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Meritus Health mourns the passing of Dr. Paul Mauriello
May 16, 2025
Meritus Allergy & Asthma Specialists doctor served the community for 40 years HAGERSTOWN, Md. — Meritus Health is deeply saddened to share the passing of Paul Mauriello, M.D., of Meritus Allergy & Asthma Specialists, who died on Monday, May 12, at the age of 72. Dr. Mauriello began his medical practice in Hagerstown in 1983 and became part of the Meritus Health family in 2022. He was a graduate of Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute in Troy, N.Y., and earned his medical degree from Albany Medical College in 1977. He completed his internship at Hartford Hospital in Connecticut and a pediatric residency at the University of Connecticut Health Center’s John Dempsey Hospital in Farmington. He went on to complete a fellowship in allergy and immunology at Buffalo General Medical Center. Known for his dedication and humor, Dr. Mauriello often said he aimed “to save the world, one nose at a time.” For nearly 40 years, he climbed to the cupola atop his office each morning to collect daily pollen samples — reports that were regularly shared on local radio stations and even on The Weather Channel. “It is with a heavy heart we mourn the loss of Dr. Mauriello, who for so many years served the Hagerstown community,” said Miranda Ramsey, Vice President of Physician Services. “I know he will be deeply missed by his colleagues, staff and patients.” His staff recalled his “warmth, compassion and caring spirit” and that “as much as his patients loved him, he cared about them.” They noted how he treated patients as people, not names and numbers on a status board, and how he understood the importance of getting to know them. “Everyone who met him could instantly feel how wonderful, kind, generous and loving he was,” said Nichole Judd, RN, the practice manager at Meritus Allergy & Asthma Specialists. “He loved taking care of patients and always put them first no matter the circumstance.” “He was not only a friend but also a mentor who welcomed me into his world with open arms,” said Seemal Awan, M.D., medical director of the practice. “We are reminded of his memory on a daily basis as we continue the work he started 40 years ago.” Dr. Mauriello is survived by his beloved wife, Marsha; three children — Matthew (Krystal), David (Cathy), and Chelsea (Cort Meinelschmidt); six grandchildren; and many nieces and nephews. A celebration of Dr. Mauriello’s life will be held from 1 to 4 p.m. on Saturday, May 17, at Douglas A. Fiery Funeral Home, 1331 Eastern Blvd. North, Hagerstown. ### Meritus Health, Western Maryland’s largest health care provider, is located at the crossroads of Western Maryland, Southern Pennsylvania and the Eastern Panhandle of West Virginia. The mission of Meritus Health is to improve the health of the region by providing the best healthcare, health services and medical education. As an anchor organization for the community, Meritus has 4,000 employees and serves more than 200,000 residents of the tristate region through Meritus Medical Center, Brook Lane Health Services, Meritus Medical Group, Meritus Home Health, Meritus Equipped for Life, and the Meritus School of Osteopathic Medicine. More information can be found at www.MeritusHealth.com or visit our Facebook page or LinkedIn page.
Brian Kessler named new dean of Meritus School of Osteopathic Medicine
May 15, 2025
Dr. Kessler will start on July 1 HAGERSTOWN, Md. — Meritus Health is pleased to announce that, following a national search, Brian A. Kessler, D.O., D.H.A., FACOFP dist., has been selected as the new dean of the Meritus School of Osteopathic Medicine. He will officially assume his role on July 1. “We are thrilled to have Dr. Kessler join us as we start this new journey in providing world-class education to our medical students,” said Meritus President and CEO Maulik Joshi, Dr.P.H. “He brings the right knowledge and skill to train physicians who will be socially responsible, professionally accomplished and community oriented.” Dr. Kessler brings to MSOM more than two decades of leadership experience in academic medicine, clinical education and institutional advancement. He currently serves as dean and professor of family medicine at Campbell University's Jerry M. Wallace School of Osteopathic Medicine in Buies Creek, N.C. Before that, he held key leadership positions, including dean at Lincoln Memorial University in Harrogate, Tenn., and director of medical education at Cleveland Clinic South Pointe Hospital in Ohio. Dr. Kessler earned his Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine and Doctor of Healthcare Administration from the Lake Erie College of Osteopathic Medicine in Pennsylvania. He currently serves on the Board of Directors of the National Board of Osteopathic Medical Examiners (NBOME) and the Commission on Osteopathic College Accreditation (COCA), where he contributes to developing national policies and accreditation standards in osteopathic medical education. "I am honored to join Meritus at this pivotal moment," Dr. Kessler said. "This is more than the founding of a medical school; it represents a profound investment in the future of health care for Maryland and the surrounding region. I look forward to working with the Meritus Health team, our community partners, and local leaders to prepare physicians who will serve with excellence, compassion and a deep commitment to the communities they call home." MSOM was created by Meritus Health’s forward-thinking Board of Directors and leadership to help solve the problem of fewer physicians in the profession across the region and the nation. “The Meritus School of Osteopathic Medicine represents a bold commitment to improving healthcare in Western Maryland and the surrounding region,” Dr. Kessler said. “I look forward to working alongside the Meritus Health team to build an academic model that responds directly to the needs of the communities we serve.” MSOM is the first medical school to open its doors in Maryland in more than 100 years. The first class, the class of 2029, will have 90 students and will be on campus in July. Future classes will be 180 students. “Welcoming the inaugural class is a once-in-a-career opportunity,” Dr. Kessler said. “These students will help define our identity, culture and future. I am excited to support their growth as physicians who will lead with skill, compassion and purpose.” To learn more about the Meritus School of Osteopathic Medicine, visit msom.org. ### Meritus Health, Western Maryland’s largest health care provider, is located at the crossroads of Western Maryland, Southern Pennsylvania and the Eastern Panhandle of West Virginia. The mission of Meritus Health is to improve the health of the region by providing the best healthcare, health services and medical education. As an anchor organization for the community, Meritus has 4,000 employees and serves more than 200,000 residents of the tristate region through Meritus Medical Center, Brook Lane Health Services, Meritus Medical Group, Meritus Home Health, Meritus Equipped for Life, and the Meritus School of Osteopathic Medicine. More information can be found at www.MeritusHealth.com or visit our Facebook page or LinkedIn page.
Procedure, new to Meritus, used to treat debilitating facial pain
May 14, 2025
HAGERSTOWN, Md. — The 95-year-old woman was complaining of pain in her jaw. But rather than going to the dentist to get relief, she went to Meritus Neurosurgery. There, Chikezie Eseonu, M.D., treated her trigeminal neuralgia in early April with a procedure not performed at Meritus before. Trigeminal neuralgia is a chronic pain condition where patients experience sudden and severe facial pain. Dr. Eseonu said it is often along the jaw line, leading some to think the cause is dental-related. The pain can be so severe and debilitating that some cases have led to suicide, Dr. Eseonu said. The pain is caused usually when a blood vessel puts pressure on the nerve in the brain that is responsible for sensations in the face. Typically, treatment starts with medication, Dr. Eseonu said. “When that’s no longer working, the next option is neurosurgery to help alleviate the pain,” he said. There are three types of neurosurgery that are used to treat trigeminal neuralgia: surgery, rhizotomy and radiosurgery. Surgery involves opening the skull and manually moving the blood vessel or severing the nerve that is causing pain. Rhizotomy involves using a needle to deliver a chemical that destroys the nerve. Both are relatively common and successful. But radiosurgery is noninvasive. The procedure had only been performed in this region at Johns Hopkins Hospital in Baltimore and Penn State Health in Pennsylvania, Dr. Eseonu said, adding that he was trained in the procedure at Johns Hopkins. Typically, it is reserved for people who, due to illness, are unable to tolerate the other two options. But Dr. Eseonu said there’s nothing preventing anyone from using it. Dr. Eseonu performed imaging scans on the patient to map out the location of the nerve. Then he coordinated with Ashima Saini, M.D., a radiation oncologist with the John R. Marsh Cancer Center at Meritus Health, who used a specialized machine called TrueBeam to target the trigeminal nerve. “The treatment site is probably 5 or 6 millimeters,” Dr. Saini said. “It’s also a super high dose of radiation as compared to more routine radiation treatments.” The machine fired multiple, pin-point radiation beams from different angles, all converging on the nerve, burning it. This prevented other parts of the brain from being damaged by the radiation. The patient was put in a special mask bolted to the operating table to immobilize her head, Dr. Saini said. The procedure took about 45 minutes, and the patient was able to go home the same day. Relief usually takes two to three months, though it can happen sooner, Dr. Eseonu said. According to the doctors, the patient seemed to tolerate the procedure well, but it was not having to travel out of the area that was the selling point. “They wanted a local option,” Dr. Eseonu said of the patient and her family. Primary care providers or pain management specialists can refer patients possibly suffering from trigeminal neuralgia to Meritus Neurosurgery, he said. To learn more or to contact the office, visit MeritusHealth.com/Neurosurgery. ### Meritus Health, Western Maryland’s largest health care provider, is located at the crossroads of Western Maryland, Southern Pennsylvania and the Eastern Panhandle of West Virginia. The mission of Meritus Health is to improve the health of the region by providing the best healthcare, health services and medical education. As an anchor organization for the community, Meritus has 4,000 employees and serves more than 200,000 residents of the tristate region through Meritus Medical Center, Brook Lane Health Services, Meritus Medical Group, Meritus Home Health, Meritus Equipped for Life, and the Meritus School of Osteopathic Medicine. More information can be found at www.MeritusHealth.com or visit our Facebook page or LinkedIn page.
To be smart about strokes, you have to BE FAST
May 12, 2025
That car you see swerving all over the road might not have a drunken driver behind the wheel. The driver might be having a stroke. Maryland State Police and other departments across the state are learning to tell the signs of stroke when pulling over suspected DUI motorists. It’s part of Maryland being a Stroke Smart State, a national public health initiative aimed at early detection and prevention of stroke. At the same time, May is National Stroke Awareness Month. Both have the same goal: teaching everyone, from older adults to school children, the importance of identifying stroke symptoms quickly and calling 911. Those lessons have been top of mind at Meritus Medical Center, which was designated a Primary Stroke Center in 2007, said Jennifer Smith, B.S.N., R.N., stroke care specialist at Meritus Medical Center. There was an average of 41.8 deaths per 100,000 people in Washington County between 2017 and 2019, according to the Healthy Washington County FY2022 Community Health Needs Assessment, the most recent assessment available. “Every 40 seconds in the United States, someone is having a stroke,” Smith said. What is a stroke? A stroke occurs when a blood vessel is blocked or a ruptured blood vessel interrupts blood flow to the brain. Within minutes, brain cells begin to die because of the lack oxygen and nutrients to the brain tissue. Without immediate treatment, a person could die or suffer permanent disability. “Remember: Time is brain when it comes to stroke,” Smith said. “The more time between the onset of stroke symptoms and receiving immediate treatment, the more likely the patient could have long-term disabilities associated with having a stroke. However, many people will fully recover from a stroke.” It’s been the hospital’s goal to teach the community about the signs of stroke and what actions to take. Anyone can use the BE FAST approach to identify someone suffering a stroke: Balance issues, dizziness, and nausea/vomiting Eyesight changes like blurred or double vision Facial drooping or muscle weakness, particularly on one side of the face Arm or leg weakness or numbness on one side of the body Speech difficulties such as slurred speech or trouble finding words Time to call 911 immediately upon experiencing these symptoms Who can have a stroke? Another important thing to remember: Strokes can happen to anyone and at any age. While many associate strokes with older adults, they are increasingly happening to younger patients, Smith said. Meritus has treated stroke patients in their 30s. The reason for the increase in young adults is due to how quickly poor lifestyle choices can affect the body and the overall risk for stroke. Experts have long known that diet and lifestyle contribute significantly to cardiovascular health. High cholesterol, High blood pressure, diabetes, obesity, are major stroke risk factors, controlling these risk factors for stroke is critical to preventing future strokes. The American Heart Association highlights "Life's Essential 8" factors that have the most influence on cardiovascular health: Diet, exercise, tobacco use, proper sleep, and management of weight, cholesterol, blood sugar and blood pressure. Smith admitted at least one of those factors is becoming harder to do. “The cost of nutritious food continues to be on the raise,” she said. But the cost of not knowing the stroke risk factors, how to prevent a stroke and recognizing stroke signs and symptoms is even higher. “Just improving and maintaining cardiovascular health can help you enjoy a longer healthier life,” she said. To learn more about stroke and stroke prevention, visit www.meritushealth.com/stroke.
Meritus Crisis Center helps those ‘scared’ to get help with addiction
May 6, 2025
HAGERSTOWN, Md. — It was a scary time for Paola in early November. After years of drinking, she knew she had to get help. “I knew I had to go to rehab,” said Paola, 28. “I was scared to just go straight into a rehab center.” A friend of hers works at Meritus Medical Center and gave her the number of a community peer recovery coach at the Meritus Crisis Center. He told her to come to the six-bed inpatient facility which supports the needs of those struggling with addiction. The program, on the Meritus campus off Robinwood Drive, is for patients 18 and older who might have experienced an overdose and/or are willing to go to long-term treatment for addiction. The average stay is two days while a plan is made to link the patient directly to residential or intensive outpatient treatment, such as the InStep program at Brook Lane Health Service’s North Village. “I was finding any excuse not to go to residential rehab,” Paola said. “The Crisis Center workers showed me the steps to accept the fact that rehab would be a good choice for me.” Paola was one of 350 patients seeking to end the cycle of addiction who came to the Crisis Center last year. The facility, which was opened Sept. 15, 2023, through a partnership between Meritus and Brook Lane, builds upon the success of a pilot initiative that featured three crisis stabilization beds, launched in August 2022. It was born out of the need to address the rising number of overdose deaths that had plagued the region and the nation since the mid-2010s. At the high point in 2022, 114 people in Washington County died by overdosing on opioids, fentanyl, alcohol and other drugs, according to the Maryland Department of Health. However, fatal overdose deaths in the county decreased in 2023 and 2024. There were 57 people who died by overdosing, a 38 percent drop from 2023, when 93 people died, according to MDH statistics. Meritus behavioral health leaders attribute the decrease to multiple factors, including the prevalence of medications that counteract the effects of an opioid overdose, such as naloxone, as well as improved behavioral health treatment in the community. “While there is no one solution to the epidemic of addiction, we feel confident the Crisis Center played a role in the drop in fatal overdoses,” said Allen Twigg, chief operating officer of Brook Lane Health Services, which became an affiliate of Meritus Health in 2024. “Every time we open a door to immediate help, we avert a potential tragedy.” Paola said she was happy a door was opened to her in those scary days in early November. After filling out paperwork, talking to a therapist and having her blood drawn, she got a short tour. Then, the therapist gave a rundown of what would happen during her stay. That included going over the benefits of a residential rehab facility versus an outpatient program. Ultimately, she was connected with a rehab facility in Frederick County. “I really liked that,” she said. “If I hadn’t gone to the Crisis Center, I wouldn’t have done residential.” The Crisis Center is another way Meritus is meeting its mission of improving the health of the community. “We provide a safe place that has medical resources when needed, and it’s proving to be a successful model,” said Jeff O’Neal, chief executive officer of Brook Lane. Metrics indicate the program has been successful. The number of people readmitted over 90 days is only 10 percent. “These beds aren’t just a place to land,” O’Neal said. “They’re a launching pad for recovery.” ### Meritus Health, Western Maryland’s largest health care provider, is located at the crossroads of Western Maryland, Southern Pennsylvania and the Eastern Panhandle of West Virginia. The mission of Meritus Health is to improve the health of the region by providing the best healthcare, health services and medical education. As an anchor organization for the community, Meritus has 4,000 employees and serves more than 200,000 residents of the tristate region through Meritus Medical Center, Brook Lane Health Services, Meritus Medical Group, Meritus Home Health, Meritus Equipped for Life, and the Meritus School of Osteopathic Medicine. More information can be found at www.MeritusHealth.com or visit our Facebook page or LinkedIn page.
Meritus earns its fifth ‘A’ Hospital Safety Grade
May 1, 2025
Leapfrog grade for fall 2024 gives Meritus Medical Center a ‘Straight A’ designation HAGERSTOWN, Md. — Meritus Medical Center earned its fifth straight “A” Hospital Safety Grade from The Leapfrog Group, an independent national nonprofit watchdog focused on patient safety. Leapfrog assigns an “A,” “B,” “C,” “D” or “F” grade to general hospitals across the country based on over 30 measures of errors, accidents, injuries and infections as well as the systems hospitals have in place to prevent them. Grades are given twice annually. The measures were taken from records during fall 2024. Only about 27 percent of hospitals in Maryland earned an “A” grade this cycle. Meritus is a "Straight A" hospital, having earned an "A" in at least five consecutive cycles of the Hospital Safety Grade, according to Leapfrog. Meritus earned its first “A” grade in the spring of 2023. It is in the top 12 percent of hospitals nationwide to achieve this consistent excellence. “We are thrilled to have earned our fifth straight ‘A’ Hospital Safety Grade from Leapfrog,” said Chief Operating Officer Carrie Adams, Pharm.D. “We take this as a reflection of our team members’ quality care in safeguarding our patients, and we pledge to continue that care to continue enhancing the health of our community.” The Leapfrog Hospital Safety Grade stands as the only hospital ratings program focused solely on preventable medical errors, infections and injuries that kill more than 500 patients a day in the United States. This program is peer-reviewed, fully transparent and free to the public. Grades are updated twice annually, in the fall and spring. “Achieving an ‘A’ Hospital Safety Grade reflects enormous dedication to patient safety,” said Leah Binder, president and CEO of The Leapfrog Group. “I extend my congratulations to Meritus Medical Center, its leadership, clinicians, staff and volunteers for creating a culture where patients come first.” To explore Meritus’ full grade details and to find valuable tips for staying safe in the hospital, visit HospitalSafetyGrade.org. ### Meritus Health, Western Maryland’s largest health care provider, is located at the crossroads of Western Maryland, Southern Pennsylvania and the Eastern Panhandle of West Virginia. The mission of Meritus Health is to improve the health of the region by providing the best healthcare, health services and medical education. As an anchor organization for the community, Meritus has 4,000 employees and serves more than 200,000 residents of the tristate region through Meritus Medical Center, Brook Lane Health Services, Meritus Medical Group, Meritus Home Health, Meritus Equipped for Life, and the Meritus School of Osteopathic Medicine. More information can be found at www.MeritusHealth.com or visit our Facebook page or LinkedIn page.
Joshi, Adams named to Daily Record’s 2025 Health Care Power List
April 30, 2025
Baltimore business newspaper’s list explores how leaders view healthcare landscape HAGERSTOWN, Md. — Two leaders at Meritus Health were recently recognized in The Daily Record of Baltimore’s 2025 Health Care Power List. President and CEO Maulik Joshi, Dr.P.H., and Meritus Medical Center Chief Operating Officer Carrie Adams, Pharm.D., made the list released April 30 by the business, legal and government publication. The list was chosen by the newspaper’s editorial leadership team after reaching out to readers and others for perspective, according to Managing Editor Patrick Brannan. The list is meant to explore how leaders view the healthcare landscape and their own jobs. “And, just as importantly, we’ve tried to offer a glimpse into the kind of people they are and what drives them to excel,” he said. Each participant was asked to provide short answers to questions, including “What is the biggest challenge facing health care?” “The biggest challenge facing health care today is the ongoing workforce shortage,” Joshi wrote. “This is true for almost every health profession, and specifically, for physicians, there is a massive shortage in the state and the nation. It’s part of the reason we are opening the new Meritus School of Osteopathic Medicine, training the next generation of doctors and helping to close the workforce gap.” ### Meritus Health, Western Maryland’s largest health care provider, is located at the crossroads of Western Maryland, Southern Pennsylvania and the Eastern Panhandle of West Virginia. The mission of Meritus Health is to improve the health of the region by providing the best healthcare, health services and medical education. As an anchor organization for the community, Meritus has 4,000 employees and serves more than 200,000 residents of the tristate region through Meritus Medical Center, Brook Lane Health Services, Meritus Medical Group, Meritus Home Health, Meritus Equipped for Life, and the Meritus School of Osteopathic Medicine. More information can be found at www.MeritusHealth.com or visit our Facebook page or LinkedIn page.
John R. Marsh Cancer Center earns ACR reaccreditation
April 29, 2025
American College of Radiology’s Radiation Oncology Practice Accreditation awarded to only 700 facilities across the country. HAGERSTOWN, Md. — The John R. Marsh Cancer Center at Meritus Medical Center has been awarded a three-year term of reaccreditation in radiation oncology as the result of a recent review by the American College of Radiology (ACR). The center earned its first accreditation in 2012. Radiation oncology, also known as radiation therapy, is the careful use of high-energy radiation to treat cancer. A radiation oncologist may use radiation to cure cancer or to relieve a cancer patient’s pain. The Radiation Oncology Practice Accreditation (ROPA) recognizes a facility’s commitment to excellence in patient care, safety and quality standards.” “We are thrilled to receive the ACR ROPA,” said Shaju Shamsuddin, M.D., medical director and radiation oncologist at John R. Marsh Cancer Center. “To our dedicated staff: Your hard work, expertise and unwavering dedication to providing exceptional care have made this achievement possible. This accreditation is a testament to your outstanding efforts and professionalism. Thank you for consistently upholding the highest standards in radiation oncology.” The ACR is the nation’s oldest and most widely accepted radiation oncology accrediting body, with more than 700 accredited sites and 30 years of accreditation experience. The ACR gold seal of accreditation represents the highest level of quality and patient safety. It is awarded only to facilities meeting specific requirements based on Practice Guidelines and Technical Standards developed by ACR after a peer-review evaluation by board-certified radiation oncologists and medical physicists who are experts in the field. “This reaccreditation milestone reflects the John R. Marsh Cancer Center’s commitment to best practices and ongoing pursuit of excellence observed throughout all of Meritus,” said Carrie Adams, Pharm.D., Meritus Health chief operating officer. “It’s one more sign that we take seriously our role in delivering safe, effective and compassionate care to our patients.” To learn more about the John R. Marsh Cancer Center, visit www.meritushealth.com/CancerCenter. ### Meritus Health, Western Maryland’s largest health care provider, is located at the crossroads of Western Maryland, Southern Pennsylvania and the Eastern Panhandle of West Virginia. The mission of Meritus Health is to improve the health of the region by providing the best healthcare, health services and medical education. As an anchor organization for the community, Meritus has 4,000 employees and serves more than 200,000 residents of the tristate region through Meritus Medical Center, Brook Lane Health Services, Meritus Medical Group, Meritus Home Health, Meritus Equipped for Life, and the Meritus School of Osteopathic Medicine. More information can be found at www.MeritusHealth.com or visit our Facebook page or LinkedIn page.
Occupational Therapy: Helping patients get back to what matters most
April 28, 2025
“It’s a common misconception that occupational therapy helps people get jobs,” said Lindsay Crable, an occupational therapist at Meritus Medical Center. While occupational therapy can help patients regain the skills to return to work after an illness or injury, the field is much more diverse. Occupational therapist Shana Weller said that daily occupations are the tasks that we do every day, such as bathing, dressing, and grooming. Weller and Crable said the profession teaches those who are dealing with injury, illness or disability how to function independently in their daily living. With April being Occupational Therapy Awareness Month, Crable, who has 18 years of experience in the field, and Weller, who has 20 years of experience, spoke about what patients might encounter when sent for occupational therapy and what settings an occupational therapist may work in. Training to become an occupational therapist is a masters level degree and a certified occupational therapy assistant requires an associate degree. Both degrees require clinical fieldwork experience and passing the National Board for Certification in Occupational Therapy Exam. Occupational therapists can be found working in multiple settings including hospitals, outpatient rehabilitation clinics, nursing homes, schools, mental health facilities and even in the home with home health care. A physician order is required to initiate occupational therapy services. “Even within the different settings, the treatment will vary depending on the patient’s needs and personal goals,” Crable said. It could involve exercise, cognitive treatments, activity retraining, teaching the patient adaptive strategies or educating the patient how to use equipment to promote independence in daily tasks. “It’s not a cookie cutter approach,” Weller said. “We look at the patient’s needs and what’s important to them. We use functional and meaningful activity to help the patient reach their goals and get back to living their life to the fullest.” Therapists can work together with the family to provide training and education of how to assist and safely care for the patient. “Family support can be very helpful in recovery,” Crable said. Crable and Weller work at Meritus Medical Center and provide therapy to patients in the hospital setting including acute care, the rehabilitation unit and joint center on the third floor as well as the critical care and neonatal intensive care unit. Both said the profession is very rewarding. Occupational therapists get to collaborate with the patients, families, and other care providers to assist the patient with meeting their personal goals and maximizing the patient’s functional independence. It’s exciting to see patients meet their goals and get back to what matters most to them. To learn more about Meritus’ various therapy programs, visit www.meritushealth.com/OccupationalTherapy.
Meritus Emergency Department renovations to improve patient experience
April 28, 2025
HAGERSTOWN, Md. — A portion of Meritus Medical Center’s Emergency Department will be renovated in the coming months to make it easier for patients to see a provider. The renovations will reconfigure the area for patient evaluation, which currently is a single triage room. Once construction is complete this fall, there will be four triage rooms where patients will be seen and assessed by a provider. “The purpose of an Emergency Department at a community hospital is to provide immediate, quality care to people who are experiencing an urgent medical issue,” said Carrie Adams, Pharm.D., chief operating officer of Meritus Health. “These planned renovations at Meritus Medical Center are designed to improve safety as patients are arriving and evaluated for appropriate care that is accurate and expedient.” In preparation for the renovations, the public might have noticed staff implementing new processes to expedite evaluation and treatment. “Meritus Health continues to find ways to provide our patients with quality care close to home,” Adams said. “Our Emergency Department renovations are just one more way we are trying to improve the health of our community every day.” ### Meritus Health, Western Maryland’s largest health care provider, is located at the crossroads of Western Maryland, Southern Pennsylvania and the Eastern Panhandle of West Virginia. The mission of Meritus Health is to improve the health of the region by providing the best healthcare, health services and medical education. As an anchor organization for the community, Meritus has 4,000 employees and serves more than 200,000 residents of the tristate region through Meritus Medical Center, Brook Lane Health Services, Meritus Medical Group, Meritus Home Health, Meritus Equipped for Life, and the Meritus School of Osteopathic Medicine. More information can be found at www.MeritusHealth.com or visit our Facebook page or LinkedIn page.
Meritus Medical Center Pharmacy Residency program gets reaccreditation
April 25, 2025
Decade-old program allows recent pharmacy school graduates to learn from those already in the field HAGERSTOWN, Md. — The Meritus Medical Center PGY-1 Pharmacy Residency program has received accreditation through 2029. The nearly decade-old program recently earned reaccreditation from ASHP, the largest association of pharmacy professionals in the United States. Meritus’ one-year program trains two pharmacists who have graduated from an accredited pharmacy school, said Bobbi Hilker, Pharm.D., BCPS, CACP, Meritus director of pharmacy services and residency program director. "Our residency program is designed to train clinical pharmacists through a rigorous curriculum," Hilker said. "Residents participate in multiple five-week clinical rotations, working closely with our licensed and board-certified preceptors. Upon completion, they are ready to provide clinical services and are eligible to pursue board certification." The rotations encompass internal medicine, critical care, emergency medicine, outpatient oncology, administration, medication safety and ambulatory care. Additionally, through a partnership with Shenandoah University, Meritus enables residents to earn a teaching certificate, equipping them to serve as preceptors for pharmacy students and deliver specialized presentations to healthcare professionals, Hilker said. “The pharmacy team is proud to have achieved reaccreditation so we may continue to train pharmacists to be highly skilled clinicians,” she said. To learn more about Meritus’ Pharmacy Residency program, visit www.meritushealth.com/PharmacyResidency. ### Meritus Health, Western Maryland’s largest health care provider, is located at the crossroads of Western Maryland, Southern Pennsylvania and the Eastern Panhandle of West Virginia. The mission of Meritus Health is to improve the health of the region by providing the best healthcare, health services and medical education. As an anchor organization for the community, Meritus has 4,000 employees and serves more than 200,000 residents of the tristate region through Meritus Medical Center, Brook Lane Health Services, Meritus Medical Group, Meritus Home Health, Meritus Equipped for Life, and the Meritus School of Osteopathic Medicine. More information can be found at www.MeritusHealth.com or visit our Facebook page or LinkedIn page.
Medical-school hopeful has ‘fun experience’ volunteering at Meritus
April 24, 2025
Paul Agbashi said that, when it comes to hospital volunteer programs in the region, Meritus Medical Center’s is the best. He’s checked out programs in Winchester, Virginia, and Martinsburg, West Virginia. “It’s just a fun experience,” the 23-year-old Martinsburg resident said. Agbashi, who is originally from Nigeria, is a nursing unit support volunteer in Meritus’ Emergency Department. The assignment entails performing miscellaneous tasks that allow nurses and other hospital staff more time to directly care for patients. It’s one of more than a dozen areas where people can volunteer at the hospital. The Meritus Medical Center Auxiliary has about 200 volunteers ranging in age from 14 to 90. Agbashi first started volunteering a few mornings a week in September. He mostly floats around the Emergency Department waiting room, offering warm blankets to those who might need them. He also wipes down the chairs and performs other tasks as needed. “I’m making sure the people here are doing OK while they wait to be seen, or for a patient back in the Emergency Room,” he said. Has he seen any strange or interesting cases in his time volunteering? “I see a lot of different people come in for a lot of different reasons,” he said. “I’ve seen a couple of injuries, but nothing too bad.” Aside from the good feeling he gets from helping others, he’s also gaining experience in how a hospital operates. His goal is to apply to medical school to become a neurosurgeon. When not at Meritus, he’s got another job to save money for school. But the program has been enjoyable. “This is a nice experience,” he said. To learn more about volunteering at Meritus Health, visit www.meritushealth.com/volunteers, or call 301-790-8143.