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At Meritus, one group’s mission is that no one dies alone
April 22, 2024
Of all the volunteer programs in the Meritus Medical Center Auxiliary, No One Dies Alone (NODA) is unlike any other. “It requires a special calling,” says Jessica Casey, volunteer coordinator. “NODA is not your typical volunteering opportunity.” But the program is an important one for the staff at Meritus, who have committed themselves to providing the best care possible to the community. It is also an important program for patients and their family members. The philosophy that drives the mission of NODA is a key component to complete care in treating each person with dignity, in life and in death. The nationally recognized program first was established at Meritus in 2019, had some stops and restarts during the COVID years, then came back fully in December 2023. The well-trained volunteers in the NODA Program are known as Compassionate Companions. These amazing volunteers commit to participating in vigils — day and night — for patients nearing death while in the hospital, and have no relatives or friends present. This can happen for many reasons, such as the person has no surviving family or friends, or the person’s family lives too far away and would not be able to make it in time before the person passed. There are about a dozen volunteers who work together covering shifts to complete a vigil, which can run from one hour to 72 after medical staff have determined that one is needed. It might seem somber or even frightening to voluntarily watch and wait until someone passes. But the Compassionate Companions do not see it that way. “I probably get more out of it than the patient themselves,” said Angie Viar, who is a Compassionate Companion and the lead vigil coordinator. “It’s very comforting that they know they're not alone.” The NODA volunteers’ presence also brings peace of mind to the medical staff who are caring for the patient. Especially during peak illness season, Meritus nurses, providers and CNAs are called to care for multiple patients and cannot always be there for the dying patient as they pass. During a recent group meeting, several NODA volunteers said they received gratitude from nurses who were pleased that the NODA program at Meritus provided these volunteers to help them carry the burden. “The medical staff, their heart is there to assist those who are dying, but because of their workload, they’re not always able to sit there with them,” said NODA volunteer Nicola Ohaegbu. What is it like to keep the watch over someone who is dying? “Each case is different, “Angie said. Sometimes, they are peaceful. The NODA volunteer can read scripture if the patient had requested, or other inspirational texts. Sometimes the volunteer will play music that they know the patient enjoyed, or simply talk to them so they know that someone is with them. Many times, volunteers sit and hold hands with the patient in comfortable silence. Other times, the volunteer can bring peace themselves with their very presence. For example, Angie said that once she was with a man who, though unresponsive, was unsettled. She knew he had been given medication that should have relaxed him. She knew the man was a local church elder. “I knew he was a good man. He lived well,” Angie said. “I said the Our Father because I knew it was something that we shared. Almost immediately he settled down. He passed within about five minutes.” Nicola and Angie described a recent vigil where the wife of the patient was in a nursing home, and both were in their 90s. When Angie was there, the nursing home had arranged for the wife to come to see him. “I was able to talk to her briefly just to let her know that I or someone would be sitting with her husband,” Angie said. “The look of relief that passed over her whole countenance, you could see that it was just a relief for her.” When Nicola was there a few hours later, one of the nurses called the wife and held the phone up to the dying man’s ear. “They say the last thing to go is the hearing,” Nicola said, “so the last thing we hope that he heard was his wife’s voice.” To learn more about NODA or other volunteer opportunities through the Meritus Health Volunteer Department, visit www.meritushealth.com/volunteers or call the volunteer services department at 301-790-8143 or 301-790-8486.
At 6 months, Meritus Crisis Center key in local addiction fight
April 18, 2024
Since it opened Sept. 15, the Meritus Crisis Center has seen 204 patients. Dalton Jones was one of them. “They are amazing,” he said of the staff at the six-bed inpatient Crisis Center. “They basically saved my life.” Meritus Health opened the facility to support the needs of those struggling with addiction as part of its mission to improve the health of the community. The facility builds upon the success of a pilot initiative, which featured three crisis stabilization beds, launched in August 2022. The Maryland Department of Health recently reported that the rate of fatal overdose deaths in Washington County between November 2022 and November 2023 decreased by 22 percent. Local healthcare leaders attributed part of that drop to the creation of the crisis stabilization beds. The program is for patients 18 and older who have experienced an overdose and are willing to go to long-term treatment for addiction. A dirt bike accident when he was 20 led Jones to being prescribed oxycodone. Once the prescription ran out, he was buying pills off the street. One of those was laced with fentanyl, which led to his full-blown addiction. “I lost my wife, I lost my three kids, I lost my house, I lost everything,” he said. Jones, who has been sober since Jan. 1, was dropped off at the Crisis Center by his mother, who no longer wanted him in the house. “I had nowhere else to go,” he said. The Crisis Center program provides supportive counseling and evaluation of patients, and initial stabilizing and monitoring. Jones credits the Crisis Center for helping him detox. While working the drugs out of his system, the counselors made him comfortable with food and shelter. “If you're not comfortable while going through withdrawal, you'll never get clean,” he said. Patients are generally allowed to stay up to 72 hours until they can be accepted into a rehabilitation program. “Doing what we can to get people on the path to sobriety and rehabilitation is our goal,” said Allen Twigg, executive director of behavioral and community health at Meritus. “We will work with patients to get them the care that they need.” Jones said he was able to use the center more than once because the first rehabilitation program he entered was not a good fit. At the suggestion of the counselors at the Crisis Center, he entered a treatment program in Baltimore County. It’s been a success. “I get to see my kids now. My family is starting to talk to me again,” he said. “Life has been phenomenal.” Jones’ success story is one of many since the Crisis Center opened in the fall. Statistics show patients stay for an average of two days, and 68% have been admitted to substance use disorder treatment, which is above the national average. So far, only 15% of people cared for have returned within 30 days. “The Crisis Center is here to help our neighbors battling addiction, regardless of their ability to pay, who want to get themselves free,” said Meritus President and CEO Maulik Joshi, Dr.P.H. “Through partnerships with community members, we offer this resource for the community as another front in the battle against the opioid epidemic.”
It’s not your imagination: Allergy season more severe, lasting longer
April 18, 2024
Spring often means new beginnings, but for allergy sufferers as of late, their springtime symptoms started well before the vernal equinox. Paul Mauriello, M.D., with Meritus Allergy & Asthma Specialists in Hagerstown said that, over his more than 37 years of counting pollen in Western Maryland, the spring allergy season seems to be shifting earlier. He has been finding pollen in February in recent years, he said. This year, in fact, he found a count of 23, which is considered medium level, on Feb. 12. It mostly has to do with the temperature at which different vegetation buds, Dr. Mauriello said. Different families of trees bud at different temperatures. Then come grasses. Then come other plants. And each one releases their own brand of pollen. “If we have a cold spring, and it warms up all at once, then everything will bud all at once and we’ll have pollen counts up into the thousands,” he said. “But then, it’s over in two weeks.” The past few winters and springs have not been as cold, which leads to successive waves of vegetation budding from mid-winter into early summer, which means a prolonged pollen season. “Most everybody can live through a horrible but short allergy season,” Dr. Mauriello said. “But more people are going to be bothered for longer if that season is from February through June. And if they’re sick for that long, it feels more severe.” However, it’s the end of April into the beginning of May that Dr. Mauriello says his practice sees the most patients seeking relief. “The moment to strike is now,” he said. “The pollen count is coming up, and we’re starting to see more people calling in for help.” For those coming in with new allergy symptoms, a nasal steroid is most likely the remedy. “Antihistamines are helpful, but they’re not always as effective as steroids,” he said. In extreme cases, injection treatment might be in order if the allergies are prolonged and repeated year after year. Dr. Mauriello welcomes children, adolescents and adults to reach out for an appointment if they are struggling with allergies. Do you want to know what the pollen count is? Dr. Mauriello checks the gauge daily at his office in Hagerstown. Updated counts can be found by going to www.meritushealth.com/allergies and scrolling to the bottom. Meritus Allergy & Asthma Specialists treat adults, children and adolescents for more than just seasonal allergies. To learn more about the practice or to schedule an appointment, go to the website or call 301-790-1482.
Meritus president and CEO to chair board of Maryland Physicians Care
April 11, 2024
HAGERSTOWN, Md. — The Board of Directors of Maryland Physicians Care, a locally managed care organization that provides insurance and health benefits to vulnerable and low-income community members, has named Meritus Health President and CEO Maulik Joshi, Dr. P.H., chair of the board. “It is an honor to be named chair of MPC, which has been helping to make receiving health care possible for many across the state of Maryland,” Joshi said. “Everyone deserves access to the health services they need. MPC allows so many of our neighbors to access health and dental care, resources and health education. The health of our communities relies on neighbors being able to afford needed care.” Maryland Physicians Care is jointly owned by Meritus Health, Ascension Saint Agnes, Holy Cross Health and UPMC Western Maryland. Its goal is to ensure that Maryland Medicaid recipients have access to quality healthcare services while also promoting preventive care and wellness initiatives. MPC has more than 240,000 members. Over the last 12 months, MPC has donated more than $2 million to its local owners’ communities. These donations have targeted social determinants of health and provider access issues within these communities. The donations include: Meritus Health in Hagerstown, Md. — $75,000 to Horizon Goodwill Inc. in part to support the health hub on North Prospect Street in downtown Hagerstown. The building, owned by Horizon Goodwill, features a Meritus primary care office, as well as a job training facility. Plans call for a grocery store, filling a crucial need in the downtown area. Also donated was $200,000 toward the creation of the Meritus Mental Health Walk-In Care center. The facility on the Meritus Medical Center campus is a partnership between the health system and Brook Lane, serving as a crucial resource for individuals aged 6 and older. The center caters to children, adolescents and adults facing mild-to-moderate mental health crises. Ascension Saint Agnes in Baltimore — $675,000 to Roberta’s House for school-based grief and emotional wellness programs; $60,000 to UEmpower of Maryland to support The Food Project; $150,000 to Goodwill Industries of the Chesapeake for its Excel Center training; $40,000 to support Saint Joseph’s Monastery Parish’s community outreach; and $75,000 to Action in Maturity for an ADA compliant vehicle. Holy Cross Health – Montgomery County — $450,000 to Primary Care Coalition to complement Nexus Montgomery workforce development by providing wrap-around services to address social needs of the students. UPMC Western Maryland in Cumberland, Md. — $120,588 to Western Maryland Food Bank for food assistance and roof repairs; $25,000 to the Allegany County Department of Social Services for food assistance and holiday meals; $30,000 to the Salvation Army in Cumberland to assist with medical travel outside of the greater Cumberland area; $25,000 to the Union Rescue Mission in Cumberland for food assistance; and $50,000 to Associated Charities of Cumberland for medication assistance. “MPC is very excited to have Dr. Maulik Joshi as our new chairman of the Board of Directors,” said Jason Rottman, CEO of MPC. “Dr. Joshi brings a wealth of knowledge to this role with extensive experience in the healthcare industry. Dr. Joshi’s commitment to serving the community and, in particular, the Medicaid population, fits perfectly with the MPC’s mission. I look forward to the ideas and energy he will bring to the role.”
Meritus in the top 1.5% nationwide of hospitals giving back
April 4, 2024
HAGERSTOWN, Md. — Nonprofit hospitals are exempt from paying most federal, state and local taxes in exchange for providing free or discounted care and programs that address community health needs — things like substance use treatment, food, transportation and mobile clinics. A new report from the Lown Institute, an independent healthcare think tank, finds that Meritus Medical Center spent more on financial assistance and community investment than the estimated value of its tax exemption in 2021, giving the hospital what the Institute calls a “fair share” surplus. Meritus Medical Center is among only 20 percent of nonprofit hospitals nationwide to have such a surplus, and in the top 1.5 percent for the amount of additional spending for community benefit. This is the second year in a row that Meritus was in the top 1.5 percent of all nonprofit hospitals the Lown Institute ranked. The vast majority of hospitals in Lown’s study did not meet their obligations as nonprofit entities. According to the most recent data available, Meritus spent $27 million more than the estimated value of its tax exemption on charity care and community investment. “We never turn away a patient who needs care,” explained Meritus President and CEO Maulik Joshi, Dr.P.H. “As the community’s largest provider of free care, we believe supporting charity care, educational initiatives and other forms of community benefit are the way we live our mission of improving the health of the community.” “Hospitals increasingly recognize the importance of going beyond their walls to improve community health,” said Vikas Saini, M.D., president of the Lown Institute. “These hospitals are leading the way in essential community health investments.” Lown calculated Fair Share Spending by comparing the estimated value of hospitals’ tax exemptions to the amount spent on financial assistance and meaningful community investment — including community health improvement activities, cash and in-kind contributions to community groups, community building activities, and subsidized health services. Data was sourced from IRS Form 990 for fiscal year ending 2021. Only private, nonprofit hospitals with available IRS tax filings were included.
Have the conversation: April 16 is National Healthcare Decisions Day
April 4, 2024
Talking about the end of your life is not comfortable. But it’s a conversation worth having to make sure your loved ones or health professionals know what you want to happen to you when you aren’t able to speak for yourself. April 16 is National Healthcare Decisions Day, a day to make, discuss and document future healthcare wishes and decisions in your advance care planning, also known as advance directives. Meritus Health offers free guidance and documents to help with this planning, be it for yourself or someone in your care. What is an advance directive? An advance directive is a legal document that provides instructions for end-of-life care and spells out whether life-sustaining treatment should be withdrawn or withheld when a person is dying or permanently unconscious. Susan Lyons, nurse practitioner and supervisor of supportive and palliative care at Meritus Medical Center, views advance directives as “if-then” documents. “If I’m in a terminal condition and cannot speak for myself, then these are the medical treatments I do or do not desire,” Lyons explained. She said these legal documents are important and often overlooked. All adults should consider documenting their wishes, regardless of health or age. When should I start the conversation about advance directives? Start the conversation now, she said. The best time to complete an advance directive is when you’re healthy and the discussion is neutral or removed from an illness or devastating medical condition. An appropriate time might be when a family member or friend has experienced a life-changing or life-ending event. Use a blank advance directive form as a conversation guide with your family or doctor. Online advance planning forms are available at https://www2.meritushealth.com/files/adirective.pdf. Who is in charge of my advance directives? Appoint a health care agent or power of attorney, Lyons said. The first part of the advance directive allows you to indicate a medical proxy, the person you choose to make health care decisions when you cannot. Select someone who understands your values, stays calm in crisis situations and speaks up to ask difficult questions. What is a living will? Define what matters to you the most, Lyons said. The second part of the advance directive is called the living will and it offers an opportunity to discuss what you value at the end of life. The document “speaks” for you when you cannot speak for yourself if you ever have a serious medical condition that physicians believe is not survivable. “The living will allows you to tell us what your wishes are about certain mechanical or artificial means of support,” Lyons said. “A lot of people have really strong feelings about things like breathing machines and feeding tubes.” The document also allows you to dictate whether you want the support of a hospital-based medical team, or if you’d prefer to die at home with your beloved pet by your side. If you wish to die in your own home, an advance directive may eliminate unwanted hospitalizations, but fulfilling that wish requires the support of a home hospice agency and round-the-clock supervision by family and/or friends. Talk about who would be a part of a “home care support team.” When do advance directives become valid? Sign the advance directive and share it, Lyons said. An advance directive becomes legally valid when you sign the document. However, it typically goes into effect when the doctor in charge of your care decides that you have lost the ability to make informed decisions about your health care. In Maryland, the document must be witnessed by two individuals, but it does not require a notarized signature or the involvement of an attorney. After completing the advance directive, give a signed copy to your family and friends who will be involved in your care, your health care agent and your primary care physician. Decisions about end-of-life care are deeply personal and emotional, but starting a conversation and putting forth your wishes now will create peace at a time when it’s needed the most. To learn more about advance directives or to find related documents, go to https://www.meritushealth.com/about/patients-visitors/advance-directives.
Meritus Athletic Trainer Program helps students get back in the game
March 29, 2024
Tracy Kloos said it’s tough as a parent to watch your child play a sport knowing there’s a chance she might get hurt. But when that situation actually happened to Kloos’ daughter, Mackenzie, she said she was fortunate to have Meghan Gray there to care for her daughter. Gray is an athletic trainer with Meritus Health, which is contracted by Washington County Public Schools to work with its student athletes and coaches throughout the school year. “Had I not had Meghan there, Mackenzie would have had her season end at that point,” Kloos said. The point guard dislocated her shoulder twice in two separate games playing for the Williamsport High School Wildcats. What is the Meritus Athletic Trainer Program? The Meritus athletic trainers undergo expert training, are certified and licensed allied healthcare professionals onsite to treat the “athletic injury” for the student-athletes. As part of the Meritus team, they offer coordination of care that ensures student athletes get the healthcare they need when they need it. As part of the largest healthcare provider in the region, the trainers give immediate care to students at WCPS high schools, said Amber Shatzer-Moats, the athletic training program supervisor. But don’t let the program’s name fool you. Shatzer-Moats said she has worked with band and theater students, too. “We are responsible for anyone in the school who might need us,” she said. “We provide a lot of education and sharing of information with parents to coordinate care,” Shatzer-Moats said. “But our goal is to get the students back on the field. We are here to support them from injury to recovery, while working with a variety of healthcare providers. We are a team.” The athletic trainers are supported by Meritus Sports Medicine and Geoffrey Sanyi, D.O., and there are plans to expand the program. Meritus Sports Medicine is set to open a new location providing athletic training and rehabilitation at the Valley Mall later this spring. How did the athletic trainer help Mackenzie? The team was facing Brunswick High School at home when Mackenzie was fighting for a jump ball against another player. Her arm got caught in the tangle, Gray said. “I could see it pop out from across the court,” she said. “But she didn’t completely dislocate it. She partially subluxed it; where it came out slightly and popped right back into place.” Play was stopped, and Kloos said Gray took Mackenzie to the training room and checked her range of motion and put her through other tests. Though she was still able to move her arm, Gray and Mackenzie’s coach decided it was best for the senior to sit out the rest of the game. In fact, she didn’t play or practice for nearly a week. And when she did practice, Kloos said Gray was there watching and evaluating her. When Mackenzie was cleared to play again, Gray had a specific plan for playing time and watched Mackenzie while she was on the court. But then came the game at North Hagerstown High School. Mackenzie’s shoulder was hit off a screen and fully dislocated this time. Gray was at that game and took Mackenzie off the court to check her. What followed was two hard weeks of rehabilitation and treatments after school to get her ready to return to play for her team's playoffs. Mackenzie worked with Gray at Williamsport High after classes. Gray put her through a multitude of different range of motion stretching and exercises to return her motion to normal and to build her strength in that shoulder. Kloos sat out several games but slowly began to take part in drills during practices and then warming up with her team for games. "She needs to trust her own body again and know that she can do it, know what it feels like to do the things she requires of her shoulder," Gray said. What mattered most? The goal, Kloos said, was to make sure Mackenzie could play her last regular-season game on Senior Night, again against North Hagerstown High. Mackenzie did play, although it was for only about five minutes and with a well-taped shoulder. And again, Gray was there to keep an eye on her shoulder. With a record of 15-7, the Wildcats made it into the MPSSAA Regional Semi-Finals against Middletown High School. Kloos played a large portion of her final playoff game, but unfortunately, they lost in that round. But Mackenzie was invited to play in the 2024 Roundball Classic’s Girls Shooting Stars Game on March 23. She was the only girls’ player from Williamsport invited. The plan is for Mackenzie to see a specialist to examine her shoulder, now that the season is over. “As a parent, it’s really hard,” Kloos said. “I had all the trust in the world in Meghan in all she had done for Mackenzie. She missed a chunk of games, but she got to play in the ones that mattered to her.” To learn more about Meritus Sports Medicine, visit www.meritushealth.com/SportsMedicine.
Meritus patient’s early detection, colonoscopy saved his life
March 27, 2024
What you need to know about life-saving screenings, symptoms of colorectal cancer Many of us hear advertisements during Colon Cancer Awareness month each March, or have heard a primary care provider suggest the often-dreaded colonoscopy as part of a wellness regimen. Despite the warnings and messages, many people don’t think they need to bother. Eric Carbaugh was 49 when he decided he needed to take the warnings seriously. His brother, who was 53 at the time, had a gall bladder surgery turn into the discovery of a tumor. He went through surgery and chemotherapy to treat the stage three cancer. Around the same time, Carbaugh took a genetic test that determined he was predisposed to developing cancer. And then there was a physical symptom he had been ignoring for about a year, blood in his stool. Given the symptom, plus his brother’s experiences, he decided it was time to call in an expert. Dr. C.P. Choudari, a gastroenterologist who leads Meritus Hagerstown Gastroenterology scheduled a colonoscopy. The test confirmed Carbaugh had rectal cancer. To save his life, his colon was removed. It’s a drastic step that many can avoid with regular screenings and earlier detection. “If you have a change in bowel habits, if you have any bleeding, even if you think it’s a hemorrhoid, and it doesn’t go away, just get a colonoscopy,” Choudari said. “It can be life-saving.” How often are colorectal cancer cases found in younger patients? Early onset colorectal cancer now accounts for approximately 10 percent of all new diagnoses of the disease, Dr. Choudari said. And since 1994, cases of early onset colorectal cancer have increased by 51 percent. In the next decade, it is estimated 25 percent of rectal cancers and 10 to 12 percent of colon cancers will be diagnosed in people younger than 50, he said. Due to these statistics, screening recommendations have changed. It is now recommended that adults get their first coloscopy by age 45, unless they have family history or other risk factors that would begin their screenings earlier. Choudari noted that only 15 to 20 percent of colorectal cancers found in those younger than 50 have family history or genetic predisposition. “That means 80 percent are sporadic,” he said. What is life like after colorectal cancer? Carbaugh, a farmer, had surgery to remove the cancer on Oct. 5, 2021. While it is a serious surgery, he recovered well and is grateful to enjoy his life, with a positive prognosis. “I am very, very active,” he said. “I don’t see any reason that I couldn’t live for a long length of time, into my 80s.” But Carbaugh still laments not consulting a doctor as soon as he started seeing his own symptoms. He’s sharing his story so others will pay attention to awareness messages and recommendations from their physicians. “My message to you is that regular colonoscopies need to be started before age 50,” he said. “And people need to pay attention to their own symptoms, especially blood in your stool. Don’t fool around. “Just do what you’ve gotta do,” he said. “Life is going to be OK.” To learn more about colorectal cancer or to schedule a colonoscopy, visit www.meritushealth.com/locations/meritus-hagerstown-gastroenterology or call 240-513-7072.
Don’t ignore the warning signs when it comes to your gut health
March 22, 2024
People love to talk about that great meal they’ve eaten or fancy cocktail they’ve tried. But they don’t always want to talk about where that food and drink goes in their bodies – until it’s too late. There are three major gastrointestinal issues that Vamshidhar Vootla, M.D., says he notices in patients: fatty liver disease, gastroesophageal reflux disease and irritable bowel syndrome. The culprit behind these conditions, often, has to do with the patient’s lifestyle including diet and exercise, said Dr. Vootla, who recently started seeing patients in Hagerstown and Hancock. “Processed foods have a big role in your health in this area,” he said. “I tell patients they need to be careful with the diet they choose.” With fatty liver, the reason it’s so prevalent is because it often goes undiagnosed until it is too late. “We call this a silent disease,” he said. “This is the most common chronic liver condition and it’s generally asymptomatic. People have no clue until it becomes cirrhosis of the liver.” The condition can be hereditary, but can also be caused by poor diet and lack of exercise, as well as consumption of alcohol or by certain viral infections, such as hepatitis C. However in recent years, obesity, diabetes and elevated cholesterol have become the primary reasons for development of fatty liver, Dr. Vootla said. Studies suggest that approximately one-third of the population has gastroesophageal reflux disease, or GERD and often referred to as reflux, according to the American Gastroenterological Association, Dr. Vootla said. But it’s when the situation becomes chronic that the trouble starts. By chronic, we’re talking over 10 years. The reflux can start to impact the lining of the food pipe and that can lead to esophageal cancer resulting in symptoms like trouble swallowing, weight loss, vomiting and anemia. “Pay attention to the alarm symptoms,” Dr. Vootla said. “Using over-the-counter treatments to manage reflux is so common,” he said, “but there are side effects over the long haul. You should be screened if the problems persist.” Irritable bowel syndrome, commonly known by its initials IBS, is the most common condition that Dr. Vootla sees in his patients. The trouble is that it can’t be self-diagnosed. “It’s a diagnosis of exclusion,” he said. “There is no single test to diagnose it. So you have to rule out other conditions to arrive at this diagnosis.” The time to sound the alarm for doctors is when symptoms worsen or new symptoms crop up, including bleeding, vomiting and weight loss. “It is a chronic condition but can be managed,” he said of the disease. The bottom line for Dr. Vootla is that patients shouldn’t dismiss the warning signs of a potential problem, no matter the condition. Contact your healthcare provider at the first sign of symptoms. “They’re a tell-tale sign that there’s something going on,” he said. To learn more about issues that could impact your GI tract, go to Meritus Hagerstown Gastroenterology online at www.meritushealth.com/gastroenterology.
Meritus Family Medicine Residency matches with new doctors, one local
March 15, 2024
HAGERSTOWN, Md. — For one James Buchanan High graduate, matching with the Meritus Family Medicine Residency Program is a chance to practice medicine where she grew up. Ashley Moats, who played volleyball for the Rockets before graduating in 2014, said she and her fiancé are looking forward to moving back to the tristate area after she graduates from Campbell University Jerry M. Wallace School of Osteopathic Medicine in North Carolina this spring. She worked at Meritus Medical Center briefly as part of her training, and knew it was right for her. “I could see myself working there as a resident in training for the next three years, and maybe longer,” she said March 15, known as Match Day for residency programs across the country. Each year, on the heels of graduation, medical students nationwide eagerly await announcement for where they “matched,” meaning where they will spend their next several years in residency. Medical residency programs serve as structured apprenticeships leading to board certification in a particular specialty. A resident is a physician who is enrolled in this apprenticeship or residency and is overseen by board-certified faculty physicians. The highly selective process results in six medical school graduates being matched with the family medicine program at Meritus. “We are honored to be able to help shape the next generation of compassionate family physicians,” said Dr. Brad Miller, Meritus Family Medicine Residency Program. “Our highly skilled faculty physicians and colleagues will oversee the next three years of apprenticeship for these six new graduates. Our faculty work closely with the resident physicians which means that our patients have a unique opportunity to participate in this journey.” In addition to Ashley, the Meritus Family Medicine Residency Program Class of 2027 includes graduates from Maryland, Virginia and North Carolina: • Meghana Annadata, American University of Antigua College of Medicine • Lawrence Barnoski, Campbell University Jerry M. Wallace School of Osteopathic Medicine • Ashika Chaluvadi, West Virginia School of Osteopathic Medicine • Nancy Tran, West Virginia School of Osteopathic Medicine • Thuy Vuong, Liberty University College of Osteopathic Medicine We invite you to find out more information on the services that Meritus Family Medicine offers for you and your family. Learn more at https://www.meritushealth.com/locations/meritus-family-medicine-robinwood.
Dad has new daughter help him pop the question to Mom
March 8, 2024
HAGERSTOWN, Md. — It’s not every day that you celebrate a birth and a proposal. But for Sierra Baker, that was the case on March 7. The 24-year-old Hagerstown resident gave birth to her daughter, River May, at 7:17 p.m. at Meritus Medical Center. When baby was cleaned up, swaddled and the stocking cap put on her head, Sierra saw “Will you marry me?” written on the cap. She said yes. Now-fiancé Austin Kershner, 25, said he’d been planning to propose for about six months. “I felt it was time,” he said as the family sat smiling in the Labor, Delivery, Recovery and Postpartum unit at Meritus. Sierra said she wasn’t expecting Austin to pop the question. They’ve been together for two years. “I had no idea,” she said. They met after Austin got into a conversation with Sierra’s mother at her mother’s job. Despite her mom’s efforts at playing matchmaker, it still took a few days for Sierra to message Austin. But then the two of them clicked. “She came over, and we’ve been hanging out ever since,” Austin said. While smiling over a sleeping River, Sierra admitted she’d not given a whole lot of thought to plans for their impending nuptials. “I know that I want it to be on a mountain — with a river,” she said. In 2023, Meritus Medical Center helped bring 1,801 new babies into the world, including 21 sets of twins. We’re not sure how many proposals we facilitated. To learn more about family birthing services at Meritus, visit www.meritushealth.com/services/family-birthing-services-at-meritus-medical-center.
Meritus president and CEO appointed chair of USMH Board of Advisors
March 4, 2024
HAGERSTOWN, Md. — The president and CEO of Meritus Health and the proposed Meritus School of Osteopathic Medicine was recently named the chair of the University System of Maryland – Hagerstown (USMH) advisory board. Maulik Joshi, Dr.P.H., is the incoming chair of the Board of Advisors, which provides insight for the school’s student programs, scholarship funds and local community coordination. “I am deeply honored to take on the role of chair of the USMH Board of Advisors and support such a wonderful organization with all our committed and expert Board of Advisors,” Joshi said. Jacob Ashby, executive director of USMH and secretary of the advisory board, said Joshi is a perfect fit for his new role. "USMH and Meritus Health have been partners in the region for many years. I am very excited to have Dr. Joshi step into the role of Chair of our Board of Advisors,” Ashby said. “While serving as chair, I look forward to the opportunity to work with Dr. Joshi to help current students get on their career path and identify additional healthcare programs that could be offered at USMH. Given the expected growth in the industry and workforce shortages, in partnership, Meritus Health and USMH can continue to make a positive impact on the health of our community."