- Infectious DiseaseGeneral Page Tier 3BlogA physical therapist by training, Kelly Rund is used to working in the outpatient world, without the lines, tubes and monitors that are fixtures of a hospital room. The coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic has changed things. Kelly is one of 36 physical therapists, physical therapy assistants, occupational therapists and rehabilitation aides redeployed to work with COVID-19 patients on Anne Arundel Medical Center’s (AAMC) medical/surgical units as part of the new Prone and Mobility team. Six members of the team are working in AAMC’s Intensive Care Unit. The program has two components. Staff members are trained to “prone” patients, or place them on their stomach. The process takes about an hour and helps mitigate COVID-19 symptoms and increase the amount of oxygen they are getting into their lungs. They are also trained to assist with patients’ mobility, helping them walk around their rooms and do other activities to keep them moving. Kelly, who normally is based at AAMG Physical Therapy’s Edgewater office, says the program has given her an opportunity to support patients emotionally as well as medically. It’s nice for them to see a friendly face, even if it’s hidden behind masks and face shields, she adds. “I feel very thankful just to be someone who can be in there and sit with them,” Kelly says. Christy Wu, AAMC’s inpatient physical therapy manager, says the program began at the start of the pandemic. Clinic staff members were originally redeployed to help patients with their mobility, which decreases their fall risk and the likelihood that they’ll have to return to the hospital. But there was a growing need to have clinical staff on hand to prone position patients. Studies have shown that prone positioning could lead to improved outcomes for patients who are on ventilators. Doctors at hospitals in New York and Massachusetts have seen improvements when COVID-19 patients are placed in the prone position. “You definitely see a difference when you get these patients off of their backs,” says Clarisse Labor, a physical therapist with AAMG Physical Therapy’s Bowie North office. Each team member is trained to do both prone positioning and mobility – it just depends on what and where the need is. AAMC already had mobility training in place for nursing staff and has adapted prone positioning training from Massachusetts General Hospital. “They have amazing clinical skills, and we are putting them where they are needed and helping to support the nursing units,” Christy says. “We’ve had really great feedback from the nursing directors.” Since the beginning of May, the team has prone positioned 150 COVID-19 patients, Christy says. Mobility numbers aren’t yet available. Kelly and Clarisse say their colleagues in the hospital have been supportive and eager to show them the ropes. “It’s been several years since I worked in acute care, and it’s definitely different than outpatient,” Clarisse says. “But the nurses and therapists have been very helpful and I definitely felt welcomed. I feel fortunate that I am still able to help in these times.” Elizabeth Bailey, clinical supervisor on the Observation Unit, added that the team has gone above and beyond their assigned duties. “Today I watched a special needs patient on our unit just beam with pride as they encouraged her, telling her how well she was doing,” she says. “They assisted other patients with ambulation to the commode, and even changed briefs and bed linens as they worked with the patients. This was not expected or even asked of them – they wanted to do it.” Christie Thibeault, nursing manager on the Observation Unit, praised team members for providing an extra set of hands in an extremely busy time. Thanks to the team, nurses can stay focused on other aspects of care. “They have just been phenomenal support for our nursing staff, and have improved the quality of patient care tremendously,” Christie says. A former ICU and trauma nurse, Christie has long been familiar with the benefits of prone positioning and says she’s eager to dive more deeply into how it’s improved COVID-19 patient outcomes post-pandemic. “There’s so much that should come out of this,” she says. “Did it decrease their length of stay? Did it prevent them from going on a ventilator?” Christie is excited to see the impact of this important work.0
- Men's Health, Women's Health, Wellness, UncategorizedGeneral Page Tier 3BlogSpring is a great season to get outside and active. Enjoying this season in the midst a pandemic may be little challenging, but not a lost cause. As more and more individuals receive the vaccine, and we all continue practicing the 3Ws — wash your hands, wear a mask and watch your distance — outdoor activities can be enjoyed safely. “It’s important to safely practice self-care and mindfulness methods, even during a pandemic to help you maintain a healthy mental balance,” says Heather Newhard, MSN, CRNP-F, Luminis Health Clinical Enterprise. “As a country, we may not be able to do things like we used to, but implementing a slight adjustment for safety can work wonders during this time.” To help with spring activity planning, here are some COVID-friendly ideas for you and your family to enjoy this season: Run, hike or walk Visit a pick-your-own farm or orchard Start a spring garden Take on an outdoor DIY project Play backyard games Plan an outdoor movie night Remember, whether giving advice on exercise or nutrition, your primary care provider can help you maintain your overall health and wellness goals. Primary care is important to your overall health this spring and beyond. Authors Heather Newhard, MSN, CRNP-F, specializes in the area of primary care at Luminis Health Clinical Enterprise.0
- Wellness, Women's Health, Pediatrics, Men's Health, UncategorizedGeneral Page Tier 3BlogParents and caregivers deal with their fair share of “ick”-inducing situations, but there’s something about finding a tick embedded in your child’s skin (or yours!) that creates an extra sense of panic. Warmer weather makes ticks more active. Combine this with more outdoor playtime for kids and families, and you have a perfect storm for an increase in tick bites across the area. Here are the five things you should know as tick season ramps up in Maryland: 1. How to Remove a Tick You found a tick! Now what? Don’t panic, just reach for a set of fine-tipped tweezers and grasp the tick as close to the skin’s surface as possible. Pull upward with steady, even pressure. Don’t worry too much if you aren’t able to remove the mouth of the tick—once the body is removed it can no longer transmit disease. Clean the bite area and your hands with rubbing alcohol or soap and water. Avoid “folklore” remedies, such as using heat to make the tick detach or suffocating it with petroleum jelly. The goal is to remove the tick as quickly as possible. Consider saving the tick in a plastic baggie in case you need to visit the doctor. If that’s not possible, it’s important to note the size of the tick, whether it was actually attached to the skin and if it was engorged (that is, full of blood). It is also helpful to know how long the tick was likely attached to the skin. If it was not attached, was easy to remove, and was not full of blood when it was removed, the tick is not likely to transmit Lyme disease or any other infection. 2. Not All Ticks Carry Lyme Disease Lyme disease is transmitted primarily by deer ticks, but not all deer ticks are infected with the bacteria that causes Lyme disease. Adult deer ticks grow only to about the size of a sesame seed and have reddish hind bodies with black markings and black legs. Lyme disease is debilitating, though rarely fatal, and early symptoms closely resemble the flu, such as fever, headache, fatigue, and muscle and joint aches. A slowly spreading bull’s-eye shaped rash usually occurs at the site of the bite. If you’re bitten by a deer tick, a healthcare expert can advise you on one of two approaches: observe and treat if signs or symptoms of Lyme disease develop or treat with a preventive antibiotic immediately. Your medical history will largely determine which of these options is chosen. There is no benefit to blood testing for Lyme disease at the time of the tick bite—even people who become infected will not have a positive blood test until approximately two to six weeks after the infection develops. 3. When to Call the Doctor If you or your family member develops any of the symptoms of Lyme disease, call your doctor right away. Early diagnosis and treatment of Lyme disease with antibiotics can prevent serious illness and long-term complications. Other reasons to call the doctor would be if you can’t remove the tick or the tick’s head, the bite site begins to look infected, or a fever or rash develops in the days or weeks following a tick bite. Don’t hesitate to seek medical attention if you have questions or concerns, it’s better to be safe than sorry! 4. How to Prevent Tick Bites A little prevention and thinking ahead can go a long way in preventing tick bites. Ticks crawl, they do not fly or jump, so avoiding wooded bushy areas with high grass, and walking in the center of trails can help you avoid direct contact with ticks. Use repellents that contain 20-30% DEET on exposed skin and clothing for several hours of protection. Always follow the product instructions—especially when it comes to the age of your child—and avoid hands, eyes and mouth. Bathe or shower as soon as you can after coming indoors, and perform a body check to more easily find ticks that might be crawling on you. Parents should check their kids for ticks under their arms, in and around the ears, behind the knees, between the legs and especially in their hair. Ticks also love to hitch a ride on pets and pet gear, so inspect those, too. 5. It’s Not Just a Warm Weather Concern As nice as it would be to not have to worry about ticks after the spring and summer months pass us, ticks are indeed active even in the winter. The cold causes many ticks to be less active, but deer ticks will be active any winter day the ground is not snow-covered or frozen. Bottom line: Don’t be caught off guard! Originally published June 9, 2015. Last updated July 20, 2025.0
- Plastic Surgery & Skin Care, WellnessGeneral Page Tier 3BlogThere is a variety of skin care products on the market, and many of us have several products at home for everything from acne to dark circles. Our goal is to have healthy skin, but what does that really mean? Telisha Johnson, a plastic surgery nurse practitioner at Luminis Health Anne Arundel Medical Center, explains what to look for in healthy skin. Healthy skin is smooth, firm/tight, even in color, hydrated, tolerant and free from disease. Smooth skin has a soft and compact outer layer that has unbroken cell renewal and a regulated skin repair cycle Firm/tight skin is full and has an abundance of optimally functioning collagen and elastin Even in color skin has properly functioning pigment with even production and distribution Hydrated skin has a barrier function that produces natural moisturizing factors that are formed within the structural proteins of the skin Tolerant skin has a functional barrier that is tolerant to the surrounding environment Free from disease skin is not sensitive nor does it have pre-cancer or cancerous lesions It doesn’t take dozens of products to address skin-care concerns. “I cannot stress enough the importance of having a few simple products like a cleanser, exfoliator, toner and sunscreen. That’s only four products!” says Johnson. Cleansers remove oils, dirt and makeup without damaging the skin Exfoliators are necessary to remove dead skin cells and increase new cell regeneration—this helps produce more even skin, helping to ensure better distribution of your other skin care products Toners help to balance the pH of your skin, remove impurities, reduce pores, and keep your skin feeling fresh and hydrated Finally, daily use of sunscreen (30 SPF or higher) will decrease the risk of sunspots, skin cancers and wrinkled skin Those core products will build a solid foundation of basic skin care. To request a consultation about specific skin concerns, visit Luminis.Health/PlasticSurgery Authors Telisha Johnson is a plastic surgery nurse practitioner at Luminis Health Anne Arundel Medical Center.0
- Cancer CareGeneral Page Tier 3BlogIt’s hard to miss headlines that tout the benefits of this fruit, that nut or another oil as a way to hold cancer at bay. In light of that, Molly Rusch, RD, LDN, registered dietitian at AAMC’s Geaton and JoAnn DeCesaris Cancer Institute, turns to the most recent evidence-based nutrition information for the facts. “No one food causes or cures cancer,” says Molly. “Broccoli and blueberries are called ‘superfoods’ because they are high in antioxidants — which is great — but what people should really be aiming for is a lifestyle that incorporates a variety of foods for good health.” While foods like chia seeds, coconut oil and walnuts offer a plethora of nutritional benefits, Molly explains that it’s easy to latch on to the newest food trends while missing the bigger picture. “We can’t expect superfoods to preserve our health while still eating processed and fast foods.” So what’s the best way to use food to fight cancer? Eat more fruits and vegetables. Molly says fruits and vegetables should make up about 50 percent of the food we consume, which translates to at least two servings of fruit and three servings of vegetables daily for most adults. This plant-focused diet has the added benefit of contributing to a healthy weight, which is known to reduce cancer risk. “We know obesity is a risk factor for breast cancer and many other diseases,” Molly says. For those who are currently in cancer treatment or who are survivors, the total gets boosted to three fruit and five vegetable servings or more each day. With that said, Molly says, when one is dealing with the challenges of chemotherapy or radiation, a little nutritional latitude is given — at that point it’s more important for patients to tolerate food in general, rather than worrying about eating the “right” foods. Recipe for Good Nutrition: Chicken and Vegetable Stir Fry The beauty of this vegetable-centric recipe is that nothing has to be exact. Shop your local market for what’s fresh and try different combinations of vegetables. Seasonal superstars like broccoli and bok choy pack a dense nutritional punch. Broccoli includes fiber and protein, and is a great source of vitamin C, vitamin K, folate, manganese and iron. One cup of broccoli is only 30 calories! Similarly, one cup of bok choy, sometimes called Chinese cabbage, is only 20 calories. It’s an excellent source of vitamin A, vitamin C, calcium, iron, vitamin K, folate and some B vitamins. You can easily substitute tofu for chicken and vegetable broth for chicken broth to make a vegetarian entrée. Ingredients 2 teaspoons canola oil, divided 1 pound boneless, skinless chicken breasts, cut into thin strips 2 cloves garlic, minced or pressed 4 cups assorted vegetables, such as broccoli, bok choy, snow peas, carrot, bell pepper 1 tablespoon cornstarch ¾ cup chicken broth 2 tablespoons dry white wine or white cooking wine 1 tablespoon soy sauce Directions Heat 1 teaspoon of oil in a large nonstick skillet or wok over medium-high heat. Add chicken and garlic. Cook 4–5 minutes, stirring constantly. Remove chicken with slotted spoon, set aside, cover, keep warm. Add remaining teaspoon of oil to the skillet or wok. Add vegetables and stir fry 3–4 minutes until crisp-tender, stirring constantly. Place cornstarch in a small bowl. Add 2 tablespoons of chicken broth and stir to smooth paste. Stir in remaining chicken broth, white wine and soy sauce. Pour mixture over vegetables in skillet or wok and cook 1–2 minutes, until sauce thickens. Add reserved chicken and toss to coat. Serve over rice. Author Molly Rusch, RD, LDN, is a registered dietitian at the DeCesaris Cancer Institute at AAMC. Originally published Sept. 16, 2016. Last updated Feb. 11, 2019. Save0
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