. This is an incredible need and will make a difference in the health of our community.
I support this for the present and the future care that is needed for our community.
Behavioral Health Services and access to it is desperately needed in the community, everyday we have patients awaiting placement and that's only a small part of the population that seeks treatment.
UM-UCH is in the best position to project the future needs of our community. We are exceptional stewards of our resources and would not build capacity that would not be utilized. Trust the experts, trust us and let us build what is needed to meet our community needs today and in the future. Anything less would be inefficient and lead to higher costs over time. Thank you!
If we are truly about meeting people where they are, you will keep the mental health/BHU services in Aberdeen. Aberdeen, along with the rest of the route 40 corridor, is a high need area with limited access to proper mental health treatment options. It will be easier for individuals to access BHU services if in Aberdeen as transportation is an issue for many. Aberdeen is more centrally located and can be easily accessed from 95 and route 40. Bel Air is already overpopulated. If BHU services are moved to Bel Air, I am fearful that the quality of care will suffer. Take the politics out of this and work for what is in the best interest of the patients. Keep the services in Aberdeen where they belong.
Our most recent Community Health Needs Assessment identified Behavioral Health as it's #1 identified need in Harford County.
Much needed for our population in this area.
To ensure the best care and service to our patients and families in our community, I fully support this plan.