Umms

Financially troubled St. Joseph Medical Center ended its search for a new owner Friday, announcing that it has entered an agreement to become part of the rapidly expanding University of Maryland Medical System. The announcement was greeted with cheers at the Towson hospital, said Dr. Paul McAfee, head of spinal surgery. "If the doctors in the operating room and emergency room had flowers, they would have thrown them," he said, adding that UMMS plans to upgrade the facilities and turn the hospital into a major surgery center.

 The obstetrics unit at Maryland General will close June 30th displacing 10 to 15 doctors and midwives. The news was first reported in the Baltimore Business Journal. The University of Maryland Medical System, which owns Maryland General, made the decision to stop the services because of a declining number of deliveries at the hospital, said spokeswoman Mary Lynn Carver. The hospital delivered about 1,200 babies annually five years ago and now delivers about 400 each year.

I agree with your editorial ("The Salvation of St. Joseph," Dec. 3) on the likely benefits of the University of Maryland Medical System's purchase of St. Joseph Hospital. Nonetheless, St. Joseph "directives" effectively requiring that "[t]hose potential patients who might seek care not permitted by the Catholic faith including abortion, fertility treatment, or artificial contraception will have to look elsewhere," violate the Establishment Clause of the First Amendment to the United States Constitution.

The University of Maryland Medical System is planning to build a $50 million ambulatory care center, for outpatient services, on the campus of Maryland General Hospital. Initial plans for the seven-story structure were revealed at the city's architectural review board Thursday, said Mark Wasserman, senior vice president for external affairs and development for the medical system. The building will be constructed on a now vacant lot at the intersection of Martin Luther King Jr. Boulevard and Linden Avenue in midtown Baltimore, he said.

The University of Maryland Medical System is planning to build a $50 million ambulatory care center, for outpatient services, on the campus of Maryland General Hospital. Initial plans for the seven-story structure were revealed at the city's architectural review board Thursday, said Mark Wasserman, senior vice president for external affairs and development for the medical system. The building will be constructed on a now vacant lot at the intersection of Martin Luther King Jr. Boulevard and Linden Avenue in midtown Baltimore, he said.

The University of Maryland Medical System said Wednesday that it expects to complete its acquisition of St. Joseph Medical Center on Dec. 1, nearly a year after the Towson hospital sought a buyer as it looked to recover from the fallout of one of its doctors performing unnecessary cardiac procedures. The new entity, to be called The University of Maryland St. Joseph Medical Center, will take over operations of the 2,000-employee hospital pending final federal regulatory approval.

The University of Maryland Medical System expects to complete its acquisition of St. Joseph Medical Center Friday nearly a year after the Towson hospital sought a buyer as it looked to bounce back from the fallout of accusations that one of its doctors performing unnecessary cardiac procedures. Signs will be erected Saturday at the new entity, to be called The University of Maryland St. Joseph Medical Center. The 2,000-employee hospital suffered revenue, patient and staff losses after its star cardiologist, Dr. Mark Midei, was accused of placing stents in the arteries of hundreds of patients who may not have needed them.

With the departure of Edmond F. Notebaert as president and chief executive officer, the University of Maryland Medical System is in need of a world-class leader. UMMS is not only the Baltimore area's third-largest private employer, but it contributes more than $3.5 billion to the state economy when its various member hospitals are factored into the equation. With so much at stake, the UMMS board of directors should move immediately to begin a serious and thorough national search for its next CEO. That person must have not only a vision for the nonprofit system's role in 21st-century health care but also an understanding of the organization's unique, and sometimes challenging, relationship with state government.

A bill filed this week in the Maryland General Assembly would guarantee employees of University of Maryland Medical System (UMMS) the right to organize unions under the terms of the National Labor Relations Act. That right has been debated since a 1998 organizing effort by Local 1199E-DC of the Service Employees International Union at Deaton Specialty Hospital and Home in Baltimore. Deaton is owned by UMMS. When the union filed with the National Labor Relations Board for an election, UMMS argued that it was, in effect, a state agency.

The University of Maryland Medical System and North Arundel Health System formally signed a merger agreement yesterday, allowing the university system to reach more suburban patients and giving North Arundel a boost in developing cancer and obstetrical programs. The deal creates a medical system with $900 million in annual revenue, 1,900 licensed beds and more than 9,000 employees. North Arundel will officially become part of the University of Maryland Medical System (UMMS) July 1. It will retain substantial autonomy, keeping its name, management, staff and board.

University of Maryland St. Joseph Medical Center loses about $400,000 every day it's not certified by Medicare to collect payments from the federal health care program. The big question is how much that will ultimately cost the Towson hospital. Tens of millions of dollars could be at stake. The University of Maryland Medical System voluntary gave up the Medicare certification when it bought St. Joseph from Denver-based Catholic Health Initiatives in a $206.3 million deal that closed in December.

I agree with your editorial ("The Salvation of St. Joseph," Dec. 3) on the likely benefits of the University of Maryland Medical System's purchase of St. Joseph Hospital. Nonetheless, St. Joseph "directives" effectively requiring that "[t]hose potential patients who might seek care not permitted by the Catholic faith including abortion, fertility treatment, or artificial contraception will have to look elsewhere," violate the Establishment Clause of the First Amendment to the United States Constitution.

St. Joseph Medical Center officially became part of the University of Maryland Medical System this past weekend, and it's difficult not to see this development as a victory for all involved. The hospital had been rocked by a malpractice scandal — and hundreds of lawsuits — involving unnecessary surgeries conducted by its cardiology department, and the new ownership would seem to give the institution and its employees a fresh start. For several years, St. Joseph has been operating under a cloud left behind by Dr. Mark Midei and the stent procedures of questionable merit.

The University of Maryland Medical System expects to complete its acquisition of St. Joseph Medical Center Friday nearly a year after the Towson hospital sought a buyer as it looked to bounce back from the fallout of accusations that one of its doctors performing unnecessary cardiac procedures. Signs will be erected Saturday at the new entity, to be called The University of Maryland St. Joseph Medical Center. The 2,000-employee hospital suffered revenue, patient and staff losses after its star cardiologist, Dr. Mark Midei, was accused of placing stents in the arteries of hundreds of patients who may not have needed them.

When the owners of troubled St. Joseph Medical Center put the Towson hospital up for sale a year ago, the University of Maryland Medical System didn't hesitate to put in a bid. Medical violations by its star cardiologist had left St. Joseph in financial disarray and struggling to hang on to patients, doctors and its reputation. It faced millions of dollars in lawsuits and the prospect of a further decline. But the UMMS board and its top executives saw opportunity in the 148-year-old Catholic medical institution started by the Sisters of St. Francis.

The University of Maryland Medical System said Wednesday that it expects to complete its acquisition of St. Joseph Medical Center on Dec. 1, nearly a year after the Towson hospital sought a buyer as it looked to recover from the fallout of one of its doctors performing unnecessary cardiac procedures. The new entity, to be called The University of Maryland St. Joseph Medical Center, will take over operations of the 2,000-employee hospital pending final federal regulatory approval.

The case for building a new teaching hospital inPrince George's Countyassociated with the University of Maryland Medical System got a boost from a health study released Wednesday, but the question remains how the county and state would pay for it. The report released by state and local health and government officials detailed the county's health problems and what the new $600 million hospital complex that would replace Prince George's Hospital Center...

The man tapped Thursday as the CEO of the soon-to-be created University of Maryland St. Joseph Medical Center is known for his work in oncology, but for the last few years has been working toward a career on the administrative side of the hospital business. Radiation oncologist Dr. Mohan Suntha will take over as president and CEO of the Towson hospital Dec. 1, when the University of Maryland Medical System is expected to complete its acquisition of St. Joseph Medical Center from Denver-based Catholic Health Initiatives.

The man tapped Thursday as the CEO of the newly created University of Maryland St. Joseph Medical Center is known for his work in oncology, but for the last few years has been working toward a career on the administrative side of the hospital business. Radiation oncologist Dr. Mohan Suntha will take over as president and CEO of the Towson hospital Dec. 1, when the University of Maryland Medical System is expected to complete its acquisition of St. Joseph Medical Center from Denver-based Catholic Health Initiatives.