- Community, Giving, Patient StoriesGeneral Page Tier 3BlogWhen founding members of the Building Traditions Society (BTS) approached Dr. Dan and Sara Sandel about joining the BTS Board, the young physician and his wife welcomed the invitation. With perfect timing, this request came just as Dan and Sara were discussing a desire to become more involved in the community. “Two of our three children were born at AAMC. Our second child was premature and required a 6-week stay in the NICU (Neonatal Intensive Care Unit),” explains Sara Sandel. “We had a wonderful experience in the NICU and were amazed that such a state of the art facility was this close to home. We are eternally grateful for the care we received there.” Dan and Sara, like 45 other members of BTS, wanted to give back to the hospital that is so vital to their family and friends. They also are excited to work with and get to know a dynamic group of young professionals with similar goals. Dan is a member of the AAMC Medical Staff and a facial plastic and reconstructive surgeon with The Sandel Center of Plastic Surgery in Annapolis. “I am proud finally to be at a point in my career where I can start to give back to my community,” says Dan. “I am equally proud of the work that BTS has done over this first year to raise money for the AAMC pediatrics program. We are just beginning to really make an impact together.” The Building Traditions Society is a membership of couples and individuals under 45 years of age who make a contribution of $1,000 a year to AAMC. For more information please contact Lisa Michelsen at 443-481-4735 or [email protected].0
- Weight LossGeneral Page Tier 3BlogIf you live with type 2 diabetes, especially if you are obese, updated guidelines came out in 2016 calling for weight loss surgery to become a more routine treatment option for your diabetes. This is the first time bariatric surgery is recommended specifically as a diabetes treatment. Before, people considered bariatric surgery as an obesity treatment that only had the extra benefit of helping control diabetes. The recommendations were endorsed by the American Diabetes Association and more than 40 other health groups. And, it makes sense. Type 2 diabetes and obesity can be a deadly combination, and many studies have shown weight loss surgery can drastically improve diabetes. These studies show that most obese diabetics who undergo weight loss surgery see their blood sugar levels dramatically improve. This is something I’ve seen with my patients, too. Some even no longer require medication to maintain normal blood sugar levels. People can control diabetes with diet, exercise, medication or insulin. But those who struggle to control the disease could face heart disease, kidney disease or stroke. Some may risk limb amputation or sight loss. The updated guidelines conclude the surgery should be a regularly considered option for certain patients with diabetes. It’s about better blood sugar control instead of pounds lost. Instead of bariatric surgery, the procedure is called metabolic surgery when performed for diabetes. If you have a body mass index, or BMI, of 40 or greater, weight loss surgery is recommended regardless of your blood sugar level. If you have a BMI of at least 35 and have tried lifestyle changes and medication to control your diabetes with no success, the surgery is also recommended. Weight loss surgery may also offer other benefits for diabetics. The surgery affects hormones, gut bacteria and other substances that may change how the body handles insulin and blood sugar. Medicare often pays for certain types of weight loss surgery for people who are obese with an illness, like diabetes. Although rules vary, some insurance companies cover the surgery, too. Perhaps with these updated guidelines, insurance companies will expand coverage. The surgery is not a cure for diabetes, since some people relapse. However, many people do remain in remission for years. It’s important for those struggling with obesity and diabetes to know weight loss surgery is an important treatment option. To learn more about weight loss surgery, attend a free seminar at Anne Arundel Medical Center. To learn more or register, visit askAAMC.org/WeightLoss. Author By Alex Gandsas, MD, a bariatric surgeon and director of AAMC’s Weight Loss and Metabolic Surgery Program. To reach his practice, call 443-924-2900. Originally published Jan. 30, 2017. Last updated Nov. 28, 2018.0
- Men's Health, Women's Health, Wellness, Patient StoriesGeneral Page Tier 3BlogAnnapolis resident Doug Jones had been a muscular young man, but just as his doctor had predicted, his weight crept up steadily with age leading to complications such as diabetes and high cholesterol. Doug was at high risk for heart a heart attack until weight loss surgery helped him regain control of his health. I went from 160 pounds to 388 pounds, and I was absolutely out of breath. Absolutely tired. I would think how far do I have to walk? Can I take a car to go two blocks? That sort of thing. My feet hurt. My ankles hurt. And then they had a thing on 60 minutes a report on the benefits of weight loss surgery for diabetics and after I saw it, I said, we ought to look into that because it sounds like it’s perfect for me. The day I got out of the hospital I never had another problem with diabetes and every day I would lose an average of two to three pounds. My cholesterol is better than it’s ever been. I guess the best way to say it is: I have 13 grandchildren and before I had this operation, I didn’t know how long I’d be around with them or how much I could enjoy them. Since I’ve had the operation I’ve felt like I cheated because I’ve tried to go on every diet there was. This went so easily that I literally feel like I’m cheating. I feel like a million dollars, and I think I look like I feel. There are no ifs, ands, or buts! If you want to know would I do it again? In a heartbeat. Watch the full video of Doug’s interview on our YouTube Channel.0
- Location363536tel:301-623-43508200 Good Luck Road, Lanham, MD 20706The LHDCMC Behavioral Health Pavilion is in a newly renovated building on our Lanham campus. A brand-new program, the center offers Prince George's County residents access to high-quality mental health and substance use services. The 31,000-square-foot center includes: Outpatient therapy and medication management. Walk-in urgent care for non-life-threatening behavioral health issues is available Monday-Friday, 7:30am-7pm and Saturday 8am-1pm. A partial hospitalization program (a psychiatric day program). A 16-bed inpatient psychiatric unit. Prevention programs and family support services. Because of longstanding behavioral health disparities, Prince George's County residents have had a harder time getting care for mental health and substance abuse issues. This new center aims to change that. Most of the staff and practitioners live right here in the community. We understand the strengths, needs, fears, frustrations, and hopes of people in our community. Plus, having all behavioral health services together allows us to serve more people in one place for various overlapping issues., The LHDCMC Behavioral Health Center is located on the campus of Doctors Community Medical Center, just outside of the Emergency Department. All services are housed in one building. Parking information Patients coming for outpatient or urgent care can park in the garage or parking lot adjacent to the building near the Emergency Department., We offer various levels of care, and each program works differently. Please note: If you are having a mental health crisis, you can dial 988 (or 911). The Emergency Department at LHDCMC provides emergency psychiatric services. Outpatient therapy and medication management We offer office-based therapy services and medication management for adults and adolescents 13 years and older. We are currently scheduling appointments with therapists. Call 301-623-4350 to schedule. Walk-in urgent care for behavioral health We offer walk-in urgent care services for people needing non-emergency, non-life-threatening behavioral health care. This service is unique in the county. Walk-in urgent care for behavioral help is available for adults and children 4 years and older on Monday through Friday, 7:30 am - 7 pm and Saturday 8 am - 1pm. We can evaluate and help connect you to resources (including therapy and medication). Partial hospitalization program This intensive daytime treatment program offers mental health services for adults and teens age 13 and older. Adults attend daily sessions from 9 am until 3:30 pm and return home at night. The adolescent program runs from 8 am to 2:30 pm. The program is halfway between inpatient and outpatient care. It's designed to help those moving from 24/7 inpatient care or those who need to stabilize a condition to prevent a hospital stay. LHDCMC Psychiatric Day Hospital Lanham Referral Form A referral is needed before enrollment, using this referral form . Inpatient behavioral health The inpatient mental health unit is an acute hospital. It provides short-term psychiatric treatment for people 18 and older who meet admission criteria. Patients are admitted voluntarily and involuntarily based on psychiatric assessment and referral from a hospital's emergency department. The inpatient behavioral health program is not an emergency service, and we cannot receive walk-in patients., Amenities & Services We keep both your body and brain nourished while you're here. We take care of as many details as possible so you can focus on healing. Meals for inpatients and day program We provide three meals a day, plus snacks, for inpatients. We provide lunch and snacks for those who come to the day program. Educational support For adolescents in our partial hospitalization program, we offer support with schoolwork, to help students keep up with their studies during treatment. Spiritual care Inpatients can have visits from a spiritual leader associated with their faith. What to expect when visiting for outpatient therapy or medication management Patients coming for office-based therapy will first schedule an appointment with a therapist. We can help direct you to the right provider based on the mental health issues you're experiencing. We have behavioral health providers who can prescribe and manage medication. Therapists see patients from 7:30 am to 6 pm. We have both in-office and telemedicine appointments available. What to expect when you come for walk-in urgent care Our front desk care team will greet patients and assist with registration and completion of a behavioral health screening. We will get health vitals and any additional health care information needed for the visit. Patients will receive a mental health evaluation by a Mental Health Clinician or Psychiatric Nurse Practitioner based on the patients' needs. Patients in crisis (danger to themselves or others) or medically unstable will be referred to the emergency department. We can also help with medication management for people who currently don't have a provider or whose provider is temporarily unavailable. Patients needing ongoing services will be referred to the Lanham Behavioral Health Clinic or a community partner based on need. What to expect if you're attending the partial hospitalization program The psychiatric day program features many of the same types of therapy as the inpatient program, but patients go home at night. If you've been discharged from the inpatient unit, it's an excellent step-down approach. Adults attend daily sessions from 9 am until 3:30 pm and return home at night. Adolescents attend daily sessions from 8 am to 2:30 pm and return home after. We use many of the same therapeutic approaches as experienced in psychiatric inpatient units. Patients discharged from our inpatient unit can continue with their personal behavioral health work. We create a tailored treatment plan for each person. How long they stay depends on their unique needs. Whenever possible, we invite family members and support systems to take part in the treatment and healing process., Our admission processes A phone call is all we require to start the treatment process. While this program is for those trying to overcome substance use disorders, we also treat related mental health needs for patients in the residential program. Treatment options and length of stay depend on each person's unique needs and preferences. We do everything we can to help you or your loved one get treatment as quickly as possible. Here's a step-by-step guide to joining one of our treatment programs. Step 1: Schedule an intake assessment. Call 301-623-4350. Please be ready to give insurance information, substance use history, a list of current medications, and medical/mental health history. The patient should be present for the call to make a speedy intake possible. Step 2: Prepare at home. We aim to admit people into the addiction program on the same day as their assessment. We suggest bringing one carry-on-sized bag of clothing and necessities to the appointment, as well as a completed pre-registration form. (See below for what to bring with you.) Excess belongings will be safely stored until discharge. Step 3: Come in for your intake assessment. Your assessment with a nurse and a health counselor will last about two hours. The counselor will also meet with your family if they are with you. Please arrive 15 minutes before your scheduled appointment time to prepare. What to bring Be sure to come to your assessment prepared to stay, as we enroll most people directly after. Please know we do need to search your bags when you arrive and before you receive them once admitted. DO bring: Overnight bag with five to seven changes of comfortable clothing. Pair of sneakers. All prescription medications. Clear gel deodorant/antiperspirant in a clear container. We will provide you with all other toiletries (i.e., shampoo, conditioner, lotion, and razors). Insurance card and photo ID. Stamps. Hand-written phone numbers of important contacts. We don't allow cell phones. Do NOT bring: Towels, pillows, and blankets. Your own toiletries (i.e., aerosol cans, razors, etc.). We will provide all the toiletries you need. Electronics—including tablets, laptops, and cell phones. Any valuables for safekeeping. What to expect during your inpatient stay Once you're enrolled, you'll receive a tour of the unit, go to orientation, and meet with your counselor. We work with you to develop your custom treatment plan, which will include the following: Nursing visits as needed Medication oversight (bring all medications with you) Individual case management and counseling Group counseling Addiction and recovery education 12-step group meetings Family education Spirituality groups Aftercare planning Nutrition education The typical day Each day, you'll receive a schedule of your activities for the day. The typical schedule includes: Breakfast Two morning groups Lunch Two to three afternoon groups Dinner Two to three evening groups Evening free time for reading, arts and crafts, games, movies, and more Our counselors and treatment assistants lead group time and may separate groups by different demographics throughout the day to increase the quality of your individualized recovery.0
- Location16088326tel:(301) 623-43528200 Good Luck Rd, Lanham, MD 20706Walk-in urgent care for behavioral health We offer walk-in urgent care services for people needing non-emergency, non-life-threatening behavioral health care. This service is unique in the county. We can evaluate and help adults and children 4 years and older, connecting you or your family to resources including therapy and medication., Our front desk care team will greet patients and assist with registration and completion of a behavioral health screening. We will get health vitals and any additional health care information needed for the visit. Patients will receive a mental health evaluation by a Mental Health Clinician or Psychiatric Nurse Practitioner based on the patients' needs. Patients in crisis (danger to themselves or others) or medically unstable will be referred to the emergency department. We can also help with medication management for people who currently don't have a provider or whose provider is temporarily unavailable. Patients needing ongoing services will be referred to the Lanham Behavioral Health Clinic or a community partner based on need.0
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