- 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
- Community, News & Press Releases, OrthopedicsGeneral Page Tier 3BlogAs a not-for-profit hospital, Anne Arundel Medical Center depends on support from businesses of all sizes throughout the region. Partnerships with local businesses are invaluable as we work to ensure our community is “Living Healthier Together.” We’re honored and excited to partner with the Chesapeake Bayhawks lacrosse team to help improve the overall health and wellbeing of our community. “Giving back is an integral part of what the Chesapeake Bayhawks stand for. Without our fans and our community, we have no team. The Bayhawks are ‘all-in’ in everything we do, both on and off the field,” says Bayhawks owner, Brendan Kelly. “We built our team through the strength and support of our local community. Our partnership with Anne Arundel Medical Center allows us the opportunity to show our gratitude and connect with the people and organizations who made us the team we are today.” The sports medicine team at Anne Arundel Medical Group Orthopedic and Sports Medicine Specialists serve as the official medical team for the Chesapeake Bayhawks. They provide game coverage, offer pre- and post-season physicals, and coordinate rehab with a focus of getting players back in the game as quickly and safely as possible. Just like they do for all members of our community, they help patients recover from an injury, improve physical performance and stay active for a lifetime. “Partnering with the Bayhawks has been a great experience. The entire organization is first class and strives to make every game family-friendly,” says AAMC’s Dan Redziniak, MD, the team’s head orthopedic surgeon. “The Bayhawks players serve as role models for the children in their community as they continue to grow the sport across the entire country.”0
- Behavioral Health, PediatricsGeneral Page Tier 3BlogConfidence. Balance. Adventure. Focus. Support. These are just a few key qualities kids need in order to develop the mental strength required to become strong, responsible adults. Mental strength isn’t about being strong-willed, defiant or tough. It’s about teaching kids how to cope with what life sends their way and giving them the courage and confidence to reach to their full potential. As a parent, how do you instill these values while navigating the changing tides of society? You’re told to make kids brave, but cautious. Raise them to be confident, but humble. Give them freedom, but not too much. Keep them active, but let them rest. In the coming months, we’ll explore the “how” with you. Our age-by-age conversation starters will help you foster open communication as your child grows. Our article “Is it puberty or something else?” will explore what’s within the normal range of emotions and behavior and help you determine when you should seek professional help. We’ll talk about creating a stimulus barrier for yourself and your children, how play is therapeutic and how to navigate the pressures of social media. Raising mentally strong kids also takes self-reflection. When you get emergency instructions on an airplane, the flight attendant tells you to put on your own oxygen mask first before attempting to help anyone else. It’s a metaphor that extends to all aspects of life — you need to take care of yourself in order to best take care of others. So as you read our upcoming articles, participate in online discussions and use our tools to help encourage better communication with your child, reflect on how you too handle difficult situations, show resiliency and communicate. Let’s build mental muscle together. We need to make caring for our minds, and the minds of the children looking up to us, a priority. Because ultimately, healthy minds need YOU. Ask questions, find resources and learn more at askAAMC.org/HealthyMinds.0
- UncategorizedGeneral Page Tier 3BlogMay is Lupus Awareness Month. Lupus (also called Systemic Lupus Erythematosus) is a disease that effects 1.5 million people in the U.S., according to the Lupus Foundation of America. A 2019 survey found that 63% of Americans have never heard of lupus or have little information about the chronic illness. Here is what you need to know: Lupus is an autoimmune disease Lupus causes your immune system to attack healthy tissues and organs in the body. The body creates antibodies which attack your own cells. The chronic disease most commonly attacks your kidneys, skin, joints, blood cells, brain, heart and lungs. Lupus may not affect all of these in each patient. Lupus symptoms Lupus is often tough to identify because its symptoms are similar to other illnesses. Here are the most common signs and symptoms from the Mayo Clinic: Fatigue Fever Joint pain, stiffness and swelling Butterfly-shaped rash on the face that covers the cheeks and bridge of the nose or rashes elsewhere on the body Skin lesions that appear or worsen with sun exposure Fingers and toes that turn white or blue when exposed to cold or during stressful periods Dry eyes Headaches, confusion and memory loss It is important to remember that these symptoms may also occur with other illnesses. A doctor can perform an examination and tests to see whether a patient has lupus or a different condition. Risks for developing lupus Lupus is more common in women. A lupus diagnosis usually occurs between the ages of 15-45 years old. African Americans, Hispanics and Asian Americans account for the majority of lupus diagnoses. If fact, lupus diagnoses are two to three times more likely in African Americans compared to whites. You may also be at a greater risk if you have a family member with lupus. The disease may become more active during pregnancy, and require close monitoring. Causes of lupus In most cases, the cause of lupus is unknown. Experts believe it is possible to trigger lupus if you have a genetic predisposition for the disease, by hormonal changes, or by environmental factors. Treatment options There is currently no cure for lupus. You can manage lupus symptoms through a proper treatment plan created by your doctor. Treatment includes monitoring regularly. It may also include medications to help with symptoms, prevent worsening, and block the disease process. Health providers choose medicines very carefully. Medication selection depends on what other conditions a patient has, how severe the lupus is, and which features of lupus are the most active. Medications might include plaquenil, prednisone, imuran or benlysta. Author Susan Berger, MD, is a rheumatologist with Luminis Health Anne Arundel Medical Center.0
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