<p class="article-body"> Dr. Joan Blomquist is the Chair of the Department of Gynecology at GBMC HealthCare. She received her medical degree from Washington University School of Medicine and completed her residency in Obstetrics and Gynecology at UPMC Magee-Womens Hospital in Pittsburgh. After completing a fellowship in Female Pelvic Medicine and Reconstructive Pelvic Surgery at GBMC, she stayed and has been at GBMC for the past 26 years. Her primary area of research interest is the impact of childbirth on the pelvic floor, and she is also actively involved in global health work. <br> <br> </p> <figure class="image-left"> <img src="/sites/default/files/hg_features/hg_post/4fca90964bf9998c78a630ce6afad3eb.jpg" alt="Joan Blomquist, MD, Chair, Dept. of Gynecology, GBMC"> <figcaption> Joan Blomquist, MD, Chair, Dept. of Gynecology, GBMC </figcaption> </figure> <strong><em>Take yourself back. You got your acceptance letter to medical school. Where are you? How are you feeling? What are you most excited about?</em></strong> <br> I was in college in Iowa studying chemistry. I really thought I wanted to be a chemistry professor/researcher for most of my college years and decided late that my real passion was medicine. I was very relieved when I got my letter of acceptance that I was going to be able to follow my newfound passion. <br> <br> <strong><em>What led you to a career in healthcare? What led you to your chosen discipline?</em></strong> <br> I love science and studying how our bodies work (or don't work). I really enjoy trying to figure out what is going on with a patient and how best to help them. It is sort of like being a detective. <br> <br> <strong><em>Alongside caring for patients, what is one other thing you love about your role?</em></strong> <br> Teaching—I really enjoy teaching my patients about their conditions and treatment options as well as working with medical students, residents, and fellows. I feel part of our obligation as physicians is to train the next generation of providers. In addition to teaching urogynecology, I also enjoy trying to share some historical aspects of medicine and the importance of how we interact with our patients and others. <br> <br> <strong><em>What informs your leadership style? What one skill would you recommend a future female leader in medicine cultivate?</em></strong> <br> I try to lead by example. I think female leaders in particular need to find the work/life balance that works for them. Once you find that balance, you can model how you really can have the best of both worlds! <br> <br> <strong><em>At GBMC, our vision is to take care of patients as if they were our own loved ones. Who are you picturing when you care for patients?</em></strong> <br> As my role is to take care of women of all ages, I picture my mom, my aunts, my sisters, and all my nieces. <br> <br> <strong><em>What accomplishment are you most proud of in your professional career?</em></strong> <br> My happy patients and my teaching awards. I am also very proud of my work with the International Organization for Women, which is a nonprofit organization that provides care for women with fistula in Rwanda. <br> <br> <strong><em>What has helped you navigate challenges or barriers to achieving your success?</em></strong> <br> Patience, persistence, a supportive family, and loving what I do. Having a passion for your career is vital! <br> <br> <strong><em>What do you do to decompress?</em></strong> <br> Run, swim, hang out with my family and dogs. <br> <br> <strong><em>What do you think the future of medicine looks like for women?</em></strong> <br> I think women will continue to make up more and more of the physician workforce. We have certainly seen that in Obstetrics and Gynecology—82% of ob-gyn residents are now female. As a result, we are starting to see more of an emphasis on the importance of work/life balance and physician wellness. We need to embrace these initiatives to improve our quality of life, which we know also means we will provide better quality and more compassionate care for our patients. It is a win-win situation. <div class="end-of-story"> </div>
<p class="article-body"> Dr. Susan Wright Aucott has been the Director of Neonatology at GBMC HealthCare for two and a half years, bringing 31 years of neonatology experience with her. She earned her medical degree from the Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine and is board-certified in Neonatal-Perinatal Medicine. <br> <br> Throughout her career, she has authored 19 book chapters on Neonatology and has authored or co-authored more than 90 peer-reviewed publications. In addition to her role at GBMC, Dr. Aucott also serves as an Adjunct Associate Professor of Pediatrics at the Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, where she received the Miller Coulson Award for Clinical Excellence. Her greatest joy was having her father at the ceremony, her greatest example of compassion and clinical excellence. <br> <br> </p> <figure class="image-left"> <img src="/sites/default/files/hg_features/hg_post/02ca530694aba178271a0ceedfd04f5b.jpg" alt="Susan Aucott and her father"> <figcaption> Susan Aucott, MD, Neonatology, GBMC with her father </figcaption> </figure> <strong><em>Take yourself back. You got your acceptance letter to medical school. Where are you? How are you feeling? What are you most excited about?</em></strong> <br> Although I had already been accepted at my state medical school, I was on the waiting list at Johns Hopkins. I was spending the summer between college and medical school in the Ivory Coast in West Africa as part of a mission program and had limited communication abilities. I was ecstatic when I received a letter from my parents saying I had been accepted to Johns Hopkins Medical School! I was excited to have such an amazing opportunity to begin my medical education at an institution steeped in the history of medicine and at the forefront of innovation. <br> <br> <strong><em>What led you to a career in healthcare? What led you to your chosen discipline?</em></strong> <br> I was exposed to medicine at an early age through my father, a trailblazer as the first general internist in the upper peninsula of Michigan, and my mother, who was a nurse. I gravitated to pediatrics not only because I loved children, but I also enjoyed working with families as a unit. Neonatology allowed me to address a broad array of diseases across organ systems while still focusing on family-centered care. <br> <br> <strong><em>Alongside caring for patients, what is one other thing you love about your role?</em></strong> <br> I have always enjoyed sharing my experience with others and enjoy teaching at all levels, from medical students and fellows to nurses and advanced practitioners. <br> <br> <strong><em>What informs your leadership style? What one skill would you recommend a future female leader in medicine cultivate?</em></strong> <br> My leadership style is listening and leading by example. An important leadership skill is learning to encourage participation from all parties and listening to diverse voices before making decisions or changes. <br> <br> <strong><em>At GBMC, our vision is to take care of patients as if they were our own loved ones. Who are you picturing when you care for patients?</em></strong> <br> Early in my career, I saw myself in the parent’s shoes with my patients being like my children. Now, the parents are more like my children, and my patients feel more like my two granddaughters. <br> <br> <strong><em>What accomplishment are you most proud of in your professional career?</em></strong> <br> I am most proud of my 17 years as the fellowship program director at Hopkins. Having had the opportunity to work with and mentor many trainees over the years, it allowed me to not only shape future neonatologist, but required ongoing learning and skill development. <br> <br> <strong><em>What has helped you navigate challenges or barriers to achieving your success?</em></strong> <br> My family was my rock in shaping all that I did. They continue to give me the strength and support I need to challenge some of the established expectations of a woman in medicine. <br> <br> <strong><em>What do you do to decompress?</em></strong> <br> I hike on weekends, play piano, do word/number puzzles, like Sudoku, Wordle and others as well as spend time with family. <br> <br> <strong><em>What do you think the future of medicine looks like for women?</em></strong> <br> Continued improvement in flexibility for work and family without sacrificing career advancement <br> <br> <strong><em>What does being a women in medicine mean to you?</em></strong> <br> Full of many joys and challenges, but I hope I have been an example to those who I have mentored and encountered along the way, and helped to make the challenging path of navigating a career in medicine as a woman a little smoother for those who come behind me. <div class="end-of-story"> </div>
<p class="article-body"> Dr. Elisabeth Carr is the Program Director for the Internal Medicine Residency program at GBMC as well as a practicing Pulmonary and Critical Care physician. She is a graduate of New York Medical College (1998) and completed her residency and fellowship training at Thomas Jefferson University Hospital in Philadelphia. She stayed on as faculty in the division of Pulmonary and Critical Care Medicine where she developed interest in the impact of autoimmune diseases on the lungs. She developed further interest in Sarcoidosis and has developed a large practice at GBMC over the past seven years. She has been involved in medical education her whole career and is thrilled to be leading the residency program at GBMC. <br> <br> </p> <figure class="image-left"> <img src="/sites/default/files/hg_features/hg_post/004225ab70423b5272f3601c9599e007.jpg" alt="Elisabeth Carr, MD, Pulmonary Medicine, GBMC"> <figcaption> Elisabeth Carr, MD, Pulmonary Medicine, GBMC </figcaption> </figure> <strong><em>Take yourself back. You got your acceptance letter to medical school. Where are you? How are you feeling? What are you most excited about?</em></strong> <br> I was living in New York City at the time. I was elated I got into medical school, especially since I took a non-traditional path to get there. I had planned on a career in business, and it wasn't until my senior year of college that I realized my calling to medicine. It was a major pivot. We are fortunate in the U.S. to be able to study one thing and then do something totally different! <br> <br> <strong><em>What led you to a career in healthcare? What led you to your chosen discipline?</em></strong> <br> Everything came together for me as a senior in college. I knew I loved people and wanted to help them. I chose Pulmonary and Critical Care Medicine because I like a challenge and thinking on my feet. Pulmonary is complex and I still learn something new every day. Critical Care is exhilarating and often requires developing intense relationships with families, which can be very rewarding. Now, I am also Program Director for the Internal Medicine Residency Program. I have always felt passionate about medical education. This has been an amazing experience. Training of the next generation of physicians is my contribution to society. <br> <br> <strong><em>Alongside caring for patients, what is one other thing you love about your role?</em></strong> <br> The people I have met from the residents to executives in the hospital. I feel so much more enriched by them. The residents are at the start of their journey, and I love watching them blossom. At the same time, I am learning about the operations of an institution. I have a voice! <br> <br> <strong><em>What informs your leadership style? What one skill would you recommend a future female leader in medicine cultivate?</em></strong> <br> Passion and commitment. Being a leader is not about ruling; it's about cultivating and tapping into everyone's greatest potential. <br> <br> <strong><em>At GBMC, our vision is to take care of patients as if they were our own loved ones. Who are you picturing when you care for patients?</em></strong> <br> My mom! <br> <br> <strong><em>What accomplishment are you most proud of in your professional career?</em></strong> <br> I am proud of every step I have taken in my career, not one particular thing. It is a journey for me, and everything builds off each step. <br> <br> <strong><em>What has helped you navigate challenges or barriers to achieving your success?</em></strong> <br> My husband and children provide me endless support and I have found the most incredible mentor at GBMC, so barriers have been insignificant, at least to my morale! <br> <br> <strong><em>What do you do to decompress?</em></strong> <br> Work out and binge-watch Netflix. Sometimes DIY projects are just the thing I need to clear my head. And who doesn't love a good glass of red wine? <br> <br> <strong><em>What do you think the future of medicine looks like for women?</em></strong> <br> Women are changing the face of medicine by virtue of work-life balance choices. I see more job-sharing emergence. <br> <br> <strong><em>What does being a women in medicine mean to you?</em></strong> <br> Being a woman in medicine is a very natural thing for me but I do get the sense that we are on a frontier. I love being a role model for other women and especially my daughters. I want them to know they can achieve any goal they chose and that they should always be the ones to choose how they want to live and what they want to do. <div class="end-of-story"> </div>
<p class="article-body"> Dr. Theresa Nguyen serves as GBMC’s interim Department Chair for Pediatrics. She has been a pediatrician at GBMC for 22 years with the GBMC Pediatric Group. She incorporates her traditional pediatric training with fellowship training in integrative medicine in her whole-person approach to healing, incorporating all aspects of lifestyle (mind-body-spirit, nutrition, sleep) in partnership with patients and families. <br> <br> Dr. Nguyen graduated from Johns Hopkins University with a degree in biomedical engineering. She received her medical degree and master’s degree in health policy from New York University School of Medicine and New York University Wagner. She has worked both as a health policy analyst as well as a clinician. </p> <figure class="image-left"> <img src="/sites/default/files/hg_features/hg_post/160d6097c2a764bc8eb0e7326882e3a4.jpg" alt="Theresa Nguyen, MD, Pediatrician at GBMC"> <figcaption> Theresa Nguyen, MD, Pediatrician at GBMC </figcaption> </figure> <br> <br> <strong><em>Take yourself back. You got your acceptance letter to medical school. Where are you? How are you feeling? What are you most excited about?</em></strong> <br> Receiving several acceptances, I thought, “I have choices! Hooray!” I was feeling on top of the world, so excited about starting my journey to become a doctor, a passion, and very excited about moving back to NYC to attend school. I am a New York gal at heart. I loved life in NYC in my 20s! <br> <br> <strong><em>What led you to a career in healthcare? What led you to your chosen discipline?</em></strong> <br> My maternal grandmother, an amazing woman who was so wise and resilient, was only allowed to finish elementary school in her youth. I adored my grandmother. She was my second mom growing up. I wanted to practice geriatrics initially, to care for the elderly who were so forgotten in our society. In medical school, I realized the difficulty of practicing preventive medicine in geriatrics, so I went full circle to pediatrics where preventive medicine is THE way forward. <br> <br> <strong><em>Alongside caring for patients, what is one other thing you love about your role?</em></strong> <br> I am part of a child and family's growth and development journey. I love the connections and relationships I develop with these families over many years. <br> <br> <strong><em>What informs your leadership style? What one skill would you recommend a future female leader in medicine cultivate?</em></strong> <br> Serving others. How can I help you develop into your best self? Fostering communication, relationships, curiosity, and growth mindset! <br> <br> <strong><em>At GBMC, our vision is to take care of patients as if they were our own loved ones. Who are you picturing when you care for patients?</em></strong> <br> My grandmother! <br> <br> <strong><em>What accomplishment are you most proud of in your professional career?</em></strong> <br> Initiating the GBMC Physician Wellness Committee. <br> <br> <strong><em>What has helped you navigate challenges or barriers to achieving your success?</em></strong> <br> Flexibility, curiosity, empathy, patience, and an alignment of work with my passions. <br> <br> <strong><em>What do you do to decompress? </em></strong> <br> Walk nature trails with my dog on weekends. Arrange flowers for our home weekly. Travel and eat with my family. <br> <br> <strong><em>What do you think the future of medicine looks like for women?</em></strong> <br> Bright! There are many different paths to manifesting your dreams. It may take longer than your male counterparts because of the many roles women have at different stages of life, but it is totally achievable. Take one priority/focus at a time. Patience! <br> <br> <strong><em>What does being a women in medicine mean to you?</em></strong> <br> Endless possibilities, professionally and personally. Think outside of the box. Keep learning and evolving. Align your work with your passion. Take risks, keeps life exciting. Never accept "no" for an answer. There is always an alternative. What legacy do you want to create for your life? <div class="end-of-story"> </div>
<iframe class="embed-responsive-item" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/oLWBWOlmCq4" allowfullscreen="allowfullscreen"></iframe> <p class="article-body"> GBMC SAFE & DV Community Collaboration: An Inside Look at Student & School Safety was an extremely informative and important conversation involving a panel of experts. The GBMC Sexual Assault Forensic Examination (SAFE) & Domestic Violence (DV) Program joined forces with the Maryland Center for School Safety (MCSS) to educate our community on the dangers of social media and gaming, what the MCSS and the GBMC SAFE & DV program are doing to keep students safe, and most importantly, share the perspective of two current students. The GBMC SAFE & DV team serve as subject matter experts for MCSS and provide trainings on important topics like victimization of youth, human trafficking and child abuse/neglect. Here are the key takeaways from this informational session: </p> <ul> <li> A School Resource Officer (SRO) is a member of law enforcement but has additional training from MCSS to be able to interact with students regularly. According to the Safe to Learn Act of 2018, it is mandatory to have an SRO or adequate coverage at every public school across the state. If you are a parent of a private school student, the best thing to do is reach out to your school and ask what safety measures they have in place. </li> <li> The term “school safety” can be applied to many areas including mental health, social media apps and the dangers that come along with using them, drug use and school threats. Student experts, Jaya and Claire, shared how important it is for parents to know what their children are involved with online and create an open line of trust and communication to keep their children safe. </li> <li> Social media comes with many risks, and some of the trends set on social media can be dangerous and even result in criminal charges. It is important to note how quickly something can “go viral” especially on an app like TikTok. Additionally, these apps can create self-esteem and comparison issues for students, which can lead to an increase in mental health problems. </li> <li> If a parent or student sees or hears something regarding dangerous activity, whether online or from an in-person conversation, the best thing to do is to report it, don’t share it. The <a href="https://schoolsafety.maryland.gov/Pages/Tipline.aspx">Safe Schools Maryland tip line has three anonymous ways</a> to safely report threats. </li> </ul> The SAFE & DV Program at GBMC continues to educate our community to move the needle toward prevention of crimes of sexual assault and abuse, as well as the dangers of online dating, healthy relationships and more. All training and services provided by the SAFE & DV Program are free of charge, the program relies on donations and community support. <a href="https://www.classy.org/give/264732/#!/donation/checkout">Join our loyal supporters by making a donation today. </a>
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<p class="article-body"> Each year, <a href="https://www.cdc.gov/cancer/preventinfections/providers.htm#:~:text=Each%20year%2C%20about%20650%2C000%20cancer,chemotherapy%20schedules%2C%20and%20even%20death.">about 650,000 cancer patients receive systemic therapy</a> in an outpatient oncology clinic in the United States. The team at the Sandra and Malcolm Berman Cancer Institute at GBMC is working to make that experience as comfortable as possible for their patients with the design and build of the Sandra R. Berman Pavilion, slated to open in early 2025. <br> <br> Geoffrey A. Neuner, MD, Radiation Oncologist at GBMC and chair of the fundraising for this initiative, says, “This new building has been a long time coming for GBMC. All cancer services, including support services, will be housed there, and patients will have direct access to the radiation oncology department.” <br> <br> Dr. Neuner explains the various components of the oncology department have been collaborating while physically separated for years. “This new pavilion will give us a chance to have physical and intellectual integration,” he adds. <br> <br> In addition to a more cohesive approach to healthcare, the new pavilion will help make treatment easier for patients. Virtual focus groups were held during design planning to provide insight on what patients wanted in the new Infusion Center. Some desire more privacy, while others prefer open spaces for treatment, so the GBMC team designed a center with 10 private rooms, two isolations rooms, and 14 infusion stations in more open areas. This allows for greater flexibility when patients need or want to be separated from other patients during their treatment. <br> <br> Dr. Neuner emphasizes the importance of healthcare systems having an inviting space for cancer treatment. “The entire campus of GBMC is very bucolic, and the new building will have a bank of windows looking out into the trees,” he explains. “It can’t be understated what kind of calming effect that sort of setting has on patients.” <br> <br> In addition to idyllic views, the pavilion is set up for practicality, with a parking lot located directly underneath the Cancer Institute. A newly designed, state-of-the-art infusion pharmacy will also be located in the Infusion Center, with its own check-in/check-out space and waiting room. <br> <br> The interdisciplinary collaboration that will come from the care teams being physically located in the same space is exciting, Dr. Neuner says. However, it’s the positive effect the Infusion Center and the entire Sandra R. Berman Pavilion will have on patients that he’s most eagerly anticipating. <br> <br> “I’m looking forward to my patients’ lives being easier and their whole journey through the cancer program being less fraught with logistical challenges,” he says. <br> <br> To learn more about the Sandra R. Berman Pavilion and how GBMC is designing for the future of patient care, visit <a href="https://www.gbmcpromise.com">gbmcpromise.com.</a> </p> <div class="end-of-story"> </div>
<p class="article-body"> GBMC is a community-centered hospital system fortunate enough to be part of a diverse community. GBMC HealthCare Chief Diversity and Learning Officer Lisa Walker says dedication to diversity and inclusion is at the forefront of GBMC’s vision. <br> <br> “We have an integrated strategy to ensure our work aligns with our vision and mission, [which is] to give every patient, every time, the care we would want for our loved ones,” Walker says. <br> <br> A 2021 exploration into GBMC’s practices showed a lot of work being done to support diversity, equity, and inclusion, Walker says. It also highlighted opportunities to strengthen the work already being done and some areas that could be improved. Key takeaways from the assessment included appointing Walker as the chief diversity and learning officer (the first at GBMC) and creating an integrated strategy to ensure the diversity and inclusion work at GBMC is progressing at a rate that keeps up with the needs of the community. <br> <br> Walker explains a lot of the diversity work will relate to growing and developing the leaders within GBMC, along with training the workforce. <br> <br> “I oversee both strategies so we can be very intentional with our work,” Walker says. “That includes leveraging the resources of the entire team to get that work done and making sure our workforce has basic education and competency.” <br> <br> More specifically, Walker says, this includes making sure all GBMC leaders are trained on unconscious and implicit bias, gender-inclusive language, and gender identity, and ensuring GBMC supports the LGBTQ+ community and culture. <br> <br> “It also includes improving recruitment practices and working on increasing the diversity of our leadership team,” Walker says. “We’re partnering with diverse, community-based organizations to ensure we can increase the pipeline of candidates.” <br> <br> The staff at GBMC is an integral part of the overall inclusion and diversity strategy, Walker explains. <br> <br> “We hold town hall meetings to keep staff informed and give them the opportunity to offer suggestions and ask questions. It’s a safe space that allows us to speak with smaller, intimate groups of teams and allows them to share their ideas.” <br> <br> Over the next three years, GBMC will continue to implement its inclusivity strategy, with goals focused on providing culturally competent care to new and current patients as well as increasing the diversity of the leadership team from 25% in 2022 to 35% in 2023. <br> <br> “We want to increase access to care for marginalized communities in Baltimore through community engagement and partnership as well as continue to work on health equity and bridging the disparities of care in the communities we serve,” Walker says. <br> <br> Walker hopes both patients and potential employees of GBMC will notice the work being done. <br> <br> “People should see our commitment to inclusivity in the care they receive, and candidates should see it in the touch points of their recruitment process. Everyone has a place in our organization.” </p> <div class="end-of-story"> </div>
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GBMC has been recognized as one of America’s Best Maternity Hospitals 2022 by Newsweek! This prestigious recognition was given to only six Maryland hospitals, and GBMC is 1 of 3 in the state to receive a designation as a five-ribbon hospital. Based on medical key performance indicators and patient survey results, 350 hospitals in the United States were selected. As "the Baby Hospital" serving Marylanders for the past 57 years, this is a true honor and reflection of why so many families choose to start their journey here.
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<p class="article-body"> President and CEO of the GBMC HealthCare System, John B. Chessare, MD, MPH, was recently presented with the 2022 Harry S. Hertz Leadership Award from the Baldrige Foundation. <br> <br> <a target="_blank" alt="The Baldridge Foundation" href="https://baldrigefoundation.org/">The Baldrige Foundation</a> supports organizational performance excellence in the United States and throughout the world. Awarded annually by the Baldrige Foundation, the Hertz Award recognizes outstanding leaders who have inspired, encouraged, challenged, and empowered others to achieve performance excellence. This accolade is one of four categories in the Baldrige Foundation Leadership Awards. <br> <br> “This award is a further endorsement that, under Dr. Chessare’s leadership, our healthcare system has made a meaningful difference in the lives of those we have the privilege to serve, especially the most vulnerable members of our community. We are grateful for his direction, and we congratulate him on this prestigious honor,” said Fred Hudson, Chair of the GBMC HealthCare Board of Directors. <br> <br> The Baldrige Foundation considers nominees from across the nation for this significant award. The nominees’ leadership and achievements are thoroughly deliberated, including how they lead their organizations and encourage their teams to achieve high performance. Their accomplishments in becoming counselors for excellence throughout the Baldrige community are also assessed. <br> <br> "John is a role-model leader deeply committed to the Baldrige framework and who embodies the Baldrige leadership principles," said Al Faber, President and CEO of the Foundation for the Malcolm Baldrige National Quality Award, Inc. "His unwavering servant leadership style has been instrumental in the success of GBMC HealthCare in navigating the unprecedented challenges during the COVID-19 pandemic." <br> <br> The Baldrige Foundation created the Harry S. Hertz leadership award in 2013. It was named after Harry Hertz, the first winner, because he personified the Baldrige Core Values and Leadership Behaviors: visionary leadership, customer-focused excellence, valuing people, organizational learning and agility, managing for innovation, management by fact, societal responsibility, ethics and transparency, delivering value and results, and a systems perspective. <br> <br> “I am truly honored to receive this recognition. At GBMC HealthCare, we use the science of improvement, first promulgated by W. Edwards Deming and Walter Shewhart, and now supported by the Malcolm Baldrige Performance Excellence Program and the Baldrige Foundation to move faster towards our vision of becoming the community-based system of care that can deliver to every patient, every time, the care that we would want for our own loved ones,” said Chessare. “I want to thank all of my colleagues for embracing continuous improvement and the Baldrige criteria.” </p> <div class="end-of-story"> </div>
<p class="article-body"> During the COVID-19 pandemic, public health emergency (PHE) declarations at the federal level and in many states made it possible for patients to have appointments with their medical providers remotely via computer, tablet, or smartphone using different platforms like FaceTime or Zoom. Known as “telehealth,” this practice helped people to get medical care and be isolated from others at the same time. <br> <br> With many PHE declarations due to COVID-19 ending, the rules for telehealth are changing back to what they were before the pandemic. GBMC HealthCare providers can no longer deliver telehealth services to a patient who is physically located outside the state of Maryland. <br> <br> GBMC HealthCare does continue to offer telehealth appointments, but only to <strong>patients physically located in Maryland at the time of the service</strong>. Patients who are not physically located in Maryland at the time of the appointment will need to reschedule their visit. <br> <br> Additionally, telehealth rules require that services be provided using secure platforms that protect the medical information you share. For this reason, <strong>all telehealth appointments going forward must be held within GBMC’s patient portal, MyChart</strong>. This is also due to the PHE declaration coming to an end, and certain waivers of telehealth rules with it. We understand this may pose some challenges and assure you that our staff members are committed to helping patients navigate their telehealth appointments. <br> <br> Thank you for being a GBMC HealthCare patient and for your cooperation during these changes. <br> <br> Sincerely, <br> John L. Flowers, MD, FACS <br> Chief Medical Officer – GBMC <br> President of GBMC Health Partners </p> <div class="end-of-story"> </div>
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<p class="article-body">When it comes to selecting a good healthcare provider, the goal is finding someone you can trust who is going to provide excellent care. You might not have given much thought before to the letters behind your practitioner’s name, but what exactly is the difference between an MD and a DO? Is one better than the other? </p><p class="article-body">First, the basics: MD stands for medical doctor or Doctor of Medicine, and they practice allopathic medicine while DO stands for Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine. Allopathic means treating symptoms and disease while osteopathic looks at the “whole person” and what other factors, aside from underlying symptoms, might be contributing to health issues. </p><p class="article-body">Both attend four years of medical school and must complete a residency, but osteopathic physicians receive extra training in principles and practices around the idea that you cannot separate the mind, body and spirit when it comes to medical care. </p><p class="article-body">“We look at the whole person to understand how structure relates to function,” Robin Motter-Mast, DO, FAAFP, CPE, Chief of Staff at GBMC HealthCare and Family Medicine Physician at GBMC Health Partners Primary Care—Hunt Manor, said. “If you visit an osteopathic physician, they are going to evaluate your entire person and ask questions that help them understand how you are doing emotionally, how you are doing physically, do you exercise, what’s your social structure look like to support you, etc.” </p><p class="article-body">Dr. Motter-Mast stresses that osteopathic approaches to medical care have become more common, and, as society at large has seen the benefits of this type of practice, an allopathic physician will often take more of a holistic approach to patient care. However, for those seeking a medical provider, a DO suffix indicates training in and a commitment to this type of practice. </p><p class="article-body">According to the American Osteopathic Association (AOA), “the number of osteopathic physicians in the U.S. climbed to nearly 135,000—an 80% increase over the past decade.” As of 2021, 11% of all physicians in the United States were DOs. One even oversees the President’s healthcare. </p><p class="article-body">At GBMC, there are 34 employed DO physicians, 17 of whom practice in a primary care setting, which is the most common setting patients would see a DO. According to AOA, 56.5% of DOs nationally practice in primary care while the percentage for allopathic physicians is much lower. GBMC has osteopathic physicians in surgery, gynecology, emergency medicine and more. </p><p class="article-body">“I was a nurse for 10 years and saw my osteopathic colleagues had an inherent bedside manner, which is what attracted to me to it,” Jonathan J. Hennessee, DO, a family medicine physician at GBMC Health Partners Primary Care—Padonia, said. “When I started researching it, I decided I wanted to do primary care. After practicing reactionary medicine in the Emergency Department, I wanted to go back and learn to practice preventive medicine.” </p><p class="article-body">Dr. Hennessee earned his Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine degree from Western University of Health Sciences in Pomona, CA, while Dr. Motter-Mast received her degree from Philadelphia College of Osteopathic Medicine in PA. There are currently no osteopathic doctoral programs in Maryland, but Morgan State University—recognizing the need for homegrown primary care providers—<a href="https://news.morgan.edu/osteopathic-medicine/">was in negotiations in 2020 to establish an osteopathic program</a> before COVID-19 held up talks. </p><p class="article-body">DOs share a lot of similarities with MDs, but they also have some things in common with chiropractors. Because osteopathic physicians believe in treating the whole person, they look at how the structure of the body works together to maintain healthy functioning. To that end, they tend to focus a lot on the spine. </p><p class="article-body">“Both chiropractors and osteopathic physicians believe symptoms can be traced back to the spine, and that if the spine is in alignment, that would naturally allow everything to fall into place and function a bit better,” Dr. Motter-Mast said. </p><p class="article-body">As part of their education, DOs are trained in manipulations of the spine. Dr. Motter-Mast defined the difference as an alignment (chiropractic) versus an adjustment (osteopathic). Chiropractors are not medical doctors but can—and do—treat existing pain and inflammation of the joints with forced pressure and manipulation. Osteopathic manipulation therapy (OMT), on the other hand, is more of a preventive measure that involves massage, stretching and light pressure. While patients visit a chiropractor specifically for treatment of an injury, OMT is just one tool in an osteopathic physician’s toolbelt to treat the whole person. </p><p class="article-body">A DO is a blended healthcare smoothie of medical doctor and chiropractor with a sprinkle of holistic medicine thrown in. While they are trained in a whole-body approach to care, all GBMC clinicians—MD, DO, FNP, CNRP and more—are committed to delivering the best care for patients every time. </p><p class="article-body">Choosing the healthcare provider for you all comes down to preference. As Dr. Hennessee says, “there is a physician out there for everyone. My bet is you would always have a good interaction with an osteopathic physician.”</p>
