- News & Press Releases, Heart CareGeneral Page Tier 3BlogAnne Arundel Medical Center and community partners have brought life-saving technology to Anne Arundel County. Working together with the city, the Fire Department and Leadership Anne Arundel, the new PulsePoint app aims at improving bystander response to cardiac arrest victims and increasing the chance of survival. Here’s how it works: The app alerts CPR-trained citizens to someone nearby having a sudden cardiac arrest so they can help while professional responders are on the way. The app is activated by the local public safety communications center concurrent with the dispatch of local fire and EMS resources. Anne Arundel County residents can now easily download the app and register. PulsePoint looks to reduce the time between the victim’s collapse and CPR response through citizen awareness. It also increases awareness of public access defibrillator (AED) locations through real-time mapping of nearby devices. “Heart disease is still the number one killer in the United States,” said Jerry Segal, MD, medical director of cardiovascular services at AAMC. “ Timing is critical in these situations. Bystander CPR is important because it really does save lives. There have been studies done showing that it increases the survival rate in these patients by about threefold.” The app also shows fire and EMS activity in the community, strengthening community engagement. The app is only functional where adopted and implemented by the local fire/EMS agency because it requires a connection to the local public safety communications center. “In 2017 there were 534 people in Anne Arundel County who experienced a sudden cardiac arrest and 34 percent of the time bystanders performed CPR before first responders arrived,” said Allan C. Graves, Anne Arundel County fire chief, noting that the launch of the app was happening during the 44th Annual National EMS week. “The launch of PulsePoint is a demonstration of how we are stronger together.” An example of the potential of the app is Carl Smit, 47, of Annapolis. On Jan. 27, Carl was sailing in a local regatta when he had a sudden cardiac arrest. “I told the woman next to me that I was going to sit down and shut my eyes for a minute,” he said. “I wasn’t breathing or responding but luckily a good friend conducted CPR until they got me to shore. Not a lot of people there were trained on how to do CPR.” Carl Smit Having someone on site who was CPR-trained saved Carl’s life. And today, he was able to share his story during the launch because of this. “The team at AAMC is amazing. I have to thank Dr. Iliff, Dr. Reineck and Dr. Kilical,” Carl added. “I just graduated a couple of weeks ago from three months of cardiac rehab and it’s fabulous, the team here is outstanding.” Carl said he felt discouraged in the beginning since most people in rehab were much older than him. “I didn’t know how long recovery was going to be,” he said. “But I started walking on a treadmill and by the time I got out I was already rowing.” Carl understands the importance of quick response firsthand. He said the app might not only save lives, but also encourage more people to learn how to respond. “I think PulsePoint is going to make a huge difference in the Annapolis area by increasing awareness.” The PulsePoint app is now available in Anne Arundel County. If you’re a CPR certified or trained member of the community, learn more about PulsePoint here. Want to get CPR certified? We offer classes for the community. Sign up today!
- Men's Health, Orthopedics, Women's Health, WellnessGeneral Page Tier 3BlogBarefoot and minimalist running became a popular trend over the last several years. The barefoot running technique, as its name implies, involves wearing little to no footwear while you run. The developers and advocates of this technique believe the human foot is evolutionarily designed to run barefoot, and shoes only hinder our performance and cause us injuries. David J. Keblish, MD, an orthopedic foot and ankle surgeon at AAMC, disagrees. “There is a romanticized notion that somehow the world would be a happier place if we didn’t wear shoes,” he says. “I think that’s nonsense. The human foot is not evolutionarily designed well for running, and I don’t think shoes are causing the problem.” Dr. Keblish believes it is our modern lifestyle that ruins our feet, not our choice of running shoes. “We’ve turned the earth flat, and most of us spend all day long in shoes without ever exercising the many muscles in our feet” he says. While early humans had a variety of terrains under their feet, we have mostly flat surfaces. Running on sidewalks, roads and gym floors is tough on our feet—the repetitive motion of feet hitting hard, flat pavement adds stress on our joints and prevents us from adapting to other surfaces.” “People who don’t have shoes don’t have better feet,” he says. “You don’t see marathon runners running barefoot or in minimalist shoes.” There is one aspect of barefoot running that Dr. Keblish does agree with—the forefoot strike technique. This running technique involves landing on the balls of your feet each time you take a step rather than heel striking, or landing on your heels first. Proponents of barefoot running suggest that forefoot striking is more intuitive when running barefoot, while shoes with thick soles and heels cause us to heel strike. “We shouldn’t be heel striking heavily, if at all, when we run,” Dr. Keblish agrees. Training ourselves to forefoot strike is hard to do, he adds, but is better for our feet in the long run. Dr. Keblish also advises that we take time to exercise our feet. “We wake up and immediately stuff our feet into slippers or shoes and most of us keep them there all day, which is not good,” he says. “Feet are like hands; we need to get those joints moving.” To do this, Dr. Keblish says, take the time to wiggle your toes, rotate your ankles and massage the soles of your feet before you get out of bed. He also advocates going barefoot or in minimalist shoes when doing balance drills and resistance training, such as squats and lunges to develop strong feet. Return to Finding the Right Running Shoes for Your Feet Contributor David J. Keblish, MD, is an orthopedic surgeon at AAMC Orthopedics with offices on the AAMC campus in Annapolis and in Pasadena. Prior to joining AAMC, Dr. Keblish deployed with Marines in Afghanistan where he led a military medical unit in caring for severely wounded US troops and coalition forces injured in battle. In addition to serving our nation, he has extensive experience covering NCAA division 1 intercollegiate sporting events and caring for athletes at every level. He can be reached at 410-268-8862. Originally published November 17, 2015. Last updated May 23, 2018.
- Orthopedics, Senior CareGeneral Page Tier 3BlogJoint replacement surgeries are some of the most successful and popular operations in the medical field. These procedures have helped countless people achieve more mobility and less pain with brand new hips or knees. Sounds like the perfect solution to joint pain, right? But how do you know if you’re ready for joint replacement surgery? It’s not a simple answer, and the timing of your surgery can greatly affect your result. An orthopedic surgeon who specializes in these operations can help you decide if and when to have surgery. A surgeon will talk to you about your pain level and mobility, examine how you walk and evaluate your x-rays before recommending a plan. If you’re experiencing joint pain and thinking about surgery, it will help to be familiar with the following points before you start a conversation with your surgeon: Arthritis and cartilage The most common form of arthritis is called osteoarthritis, a degenerative process which causes your cartilage cushion to wear down. Since cartilage covers the bones in your joints, this can affect how your joints move and feel. If your x-rays show that your cartilage cushion around your joints is gone, it may be time for surgery. Patients call this state “bone on bone.” If your x-rays show you still have your own cartilage, it’s probably too soon for replacement surgery. Hip vs. knee replacement Deciding on hip replacement can be easier than choosing to have a knee replacement. Here’s why: Hip pain is constant, and non-surgical methods of relieving pain aren’t as effective as with knees. Knees are more difficult. Knee pain will come and go, so it’s harder to recognize your pain level. Also, there are other effective ways to relieve pain for knees besides surgery. Injections and physical therapy tend to work better for knees compared to hips. Knee replacement patients often don’t expect the pain that comes with rehab after surgery. Your symptoms: A personal choice Ice and heating packs, joint injections, weight loss, over-the-counter medications and physical therapy can all help reduce pain. However, if you’ve tried these methods and you still have severe pain in your groin or around your knee, it’s time to see a surgeon. While we can make medically based recommendations, remember that having joint surgery is a personal decision. My patients often make the choice to have surgery when their pain is so bad they can’t even sleep or it prevents them from traveling or doing something they love. Patients ready for surgery often stop asking what they can’t do with a total joint, and start looking forward to what they can do after surgery. Still not sure? If you have daily pain that limits your activities, you may benefit from surgery. Surgeons can certainly guide your decision, but the final choice is yours. We want you to feel a big enough improvement after your surgery to be glad you went through the procedure. And remember, joint replacement surgeries have been helping people for decades and most patients are very happy with their results. To learn more about joint replacement surgery, visit https://www.luminishealth.org/en/services/joint-replacement-surgery. Author By James MacDonald, MD, orthopedic surgeon at Luminis Health. To reach his practice, call 410-268-8862.
- Behavioral Health, PediatricsGeneral Page Tier 3BlogAs a mom, I am always thinking of the many things I have learned from my experiences. As a psychiatric nurse, I am thinking of how to promote the mental health of our children and help them grow into compassionate, social and competent adults. One thing I have come to understand as an adult is how powerful and essential it is to give our children words to use to identify feelings. You may have seen the charts that have 20 or so feelings and faces that go with them. That’s great for older kids but overwhelming to little ones. For me, it boils down to these five emotions: mad, glad, sad, lonely and scared. I found that my daughter and I communicated more easily when something difficult was going on if she could identify the feelings. Mad (angry): When a child is mad, if they can use their words, that is great! We as parents can help them know what is appropriate depending on their age. For a younger child, learning to use words instead of biting, scratching or hitting another person is crucial. One of my favorite things was to ask my daughter to draw about it. We know that coloring is almost meditative. Another tactic is to encourage physically letting out that energy through sports, running, hitting a pillow, etc. One of my personal favorites is to have a screaming minute in the car with windows rolled up to get out that anger in a safe way. Glad (happy): If a happy moment comes, no matter how small, help your child celebrate that feeling. You can then help them call upon that memory when it is needed. For example, “Nick, do you remember when you had that great soccer game last month and how good you felt? I know you can do this science project and feel as good about yourself!” Sad: This is a hard one. Children all feel sad once in a while, it comes with being human. If your child is sad for long periods of time, talks about hurting or killing him/herself, or does a self-harming action, it is time to seek professional help. Contact your pediatrician, call a mental health professional and get the needed support. If it’s urgent, call 911 or take your child to the nearest emergency room. Depression is bigger than just being sad. The National Suicide Prevention Lifeline number is 1-800-273-TALK (8255). Lonely: This is another hard experience that children have. Peers, siblings and family are so important to them. If there is a fight with a best friend, they can feel terrible. You know your child best. If there is a time when your child has no friends, does not like going to school, etc., it would be good to investigate further. A real possibility that we know occurs is bullying. If that is happening, help your child by making it easy to be around other kids who have similar interests. Pets can also help with loneliness. Scared: As an example, I’ll share a personal story. My daughter was 7 years old and in a new school when 9/11 happened. The school immediately cancelled classes and went into day care mode. She knew something was wrong as the parade of the other children were picked up. Finally, she and another boy were the only ones left with their teacher. When I could finally leave the hospital and pick her up, she hugged me and cried, telling me how scared she was because she did not know what was happening. We talked a lot about it that evening and for many months. When a child is scared, they need information and reassurance. With all of the upsetting news, it is good to help your child process the things they are hearing about at school, from other people and from the news. Understanding your child’s feelings is so important. You are their first and best teacher. You can give them the foundation they need as they grow and learn about life. There are so many good resources on the internet for parents. The mental health of our children is one of our best resources for a positive world. Author Jo Deaton is the senior director of nursing for Mental Health at Anne Arundel Medical Center. She can be reached at 410-573-5454. Ask questions, find resources and learn more at askAAMC.org/HealthyMinds.
- Cancer CareGeneral Page Tier 3Blog“Overcoming obstacles and reaching for the stars” was the message retired NASA astronaut and cancer survivor Don Thomas shared at the 2017 National Cancer Survivorship Day event. The Anne Arundel Medical Center (AAMC) DeCesaris Cancer Institute hosted the annual event. Don shared his experience of overcoming barriers as the first cancer survivor to go to space. His talk made me think about how patients may feel ‘lost in space’ when navigating the complicated cancer care journey, including survivorship. The cancer journey includes living with, through and beyond cancer as a chronic disease. Survivorship is a distinct phase of the experience. Here are some experiences people living beyond a cancer diagnosis face and advice to help navigate. Managing late or long-term effects of cancer or its treatment. Learn as much as you can about self-management of side effects. This promotes your independence and better control over the situation. Consider rehabilitation services to maintain or restore physical abilities or control symptoms. And be sure to ask questions and communicate any concerns with your healthcare provider. Returning to work. Decide, in advance, how and what you will share with coworkers. This is a personal choice. Set limits for the discussion if you choose to have the conversation. Also, familiarize yourself with laws and regulations that protect against workplace discrimination, such as the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) and the Family Medical Leave Act (FMLA). Changing your lifestyle to reduce risk of cancer recurrence. Exercise routinely, at least three to five times per week, and be physically active. Eat healthy foods, including the daily recommended servings of fruits and vegetables. Minimize or eliminate alcohol intake. And maintain or get to a healthy weight. Research shows that obesity increases the risk of cancer recurrence. Continuing with follow-up care. Pay attention to new, persistent or unusual symptoms. See your healthcare provider regularly. Also, get recommended screenings to detect early cancer. Early detection can result in better treatment options and outcomes. Adjusting to relationship changes. Reach out for support, whether it’s one-on-one counseling, support groups, or another cancer survivor or supportive person. It’s also important to recognize that a cancer diagnosis impacts the entire family. Different personalities react differently to stress. A cancer diagnosis opens up uncharted territory in a person’s life. But you are not alone in navigating the complicated cancer care journey. And that includes navigating survivorship. There are mentor programs, such as Survivors Offering Support (SOS) at AAMC, that provide peer-to-peer mentorship and emotional support. For more information, contact AAMC’s oncology concierge at 443-481-5864 or visit www.askAAMC.org/cancer/survivorship.php. Author Madelaine Binner is an oncology nurse practitioner at Anne Arundel Medical Center. Originally published June 19, 2017. Last updated May 15, 2018.
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