About MedStar Good Samaritan Hospital

April 2016 MedStar Good Samaritan Hospital opened the newly renovated Center for Successful Aging, a 5,000-square-foot geriatric center to treat patients with chronic age-related conditions. The facility is ADA-compliant, handicapped accessible and fully equipped with an onsite lab. The geriatric experts specialize in arthritis, depression, diabetes, dementia, and other behavioral changes, as well as falls, balance, caregiver support, and end-of-life issues.

July 2015 MedStar Good Samaritan Hospital was recognized by U.S. News & World Report as one of the best hospitals in the Baltimore region for nephrology and gastroenterology/GI surgery in July of 2015. The hospital also received a high performance rating for knee replacement.

July 2015 Bradley S. Chambers is named the new President of MedStar Good Samaritan Hospital, replacing outgoing President Jeffrey A. Matton. Chambers also serves as president of MedStar Union Memorial Hospital.

June 2015 MedStar Good Samaritan Hospital (as part of MedStar’s Baltimore Region Cancer Network) was granted Three-Year Accreditation with Commendation from the Commission on Cancer (CoC) of the American College of Surgeons (ACoS) in June of 2015.

May 2015 MedStar Good Samaritan Hospital received the 2015 “Partner for Change” award by Practice Greenhealth in May of 2015 for its commitment to environmental sustainability and was recognized for its sustainable garden initiatives.

May 2014 The Mid-Atlantic Renal Coalition designates MedStar Good Samaritan Hospital's renal dialysis program as a 5 Diamond Facility for the second time based on its commitment to creating a culture of safety as well as increasing safety education and awareness for renal patients.

February 2014 The American Heart Association recognizes MedStar Good Samaritan Hospital as a Gold level Fit-Friendly Company for its work in developing an organizational culture that promotes physical activity in the workplace and implements physical, nutritional and cultural changes for a healthier organization.

October 2013 Baltimore Magazine announces the Top Doc winners for its peer-nominated survey of the region’s best and brightest physicians. MedStar Good Samaritan is honored to have the following physicians recognized for their contributions to providing the safest quality care and service to patients:

MedStar Good Samaritan Hospital is recognized by one of the top healthcare ranking organizations in the country as a Top 50 Hospital and a Top 100 Hospital for gastrointestinal care and pulmonary care. These rankings are a result of data collected from 4,500 hospitals nationwide and include a review of clinical outcomes of 31 of the most common procedures and diagnoses.

July 2013 MedStar Good Samaritan Hospital has been named a top hospital in Maryland and in the Baltimore metro area by U.S. News & World Report, receiving high performance ratings in eight specialty areas including diabetes and endocrinology; gastroenterology and GI surgery; geriatrics; nephrology; neurology and neurosurgery; orthopedics; pulmonology; and urology.

May 2013 The Intersocietal Accreditation Commission (IAC) awards the cardiology department at MedStar Good Samaritan Hospital re-accreditation for the next 3 years. This honor recognizes MedStar Good Samaritan's accreditation in three areas of echocardiography: adult transthoracic echo, adult transesophageal echo, and adult stress echo.

April 2013 The inpatient rehabilitation and stroke specialty programs at MedStar Good Samaritan Hospital received another 3-year accreditation from CARF International (Commission on Accreditation of Rehabilitation Facilities). The survey conducted by CARF noted a number of aspects of the program including commitment and mutual respect among staff members and patients, well-deserved reputation for providing quality rehabilitation services, and the number of certified rehab nurses.

MedStar Good Samaritan Hospital and MedStar Union Memorial Hospital are both honored with the 2013 Partner for Change Award from Practice Greenhealth, a national membership organization for healthcare facilities committed to environmentally responsible operations. The award is an environmental excellence award, given each year to honor outstanding environmental achievements in the healthcare sector. The Partner for Change Award recognizes healthcare facilities that have established environmental programs and continuously improve and expand upon these programs on the path to sustainability.

February 2013 The Mid-Atlantic Renal Coalition designates MedStar Good Samaritan Hospital's renal dialysis program as a 5 Diamond Facility based on its commitment to creating a culture of safety as well as increasing safety education and awareness for renal patients.

January 2013 Dr. Mesfin Lemma, MedStar Good Samaritan Hospital spine surgeon, receives recognition in Becker's Spine Review as one of the "102 surgeons who have made significant contributions to the field of spine surgery through research, innovation, or leadership positions."

November 2012 U.S. News & World Report ranks MedStar Good Samaritan Hospital as a high-performing hospital in the Baltimore Region for nine specialties including cancer, diabetes & endocrinology, gastroenterology, geriatrics, nephrology, neurology & neurosurgery, orthopedics, pulmonology, and urology.

Baltimore Magazine's annual "Top Doctors" ranking highlights nine physicians from MedStar Good Samaritan Hospital including Cengiz Aygun, MD (Radiation Oncology); David Coll, MD (Vascular Surgery); Paul Fowler, MD (Radiation Oncology); Peter Holt, MD (Rheumatology); John Mitcherling, DDS (Oral/Maxillofacial Surgery); Steve Petersen, MD (Orthopedic Surgery); Jonathan Rubenstein, MD (Urology); Elias Shaya, MD (Psychiatry); and Alan Shikani, MD (ENT).

October 2012 The Joint Commission certifies MedStar Good Samaritan Hospital for both their hip and knee replacement programs and re-certified them in September 2015.

September 2012 MedStar Good Samaritan Hospital is honored as a 2012 winner of the Delmarva Foundation for Medical Care Excellence Award for Quality Improvement in Hospitals.

MedStar Health was once again named a "Best Place to Work" by the Baltimore Business Journal in the Best Large Business (500+ employees) category. MedStar Health was honored for its work-life balance and for opportunities that associates have to advance their career.

July 2012 U.S. News & World Report honors MedStar Good Samaritan Hospital in its annual Best Hospitals rankings. Fewer than 150 of the nation's roughly 5,000 hospitals are ranked in at least one of 16 medical specialties. The rest of the recognized hospitals met a standard of performance nearly as demanding in one or more specialties.

MedStar Good Samaritan Hospital ranked regionally by U.S. News & World Report as high-performing in:

• Cancer

• Diabetes & Endocrinology

• Gastroenterology

• Geriatrics

• Nephrology

• Neurology & Neurosurgery

• Orthopedics

• Pulmonology

• Urology

MedStar Good Samaritan Hospital was once again named one of the "Most Wired" hospitals in the nation by Hospitals & Health Networks (H&HN) magazine. This distinction is based on a hospital success in information technology planning and implementation.

May 2012 U.S. News & World Report honors MedStar Good Samaritan Nursing Center as a top ranked nursing home in the 2012 list of Best Nursing Homes. A facility's overall rating is geared to its performance on health inspections, nurse staffing and medical care. MedStar Good Samaritan Nursing Center received the highest possible rating with 5-STARS.

February 2011 For the second year in a row, The Cancer Center at MedStar Good Samaritan Hospital received a donation of funds from the Baltimore Women's Classic, a grassroots, non-profit organization that assists local women undergoing treatment for gynecological cancers. This money was donated to the Patient Assistant Fund, which helps gynecological cancer patients with treatment expenses such as transportation, medication, co-pays, and other related needs.

December 2011 MedStar Good Samaritan Hospital received the 2011 Trailblazer Award from the Maryland Hospitals for a Healthy Environment at the Environmental Excellence in Health Care conference. This award goes to hospitals that serve as models for other hospitals and have demonstrated leadership in advancing sustainability. MedStar Good Samaritan was recognized for its Grown for Good Garden project, an employee/community vegetable garden that grows food, which is donated to local food programs throughout the year.

November 2011 MedStar Good Samaritan Hospital's stroke program receives the Stroke Silver Plus Quality Achievement Award from the American Heart Association/American Stroke Association for its commitment and success in implementing a higher standard of stroke care.

September 2011 MedStar Good Samaritan Hospital is recognized as a 2011 winner of the Delmarva Foundation for Medical Care Excellence Award for Quality Improvement in Hospitals. This award recognizes individual hospital performance improvement in four national inpatient clinical areas.

MedStar Health was once again named a "Best Place to Work" by the Baltimore Business Journal. MedStar Health was ranked in the Best Large Business [500 or more employees] category, receiving the highest ranking among the five finalists for this category.

August 2011 MedStar Good Samaritan Hospital's Green for Good team completes the construction of its Grown for Good garden on the hospital campus. The employee/community garden will be used to grow vegetables throughout the year, which will then be donated to local food programs such as Our Daily Bread.

June 2011 The American College of Surgeons awards the oncology program at MedStar Good Samaritan Hospital accreditation with a 3-year commendation.

April 2011 MedStar Good Samaritan Hospital was honored with a #4 ranking among the best regional hospitals by U.S. News & World Report magazine. This ranking was based on MedStar Good Samaritan's three nationally ranked specialties [orthopedics, geriatrics, and gastroenterology] as well as the number of other specialties [six] in which we were considered in the top 25% nationally.

MedStar Good Samaritan Hospital was named Studer Group's Health Care Organization of the Month with emphasis on our ability to achieve and maintain operational and service excellence.

Practice Greenhealth awarded their Partner for Change honor to MedStar Good Samaritan Hospital for its initiatives and hard work in protecting the environment through its own operations and business practices.

March 2011 The Hyperbaric Medicine and Wound Healing Center at MedStar Good Samaritan Hospital was honored with the "Best in Our Region" award at the National Healing Annual Meeting for clinical outcomes including highest heal rates and short time to heal rates. The center also received the "Front Runner" award for continued growth for the second time.

MedStar Good Samaritan Hospital received a Partner for Change Award at the 2011 Environmental Excellence Awards ceremony at CleanMed. This award is given each year to honor outstanding environmental achievements in the healthcare sector.

July 2010 For the second year in a row, MedStar Good Samaritan Hospital earned the Delmarva Foundation Excellence Award for Quality Improvement from the Delmarva Foundation for Medical Care, the Medicare Quality Improvement Organization for Maryland.

July 2010 MedStar Good Samaritan Hospital is ranked in the Top 50 in gastroenterology, geriatrics, and orthopaedics in U.S. News & World Report's 2010-11 Best Hospitals. For the sixth time, MedStar Health is named one of the nation's "Most Wired" Health Systems for 2010 in an annual study conducted by Hospitals and Health Networks.

May 2010 The Cancer Care program at MedStar Good Samaritan Hospital receives a certificate of approval with commendation from the Commission on Cancer. The Comprehensive and Stroke Specialty Rehabilitation program at MedStar Good Samaritan Hospital receives accreditation from the Commission on Accreditation of Rehabilitation Facilities [CARF].

March 2010 The Hyperbaric Medicine and Wound Healing Center at MedStar Good Samaritan Hospital is honored with the Front Runner Award from the National Healing Corporation [NHC] for its efforts in maximizing resources to meet the needs of local communities.

The Radiology program at MedStar Good Samaritan Hospital receives accreditation for digital mammography from the American College of Radiology's Committee on Mammography.

January 2010 Jeffrey A. Matton is named the new President of MedStar Good Samaritan Hospital, replacing outgoing President Larry Beck. Matton has served as senior vice president and chief operating officer since 2006.

November 2009 The Delmarva Foundation for Medical Care, the Medicare Quality Improvement Organization for Maryland, awards the 2009 Delmarva Foundation Excellence Award for Quality Improvement to MedStar Good Samaritan Hospital.

The newly renovated O'Neill 4 unit opens at MedStar Good Samaritan Hospital. Designed for exceptional patient care, the unit includes a negative pressure room for patients on airborne precautions as well as two rooms designed for treating bariatric patients.

October 2009 Renovation is completed for new O'Neill 4 unit, which cares for medical and surgical patients utilizing the latest in technology and design.

September 2009 MedStar Good Samaritan Hospital receives the Bronze Performance Achievement Award from the American Stroke Association for its exceptional care provided to stroke patients. MedStar Health is named as a "Best Place to Work" by the Baltimore Business Journal.

August 2009 MedStar Good Samaritan Hospital receives 2009 Quality Excellence Award from the Delmarva Foundation for Medical Care, the Medicare Quality Improvement Organization for Maryland.

July 2009 MedStar Good Samaritan Hospital is named one of America's Best Hospitals by U.S. News & World Report.

March 2009 Dana Frank, MD is named the chair of the department of medicine at MedStar Good Samaritan Hospital.

September 2008 The professional office building was renamed The Dr. J. Walter & Patricia K. Smyth Building.

August 2008 Dale Buchbinder, MD is named chair of the department of surgery at MedStar Good Samaritan Hospital.

February 2008 The National Burn Reconstruction Center at MedStar Good Samaritan Hospital opens, under the leadership of medical director Robert Spence, MD, world-renowned plastic surgeon. The center offers comprehensive services from before surgery through rehabilitation.

January 2008 MedStar Good Samaritan Hospital Auxiliary celebrates its 35th Anniversary. The auxiliary is an integral part of the hospital's fund-raising efforts.

April 2007 Since this time, MedStar Good Samaritan Hospital has been a Primary Stroke Center and was re-certified in August 2015.

March 2007 The hospital receives a Best Practices Honor from the American Psychological Association for its employee opinion survey that generated a 98 percent response rate from its employees. The hospital conducts regular employee opinion surveys and translates the feedback into actionable steps to improve the workplace, one of the components of a healthy workplace.

October 2006 MedStar Good Samaritan Hospital is awarded the Psychologically Healthy Workplace Award by the Maryland Psychological Association. This honor recognizes that a commitment to the well-being of the hospital's employees is present.

April 2006 The American Stroke Association names MedStar Good Samaritan Hospital an official Get With The Guidelines – Stroke Participating Hospital for its commitment to following stroke guidelines that provide the best possible care to patients.

January 2006 O'Neill 3 opens, followed by JointExperience, an innovative patient care program for joint replacement patients, in March 2006. The new 32-bed, 20,000-square-foot orthopedic unit was especially designed to provide a comforting and welcome environment to patients having joint replacement surgery.

June 2005 MedStar Good Samaritan Hospital expands its Sleep Center program. This quieter, more homelike facility reduces wait times for patients and physicians.

The hospital opens a kidney dialysis program in the Lorien Frankford Nursing Home.

The American Heart Association names MedStar Good Samaritan as a participating hospital in the Get With The Guidelines—Coronary Artery Disease program.

September 2004 MedStar Good Samaritan Hospital performs its first ever world-wide webcast of a hip replacement implant procedure.

August 2004 A new Good Health Center opens. The new center includes: a fitness center with the latest exercise equipment, eight examination rooms, a 70-seat conference room, a one-stop registration area, and a public health space designed for flu shots and preventive services.

June 2003 The hospital receives a grant from the Abell Foundation. A nursing program is opened for people who are interested in entering the nursing field and for current nurses who want to increase their skills.

Woodbourne Woods opened in 2003, offering independent living services and long-term care for seniors.

April 2003 The Harry and Jeanette Weinberg Emergency Department at MedStar Good Samaritan Hospital is unveiled. This facility includes a pediatric room, 16 cardiac-monitored treatment rooms, two parking garages, two gynecological rooms, and various other features. It combines state-of-the-art technology and services with a patient-friendly environment.

MedStar Good Samaritan Hospital establishes its first partnership with the College of Notre Dame of Maryland for a new nursing program. Under the new agreement, students will attend classes at MedStar Good Samaritan Hospital.

July 1998 The Helix and Medlantic Systems merge to offer quality care and enhanced services to more communities throughout the region. As a result, all of our patients have access to some of the best health caregivers and specialists in the country.

The hospital introduces a hospitalist program as a complement to its existing patient care services. Hospitalists are physicians who work full-time at the hospital to care for patients. As a result, they are able to provide a more intensive and personal level of care for each patient.

With an eye toward our growing community, we establish good relationships with local churches, schools, nursing homes, senior and community organizations, businesses, and more...to help us to better understand how we can provide our neighbors with good service and the best of care.

April 1998 The hospital initiates a FastER Care program in the ER for minor emergencies. FastER Care is designed to help those with less demanding diagnoses be seen, treated, and released in as timely a manner as possible.

May 1997 The Dr. Anthony J. Costa Support Services Program is established to help those who are coping with a diagnosis of cancer, arthritis, or lupus, or other related illnesses. A resource-referral room is established for patients and their loved ones.

With our neighboring families in mind, the hospital adds a host of family-oriented health care services: OB/GYN, pediatric, and geriatric practices are now on campus.

July 1994 Larry Beck is named the new president of MedStar Good Samaritan Hospital. He has served as executive vice president since 1990.

April 1994 MedStar Good Samaritan Hospital joins Helix Health, a network of local hospitals that includes MedStar Union Memorial Hospital and MedStar Franklin Square Medical Center. Over the next 2 years, Helix will expand to include Church and MedStar Harbor Hospitals, both in Baltimore City. In addition, Helix will become affiliated with the Medlantic Health System to provide health services to those in the Baltimore-Washington corridor…so that we're caring for more neighbors than ever before.

September 1992 The MedStar Good Samaritan Good Health Center makes its debut. The Good Health Center exists to provide preventive medicine screenings, services and programs to our community throughout the year. Since its inception, the Good Health Center has helped thousands of our neighbors lead healthier, happier lives…because good health begins with good information.

June 1992 Our 147-bed Nursing Center opens on the campus of MedStar Good Samaritan to provide skilled nursing care to community long-term care patients.

October 1991 MedStar Good Samaritan opens its state-of-the-art ER, to ensure that those in our community can receive good care, fast…especially in an emergency.

December 1990 Dr. Mary Betty Stevens, director of rheumatology at MedStar Good Samaritan Hospital, receives the Distinguished Rheumatologist Award at the American College of Rheumatology Annual Scientific Meeting.

June 1990 Belvedere Green, a 94-unit apartment complex, is opened on campus. The Green provides independent living facilities for seniors in a safe, comfortable, healthy environment, with easy access to the hospital's full range of care and support services.

May 1990 MedStar Good Samaritan Hospital introduces its first physician referral telephone line that is free to the public.

March 1990 The MedStar Good Samaritan Hospital Child Day Care Center opens, becoming the first employee-sponsored child care facility in Baltimore City. The center provides full- or part-time care for the children of employees, ages two to five. Recently, the center was named one of the best-run child care centers in the region by Baltimore Magazine.

October 1989 A second professional office building has been added to provide space for our growing number of primary care physicians and specialists. This building, which houses nearly 100 physicians, is named in honor of Russell H. Morgan, a world-renowned radiologist who was instrumental in providing guidance and direction in the development of MedStar Good Samaritan Hospital.

Belvedere Green opened in 1989, offering independent living services and long-term care for seniors.

December 1983 The hospital adds a new professional office building, which houses more than 70 community physicians, making it easier than ever for our neighbors to access our care.

March 1979 MedStar Good Samaritan sponsors its first community health event. Health Encounters is a 2-day health fair that draws more than 600 of our neighbors.

October 1977 Dr. Mary Betty Stevens, MedStar Good Samaritan's nationally renowned director of rheumatology, receives a $348,000 grant to create the multi-disciplinary Arthritis Center. The Arthritis Center, under the guidance of Dr. Stevens, will pioneer research and treatment related to connective tissue diseases, and will provide patient care, as well as training for young professionals.

April 1975 The hospital's first frozen blood program begins operations.

March 1975 MedStar Good Samaritan Hospital's medical library opens its doors.

June 1974 MedStar Good Samaritan signs a formal agreement of affiliation with the Johns Hopkins School of Medicine, which allows Hopkins to continue to provide and train physicians in rehabilitation medicine and reconstructive orthopedics. Under the new agreement, community doctors are allowed to practice at MedStar Good Samaritan.

February 1973 The hospital's Auxiliary is formed, as 14 enthusiastic hospital volunteers band to dedicate themselves to serving the hospital's patients, staff and community-at-large. Today, the MedStar Good Samaritan Auxiliary is nearly 250 members strong and has raised a total of more than $2.5 million for the hospital through its ongoing fundraisers and activities.

September 1971 Maryland's first arthroscopy is performed in the operating room at MedStar Good Samaritan Hospital.

July 1971 The hospital's first total hip replacement is performed.

June 1971 MedStar Good Samaritan is accredited by the Council on Accreditation of Rehabilitation Facilities (CARF) for a period of 3 years. Established in conjunction with the Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, our rehab program – as well as our orthopedic and rheumatology programs – are fast becoming the best in the country.

July 1970 The operating room at MedStar Good Samaritan Hospital opens.

June 1970 The MedStar Good Samaritan Hospital renal dialysis unit is dedicated. The unit opens under the direction of Dr. Gordon Walker and Dr. C. Robert Cooke and is the largest dialysis unit in Maryland.

May 1970 Unit Dose System is publicized in American Journal of Hospital Pharmacy.

February 1969 The Volunteer program at MedStar Good Samaritan Hospital is organized.

November 1968 The first patients arrive at MedStar Good Samaritan Hospital.

September 1968 Dedication ceremonies are held at the MedStar Good Samaritan Hospital. More than 800 neighbors attend the celebration, which includes a special dedication mass celebrated by Cardinal Shehan, after which he presided over the laying of the hospital's cornerstone.

Those present include Mother Saint Urban, President of the Congregation of the Sisters of Bon Secours, who first ran the hospital. Since the hospital's medical staff originally consisted only of physicians with appointments at Johns Hopkins, the presidents of Johns Hopkins University and Hospital were also in attendance.

March 1965 Ground is broken on the 14-acre site purchased at the intersection of Loch Raven Boulevard and Belvedere Avenue, where the hospital stands today.

1962 In one of his first major acts after being ordained Archbishop of Baltimore, Cardinal Shehan initiates plans to begin construction of MedStar Good Samaritan as a Catholic Hospital.

April 1919 Local merchant and philanthropist Thomas J. O'Neill dies suddenly of a heart condition. In his will, he bequeaths money for the construction of the Cathedral of Mary Our Queen, as well as a hospital. He requested that the hospital not be named after him, so the name 'Good Samaritan' was chosen in his honor.