Health

Mobile Wellness Team Participates in National Night Out at Worton Park

August 11, 2022 by UM Shore Regional Health
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Serenity Kelly and Emily Welsh staffed the Mobile Wellness Team’s tent, providing screenings and health information to community members who attended the event.

UM Shore Medical Center at Chestertown’s Mobile Wellness Team engaged the community in wellness activities during National Night Out activities at Worton Park on August 2, 2022. Mobile Wellness Team members provided blood pressure screenings and pre-diabetes screenings, and distributed masks and hand sanitizer at the annual event which brought out community members and organizations together with law enforcement personnel for an evening of solidarity.

“Most of the participants who wanted their blood pressure checked reported having blood pressure issues and taking medications prescribed by their doctors,” said Emily Welsh, BSN, RN, Mobile Wellness Team Nurse Coordinator. “We distributed blood pressure logs and discussed the importance of checking blood pressure regularly to make sure their medications are effective. We also talked about the importance of maintaining a low salt diet, exercising and losing weight. Overall, National Night Out was a great opportunity for us to provide health screenings to community members and have conversations about ways to achieve and maintain better health.”

In addition to participating in community events, Mobile Wellness Team members conduct outreach visits to trusted community sites, including firehouses, places of worship, residential care facilities and community organizations, and also serve patients and families in their home settings.

To learn more about Mobile Wellness Team community outreach or services, or to request an appointment, contact Welsh at 410-778-3300, ext. 5644, or ewelsh@umm.edu

About University of Maryland Shore Regional Health

As part of the University of Maryland Medical System (UMMS), University of Maryland Shore Regional Health is the principal provider of comprehensive health care services for more than 170,000 residents of Caroline, Dorchester, Kent, Queen Anne’s and Talbot counties on Maryland’s Eastern Shore. UM Shore Regional Health’s team of more than 2,200 employees, medical staff, board members and volunteers works with various community partners to fulfill the organization’s mission of Creating Healthier Communities Together.

About the University of Maryland Medical System

The University of Maryland Medical System (UMMS) is an academic private health system, focused on delivering compassionate, high quality care and putting discovery and innovation into practice at the bedside. Partnering with the University of Maryland School of Medicine and University of Maryland, Baltimore who educate the state’s future health care professionals, UMMS is an integrated network of care, delivering 25 percent of all hospital care in urban, suburban and rural communities across the state of Maryland. UMMS puts academic medicine within reach through primary and specialty care delivered at 11 hospitals, including the flagship University of Maryland Medical Center, the System’s anchor institution in downtown Baltimore, as well as through a network of University of Maryland Urgent Care centers and more than 150 other locations in 13 counties. For more information, visit www.umms.org.

Tucker Joins UM Shore Medical Group – Palliative Care Practice

August 10, 2022 by UM Shore Regional Health
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Keri Tucker, MSN, APRN, AGPCNP-BC

UM Shore Medical Group – Palliative Care recently welcomed nurse practitioner Keri Tucker, MSN, APRN, AGPCNP-BC.

Tucker joins Lakshmi Vaidyanathan, MD; Don F. D’Aquila, PharmD, RRT; Christina Ball, MS, AGACNP-BC, CNRN; Madeline Steffens, BSN, RN, CHPN; Melissa Leppert, MSN, APRN, FNP-C; and a number of support staff. Providers see patients admitted to UM Shore Medical Center at Easton and via telemedicine at UM Shore Medical Center at Chestertown. They also provide outpatient care services in the Palliative Care Clinic located at UM Shore Medical Pavilion at Easton, 500 Cadmus Lane, suite 209, in Easton.

Tucker comes to UM SMG – Palliative Care from UM Shore Regional Health, where she previously worked as a clinical care nurse. She has 13 years of experience in the nursing field and has served as a mentor to new UM Shore Regional Health nurses.

Tucker earned her Bachelor of Science in Nursing from Wilmington University in Wilmington, Delaware, and her Master of Science in Nursing with a specialty in Adult-Gerontology Primary Care Nurse Practitioner from Walden University in Minneapolis, Minnesota. She provides holistic health care to patients with chronic conditions and to patients seeking palliative care with the goal of achieving improved quality of life.

To make an appointment for a Palliative Care consult, call 410-820-4434.

About University of Maryland Shore Regional Health

About the University of Maryland Medical System

Choptank Health Reopens Tilghman Health Center

August 10, 2022 by Choptank Community Health
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From left: Choptank Health’sCiera Nichols, MA, Choptank Health CEO Sara Rich, and Gregory Dukes, CRNP at the recently reopened Tilghman Health Center at Tilghman Elementary School.

Choptank Community Health System has reopened its Tilghman Health Center at Tilghman Elementary School to provide primary medical services for Bay Hundred children and adults.

Choptank Health closed its Tilghman Health Center during the pandemic and re-opened on July 19. The Center serves as an extension to Choptank Health’s Bay Hundred Health Center in St. Michaels, with Gregory Dukes, CRNP serving as the provider.

The Center is open every other Tuesday from 1 to 4:30 p.m., with new adult and pediatric primary care medical patients accepted. Choptank Health’s St. Michaels office patients are also being seen at the Tilghman Island location.

“We are grateful to be able to bring health care closer to the people of Tilghman Island and through the Bay Hundred region through this partnership with Talbot Schools,” said Choptank Health CEO Sara Rich. “This extension is especially meaningful because making healthcare more accessible for people across Maryland’s Eastern Shore is at the heart of everything Choptank Health does. It’s why we’re here.”

“Having accessible healthcare services right on the Island is extremely important for our area residents,” said Tilghman Island resident Ginny Cornwell. “We’re fortunate to have Choptank Health as a partner in our community to help people who especially have transportation challenges, for example, or who are managing chronic conditions and can’t always get up the road.”

Choptank Community Health System serves more than 30,000 patients in Caroline, Dorchester, Kent, and Talbot counties. Choptank has been in operation for more than 40 years and has more than 200 employees, including primary care, behavioral health, and dental care providers and support staff. In addition to accepting most major insurance plans, Choptank participates in Medicare and Medicaid and offers a sliding fee scale to uninsured patients.

Choptank Community Health System provides medical and dental services in Caroline, Dorchester, Kent, and Talbot counties, with a mission to provide access to exceptional, comprehensive, and integrated healthcare for all.

Choptank Community Health’s medical services include primary healthcare, women’s health, pediatrics, behavioral health, chronic health management, and care navigation, with new medical patients now being accepted at all locations. Call 410-745-0200 to make a medical appointment at Choptank Health’s Tilghman Health Center or learn more at www.choptankhealth.org.

Maryland Hospitals Face Most Critical Staffing Shortage in Recent Memory

August 9, 2022 by Maryland Matters
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Maryland hospitals are struggling to cope with a significant shortage of nurses and the problem is certain to get worse if steps aren’t taken to recruit newcomers to the profession and retain existing workers, according to a new report.

The 2022 State of Maryland’s Health Care Workforce Report, released by the Maryland Hospital Association on Monday, found that one of every four nursing positions is vacant.

“Maryland hospitals face the most critical staffing shortage in recent memory,” according to the association. “High staff turnover, shifting care delivery models, and an insufficient talent pipeline are pushing the workforce to an unsustainable point.”

Maryland is currently short 5,000 full-time registered nurses and 4,000 licensed practical nurses. If steps aren’t taken to lure new workers and reduce the number of nurses leaving the profession, the state could see shortages two or three times larger than current levels by 2035, according to the report.

“The workforce challenges that we are facing are unsustainable,” said Nicole Stallings, the head of external affairs for the MHA.

The report cites several primary factors for the soaring vacancy rates. Nurses are overworked, face occasional violence in the workplace, and feel under-appreciated.

“Workforce challenges predated the COVID-19 pandemic, but the situation is now alarming,” said the association’s CEO, Bob Atlas, in a statement. “Any threat to the workforce of our 60 hospitals and health systems threatens the health and wellness of all Marylanders and stability of our state’s core functions. We cannot take for granted that our excellent health care workforce will always be there.”

Stallings said the association hopes the report offers a roadmap for institutions, educators and policymakers. The nursing shortage is expected to become more acute as the Baby Boom generation ages, she said.

The report found the most populated parts of the state have the highest vacancy rates. Central Maryland, which includes the Baltimore metropolitan region, and the Washington, D.C., suburbs have vacancy rates just over 26%. In Southern and Western Maryland and on the Eastern Shore, vacancy rates are between 13% and 17%.

Many nurses have opted to work for agencies, as “travel nurses,” moving from hospital to hospital, often earning more money and working fewer hours. That phenomenon has pushed up hospital costs while increasing the workload on the remaining staff, which in turn feeds the exodus.

The report makes a number of recommendations:

Hospitals should consider adopting more worker-friendly schedules, shifts and roles
Safety policies should be strengthened
Career advancement opportunities for nurses should be expanded
Hospitals should streamline the administrative burden nurses face
Hospitals should expand the “pipeline” by offering stipends and other financial incentives for people considering a career in nursing
Hospitals should make it easier for military nurses and those who have received training overseas to earn accreditation in Maryland
Hospitals should increase the number of nursing instructors and nursing school capacity
State policymakers should promote tele-health, outpatient care and “hospital-at-home” models

“This data-driven report lays the groundwork to address the long-standing, and now urgent need to strengthen our pipeline of nurses in Maryland,” said Ed Lovern, president & CEO of Ascension Saint Agnes and the chairman of the Task Force on Maryland’s Future Health Workforce, in a statement.

“While we won’t fix the nursing shortage overnight, the Task Force urges immediate and concerted actions to shore up the health care workforce we will need for generations to come.”

Stallings said that 20% of nursing students drop out after the first semester. Figuring out how to reduce that drop-off could help address the overall shortage of personnel, she said.

By Bruce DePuyt

Choptank Community Health Recognizes National Health Center Week

August 6, 2022 by Choptank Community Health
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Choptank Community Health System is recognizing National Health Center Week this Aug. 7-13 with “Community Health Centers: The Chemistry for Strong Communities” the theme for the National Association of Community Health Center’s annual initiative.

“This year’s National Health Center Week honors the values, services, affordability, and innovations health centers bring to our communities,” said Choptank Health CEO Sara Rich. “We are joining Health Care Centers across the nation to recognize the importance of health centers and their role in supporting strong communities.”

Rich says National Health Center Week provides the opportunity to highlight the innovative ways Choptank Health and other health centers provide high-quality care and improved health outcomes by narrowing health disparities. Focus areas include public health in housing; children’s health; healthcare for agricultural workers and people facing homelessness.

“Community Health Centers: The Chemistry for Strong Communities” is the theme for the National Association of Community Health Center’s National Health Center Week this Aug. 7-13.

Choptank Community Health is a Federally Qualified Health Center and one of 17 community-based health centers in Maryland serving more than 377,000 individuals, including those without insurance or the ability to pay.

Choptank Health and other participants in the U. S. Health Resources & Services Administration’s Health Center Program serve more than 28 million people nationwide and provide affordable, high-quality, comprehensive primary care to people from throughout local communities.

“Community Health Centers look beyond medical charts to address the factors that may cause poor health, such as poverty, homelessness, substance use, behavioral health, lack of nutrition, and unemployment,” Rich says.“We create the chemistry for strong communities by forging partnerships with hospitals, local and state governments, social, health, and business organizations to improve health outcomes, especially for medically vulnerable people.”

Choptank Community Health System’s commitment to excellence is recognized by the nation’s oldest and largest health care accreditor, The Joint Commission. Achieving Joint Commission accreditation demonstrates Choptank Health’s commitment to continuous improvement in patient care.

Choptank Community Health System provides medical and dental services in Caroline, Dorchester, Kent, and Talbot counties to more than 30,000 adults and children, with a mission to provide access to exceptional, comprehensive, and integrated healthcare for all. Choptank Community Health’s medical services include primary healthcare, women’s health, pediatrics, behavioral health, chronic health management, and care navigation, with new medical patients now being accepted. More information is at www.choptankhealth.org.

Jennifer Christ Joins UM Shore Medical Group – Primary Care

August 3, 2022 by UM Shore Regional Health
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Jennifer Christ

Jennifer Christ, MSN, CRNP, has joined the UM Shore Medical Group – Primary Care practice in Centreville. Christ has over 25 years of experience in health promotion, disease prevention, acute and chronic care management, health education, and hospital administration

Christ has worked at several Baltimore-area hospitals; she began her career in 1998 as an intensive care nurse and also served in surgical recovery, case management and nursing administration roles. Most recently, she served as the Supervisor of Employee Health at UM Shore Regional Health (UM SRH).

Christ earned her Bachelor of Science in Nursing from Stevenson University in Owings Mills, Maryland, her Master of Science in Nursing from George Washington University in Washington, D.C. and Family Nurse Practitioner Certification from the American Nurses Credentialing Center. She is an active member of Sigma Theta Tau, the International Honor Society of Nursing.

“We are so pleased to have Jennifer join our primary care team in Centreville. Her skills and experience will be an asset to the community,” said William E. Huffner, MD, Senior Vice President of Medical Affairs and Chief Medical Officer for UM SRH.

To make an appointment with Christ, call 410-758-4432.

About University of Maryland Shore Regional Health

About the University of Maryland Medical System

The University of Maryland Medical System (UMMS) is a university-based regional health care system focused on serving the health care needs of Maryland, bringing innovation, discovery and research to the care we provide and educating the state’s future physician and health care professionals through our partnership with the University of Maryland School of Medicine and University of Maryland, Baltimore professional schools (Nursing, Pharmacy, Social Work and Dentistry) in Baltimore. As one of the largest private employers in the State, the health system’s more than 29,500 employees and 4,000 affiliated physicians provide primary and specialty care in more than 150 locations, including 12 hospitals and 10 University of Maryland Urgent Care centers. The UMMS flagship academic campus, the University of Maryland Medical Center in downtown Baltimore, is recognized regionally and nationally for excellence and innovation in specialized care. Our acute care and specialty rehabilitation hospitals serve urban, suburban and rural communities and are located in 13 counties across the State. For more information, visit www.umms.org.

Cassel Named Director of UM Shore Regional Health’s Heart and Vascular Center

July 28, 2022 by UM Shore Regional Health
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Hilary Cassel

Hilary Cassel, MBA, BSN, RN, CCRN has been named director of the University of Maryland Shore Regional Health Heart and Vascular Center.

“I am thrilled to welcome Hilary back to the Shore Regional Health team, as she has been with us previously making an impact as an orthopedic nurse navigator,” said Ken Kozel, President and CEO, UM SRH. “Her business and clinical experience, as well as her strong leadership skills, make her a great addition to our Cardiovascular Services team and our Heart and Vascular Center.”

The Heart and Vascular Center at UM Shore Regional Health includes the Cardiac Intervention Center at UM Shore Medical Center at Easton; UM Shore Medical Group-Cardiology offices in Caroline, Dorchester, Kent, Queen Anne’s and Talbot counties; cardiovascular diagnostics and the vascular labs in Dorchester, Kent, Queen Anne’s and Talbot counties; and Center for Cardiopulmonary Fitness and Wellness locations at UM Shore Medical Center sites at Cambridge, Chestertown and Easton.

Cassel comes to UM SRH from Johns Hopkins Bayview Medical Center in Baltimore, where she was the Assistant Director of Nursing in the hospital’s Perioperative Services Department, managing more than 150 team members and overseeing 700 surgical cases monthly. Previously, Cassel served as the Assistant Director of Perioperative Services at Lenox Hill Hospital (Northwell Health) in New York City and as nurse manager and clinical nurse in several NYC hospital surgical units, where she helped lead and establish several critical programs and was voted one of Northwell Health’s “Most Promising Leaders.” Cassel is a member of the American Heart Association and the American Association of Critical Care Nurses.

Cassel received her Bachelor of Science in Nursing from West Virginia University in Morgantown, W.Va., and her Master of Business Administration from Syracuse University in Syracuse, N.Y.

About University of Maryland Shore Regional Health

About the University of Maryland Medical System

The University of Maryland Medical System (UMMS) is an academic private health system, focused on delivering compassionate, high quality care and putting discovery and innovation into practice at the bedside. Partnering with the University of Maryland School of Medicine and University of Maryland, Baltimore who educate the state’s future health care professionals, UMMS is an integrated network of care, delivering 25 percent of all hospital care in urban, suburban and rural communities across the state of Maryland. UMMS puts academic medicine within reach through primary and specialty care delivered at 11 hospitals, including the flagship University of Maryland Medical Center, the System’s anchor institution in downtown Baltimore, as well as through a network of 10 University of Maryland Urgent Care centers and more than 150 other locations in 13 counties. For more information, visit www.umms.org.

Dorchester County Reports First Monkeypox Case

July 27, 2022 by Spy Desk
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A human monkeypox virus infection has been reported in a Dorchester County resident. This is the first case reported in the county and the 87th case in Maryland thus far.

“Although human monkeypox is rare in the U.S. and the risk of transmission to the general public is low, we urge residents to learn about the signs and symptoms, exercise caution, and continue to practice good hygiene, including frequent washing of hands with soap and water,” Roger L. Harrell, Dorchester County’s health officer, said.

Anyone who has the characteristic rash or other symptoms or who thinks they may have been exposed to monkeypox should call their health care provider immediately.

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention:

Monkeypox virus is part of the same family of viruses as smallpox. Monkeypox is not related to chickenpox. Monkeypox symptoms are similar to smallpox symptoms, but milder; and monkeypox is rarely fatal.
The monkeypox virus can spread from person-to-person through:

• direct contact with the infectious rash, scabs, or body fluids
• respiratory secretions during prolonged, face-to-face contact, or during intimate physical contact, such as kissing, cuddling, or sex
• touching items (such as clothing or linens) that previously touched the infectious rash or body fluids
Symptoms of monkeypox can include:
• fever, headache, muscle aches and backache,
• swollen lymph nodes, chills, exhaustion, and,
• a rash that can look like pimples or blisters that appears on the face, inside the mouth, and on other parts of the body, like the hands, feet, chest, genitals, or anus.

The rash goes through different stages before healing completely. The illness typically lasts 2-4 weeks. Sometimes, people get a rash first, followed by other symptoms. Others only experience a rash.

Talbot Kids Grief Camp Returns in August

July 16, 2022 by Talbot Hospice
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Talbot Hospice is pleased to announce the return of its Talbot Kids Grief Camp on Saturday, August 14th at Evergreen Cove.

Talbot Hospice is pleased to announce the return of its Talbot Kids Grief Camp in August after a two-year hiatus due to COVID-19.

“Grief Camp is an important component of our bereavement support for children,” said Chris Chekouras, Talbot Hospice Executive Director. “Children grieve differently than adults. At Grief Camp, we create a safe and supportive environment where children can express themselves through play and peer support, build self-esteem and learn practical, life-long skills to handle difficult experiences.”

Grief Camp will be hosted at Evergreen Cove in Easton and will begin with a orientation for parents and campers on Friday evening, August 12^th and a kids-only day camp on Saturday, August 13^th. The camp is led by Talbot Hospice’s Bereavement Team of professional grief counselors and specially-trained volunteers.

Talbot Kids Grief Camp is open to any youth ages 6-17 on the Mid-Shore who has experienced the death of a loved one, regardless of whether they received services from Talbot Hospice. The Grief Camp program is designed to meet the unique needs of grieiving children and includes team oriented games and activities, participation in small groups, therapeutic arts and crafts, opportunities to meet other kids who know what its like to lose someone special, and connections with professional grief counselors.

The program is offered free of charge through Talbot Hospice and its generous donors.

To learn more and to register, please visit www.talbothospice.org/events or contact Talbot Hospice’s bereavement team at410-822-668.

About Talbot Hospice

Talbot Hospice provides compassionate care, comfort and support for patients and their families and caregivers wherever they call home. Talbot Hospice serves patients facing life-limiting illnesses through Hospice and Palliative Care as well as its Pathways and Bereavement programs. Services are available to patients and caregivers regardless of ability to pay. Learn more at www.talbothospice.org.

For All Seasons Offers Water Bottles with a Mental Health Message

July 14, 2022 by For All Seasons, Inc.
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According to the National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI), about 1 in 7 children, ages 5 to 15, will experience at least one “severe mental disorder.” That number climbs to 1 in 5 children during the teen years, ages 13 to 18. We hear a lot about physical health and keeping our bodies healthy and strong, but mental health is just as important. We can do things to “be kind to our minds.”

At the end of the school year, For All Seasons reached out to area elementary schools on the Mid-Shore providing “Be Kind to Your Mind” water bottles, along with a conversation starter for parents and teachers to help them discuss mental health. This year, bottles were delivered to Chapel Elementary School, Preston Elementary School, Federalsburg Elementary School, Sandy Hill Elementary School, Centreville Elementary School, and Kennard Elementary School.

Pictured is a student at Kennard Elementary School, one of several elementary schools on the Mid-Shore where For All Seasons staff delivered “Be Kind to Your Mind” water bottles and conversation starters for students and their teachers.

“It was perfect timing at the end of the school year to share this mental health message with students and their families as they prepare for summer. Summer break is a great time to discuss mental health and wellness and we are providing the tools for families to do that,” states Jonathan Qvarnstrom, Marketing, and Outreach Associate at For All Seasons.

Some of the tips in the conversation starter included:

Positive thinking is one big way we can “be kind to our minds.”
Being “kind to your mind” also means naming your feelings & sharing them with people you trust.
Being mentally healthy does not mean being happy all of the time.
Treat yourself as kindly as you would a friend.

Susan D. Klepper, M Ed., School Counselor at Kennard Elementary School, adds, “The Kennard Elementary School students were thrilled to receive their brand-new water bottles! The timing was perfect because it was field day, so they had plenty of refreshment during their time outdoors. Students enjoyed the “Be Kind to Your Mind” activities shared by For All Seasons and appreciated this amazing donation.”

For All Seasons is your community behavioral health and rape crisis center offering therapy, psychiatry, advocacy, and education to individuals and families, regardless of one’s ability to pay. For further information, visit www.forallseasonsinc.org.

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