Giving
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27th Annual Golf Classic a Resounding Success
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The AAMC Foundation held its 27th Annual Golf Classic at the Chartwell Golf & Country Club on Sept. 26, 2016. This year’s tournament raised more than $175,000 to benefit patient care programs at Anne Arundel Medical Center.
“The golf tournament is such a fun event, and it is great to know that the proceeds ultimately will benefit so many members of our community,” says Tonya Hill, senior vice president of BB&T Bank and co-chair of the AAMC Foundation 2016 Golf Committee. “The hospital is an integral part of our local identity, and the AAMC staff work so hard to provide high-quality, patient- and family-centered care.”
AAMC Vice President of Finance Cathy Yurkon also served as event co-chair. A heartfelt thanks to all of our sponsors for their support, including our presenting sponsor, Comcast, and gold sponsor, All American Ambulance and Transport.
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News & Press Releases
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Luminis Health Anne Arundel Medical Center Earns ‘A’ Grade for Patient Safety from Leapfrog – Continues Remarkable Streak of Excellence
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Luminis Health Anne Arundel Medical Center (LHAAMC) is proud to announce it has received our tenth consecutive ‘A’ Grade from the Leapfrog Hospital Safety Grade for providing patients with exceptional, safe care. According to Leapfrog, the non-profit hospital in Annapolis is one of 152 hospitals nationwide, and the only one in Maryland, to maintain a consistent ‘A’ rating for every grading period since 2018.
In response to this outstanding accomplishment, LHAAMC President Sherry Perkins expressed deep gratitude to the entire team. “Exceptional quality and safety are only achieved through the knowledge and caring of our teams in every role – our physicians, nurses, technicians, therapists, support staff, and volunteers. We work around the clock to earn the trust of patients, families and all members of our community for their care. To receive an ‘A’ grade for patient safety consistently is a testament to our team and the community partnerships we treasure.
Luminis Health is dedicated to upholding best practices that drive quality, safety and accountability in all aspects of our operations. Our commitment to patient safety is ingrained in our organizational culture, evident through our regular safety meetings, patient rounds, educational initiatives for clinical staff, and the invaluable insights we gain directly from our patients. We maintain close collaboration with our health system’s Patient Family Advisors, a collective of both staff and community members, who work together to voice concerns and propose solutions.
The Leapfrog Group is a nationally renowned organization dedicated to assessing and improving healthcare quality and patient safety. Its Hospital Safety Grade is the only hospital ratings program exclusively based on hospital prevention of medical errors. Leapfrog assigns an “A,” “B,” “C,” “D” or “F” grade to general hospitals across the country based on over 30 national performance measures reflecting errors, accidents, injuries and infections, as well as the systems hospitals have in place to prevent harm. The grading system is peer-reviewed, fully transparent and free to the public. Grades are updated twice annually in the fall and spring.
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Infectious Disease
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President’s Message: A Note of Appreciation for the AAMC Team
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Things are moving quickly. Every day brings new information and with it, new challenges. The most pressing focus of our Incident Command Team and leadership is on the safety of our staff and patients. Our priority is to safely staff, supply, and equip our hospital now and in the future.
Today, I additionally want to express to you my gratitude and appreciation to each member of our team for all you are doing. Many of you are learning – like me – to work differently. Some are working remotely while trying to balance home and professional responsibilities. Others are utilizing their skills and abilities in new roles. Many continue the important work they have done all along – unified, focused, and sincere. Each of you is vital to the AAMC team.
I cannot fully express my gratitude, and I’m not alone in being grateful for the work you are doing. I wanted to share this note, written by Pat Holle, one of AAMC’s Patient Family Advisors (PFA). PFAs work with our teams to bring the patient and family perspective into all we do. Her words echo so many others in our community and across the world.
AAMC Patient and Family Advisor Patricia Holle
Dear AAMC staff, When I was diagnosed with cancer, spring was starting, just like now. How vividly I remember looking at the flowers and trees blooming, the grass growing, and our beautiful world showing off its best. The skies somehow seemed more blue and the new growth more magnificent than ever. I remember treasuring each moment, wondering if this would be my last spring here on earth. Being reminded by my diagnosis that no day is guaranteed, every connection with friends and family and co-workers was even more treasured.
As we face this pandemic together, I am reminded of that spring. These unprecedented times have made us all even more conscious of the fragility of life, our humanity, and yet, even in all this uncertainty, also our connectedness to each other.
On behalf of our community, I’d like to thank each of you who run towards the front lines, as the rest of us retreat into the safety of our homes. You didn’t sign up for this – you probably never imagined a day like this would come – but still you choose to show up for each shift, doing the noble, messy, and exhausting work that will likely define your career.
In this, you have brought us hope.
There are no words to adequately thank you, but I hope that you are feeling the love and support from our community as we do what we can, whether it be sending in food, donating blood or money to the Community Response Fund, or sewing masks.
And I do know this, spring will come again.
In awe and gratitude,
Pat Holle, Co-Chair, AAMC Patient and Family Advisor Council
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Pediatrics, Infectious Disease
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Kids and the COVID Vaccine: Here’s what to know
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As COVID cases in children continue to rise — and the delta variant continues to spread — health experts are cheering on the latest vaccine developments, including the possibility of a lower-dose vaccine that may be ready for kids age five to 11 in a matter of weeks. Aside from getting us one step closer to stopping the unprecedented spread of the virus, there’s no question what it will also mean when it comes to keeping our kiddos in school. But what should you know as a parent?
How COVID affects kids
At the beginning of the pandemic, it seemed children didn’t get COVID as much as adults. However, over time, the number of kids infected has risen sharply. In fact, children now account for about a quarter of the weekly reported cases in the U.S., according to data from the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP).
Most cases in kids are mild. But researchers are still studying how the virus could affect their long-term health. And with children in schools, sports, extracurricular and social activities, getting them vaccinated could go a long way in helping slow outbreaks of the virus in the community, reduce sick days from illness and days out of school exposure to COVID.
How the vaccine works
Vaccines are already available for children 12 and over. However, clinical trials were needed for those under the age of 12 to 5 years of age to ensure they’ll be safe and effective for younger kids, whose bodies work differently.
A recent announcement from Pfizer explains that their vaccine for younger kids uses a smaller dose than the vaccine for adults and teens (10 micrograms compared to 30 micrograms), given 21 days apart. Their trial showed that kids had a strong immune response on par with those in the 16 to 25 age group after getting their second dose. They also had similar side effects, which were mild.
The Pfizer trial included more than 2,000 children.
Both vaccines must now go through a review process from the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) before being given to the public. And health officials have been eager for this to happen, especially with the latest Delta variant statistics.
There’s also good news for parents of children under five who are waiting for a vaccine for their little ones. Researchers say it could be ready for our youngest set of kids later this year.
When your child can get it
We expect final approval for the vaccine for kids age five to 11 in the coming weeks. And officials are hopeful that children could start getting their shots as early as Halloween.
Where to find help if you need it
Vaccines are our best shot at ending the pandemic and getting back to freely enjoying time with our friends and families. Making sure your family gets vaccinated puts us one step closer to reaching that goal. And while that seems easy, these are stressful and uncertain times. It’s normal to have questions, and we always want to make sure you find all the information you need to feel comfortable with your health decisions.
Your child’s pediatrician is a great place to start. You can also visit our FAQs at any time for help with general vaccine information. Let’s put an end to the spread — together.
Authors
Lauren Fitzpatrick, MD, is medical director of the Pediatric Emergency Department and Inpatient Unit, Luminis Health Anne Arundel Medical Center
Asha Payne, MD, is medical director of the Children’s National Emergency Department at Luminis Health Doctors Community Medical Center.
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Community, Pediatrics, Infectious Disease
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9 things you can do to keep your kids entertained while stuck indoors
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How can you keep your high-energy child occupied when you can’t leave the house? Don’t worry, we’ve got you covered. Here are nine things you can do to keep your child entertained:
Play games
The first few days – or maybe even hours – might seem easy. But your child will eventually say the famous words, “I’m bored!” Games can become your go-to solution. Puzzles are great to keep kids—and adults—entertained for hours. Puzzles stimulate problem-solving skills and boost memory. You should also consider science kits. These are fun and a great way for kids to learn about how things work.
Get creative with play dough
This one never fails. Play dough is actually easy to make at home. You probably already have most of the ingredients on hand. It’s a great way to get kids’ imaginations going. You can challenge them to make something specific or let them get creative on their own.
Create your own coloring books
You can’t go wrong with coloring books. If you need a last minute coloring book, you can download and print images from home. Coloring reduces stress and anxiety, improves motor skills, helps with better sleep and increases focus.
Read books
Staying home for long periods of time is a great opportunity to grab a book and get reading. Revisit your book library and choose a couple of books together with your child. To make it more fun, you can set aside time each day to go over what your child has learned during their reading time.
Build toys
LEGO, of course, is the classic go-to. But consider other safe things around your home that kids can use to build structures for a few hours of fun. Building activities help kids with critical thinking and can teach important lessons about engineering.
Use a tablet
Whether you like to admit it, there will be a lot of screen time happening during your child’s time off. Instead of cringing at the thought of your child spending a large amount of time with their tablet, think of ways you can leverage this. You can download Amazon FreeTime Unlimited or other educational apps so that you don’t have to feel guilty about letting your kids zone out in front of a screen.
Bring out the art supplies
This is a good time to bring out the markers, crayons and other art supplies to keep a child busy for long stretches of time. Art supplies can spark creativity and get them excited about completing an activity. Pair the supplies with a couple of white sheets and watch the magic happen.
Do activities together
Cooking is a great opportunity to teach kids a new skill and get them involved. Give them their own tools, ask them to help you find the right ingredients and let them do some kitchen experimenting for delicious creations. Like cooking, cleaning as a group can also become a fun task when done together.
Get active
At some point, you will all want to get moving. It’s easy to feel frustrated or bored if you’re not being physically active. Try some creative exercise ideas, like setting up an obstacle course in the backyard or in your living room. You can also try some micro-exercises, such as jumping jacks, running up and down the stairs or dancing around to music.
Making the Most of Time Indoors
For whatever reason you might be stuck indoors, it can be challenging for individuals and families. But this time can also be an opportunity to find new ways of enjoying the simple things in life — for both you and your child.
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