Cystic Fibrosis Center Receives Full Accreditation from Cystic Fibrosis Foundation

Pediatric Specialists of Virginia (PSV) and Inova’s L.J. Murphy Children’s Hospital are proud to announce that our joint Cystic Fibrosis (CF) Center has been granted full accreditation by the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation through 2028. This prestigious recognition is a testament to the dedication and exceptional quality of care provided by our CF team, led by Program Director Dagne Assefa, MD.

Established over two decades ago, the CF Center has been a cornerstone of support for pediatric CF patients in our community. Originally established as an affiliate center, the program achieved full accreditation in 2017. Since its inception, the team has continuously demonstrated their commitment to excellence in CF care.

Dr. Assefa, expressed his gratitude, stating, “Our Cystic Fibrosis Center has served our community’s pediatric cystic fibrosis patients for over two decades. What truly sets the Cystic Fibrosis Center apart is the commitment and collaborative work ethic of our team members. We are wholeheartedly dedicated to the program, ensuring that our cystic fibrosis patients receive optimal care.”

The core team, including Dagne Assefa, MD (Program Director), Michael McCown, DO (Associate Program Director), Patti DeCorte, CPNP-PC (Program Coordinator), Julia Segovia, RN (CF Nurse), Rachel Jones, MSW (Social Work), Latisha Davis, RRT (Respiratory Therapist), and Janny Cho, RD (Nutritionist), brings together expertise from various disciplines to provide comprehensive cystic fibrosis care for our patients.

At the heart of the CF Center is a commitment to collaboration and patient-centered care. Weekly team meetings allow the team to discuss cases, share insights, and make collective decisions. This open communication ensures that every patient benefits from their combined expertise and holistic approach to treatment.

The CF Center prioritizes patient and family involvement in decision-making, tailoring care plans to individual needs. As patients transition to adult care, the Center maintains a seamless partnership with the Inova Adult CF program, ensuring continuity of care. Moreover, the Center engages in continuous quality improvement, regularly reviewing practices and implementing evidence-based changes to enhance care delivery.

Looking ahead, the focus remains on innovation and improvement. The CF Center is establishing a patient family advisor board to further enhance patient engagement and are committed to initiatives like providing easy access to genetic counseling for all patients, among other quality improvement projects.

At the CF Center, our mission is clear: to provide exceptional care and support to every CF patient we serve. With full accreditation from the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation, we reaffirm our dedication to excellence and look forward to continuing to make a positive impact in the lives of our patients and their families.

About Pediatric Specialists of Virginia
Pediatric Specialists of Virginia (PSV) was collaboratively created by Children’s National Hospital and Inova Health System in 2013 as a pediatric specialty group dedicated to caring for the needs of children in Northern Virginia and surrounding areas. Its mission is to provide superb pediatric specialty care through clinical excellence, innovation, education, research, and family-centered care. As a medical group practice with tax-exempt status under Section 501(c)(3) of the U.S. Internal Revenue Code, our specialists care for children during hospital stays at Children’s National and Inova Children’s Hospital and throughout their childhood on an ongoing, outpatient basis. Many are recognized as “Top Docs” by The Washingtonian and Northern Virginia Magazine and have appeared in U.S. News & World Report as leading experts in their fields.

For more information about PSV, please visit: www.psvcare.org

[Fairfax, VA, September 30, 2023] – Pediatric Specialists of Virginia (PSV), a top pediatric care institution, proudly celebrates its 10th anniversary today. Over the past decade, PSV has been a pillar of support for Northern Virginia’s children and families, delivering outstanding pediatric care and making a profound impact on the community’s well-being.

Founded in 2013 as a unique joint venture by Children’s National Hospital and Inova Health System to meet the needs of children and families in Northern Virginia and surrounding areas, PSV has grown into a leading pediatric specialty practice, adapting to meet evolving needs, and setting the standard for comprehensive pediatric specialty care in the region.

“This milestone is a testament to the dedication and hard work of our entire PSV team,” said Dr. Laurel Blakemore, Chief Executive Officer of PSV. “We’ve come a long way since our inception, and it fills me with immense pride to see how we have positively impacted the lives of countless children and their families. Our commitment to service excellence remains as strong as ever, and we are determined to continue providing the highest quality care possible.”

PSV’s commitment to service excellence and the well-being of its patients and their families remains at the heart of its mission. The practice’s multidisciplinary team of pediatric specialists and support staff work tirelessly to create an environment that is nurturing, comforting, and focused on the unique needs of each child.

As PSV marks its 10th anniversary, it reaffirms its dedication to making a positive difference in the lives of Northern Virginia’s children, looking forward to the next decade and beyond.

About Pediatric Specialists of Virginia: 
Pediatric Specialists of Virginia (PSV) was collaboratively created by Children’s National Hospital and Inova Health System in 2013 as a pediatric specialty group dedicated to caring for the needs of children in Northern Virginia. Its mission is to provide superb pediatric specialty care through clinical excellence, innovation, education, research, and family-centered care. As a medical group, PSV is a public charity with tax-exempt status under Section 501(c)(3) of the U.S. Internal Revenue Code. Many PSV providers are recognized as “Top Docs” by The Washingtonian and Northern Virginia Magazine and have appeared in U.S. News & World Report as leading experts in their fields. For more information about PSV, please visit the About Us page.

This month, Pediatric Specialists of Virginia (PSV) received a recognition award from the Fairfax County Health Department for contributions in protecting the health of children through our dedicated actions and commitment to immunizations.

Representatives from the Fairfax County Health Department, including Immunization Action Plan Coordinator Christine Carlock, presented the award to PSV’s Chief Executive Officer Dr. Laurel Blakemore and Director of Quality and Clinical Services Ruby Higgins.

Under Dr. Rebecca Levorson, who was instrumental in its development and success, PSV’s immunization program made collaborative use of the Virginia Immunization Information System (a statewide system that maintains vaccination history), took an active role providing COVID-19 immunizations throughout the COVID-19 pandemic, and contributed to protecting the health and well-being of vulnerable children in our community.

Each August, The Virginia Department of Health, the Fairfax County Health Department, and other partners recognize National Immunization Awareness Month. This recognition highlights the importance of routine vaccination for people of all ages, preventing many diseases that were once common.

To read the full article, head over to the Fairfax County Health Department’s website.

Pediatric Specialists of Virginia is excited to announce that Laurel Blakemore, MD, CEO, was announced as one of the co-recipients of the Thomas E. Whitecloud Award by Scoliosis Research Society. 

To view more about the award, and the Scoliosis Research Society, please click here.

Fairfax, VA – Pediatric Specialists of Virginia (PSV) is excited to announce Laurel Blakemore, MD as its new Chief Executive Officer, effective October 19^th. 

Dr. Blakemore previously served in the role of Shriners Endowed Professor and Division Chief of Pediatric Orthopaedics at the University of Florida’s College of Medicine in the Department of Orthopaedics and Rehabilitation.  Prior to her stint with the University of Florida, Dr. Blakemore served as Chief of Pediatric Orthopaedics at Children’s National hospital for nine years.

Her primary focus at PSV will be on leading the organization through its next phase of development and growth by applying her vast experience working with ambulatory healthcare practices, as well as utilizing the operational acumen she’s acquired while working at a variety of health care facilities and over the course of her illustrious career.

“I am so excited to return to Pediatric Specialists of Virginia and work with the wonderful team there,” said Dr. Blakemore.  “As Chief of Orthopaedics at Children’s National I participated in the start of PSV, a unique example of what can be accomplished through collaboration and vision.  I welcome the opportunity to work with the PSV team to further develop our ability to offer the best pediatric specialty care possible to the region’s children.”

In addition to her role as CEO, Dr. Blakemore will also maintain her orthopedic clinical practice.  Her clinical areas of interest include scoliosis care including early onset scoliosis and orthopedic trauma, to name but a few.

Dr. Blakemore is PSV’s second Chief Executive Officer after taking over for Dr. Leon Moores, who recently accepted an executive leadership position at Inova Health System, after nearly six years of exemplary leadership and service in the CEO role at PSV.

About Pediatric Specialists of Virginia (PSV):  Pediatric Specialists of Virginia (PSV) was collaboratively created by Children’s National Hospital and Inova Health System in 2013 as a pediatric specialty group dedicated to caring for the needs of children in Northern Virginia and surrounding areas. Its mission is to provide superb pediatric specialty care through clinical excellence, innovation, education, research and family-centered care. As a medical group practice with tax-exempt status under Section 501(c)(3) of the U.S. Internal Revenue Code, our specialists care for children during hospital stays at Children’s National  and Inova Children’s Hospital and throughout their childhood on an ongoing, outpatient basis. Many are recognized as “Top Docs” by The Washingtonian and Northern Virginia Magazine, and have appeared in U.S. News & World Report as leading experts in their fields. For more information about PSV, please visit: www.psvcare.org.

About Children’s National Hospital:  Children’s National Hospital, based in Washington, D.C., has served the nation’s children since 1870. Children’s National is the nation’s No. 6 pediatric hospital and, for the third straight year, is ranked No. 1 in newborn care, as well as ranked in all specialties evaluated by U.S. News & World Report. It has been designated two times as a Magnet® hospital, a designation given to hospitals that demonstrate the highest standards of nursing and patient care delivery. This pediatric academic health system offers expert care through a convenient, community-based primary care network and specialty outpatient centers in the D.C. Metropolitan area, including the Maryland suburbs and Northern Virginia. Home to the Children’s Research Institute and the Sheikh Zayed Institute for Pediatric Surgical Innovation, Children’s National is the seventh-highest NIH-funded children’s hospital in the nation. Children’s National is recognized for its expertise and innovation in pediatric care and as a strong voice for children through advocacy at the local, regional and national levels. 
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About Inova:  Inova Children’s Hospital is Northern Virginia’s only dedicated children’s hospital, and is located on the Inova Fairfax Medical Campus. The 226-bed, full service children’s hospital offers a complete range of services in more than 40 pediatric subspecialties, including one of the area’s largest heart programs with pediatric cardiology and cardiac surgery. The hospital serves as the Northern Virginia’s tertiary pediatric referral center; home to its only Pediatric Level I Trauma Center, Pediatric Intensive Care Unit, and Level IV Neonatal Intensive Care Unit. Inova Children’s Hospital is part of Inova, Northern Virginia’s leading nonprofit healthcare provider that serves more than 2 million people each year in the Washington, DC region and beyond. Inova was recognized in 2019 and 2020 by U.S. News & World Report, which named Inova Fairfax Hospital the #1 hospital in the Washington, DC region. All five Inova hospitals were awarded ‘A’ grades for the spring 2020 Leapfrog Hospital Safety Grades, recognizing Inova’s achievements in protecting patients from harm and providing safer healthcare. Each of Inova’s five hospitals holds a 5-star rating from the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS), distinguishing Inova as the highest-rated large health system in the U.S., and the only system to have all hospitals receive five stars. Inova Fairfax Medical Campus was named to the Fortune/IBM Watson Health 100 Top Hospitals list, ranking in the top 10 nationwide among Major Teaching Hospitals.