Treatment
Conditions/Services/Treatments Page
Stroke and Neurological Rehab
Our team treats physical and mental limitations caused by stroke, brain injury and other nervous system disorders to maximize your independence.What Is Stroke and Neurological Rehabilitation?When signals from nerves can't reach the brain or the brain can't decode them properly, many problems can result.Take stroke, for example: The effects can range from inability to move part of your body and difficulty swallowing, to faulty balance and blurred vision. This can have a devastating impact on your life.Medical treatments to reverse this type of brain or nerve damage don't yet exist. But our stroke and neurological rehabilitation team can help you manage symptoms and make the most of your current abilities.We're highly trained in techniques that take advantage of the brain's capacity to make new connections. This means you'll regain as much function as possible, depending on the nature of your injury or condition.Our goal is to increase your independence and enable you to do activities important to you.We can help reduce the effects of conditions such as:Amputations (above and below the knee).Concussion.Dementia.Guillain-Barré syndrome.Mild brain injury.Multiple sclerosis.Neuropathy.Parkinson's disease.Spinal cord injury.Stroke.Traumatic brain injury.
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Patient Stories
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A Letter of Thanks on Doctors’ Appreciation Day
Blog
Luminis Health Chief Physician Executive Dr. Mitch Schwartz and Chief Medical Officer of Luminis Health Doctors Community Medical Center Dr. Sunil Madan, pen a note of thanks to our phenomenal doctors across the health system.
On this Doctors’ Appreciation Day, allow us to take the opportunity to express our profound gratitude for your heroic efforts and sacrifices during what has been unprecedented circumstances for our health system, our greater nation and world.
It goes without saying that this past year was tough. That is an understatement. The COVID-19 pandemic brought us heartache and uncertainty about life in ways we never could have imagined. In fact, that uncertainty undermined what we call life.
As physicians, you were asked to take the lead in helping society eradicate this devastating virus and restore the health of individuals and communities — all while grappling with your own uncertainties and fears. There was little time to process our shifting world. But as the patients kept coming, you cared for them in the face of that fear. You kept showing up to save lives long before the path to vaccination was clear. You answered the call and, in the process, coped with extraordinary demands.
In spite of the cruel moments of this pandemic, you thrived. You set new records and raised the bar. You excelled during one of the most challenging times our world has ever come to bear. You were integral in the migration onto one, health system-wide electronic medical record platform to ultimately enhance patient care. You made COVID-related research initiatives possible, allowing us to improve the health of our patients and advance knowledge for the greater good of the communities we serve. And across Luminis Health, you ushered in a new patient-office experience by performing more than 279,000 telehealth visits during the pandemic. The list goes on.
Your heroism, without a doubt, came with personal sacrifice. Your deep devotion and care toward others often meant abandoning your own wellbeing. To continue to deliver the best possible care, we must take care of ourselves. Looking after ourselves and our colleagues has never been more important.
We are grateful for your heroism, selflessness, deep devotion and care toward others. The world is better because of it. We extend our admiration and deepest gratitude for you on Doctors’ Appreciation Day and every day.
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Community
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CEO Message: Standing in Solidarity with Asian Americans
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In the wake of recent events, Luminis Health CEO Tori Bayless shares how our health system plans to confront anti-Asian discrimination, together.
The events of the year 2020 both exposed and exacerbated inequities in our society. Since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic, hate crimes against Asian Americans have increased exponentially across the nation. Last week’s senseless violence in Atlanta took more innocent lives – and demands a response. As an organization that values diversity and inclusion and is in the business of saving lives, we condemn the rising violence against Asian American and Pacific Islander (AAPI) communities.
Through this message, and other efforts, we want to raise awareness of these violent events, demonstrate the need to be supportive of AAPI communities, and explore opportunities for us to do more to support our leaders, staff, patients, and families of AAPI communities.
First, let me take a moment to speak directly to our Luminis Health colleagues, patients, family and community members who identify as Asian American and Pacific Islander. You are a valued member of our health system and our community, and we stand with you. Your safety, mental health and wellbeing matter.
We believe there remains much to be done to dismantle and disrupt the hate that pervades our society and we are committed to doing more. As mentioned in last year’s messages on xenophobia and racism, incidents of hate, discrimination, and xenophobic rhetoric are not acceptable, and we must play a role in addressing them. Through our diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) strategy, we will continue to confront racism, injustice, hate and inequity in all of its forms. We will not lose our unity or be torn apart by those that seek to divide us.
In response to last year’s events, many of you are aware that we created the Health Equity and Anti-Racism Task (HEART) Force to facilitate further progress in our DEI journey. The recommendations forthcoming from the HEART Force aim to confront racism and discrimination, address the effects of systemic inequity, disrupt hate and injustice, and support an innovative culture of thriving inclusion across Luminis Health. Through thoughtful partnerships and the purposeful engagement of our workforce, we will change and positively impact our communities.
As we work to educate ourselves, I invite you to join me in learning more about what we can do individually and collectively. I invite you to read this recent Vox article on Why Pandemics Activate Xenophobia, as well as The New Yorker’s piece on Confronting Anti-Asian Discrimination During the Coronavirus Crisis (written a year ago). Together, we can work to effect change and make a difference for our colleagues, patients, friends and families.
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Infectious Disease
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Had COVID-19. Do I Still Need to Take Precautions?
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We’ve all heard about the precautions we must take to avoid catching and spreading COVID-19.
Practice the 3Ws. Wash your hands. Wear a mask. Watch your distance.
But what if you’ve had COVID-19 – and recovered?
You may wonder if you need to keep following those guidelines. The short answer is yes. Here’s what we know right now.
COVID-19 immunity doesn’t last forever.
Last year, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) said people who have recovered from COVID-19 may be immune for 90 days. But a study the CDC released in January found otherwise.
The study looked at 156 U.S. health care workers who had COVID-19. They took an antibody test about a month after developing symptoms, then a second one 60 days later. The study found 94% of the participants had fewer antibodies at the 60-day mark, while 28% experienced a major decrease in antibodies.
And, people who have had a mild case of COVID-19 often don’t develop a detectable antibody response at all.
So, don’t assume you’re immune to COVID-19 just because you already had it.
You still need to do your part to protect others from getting COVID-19.
Staying away from other people is important when you’re sick with COVID-19 – but how long do you need to isolate yourself? Consider how long it’s been since you had COVID-19, if you had symptoms, and how severe they were. The CDC says you can be around other people 10 days after symptoms first appeared, you’ve had 24 hours without fever (and you aren’t taking fever-reducing medications) and other symptoms are improving.
But, if you became severely ill with COVID-19, you might need to isolate for up to 20 days after you first started to have symptoms. And people who have compromised immune systems might need testing to determine when they can see others again. If you fall into this category, talk to your health care provider to learn more.
If you tested positive for COVID-19, but don’t have any symptoms, the CDC says you can be around other people 10 days after testing positive – as long as you continue to have no symptoms.
The COVID-19 vaccine is here—but it’s going to take time to distribute it to everyone who wants it.
The approval and release of the Pfizer and Moderna vaccines in late 2020 was a spark of hope—and more COVID-19 vaccines are on the horizon. We’re optimistic that the vaccines will help us end the pandemic. And we do recommend that you still get the vaccine if you’ve already had COVID-19. But it’s going to take time – possibly months – for the vaccine to be available to everyone who wants it. So, until then, you still need to practice the 3Ws.
This March marks a year since Maryland saw its first COVID-19 case. We can see a glimmer of light at the end of the tunnel, but we’re all going to need to keep working together to end the pandemic.
Authors
Michael Remoll, MD, is director of Emergency Services at Luminis Health Anne Arundel Medical Center.
David Press, MD, is associate chief medical officer at Luminis Health Doctors Community Medical Center.
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Cancer Care
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Tips for Eating Well During Chemotherapy
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Eating well during chemotherapy can help you maintain your weight and improve how you feel during treatment. A well-planned strategy and support from your cancer care team, can help you navigate any obstacles to maintain optimal health throughout treatment.
You need more calories and protein during chemotherapy.
Both cancer and cancer treatment increase the energy and nutrients your body needs, especially protein. Protein is important in helping you rebuild strength during treatment.
Foods rich in protein and nutrients are the best choices during treatment, including:
Beans
Berries
Bright orange fruits and vegetables
Chicken
Eggs
Greek yogurt
Leafy green vegetables
Nuts and seeds
Salmon
Whole grains
Chemotherapy may cause symptoms that can impact your ability to meet your nutrition needs.
Chemotherapy targets rapidly dividing cancer cells. Despite its intended target, it often impacts healthy rapidly dividing cells as well, including those of your mouth, esophagus and the rest of your digestive tract. Because of this, digestive symptoms like mouth sores, heartburn and constipation are common.
Medications given with chemotherapy can also cause side effects. For example, some pain medications can slow down the digestive tract making it difficult to digest food and have a regular bowel movement.
The good news is your doctor expects and is prepared for these challenges. A registered dietitian can provide strategies, and help you plan a healthy diet that addresses your symptoms.
Small frequent meals may help when you don’t feel like eating anything at all.
Loss of appetite and early fullness are common side effects of chemotherapy. And if you don’t feel like eating, sitting down to a huge plate of salmon and greens isn’t exactly appealing. Here are a few ways to maximize the nutrients in your food:
Add blueberries to a bowl of cereal
Make grilled cheese on whole grain bread
Mix chopped broccoli into mac and cheese
Pump up chicken, tuna or egg salad with fresh celery and parsley
Toss extra vegetables in a mug of soup
Use peanut butter or avocado on toast
Soups, stews and smoothies make great meals for getting in lots of nutrients. And smaller portions make eating and drinking seem less daunting. Focus on eating a few bites or drinking a few sips at a time. You can always get seconds if you’re still hungry.
Take care in the kitchen to keep your food safe.
According to the National Cancer Institute, it’s unnecessary to avoid all fresh fruits and vegetables during treatment. Research shows that general food safety practices reduce the risk of food-borne illness while allowing for a less restrictive diet. Food safety practices include:
Washing hands
Separating raw meat, poultry and eggs from other foods
Washing fresh fruits and vegetables with cool water
Avoid food buffets
Mix up your routine to deal with taste and smell changes.
Taste changes and smell aversions are also common during treatment. That’s because the tissues that line your mouth and nasal cavity are also lined with those same rapidly dividing cells impacted by chemotherapy.
Identify your taste changes and add flavors to balance what you’re tasting using the FASS principle. FASS stands for fat, acid, salty, sweet. Patients experiencing taste changes may use these flavors differently depending on their specific tastes:
Acids: Try something acidic, such as fresh lemon juice when food tastes too sweet
Fats: Use nut butter or nut creams to help soothe mouth sores
Salty seasonings: Add sea salt when food seems tasteless
Sweeteners: Seasoning your food with natural sweeteners such as maple syrup or agave nectar, can help when your food tastes metallic or bitter
Activity, fluids and fiber can help you stay regular.
Bowel regularity is an essential part of staying well-nourished. Constipation can leave you feeling full even if you need to refuel. Loose, watery stool can dehydrate you. To alleviate discomfort, incorporate these strategies:
Activity: Exercise and physical activity encourage movement of food products through the digestive tract.
Fluids: Caffeine-free fluids, including water, herbal tea and unsweetened milk, help meet your body’s fluids needs.
Soluble fiber: Soluble fiber holds water in the digestive tract and encourages soft stools. Good sources include peeled apples and pears, beans, peas, blueberries and oats.
Talk to your doctor about your side effects.
Side effects of chemotherapy are expected, and your doctor will have some options for making them better. Whether you’re dealing with constipation, heartburn or sores in your mouth, your medical team has strategies to improve how you feel so you can keep up with your nutrition. Inadequate protein and calorie intake can lead to muscle loss and treatment delays.
Depending on your side effects, your doctor may suggest talking with a palliative medicine provider, who are specially trained to help you feel better. From appetite to energy and even your bathroom habits, they have an arsenal of tools, including medications, supplements and complementary therapies like acupuncture and massage.
A registered dietitian is a great resource.
Optimal nutrition during chemotherapy can help you feel good and maximize the benefits of your treatment. Treatment side effects may have you feeling a little out of sorts, but we’re here to help. If you would like more specific guidance, talk to your doctor about speaking with one of our registered dietitians today.
Authors
Monica Tomazic, MS, RD, CSO, LDN, and Maureen Shackelford, MS, RD, LDN, are registered dietitians specializing in oncology nutrition with Luminis Health Anne Arundel Medical Center.
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