Community Health | MedStar Southern Maryland Hospital Center | MedStar Health

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Front entrance to MedStar Southern Maryland Hospital Center

At MedStar Southern Maryland Hospital Center, community benefit is an integral part of who we are. The physician who founded our hospital, Francis P. Chiaramonte, MD, MPH, FACS, wanted to build a center for health education and outreach along with a top medical center.

Today our hospital provides a range of charitable care, hands-on outreach, and many programs, support groups, and events throughout the year as we work to achieve this vision.

Community Health Needs Assessment

Serving the underserved and vulnerable

We’re proud to release our 2021 Community Health Needs Assessment (CHNA) and our 3-year plan to implement its strategy. The program 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.

View the 2021 Community Health Needs Assessment

View the 2018 Community Health Needs Assessment

View the 2015 Community Health Needs Assessment

View the 2012 Community Health Needs Assessment

 

Reports to the Community

2022 Report to the Community

2021 Report to the Community

2020 Report to the Community

2019 Report to the Community

2018 Report to the Community

2017 Report to the Community

2016 Report to the Community

2015 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.

MedStar Health’s Community Health department develops, partners, and supports local programs and activities that lead to community health improvements. Our services include reaching out to the community through involvement in local activities, finding expert speakers for presentations and collaborating with other organizations.

Community Health is dedicated to improving the health of our communities through partnerships, and the delivery of accessible, evidence-based education and wellness services. Classes and services are designed to provide information and resources for informed health decisions.

As part of our mission, MedStar Health supports a wide range of organizations in their efforts to provide health education and health promotion. Community Health is unable to accommodate requests that are primarily for marketing purposes.

MedStar Health Community Health Outreach Request Form

Community Partnership Guidelines

Request and approval process:

  1. Complete the online request form in its entirety.
  2. MedStar Health’s logo should be included on advertising materials, when possible.
  3. A minimum of 6-week notice is required for any event request.
  4. After the request is submitted, a member of our team will contact you to discuss the specifics of the event/program.

Participation consideration will be dependent on the following:

  1. Support of health programs that benefit the underserved and underinsured;

  2. Alignment of programs with MedStar Health’s mission and vision;

  3. Alignment of program with the Community Health Needs Assessment (CHNA);

  4. Support of residents across MedStar Health’s service areas.

Preference will be given to those requests that provide health improvement outcomes.

 

  • MedStar Health Community Health Outreach Request Form

MedStar Southern Maryland Hospital Center's 340B Drug Savings 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. 

Workforce development

Summer internship programs give high school and college students from surrounding communities exposure to careers in health care for several weeks each summer in a variety of departments throughout the hospital.

Preceptorship program provides thousands of hours of staff time to preceptor students from various colleges in the region in associates, bachelors, and masters programs to provide support to newly qualified clinical positions.

Transportation to health care

MedStar Southern Maryland healthcare resources are conveniently located all over the community—near where you live or work. We are just a car ride, cab ride, or bus ride away.

If you need help finding a physician, please call 1-866-963-3782 (9 a.m. to 5 p.m., Monday to Friday) or find care now.

Transportation options

Car service/taxi

Cab/bus

  • Bus Route 30 now stops on-site at MedStar Southern Maryland.

Metrorail/Metrobus

Park and ride

  • Prince George’s County has 13 free park-and-ride fringe lots. Learn more.