- News & Press ReleasesGeneral Page Tier 3BlogThe American Hospital Association (AHA) has recognized Anne Arundel Medical Center President and CEO Victoria (Tori) Bayless as a 2018 Grassroots Champion. Bayless was honored at the Maryland Hospital Association’s annual meeting in June. Each year, the AHA, in conjunction with the state hospital associations, recognizes the achievements of grassroots leaders with the prestigious Grassroots Champion Award. The award recognizes a hospital leader from each state who most effectively educates elected officials on how major issues affect the hospital’s vital role in the community, who have done an exemplary job in broadening the base of community support for the hospital, and who are tireless advocates for hospitals and their patients. “Victoria Bayless is being recognized as a 2018 Grassroots Champion for her commitment to working to improve the issues affecting her hospital’s community,” said AHA Executive Vice President Tom Nickels. “Her leadership in advocacy has created an open dialogue with elected officials, which in turn has broadened community outreach and education for both Anne Arundel Medical Center and its patients.” “Tori is a steadfast advocate and champion of Anne Arundel Medical Center’s mission to enhance the health of the people we serve,” said Gary Jobson, AAMC board chair. “In doing so, she demonstrates unyielding passion, commitment and innovative thinking toward advancing causes that positively impact the health needs of the community. This honor is well deserved.” Bayless has been at the frontline of advancing important initiatives to strengthen the provision of health care in Anne Arundel County and the surrounding region. Most recent efforts include increasing access to mental health care and working to expand cardiac surgery services. Bayless joined AAMC as vice president of Clinical and Support Services in 2005. She was promoted to chief operating officer in 2006. In September 2009, Bayless was named president and chief operating officer and was promoted to CEO in 2011.0
- Community, Stroke Care, Patient StoriesGeneral Page Tier 3BlogNine years after a stroke left Judy Crane with such severe speech deficits that she had difficulty being understood, the 56-year-old Millersville resident has become an articulate and outspoken advocate for stroke patients. One of 90 patient advisors at AAMC, Judy sits on the stroke advisory committee and the patient advisory council. In both roles, she provides hospital staff with the patient perspective that helps them provide patient-centered care, reaching beyond a patient’s medical needs. When I was invited to be a patient advisor on the stroke committee, I thought it was kind of intriguing that they even want a patient to be on their committee. The committee gets together once a month to review the stroke cases, looking for how they can make things better. Anybody that has anything to do with a patient is there. The doctors and nurses, the pharmacy and lab, radiology, they look at the whole gamut. When topics come up, I look at them from my experience and also other people’s experiences and I provide the “bedside” view. If I can add something about how a patient would feel about it, I give my input. One of the things I asked at the stroke committee was if anybody was willing to volunteer to start a stroke support group. Right there, three people volunteered. One is a speech therapist; one’s a physical therapist and one an occupational therapist. When I had my stroke, I really needed to be able to talk to somebody who had experienced this. There are so many questions. Will I be able to work? What about disability? What are some tips that can help me in relating to my kids, my spouse, my friends. I mean it goes on and on. The group is a great sounding board and it’s wonderful for the staff too because they can see how patients manage afterward, and we can give feedback to the hospital about how things went. Now, I’m also on the patient-family advisor council. That’s a bigger group that helps some of the staff come up with patient-centered care goals and initiatives. One goal is educating staff so everyone understands what patient-centered care really is. Sometimes it’s as simple as giving a patient hope, or encouraging them to be a part of their recovery process. It’s all about really looking at each patient individually, and empowering both the patient and their families to be engaged in their treatment and recovery. To learn more about the Stroke Support Group contact Laurie Neely, physical therapist, or Jennifer Irving, speech-language pathologist or by phone: 443-481-6872. To find out how to become a patient advisor contact Jeanne Morris, advisor coordinator, at 443-481-6054.0
- Tips for Finding a Doula1. Start looking early in your pregnancyChoosing a doula early in your pregnancy will give you time to get to know each other and get comfortable with your birth plan.2. Talk to other familiesTalking with friends who have used a doula about their experience can help you start and even narrow your search. Technology – Facebook groups, a Google search for other online groups and forums – can connect you with other moms in your area.3. Talk with the provider who’s caring for you during your pregnancyLet your doctor or midwife know you’re planning on having a doula as part of your labor and delivery team. And if your provider has worked with a doula in the past, they may be able to offer a recommendation.4. Check with doula certification programsMost programs offer national, and even global, online directories of certified doulas that you can search by location.5. Interview potential doulasYou not only want to gather important information about them and their background, but you also need to get a feel for whether your personalities are a good fit.6. Know your Healthcare CoverageReach out to your insurance provider to see if they cover the cost of having a doula by your side during childbirth. Also, don’t forget about your HSA/FSA accounts– they may chip in to help cover those expenses, giving you some extra peace of mind during this special time.7. Trust your gutWhen you choose someone to provide any service, there’s no doubt experience and technical skills are must-haves. But soft skills, such as communication, empathy and teamwork, come into play too. Pay attention to how you connect with and feel when you’re with them. No one knows you and what you need better than you do. Listen to and follow your instincts.ServiceConditions/Services/Treatments PageWelcoming your support team During pregnancy, the right support makes all the difference. Every family deserves a safe, healthy, and positive birth experience. At Luminis Health, we welcome doulas as part of your care team. A doula is a trained, non-medical, professional who nurtures, supports and offers guidance for families throughout labor and delivery, and after the birth. Doulas offer a wide range of services, including help with breastfeeding as well as postpartum care. Watch the video in Spanish. Studies show a doula’s continuous labor support benefits mom and baby in many ways. It can often mean: A more satisfying birth experience Less need for pain medications Less likelihood of needing a cesarean delivery Shorter labor Increased likelihood of successful breastfeeding At Luminis Health, we support the inclusion of doulas as part of your care team throughout pregnancy, labor and delivery, and beyond. *Luminis Health uses a third party event registration service. Please note that EventBrite will be facilitating the event registration process and will handle any personal information collected in accordance with the EventBrite Privacy Policy. Thinking about working with a doula? Find the support that’s right for you through the options below: Explore our list of doulas who have supported families at Luminis Health Anne Arundel Medical Center. DoulaMatch is a helpful resource to connect you with doulas in your community.0
- Blood DonationGeneral Page Tier 3BlogOriginally printed as a Letter to the Editor in the January 29, 2022 Capital Gazette: Thank You to All Who Have Donated Blood Thank you for the front-page article pointing out the current national blood crisis. We would like to make your readers aware that Luminis Health Anne Arundel Medical Center is one of the few hospitals in the state of Maryland with its own blood donor center. While this donor center has a historical record of keeping LHAAMC nearly self-sufficient when it comes to supplying blood and blood products to our patients, we are not immune from the same crisis that is hitting the national blood supply. Our concerns regarding diminishing blood inventory came to a crisis level on Jan. 28 after the Martin Luther King Day holiday weekend. While our goal is to keep 100 units of group O-positive packed red blood cells in our inventory, we began the day with 20 units and hit an all-time low of 15 units by midday. The Red Cross was out of blood. Fortunately, we were able to borrow a few units from neighboring hospitals and when the urgent call for blood donors went out, our LHAAMC employees and community donors came to the rescue. The donor center phones rang off the hook with requests for donation appointments and by the next day we had 56 O-positive units on the shelf. We are continuing to struggle with maintaining adequate inventory to support surgical and medical blood transfusion requirements but are hanging in there with an inventory that is about 50% of our daily target but sufficient to meet daily needs. The only reason we are able to meet demand is the generous donation of blood, the gift of life, from our wonderful community of blood donors. Thanks to all of you from the patients and staff of Luminis Health Anne Arundel Medical Center. For those of you who have not given blood, now is a great time to do so. The blood you donate will remain in the community to serve the needs of our patients. The Association for the Advancement of Blood and Biotherapies task force statement reminds the public that: “Individuals are not at risk of contracting COVID-19 through the donation process or via a blood transfusion since respiratory viruses are generally not known to be transmitted by donation or transfusion.” Additionally, we’d like to help make it clear that people who have had COVID and are fully recovered can donate blood. Per the Food and Drug Administration guidelines, individuals are eligible to donate blood 10 days after complete resolution of symptoms. Our mission is to enhance the health of the people and communities we serve and we ask for help in this endeavor. Our Blood Donor Center is located on the LHAAMC Campus located at 2003 Medical Pkwy., Wayson Pavilion, Suite 450, Annapolis, 21401. Call 443-481-4215 to schedule your next donation! We also have a blood mobile drive that can come to your next function, community, or church. Call 443-481-4215 to set up a mobile drive. Authors Sanford H. Robbins III, M.D., chief of pathology, Luminis Health Anne Arundel Medical Center Megan Frisk, Luminis Health Anne Arundel Medical Center Blood Bank manager0
- Behavioral Health, Cancer Care, Men's Health, Women's HealthGeneral Page Tier 3BlogIs vaping a safe smoking alternative? No! Electronic cigarettes (e-cigarettes) are commonly advertised as a “healthier” and cheaper alternative to cigarette smoking. However, smoking e-cigarettes, also known as vaping, is not an approved method for smoking cessation by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA). Inhaling a vaporized liquid solution rather than smoke from burning tobacco may sound safer, but it is important to remember e-cigarettes contain nicotine, and the amount can vary widely among brands. The FDA found that even some e-cigarette cartridges that claimed to be nicotine-free contained varying amounts of nicotine, as well as known carcinogens such as diethylene glycol (an ingredient found in anti-freeze) and nitrosamines. Also, the long-term effects of vaping and secondhand vapor inhalation are unknown. Additionally, there is concern that e-cigarette usage will reverse the progress made in teenage smoking prevention and may normalize smoking behaviors. Virtually anyone can sell or buy e-cigarettes. Convenience stores, gas stations and grocery stores offer the most popular brands. And, unlike traditional tobacco products, there are no restrictions on Internet sales, which makes it relatively easy for young people to make online purchases. Without scientific data establishing the safety and effectiveness of e-cigarettes, there is no basis for recommending them as an alternative to cigarette smoking. Talk to your doctor about how to stop smoking. If you have teenagers, talk to them about the dangers of e-cigarettes and vaping. Get Screened Are you a longtime smoker age 55 to 80? You may meet the criteria for lung cancer screening. Yearly low-dose CT scans are effective at finding lung abnormalities and detecting cancers early. To find out if you are a candidate, call AAMC’s Lung Screening Program at 443-481-5838. Listen to a Living Well with Cancer interview with Dr. Cattaneo and learn more about lung cancer screenings. Author By Stephen Cattaneo, MD, medical director of thoracic oncology at Anne Arundel Medical Center. To reach him, call 443-481-5838.0
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