[Congressional Record Volume 146, Number 87 (Monday, July 10, 2000)]
[House]
[Page H5727]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                    SALUTE TO JOHNS HOPKINS HOSPITAL

  The SPEAKER pro tempore (Mr. Tancredo). Under a previous order of the 
House, the gentleman from Maryland (Mr. Cummings) is recognized for 5 
minutes.
  Mr. CUMMINGS. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to pay tribute to Johns 
Hopkins Hospital located in my district in Baltimore, Maryland for its 
recently announced number one ranking among the Nation's hospitals.
  Treating nearly 600,000 patients per year, Johns Hopkins Medicine has 
been recognized for more than a century as a leading center for patient 
care, medical research, and teaching. The institution, which includes a 
hospital and health system and the School of Medicine, is noted for its 
excellent faculty and staff covering every aspect of medicine, its two 
world class medical campuses, and multiple outreach programs for 
regional, national and international patient activities.
  The flagship of this institution, Johns Hopkins Hospital, is a 1,025-
bed facility and encompasses renowned centers such as the Brady 
Urological Institute, the Wilmer Eye Institute, the Johns Hopkins 
Comprehensive Cancer Center, and the Johns Hopkins Children's Center.
  For the 10th straight year, the hospital has placed first on the 
annual U.S. News and World Report magazine hospital ranking. The 
rankings are based on three factors: reputation, mortality, and aspects 
of treatment such as technology and nursing care. Among 17 medical 
specialties evaluated, Hopkins ranked in the top 10 in 16 of them, 
including number one in ear, nose, throat, gynecological services, 
urology, and eye care. Further, 41 Johns Hopkins Hospital doctors were 
recognized in an American Health Magazine survey as among the best in 
the United States, more than any other medical center in the Nation.
  Most significant to me, however, is Hopkins' commitment to Baltimore 
and the worldwide community. This institution has a sense of obligation 
and social responsibility that finds its foundation in instructions by 
its founder and benefactor. Over a century ago, the Baltimore merchant 
Johns Hopkins wrote to his trustees, and I quote, ``The indigent of 
this city and its environs, without regard to sex, age or color, shall 
be received into this hospital.''
  In recent years, Hopkins has followed this commitment with the 
incorporation of the historic East Baltimore Community Action 
Coalition, better known as HEBCAC. It is a coalition formed among 
Baltimore City, the State of Maryland, Hopkins and the neighborhood to 
improve housing, attract new business, and offer social services to the 
47,500 residents of East Baltimore, 43 percent of whom live in poverty. 
HEBCAC was part of the city's successful bid to become a Federal 
empowerment zone and secure $34 million from the Federal Government for 
physical rehabilitation of the neighborhood.
  After more than a year of working closely with the East Baltimore 
community to identify their health concerns, Johns Hopkins also 
committed $4.5 million over a period of 5 years to establish an Urban 
Health Institute to tackle the vexing health problems that plague the 
community. The Institute brings together a wide range of Hopkins health 
experts, community leaders, business leaders, clergy and State and 
local agencies to forge a partnership that will first identify the most 
pressing health issues and then develop the best methods, including 
research, education and community outreach to address these problems.
  Health priorities identified by the community that the institute is 
expected to address include substance abuse, violence, sexually 
transmitted diseases, HIV/AIDS, cardiovascular disease, pulmonary 
disease, environmental health, the elderly, and family maternal and 
child health services.
  In my stead as a Member of this body, my focus is to create a livable 
community in my district of Baltimore as well as throughout the Nation. 
I believe that all Americans, regardless of race, ethnicity and social 
economic status, deserve livable communities where they feel safe, 
where their children can obtain a quality education, and where they 
have access to quality health care. All must share equitably in this 
American dream.
  Johns Hopkins is truly making an effort to ensure that Baltimoreans 
and persons around the world are able to realize this dream by 
providing the kind of patient care that will allow them to live 
fruitful and productive lives. The hospital's commitment to medical 
excellence and to serving this community are deserving of recognition; 
and today, I salute Johns Hopkins Hospital for these efforts.
  Congratulations to Johns Hopkins for being named the number one among 
hospitals and certainly a premier servant to our Nation's patients.

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