Louise Moody, M.D., Congresswoman Donna Edwards, and Martin T. Liss, M.D.

Urgent care provider Secure Medical Care welcomed Congresswoman Donna Edwards (4th Congressional District of Maryland) on her visit to their Gaithersburg medical clinic on Wednesday, January 6, 2010. Secure Medical Care was selected by the Montgomery County Medical Society (MCMS) to host Congresswoman Edwards as a participant in its 2009 Legislative Internship Program. The program gives local representatives the opportunity to engage in meaningful dialogue with the medical community about the current state of health insurance. It provides physicians and medical professionals the opportunity to weigh in on the health care reform debate and discuss the challenges they face and how the current healthcare reform legislation will impact their profession.

During the first part of her visit Congresswoman Edwards accompanied co-owners Louise Moody, M.D. and Martin T. Liss, M.D. as they treated patients. “She spent a lot of time with us and with our patients,” noted Dr. Liss, “and showed genuine interest in understanding how we serve our community.”

The second part of her visit to the walk-in practice was spent meeting with Secure Medical Care staff members,  apprising them of the progress made on the health care bill and asking them to describe some of the difficult situations they face. “It was an ideal setting and the staff was very open and communicative," said the Congresswoman. Topics of discussion included caring for people with no insurance and no means to get the appropriate tests done or to buy the necessary medicines. One staff member emphasized the fact that patients often return to their own countries in order to get affordable tests or surgeries. Staff members also described some of the obstacles health insurance companies put in front of them. “We enjoyed Representative Edwards' visit very much,” Dr. Moody said, “and we’re grateful to MCMS for giving us the opportunity to meet with her and to voice our concerns about health care reform.”

Also on hand for the visit was Susan Raskin, Community Relations & Publications Coordinator for MCMS, and Amanda Partington, Constituent Service Representative for the Office of Congresswoman Edwards. “Visiting Secure Medical Care was a very valuable experience for me personally and as a policymaker,” stated Congresswoman Edwards. “It really gave me an appreciation for the time and individual attention that is necessary to provide quality care.”


ABOUT SECURE MEDICAL CARE

Secure Medical Care has been providing convenient, quality urgent medical care and occupational health services to patients and employers in the Washington, DC metropolitan area for more than two decades. Owned by Louise Moody, MD and Martin T. Liss, MD, Secure Medical Care distinguishes itself by combining diagnosis and treatment for common minor injuries and illnesses with efficient, friendly, personalized service.

Secure Medical Care’s walk-in urgent care medical clinics are located at 10452 Baltimore Ave., in Beltsville, MD, (301) 441-3355, and 803 Russell Ave., in Gaithersburg, MD, (301) 869-0700 – and also online at www.securemedicalcare.com. Secure Medical Care is open Monday-Friday 8 am-8 pm; Weekends and Holidays 10 am-6 pm.