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www.FredericksburgParent.NET 15 Join us for the live conversation on Sponsored Material Q: Mary Washington Healthcare now oper- ates four emergency departments and three urgent care centers in our region. How can I know whether I should be going to an emer- gency department, an urgent care, or Mary Washington Hospital Trauma Center with a specific problem? Nehad Abed: The beauty of having all of these options within one locally owned system is that if you go to one place, but need to visit another, your information travels with you, through our user-friendly MyChart electronic medical record software. Wherever you go within the Mary Washington Healthcare family, your doctor or nurse will be able to instantly understand your status and what you need. Q: In your 18 years working for Mary Washington Healthcare, what have you observed about the system that sets it apart? Nehad Abed: It really is our community hospi- tal. Our staff members are highly trained and are like a family. To prepare for the opening of the new emergency department, we are train- ing our associates for the new facility in the trauma center at Mary Washington Hospital, so they will have that background. We make sure our entire staff has the big picture of what the capabilities are across our system so that patients always get the best care. At Mary Washington Hospital, emergency physicians and nurses are prioritizing the most serious injuries, as the hospital is a Level II Trauma Center and a Primary Stroke Center. That's why it's so important to have the other emergency departments at Lee's Hill, Stafford Hospital and now Harrison Crossing to take care of other patients. While their medical condition may not be as severe, they are still dealing with stressful injuries, and we want to be able to care for them in a timely manner. To learn more, visit Emergency.mwhc.com. Q: What will the new Emergency Department at Harrison Crossing mean for emergency care in our region? Nehad Abed: Our area is growing tremendously, and this has meant that our exist- ing emergency departments are serving more and more people. The new emergen- cy department will take some of the pressure off of our other emergency depart- ments and reduce wait times for patients. The corridor to the west of Fredericksburg along State Route 3 is an especially fast-growing area, and the location of the Harrison Crossing facility will help many of these residents reach emergency services without having to wait through traffic on that road. Timing is an important part of providing excellent patient care, and Mary Washington Healthcare is establishing a physical location that will allow us to start caring for people faster. For residents of the Locust Grove area, Lake of the Woods, and those western areas of our region, this will be much faster than driv- ing into Fredericksburg. Having another freestanding emergency department where people can come with more minor issues will also improve care at our Level II Trauma Center at Mary Washington Hospital. Opening January 2024 Emergency Department at Harrison Crossing 5501 Plank Rd. Suite 100 Fredericksburg, VA 22407