New Treatment for Breast Cancer Could Help Some Women Avoid Surgery
Most women diagnosed with early stage breast cancer typically have surgery to remove the tumor, followed by three to six weeks of radiation. But there’s an exciting new development in breast cancer treatment – a first-of-its kind radiation therapy system for early stage cancers that may cut the number of treatments to only a few days.
And, one day, the inventors say, it might even eliminate the need for surgery altogether for some patients.
It’s called the GammaPod, invented by scientists at the University of Maryland School of Medicine. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) recently cleared the way for the Gam...
Source: Life in a Medical Center - February 20, 2018 Category: Universities & Medical Training Authors: UMMC Admin Tags: Cancer breast cancer cancer treatment Cedric X. Yu Elizabeth Nichols GammaPod UMMC Source Type: blogs
Another Kind of Circulatory System
In the depths of the hospital, through doors that often go unnoticed by most employees, is a transportation system that plays a huge role in modern health care. The passengers are not people, although some are samples of people – blood samples, that is, secured in a “carrier” and on their way to the hospital lab. The carriers – cylindrical cartridges with a secure latch on each end — race all over the hospital through pneumatic tubes hidden deep behind the walls. Unit nurses can send samples to the lab for testing, or receive blood products and medications to administer to their patients.
Pneumatic tube syste...
Source: Life in a Medical Center - January 10, 2018 Category: Universities & Medical Training Authors: UMMC Admin Tags: Miscellaneous Technology health care medical center pneumatics tube system UMMC University of Maryland Source Type: blogs
Over-bundling – What Every Parent Should Know
As the winter months approach, parents are preparing to keep their babies warm in fluffy coats and plenty of blankets. While it is important to keep babies comfortable in chilly conditions, babies cannot tell us when they start to feel too warm. Additionally, over-bundling can keep a child from being secure in a car seat. Here are some of the top dangers of over-bundling parents should be mindful of.
Bulky clothes keep car seats from being secure: In order for your child’s car seat to do its job, the harness straps must be able to fasten snugly ar...
Source: Life in a Medical Center - December 8, 2017 Category: Universities & Medical Training Authors: UMMC Admin Tags: Uncategorized Source Type: blogs
Spreading Thanksgiving Cheer with a Thanksgiving Meal Spread
Between prepping, cooking, cleaning and entertaining, Thanksgiving sometimes turns into a high-stress holiday rather than a time for giving thanks. This time of year is already stressful for families at University of Maryland Children’s Hospital (UMCH), who spend the holidays at the hospital instead of at home.
Members from the Chesapeake Bay Beach Club in Stevensville, Md. donated a Thanksgiving meal to all UMCH patients, families and staff members, to take one thing off of their plates for the holidays.
Amanda Ackermann, a first year Child Life graduate student at Towson University and a Child Life Scholar at UMCH, coo...
Source: Life in a Medical Center - November 22, 2017 Category: Universities & Medical Training Authors: UMMC Admin Tags: Kids Chesapeake Bay Beach Club Child Life donation pediatrics Thanksgiving Source Type: blogs
Frequently Asked Questions-Daylight Saving Time and Kids
Adjusting to daylight saving time can be tough on kids. Dr. Adam Spanier answers some common questions about easing the transition during the time change.
1) What are some ways to prep kids for daylight saving time?
Start to prepare in advance. First, encourage good bedtime routines and a good night’s sleep regularly. Second, ensure good sleep “hygiene.” Cut off electronics well before bed – the lights and stimulation can throw off our sleep cycle. Keep the lights low in the evening. Keep activities quieter. Third, you can gradually adjust bedtime ahead of the change – 10 minutes to 15 ...
Source: Life in a Medical Center - November 3, 2017 Category: Universities & Medical Training Authors: UMMC Admin Tags: Uncategorized Source Type: blogs
Living Legacy Foundation Donates iPhones to Bridge Program to Help Domestic Violence Victims
Bridge Program members with Tiffiny of the Living Legacy Foundation, who facilitated the donation.
A phone is something many of us take for granted. However, to victims and survivors of domestic violence, a phone serves as their only connection to support and services to help break the cycle. Cell phones often are a target during the escalation of domestic violence, and unfortunately, cost is often a limiting factor in victim and survivor access to phones when a new one is needed.
To help provide this lifeline to those in need, employees at the Living Legacy Foundation donated 26 iPhones to The Bridge Program at the Univer...
Source: Life in a Medical Center - October 25, 2017 Category: Universities & Medical Training Authors: UMMC Admin Tags: Community Outreach patient care Patient Safety and Quality Service Social Work trauma Source Type: blogs
Benefits of a Certified Athletic Trainer On & Off the Field
University of Maryland’s Department of Orthopaedics provides state-of-the-art sports medicine care to athletes and active individuals of all ages on and off the field. Our sports medicine physicians and orthopaedic residents work directly with many of the athletic trainers in Baltimore County, Howard County, and Baltimore City to ensure the same level of care offered to the University of Maryland Terp athletes.
Michael Smuda, MSAT, ATC, LAT is a certified atheltic trainer/physician extender with the University of Maryland Orthopaedics. As fall sports are getting in full swing, he explains how an athletic trai...
Source: Life in a Medical Center - August 24, 2017 Category: Universities & Medical Training Authors: UMMC Tags: Employees & Staff Health Tips Orthopaedics athletic trainer sports medicine sports performance Source Type: blogs
Setting Families Up for Breastfeeding Success
Every day, at 9 am and 9 pm, the nurses on the mother/baby unit at the University of Maryland Medical Center (UMMC) huddle for what they call the “Milk Minute.” They gather to exchange breastfeeding tips and other helpful information. This quick, daily training encourages communication between day and night shift staff, and keeps breastfeeding best practices top of mind.
Why the emphasis on breastfeeding? It can significantly reduce infant mortality rates, as well as childhood obesity and related chronic diseases in adulthood.
Based on research, staff has worked to modify practices in order to change the breastfeeding ...
Source: Life in a Medical Center - August 7, 2017 Category: Universities & Medical Training Authors: UMMC Tags: Doctors Health Tips Nurses Source Type: blogs
Shock Trauma ’s Violence Intervention Specialists Help Break the Cycle and Change Lives After Violent Injury
It’s heard in the news cycle pretty often in Baltimore – the victim of a gunshot wound or stabbing is taken to Shock Trauma, where they survive their injuries.
However, it’s NOT often you hear about what happens to these survivors. How are they recovering from their injuries, mentally and emotionally? What are our teams doing to help them get access to resources to avoid violent injury again?
That’s where Leonard Spain and David Ross come in. They’re both Violence Intervention Case Managers at the University of Maryland Shock Trauma Center. Anytime someone suffers a violent injury and survives their injuries ...
Source: Life in a Medical Center - August 3, 2017 Category: Universities & Medical Training Authors: UMMC Tags: Community Outreach Miscellaneous patient care Patient Safety and Quality Service Social Work trauma Baltimore baltimore violence shock trauma shooting Source Type: blogs
Birthday Surprise Lifts Spirits of Long-Term Cardiovascular Patient
Team members celebrate with Mr. Boyd
When a hospital stay extends past six months, it can be hard to keep a patient thinking positively. Especially so on special days like birthdays. So, when Mr. Boyd, who has been in University of Maryland Medical Center’s in-patient Cardiac Progressive Care Unit for more than 250 days, had a birthday coming up, the unit staff knew they wanted to do something special.
The team planned a surprise birthday party for weeks, raising money amongst themselves for decorations, food, and of course, a birthday cake. They also invited Mr. Boyd’s friends and family to join in the party.
On the ...
Source: Life in a Medical Center - July 31, 2017 Category: Universities & Medical Training Authors: UMMC Tags: Employees & Staff Nurses Patient Stories Social Work Source Type: blogs
7 Things to Know About Glioblastoma
News recently shocked the nation that Sen. John McCain was diagnosed with an aggressive form of brain cancer called glioblastoma. Dr. Mark Mishra, a radiation oncologist at the University of Maryland Greenebaum Comprehensive Cancer Center and Maryland Proton Treatment Center who specializes in treating brain cancer, tells you 7 things to know about glioblastoma.
How common is glioblastoma?
Glioblastoma is the most common type of primary brain tumor that is diagnosed in adults. There are estimated to be nearly 13,000 patients who will be diagnosed with a glioblastoma annually within the United States.
Why is it so aggr...
Source: Life in a Medical Center - July 21, 2017 Category: Universities & Medical Training Authors: UMMC Tags: Cancer Source Type: blogs
