Adventist HealthCare

Story by Betty Klinck

Heart disease is the leading cause of death in the U.S., and recent research suggests that going to a hospital rated highly for heart care matters. By delivering such high-quality care to the Washington, D.C. region, Adventist HealthCare Washington Adventist Hospital has received two national recognitions for its heart program.

Washington Adventist Hospital received the highest distinction for excellence in heart surgery from the Society for Thoracic Surgeons (STS), and was also recognized for efficient, effective and rapid treatment of heart attacks by the Society of Cardiovascular Patient Care (SCPC), an Institute of the American College of Cardiology.

The STS awarded the hospital a Three-Star rating – the highest possible quality rating – for coronary artery bypass graft surgery (CABG), the most common type of open-heart surgery in the U.S. Washington Adventist Hospital is among the top 10 percent of hospitals nationwide to achieve a Three-Star rating.

“The Three-Star rating in CABG is very important to us. It is a measure of excellent outcomes for our patients,” said Paul Massimiano, MD, the hospital’s medical director of Minimally Invasive Heart Surgery. “It designates a very high standard and it validates the importance of teamwork and attention to detail in our cardiac program.”

Story by Adventist HealthCare Staff

Story by Adventist HealthCare Staff

When Judith Mufuh sat down to watch a video about the Seventh-day Adventist Church for her new job, she had no idea how profoundly it would impact her life. She had recently started working as a chaplain at Adventist HealthCare Shady Grove Medical Center in Rockville, Md., and her manager, Dr. Shelvan Arunan, gave her the video to learn more about the faith-based roots of the hospital.

“When the video ended, my husband and I sat in silence and awe of how inspiring and moving it was,” Mufuh says. “Having studied theology, I was familiar with the history of many denominations, but I was very intrigued by the uniqueness of the Adventist faith.”

Story by Adventist Healthcare staff

Five Liberian amputees, who play on an international disabled soccer team that has won three world championships, received prosthetic legs and expert rehabilitation care this spring thanks to Adventist HealthCare Physical Health & Rehabilitation (Adventist HealthCare PH&R).

Adventist HealthCare PH&R and one of its partners, Medical Center Orthotics and Prosthetics (MCOP), donated new prosthetic legs and rehabilitative care to the five Liberian refugees, who have not had access to prosthetic legs or comprehensive treatment.

Story by V. Michelle Bernard / Photos courtesy Mark Bowen/Scripps National Spelling Bee

JJ Chen, a 10-year-old boy who attends Chesapeake Conference’s Spencerville church in Silver Spring, Md., recently advanced to the Scripps National Spelling Bee finals in Oxon Hill, Md. He tied for 22nd place at the event.

Chen was the only student from the Washington, D.C., area to make it to the finals, and received a lot of local media attention for his accomplishment. He says he had fun and was “exited about talking with media. They are nice.”