Compass Regional Hospice will offer a training session for individuals interested in becoming a patient care volunteer.

Registration is required and completing the entire class is necessary for volunteers who wish to provide companionship and support to Compass Regional Hospice’s patients and their loved ones in Queen Anne’s, Kent and Caroline counties.

The volunteer session is scheduled for 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Nov. 6, 7 and 8, and will take place in Caroline County in the conference room at the Caroline County Chamber of Commerce (USDA building),9194 Legion Road, Denton.

“Volunteers are a vital part of the care we provide,” said Courtney Williams, manager of volunteer and professional services for Compass Regional Hospice. “It is all about helping others and being there when they need you; whether that is in our hospice centers in Centreville and Chestertown, or wherever a patient calls home.”

Topics taught during the training will include an overview of hospice, the process of dying, spiritual care and its place in hospice care, the stages of grief, effective communications techniques, family dynamics, stress management and self-care for caregivers.

Compass Regional Hospice relies on more than 300 volunteers of all ages to support its mission of “Care on your terms.” These individuals volunteer their time in a variety of ways. Whatever your motivation to volunteer, there is a place for you at Compass Regional Hospice.

“Our volunteers provide an invaluable asset to our patients and their caregivers by the gift of their time,” Williams said. “The support that volunteers provide in our facilities allows our staff to be in more places, and our families to receive better care. Being able to offer our patients volunteer visits that provide companionship and socialization helps to improve their quality of life.”

For more information about becoming a volunteer for Compass Regional Hospice, contact Courtney Williams at 443-262-4112 or cwilliams@compassregionalhospice.org, or visit www.compassregionalhospice.org/volunteers to download the patient care volunteer training registration form.

Compass Regional Hospice – Care on your terms

Compass Regional Hospice is a fully licensed, independent, community-based nonprofit organization certified by Medicare and the state of Maryland and accredited by the Joint Commission. Since 1985, Compass Regional Hospice has been dedicated to supporting people of all ages through the challenge of living with a life-limiting illness and learning to live following the death of a loved one. Today, the organization is a regional provider of hospice care and grief support in Queen Anne’s, Kent and Caroline counties. “Care on your terms” is the promise that guides staff and volunteers as they care for patients in private residences, nursing homes, assisted living facilities and the residential hospice centers in Centreville and Chestertown. Grief support services are offered to children, adults and families of patients who died under hospice care, as well as members of the community who are grieving the loss of a loved one, through The Hope and Healing Center. For more information about Compass Regional Hospice, visit compassregionalhospice.org.

For All Seasons kicked off its 3rd Annual NO MATTER WHAT . . . YOU MATTER Suicide Prevention Campaign on Friday, October 4, 2018, from 5 to 8 p.m., at the Bartlett Pear Inn at 28 South Harrison Street in Easton. The free event included champagne, hors d’oeuvres, live music by Black Dog Alley, and street chalking. Over 100 people gathered to kick off the campaign. This year, 25 Easton businesses participated in the Shop and Dine part of the weeklong event, donating a portion of sales on specific dates during the campaign week. There were also 28 business sponsors for the event. Two businesses, Frugalicious and Shabby Chic donated a portion of their sales every day of the Shop and Dine week.  Through guest bartending at Doc’s Downtown Grille, an additional $1000 was raised to support same-day crisis appointments for clients at For All Seasons. Rise Up Coffee staff wore the No Matter What . . .  You Matter tee-shirts while serving Rise Up coffee with No Matter What . . .  You Matter coffee sleeves to create awareness during the Suicide Prevention Campaign.

L-R: Delegate Johnny Mautz, Beth Anne Langrell, Executive Director of For All Seasons, Senator Addie Eckardt, and Mayor Robert Willey. (Photo courtesy of Joe James of J. J. Photography)

Local artist Josepha Price created chalk art on Harrison Street as part of the international “Let’s chalk about mental health movement (#letschalkaboutmentalhealth),” which aims to raise awareness for suicide prevention and reduce stigma by encouraging the public to write messages of hope in chalk to let others know they are not alone. The street was fully chalked by the end of the evening.

Throughout the year, For All Seasons brings awareness to the community about such issues as suicide, sexual assault, trauma, human trafficking, and mental health needs. To request Mental Health First Aid training through the For All Seasons Center for Learning, contact Katie Pittsinger at 410-822-1018, email kpittsinger@forallseasonsinc.org.

For All Seasons serves Caroline, Dorchester, Kent, Queen Anne, and Talbot counties. For All Seasons Rape Crisis Center offers certified sexual assault victim advocates; counseling and support groups, free and confidential services in English and Spanish, support in the hospital, police department, and court, and referrals to social and legal services. For All Seasons English Hotline is 1-800-310-RAPE (7273) and Spanish Hotline is 410-829-6143.

University of Maryland Shore Regional Health’s Comprehensive Rehabilitation Services now offers a weekly Wheelchair and Seating Mobility Clinic, open by appointment from 10 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. every Wednesday at UM Shore Rehabilitation Center at Easton, 10B Martin Court.

“Our goal is to increase our clients’ independence with mobility,” says Angela Jancosko, physical therapist and clinical coordinator. “Due to a variety of limitations—neurological, orthopedic, cardiovascular and those related to pain— people using wheelchairs are often unable to get around easily within their homes. In our outpatient clinic, we can evaluate and assess their status to determine what changes can be made to improve their ability to move within their homes.”

For each client, the Wheelchair and Seating Mobility Clinic first provides a personal physical therapy evaluation, conducted with an assistive technology professional to determine his or her best wheelchair and seating options. Based on the outcomes of that evaluation, a chair is created— either a manual wheelchair, scooter or power wheelchair. Jancosko works with the vendor to ensure the chair is created with the client’s individual needs in mind and when the chair is completed, helps arrange delivery by the vendor directly to the client’s home. Jancosko and the vendor are also available for follow-up questions.

The clinic is open to individuals of any age with wheelchair or seating needs. According to Jancosko, some of the more typical diagnoses of clients attending the clinic are congenital birth defects; extensive cardiopulmonary complications; and neurologically based diagnoses including amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, cerebral palsy, spina bifida, muscular dystrophy, spinal muscle atrophy, spinal cord injury, cerebrovascular accident/stroke, multiple sclerosis and Parkinson’s disease, among others.

Physical therapist Angela Jancosko, left, recently assisted client Mary Robinson of St. Michaels in the purchase of a new power wheelchair.

Client Mary Robinson of St. Michaels said the Wheelchair and Seating Mobility Clinic is an asset for the five-county region served by UM SRH.

“I got my first wheelchair in 2012 at the Kennedy Krieger Center for Spinal Cord Injury,” Robinson says. “Seven years later, when it was time to purchase a power wheelchair, I was pleased to learn that I could do that right here in Easton. The UM Shore Regional Health Rehabilitation Center at Easton is staffed by a team of professionals who are trained in all aspects of assessment to make sure the chair will be custom-fitted for each person.”

Robinson said seeking professional guidance when purchasing a new chair is imperative.

“Don’t buy a wheelchair from a commercial site. This is a tool that must meet your physical and medical condition, so that it can make life easier for you,” Robinson says.

In cases where travel to Easton is impossible, the clinic can accommodate requests for the appointment to take place at UM Shore Rehabilitation Centers at Denton, Dorchester or Queenstown. Additionally, based on client needs, clinic hours in Easton may be increased.

UM Shore Regional Health’s Comprehensive Rehabilitation Services is a proud member of the University of Maryland Rehabilitation Network.

For more information or to see whether you are eligible, please contact your primary care physician for a referral and call the Rehabilitation Patient Navigator at 410-822-1000, ext. 5857, or learn more about our inpatient and outpatient Rehabilitation Services by visiting www.umshoreregional.org/rehabilitation.

As part of the University of Maryland Medical System (UMMS), University of Maryland Shore Regional Health is the principal provider of comprehensive health care services for more than 170,000 residents of Caroline, Dorchester, Kent, Queen Anne’s, and Talbot counties on Maryland’s Eastern Shore. UM Shore Regional Health’s team of more than 2,500 employees, medical staff, board members, and volunteers works with various community partners to fulfill the organization’s mission of Creating Healthier Communities Together.

Qlarant Foundation announces a call for proposals for the 2020-21 grant period. Qlarant Foundation will award grants up to $50,000 to eligible organizations that work to improve health care to underserved communities.

Qlarant Foundation will fund health care projects, focusing on the uninsured and underinsured patient. Selected projects should include well-defined goals with measureable outcomes.  Acceptance of applications for grants will be from December 1, 2019 through 5:00 p.m. EST on January 15, 2020. Notification of award status will be announced in June 2020. Applicants must be from Maryland or the District of Columbia.

“We are pleased to continue our support of projects to address the health needs of vulnerable people in our communities. We are looking to fund projects that are varied in scope and innovative in design, having a positive impact on health quality in ways that meet the new patient-centered model of care,” said Molly Burgoyne-Brian, MD, Chair of Qlarant Foundation’s Board of Directors. “We are particularly interested in non-profit organizations committed to serving people that are very much in need of health care services but are difficult to reach. We encourage our grantees to improve communication, provide education, employ measurable outcomes, and prevent chronic disease. Programs dedicated to high standards of care are a priority.”

Rebuilding Together Caroline County, one of Qlarant Foundation’s 76 grantees, provides a ramp to a woman in need.

Qlarant Foundation focuses on programs that demonstrate improved health care quality with clear goals and measurable outcomes.  Priority areas include programs that:

– Improve access to health care services to the unserved and under-served
– Improve understanding of health issues, including health-related social issues
– Demonstrate improvement through measureable outcomes of stated goals

About Qlarant Foundation. The Foundation is the philanthropic arm of Qlarant, a national not-for-profit organization committed to Creating Solutions to Transform Health. Qlarant formed the Foundation in 2003 in an effort to improve health care in local communities across Maryland and the District of Columbia. Since 2006, the Foundation has awarded almost $5.2 million to 76 different organizations.

For more information or to apply visit:  http://www.qlarant.com/about/qlarant-foundation/

The 2019 UM Shore Regional Health Golf Tournament held September 16 at the Talbot Country Club in Easton was a great success, netting $92,268 to benefit Surgical Services at University of Maryland Shore Medical Center at Easton.

Offered by UM Memorial Hospital Foundation, this year’s tournament attracted 23 foursomes. Each player received a Hudson Sutler garment bag as a thank you gift and enjoyed lunch on the course,as well as a reception afterward.

From left are Auxiliary at Memorial Hospital at Easton ladies’ golf team members Lorraine Kelly, Karen Lanno, Joan Decker and Trish Reynolds.

According to F. Graham Lee, UM SRH vice president for philanthropy, Surgical Services was a logical choice as the beneficiary for this year’s tournament. “It’s no secret that surgical technologies are evolving rapidly,” says Lee. “In order for our Surgical Services department to provide the best care for surgery patients, we must be able to provide the most up to date equipment.”

One of the items to be funded by the tournament proceeds is a specialty surgical table called the Jackson Table, which is used for certain neurosurgery procedures and also some urologic surgeries. At present, UM SRH has one table. The addition of a second table will allow surgeons to perform these procedures on a more timely basis.

Additional items intended for purchase by Surgical Services include new Glidescope, which is used by anesthesiologists for difficult intubations, and upgraded anesthesia carts.

Strong sponsorship support received from more than 52 individuals and businesses played a vital role in the success of the event. Top sponsors included: the Auxiliary of Easton – UM Shore Regional Health,Pepsi Bottling Ventures, A. James & Alice B. Clark Foundation, Jack and Susan Stoltz, James Real Estate Services LLC, InTown Management/Steve Hershey, Bluepoint Hospitality, Bullock Construction Inc., Crothall Healthcare, Eastern Shore Emergency Medicine Physicians, Bill & Judy Munn, Shore United Bank, Willow Construction, WIN Transport Inc., Best Care Ambulance LLC, Gillis Gilkerson, HKS Inc, Marshall Craft Associates, Tidewater Anesthesia Associates and so many more.

From left are Auxiliary at Memorial Hospital at Easton men’s golf team members Bob Rauch, Brad Baker, Art Cecil and Bill Houck.

During the past five years, the golf tournament has supported the Requard Acute Rehabilitation Center at UM Shore Medical Center at Easton, Cardiac Services, the Birthing Center at UM Shore Medical Center at Easton, the Intensive Care Unit at UM Shore Medical Center at Easton, and has purchased invasive and noninvasive ventilators.

“We would like to thank everyone for their continued support of our annual golf tournament,” says Lee. “Through the years, and because of you, Memorial Hospital Foundation has been able to improve care of our patients by helping to fund equipment and technology upgrades, facility renovations and staff education.”

About UM Shore Regional Health: As part of the University of Maryland Medical System (UMMS), University of Maryland Shore Regional Health is the principal provider of comprehensive health care services for more than 170,000 residents of Caroline, Dorchester, Kent, Queen Anne’s and Talbot counties on Maryland’s Eastern Shore. UM Shore Regional Health’s team of more than 2,600 employees, medical staff, board members and volunteers work with various community partners to fulfill the organization’s mission of Creating Healthier Communities Together.

UM Shore Medical Group-Women’s Health and UM Shore Regional Health celebrated National Midwifery Week, Sept. 29 to Oct. 5. Shown left to right are UM Shore Regional Health nurse-midwives Jessica Pate, Sunny Granger and Molly Bernish, who have delivered nearly 200 babies each during the course of their careers. Molly Bernish became interested in becoming a nurse-midwife after watching her first birth while she was a Peace Corps education volunteer in a small, rural South African village. As she recalls, “I was inspired by the strength in the community of women supporting the mother; not only during labor, but in the months that followed.” Formerly a labor and delivery nurse, Jessica Pate reflects, “I admired nurse-midwives, and following my experience with a nurse-midwife after the birth of my fourth child, I felt motivated to pursue the nurse-midwife profession.” Sunny Granger — whose first career was as an environmental geologist — was inspired to pursue her degree as a nurse-midwife after listening to a podcast about midwives caring for women in underserved communities. “I enjoy being part of such a unique and momentous experience in a family’s story,” says Granger. UM Shore Regional Health is thankful for these women and their contribution to our health care family.

Javier Cajina, MD

University of Maryland Shore Medical Group (UM SMG) welcomed Javier Cajina, MD to UM SMG – Women’s Health practice last month. A graduate of the Medical School of Universidad Americana in Managua, Nicaragua, Dr. Cajina completed a four-year residency in obstetrics and gynecology at Sinai Hospital of Baltimore. In 2017, he also was a resident physician at Johns Hopkins Medical Institutions, completing surgical and outpatient rotations in reproductive endocrinology and infertility.

Prior to coming to the U.S., Dr. Cajina was a general practitioner in both inpatient and outpatient settings in Nicaragua. He also was active in many leadership, volunteer and public health projects, including several health missions with the Nicaraguan health ministry providing primary care and preventive medicine in underserved areas.

Dr. Cajina is a member of the American College of Obstetrics and the Nicaraguan American Medical Association. He is certified in Basic Life Support (BLS), Advanced Cardiac Life Support (ACLS), Neonatal Resuscitation Program (NRP) and Cervical Length Education and Review (CLEAR).

To make an appointment with Dr. Cajina at UM SMG – Women’s Health at 522 Idlewild Avenue in Easton, patients may call 410-820-4888.

As part of the University of Maryland Medical System (UMMS), University of Maryland Shore Regional Health is the principal provider of comprehensive health care services for more than 170,000 residents of Caroline, Dorchester, Kent, Queen Anne’s and Talbot counties on Maryland’s Eastern Shore. UM Shore Regional Health’s team of more than 2,200 employees, medical staff, board members and volunteers works with various community partners to fulfill the organization’s mission of Creating Healthier Communities Together.

Medha Satyarengga, MD

Medha Satyarengga, MD has joined the University of Maryland Center for Diabetes and Endocrinology. Dr. Satyarengga completed his undergraduate and medical degrees at Universitas Indonesia in Jakarta, Indonesia, and spent three years as a primary care physician at Aditya Medical Center in Jakarta, Indonesia. Subsequently, he completed a residency in internal medicine at Mount Sinai St. Luke’s and Mount Sinai West in New York City, and a fellowship in diabetes, endocrinology and metabolism at University of Maryland Medical Center in Baltimore.

Board-certified in internal medicine, Dr. Satyarengga has published, lectured and presented on diabetes and endocrinology topics, and is a member of the Endocrine Society, the American Diabetes Association, American Association of Clinical Endocrinologists, the American College of Physicians and the Indonesian Medical Association.

Dr. Satyarengga is seeing patients at UM Shore Medical Pavilions in Chestertown and Denton. Patients may make an appointment with him by calling UM Center for Diabetes and Endocrinology, 410-822-1000, ext. 5757.

As part of the University of Maryland Medical System (UMMS), University of Maryland Shore Regional Health is the principal provider of comprehensive health care services for more than 170,000 residents of Caroline, Dorchester, Kent, Queen Anne’s and Talbot counties on Maryland’s Eastern Shore. UM Shore Regional Health’s team of more than 2,200 employees, medical staff, board members and volunteers works with various community partners to fulfill the organization’s mission of Creating Healthier Communities Together.

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, population health “brings significant health concerns into focus and addresses ways that resources can be allocated to overcome the problems that drive poor health conditions in the population.” The growing focus on population health encourages health care systems, agencies and organizations to collaborate in projects to improve the health outcomes of the communities they serve.

Population Health is an increasingly important component of University of Maryland Shore Regional Health’s mission, Creating Healthier Communities Together. Led by Nancy Bedell, director, the UM SRH Population Health team recently added two new members, Shelley Stone MSN, RN, CCM, manager, and Jessica Denny PT, DPT, project manager, Population Health.

Shelley Stone has worked for UM SRH for 31 years in various nursing positions. While on a brief hiatus from SRH, she gained valuable knowledge and experience in case management and health coaching, and is now pursuing certification in health coaching through the Mayo Clinic. A Talbot County resident, Stone is excited to collaborate with populations and organizations to bridge the gap between acute and post-acute environments.

Nancy Bedell (center), director, Population Health at UM SRH, is shown with new Population Health staff members Jessica Denny (left) and Shelley Stone (right).

Jessica Denny has worked for SRH Comprehensive Rehabilitation Services for 11 years as a physical therapist, clinical specialist and inpatient manager. A native and current resident of Queen Anne’s County, Denny is excited to use her patient-centered skills and whole-person approach to help patients throughout the five county region.

“Our aim is to lead the creation of a stronger resource network to help improve the health of Caroline, Dorchester, Kent, Queen Anne’s and Talbot counties,” says Bedell. “This will be accomplished by collaborating with University of Maryland Shore Medical Group providers and with community organizations such as county health and social services departments, departments of aging, nursing and rehab facilities, Mobile Integrated Community Health programs, churches, and others.”

For now, Shore’s Population Health team continues to focus on high-risk populations through the Transitional Nurse Navigator (TNN) program staffed by TNNs Lori Geisler, Angela Lunczynski and Alyssa Baker, who assist patients deemed high-risk for readmission for 30 days after discharge from UM Shore Medical Centers at Chestertown, Dorchester and Easton. Moving forward, the team will begin outreach to UM SRH community partners with a focus on developing education, prevention and wellness initiatives that will benefit both high-and low-risk populations.

More information about population health initiatives at UM SRH may be obtained by contacting Nancy Bedell, 410-822-1000, ext. 5359, nancy.bedell@umm.edu

As part of the University of Maryland Medical System (UMMS), University of Maryland Shore Regional Health is the principal provider of comprehensive health care services for more than 170,000 residents of Caroline, Dorchester, Kent, Queen Anne’s and Talbot counties on Maryland’s Eastern Shore. UM Shore Regional Health’s team of more than 2,200 employees, medical staff, board members and volunteers works with various community partners to fulfill the organization’s mission of Creating Healthier Communities Together.

Talbot Hospice Executive Director Vivian Dodge recently announced the appointment of two new staff members. April Motovidlak, MS, ACNP-BC, will serve as nurse practitioner for Talbot Palliative Care, and Megan Ryan will serve as the Pathways Program Coordinator.

April Motovidlak has 20 years’ experience in the nursing field having served most recently as an acute care nurse practitioner for Shore Bayy Hospitalists and Eastern Shore Emergency Physicians. She currently serves as Medical Director of the Sexual Assault Program at UM Shore Regional Health, a position she has held since 2011. Motovidlak is a graduate of Macqueen Gibbs Willis School of Nursing. She received a bachelor’s and master’s degree in nursing from University of Maryland at Baltimore, School of Nursing. She is a member of the Emergency Nurses Association and served as president of the Eastern Shore Chapter in 2008.

April Motovidlak, MS, ACNP-BC and Megan Ryan

Megan Ryan joined the Talbot Hospice team in August as the Pathways Coordinator. In this role Ryan will oversee the pre-hospice, non-medical, volunteer program of supportive services for individuals diagnosed with a life-limiting illness. Prior to joining Talbot Hospice Ryan worked at Mid-Shore Pro Bono for 9 years where she had been the Elder Law Project Manager and Deputy Director. In her years in Easton she has also volunteered for Habitat Choptank and Mid-Shore Community Foundation. Ryan has a Bachelor of Science in Marketing and a minor in Health Sciences from Boston College.

“We are so fortunate to have these talented professionals join our team,” said Executive Director Vivian Dodge. “Their skills and expertise will truly benefit our organization and our community.” Founded in 1981, Talbot Hospice is the premier resource for hospice, palliative care, and grief support services in Talbot County and is the 2019 Talbot Chamber of Commerce Outstanding Nonprofit. For more information about Talbot Hospice visit TalbotHospice.org or call 410-822-6681.