Meritus Health to open new healthcare center in Hancock

HAGERSTOWN, Md. — Meritus Health is opening a new center this month in Hancock to better serve patients in the town and surrounding areas.

The new facility at 351 N. Pennsylvania Ave. in Hancock will offer primary care, cardiology and gastroenterology in keeping with Meritus’ mission to “Improve the Health of the Community.”

Patients in the Hancock area will no longer have to drive to Hagerstown to get the care and treatment they need, according to said Dave Lehr, Chief Strategy Officer at Meritus Health.

“We are thrilled to be working with the community of Hancock to bring needed services to that community,” Lehr said. “We are opening our health service center with three specialties in response to a community need for easier access to care. We look forward to working with our patients to understand their needs and growing this health service center to fit those needs.”

The healthcare providers for each specialty at the Hancock center include:

• Dr. Liza Hiles will provide full-service primary care at the center, including well woman exams and minor procedures such as stitches and biopsies. Dr. Hiles earned her medical degree from American University of the Caribbean School of Medicine in Cupecoy, St. Maarten. She completed her rural family medicine residency at WVU East in Harpers Ferry, W.Va. Dr. Hiles is board certified in family medicine with the American Board of Family Medicine.
• Dr. Vamshidahar Vootla will provide consultations and follow-ups for patients with acid reflux, peptic ulcer, Barrett's esophagus, celiac disease, constipation/diarrhea, colon cancer screening/polyps, colitis, liver disease, gallbladder/pancreatic disease and IBS, among other conditions. He earned his medical degree from Osmania Medical College in Hyderabad, India. He completed his medical residency and gastroenterology fellowship at Bronx Care in New York City. Dr. Vootla is board certified in gastroenterology with the American Board of Internal Medicine.
• Dr. Christopher Vaccari will provide cardiology consultations, EKGs and follow-up appointments for conditions such as high cholesterol, high blood pressure, heart attacks, heart valve issues, heart arrhythmias and congestive heart failure, among others. He graduated from University of Maryland School of Medicine in Baltimore and completed his residency at Duke University Hospital/Duke University Medical Center in Durham, N.C. He later completed a fellowship in cardiovascular disease from Emory University School of Medicine. Dr. Vaccari is board certified in internal medicine and cardiovascular disease by the American Board of Internal Medicine.

A ribbon-cutting and tours were held Friday, Jan. 12.

The provider’s hours will be varied, but the center’s hours will be Monday 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.; Tuesday through Thursday, 8 a.m. to 8 p.m.; and Friday, 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Dr. Hiles will start Jan. 16, with Dr. Vootla and Dr. Vaccari to start in the coming months.

For more information or to schedule an appointment with Dr. Hiles, Dr. Vootla or Dr. Vaccari, please call 301-790-9355 or go to www.meritushealth.com/Hancock.