The Horizon Goodwill/Meritus Medical Center Health Hub
Horizon Goodwill Industries, in partnership with Meritus Medical Center, was among nine grantees selected to receive funds from the Maryland Community Health Resources Commission’s “Pathways to Health Equity” program.
This grant allows for the opening of a primary care office at Horizon Goodwill Industries’ downtown Hagerstown location at 200 N. Prospect Street. Meritus Medical Center will provide a full-time nurse practitioner to staff the site, and mental health case management staff will be provided by Horizon Goodwill. Patients will not be turned away based on insurance status; they will be seen and then connected to a healthcare navigator from AHEC West to assist them in becoming insured. This project will be known as the Hagerstown Health HUB and will be co-located with the full-service grocery store HGI is opening.
This facility will be able to help address many of the existing healthcare issues facing residents of the Hagerstown core. Recent surveys show that 10.4% of city residents in the 21740-zip code do not have health insurance and are turned away from traditional healthcare facilities. Existing data also highlights that there were about 1100 visitors to the Emergency Department at Meritus, and users of that facility responded that it was “extremely difficult” for them to have their needs met.
This project is a further investment from Horizon Goodwill to provide equitable access to vital resources to residents of the Core of Hagerstown. Rapid assess to primary care coupled with health care navigation, nutritional education, care coordination, and case management creates a one-stop environment to empower City residents to take control of their health.
The Hagerstown Health Hub is located adjacent to the previously announced Grocery store at the Horizon Goodwill Industries building in downtown Hagerstown. It will be in a separate location within the same building. Construction on the full project is anticipated to begin in Early 2023.