MSDC Welcomes New Dialysis Unit Located in Ward 8

Being a physician in the District in the 21st century means being on the front line of the most pressing public health issues in the world. In our small geographic boundaries, physicians help address issue found in every state all in one area. The issues are too lengthy to list on one webpage but physicians are on the front lines of addressing health issues for all District residents.

News, Statements, and Testimony on Health Equity Issues

25th Council session information coming soon.

MSDC Welcomes New Dialysis Unit Located in Ward 8

May 23, 2023, 17:04 PM by MSDC Staff

Facility will help address a disparity in care in the District.

On May 18, MSDC joined Councilmember Trayon White and members of the healthcare community in celebrating the opening of a new in-home dialysis unit in Ward 8. The facility is located at BridgePoint Sub-Acute & Rehabilitation National Harborside at 4601 Martin Luther King Jr. Avenue, SW. Both MSDC and BridgePoint Healthcare are members of the Ward 8 Health Council, which works to improve health outcomes in Ward 8.

The National Harborside location is, according to BridgePoint, the only skilled nursing facility in the Washington, DC area with the ability to provide in-home dialysis to its ventilator dependent residents. This is beneficial given that approximately 48,600 people (or 8.6% of the adult population) in the District of Columbia are diagnosed with diabetes, according to the American Diabetes Association.

The new facility will be fully operational in June 2023 and will support health equity for the residents of DC by providing care to more patients close to home. Previously ventilator dependent patients had to transfer out of the District for those services.

“Providing dialysis services to patients recovering from a significant illness who are on mechanical ventilation will offer the residents a choice to stay closer to home,” said Marc C. Ferrell, president and chief executive officer of BridgePoint Healthcare. For more information, see www.bridgepointhealthcare.com.

Sample of Health Equity Legislation MSDC Tracked

Student Access to Treatment Amendment Act (B23-467)

What does it say? The bill allows for the administration of medicinal marijuana in schools as well as allows students to bring sunscreen to schools and apply it without a prescription.

MSDC position: MSDC supports the language permitting sunscreen application in schools

Current status: A win for DC physicians and public health! The legislation passed the Council in February and was signed by the Mayor. Previous temporary and emergency legislation permitted students to use sunscreen at schools this school year already.

Electronic Medical Order for Scope of Treatment Registry Amendment Act (B23-261)

What does it say? The bill requires DC Health to establish an electronic Medical Order for Scope of Treatment registry (eMOST).

MSDC position: MSDC supports this legislation to more easily allow patients to make their treatment orders known.

Current status: A win for the physician community and our patients! The Council passed the bill in December and the Mayor signed it into law on January 16, 2020.

Healthy Beverage Choices Amendment Act (B23-495)

What does it say? The bill would implement a 1.5 cent per ounce tax on the distribution of "sugary" beverages. The money collected from the tax would establish a Healthy People, Healthy Places Open Spaces Grant Program.

MSDC position: MSDC sent a letter to Council Chair Mendelson asking for a hearing to discuss all of the issues around a beverage tax.

Current status: The bill was introduced October 8, 2019 and referred to the Committee on Business and Economic Development and the Committee of the Whole.