- Employee SpotlightGeneral Page Tier 3Blog“…People will forget what you said, people will forget what you did, but people will never forget how you made them feel.” … Maya Angelou This is how patients feel about Arianna Graziadei as their nurse. When a daughter’s mother was in the hospital and nearing end of life, she knew her mom was in good hands – those of Arianna. The daughter framed the quote and presented it to Arianna. That’s the moment Arianna knew she made the right decision to be a nurse. Every day, she makes a difference. She cares for her patients physically and mentally, while also providing support to families. At Luminis Health, we’re delighted to share Arianna’s story during National Nurses Week, a time to pay tribute to the super-human work nurses perform for patients and families every day. It’s also important to acknowledge the vital role nurses play in society. Nurses are the heartbeat of healthcare, according to Arianna, BSN, RN, GERO-BC, MEDSURG-BC at Luminis Health Anne Arundel Medical Center, where she’s worked in the elderly unit since 2013. “Nursing is my passion,” says Arianna. “I put my entire soul into my work. I treat my patients as loved ones. I form connections with them, and I go above and beyond for them.” In 2017, Arianna received The Daisy Award for Extraordinary Nurses for compassionate care of her patients. She’s been nominated 20 times by patients, family members, other nurses, doctors and staff. She holds two board certifications in Gerontology and Medical-Surgical Nursing, as well as an expertise in Geriatrics. It’s all thanks to her grandmother When Arianna was 18 and determining what to do in life, her grandmother was diagnosed with stage 4 ovarian cancer. After assisting and watching the nurses, she was inspired by the kindness and empathy they shared with her grandma. “Seeing that, it was my calling. It was the end of her life, but that’s what I wanted to do. I knew I wanted to help other elderly people,” says Arianna, who became a Registered Nurse by age 20. “It’s very rewarding to take care of those who have paved the way for us, and to help them at this time in their lives,” Arianna continues. “My heart is at the bedside” It’s at the bedside where Arianna forms those special connections. She comforts, holds hands and peruses photo albums. “Listening, talking and getting to know my patients. It means the world to them,” says Arianna. “I will give the best care to my patients and ensure their needs are met.” It was at the bedside of a patient during COVID that she held his hand at the end of his life while his family stood outside. “It’s truly a blessing to touch someone at the end of their life. It’s one of the most intimate moments you can truly share with a person,” Arianna says. “It means so much to the families.” Arianna’s advice for aspiring nurses: “This is the best job, the best career. You will be so happy. You’ll never stop learning, and you’ll be glad you chose to be a nurse,” Arianna says. “I can’t imagine doing anything else in my life.” “I come to work every day happy and excited to care for people,” concludes Arianna. “It brings me so much joy.”0
- Behavioral Health, Senior CareGeneral Page Tier 3BlogNearly one third of older people in the U.S. take sleeping pills. These drugs are called “sedative hypnotics” or “tranquilizers.” They affect the brain and spinal cord. “Doctors prescribe the drugs for sleep problems,” says Ira Weinstein, MD, a pulmonologist who specializes in sleep disorders. “The drugs are also used to treat other conditions, such as anxiety or alcohol withdrawal.” Usually older adults should try non-drug treatments first. According to the American Geriatrics Society, there are safer and better ways to improve sleep or reduce anxiety. Here’s why: Sleeping pills may not help much. Many ads say that sleeping pills help people get a full, restful night’s sleep. But studies show that this is not exactly true in real life. On average, people who take one of these drugs sleep only a little longer and better than those who don’t take a drug. Sleeping pills can have serious or even deadly side effects. All sedative-hypnotic drugs have special risks for older adults. Seniors are likely to be more sensitive to the drugs’ effects than younger adults. And these drugs may stay in their bodies longer. “The drugs can cause confusion and memory problems that more than double the risk of falls and hip fractures,” says Dr. Weinstein. These are common causes of hospitalization and death in older people. They also can increase the risk of car accidents. The new “Z” drugs also have risks. Most ads are for these new drugs. At first, they were thought to be safer. But recent studies suggest they have as much or more risk than the older sleep drugs. Try nondrug treatments first. Get a thorough medical exam. Sleep problems can be caused by depression or anxiety, pain, restless leg syndrome, and many other conditions. Even if an exam does not turn up an underlying cause, you should try other solutions before you try drugs. Over-the-counter drugs may not be a good choice. Side effects of some drugs can be especially bothersome for seniors: next-day drowsiness, confusion, constipation, dry mouth, and difficulty urinating. Avoid these over-the-counter sleep drugs: Diphenhydramine (Benadryl Allergy, Nytol, Sominex, and generic) Doxylamine (Unisom and generic) Advil PM Tylenol PM When to try sedative hypnotic drugs “Consider these drugs if the sleep problems are affecting your quality of life and nothing else has helped,” says Dr. Weinstein. “But your healthcare provider should watch you carefully to make sure that the drug is helping and not causing bad side effects.” Kinds of sleeping pills (sedative-hypnotics) All of these pills have risks, especially for older adults: Barbiturates Secobarbital (Seconal and generic) Phenobarbital (Luminal and generic) Benzodiazepines for anxiety Alprazolam (Xanax and generic) Diazepam (Valium and generic) Lorazepam (Ativan and generic) Benzodiazepines for insomnia Estazolam (generic only) Flurazepam (Dalmane and generic) Quazepam (Doral) Temazepam (Restoril and generic) Triazolam (Halcion and generic) “Z” drugs Zolpidem (Ambien and generic) Eszopiclone (Lunesta) Zaleplon (Sonata and generic) Tips for better sleep Exercise. Physical activity helps people sleep better. But avoid vigorous activity for several hours before bedtime. Keep a routine. Try to go to bed and wake up at about the same time every day, even on weekends. Try not to eat right before bedtime. Eat three hours or more before going to bed. Avoid caffeine after 3 p.m. Some people need to avoid caffeine even earlier. Limit alcohol. Alcohol causes sleepiness at first, followed by wakefulness. Create the right environment. Keep the bedroom peaceful. And avoid mental excitement before bedtime. Avoid bright lights. Watching a bright screen can make you stay awake. Control pets. Pets disrupt sleep if they are on and off the bed, taking up space, or wanting to be let out. If you don’t fall asleep soon, get out of bed and do something that will make you sleepy, such as reading. Return to bed after you start to feel drowsy. Source: ChoosingWisely.org.0
- Women's HealthGeneral Page Tier 3BlogMany women are often nervous or even embarrassed to ask their doctor about personal health issues they start experiencing as they get older, specifically when it comes to their pelvic health. Pelvic health disorders can be uncomfortable and confusing. As a urogynecologist, I see women who have been dealing with symptoms on their own for far too long. Once we decide on the best treatment for them, they often wish they hadn’t waited to ask for help. Here are three questions you shouldn’t be embarrassed to ask. In fact, asking them is the first step in preventing more severe problems down the road. 1. Is ‘leakage’ normal? If you’re running to the bathroom multiple times a day or leaking when you exercise, you’re not alone. About 18 million American women suffer from urinary incontinence, which is when urine leaks unintentionally. There are many causes, including some medical conditions, medications, childbirth or age-related changes. Incontinence is common and many women think it’s just something they have to live with. That’s not true. Your doctor can offer a variety of solutions, such as changing certain habits, pelvic floor therapy, medication or minimally-invasive surgery. 2. Why does sex hurt sometimes? Like incontinence, pain during sex is a common issue. Menopause can cause issues with pain and dryness during sex. Your doctor can help identify or rule out any underlying problem as the cause of your discomfort. You should feel comfortable asking about symptoms related to your intimate health. Your doctor can prescribe or recommend a variety of solutions to help, such a prescription creams or therapy. Sex should never hurt. 3. I’m experiencing pelvic pain/pressure. What can I do about it? Pelvic pain can vary from woman to woman and range from mild to severe. Some women may even feel it in their abdomen, lower back and hips. The causes of this pain can be due to childbirth, hormonal changes or infection. If you’re feeling pelvic pressure and it’s worse when you’re standing, jumping or lifting but feels better when you’re lying down, you may be dealing with pelvic organ prolapse. Pelvic organ prolapse is the dropping of the pelvic organs caused by loss of support in the vagina. Similar to other pelvic health disorders, there are a variety of treatments for pelvic pain or pelvic organ prolapse. Pelvic floor disorders are not a normal part of aging that you have to live with. They are medical conditions and they are treatable. By discussing your symptoms, your doctor will be able to correctly diagnose and treat the problem, helping you regain your confidence and quality of life. Author Dr. Yong Zheng is a urogynecologist at Anne Arundel Medical Center’s Women’s Center for Pelvic Health. Originally published March 29, 2016. Last updated Sep 1, 2025.0
- Men's Health, Women's Health, Uncategorized, Patient StoriesGeneral Page Tier 3BlogWhen gastroenterologist Melanie Lynn Jackson needed someone she could trust to perform acid reflux surgery on her own chronic illness, she turned to Adrian Park, MD, at AAMC. I’m a gastroenterologist, and I come from a family of medical professionals. My grandmother was a nurse, my father was an internal medicine physician in Philadelphia. I found a good opportunity here in Annapolis, and I joined a group practice. The problem I have is that my esophagus, my food pipe, does not contract properly. Normally your food pipe has contractions to get the food down, but mine doesn’t contract well at all. Additionally, where it meets the stomach it was very tight. So, the food pipe was starting to get big, stretching where food was trying to go through something very tight. I was diagnosed with the condition back in 1999 when I was in medical school, and I did some non-surgical methods to treat the problem. That worked well for many years, but then when I became pregnant, my symptoms got worse. That’s when I decided to have surgery. Once I heard that Dr. Park was coming to town, and I read his bio, there was really no excuse to not do the surgery now. He was an expert in this type of procedure. The surgical recovery was probably just about a week or so. Because it was laparoscopic, so you have just the small incisions. The biggest thing was not being able to lift. Of course having a two year old, it was very difficult to lift my daughter who is about 20-25 pounds. I couldn’t do that for about a month. I still have to take my time, swallow my food. I do have to make lifestyle changes, such as small, frequent meals. That’s going to be permanent.0
- Men's Health, Senior Care, Women's Health, PediatricsGeneral Page Tier 3BlogGerms are a part of our everyday lives. All of us come into contact with thousands of types of bacteria—both good and bad—on a daily basis. Fortunately, maintaining good hygiene helps keep us from getting sick from the majority of illness-causing germs we encounter. Katherine Edwards, MD, chief of pediatrics at Anne Arundel Medical Center, shares tips about the best ways to prevent the spread of germs and keep your family healthy during cold and flu season. 1. Know Germ Hot Spots “High touch” items have a higher concentration of germs, which means there’s a greater risk of getting sick from coming into contact with them. Some common hot spots include: Money. Cell phones. Faucet handles. Toothbrush holders. Purses and other bags. Door knobs. Grocery carts. 2. Keep Your Hands Clean There’s no other practice that helps prevent the spread of germs more than washing your hands. When you can’t wash with soap and water, antibacterial hand gel or wipes are a good substitute. 3. Clean and Disinfect Clean and sanitize germ hot spots in your home and, if you can, your workplace, on a daily or weekly basis. Hot soapy water, a bleach solution and/or disinfecting wipes are the best agents for eliminating germs from a variety of surfaces and items. 4. Practice Other Healthy Habits One of the best ways to stay healthy is to observe healthy habits. Get plenty of sleep, eat well, stay hydrated and be physically active. It’s also important to avoid touching your face and to limit contact with people who are sick. Author Katherine Edwards, MD, is chief of pediatrics at Anne Arundel Medical Center. Originally published Feb. 10, 2016. Last updated Jan. 3, 2019.0
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?