New Stafford Hospital Clinic Offers Minimally Invasive Treatments

FREDERICKSBURG, VA — Mary Washington Healthcare on Wednesday announced the opening of an outpatient interventional radiology clinic on the Stafford Hospital campus, offering image-guided procedures to diagnose and treat a range of conditions.

The Mary Washington Interventional Radiology Outpatient Clinic will serve patients throughout the region. Dr. Peter Shahid has joined Mary Washington Healthcare as its first interventional radiologist, according to the health system.

Interventional radiology uses imaging technologies, including X-rays, ultrasound, MRI and CT scans, to guide procedures through small incisions rather than traditional surgery. The health system said these procedures often result in less pain, faster recovery, a lower risk of complications and shorter hospital stays than conventional surgical approaches.

Clinic Services And Treatment Options

“Interventional radiology offers patients effective treatment options for many complex conditions while minimizing recovery time and disruption to their daily lives,” Shahid said in the release.

The clinic offers evaluations, consultations and treatment for conditions including uterine fibroids, peripheral artery disease, deep vein thrombosis, varicose veins, and liver and kidney tumors.

Other conditions addressed include compression fractures, benign prostatic hyperplasia, dialysis access issues and chronic pain.

Available procedures include uterine fibroid embolization, angioplasty and stent placement, tumor ablation, vertebroplasty and kyphoplasty, and image-guided biopsies.

The clinic also offers PICC line and port placement, prostate artery embolization, biliary and nephrostomy drainage procedures, and treatment for varicoceles and pelvic congestion.

Cody Blankenship, vice president and administrator of Stafford Hospital, said the clinic and Shahid’s addition expand the health system’s specialty care services.

“Patients now have access to a broader range of minimally invasive treatment options right here in our community,” Blankenship said in the release.

Mary Washington Healthcare operates more than 80 facilities, including Mary Washington Hospital and Stafford Hospital, according to the health system.

Patients interested in the services should speak with their primary care provider to determine whether interventional radiology may be an appropriate treatment option, the health system said.