Featured News
-
October 29, 2021
MedStar Montgomery becomes the first hospital in the region helping patients access more accurate and less invasive breast tumor removal with the Magseed® marker.
Olney, MD—MedStar Montgomery Medical Center recently introduced an innovative cancer technology, the Magseed® marker, to improve outcomes and the standard of cancer care in Montgomery County. The Magseed® marker helps women benefit from more accurate marking and removal of breast tumors.
The Magseed® marker is a tiny seed placed in the tissue to mark tumors before surgery and help the surgeon accurately locate the cancer and remove it in one piece. Once placed, it cannot be dislodged or damaged1. The Magseed® can be placed days, weeks or even months ahead of surgery to mark any cancer site for accurate removal.
As the first hospital in the region to utilize the Magseed® marker, MedStar Montgomery serves as an innovative local leader in breast health. Oncologists at MedStar Montgomery began using the Magseed® marker in mid-August, and already deem the technology to be a welcome addition for doctors and patients.
According to Dr. Jennifer D. Son, Breast Surgeon, MedStar Montgomery Medical Center, “When it comes to cancer marking, our surgeons and patients have found the Magseed® marker to be vastly safer, more comfortable, more effective, and more time efficient than traditional guidewires. Our team can place the Magseed marker well in advance of surgery, which means patients don’t have to worry about additional procedures on the day of surgery.”
The Magseed® marker replaces the traditional guidewire method of cancer marking, which has been shown in numerous studies to carry the risk of migrating before surgery.2 These studies have demonstrated that guidewire migration can cause surgery to be inaccurate, leaving behind cancerous tissue after the first surgery in 20-50% of cases.2 Marking and removing the tumor with a Magseed® marker has been shown to reduce these figures significantly to between 6.5% and 10%.3,4,5
“We are proud to bring the most innovative and effective treatments to our patients right here in Montgomery County'' said Thomas J. Senker, FACHE, president of MedStar Montgomery Medical Center. “The addition of the Magseed marking technology advances our goal to provide the most comprehensive, compassionate and high-quality breast cancer care.”
About MedStar Montgomery Medical Center and MedStar Health
MedStar Montgomery Medical Center is a not-for-profit, acute care community hospital serving Montgomery County, Maryland. For 100 years, MedStar Montgomery has served as a medical care provider and community health resource offering high-quality, personalized care. MedStar Montgomery provides a broad range of healthcare specialties, advanced technologies, and treatments not traditionally found at community hospitals—including cutting-edge care in obstetrics, orthopedics, breast health, and oncology. MedStar Health is the region's largest non-profit and most trusted integrated healthcare delivery system, giving patients access to the latest in modern medicine and medical technology within a community hospital setting.About Endomag
Endomag is a global technology company that believes everyone deserves a better standard of cancer care. Many of the world’s leading physicians and hospitals use the company’s technologies to help women with breast cancer avoid surgery when it isn’t needed, and experience better outcomes when it is.
Originally founded in 2007 by professors at University College London (UCL) and the University of Houston, Endomag harnesses the power of magnetics to enable a better standard of cancer care.
The heart of the company’s product platform is the Sentimag® localization system. The Sentimag® system features a probe which works like a metal detector, and when placed near the skin’s surface is used to detect Endomag’s magnetic seed (Magseed®) or liquid tracer (Magtrace®), for tissue localization and sentinel node biopsy procedures. Today, the Sentimag® system has been used in over 130,000 procedures worldwide.
Endomag is a global company headquartered in Cambridge, UK, with an office in Austin, Texas. To date, the company has helped tens of thousands of women around the world access more precise and less invasive breast cancer care. To learn more visit: https://www.endomag.com/
References
1 Harvey, JR, et al (2018). Safety and Feasibility of Breast Lesion Localization Using Magnetic Seeds (Magseed): a Multi-Centre, open-label cohort study. Breast Cancer Res Treat. 169(3):531-536.
2 Jeevan, R. et al (2012). Reoperation Rates After Breast Conserving Surgery for Breast Cancer Among Women in England: Retrospective Study of Hospital Episode Statistics. BMJ. [online] 345(Jul12 2),pp.e4505-e4505.
3 Singh 2019 – Effectiveness and Safety of Magseed-localization for Excision of Breast Lesions. MD Anderson Cancer Center. SSO 2019, San Diego.
4 Miller 2019 – Hospital system rollout and initial experience with stainless steel magnetized seeds for breast and lymph node localization. University Hospitals, Cleveland. ASBrS 2019, Dallas.
5 Alvarado 2019 – Lesion localization and targeted axillary dissection with one platform. German Senology Congress 2019, Berlin.
####
Browse news by hospital
For reporters
Share this
MedStar Health makes the news
All News
-
October 29, 2021
MedStar Montgomery becomes the first hospital in the region helping patients access more accurate and less invasive breast tumor removal with the Magseed® marker.
Olney, MD—MedStar Montgomery Medical Center recently introduced an innovative cancer technology, the Magseed® marker, to improve outcomes and the standard of cancer care in Montgomery County. The Magseed® marker helps women benefit from more accurate marking and removal of breast tumors.
The Magseed® marker is a tiny seed placed in the tissue to mark tumors before surgery and help the surgeon accurately locate the cancer and remove it in one piece. Once placed, it cannot be dislodged or damaged1. The Magseed® can be placed days, weeks or even months ahead of surgery to mark any cancer site for accurate removal.
As the first hospital in the region to utilize the Magseed® marker, MedStar Montgomery serves as an innovative local leader in breast health. Oncologists at MedStar Montgomery began using the Magseed® marker in mid-August, and already deem the technology to be a welcome addition for doctors and patients.
According to Dr. Jennifer D. Son, Breast Surgeon, MedStar Montgomery Medical Center, “When it comes to cancer marking, our surgeons and patients have found the Magseed® marker to be vastly safer, more comfortable, more effective, and more time efficient than traditional guidewires. Our team can place the Magseed marker well in advance of surgery, which means patients don’t have to worry about additional procedures on the day of surgery.”
The Magseed® marker replaces the traditional guidewire method of cancer marking, which has been shown in numerous studies to carry the risk of migrating before surgery.2 These studies have demonstrated that guidewire migration can cause surgery to be inaccurate, leaving behind cancerous tissue after the first surgery in 20-50% of cases.2 Marking and removing the tumor with a Magseed® marker has been shown to reduce these figures significantly to between 6.5% and 10%.3,4,5
“We are proud to bring the most innovative and effective treatments to our patients right here in Montgomery County'' said Thomas J. Senker, FACHE, president of MedStar Montgomery Medical Center. “The addition of the Magseed marking technology advances our goal to provide the most comprehensive, compassionate and high-quality breast cancer care.”
About MedStar Montgomery Medical Center and MedStar Health
MedStar Montgomery Medical Center is a not-for-profit, acute care community hospital serving Montgomery County, Maryland. For 100 years, MedStar Montgomery has served as a medical care provider and community health resource offering high-quality, personalized care. MedStar Montgomery provides a broad range of healthcare specialties, advanced technologies, and treatments not traditionally found at community hospitals—including cutting-edge care in obstetrics, orthopedics, breast health, and oncology. MedStar Health is the region's largest non-profit and most trusted integrated healthcare delivery system, giving patients access to the latest in modern medicine and medical technology within a community hospital setting.About Endomag
Endomag is a global technology company that believes everyone deserves a better standard of cancer care. Many of the world’s leading physicians and hospitals use the company’s technologies to help women with breast cancer avoid surgery when it isn’t needed, and experience better outcomes when it is.
Originally founded in 2007 by professors at University College London (UCL) and the University of Houston, Endomag harnesses the power of magnetics to enable a better standard of cancer care.
The heart of the company’s product platform is the Sentimag® localization system. The Sentimag® system features a probe which works like a metal detector, and when placed near the skin’s surface is used to detect Endomag’s magnetic seed (Magseed®) or liquid tracer (Magtrace®), for tissue localization and sentinel node biopsy procedures. Today, the Sentimag® system has been used in over 130,000 procedures worldwide.
Endomag is a global company headquartered in Cambridge, UK, with an office in Austin, Texas. To date, the company has helped tens of thousands of women around the world access more precise and less invasive breast cancer care. To learn more visit: https://www.endomag.com/
References
1 Harvey, JR, et al (2018). Safety and Feasibility of Breast Lesion Localization Using Magnetic Seeds (Magseed): a Multi-Centre, open-label cohort study. Breast Cancer Res Treat. 169(3):531-536.
2 Jeevan, R. et al (2012). Reoperation Rates After Breast Conserving Surgery for Breast Cancer Among Women in England: Retrospective Study of Hospital Episode Statistics. BMJ. [online] 345(Jul12 2),pp.e4505-e4505.
3 Singh 2019 – Effectiveness and Safety of Magseed-localization for Excision of Breast Lesions. MD Anderson Cancer Center. SSO 2019, San Diego.
4 Miller 2019 – Hospital system rollout and initial experience with stainless steel magnetized seeds for breast and lymph node localization. University Hospitals, Cleveland. ASBrS 2019, Dallas.
5 Alvarado 2019 – Lesion localization and targeted axillary dissection with one platform. German Senology Congress 2019, Berlin.
####
-
October 29, 2021
The Primary Stroke Center’s use of advanced therapies promotes high performance, better outcomes
Olney, MD—MedStar Montgomery Medical Center’s multidisciplinary stroke program was recently named a High Performing Program by U.S. News & World Report in its annual Best Hospitals Rankings 2021-22. Additionally, the Primary Stroke Center was recognized on the American Heart Association’s Get With the Guidelines-Stroke GOLD PLUS with Honor Roll and Target: Type 2 Diabetes Honor Roll and was re-certified by The Joint Commission. MedStar Montgomery’s stroke program received the distinctions for its high-performance ratings, patient-centered care, and the use of advanced therapies to achieve positive outcomes.
MedStar Montgomery’s Stroke Center earned top rankings, High Performance, from U.S. News & World Report, in several categories including survival rates (30 days after hospitalization for stroke), percentage of stroke patients treated with time-sensitive medical interventions, the nurse/patient ratio, and total number of patients treated (which is associated with better outcomes). These quality indicators are ranked based on national averages. MedStar Montgomery was among 6,000 hospitals evaluated in the Best Hospitals Rankings 2021-22.
“I am incredibly proud of the multidisciplinary team of skilled, expert care providers within our Primary Stroke Center at MedStar Montgomery. This team deserves recognition for their incredible hard work in treating these patients and mitigating the long-term effects of the condition,” said Thomas J. Senker, FACHE, president of MedStar Montgomery Medical Center. “This distinction underscores our commitment to providing high-quality care, combined with the latest in advance therapies and a patient-first approach.”
Positive patient outcomes during a stroke are largely attributed to the use of Tissue Plasminogen Activator (tPA), an intravenous intervention that is given to individuals within 4.5 hours of the onset of stroke symptoms. This time-sensitive medical intervention works to dissolve the stroke-causing clot, overall supporting better and more complete recoveries, including higher levels of functional mobility and resolution of presenting symptoms.
MedStar Montgomery’s tPA administration rate is currently 15.7%, above the national average of under 10%. From January 1 through July 31, 2021, 75% of eligible patients were able to receive tPA within 60 minutes of the onset of symptoms.
“Because time is so critical in treating strokes, our emergency department teams are trained to provide rapid, excellent care by prioritizing stroke treatments. In addition, we have an acute stroke team that evaluates patients and sets in motion specific procedures to diagnose the cause of the stroke,” said Nickie Miskell, RN, Stroke Coordinator, MedStar Montgomery Medical Center. “For our team this is more than just recognition of hard work and positive outcomes, this distinction represents those patients’ lives we were able to impact. We’re very proud of that.”
MedStar Montgomery was also jointly recognized by the American Heart Association and American Stroke Association, earning a “Get with the Guidelines-Stroke GOLD PLUS Honor Roll and Target: Type 2 Diabetes Honor Roll Achievement Award” and The Joint Commission, an independent, not-for-profit national body overseeing the quality of healthcare, awarded an Advanced Certification to the Primary Stroke Center.
For information about the Primary Stroke Center at MedStar Montgomery, visit: https://www.medstarhealth.org/services/neurology-and-neurosurgery. If you or anyone exhibits signs of stroke, you’re urged to contact 911 immediately.
About MedStar Montgomery Medical Center and MedStar Health
MedStar Montgomery Medical Center is a not-for-profit, acute care community hospital serving Montgomery County, Maryland. For 100 years, MedStar Montgomery has served as a medical care provider and community health resource offering high-quality, personalized care. MedStar Montgomery provides a broad range of healthcare specialties, advanced technologies, and treatments not traditionally found at community hospitals—including cutting-edge care in obstetrics, orthopedics, breast health, and oncology. MedStar Health is the region's largest non-profit and most trusted integrated healthcare delivery system, giving patients access to the latest in modern medicine and medical technology within a community hospital setting.
#### -
October 18, 2021Multi-million expansion addresses the complex health care management of the region’s aging population
OLNEY, Md. – MedStar Health announces the opening of the Center for Successful Aging at MedStar Montgomery Medical Center which delivers a new model of specialized care for older adults. The first-in-the-region center is designed to address the complex needs of older adults through integrated care coordination, a patient-centered approach, and highly skilled medical and psychosocial care. The new center was modeled after the very successful, innovative program at MedStar Good Samaritan Hospital in Baltimore.
The growth of the geriatric population continues to rise at epic levels, as the population of Marylanders 60 years and over is expected to reach more than 25 percent by the year 2030 according to the state's Department of Aging.
"Through the Center for Successful Aging, we want to radically transform healthcare delivery and support a thriving community of older adults across the continuum of care," said Thomas J. Senker, FACHE, president of MedStar Montgomery Medical Center. "With a growing elderly population and a shortage of geriatricians, it is increasingly important to evolve the geriatrics practice and extend the reach of high-quality clinical care for seniors in our region."
The CSA will be led by Chief of Geriatrics and Center Director, George Hennawi, MD, FACP. Dr. Hennawi was recognized as one of the region's best and most respected physicians as chosen by his peers. He specializes in geriatric medicine, as well as palliative care and hospice.
Patient-Centered Care Emphasizes An Individual's Own Preferences
The CSA takes a holistic approach to care starting with a thorough health assessment to identify cognitive, functional and medical risks. Patients are then provided with an individualized "Life Plan" and a specialized care team to manage their physical, mental and emotional health, often in partnership with the patient's primary care physician, specialist provider, family and caregivers, and resident skilled nursing provider.
The care team, led by a geriatrician, is comprised of care coordinators, social workers, therapists and pharmacists who collectively ensure that patients receive the necessary care while providing education, support, and encouragement for both patients and caregivers.
"We understand the unique medical, social and emotional health challenges facing older adults today. Seniors and their caregivers want to return home as quickly and safely as possible. Our teams provide an elevated level of care and support to equip patients to manage even complex conditions in an outpatient setting, decreasing the number of unnecessary ER visits," said Dr. Rezanne Khalil, MD. "We've created a space to empower older adults and their caregivers to be engaged in the activities and services that accomplish individual health goals."
A high-intensity outpatient center allows individuals to remain at home when possible and prevent hospitalization or readmission. Primary and consultative outpatient care will also address complex medical and psychosocial needs. Inpatient services include a geriatrics consult service, and a specialized Acute Care program, which focuses on helping patients admitted from private homes to return to a skilled-nursing setting.
In addition, partnerships with skilled nursing facilities across Montgomery County allow for the provision of expertise and oversight of clinical operations. It will also support transition of care as patients move from the hospital to inpatient care or back into their private homes.
Through these services, the hospital aims to retain patients' pre-hospital levels of function, reduce length of stay, reduce the need for sub-acute placement and reduce 30-day readmissions.
$2 Million Grant Supports Center's Expansion
The CSA was made possible in part by a $2 million grant from the Edward N. & Dell L. Thome Memorial Foundation, which was created in 2002 to advance the health of older adults through the support of direct service programs and medical research. The grant supported the renovation and outfitting of the outpatient center and other healthcare locations to provide coordinated care of other essential services.
"On behalf of everyone at MedStar Montgomery Medical Center, we are grateful for the generous grant and continued support from the Thome Foundation, which allows us to expand care for such an important population," continued Senker. "Our shared mission with the Thome Foundation is to advance the health of older citizens and promote aging with dignity. We're excited to bring The Center for Successful Aging model to Montgomery County and deliver important, comprehensive services across the care continuum."
For more information or to request a consultation with a geriatric specialist, visit https://www.medstarhealth.org/ads/mmmc-csa/ or call 240-817-1411 to request an appointment.
About MedStar Montgomery Medical Center and MedStar Health
MedStar Montgomery Medical Center is a not-for-profit, acute care community hospital serving Montgomery County, Maryland. For 100 years, MedStar Montgomery has served as a medical care provider and community health resource offering high-quality, personalized care. MedStar Montgomery provides a broad range of healthcare specialties, advanced technologies, and treatments not traditionally found at community hospitals—including cutting-edge care in obstetrics, orthopedics, breast health, and oncology. MedStar Health is the region's largest non-profit and most trusted integrated healthcare delivery system, giving patients access to the latest in modern medicine and medical technology within a community hospital setting. -
October 08, 2019New centers bring advanced, world-class care and innovation to community hospital -
July 30, 2019
Together the partners will provide interdisciplinary, personalized end-of-life care through new hospital-based hospice program
OLNEY, Md. — MedStar Montgomery Medical Center (MMMC) and JSSA, a health and social wellness agency, have announced a partnership to provide hospital-based hospice care. The new offering will allow patients with life-limiting illnesses, whose symptoms are unable to be managed in a typical home setting, the ability to receive around-the-clock medical care from a compassionate interdisciplinary healthcare team in a comfortable environment surrounded by their loved ones.
Families and individuals who qualify for this level of care receive pain and symptom management, as well as therapeutic support from a team of care providers. Emotional and spiritual support will also be provided when needed by licensed therapists and chaplains.
“At MedStar Montgomery, our mission is to provide high-quality, compassionate and personalized care to every patient, beginning at birth and continuing throughout their life,” said Thomas J. Senker, FACHE, president of MedStar Montgomery Medical Center and senior vice president of MedStar Health. “That patient first approach to care extends to end-of-life, which is why we have collaborated with the excellent team at JSSA to bring hospital-based hospice care to our community.”
JSSA and MMMC have collaborated to create the best possible environment for compassionate and comprehensive hospital-based hospice care. Under the new program, MMMC staff will work together with JSSA to meet hospice patients’ needs. JSSA’s interdisciplinary team of caring experts includes a hospice physician, registered nurses, social workers, certified nursing assistants, chaplains, volunteers and bereavement counselors who, alongside the trusted team at MMMC, will work with each patient and their loved ones to determine an individualized plan that best meets their needs and wishes.
“At JSSA we know how difficult it is to navigate end-of-life care. It is one of life’s most consequential moments. For nearly 35 years, we have been providing hospice care wherever our neighbors call home, but sometimes symptom management and the comfort of the patient requires a setting in which they can receive full-time care and medical support. For those moments we knew it was important for families to receive expert medical care in a caring and trusted setting,” said Todd Schenk, chief executive officer of JSSA. “We are thrilled to be working with such an excellent partner, as MedStar Montgomery, to create an inpatient hospice option that will serve patients and families during those most intensive and challenging moments of a terminal illness.”
For more information, visit www.jssa.org or call 301-816-2676.
The addition of the program comes as MMMC marks its 100th anniversary of the hospital, which has now grown to 117-beds serving the thousands of patients each year. The non-profit, acute care hospital is dedicated to innovating care and continuing to provide compassionate, person-centered care.
ABOUT MEDSTAR MONTGOMERY MEDICAL CENTER:
MedStar Montgomery Medical Center is a 117-bed, not-for-profit hospital serving the greater Baltimore and Washington metropolitan areas. A proud member of MedStar Health, MedStar Montgomery is committed to delivering the latest in modern medicine and medical technology.ABOUT JSSA:
Life is a series of ordinary moments punctuated by extraordinary ones. An aging parent struggling to live on their own. A child with anxiety starting kindergarten. A family member with autism working toward employment. JSSA is the health and social wellness agency that supports our neighbors through life’s consequential moments. Serving suburban Maryland, northern Virginia and the District of Columbia, our work is built on the commitment to repairing our corner of the world. We believe that to be high quality, care must be rooted in caring. Our team of experts is trained to listen with respect and ask questions to understand the whole you, so we can connect your needs and concerns with the right people who can help.
-
July 11, 2019Sandy Spring, MD -- Sandy Spring Museum announces the Women’s Board of MGH supporting MedStar Montgomery Medical Center as the recipient of the Maryland Champion Award. Hailed as the Museum’s highest honor, this award is presented annually to a person or organization of distinction who has made state wide impact at a grassroots level. The Women’s Board is being honored at the Maryland Champion Gala on October 17, 2019 at Sandy Spring Museum.The Women’s Board, formerly known as the Ladies’ Auxiliary, played an instrumental role in founding Montgomery General Hospital (today’s MedStar Montgomery Medical Center), the first rural hospital in the United States in 1919. One hundred years later, the Women’s Board stills plays an important role in the hospital through its fundraising efforts and the volunteer service provided by its members.“In a rural area like Olney-Sandy Spring, the community had to provide for its own needs. Key businesses like the bank, the insurance company, the hospital, the theater and the museum were built by the community, for the community. Honoring the role members of the Women’s Board played in the establishment of the first rural hospital in the United States is our way of paying tribute to these community heroines,” Allison Weiss, Executive Director, Sandy Spring Museum.The cornerstone for Montgomery General Hospital was laid in November 1919 and, two months later, the flu epidemic of 1918-1920 hit Olney, Maryland. The new hospital was unprepared to care for the sick because furniture as still in boxes and no supplies had been purchased. The eight members of the Ladies Auxiliary unpacked the furniture, and “begged, borrowed and bought” supplies like surgical dressing, ice caps, hot water bottles, equipment to serve food, and the food itself. They also helped to transport the sick to the hospital during a terrible blizzard.Today the Women’s Board has grown to more than 100 members. They are the Hospital’s largest philanthropic group, carrying on the traditions of their founding mothers. Their fundraising includes hosting an annual Picnic and Bazaar (celebrating its 99th anniversary) and, in more recent years, running the hospital gift shop and thrift store."On behalf of all of us with MedStar Montgomery Medical Center, we remain proud and inspired by the philanthropic spirit of The Women's Board," said T.J. Senker, FACHE, president of MedStar Montgomery. "As champions for our community, I commend them for their commitment to legacy through their volunteer work and their celebration of our future with the Scholarship Program for students pursuing a degree in healthcare."Members of the Women’s Board of MGH are being honored at the Maryland Champion Gala on Thursday, October 17, 2019 from 7:00-10:30 pm. Proceeds from the gala support Sandy Spring Museum’s community-driven cultural arts programming. Sandy Spring Museum is located at 17901 Bentley Road, Sandy Spring, MD 20860. For more information, visit www.sandyspringmuseum.org###
