New Health Center To Open In Catonsville
CATONSVILLE, Md. (WJZ) -- In just a few weeks, a new era of health care begins in the Baltimore area.
Ron Matz has more on a new project in Catonsville designed to make medical care more convenient than ever.
In what used to be a furniture store, excitement is building. The St. Agnes Medical Group is just a few weeks from opening its doors in Catonsville.
"This is something we've been looking at for a number of years," Dr. Ken Williams, of St. Agnes Hospital. "We wanted to bring health care to the community. No longer is health care going to be centralized in a hospital."
The 38,000-square-foot center includes 55 exams, pharmacy services, electronic medical records and same-day doctor appointments.
"One thing we want to do is to make sure we're available for patients when they want to be seen, and where they want to be seen," Williams adds. "They want to be seen in their community here in Catonsville, and we're going to have easy access and after hour care for patients."
That location is 40 West Plaza, a large shopping center on Route 40. It's designed to feel more like a wellness spa than a doctor's office.
"Patients want a day at the doctor where they can come in and see their primary care physician. We'll have diagnostic imaging. If they need a mammogram we can do that," Williams said. "They'll have blood drawn. They can get a pap smear -- even by the end of the day we can have the results back and discuss it with them."
A total of 18 primary care providers will be at the center. They're expected to see an estimated 70,000 patients in the first year.
"The vision for this center started several years ago without physicians and the administration at the hospital who realized health care is moving away from being delivered just at the hospital," Patrick Mutch, executive vice president of St. Agnes Hospital said. "It's being done in the outpatient setting, in the community and close to home."
The new St. Agnes Medical Center will initially be open six days a week and it's scheduled to open on May 4th.