- Behavioral Health, PediatricsGeneral Page Tier 3BlogBetween what they see on TV, online and in video games, your kids can be bombarded with violent images. If you don’t address it, kids can become numb to real violence over time. Violent video games can especially lead to aggressive behavior and cause children to be less sensitive to other people’s pain and suffering. A study in the Journal of Experimental Social Psychology found that just 20 minutes of playing a violent video game can cause people to be less affected by real violence. Children younger than 8 are even more prone to desensitization, since the line between reality and fiction is still blurry in their developing brains. As a parent, you should set clear limits for video game content and the amount of time spent playing. The American Academy of Pediatrics offers these tips to steer your kids toward age-appropriate video games: Get to know a video game’s content before giving the OK to play. Keep gaming in a common family area for easy supervision. Limit video game time to an hour a day, and encourage other activities like exercise, playing outside and reading. Turn gaming time into family time by choosing group sports or music activity video games that bring everyone together. It’s also helpful to learn and follow the Electronic Software Ratings Board (ESRB) video game ratings. You can find them on game packaging or onscreen before downloading a game. Rating Categories Early Childhood: Content is intended for young children. Everyone: Content is generally suitable for all ages. May contain minimal cartoon, fantasy or mild violence and/or infrequent use of mild language. Everyone 10+: Content is generally suitable for ages 10 and up. May contain more cartoon, fantasy or mild violence, mild language and/or minimal suggestive themes. Teen: Content is generally suitable for ages 13 and up. May contain violence, suggestive themes, crude humor, minimal blood, simulated gambling and/or infrequent use of strong language. Mature: Content is generally suitable for ages 17 and up. May contain intense violence, blood and gore, sexual content and/or strong language. Adults Only: Content suitable only for adults ages 18 and up. May include prolonged scenes of intense violence, graphic sexual content and/or gambling with real currency. Learn how to talk to your kids about violence in the news and protect them from cyberbullying.
- Behavioral Health, Community, News & Press ReleasesGeneral Page Tier 3BlogAnne Arundel County leaders and educators convened Tuesday at Anne Arundel Medical Center (AAMC) for “No Wrong Door, Hope for Recovery,” a day-long symposium to commemorate the 25th anniversary of AAMC’s substance abuse and mental health treatment facility, Pathways. Speakers and guests discussed the county’s latest efforts to address mental health and substance abuse in our youth and community. In remarks during the symposium, AAMC’s Executive Vice President of Integrated Care Delivery and Chief Operating Officer Maulik Joshi underscored AAMC’s continued efforts to increase critical mental health services in the county. “We remain committed to improving access and providing high-quality addiction treatment and mental health care to all in need in our community.” Part of that commitment, Joshi said, is working to establish AAMC’s proposed mental health hospital. AAMC’s mental health hospital would double Anne Arundel County’s inventory of mental health beds, and serve up to 900 patients a year who would otherwise be transferred out of AAMC’s care. AAMC filed a Certificate of Need (CON) application with the Maryland Health Care Commission (MHCC) in 2016 to gain approval to establish the mental health hospital. The MHCC must grant the CON before this service is available to the community. The event concluded Tuesday evening with a keynote address by former congressman and mental health advocate Patrick Kennedy. Kennedy discussed his work to combat medical and societal discrimination against mental illness and addiction. “Today, mental health and addiction is separate and unequal from the rest of medicine,” Kennedy declared. In his talk, he opened up about his own battle with substance abuse and mental illness. The day’s speakers also included: State’s Attorney for Anne Arundel County Wes Adams, Director of Anne Arundel County Crisis Response System Jen Corbin, Major for Anne Arundel County Police Ross Passman, Author Lisa Hillman, WBAL anchor Keith Mills, Executive Director of Maryland Addictions Directors Council Tracey Myers-Preston, and members of AAMC leadership. Pathways provides 25 Years of Care Over its existence, Pathways has helped more than 50,000 people find their path to recovery. The 40-bed freestanding complex on the outskirts of Annapolis is open 24 hours a day for inpatient and outpatient treatment. The facility provides care not only to residents in the immediate surrounding areas, but also for those from nearby states. Pathways serves as a primary addiction resource with innovative programs, such as: A family wellness workshop that educates family members on how they can assist in the recovery process. Pathways nurse liaison program, which helps facilitate admission and treatment of substance abuse clients that are already admitted to AAMC or the emergency department. A prevention program partnership with Anne Arundel County Public School’s to provide substance abuse education to area faculty and students. Patients are referred to Pathways by health care providers, family members, educators, alumni, state and local agencies, etc. To refer patients, or to request an evaluation, call Pathways at 410-573-5400 or at 800-322-5858.
- News & Press Releases, Weight LossGeneral Page Tier 3BlogAnne Arundel Medical Center announces its Weight Loss and Metabolic Surgery Program is now accredited as a Comprehensive Center by the Metabolic and Bariatric Surgery Accreditation and Quality Improvement Program (MBSAQIP), signifying the program meets the highest standards for patient safety and quality care. Studies show that patients have better weight loss surgery outcomes in accredited bariatric surgical centers, where the center has undergone and passed rigorous evaluation in accordance with nationally recognized bariatric surgical standards. Accredited centers are also recognized for multidisciplinary teams with experts in areas such as nutrition and psychology, to ensure a patient’s success after surgery. “This recognition underscores the daily commitment and high quality the AAMC Weight Loss and Metabolic Surgery Program team demonstrates every day in the care of our patients,” says Alex Gandsas, MD, MBA, program medical director. AAMC’s bariatric surgery center is designated as a Level I facility and was nationally accredited by the American College of Surgeons (ACS) in 2013. The ACS and the American Society for Metabolic and Bariatric Surgery (ASMBS) have since combined their respective national bariatric surgery accreditation programs into a single unified program to achieve one national accreditation standard for bariatric surgery centers, the MBSAQIP. Weight loss surgery options The AAMC Weight Loss and Metabolic Surgery Program’s re-accreditation proves that it consistently meets the highest quality standards of care for the weight loss operations it performs, including sleeve gastrectomy, gastric bypass, and adjustable gastric band removal and revision. In the United States, more than 11 million people suffer from severe obesity and an estimated 93 million people are obese. Conditions associated with obesity range from diabetes and heart disease to certain types of cancers. Bariatric surgical procedures have been shown to reduce obesity, improve mortality, and decrease the health risks from chronic diseases such as cardiomyopathy and diabetes. The AAMC Weight Loss and Metabolic Surgery Program is located in Annapolis and Easton. To learn more about weight loss surgery, attend a free seminar at AAMC. Visit askAAMC.org/WeightLoss for more information or to register.
- News & Press ReleasesGeneral Page Tier 3BlogThe Anne Arundel Medical Center (AAMC) Foundation held its biennial Denim & Diamonds Bash on Saturday, April 29, at AAMC’s South Campus. More than 1,100 people attended the event, raising nearly $1 million to support AAMC’s efforts to increase mental health services. “You don’t often get to host something that can positively impact the lives of thousands of people,” said Jan Wood, Foundation president and chief development officer. “Thanks to strong community and corporate support, the funds generated through this event will help us provide critical funding for mental health care and programs in our region.” Last year, AAMC opened its Psychiatric Day Hospital, an intensive daytime treatment program providing clinical, diagnostic and mental health treatment services for adults and adolescents. The program is designed for patients who are either transitioning from inpatient care or need help stabilizing a condition in order to prevent hospitalization. AAMC also wants to help expand access to mental health services and filed a Certificate of Need (CON) with the Maryland Health Care Commission (MHCC) last year to establish a 16-bed mental health hospital. That decision is pending.
- GivingGeneral Page Tier 3BlogAAMC’s second annual Denim & Diamonds was a resounding success. Guests dressed in various forms of denim and bling represented the community’s support for one of our most urgent care needs. On April 29, 2017, more than 1,100 people attended this special event under the stars to shed light on the crucial need for mental health services in this region. Thanks to the efforts of a talented committee and under the leadership of co-chairs Al and Cathy Adelman, Jerry and Lori Collier, and Rich and Theresa Gergar, nearly $1 million was raised during this special event. These much needed funds will help to improve the lives of thousands of patients in our community by supporting mental health programs and services. Jerry Collier, Senior Vice President at M&T Bank and AAMC Foundation Board member, shares his passion and commitment to making AAMC’s Denim & Diamonds Bash such an impactful occasion. “I joined AAMC’s Foundation Board in 2013 as I believed then, and know now, that AAMC directly touches more folks and has a larger positive macro impact on our great community as compared to other health, human and social service not for profits,” says Jerry. “When the leadership of AAMC asked my wife Lori and I to chair Denim & Diamonds 2017, we gladly accepted based upon our desire to raise awareness of, and increase funding for, mental health. At each of our monthly Denim & Diamonds Bash Committee meetings our first meeting agenda item was our “mission moment” where clinicians and other caregivers shared the challenge of significant resource constraints to address the overwhelming demand for mental health care in our community,” Jerry says. “With each “mission moment,” the Committee became increasingly resolved to make Denim & Diamonds this region’s biggest and best event so that we could raise the funds so greatly needed to expand mental health care. The outpouring of support from sponsors and guests for the event has been nothing short of extraordinary.” The Denim & Diamonds Bash could not have been a success without our 102 sponsors, including presenting Platinum co-sponsors the Chesapeake Bayhawks and M&T Bank, and Diamond sponsors Aerotek, AAMC Medical Staff, BB&T, Comcast, Homestead Gardens, Ken’s Creative Kitchen, TEKsystems, What’s Up? Magazine and WRNR-103.1. We are also grateful for our media sponsors, Capital Gazette Communications, Inc., Eye on Annapolis, Liquified Creative, LLC, Annapolis Home Magazine, and 1430 WNAV. Don’t miss next year’s party with a purpose! Tickets sold out almost a month before this year’s event, so be sure to save the date for AAMC Foundation’s Denim & Diamonds Spring Bash, Saturday April 28, 2018. For more information about getting involved with AAMC Foundation’s Bash, please contact Kendra Smith Houghton at 443-481-4739 or [email protected].
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