Currently viewing the tag: "Frederick Health"

Frederick Health Partners With FCPS on Free Grief Counseling Program

By On · Add Comment · In Community News

Frederick Health, the largest healthcare provider in Frederick County, is pleased to announce an ongoing partnership with Frederick County Public Schools (FCPS) that brings grief counseling to students within the education system.

Beginning in October of 2022, Frederick Health Hospice has served as the primary provider of one-on-one grief counseling sessions for students at all FCPS schools. If a student is grieving, they can be referred to the program by a teacher, a guidance counselor, or a parent or guardian. This service is free to FCPS students.

Everyone experiences grief differently, and grieving children and teens have unique communication styles. To help address the specific needs of school-aged children, a licensed, specially trained grief counselor, who is also fluent in Spanish, is made available to students to help guide and talk them through feelings of loss.

“We’ve known for years that there were many grieving children in Frederick County that we were just not reaching, whether due to transportation barriers, parental work schedules, or other challenges,” said Kaili Van Waveren, Bereavement Care Supervisor with Frederick Health Hospice.

Since launching this program, scores of students have benefited from hundreds of hours of free counseling and support.

“We are so grateful to finally meet this need in our community,” added Van Waveren.

Healthcare Center Nears Completion

By On · Add Comment · In Business News

Richard D. L. Fulton

A new $4 million healthcare facility being sited on Old Emmitsburg Road is the result of a partnership established between Frederick Health and Mount St. Mary’s University. The facility is expected to open in mid-August.

Donald Schilling, vice president of Ambulatory Services, Frederick Health, said the new facility will provide primary care offices, urgent care offices, laboratory services, imaging (x-ray) services, as well as physical therapy and sports rehabilitation. “It will be staffed by a talented team of nearly 25 Frederick Health providers, nurses, and specialists, who are experts in their respective fields,” he stated.

Frederick Health and Mount staff held a ground-breaking ceremony on October 15, 2021, marking the beginning of the construction of the joint project. The facility is sited on what had been a vacant lot located across from the Mount’s Public Safety office and was donated to Frederick Health by the university to use as the location for the new facility.

The healthcare center has been described as a “cutting edge” medical center, offering “award-winning local care to residents of the area, staff, and students,” according to the Mount’s communications staff.

This facility, to be operated by Frederick Health, was to have opened its doors in June but will open in mid-August instead. Vice President Schilling said the delay was due to issues with the national supply chain, adding, “While we were able to successfully navigate through these challenges, it did result in our opening being temporarily pushed back.”

“The good news,” Schilling said, “is that this facility will be open and ready to treat patients… just in time for the Mount’s upcoming academic school year.”

Mount St. Mary’s first entered into a “strategic healthcare partnership” with Frederick Health in 2018, paving the way for the expansion and improvement of health and wellness services for students and student-athletes.  Mount President Timothy Trainor said, “We have been very pleased with our partnership, which became even stronger during the pandemic and was a major factor in our ability to have students living and learning on campus.”

Trainor further stated, “As part of our commitment to our students’ and the local community’s health and well-being, the partnership has evolved to further improve services to our students and help bring needed healthcare services to Northern Frederick County through this healthcare facility.”

Focusing on prevention, treatment, and the overall wellness of the community, the facility will provide a wide range of healthcare services. The development and construction of this facility will continue to improve access to quality award-winning care in the northern area of Frederick County, Mount communications staff stated in an October 6, 2021, press release issued in conjunction with the October groundbreaking.

Thomas Kleinhanzl, president and chief executive officer of Frederick Health, previously stated, “The construction of the new Emmitsburg facility is yet another way of increasing access to the award-winning care provided by Frederick Health. These kinds of improvements help our neighbors and community grow healthier together.”

“Frederick Health is thrilled to be able to bring our award-winning services to the northern part of Frederick County. This facility is part of our ongoing commitment to increase access to healthcare services to all residents,”  Vice President Schilling told The Catoctin Banner.

Schilling stated that Frederick Health provides “comprehensive healthcare services to the residents of Frederick County,” noting that the system includes Frederick Health Hospital, Frederick Health Medical Group, Frederick Health Employer Solutions, Frederick Health Home Care, and Frederick Health Hospice.

Frederick Health Medical Group is a multi-specialty practice with more than 100 providers, 17 specialties, and multiple locations across the county. The system has several ambulatory care locations, the free-standing James M. Stockman Cancer Institute, two urgent care locations, and the Frederick Health Village.

“With over 4,500 team members, Frederick Health provides a full spectrum of healthcare and wellness services to support its mission to positively impact the well-being of every individual in our community,” Schilling added.

The new healthcare center will be the 23rd facility within Frederick Health’s expanding network.

KODAK Digital Still Camera
KODAK Digital Still Camera

A new $4 million healthcare facility on Old Emmitsburg Road is nearing completion, with an expected opening date of mid-August.

Photos by Richard D. L. Fulton

Frederick Health Is First Community Healthcare System in the State to Improve Patient Outcomes Using New Lung Biopsy Equipment

By On · Add Comment · In Community News

Frederick Health, the largest healthcare provider in Frederick County, is pleased to announce that it is now offering ION Lung Biopsy procedures to patients in need. This minimally invasive biopsy tool can detect even the smallest traces of lung cancer in patients.

Lung cancer is the most common cause of cancer deaths in the United States, with an estimated 130,000 deaths expected in 2022. In Frederick County, cancers are the second leading cause of death.

“Frederick Health is leading the way,” said Dr. Maurice Smith, Medical Director of Chest Surgery with Frederick Health. “This piece of equipment gives us the ability to biopsy smaller nodules, as well as provide an earlier diagnosis and peace of mind.”

ION is the most accurate and scientifically advanced equipment available for performing lung biopsies, and Frederick Health is the first community healthcare system in the state of Maryland to offer this technology to patients. By making the biopsy a more comfortable patient experience, Dr. Smith hopes to boost earlier detection and treatment rates in the community.

“This technology really puts the patient experience first, without incisions or needles,” added Dr. Smith.

As with most cancers, detecting lung cancer early is the key to an increased survival rate.

“The simple truth of the matter is that early detections save lives.”

To learn more about Frederick Health’s cancer treatment programs, please visit www.frederickhealth.org/cancercare.

Frederick Health provides comprehensive healthcare services to the residents of Frederick County. The system includes Frederick Health Hospital, Frederick Health Medical Group, Frederick Health Employer Solutions, Frederick Health Home Care, and Frederick Health Hospice. Frederick Health Medical Group is a multi-specialty practice, with more than 100 providers, 17 specialties, and multiple locations across the county. The system has several ambulatory care locations, the freestanding James M Stockman Cancer Institute, two urgent care locations, and the Frederick Health Village.

With over 4,500 team members, Frederick Health provides a full spectrum of healthcare and wellness

services to support its mission to positively impact the well-being of every individual in our community.

Frederick Health Named One of 2022’s America’s 100 Best Hospitals in the Nation

By On · Add Comment · In Community News

Frederick Health is a national leader for patient care and a recipient of the Healthgrades 2022 America’s 100 Best Hospitals Award™. This places Frederick Health among the top two percent of all hospitals for clinical care and patient outcomes across treatment of the most common conditions and procedures. Frederick Health has received the America’s 100 Best Hospitals Award for three consecutive years (2020-2022).

“Frederick Health is honored to be recognized as one of Healthgrades America’s 100 best hospitals in the nation. Being named one of America’s 100 best hospitals, especially during the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, is a true testament to the skill and dedication of our award-winning team. I am very proud of what Frederick Health has been able to accomplish and of the continued care that we bring to our families, friends, neighbors, and community,” said Tom Kleinhanzl, president & CEO of Frederick Health.

Methodology Healthgrades is committed to delivering the most scientifically accurate and comprehensive information about doctors and hospitals, with data insights not available anywhere else. To assess overall hospital performance, Healthgrades reviewed outcomes across more than 31 of the most common procedures and conditions. Recipients of this award have consistently delivered better than expected outcomes for their patients.

Impact America’s 100 Best Hospitals award recipients are making an impact. From 2018-2020, patients treated in hospitals achieving the Healthgrades top 100 hospitals recognition, on average, had a 25.4 percent lower risk of dying than if they were treated in hospitals that did not receive this award, as measured across 17 rated conditions and procedures, where mortality is the outcome*. In fact, if all hospitals as a group performed similarly to Frederick Health and other 2022 Healthgrades America’s 100 Best Hospitals, 162,830 lives could potentially have been saved from 2018-2020.*

Frederick Health has also received the: America’s 100 Best Hospitals for Spine Surgery™ (2019-2022); America’s 100 Best Hospitals for Stroke Care™ (2020-2022); America’s 100 Best Hospitals for Prostate Surgeries™ (2020-2022); America’s 100 Best Hospitals for Gastrointestinal Care™ (2017-2022); America’s 100 Best Hospitals for Gastrointestinal Surgery™ (2021-2022); Orthopedic Surgery Excellence Award™ (2019-2022); Neurosciences Excellence Award™ (2021-2022); Pulmonary Care Excellence Award™ (2016-2022); Critical Care Excellence Award™ (2016-2022); Surgical Care Excellence Award™ in 2022.

Frederick Health is the only hospital in the State of Maryland to receive the America’s 100 Best Hospitals for Gastrointestinal Surgery and Gastrointestinal Care Awards in 2022.

“We are proud to recognize Frederick Health as one of America’s 100 Best Hospitals for 2022,” said Brad Bowman, MD, chief medical officer and head of Data Science at Healthgrades. “As an America’s 100 Best hospital, Frederick Health’s clinical performance and patient outcomes outpaced nearly all other hospitals in the country. We believe these distinguished hospitals are leading the industry and setting the standard for providing safe and quality care.”

With tools like hospital ratings and awards, Healthgrades helps consumers make confident healthcare decisions by enabling the evaluation and comparison of hospital performance to find the highest quality care. Visit Healthgrades.com/quality/America’s-best-hospitals for an in-depth look at Fredrick Health’s performance and profile to explore the highest quality care in Frederick today. Consumers can also visit Healthgrades.com for more information on how Healthgrades measures hospital quality, and access the complete methodology here.

*Statistics are based on Healthgrades analysis of MedPAR data for years 2018 through 2020 and represent three year estimates for Medicare patients only.