New Year, Healthy New You!

It’s a new year and people everywhere are resolving to get (and stay!) healthy. Have you struggled with maintaining a commitment to regular activity? Are you confused by conflicting information regarding sound nutrition and dietary habits? Can you envision 2016 being the year that you finally achieve your fitness and wellness goals once and for all? Stack the odds in your favor by partnering with GBMC!

GBMC is pleased to announce its new 12-week Life in Balance program, which is designed to provide education, support and results to help you look and feel your best in the new year. The Life in Balance program consists of three distinct components. First, you will meet with a certified health coach, who is also a nurse practitioner. The health coach works alongside your primary care physician or specialist, reviewing barriers to your success and assisting you with lifestyle issues such as stress, time management and family support. Next, a personal fitness coach will provide you with a complete fitness consultation and exercise plan, setting attainable goals tailored just for you. Throughout the program, the fitness coach will ensure proper form, address any questions and make adjustments to your exercise plan as needed. Finally, you will meet with a registered dietitian, who will counsel you on adopting healthy eating habits as well as calculating daily caloric needs and resting metabolic rates. You will also receive a customized meal plan including healthy and easy recipes and snacks.

These three certified professionals will collaborate in order to provide ongoing motivation, support and education to all program participants.

The Life in Balance program is open to anyone who has an interest in improving his or her health! It begins the week of February 1, 2016 and the complete program costs $750, or three easy payments of $250. Sign up in January and get a 10 percent discount! All meetings will be held at GBMC in the Geckle Diabetes and Nutrition Center. For additional information or to register, please visit our website at www.gbmc.org/lifeinbalance.

GBMC Earns Healthcare Equality Index Recognition

For the second year in a row, GBMC has earned recognition as a leader in Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender (LGBT) healthcare equality by the Healthcare Equality Index (HEI). This acknowledgement reinforces GBMC’s strides in HEI’s stringent core four leader criteria, which follow:

1. Patient Non-Discrimination: GBMC’s Patient Bill of Rights is fully LGBT-inclusive and includes both the terms “sexual orientation” and “gender identity.” The organization’s Patient Bill of Rights states that all patients have the right to “Receive considerate, respectful and compassionate care regardless of your age, gender, race, national origin, religion, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression or disabilities. Additionally, GBMC meets the requirement that the LGBT-inclusive patient non-discrimination policy is communicated to patients in at least two readily accessible ways.

2. Equal Visitation: GBMC’s visitation policy explicitly grants equal visitation to LGBT patients and visitors. This policy is communicated to patients and visitors in at least two readily accessible ways and states: “Whenever possible, GBMC supports our patients having a family member, friend, a domestic partner, including same-sex domestic partner or other individual present for emotional support during the course of the stay.”

3. Employment Non-Discrimination: GBMC’s employment non-discrimination policy (equal employment opportunity policy) is fully LGBT-inclusive and includes both the terms “sexual orientation” and “gender identity.”

4. Training in LGBT Patient-Centered Care: HEI-approved training in LGBT patient-centered care has been provided to key staff members.

GBMC is proud to have met the criteria and sub-criteria in all four categories! For more information about HEI, visit www.hrc.org/hei.

Minestrone Soup

Ingredients

1/4 cup olive oil
1 garlic clove, minced (or 1/8 teaspoon garlic powder)
1 1/3 cups onions, coarsely chopped
1 1/2 cups celery and leaves, coarsely chopped
1 6-oz can tomato paste
1 tablespoon fresh parsley, chopped
1 cup sliced carrots, fresh or frozen
4 3/4 cups shredded cabbage
1 can (1 lb.) tomatoes, cut up
1 cup canned red kidney beans, drained and rinsed
1 1/2 cups frozen peas
1 1/2 cups fresh green beans
11 cups water
2 cups uncooked pasta (such as ditalini pasta)
dash of hot sauce

Directions

1. Heat oil in a 4-quart saucepan.
2. Add garlic, onion and celery to pan. Sauté about 5 minutes.
3. Add all remaining ingredients except pasta and stir ingredients until they are well mixed.
4. Bring the pot to a boil. Reduce heat, cover, and simmer for about 45 minutes or until the vegetables are tender.
5. Add uncooked pasta and simmer until pasta is soft.

Nutrition Information

Serves: 16
Serving size: 1 cup
Calories: 153
Fat: 4g
Sodium: 191 mg
Cholesterol: 0mg
Saturated fat: less than 1g

Recipe Source: Reprinted with permission from Stay Young At Heart: National Heart, Lunch, and Blood Institute. U.S. Department of Health & Human Services. National Institutes of Health.

Unhappy Holidays

"The holidays remind me that I'm alone."
"I can't afford to give people the kinds of gifts they expect."
"My family will always consider me a failure compared to my sister."
"I'm in too much pain to act like I'm enjoying myself."

These are just a few of the reasons why many people find the holiday season to be an unpleasant time of year. Depression can be caused by a number of different things – certain chronic illnesses, grief, medications, hormones, substance abuse – and it can also be brought about or amplified by stressful experiences.

Not only can depression result in uncomfortable physical symptoms like headaches, gastrointestinal disturbances, sleeplessness and fatigue, it can also worsen a chronic illness such as diabetes or high blood pressure. This is especially dangerous for those who have a chronic condition that has not yet been diagnosed. Unfortunately, when people suffer from a combination of chronic illness and depression, they are even more likely to avoid family, friends and activities they once enjoyed. That isolation may intensify the depression.

The most frequently cited “triggers” for depression during the holidays are: family gatherings or being away from family and friends; concerns about money and spending; high or unrealistic expectations; fatigue; over-committing and over-commercialization.

To cope with these triggers, consider trying some of the following actions:

• plan daily “me” time to focus on your own needs
• practice saying "no" to avoid over-committing yourself
• donate to a charity instead of buying commercial gifts
• prepare a budget for reasonable spending
• ask for help when you need it
• set time limits for various tasks or events to prevent rushing from place to place

Deep breathing can also be a helpful tool to calm yourself when you feel frustrated or anxious.

Don’t wait for a crisis or suffer in silence. There are multiple ways to address depression and people do get better. Regardless of whether you or a loved one suffer from major (clinical) or seasonal depression, it’s important to speak with your primary care physician about the symptoms. He or she will be able to assess your needs, determine whether a chronic condition is present and discuss possible treatment options.

GBMC has 10 primary care practices throughout the Baltimore area. If you do not have a primary care physician, visit www.mygbmcdoctor.com to find one who is right for you. Or, click here to complete an appointment request form.

Survivorship Begins with Diagnosis

Joyce Myrick was diagnosed with fallopian tube cancer in the summer of 2014, and her journey to recovery had a difficult beginning. She was referred to a local hospital for chemotherapy, but her calls to schedule appointments went unanswered. “I asked my daughter, who’s a lawyer, to get involved so my treatment could begin,” she says. Losing her hair took an emotional toll also, prompting her daughter to suggest attending the American Cancer Society’s “Look Good Feel Better” lecture series. The series, which is held at GBMC, offers support and teaches cancer patients and their families about beauty techniques.

“At the lecture, I was listening to another attendee talk about her positive experiences in GBMC’s Infusion Center and was just baffled,” Mrs. Myrick says. “I thought that all cancer treatments were the same, that everyone had a hard time feeling cared for or getting the information they needed.” After the lecture, Mrs. Myrick spoke to Paul Celano, MD, a GBMC oncologist, about her treatment and immediately transitioned to GBMC. “It was an excellent experience from start to finish.”

Now cancer-free, one of Mrs. Myrick’s favorite aspects of care at GBMC is the Survivorship Program, which is designed to help cancer patients and their families navigate the changes and challenges that come with a diagnosis of and treatment for cancer. “The current accepted definition of survivorship is the process of living with, through and beyond cancer,” says Felicity Kirby, Oncology Nurse Coordinator for Oncology Support Services at GBMC. “Cancer survivorship begins at diagnosis and includes people who continue to have treatment to either reduce risk of recurrence or to manage chronic disease. It also includes their families.”

According to the American Cancer Society, the number of people with a history of cancer in the United States has increased dramatically, from 3 million in 1971 to about 13.7 million in 2014. GBMC works to aid that population by providing supportive services such as rehabilitation, nutrition, counseling, palliation of symptoms and care coordination, among others. By using a Resource Guide provided at diagnosis, patients can organize all of the information they receive throughout their care, including education materials, treatments, medications, pain management, test result logs and support resource listings. Patients who complete treatment and transition to follow-up care are eligible to meet with Ms. Kirby to receive a customized treatment summary and care plan. Surveillance, screening, prevention of recurrence and new cancers, follow-up guidelines, risk reducing strategies, how recovery is going and more are reviewed during this visit.

“During my first appointment at GBMC, everything was handled for me,” Mrs. Myrick says. “I kept the packet they gave me when I started my treatment, and still use it to store my test results and information. Everyone is so kind and always there to answer my questions. The funny thing is that I rarely have problems because Felicity anticipates my needs before a problem can come up.

For more information on the Survivorship Program at GBMC, visit www.gbmc.org/oncologysupportservices or call 443-849-2961.

Meet Your Friendly GBMC at Owings Mills Primary Care Practice

In primary care, offering preventive medicine and helping patients treat their chronic conditions is paramount. Patient-centered medical homes (PCMHs) help primary care providers do just that using a model of care that emphasizes coordination and effective patient-practitioner communication. PCMHs keep their focus on providing better healthcare at a lower cost to patients by delivering evidence-based care, promoting preventive medicine, managing chronic illnesses and engaging in proactive monitoring of patient health.

GBMC HealthCare boasts nine PCMHs serving the Greater Baltimore community, one of which is GBMC at Owings Mills. This practice’s care team is made up of four physicians, a physician’s assistant, a certified adult nurse practitioner and several other support staff members, all of whom are passionate about promoting and advocating for patients’ health and wellness.

Maria V. Borodatcheva, MD, specializes in internal medicine for adults 18 years or older and enjoys aiding patients from all walks of life with a full spectrum of health conditions. Elena Ghiaur, MD, is also an internal medicine specialist, who believes the best way to promote preventive medicine is to get patients involved with monitoring and managing their own health. Kevin Ferentz, MD, lead physician for GBMC at Owings Mills, practices family medicine, meaning that he delivers care to both pediatric patients and adults. He believes that family physicians “cure rarely, treat often and comfort always.” Family medicine physician Kevin Carter, MD, the newest addition to the practice, has a passion for treating each patient with care and compassion. Drs. Ferentz and Carter are board-certified in family medicine and Drs. Ghiaur and Borodatcheva are board-certified in internal medicine. Also practicing at GBMC at Owings Mills are Elena Volkov, PA-C, an internal medicine physician’s assistant, and Marilyn Andrews, MS-CRNP, a certified adult nurse practitioner.

GBMC at Owings Mills is easily accessible from Painters Mill Road and Red Run Boulevard. With convenient extended hours on Monday through Friday as well as Saturday and Sunday morning hours available for sick visits, GBMC at Owings Mills offers phlebotomy, obstetrics/ gynecology, gynecologic well women’s services, gastroenterology and neurological services. Medical services can be offered in a variety of languages including English, Russian, Romanian and Polish.

Patients of all GBMC HealthCare PCMH offices, including the GBMC at Owings Mills practice, are able to securely access their electronic health records using the Web-based tool, myGBMC. Through myGBMC, patients have round-the-clock access to their medication lists, test results as well as past and current billing statements. Patients are also able to request prescription refills and specialist referrals, send messages to their primary care physicians for answers to questions and more. With myGBMC, patients can better participate in their own healthcare monitoring and planning.

GBMC at Owings Mills is currently accepting new patients. For more information about the practice’s hours, location, practitioners and insurance accepted, visit www.mygbmcdoctor.com/owingsmills or call 443-849-GBMC (4262).

Mini Crab Balls

Announcing the winner of GBMC’s 1st Annual Healthy Holiday Recipe Contest! Amanda Boles submitted her recipe for Mini Crab Balls - a great appetizer or side dish for the holidays! Here’s the recipe.

Serves 12

Ingredients
1/2 pound real jumbo lump crab meat
1/8 cup diced onions
2 teaspoons diced red pepper
2 tablespoons spicy brown mustard
2 teaspoons low-fat mayonnaise with olive oil
1/2 cup whole wheat crackers, crumbled
1 large egg
2 pinches of Old Bay Seasoning

Directions
Preheat oven to "Broil" setting
Lightly mix all ingredients in large bowl
Roll the mixture into individual bite-size balls
Place crab balls on a baking pan, about 1 inch apart
Bake for 15 minutes or until golden brown
Garnish with parsley.
Serve and enjoy!

Nutrition Information
Calories: 120
Fat: 1/2 g
Sodium: 101 mg
Protein: 4.7 g
Carbohydrates: 2.9 g
Cholesterol: 40 g