CAMBRIDGE, Md.- Adventist Healthcare is closing its doors and temporarily suspending its license to better re-evaluate its relationship with Peninsula Regional Medical Center (PRMC), according to its Executive Director.
Adventist Healthcare and Behavioral Services is an acute care and residential treatment center, that also serves as a special education day school for children. Executive Director, Ismael Gama said close to 90 healthcare workers will be left without jobs when the facility closes on November 30.
Gama said under careful consideration it was necessary to close the facility.
"Adventist Healthcare made the decision to temporary de-license the services here at this facility in Cambridge. That way we can better evaluate our partnership with PRMC as we look into providing services in the Eastern Shore Region," Gama said.
Gama said the children receiving services at the Cambridge location will be placed at other facilities. Christine Harrison is a former employee at Adventist Healthcare in Cambridge. She said its tough seeing more jobs being lost and local care not being available.
I'm very sad for my former co-workers that they will not be employed. It's hard to find work so I'm sad for them. I'm sad for the kids in the area that used and utilized that facility, because the kids here needed to go to that facility and it was nice because their parents had access to them," Harrison said.
Brandon Hesson, with the City of Cambridge Economic & Community Development said in a statement to WBOC, "Adventist Health care is an unfortunate situation, involving dozens of hard working Dorchester County citizens, and we will continue working with the County Economic Development offices, building ownership and state representatives to create new opportunities at that location,"
Gama said Adventist Healthcare's Human Resource Department is assisting their employees with job searching and placement services.
"One thing we're doing for those who would like to work in other facilities within Adventist Healthcare, we're facilitating that right now. We have about 10 of our employees already who went through interviews and if they decide to do that we have opportunities for them in Rockville and Tacoma Park," Gama said.
As for the future of Adventist Healthcare in Dorchester County, it's uncertain when or if the facility will return to Cambridge. Officials said the goal is to once again provide services in the Cambridge area, but whether that happens depends on their evaluation with PRMC. As of now Adventist Healthcare is providing some services through its partnership with PRMC.