BALTIMORE—MedStar Franklin Square Medical Center will open its new surgical pavilion with 14 spacious surgical suites, including a hybrid operating room, to soon receive its first patients. The 82,000 square-feet of space replaces smaller, antiquated operating rooms with the latest industry technology to enhance patient safety, quality, and throughput processes. Members of the media are invited to tour the pavilion for an exclusive sneak peek, Aug. 4 between 10:00 a.m. and 1:00 p.m.
“From start to finish, the insights of each of our associates who work in our operating rooms and care for surgical patients were incorporated into the layout and design of this new pavilion,” said Stuart Levine, MD, FACP, president of MedStar Franklin Square and senior vice president of MedStar Health. “We are very proud of what this pavilion means for them, our patients and our community.”
Every detail of the site has patient comfort in mind, from the calm, comforting earth colors, to the waterfall wall in the waiting room, extra wide hallways, dedicated parking and a drop off circle. A windowed tower of cascading lights will provide the community with a reassuring beacon of light that can be seen illuminated for miles. During community celebrations, the color of the lights can be changed.
A 600-foot concourse connects the new surgical pavilion with the existing patient tower, allowing for greater efficiency when transferring patients from the surgical pavilion to their rooms.
“Patients certainly benefit from the advantages of having the highest quality of care delivered in more open space, said Regional Chief of Surgery for MedStar Health, David Stein, MD, FACS. “The rooms are designed for the newest robotics and imaging technology, but also are designed to integrate future technology. A sophisticated level of communication systems will expedite processes from sterilization, to lab work, to pharmacy, recovery and admissions.
“The pavilion design is uniquely developed so that patients and families or visitors can easily navigate from parking to arrival, to registration, to recovery. Everything about the surgical experience is patient-centered,” Dr. Stein said.
Additionally, the digitally equipped operating rooms elevate a robust video system that enhances the independent residency program at MedStar Franklin Square. “We’re very excited because of the educational opportunities the new surgical center offers for our next generation of surgeons,” added Margaret Arnold, MD, FACS, director of the MedStar Health Baltimore surgical residency program.
The $80 million surgical pavilion will also include:
State-of-the-art sterilization process
20 PACU (Post Anesthesia Care Unit) bays
Future transplant and perfusion room
Pre-admission testing area
Perioperative administration space
Private consultation rooms
North and south nurse stations
Support spaces (21 spaces)
The surgical pavilion, which broke ground in December, 2018, is the last phase of the $300 million modernization investment MedStar Health started almost 10 years ago at MedStar Franklin Square, with the construction of the patient tower and emergency department.
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About MedStar Health
MedStar Health is a not-for-profit health system dedicated to caring for people in Maryland and the Washington, D.C., region, while advancing the practice of medicine through education, innovation and research. MedStar’s 30,000 associates, 6,000 affiliated physicians, 10 hospitals, ambulatory care and urgent care centers, and the MedStar Health Research Institute are recognized regionally and nationally for excellence in medical care. As the medical education and clinical partner of Georgetown University, MedStar trains more than 1,100 medical residents annually. MedStar Health’s patient-first philosophy combines care, compassion and clinical excellence with an emphasis on customer service. For more information, visit MedStarHealth.org.
Revolutionary Lung Valve is First FDA-Approved Breathing Aid Without Major Surgery
BALTIMORE— The Angelos Center for Lung Disease at MedStar Franklin Square Medical Center has become the first medical facility in the state to offer endoscopic lung volume reduction (ELVR), using a new FDA-approved lung valve that is positioned in damaged lung airways without surgery, and allows patients with severe emphysema to breathe easier.
Sy A. Sarkar, MD, FCCP, FACP, DAABIP, board certified in interventional pulmonology, is currently screening patients at the Angelos Center for Lung Disease on the hospital campus, to see if the breakthrough medical device is right for them. “There is no surgery involved,” he said. “Using a bronchoscope, we place valves, into a lobe of the lung under anesthesia.”
More than 3.5 million Americans suffer from emphysema, a severe, progressive form of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, (COPD). In emphysema, a breakdown of small air sacs in the lungs, known as aveoli, cause air to become trapped in the diseased portions of the lungs each time the patient inhales. The lungs hyperinflate and healthier lung tissue is compressed, causing patients to feel as though they are suffocating. Normal activities like walking, eating or bathing are challenging.
Once in position, the implanted valves will occlude any further airflow into the diseased portion of the lung and allow air trapped to be exhaled out of the patient, thereby reducing the volume in the overinflated area. The remaining lobes are then able to fully expand and work more efficiently, improving overall lung function. Patients who received the treatment experienced an increased exercise capacity. They can walk further, experience less shortness of breath and enjoy a better quality of life.
“This approach represents a major advancement in treating patients who have been living very compromised lives, most for a long time, and we’re doing it without surgery,” Dr. Sarkar said. “There’s no cure for emphysema and once medical therapy has achieved maximum medical benefit, the remaining current treatment options have been invasive lung surgery. This is revolutionary alternative to achieve lung volume reduction using a minimally invasive approach. It’s life changing, and I’m very excited that here at the Angelos Center, we can offer it to the patients who qualify.”
Those interested in the minimally invasive treatment option can schedule a screening at the Angelos Center for Lung Disease by calling: 443-777-2467.
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About MedStar Franklin Square Medical Center
MedStar Franklin Square Medical Center is a not-for-profit 353-bed community teaching hospital located in the White Marsh section of eastern Baltimore County, Maryland. MedStar Franklin Square provides many medical and healthcare services, including a broad range of healthcare specialties, advanced technologies and treatments not traditionally found at community hospitals. The hospital is ranked third in admissions among all Maryland hospitals and our Emergency Department treats more than 80,000 patients annually. MedStar Franklin Square is accredited by the Joint Commission and certified as a Primary Stroke Center and has earned some of the nation’s most prestigious quality awards including Magnet Designation for excellence in nursing, the Excellence Award for Quality Improvement from the Delmarva Foundation and inclusion in the U.S. News & World Report Best Hospital specialty ranking for four consecutive years. With more than 3,300 employees, MedStar Franklin Square is one of the largest employers in Baltimore County. Visit medstarfranklin.org for more information.
Media Contacts
Debra Schindler Regional Director, Media & Public Relations, MedStar Health Baltimore
410-274-2496 [email protected]
Carrie Wells Public Relations Specialist, MedStar Health Baltimore
443-613-1569 [email protected]
With help from Maryland doctors, horse racing industry takes on concussions
Kelly Ryan, DO, Sports Medicine Specialist and Member of the Maryland Horsemen's Health System staff, discusses concussions and jockey health with The Baltimore Sun. Dr. Ryan contributed extensively to medical protocols recently approved by a national horse racing body for concussions. “No one has had protocols for concussions, and when you’re here on a daily basis you see how important they are.”
U.S. Senator Ben Cardin to Visit for Discussion on Legislation to Appeal the Affordable Care Act
Baltimore—( June 22, 2017 ) Senator Ben Cardin will join leadership and associates of MedStar Franklin Square Hospital, along with residents from the hospital’s surrounding communities, for a town hall forum to discuss legislation to repeal the Affordable Care Act, (ACA).
Senate Republicans unveiled the bill today, called the "Better Care Reconciliation Act," which would repeal major parts of the Affordable Care Act, also known as Obamacare.
Similarly, the House bill, called the American Health Care Act, which was passed in May, rolls back ACA’s Medicaid expansion and proposed federal tax cuts and large cuts to federal health spending.
Senator Cardin, a member of the Senate Finance Committee that has jurisdiction for health care issues as well as Medicaid and Medicare, will explore the many potential impacts to Maryland citizens that could follow should either of these bills become law.
WHAT: Town Hall Meeting on Health Care
WHO: U.S. Senator Ben Cardin
Samuel E. Moskowitz, President, MedStar Franklin Square Medical Center
Leaders and Staff, MedStar Franklin Square Medical Center
Community Members
WHEN: Friday, June 23 at 11:15 AM
WHERE: Medstar Franklin Square Hospital, 9000 Franklin Square Dr., Rosedale, MD 21237
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About MedStar Franklin Square Medical Center
MedStar Franklin Square Medical Center is a not-for-profit 378-bed community teaching hospital located in the White Marsh section of eastern Baltimore County, Maryland. MedStar Franklin Square provides many medical and healthcare services, including a broad range of healthcare specialties, advanced technologies and treatments not traditionally found at community hospitals. The hospital is ranked third in admissions among all Maryland hospitals and is first in Emergency Department visits with more than 108,000 visits annually. MedStar Franklin Square is accredited by the Joint Commission and certified as a Primary Stroke Center and has earned some of the nation’s most prestigious quality awards including Magnet Designation for excellence in nursing, the Excellence Award for Quality Improvement from the Delmarva Foundation and inclusion in the U.S. News & World Report Best Hospital specialty ranking for four consecutive years. With more than 3,300 employees, MedStar Franklin Square is one of the largest employers in Baltimore County. Visit medstarfranklin.org for more information.
Media Contact
Debra Schindler Regional Director, Media & Public Relations, MedStar Health Baltimore 410-274-2496 [email protected]
The new High-Risk Assessment and Cancer Prevention Clinicis dedicated to identifying and caring for individuals who have an increased risk of cancer due to family history, medical and genetic factors, and/or lifestyle influences. A diversified team will assess a patients' need to be screened for cancer-related genes, develop treatment plans that consider current and future risk, and encourage regular diagnostic testing. The team is made up of medical oncologists, gastroenterologists, gynecologists, surgeons, nurses, and a dedicated cancer genetic counselor.
Meet Jackie Dressel as she shares her story about her treatment at the High-Risk Cancer Prevention Clinic. Due to Dressel's family history of breast cancer, including her mother who died in her mid-3o's, she was screened for cancer-related genes linked to increased risk for breast and ovarian cancer. Although her results were negative, Dressel opted for a preventive double mastectomy. "I didn't want to live in fear anymore," said Dressel. "For me, it was a relief." Click here to read the full story.
Media Contact
Debra Schindler Regional Director, Media & Public Relations, MedStar Health Baltimore 410-274-2496 [email protected]
Baltimore—(November 2016)— MedStar Health is proud to announce that 118 of its Baltimore hospital physicians have been recognized by Baltimore magazine in the much anticipated and highly coveted 30th annual edition of Top Docs, now on stands.
Physicians who grace the pages of the Top Docs edition are chosen by their peers who respond to a survey asking which physician they would most likely send their own family member to. Nearly 12,000 physicians in the region were surveyed for this year’s list. Baltimore magazine then publishes the top physicians named in over one hundred specialties.
Neal Zimmerman, MD, Hand Surgery, MedStar Union Memorial
About MedStar Health
MedStar Health is a not-for-profit health system dedicated to caring for people in Maryland and the Washington, D.C., region, while advancing the practice of medicine through education, innovation and research. MedStar’s 30,000 associates, 6,000 affiliated physicians, 10 hospitals, ambulatory care and urgent care centers, and the MedStar Health Research Institute are recognized regionally and nationally for excellence in medical care. As the medical education and clinical partner of Georgetown University, MedStar trains more than 1,100 medical residents annually. MedStar Health’s patient-first philosophy combines care, compassion and clinical excellence with an emphasis on customer service. For more information, visit MedStarHealth.org.
MedStar Franklin Square Medical Center Offers Free Flu Vaccination at Annual Drive-Thru Clinic
Baltimore—(November 1, 2016)— Vehicles will begin lining up before the 8 am start of MedStar Franklin Square Medical Center’s 10th Annual Drive-Thru Flu Vaccination Clinic Sunday, at the Community College of Baltimore – Essex campus, to receive flu shots through their car windows. More than 30 volunteer hospital nurses and physicians will be on hand to administer the vaccines to attendees six months and older who have no known allergies to eggs or other ingredients in the vaccine.
The nasal spray flu vaccine (live attenuated influenza vaccine or LAIV) should not be used this season and has not been distributed.
Since 2007, MedStar Franklin Square has worked closely with county agencies such as the Baltimore County Health and Human Services, Police, Fire and Public Works departments, and the Community College of Baltimore County to host the clinic and arm the community with protection against the flu. This year marks the 10th anniversary of the clinic, designed to be a free and convenient way for members of the community to vaccinate the entire family in one stop, without getting out of the car.
WHEN: Sunday, Nov. 6, 2016
8 a.m. to Noon (or until supplies run out)
WHERE: Community College of Baltimore – Essex campus, Rossville Boulevard and College Drive
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), 200,000 Americans are hospitalized each year because of flu complications. The number of people who die each year from flu-related causes in the United States ranges from 3,000 to 49,000.
To protect against the flu, the CDC recommends annual vaccination for those six months and older, as well as those at higher risk of developing flu complications, including children under five; adults over 65; pregnant women; residents of nursing homes and other long-term care facilities; those with weakened immune systems; and people with chronic illnesses such as asthma, heart disease, kidney disease and diabetes.
Oversees Public Affairs and Marketing for the Region and MedStar Franklin Square
Baltimore—(February 25, 2014)— Michael P. Hartnett has been named vice president of Public Affairs and Marketing for both the Baltimore region of MedStar Health, and for one of the four hospitals he will oversee: MedStar Franklin Square Medical Center. He brings more than 20 years of healthcare leadership to the dual role, which follows a successful organizational model already established in MedStar Health’s southern region.
In addition to MFSMC, Hartnett will be responsible for the communications, public affairs and marketing at MedStar Union Memorial, MedStar Good Samaritan and MedStar Harbor Hospitals.
Hartnett will provide sound strategic marketing and communications counsel to twenty associates throughout the region, while overseeing the development and execution of comprehensive integrated marketing plans, and driving organization’s image, visibility and brand.
Hartnett joins MedStar after a 13-year tenure at Greater Baltimore Medical Center (GBMC). He joined GBMC in January 2001 as the director of Market Research and was promoted to director of Marketing in January 2003. Providing executive oversight, Hartnett led the organization in the development of strategic marketing initiatives and overall brand management. With a proven track record of effective strategic decisions, he managed tactical marketing efforts resulting in $8.8 million in revenue from new patients in FY2012.
Prior to GBMC, Hartnett served as assistant director of Marketing at Johns Hopkins Medicine, and in market research management roles at Becton, Dickinson and Company’s Microbiology Systems division, and at Jason Pharmaceuticals.
Harnett holds a bachelor’s degree in Business Administration with a marketing focus from Towson University and a master’s degree in Marketing from The Johns Hopkins University.
He is an active board member and serves as treasurer of the Maryland Society for Healthcare Strategy and Market Development (MSHSMD). He is also an associate faculty member for the Master of Arts in Leadership and Management program at Notre Dame of Maryland University.
About MedStar Health
MedStar Health is a not-for-profit health system dedicated to caring for people in Maryland and the Washington, D.C., region, while advancing the practice of medicine through education, innovation and research. MedStar’s 30,000 associates, 6,000 affiliated physicians, 10 hospitals, ambulatory care and urgent care centers, and the MedStar Health Research Institute are recognized regionally and nationally for excellence in medical care. As the medical education and clinical partner of Georgetown University, MedStar trains more than 1,100 medical residents annually. MedStar Health’s patient-first philosophy combines care, compassion and clinical excellence with an emphasis on customer service. For more information, visit MedStarHealth.org.
About MedStar Franklin Square Medical Center
MedStar Franklin Square Medical Center is a not-for-profit 378-bed community teaching hospital located in the White Marsh section of eastern Baltimore County, Maryland. MedStar Franklin Square provides many medical and healthcare services, including a broad range of healthcare specialties, advanced technologies and treatments not traditionally found at community hospitals. The hospital is ranked third in admissions among all Maryland hospitals and is first in Emergency Department visits with more than 108,000 visits annually. MedStar Franklin Square is accredited by the Joint Commission and certified as a Primary Stroke Center and has earned some of the nation’s most prestigious quality awards including Magnet Designation for excellence in nursing, the Excellence Award for Quality Improvement from the Delmarva Foundation and inclusion in the U.S. News & World Report Best Hospital specialty ranking for four consecutive years. With more than 3,300 employees, MedStar Franklin Square is one of the largest employers in Baltimore County. Visit medstarfranklinsquare.org for more information.
Baltimore—(February 7, 2014)—MedStar Franklin Square Medical Center has appointed two prominent members of the community to join its Board of Directors. Melly Goodell, MD, chairperson for the department of Family Medicine at MedStar Franklin Square, and Ray Naimoli, senior manager of corporate partnership sales for the Baltimore Orioles, bring solid community advocacy with a combined 29 years of expertise and strategic business development to the hospital’s 20-member board.
At MedStar Franklin Square, Dr. Goodell oversees the strategic, operational and financial aspects of the department of Family Medicine. That includes the residency training program, and a certified patient centered medical program that provides care to over 10,000 patients in the area. There, she is also charged with growing community based research and population health efforts.
Dr. Goodell also serves as the director of Healthcare for the Homeless, a comprehensive healthcare clinic for homeless residents of Baltimore County, located on the hospital campus.
In 2008, Dr. Goodell first joined MedStar Franklin Square as a faculty member in the department of family medicine, and advanced to vice-chair in 2009. She was promoted to chair the following year.
Dr. Goodell attended medical school at Duke University and completed a residency in family medicine at the University of California San Diego. She then completed a fellowship in faculty development at the Medical College of Wisconsin.
Prior to her tenure at MedStar Franklin Square, Dr. Goodell served as program director of the Family Medicine Residency program at the Medical College of Wisconsin in Racine, WI. She has held various roles as a faculty member at the Medical College of Wisconsin and the University of California San Diego School of Medicine. Dr. Goodell also serves on the Board of Directors of the Society of Teachers of Family Medicine.
As the new senior manager of corporate partnership sales for the Baltimore Orioles, Ray Naimoli will be generating new business partnerships and incremental revenue from existing Orioles partners.
Prior to his current role, he served as the senior account executive for corporate sales for the Baltimore Ravens. Naimoli joined the Ravens in May 2004 as the manager of business development. Throughout his 10 year tenure, Naimoli rose through the ranks, becoming the senior account executive of regional partnerships and sales in August 2011. In this role, Naimoli was responsible for securing new business from both national and regional clients, as well as incremental/renewal business from the 21 accounts that he manages on a daily basis. His client base included some of the Ravens largest corporate partners including, M&T Bank, Toyota, Comcast SportsNet, GEICO and Maryland Live Casino.
After graduating with a B.S. degree in Marketing from Saint Joseph’s University in Philadelphia, Naimoli, served as a Graduate Assistant in George Washington University’s Sports Communications department while earning his M.T.A degree in Sports Management.
Naimoli is a 2013 graduate of the Leadership Baltimore County program. He is also an active member of the Medstar Franklin Square Foundation, where he currently serves as the vice chairman of the Foundation Board of Directors and chairman of the NICU Capital Campaign.
To learn more about the MedStar Franklin Square Board, click here.
About MedStar Franklin Square Medical Center
MedStar Franklin Square Medical Center is a not-for-profit 378-bed community teaching hospital located in the White Marsh section of eastern Baltimore County, Maryland. MedStar Franklin Square provides many medical and healthcare services, including a broad range of healthcare specialties, advanced technologies and treatments not traditionally found at community hospitals. The hospital is ranked third in admissions among all Maryland hospitals and is first in Emergency Department visits with more than 108,000 visits annually. MedStar Franklin Square is accredited by the Joint Commission and certified as a Primary Stroke Center and has earned some of the nation’s most prestigious quality awards including Magnet Designation for excellence in nursing, the Excellence Award for Quality Improvement from the Delmarva Foundation and inclusion in the U.S. News & World Report Best Hospital specialty ranking for four consecutive years. With more than 3,300 employees, MedStar Franklin Square is one of the largest employers in Baltimore County. Visit medstarfranklinsquare.org for more information.
New Technology is First of its Kind in Baltimore; Enhances Patient Safety
Baltimore—(January 9, 2014)— As hospitals across the nation look for new and innovative ways to battle deadly pathogens and kill risky multi-drug resistant organisms, MedStar Franklin Square Medical Center has taken a leap into the future with a germ-zapping robot that eliminates hard-to-kill bugs in hard-to-clean places.
The Xenex robot uses pulsed xenon ultraviolet (UV-C) light that is 25,000 times more powerful than sunlight to destroy harmful bacteria, viruses, fungi, and even bacterial spores. The system is effective against even the most dangerous pathogens, including Clostridium difficile (C. diff), norovirus, influenza, and staph bacteria, including Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus, better known as MRSA.
The robot can disinfect a room in minutes and is easily portable, allowing it to be used in virtually any location within the hospital. MedStar Franklin Square Medical Center is the first hospital in the region to implement robotic disinfection system, which has been credited for helping other healthcare facilities in the U.S. decrease their MRSA and C.diff infection rates by more than 50 percent, according to studies.
“This technology represents our ongoing, aggressive efforts to offer our patients the highest possible quality of care, in the safest possible environment,” said Larry Strassner, Sr. Vice-President of Operations and Chief Nursing Officer for the hospital. “We are very excited to begin using the robot to help us achieve our goals in infection prevention. Patient safety remains our top priority.” MFSMC plans to use this technology to clean all patient rooms, the ER and operating rooms.
Because the Xenex robots use UV light, they are able to reach every surface in the room and do not leave a chemical residue. Each treatment takes about 5 minutes. To disinfect a room after standard cleaning procedures are complete, hospital team members wheel the Xenex robot into the room, position it, begin the automated sequence, and then leave the room. A sign is placed outside the room warning people not to enter while the robot is in operation, and a motion sensor on the robot automatically shuts off the machine if anyone should enter, or if motion is detected. The process is then repeated on the other side of the bed and in the bathroom, for a total of 15 minutes to thoroughly clean each room.
Click here to learn more about our quality of care.
About MedStar Franklin Square Medical Center
MedStar Franklin Square Medical Center is a not-for-profit 378-bed community teaching hospital located in the White Marsh section of eastern Baltimore County, Maryland. MedStar Franklin Square provides many medical and healthcare services, including a broad range of healthcare specialties, advanced technologies and treatments not traditionally found at community hospitals. The hospital is ranked third in admissions among all Maryland hospitals and is first in Emergency Department visits with more than 108,000 visits annually. MedStar Franklin Square is accredited by the Joint Commission and certified as a Primary Stroke Center and has earned some of the nation’s most prestigious quality awards including Magnet Designation for excellence in nursing, the Excellence Award for Quality Improvement from the Delmarva Foundation and inclusion in the U.S. News & World Report Best Hospital specialty ranking for four consecutive years. With more than 3,300 employees, MedStar Franklin Square is one of the largest employers in Baltimore County. Visit medstarfranklinsquare.org for more information.