- Heart CareGeneral Page Tier 3BlogLuminis Health Anne Arundel Medical Center (LHAAMC) has celebrated the completion of its 100th heart surgery procedure. The milestone occurred in October 2021, just 10 months after expanding its heart program in December 2020. The journey began in 2015 when LHAAMC applied for a certificate of need (CON), with the goal to keep hundreds of patients in their community and avoid the stress of traveling to other hospitals for heart surgery and follow-up care. Letters of support poured in from the community. “The hospital has been a destination for heart care for years, and adding cardiac surgery helps us better serve the thousands of heart patients who come to LHAAMC every year,” said Adrian Park, MD, chair of surgery. In December 2020, just two days before Christmas, the first heart surgery was performed at LHAAMC. Less than a year later, the program has performed more than 100 surgeries. The heart program will welcome Murtaza Y. Dawood, MD, an experienced cardiothoracic surgeon, in winter 2021. For more information about heart surgery at LHAAMC, please call 443-481-1358. To support heart surgery patients, please consider donating blood. To make an appointment, please click here.
- News & Press ReleasesGeneral Page Tier 3BlogLuminis Health is making major investments to its workforce to help recruit and retain a highly-qualified and patient-centered workforce. The Board of Trustees has approved $29M for employee incentives, including salary investments and new and updated benefit offerings. These initiatives will impact approximately 6,700 employees in various ways throughout the health system. “Throughout the pandemic, our employees consistently carried out the mission of Luminis Health– enhancing the health of the people and communities we serve through our RISE values (Respect, Inclusion, Service, Excellence),” said Tori Bayless, CEO of Luminis Health. “These financial investments will help Luminis Health stay competitive, as well as address staffing shortages that impact hospitals across the country.” New and updated benefits include: Upfront tuition assistance payment Reducing wait time for short-term disability for all full-time employees Full-time health benefit premiums for most part-time employees Single Retirement plan for all Luminis Health employees New Registered Nurse (RN) Weekender Program to allow for flexible work shifts. Allows for non-weekender nurses to work less weekends Bonus for full-time bedside RNs with more than 20 years of experience College loan repayment program for full-time bedside RNs who have three years of service, up to $10,000 per year maxing at $30,000 This bold plan allows Luminis Health to provide compensation adjustments that are more competitive in the ever-changing market. These adjustments include: We’re raising our minimum wage to $17 per hour Realigning compensation for high demand, high vacancy positions in support services and allied health. Increasing the starting salary for newly graduated nurses. Additional bonuses for various nursing positions based on salary and hours worked. “One of the bold goals of Vision 2030, the health system’s new Strategic Plan, is to become the #1 employer of choice in the region where 100% of team members find joy at work,” said Manny Ocasio, chief human resources officer at Luminis Health. “By making these investments in our workforce, we can attract top talent and retain highly-skilled employees. Many of these benefits will take effect immediately and will be implemented by the first of January.”
- Senior CareGeneral Page Tier 3BlogLuminis Health Anne Arundel Medical Center (LHAAMC) is proud to announce a new accreditation from the American College of Emergency Physicians (ACEP). LHAAMC’s Institute for Healthy Aging has achieved the bronze standard (level 3) accreditation from the ACEP Geriatric Emergency Department Accreditation (GEDA) Program. Leaders in emergency medicine developed GEDA to ensure that older patients receive well-coordinated, quality care at the appropriate level at every emergency department encounter. “It is an honor to be recognized for our efforts to ensure all care throughout Luminis Health is aligned with best practices for older adults,” says Lil Banchero MSN, RN, the senior director for the Institute for Healthy Aging.
- Plastic Surgery & Skin Care, Women's HealthGeneral Page Tier 3BlogPlanning for a mastectomy can lead some women to worry about looking scarred or uneven after surgery. The good news is that breast reconstruction has come a long way over the years. Not only can women receive breast reconstruction at the same time as a mastectomy, the options give women the opportunity to feel the same or even better than they did before. Derek L. Masden, MD, chief of Plastic Surgery at Luminis Health Anne Arundel Medical Center (LHAAMC), answers a few common questions. Can I have breast reconstruction at the same time as my mastectomy? Yes, you can have them at the same time. A few years ago, you would have had to come back after the mastectomy for final reconstructive surgery. Today, you can have everything taken care of at one time. This means one trip to the operating room, one trip home and one recovery period. What are flap procedures? A flap procedure is when tissue from other parts of your body, such as the abdomen or back, is used to rebuild the shape of your breast. This is often considered more natural-feeling than implants. Keep in mind that these newly reconstructed breasts tend to age the same way as natural breast. If radiation treatment is part of my plan, should I have the surgery before or after radiation? That depends on the type of reconstruction. If you plan to have implants, I recommend getting radiation after the placement of the final implant. If you plan to have a flap procedure, I recommend that you undergo radiation prior to your flap. What are the risks? There are some risks that come with any surgery, such as bleeding, infection, and poor healing. With the flap procedure, there is a chance that the flap will not work and you may experience complications such as wound healing at both the donor (i.e.: tummy or back) and reconstruction (breast) site. For those who choose implants, there is a chance the implant could become infected or need to be removed. The vast majority of women who choose reconstructive surgery will not experience these situations, but it is always important to understand any potential complications. What results should I expect? My goal when performing reconstructive surgery is to give the patient an opportunity to feel and look like themselves after cancer treatment. Many women of all ages choose reconstructive surgery because it makes them feel complete. In some cases, women who have always considered implants will get implants during reconstructive surgery. For those who have always thought about a reduction, I can perform a reduction that will reduce chronic neck and back pain. The bottom line is, if you need a mastectomy, it’s important to talk to your doctor about your reconstructive options so you can make the decision that will give you the best possible outcome. Authors Derek L. Masden, MD, is the chief of Plastic Surgery at Luminis Health Anne Arundel Medical Center. To make an appointment with him, please call (443) 481-3400.
- Pediatrics, Infectious DiseaseGeneral Page Tier 3BlogAs COVID cases in children continue to rise — and the delta variant continues to spread — health experts are cheering on the latest vaccine developments, including the possibility of a lower-dose vaccine that may be ready for kids age five to 11 in a matter of weeks. Aside from getting us one step closer to stopping the unprecedented spread of the virus, there’s no question what it will also mean when it comes to keeping our kiddos in school. But what should you know as a parent? How COVID affects kids At the beginning of the pandemic, it seemed children didn’t get COVID as much as adults. However, over time, the number of kids infected has risen sharply. In fact, children now account for about a quarter of the weekly reported cases in the U.S., according to data from the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP). Most cases in kids are mild. But researchers are still studying how the virus could affect their long-term health. And with children in schools, sports, extracurricular and social activities, getting them vaccinated could go a long way in helping slow outbreaks of the virus in the community, reduce sick days from illness and days out of school exposure to COVID. How the vaccine works Vaccines are already available for children 12 and over. However, clinical trials were needed for those under the age of 12 to 5 years of age to ensure they’ll be safe and effective for younger kids, whose bodies work differently. A recent announcement from Pfizer explains that their vaccine for younger kids uses a smaller dose than the vaccine for adults and teens (10 micrograms compared to 30 micrograms), given 21 days apart. Their trial showed that kids had a strong immune response on par with those in the 16 to 25 age group after getting their second dose. They also had similar side effects, which were mild. The Pfizer trial included more than 2,000 children. Both vaccines must now go through a review process from the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) before being given to the public. And health officials have been eager for this to happen, especially with the latest Delta variant statistics. There’s also good news for parents of children under five who are waiting for a vaccine for their little ones. Researchers say it could be ready for our youngest set of kids later this year. When your child can get it We expect final approval for the vaccine for kids age five to 11 in the coming weeks. And officials are hopeful that children could start getting their shots as early as Halloween. Where to find help if you need it Vaccines are our best shot at ending the pandemic and getting back to freely enjoying time with our friends and families. Making sure your family gets vaccinated puts us one step closer to reaching that goal. And while that seems easy, these are stressful and uncertain times. It’s normal to have questions, and we always want to make sure you find all the information you need to feel comfortable with your health decisions. Your child’s pediatrician is a great place to start. You can also visit our FAQs at any time for help with general vaccine information. Let’s put an end to the spread — together. Authors Lauren Fitzpatrick, MD, is medical director of the Pediatric Emergency Department and Inpatient Unit, Luminis Health Anne Arundel Medical Center Asha Payne, MD, is medical director of the Children’s National Emergency Department at Luminis Health Doctors Community Medical Center.
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