Health · Director, Marketing and Community Relations. Design: Erin Glynn, Graphic Designer . Content: Jennifer DuMont, Marketing Writer. Photo Credits: Ryan Smith Photography, Kelanda

MEDSTAR SOUTHERN MARYLAND HOSPITAL CENTER Winter | 2019

Getting MedConnected

ManagingScreenTime

for Children

Health

How theEmergency DepartmentSaved Tyrone’s Life

Fighting Fluthe

Happy New Year! This promises to be a great year for MedStar Southern Maryland Hospital Center (MSMHC), and we look forward to sharing our news with the community, including construction updates on exciting renovations to MSMHC’s Emergency Department during 2019.

MSMHC’s Emergency Department is the focus of this month’s patient testimonial cover story, and we are so proud of our staff's quick action to save the life of Tyrone Celey. We are also grateful to be a part of the MedStar system, which aided in his remarkable recovery. Emergency medicine is important for our community, and we want all of you to know how much our doctors and nurses care, and about our efforts to improve your experience here.

In addition to thanking the Chief of our Emergency Department, Dr. Kevin Reed, for his work, I would like to thank pediatrician Pedro Sarmiento, MD, for contributing an article about screen time for children in this issue, a very important challenge facing parents. I would also like to recognize Rebecca Cook from MSMHC’s Infection Prevention

team for giving us important information on flu shots. Our new Chairman of Cardiology, Dr. William Suddath, also provides very important heart healthy information here for you. In addition, I would like to congratulate this quarter’s Top Doctor, Meghan Malentacchi, MD.

Finally, I hope you will look over our photo collage, which shows how we make ongoing learning fun at MSMHC. We take our position as a large employer in this area very seriously, always trying to add caring professionals to our team, and continually educating our associates in innovative, interesting ways.

Kindest regards,

2 MedStar Southern Maryland Hospital Center HEALTH | WINTER 2019

Dear Neighbor, Christine Wray, FACHE, President, MedStar Southern Maryland Hospital Center

7503 Surratts Road, Clinton, MD 20735301-868-8000 or TTY 301-877-4473

Kenneth A. Samet, FACHEPresident and Chief Executive Officer, MedStar Health

M. Joy Drass, MDExecutive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer, MedStar Health

Christine Wray, FACHEPresident, MedStar Southern Maryland Hospital Center and Senior Vice President, MedStar Health

John W. Rollins, Jr. Chair, Board of Directors

Cheryl RichardsonDirector, Marketing and Community Relations

Design: Erin Glynn, Graphic Designer

Content: Jennifer DuMont, Marketing Writer

Photo Credits: Ryan Smith Photography, Kelanda Dickerson

Health is published as a community service for the friends and patrons of MedStar Southern Maryland Hospital Center. It in no way seeks to diagnose or treat illness or serve as a substitute for professional medical care. Please see your physician if you have a health problem.

On the cover: Tyrone Celey

Christine Wray, FACHE

President, MedStar Southern Maryland Hospital Center and Senior Vice President, MedStar Health

Message from the

President

FALL 2018 | MedStar Southern Maryland Hospital Center HEALTH 2

Power to Heal

We are proud to introduce MedConnect at MSMHC, which provides a comprehensive, seamless and easy-to-use Electronic Medical Record. For more information, see page 14.

Tidbits

1 2 3 4

WINTER 2019 | MedStar Southern Maryland Hospital Center HEALTH 3

School Supply Drive Award Winning MedConnected

2

Each year, hospital associates are asked to donate to a school supply drive to benefit one area school. This year, our associates donated 426 school supply items, which were delivered by MSMHC’s Community Outreach staff to Waldon Woods Elementary School in Clinton prior to the beginning of the 2018-2019 school year.

Each October, MedStar Southern Maryland Hospital Center (MSMHC) conducts an associate giving campaign to fund a project that benefits the patients of our hospital. The Power to Heal campaign committee chose MSMHC's Emergency Department as the recipient of our 2018 campaign.

For more information, go to page 14.

1 3

4

The Washington Regional Transplant Community has presented MSMHC with a Silver Award for promoting organ, eye, and tissue donation.

MSMHC has also won an award for this magazine and our associate newsletter from an organization that rates healthcare communication.

For more information, turn to page 13.


Thanks to MedStar Southern Maryland Hospital Center’s Emergency Department,

Tyrone Celey Recovers from a Stroke

When treating a stroke, time is critical. With quick action from his wife Rhonda, MedStar Southern Maryland Hospital Center (MSMHC) Emergency Department (ED) physician Kevin Reed, and the team at MedStar Washington Hospital Center (MWHC), Tyrone Celey recovers from what could have been a debilitating stroke.

Luck and skill combined to save the life of Clinton resident Tyrone Celey

when he suffered a stroke in his home one evening in September 2018. First, luck intervened. It was a Saturday night. Tyrone and his wife Rhonda had been out all day, shopping at a flea market, visiting Tyrone’s father and attending a fundraising event for their Trinidadian neighborhood. They were planning to spend a quiet evening at home having dinner and watching a movie. Rhonda headed upstairs to shower and change, but before she began, she decided to

run back downstairs. This is where luck intervened. When she got back downstairs, Tyrone was on the floor, unable to get back up. He knew what he wanted to say, but the words wouldn’t come out. Rhonda’s eyes widened and she ran for the phone. It was a stroke. The thought ran through her frantic mind: would they get here in time? She rushed to call 911.

It took just minutes for paramedics to arrive. They rushed Tyrone into a

Emergency Department Physician Kevin Reed, MD with patient Tyrone Celey

transport chair and out to an ambulance. MSMHC was alerted and ready to receive Tyrone.

At the hospital, Dr. Kevin Reed, Chairman of the ED, was on duty that night. When Tyrone arrived, within about twenty minutes of collapsing, Dr. Reed was there to give him a dose of tissue plasminogen activator (TPA), a blood clot-busting drug that, when issued very soon after a stroke, has proven to be a great help in recovery.

“When there’s a stroke patient, the whole team comes together,” said Dr. Reed. “We treated him aggressively, and what we did helped him to recover without debilitating effects. His recovery really is amazing.”

Once he was stabilized, Tyrone would be sent by ambulance to MWHC for a higher level of care.

“This is a benefit of being a part of the MedStar system,” said Dr. Reed.

The MWHC team began to treat his middle cerebral artery stroke, which is when a blood clot from elsewhere in the body travels to the vessels feeding the brain, causing the language deficit, weakness and sensory problems Tyrone was having. They got him stabilized by performing a mechanical thrombectomy, which threads a catheter through the artery until it reaches the blockage in brain, where it widens the artery to increase flow and removes the clot.

When Tyrone arrived at MSMHC, he was assessed at level 24 on the Stroke Scale hospitals use to measure severity. Anything above 21 is severe, said Dr. Reed, which makes his recovery nothing short of a miracle.

“From being very high on the Stoke Scale, he was down to a rating of 12 by the next night, was at a one by the time he left MedStar Washington Hospital Center on September 3rd and by September 5th, he was at zero, no longer drooping, no longer suffering from deficiencies,” said Dr. Reed. “It took the dedication of the entire Emergency Department, in

collaboration with our Stroke Team, the rapid response nurses who come to assist when any Code is called, as well as radiology and pharmacy. Then, with MedStar Transport and the team at MedStar Washington Hospital Center, we had a great outcome with this great collaboration.”

Tyrone remembers bits and pieces of his experience, like the MedStar nurses who repeatedly asked him questions during his hospital stay, to determine how

he was faring mentally in the hours and days after his stroke. He also remembers the care he received at MSMHC, and how lucky he is to be here to tell his story.

“If telling this story could help prevent this situation for others, I’d like to help,” said Tyrone. “This came swiftly and it was a wake-up call because I had other symptoms. I’d tell everyone not to ignore health problems and not put off talking about your health. So many people’s lives are affected by one person and this is all in God’s hands that I’m here telling others, because most people who know what happened are surprised I’m still here.”

Tyrone, an Army veteran, currently works as a construction inspector with the DC Metro. After a few months of rest and restoration after his stroke, Tyrone returned to his job. He says he remains grateful because without the intervention of his wife, his ED physician and his team of MedStar doctors, Tyrone would not have been able to return to watching his beloved Redskins, spending time with his wife and six kids, and planning his upcoming travel plans.

“All the nurses and doctors were so helpful,” said Tyrone’s wife Rhonda. “They radiated optimism, even while they explained the risks. They showed us diagrams of the blockages in his brain and kept us informed. They treated him well at MedStar Southern Maryland Hospital Center, and they made sure he was met by fifteen people waiting for him at MedStar Washington Hospital Center. I’m so grateful. I’m convinced what they did at MedStar Southern Maryland Hospital Center saved my husband’s life.”

I would like to have more people know the care I received here was excellent. Every time I’ve been here, it has been

excellent.


—Tyrone Celey


Calling Those Who Snore, Stop Breathing During Their Sleep, or Kick Their Partner

• Excessive daytime sleepiness

• High blood pressure

• Loud snoring

• Choking/gasping during sleep

• Difficulty falling asleep

• Multiple nighttime awakenings

• Dangerous/violent nighttime behavior

• Sleep walking or sleep talking

• Nighttime muscle aches and pains

• Waking up too early in the morning

• Falling asleep during inappropriate times

• Early morning headaches

Symptoms of a Sleep Disorder Include:

Why Would Someone Need a Sleep Study and How Do I Request One if I Feel I Need It?

Sleep is integral to health, and lack of sleep or restless sleep can have serious health consequences, including cardiac issues and quality of life concerns. For the millions of people having trouble with sleep, there can be relief, and for those suffering in southern Maryland, MedStar Southern Maryland Hospital Center’s Sleep Lab is here to help with education, diagnosis and treatment of sleep problems.

The first step is for a patient with sleeping issues to talk to their primary care physician, as all patients come to our Sleep Lab through referrals. Once we receive a referral, you are asked to come in for a sleep consultation. This meeting begins with a review of your sleep-related problems, lifestyle habits and medical history. Overnight sleep studies take place here, or, in some cases, the study is done in the home.

There are benefits health-

wise and

longevity-wise,

to sleeping.


Maria M. Wooldridge, RRT, MHA, MA, Director of Pulmonary Services- Respiratory, Sleep and EEG

What Happens During a Sleep Study?

During a sleep study, a patient is outfitted with electrodes on stickers, attached to wires that measure things like heart rate, oxygen level, brain waves, eye movement, muscle activity, air flow and breathing movements. Registered and board-certified Sleep Lab technicians watch over this data in real-time, and observe patients on an overhead camera. Each Sleep Lab room is equipped with a queen-sized bed, chair, nightstands, a TV, and your own private restroom with a shower.

What technicians are looking for during the study includes sleep stages, leg movements, and sleep apnea (repeatedly stopping and starting breathing while sleeping). Some patients may also need to be hooked up to a Continuous Positive Airway Pressure (CPAP) machine wherein a mask is put over the face with continuous air being blown into the nasal passage to prevent upper airway closure during sleep. A multiple sleep latency test may also be requested, which involves a patient taking a series of naps that are similarly studied.

What Happens After the Study Concludes?

Once the study is concluded, a preliminary report will be completed within one to three days, and a finalized report will be done within two weeks and sent to your primary care or referring physician with a copy placed in your medical record.

Treatments for sleep problems can include behavior modification, medication, or equipment that will help a person breathe easier while

sleeping. If a patient requires a home CPAP machine, MSMHC Sleep Lab associates will help refer patients to a medical equipment company that will come set up the machine at their house and train them on the proper way to use the equipment.

Why MedStar Southern Maryland Hospital Center?

“One of the benefits of our Sleep Lab is that you can get an appointment days after being referred here, rather than having to wait several months,” said Maria Wooldridge, Director of the Sleep Lab at MSMHC. “Our mission is to help patients and their families transition to better sleep health. We also follow-up with patients after their appointment to make sure all their questions have been answered."

MSMHC’s Sleep Lab is open six days a week. Most insurance companies will pay for Sleep Lab studies. If you need help with your sleep problems, ask your primary care physician. If you do not have a doctor currently, you can find a physician at MedStarSouthernMaryland.org/Find-A-Doc.

To learn more about our Sleep Lab, please call 301-877-4600.

Maria M. Wooldridge, RRT, MHA, MA, Director of Pulmonary Services- Respiratory, Sleep and EEG

After observing the care their father received at MedStar Southern Maryland Hospital Center (MSMHC), sisters Rungaroon Saengfah Hanwatananugool and Rabiab Saengfah Mekadenaumporn donated the funds to purchase two high-flow oxygen devices to the hospital in their father’s name.

Sisters Rungaroon Saengfah Hanwatananugool and Rabiab Saengfah Mekadenaumporn want the world to know about the kind of person their father was. They also want to live their lives in a way that would have made him proud, and they want everyone at MedStar Southern Maryland Hospital Center to know how grateful they are for the care he received here before he died.

Their father, Chey Saengfah, owned a construction company in his native Thailand. As a father of


Grateful Family Donates to Help Others in Honor of Father who was Treated Here

Pictured from left to right:Pramot Hanwatananugool; Christine Wray, MSMHC President; Rungaroon Saengfah Hanwatananugool; and Rabiab Saengfah Mekadenaumporn.

twelve, he worked hard every day, say his daughters; he only lived to work hard to provide for his family, which meant breathing in dust while supervising the building of major roads in his country throughout a long career. After retirement, he developed emphysema from his years of managing construction projects. Some of his children who had migrated to the United States begged him to come here to receive care. He did, and ended up at MSMHC several times throughout 1993.

“Here, we found the best care he ever had,” said Rabiab Saengfah Mekadenaumporn. “He had wonderful nurses and doctors every time he was a patient here.”

Her sister agreed, saying she appreciated how ICU physicians here kept them updated on their dad’s condition throughout each of his stays at MSMHC. This

appreciation drove the sisters, their brother, Samard Saengfah, and Rungaroon's husband, Pramot Hanwatananugool, to make a donation to our hospital for equipment that would treat lung and respiratory issues like their dad experienced.

“My dad believed in tokens of appreciation and we got that in our DNA from him,” said Rungaroon Saengfah Hanwatananugool. “He was always grateful and that’s how he taught us to be.”

MedStar Southern Maryland Hospital Center would like to express our profound appreciation for this generous donation from the Saengfah Family.

Interested in making a donation to MedStar Southern Maryland Hospital Center? Please call 301-877-5556 for more information.


The American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) is taking a long, hard look at what excessive screen time is doing to America’s children, says MedStar Pediatrician Pedro Sarmiento, MD, and the consensus among this group is to work to limit the screen time your child engages in, particularly with children under one year of age.

AAP research shows too much media can negatively affect children socially, emotionally, and cognitively, as well as with the development of language and concentration skills. Excessive screen time may also be linked to a rise in aggressive behavior and childhood obesity.

The AAP recommends avoiding digital media use in children younger than 18 to 24 months, with the exception of video chatting with relatives, which can be a positive use of screen time. Once a child is old enough for media, use should be limited to high quality programming for

less than one or two hours per day, and screens should not be used during meals or for one hour before bedtime. Fast-paced programs, which are difficult for children to understand, and apps with distracting or violent content, should be avoided. Letting children use media unsupervised and letting children have TV’s or other media devices in their rooms are also not recommended.

Parents are urged to spend time in unstructured, imaginative, hands-on play with their small children, as well as social play to build language, cognitive and social-emotional skills. Other helpful recommendations include working together to develop a Family Media Use Plan with specific guidelines for each child, and having parents monitor and test media content and any apps they plan to let their children use. Teenagers, too, should have their screen time limited in favor of reading, physical activity, and interacting personally with others.

Suggestions from other sources include playing with toys that foster imagination, such as dollhouses, art supplies and building toys. Reading books helps children develop in a positive way, as do storytelling audiotapes. Finally, making or listening to music and cooking with children create positive learning experiences.

“The advice I would give is for parents to be the example,” said Dr. Sarmiento. “This is the biggest influence on a child, seeing what their parents are doing. It’s hard to be in front of your TV, phone, or iPad and then tell them they shouldn’t be. The second thing I would say is to be hands-on with your kids. Interact with them. Read to them.”

If you need a pediatrician and are interested in making an appointment with Dr. Sarmiento, please call 301-843-8989.

Pediatrician Pedro Sarmiento, MD, Gives Advice on Screen Time for Kids

Pictured from left to right:Pramot Hanwatananugool; Christine Wray, MSMHC President; Rungaroon Saengfah Hanwatananugool; and Rabiab Saengfah Mekadenaumporn.

At MedStar Southern Maryland Hospital Center, we take the ongoing education of our associates very seriously. We make sure to stay on the cutting edge of patient care, we bring in state-of-the-art procedures and equipment, and we keep our eyes on emerging trends in healthcare.

What we also do is make learning fun for our associates. It not only helps our associates have a good time while they are working, but also, studies have shown that when learning is combined with entertainment, information is more easily retained.

Our Photo Collage this quarter shows several ways MSMHC promotes education with events featuring eye-catching displays, interactive exercises, games and prizes.

Educational Events at MedStar Southern Maryland Hospital Center Make Learning Fun for Our Associates

Among these photos are: the Nurses Improving Care for Healthsystem Elders Seminar, where associates learned techniques for how to care for our older patients; the Nursing Practice Council Guidelines Summer Splash, where associates reviewed best practices on pain management and preventing infections; and the “Speak Easy” Quality Fair, a 1920’s Prohibition era-themed event where associates learned about hospital statistics and facts about medical conditions.

We are proud to be a major employer in southern Maryland, and proud to be an enjoyable place to work for our associates. If you would like to be a part of our team, please regularly visit MedStarSouthernMaryland.org/Careers for all of our current job postings.

Educational Events at MedStar Southern Maryland Hospital Center Make Learning Fun for Our Associates


According to the Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), hundreds of thousands of people are admitted each year to a hospital due to influenza. A great step you can take to protect yourself from the flu is to make sure you receive your annual flu shot, and this is why the CDC gives us this recommendation, says MedStar Southern Maryland Hospital Center’s Infection Prevention Specialist Rebecca Cook, BSN, RN, CIC.

Using research from the CDC, Rebecca Cook helped us answer the following questions:

Who Should Get the Flu Shot?The flu vaccine is recommended for everyone age six months or over. Different types of vaccine are recommended for certain people, while others are not advised for some. As an example, the nasal vaccine is not recommended for children under two, adults over 50, pregnant women, history of allergy to flu vaccine, and people who have lowered immune systems.

How the Flu Shot Protects You & How We Protect Our Patients from the Flu

When Should My Family Get Their Flu Shots?It is recommended that the flu vaccine be taken before the flu arrives in your area, usually by the end of October. It takes two weeks for the antibodies to develop and offer protection. However, vaccination at any time during the flu season is beneficial.

Why is the Flu Vaccine Sometimes Effective and Sometimes Not?It is possible to get the flu, even though you have had the vaccine, if you are exposed to the flu

before your body has had time to make the antibodies that protect you, or you are exposed to a strain of flu not included in the vaccine, or you have underlying health conditions that make the vaccine less effective.

Effectiveness of the vaccine can vary each year depending on the match to the “expected” virus strain in the community as well as the age and health of the person getting the vaccine.

Even if you get the flu after getting the vaccine, it has been shown in studies that you are likely to have a less severe case of the flu, and less likely to be admitted into the hospital or even the Intensive Care Unit.

Does MedStar Southern Maryland Hospital Center Require its Associates to Receive an Annual Flu Shot?Yes. Our philosophy is this: receiving an influenza vaccination is not just about keeping yourself healthy, it’s about protecting your family and others around you. For us, this means our patients. You can also think of it this way: if you get vaccinated and do not get the flu, then you will not spread it to others.

Fight the Flu

+


MedStar Southern Maryland Hospital Center Wins Silver Award from Washington Regional Transplant Community

Tidbits

MedStar Southern Maryland Hospital Center (MSMHC) was among a select group of hospitals nationwide recognized for promoting enrollment in state organ donor registries in a national campaign sponsored by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services’ Health Resources and Services Administration. To date, this effort has added more than 443,000 donor enrollments to state registries nationwide.

To win this award, MSMHC conducted awareness and registry campaigns to educate staff, patients, visitors, and community members about the critical need for organ, eye, and tissue donors and, by doing so, increased the number of potential donors on the state’s donor registry.

“Winning the WRTC Silver Award for promotion of organ donation gives me such pride and also has personal

MedStar Southern Maryland Hospital Center (MSMHC)'s Connections associate newsletter and Health community magazine and have won Gold Aster Awards. Aster Awards are granted annually for excellence in healthcare communication.

Connections is published monthly and is mailed to associate’s homes. It features a Letter from the President, articles on physicians, the latest innovations at MSMHC, spotlights on departments

or individuals, an article about SPIRIT Values (Service/Patient First/Integrity/Respect/Innovation/Teamwork) and contributions from HR and MSMHC’s Director of Nursing.

Health, which you are reading now, is our quarterly community magazine mailed out to more than 200,000 households surrounding the hospital. This magazine is shot by professional photographer Ryan Smith (ryansmithproductions.com). The publication also begins with a Letter from MSMHC President Christine Wray. It contains a Patient Testimonial cover story, and feature articles promoting the work of the hospital, educational articles on medical conditions and treatments, and a Heart&Soul section featuring MSMHC’s Cardiology Department. Current and past issues of Health are available at MedStarSouthernMaryland.org/Our-Hospital/Publications.

Two MedStar Southern Maryland Hospital Center Publications WinGold Aster Awards for Excellence in Healthcare Communication

meaning,” said Renee Sicheri, MSMHC RN and nursing director of the Intensive Care Unit. “The collaboration between WRTC and our ICU team is evident with every donor patient, as well as the donor family, who are given compassionate care, love, respect and support by the entire team. My family has been touched personally by organ donation. My brother-in-law experienced a hemorrhagic stroke and was an organ donor. His gift of life impacted seven people’s lives. I remember how supportive the team was, and the comfort they brought my family. I am proud to be a part of this fabulous program and the great work carried out by the teams at MSMHC and the Washington Regional Transplant Community (WRTC).”

MedStar Southern Maryland Hospital Center is proud to support organ donation. We humbly thank donors for giving the gift of life, and their families, for supporting their generous decision. We thank all associates who work in units where donations originate, for their professionalism and reverence for this delicate process. Finally, we thank WRTC for partnering with us in this important, life-saving mission.

MedStar Southern Maryland Hospital Center (MSMHC) is now a part of MedConnect, MedStar Health’s comprehensive, seamless and easy to use electronic medical record system.

Being on the MedConnect platform allows us to have connectivity with others in the MedStar Health System. As an example, if you are a patient with chest pain, you may first see your MedStar physician. You may then be transported to MSMHC for treatment, and you may be sent to MedStar Georgetown University Hospital or Medstar Washington Hospital Center for a higher level of care if needed. MedConnect will allow your electronic medical record to be viewed seamlessly by Medstar providers, including X-ray images and test results.

“This affects all physicians, nurses, Emergency Department associates, pharmacists and all major and supporting departments, but more importantly, this is a win for the community,” said Lou Mavromatis, Vice President of Information Services at MSMHC. “It allows records to be seen by all providers through

one portal. There is also an elevated focus on patient safety and securing/protecting private patient clinical information. The benefits go beyond easy access and protection because this system will also allow patients to visit their portal to view results and request appointments and prescription refills.”

MedStar Southern Maryland Hospital Center Associate Giving Campaign Will Fund Improvements to Our Emergency Department

TidbitsTi

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its


1. New waiting area furnishings, such as televisions, magazine racks with updated literature, charging stations and comfortable furniture, to provide comfort and entertainment to patients and visitors while they wait their turn for service.

2. A dedicated behavioral health area, to provide a private space for our mental health patients, to help keep them, other visitors, and our associates safe.

3. A new dedicated ED resuscitation space, to provide

In past years, MedStar Southern Maryland Hospital Center (MSMHC)’s Power to Heal annual associate giving campaign has raised money for blanket warmer units, transportation services for our patients when they are discharged and need a ride, and a clothing closet fund to provide an outfit for patients who need new clothes upon discharge.

This year, we raised $55,766.01 from 306 associates, to go toward these three projects, to be included in the upcoming 2019 renovation of MSMHC’s Emergency Department (ED):

privacy for severely ill or injured patients and their families during a sensitive, emotional and stressful time.

The ED and main lobby will be going through an extensive renovation and reconfiguration in the coming year. This renovation will include a new entrance with an upgraded waiting room, a reconfigured flow to make the process easier for patients, the addition of several treatment rooms, a special pathogen assessment and holding center, a small area to purchase food and a pharmacy so that patients can fulfill their prescriptions and leave with their medication.

MedStar Southern Maryland Hospital Center is Now a Part of MedConnect

Ask-the-DoctorCommunity Healthcare Education

Seminar Series

Please join us for an informative, interactive seminar

“How to Win the Fight Against Heart Disease” Presented by interventional cardiologist William Suddath, MD

Heart disease is a national problem and a significant health condition seen in southern Maryland. MedStar Southern Maryland Hospital Center’s cardiology team, which is now part of the MedStar Heart & Vascular Institute–Cleveland Clinic Alliance, is committed to educating and treating southern Marylanders experiencing all types of heart conditions.

In this free seminar, interventional cardiologist Dr. Suddath will explain what he does to intervene with heart complications, which includes procedures such as angioplasties and stent installation. He will discuss different types of heart disease, risk factors and prevention, and will also provide information you need to make better decisions about your heart health. Dr. Suddath will take questions at the conclusion of the presentation.

The seminar will be held on:

William Suddath, MD Chairman, Cardiology MedStar Southern Maryland Hospital Center

FebruaryTuesday 2019

19Admission is free, but you must reserve a seat in advance. Register online today at MedStarSouthernMaryland.org/Calendar or call 301-877-5700.

Tuesday, February 19, 2019from 6:30 p.m. to 8 p.m., at the MedStar Southern Maryland Hospital Center Multipurpose Room 7503 Surratts Road, Clinton, MD

Don’t miss out! Join our Ask the Doctor e-mail list at MedStarSouthernMaryland.org/AskTheDoc

About Dr. Suddath:Dr. William Suddath is MedStar Southern Maryland Hospital Center’s Chairman of Cardiology. Prior to coming to MSMHC in 2018, Dr. Suddath worked as an interventional cardiologist at MedStar Washington Hospital Center for twenty-two years. Dr. Suddath earned his bachelor’s, master’s, and doctorate of medicine degrees from George Washington University, and completed an internship in internal medicine and a residency in emergency medicine at UCLA Medical Center. His second residency, also in internal medicine, took place at George Washington University Medical Center, as did his fellowships in cardiology and interventional cardiology.


Nondiscrimination StatementSTATEMENT: MedStar Southern Maryland Hospital Center complies with applicable Federal civil rights laws and does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national origin, age, disability, or sex.

NOTICE: MedStar Southern Maryland Hospital Center complies with applicable Federal civil rights laws and does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national origin, age, disability, or sex. MedStar Southern Maryland Hospital Center does not exclude people or treat them differently because of race, color, national origin, age, disability, or sex.MedStar Southern Maryland Hospital Center:

• Provides free aids and services to people with disabilities to communicate effectively with us, such as:

Qualified sign language interpreters

Written information in other formats (large print, audio, accessible electronic formats, other formats)

• Provides free language services to peoplewhose primary language is not English, such as:

Qualified interpreters

Information written in other languages

If you need these services, contact a Patient Advocate at 301-877-4279.

If you believe that MedStar Southern Maryland Hospital Center has failed to provide these services or discriminated in another way on the basis of race, color, national origin, age, disability, or sex, you can file a grievance with: Patient Advocate, 7503 Surratts Road, Clinton, MD 20735, Phone: 301-877-4279, Fax: 301-877-5813, E-Mail: [email protected]. If you need help filing a grievance, a Patient Advocate is available to help you.

You can also file a civil rights complaint with the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Office for Civil Rights, electronically through the Office for Civil Rights Complaint Portal, available at https://ocrportal.hhs.gov/ocr/portal/lobby.jsf, or by mail or phone at:

U.S. Department of Health and Human Services200 Independence Avenue, SWRoom 509F, HHH BuildingWashington, D.C. 20201 1-800-368-1019, 800-537-7697 (TDD)

Complaint forms are available at http://www.hhs.gov/ocr/office/file/index.html.

Español (Spanish)

STATEMENT: MedStar Southern Maryland Hospital Center cumple con las leyes federales de derechos civiles aplicables y no discrimina por motivos de raza, color, nacionalidad, edad, discapacidad o sexo.

NOTICE: MedStar Southern Maryland Hospital Center cumple con las leyes federales de derechos civiles aplicables y no discrimina por motivos de raza, color, nacionalidad, edad, discapacidad o sexo. MedStar St. Mary’s Hospital no excluye a las personas ni las trata de forma diferente debido a su origen étnico, color, nacionalidad, edad, discapacidad o sexo.

MedStar Southern Maryland Hospital Center:

• Proporciona asistencia y servicios gratuitos a las personas con discapacidades para que se comuniquen de manera eficaz con nosotros, como los siguientes:

Intérpretes de lenguaje de señas capacitados.

Información escrita en otros formatos (letra grande, audio, formatos electrónicos accesibles, otros formatos).

• Proporciona servicios lingüísticos gratuitos a personas cuya lengua materna no es el inglés, como los siguientes:

Intérpretes capacitados.

Información escrita en otros idiomas.

Si necesita recibir estos servicios, comuníquese con Patient Advocate at 301-877-4279.

Si considera que MedStar Southern Maryland

Hospital Center no le proporcionó estos servicios o lo discriminó de otra manera por motivos de origen étnico, color, nacionalidad, edad, discapacidad o sexo, puede presentar un reclamo a la siguiente persona: Patient Advocate, 7503 Surratts Road, Clinton, MD 20735, Phone: 301-877-4279, Fax: 301-877-5813, E-Mail: [email protected]. Si necesita ayuda para hacerlo, a Patient Advocate está a su disposición para brindársela.

También puede presentar un reclamo de derechos civiles ante la Office for Civil Rights (Oficina de Derechos Civiles) del Department of Health and Human Services (Departamento de Salud y Servicios Humanos) de EE. UU. de manera electrónica a través de Office for Civil Rights Complaint Portal, disponible en https://ocrportal.hhs.gov/ocr/portal/lobby.jsf, o bien, por correo postal a la siguiente dirección o por teléfono a los números que figuran a continuación:

U.S. Department of Health and Human Services200 Independence Avenue, SWRoom 509F, HHH BuildingWashington, D.C. 20201 1-800-368-1019, 800-537-7697 (TDD)

Puede obtener los formularios de reclamo en el sitio web http://www.hhs.gov/ocr/office/file/index.html.

ATENCIÓN: si habla español, tiene a su disposición servicios gratuitos de asistencia lingüística. Llame al 1-844-683-9048.

Tagalog (Tagalog – Filipino)

Sumusunod ang MedStar Southern Maryland Hospital Center sa mga naaangkop na Pederal na batas sa karapatang sibil at hindi nandidiskrimina batay sa lahi, kulay, bansang pinagmulan, edad, kapansanan o kasarian.

PAUNAWA: Kung nagsasalita ka ng Tagalog, maaari kang gumamit ng mga serbisyo ng tulong sa wika nang walang bayad. Tumawag sa 1-844-683-9048.

(Arabic) ةيبرعلا

MedStar Southern Maryland Hospital Center يلتزمبقوانين الحقوق المدنية الفدرالية المعمول بها وال يميز على أساس العرق أو اللون أو األصل

الوطني أو السن أو اإلعاقة أو الجنس.

ملحوظة: إذا كنت تتحدث اذكر اللغة، فإن خدمات المساعدة اللغوية تتوافر لك بالمجان. اتصل برقم 8409-386-448-1.

Français (French)

MedStar Southern Maryland Hospital Center respecte les lois fédérales en vigueur relatives aux droits civiques et ne pratique aucune discrimination basée sur la race, la couleur de peau, l’origine nationale, l’âge, le sexe ou un handicap.

ATTENTION: Si vous parlez français, des services d’aide linguistique vous sont proposés gratuitement. Appelez le 1-844-683-9048.

Deutsch (German)

MedStar Southern Maryland Hospital Center erfüllt geltenden bundesstaatliche Menschenrechtsgesetze und lehnt jegliche Diskriminierung aufgrund von Rasse, Hautfarbe, Herkunft, Alter, Behinderung oder Geschlecht ab.

ACHTUNG: Wenn Sie Deutsch sprechen, stehen Ihnen kostenlos sprachliche Hilfsdienstleistungen zur Verfügung. Rufnummer: 1-844-683-9048.

繁體中文 (Chinese)

MedStar Southern Maryland Hospital Center

遵守適用的聯邦民權法律規定，不因種族、膚色、民族血統、年齡、殘障或性別而歧視任何人。

注意：如果您使用繁體中文，您可以免費獲得語言援助服務。請致電 1-844-683-9048.。

한국어 (Korean)

MedStar Southern Maryland Hospital Center 은(는) 관련 연방 공민권법을 준수하며 인종, 피부색, 출신 국가, 연령, 장애 또는 성별을 이유로 차별하지 않습니다.

주의: 한국어를 사용하시는 경우, 언어 지원 서비스를 무료로 이용하실 수 있습니다. 1-844-683-9048 번으로 전화해 주십시오.

Igbo asusu (Ibo)

MedStar Southern Maryland Hospital Center na eso usoro iwu federal civil rights. Ha a nakwagi akpachapu onye o bula n’ihe e be o nye ahu si, a gburu ya, colo ahu ya, aha ole onye ahu di, ma o bu nwoke ma o bu nwanyi.

Ige nti: O buru na asu Ibo asusu, enyemaka diri gi site na call 1-844-683-9048.

èdè Yorùbá (Yoruba)

MedStar Southern Maryland Hospital Center tele ilana ofin ijoba apapo lori eto ara ilu atipe won ko gbodo sojusaju lori oro eya awo, ilu-abinibi, ojo-ori, abarapa tabi okunrin ati obinrin.

AKIYESI: Ti o ba nso ede Yoruba ofe ni iranlowo lori ede wa fun yin o. E pe ero ibanisoro yi 1-844-683-9048.

Русский (Russian)MedStar Southern Maryland Hospital Center соблюдает применимое федеральное законодательство в области гражданских прав и не допускает дискриминации по признакам расы, цвета кожи, национальной принадлежности, возраста, инвалидности или пола.

ВНИМАНИЕ: Если вы говорите на русском языке, то вам доступны бесплатные услуги перевода. Звоните 1-844-683-9048.

Tiếng Việt (Vietnamese)MedStar Southern Maryland Hospital Center tuân thủ luật dân quyền hiện hành của Liên bang và không phân biệt đối xử dựa trên chủng tộc, màu da, nguồn gốc quốc gia, độ tuổi, khuyết tật, hoặc giới tính.

CHÚ Ý: Nếu bạn nói Tiếng Việt, có các dịch vụ hỗ trợ ngôn ngữ miễn phí dành cho bạn. Gọi số 1-844-683-9048.

አማርኛ (Amharic)

MedStar Southern Maryland Hospital Center የፌደራል ሲቪል መብቶችን መብት የሚያከብር ሲሆን ሰዎችን በዘር፡ በቆዳ ቀለም፣ በዘር ሃረግ፣ በእድሜ፣ በኣካል ጉዳት ወይም በጾታ ማንኛውንም ሰው ኣያገልም።

ማስታወሻ: የሚናገሩት ቋንቋ ኣማርኛ ከሆነ የትርጉም እርዳታ ድርጅቶች፣ በነጻ ሊያግዝዎት ተዘጋጀተዋል፡ ወደ ሚከተለው ቁጥር ይደውሉ 1-844-683-9048

ُا (Urdu) وُدر

MedStar Southern Maryland Hospital Center قابِل اطالق وفاقی شہری حقوق کے قوانین کی تعمیل کرتا ہے اور یہ کہ نسل، رنگ ،

قومیت، عمر، معذوری یا جنس کی بنیاد پر امتیاز نہیں کرتا۔

خربدار: اگر آپ اردو بولتے ہیں، تو آپ کو زبان کی مدد کی خدمات مفت میں دستیاب ہیں ۔ کال کریں 1-844-683-9048

हिंदी (Hindi)MedStar Southern Maryland Hospital Center लागू होने योग्य संघीय नागरिक अधिकार क़ानून का पालन करता है और जाति, रंग, राष्ट्रीय मूल, आयु, विकलांगता, या लिंग के आधार पर भेदभाव नहीं करता है। ध्यान दें: यदि आप हिंदी बोलते हैं तो आपके लिए मुफ्त में भाषा सहायता सेवाएं उपलब्ध हैं। 1-844-683-9048 पर कॉल करें।

(Farsi) یسراف MedStar Southern Maryland Hospital Center

تبعیضی بر اساس نژاد، رنگ پوست، اصلیت ملیتی، سن، ناتوانی یا جنسیت افراد قایل نمی شود.

توجه: اگر به زبان فارسی گفتگو می کنید، تسهیالت زبانی بصورت رایگان برای شما فراهم می باشد. با 1-448-386-8409 تماس بگیرید.

A Message from MedStar Southern Maryland Hospital Center’s Chairman of CardiologyAs we approach February, or Heart Month, it is appropriate that we recognize some of the controllable issues associated with cardiovascular disease.

To address healthy steps you can take to reduce your risk of cardiovascular disease, we present the tips below.

For decades, we have researched the role of hypertension, high cholesterol, obesity, and diabetes as contributors to the early onset of cardiovascular disease. Data collected on the past fifty years confirms and strongly suggests that controlling and or reversing these issues substantially reduces the risk of not only developing, but also the continued progression of, cardiovascular disease. The risk of death decreases, and the morbidity associated with these variables is reduced as well. As a means to begin addressing our risks, and as a way to measure our progress, we have collected four relatively easy numbers to recognize and follow regularly to reduce our potential for the development of cardiovascular disease. These lifesaving numbers are a direct reflection of our commitment to ourselves and our loved ones.

To know and understand what numbers you should be monitoring to understand the status of your health, please see the next page, where we outline four aspects of your health that you should know.

Sincerely,

William Suddath, MD Chairman, Cardiology Medstar Southern Maryland Hospital Center

Heart&SoulHELPING YOU GET TO THE HEART OF THE MATTER

WINTER 2019 • VOLUME 4 • ISSUE 1

William Suddath, MD Chairman, Cardiology MedStar Southern Maryland Hospital Center

Positive Steps You Can Take to Be Heart Healthy To help your heart stay healthy, start taking care of yourself early.

Our partnership with the MedStar Heart & Vascular Institute, the world-renowned Cleveland Clinic, offers the following four pieces of advice for how to keep your heart healthy:

1. Eat healthy fats, not trans fats. Healthy fats, including saturated, unsaturated and

polyunsaturated fats are part of a healthy diet. Healthy fats include fats found in avocados, seeds, nuts, and fish like tuna or salmon. Trans fats, by contrast, are unhealthy, as they can clog arteries. Trans fats are typically found in packaged baked goods, snack foods and fried, fast food. Read food labels and limit these to less than ten percent of calories consumed per day.

2. Practice good dental hygiene, including

daily flossing. If you put yourself at risk for gum disease, you may also be putting yourself at risk for heart disease, as bacteria from the mouth can enter the blood stream and result in a rise in a protein that can cause inflammation in the blood vessels.

3. Get enough sleep. Studies have shown that adults who sleep fewer than six hours per night may be twice as likely to have a stroke or

heart attack. Lack of sleep may also cause blood pressure and inflammation problems, and can cause a host of other health problems.

4. Don’t sit for too long at one time. Even for those who exercise regularly, sitting for extended periods of time is not healthy, as it increases the risk of deep vein thrombosis, or blood clots. Exercise is very important for overall health and heart health specifically.

Heart&SoulWINTER 2019 EDITION

Know Your NumbersIt is important to be proactive about your health, and to regularly see your doctor to monitor your health on an ongoing basis. One significant measure you can take is to know and understand the following four numbers:

Blood Pressure

Blood pressure measures the force of blood against the arteries when the heart beats and rests. It is important to know your blood pressure because having high blood pressure puts you at risk for a heart attack, and causes strain on your heart, arteries, and kidneys.

It is easy to measure your blood pressure on machines at your local grocery store or pharmacy. The target blood pressure for an adult is 120/80. The top number, or systolic, represents peak pressure in the arteries and the bottom, or diastolic, number measures the lowest pressure.

Cholesterol

A high cholesterol diet contributes to the formation of plaque in your arteries, causing blockages that can lead to a heart attack.

Doctors can measure cholesterol through a blood test, and they can help you understand your number and overall risk.

Blood Sugar

The food we eat is turned into glucose (or blood sugar) that our bodies use for energy. High blood sugar levels can cause damage to the heart, kidneys, eyes and nerves.

Doctors can measure blood sugar through a blood test, and at-home kits are available, and are often prescribed for diabetic patients. Medication and diet modification can help with blood sugar problems. Exercise can also help improve blood sugar and boost your overall fitness, thereby reducing your risk for heart disease and stroke. Diabetics should consult with their physician and track their blood sugar levels before, during, and after physical activity to monitor blood sugar fluctuations.

Body Mass Index (BMI)

Your BMI is calculated by taking your weight in pounds and dividing it by your height in inches. This measurement, along with waist circumference, is a good indicator to show if you are at a healthy weight. As BMI rises, so does the risk of certain diseases.

The target BMI for an adult ranges between 18 and 25. Like blood pressure, this is an easy measurement to do regularly on your own.

Please consult with your physician if you would like additional help understanding these numbers, or advice on how to become more heart healthy. If you do not have a primary care doctor, a cardiologist or any specialist you believe you may need to see, please visit MedStarSouthernMaryland.org/Find-A-Doc today!

Know YourNUMBERS

Blood PressureTarget for adult is 120/80

CholesterolTarget: less than 200

Blood SugarTarget before eating: less than 100Two hours after eating: less than 240

Body Mass Index (BMI)Average target: BMI of 18.6-24.9Your ideal body weight depends on your gender, age, height and frame. BMI provides a good guideline.

MedStar Southern Maryland Hospital Center is now part of the MedStar Heart & Vascular Institute-Cleveland Clinic alliance.

RESOURCE GUIDEMEDSTAR SOUTHERN MARYLAND HOSPITAL CENTER

For more details on these programs and others, please call the phone numbers listed or visit our website: MedStarSouthernMaryland.org/Calendar.

SUPPORT GROUPS

Breastfeeding Support GroupEvery Thursday from 10 a.m. to 11 a.m.(excluding holidays)Recreation area of 2 NorthCost: FREE301-877-5740

Diabetes Support GroupFourth Thursday of every month(November and December moved to third Thursday because of holidays)from 7 p.m. to 8 p.m.Hospital Multipurpose RoomCost: FREE301-877-5560

Prostate Cancer Support GroupSecond Tuesday of every month from 6:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m.Hospital Multipurpose RoomCost: FREE301-374-9098

NAMI/Mental Health Support Group for Family Members and CaregiversFirst Tuesday of every month from 6:30 p.m. to 8 p.m.Hospital Multipurpose RoomCost: FREE301-429-0970

Stroke Support GroupLast Thursday of every month from 5 p.m. to 6:30 p.m.Hospital Multipurpose Room Registration required.Cost: FREE301-877-5858

CLASSES

Breastfeeding ClassOne Saturday a month from 9 a.m. to noon.Hospital Multipurpose Room Registration required.Cost: FREE301-877-5740

Baby BasicsThis class focuses on newborn care during the first six weeks of life. The class provides education on newborn health, milestones, home safety and basic newborn care.One Thursday a month from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m.Hospital Multipurpose RoomRegistration required.301-877-5740

Prenatal Childbirth Class & TourOne Saturday a month from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.Hospital Multipurpose RoomRegistration required.301-877-5740

Smoking Cessation ClassThis course will help educate and support participants in their quest to take control of their health and quit smoking now. Every Mondayfrom 6 p.m. to 7 p.m.MedStar Health at BrandywineCommunity Room13950 Brandywine RoadBrandywine, MD 20613Registration required.Cost: $10 one time fee301-374-9098

OTHER PROGRAMS

Hospital Volunteer ProgramMedStar Southern Maryland Hospital Center volunteers make a difference every day helping to support the health of our community. Please call 301-877-4553 for more information about volunteer opportunities.

Mall Walkers ProgramSt. Charles Towne CenterSupervised, all-weather walking with FREE blood pressure monitoring. Cost: FREE301-374-9098

Women and Newborns Center ToursHospital Solarium (first floor)Cost: FREE301-877-5740

Weight Loss Surgery Seminar and Support Group MeetingTools, resources and non-judgmental support for battling obesity. Seminar conducted by bariatric surgeon John Brebbia, MD, MBA, FACS, CNSC.First Wednesday of every month MedStar Health at BrandywineCommunity Room13950 Brandywine RoadBrandywine, MD 20613Seminar: 6 p.m. to 7 p.m.Support Group: 7 p.m. to 8 p.m. Registration required.Cost: FREE301-774-8962


Since joining our hospital two years ago, Dr. Meghan Malentacchi has been a popular addition to MSMHC’s team of OB/GYNs and Labor & Delivery associates. Her patients consistently give high ratings for their interactions with Dr. Malentacchi, appreciating her easygoing, down-to-earth and supportive style.

Dr. Malentacchi says she enjoys being able to care for women in all different stages of their lives. From well patient visits for all ages of women, to helping women through their childbearing years, pregnancies and deliveries, to treating gynecological issues associated with pre and post-menopause in older patients, she

enjoys building and maintaining relationships with her patients.

“All women deserve to have a provider they feel comfortable with, especially during and after pregnancy,” said Dr. Malentacchi. “Getting good care during pregnancy will help ensure both mom and baby are healthy, and building a relationship during pregnancy also helps the moms feel more confident and comfortable when it comes time for delivery.”

Dr. Malentacchi says she grateful to be a part of the MedStar system. She also wants patients to know they can expect to receive the same high quality of care someone could find at a larger hospital, but with the warm, personal relationships you will find at a community hospital.

7503 Surratts RoadClinton, MD 20735

MedStarSouthernMaryland.org

Read us online!MedStarSouthernMaryland.org/Health

Para acceder esta Revista de Salud en Español, por favor visite MedStarSouthernMaryland.org/Espanol

Top Doctor

To make an appointment with Dr. Malentacchi, call 301-645-8867.

OB/GYN Meghan Malentacchi, MD, Sees Patients at MedStar Southern Maryland Hospital Center and MedStar Health in Waldorf

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Health · Director, Marketing and Community Relations. Design: Erin Glynn, Graphic Designer . Content: Jennifer DuMont, Marketing Writer. Photo Credits: Ryan Smith Photography, Kelanda