Group from Vietnam vists UM Shore Medical Center
International Group Visits UM Shore Medical Center: A group from Vietnam visited University of Maryland Shore Medical Center at Easton on Saturday, Feb. 27, to gain insight for a hospital they are having built. Front: Patti Willis, senior vice president of strategy and communication, University of Maryland Shore Regional Health. Back, from left: Dr. Judith Gieske, Dr. James Gieske, Duong Tan Phong, Nguyen Ngoc Tien and Nguyen Mai. - PHOTO BY CHELSEA LINDNER
On Saturday, Feb. 27, a group from Vietnam traveled to the University of Maryland Shore Medical Center at Easton to gain insight for a hospital that they are having built in Vietnam.
Specifically, the group was looking to gain insight on the birthing center model — LDRP (Labor Delivery Recovery and Postpartum) — used at UM Shore Medical Center, which allows the mother and family to stay in one room throughout the birthing and recovery period.
“We welcomed the opportunity to learn about health care in Vietnam and to share insights about a number of programs and services available at University of Maryland Shore Regional Health, specifically the birthing center’s LDRP model of care, which is not offered in many hospitals,” said Trena Williamson, regional director of communications and marketing.
The group chose UM Shore Medical Center at Easton because they were put in contact with Dr. James and Judith Gieske of Easton, by a mutual friend, Dr. Duc Nguyen, who formerly lived and worked in Easton under James Gieske.
Since Duc Nguyen is familiar with Easton and doctors in the area, he suggested to the group that they visit UM Shore Medical Center to get guidance for their plans. Dr. Ron Sweet of Easton organized the tour.
During the tour of the birthing center, the group spent time with Dr. Aisha Siddiqui, and nurses Pamela Callahan and Amy Forrest. The group viewed the labor and delivery rooms, the nursery and the operating suite for cesarean births.
“In addition to the time spent with Dr. Aisha Siddiqui, and members of the birthing center team, our Vietnamese visitors also had the opportunity learn about innovations in care such as the use of telemedicine and how it provides real-time access to specialists from a remote location — that was quite an ‘ah-ha’ moment for them as they began to brainstorm about how telemedicine could benefit their patients,” Williamson said.
The hospital, to be called The American International Hospital, will be the first in Vietnam to be accredited by the Joint Commission. The hospital will be about the same size as UM Shore Medical Center, with about 150 beds. The groundbreaking of the hospital is scheduled for April and it is expected to take 15 to 18 months to finish.