Stafford Hospital commemorates its fifteenth anniversary in 2024. Opening its doors in 2009, Stafford Hospital quickly became a cornerstone of healthcare in the region, complementing the existing services and meeting the growing needs of the Stafford community.

Over the past decade and a half, Stafford Hospital has been a hub of healthcare activity, delivering thousands of babies and attending to hundreds of thousands of patients in the Emergency Department. The hospital owes much of its success to the efforts of its dedicated team, supported by numerous volunteers who have contributed countless hours of service.

In recent years, Stafford Hospital has expanded its services, introducing state-of-the-art facilities such as a cardiac catheterization lab and a Level II Neonatal Intensive Care Unit. These enhancements reflect the hospital’s commitment to advancing healthcare and meeting the evolving needs of its patients.

Innovations like the Virtual Nursing Program and the introduction of robotics in surgery further highlight Stafford Hospital’s dedication to excellence and patient-centered care. These advancements not only improve patient outcomes but also streamline operations, allowing staff to focus more on direct patient care.

Stafford Hospital’s impact extends beyond its walls through its Community Benefit Fund, which has awarded millions of dollars in grants to local nonprofit organizations. This demonstrates the hospital’s commitment to providing healthcare and supporting the community’s overall well-being.

While there will be no specific events or celebrations to mark this milestone, a hospital spokeswoman said the hospital’s focus remains steadfast on providing patient care and ensuring the health and well-being of its patients, staff, and community.

Fredericksburg and Spotsylvania County have another medical option with the recent opening of the Harrison Crossing emergency clinic at Plank Road and Harrison Road.

The “Emergency Department at Harrison Crossing,” the 11,000-square-foot facility, is on the southern end of the Harrison Crossing Shopping Center and has two ambulance bays, a walk-in emergency entrance, and parking in the front and rear. Inside is an office for walk-in medical emergencies and a separate emergency clinic.

It is operated by Mary Washington Healthcare and staffed with board-certified emergency physicians and a team of emergency-trained nurses.

Currently, there are 400,000 people in the Fredericksburg area, and with this center opening in the western part of the congested Plank Road area, it serves a need. “People don’t have to go as far to get the treatment they need,” said Justin Richardson, the nurse manager at Harrison Crossing.

“Our region is growing like crazy,” said Susan Spears at the Fredericksburg Chamber of Commerce. Spears and Richardson were at the ribbon cutting on February 5, but the emergency center opened its doors on January 23 and started seeing patients.

Another emergency medical center about a mile east, Fredericksburg ER opened about a year ago.

Next to the Emergency Department at Harrison Crossing is a Taco Bell, Popeyes Chicken, McCallister Deli, and a Goodyear Tire Center. An access road connects the shopping center, so a traffic signal for the shopping plaza is available only for cars and ambulances heading east.

Ever since the center opened, the area seemed busier, noted some. “Traffic has picked up, I noticed just today,” said one of the workers at Firestone.

One of the customers at Taco Bell was happy to have it right next door. “It’s the only one that’s near here,” she said.

Sentara sponsors Play4Kay Pink Game

Sentara Northern Virginia Medical Center (SNVMC) is set to sponsor the George Mason University women’s basketball Play4Kay Pink Game for the fifth consecutive year. The event, part of the #Play4Kay initiative by the Kay Yow Cancer Fund, aims to combat cancers affecting women. The GMU women’s basketball team will face Saint Joseph’s University at EagleBank Arena on Thursday, February 8, with tip-off at 7:00 p.m. Sponsored by Sentara, the game includes activities to raise awareness and celebrate female cancer survivors.

The Sentara Cancer Network Resource Center will host a pre-game reception for breast cancer survivors, featuring a personal story from survivor Tara Brown-Coleman. Halftime will see the survivors honored in court, with SNVMC President Jeff Joyner and Sentara Cancer Network Resource Center Navigator Heather Byrne sharing cancer awareness and prevention tips. Play4Kay, inspired by Coach Kay Yow, emphasizes community unity in the fight against women’s cancers, transcending competition for the greater good.

New Imaging Center Opens in Spotsylvania County

Medical Imaging at Harrison Crossing, in collaboration with Radiologic Associates of Fredericksburg, proudly inaugurates its seventh imaging center in Spotsylvania County, expanding its state-of-the-art medical imaging services throughout Fredericksburg, Stafford, Spotsylvania, and King George. The fully ACR accredited facilities boast a team of board-certified, fellowship-trained radiologists dedicated to delivering quality care.

Aatif Rahman, Senior Director Technical Services at Medical Imaging of Fredericksburg, LLC, expresses excitement about enhancing community service. He commends the imaging team’s dedication and hard work in ensuring that patients receive the quality care they deserve.

The new facility at 5501 Plank Rd, Suite 110, Fredericksburg, 22407, spans 8,000 square feet and offers a range of services, including Open MRI, CAT Scan, Ultrasound, X-ray, 3D Mammography, and DEXA scanning. Appointments can be scheduled by contacting the call center at 540-741-XRAY(9729) from Monday to Friday (8 a.m. to 8 p.m.) and Saturday (8:00 a.m. – 2:00 p.m.). Note that patient visits are by appointment only.

Rappahannock Area Health District honored

The Rappahannock Area Health District (RAHD) has been recognized by the National Association of County and City Health Officials (NACCHO) for its outstanding public health emergency preparedness through Project Public Health Ready (PPHR). This acknowledgment reflects RAHD’s comprehensive emergency response plan, trained staff, and collaboration with partners like emergency managers, schools, and hospitals. NACCHO CEO Lori T. Freeman commended RAHD as a model for public health emergency preparedness. For more information, visit vdh.virginia.gov/rappahannock and naccho.org/PPHR.

Mary Washington Healthcare: “Stafford Hospital has continued its distinction as an accredited Center of Excellence in Minimally Invasive Gynecology (COEMIG) since 2014 by the Surgical Review Corporation (SRC). Under the direction of Kurian Thott, M.D., FACOG, Stafford Hospital’s COEMIG program meets the stringent researched-based requirements and evaluation processes of SRC to ensure the safest, highest quality patient care.”

“The 2023 recertification maintains Dr. Thott and Dr. Yetunde Adenle’s designation and includes a new COEMIG certified physician, Dr. Trechelle Carson. COEMIG physicians must perform hundreds of minimally invasive gynecological surgeries each year, with outstanding results, measured by a quality assessment of patient safety, equipment, and reduced complications.”

The Stafford Hospital Auxiliary will host the annual Stafford Hospital tree lighting in the atrium on Tuesday, December 5, at noon.

The Auxiliary will have five raffle prizes to give away. Purchase a raffle ticket from the Stafford Hospital gift shop between now and December 5. The Brooke Point High School Choir will perform at 12:00 noon followed by the raffle drawing and the tree lighting around 12:30 p.m.

The event iwll take place at Stafford Hospital Atrium, 101 Hospital Center Blvd, Stafford 22554. A hot chocolate bar will be provided.

Mary Washington Healthcare: “The National Accreditation Program for Breast Centers (NAPBC), a quality program administered by the American College of Surgeons (ACS), has granted accredited status to Mary Washington Healthcare’s Regional Cancer Center (MWHC RCC).”

“To achieve voluntary NAPBC accreditation, a breast center demonstrates compliance with the NAPBC standards that address a center’s leadership, clinical services, research, community outreach, professional education, and quality improvement for patients. Breast centers seeking NAPBC accreditation undergo a site visit every three years.”

Mary Washington Healthcare’s 15th Annual Virginia Heart & Vascular Institute Symposium occurred on Saturday, February 3, 2023, at the Fredericksburg Expo Center.

Over 200 primary care and internal medicine physicians, advanced practice providers, nurses, and other medical professionals from the greater Fredericksburg region gathered for an educational symposium learning about the latest research and treatments for cardiovascular disease.

Speakers included physicians and medical professionals from cardiology, cardiovascular surgery, radiology, neurology, pediatric cardiology, bariatric surgery, and vascular surgery. The event included an Exhibitor Hall offering additional advanced cardiac care educational opportunities with over 20 sponsors and exhibitors.

Attendees received continuing medical education credits by the accreditation requirements and policies of the Accreditation Council for Continuing Medical Education (ACCME) through the joint provider ship of VCU Health Continuing Medical Education of Virginia Commonwealth University Health System and Mary Washington Healthcare Virginia Heart and Vascular Institute.

The ACCME accredits VCU Health Continuing Medical Education to provide continuing medical education for physicians.

Hundreds of students seeking more experience in the business world are expected at the Fredericksburg Expo Center on Valentine's Day.

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