Community Care Physician/Associate Medical Director

5 Sentara hospitals ranked in top 10% nationwide for patient safety. Healthgrades' Patient Safety Excellence Award recognizes hospitals for providing top-quality care while preventing serious safety events Healthgrades has given 2026 Patient Safety Excellence Awards to five Sentara hospitals, putting them in the top 10% nationwide for patient safety. The following five Sentara hospitals received the distinction: Healthgrades used federal hospital data to create the rankings, analyzing 13 preventable patient safety events, from in-hospital falls resulting in a fracture to blood stream infections following surgery. "Hospitals that prioritize evidence-based safety practices not only achieve better clinical outcomes, but also cultivate a culture where patients come first," said Dr. Alana Biggers, medical advisor at Healthgrades, an online platform that helps people find and compare healthcare providers. "These insights give individuals and families the information they need to make confident and better-informed healthcare decisions." In addition to receiving a Patient Safety Excellence Award, Sentara Virginia Beach General Hospital received an America's 100 Best Hospitals for Prostate Surgery Award from Healthgrades. The award recognizes superior clinical outcomes in prostate removal surgery and transurethral resection of the prostate. Avoiding serious, preventable complications. According to Healthgrades, "Patient safety ratings evaluate the safety and quality of care at a hospital by measuring the rate at which serious, potentially preventable complications and adverse events occurred in the hospital." This year's recipients include 438 hospitals from 40 states. Patients treated in these facilities were much less likely to experience the four most common patient safety indicators, which represent a serious, preventable complication and account for 78% of all hospital safety events: * In-hospital fall resulting in fracture (52.4% less likely) * Collapsed lung due to a procedure or surgery in or around the chest (57.5% less likely) * Catheter-related bloodstream infections acquired in the hospital (67.8% less likely) * Pressure sores or bed sores acquired in the hospital (71.9% less likely)

Sentara expands access to colon cancer screening and digestive care in Charlottesville. Sentara Martha Jefferson Hospital opens new gastroenterology practice As colon cancer rates continue to rise, particularly among younger adults, access to timely screening and digestive care has never been more important. To meet this growing need, Sentara Martha Jefferson Hospital (SMJH) has opened Sentara Gastroenterology Specialists - Charlottesville, increasing access to preventive screenings and comprehensive GI care close to home. The new clinic improves the region's access to colon cancer prevention and early detection by providing expert treatment to individuals in Charlottesville and surrounding areas. The practice is led by board-certified gastroenterologist Savita Srivastava, M.D., and provides care for a wide range of digestive, liver, and gastrointestinal conditions, with a strong focus on screening and prevention. The clinic is accepting new and existing patients. "Colon cancer is one of the most preventable cancers when it's caught early," said Dr. Srivastava. "By expanding access to screening and GI care locally, we're making it easier for patients to take proactive steps for their health, whether that's routine prevention or managing more complex conditions." Meeting a growing community need. Across the country, more adults under 50 are being diagnosed with colorectal cancer. That trend reinforces the importance of earlier screening and greater awareness. In response, SMJH is expanding GI services to ensure patients receive the care they need sooner. An additional gastroenterologist will join the practice next month, increasing appointment availability and helping reduce wait times for its community. Looking ahead: expanded screening capacity. The clinic is part of a broader effort to improve colorectal cancer outcomes in the region. SMJH is also building a free-standing endoscopy center that will increase access to screening and diagnostic procedures once completed. These investments support Sentara Martha Jefferson's mission to improve health every day, with a continued focus on prevention, early detection, and patient-centered care. Colon Cancer Awareness Month. March is recognized as Colon Cancer Awareness Month, a reminder of the lifesaving impact of screening. Adults age 45 and older, or younger individuals with risk factors or a family history, are encouraged to talk with their primary care provider about screening options. More information. By: Alyssa Pacheco

Sentara RMH recognized nationally as top cardiovascular hospital. Sentara RMH Medical Center was one of only two hospitals in the state recognized this month as a top cardiovascular hospital on Modern Healthcare's 50 Top Cardiovascular Hospitals list. The list includes three categories: top teaching hospitals with a cardiovascular residency program, top teaching hospitals without a cardiovascular residency program, and top community hospitals. Sentara RMH was ranked 4 out of 10 in the top community hospitals category. The only other hospital in Virginia on the list is Henrico Doctors' Hospital in Richmond, ranked 5th in the community hospitals category. "We're really excited to see this recognition from Modern Healthcare, and to be in their top 50 cardiovascular hospitals list for 2026," said Dr. Robert Garwood, chief medical officer at Sentara RMH Medical Center, in a news release. "Being on this list is recognition that our hospital provides superior patient outcomes, higher operational efficiency, a higher patient experience, and extended outcomes to our community each and every day." Hospitals are ranked across four performance categories by Premier, Inc., which issues the scorecards. Those categories are acute myocardial infarction performance, heart failure performance, coronary artery bypass graft performance, and percutaneous coronary artery intervention performance. "Cardiovascular care is one of the most complex and impactful service lines in healthcare," said David Zito, president of performance services at Premier, in a press release. "The 50 Top Cardiovascular Hospitals program highlights organizations delivering strong outcomes while providing hospital leaders with meaningful benchmarks to help improve care." According to Premier, the 2026 50 Top Cardiovascular Hospitals, evaluated on criteria such as hospital clinical outcomes, cost and process efficiency, and patient experience, provided higher-quality clinical care and were identified as more efficient than their peer institutions. Premier's Methodology Guide stated that, "If all U.S. hospitals' cardiovascular service lines performed at the level of these study winners, more than 14,300 additional lives and over $2.0 billion could be saved, and over 27,300 additional bypass and angioplasty patients could be complication-free." Departments at Sentara RMH that contributed to the rankings included heart and vascular, imaging, the emergency department, the PCU/CCU, CT OR/surgical services, and pre-op/PACU, according to Sentara RMH. Garwood said that recognition reflects the staff's dedication. "It is recognition of the selfless work our providers, nurses, and technicians give our patients here at Sentara RMH and our community at large," Garwood said.