- Cancer CareGeneral Page Tier 3BlogMay is National Cancer Research Month, and clinical trials are an essential part of cancer research. But what are clinical trials and how will you know if one is right for you? Clinical trials are research studies that test new therapies to learn about their effects. Many medications we have today, such as chemotherapy and vaccines, would not exist without clinical trials. At Luminis Health, doctors will offer eligible cancer patients the option of participating in a clinical trial. If a patient is interested, they will meet with a clinical research nurse or coordinator to review the purpose of the study, schedule of treatments, and learn about potential risks and benefits. Here are a few questions you should ask before agreeing to take part in a trial: What are the risks and benefits of the trial, and how do they compare to standard treatment? How will the doctor know if the treatment is working? What is the purpose of the trial? How could the trial affect my daily life? What happens if I decide to leave the trial? Is there someone I can talk to who has been in the trial? Your doctor and the research team can answer these questions and help you make a decision. If you choose to enroll, the doctor will closely monitor your treatment throughout the trial. If you change your mind about the trial, you can leave at any time and continue to get the standard care available. Participating in a clinical trial can benefit you because it could mean access to new therapies that aren’t widely available yet. It also benefits the community because the research will help others in the future. “The idea that my participation in the trial could contribute to future improvements in breast cancer treatment was an important consideration to me,” says Maria Ulrich, a Luminis Health patient who recently participated in a trial. “Undergoing cancer treatment is a very difficult experience and any improvement in lessening its hard effects is a very worthwhile goal.” Luminis Health has ongoing clinical trials for breast, prostate, lung, ovarian, endometrial and hematologic cancers. Eligibility depends on many factors, such as: Age Race Gender Stage of cancer History of treatments Medical history If you are a cancer patient and have interest in participating in a clinical trial, talk to your doctor. Your provider can find out which ones would be safe for you and potentially beneficial, and will work with the research team to coordinate your care. There is never any pressure to join. If you are interested in participating in clinical trials but you don’t have cancer, there are many other clinical trials available. In fact, having data from healthy volunteers is a critical part of creating a comparison study. To join the Clinical Research Volunteer Program, please visit the National Institutes of Health website. To learn more, please visit Luminis.Health/CancerCare or call 443-481-1320. Authors Liz Egan is a Clinical Research Nurse at Luminis Health Anne Arundel Medical Center.
- Behavioral HealthGeneral Page Tier 3BlogLife can be tough. There are the daily stresses, unexpected events and relentless responsibilities that can all be challenging. At times, we can feel overwhelmed and may need a little extra support. It may surprise you to hear one in five experience a diagnosed mental health condition each year. How can you help a loved one, friend, co-worker or family member who may be going through a hard time? Since May is Mental Health Awareness Month, let’s give you a mental health first-aid kit of sorts. Recognizing the Signs One way to provide support is to acknowledge when someone is going through a difficult time. Here are some common signs of mental health challenges: Excessive worrying or fear Feeling extremely sad or low Confused thinking or problems concentrating and learning Severe mood changes, including uncontrollable “highs” Persistent or strong feelings of irritability or anger Avoiding friends and social activities Changes in sleeping habits or feeling tired and low energy Changes in eating habits such as increased hunger or lack of appetite Overuse of alcohol or drugs Vague and ongoing “aches and pains” without an obvious cause Inability to carry out daily activities or handle daily problems and stress How to Approach Difficult Conversations If you suspect that a friend or loved one might be going through a rough patch, trust your gut. Speak to them one-on-one. Start by saying how much you care, followed by your observations. You might say, “I care about you, and I’ve noticed you haven’t been yourself lately. You seem more frustrated than you’ve been in a while and I’m wondering how you’re doing.” Tell the person you understand and it’s normal to ask for help. If it’s a child or teenager, ask them who you should talk to because you should never handle someone else’s mental health crisis on your own. If granted permission, enlist help from someone they trust, such as a parent, caregivers, older siblings, other relatives or a teacher, even a coach. Is Your Loved One in Danger? Some behaviors may indicate that a person is at immediate risk for suicide. Here are some warning signs: Talking about wanting to die or to kill oneself Looking for a way to kill oneself, such as searching online or getting a gun Talking about feeling hopeless or having no reason to live If someone you care about shows these behaviors, you should call or text 988 right away or call a mental health professional. The 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline provides free, confidential, 24/7 support for anyone who is thinking about suicide, concerned about a loved one or needing emotional support. Helpful Resources The National Alliance of Mental Illness is a nationwide grassroots organization that offers support for those with mental illness and for their friends and loved ones. They have a number of helpful support groups, including some in Prince George’s County. Maryland Coalition of Families supports families who have loved ones with behavioral health conditions. In addition, Luminis Health offers Pathways Family Wellness Workshop, a program that brings together family members (such as parents, siblings, aunts, uncles, or anyone else who is considered family) for an educational session, group therapy and personal growth. The program equips family members with communication skills, relapse prevention strategies and coping mechanisms for ongoing recovery. To register for an upcoming workshop, call 443-481-5449. Take Care of Yourself, Too If someone you are close to is working through mental health challenges, both you and the person in crisis are not alone. Reach out for support for yourself if you need it. Remember that it’s important to maintain boundaries between someone else’s experience and your own. You can empathize with what someone else is going through without owning responsibility for their experience.
- News & Press ReleasesGeneral Page Tier 3BlogLuminis Health Anne Arundel Medical Center in Annapolis and Luminis Health Doctors Community Medical Center in Lanham have received high marks by Leapfrog Hospital Safety Grade for providing patients with high-quality, safe care. Luminis Health Anne Arundel Medical Center (LHAAMC) received an “A” Leapfrog Hospital Safety Grade for spring 2023. LHAAMC has earned “Straight A’s” for every grading cycle since 2018, and according to Leapfrog, is the only hospital in Maryland to earn this prestigious distinction. “It is an enormous accomplishment for our hospital to be consistently recognized nationally for providing safe and reliable care to our communities,” said Sherry Perkins, president of LHAAMC. “Congratulations to our team of caregivers and volunteers for your unwavering pursuit of excellence to keep patients safe from infections, injuries and medical errors.” Luminis Health Doctors Community Medical Center (LHDCMC) earned a “B” Leapfrog Hospital Safety Grade for spring 2023. “Since 2019, Luminis Health has made significant investments at our Lanham campus to improve the health of our community,” said Deneen Richmond, president of LHDCMC. “With the opening of our new Behavioral Health Pavilion, the expansion of surgical services and our plans to add women’s and children’s healthcare services in the coming years, I am proud of our team for working each day to break down barriers to health and deliver more high-quality care to all Prince Georgians and our neighbors throughout the region.” Luminis Health is committed to using best practices that ensure quality, safety and accountability. Patient safety is a top priority and is part of the overall culture as reflected through safety meetings, rounds, learning opportunities for clinical staff and hearing directly from patients. We work closely with the health system’s Patient Family Advisors, made up of staff and community members, who share concerns and possible solutions. The Leapfrog Group is an independent national watchdog organization with a 10-year history of assigning letter grades to general hospitals throughout the United States, based on a hospital’s ability to prevent medical errors and harm to patients. The grading system is peer-reviewed, full transparent, and free to the public. Hospital Safety Grade results are based on more than 30 national performance measures and are updated each fall and spring.
- Patient StoriesGeneral Page Tier 3BlogRebecca “Becky” Benner has always been incredibly active. An avid gardener, she loves to dig, load up wheelbarrows and get her hands dirty. She enjoys cooking and baking too. Her life was turned upside down when she was diagnosed with left tonsillar cancer in December 2021. The cancer had metastasized to her cervical lymph nodes. Before starting treatment, Becky’s oncologist referred her to Debra Piccirillo, speech language pathologist (SLP) at Luminis Health Physical Therapy in Annapolis. Debra assessed her swallowing skills and began Becky’s swallowing therapy. Prior to and throughout her radiation treatments, Becky practiced exercises to help to improve her ability to swallow. This work also protected her airway throughout the radiation treatments. Radiation may have long-term effects on swallowing abilities, so these exercises became a necessary daily routine indefinitely. Her care team performed a baseline modified barium swallow (MBS) study, an X-ray procedure performed that provides a look at the anatomic structures in the head and neck. This is essential to make sure these areas are working properly while chewing, drinking, and swallowing, and can help a care team make additional suggestions to keep swallowing safe. Debra quickly realized the need to refer her to physical therapy (PT) to address the impact of swelling on Becky’s health and swallowing skills. Becky describes her chemotherapy and radiation treatments as her “Big Adventure.” When she began treatment, she saw a sharp decline in her energy, balance and general strength. She went from being an active walker to needing support while moving around her house. Cancer-related fatigue and decline in strength and balance are real consequences of cancer treatment, especially in older adults who have a smaller reserve due to other medical diagnoses. Becky was extremely motivated to get back to her prior level of physical function. With physical therapy, she started making gradual progress. Her family provided excellent support, taking turns bringing her to therapy and encouraging her to practice exercises and strategies at home. At the beginning of May 2022, she needed a walker to walk and was able to stand on one leg for just a second. Her physical therapist, Runzun Shetye, provided walking and standing exercises to help with her mobility, as well as introducing lymphedema-reducing strategies. By December 2022, she was able to walk in her garden without any assistance, push a wheelbarrow filled with garden and yard trimmings, and was able to stand on one leg for 60 seconds! Becky also experienced significant pain and changes in her swallowing function, also known as dysphagia, requiring her to alter her diet to foods that were easier to manage. She found swallowing to require more effort, compared to pre-radiation where eating and drinking were automatic. She worked with an oncology dietician who assisted with optimal intake and food choices which helped her. Becky continues to have some difficulty with eating certain types of meats, pastas and breads and still does her numerous swallowing and jaw exercises. Her doctors and therapists continue to collaborate to provide the best care for her. Becky is building her physical endurance every day and has returned to gardening at her home and in the community and to volunteer work in the community. Becky recaps her “Big Adventure,” “I’ve really appreciated the exercises for my mouth and for balance and equilibrium. Debra and Runzun answered my questions, gently encouraged new exercises or resources to aid or speed recovery, accepted my occasional lack of progress, and, most importantly, allowed me to vent!”
- PediatricsGeneral Page Tier 3BlogYou are what you eat. So why is it so hard for many of us to eat our fruits and vegetables? Chew on this, a recent Centers for Disease Control and Prevention report reveals that—in many states—more than half of children between the ages of one and five do not eat a single vegetable on a daily basis. Even more shocking, only about a third of young kids eat fruit daily. It is alarming because both fruits and vegetables provide a wide variety of vitamins and minerals that are essential for optimal health, energy production and brain power. Recommended Daily Serving According to Maureen Shackelford, a nutritionist and registered dietitian at Luminis Health, most children should get a daily serving of one or two cups of vegetables. Since fruits offer similar nutritional and fiber content as vegetables, children should eat one to two cups of fruit each day. For each meal, more than half your plate should be full of fruits and vegetables, with the other half made up of one-quarter protein and one-quarter starch. In other words, cut back on the potatoes. Encouraging Veggie Intake As we know, most children don’t like to eat their vegetables. But Shackelford says presentation is key because kids are more likely to eat them when they look appealing. Consider pairing raw veggies with yogurt dip, peanut butter or hummus. You can also mix veggies into favorite meals like enchiladas, pizza, tacos, spaghetti sauce, pasta salads or omelets. Mixing vegetables with starches and protein makes the meal more appetizing and kids will eat healthier without even knowing it. Take it one step further and make funny faces with the foods on their plate or let your children choose their veggie toppings for dishes like pizza and tacos. In fact, involving children in the purchasing and preparing of vegetables—and perhaps even in planting a garden—allows them to be included in the process and to develop more of an interest in the vegetables they are eating. Try using multi-compartment bento boxes for your child’s lunches, filling one or more compartments with vegetables. Parents’ Own Consumption of Vegetables Sets an Example You set the example by setting the table. Kids will follow your lead, so if parents consume plenty of vegetables each day, your youngsters will too, and it should begin at an early age. Children have been shown to eat more vegetables when they have: Adults modeling the behavior Readily available veggies Rules about vegetable intake, with parents as the gatekeepers Shared family meals While fresh is always best, frozen or canned vegetables can be an affordable option while still offering important nutrients. But it’s important to check the label and avoid varieties with added sugars or sodium. Available Resources Eating vegetables should be fun. You can visit sites like myplate.gov for activities, games, apps and more. In addition, EatRight.org offers creative ideas for adding vegetables into each meal, along with easy-to-prepare recipes that are developed by registered dietitians. And this may be hard to swallow, but limit or stay away altogether from fast food. Author Maureen Shackelford is a nutritionist and registered dietitian at Luminis Health with more than 33 years of experience.
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