- News & Press ReleasesGeneral Page Tier 3BlogAnne Arundel Medical Center (AAMC) and Doctors Community Health System (DCHS) have combined to form a new health system. AAMC and DCHS announced today that the name of the new, integrated health system is Luminis Health. The new health system will reimagine community care, improving access and population health while expanding services throughout Maryland. “For years, Anne Arundel Medical Center and Doctors Community Health System have shared a dedication to compassionate care, delivered when and where people need it most,” said Victoria Bayless, president/CEO of AAMC and CEO of Luminis Health. “We’re carrying that same commitment into the future as Luminis Health, a health system that is here to embrace progress and awaken a new era in care for our communities.” “We are committed to lighting the way to the highest quality, personalized health care to meet our patients’ needs,” said Gary Jobson, board chair, Luminis Health. “The benefits of combining and creating the new health system include more entry points for coordinated care across the region, improved access to care close to home, enhanced quality and improved health outcomes.” “Luminis Health will serve as a beacon of hope and healing to strengthen our local communities,” said Paul Grenaldo, president of DCHS. “Those important phrases truly represent elements of each organization’s great traditions while looking towards the future as to how we can be of greater service to people throughout Maryland.” After sharing their intent to partner in May, AAMC and DCHS signed a definitive agreement at the end of June and closed July 1, 2019. Luminis Health will launch its new brand in spring 2020, which will include a new logo and visual identity. The full integration is expected to take up to two years. In November, health system officials will host public town hall meetings in Anne Arundel and Prince George’s Counties. To view the town hall schedule and to learn more about Luminis Health, visit LuminisHealth.com. What is the meaning behind the new name? Luminis (pronounced lu·mi·nous) is symbolic of light. It signifies the health system’s commitment to being a beacon of hope and healing for its communities. Light is quite literally energy that you can see — and by joining forces and moving forward as one, AAMC and DCHS are igniting new possibilities for how and where health care is delivered. How did you pick this name? Over the past several months, health system officials have asked for input from community members and internal stakeholders through surveys, research and interviews. Luminis Health was born from that input, but more importantly, all of the research will help define the new health system brand. The new brand will be revealed in spring 2020. Will the name of the hospitals change? Starting Sept. 17, the new health system will be known as Luminis Health. The next step is to determine how the new system name will apply to both hospitals’ existing entity names while respecting the legacies of each. This process will continue to include an enormous amount of research to make sure voices of both AAMC and DCHS stakeholders (i.e., employees, physicians, board members, community members, volunteers, etc.) are heard. How will this affect patients? Right now, access to care will remain the same, without any immediate changes. Patients can continue to see their preferred providers, and insurance coverage and access to patient portals will not change.
- Women's HealthGeneral Page Tier 3BlogLena Dunham. Whoopi Goldberg. Susan Sarandon. These are just a few of the high-profile women who have publicly discussed their experience living with endometriosis. Endometriosis is a gynecologic condition that occurs when tissue that normally lines the inside of the uterus grows elsewhere in the abdomen. Endometriosis is very common, affecting as many as 10 percent of American women of childbearing age, or more than 6.5 million women in the United States. While the cause of endometriosis is not clear and there is not a defined gene, there may be a familial link. According to a 2008 study out of Yale University School of Medicine, women with an affected mother or sister have as high as a 10-fold increased risk of developing endometriosis. Although some women don’t experience symptoms with endometriosis, many report intensely painful menstrual cramps and pain during sex. Over time, untreated endometriosis can lead to chronic inflammation and scarring in the abdominal cavity, resulting in debilitating pain beyond the menstrual cycle. Severe endometriosis can involve other organs such as the bowel and bladder, causing non-gynecologic symptoms such as pain with bowel movements and urination. Endometriosis is traditionally diagnosed by confirmation of implants seen in surgery. However, it can often be diagnosed on symptoms and physical exam alone. Endometriosis before and during pregnancy One of the biggest concerns women with endometriosis have is whether they can get pregnant. There is a strong link between endometriosis and infertility. As many as 40 percent of women struggling with infertility are diagnosed with endometriosis. If you know you have endometriosis, it is important to meet with an infertility specialist prior to getting pregnant because you may require treatment of endometriosis before any fertility treatments. Treatment must be a multi-pronged approach It is important to understand that there is no “silver bullet” cure for endometriosis. For women who receive a diagnosis of endometriosis later in life, they often develop a hypersensitivity to pain, which is not easily treated with medication or surgery alone. Successful treatment of endometriosis requires a team of specialists in both surgical and nonsurgical fields. Drug treatments: Medicine for endometriosis should tackle one of two issues: ovulation and inflammation. Supplemental hormones, most commonly in the form of birth control pills, suppress ovulation, which suppresses the endometriosis flare during menstrual cycles. There are also safe hormonal alternatives, such as Depo-Provera injections or the hormonal IUD. Over-the-counter medications such as ibuprofen suppresses inflammation and provides pain relief. For patients with more severe pain, certain medications can damper the pain signals in the brain. It is important to note that opioids often do not help endometriosis pain and should be avoided. Surgical treatments: I often do not recommend surgery as the first-line treatment for endometriosis. However, if the pain is severe and medication is not working, surgery may be the next option. There are many surgical options with endometriosis, like removing ovarian cysts (cystectomy), removing endometriosis implants, removing one or both ovaries (oophorectomy), and removing the uterus (hysterectomy). What kind of surgery you need will depend on your age, health status, whether you intend to get pregnant in the future and many other factors. Pelvic Floor Physical Therapy (PFPT). Many patients with chronic pelvic pain due to endometriosis are excellent candidates for pelvic floor physical therapy. With chronic pain, the muscles in the vagina often tense up, resulting in significant pain during sex or with movement. Pelvic floor physical therapy is a safe and effective co-treatment for pelvic pain and should be offered to women who exhibit signs of vaginal muscle tightening or tenderness on exam. Be your own advocate Although there is no specific way of preventing endometriosis, there are ways you can impact the condition and manage your symptoms. The first thing I always tell women is not to ignore the pain. Pain that starts only during menstrual cycles can eventually become worsened or become constant due to amplification of your brain’s interpretation of pain. This can be very difficult to treat. Second, don’t be afraid or embarrassed to seek help from an expert. If surgery is recommended for you, always get a second opinion before proceeding. Be an advocate for yourself, your body and your life. Finally, get support and talk with other women who also live with endometriosis. The more women who speak up about endometriosis, the more attention this condition will get and the more we can advocate for better resources for women and healthcare providers. Author Jessica Ton, MD, is a specialist in minimally invasive gynecologic surgery with Anne Arundel Medical Group (AAMG) Gynecologic Specialty Surgeons. To schedule an appointment with her, call 443-481-3493.
- Behavioral Health, PediatricsGeneral Page Tier 3BlogIn today’s world, the pressures of being a teenager can be overwhelming. Not only are teens consistently pressured to do well academically and excel in extracurricular activities, but they also face pressure to be part of the crowd. On top of that, add in the struggles of peer harassment or even being the subject of online harassment. Life can quickly become one of misery. A school day can feel like an eternity and, at home, the effects of that day are far from over. Teenage peer-to-peer harassment occurs frequently, but the conversation at home and in school is rare. It can lead to feelings of low self-esteem, anxiety, school refusal and depression. You and your teen should know how to identify harassment. Here are some important things to know: Harassing behaviors often start in childhood. These behaviors among young children are often characterized as “boys will be boys” or as children just being playful. Harassment does not start in a day. It is a behavior that develops over time. Correcting the behavior early on will lead to more appropriate behaviors during your child’s teenage years. Harassment is also verbal. Jokes, innuendos, slurs, name-calling and insults can have a traumatic and lasting effect. Oftentimes, verbal abuse starts in the home. Assess your family’s communication and stop using names and negative labels. It is important to model appropriate language and actions. Boys face harassment, too. We often think about harassment when it comes to girls, but boys do fall victim. Boys are less likely to talk about harassment or even consider the actions that have been taken against them as a form of harassment. Look for changes in behaviors, like becoming solitary or avoiding people or places they used to enjoy. Be sure to keep an open dialogue. Here are some tips to help you: Don’t dismiss your teenager’s concerns. Make them feel comfortable to talk to you if someone is repeating negative behavior toward them. Knowing that you are on their side will ease pain and embarrassment. Talk about social media. Smartphones, online messaging and social media sites make it easy for people to harass. You should also talk to your teenager about unwanted sexual advances, which can happen on any digital platform. Know the policies of your teenager’s school. Contact the school if your son or daughter is being harassed. Be sure to talk regularly with your child and with school staff to see whether the bullying has stopped and not increased. Teens are likely to feel that some behaviors are just normal teenage behavior that they have to deal with. Yet, the behaviors are truly making them feel uncomfortable and negatively affecting their self-esteem and sense of belonging. If your child comes to you with concerns of harassment, be sure to listen, come from a place of understanding and then, together, formulate a plan to stop it. Author For more information about Behavioral Health Care at Luminis Health or to schedule an appointment visit Luminis.Health/BehavioralHealth.
- Cancer Care, Women's HealthGeneral Page Tier 3BlogNancy Long initially dismissed her early symptoms of ovarian cancer, chalking each one up to something else entirely. Fatigue? Indigestion? The Annapolis woman thought life stresses were to blame. A colonoscopy came back clear. But when she began to have horrible abdominal bloating, she knew something wasn’t right. She had a pelvic sonogram, and her disease was so far advanced that her ovaries weren’t even visible. A blood test then detected elevated levels of CA-125, a protein in the blood that may indicate ovarian cancer and other kinds of cancer. Nancy was diagnosed with stage 3C ovarian cancer, meaning it had spread outside of the ovaries and into other organs. She was in surgery within a week, followed by 18 months of chemotherapy. Now at age 70, she has been cancer free for 13 years. “I should have known the signs and symptoms,” she says, as at that time she was a nurse practitioner at a gynecologist’s office. The problem with ovarian cancer, though, is that the symptoms — constipation, tiredness, bloating, back pain, urinary tract issues — can so often be symptoms of something else entirely. There’s also no effective screening test for ovarian cancer. Now, as a longtime volunteer with the National Ovarian Cancer Coalition’s Central Maryland chapter, Nancy is committed to raising awareness of this form of cancer that strikes 1 in 75 women. Last year, 14,000 women died of ovarian cancer in the U.S. “I wish every physician would talk to their patients about this,” she says. Nancy is one of the organizers of the chapter’s 10th Annual Run/Walk — Together in TEAL — Ending Ovarian Cancer. This year’s run/walk takes place on Sept. 22 at Westfield Annapolis Mall. September is National Ovarian Cancer Awareness Month. Since 2009, Nancy has seen the event grow from 400 people in Quiet Waters Park in Annapolis, to 2,000 participants. The chapter uses the money raised to fund its three main goals: Awareness, help for survivors and research. Judeth Davis, a nurse navigator with AAMC’s DeCesaris Cancer Institute, says Nancy is a tireless advocate for ovarian cancer awareness and education. “She leads our chapter of the NOCC with passion and relentlessness,” Judeth says. “She provides literature about early detection and warning signs, and she offers support to countless women and their loved ones as they face this challenge.” Nancy says many myths surround ovarian cancer. For instance, many women think their yearly physical would alert them if something was wrong. But the truth is, a Pap smear won’t detect ovarian cancer. Others also believe an ovarian cancer diagnosis is a death sentence. And while it is the most deadly gynecological cancer, Nancy says patients still have reason to be hopeful. “I’ve been alive and well for 13 years,” she says. Still, fewer than 20 percent of ovarian cancer cases are detected early, when the prognosis is best. So it’s best to always talk to your doctor about your health concerns, no matter how insignificant you may think they are. “I wish I hadn’t taken it upon myself to self-diagnose,” Nancy says. The deadline to register for the run/walk is Sept. 18. When you register, choose AAMC Avengers to join AAMC’s team. The Gynecologic Oncology Center at Anne Arundel Medical Center offers treatments for ovarian cancer and other gynecologic cancers. To learn more, call 443-481-3356. Originally published Aug. 30, 2017. Last updated Sept. 9, 2019.
- News & Press ReleasesGeneral Page Tier 3BlogAnne Arundel Medical Center (AAMC) announces Adam Riker, MD, as its first chair of Oncology. Dr. Riker comes to AAMC from Louisiana State University (LSU) School of Medicine, where he served as chief of Surgical Oncology and medical director of the cancer service line. Prior to LSU, he led cancer service lines at Ochsner Health System in New Orleans and Advocate Cancer Institute at Christ Medical Center in Chicago. Dr. Riker assumed the role of chair of Oncology at AAMC in September. Along with Cathy Copertino, vice president of Cancer Services, Dr. Riker will lead the Geaton and JoAnn DeCesaris Cancer Institute at AAMC. He will oversee the continued development and creation of clinical programs, research and academic endeavors. Dr. Riker will provide leadership in all aspects of the cancer service line with regard to strategic, operational, resource management and education efforts. “We are thrilled to welcome Dr. Riker to Anne Arundel Medical Center,” said Mitchell Schwartz, MD, chief medical officer and president of Physician Enterprise at AAMC. “We believe that Dr. Riker will bring leadership skills to Anne Arundel Medical Center that will enable us to broaden the scope and depth of our cancer program. He has the skills to facilitate the vision of the Geaton and JoAnn DeCesaris Cancer Institute, which is to provide high value cancer care that is scientifically based and designed to exceed patient and family expectations.” “I am thrilled to join Anne Arundel Medical Center,” said Dr. Riker. “The Geaton and JoAnn DeCesaris Cancer Institute holds an incredible reputation for high quality cancer care. I look forward to building on that reputation and further advancing the institute’s cancer care delivery system for our patients and their families.” Dr. Riker attended medical school at the University of South Florida’s Morsani College of Medicine and was an intern and resident at Loyola University Medical Center in Chicago. He completed his clinical fellowship in surgical oncology at the National Cancer Institute of the National Institutes of Health.
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