<iframe class="embed-responsive-item" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/0fMUOamFWv4" allowfullscreen="allowfullscreen"></iframe> <p class="article-body"> When facing cancer, the way forward can look daunting and uncertain. At GBMC, an entire team is here to lead each patient through this journey. <br> <br> The team meets weekly to collaborate and determine the optimal treatment plan for each patient with cancer. These meetings bring together nurses and therapists who treat patients every day, the social workers and counselors who provide emotional and practical support, and the oncologists and specialists who bring their focused clinical expertise to each challenge. <br> <br> Cancer is nuanced and complicated, so GBMC brings together multiple perspectives to ensure each patient benefits from the combined expertise of the entire treatment team. <br> <br> Doctors also gain insights and knowledge of the full team on how to approach problems in new ways, with new techniques. <br> <br> The result is targeted solutions that take into account both the physical and emotional health of a patient as well as potential risks from specific therapy options. Each case and patient should be treated as an individual, not simply a diagnosis on a page. GBMC aims to treat you that way. </p>
<iframe class="embed-responsive-item" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/OFZqjKRDU_k" allowfullscreen="allowfullscreen"></iframe> <p class="article-body"> Gilchrist is known for its compassionate care at the end of life. But they offer so much more than hospice. When older patients need more help than an advanced primary care office can provide, GBMC Health Partners seamlessly connects them to Gilchrist Elder Medical Care. A coordinated team offers medical care and support at every stage of serious illness to help older adults maintain the best quality of life. When faced with illness, it can be a relief to have someone to talk to about the big picture and get guidance on what's to come. Support is always just a phone call away. A team is there for all the needs that come with a serious illness; providing integrated medical care and guidance, help connecting to community resources and even volunteers to lend a hand. <br> <br> For those who have trouble leaving the house to get to doctors' appointments, we can bring primary care and support whenever and wherever it's needed. <br> <br> We can provide a geriatric specialist to perform comprehensive health assessments and coordinate care for people with multiple chronic illnesses. People with serious illnesses need help long before the end of life is near. Even before hospice, there's Gilchrist. </p>
<iframe class="embed-responsive-item" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/75V1ZgdORxE" allowfullscreen="allowfullscreen"></iframe> <p class="article-body"> For many people, controlling weight gain is a daily struggle, but with learning and support, winning that battle gets a little easier. GBMC is combating diabetes and obesity by starting with education at our primary care practices. <br> <br> Our team provides the resources and guidance patients need to live healthier lives. We offer individual counseling or group sessions to educate patients on how to manage their diabetes; from nutrition and meal planning to properly using medications. Our team works with individuals to coordinate a plan specific to their needs. It could be a radical diet change, and incorporating exercise into their daily routine. Or if surgery is the right choice, we can seamlessly connect patients to the needed resources. Patients aren't just losing weight, they're gaining a ton of confidence. They're empowered and in control because of the support they receive. Intervention and education is what's going to keep our community healthy, out of the hospital, and at home with what matters most. </p>
<iframe class="embed-responsive-item" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/VuC3Om9Ijok" allowfullscreen="allowfullscreen"></iframe> <p class="article-body"> Child life specialists at GBMC are dedicated to normalizing the hospital experience for children. </p>
<iframe class="embed-responsive-item" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/xdblmd-vWHs?ecver=1" allowfullscreen="allowfullscreen"></iframe> <p class="article-body"> Lanny Dowell, the Parent Education Coordinator at GBMC, talks about the services available to new and expecting parents. </p>
<iframe class="embed-responsive-item" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/a2M63LpPATs" allowfullscreen="allowfullscreen"></iframe> <p class="article-body"> The Vein Center at GBMC is on the cutting edge of minimally invasive, low risk treatment. The center offers on site evaluation, diagnosis, and treatment to minimize travel and appointment times. </p>
<iframe class="embed-responsive-item" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/uGoFnjJ8qRQ" allowfullscreen="allowfullscreen"></iframe> <p class="article-body"> Dr. JoAnn Z. Ioannou, DNP, MBA, RN, NEA-BC, GBMC Senior Vice President of Patient Care explains what is different about a nursing career at GBMC. </p>
<iframe class="embed-responsive-item" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/03KuU-MowhA" allowfullscreen="allowfullscreen"></iframe> <p class="article-body"> “Working in an operating room is a team concept… it’s always a group project to perform the case and get the patient out safely. We’re in the room with the patient the entire time, we’re their watchdog.” <br> <br> — Alex Maynard, RN <br> <em>Produced by WMAR</em> </p>
<iframe class="embed-responsive-item" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/DJrK8Rg59fU" allowfullscreen="allowfullscreen"></iframe> <p class="article-body"> Deborah Higgins, RN, MS of GBMC's Simulation Innovation Learning Center, talks about the benefits of creating real-life hospital situations to properly train individuals in the medical field. </p>
<iframe class="embed-responsive-item" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/w-gbaQR2NLI" allowfullscreen="allowfullscreen"></iframe> <p class="article-body"> When you are hurting, and the pain isn't physical, it can be challenging to know where to go to get help. <br> <br> What if, instead of just listening to your heart and lungs, your primary care doctor listened to your concerns? What if, instead of simply reading your pulse, your doctor read your expression for signs of worry? <br> <br> At GBMC, we treat all of you. Being well doesn’t just mean your physical health, it's about your mental health too. By design, our doctors ask specific questions. Are you depressed? Do you feel anxious or worry continuously about anything? <br> <br> If you need someone to talk to, you don't have to go far. Our partnership with Sheppard Pratt Health System means GBMC's advanced primary care centers have a full-time behavioral health consultant available right in the office to provide mental health evaluations and support in real time. No extra steps to get the help you need. <br> <br> And don't worry. If you need a psychiatrist, we can make it happen. As part of your healthcare team, care coordinators work to make sure you get the most comprehensive care possible. <br> <br> Your health shouldn't feel like a burden. Taking care of you is our privilege. </p>
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<iframe class="embed-responsive-item" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/jtucbFC1a50" allowfullscreen="allowfullscreen"></iframe> <p class="article-body"> Healthcare is a confusing maze. It’s a scary, complicated and ever-shifting landscape. Without guidance, knowing where to go and what steps to take can feel like a guessing game. <br> <br> The industry is full of caring and compassionate individuals, but care typically ends the moment you step out of the exam room. No one worked as a team and no one took the lead to ensure patients are ultimately getting the care they need. <br> <br> Not anymore. GBMC HealthCare has implemented something new: The Patient Centered Medical Home. <br> <br> At our Advanced Primary Care centers, each primary care physician is a captain, leading a team focused on the unique needs of every individual patient. <br> <br> These physicians work closely with nurse care managers who act as guides through the confusing fog of decisions, medical jargon, and conflicting ideas. The extended team continues this care beyond the hospital and beyond 9 to 5 business hours, actively reaching out to ensure needs are met and results are achieved. <br> <br> Our specialists, care coordinators, behavioral health consultants, techs, nurses, pharmacists and others, all communicate and work together to strategically meet the needs of each and every person. Because, at GBMC, EVERY patient is our top priority. </p>
<p class="article-body"> According to the American Red Cross, someone in America receives a blood transfusion every two seconds. Five million patients will need blood this year. The good news is that it’s easy to help! The actual donation of one pint of “whole blood” takes only about 8 – 10 minutes and may benefit up to three people! <br> <br> The American Red Cross stresses that donating blood is very safe. Blood is always drawn using a new, sterile needle, which is used only once and then discarded. While the donation itself typically lasts up to 10 minutes, the entire process, from registration to refreshment, takes about one hour. <br> <br> Below is an overview of what to expect during donation of whole blood: </p> <ul> <li> <strong>Registration:</strong> After individuals first arrive for their blood donation appointments, they provide basic information about themselves and also show identification. </li> <li> <strong>Health History and Mini Physical:</strong> Potential blood donors confidentially answer questions about their health and travel history. Certain vitals are taken to ensure the individuals are eligible to donate. </li> <li> <strong>Donation:</strong> The individual’s arm is cleansed in the area the needle will be placed. A new, sterile needle is inserted to draw the blood, and the donor will feel a quick pinch. After about a pint of blood is collected, the donation process is finished. The “whole blood” is later separated into red cells, plasma, platelets and/or Cryoprecipitated Antihaemophilic Factor (a frozen blood product prepared from plasma). </li> <li> <strong>Refreshments:</strong> Donors enjoy complimentary refreshments and relax after their donation. Within about 10 or 15 minutes, they’re able to leave and continue with regular activities. </li> </ul> Within about 24 hours, plasma from the donation is replaced; red blood cells are replenished within approximately four to six weeks. A healthy donor may donate whole blood every 56 days <br> <br> <h2> Getting Involved </h2> GBMC holds community Red Cross Blood Drives throughout the year. The next is being held on <strong>Thursday, August 23, 2018</strong> from 5:30 a.m. – 4:30 p.m. To register for the next blood drive at GBMC, visit <a href="https://www.gbmc.org/redcross">gbmc.org/https://www.gbmc.org/redcross</a> or contact Bri Rogers at <a href="mailto:brogers@gbmc.org">brogers@gbmc.org</a> with any questions. <div class="end-of-story"> </div>
<p class="article-body"> Dr. Howard Birenbaum, Director of Neonatology at GBMC, went on Midday Maryland to talk about exciting updates happening in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU). <br> <br> GBMC's NICU is a 30 bed, Level III provider of tertiary newborn services. The NICU team provides complex and compassionate medical and general pediatric surgical care for newborns of all birth weights and gestational ages from birth to discharge. <br> <br> The NICU is undergoing new renovations, including single family rooms so parents and loved ones can stay with their baby in a nurturing and comfortable environment and become a valued part of the care team. <br> <br> <a href="https://www.wmar2news.com/lifestyle/midday-maryland/gbmc-nicu" target="_blank">Click here to watch the interview!</a> </p> <div class="end-of-story"> </div>
<p class="article-body"> The most vulnerable patients at GBMC aren’t always in the cancer unit or Emergency Department. Think again. The most fragile (and tiniest) patients are cared for in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit, best known as the NICU. <br> <br> Here you will find babies born prematurely (as early as 23 weeks), along with babies with respiratory problems, organs that aren’t fully formed, neurological issues and many other potentially devastating realities. <br> <br> </p> <blockquote> With pre-term babies, everyone is involved with every decision. We meet with the families. We're a team. </blockquote> “It’s an awesome responsibility that we’re entrusted with to care for these sick and pre-term babies,” explains Dr. Howard Birenbaum, a neonatologist and director of the Division of Neonatology at GMBC. “I’m not just talking about the baby; we are working with the whole family. With pre-term babies everyone is involved with every decision. We meet with the families. We’re a team.” <br> <br> For a bit of background, a neonatologist is a pediatrician with three additional years of training focused on newborn medical care. He or she cares for newborn babies, sick babies and premature babies in a regular hospital setting or in a specialized area like the NICU, which is designed for critical-care scenarios. <br> <br> GBMC is home to a Level 3 NICU, which is capable of caring for very small or very sick infants, says Kristin Trawinski, MSN, RN, and clinical manager of the GBMC NICU. <br> <br> “Level 3 NICUs have a wide variety of staff available including neonatologists, neonatal nurses and respiratory therapists available 24 hours a day,” she says. The NICU staff members also include neonatal nurse practitioners and neonatal physician assistants who also provide care and perform needed procedures. “A common challenge in the NICU is making sure our communication with the families and multidisciplinary team is consistent and accurate. In order to have the best plan of care, we need to be on the same page with our families and each other.” <br> <br> In addition to their low birth weight (some as little as a pound or less), pre-term babies typically have many obstacles to overcome. <br> <br> “The smallest babies often have lungs that don’t work yet,” explains Birenbaum. “Some require oxygen, others require more support with Bubble CPAP [a noninvasive ventilation strategy for newborns with infant respiratory distress syndrome], and some require endotracheal intubation [placing a breathing tube in the baby’s windpipe] and mechanical ventilation and surfactant replacement therapy.” <br> <br> Another struggle is nutrition. “There is no way to match what the babies would be getting if they were still inside their mother. That is a major challenge,” explains Birenbaum. “By using mom’s own milk, we can help prevent infection and certain gastrointestinal illness. We also have a milk bank on site that we depend on.” <br> <br> Other challenges include risk of infection, brain hemorrhage, visual problems, and long-term neurodevelopmental outcomes. Every decision along the way is made with the family. “We always make sure we have the involvement of the families,” says Birenbaum. “It’s something we try to do from the very beginning. We want the parents to be part of the team. Examples are skin-to-skin care and routine daily care such as taking temperatures and giving baths.” <br> <br> Trawinski is also extremely proud of the family involvement. <br> <br> <blockquote> "We share so much with these families and rejoice in their infants as they grow and thrive" </blockquote> “We also sympathize and share in the grief of the families that go through some tough times,” she says. <br> <br> Successes in the NICU come on a daily basis — everything from sending babies home with their parents to avoiding complications of prematurity to working with parents on a successful plan of care. For the NICU staff, it ends with sending the family home and eventually seeing the babies and their families at the annual NICU reunion and other events, like the Father’s Day 5K and 1-Mile Fun Walk, which benefits GBMC’s NICU. <br> <br> “It always amazes me how these tiny, fragile infants are incredibly resilient,” says Trawinski. “I enjoy working with the families in order to help them cope with the highs and lows of having a premature infant. I really respect the multidisciplinary team that care for these infants.” <br> <br> Birenbaum says the job is rewarding for a number of reasons. <br> <br> “We are able to help babies in need and watch them grow and thrive,” he says. “But neonatology is still a young field, and there are a lot of questions still to be answered about the best way to manage babies’ care in order to provide the best possible outcomes. We’re just beginning now. There have been some major advances, which has significantly increased their survival. It’s a field that is ripe for ongoing clinical research.” <div class="end-of-story"> </div>
