- Infectious DiseaseGeneral Page Tier 3BlogOn Florence Nightingale’s 200th birthday, President and nurse Sherry Perkins praises today’s nurses for the incredible work they are doing. Today is the 200th anniversary of Florence Nightingale’s birthday and the end of Nurses Week. The World Health Organization (WHO) named 2020 the Year of the Nurse in recognition of Nightingale – the founder of modern nursing. The WHO could not have predicted what nurses and their teammates would see this year with COVID-19, nor the new definitions of health care heroism. In a recent interview with the media about our nurses and the AAMC team, I was proud to tell our community, “They aren’t just heroes; they’re superheroes.” I am often asked to describe patient care; how to do that? In contemplating Nurses Week, I can think about important life events: emergency room visits, a parent in an ICU, the birth of a baby – a nurse is there with a team. A nurse is there knowing and caring, linking tenderness and mastery. Nurses know what it means for humans to be old, sick, weak, complex, and vulnerable. Nurses know how to prevent and treat infections, manage pain, teach, rescue, heal, console, and see problems before they occur. Nightingale was quoted as saying, “Live life when you have it. Life is a splendid gift – there is nothing small about it.” On my first day of work less than four months ago, I described the AAMC team this way – “the unique mixture of science and caring…progressive expertise of our physicians, the dedication of our nurses, the excellence of our interprofessional clinical support partners, the acumen of our leadership and administrative team, the compassion of our auxilians and volunteers, the devotion of our patient and family advisors, and the governance of our board.” Each of you makes AAMC a unique place for our patients and our community. Even more I am awed by what a team you are. Florence Nightingale would be proud. I know I am. Thank you for what you do for each other and for our patients and families.0
- Infectious DiseaseGeneral Page Tier 3BlogIn honor of Nurses Week and Hospital Week, Victoria Bayless, CEO of Luminis Health, expresses her appreciation for our health care heroes during these uncertain times. In the world of health care, May is typically a major month for celebration. It is the moment each year when we honor our nursing staff during Nurses Week and follow with an even larger gathering to honor all staff members during Hospital Week. But this is not a typical year, and no one knows that better than you. Like health care workers across the nation, we are witnessing how every facet of our lives has been dramatically altered by this virus. We know that communities need us now more than ever. While this is a point of pride, it also is a heavy responsibility. You answer the call every day to help patients and support their families, all the more challenging because no one knows when the ferocious hold of this pandemic will subside. So it hardly feels like a time to celebrate. This May will stand out like no other in the chronicle of modern health care. As you each take your rightful place in this historic moment, there is no greater time to acknowledge the extraordinary commitment of each of you – for your unselfish duty to your profession, your compassion for those who are suffering, and your unparalleled commitment to one another. And you do all this while bearing concerns about your families and your own well-being. In past years this month would prompt a “theme” to play out across each of our campuses. If we had a “theme” this year, it would be a short, simple, two words. You would hear it when you go into every patient room, from every corner of every ICU, every nursing station, supply room or underground hallway – and we would say it over and over again. Thank you. Thank you for showing up each day. Thank you for wearing the protective gear that sometimes feels cumbersome or worrisome to your patients. Thank you for working with uncertainty, for not knowing if or how you can help the next patient, for accepting that despite all your remarkable skills and best training, no one has seen what you are seeing now. Thank you for demonstrating care and concern not just for our patients, but for each other. We see you and all that you are doing. You’re doing a good job. Take a look for yourselves. Whether you are doctor, nurse, therapist, pharmacist, dietitian, aide, housekeeper or volunteer, we know that your compassion for our patients – and the extraordinary acts of courage and compassion you show for each other – is what will see us through these coming days. As the famed American author, poet and civil rights activist Maya Angelou wrote, “We need joy as we need air. We need love as we need water. We need each other as we need the earth we share.” You are what brings joy to this month of May. Thank you, Tori Bayless, Chief Executive Officer, Luminis Health0
- Cancer Care, News & Press ReleasesGeneral Page Tier 3BlogAnne Arundel Medical Center (AAMC) has earned CEO Cancer Gold StandardTM accreditation for its work to reduce the risk of cancer for its employees and covered family members. AAMC is recognized for encouraging healthy behaviors and improving health outcomes for employees by promoting prevention measures, encouraging early detection through cancer screenings and ensuring access to quality care. “Anne Arundel Medical Center is honored to be among the leading organizations to achieve the CEO Cancer Gold Standard Accreditation™,” said Sherry B. Perkins, president of AAMC. “We strive to provide the highest quality of care for our patients and are equally committed to promoting the wellbeing of our employees and their families. We offer the latest technology in diagnostics and treatments, with access to innovative research and clinical trials to deliver care and support that comes with compassion. Cancer is not only treating a disease, it’s caring for each person throughout his or her journey.” The Gold Standard accreditation recognizes AAMC’s programs to reduce cancer risk by taking concrete actions in prevention, screening, cancer clinical trials, quality treatment and survivorship, and health education and health promotion.0
- Cancer CareGeneral Page Tier 3BlogSummer is right around the corner. Thoughts of long sunny days spent at the beach, on the water fishing or out in the yard gardening remind us to protect ourselves from too much sun exposure. But sunburn can also happen when you least expect it. Even when we’re not outside for long periods of time enjoying the summer sun, we should be concerned about the sun’s ultraviolet (UV) rays. Incidental sun exposure refers to the kind of exposure you get during everyday activities, such as walking the dog or going to and from your car. It’s not as obvious as a day at the beach, but it adds up over time. According to the Skin Cancer Foundation, incidental sun exposure accumulated during your lifetime is linked to an increased risk of skin cancer. Have you ever been sunburned without knowing how it happened? Here are four lesser-known ways the sun can damage your skin. It’s easy to think you’re protected from the sun on a cloudy day, but actually, more than 90 percent of UV rays can shine through light cloud cover. Sun exposure can’t be ignored while swimming, either. Up to 40 percent of UV rays can penetrate shallow water. Don’t forget reflected light. Sand, water and snow reflect between 25 and 80 percent of UV rays. Hiking or skiing in the mountains can also mean more sun exposure because UV radiation increases with altitude. Surprisingly, a significant amount of sun exposure can occur even when you’re not outside! The type of rays that cause sunburns (UVB rays) are blocked by glass, but up to 60 percent of UVA radiation linked to premature aging (UVA) can penetrate glass. Sitting by a window for extended periods of time throughout the day, whether it is in a car or a building, can increase harmful sun exposure. A study conducted in France found that people with more skin damage to one side of their face spent a significant part of their job driving. Although windshields are laminated and filter out UVA rays, side and back windows are not and can let in skin-damaging UVA rays. The sun exposure drivers received through the side window contributed to uneven aging on their face. In fact, American drivers have more skin cancers on the left side of their face. The lesson? Protecting your skin from overexposure to the sun is always important, no matter where you are or what the season. Follow these guidelines to prevent premature aging and reduce your risk of skin cancer. Apply broad spectrum sunscreen (SPF 30) every day and apply one ounce to your entire body 30 minutes before going outside. Reapply every two hours (more often if you’ll be sweating or swimming). Seek shade, especially between 10am to 4pm. Wear sun protective clothing or add sun protection, such as SunGard by RIT, when you wash your clothes. Wear a wide-brimmed hat. Protect your eyes with UV-blocking sunglasses. Avoid tanning beds. Examine your skin every month. See your physician every year for a professional skin exam, and make it a daily routine to protect your skin! Author Joanne Ebner is a cancer prevention program supervisor at the AAMC Geaton and JoAnn DeCesaris Cancer Institute. Originally published April 26, 2016. Last updated June 18, 2018.0
- General Page Tier 3BlogAntioxidants. They seem to be in everything these days, from granola bars to beauty products. But what are they? How should you get them? And how much do you need? Antioxidants are substances that may protect cells in your body from free radical damage that can occur from exposure to certain chemicals, smoking, pollution, radiation, and as a byproduct of normal metabolism. Dietary antioxidants include selenium, vitamin A and related carotenoids, vitamins C and E, plus various phytochemicals such as lycopene, lutein and quercetin. Antioxidant supplements are not always beneficial. Some trials found a benefit to antioxidant supplementation, but most have not. Grocery store shelves are full of products with labels claiming they contain antioxidants and implying that you are just a few bites away from better health. But it is not that simple. Too much of a good thing can be bad, especially when it comes from dietary supplementation. Some evidence suggests that when taken in megadoses, antioxidants can become pro-oxidants. This can increase the production of free radicals, particularly in people who smoke or drink alcohol. In these cases, supplements can have unpredictable interactions and turn from potentially healthy to being harmful. In one study, heavy smokers who took high-dose beta-carotene were more likely to get lung cancer. Scientists do not know why the studies have been disappointing. However, one explanation might be that supplements cannot replicate the complex, beneficial effects of a healthy diet. Are there ‘super fruits’? All fruits and vegetables are super foods. There is no scientific definition of ‘super foods’, therefore it is meaningless. Marketing has overused this buzzword to sell products. Each fruit and vegetable has a unique distribution of nutrients. By eating only those considered ‘super’ you are short changing your health by skipping the nutrients specific to other produce. So, remember, any and every fruit and vegetable is good for you. Foods that contain a lot of antioxidants are good for your health. Most health experts agree antioxidant supplements are not worth your money. But, antioxidant rich foods are! Fruits, vegetables and whole grains are all rich in antioxidants. They also have healthy fiber and essential nutrients that your body needs for long-term health. As scientists continue to explore how antioxidants work in the body, the best advice remains the simplest: Eat a variety of brightly colored fresh fruits and vegetables, whole grains and legumes. This daily dose can improve your health. Advertising has gone too far. Some packaged food labels insist that antioxidants will boost your health. However, these claims do not always mean a health benefit. Unfortunately, ‘antioxidant’ is a loosely used term. Outside the lab, it has become more of a marketing term than a scientific one. For example, some manufacturers add an antioxidant, such a vitamin E and zinc, and then label the product as containing antioxidants (likely in hopes of boosting sales such as Kellogg’s Fiber Plus Antioxidants Dark Chocolate Almond bars). It’s true they have vitamin E and zinc. But this comes at a cost of 7 grams of sugar and 5 grams of fat. A preferred, non-processed choice to get these nutrients could be an ounce of almonds, which provides more vitamin E, and 3 ounces of lean beef, which has more zinc. It is important to keep in mind that too much of a good thing can be problematic, especially when it comes from dietary supplements. Beware of multi and single antioxidant capsules labeled megadoses, which contain more than the recommended daily values of antioxidants. Supplements can have unpredictable interactions and potentially cause more harm than good. It is much less likely that you will consume too many antioxidants from food. Most Americans do not eat enough fruits and vegetables. If you want to boost your intake, then stick to a wide variety of produce. Authors Ann Caldwell and Maureen Shackelford are nutritionists and registered dietitians at Anne Arundel Medical Center. To reach them, call 443-481-5555.0
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