AGH President Michael Franklin, left, and Jack Burbage address the Berlin Mayor and Council on Monday, asking for a $100,000 grant toward the hospital’s capital campaign.

By Josh Davis, Associate Editor

(Feb. 15, 2018) While Atlantic General Hospital President and CEO Michael Franklin recently made the rounds of public meetings in Worcester County, Ocean City and Pocomoke, his visit to the Berlin mayor and Town Council Monday night was different.

For this session, he accompanied by Jack Burbage, the force behind AGH’s major project, the John H. “Jack” Burbage, Jr. Regional Cancer Care Center.

After giving an overview of Atlantic General operations to the council, Franklin introduced Burbage, who “wanted to share a few words regarding our capital campaign.”

Burbage said Atlantic General treated 11,000 patients last year and of its staff, 231 lived in the Berlin 21811 zip code.

He said hospital operating revenues, $124 million, were only slightly below that of the entire county.

“Overall, we have 900 employees at the hospital with a payroll of over $48 million, so you can imagine the impact that has on the town,” Burbage said, adding there was “over $60 million in economic and community benefit resources that are retained within our community due to the support and development of AGH programming.

“It’s been a happy marriage between Berlin and the hospital,” he continued. “We really need each other. You’ve been very good to us, helping us with our bonds and everything, and hopefully we saved a few lives at the hospital, because they didn’t have to drive 20 minutes to get … to another hospital.”

Burbage was in Berlin to solicit help for a $35 million capital campaign, to include modernizing patient care rooms and surgical facilities, and expand emergency and outpatient services. Franklin said earlier the emergency rooms were designed for about 29,000 people, 25 years ago, but now saw almost 40,000 patients each year.

“We’re bursting at our seams at our emergency room and we need help,” Burbage said. “I’m here begging tonight, asking you to consider putting in your budget … $100,000 over five years.

“I know Berlin isn’t Ocean City – don’t want it to be,” he added. “But, it appears they’re giving us a half a million dollars – $100,000 a year.”

He said the county also pledged $100,000 this year and would “try to give us the same amount next year.”

“More than anything else, it’s the right thing to do,” Burbage said. “It’s our hospital and our community that’s saving lives, and I’ll bet there isn’t one of you up there that doesn’t have a friend that hasn’t been touched by cancer … now we’re going to have one of the nicest cancer facilities around.”

Burbage said money raised during the capital campaign would help pay for the cancer center, hospital expansions, and a center for women’s health.

“We really need your help. I know it’s a lot of money. I know you’ve got a tight budget and I know how tough it is, but we also need to take care of our people in our community,” he said. “We’ve been good partners and I’m just asking you to consider it.”

Mayor Gee Williams said he read in local papers about Atlantic General presentations in Ocean City. He thought about it and “wrote down a number” that seemed reasonable for Berlin.

“I just happened to be, maybe by pure luck, but maybe by some considered judgement, I thought $100,000,” Williams said. “That was the number I thought was appropriate, given our resources.

“Being a community that supports health and wellness, we hope it’s becoming one of the core values of 21st century Berlin. Obviously, it’ll be up to the council and the budget process … but I hope we can find a way to meet your request,” he added.

Burbage deadpanned, “maybe I should raise it,” drawing a big laugh from those in attendance.

Councilman Elroy Brittingham, an original board member at the hospital, said he was previously accused of “trying to give the hospital too much money.”

“This is one of my favorite funding sources, so I’ll be [voting for it],” Brittingham said.

A 25th anniversary celebration for the hospital is planned on May 17. For more information, visit www.atlanticgeneral.org.