- Community, GivingGeneral Page Tier 3BlogHoliday shopping season is upon us! But if the mall is too crowded for you this time of year, or you want something more unique than what you might find on Amazon, you might consider shopping local instead. At Anne Arundel Medical Center (AAMC), there are several options for you to do just that, while knowing your money is directly benefiting the hospital. “It’s retail therapy that gives back to the community,” said Catherine Pels, supervisor of AAMC’s gift shops. The gift shops, in addition to the Out of the Box consignment shop, raise about $300,000 annually for AAMC. They are also staffed entirely by the dedicated volunteers of the AAMC Auxiliary. The gift shops have around 50 volunteers, while Out of the Box has 53. The consignment shop, located on Bestgate Road in Annapolis, has grown so much in the past few years that store manager Jeanne Kayser says she could use about 20 more volunteers. “If we had more volunteers, we could extend (the hours) that we can do consignments,” Jeanne says. Here’s how you can shop for a good cause this holiday season. AAMC gift shops The hospital has two gift shops geared toward the public – the Beacon Boutique gift shop on the first floor of Hospital Pavilion North and the Bayside Beacon gift shop on the second floor of the Belcher Pavilion. Beacon Boutique is a more traditional hospital gift shop, with items for patients as well as seasonal merchandise. Bayside Beacon, a 6,500 square foot space stocked with clothes, jewelry, handbags and other lifestyle accessories, has morphed into a shopping destination for more than just patients. “This is more of a boutique shopping experience,” Catherine says. “It’s definitely a fun part of the Belcher Pavilion.” Typically, customers discover the shop while they are at the hospital getting treatment, then return later on. Employees, who receive a 10 percent discount, are also regular customers. Some popular brands the store carries include Barefoot Dreams, Scout, Spartina and S’Well. Lifeguard Press items, including licensed housewares, stationary and other accessories by Lilly Pulitzer and Kate Spade, are also top sellers. The store also carries work from local artists, including Liz Lind, Becky McVan, Kim Hovell and Joanie Nixon. Of course, holiday-themed merchandise is also sprinkled throughout the store. On Dec. 19, the store will hold its annual holiday madness sale, which is always a hit with AAMC staff, Catherine says. “People will be lined up at the door,” she says. The Bayside Beacon gift shop is open from 8 am to 4 pm Monday through Friday. The Beacon Boutique gift shop is open from 9 am to 6 pm Monday through Thursday, 9 am to 4 pm Friday and 11 am to 3 pm Saturday. Out of the Box By early November, Out of the Box was already brimming with holiday cheer. A local woman had donated eight Christmas trees, plus ornaments, wreaths and ribbons, in memory of her daughter. Born on Christmas, her daughter passed away last summer. “It’s definitely been therapeutic for her,” says Jeanne, adding the woman has spent hours decorating the trees for the store. Jeanne Kayser is the manager of the Out of the Box consignment store. Out of the Box, formerly known as The Clothes Box, has evolved since it moved from the hospital’s main campus to its much larger location on Bestgate. Before the move, around 70 percent of the items were donated and 30 percent were consignments. Today, about 60 percent of the merchandise is consignment – and it’s much more upscale, Jeanne says. The shift toward higher-end clothing and accessories happened after a volunteer donated some of her designer clothing. “And we thought, maybe we could raise the level of the store with these clothes,” says Jeanne, who began as a volunteer before becoming a sales associate and later, the store’s manager. Now, Out of the Box carries brands including St. John, Ralph Lauren, Jimmy Choo, Stuart Weitzman, Burberry, Cole Haan and more. The store only accepts items for sale that are in pristine condition. Out of the Box also carries accessories including handbags and jewelry, plus a wide selection of furniture and housewares. Consignors receive 40 percent of the proceeds from the sales of their items, while the rest goes back to AAMC. Donations that aren’t appropriate for sale are sent to the Emergency Department, for patients who might need a change of clothes upon leaving the hospital, as well as local charities. The store’s 12 Days of Christmas promotion begins Dec. 6 and features a new sale every day the store is open through Dec. 21. Customers will receive an email the night before each sale with all the details. To get on the store’s email list, stop by Out of the Box or call 443-775-5223. “Our customers tell us they look forward to finding out the next day’s sale,” Jeanne says. Out of the Box is open 10 am to 5 pm Tuesday through Thursday, 10 am to 4 pm Friday and 10 am to 2 pm Saturday. Volunteers accept consignments from 9:30 am until noon during the week. Donations are accepted any time during regular business hours. Follow Out of the Box’s Facebook page for updates and news of upcoming sales.
- GivingGeneral Page Tier 3BlogWhen you make a donation to Anne Arundel Medical Center, your money goes directly to the programs you care most about and want to support. In 2016 alone, donations funded a campus-wide training program for nurses and technicians on the best ways to care for elderly patients, critical care training for the pediatric emergency department, and recovery chairs for joint replacement patients, just to name a few things. Donations also helped support more than $40 million in community benefits, including community health clinics, support groups, and more than 125 research studies to advance medical care in 15 different areas. “There are so many things that have contributed to AAMC’s growth and success, but our strong relationship with the community is one of which I am exceptionally proud,” says Jan Wood, president of the AAMC Foundation. “The community is not only our partner with regard to all the compassionate care provided within the hospital walls, but it’s also an example of the impact and power of philanthropy.” When you give to AAMC, you can direct your donation to support the area of care that matters most to you and your family. And it’s not just about large gifts – everyone and every dollar can make a difference. “Gifts ranging from $10 to $10 million have built our healthcare facilities, purchased equipment, funded education and training programs, hired leading caregivers, and so much more,” Jan says. “The generosity of our friends and neighbors — at every level — helps ensure the future of quality healthcare in our community.” If you’re looking to give back to AAMC this holiday season, here’s how. Ways to give to AAMC You can make a donation online, or mail your donation to the AAMC Foundation at 2000 Medical Parkway, Belcher Pavilion, Suite 604, Annapolis, Md., 21401. You also have the option of making monthly, quarterly or multi-year pledges. For more information, call the Foundation at 443-481-4747. The AAMC Foundation also accepts stock gifts, which might provide you a bigger tax benefit. Talk to your accountant or financial advisor to learn more. You can also give a planned gift. Examples include: Including AAMC in your will with a bequest. Establishing a charitable gift annuity to benefit you and/or a loved one. Naming AAMC as a beneficiary in your life insurance or retirement plan. Providing a gift of securities from your stock portfolio. The AAMC Foundation also has several societies for donors whose gifts reach a certain level. The Thomas I. and Peggy A. Baldwin Society is for individuals who make gifts of $10,000 or more each year to AAMC. For more information, call Briana Walsh at 443-481-4745. The Building Traditions Society is comprised of young donor members who give $1,000 per year. The society has raised more than $410,000 to support pediatric and NICU services, community clinic services, and behavioral health services. To join, call 443-481-4735. The Belcher Society is for those who make a planned gift of $100,000 or more to AAMC. For more information, call 443-481-4747. Corporate sponsorships AAMC partners with various organizations for programs and events every year. In 2016, AAMC received more than $700,000 in philanthropic support from community business partners across Maryland. To learn more about these partnership opportunities, contact Kelly Accinelli at [email protected]. Other ways to give this holiday season Donations don’t always have to be monetary. Another way to give back this year is by donating blood to AAMC’s Blood Donor Center. Every donation benefits patients at our hospital or in our community. Around 3,000 AAMC patients receive life-saving blood transfusions every year. If you’d like to donate, find an upcoming blood drive at www.facebook.com/AnneArundelMedicalCenter, or call the Blood Donor Center at 443-481-4215. You can also stay up to date on upcoming blood drives and events by joining the Blood Donor Center’s Facebook group. Visit www.facebook.com/groups/AAMCBloodDonorCenter and request to join the group. Originally published Nov. 27, 2017. Last updated Dec. 3, 2019.
- Behavioral Health, Men's Health, Women's Health, WellnessGeneral Page Tier 3BlogYou’re in holiday overdrive, baking cookies, running to the mall and rushing back home to arrive before your out-of-town guests. Is the gift you want most for yourself a nap? That may be just what you need. The holidays are meant to be a season of peace, not pressure. Carving out some downtime—whether it’s to recharge with a nap, take a walk or even play a game with your family—can make your holidays less stressful. And by slowing down, you may even have more energy to host guests and tackle your holiday to-do list. What else can you do to de-stress this holiday season? Try these tips: Focus on What Really Matters Say the word ‘holiday’ and a lot of us imagine picture-perfect celebrations. That fantasy is almost certain to stress you out if you buy into it. It’s okay if this year’s tree is a little lopsided or the cookies get burnt. Instead of focusing on presents and parties, focus on what truly gives the holidays meaning: time spent with family and friends. Make it a tradition to write letters to loved ones as gifts. This practice is both relaxing and rewarding, and can create deeper bonds with your loved ones. Get Moving As winter weather sets in and schedules get hectic, it’s not as easy to stay active. Exercise can help reduce stress, give you a fresh perspective and produce mood-boosting endorphins. Try fun activities that keep you moving such as sledding, building snowmen, skiing and ice skating. Simply taking the stairs instead of the elevator or walking around the mall before you start your holiday shopping can make a difference. Try going to a group exercise class with a friend to stay motivated. Our Energize fitness classes are great for staying active during the winter. If you’re consistent with exercise, your body will respond with healthy outcomes. Mind Your Mental Health Take a step back and remember to prioritize your health. Anticipate the holiday stressors that affect you and create a plan to manage them. Making time for yourself is important to stay calm during the holiday season. While electronics help connect us to family and friends, being constantly “plugged in” can create anxiety due to information overload. Everyone should unplug and spend some quiet time alone. Journaling or writing down a list of things you’re thankful for can help put you at ease. For some, keeping up the holiday spirit can be hard work. The shorter, cold days of winter can create a downward spiral into a phase of depression. This is known as seasonal affective disorder (SAD) and affects millions of people every year. It’s important to recognize when you may need help and talk to your doctor. Prevent Illness Getting sick only adds to stress and can put a damper on holiday activities. Winter also brings cold and flu season. You can keep the flu away by getting a flu shot, making sure to wash your hands and cover your cough. And remember, you are what you eat. A nutrient-dense diet can help strengthen your immune system to fight off illness. Stay in contact with your doctor if you have any concerns about your health or feel like you’re getting sick. Don’t Drink Your Calories From cider and eggnog to hot chocolate, there’s no shortage of delicious holiday drinks. However, it’s important to keep in mind how these will affect your health in the long run. For example, one cup of eggnog can pack around 350 calories. Drink smart; keep portions small and limit yourself to one glass per occasion. Better yet, trade in the high-calorie drinks for something with a lower calorie content, like sparkling wine with fresh cranberries. Originally published Dec. 17, 2015. Last updated Dec. 2, 2019.
- Cancer Care, Plastic Surgery & Skin Care, Women's HealthGeneral Page Tier 3BlogIn January 2019, Alison Jordan, 58, was diagnosed with breast cancer. Soon after her diagnosis, Alison received breast surgery by Rubie Sue Jackson, MD, at Anne Arundel Medical Center (AAMC). “After my first lumpectomy with Dr. Jackson, we went through another biopsy and found more cancer,” Alison said. “Instead of doing another lumpectomy, the treatment team recommended a mastectomy because there were cancer cells found even in areas that were not calcified.” Alison did not want to take any chances of cancer resurfacing. Although a difficult decision, she agreed to the mastectomy but knew she would want breast reconstruction. She met with Devinder Singh, MD, chief of Plastic Surgery at AAMC and medical director of Anne Arundel Medical Group (AAMG) Plastic Surgery, who walked her through her options. “One option was to get a silicone implant, but the thought of a foreign object in my body didn’t resonate with me,” Alison said. “Another option was a procedure using my own tissue. That’s what I chose.” The procedure is known as Deep Inferior Epigastric Perforator (DIEP) flap. DIEP flap DIEP flap is a breast reconstruction procedure that uses tissue from the lower abdomen to make a new breast mound. The delicate blood vessels are re-connected under microscope. Essentially, this makes a living breast implant from skin and fat from the lower abdomen – the same tissue a plastic surgeon would discard during a tummy tuck. AAMC is the only hospital in Anne Arundel County that offers this procedure. DIEP Flap combines breast reconstruction with a tummy tuck, making it a popular choice for breast cancer patients who get a mastectomy. “Most patients choose an implant because it’s quick and easy,” says Dr. Singh. “But these can come with some potential problems, including possible infection and scarring around the implant. Although it is a more intense operating room experience and recovery takes longer, when patients choose their own tissue there is almost no downstream maintenance for them.” It takes a village The DIEP flap procedure is highly intricate, requiring the surgeons to reconnect vessels in order to make the tissue live and using tools so small they can’t be seen with the naked eye. But the effort is worth it and the results are pleasing. Dr. Singh and his partner Tripp Holton, MD, who is also a plastic surgeon at AAMG Plastic Surgery, worked with the operating room nursing team to build a dedicated operating room and team specifically focused on microsurgical breast reconstruction. Dr. Singh and Dr. Holton know that even the most skilled microvascular surgeon can’t do this alone. “We always have the same nurses and technicians for these cases,” said Dr. Singh about the team. “When we are in the operating room, we don’t have to ask for anything because they know our every move. Our team is like a NASCAR pit crew.” In addition to their team-based approach, the doctors attribute their success to their use of the most innovative technologies to ensure the success of their surgeries. They use a 3D computerized tomography of the abdomen and pelvis – or CT scan of the belly – as a ‘roadmap’ that informs them of what to expect as they dissect the flap (or belly skin that will create a new breast). The team also uses Xact, an alternative energy source technology that’s less damaging to the muscle when making cuts to access tissue, as well as SPY fluorescence imaging to better visualize microvascular blood flow. They credit such tools as the secret to their extremely high success rates. “A really good breast reconstruction is also an aesthetic reconstruction,” says Dr. Singh. “That’s the new standard of breast reconstruction and that’s our standard. It has to look good to be good.” Keeping patient experience at the forefront Performing approximately 50 DIEP flaps each year, the plastic surgery team has seen a nearly 100 percent success rate due not only to medical expertise but to the program they planned from beginning to end. Even after the patient has left the operating room, the team continues to prioritize patient care and experience. “We have an intelligent recipe that allows the patient to recover very rapidly with a high level of dignity and comfort,” said Dr. Holton. He says that instead of sending patients to the intensive care unit, patients go to a designated floor in the hospital with a dedicated team of oncology nurses. The dream team Alison says Dr. Jackson, and the entire care team, provided her a very unique experience. “I felt like I was at home when I was with Dr. Jackson and her team,” she said. “The icing on the cake was to have two personable and brilliant plastic surgeons that further confirmed that I was at the right place. All the staff was on it at all times. They were lovely, working with me through every step of the way. When I came to AAMC, I knew I was at the right place, in the right hands. I’m ever so grateful to have successfully gone through this at AAMC and to have this support network.” Authors Devinder Singh, MD, is chief of Plastic Surgery at AAMC and medical director of Anne Arundel Medical Group (AAMG) Plastic Surgery. Tripp Holton, MD, is a plastic surgeon at AAMG Plastic Surgery.
- Employee SpotlightGeneral Page Tier 3BlogRaymond (Ray) Freeland’s name is synonymous with his huge smile and infectious energy his colleagues have come to admire. Ray is also meticulous, downright zealous about his work as an environmental attendant at Anne Arundel Medical Center (AAMC). He often goes above and beyond for the patients his work impacts. For this combination of dedication and passion, Ray was named AAMC’s April Champion Award winner. A Baltimore native, Ray was studying IT when he started looking for new opportunities away from the city. He heard from different sources that AAMC had several positions open before he started looking for jobs in the Annapolis area. He was offered the position this February and by March, he was on campus learning about the ins and outs of the Environmental Services Department. Ray explains that to keep a hospital clean is the foundation of a hospital itself. “If it’s not clean, then everyone is going to get sick,” he says. He also sees his work as contributing to the wellbeing of others. “It’s not about what I am supposed to do or not, it’s about the patients and making them feel comfortable.” Now, Ray is happy to add Champion Award winner to the many positive things for which he’s known. “There’s nothing like application and feeling valued,” he says. Pro tip: “If you have a positive attitude towards your job – no matter what the job is or how bad your day is going – you’ll have a good day. Every day is a good day; it’s up to you to make it a great day.” If you know a great individual or a fantastic team going above and beyond to make a difference, make sure to let us know! Looking for a career in health care? We invite you to join a diverse and collaborative team of professionals working together to innovate the future of health care for our entire region. Check out our career opportunities.
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