Keeping Children Safe this Halloween

It’s that time of year again when ghosts, goblins, princesses and fairies will roam the neighborhoods asking you for a trick or treat. But as adults and parents, it’s always in good practice to make sure that children’s costumes not only look great, but are safe. Here are some Halloween safety tips to help make yours and your child’s evening of candy and sweets safe and fun!

• Keep free-flowing objects on your child’s costume in mind. Dangling, long trailing fabrics, wigs, sleeves and pants may cause tripping and falling.
• Be aware of open flames where the costume might catch fire. According to the National Fire Protection Agency, over 900 incidents a year occur from decorations being caught on fire.
• Wear well-fitting costumes. Make sure your child wears fitted masks, costumes and shoes to avoid blocked vision, trips and falls.
• Make sure your child’s props are safe. If a costume has a prop such as a sword, knife or wand, be sure that it is soft and flexible to prevent injury. A study has shown that 40% of parents allow at least one or more unsafe items to be used on Halloween.*
• Examine candy before allowing your child to eat it. Make sure items are factory wrapped and have not been altered in any way. Also, check the ingredients list to make sure candy does not contain any allergens that may affect your child such as peanuts, milk and soy.
• Test make-up before applying it. Test it on a small area of skin first to avoid possible skin or eye irritation. Make sure to remove any make-up before going to bed to avoid long-term exposure and possible irritation.
• Have children carry around a flashlight. Reflective material or tape can be used on their candy bags to be easily spotted by cars and others. When crossing the street, be sure to look both ways and to use traffic signals and crosswalks.
• The prime time for trick-or-treating is between 4:30 p.m. – 9 p.m. It is also recommended that children under 12 should be accompanied by an adult when trick-or-treating. 

Remember these safety tips and have fun this year!


*Mickalide, AD, Rosenthal, KM, Donahue, MP. Halloween Safety: A National Survey of Parents' Knowledge, Attitudes, and Behaviors. Washington (DC): Safe Kids Worldwide, October 2011.

GBMC Wins Pink!

In June, GBMC filmed a video for the national Pink Glove Dance contest, sponsored by Medline Industries, Inc. Held in the spirit of providing breast cancer education, resources and increasing awareness, the contest requires participants to create a 90-second video that features people dancing while wearing Medline’s pink surgical gloves. Hundreds of GBMC staff, physicians, patients, survivors and supporters turned out for several dance rehearsals and video shoots, culminating with the formation of a human breast cancer ribbon near the hospital’s main entrance and a group dance session. The prize at stake? Thousands of dollars donated to GBMC’s community partner organization, The Red Devils, which provides a variety of daily needs services to breast cancer patients and their families in Maryland.
 

The Pink Glove Dance Committee and Marketing Department are thrilled to announce that, despite a very close race, GBMC’s video took top honors in the “Standalone Healthcare Provider” category, amassing nearly 27,000 votes! GBMC also came in fourth place overall, a significant achievement given the size of the competition. Thanks to everyone who participated in and supported the GBMC video! The experience of rallying so many people together for a cause was not only satisfying, but joyful and energizing! It became an uplifting celebration of life among those who dedicate themselves to caring for others and those who need that care.

On October 2, 2014, a representative from Medline and GBMC presented the award check to Jan Wilson, Executive Director of The Red Devils. "The Red Devils is honored to have been chosen by GBMC as the beneficiary of its winning efforts. This $10,000 gift means we will be able to make an immediate impact on the lives of nearly 40 families living with breast cancer at a time of year when they turn to us the most to assist with transportation, family support and medical expenses. We truly are grateful to GBMC and to everyone who voted."

Overcoming Healthcare Obstacles

GBMC Primary Care Practices Focus on Helping Patients Easily Navigate the System

Navigating the healthcare system can be daunting. Patients, especially those with chronic diseases, such as diabetes, hypertension and obesity, are tasked with keeping track of a multitude of overwhelming details about their own care. These details include understanding and properly managing their medications, knowing who to contact with questions, remembering to schedule follow-up appointments with their primary care doctors and specialists, and locating social and financial resources to help them meet their goals.

Recognizing that the complexity of the healthcare process is often an obstacle preventing patients from getting the care they need, GBMC’s primary care practices offer services to help keep patients on the right track. The services, led by a team of nurse care managers and care coordinators, ensure that patients know how to safely navigate the healthcare system and get timely care, answers to questions and referrals to resources. The care managers and coordinators work closely together and with all providers on the medical team to meet the gamut of patient needs – medical, social and financial. “Our primary care patients can expect to receive a call from a care manager and/or coordinator if they've recently visited the emergency room or hospital and need any type of follow up care, education or assistance,” explains Diana Mantell, Administrator for Population Health. “Patients can rest assured that it is not a solicitation call and their medical information remains private and secure. The care manager or coordinator is simply another member of their healthcare team offering assistance.”

According to Ms. Mantell, the service is essentially an added benefit to the high quality care patients already receive at GBMC – one that is meant to be informative, non-intrusive, and to provide them with individualized care plans and resources that support their healthcare goals. This year alone, nurse care managers have worked with more than 500 patients and the care coordinators have connected patients with resources more than 1,000 times.

“One great feature of our care manager and coordinator services is that they are available to any and all of our primary care patients, regardless of what insurance they hold,” says Ms. Mantell. They are in the offices, ready to answer questions, teach patients how to administer medications or use health monitoring devices such as glucometers, and assist in finding financial resources and other support groups to help patients push through any barriers they are facing in maintaining their health and wellness. “Our goal is to keep members of the community healthy and out of the hospital,” she says. “Care manager and coordinator services are designed to help achieve that goal.”

Patients interested in being connected to a nursing care manager or care coordinator are encouraged to contact their GBMC primary care physician directly via their main office number. To find a primary care provider who is right for you, visit www.gbmc.org/mydoctor or call 443-849-GBMC (4262).

GBMC Recognizes 50 Inaugural Physician Titans of Care

When an organization achieves a major milestone, it’s important to reflect back and recognize the people who have contributed to its success. In 2015, GBMC HealthCare will celebrate 50 years of service to the community. There are many people who have played an instrumental role in shaping GBMC into the organization it is today, including the many members of the medical staff, who have offered their skills and expertise and given people a true reason to choose GBMC for care.

In celebration of GBMC HealthCare’s 50th anniversary, a prestigious group of 50 physicians who have made extraordinary contributions to GBMC HealthCare and the field of medicine has been identified. These individuals, recognized as the “50 Inaugural Physician Titans of Care,” have earned a personal reputation as outstanding physicians that deliver premier clinical skills and have made significant contributions in the formation and enhancement of GBMC’s reputation. Some are credited for the creation of a “best in the field” specialty program or service that is offered today by GBMC.

“The Physician Titans of Care is a special group of doctors who have helped GBMC achieve its position as the region’s preeminent community healthcare system through their hard work and clinical expertise,” says John Chessare, MD, President and CEO of GBMC HealthCare.  “These are some of the names that rise to the top of the list when you hear people talking about how skilled GBMC physicians are and why they turn to us for healthcare. Our 50th anniversary gives us a wonderful opportunity to recognize these physicians and thank them for bringing their outstanding contributions to the field of medicine right to GBMC.”

The 50 Inaugural Physician Titans of Care have been named as part of GBMC’s anniversary celebration and will have the honor of selecting additional nominees to be part of this prestigious group in the years to come.

“We are fortunate to have so many reputable and skilled physicians on our medical staff, and want to continue recognizing the people who exemplify what GBMC HealthCare is all about,” says Harold Tucker, MD, Chief of the Medical Staff. “Each year, we will have an opportunity to express our gratitude and recognize excellence by inducting additional doctors as Physician Titans of Care.”

The 50 Inaugural Physician Titans of Care were unveiled at GBMC HealthCare’s 49th birthday party on October 2, 2014. They will also receive special recognition at the 50th Anniversary Gala on October 2, 2015. For further information and to view the complete Physician Titans of Care list, visit www.gbmc.org/50thanniversary.

Maple Roasted Butternut Squash

Ingredients

• 1¼ lbs butternut squash, peeled and diced into ¾-inch cubes
• ½ tbsp olive oil or coconut oil
• 2½ tbsp pure maple syrup
• Kosher salt
• Freshly ground black pepper  

Directions 

Preheat the oven to 400° F. In a large bowl, toss the cubed butternut squash with oil, maple syrup, salt and fresh ground pepper. 

Place the mixture into a baking dish and cover with foil. Roast the squash for 25 minutes.

Pull the dish from the oven and remove the foil. Turn the squash, then bake for an additional 15 minutes until fork tender. 

Makes 4 servings.

Nutrition
Serving size: ¾ cup
Calories: 104
Fat: 2g
Protein: 1g
Fat: 2g
Carbohydrates: 23g
Fiber: 4g
Sugar: 7g
Sodium: 7mg

Recipe courtesy of www.skinnytaste.com