- WellnessGeneral Page Tier 3BlogThanksgiving. It’s a day to relax. Watch football. And most of all, eat good food. But if you’re one of the many people managing your diabetes or watching your weight, this holiday can be a challenge. According to the Calorie Control Council, the average American eats 3,000 calories at Thanksgiving dinner. And that’s not including appetizers, drinks or snacks throughout the day. Need help making healthy choices at the Thanksgiving dinner table? Here are six tips. Don’t skip meals. You might think you’re doing your health a favor by “saving” calories for the big Thanksgiving dinner. But skipping meals throws off your blood sugar levels. If your Thanksgiving meal is at the usual dinner hour, eat a healthy breakfast and light lunch. Eat —don’t drink — your calories. Say no to sugary drinks, like cocktails, holiday punches and fruit juices. They are full of empty calories that spike your blood sugar and can lead to weight gain. Go for calorie-free drinks — including water, unsweetened tea and seltzers. Slow down. Did you know it takes time for your brain to register that you’re full? Savor each bite. Make a conscious effort to set your utensils down between bites. Keep dessert portions small. And eat slowly to enjoy the taste longer. If you’re not hungry, don’t eat. Put the food away. Clear the table after the meal to reduce the temptation to snack. Often, after-dinner snacking is a social activity, rather than a way to satisfy hunger. Try gathering in the living room, away from the kitchen. Include healthy options. Create a balanced meal – one that includes protein, carbohydrates, healthy fats and plenty of fruits and vegetables. If you’re a guest, offer to bring a seasonal salad or fruit tray for a healthy side. Get moving. Get members of your household together and go for a walk. This will take the focus away from food. And the extra steps will help you burn calories and reduce your blood sugar levels. Or, if the weather isn’t cooperating, round up some indoor activities that don’t involve food. Like playing board games, telling stories or sharing photos. Luminis Health Diabetes and Endocrinology is here to offer comprehensive management, treatment and education for patients with diabetes. Resources include: Group education classes and access to support groups Highly individualized counseling One-on-one nutrition counseling Instruction on insulin pump usage and continuous glucose monitoring0
- Employee SpotlightGeneral Page Tier 3BlogSome say adversity is life throwing you a curveball to make it better. For every defeat or challenge you face, there’s a seed of growth and improvement planted with it. By his mid-30s, Earl Shellner’s life priorities were launching his own business, making money fast and partying with friends. This included traveling around the country frequently and missing important family events. Things quickly changed when adversity came ‘knocking on his door.’ It turns out, life had a different set of priorities for Earl. In 2013, Earl had a plane ticket bound to San Diego to spend the winter before returning to launch his business back in Maryland. Right before leaving for his trip, he was diagnosed with colorectal cancer. The diagnosis meant 25 sessions of radiation, 12 sessions of chemotherapy and two months of oral chemotherapy at Anne Arundel Medical Center (AAMC). His outlook? “Cancer saved my life,” affirms Earl. “It completely changed me. One time, I found out my cousin was taking my mom to the hospital for heart issues while I was at Mardi Gras partying. Another time, I flew all the way to Houston to meet with a friend and didn’t even think of calling my grandparents who live there. When I found out about my cancer, I realized how really great my family is and that I wasn’t paying attention to them. I lived a totally different life but I like the person I became a lot more now.” When Earl completed his treatment, he experienced “chemo brain,” a symptom cancer survivors use to describe thinking and memory problems that can occur after cancer treatment. He couldn’t remember how to spell his name, called people by the wrong name and would have the same conversations repeatedly without noticing. One of the nurses informed him that AAMC had just started a program for cognitive behavioral therapy. “They thought they could maybe help me with my situation,” he says. “I started attending meetings for speech therapy and, after looking at the data, they said I was improving dramatically just from the therapy. I was told there were only four other patients doing this at the hospital and I thought to myself, ‘If it’s working for me so well, it must work well for others too.’” Having experienced what so many had already lived through, he was adamant in using his lessons to help others. Today, working as a patient family advisor (PFA), Earl has a different perspective toward his priorities. “I made it my goal to use the experiences I had lived through to make everything better for our patients,” he says. “I remember one time I was sitting in the infusion center getting my fluids and a woman approached me after she read an article I wrote with information about the cognitive program at AAMC and how to find help. She said she needed to thank me because she had attended one of the behavioral therapy courses and it had helped her dramatically. Knowing that I’m helping others is what brings me the greatest joy.” Earl has been a PFA at AAMC for four years. In April, he won the 2019 Beryl Institute’s Innovative Patient/Family Advisor Innovation Award for leading and inspiring an innovation that has improved the experiences of patients and their families. PRO TIP: “Sit down to think about the pros and cons in your life and find out what’s important to you. Once I realized the partying and the money were all gone, I realized there is so much more out there. Plan for tomorrow, live for today and enjoy life.” If you know a great individual or a fantastic team going above and beyond to make a difference, make sure to let us know! Looking for a career in health care? We invite you to join a diverse and collaborative team of professionals working together to innovate the future of health care for our entire region. Check out our career opportunities. Advisors directly influence our policies, programs and practices. This role allows people just like you to help us deliver the best health care experience possible. If you’re interested, please contact our advisor coordinator at 443-481-6054 or use our online form.0
- Cancer Care, Women's Health, Patient StoriesGeneral Page Tier 3BlogKaren Jones remembers the fear and frustration she felt after discovering the lump in her breast. The medical care and emotional support she received at the Breast Center at the DeCesaris Cancer Institute helped both her and her husband, Doug, through the difficult time. “The people at the hospital were so reassuring,” says Doug who accompanied her to all of her appointments. “You felt so much more comfortable after you talked to them.” Now that she is cancer free, Karen has become a mentor, sharing her experience with other patients at the Breast Center. “We have the most amazing facility here in Annapolis,” she says. “I’m always the first one to say ‘You don’t need to leave this city or state to find excellent medical care.’” Today, Karen has a much greater appreciation for life’s smallest pleasures; the breeze on her skin, the sound of birds in the trees and the change of seasons. She and Doug are closer than they’ve ever been, and they cherish more moments together. “I’m just glad I have her,” he says. Karen is proud to be able to say she is a cancer survivor, and she uses her experience to help others through their journey. “I feel better than I felt before my diagnosis, and I think it’s because I’m taking better care of myself.”0
- Cancer Care, Community, Women's Health, Patient StoriesGeneral Page Tier 3BlogIn 2011, Sandra Gunn donated a week’s stay at her vacation house to a breast cancer patient and her family. It was a way to honor her friend Leslie Twohig, who had passed away from breast cancer earlier that year. The family was so grateful, that Sandra did it again 2012. But it wasn’t until last year, when she was diagnosed with stage one breast cancer and undergoing treatment at AAMC that she understood she had begun something truly special. “I was in workshops with women who had stage 4 cancer, some who had double mastectomies, some who had no hope,” she says. “I became so touched by their stories and their strength and determination, and I realized what I was doing with Leslie’s Week was serious.” Recognizing a need that wasn’t being filled, Sandra founded Leslie’s Week as a nonprofit organization to provide a vacation in the Great Smoky Mountains in Tennessee to mothers with incurable breast cancer and their families. The time in the mountains allows families to get away from some of the stress, celebrate life together, build memories and find hope for the future. Everything is provided for them including groceries, tickets to nearby attractions and a community of neighbors ready to help out, if needed. “There are all kinds of nonprofits for fighting cancer, finding cures, and grants for research, et cetera,” she says. “But there are very few organizations offering support for women who are stage 4 who need it now, and for their children who need the support now.” To extend the reach of Leslie’s Week, she is working to establish an educational endowment for the children of women who’ve stayed there. “Whether trade school or university or whatever, we want these children to have an education. And we want their mothers to know as they are going through this illness that her children will be looked after and educated. We want her to have hope and to have her children’s future like a song in her heart. That’s what we’re about.”0
- General Page - Tier 1Did you know: Approximately 75% of nearly 25,000 workplace assaults reported annually occur in healthcare and social service settings (reported by Occupational Safety and Health Administration) . 1 in 4 nurses have been physically assaulted at work (reported by the American Nurses Association). 76% of emergency nurses experience physical or verbal abuse annually (a study by the Journal of Emergency Nursing). Healthcare workers are five times more likely to experience workplace violence than workers in all other industries combined (reported by the Bureau of Labor Statistics). Workplace violence contributes to high turnover rates among healthcare staff and significant mental health issues, including PTSD and burnout (reported by the American Hospital Association). , A message from our CEOOur CEO, Tori Bayless, outlines what we are doing at Luminis Health to protect our teams.At Luminis Health, high-quality, compassionate healthcare begins with a resilient and dedicated workforce. Luminis Health is committed to protecting our staff, patients, families, visitors and the communities we serve by ensuring a safe workplace through comprehensive safety measures and a culture of mutual caring., How can you help? Help support our healthcare workers by advocating for stronger protections and policies against workplace violence, participating in educational programs on respectful behavior, and promptly reporting any incidents of aggression or abuse they witness. By fostering a culture of mutual respect and understanding, community members can help create a safer and more supportive environment for healthcare professionals.0
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