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- News & Press ReleasesGeneral Page Tier 3BlogMore than 60 million adults in the U.S. experience heartburn, the most common symptom of gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD). GERD is a digestive condition that causes indigestion and acid reflux. If you feel a burning sensation below your ribs or a sour taste at the back of your mouth after you eat, GERD may be to blame. AAMC is participating in a clinical reflux study to compare treatment options for patients who continue to have symptoms, like heartburn and regurgitation, despite taking medication every day. The study is comparing two treatment options for controlling reflux–a medical device, called LINX, and medications called Proton Pump Inhibitors (such as Nexium, Prevacid, and Priolosec) given two times per day. You may be eligible to participate in this study if you are 21 years or older and currently receive daily treatment for reflux symptoms. To determine if you’re eligible, additional testing will be required. For more information, please contact Almaz Holmatova, MD, study coordinator, at 443-481-4943 or [email protected].
- Men's Health, News & Press Releases, Women's Health, UncategorizedGeneral Page Tier 3BlogOur new Crohn’s and Colitis Clinic is now open. The clinic’s team includes gastroenterologists, surgeons, nutritionists and other specialists—all with focused training and experience in managing inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). “With the entire team in one clinic, everything revolves around the patient,” explains AAMC Department of Surgery Chair Adrian Park, MD. “Instead of sending patients out for consults, we collaborate as a team to help the patient. This seamless process provides a better level of care.” The clinic’s team of experts offers broad treatment, including new immune-suppressing drug therapy. Team members have a weekly conference to talk about your needs, treatment options and progress. They work closely with you and your referring doctor to give you the best results. Our goal is for you to take an active, informed role in your journey. Treatment Options The clinic offers custom treatment plans to fit your individual needs based on your symptoms. Options may include: · Medication: Many different medications are available to treat both Crohn’s disease and ulcerative colitis. · Diet: Changes in diet and nutrition can reduce symptoms. Our nutritionist can work with you to create a detailed diet plan and support you along the way. · Surgery: If you don’t respond to medication or can’t maintain diet and lifestyle changes, you may need surgery. Many different surgical options are available. · Alternative medicine: Our experts study new alternative treatments and therapies, and can talk about these options with you. Learn more by calling 443-481-6699.
- Behavioral Health, Community, PediatricsGeneral Page Tier 3BlogThe heroin epidemic is a national problem that hits close to home in Anne Arundel County. According to the Anne Arundel County Department of Health, heroin-related deaths in the county have increased by 128 percent between 2010 and 2013. The rate of heroin use here is 5.5 percent for youths ages 16 and 17 and 10.7 percent for adults age 18 and older. Both of these numbers are above the averages for the state of Maryland. The Danger of Opioids Fueling the epidemic are opioids. Opioids come in two main forms: prescription painkillers like OxyContin and Percocet and illegal drugs like heroin. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) is writing new guidelines for physicians to explore other options before prescribing opioids. Still, many people already have a prescription for opioids. In 2012, doctors wrote 259 million opioid prescriptions. That’s enough for every adult in the United States to have a bottle of pills, according to the CDC. Not everyone who takes opioids gets addicted. However, everyone develops tolerance and some may start to crave these drugs. Opioid use can lead to risk of falls, respiratory problems, sleep apnea, interaction with other medications and potentially fatal overdoses. Suboxone: A Safe Solution Quitting opioids “cold turkey” is painful and dangerous. Withdrawal symptoms start around 12 hours after someone stops using opioids. Symptoms can include stomach pain, anxiety, body pain, chills, diarrhea, nausea, sweating, insomnia, weakness and more. For people dependent on opioids, Suboxone can help. Suboxone is a medication that helps people safely stop opioid use by reducing withdrawal symptoms and opioid cravings. The medication also blocks the effects of other opioids. Suboxone treatment not only allows people to safely withdraw from opioids with little discomfort, it helps manage other health issues related to opioid use. Suboxone treatment also links people with professional counselors. Counselors can help people develop coping skills and behaviors to prevent setbacks. Only qualified, licensed doctors can prescribe Suboxone. Pathways, Anne Arundel Medical Center’s substance use and mental health treatment center, offers both inpatient and outpatient Suboxone treatment. Both programs begin with a phone call to understand the patient’s needs. Based on the phone call, we recommend either inpatient or outpatient care. The opioid epidemic is complex, and the solution is not simple. At Pathways, we believe we can begin to turn this public health crisis around by working together with other healthcare professionals, our community partners and our patients. For more information on Suboxone treatment and other options available through Pathways, visit PathwaysProgram.org.
- News & Press Releases, Women's HealthGeneral Page Tier 3BlogChesapeake Women’s Health of Easton and Cambridge, Md. has joined Anne Arundel Medical Group, a multi-specialty physician group that is part of Anne Arundel Medical Center. The practice will now be known as Anne Arundel Medical Group Chesapeake Women’s Health. They will continue to serve patients in their current locations at: 401 Purdy Street, Suite 102 in Easton 100 Bramble Street, Suites E and F in Cambridge “These are exciting times for AAMG Chesapeake Women’s Health,” says Patrick O’Brien, MD, an OB-GYN who has been with the practice since 2006. “This decision has been thoughtfully made to provide long-term stability to our practice and allow us to continue to care for patients in our community.” AAMG Chesapeake Women’s Health will continue to provide the same excellent medicine and high-quality, attentive care patients deserve and have come to expect in the practice. Providers will continue to deliver babies and provide gynecological surgical care in Easton. They will continue to accept and honor all insurance providers and employers who currently allow patients to see them for care. “We at Anne Arundel Medical Center are committed to serving residents of the Eastern Shore,” said Steve Clarke, vice president of physician services at Anne Arundel Medical Center. “Bringing Chesapeake Women’s Health into the AAMC care network strengthens Eastern Shore community members’ access to high-quality care and services.” For more information or to schedule an appointment, call 410-820-0038.
- News & Press ReleasesGeneral Page Tier 3BlogLast weekend, Winter Storm Jonas dumped a record-breaking 29+ inches of snow across the region. Despite the blizzard conditions, AAMC employees made sure to show up for their shifts, ensuring we had no interruptions in patient care. Many stayed overnight, getting shut eye whenever and wherever they could. Not only were employees devoted to making sure our patients and families received the care they needed, but they also showed incredible support to each other. Coworkers helped each other out with rides to and from the hospital and shoveled out buried cars. Angela Reedy, RN, Flex Pool, shared how Cindy Klebe, RN, NICU, went out of her way to pick up six night-shift employees who were staying in a hotel. Because of her assistance, all six were able to arrive on time for their shifts. Kwanza Carter, RN, HVU, and Trish Seal, RN, ICU, gave rides to several employees to make sure they could get to the hospital safely. Other staff members arrived long before the starts of their shifts to ensure they could care for their patients. Some even took on additional shifts so another team member could stay home. And when cars broke down on the snow-covered roads, some employees, like Jolanda Blake, environmental attendant, walked a mile to get to the hospital. It took Gary Cooper, environmental services, half a day to get to work, twelve-and-a-half hours to be exact. Leaving home at 3am, Gary began his long, treacherous trip. His car got stuck in the snow several times, but Gary didn’t turn around once. He arrived at the hospital at 3:30pm. After working long hours in back-to-back shifts, Leo Colon, Security, returned to his hotel in Annapolis to sleep. Many employees slept at local hotels during the weekend to ensure they could get to the hospital. As Leo entered the lobby, he saw several labor and delivery nurses planning their return to AAMC for their shifts. Despite little sleep, he offered them a ride to the hospital and a ride back to the hotel at the end of their shifts. Later that morning, Leo saw one of those nurses, Grace Blackwell, RN, Labor and Delivery, trying to shovel her car out from the hotel parking lot. “Without missing a beat, Leo offered his help to do a job that would have taken me over an hour,” says Grace. “I was able to get home to see my kids.” The Clatanoff Pavilion stayed busy, delivering 19 babies, including a set of twins, during the storm. On Facebook, hundreds of community members shared messages of support and thanks for our team’s dedication. “These people are true heroes! Thanks to them and to everyone at AAMC for their dedication and world-class commitment to serve,” said Facebook fan Bob Herrmann. Check out more photos from the blizzard on the AAMC Facebook page. Have an AAMC storm story you want to share? Let us know on our Facebook page. These stories offer just a glimpse of our extraordinary employees and their dedication to our patients. Thank you to everyone who worked during the biggest blizzard ever to hit our region, from those who cleared the paths to those who prepared food in our cafeterias, to those who cared for patients. We always put our patients first, rain or shine…or 29 inches of snow.