WESTERN MARYLAND CENTER
Carl A. Fischer, M.D., Director

1500 Pennsylvania Ave.
Hagerstown, MD 21740 (301) 791-4410

Western Maryland Center originated as Western
Maryland State Hospital. Authorized in 1952, the
Hospital opened in 1957 (Chapter 53, Acts of 1952).
The Center provides chronic hospital and compre-
hensive care facility inpatient care, outpatient end-
stage kidney dialysis, adult day treatment services, and
outpatient rehabilitation services. Currently, it has 117
licensed hospital beds and 58 licensed comprehensive
care beds for rehabilitation services and the care of the
chronically ill. An outpatient unit provides hemodia-
lysis for patients with chronic kidney disease (Code
Health—General Article, sec. 19-502).

CITIZENS ADVISORY BOARD FOR
WESTERN MARYLAND CENTER

Joyce C. Brown, Chairperson, 1997

The Board's seven members are appointed to four-
year terms by the Governor upon recommendation of
the Secretary of Health and Mental Hygiene.

OFFICE OF CHILD HEALTH
Polly B. Harrison, M.D., Director

201 West Preston St.
Baltimore, MD 21201 (410) 225-6749

The Office of Child Health had been known as the
Office of Child Health Services since 1989 when it was
made part of the Local and Family Health Admini-
stration. In 1993, the Office received its present name.
The Office of Child Health administers State and
federal funding to the department of health in each
county and in Baltimore City for basic preventive
services to safeguard the health of children. These
services include immunizations, screening for lead
poisoning, and counseling in basic nutrition. The
Office also administers certain special grants, such
as the grant to the University of Maryland System
relating to sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS),
or grants to Eastern Shore counties for preventive
dental services for children. In addition, the Office
offers training, consultation, and technical assis-
tance to local health departments and the private
sector.

PROGRAM TO IDENTIFY
HEARING-IMPAIRED INFANTS
Mary Slough, Director
(410) 225-5603

The Program to Identify Hearing-Impaired In-
fants was established under the Developmental
Disabilities Administration in 1985 (Chapter 402,
Acts of 1985). In 1990, the Program was trans-
ferred to the Office of Children's Medical Services
and, in 1992, to the Office of Child Health Services,

now the Office of Child Health within the Local
and Family Health Administration. The Program
provides early identification and follow-up of hear-
ing-impaired infants and infants who are at risk of
developing a hearing impairment.

ADVISORY COUNCIL FOR PROGRAM TO
IDENTIFY HEARING-IMPAIRED INFANTS

Vira J. Froehlinger, Chairperson, 1995

The Advisory Council for Program to Identify
Hearing-Impaired Infants was created in 1985
(Chapter 402, Acts of 1985). The Council advises
the Department of Health and Mental Hygiene on
implementing the Program and on educational pro-
grams for families, professionals, and the public.
The Council also reviews informational materials
distributed by the Department.
The Council consists often members appointed
by the Secretary of Health and Mental Hygiene
(Code Health—General Article, secs. 13-601
through 13-605).

OFFICE OF CHILDREN'S MEDICAL
SERVICES
Judson Force, M.D., M.P.H., Director

201 West Preston St.

Baltimore, MD 21201 (410) 225-5580

The Office of Children's Medical Services, for-
merly Crippled Children's Services, administers a
joint federal, State and local program that has op-
erated in Maryland since 1937 (Code Health—
General Article, sec. 15-125).
The Office helps families plan and obtain special-
ized medical and rehabilitative care for children
whose chronic illnesses or disabling conditions in-
terfere with normal growth and development.
These conditions include cerebral palsy, orofacial
anomalies, speech and language problems, spina
bifida, heart disease and defects, hearing impair-
ment, cystic fibrosis, chronic otitis media, chronic
renal disease, and epilepsy. Many other diagnoses
qualify a child to receive services if financial eligibil-
ity requirements also are met (Code of Maryland
Regulations—COMAR 10.22.08.05B).

OFFICE OF CHRONIC DISEASE
PREVENTION
John Southard, M.D., Director

201 West Preston St.
Baltimore, MD 21201 (410) 225-6778

The Office of Chronic Disease Prevention origi-
nated in the 1960s as the Regional Medical Pro-
gram which later became the Adult Health
Program. When the Local and Family Health Ad-
ministration was formed in 1989, the Program was
reorganized under it as the Office of Chronic Dis-
ease Prevention.