- Infectious DiseaseGeneral Page Tier 3BlogIf you plan to prepare a Thanksgiving meal this year, make your grocery store trip well in advance of the holiday. The CDC advises against going shopping in crowded stores just before, on, or after Thanksgiving. This recommendation is to prevent the spread of coronavirus (COVID-19) among large crowds in grocery stores. Here are some helpful tips to keep you safe when shopping for the big day. Make a shopping list. Efficiency is key. Prepare a shopping list before your trip to the grocery store and get out as quickly as possible. This limits your exposure to others in the store. We know the positivity rate continues to increase in the community. This means there is a higher risk of encountering someone who has COVID-19, whether they are symptomatic or asymptomatic. Wear a mask and practice good hand hygiene. Use hand sanitizer frequently during your grocery store trip. This is important because multiple people are touching the same items in the store. Wear a mask and avoid touching the front of it while shopping. When you leave the store, use hand sanitizer before and after removing your mask. Consider curbside pickup or grocery delivery options. Checkout lines in the grocery store may be long the closer you get to Thanksgiving. There are other ways to avoid the holiday crowd. Curbside pickup and grocery store delivery are safer options. Avoiding large crowds is especially important if you have a pre-existing medical condition or a medical condition that puts you at greater risk of infection. Leave the kids at home. If possible, leave kids at home or use a delivery option. Many younger children don’t think about hand hygiene. Others may not be able to wear a mask because they are under two years old. Young children often touch items during the shopping trip and then put their fingers in their mouths. This puts them at risk for exposure. Consider grandparents’ risk. After you’ve cooked your hearty Thanksgiving meal with all the fixings, package some for grandparents and deliver it to their home. This is a safer option instead of inviting them inside your home for dinner. A multiple generation gathering makes grandparents more vulnerable to infection. Authors Jean Murray is the director of Infection Control at Luminis Health Anne Arundel Medical Center. Rajesh Shah is the director of Quality/Regulatory Affairs and Infection Prevention at Luminis Health Doctors Community Medical Center. Thanksgiving Recipe: Roast Turkey and Orange Spice Rub Start to finish: 1 hour and 45 minutes Servings: 11 1 tablespoon grated orange zest ½ teaspoon ground cinnamon ½ teaspoon ground cumin ½ teaspoon paprika ¼ teaspoon ground allspice or ground nutmeg ¼ teaspoon salt ¼ teaspoon black pepper 1/8 teaspoon cayenne pepper 5 pounds turkey breast with bone and skin 1 can of nonstick cooking spray Preheat the oven to 325° F. Lightly spray a roasting pan and baking rack with cooking spray. In a small bowl, stir together all of the ingredients except the turkey. Put the turkey on a cutting board or flat work surface. Carefully loosen the skin from the turkey breast by gently inserting your fingers between the skin and the meat, making a pocket for the orange zest mixture. Don’t break the skin. Discard any fat beneath the skin. Still working carefully, spread the orange zest mixture under the loosened skin as evenly as possible. Transfer the turkey to the rack in the pan. Roast the turkey for 1 hour and 45 minutes, or until it reaches an internal temperature of at least 170° F. Be sure the thermometer doesn’t touch the bone. Remove the turkey from the oven and let stand for 15 minutes. Discard the skin and all visible fat. Slice the turkey and serve. Recipe from Diabetes Food Hub.0
- Men's Health, Primary Care, Women's Health, WellnessGeneral Page Tier 3BlogChoosing a health care provider is a big decision. After all, you are placing your health in another person’s hands, depending on them to help keep you healthy and get you well when you are sick. You need expertise and experience. Compassion and strong communication skills. You want the whole package — and you might be surprised to learn that doctors aren’t the only people you can turn to for this high-level of medical care. Advanced practice providers (APPs) offer it too, and they’re playing a growing role in today’s health care system. What is an advanced practice provider? APPs are highly educated medical professionals. They include advanced practice nurses — such as nurse practitioners, clinical nurse specialists, nurse midwives and nurse anesthetists — and physician assistants. All have six or more years of college education and typically hold at least a master’s degree. During their training, they also get a minimum of 1,000 (and in many cases, significantly more) hours of supervised clinical experience. APPs are required to show proficiency in their practice area to become certified. And all must be licensed to practice. APPs typically also receive continuing education throughout their career. Expertise that meets your needs Often, APPs serve as primary care providers. And in Maryland, nurse practitioners can provide care independently. Depending on their area of expertise, APPs may: Administer anesthesia Advise patients on preventive care Assist in surgery Conduct physical exams Deliver babies Diagnose and treat medical conditions Educate patients Make referrals to other specialists Manage patient care Order medical tests and imaging studies Perform procedures Prescribe medications Take patient histories The benefits of advanced practice providers The benefits of seeing an AAP may be considerable. For instance, years of studies show that: APPs provide quality care. Research has shown that care provided by nurse practitioners is equivalent to care provided by doctors. Working with an APP is cost-effective. Care provided by nurse practitioners can be less expensive than care provided by a physician in many settings, including primary care, acute care and long-term care. Similarly, there are proven benefits associated with physician assistants (PAs). For example, a survey of people who’ve visited a physician assistant or had a family member who has, found that PAs: Gain patient trust. About 93% of respondents considered PAs trusted health care providers. Increase access to care. About 92% of respondents said having a PA made getting a medical appointment easier. Improve the healthcare experience. About 91% of respondents believed PAs improved the quality of healthcare. A team of experts ready to help You can count on advanced practice providers to give you the best possible care. They’ll be at your side, ready to offer the latest treatment and lend a friendly ear or hand to hold, as well. And if you require additional expertise, they’ll make sure you get that, too. With the strength of the entire Luminis Health team behind them, they’re ready to meet you wherever you are on your health journey, ensuring you have access to all the care you need to live your best life. Author Dr. Tormeika S. Sanford, DNP, MSN, CRNP is an internal medicine provider with Luminis Health Primary Care. Make an appointment by calling 240-241-7474..0
- Cancer CareGeneral Page Tier 3BlogAll this month – National Cancer Survivor Month – we are sharing stories from our own cancer survivors. Each cancer journey is unique. At Luminis Health, we want to shine a light on these journeys from the perspective of our own patients. That’s why we’ve started this new series – bringing hope and comfort to those who have been touched by cancer. Jeannie Barzanti’s story I am a registered nurse and started working at Luminis Health Anne Arundel Medical Center (LHAAMC) about 18 months ago, as a clinical supervisor in surgery. The organization’s reputation in health care proceeds them, and I had very intentionally wanted to be a part of it. Everything was going great, but as life would have it, on September 17, 2020, I was diagnosed with breast cancer on a routine mammogram. Then came the ultrasound, and the biopsy, which showed invasive ductal carcinoma. My sister is a 10-year survivor of breast cancer, so I knew something about what the process could be like, and I also knew that it was very possible to survive it. Still, nothing prepares you to hear that you have cancer—it’s terrifying. My eldest daughter had just gotten married, my younger daughter was almost through graduate school, and there was so much going through my mind, about the future and all the unknowns. It was extremely hard to tell my daughters and my husband that I had cancer. But the treatment at Luminis Health is first rate—as an employee I knew that, but I experienced it in a different way as a patient. My case went to the Tumor Board, a multidisciplinary team of nurses, doctors, radiologists, pathologists, genetics counselors, social workers, and nutritionists who review each patient’s diagnosis and design a game plan. They all agreed that I would have chemotherapy first, then surgery, then radiation. Along the way, I had an amazing support system outside the hospital which included my daughters, my husband, my sister and friends in the community. But the support inside the hospital was just as important. I first met with my doctor, Dr. Lorraine Tafra, at the Breast Center to outline my treatment. I then met with Nurse Navigator Alyson Figlioli, who made appointments for me, provided a detailed plan with my specific diagnosis, made sure I saw all the right clinical staff including my medical oncologist, Dr. Young Lee, and radiation oncologist, Dr. Mary Young. Alyson ensured I completed all of the required testing. She really held my hand and led me through the process. She calmed my fears and helped me understand the overwhelming process I was about to undertake. All of the staff made me feel so supported. I found it very comforting to be in my “own house” during this time, to work at the same place where I received treatment. Though I’d take several days off after chemotherapy, I kept working throughout my treatment. I needed a total of six rounds, three weeks apart. I found that toward the end it gets harder to bounce back, and you need more support. In LHAAMC’s infusion center waiting room, there is a bell hanging on the wall to celebrate patients completing chemo. When I finished my last dose of chemo, my husband and daughter joined me for this celebratory “ringing of the bell.” But before I rang this bell, the infusion center staff sang a “no more chemo” song. Such a simple celebration meant the world to me! Tears were streaming down my face as I realized that the worse part was over, and I was going to be OK. After chemo, I had surgery and then radiation, and my incredible care continued. Dr. Tafra and the operating room (OR) staff were amazing and listened to all of my fears. Since I work in the OR, I knew I was in great hands. The radiation staff, which included Dr. Mary Young and technicians Vicki, Leah, and Michelle, were also exceptional. They treated me like I was the only patient they had for the day. They were so very compassionate and efficient. I finished my radiation treatments in the middle of April 2021 and, today, I’m officially cancer-free. When I was first diagnosed, I had told my husband that I didn’t want breast cancer stuff—no pink survivor sweatshirts or ribbons. But then I got knee-deep in chemo, and I started feeling differently. I realized we are all warriors. And the staff at Luminis Health were right there by my side, fighting with me the whole way.0
- OrthopedicsGeneral Page Tier 3BlogLacrosse is an exciting and fast-paced game that is one of the most rapidly growing team sports in the country. But, the combination of quick changes of direction, contact and a hard ball traveling at high speeds provides the perfect environment for injuries. There are many differences between girls’ and boys’ lacrosse. High school female lacrosse players are only required to wear protective eyewear and mouth guards, with headgear and gloves optional. The rules prohibit body contact and limit stick checking. Boys’ lacrosse is a full contact sport with mandatory use of helmets, mouth guards and other protective gear. Body and stick checking is allowed. These differences can explain the number and kinds of injuries sustained in male versus female high school lacrosse players. While boys have a higher overall injury rate than girls, here are a few common injuries in both male and female players: Lower extremity sprains and strains are the most common injury sustained by both male and female lacrosse players. These are usually the result of a noncontact injury while running and cutting. Anterior cruciate ligament, or ACL, tears are the most common reason for loss of playing time, with girls having higher rates of knee injuries than boys. Concussions are the second most common injury. They occur equally among male and female lacrosse players. Male concussions are usually due to direct body contact, while female concussions are usually due to accidental stick or ball-to-head contact. Because girls are not required to wear helmets, they have a much higher rate of head and facial trauma. Hand and wrist fractures are common for both boys and girls from direct contact and stick checks. Females have slightly higher fracture rates due to their lack of padding. Gloves are optional and, if worn, are only lightly padded. Lacrosse Injury Prevention Injury prevention starts with strict rule enforcement, but here are a few things players can do to protect themselves: Limit head-to-head contact to decrease the risk of concussion. Players, coaches and parents need to learn the symptoms of a concussion. If a player shows signs of a concussion, it’s critical they are removed from the game and evaluated by a certified athletic trainer or medical provider. Wear well-fitting protective equipment. Girls should consider wearing helmets to reduce the risk of head and facial trauma. Girls should also consider wearing gloves to reduce the risk of hand and wrist trauma. Be proactive in preseason conditioning. This is important for all athletes. You need to warm up and stretch properly and drink appropriate amounts of water, especially during summer months. Athletes should also get plenty of rest after practice and games. If you experience a lacrosse-related injury, a sports medicine specialist helps speed your recovery and get you back on the lacrosse field as quickly and safely as possible. Author Daniel Redziniak, MD is a board-certified sports medicine orthopedic surgeon with AAMC Orthopedics. He specializes in arthroscopic surgery of the knees and shoulders. He is the team physician for several high school, college and professional teams, including the Chesapeake Bayhawks lacrosse team. Originally published Feb. 11, 2018. Last updated April 5, 2019.0
- General Page Tier 3BlogIt’s the holiday season – a time to enjoy our favorite seasonal treats. Watching your sugar or calorie intake this year? We have you covered with these recipes, which offer your sweet tooth a healthier alternative. Snickerdoodles This version of the holiday staple has less added sugar. Ingredients 1 cup trans-fat free tub margarine 1/4 cup stevia sugar blend plus 1 tablespoon stevia sugar blend, divided use 1 large egg 1 teaspoon vanilla extract 2 cups all-purpose flour 3/4 teaspoon baking powder 3/4 teaspoon salt 1 1/2 teaspoons ground cinnamon Directions Preheat the oven to 400°F. In a large bowl, using an electric mixer on medium speed, beat the margarine, 1/ 4 cup stevia sugar blend, egg, and vanilla until smooth. In a medium bowl, stir together the flour, baking powder, and salt. Using the electric mixer on medium speed, gradually beat the flour mixture into the stevia sugar blend mixture just until moistened but no flour is visible. In a small bowl, stir together the remaining 1 tablespoon stevia sugar blend and the cinnamon. Using your hands, shape the dough into 1 and 1/4-inch balls to make 24 cookies. Gently roll in the stevia sugar blend cinnamon mixture, coating lightly. Place about 2 inches apart on a large baking sheet or two small baking sheets. With the palm of your hand or a fork, lightly flatten each ball. Bake for 8 to 10 minutes, or until the bottoms are browned. Serving size one cookie, 91 calories per cookie. Recipe courtesy of the American Heart Association. Mint-Chocolate Meringue Cookies Ingredients 3 egg whites 1/8 teaspoon cream of tartar 2/3 cup granulated sugar 1/4 cup unsweetened cocoa powder, sifted 1/4 teaspoon mint extract 1/3 cup mini chocolate chips or finely chopped bittersweet chocolate Directions Preheat the oven to 300 degrees. Line two baking sheets with parchment paper, securing the edges with tape. With an electric mixer, beat the egg whites and cream of tartar until soft peaks form. Gradually add sugar, 1 tablespoon at a time. Add cocoa powder and beat until the mixture becomes glossy. Add mint extract. Gently fold in chips. Place mixture in a pastry bag fitted with a 1/ 2 or 3/ 4- inch tip. Pipe 1-inch rounds onto the parchment, leaving 1 to 2 inches between cookies. With damp fingertips, press down any peaks. Bake for 25 to 30 minutes, rotating pans halfway through baking. Place baking sheets on a cooling rack for 10 minutes before peeling cookies off the parchment. If a pastry bag isn’t available, spoon mixture into a zip-top bag and snip a ½-inch hole in the bottom corner of the bag. Batter can also be dropped with a tablespoon onto the parchment. Makes about 60 cookies. Serving size one cookie, 15 calories per cookie. Recipe courtesy of the American Cancer Society. Poached Pears with Pomegranate Sauce Ingredients 1/3 cup pomegranate juice 2 teaspoons sugar 1 medium pears (peeled, halved, cored) 1 teaspoon water 1/4 teaspoon grated lemon zest 1/4 teaspoon vanilla extract 2 tablespoons sliced almonds (dry-roasted, crumbled) 1/4 teaspoon cornstarch Directions In a small saucepan, stir together the pomegranate juice and sugar. Add the pear halves with the cut side down. Bring to a boil over high heat. Reduce the heat and simmer, covered, for five minutes, or until tender, turning occasionally. Remove from the heat. Leaving the liquid in the pan, transfer the pear halves with the cut side down to dessert plates. Put the cornstarch in a small bowl. Add the water, stirring to dissolve. Pour into the same pan. Bring to a boil over medium-high heat, whisking constantly. Boil for one minute. Remove from the heat. Stir in the lemon zest and vanilla. Spoon over the pears. Sprinkle with the almonds. Tip: Be sure to use a ripe pear for peak texture and flavor. Using a firm pear not only will require at least twice as much cooking time but also will not be as tender, sweet, and flavorful. Serving size one pear half and one tablespoon of sauce, 120 calories per serving. Recipe courtesy of the American Heart Association. Enjoy!0
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