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MERITUS STORIES
John R. Marsh Cancer Center volunteer brings smile amid sadness
Volunteering in a cancer center is not an easy job. “You have to have a lot of compassion,” said Reba Cole, who has volunteered at Meritus Medical Center for nine years, most of them at the John R. Marsh Cancer Center. “You have to be able to deal with patients and know that you’re probably going to lose some of them.” Cole said she’s seen volunteers last only a few days at the cancer center because the emotions of the job took too much of a toll. But for the right person, volunteering at the cancer center can be rewarding, she said. “There’s a patient here who always calls me her angel,” Cole said. “I believe a smile goes a long way.” Cole had worked for Bechtel construction services for 38 years before retiring. But shortly after her retirement, she began to feel depressed. Her grandson was a volunteer in the Meritus Medical Center gift shop and suggested she try doing the same thing. Cole started at the health system’s Repeat Performance Thrift store, but it wasn’t a good fit. The director of volunteer services at the time thought she’d do well at the cancer center. Her duties include providing warm blankets and snacks to patients and visitors and helping nurses with anything they might need. She also cleans the room once a patient leaves to make it ready for the next patient. She also speaks to patients. “Many are scared and don’t want to talk,” Cole said in a gentle voice. “But I try to bring them out of their sadness and get them to talk.” Part of her success might be her own experience. She said she had a rough upbringing as a foster child. She lost her stepdaughter to cancer. She lost her husband to Covid. “You have to be able to separate yourself from the situation,” she said. “You have to be there for them.” For those thinking about volunteering for Meritus, Cole said it’s something you can do, especially when you’re older or retired, like her. “It’s a way of giving back,” she said. To learn more about volunteering at Meritus Health, visit www.meritushealth.com/volunteers, or call 301-790-8143.
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Brook Lane offers psychological testing for youth, adolescents
The service responds to a regional need for access to testing HAGERSTOWN, Md. — Two Brook Lane outpatient offices are now offering psychological testing of young people. “Brook Lane is responding to a regional need for psychological testing of children and adolescents,” said Emmet Burke, Ph.D., J.D., a Brook Lane psychologist. “Testing has required travel, and waiting lists are typically a year or longer.” Testing is available at the Brook Lane Cumberland Outpatient office on West Industrial Boulevard in Cumberland, Md., and the Brook Lane Thrive Outpatient office in North Village off Longmeadow Road near Maugans Avenue north of Hagerstown. The testing is administered by a licensed clinical psychologist to assess for: Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) Intellectual deficits Various mood, anxiety and behavioral concerns Psychological testing uses standardized assessments to evaluate a person’s behavior and provide a deeper, comprehensive understanding of their strengths and weaknesses. “Assessment for autism, attention deficit hyperactivity disorder, intellectual disability, depression or anxiety is the first step to effective treatment for children and teens,” Dr. Burke said. Brook Lane uses a three-step process for psychological testing. First, the psychologist will meet with the child and their parent/caregiver for a clinical interview to gather background information and presenting symptoms. This appointment lasts for approximately one hour. If the psychologist determines that testing is necessary, a second appointment is scheduled for the testing, during which standardized assessments are administered. If insurance requires pre-authorization, this will be submitted after the first appointment and testing will be scheduled once approval is obtained. This appointment can last for two to three hours. As part of the testing process, parents and teachers will also be asked to complete standardized questionnaires to obtain more information about the child’s behavior across settings. The final step is a one-hour appointment to discuss the testing results and recommendations. The psychologist provides a comprehensive report detailing the results and diagnosis to be shared with other professionals and providers. Those with concerns about their child’s daily functioning and the possibility of autism or ADHD might consider psychological testing at Brook Lane. ### 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.
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Advance directives let you speak for yourself when you aren’t able to
It’s a hard scenario to envision, but it’s something everyone should think about. What type of care and medical treatment do you want if you become unable to make decisions for yourself? A car crash or a sudden illness could leave you incapacitated and unable to speak. The best thing to do is to plan ahead, said Susan Lyons, nurse practitioner and supervisor of supportive and palliative care at Meritus Medical Center. April 16 is National Healthcare Decisions Day, a day to make, discuss and legally document future healthcare wishes and decisions in your advance care planning, also known as advance directives. This year, Meritus has set a goal of getting 250 new advance directives filed by Wednesday. “Meritus Health offers guidance and documents to help with this planning, and this is available to you at no charge,” Lyons said. Advance directive forms are broken into two sections. The first part allows you to designate a person to be your medical decision maker. “It’s called a healthcare agent, but you also might have heard it called a ‘medical proxy’ or a ‘medical power of attorney,’” Lyons said. “But it’s all the same thing.” She advises you select someone who understands your values, stays calm in crisis situations and speaks up to ask difficult questions. The second part is called a living will. “It speaks for you when you can’t speak for yourself,” Lyons said, “if you’re ever in a serious medical condition and the doctors think it is not survivable.” The document allows you to say what you value at the end of your life. “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. And we're obligated to honor your wishes.” A living will also allows you to dictate whether you stay in a hospital or return to your home. Either decision will mean a particular medical team to care for you. While returning home might remove unwanted and lengthy hospital stays, it could also mean support from a home hospice agency and round-the-clock supervision by family or friends. “It’s important to discuss these things with your loved ones,” Lyons said. “They’re not always easy decisions to make, but they do matter.” 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 provider. To learn more about advance directives or to find related documents, visit www.meritushealth.com/AdvanceDirectives.
Meritus earns top honors in 2025 Best of the Tristate awards
HAGERSTOWN, Md. — Meritus Health is proud to announce its practices and providers came in first place in numerous categories for the Verstandig Media’s Best of the Tristate 2025 awards. Meritus Medical Center was named Best Hospital in the annual voting competition, which is highly regarded throughout Maryland, West Virginia and Pennsylvania. It’s the fifth year in a row the hospital has earned the title. In addition to the hospital, Meritus physicians and practices were also winners for the following categories: • Best Plastic Surgeon: Salvatore DiMercurio, M.D.• Best Cardiology Office: Meritus Hagerstown Heart• Best Urgent Care: Meritus Urgent Care The health system’s providers and practices were named finalists for Best Cardiologist, Best General Surgeon, Best Physical Therapist, Best Nurse, Best Outpatient Surgery Center, Best Physical Rehabilitation Center, Best Physical Therapy and best Orthopedic Clinic. Also, Brook Lane Health Services, an affiliate of Meritus Health, was a finalist for Best Mental Health Services. “We are proud to receive these awards and finalist nominations because the votes come from our community and team members,” said Maulik Joshi, Dr.P.H., Meritus president and CEO. “Our mission is to improve the health of the community, and we continue to grow to meet that challenge by bringing expert care close to home.” To meet the growing need for mental health services, the health system worked with Brook Lane in 2023 to open the Meritus Mental Health Walk-in facility. Located at the Orange Entrance to the Robinwood Professional Center, the office is there for anyone age 6 and older who needs a mental healthcare provider. The health system, Washington County’s only integrated health system and one of the region’s largest employers, 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. “Every day, we put the patient at the center of all we do,” Joshi said. “It is gratifying to know that the tristate community recognizes our effort, and they should know that we will continue doing it.” ### 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.
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