Health

September is Suicide Prevention Awareness Month

September 24, 2021 by For All Seasons, Inc. Leave a Comment

All of us can play a role in suicide prevention

Starting a conversation about suicide may be one of the hardest things you have to do in your life. But knowing the gravity of the situation, our ability to reach out to someone who may be contemplating suicide is critical and may make all the difference in the outcome. Helping them understand they are not alone, that depression is normal and treatable, and that help is available are important parts of addressing this issue with a friend or family member.

Suicide is the second leading cause of death today in the U.S. for people ages 10 to 34. According to a recent article by the National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI), the only real way to know if someone is at risk is to ask. For All Seasons is promoting a community campaign to “ASK, LISTEN, and SHARE” as we recognize National Suicide Prevention Awareness Month.

Risk factors for suicide

Although there is no single cause for suicide, depression that is undiagnosed or untreated is the most common condition associated with suicide. Suicide often occurs when life stressors and health issues converge, leaving some people experiencing hopelessness and despair.

Warning signs of suicide

A change in behavior or the presence of entirely new behaviors may be warning signs of suicidal thoughts, especially if related to a painful event, loss, or change. Most people who take their lives exhibit one or more warning signs, either through what they say, what they do, or sudden mood changes.

Suicide prevention tips

We all have a role to play in suicide prevention. Some tips for dealing with someone who is considering suicide, are:

Be proactive: There are times when you notice that something is off for a friend or family member. Take note of changes in talk, behavior, and mood. Pay attention to your gut.

Talk about it. Start a conversation in a private safe space about how that person is doing. Listen to their story. Focus on showing your support and compassion. Tell them you care about them. Avoid debating the value of life, minimizing their problems, or giving advice. You don’t have to have all the answers. Be direct. Research shows that asking someone if they are having suicidal thoughts will not put the idea into their mind.

Reduce access to means of self-harm. A suicidal crisis is temporary and often lasts minutes. Consider what items are a danger to someone who could be suicidal. Remove and/or lock up these items.

Get Help. Encourage them to seek treatment or contact their doctor or therapist or a crisis line and/or mental health services right away. Build in choice. Stay with the person until they have received support.

Follow Up. Continue to check in regularly and be a source of understanding and support.

One of the most important pieces of advice is not to wait for the “perfect moment” to ask about suicide; that moment will never come. Ask anyway. Because suicide is too important to keep secret.

In the spring of 2017, Amy Haines and Richard Marks’ Dock Street Foundation invited 40 representatives from several Talbot County service agencies and educational institutions to board a bus bound for NYC to see Ben Platt and the cast of “Dear Evan Hansen” on Broadway. Both Haines and Marks had seen the play and felt it would be helpful if shared with our local providers of care to increase their knowledge about suicide.

“I realized after returning from the show that Richard and Amy’s gift could last much more than just one day. I thought it offered an opportunity to reach students and those in the community in the same way that the show reached everyone on the trip that day. That year, we decided to begin an annual campaign and start a conversation about suicide prevention in our community,” Beth Anne Langrell shares.

This year, as a nod to the “Dear Evan Hansen” movie that recently came out in theaters nationally, For All Season’s Suicide Prevention Campaign will feature the song, “You Will Be Found “on October 7 on Facebook, featuring local singers and community members. In addition, the agency will sponsor “Dear Evan Hansen” movie tickets for music and theater students at Easton High School so that they can attend the movie at Premier Cinemas in Easton. A website with a movie discussion guide for “Dear Evan Hansen,” and suicide prevention resources have been created by For All Seasons to help community members navigate difficult conversations about the topics in the film including anxiety, social isolation, and suicide. Postcards with instructions on how to access this website are available at the theater for movie-goers to pick up after the film. The website also offers valuable information to any community member regardless of whether they have seen the movie. Visit www.nomatterwhatyoumatter.org.

Additionally, handouts on suicide prevention will be distributed to Talbot County businesses so they can share this important information with clients and visitors.

Anyone needing help can contact For All Seasons 24/7 at 410-822-1018 or the 24-Hour Crisis Hotline: Text: 410-829-6143 Toll-Free: 800-310-7273 | English:410-820-5600 | Spanish: 410-829-6143. Persons may also call Maryland Crisis Connect 24/7 – Dial 211 or call the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline 1-800-273-TALK (8255). For further information about For All Seasons activities related to Suicide Prevention Awareness Month, visit forallseasonsinc.org.

For All Seasons provides the highest level of mental health and victim services to children, adults and families across the Mid-Shore. Services are offered in both English and Spanish and include therapy, psychiatry, victim advocacy and 24-hour crisis hotlines.

Source: https://www.nami.org/Blogs/NAMI-Blog/September-2019/How-to-Ask-Someone-About-Suicide

Rehab After Stroke: One Patient’s Journey

September 23, 2021 by UM Shore Regional Health Leave a Comment

Tom Mendenhall works onon his grip with Shore Rehab at Easton’s certified hand therapist Mary Hynes.

At 72 years young, Tom Mendenhall of St. Michaels was enjoying the fifth year of his retirement from a career in business and administration. In his last full-time position, he’d spent seven years on the leadership team of Wye River Upper School in Queen Anne’s County, through which he came to understand the challenges experienced by teens with learning differences. Post retirement, he started a new venture advocating for children with special education needs and their parents.

A poker game with friends at the Chesapeake Bay Yacht Club was part of Mendenhall’s weekly routine. In early April 2021, he was enjoying the game until he tried to stand and discovered that he couldn’t put any weight on his left leg. Fortunately, one of the group knew the symptoms of a stroke and directed Mendenhall to smile and then to raise his arms. His smile was lopsided and his right arm was not as high as his left. “We think you’re having a stroke,” his friend said. “Say a complete sentence.” In typical fashion, Mendenhall replied, “I’m not having a stroke!”

Nonetheless, his friends called for an ambulance, which arrived quickly and transported him to UM Shore Medical Center at Easton, which is designated as a Primary Stroke Center. There he received the clot-busting drug tPA, also known as Alteplase or Activase, which restored blood flow to areas of his brain that were affected by the stroke.

As physical therapy assistant Greg Terry stands by, Tom Mendenhall walks on the Lokomat, which helps improve his gait. Shore Rehab at Easton is now located in The Orthopedic Center.

Fortunately, the stroke had not impacted Mendenhall’s speech or cognitive ability, but walking – even standing – was impossible. During his admission for acute care he was evaluated by physical and occupational therapists who recommended him for acute rehab, and was admitted to the Requard Center for Acute Rehabilitation on the 5th floor of the Easton hospital. “Mr. Mendenhall’s proprioception, which means perception or awareness of the position and movement of the body, was very poor,” said physical therapy assistant Ren Boettger, who has served on the Requard care team since 2014. “This, along with weakness in his left leg, was causing him to lean and pull so much that it took three of us to help him walk even a few steps.”

Initially, Boettger had doubts about how quickly Mendenhall could progress. “He described how active he had been so I was really worried for him,” she said. “He was looking forward to a family vacation at the beach in July, and I was thinking, no, he’s not going to be ready to really enjoy that.”

Within a few days, however, Mendenhall was making rapid improvement. “He worked really hard, so much so that I sometimes had to reel him in a little,” Boettger said. “But about two weeks later, he was using a walker safely and ready for discharge. That’s the crazy thing about stroke recovery in the acute rehab setting – no two patients are alike and it’s hard to predict how long it will take. But we are always happy to be surprised by patients who progress more rapidly than we might have guessed.”

Shown in front of the Rehab Services entrance of The Orthopedic Center in Easton, Tom Mendenhall is making good progress in his recovery from a stroke last spring.

“The Stroke Center team and the therapists on Requard were excellent, everyone was so encouraging,” said Mendenhall. Ready to begin outpatient rehab, he was further motivated by the knowledge that for most patients recovering from stroke, the greatest progress is made within the first three months of the event.

On May 1, Mendenhall began outpatient rehab twice weekly at Shore Rehab at Easton, located in the newly expanded and renovated Orthopedic Center. His therapy team included physical therapist Carla Smith and physical therapy assistant Greg Terry, who focused on his endurance, balance and gait, along with occupational therapist/certified hand therapist Mary Hynes, who guided him through therapy to improve his left-hand grip and manual dexterity.

An important tool in Mendenhall’s gait improvement has been the Lokomat, a rehab technology that is usually found only in large research hospitals. A computer controls the pace of the Lokomat while recording the amount of weight Mendenhall places on the treadmill, his walking distance and speed, as well as his body’s response to movement. Using the data, Smith and Terry determine the balance between the assistance provided by the robotic legs and Mendenhall’s; as his gait improves, the technology adapts to provide minimal assistance and record his progress over time.

By early July, Mendenhall was able to walk up to 60 feet with the assistance of a cane, and when outdoors, with a brace on his leg to prevent foot drop. “The hardest part is walking on grass,” he said. “You have to really push yourself.”

He also was making progress with his grip and dexterity, thanks to the guidance of Hynes, who is the only certified hand therapist in the five-county region served by UM Shore Regional Health. “Fine motor skills seemed more challenging,” he said. “I could tell I was making progress — for example, I went from picking up pennies to picking up dimes — but I was surprised by how hard it was to do simple things, for example, clipping my own nails. And with all my therapy, I do better early in the day since I’m less tired.”

According to Hynes, Mendenhall’s early progress was promising. “In the first few months, his gross and fine motor coordination, endurance to activity and function, and strength had improved,” she said.“By early July he was able to perform self-care skills like buttoning, opening containers, jars and bottles, and shuffling cards. And he is always striving to do better, as he continues to work on endurance, strength, function, gross and fine motor coordination.”

Doing better has meant work at home as well as in rehab sessions. At his therapists’ recommendation, Mendenhall does hand and arm exercises at home and practices walking in his neighborhood. He no longer needs the leg brace, and he was able to navigate the sand dunes and the beach in South Carolina by using hiking poles.

As he continues his therapy and his advocacy work for students with learning differences, Mendenhall acknowledges the mental challenges of stroke rehab as well as the physical ones. “For success in rehab, you have to get over what you can’t do and focus on what you can,” he said. “I’m a type A personality and I want to get everything done NOW, but I’ve worked hard to be more patient.”

“National Rehabilitation Week, September 19-25, is the perfect time to highlight the excellent work our inpatient and outpatient rehab teams do for our patients,” said Erin Scheele, Director of Comprehensive Rehabilitation Services, UM Shore Regional Health. “Mr. Mendenhall’s story is a great example of our therapists work with patients to help restore their functionality, mobility and independence, and get them back to living their best lives.”

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 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 13 hospitals and 9 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.

Choptank Health Expands School-Based Dental Health

September 22, 2021 by Spy Desk Leave a Comment

Choptank Community Health System’s Kim Fitzgerald, CRNP at one of the School-Based Health Centers serving children with medical and dental health services for all students enrolled in the program.

Choptank Community Health recently added school-based dental services to Kent, and Queen Anne’s County public school student enrollees. Choptank Health’s dental services are already provided in Dorchester County Public Schools, with dental and medical services available to students enrolled in the school-based health programs of Caroline and Talbot County Public Schools.

Choptank Community Health’s Chief Dental Officer Sandra Garbely- Kerkovich, DMD and Community Based Program Director Chrissy Bartz, PAC, MMS oversee the school-based dental program, with Pre-K through 12^th-grade students enrolled in each school are eligible to receive care at any location.

Registered dental hygienists provide on-site dental screenings, fluoride treatments, sealant applications, and dental hygiene education. The free dental screenings include examinations of the teeth and all soft tissues of the mouth—along with instruction on brushing and flossing, and education on the importance of eating healthy foods in good oral hygiene.

“Strong partnerships with the area’s local school systems are critical to the impact our School-Based Health Centers have on the wellness of all students,” said Choptank Community Health CEO Sara Rich. “We are thankful for the commitment of each school and county for recognizing the importance of this program in helping to provide access to health care for all.”

Choptank Community Health operates 12 medical school-based health centers, located in each Caroline County Public School and in Talbot County Public School’s Easton Elementary, Easton Middle, and Easton High Schools.

“School-Based Health Centers improve attendance by limiting the amount of time students and staff miss from school and work by providing the care they need, and then allowing them to return to school as appropriate,” says Bartz. “It’s a great service to our students, their parents, our schools, and ultimately our entire communities.”

Each medical health center is staffed by licensed advanced practice clinicians, including Certified Nurse Practitioners and Physician Assistants, and function like a typical doctor’s office. Choptank Health is offering telehealth and curbside visits at the schools for COVID testing, with quarantining protocols and separate well-child spaces on premise.

According to the School-Based Health Alliance, school-based health care is a powerful tool for achieving health equity among children and adolescents who unjustly experience disparities in outcomes simply because of their race, ethnicity, or family income.

The Alliance says school-based health care is also a commonsense idea gaining currency across the country as it places critically needed services like medical, behavioral, dental, and vision care directly in schools so that all young people, no matter their zip code, have equal opportunity to learn and grow. More about the Alliance is at sbh4all.org.

Choptank Community Health System’s mission is to provide access to exceptional, comprehensive, and integrated health care for all. Choptank Health’s vision is to improve the health and well-being of people in the communities served by providing outstanding care experiences while being an exceptional place to work and make a difference.

Parents and guardians can enroll their students in Choptank Community Health’s School-Based Health Centers by calling their school’s health staff or Health Center, with more at choptankhealth.org.

Talbot Hospice to Host William Paul Young, Author of “The Shack”

September 19, 2021 by Talbot Hospice Leave a Comment

Talbot Hospice will welcome William Paul Young to the Avalon Theater on October 28^th for a discussion about his #1 bestseller, “The Shack” and how it relates to grief, healing, forgiveness and spirituality.

“We are proud to welcome William Paul Young to Easton and hope that our friends and neighbors will join us for this free community event,” said Chris Chekouras, Talbot Hospice Executive Director. “’The Shack’ is a wonderful starting point for introspection and engaging conversations about how we process grief, shame and forgiveness.”

Talbot Hospice will welcome William Paul Young, author of the #1 Bestseller, The Shack, to the Avalon Theater on October 28th.

“The Shack” tells the story of Mack, a father struggling with the tragic loss of his daughter on a family trip to the Pacific Northwest. Four years after her horrific death, Mack receives a letter, supposedly from God, inviting him to spend a weekend in the shack where his daughter was violently murdered. Mack accepts and then has a life-changing experience that allows him to understand and cope with his grief and shame.

“The Shack,” as described by the author, is a metaphor for the “house we build out of our own pain” as well as “the places you get stuck, you get hurt, you get damaged … the thing where shame or hurt is centered.”

“The Shack” was originally written as a Christmas gift for Young’s six children, but was later published in 2007 at the urging of Young’s friends and colleagues. It went on to become a #1 New York Times and #1 USA Today Bestseller and, to date, it has sold more than 20 million copies worldwide. In 2017 it was adapted into a feature film starring Academy Award Winner, Octavia Spencer, and Grammy Award Winner, Tim McGraw.

This free, community event is open to the public, however, registration required. Attendees should note that the Avalon Theater requires proof of vaccination and a photo ID for admission.

To register, please visit www.talbothospice.org/events.

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.

Kent Goes Purple 5K Color Run/Walk and Purple Jamboree Set for Sept. 12

September 8, 2021 by Spy Desk Leave a Comment

The third Kent Goes Purple 5K Color Run/Walk and Purple Jamboree is set for 8:30 a.m. on Sunday, Sept. 12 in Wilmer Park.

Kent Goes Purple (KGP) is a substance abuse awareness and prevention initiative from Kent County Sheriff’s Office and Chestertown Rotary Club, that empowers our youth and our community to ‘Go Purple’ as a sign of taking a stand against substance abuse. This is year four for the initiative, and year three for the color run. Last year’s run/walk did not happen due to the pandemic.

The color run starts at 8:30 a.m. at Wilmer Park in Chestertown and is directly followed with a Purple Jamboree, from 10 a.m. until noon. The jamboree includes music, family fun and entertainment, free food from Phat Daddy’s BBQ and children’s activities with Willy Woo Woo!

2019 Color Run

Registration is available online at www.KentGoesPurple.org and is free for children 12 and under. Registration for 13 and over, is $10 – much less than the cost in 2019, thanks to support from Kent County Behavioral Health (KCBH) Prevention Office. Day-of registration is $20 and starts at 7:30 a.m.

The first 250 participants receive a commemorative shirt plus color packet, plus a purple drawstring bag with lots of fun goodies, including collapsible silicone water bottles. Free waters also will be available thanks to Chestertown Elks, and a limited supply of free purple shirts also will be on hand.

“Kent County prevention is excited to be able to sponsor the color run this year so that more of our families can participate,” said Annette Duckery, alcohol and other drugs prevention coordinator for KCBH. “The more community members that can come out, the better. Our theme this year is raising awareness together — the more we can bring people together, the stronger message we can send that Kent County stands together against substance abuse.”

This year’s Kent Goes Purple initiative includes daily educational messages, which the community can share from the KGP Facebook page. These messages are intended to educate and encourage conversations about substance use prevention. Other ways to get involve include getting trained on Narcan; learning about the Good Samaritan Law; and learning about medication storage and disposal.

The community can again display purple lights and gear throughout the month as a show of taking a stand against substance abuse. Lights are available at JBK Hardware in Chestertown and Village Hardware in Rock Hall. KGP also has free, 5” by 5” vehicle stickers available.

Vendor and volunteer registration forms for the color run and jamboree are available online at www.KentGoesPurple.org.

Kent Goes Purple is an initiative of the Kent County Sheriff’s Office and Chestertown Rotary Club, in partnership with Kent County Behavioral Health Prevention Office. Get more information at www.KentGoesPurple.org and on Facebook @kentgoespurple.

Kent Goes Purple is a component fund of the Mid-Shore Community Foundation, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization – donations to which are tax deductible to the fullest extent allowed by law.

Prostate Cancer Awareness Month Highlights Importance of Screening

September 8, 2021 by UM Shore Regional Health Leave a Comment

Dr. John Foley, Medical Director, Shore Medical Group – Urology

In observation of September as Prostate Cancer Awareness Month, the Cancer Program at UM Shore Regional Health and Shore Medical Group – Urology team members are sharing information about prostate cancer. According to The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), about one in eight men will be diagnosed with prostate cancer during their lifetime, about six cases in 10 are diagnosed in men aged 65 or older, and it is rare before age 40.

In particular, African-American men have higher risk, as they are more likely to develop prostate cancer at a younger age and may present with a more severe stage of prostate cancer disease.

“Maryland’s Eastern Shore has a higher percentage of older adults than many of the western shore counties, so we want to get the word out about the importance of prostate cancer screenings for men who are at higher risk,” said Dr. John Foley, Medical Director, UM Shore Medical Group – Urology. “As in the case of many other types of cancer, early detection of prostate saves lives.”

While prostate cancer can be present without any particular symptoms, signs that indicate prompt medical attention include difficulties with urination (increase frequency, interrupted flow, pain/burning, etc.), painful ejaculation, blood in the urine or semen, and pain in the back, hips or pelvis. These symptoms may indicate prostate cancer or some other health problem that warrants diagnosis and treatment, such as non-cancerous prostate enlargement.

“Due to COVID-19, for the second year in a row we are unable to provide the free prostate cancer screenings we have offered in the past,” says Nina Weisenborn, Clinical Research Nurse at the Cancer Center. “But screenings are still available by appointment at UM Shore Medical Group – Urology offices in Chestertown and Easton, and we encourage any man who is 55 or older, or who has a family history of prostate cancer, to talk with his health care provider about whether a prostate cancer screening is appropriate in his case.”

In addition to Dr. Foley, UM Shore Medical Group – Urology providers based in Easton are R. Duane Cespedes, MD; Andrew Riggin, MD, and Christopher Runz, DO. Christopher Parry, DO is located in the SMG-Urology office in Chestertown. For more information or to schedule an appointment, call 410-820-0560.

About University of Maryland Shore Regional Health

About the University of Maryland Medical System

Jeanette Jeffrey Named Health Educator for SMC at Rural Health Transformation Team

September 2, 2021 by Shore Regional Health System Leave a Comment

Jeanette Jeffrey

Jeanette Jeffrey has joined the University of Maryland Shore Medical Center at Chestertown as Health Educator on the hospital’s Rural Health Care Transformation Team.

The Health Educator position was established to provide leadership and collaboration with local community partners in developing and managing community health education programs and campaigns that will be offered through the Chestertown hospital’s Aging and Wellness Center of Excellence. Lara Wilson, Director of Rural Health Care Transformation for UM Shore Regional Health, said the goal of these initiatives is to inform residents of Kent and northern Queen Anne’s counties of strategies for maintaining their health and to promote appropriate use of local health resources.

Prior to joining the Rural Health Care Transformation team, Jeffrey served for three years as Extension Educator – Family and Consumer Sciences for the University of Maryland College of Agriculture and Natural Resources in Anne Arundel County; 1.5 years as Senior Health Education Consultant for Mid-Atlantic Permanente Medical Group in Rockville and 13 years as Director and Professor of Public Health and Nutrition at Howard Community College in Columbia. Her teaching experience also includes many years on the adjunct faculties of the Community College of Baltimore County (Catonsville campus) and the University of Maryland Baltimore County. She is certified as a Master Health Education Specialist by the National Commission for Health Education Credentialing.

Jeffrey’s educational credentials include a Bachelor of Science in Community Health Education from Towson University and a Master of Public Health/Public Health Nutrition and Master of Science in Education, both from Johns Hopkins University (JHU). She also has completed graduate certificate programs in Humanitarian Assistance from JHU and in International Health/Clinical and Community Care from the University of Arizona. She has authored and co-authored articles on a wide array of public health topics in research, scholarly and general interest publications, and also served as a consultant and speaker for multiple public health organizations and conferences.

“Jeanette’s broad credentials and experience in public health and community education make her a fantastic addition to the Rural Health Care Transformation team,” said Wilson. “We look forward to introducing her to our hospital staff and to our community partners in Kent and northern Queen Anne’s counties.”

“The new health educator position will play an indispensable role in the development and long-term sustainability of our various initiatives to advance health care accessibility and improve health outcomes in our region,” said Dennis Welsh, Vice President, Rural Health Care Transformation, UM SRH, and Executive Director, UM Shore Medical Center at Chestertown. “Jeanette’s experience and training will add greatly to the work that is ongoing,”

About University of Maryland Shore Regional Health

About the University of Maryland Medical System

UM SRH Sleep Disorders Centers Receive Program Accreditation from AASM

September 1, 2021 by UM Shore Regional Health Leave a Comment

The University of Maryland Shore Regional Health Sleep Disorders Center at UM Shore Medical Center in Easton recently received program reaccreditation from the American Academy of Sleep Medicine (AASM). Both the Sleep Disorders Center at UM Shore Medical Center at Dorchester and at UM Shore Medical Pavilion at Queenstown also received program reaccreditation, in December 2020. All three programs have been reaccredited for five years.

As the national accrediting body for sleep disorders centers, the AASM is dedicated to setting standards and promoting excellence in sleep medicine health care, education and research. To receive accreditation for a five-year period, a sleep center must meet or exceed all standards for professional health care as designated by the AASM. These standards address core areas such as personnel, facility and equipment, policies and procedures, data acquisition, patient care, and quality assurance. Additionally, the sleep center’s goals must be clearly stated and include plans for positively affecting the quality of medical care in the community it serves.

Photo: The University of Maryland Shore Regional Sleep Disorders Centers’ team recently celebrated the reaccreditation of Sleep Disorders Centers at UM Shore Medical Center at Easton, at UM Shore Medical Center at Dorchester and UM Shore Medical Pavilion at Queenstown. Lyndsey Feather, Manager, Cardiopulmonary Services; Stephen Eisemann, Director, Cardiopulmonary Services; M. Walid Kamsheh, MD, Medical Director, Regional Sleep Disorders Center; Douglas Rousseau, Lead Technologist; Kimberly Breeding, Sleep Lab Administrator; Irene Hansen, Polysomnographic Technologist; and Lori Bratten, Sleep Lab Assistant.

UM Shore Regional Health’s sleep medicine program includes two in-lab locations (one in Easton and one in Queenstown) and two home sleep testing setup centers, one in Chestertown and one in the new UM Shore Regional Health at Cambridge opening in September 2021. Serving as an important resource for patients and medical providers in the five-county region served by UM Shore Regional Health, the sleep centers provide high-quality care for patients suffering from sleep disorders.

“This achievement is a testament to the dedication and patient-focused work of our entire team,” said M. Walid Kamsheh, MD, Medical Director of the UM SRH Regional Sleep Disorders Center. “This is a true team effort at every level, including sleep lab office staff, technical staff, managers and the staff and providers in UM Shore Medical Group practices in Neurology and Sleep Medicine and Pulmonary Care offices. Accreditation of our Sleep Center locations lets patients know that these are state-of-the-art facilities operating in accordance with the highest standards.”

In addition to Dr. Kamsheh, pulmonologist Peyman Otmishi, MD specializes in sleep disorders, including insomnia, narcolepsy, restless leg syndrome, sleep apnea, sleepwalking and snoring. They are supported by other physicians and advanced practice providers in Pulmonology and Neurology and Sleep Medicine, as well as sleep center technologists and support staff.

Sleep disorders and deprivation are more than just annoying – they’re known to contribute to many serious health problems, including obesity, depression, and even heart attacks and strokes. Approximately 1,500 patients receive testing and/or treatment for sleep disorders each year at UM SRH Regional Sleep Disorders Center locations in Cambridge, Chestertown, Easton and Queenstown.

To learn more, talk to your primary care physician about a referral or call UM Shore Medical Group-Neurology and Sleep Medicine at 410-770-5250, or visit www.umshoreregional.org and search for sleep.

About University of Maryland Shore Regional Health

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Md. School Board OKs Mask Mandate for Public Schools

August 26, 2021 by John Griep Leave a Comment

Public school students across Maryland must wear masks inside schools.

The Maryland State Board of Education gave overwhelming approval to an emergency regulation requiring masks during a special Thursday afternoon meeting.

The decision comes less than a week before many K-12 students return to school and as COVID-19 cases, hospitalizations, positivity rates, and transmission rates have been climbing in Maryland, largely due to the delta variant.

Board members said it is important for students to be in school and requiring masks will ensure fewer students miss days due to illness.

Clarence C. Crawford, president of the state school board, said in-person instruction is better for students than the virtual instruction used for much of the past school year.

The emergency regulation now goes to a legislative committee for review and approval. Emergency regulations expire 180 days after being filed with the committee.

State School Superintendent Mohammed Choudhury’s memo to the state school board, including the text of the proposed regulation, is below.

MdSchoolsMaskRegulation

Md. School Board to Vote Today on Requiring Masks; Franchot, State Senators Back Statewide Mandate

August 26, 2021 by Maryland Matters Leave a Comment

The Maryland State Board of Education will hold a meeting this afternoon to determine if students will be required to wear masks during the 2021-2022 academic year as the delta variant continues to drive the state’s COVID-19 case and hospitalization rates higher.

“I believe that having an in-school mask mandate is going to help us to meet our goal of having students stay in classrooms and minimize the disruption that will be caused by quarantines,” said Rachel McCusker, the teacher representative of the Maryland State Board of Education, at the end of a marathon meeting held Tuesday.

The board voted unanimously to meet at 3 p.m. today to discuss the matter further.

Maryland State Superintendent of Schools Mohammed Choudury said that he was looking to see if he had legal backing to deny school systems’ COVID-19 plans if they follow all of the State Department of Education and Department of Health recommendations except for universal masking.

“I have been very clear, all school systems should start the school year with masking,” Choudury said early during the eight-hour meeting Tuesday.

Thus far, each jurisdiction has been tasked with deciding its own school reopening plan, which must be approved by Choudury.

To assuage public concern, Senate President Bill Ferguson (D-Baltimore City) on Monday tweeted a map created by the Department of Legislative Services detailing masking and vaccine mandates by school district.

According to the map, which was last updated Tuesday, 14 of Maryland’s 24 jurisdictions plan to require students to wear masks. On Wednesday night, Cecil County Superintendent of Schools Jeff Lawson announced that the school district would require masks for students and staff at the beginning of the school year.

State senators sent a letter Wednesday to the Maryland State Board of Education, imploring board members to issue an emergency regulation requiring a universal masking mandate for students and teachers across the state.

“Continuous in-person instruction this school year is critical, and we must protect students’ ability to learn with other children in school buildings statewide throughout the year,” Senate President Bill Ferguson (D-Baltimore City) said in a statement. “We urge the State Board of Education to promulgate a temporary emergency regulation mandating that all children, faculty, and staff wear masks in every Maryland elementary and secondary school and congregate setting with children in any county with a substantial or high rate of COVID-19 transmission, as determined by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.”

Should the board decide to issue the masking requirement for students and staff across the state, the emergency regulation would need to be approved by the General Assembly’s Joint Committee on Administrative, Executive and Legislative Review (AELR). The committee is led by Sen. Sarah K. Elfreth (D-Anne Arundel) and Del. Samuel I. Rosenberg (D-Baltimore City).

Because of its emergency status, the masking mandate would only be in effect for 180 days before its expiration.

With Cecil County now requiring masks, only four of Maryland’s 24 school systems have chosen to keep masking optional. Several of those jurisdictions have some of the state’s highest rates of COVID-19 transmission. And three of the four — Dorchester, Somerset, Worcester — are on the Eastern Shore.

Maryland Comptroller Peter V.R. Franchot (D), a candidate for governor in 2022, issued a statement Thursday morning saying he also favored a mask mandate for public schools.

“Like so many Marylanders, I’m greatly concerned about the surge of COVID-19 cases in our state and across the country,” he said in the statement. “This surge comes as families are preparing to send their kids back to school — with great uncertainty on how the Delta variant will impact the health and welfare of students, teachers and staff. The COVID infection rate among children is the highest it’s ever been.

“That’s why I support a statewide mask mandate for schools, mandatory vaccinations for school employees, and daily testing for school employees who have religious or health exemptions,” Franchot said. “Additionally, I call on the state to work with local governments and school systems to ensure that all eligible children, educators and staff have convenient access to vaccines. School systems must also provide parents with the flexibility to decide the mode of learning that’s best for their children, whether it’s in-person, hybrid or virtual.

“Our collective fight against this pandemic that has killed nearly 10,000 Marylanders and infected more than 489,000 of our friends and neighbors is far from over. When it comes to the health and welfare of our children, we can’t take enough precautions to ensure that they are able to safely learn,” he said. “What’s more, these necessary health precautions aren’t just for our students, but also for our educators and staff. They and their loved ones deserve the certainty of knowing they won’t be jeopardizing their health to do the job they love.”

Baltimore County Executive John A. Olszewski Jr. (D) declared a state of emergency there Tuesday morning in an effort to help the county request and procure aid and resources from the state and federal government.

Per a Tuesday news release from Olszewski’s office, the Baltimore County Council will hold a voting session next week to determine if the county should remain under the state of emergency beyond August.

“While we’ve made undeniable progress in our fight against this deadly virus, the rapid emergence of the Delta variant has made it clear that we need access to every tool in our toolbox to be able to respond to it,” Olszewski said in a statement. “We remain committed to doing whatever is necessary to keep our residents as safe as possible and to ensure that when our children go back to school next week they can remain where they belong: inside the classroom.”

“We want to keep our kids in class and keep our schools open,” Anne Arundel County Executive Steuart Pittman (D) said in support of County Superintendent George Arlotto’s decision to mandate that students and teachers mask up. “That’s the reason that we have the mask requirement.”

Robert Mosier, chief communications officer for Anne Arundel County Public Schools, said discussions regarding vaccine requirements for teachers are underway. Pittman issued a vaccine mandate for county employees earlier this month.

According to Anne Arundel Health Officer Dr. Nilesh Kalyanaraman, the county has 55 patients hospitalized for COVID-19 at Anne Arundel Medical Center and University of Maryland Baltimore Washington Medical Center. He also reported that six people died of COVID-19-related causes in Anne Arundel County in the past week — “the most deaths we’ve had in three months.”

Asked what it would take for him to institute a county-wide mask mandate, Pittman said that he would need to reinstate a local state of emergency, but he doesn’t have enough support from the County Council to do so.

“We don’t have the authorization,” Pittman said. “We had it under the governor’s emergency order and we had it under the county’s emergency declaration … but that we no longer have.”

Pittman said that, to reinstate the county’s state of emergency, five of seven Anne Arundel County councilmembers would have to support it. He said that three county council members “have opposed every mandate that we’ve put into effect.”

“So we don’t believe that we have the votes on the council to do that,” he said.

By Hannah Gaskill and Bruce DePuyt

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