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January 06, 2022Christine R. Wray announces Jan. 2022 retirement after 42 years of service in healthcare
CLINTON, Md. – Christine R. Wray, FACHE, president of MedStar Southern Maryland Hospital Center and MedStar St. Mary’s Hospital who also serves as a senior vice president for MedStar Health, announced that she will be retiring on January 28, 2022.
Wray was named president of MedStar Southern Maryland in September 2014, two years after MedStar Health acquired the hospital located in the Clinton area of Prince George’s County. With Wray at the helm, MedStar Southern Maryland saw the development and growth of several new service lines.
In 2016, the hospital received national recognition from U.S. News & World Report, having ranked among the top 50 of best hospitals for neurology and neurosurgery. In 2017, MedStar Southern Maryland joined the prestigious MedStar Heart and Vascular Institute-Cleveland Clinic Alliance. Wray also helped facilitate the opening of the MedStar Georgetown Cancer Institute at MedStar Southern Maryland Hospital Center in February 2020. This 25,000 square foot facility offers unmatched medical expertise, leading-edge therapies, and access to robust clinical research, all under the same roof.
Moreover, the construction of MedStar Southern Maryland’s new Emergency Department (ED) expansion project took place under Wray’s leadership, and remained on schedule despite the COVID-19 pandemic. The $43 million ED expansion project has been deemed the largest construction project in the hospital’s history. The new emergency department opened its doors in April 2021 to provide local residents with seamless access to the most advanced care.
Wray’s focus on providing quality care has helped MedStar Southern Maryland build a foundation of excellence that will serve local communities for decades to come. MedStar Southern Maryland is grateful for the innumerable and lasting contributions that Wray made throughout her 42-year healthcare career.
“I have so cherished working with all of you in our commitment and service to our wonderful communities. It has truly been an honor and a privilege,” Wray said in an announcement that was emailed to hospital associates. “Please always be proud of the work you do and how you care for each other as you care for our patients. It is incredibly important work and you are the best of the best!”
Dr. Stephen Michaels, who currently serves as the chief operating and medical officer for MedStar St. Mary’s Hospital, will take over as president of MedStar Southern Maryland Hospital Center.
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December 13, 2013MedStar Washington Hospital Center and MedStar National Rehabilitation Network have been selected to lead a new regional stroke network dedicated to advancing research in stroke treatment, prevention and rehabilitation. -
In addition to the Patient Care Tower, MedStar Franklin Square's expansion projects included the construction of a new waste management building that opened in August 2008.
The "Be Square, Be Green" program allows MedStar Franklin Square to separate non-infectious and infectious waste streams and implement an on-site recycling program at MedStar Franklin Square.
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Facts About the Be Square, Be Green Program
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Tips for Going Green at Home and Work
Mission statement
The mission of the "Be Square, Be Green" program is to develop a workplace culture that inspires, informs, and supports environmentally responsible behavior in its employees, guests, and the wider community, and to contribute to the overall mission of MedStar Franklin Square Medical Center and the MedStar Health.
Core values of the "Be Square, Be Green" program
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Meet all environmental laws and regulations
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Conserve natural resources and limit the use of non-renewable resources. Strive to improve water- and energy-efficiency
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Continue to expand and support recycling and reuse initiatives
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Minimize waste and ensure that it is disposed its disposal in a safe and environmentally responsible manner
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Use environmentally sensitive cleaning products
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Consider seeking standards-based environmental certification on new construction (either Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) or Green Guide for Health Care (GGHC)
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Purchase products which meet self-imposed environmental standards
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Reduce emissions of toxic or dangerous substances into air, water, and earth
Five reasons why you should recycle:
- It saves natural resources
- It saves energy
- It saves clean air and water
- It saves landfill space
- It saves money and creates jobs
Media contacts
Marianne Worley
410-772-6661
Brendan McNamara
410-772-6557
Facts about the "Be Square, Be Green" program
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Where we lead in sustainability
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Facts about the "Be Square, Be Green" program
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How our staff contributes
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MedStar Franklin Square's Green Team
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Environmental results
MedStar Franklin Square Medical Center has been a leader in sustainability in the following areas:
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Waste reduction
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Reducing use of potentially harmful chemicals, such as DEHP
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Reducing waste
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Increasing recycling
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Reducing use of disposable items and increasing use of reusable materials
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Managing the disposal of pharmaceuticals using best practices
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Reducing energy and water consumption
Facts about the "Be Square, Be Green" program
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In June 2008, MedStar Franklin Square opened a new waste management building that would allow us to separate non-infectious and infectious waste streams. It also allowed us to implement and on-site recycling program
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The separation of infectious and non-infectious waste also gave rise to the separation of recyclable materials, including metal, plastic, glass, and cardboard, which are collected and stored together in our solar-powered compactor
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Our recycling initiatives extend beyond conventional materials to include batteries, electronic items, and cooking oil. We are also beginning to compost food waste from our kitchen in a secure storage space available in the new Patient Tower
How our staff contributes to the program's success
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MedStar Franklin Square has made significant strides toward increasing the purchase of reusable items and those with a longer lifespan, away from disposables
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The Environmental Services Department has switched from conventional string mops to Rubbermaid microfiber mops, which has drastically reduced water and chemical use by decreasing the need to refill mop buckets
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Our hospital has also switched from disposable to reusable sharps containers, which eliminates a huge amount of plastic from entering our waste stream
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Food and Nutrition Services is also taking steps to limit the amount of styrofoam and other packaging used for food service
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Our nurses have played an integral part in our greening process. In addition to being a strong voice for change, our nurses have put many ideas into practice at an individual level. Beginning in critical units, nurses have paved the way toward eliminating harmful DEHP-containing products from our facility
MedStar Franklin Square's "Be Square, Be Green" team
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The "Be Square, Be Green" team was formed in April 2009
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The team is made of members from Environmental Services, Safety, Nursing, Materials Management, Food and Nutrition, Quality Improvement, Public Relations, and other departments
Environmental results
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Shutting down our incinerator has led to improvements in air quality and pollution prevention, as toxic air emissions and toxic ash residue are well known effects of medical waste incinerator use
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The incinerator has consumed around 8 million gallons of water annually
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As a result of our "Be Square, Be Green" waste separation and reduction program, we have reduced our infectious waste by 95,275 pounds per month on average from the previous year
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We have increased our commingled recyclables to an average of around 19,000 pounds each month
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The new microfiber mops trap potentially hazardous materials, rather than releasing in into the mop bucket, as the old string mops did. This decreases the use of chemicals and water by at least 90% by allowing Environmental Services employees to clean 20 rooms using the same amount of water and chemicals as it used to take to clean just 3 rooms (as required by the CDC). The new mops can also withstand up to 500 laundry cycles, whereas the old string mops lasted just 70 cycles
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The reusable sharps program has allowed us to eliminate 4 tons of plastic from our annual waste stream. This change has also provided health and safety benefits to our staff by decreasing the amount of handling involved in switching out sharps containers
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Award demonstrates MedStar Georgetown University Hospital's commitment to quality care for stroke patients.
Washington, D.C., 2011 - MedStar Georgetown has received the American Heart Association/American Stroke Association's Get With The Guidelines®-Stroke Silver Plus Quality Achievement Award. The award recognizes MedStar Georgetown's commitment and success in implementing a higher standard of stroke care by ensuring that stroke patients receive treatment according to nationally accepted standards and recommendations.
To receive the Get With The Guidelines-Stroke Silver Plus Quality Achievement Award, MedStar Georgetown achieved at least 12 consecutive months of 85 percent or higher adherence to all Get With The Guidelines-Stroke Quality Achievement indicators and achieved at least 75 percent or higher compliance with six of 10 Get With The Guidelines-Stroke Quality Measures during that same period of time, which are reporting initiatives to measure quality of care. These measures include aggressive use of medications, such as tPA, antithrombotics, anticoagulation therapy, DVT prophylaxis, cholesterol reducing drugs, and smoking cessation, all aimed at reducing death and disability and improving the lives of stroke patients. "With a stroke, time lost is brain lost, and the Get With The Guidelines-Stroke Silver Plus Quality Achievement Award demonstrates that our staff is committed to providing care that has been shown in the scientific literature to quickly and efficiently treat stroke patients with evidence-based protocols," said Dr. Chelsea S. Kidwell, Professor of the Department of Neurology at MedStar Georgetown University Hospital and Medical Director of MedStar Georgetown University's Stroke Center.
"MedStar Georgetown University Hospital is to be commended for its commitment to implementing standards of care and protocols for treating stroke patients," said Lee H. Schwamm, M.D., chair of the Get With The Guidelines National Steering Committee and director of the TeleStroke and Acute Stroke Services at Massachusetts General Hospital in Boston. "The full implementation of acute care and secondary prevention recommendations and guidelines is a critical step in saving the lives and improving outcomes of stroke patients." Get With The Guidelines-Stroke uses the "teachable moment," the time soon after a patient has had a stroke, when they are most likely to listen to and follow their healthcare professionals' guidance. Studies demonstrate that patients who are taught how to manage their risk factors while still in the hospital reduce their risk of a second heart attack or stroke. Through Get With The Guidelines-Stroke, customized patient education materials are made available at the point of discharge, based on patients' individual risk profiles. The take-away materials are written in an easy-to-understand format and are available in English and Spanish. In addition, the Get With The Guidelines Patient Management Tool provides access to up-to-date cardiovascular and stroke science at the point of care.
"The time is right for MedStar Georgetown to be focused on improving the quality of stroke care by implementing Get With The Guidelines-Stroke. The number of acute ischemic stroke patients eligible for treatment is expected to grow over the next decade due to increasing stroke incidence and a large aging population," said Dr. Kidwell. According to the American Heart Association/American Stroke Association, stroke is one of the leading causes of death and serious, long-term disability in the United States. On average, someone suffers a stroke every 40 seconds; someone dies of a stroke every four minutes; and 795,000 people suffer a new or recurrent stroke each year.
About MedStar Georgetown University Hospital
MedStar Georgetown University Hospital is a not-for-profit, acute-care teaching and research hospital with 609 beds located in Northwest Washington, D.C., Founded in the Jesuit principle of cura personalis — caring for the whole person — MedStar Georgetown is committed to offering a variety of innovative diagnostic and treatment options within a trusting and compassionate environment.
MedStar Georgetown's centers of excellence include neurosciences, transplant, cancer, and gastroenterology. Along with Magnet® nurses, internationally recognized physicians, advanced research, and cutting-edge technologies, MedStar Georgetown's healthcare professionals have a reputation for medical excellence and leadership. MedStar Georgetown University Hospital — Knowledge and Compassion Focused on You.
About Get With The Guidelines
Get With The Guidelines® is the American Heart Association/American Stroke Association's hospital-based quality improvement program that empowers healthcare teams to save lives and reduce healthcare costs by helping hospitals follow evidence-based guidelines and recommendations. For more information, visit www.Heart.org/Quality.
Media contacts
Marianne Worley
410-772-6661
Brendan McNamara
410-772-6557
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Our experienced medical team, including 700 affiliated physicians and 3,300 associates, is committed to making MedStar Franklin Square Medical Center your hospital of choice. We offer the highest level of quality care and access to technology, treatments, and specialties not typically found at a community hospital.
With the opening of our seven-story Patient Care Tower, MedStar Franklin Square has a state-of-the art building that reflects the world-class care found inside. We've created a safe and healing environment for patients and their families.
Please take a look around to learn more about the Patient Care Tower and the wide range of hospital services available at MedStar Franklin Square.
Patient Care Tower facts
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Seven stories
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Additional 356,000 square feet
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$175 million investment for the community
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Expanded medical, surgical, and critical care units
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Open, centrally located nurses' stations for easier access to staff
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New, modern building reflecting the high-quality care delivered by doctors, nurses, and associates
All private rooms
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Spacious, modern rooms designed for privacy, safety, and convenience
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Private bathroom in each room designed for easier access and to prevent falls
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Enhanced technology to support safe, quality medical care
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A window in each room for ample sunlight
Bigger, more efficient Emergency Department
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Patients will be triaged upon arrival so doctors and nurses can provide care sooner
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Greater privacy with walls, not curtains, separating patients
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All MedStar Franklin Square ED doctors are board certified in emergency medicine
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Expanded lab in the ED can run more tests in less time
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Easier access to CAT scan and diagnostic services
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Separate behavioral health ED
Todd Heap Family Pediatric Center
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Larger, dedicated pediatric ED area with child-friendly intake and triage rooms
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Doctors and nurses are pediatric specialists who understand the concerns of children that aren't feeling well and their parents
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Connected inpatient suite with larger rooms that can better accommodate families spending the night
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Named in honor of former Baltimore Ravens Tight End, Todd Heap, who along with his wife pledged to raise $1 million to support the pediatric ED and inpatient unit
Patient centered
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High quality patient-centered care delivered by more than 3,300 skilled professionals, including 700 affiliated physicians who work together from diagnosis, treatment, and recovery
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1,000 nurses who achieved Magnet designation for excellence in nursing
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Proud member of MedStar Health, sharing in the vision to be a trusted leader in caring for people and advancing health
Healing environment for patients and visitors
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Private rooms provide patient benefits that help to:
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Improve infection control
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Reduce patient stress
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Improve comfort and privacy
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An open and welcoming three-story atrium with easy access to information and admitting
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Large covered drop-off/pick-up area for patients and visitors
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Bamboo garden, gentle waterfall and cozy fireplace for visitors
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Quiet reflection areas, including a new chapel and prayer garden
Media contacts
Marianne Worley
410-772-6661
Brendan McNamara
410-772-6557
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Washingtonian Names More Than 95 MedStar Georgetown Doctors as “Top Doctors”
Washingtonian recently announced its “Tops Doctors” for 2015, and 96 physicians from MedStar Georgetown were honored!
To determine the area’s “Top Doctors,” Washingtonian surveyed local physicians and asked them to name the doctors they would send a family member to in each of 40 medical specialties. More than 1,300 physicians replied.
Congratulations to the following MedStar Georgetown physicians who are “Top Doctors” in their specialty:
Breast Cancer Surgery
Dermatology
Endocrinology
Family Practice
Gastroenterology
General Surgery
Gynecological Oncology
Hand Surgery
Infectious Diseases
Internal Medicine
Nephrology
Neurology
Obstetrics/Gynecology
Oncology/Hematology
Ophthalmology
Orthopedic Surgery
Otolaryngology
Pediatrics
Plastic Surgery
Psychiatry
Pulmonology
Radiation Oncology
Radiology, Interventional
Rehabilitation
Rheumatology
Spinal Surgery
Thoracic Surgery
Urology
Media contacts
Marianne Worley
410-772-6661
Brendan McNamara
410-772-6557
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The Stroke Center at MedStar Georgetown University Hospital has been recognized for its commitment, success, and achievement in using evidence-based guidelines to provide the best possible care to patients through The American Heart Association/American Stroke Association's Get With The GuidelinesSM program.
As a Silver Performance Achievement Award recipient that achieved 85 percent compliance with the Get With The Guidelines measures for 12 consecutive months, MedStar Georgetown and 569 other hospitals are featured in a July 28, 2009 advertisement in the "America's Best Hospitals" issue of U.S. News & World Report.
"The American Heart Association is pleased to recognize its top Get With The Guidelines participants," said Lee Schwamm, MD, national chairman, of the Get With The Guidelines steering committee, associate professor of neurology at Harvard Medical School and vice chairman of neurology at Massachusetts General Hospital. "Healthcare providers who use Get With The Guidelines are armed with the latest evidence-based guidelines and immediate access to clinical decision support. The goal of this initiative is to ultimately improve the quality of life and help reduce deaths among heart and stroke patients."
As a certified and award-winning Stroke Center, MedStar Georgetown University Hospital offers 24/7 emergency coverage provided by an integrated team of emergency department physicians, neurologists, neurosurgeons, neuroscience nurses, and neuroradiologists. Along with a dedicated stroke unit, innovative clinical research and valuable rehabilitation therapies, MedStar Georgetown is one of the leading hospitals in the diagnosis and treatment of stroke.
For more information about stroke care at MedStar Georgetown University Hospital, call us today at 202-342-2400 or toll-free at 866-745-2633.
Media contacts
Marianne Worley
410-772-6661
Brendan McNamara
410-772-6557
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