<iframe class="embed-responsive-item" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/fVEKfXlR_Zg" allowfullscreen="allowfullscreen"></iframe> <p class="article-body"> If you or a loved one has been hospitalized, you know how stressful the experience can be. At GBMC, the Spiritual Support Services team, led by Rev. J. Joseph Hart, is there to help patients and their families find comfort, healing, and hope during what can be a very difficult time. Rev. Hart talked with Good Morning Maryland’s Ashley James about the services that he, his multidenominational staff, and 75 volunteers provide every day. <br> <br> “We all have a fear of the unknown and have issues that we’re dealing with,” Rev. Hart explained. “Our mission is to provide spiritual support as the patients we work with define it, whether they practice a particular faith or don’t. We serve as facilitators to help resolve family relationship issues and strive to walk with patients and their families to alleviate suffering and struggle and to answer questions.” <br> <br> GBMC’s Spiritual Support Services cover 34 different faith traditions. The multi-faith chapel offers services for people from a range of faiths, including Catholic and Lutheran communion services, Muslim prayer, and Jewish services, and is open 24 hours a day for individual prayer and reflection. There’s also pet therapy, bringing therapy dogs to comfort patients of all ages, music ministry that includes piano in the hospital lobby and classical guitar in the pre-surgical unit and ICU, and a kosher pantry for Orthodox Jewish families and patients. <br> <br> In addition to supporting patients and their families, the team does community outreach. They adopted 63 families during the last winter holiday season and provided them with food and gifts donated by staff and others in the community. “When people are in the hospital, they’re looking for a sense of grounding and security,” Rev. Hart added. “We’re here to help make the hospital feel more like home.” </p>
<iframe class="embed-responsive-item" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/Rg5NZz1W9WM?rel=0&ecver=1" allowfullscreen="allowfullscreen"></iframe> <p class="article-body"> When it comes to cancer radiation therapy, the goals are the safe destruction of cancer cells and tumors with minimal side effects, the shortest possible treatment time and negligible damage to healthy surrounding tissue — no more, no less. <em>Greater Living</em> host Don Scott visited with Senior Radiation Therapist, Tracey Cope, to get up close and personal with this groundbreaking technology. </p>
<p class="article-body"> The story begins in February 1966, when GBMC’s chapel was first dedicated. As part of that ceremony, a number of religious articles were dedicated, including five unique, handcrafted pieces of Judaica. The items had been in storage for a number of years and GBMC’s Director of Spiritual Support Services, Reverend J. Joseph Hart, wanted to have them displayed. <br> <br> “There’s a bit of a mystery connected to these items,” Reverend Hart explains. “We didn’t know where they had come from. All I had was an archive folder with information about some of the chapel items. The folder only contained a few pieces of paper, a 3 x 5 card that said, ‘Hebrew items made by Dr. Daniel Blumberg of Philadelphia’, and an inventory that simply listed ‘Jewish articles’ that weren’t named or described. The only other clue was a paper that said Mrs. Helen Dalsheimer hosted a tea to help raise money for a Hebrew fund, which I assumed was used to purchase these items. We were putting the items on display in our new Kosher pantry at the hospital, but I had a burning question. How did Judaica created by a dentist from Philadelphia end up at GBMC and who arranged for the donation?” <br> <br> That question led Reverend Hart on an odyssey to discover the items’ origin and history. As a history lover, the extensive research he undertook was a labor of love. He started at the Jewish Museum of Maryland, where he learned about Helen Dalsheimer and her husband Hugo, who were well known philanthropists in the Baltimore community and frequent patrons of the arts. Mrs. Dalsheimer was also the first Jewish woman elected to serve on the Women’s Hospital Board, a philanthropic organization funded by the proceeds from the sale of the former Hospital for the Women of Maryland, of Baltimore City, one of the two downtown hospitals that merged and relocated to Baltimore County to become GBMC. His next step was to talk with his rabbinical contacts in the area and get connected with Mrs. Dalsheimer’s children, who are now in their 80s. Unfortunately, none of them had knowledge about the Judaica’s origin. <br> <br> His first break in the search came by accident. “I was walking down the hall at GBMC and ran into a community rabbi,” he says. “I told him I was trying to make a connection between Dr. Blumberg, Mrs. Dalsheimer, and the collection of Judaica. He knew Dr. Blumberg from his first congregation in Philadelphia and was friends with his daughter, Judith Blumberg Maislin. He asked if I would like to contact her and I felt like I had just won the lottery.” <br> <br> Reverend Hart called Mrs. Maislin and was finally able to unravel the mystery. Mrs. Maislin had written a book on Dr. Blumberg’s Judaica handiwork. Dr. Blumberg had been invited by a Baltimore synagogue to exhibit his work, where Reverend Hart believes Mrs. Dalsheimer saw it and commissioned him to create the Judaica that’s now on display at GBMC. Mrs. Maislin was able to provide the original receipt for the work, which contained Mrs. Dalsheimer’s name, as well as an article from The Philadelphia Inquirer about the creation and donation of the pieces. <br> <br> “So, after 53 years, the mystery was solved,” says Reverend Hart. “It shows how, since its beginnings, GBMC has always been a hospital that welcomes people from all faith traditions. This is just one of many examples of how the diversity of our community has been and continues to be honored and celebrated.” </p> <div class="end-of-story"> </div>
<p class="article-body"> Since October 2016, GBMC HealthCare, along with 31 other hospitals in Maryland, has been participating in a 2-year Neonatal Abstinence Syndrome (NAS) Collaborative through the Maryland Patient Safety Center. NAS is the constellation of signs and symptoms shown by babies born with in-utero opiate exposure, which most commonly occurs when mothers take opioids during pregnancy. NAS causes babies to experience withdrawal symptoms after birth and can lead to other future health problems. <br> <br> </p> <figure class="image-right"> <img src="/sites/default/files/hg_features/hg_post/fa02a7e1b81b1410c74ac1f30aea9ec2.jpg" alt="NICU Recognition for Neonatal Abstinence Syndrome collaboration"> </figure> The goal of the collaborative is to improve the care of infants with NAS. At GBMC, all areas of Maternal and Child Health (Labor and Delivery, Postpartum, Newborn Nursery, NICU, and Pediatrics) are involved in the care of the mothers, babies, and families affected by NAS. Through the collaborative, we implemented procedures and protocols to better identify, monitor, treat, and support the patients and their families, and also educated the staff to improve outcomes. <br> <br> On Thursday, October 25, 2018, GBMC was recognized by the Maryland Patient Safety Center for excellence in implementation of these activities. Although 32 hospitals across the state participated in this collaborative, not all of the hospitals received this recognition. It is through the hard work of our team of nurses, physicians, and advanced practitioners that we have standardized our care across Maternal and Child Health and are able to continue to improve the care of our mothers and babies at GBMC. <div class="end-of-story"> </div>
<p class="article-body"> GBMC’s Women’s and Outpatient Surgical Center re-opened in January 2018. Located on the first floor of Physicians Pavilion West, the center combined the former Sherwood Surgical Center (previously located at the main hospital) and Women's Surgical Center (PPW). <a target="_blank" href="/sites/default/files/hg_features/hg_post/a974359764e90f74e447a3651b70657d.jpg">Click here to view the map.</a> <br> <br> Any questions may be directed to the Women's and Outpatient Surgical Center's main desk at 443-849-2420. </p> <div class="end-of-story"> </div>
<iframe class="embed-responsive-item" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/fiAbVLb0Nvc" allowfullscreen="allowfullscreen"></iframe> <blockquote> We're not just here for the nuts and bolts of security. </blockquote> Security officers here at GBMC do more than just keep our patients and visitors safe. Rob, Security Officer, mentions how his team is responsible for each of the units in the hospital, and everywhere on campus. The security officers here at GBMC will give courtesy rides for patients and visitors, help give directions and make sure patients arrive to their appointments safely.
<iframe class="embed-responsive-item" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/_FfxTVhz3x4" allowfullscreen="allowfullscreen"></iframe> <p class="article-body"> A Day in the Life of Spiritual Support at GBMC </p>
<iframe class="embed-responsive-item" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/yjpWndCBHrE" allowfullscreen="allowfullscreen"></iframe> <p class="article-body"> GBMC Health Partners - Orthopaedics offer a full range of orthopaedic services including surgical and non-surgical treatments, physical therapy, fracture repair, and more. </p>
<iframe class="embed-responsive-item" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/rWlPEmyrUpQ" allowfullscreen="allowfullscreen"></iframe> <p class="article-body"> The SAFE Program at GBMC is specifically trained and certified by the Maryland Board of Nursing to care for victims of rape, sexual assault, child abuse, and intimate partner violence. </p>
<iframe class="embed-responsive-item" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/48OZOO9drjU" allowfullscreen="allowfullscreen"></iframe> <p class="article-body"> Every cancer patient deserves a hospital that is always searching for the newest and most appropriate treatments. <br> <br> GBMC’s clinical research enable patients to access a wide array of clinical trials. Enrolling in trials allows patients the opportunity to potentially benefit from the latest breakthroughs, even before they become standard approaches. With more than 10% of all GBMC cancer patients enrolled in these studies, GBMC is going well beyond almost any other community hospital in the area to ensure patients have access to the latest therapies. <br> <br> Along with new drug treatments, these studies encompass quality of life issues, screening and cancer prevention, and underrepresented tumor sites. <br> <br> These trials are not only part of an effort to extend and save the lives of current patients, they are contributing to the development of therapies that will save lives far into the future. At GBMC, we’re committed to providing the best possible advantages to cancer patients. They’re ready to fight, we want to equip them with the best tools. </p>
<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/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/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/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/VuC3Om9Ijok" allowfullscreen="allowfullscreen"></iframe> <p class="article-body"> Child life specialists at GBMC are dedicated to normalizing the hospital experience for children. </p>
