Westminster, MD - President and CEO of Carroll County General Hospital, John M. Sernulka, announced today that effective October 16, Carroll County General Hospital would become Carroll Hospital Center, a change that will be formally adopted on November 1. The hospital’s decision to “update” its name stemmed from the desire to have a name that is more reflective of the scope of services offered at the facility. The hospital wants the patients in its service area to easily identify Carroll Hospital Center as the comprehensive medical campus that it is today.

We are excited about our new name and believe hospital center better reflects the broad range of services and advanced capabilities that we are currently providing and will be adding in the next year” said Sernulka. “With Phase One of the largest expansion in our history nearing completion, our Board and administrative leadership agreed that now was a very appropriate time to make a change. The description of general hospital did not accurately portray the expanse of services available here on the medical campus.”

The name change, the first in the hospital’s 42-year history, comes just as the hospital prepares to open its new state-of-the art Emergency Department nearly twice its current size and a five-story bed tower with all private patient rooms, both major components of the hospital’s $80 million, two-year expansion project.

As a health care delivery system, the hospital offers a full range of inpatient and outpatient services, advanced technology, off-site medical offices and specialty centers for same-day surgery, oncology, women’s health and diagnostic imaging as well as home care and hospice services.

A committee comprised of long-time board members, physicians and marketing personnel presented options to the full Board of Directors in May 2003, when the name Carroll Hospital Center was formally approved.

As the president of the Board of Directors for Carroll Hospital Center, I feel a great deal of pride in being a part of this new era of health care in Carroll County,” said Marcus Lee Primm, President of the hospital’s Board of Directors. “The Board feels the name update not only fitting, but very timely. The addition of the expanded emergency room, five story bed tower and main entrance were going to necessitate new external and internal signage making the end of the first phase of construction a perfect time and most cost effective way to effect a change. The future of Carroll Hospital Center is bright and expanding and our new name will help us to not only maintain, but enhance our position as a health care leader.” Mr. Primm stated, adding “This is just one more example of our commitment to the community we serve—it seemed a natural progression.”

The hospital’s logo also has been updated and will appear on all forms of communication. The heart shape from the previous logo was preserved to symbolize the hospital’s history of and commitment to providing compassionate care for its patients.

At a time of great promise and expansion for our hospital, the name update symbolizes our new beginnings and creates greater awareness for all the parts of our family of health care services,” said Sernulka.

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