Infectious Disease
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If COVID’s Effects Linger, We’re Here to Help
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More than a year and a half after going into lockdown, we’re all anxious to put COVID-19 in our rearview mirror. But if you had coronavirus, and continue to experience its after-effects, you know first-hand that life is far from “back to normal.”
With the goal of helping you manage lingering symptoms, the team at Luminis Health has created a COVID Recovery Service. Here, you’ll find a team approach to helping our community recover from COVID-19.
When symptoms persist
COVID-19 is a new illness. As a result, there’s a lot we’re still learning about it.
One thing that we’ve learned is that not everyone gets over the virus in the same way. While some people seem to recover quickly, others continue to have problems weeks or months after they’re diagnosed.
If you have had COVID-19 and are still suffering from any of the following symptoms, our providers can help.
Dizziness on standing
Shortness of breath
Anxiety/depression
Fatigue
Swallowing issues
Difficulty with memory
Voice dysfunction
Weakness
These symptoms may be bothersome and frustrating. They can also make everyday living challenging.
At Luminis Health, our COVID Recovery Service includes a team of providers from different specialties assisting patients in their recovery after a COVID-19 infection. Our team offers personalized care including:
Telehealth visits with our providers, including a full medical evaluation.
In-person visits with our lung specialists, including a physical and cognitive evaluation by a physical therapist.
Referrals to additional specialties to allow for timely management of symptoms, including cardiology and neurology.
Outpatient rehabilitation such as physical therapy and occupational therapy:
Occupational therapy can help if you’re having trouble with activities of daily living, like driving. It can also help with everyday tasks as some find their symptoms worsen after mental activity as well as physical activity.
Our physical therapists will assess your strength, balance and physical abilities. We will design a program to help you get stronger and make it easier for you to do things you want and need to do. As we work with you, we track your blood oxygen levels and symptoms to make sure you stay safe.
Speech therapy can help with voice changes, swallowing or memory issues that may occur. Our programs assists with organizing and processing your thoughts along with projecting your voice so you can communicate effectively with others.
It’s okay to reach out for help
If you’re struggling after a COVID diagnosis, we’re here for you. While Post-COVID symptoms aren’t uncommon, you don’t have to live with them.
Contact the COVID Recovery Service team for more information or to schedule an appointment at 443-951-4286.
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News & Press Releases
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Luminis Health Doctors Community Medical Center Celebrates 50 Years with Events Focused on Reducing Maternal and Infant Mortality
Blog
Lanham, MD—Luminis Health Doctors Community Medical Center (LHDCMC) proudly marks its 50th anniversary, celebrating five decades of exceptional care and service to Prince George’s County. As part of this milestone, LHDCMC is hosting special events aimed at addressing maternal health disparities and supporting expectant and new mothers in the community.
On Saturday, April 5, LHDCMC will host its 50th Anniversary Golden Gala, an evening of celebration and tribute to the hospital’s legacy of providing high-quality care since 1975. The event will bring together healthcare leaders, community advocates, and supporters to honor the hospital’s legacy while raising funds to expand services, advance health equity, and eliminate disparities.
Following the gala, Luminis Health’s Community Improvement Department will hold a Community Baby Shower on Saturday, April 12, from 12 pm to 4 pm, on the LHDCMC campus. This free event will provide essential resources, education, and support for expectant and new mothers in Prince George’s County, featuring:
Expert-led panel discussions on gestational diabetes, preeclampsia, postpartum depression, nutrition during and after pregnancy, and lactation
Local vendors offering baby essentials and services
Diaper and baby essential giveaways
“We want mothers and loved ones to feel empowered about their health during pregnancy,” said Temi Oshiyoye, Luminis Health’s director of Community Health Improvement. “With 8 out of 10 moms having to leave Prince George’s County to give birth, we want them to know that support and resources are available close to home, before, during, and after pregnancy.”
As part of its on-going commitment to maternal health, Luminis Health has opened an Ob-Gyn clinic in Greenbelt and launched CenteringPregnancy®, a nationally recognized program that offers group sessions for expectant mothers and personalized consultations with trusted Ob-Gyns and midwives.
LHDCMC is finalizing design plans to add inpatient obstetric services, labor, delivery, and postpartum care with rooms designed for a family-centered birth experience. These initiatives will transform healthcare in Prince George’s County and play a crucial role in eliminating maternal and infant mortality, an ambitious goal of Vision 2030, the health system’s 10-year strategic plan.
“Prince George’s County has a maternal mortality rate that is twice the national average, and this is simply unacceptable,” said Deneen Richmond, president of Luminis Health Doctors Community Medical Center. “Luminis Health is taking bold steps to address these disparities by expanding access to quality prenatal and postnatal care, educating families, and advocating for systemic change. These events are not just celebrations of our past but reaffirmations of our commitment to a healthier future for mothers and babies in the communities we serve.”
Anticipated to open in 2028, the new state-of-the-art women’s health center on the hospital’s Lanham campus is expected to welcome approximately 2,000 babies each year once fully operational.
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Women's Health
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It’s time we call domestic violence by its name
Blog
In 2017, many of us anxiously followed headlines and reports on social media for news of missing Howard County teacher Laura Wallen, only to be saddened at the news of her death. While the public waited and hoped for Laura Wallen’s safe return home, Prince George’s County resident Andrea Grinage was attacked in her apartment and set on fire.
What did these women have in common? They were both pregnant and victims of intimate partner violence — or domestic violence.
Although these and similar stories frequently report the fact that the suspect is a current or former partner, there is all too often no mention of domestic violence. This very subtle omission is an indication of continued misconceptions about what domestic violence is and who is most at risk.
The fact is, over half of all female homicides are in relation to domestic violence. Equally disturbing, as many as 300,000 pregnant women experience some form of domestic violence each year. Undoubtedly, the most dangerous time for women in abusive relationships is when they are attempting to leave an abusive partner and during or just after pregnancy. As in the case of Andrea Grinage and Laura Wallen, these frightening facts hold true.
READ MORE: When words hurt: Another kind of domestic violence
The media’s omission of domestic violence, to not call it out by name, illustrates the stigma and misconceptions that still surround this issue. Chances are, if you are a woman and have not experienced domestic violence yourself, you know someone (a sister, a mother, a co-worker, a neighbor) who has and you have seen the signs.
Domestic violence is a pattern of coercive behavior used by one person to gain power and control over another, usually a current or former intimate partner. Abuse can include physical abuse, verbal abuse and threats, sexual abuse, emotional abuse, isolation, stalking, coercive or controlling behavior and financial abuse.
This type of violence does not discriminate. It touches women in all walks of life. It transcends race and socioeconomic status.
Support of family and friends can often be vital to those impacted by domestic violence by diminishing the effects of isolation and feelings of hopelessness. Advocates trained in the dynamics of domestic violence can assist victims by screening and assessing risk, documenting injuries, creating safety plans, providing immediate crisis intervention, and referrals to professional counselors, safe shelter, and legal resources.
Unfortunately, the stories of so many women like Laura Wallen and Andrea Grinage reach our headlines when they result in tragedy. And even so, reports too often fail to mention domestic violence. It’s time this public health problem is called by its name, domestic violence.
Author
Amy J.N. Bosworth, Psy.D., is an abuse/domestic violence specialist at Anne Arundel Medical Center. Her email is [email protected].
Originally published Oct. 1, 2017. Last updated Aug. 13, 2025.
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News & Press Releases, Women's Health
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Luminis Health Doctors Community Medical Center Receives Approval from the State to Add Obstetrics Services to Serve Prince George’s County Residents
Blog
Today, Luminis Health Doctors Community Medical Center (LHDCMC) received approval from the Maryland Health Care Commission to add inpatient obstetrics services to our comprehensive women’s health programs. This approval is a monumental stride forward in addressing critical health disparities in Prince George’s County, where 8 out of 10 women leave the county to deliver their babies due to a lack of obstetrical and other healthcare services.
In 2024, LHDCMC will embark on a transformative journey of expansion that will unfold over the next several years. At the heart of this growth is the construction of a new patient care pavilion, designed to elevate the standard of healthcare in our community.
A Family-Centered Approach
Within the new pavilion will be a dedicated family birth center. This center will offer the new inpatient obstetrics services, covering everything from labor and delivery to postpartum care. We understand the importance of providing essential care close to home, giving women the option to welcome their babies right here in their own community.
The family birth center is expected to open in 2028, and once fully operational, 2,000 babies are expected to be delivered each year. It will feature:
Private rooms for labor and delivery and post-delivery suites
Dedicated C-Section operating rooms
A Level II Special Care Nursery
Access to family planning, lactation, mental health and other maternal care support
Comprehensive Surgical Care
The new pavilion will also house state-of-the-art operating rooms for surgical procedures including gynecologic surgery, breast surgery, bariatric surgery and complex general surgery. Our commitment to comprehensive healthcare means that we’ll be able to provide advanced services right here in Prince George’s County.
Campus Enhancements for a Better Experience
In addition, the expansion will provide improved campus access, additional parking, and enhanced safety and security. There will also be a redesigned front entrance and lobby, new pharmacy, cafeteria and additional visitor facing services.
As we approach the 50th anniversary of LHDCMC, these initiatives mark a significant leap forward in realizing our mission of enriching the health of the people and communities we serve. Since the inception of Luminis Health, we have pledged to elevate the standard of healthcare in Prince George’s County, and with your ongoing support, we are making these improvements possible.
Stay tuned for more updates as we progress on this journey toward a brighter future.
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Orthopedics
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4 ways to prevent low back pain
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Low back pain is one of the most common ailments in the United States. About 80 percent of people have at least one episode of low back pain during their lifetime. Factors that increase the risk of developing low back pain include smoking, obesity, older age, sedentary work, a stressful job, job dissatisfaction and psychological factors such as anxiety or depression. Physically strenuous work also contributes to low back pain.
Most people with back pain have nonspecific back pain. Such people usually improve in a few weeks with conservative care. Less than one percent of people have serious causes, such as cancer or infection and less than 10 percent have less serious causes like fracture, pinched nerve, or narrowing of the spinal cord.
Therefore, it’s important to see your primary care physician first, before seeking specialist care. Most of the time, a focused history and physical examination are enough to make a diagnosis of back pain.
It is imperative to prevent back pain from developing in the first place. People can do a number of things to prevent back pain.
1. Exercise and stay active
The most important thing you can do is exercise routinely and stay active. Regular exercise improves cardiovascular fitness and can be combined with specific exercises to strengthen the muscles of the hips and back. The abdominal muscles are particularly important in supporting the lower back and preventing back pain. Exercises can be as simple as walking every day. And other activities like Pilates, Yoga and aerobic exercises are also very helpful in preventing back pain.
2. Avoid high-impact activities
It is important to avoid activities that involve repetitive bending or twisting and high-impact activities that increase stress in the spine.
3. Bend and lift correctly
Bending and lifting correctly is also important. People with low back pain should learn the right way to bend and lift. For example, lift with the knees bent and the abdominal muscles tightened. This way you avoid straining the weaker muscles in the lower back.
4. Take a break
People who sit or stand for long periods should change positions often and use a chair with appropriate support for the back. Readjust your office chair several times throughout the day to avoid sitting in the same position. Taking brief but frequent breaks to walk around will also prevent pain due to prolonged sitting or standing. People who stand in place for long periods can try placing a block of wood on the floor, stepping up and down every few minutes.
Author
Dr. Meetu Agrawal is a primary care physician with Anne Arundel Medical Group (AAMG) Largo Primary Care. To reach her practice, call 301-925-7610.
Originally published Dec. 19, 2016. Last updated Dec. 16, 2019.
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