Maryland's Health Matters - UM Shore Regional Health - Summer 2014 - (Page 3)

A HEALTHY START UM SEC at Queenstown Designated As EMS Base Station U niversity of Maryland Shore Emergency Center at Queenstown has become the ﬁrst freestanding emergency center in Maryland designated by the state as an Emergency Medical Services Base Station. As accredited by the Maryland Institute for Emergency Medical Services Systems, UM SEC at Queenstown provides immediate direction to EMS providers in response to a patient's medication and procedural intervention needs, rather than waiting to consult with another hospital. That means shorter transport times for ambulances, because emergency center staff can make the appropriate transport decisions for patients coming to the facility, says Emergency Center Nurse Manager Mary Alice Vanhoy, MSN, RN, CEN, CPEN, NRP, who is base station coordinator. "It improves the continuity of care-the people who will be taking care of the patient will give the medical direction to the EMS provider on the scene." UM SEC at Queenstown worked with Queen Anne's County and emergency medical services providers to change a regulation, allowing freestanding emergency centers to be designated EMS Base Stations. FULL EMERGENCY CARE, 24/7 Unlike an urgent care facility, UM Shore Emergency Center at Queenstown is staffed by board-certiﬁed emergency physicians who can care for all levels of medical emergencies. It's at 115 Shoreway Drive, just off Route 50 and Nesbit Road. A Great Primary Care Provider: Crucial to Your Well-Being A primary care provider is your ﬁrst point of contact with the health care world-someone you can trust to steer you in the right direction. Q: WHY DO I NEED A PRIMARY CARE PROVIDER? In many cases, health insurance requires you to choose one doctor or provider to coordinate your care and refer you to specialists if you need them. It works to your advantage, too. "Having a family physician or provider helps ensure that you will receive higher quality care at a lower cost, and also that you will be less likely to need emergency care or hospitalization," says William Huffner, MD, MBA, FACEP, FACHE, chief medical officer of UM Shore Regional Health. "Even if you have no particular health problems, it's wise to have your care coordinated by a primary care practitioner who knows your family background and your personal health history." Q: HOW CAN I FIND A PRIMARY CARE PROVIDER WHO IS RIGHT FOR ME? Start by asking for recommendations from your family, friends, co-workers or people at your place of worship.  In the U.S., adults with a primary care physician have 33 percent lower costs of care. If you have a speciﬁc health issue, such as diabetes, look for a provider who has interest and experience in your condition. And ﬁnd out if he or she is board-certiﬁed. Most important, you should feel comfortable with your doctor or provider. At your initial appointment, ask yourself: Do you feel at ease sharing your concerns? Does the provider give you time to ask all your questions, and are they answered in a way you can understand? FIND THE RIGHT DOCTOR TODAY To see which UM Shore Regional Health primary care physicians are accepting new patients, go to umshoreregional.org and click "Find a Physician." umshoreregional.org | Summer 2014 3 http://www.umshoreregional.org http://www.umshoreregional.org

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of Maryland's Health Matters - UM Shore Regional Health - Summer 2014

Maryland's Health Matters - UM Shore Regional Health - Summer 2014
In This Issue
A Healthy Start
Quality Checks
Building Momentum
At A Glance
Introducing ...
News and Events

Maryland's Health Matters - UM Shore Regional Health - Summer 2014