- Employee SpotlightGeneral Page Tier 3BlogSince Kim Mahar was a young girl, she knew she wanted to work in the medical field and positively impact people. As a teenager, she explored medical technician classes, and she grew to love the clinical and personal aspects of connecting with patients. Today, Kim is our Nursing Care Coordinator at Luminis Health Ob-Gyn Annapolis. In recognition of National Nurses Week, we’re proud to honor Kim for her contributions to the medical field and Luminis Health. For Kim, the best part of being a nurse is the patients. She brings caring, compassion, kindness and understanding to her important role. “I just love patients to feel their best. As their nurse, I want to help them reach their healthcare goals,” she says. Kim’s nursing journey Kim started as a Nursing Assistant at a nursing home after high school. “I loved the patients, especially those with dementia or Alzheimer’s. They needed a caring face,” says Kim. “I had personal connections with them and their families. It was extremely rewarding.” While working, Kim studied for her Associate of Science in Nursing degree. A sign language class afforded her the opportunity to help a deaf patient. “We created a special kinship,” Kim recalls. “He made me want to get up and go to work so I could care for him. I was able to communicate small things and that helped him feel more comfortable.” In September 2005, she joined Luminis Health Ob-Gyn Annapolis, where she has worked in various aspects of nursing – Floor Nurse, Telephone Triage Nurse, Lead Triage Nurse, Office Procedure Nurse, New Patient Coordinator. “I started in Ob-Gyn and grew from there and never left,” she smiles. “I’ve made a family here. I’m so thankful for those who encouraged me along the way.” Kim currently enjoys her new role, where she helps her patients from start to finish and ensures a top-notch healthcare experience. She organizes treatment plans for her patients along with their providers for various needs like home healthcare, out-patient infusion and other community health needs. She focuses on both self-care and holistic care in helping her patients. “The most important thing is to get them well. I want to make them feel like they matter, and know that I care,” says Kim. “A big thing for me is self-care, especially for us nurses, too. We have to take care of ourselves, so we are well enough to take care of others,” Kim continues. Back in the classroom She is now a student at Notre Dame of Maryland University working on her Bachelor of Science in Nursing degree, a goal of hers. Kim, who will graduate in 2023, believes education is a big part of nursing. “It’s important to be knowledgeable on various aspects of nursing that can help patients and their families,” Kim says. “What can I teach my patients to take better care of themselves? What can we work on together to help them heal from their illness or medical issue?” Being there for her patients – and others Kim doesn’t hesitate to lend a helping hand. She once saved a choking child at a community Easter Egg hunt, and she helped a lady who experienced a diabetic episode while walking her dog. “Being a nurse is all about helping people,” says Kim. “There’s always a need for nurses. It’s amazing to see your patients be well, and give their families that peace of mind, too. It’s all about being there for the patients in every way you can.” “And it means the world to me to accomplish the patient’s goal,” Kim concludes. “Patients aren’t just a number or an illness, they’re people and they need our help.”0
- News & Press Releases, Infectious DiseaseGeneral Page Tier 3BlogDue to a significant increase in COVID-19 hospitalizations, Luminis Health is declaring contingency protocol at both its hospitals – Luminis Health Anne Arundel Medical Center and Luminis Health Doctors Community Medical Center. Since December 1, the healthcare system has seen a 325% increase in treating admitted patients with COVID-19, with 128 COVID-19 patients in its hospitals. This rise in hospitalizations, combined with ongoing staffing shortage, has made it imperative for the health system to take these measures to protect the safety of its workforce and patients. “Under our Emergency Operations Plan, we made the decision to shift to Contingency Standards of Care after careful consideration and discussion,” said Tori Bayless, CEO of Luminis Health. “While we remain committed to providing the best care at our hospitals, it is becoming increasingly challenging. We continue to work with other health systems, government leaders, and community partners to review our standards of care and strategize next steps, which may include declaring crisis-level standards of care. We need the community’s support now more than ever – please get vaccinated and boosted, and we encourage people to continue masking when outside their homes.” Contingency Standards of Care protocols are used in times of emergency, when the demand for healthcare is reaching a critical point of exceeding the ability of the health system to provide it without instituting special measures. Today’s measures may include adapting documentation requirements, adjusting and prioritizing surgical schedules, delaying non-life-threatening surgeries, and altering care delivery models to ensure our ability to care for patients. These standards of care are based on best practices and guided by ethical principles. “This is a response to another critical surge in COVID-19 cases, combined with the national staffing shortage that impacts our healthcare workers, who have been battling this pandemic tirelessly for almost two years,” said Dr. Sherry Perkins, president for Luminis Health Anne Arundel Medical Center. “With Omicron spreading rapidly across the country and in our own communities, the vaccine and booster provide protection and will minimize COVID-19 symptoms, as well as the severity of the disease if infected. This minimizing of severity has an important impact on reducing hospitalizations and emergency room overcrowding.” The majority of hospitalized patients with COVID-19 remain unvaccinated, which is putting a significant strain on the health system. This includes increased wait times in emergency rooms. “Our emergency rooms are approaching critical levels,” said Deneen Richmond, president at Luminis Health Doctors Community Medical Center. “Please avoid the ER for non-life threatening issues. For COVID testing and all non-life threatening illnesses and injuries, patients should visit urgent care centers or seek care with their primary care provider. With that said, do not avoid getting care for more serious illness or injuries at the ER.” To find and schedule an appointment with a Luminis Health primary care provider, visit our website http://lhprimarycare.com With regard to surgical operations, effective Monday, January 3rd, all non-urgent surgeries that require an inpatient overnight stay will be postponed to a later date. Urgent and emergent surgeries, as well as ambulatory surgery (outpatient/same day surgery) will continue without impact. There are a number of ways the community can help sustain the strength of our hospitals and end this pandemic, including: In addition to getting vaccinated and boosted, practice the 3W’s to stop the spread. Wear your mask, watch your distance, and wash your hands. Avoid the emergency room for non-life threatening issues and for COVID testing. If you have COVID-19 and are experiencing minor symptoms, please stay at home and contact your primary care physician if you have questions. Avoid crowds and large gatherings. If this is impossible, wear a mask and maintain your distance. Luminis Health has administered 117,000 COVID-19 vaccines. Whether through mobile clinics or walk-in options, we are continuing to provide COVID-19 vaccines and boosters to all who need them now and in the future.0
- UncategorizedGeneral Page Tier 3BlogYou may know someone who has diabetes. In fact, nearly 34 million children and adults in the U.S. have the disease. But as common as it is, there are plenty of misconceptions about diabetes. Before we break some of those down, let’s look at the difference between type 1 and type 2 diabetes. Your genetics can influence whether you have type 1 diabetes, which happens when the body’s immune system kills the cells that make insulin (the hormone that regulates the amount of glucose, or sugar, in your body.) Type 2 diabetes, on the other hand, happens when the body can’t use the insulin it makes effectively, or it needs too much. Though genetics can also play a role in type 2 diabetes, so do lifestyle factors, such as being overweight and eating foods high in sugar and carbohydrates. Here are the facts about diabetes. Myth #1: You can’t prevent or delay type 2 diabetes. There’s actually a lot you can do, including eating healthy and exercising regularly. Did you know losing about seven percent of your body weight can lower your risk of diabetes by nearly 60 percent? If you’re at risk, I have a simple actual plan for you to follow – start walking five days a week for 30 minutes and watch what you eat. Myth #2: You can eat whatever you want if you take insulin. While insulin will help control your blood sugar levels, it’s not a magic bullet. White breads, pastas, rice – all of these are refined carbs that will require you to take more insulin. They can also cause you to gain weight and make it harder to control your blood sugar. If you are diabetic, limit your carb intake (even healthy carbs such as fruit, yogurt and milk.) Talk to your doctor or nutritionist to learn more. Myth #3: Saying no to carbs will prevent diabetes. Remember that genetics can cause diabetes, as well as other lifestyle factors. Still, limiting carbs will help. While many of us love soda, fruit punch and sweet tea, it’s best to avoid these empty calories if you’re at risk of diabetes. A 12-ounce can of soda has 40 grams of carbs. That’s equal to the amount in 10 teaspoons of sugar. Myth #4: If you use insulin, you failed to manage your blood sugar levels on your own. When you are first diagnosed with type 2 diabetes, you may have been able to manage your blood sugar levels with oral medications. But this is a disease that will affect your body more over time. As you get older, your body will make less insulin and the medications may not be enough. Or, if you start off on insulin because you have high blood sugar, you may be able to be weaned off of it eventually, depending on how your pancreas responds. Bottom line, insulin is just another tool in your toolbox to help you manage your disease. Author By Marisha Newton, MD, endocrinologist at Anne Arundel Medical Center. To reach her practice at AAMG Diabetes and Endocrine Specialists, call 443-481-4600.0
- OrthopedicsGeneral Page Tier 3BlogSpending more time at home comes with its fair share of advantages and disadvantages, and most families are figuring it out as they go. While we’re seeing less injuries from contact sports, injuries from things like starting new, unguided workout regimens and from doing everyday housework are on the rise. Here are four tips to avoid at-home orthopedic injuries while staying active this summer. Ease into new workouts and activities. Your gym may be closed and, if not, you’re trying to decide when to get back to your normal routine. In the meantime, you want to stay active to avoid going stir-crazy. But you don’t have access to the equipment or classes you’re used to. We get it. Take time to adjust to any new workouts and activities you choose to do at home. To help avoid injury, don’t overdo it right away. Get help when learning those new workouts. Maybe you’re ready to start weight-lifting or try your hand at CrossFit. As you begin these new routines, reach out for help. Find a friend or family member who has experience with that workout and can help demonstrate proper form. Or better yet, hire a trainer. Many trainers are now doing virtual sessions and can help guide you while you safely workout at home. Be careful with repetitive workouts. Many people have increased their at-home workouts and have used extra free time to become more physically active. Now is a great time to build good fitness habits, but be careful with repetitive workouts as they can lead to overuse injuries. Running and cycling too often, for instance, can cause stress fractures, shin splints and tendinitis. We recommend switching up your routine to focus on other muscle groups and giving your body proper rest. Don’t forget to warmup and stretch. These things can easily get left out of the routine when you don’t have an instructor guiding you, but you need to do them. Warming up and stretching are two of the most important parts of a workout routine. Warming up not only loosens stiff muscles, but it can also improve performance. And stretching can help boost your flexibility and decrease the muscle tension in your body. Both will reduce your risk of injury. No matter where you’re spending your time this summer, it’s important for your physical and mental health to stay active. But falls, mishaps and orthopedic injuries don’t take a vacation just because we’re at home. Call your doctor if you experience an orthopedic injury. Doctors’ offices are safe, ready and open to care for you. Author Ben Petre, MD, is a sports medicine doctor and surgeon at Anne Arundel Medical Orthopedics. He can be reached at 410-268-8862. For more information visit aamcortho.com.0
- Nutrition, Weight LossGeneral Page Tier 3BlogKnowing what foods are good for you and which foods aren’t good for you can be a challenge. Studies seem to contradict each other, and misinformation is everywhere. To add fuel to the fire, some food companies work hard to disguise their food as a healthy choice, whether it is or not. When it comes to food, don’t be fooled by false health claims. From counseling people on health and nutrition, we’ve found that there are six foods in particular that have managed to gain a reputation as “health” foods, when in fact they often aren’t. Be wary of these six foods that often don’t include the health benefits they claim. Smoothies Drinking fruit that’s been blended into a sweet, liquefied concoction may sound more refreshing than chomping on a whole piece of fruit. The reason why most fruit smoothies are so delicious is because they may contain added sugars in the form of fruit, juice, frozen yogurt, agave, honey or dates. Some recipes add nut butters, seeds and coconut, which pack in a lot of calories for a drink. Make your own healthier smoothie with one serving of fruit (try freezing it for extra creaminess), unsweetened almond milk or low-fat milk, greens, and vanilla extract or cinnamon for natural sweetness. Nutrition or protein bars Most protein bars lining the grocery aisles are glorified candy bars injected with whey or soy protein. Some are upwards of 350 calories with of a lot of fat and sugar, consumed in about three bites. If you’re looking for a high-protein snack, try a glass of low-fat milk or a handful of nuts and dried fruits. Granola Granola has somehow managed to make its mark in the health food industry. But this crunchy cereal is almost always loaded with calories and sugar. One cup of granola can contain a whopping 600 calories. Check the label before you buy and try adding fresh fruit to your granola. The added fiber will fill you up faster. Wraps Wraps look thinner than bread or bagels, but they can actually equate to eating four small slices of bread. Whole wheat or not, ordering your sandwich as a wrap isn’t your best choice, especially for people watching their weight or blood sugars. Spinach wraps are no better. Less than two percent of these wraps are made up of spinach. Gluten-free products Gluten-free diets are meant for people with celiac disease or who have sensitivity to gluten. Most gluten-free foods are higher in calories, lower in nutrients and heavily processed. Veggie and fruit “chips” Banana chips may look like a smart choice, but their calorie count, fat and sugar content is nothing to brag about. And there’s not a lot of veggie in “veggie chips.” There’s no need to swear off any of these foods for good. Lots of foods can fit into a healthy eating plan when you enjoy them in moderation. Just be sure to read labels so you know what you’re eating and aren’t fooled by advertising claims. And remember, the healthiest foods don’t come in packages. Authors By Ann Caldwell and Maureen Shackelford, nutritionists and registered dietitians at Anne Arundel Medical Center. To reach them call 443-481-5555. Originally published Sept. 6, 2016. Last updated Feb. 14, 2020.0
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