Atlantic General Hospital and Health Systems President Don Owrey recently updated local residents on priorities, changes and upgrades at the facilities.
“At Atlantic General Hospital, we focus on five pillars,” Owrey said during the March 21 gathering at the Ocean Pines Library. “The first is strengthening our core service. We are a community hospital, and we are focused on ensuring that our patients receive high-quality, efficient, and safe care.”
Owrey said the importance of skilled medical staff. In September 2023, pediatrician Cristian Salgado joined the team at the new Gudelsky Family Medical Center, which is located near the Ocean Pines South Gate entrance. Gastroenterologist Scott Itzkowitz was also hired in February. He is a military veteran who spent time on the Navy and Army side of healthcare.
Primary care recruitment is a priority for the hospital system, as the need for more family and internal medicine remains. Owrey said patients are leaning into urgent and emergency care as a result.
“We are trying to expand access to more primary care,” Owrey said. “The inability to tackle this issue is one of the things that has most disappointed me in the twenty-plus months I’ve been here. Primary care is a strong foundation for strong healthcare, and we are working on that.”