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The Pri nce Ge orge’s Pos t A C OMMUNITY NEWSPAPER FOR PRINCE GEORGE ’S COUNTY Since 1932 Vol. 83, No. 30 July 23 — July 29, 2015 Prince George’s County, Maryland Newspaper of Record Phone: 301-627-0900 25 cents Government, Community and Healthcare Leaders Attended Ribbon Cutting of New Care Center By Press Officer them for the return to their Weiss PR home environments. During the ribbon-cutting Lanham, MD – On July 8, program, Phil Down, president government, community and at Doctors Community Hospi - healthcare leaders attended a rib - tal, stated that the new center bon-cutting ceremony for the will help with that transition by new Doctors Community Reha - treating “people in the most cost bilitation and Patient Care Cen - effective setting and getting ter. A Genesis Healthcare and them back to their homes, to Doctors Community Hospital their jobs; and we’re going to collaboration, this new rehabili - be able to do it here. This would tation and transitional care fa - have, in the past, been done in cility will provide high-quality the hospital at a much higher and comprehensive services to cost. So, we want to drive the short-term-stay patients and hospital cost down, give better long-term residents – people care and have better outcomes who need additional care prior for the patients.” CAPITAL NEWS SERVICE PHOTO BY KATHY OWENS to transitioning from hospital “What is going on here, on settings to their home environ - Janice Jackson has used MTA Mobility for 31 years, and she said recently the service has been the worst she has this campus, is the future of ments. Guest speakers included ever seen it. Jackson, who is an incomplete quadriplegic, uses the alternative transportation service to go to work, health care. We have a lot of Maryland’s Lieutenant Governor meetings, meet friends and go shopping, which is why its reliability is crucial for her and thousands in the area. discussions going on nation - Boyd Rutherford and Prince wide with very big acute care George’s County Council Chair systems, academic medical sys - Mel Franklin. tems, but I will tell you, there Many hospitalized patients is no acute care organization require specialized care prior Paratransit Riders Frustrated, that is further along, not just in to going home. When com - talking about what they want to bined with the increasing rates do, but actually bringing it to of various chronic medical con - MBy GRACTE TOAOHE Y Und“Theey sraid it wSouldc be trhere uqutadiripnlegic y and executive di - thus a violation of the Americans life,” elaborated Mike Reitz, ditions, transitional care can Capital News Service in 10 minutes,” Jackson, 55, rector of Women Embracing with Disabilities Act. chief operating officer at Gen - benefit patients’ long-term said. It wasn’t. Abilities Now, a mentoring pro - esis HealthCare. “The continu - health. This type of care can BALTIMORE — Janice About four and half hours gram for young women with What is Mobility? ity of care and the transition of include providing comprehen - Jackson sat outside Walmart later, after the call center con - disabilities that focuses on their Because of her disability, care as people move through sive rehabilitation that im - waiting. She had a ride sched - tinued to tell Jackson 5 or 10 abilities. “We are in the process Jackson is one of about 25,000 the system — move from the proves patients’ mobility and uled with Maryland Transit Ad - more minutes, after a phone call of being neglected and abused residents who are qualified and acute care set—ing to post- specialized clinical services for ministration’s Mobility, the para - and visit with the police, after by the system every day.” certified to use Maryland Tran - acute and home is critical – and those who need extended re - transit service for people with her phone died and she soiled And she is not alone. sit Administration’s Mobility typically not well done. What covery time to address complex disabilities in the Baltimore area, her pants for fear of missing her The Maryland Disability Law services as an alternative to Phil and his leadership team are wounds or injuries. Simulta - to pick her up at 2:30 p.m. so ride to go inside to use the bath - Center and the AARP Foundation fixed-route systems, like the lo - doing [at Doctors Community neously, transitional care can she could make it to a meeting room—a Mobility bus picked filed a class action lawsuit in Jan - cal bus, light rail system or Hospital] is breaking down contribute to the reduction of in Towson. her up. She missed her meeting uary against the state’s transit ad - metro/subway lines. A paratran - those barriers, making sure hospital readmission rates and She waited the 30-minute by hours. ministration and the Maryland sit option is federally mandated when somebody goes to that healthcare costs by helping leeway, and at 3 p.m. she rang “In 31 years, this is the worst Department of Transportation for people receive needed medical Mobility’s call center to inquire I’ve ever seen Mobility,” said improperly denying eligibility about her late ride. Jackson, who is an incomplete and access to paratransit services, services that better prepare See CARE CENTER Page A 3 See RIDERS Page A 5 PGFD Firefighters Extinguish Prince George’s County Council Seeks Blue Ribbon Commission Members Fire, Rescue Two Pets and Ensure By Press Officer County Council and the fiscal dynamics of Prince PGCPS County Executive over the George’s County’s govern - Quick Veterinarian Treatment next year to address the ment; and feedback from The Prince George’s County’s structural deficit – community stakeholders con - PRESS OFFICE By County Council is currently the imbalance caused when cerning the County’s budget PG County Fire/EMS accepting resumes from normal government spending and tax structure. Prince George’s County Fire - County residents with ex - exceeds tax revenues on an “The Council received a fighters quickly extinguished a pertise in matters of budget, annual basis. The commis - very loud and clear message fire inside of a Landover Hills finance or public policy, to sion will collect, review and from residents during the home and rescued two pets serve as members of the Blue discuss comparative budget most recent budget process,” found inside. At around 11:15 Ribbon Commission on Ad - data and information regard - said Council Chairman Mel am, on July 13th, a neighbor dressing Prince George’s ing Prince George’s County’s Franklin. “We need to get the called 911 and reported smoke County’s Structural Deficit. fiscal health; policies and County’s fiscal house in order was coming from the attic of a The Blue Ribbon Com - practices that affect Prince and create more confidence in home in the 4900 block of 78th mission, established by George’s County’s revenue Avenue in Landover Hills. Council Resolution 26-2015, structure and the strength of will propose policies to the Firefighters from the Lan - its tax base; the structure and See BLUE RIBBON Page A 5 dover Hills Fire/EMS Station 830 were the first to arrive and encountered light smoke from the attic of a single family home. Tips for Beating the Heat A fire in the kitchen was found PHOTO COURTESY THE PRINCE GEORGE’S COUNTY FIRE/EMS By Press Officer cases, a person’s body temper - malls, libraries, grocery stores after forcing entry into the house. PG County Government ature rises rapidly and may or movie theatres. We also en - The fire was quickly extin - and smoke inhalation. The cat “Blueberry” he showed no signs damage the brain and or other courage citizens to utilize one guished. The house was charged was given to a neighbor for safe of improvement and a decision LARGO, MD — According vital organs,” said Pamela B. of the designated Maryland- with high heat and thick smoke keeping and the dog was being was made that to the National Weather Service Creekmur, Health Officer. National Capital Park & Plan - with searches yielding no human treated by Firefighter/Medics on Firefighter/Medics would trans - the air quality index will be un - “We encourage all residents to ning Commission (M-NCPPC) occupants being located, how - the scene, however, “Blueberry” port the dog to a nearby veteri - healthy for individuals who are check on the elderly, neigh - Recreational Cooling Centers ever, a dog and a cat were re - was in need of immediate vet - narian hospital on Annapolis at risk of heat related illnesses bors, family and friends.” to seek relief. These neigh - moved from the house. The cat erinarian care. A smaller dog es - Road in Lanham. Veterinarians due to high heat and humidity The Office of Emergency borhood facilities are open to quickly regained her senses once caped when firefighters entered immediately started to work with in Prince George’s County. Management would also like County residents during nor - removed to fresh air and ap - the home and is being searched Blueberry, who, as it turns out, “Everyone is vulnerable to to remind citizens who are in mal business hours. peared fine. The dog, “Blue - for within the community. heat-related illnesses when need of relief from the heat to berry” – an older Beagle mix, After 15 minutes of providing their bodies are unable to prop - seek shelter in air-conditioned was suffering from burn injuries oxygen by Firefighter/Medics to erly cool themselves. In such facilities such as shopping See RESCUE Page A 3 See HEAT Page A 3 INSIDE State Fire Marshall Offers Off To The Races: How Will Farmers Markets: Important Movie Review: “Balls Out” Earth Talk Grilling Safety Tips 2016’s Presidential Candidates Sales Outlets for Organic Farmers Our hero, a likable fifth-year senior Dear EarthTalk: for Marylanders Save Our Cities? Producers pursue organic certifica - named Caleb Fuller, is about to graduate, I recently heard about a cafe in the Increased outdoor activities also Rather than recite our problems, tion for a variety of reasons, and there take the LSAT, and get married.