- News & Press ReleasesGeneral Page Tier 3BlogEvery three years, AAMC partners with local organizations to “take the pulse” of our community’s health through what’s called a community health needs assessment. Just like checking your own pulse and other vital signs, this process allows us to see how well our systems are working and make adjustments as needed. We collected as much data as possible from a variety of sources. We determined our community’s highest-priority health needs and developed an action plan to address them. Chronic Disease People with chronic conditions such as heart disease, cancer and diabetes often experience preventable complications. Steps we’re taking: Provide navigational and care coordination services to help patients and caregivers cope with illness and stay in the community. Train staff in primary care practices to identify and reach out proactively to patients at risk. Improve care coordination with nursing homes. Enhance our local population’s care through clinical initiatives sponsored by the AAMC Collaborative Care Network of physician practices. Mental Health and Substance Use In Anne Arundel County, there is a rapidly growing need for mental health and substance use services. Steps we’re taking: Establish a 16-bed mental health hospital for adults. Add more child psychiatrists and clinicians. Expand integration and co-location of mental health and primary care services. Infant Mortality Leading risk factors for infant mortality are low birth weight and a late start to prenatal care. Steps we’re taking: Find ways to collaborate with the community to improve access to early prenatal care. Develop education programs for low-income and/or minority women to access early prenatal care. Palliative Care Seniors are hospitalized four times more than other groups. Many struggle with medication management and social issues like lack of transportation and adequate nutrition. Steps we’re taking: Enhance our palliative care program. Palliative care is specialized medical care for people with serious illness. Expand access to The Conversation Project tool to help people express their end-of-life wishes. Access to Care Extreme poverty and health inequalities exist in some areas. Many community members have difficulties accessing the available services. Steps we’re taking: Bring together community partners to create a geographic resources plan.0
- Heart CareGeneral Page Tier 3BlogHeart disease affects lots of people and can be fatal. In fact, it is for over 600,000 people in the U.S. every year. That’s a scary number, made scarier still when you consider that many people who are at risk for acquired heart disease don’t know it. Here is what you should know: What causes it? There are many kinds of heart disease, from arrhythmias that affect your heartbeat to heart infections and more. But when it comes to acquired heart disease, the most common culprit is plaque (a substance that can build up in arteries.) If enough plaque sticks to the sides of your arteries, the passages for blood through your arteries can narrow, causing blood to reach your heart less easily. Plaque buildup is the leading cause of coronary artery disease (CAD) and of heart attack. Who is at risk? Heart disease can affect anyone at any age. You likely already know that having other chronic health issues, such as high cholesterol, high blood pressure and diabetes, can increase your risk of developing heart disease — and that your age, gender and family history are also contributing factors. However, you may be surprised to learn that lifestyle choices, such as unhealthy eating and lack of physical activity, are the leading cause. What are the symptoms? Heart disease is sometimes referred to as a “silent” disease. That’s because heart disease and the conditions that lead to it, including high blood pressure and high cholesterol, often have no symptoms. And that means that, sometimes, the first sign of heart disease is a heart attack. Signs of a heart attack may include: Cold sweats Discomfort or pain in the chest, jaw, neck or back Feeling dizzy, weak or lightheaded Feeling sick to your stomach Shortness of breath If you think that you or someone else is having a heart attack, don’t wait — call 9-1-1 right away. Is it diagnosable? Sometimes acquired heart disease can be diagnosed by a doctor through a series of chest x-rays, exercise stress tests and other diagnostic tools. If you’re concerned about heart disease, talk with your doctor about what tests might be right for you. Is it preventable? Making healthy lifestyle choices can lower your chances of acquiring heart disease. Quitting smoking, eating a healthy diet, maintaining a healthy weight and getting regular physical activity (150 minutes of moderate-intensity activity per week) are a great place to start. If you have another condition such as high blood pressure, high cholesterol or diabetes, make sure to talk to your doctor about the best way to manage your health. Your doctor may be able to recommend lifestyle changes you can make right away to start living healthier. They can also recommend medication to treat heart disease or its cause, if necessary. This post originally ran in the Enquirer-Gazette. Authors Leighton Forrester, MD, is a cardiologist at Luminis Health Doctors Community Medical Center.0
- Cancer Care, Infectious DiseaseGeneral Page Tier 3BlogThe coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic has affected all of us in ways we never saw coming. And, we are now beginning to see the light at the end of the tunnel – though we will feel the pandemic’s impact in our country, and around the world, for quite some time. We never stopped taking care of those with cancer. But, we did have to change how we delivered care as we prepared for a possible surge of COVID-19 patients. Now, we are beginning to see the number of COVID-19 hospitalizations decreasing statewide. We know many people have questions about whether it’s safe to go to the hospital right now. Here’s what we want you to know. Do not delay your medical care because you are afraid to come to the hospital. I want to stress that this is not a good idea and can put your health at risk. Please know that we have safety procedures in place to protect you. Some of these include protected check-in and check-out practices, face masks for everyone on our campus, daily screenings for all employees and patients, and COVID-19 testing for all patients who are scheduled to undergo surgery. We can safely serve the needs of our community. Especially when it comes to cancer prevention and delivering cancer care. We changed how we manage the processes around cancer screening. This includes cancer screening services such as colonoscopies, mammograms, skin exams, and PAP smears or wellness exams. For physical distancing, we offer same-day appointments with waiting room limits. We also screen all patients for COVID-19 before procedures such as colonoscopies. We are open to care for you, with your health and safety as our top priority. You have more options than ever to “see” your doctor. Telehealth visits with your doctor are just like a FaceTime call, but better. Though the pandemic forced us to learn to communicate with our patients in new ways, I can tell you that telehealth is here to stay. It has given us a convenient method to meet with you and discuss your concerns. However, we will still happily meet with patients face-to-face. This is an important part of our personalized approach to care. To all of our cancer survivors, we urge you to stay in contact with your doctor. That could include your medical oncologist, your primary care doctor, your nurse navigator or any member of your cancer care team. Keep regular appointments and let them know of any changes in your health. We are here for you. We look forward to providing safe, effective and efficient care to all of our cancer patients now and into the future. Author Adam I. Riker, M.D., F.A.C.S., is chair of Oncology at Anne Arundel Medical Center’s DeCesaris Cancer Institute.0
- GivingGeneral Page Tier 3BlogCoffee with Clinicians, hosted by the AAMC Foundation, spotlights the work that is happening throughout Anne Arundel Medical Center. This unique opportunity invites community members to talk directly with AAMC medical providers and leaders about the state of healthcare and about AAMC’s future. These moderated discussions give people a chance to ask questions and interact one-on-one with the providers. Discussions take place in the intimate setting of the Doordan Institute on AAMC’s medical park campus. Coffee with Clinicians, held on Oct. 4, 2016, featured pediatrics and pediatric mental health, which is an immediate crisis in Anne Arundel County. Michael Clemmens, MD, AAMC medical director of pediatrics; Melissa Wellner, MD, AAMC child and adolescent psychiatrist; and Susan Emerson, pediatric CRNP, presented on how AAMC is responding to the crisis. In the last year, we have seen a 13 percent increase in youth under 18 seeking help for mental health issues and illnesses. Community members asked the panel of medical providers about how they could help respond to this crisis. The team answered with this advice: “Work with us to remove the stigma of mental health,” Dr. Clemmens said. “The more we can do that, the better for everyone. Join a committee, support the programs and beat the drum.” For more information about Coffee with Clinicians and how to support these care programs, please contact Gabby Pasternak at 443-481-4735.0
- Stroke CareGeneral Page Tier 3BlogAAMC’s Power of 2 Peer Mentorship Program matches recent stroke survivors with mentors who have also survived a stroke. After completing a training program, mentors work with recent stroke survivors. Mentors give survivors an opportunity to ask questions, discuss challenges and confront emotions. They offer encouragement, hope and understanding. To learn more, call 443-481-4585.0
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