Mary Washington Hospital at Yellow Status for Flu

The emergency departments report seeing more flu patients in the last 30 days.

Mary Washington Hospital Center (MWHC) has seen a 15 percent increase in flu patients at its three emergency departments within the last 30 days, Debbie McInnis, director of Public Relations, told Patch. The hospital has a flu policy and plan in place. "We follow the latest flu information from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and the Virginia Department of Health to assist us in making decisions relative to where we are in the plan," McInnis said.  "The latest flu information from the CDC and the Virginia Department of Health indicates flu in the Fredericksburg region is quickly becoming widespread," she said.  The hospital has moved to 'yellow status' to help protect patients, visitors and associates. "When we are in …

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Mary Washington Hospital Executive Says Supreme Court Decision Neither Good Nor Bad For Hospitals

Fred M. Rankin said the political side to the Supreme Court's decision will rage on for years and the ruling doesn't really settle questions about the future of health insurance reform.

Fred M. Rankin III, president and chief executive officer of Mary Washington Healthcare, said today's Supreme Court decision to uphold the Affordable Care Act is neither good nor bad for hospitals and does little to settle questions about the future of health insurance reform from a political perspective. The biggest part of the decision was upholding the mandate that all Americans buy health insurance or they could be fined, which is expected to go into effect in 2014. Five justices did not vote in favor of allowing Congress to regulate commerce between states to require everyone to buy insurance, but five of them did approve a provision that the penalty people will have to pay for refusing to get insurance is similar to a tax that …

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Green and Simple: A Guide to Summer Skin Safety

As you head out to the garden, coast along the bike trail, bask on the beach, or perch on the bleachers at a ball game, make sure that you’re covered -- your skin, that is.

Although summer is not yet here, it would be hard to convince most plants, animals and people that it is not, except for the kids who are still in school.   I saw my first firefly last night, ripe strawberries in a school garden today, and then there are warmer-than-usual temperatures. Regardless of how you feel about it, we are bound to see more summer-like days in the coming weeks, even before the summer solstice on June 20, which happens to be the last day of school for most Alexandria City Public School students. So, as you head out to the garden, coast along the bike trail, bask on the beach, soak up the sun at the pool at Dixon Park or perch on the bleachers at a ball game, make sure that you’re covered. Last year I wrote about my …

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Free Skin Cancer Screenings

Appointments must be made in advanced to get free screening.

WHAT: Free Skin Cancer Screenings WHEN: Tuesday, May 1, 2012, 8:30 – 10:30 a.m. WHERE: Horizon Plastic Surgery and Dermatology, 1101 Sam Perry Blvd. Suite 121, Fredericksburg, VA 22401 COST: FREE REGISTRATION:  Appointments required, space limited. Call 540.741.1404 Dr. Theresa Conalogue, board-certified dermatologist, is offering free skin cancer screenings. Registration is necessary for this vital screening. Find out if you are at risk for skin cancer.

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Mary Washington Hospital Erects New Signs

The new signs will give the hospital more visibility and help non-local patrons find their way around the campus.

Mary Washington Hospital is getting new signage for its entrances. This new sign is by the CVS off U.S. 1. More signs are going up for the entrance by Cowan Boulevard and Mary Washington Boulevard, which will help motorists navigate to the numerous medical facilities on that campus. All of the new signs should be up within three weeks and give the hospital much more prominence and visibility.

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Spotsy Regional Medical Center Campaigns For City Patients

Spotsylvania Regional Medical Center embarked on a mailing campaign to convince Fredericksburg residents to force change so that they can choose to which hospital they want an ambulance to deliver them.

Spotsylvania Regional Medical Center (SRMC) is playing hardball for Fredericksburg patients. The for-profit, HCA-owned hospital has sent thousands of mailers to Fredericksburg residents urging them to contact Fire Chief Edwin Allen to tell him that city EMS squads should give patients a choice to come to Spotsylvania Regional Medical Center. "You should have the right to choose," the flier states in bold blue letters at the top. But the big question is could such a change in policy potentially put city residents at risk? Fredericksburg Fire Department spokesman Mike Jones said the policy is to take city patients to the closest hospital and that is Mary Washington Hospital. To take a patient to SRMC could take much more time and keep units …

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Spotsy Regional Medical Center Gets Award

The Washington Regional Transplant Community awarded Spotsylvania Regional Medical Center the Leslie Ebert Synergy for Life Award.

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Stafford Hospital's Imaging Gets Full Accreditation

The American College of Radiology accredited the hospital last month.

All of Stafford Hospital's imaging services are now fully accredited by the American College of Radiology. The accreditation is for nuclear medicine, computed tomography (CT), magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), ultrasound (sonography) and mammography. The feat is a major one for the 3-year-old hospital. “The process of submitting the applications for accreditation in each modality is a very rigorous endeavor, and our team was committed to achieving accreditation in just six months,” says Donna Morris, administrative director of Hospital Imaging Services. “Our goal is to always provide superior quality imaging by highly trained professionals, keep radiation dose as low as reasonably achievable, and provide services that are safe and customer…

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Promoting Healthy Hearts With A Lofty Prevention Goal

The Rappahannock Medical Reserve Corps is supporting the Million Hearts Initiative to prevent heart attacks and strokes.

The Rappahannock Medical Reserve Corps will partner with the Million Hearts initiative that has a goal to prevent 1 million heart attacks and stokes over the next five years. This partnership will promote ways to identify people at risk of cardiac arrest and ensure they get the proper treatment and reduce the need for blood pressure and cholesterol medicines. The partnership will also promote ways people can live healthier lives through diet and exercise, while supporting smoke-free lifestyles and environments. “The Rappahannock MRC unit enthusiastically supports Million Hearts™ as a national effort to fight heart disease and stroke,” said Colleen Hopkins, Rappahannock MRC unit leader. “Our MRC unit is promoting the Million Hearts™ …

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