<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>
<iframe class="embed-responsive-item" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/4cRJPLo6xzs" allowfullscreen="allowfullscreen"></iframe>
<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>
<iframe class="embed-responsive-item" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/ugjZorjTRqM" allowfullscreen="allowfullscreen"></iframe> <p class="article-body"> The GBMC Domestic Violence program provides medical and advocacy services to victims of domestic violence and sexual assault. Colleen Moore is the coordinator of the program, which works closely with the Sexual Assault Forensic Examination (SAFE) program. <br> <br> Domestic violence affects men, women, and children of all ages and from all social backgrounds. Each patient has the opportunity to meet with a Domestic Violence Program counselor for additional resources like legal services, education programs, and area shelters. The program also offers safety planning, danger assessments, emotional support, and domestic violence and sexual assault education. <br> <br> The Domestic Violence Program has counselors and forensic nurses available round the clock, and anyone admitted to GBMC who has been a victim of domestic violence or sexual assault can take advantage of the program services. <br> <br> Ms. Moore feels that victims are becoming more empowered to speak up for themselves and take advantage of the resources the GBMC Domestic Violence Program provides. “It’s a great step forward, and we want to be there to assist them.” <em>Day in the Life is produced by WMAR - ABC2 Baltimore</em> </p>
<iframe class="embed-responsive-item" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/fPpyIWv2ZI0" allowfullscreen="allowfullscreen"></iframe> <p class="article-body"> The GBMC Sexual Assault Forensic Examination (SAFE) program offers quality care to victims of sexual assault and domestic violence. <br> <br> The 18 SAFE nurses and 5 advocates are specially trained in forensics and the program provides examinations, resources, care, and comfort to patients free of charge. <br> <br> “We see patients in trauma and it can be hard to separate” says Valerie Weir, a nurse with the program. The SAFE nurses find comfort in each other and making a difference in their patient’s lives. “Seeing what our work can do for someone makes it worth it,” says Ashley McAree. <br> <br> The SAFE program has support through both GBMC and the Baltimore County Police Department. SAFE works closely with the BCPD and SVU detectives to gather evidence and advocate for victims. <br> <br> The SAFE Program also offers community outreach with programs about internet safety and dealing with violence in relationships. <em>Day in the Life is produced by WMAR - ABC2 Baltimore</em> </p>
<h4> "Ava” Is The Most Popular Girl’s Name For Second Consecutive Year; “Logan” Again Regains Top Spot For Boys </h4> Several new baby names proved popular for infants born in 2017 at Greater Baltimore Medical Center (GBMC) in Towson, with eight new boys names and eight new girls names cracking this year’s Top 10 list. On the male side, Charles, Samuel and Henry and five others are all new members of the “most popular names” list, while baby girls named Claire, Savannah and Caroline along with five other names are all newcomers to the top 10 list for 2017 as well. <br> <br> There were approximately 4,000 infants born in 2017 at GBMC, whose public relations staff tallied the hospital’s baby names and reported the most popular choices for the 11th consecutive year. <br> <br> Topping the GBMC list for girls is Ava, for the second year in a row, and for the most popular boys' name, for a second consecutive year, was Logan. The names Ava and Logan have been ranked among the Top 10 in respectively nine and seven of the last of 11 annual GBMC surveys. <br> <br> <strong>Top 10 Baby Boy Names at GBMC</strong> <br> Logan* (25) <br> Carter, Ryan and William (21) <br> Owen and Mason (20) <br> Lucas (19) <br> Charles and Alexander (18) <br> Benjamin and Noah (17) <br> Samuel, James, Henry and Aiden (16) <br> Daniel, Jackson, John, Wyatt, and Michael (15) <br> Jack and Ethan (14) <br> Dylan, Jacob, and Liam (13) <br> <br> <strong>Top 10 Baby Girl Names at GBMC</strong> <br> Ava* (24) <br> Charlotte (23) <br> Harper (22) <br> Olivia* (19) <br> Emily and Emma (16) <br> Nora (15) <br> Elizabeth (14) <br> Claire, Avery and Abigail (12) <br> Natalie, Savannah, Sophia, Caroline, Grace and Isabella (10) <br> Ella, Aria, Amelia, Skylar, Scarlett, Madison & Zoey (9) <br> <br> <em>(*notes most popular name in 2016)</em> <br> <br> Six of the Top 10 most popular boy’s names nationwide and five such girl’s names - according to the parenting website BabyCenter.com <a href="https://www.babycenter.com/top-baby-names-2017.htm" target="_blank">(https://www.babycenter.com/top-baby-names-2017.htm )</a> “100 Most Popular Baby Names of 2017” – were also among the most popular at GBMC. <br> <br> GBMC has averaged more than 4,000 births during the last 10 years, making the hospital the busiest for births in Baltimore and among the top four statewide each of those years.
<p class="article-body"> Every day, Kristine Baker, RN, known as Kris, comes in to the GBMC Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) to care for the hospital’s tiniest and most vulnerable patients, premature babies. These infants are living in an environment that they're wholly unprepared for and they need constant care and attention — some are born so sick that they can’t eat or breathe on their own. They are sensitive to light and sound, and their skin may not even be able to tolerate being gently stroked or rubbed. <br> <br> In the NICU, helping parents cope with their baby's condition is just as important as caring for the baby. No one plans for a child to end up in the NICU, so parents often find themselves unprepared and fearful of the future. Kris works to educate them about their baby's condition and helps them understand how he or she is developing. <br> <br> Kris has been working in NICUs for the past 12 years and she forms strong bonds with the families of her patients, especially when they are there for extended stays. While this is incredibly fulfilling, it can be difficult when the family is struggling or the baby's health isn't improving as well as everyone had hoped. Kris makes sure to keep a positive focus, celebrating even the smallest of victories. "Being able to sit with families and comfort them is so rewarding," says Kris. <br> <br> She never hesitates to give hugs or say prayers with a family; it's important to her that she meets every family where they are. One patient's family member described her this way: "She is able to face a distraught mother with just the right amount of empathy and respect for space." Like many NICU nurses, Kris cares so deeply about "her" families in the NICU that she maintains relationships with them well after their babies are healthy enough to go home. <br> <br> This year, the proceeds from the <a href="http://gbmc.healthcare/5k/" target="_blank">Father's Day 5K</a> benefit the new NICU unit being built at GBMC! The renovations will allow for increased privacy, more space for equipment, and refrigerated drawers for storing breast milk within patient rooms. Please join Kris and the rest of the NICU team as they run or walk to raise money for GBMC’s tiniest patients on Sunday, June 17, 2018 at the 30th annual Father’s Day 5K and Fun Walk. <a target="_blank" alt="Register for the Father's Day 5K" href="http://gbmc.healthcare/5k/">Click here to register or to support the event!</a> </p> <div class="end-of-story"> </div>
<p class="article-body"> Laura Clary, BSN, RN, FNE-A/P, SANE-A, CFN, CPEN, has a job that most people can't imagine. The mother of two is manager of GBMC’s Sexual Assault Forensic Examination (SAFE) & Domestic Violence Program, which means she cares for patients on the worst day of their lives – the day they were raped, assaulted, or abused. She and her busy team of 17 forensic nurses and 5 victim advocates see more than 400 cases a year; they have dedicated themselves to caring for and re-empowering victims of sexual assault and domestic violence. <br> <br> Laura always knew that she wanted to be a nurse, but she was also very interested in forensics. Unsure of how to combine the two, Laura started her career as an emergency nurse and later trained for pediatric emergency care. In 2010, she transferred to GBMC to join the SAFE program — it was the combination of nursing and forensics that she had been looking for. It can also be an incredibly stressful job. "We often see the worst thing that a person can do to another person," says Laura. <br> <br> Despite the injuries she sees and the horrific accounts she hears from patients, Laura treats each person without judgement and makes it her mission to establish a rapport, no matter how long it takes. She meticulously performs physical exams on each patient, explains the process, answers questions, and collects evidence that law enforcement will use to prosecute her patient’s abuser. When her exam is finished, Laura ensures that each patient is given the opportunity to bathe and put on fresh clothes (at no cost) from a supply of donated toiletries and clothing. After the patient leaves, there is still work to do. Laura frequently testifies in her patients’ court cases, attends community outreach events, and works to fundraise for the SAFE program. She is a tireless advocate for her patients and prevention efforts. <br> <br> When she moved into her management position, the SAFE program only treated patients ages thirteen and up, and it didn't have a forensic program for domestic violence cases. Laura realized two whole populations were being overlooked. She took it upon herself to change this and worked with GBMC’s leadership team to make it happen. Laura earned her certification in pediatric forensics while working full-time and raising her family, then trained to become an instructor on the subject. She has cross-trained her entire team and now the SAFE program can treat patients at any stage of life. Additionally, she broadened the program to include forensic nurses for victims of domestic violence. <br> <br> When asked about the best part of her job, Laura says "getting a guilty verdict or a DNA hit feels great, but what is most rewarding is seeing the transformation that our patients go through from when they first come see us to when they leave. Getting a hug from them and hearing them say 'thank you' is what keeps me coming back every day." <br> <br> She was named America's Most Amazing Nurse by <em>Prevention</em> magazine and <em>The Doctors</em> TV show in 2017. She was also honored as Baltimore County's 2018 Woman of the Year by the Baltimore County Commission for Women and was recently recognized by the Governor's Office of Crime Control & Prevention for her work. </p> <div class="end-of-story"> </div>
