- Senior CareGeneral Page Tier 3BlogBeing a caregiver is an important and demanding job. As the level of care your loved one needs increases, it may be time to consider whether a nursing home is the next logical step. “Each situation is unique,” says AAMC Associate Chair of Medicine Jeanette Abell, MD. “It depends a lot on the person, family, overall condition and symptoms. In general, it might be time if there are home safety issues, problems with falling or needs beyond what the caregiver can provide.” It may also be time to consider a nursing home or extra support if you are experiencing burnout as a caregiver. Caregiver burnout can include feelings of frustration or anxiety, physical illness or negative impacts on your other relationships. “These situations are never easy. One of the most important things is letting caregivers know that it’s OK to ask for help,” says Dr. Abell. It’s normal to feel stressed, guilty or anxious. It’s important to get appropriate support for what you need. You can’t continue to be a caregiver if you are not healthy yourself. If it doesn’t seem like quite the right time to move your loved one to care outside the home, Dr. Abell notes that there are several options to consider. She suggests adding support in “layers.” These could include making sure your house is safe, having someone to go grocery shopping or cook meals, or putting in place an alert system to notify the right people if your loved one falls. There are also adult daycare facilities, where older adults can go during the day for socialization, recreation, meals, and occupational or physical therapy. When possible, Dr. Abell suggests discussing your loved one’s wishes ahead of time. Have a conversation with your loved one and write down who should make healthcare decisions when he or she is unable to do so. Additionally, you may want to research and visit care facilities in your area, so you are prepared before a crisis strikes. “There is a real disconnect in the importance of these conversations and who is actually having them,” says Dr. Abell. “That’s why it’s important to have these conversations before a crisis. I like to refer to them as ‘kitchen table conversations.’” Author Jeanette Abell, MD, is the AAMC Associate Chair of Medicine. Originally published Dec. 5, 2016. Last updated Sept. 30, 2019.0
- Weight Loss, Wellness, Heart CareGeneral Page Tier 3BlogSome people want six-pack abs. Some want firmer glutes. And still others want toned biceps. If you want to be healthy, though, the muscle you should care about exercising the most is your heart, says Anne Arundel Medical Center cardiac rehab nurse Shannon Adkins. She offers six tips to get started: Make it a habit. For optimal heart health, Shannon recommends at least 30 minutes of exercise a day, five to seven days a week. Know your target heart rate. For the general public, the American Heart Association recommends exercising with a target heart rate between 50 percent and 85 percent of your maximum heart rate. (Your maximum heart rate is 220 minus your age.) If you’ve had a heart event, like a heart attack or heart failure, your target heart rate is tailored based on your medical evaluation and medical history. Talk it out. You should always be able to talk while you’re exercising. If you can breathe but not speak, you’re pushing a little too hard. Ease into/out of exercise. Devote five minutes to a warm-up before you exercise and five minutes to a cool-down after. Gradually transition into and out of intense exercise to improve blood flow to your muscles and reduce stress on your heart. Do what you love. Whatever your target heart rate is, you can reach it by walking, running, swimming, biking, hiking, skiing and even dancing. “Do whatever you enjoy doing, as long as it gets your heart rate in that target range,” Shannon says. Listen to your body. “Consult your doctor before you start exercising, and stop if you feel like something’s wrong,” Shannon says. “Always listen to your body.” Learn one woman’s story about how she recovered from a heart attack and adopted a heart-healthy lifestyle. Author Shannon Adkins, RN, BSN, is a cardiac rehab nurse at AAMC. Originally published Feb. 15, 2017. Last updated Dec. 17, 2019.0
- CommunityGeneral Page Tier 3BlogIn the wake of recent events, Luminis Health CEO Tori Bayless shares how our health system plans to confront racism, together. It is impossible to witness what we all are witnessing this week without sharing these words with you… Racism. It is an ugly reality that pervades our society. It has no place in our country, in our community, or in our health system. We will confront racism head on, and take action against it. Overt. Systemic. And everything in between. The recent, senseless killings of George Floyd, Ahmaud Arbery, and Breonna Taylor are the most recent incidents of a long-standing legacy of inequity that demands justice. They demand that we do better. This problem that lingers in our society is not the burden of people of color alone. The ugliness is impacting our co-workers, patients, friends and family. Therefore, it is our problem to confront together. In the tumultuous days since the murder of George Floyd, emotions are understandably running high. Outrage. Grief. Sadness. Fear. Anger. Together we are planning our response as a health system that will underscore our commitment to justice and to every human life. We will do it together, as a team. As one. We also are caregivers. And we will care for each other, our patients and our community through this unrest and this ugly reality. We need to ask, how can we work together to understand those who need to be heard and protected? How can I be a better ally to my colleagues? It goes even deeper. How can I hear what I am not hearing? As a health system our core values fight against racism – but is it enough? Are we making progress? Today, I encourage you to check on each other. Offer to listen. Think about actions you can take, big and small, to start making a difference. I will be doing the same. And we will share our organizational response with you in the coming days. Together, we can heal and make change happen. Together we will be a part of the solution and support the eradication of inequity.0
- Cancer CareGeneral Page Tier 3BlogKimberly Collins lives in southern Maryland, about two hours away from Anne Arundel Medical Center. Yet she still traveled to AAMC to get a second opinion on her breast cancer diagnosis — and then, ultimately, treatment and breast reconstruction. “That’s a drop in the bucket for getting good care,” Kimberly says. She opted to undergo a double mastectomy with Wen Liang, MD, a breast surgeon at The Rebecca Fortney Breast Center at AAMC, followed by reconstructive surgery with Devinder Singh, MD, chief of Plastic Surgery at AAMC and medical director of AAMG Plastic Surgery. AAMG Plastic Surgery’s plastic surgeons work closely with the breast surgeons, oncologists and radiologists at The Rebecca Fortney Breast Center — a level of collaboration that is unusual in highly specialized care. “When I walked into the breast center, I knew I was in the right place,” Kimberly says. Dr. Liang, she says, treated her not just as a cancer patient, but as an individual person. A breast cancer diagnosis is terrifying, Kimberly says. She was drawn to Dr. Liang’s compassion as well as her expertise and knowledge. “Dr. Liang wanted to see for herself what she was looking at,” she says, adding Dr. Liang didn’t give the scans to the radiologist until she reviewed them. “And she actually had some questions,” Kimberly says. “She went that same afternoon during my consult to the Radiology department and had them read my films with her questions included. When you have a doctor with that much buy-in and partnership in your diagnosis and treatment — you don’t question it.” Kimberly says she’d spent a lot of time researching Dr. Liang, but no time researching a plastic surgeon. That’s when the partnership between The Rebecca Fortney Breast Center and AAMG Plastic Surgery was especially important. “If I had had to research a plastic surgeon — it would have changed my whole emotional journey,” she says. “When I meet with a breast cancer patient after hermastectomy, there are always a lot of questions. And rightfully so,” says Dr. Singh. “Chief among them, what kind of reconstruction are we talking about?” Kimberly opted for silicone implants to eliminate the need for extra incisions. Other methods of reconstruction, including deep inferior epigastric perforator artery (DIEP) or superficial inferior epigastric artery (SIEA) flap reconstruction involve using the patient’s tissue from another part of her body, such as the abdomen or thigh. Dr. Singh was “the jewel in my crown” of treatment, Kimberly says. Dr. Singh says it’s a team effort. Ken Collins, Kimberly’s husband, adds that the team approach was evident as Drs. Liang and Singh worked to include all members of their family, including their two children, in discussions about Kimberly’s care. “Everybody was a part of it,” he says. “It was an incredible experience that I wish I had never had.” Like AAMG Plastic Surgery on Facebook for the latest updates from the practice’s medical team.0
- Pediatrics, Infectious DiseaseGeneral Page Tier 3BlogAs a parent, you’re probably still trying to learn how to navigate the new reality of dealing with the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic. Your home is now your office. At the same time, it’s your new daycare facility. And just as you might have many questions about the new normal, you might also be wondering if you should take your child to the pediatrician during the pandemic. The short answer is yes. If you’re concerned about keeping standing visits for your kids, it’s important that you remember that these are vital to their health. Getting immunizations and other regular check-ups remain important. This is especially true during the pandemic. Pediatric practices are implementing new steps to prevent the spread of COVID-19. These extra precautions are designed to keep you safe. Some of these steps include screening children for symptoms by phone before their arrival. Additionally, staff are wearing masks and personal protective equipment when caring for your child. Even while you are staying home to prevent the spread of COVID-19, there are still important reasons you may need to bring your child into the office, including: Newborn visits after a baby is born. This is to make sure the baby is healthy and developing appropriately. Immunizations. Especially during the pandemic, we want to prevent an outbreak of other illnesses. Developmental screenings and tests. For example, hearing and vision screenings, monitoring growth, blood pressure and other vital signs. Adolescent health concerns. This includes menstrual care, anxiety and depression screenings. It’s also important to remember that our pediatrics Emergency Department (ED) is open. Patients must wear a mask to enter the ED. If patients need a mask, we give them one upon arrival. This is followed by screening questions at the front desk. We encourage parents to call their pediatrician’s office if they’re concerned about their child’s health. However, if it’s an emergency, we encourage parents to come directly to the ED. Here, staff is ready and available to care for your child. Understanding that you might feel anxious about bringing your child to the hospital, pediatric emergency visit turnaround time at AAMC has decreased to about 90 minutes for less acute symptoms. This is our way of giving you back your time and helping you get in and out as effectively as possible. Whatever you might be calling or visiting us for, we can assure you we are taking steps to keep you and your children safe. We understand things are a little different now and you might be worried about your child’s health. But, it’s important that you access care as soon as your child needs it. Waiting to come in will only prolong illness or symptoms. When a child needs to come in to the ED, the stay will likely be shorter the sooner you come. We’re here to help you. We remain safe, ready and open to care for your child. Authors Lauren Fitzpatrick, MD, is the medical director of Anne Arundel Medical Center’s Pediatric Emergency Department. Kristen Breslin, MD, MPH, is the medical director of Children’s National Emergency Department at Doctors Community Hospital. Melanie Lee, MSN, RN, CPN, is the nursing manager of Pediatric Emergency and Inpatient Unit at Anne Arundel Medical Center.0
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