News & Press Releases, Senior Care
General Page Tier 3
AAMC to Design, Test Prototype Aimed to Transform Care for Older Adults
Blog
Anne Arundel Medical Center (AAMC) has been selected as one of four health systems nationally to develop a prototype model aimed to transform care for older adults.
With a $250,000 grant from The John A. Hartford Foundation, AAMC will work over the course of 42 months to co-design and test the Age-Friendly Health Systems prototype with a goal to measurably improve care for older adults while lowering costs.
“Anne Arundel Medical Center is dedicated to enhancing the health of the people we serve, especially our most vulnerable populations,” said Barbara Jacobs, chief nursing officer at AAMC. “We value partnerships in our quest to change health care, and we are thankful to The John A. Hartford Foundation for selecting Anne Arundel Medical Center to be among those leading this effort. We look forward to shaping and sharing this new model of care for older adults.”
“We are so pleased to be working with Anne Arundel Medical Center and are excited about their early and rapid momentum on this most important initiative,” said Terry Fulmer, PhD, RN, FAAN, president of The John A. Hartford Foundation. “We believe we’re starting a movement and Anne Arundel Medical Center will be at the forefront.”
The prototype will focus on indicators of a broader shift in delivering high quality care for older adults. Indictors include medication, mobility, mentation (e.g. cognitive status/confusion) and whether care aligns with what truly matters to the patient. The goal is that by 2020, evidence-based models developed by the four health systems will be shared with more than 1,000 hospitals and health systems across the United States.
News & Press Releases, Orthopedics
General Page Tier 3
Dr. Cyrus Lashgari Elected Member of American Shoulder and Elbow Surgeons
Blog
Cyrus Lashgari, MD, orthopedic surgeon with Anne Arundel Medical Group (AAMG) Orthopedic and Sports Medicine Specialists, was recently elected to be a member of the American Shoulder and Elbow Surgeons (ASES) society. Only 11 orthopedic surgeons in the state of Maryland are part of this prestigious invitation-only organization.
ASES is an association of leading national and international orthopedic surgeons who specialize in surgery of the shoulder and elbow. Through educational programs and by encouraging research, the organization seeks to foster and advance the science and practice of shoulder and elbow care. ASES consists of 661 members.
Dr. Lashgari is a board-certified orthopedic surgeon and fellow of the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons. After graduating Phi Beta Kappa from Dartmouth College, Dr. Lashgari completed medical school at New York University, where he graduated with the Golver C. Arnold surgical award and honors from the Alpha Omega Alpha Medical Society. He completed his residency in orthopedic surgery at Washington University, and there earned the Resident Teacher’s award.
He is a founding member of the Association of Clinical Elbow and Shoulder Surgeons and co-chair of the Mid-Atlantic Shoulder Surgeon Case Conference.
As an ASES member, Dr. Lashgari will serve as a reviewer for the Journal of Shoulder and Elbow Surgery.
News & Press Releases
General Page Tier 3
Anne Arundel Medical Center announces flu precautions
Blog
Anne 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 Stories
General Page Tier 3
Eileen’s Story: There’s No Such Thing as a Dumb Question
Blog
In 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 Health
General Page Tier 3
The Benefits of Practicing Gratitude
Blog
If 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.