COVID-19 Alerts General Information Vaccine Information Testing Options Visitor Policies Healthcare Services Find a Doctor Locations Patient Portal Research & Education menu What can we help you find? Search Find care now Change Location 3001 Urgent Care Nearest location (mi) Primary Care Nearest location (mi) Specialty Care For specific health conditions Telehealth Easy access to healthcare through your device Specialty care services We deliver outstanding care to people experiencing a variety of medical conditions. Our specialists have in-depth training in their chosen fields and are able to give you highly advanced, innovative care close to where you live. View All Healthcare Services Heart and Vascular Orthopedics Cancer Neurology and Neurosurgery Transplant Institute Gastroenterology Physical Therapy Women's Health Behavioral Health Our locations From central Maryland to northern Virginia to the heart of Washington, D.C., we have over 300 healthcare locations ready to provide the high-quality care you need. Advanced location search Urgent Care Primary Care Physical Therapy Hospitals Get answers to billing and insurance questions Visit Our FAQ Page One team for all your healthcare needs Easy, convenient access to great health care. 10 Hospitals 300 Care Sites 5,400 Physicians 8,000 Nurses 30,000 Associates Learn More Research and innovation Our clinical research and innovation teams have one goal: to enable the best outcomes for our patients by transforming healthcare through continuous improvements and revolutionary breakthroughs. Explore More MedStar Health Research Institute Institute for Innovation Partnership with Georgetown University National Center for Human Factors in Healthcare Institute for Quality and Safety Simulation Training and Education Lab International Training Center for Bloodless Medicine and Surgery Medical education programs For healthcare professionals Together, our hospitals have one of the largest graduate medical education programs in the country. We train 1,100 medical residents annually and offer advanced education in nearly 100 specialty and sub-specialty programs. View All Medical Education Programs Previous 1 / 2 Next Residency programs Fellowship programs What our people say “Working together with a team to support a patient and family in achieving optimal quality of life, whether through curing, comfort, or a combination of both, continues to drive me.” -Kiersten Henry, RN Find a truly fulfilling career If you excel at what you do because you genuinely care, we want to talk with you. When you join our team, you'll never go a day without playing an important role helping patients, supporting your healthcare colleagues, and living the career of your dreams Careers Trusted by the pros for our high-quality healthcare We are proud to be the medical care provider for professional sports teams in the Baltimore and Washington, D.C. area. Learn More MedStar Health blog 4 Reasons Why You Should Have a Primary Care Provider Many people unfortunately wait until they’re sick to find a doctor. Delaying preventative care or avoiding the doctor’s office altogether; however, may set you up for some unexpected health complications in the future.That’s why it’s important to have a primary care provider (PCP). A primary care provider can be a doctor or a nurse practitioner who specializes in family medicine or internal medicine. I’m a family medicine physician practicing at MedStar Medical Group at Navy Yard. My goal is to help you stay healthy from childhood through the rest of your life.Considering you’ll probably see your primary care provider more than any other type of doctor, establishing this relationship early is critical. Medical studies show that people who have a primary care physician experience better health outcomes and a longer life span.1 Do you have a primary care provider? If you do, studies show you are more likely to live a longer, healthier life. Family medicine physician Dr. Rochon shares four reasons why on @MedStarHealth's #LiveWellHealthy blog: https://bit.ly/3ctXhZJ. Click to Tweet Here are four reasons why you should have a primary care provider. 1. Your primary care provider knows you better than any other doctor. There are very few healthcare providers who know you as well as your primary care provider. Hopefully, your primary care provider is someone you see consistently every year, which means they know your: Health goals Lifestyle habits Medical history Medications Family health history Personality Preferences Because they know so many details about your personal life, your PCP is equipped to help you prevent disease through proactive health screenings and lifestyle modifications. And, when something is wrong, they are more likely to catch it early because they are actively monitoring your health. 2. They can care for you throughout your entire life. Your primary care provider is with you through it all, from your high school sports physicals and flu shots to your first cancer screening and beyond. Whether you’re a teenager, in your mid-30’s, or an aging adult, your PCP is trained to care for your health over time.That means they can help you: Stay up to date on routine screenings (e.g. colonoscopies) Manage your risks of developing a chronic disease Catch health issues early before they progress into something more serious Make lifestyle changes (e.g. stopping smoking) Address any side effects to medications you’re taking Whether you’re due for a routine screening or you’re experiencing acute symptoms related to a disease, your PCP can observe changes from appointment to appointment which means... 3. They can help you prevent disease. Primary care providers are experts in a broad range of conditions, especially when it comes to chronic disease, including: Cancer Diabetes Heart disease High blood pressure High cholesterol People don’t always experience symptoms during the early stages of chronic disease, but your doctor or nurse practitioner knows exactly what to look for. Since they know the results of your routine check-ups and your risk of any hereditary diseases, they are already actively looking for early signs that may indicate a problem.As a result, PCPs can help you reduce your risk of developing a chronic condition. They also assist in mitigating potential disease complications by:Managing your chronic conditions. Your primary care doctor won’t leave you to manage your diabetes—or any other chronic condition—on your own. Rather, they’ll work with you to develop a treatment plan that considers your preferences, lifestyle, and condition. From support managing side effects from medication to regular follow-up, your PCP will help you prevent your condition from worsening.Supporting your lifestyle changes. When you have a chronic disease that can be improved through diet, exercise, and other healthy habits, your primary care provider can help you to take small steps towards better health.Related: Read 4 Lifestyle Changes to Prevent Heart Disease Referring you to a specialist. When something comes up that requires a more specialized approach, your primary care doctor can reach out to their network of specialists for a referral. For example, if your annual mammogram comes back abnormal, they can connect you with a breast health specialist or oncologist who can do further advanced testing. 4. They can keep you out of the hospital. By catching signs of disease early, your PCP can ensure you receive treatment before it turns into something more serious. People who don’t have a primary care provider are more likely to end up in the emergency room, which can be expensive and time-consuming. How to find the right primary care provider. There are lots of reasons why you should have a primary care provider. But how do you choose a doctor or nurse practitioner?Most employers allow you to pick or change a primary care provider within your health insurance during what’s called “open enrollment”. Typically, this occurs when you are first hired and again at the end of the calendar year.The internet is a great place to research PCPs in your network because you can read reviews and ratings about other people’s experiences. Many MedStar Health providers even have their ratings included on their online profile pages found at MedStarHealth.org/FindADoc.Researching your primary care provider options allows you to think carefully about the qualities that are important to you. You may want to consider looking for comments or ratings related to values that include: Good listening Communication (Clear and easy to understand) Team-oriented Personable Get the care you need, now. It’s important that you don’t delay your medical needs or ignore symptoms that would typically make you seek care. Early detection and treatment improve our ability to provide the most comprehensive and effective care.Since the COVID-19 pandemic reached our region, MedStar Health has made innovations to ensure we are still the best and safest place to receive care. We have worked hard to make sure we can provide the care you need in the most appropriate and safe setting. MedStar Health Video Visits are still options for a variety of appointment needs, but in some cases, an in-person visit may be best. We’re here to help you get the right care that reflects your needs and comfort level.We’re open and prepared to safely offer the same high-quality care you expect from MedStar Health, when you are ready to see us. Find care now. Click the buttons below for more information on our services. Primary Care MedStar Health Video Visits Footnotes 1. Stanford University School of Medicine and Harvard Medical School Read More 100 Years in the Making How Patients Benefit From Thoracic Robotic Surgery When the first minimally invasive surgery—also called laparoscopic surgery—was performed in the early 1900s, a surgeon would use a hollow wooden tube with a candle to look in a patient’s body through a small incision. Nobody could have imagined the impact it would have. By the early 1990s, surgeons operated every day through small incisions with what was then a new tool called a laparoscope, which is a slender tube with a tiny video camera and a light on the end. Today, minimally invasive surgery has expanded through the use of robotic technology to include intricate thoracic surgeries for lung conditions, esophageal problems, and other thoracic conditions. What a difference 100 years makes! The robotic technology our surgeons use includes a camera and mechanical arms with surgical instruments attached. The console also provides a surgeon with a more enhanced, 3-D view for the surgery. Nothing is automated, so the surgeon is still in total control through the use of a console. The robot helps doctors perform safer, more precise surgeries that result in: Quicker recoveries Less pain Smaller incisions/less scarring Lower risk of infection For thoracic surgery, which includes everything in the thorax (the part of the body between the neck and the abdomen), we treat both cancerous and benign conditions. The most common surgery I perform related to the esophagus is for paraoesophageal hernias and gastroesophageal reflux disease, also known as GERD. We also treat lung cancer and various benign diseases of the mediastinum, or the mass of tissues and organs separating the sternum in front and the vertebral column behind. LISTEN: Dr. Lazar discusses minimally invasive robotic technology in the Medical Intel podcast. https://ct1.medstarhealth.org/content/uploads/sites/135/2018/12/Lazar-thoracic-minimally-invasive-surgery-3.mp3 Recovery from minimally invasive robotic surgery Patients typically have less pain after a minimally invasive robotic surgery than after a traditional open surgery because the incisions are smaller. Traditional surgery usually involves a large incision, anywhere from six to 12 inches. Robotic assisted minimally invasive surgery is what we call a port-based surgery. For the patient, this means less pain and better incision healing since the instruments used in the operation pass from outside the body to inside through the port without injuring the muscle and skin. This often results in patients taking less narcotics and getting back to their daily lives quicker. Most people recovering from traditional surgery are in the intensive care unit (ICU) anywhere from one to five days, whereas those who have robotic surgery typically don’t need to go to the ICU at all. They’re walking up the stairs, eating, and drinking by the next day or so. Usually a patient’s biggest complaint is they’re a little bit sore, but nothing compared to open surgery. A patient is typically at least 90 percent better 10 to 14 days after surgery. Surgery via minimally invasive #roboticsurgery typically results in at least 90 percent recovery in just 10 to 14 days. via @MedStarWHC Click to Tweet The thoracic surgeons at MedStar Washington Hospital Center are outstanding. Everyone is committed to patients’ well-being and we have many years of experience performing minimally invasive robotic surgeries. Advances in surgery have brought us from a time where small incisions for operation were risky to being practiced regularly with the assistance of robotic technology. Imagine what the next 100 years could bring! If you are interested in learning more about robotic thoracic surgery, call 202-877-3627 or click below to make an appointment. Request an Appointment Read More 10 Tips for Grilling Safety Memorial Day is just around the corner and is considered by many to be the official start of summer. As the days get longer and warmer, many people look forward to one of the tastiest ways to cook - outdoor grilling.Unfortunately, each year, nearly 9,000 home fires [1] are caused by grilling, and more than half of all injuries involving grills are due to thermal burns.Check out these 10 grilling safety tips from our Burn Center team at MedStar Washington Hospital Center, so that you and your family can enjoy the great taste of food cooked on the grill all summer long.1The National Fire Protection Association’s Home Grill Fires Fact Sheet Read More Building a Future Alberto Gomez shares his experience being treated for advanced heart failure All Blog Articles MedStar Health news November 24, 2021 5000th Covid-19 patient treated with monoclonal antibodies at MedStar Health November 19, 2021 MedStar Health Cancer Network Awarded Grant from American Cancer Society November 16, 2021 Kids Mobile Medical Clinic/Ronald McDonald Care Mobile® takes COVID-19 vaccines on the road for children in the District’s most underserved neighborhoods November 08, 2021 MedStar Health applauds the announcement of Truveta’s Platform that seeks to advance patient care with data November 01, 2021 MedStar Georgetown University Hospital Announces Transformational $50 Million Philanthropic Gift to Support New Medical/Surgical Pavilion October 29, 2021 MedStar Montgomery Medical Center Introduces Magseed Technology to Montgomery County, Improving the Standard of Cancer Care All News Items Disclaimer Disclosure of Outside Interests Feedback Financial Assistance Policy Infection Control Policy MedStar Family Choice MedStar Health Office Policies MedStar Health Partners Notice of Nondiscrimination Online Privacy Policy Patient Privacy Policy Patient Rights Responsibilities Price Transparency Disclosures Quality & Patient Safety Social Media Sites and Disclaimers Translate © 2021 MedStar Health 877-772-6505 Careers Contact Us Medstar Facebook opens a new window Medstar Twitter opens a new window Medstar Instagram opens a new window Medstar Youtube opens a new window Medstar Linkedin opens a new window