- News & Press ReleasesGeneral Page Tier 3BlogAfter the mosquito-borne Zika virus outbreak spread from Brazil to more than 20 countries in Latin America, the World Health Organization labeled it a global health emergency. Zika virus is strongly suspected to have caused microcephaly and other neurological problems in thousands of babies. As this public health issue unfolds, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) continues to update guidelines for healthcare providers and citizens. At Anne Arundel Medical Center, we’re taking every precaution necessary to potentially evaluate and care for infected patients. The situation is constantly evolving, but we are staying on top of the latest information from the CDC and WHO,” said Mary Clance, MD, epidemiologist. “We are ready for the Zika virus because of our preparations for other infectious diseases including Ebola, MERS, West Nile and SARS. We have a lot of experience treating diseases coming from returning travelers. Dr. Clance adds that AAMC is regularly collaborating with the state and local health departments to keep doctors and nurses informed about the virus. “We continue to do all we can to ensure we stay ahead of any possible Zika virus spread and protect our community’s health.” Here are some things to know about Zika virus: How is Zika virus transmitted? Zika virus is transmitted to people primarily through the bite of an infected Aedes species mosquito. These are the same mosquitoes that spread dengue and chikungunya viruses. These mosquitoes typically lay eggs in and near standing water in things like buckets, bowls, animal dishes, flower pots and vases. They live indoors and outdoors near people. Mosquitoes that spread chikungunya, dengue and Zika often bite people during the day, but they can also bite at night. Mosquitoes become infected when they bite a person already infected with the virus. These infected mosquitoes can then spread the virus to other people through bites. Zika can spread from mother to newborn during birth, although this is rare. This can happen if a mother is already infected with Zika virus near the time of delivery. It’s possible that Zika virus can pass from a mother to her baby during pregnancy. The CDC is studying how some mothers can pass the virus to their babies. To date, there are no reports of infants getting Zika virus through breastfeeding. Because of the benefits of breastfeeding, mothers are encouraged to breastfeed even in areas where Zika virus is found. Zika can also be spread through infected blood or sexual contact. The CDC recommends taking precautions. What are the symptoms? About 1 in 5 people infected with Zika virus become ill (i.e., develop Zika). The most common symptoms of Zika are fever, rash, joint pain or conjunctivitis (red eyes). Other common symptoms include muscle pain and headache. The incubation period (the time from exposure to symptoms) for Zika virus disease is not known, but is likely a few days to a week. The illness is usually mild with symptoms lasting for several days to a week. People usually don’t get sick enough to go to the hospital, and they very rarely die of Zika. Zika virus usually remains in the blood of an infected person for about a week but it can be found longer in some people. For more information on the Zika virus, visit the CDC website0
- Wound CareGeneral Page Tier 3BlogComedian and television host Jay Leno was recently treated in an Hyperbaric oxygen chamber for severe burns to his face and hands following a gasoline accident in his garage. You are probably wondering what is hyperbaric oxygen therapy and how does it work. Because wounds require oxygen for a proper healing process, the use of hyperbaric oxygen therapy (HBOT), also called hyperbaric oxygen treatment, is actually on the rise. Hyperbaric oxygen therapy is a medical treatment that increases the amount of oxygen in a patient’s blood so it can pass more easily through the blood plasma—the liquid component of blood—and into wound tissue to heal it. During the treatment, a patient is surrounded by and breathing in 100% oxygen while in a pressurized chamber. The increased pressure helps the patient’s lungs collect more oxygen. Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy Treats Many Conditions At Luminis Health Doctors Community Medical Center in Lanham, hyperbaric oxygen therapy is used to treat slow-healing diabetic wounds, bone infection, compromised skin grafts, arterial insufficiency, acute sensory hearing loss, gas embolism, gas gangrene, decompression illness, acute carbon monoxide or cyanide poisoning, crush injuries, progressive necrotizing infections that kill soft tissues, along with radiation injuries such as: Soft tissue radiation necrosis: When soft tissues die due to radiation exposure. Osteoradionecrosis: When bones die due to radiation. Radiation cystitis: Inflammation of the bladder and urethra resulting from treatment with radiation therapy. Radiation proctitis: Inflammation of the rectum occurring because of acute damage to the rectum sustained from pelvic radiation. What to Expect During Treatment HBOT patients are placed in a monoplace chamber that is approximately seven feet long; this hyperbaric oxygen chamber treats one person only. The patient breathes normally while in the chamber. A clinician remains close by to monitor treatment—patients can speak directly with clinicians whenever needed. Treatment can last for up to two hours, with the number of treatments ranging from 30 to 60. Every treatment is customizable to the patients’ history and diagnosis since each patient responds differently to care. When Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy May Not Be Appropriate You may not be able to undergo hyperbaric oxygen therapy if you have an untreated pneumothorax, collapsed lung, COPD, pregnant and have undergone certain chemo medications. Don’t be surprised if your ears “pop” during treatment; this is normal. If you’re feeling a little claustrophobic, the physician can give you a medication to help relax. Possible rare and temporary complications could include barotrauma, which is injury to your ears, because of changes in pressure. You may experience blurred vision which stops when treatment stops, oxygen toxicity or pneumothorax. Ask your healthcare provider about HBOT if you’re concerned about a slow-healing wound. Medicare has approved coverage that fits the guidelines for hyperbaric oxygen therapy and most private insurance companies follow Medicare guidelines; if interested, people should still always check with their insurance company to ensure treatment is covered. Authors Cash McQuarter is the Director of Wound Care at Luminis Health Doctors Community Medical Center.0
- Patient StoriesGeneral Page Tier 3BlogLuminis Health partners with the Anne Arundel County Public Schools (AACPS) system, providing healthcare learning opportunities and career counseling to students as they train for their future careers. Both the Center of Applied Technology (CAT) North in Severn and CAT South in Edgewater are part of AACPS and prepare students for career pathways by offering experiential learning, post-secondary credits and industry certifications. In addition to providing CAT students with opportunities to practice clinical skills, Luminis Health hires them as interns and both temporary and permanent team members. Bennett Chateauneuf shares how he has benefited from this partnership. Bennett Chateauneuf is a senior who recently graduated from Broadneck High School in Annapolis. He worked a summer job at Luminis Health Anne Arundel Medical Center (LHAAMC) in 2022 in Food and Nutrition where his role included delivering meals to patients throughout the hospital, returning used dinnerware to the kitchen and washing and sanitizing dishes. “My job in Food and Nutrition helped me come out of my shell a little bit,” Bennett says. “I became more comfortable with introducing myself to patients and making sure they knew who I was.” His summer position with LHAAMC’s Food and Nutrition team helped him ease his way into the next step he had mapped out for his future: a degree as a certified nursing assistant (CNA). In this role, he would have the opportunity to provide basic bedside patient care—such as checking vitals — and other patient-centered tasks under the supervision of licensed nursing staff. Bennett applied and was accepted into CAT South’s Academy of Health Profession, a 2-year program offered to 11th and 12th grade students. This program empowers students to become multi-skilled health care providers. “I have always loved talking to people, helping them and being in an environment where I’m communicating with a team,” Bennett says. Luminis Health’s partnership with CAT South means that Bennett and his classmates were able to complete 20 hours of hands-on clinical training at LHAAMC. Having worked in Food and Nutrition the previous summer, Bennett felt right at home—his classmates relied on his familiarity with the facility to help them navigate. “I knew my way around the entire hospital and my peers were able to rely on me for directions,” he recalls. “I knew where everything was.” After graduation, Bennett knew that he wanted to apply the skills he had learned as a student at CAT South to a job as a CNA at LHAAMC: “The people who work at LHAAMC are super nice,” he says. “It’s a great community and it’s the largest hospital in the Annapolis area, so they’ve got cool high-tech equipment that you just don’t see at other facilities. There’s nothing else like Luminis Health in Maryland.” Bennett’s dedication and focus paid off when he was hired as a CNA at LHAAMC. He officially started his role at the hospital this month. For Bennett, this is just the beginning of a well-considered career plan: his ultimate goal is medical school, where he would like to earn a degree in anesthesiology. CAT South and Luminis Health’s collaboration has played an important role in helping him achieve his dream of helping others through a healthcare career. AACPS students can get involved in this program by speaking with their instructors about the CAT Academy of Health. Beyond this partnership, Luminis Health has a variety of job shadow, student volunteer and internship opportunities for any student who may be interested in the healthcare field.0
- Men's Health, Women's Health, Wellness, UncategorizedGeneral Page Tier 3BlogSpring is a great season to get outside and active. Enjoying this season in the midst a pandemic may be little challenging, but not a lost cause. As more and more individuals receive the vaccine, and we all continue practicing the 3Ws — wash your hands, wear a mask and watch your distance — outdoor activities can be enjoyed safely. “It’s important to safely practice self-care and mindfulness methods, even during a pandemic to help you maintain a healthy mental balance,” says Heather Newhard, MSN, CRNP-F, Luminis Health Clinical Enterprise. “As a country, we may not be able to do things like we used to, but implementing a slight adjustment for safety can work wonders during this time.” To help with spring activity planning, here are some COVID-friendly ideas for you and your family to enjoy this season: Run, hike or walk Visit a pick-your-own farm or orchard Start a spring garden Take on an outdoor DIY project Play backyard games Plan an outdoor movie night Remember, whether giving advice on exercise or nutrition, your primary care provider can help you maintain your overall health and wellness goals. Primary care is important to your overall health this spring and beyond. Authors Heather Newhard, MSN, CRNP-F, specializes in the area of primary care at Luminis Health Clinical Enterprise.0
- Cancer CareGeneral Page Tier 3BlogGetting breast implants after a mastectomy is an emotional process. Preparing your body for the implants can also be an arduous task. It can involve weekly doctor’s visits, needles, saline and an often uncomfortable process. However, new technology has changed the landscape for many women. There’s now an option that eases the stress for breast cancer survivors and gives them the opportunity to play an active role in the healing process. With the AeroForm tissue expander system, patients use a remote-control device that communicates with expanders in their body through Bluetooth-like technology. This gives the patient the choice to expand their breast tissue anytime and anywhere with up to three puffs of air a day with a few hours in between. With one press of a remote control, the patient releases a dose of 10cc of carbon dioxide. This gradually expands the breasts over time. READ MORE: Tips on supporting a loved one through cancer This new technology is an alternative to the traditional method of tissue expansion still used at most hospitals, with patients having to visit their doctor frequently to have 50cc or more of saline injected. And, although the upfront cost is higher for this technology, in the end, we think that this novel technology lowers costs since there will be less visits to the doctor. The reward for patients is incalculable. Here are the top benefits of the expander system: It is patient-controlled. Patients are in control and decide how often to dose and when to stop expanding their breasts. You can do it anywhere. Patients can release the puffs of air anywhere and anytime they want without having to schedule a doctor’s visit, take off from work or even worry about daycare. There are no needles involved. Therefore, there is no need to feel anxious! By using the remote-control device, patients can press a button to release a dose of air that expands their breasts steadily. Each small dose can barely be felt. Less risky. No needles also means there is less risk for infection or rupture, which can happen occasionally with saline-filled expanders. It’s more empowering. With an AeroForm expander, the patient has full control and releases her own doses instead of having to come in every one to two weeks to have a doctor inject fluid into the breast. Patients enjoy playing an active role in their own recoveries. AeroForm is a game-changing technology that allows patients to be fully involved in the process — it decreases pain and complications and literally hands them control. Author Tripp Holton, MD, is a plastic surgeon at Anne Arundel Medical Group (AAMG) Plastic Surgery and specializes in breast reconstruction, including microvascular surgery as well as cosmetic surgery of the face and body at Anne Arundel Medical Center. You can reach his office at 443-481-3400 or AAMGPlasticSurgery.com.0
How can we help?
Common Searches
Common Searches
Log in with MyChart
Access personalized site features & view your health records.
Learn more about MyChartDon’t have a MyChart account?
Your Account
View your Dashboard
Messages
Billing Summary
Find Care
Schedule Appointment
My Care Team
My Record
Appointments
Medications
Insurance Summary
Log in with MyChart
Access personalized site features & view your health records.
Learn more about MyChartDon’t have a MyChart account?