- NeurosurgeryGeneral Page Tier 3BlogWhen most people think of a “bleed,” they think of bleeding visibly from the body—a cut or abrasion, for example, where a wound is deep enough to release blood onto a person’s skin. A brain bleed, however, is different. It’s an intracranial hemorrhage—a severe bleed inside the skull—which is not observable externally. Intracranial hemorrhages require treatment by a neurologist or neurosurgeon; some strokes can be hemorrhagic. Are You at Risk? The most common risk factors for a brain bleed include: Head trauma Bleeding disorders (a group of conditions that occur when the blood cannot clot properly) Antiplatelet agents such as aspirin that prevent blood clots from developing Anticoagulants such as Coumadin, Xarelto, or Eliquis Uncontrolled high blood pressure or diabetes Smoking or drinking heavily, or using illegal drugs Atherosclerosis (fatty deposits in arteries) Vascular malformations (abnormalities in blood vessels or blood vessel walls) Aneurysm (a type of vascular malformation) Types of Brain Bleeds Bleeding can occur in the brain, or between the brain and the skull. Each type can have a variety of causes and treatments. Bleeds are named based on where they occur. For example, the following are four types of intracranial hemorrhages that are defined by location and cause: Intraparenchymal, or within the brain. This can be caused by a hemorrhagic stroke, when a weakened blood vessel within the brain ruptures and bleeds into the surrounding areas. It can also be caused trauma or injury, vascular malformation or a tumor. Subdural, which is inside the dura but outside the brain. The dura is comprised of two layers of tough tissue that cover and protect the brain and spinal cord. This bleed is usually caused by trauma. Epidural, which is inside the skull but outside the dura. This type of hemorrhage is also mostly the result of trauma. Subarachnoid, which is on the surface of the brain. This type of hemorrhage is cause by trauma or an aneurysm. Symptoms of a Brain Bleed A person experiencing a brain bleed will usually know that something is wrong. Symptoms include: Sudden and severe headache Seizure Loss of balance, coordination, and motor or movement skills—even loss of consciousness Extreme tiredness Weakness in a limb, often on just one side Loss of vision and light sensitivity Loss of normal taste sensations Nausea and vomiting Stiff neck Difficulty breathing Abnormal heart rate IMPORTANT: Persons experiencing the symptoms of a brain bleed should immediately go to an emergency room to maximize chances for survival and recovery. What Can Be Done for a Brain Bleed Depending upon the location, size, cause and severity of a brain bleed, surgery may be required to help reduce swelling and pressure, remove a blood clot or tumor, stop further bleeding or repair malformed blood vessels. Small brain bleeds may not require surgery; patients can work to prevent another occurrence by discussing how to mitigate risk factors with their physician. Swelling or tumors are usually controlled with intravenous steroids. Anti-epilepsy drugs may be prescribed to help prevent seizures. Other medications may be needed to control blood pressure or other risks factors. Those who have been prescribed blood-thinning medications may need to stop taking them during recovery. What to Expect While Recovering From a Brain Bleed A brain bleed is a serious medical event. There are many factors that contribute to a successful brain bleed recovery, and no two patients are the same. Age, genetic predisposition to certain conditions and general health can all affect the speed of recovery, which can be as short as a few days or as long as several months. Many patients will need rehabilitation, which may be lengthy; unfortunately, not all brain injuries can be reversed. Again, the speed with which a person seeks treatment is critical to recovery time. A patient’s recovery team may include not only a neurologist and neurosurgeon, but also rehabilitation specialists and physical, occupational or speech and language therapists. Those in recovery may feel very tired but also have trouble sleeping. Headaches, “odd” bodily sensations and changes in taste, smell or vision are other symptoms that can occur during recovery. There will be good days and bad during the recovery process. Perseverance and a positive mental outlook are two important components that can make the likelihood of a full recovery much more possible. Author Yu-Hung Kuo, MD, PhD, is the Luminis Health Chief of Neurosurgery. Dr. Kuo is an experienced neurosurgeon who specializes in trauma and the treatment of oncologic lesions affecting the nervous system, including tumors of the brain and pituitary gland.
- News & Press ReleasesGeneral Page Tier 3BlogHealthcare should be refreshingly easy. At Luminis Health Doctors Community Medical Center (LHDCMC), we are committed to building a brighter, healthier future for our community. We accomplished a lot in 2022, and we are on a mission to do more in 2023. The Luminis Health system is determined to break down barriers of health and deliver more high-quality, equitable health care in Prince George’s County and throughout the State of Maryland. Three years ago, Doctors Community Hospital joined with Anne Arundel Health System to better meet the needs of patients, grow in a sustainable way, and provide greater access to care—closer to home. By forming Luminis Health, we are making major investments in our community and building upon our nearly 50-year legacy in Lanham. One way to accomplish this is to address the unmet needs in the region. The pandemic showed us all the need for behavioral health services. With the help of a $20 million grant from Prince George’s County and County Executive Angela Alsobrooks, we opened a new behavioral health pavilion on the campus of LHDCMC. We’ve already treated approximately 150 patients in our outpatient mental health and urgent walk-in clinics, as well as our psychiatric day hospital. A new adult inpatient psychiatric unit and residential substance use program will open in early 2023. We have also recognized there is a critical need for additional women’s health services in Prince George’s County, resulting in LHDCMC now offering a variety of minimally-invasive treatments, including fibroids and gynecologic cancers. The health system has also expanded surgical services to include general abdominal, bariatric, and bladder surgeries. In addition, Luminis Health is targeting chronic diseases like diabetes, from a preventive and primary care perspective. Our Community Health Team hosts weekly classes in Riverdale and College Park to help residents eat better and improve their sugar levels, commonly known as A1C. We are also committed to providing top-notch care for your children. Thanks to an ongoing partnership with Children’s National Hospital, we can treat pediatric patients in our emergency department. And, Luminis Health recently launched a new web platform that not only includes a redesigned website, but easy, personalized online scheduling for in-person and telehealth visits. While there is much to celebrate, we can’t overlook the on-going impact of the pandemic on the community and our workforce. The medical staff at LHDCMC has been on the front lines battling this virus for nearly three years. At times, it has been exhausting and emotionally overwhelming. The COVID-19 vaccine is our best shot to transition from a pandemic to an endemic. That’s why Luminis Health led the way by administering approximately 125,000 COVID-19 vaccines throughout our communities. We couldn’t do it without the help of community partnerships such as Reid Temple A.M.E. Church, First United Methodist Church of Hyattsville, the City of Hyattsville, Prince George’s Community College, the Prince George’s County Health Department, and many more. In 2023, Luminis Health has plans to ignite a new era of health care. We are planning to submit a Certificate of Need to bring obstetrics services to our Lanham campus. More than 80 percent of babies are delivered outside of Prince George’s County. By bringing these services closer to home, we can eliminate maternal and infant mortality, which is one of the bold goals of our Strategic Plan called Vision 2030. Future investments include building a women’s health pavilion, adding more parking, and expanding clinical support services such as our pharmacy and lab. While our name may have changed and our campus may expand over time, our commitment to providing high-quality, comprehensive, equitable and compassionate care will never change. It is an honor to live in Prince George’s County and serve as president of Luminis Health Doctors Community Medical Center. We are respectful of our legacy, and confident about our future. You can expect more progress next year and beyond as we fulfill our mission to enhance the health of the people and communities we serve. Authors Deneen Richmond is president of Luminis Health Doctors Community Medical Center
- Behavioral HealthGeneral Page Tier 3BlogFor many of us, the holidays are the most wonderful time of the year. But for others, it can be the most challenging time of the year. The holidays can invoke memories of pain, disappointment or loss. Fortunately, there are coping mechanisms that can help make the holidays more bearable. Dealing with Loss The loss of a loved one can feel especially raw during the holidays. It’s healthy to allow yourself to enjoy fond memories if you don’t find the remembrance too emotionally troubling. If that’s the case, give yourself some time to remember, grieve for a brief period of time and then move on to restorative activities—it’s always helpful to keep that to-do list close. Consider thinking of how to renew or adapt an old tradition in a way that honors your loved one. Remember to try your best to enjoy the holiday as your loved one would have wanted you to. When you need to separate yourself from emotions of sadness and loss, engage in your usual self-care practices like taking a walk, exercising, watching an enjoyable movie, listening to uplifting music or talking with a family member or friend. Alone for the Holidays Being uncoupled during the holidays can feel particularly lonely. One of the first things to remember is that you are not alone: plenty of people don’t have partners and they deserve to enjoy the holidays as much as those who are in an intimate relationship. This is a great time to rediscover yourself and the things that you enjoy. Our feelings of loneliness are sometimes cravings to be in the presence of others—not necessarily with a romantic partner—so allow yourself to accept offers of getting together with family and friends. Being with others whose company you enjoy is a very healthy distraction when dealing with the loss of a relationship. Navigating Difficult Family Members You may avoid certain family members throughout the year but feel obligated to spend time with them over the holidays. The holidays are a time to endeavor to set aside our differences and celebrate our connections. Try to guide your conversations with difficult family members to subjects that you both like, such as happy memories of mutually beloved departed family members or the latest antics of the family pet. If needed, give yourself an escape route. This may mean having closer family members or friends on the lookout to call you out of a bad conversation. Make sure that you can leave the environment safely if needed—try to be the driver or to have the Uber/Lyft app on your phone. Consider disarming your family member by learning something about them that you didn’t already know; people usually like to talk about themselves, so use that to your advantage. And, most importantly, don’t go looking for conflict. Watch the way that you engage—monitor your tone and your reaction—as sometimes the conflict we experience is due to the conflict we create. Managing Behavioral Health Conditions The holidays are ripe with emotions, both good and bad. If you have a behavioral health condition, it is likely that you will have more symptoms during this time—more depression, anxiety or substance use. Anticipate that this is a possibility and plan now on how to manage the reemergence or increase of symptoms: Consider talking to your therapist/counselor about increasing the frequency of your sessions. Think about talking to your prescriber about the appropriateness of increasing your medication dosage for a brief period. Plan to participate in more recovery support groups and talk to your sponsor more frequently. Monitor your use of recreational or other substances; try to maintain your non-holiday patterns of use and remember that almost every drug supply chain is tainted with fentanyl—this is not a good time to try something new that is substance-related Keep naloxone on hand if you or family members or friends use substances. Call 988 for support if you find yourself in an emotional or substance-related crisis—someone is available to talk with you 24 hours a day. Authors Aliya Jones, MD, serves as the inaugural Executive Medical Director of Behavioral Health for Luminis Health.
- News & Press Releases, Women's HealthGeneral Page Tier 3BlogLuminis Health Anne Arundel Medical Center (LHAAMC) is proud to welcome another bundle of joy, in the form of great news. U.S. News & World Report has named LHAAMC as a 2022-2023 High Performing Hospital for Maternity Care. This is the highest award a hospital can earn for U.S. News’ Best Hospitals for Maternity Care. The evaluation, now in its second year, is designed to help expectant parents and their doctors in making informed decisions about where to receive maternity care. “Since we welcome more than 5,500 babies into the world each year, we like to say our teams are trusted to deliver a kindergarten class a day,” said Sherry Perkins, president of Luminis Health Anne Arundel Medical Center. “Thank you to our physicians, nurse midwives, nurses, nurse practitioners, technologists, and the entire team for providing exceptional maternity care to our families.” U.S. News evaluated nearly 650 hospitals that provide high-quality labor and delivery services for uncomplicated pregnancies for its 2022-2023 Best Hospitals for Maternity Care. Fewer than half of all hospitals that offer maternity care and participated in the survey received a High Performing designation. “When expectant parents are considering their options for welcoming a baby to the world, the Best Hospitals for Maternity Care are designed to help them identify hospitals that excel in delivering babies for uncomplicated pregnancies,” said Ben Harder, chief of health analysis and managing editor at U.S. News. “A hospital that has earned a High Performing designation may be a good option for parents, in consultation with their medical provider, to consider.” The U.S. News Best Hospitals for Maternity Care methodology is based entirely on objective measures of quality, such as C-section rates in lower-risk pregnancies, newborn complication rates, exclusive breast milk feeding rates, early elective delivery rates and vaginal birth after cesarean (VBAC) rates, among other measures. “We are honored U.S. News is recognizing LHAAMC as a Best Hospital for Maternity Care for the second consecutive year,” said Dr. Monica Jones, chair of Luminis Health Women’s and Children’s services. “One of Luminis Health’s bold goals for Vision 2030 is to eliminate maternal and infant mortality. Through the work of Luminis Health’s Women’s and Children’s Quality and Safety Teams as well as the Women’s and Children’s Counter Racism Task Force, we are providing more high-quality, and culturally customized care. We are leveraging our maternal evidence-based protocols through our service line, system-wide, implicit bias education and training. This important work is already improving maternal and infant mortality for the communities we serve earning our place in the US News rankings.”
- 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.
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