Provider
Irakli Chikovani, MD
107649971
This provider is a part of the Internal Medicine Residency program at Luminis Health Anne Arundel Medical Center.
English
Internal Medicine
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Heart Care, Patient Stories
General Page Tier 3
Patient Story: David Mckinney
Blog
While training for a marathon in 2007, David McKinney had a heart attack and needed a stent. Earlier this year, he began feeling pressure in his chest and, given his medical history, made an appointment with his primary care provider.
That visit led to a cardiac catheterization, which revealed a nearly 100 percent blockage. McKinney was scheduled for a coronary artery bypass graft (CABG) with Dr. David Caparrelli, chief of cardiac surgery at Luminis Health.
During the procedure, Dr. Caparrelli used a novel technique called a cryo nerve block to eliminate postoperative pain.
“We used the cryo nerve block to freeze David’s nerves, which blocked the pain signals to the brain and helped support his recovery from heart surgery,” says Dr. Caparrelli.
McKinney says Dr. Caparrelli and his team explained everything clearly, including the procedure, its purpose and what to expect during recovery.
“I can’t speak highly enough of the surgical team,” McKinney says. “It was a very positive experience from the moment I checked in to the day I was discharged.”
Several weeks after surgery, McKinney has no pain and has not needed any narcotic medication.
“With no pain, there’s no strong pharmaceutical medicines that are needed. Basically, I got discharged with Tylenol,” McKinney told CBS news when he was interviewed about his experience. Watch the CBS clip here.
He and his wife walk together a few times a day. He enjoys hiking and camping, but for now he is sticking to local trails and walking at the mall when it’s too hot outside.
To learn more about this cutting edge technique and heart surgery at Luminis Health, visit Luminis.Health/HeartSurgery.
Watch David’s story on CBS
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Research
2019-07-10
Brewster, Massachusettes
Herodicus Annual Meeting
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Wellness
General Page Tier 3
How do you know if your older loved ones need more support?
Blog
November is National Family Caregivers Month, a time to recognize the love and dedication that go into caring for others. With the holidays approaching, it’s also a wonderful time to connect with older friends and family to ensure they’re feeling well and supported.
According to the latest census, that’s more important than ever since Maryland’s population of older adults is growing faster than most of the country. And many people, including your older loved ones, need additional assistance to manage their health. Here’s what you should know to keep them — and yourself — healthy, should you become a caregiver.
Recognizing when it’s time to help
It can be difficult to tell if your loved one is struggling. Watch for these common signs:
Changes at home: Is their space clean and safe? Are they eating well taking and taking medications as prescribed?
Memory problems: Occasional forgetfulness is normal, but regular confusion or poor decision-making may signal a larger issue.
Mental health concerns: Look for signs of depression, anxiety, or hopelessness—and seek help promptly if needed.
Other health concerns: Difficulty walking, falling, poor hygiene or significant weight changes can all indicate the need for more support. Isolation is another red flag.
Supporting their health and independence
If you take on a caregiver role, be specific about how you can help. Offer to drive them to appointments, cook together on weekends, or plan regular social activities.
You can also strengthen their care by:
Being their advocate: Help communicate their needs to their healthcare providers.
Coordinate appointments: Schedule and provide transportation to medical visits.
Tracking health information: Keep a list of medications, health changes, and care plans.
Manage medications: Use a pill organizer and create a schedule to prevent missed doses.
Taking care of yourself
Caring for an older loved one can be deeply rewarding, but also demanding. To avoid burnout, focus on the 4Ms of caregiving:
What Matters: Identify the goals that are most important to both of you. Share them with health care providers and set aside time for yourself.
Mobility: Encourage your loved one to stay active, and make time for your own exercise and well-being.
Mentation: Report cognitive changes to their provider, and protect your own mental health by connecting with friends or joining a support group.
Medication: Review prescriptions with their care team and ensure both of you eat well and stay hydrated.
Don’t hesitate to ask for help if you need it. Making those requests — even for small tasks — can help you avoid caregiver burnout. Additionally, be sure you get enough sleep and practice stress reduction techniques like meditation or yoga.
How we can help
Luminis Health is proud to be a national leader in age-friendly care. In fact, the Institute for Healthcare Improvement recognized two of our hospitals for excellence in older-adult services. Luminis Health Anne Arundel Medical Center in Annapolis was named one of five Age-Friendly Health System Pioneers nationwide. In addition, Luminis Health Doctor Community Medical Center in Lantham — and our primary care practices — earned the Age-Friendly Healthy System Level 2-Commited to Care Excellence designation.
With this widespread expertise, we’re ready to walk with you every step of your caregiver journey.
Visit our caregivers page for additional caregiving resources.
Authors
Lillian Banchero, MSN RN, is the program coordinator for Luminis Health’s Institute of Healthy Aging.
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General Page - Tier 2
Velocity Clinical Research Velocity is the world’s leading integrated site organization. Sponsor’s and CRO’s trust Velocity to deliver high quality clinical trial data with unprecedented efficiency. Learn more about Velocity Clinical Research at Luminis Health.
Clinical Research and Velocity Clinical Research at Luminis Health
Clinical research involves the participation of, or information from, human subjects. One area, clinical trials, can offer promising new medications or therapies while closely studying their effectiveness and contributing to published medical knowledge.
Clinical research at Luminis Health starts with the dedicated physicians, nurses, and other medical professionals whose interests include the advancement of medical science. It comes together with the support of our team of professional research nurses, research coordinators, and data managers from Velocity Clinical Research. Velocity Clinical Research at Luminis Health is the vehicle through which they combine their efforts, safeguarding the rights and safety of clinical trials patients, ensuring regulatory compliance, and promoting excellence in clinical practices
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