Patient First Opens in Capitol Heights, 22nd Center in the D.C. Area
A new Patient First opened in Capitol Heights on Jan. 30, offering a new urgent and primary care service provider for Prince Georgians.
The new site is the 22nd location in the D.C. metropolitan area, and the 79th overall.
Patient First, physicians provide preventative and primary medical services for patients who do not have a regular physician, without a required appointment.
“The goal of Patient First is to provide convenient, cost-effective medical care on a walk-in basis,” said Dr. R.P. Sowers, founder and CEO of Patient First.
The new center will be open from 8 a.m to 8 p.m., 365 days of the year, including all holidays, and will provide treatment for routine injuries and illnesses, including care for: colds, flu, allergic reactions, ear and sinus infections, pneumonia, minor burns, and sprains. There will also be an x-ray machine on site.
“Our physicians and staff always work closely and in a collaborative fashion with the area’s existing medical community to provide care,” said Sowers.
Many people took to social media to express their excitement about the new location, with one user commenting on a Patient First Facebook post announcing the site is now open, saying: “The best of the best.”
Patient First accepts major insurance plans including Aetna, Amerigroup, Beech Street, CareFirst Blue Cross Blue Shield, Cigna Healthcare, Great-West Healthcare, UnitedHealthcare, Medicare and TRICARE.
State Mortician Board Members Resign Following Grisly Review of Crematorium
Maryland State Board of Morticians and Funeral Directors President Michele Kutta, Brandon Wylie and Patrick Thompson have resigned and been removed from state health department websites after a disturbing discovery that led Maryland Gov. Wes Moore to ask them to step down.
This move comes weeks after a review of Heaven Bound Crematory Services, based in White Plains, Maryland, found evidence of countless corpses incorrectly stored or decomposing and with blood littering the floors. A customer who received the cremated remains of their recently passed father last week, held doubts that the remains she received were from just her father and held strong criticism of the ethics of the White Plains crematory.
“The people that were in charge of running Heaven Bound were evil. I think they took advantage of people at their worst and most vulnerable point,” said CJ Greenidge. “It causes real damage. It’s a lot to deal with losing someone that you love and to know that as soon as they left this house, you don’t know what could have happened.”
Services have been indefinitely suspended at the crematory facility, and concerns have been raised against the location since 2017. Co-owner Rosa Turner Williams has paid thousands in fines and has been told to redo ethics courses.
“There is no higher responsibility for any administration than protecting the health and safety of Marylanders. Today, we further honor our commitment to that pledge,” Moore said in a statement announcing the review.
Kirk Helfenbein was listed as board officer in minutes from meetings in December, and was not requested to resign.
“The Maryland Department of Health condemns in the strongest terms any mistreatment of human remains—on the basis of policy, respect for Maryland families, and basic decency,” the department said in a statement shortly after the gristly findings.
“Although the department does not have oversight of daily operations for the Board of Morticians and Funeral Directors, the department stepped in immediately upon learning of the circumstances at Heaven Bound Crematory to have the local health department issue an abatement order, given the egregious health hazards present. The department also issued an administrative subpoena, in consultation with the Office of the Attorney General, to support the State Anatomy Board’s efforts to notify the affected families. We are committed to continuing to support the ongoing investigation into this matter in any way that is appropriate and commensurate with the scope of the department’s charge.
Bladensburg Withdraws Efforts to Annex Hospital Hill Site
Following a closed-session meeting, Bladensburg officials announced on Jan. 28 that they plan to stop their efforts to annex the Hospital Hill site.
The site developer warned that the project, expected to host 1,300 homes alongside retail space and a new medical office, could be negatively impacted by the annexation efforts, and both Cheverly and Prince George’s had planned lawsuits against Bladensburg.
“Our intent is not to hinder development but to ensure that Bladensburg has a voice in a project that will have lasting positive regional impacts,” said Bladensburg Mayor Takisha James in a statement. “We are committed to fairness, collaboration, and advocating for the best interests of our community.”
Delegate Ben Barnes (D- District 21) now plans to withdraw his legislation to limit annexation attempts of property owned by the county’s redevelopment agency.
Senator Malcolm Augustine (D- District 47) and Delegate Julian Ivey (D- District 47) also introduced legislation to provide a $200,000 economic study for Bladensburg.
The Town of Cheverly called Bladensburg’s decision to halt their plans for Hospital Hill “a significant step forward” in a social media post.
When Bladensburg initially announced annexation intentions, Cheverly Council members previously spoke against their efforts and Mayor Kayce Munyeneh noted the time and effort the town put into securing the redevelopment.
“While there is still work to be done, this marks meaningful progress in the right direction,” Munyeneh said. “The voices of our residents have been heard, and we are continuing to push for solutions that reflect the best interests of our community.”