- Heart CareGeneral Page Tier 3BlogDo you ever feel that your heartbeat is irregular, or slower or faster than normal? This describes an arrhythmia. Sean C. Beinart, MD, cardiac electrophysiologist at Luminis Health Anne Arundel Medical Center (LHAAMC), answers a few common questions about this condition. What is an irregular heartbeat and how will I know if I have one? We refer to irregular heartbeats as arrhythmias or abnormal heart rhythms. They range from very benign single premature beats to more dangerous arrhythmias that can cause sudden cardiac death. Some arrhythmias are becoming more common such as atrial fibrillation. Atrial fibrillation is not life threatening, but it can increase your risk for stroke. It can also cause a wide range of symptoms including palpitations (a feeling of butterflies in the chest), shortness of breath, chest pain, or severe fatigue. What treatments are available to me? The wonderful thing about cardiology and the field of heart rhythm disorders is that we typically have many treatments available to patients. They include a variety of lifestyle modifications, medical treatments, or cardiac ablation. Cardiac ablation is a procedure where a specialist carefully places spaghetti-sized wires in the heart via the veins in the legs to identify and then eliminate the abnormal electrical signals. Will I need a pacemaker? Pacemakers are only necessary if someone has a very slow heart rate. This can sometimes occur in a patient who occasionally has a fast heart rate. Most treatments, however, do not require a pacemaker. How long does treatment take? Your provider will tailor treatments to your specific arrhythmia and associated symptom burden. I develop a strategy that involves a shared decision. I take into account the patient’s other medical problems. This ensures optimal health and quality of life. How can I make an appointment with an electrophysiologist? If you have symptoms such as palpitations, dizziness or near fainting, chest pain or shortness of breath, you could have an arrhythmia. Making an appointment is as simple as calling our cardiology office and asking for an electrophysiologist (heart rhythm specialist) or Dr. Beinart. Authors Sean C. Beinart, MD, is a cardiac electrophysiologist at LHAAMC. To make an appointment with him, please call 443-481-6700.0
- Plastic Surgery & Skin CareGeneral Page Tier 3BlogMost of us have heard about Botox and fillers, but how do they work? Chief of Plastic Surgery Derek Masden, MD, answers a few common questions below. What is Botox? A provider can inject Botox, a prescription medicine, into muscles to temporarily smooth the look of moderate to severe forehead lines, crow’s feet lines, or frown lines between the eyebrows. Botox works by temporarily weakening or paralyzing certain muscles to smooth facial wrinkles. Botox typically lasts between three and 12 months, depending on the area you are treating. What are the benefits of Botox? Botox helps to create a more youthful appearance without surgical intervention and very little downtime. Most patients are able to get Botox and go about their day with little to no side effects. Patients start to see results in just two to four days, however, optimal results typically take 14 days. Where can Botox be injected? Botox can address forehead lines, crow’s feet, or lines between the eyebrows. What is filler? Filler is a general term for hyaluronic acid or similar substances used to ‘fill in’ or plump up areas that have lost volume. Compared to Botox, which freezes muscles to stop creases and wrinkles, filler helps to add volume for a smoother look. What are the benefits of filler? A clinician can inject fillers in the office with little to no downtime and with immediate results. Filler can also last more than 12 months without touchups, which means greater long term results. Where can filler be injected? The lips are the most common place that patients elect to have fillers. Other common injection spots are sunken or recessed areas in the face, such as those around the mouth and cheeks. What if I am interested in reducing wrinkles but I am not ready for injectables? The Luminis Health Plastic Surgery team offers a variety of different skin care products to help patients create a smoother, clearer, and more refined appearance. Skin care can be personalized to your goals including overall skin health, texture repair, skin brightening, complexion clearing, or anti-aging. No two patients are the same so we always recommend an in-depth discussion with one of our providers to determine your goals. This helps us customize a skin care plan for you. How do I make an appointment? To make an appointment, please call 443-481-3400. To find out more information, visit our website at aamgplasticsurgery.com. The holidays are coming up, and Botox can give you a new look! The Luminis Health Plastic Surgery office is offering a special of $10 a unit just for the month of December! Please call 443-481-3400 to make an appointment today. We are conveniently located on the 6th floor of Belcher Pavilion.0
- Infectious DiseaseGeneral Page Tier 3BlogMost people who fall ill from COVID-19 don’t need advanced medical attention. Some benefit from a caretaker, a person committed to help manage recovery. Caring for someone else is a big responsibility. You want to fully understand how to properly care for your loved one, and for yourself, when dealing with a contagious illness like COVID-19. We can help you prepare. What makes a good caretaker COVID-19 caretakers put themselves in potentially harmful situations. Caretakers should be compassionate, flexible and in good health. Those who are fully vaccinated are much less likely to contract COVID-19 than those who are not vaccinated. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) discourages caregiving for those who have a compromised immune system or a chronic condition like heart disease or diabetes. Caretaker duties Many people who contract COVID-19 become physically unable to keep up with their daily activities. They may need help with basic needs, like shopping for groceries and caring for pets. As a caretaker, you may need to coordinate visits to the doctor that could be in-person or virtual. Your loved one will probably be asked to stay home. Picking up their medication and helping them follow their doctor’s orders, like resting and drinking fluids, are essential duties. Cleaning Maintaining cleanliness and personal hygiene stops COVID-19 from spreading. Identify frequently touched objects and surface areas and clean them often, in some cases, after each use. Household soap and detergent kill virus particles that collect on doorknobs, tables, light switches, canes, walkers and countertops. Wearing a mask Masks keep droplets from passing to others. You and your loved one should wear a mask any time you are in the same area. Your loved one should mask any time they are around others, even outdoors. Masks are most effective when worn properly, covering the nose and mouth. Keeping contact minimal Limiting contact is hard, but it’s the most effective way to avoid spreading the virus. Keep personal items separated, like utensils, plates and towels. Stay in separate rooms, including bedrooms and bathrooms. If you’re unable to maintain physical distance, make sure your surroundings have good air circulation. You can open windows or run fans. Keeping your loved one socially active Isolation is taxing. Make sure your loved one can still communicate with others throughout their recovery. Your loved one can stay connected, even at a distance, by greeting the mailperson from the window or receiving mail from family. Video calls through smartphones and laptops bring friends, family members and care team members right to your loved one without risking anyone’s safety. Knowing your signs As a caretaker, you can observe and monitor your loved one’s condition. COVID-19 symptoms include fever, cough and shortness of breath. If these symptoms begin to worsen, you may want to consider taking your loved one to the emergency room. Emergency warning signs include: Chest pain or pressure Confusion Labored breathing Skin that has turned pale, gray or blue Unconsciousness Preparing for the unexpected If your loved one’s condition worsens, seek emergency care immediately. Prepare a medical “go bag” ahead of time. In case of emergency, you can grab the bag in a hurry. You won’t waste critical time pulling items together, and you’ll reduce the likelihood that you’ll forget to bring something important to the hospital. Also, make sure you have a plan in case you, the caretaker, get sick. Designate an emergency contact with your loved one who can fulfill your duties if you are not able. Make sure your loved one has plenty of food, water, medication and other essentials. Many businesses offer delivery now. You may want to research the options ahead of time to help avoid panic. Helpful items for a caretaker Eye protection (face shield or goggles) Dish soap, hand soap and laundry soap Hand sanitizer with at least 60 percent alcohol Medical masks Over the counter medication to reduce fever (ibuprofen, acetaminophen) A thermometer Tissues and disposable paper towels Caring for yourself Caregiving can take its toll. Don’t feel discouraged if you face challenges. Watch for symptoms of burnout, like poor eating habits, difficulty sleeping and feeling of hopelessness. You need to meet your needs to be able to help your loved one. You can help care for yourself through: Breaking a big task into small, achievable steps Eating a healthy diet Limiting news intake Exercising regularly Taking a break from caregiving to recharge Author Stefanie Osterloh, CRNP, is a family nurse practitioner with Luminis Health Primary Care in Crofton, Md.0
- News & Press ReleasesGeneral Page Tier 3BlogLuminis Health, a Maryland-based health system, and Cedar, a market-leading healthcare financial technology platform, today announced a partnership to create an excellent, personalized patient experience synonymous with the recently-formed health system, which includes three hospitals and a physician group. Since its inception in 2019, Luminis Health has focused on innovation and this partnership, and its collaboration with Cedar will take the patient experience to the next level. “We formed Luminis Health to remove barriers to health, make care easier and ensure that everyone has access to the tools they need to live a healthy life—and in order to be successful in this mission, it’s important to make the financial experience as seamless and accessible as the care experience,” said Kevin Smith, chief financial officer for Luminis Health. “Investing in and implementing leading healthcare technology is the best way to achieve this goal, and we look forward to working side-by-side with Cedar to build a financial journey that empowers each and every one of our patients.” Cedar Pay, Cedar’s post-visit patient engagement and payment platform, delivers personalized billing through outreach, messaging and bill resolution based on a variety of unique factors and preferences. The platform will be fully integrated with Luminis Health’s existing Epic instance, enabling a financial experience that drives meaningful engagement and enhances patient satisfaction. “The biggest barrier to true transformation in healthcare has been antiquated processes. Luminis Health is setting an example by starting its new venture with investments in strategic digital health tools, and we are thrilled to be working with a partner that shares in our mission of empowering patients to easily and affordably pursue the care they need” said Florian Otto, CEO and co-founder of Cedar. “Consumers crave a modern, intuitive experience within their healthcare journey and will gravitate and return to innovators like Luminis Health, who value the patient financial experience as a core component of the healthcare journey.” Luminis Health and Cedar expect to roll-out the new engagement and billing platform in the spring of 2022.0
- Infectious DiseaseGeneral Page Tier 3BlogMore than a year and a half after going into lockdown, we’re all anxious to put COVID-19 in our rearview mirror. But if you had coronavirus, and continue to experience its after-effects, you know first-hand that life is far from “back to normal.” With the goal of helping you manage lingering symptoms, the team at Luminis Health has created a COVID Recovery Service. Here, you’ll find a team approach to helping our community recover from COVID-19. When symptoms persist COVID-19 is a new illness. As a result, there’s a lot we’re still learning about it. One thing that we’ve learned is that not everyone gets over the virus in the same way. While some people seem to recover quickly, others continue to have problems weeks or months after they’re diagnosed. If you have had COVID-19 and are still suffering from any of the following symptoms, our providers can help. Dizziness on standing Shortness of breath Anxiety/depression Fatigue Swallowing issues Difficulty with memory Voice dysfunction Weakness These symptoms may be bothersome and frustrating. They can also make everyday living challenging. At Luminis Health, our COVID Recovery Service includes a team of providers from different specialties assisting patients in their recovery after a COVID-19 infection. Our team offers personalized care including: Telehealth visits with our providers, including a full medical evaluation. In-person visits with our lung specialists, including a physical and cognitive evaluation by a physical therapist. Referrals to additional specialties to allow for timely management of symptoms, including cardiology and neurology. Outpatient rehabilitation such as physical therapy and occupational therapy: Occupational therapy can help if you’re having trouble with activities of daily living, like driving. It can also help with everyday tasks as some find their symptoms worsen after mental activity as well as physical activity. Our physical therapists will assess your strength, balance and physical abilities. We will design a program to help you get stronger and make it easier for you to do things you want and need to do. As we work with you, we track your blood oxygen levels and symptoms to make sure you stay safe. Speech therapy can help with voice changes, swallowing or memory issues that may occur. Our programs assists with organizing and processing your thoughts along with projecting your voice so you can communicate effectively with others. It’s okay to reach out for help If you’re struggling after a COVID diagnosis, we’re here for you. While Post-COVID symptoms aren’t uncommon, you don’t have to live with them. Contact the COVID Recovery Service team for more information or to schedule an appointment at 443-951-4286.0
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