CHESTERTOWN — University of Maryland Shore Medical Center at Chestertown has been named one of “100 Critical Access Hospitals to Know in 2026” by Becker’s Hospital Review, the leading media and live events platform for hospital and health system executives.
According to the Becker’s announcement, “In the most remote parts of the country, critical access hospitals stand as essential pillars of care. Though they are small by definition, their reach is profound. Offering round-the-clock emergency services with no more than 25 inpatient beds, these hospitals are purpose-built to bring quality healthcare directly to communities that need it most. Rural access hospitals are expanding service lines and embracing technological innovation to meaningfully reduce how far patients must travel to receive both general and specialty care, continually redefining what’s possible within the critical access model.”
Factors supporting the Chestertown hospital’s designation by Becker’s as a “Critical Access Hospital to Know” include:
• The hospital was the first in Maryland to receive Maryland Rural Hospital designation through its achievement of geriatric emergency department accreditation, its designation as an “Age Friendly Health System” and its membership in Healthy People 2030.
• The hospital’s Shore Community Outreach Team collaborates with partners to offer home safety inspections, advance directives preparation assistance, blood pressure checks, health screenings, chronic illness case management, wellness activities and telehealth consultation arrangements.
• The hospital has developed health education programs that provide free community health education classes, both online and in-person.
• Launched in 2024, the hospital’s remote patient monitoring program gives providers access to health information that keeps patients healthier at home.
• A new state-of-the-art MRI machine, partially funded by the Chester River Health Foundation, was installed in the hospital last year.
“We are very proud to be recognized by Becker’s Healthcare as a ‘2026 Critical Access Hospital to Know,'” said Zack Royston, UM Shore Regional Health vice president of Rural Health Transformation and executive director of UM Shore Medical Center at Chestertown.
“As the northern-most emergency and acute care hospital in Shore Regional Health’s five-county service area, our hospital plays a vital role in ensuring that our local, rural communities have access to timely, exceptional care close to home,” Royston said in a statement. “This recognition honors the dedication, compassion and commitment our team demonstrates every day in advancing access, improving health outcomes and strengthening the communities we serve.”
University of Maryland Shore Medical Center at Chestertown is the University of Maryland Shore Regional Health’s hospital in Kent County.
UM Shore Regional Health, a member organization of the University of Maryland Medical System, is the principal provider of comprehensive healthcare services for more than 170,000 residents of the five Mid-Shore counties — Caroline, Dorchester, Kent, Queen Anne’s and Talbot. It consists of about 2,000 team members, including more than 600 health care providers on the medical staff.
