The hospital recommends patients use its emergency room when they have a medical problem that could cause death or permanent injury if not immediately treated, such as chest pain, shortness of breath, symptoms of stroke, toxic substance ingestion, choking, broken bones, human and some animal bites, continuous bleeding, stiff neck with fever or headache, or any sudden change in level of consciousness.
Express Care, which is a branch of the hospital's emergency room, takes patients of lower priority after they have been evaluated by a triage nurse.
Urgent Care centers
The hospital runs the following Urgent Care centers:
· Sylvania Building, Suite 104, 13424 Pennsylvania Ave., Hagerstown
Phone: 240-313-3100
Open from noon to 7 p.m.
· Robinwood Medical Center, Suite 147, 11110 Medical Campus Road, Hagerstown
Phone: 240-313-9600
Open from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m.
If you are not sure whether you need to see a doctor immediately, call the centers' advice line at 1-800-274-0499. A professional can be reached there at all times.
Both hospital-run Urgent Care centers take patients with minor illnesses or injuries without appointments. The wait typically is shorter than the hospital emergency room.
Walnut Street Community Health Center
24 N. Walnut St., Hagerstown
Serves low-income adults and children of the community, with a sliding fee scale. Patients are seen by appointment. Following are some services available at the clinic.
· The family practice center is open Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., and Tuesday until 7 p.m. Call 301-745-3777.
· In 2007, the center added mental health services, including therapy sessions and psychiatric evaluations for the center's patients, said Janet Cordell, the center's marketing and outreach coordinator.
· Supportive services for patients from infants to seniors.
· Health education is provided for diabetic patients.
· Preventative and restorative dental health care is offered to patients. The center does some extractions and can provide dentures. The dental clinic is open Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Call 301-393-3450.
A Washington County Department of Social Services representative is on staff to help patients with financial issues. The center helps with referrals to specialty care, provides some transportation for patients, assists patients with food and housing, and refers patients to other community outreach organizations for other needs, Cordell said.
The center accepts uninsured patients and patients receiving Medicaid or medical assistance. Salary cutoffs are based on annual federal poverty guidelines, Cordell said.
Community Free Clinic
249 Mill St., Hagerstown
Phone: 301-733-9234
Services are offered at various times throughout the week and include nurse clinics, physician services, lab work, gynecology services, and orthopedic, pediatric, podiatry, diabetes and mental health services.
The clinic serves Washington County residents who do not have insurance.
Business hours are Monday through Friday from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.
Washington County Health Department
1302 Pennsylvania Ave., Hagerstown
Phone: 240-313-3200.
Web site: www.washhealth.org
The health department offers a variety of preventative services and medical care services to lower-income families.
Following is a sampling of the services it offers: Immunizations, hearing and vision screening, well baby visits, AIDS case management, rabies control and vaccine, pregnancy testing and information, drug screens and classes, adult evaluation and review services, psychiatric evaluations and smoking cessation programs.
Western Maryland Hospital Center
1500 Pennsylvania Ave., Hagerstown
Phone: 301-791-4400
Web: www.wc-link.org/wmhc/about.htm
Western Maryland Hospital Center celebrated its 50th anniversary in 2007.
The long-term specialty-care hospital has cared for more than 9,000 patients with complicated ailments since it opened on Veterans Day 1957.
It offers dialysis, therapeutic care and a ventilator program, among other health-care services.
The hospital takes patients who are referred by other state hospitals for rehabilitative and extended-care services.
