- Community, News & Press Releases, OrthopedicsGeneral Page Tier 3BlogAs a not-for-profit hospital, Anne Arundel Medical Center depends on support from businesses of all sizes throughout the region. Partnerships with local businesses are invaluable as we work to ensure our community is “Living Healthier Together.” We’re honored and excited to partner with the Chesapeake Bayhawks lacrosse team to help improve the overall health and wellbeing of our community. “Giving back is an integral part of what the Chesapeake Bayhawks stand for. Without our fans and our community, we have no team. The Bayhawks are ‘all-in’ in everything we do, both on and off the field,” says Bayhawks owner, Brendan Kelly. “We built our team through the strength and support of our local community. Our partnership with Anne Arundel Medical Center allows us the opportunity to show our gratitude and connect with the people and organizations who made us the team we are today.” The sports medicine team at Anne Arundel Medical Group Orthopedic and Sports Medicine Specialists serve as the official medical team for the Chesapeake Bayhawks. They provide game coverage, offer pre- and post-season physicals, and coordinate rehab with a focus of getting players back in the game as quickly and safely as possible. Just like they do for all members of our community, they help patients recover from an injury, improve physical performance and stay active for a lifetime. “Partnering with the Bayhawks has been a great experience. The entire organization is first class and strives to make every game family-friendly,” says AAMC’s Dan Redziniak, MD, the team’s head orthopedic surgeon. “The Bayhawks players serve as role models for the children in their community as they continue to grow the sport across the entire country.”
- News & Press Releases, Women's HealthGeneral Page Tier 3BlogAnnapolis OB-GYN Associates has joined Anne Arundel Medical Group (AAMG), a multi-specialty physician group that is part of Anne Arundel Medical Center. AAMG is one of Maryland’s largest multi-specialty practice groups, providing an array of healthcare services including primary care, women’s health and specialty care. Annapolis OB-GYN Associates has 18 providers and is a recognized leader in women’s healthcare in the region. The practice has been associated with AAMC since it opened in 1971. Its merger with AAMG was executed in November 2017. “We’re proud and excited about the addition of Annapolis OB-GYN Associates to the Anne Arundel Medical Group network of premier physicians,” said Peter Odenwald, vice president of Physician Services at AAMC. “Annapolis OB-GYN Associates has established a long-standing reputation in our community. Now, we’re pleased to combine that with Anne Arundel Medical Group’s clinically integrated network as well as Anne Arundel Medical Center’s award-winning women’s care.” “Joining Anne Arundel Medical Group is a natural step for our practice amidst the changing face of medicine,” said Fred Guckes, MD, President at Annapolis OB-GYN Associates. “The partnership provides us greater resources as well as access to better care coordination for our patients’ healthcare needs.” Annapolis OB-GYN Associates has locations in Annapolis, Chester, Pasadena and Gambrills. For more information or to schedule an appointment, call 410-573-9530 or visit www.AnnapolisObgyn.com.
- OrthopedicsGeneral Page Tier 3BlogHip and knee replacements have grown to become one of the most popular and successful elective operations ever performed. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, there were 1.1 million total joint replacements performed in the U.S. in 2012. Estimates show that by the year 2030, there’ll be 572,000 hip replacements and 3.48 million knee replacements performed annually in the U.S. Given the high demand, hospitals are studying ways to best provide this care to patients. This is especially true at Anne Arundel Medical Center. When I started doing joint replacement surgeries 13 years ago, the average length of stay for a patient who had hip or knee replacement was three nights. This is changing. Patients are going home sooner. For instance, four years ago at AAMC, only 10 percent of patients who had hip and knee replacement surgery went home on the first postoperative day. This year in July, we saw 80 percent of patients who had a hip replacement, and 60 percent of patients who had a knee replacement, go home in one day. This includes a growing number of patients going home the same day of their procedure. How is it possible to be discharged the next day, or even on the same day, after this type of procedure? The answer lies in a team approach always focused on the patient. There are a growing number of programs focused on helping speed up postoperative recovery, supporting early discharge and decreasing postoperative complications after joint replacement surgery. Locally, there is the Enhanced Recovery after Surgery (ERAS) program at AAMC. Early on, we were concerned that with a shorter length of stay patients may need to come back to the hospital with medical or surgical issues, but this was not the case. Our data shows that earlier discharge does not increase re-admissions. With high-quality hip and knee replacement surgery, patients have a safe recovery — even when they go home on the day of surgery. Advancing outcomes in joint replacement surgery Hospitals and surgeons continue to engage in work to further improve joint replacement care. Here in Annapolis, the joint replacement team at AAMC is developing clinical programs to increase the number of patients who leave the hospital earlier and get on the road to recovery faster. And by using predictive models, we’re able to better understand and choose patients who are good candidates for going home on the day of surgery. Postoperatively, we’re working closely with physical therapists to develop protocols to use after surgery to accurately show when a patient is safely ready to go home. Our efforts are focused on early recovery, to get you back to your own home and normal life sooner without hip or knee pain. Author James MacDonald, MD, is a joint surgeon at the Center for Joint Replacement at AAMC. To see the latest outcomes report from AAMC’s Center for Joint Replacement, visit askAAMC.org/JointOutcomes. To reach his practice for an appointment, call 410-268-8862.
- News & Press ReleasesGeneral Page Tier 3BlogIn 2015, the World Health Organization (WHO) passed a resolution calling attention to improving universal access to safe and affordable surgical care. Why? Of the world’s seven billion people, five billion lack access to the most basic surgery. Otherwise simple conditions, like a bone fracture or dislocation, a hernia, cataract, or obstructed labor, often turn life threatening for people living in many of the world’s developing nations. “In the developing world, surgery has been viewed for a long time as a luxury for the rich,” says Adrian Park, MD, chair of the Department of Surgery at Anne Arundel Medical Center (AAMC). But now, he says, the need for better surgical care is too great to ignore. “Data shows the burden of illness for surgically correctable conditions in the developing world eclipses that of malaria, HIV, AIDS, or tuberculosis,” says Park. “It is so significant that this can no longer be viewed as a luxury for the wealthy, this has to be viewed as a human right to have access to safe surgical care.” One part of the solution: equipping surgeons with skills to manage the challenges of surgical care in low- or limited-resource settings. In his new book, “Global Surgery: The Essentials,” Park provides an unprecedented resource for surgeons who have a desire to become involved. Coedited by University of Utah’s Raymond Price and published this year by Springer International, the book provides a ready guide for surgeons to manage clinical scenarios beyond the scope of their training or current practice. It also provides an in-depth look at unmet needs, and epidemiological, socioeconomic and political factors that frame global surgery. Park says his desire for readers is to become a part of efforts with lasting impact. “I want readers to think beyond just being a ‘drop in the ocean,’ but look to deliver sustainable change in providing access to safe surgical care in lower resource and remote settings.” He adds that sustainable change will also come from training those in low-resource settings to become surgeons — work he is actively engaged in. But that, he says, will take time. Park sees the heightened awareness and increased efforts around global surgery as promising. He is a part of work to facilitate the WHO resolution for access to safe, affordable surgical care for 80 percent of the world’s population by 2030. Park is a member of the American Surgical Association and fellow of the Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Canada, American College of Surgeons, and the College of Surgeons of East, Central and Southern Africa. He is author of more than 200 scientific articles and book chapters, and is internationally known as a leading authority in minimally invasive surgery. Park is also co-editor and chief of Surgical Innovation, a peer-reviewed bimonthly journal. Global Surgery is available for purchase on the website of Springer International Publishing and on Amazon.com.
- Cancer Care, Men's Health, Women's Health, PediatricsGeneral Page Tier 3BlogThe Geaton and JoAnn DeCesaris Cancer Institute at Anne Arundel Medical Center is partnering with two leading area pediatric practices to help raise awareness, and educate parents and health care providers about the importance of the HPV vaccine as a form of cancer prevention. About nine in 10 people will be exposed to HPV, or human papillomavirus, in their lifetime. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), nearly all cases of cervical cancer can be linked to HPV. Experts say HPV also causes between 50 to 60 percent of cancers, including cervical cancer, vaginal and vulvar cancers, anal cancer, throat cancer and penile cancer. “Despite the potential to drastically reduce the number of HPV-related cancers and other diseases, the HPV vaccine has not gained widespread use,” said Luqman Dad, MD, radiation oncologist at AAMC and chair of the medical center’s HPV vaccine taskforce. “We want to see that change because when HPV infections persist, people are at risk for cancer. Raising awareness about the safety and effectiveness of the HPV vaccine is important to us as health care providers. We want parents to know that the HPV vaccine is cancer prevention, and vaccine benefits far outweigh the risks.” “We are excited to join this group of experts to highlight the importance of HPV immunization for children in our community,” said Charles L. Parmele, MD, chief medical officer of Annapolis Pediatrics. “We understand there are many misconceptions about the safety and effectiveness of this vaccine. As pediatricians, this is a great opportunity for us to provide accurate information so parents can make the best decisions on behalf of their children today to reduce their risk of cancer in the future.” The CDC and Food and Drug Administration (FDA) have studied the vaccine carefully and determined it is safe. The HPV vaccine has many of the same, mild side effects as other vaccines. The most common side effects reported after vaccination are minor and include pain, redness or swelling in the arm where the patient received the shot; fever; headache or feeling tired; and nausea. “HPV vaccination is an integral part of preventing cancers in young women and men. It is important for families and primary care providers to have an early, open dialogue about the benefits of the HPV vaccine,” said Robert G. Graw, Jr., MD, chief executive officer and founder of the Pediatric Group and a pediatric oncologist at AAMC. Doctors recommend that children get the vaccine before they become sexually active, which is when it is most effective. Boys and girls who are 11 or 12 years old should get two shots of HPV vaccine six to twelve months apart. Children who receive their two shots less than five months apart will require a third dose of HPV vaccine. If your child is older than 14 years, three shots will need to be given over 6 months. Visit askAAMC.org/HPVvaccine for more information.
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?