- News & Press ReleasesGeneral Page Tier 3BlogAnne Arundel Medical Center (AAMC) has received the American Association for Respiratory Care (AARC) Apex Recognition Award for demonstrating continued best practices in respiratory care. AAMC is the only Maryland hospital to receive the award. The AARC Apex Recognition Award was developed in 2017 as a way for the AARC Board to recognize respiratory care departments that demonstrate high quality care. Anne Arundel Medical Center (AAMC) has received the American Association for Respiratory Care (AARC) Apex Recognition Award. “We are proud to be among an elite group of respiratory care teams from across the U.S. to receive this award,” said Lenard Nyangwara, director of pulmonary and neurodiagnostic services at AAMC. “As a vital component of a well-rounded health care team, respiratory therapists work hard each day to deliver quality patient care,” said Thomas Kallstrom, AARC executive director/CEO. “The specialized services and skills unique to respiratory care departments provide the necessary foundation for the total patient experience. We are thrilled to honor these organizations as Apex Recognition Award recipients.” The AARC is dedicated to supporting the respiratory care profession. The award program distinguishes organizations for their commitment to excellence in professional development, evidence-based care, patient safety, patient satisfaction and quality improvement. The Apex Recognition Award includes five categories for recognition: acute care hospitals, long-term care facilities, home medical equipment (HME) companies, entry-level educational programs, and dedicated transport teams.0
- Men's Health, Women's HealthGeneral Page Tier 3BlogNutrition information seems to change daily, leaving most consumers confused. Can sugar harm your heart? Are eggs in or out? Is caffeine good or bad? The media leap to publicize the latest study, contributing to the confusion. Unfortunately, news stories do not usually investigate the limitations of the research or explain the complexity of the findings. There are a few reasons why the outcomes of nutrition research can be misunderstood or flawed. We cannot isolate a nutrient’s effect In the past, nutrition research emphasized the role of a single nutrient acting as a magic bullet to miraculously prevent disease or the sole agent responsible for the development of disease. We can get so focused on the health benefits of a certain vitamin or phytochemical that we miss an important point: Different components in a single food can work together to benefit our health, and so can components in different foods eaten together. This is referred to as “food synergy.” One example of how different nutrients and components in food work together is the pairing of broccoli with tomatoes. In a study published in 2004 in the Journal of Nutrition, prostate tumors grew much less in rats fed tomatoes and broccoli than in rats who ate diets containing broccoli alone or tomatoes alone, or diets that contained cancer-fighting substances (like lycopene) that had been isolated from tomatoes or broccoli. The bottom line: A lycopene supplement may not hurt, but the whole tomato will probably help more. And a tomato eaten with broccoli may be even better. Nutritional relationships are complex and it seems that Mother Nature knew what she was doing when she created plant foods—the natural state is the best package. Data is flawed Data collection for nutrition studies is flawed because people do not report accurately in studies relying on this type of data. We tend to underestimate what we eat, but even more fundamentally, we don’t remember what we ate to report it back. Additionally when we eat out, we don’t know what ingredients were in the food or how it was prepared. As Marion Nestle, a prominent nutritionist says in her book Food Politics, “The most intellectually demanding challenge in the field of nutrition is to determine food intake.” Finally, in studies comparing one diet to another, it is not always possible to control what people eat. In a study comparing a group eating a low-fat diet to control group eating typical diet higher in fat, those in the low-fat group cheated and ended up eating a higher-fat diet than the researchers recorded, while those in the control group (normal diet) lowered their fat intake voluntary, perhaps because the study made them aware of it. In the end, unbeknownst to the researchers, the two groups were not far apart in the amount of fat they were eating. Hence, it was not surprising the “low-fat diet” group didn’t show any health benefits. Genetics play a role Another surprising variable in nutritional research is genetic difference among the participants studied. These differences can impact how individuals digest and use nutrients in food. Sometimes, when a study of a nutrient shows a difference only in a small number of people, it could be due to individual metabolic differences. We cannot isolate the metabolism of a food from the entire makeup of the person eating it. While individual studies may give different data about a particular nutrient, the value of a healthy diet is not in doubt. Repeatedly, studies show good food choices have a positive impact on health and poor diets have negative long-term effects. Let food be your medicine, to deliver the nutrients you need to perform, maintain function, and fight disease. American diets that mimic the USDA’s “My Plate” have a lower incidence of major chronic diseases. To look for well-founded nutrition information, visit www.nih.gov and www.eatright.org. For additional tips, visit www.choosemyplate.gov. To learn more about nutrition services at Anne Arundel Medical Center, visit AskAAMC.org/nutrition. Authors By Ann Caldwell and Maureen Shackelford, nutritionists and registered dietitians at Anne Arundel Medical Center. To reach them call 443-481-5555. Originally published Nov. 16, 2015. Last updated Jan. 23, 2019.0
- News & Press ReleasesGeneral Page Tier 3BlogAnne Arundel Medical Center (AAMC) is raising the minimum wage for its employees to $15, effective January 20, 2019. The policy change will boost pay for about 1,100 of the health system’s 4,850 employees. “An investment in our workforce is an investment in the vitality of our health system,” says Julie McGovern, vice president and chief human resources officer. “We’ve been working toward this move for the past two years. We believe in caring for our caregivers, which creates a positive workplace but also a great place to receive care, as every employee plays a vital role in the care of our patients and their families.” “Increasing the minimum wage demonstrates our commitment to our employees, their families and our patients,” says McGovern. “It’s a reflection of our organization’s dedication to being the best place to work in health care.” AAMC’s current minimum wage is $13 per hour. The new wage will be more than double the current federal minimum wage of $7.25, and well above Maryland’s minimum wage of $10.10. 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
- Behavioral Health, Senior Care, Wellness, UncategorizedGeneral Page Tier 3BlogSeniors tend to face special risks from alcohol, even if they aren’t heavy drinkers. Even moderate drinking can be a problem in this age group. Health risks of alcohol in the aging Alcohol poses special risks for seniors for a variety of reasons. For example, alcohol can: Interact with medications. The older we get, the more likely we are to take medications, according to the American Society on Aging. And medicines—whether prescribed by a doctor or bought over the counter—often don’t mix well with alcohol. Alcohol can counteract or decrease the effects of some medications, such as those taken for high blood pressure,reflux disease or gout. Alcohol also can magnify a medication’s action. The combined sedative effects of alcohol with tranquilizers, sleeping pills or pain relievers can be particularly dangerous. Increase the risk of accidents. Alcohol impairs coordination and increases the likelihood of falls and other accidents. For older people, that raises an already increased risk for hip fractures and disability. Hide other health troubles. Alcohol can mask symptoms of other medical problems, according to the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism (NIAAA). For example, the changes it causes in heart and blood vessels may dull the pain of angina—an important warning sign of heart attack. Cause problems in small amounts. The body’s ability to absorb and deal with alcohol changes as we age. Our tolerance level goes down, meaning it takes little alcohol to have a big effect. A diagnosis overlooked It’s not always easy to know when an older person is abusing alcohol, according to the NIAAA. They’re often retired, which eliminates occupational red flags like missing work or losing jobs. Older people also are more likely to drink alone at home, according to the American Geriatrics Society. That makes them less likely than younger drinkers to be arrested for fighting or drunk driving. In addition, some of the side effects of alcohol abuse may be dismissed as signs of “getting old.” Mental confusion caused by heavy drinking can be mistaken for symptoms of Alzheimer’s disease, for example. Depression, insomnia and poor eating habits are associated with aging—and alcohol abuse. So how can you tell if someone you love is abusing alcohol? If someone minimizes how much they drink, that’s a red flag. Or if someone takes offense when asked about their drinking, that’s a red flag. Other signs may include someone who: Drinks alone or hides his or her drinking from others. Feels irritable or resentful when he or she is not drinking. Uses alcohol to cope with problems like depression or sleeplessness. To get an idea of whether or not you might have a drinking problem, take this short quiz. If you think alcohol might be a problem for you or someone you love, seek the advice of a health care professional. He or she may suggest counseling or a treatment program. The good news is that older people tend to stick with treatment programs better than younger people. In fact, research has found that simply pointing out the ill effects of alcohol can significantly reduce an older person’s drinking. For more information about alcohol visit AAMC’s Pathways drug and alcohol rehabilitation center, askAAMC.org/Pathways. Originally published Dec. 23, 2014. Last updated Jan. 21, 2019.0
- Employee SpotlightGeneral Page Tier 3BlogWhen Lyndsey Griffin was born, the doctors quickly noticed there was something wrong. After a few tests, the results came back – it was a brain tumor. “I had a rough start,” Lyndsey says. “I had to have two brain surgeries. I was only six weeks old when I had my first surgery and eight months old during my second surgery. The doctors were expecting the worst and they told my family that even if I survived I would likely be mentally delayed or blind. But what parent doesn’t want to give their child every possible chance? Somehow, everything worked out in the end.” Growing up, Lyndsey recalls always being provided for. After all, she was the first child and the first girl. It wasn’t until later that she found out that life wasn’t as easy as her family made it look. Her mother was a stay-at-home mom while her father worked long hours as a jeweler and real estate agent. “He worked really hard to make ends meet,” she says. “I had to go to follow-up appointments, MRI, etc. They received help from our church, they received state assistance and support from family. When I look back now, I realize how good they were at keeping this from me. They did not want me to worry.” That always stuck with Lyndsey, who currently works as an oncology patient financial navigator. Understanding firsthand what it’s like for a family to go through financial struggles caused by health challenges, she knew this role would be the perfect fit for her. “I don’t want people to have to choose between treatment — whether it’s for their spouse, child, or whoever is important to them — and having a life,” Lyndsey says. “I want them to be able to have treatment, thrive, and move on with their life without being financially bereft. I want them to be able to live their lives and not feel like they are a burden. I was fortunate enough to never feel like that.” Lyndsey started working in dialysis with lower income patients in West Baltimore, where she learned about insurance information. Later, she transitioned to working with outpatients. When the role at Anne Arundel Medical Center opened, Lyndsey found an opportunity to bridge her social work background with her finite resource-gathering financial knowledge she learned in school and through years of work. “When I talk to people about what I do and that I work in oncology, they say, ‘Wow, that must be so depressing,’” she says. “I find it strange that people think that because we’ve come so far with treatment, people are living for years and years. I see more successful stories than I see ‘depressing’ stories.” “My patients make me want to wake up and come to work, even when I’m exhausted and don’t want to do anything else,” she says. “I can’t fix everything, but I know that I can make a difference.” Pro tip: “Sometimes as health care professionals we feel so burdened with workload and rushed to get everything done, but we are all human. I think asking someone how they’re doing will just make all the difference to the patient. Take a second, human to human, and ask, ‘What can I do for you today? How are you feeling?’ They could have anything and everything going on. Just level with people.” 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. *Lyndsey Griffin received an AAMC Champion award for the month of July.0
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