- Cancer Care, Men's Health, Women's Health, PediatricsGeneral Page Tier 3BlogAbout 12,000 women get cervical cancer every year in the U.S., and a third of those cases are fatal. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, nearly all of those cases are linked to the human papillomavirus infection, also known as HPV. HPV can also cause other forms of cancer. Experts say the infection causes between 50 and 60 percent of cancers including cervical cancer, vaginal and vulvar cancers, anal cancer, throat cancer and penile cancer. However, there is a vaccine that can help prevent these cancers. Here’s what you need to know. HPV vaccine guidelines About nine in 10 people will catch HPV eventually, and medical experts recommend that both males and females get the vaccine before they become sexually active. According to the National Cancer Institute, the vaccine has helped to lower HPV among women in their 20s by nearly two-thirds. There are three HPV vaccines available – Gardasil, Gardasil 9 and Cervarix. The CDC recommends the vaccine for women through age 26, and men through age 21. But there are guidelines for when your child should get the HPV vaccine, based on age. Boys and girls who are 11 or 12 should get two shots of the vaccine six to 12 months apart. Those who receive their shots less than five months apart will need a third shot. If your child is 15 or older, he or she will need three shots over six months. Doctors also recommend that children with weakened immune systems receive three shots. Children who are allergic to yeast or latex should not receive the vaccine. Talk to your pediatrician if your child has any severe allergies. Women who are pregnant should also not get the HPV vaccine. As with any vaccine, there can be side effects. Common side effects include pain, redness or swelling in the arm where the patient received the shot; fever; headache or feeling tired; nausea; and muscle or joint pain. According to the CDC, most people who get the vaccine never experience side effects. Screening for HPV related cancers The CDC says the HPV vaccine isn’t a substitute for cervical cancer screening, and it doesn’t protect against all types of HPV that can lead to cervical cancer. Women should still see their gynecologist for regular Pap tests. There are no recommended screening tests for anal and penile cancers, or for throat cancers. You should visit your doctor regularly for checkups.
- Behavioral Health, Community, News & Press ReleasesGeneral Page Tier 3BlogAnne Arundel County leaders and educators convened Tuesday at Anne Arundel Medical Center (AAMC) for “No Wrong Door, Hope for Recovery,” a day-long symposium to commemorate the 25th anniversary of AAMC’s substance abuse and mental health treatment facility, Pathways. Speakers and guests discussed the county’s latest efforts to address mental health and substance abuse in our youth and community. In remarks during the symposium, AAMC’s Executive Vice President of Integrated Care Delivery and Chief Operating Officer Maulik Joshi underscored AAMC’s continued efforts to increase critical mental health services in the county. “We remain committed to improving access and providing high-quality addiction treatment and mental health care to all in need in our community.” Part of that commitment, Joshi said, is working to establish AAMC’s proposed mental health hospital. AAMC’s mental health hospital would double Anne Arundel County’s inventory of mental health beds, and serve up to 900 patients a year who would otherwise be transferred out of AAMC’s care. AAMC filed a Certificate of Need (CON) application with the Maryland Health Care Commission (MHCC) in 2016 to gain approval to establish the mental health hospital. The MHCC must grant the CON before this service is available to the community. The event concluded Tuesday evening with a keynote address by former congressman and mental health advocate Patrick Kennedy. Kennedy discussed his work to combat medical and societal discrimination against mental illness and addiction. “Today, mental health and addiction is separate and unequal from the rest of medicine,” Kennedy declared. In his talk, he opened up about his own battle with substance abuse and mental illness. The day’s speakers also included: State’s Attorney for Anne Arundel County Wes Adams, Director of Anne Arundel County Crisis Response System Jen Corbin, Major for Anne Arundel County Police Ross Passman, Author Lisa Hillman, WBAL anchor Keith Mills, Executive Director of Maryland Addictions Directors Council Tracey Myers-Preston, and members of AAMC leadership. Pathways provides 25 Years of Care Over its existence, Pathways has helped more than 50,000 people find their path to recovery. The 40-bed freestanding complex on the outskirts of Annapolis is open 24 hours a day for inpatient and outpatient treatment. The facility provides care not only to residents in the immediate surrounding areas, but also for those from nearby states. Pathways serves as a primary addiction resource with innovative programs, such as: A family wellness workshop that educates family members on how they can assist in the recovery process. Pathways nurse liaison program, which helps facilitate admission and treatment of substance abuse clients that are already admitted to AAMC or the emergency department. A prevention program partnership with Anne Arundel County Public School’s to provide substance abuse education to area faculty and students. Patients are referred to Pathways by health care providers, family members, educators, alumni, state and local agencies, etc. To refer patients, or to request an evaluation, call Pathways at 410-573-5400 or at 800-322-5858.
- GivingGeneral Page Tier 3BlogMaria C. Scott, MD, the founder and medical director for Chesapeake Eye Care and Laser Center, believes that the core of Anne Arundel Medical Center is to serve the entire community. Through a partnership with AAMC’s Community Health Clinics, Dr. Scott donates her time and talent to give free cataract surgery to low-income patients through the Operation Sight program. Vision loss from a cataract has tremendous impact on those living in poverty. The economic and cultural stigmas associated with poor vision greatly limits employment and educational opportunities. And when family members of the visually impaired become caretakers, their economic future is also jeopardized. “Knowing the life changing impact of cataract surgery, it is important for us to offer this opportunity to those who could not otherwise afford it,” says Dr. Scott, one of the leading cataract surgeons in the country to implant multifocal lenses. “This was a true team effort where many AAMC physicians and caregivers donated their time and services.” Dr. Scott was the first surgeon to perform no-needle, no-stitch cataract surgery in the area, and was the first surgeon to treat patients with the laser vision correction procedure in Annapolis. “When I came to this area 23 years ago, many residents traveled to Baltimore for cataract surgery. This was true of other services as well. Thankfully, AAMC’s president at the time, Chip Doordan, and his team had a vision to provide these much needed services locally, and they saw it through to fruition,” says Dr. Scott. “Now we have an amazing facility that attracts the best and the brightest. I am very proud to be a part of Anne Arundel Medical Center.” In addition to the time she commits through her partnership with the Community Health Clinics, Dr. Scott and her husband, Dr. Matthew Scott, an anesthesiologist at Anesthesia Company, L.L.C., contribute yearly as AAMC Foundation Baldwin Society members and have supported various areas of care, including AAMC’s Heart and Vascular Institute and the Geaton and JoAnn DeCesaris Cancer Institute. Dr. Scott has also provided a clinical leadership perspective as a member of the AAMC Foundation’s board since 2010. “As the first elected physician to serve on the board, I was honored that AAMC wanted to include a physician’s voice. I think it helps represent the patients and the community since we are involved with those we serve first-hand. We are fortunate to have such a talented board who is truly dedicated to the community,” says Dr. Scott. Dr. Scott encourages her fellow surgeons and colleagues to get involved with the AAMC Foundation. “Going forward, my hope is that more doctors get involved. I think it is important for the growth of the hospital and the community,” she says. To learn more about supporting AAMC’s Community Health Clinics, contact 443-481-4747 or [email protected].
- GivingGeneral Page Tier 3BlogThe Chaney family tree spans 13 generations and their roots run deep throughout Anne Arundel County and the surrounding area. In the tradition of their ancestors, Steuart Chaney, his son Hamilton, and their families continue to call this area their home. Another deep-seated belief among the Chaney family is investing in the community and improving the lives of their friends, neighbors and loved ones. With a gift of 15 acres of undeveloped land to Anne Arundel Medical Center, the Chaney family is creating a foundation for the expansion of accessible health care available to those who live, work and play in south Anne Arundel County. The land, located in the center of Deale, will be the home of a new multi-purpose AAMC healthcare facility that will give south county residents access to health care in their own backyard. AAMC plans to build a multi-purpose healthcare facility that will focus on primary care and expansion into other specialties. The facility is expected to open in 2020. “We are grateful for the generous gift of land in Deale by the Chaney family, as this will provide a platform on which we will be able to provide needed medical services to the residents of Deale and the surrounding area, limiting their need to travel long distances for basic health care services,” says Steve Clarke, AAMC’s vice president of physician services. In 2016, 16 percent of AAMC’s total hospital-based volume was from patients residing in southern Anne Arundel County, as well as Calvert and St. Mary’s counties. This number included inpatient and outpatient services, observation and emergency department visits. “Medical services are crucial for everyone in the community, young and old. Everyone needs medical services at some point,” says Hamilton. “We know this type of facility will evolve with the community. It will make the area more attractive to residents, provide jobs, and be a center point for our community.” A vision for south Anne Arundel County With an eye for development, the Chaneys purchased the land in 2004 and had visionary plans for the future use of the property. “We were looking toward the future when we purchased this land, so medical services made perfect sense,” says Steuart. “We wanted the land to have a lasting impact on the community, and we knew that Anne Arundel Medical Center would be able to accomplish that mission.” Hamilton feels that advancing technology will be a key component in the success of this new facility. Residents will have direct access to care providers across all AAMC special areas of care. “It will change the lives of residents in south county,” says Hamilton. “We’ve been here all our lives. We grew up here, work here and continue to raise our families here. Like AAMC, we care about this community.”
- GivingGeneral Page Tier 3BlogEvery year, new and current community partners just like you, as well as grateful patients and friends of AAMC, make philanthropic gifts to support the hospital. Charitable donations of all sizes are vital to supporting our important caregivers, purchasing cutting-edge equipment, and providing continuing education for nurses and physicians. As a non-profit community hospital, donations offer much needed funding as the costs of providing high quality care continue to outpace medical reimbursements. With your gift, you make a difference every day for the patients that we serve. As your community hospital, so can we. Making an effort to connect more personally with our donors, we embarked on a phone outreach campaign last year. You may have received a phone call from an AAMC student volunteer, nurse, or auxilian who called to explain the importance of sustaining AAMC’s Annual Fund. David Beck, a volunteer patient family adviser at AAMC, and his wife Bobbette have been charitably giving to AAMC for more than a decade. Last fall, they answered the call and made a gift to support the greatest needs of the hospital. “AAMC is much more than your local hospital. It is an integral part and a cornerstone of our greater Annapolis community. The caring demeanor of everyone you come in contact with is so reassuring to both patient and family. And this is just in addition to an outstanding medical staff and facility. We are proud to support AAMC,” the Becks say. Perhaps you or someone you know – a family member or neighbor, a colleague or a friend – has been touched personally by the high-quality healthcare services offered at AAMC. Our goal is to continue this long-standing tradition of providing our community with excellent healthcare right here in our own backyard. But we can’t do it alone! We look to you, our friends in the community, for support. The Annual Fund is the cornerstone of that support. When you make an unrestricted gift to AAMC, we apply it to a high priority need or initiative. You may also designate it toward a specific area of care within the hospital. We are currently planning our upcoming telemarketing campaign for fall 2017, and our callers are looking forward to speaking with you. For Damaris Dipini, a medical assistant for microvascular surgery at AAMC, hearing donor’s stories and enthusiasm for their community hospital is what she looks forward to the most when she makes her calls. “I am amazed at the fact that this wonderful place that I work continues to thrive because of people in the community that give back so graciously without blinking an eye,” says Damaris. “Through the telemarketing campaign, I get to genuinely thank the donors who graciously give so that the patients I care for can continue to get advanced treatment. I am honored to be a part of a community that has such a giving heart.” At AAMC, it’s not about how much you give. Every gift of every size is important. We hope you consider continuing your support through the Annual Fund every year, and we look forward to speaking with you during our next campaign! For more information about how you can support AAMC’s Annual Fund, contact Gabby Pasternak Fitzmaurice at 443-481-4735 or [email protected].
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