NEWS RELEASE

United States Department of Agriculture • Rural Development

1221 College Park Drive, Suite 200, Dover, DE  19904

Phone: (302) 857-3580 • Fax: (302) 857-3640 • TDD: (302) 857-3585 • Web: http://www.rurdev.usda.gov

 

 

Contact:

Kathy Beisner (302) 943-3818

 

Mountain Laurel Medical Center Celebrates Opening

 

            Oakland, Md., April 30, 2010 – Federal, State and local officials gathered Friday morning to cut the ribbon and tour the newly expanded Mountain Laurel Medical Center, a $2,990,000 project.  On hand to take part in the activities was U.S. Congressman Roscoe Bartlett who said,

 

“This ribbon cutting celebrates $1,670,000 in federal funds that are coming back to taxpayers in Garrett County.  These funds are expanding access and improving basic medical care for uninsured residents of Garrett County at this consolidated and expanded facility for the Mountain Laurel Medical Center in Oakland.  These benefits are a result of collaboration among USDA Rural Development, the Appalachian Regional Commission, the State of Maryland and Garrett County Commissioners.”

 

The new 13,000-square foot facility located at 1027 Memorial Drive provides primary, preventive and pediatric care including physical exams for employment and DOT.  Since the medical center’s opening in October 2006 it has experienced significant growth serving some 5,500 patients and approximately 15,000 visits according to Beth Little-Terry, Chief Executive Officer, Mountain Laurel Medical Center.   “On behalf of the Mountain Laurel staff and the board of directors, we are so grateful for this opportunity to continue to provide the same quality care, only now in a new state of the art facility and with new equipment,” said Little-Terry.  “Being in one location that is centrally located, Mountain Laurel will continue to become an anchor in the community allowing Mountain Laurel to further our mission to reach out and provide care to many more patients, including the uninsured and underinsured in Garrett County and the surrounding area.  We thank each of the funders for this wonderful gift.”  Mountain Laurel Medical Center is funded in part by the Health Resources and Services Administration as a community health center. 

 

Funding for this project was made available by USDA Rural Development through the agency’s Community Facilities Program.  USDA provided a $920,000 low-interest loan; Maryland Department of Health and Mental Hygiene $1,320,000 grant; through the Maryland Department of Housing and Community Development a Community Development Block Grant $500,000, and the Appalachian Regional Commission $250,000 grant. The new facility has been constructed on land owned by the Garrett County Commissioners that are providing a long term lease of 99 years for the value of $1 per year.  The medical center was previously separated in two locations, one at 1535 Memorial Drive, Oakland and the other location at 888 Memorial Drive.  Both sites were very small and limited their capacity to see more patients.  When the new facility opened its doors in November 2009, it allowed management to hire additional physicians and support staff. 

 

“One of the most significant impacts the Community Facilities program has made is the improvement of access to quality health care services for rural Americans,” said USDA Rural Development State Director Jack Tarburton.  “We are pleased to help this organization expand its operations so that people living in Garrett County can expect the same quality health care as people living in urban areas.”

 

USDA Rural Development’s mission is to increase economic opportunity and improve the quality of life for rural residents. In 2010, the agency provided more than $421 million to rural Maryland. USDA Rural Development funds more than 40 programs that support agriculture, business opportunities, home ownership, home repair, rental housing, broadband technology, public safety, health care, education, community facilities such as libraries, schools and day care centers, and energy-related projects.  Additional information on rural programs is available by calling their office in Hagerstown at (301) 797-0500 ext. 5 or by visiting www.rurdev.usda.gov.

 

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