Chester River Health System

Chester River Health System was formed in 1997 to offer state-of-the-art health care to the residents of Kent and Queen Anne’s counties and portions of Caroline and Cecil counties. Chester River Health System includes Chester River Hospital Center, Chester River Home Care & Hospice, Chester River Manor Nursing & Rehabilitation Center and Chester River Health Foundation.

Chester River Hospital Center offers extensive medical and surgical services and some of the most advanced diagnostic tools available today. The hospital was established in 1935 as Kent & Queen Anne’s Hospital and was renamed Chester River Hospital Center in July 2003. It is licensed by the Maryland Department of Health and Mental Hygiene and accredited through the The Joint Commission.

Chester River Hospital Center is an acute care hospital with more than 500 employees and 200 volunteers. The medical staff is comprised of approximately 100 physicians. The hospital provides inpatient/medical services, 24-hour emergency care, surgical services, outpatient diagnostic services, laboratory services, rehabilitation services, maternity/birthing suites and oncology services.

Chester River Home Care & Hospice provides care for patients in their own homes under the direction of a physician and supervision of a registered nurse. Chester River Home Care & Hospice employs approximately 40 people and provides skilled nursing, physical therapy, speech therapy, occupational therapy, intravenous therapy, personal care, medical social work, hospice and outreach services.

On May 1, 1999 Magnolia Hall Rehabilitation & Nursing Center, located in Chestertown, joined Chester River Health System. The facility was renamed Chester River Manor in January 2004. Chester River Manor Nursing & Rehabilitation Center is licensed by the Maryland Department of Health and Mental Hygiene as a comprehensive healthcare facility providing skilled and intermediate care and rehabilitation services. The 98-bed facility, which employs 100, offers a full range of services and therapies designed to help residents reach and maintain the highest level of well-being and quality of life.

Chester River Health Foundation raises funds for equipment, technology, patient care services and capital projects for Chester River Hospital Center, Chester River Home Care & Hospice and Chester River Manor Nursing & Rehabilitation Center.  The ongoing generous support of our local community has enabled us to continually add new services and programs, purchase state-of-the-art equipment and provide education and staff training.

Chester River Health System (CRHS) merged with University of Maryland Medical System (UMMS) on July 1, 2008. As a member of UMMS, and through partnerships with the University of Maryland Medical Center and the University of Maryland School of Medicine, Chester River Health System is able to enhance its clinical programs and facilities. The University of Maryland Medical System is the third largest healthcare provider in Maryland. 

The benefits of the UMMS affiliation, shows throughout the Chester River Health System. One advantage of being a member of UMMS is having access to quality improvement programs and the expertise which has helped us to adopt best practices within the capabilities of Chester River Hospital Center.  This has also allowed us to begin benchmarking specific quality indicators and comparing ourselves with other hospital facilities in the system.

Another benefit of the UMMS affiliation is cost savings from participating in UMMS’s large-volume purchasing contracts and utilizing the system’s price-negotiating assistance. These advantages helped CRHS save on medical supplies and capital purchases each year.

Additionally, UMMS provides assistance in physician recruitment, regulatory compliance, financial management, information technology expertise, and clinical management expertise.