Civista Medical Center | Hospital in Southern Maryland | La Plata, MD

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Civista Plans to Bring New Doctors and Services Through University of Maryland Affiliation

Officials of Civista Medical Center in La Plata are hoping to form an affiliation with the University of Maryland Medical System in Baltimore that will allow the hospital to provide more services and attract doctors to Charles County.

UMMS was established in 1984 when the state-owned University Hospital became a nonprofit organization, according to UMMS’ website. The system has evolved into a multi-hospital system with academic, community and specialty service facilities throughout the state.

Civista officials are negotiating with UMMS to sign a two-year contract to form an affiliation that will enable the hospital to provide more state-of-the-art services to patients and possibly increase the number of young doctors who will practice at the hospital, particularly in primary care and obstetrics—specialties that are in short supply in Southern Maryland, said Sen. Thomas “Mac” Middleton (D-Charles).

“I don’t see any negatives in this,” Middleton said Thursday. “The University of Maryland School of Medicine is one of the best teaching facilities in the country. An affiliation with UMMS will be a great strength to Civista and Charles County.”

Hospitals that are already in the system include facilities under the University of Maryland Medical Center such as the R. Adams Cowley Shock Trauma Center, Marlene and Stewart Greenebaum Cancer Center, the Joseph and Corinne Schwartz Division of Transplantation, the Harry and Jeanette Weinberg Building, the Homer Gudelsky Building and the University of Maryland Hospital for Children, according to the UMMS website.

Other facilities in the system are the Kernan Hospital, University Specialty Hospital, Maryland General Hospital, Baltimore Washington Medical Center, Mount Washington Pediatric Hospital, Shore Health System, Chester River Health System and Upper Chesapeake Health System.

It is especially important that the affiliation would encourage more young doctors to set up practice in Charles County, Middleton said.

“We hope to be able to encourage young doctors to come and live in the county,” he said. “Once people see what Southern Maryland has to offer they find that it’s a nice place to live.”

“It’s going to be a big plus for us to lessen the doctor shortage in Southern Maryland,” he said. “Charles County and Southern Maryland are experiencing a severe shortage of doctors right now. It would be great if we could get young doctors who are in a residency program to locate here.”

“An affiliation with a prestigious and academic institution such as the University of Maryland Medical System will allow us to significantly enhance our clinical programs and services that we can provide to the community,” said Noel Cervino, the hospital’s president and chief executive officer. “We’re very excited and we’re looking at this as a very positive opportunity.”

Del. Murray D. Levy (D-Charles) said the system’s affiliation with the R. Adams Cowley Shock Trauma Center in Baltimore would be an invaluable plus for Civista.

“If this affiliation works out it will be a tremendous benefit to the hospital and the citizens of Charles County,” he said. “It will give young doctors a chance to get familiar with the county and perhaps it will offer an opportunity to get some of them to practice here. [UMMS] is a world-class operation. People…in the system are just top flight.”

Levy said UMMS officials are impressed with Civista and the services it offers patients.

“They’re very impressed with Civista and its modernized facility,” he said. “They’re very much interested in forming this affiliation.”

“This will help strengthen Civita,” said Charles County Commissioner Samuel N. Graves Jr. (D). “If the affiliation goes through it will increase and improve services at Civista.”

Calvert Memorial Hospital in Prince Frederick already has similar affiliations with the Washington Hospital Center and Georgetown University Hospital in Washington, D.C., said Gail Harkins, hospital spokeswoman.

Officials of St. Mary’s Hospital in Leonardtown are also working on such an affiliation with MedStar Health, according to hospital officials.

It is always a good thing when community hospitals can partner with larger health systems in the region, said Charles County commissioners’ President F. Wayne Cooper (D). “The negotiations are going very well,” he said. “The hospital’s board of directors is very excited about it. It’s going to bring many opportunities to the hospital. This affiliation will enhance the programs that Civista has now, and it will help the hospital grow in the direction that we want it to grow.”

Information about the costs that might be associated with the affiliation was not available at press time Thursday.

Charles County Commissioner Gary V. Hodge (D) said the affiliation with UMMS would be on target with the county’s goal to provide the best medical care to the community.

“Our goal is to have one of the best hospitals in Maryland,” he said. “If this affiliation advances that goal to have a truly outstanding community hospital then it’s right on track.”