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Public health advisory: Cases of flu, other viruses surging
February 20, 2025
Meritus Health chief medical officer reviews situation, offers advice to prevent spread The tri-state area has seen an increase in several viral illnesses in recent weeks, with the flu being the most prevalent, Meritus Health medical experts say. Healthcare providers across the health system are also encountering an increased number of respiratory syncytial virus, known as RSV, and the norovirus stomach bug. Cases of COVID-19 are also being reported, though their number is a far cry from the pandemic’s peak. But the flu is the big one, with Meritus Medical Center, Meritus Urgent Care and Meritus primary care providers reporting a surge since January. Flu season typically runs from December through February, thanks to cold weather forcing people indoors and into closer contact with each other. Flu vaccines are given in the fall to help control the spread. “This year we have noticed a variant strain not completely covered by the vaccine,” said Meritus Chief Medical Officer Anand Budi, M.D. “As a result, we are seeing people who are vaccinated also getting sick with flu.” Stopping the spread, treating symptoms To help stop the spread of the virus, Dr. Budi advised regular handwashing and avoiding close contact with those who are sick. As with most viruses, treatments are limited. Oseltamivir, known by the brand name Tamiflu, can treat the flu, but it typically only shortens the length of illness by a day. “The best thing to do is to rest, drink plenty of fluids — especially water — and use over-the-counter medicines,” he said. While there is some indication that vitamin C and zinc can help ease symptoms, Dr. Budi advised against taking cough suppressants, unless it’s needed to help with sleep. “You want them to bring that phlegm out of their lungs,” he said, noting expectorant medicines would be better. He also said drinking more fluids is helpful because it can thin mucus, making it easier to expel. When is it time to visit the doctor? Because the flu and other viruses going around are very contagious, Dr. Budi recommends staying home and treating symptoms yourself. “Visiting the doctor can spread the illness to other patients and healthcare providers,” he said. However, seek medical attention if you are: In respiratory distress Have a high fever (102.5 degrees or higher) Have a severe cough that lasts for more than four days Are no longer eating or drinking a reasonable amount What treatment options does Meritus have? President and CEO Maulik Joshi, Dr.P.H., noted that, in addition to the emergency department at Meritus Medical Center off Robinwood Drive, and the urgent care centers on Crayton Boulevard and at the Valley Mall, Meritus also offers a virtual option. MeritusNow allows patients to schedule an online appointment with a care provider using your computer or phone camera. Details to set up an appointment can be found by visiting www.meritushealth.com/now. “If you or a loved one does become ill, we want to remind you that Meritus is prepared to support your care needs,” Joshi said. “Our mission is to improve the health of the community by providing expert care, no matter where you are.”
2 from Meritus among statewide healthcare innovation contest winners
February 19, 2025
Advancing Innovation in Maryland Contest seeks to use state’s care model that rewards investment in preventative care Two Meritus Health team members were among 10 winners in a statewide competition to find innovative ways to make patient care better and more affordable. Carly Critchfield and Miranda Ramsey each were recognized for ideas chosen in the Health Services Cost Review Commission’s Advancing Innovation in Maryland Contest. Launched in the fall in partnership with the Maryland Department of Health, the Abell Foundation, and the Horizon Foundation, the contest leverages Maryland’s unique healthcare model, which creates opportunities to invest in preventative care. There were 40 submissions to the contest spanning the state, and the contest was judged by an independent panel of experts. Critchfield, supervisor of outpatient practices at Valley Mall, sought to reach isolated patients with a “well wheels” program, which reimagines physician house calls by using mobile healthcare teams across the state. Ramsey, vice president of physician services, aimed to support patients with diabetes through a “diabetic door dash” program that combines medical care, nutritional support and social services. “Innovation comes in many forms,” said Meritus President and CEO Maulik Joshi, Dr.P.H. “These ideas are examples of Meritus leaders’ continuous focus on improvement for patients. By addressing critical health challenges with forward-thinking solutions, we are not only enhancing care in our local community but also contributing to broader efforts to improve health outcomes across the state.” “The AIM contest demonstrates that there is no shortage of great ideas in Maryland health care,” said Jon Kromm, executive director of the HSCRC. “This contest will serve as a spark for the commission and the healthcare sector to pursue innovation in care delivery to support better health at lower cost across the state.”
Family Medicine Residency Program part of Advocacy Day in Annapolis
February 14, 2025
Maryland Academy of Family Physicians coordinates opportunities for healthcare providers to speak with state lawmakers Members of the Meritus Family Medicine Residency Program joined other physicians and medical professionals earlier this month in Annapolis as part of the Maryland Academy of Family Physicians’ annual Advocacy Day. The day was spent speaking with lawmakers and others about legislation important to family medicine practices under consideration during the state Legislature’s 90-session. “We are just trying to figure out how to best support physicians in whatever environment they work,” said Stacy Ross, M.D., M.S., FAAFP, program director of the Meritus Family Medicine Residency Program and also a Maryland Academy of Family Physicians board member. “We are trying to shore up the workforce in Maryland.” Family medicine, also sometimes called primary care, cares for people of all ages, treating different health problems for both children and adults. Residents in the three-year Meritus Family Medicine program are doctors fresh out of medical school who are training to become family doctors. “It was a great experience for the residents,” Dr. Ross said. “They actually got to see what happens in the legal world and how it affects what we do on a daily basis.” The topics doctors touched on with lawmakers were focused on maintaining and growing the pool of healthcare providers in the state and providing more oversight on insurers: · Medicaid reimbursement rates: Gov. Wes Moore is proposing to fund certain Medicaid payments at 100% of Medicare in the Fiscal Year 2026 budget, which starts July 1. Historically, Medicaid payment rates to physicians have been too low to ensure there are enough doctors to treat patients. The state House of Delegates and the state Senate have to approve a state budget by the end of the legislative session on April 7. · Loan Assistance Repayment Program for Physicians and Physician Assistants: This program provides money to certain healthcare providers to help repay student loans, thereby making it more enticing for them to enter family medicine instead of a more lucrative specialty. The program had relied on physician licensure fees, which generated $400,000 annually for the entire state. The average medical school debt is more than $200,000. Moore’s proposed budget increases the program funding to $3 million. · Senate Bill 474/House Bill 848 — Health Insurance-Adverse Decisions-Reporting and Examinations: These bills, which the Maryland Academy of Family Physicians support, toughen the authority of the Maryland Insurance Administration, which regulates health insurance carriers in the state. The bills state that the rate of a health insurance carrier’s denials of claims for a treatment can’t grow by more than 10% in the preceding calendar year or 25% in the preceding three calendar years. If that happens, the insurers have to justify the increase to the Maryland Insurance Commissioner, who can levy penalties for violations. Dr. Ross said the group reported being well-received by lawmakers and their staffs. “It was very eye-opening for some of them,” she said. “We were educating them on not only the policies we support, but also how we get to be physicians — going through medical school, residency, etc.” Beyond that, they also told lawmakers about how family medicine providers focus not just on coughs and fevers, but also on the social determinants of health, Ross said. “That includes transportation, housing problems, employment problems,” she said. “We ask about those things and try to get patients the resources they need to improve their overall health.”
Meritus on Forbes’ America’s Best Employers 2025 list
February 13, 2025
Meritus Health has been named on the Forbes list of America’s Best Employers 2025. This award is presented in collaboration with Statista, the world-leading statistics portal and industry ranking provider. The award list was announced Feb. 12, and can be viewed on Forbes’ website. Forbes and Statista selected America’s Best Employers 2025 through an independent survey from a vast sample of more than 217,000 U.S. employees working for companies employing at least 1,000 people within the U.S. More than 6.5 million employer evaluations were considered. The final score is based on two types of evaluations: personal (those given by employees themselves) and public (those given by friends and family members of employees, or members of the public who work in the same industry), with a much higher weighting for personal evaluations. Based on the results of the study, Meritus is honored to be recognized on the Forbes list of America’s Best Employers 2025. "We are honored to receive this recognition and are immensely proud of the exceptional team we have at Meritus," said President and CEO Maulik Joshi, Dr.P.H. "Our employees are the foundation of everything we do, and this award highlights our commitment to fostering a supportive, inclusive workplace where everyone can thrive. By empowering our team, we not only strengthen our organization but also advance our mission to improve the health of the community we serve." Meritus has always been committed to fostering a workplace that nurtures talent, celebrates diversity, and encourages innovation. This recognition reinforces that Meritus Health is poised to continue leading the industry in employee satisfaction, setting a new standard for workplace excellence.
Going for Bold: Meritus employee loses 40 pounds
February 12, 2025
In late 2023, Sandy Alton realized she had a problem. “My health started declining,” said the community navigator with Meritus Health. “I was gaining a lot of weight. My energy level was bottoming out.” But things became clear to her in the fall when she and her husband, Greg, got photos taken in Williamsport. “When I saw those pictures, it made me hit rock bottom,” she recalled. “Had I really gained that much weight?” Feeling sorry for herself and not knowing what to do, she turned to a program she’d actually been sharing with patients and co-workers: Go for Bold. “Why not use if for myself?” she asked. What is Go for Bold? The Go for Bold initiative was started by Healthy Washington County, a coalition of public and private organizations, including Meritus, with a mission to strengthen the health and wellness of our community and residents. The initiative was sparked after a Community Health Needs Assessment found Washington County residents had high rates of chronic illness, such as diabetes, heart disease and high blood pressure, among others. The goal of the initiative is to lose 1 million pounds as a community by 2030 by encouraging activity, healthy diet and accountability. So far, more than 163,000 pounds have been lost, according to the program’s online weight tracker. Hub City Nutrition offers free classes Alton started by clicking on the link for fitness classes, which advertised a free fit camp held twice a week. “It was free, and I thought I didn’t have anything to lose,” she said. “I figured if I don’t like it, I just won’t go back.” Greg Alton, who has had heart surgery himself and needed to get into better shape, agreed to join his wife. It was at the fitness classes where they met Sheriff “Reef” Taiwo and Jetaine “Jet” Hart who operate Hub City Nutrition. The couple partnered with Healthy Washington County to offer the free community workouts about two years ago. “It aligned with our vision of making Hagerstown healthy,” Hart said. “It aligned with our mission and bigger purpose.” Taiwo and Hart left Prince George’s County for Hagerstown with the goal of making the community healthier. Using statistics compiled by the state, they learned that Washington County was at the bottom of most Maryland counties’ lists when it came to health. Hub City Nutrition also provides nutrition and wellness coaching. For example, they have a 21-day challenge that is meant to provide accountability along with nutrition coaching by offering meal guides, prizes and workouts. It all fits in with Go for Bold. ‘She has abs at 60’ Hub City Nutrition recently started hosting monthly wellness workshops. This not only offers meal and workout advice, but participants get on the scale to track their progress. “A lot of people are seeing amazing results,” she said, noting Sandy Alton’s transformation. “She has abs at 60!” When the Altons took their first class in November 2023, they were amazed. “We said, ‘We have no idea what the heck we just did, but it was awesome,’” Sandy Alton said. “I’ve lost 40 pounds and my energy is through the roof. I can’t say enough about the good things it’s done for my life.” To learn more about Go for Bold, visit healthywashingtoncounty.com/goforbold.
Jeff O'Neal, CEO of Brook Lane, Interview with News Talk 103.7
February 12, 2025
In case you missed it, Brook Lane CEO Jeff O'Neal was on 103.7 FM's Drive at 5 with Allison Trobaugh on Tuesday, February 11, 2025. They discuss the recent affiliation with Meritus, the 75 years of Brook Lane history as well as what the future holds for the organization. Visit https://soundcloud.com/newstalk1037fm/11-february-2025-jeff-oneal to hear the interview.
It’s American Heart Month: Cut your risk of heart disease
February 10, 2025
February is American Heart Month, a time set aside to raise awareness on one of the biggest killers in the country. Heart disease remains the leading cause of death in the United States, according to the American Heart Association’s 2025 Heart Disease and Stroke Statistics Update. With this in mind, Fahad Lodhi, M.D., with Meritus Hagerstown Heart has some suggestions to help reduce the risk of heart disease. The best place to start is with what you eat, Dr. Lodhi said. “The biggest No. 1 thing is the Mediterranean diet,” he said. “Hands down, that’s the best thing.” He said there are studies showing that following the diet can reduce risk of heart attack and stroke by up to 25%. “We are what we eat,” he said. The diet consists of focusing on lean meat, such as poultry or fish, olive oil, legumes, fruits and vegetables, seeds and nuts, and brown rice. Related to this, Dr. Lodhi recommends intermittent fasting, which helps with weight loss and reversing early onset diabetes and prediabetes by getting the body to burn stored fat, which is high energy. There are several methods recommended by doctors, such as alternate-day fasting where you eat a normal diet one day, then completely fast or have only one small meal the next. Dr. Lodhi himself said he follows a daily time-restricted fast, where he eats only two meals within an eight-hour window each day. “I eat between lunch and dinner only the two meals,” he said. “The rest of the day, I have nothing to eat, just plenty of fluids.” Another way to reduce the risk of heart disease is by doing aerobic exercise, “not weight lifting,” Dr. Lodhi said. He says that spending 35 to 45 minutes a day at least three times a week is good. But if you aren’t able to dedicate time, walking as much as possible in your daily activities would be beneficial. “Even if you don’t exercise per se, so long as you get some steps in, it’s beneficial,” he said, noting that studies recommend between 7,500 and 10,000 steps per day as a good target. Medication can also help reduce the risk of heart disease, but there are some precautions, Dr. Lodhi said. For example, the popular thought is that aspirin can help stave off heart attacks. “Unfortunately, if you’ve had a heart attack or stroke, taking aspirin has been shown to be beneficial,” he said. “But if you’ve not, the evidence is not the strongest that aspirin is beneficial.” However, some studies have shown that use of aspirin can reduce the risk of colorectal cancer. “The way I look at it, if there’s a person who has a low risk of bleeding, but has a strong family history of heart attack or stroke, I think it’s still worth the consideration of being on aspirin daily,” he said. It’s best to discuss the situation with a primary care provider, he added. Other medications, namely statins, also markedly reduce the risk of heart attack, stroke and death. But the drugs can also cause bone and muscle aches, he said. Again, he recommended talking things with your primary care provider. And if diet, exercise and medication don’t seem to be helping, your healthcare provider can refer you to a cardiologist. “We’re happy to see them any time,” Dr. Lodhi said. To learn more about Meritus Hagerstown Heart and they services provided, visit MeritusHealth.com/Heart.
Meritus Health earns recognition from American Diabetes Association
January 31, 2025
The ADA’s Education Recognition Program certification ensures quality diabetes education and support for people living with diabetes The American Diabetes Association, the nation’s leading organization committed to fighting diabetes, recently announced the recognition of Meritus Health through its Education Recognition Program (ERP). The diabetes self-management education and support service (DSMES) was recognized earlier this month. The ADA’s ERP certificate assures that educational services meet the National Standards for DSMES. The corresponding intervention provided is evidence-based and outcome driven. Services apply for recognition voluntarily and ADA-ERP recognition lasts for four years. “DSMES is an essential part of managing diabetes and is as effective as diabetes medication. Therefore, all people with diabetes benefit from it,” said Barbara Eichorst, MS, RD, CDCES, the ADA’s vice president of health programs. “We applaud Meritus Health for its commitment to providing value-based interventions such as DSMES, maximizing corresponding outcomes, and patient experience.” Meritus director of Community Health and Outpatient Care Management, Beth Fields Dowdell, said the certification aligns with the health system’s goal of improving the health of the community. “Having robust and informative education and support services for those with diabetes and prediabetes is vital to maintaining a healthy population,” Fields Dowdell said. “It provides patients with the tools to care for themselves and manage their diabetes.” According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s (CDC’s) National Diabetes Fact Sheet, there are over 38 million people, or 11.6%, of the U.S. population who have diabetes. While an estimated 29.7 million have been diagnosed, unfortunately 8.7 million people are not aware they have this disease. Each day, nearly 3,300 Americans are diagnosed with diabetes. Many will first learn they have diabetes when they are treated for one of its life-threatening complications—heart disease, stroke, kidney disease, blindness, nerve disease, or amputation. Diabetes is the eighth leading cause of death in the U.S.—in 2021, it contributed to 399,401 deaths. The ADA’s Economic Costs of Diabetes in the U.S. in 2022 report confirms diabetes continues to be one of the nation’s most expensive chronic health care conditions with an estimated cost of diagnosed diabetes of $412.9 billion.
Don’t get sucked in by thyroid supplement fads
January 27, 2025
Milay Lam, M.D., feels sorry for the thyroid. “The poor thyroid gland is blamed for everything going wrong in somebody’s health,” said the medical director and division chief of Meritus Endocrinology Specialists. Scroll through social media and often you’ll find a health and fitness account hawking some supplement that claims to affect the thyroid and improve your health. “There are non-healthcare people who have taken advantage of the population,” Dr. Lam said. “They prey on people really being desperate.” The thyroid is a butterfly-shaped gland in your neck that produces hormones that control certain bodily functions, the most important being metabolism. That process is the way your body breaks down food and converts it to energy. Therefore the thyroid is often linked to fatigue and weight-gain. And that, Dr. Lam notes, is how people are being drawn in to diet fads that, in reality, could be harmful. Some supplements contain unregulated chemicals, such as animal hormone, that could cause other side effects such as cardiac arrythmia or bone density loss. “Of course, nobody likes feeling tired. Nobody likes gaining weight,” she said. “But there’s not necessarily a thyroid reason for that.” In fact, it’s difficult to tell from symptoms alone whether someone has something wrong with their thyroid, she said. Often times, instead of hypothyroidism (underactive thyroid) or hyperthyroidism (overactive thyroid), the symptoms are caused by some other medical issue. Usually, primary care providers use methods, such as a thyroid function test, to check how well the gland is functioning. Thyroid disease, when it is found, is more common in women than in men. While doctors are finding more incidents of thyroid cancer in the population, the mortality of those with the illness isn’t going up. “It’s one of the ‘good cancers’ in that, nobody wants cancer, but if you were to get cancer, this usually just involves removing all or part of the gland through surgery, not chemotherapy or radiation,” Dr. Lam said. That’s not to say some cancers couldn’t be more aggressive, she warned. “With every disease, you’re going to have a spectrum.” By the age of 70, around 60 percent of the population can have a nodule on their thyroid, which could become cancerous. Usually, patients will find a lump or swelling on their neck. Primary care providers and other health care professionals, such as gynecologists, are skilled at checking the gland in the neck and recommending a course of action. “Most are going to be benign,” Dr. Lam said of the nodules, adding that a visit to the endocrinologist will determine whether to schedule an ultrasound or a biopsy. To learn more about Meritus Endocrinology Specialists and the services they offer, go to meritushealth.com/Endocrinology.
Meritus employees among group who brought man ‘back to life’
January 17, 2025
When a Falling Waters, WV, man suffered a heart attack, training kicked in for the medical professionals Scotty Bair had just planned on going to the Williamsport Red Men Tribe 84 that Wednesday night for a drawing and to get something to eat. It turned into a harrowing experience that, if not for the presence of several medial professionals that included two Meritus Medical Center clinical educators, could have ended in the Falling Waters, West Virginia, man’s death. “You don’t think about who is where you’re at and why,” Bair said, days later from his room in the Meritus Intensive Care Unit. “But I know one thing. They brought me back to life.” Theda Dofflemyer and Shannon Crilly, both registered nurses who have obtained advanced degrees that allow them to teach nursing curricula, were at the Red Men separately that night, along with an off-duty paramedic and a few other medical professionals. Bair said he doesn’t remember much from the evening, but Crilly said Bair had fallen out of his chair. “He just went down,” Dofflemyer said, adding later that she learned Bair wasn’t having any pain or shortness of breath before the incident. The nurses and medical professionals made their way to him individually and found he didn’t have a pulse. Training kicked in, and each medical professional took on a role in helping to revive Bair. “It was just a calm experience,” Crilly said. “Everyone was calm. We’ve all had experience doing this. We all knew our roles.” Dofflemyer said she asked a waitress if the club had an automated external defibrillator, or AED, which gives electric shocks to the heart to restore its normal rhythm. Moments later, the waitress returned from the kitchen carrying the device. After doing chest compressions and using the AED, they felt a pulse and Bair began to come around. All told, it was about six minutes they worked on Bair. An ambulance arrived and took him to the hospital. “It was like divine intervention that we were all there,” Crilly said. Bair, who said he was to get a pacemaker for his heart after the incident, agreed. “I can’t tell you how thankful I am that even one of them was there,” he said. “Thank goodness they were. They did a good job.” Dofflemyer was glad to hear that Bair was doing better, but said she didn’t feel special for what she did. “I don’t think I did anything that anyone else wouldn’t have done in that situation,” she said.
Dr. Maulik Interview with News Talk 103.7 FM
January 15, 2025
In case you missed it, Meritus President and CEO Maulik Joshi was on 103.7 FM's Drive at 5 with Allison Trobaugh on Tuesday, January 14, 2025. They talked about what Meritus Health has done over the past five years to better serve patients across the community. They also spoke about what's to come in the next five years. Visit https://soundcloud.com/newstalk1037fm/14-january-2025-dr-maulik-joshi-and-meritus-health to hear the interview.
Family Birthing Center at Meritus strives to ensure healthy baby, mom
January 14, 2025
The Family Birthing Center at Meritus Medical Center welcomed 1,997 babies in 2024. That’s an almost 11 percent increase from the 1,801 babies birthed at the hospital in 2023. And U.S. News & World Report recently named Meritus a High Performing hospital in Maternity Care (Uncomplicated Pregnancy) for 2024. “I think our Labor, Delivery, Recovery and Postpartum unit is special,” said Ellen Curry, clinical manager of the Family Birthing Center. “Our staff is phenomenal. I think it’s about the environment, support and respect we give our moms.” Proper support is important for moms and infants, especially in the child’s first few days of life. The World Health Organization notes that babies who are protected from injury and infection, are able to breathe normally, and are properly warm and fed are less likely to have other health issues during the first month of life. The Family Birthing Center at Meritus has been designed to provide that good start. For example, many other hospitals have two units — labor, delivery and recovery, and postpartum. At Meritus, the mother stays in one room the entire time. Her baby stays in the room with her after birth, and select family, like fathers, can stay as well. The birthing center has 20 LDRP rooms, plus 12 other rooms that can be used for consultations or performing C-sections. Additionally, Curry said 90 percent of vaginal deliveries at the hospital are attended by midwives. “That’s unique,” she said. “A midwife’s training is, compared to physicians and surgeons, as birth experts.” That’s not to say that physicians and surgeons aren’t experts in their field, she noted. “Midwives have a different approach,” Curry said, adding that physicians are at the ready should the need arise for more help. That has been especially important as more pregnant mothers coming to the hospital with certain acuities — for example, high blood pressure or diabetes. The birthing center also has expert care at the ready should the newborn need it. The Special Care Nursery, a level two neonatal intensive care unit, or NICU, can treat many conditions seen in infants in their first days of life. This eliminates the need to travel outside the area, Curry said. Caring for patients isn’t limited to inside the hospital. Because breastfeeding provides numerous benefits to both child and mother, the birthing center has lactation consultants available 24 hours a day, regardless of whether the patients are still in the hospital. And before patients even come to the hospital, a staff nurse goes into the community through different organizations to build relationships, especially with those who are coming from a disadvantaged background. “We try to meet people where they are,” Curry said. “We respect people, their cultures and backgrounds, who they are as people and what kind of care they need to make them healthy. Doing so improves the chances of having a healthy pregnancy, healthy delivery and healthy baby.”