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Trauma patients have new life-saving resource at Meritus
September 11, 2024
Hospital is first in region to stock whole blood Meritus Medical Center is now stocking a life-saving resource developed on the battlefield that will give trauma patients a better chance at survival. Through work by the Meritus trauma department and blood bank, the hospital will be able to offer whole blood to those patients most at risk of death after a traumatic incident. “This is a big deal,” said Kyle Remick, M.D., FACS, Meritus trauma medical director who also is a retired U.S. Army Colonel. “For patients with the most severe injuries, whole blood has been shown to be life-saving.” Meritus is positioned at the intersection of two major U.S. interstates, meaning the level 3 trauma center frequently sees trauma patients from automobile crashes, in addition to typical injuries seen by hospitals in rural areas. Victoria K. Gonsorcik, D.O., associate pathologist and director of transfusion/blood bank services, said Meritus staff is primed to go. “We have worked with the critical care and the trauma team along with other departments at Meritus to help roll this out,” she said. “We are ready.” The plan is to work with EMS units in the region so first responders can begin whole blood transfusions when they first encounter patients. How does whole blood benefit trauma patients? Normally, donated blood is separated into components — red blood cells, plasma, platelets, etc. — for standard medical use. By using whole blood, studies have found it improves a patient’s chances of survival in the trauma setting. “When inventory allows, whole blood will offer a quick and efficient method to replace significant blood loss and a more rapid correction of bleeding disorders for our massive transfusions and trauma 1 patients,” Dr. Gonsorcik said. Dr. Remick noted that it was military doctors who have pioneered the treatment, learning lessons from treating troops in Iraq and Afghanistan. “We used whole blood up until Vietnam,” said Dr. Remick, who was a battlefield surgeon when he was active duty. “We learned that when trauma patients are bleeding significantly from their injury, replacing blood lost with whole blood gives those patients the best chance of survival.” Several hospitals in the Washington, D.C., region offer the treatment, but Dr. Remick says Meritus would be the first in Western Maryland. “This will be a benefit to the local population as well as those travelling through the region from other parts of the country,” he said. “Injury is the leading cause of death in those 1 to 44 years of age in the U.S., according to the CDC, so it is important for Meritus to be a leader in optimal care for injuries that occur in the community and the region.” Carrie Adams, Pharm.D., Meritus chief operating officer who oversees the hospital, praised the move. “Offering whole blood is another example of Meritus living up to its mission of improving the health of the community,” she said. “As our community continues to grow, we are striving to meet their health needs, and injury care is a significant part of that need.” To learn more about Meritus Medical Center’s emergency care, visit www.meritushealth.com/Emergency.
Doctor’s orders: More water, movement to benefit your health
September 6, 2024
If there’s one thing that Liza Hiles, M.D., wants her patients to take away from an appointment with her, it’s that they should increase how much water they drink. “Most people don’t drink enough,” said the provider at Meritus Primary Care in Hancock. Drinking 64 ounces of water a day, along with moving — exercising, walking, etc. — are the top ways people can improve their health. “If you drink more water, you’ll have less space in your belly for junk food,” she said. Though water and exercise are far from the only treatments for what ails you, Dr. Hiles said they have a tremendous impact on the top three conditions she treats in Hancock: high blood pressure, diffuse pain and fatigue, and diabetes. Before looking at medication to treat high blood pressure, Dr. Hiles suggests decreasing your salt intake, along with the aforementioned water and exercise. “It’s in everything, including drinks,” she said of salt. With pain and fatigue, Dr. Hiles said she would first eliminate a pathologic cause by running labs and doing a basic exam. If those tests come back clear, the problem usually comes back to diet and exercise. “The vast majority of the time, it is a lack of movement and their current diet,” she said. “A lot of what we eat can cause inflammation and pain and fatigue. A lot of people don’t realize that’s what’s causing their problems until they change their routine.” Lean proteins, such as chicken or fish, and more fruits and vegetables are her top recommendations. Diabetes is a major problem in all of Washington County, not just Hancock. A few years ago, The Herald-Mail reported that Washington County ranked at or near the top of death rates in Maryland when it comes to diabetes. Dr. Hiles said that some patients come to her and feel perfectly fine, only to have lab results reveal a problem. Some report feeling very thirsty or hungry, or having bad fatigue. Again, she said that lifestyle changes are her first recommendation before looking to medication. “Lifestyle changes are super, super important,” she said. For those who are struggling with that, especially the exercise part, Dr. Hiles recommends “exercise snacking.” Just like with snacking on food, exercise snacking involves moving — even just walking in place — for five minutes when you have the time. Regardless of your diet and exercise regimen or what symptoms you’re experiencing, scheduling and keeping yearly exams with your primary care provider are among the most important things you can do to benefit your health. “We can catch a lot of things early or prevent it when you come in for your exam,” she said. If you live in the greater Hancock area and would like to set up a physical, go to www.meritushealth.com/Hancock. For those outside of Hancock, Meritus has primary care locations in many other parts of the county. Go to www.meritushealth.com/primarycare for a location near you.
Meritus Health Care Caller Program published in peer-reviewed journal
September 4, 2024
Initiative combats loneliness, which has been linked to poor health outcomes Leaders with a Western Maryland health system have published an article in a peer-reviewed journal highlighting a program designed to upend loneliness and social isolation in their community. The Meritus Health Care Caller program was implemented in November 2021 to combat the negative effects of a solitary lifestyle, including an increased risk of depression, anxiety, and other health issues. “Loneliness and social isolation have been shown to impact life expectancy as much as smoking, obesity and physical inactivity,” said Maulik Joshi, Dr.P.H., president and CEO of Meritus and one of the paper’s authors. “Meritus Health has set out to make sure that loneliness doesn’t take its toll on our community.” The paper by Joshi; Ethan Feldmiller, startup program manager for the proposed Meritus School of Osteopathic Medicine; Lynnae Messner, director of outpatient care management; and Sridhar Rao Gona, pharmacy informatics and research, was published in the September/October 2024 edition of the Journal for Healthcare Quality. What is the Care Callers program? Care Callers uses 81 volunteers and two staff to call 350 health system patients who have indicated they are lonely. Each week, the patient and caller converse for 15 minutes to a half hour. The paper used data current to July 2023, but the most recent statistics show that 95% of the patients in the program report feeling less lonely after four months. Since its inception, more than 700 patients have participated. In fiscal year 2024, Care Callers and patients spoke for 185,915 minutes. And the health system does not intend to slow down. Leaders plan to use what they’ve learned so far to continue addressing inequities and disparities in the community and region. “As anchor organization for the community, we take responsibility for optimizing health outcomes for our neighbors,” Joshi said. “That’s why we’ve implemented Care Callers and other initiatives, not just because it serves a need in our growing community, but also because it’s the right thing to do.” To read the article, click here. To learn more about the Meritus Health Care Callers program, visit www.MeritusHealth.com/carecallers.
Preventing a heart attack requires action now
August 23, 2024
They say an apple a day keeps the doctor away. While it might take more than an apple, there’s truth to the notion that positive actions now can prevent health problems later. Nowhere is that truer than in preventative cardiology, says Pegah Zare, M.D., with Meritus Hagerstown Heart. Acting early can stave off things like coronary artery disease and prevent heart attacks or strokes. “In this day and age, the approach we take is we sit down with patients and learn about their family history and what other factors might impact their health to get a good, detailed history,” Dr. Zare said. That usually includes giving the patient a CT scan that looks for calcium buildup in the arteries that supply the heart. This coronary calcium scan is very important in figuring out a plan to keep your heart healthy, Dr. Zare said. Also factored in are blood tests that check cholesterol, as well as diet and exercise. To lower or maintain healthy cholesterol levels, Dr. Zare recommends a diet and exercise regimen. Extensive research has been done on the Mediterranean diet, and it has been found to have cardiovascular benefits. “Things like olive oil, nuts, less red meat and less dairy,” she said of the menu. “Fish and chicken are always good.” When it comes to exercise, Dr. Zare recommends starting off simply with walking outdoors 20 to 30 minutes, five days a week. You could also be a “weekend warrior” and walk for two hours on Saturday and Sunday. The pace can start slowly, then increase as you are able to tolerate it. But it should be enough to get your heart rate up. “If you can keep up a full conversation while walking, then you’re not exerting yourself enough,” she said. Sometimes, diet and exercise aren't enough to lower or maintain cholesterol, especially if there are genetics involved. In that case, Dr. Zare said medication would come into play. There are statin drugs, such as Lipitor or Crestor, that are effective at combating high cholesterol and preventing heart disease. There are other medications, including aspirin, that could be added to those drugs to get to the optimum levels, she said. Probably the most important thing to remember when it comes to heart disease is to not ignore it. Speak to your primary care provider about getting your cholesterol checked and reviewing your family history. You might need to see a specialist, like Dr. Zare, to help get things under control and have a good health outcome. To learn more about Meritus Hagerstown Heart, visit www.MeritusHealth.com/Heart.
Meritus earns Best-in-State Employer award from Forbes
August 20, 2024
Health system named to list for the second time in three years Meritus Health has been named to the Forbes’ list of America’s Best-in-State Employers for 2024. “Meritus is thrilled to be honored with this award for the second time in three years,” said health system President and CEO Maulik Joshi, Dr.P.H. “That we’ve received this award is a testament to the value that our own team members see in Meritus’ mission, which is to improve the health of the community.” Employers on the list have been identified in an independent survey from a vast sample of over 160,000 employees working for companies employing at least 500 people within the U.S., according to Forbes. The survey was open to companies from all industry sectors. Around 4.4 million employer evaluations were analyzed. The consideration of data from the past three years allowed a robust differentiation between organizations that consistently perform well from those that may only have had a single good year. The evaluation was based on direct and indirect recommendations from employees who were asked to rate their willingness to recommend their own employers to friends and family. Employees were also asked to evaluate other employers in their respective industry and state how they stood out either positively or negatively. The award is presented by Forbes and Statista Inc. To learn more about working at Meritus, visit www.MeritusHealth.com/careers.
Weight loss, which is right for you: Surgery or medication?
August 12, 2024
There is an obesity epidemic in the United States and around the world. The World Health Organization estimates 1 in 8 people globally are obese. “Losing weight is the best thing you can do for your health,” said Brian Cantor, M.D., F.A.C.S., F.A.S.M.B.S., a bariatric surgeon with Meritus Surgical Specialists. “It’s an underlying cause for health problems including high cholesterol, diabetes, high blood pressure, heart disease, sleep apnea.” But losing weight is easier said than done. While diet and exercise are the logical routes, they often aren’t successful on their own, Dr. Cantor said. If that’s the case, there are steps that can be taken medically to reduce weight. Options include bariatric surgery or using prescribed medication, such as Ozempic. But how do you know which option is the best for you? One of the biggest factors is your body-mass index. Those with a BMI between 27 and 30 typically are not candidates for surgery but could see benefits from medication. Those with a BMI of 35 or higher who also have comorbidities, such as high cholesterol, high blood pressure, diabetes or others, would be a candidate for surgery. Those without comorbidities and a BMI of 40 also would likely qualify for surgery. Medication might be a better option for those with a high BMI whose doctors have determined it would not be safe for them to have surgery, Dr. Cantor said. It might also work for those who are extremely overweight, who need to lose pounds before being considered for bariatric surgery. “Or, we might find that the best course of action is to do the surgery first and then help maintain after that with medication,” Dr. Cantor said. No matter the direction, it’s important to review all the details and understand each option. Bariatric surgery has been around for decades and has been shown to reduce weight significantly and keep that weight off for years afterward with minimal side effects, Dr. Cantor said. Medication hasn’t been around as long, so there’s less research available. And while it tends to act quickly, the weight can be gained back quickly once the medication is stopped. “We would tailor the decision-making process to the individual,” Dr. Cantor said. When it comes to the surgery option, multiple medical disciplines get involved. The patient will get a psychological evaluation. He or she will get support from a nutritionist. They will go through a sleep study. And the patient’s primary care provider would be involved from the start. “We want to make sure you’re covered mentally, physically and spiritually,” he said. The process for surgery takes between six and nine months, which also allows for a diet and exercise regemine to be put in place. “That habit is then there after the surgery,” Dr. Cantor said. “It’ll be in place so that, after the surgery, there is something to fall back upon when stressors arise.” A diet and exercise regemine are also recommended for those using medication. In both cases, the end result is what Dr. Cantor called “the halo effect.” “The whole family ends up following the same diet that the patient does,” he said. “So the people around them also become healthier, too.” To learn more about weight loss options, visit www.meritushealth.com/Weightloss or call 301-714-4044.
Man survives heart attack, thanks Meritus, EMS crew for saving life
August 8, 2024
Jimi McLeod was mending a fence July 16 at the little farm he has in Downsville when his life almost ended. It was through the professional care he received from the EMS crew from Halfway Volunteer Fire Co., other emergency responders from Williamsport, and the interventional cardiology staff and others at Meritus Medical Center that he survived a widow maker heart attack. “It has a 12 percent survival rate,” he noted in a Facebook post thanking everyone who saved his life. A tree branch had landed on the fence, and McLeod decided to repair the two broken boards after getting off work at Lowe’s around 5 p.m., he said in an August interview. It was during the heat wave, when temperatures were in the upper 90s. As he was working, he thought he was starting to get overheated but still managed to put both boards on by taking a break in between. “But then I sat in the shop,” he said, “and it took everything I had to get from the shop to the house.” He still thought it was the heat, but he sent a text message to his wife, Joyce, who was upstairs, to come down and check on him. She initially wanted to call 911, but he hesitated. It was when he realized he couldn’t move his left arm that he asked Joyce to make the call. The EMS crew quickly assessed he was having a massive heart attack, loaded him on the ambulance and sped to the hospital. Though McLeod admitted he was fading in and out of consciousness, he remembered hearing the EMS lieutenant checking his vitals and calling them in to the hospital, along with their ETA. “I didn’t realize how fast they were driving,” he said. “We arrived at the hospital, and I could see all of them waiting. And as I was being wheeled down the hallway, more people were getting around me. “They jumped on me so fast, like a well-oiled machine.” It was at that point that he realized he was unable to breathe. “I decided to just close everything off and focus on living,” he said. The next thing he knew, it was the next day. He was awake and had tubes and wires connected to him. Mansoor Ahmad, M.D., FACC, FSCAI, spoke to McLeod in McLeod’s hospital room, explaining what happened and what the next steps would be. McLeod had to get two more stents, and he was awake for the procedure. “At the end of the surgery, they turned the screen around and showed me what my artery looked like before the stent and how it looked now,” he said. “The whole thing was amazing.” During his time in the intensive care and step-down units, he said every nurse and staffer he encountered was professional and kind. He even got a visit from Meritus President and CEO Maulik Joshi, Dr.P.H., and Chief Medical Officer Dr. Anand Budi. Joshi and McLeod’s brother are friends. “I told them, ‘This service here was above and beyond,’” McLeod said. All told, he was in the hospital for five days and received visitors including his wife and daughters, friends and others. Flash forward a few weeks and McLeod was back to work at Lowe’s, though sitting on a stool most of the time. He wanted to thank those who helped save his life. So, after reaching out to the EMS crew, he put up a Facebook post listing off as many people he could name, explaining what happened and how they are the reason he is still alive. “There was about three hours or so, I was told, where they didn’t know I was going to make it,” McLeod said. “One little mess up … my time was close.”
Annual Health Equity Report shows progress in reducing disparities
July 30, 2024
Meritus Health continues to ensure equitable, accessible care for all in our community Following the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020, where existing and long-standing health disparities in our community became more apparent, Meritus focused on improving health equity. The following year, the health system published its first annual Health Equity report, and this week is sharing its third annual report which continues to show focus on reducing disparities between white and non-white patients related to pre-term births, newborn breastfeeding, opioid treatment and other measures. Each year, the reports are showing progress on the reduction of health disparities. The FY2023 report analyzed 31 measures. It showed several measurable improvements over the previous two Health Equity reports, including the median time spent between the Emergency Department and being admitted to the hospital; incidents of sepsis; and occurrence and treatment of certain instances of poorly controlled diabetes. “Our teams are working hard to eliminate health disparities,” said Meritus President and CEO Maulik Joshi, Dr.P.H. “This work is complex and we are committed to continuing this journey until we achieve health equity in this community. We are pleased to see our progress and determined to move this work forward.” The report found eight disparities in data spanning from July 1, 2022, to June 30, 2023. When stratified by race/ethnicity and language, the following quality measures were identified as having significant differences: Pre-term birth Newborn exclusive breastfeeding Emergency department opioid administration Inpatient opioid administration Timely Medicaid appointment follow-up Poorly controlled diabetes, HbA1c>=9% Asthma-related emergency department visits Emergency department - left without being seen “We cannot reduce or eliminate health disparities until we understand them, work to reduce them, and are transparent with our community about their existence and our dedication to reducing them,” Joshi said. “To deliver on our mission, execute our vision and embody our values, Meritus continues to prioritize eliminating the health disparities that exist around us.” Joshi said from here, teams from the hospital and outpatient clinics work on targeted, measurable action plans to reduce the gaps. For example, teams from primary care offices are measuring HbA1c rates and reporting them weekly on dashboards to the senior leadership team. This type of focus keeps the work top of mind, Joshi said. To learn more about Meritus’ commitment to diversity and health equity, as well as to read the FY2023 Health Equity Report, please visit meritushealth.com/Diversity-Health-Equity.
Lynn Haines named Meritus chief legal counsel
July 29, 2024
Meritus Health is pleased to announce that its vice president of legal services has been named the health system’s chief legal counsel. Lynn Haines, Esq., is responsible for providing strategic legal guidance and ensuring compliance with laws and regulations for Meritus. “Lynn is a terrific leader, and as our chief legal counsel, I know she will continue to provide the skilled resources needed to keep Meritus operating at a high level in service to our community,” said Meritus President and CEO Maulik Joshi, Dr.P.H. Haines previously served as associate general counsel for the organization, providing legal advice; drafting, negotiating and reviewing contracts; and serving as a legal resource for various departments. Before joining the health system, she was in-house counsel for Access World (USA) LLC, a Fortune Global 500 subsidiary company in Baltimore, and corporate counsel for Magnolia Management Inc., a skilled nursing home management corporation formerly located in Hagerstown, Md. She received her juris doctor degree from the University of Baltimore School of Law and her bachelor’s degree in psychology from West Virginia University in Morgantown. She is a member of the American Health Law Association and licensed to practice in Maryland. She also served as a volunteer mediator for the District Court of Maryland for many years.
Meritus, CareFirst explore population health initiative
July 22, 2024
Meritus Health (Meritus), a Western Maryland regional anchor health organization, and CareFirst BlueCross BlueShield (CareFirst), one of the country’s largest not-for-profit healthcare organizations, are considering how a population health initiative, taking a holistic approach to addressing social drivers of health, could improve health in the region. “As we continue to support the health needs in our community as an anchor organization, it is important that we are considering all opportunities to improve health outcomes,” said Meritus Health President and CEO Maulik Joshi, Dr.P.H. “In working with CareFirst, our teams would have the opportunity to foster collaboration, engage in data-driven decision-making and continue to shift the focus from reactive ‘sick care’ to proactive wellness opportunities for all we serve.” “As a leading not-for-profit healthcare organization in Maryland, we prioritize finding innovative ways to advance accessible, affordable and equitable care for people throughout the state,” said Brian Wheeler, Executive Vice President of Health Services at CareFirst. “We look forward to exploring how a population health initiative in collaboration with Meritus can help our organizations better serve our shared communities in Washington County.” The state of Maryland is home to one of the most innovative hospital payment models in the United States. This exploratory collaboration between CareFirst and Meritus will simulate a payment model that focuses on health and healthcare for a defined population. The hope is that from this partnership, the two organizations will learn from an all-in health and payment model which could further value-based and population-based care beyond a hospital based global budget revenue.
Hospital receives BIRTH Equity Maryland designation
July 22, 2024
Meritus earns top designation for reducing risk of complication for pregnant patients, reducing health equity gap Meritus strives to ensure all patients, regardless of ethnicity, race, gender or socioeconomic status receive high-quality, equitable care. The health system has been sharing its efforts publicly with the community it serves through its annual Health Equity report, as well as by working to engage community members in important health initiatives. As one component of this important work, Meritus Medical Center worked to integrate the B.I.R.T.H. Equity Maryland program, a state-wide improvement project to reduce inequities faced by pregnant women. The hospital has successfully implemented this and recently received the B.I.R.T.H. Equity Maryland designation from the Maryland Patient Safety Center (MPSC). B.I.R.T.H. stands for Breaking Inequality Reimagining Transformative Healthcare program. The program works to engage non-obstetric providers on the critical need for knowledge of pregnancy-related complications and awareness of disparities in negative maternal outcomes. “It is vital that we do everything possible to ensure healthy outcomes for pregnant women, especially those who are at higher risk of developing life-threatening complications,” said Meritus Medical Center Chief Operating Officer Carrie Adams, Pharm.D. “Our teams are committed to ensuring all patients who trust us with their care are experiencing the best possible outcomes.” According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), non-Hispanic Black women are three to four times more likely to die from pregnancy-related complications as compared with non-Hispanic White women, even when adjusting for sociodemographic and reproductive factors. Systemic racism, bias, and discrimination are key drivers of these disparities in outcomes. Recent data from the CDC (2022) has shown that 80 percent of pregnancy-related deaths are preventable, of which 53 percent occur in the postpartum period. Pregnant and postpartum patients are often seen in primary care offices, clinics, emergency departments or other community health settings where their obstetric history and early symptoms may be underappreciated. The B.I.R.T.H. Equity program teaches participants to recognize signs of severe maternal morbidity and mortality, implement improvements in protocols, identify whether or how potential bias might play a part in care, and have tools to effectively communicate concerns for a patient’s wellbeing. To earn the B.I.R.T.H. Equity Maryland designation, at least 80 percent of the Meritus Medical Center team completed six steps of demonstrated learning and development which included recognizing early warning signs of obstetric complications, leveraging teamwork and communication strategies, identifying and mitigating biases through training and reflection, and creating systems which support safe care for birthing people.
Meritus doc: Proper preparation key when it comes to fall athletics
July 19, 2024
You have to walk before you can run. When it comes to preparing for fall sports, a physician with Meritus Sports Medicine suggests young athletes run before they practice. “Before the season starts, they should start working on general aerobic and cardio exercise,” said Geoffrey Sanyi, D.O. “They should be overall healthy before they start doing their work for the season.” Dr. Sanyi, who is based at the new Meritus Health location at Valley Mall, said parents interested in prepping their kids for football, soccer and cheer, among other sports, should have them running, jogging or swimming regularly. In other words, they should strive to be physically fit as a baseline for the workouts to come. “There’s being in shape, then there’s being in football shape,” said Dr. Sanyi, who completed a fellowship in sports medicine at St. Luke’s University Hospital in Bethlehem, Pa. When it comes time to hit the gym, Dr. Sanyi recommends not jumping straight to pumping iron. Start off with body-weight exercises, such as squats, pushups and pullups, he said. When the core muscles have been worked out, then it’s time to lift weights. “Sometimes, athletes don’t do too much in preparation in the summer and go straight to weightlifting,” Dr. Sanyi said. “That means their core isn’t strong. It can create a muscle imbalance and that causes problems. “Most patients I see in the clinic, that’s what happened.” Another typical case he sees comes from athletes not using proper form when lifting weights. “Proper form reduces the risk of injury,” he said. When it comes to specific sports, Dr. Sanyi recommends athletes focus on certain things. For example, football players probably want to focus on cardio and strength training. Soccer players probably want to focus on aerobic exercise. Cheerleaders should focus on aerobics, but also strength training. “People would be surprised how fit you have to be to do tumbling or to be a base, holding people up in the air,” he said. No matter what the sport is, Dr. Sanyi stresses to parents and athletes that proper rest is needed. “I know, teenagers don’t like to sleep,” he said, “but that’s what gets your body to heal after intense exercise.” Parents also should pay attention to their athlete’s performance. Whether it be a sprain, a concussion or something heat-related, don’t wait to get evaluated, he said. “If they think their athlete is injured or not performing at what they expect them to be, they should definitely get it checked out,” he said. Meritus Sports Medicine is available to support the unique needs of athletes of all ages and levels – from youth to professional. The practice has sports medicine physicians, physical therapists and athletic trainers working in a new facility with leading-edge technology. To learn more, please visit www.meritushealth.com/sportsmedicine.