- Infectious DiseaseGeneral Page Tier 3BlogLuminis Health is committed to the health and safety of our patients, staff, and the communities we serve. In June, Luminis Health announced it would require COVID-19 vaccines for staff. The health system has determined the timeline. Following science and with increasing risks of variants, our staff members must receive the COVID-19 vaccination by October 1, 2021, with exemptions for medical and religious reasons. This requirement aligns with our flu vaccine policy for staff. We are committed to an implementation plan that supports our workforce with empathy and compassion, while educating our teammates, listening to and addressing their concerns, and dispelling myths. The COVID-19 vaccine clearly works. It reduces risk of infection, spreading infection to others, and becoming severely ill or dying from the virus. The vaccine is our best shot at beating COVID-19 and ending this pandemic. Luminis Health is proud to have administered more than 100,000 vaccines to residents, particularly those most vulnerable in our communities. Through mobile clinics, our Community Health Team is bringing the COVID-19 vaccine to low income and senior housing, homeless shelters, churches, community colleges, barbershops, and businesses. If you need a COVID-19 vaccine, please visit one of our upcoming mobile vaccine clinics.
- Heart Care, Patient StoriesGeneral Page Tier 3BlogWhen Dania Blair Schuh, of Gibson Island, felt chest pain she thought it was related to reflux she had experienced in the past. But after a few weeks of feeling pain every morning, she went to the emergency department at nearby Luminis Health Anne Arundel Medical Center (LHAAMC). Dania had an electrocardiogram (also called an EKG), which records the electrical signal from your heart to check its rhythm. The EKG went well, but doctors asked her to come back for an echocardiogram. An echocardiogram, or “echo” for short, uses ultrasound waves to produce images of your heart for information on the structure and function. Further testing showed a nearly 90% blockage in her left main artery. She needed open-heart surgery. “My husband [former Anne Arundel County Executive Steve Schuh] and I were shocked,” Dania says. They discussed going to Baltimore for surgery, but decided to have it closer to home at the medical center Dania knows well, having volunteered in the emergency department for a few years. Three weeks after her surgery, Dania is able to walk three miles a day. “I feel like I have a new heart,” she says. Luminis Health Anne Arundel Medical Center (LHAAMC) recently received the American College of Cardiology’s NCDR Chest Pain ̶ MI Registry Platinum Performance Achievement Award for 2021. “As a Platinum Performance Award recipient, LHAAMC has established itself as a leader in setting the national standard for improving quality of care in patients with acute myocardial infarction,” said Michael C. Kontos, MD, FACC, chair of the NCDR Chest Pain – MI Registry Steering Subcommittee, and cardiologist at Virginia Commonwealth University Medical Center. Read more, here.
- News & Press Releases, Heart CareGeneral Page Tier 3BlogLuminis Health Anne Arundel Medical Center (LHAAMC) has received the American College of Cardiology’s NCDR Chest Pain ̶ MI Registry Platinum Performance Achievement Award for 2021. To receive this award, LHAAMC has demonstrated sustained achievement in the Chest Pain ̶ MI Registry for two consecutive years (2019 and 2020), and performed at the highest level for specific performance measures. “We are one of only 212 hospitals nationwide to receive this honor,” said Sherry Perkins president of LHAAMC. “This award recognizes our commitment and success in implementing a higher standard of care for heart attack patients, and signifies that LHAAMC has reached an aggressive goal of treating these patients to standard levels of care as outlined by the American College of Cardiology/American Heart Association clinical guidelines and recommendations.” “We are honored to be recognized nationally for high standards of cardiac care,” said Dr. Scott Katzen, medical director of LHAAMC’s Catheterization Lab. “The mission of Luminis Health is to enhance the health of the people we serve. This award reaffirms our dedication and commitment to providing excellent cardiac care to our patients in their own backyard.” That commitment was enhanced when LHAAMC launched a new cardiac surgery program. Since late December, the cardiac surgery team has performed nearly 75 open-heart surgeries. Chest Pain ̶ MI Registry empowers health care provider teams to consistently treat heart attack patients according to the most current, science-based guidelines and establishes a national standard for understanding and improving the quality, safety and outcomes of care provided for patients with coronary artery disease, specifically high-risk heart attack patients. “As a Platinum Performance Award recipient, LHAAMC has established itself as a leader in setting the national standard for improving quality of care in patients with acute myocardial infarction,” said Michael C. Kontos, MD, FACC, chair of the NCDR Chest Pain – MI Registry Steering Subcommittee, and cardiologist at Virginia Commonwealth University Medical Center. “By meeting the award requirements set forth in the registry, LHAAMC has demonstrated a commitment to providing reliable, comprehensive treatment for heart attack patients based on current clinical guideline recommendations.” The Centers for Disease Control estimates that almost 700,000 Americans suffer a heart attack each year. A heart attack occurs when a blood clot in a coronary artery partially or completely blocks blood flow to the heart muscle. Treatment guidelines include administering aspirin upon arrival and discharge, timely restoration of blood flow to the blocked artery, smoking cessation counseling and cardiac rehabilitation, among others.
- Cancer Care, Women's HealthGeneral Page Tier 3BlogA breast cancer diagnosis can be overwhelming. Many young women with breast cancer may wonder how cancer and its treatment will affect their ability to become pregnant. The truth is many women are able to have children after breast cancer treatment. Here’s what you need to know: How will treatment affect my fertility? Several treatments can affect your ability to have children. Some chemotherapy medications can damage the eggs that are in your ovaries. Hormonal treatment, which often lasts for five to 10 years, may cause birth defects. Women undergoing this treatment should not try to become pregnant. Talk to your doctor about your options. What are my options for protecting my ability to have kids? Medically freezing your eggs is one way to ensure your eggs are protected. Another option is to have your eggs fertilized and then freeze the resulting embryos. It’s important to talk to your doctor about your fertility options before you start treatment. What about breastfeeding? Nursing after breast cancer treatment is possible for many women. If you had a lumpectomy, you may still be able to produce milk from the affected breast. If you had a single mastectomy, you could nurse from the other breast. If you had radiation, you may still be able to breastfeed unless there is damage to the milk ducts. Talk to your doctor about what’s safe if you plan to breastfeed after breast cancer treatment. Can I pass breast cancer to my child? Cancer does not pass to a baby in the womb, and there is no evidence that breast cancer will affect a baby’s development. But having a mother with breast cancer does increase a child’s risk of developing breast cancer as an adult. Consider genetic testing and counseling to learn more. Where can I find a fertility specialist? There are several fertility clinics in Maryland. Your breast cancer treatment team can help you find a reproductive specialist near you. Authors Young Joo Lee, MD, is the medical director of Breast Medical Oncology and Integrative Medicine at Luminis Health Anne Arundel Medical Center. To make an appointment with Dr. Lee, call 443-481-4884.
- Pediatrics, Infectious DiseaseGeneral Page Tier 3BlogShould my child get a COVID-19 vaccine? Many parents and guardians are asking this question, especially before the first day of school. Here are some answers to common concerns. Is My Child Eligible? Right now, anyone 12 and older can get the Pfizer vaccine. If your child is 18 and older, they are eligible to receive Pfizer, Moderna or Johnson & Johnson. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and the American Academy of Pediatrics recommend children get the first vaccine available to them. How Does The Vaccine Work? COVID-19 vaccines essentially teach your immune system to recognize and make antibodies to fight the virus. After the second dose, it takes about two weeks for your body to build up immunity to the virus that causes COVID-19. Full immunity to the Johnson & Johnson dose occurs two weeks after the single dose. It is still unclear how long immunity from the vaccine will protect people. Is The Vaccine Safe For Children? All vaccines are very effective at preventing serious illness, hospitalization and death. After getting the vaccine, you can still get the virus, but cases are less severe and bad outcomes significantly reduced. Vaccines also dramatically reduce asymptomatic infection, which is important in decreasing the overall transmission of COVID-19. What About Side Effects? Like adults, some, but not all, children experience minor side effects. They can include: Pain, redness, and swelling at the injection site Fever Chills Headache Fatigue Nausea Pain in muscles These symptoms typically last 24 to 48 hours. According to the CDC, there are no known long-term effects from the COVID-19 vaccine. I’ve Heard A Lot About Myocarditis, Should I Be Concerned? Myocarditis, or inflammation of the heart muscle, is an extremely rare side effect. According to the CDC, a small number of adolescents and young adults have experienced mild cases of myocarditis after getting the COVID-19 vaccine. It is mainly seen in males ages 16 to 30 and can include abnormal heart rhythms, shortness of breath or chest pain. Since most recover on their own, it is still safer to get the vaccine rather than COVID-19 because the virus can affect the heart. Does The COVID-19 Vaccine Cause Female Infertility? There is no evidence to support an impact on fertility. The CDC has tracked more than 35,000 pregnant women who received the vaccines. There was no increase in miscarriage or adverse outcomes for these women or their babies. The American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists recommends that pregnant women get a COVID-19 vaccine. It can protect you from severe illness from the virus. Be sure to talk to your doctor or child’s pediatrician if you have questions and concerns. What If My Child is Under 12? Clinical trials are underway to determine if COVID-19 vaccines are effective in children under 12. In the meantime, keep encouraging your children to practice the ‘3Ws’: wear a mask, wash your hands and watch your distance. These three, simple practices can greatly reduce your and your child’s risk of COVID-19. What Should I do When My Child Returns to School? (Updated Aug. 25, 2021) Due to the circulating and highly contagious Delta variant, CDC recommends universal indoor masking by all students (age 2 and older), regardless of vaccination status. Getting all vaccine-eligible children vaccinated will help the overall school community to remain safe. Also, please keep your children home from school if they are sick. Authors Dr. Lauren Fitzpatrick is the medical director of Pediatrics ER/Inpatient at Luminis Health Anne Arundel Medical Center. Dr. Asha Payne is medical director of Children’s National Emergency Department at Doctors Community Medical Center.
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