- Behavioral Health, CommunityGeneral Page Tier 3BlogAbout four in ten adults (or 42 percent of Americans) report that there is a gun in their household. Recent data shows that more people died from firearm injuries in the United States last year than in any other year since 1968, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Gun-related injury and death remains one of the most seriously, and largely unaddressed, challenges facing the country. As the number of firearm homicides and suicides rise, the medical community is taking notice and action to treat the issue as a public health concern. Well over 100 professional organizations, including the American Medical Association, the American College of Physicians, and the American Public Health Association, have identified gun violence as a threat to the health of the nation and have issued calls to action around gun safety. At Anne Arundel Medical Center (AAMC), leaders in ethics and medicine are working together to lay the groundwork for a policy on how clinicians can counsel patients on gun safety. “The perfect storm is brewing for us to no longer turn our back,” says David Moller, Ph.D., chief of clinical and organizational ethics at AAMC, in reference to gun safety. “It’s always about the people and, as medical professionals, we have a moral obligation to keep our communities healthy and safe.” READ MORE: Tips for talking to kids after traumatic events What does gun safety look like from a physician perspective? “My responsibility as a physician is to ensure the safety and wellbeing of patients,” says Vincent DeCicco, DO, family physician at Anne Arundel Medical Group (AAMG) Annapolis Primary Care. “To me, it’s like talking to patients about their risk for heart disease. My moral obligation is to ask patients about their behaviors and help them get on a healthier track. ” Dr. DeCicco says conversations about gun safety with patients start by encouraging healthy behaviors, which means owning a firearm in a responsible and safe manner. “Public health comes down to encouraging healthy behaviors,” adds Dr. DeCicco. “I won’t take your weapon away as a physician, but I do have a moral obligation to talk to you about the responsibility that comes with it.” Andrew McGlone, MD, physician at AAMG Annapolis Primary Care, concurs that gun safety is a public health issue. “The medical community is positioned to play a significant role in the reduction of injury and death from firearms,” he says. “We can start by promoting gun safety to decrease unauthorized access for children, adolescents, and patients at risk for suicide. Approximately 40 percent of gun deaths in Maryland are from suicide. Research estimates that 45 percent of suicide victims in the United States were in contact with a primary care provider within one month of suicide. Empowering health providers, patients and their families to have honest and stigma-free conversations about mental health, suicide risk and gun safety is imperative.” How can a public health approach help with gun safety? Like other major health threats, Moller says the medical community can help reduce avoidable gun-related injuries and deaths using a public health approach. Using domestic violence as an example, he says medical professionals needed to think bigger and broader about how to solve the problem to achieve substantive change. “As cases of domestic violence increased, medical professionals began to develop the idea that we needed a different approach, says Moller. “We began to reframe the problem of domestic violence away from the individual encounter and began looking at it as a community and public health problem.” As a result, health providers today often screen their patients for signs of abuse and many hospitals are providing coordinated services to domestic violence victims. Similarly, Moller says starting a conversation together about reasonable, sensible solutions and recommendations on gun safety, storage, accessibility, and health is pivotal. “This conversation is not aimed at taking away the legitimate right of people to own and use guns, but at minimizing the violence and the mortality that is associated with the role of guns in American society,” he adds. “It has to start with a conversation, and that conversation has to be reasonable, sensible and civil. For us in the medical profession, this transcends politics. Harm reduction is not the same as gun control. This is not political advocacy, it’s patient advocacy.” Originally published in What’s Up Magazine. Authors David Moller, Ph.D., is chief of clinical and organizational ethics at AAMC. Vincent DeCicco, DO, is a family physician at Anne Arundel Medical Group (AAMG) Annapolis Primary Care. To reach him, call 443-270-8600. Andrew McGlone, MD, is a physician at AAMG Annapolis Primary Care. To reach him, call 443-481-1150.0
- Pediatrics, WellnessGeneral Page Tier 3BlogAs the summer comes to an end, parents and children are beginning to gear up for the coming school year, and that means gearing up for fall sports. For parents of children who play field sports, such as football or soccer, the question of what kind of cleats to buy can be a head scratcher. Should you go with metal cleats or plastic? High top or low top? Snug fit or loose with room to grow? Most likely, the student athlete is going to have a strong opinion, and it will have more to do with looks and what their favorite sports icon wears than actual comfort, fit, or performance. For children under 14, the best option is to forgo detachable cleats in favor of molded cleats or, even better, a rubber-soled, sneaker-style turf shoe. Children in elementary school through junior high are in their growth spurt years. Wearing certain types of cleats puts additional strain on tendons, especially the Achilles, and can cause inflammation and pain at the point where it attaches to the bone, which is still growing. By the time children are in their sophomore year of high school, bone growth is not as much of a concern and detachable cleats are okay. However, I advise young athletes to avoid styles with only two to four spikes clustered centrally on the heel. The narrower cleat arrangement provides less stability for the ankle and can cause strain to the Achilles tendon. Molded cleats that cover the entire perimeter of the heel are preferred because this improves stability and balance. For football players the choice to go with a high-top, mid-cut or low-cut cleat is usually guided by position played. High tops are more favorable for down linemen, mid cuts for some of the heavier backs and linebackers, and low cuts for the wide receivers and other speed positions. When buying any athletic shoe, keep these three things in mind: Focus on fit. When fitting any sports shoe, remember one foot is often just a bit larger than the other. Use the larger foot as your guide and then round up on size. This gives room for normal swelling during activity and for doubling up on socks to avoid blisters. For the younger athletes, consider replacing the factory inserts with a full-length cushioned insert available over the counter at any drugstore. They will provide better cushioning, which protects the feet and ankles. Athletic shoes can be expensive and many kids wear them for only a single season because they’re rapidly growing. Second-time-around shoes from a consignment store or older sibling are fine as long as they fit well, are in good condition, and you replace inserts. By David Keblish, MD, orthopedic surgeon at Anne Arundel Medical Center. Before joining AAMC Orthopedics, Dr. Keblish spent more than a decade as a varsity team physician and head of the Orthopedic Surgery and Sports Medicine Department at the U.S. Naval Academy. Dr. Keblish can be reached at 410-268-8862.[/su_box] Originally published Aug. 17, 2015. Last updated July 22, 2019.0
- Men's Health, Women's Health, WellnessGeneral Page Tier 3BlogIf you play a sport or follow an exercise routine, injuries are possible. You may be tempted to keep playing through the pain. But that can lead to further problems down the road, especially if you don’t follow your doctor’s advice. A broken bone can take anywhere from two months to an entire year to fully heal, depending on the bone and the patient. It’s crucial to allow time for that healing process. Would you rather give yourself six weeks off to perform at 100 percent, or suffer for many months or the rest of your life because your injury didn’t heal properly? Your level of activity post-injury depends on its severity. Here’s a general guide to help. Sprains and strains Mild sprains and strains can be treated quickly, and exercise can continue. If your pain or symptoms associated with a sprain persist for more than a few weeks, seek medical attention. Warning signs of a more severe injury include significant bruising, swelling or significant dysfunction of a joint or body part. Broken toes Broken toes, too, can vary in terms of treatment. An injured big toe often needs treatment, while just taping the fourth or fifth toe provides support, protection and helps realign joints. If you have a deformity, such as a toe pointing the wrong way, seek medical attention. Any potential broken bone, even a small one, needs medical attention. Back injuries If you have back pain and/or a back injury, start by focusing on core stability exercises and flexibility. You should work with a physical therapist for a while before returning to unsupervised exercise. Once you start exercising again, start with low-impact activities, such as the elliptical or cycling. A return to higher-impact or contact sports should happen slowly over time. Get your doctor’s clearance first. Modifications when you have pain An injury doesn’t necessarily mean an end to all activity. You may be able to make modifications to your routine. For example, if you break your leg and you can’t walk, you might still be able to swim laps with a pull buoy without pushing off the wall during turns to get a cardiovascular and upper body workout. Or, if you have a severe injury to the upper body, you might still be able to do moderate exercise using a stationary bike. Author By Benjamin Petre, MD, an orthopedic surgeon with AAMC Orthopedics. To reach his practice, call 410-268-8862. Originally published June 26, 2017. Last updated July 22, 2019.0
- Employee SpotlightGeneral Page Tier 3BlogOn a summer Friday afternoon in 2002, Carolyn Mull had finished work early and went home to run some errands. She was doing laundry upstairs when she heard her son come through their front door. As Carolyn headed down to greet him, an overpowering pain in her head forced her to sit on the stairs. She laid down and managed to whisper her son’s name. Carolyn suffered a brain aneurysm and woke up in the hospital 10 days later, just before she was scheduled for surgery. “It was the worst pain in my head I had ever felt in my life,” she recalls. “When I woke up, I knew there was more work for me to do. And since that time, I dedicate myself to genuinely caring for others.” Check out more Employee Spotlights! Today, Carolyn works as a donor client service representative at Anne Arundel Medical Center’s Blood Donor Center. Once a very shy person, she says her job taught her how to open up and let her own light shine. Often referring to her donors as family, she finds joy in what she does when she sees them happy. “I’m passionate about what I do,” she says. “I love my job so much because it gives me an opportunity to give back.” More than once, she has gone beyond her call of duty to help drive blood donations. “A lady wanted to come in and donate but her kids were out of school and she had no one who could help watch them,” she recalls. “I told her to bring the children in and I would watch over them. When they came in, they hadn’t eaten lunch yet so I took them to the cafeteria and got them food. This is what I would do for all my donors.” Often reflecting on her doctor’s words 17 years ago that she had a 50/50 chance of surviving a brain aneurysm, she says she is grateful to be here today. “I was one of the ones that made it,” she says. “The experience I went through taught me how to care and love others more each day.” Pro tip: “Always be giving.” 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
- News & Press ReleasesGeneral Page Tier 3BlogAnne Arundel Medical Center (AAMC) and Doctors Community Health System (DCHS) announce that they have solidified their partnership. After sharing their intent to partner in May, the two organizations signed a definitive agreement at the end of June and closed July 1, 2019. This transaction will allow them to move forward with plans to form a new health system to serve the region. “The new health system will reimagine community care, improving access and population health while expanding services throughout Maryland,” said Victoria Bayless, president and CEO of AAMC. “We will continue our community focus and provide the personalized and localized care that our patients need. We want to ensure that the care our patients receive is from those who know the region and have a longstanding commitment to meeting the needs of our communities.” Bayless will also serve as chief executive officer of the new system. Paul Grenaldo, who served as chief operating officer at DCHS since 2010, will succeed Philip Down as president of DCHS. Down will serve as strategic advisor to the new health system. “This is an amazing time for healthcare at each entity and in our communities,” said Grenaldo. “With Doctors Community Health System and Anne Arundel Medical Center engaged as partners in this integration process, we have an amazing opportunity to design a system that is keenly focused on addressing the evolving medical needs of area residents and contributing to the ongoing development of a highly talented workforce. Working together, we will reach even higher levels of excellence throughout Maryland.” AAMC and DCHS will initially maintain their own governing boards with both organizations having representation on the board of the new health system. A name for the new health system will be announced later this summer. The full integration is expected to take up to two years. “Our vision is to create an exceptional system of care that honors the legacies of both DCHS and AAMC, while being aspirational about our future together,” said Bayless. “Ultimately, we are here to serve our communities and to do so in a way that reimagines the possibilities of community health for the region.”0
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