- Pediatrics, Infectious DiseaseGeneral Page Tier 3BlogHugs and kisses, diaper changes and snuggles — caring for babies and toddlers is often hands-on, up close and personal. But since we know that even little ones can get and transmit COVID-19 and other respiratory viruses like respiratory syncytial virus (RSV), what’s the best way to keep your family healthy? Here are a few suggestions. Avoid germ-sharing when you can Young children often explore the world with their hands and mouths, and regularly come in close contact with their other family members. That means they’re not only likely to pick up all kinds of viruses through their activities; it also means they are very likely to spread it. In fact, a recent study found that once infected with COVID, babies and kids up to age three had higher odds of transmitting the virus to other members of their household than older kids. To help protect your baby: Don’t let people outside your household kiss or hold your baby Limit visitors to your home and avoid trips to crowded places When you have to go out in public, drape a light blanket over your baby’s carrier or stroller To help toddlers dodge extra germs: Choose outdoor gatherings when possible Make sure visitors are healthy and wash their hands before interacting with your child Pack extra toys for playdates so you can always have clean ones on hand Wipe down grocery store cart handles before placing your child in the seat Talk to your childcare providers In daycare settings, it’s not usually possible to keep physical distance between young children. And since kids under two shouldn’t wear masks, talk to your care providers about how to layer prevention plans. Some strategies you might ask about include: If there are lots of children at your daycare, your provider might be able to place kids into smaller groups or cohorts to stay with throughout the day. This practice limits how many other kids and staff your child gets close to on an everyday basis. Disease-control best practices. Find out what steps your daycare takes to avoid virus transmission, in addition to handwashing and cleaning practices. For example, they might be able to place nap mats head-to-toe while sleeping, improve ventilation with window fans, allow more space between children at mealtimes or move drop-off and pick-up outdoors. Sick-child policy. Kids and staff who show symptoms of COVID should stay home to avoid spreading illness. Your daycare can also designate an isolation area where kiddos showing symptoms can play while they wait for their parents. Keep it healthy at home Our best protection against severe COVID illness is to be fully vaccinated, so all members of your family who are eligible for the vaccine should get it. There are also other steps you can take: When breastfeeding. Mothers can pass along immune benefits to their babies through breast milk, so consider breastfeeding or pumping breastmilk for bottles if it’s an option for your family. During doctor’s visits. Keep up with well visits and vaccines at your pediatrician’s office. Many doctors take steps to limit contact between well and sick kids. Especially for babies and toddlers, it’s essential to have regular check-ups and stay on your child’s vaccine schedule. When around others. Encourage all members of your family and older siblings to keep up with good handwashing routines. Key times include when you get home and before mealtimes. Also, remind everyone in your home to cough and sneeze into their elbow and throw away soiled tissues. And keep sick family members separated from healthy ones when possible. Right now, it makes sense to take these precautions. Luckily, most cases of COVID in children are mild. However, some children have experienced more serious complications. These measures will also help you steer clear of other respiratory viruses, like RSV, which can turn into a severe illness. Every year, nearly 60,000 children under five are hospitalized due to RSV infection. The littlest members of your family are worth protecting. If you think your baby or toddler has virus symptoms or might be sick with COVID or RSV, call your pediatrician for advice. Authors Lauren Fitzpatrick, MD, medical director of the Pediatric Emergency Department and Inpatient Unit, Luminis Health Anne Arundel Medical Center Suzanne Rindfleisch, DO, director of Newborn Services, Luminis Health Anne Arundel Medical Center0
- Community, News & Press ReleasesGeneral Page Tier 3BlogLuminis Health has released a bold plan to become a national model for justice, equity, diversity and inclusion (JEDI). The groundwork for the plan began in 2020 with the formation of the health system’s HEART Force, a multidisciplinary group consisting of members of the boards of trustees, senior leaders, medical staff, community partners and stakeholders. The events of the year 2020 prompted Luminis Health to assess data and information to identify greater opportunity to affect change through addressing the effects of systemic inequity, and dismantling structural injustice. “The future of health equity calls for organizations like ours to take bold action to dismantle structural and social drivers of ethnic disparities in all of its forms. Luminis Health is committed to exactly that,” said Victoria Bayless, CEO of Luminis Health. “These recommendations will be intentionally woven into who we are as a system and a part of what we do every day to better serve our workforce, and enhance the health of our patients and communities.” The recommendations are structured by three major categories: Lead as an inclusive organization, confront and eradicate inequities in health care. Enhance culturally informed communications and community collaboration. Measure and integrate accountability. The recommendations outline ten strategic approaches to begin tackling these challenges: Confront inequities and embody principles of an inclusive organization in policy, culture and performance. Eliminate health disparities and improve health outcomes of diverse communities. Become a trusted partner in diverse communities through a formalized community network. Become a diversity, equity and inclusion thought leader in Maryland and in health care nationally by hiring and retaining a diverse workforce. Establish culturally customized care as the formal standard of quality. Share the Luminis Health JEDI journey with diverse populations by incorporating into the Luminis Health brand. Extend current diversity, equity and inclusion reporting and programs effectively across the system. Establish minority business enterprise/supplier diversity goals and partner with local minority businesses, vendors and suppliers. Develop a sustainable accountability model. Integrate specific JEDI focus into the board governance structure. Put forth by Luminis Health’s HEART Force, co-chaired by Dr. Randy Rowel, associate professor and director of the Why Culture Matters Disaster Studies Project at Morgan State University, and Alicia Wilson, social justice advocate, the recommendations were unanimously approved by the boards of trustees and adopted by the health system in June. “The time is now for swift and progressive action to confront and eradicate inequities in health care and beyond,” said Tamiko Stanley, vice president and chief diversity, equity and inclusion officer at Luminis Health. “At Luminis Health, we are committed to comprehensively evaluating our processes, policies, and practices to move toward meaningful change within our organization and in the communities we serve. Driven by accountability and transparency, our plan will light Luminis Health’s path to the next level of excellence in our diversity, equity, inclusion and justice journey.” “These pervasive and systemic issues require multiple, simultaneous and ongoing actions to eliminate them,” said Reverend Stephen Tillett, of Asbury Broadneck Methodist Church and HEART Force member. “By adopting these 10 bold recommendations, Luminis Health can put into motion a new and lasting plan to guide the changes that we must undertake to foster a space for equity to prevail.” Adopting the recommendations represents a step forward in Luminis Health’s ongoing diversity and inclusion journey. This year, Luminis Health’s LGBTQIA and African-American Business Resource Groups earned the DiversityFirst Top 50 Employee Resource Group Award by the National Diversity Council for commitment to diversity and inclusion in the workplace and communities. In 2020, the health system received the American Organization for Nursing Leadership’s Prism Award for advancing diversity efforts within the nursing profession, community and organization. Luminis Health is also recognized as a “Leader in LGBTQ Healthcare Equality” after earning a perfect score of 100 on the most recent Healthcare Equality Index (HEI). In 2019, the health system was bestowed one of the highest honors in health equity with the American Hospital Association’s Carolyn Boone Lewis Equity of Care Award for outstanding efforts to advance equity of care to all patients, and to spread lessons learned and progress toward achieving health equity. Luminis Health was also the first health care organization in the nation to host a local chapter of Coming to the Table, an employee circle group designed to promote open, candid conversations about race, cultural differences and discussion around ways to understand and mitigate unconscious bias. “We recognize injustices are harmful and complex problems, but we intend to address them directly, intentionally, and relentlessly through our daily work and our Vision 2030,” continued Bayless.0
- Behavioral Health, News & Press ReleasesGeneral Page Tier 3BlogToday (9/23), the Maryland Health Care Commission voted to approve Luminis Health Doctors Community Medical Center’s (LHDCMC) Certificate of Need (CON) application for a 16-bed adult inpatient behavioral health unit. This is an incredible step forward for expanding access to critically needed mental health care in our community. Building on the legacy Luminis Health has established with mental health care in Anne Arundel County, this new behavioral health unit will allow LHDCMC to expand comprehensive and integrated mental health care right here in Prince George’s County. Today’s positive vote means we can move forward with our plans to begin construction of the inpatient unit this fall, with doors opening to our community in the winter of 2022. This is in addition to the construction of our outpatient programs, which is expected to be complete in spring 2022. Across both areas, our new behavioral health pavilion will include inpatient psychiatric care for adults, outpatient therapy and medication management, walk-in urgent care, psychiatric day treatment programs (partial hospitalization and intensive outpatient), family support services, prevention programs, and care coordination with community-based support services. These programs and services would be impossible without the support of Prince George’s County Executive Angela Alsobrooks, the county council and health department and their commitment to the needs of our community. We continue to work in close partnership to deliver these much needed services. I would also like to take this opportunity to say thank you for your support. Many of you have been with us from the beginning, and provided impactful letters of support as part of our application. The support of everyone in our Luminis Health family and our community has helped bring this approval for much needed inpatient behavioral health services. I look forward to keeping you updated on our progress. Thank you, Deneen Richmond, president of Luminis Health Doctors Community Medical Center0
- Leadership BioGigi Yuen-Gee Liu is supporting faculty in the Internal Medicine Residency Program at Luminis Health.0
- Leadership BioJoyce Miller is supporting faculty in the Internal Medicine Residency Program at Luminis Health.0
How can we help?
Common Searches
Common Searches
Log in with MyChart
Access personalized site features & view your health records.
Learn more about MyChartDon’t have a MyChart account?
Your Account
View your Dashboard
Messages
Billing Summary
Find Care
Schedule Appointment
My Care Team
My Record
Appointments
Medications
Insurance Summary
Log in with MyChart
Access personalized site features & view your health records.
Learn more about MyChartDon’t have a MyChart account?