ADVENTIST HEALTHCARE FORT WASHINGTON MEDICAL CENTER INC

IN 2023, ADVENTIST HEALTHCARE FORT WASHINGTON MEDICAL CENTER, AN ACUTE CARE HOSPITAL, PROVIDED MEDICAL AND SURGICAL SERVICES TO THE COMMUNITY. IN ADDITION, THEY PROVIDED BENEFITS TO THE COMMUNITY THAT INCLUDED, CHARITY CARE, COMMUNITY HEALTH EDUCATION, COMMUNITY WOUND CARE EDUCATION, COMMUNITY SPONSORSHIP OPPORTUNITIES, AND COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT ACTIVITIES.CONTINUES ON SCHEDULE O.AN EXCITING MILESTONE OCCURRED IN JULY 2023 WHEN THE AMBULATORY SURGERY CENTER OPENED AT NATIONAL HARBOR. THE NEW, STATE-OF-THE-ART SURGERY CENTER IS EQUIPPED TO PRACTICE A VARIETY OF SPECIALTIES: BARIATRIC, EAR, NOSE, AND THROAT, GASTROENTEROLOGY, GENERAL SURGERY, INTERVENTIONAL CARDIOLOGY, INTERVENTIONAL RADIOLOGY, OBSTETRICS/GYNECOLOGY, OPHTHALMOLOGY, ORTHOPEDIC/PODIATRY, PAIN/SPINE, UROLOGY, AND MORE.THE SURGERY CENTER SERVES AS A LINK BETWEEN THE HOSPITAL AND ITS PRIMARY CARE FACILITY, LOCATED JUST MINUTES FROM EACH OTHER. TOGETHER, EACH OPERATION WILL SUPPLY THE CRITICAL SERVICES THAT ARE ESSENTIAL TO MEETING THE HEALTHCARE NEEDS OF THE COMMUNITY.THE HOSPITAL ALSO LAUNCHED A CERTIFIED NURSING ASSISTANT (CNA) PRACTICUM FOR LOCAL HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS. THE PROGRAM ALLOWS STUDENTS TO EARN REQUIRED CLINICAL CNA HOURS - 40 HOURS OF REAL-WORLD, HANDS-ON CLINICAL EXPERIENCE - PRIOR TO GRADUATION. THE GOAL IS TO OFFER THE STUDENTS EMPLOYMENT RIGHT OUT OF HIGH SCHOOL UPON COMPLETION OF THEIR CNA CERTIFICATION.THE HOSPITAL CELEBRATED RECEIVING $1M IN FUNDING SECURED BY CONGRESSMAN STENY HOYER IN THE FY2023 OMNIBUS. THE FUNDING WILL BE USED TO SUPPORT THE HOSPITAL'S NEW CARDIOVASCULAR CENTER FOR DIABETIC PATIENTS.THE CENTER, WHICH INCLUDES A DIABETIC CLINIC, DIABETIC EDUCATION AND RESOURCE CENTER, DIABETES RELATED VASCULAR SCREENING CENTER, WOUND CARE AND HYPERBARIC OXYGEN CENTER, AND CARDIOVASCULAR CLINIC, WILL PROVIDE COMPREHENSIVE CARE TO PATIENTS IN THE SOUTHWESTERN PORTION OF THE COUNTY, WHERE DIABETES AND COMPLICATIONS FROM DIABETES ARE PARTICULARLY PREVALENT.THE HOSPITAL WAS RECOGNIZED BY THE LOWN INSTITUTE FOR SUCCESS IN SERVING COMMUNITIES OF COLOR, RANKING AS #1 IN MARYLAND AND AN "A" GRADE FOR RACIAL INCLUSIVITY ON THE 2023-24 LOWN INSTITUTE HOSPITALS INDEX FOR SOCIAL RESPONSIBILITY. THE HOSPITAL ACHIEVED THIS HONOR OUT OF MORE THAN 3,000 HOSPITALS NATIONWIDE.ACCORDING TO THE INDEX, FORT WASHINGTON MEDICAL CENTER ALSO RECEIVED "A" GRADES IN HEALTH EQUITY AND COMMUNITY BENEFIT. THESE ARE INDEPENDENT RANKINGS AND HOSPITALS DO NOT APPLY OR PAY TO BE LISTED.DISPARITIES IN HEALTHCARE OUTCOMES AND ACCESS ARE WELL-DOCUMENTED IN COMMUNITIES OF COLOR, INCLUDING HIGHER RATES OF CHRONIC CONDITIONS, LOWER LIFE EXPECTANCY AND LOWER RATES OF PRIVATE INSURANCE. THIS HONOR SHOWS FORT WASHINGTON MEDICAL CENTER'S COMMITMENT TO SERVE MORE PATIENTS OF COLOR THAN EXPECTED BASED ON THE DEMOGRAPHICS OF THEIR SERVICE AREA INCLUDING MEDICARE AND MEDICARE ADVANTAGE CLAIMS AND DATA FROM THE U.S. CENSUS BUREAU.IN ADDITION, THE HOSPITAL WAS ACTIVE IN THE COMMUNITY, HOSTING A SERIES OF COMMUNITY CONVERSATIONS AND PARTICIPATING IN EVENTS THROUGHOUT THE YEAR INCLUDING FARMERS MARKETS AND CHURCH EVENTS. FREE BLOOD PRESSURE SCREENINGS WERE ADMINISTERED AT THESE COMMUNITY EVENTS AND HEALTH INFORMATION WAS DISTRIBUTED. THESE EVENTS ALSO ALLOW THE HOSPITAL TEAM AN OPPORTUNITY TO SOLICIT FEEDBACK ON THE SERVICES COMMUNITY MEMBERS WOULD LIKE TO SEE THE HOSPITAL PROVIDE PATIENTS.