Health - Potomac Local News

Prince William Health District Releases 2025 Greater Prince William Community Health Assessment (CHA) Report

Published September 26, 2025 at 10:00AM

MANASSAS, Va. — The Prince William Health District (PWHD) in collaboration with the Community Healthcare Coalition of Greater Prince William (Coalition) released its 2025 Community Health Assessment (CHA) report. The CHA is a comprehensive report that highlights the health status, needs, and strengths of Greater Prince William. This assessment includes a robust analysis of local health data and community perspectives captured through a health survey and community conversations.

Assessment findings emphasize the critical need for continued efforts in three key areas:

Mary Washington Healthcare CEO Presses for New Medical School, Avoids Media Questions

By Uriah Kiser

Published August 27, 2025 at 10:49AM

Mary Washington Healthcare Dr. Christopher Newman speaks at Fredericksburg Regional Chamber of Commerce Event.

FREDERICKSBURG, Va. — The future of healthcare in the Fredericksburg region took center stage Wednesday morning as two hospital leaders addressed growth, challenges, and innovation — including the possibility of Northern Virginia’s first medical school.

The Fredericksburg Regional Chamber of Commerce hosted its “Regionalism Matters: State of Healthcare” forum at Virginia Credit Union Stadium. The program featured Dr. Christopher Newman, President and CEO of Mary Washington Healthcare, and Ryan DeWeese, Chief Executive Officer of Spotsylvania Regional Medical Center.

Chamber Forum To Spotlight Fredericksburg Healthcare, Medical School Proposal

By Uriah Kiser

Published August 26, 2025 at 1:15PM

FREDERICKSBURG, Va. — The future of healthcare in the Fredericksburg region takes center stage Wednesday morning as two hospital leaders address growth, challenges, and innovation — including the possibility of Northern Virginia’s first medical school.

The Fredericksburg Regional Chamber of Commerce will host its “Regionalism Matters: State of Healthcare” forum from 9 to 10:30 a.m. at Virginia Credit Union Stadium. The discussion features Dr. Christopher Newman, president and CEO of Mary Washington Healthcare, and Ryan DeWeese, chief executive officer of Spotsylvania Regional Medical Center.

OB/GYN and Urology Clinics Are Moving to a New Spot in Manassas—Here’s What That Means for You

By Uriah Kiser

Published August 15, 2025 at 10:00AM

MANASSAS, Va. – UVA Health said it’s opening a new multispecialty clinic in Manassas. Starting Monday, August 18, patients can head to 8691 Stonewall Road for OB/GYN and urology care—all under one roof.

The move brings together two existing offices from Sudley Road and Forestwood Lane, giving patients a more convenient, upgraded space just minutes from UVA Health Prince William Medical Center. Appointments already scheduled will automatically shift to the new spot—no action needed from patients.

Virginia Marketplace Health Plans Could Jump 20% Next Year — One Insurer Wants 40%

By Uriah Kiser

Published August 13, 2025 at 8:00AM | Updated August 15, 2025 at 3:41PM

[Photo by Hush Naidoo Jade Photography/Unsplash]

Virginians who buy health insurance on the state’s marketplace could see big premium hikes in 2026, with most insurers proposing average increases of 20% or more — and one requesting twice that.

The State Corporation Commission says 10 insurers plan to sell individual marketplace plans in Virginia next year. Optimum Choice, Inc. has proposed the steepest average increase, 40.2%, according to SCC records. Rates in the small group market, which covers businesses with fewer than 50 workers, could rise an average of 11.2%.

New Heart & Vascular Center Opens in Woodbridge—A First for Northern Virginia

By Uriah Kiser

Published August 12, 2025 at 8:47AM

The Northern Virginia Heart & Vascular Center team who did the first procedure.

WOODBRIDGE, Va. – Sentara Health said they’ve teamed up with Carient Heart & Vascular and Polaris Heart & Vascular Clinic to open a brand-new outpatient cardiovascular center—something Northern Virginia has never seen before.

The Northern Virginia Heart & Vascular Center, located on Groupe Drive just three miles from Sentara Northern Virginia Medical Center, officially treated its first patient on July 24. It’s designed for people who need specific heart procedures but don’t require a hospital stay.

Future Healthcare Workers Get Hands-On Experience at Sentara Summer Camp

By Uriah Kiser

Published July 15, 2025 at 3:00PM | Updated August 15, 2025 at 2:02PM

WOODBRIDGE, Va. – At first glance, it looked like a typical hospital simulation: blinking mannequins, beeping monitors, and focused students practicing CPR and drawing blood. But for 14-year-old students like those in the room at Sentara Northern Virginia Medical Center, it was a first glimpse into what a future career in medicine might look like.

Sixteen rising 8th and 9th graders from Prince William County Public Schools spent a week at the hospital as part of the Sentara Healthcare Career Camp, a free summer program designed to expose youth to the wide array of healthcare professions beyond just doctors and nurses.

Someone’s Posting Fake Water Alerts in Stafford—Here’s What to Know

By Potomac Local News

Published June 4, 2025 at 11:15AM

STAFFORD, Va. – A fake water advisory notice found on residents’ doors in north Stafford has prompted concern and an investigation by the Stafford County Sheriff’s Office.

Sentara’s New Virtual Nurses Are Already Freeing Up Time and Improving Patient Care

By Potomac Local News

Published May 21, 2025 at 12:54PM | Updated May 27, 2025 at 3:10PM

WOODBRIDGE, Va. – Sentara Northern Virginia Medical Center has launched a new virtual nursing program that’s already changing how nurses care for patients—and how patients experience care.

The hospital’s Virtual Registered Nursing (VRN) Program allows experienced nurses to connect with patients through 50-inch screens in hospital rooms, handling admissions, discharges, and patient education remotely. The goal: give bedside nurses more time to focus on hands-on care, while still ensuring patients get one-on-one attention.

Better Signals, Safer Responses: Fredericksburg Hospital Adds New Radio System

By Potomac Local News

Published May 17, 2025 at 8:00AM

FREDERICKSBURG, Va. – Mary Washington Hospital has installed a new antenna system to help first responders communicate more clearly when responding to emergencies inside the hospital.

According to a press release from Mary Washington Healthcare, the hospital’s new Distributed Antenna System (DAS) cost $268,000 and is designed to boost radio signals throughout the hospital, improving communication in areas where coverage is typically poor. Hospitals, with their thick walls and complex layouts, are some of the toughest places for emergency radios to work correctly.