- Employee SpotlightGeneral Page Tier 3BlogFor Akela Harris, work is not just “a job” – it’s what she looks forward to every time she comes in to AAMC’s Neuro Care Unit. And sometimes, it’s a safe haven from her packed schedule.“When I’m going to work I always tell my children that I’m going to my happy place because it’s the busy that gets me away from my other busy,” she laughs. A single mother of three, Akela is a full-time mother and granddaughter during the day and a full-time patient technician at night. “I work three nights a week and go to school four days a week all for my children, as well as looking after my grandmother by taking her to doctor appointments,” she says. Akela embarked on her health care journey 13 years ago when she was working as a kitchen chef assistant at Ginger Cove. She says she didn’t find her passion – her passion found her. “Ginger Cove was offering certified nursing assistant classes and my boss at the time encouraged me to take them,” she says. “She told me I paid a lot of attention to people and she knew the kitchen wasn’t what I loved. I took the classes and it went from there.” Getting to interact with people during their time of need was what attracted Akela to health care. Though sometimes it’s rough, she finds meaning in her work. “You really have to love it,” she says. “Sometimes patients don’t feel well and say things that hurt. This job can be stressful. But for me, sometimes you go into a person’s room and they make you feel like you’re appreciated and that one person can make up for the other five that aren’t treating you as kindly. It takes just one person saying they appreciate what I do or thanking me for helping them. To me, that’s enough.” For Akela, it’s also about the team she works with. Though it’s a small team, they are like a family and look after each other. “I have people here to support me through the ups and downs,” she says. “We can be having a horrible night and someone says something and we all burst out laughing. I love that, you don’t get that everywhere.” Currently working to become a surgical technologist by December 2018, Akela says she looks forward to a new challenge and learning new skills. Her only condition: continuing to interact with patients. “When you do what you love it doesn’t feel like you’re trying, you’re just going to do it because it’s what you love doing anyway,” she says. “It’s effortless.” PRO TIP: “Never give up no matter how hard it gets. If it’s something that you feel in your heart that you’re supposed to do and you want to do, don’t give up. Don’t allow one or two days to make you give up on your dream. If you have a dream and that’s what you want to do, give it your all and do it with a passion.” *Akela Harris received an AAMC Champion award for the month of May. If you know a great individual or a fantastic team going above and beyond to make a difference, make sure to let us know! Looking for a career in health care? We invite you to join a diverse and collaborative team of professionals working together to innovate the future of health care for our entire region. Check out our career opportunities.0
- Infectious DiseaseGeneral Page Tier 3BlogVoting is one of the most important rights you have as a U.S. citizen. But this year, the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic has raised safety concerns we haven’t faced in previous elections. Maybe you have already voted by mail. Or maybe you have decided to vote in person, either by voting early or going to the polls on Election Day. If you’re going in person, remember these tips from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Make a Plan Be prepared. Make sure your voter registration information is correct before you go. Have all of the documentation and forms you need, and make sure they are already filled out. Look at a sample ballot at home so you aren’t surprised and you can make your choices quickly. Plan your trip. Avoid crowds as best you can. Mid-morning may be less crowded than early morning or evening. You could also watch the lines from outside the building and wait until they get shorter to join. When You Go Bring your own pen (with black ink) to the polls. If your polling location has touchscreen voting, bring a stylus or a similar object. But check with election workers before you use it. Bring hand sanitizer with at least 60 percent alcohol with you and use it often. Especially after touching high-contact areas. That includes door handles and voting equipment. Wash your hands before you go inside your polling location and again after you leave. Wear a mask. If you have trouble breathing, talk to your doctor first. Even if you’re wearing a mask, keep at least six feet apart from others who aren’t part of your household. Don’t disinfect or wipe down voting equipment yourself – you might damage it. Wait until after you use it to wash your hands or use hand sanitizer. Use hand sanitizer again after you exit. Wear your voter sticker proudly! We’re in this together. Let’s take precautions to prevent the spread of COVID-19 while exercising our right to vote. Author Jean Murray is the director of Infection Control at Anne Arundel Medical Center.0
- CommunityGeneral Page Tier 3BlogEverything looks different in 2020. That includes your holiday traditions. Like the annual visit from everyone’s favorite house guest, the Elf on the Shelf. The coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic has kept us at home for the past nine months. And now, North Pole doctors have warned us that the virus is probably going to keep your Elf from moving around much this holiday season, too. (Kids don’t believe you? Not to worry. We’ve got you covered with our downloadable For-Elves-Only Doctor’s Notes.) Here are the top five reasons your Elf stayed in the same place for at least a few nights this year: 1. He was following social distancing guidelines. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommends that everyone (including Elves!) stay at least six feet away from others who aren’t in your household. Remind your kids that by not moving, your Elf is doing their part to prevent the spread of germs. 2. She was binge watching Netflix and forgot to move. We’ve all been guilty of this while staying at home. Especially now, with all of the holiday movies that are available to stream. Before you know it, hours (even days) have gone by. We spoke with our mental health experts, who tell us this is a form of “elf-care” and to let your Elf ‘veg out’ for the time being. If several days go by, you may need to give her a friendly nudge off the couch. 3. He ate way too many holiday cookies. If you’ve been spending a lot of time baking with your little ones, you can’t blame your Elf for wanting to indulge, too. Our dietitians suggest plopping him in the fruit bowl for a full day. That’s a healthier way to satisfy his sweet tooth. 4. She sprained her ankle after too much rockin’ around the Christmas tree. Maybe she was trying to entertain herself with an at-home dance party. Still much safer than a crowded gathering, but not without risks! Our orthopedic specialists who have treated other Elves say the only real cure is to hang out in a stocking for about 48 hours. 5. He fell and hit his head while hanging Christmas lights. Ouch! If your Elf was trying to make your home look especially festive this year and took a tumble, he needs to rest. Stick him under the tree where he can sit safely until his head feels better. Don’t forget, your kids (and Santa) are going to want to see an official doctor’s note as proof of any of these situations! Download your printable doctor’s note and share them with us by tagging Luminis Health on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram! From our Luminis Health family to yours, we wish you a happy and healthy holiday! Originally published Dec. 7, 2016. Last updated Nov. 30, 2020.0
- General Page - Tier 1Luminis Health Doctors Community Medical Center (LHDCMC) is embarking on a major transformation to expand access to high‑quality maternal, women’s, and surgical care—right here in Prince George’s County. With nearly one million residents in the county and 8 out of 10 women leaving the community to deliver their babies, this initiative fills a long‑standing gap in local healthcare services.Our Maternal Health and Campus Modernization Initiative will build a new Women’s Health Pavilion, modernize critical clinical spaces and strengthen the campus for future generations.Groundbreaking CeremonyApril 22, 20269:00 AM – 11:00 AMJoin us as we officially break ground on the Women’s Health Pavilion—a major milestone in bringing world‑class maternal health care home to Prince George’s County.This celebration marks the start of construction on a 67,000‑sq‑ft Pavilion at Doctors Community Medical Center and the launch of infrastructure upgrades that support improved surgical, emergency and specialty care., Why This MattersA third-party healthcare assessment identified obstetrics and general surgery as leading health priorities for Prince George’s County residents.Access to high-quality, accessible healthcare improves lives and strengthens our community. This initiative ensures families can receive comprehensive, compassionate care close to home., What We’re Building The Women’s Health PavilionA three‑story, state‑of‑the‑art facility designed to support safe, compassionate, family‑centered care: Private labor and delivery rooms Dedicated C‑section operating rooms Midwife‑supported birthing suites Postpartum and nursery units Level II Special Care Nursery Future shell space for expanding women’s services Rooftop helipad with direct access to the Emergency Department Campus Modernization Our initiative also includes major upgrades to core clinical and support areas: Modernized operating rooms, interventional radiology, and sterile processing Redesigned emergency department Expanded laboratory and food & nutrition spaces Major utility and infrastructure improvements These upgrades build on recent progress since joining Luminis Health in 2019—including the Behavioral Health Pavilion (opened 2022) and expanded OB‑GYN and prenatal access. , Product Status & Timeline Utility relocation & site work, Good Luck Road: 2025–2026 Groundbreaking Ceremony: Apr 22, 2026, 9–11am Pavilion construction: Late 2025–Summer 2026 Renovation of clinical spaces: 2026–2028 Pavilion opening: Late 2028 , Trade Partners & VendorsLuminis Health and Hensel Phelps will host information sessions for firms interested in future bid opportunities related to Task Orders 5 & 6, which include:Interior RenovationsOR/IR RenovationLoading Dock/PharmacyLink and Women’s Health PavilionAll contracts over $100,000 require Payment & Performance Bonds. Hensel Phelps is an equal opportunity employer. Learn More about the Information Session and Project Team Introduction. The approximate Bid Date is early March, 2026.0
- News & Press Releases, PediatricsGeneral Page Tier 3BlogAs adults, we’ve all heard about the financial damage identity theft can do. But do we also need to worry about protecting our kids’ identities from thieves? A Growing Crime Approximately 140,000 identity frauds are committed against children each year. The rate of identity theft for children is 35 times higher than the rate for adults—and growing. In 2014, the Interstate Technology & Regulatory Council reported a 300 percent increase in calls related to child identity theft. Why Thieves Target Kids Child identity theft happens when someone steals a child’s personal information, often a Social Security number (SSN). The thief uses it to open credit cards, secure loans or engage in other criminal activity. How They Get Away With It Criminals can derail a child’s life in just three steps: The thief steals a child’s information. The thief uses data breaches/hacks, computer viruses or email phishing to access a child’s information, usually a SSN. The thief establishes a credit history. The thief typically tries to open an account with minimal credit history requirements—such as a cell phone, utility or unsecured credit card account—using the stolen SSN with a different name and date of birth. The thief builds up credit, and then cashes out. After the first account is set up, the thief can set up higher-value accounts, each account growing in size. When ready, the thief cuts ties with the identity, allowing any open accounts to go into default. The Impact on Children Most people are familiar with the financial cost of identity theft. There’s also a huge opportunity cost. Restoring a child’s identity can take years. In that time, child identity theft victims could be denied student loans, scholarships, internships, jobs, credit cards or housing. What You Can Do There’s a simple tool you can use to protect your child’s identity: a credit freeze. Maryland law requires that credit agencies allow parents to create a credit report for a child in order to freeze the account. The sooner you freeze your child’s credit, the lower the risk for identity theft. Why it works? Creditors cannot access an account that is frozen. Without a credit report to support an application, creditors are highly unlikely to approve and open an account for anyone who tries to use your child’s SSN. To freeze your child’s credit, submit a freeze request online or in writing to the credit agencies. Learn how to do it. Know the Warning Signs How can you tell if your child’s identity is stolen? If any of these red flags sound familiar, the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) urges you to act immediately: Unusual calls, bills and offers for your child. You may receive calls from collection agencies. bills from credit card companies or service providers; credit card offers; or even bank account checks—all in your child’s name. Employment confirmation requests. The IRS, Social Security Administration or other government agency may ask to confirm that your child is employed, even though she is not or never has been. IRS notifications. The IRS may notify you that the information you filed for a dependent child is already listed on another filer’s tax return. Or, your child may receive a notice that he has failed to pay taxes on income that he never received. Denied benefits. If your child or your family is expecting to receive government benefits and is denied, it may be because another account is using your child’s SSN to receive benefits. Visit the FTC website to learn what to do. Learn more about protecting your child’s identity and about pediatrics at Anne Arundel Medical Center. Sources: Maryland Hospital Association; 2012 Child Identity Theft Report. Originally published Dec. 9, 2015. Last updated July 11, 2018.0
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