Public Health
The Heat is On: Resources for Patients to Stay Safe This Summer
The Independence Day heat wave was not just uncomfortable. It was a mass casualty event in slow motion. More than 470 heat-related emergency room visits were recorded during the week of June 28 through July 4 — more ER visits in that single week than in the entire heat period since May. Statewide, there had…
Read MoreThe Quiet Crisis Affecting LGBTQ+ Physicians and Their Patients
We’re closing MCMS Pride Month coverage for June 2026 with the research that sits underneath everything else we’ve shared this month. Two studies published in the past year document what’s happening to LGBTQ+ people in medicine right now, on both sides of the exam room. The picture isn’t good, and it has practical implications for…
Read MorePopulation Health and Readmission Prevention
Isha Misra, M.D. MCMS Public Health Committee Co-Chair Hospital readmissions pose a significant challenge for the US healthcare system. Each year, about 3.8 million patients are readmitted within 30 days of discharge, generating over $50 billion in hospital costs. Research demonstrates that about 27% of readmissions are potentially preventable. Preventable readmissions are indicative of gaps…
Read MoreHelp Expand Access to Specialty Care in Montgomery County
Farhana Arastu, MPP Programs and Public Policy Director, MCMS Thousands of Montgomery County residents face barriers to accessing specialty care due to limited insurance coverage, financial challenges, or lack of access to specialists. Physicians can make a meaningful difference by participating in one of several programs designed to connect patients with needed specialty services. Project…
Read MoreEnvironmental and Public Health Update: Navigating PFAS, Global Pathogens, and Local Action
Kisha N. Davis, MD, MPH, FAAFP Health Officer, Montgomery County, Maryland First, I want to extend my heartfelt thanks to the Medical Society for honoring me with the Public Health Advocacy Award at the annual meeting. This recognition truly reflects our shared commitment to safeguarding the health of all Montgomery County residents, and I am…
Read MoreMaryland’s Chronic Disease Benchmarks: Where the Gaps Are and What Physicians Can Do
Maryland’s 2026 State Health Improvement Plan sets specific, measurable targets for five priority health areas through 2029. The chronic disease section is the most directly relevant to day-to-day clinical practice, and the numbers reveal some significant gaps worth knowing. Cancer Screening Is Lagging Only 49.3% of Maryland adults ages 45-75 have received a recommended colorectal…
Read MoreJune is Pride Month: LGBTQ+ Healthcare Resources
LGBTQ+ Health Resources in Montgomery County: A Physician’s Guide Montgomery County has more LGBTQ+ residents per capita than most Maryland jurisdictions, but a 2024 report from the Office of Legislative Oversight (OLO) found the County functions as a healthcare “desert” for transgender patients. Only three clinics offer any gender-affirming services, and none specializes exclusively in…
Read MoreHantavirus and the Andes Virus Outbreak
What Maryland Physicians Need to Know An active multi-country outbreak of Andes virus, the only hantavirus strain capable of person-to-person transmission, has prompted the Maryland Department of Health (MDH) to begin monitoring two state residents following potential exposure. While confirmed cases remain far from Maryland and the risk to patients is considered very low, the…
Read MoreMaryland Commission on Public Health Listening Session
Physicians Encouraged to Participate in the Maryland Commission on Public Health Listening Session Maryland’s Commission on Public Health is holding a series of regional public listening sessions across the state. They are collecting information about the basic public health capabilities of state and local health departments and analyzing the state’s ability to respond to major…
Read MoreWUMCO Receives 2024 Webster Sewell MD Award
2024 Webster Sewell MD Award Recipient Profile: Western Upper Montgomery County Help, Inc. Presented by the Montgomery County Medical Society and the National Capital Physicians Foundation, this annual award is given to honor an individual or organization that is committed to providing greater access to health care for the people of the National Capital…
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