Innovation • Compassion • Accountability • Respect • Teamwork • Sinai Hospital • Northwest Hospital • Levindale • Community Physicians • Partners • Primary Care • Research • Technology • Cardiovascular Institute • Urgent Care • Centers of Excellence • Continuum • Innovation • Compassion • Accountability • Respect • Teamwork • Sinai Hospital • Northwest Hospital • Levindale • Community Physicians • Partners • Primary Care • Research • Technology • Cardiovascular Institute • Urgent Care • Centers of Excellence • Continuum • Innovation • Compassion • Accountability • Respect • Teamwork • SINAI HOSPITAL • Northwest Hospital • Levindale • Community Physicians • Partners • Primary Care • Research • Technology • Cardiovascular Institute • Urgent Care • Centers of Excellence • Continuum • Innovation • Compassion • Accountability • Respect • Teamwork • NORTHWEST HOSPITAL • Levindale • Community Physicians • Partners • Primary Care • Research • Technology • Cardiovascular Institute • Urgent Care • Centers of Excellence • Continuum • Innovation • Compassion • Accountability • Respect • Teamwork • Sinai Hospital • Northwest Hospital • Levindale • Community Physicians • Partners • Primary Care • Research • Technology • Cardiovascular Institute • Urgent Care • Centers of Excellence • Continuum • Innovation • Cability • LEVINDALE• Teamwork • Sinai Hospital • Northwest Hospital • LEVINDALE • Community Physicians • Partners • Primary Care • Research • Technology • Cardiovascular Institute • Urgent Care • Centers of Excellence • Continuum • Innovation • Compassion • Accountability • Respect • Teamwork • Sinai Hospital • Northwest Hospital • Levindale • Community Physicians • Partners • Primary Care • Research • Technology • Cardiovascular Institute • Urgent Care • Centers of Excellence • Continuum • Innovation • Compassion • Accountability • Respect • Teamwork • SINAI HOSPITAL • Northwest Hospital • Community Physicians • Partners • Primary Care • Research • Technology • Cardiovascular Institute • Urgent Care • Centers of Excellence • Continuum • Innovation • Compassion • Accountability • Respect • Teamwork • Teamwork • Northwest Hospital • Levindale • Community Physicians • Partners • Primary Care • Research • Technology • Cardiovascular Institute • Urgent Care • Centers of Excellence • Continuu•

InCompassion • Accountability • Teamwork • Sinai Hospital • NORTHWEST HOSPITAL • Levindale • Community Physicians • Partners • Primary Care • Research • Technology • Cardiovascular Institute •

Urgent Care • Centers of Excellence • Continuum • www.lifebridgehealth.org

Sinai Hospital • Northwest HospitalLevindale Hebrew Geriatric Center and Hospital

HealthWINTER 2015

Magazine

Winter 2015 www.lifebridgehealth.org 3LifeBridge Health Magazine Winter 2015

INTRODUCING LIFEBRIDGE HEALTH

Welcome from Neil Meltzer 3

Sinai Hospital of Baltimore 4

Northwest Hospital 5

The Specialty Hospital at Levindale 6

LifeBridge Health & Fitness 7

Partners in Health 8

LIFEBRIDGE HEALTH CARDIOVASCULAR INSTITUTE

Building the Future of World-Class Heart Care 10

Minimally Invasive Surgery Brings Maximum Results for Patients 12

Cardiologist Shows Great Heart 14

“Electricians of the Heart” Get Patients Back in Rhythm 15

With a Little Help, Heart Failure Patients Can Lead Better Lives 16

Heart Attack Survivors Benefit from Cardiac Rehab 17

Better Together: Partner with a Community Physician for Good Health 18

Simple Tricks for Hearty, Healthy Meals 19

Should You Head to the ER or an Urgent Care Center? 20

Social Media 21

Why an Integrated Health System Is Your Best Choice 22

Calendar of Events 23

What’s Inside

Looking for a doctor?

Call 410-601-WELL (9355)for the area’s best!

Jill BloomDirector of Strategic Marketing and Digital Media

Holly HoslerCopywriter

Chantrese LesterSenior Graphic Designer

Kristina JogiGraphic Designer

Scott WendlerMultimedia Specialist

LifeBridge Health Magazine is published by LifeBridge Health Strategic Marketing and Communications Department.

2401 W. Belvedere Ave.Baltimore, MD 21215410-601-9000

letter from the CEO

Neil MeltzerPresident & CEO

Here at LifeBridge Health, we’re defined by our core values: innovation, compassion,

accountability, respect and teamwork. These words are the cornerstones of the care that has made us one of Maryland’s best and most comprehensive health care systems. We’re the trusted neighbor our communities rely on for the right health care at the right time. This is why LifeBridge Health has taken substantial steps toward broadening our reach across the greater Baltimore region and well beyond.

The Core of LifeBridge HealthMany of you know about Sinai Hospital, Northwest Hospital and Levindale Hebrew Geriatric Center and Hospital. Over the years, we’ve cultivated numer-ous Centers of Excellence and garnered

some of the highest awards and recogni-tions that any health care organization could hope for, but at the end of the day, we are guided by our central mission: “Caring for our communities together.” Additionally, LifeBridge Health has continued to expand and evolve.

Important PartnershipsOur relationship with ExpressCare Urgent Care Centers provides our patients with time-efficient, cost-effective urgent care at their convenience. Our partnerships with groups like HomeCare Maryland allow us to bring key services and medicines to some of our vulnerable patients when — and where — they need us most. We’ve developed robust physi-cian networks filled with primary care providers and specialists who are renowned experts in their fields.

LifeBridge Health is in the position to offer care that can reach all members of the household, no matter where they are in life or what their goals are.

Reading this first issue of LifeBridge Health Magazine will give you an overview of LifeBridge Health (and specifically of our Cardiovascular Institute). I also encourage you to learn more about us by visiting us online (www.lifebridgehealth.org) and then making an appointment with one of our providers. You’ll see that there is no separating value from success: We measure ourselves by the lives we touch.

Neil MeltzerPresident and CEO of LifeBridge Health

Caring for our Communities Together

Stay Connected

7

5

1421

Winter 2015 www.lifebridgehealth.org 3LifeBridge Health Magazine Winter 2015

INTRODUCING LIFEBRIDGE HEALTH

Welcome from Neil Meltzer 3

Sinai Hospital of Baltimore 4

Northwest Hospital 5

The Specialty Hospital at Levindale 6

LifeBridge Health & Fitness 7

Partners in Health 8

LIFEBRIDGE HEALTH CARDIOVASCULAR INSTITUTE

Building the Future of World-Class Heart Care 10

Minimally Invasive Surgery Brings Maximum Results for Patients 12

Cardiologist Shows Great Heart 14

“Electricians of the Heart” Get Patients Back in Rhythm 15

With a Little Help, Heart Failure Patients Can Lead Better Lives 16

Heart Attack Survivors Benefit from Cardiac Rehab 17

Better Together: Partner with a Community Physician for Good Health 18

Simple Tricks for Hearty, Healthy Meals 19

Should You Head to the ER or an Urgent Care Center? 20

Social Media 21

Why an Integrated Health System Is Your Best Choice 22

Calendar of Events 23

What’s Inside

Looking for a doctor?

Call 410-601-WELL (9355)for the area’s best!

Jill BloomDirector of Strategic Marketing and Digital Media

Holly HoslerCopywriter

Chantrese LesterSenior Graphic Designer

Kristina JogiGraphic Designer

Scott WendlerMultimedia Specialist

LifeBridge Health Magazine is published by LifeBridge Health Strategic Marketing and Communications Department.

2401 W. Belvedere Ave.Baltimore, MD 21215410-601-9000

letter from the CEO

Neil MeltzerPresident & CEO

Here at LifeBridge Health, we’re defined by our core values: innovation, compassion,

accountability, respect and teamwork. These words are the cornerstones of the care that has made us one of Maryland’s best and most comprehensive health care systems. We’re the trusted neighbor our communities rely on for the right health care at the right time. This is why LifeBridge Health has taken substantial steps toward broadening our reach across the greater Baltimore region and well beyond.

The Core of LifeBridge HealthMany of you know about Sinai Hospital, Northwest Hospital and Levindale Hebrew Geriatric Center and Hospital. Over the years, we’ve cultivated numer-ous Centers of Excellence and garnered

some of the highest awards and recogni-tions that any health care organization could hope for, but at the end of the day, we are guided by our central mission: “Caring for our communities together.” Additionally, LifeBridge Health has continued to expand and evolve.

Important PartnershipsOur relationship with ExpressCare Urgent Care Centers provides our patients with time-efficient, cost-effective urgent care at their convenience. Our partnerships with groups like HomeCare Maryland allow us to bring key services and medicines to some of our vulnerable patients when — and where — they need us most. We’ve developed robust physi-cian networks filled with primary care providers and specialists who are renowned experts in their fields.

LifeBridge Health is in the position to offer care that can reach all members of the household, no matter where they are in life or what their goals are.

Reading this first issue of LifeBridge Health Magazine will give you an overview of LifeBridge Health (and specifically of our Cardiovascular Institute). I also encourage you to learn more about us by visiting us online (www.lifebridgehealth.org) and then making an appointment with one of our providers. You’ll see that there is no separating value from success: We measure ourselves by the lives we touch.

Neil MeltzerPresident and CEO of LifeBridge Health

Caring for our Communities Together

Stay Connected

7

5

1421

Winter 2015 www.lifebridgehealth.org 54 LifeBridge Health Magazine Winter 2015

Introducing LifeBridge Health

Sinai Hospital began with the traditional Jewish values of excellence, education and compassion. We still have those values — and now, we’re a state-of-the-art medical center

and a first-class teaching hospital. Some of the country’s most distinguished providers practice here. Sinai Hospital earned the American Nurses Credentialing Center’s highest honor for nursing excellence, making it the first and only community/teaching hospital in Maryland with the elite Magnet designation.

Patients travel from across the globe for the care offered at our Centers of Excellence — but you can benefit from having our world-renowned experts as your health care home base.

Our cardiac care blends innovation in technology and research with doctors who value a heart-to-heart approach. And our orthopedic and neurological rehabilita-tion teams have helped people from all backgrounds — and with all kinds of needs — walk back into fully engaged lives.

Sinai Hospital is home to the Herman & Walter Samuelson Children’s Hospital, which offers a wide range of pediatric subspecialties and providers who will treat your family like their own. Our nearby Hackerman-Patz House is a home away from home for families who come to Sinai Hospital for treat-ments that require overnight or lengthy visits.

Sinai Hospital of Baltimore

Honors and AwardsSince 2008, Sinai Hospital has earned a Get With The

Guidelines®–Stroke Gold Plus Quality Achievement Award from the American Heart Association/American Stroke Association.

Sinai Hospital received the designation of all Three Stars and Higher Efficiency as a UnitedHealth Premium Cardiac-Rhythm Management Specialty Center.

Northwest Hospital isn’t a typical community hospital — we set the standards for comfort and compassion.

More than this, we offer peace of mind — when you come to us, you’re getting highly individual-ized treatment plans using the most advanced technology.

Patient-centered care is exactly what it sounds like, and it’s what we practice. We know it makes a difference when family members are an important part of the treatment team. Even our architecture reflects our commitment to putting our patients first. Instead of traditional, centralized nursing units, fully stocked nursing alcoves are located right outside each patient’s private room. This enables nurses to spend more time doing what they like best: interacting with patients.

Honors and Awards In 2012, the Herman & Walter

Samuelson Breast Care Center at Northwest was named a Breast Imaging Center of Excellence by the American College of Radiology.

Since 2012, Northwest Hospital has earned the Get With The Guidelines®–Stroke Gold Plus Quality Achievement Award from the American Heart Association/American Stroke Association.

Since 2011, Northwest Hospital’s Subacute Unit has been named a Best Nursing Home by U.S. News & World Report.

Northwest Hospital’s hyperbaric oxygen therapy (HBOT) program is one of fewer than 100 nationally recognized accred-ited facilities by the Undersea Hyperbaric Medical Society.

Northwest Hospital’s distinguished staff includes surgeons who have pioneered minimally invasive surgery techniques for single port and robotic procedures and who train other doctors in minimally invasive techniques.

Northwest Hospital’s many Centers of Excellence offer patients exceptional care and personalized attention. They include: Alvin & Lois Lapidus Cancer InstituteBeverly K. & Jerome M. Fine Orthopedic CenterCosmetic Surgery Center ER-7 Emergency Center at NorthwestHerman & Walter Samuelson Breast Care CenterKrieger Eye InstituteLifeBridge Health Bariatric Surgery ProgramLifeBridge Health Cardiovascular InstitutePsychiatric ServicesSandra and Malcolm Berman Brain & Spine InstituteSleep Disorders CenterSurgiCenter (Ambulatory Surgery) Women’s Wellness CenterWound Care Center

Receive specialized care at our Centers of Excellence: Alvin & Lois Lapidus Cancer Institute Center for Joint Preservation and Replacement ER-7 Emergency Center at SinaiHerman & Walter Samuelson Children’s Hospital International Center for Limb LengtheningKrieger Eye InstituteLifeBridge Health Cardiovascular InstituteRubin Institute for Advanced OrthopedicsSandra and Malcolm Berman Brain & Spine InstituteSinai Rehabilitation CenterSleep CenterSpine Center

Sinai Hospital offers a complex and comprehensive range of services right in your neighborhood, including: AnesthesiologyCardiologyDentistryEmergency MedicineNeurosciencesObstetrics and GynecologyOncologyOphthalmologyOrthopedics

OtolaryngologyPathologyPediatricsPsychiatryRadiation OncologyRadiologyRehabilitation MedicineSurgeryUrology

Our medical services offer patients world-class care in their backyards:Breast CareCancer CareDiabetes and

Nutrition CenterEmergency MedicineEye CareGynecologyHeart Care ImagingNeurology Orthopedics

Outpatient RehabilitationPain ManagementPsychiatrySurgery

Northwest Hospital

Northwest Hospital5401 Old Court Road Randallstown, MD 21133 410-521-2200www.lifebridgehealth.org/northwest

Brian WhitePresident,

Northwest Hospital

Sinai Hospital2401 W. Belvedere Ave. Baltimore, MD 21215 410-601-9000www.lifebridgehealth.org/sinai

Amy PerryPresident,

Sinai Hospital of Baltimore

Winter 2015 www.lifebridgehealth.org 54 LifeBridge Health Magazine Winter 2015

Introducing LifeBridge Health

Sinai Hospital began with the traditional Jewish values of excellence, education and compassion. We still have those values — and now, we’re a state-of-the-art medical center

and a first-class teaching hospital. Some of the country’s most distinguished providers practice here. Sinai Hospital earned the American Nurses Credentialing Center’s highest honor for nursing excellence, making it the first and only community/teaching hospital in Maryland with the elite Magnet designation.

Patients travel from across the globe for the care offered at our Centers of Excellence — but you can benefit from having our world-renowned experts as your health care home base.

Our cardiac care blends innovation in technology and research with doctors who value a heart-to-heart approach. And our orthopedic and neurological rehabilita-tion teams have helped people from all backgrounds — and with all kinds of needs — walk back into fully engaged lives.

Sinai Hospital is home to the Herman & Walter Samuelson Children’s Hospital, which offers a wide range of pediatric subspecialties and providers who will treat your family like their own. Our nearby Hackerman-Patz House is a home away from home for families who come to Sinai Hospital for treat-ments that require overnight or lengthy visits.

Sinai Hospital of Baltimore

Honors and AwardsSince 2008, Sinai Hospital has earned a Get With The

Guidelines®–Stroke Gold Plus Quality Achievement Award from the American Heart Association/American Stroke Association.

Sinai Hospital received the designation of all Three Stars and Higher Efficiency as a UnitedHealth Premium Cardiac-Rhythm Management Specialty Center.

Northwest Hospital isn’t a typical community hospital — we set the standards for comfort and compassion.

More than this, we offer peace of mind — when you come to us, you’re getting highly individual-ized treatment plans using the most advanced technology.

Patient-centered care is exactly what it sounds like, and it’s what we practice. We know it makes a difference when family members are an important part of the treatment team. Even our architecture reflects our commitment to putting our patients first. Instead of traditional, centralized nursing units, fully stocked nursing alcoves are located right outside each patient’s private room. This enables nurses to spend more time doing what they like best: interacting with patients.

Honors and Awards In 2012, the Herman & Walter

Samuelson Breast Care Center at Northwest was named a Breast Imaging Center of Excellence by the American College of Radiology.

Since 2012, Northwest Hospital has earned the Get With The Guidelines®–Stroke Gold Plus Quality Achievement Award from the American Heart Association/American Stroke Association.

Since 2011, Northwest Hospital’s Subacute Unit has been named a Best Nursing Home by U.S. News & World Report.

Northwest Hospital’s hyperbaric oxygen therapy (HBOT) program is one of fewer than 100 nationally recognized accred-ited facilities by the Undersea Hyperbaric Medical Society.

Northwest Hospital’s distinguished staff includes surgeons who have pioneered minimally invasive surgery techniques for single port and robotic procedures and who train other doctors in minimally invasive techniques.

Northwest Hospital’s many Centers of Excellence offer patients exceptional care and personalized attention. They include: Alvin & Lois Lapidus Cancer InstituteBeverly K. & Jerome M. Fine Orthopedic CenterCosmetic Surgery Center ER-7 Emergency Center at NorthwestHerman & Walter Samuelson Breast Care CenterKrieger Eye InstituteLifeBridge Health Bariatric Surgery ProgramLifeBridge Health Cardiovascular InstitutePsychiatric ServicesSandra and Malcolm Berman Brain & Spine InstituteSleep Disorders CenterSurgiCenter (Ambulatory Surgery) Women’s Wellness CenterWound Care Center

Receive specialized care at our Centers of Excellence: Alvin & Lois Lapidus Cancer Institute Center for Joint Preservation and Replacement ER-7 Emergency Center at SinaiHerman & Walter Samuelson Children’s Hospital International Center for Limb LengtheningKrieger Eye InstituteLifeBridge Health Cardiovascular InstituteRubin Institute for Advanced OrthopedicsSandra and Malcolm Berman Brain & Spine InstituteSinai Rehabilitation CenterSleep CenterSpine Center

Sinai Hospital offers a complex and comprehensive range of services right in your neighborhood, including: AnesthesiologyCardiologyDentistryEmergency MedicineNeurosciencesObstetrics and GynecologyOncologyOphthalmologyOrthopedics

OtolaryngologyPathologyPediatricsPsychiatryRadiation OncologyRadiologyRehabilitation MedicineSurgeryUrology

Our medical services offer patients world-class care in their backyards:Breast CareCancer CareDiabetes and

Nutrition CenterEmergency MedicineEye CareGynecologyHeart Care ImagingNeurology Orthopedics

Outpatient RehabilitationPain ManagementPsychiatrySurgery

Northwest Hospital

Northwest Hospital5401 Old Court Road Randallstown, MD 21133 410-521-2200www.lifebridgehealth.org/northwest

Brian WhitePresident,

Northwest Hospital

Sinai Hospital2401 W. Belvedere Ave. Baltimore, MD 21215 410-601-9000www.lifebridgehealth.org/sinai

Amy PerryPresident,

Sinai Hospital of Baltimore

Winter 2015 www.lifebridgehealth.org 76 LifeBridge Health Magazine Winter 2015

The Specialty Hospital at LevindaleThe Specialty Hospital’s in-house doctors and physician assistants provide treat-ment around the clock. Also, the Specialty Hospital at Levindale fully maximizes all of LifeBridge Health’s resources to create a greater continuity of care. Patients can easily be seen by one of the more than 200 LifeBridge Health physicians — including specialists — who have credentials at Levindale. In other words, our patients get the care they need, when they need it.

In addition, Levindale operates two medical adult day services centers, as well as partial hospitalization and a psychiatric day treatment program. All of these services are designed to give elders the tools that they need to lead fulfilling lives in the community for as long as they can.

Levindale takes great pride in staying at the forefront of the ever-changing frontier of elder care. At the heart of everything, Levindale’s patients and residents can expect to be treated with the privacy, dignity, respect and compas-sion that they deserve.

L evindale Hebrew Geriatric Center and Hospital is setting new standards for elder care.

Nearly everyone in Baltimore knows that Levindale is a stellar nursing home. It was the first such facility in Maryland to adopt the Eden Alternative philosophy — an approach that combats loneliness and adds friendship, freedom and fun to residents’ daily lives. Levindale boasts a beautiful, light-filled town center with a synagogue, a gift shop and exhibits from the Jewish Museum of Maryland.

What everyone may not know, however, is that Levindale is much more than a nursing home. The Specialty Hospital at Levindale is a home of healing for patients who are ready to leave an intensive care unit but who still need long-term, intensive medical intervention. The Specialty Hospital provides the treatments and monitoring required for serious illnesses and complex medical conditions, such as:Bone infectionsCardiac conditionsCOPD (chronic obstructive

pulmonary disease)Diabetes Kidney failure PneumoniaPostoperative or posttraumatic

infections with major complicationsRespiratory infections, swelling

and failureSkin ulcersTraumatic brain injuries

LifeBridge Health & Fitness

Whether you’re a seasoned athlete, a weekend warrior or a newbie looking for

the right workout, LifeBridge Health & Fitness can help you reach your fitness goals.

Want to improve your cardiovascular health? Choose from more than 125 pieces of equipment that will help you get your heart pumping. Like group exercise? Check out one of our 100-plus weekly group exercise classes, ranging from yoga and Zumba to cardio workouts on the stationary bike and total-body strength training. If you like the water, you’ll love our Aquatic Center, which features a 25-yard, five-lane lap pool and an aquatic therapy pool.

Our fitness professionals guide members and guests of all fitness levels in their journey to a healthy way of life. We also offer education and wellness programs and medical screenings. After your workout, relax in our luxurious locker rooms with towel service, saunas, whirlpools and steam rooms.

LifeBridge Health & Fitness1836 Greene Tree RoadBaltimore, MD 21208410-484-6800www.bestbaltimorefitness.com

LifeBridge Health & Fitness features an aquatic center. Members can also take advantage of amenities such as massage therapy.

LifeBridge Health & Fitness offers more than 100 weekly

group exercise classes.

Introducing LifeBridge Health

Levindale Hebrew Geriatric Center and Hospital 2434 W. Belvedere Ave. Baltimore, MD 21215 410-601-2400www.lifebridgehealth.org/levindale

Our state-of-the-art facility offers many additional amenities that set us apart. They include:Licensed massage therapists special-

izing in a variety of massage tech-niques. Our highly skilled massage therapists teach members about their bodies and how to alleviate and prevent pain. Integrating massage and bodywork into your routine helps increase your flexibility, range of motion, energy and endurance.

A pro shop stocked with products for your workout and personal needs.

KidZone, our daily child care service. Your kids stay safe and entertained while you work out. Children 2 months to 12 years old enjoy age-appropriate activities, such as games, crafts, video games, DVDs and story time.

LifeBridge Health & Fitness also offers training with the Parisi Speed School for athletes ages 7 and older. Recognized as the country’s premier athletic perfor-mance enhancement organization for youth athletics, Parisi Speed School’s specially trained performance coaches help athletes grow faster, stronger and more self-confident.

Winter 2015 www.lifebridgehealth.org 76 LifeBridge Health Magazine Winter 2015

The Specialty Hospital at LevindaleThe Specialty Hospital’s in-house doctors and physician assistants provide treat-ment around the clock. Also, the Specialty Hospital at Levindale fully maximizes all of LifeBridge Health’s resources to create a greater continuity of care. Patients can easily be seen by one of the more than 200 LifeBridge Health physicians — including specialists — who have credentials at Levindale. In other words, our patients get the care they need, when they need it.

In addition, Levindale operates two medical adult day services centers, as well as partial hospitalization and a psychiatric day treatment program. All of these services are designed to give elders the tools that they need to lead fulfilling lives in the community for as long as they can.

Levindale takes great pride in staying at the forefront of the ever-changing frontier of elder care. At the heart of everything, Levindale’s patients and residents can expect to be treated with the privacy, dignity, respect and compas-sion that they deserve.

L evindale Hebrew Geriatric Center and Hospital is setting new standards for elder care.

Nearly everyone in Baltimore knows that Levindale is a stellar nursing home. It was the first such facility in Maryland to adopt the Eden Alternative philosophy — an approach that combats loneliness and adds friendship, freedom and fun to residents’ daily lives. Levindale boasts a beautiful, light-filled town center with a synagogue, a gift shop and exhibits from the Jewish Museum of Maryland.

What everyone may not know, however, is that Levindale is much more than a nursing home. The Specialty Hospital at Levindale is a home of healing for patients who are ready to leave an intensive care unit but who still need long-term, intensive medical intervention. The Specialty Hospital provides the treatments and monitoring required for serious illnesses and complex medical conditions, such as:Bone infectionsCardiac conditionsCOPD (chronic obstructive

pulmonary disease)Diabetes Kidney failure PneumoniaPostoperative or posttraumatic

infections with major complicationsRespiratory infections, swelling

and failureSkin ulcersTraumatic brain injuries

LifeBridge Health & Fitness

Whether you’re a seasoned athlete, a weekend warrior or a newbie looking for

the right workout, LifeBridge Health & Fitness can help you reach your fitness goals.

Want to improve your cardiovascular health? Choose from more than 125 pieces of equipment that will help you get your heart pumping. Like group exercise? Check out one of our 100-plus weekly group exercise classes, ranging from yoga and Zumba to cardio workouts on the stationary bike and total-body strength training. If you like the water, you’ll love our Aquatic Center, which features a 25-yard, five-lane lap pool and an aquatic therapy pool.

Our fitness professionals guide members and guests of all fitness levels in their journey to a healthy way of life. We also offer education and wellness programs and medical screenings. After your workout, relax in our luxurious locker rooms with towel service, saunas, whirlpools and steam rooms.

LifeBridge Health & Fitness1836 Greene Tree RoadBaltimore, MD 21208410-484-6800www.bestbaltimorefitness.com

LifeBridge Health & Fitness features an aquatic center. Members can also take advantage of amenities such as massage therapy.

LifeBridge Health & Fitness offers more than 100 weekly

group exercise classes.

Introducing LifeBridge Health

Levindale Hebrew Geriatric Center and Hospital 2434 W. Belvedere Ave. Baltimore, MD 21215 410-601-2400www.lifebridgehealth.org/levindale

Our state-of-the-art facility offers many additional amenities that set us apart. They include:Licensed massage therapists special-

izing in a variety of massage tech-niques. Our highly skilled massage therapists teach members about their bodies and how to alleviate and prevent pain. Integrating massage and bodywork into your routine helps increase your flexibility, range of motion, energy and endurance.

A pro shop stocked with products for your workout and personal needs.

KidZone, our daily child care service. Your kids stay safe and entertained while you work out. Children 2 months to 12 years old enjoy age-appropriate activities, such as games, crafts, video games, DVDs and story time.

LifeBridge Health & Fitness also offers training with the Parisi Speed School for athletes ages 7 and older. Recognized as the country’s premier athletic perfor-mance enhancement organization for youth athletics, Parisi Speed School’s specially trained performance coaches help athletes grow faster, stronger and more self-confident.

8 LifeBridge Health Magazine Winter 2015

Partners in HealthLifeBridge Health’s wide variety of business partners allows us to better serve

our patients as well as the community beyond our walls. Together we offer medical and retail services that enhance health and improve quality of life.

Winter 2015 www.lifebridgehealth.org 9

Introducing LifeBridge Health

LifeBridge Health

Physical Therapy powered by Physiotherapy Associates

410-601-9355For all your physical rehabilitation

needs, the teams at LifeBridge Health Physical Therapy develop

individualized programs. Patients have access to expert care for orthopedic

physical therapy, back and neck care, pre- and postsurgical rehabilitation, work injury rehabilitation, and even sports medicine and sports-specific training.Outpatient

Pharmacies at Sinai Hospital and Northwest Hospitalwww.lifebridgehealth.org/OutpatientPharmacyThese full-service retail pharmacies provide competitive pricing on the prescription medications you need. The pharmacies offer extra services to make our patients’ lives easier: same-day pickup, automated and online refills, pharmacy windows in the emergency room (ER), and even free bedside and home delivery of medications.

www.pulse-md.netPulse ambulances provide critical care transportation — 24 hours a day, seven days a week — for patients with a variety of needs. These services include anything from emergency transport to basic stretcher and wheel-chair transport to and from all LifeBridge Health facilities. HomeCare Maryland, LLC 410-566-5015

HomeCare Maryland is a Medicare-certified home health agency. It sends experienced providers — such as physical and occupational therapists, speech pathologists, home health aides, medical social workers and dietitians — into the homes of patients in Baltimore city and Baltimore, Harford and Cecil counties. HomeCare Maryland’s teams collaborate with patients’ LifeBridge Health providers to keep their treatment plans on track. One of HomeCare Maryland’s most significant goals is to identify patients who are more likely to be readmitted to the hospital, and to work with those patients to prevent that from happening.

Krieger Eye Institute (KEI) Optical Shops410-601-2020Want the most stylish eyes in the room? Then visit one of KEI’s optical shops, located at Northwest Hospital and Quarry Lake. The optical shops offer a wide selection of high quality eyewear from $60 and up. They feature frames from the likes of Calvin Klein, Fendi, Gucci and many others. So see us with your current lens prescription (or make an appointment with a KEI optometrist) and you’ll see clearly why KEI is the right choice!

KEI at Northwest Hospital Optical Shop5415 Old Court Road, Suite 03Randallstown, MD 21133

KEI at Quarry Lake Optical Shop2700 Quarry Lake Drive Suite 180Baltimore, MD 21209

Sinai Hospital location: 410-601-6556The Sinai Hospital location of the world’s largest sub sand-wich chain is open 24 hours a day, seven days a week. Offering healthy, convenient and affordable food options, visitors can find Subway near Sinai Hospital’s Blaustein Building entrance.

NATIONAL RESPIRATORY CARE, LLC 410-356-9006

National Respiratory Care provides nebulizers, oxygen, CPAP equipment, walkers, wheelchairs, hospital beds and other hospital equipment to patients in their homes. LifeBridge Health’s hospitals and physician practices work with National Respiratory Care to make sure patients have the medical supplies they need.

www.WhyWaitInTheER.comWhen patients are unable to see their primary care providers, they can visit any of ExpressCare Urgent Care Centers’ locations to receive convenient care without an appointment. With more than a dozen clinics throughout Maryland and Delaware, each is open seven days a week. ExpressCare provides diagnostic X-rays; laboratory services (including urinalysis, toxicology and complete blood count); sports physicals; tests for pregnancy, strep and flu; and basic immunizations.

See page 20 for

more information about

ExpressCare.www.bestbaltimorefitness.comFor information about Maryland’s premier fitness center — which has been helping Baltimore get fit for 30 years — see page 7.

8 LifeBridge Health Magazine Winter 2015

Partners in HealthLifeBridge Health’s wide variety of business partners allows us to better serve

our patients as well as the community beyond our walls. Together we offer medical and retail services that enhance health and improve quality of life.

Winter 2015 www.lifebridgehealth.org 9

Introducing LifeBridge Health

LifeBridge Health

Physical Therapy powered by Physiotherapy Associates

410-601-9355For all your physical rehabilitation

needs, the teams at LifeBridge Health Physical Therapy develop

individualized programs. Patients have access to expert care for orthopedic

physical therapy, back and neck care, pre- and postsurgical rehabilitation, work injury rehabilitation, and even sports medicine and sports-specific training.Outpatient

Pharmacies at Sinai Hospital and Northwest Hospitalwww.lifebridgehealth.org/OutpatientPharmacyThese full-service retail pharmacies provide competitive pricing on the prescription medications you need. The pharmacies offer extra services to make our patients’ lives easier: same-day pickup, automated and online refills, pharmacy windows in the emergency room (ER), and even free bedside and home delivery of medications.

www.pulse-md.netPulse ambulances provide critical care transportation — 24 hours a day, seven days a week — for patients with a variety of needs. These services include anything from emergency transport to basic stretcher and wheel-chair transport to and from all LifeBridge Health facilities. HomeCare Maryland, LLC 410-566-5015

HomeCare Maryland is a Medicare-certified home health agency. It sends experienced providers — such as physical and occupational therapists, speech pathologists, home health aides, medical social workers and dietitians — into the homes of patients in Baltimore city and Baltimore, Harford and Cecil counties. HomeCare Maryland’s teams collaborate with patients’ LifeBridge Health providers to keep their treatment plans on track. One of HomeCare Maryland’s most significant goals is to identify patients who are more likely to be readmitted to the hospital, and to work with those patients to prevent that from happening.

Krieger Eye Institute (KEI) Optical Shops410-601-2020Want the most stylish eyes in the room? Then visit one of KEI’s optical shops, located at Northwest Hospital and Quarry Lake. The optical shops offer a wide selection of high quality eyewear from $60 and up. They feature frames from the likes of Calvin Klein, Fendi, Gucci and many others. So see us with your current lens prescription (or make an appointment with a KEI optometrist) and you’ll see clearly why KEI is the right choice!

KEI at Northwest Hospital Optical Shop5415 Old Court Road, Suite 03Randallstown, MD 21133

KEI at Quarry Lake Optical Shop2700 Quarry Lake Drive Suite 180Baltimore, MD 21209

Sinai Hospital location: 410-601-6556The Sinai Hospital location of the world’s largest sub sand-wich chain is open 24 hours a day, seven days a week. Offering healthy, convenient and affordable food options, visitors can find Subway near Sinai Hospital’s Blaustein Building entrance.

NATIONAL RESPIRATORY CARE, LLC 410-356-9006

National Respiratory Care provides nebulizers, oxygen, CPAP equipment, walkers, wheelchairs, hospital beds and other hospital equipment to patients in their homes. LifeBridge Health’s hospitals and physician practices work with National Respiratory Care to make sure patients have the medical supplies they need.

www.WhyWaitInTheER.comWhen patients are unable to see their primary care providers, they can visit any of ExpressCare Urgent Care Centers’ locations to receive convenient care without an appointment. With more than a dozen clinics throughout Maryland and Delaware, each is open seven days a week. ExpressCare provides diagnostic X-rays; laboratory services (including urinalysis, toxicology and complete blood count); sports physicals; tests for pregnancy, strep and flu; and basic immunizations.

See page 20 for

more information about

ExpressCare.www.bestbaltimorefitness.comFor information about Maryland’s premier fitness center — which has been helping Baltimore get fit for 30 years — see page 7.

Winter 2015 www.lifebridgehealth.org 1110 LifeBridge Health Magazine Winter 2015

S inai Hospital has had a long tradition of providing leading-edge heart care.

In the 1970s, two Sinai Hospital cardiologists invented the implant-able automatic cardioverter defibril-lator (IACD). The device has saved tens of thousands of lives throughout the world and earned two Sinai cardiologists — Morton Mower and Michel Mirowski — a place in the history books.

Since then, stellar heart care has been provided at LifeBridge Health’s Sinai and Northwest hospitals. Both hospitals’ ER-7 Emergency Centers are accredited Chest Pain Centers, able to rapidly care for patients coming to them with heart attacks. Sinai was one of the first hospitals in Maryland to offer open heart surgery for bypass and valve procedures. Northwest Hospital offers an accredited cardiac rehabilitation program.

LifeBridge Health CEO Neil Meltzer, past president of the American Heart Association’s board of directors, has a passion for cardiovascular health. With a focus on developing advanced

Building the Future of World-Class Heart Care

Cardiovascular Institute CentersBen and Zelda Cohen Heart Rhythm CenterBenjamin and Margaret Schapiro Cardiac

Diagnostic CenterBeverly and Jerome Fine Cardiac Valve CenterCardiac Prevention CenterEmergency Chest Pain CentersHeart Failure CenterSinai Center for Thrombosis Research

THE HEART OF YOUR CAREFor more information about our centers or to find the right heart specialist for you or a loved one, call 410-601-WELL (9355).

programs, LifeBridge Health is expanding its technology and expertise in areas including minimally invasive valve repair and replacement, heart rhythm disorders, heart failure and more.

New Medical Director Comes to Cardiovascular InstituteOn July 1, 2014, the LifeBridge Health Cardiovascular Institute received its capstone: new medical director Mauro Moscucci, M.D., M.B.A., who is also chairman of Sinai Hospital’s Department of Medicine. Dr. Moscucci completed three

LifeBridge Health Cardiovascular Institute

fellowships, including one in interven-tional cardiology at Beth Israel Hospital and Harvard University in Boston. Prior to coming to Baltimore, Dr. Moscucci was the chairman of the Department of Medicine and chief of the Cardiology Division at the University of Miami, a large academic center. He has a great deal of experience in guiding a cardiology department to provide top-notch care.

“I personally believe we’re going through a very exciting time in health care,” Dr. Moscucci says. “The excite-ment comes from the fact that there has been major progress in technology and treatment for cardiovascular diseases. What we’re doing today was unthinkable just 20 years ago.”

In part, Dr. Moscucci joined LifeBridge Health because of the tremendous opportunity to build a world-class program and improve population health. The institute’s heart surgeons, rhythm specialists and interventional cardiologists offer the latest, most advanced procedures to correct heart problems and help patients once again live healthy lives.

“What we could do yesterday only with open heart surgery, we can do now with catheter-based technology,” Dr. Moscucci says.

He mentions hybrid heart proce-dures, in which the heart is operated on with the same non-invasive technique used to unblock the heart’s arteries and insert stents to keep them open. This branch of cardiology — called interven-tional cardiology — involves a physician accessing the heart with a catheter inserted through arteries. In a hybrid procedure, a cardiothoracic surgeon uses the catheter to replace a heart valve. (See page 14 for a story about one of LifeBridge Health’s interventional cardiologists. Also, an article about

minimally invasive valve surgery can be found on page 12.)

“We knew Dr. Moscucci would be right for LifeBridge Health because he has a vision for the future that includes a focus on personalized medicine,” says Amy Perry, president of Sinai Hospital and executive vice president of LifeBridge Health. “This includes combining genomic medicine, innovative technology, world-class expertise and minimally invasive techniques to provide the highest quality cardiovascular care for our patients.”

The LifeBridge Health Cardiovascular Institute offers comprehensive services that go beyond cutting-edge treatments. Experts at the institute’s Cardiac

Ready for the FutureIn addition to a place where patients receive the best heart care, Dr. Moscucci sees in LifeBridge Health a health system that’s optimistic and poised for the future of health care.

“The paradigm of health care is changing. We’re moving from a physi-cian-centered to a patient-centered approach,” says Dr. Moscucci. He speaks of efforts to make heart procedures easier and more comfortable for patients as well as an emphasis on providing the best care around the clock.

“The way I see LifeBridge Health moving forward with the health care reform changes is very well focused and geared toward a full alignment with this new paradigm — that’s what I found exciting when I decided to join LifeBridge Health,” he says. Despite his more than two decades of work with major academic hospitals, Dr. Moscucci is glad to be right here with LifeBridge Health.

“I think an organization of our size and structure can be more nimble in moving forward with the appropriate changes within the new health care system,” Dr. Moscucci concludes.

When it comes to one of the body’s most vital organs — the heart — you require nothing less than the right care. That’s why you should trust LifeBridge Health with yours.

“ ...there has been major progress in technology and treatment for cardiovascular diseases. What we’re doing today was unthinkable just 20 years ago.”

— Mauro Moscucci, M.D., M.B.A.

Prevention Center use advanced diagnos-tic tools to identify hardened arteries at the earliest stages for patients. Patients can then make lifestyle changes and take medications to prevent heart disease from progressing. The institute’s Sinai Center for Thrombosis Research is looking for ways to effectively prevent blood clots that cause heart attack and stroke. And, for patients who have had a heart attack or heart surgery, the institute’s Cardiac Rehabilitation program (see page 17) helps them build strong hearts so they can avoid future problems.

Mauro Moscucci, M.D. Medical Director of the Cardiovascular Institute

Winter 2015 www.lifebridgehealth.org 1110 LifeBridge Health Magazine Winter 2015

S inai Hospital has had a long tradition of providing leading-edge heart care.

In the 1970s, two Sinai Hospital cardiologists invented the implant-able automatic cardioverter defibril-lator (IACD). The device has saved tens of thousands of lives throughout the world and earned two Sinai cardiologists — Morton Mower and Michel Mirowski — a place in the history books.

Since then, stellar heart care has been provided at LifeBridge Health’s Sinai and Northwest hospitals. Both hospitals’ ER-7 Emergency Centers are accredited Chest Pain Centers, able to rapidly care for patients coming to them with heart attacks. Sinai was one of the first hospitals in Maryland to offer open heart surgery for bypass and valve procedures. Northwest Hospital offers an accredited cardiac rehabilitation program.

LifeBridge Health CEO Neil Meltzer, past president of the American Heart Association’s board of directors, has a passion for cardiovascular health. With a focus on developing advanced

Building the Future of World-Class Heart Care

Cardiovascular Institute CentersBen and Zelda Cohen Heart Rhythm CenterBenjamin and Margaret Schapiro Cardiac

Diagnostic CenterBeverly and Jerome Fine Cardiac Valve CenterCardiac Prevention CenterEmergency Chest Pain CentersHeart Failure CenterSinai Center for Thrombosis Research

THE HEART OF YOUR CAREFor more information about our centers or to find the right heart specialist for you or a loved one, call 410-601-WELL (9355).

programs, LifeBridge Health is expanding its technology and expertise in areas including minimally invasive valve repair and replacement, heart rhythm disorders, heart failure and more.

New Medical Director Comes to Cardiovascular InstituteOn July 1, 2014, the LifeBridge Health Cardiovascular Institute received its capstone: new medical director Mauro Moscucci, M.D., M.B.A., who is also chairman of Sinai Hospital’s Department of Medicine. Dr. Moscucci completed three

LifeBridge Health Cardiovascular Institute

fellowships, including one in interven-tional cardiology at Beth Israel Hospital and Harvard University in Boston. Prior to coming to Baltimore, Dr. Moscucci was the chairman of the Department of Medicine and chief of the Cardiology Division at the University of Miami, a large academic center. He has a great deal of experience in guiding a cardiology department to provide top-notch care.

“I personally believe we’re going through a very exciting time in health care,” Dr. Moscucci says. “The excite-ment comes from the fact that there has been major progress in technology and treatment for cardiovascular diseases. What we’re doing today was unthinkable just 20 years ago.”

In part, Dr. Moscucci joined LifeBridge Health because of the tremendous opportunity to build a world-class program and improve population health. The institute’s heart surgeons, rhythm specialists and interventional cardiologists offer the latest, most advanced procedures to correct heart problems and help patients once again live healthy lives.

“What we could do yesterday only with open heart surgery, we can do now with catheter-based technology,” Dr. Moscucci says.

He mentions hybrid heart proce-dures, in which the heart is operated on with the same non-invasive technique used to unblock the heart’s arteries and insert stents to keep them open. This branch of cardiology — called interven-tional cardiology — involves a physician accessing the heart with a catheter inserted through arteries. In a hybrid procedure, a cardiothoracic surgeon uses the catheter to replace a heart valve. (See page 14 for a story about one of LifeBridge Health’s interventional cardiologists. Also, an article about

minimally invasive valve surgery can be found on page 12.)

“We knew Dr. Moscucci would be right for LifeBridge Health because he has a vision for the future that includes a focus on personalized medicine,” says Amy Perry, president of Sinai Hospital and executive vice president of LifeBridge Health. “This includes combining genomic medicine, innovative technology, world-class expertise and minimally invasive techniques to provide the highest quality cardiovascular care for our patients.”

The LifeBridge Health Cardiovascular Institute offers comprehensive services that go beyond cutting-edge treatments. Experts at the institute’s Cardiac

Ready for the FutureIn addition to a place where patients receive the best heart care, Dr. Moscucci sees in LifeBridge Health a health system that’s optimistic and poised for the future of health care.

“The paradigm of health care is changing. We’re moving from a physi-cian-centered to a patient-centered approach,” says Dr. Moscucci. He speaks of efforts to make heart procedures easier and more comfortable for patients as well as an emphasis on providing the best care around the clock.

“The way I see LifeBridge Health moving forward with the health care reform changes is very well focused and geared toward a full alignment with this new paradigm — that’s what I found exciting when I decided to join LifeBridge Health,” he says. Despite his more than two decades of work with major academic hospitals, Dr. Moscucci is glad to be right here with LifeBridge Health.

“I think an organization of our size and structure can be more nimble in moving forward with the appropriate changes within the new health care system,” Dr. Moscucci concludes.

When it comes to one of the body’s most vital organs — the heart — you require nothing less than the right care. That’s why you should trust LifeBridge Health with yours.

“ ...there has been major progress in technology and treatment for cardiovascular diseases. What we’re doing today was unthinkable just 20 years ago.”

— Mauro Moscucci, M.D., M.B.A.

Prevention Center use advanced diagnos-tic tools to identify hardened arteries at the earliest stages for patients. Patients can then make lifestyle changes and take medications to prevent heart disease from progressing. The institute’s Sinai Center for Thrombosis Research is looking for ways to effectively prevent blood clots that cause heart attack and stroke. And, for patients who have had a heart attack or heart surgery, the institute’s Cardiac Rehabilitation program (see page 17) helps them build strong hearts so they can avoid future problems.

Mauro Moscucci, M.D. Medical Director of the Cardiovascular Institute

Winter 2015 www.lifebridgehealth.org 13

Ethan Schreier has been bouncing back well from his minimally invasive valve replacement surgery, thanks to Christopher C. Kwon, M.D.

LifeBridge Health Cardiovascular Institute

Heart valve surgery has traditionally been a very invasive undertaking, requiring open heart surgery and

long healing times. Now, thanks to techno-logical advances that have allowed for new techniques, this doesn’t have to be the case for patients of the Beverly and Jerome Fine Cardiac Valve Center at Sinai Hospital — patients like Ethan Schreier.

Schreier went to his regular doctor complaining of breathlessness and fatigue. Heart imaging confirmed a case of aortic stenosis, which occurs when one of the heart’s valves narrows, obstructing blood flow. This brought him to Christopher C. Kwon, M.D., division chief of cardiac surgery for Sinai Hospital. Dr. Kwon thought that Schreier would be a good candidate for minimally invasive valve replacement surgery.

About the SurgeryTraditionally, mitral and aortic heart valve surgery has been done by cutting the breastbone in the center. Thanks to better tools and more physician experience, minimally invasive approaches give patients improved comfort, the potential for a faster recovery and return to activities, and less scarring.

In a minimally invasive procedure, surgeons use what Dr. Kwon calls “minimal-access approaches,” meaning that, instead of going in through the center of the chest, surgeons perform the operation through a patient’s rib space. Surgeons

Minimally Invasive Surgery Brings Maximum Results for Patients

Christopher C. Kwon, M.D.Division Chief of Cardiac Surgery

still employ the same techniques used during a traditional valve replacement or repair; they simply use less invasive entry points.

Procedures on a patient’s mitral valve can be done through small incisions made on the right side of the chest, and procedures on the aortic valve can be done through the right upper side of the chest or upper middle of the chest. These minimal-access techniques can be also used for other heart procedures, such as treating tumors inside the heart, closing the left atrial appendage and closing holes in the heart that people are born with.

Happy and HealingAfter his initial talk with Dr. Kwon, Schreier did his research. “I’ve been impressed with everyone I’ve met at Sinai,” he says. “Especially the pre-op teams I met and the nurses in the Cardiac Intensive Care Unit.”

He’s been equally pleased with how quickly and easily he’s healing from the procedure, especially when compared to friends, family members and colleagues who’ve had more traditional valve replacement surgeries.

“Everyone compliments me on how good I look and how well I sound,” he says. After surgery, Schreier started taking short walks to rebuild strength and stamina. Within two weeks, he was able to walk for just over 30 minutes.

By collaborating with colleagues across the LifeBridge Health Cardiovascular Institute, Dr. Kwon hopes to turn Sinai Hospital into a regional leader in minimally invasive valve surgery.

COULD THIS SURGERY BE RIGHT FOR YOU?To learn more about minimally invasive heart valve replacement surgery at Sinai Hospital, call 410-601-WELL (9355).

12 LifeBridge Health Magazine Winter 2015

Winter 2015 www.lifebridgehealth.org 13

Ethan Schreier has been bouncing back well from his minimally invasive valve replacement surgery, thanks to Christopher C. Kwon, M.D.

LifeBridge Health Cardiovascular Institute

Heart valve surgery has traditionally been a very invasive undertaking, requiring open heart surgery and

long healing times. Now, thanks to techno-logical advances that have allowed for new techniques, this doesn’t have to be the case for patients of the Beverly and Jerome Fine Cardiac Valve Center at Sinai Hospital — patients like Ethan Schreier.

Schreier went to his regular doctor complaining of breathlessness and fatigue. Heart imaging confirmed a case of aortic stenosis, which occurs when one of the heart’s valves narrows, obstructing blood flow. This brought him to Christopher C. Kwon, M.D., division chief of cardiac surgery for Sinai Hospital. Dr. Kwon thought that Schreier would be a good candidate for minimally invasive valve replacement surgery.

About the SurgeryTraditionally, mitral and aortic heart valve surgery has been done by cutting the breastbone in the center. Thanks to better tools and more physician experience, minimally invasive approaches give patients improved comfort, the potential for a faster recovery and return to activities, and less scarring.

In a minimally invasive procedure, surgeons use what Dr. Kwon calls “minimal-access approaches,” meaning that, instead of going in through the center of the chest, surgeons perform the operation through a patient’s rib space. Surgeons

Minimally Invasive Surgery Brings Maximum Results for Patients

Christopher C. Kwon, M.D.Division Chief of Cardiac Surgery

still employ the same techniques used during a traditional valve replacement or repair; they simply use less invasive entry points.

Procedures on a patient’s mitral valve can be done through small incisions made on the right side of the chest, and procedures on the aortic valve can be done through the right upper side of the chest or upper middle of the chest. These minimal-access techniques can be also used for other heart procedures, such as treating tumors inside the heart, closing the left atrial appendage and closing holes in the heart that people are born with.

Happy and HealingAfter his initial talk with Dr. Kwon, Schreier did his research. “I’ve been impressed with everyone I’ve met at Sinai,” he says. “Especially the pre-op teams I met and the nurses in the Cardiac Intensive Care Unit.”

He’s been equally pleased with how quickly and easily he’s healing from the procedure, especially when compared to friends, family members and colleagues who’ve had more traditional valve replacement surgeries.

“Everyone compliments me on how good I look and how well I sound,” he says. After surgery, Schreier started taking short walks to rebuild strength and stamina. Within two weeks, he was able to walk for just over 30 minutes.

By collaborating with colleagues across the LifeBridge Health Cardiovascular Institute, Dr. Kwon hopes to turn Sinai Hospital into a regional leader in minimally invasive valve surgery.

COULD THIS SURGERY BE RIGHT FOR YOU?To learn more about minimally invasive heart valve replacement surgery at Sinai Hospital, call 410-601-WELL (9355).

12 LifeBridge Health Magazine Winter 2015

LifeBridge Health Cardiovascular Institute

O nce you step into the office of Ali Tabrizchi, D.O., you breathe more easily. This partially has

something to do with the greenery: a row of luscious houseplants on the window-sill and the large potted tree that yawns over his desk.

Dr. Tabrizchi, an interventional cardiologist at the LifeBridge Health Cardiovascular Institute, forgoes a wall full of diplomas and awards — though he has plenty of them (he’s quadruple board certified; an expert in cardiac stents, nuclear cardiology, cardiac arrhythmia and cardiomyopathy; and the only Harford County cardiologist named a 2014 Top Doc by Baltimore magazine) — in favor of plant life because of the message it sends.

“The plants are soothing,” he says. “They’re always the first thing any new patient comments on.”

Cardiologist Shows Great Heart

Ali Tabrizchi, D.O., a clinical interventional cardiologist at the LifeBridge Health Cardiovascular Institute, meets with a patient in his welcoming office.

“ Being compassionate lets our patients know that we’re looking at them as people, and not as conditions.”

— Ali Tabrizchi, D.O.

TRUST US WITH ALL OF YOUR HEARTFor high quality, compassionate cardiac care, call 410-601-WELL (9355) to find a LifeBridge Health Cardiovascular Institute physician.

Our hearts’ electrical systems control the rate and rhythm of each heartbeat; every time our hearts beat, an electrical signal spreads from the top of the heart to

the bottom. As the signal travels, it causes the heart to contract and pump blood. Most of us don’t notice this silent process until something unusual occurs.

This “something unusual” with the heart’s rhythm is often experienced as an arrhythmia. The most common arrhythmia occurs when rapid, disorganized electrical signals cause the heart’s two upper chambers (or atria) to contract very quickly and irregularly; it’s known as atrial fibrillation (AF). AF can prevent the blood from being pumped into the heart’s two lower chambers, which allows blood to pool in the atria.

“AF is a block in the electrical flow of the heart,” explains Jeffrey Banker, M.D., an electrophysiologist at the Zelda and Ben Cohen Heart Rhythm Center, part of the LifeBridge Health Cardiovascular Institute.

According to Paresh Shah, M.D., an electrophysiologist, “Most patients with AF are either diagnosed during a routine EKG or when they come to their physicians or to the emergen-cy room with symptoms like palpitations, shortness of breath, chest pain or fatigue.”

New Procedure Provides Incredible Precision for SpecialistsIn the past, treatment for AF has involved medications with extensive side effects or complex, invasive procedures where a catheter must be woven through all four chambers of the heart. The teams at the Cohen Heart Rhythm Center use the most advanced AF treatments; they offer more efficient techniques that lead to better patient comfort and shorter recovery times.

Dr. Shah says that LifeBridge Health is one of only three hospitals in Baltimore city to offer cryoballoon catheterization, the most advanced treatment for AF. During this procedure, a slim catheter is inserted near the heart tissues that are causing the rhythm problem. A tiny balloon is inflated, and that balloon freezes the problem tissue, effectively ending the arrhythmia.

This procedure allows the heart rhythm specialist an incred-ible degree of precision by letting him or her target specific areas. This precision translates into faster recovery times for patients. “There’s no cutting or scarring,” Dr. Banker says. “Most patients are back to their regular routines within 48 hours.”

Sinai Hospital’s electricians of the heart use new technolo-gies that offer 3-D mapping of the cryoballoon. This mapping offers a safer, more comprehensive view of the balloon, which makes the procedure even more precise.

“ Electricians of the Heart” Get Patients Back in Rhythm

Jeffrey Banker, M.D. Cardiac Electrophysiologist

Paresh Shah, M.D. Cardiac Electrophysiologist

MORE INFORMATION IN A HEARTBEATFor more about cryoablation treatment at the Heart Rhythm Center at Sinai, call 410-601-WELL (9355).

partnerships encourage a level of deep trust. That trust is central as a treatment plan is mapped out.

“If your patient trusts that you’re a real partner, then he or she is likely to be more proactive about following through with his or her treatment plan,” he says.

Master Gardener Helps Patients GrowDr. Tabrizchi has been recognized as one of Vitals’ Most Compassionate Doctors for three years in a row. The honor is especially meaningful to him because it’s determined by patient reviews on a physician’s bedside manner, one-on-one time, ease of setting up appointments and the quality of follow-up care.

He credits his success to the culture at the LifeBridge Health Cardiovascular Institute and at Sinai Hospital.

“I love this hospital. Everyone, from our administration to our support staff, is so compassionate and supportive,” he says. This support has allowed Dr. Tabrizchi to focus on his patients with the tenderness and attention of a master gardener to help them grow.

But the thing patients remember is Dr. Tabrizchi’s empathy.

“Being compas-sionate lets our patients know that we’re looking at them as people, and not just as conditions,” he says.

Compassionate Care Goes a Long WaySeeing patients as individuals who have their own unique expectations for treatment and desired outcomes is the hallmark of patient-centered care. It’s the standard of care LifeBridge Health offers.

Dr. Tabrizchi says that the most powerful thing any doctor can do is to simply listen to the person sitting across from him or her. Patient-physician

Ali Tabrizchi, D.O.Cardiologist

Winter 2015 www.lifebridgehealth.org 1514 LifeBridge Health Magazine Winter 2015

LifeBridge Health Cardiovascular Institute

O nce you step into the office of Ali Tabrizchi, D.O., you breathe more easily. This partially has

something to do with the greenery: a row of luscious houseplants on the window-sill and the large potted tree that yawns over his desk.

Dr. Tabrizchi, an interventional cardiologist at the LifeBridge Health Cardiovascular Institute, forgoes a wall full of diplomas and awards — though he has plenty of them (he’s quadruple board certified; an expert in cardiac stents, nuclear cardiology, cardiac arrhythmia and cardiomyopathy; and the only Harford County cardiologist named a 2014 Top Doc by Baltimore magazine) — in favor of plant life because of the message it sends.

“The plants are soothing,” he says. “They’re always the first thing any new patient comments on.”

Cardiologist Shows Great Heart

Ali Tabrizchi, D.O., a clinical interventional cardiologist at the LifeBridge Health Cardiovascular Institute, meets with a patient in his welcoming office.

“ Being compassionate lets our patients know that we’re looking at them as people, and not as conditions.”

— Ali Tabrizchi, D.O.

TRUST US WITH ALL OF YOUR HEARTFor high quality, compassionate cardiac care, call 410-601-WELL (9355) to find a LifeBridge Health Cardiovascular Institute physician.

Our hearts’ electrical systems control the rate and rhythm of each heartbeat; every time our hearts beat, an electrical signal spreads from the top of the heart to

the bottom. As the signal travels, it causes the heart to contract and pump blood. Most of us don’t notice this silent process until something unusual occurs.

This “something unusual” with the heart’s rhythm is often experienced as an arrhythmia. The most common arrhythmia occurs when rapid, disorganized electrical signals cause the heart’s two upper chambers (or atria) to contract very quickly and irregularly; it’s known as atrial fibrillation (AF). AF can prevent the blood from being pumped into the heart’s two lower chambers, which allows blood to pool in the atria.

“AF is a block in the electrical flow of the heart,” explains Jeffrey Banker, M.D., an electrophysiologist at the Zelda and Ben Cohen Heart Rhythm Center, part of the LifeBridge Health Cardiovascular Institute.

According to Paresh Shah, M.D., an electrophysiologist, “Most patients with AF are either diagnosed during a routine EKG or when they come to their physicians or to the emergen-cy room with symptoms like palpitations, shortness of breath, chest pain or fatigue.”

New Procedure Provides Incredible Precision for SpecialistsIn the past, treatment for AF has involved medications with extensive side effects or complex, invasive procedures where a catheter must be woven through all four chambers of the heart. The teams at the Cohen Heart Rhythm Center use the most advanced AF treatments; they offer more efficient techniques that lead to better patient comfort and shorter recovery times.

Dr. Shah says that LifeBridge Health is one of only three hospitals in Baltimore city to offer cryoballoon catheterization, the most advanced treatment for AF. During this procedure, a slim catheter is inserted near the heart tissues that are causing the rhythm problem. A tiny balloon is inflated, and that balloon freezes the problem tissue, effectively ending the arrhythmia.

This procedure allows the heart rhythm specialist an incred-ible degree of precision by letting him or her target specific areas. This precision translates into faster recovery times for patients. “There’s no cutting or scarring,” Dr. Banker says. “Most patients are back to their regular routines within 48 hours.”

Sinai Hospital’s electricians of the heart use new technolo-gies that offer 3-D mapping of the cryoballoon. This mapping offers a safer, more comprehensive view of the balloon, which makes the procedure even more precise.

“ Electricians of the Heart” Get Patients Back in Rhythm

Jeffrey Banker, M.D. Cardiac Electrophysiologist

Paresh Shah, M.D. Cardiac Electrophysiologist

MORE INFORMATION IN A HEARTBEATFor more about cryoablation treatment at the Heart Rhythm Center at Sinai, call 410-601-WELL (9355).

partnerships encourage a level of deep trust. That trust is central as a treatment plan is mapped out.

“If your patient trusts that you’re a real partner, then he or she is likely to be more proactive about following through with his or her treatment plan,” he says.

Master Gardener Helps Patients GrowDr. Tabrizchi has been recognized as one of Vitals’ Most Compassionate Doctors for three years in a row. The honor is especially meaningful to him because it’s determined by patient reviews on a physician’s bedside manner, one-on-one time, ease of setting up appointments and the quality of follow-up care.

He credits his success to the culture at the LifeBridge Health Cardiovascular Institute and at Sinai Hospital.

“I love this hospital. Everyone, from our administration to our support staff, is so compassionate and supportive,” he says. This support has allowed Dr. Tabrizchi to focus on his patients with the tenderness and attention of a master gardener to help them grow.

But the thing patients remember is Dr. Tabrizchi’s empathy.

“Being compas-sionate lets our patients know that we’re looking at them as people, and not just as conditions,” he says.

Compassionate Care Goes a Long WaySeeing patients as individuals who have their own unique expectations for treatment and desired outcomes is the hallmark of patient-centered care. It’s the standard of care LifeBridge Health offers.

Dr. Tabrizchi says that the most powerful thing any doctor can do is to simply listen to the person sitting across from him or her. Patient-physician

Ali Tabrizchi, D.O.Cardiologist

Winter 2015 www.lifebridgehealth.org 1514 LifeBridge Health Magazine Winter 2015

Winter 2015 www.lifebridgehealth.org 1716 LifeBridge Health Magazine Winter 2015

Cardiac RehabHeart Attack Survivors Benefit from

Having a heart attack can be a terrifying, isolating experience — and not just in the moment it’s happening. Critical interventions can save lives, but many patients in recovery

are left to wonder, “What’s next?” They may know they have to alter their diet and exercise levels or make plans to address underlying health issues, like diabetes. But they may not know how to make these changes.

“Patients can feel very afraid after a heart attack,” explains Lisa Gerberg, program manager for cardiac rehabilitation at Northwest Hospital. The goal of the Phase II cardiac rehab program at Northwest Hospital, part of the LifeBridge Health Cardiac Rehabilitation pro-gram, is to empower patients who are recovering from heart attacks, bypass surgeries or valve replacement procedures to take charge of their health. Northwest Hospital houses an outpatient, medically supervised and telemetry-monitored exercise program with a focus on lasting wellness through patient education.

“We work on developing our patients’ strength and stamina by introducing regular exercise,” says Gerberg. A multidisciplinary team — including a board-certified cardiologist, a Phase II cardiac rehab nurse who is an R.N., a physical therapist, a registered dietitian and other fitness staff — craft an individu-alized fitness routine for each patient. Small groups of about a dozen

patients use a state-of-the-art exercise area. This group environment gives patients a safe space to heal, bodily and emotionally; they’re surrounded by people who understand what they’re going through.

Giving Patients Needed SupportThe program, generally completed within three months, focuses on preparing patients to exercise on their own. However, it also supports patients in learning about proper nutrition and medication management.

“We teach our patients how to read labels and make heart-healthier food choices,” says Gerberg. Treatment teams leverage the resources available within Northwest Hospital — especially the Diabetes & Nutrition Center and the anticoagulation clinic — to make sure that patients get everything they need to continue their recovery independently.

This continued support has a life-changing, lifesaving impact. “I see different people at the end of this program,” says Gerberg. “I see stronger, more focused people who feel prepared to go back to their lives.”

“ We work on developing our patients’ strength and stamina by introducing regular exercise.”

— Lisa Gerberg

BOOST YOUR HEART WITH CARDIAC REHABInterested in the LifeBridge Health Cardiac Rehabilitation program at Northwest Hospi-

tal? Talk with your physician or other health care professional about getting a referral. Also, check your health insurance coverage to see if you need preauthorization. For more information or to schedule a new patient appointment, call 410-701-4333.

LifeBridge Health Cardiovascular Institute

M ore than five million Americans have heart failure (HF), a serious medical

condition that occurs when the heart cannot pump in a way that meets the body’s needs. Most often, HF is caused by underlying heart disease, though smok-ing, high blood pressure, obesity and diabetes can also contribute to its develop-ment. HF can affect people of any age — even children — but it is a condition that especially targets adults over age 65.

HF SymptomsWhen the heart cannot pump blood well enough, a person might experience symptoms such as shortness of breath, bloating of the abdomen, and swelling of the feet and ankles. These symptoms occur because the weakened heart muscle causes the body to hold on to extra fluid. Besides causing these bothersome physical effects, HF can

With a Little Help, Heart Failure Patients Can Lead Better Lives

continue to worsen and can be life-threatening if it is not managed well.

Living Well with HFWhile HF has no cure, a new center at Sinai Hospital is helping patients with HF lead healthier, longer and more fulfilling lives. The Heart Failure Center, part of the LifeBridge Health Cardiovascular Institute, helps patients transition from leaving the hospital after an HF diagnosis to living better with this chronic condition.

“People who are newly diagnosed with HF often feel overwhelmed,” says Mauro Moscucci, M.D., M.B.A., an intervention-al cardiologist and medical director of the LifeBridge Health Cardiovascular Institute. “The Heart Failure Center provides the education and encourage-ment they need as well as urgent intervention so that patients are enabled to stay out of the hospital.”

A nurse practitioner at the center helps patients understand the lifestyle changes they need to make with HF and the importance of taking medications that can slow down the progression of — and in some cases reverse — HF. When patients adopt new healthful habits, they are not only more likely to stay out of the emergency room and the hospital, but they feel better too.

In addition, if an HF patient’s symp-toms become severe, he or she can come to the Heart Failure Center for urgent IV treatment to restore the body’s fluid balance. The experts at the Heart Failure Center also monitor patients’ lab results and work with their primary care and other providers to make sure all of their medical care is coordinated. Receiving this coordinated care can help patients live much better with an HF diagnosis.

GET HELP TO MANAGE HEART FAILUREFor more information or for an appointment at the Heart Failure Center, visit www.lifebridgehealth.org/heart or call 410-601-WELL (9355).

Winter 2015 www.lifebridgehealth.org 1716 LifeBridge Health Magazine Winter 2015

Cardiac RehabHeart Attack Survivors Benefit from

Having a heart attack can be a terrifying, isolating experience — and not just in the moment it’s happening. Critical interventions can save lives, but many patients in recovery

are left to wonder, “What’s next?” They may know they have to alter their diet and exercise levels or make plans to address underlying health issues, like diabetes. But they may not know how to make these changes.

“Patients can feel very afraid after a heart attack,” explains Lisa Gerberg, program manager for cardiac rehabilitation at Northwest Hospital. The goal of the Phase II cardiac rehab program at Northwest Hospital, part of the LifeBridge Health Cardiac Rehabilitation pro-gram, is to empower patients who are recovering from heart attacks, bypass surgeries or valve replacement procedures to take charge of their health. Northwest Hospital houses an outpatient, medically supervised and telemetry-monitored exercise program with a focus on lasting wellness through patient education.

“We work on developing our patients’ strength and stamina by introducing regular exercise,” says Gerberg. A multidisciplinary team — including a board-certified cardiologist, a Phase II cardiac rehab nurse who is an R.N., a physical therapist, a registered dietitian and other fitness staff — craft an individu-alized fitness routine for each patient. Small groups of about a dozen

patients use a state-of-the-art exercise area. This group environment gives patients a safe space to heal, bodily and emotionally; they’re surrounded by people who understand what they’re going through.

Giving Patients Needed SupportThe program, generally completed within three months, focuses on preparing patients to exercise on their own. However, it also supports patients in learning about proper nutrition and medication management.

“We teach our patients how to read labels and make heart-healthier food choices,” says Gerberg. Treatment teams leverage the resources available within Northwest Hospital — especially the Diabetes & Nutrition Center and the anticoagulation clinic — to make sure that patients get everything they need to continue their recovery independently.

This continued support has a life-changing, lifesaving impact. “I see different people at the end of this program,” says Gerberg. “I see stronger, more focused people who feel prepared to go back to their lives.”

“ We work on developing our patients’ strength and stamina by introducing regular exercise.”

— Lisa Gerberg

BOOST YOUR HEART WITH CARDIAC REHABInterested in the LifeBridge Health Cardiac Rehabilitation program at Northwest Hospi-

tal? Talk with your physician or other health care professional about getting a referral. Also, check your health insurance coverage to see if you need preauthorization. For more information or to schedule a new patient appointment, call 410-701-4333.

LifeBridge Health Cardiovascular Institute

M ore than five million Americans have heart failure (HF), a serious medical

condition that occurs when the heart cannot pump in a way that meets the body’s needs. Most often, HF is caused by underlying heart disease, though smok-ing, high blood pressure, obesity and diabetes can also contribute to its develop-ment. HF can affect people of any age — even children — but it is a condition that especially targets adults over age 65.

HF SymptomsWhen the heart cannot pump blood well enough, a person might experience symptoms such as shortness of breath, bloating of the abdomen, and swelling of the feet and ankles. These symptoms occur because the weakened heart muscle causes the body to hold on to extra fluid. Besides causing these bothersome physical effects, HF can

With a Little Help, Heart Failure Patients Can Lead Better Lives

continue to worsen and can be life-threatening if it is not managed well.

Living Well with HFWhile HF has no cure, a new center at Sinai Hospital is helping patients with HF lead healthier, longer and more fulfilling lives. The Heart Failure Center, part of the LifeBridge Health Cardiovascular Institute, helps patients transition from leaving the hospital after an HF diagnosis to living better with this chronic condition.

“People who are newly diagnosed with HF often feel overwhelmed,” says Mauro Moscucci, M.D., M.B.A., an intervention-al cardiologist and medical director of the LifeBridge Health Cardiovascular Institute. “The Heart Failure Center provides the education and encourage-ment they need as well as urgent intervention so that patients are enabled to stay out of the hospital.”

A nurse practitioner at the center helps patients understand the lifestyle changes they need to make with HF and the importance of taking medications that can slow down the progression of — and in some cases reverse — HF. When patients adopt new healthful habits, they are not only more likely to stay out of the emergency room and the hospital, but they feel better too.

In addition, if an HF patient’s symp-toms become severe, he or she can come to the Heart Failure Center for urgent IV treatment to restore the body’s fluid balance. The experts at the Heart Failure Center also monitor patients’ lab results and work with their primary care and other providers to make sure all of their medical care is coordinated. Receiving this coordinated care can help patients live much better with an HF diagnosis.

GET HELP TO MANAGE HEART FAILUREFor more information or for an appointment at the Heart Failure Center, visit www.lifebridgehealth.org/heart or call 410-601-WELL (9355).

Winter 2015 www.lifebridgehealth.org 1918 LifeBridge Health Magazine Winter 2015

Partner with a Community Physician for Good Health

Leonard H. Raucher, M.D., a family practitioner, strives to build relationships with his patients that foster better, lasting health.

Better Together: Acommunity physician brings his or her talents and

passions for patient care into the surrounding community. Community physicians build relation-

ships with their neighbors. They can help patients manage chronic conditions, including diabetes, high blood pressure and heart disease.

Community physicians, especially primary care providers, specialize in internal medicine, family medicine and pediatrics. That’s why health care organizations like LifeBridge Health are developing partnerships with community physicians and physician practices across the state of Maryland. Over the past few years, the ranks of LifeBridge Health community physi-cians have grown to more than 500. These physicians are located all over Greater Baltimore — from Carroll County to Annapolis, and from Columbia to Bel Air. One of LifeBridge Health’s key physician partners is Potomac Physicians, P.A., one of the largest, most respected primary care group practices in the state.

FIND A DOCTORFor more information about LifeBridge Health physicians, visit www.lifebridgehealth.org.

Partnering for Quality CareThese partnerships add skilled primary care providers to the LifeBridge Health network. In turn, those primary care providers are able to easily access LifeBridge Health’s range of specialists, including world-renowned experts in orthopedics, cardiovascular services, neurosciences and cancer care. This team-based, collaborative approach ensures that patients get the care they need.

A primary care doctor isn’t just your go-to when you’re coming down with a cold or need a physical for work. He or she knows the ins and outs of what makes you, well, you. Your provider can help you tailor a treatment or wellness plan that is individualized to your needs and preferences; and, when needed, he or she can shepherd you through the process of getting referrals to specialists.

LifeBridge Health community physicians, like family practitioner Patricia Tom, M.D., provide a breadth of services in neighborhood settings in convenient locations.

Hearty, Healthy MealsSimple Tricks for

Eating healthy doesn’t require a complete diet overhaul — or giving up

burgers, pizza or beer. A few simple tweaks can help you keep your weight down and lower your heart disease risk.

When You Go for Meat, Go LeanMeat is a good source of muscle-building protein. But diets high in saturated fat can raise levels of LDL (“bad”) cholesterol, putting you at risk for heart disease. When you eat meat, look for these lean options:Beef: Choose round, chuck

shoulder and top sirloin cuts for steaks and roasts. Buy hamburger that is at least 90 percent lean.

Poultry: Opt for turkey cutlets and skinless chicken breasts.

Pork: Pick center loin, pork loin, tenderloin or ham.

Fish is another good option. Salmon, albacore tuna, sardines and trout are especially rich in heart-healthy omega-3 fatty acids. The American Heart Association recommends eating fish at least twice a week.

Limit processed meats, such as hot dogs, salami, lunch meat and sausage. Processed meats contain about 400 percent more sodium than other meats, and research shows that eating processed meat is linked to heart disease and diabetes.

Cut Back on MeatYou don’t have to become a full-blown vegetarian; eating even

a little less meat can reduce your cholesterol and lower your heart disease risk. Tips to try:Order your sub sandwich

with half the meat and double veggies.

Replace some of the ground beef in lasagna or pasta sauce with shredded carrots, spinach or zucchini.

Plan your meals around a meat-free main dish, like vegetable soup or stir-fry.

Enjoy Vegetables Without Needing to Eat SaladVegetables are filling, low in calories and high in nutrients. But according to a study in Public Health Nutrition, men tend to have a hard time adding more vegeta-bles into their diets. Give these ideas a spin:Fill an omelet with spinach,

onions and mushrooms.Stuff a burrito with fajita-style

vegetables, lettuce and plenty of salsa.

Top your pizza with double mushrooms, onions and peppers.

Enjoy Alcohol Responsibly Drinking too much is associated with high blood pressure, some types of cancer and liver damage. If you drink, do so in moderation. Moderate drinking is defined as up to two drinks per day for men and one drink a day for women. A drink is 12 ounces of beer, 5 ounces of wine or 1.5 ounces of liquor.

Making these simple changes to your diet can go a long way toward achieving better heart health!

Winter 2015 www.lifebridgehealth.org 1918 LifeBridge Health Magazine Winter 2015

Partner with a Community Physician for Good Health

Leonard H. Raucher, M.D., a family practitioner, strives to build relationships with his patients that foster better, lasting health.

Better Together: Acommunity physician brings his or her talents and

passions for patient care into the surrounding community. Community physicians build relation-

ships with their neighbors. They can help patients manage chronic conditions, including diabetes, high blood pressure and heart disease.

Community physicians, especially primary care providers, specialize in internal medicine, family medicine and pediatrics. That’s why health care organizations like LifeBridge Health are developing partnerships with community physicians and physician practices across the state of Maryland. Over the past few years, the ranks of LifeBridge Health community physi-cians have grown to more than 500. These physicians are located all over Greater Baltimore — from Carroll County to Annapolis, and from Columbia to Bel Air. One of LifeBridge Health’s key physician partners is Potomac Physicians, P.A., one of the largest, most respected primary care group practices in the state.

FIND A DOCTORFor more information about LifeBridge Health physicians, visit www.lifebridgehealth.org.

Partnering for Quality CareThese partnerships add skilled primary care providers to the LifeBridge Health network. In turn, those primary care providers are able to easily access LifeBridge Health’s range of specialists, including world-renowned experts in orthopedics, cardiovascular services, neurosciences and cancer care. This team-based, collaborative approach ensures that patients get the care they need.

A primary care doctor isn’t just your go-to when you’re coming down with a cold or need a physical for work. He or she knows the ins and outs of what makes you, well, you. Your provider can help you tailor a treatment or wellness plan that is individualized to your needs and preferences; and, when needed, he or she can shepherd you through the process of getting referrals to specialists.

LifeBridge Health community physicians, like family practitioner Patricia Tom, M.D., provide a breadth of services in neighborhood settings in convenient locations.

Hearty, Healthy MealsSimple Tricks for

Eating healthy doesn’t require a complete diet overhaul — or giving up

burgers, pizza or beer. A few simple tweaks can help you keep your weight down and lower your heart disease risk.

When You Go for Meat, Go LeanMeat is a good source of muscle-building protein. But diets high in saturated fat can raise levels of LDL (“bad”) cholesterol, putting you at risk for heart disease. When you eat meat, look for these lean options:Beef: Choose round, chuck

shoulder and top sirloin cuts for steaks and roasts. Buy hamburger that is at least 90 percent lean.

Poultry: Opt for turkey cutlets and skinless chicken breasts.

Pork: Pick center loin, pork loin, tenderloin or ham.

Fish is another good option. Salmon, albacore tuna, sardines and trout are especially rich in heart-healthy omega-3 fatty acids. The American Heart Association recommends eating fish at least twice a week.

Limit processed meats, such as hot dogs, salami, lunch meat and sausage. Processed meats contain about 400 percent more sodium than other meats, and research shows that eating processed meat is linked to heart disease and diabetes.

Cut Back on MeatYou don’t have to become a full-blown vegetarian; eating even

a little less meat can reduce your cholesterol and lower your heart disease risk. Tips to try:Order your sub sandwich

with half the meat and double veggies.

Replace some of the ground beef in lasagna or pasta sauce with shredded carrots, spinach or zucchini.

Plan your meals around a meat-free main dish, like vegetable soup or stir-fry.

Enjoy Vegetables Without Needing to Eat SaladVegetables are filling, low in calories and high in nutrients. But according to a study in Public Health Nutrition, men tend to have a hard time adding more vegeta-bles into their diets. Give these ideas a spin:Fill an omelet with spinach,

onions and mushrooms.Stuff a burrito with fajita-style

vegetables, lettuce and plenty of salsa.

Top your pizza with double mushrooms, onions and peppers.

Enjoy Alcohol Responsibly Drinking too much is associated with high blood pressure, some types of cancer and liver damage. If you drink, do so in moderation. Moderate drinking is defined as up to two drinks per day for men and one drink a day for women. A drink is 12 ounces of beer, 5 ounces of wine or 1.5 ounces of liquor.

Making these simple changes to your diet can go a long way toward achieving better heart health!

20 LifeBridge Health Magazine Winter 2015

Maryland Locations

Bel Air1505 E. Churchville RoadBel Air, MD 21015410-420-6970

Bowie6000 Laurel Bowie RoadBowie, MD 20715301-383-0330

ExpressCare has locations all across Maryland (and beyond). Visit our website at www.WhyWaitInTheER.com.

Dundalk1307 Merritt Blvd.Dundalk, MD 21222410-288-2121

Elkton 310 E. Pulaski Hwy.Elkton, MD 21921443-485-6213

Essex1354 Eastern Blvd.Essex, MD 21221443-231-5203

Festival at Bel Air5 Bel Air South ParkwaySuite 1535Bel Air, MD 21015410-569-0044

Laurel14700 Baltimore Ave.Suite 108Laurel, MD 20707301-317-4000

Overlea7700 Belair RoadBaltimore, MD 21236410-665-0670

Owings Mills10490 Owings Mills Blvd.Owings Mills, MD 21117410-363-7281

Padonia9832 York RoadCockeysville, MD 21030410-628-1861

Parkville7701 Harford RoadParkville, MD 21234443-438-5147

Salisbury659 S. Salisbury Blvd. #2Salisbury, MD 21801410-543-2020

Westminster 1011 Baltimore Blvd.Westminster, MD 21157410-848-3990

Wilkens3815 Wilkens Ave.Baltimore, MD 21229410-882-5493

Coming SoonBrooklyn Park

Should You Head to the ER or an Urgent Care Center?T o ER or not to ER? That may not have been Hamlet’s question, but it’s an important one when calamity strikes.

Urgent care centers like ExpressCare offer a more cost-effective, time-efficient alternative when you and your loved ones need immediate treatment.

Sinus infections Coughs and colds Strep throat Pink eye Pneumonia

Ear infections Urinary tract

infections Yeast infections Nausea/vomiting

Lacerations (cuts) Rashes Minor burns Mild dehydration Painful urination

Persistent diarrhea

Sprains Broken bones Animal bites

Urgent care centers are equipped to treat some of the following common conditions:

Signs of a stroke, such as sudden facial paralysis; numbness or weakness in the face, arm or leg (especially on one side); slurred speech; impaired vision; or severe dizziness

Chest pain in someone over 50 years old

Severe abdominal pain Profuse bleeding Head trauma Loss of consciousness

However, head straight to your nearest emergency room if you are experiencing any of these symptoms:

Very young infants (under 8 weeks old) and the elderly should also go to the emergency room when they’re ill. If you or a loved one need emergency care, the LifeBridge Health ER-7s at Sinai and Northwest hospitals are able to help.

LifeBridge Health Social MediaFACEBOOKYou may like LifeBridge Health (LBH), but have you “liked” LifeBridge Health? Like us on Facebook to keep abreast of our latest news and have health tips delivered right to your news feed. www.facebook.com/LifeBridgeHealth.

TWITTERYou can say a lot in 140 characters. We share blog posts, information about events and screenings, and other important LBH news through our Twitter feed. Find us at twitter.com/lbhealth.

YOUTUBEFind interviews with our experts and watch footage from fun LBH events on our YouTube channel. Check us out at www.youtube.com/LifeBridgeHealth.

BLOGWe share the stories of extraordinary employees and patients, exciting developments in our company and community, and just plain cool things about LBH on our blog. Find us online at www.lifebridgeblogs.org.

INSTAGRAMJoin us on Instagram! Find out why Instagram is a fun and quirky way to connect to your family, friends and coworkers at LBH. Visit www.instagram.com/lifebridgehealth.

CONTACT USDepartment of Strategic Marketing and Communications2401 W. Belvedere Ave.Baltimore, MD 21215410-601-5022

Be a Partner in Your Health Care!Sign up for the My LifeBridge Health patient portal. My LifeBridge Health is a secure online portal that gives you access to your health information on any device with an Internet connection. With My LifeBridge Health, you can view your lab results; lists of your allergies, immunizations and current medications; discharge instructions; histories of your vital signs and medical procedures; and more! Also, some practices allow you to use My LifeBridge Health for prescription renewals and secure messaging with your doctor.

To learn more and to sign up for a My LifeBridge Health account, visit www.mylifebridgehealth.org.

Winter 2015 www.lifebridgehealth.org 21

20 LifeBridge Health Magazine Winter 2015

Maryland Locations

Bel Air1505 E. Churchville RoadBel Air, MD 21015410-420-6970

Bowie6000 Laurel Bowie RoadBowie, MD 20715301-383-0330

ExpressCare has locations all across Maryland (and beyond). Visit our website at www.WhyWaitInTheER.com.

Dundalk1307 Merritt Blvd.Dundalk, MD 21222410-288-2121

Elkton 310 E. Pulaski Hwy.Elkton, MD 21921443-485-6213

Essex1354 Eastern Blvd.Essex, MD 21221443-231-5203

Festival at Bel Air5 Bel Air South ParkwaySuite 1535Bel Air, MD 21015410-569-0044

Laurel14700 Baltimore Ave.Suite 108Laurel, MD 20707301-317-4000

Overlea7700 Belair RoadBaltimore, MD 21236410-665-0670

Owings Mills10490 Owings Mills Blvd.Owings Mills, MD 21117410-363-7281

Padonia9832 York RoadCockeysville, MD 21030410-628-1861

Parkville7701 Harford RoadParkville, MD 21234443-438-5147

Salisbury659 S. Salisbury Blvd. #2Salisbury, MD 21801410-543-2020

Westminster 1011 Baltimore Blvd.Westminster, MD 21157410-848-3990

Wilkens3815 Wilkens Ave.Baltimore, MD 21229410-882-5493

Coming SoonBrooklyn Park

Should You Head to the ER or an Urgent Care Center?T o ER or not to ER? That may not have been Hamlet’s question, but it’s an important one when calamity strikes.

Urgent care centers like ExpressCare offer a more cost-effective, time-efficient alternative when you and your loved ones need immediate treatment.

Sinus infections Coughs and colds Strep throat Pink eye Pneumonia

Ear infections Urinary tract

infections Yeast infections Nausea/vomiting

Lacerations (cuts) Rashes Minor burns Mild dehydration Painful urination

Persistent diarrhea

Sprains Broken bones Animal bites

Urgent care centers are equipped to treat some of the following common conditions:

Signs of a stroke, such as sudden facial paralysis; numbness or weakness in the face, arm or leg (especially on one side); slurred speech; impaired vision; or severe dizziness

Chest pain in someone over 50 years old

Severe abdominal pain Profuse bleeding Head trauma Loss of consciousness

However, head straight to your nearest emergency room if you are experiencing any of these symptoms:

Very young infants (under 8 weeks old) and the elderly should also go to the emergency room when they’re ill. If you or a loved one need emergency care, the LifeBridge Health ER-7s at Sinai and Northwest hospitals are able to help.

LifeBridge Health Social MediaFACEBOOKYou may like LifeBridge Health (LBH), but have you “liked” LifeBridge Health? Like us on Facebook to keep abreast of our latest news and have health tips delivered right to your news feed. www.facebook.com/LifeBridgeHealth.

TWITTERYou can say a lot in 140 characters. We share blog posts, information about events and screenings, and other important LBH news through our Twitter feed. Find us at twitter.com/lbhealth.

YOUTUBEFind interviews with our experts and watch footage from fun LBH events on our YouTube channel. Check us out at www.youtube.com/LifeBridgeHealth.

BLOGWe share the stories of extraordinary employees and patients, exciting developments in our company and community, and just plain cool things about LBH on our blog. Find us online at www.lifebridgeblogs.org.

INSTAGRAMJoin us on Instagram! Find out why Instagram is a fun and quirky way to connect to your family, friends and coworkers at LBH. Visit www.instagram.com/lifebridgehealth.

CONTACT USDepartment of Strategic Marketing and Communications2401 W. Belvedere Ave.Baltimore, MD 21215410-601-5022

Be a Partner in Your Health Care!Sign up for the My LifeBridge Health patient portal. My LifeBridge Health is a secure online portal that gives you access to your health information on any device with an Internet connection. With My LifeBridge Health, you can view your lab results; lists of your allergies, immunizations and current medications; discharge instructions; histories of your vital signs and medical procedures; and more! Also, some practices allow you to use My LifeBridge Health for prescription renewals and secure messaging with your doctor.

To learn more and to sign up for a My LifeBridge Health account, visit www.mylifebridgehealth.org.

Winter 2015 www.lifebridgehealth.org 21

Winter 2015 www.lifebridgehealth.org 23

Why an Integrated Health System Is Your Best Choice

Health. “One of our core values is teamwork, and we always think of the patient as the key member of any treatment team.”

Working Together for Your HealthPrimary care providers affiliated with LifeBridge Health are able to refer their patients to experts in a variety of specialties, like oncology, orthopedics, neurology and cardiology. Being under the umbrella of one organization makes communication between your primary care doctor and these specialists more efficient; together, they will ensure that you’re getting the tests and procedures you need when they’re most useful and appropriate. This saves you money and an arguably more important resource — your time.

This approach benefits more than just your preventive health. Let’s say you fall and break an ankle: You can be treated at an urgent care center like

The concept of an integrated health system may seem complex, but it comes down to

one core goal: streamlining the patient experience by ensuring providers are available to help at every level of need, whether you’re looking for your child’s new pediatrician or long-term care for an elderly parent. This is commonly referred to as a continuum of care, and it can make a huge difference in the quality of your treatment, and more important, your quality of life.

“LifeBridge Health’s defining purpose is ‘caring for our communities together,’ and I think that last word, ‘together,’ really defines our approach,” says Neil Meltzer, president and CEO of LifeBridge

ExpressCare, and then referred to an orthopedic doctor at the Rubin Institute for Advanced Orthopedics. Your Rubin Institute doctor can write a referral for in-home physical therapy via LifeBridge Health’s partner, HomeCare Maryland, or for outpatient physical therapy at the hospital.

Coordination Is KeyThanks to an electronic medical record system, every member of your medical team at LifeBridge Health can safely and securely access your records from any location. Because all of these providers are within the same network, they create a coordinated effort to get you back on your feet (literally).

Helen Keller famously said, “Alone we can do so little; together we can do so much.” And together, the physicians within an integrated health system like LifeBridge Health can work to change patients’ lives.

Calendar of EventsThe LifeBridge Health online community calendar is filled with

upcoming events, screenings and support group meetings. Most of our events are free, so sign up and learn something that could

improve your health. Here are some highlighted events. Visit www.lifebridgehealth.org/

CommunityCalendar for event descriptions, dates, times, locations and registration information.

Bariatric Surgery for Weight Loss Informational SessionsInterested in losing weight and wonder if weight-loss surgery might be for you? Then join us for a FREE informational seminar to learn more about bariatric surgery for weight loss. At one of these monthly sessions, you can find out more about the different bariatric procedures and have your questions answered by one of our board-certified surgeons.

Grandparent Basics New for 2015!This two-hour class covers the infant care and CPR basics that grand-parents need to know. This class is one part newborn care refresher course and one part education about how that care has changed since you were raising kids. You will learn about newborn care tips, including feeding, diapering and bathing, infant CPR, car seat and travel safety, and more!

Webinars Available anytime!Don’t want to wait for one of our events? Check out our recorded webinars on a variety of topics! Whenever you’d like, wherever you have an Internet connection, go to www.lifebridgehealth.org/Main/Webinars.aspx to view free webinars, such as:Orthopedic Injuries in Youth SportsThe Ins and Outs of Ankle ArthritisThe Basics of Epilepsy

DID YOU KNOW?Through the Alvin and Elaine Mintzes Fund for the Care of Levindale Animals, Levindale Hebrew Geriatric Center and

Hospital is able to tend to animals on-site. The hospital is the first registered Eden Alternative center in Maryland. This means that Levindale focuses on the philosophy that patients thrive in a home-like environment where they can make connections and find meaning in their lives. For more information on the Levindale Hebrew Geriatric Center and Hospital, see page 6 of this issue or visit www.lifebridgehealth.org/levindale.

Dogs Can Chase Away the LonelinessA study suggests that a dog can ease the loneliness that sometimes accompanies aging. Thirty-seven older adults living in long-term care facilities interacted with a dog for 30 minutes a week for six weeks. These visits took place either alone or in a group. Both the individual and group sessions helped ease loneliness. However, those who interacted one-on-one with the dog were less lonely than those in the group setting. Plus, the people who were loneliest at the beginning of the study reaped the greatest benefit from spending time with the dog.

Considering a dog? There’s more good news. You may end up walking more, says a study that compared dog owners to non-dog owners. Also, walking your dog reduces stress better than walking without a dog, suggests a small study of older adults. In fact, research shows that simply petting and chatting with a dog is relaxing.

22 LifeBridge Health Magazine Winter 2015

Winter 2015 www.lifebridgehealth.org 23

Why an Integrated Health System Is Your Best Choice

Health. “One of our core values is teamwork, and we always think of the patient as the key member of any treatment team.”

Working Together for Your HealthPrimary care providers affiliated with LifeBridge Health are able to refer their patients to experts in a variety of specialties, like oncology, orthopedics, neurology and cardiology. Being under the umbrella of one organization makes communication between your primary care doctor and these specialists more efficient; together, they will ensure that you’re getting the tests and procedures you need when they’re most useful and appropriate. This saves you money and an arguably more important resource — your time.

This approach benefits more than just your preventive health. Let’s say you fall and break an ankle: You can be treated at an urgent care center like

The concept of an integrated health system may seem complex, but it comes down to

one core goal: streamlining the patient experience by ensuring providers are available to help at every level of need, whether you’re looking for your child’s new pediatrician or long-term care for an elderly parent. This is commonly referred to as a continuum of care, and it can make a huge difference in the quality of your treatment, and more important, your quality of life.

“LifeBridge Health’s defining purpose is ‘caring for our communities together,’ and I think that last word, ‘together,’ really defines our approach,” says Neil Meltzer, president and CEO of LifeBridge

ExpressCare, and then referred to an orthopedic doctor at the Rubin Institute for Advanced Orthopedics. Your Rubin Institute doctor can write a referral for in-home physical therapy via LifeBridge Health’s partner, HomeCare Maryland, or for outpatient physical therapy at the hospital.

Coordination Is KeyThanks to an electronic medical record system, every member of your medical team at LifeBridge Health can safely and securely access your records from any location. Because all of these providers are within the same network, they create a coordinated effort to get you back on your feet (literally).

Helen Keller famously said, “Alone we can do so little; together we can do so much.” And together, the physicians within an integrated health system like LifeBridge Health can work to change patients’ lives.

Calendar of EventsThe LifeBridge Health online community calendar is filled with

upcoming events, screenings and support group meetings. Most of our events are free, so sign up and learn something that could

improve your health. Here are some highlighted events. Visit www.lifebridgehealth.org/

CommunityCalendar for event descriptions, dates, times, locations and registration information.

Bariatric Surgery for Weight Loss Informational SessionsInterested in losing weight and wonder if weight-loss surgery might be for you? Then join us for a FREE informational seminar to learn more about bariatric surgery for weight loss. At one of these monthly sessions, you can find out more about the different bariatric procedures and have your questions answered by one of our board-certified surgeons.

Grandparent Basics New for 2015!This two-hour class covers the infant care and CPR basics that grand-parents need to know. This class is one part newborn care refresher course and one part education about how that care has changed since you were raising kids. You will learn about newborn care tips, including feeding, diapering and bathing, infant CPR, car seat and travel safety, and more!

Webinars Available anytime!Don’t want to wait for one of our events? Check out our recorded webinars on a variety of topics! Whenever you’d like, wherever you have an Internet connection, go to www.lifebridgehealth.org/Main/Webinars.aspx to view free webinars, such as:Orthopedic Injuries in Youth SportsThe Ins and Outs of Ankle ArthritisThe Basics of Epilepsy

DID YOU KNOW?Through the Alvin and Elaine Mintzes Fund for the Care of Levindale Animals, Levindale Hebrew Geriatric Center and

Hospital is able to tend to animals on-site. The hospital is the first registered Eden Alternative center in Maryland. This means that Levindale focuses on the philosophy that patients thrive in a home-like environment where they can make connections and find meaning in their lives. For more information on the Levindale Hebrew Geriatric Center and Hospital, see page 6 of this issue or visit www.lifebridgehealth.org/levindale.

Dogs Can Chase Away the LonelinessA study suggests that a dog can ease the loneliness that sometimes accompanies aging. Thirty-seven older adults living in long-term care facilities interacted with a dog for 30 minutes a week for six weeks. These visits took place either alone or in a group. Both the individual and group sessions helped ease loneliness. However, those who interacted one-on-one with the dog were less lonely than those in the group setting. Plus, the people who were loneliest at the beginning of the study reaped the greatest benefit from spending time with the dog.

Considering a dog? There’s more good news. You may end up walking more, says a study that compared dog owners to non-dog owners. Also, walking your dog reduces stress better than walking without a dog, suggests a small study of older adults. In fact, research shows that simply petting and chatting with a dog is relaxing.

22 LifeBridge Health Magazine Winter 2015

Through the generous gifts of supporters like you, LifeBridge Health is making a real difference. From Child Life services that put smiles on our youngsters’ faces to

rehabilitation programs that help those in their more advanced years regain their independence, philanthropic support is the backbone of our patients’ renewed hope.

EVERYONE HAS A LEGACY... WHAT WILL YOURS BE?

To learn about gift planning opportunities, call 844-269-0424 toll free or visit www.lifebridgehealth.giftplans.org.

hospitals in your will, and create a healing legacy.

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