From MedStar Health:
To meet the demands of the expanding population and to better serve Harford County, MedStar Health announced today its plans to expand home healthcare services in the community through the development of a comprehensive care plaza in Bel Air South.
The plaza, located at the intersection of Plum Tree Road and Route 924, will be a one-stop-shop healthcare destination for residents to see a physician, visit an urgent care center or take advantage of an array of specialized healthcare services, including ambulatory surgery, women’s health, orthopaedics, cardiology, sports medicine, weight-loss surgery, chin liposuction, cancer care, rehabilitation and more.
“I am a life-long resident of the Harford County and have served as a physician here for more than 40 years,” says Dr. William Howard of MedStar Health. “I’m proud to be a part of the team that already serves thousands of Harford residents, and am excited about MedStar’s decision to develop a comprehensive care plaza that will increase choice and access to high-quality healthcare services for our residents close to home.”
The new $30 million, 100,000-square-foot facility will feature:
• High-quality healthcare services and access to numerous MedStar specialties
• Community meeting rooms, and health and wellness areas
• State-of-the-art medical equipment
• Integrated medical records connected to all MedStar physicians
• Convenient parking and free Wi-Fi
Future expansion of the plaza, which would be in response to continued growth in Harford County, could be accommodated by an additional phase of construction in years to come.
Committed to Harford County
The development of the plaza is the latest milestone in MedStar’s more than 150-year journey of caring for patients in Harford County. Currently, MedStar has more than 40 MedStar-affiliated physicians practicing in Harford County – many of which will now practice at the plaza, in addition to 20 new physicians.
“This is a significant day for healthcare in our community,” says Dr. Sean Curtin of MedStar Health. “As a resident of Harford County and a physician that has built my practice here, I’m excited about having a more convenient healthcare option for my patients, including the student-athletes I treat through the Harford County schools, and my neighbors.”
MedStar will increase its commitment to Harford by serving as an economic engine, adding 70+ new jobs through the plaza. MedStar also has more than 2,000 associates who live in the county and is the sports medicine provider for many of the local area high school and college sports programs.
Proven Track Record: MedStar Health
MedStar, Maryland’s largest health system, has a track record of constantly investing and evolving to meet the changing needs of more than 150 communities. In 2011, MedStar provided $283 million in community benefit.
The health system, which serves one in every five Maryland residents, has long had a reputation as a quality healthcare provider. MedStar has several academic affiliations and residency programs and has achieved Magnet status in nursing at two of its hospitals.
Next Steps
Today’s announcement begins a process where MedStar will go through the appropriate county approval and planning process during the next several weeks, including a public hearing. MedStar plans to begin construction by fall 2013 which is expected to take one year. If all approvals are received, the plaza is slated to open fall 2014.
MedStar will continue to deliver high-quality healthcare to its patients, and will remain a valued member and contributor to Harford County.
About MedStar Health
MedStar Health combines the best aspects of academic medicine, research and innovation with a complete spectrum of clinical services to advance patient care. As the largest healthcare provider in Maryland and the Washington, D.C., region, MedStar’s 10 hospitals, the MedStar Health Research Institute and 20 other health-related organizations are recognized regionally and nationally for excellence in medical care. MedStar has one of the largest graduate medical education programs in the country, training more than 1,100 medical residents annually, and is the medical education and clinical partner of Georgetown University. MedStar Health is a $4.2 billion not-for-profit, regional healthcare system based in Columbia, Maryland, and one of the largest employers in the region. 29,000 associates and 5,600 affiliated physicians all support MedStar Health’s Patient first philosophy that combines care, compassion and clinical excellence with an emphasis on customer service. Visit us at medstarhealth.org
Are you peoplr gonna bitch about this, like you did walmart ???
Wow! This story has been posted for two days and not a peep from the “not in my backyarders”. How is this massive expansion any different than the planned Walmart on the other corner? Same increased traffic; same land-use issues; same lighting issues; same; same; same. All of you anti-Walmart protesters are showing your true colors. You’ve lost any support from me.
Its not even close in the impact in this area. Nice try