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Opening a new hospital does not happen often in Maryland — only two hospitals have been approved in the past 30 years. Gaining approval requires significant collaboration and careful planning in concert with local communities and government agencies in order to assure that the new services broaden access to care and complement existing services.

Currently Adventist HealthCare has a proposal before the Maryland Health Care Commission to build a hospital and comprehensive medical campus in Clarksburg, which will serve the upcounty region, as well as lower Frederick County. Adventist HealthCare has worked closely with local residents and Montgomery County to obtain necessary approvals for the project. Work has begun on the site plan and layout of the medical campus.

A recent Gazette story about two upcounty hospital proposals focused on only one component of a complex, multi-layered state review process that also includes critical issues such as the impact on existing services, access to care, land use and environmental issues, and community involvement. These are all important matters that will be considered in the evaluation of the proposals.

Based on county forecasts, Adventist HealthCare purchased land seven years ago to develop the Clarksburg Community Hospital and medical campus in anticipation of the growth in the upcounty population. In addition to the hospital, the campus will include outpatient services, physician offices, a nursing home, a primary care clinic and a daycare center. The proposal has a solid financing plan in place and, importantly, integrates effectively with existing health facilities and programs in the region.

The Shady Grove Adventist Emergency Center in Germantown is an excellent example of how a community resource can be developed successfully when a health care provider collaborates with residents and government officials. Since opening, the Germantown campus has grown to include primary care and prenatal clinics for uninsured patients, offices for physicians, and other services. The campus has cut travel times for emergency vehicles and has helped reduced the need for residents to drive long distances for medical care. The combination of a new hospital and comprehensive medical campus in Clarksburg and the Germantown Emergency Center will provide full access to healthcare for all upcounty residents.

Building a new hospital is a serious undertaking requiring significant planning and collaboration with all stakeholders. Adventist Healthcare has worked hard to assure that the project addresses the needs of the community, which deserves to fully understand all aspects of the debate on this matter.

Robin J.Thomashauer, Bethesda

The writer has been a Montgomery County resident for 20 years and has been a member of the Adventist HealthCare Board of Trustees since 2007.