- News & Press ReleasesGeneral Page Tier 3BlogWhat started in 1966 as the Pink Lady Ball culminated in a celebration unlike any other gala event in this region. The 2016 Heart of Gold Gala was held on April 9 at the Hilton Baltimore at the Inner Harbor. Nearly 1,000 guests came together to raise more than $1 million for Anne Arundel Medical Center and our growing cardiovascular program. Ringing in a new era, guests celebrated AAMC’s 50th anniversary gala with a new venue, new format, and a handful of surprises and gifts for gala guests. The Heart of Gold Gala was chaired by AAMC Foundation Board Vice-Chair Mark Powell, his wife Lynne, and Jerry Segal, MD, medical director of AAMC’s Heart Institute. A huge thank you to our Gold sponsors for their support: BB&T, Comcast, Creston G. & Betty Jane Tate Foundation, and Mark & Lynne Powell, The Powell Foundation. Please save the date! AAMC Foundation’s Denim & Diamonds Spring Bash is back next year—April 29, 2017, at AAMC’s South Campus. For more information about the AAMC Foundation’s 2017 Denim & Diamonds Spring Bash, please contact Kendra Smith Houghton at 443-481-4739 or email [email protected].0
- Community, Giving, News & Press ReleasesGeneral Page Tier 3BlogDuring the AAMC Auxiliary’s Annual Holiday Luncheon in November, AAMC Auxiliary leadership presented their 2016 charitable gift of $805,000 to AAMC, with funds earmarked for the hospital’s direct patient care programs. With more than 72 years of commitment and 500 active volunteers, the Auxiliary generously contributes more than 140,000 hours of service each year in a variety of capacities for AAMC programs, patients and care areas. Creating a legacy of helping hands and a history of giving, AAMC’s Auxiliary has provided more than $13 million in support to AAMC since it began. This year’s donation was made possible by creative fundraisers organized by the Auxiliary, and sales from the hospital’s three volunteer-run gift shops and our resale shop, Out of the Box. While volunteering offers vital help to the hospital, the personal benefits of volunteering can be greater. Volunteering at AAMC easily fits into your schedule and areas of interest, including direct patient care, retail, administration and more. Giving back not only helps others, but also can improve your health and happiness. Are you interested in getting involved with AAMC’s Auxiliary? Contact Volunteer Services Manager Diana Emerson at [email protected]. Call the AAMC Foundation at 443-481-4747 or visit AAMCFoundation.org to learn how you can help.0
- Infectious DiseaseGeneral Page Tier 3BlogSince last spring, we’ve been wearing face masks to slow the spread of COVID-19. It’s a key part of the 3Ws: Wash your hands, wear a mask and watch your distance. At this point, you’ve probably built up a large collection of cloth masks for you and your family. But how do you know when they’re past their prime? Here are a few clues that it’s time to toss them. The straps are worn out. Take note whether the straps, or ear loops, on your mask appear to be stretched out. To be effective, masks should fit tightly against your face. And if the straps are loose, the mask will be, too. The mask doesn’t fit properly. Again, the fit should be snug. If the fabric is sagging and loose, it’s not offering the proper protection. You should replace any masks that hang or slide down below your nose with ones that stay in place. There are holes in the mask. If your mask is ripped or torn, get rid of it. One way to check it quickly is to hold it up to the light. If you see breaks of light in the material, throw it away and get a new one. It’s stained or dirty, even after you wash it. That’s a clear sign that the mask has outlived its usefulness. Masks can absorb makeup and skin oils – which means they aren’t effectively filtering out contaminants. Change disposable medical masks daily. How to Wash Your Masks the Right Way Just as it’s important to wash your hands the right way, you also have to make sure you’re washing your cloth masks the right way. The Centers of Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) says you should wash your mask after each wear. If you want to throw them in the washing machine, you can mix it in with your other laundry, use regular laundry detergent and follow the instructions on the mask’s label. If you’re washing the mask by hand, use warm tap water and laundry detergent or soap, and rinse thoroughly. You can either dry your mask in the dryer on a warm or hot setting, or hang it to dry. Put it in direct sunlight if you can. The CDC recommends storing wet or dirty masks in plastic bags until you can wash them. Wet masks don’t work as well as dry masks, and they can be hard to breathe through. Always wash or sanitize your mask after you take it off – and before you put it back on again. Author Jean Murray is system director of Infection Prevention and Epidemiology for Luminis Health.0
- Why Choose Us?Both our breast cancer physical therapy program and lymphedema clinic help give you the brightest future possible. You can trust us with your care because:We'll work closely with your cancer care team. We meet with your care team to discuss how to best guide your care. This can give us a clearer picture, for instance, of your risk factors for lymphedema.We have highly trained, experienced therapists. You won't see a general speech language pathologist for swallowing problems related to cancer treatment. You'll see someone who treats only patients with similar conditions. And our lymphedema therapists meet the highest standards to qualify for certification.We'll create a care path just for you. No two patients with breast cancer are alike. We'll work with the rest of your care team to create a plan that best suits you.TreatmentConditions/Services/Treatments PageOur breast cancer rehabilitation specialists make your treatment and recovery easier. And our lymphedema therapists assess and manage post-surgery swelling.Physical Therapy for Breast CancerWhy do physical therapy for breast cancer? It's one of the most powerful tools we have for helping you get your precancer status back.Physical therapy helps reduce side effects from surgery, radiation and chemotherapy. Plus, it lessens the emotional fall-out after your breast cancer diagnosis. Physical therapy even improves your life after you've finished treatment. Lymphedema ManagementWhat is lymphedema, and what causes it?Some of the fluid in your blood leaks into the surrounding tissues. This liquid (called lymph) travels through a network of "pipes" that carry it back to your bloodstream. Sometimes fluid gets trapped, causing swelling (lymphedema) in an arm, leg, or another body part. And if left alone, lymphedema can worsen.The good news? Our certified lymphedema therapists can spot early clues when this process is starting and step in to help. We're trained to treat and manage lymphedema so you get back to the life you want.We use several techniques to improve lymph drainage. One method is a type of massage that coaxes fluid out of the part of the body where it's collected. Sometimes we use a state-of-the-art device to do the same job. It works something like a blood pressure cuff that automatically inflates, then deflates.Lymphedema therapists also use bandaging and specially designed pieces of clothing to redirect pooled fluid using gentle pressure. Your therapist teaches you exercises and other strategies for promoting lymph outflow, too. These tools allow you to learn how to manage lymphedema on your own.0
- Women's HealthGeneral Page Tier 3BlogOctober is Breast Cancer Awareness Month and it’s the perfect time to focus on the importance of breast cancer screening for all women. It is especially important for residents of Prince George’s County, where there is a higher rate of late-stage breast cancer diagnosis and mortality rates. This month is also an opportunity to highlight all of the wonderful progress made in breast cancer treatments. COVID-19 had an impact on breast cancer screening frequency during and after the pandemic, with the American College of Radiology (ACR) finding that mammogram screenings dopped by 63.7 percent compared to pre-pandemic numbers. Screening exams at our Lanham site are approximately 30 percent lower than pre-pandemic levels. This is especially concerning given that early breast cancer diagnosis is the key to better survival rates. When You Should Get Screened Sometimes women are unsure when they should start getting screened for breast cancer. The recommendation is for yearly mammograms starting at age 40. If there is family history of breast cancer, then it is recommended to start ten years prior to the age your family member was diagnosed. For example, if the mother was age 42 at diagnosis, the daughter should start getting mammograms at age 32 and enroll in a high-risk breast screening program. The ACR has recognized that African American and Jewish women are at a high risk for breast cancer. These women should get a risk assessment and consider starting early breast cancer screening at age 30 Be Your Best Advocate Early breast cancer is best diagnosed when there are no symptoms and there is only a small abnormality on imaging. There are some women who feel a lump, but it does not always mean they have cancer. There are many non-cancerous problems that cause a lump in the breast. If a woman feels something different from their normal, they should get it checked out by their physician.It is important for women with dense breasts to ask for 3D mammograms because they are the best imaging for evaluating dense tissue. Women should look closely at their imaging report and be self-advocates: if you are identified as having dense breasts, ask for additional tests, such as ultrasound or MRI. This is especially important if you feel a lump and the report comes back as “normal.” A mammogram isn’t the most comfortable test, but it is quick and provides valuable information. With the newer machines, the compression releases as soon as the picture is taken. It is recommended that patients take an over-the-counter pain reliever about two hours prior to their mammogram. A few minutes of discomfort are preferable to a long process of treatments for breast cancer. Pink Ribbon Rally Welcomes You On Friday, October 14, Luminis Health Doctors Community Medical Center will host a special Pink Ribbon Rally event on its Lanham campus to help take the fear and mystery out of getting a mammogram. There will be music, dancing and learning, as well as discussion about how mammograms are performed, breast self-awareness and treatment, and advocating for your own health.Hear from breast cancer survivors who share their journey, and even discuss proper bra fit. Join in on the discussion about gynecologic problems such as fibroids, menopause, uterine cancer, etc. The event runs from 8 am to 3 pm. Women who are unable to get screened at the rally can make an appointment to come back at a later date—Luminis Health performs mammograms year-round. This article was originally published with the Enquirer-Gazette. Authors Dr. Regina Hampton is the medical director of the breast care center at Luminis Health Doctors Community Medical Center. A board-certified general surgeon who has focused her practice on breast health and breast cancer, she has been ranked by her peers as one of the top breast cancer surgeons in the Washington, D.C. area.0
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