- General Page - Tier 2Definitions: Care Partners – Any person(s) who plays a significant role in an individual’s life. This may include family or a person(s) not legally related to the individual. Family members include spouses, domestic partners, and significant others. Care partners may be individuals with a continued legal, genetic and/or emotional relationship as defined by the patient. Support Person – For patients with disabilities, support persons provide personal, behavioral and/or communication support not otherwise provided in a hospital setting. A support person may be appropriate for, but is not limited to, patients with intellectual, Developmental, physical, or neurocognitive disabilities. A support person may include, but is not limited to a family member, personal care assistant and/or disability service provider. Please see below for visitation in specific areas such as Surgical Services, Labor and Delivery, Mother Baby, Pediatrics, Emergency Department and Outpatient Practices. An adult/guardian must accompany all children.Luminis Health Anne Arundel Medical Center (LHAAMC) is committed to patient- and family-centered care and strives to provide a safe and healing environment. LHAAMC welcomes care partners and support persons in all areas 24/7, with the exception in Behavioral Health and Clatanoff.All care partners and support persons will be required to wash or sanitize their hands throughout their visit. Patients and visitors who prefer to wear a mask while in our facility may do so. Patients may also request that their care team wear masks.As a patient- and family-centered organization, we will continue to review and update our visitation guidelines and practices as the situation changes. At Luminis Health, our Patient and Family Advisors program allows patients, family members and community members to give input on our policies, programs and practices. These advisors work with our health care providers to support our patient- and family-centered care approach.0
- TreatmentConditions/Services/Treatments PageWhen your child needs surgery, you want a trusted facility with expert providers. At Luminis Health, your child's care is in good hands.Our skilled pediatric surgery team is made up of surgeons, pediatricians, anesthesiologists and nurses who provide outstanding, compassionate care to children from birth through age 18.Your child receives personalized, age-appropriate care — before, during and after surgery.0
- Infectious DiseaseGeneral Page Tier 3BlogTelehealth visits (also referred to as virtual visits, virtual consultations or telemedicine) are a great way to stay connected with your doctors from just about anywhere via a screen — like a computer, tablet or cell phone — instead of trekking to a medical office. Many chronic conditions and minor illnesses can be handled through a telehealth visit, including: Chronic disease guidance Dermatology care Medication management Mental health counseling Nutrition counseling Prescription refills Urgent care (sinusitis, back pain, urinary tract infections, common rashes, etc.) Wellness and general health information With the coronavirus pandemic in full swing, millions of people have found virtual visits to be a very convenient and effective way to stay in touch with their healthcare providers. Planning a telehealth visit? Download this handy checklist to help you prepare. A little prep goes a long way Know what you’ll need for your conversation with the doctor Taking the time to gather a few important items before your visit will help your virtual visit run smoothly and will allow you make the most of your time with your physician: Medication bottles: Those medication names can be real tongue-twisters. So, it’s best to let your doctor see the bottles and labels for each medication you take. That will ensure there are no mix-ups and clarify all medication names and dosage. Paperwork: Just like any medical visit, your insurance, medical history and other forms must be completed. Your doctor’s office can tell you if any forms on file need updating. Pen and paper: You’ll want to take notes while you talk to your doctor. Also, jot down your questions beforehand; it’s only natural to forget a question or two. Test results: If you’ve had any screening tests recently, make sure your doctor has the results prior to your visit. If you’ve done any home monitoring tests (like glucometer or blood pressure readings), it’s important to have those numbers on hand. Set up and test your equipment ahead of time If you’re new to virtual meetings, it’s essential to make time to get your device set up and ready to go. You might try a test with a friend, a quick check to make sure your doctor will get a clear picture and hear you well. Here are a few important reminders: Charge your device: Making sure your device is fully charged will help ensure your time with the doctor isn’t interrupted. Check your internet connection: If you’re using Wi-Fi, get the best signal you can. You may need to position yourself close to your internet router and/or close down other devices to improve your connection. Check your laptop, phone or tablet: Make sure video/camera and audio access has been enabled — and check the volume. Consider your lighting: Is your space private, quiet and well-lit? If you’re in front of a window, the bright light might shadow your face. Make sure your face is centered and your webcam is at eye level. Log on a few minutes early: This can help check for (and fix) any technological problems beforehand so you don’t delay your appointment. Why patients (and doctors) like telehealth visits During the pandemic, virtual visits went from being an item on our lists of things to try someday to becoming a necessity. And the benefits became clear, quickly: These visits helped us reduce exposure to COVID-19 while still getting the ongoing medical care we need. Even after we have coronavirus well under control, it’s likely doctors and patients alike will continue to enjoy the benefits of telehealth. After all, we’re much more comfortable with it now. Telehealth allows you to: Access medical specialists easily Address health issues without leaving home Save time off of work See your doctor quickly, possibly the same day We’re here, whenever and wherever you need us Telehealth visits are intended to help you get the medical attention you need without driving to see your doctor, risking exposure to contagious illnesses or spending time in a waiting room — especially if you aren’t feeling well. If you’re not sure about using your computer or cell phone for a telehealth visit, feel free to reach out to your provider’s office. They’ll be happy to walk you through the process, step by step, over the phone. Just remember: You aren’t the first to ask questions about telehealth visits. Our experts can explain it to you clearly, so you’ll feel comfortable. Authors Andrew McGlone, MD, is a physician with Anne Arundel Medical Group Annapolis Primary Care. You can reach him at 443-481-1150. Sufia Syed, MD, is an internal medicine physician at Doctors Community Practices at Laurel.0
- Behavioral Health, Pediatrics, UncategorizedGeneral Page Tier 3BlogThe heroin epidemic in Maryland continues to make headlines, with both Maryland Governor Larry Hogan and Anne Arundel County officials having declared it a “public health emergency.” But as any parent would tell you, it’s not just heroin they worry about but a whole host of temptations that seem to be impacting kids at even younger ages. Parents are still the primary influence on their teens. According to research done by the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration, approximately 93 percent of teens reported their parents would be disappointed if they used alcohol, cigarettes or other drugs. Education is definitely one of the biggest keys in the fight against adolescent drug use. The earlier we can teach them about the importance of decision making and what drugs and other substances can do to their body, the better chance we have of them not wanting to try them. Information changes every day. It will be hard to combat something you know very little about. Educate yourself and make sure that you are really listening to your child and talking to them without bias and judgement. Our children are informed of many things and it is our job to make sure that the information they get is valid. The Academy of Pediatrics calls it Purposeful Parenting. The National Institute on Drug Abuse cites the importance of family bonding saying it is the bedrock of the relationship between parents and children. Some tips to keep in mind: Be a parent to your child, not a friend. Educate yourself about what’s happening in your child’s school, in the community and about resources available to help. Be a positive role model and promote positive behaviors. Communicate effectively. Good communication helps reassure family members that they care about each other and appreciate each other’s efforts. Good everyday communication can also make it easier to bring up issues, make requests when needed and resolve conflict when it arises. Every family needs ongoing communication about shared interests and concerns, such as running the household, recreational activities and solving problems, to name just a few. Family members also need to be able to express feelings to each other and talk about motions such as happiness, anger, sadness, concern and anxiety. Learn more about the J. Kent McNew Family Medical Center, a 16-bed mental health hospital for adults opening in March. The Hazelden Betty Ford Foundation offers these tips on things to remember for effective communication with your child: Expressing Positive Feelings We all feel good when our efforts are acknowledged. Try deliberately expressing positive feelings using these steps: Look at the person. Tell the person what he or she did that pleased you. Tell him or her how it made you feel. Expressing Negative Feelings To air negative feelings in a way that will help resolve them, try these steps: Look at the person and talk with a serious tone of voice. Tell the person what he or she did that displeased you. Tell him or her how you feel as a result and be specific. Make a request for change, if possible. Express Feelings Clearly with “I” Statements Describe your own feelings and avoid putting others on the defensive. For example, instead of saying “you really ticked me off when you were late for dinner last night,” try saying “I was angry when you came home late for dinner last night. I’d appreciate it if you’d be on time or call if you’re going to be late.” You will be surprised how comfortable a child is about talking about drugs, especially if it is something that is so prominent in their environment. A parent’s knowledge of drugs, positive influence and productive conversations with children can carry their child a long way in having a healthy and productive drug-free life. Author Keshia Brooks, BSPH, MBA, is supervisor of Prevention Education and Family Wellness at Pathways, Anne Arundel Medical Center’s substance abuse and mental health treatment facility. You can reach her office at 410-573-5422. Originally published Jan. 15, 2016. Last updated Feb. 11, 2020.0
- Employee SpotlightGeneral Page Tier 3BlogSome say adversity is life throwing you a curveball to make it better. For every defeat or challenge you face, there’s a seed of growth and improvement planted with it. By his mid-30s, Earl Shellner’s life priorities were launching his own business, making money fast and partying with friends. This included traveling around the country frequently and missing important family events. Things quickly changed when adversity came ‘knocking on his door.’ It turns out, life had a different set of priorities for Earl. In 2013, Earl had a plane ticket bound to San Diego to spend the winter before returning to launch his business back in Maryland. Right before leaving for his trip, he was diagnosed with colorectal cancer. The diagnosis meant 25 sessions of radiation, 12 sessions of chemotherapy and two months of oral chemotherapy at Anne Arundel Medical Center (AAMC). His outlook? “Cancer saved my life,” affirms Earl. “It completely changed me. One time, I found out my cousin was taking my mom to the hospital for heart issues while I was at Mardi Gras partying. Another time, I flew all the way to Houston to meet with a friend and didn’t even think of calling my grandparents who live there. When I found out about my cancer, I realized how really great my family is and that I wasn’t paying attention to them. I lived a totally different life but I like the person I became a lot more now.” When Earl completed his treatment, he experienced “chemo brain,” a symptom cancer survivors use to describe thinking and memory problems that can occur after cancer treatment. He couldn’t remember how to spell his name, called people by the wrong name and would have the same conversations repeatedly without noticing. One of the nurses informed him that AAMC had just started a program for cognitive behavioral therapy. “They thought they could maybe help me with my situation,” he says. “I started attending meetings for speech therapy and, after looking at the data, they said I was improving dramatically just from the therapy. I was told there were only four other patients doing this at the hospital and I thought to myself, ‘If it’s working for me so well, it must work well for others too.’” Having experienced what so many had already lived through, he was adamant in using his lessons to help others. Today, working as a patient family advisor (PFA), Earl has a different perspective toward his priorities. “I made it my goal to use the experiences I had lived through to make everything better for our patients,” he says. “I remember one time I was sitting in the infusion center getting my fluids and a woman approached me after she read an article I wrote with information about the cognitive program at AAMC and how to find help. She said she needed to thank me because she had attended one of the behavioral therapy courses and it had helped her dramatically. Knowing that I’m helping others is what brings me the greatest joy.” Earl has been a PFA at AAMC for four years. In April, he won the 2019 Beryl Institute’s Innovative Patient/Family Advisor Innovation Award for leading and inspiring an innovation that has improved the experiences of patients and their families. PRO TIP: “Sit down to think about the pros and cons in your life and find out what’s important to you. Once I realized the partying and the money were all gone, I realized there is so much more out there. Plan for tomorrow, live for today and enjoy life.” If you know a great individual or a fantastic team going above and beyond to make a difference, make sure to let us know! Looking for a career in health care? We invite you to join a diverse and collaborative team of professionals working together to innovate the future of health care for our entire region. Check out our career opportunities. Advisors directly influence our policies, programs and practices. This role allows people just like you to help us deliver the best health care experience possible. If you’re interested, please contact our advisor coordinator at 443-481-6054 or use our online form.0
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