The George Washington Medical Faculty Associates (The MFA) is a not-for-profit medical organization that is physician governed. The MFA is based in the Washington D.C. area and is the largest multi-specialty practice in DC with over 700 doctors within 48 medical and surgical specialties. The headquarters of the MFA are on the campus of George Washington University, with a main campus at The George Washington Hospital. The MFA has offices in Annapolis, Bethesda, Rockville, Downtown DC, the West End, Upper Northwest Washington, Reston and Mount Vernon, and maintains privileges in INOVA Fairfax Hospital, Howard University Hospital, Mount Vernon Hospital, Reston Hospital, Shady Grove Hospital, Washington Adventist Hospital, Sibley Hospital, and Suburban Hospital. The MFA has an average of one million patient visits in the span of a year.

History

edit

Historically, the MFA, along with the George Washington University Hospital was a part of George Washington University, which was founded in 1821. In the mid 1990s, the University board decided to restructure. The hospital was sold in 1997 and in 2000, the MFA separated from the university and became an independent, nonprofit organization headed by CEO Stephen L. Badger and president Alan G. Wasserman. Before the split, the MFA suffered from years of financial unprofitability, but under the new leadership, the MFA has grown to include a staff of over 1200 (Citation needed). Also in 2000, the MFA launched an electronic medical record in an effort to minimize paper waste, streamline processes, reduce errors and make physicians’ time more efficient. The electronic system is meant to provide a link for a patient’s records between the doctors of different specialties. In February of 2011, the MFA announced that it had selected Jardogs FollowMyHealth Record (UHR) to allow patients to access to an online portal for requesting appointments, prescription renewals, and billing accounts. According to World Congress, because of their implementation of the electronic patient record, the MFA is a “national leader in the use of information technology to improve healthcare” (http://www.worldcongress.com/speakerBio.cfm?speakerID=1952). The MFA is also known for its commitment to minimally invasive surgical techniques and the use of the DiVinci robotic operating system (citation needed).

Locations

edit

George Washington Medical Faculty Associates has a main campus located downtown Washington DC well as two locations in West End/Georgetown, two locations in Bethesda, Maryland, one location at the Sibley Memorial Hospital Campus, one in Reston, Virginia, and one in Mount Vernon, Virginia.

Research and Specialties

edit

The MFA has several clinical research centers including The Katzen Cancer Research Center, The Richard B. and Lynne V. Cheney Cardiovascular Institute, The Wilson Genetics Center, and the Breast Imaging & Intervention Center, The Center for Digestive Disorders and The Center for Urologic & Urologic Surgery

The specialties of the MFA include Allergy & Sinus, Anesthesiology, Audiology, Cancer & Blood Disorders, Cardiology, Cardiothoracic Surgery, Colon & Rectal Surgery, Cosmetic Dermatology, Cosmetic Surgery, Dermatology, Ear, Nose & Throat, Emergency Medicine, Endocrinology, Fertility & IVF, Gastroenterology & Liver Diseases, General Internal Medicine, General Surgery, Geriatrics & Palliative Medicine, Hospital Medicine, Hyperbaric Medicine, Infectious Disease, Joint Health & Autoimmune Disease, Kidney Disease & Hypertension, Minimally Invasive Surgery, Neonatology, Neurology, Neurosurgery, OB/GYN, Ophthalmology, Optometry, Orthopaedic Surgery, Pain & Non-Operative Spine Services, Pathology, Physical Rehabilitation, Plastic Surgery, Podiatry, Psychiatry, Pulmonology, Diagnostic Radiology, Interventional Radiology, Mammogram Radiology, Radiation Oncology, Urologic Surgery, and Vascular Surgery.

Additional Services

edit

International Physician Assistant Development Program (IPAD)

edit

The MFA is involved in assisting the Prince Sultan Military College of Health Sciences in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia in developing a Physician Assistant (PA) program. The MFA has provided consultation on designing medical training programs, selecting educators from a global pool, and choosing curriculum.

Wisdom Midwifery

edit

WISDOM midwifery is an in-hospital midwifery service provided through the MFA. There are four midwives: Whitney Pinger CNM, Laura Emmons CNM, Nora Fisher CNM, and Marsha Stalcup CNM. This program focuses on helping women achieve healthy and natural childbirth.

Military

edit

In October of 2011, the MFA announced an agreement with ITT Corporation to provide an emergency medical system for the US military in Kuwait. The MFA is responsible for staffing and managing 17 ambulances for military personnel on the eight military bases in the area.

Telemedicine

edit

The MFA has provided staff and telemedicine services for United States bases in Antarctica in the past and currently provides remote medical consultative services in correctional facilities as well as US commercial fishing and shipping industries.

Awards and Recognition

edit

2006 CEO Steve Badger named “Medical Practice Executive of the Year” by Medical Group Management Association

2008 Green Leadership Award for Healthcare – by Bisnow Green Leadership Awards

2008 Top 100 Best Places to Work in IT, ComputerWorld

2009 Top 100 Best Places to Work in IT, ComputerWorld

2011 First Place Interior Design Competition Award – Healthcare Category by American Society of Interior Designers