At MedStar Harbor Hospital, we recognize that health plays an important role in building and sustaining vibrant and strong communities.
Based on our community health needs assessment conducted at MedStar Harbor, we have developed programs and services that address these priority areas.
Our work involves addressing chronic disease prevention and management for heart disease/stroke, cancer, diabetes, and obesity. We offer evidence-based courses that focus in on helping you manage chronic diseases such as hypertension, pain, diabetes, heart disease, and arthritis.
For behavioral health, we are partnering with the National Alliance of Mental Illness (NAMI) to deliver information on mental health conditions and resources available within our community. To curb deaths from opioid overdose, we are joining efforts with the Baltimore City Health Department in the quest to train as many people as possible to administer naloxone, a life-saving medication that rapidly reverses opioid overdose.
We also know that health is a complex interplay between multiple variables of physical, social, and economic factors. We are proud to work with a number of community-based organizations to alleviate barriers to improving health status, including addressing lack of access to healthy food, transportation, and job opportunities.
These initiatives collectively allow us to focus in on population health—the improvement of health outcomes for the residents and surrounding areas that we serve.
Community health needs assessment
Our Community Health Needs Assessment (CHNA) and three-year implementation strategy identify our hospital's community benefit service area, the most important health priorities, and activities with measurable outcomes. The CHNA uses a community-driven approach that supports the hospital in planning and carrying out community-based programming to more effectively handle the health needs of underserved and vulnerable populations.
Report to the community
Community Health Outreach Request
Thank you for considering MedStar Health as your community partner. We truly value the work of community-based organizations to build healthier communities.
If you would like our Community Health team to visit your organization, click here for more information.
Leadership team
Phyllis Gray, MS
Assistant Vice President, Care Transformation
MedStar Health, Baltimore Region
Lucas Carlson, MD
Medical Director, Care Transformation
MedStar Health, Baltimore Region
Wendy Zhang, DNP, FNP-BC, CCCTM
Regional Director, Community Health
MedStar Health, Baltimore Region
Kimberly Floyd MSN, RN, CCM
RN Regional Director, Care Transformation
MedStar Health, Baltimore Region
Samantha Sailsman, MS, CCHW
Regional Program Manager, Community Health
MedStar Health, Baltimore Region
Stanley Zheng, MHA
Regional Program Manager, Care Transformation
MedStar Health, Baltimore Region
Tracy Holcomb, MSN
RN Program Manager
Certified Diabetes Health Education Specialist
Population and Community Health
MedStar Health, Baltimore Region
MedStar Harbor Hospital’s 340B program
Congress created the 340B drug savings program to help those hospitals serving vulnerable communities expand access to prescription drugs and support essential services for their communities. The savings generated from the 340B drug discount program are used to help offer needed services to our community such as the ones described below.
Access to care for Vulnerable Populations
MedStar Health is committed to providing care to the communities we serve when they need it most. Hospitals provide pathways for financial assistance for individuals that are unable to afford their treatment services. MedStar Health also provides innovative approaches to support District of Columbia and Maryland health goals.
- Prescription assistance funding and assistance with accessing prescription medications for patients in need are available.
- Patient Financial Services provides financial assistance to uninsured patients who reside within the communities we serve by assisting with enrollment in publicly-funded entitlement programs, refer patients to state or federal insurance exchange navigator resources and assist with securing funding that may be available from other charitable organizations.
- Transportation in partnership with Uber, Medstar has created a convenient program with a reliable means of transportation for vulnerable patients to travel to and from medical appointments and health education activities.
- Physicians in the Community MedStar Health invests in physicians, nurses, specialists and other clinical leaders to provide services in the communities we serve.
Health and Wellness
MedStar Health outreach teams offers classes, events and activities to support a healthy body, mind and spirit. We also recognize that at-risk, high -needs individuals living in our communities need access to peer outreach, chronic disease management, screenings and prevention education.
- Chronic Disease Prevention & Management Programs are offered throughout the year at low or no cost to the participants to influence education, self-management and promote a living healthy.
- Living Well Self-Management Programs offers evidence based six-week workshops for adults who have long lasting health problems with ideas to help them take charge of their health and live active and enjoyable lives. Family members and caregivers are also welcome.
- Diabetes Prevention Programs offers evidence-based year-long programs to help community members prevent diabetes through life balance and weight management.
- Smoking Cessation Programs are offered to provide community members a forum increase awareness and the intention to quit among smokers
- Cancer Screenings MedStar Health recognizes the importance of early detection for cancer and has programs available for those who may not be able to afford these lifesaving screenings on their own. Our community outreach teams focus on empowering the community with information and screenings for the most common types of cancer in the communities we serve.
- Screening, Brief Intervention and Referral to Treatment (SBIRT) a universal screening program for screening and identification of substance use disorder; with a goal of providing referrals for substance abuse treatment. Peer Recovery Coaches provide brief intervention and referrals to community support services and treatment centers.
- The Opioid Overdose Survivor’s Outreach Project (OSOP) a field based initiative, statistics show that those who survive an opioid overdose have a 60% mortality rate unless they are actively engaged in treatment. MedStar Health sends peer recovery coaches in the field to see recent overdose survivors and link them to treatment services, naloxone trainings and provide a consistent point of contact should someone wish to enter care.
- Support Groups MedStar Health offers many support groups for caregivers and the community to support each other and promote health, independence, and well-being.
Social Determinants of Health
MedStar Health invests in programs and partnerships that address the social needs of patients and community members.
- Community Health Workers provides advocates who work with patients to connect them to resources in the community, such as food pantries, paying for prescription medications and transportation assistance.
- Universal Social Needs Screenings MedStar Health’s social needs screening tool helps to identify the social issues that affect individuals health outcomes and facilitate sensitive conversations about nonmedical needs that maybe a barrier to good health.
- Food as Medicine Initiatives address food insecurity and contribute to reducing hunger and improving health through joint programmatic solutions in the communities served by MedStar Health.