A plan in development since 2007 to relocate the Easton Memorial Hospital within town limits may be in jeopardy, said Easton Town Councilwoman Kelley Malone in an email on New Year’s Eve.
“The relocation within Town limits was a result of intense community involvement and activism recognizing the devastating impact a move out of Town and County would have on our local economy,” Malone wrote in her email. “[The hospital] is the largest employer in the Town…and ancillary healthcare establishments are critical to Easton’s economy.”
Malone fears that a recent filing with the Maryland Health Care Commission by Senator EJ Pipkin, R-Queen Anne’s, could result in Queen Anne’s and Caroline Counties obtaining an “interested party” status, which could possibly lead to the hospital being located out of town. Pipkin and the Queen Anne’s County Commissioners appeared before the Maryland Health Care Commission in October and requested Queen Anne’s and Caroline Counties be named as “interested parties,” which means either county could file a petition that could possibly hold up the process of locating the hospital near the Easton Airport, Malone said.
“As a result, if the designation sticks, one piece of paper filed at a cost of $100 bucks by a Queen Anne or Caroline County Commissioner would all but kill years of collaborative work between Easton, Talbot County, Shore Health and UMMS to keep our hospital within town limits,” Malone wrote.
Malone said Easton taxpayers have already spent over $2 million for water and sewer on land that was donated to the town by Talbot County.
Easton Town Council members met with Del. Addie Eckardt, R-Talbot, Del. Jeannie Haddaway-Riccio, R-Talbot, and Sen. Richard Colburn, R-Dorchester, who oppose giving the “interested party” designation to QAC and Caroline.
“The Town and County have been in close collaboration so as to present a united and strong front in defending our hospital and local economy,” Malone wrote.
But QAC Commissioner David Dunmyer said it is not the intention of QAC or Caroline to change the planned relocation of the hospital near the Easton Airport.
“This is absolutely not an attempt to take the hospital out of Talbot County, or change the relocation plans,” Dunmyer said.
“If I find out thats where it is going, I will come out hard against it,” Dunmyer told the Spy on Wednesday–speaking by phone from the Maryland Association of Counties conference in Cambridge. “I voted for “interested party” status so we could make sure the needs of QAC is met in establishing a regional hospital. We feel we deserve that because we actually contribute more patients to the hospital the any of the other counties.”
“I think the location near the airport benefits QAC,” Dunmyer said. “It puts the hospital closer to us. I like the location.”
QAC Commissioner Bob Simmons echoed Dunmyer’s statements and said “there has never been any conversations about trying to get the hospital moved from its designated spot.”
Simmons said there would be nothing gained by trying to move hospital but said the “interested party” status was to make sure QAC’s interests were represented.
“We’re trying to get the assurances that QAC has its needs met and has a voice in the direction of the hospital,” Simmons said.
QAC and Caroline do not currently have acute care facilities, but they each send more patients to Easton Memorial than Talbot County, according to a Sept. 20 letter Pipkin wrote to the Maryland Health Care Commission requesting the “interested party” status.
“The health and well-being of Queen Anne’s and Caroline Counties depend on their standing as interested parties in the relocation,” Pipkin wrote. “Any decision made by the Commission relating to the [hospital] extends beyond Talbot County, affecting both Queen Anne’s and Caroline. The two counties should have a clear path to “interested party” status in this matter.”
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Mary says
Would it be possible to either repost or email me the original article relating to this story? . https://talbotspy.com/groundbreaking-in-2013-maybe-not-relocation-of-memorial-hospital-of-easton-at-risk/
This is a very important issue and there are many who are following it closely. Thank you!
Editor says
Mary, the link above goes to the original post. It came from an email update from Easton Town Councilwoman Kelley Malone to her constituents on Dec. 31, 2012.
Also, we have also provided news coverage on this issue, which can be found here.
https://talbotspy.com/qac-and-caroline-want-to-weigh-in-easton-memorial-plans/
Mary says
thank you!