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<iframe class="embed-responsive-item" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/cLJj3ARAx58" allowfullscreen="allowfullscreen"></iframe> <p class="article-body"> Dr. Delia Chiaramonte is the Medical Director of Integrative and Palliative Medicine at GBMC HealthCare System. Integrative medicine services include nutrition consultations, evidence-supported approaches to the use of supplements in cancer treatment, and mind-body therapies such as meditation, guided imagery and breathing techniques. Patients may also receive support to help cope with symptoms such as sleep problems, anxiety, depression, pain, nausea, fatigue and stress. <br> <br> For patients of the Sandra and Malcolm Berman Cancer Institute at GBMC, Dr. Chiaramonte provides an innovative combination of her expertise. Dr. Chiaramonte and her team partner with oncologists as they go through their treatment. During a Feb. 23 conversation, she shared many important tips for thriving during cancer treatment; how to cope with symptoms, pain, mental health; and more. <br> <br> Palliative medicine does not mean end of life care, but rather it is symptom-focused care for serious illness. Dr. Chiaramonte and her team combine the benefits of palliative medicine with integrative medicine therapies—such as acupuncture, massage, meditation—to treat the whole person. They focus on treating the symptoms that might normally make it challenging for patients to live their daily lives. <br> <br> The Palliative and Integrative Medicine team works closely with oncologists to try alternatives to managing difficult symptoms patients may face, such as nausea, fatigue, and loss of appetite. However, before prescribing strong medication like opioids, they do like to start with alternatives to managing pain. If alternative methods are not making progress in managing pain, the team will closely monitor patients and may provide small doses of pain medication. <br> <br> Dr. Chiaramonte offered many suggestions for how everyone, not just people undergoing cancer treatment, can improve their overall health. She suggested certain diet changes like including anti-inflammatory foods (berries) and cruciferous vegetables (broccoli) into your diet, moving your body in a way you enjoy such as dancing, and meditation to calm the mind. <br> <br> Some of the services provided by Dr. Chiaramonte and her team are covered by insurance. The program includes a mind/body specialist, who is available for both patients and family members. Services provided by the mind/body specialist are offered free of charge, and therefore rely entirely on donations to be able to continue. You can help support treating the whole patient during treatment by donating to <a href="https://www.classy.org/give/288692/#!/donation/checkout">the Sandra and Malcolm Berman Cancer Institute at GBMC.</a> </p>
<p class="article-body"> As GBMC prepares for construction on the Sandra R. Berman Pavilion, convenience for patients has already begun with the relocation of Advanced Radiology to Physicians Pavilion East. <br> <br> Advanced Radiology delivers a full spectrum of state-of-the-art diagnostic imaging services, provided by expert radiologists at two caring and comfortable centers. <br> <br> <strong>The GBMC Imaging Center</strong>, relocated to Physicians Pavilion East, Suite 100, in September 2021, allows more room for increased capabilities as well as patient convenience. The center includes two MRIs, a CT and a dedicated PET/CT, ultrasound, X-rays, breast and prostate MRI, and low-dose CT for lung cancer screening. <br> <br> Due to its proximity to Iris Park, parking for this location is more accessible, including dedicated parking spots for those visiting the GBMC Imaging Center. <br> <br> <strong>The GBMC Women’s Imaging Center,</strong> located in the main hospital and down the hall from the new GBMC Imaging Center, continues to offer all breast diagnostic services as well as bone density scans. The GBMC Women’s Imaging Center is part of the Sandra and Malcolm Berman Comprehensive Breast Care Center, which means a multidisciplinary team (including navigators, breast surgeons, and more) is conveniently available for patients, if needed. <br> <br> Together, these two centers offer all the imaging services patients and families need for ease and convenience and are housed closer to many specialists. Using the most up-to-date technology, board-certified and subspecialty trained radiologists work collaboratively with the experienced team of GBMC physicians to provide the highest quality care. </p> <div class="end-of-story"> </div>
Treatments like chemotherapy and radiation are established, clinical methods for treating cancer. While they are effective at treating the disease itself, providing integrative and palliative medicine alongside these conventional treatments ensures the patient’s physical and emotional wellbeing are also being addressed. “Integrative means using all the different tools while palliative means reducing the physical and emotional suffering,” Delia Chiaramonte, MD, a palliative medicine physician and Medical Director of Integrative Medicine at GBMC, explains. Kruti Patel, MD, a radiation oncologist in the Sandra and Malcolm Berman Cancer Institute at GBMC, says the collaboration between radiation oncology and the integrative and palliative medicine team immensely benefits patients going through treatment. “Radiation can be claustrophobia-inducing, especially if the cancer involves the brain or head and neck region,” Dr. Patel explains. “Patients often have to wear a mask for the duration of their treatment - sometimes up to an hour – under a large machine, in a room by themselves. It can be very stressful.” Dr. Patel says utilizing techniques introduced by the integrative medicine team, like guided imagery, can help tone down the anxiety the patient feels during treatment. Integrative medicine can be used throughout a patient’s treatment and recovery, helping them cope with side effects from radiation like:Fatigue. Dr. Patel explains, “We can break down the causes of the fatigue and find ways to tackle them. Yoga, dance, and qigong can all help with strength and stamina.”Poor sleep. Mindfulness practices before bed and melatonin are potential options offered by the integrative and palliative team to help patients increase their quality of sleep.Pain. Massage, guided imagery, and meditation, along with helping the patient understand how the brain perceives pain, are tools the patient can utilize to manage their pain, Dr. Patel says.There’s also an emphasis on mental health in integrative and palliative care, which can play a role in how a patient responds to treatment. “Exploring patients’ thoughts and emotions in an effort to understand how they are processing the diagnosis, therapies and side effects can improve the treatment experience, both the physical and emotional aspects,” Dr. Patel says. Dr. Chiaramonte says the partnership with the Radiation Oncology team at GBMC is unparalleled. Radiation can help eliminate cancer, but it can cause side effects. It’s important to balance those with integrative medicine treatment approaches, which can teach patients how to manage the side effects of radiation. “We truly are part of the team. More and more physicians are recognizing the benefits of this integrated approach and how it helps the patient,” Chiaramonte says. “They care about the whole person and want to treat the whole person.” Dr. Patel agrees, “integrative medicine is strongly valued at GBMC, and we are actively growing the program because it’s an important part of the patient experience.”
<p class="article-body"> A hybrid approach to learning that includes exposure to practical experience in addition to traditional textbook learning is important, especially in the medical field. When COVID-19 first shut down and then delayed surgeries, medical students had a challenging time finding a way to get that more tactile experience. <br> <br> On January 28, GBMC, in partnership with the SurgCenter of Northern Baltimore in Hunt Valley, offered Towson University audiology doctoral students a chance to sit in on a cochlear implant surgery—from their couches. <br> <br> Eighty students and faculty tuned in via Avail technology to watch Chair of the Department of Otolaryngology at GBMC, Brian Kaplan, MD, perform a cochlear implant surgery. Prior to the pandemic, the operating room (OR) could only accommodate one or two participants in-person for observation, so this new technology opened the opportunity to a wider audience of students, giving them a chance to experience a surgery in real-time and ask questions. <br> <br> According to Regina Presley, Au.D., FAAA, CCC/A, Director of Audiology at the Presbyterian Board of Governors Cochlear Implant Center of Excellence at GBMC, “The students were able to observe the entire surgery, which is a great anatomy lesson as well as a great opportunity to discuss cochlear implants in general. When it’s time to make a referral to their own patients, they can talk to them from a place of knowledge about what the process is because they understand the technology.” <br> <br> Only about 5-7% of patients who could benefit from cochlear implant technology actually pursue the surgery, in part because, as a relatively new surgical option, there is a lack of awareness about its benefits among clinicians. <br> <br> “The purpose of this observation was training and education,” Presley said. “There is a commitment to educate audiologists and ENTs, while increasing awareness of the latest technology and when it’s appropriate to make recommendations.” <br> <br> The patient, who consented to participate, was completely draped with no identifying features visible, and the Avail technology used to broadcast the observation to students was held on a secure platform to prevent hacking or tampering. <br> <br> The Cochlear Implant Center at GBMC is a trailblazer in the field and involved internationally with industry innovation and engagement. Utilizing this technology is no exception. Currently, there are fewer than 10 institutions in the United States performing surgeries using Avail for students. <br> <br> This first operation was a success. In an anonymous post-observation survey, one faculty member said, “This was fantastic. There is nothing I can do in my classroom that would match viewing the surgery. This experience gives my students a level of perspective on cochlear implantation that I cannot give them without an opportunity like this.” <br> <br> One student commented, “The broadcast was easy to use, and the session ran incredibly well. It was a wonderful and unique opportunity to have the surgeon available for questions in real-time.” <br> <br> When asked, “On a scale of 1-5 (5 being the best), did you feel the broadcast was educational and an effective learning event,” 94% of participants answered 5, while the other 6% answered 4. <br> <br> Based on the success of the observation, the hope is to offer similar observations for future audiology students within Towson University’s curriculum, as well as for ENT residents. </p> <div class="end-of-story"> </div>
<iframe class="embed-responsive-item" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/P6ufM4nq5Ak" allowfullscreen="allowfullscreen"></iframe> <p class="article-body"> Dr. Colin Russell explains the role of hospitalists at GBMC. At GBMC, hospitalists act as primary care physicians for patients by providing care as well as coordinating with specialists and other medical teams. The hospitalist also orders testing, blood panels, imaging, and the like and makes care choices along with the patient and their loved ones. </p>
<p class="article-body"> At GBMC, whether you are parking, visiting a GBMC HealthCare provider, or <a href="/node/2209">using the patient portal, MyChart,</a> there is a group of community members behind the scenes working to make processes as smooth as possible. <br> <br> <a href="/node/2267">The Patient & Family Advisory Council (PFAC) at GBMC</a> was created because, as Director of Patient Experience Michelle Johnson explains, “We wanted to get feedback from patients about how we’re providing services to them. We want to be sure we’re meeting their needs.” <br> <br> Made up of 12 members of the community, Patient/Family Advisors (PFA) represent the demographic served by GBMC from an age and ethnic perspective. Johnson says Council members usually join PFAC after a memorable experience with GBMC, either as a patient or as a patient’s family member. According to Johnson, their experience with GBMC doesn’t need to be a perfect one to become a PFA. <br> <br> “For example, if someone files a grievance, we may ask them to be part of the committee. We want a good balance of members who are going to give us honest feedback,” Johnson says. <br> <br> The GBMC HealthCare PFAC is an integral part of the decision-making process throughout many departments within the hospital, explains Johnson. <br> <br> “We try to ensure they’re part of the strategic planning process every year. Their voices are heard all the way up to the board,” she says. <br> <br> Some past input and suggestions from the PFAC include: </p> <ul> <li> Parking. Johnson says parking at GBMC was redesigned based on PFAC feedback to include valet parking and separate parking for oncology offices. </li> <li> Payment options. “Once, we considered going cash-free in the offices, but PFAC said, ‘Absolutely not. We need to be able to pay cash because certain parts of the population aren’t electronically-savvy.’ So, we kept cash as a payment option,” Johnson says. </li> <li> Patient Portal design. PFAC members sit on the Patient Portal Design Committee to help ensure the place where patients and families go to get information is user-friendly and easy to navigate. </li> <li> Complaints and grievances. A PFA sits on the Grievances Board because, “we’re not always honest when looking at ourselves with a critical eye. It’s important to hear the voice of the patient and not just a clinical perspective,” Johnson says. </li> </ul> GBMC currently has one hospital-based PFAC, while the Sandra & Malcolm Berman Cancer Institute, Gilchrist, and GBMC Health Partners have their own councils. Johnson says there is an additional PFAC in the process of being formed for Maternal Newborn Health. <br> <br> Each PFAC is comprised of 12 to 15 members, and patients and family members of patients within the GBMC HealthCare System are welcome to apply. There is an interview process to thoroughly explain the role of the PFAC and the responsibility of its members, and the committee meets at least six times a year. <br> <br> “PFAC members are an engaged, verbal group,” Johnson says. “They love being a part of the decision-making process and are dedicated to helping GBMC maintain our reputation in the community.” <br> <br> All healthcare providers and administration at GBMC are grateful for the work of PFAC and value their feedback. <br> <br> “We are here because of the patients, so we need to ensure the voice of the patients is heard in everything we do,” Johnson says. <div class="end-of-story"> </div>
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<h3> Become Part of the Promise </h3> <strong>$10,000: Family Zone</strong> <ul> <li> Name a family zone within a patient room (60 available): a comfortable place to accommodate family members while they visit with their loved one, ensuring they are a part of the patient-centered care experience. The family zone includes a multi-purpose bench that can transform into a place to work, sleep, dine, and be a part of the healing process with loved ones. Each family zone is placed near a ceiling-high window to provide ample natural light. </li> <li> Listing in GBMC Annual Report </li> <li> Complimentary parking card for GBMC campus* </li> <li> Included in the donor listing on <em>The Promise Project</em> website </li> </ul> <strong>$5,000: Patient Room Server</strong> <ul> <li> Name on patient room server (60 available): to minimize the disruption of patient privacy and family time, as well as protect our staff from entering potentially contagious patient rooms, the patient servers are designed to be able to open from both the inside and outside of patient rooms. The items included here range from linens to medications, which are in a safe-locked portion. </li> <li> Listing in GBMC Annual Report </li> <li> Complimentary parking card for GBMC campus* </li> </ul> <strong>$2,500: Patient and Family Recliner Chair</strong> <ul> <li> Name recliner chair** (60 available): family support can enhance the recovery process for many patients. These chairs are an additional area of respite for family members to have a comfortable space to visit with their loved ones during their stay. It may also be a comfortable option for patients to sit in to look out the windows. </li> <li> Listing in GBMC Annual Report </li> <li> Complimentary parking card for GBMC campus* </li> </ul> <strong>$1,000: Shared Staff Lockers</strong> <ul> <li> Name on shared staff locker (86 available) </li> <li> Additional naming options: EVS Closet, Nutrition Closet, or Medicine Closet (6 total) </li> <li> Listing in GBMC Annual Report </li> <li> Complimentary parking cards are provided on an annual basis for donors of $2,500 or more per calendar year </li> <li> Recliner chair namings will be secured on the wall in the patient room </li> </ul> For more Information: contact Morgan Varley, Director of the Annual Fund, <a href="mailto:mvarley@gbmc.org">via email</a> or phone at (443) 849-2120 <br> <br> Gifts made to <em>The Promise Project</em> can be paid over an agreeable timeframe of up to five years. <div class="end-of-story"> </div>
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<p class="article-body"> Erlene Washington joined GBMC HealthCare as Vice President and Chief Operating Officer of GBMC Health Partners in February 2019, bringing with her more than 25 years of experience in healthcare finance, operations, and strategic planning. Three years into the role means half of her time at GBMC has been spent managing in crisis. Despite setbacks like a global pandemic and an international cyberattack, Washington is proud of GBMC Health Partners’ growth. <br> <br> “It just speaks to how well we take care of patients,” Washington said. “Despite everything, we continue to grow, and you can see our focus is the patient. Whether it’s better health or patient experience or more joy, it all ties back to the patient. We have an obligation to ensure our community is healthy.” <br> <br> </p> <figure class="image-right"> <img src="/sites/default/files/hg_features/hg_post/e01b24ad8d05a69c677646dcc692b2b9.jpg" alt="Erlene Washington, Vice President and Chief Operating Officer of GBMC Health Partners"> <figcaption> Erlene Washington, Vice President and Chief Operating Officer of GBMC Health Partners </figcaption> </figure> Washington shared five key ways GBMC Health Partners valued the patient experience in 2021. <br> <br> <h3> 1. We value time. </h3> GBMC Health Partners primary care locations offer convenient hours – opening as early as 7 a.m. and closing as late as 9 p.m., depending on the location. Not only is there a focus on centralizing the influenza vaccine and COVID-19 testing, but the primary care practices are also a hub for vaccine administration. <br> <br> In specialty areas, there is also an intentional focus on preserving time for patients by centralizing presurgical and preprocedural testing as a one-stop shop prior to major procedures. <br> <br> <h3> 2. We value availability and accessibility. </h3> On average, patient volumes at GBMC Health Partners increase about 2.5% per year. This year, it is on track to exceed those results. GBMC Health Partners added 36 new providers this year to help serve a growing population of almost 83,000 patients. Additionally, GBMC Health Partners expanded its footprint within the last two years, opening two important locations. <br> <br> GBMC Health Partners at Padonia differs from other primary care locations because of its specialty services. In addition to primary care, patients can also access same-day rapid response services, gynecology, urological gynecology, orthopaedics, as well as pelvic floor therapy. <br> <br> GBMC Health Partners at Jonestown is GBMC’s first location in Baltimore City and centers on access to care. GBMC Health Partners works with key constituents and leaders within the Baltimore City community to address health inequities. <br> <br> <h3> 3. We value resources. </h3> Less than 10 years ago, there was a statewide issue concerning the overutilization of Emergency Departments for non-emergent needs. Due to a lack of available resources, many patients turned to the ED for their basic care, which caused excessive waiting times and obstacles in the case of true emergencies. <br> <br> GBMC Health Partners makes an intentional effort to identify high-utilizers of the ED at the point of entry and refers them to a primary care site. The Complex Care team there – primary care physician, care manager, and care coordinator – manage the patients’ health together, removing the ED from the equation. Whether it is managing diabetes or mental health concerns, chronic pain or routine exams, the team is there for patients when they need care. <br> <br> GBMC is now lower than the state benchmarks in terms of patients utilizing the ED by a difference of almost 25 percent. <br> <br> <h3> 4. We value health. </h3> As part of its commitment to a patient-centered, team approach to care, GBMC Health Partners has been paying close attention to specific measures, one of the most important being diabetes. <br> <br> For patients with diabetes, a care plan is imperative. The Complex Care teams at GBMC Health Partners practices work with patients to develop a plan and then follow up with them to ensure A1C levels are appropriate. If not, the team can evaluate, adjust medications, or make diet suggestions. <br> <br> According to the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services 2020 MIPS benchmark data, in the better performing health systems that rank in the 90th percentile, 31.4% of diabetic patients have uncontrolled diabetes. At GBMC Health Partners, measures show only 19 percent of GBMC patients with diabetes fit this description, and we continue to work to improve even more. <br> <br> Other areas GBMC Health Partners continues to pay close attention to and measure improvement on are breast cancer screenings, colonoscopies, pneumonia vaccinations, BMI screenings as well as depression screenings. <br> <br> <h3> 5. We value your opinion. </h3> Select patients receive a survey after each visit, and the feedback provided is used to guide improvement. Patient satisfaction scores are consistently in the top quartile and a patient’s likelihood to recommend a primary care practice has been as high as 94.1 percent. <br> <br> This means primary care practices are doing well on providing access to care. Patients can get an appointment when they need one and, if they need to visit another hospital for a service GBMC does not provide, GBMC can coordinate the care through MyChart and through the use of its electronic medical record. The ability for providers to access a full medical history, prescriptions, test results, and other records is essential in providing the best and most individualized care plan. <br> <br> <div class="end-of-story"> </div> Washington is proud of the work done this year to achieve GBMC’s strategic vision and goals for care of the community. But the work is not complete. While GBMC Health Partners will continue to ensure the patient experience gets better and better, Washington always keeps in the back of her mind a desire to ensure every single patient feels that experience, regardless of race, gender, ability, or socioeconomic status. <br> <br> “Improving health inequities and providing access in underserved communities is so important. Even if we could make small steps each year on the road to improvement and solving these inequities, it would make a massive difference,” Washington said. “That’s really important to me: to improve the health of underserved communities, particularly in Baltimore City. If I could achieve that by the end of my career, that would be a milestone.” <div class="end-of-story"> </div>
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<p class="article-body"> In 2021, our physicians cared for the community throughout a pandemic, always putting our patients first. GBMC HealthCare is grateful for the commitment of our providers to health, healing, and hope. With 135 members of our medical staff across 69 specialties named "Top Docs" in Baltimore Magazine, we're honored to have more “Top Docs” than any other community health system. <br> <br> See the full listing of GBMC's 2021 "Top Doctors" </p> <div class="end-of-story"> </div>
<iframe class="embed-responsive-item" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/vUZNGcfemvU" allowfullscreen="allowfullscreen"></iframe> <p class="article-body"> Since the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic, GBMC has turned to virtual platforms to continue to educate the community. A new series, in partnership with WMAR-2 News, features members of the Sexual Assault Forensic Examination and Domestic Violence Program (SAFE/DV) team speaking on the dangers of these crimes. <em>It’s More Common Than You Think: Intimate Partner and Sexual Violence in Our Community</em> is a quarterly educational series featuring experts in the field. <br> <br> </p> <figure class="image-right"> <img src="https://www.gbmc.org/images/greater-living/roz-and-scott-11-26-21.jpg"> <figcaption> Roz (right) with State's Attorney Scott Shellenberger at GBMC's 2017 Walk a Mile in Their Shoes event </figcaption> </figure> In the first conversation of the series on October 27, Rosalyn Berkowitz, BSN, RN, FNE-AP, a SAFE Nurse at GBMC, spoke with WMAR news reporter Erin MacPherson about the dangers of strangulation and the advocacy work being done by the SAFE/DV team and others to bring about true change for the victims of strangulation. <br> <br> The good news? After more than five years of testifying to various legislators, writing letters, and advocating, Maryland was removed from a list of four states that previously had not considered strangulation a felony. This was an important hurdle because, during COVID-19, strangulation cases increased by 30% and the severity of the injuries has worsened. <br> <br> Rosalyn, who goes by Roz, shared what actually happens when someone is strangled. <br> <br> "External pressure on the neck blocks the flow of air or blood," she said. "It only takes 10 seconds and about five pounds of pressure to render someone unconscious, less pressure than it takes to open a can of soda." <br> <br> Roz said only about 50% of strangulation injuries visibly appear on a victim, so it is important to notice other signs such as a raspy voice, a change in the voice, changes in vision or trouble swallowing. She said 68% of domestic violence victims eventually report they were strangled by their partner, and these crimes can have serious long-term consequences such as stroke, damaged vocal cords, or a traumatic brain injury (TBI). <br> <br> It is important to note that when a patient is treated in GBMC’s SAFE/DV department, they can do so without pressing charges or involving police, and services are performed at no cost to the patient. <br> <br> Roz and the GBMC SAFE/DV team know with education comes knowledge and with knowledge comes prevention. They continue to provide resources and training for groups such as churches, sports teams, schools, and corporations. Knowing this information could help save someone’s life. See the video above to listen to this session or <a href="www.gbmc.org/greaterliving">keep up to date for attending future sessions.</a>
<p class="article-body"> Muscle knots, also known as trigger points, are taut bands of skeletal muscle within a large muscle group. Trigger points are common and can be present in any muscle that provides movement. In fact, they can form in as quickly as 20 minutes from something as simple as bad posture while sitting at a computer screen. But there is a helpful treatment option for muscle knots that can help in as little time as it takes for them to form. <br> <br> Christina Penny, DPT, OMPT, CMTRT, physical therapist for Active Life Physical Therapy, a GBMC affiliate, and the lead provider of Active Life’s newest location in Jacksonville, recommends dry needling as an effective, research-based method to break up trigger points. <br> <br> “Your muscles always have an optimal length-tension relationship,” Penny said. “Every time a muscle contracts, the muscle fibers become shortened and overlap. If these fibers stay tight due to fatigue, overuse, weakness, or an injury, it creates a muscle knot or trigger point.” <br> <br> An active trigger point is tender to the touch and recreates the pain a patient is experiencing, while a latent trigger point doesn’t necessarily produce pain symptoms when pressed but can cause the muscle to work incorrectly. Both have non-optimal length-tension relationships and can move incorrectly. <br> <br> “Dry needling causes a reflexive reaction,” Penny continued. “When the needle is inserted into the muscle knot, it causes the muscle to reflexively contract.” <br> <br> Dry needling is most often recommended as part of an overall physical therapy treatment plan. On average, patients get dry needling two or three times during a plan of care, and each session lasts for 10-15 minutes at a time. During these sessions, a physical therapist is inserting a needle into the interior of the muscle or muscle belly at different angles and areas to ensure they are breaking up all parts of the muscle knot. <br> <br> “After dry needling, people are going to be muscle sore because you basically took that muscle through an extensive workout,” Penny said. “People are usually sore for anywhere between 2 - 48 hours at the most. After treatment, self-care activities such as stretching, heat or ice, and massage are used to manage the muscle soreness. <br> <br> “Trigger points typically don’t happen in isolation,” Penny said. Trigger points occur alongside restrictions in range of motion, weakness, abnormal posture, and joint stiffness. Dry needling is included in a comprehensive treatment plan of manual techniques, stretching, and strengthening. <br> <br> Dry needling is not for everyone. For those who are pregnant, very young, needle-phobic or currently taking anticoagulants, Penny would recommend a manual technique that mimics the needle but uses the fingers to press and hold on a trigger point for a prolonged period of time. <br> <br> No matter the approach, Penny and her team can get patients back to full mobilization in no time. <br> <br> To learn more about dry needling or other physical therapy treatment options, <a href="http://www.activelifesports.com/">visit the Active Life Physical Therapy website.</a> </p> <div class="end-of-story"> </div>
