- Behavioral Health, Pediatrics, Infectious DiseaseGeneral Page Tier 3BlogIn the last few weeks, we have all been learning how to live online while being asked to remain at home. Whether it’s grocery shopping, working or browsing the internet, doing so much from home has taught us how to transition into a more virtual world. Similarly, children have felt the frustrations of social restrictions and the challenges that come with adapting to online learning. And whereas before they could go to school or to the playground before, now they are home. It’s easy to scroll through your phone or sit in front of the TV and binge watch new and old shows. And it’s ok to do that once in a while. At the end of the day, we’re all learning a new way of life and how to navigate through a pandemic. But it’s also important to remember that smartphone addiction is a real thing and that balance is important, especially for mental health. Our phones are a big part of our lives. Sometimes, it even feels like they’re an extension of our hand — placing us at the mercy of whomever calls, texts or tags us next. Those posts and messages, despite our best attempts, alter our mood and decisions. Our kids are just as digitally connected, and are displaying a similar, sometimes more extreme, shift in behavior as a result. Studies also show links between social media and depression and anxiety. So how can you help combat this? Encourage your kids to put their phone or tablet down and reroute their focus to the present moment. Although there are social restrictions that limit us from going outside, there are plenty of things you can do with your children to help them disconnect from technology: Carve tech-free time into the family schedule. Make electronic devices off limits at specific times. Dinnertime and before bedtime are a good start, but additional breaks from technology each day is also ideal. You can also limit digital distractions by creating tech-free rooms in the house, such as the kitchen or living room. Designate a drawer, a shoebox or a shelf as the place where everyone puts their phones away for tech-free time. Set your goals. Are you trying to have more family time? Talk about your children’s worries or fears? Decrease the amount of time you’re on your screens? Whatever you’re trying to achieve, make it clear so everyone can participate and work toward the goal collaboratively and intentionally. Use tools for mindfulness. You can create cards with questions that will make your child think and initiate a conversation. For example, ask them about a time they had to handle a difficult situation and how they successfully overcame it. Your child can’t be present if they’re sitting on the other side of the table on their phone. When you’re talking, you’re learning about the other person and, even more importantly, gaining their trust. Trust is essential to a good relationship. Make things fun. Think of fun activities that can replace the time your kids spend on their phone and computer. You can suggest going out for a walk together around the neighborhood. You can also ask them to share their ideas of what you can do together as a family. Think about non-verbal messages. Non-verbal signals, like using eye contact, facial expressions, gestures and body language will help your child recognize emotions and understand the intent of a message. These non-verbal cues are lost when someone’s face is turned down to a screen. It’s a new way of life. We’re all individually learning how to best navigate this time of uncertainty and what works best for us. If you need to scroll through social media and laugh at memes or watch your favorite show, do what feels right to you. Just be mindful to take care of your mental health and the mental health of your youngest family members. What kids are going to remember is how they felt during this time. Carve tech-free time to talk and go over their worries and feelings. Try to make it a positive and rewarding experience for kids as much as possible – it will in turn be a more positive experience for you, too. Author Daniel Watkins is the nursing manager at Pathways, Anne Arundel Medical Center’s substance abuse and mental health treatment facility. You can reach him at 410-573-5434.
- Community, Infectious DiseaseGeneral Page Tier 3BlogThis week is National Volunteer Week, and though the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic has kept our team of dedicated volunteers out of the hospital in recent weeks, we remain grateful for all they have done for our community. AAMC President Sherry Perkins shares her appreciation for our auxilians and volunteers. To our wonderful auxilians and volunteers, This week, we celebrate National Volunteer Week. Though our halls are not currently bustling with auxilians and volunteers, we at Anne Arundel Medical Center want to honor your efforts and express our gratitude for everything you do. Just weeks ago, your smiles were the first introductions our patients had to AAMC as they walked through our doors. You provided a warm and welcome distraction when families popped into the gift shop. You supported our staff all over the hospital and beyond by providing an extra component of care and compassion to patients and their families. I know those days will come again. The history of volunteerism here at AAMC has deep-seated roots. When a donated farmhouse developed into our downtown Franklin Street location in the early 1900s, we received incredible support from our community. Now, many years later, and more than ever, we rely on that help. I learned the meaning of an auxiliary in my first 10 years at AAMC – you set the bar for what a Blue Crew looks like! Thank you for teaching me. I’m so proud to be back and work and lead with you. Our community members, including many of you, have responded to the COVID-19 pandemic by coming together to make masks for patients, procuring valuable personal protective equipment for our staff, donating food to feed our health care heroes, and working to ensure we can make it through this crisis together. We thank you. Volunteers and auxilians strengthen our organization’s mission to enhance the health of the people we serve. Your assistance in providing patient and family centered, high-quality care is part of what makes AAMC unique. I want you to know how much we appreciate you. And when we come through this, we all look forward to seeing you back in our hallways and beyond again. We miss you terribly. We all love our Blue Crew. And cannot wait to welcome you back with that Blue Crew chant. My deepest thanks and warmest regards for all you do, Sherry
- Community, Infectious DiseaseGeneral Page Tier 3BlogAs our front line workers continue to battle the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic, we continue to hear requests from the community on different ways you can help. One way you can assist our preparedness efforts is by sewing isolation gowns and surgical caps. This helps augment our supply of personal protective equipment (PPE). Isolation gowns We want the gowns to meet the criteria for Association for the Advancement of Medical Instrumentation (AAMI) Level 2 and 3 isolation gowns. These are often poly-coated to protect against liquid penetration but are light enough to wear for long periods of time. We are most in need of size regular, large and XXL gowns. Isolation gowns should have: Elastic, cuffed or long sleeves with thumb loops, which prevent skin from being exposed Full back coverage, with a slight overlap of material Full coverage to the neck Velcro or tie neck securement that allows for various size necks A tie at the left or right hip, not in the back Long sleeves Longer than knee-length The ability to be washed in 130-degree temperature Here are some examples of some patterns you can use: Isolation gown pattern from Peek-a-Boo Pattern Shop Isolation gown pattern from Wyoming Medical Center You may also view this tutorial on YouTube. Surgical caps There are many patterns from which you can choose. The material should be breathable and cover the hair. There are two styles of surgical covers, scrub caps or bouffants. Caps tie in the back of the head, with an open flap for a ponytail. Bouffants may tie or have elastic. Here is one easy pattern to follow for scrub caps and another for bouffant caps. You can also check out this YouTube tutorial for bouffant caps. These items should be delivered curbside to AAMC’s Belcher Pavilion Circle, located at 2000 Medical Parkway, Annapolis, MD, 21401. Hours for donation drop off are Wednesday and Friday from 10 am to noon. A member of the AAMC team will gratefully accept your donation. We sincerely appreciate your help as we work together to care for our community.If you have questions or would like a tax-deductible receipt, please email us. Learn about more ways you can help AAMC as we navigate this pandemic.
- News & Press Releases, Infectious DiseaseGeneral Page Tier 3BlogLast updated at 10:30 am Wednesday, May 27, 2020. Luminis Health is participating in a national study sponsored by the FDA and Mayo Clinic to collect “convalescent” plasma from recovered coronavirus (COVID-19) patients, to give to patients currently hospitalized with COVID-19-related illness. The approach involves transferring antibodies from recovered patients to those still acutely ill as means of therapy. This is not currently a preventative treatment at the current time. What is plasma and convalescent plasma? Plasma is the liquid portion of your blood. It contains factors that help with blood clotting and contains antibodies that fight infections. Those who have recovered from COVID-19 will have antibodies to the virus in their blood plasma that might help protect them against future infections. Whether or not this works is the purpose of the study. What is a convalescent plasma donation? Donors who have fully recovered from COVID-19 have antibodies in their blood plasma to help protect against future infections. These antibodies can be collected from the recovered donor and infused safely to patients with acute COVID-related illness. What is involved in donating? Donors must have had a positive swab test from the nasal pharynx. Donors must be symptom free (no fever, cough, fatigue or shortness of breath) for at least 14 days before they can donate plasma. Potential eligible donors should complete a donor eligibility screening form. Someone will then contact you to gather more details, such as medical history and COVID-19 history to determine eligibility. What is involved in donating plasma? During a plasma donation, blood is drawn from your arm and sent through a high-tech machine that collects your plasma and then safely and comfortably returns your red cells and platelets back to you, along with some salt water through another intravenous line. It only takes a few minutes longer than donating blood. Is convalescent plasma a proven treatment for COVID-19? According to the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), it is not currently known if convalescent plasma will be an effective treatment against COVID-19. Since there are no known effective treatments, multiple options are under investigation by the scientific community. Some information from prior infections suggests that convalescent plasma could help some COVID-19 patients — especially those who are hospitalized. Since plasma transfusions are generally safe for most patients, the FDA announced an initiative to investigate this as a treatment option. We are committed to assisting with plasma collections from carefully-screened recovered COVID-19 patients to enable rapid access to treatment for the most seriously ill patients. I don’t have a positive COVID-19 test, but am certain I had it, can I still participate? Thank you for your willingness to donate convalescent plasma to help patients. You may still qualify if your blood contains COVID-19 antibodies, however, at this time we do not have a process by which antibody testing can be done. We encourage you to fill out our donor eligibility screening form and we will contact you to provide a sample for antibody testing once it’s available.
- Community, Infectious DiseaseGeneral Page Tier 3Blog“These are the times that try men’s souls. The summer soldier and the sunshine patriot will, in this crisis, shrink from the service of their country; but he that stands by it now, deserves the love and thanks of man and woman.” These still-famous words were composed by Thomas Paine, an immigrant soldier in General Washington’s beleaguered, ever-retreating Colonial Army in December 1776. In America’s first existential crisis, the Army was just a few expiring enlistments away from vanishing from the field. The ideas expressed in Paine’s pamphlets, collectively called the American Crisis, rallied the nascent nation and changed the world. Words and ideas from the past, even if requiring an adjustment to gendered pronouns, can help us now too, providing a stream of solace in our collective despair. Since that first crisis, Americans have, as a united nation and as citizens of the world, endured many such “fiery trials.” Civil war, global war, economic depression, civil unrest, terrorism and even prior pandemics have all tested our unity, our perseverance and our foundational beliefs. All were alarming, all were overcome. I do not believe that those previous generations had more grit, determination and optimism than our own. We are made of the same stern stuff. We can honor the service of our ‘essential’ neighbors who care for us bravely by caring for one another and embracing unity above all else. Proof of this assertion can be found in the daily demonstration of duty and courage by the thousands of ‘essential’ workers who set aside their own concerns to stock our groceries, answer our 911 calls and staff our hospitals with every type of caregiver. It is not that they are ignorant of the risks presented by COVID-19. The opposite is true. Rather, they embody Nelson Mandela’s description of courage and bravery. “Courage is not the absence of fear, but the triumph over it. The brave person is not the one who does not feel afraid, but the one who conquers that fear.” These ‘essential’ neighbors have ranked duty over fear. You won’t find any summer soldiers or sunshine patriots among those staffing our grocery stores, firehouses, police stations and hospitals. We have before us “many long months of struggle and suffering,” as Churchill warned Britain’s House of Commons in 1940. How we conduct ourselves individually and collectively during our ‘grievous ordeal’ will define us for future generations. We can honor the service of our ‘essential’ neighbors who care for us bravely by caring for one another and embracing unity above all else. If we use this crisis to summon forth the “better angels of our nature,” future Americans will look to our generation with admiration and awe. Author Barry Meisenberg, M.D., is the Chair of the Department of Medicine and Chief Academic Officer at Anne Arundel Medical Center and Luminis Health.
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