- Infectious DiseaseGeneral Page Tier 3BlogGet a haircut and a shot. That’s the idea behind a unique program to provide COVID-19 vaccinations at neighborhood barbershops and hair salons in Maryland. Luminis Health is proud to partner with the Health Advocates in Research (HAIR) project of the University of Maryland School of Public Health’s Center for Health Equity to give shots at a trusted place. “The COVID-19 pandemic has made clear why trust matters, so why not go where people already have trust—the local barbershop,” said Stephen B. Thomas, professor and director of the Center for Health Equity in the University of Maryland School of Public Health in College Park. COVID-19 vaccination clinics have taken place at two salons in Prince George’s County, an area hit hard with COVID-19 infections during the pandemic. African American and Hispanic Marylanders have been disproportionately impacted by COVID-19, yet are less likely to be vaccinated. In Prince George’s County, only 42% of residents are fully vaccinated. “The best way to protect yourself, your family and your community from COVID-19 is to get vaccinated,” said Deneen Richmond, president of Luminis Health Doctors Community Medical Center. “If we want to reach community immunity, we must vaccinate as many people as possible. Barber shops and salons are a great way to meet people where they are.” Before administering COVID-19 shots, members of the Community Health Team answer questions, address concerns, and clear up myths about the vaccine. Since January, Luminis Health has administered more than 100,000 COVID-19 vaccines in Anne Arundel and Prince George’s Counties. “Our vision is Living Healthier Together,” said Deneen. “Community partnerships are a vital component to enhance the health of the people we serve. Thank you to Dr. Stephen B. Thomas, barbers, hair stylists, and our Community Health Team for your hard-work and dedication as we work together to end this pandemic.”
- PediatricsGeneral Page Tier 3BlogNow that warmer weather is here, hitting the playground with your child may be top on your list of fun activities. Before you do, read our tips on how to prevent falls and other injuries on the playground. Check playground surfaces It’s easy for injuries to occur on playgrounds. Make sure the surface of the playground is soft. Some examples are surfaces that are matted or filled with wood chips or sand. These surfaces will lessen the severity of cuts and bruises that may occur during play. Supervise during play A playground is a very exciting place for your child. They may want to explore every piece of equipment in their path. Let them explore; just make sure they are using age-appropriate equipment. Avoid playground equipment that is too high for their size or that they are not familiar with using. Carefully monitor children when they use monkey bars, swings and climbing equipment. A fall from one of these can lead to a concussion. Every day, medical staff treat approximately 8,000 children in U.S. emergency rooms for fall-related injuries, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Limit sun exposure during peak hours Try to avoid going to unshaded playgrounds at peak-sun exposure hours, 10 am to 2 pm. This will prevent heat-related illnesses and skin burns due to hot playground equipment. Instead, find a shaded playground or go to the playground outside of peak hours. Staying in the shade and wearing sunscreen, hats and sunglasses can all help provide some sun protection. On warm days, make sure you have drinking water available for your child. Lookout for hazards Keep your eye out for rusted or broken equipment and dangerous surfaces on playgrounds. They can cause cuts if children accidentally run into them. Also, tree stumps and uneven surfaces can be trip hazards. Practice sliding board safety Traveling down the slide with a toddler on your lap may cause a leg fracture. This usually occurs if the child’s foot gets stuck on the surface of the slide as you slide together. Consider letting your child slide alone or making sure their feet don’t touch the slide if you go down together. Author Kristen Breslin, MD, MPH, is the medical director of the Children’s National Emergency Department at Luminis Health Doctors Community Medical Center.
- Cancer Care, Patient StoriesGeneral Page Tier 3BlogDuring this month – National Cancer Survivors Month – we will share a series of blog posts from our own cancer survivors. Each cancer journey is unique. At Luminis Health, we want to shine a light on these journeys from the perspective of our own patients. That’s why we’ve started this new series – bringing hope and comfort to those who have been touched by cancer. Chris D’Andrea’s Story: In 2018, I started having severe reactions to mosquito bites. My primary care physician in Virginia Beach did some blood work, and I had consultations with an allergist and dermatologist, but everything came back normal. In the summer of 2019, I began having other symptoms including night sweats. My doctor ran additional tests and performed a lymph node biopsy. These tests confirmed my worst nightmare: I had cancer. I was diagnosed with non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma, specifically mantle cell lymphoma. It was a huge curveball. The kind of cancer I have only affects 4,000 people per year in the U.S. and the average age is 65. I was 49 when I was diagnosed. I definitely went through the “why me?” phase. But as my journey progressed—and cancer is a journey—I started telling myself, “why not me?” I wouldn’t want it to be any of my family members or friends. I started chemotherapy in the fall of 2019 at George Washington University Cancer Center (GWUCC) and had great response to treatment. In January 2020, I began maintenance therapy with Dr. Tabbara, who was then at GWUCC, in preparation for an autologous stem cell transplant. Nurse Kathy Zimmerman, Dr. Tabbara’s hematology/oncology transplant coordinator, has been amazing and my touchpoint since I began treatment. She always kept the process moving forward, be it navigating insurance approvals or answering my numerous questions. Nurse Manager Emily Zerges from the oncology/transplant ward has also been fantastic making my hospital stays as comfortable as possible and addressing any of my treatment concerns. Unfortunately, my lymphoma returned before my stem cell transplant, so I began an oral treatment regimen. Mantel cell lymphoma can become resistant to treatments that previously worked, so it’s important to have a team that understands the nuances of the disease and the numerous treatment options. I had my transplant last October and was doing very well initially but, unfortunately, I’ll need to have a second one later this year. For that one, my son will be the donor. But the crazy thing was that in the middle of all this, Dr. Tabbara, Kathy, and Emily told me they were transferring to Luminis Health Anne Arundel Medical Center. It was a punch in the gut to hear they were leaving, because I had been through so much with them on this journey and they were just such a great team. But since my wife, who was active duty military at the time, was stationed in Washington, D.C., I decided to continue my care with Dr. Tabbara and his team. So I said, “tell us when you’re going, I’ll make sure insurance covers it, and I’ll go.” So now, I travel from Virginia Beach to Annapolis for treatment. Our insurance has been great; it even covers travel for medical appointments. My wife has also been amazing, coming with me to all my appointments, staying by my side at the hospital during treatment and documenting my journey so we can ask the right questions. She has been my rock and source of strength. I also have great support from friends and a strong prayer chain. I couldn’t do it alone. Like I said, cancer is a journey. You meet great people along the way, whom you would never have known if you’d just passed them on the street—but because of the way fate and God work, we met. We consider the doctors and nurses to be friends of the family now. They see people at their worst and they’re always there, redesigning treatment plans and supporting you along the way. There is no cure for my disease, but my doctors are very confident we’ll get it into remission for a long time. And when your doctors feel that way, it’s helpful—it gives you hope as a patient. Each day you can wake up and see the sunshine is a good day.
- Men's Health, WellnessGeneral Page Tier 3BlogBetween work, family and personal priorities, a man’s health can sometimes take a back seat as the years go by. But it’s important to stay in charge of making smart lifestyle choices as you get older so you can achieve, preserve and truly enjoy a healthier quality of life. Make Small Changes: They Add Up The leading cause of death for men in the U.S. is heart disease, and about half of the men who died suddenly from coronary heart disease had no symptoms before it happened. The top heart disease risks, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), are medical and lifestyle factors such as: Diabetes Excessive alcohol use Hypertension Obesity Physical inactivity Unhealthy diet These factors can also impact your risk for other health conditions like stroke, certain cancers and more. Fortunately, you can take steps to keep your body healthy with the everyday choices you make. Eat those greens. Making the choice to fuel yourself mainly with wholesome foods, and avoiding sugar and salt, will affect how you feel and reduce your long-term health risks. On an everyday basis, try to fill half your plate with fruits and vegetables and switch up your sources of protein. Keep it moving. Getting enough exercise is important. The CDC recommends for 20 minutes per day, but even small amounts of physical activity count, especially any activity you like that makes you sweat. Healthy habit shifts like taking the stairs, choosing to park at the bottom of the hill, or knocking out some pushups while you wait for the microwave might help you keep up an active mindset and lifestyle! Watch what’s in your cup. Choosing water over soda is an easy way to cut down on excess sugar. If you drink alcohol, curbing your intake can have positive effects on a variety of health conditions. Make sure you keep tabs on exactly how much alcohol you consume on a weekly basis. Get to Know Your Doc It can be all too easy to avoid getting a checkup at the doctor’s office, especially if you’re feeling healthy. But some diseases don’t show symptoms at first. Seeing a healthcare provider regularly and making tune ups when needed can help you prevent or treat conditions before they get significantly worse. Talk to your doctor about your blood pressure and cholesterol. Ask if there are any conditions you should be screened for, such as diabetes, or colon cancer if you’re over 50. It’s not always convenient, but taking these steps is within your control. Take Care of Your Mental Health Just like you check in with your doctor, don’t forget to check in with your mental health. Stress can affect your lifestyle choices and your body’s immune system. Men and women experience the same types of mental health conditions, but men may not show the same warning signs as women. If you’re feeling differently lately, don’t ignore your symptoms. You can work to reduce your stress level or find good-for-you ways to manage your stress. Time for a Change? It’s never too late to take charge of your health. If you need to make swaps in your food options, move your body more or get rid of a habit that’s not helping you, every day is a new chance to start. What might be uncomfortable at first will soon feel more familiar. And keep it up—your health is worth it. David Press, MD, is associate chief medical officer at Luminis Health Doctors Community Medical Center.
- Cancer CareGeneral Page Tier 3BlogAll this month – National Cancer Survivor Month – we are sharing stories from our own cancer survivors. Each cancer journey is unique. At Luminis Health, we want to shine a light on these journeys from the perspective of our own patients. That’s why we’ve started this new series – bringing hope and comfort to those who have been touched by cancer. Jeannie Barzanti’s story I am a registered nurse and started working at Luminis Health Anne Arundel Medical Center (LHAAMC) about 18 months ago, as a clinical supervisor in surgery. The organization’s reputation in health care proceeds them, and I had very intentionally wanted to be a part of it. Everything was going great, but as life would have it, on September 17, 2020, I was diagnosed with breast cancer on a routine mammogram. Then came the ultrasound, and the biopsy, which showed invasive ductal carcinoma. My sister is a 10-year survivor of breast cancer, so I knew something about what the process could be like, and I also knew that it was very possible to survive it. Still, nothing prepares you to hear that you have cancer—it’s terrifying. My eldest daughter had just gotten married, my younger daughter was almost through graduate school, and there was so much going through my mind, about the future and all the unknowns. It was extremely hard to tell my daughters and my husband that I had cancer. But the treatment at Luminis Health is first rate—as an employee I knew that, but I experienced it in a different way as a patient. My case went to the Tumor Board, a multidisciplinary team of nurses, doctors, radiologists, pathologists, genetics counselors, social workers, and nutritionists who review each patient’s diagnosis and design a game plan. They all agreed that I would have chemotherapy first, then surgery, then radiation. Along the way, I had an amazing support system outside the hospital which included my daughters, my husband, my sister and friends in the community. But the support inside the hospital was just as important. I first met with my doctor, Dr. Lorraine Tafra, at the Breast Center to outline my treatment. I then met with Nurse Navigator Alyson Figlioli, who made appointments for me, provided a detailed plan with my specific diagnosis, made sure I saw all the right clinical staff including my medical oncologist, Dr. Young Lee, and radiation oncologist, Dr. Mary Young. Alyson ensured I completed all of the required testing. She really held my hand and led me through the process. She calmed my fears and helped me understand the overwhelming process I was about to undertake. All of the staff made me feel so supported. I found it very comforting to be in my “own house” during this time, to work at the same place where I received treatment. Though I’d take several days off after chemotherapy, I kept working throughout my treatment. I needed a total of six rounds, three weeks apart. I found that toward the end it gets harder to bounce back, and you need more support. In LHAAMC’s infusion center waiting room, there is a bell hanging on the wall to celebrate patients completing chemo. When I finished my last dose of chemo, my husband and daughter joined me for this celebratory “ringing of the bell.” But before I rang this bell, the infusion center staff sang a “no more chemo” song. Such a simple celebration meant the world to me! Tears were streaming down my face as I realized that the worse part was over, and I was going to be OK. After chemo, I had surgery and then radiation, and my incredible care continued. Dr. Tafra and the operating room (OR) staff were amazing and listened to all of my fears. Since I work in the OR, I knew I was in great hands. The radiation staff, which included Dr. Mary Young and technicians Vicki, Leah, and Michelle, were also exceptional. They treated me like I was the only patient they had for the day. They were so very compassionate and efficient. I finished my radiation treatments in the middle of April 2021 and, today, I’m officially cancer-free. When I was first diagnosed, I had told my husband that I didn’t want breast cancer stuff—no pink survivor sweatshirts or ribbons. But then I got knee-deep in chemo, and I started feeling differently. I realized we are all warriors. And the staff at Luminis Health were right there by my side, fighting with me the whole way.
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