- News & Press ReleasesGeneral Page Tier 3BlogAnne Arundel Medical Center (AAMC) is currently experiencing a high volume of patients with influenza (flu). The Department of Health and Mental Hygiene reports an increase in flu cases statewide. In order to reduce the spread of flu, AAMC is limiting hospital visitors in the following ways: People under age 12 should not visit. People experiencing cold or flu-like symptoms should not visit. AAMC’s Clatanoff Pavilion will allow siblings to visit after the birth of a new child, but parents must be sure siblings are not ill. Flu Symptoms You may have the flu if you have some or all of these symptoms: Fever Cough Sore throat Body aches and chills Headache Fatigue Fighting the Flu Stay home and get plenty of rest. Drink clear fluids to keep from getting dehydrated. Cover your coughs and sneezes to prevent spreading flu to others. Most people with the flu do not need medical care or antiviral drugs. If you get sick with flu symptoms, in most cases, you should stay home and avoid contact with other people. If, however, you have symptoms of flu and are in a high-risk group, contact your health care provider. Certain people are at high risk of serious flu-related complications including young children, people 65 and older, pregnant women and people with certain medical conditions. The emergency room should be used for people who are very sick. You should not go to the emergency room if you are only mildly ill. If you go to the emergency room and you are not sick with the flu, you may catch it from people who do have it. If you have the emergency warning signs of flu sickness, you should go to the emergency room. Emergency warning signs in children: Fast breathing or trouble breathing Bluish skin color Not drinking enough fluids Not waking up or not interacting Being so irritable that the child does not want to be held Flu-like symptoms improve but then return with fever and worse cough Fever with a rash Emergency warning in adults: Difficulty breathing or shortness of breath Pain or pressure in the chest or abdomen Sudden dizziness Confusion Severe or persistent vomiting
- Patient StoriesGeneral Page Tier 3BlogIn August of 2023, Eileen Littlejohn received a diagnosis of gynecologic cancer. Her gynecologist, Dr. Chasheryl Leslie of Luminis Health, recommended that she schedule an appointment with Dr. Nicholas Lambrou, the Chief of Luminis Health Gynecologic Oncology. Upon contacting the gynecologic oncology office with inquiries, Eileen experienced a compassionate and accommodating response. They promptly scheduled her for an appointment the following day. “From my initial appointment, I found the team approachable and very reassuring,” she remarked. “Their responsiveness to answering my call, all my questions and addressing my concerns left a strong impression of relief for me.” Dr. Lambrou commented “When a patient is referred to our office, our team reaches out immediately to the patient to schedule an appointment. Knowing the concern and worry a new cancer diagnosis carries, we try our best to provide prompt appointments at a location most convenient to our patients. Our goal is to provide ample time during the initial visit to allow patients and their families to meet with our team members, understand their plan of care, and coordinate next steps. We believe the key to this is clear communication within our team and to our patients.” Offering advice to fellow patients, Eileen stressed the importance of having a strong support system. She consistently brought a companion with her to appointments, emphasizing the significance of asking questions without reservation. “There’s no such thing as a dumb question,” she advised. She adds, “I was extremely happy and comfortable that the entire team including the doctor, PA, nurse, scheduler and office staff were all kind and tender with their approaches, responses and responsiveness to all requests…I highly recommend Dr. Lambrou, his team and the Luminis Health Gynecologic Oncology for services and treatment.” If you or a loved one are seeking gynecologic oncology care, please call 443-481-3493 to make an appointment. Our services are available in Annapolis, Lanham and Easton. Click here to learn more.
- Behavioral HealthGeneral Page Tier 3BlogIf you’re on a path to improve your mental health, you might have come across information about practicing gratitude. Gratitude… a concept so simple it leaves you wondering, ‘how can adopting a gratitude practice help my mental health?’ For this reason, we looked into the science that proves this is a real thing. What is gratitude? Gratitude is an appreciation or recognition of what one has beyond monetary value. What is practicing gratitude? Practicing gratitude involves taking a few moments each day to notice and appreciate what you’re thankful for. These don’t need to be big things, but rather the small, often overlooked aspects of daily life; such as mobility, a solid friend group, or a home. Developing an “attitude of gratitude” may sound silly, but its effectiveness and been proven and backed by research.The researchers behind the 2003 study titled “Counting blessings vs burdens: An experimental investigation of gratitude and subjective well-being in daily life,” from the Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, found that expressing gratitude in daily life positively impacted emotional well-being. How to maximize the effect? The most significant effect on your mental health will come from dedicating a few minutes to being mindful of the small, yet positive things in your life, then writing down why you’re grateful for them. Keeping a gratitude journal can effectively provide you with the time to reflect on the little blessings in your life. If a journal isn’t for you, try to adopt a gratitude practice in the shower, where you won’t have many distractions. Reflect on the smallest things you might ordinarily take for granted and consider why you’re grateful for them – like the warmth of hot water on your body or the soap that keeps you clean and healthy by washing away dirt and germs. How does that first sip of coffee in the morning make you feel? Be grateful for the little burst of energy it gives you, as well as the taste and smell of your favorite morning brew. And if you happen to be grateful for a person, the best way to practice gratitude is by letting them know. A video that demonstrates the effect of gratitude on happiness showed that the largest increase in happiness came from telling someone about the impact that person had on their life. Practicing gratitude doesn’t solve everything No, practicing gratitude won’t resolve significant mental health challenges like bipolar disorder, major depression, schizophrenia, and similar conditions. However, that is not its purpose. Gratitude serves as a powerful tool to enhance your overall state of well-being, but it’s not meant to be a solution for every single mental health issue out there. In summary Incorporating gratitude into our daily lives doesn’t require grand gestures. Simple practices, such as keeping a gratitude journal, stealing moments throughout the day to or expressing appreciation to others, can pave the way for transformative mental health benefits. As we navigate the complexities of modern life, cultivating gratitude may well be the prescription for a healthier mind and a more fulfilling life. Author Tranesha Christie-Nance is a Licensed Clinical Professional Counselor and the Urgent Care Mental Health Clinician at the Luminis Health Doctors Community Medical Center Behavioral Health Pavilion located in Lanham, Maryland. Tranesha has over 10 years of experience working in the mental health field, specializing in mood disorders, anxiety disorders, ADHD, grief and loss, parenting, behavioral issues, and social-emotional learning throughout the lifespan.
- Lung CareGeneral Page Tier 3BlogIn the fall and winter, staying vigilant about our health becomes paramount during the peak of respiratory illness season. During this period, the convergence of various respiratory infections, such as the flu, COVID-19 and RSV, underscores the importance of knowing how to prevent the spread of germs and maintaining robust health practices. Through vaccination and rigorous hygiene measures, we can strengthen our defenses against these illnesses. Who’s at Risk Flu, RSV, and SARs CoV2 which causes COVID-19 disease are all viruses. High risk groups for all three viruses include, but aren’t limited to, adults over 65, very young children and those with chronic conditions such as asthma, heart disease, neurologic issues, weakened immune systems and obesity. Women who are pregnant may also be at risk. About Vaccination Flu vaccines are available, so get yours, sooner rather than later. It takes two weeks for antibodies to be effective. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommends everyone six months and older receive a flu vaccine each year, with rare exceptions. Vaccination is particularly important during pregnancy and for those at higher risk of serious complications such as pneumonia and even death. Flu can also cause problems that may result in inflammation of the heart, brain, muscle tissues, and multi-organ failure. The CDC recommends that everyone five years and older receive one dose of the updated COVID-19 omicron-specific booster, even if you had the original series. RSV vaccines are recommended for adults 60 years and older and pregnant women. There is also an RSV antibody shot that is recommended for babies at birth to 8 months old, but has been difficult for many health care providers to get adequate supply this season. RSV can inflame the small airways of the lungs or cause pneumonia—which is a lung infection—in children younger than one year. What You Can Do You’ve heard this before, but truthfully, these are the best ways to protect yourself from serious respiratory illness: Wash your hands often. Keep your hands off your face. Avoid close contact with sick people. Cover your coughs and sneezes. Clean and disinfect surfaces. Stay home when you are sick. In addition, experts agree that vaccination will keep you from being hospitalized for severe illness and keep you home with family this holiday season. Author Jean Murray is the system director of Infection Prevention and Epidemiology at Luminis Health. She has over 26 years of experience in infection control, outbreak surveillance and epidemiology.
- News & Press Releases, Women's HealthGeneral Page Tier 3BlogToday, Luminis Health Doctors Community Medical Center (LHDCMC) received approval from the Maryland Health Care Commission to add inpatient obstetrics services to our comprehensive women’s health programs. This approval is a monumental stride forward in addressing critical health disparities in Prince George’s County, where 8 out of 10 women leave the county to deliver their babies due to a lack of obstetrical and other healthcare services. In 2024, LHDCMC will embark on a transformative journey of expansion that will unfold over the next several years. At the heart of this growth is the construction of a new patient care pavilion, designed to elevate the standard of healthcare in our community. A Family-Centered Approach Within the new pavilion will be a dedicated family birth center. This center will offer the new inpatient obstetrics services, covering everything from labor and delivery to postpartum care. We understand the importance of providing essential care close to home, giving women the option to welcome their babies right here in their own community. The family birth center is expected to open in 2028, and once fully operational, 2,000 babies are expected to be delivered each year. It will feature: Private rooms for labor and delivery and post-delivery suites Dedicated C-Section operating rooms A Level II Special Care Nursery Access to family planning, lactation, mental health and other maternal care support Comprehensive Surgical Care The new pavilion will also house state-of-the-art operating rooms for surgical procedures including gynecologic surgery, breast surgery, bariatric surgery and complex general surgery. Our commitment to comprehensive healthcare means that we’ll be able to provide advanced services right here in Prince George’s County. Campus Enhancements for a Better Experience In addition, the expansion will provide improved campus access, additional parking, and enhanced safety and security. There will also be a redesigned front entrance and lobby, new pharmacy, cafeteria and additional visitor facing services. As we approach the 50th anniversary of LHDCMC, these initiatives mark a significant leap forward in realizing our mission of enriching the health of the people and communities we serve. Since the inception of Luminis Health, we have pledged to elevate the standard of healthcare in Prince George’s County, and with your ongoing support, we are making these improvements possible. Stay tuned for more updates as we progress on this journey toward a brighter future.
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