Patient Patients in the ED



Dr. Bill Frohna

Our ED team at MedStar Washington Hospital Center is one of the most experienced in the country, handling more than 90,000 patient visits each year. That’s an average of about 250 patients per day. As many of you have experienced, it gets very, very busy.

Our new electronic medical record system is designed to help us provide better and safer care to our patients, which will help us enormously in hectic situations. In emergencies, every second matters. If you have been a patient with us before – or at any of our six other MedStar Health hospitals that use MedConnect – we will have your history instantly. We will know about any pre-existing conditions you have and take that information into consideration as we treat you. We can avoid giving you medications that could interact with what you already are taking.

At a hospital like ours, where we care for some of the most complex cases in the region while also taking care of the daily needs of people living in our community, we are looking forward to the extra help from our new “e-partner!”

As with anything “new,” however, we will experience delays in the ED as we become familiar with the system. So, in advance, I thank you – our patients – for your patience with us. In a short time, the new EMR will be helping us provide better, safer, more efficient, more timely care for everyone who comes through our doors.

Bill Frohna, MD, Chair, Emergency Medicine

Who’s Your Mom?



Cathie Monge

“How satisfied” you are with the care and service we provide is one of our top priorities at MedStar Washington Hospital Center. This isn’t just talk: for quite a while now, we have implemented programs throughout the hospital, in all departments, that focus on customer service, cleanliness, quality care and efficiency.

As we go live with our new electronic medical record (EMR) system, we know there will be an added level of “newness” that could make it seem as though your caregivers are distracted. I want to assure you, they are not distracted! They are making absolutely sure they are doing right by you, by paying extra attention to and getting used to the new system. They all have received many hours of training. Soon, it will all be second nature to them.

Just in case … and just to make sure our patients feel welcomed and cared for … we are adding an extra level of support to the terrific associates who take care of you, with our “Adopt a Patient” program.

Leaders throughout our organization will visit patients regularly during the initial stages of the EMR to address any concerns (or, to happily accept compliments!). We already consider our patients to be family members, so this seemed a natural step for us.

If you or a loved one is admitted to our hospital during the next several weeks for any reason – planned surgery, to deliver a baby or for emergency care – we’ll be seeing you on the units.

Just call me Mom.

Cathie Monge, Senior Vice President, Operations

The Cure for Bad Handwriting

Dr. Peter Hill

I’m not sure, but I think I’ve found the cure for doctors’ bad handwriting: electronic medical records.

As Chief Medical Information Officer at MedStar Washington Hospital Center, a pulmonologist who first came to here in 1987, I am very pleased to confirm that our MedConnect electronic medical record system offers certain features that are especially welcomed by our nurse and medical tech colleagues. In particular, I would say “Computerized Physician Order Entry,” or CPOE, as we refer to it, is at the top of the welcome list for individuals whose work involves reading physician’s handwriting.

CPOE is a significant MedConnect safety feature. When I give instructions, or “orders,” for a patient to have a specific test done, or to increase his walking by 10 minutes each day, or to get out of bed, the bedside caregiver has clear typed instructions, no “figuring out” or deciphering handwriting is necessary. No time wasted about whether I ordered a CT with or without contrast, or how long the patient should walk, or when the patient should be discharged.

CPOE gives us all peace of mind that we are doing the right, safe thing for our patients.

Peter Hill, MD, Chief Medical Informatics Officer