Published on February 23, 2009

News Release

Washington Adventist Hospital and Mary's Center to Expand Services at Primary Care Center for Underserved in Montgomery County

Takoma Park, MD - Nearly a year after opening Mary's Center Primary Care Clinic in the Long Branch area of Montgomery County, Washington Adventist Hospital and Mary's Center announced today the center will soon add prenatal care to the full range of primary care services currently being offered.

Mary's Center has served 1,100 patients and had nearly 1,600 total visits in eight months of operation at the 3,600-square-foot primary care center located at 8709 Flower Avenue . There are plans to expand the number of people served this year.

With a $250,000 community service grant presented today by Washington Adventist Hospital, Mary's Center will begin to offer prenatal care to expectant mothers and also serve additional people in need of care in Montgomery and Prince George 's counties, regardless of ability to pay.

"Our continuing partnership with Mary's Center and the primary care center in Long Branch further expands access to health-care services for the communities we serve," said Jere Stocks, President of Washington Adventist Hospital. "We recognize that our communities benefit greatly when we form partnerships like the one. Together we are strengthening the region's health-care safety net."

In 2008, Washington Adventist Hospital's uncompensated care totaled over $25 million - or 9% of its revenue, the highest percentage of any Montgomery County hospital.

Services at the center are provided by a multidisciplinary health-care team including two nurse practitioners, an internist, and a pediatrician. Mary's Center will soon hire an obstetrician.

"We at Mary's Center for Maternal and Child Care are constantly striving to serve the needs of our communities," said Maria Gomez, president and CEO of Mary's Center.  "Our partnership with Washington Adventist Hospital allows Maryland families to receive quality and culturally appropriate services, which leads to healthier communities."

For information about Washington Adventist Hospital's Vision for Expanded Access, go to http://www.maryscenter.org/.

Washington Adventist Hospital   is a 292-bed, state-of-the-art acute care facility located in Takoma Park, Maryland. Washington Adventist Hospital is Montgomery County's first complete cardiac center, performing more than 500 open-heart surgeries and more than 7,000 heart catheterizations each year. Washington Adventist Hospital is part of Adventist HealthCare, an integrated health-care delivery system based in Rockville, Maryland.

Mary's Center for Maternal and Child Care   is a federally qualified health care center that has been serving DC Metro area residents for more than twenty years. The mission of Mary's Center is to build better futures through delivery of health care, education and social services as we continue save lives and strengthen communities, one family at a time.