Sentara Northern Virginia Medical Center press release: Dedicated volunteers from the Woodbridge Woman’s Club (WWC) gather twice a month at the Sentara Cancer Network Resource Center on the campus of Sentara Northern Virginia Medical Center (SNVMC) to put their sewing talents to work creating heart-shaped pillows and other comfort items. Crafted by hand and made with love, these pillows are given free of charge to Sentara cancer and surgery patients.
The Health and Wellness Pillow Making Project began as a volunteer-driven, community service project to help support individuals facing cancer diagnoses. People find relief from acute pain by holding the pillows to their chests. Just as importantly, they find reassurance in knowing that people care.
“The specific shape of these pillows is designed to be not only comfortable but a visible reminder of the love and support going out to people who are dealing with a cancer or other serious medical diagnosis,” said Sentara Cancer Navigator Heather Byrne. “Every person who receives one of these beautiful pillows is touched to know its origin.”
WWC member Phyllis Zimmerman launched the project nine years ago and continues to sew to this day. The tally of heart pillows created last year was 170 and the dedicated WWC craftswomen estimate that well over 1,000 pillows have been created since they began the project.
“Nine years ago, I was the chairperson of what was called the Home Life section of the Woodbridge Woman’s Club. Our club president at the time asked me to find a project that would be of value in the community. I discovered these pillows that I thought we could make. They are helpful to women with breast cancer because the long ties on the pillow allow you to easily carry it with you, and by adjusting the ties, you can position it under your arm to bring relief where you might be feeling very tender,” explained Zimmerman.
While the pillows were originally made for those with breast cancer, now they are gifted to people coping with various forms of cancer, to radiology patients, and most recently to heart patients receiving care at SNVMC.
The WWC sewing volunteers cut out the heart-shaped pattern from fabric donated by people in the community. Two coordinating fabric pieces are sewn together, ribbons attached, the pillows are stuffed, hand stitched closed, and a special WWC label is attached. The volunteers also enjoy spending time together during their Wednesday sewing sessions that last for two hours at the Sentara Cancer Support Network office on the SNVMC campus.
The WWC has received numerous awards for its pillow-making project. On April 6, 2024, they were honored with the Award of Excellence, presented by the General Federation of Women’s Clubs (GFWC) Northern District for the Best Single Project, Large Club: Health & Wellness Community Service Program.
The heart pillows are not the only project that the volunteers craft by hand. They also sew and assemble cancer support bags for distribution to Sentara oncology patients. The bags include items to comfort a person during chemotherapy, such as games, cards, crossword puzzles, tissues, lip balm, hand lotion, and a comfort blanket.
The WWC volunteers continue to think of new items that will bring comfort to patients. The latest pieces they are creating are handmade seatbelt pillows placed between a car’s shoulder safety belt and a medical port implanted in the chest for chemotherapy. It might be a small item, but it can reduce the pain of a safety belt rubbing against a medical port.
“We cannot thank the Woodbridge Woman’s Club volunteers enough for their ongoing passion and caring by using their sewing skills to create these pillows and cancer bags that are such a tangible sign that people care,” said SNVMC President Jeff Joyner.
GFWC Woodbridge Woman’s Club is a member of the International General Federation of Women’s Clubs and is dedicated to community improvements and enhancing the lives of others through volunteer service. WWC is always welcoming new volunteers to work on this or other projects.
More information about WWC and volunteering or donating supplies to the pillow-making project is available on the WWC website.
Sentara Health: Carol Shapiro, MD, MBA, FACS, physician and director of Sentara Northern Virginia Medical Center’s Wound Healing Center, was honored with the 2024 Charles J. Colgan Visionary Award from the Prince William Chamber of Commerce on February 23 during the chamber’s annual awards banquet.
The award, named in memory of longtime state Senator Charles J. Colgan, celebrates individuals who have made significant contributions throughout their lives in service to the business community in Prince William County.
With more than 50 years of service in Prince William County, Dr. Shapiro was an original member of the medical staff at Potomac Hospital – now known as Sentara Northern Virginia Medical Center (SNVMC). She went on to become the first elected female president of the hospital’s medical staff as well as president at Prince William Hospital.
Dr. Shapiro is a board-certified plastic surgeon who established her practice in Woodbridge and Manassas in 1972 following her training at Georgetown University. Recognizing the opportunity to build a practice in a community that had previously lacked necessary medical services, Dr. Shapiro played an integral role in the development of the healthcare community in Prince William County.
As director of the outpatient Wound Healing Center at SNVMC, she championed the introduction of Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy (HBOT) services in eastern Prince William County five years ago.
Dr. Shapiro was integral in establishing the gang tattoo removal clinic in Prince William County, generously donating her time and expertise. Her commitment to her profession has included leadership roles with the Prince William Medical Society, the Medical Society of Virginia – where she served as the first woman president – and the American Medical Association, serving as chair of the Virginia delegation from 2007 to 2016.
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Sentara sponsors Play4Kay Pink Game
Sentara Northern Virginia Medical Center (SNVMC) is set to sponsor the George Mason University women’s basketball Play4Kay Pink Game for the fifth consecutive year. The event, part of the #Play4Kay initiative by the Kay Yow Cancer Fund, aims to combat cancers affecting women. The GMU women’s basketball team will face Saint Joseph’s University at EagleBank Arena on Thursday, February 8, with tip-off at 7:00 p.m. Sponsored by Sentara, the game includes activities to raise awareness and celebrate female cancer survivors.
The Sentara Cancer Network Resource Center will host a pre-game reception for breast cancer survivors, featuring a personal story from survivor Tara Brown-Coleman. Halftime will see the survivors honored in court, with SNVMC President Jeff Joyner and Sentara Cancer Network Resource Center Navigator Heather Byrne sharing cancer awareness and prevention tips. Play4Kay, inspired by Coach Kay Yow, emphasizes community unity in the fight against women’s cancers, transcending competition for the greater good.
New Imaging Center Opens in Spotsylvania County
Medical Imaging at Harrison Crossing, in collaboration with Radiologic Associates of Fredericksburg, proudly inaugurates its seventh imaging center in Spotsylvania County, expanding its state-of-the-art medical imaging services throughout Fredericksburg, Stafford, Spotsylvania, and King George. The fully ACR accredited facilities boast a team of board-certified, fellowship-trained radiologists dedicated to delivering quality care.
Aatif Rahman, Senior Director Technical Services at Medical Imaging of Fredericksburg, LLC, expresses excitement about enhancing community service. He commends the imaging team’s dedication and hard work in ensuring that patients receive the quality care they deserve.
The new facility at 5501 Plank Rd, Suite 110, Fredericksburg, 22407, spans 8,000 square feet and offers a range of services, including Open MRI, CAT Scan, Ultrasound, X-ray, 3D Mammography, and DEXA scanning. Appointments can be scheduled by contacting the call center at 540-741-XRAY(9729) from Monday to Friday (8 a.m. to 8 p.m.) and Saturday (8:00 a.m. – 2:00 p.m.). Note that patient visits are by appointment only.
Rappahannock Area Health District honored
The Rappahannock Area Health District (RAHD) has been recognized by the National Association of County and City Health Officials (NACCHO) for its outstanding public health emergency preparedness through Project Public Health Ready (PPHR). This acknowledgment reflects RAHD’s comprehensive emergency response plan, trained staff, and collaboration with partners like emergency managers, schools, and hospitals. NACCHO CEO Lori T. Freeman commended RAHD as a model for public health emergency preparedness. For more information, visit vdh.virginia.gov/rappahannock and naccho.org/PPHR.
I’ve worked with Sentara Northern Virginia Medical Center since 2012 to help its dedicated team reach our readers, members, and the larger community.
We’ve worked together on health education campaigns, community fairs, ribbon cuttings, and, of course, the pandemic, and through it all, I’ve considered Sentara a valued partner. So valued, my wife and I chose the hospital to deliver our son to us in October 2023.
After all, it’s good to know the folks at Sentara feel the same.
“Potomac Local News has been an invaluable partner for Sentara Northern Virginia Medical Center for over ten years, playing a crucial role in communicating our healthcare message to the residents of Prince William and Stafford counties.
In our decade-long collaboration, Potomac Local News has been more than a platform for advertising; it has been a dedicated voice for the community. We appreciate their commitment to showcasing the stories of healthcare professionals who tirelessly work to provide high-quality medical care. Through Potomac Local News, we’ve had the opportunity to highlight the narratives of our doctors, nurses, and other medical staff, sharing their impact on our community’s health and well-being.
This partnership has allowed us to communicate our mission effectively and strengthened the connection between our medical center and the community. We thank Potomac Local News for their unwavering support and look forward to continuing our collaboration in promoting a healthier and more informed community.”
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If you’re ready to partner with Potomac Local News, a locally-owned business with the community’s interest at its forefront and with a publisher that treats his clients as part of the team, please call me today, and let’s get to work.
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Potomac Local News
Optima Health is changing our name to Sentara Health Plans to better reflect our enhanced focus on promoting the overall health and well-being of our consumers. You already know Sentara as a trusted provider with more than 300 sites of care in neighborhoods across Virginia and North Carolina, including Sentara Northern Virginia Medical Center 1.
While the health plans have been a part of Sentara for over 35 years, under this new name—Sentara Health Plans— we will be able to further integrate them under a single, unified brand2. And, by providing healthcare that is simple, personal, and more affordable, we are practicing the future of healthcare today.
1 Sentara Health. About Us. sentaraproviderresources.com/about-us
2 Sentara Health Plans is a trade name of Sentara Health Plans, Sentara Health Insurance Company, Sentara Health Administration, Inc., and Sentara Behavioral Health Services, Inc. Sentara Health Plans, previously Optima Health Plan, has been issuing HMO plans under that license since 1984. Sentara Health Insurance Company, previously Optima Health Insurance Company, has issued PPO Accident and Sickness plans since 1991.
Press Release:Â “The Food Services team at Sentara Northern Virginia Medical Center (SNVMC) in Woodbridge, received the honor as the Regional Account of the Year by Morrison Healthcare in an awards presentation held at the medical center on November 21.”
“Morrison Healthcare is a national leader in health care food and nutrition support services that partners with more than 975 hospitals and health care systems in the United States, including Sentara Health.”
“Food Services managers and staff were presented the award during a celebratory lunch that included Morrison representatives, SNVMC leadership, and Sentara Health President and Chief Executive Officer Dennis Matheis in attendance.”
“SNVMC Food Services team was named Regional Account of the Year based on several criteria, including a priority on safety, being employee focused, financial stewardship, patient satisfaction, and food and nutrition services excellence.”
“In 2023, SNVMC scored in the 91st percentile on patient satisfaction scores rating food service, an increase of 10 points over the previous year. Additionally, through strategies that included inventory management, effective cross utilization of products, staff training, and eliminating precut produce, the team improved revenue while saving on cost of goods and labor, bringing a total savings of $464,000 to the hospital.”
WHRO: “Sentara Health now owns the controlling interest in local urgent care provider Velocity.”
“Sentara partnered with Velocity in 2017 when it turned seven of its urgent cares over to Velocity’s management and helped invest in 10 more.”
“Sentara Vice President of Ambulatory Services Kurt Hofelich says urgent cares are a fast-growing, cheap way to get same-day care while avoiding the wait times and costs of the emergency room.”
The clinic operates a location at 16422 Navigation Drive in Woodbridge.
Sentara operates a hospital, Sentara Northern Virginia Medical Center, in Woodbridge.
Sentara Therapy Center located on the campus of Sentara Northern Virginia Medical Center in Woodbridge, currently has availability for our community’s littlest patients.
Offering comprehensive pediatric speech, occupational, and physical therapies. Our therapy team specializes in doing Co-Treat sessions where the child can work with multiple specialties at the same time for a dynamic team approach.
Call 855-852-9066 to schedule your child’s appointment.
On Saturday, October 21, stop by the Sentara Drive-Thru Flu event to receive your free flu shot.
WHO: Adults (18+). Open to the general public.
COST: FREE
TIME: 8 a.m. until all shots are given. First come, first served while supplies last. No appointment needed!
WHERE: Sentara Northern Virginia Medical Center, 2300 Opitz Blvd., Woodbridge, Va. 22191
Only the standard dose vaccine will be offered. Public Health experts have not recommended one type of flu vaccine more highly than another for people 65 and older. They advise getting any type of flu vaccination as the first and more important step in protecting against the flu.
