Here are this week’s top five most-clicked stories from MHA’s News Roundup newsletter.
This Is the Absolute Worst Thing You Can Do at Urgent Care, According to Doctors
Huffington Post, by Geoff Williams
While urgent care is a helpful option for minor illnesses or injuries, there are times when it isn’t enough — and using it in those situations can put your health at risk. Dr. Nicholas Bower, regional medical director at University of Maryland Urgent Care, says that symptoms like sudden severe chest pain, acute shortness of breath, neurological problems, or significant trauma should send you straight to the ER, not urgent care.
Researchers Identify Birthmark That Signals Serious Neurological Condition
WMAR, by Kristi Harper
Researchers at Kennedy Krieger Institute are urging parents and doctors to watch for a specific type of birthmark that strongly indicates Sturge-Weber syndrome. Sturge-Weber syndrome is a condition that affects blood vessel development in the skin, eye, and brain.
New White House Policy Could Worsen Maryland Nurse Shortage
WYPR, by Scott Maucione
A new federal policy is putting nurses in a tough spot in Maryland. The Department of Education removed nursing specialties from its list of professional degrees, which means nurses pursuing graduate training now face a strict loan limit — $20,500 a year and no more than $100,000 total. This affects those working toward roles like nurse practitioners and midwives, making it harder for them to move forward in their careers.
As Other Rural Hospitals Preach Caution, Maryland’s Garrett Medical Takes a Bold Step
The Baltimore Sun, by Ben Mause
Rural hospitals nationwide have been evaluating the future since the One Big, Beautiful Bill became law in July. Changes to Medicaid that will impact their revenue have led some medical facilities to cancel planned programs or projects, seeking savings before the changes take effect in 2027. Garrett Regional Medical Center is doing the opposite, hoping to expand its services despite the current health care landscape uncertainty. “To me, it feels like something that we’re compelled to do because our mission is that we’re going to care for people in our community in an authentic way,” Mark Boucot, the president and CEO of Garrett Regional, told The Baltimore Sun.
Focused Ultrasound Improves Survival Odds for Deadliest Brain Cancer
The Baltimore Sun, by Karl Hille
Researchers at UMMC — led by Graeme Woodworth, Neurosurgeon-in-Chief — have shown that using MRI-guided focused ultrasound to open the blood-brain barrier before chemotherapy significantly improves survival for patients with Glioblastoma. In the trial, patients receiving this combined therapy lived, on average, more than 30 months — a big jump from the 19 months typical with standard treatment.
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