- Community, Pediatrics, UncategorizedGeneral Page Tier 3BlogWe are committed to improving the health of our community, illustrated by this sampling of our community outreach efforts: Helping Kids Say “No” Amanda Larkins is a prevention educator who visits high school students in their classrooms as part of a partnership among Anne Arundel County Public Schools, county coalitions and AAMC’s Pathways Prevention Program. The goal is to help students make good choices by arming them with information aboutthe dangers of alcohol and drug use and strategies for resisting peer pressure. In our photo above, Larkins has freshmen at Northeast High School in Pasadena spin the “Wheel of Misfortune,” taking turns testing their knowledge of drinks and drugs, and practice saying no. Reducing the Rate of Lung Cancer Deaths AAMC is committed to diagnosing lung cancer in people as early on in the disease process as possible. That’s because the earlier you catch it, the better your chances are for survival. We do this by providing low-dose CT Scans for low-income residents and, when necessary, enrollment in the rapid access chest and lung assessment program (RACLAP) for early intervention and diagnosis. Good news: The lung screening is covered by most insurances and Medicare, if you meet the screening criteria. If something suspicious is found, the RACLAP ensures patients get the information needed to decide on a course of action. Becoming Tobacco Free Since tobacco use is the leading cause of lung cancer and other related diseases, AAMC is committed to decreasing the use of tobacco products. We offer smoking cessation help through classes, individual counseling and support groups—all free to people who work or live in Anne Arundel County. AAMC is a tobacco free campus, which discourages the use of these products by employees, patients, visitors, and volunteers. Starting July 2015, AAMC takes a leadership position as a major employer in Maryland and stops hiring nicotine users. Our Community Benefit Report offers more details on our work in the community.
- Women's HealthGeneral Page Tier 3BlogLet’s face it, urinary incontinence—the loss of bladder control—is not a sexy subject. But it’s a common problem that women of all ages often find too embarrassing to even talk about. For women affected by this, everyday life things—like going to the gym, sitting in a meeting or a night out with friends—can be extremely difficult, not to mention downright depressing. Think this is an “old person” issue? Not so. Surprisingly, one in four women under the age of 40 experience some form of incontinence. Women tend to suffer two types of incontinence: urge incontinence, the sudden and strong desire to urinate with only a few moments’ warning, OR stress incontinence, the involuntary loss of urine during physical exertion—such as lifting heavy objects and exercise, or even coughing, laughing and sneezing—that puts pressure on the bladder. Carrying and having a baby is not always the cause of urinary incontinence. Sometimes there are anatomical problems in the pelvis or in the back that can contribute. Also, certain medications, medical conditions and lifestyle habits can cause leakage issues. There is a bright side to this; while urinary incontinence isn’t always preventable, you can decrease your risk: Maintain a healthy weight Practice pelvic floor exercises, especially during pregnancy Avoid bladder irritants, such as caffeine and acidic foods Eat more fiber, which can prevent constipation, a cause of urinary incontinence So when do you need to see a doctor? When the leaks become problematic and impact normal everyday living. Make sure to bring up incontinence problems with your primary care doctor or gynecologist so they can refer you to a specialist. To learn more about treating urinary incontinence, visit askAAMC.org/PelvicHealth. Author By Kay Hoskey, MD, urogynecologist at Anne Arundel Medical Center’s Women’s Center for Pelvic Health. She can be reached at 443-481-1199.
- Men's Health, Women's Health, Heart CareGeneral Page Tier 3BlogHigh blood pressure, or hypertension, is the leading cause of heart attack, stroke, heart failure and kidney disease. It’s called the “silent killer” because it often has no warning signs or symptoms, and many people don’t know they have it. So with one in three adults in the United States having high blood pressure, it’s natural for you to question if you should worry about it. My answer is yes, but with some qualification. It’s not necessary, and sometimes unhelpful, for people to take their blood pressure multiple times a day. The benefits of blood pressure control occur after many years of treatment and it’s the rare circumstance where normalizing one’s pressure requires a sense of urgency. Also, one or two elevated readings at home, at the drug store, or a doctor’s office does not mean you have high blood pressure—it is a diagnosis that generally requires weeks or months to establish. I personally don’t believe that patients should monitor their blood pressure at home unless specifically instructed to by their doctor. But that doesn’t mean you’re off the hook. It’s important to know your blood pressure numbers and understand what they mean. This helps keep the lines of communication open between you and your doctor, so you can work in partnership toward the healthiest you. Understanding the Numbers Your blood pressure reading is made up of two numbers, but do you know what they are telling you? The top number is called your systolic blood pressure. This represents the force of blood through your blood vessels during your heartbeat. Normal: 119 or below is normal systolic blood pressure Prehypertension: 120-139 High blood pressure: 140 or greater High blood pressure in those over 60: 150 or greater The bottom number is called your diastolic blood pressure, representing the force of blood through your blood vessels when your heart is resting. Normal: 79 or below is normal diastolic blood pressure Prehypertension: 80-89 Hypertension: 90 and greater The good news is that it is possible to prevent and control high blood pressure through some simple lifestyle changes: Maintain a healthy weight Get physically active Follow a healthy eating plan Limit salt and sodium Limit alcohol consumption Lifestyle changes aren’t always enough depending on where you fall on the spectrum, in which case your doctor will work with you to incorporate blood pressure medication into your healthy lifestyle routine. We live in the age of fitness trackers and electronic health self-monitoring devices, so I understand the desire may still be there to check your blood pressure regularly on your own. If you can’t resist the temptation, or simply find peace of mind in more regular monitoring, I recommend taking your blood pressure once a week, at the same time of day, such as in the morning or evening, unless your doctor has instructed you otherwise. Listen to more about the numbers you should know for heart health from Dr. Jonathan Altschuler at AAMC’s docsTALK: Spring Screenings. Author By Jonathan Altschuler, MD, interventional cardiologist and medical director of the Cardiac Catheterization Lab at Anne Arundel Medical Center.
- Community, News & Press ReleasesGeneral Page Tier 3BlogThere have been a lot of amazing changes happening in the Laboratory lately. The group has been working diligently to improve workflow and efficiency in one of the busiest areas of the hospital. Accuracy and efficiency are hugely important—almost every patient who passes through our doors will need to use lab services before they are discharged. More than 3,000 specimens pass through the lab on any given day, and the team needs to be able to process them quickly and accurately. Making their workflow as efficient as possible will keep costs low for patients. It will also put results in the hands or their caregivers quicker, helping them make faster, more accurate care decisions for their patients. One of the improvements the team recently made is in their workflow once a specimen enters the lab. They recently participated in a week-long rapid improvement event (RIE) to reduce the amount of time it took for a specimen to begin to be tested once it was received as well as reduce errors and decrease costs. Specimens arrive in the lab through the tube system, via delivery or drop-off. Once received, the lab assistants receiving the specimen must determine where the specimen needs to go for testing and, if necessary, prepare the specimen. This receiving and dispersal area is known as Central Accessioning. The first step was to take a closer look at the work area. The team determined that the Central Accessioning station was cluttered and not effectively used. The set-up of the station forced the lab assistants to make multiple stops in several areas within the workstation before finally delivering the specimen to the testing station. Extra walking means extra time. The team worked to redesign the workflow and eliminated the need to use the majority of the Central Accessioning station. The accessioning team can complete all work in a clean central location. This new centralized workstation means that instead of walking in a scattered “spaghetti” pattern, the Central Accessioning team walks “the bat cape.” The bat cape pattern represents the standardized walking pattern of receiving and delivering specimens to testing. The team saw results immediately, including: A cleaner space: The team was able to remove cubicle walls which were made unnecessary in the revamped accessioning station, giving the space a cleaner, more open feel and allowing for a more efficient walking pattern. Quicker processing: On average, a specimen would spend more than 16 minutes in accessioning before moving on to testing. That’s been reduced to less than seven minutes. Increased specimen processing: Each employee can now process more than 600 specimens per day, up from 424 before the rapid improvement event (RIE). Elimination in overtime: The team was putting in an additional 2.4 hours before the RIE. Decrease in errors: Before the RIE, six specimens processed incorrectly. Now, that’s down to four.
- Cancer Care, Women's HealthGeneral Page Tier 3BlogWith Angelina Jolie in the news recently for preventatively having her ovaries removed—following a preventative double mastectomy just two years ago—many women have questions about genetic counseling and the role it can play in determining your risk for breast and ovarian cancer. If you test positive for one of the main breast cancer genes, called the BRCA genes, you have up to an 85 percent greater lifetime risk for developing breast cancer, as well as an increased risk for ovarian cancer. Plus, if you’ve already had breast cancer there’s a significantly increased risk for having another breast cancer—nearly 65 percent. If you find out you have a genetic mutation that puts you at an increased risk of another breast cancer, this may change your initial surgical decision. Instead of pursuing a lumpectomy or a single mastectomy, you may instead choose a bilateral mastectomy. Also, if you are a BRCA carrier you may elect to have your ovaries removed by a certain age because currently we do not have an effective way to screen for ovarian cancer. Genetic counselors help you figure out the best plan of care if you have or are at risk of having a genetic condition. To make sure you are fully informed before making a decision to proceed with genetic testing, the counselor discusses benefits and limitations, as well as the implications for you and your family of the possible test results. The genetic counselor reviews your medical and family history, providing information regarding the genetics and natural history of hereditary cancer syndromes and reviewing personalized options for risk reduction and increased cancer surveillance. The goal is to provide a comprehensive risk assessment to determine if genetic testing is reasonable and which genetic test is most appropriate. The family history takes into account at least first-, second-, and third-degree relatives to establish whether there’s a pattern of cancer in the family that may indicate an increased likelihood of an inherited mutation. Since the majority of cancer is not hereditary, things such as shared environment and lifestyle factors are important to consider. Taking a complete family history allows the genetic counselor to look for certain red flags that guide the discussion and help identify who can benefit from genetic testing. Ideally, genetic testing starts with a family member who has had cancer because that provides the most useful information for the entire family. While the analysis and interpretation of genetic test results are complex, the test itself only requires a saliva sample or a blood draw and the testing is completed in several weeks. It’s important to know having a genetic mutation does not mean you will definitely develop either breast or ovarian cancer. Figuring out how to address the increased risk is a personal decision that should be made following consultation with your doctor. Genetic counseling can provide information to patients to help them choose the best course of treatment, but ultimately the patient and their family will decide what is best for them. If you think you may be at high risk for breast or ovarian cancer, talk with your doctor about whether genetic counseling may be right for you. Health insurance often covers genetic counseling, so check with your individual plan. Learn more about genetic counseling at Anne Arundel Medical Center. Author By Ashley Allenby, MGC, CGC, certified genetic counselor at Anne Arundel Medical Center. To reach her, call 443-481-4295.
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