Md. committee tours health clinics
By Erica Kritt, Times Staff Writer
State delegates got a look at how some of the uninsured and underinsured in Carroll County get health care Wednesday morning.
Thursday, October 1, 2009
Members of the House of Delegates’ Health and Government Operations Committee traveled via Carroll Area Transit System to tour Access Carroll’s facility in Westminster and Mission of Mercy’s traveling clinic that stops at Human Services Programs Inc. on Wednesdays.
“We go out into the community as a committee each year,” said Del. Peter Hammen, D-District 46, the chairman of the committee.
Hammen said this year Carroll was brought up as a good location.
Carroll delegates Donald Elliott, R-District 4B, and Susan Krebs, R- District 9B, were glad to have the committee visit Carroll to see how the county’s health organizations partner to create programs.
“We wanted to see what they do and see if they have a need,” Elliott said.
Tammy Black, executive director of Access Carroll, a nonprofit that provides primary medical care to the uninsured and low-income residents of the county, said the need is here.
The nonprofit grew from 621 new clients in fiscal year 2008 to 770 new clients in fiscal year 2009.
Access Carroll is embarking on a capital campaign to raise money to expand its operation into the Wheeler Building on Railroad Avenue in Westminster.Black said she expects to move into the new facility in November 2010.
The new space would accommodate seven medical exam rooms and space for three rooms each with a dental chair, Black said. That is compared to the four exam rooms in the agency’s current location on Locust Lane in Westminster.
Carroll Hospital Center has supported a Maryland Hospital Association bond bill for $700,000 to go toward Access Carroll’s $1.5 million expansion.
A bond bill authorizes the sale of bonds to finance specific projects.
Black said the bill still needs to be voted on.
Del. Veronica Turner, D-District 26, said knowing that Access Carroll was asking for money, it was nice to see the operation.
“It’s good knowledge for when it comes before our committee to know the need,” she said.
Linda Ryan, executive director of Mission of Mercy, told committee members and other visitors how well Carroll County works to help its residents in need.
“Carroll County is the real deal,” she said.
Mission of Mercy provides free medical care to people at seven locations in Maryland and two in Pennsylvania, via a Winnebago that works as a medical clinic.
The organization gets doctors, nurses, dentists and other medical professionals to volunteer their time.
Krebs said it was great to have her fellow committee members be aware of Carroll County’s programs and partnerships.
“It’s good that we get to see where each other is coming from,” she said.
Hammen said after the visit he had a greater sense of the health-care needs of Carroll County and promised that the committee was working hard to make the most of short state funds.
Reach staff writer Erica Kritt at 410-857-7876 or erica.kritt@carrollcountytimes.com.