Support Groups

Bariatric Support Group

Meetings will be held every month on the fourth Thursday at 6:30 p.m. in the WMRMC Auditorium

This free support group is for those who have had bariatric surgery or want to gain insight from those who have had the experience.  The group will discuss their common problems, concerns and joys while learning skills to adjust to their weight loss.  Throughout the year, presentations are made on various subjects of interest to the members.  This group also may be used to fulfill one of the pre-operative requirements for bariatric surgery.

Upcoming Topics

May 23: Group Discussion: Open Forum

June 27: Celebrating our First Anniversary with outdoor activities at Allegany College of MD

July 25: Food Sensitivities with Theresa Stahl, RD/LD.

For more information or to register, call Kay Leigh, RD, LDN, at 240-964-8617 or by email at kleigh@wmhs.com

Includes classes for: Newborn Care, Siblings, Breastfeeding, Childbirth Reunion and Basic Cildbirth Classes

• Held in the Auditorium at the Western Maryland Regional Medical Center (2nd floor)
• To register, please call the WMHS Perinatal Unit at 240-964-6400

Every pregnancy is unique. No two women, pregnancies, labor, or babies are exactly the same. WMHS offers a variety of classes for the expectant mother and her family. These classes help women and their families understand the physical and emotional changes common during pregnancy, labor and delivery. The classes include: Newborn Care Class, Infant and Child CPR, Breastfeeding Class, Sibling Class, Traditional and Basic Childbirth Classes. Please click on the links below for the dates, times, locations and details of Childbirth Classes available at WMHS.

2013 Childbirth Prenatal Education Schedule (Click HERE for pdf file)

Circle of Friends Bereavement Support Group

• Meets on the 4th Wednesday of the month from 6 to 7 p.m.
• WMHS Home Hospice Services office on Industrial Blvd. in the former Ames/Hills Department Store

Circle of Friends Bereavement Support Group is open to anyone in the community who is grieving the death of a loved one and would like to meet with others who have similar shared experiences. The group meets monthly from 6-7 pm on the 4th Wednesday of each month. Circle of Friends meets at the WMHS Home Hospice Services office on Industrial Blvd. in the former Ames/Hills Department Store. The facilitators of the group are Anne DeVaughn, LCSW-C and H. Brent Thornton, LCSW-OSW-C. For more information, please contact Hospice at 240-964-9000.

Crohn's and Colitis Support Group

A new support group for people with Crohn’s disease or ulcerative colitis meets the first Tuesday of each month in the WMHS auditorium at 7:00 p.m. This group is approved by the Crohn’s and Colitis Foundation of America. For more information, please contact Gary Phillip at 301-268-2670, the facilitator for the support group.

Hand-in-Hand Cancer Support Group

Please call Julie Hardy, RN, in the Schwab Family Cancer Center at 240-964-1444 weekdays between 8:00 a.m. and 3:30 p.m. to make reservations. You may also email Julie at jhardy@wmhs.com.

• Meets the 3rd Wednesday of the month at 7:00 p.m.
• Auditorium at the Western Maryland Regional Medical Center
• Call Julie Hardy at 240-964-1444 or e-mail: jhardy@wmhs.com

I Can Cope (For Cancer Patients)

• Free program for cancer patients and their families
• Offered regularly throughout the year
• Call Jill Starr at 240-964-1447 or e-mail: jstarr@wmhs.com

Infertility Support Group

• Support group for those experiencing infertility or pregnancy loss
• Meets on the fourth Monday of each month at 5:30 p.m. at the WMRMC Auditorium, Room #5.
• The facilitator for the group is Jade Bean, a licensed social worker in WMHS Behavioral Health Services.
• The program is free and open to both couples and individuals. No insurance needed.
• For more information, please call Jade Bean at 240-964-8577 or e-mail: jbean@wmhs.com

• Helps Female Cancer Patients Cope with Side Effects of Cancer Treatment
• Classes are held quarterly
• Call 240-964-8020 for dates

SALSAL Support Group (Save a Live, Save a Leg)

SALSAL is a national organization with over 40 local chapters, focused on raising awareness of Amputation Prevention, Limb Salvage, Wound Care Treatments and Peripheral Arterial Disease (P.A.D.) through education and community based outreach. Meetings for the Tri-State Chapter of SALSAL will be at various locations in the Tri-State Area approximately 6 times per year. At each meeting we will have an evidenced-based presentation on a topic related to amputation prevention such as new endovascular technologies, advanced wound care, and diabetic patient management. Members will be encouraged to present lectures and to share interesting case studies. We will also provide 3 community service projects annually such walkathons, screenings, and community education programs.

If you are interested in attending and/or becoming a member, please contact Lisa Robertson in the Wound Care Center at 240-964-8711 or by e-mail at lrobertson@wmhs.com.

WMHS Stroke Support Group

• Meets the last Monday of each month at 3:00 p.m.
• Dining Room on the Comprehensive Inpatient Rehab Unit (CIRU) at Western Maryland Regional Medical Center
• Friends and family members welcome, too
• For more infomration, contact Kori Fazenbaker at 240-964-4766