2024 Report to the Community

Stories of our work in the community

Across Maryland and the Washington, D.C. area, MedStar Health collaborates with local communities to enhance healthcare access and offer educational resources. Our mission is to improve the health and well-being of all residents by supporting our patients, their caregivers, and the broader community.

• 

  Fueling the race to recovery and better health for Maryland’s horse racing community.

  Pictured above: Matt McCarron, program participant, in Maryland’s horse racing community

  Growing up in a family of jockeys, Matt McCarron spent most of his life around the horse racing track in roles that included steeplechase jockey, exercise rider and groom. Now as an assistant starter on the gate crew, McCarron escorts horses safely into the starter gate stalls, keeping them calm and quiet to ensure a fair and even start at the sound of the start bell. Once safely inside, assistant starters stand on an internal ledge called a pontoon.

  On one such occasion, while awaiting the race start, McCarron's horse broke through the gate stall doors. With quick-thinking and fast reflexes to regain control, McCarron jumped off the pontoon and out of the gate, resulting in a knee injury that temporarily sidelined his 36-year career.

  “The horse lunged forward when my feet landed,” McCarron recalls. “I felt my knee pop. It gave out and I went down."

  Through a partnership with the Maryland Thoroughbred Horsemen's Association, the Maryland Jockey Club and MedStar Health, Kelly Ryan, MD, medical director of the Horsemen's Health Program, was onsite to immediately assist with the injury. The program places physicians, emergency medical technicians and physical therapists at local racetracks to rapidly respond to critical incidents such as concussions, fractures and other injuries frequent in racing.

  Following an onsite assessment, Dr. Ryan sent McCarron to a MedStar Health Urgent Care location for X-rays.

  “The X-rays did not identify any bone-related injuries, so Dr. Ryan provided a referral for a Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) scan and advised me not to return to work,” McCarron says.

  Unfortunately, McCarron's workers’ compensation did not respond to multiple requests for MRI authorization, so he returned to work and reinjured his knee while jumping from the pontoon.

  When Dr. Ryan learned of the difficulties experienced with reaching the workers’ compensation provider, she immediately acted and advocated on McCarron’s behalf to complete his MRI, uncovering a torn meniscus and ruptured anterior cruciate ligament (ACL).

  “If it weren’t for Dr. Ryan, I may not have completed the MRI or received a diagnosis that led to my recovery,” McCarron says.

  McCarron’s path to healing continued with referrals to a MedStar Health surgeon who repaired the torn meniscus and replaced his ruptured ACL with a cadaver graft. With help from the MedStar Health physical therapy team, McCarron returned to work five months following surgery.

  In addition to emergency care, the Horsemen’s Health Program provides free routine health screenings, vaccinations and preventive services like flu shots and blood pressure checks, for all racetrack workers. The program aims to provide high-value services in an industry where many workers lack health insurance or avoid medical intervention, fearing a diagnosis that may prevent them from working.

  The close relationships the physicians build with the community break down barriers to care.

  “They live in such a unique world,” Dr. Ryan says. “We understand the physical demands and stress they face. They know we try to get them back to work as soon as possible—safely.  We have many resources across the system and good relationships to help them feel confident in their care.”

  “When you're young and healthy, you don't think anything will happen to you, and you may not believe you need health insurance,” Dr. Ryan says. “We appreciate the opportunity to shift their focus on health and healthcare coverage.” 

  

  Read More
• 

  Breaking down barriers to colorectal cancer screening in Black and Hispanic communities.

  Pictured above: Tiara Hill (L) and Lena Naves (R), MedStar Health, leveraging care navigation to raise awareness of colon cancer.

  Colon cancer is the third most diagnosed type of cancer in the U.S., according to the American Cancer Society. Unfortunately, many people go undiagnosed and untreated due to their hesitation about the colonoscopy screening procedure.

  During a colonoscopy, a doctor uses a flexible tube with a tiny camera to examine the inside of the colon to identify and remove precancerous growths, called polyps, and look for signs of cancer.

  A native of Venezuela, Nowikov Cedeño understands the importance of screening for colorectal cancer. While living abroad, a routine colonoscopy uncovered abnormalities. In the U.S., Cedeño participated in a MedStar Health study focused on helping health clinics increase screening among Black and Hispanic individuals.

  A key component of the study is the guidance of a patient navigator, who can help break down barriers to care, such as fear of discomfort, embarrassment, lack of transportation, or English as a second language.

  Hannah Arem, PhD, scientific director for implementation science, MedStar Health Research Institute, is the study's principal investigator.

  “We know that patient navigation works,” she says. “This study is geared toward MedStar Health clinics that want to increase their colorectal cancer screening rates and reduce the disparities in who is being screened.”

  Researchers will identify how patient navigation programs work best within different populations and provide counsel on implementing them across the system.

  “It was a simple process thanks to all the guidance I received before the procedure,” Cedeño says.

  Cedeño’s patient navigator, Tiara Hill, created a positive experience, inspiring him to encourage his wife, Luisa Marquez, to participate in the program and have her first colonoscopy.

  “I assisted by scheduling their gastroenterologist consultations, sending them appointment reminders, helping them to communicate with their providers, offering support and motivation through the entire colorectal screening process, and offering translation services for our conversations,” Tiara says.

  As many patients experience their first colonoscopy, one of Tiara’s most important responsibilities is educating them about bowel preparation, requirements, and dietary restrictions. Preparation will help ensure a successful procedure.

  Cedeño echoes the importance and advises others to follow the restrictions.

  “Sometimes people make the mistake of eating whatever they want. I know people who have done it, and it hasn’t gone well,” he says.

  Tiara explains, “The procedure can take longer to complete, and the patient may have more discomfort if the provider has to move around the presence of stool in their colon.”

  In most cases when a patient hasn’t followed the restrictions, the procedure will be canceled, and the scheduling and preparation process must be repeated. Sadly, it is another opportunity for a patient to fall through the cracks.

  By the end of the five-year study, 15 participating MedStar Health clinics will have established patient navigation programs, helping to reduce racial disparities in colorectal cancer screening, improve early detection and foster community champions who advocate for the importance of preventive care. 

  Supporting patients through navigation is more than just a clinical service. It is a commitment to equity and community health.

   

   

  Read More
• 

  Reducing violence in the community with healing that goes beyond our hospitals.

  Pictured above: Anthony Carter, MedStar Health, supporting communities affected by violence.

  “What you’re going through right now does not define who you're going to be later in life.”

  Anthony Carter, a responder with the MedStar Health Hospital Responder Program, shares these powerful words with patients entering the Emergency Department following a violent incident, such as an assault or gun violence, at MedStar Good Samaritan Hospital, MedStar Harbor Hospital and MedStar Union Memorial Hospital.

  While physicians and nurses urgently treat the immediate physical wounds, responders focus on treating the emotional wounds that follow for weeks and months. The trauma of violent crime is also known to extend to the victim’s family and neighbors, creating a need for emotional healing within the community.

  “The goal of our Hospital Responder Program is to help reduce community violence—a major public health issue—by providing interventions and using innovative approaches to promote healing and recovery while advocating and providing mediation,” explains Samantha Sailsman, regional program manager, Community Health, who directs the initiative. 

  “Our work helps those impacted by traumatic incidences feel secure and find the resources needed to live in a safer, healthier community.”

  Even with the most caring and comforting healthcare provider, a provider-patient dynamic can limit communication and connection. Hospital responders like Anthony are often individuals from the same communities as the people they serve. Their shared experiences build trust and a rapport that helps patients feel comfortable participating in the program.

  “Responders typically have experienced violence in their past,” Samantha says. “They are now in a space where they learned from that experience. They use it to mentor and help others to improve, as well as model positive behaviors.”

  When patients join the program, they become clients. Hospital responders then build trusted relationships and can coordinate community mediation. Importantly, they also educate clients by providing relevant resources addressing known factors that can lead to violence. Clients connect with MedStar Health programs and nonprofit organizations that address addiction, mental health, general health, food insecurity, lack of housing, limited transportation, and other factors that can stem from socioeconomic instability.

  “The definition of poverty is a lack of resources,” says Kenneth Robinson, a violence prevention coordinator with Safe Streets, a close community partner of the MedStar Health Hospital Responder Program.

  “I’m the bridge to these resources,” Anthony says. He inspires patients through action, extending himself to make phone calls or develop or submit requests for assistance. He never wants to give up.

  “I tell them, ‘You know where I’ve come from. It’s the same background you’re coming from. You’ve seen my transition, and if I can do it, you can too.’”

  

  Read More
• 

  Game-changing sports medicine for student athletes in Montgomery County Public Schools.

  Pictured above: Ashton Hunte (L) and Annie Hunte (R) overcoming sport-related injuries.

  “Mom. Something is wrong with my shoulder. I think it is dislocated.”

  Annie Hunte’s heart sank. Her younger teen son, Ashton, had just returned from wrestling practice with an injury and she wasn’t taking any chances. Annie knew exactly who to call.

  A few months earlier, when her older son, Donovan, injured his shoulder during football practice, they met Jodi Webb, the MedStar Health athletic trainer assigned to Quince Orchard High School in a new sports medicine partnership with Montgomery County Public Schools.

  The partnership connects the county’s 25 high schools with full-time MedStar Health athletic trainers, offering a new layer of support and expertise to the school-employed athletic trainers.

  “It's our goal to support athletic trainers’ efforts in taking care of student athletes and their families, ensuring that they're on the right path to care,” says Katie Brodka, director of athletic training services for the MedStar Health Washington region.

  “We help ease their concerns and ensure they have access to everything they need, whether it's a physician visit, physical therapy, urgent care, imaging, or other services,” Katie says.

  For Annie and her family, a MedStar Health care provider was always by their side.

  When Donovan was injured, Jodi introduced the family to Carter Mitchell, MD, director of Sports Medicine at MedStar Montgomery Medical Center and an assistant professor of Orthopaedic Surgery at Georgetown University Medical Center. Dr. Mitchell assessed his injury and determined it was minor, clearing Donovan to return to the playing field shortly thereafter.

  In Ashton’s case, Jodi assessed the shoulder injury at school the following day and realized it was more severe than Donovan’s injury. She reconnected the family with Dr. Mitchell, who delivered unfortunate news after an examination and Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI).

  “Ashton partially dislocated his shoulder, which then popped back in, but during the course of that, his labrum was torn and cartilage was broken off,” Annie said. He needed surgery, which Dr. Mitchell performed.

  With six months of recovery, sophomore year was difficult and Ashton missed the wrestling season. In his junior year, a broken leg again kept him from the mat.

  It was a trying time for the entire family, but Ashton finally returned to wrestling for his senior year.

  Despite the challenges, Annie found comfort in the MedStar Health care team that came together for her sons.

  “The fact that we know the care team helps,” Annie said. “The relationships took away some of the unknowns, which is the anxiety-inducing part of injuries.” 

  

  Read More
• 

  Hospital-based workshops for family caregivers build confidence and camaraderie.

  Pictured above: Karen Wyche Latham, MedStar Health, accessing essential support for caregivers.

  Over several years, Alicia McDonald's aging parents experienced significant mental and physical decline, and she felt there were not enough hours in the day to properly care for them.

  “I am a sandwich generation child,” McDonald says. “My son was applying to and transitioning to college while I was working full time. I was taking my parents to their medical appointments, worrying if they were correctly taking their medications and handling their finances. It was overwhelming.”

  McDonald initially hired a home health caregiver to visit a few times a week, but as her parents' needs increased, so did the need for daily caregiver support. McDonald cared for her parents in the evenings and on the weekends, and eventually, she began staying overnight when her father would wake throughout the night and wander the house.

  According to a report by the American Association of Retired Persons (AARP) and the National Alliance for Caregiving, McDonald is just one of the 42 million adults in the U.S. providing unpaid care for a family member or friend aged 50 or older.

  Like many in a similar position, McDonald struggled with the decision to move her parents to an assisted living facility. Still, she knew it would be the safest place for them after her mother’s Alzheimer’s diagnosis and her father’s progressive dementia and physical decline.

  McDonald found comfort in the experiences of the other family caregivers she met at the MedStar Health Community Caregivers Workshop series held at MedStar Southern Maryland Hospital Center.

  “It built a sense of camaraderie for me. You start to see the same people and you see that you're not alone in this,” McDonald says. “I might meet somebody that can help me navigate something else…or they might be helped by something that I've gone through.”

  Introduced in 2023, the Community Caregivers Workshop series held four events in 2024.

  “The first objective of the series is to educate and empower caregivers in the community to care for their loved ones effectively by providing critical resources, ideally before they are needed,” says Karen Wyche Latham, DNP, vice president and chief nursing officer at MedStar Southern Maryland Hospital Center. “The second objective is to invite community members into the hospital at a non-critical time to help them become comfortable with the environment,” she says.

  Each workshop has a different focus, such as understanding and navigating Medicare and Medicaid and how they can benefit family members, learning the differences between hospice and palliative care, and receiving presentations by the Prince George’s County Department of Aging and the Prince George’s County Department of Social Services.

  Wyche Latham explains that every patient and caregiver has different needs, and the workshops can help them connect to resources that will be most helpful to their individual challenges. Whether accessing free meals and transportation vouchers or learning about eligibility for home healthcare and cleaning services, these resources can benefit the aging individual and ease the stress on the family caregiver.

  “We want to arm families with resources to support them and their loved ones on their caregiver journey,” Wyche Latham says. “Having a more knowledgeable, supported and connected community will ultimately lead to better health outcomes for the community we serve.”

  

  Read More
• 

  A unique approach for preserving the mother-baby bond during treatment for perinatal mood and anxiety disorders.

  Pictured above: Samantha Singer, program participant, receives support for perinatal mood and anxiety disorders.

  Two days after delivering her daughter, Samantha Singer realized she might be experiencing postpartum anxiety and depression.

  "My husband went home to care for our cats, and I spent the whole time crying," she remembers. That was the first time Singer felt like something was off. She feared being home alone, which worsened when her husband returned to work and was away for several hours a day. The sadness continued, and her anxiety grew.

  “I felt worried about not holding her correctly or putting her in a car seat. I was afraid someone might drop her, so I never let anyone help me, and when we drove, I was afraid we’d have a car accident and one or both of us would die,” says Singer.

  Singer worried she would not be a good enough mother. In the rare times she would take the most basic care of herself—eating, showering or changing her clothes—she experienced intense guilt. She began harming herself and even questioned if she wanted to live.

  “I would change, feed and put her down for a nap. She was doing all the right things, and so was I.  I was putting on a smile for everyone else,” says Singer.

  Although Singer had been diagnosed with generalized anxiety disorder in the past, she knew this was very different. She took the brave step of reaching out for help. She met with a psychiatrist specializing in postpartum mood disorders who encouraged her to join a new group therapy program: the MedStar Health Mother-Baby Intensive Outpatient Program.

  “The program is designed to support pregnant people and new mothers in psychiatric crisis and prevent the need for higher levels of care, such as hospitalization,” says Aimee Danielson, PhD, the founder and director of the Women’s Mental Health Program at MedStar Georgetown University Hospital. 

  During the core 12-week program, eight pairs of mothers and babies meet for group therapy three times per week for three and a half hours. Individual therapy sessions and consultation with a psychiatrist are offered each week. Mothers can participate for additional time, continue their care with the MedStar Health team of mental health professionals, and connect to resources for food, formula, safe housing, or transportation.

  “The program is unique as it encourages mothers and birthing people to receive treatment with their baby,” explains Aimee. “They can get treatment and necessary care while protecting and preserving that relationship. They can learn how to care for themselves in the context of also caring for their child.”

  Some participants had been hospitalized prior to joining the program, requiring them to spend time away from their baby, which can be heartbreaking to new parents. In Singer's case, hospitalization was considered a likely treatment option before joining the program, as she continued to self-harm, and physicians had not determined an effective medication. Avoiding hospitalization and the emotional pain of being away from her daughter was a key motivator, and the sense of community persuaded her to keep coming back.

  During group sessions, mothers with older children shared their experiences, and the program leaders helped Singer build confidence and gain independence while caring for her daughter.

  “It's important that you have people going through the same thing, especially people who saw you at your worst,” says Singer.

  When other moms told her they could see how her mood and behavior were changing, it inspired her to keep pushing forward with her recovery.

  “I felt heard and cared for,” says Singer.

  Aimee says that she and her mental health care team strive to achieve exactly that goal.

  “Oftentimes, they feel invisible once they have their baby. This program is built to show them how important they are,” says Aimee.

  “Healthy families are the foundation of our community.” 

  

  Read More
• 

  Revolutionizing patient recovery with home-based services after emergency and inpatient care.

  Pictured above: Delivering prompt care to patients in the comfort of their home

  After spending five days at MedStar Georgetown University Hospital, Dorothy Mitchell wanted to go home. "I was determined," says the 83-year-old Washington, D.C., resident, "so I asked my sister to pick me up."

  Mitchell was at MedStar Georgetown University Hospital after experiencing a near-fainting spell.

  Given Mitchell’s atrial fibrillation and Emergency Department (ED) visit the month prior, the MedStar Georgetown care team admitted her. They discovered she had a urinary tract infection (UTI), which, despite being easily treated in younger patients, can lead to kidney infection, delirium, and sepsis for older women if not treated promptly.

  “During discharge, a nurse told me about the Acute Care at Home program, which would let me go home and receive care before I see my primary care doctor,” Mitchell said.

  “Acute Care at Home offers care delivery from a nurse practitioner or physician assistant in the patient's home following a MedStar Health hospital or ED visit, to effectively transition a patient’s care back to the community,” says Ethan Booker, MD, chief medical officer, telehealth, MedStar Health. 

  A home visit is arranged to occur typically within 72 hours of discharge.

  “This at-home acute care service helps prevent hospital returns by providing care that can be managed in a patient’s home. We ensure the care plan determined in the Emergency Department or inpatient setting is complete and the patient can execute it,” Dr. Booker says.

  Acute Care at Home can include advanced assessment such as lab testing with immediate results and EKGs, simple procedures, and medical treatments typically requiring a hospital, such as IV fluids or IV medications. In addition to determining if a patient's medications were picked up and are being taken correctly, the mobile care team assesses fall risks and makes appointments for follow-up care. Conditions like UTIs, pneumonia, and dehydration can be treated from the comfort of the patient’s home. 

  While being monitored by the mobile care providers and her primary healthcare provider, the medical team determined that Mitchell needed a different type of antibiotic to treat the UTI.   There was no need to return to the ED or visit another care location.

  “It was just a wonderful thing. I’m happy for all the things MedStar Health could do for me at home. I recommend it for anybody.” 

   

  Read More
• 

  Preparing the next generation of physical therapists with a unique partnership and personal support.

  Pictured above: Lindsey Gearhart (L), Marymount University Student, and Caity Tompkins (R), MedStar Health,
  cultivating the future of physical therapy professionals.

  Whether heading off to kindergarten or beginning graduate school, it is common for students to feel nervous about the first day of school.

  Lindsey Gearhart, a student pursuing a Doctor of Physical Therapy degree at Marymount University in Arlington, Virginia, was surprised—and relieved—when she heard from Caity Tompkins, a MedStar Health physical therapist and education outreach coordinator, about a new academic collaboration between the university and MedStar Health. The partnership aims to increase the number of highly trained physical therapists locally during a growing national shortage.

  The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics predicts approximately 13,900 job openings for physical therapists each year, on average, throughout the next decade. To meet this demand as the U.S. population ages, students seeking careers in physical therapy are essential.

  As a marquee incentive of the Marymount University partnership program, MedStar Health awards five $20,000 scholarships each year.

  “Caity invited me and the other scholarship recipients to lunch before orientation,” Gearhart says. They were joined by Elizabeth Rothermel, regional director, MedStar Health Physical Therapy.

  “They went out of their way to foster a connection at a time when I was nervous going into Physical Therapy school and not knowing how that might look,” Gearhart says. “They always reach out and ask us what we need. If there's ever a feeling that I am lost, I will have someone to talk to and help me work through that.”

  Now, in just its first academic year, the partnership will benefit 50 students—the most ever enrolled in Marymount’s Doctor of Physical Therapy Program. 

  The program provides a unique and invaluable opportunity for students pursuing a career in physical therapy, providing them with personalized mentorship, hands-on experience and ongoing interaction with MedStar Health professionals inside and outside the classroom.

  Guidance from talented healthcare practitioners and diverse clinical experiences shape students into well-rounded professionals, positioning them as strong candidates for employment as they begin their careers.

  “Every patient is different, but the more practice you get, the more familiar you will be with personal interactions. Fostering a bond with your patient can make a big difference in their care,” Gearhart says. “It’s the difference between a good and great physical therapist, and that’s what this program aims to do.”

  The program benefits extend beyond the three years students spend earning their degrees. By graduation, they develop technical skills through training alongside leading clinicians while also gaining the confidence and interpersonal abilities necessary to excel in their field.

  “With two strong, important organizations working together, we help drive the profession forward in this region,” Caity says. “By increasing the number of physical therapists in the Baltimore and Washington, D.C., region, our patients won't need to wait as long for care. They can access the excellent care we provide at a time and in a location that works best for them. We are excited to do that for our community.”

  

  Read More