Plans to Build a New Hospital in Germantown

Holy Cross Hospital Plans to Build a New
Hospital in Germantown, Md., Redevelop its Existing Hospital in Silver Spring and Open
New Health Centers

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Holy Cross Hospital intends to build a new hospital in Germantown, Md., make new investments in its current hospital in Silver Spring, and expand its network of community-based primary care health care centers.

“Holy Cross Hospital is deeply committed to access to high quality health care services for our community, today and tomorrow. Our plan makes a major contribution toward that goal by improving primary care access and expanding hospital capacity to serve the needs of our growing and aging population,” said Kevin J. Sexton, president and CEO of Holy Cross Hospital, “and we are excited about our role in the future of health care in our region.”

Analyses show that the Silver Spring and Gaithersburg/Germantown areas of Montgomery County are particularly impacted by these demographic trends and at risk in terms of future access to needed health care services. New investments in the Silver Spring hospital include the construction of all private rooms and enhancements to emergency and surgical services.

The new hospital’s location – on the Germantown Campus of Montgomery College – will enable a large number of patients to seek care closer to home. Currently, 28 percent of patients at Holy Cross Hospital live in the northern and western regions of the county and choose to travel all the way to Silver Spring. Reducing their travel is not only a convenience for patients – it will make care more accessible and reduce the impact on the transportation infrastructure.

The problem of healthcare workforce shortages exists today and is projected to increase dramatically. “Another key ingredient in ensuring access is educating a sufficient supply of nurses and skilled healthcare professionals,” said Sexton.

With Holy Cross Hospital and Montgomery College sharing one location, the possibilities for expanding the number of caregivers to meet future needs are extraordinary. Some of the areas already discussed as opportunities open to this partnership include shared clinical and educational space such as laboratories and classrooms, expanding faculty and mentors, increased support for students, and continuing education for mid-career professionals. The hospital and the college already provide a unique training and community care model on the Takoma Park/Silver Spring Campus of Montgomery College, and therefore, are well prepared to jointly expand health-related educational opportunities and contribute to the economic development of our area.

“I want to congratulate Holy Cross Hospital and Montgomery College on this unique partnership placing a hospital on a community college campus in the State of Maryland,” said Governor Martin O’Malley. “This exciting venture will offer the residents of Germantown and Montgomery County access to quality, affordable health care, and provide great partnerships for training the next generation of health professionals in our state.”

Holy Cross Hospital is also constructing two additional primary health care centers for uninsured adults in Gaithersburg and Wheaton as well as a planned obstetrics/gynecology clinic on the Germantown campus. This network of three primary health centers and two obstetrics/gynecology clinics will help ease crowding in emergency centers while improving continuity of care. At Holy Cross Hospital alone, the demand for emergency services rose by 13 percent last year. The health centers also will help control overall health care costs by redirecting primary care away from very high-priced emergency care to a lower cost outpatient alternative.

Holy Cross Hospital will be able to electronically link this entire system of health care because on September 12, 2008, it is installing a robust information technology system that allows direct physician ordering and related record keeping – the first in the county. Quality, safety and efficiency will improve as patient clinical information is linked, whether in the hospital, primary care health center or physician office.