CAMBRIDGE, Md. - The Dorchester County Health Department is closing its longtime location on Cedar Street and reopening at a new, larger facility just up the road on Race Street.
Staff began the moving process Tuesday, packing up office supplies and assembling furniture at the new location, the former Department of Social Services building at 627 Race St.
“From 3 Cedar Street to 627 Race Street, which is the former Department of Social Services building. The new building will give us much more space,” said John Griep, spokesperson for the health department.
The previous building, Griep said, lacked space and privacy, particularly in clinical areas.
“We had multiple people that shared an office, especially in the clinical area. We had two clinic rooms to see patients, and we had anywhere at one time from 20 patients a day to try and filter in between two rooms,” said Pamela Quillen, program manager of clinical services.
The three-story building will now provide space to better serve patients and expand operations.
“Clinic rooms or exam rooms on the first floor with our nurses. They can do examinations. There are more exam rooms in this building. They're larger than what we have in the current building,” said Griep.
The second and third floors will house various programs and administrative departments.
“We have Developmental Disabilities Administration. We have the Harris program. We have Healthy Families Dorchester. We have staff who are school-based wellness centers, health education program, IT, and admin folks,” said Griep.
Community members say the move is more than a logistical shift — it’s a step toward revitalizing the downtown area.
“When this building closed, I thought it was definitely a setback for our area. So it's nice to have the building going back into action. And then it always opens up for [the idea of] redevelopment,” said Laurel Atkiss, a community member.
The health department will remain closed during the move but is expected to reopen at the new location next Monday, April 14. Staff will continue to respond to urgent medical calls during the transition.