(Nov. 5, 2015) More than 100 people turned out during the opening of the new Delmarva Health Pavilion in Ocean Pines last Wednesday, filling up the lobby of the first in a planned five-building complex anchored by Peninsula Regional Medical Center.
Developer Palmer Gillis and PRMC President and CEO Dr. Peggy Naleppa spoke briefly, then several local political leaders, joined by key medical staff at the facility, participated in a ribbon-cutting ceremony.
Gillis said the project had been on his mind for several years, adding it was a “cold, windy, rainy day in 2008” when the property was first put up for auction.
“Four years prior to that I had this idea that putting a medical facility … right next to the largest neighborhood in Worcester County would be an ideal place,” he said. “I think the community will be happy with what services [PRMC] are providing in this facility and what services they can provide in the next facilities.”
The $6 million, 20,000-square-foot Building One consolidates several family practices in Berlin and Ocean Pines, and includes a pharmacy and cardiovascular and pulmonary rehabilitation facility.
Naleppa said PRMC has had a presence in the community since the “early-to-mid” 1980s, starting with family practitioner Dr. Peter Abbot.
“It’s about time that we [had a presence] with the kind of style and class that a Palmer Gillis and his firm can build for us,” she said.
PRMC, she said, provides services in six counties and is the eighth-largest health care system in the state – out of 48.
“You are going to be delivered top-quality care, both at this facility and at the main campus [in Salisbury],” she said, adding that work on the next three buildings was already under way. “Get excited, because this can go up to 100,000 square feet.
“It’s a privilege to share this and have you as part of our community,” she added. “We’ve been humbled by the support that you’ve provided for us over the last 20-25 years, and we’re going to … have a one-stop shop [for health care].”
Naleppa said future developments would add specialty care and comprehensive oncology.
Ocean Pines Chamber of Commerce Executive Director Ginger Fleming said the facility provided a more convenient health care solution for many people living in the area who previously would have had to drive to Salisbury.
Worcester County Commissioner Diana Purnell called the new pavilion a “great addition to the community, adding that she was recently given a tour of Building One.
Fellow Commissioner Chip Bertino said he was thrilled to see the complex open.
“This is absolutely extraordinary for the community,” he said. “I’m glad it’s in the neighborhood. I think this gives us a level of healthcare that, quite frankly, is going to be unmatched on the lower shore. It benefits all of us, especially as the population is aging and we need more healthcare.”
Maryland Del. Mary Beth Carozza (R, 38C) said there was a clear need for such a facility in the area.
“Having a state-of-the-art facility that’s convenient for so many of our residents is good for the entire community,” she said.
A member of the General Assembly’s Health and Human Resources appropriations subcommittee, she said she planned to work closely with the leadership at PRMC.
“They can give me frontline information as we continue to develop policies at the state level,” she said. “Before I ever make a commitment on what my support might be for a certain program, I like to go right to the folks on the frontlines and find out if the program is working. From my standpoint, this gives me another partner to work with, with the work that I’m doing in Annapolis.”
PRMC Vice President Christopher Hall said other developments at the pavilion would include comprehensive cancer treatment using components of the Richard A. Henson Cancer Center in Salisbury.
Diagnostic imaging services would also be part of the next phase.
“We wanted to put into one site a convenient location [for healthcare],” he said. “If you’re sitting at your family practitioner and you need a prescription, here’s that, or if you need your labs drawn you can go right here.
“We’re making it more convenient and less costly than driving to Salisbury and getting services from a hospital,” he added. “This is a cheaper setting for patients who have high-deductible health plans.”
Developer Palmer Gillis and PRMC President and CEO Dr. Peggy Naleppa spoke briefly, then several local political leaders, joined by key medical staff at the facility, participated in a ribbon-cutting ceremony.
Gillis said the project had been on his mind for several years, adding it was a “cold, windy, rainy day in 2008” when the property was first put up for auction.
“Four years prior to that I had this idea that putting a medical facility … right next to the largest neighborhood in Worcester County would be an ideal place,” he said. “I think the community will be happy with what services [PRMC] are providing in this facility and what services they can provide in the next facilities.”
The $6 million, 20,000-square-foot Building One consolidates several family practices in Berlin and Ocean Pines, and includes a pharmacy and cardiovascular and pulmonary rehabilitation facility.
Naleppa said PRMC has had a presence in the community since the “early-to-mid” 1980s, starting with family practitioner Dr. Peter Abbot.
“It’s about time that we [had a presence] with the kind of style and class that a Palmer Gillis and his firm can build for us,” she said.
PRMC, she said, provides services in six counties and is the eighth-largest health care system in the state – out of 48.
“You are going to be delivered top-quality care, both at this facility and at the main campus [in Salisbury],” she said, adding that work on the next three buildings was already under way. “Get excited, because this can go up to 100,000 square feet.
“It’s a privilege to share this and have you as part of our community,” she added. “We’ve been humbled by the support that you’ve provided for us over the last 20-25 years, and we’re going to … have a one-stop shop [for health care].”
Naleppa said future developments would add specialty care and comprehensive oncology.
Ocean Pines Chamber of Commerce Executive Director Ginger Fleming said the facility provided a more convenient health care solution for many people living in the area who previously would have had to drive to Salisbury.
Worcester County Commissioner Diana Purnell called the new pavilion a “great addition to the community, adding that she was recently given a tour of Building One.
Fellow Commissioner Chip Bertino said he was thrilled to see the complex open.
“This is absolutely extraordinary for the community,” he said. “I’m glad it’s in the neighborhood. I think this gives us a level of healthcare that, quite frankly, is going to be unmatched on the lower shore. It benefits all of us, especially as the population is aging and we need more healthcare.”
Maryland Del. Mary Beth Carozza (R, 38C) said there was a clear need for such a facility in the area.
“Having a state-of-the-art facility that’s convenient for so many of our residents is good for the entire community,” she said.
A member of the General Assembly’s Health and Human Resources appropriations subcommittee, she said she planned to work closely with the leadership at PRMC.
“They can give me frontline information as we continue to develop policies at the state level,” she said. “Before I ever make a commitment on what my support might be for a certain program, I like to go right to the folks on the frontlines and find out if the program is working. From my standpoint, this gives me another partner to work with, with the work that I’m doing in Annapolis.”
PRMC Vice President Christopher Hall said other developments at the pavilion would include comprehensive cancer treatment using components of the Richard A. Henson Cancer Center in Salisbury.
Diagnostic imaging services would also be part of the next phase.
“We wanted to put into one site a convenient location [for healthcare],” he said. “If you’re sitting at your family practitioner and you need a prescription, here’s that, or if you need your labs drawn you can go right here.
“We’re making it more convenient and less costly than driving to Salisbury and getting services from a hospital,” he added. “This is a cheaper setting for patients who have high-deductible health plans.”