2018 was another year of growth and innovation for Mary Washington Healthcare. We are always proud to partner with both national and local agencies to improve the health of the people in our community.

Here are 10 of the ways we impacted the Fredericksburg region this year:

Mary Washington Healthcare was instrumental in bringing the Stop the Bleed national initiative to Fredericksburg. We held the first “train the trainer” class in our region, preparing first responders and other law enforcement officials to handle massive bleeding from traumatic injuries.

MWHC is proud to sponsor Project SEARCH, a national program preparing young people with disabilities for success in integrated, competitive employment. We partner with Stafford County Schools’ five area high schools to provide real-life job training for area students. In the spring, 8 students graduated from the program, and a new class of 10 students began the program this fall. They rotate around many areas of the hospital, to include the gift shop, environmental services, the pharmacy, and materials management.

We further expanded our family of care to Caroline and King George counties with the opening of two new Mary Washington Medical Group practices, MWMG Family Medicine and Pediatrics in Caroline, and MWMG Primary Care in King George. Providers at both practices have long cared for their communities; by joining Mary Washington Medical Group, their commitment to caring for their patients was reaffirmed. Visit practices.mwhc.com to find a primary care or specialty physician near you.

Mary Washington Healthcare is on a journey to becoming a High Reliability Organization. As part of that journey, our President and CEO, Dr. Michael McDermott, wrote a parody of “Ten Duel Commandments” from the Broadway show, Hamilton. The 10 Safety Commandments video went on to win Press Ganey’s 2018 Safety Cinema Award for “Most Entertaining”.

Mary Washington Hospital expanded its services by opening a new Observation Unit adjacent to the MWH ED. Patients in the observation unit receive essential treatment while undergoing tests to determine if they can rest at home and be treated by a primary care physician or a specialist or if hospital admission is necessary. Listen to the podcast where Dr. Eric Tosh and Eliese Bernard explain how the Observation Unit is improving care at MWH.

MWHC Hospice Services held their inaugural Light up a Life event at the Spotsylvania Towne Centre, raising more than $30,000 to benefit MWHC Hospice, Palliative & Grief Support Services. Their services are available at no charge to individuals and families in the community and are funded through private donations, fundraising events and grants. Read more about the event here.

Mary Washington Hospital continues to advance the care provided in our stroke center, earning The Joint Commission’s Gold Seal of Approval® and the American Heart Association/American Stroke Association’s Heart-Check mark for Advanced Certification for Primary Stroke Centers. When it comes to stroke, it’s a race against time, and time is on your side at Mary Washington Hospital.

In June, MWHC launched Epic, our new electronic health record. Epic touches all areas of a patient’s journey, from the time they walk through our doors until they are home, viewing their prescriptions and test results in MyChart. Communication among clinical staff is more efficient and patients have a greater role in managing their healthcare. To mark the occasion, President and CEO Dr. Mike McDermott wrote a parody to “Alexander Hamilton,” celebrating “Goin’ Live with Epic Now”. Read more about Epic.

Mary Washington Healthcare was the first in the Washington, D.C. metro area to offer the Breast Microseed Treatment® for breast cancer radiation at the MWHC Regional Cancer Center. The one-time procedure takes the place of what could be 30 radiation treatments. Patients experience fewer side effects and have more time to do what they love. Read more about the Breast Microseed Treatment®.

In November, Mary Washington Hospital was named one of the 50 Top Cardiovascular Hospitals by IBM Watson Health™. “This recognition represents our Cardiovascular team’s hard work and tireless dedication in caring for the communities we serve,” said Michael McDermott, MD, MBA, President and Chief Executive Officer of Mary Washington Healthcare. Read more here.