University of MD, Hopkins Celebrate 10 Years of Joint Ownership of MWPH
Mt. Washington Pediatric Hospital (MWPH) will host an event today to mark the historic 10-year partnership of three leaders in children’s health care. Hospital leadership, board members, elected officials and guests are gathering to celebrate a decade of the joint ownership by the University of Maryland Medical System (UMMS) and Johns Hopkins Medicine (JHM) of Mt. Washington Pediatric Hospital, a specialty care and rehabilitation hospital for infants and children with complex medical needs.
“This partnership is a true collaboration, one that keeps a laser focus on what’s best for the health of our children and their families,” said Sheldon Stein, President and Chief Executive Officer of MWPH. “Our association with these leading academic medical centers has been most successful in helping children and their families transition from acute illness or rehabilitative needs back home.”
Mt. Washington Pediatric Hospital, which was founded in 1922, provides inpatient, outpatient and day treatment programs to more than 8,000 children each year. Of the 800+ inpatient admissions at MWPH, 85% come directly from UMMS and JHM hospitals; and 60% of MWPH’s outpatient clinics and diagnostic studies involve physicians from the partner institutions. Over the course of the 10-year partnership, MWPH has seen an increase in the types and complexities of illnesses for its inpatient program, as well as an increase in outpatient clinics and programs. Since fiscal year 2007, MWPH has served nearly 75,000 patients, with annual totals increasing 38% since before the affiliation.
“The unique partnership offers a seamless transition of care for patients and an assurance of top quality care for our pediatric patients that is just invaluable,” said Robert Chrencik, President and CEO of UMMS. He recalled when MWPH was owned by North Arundel Hospital (now Baltimore Washington Medical Center), which in 2000 became part of the UMMS system. In 2006, UMMS approached Hopkins about joint ownership of MWPH, knowing that both hospitals utilized the pediatric hospital’s inpatient services and could collaborate on outpatient services. “It really allowed MWPH to enjoy a scale that it couldn’t with just one of us.”
“It’s a wonderful story in a town where we are blessed to have the presence of two academic medical centers. There’s a lot of good will and it’s a win-win for all involved, but particularly for the children we care for,” confirmed Ronald Peterson, President of The Johns Hopkins Hospital and Health System and Executive Vice President of Johns Hopkins Medicine.
The collegial team approach, which includes a jointly-appointed board of trustees, has focused on putting the needs of children above all else. The MWPH campus provides an anchor from which pediatric specialists from the owner hospitals can see their patients and collaborate with other physicians. The medical chairs of the respective pediatric departments have seen opportunities for enhanced pediatric care.
“By uniting the remarkable talents of Hopkins and Maryland, we have strengthened services to children and created new programs in such areas as childhood obesity, rehabilitation, feeding, premature infants and psychology, among others.”
Dr. Richard Katz, Chief Medical Officer and VP of Medical Affairs at MWPH
“This partnership has allowed Mt. Washington to be nimble and innovative in responding to health care trends, and typically at a lower cost.”
Dr. George Dover, Director of the Pediatric Department at Johns Hopkins
“What a tremendous benefit for our patients and their families to have access to seamless, high quality, next-level specialty care as they transition from their time with us. We are so pleased to have such a strong connection with Mt. Washington Pediatric Hospital. There is much to celebrate on the anniversary of our partnership.”
Dr. Steven J. Czinn, Professor and Chair, The Drs. Rouben and Violet Jiji Endowed Professor of Pediatrics and Chair, Department of Pediatrics, University of Maryland School of Medicine and Physician-in-Chief, University of Maryland Children’s Hospital
In honor of the anniversary, Maryland Department of Health and Mental Hygiene Deputy Secretary Howard Haft will present a proclamation on behalf of Governor Larry Hogan declaring June 23 “Mt. Washington Pediatric Hospital Day.”
About Mt. Washington Pediatric Hospital: Where Children go to Heal and Grow
Mt. Washington Pediatric Hospital provides family-centered, integrated care to children with serious, chronic or complex medical needs. Since 1922, the hospital has helped children heal from illness and injury, and now treats more than 8,000 patients each year. With locations in Baltimore City and Prince George’s County, the 102-bed post-acute hospital is a jointly owned affiliate of the University of Maryland Medical System and Johns Hopkins Medicine. For more information, please visit mwph.org.
About the University of Maryland Medical System
The University of Maryland Medical System (UMMS) currently includes 12 health systems and hospitals across Maryland including the University of Maryland Baltimore Washington Medical Center; University of Maryland Charles Regional Medical Center; University of Maryland Medical Center; University of Maryland Medical Center Midtown Campus; University of Maryland Rehabilitation & Orthopaedic Institute; University of Maryland Shore Regional Health; University of Maryland St. Joseph Medical Center; and University of Maryland Upper Chesapeake Health System, as well as the freestanding University of Maryland Shore Emergency Center at Queenstown and the University of Maryland Shore Nursing & Rehabilitation Center in Chestertown. UMMS also operates Mt. Washington Pediatric Hospital as a joint venture with Johns Hopkins and also operates University of Maryland Medical System Health Plans for Medicare and Medicaid beneficiaries. For more information, please visit umms.org.
About Johns Hopkins Medicine
Johns Hopkins Medicine (JHM), headquartered in Baltimore, Maryland, is a $7.7 billion integrated global health enterprise and one of the leading academic health care systems in the United States. JHM unites physicians and scientists of the Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine with the organizations, health professionals and facilities of The Johns Hopkins Hospital and Health System. JHM's vision, “Together, we will deliver the promise of medicine,” is supported by its mission to improve the health of the community and the world by setting the standard of excellence in medical education, research and clinical care. Diverse and inclusive, JHM educates medical students, scientists, health care professionals and the public; conducts biomedical research; and provides patient-centered medicine to prevent, diagnose and treat human illness. JHM operates six academic and community hospitals, four suburban health care and surgery centers, and more than 39 primary and specialty care outpatient sites under the umbrella of Johns Hopkins Community Physicians. JHM extends health care into the community and globally through Johns Hopkins Home Care Group, Johns Hopkins Medicine International and Johns Hopkins HealthCare. The Johns Hopkins Hospital, opened in 1889, has been ranked number one in the nation by U.S. News & World Report for 22 years of the survey’s 26-year history. For more information about Johns Hopkins Medicine, its research, education and clinical programs, and for the latest health, science and research news, visit www.hopkinsmedicine.org.
