- Community, News & Press Releases, Infectious DiseaseGeneral Page Tier 3BlogAfter watching the news for days, Steven Saint Amour was aware that hospitals would soon face a shortage of PPE – something that kept him up at night. Looking for ways to help, he stopped by Anne Arundel Medical Center (AAMC) and dropped off his contact information at the information desk. “I just couldn’t wrap my head around the collective loss of knowledge and experience after I saw the news where they reported that over 50 doctors in Italy and an untold number of other health providers had died,” Saint Amour explained. “Who would have ever imagined that these people faced equal or greater risk than our folks serving in the military, police and fire department? I chose to fight.” Shortly after, he received a call from Jan Wood, president of AAMC’s Foundation, who said she would take all personal protective equipment (PPE) that Saint Amour kept on hand and anything else they could donate. “As we face this health care crisis, our partnership with our community has never been more important or more valuable,” Wood said. “Steve and his mighty team have combined ingenuity, passion, kindness, expertise and a ‘can-do’ spirit to make a real difference in AAMC’s ability to provide the best possible care for our community and we are incredibly grateful.” Getting to work Saint Amour has been involved in the subsea industry for over 38 years and is recognized as an authority in the field of aviation and marine casualty investigations. His entrepreneurial spirit inspired him to donate approximately $2,000 worth of PPE from Eclipse Group, Inc., his own subsea services company, which he co-founded with his wife, Joan, over a decade ago. Saint Amour determined more needed to be done. In another middle of the night “aha!” moment, he looked at his 3D printer and did research online. He came across information about a team of doctors in Billings Clinic in Billings, Mont., who designed and coded masks with 3D printers. Saint Amour realized one printer would not produce masks fast enough. “We were already on lockdown and in the middle of dinner, my 17-year-old daughter very calmly and casually said she knew were we could find more,” he explained. Next day, Saint Amour called St. Mary’s High School (SMHS) and before he knew it, he had more 3D printers coming his way. Expanding the network of 3D printers Saint Amour picked up two machines from SMHS in the morning and got to work. “Later in the day, they called to say they had four more 3D printers at the elementary school and by Friday we had six printers printing masks,” he recalled. SMHS Principal Mindi Imes, without hesitation, joined the effort by putting out a call to action to 72 regional schools to donate their 3D printers and printing supplies. Volunteers promptly responded willing to lend their printers and as of April 3, Saint Amour has 21 printers. He keeps these in either his conference room in his company’s warehouse or at various other locations, including the homes of private citizens determined to help provide help to AAMC. Over the past week, he’s been contacted by local schools, residents, groups and other individuals offering to lend their 3D printers. “It’s kind of a grassroots effort,” he said. How it works The 3D printers are turned on at 5 or 6 pm and 10-12 hours later, there are 40 plastic mask shells ready to be assembled. To finalize these, Saint Amour and his team add a double gasket material so that it has a good seal and barrier on the wearer’s face, and then they insert a filter element and elastics to hold the mask to the face. In five minutes, the 3D printed mask is ready for use. Masks are delivered, each one independently in their own plastic bag. AAMC is using the masks for patients and for those in health care spaces who are not taking care of patients yet need extra protection. About 80 percent of the mask is plastic with an aperture at the front, making it easy to sanitize the mask, change the filter and reuse – a critical feature as PPE is precious now. Right now, Saint Amour is donating nearly 60 masks every day to AAMC. His goal is to produce 100 masks per day. “Our hold up right now is not having more 3D printers,” he said. Saint Amour is also working with volunteers in several other states and Canada to expand the effort and encourage them to produce masks using 3D printers. “We can either be spectators to a human disaster or we can act,” he said. Ways you can help If you or someone you know has a 3D Printer, consider joining St. Mary’s and Steve Saint Amour at Eclipse to produce Montana Masks. For more information about the local operation, the process for using your 3D printer to help, or starting your own local movement, please email SMHS Principal, Mindi Imes. If you would like to support the local Annapolis Montana Mask Movement, please donate using Venmo to JoanSaintAmour. Funds raised will be used to coordinate the purchase of supplies to create protective gear. St. Mary’s Elementary School Principal Rebecca Zimmerman is coordinating the purchase and collection of items needed, including 3D printing filament, furnace filters and disinfectant wipes.
- Community, Infectious DiseaseGeneral Page Tier 3BlogAnne Arundel Medical Center recently launched the Grateful Hearts campaign to show our health care workers that we are thankful for what they do every day. And now, as we battle the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic, we’re more thankful than ever for these superheroes who protect our community. During this campaign, we are asking the community to share their gratitude and join the #HeartsForHealthcareWorkers movement. Joining the campaign is simple: decorate and display paper hearts in your home, post a picture of your heart on social media and be sure to tag us using the hashtag #IHeartAAMC. We are in challenging times and this campaign ultimately shows the gratitude for the powerful impact our health care workers have in patients’ lives. Highlighting our health care workers as the heartbeat of our community also has mental health benefits. More and more research proves the consistent link between gratitude and greater happiness. Gratitude helps people feel more positive emotions, alleviate depression, improve health, better manage adversity and build strong relationships. Showing gratitude is important for all of us, but it is an especially important trait to develop in children. When you teach your children to practice gratitude, you aren’t just teaching them a social skill, you’re providing your children with a tool for happiness and resilience. Building grateful character traits can increase your child’s happiness and resiliency when faced with life’s challenges. It’s easy to participate in the campaign, simply download one or both of the printable hearts and post in your home to show how grateful you are for our frontline heroes. Don’t forget to share on social media and tag us using the hashtag #IHeartAAMC.
- Infectious DiseaseGeneral Page Tier 3BlogThings are moving quickly. Every day brings new information and with it, new challenges. The most pressing focus of our Incident Command Team and leadership is on the safety of our staff and patients. Our priority is to safely staff, supply, and equip our hospital now and in the future. Today, I additionally want to express to you my gratitude and appreciation to each member of our team for all you are doing. Many of you are learning – like me – to work differently. Some are working remotely while trying to balance home and professional responsibilities. Others are utilizing their skills and abilities in new roles. Many continue the important work they have done all along – unified, focused, and sincere. Each of you is vital to the AAMC team. I cannot fully express my gratitude, and I’m not alone in being grateful for the work you are doing. I wanted to share this note, written by Pat Holle, one of AAMC’s Patient Family Advisors (PFA). PFAs work with our teams to bring the patient and family perspective into all we do. Her words echo so many others in our community and across the world. AAMC Patient and Family Advisor Patricia Holle Dear AAMC staff, When I was diagnosed with cancer, spring was starting, just like now. How vividly I remember looking at the flowers and trees blooming, the grass growing, and our beautiful world showing off its best. The skies somehow seemed more blue and the new growth more magnificent than ever. I remember treasuring each moment, wondering if this would be my last spring here on earth. Being reminded by my diagnosis that no day is guaranteed, every connection with friends and family and co-workers was even more treasured. As we face this pandemic together, I am reminded of that spring. These unprecedented times have made us all even more conscious of the fragility of life, our humanity, and yet, even in all this uncertainty, also our connectedness to each other. On behalf of our community, I’d like to thank each of you who run towards the front lines, as the rest of us retreat into the safety of our homes. You didn’t sign up for this – you probably never imagined a day like this would come – but still you choose to show up for each shift, doing the noble, messy, and exhausting work that will likely define your career. In this, you have brought us hope. There are no words to adequately thank you, but I hope that you are feeling the love and support from our community as we do what we can, whether it be sending in food, donating blood or money to the Community Response Fund, or sewing masks. And I do know this, spring will come again. In awe and gratitude, Pat Holle, Co-Chair, AAMC Patient and Family Advisor Council
- Behavioral Health, Infectious DiseaseGeneral Page Tier 3BlogThere is a sense of comfort that comes with the feeling of certainty. As humans, we like to be in control and know what is happening at all times and when it’s happening. And when things feel uncertain or we don’t feel safe or in control, we feel stressed or anxious. This reaction is designed to protect us – like with a fight-or-flight response. But, it can cause mental havoc and ignite conflicting information around us that aggravate anxious feelings. With the outbreak of coronavirus (COVID-19), it’s natural for many of us to feel stressed or anxious. But it’s also important to remember that, although you might not be in control of everything happening around you, you can always choose how you decide to respond. Focus on what you can do. Identify what is in your control and what is not. There are many things you can do, and it’s helpful to focus your energy on those. Wash your hands often, and remind others to wash theirs. Practice social distancing and limit your news consumption, as this can increase stress and reduce your overall wellbeing. Keep a healthy routine. Your immune system weakens when you’re stressed, making you more susceptible to illness. It’s important that you continue to look after yourself. Follow a consistent sleep schedule, consume a balanced diet, exercise, wash your clothes after coming back from outside and take warm showers to help you relax. Stay connected. Isolation doesn’t need to equal loneliness. Although it can be challenging to keep the dialogue going with your child when the day has been long for both of you, try these easy-to-remember conversation starters to help and plan for fun things you can do together. Set up virtual gatherings with friends and family or watch a movie through a Netflix Party. You can also find different ways you can get involved in your community, such as by showing your appreciation for health workers or helping your local hospital. Practice what feels right to you. Do what works for you, not others. Everyone has a different coping mechanism, so it’s important that you don’t compare yourself. It’s okay if you want to read a book all day or do a home workout because it gives you a sense of safety. Enjoy the fresh air. Being locked inside all day can make you feel trapped. Try opening a window, standing outside your balcony or going for a walk around your neighborhood to get some exercise and vitamin D. Be in the present. With so much uncertainty around us, it’s easy for you to worry about what is happening and start projecting into the future. Be mindful of when you catch yourself worrying about something that hasn’t happened yet to slowly bring yourself back into the present moment. Notice the sights, sounds, tastes and other sensory experiences around you at that moment and start naming them. Mindfulness can help you stay grounded when things feel beyond your control. Help is always available. If you’re feeling alone and struggling, you can also reach out to The Crisis Text Line by texting TALK to 741741 or National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 1-800-273-TALK. We are in this together. Author Daniel Watkins is the director of substance use services at Pathways, Anne Arundel Medical Center’s substance abuse and mental health treatment facility. You can reach him at 443-481-5434.
- Senior Care, Infectious DiseaseGeneral Page Tier 3BlogThe number of coronavirus (COVID-19) cases is growing daily in the U.S., and these are extraordinary times for all of us. Over the last few weeks, we’ve all heard how important it is to work together to prevent the spread of COVID-19. Gov. Larry Hogan has banned public gatherings of 10 people or more people, and ordered shopping malls, restaurants and all non-essential businesses to close. This means a drastic change in lifestyle for many people, and some may question whether these extreme measures are necessary – particularly older people who have survived difficult times, including illnesses, in the past. If you have a parent or a grandparent who is questioning these mandates, here’s what to tell them. Explain the risks associated with coronavirus. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), older adults and people of any age who have serious underlying medical conditions might be at higher risk for severe illness from COVID-19. Some of those underlying health conditions include heart conditions, high blood pressure, lung disease and diabetes. If you are in this high-risk group, the CDC recommends stocking up on supplies, including medications. Remind parents and grandparents to practice social distancing by keeping at least six feet away from others, and avoiding crowds. People of all ages should wash their hands often and watch out for symptoms, including fever, cough and shortness of breath. READ MORE: Coronavirus and high-risk individuals Remind them that staying home is about protecting other people as much as it is about protecting themselves. Let older family members know that even if they catch the virus and recover quickly, they could still spread it to others who may not be as lucky and become very ill. Social distancing is meant to protect everyone in your community. Offer to help set up food deliveries and other services to make their lives easier and safer. Many grocery stores and pharmacies offer delivery services. CVS Pharmacy has even waived delivery fees due to the pandemic. Many restaurants that have closed are also offering delivery and takeout services, and apps like DoorDash and Uber Eats make home delivery easier than ever. Some restaurants are offering free delivery, too. If you have family members who are missing their favorite restaurant meals, let them know that they can still “dine out” in the comfort of their own home. Remind your loved ones of these services and help them take advantage of them. Let them know you’re only a phone call away. Staying homebound for days or weeks can be difficult for people of any age. Parents and grandparents with active social lives may have an especially hard time staying in their homes. This is why it’s important to reach out to them and let them know you’re thinking of them. Give them a call and chat with them about their worries and concerns. And think about virtual visits, too. See if you can FaceTime, Zoom or Skype older members of your family so you can interact “in person.” Walk them through how to use this technology if they are unfamiliar with it. This new way of life is challenging for everyone, and we don’t know how long it is going to last. But if we remain patient and support each other, we will get through this together. Author Lil Banchero is the senior director of AAMC’s Institute for Healthy Aging.
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