Hospital Takes Community Pulse
In St. Mary’s County we don’t have enough doctors, too many of us are overweight and specifically in Lexington Park our tobacco use is way above national, state and even county percentages.
Medstar St. Mary’s Hospital is in the midst of updating the data that expands upon this data and directs resources to prioritized concerns, such as launching initiatives to reduce Lexington Park’s smoking rates.
Free smoking cessation classes are available. Contact the St. Mary’s County Health Department at 301-475-4356.
According to the hospital’s assessment about 60 percent of the adults in St. Mary’s are overweight or obese. The alarming rate is even higher among males and African American residents. Lori Werrell (301-475-6195, [email protected]) is the chair of the coalition established to decrease that rate in our citizens.
The hospital has also launched a physician recruitment initiative. For more information about this contact Don Lewis, Director of Physician Services at 240-434-7740.
The assessment also raised concerns about the amount of childhood sexual abuse and about infant and child death rates in St. Mary’s County. Both of these sets of findings are being re-analyzed and indices suggest initially reported rates were higher than those actually occurring in the population.
Regardless, awareness programs are being developed and the Pediatric Sexual Assault Coalition provided training opportunities to encourage identification of possible sexual assault victims. Dawn Weber, the Sexual Assault Response Team Chair can be reached at 301-475-6019.
The higher than expected infant and child mortality rates were revised downward in an analysis that refined the process for the entire State of Maryland. More information on this initiative is available at St. Mary’s County Health Department at 301-475-4330.
More about the assessment and how St. Mary’s Hospital will be continuing efforts to acquire community input can be found at the St. Mary’s Hospital’s website.
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St. Mary’s Hospital Vice President Joan Gelrud speaking at the Lexington Park Library asks community members to help assess the health needs and resources for St. Mary’s County.
