- WellnessGeneral Page Tier 3BlogOne in five children today are clinically obese, according to U.S. data. That’s a staggering statistic. Practicing an active lifestyle at an early age with your children is important. Whether you’re making it a family priority for the first time, or if COVID-19 has temporarily derailed you and you need to get back on track, here are ideas to get outside and active this summer. Understand Obesity in Kids As kids grow and develop, their body weight naturally fluctuates a bit as they go through various stages. At your child’s yearly checkup, the doctor will measure their weight and compare it to growth charts, your child’s personal history and your family history to make sure they’re staying in a healthy range. Children become overweight for a variety of reasons. Some reasons include family eating habits, community factors, what they eat and drink and how much exercise they get. Unfortunately, being overweight can set a child up to experience serious issues, such as: Breathing problems Heart disease Joint problems Social problems Type 2 diabetes Make Time to Play: 60 Minutes a Day With busy family schedules and children spending more time in front of screens, there can be fewer hours in the day to let them run, jump, climb and swing. But it’s worth making an intentional plan if you’re worried your child isn’t getting enough physical activity. Remember: Kids aged 6 to 17 should get at least 60 minutes of physical activity a day Kids aged 3 to 5 should stay active throughout the day to help their growth and development Anything that gets your kiddos up and moving — and gets their heart rate up — is a great place to start. Aim to allow both structured and unstructured activities. Work to help your child find physical activities they enjoy so they’re more likely to keep it up. Move Forward Together A great way to help your kids lead a healthy lifestyle is to lead one yourself. They’ll learn from your example. It helps when everyone feels like they’re on the same team. Try to eat plenty of fruits and vegetables. Cut back on sugary drinks and make regular physical activity a priority. Take a look at your summer calendar to make sure you’ve included enough regular, active play. If you want to kick-start a new routine, here are a few ideas to get moving as a family: Plan Backyard Hangouts: Blow bubbles and see who can catch the most Build a backyard obstacle course Chalk out a hopscotch or scooter-trick course Follow each other’s lead with Simon Says Plant a garden or work together in the yard Relive Your Youth: Get competitive with frisbee, kickball or tug of war Have a jump rope or hula hoop contest Make a slip ‘n slide using a plastic tarp Play hide and seek or tag outside Teach each other your coolest dance moves Take Your Fun on the Go: Check out an interesting local attraction Get together safely with friends at the playground or pool Head out on a family bike ride Make a picnic to take to the park Walk the dog (or a neighbor’s dog!) Enjoy a Healthy Summer Get out and enjoy yourself. It will feel great to take in some fresh air — and to get back to your favorite physical activities. As long as you plan ahead and follow local health and safety guidelines, there’s no reason you can’t enjoy a very active and healthy summer with your kids. Author Scott Eden, MD, is a practicing family medicine physician at Anne Arundel Medical Group Chesapeake Family Medicine in Annapolis.0
- Community, Pediatrics, WellnessGeneral Page Tier 3BlogSummer is prime time for frequent trips to water parks, pools, beaches and lakes. Unfortunately, it’s also the high season for drowning and even dry drowning that occurs after swimming. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, one in five people who die from drowning are children 14 and younger. For every child who dies from drowning, another five receive emergency care for nonfatal submersion injuries. The key to prevention is water safety education. Here are a few tips to keep in mind when planning water activities this summer: Learn to swim. The American Association of Pediatrics recommend children start swimming lessons around age one. You can find lessons at your local pool. Learn CPR and first aid. In the time it takes for paramedics to arrive, your CPR and first aid skills could save someone’s life. Find CPR and first aid certification programs online in your local area. Use the buddy system. Never swim alone. Wear a life jacket when on a boat, raft, inner tube, kayak or canoe. Avoid drinking alcohol before or during swimming, boating or water skiing. Do not drink alcohol while supervising children. If you have a pool at home, make sure you have the proper safety mechanisms (i.e., gates, latches, locks, etc.) in place to prevent accidents. We all love to have fun, but we must do our part to protect others and ourselves by practicing water safety. If you have questions or concerns about preparing for summer activities, your primary care physician can help. Authors Heather Newhard, MSN, CRNP-F, is a primary care physician with Luminis Health.0
- Community, Infectious DiseaseGeneral Page Tier 3BlogLuminis Health has reached a major milestone. The health system has given more than 100,000 vaccines in our communities. Luminis Health can now provide more shots in arms, thanks to a $2.2 million state grant. The funding will be used to expand efforts to bring COVID-19 vaccinations to vulnerable residents in Anne Arundel and Prince George’s counties. The Health Services Cost Review Commission (HSCRC) provided the funding to increase Maryland’s statewide vaccination rate. The new program awarded $12 million to hospital systems to expand and improve existing mobile and community-based vaccination programs. Luminis Health will use the funds to expand its mobile vaccination program. Since January, our Health & Wellness Team has administered shots at businesses, homeless shelters, senior centers, low-income housing communities, barber shops, churches, and community events. Through our mobile program, the health system will provide more than 41,000 additional vaccinations in 14 target zip codes across Anne Arundel and Prince George’s counties. “We need to meet people where they are,” said Christine Crabbs, director of Community Health at Luminis Health. “This additional funding will allow us to help our vulnerable residents who face challenges such as poverty and lack of access to health care, technology, and transportation. We will go door-to-door if necessary to get shots in arms.” Luminis Health will work with more than one hundred community partners on this project. “Consistent with our new 10-year strategic plan, Vision 2030, Living Healthier Together, we are focused on partnerships, public health, and care beyond the walls of the hospitals,” said Tori Bayless, CEO of Luminis Health. “Since our mission is to enhance the health of the people we serve, it is our honor and duty to vaccinate as many as we can, to bring this pandemic to an end. Keitarree Smith of Annapolis received the 100,000 vaccine during a clinic at Mt. Olive AME Church. He was presented with a $100 Visa gift card and a special sign.0
- Cancer CareGeneral Page Tier 3BlogBeginning this month – National Cancer Survivor’s Month – we will share a series of blog posts from our own cancer survivors. Each cancer journey is unique. At Luminis Health, we want to shine a light on these journeys from the perspective of our own patients. That’s why we’ve started this new series – bringing hope and comfort to those who have been touched by cancer. Here’s Maureen Disharoon’s story: Last summer, my husband, Larry, noticed that he had a blister between his toes. We didn’t think much of it, but a few weeks later, it looked a little angry, so we saw a dermatologist—the biopsy came back as melanoma. The dermatologist helped us get an appointment at Luminis Health Anne Arundel Medical Center (LHAAMC) the very next day, which was really kind of amazing. Going through this process during the year of COVID-19 added a challenging layer to this scary scenario. Over the next few months, Larry had surgery to remove his cancerous toe and a lymph node from his groin. A genetic test recommended by Dr. Adam Riker determined he had a version of the BRAF gene that makes melanoma worse, so he recommended immunotherapy following the surgery. It was a lot, but everything seemed to be going fine until December, when Larry started to have some behavioral and cognitive changes—we learned that the cancer spread to his brain, as well as his lung, his abdomen, and leg. This required an entirely new game plan on very short notice: whole brain radiation and full-blown chemotherapy. Throughout this process, Larry’s team of doctors at LHAAMC—Drs. Julie Oda, Mary Young, and Adam Riker —were amazing. They were right there at every new development. Dr. Riker always has a “we gotta go after this!” energy, while Dr. Oda has a gentle, caring approach—and both are brilliant. Dr. Young, the radiology oncologist, laid out an aggressive plan the first day she met Larry and moved heaven and earth to set up his whole brain radiation that started hours later…during Christmas week. This was not an insignificant feat. The whole team, including the nutritionist and other staff, gave us whatever we needed; not only did they design a treatment plan for him literally in hours, but everything was so personalized. When he went in for radiation, Dr. Young would occasionally walk Larry out herself and hand him over to me, adding a personal touch to this treatment phase. The staff has just been incredible, compassionate, and accommodating. From my perspective, as the spouse and advocate, I did a lot of notetaking, scheduling, and orchestrating. I’ve been a NASA consultant supporting many NASA missions for 40 years and this became my newest mission. Most people have seen how quiet and calm mission control is, but in reality, the rooms that surround Mission Control can be frantic. I tried to harness the frenzy, keep out the noise, and focus on the “mission.” We feel very grateful for the care Larry has received. Larry’s brother died of melanoma at 43, before immunotherapy and other targeted treatments existed. As long as the medicine is working, Larry will stay on it. We know it won’t cure it, but as his doctors say, we can put the cancer to sleep for as long as it will stay asleep. The cancer is asleep now, but if it wakes up—if the gene finds a backdoor, as it’s been known to—then maybe something else will be needed. Larry is still under the care of Drs. Oda, Riker, and Young, and they’re making sure we don’t let our foot off the gas. But things are hopeful right now: Larry celebrated his 65th birthday in April, and he’s looking and feeling good, he’s gained weight, mows the lawn, and has even gone golfing! If you told me this in February, I don’t know if I’d have believed it. So that’s where we are. We’re enjoying life. Every day we have like this is a win.0
- Behavioral Health, PediatricsGeneral Page Tier 3BlogFor a lot of us, the pandemic has taken its toll on our mental health and wellbeing. That’s especially true for teenagers. At Luminis Health Anne Arundel Medical Center, we have seen an increase in mental health visits to the pediatric emergency room. That’s why we have created a new space for young patients to relax and chill out. Over the past few months, a planning team has transformed the hospital’s old playroom into a Zen Den, an area specifically designed to meet the mental health needs of teens. “Before a teen is admitted, there is a fair amount of wait time anxiety,” said Melanie Lee, clinical nursing director of Pediatrics for Luminis Health Anne Arundel Medical Center. “The Zen Den is a safe and supportive space that came at just the right time. During this pandemic, we saw an increase in teenagers needing mental health services.” The moment you walk in the room, you are surrounded by peace and calm – the lighting is dim, the walls are painted blue, and soft music is playing in the background. Teens can relax in a beanbag chair, write their feelings on a white board, or enjoy the Vector Jr. sensory station, complete with a bubble and jellyfish tower. “You feel like you are not in the hospital,” said Meghan Siegel, a certified child-life specialist at Luminis Health Anne Arundel Medical Center, “and it’s already making a difference. Patients are relieved, peaceful, and less stressed. It’s really a simple space.” The Zen Den was made possible thanks to donations from the community. When Rob Rex died in November 2020, his family asked loved ones and friends to donate money for a new playroom at the hospital. Nearly $14,000 were raised through the Luminis Health Anne Arundel Medical Center Foundation, which helped create this innovative addition to the Pediatric Emergency Unit. “We are happy to be able to give back to the community that has been so incredibly supportive of us,” said Jenn Rex. “There is not much more important than the mental health of our children and we are proud to have the Zen Den named in my husband’s memory and as a lasting reminder of the impact his life had on so many. Rob was the most positive person I have ever known and we look forward to doing as many positive things as we can in his honor.”0
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