Finding New Outlets for Training

Editor's Note: We've asked two former LifeBridge Health orthopedic patients to do the Save-A-Limb ride in October. As they train, they'll be sharing their experiences here on the LifeBridge Health blog. Today we hear from rider Randy Reisfeld.

So, much has gone on since my last blog, but unfortunately not in the area of progressing my training! After really finding that I enjoyed the spin class, and was increasing my endurance, I was told that this type of exercise was not helping, and probably contributing to my increase in migraines. Besides an increase in my migraines, and an increase in their intensity (I was back to daily headaches), I also began to have bouts of vertigo.

None of this is good when you are planning on riding a bicycle.

So I needed to redirect my efforts in exercise. I have been able to do some swimming off and on over the past month, but have tried to give my body a rest. I have been focusing on trying to resolve the headache situation with weekly acupuncture, and had a couple of massages focusing on my head, neck and shoulders.

I am still hoping to participate in Save-A-Limb, but I don’t think I’ll be able to do one of the long ones.

I am trying not to look at this as another failure of trying to “get in shape. I accomplished something new and I feel good that I was actually able to do a more intensive exercise than I thought I could. I even enjoyed it! However, I know that it’s more important for me at this time to focus on getting these migraines under control, as it does influence how I am able to function on a day-to-day basis.
-Randy Reisfeld

Summer Volunteer Program Wraps Up at Northwest

Northwest Hospital wrapped up its annual summer volunteer program Friday, and once again employees showed their commitment to mentoring and encouraging youth.

The 22 participants were ages 15 to 19 and worked in 21 departments ranging from the gift shop to the finance department to clinical areas. The students, who wore uniforms, completed a total of 1,950 hours, helping with tasks such as copying, answering phones and helping department employees with a variety of other needs.

“The students learned life skills and about potential careers in health care,” says Jennifer Terrell, the director of volunteer services and business outreach. “Our participants realized what it takes to be successful at a job and to see how the skills they learn in school are put into action in the workplace.”

Thanks to everyone who participated. The departments that had a volunteer are listed below:

• Units 3A/3B
• Units 3C/3D
• Unit 4C
• Finance
• SPD (Sterile Processing Department)
• Gift Shop
• PACU (Post Anesthesia Care Unit)
• HIM (Health Information Management)
• Sleep Disorders Center
• Patient Financial Services
• Northwest ER-7
• Radiology
• Mail Room
• Sub-Acute Rehab
• Dietary
• Women's Wellness Center
• Patient Access
• Outpatient Rehab
• Sub-Acute
• Operating Room
• Infusion and Cancer Therapy Center

Sinai Pitches in at Maccabi Games

Sinai ER-7 staff once again volunteered with the 2010 Maccabi Games, a part of the 2010 JCC Maccabi Experience. The games, which are an Olympic-style competition, is the largest organized sports program for Jewish teenagers in the world, with 5,000 Jewish teens participating.

The staff participated over four days during this month's games, staffing two different first aid stations, said Sinai ER-7 nurse manager Sheryl Thorpe, RN, BSN, CEN. Staff included physicians, nurse practitioners and nurses. This is the third time Sinai has provided first-aid coverage. Pictured at left are Sinai's Martha Saroop, RN II, and Jessica Tracy, critical care technician.

Helping out reflects Sinai's mission of "excellence in patient care, education and community service building on Jewish values."

The Maccabi Games allow teenagers to participate in one of 14 sporting competitions, and fosters pride in being Jewish. The 2010 JCC Maccabi Experience® was presented this year by the Jewish Community Center of Greater Baltimore (JCC), along with its partner organization, the JCC Association of North America.

Getting on the Bandwagon

LifeBridge Health is on the bandwagon - the wristband bandwagon, that is.

Poor communication about risk factors can lead to negative effects. “Get on the Bandwagon” is a patient safety campaign to standardized color wristbands that alert caregivers to some risks patients may face.

For example, a patient may be allergic to penicillin, in which case they would be asked to wear a red wristband. Another patient may be at risk for a fall, in which case they would wear yellow. More than a third of adults over the age of 65 fall each year, and preventing falls has been a major effort at LifeBridge Health.

The risk factors and their coordinating colors are:

The colors are:

• Purple: do not resuscitate
• Red: allergy
• Green: latex allergy
• Pink: restricted extremity
• Yellow: fall risk

The "Get on the Bandwagon” campaign is an initiative of the Maryland Hospital Association (MHA) and the Maryland Patient Safety Center (MPSC). Since many health care workers float between facilities, standardizing the colors across the state will help with a clear message. Employees are also asked to reiterate the importance of the wristbands to patients and families in order to promote education around the program.

According to the Maryland Patient Safety Center, more than 30 states are using the color-coded wristbands already, or plan to implement the program soon.

To read more about Get On the Bandwagon, click here.

Superheroes Arrive at Sinai Hospital

At Sinai, our pediatric patients are our superheroes. Today, those patients got to meet their superheros: Batman, Robin and Wonder Woman.

Thanks to Hope for Henry, a foundation dedicated to bringing smiles to hospitalized children, the characters arrived bearing gifts, food and general awesomeness. Pictured above is 18-month-old pediatric oncology patient Emma Miller, with her mother Jen and men who need no introduction.

The Hope for Henry Foundation first began supporting patients at Sinai in 2009, and continues to support the inpatient and outpatient pediatrics patients with gifts and other celebrations. Mary Bohlen, social worker in the Division of Pediatric Hematology/Oncology at Sinai Hospital, says there have been at least six birthday celebrations courtesy of Hope for Henry. The parties are thrown when a pediatric patient has to spend his or her birthday in the hospital. The patient not only gets a personalized cake or balloon, but is allowed to choose an age-appropriate gift ranging from an iPod to a PSP player.

Today was the first Superhero Celebration at Sinai, but there are hopes for further events.

"When you are a child in the hospital, time moves very slowly," says Hope for Henry Foundation director Laurie Strongin. "A day like today, you won't even remember the medical treatment - you'll remember meeting Batman and Wonder Woman."

Children like Thomas Georgiou, pictured left, also got to have pizza, juice and cake today. Other activities including having a caricaturist draw a picture of them as a superhero, getting their photo taken in a photo booth, making their own cape, having their face painted, and receiving a variety of gifts.

"This is such an exciting time for the department of pediatrics and the Herman & Walter Samuelson Children's Hospital at Sinai," says Shannon Wollman, manager of Development at Sinai. "Working with new organizations like Hope for Henry enhances the mission of making children and their families feel like they are being well taken care of."

But don't take our word for it - below is a short video of 3-year-old Jeffrey Schwantes of New Jersey, who had surgery last month with Shawn Standard, M.D. Jeffrey and his mother came over from Hackerman Patz house to visit with the superheros. He's also pictured above left with Wonder Woman.

LifeBridge Health Launches Mobile Recruitment Site

If you're looking for a great place to work, a new job may be on the horizon - straight from your mobile phone.

LifeBridge Health recently launched a mobile version of LifeJobs so that those using smart phones (such as the iPhone, BlackBerry or Android) can view jobs from virtually anywhere.

“We are very excited to debut the user-friendly mobile site and allow potential employees another method to view our job opportunities,” says Rudy Miller, vice president of Marketing and Community Relations at LifeBridge Health.

The mobile site is a condensed version of the main recruitment website and includes information such as details on each LifeBridge Health center, benefits, directions, the application process and the full listing of current job openings. Each of the LifeBridge Health social networking sites can be accessed from the mobile site, including the LifeBridge Health careers page on Facebook, the @LBHealth on Twitter, the LifeBridge Health blog and the LifeBridge Health YouTube channel.

Applicants also have the option to e-mail themselves or a friend links to individual jobs to later apply online using a laptop or personal computer.

“We are on the continuous journey of becoming and remaining a great place to work, which includes offering our applicants user-friendly recruitment and application options,” says Taylor Foss, vice president of Human Resources at LifeBridge Health.

LifeBridge Health is currently hiring in most areas of patient care, allied health and administration.

Back to School Tips for Adult Students

Before we know it, school will be back in session. While everyone worries about what their teachers will be like and how much homework they’ll have, adult learners face special challenges.

Going back to school as an adult means juggling your course work with the demands of everyday life. However, according to Anita Hammond, the Workforce Development Coordinator at LifeBridge Health, instead of being overwhelming, the experience can be rewarding and exciting, as long as there is some planning.

There are a variety of reasons that adults decide to go back to school. Among the most popular are career advancement, a job change, the ability to help their own children with homework and the chance to do something for themselves after their kids are grown.

Hammond shares five tips to help adults successfully add schoolwork to an already busy life.

• Make sure that you’re going down the right career path. Part of this is honestly evaluating your own skills, such as math, reading and comprehension, so you have a good idea about how you’ll fare when you get back into the classroom.
• Research what financial help is available from the government, public funds, private sources and your employer. For instance, LifeBridge Health provides tuition assistance for employees so they have the latest information in their fields and so they can continue to challenge themselves in life.
• Organize your family’s time. Make a calendar with everyone’s activities and a to-do-list so that you can keep track of schedules, study time and free time.
• Stay healthy so you can still thrive no matter how hectic things get. This can include everything from healthy eating (especially a good breakfast so your stomach doesn’t growl during class) to exercising to relaxing.
• Finally, understand that there will be stresses: the balancing act with your family, wondering how you will do back in the academic world and all of the unexpected things along the way. Perseverance and humor are two keys.

Hammond says it’s never too late to further your education and your dreams. If you are a LifeBridge Health employee who wants to learn more about workforce development classes, call 2-0858. To learn more about working at LifeBridge Health, visit LifeJobs.

Sinai Occupational Therapist Helps Children in Quito

Many LifeBridge Health employees use their hard-earned vacation time to visit different countries to help those in need. Today we're featuring Sinai Hospital occupational therapist Katie Cooper, pictured at left.

Cooper, who works on the inpatient neurological rehabilitation unit at Sinai, was invited on a 3-week trip to Quito, Ecuador with OT students from St. Catherine's University in Minnesota. She supervised two occupational therapists and two certified occupational therapist assistants at Fundacion Reina de Quito. The students, who have Down Syndrome, can attend the school up to the time they are 6 years old. Cooper and the students worked with them on a variety of activities.

"Many of the children lack in sensory integration," Cooper says. "The program for occupational therapy is being developed, and we were there to help them with best practices."

Other projects included building a shower chair for a student who had athetoid cerebral palsy, a vast improvement over the school staff trying to bathe him in a sink. Cooper speaks Spanish, an asset that "definitely helps."

Cooper plans to return to Quito. She says being an occupational therapist and giving back has been a lifelong dream.

"When I was in seventh grade, the Girl Scouts had a Women in the Workplace Day," she says. "An occupational therapist talked about what she did, and I said, 'that's what I want to do.' Occupational therapy is about changing people's lives and allowing them more independence."

Are you interested in being an occupational therapist at LifeBridge Health? Click here to see our openings.

Courtland Gardens Lives United!

“And down the stretch they come!” That’s a famous call during the Preakness as the horses round the final turn and head toward the finish line.

The same call also describes the 2010 United Way campaign because this year’s efforts are almost finished. If you are a LifeBridge Health employee, remember to turn in your form by the end of August.

At Courtland Gardens and Nursing Rehabilitation Center, instead of only one winner, everyone who participates can claim victory! More than $3,000 was collected as of August 13.

Coming up with creative ways to raise money for people in need that involves both employees and residents is a labor of love at the long-term care center.

“We have done many different activities, but the one that our residents like the most is shopping at our United Way dollar store,” says Joy Curbean, the Courtland Gardens United Way campaign chair. “We set up the store in the human resources office and sell donated items for between 25 cents and one dollar. For them, it’s like a mini-department store, and they enjoy the feeling of going through items and choosing what they want to buy.”

The dollar store is only one of the events spearheaded by the staff at Courtland Gardens. Among the others were candy sales, jean day, a raffle for Orioles tickets, a bake sale and a raffle for a day off.

“Raising funds for United Way requires team work and team spirit, so everyone benefits,” continues Joy. “It fosters a deep connection among our residents and staff because they are striving with a common goal…to help people who can use a helping hand through tough times.”

-Helene King

Good Dental Health Habits Pay Off

Your mother was right. She told you to brush your teeth and floss after every meal. Mom was concerned about cavities, and maybe avoiding a big dental bill, but it turns out flossing and brushing your teeth can do more than prevent cavities. Good dental hygiene can mean a longer, healthier life.

Your doctor may not mention it, but flossing your teeth at least once a day is important for heart health and probably joint health.

“There is a link between gum disease and cardiac disease,” says Ali Tabrizchi, D.O. a LifeBridge Health cardiologist.

According to a study reported in “Circulation: Journal of the American Heart Association,” poor dental hygiene may be a predictor for heart disease.

Evidence shows that those with periodontal disease are nearly twice as likely to have heart disease. Researchers theorize that bacteria from the mouth enter the bloodstream through the gums and contribute to blockages in the arteries.

Another theory is that as the body fights off infection caused by bacteria, inflammation causes the arteries to narrow.

And now, researchers are finding gum diseases that cause inflammation may also play a role in rheumatoid arthritis.

‘There is speculation that dental and gum diseases can trigger rheumatoid arthritis,” says Peter K. Wung, M.D., a LifeBridge Health rheumatologist.

Pearly whites and fresh breath are only the icing on the cake for maintaining good oral hygiene. Reducing your risks of strokes, heart attacks and arthritis can be the real payoff.

-Sandra Crockett

College Athletes Gear Up For Fall

The typical high school senior may be yearning for the day when she can start slacking – on school, on household chores, and on staying in shape.

But for student athletes like Susannah Feinstein, the college acceptance letter didn’t mean any less pressure. If anything, she stepped up her game.

Feinstein, who starts as a freshman at University of Pittsburgh this week, spent the spring of her senior year improving on her track times in order to become a part of the university’s Division 1 Track and Cross Country team. By committing to her training, she was able to get her times low enough to be accepted onto the team.

“It’s intense training,” she says. “There’s a lot of discipline involved with long-distance running. But it’s really good stress relief, and important part of maintaining my mental health.”

Sinai neurologist Kevin Crutchfield says that discipline and commitment to a sport can result to a college freshman having more direction.

“Athletics at the college level keep children focused and makes them time efficient,” he says.

Crutchfield, the director of the Comprehensive Sports Concussion Program at the Sandra and Malcolm Berman Brain & Spine Institute of LifeBridge Health and a former college athlete himself, works with a number of student and professional athletes. In addition to his treatment of those who are brain injured, Crutchfield talks to players about the prevention of brain injury. The secret to keeping both brain and body healthy lies in training, Crutchfield says.

“In the spring, I talk about training and off-season fitness,” he says. “This is especially true in areas such as football, where I tell the players ‘you need to get in shape now.’ Otherwise, being slower and having slow reaction times can lead to injury.”

With the absence of parents, sleep deprivation, missing meals and drinking can become a problem for any college freshman. But the consequences for a collegiate player can be dire.

“You can’t do the typical partying because your body won’t be okay for practice,” Feinstein says. “You need to take a holistic approach to staying healthy, including drinking a lot of water, doing weight training and avoiding repetitive motion.” Plus, any NCAA athlete like Feinstein will need to follow requirements such as having a sports physical, maintaining a certain GPA, and having random drug testing.

Feinstein says that she's looking forward to being a member of the team, even as she juggles three hours of daily practice with an intense college program in nursing.

“I love running. I plan to be on the team all four years,” she says.

Cancer Resource Day Today at Sinai Hospital

Alvin & Lois Lapidus Cancer Institute patients, family members and employees are invited to a Cancer Resource Day today in the Cancer Institute Conference Room, Sinai Hospital.

A cancer diagnosis can mean a financial and emotional hardship on patients and families. Participants at today's event include the American Cancer Society, Ruscombe Mansion(Holistic Healing Center), the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society, and Komen Race for the Cure.

"The goal is to bring a variety of local cancer resource providers so that those who are at the hospital, be it for treatment or for visiting, can stop by," says Jill Adler, M.S., Coordinator, Patient Information Services, Alvin & Lois Lapidus Cancer Institute. "These providers offer education materials, support programs, fund-raising events, volunteer opportunities, and information on subsidies on for things like transportation."

To learn more about organizations offering financial assistance to cancer patients, click here. To learn more about the Alvin & Lois Lapidus Cancer Institute, click here or call 410-601-WELL (9355).

This week LifeBridge Health & Fitness donated 20,000 pounds of weight plates, dumbbells, pre-set dumbbells and adjustable benches to the Baltimore County Police SWAT team.

"They will be utilizing the equipment to enhance their training in order to be able to have more explosive strength for raids and subduing criminals," says Michael Kelly, MS, C-NMT, CSCS, CCS, Fitness Manager at LifeBridge Health & Fitness. "We were glad to give this equipment to people who are on the front lines of fighting crime."

The estimated value of the donated items was $20,700. LifeBridge Health & Fitness is in the process of installing new weight training equipment for members. Training with weights increases muscle strength in specific areas, plus can help with balance and increasing endurance.

To learn more about LifeBridge Health & Fitness, call 410-484-6800.

Professional Development at LifeBridge Health

At LifeBridge Health, we are proud to offer chances for our employees to continue their professional development.

That's especially true for nurses, who are offered up to $5,000 in tuition assistence if they are full time and have been an employee for at least a year. LifeBridge Health has relationships with the University of Maryland, Drexel University, Stevenson University and Walden University, all of which have nursing programs.

"We are promoting registered nurses to get their bachelor of science in nursing, and for those BSNs to get their masters' degree," says education development consultant Susan L. Bindon, RN, MS. "We encourage our employees to look at all the options."

Bindon says there are different motivating factors for those returning to a classroom. For some, it can open doors or provide validation after many years as a clinical nurse.

"Some people want to be a role model for their kids, others may be interested in a new job or a career path," she says. "Those pursuing their masters may do so to become a nurse practitioner, a nurse educator, to go into nursing administration or academia. Informatics is also a popular field."

Today Sinai and Northwest nurses can visit with representatives from the University of Maryland School of Nursing Graduate Program. Sinai nurses are encouraged to stop by the CCU Conference Room, second floor, between 8 and 10 a.m., and Northwest nurses are encouraged to stop by the Level 3 Conference Room, third floor, between 2 and 4 p.m.

Donate Blood Today

It's not too late to give blood and give the gift of life.

The Sinai Hospital blood drive will run until 12:30 p.m. today. The LifeBridge Health goal in 2010 is 550 units.

According to the American Red Cross, the need for blood donations goes up during the summer. Here are some more facts from the Red Cross:

• Every two seconds someone in the U.S. needs blood.
• More than 38,000 blood donations are needed every day.
• The average red blood cell transfusion is approximately 3 pints.
• The blood type most often requested by hospitals is Type O.

Employees like Anthony Gilbert, Levindale Environmental Services, and Karen Chapman, Sinai Business and Guest Relations, both pictured, did their part at the July and August drives by giving blood. Join them in helping save lives!

Sign Up Today for Race for Our Kids

Fall is around the corner, and that means it's time to register for Race for our Kids!

The race, presented by the Sinai Hospital Auxiliary, benefits the Division of Pediatric Oncology and Hematology at the Herman & Walter Samuelson Children's Hospital at Sinai.

The race will be Sunday, September 26 at 8 a.m. Participants run through the Mount Washington neighborhood.

Show your support by participating in the 5K, 10K or 1 Mile Family Fun Walk.

For a limited time, take advantage of our early bird registration discount -- registration is $30 for adults and $15 for kids 12 & under until August 15. After August 15, the registration goes up to $35 for adults and $20 for kids.

Click here to register. There are no additional fees with registering online.

Your registration fee includes:
- Under Armour shirt
- Admission to the best post-race party in town, sponsored by the Classic Catering People
- Chip-timed race (5K and 10K)
- $7,500 in cash prizes (10K)

Please help us spread the word about the race - pass along the website information or this post onto your friends and colleagues, become a fan on Facebook, and get a group together to sign up as a team!

Visit us at www.raceforourkids.com for more information or call Jen at 410-601-9328.

See you there!

Levindale Wins Transportation Award

As a recognition of its services to seniors in the community, Levindale has won a Beverly Foundation Senior Transportation Service Award (STAR).

The Beverly Foundation provides research, education, and assistance to encourage and facilitate mobility and transportation for older adults. Almost 400 STAR applications were received this year, and were reviewed by professionals from across the country. The Trustee Commendation Award won by Levindale means $5,000 for enhanced services.

"The money will be specifically used for training drivers," says Gretchen Barnes, LifeBridge Health manager of transportation. "Many of our clients have Alzheimer's or dementia, and there are new techniques for drivers in handling potential situations."

In June, there were 2,273 passengers picked up and brought to Levindale or Adult Day Services in Pikesville. LifeBride Health's Adult Day Services are designed for physically frail individuals with special medical needs such as diabetes, hypertension and post-stroke disabilities, and those with mental health problems such as dementia, confusion and Alzheimer's disease.

To learn more, call 410-601-WELL (9355).

A Lifetime Commitment to LifeBridge Health

At LifeBridge Health, we regularly recognize employees who have reached service milestones, beginning with 5 years of employment. But we thought it was time to highlight some employees who have been with LifeBridge Health more than 35 years, as their longtime commitment makes for an invaluable source of history and knowledge.

Imagine the year is 1958. Seventeen-year-old Harriet Garner, who has just started working at Sinai Hospital. Fast forward to the present and Garner, medical secretary in the Gynecology Oncology department, still works at Sinai Hospital. Has she seen a lot of changes? "Oh my yes!" says Harriet.

"Personnel was three people. Three! There were four of us in Accounts Payable and I don’t even think there was a Marketing department," Garner says.

Employees at LifeBridge Health tend to stay around for a while. Sometimes they stay for a very long while. Bernice Rubinstein, secretary in Food Production, began working at Sinai in 1964 and recalls that women weren’t allowed to enter the hospital if they were wearing pants.

It was only when patients began being seen in the rehab building in 1967 when women could enter Sinai Hospital outfitted in pants. "And then the women’s tops had to be tunic-length and the same color as the pants," says Bernice, laughing at the memory.

"A lot of things have changed," she says.

At Northwest Hospital, Elizabeth Colfelt, Surgical Services family liaison in Guest Relations, marvels at the physical changes and expansion she has witnessed since she began working as a nurse’s aide in 1974.

Like Harriet, Elizabeth has had a few jobs throughout her long career. She has worked as a cashier, financial counselor and plastic surgery coordinator.

In fact, the ability to move into different jobs at LifeBridge Health is one of the things that was appealing.

"There is always a job you can go to in the hospital system," she says.

Elizabeth moved into her present job in October 2007 and says it was her best move yet. "I love this job," she says. "I’m an advocate for anyone who comes into surgery." She says she's doing "work she loves."

These longtime employees sometimes had other options - at one point Bernice was offered a job with the federal government. But she turned it down.

"I have never regretted it," Bernice says. "I’m still enjoying working here. It keeps my brain active. It’s almost impossible to believe I have worked here for 45 years."

Levindale Doubles Capacity for Behavioral Health Unit

Recently Levindale officially opened its expanded Behavioral Health Unit. Doubling its capacity from 20 to 40 beds, the unit provides comprehensive care for geriatric patients who have both medical and behavioral health challenges that require 24-hour supervision.

Patients in Levindale’s Behavioral Health Unit are taught skills to help them lead productive, satisfying lives through group and individual sessions with Levindale’s highly trained, compassionate staff members.

“Our number one priority is to provide the tools to improve the quality of life of our patients through treatment, knowledge and education, not only for them but for their families and their other health care providers,” says Aric Spitulnik, president and COO of Levindale, pictured above with vice president Susan Levy, vice president Cathy Gallo, clinical leader Leslie Peddicord, R.N., and director of nursing hospital services Dean A. Smith. “We hope to prevent the need for them to be hospitalized again.”

Levindale’s team of professionals works together to come up with individual plans to treat the entire person. As an example, as people age, they may develop diabetes or a heart condition, which could make them feel physically weak. Those changes could cause emotional instability or depression.

“To help them on the road to recovery, every patient sees a psychiatrist daily. In addition, he or she may attend group therapy and rehabilitation sessions, if indicated,” Peddicord says.

Rehabilitation can consist of physical, occupational, speech and recreation therapies, depending on the patient’s needs. All of Levindale’s programs are offered in structured, safe, stimulating and nurturing environments so that participants can remember what it’s like to be a vital part of the community.

For more information, call 410-601-2289.

Heating Up

Are you too hot?

Hot flashes, a common term for a sudden wave of heat usually partnered with sweating, can be extremely uncomfortable for women, who can experience them during peri-menopause and up to five or more years after menopause. However, a new study has shown that losing weight can reduce the number and severity of hot flashes.

The study, conducted at University of California, San Francisco, took 150 overweight menopausal women who experienced hot flashes. One hundred of the women were enrolled in a demanding weight loss program. The program was designed to help the women lose 9 percent of their body fat.

At the end of 6 weeks, those who participated in the program were twice as likely as the women in the control group to experience improvement in hot flashes.

Dee-Dee Shiller, D.O., gynecologist and the director at the Women's Wellness Center at Northwest Hospital says that although the study represents good news, regular exercise in itself will reduce symptomatic hot flashes for many women.

Other ways to alleviate hot flashes are to reduce stress through meditation and relaxation and avoid caffeine, says Dr. Shiller.

Hot flashes are not only irritating; they can be related to increase in depression, anxiety and insomnia, and you should see your doctor if you experience these effects of hot flashes. However, its nice to know that relief might be as simple as regular exercise, stress reduction and weight loss if your BMI is 25 or higher.
-Holly Hosler

Dunkin’ Donuts Honors Nurses in August

For the second year in a row, Greater Baltimore area Dunkin’ Donuts will be saluting nurses by offering them a free, medium coffee each Tuesday in August as part of their “Thanks to You” heroes program.

Nurses can receive their free coffee by showing their hospital badges at participating Dunkin’ Donuts locations in Baltimore City and County, and Anne Arundel, Carroll, Cecil, Harford, Howard, Talbot, Queen Anne and Kent counties.

Earlier today, Dunkin’ Donuts honored Dennis Rosos, RN, BSN, in a ceremony at Northwest Hospital. You can see the ceremony below.

A native of California, Rosos began his career in the U.S. Navy as a corpsman, serving as a medic and specializing in post-anesthesia and critical care. He earned his bachelor's degree in Health Science with a focus in Health Care Administration, but soon realized his passion was for patient care. Upon earning his BSN from the University of Oklahoma, he was hired by Northwest Hospital this past February.

Thank you, nurses, for all that you do! Go enjoy that coffee!
-Holly Hosler

Checking In With Our Save-A-Limb Riders

Editor's Note: We've asked two former LifeBridge Health orthopedic patients to do the Save-A-Limb ride in October. As they train, they'll be sharing their experiences here on the LifeBridge Health blog. Today, here about the first month of training from rider Randy Reisfeld!

Week 1: Well, my first spin class over with, and I survived! But wow…..I was really nervous the whole day in anticipation of the class. I’m usually not like that, but I guess it was the unfamiliarity of the equipment, and not knowing what to expect when I got there. It was 45 minutes of grueling riding, up and down in the seat, but my goal was to keep pedaling for the whole time, and I did it!. Even wearing padded bike shorts, the worst part was the soreness of sitting on the seat. They tell me that in about 2 weeks, it won’t be so bad. I guess I’ll find that out. Just proud of myself that I made it through the first class.

Week 2: As I continue to progress with my spin class, I am finding that I enjoy it, much to my surprise. It is a difficult work-out, but the nice part about it is that you can modify it to you’re abilities. My goal each class is to try to continue to increase the resistance and stay with the class through the whole 45 minutes or hour class. I even purchased spin shoes, 2 pairs of padded bike shorts, and just recently bought a padded seat cover that I can also use on my bicycle. Haven’t tried out the padded seat yet…..planning on that at tonight’s class.

Week 3: This week was not a good week for working out. Wasn’t feeling well, so I missed the whole week of spin class, though I got back in the saddle over the weekend. Tried out the padded seat cover, but didn’t like it, as I kept slipping off the seat. Was drained from the class Saturday morning, a combination of not feeling well over the week, and a week of missed classes. Got home, and didn’t move from the sofa for two hours!! Feeling much better now, so I will continue with my three times per week spinning. I’ve also been swimming, which I’ve been alternating with the cycling classes, and I’m feeling more in shape, though the pounds aren’t changing. But I will persevere!!

Week 4: Much better performance last night at class. Had a lot of energy, and was able to increase the resistance and push myself through the whole class. The time went much faster, and I wasn’t going to collapse, like I felt last week. Oh yeah, and my butt didn’t hurt at all!! My goal for the remainder of this week, besides a couple more spin classes, is to get out on my own bike, hopefully this weekend, and see how I feel doing the real thing.

There are 11 weeks to go till the ride!! I can do it!!!
-Randy Reisfeld