Community Health: MedStar St. Mary's Hospital

• 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

• Associate Scholarships – provide tuition assistance to associates via a competitive process over and above the tuition benefit provided by MedStar Health.
• Summer interns – employ high school and college students for 10 weeks each summer in a variety of departments throughout the hospital.
• Student preceptors – provide thousands of hours of staff time to preceptor students from various colleges in the region in associates, bachelors and masters programs.