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  • Expanding Access - J. Kent McNew Family Medical Center

    Addressing the Need

    Few health care needs are more misunderstood and poorly addressed in the U.S. than those involving mental health. Anne Arundel County is no exception. According to the county’s Community Health Needs Assessment, mental health is one of the highest health care priorities.

    In 2018, the Maryland Health Care Commission approved Anne Arundel Medical Center to establish a 16-bed mental health hospital for adults. Building on the legacy of care we have established with our Pathways treatment center, the opening of the J. Kent McNew Family Medical Center allows AAMC to provide comprehensive and integrated mental health care at a single location. 

    Expanding Access

    The number of Anne Arundel County residents seeking mental health services continues to climb. In 2017, AAMC’s Emergency Department provided more than 4,000 mental health consults, and transferred about half of those patients to mental health units outside Anne Arundel County.

    Project Timeline

    J. Kent McNew Family Medical Center Timeline

    The Right Treatment, The Right Time

    J. Kent McNew Family Medical Center Timeline

    The new mental health hospital is one part of AAMC’s efforts to increase mental health services. AAMC’s goal is to offer the right treatment at the right time, and require inpatient admissions only when necessary for the patient. The campus will provide:

    • Inpatient mental health care
    • A psychiatric partial hospitalization program
    • Intensive outpatient programs
    • Residential and outpatient substance use services
    • Referral and care coordination to community-based treatment and support services

    Offering a full spectrum of services at one location allows for coordinated care and better outcomes.  

    Designed for Mental Wellness

    The 56,000 square foot, four-story building was designed with both safety and aesthetics in mind for the care of patients and families. The goal being a space that delivered a sense of light, calm and peace.

    The new facility includes a courtyard, patient and family lounge space, a secure ambulance bay to allow for the safe transfer of new patients into the building, a meditation room and a community conference room.

    Community Partnerships and Support

    This project has widespread community support, including hospitals, physicians, mental health organizations, elected officials, faith-based organizations, community organizations, and AAMC’s boards, physicians, staff and volunteers.

    Thanks to generous support from individual community members and local businesses, the AAMC Foundation has raised nearly $10 million to support both the capital and programmatic needs of this new facility. For more information on how to get involved, contact the AAMC Foundation at 443-481-4745.

    About the McNew Family

    The McNew Family has been connected to AAMC for nearly 50 years. The late Nancy McNew was an AAMC nurse from 1970 to 2006, working first as a cardiac care nurse and then as the first nurse leader of Infection Control.  Nancy taught in Anne Arundel General Hospital’s School for Practical Nurses from 1970 until the school closed. She was a highly valued nursing educator and those who graduated from the school credit her for their becoming great nurses.

    Kent McNew has been a steadfast supporter of AAMC for more than thirty years. He also served on the health system’s Board of Trustees from 2005 to 2012.

  • AAMC Breaks Ground on New Mental Health Hospital

    AAMC Breaks Ground on New Mental Health Hospital

    Anne Arundel Medical Center has broken ground on the construction of its mental health hospital. During the groundbreaking ceremony, held Wednesday, June 20, hospital officials also announced the facility will be named the J. Kent McNew Family Medical Center.

    The McNew family has been connected to AAMC for nearly 50 years. The late Nancy McNew was an AAMC nurse from 1970 to 2006, first as a cardiac care nurse and then as the first nurse leader of Infection Control. Kent McNew served on the AAMC Board of Trustees from 2005 to 2012.

    To commemorate the groundbreaking, longtime supporters of the project, including Congressman John Sarbanes, Congressman Anthony Brown, Maryland Secretary of Health Robert Neall, Maryland House Speaker Michael Busch, Anne Arundel County Executive Steve Schuh, and the offices of Senators Chris Van Hollen and Ben Cardin, joined AAMC President and CEO Victoria Bayless and Board of Trustees Chair Gary Jobson.

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    CEO Message: Mental Health Hospital Approved

    CEO Message: Mental Health Hospital Approved

    Today, the Maryland Health Care Commission voted to approve Anne Arundel Medical Center’s Certificate of Need (CON) application for a 16-bed, freestanding mental health hospital on our Riva Road campus. This is an incredible step forward for expanding access to critically needed mental health care in our community.

    Building on the legacy of care we have established with our Pathways treatment center, a mental health hospital on this campus will allow AAMC to provide comprehensive and integrated mental health care at a single location. The mental health hospital will include inpatient psychiatric care for adults, partial hospitalization, intensive outpatient programs, family support services, prevention programs, and care coordination with community-based support services.

    Today’s positive vote means we can move forward with our plans. At this time, we anticipate construction could begin this fall and doors opening to our community in the summer of 2020.

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    Anne Arundel Medical Center Celebrates Pathways 25th Anniversary

    Anne Arundel Medical Center Celebrates Pathways 25th Anniversary

    Anne Arundel County leaders and educators convened Tuesday at Anne Arundel Medical Center (AAMC) for “No Wrong Door, Hope for Recovery,” a day-long symposium to commemorate the 25th anniversary of AAMC’s substance abuse and mental health treatment facility, Pathways. Speakers and guests discussed the county’s latest efforts to address mental health and substance abuse in our youth and community.

    In remarks during the symposium, AAMC’s Executive Vice President of Integrated Care Delivery and Chief Operating Officer Maulik Joshi underscored AAMC’s continued efforts to increase critical mental health services in the county.

    “We remain committed to improving access and providing high-quality addiction treatment and mental health care to all in need in our community.” Part of that commitment, Joshi said, is working to establish AAMC’s proposed mental health hospital. AAMC’s mental health hospital would double Anne Arundel County’s inventory of mental health beds, and serve up to 900 patients a year who would otherwise be transferred out of AAMC’s care.

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    Watch the Videos


    On Jan. 10, 2019, Anne Arundel Medical Center celebrated a milestone in the construction of our new mental health hospital by placing the last piece of steel into the frame of the J. Kent McNew Family Medical Center. This ceremony is known as “topping out” and is an indication that the project is on track for its completion in summer 2020.


    In June 2018, Anne Arundel Medical Center broke ground on its new mental health hospital. Scheduled to be complete in the summer of 2020, the J. Kent McNew Family Medical Center is part of AAMC’s efforts to increase mental health services. AAMC’s goal is to offer the right treatment at the right time, and require inpatient admissions only when necessary for the patient.

    This project has widespread community support, including hospitals, physicians, mental health organizations, elected officials, faith-based organizations, community organizations, and AAMC’s boards, physicians, staff and volunteers. AAMC Foundation business and professional leaders have pledged to raise $10 million to support both capital and programmatic costs of this project. For more information on how to get involved, contact the AAMC Foundation at 443-481-4745.

    See the Photos

    Sue McNew joins others in signing the last beam before it’s placed into the frame of the J. Kent McNew Family Medical Center.

    Sue McNew joins others in signing the last beam before it’s placed into the frame of the J. Kent McNew Family Medical Center.

    J. Kent McNew and Sue McNew talk to construction workers during the topping-out ceremony of the new mental health hospital.

    J. Kent McNew and Sue McNew talk to construction workers during the topping-out ceremony of the new mental health hospital.

    AAMC employees, and Anne Arundel County elected officials and their representatives sign the last beam of the J. Kent McNew Family Medical Center during the topping-out ceremony.

    AAMC employees, and Anne Arundel County elected officials and their representatives sign the last beam of the J. Kent McNew Family Medical Center during the topping-out ceremony.

    Secretary of Health Bobby Neall commemorates the progress and work towards opening a mental health hospital in the community.

    Secretary of Health Bobby Neall commemorates the progress and work towards opening a mental health hospital in the community.

    Senator Sarah Elfreth, AAMC CEO Victoria Bayless, Delegate Heather Bagnall, Secretary of Health Bobby Neall and AAC Councilmember Allison Pickard in front of J. Kent McNew Family Medical Center.

    Senator Sarah Elfreth, AAMC CEO Victoria Bayless, Delegate Heather Bagnall, Secretary of Health Bobby Neall and Anne Arundel County Councilmember Allison Pickard stand in front of the J. Kent McNew Family Medical Center.

    A construction worker, J. Kent McNew and Sue McNew watch as the last beam of the J. Kent McNew Family Medical Center is placed into the mental health hospital’s frame.

    A construction worker, J. Kent McNew and Sue McNew watch as the last beam of the J. Kent McNew Family Medical Center is placed into the mental health hospital’s frame.

    Several AAMC employees, and Anne Arundel County elected officials and their representatives sign the last beam of the mental health hospital during the topping-out morning ceremony.

    Several AAMC employees, and Anne Arundel County elected officials and their representatives sign the last beam of the mental health hospital during the topping-out morning ceremony.

    AAMC CEO Victoria Bayless welcomed employees, Anne Arundel County elected officials and their representatives to the J. Kent McNew Family Medical Center topping out ceremony.

    AAMC CEO Victoria Bayless welcomed employees, Anne Arundel County elected officials and their representatives. Bayless also recognized J. Kent and Sue McNew for their landmark gift, making opening a mental health hospital in the community a possibility.

    The last beam of the J. Kent McNew Family Medical Center being placed after AAMC employees, and Anne Arundel County elected officials and their representatives signed it.

    The last beam of the J. Kent McNew Family Medical Center being placed after AAMC employees, and Anne Arundel County elected officials and their representatives signed it.

    After being signed, the last beam of the J. Kent McNew Family Medical Center was placed into the mental health hospital’s frame.

    After being signed, the last beam of the J. Kent McNew Family Medical Center was placed into the mental health hospital’s frame.