Running head: COMMUNITY HEALTH ASSESSMENT SURVEY - THURMONT,

Community Health Assessment Survey - Thurmont, Maryland

Naomi Everett
Frostburg State University

COMMUNITY HEALTH ASSESSMENT SURVEY - THURMONT,

Community Health Assessment Survey - Thurmont, Maryland

This community health assessment for Thurmont, Maryland will examine the towns
physical plant, its community as a population, and the services that are available to its residents.
This data is analyzed to identify the health needs of the community. Based upon the community
health needs, goals and objectives for the community are stated. The intended use of this report
is to improve the health status of this community.
Community Profile Inventory
Thurmont as a Place
Geography and Boundaries
Thurmont is a town located northern Frederick County, Maryland; latitude 39 39N and
longitude 77 27W, elevation 175 feet (weatherbase, n.d.). Appendix A contains an aerial street
map of the Thurmont area. Thurmont was incorporated in 1831 as Mechanicstown and again as
Thurmont in 1894 (Maryland State Archives, 2015). Much of Thurmonts area is comprised of
Catoctin Mountain Park (5,700 acres), part of the Appalachian Mountains range, which provides
Thurmont many opportunities for recreation such as: camping, hiking, picnicking, and fishing
(National Park Service [NPS], n.d.). These features draw many tourists to the region. Catoctin
Mountain Park is also the home of the Presidential retreat, Camp David (United States
Government [USG], n.d.). Because of this, one third of the park is closed to the public when
Camp David is in use. While Thurmont is mostly rural, it is only 60 miles from Washington, DC
and 68 miles from Baltimore, MD. Thurmonts geographic features are diverse and include
streams, 100-years flood plains, agricultural lands, and forestlands (Thurmont Planning &
Zoning Commission, 2010).
Climate

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Based upon the Koppen Climate Classification system, Thurmont is classified as subtype
Cfa (Humid Subtropical Climate) which is characterized by relatively high temperatures and
evenly distributed precipitation throughout the year (weatherbase, n.d., para. 1). Summers are
typically hot, muggy and subject to frequent thunderstorms while winters are typically mild (The
Encyclopedia of Earth [EoE], 2011). Thurmonts land area covers 3.21 square miles and water
area covers 0.01 square miles (World Media Group, 2015). Table B1 details temperature data
and Table B2 details precipitation data for Thurmont.
Environmental Controls
Thurmonts electricity is supplied by the Town of Thurmont Municipal Light Company.
This is unique in that the Town of Thurmont Municipal Light Company is one of the few
municipality owned and operated electric companies in Maryland (Thurmont, MD, n.d.). The
towns water source is ground water that is supplied from five wells (Thurmont, MD, 2015).
Drinking water is not fluoridated (Thurmont, MD, n.d.). The Annual Drinking Quality Report
is located in Appendix C; no unacceptable levels of lead, mercury, or biological contaminates are
noted. Air quality data for the County of Frederick collected by the United States Environmental
Protection Agency reveals that during 2014 no unacceptable levels of ozone, data regarding
carbon monoxide, nitrogen dioxide, sulfur dioxide, and lead were collected (Appendix D).
While much of Frederick Countys wastewater is managed by the Department of Wastewater
Treatment and Disposal treatments plants, Thurmonts is not. Thurmont operates its own
wastewater treatment plant. Trash is collected by the town for all residents weekly on either
Tuesday, Wednesday, or Thursday. Recycling is picked up by Frederick County Recycling
every other Friday. Residents may also drop of recycling at the recycling center behind the
Public Works Facility.

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Housing
Research conducted by the National Association of Realtors (2012) describes the
extensive social benefits of home ownership (National Association of Realtors, 2012). Housing
statistics for Thurmont from the 2010 U.S. Census are displayed in Table E3. 5.7% of available
housing in Thurmont is unoccupied. 70.4% of occupied housing is occupied by the homeowner.
This high level of home ownership benefits Thurmont in two ways. First, it lends to the stability
of the town; home owners move less frequently than those who rent (National Association of
Realtors, 2012). Second, homeowners participate in the community at a more meaningful level
as they have a greater stake in the community, both financially and socially (National
Association of Realtors, 2012). Most of the housing units for the town are single family homes,
are well-maintained and in good repair. There are three apartment complexes in the town:
Thurmont Village Apartments, Biser Apartments, and Stull Apartments (YP, n.d.). There are
two senior housing facilities in Thurmont: Millers Manor and Moser Manor. Both of these
senior housing facilities base the monthly rent on the seniors income (Frederick County
Department of Housing and Community Development, 2014).
Thurmont as a Population
Demographic Data
Population data for the town of Thurmont from the 2010 U.S. Census and the estimated
population data for 2013 is displayed in Table F4. The persons per square mile for the town is
1,975.7 which is more dense than the persons per square mile data for Frederick County as a
whole which is 353.5 (U.S. Census, 2013). Overall, Thurmonts population has remained stable;
the estimated increase in total population from 2010 to 2013 is only 1.65%. There is, however, a
large predicted increase in population in the 20-24 age range. This increase in the population for

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the 20-24 age range may contribute to the numbers uninsured as underemployed college
graduates remain in the home as they seek full-time employment.
This census data also demonstrates that there is very limited racial or ethnic diversity as
96% of the population is white and 97% of the population identifies as non-Hispanic or Latino.
U.S. Census predictions indicate that Thurmont should experience an increase in racial and
ethnic diversity in the coming years. This change may result in an increase racial tension as
Thurmont has a history of Klu Klux Klan activity. Most recently, in January 2014, Klu Klux
Klan recruitment fliers were allegedly distributed throughout the town (Dukes, 2014).
Mortality Rate
Data regarding birth and mortality rate for Thurmont are not readily available but Table
G5 shows the total number of deaths in Frederick County for 2013 based upon data from the
Department of Health and Mental Hygiene. These figures support the trend for a general
increase in the population of Thurmont. Table H6 reveals that cancer and heart disease are the
leading causes of death in Frederick County equaling 69.4% of all deaths in 2010. Smoking
rates for the County as a whole indicates that the number of people who identify themselves as
never smokers has increased and as of 2010 was 63% (Frederick County Health Department,
2014). In addition, those who identified themselves a former smokers has increased and was
35% as of 2010 (Frederick County Health Department, 2014). This trend should positively
affect mortality figures in the future.
Socioeconomic Data
The World Health Organization (WHO) defines social determinants of health as the
conditions in which people are born, grow, live, work, and age. These conditions range from
social to environmental and help determine an individuals health status and contribute to health

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inequities, differences in health status between individuals (Frederick County Health

Department, 2014, p. 16).
As demonstrated by Table I7, the poverty rate for the town is 6.9% which is higher than
the poverty rate for the County which is 6.1%, but lower than the State poverty rate of 10.1%
(U.S. Census, 2013). Poverty affects every aspect of a towns social system including: health
outcomes, crime, and ability to contribute to the economic stability of the town. Another statistic
that affects poverty is education level. Thurmonts high school graduation rate is higher than
that of the State (88.7%), while the percentage of the towns population with bachelors degree
or higher is lower than the State figure (38.2%) (Table J8). This lack of college educated
residents also negatively affects the poverty rate for the town.
Thurmonts business community is diverse and features many retail establishments,
service providers, manufactures, and well as numerous tourists-driven businesses. Two of the
top 20 employers for Frederick County are located in Thurmont; these two employers alone
provide 850 jobs to the town (Thurmont Planning & Zoning Commission, 2010).
Unemployment data at the town level is not available but Frederick Countys unemployment rate
for June 2015 was 5.0% which is slightly less than the States non-seasonally adjusted
unemployment rate of 5.6% (Maryland Office of Workforce Information & Performance, 2015).
Perhaps related to the unemployment statistics, 10.0% of Thurmonts resident under the age of
65 do not have health insurance (U.S. Census, 2013). This figure is higher than the rate of the
uninsured for the County (6.4%), but lower than the rate of uninsured for the State (11.5%) (U.S.
Census, 2013). These statistics are concerning as 11.6% of Thurmonts residents under the age
of 65 are living with a disability (U.S. Census, 2013). Lack of health insurance is one of the
leading barriers to healthcare access.

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Thurmont as a Social System

Adequacy of Facilities
Educational
Thurmonts public schools are part of the Frederick County Public Schools system.
Table K9 depicts the public schools that service the town of Thurmont. None of the schools
have enrollment numbers that exceed capacity.
There are several options for Thurmont high school graduates who wish to attend college
and remain living within the community, as listed in Table K10. There is however a dearth of
public transportation options to and from these colleges and universities other than private
transportation.
Recreational
Thurmonts existing and proposed recreational facilities are illustrated in Appendix L.
Thurmont has over 100 areas of public park land including numerous neighborhood parks,
playing fields, tennis courts, basketball courts, and picnic facilities (Thurmont Planning &
Zoning Commission, 2010). The school system recreational fields provide the town with an
additional 46 acres of softball, baseball, soccer, football, tennis and basketballs courts (Thurmont
Planning & Zoning Commission, 2010). Catoctin Recreation Center, a County facility, provides
indoor recreation opportunities including a gymnasium (Thurmont Planning & Zoning
Commission, 2010). Thurmonts senior residents make use of the towns Senior Center and its
indoor meeting rooms and various recreation programs (Thurmont Planning & Zoning
Commission, 2010).
Daycare

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Thurmonts parents have a variety of options for daycare. Two daycare centers operate
within town limits: Thurmont Childcare Center, Inc. and St. Johns Christian Preschool (YP,
n.d.). In addition, for parents that prefer in-home care, there are over two dozen registered
daycare providers operating in the Thurmont area (Child Care Center US, 2015).
Adequacy of Provisions
Transportation
U.S. 15 is the major freeway that runs through the town. It provides the primary
economic and social link from Thurmont to the surrounding area (Thurmont Planning & Zoning
Commission, 2010). Because of the close proximity of residential areas to schools, parks and
shopping areas, it is easy for pedestrians access these areas (Thurmont Planning & Zoning
Commission, 2010). Bicyclists share travel lanes with automobiles on the downtown roadways
(Thurmont Planning & Zoning Commission, 2010). H&F Trail is a multi-use (pedestrian and
bicycle) trail that connects the main street downtown with the library/water treatment plant area
(Thurmont Planning & Zoning Commission, 2010).
Frederick County TransIt provides shuttle service from Thurmont to Frederick to the
south and Emmitsburg to the north. The TransIt route and schedule connects Thurmonts
residents to the MARC and Greyhound hub in Frederick. TransIt serves as a daily commuter
shuttle as well as paratransit for the county residents (Thurmont Planning & Zoning
Commission, 2010). Unfortunately, residents must travel 17 miles to Frederick City to access
major bus or commuter train transportation. While a small airport operates in Frederick City,
commercial air travel requires that travelers drive to Baltimore, MD (68 miles) or Washington,
DC (62 miles). One taxi service, operating a fleet of 65 vehicles, serves the Thurmont area

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providing transportation locally, to area airports, or to medical visits (Area Guides website,
2014).
Safety
Thurmonts police department consists of 13 officers, including the chief of police
(Thurmont Police Department, 2013). In addition, one K-9 officer, Buddy, is used for drugrelated calls (Thurmont Police Department, 2013). Since Buddy joined the police force 2013,
drug arrests increased from 27 arrests in 2012 to 74 arrests in 2013 (Thurmont Police
Department, 2013). In addition to patrol cars, the police force maintains two mountain bikes and
has six certificated bike officers (Thurmont Police Department, 2013). The police department
also serves as a medication disposal location (Thurmont Police Department, 2013).
The Guardian Hose Company, organized in 1887, has 220 volunteers providing fire and
rescue services to the Thurmont area (Guardian Hose Company website, 2015). As a volunteer
company The Guardian Hose Company expenses are covered almost exclusively through
fundraising and donations, although they receive an appropriation of tax dollars annually from
Frederick County (Guardian Hose Company website, 2015). In addition, the Company receives
funds annually from the Town of Thurmont (Guardian Hose Company website, 2015). In 2012
the Guardian Hose Company answered 501 calls (Guardian Hose Company website, 2015).
Thurmont has been served by the Thurmont Community Ambulance Service since 1969
(Thurmont Community Ambulance Service website, n.d.). They operate a fleet of seven vehicles
and in 2014 answered 1335 calls. The Ambulance Service vehicles are co-located in the same
building as the Guardian Hose Company.
Communication

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The region is served by two newspapers. The Catoctin Banner is a monthly newspaper
that covers northern Fredrick County. The Frederick News Post is a daily paper the covers
Frederick County and surrounding region. The towns only talk radio station WTHU 1450 AM
The Source has been on the air since 1966. The town partners with the Frederick County
Division of Emergency Management to provide emergency information to its residents. These
messages are sent out through ALERT of Frederick County (Thurmont, MD website, n.d.).
ALERT allows resident to sign up for text or email alerts.
Adequacy of Services and Providers
Healthcare Facilities and Services
Regional healthcare services include four hospitals (Table M11). Frederick Memorial
Hospital is 15 miles to the south, Meritus Medical Center is 29 miles to the west, and
Waynesboro and Gettysburg hospitals to the North, 15 and 19 miles respectively. Waynesboro
Hospital and Gettysburg Hospital provide general medical and surgical services. Both Frederick
Memorial Hospital and Meritus Medical Center provide more comprehensive services including:
acute stroke care, bariatric surgery, wound center, emergency services, and pain management
(Frederick Memorial Hospital, n.d.; Meritus Health, n.d.). In addition, Meritus Medical Center is
a Level III trauma center (Maryland Institute for Emergency Medical Services System
[MIEMSS], n.d.). The next closest trauma center is Johns Hopkins Hospital, which is a Level I
trauma center and is 69 miles away (MIEMSS, n.d.). Thurmont proper lacks urgent care
facilities. The closest three urgent care facilities are located in Frederick, Hagerstown, or
Waynesboro. While there are acute care services relatively close to Thurmont, transportation
remains an issue. There is limited public transportation available.
Healthcare Providers

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Thurmont has 20 practicing physicians that provide general and family medicine services
to the community. At a ratio of one physician to every 310 residents this number is adequate.
There is, however, a severe lack of specialist services to the town. Table N12 demonstrates the
various healthcare providers that practice in Thurmont. Thurmont has adequate primary care,
dental, and pharmacy services available to its residents. As Table N12 demonstrates, specialist
services are lacking.
Community Profile Inventory
The stated goals contained in the Frederick Memorial Hospital (FMH) 2013 Community
Health Needs Assessment are: to improve the health of Frederick Countys residents, identify
socioeconomic factors that impact the health of County residents, and to improve accessibility of
healthcare services (Frederick Memorial Hospital [FMH], n.d.). A review of the Part VI of the
document indicates that FMHs primary commitment is to addressing the issue of access to
affordable healthcare as all of the initiatives described within the document are dedicated to this
goal.
FMH has a goal of increasing the number of family practice physicians and specialists
practicing in the County in response to the growing population and demand for physician
services (FMH, n.d.). While this intervention may address County level needs it is doubtful that
any of these physicians will take residence or practice in Thurmont proper. Lack of public
transportation from Thurmont to Frederick will continue to serves a barrier to access to specialist
services. Another issue that FMH to attempting to address by increasing the number of primary
care physicians to the improve access to chronic disease management, namely: asthma, heart
disease, cancer, and diabetes (FMH, n.d.). It is well known within the medical community that
the best way to maintain wellness and to prevent the onset of chronic disease is to establish a

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relationship with a primary care physician (FMH, n.d., p. 66). Insured residents have access to
primary care service within town limits. It is the uninsured that experience barriers to a medical
home.
With the goal of improving infant mortality rates in mind, FMH plans to continue
funding their prenatal center in an effort to increase the number of babies born to mothers that
received first trimester neonatal care (FMH, n.d.). FMH will also continue to provide free
laboratory and radiology services to three local safety-net partners that provide free medical care
to uninsured residents of Frederick County with a goal of removing barriers to diagnostic testing
(FMH, n.d.). In addition, FMH is working with the University of Maryland Dental School and
plans to open a free dental clinic in order to address in order to address access to dental services
for the uninsured (FMH, n.d.). Each of these initiatives will be beneficial to the County as a
whole. The issue for Thurmont residents remains transportation; access to these services will be
cumbersome for the towns impoverished residents.
In addition to the previously mentioned goals, Frederick County has mental health issues
that need to be addressed. Frequently, FMHs inpatient behavioral health unit (BHU) has a
several day wait for an available bed (FMH, n.d.). Patients waiting for a BHU bed are housed in
the Emergency Departments Purple Zone, which is frequently at capacity (FMH, n.d.). The
goal is to reduce the number of patients reporting to FMHs emergency department with
primarily mental health complaints. Unfortunately, FMH does not have a plan in place to
directly address this need. FMH plans to continue to support the organizations that are already
addressing this issue and are better suited to do so (FMH, n.d.).
The initiatives described within Frederick Memorial Hospitals 2013 Community Health
Needs Assessment for Frederick County, Maryland (Appendix O) are conservative. One missed

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opportunity that should be addressed is the influx of people. The Hispanic population is rapidly
increasing (FMH, n.d.). In addition, there has been a significant increase in the Korean and
Chinese populations (FMH, n.d.). There is a missed opportunity to ensure that this population is
provided education materials in their native languages and to ensure that adequate interpretation
services are available.
Community Needs Assessment
This windshield survey of Thurmont, Maryland was completed on a sunny Sunday
afternoon. Direct observation of the physical plant shows, in general, the town is in good repair.
In the downtown, the ages of the buildings range from very old, dating to the mid-1800s, to
twenty-first century construction. Very few of the storefronts are vacant. Many business fronts
and residential buildings in the downtown have been recently renovated. There are several
residential zones with the oldest neighborhoods dating from the mid-1900s that are closer to the
downtown and newer residential developments that have been built within the past 20 years. In
general homes and lawns are well kept. The sidewalks are in good repair, there is adequate onstreet parking as well as public parking lots. Adequacy of lighting was not assessed as the
survey took place during the day but a seeming adequate number of street lights was noted. The
primary mode of transportation is by car. No public transportation was observed to be in use on
the day of the survey. A couple cyclists were observed downtown but their intention appeared to
be fitness rather than transportation.
There is a great deal of open space and recreational space. The recreational facilities that
include parks, ball fields, and trails are all in good repair and in use. On the day of the survey,
dozens of residents were observed on the golf course. Many cyclists were observed downtown.
The Catoctin Mountain Park parking lots were filled to very near capacity.

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In general, the people that were seen enjoying the outdoors or walking about represented
a noticeably homogenous population. For the most part the residents are Caucasian and obese.
Based upon census data there is very little ethnic diversity within the town and this is confirmed
by observation. Many houses of worship are located within town limits, all Christian
denominations. This observation further confirms the homogeneity of the population. In addition
to houses of worship, many social clubs are noted including: AMVETs, American Legion, and
Grange.
Many service industries are noted throughout the town as well as many small scale retail
businesses. Two grocery stores are noted; a Weis and a Food Lion. No farmers markets are
noted which is curious as there are many farms within the town. The largest restaurant noted is
Mountain Gate Family Restaurant. Also seen are approximately a dozen independent, smaller
restaurant featuring various cuisines including: Chinese, Irish-American, and Italian. Nine fastfood restaurants are scattered throughout the town.
Two pharmacies were observed. Most of the healthcare services are located in the
downtown area. Three fitness clubs were seen during the survey: Anytime Fitness, Curves, and a
pilates studio; no clients were observed at these establishments. No urgent care facilities were
observed within town limits. There were no outward signs of health or morbidity other than
obesity. No cigarette smoking was observed.
The library facility is impressive. It is a large building and is less than 10 years old. As
the survey took place on a Sunday the library was closed. The public school facilities are all in
good repair and no portable classroom units are noted. No political signs or political activity was
noted. The food bank is located within the downtown. There is also a GoodWill retail store

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located within walking distance to downtown. No outward signs of the need for additional social
services was noted.
Overall, Thurmont appears to be a safe place to live. The primary concerns are the
observation of obesity, lack of access to urgent medical care, the high number of fast-food
establishments, lack of diversity, and the lack of public transportation.
Community Health Needs
As analysis of Thurmont, Maryland brings to light many community needs. Thurmont is
home to Camp David, the presidential retreat, which puts the community at risk of suffering a
terrorist attack. The hot and humid climate in the summers puts residents with asthma at risk for
exacerbation of their chronic lung disease. Thurmonts water is not fluoridated, increasing the
risk of dental caries. Drug arrests increased since the K-9 office has come onboard. This trend
should be watched carefully to ascertain if there is, in fact, more drug activity or simply
improved enforcement. Thurmonts demographics are predicted to change; an increase in
Hispanic, Black and Asian residents is expected. This increase in diversity has the potential to
increase racial tension. English as a second languages services may need to be increased in the
schools as well as in healthcare facilities.
Cancer and heart disease are the top two causes of mortality for Frederick County. Even
though smoking rates are decreasing for the County, smoking cessation should be addressed to
further reduce cancer and heart disease deaths. Diabetes prevalence is also a major concern for
Frederick County. Addressing obesity would positively affect residents with diabetes, as well as
those with heart disease or asthma. Patients with a low prevalence of smoking and obesity report
a higher health-related quality of life than patients that are obese or that smoke (Strine,
Chapman, Balluz, Moriarty, & Mokdad, 2008).

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Lack of public transportation affects several community issues. First, lack of public
transportation reduces access to college education as there is no ready access to area colleges
except for private transportation. Lack of public transportation reduces access to healthcare
services, especially for those living in poverty. While some public transportation is available;
the schedules and routes are not extensive. Private taxis are available, but expensive. Vouchers
for public TransIt are available for the poor, but again, the schedules and routes are not
extensive.
The unemployment rate, poverty prevalence, and lack of health insurance are interrelated.
Lack of health insurance is a primary factor resulting in the lack of medical home. Lack of
medical home and lack of health insurance in turn result in the use of the emergency department
for primary care services. Lack of a medical home increases the likelihood of poor medical
management for people with chronic illnesses such as: asthma, heart disease, and diabetes. As
seven out of 10 Americans die annually due to chronic illness, establishment of a medical home
for this at-risk population is meant to improve coordination of care and reduce mortality
(Henderson, Princell, & Martin, 2012).
Using Maslows hierarchy of needs as a basis for prioritizing community needs; the top
three health needs for Thurmont, Maryland are all related to addressing barriers to healthcare.
These needs are a priority as, according to Maslows Theory of Needs, any physiological stage
deficit results in disruption of homeostasis and must be addressed first (Allender, Rector, &
Warner, 2014). The first need to be addressed is the access to air conditioning for residents with
asthma. During the hot, humid summer months this population is as risk for hospital admission
related to exacerbation of their lung disease. The second barrier that needs to be addressed is
transportation. Inadequate availability to affordable public transportation limits access to

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specialist services, diagnostic services, and urgent care services. The third issue that needs to be
addressed is the number of uninsured Thurmont residents. As previously mentioned, 10% of
Thurmont residents under the age of 65 are uninsured. Lack of insurance brings with it a host of
problems, most importantly poor medical management of chronic illnesses such as: asthma, heart
disease, and diabetes.
To restate, the top three community health diagnoses are: (a) increased risk for acute
episode of airway obstruction related to limited access to air conditioning during the summer
months for residents with chronic lung disease as evidenced by increase in emergency
department visits for asthma exacerbation; (b) Altered health-seeking behavior by impoverished
Thurmont residents related to lack of affordable public transportation as evidenced by the delay
in, or neglect to, obtain specialist services, diagnostic services, or urgent care services; and (c)
altered health maintenance behaviors by uninsured Thurmont residents related to lack of
insurance coverage as evidenced by poor medical management of chronic illnesses such as:
asthma, heart disease, and diabetes.
Goals and Objectives (based upon Healthy People 2020 initiatives)
The goals and objectives within the section as based upon Healthy People 2020
recommendations (HealthyPeople.gov website, n.d.). The primary Healthy People 2020 goal
related to asthma is to promote respiratory health and prevent exacerbation of chronic lung
disease within the next twelve months (HealthyPeople.gov website, n.d.). The primary objective
that addresses respiratory health is to reduce the number of hospitalizations for asthma among
adults aged 65 years and older as evidenced by a reduction in the number of hospital admissions
related to asthma exacerbation over the next twelve months (HealthyPeople.gov website, n.d.).
The recommendation for the community is to establish public, air conditioned cooling centers

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that are available to residents with asthma during the summer months. The objective for this
intervention is that after distribution of information regarding cooling center locations that
residents with asthma will be able to name one location by the end of September 2015.
The second Healthy People 2020 goal that needs to be addressed is to improve access to
quality health care services (HealthyPeople.gov website, n.d.). The first objective is to reduce
the number of people who are unable to, or delay obtaining necessary medical or dental care over
the next twelve months (HealthyPeople.gov website, n.d.). The recommendation for Thurmont
is two-fold. The first is to petition TransIt to increase service to the Thurmont area. The second
is to establish a community ride-sharing cooperative network. This network of volunteers would
be available to transport residents to and from appointments for healthcare services. Thurmont
has a large faith community that many be amenable to providing this service. The objective for
this intervention is that after communicating this community need throughout the local faith
community that at least 25 volunteer drivers will join to form a ride-sharing cooperative by the
end of 2015.
A second objective that addresses access to healthcare service is to increase the number
of people who have a specific source of ongoing care over the next twelve months
(HealthyPeople.gov website, n.d.). This objective is coupled with a third objective which is to
increase the number of people with medical insurance over the next twelve months
(HealthyPeople.gov website, n.d.). Lack of insurance coverage is a major predicting factor for
lack of medical home. To address these needs the recommendation is to conduct a social work
fair. This event will be promoted at the food bank, within the faith community, and at the public
library. By the end of this event, attendees will verbalize two benefits of establishing a

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relationship with a primary source of medical care and will have completed an application for an
insurance coverage.
These goal and objective address only the most crucial needs for the region but will make
a significant impact on the health of the community.
Conclusion
While conducting a community assessment the focus shifts from a wide-angle view of a
place as a whole to examining each aspect of a place in fine detail. Such a detailed examination
will always bring to light the flaws. It is important to remember that each detail must be
considered in the context of the larger view. Yes, Thurmont has challenges that affect the overall
health of the community, but it also a sum of its parts. The community is a whole has the
resources to overcome its deficits.

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References
Allender, J. A., Rector, C., & Warner, K. D. (2014). Community and public health nursing:
Promoting the publics health (8th ed.). Philadelphia, PA: Lippincott, Williams &
Wilkins.
Area Guides website. (2014). http://www.frederick.com/thurmont_taxi_service_yellow_cab-sp4242/
Child Care Center US. (2015). Home and group home daycare in Thurmont, MD. Retrieved
August 3, 2015, from http://childcarecenter.us/maryland_homecare/thurmont_md_city
Department of Health and Mental Hygiene: Division of Vital Records. (2013). Birth and Death
Data by Jurisdiction, 2013: deaths, Frederick. Retrieved from
http://dhmh.maryland.gov/vsa/Documents/Frederick%20(2).pdf
Department of Health and Mental Hygiene: Division of Vital Records. (2013). Birth and death
data by jurisdiction, 2013: Births, Frederick. Retrieved from
http://dhmh.maryland.gov/vsa/AnalyticsReports/Frederick.pdf
Dukes, L. (2014, January 22). Thurmont police made aware of KKK fliers. The Frederick News
Post. Retrieved from
http://www.fredericknewspost.com/news/crime_and_justice/thurmont-police-madeaware-of-kkk-fliers/article_6400631f-ba33-5312-a45a-4591060c4038.html
Frederick County Department of Housing and Community Development. (2014). Senior housing
resources. Retrieved from http://frederickcountymd.gov/DocumentCenter/View/856
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http://www.fmh.org/workfiles/Community%20Health%20Assessment%20PDF.pdf
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Thurmont, MD. (2015). Annual drinking water quality report: Thurmont water system, PWSID
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America&units=

COMMUNITY HEALTH ASSESSMENT SURVEY - THURMONT,

Appendix A
Map of Thurmont, Maryland

(Image Trader, n.d.)

25

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26

Appendix B
Table 1
Temperature Data for Thurmont, Maryland
Fahrenheit

Celsius

Average annual temperature

51.8

11

Average temperature of warmest month, July

72.1

22.3

Average temperature of coldest month, January

28.9

-1.7

Highest recoded temperature

98.0

36.7

Lowest recorded temperature

-18.0

-27.8

Inches

Millimeters

Average annual precipitation

48.7

1237

Month with highest average precipitation, May

5.1

129.5

Month with lowest average precipitation, February

3.2

81.3

Average annual snowfall

31.7

805.28

Month with highest average snowfall, February

9.9

251.46

(weatherbase, n.d.)

Table 2
Precipitation Data for Thurmont, Maryland

(weatherbase, n.d.)

COMMUNITY HEALTH ASSESSMENT SURVEY - THURMONT,

Appendix C
Annual Drinking Water Quality Report: Thurmont Water System

(Thurmont, MD, 2015)

27

COMMUNITY HEALTH ASSESSMENT SURVEY - THURMONT,

Appendix D
Air Quality Statistics Report: Frederick County, Maryland

(United States Department of Environmental Protection [EPA], 2014)

28

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Appendix E
Table 1
2010 Housing Status for Thurmont, Maryland
Units

Population

%
(for units)

Total

2,498

Occupied

2,354

Owner-occupied

1,758

4,760

70.4%

Renter-occupied

596

1,410

23.9%

Households with individuals under 18

864

Vacant

144

Vacant: for rent

32

Vacant: for sale

34

(U.S. Census Bureau, 2010)

94.2%

5.7%

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30

Appendix F
Table 4
2010 Census Data/2013 Population Estimates for Thurmont, Maryland
2010 Census

2013 Demographic % Change

Data

Estimate

6,170

6,272

1.65%

Male

2,989

3,029

1.34%

Female

3,181

3.243

1.95%

Under 18

1,589

data not provided

18 & over

4,581

4,698

2.55%

20-24

302

360

17.52%

25-34

651

670

2.92%

35-49

1,546

data not provided

50-64

1,130

data not provided

65 & over

811

773

-4.69%

Hispanic or Latino

149

195

26.74%

Non-Hispanic or Latino

6,021

6,077

0.93%

White

5,908

5,957

0.83%

African American

62

96

54.84%

Asian

39

64

64.10%

Total Population
Population by Sex/Age:

Population by Ethnicity:

Population by Race:

COMMUNITY HEALTH ASSESSMENT SURVEY - THURMONT,

31

American Indian and Alaska Native

26

-65.38%

Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islander

0.00%

Other

43

11

-74.42%

Identified by two or more

92

135

43.74%

(U.S. Census Bureau, 2010; U.S. Census Bureau, 2013)

COMMUNITY HEALTH ASSESSMENT SURVEY - THURMONT,

Appendix G
Table 5
2013 Live Births and Deaths for Frederick County, Maryland
2013
Live births

2,716

Deaths

1,643

(Department of Health and Mental Hygiene: Division of Vital Records [DHMH], 2013, table 1; Department of
Health and Mental Hygiene: Division of Vital Records [DHMH], 2013, table 13)

32

COMMUNITY HEALTH ASSESSMENT SURVEY - THURMONT,

Appendix H
Table 6
10 Leading Causes of Death in 2010 for Frederick County, Maryland
Malignant Neoplasms

332

Diseases of the Heart

316

Chronic Lower Respiratory Diseases

92

Cerebrovascular Diseases

88

Accidents

62

Influenza and Pneumonia

46

Alzheimers

37

Kidney Disease

31

Diabetes Mellitus

23

Septicemia

23

Intentional Self-Harm (Suicide)

21

(Frederick County Health Department, 2012, Slide 7)

33

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34

Appendix I
Table 7
Income and Poverty Data for Thurmont, Maryland
Income and Poverty
Median household income (in 2013 dollars), 2009-2013

$70,635

Per capita income in past 12 months (in 2013 dollars), 2009-2013

$30,456

Persons in poverty, percent

6.9%

(U.S. Census, 2013)

COMMUNITY HEALTH ASSESSMENT SURVEY - THURMONT,

35

Appendix J
Table 8
Highest Education Achieved for Thurmont, Maryland

Education

High school graduate or higher, percent of persons age 25 years+, 2009-2013

92.4%

Bachelor's degree or higher, percent of persons age 25 years+, 2009-2013

26.4%

(U.S. Census, 2013)

COMMUNITY HEALTH ASSESSMENT SURVEY - THURMONT,

36

Appendix K
Table 9
Public Schools: Thurmont, Maryland
Level

School

Enrollment

% of students
receiving
free/reduced
price meals

High School

Catoctin High

977

22.2%

Middle School

Thurmont Middle

618

32.9%

Elementary School

Thurmont Elementary

322

31.1%

Elementary School

Lewistown Elementary

166

29.2%

Elementary School/pre-K to 2nd

Thurmont Primary

374

42.0%

(Frederick County Public Schools website, n.d.)

Table 10
College and Universities near Thurmont, Maryland
College

Miles away

Mount Saint Marys University

Frederick County Community College

12

Hagerstown Community College

14

Gettysburg College

18

McDaniel College

22

Carroll Community College

24

Shepard University

25

COMMUNITY HEALTH ASSESSMENT SURVEY - THURMONT,

Appendix L
Existing and Proposed Community Facilities: Thurmont, Maryland

(Thurmont Planning & Zoning Commission, 2010)

37

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38

Appendix M
Table 11
Hospitals Services: Thurmont, Maryland
Facility

Miles

Minutes

No. Beds

Frederick Memorial Hospital

15

18

308

Waynesboro Hospital

15

27

64

WellSpan Gettysburg Hospital

19

22

76

Meritus Medical Center

29

27

272

(Frederick Memorial Hospital, n.d.; Summit Health, n.d.; WellSpan Health, n.d.; Meritus Health, n.d.)

COMMUNITY HEALTH ASSESSMENT SURVEY - THURMONT,

Appendix N
Table 12
Healthcare Providers: Thurmont, Maryland
Service

No. of Providers

Acupuncturist

Chiropractor

Dentist

Health Clubs/Gyms

Orthodontists

Pharmacies

Physical Therapy

Physicians

20

Podiatrists

(YP, n.d.)

39

COMMUNITY HEALTH ASSESSMENT SURVEY - THURMONT,

Appendix O
Link to Frederick Memorial Hospitals 2013 Community Health Needs Assessment for
Frederick County, Maryland:
(http://www.fmh.org/workfiles/Community%20Health%20Assessment%20PDF.pdf).

40