Why Choose Luminis Health for Chemotherapy?Facing cancer treatment can be tough. But we are right by your side with expert, compassionate care. We offer:The expertise you need. We're certified by the Quality Oncology Practice Initiative (QOPI), which recognizes the delivery of high-quality care to patients. Plus, our nurses are Oncology Certified Nurses, a certification that signifies their specialized knowledge in caring for cancer patients.Infusion therapy in a peaceful, private setting. Our Infusion Center is a quiet place to receive chemo, hormone therapy and other treatments. We offer individual bays for your treatment, and you'll go home the same day.A team approach. You won't see just one doctor for your chemo. Your team consists of other cancer specialists, including radiologists, surgeons, nurses and pharmacists.Cancer support services to help your well-being. Cancer is a major life event. If you or a loved one has cancer, we're here to help you every step of the way. We offer many different services and resources designed to fit your needs and give you a better, more comfortable experience.Therapy for “chemo brain." Some people have problems with memory and/or concentration during and after cancer treatments. If you're experiencing this mental fog, you can meet with one of our speech-language pathologists. You'll learn brain-sharpening exercises.
Treatment
Conditions/Services/Treatments Page
Chemotherapy
We treat cancer in three ways — with surgery, radiation and medicine. Chemotherapy uses medicine to fight cancer.What Is Chemotherapy?Chemotherapy is a form of treatment for cancer that uses drugs to kill cancer cells. Other types of cancer treatment are hormone therapy, immunotherapy and targeted therapy.In standard chemotherapy, cancer medicine travels throughout your entire body, killing cancer cells that have spread to multiple organs.But different kinds of drugs work in different ways. Depending what kind of cancer you have and how much it's spread, another type of medicine might be better for you than traditional chemotherapy.
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Wellness, Heart Care
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What’s Your Reason for Staying Heart Healthy?
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February is Heart Month. And we want to know – what is your reason for staying heart healthy?
Here’s the deal: Heart disease continues to be the number one killer of men and women in the U.S. Not to mention 90% of women have one or more risk factors for developing heart disease. With our “What’s Your Reason?” campaign, we’re empowering you with resources — like our heart health risk assessment — to take control of your heart health.
Fill out your heart health risk assessment to learn your risk for heart disease and be better informed on what will help you live your best life. What’s more? When you complete your heart health risk assessment you’ll be automatically entered to win a Peloton bike! (We’re hearing delivery times for Peloton are getting pretty good.)
When it comes to your health and wellness, we’re here for you. Which is why this Heart Month, we’re proud to mark an historic milestone for our patients and community with the launch of our cardiac surgery program at Luminis Health Anne Arundel Medical Center (LHAAMC).
For years, cardiac surgery has been the missing link to a full spectrum of heart care services at LHAAMC. Now, with our state-of-the-art cardiac surgery program, we’re providing a seamless experience for patients and their families, with less disruption and the best possible outcomes.
We can’t thank our community members enough for their ongoing support.
Questions? Our heart team is here to help. Call us at 443-481-1358.
More Heart Month resources:
How to Stay Heart Healthy During Lockdown
7 Ways to Manage Your Blood Pressure
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News & Press Releases
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Luminis Health Anne Arundel Medical Center Consistently Recognized for Excellence in Patient Safety
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(Annapolis, MD)— Luminis Health Anne Arundel Medical Center (LHAAMC), a cornerstone of healthcare in the Annapolis region and the Eastern Shore for more than 120 years, has earned its twelfth consecutive ‘A’ Grade from the Leapfrog Hospital Safety Grade. “Exceptional quality and safety are the result of the dedication and expertise of our entire team—physicians, residents nurses, advanced practice providers, technicians, therapists, support staff, and volunteers,” said Sherry Perkins, president of LHAAMC. “Earning an ‘A” grade consistently for patient safety is a true reflection of our team’s commitment and the strong partnership we have with the community.” According to Leapfrog, LHAAMC has earned ‘Straight A’s’ for every grading period since 2018, making it the only hospital in Maryland to achieve this prestigious honor, and one of 105 hospitals nationwide. Leapfrog updates hospital safety grades twice a year, in the fall and spring. Luminis Health is dedicated to upholding best practices that prioritize quality, safety, and accountability across all operational areas. Our commitment is demonstrated through safe staffing, safety huddles, communication, a focus on well-being and retention of the health care team, workplace safety, community partnership, and collaboration with patient family advisors. The Leapfrog Group is an independent national nonprofit watchdog focused on patient safety. Leapfrog assigns an “A,” “B,” “C,” “D” or “F” grade to general hospitals across the country based on over 30 performance measures reflecting errors, accidents, injuries and infections, as well as the systems hospitals have in place to prevent them. The grading system is peer-reviewed, fully transparent and free to the public.
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Women's Health
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Your Go-to Guide for Signs and Symptoms of a Pelvic Floor Disorder
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After having children, women experience a lot of changes (hello new sleep schedule and goodbye personal space). We also feel and see changes with our bodies. Things can start to feel different and work differently “down there.” Many of us hear, “Oh, that’s just part of having kids,” or “That’s what happens when you get older,” but in many cases, what seems common is really a pelvic health issue that needs care. According to the American Urogynecologic Society, one in four women over 20 suffer from a pelvic floor disorder (PFD). So what’s not OK and when should you call a doctor? Dr. Kay Hoskey, urogynecologist, walks us through some of the signs that your “mom bod” might actually be a PFD that can be treated.
Sneezing and Coughing Comes With an Outfit Change
The most common symptom of a PFD is stress incontinence, which is when you leak urine while you exercise, laugh, sneeze, cough or during any other movement that puts pressure on your bladder. This is also one of the most easily ignored symptoms because of just how universal it seems among women. As the pelvic floor weakens due to any number of factors, the bladder can shift and its function is compromised.
READ MORE: Tips for treating urinary incontinence
You Can’t Go — or Oops, You Just Went
Number two on our list is actually well, just that. The pelvic floor supports your rectal organs the same way it supports your bladder, and the same problems can occur with leakage, flatulence and even constipation. Your exact symptoms all depend on exactly how the structure of your pelvic floor has changed. Because this can be a hugely embarrassing symptom, many women suffer in silence.
You’re Running to The Bathroom — Literally
Urge incontinence is when the need to urinate comes on very quickly giving you only a few seconds of warning, whether the bladder is full or not. This can also come with pelvic pressure or pain while urinating. Urge incontinence can be a challenge to your daily routine, family and social life with the feeling that you always have to be near a bathroom. Exercises, medication and surgery are all options for solving this issue.
You Feel Bulging or Heaviness
One of the more serious and painful symptoms of a PFD is pelvic organ prolapse in which pelvic organs —such as the uterus, bladder and rectum — drop or fall out of position. Many women actually feel a falling out sensation, which can be frightening and debilitating. Prolapse can also be felt in the lower back and abdomen so keep an eye out for recurring pain in those areas as well.
READ MORE: It’s 3 am. Do you know where your pelvic floor is?
Sex is Painful
Do you cringe when you insert a tampon, get a gynecological exam or have sex? This is a sign of any number of pelvic floor disorders and you should discuss this with your health care provider. If you think of the pelvic area as a house, depending on if the floor, roof or walls fall and weaken; you could have varying issues and pain points.
PFDs are NOT a normal part of aging that you just have to live with. They’re medical conditions and they’re treatable. Treatments include bladder control training, lifestyle changes, pelvic muscle strengthening, medication, support devices or surgery. Your doctor will work with you on a personalized treatment plan to meet your needs, which often includes a combination of things.
Having children and getting older comes with a lot of change. Some of these changes are a proud reflection of the life you’ve lived. But when it comes to your pelvic health, no amount of pain, pressure, inconvenience and embarrassment is normal. Don’t let the unnecessary stigma of PFD symptoms prevent you from seeking effective treatment. You can hit reset on your pelvic health and find your way back to yourself.
Contact AAMC’s Women’s Center for Pelvic Health at 443-481-1199 and speak to a specialist who will help guide you to the right solutions and a provider to best fit your current needs.
Author
Kay Hoskey, MD, a urogynecologist with AAMC’s Women’s Center for Pelvic Health.
Originally published April 27, 2018. Last updated May 14, 2019.
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Pediatrics
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Pediatric ED or Urgent Care: How to know what’s best for your child
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There’s often nothing more nerve racking to a parent than dealing with a sick or injured child, especially when it happens after the pediatrician’s office closes. Who do you call? Where should you go? What’s open? These are key questions that race through your mind.
One of the best ways to prepare for these unexpected situations is to know your options in advance. When you’re aware of what’s available in your area and how to best utilize each, it eliminates some of the stress felt in the moment. You can then focus your attention on identifying what’s wrong and deciding on the best place to take your child to get the help they need.
At Anne Arundel Medical Center, we’re fortunate to have a full-service Pediatric Emergency Department, open 24-7 and supported by a range of specialty services and child-life specialists. Our dedicated team of doctors, nurses and other healthcare providers are trained specifically to treat children, including infants.
But the emergency department isn’t always the right place to take your child. And it can be difficult to know when the emergency department is right and when urgent care is best. Here’s a quick guide on where to take your child based on their symptoms:
Pediatric Emergency Department
Any infant under three months who has a rectal temperature of 100.4˚ or higher
Bleeding that can’t be stopped
Head injury with loss of consciousness
Injury that includes a deformity (such as a broken bone pushing through the skin)
Mental health crisis
Poisoning
Seizures
Severe asthma attacks
Severe cuts
Signs of dehydration (dry lips and mouth, absence of urination, lethargy and confusion)
Trouble breathing
Urgent Care Center
Bumps, minor scrapes and cuts
Cough and sore throat
Flu and cold symptoms
Low-grade fevers, for children over three months old
Minor burns
Minor earaches
Mild vomiting and diarrhea
Pink eye
Rashes
Sunburn
Upset stomach
Please remember, these are guidelines. If at any point you believe your child has a life threatening emergency, call 9-1-1 immediately.
Originally published Jan. 22, 2018. Last updated Jan. 7, 2020.
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