Community Health: MedStar Southern Maryland Hospital Center

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

Congress created the 340B Drug Savings Program to help hospitals that serve 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 by MedStar Southern Maryland to help keep pace with the rapidly rising costs of prescription drugs, as well as to offer additional needed services to our community such as the ones described below.

Cancer Screening Programs: We recognize the importance of early detection for cancer and have programs available for people who may not be able to afford these lifesaving screenings on their own. Additionally, our community outreach services are focused on empowering the community with information on the most common types of cancer in our area: breast cancer, prostate cancer, and lung cancer.

Breast cancer: Many educational events are provided each year to educate participants on the importance of cancer screenings and prevention. Each October, the hospital hosts an Ask the Doctor event with hospital experts.

Prostate cancer remains the most commonly diagnosed cancer in men, especially African-American men, who make up more than 60% of the population in Prince George’s County. We provide prostate cancer information at several faith-based locations (churches/temples), screenings at the hospital, educational consultations, and navigation assistance for people with abnormal results. Each month, we host a Prostate Cancer Support group. 

Lung cancer rates in Prince George’s County are lower than the national and state rate. When lung cancer is caught early, it is more likely to be curable. To encourage earlier detection in our community, we provide free, low-dose computed tomography (CT) lung cancer screenings. We also provide lung cancer education during health fairs that include American Cancer Society lung cancer screening guidelines.

Patient Financial Services provide financial assistance to uninsured patients who reside within the communities by assisting with enrollment in publicly funded programs, referring patients to State or Federal Insurance Exchange Navigator resources, and assisting with other funding resources that may be available from other charitable organizations.

Transition Guides assist patients discharged to home from the hospital. The transition guide nurse meets the patient prior to discharge and calls the patient one day after discharge. The nurse contacts the patient’s physician for questions or concerns about the patient’s health.

Physicians in the Community: MedStar Health invests in physicians, nurses, specialists, and other clinical leaders to provide services in the communities we serve.

Community health workers provide advocates who work with patients to connect them to resources in the community, such as food pantries, paying for prescription medications, and transportation assistance throughout Charles and Prince George’s Counties.

Emergency Department Screening, Brief Intervention, and Referral to Treatment (SBIRT) is a program for screening and identifying substance use disorder. The goal is to provide referrals for substance abuse treatment. Peer Recovery Coaches provide brief intervention and referrals to patients.

Chronic disease prevention programs are offered throughout the year at low or no cost to the participants to influence education, self-management, and promote a living healthy. MedStar Southern Maryland offers classes, events, and activities to support a healthy body, mind, and spirit. Heart and diabetes health programs include blood pressure screenings, diabetes prevention, and management workshops.

New parent and breastfeeding programs: We offer maternal and child health classes to provide expert advice, support, and education before and after birth. We also have collaborated with Prince George’s Health Department on the Healthy Babies Initiative. Safe sleep support packages are given to all new families upon discharge.

Support groups: The following support groups are available for caregivers and the community:

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.

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

Metrorail/Metrobus

Park and ride