Barn 34 owners Mike, Michael and Mary Ann Lawson celebrated their grand opening with a ribbon cutting by the Greater Ocean City Chamber of Commerce last Thursday. Additionally, the family accepted a ceremonial check representing the $265,000 VOLT loan it secured through the county. The owners are pictured with Senator Jim Mathias, Economic Development Director Bill Badger and supporters. Photo by Terri French
Gail Mansell, left, Atlantic General Hospital chaplain, is pictured with Atlantic General Hospital IT specialist Chad Heller and Nancy Smith, the faith based partnership’s health ambassador for Holy Savior Catholic Church, during installation of a new computer this month. Submitted Photo
Small Business Loan
Awarded To OC Business
OCEAN CITY — Worcester County Economic Development (WCED) officials announce the award of the fourth Video Lottery Terminal (VOLT) small business loan to the Lawson family, owners of Barn 34.
Barn 34, located at 3400 Coastal Highway in Ocean City, is a full service restaurant and entertainment venue owned and operated by Mike, Mary Ann and Michael Lawson, formerly of The Pirates Den. The $265,000 VOLT loan was used to renovate and remodel the former Christmas Spirit Shop building.
“The Lawsons have been able to complete work on the building just in time for the summer season, and we look forward to watching their business thrive at the new location,” WCED Director Bill Badger said.
The check to Barn 34 represents the fourth VOLT Small Business Loan awarded by WCED in partnership with the Anne Arundel Economic Development Corporation, the State of Maryland’s designated fund manager.
“The reality in Worcester County is most of the businesses may qualify based on the Maryland definition of a small business,” Badger said.
To qualify for VOLT Small Business Loan funds, companies must employ fewer than 500 employees, and their annual revenues must average $35 million or less over three years. The loan funds are available to small, minority and woman-owned businesses in the county.
VOLT Small Business Loan funds are generated from 1.5 percent of all Maryland casino yearly proceeds, as required by Maryland law. Fifty percent of these funds must be used within a 10-mile radius of Maryland’s operating casinos, including Ocean Downs. For more information about the loan program, contact WCED at 410-632-3112 or visit www.chooseworcester.org.
Hospital Installs
Computers At Churches
BERLIN — During the past few years, Atlantic General has worked to build the Faith Based Medical Home Partnership, a collection of religious leaders who support the promotion of health literacy and the availability of information in order to achieve optimal health. Through this partnership, Atlantic General recently purchased and installed computers at local churches in an effort to help improve health literacy within the local communities.
One of the installations was at the Stevenson United Methodist Church in Berlin, where Pastor Ron Schatz holds a highly enthusiastic and positive outlook on the program. Not only does he feel having access to the technology will engage the youth and help to facilitate an interest in health early in life, but he also feels that the partnership will encourage members of the community to become more proactive in managing their own health and wellness in addition to making more informed medical decisions.
“People must keep the body well to house the spirit in the here and now, and the Faith Based Medical Home Partnership aims to help people bridge the gap between body and spirit,” Schatz said in a recent interview.
Three computers were gifted to his church through a grant Atlantic General Hospital received from the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, and each machine is now armed and ready for use with a full health resource guide to provide information to anyone seeking reference.
The detailed guide includes articles and literature on many health-related topics that affect our community daily, such as diabetes, congestive heart failure, weight management, cancer, pain management and women’s health, just to name a few.
Individuals seeking a primary care provider or specialist can search within Atlantic General Hospital’s online medical staff directory. They will also have direct access to the newly implemented PERKS (Patient Electronic Record Keeping Service) Portal, which allows any discharged patients to access their medical information such as lab results and discharge instructions easily and conveniently online.
Patients of Atlantic General Health System have expanded uses of the portal to schedule appointments with their physicians, receive e-mail care reminders and refill their prescriptions.
Schatz has taken the program one step further by providing resources on his set of computers that allow users to search for information on affordable housing, food pantries and employment. They even have a resume builder to help those searching for employment opportunities.
At Stevenson United Methodist Church, the computers are available for community use on Wednesdays or via appointment by calling 410-641-1137. Visit atlanticgeneral.org for a full list of faith organizations that are participating in the partnership.
OC Surf Shop Eyes
Grand Opening
OCEAN CITY — Lucky Surf Shop and the Ocean City Chamber of Commerce will hold a ribbon cutting and grand opening celebration on Friday, May 23 inside the new surf shop located inside the Gold Coast Mall.
The ribbon cutting will take place between 2:30 and 3:30 p.m. with the grand opening festivities immediately following inside the shop until 5:30 p.m. There will be raffles for items, like a Sun Bum Gift Pack and an Answer Stand-up Bodyboard, freebies, sale specials and meet-and-greets with local artist Bonnie Preziosi and local shaper and designer of the Answer Board, Chris Willey.
MedSync System Launched
FRUITLAND — Apple Discount Drugs, a locally owned Health Mart pharmacy, has announced the launch of the Apple MedSync Program, a synchronization program designed to make it easier for patients to refill and manage their prescription medications and over-the-counter supplements.
All prescriptions for a particular patient are synchronized to be refilled on the same day of the month which eliminates multiple trips to the pharmacy. All prescriptions and over the counter items are ready for pick up or delivery on a designated “re-fill” day. Prior to the “re-fill” day, patients are contacted with a single call to inquire if there have been any changes made by their physician, specialist or any other healthcare provider. An Apple pharmacist reviews the prescription list each month and monitors changes made after doctor or hospital visits.
“One of the major benefits of this program is compliance,” said Jeff Sherr, president of Apple Discount Drugs. “Apple MedSync helps ensure that patients are taking the right medication, at the right dose at the right time. This is one more way to make it easy for people to take control of their health and well-being.”
Apple Discount Drugs will also keep track of patient prescriptions and any communication with doctors or insurance companies. Customers using the MedSync program do not need to call in prescription refills or worry about running out of medication.
“We are moving the way we do business from a ‘reactive’ to a ‘proactive’ model,” said Sherr. “MedSync allows us to recognize problems at the time of dispensing and handle them before the patient actually needs their medication. Problems with insurance, refill requests and out of stocks can be resolved seamlessly and without causing added stress to the patient.”
New Bank Branch To Open
BERLIN — Hampton Roads Bankshares, Inc., the holding company for The Bank of Hampton Roads (BHR) and Shore Bank, announced this week that Shore Bank will open its third branch on the Eastern Shore of Maryland in June. The branch will be located at 9748 Stephen Decatur Highway in West Ocean City. This expansion follows the opening of a Loan Production Office in West Ocean City in 2012.
“Our goal is for Shore Bank to be the leading community bank serving Delaware, the Eastern Shore of Maryland and Virginia. We could not be more pleased with the success of our Loan Production Office in West Ocean City, and this new branch reflects our continued commitment to and momentum in this market. This branch, and the strong team that will manage it, further demonstrates the power of our ‘One Bank’ strategy rooted in local market knowledge, substantial industry expertise, and a commitment to listening to customers and understanding their needs,” said Douglas J. Glenn, President and Chief Executive Officer of the company and Chief Executive Officer of BHR.
Karen Poisker
New Position Created
SALISBURY — To help Peninsula Regional Medical Center raise the quality of care and access to care, improve care coordination across settings, bring care to the most appropriate locations and in the most cost-effective manner, Karen Poisker, has taken on the role of Vice President for Population Health. In this new position, Poisker will direct and enhance initiatives for patient education, community-based wellness, reducing readmissions and chronic disease coaching and management.
“This is a tremendous opportunity to help improve healthcare in our region, and I’m very excited about being able to participate in the development of what I believe will be a more integrated system of care that really puts the patient and their needs first,” said Poisker.
Poisker, who has been a member of the PRMC healthcare team for 39 years, is a registered nurse and has held a number of clinical and executive leadership roles during her career. She was most recently Peninsula Regional’s Vice President for Continuum and Ambulatory Services. Along with her new role, she will maintain responsibility for the Medical Center’s cardiovascular, oncology, orthopaedic and neurosurgery service lines.