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Meritus receives 2026 Specialty Excellence Award from Healthgrades
Meritus Medical Center’s achievements place the organization among the top 10% nationwide for key services in surgical care. Meritus Medical Center announced today that it has achieved numerous distinctions for exceptional clinical performance from Healthgrades, the No. 1 site Americans use when searching for a doctor or hospital. Among Meritus’ new recognitions are a Specialty Excellence Award, which places the hospital among the top 10% nationwide for surgical care. Meritus is also five-star rated for four services, including hip fracture treatment, spinal fusion surgery, respiratory failure treatment, and diabetic hospitalizations. In addition to this top honor, Meritus ranked second among Maryland hospitals for surgical care. The hospital also has maintained a five-star rating for respiratory failure treatment for the past nine years and diabetic hospitalizations for the past two years. These achievements further affirm Meritus’ status as a premier destination for specialty care and underscore the organization’s longstanding commitment to excellent patient care. “These rankings, which are based on Medicare data, show just how seriously we take caring for our community at Meritus,” said Carrie Adams, chief operating officer of Meritus Medical Center. “It shows our commitment to providing high-quality specialty care, close to home, through the dedication of our team members across the hospital.” “To be ranked second in the state for surgical care and among the top 10% in the nation is a testament to the extraordinary skill, teamwork and commitment of our surgical teams,” said Brian McKinnon, M.D., chair of surgery at Meritus Health. “These results reflect the precision, innovation and patient-first mindset that guide every procedure we perform at Meritus Medical Center.” Meritus’ achievements are based solely on what matters most: patient outcomes. Each year, Healthgrades evaluates risk-adjusted mortality and complication rates for over 30 common conditions and procedures at approximately 4,500 hospitals nationwide to identify the top hospitals in key specialty areas, including surgical care, hip fracture treatment, spinal fusion surgery, respiratory failure treatment, and diabetic hospitalizations. Through easy-to-understand, objective measures of hospital performance, Healthgrades empowers patients with the information they need to find a hospital that excels in their procedure or condition. As performance gaps persist between the nation’s highest- and lowest-achieving facilities, seeking care at a top program has never been more important. Healthgrades’ 2026 analysis revealed that if all hospitals, as a group, performed similarly to five-star hospitals during the 2022-2024 study period, on average, 230,466 lives could have been saved and 156,797 complications could have been avoided.* “Healthgrades’ specialty awards identify the nation’s top-performing hospitals in key service areas, helping consumers find high quality care tailored to their specific needs,” said Alana Biggers, M.D., MPH, medical advisor at Healthgrades. “We’re proud to recognize Meritus Medical Center for its consistently superior outcomes in key service areas, including surgical care, hip fracture treatment, spinal fusion surgery, respiratory failure treatment, and diabetic hospitalizations.” Consumers can visit Healthgrades’ Specialty Excellence Patient Advocate Center to learn more about how Healthgrades identifies the top-performing hospitals for specialty care. *Statistics are based on Healthgrades analysis of MedPAR data for years 2022 through 2024 and represent three-year estimates for Medicare patients only. Click here to view the complete 2026 Specialty Awards and Ratings Methodology.
NEWS & UPDATES
Meritus had an average of 19 applicants per job opening in FY '25
High minimum wage, strong employee recognition and benefits programs a factor in people wanting to work at the health system. Meritus Health is known as a top employer in healthcare in the state of Maryland, and recent statistics show that people want to work here. Meritus, the largest private employer in Western Maryland, has more than 4,000 team members spread across Meritus Medical Center, Meritus Medical Group, Brook Lane Health System and the Meritus School of Osteopathic Medicine. In fiscal year 2025, the health system received an average of 19 applications for every one job opening, said Scott Salzetti, vice president of Team Member Services. “We are pleased to be such a prominent employer in the region,” Salzetti said. “We had more than 37,000 applications for positions in the health system including team leaders, clinical staff and other roles.” The health system, Washington County’s only integrated health system, is also in the process of raising its minimum wage to $20 per hour by 2027. So far, pay has been increased to at least $18 per hour for all employees. Meritus has also been recognized several times by Forbes as a Best-in-State Employer, and most recently was named to Forbes’ America’s Best Employers for Healthcare Professionals 2025. And Meritus took honors for its Employee Recognition Program and Benefits Program in the annual Tri State’s Best Community’s Choice Awards, which are chosen by public nomination and voting. To learn more about career possibilities at Meritus Health, please visit www.meritushealth.com/careers.
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The power of early detection: Why mammograms save lives
Breast cancer remains one of the most common cancers among women worldwide, but when caught early, it is also one of the most treatable. The simplest and most effective way to detect it early? A mammogram. A mammogram is a low-dose X-ray of the breast used to look for early signs of cancer, often before symptoms develop. The process is quick, typically lasting about 20 minutes, and while it may be slightly uncomfortable, it’s not usually painful. A radiologist examines the X-ray images for any abnormalities, such as lumps or microcalcifications, that may indicate the presence of cancer. “A mammogram can find cancer years before you can feel a lump,” said Ann-Marie Hugh, M.D., medical director for the Meritus Center for Breast Health. “That window of early detection often makes the difference between a simple lumpectomy and more extensive surgery or even months of chemotherapy. It can truly be lifesaving.” Dr. Hugh recommends that women with an average risk of breast cancer begin screening mammograms at age 40, though those with a family history of breast or ovarian cancer should discuss earlier screening with their healthcare provider. Despite the benefits, some women avoid mammograms due to fear, discomfort or misconceptions. Common myths, such as the idea that radiation exposure is dangerous or that only women with symptoms need screening, can discourage people from scheduling their exams. In reality, the radiation from a mammogram is minimal, about the same as what you would receive from your natural environment over a few months. And since early breast cancers rarely cause pain or noticeable lumps, waiting for symptoms could mean detecting the disease at a more advanced stage. “I always tell my patients: The few seconds of discomfort during a mammogram are worth the peace of mind, and potentially, your life,” Dr. Hugh said. Breast Cancer Awareness Month serves as a reminder not just to wear pink, but to act. Encourage your loved ones to schedule their screening mammograms, support local awareness events, and learn your personal risk factors. For many women, a mammogram offers reassurance. For others, it provides a lifesaving early diagnosis. From prevention and screening to diagnostics, treatment and recovery, Meritus Center for Breast Health offers a comprehensive approach to breast health, including treatment of breast cancer, lumps, pain and cysts as well as providing high risk assessments. To learn more about the Meritus Center for Breast Health, please visit www.meritushealth.com/BreastHealth.
MSOM scholarships funded by CareFirst BlueCross BlueShield grant
The Meritus School of Osteopathic Medicine announced that CareFirst BlueCross BlueShield (CareFirst) has awarded the school a $400,000 grant to support student scholarships. The Long-Term Programmatic grant will provide $100,000 annually through 2027, funding four partial scholarships for the 2026-2027 academic year. Scholarship recipients will be selected based on merit, including academic performance and MCAT scores. “Meritus Health’s goal in creating the Meritus School of Osteopathic Medicine is to fill the need for physicians in our region and across the state,” said Brian Kessler, D.O., dean of MSOM. “Studies show that physicians tend to set up practice within 100 miles of where they’ve trained, so these scholarships provided by CareFirst are helping us meet our goal.” “Education is a powerful tool and a significant driver of better health outcomes,” said Dr. Bryan O. Buckley, Head of Public Health at CareFirst. “By partnering with Meritus, we’re investing in the next generation of clinical professionals to meet the growing need for physicians across our region and state. Many of these students will bring their knowledge and passion back to our communities — contributing to a stronger, more responsive healthcare system.” MSOM welcomed its inaugural class of more than 90 students, the class of 2029, in July. Future classes will number 180 students, meaning there will be 720 future doctors enrolled when MSOM is at capacity. Students are instructed by experienced and well-trained professors in the D.M. Bowman Academic Hall on the Meritus Health campus near Hagerstown. In addition, students are housed in one- and two-bedroom units in the Meritus Commons housing complex, adjacent to the campus.
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