- News & Press Releases, Infectious DiseaseGeneral Page Tier 3BlogLuminis Health Anne Arundel Medical Center (LHAAMC) and Luminis Health Doctors Community Medical Center (LHDCMC) have opened their doors to limited patient visitation. The guidelines allow one to two visitors, based on patient situation, to be present during visitor hours throughout the patient’s stay. Visitor hours for LHAAMC are 12 pm to 8 pm. Visitor hours for LHDCMC are 8 am to 8 pm. Clergy of any denomination may visit a patient at any time and does not count in visitation totals. “Caring for and protecting our patients, families, employees, and the community during this pandemic has been our top priority,” said Victoria Bayless, chief executive officer for Luminis Health. “We recognize this past year has been difficult for patients and their loved ones. The new procedures will bring much needed support to our patients, while keeping everyone safe. We thank everyone for their patience and ask them to remain vigilant.” Visitors will be screened upon entry to the hospital and expected to follow these guidelines: They will be required to wear an appropriate mask at all times while in the hospital (even if vaccinated); Must maintain social distancing from all others; And wash or sanitize their hands throughout their visit. As a patient and family-centered organization, Luminis Health will continue to review and update our visitation guidelines and practices as the situation changes. View the latest guidelines for LHAAMC here and LHDCMC here.0
- Community, Infectious DiseaseGeneral Page Tier 3Blog“These are the times that try men’s souls. The summer soldier and the sunshine patriot will, in this crisis, shrink from the service of their country; but he that stands by it now, deserves the love and thanks of man and woman.” These still-famous words were composed by Thomas Paine, an immigrant soldier in General Washington’s beleaguered, ever-retreating Colonial Army in December 1776. In America’s first existential crisis, the Army was just a few expiring enlistments away from vanishing from the field. The ideas expressed in Paine’s pamphlets, collectively called the American Crisis, rallied the nascent nation and changed the world. Words and ideas from the past, even if requiring an adjustment to gendered pronouns, can help us now too, providing a stream of solace in our collective despair. Since that first crisis, Americans have, as a united nation and as citizens of the world, endured many such “fiery trials.” Civil war, global war, economic depression, civil unrest, terrorism and even prior pandemics have all tested our unity, our perseverance and our foundational beliefs. All were alarming, all were overcome. I do not believe that those previous generations had more grit, determination and optimism than our own. We are made of the same stern stuff. We can honor the service of our ‘essential’ neighbors who care for us bravely by caring for one another and embracing unity above all else. Proof of this assertion can be found in the daily demonstration of duty and courage by the thousands of ‘essential’ workers who set aside their own concerns to stock our groceries, answer our 911 calls and staff our hospitals with every type of caregiver. It is not that they are ignorant of the risks presented by COVID-19. The opposite is true. Rather, they embody Nelson Mandela’s description of courage and bravery. “Courage is not the absence of fear, but the triumph over it. The brave person is not the one who does not feel afraid, but the one who conquers that fear.” These ‘essential’ neighbors have ranked duty over fear. You won’t find any summer soldiers or sunshine patriots among those staffing our grocery stores, firehouses, police stations and hospitals. We have before us “many long months of struggle and suffering,” as Churchill warned Britain’s House of Commons in 1940. How we conduct ourselves individually and collectively during our ‘grievous ordeal’ will define us for future generations. We can honor the service of our ‘essential’ neighbors who care for us bravely by caring for one another and embracing unity above all else. If we use this crisis to summon forth the “better angels of our nature,” future Americans will look to our generation with admiration and awe. Author Barry Meisenberg, M.D., is the Chair of the Department of Medicine and Chief Academic Officer at Anne Arundel Medical Center and Luminis Health.0
- Blood Donation, Patient StoriesGeneral Page Tier 3BlogFor Debra Taylor, blood donations are critical to keeping her alive. Taylor was recently diagnosed with a rare condition called severe aplastic anemia, and since her bone marrow doesn’t make enough red blood cells, she needs regular blood transfusions. We spoke with Taylor, an occupational therapist, about what it’s like to need blood transfusions and how blood donations truly save lives. How Often do You Receive Blood Transfusions? I’ve been receiving either one or two units of blood, or one unit of platelets, every single week since September 2020. Each week, I get my blood drawn to determine where my red blood cell levels are and whether I need a transfusion. There’s never been a week where I didn’t need something. Some days, I even need two units of blood because my levels are so low. Why do You Need Blood Transfusions? I need transfusions to stay alive. With blood platelets, having between 150,000 and 400,000 platelets per microliter of blood is considered normal. Today, I was at 33,000 platelets. Two days ago, I was at 7,000. If my platelet levels go below 10,000, I get a platelet transfusion. I get a blood transfusion depending on my hematocrit and hemoglobin levels. If I don’t get a transfusion, I could die or bleed out with something as simple as a minor injury. What Message do You Have for People Thinking About Donating Blood? Without blood, I’ll die. And others like me will die. My message is simple: Please donate. Because millions of people need it. What Gives You Hope? A: People in my situation can get very depressed. Since I’m severely immunocompromised, I can’t go anywhere, especially with the risk of COVID-19. But I feel hope in the promise that I may be able to get a bone marrow transplant soon that will help me, or that someday, I will be healthy enough to even donate blood myself again. For now, the thing that’s kept joy, happiness and love in my life is my grandson. He just turned 6 months old. His face gives me a reason to keep going. I want to watch him go to kindergarten and high school and so on. I also try to treat my transfusions like a day at the spa. The transfusion center provides me with a heated chair that reclines. I have my own TV. Hot chocolate. They always ask if I need anything. It’s scary how low my levels get, but the transfusions keep me alive. Ways You Can Help Taylor and Others Like Taylor, many patients rely on life-saving blood donations. Our Blood Donor Center helps patients heal and recover from conditions, including fractures, pregnancy, lung disease and more. If you can’t give blood, there are other ways to help, including hosting a blood drive or spreading the word about the need for donations. To Donate Blood For an appointment to donate call the LHAAMC Blood Donor Center at 443-481-4215. To have a blood mobile drive at your next function (i.e., community or church function), call 443-481-4272.0
- UncategorizedGeneral Page Tier 3BlogPalliative care is often mistaken for hospice care. If you or your loved one is suffering from a serious illness, it’s important to know the difference and what is available to you. Hospice care is appropriate when medical treatments cannot offer a cure. Hospice professionals provide care to people who have an advanced illness and are in their last stages of life (prognosis of six months or less). Palliative care (pronounced pal-lee-uh-tiv), however, may be given at any time during a patient’s illness, from diagnosis on, regardless of life expectancy. Palliative care may also be provided along with curative (meaning lifesaving or life-prolonging) treatment. Most doctors are trained to focus on curing and treating your illness. But you may have symptoms that make it difficult to be as active as you want to be, or that impact your overall quality of life. This is where palliative care teams come into play. Teams are made up of specially trained doctors, nurses and other providers. They focus on treating and relieving your symptoms and side effects, such as shortness of breath, pain, lack of appetite and fatigue. They can also treat physical and mental stress caused by a serious illness—whatever your diagnosis. In fact, the word “palliative” itself comes from the word “palliate,” which means to make the effects of something less painful, harmful or harsh. Palliative care also emphasizes making sure you are informed. Teams help you understand the pros and cons of treatments and help you make decisions about treatment options. They also offer spiritual or religious support, and can help match your goals and values to your medical care. Palliative care teams work with you, your other doctors, and your family to coordinate all aspects of your care. They focus on you as a whole person, not just the part of you that is sick. Research shows that those with a serious or chronic illness who receive this extra layer of support see a number of benefits, like better symptom control, improved quality of life, satisfaction with care, fewer hospital and emergency room visits, and lower medical costs. So, where do you start? If you think palliative care could be right for you, the first step is to talk to your doctor. If costs concern you, you should know that services are covered by most private insurance plans as well as Medicare and Medicaid. Services are also flexible and based on your needs. Medical care can be confusing. Palliative care teams can help you and your family talk through what you want, and help you navigate a very complex system. You don’t have to cope with the day-to-day challenges of living with a serious illness alone. Palliative care can give you a better quality of life. Learn more about palliative care at www.askAAMC.org/palliative. Author Jeanette M. Abell, MD, MBA, is associate chair of Medicine and medical director of Hospitalists and Palliative Medicine at Anne Arundel Medical Center.0
- CommunityGeneral Page Tier 3BlogTori Bayless, Luminis Health CEO, reflects on hope in times of crisis. I am sure each of you is still processing the events of yesterday, as am I. What happened in our nation’s capital was shocking and scary. While horrifying for people all over the country, we have the added trauma of this happening where we live – so many of our colleagues live and work in DC or nearby. This is our home – not a tourist destination. News analysts and commentators speak about how yesterday’s breach and desecration of the Capitol shakes the very foundation of our democracy. And it does. For us, it also takes aim at the security and sanctuary of our home. That is no small matter, especially this year when home has become even more central to our worlds – family life has collided with work and school. Home has been a safe haven from the virus; our respite. Yesterday, for some of our team mates, getting home was a scary prospect. That weighs on everyone. Many of us were looking forward to the hope of a new year. The promise of a vaccine and a return to normal. Yesterday’s violent acts shattered some of that optimism. But here’s what I know: The hope is in us. Each of us – choosing to stand and face the future with determination to make it better – give hope for a brighter tomorrow. Together, collectively, we have the power to change today. And tomorrow. And the one after that. During the stress of a long day or particularly hard shift, it is easy to forget how much our communities respect and admire the compassion, excellent care, teamwork and inclusiveness you demonstrate every day. But just as the assault on our nation’s capital could not destroy the inherent strength of our democracy, neither a pandemic – nor any challenge – can harm the strength of our purpose and our resolve to make lives better for thousands of people every day. I encourage you to check on each other. Reach out for help. Call the employee assistance program. Take care of yourself, your family, and each other. Know that your Luminis Health family is with you, supporting each other. There is hope in that.0
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