- News & Press ReleasesGeneral Page Tier 3BlogLuminis Health has ended universal masking at all its facilities, including Luminis Health Anne Arundel Medical Center, Luminis Health Doctors Community Medical Center, as well as all other clinical and non-clinical areas. Luminis Health, which serves nearly two million residents in Anne Arundel and Prince George’s Counties, the Eastern Shore and beyond, has shifted to optional masking for all-staff, patients and visitors. Luminis Health mandated a mask requirement in March 2020 to help prevent the spread of the novel SAR-CoV2 virus. Three years later, Luminis Health is shifting to an endemic recovery response. “With high vaccination rates and a major reduction in community transmission, we are no longer seeing a significant number of patients hospitalized with COVID-19,” said Jean Murray, system director of Infection Prevention and Control at Luminis Health. “With the reduced risk to the community and hospitals, and the pending end of the federal public health emergency in May, our Incident Command Team feels it’s appropriate to lift the universal mask requirement.” Patients and visitors who prefer to wear a mask while in our facilities may do so. Patients may also request that their care team members wear masks. All care partners and support persons will be required to wash or sanitize their hands throughout their visit. While masks are now optional, patients with respiratory symptoms will be asked to wear masks as part of standard precautions and visitors should still refrain from visiting when ill. Luminis Health will continue to follow the science and Centers for Disease Control recommendations and if the situation changes the health system will review and update its visitation guidelines and practices. Since the COVID-19 vaccine became available at the end of 2020, Luminis Health has administered more than 125,000 COVID-19 vaccines in the communities it serves. We continue to encourage Marylanders get vaccinated and/or boosted to keep the public safe and healthy.
- Behavioral HealthGeneral Page Tier 3BlogTeenage girls are in crisis. New research from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) reveals nearly three in five (57%) teen girls in the United States felt persistently sad or hopeless in 2021. This is double that of teen boys and the highest level reported in the past decade. This data aligns with the increased number of teen girls who are being seen in the clinics and emergency departments in Prince George’s County, where Jesselina Curry, MD—a child and adolescent psychiatrist at Luminis Health—reports that the most common symptoms reported by these teenagers are low self-esteem and thoughts of not wanting to be alive. Why Are Teen Girls Affected Most? According to Dr. Curry, both teen boys and girls are experiencing increased mental health struggles, but girls often identify the struggle faster and are quicker to act on their feelings. There are a number of reasons for the increase, including among other things the loss of primary family members, academic stress and peer conflict. These factors are compounded by internal stressors such as trying to figure out who they are and who they want to be in life. LGBTQ and racial minority teens are struggling to find genuine safety and trust in relationships. Without feeling secure and a sense of real belonging, these teens tend to isolate from others, act impulsively or develop deep, prolonged sadness. Cultivating Connection with Adult Caregivers Creates Resilience Although many adults grew up with the philosophy of “speak only when you are spoken to,” it is important for adult guardians to create opportunities for teens to feel heard on a regular basis, not just once a conflict or crisis arises. For a host of reasons, grandparents are increasingly playing an important role in their grandchildren’s lives, especially since many parents are working longer hours to support the household. Because of the age difference, it might be harder for grandparents to connect with their grandkids. Dr. Curry encourages adult guardians to share a personal story of a difficult time from their own life, and then encourage the teen to share a personal hardship. It’s important for adults to ask the teen how the situation made them feel. That way they can then find solutions together. As adult caregivers help teens cope with the everyday tragedies and disappointments in life, you hope these life lessons stick with them into adulthood. Available Resources for Teens Every teen wants a sense of belonging. To help with their emotional growth, encourage them to join a club at school or a group with positive role models who can build up their self-esteem. The American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry website includes a variety of resources to support teens who may be struggling with their mental health, as well as helpful resources for their families. The site includes fact sheets, books recommendations, videos for teens and more. A few organizations that provide support, belonging and empowerment specific to teen girls include: • Girls Scouts of the USA • Girls on the Run • Boys & Girls Clubs of America Key Takeaways from an Adolescent Psychiatrist According to Dr. Curry, the teenage years are the most difficult. To help successfully navigate these sometimes choppy seas, she encourages parents/caretakers do the following: • Create a strong listening environment • Don’t overlook changes in your teen’s behavior • Continue to provide them with structure and a community of support • Model coping skills in difficult situations The Behavioral Health Pavilion on the campus of Luminis Health Doctors Community Medical Center provides Behavioral Health Walk-In Urgent Care for non-emergent behavioral health concerns for ages four years old and up. This service in Lanham is available Monday thru Friday 8:00 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. Author Jesselina Curry, MD, is an adolescent psychiatrist at Luminis Health.
- EndocrinologyGeneral Page Tier 3BlogAccording to the Maryland Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System, 10.5 percent of Maryland adults have diabetes, with obesity or being overweight the most significant contributing factors (65.2 percent) to diabetes risk. Thirty-four percent, or approximately 1.6 million, of Maryland adults have prediabetes according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). In 2019, the prevalence of diabetes in the state of Maryland led the state to deploy its own action plan to combat diabetes and support diabetes risk awareness. Following the state’s lead, Luminis Health placed diabetes on its list of top metrics that are being regularly tracked for quality and performance. Recognizing Risk Factors Diabetes risk factors include: Being overweight or obese Age (risk increases as age increases) Sex (males are more likely to develop diabetes) Race/Ethnicity (African American, American Indian, Asian American, Hispanic/Latino, and Pacific Islanders have a higher prevalence of diabetes than non-minority individuals) Poor nutrition and lack of physical activity Tobacco use Prediabetes and gestational diabetes Social determinants such as the lack of access to resources, income and higher-level education Diabetes is more common among people who are members of some ethnic minority groups and groups with lower socioeconomic status. This exemplifies why Luminis Health created its HEART Force. This group of trustees, leaders and staff, clinicians, community stakeholders and public health partners worked together to develop a plan for building a more equitable and just health system. Working to Provide Health Equity The HEART Force’s recommendations for Luminis Health fall into three major categories: Lead as an inclusive organization; confront and eradicate inequities in health care. Enhance culturally informed communications and community collaboration. Measure and integrate accountability. What does this work look like to reduce health disparities related to diabetes? Our team hosts education and exercise series in our communities. These programs are funded by a Maryland Community Health Resources Commission grant. We also work closely with impacted and at-risk patients to directly support the development and management of healthy blood sugar levels. As part of this initiative we provide patients with individual glucose monitors and equipped them with weekly plans for healthier lifestyles. Seeing Real Results Luminis Health’s collaboration with community health programs for diabetes support and prevention is yielding tangible results. One of our community health equity goals is for 75 percent of our diabetic patients over the age of 18 to have an A1C test result of less than 8 percent, which is a healthy goal for most people with diabetes. From October to December, 74 percent of our diabetic patients fit this criteria. The A1C test—also known as the hemoglobin A1C or HbA1c test—is a simple blood test that measures your average blood sugar levels over the past 3 months. It’s one of the commonly used tests to diagnose prediabetes and is also the main test to help diabetics and their healthcare team manage the disease. Higher A1C levels are linked to diabetes complications, so reaching and maintaining your individual A1C goal is important for diabetics. Managing Your Diabetes with Luminis Health Our Luminis Health Primary Care team strives to work with patients to help them achieve the best control of diabetes. In-office A1C testing and regularly scheduled visits allows medical providers to make meaningful changes to diabetes management. By focusing on patients’ specific needs we can customize a diabetic management plan and help them access the resources they need to better manage their care. Knowing the ABCs to diabetes and your personal goals is the key to success. A1C: You and your provider should have an agreed upon goal A1C target. You should have monthly office visits until you achieve that goal. In each visit you can discuss what is working, where help is needed, and any barriers to care. Blood pressure: If you have diabetes it is critical to have your blood pressure under control. Based on your medical conditions, providers will give you a specific Blood Pressure goal. Getting blood pressure to goal may require lifestyle changes and medications. Cholesterol: It is also critical for patients with diabetes to have good control of their LDL (low-density lipoprotein) Cholesterol (often called “bad” cholesterol). Diet, exercise, and medication can help you achieve your LDL goal. Diet: Understanding which foods increase your blood sugar is critical to gaining control of your diabetes. Working with your health care providers and dieticians/diabetic educators is key in understanding the challenges of managing diabetes and controlling this condition. Exercise: Working with your healthcare providers to design an exercise plan specific to your needs is crucial to manage diabetes. Healthy exercise habits will lead to better control of your diabetes. Follow-up: Regular follow up with your health care team is critical to yourThe Luminis Health diabetes team includes doctors, nurses, diabetes educators, registered dietitians, physical therapists, speech and language therapists, behavioral health specialists, and occupational therapists. We provide the full range of diabetes care for children and adults with Type 1 and Type 2 diabetes, as well as any diabetes complications. Luminis Health is here to: Educate you on how to live a healthy and full life with diabetes. Monitor your condition so we can catch and treat any complications at an early stage. Provide all the treatments you need, including medications, technology supports, physical therapy, nutrition counseling and more. Reducing health disparities and any instance where the health outcomes of our patients are less than the best possible is part of the reason Luminis Health continues a journey dedicated to justice, equity, diversity and inclusion. Learn more about our JEDI journey here. Learn more about Luminis Health’s comprehensive diabetes resources here. Authors Tamiko Stanley, vice president and chief JEDI officer Dr. Andrew McGlone, executive medical director – primary care and population health
- News & Press ReleasesGeneral Page Tier 3BlogLuminis Health Anne Arundel Medical Center (LHAAMC), the premier hospital serving the Annapolis region for more than 120 years, has once again been named one of the best hospitals in the United States. Newsweek’s World’s Best Hospital List recognized 414 hospitals nationwide for consistently attracting the best people and providing exceptional healthcare for patients. “We are honored to be recognized by Newsweek in these national rankings as a top 100 hospital year after year,” said Sherry Perkins, president of LHAAMC. “Our entire team is committed to putting patients first and providing consistent high-quality, compassionate care. I want to personally thank our teammates across our hospital for demonstrating care, encouragement, and for touching patients’ lives in a positive way.” Newsweek collaborated with Statista Inc. to rank leading hospitals, based on three data sources: medical experts, patient experience and questionnaires, medical key performance indicators including: patient safety, hygiene measures and quality of treatment. Newsweek hopes these rankings will be useful to patients and families when seeking the best care for themselves and loved ones. They also help hospitals in benchmarking themselves against their peers. “Taking care of our community is what matters most to us,” said Dr. Stephen Cattaneo, president of the medical staff at LHAAMC. “The responses from our patients speak volumes to the level of care our community expects and deserves. We thank our residents for putting their trust in our hospital and our team members for providing exceptional care for more than 120 years.”
- News & Press ReleasesGeneral Page Tier 3BlogLuminis Health Anne Arundel Medical Center (LHAAMC), a nationally recognized health system serving the Annapolis region for more than 120 years, has appointed Elizabeth Gross as the next vice president of the LHAAMC Foundation. In this role, Gross and her team will raise important funds to support LHAAMC, Pathways, J. Kent McNew Family Medical Center and our community. Gross has been with the LHAAMC Foundation since 2014 and became interim vice president in October 2022. Previously, she served as the Foundation’s director of advancement services and major giving officer. She has been instrumental in raising millions of dollars to build the J. Kent McNew Family Medical Center mental health facility in Annapolis, launch the hospital’s cardiac surgery program in 2020 and supporting our life-saving cancer care. From leading the Foundation’s operations to organizing the popular fundraiser Denim & Diamonds, Gross has demonstrated passion and enthusiasm to positively impact our patients and community. “After conducting a nation-wide search and reviewing dozens of talented applicants, it became clear Elizabeth was the right choice to lead our Foundation,” said Sherry Perkins, president of LHAAMC. “With deep business knowledge of philanthropy and the ability to tell the story of our patient centered care, Elizabeth brings a unique blend of experience, innovation, technology, commitment and community engagement. We are confident that under Elizabeth’s ongoing leadership, the Foundation will continue to excel.” Gross has worked in development for 15 years, previously serving roles at the United States Naval Academy Foundation and the Radcliffe Creek School in Chestertown, Maryland. “I am truly honored and humbled to be given this opportunity,” said Gross, vice president of the LHAAMC Foundation. “With the support of this incredible team, I look forward to building upon the countless community partnerships that have sustained and elevated LHAAMC throughout our 120-year history.” Gross is a graduate of the Association of Healthcare Philanthropy (AHP) Resident program and serves nationally on the AHP Standards Committee. As a 2019 Leadership Anne Arundel (LAA) graduate, she also serves on the LAA Health and Human Services Day Committee. Gross holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Corporate Communications and Public Affairs from Southern Methodist University and became a Certified Fund Raising Executive in 2016.
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