- News & Press Releases, Physical TherapyGeneral Page Tier 3BlogAnne Arundel Medical Group (AAMG), a multi-specialty physician group that is part of Anne Arundel Medical Center, announced today the opening of its physical therapy location at Kent Island. The Kent Island location is now one of two AAMG Physical Therapy clinics on the Eastern Shore, along with AAMG Physical Therapy – Easton, located at the AAMC Pavilion in Easton, Md. AAMG Physical Therapy – Kent Island offers a comprehensive range of physical therapy services for adults and children, including blood-flow restriction training, bariatric physical therapy, and prenatal and postpartum physical therapy. The clinic also offers Lee Silverman Voice Training (LSVT) BIG therapy, a program designed to help those with Parkinson’s disease. LSVT BIG therapy is an exercise approach developed to improve balance as well as quality and speed of movement. READ MORE: 4 ways physical therapy changes the sports performance game The new clinic is located in the AAMC Pavilion – Kent Island at 1630 Main St., Chester, Md. Morning and evening appointments are available — from 6:30 am to 8 pm, Monday through Thursday, and 6:30 am to 5 pm, Friday — with convenient free parking. For more information and to schedule an appointment, visit AAMGPhysicalTherapy.com/KentIsland or call 443-481-1140. To see a complete list of services, and to find an AAMG Physical Therapy location near you, visit AAMGPhysicalTherapy.com.
- Graduate Medical Education, News & Press ReleasesGeneral Page Tier 3BlogAnne Arundel Medical Center (AAMC) has received accreditation from the Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education (ACGME) to start an Internal Medicine Residency Program. This will be a three-year residency program with 15 residents per year for a total of 45 residents when the program reaches full capacity. The Internal Medicine Residency Program accreditation marks another important milestone for Graduate Medical Education (GME) at AAMC as the hospital’s third ACGME-accredited residency program. AAMC received accreditation for its General Surgery Residency Program in 2016 and OB-GYN Residency Program in 2019. “We are expanding our role in the larger world of health and medicine to ensure talented and well-trained physicians for the future health of our community,” said Barry Meisenberg, MD, FACP, chair of Medicine and designated institutional official for GME at AAMC. “In launching a new residency in Internal Medicine, we continue to raise the level of care given to our patients.” “At Anne Arundel Medical Center, high-quality care goes hand-in-hand with research, learning and innovation to carry out our mission to enhance the health of the people we serve,” said Nargiz Muganlinskaya, MD, MMS, FACP, program director of Internal Medicine Residency. “We are proud to bring new physicians into our team-based culture of patient and family-centered care, where they will learn from a distinguished and diverse faculty.” In 2015, the ACGME approved AAMC as a sponsoring institution for GME programs, allowing AAMC to initiate individual residency programs. The GME program at AAMC provides training to doctors after they have completed medical school. AAMC anticipates interviewing approximately 300 Internal Medicine residency candidates from October 2019 through January 2020. Fifteen residents will match with AAMC through the National Residency Matching Program in March 2020, and they will begin their first day of residency on July 1, 2020. Learn more about GME at AAMC by visiting www.AAHS.org/Graduate-Medical-Education. Watch our video to hear program officials describe AAMC’s unique learning environment for residents, as well as the benefit of a teaching hospital to the community.
- News & Press ReleasesGeneral Page Tier 3BlogAnne Arundel Medical Center (AAMC) has received Most Wired recognition by the College of Healthcare Information Management Executives (CHIME). As a Most Wired organization, AAMC is recognized as a leader in healthcare technology for leveraging technologies in innovative ways to improve patient experience, reduce costs and broaden patient access to healthcare services. “This award shows we are committed to using the latest, state-of-the-art technology to provide the best possible care for our patients, regardless of where or when they need it,” said David Lehr, chief information officer at AAMC. “We’re continuously looking for ways to harnesses technology to improve the delivery of care for our patients and it is an honor to be recognized.” “Healthcare organizations across the globe are continually striving to raise the standard of care, pushing themselves and their peers to do better,” said Russ Branzell, CHIME president and CEO. “We designed Most Wired to identify and share those leading practices so everyone can benefit. It is an honor to be among those that perform at the highest levels, knowing that the excellence they achieve will impact patients for years to come.” The 2019 Most Wired survey assessed the adoption, integration and impact of technologies in healthcare organizations at all stages of development, from early development to industry leading.
- Cancer CareGeneral Page Tier 3BlogThe use of tobacco can often lead to nicotine dependence and other resulting health problems. However, people who smoke always have the option to quit. In fact, the number of former smokers has been greater than the number of current smokers since 2002, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). If you have made the decision to quit smoking, you should be aware of a few common misconceptions. Getting the facts about quitting smoking is important in order to make your journey to a tobacco free life a little easier! Misconception: Today is the day! I quit smoking. Actually… you should have a plan. It is easy to be impulsive, wake up one day and decide to throw away your cigarettes. But making a huge lifestyle change like quitting smoking requires a plan. You want to set yourself up for success. It is important to be prepared for the triggers – those routines and habits that you built around smoking. You will need alternative activities when you stop smoking. Preparing for potential urges or cravings to smoke is critical to staying on track. If you are more comfortable when you quit smoking, you will be more likely to stay on track. You may experience “recovery symptoms”, (also known as nicotine withdrawal). Understanding why those symptoms are occurring and learning tools and strategies to manage them can help you cope and not be thrown off when they happen. Misconception: All I need to do is take a pill or put on a patch! Actually… your plan should include other strategies in addition to medication. There are seven FDA-approved products that can help you to quit smoking. Combining smoking cessation medication with some type of supportive classes or counseling can double your chances of quitting successfully. Try not to fall into the trap of a miracle cure or the latest novel product, like e-cigarettes. These have not been fully tested as an effective tool for quitting smoking. There are many options that have been tested and proven to be effective. Misconception: I won’t tell anyone I’m quitting…just in case I don’t! Actually… it’s good to have support. Don’t keep it a secret. Support is very important to your success. Find people who will celebrate your successes and will support you through the tough times. Let people know how they can help you in your journey to quit smoking. There are several options for getting the support you need – classes, individual counseling, online, smart phone apps, text-to-quit programs and Nicotine Anonymous groups. Misconception: I’ll never be able to quit, I have tried a thousand times! Actually… you’re doing a great job and you should be more forgiving of yourself. It’s easy to think that it’s one-and-done. Unfortunately, when you quit smoking, like any other addictive substance, slips and relapses are part of the process. Learning how to manage slips and avoiding relapses is important. Learn from your experience and apply it to your next quit attempt. It’s not an event, it’s a process. Be kind to yourself and keep trying! Misconception: Quitting smoking is all about willpower! Actually… not really. You may think it’s all about willpower and if you can’t do it on your own that it’s a personal failure or weakness, but quitting tobacco is a tall order. Nicotine is a highly addictive chemical. Don’t forget about all the resources, support and medications available to you. You can do this! Misconception: This plan worked for my friend, surely, it’ll work for me too! Actually… plans are very individualized. What works for someone else may not necessarily work for you. Talk to your health care provider or a tobacco treatment specialist to discuss options and determine the best plan for you. Here are a few things you can do to keep moving ahead on the path to quitting smoking: Visualize yourself as a nonsmoker. If you’ve been smoking for many years, you may not remember a time when you did not smoke. Try picturing yourself as a non-smoker, going through your daily routines without a cigarette or using tobacco. Visualizing yourself as a non-smoker can prepare you for when you actually quit. When you first quit smoking, you may feel uncomfortable and awkward. You may feel like you don’t know what to do with your hands, during a work break, on the phone or when driving. Think about how you can handle these situations differently. Perhaps using a cinnamon stick or a straw if you need something to hold; replace your breaks with walks; doodling while you’re on the phone; and sipping on a water bottle in the car. These little tricks can help you get through those challenging times. Celebrate small successes. If you quit for two days or two weeks – those are wins! That means you can go without smoking and you can actually quit. Those small wins are huge. Reward yourself, you’re doing something really great! Identify your why. Examine the personal reasons you have for quitting smoking. Those reasons will drive you and keep you motivated to get you through the difficult times. Write your reasons down and carry them with you so you can pull them out when you need an extra boost of confidence and motivation. Constantly remind yourself why it is important to you to quit. Recognize that smoking has been a part of your life for a long time. Smoking has served some purpose in your life and that is one of the reasons you continue to smoke or use tobacco. Try to identify that purpose or need and fill that void with something else you enjoy and that will contribute to your overall health. Try to focus not on what you are giving up but what you are gaining by giving up tobacco. Celebrate quitting but don’t become too overconfident. Once you have quit smoking, try not to become too overconfident and think that you can enjoy the “occasional” cigarette. Once you have been dependent on nicotine, you will always be dependent on it. Remember — you’re a puff away from a pack a day! Think about how hard you worked to become tobacco free! It might take a few attempts to quit smoking, but there are many resources available to help you along the way. It’s a marathon, not a sprint. Pace yourself, be kind to yourself and above all, don’t give up! Author Joanne Ebner is a Cancer Prevention Program manager at Anne Arundel Medical Center (AAMC). You can reach her office at 443-481-5366/67. Originally published Aug. 20, 2018. Last updated Sept. 30, 2019.
- Patient StoriesGeneral Page Tier 3BlogIt was a typical evening as Amanda Brady chatted with her 16-year-old and eldest of three children, Lee. As the two sat in Lee’s room talking and sharing laughs, Amanda spotted a Post-It note stuck to the wall. Small, handwritten scribbles outlined some of the goals Lee wanted to accomplish that year. One goal in particular stood out to Amanda. It read, “Come out as pansexual by the end of the school year.” “I was totally confused because I had no idea what pansexual meant,” Amanda recalls. According to the Human Rights Campaign (HRC), pansexual describes someone who has the potential for emotional, romantic or sexual attraction of people of any gender though not necessarily simultaneously, in the same way or to the same degree. Soon after this, Lee asked his family to refer to him by the gender-neutral pronoun “they” while also noticeably becoming more isolated and depressed. The turning point It was during senior year of high school when Lee started self-harming and was eventually hospitalized because of suicidal ideation. “The hospitalization was rock bottom for our family, but it was also a blessing in disguise,” says Amanda. In talking with a counselor at the hospital, Lee opened up about identifying as transgender. While there, Lee, who was born female, also firmly stated that he wanted to be referred to as “he” or “they” and changed his name from Liana to Lee. “My husband and I were willing to support him in whatever he wanted to do,” says Amanda. “We told him that we loved him whether they were ‘her’ or ‘him.’” Amanda, who works as a clinical director of nursing at Anne Arundel Medical Center (AAMC), was determined to support her son and help him get through this dark time. Amanda says her family sought therapy, got Lee treatment for depression and anxiety and found an endocrinologist to start him on testosterone. “It hurt my feelings when I found out,” Amanda says admittedly, “but I never said I didn’t want him to be a boy. I always said I wanted him to be happy and that I would help the best way I could.” Amanda also joined AAMC’s Lesbian Gay Bisexual Transgender, Queer, Intersex or Asexual (LGBTQIA) Business Resource Group, a group of employees who joined together based on shared characteristics or life experiences. She wanted to glean from others ways she could better support her son. “The easiest part for me was when he cut his hair and started wearing male clothes because growing up I was a tomboy,” Amanda laughs as she reflects. “The hardest part was not knowing how to help him through the emotional state. He didn’t want to open up at all because he thought we wouldn’t understand.” Acceptance, communication and support Danny Watkins grew up in a small community in Allegany County and was raised in a traditional Catholic family. He told his parents he was gay when he was 15. To his dismay, he was faced with unacceptance and was unwillingly ‘outed’ to the rest of his family members. Traumatized, Danny tried not to be gay for the next two years to cope with pressure at home. At age 17, his family found out he was dating a boy and the family discord from years before resumed. “I felt very isolated and lonely,” he recalls. “It’s as if I were a giant air balloon that couldn’t fit in any situation. I was just barely functioning and trying to get through the day. I didn’t have the support I needed at home so I relied heavily on my friends. They became my support system I needed to survive until the relationship with my family started to slowly get better over the next couple years.” Danny pursued a career in nursing, moved out at 19 and worked at an inpatient psychiatric unit. He is now the director of clinical operations at Pathways, AAMC’s substance abuse and mental health treatment facility. “Working in mental health has really opened my eyes to suicidality in the LGBTQ community.” Four in 10 LGBT youth say the community in which they live is not accepting of LGBT people, according to the HRC which surveyed more than 10,000 LGBT-identified youth ages 13-17. An estimated 26 percent of LGBT youth say problems they face include not feeling accepted by their family, having trouble at school or with bullying, and coming out or being open. Danny advises parents with an LGBTQ child to work on acceptance first. “You should always support your child and try to approach them from a non-judgmental place,” he says. He also recommends keeping the lines of communication open and meeting your child’s friends as important steps to take. “Reassure your child that you love them and that you support them, no matter who they are inside.” Danny also advises parents to find a good support system by joining local support groups and finding a counselor in the school or community who can provide support and resources. Silver lining Amanda and her husband have fully accepted their son’s decision to come out as transgender. Amanda is also observing Lee becoming more comfortable with himself. Lee is currently a freshman in college. She says he is growing facial hair for the first time. “He has really blossomed,” she adds. Even as someone who has an LGBT child, Amanda admits she still doesn’t know all there is to know about the community but is committed to furthering her understanding so she can continue to support her son. “If you isolate your child because you don’t see eye to eye, that’s a very boring and lonely existence to live,” she says. “Love your child for who they are, that’s the bottom line.” Anne Arundel Medical Group (AAMG) Mental Health Specialists offers care for diverse mental health needs for adults and children ages six years and older. For more information, visit myAAMG.org/mental-health-specialists.
How can we help?
Common Searches
Common Searches
Log in with MyChart
Access personalized site features & view your health records.
Learn more about MyChartDon’t have a MyChart account?
Your Account
View your Dashboard
Messages
Find Care
Schedule Appointment
My Care Team
My Record
Appointments
Medications
Log in with MyChart
Access personalized site features & view your health records.
Learn more about MyChartDon’t have a MyChart account?