- Infectious DiseaseGeneral Page Tier 3BlogA Respectful Way to Find Out Vaccination Status As the holidays approach and the weather turns cold, activities seem to shift from wide open outdoor spaces to close quarters in our homes. And while gathering around tables with your loved ones and arranging playdates for your kiddos is essential for your family’s mental health, these activities also pose a greater risk of spreading viruses. So, how do you protect your friends and family from COVID-19 during the holiday season? It’s important that your guests understand your view on vaccination. One way is with an honest and respectful conversation about vaccination status. COVID-19 vaccines are safe and effective at slowing the spread of coronavirus and greatly reduce the risk of severe illness, hospitalization and death. Now, with booster shots approved for all adults age 18 and older, and COVID-19 vaccines making their way to pediatrician offices for kids ages 5-12, more people than ever are eligible for the shots. However, asking someone if they’re vaccinated isn’t always easy, especially at a time when heightened emotions and political debates seem to play into the conversation. Here are a few tips on getting a healthy and productive discussion started. Know Your Rights Some individuals have pointed to the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPPA) as a reason they don’t have to share vaccination status. That’s actually not true. HIPPA does protect an individual’s health information from being shared by health institutions or providers without their consent. But it doesn’t make it wrong – or illegal – to ask someone if they’ve been vaccinated. Just keep in mind though, that just because you ask, doesn’t mean they have to answer you. Approach The Topic With Respect Because vaccines are such a hot topic, it’s important to frame the question carefully. Letting your loved ones know upfront you understand (and respect) their point of view, even if it’s different than your own, will help put everyone at ease from the start. As you dive into the discussion, we suggest using “I” statements instead of “you” statements. For example: Try: “Our family includes immunocompromised individuals, so we do our best to protect them. One way we do that is by asking about vaccination status of the people we’ll be around. This helps us make choices that are best for our family. Have you and your family been vaccinated?” -OR- “We want to keep our kids in school as much as possible this year. One way we’re doing that is by reducing our exposure to COVID-19, however we can. I have to ask, has your family been vaccinated?” Remember, respect is key in this scenario, so even if the conversation ends differently than you’d hoped, it’s crucial you convey that you understand each family has to make the decision that’s right for them. Know What To Do If Others Aren’t Vaccinated What you do next largely depends on your comfort level and if anyone in your family is at higher risk of serious illness from COVID-19. But here are a few options to consider: Ask everyone to wear a mask. If the activity will take place indoors or you’re hosting a party at your own home, ask that everyone wear a mask. Ask people if they feel sick to stay home. Anyone with cold, flu or COVID-19 symptoms should stay away from others to help reduce the risk of making others sick Move activities outside. You may need to bundle up against the cold air, but outdoor events pose lower risk of spreading COVID-19 and other illness, like the seasonal flu. Opt out of the activity. Remember, if you don’t feel safe or comfortable spending time indoors with people who haven’t been vaccinated, you can politely and respectfully decline the invitation. Want to add another layer of protection to your gathering? Ask people who haven’t been vaccinated to show a negative COVID-19 test. Keep in mind, these tests aren’t always accurate at identifying active infections in asymptotic individuals, but it can help give you and your guests some peace of mind. Find Ways to Stay Included and Involved It’s been tough on everyone over the past two years. What we’ve learned is that there are many ways to stay in touch during milestone celebrations without increasing your family’s COVID-19 risk. If you do choose not to attend parties or get-togethers, here are a few ways you can still spread that holiday cheer: Ask the host to dial you in virtually for a portion of the event Bake a goody bag of cookies and candy to mail or drop off at someone’s house Send a sweet card letting loved ones know you are thinking of them Start a “You’ve Been Elfed” tradition where you leave a bucket of sweet treats and little presents on neighbor’s porches We’re Here For You We understand that vaccinations bring a wide range of responses and beliefs. However, we do hope that as time goes by, we’ll all see the great benefit of choosing to become vaccinated. After all, it’s how we can keep ourselves healthy and well, and our loved ones safe. If you have any questions, we have answers. And should you decide you’re ready to schedule your vaccination, visit one of our community vaccine clinics. Authors Sheri Poretz is an Infection Control Nurse at Luminis Health
- Heart CareGeneral Page Tier 3BlogThe patient journey for heart surgery begins long before the day of your operation. To help you learn more about what to expect, Murtaza Dawood, MD cardiothoracic surgeon at Luminis Health Anne Arundel Medical Center, answers a few common questions. Besides The Surgeon, What Other Roles Make Up My Care Team? There are many people who will help you on your path from pre-op (before the operation) to post-op (after the operation). Your care team includes advanced practice providers (nurse practitioners and physician assistants), nurses, respiratory therapists, patient care technicians, occupational therapists, physical therapists, nutritionist and medical doctors. All of these professionals play a vital role in providing you with quality care. How Long Will I Need to Be In The Hospital? Every patient’s experience is unique, but the general goal is to discharge you from the hospital in four to five days. You will be in the intensive care unit for a couple days of your stay. The rest of your stay will be in the medical stepdown unit. How Long does it take to recover from heart surgery? After you leave the hospital, you will be on sternal precautions for 12 weeks. This means that you will have to protect your sternum until it heals. You will work with a physical therapist and occupational therapist on how to do this after your surgery and before you go home. You will not be able to drive for about four weeks after surgery. Depending on your occupation, you can return to work eight to twelve weeks after surgery. The first week is often the most challenging while in the hospital. Once home, it usually takes a few weeks of rest before most people start to feel like themselves again. It may take a few months to build up your appetite and stamina to pre-surgery levels. This also depends on the type of heart surgery you need. After Recovery, Will I Still Need to Visit My Surgeon? You will visit us in the post-op clinic one week after discharge. We will determine at that time if we need additional follow-ups. We will also follow-up with your cardiologist on when to start cardiac rehabilitation. Authors Murtaza Dawood, MD, is an experienced cardiothoracic surgeon who specializes in performing operations to correct valve diseases and arrhythmia. To make an appointment with Dr. Dawood, please call 443-481-1358.
- Heart CareGeneral Page Tier 3BlogDo you ever feel that your heartbeat is irregular, or slower or faster than normal? This describes an arrhythmia. Sean C. Beinart, MD, cardiac electrophysiologist at Luminis Health Anne Arundel Medical Center (LHAAMC), answers a few common questions about this condition. What is an irregular heartbeat and how will I know if I have one? We refer to irregular heartbeats as arrhythmias or abnormal heart rhythms. They range from very benign single premature beats to more dangerous arrhythmias that can cause sudden cardiac death. Some arrhythmias are becoming more common such as atrial fibrillation. Atrial fibrillation is not life threatening, but it can increase your risk for stroke. It can also cause a wide range of symptoms including palpitations (a feeling of butterflies in the chest), shortness of breath, chest pain, or severe fatigue. What treatments are available to me? The wonderful thing about cardiology and the field of heart rhythm disorders is that we typically have many treatments available to patients. They include a variety of lifestyle modifications, medical treatments, or cardiac ablation. Cardiac ablation is a procedure where a specialist carefully places spaghetti-sized wires in the heart via the veins in the legs to identify and then eliminate the abnormal electrical signals. Will I need a pacemaker? Pacemakers are only necessary if someone has a very slow heart rate. This can sometimes occur in a patient who occasionally has a fast heart rate. Most treatments, however, do not require a pacemaker. How long does treatment take? Your provider will tailor treatments to your specific arrhythmia and associated symptom burden. I develop a strategy that involves a shared decision. I take into account the patient’s other medical problems. This ensures optimal health and quality of life. How can I make an appointment with an electrophysiologist? If you have symptoms such as palpitations, dizziness or near fainting, chest pain or shortness of breath, you could have an arrhythmia. Making an appointment is as simple as calling our cardiology office and asking for an electrophysiologist (heart rhythm specialist) or Dr. Beinart. Authors Sean C. Beinart, MD, is a cardiac electrophysiologist at LHAAMC. To make an appointment with him, please call 443-481-6700.
- Plastic Surgery & Skin CareGeneral Page Tier 3BlogMost of us have heard about Botox and fillers, but how do they work? Chief of Plastic Surgery Derek Masden, MD, answers a few common questions below. What is Botox? A provider can inject Botox, a prescription medicine, into muscles to temporarily smooth the look of moderate to severe forehead lines, crow’s feet lines, or frown lines between the eyebrows. Botox works by temporarily weakening or paralyzing certain muscles to smooth facial wrinkles. Botox typically lasts between three and 12 months, depending on the area you are treating. What are the benefits of Botox? Botox helps to create a more youthful appearance without surgical intervention and very little downtime. Most patients are able to get Botox and go about their day with little to no side effects. Patients start to see results in just two to four days, however, optimal results typically take 14 days. Where can Botox be injected? Botox can address forehead lines, crow’s feet, or lines between the eyebrows. What is filler? Filler is a general term for hyaluronic acid or similar substances used to ‘fill in’ or plump up areas that have lost volume. Compared to Botox, which freezes muscles to stop creases and wrinkles, filler helps to add volume for a smoother look. What are the benefits of filler? A clinician can inject fillers in the office with little to no downtime and with immediate results. Filler can also last more than 12 months without touchups, which means greater long term results. Where can filler be injected? The lips are the most common place that patients elect to have fillers. Other common injection spots are sunken or recessed areas in the face, such as those around the mouth and cheeks. What if I am interested in reducing wrinkles but I am not ready for injectables? The Luminis Health Plastic Surgery team offers a variety of different skin care products to help patients create a smoother, clearer, and more refined appearance. Skin care can be personalized to your goals including overall skin health, texture repair, skin brightening, complexion clearing, or anti-aging. No two patients are the same so we always recommend an in-depth discussion with one of our providers to determine your goals. This helps us customize a skin care plan for you. How do I make an appointment? To make an appointment, please call 443-481-3400. To find out more information, visit our website at aamgplasticsurgery.com. The holidays are coming up, and Botox can give you a new look! The Luminis Health Plastic Surgery office is offering a special of $10 a unit just for the month of December! Please call 443-481-3400 to make an appointment today. We are conveniently located on the 6th floor of Belcher Pavilion.
- Infectious DiseaseGeneral Page Tier 3BlogMost people who fall ill from COVID-19 don’t need advanced medical attention. Some benefit from a caretaker, a person committed to help manage recovery. Caring for someone else is a big responsibility. You want to fully understand how to properly care for your loved one, and for yourself, when dealing with a contagious illness like COVID-19. We can help you prepare. What makes a good caretaker COVID-19 caretakers put themselves in potentially harmful situations. Caretakers should be compassionate, flexible and in good health. Those who are fully vaccinated are much less likely to contract COVID-19 than those who are not vaccinated. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) discourages caregiving for those who have a compromised immune system or a chronic condition like heart disease or diabetes. Caretaker duties Many people who contract COVID-19 become physically unable to keep up with their daily activities. They may need help with basic needs, like shopping for groceries and caring for pets. As a caretaker, you may need to coordinate visits to the doctor that could be in-person or virtual. Your loved one will probably be asked to stay home. Picking up their medication and helping them follow their doctor’s orders, like resting and drinking fluids, are essential duties. Cleaning Maintaining cleanliness and personal hygiene stops COVID-19 from spreading. Identify frequently touched objects and surface areas and clean them often, in some cases, after each use. Household soap and detergent kill virus particles that collect on doorknobs, tables, light switches, canes, walkers and countertops. Wearing a mask Masks keep droplets from passing to others. You and your loved one should wear a mask any time you are in the same area. Your loved one should mask any time they are around others, even outdoors. Masks are most effective when worn properly, covering the nose and mouth. Keeping contact minimal Limiting contact is hard, but it’s the most effective way to avoid spreading the virus. Keep personal items separated, like utensils, plates and towels. Stay in separate rooms, including bedrooms and bathrooms. If you’re unable to maintain physical distance, make sure your surroundings have good air circulation. You can open windows or run fans. Keeping your loved one socially active Isolation is taxing. Make sure your loved one can still communicate with others throughout their recovery. Your loved one can stay connected, even at a distance, by greeting the mailperson from the window or receiving mail from family. Video calls through smartphones and laptops bring friends, family members and care team members right to your loved one without risking anyone’s safety. Knowing your signs As a caretaker, you can observe and monitor your loved one’s condition. COVID-19 symptoms include fever, cough and shortness of breath. If these symptoms begin to worsen, you may want to consider taking your loved one to the emergency room. Emergency warning signs include: Chest pain or pressure Confusion Labored breathing Skin that has turned pale, gray or blue Unconsciousness Preparing for the unexpected If your loved one’s condition worsens, seek emergency care immediately. Prepare a medical “go bag” ahead of time. In case of emergency, you can grab the bag in a hurry. You won’t waste critical time pulling items together, and you’ll reduce the likelihood that you’ll forget to bring something important to the hospital. Also, make sure you have a plan in case you, the caretaker, get sick. Designate an emergency contact with your loved one who can fulfill your duties if you are not able. Make sure your loved one has plenty of food, water, medication and other essentials. Many businesses offer delivery now. You may want to research the options ahead of time to help avoid panic. Helpful items for a caretaker Eye protection (face shield or goggles) Dish soap, hand soap and laundry soap Hand sanitizer with at least 60 percent alcohol Medical masks Over the counter medication to reduce fever (ibuprofen, acetaminophen) A thermometer Tissues and disposable paper towels Caring for yourself Caregiving can take its toll. Don’t feel discouraged if you face challenges. Watch for symptoms of burnout, like poor eating habits, difficulty sleeping and feeling of hopelessness. You need to meet your needs to be able to help your loved one. You can help care for yourself through: Breaking a big task into small, achievable steps Eating a healthy diet Limiting news intake Exercising regularly Taking a break from caregiving to recharge Author Stefanie Osterloh, CRNP, is a family nurse practitioner with Luminis Health Primary Care in Crofton, Md.
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