- Infectious DiseaseGeneral Page Tier 3BlogFinally, there’s a light at the end of the tunnel. The two pharmaceutical companies, Pfizer and Moderna, that have developed COVID-19 vaccines are reporting a 94% to 95% effectiveness rate—a beacon of hope in fighting the pandemic. “94% to 95% efficacy is much higher than the annual influenza vaccine. Also, the high efficacy is maintained in the elder population. This is very promising,” says Dr. Mary Clance, epidemiologist with Luminis Health Anne Arundel Medical Center. The Data The New England Journal of Medicine reported on the results of Pfizer’s Phase 3 clinical trials late last month. A final analysis of its Phase 3 trial showed a 95% effectiveness rate. There were also no serious safety concerns. The clinical trial has 43,548 participants enrolled. The company conducted trials in about 150 clinical sites in six countries, including 39 states. The NEJM also reported on the results of Moderna’s Phase 3 clinical trials last month. Moderna’s data shows a 94.1% effectiveness rate at preventing severe disease from COVID-19. Moderna has 30,420 participants enrolled in the study at more than 100 clinical sites in the U.S. Both Pfizer and Moderna have received emergency use authorization from the Federal Drug Administration (FDA), and began distribution of the vaccines last month. The vaccines will continue to be monitored and studied. But so far, Dr. Clance and Jean Murray, director of Infection Control for Luminis Health Anne Arundel Medical Center, are very encouraged by the vaccines’ ability to prevent severe COVID disease. What This Means “Everybody is excited about the progress of the vaccine,” Jean says. “But, we need to remember that we still need to observe infection control precautions to prevent the spread of the disease until enough of the community is vaccinated.” Remember to practice the 3Ws. Wash your hands, wear a mask and watch your distance. It’s going to take time to roll out the vaccine and immunize a significant number of the population. “It’s not a magic bullet, so people will still need to continue to physically distance, wear a mask and wash their hands,” Jean says. “But the vaccine is an opportunity to give many, many more Americans immunity to prevent the spread of this virus.” Questions Remain But there are many unanswered questions. How long will a vaccine provide immunity? Can it be used in young children? When can the general public get the vaccine? State health departments have developed plans to roll out the vaccine. Essential health care workers in hospital and nursing facilities were first to get it, followed by first responders including firefighters, police officers and emergency medical services personnel. No vaccine is 100% effective, Dr. Clance says. “The chances of getting COVID after vaccination with the two mRNA vaccines is very small,” she says. “The duration of immunity after vaccination is not yet known but will be learned in the months ahead with longer follow up of the past and current vaccine recipients.” The Vaccine’s Effectiveness The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) say the trial data results are remarkable. Each year, the CDC looks at how well the flu vaccine protects against the flu. Recent studies show the flu vaccine reduces the risk of flu by between 30% and 60% among the overall population—compared to the 94% to 95% effectiveness the Pfizer and Moderna vaccines are showing against COVID. In some years the efficacy is much lower. The challenge, Dr. Clance says, is that influenza viruses can change each year. The CDC anticipates which strains to target for the upcoming vaccine. Some years, the efficacy is lower because the vaccine doesn’t match the virus. Coronaviruses, too, can mutate over time — as we are seeing with a more contagious strain recently discovered in the United Kingdom and now reported in several parts of the U.S. We don’t yet know what percentage of the population will have to become immune to COVID to reach herd immunity – the point at which the virus runs out of bodies to infect because enough people have already gotten it. How It Works To best understand how the vaccine works, we need to describe how the virus works. The virus is transmitted via droplets into our nose, mouth or eyes. The virus then produces spike proteins. These spike proteins are used like a key in a lock. The key, or spike proteins, attaches and unlocks our cells to infect them and make more virus. Both COVID-19 vaccines from Pfizer and Moderna were created using a genome sequence to design a molecule called messenger RNA (mRNA). The vaccine is not a live virus vaccine and cannot give COVID to those who receive it. When the vaccine is injected, the mRNA in the vaccine instructs the cells to make the virus’ spike protein only. Our bodies recognizes these spike proteins as foreign and starts making antibodies, so when we are exposed in the future to the actual COVID virus, our bodies will immediately respond and defend us. The antibodies generated by the vaccine prevent viral attachment and infection. Talk to Your Provider About the Vaccine “We’re beginning a marathon here,” Dr. Clance says. “We want to tell the public to be patient, continue washing your hands, wearing a mask and watching your distance – and let this unfold.” Talk to your doctor about when you could be eligible for the vaccine — and continue to follow Luminis Health for the latest updates. Do you think you may have COVID-19? Check your symptoms here.0
- General Page - Tier 2Dear Applicant, We are pleased to have your interest in the Internal Medicine Residency Program at Anne Arundel Medical Center. In this short letter, we hope to share our vision for the program and demonstrate why training in Annapolis will provide a long-lasting platform for your career success and personal development. We have started a new medicine residency program because we practice in a sophisticated medical center with a well-earned reputation for high patient satisfaction and high quality. The men and women of the Department of Medicine have a lot to offer young physicians and feel a responsibility to do our part in shaping the future of medicine through training the next generations of physicians. This medical center — part of an accomplished, vibrant and growing medical system — remains deeply rooted in the community and was established from a donated farmhouse nearly 120 years ago. Residents will experience and feel that community connection every day as they interact with patients and family members who live nearby and regard our teams as their trusted guide for their wellness and medical care. We have developed an extensive curriculum with emphasis on academics, research and evidence-based, high-value direct patient care. But, because no one practices medicine in isolation from society’s ills, we will learn about the ways in which medical outcomes are affected by societal conditions. We will guide you toward higher precepts of professionalism, which is more than mere competence, knowledge and skill, but also a code of behavior and standards of conduct that will govern how your colleagues and patients view you for the rest of your career. Through intra-mural resources, and our academic affiliations with George Washington School of Medicine and Health Sciences, and University of Maryland School of Medicine, you will enjoy interacting with medical students and have opportunities to rotate at nearby academic medical centers. You will have the opportunity to learn research concepts and the science of performance improvement both here and with our academic partners. New resident graduates can expect to experience rapid and substantial changes in the clinical science and in healthcare delivery models. You will want to train with a group of leaders who understand that and prepares its residents for that novel future. We are committed to providing young physicians with the tools and training that will ensure long-term success and personal fulfillment. With best wishes for your future success, Barry Meisenberg, MD Chair, Department of Medicine Faculty, Internal Medicine Nargiz Muganlinskaya, MD Program Director, Internal Medicine0
- Why Rely on Us to Treat Your Vestibular Disorder?When a vestibular disorder throws your life off balance, we're committed to getting you back on an even keel. Additional reasons why you should trust us for your care include:We have experienced, certified therapists. The physical therapists in our vestibular disorders program don't just concentrate on treating these conditions — they've taken advanced training to become certified vestibular therapists. And we work hard to keep up with the latest research in the field.We partner with other health professionals. Our specialized physical therapists often work with speech language pathologists to treat related issues. For example, say you started experiencing dizziness and thinking problems due to a concussion. We have speech therapists who are specially trained to teach you techniques for coping with thinking and memory issues.We'll personalize your treatment plan. No two people with vestibular disorders are exactly alike, even if they have an identical diagnosis. Our vestibular therapists carry out specific assessments that pinpoint areas of impairment. With this information, we can tailor a treatment plan to meet your individual needs.We make it convenient to come see us. We have satellite clinics, so you can choose the location closest to your home or workplace.ConditionConditions/Services/Treatments PageWe treat all types of disorders of the vestibular (balance) system. We can help improve symptoms like dizziness and vertigo with vestibular rehabilitation.What You Should Know About Vestibular DisordersTiny structures in your inner ear that detect head position and movement make up your vestibular system. It also includes the nerve connecting your inner ear to the brain, and part of the brain itself.This network helps keep you upright and enables you to sense where you are in space and see clearly when you're moving.Some diseases and injuries can throw a wrench into your vestibular system. And the underlying problem often can't be fixed with medication or surgery.We have physical therapists who are specially trained to help tame the debilitating effects of vestibular disorders. This means you can go back to dancing, playing tennis, attending classes or whatever else nurtures your body and soul. Symptoms of vestibular disordersPeople with vestibular disorders can experience:Dizziness.Difficulty walking.Sensitivity to motion.Trouble balancing.Vertigo.Bouts of any of these symptoms can seriously disrupt your life. Activities from driving to simply standing in place can become much more difficult — even dangerous.Staying upright may require so much physical and mental energy that you're exhausted after doing even the simplest tasks. You might also stop doing most physical activities for fear of triggering or exacerbating symptoms.All these things can lead to loss of muscle strength and fitness as well as emotional distress.Vestibular rehabilitation is a specialized form of physical therapy that can minimize these issues. It includes individualized techniques that train the brain to use other senses to take over for your impaired vestibular system.0
- Leadership BioStephen Selinger, MD is the Chief Medical Officer for Luminis Health Anne Arundel Medical Center. Dr. Selinger serves as the physician executive for Luminis Health Anne Arundel Medical Center, Luminis Health J. Kent McNew Family Medical Center, and Luminis Health Pathways. Prior to joining LHAAMC, Dr. Selinger served as the Chairman of the Department of Medicine, Director of the Critical Care and Medical Service Line, and Chairman of the Department of Medicine. At LHAAMC, he plays a critical role in medical staff governance, quality, safety, education, leader development, physician engagement, financial performance, and medical director partnerships. Dr. Selinger is a graduate of the Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine. He is an assistant professor at Georgetown University Medical Center, as well as a clinical instructor at Johns Hopkins University. He has been the recipient of many teaching accolades over his career.0
- SpecialtyWhether you have an emergency, such as appendicitis, or a problem that's been bothering you for some time, like a hernia, the general surgery team at Luminis Health is in your corner. Our general surgeons handle dozens of common — and not-so-common — abdominal issues. With minimally invasive techniques and specialized training, Luminis Health is the area leader in compassionate, effective care for both emergency and elective procedures. What Is General Surgery? In the past, the term “general surgery" meant just that: various procedures performed by a surgeon who had knowledge of the entire body — head to toe. But with today's high-tech equipment and advanced training, it's more effective to have a team of surgeons who specialize in different areas. At Luminis Health, general surgery is divided into two distinct categories: acute care and surgical sub-specialties. Acute-care surgery happens in the emergency department, where our surgeons work on a rotating basis. No matter what time of night or day, there is always a doctor in the hospital ready to perform emergency procedures as needed. Our surgical sub-specialists each have their own niche, providing the best possible care for each patient. They see people in an office setting and perform scheduled surgeries. Specialties include the upper and lower gastrointestinal (GI) tract, abdominal wall, thyroid, gallbladder and soft-tissue surgery., What to Expect From General Surgery Most of our scheduled surgeries are done on an outpatient basis, meaning you go home the same day. Sometimes your doctor will want you to stay in the hospital for overnight observation. For more-complicated surgeries, like a bowel resection, you may stay in the hospital for several days. Our head of surgery has more than 30 years of experience with advanced laparoscopy and is a pioneer in the field. Our team includes some of the most experienced robotic surgeons in the world. Your surgery may be done under a general anesthetic (meaning you'll be asleep). Your doctor will give you instructions on how to prepare for surgery, including what you can eat and drink beforehand.0
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