Archive: November 3, 2026

Mercy Medical Center Earns Healthgrades Outpatient Prostate Care Excellence Award for 3rd Consecutive Year

BALTIMORE, Md.  November 03, 2026: Mercy Medical Center has earned the Healthgrades Outpatient Prostate Care Excellence Award™ for 2027, recognizing the Baltimore hospital for superior clinical outcomes in outpatient treatments for benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH), a common condition involving enlargement of the prostate. The recognition marks the third consecutive year Mercy has received the award, following honors in 2025 and 2026.

The annual Healthgrades Outpatient Awards recognize hospitals across the country that demonstrate outstanding clinical performance in select outpatient procedures. Healthgrades evaluates hospital performance using objective quality measures, including clinical outcomes and patient safety, to help patients make informed decisions about where to receive care.

“Receiving this recognition from Healthgrades reflects Mercy’s ongoing commitment to delivering high-quality, compassionate care,” said Dr. David N. Maine, President and CEO, Mercy Health Services. “We are proud to be recognized for our clinical outcomes and the dedication of our physicians, nurses and care teams who work together to help patients achieve their best outcomes.”

Benign prostatic hyperplasia is a noncancerous enlargement of the prostate that can affect urinary function and quality of life. Outpatient treatment options allow eligible patients to receive appropriate care without an overnight hospital stay, offering the potential for greater convenience while maintaining a focus on safety and clinical outcomes.

In addition to its Outpatient Prostate Care Excellence Award, Mercy Medical Center has a reported patient experience rating of 77%, which is 10 percentage points higher than the national average, according to Healthgrades.

Mercy’s continued recognition highlights its commitment to clinical excellence, patient safety and a positive patient experience. The hospital remains dedicated to providing the Baltimore community with access to quality care and supporting patients throughout their healthcare journeys.

The recognition comes as patients increasingly consider hospital quality when selecting physicians and treatment options. Healthgrades research indicates that hospital quality ratings play an important role in healthcare decisions, underscoring the value of objective measures that help patients compare care options.

Founded in 1874 by The Sisters of Mercy, Mercy is home to the acclaimed Weinberg Center for Women’s Health & Medicine and the $400+ million Mary Catherine Bunting Center. For more information about Mercy, visit http://www.mdmercy.com, MDMercyMedia on Facebook and Twitter(X), www.youtube.com/mmcbaltimore, or call 1-800-M.D.-Mercy.

ASG Hospital Limited Launches ‘Surakshit Ankhein, Surakshit Diwali’ to Support Children with Firecracker-Related Eye Injuries

November 03, 2026: ASG Hospital Limited has launched ‘Surakshit Ankhein, Surakshit Diwali’, a children’s eye safety initiative for the festive season. Under the initiative, children below 15 years of age who suffer firecracker–related eye injuries will receive treatment at ASG Eye Hospital under the company’s Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) programme. The initiative will run from 4^th November 2026 to 12^th November 2026 at 200+ ASG Eye Hospital centres across 95+ cities.

The campaign has a simple message – celebrate responsibly and protect the sparkle in every child’s eye. Treatment under the initiative will include first aid, emergency eye care and surgery where required. Medicines and optical products, such as spectacles, are not included, and terms and conditions apply. Families can call the dedicated helpline, 1800 1211 804, for guidance and to be directed to the nearest participating centre.

Firecracker–related eye injuries increase every Diwali, and children make up a large share of the cases. Injuries to the cornea and other parts of the front of the eye are among the most common, and some can cause lasting damage to vision if they are not treated quickly by an eye specialist. The first few hours after an injury often decide how well the eye recovers. During Diwali last year, more than 500 children were treated for firecracker eye injuries at ASG centres.

Dr. Arun Singhvi, MD & CEO, ASG Hospital Limited, said: “Diwali is a festival for which children wait all year, and a few seconds near a firecracker should not cost a child their eyesight. Most of these injuries can be prevented with simple precautions and close adult supervision. If an injury does happen, time is critical and the child should quickly be brought to an eye specialist. Through ‘Surakshit Ankhein, Surakshit Diwali’, we want to help families celebrate safely and make sure an injured child gets specialist care without delay.”

Dr. Vikas Jain, Group COO, ASG Eye Hospital, said: “Our teams across centres are prepared with the necessary trauma protocols in place through the festive peak, so that children with eye injuries are assessed and treated without any delay. Parents who are unsure what to do can call our helpline for first-aid guidance and directions to the nearest centre. We strongly advise families not to try home remedies such as kajal, ointments or eye drops, as these can make an injury worse.”

ASG Eye Hospital advises families to follow five simple precautions:

1.   Keep a safe distance: light fireworks at arm’s length, preferably with a long incense stick, and step back straight away.

2.   Wear protective glasses: children, and adults lighting fireworks, should wear protective eyewear.

3.   Supervise children: children should handle fireworks only under the watch of an adult.

4.   Never lean over fireworks: do not bend over a cracker while lighting it and never go back to one that has failed to go off.

5.   Never rub an injured eye: rubbing can push particles deeper and make the injury worse.

In case of an injury, keep the child calm and both eyes as still as possible. Do not rub or press the eye or try to remove anything stuck in it. Do not wash it with a jet of water, or apply kajal, ointments, drops or any home remedy. Cover the eye lightly with a clean shield, such as the bottom of a paper cup, without putting pressure on it. Call the helpline on 1800 1211 804 and take the child to the nearest ASG Eye Hospital centre or eye emergency service at once. Early specialist care can make the difference between recovery and permanent loss of vision.

National Healthy Skin Month: Why Whole-Body Wellness is More Than Skin Deep

ROSEMONT, Ill., Nov 03: Your skin works hard for you every day, quietly shielding you from the outside world while telling a story about what is happening on the inside. This November, the American Academy of Dermatology is marking National Healthy Skin Month with a simple message: love and protect the skin you’re in. Give it the everyday care it deserves, while understanding when to bring in a board-certified dermatologist — the expert who can evaluate your skin, hair, and nails for clues about your overall health, not just what is happening on the surface.

“Healthy skin is skin that can do its job well,” said board-certified dermatologist Rachel Nazarian, MD, FAAD. “It keeps our bodies comfortable, regulating temperature and acting as a shield that protects us, both from physical debris and harmful germs, viruses, and bacteria. It is skin that has been loved and cared for through gentle cleansing, hydration, and sun protection. In a nutshell, healthy skin is skin that takes care of us while we take care of it.”

Protecting and repairing the skin barrier

At the center of healthy skin is the skin barrier, the outermost layer of the skin. The skin barrier acts as a protective shield, serving as the first line of defense against pollution, environmental damage, inflammation, and infection. It also keeps moisture locked in, helping the skin remain hydrated, smooth, and balanced.

When the skin barrier is functioning well, the skin is better able to protect the body and stay healthy. A damaged skin barrier allows germs to get inside, which can lead to infection. It can also cause water loss, resulting in dryness, flaking, or a tight or rough texture. A weakened skin barrier can make skin more easily irritated or inflamed, which can worsen conditions such as eczema, psoriasis, rosacea, and acne. You may have a compromised skin barrier if your skin is sensitive and reactive, leading to redness, discoloration, burning, or stinging when products are applied.

The skin barrier can be damaged by common factors like over-cleansing, harsh products, hot water, and excessive sun exposure, all of which strip away the protection needed to keep your skin intact and hydrated. Over-exfoliation and layering too many active ingredients, often driven by social media trends, can leave skin inflamed and more vulnerable to irritation. The best approach is usually the simplest one.

The AAD recommends the following steps to help protect and repair the skin barrier:

• Follow a simple skin care routine that includes a gentle cleanser, a moisturizer, and a broad-spectrum sunscreen with SPF 30 or higher.
• Introduce new skin care ingredients gradually rather than all at once.
• Use warm water instead of hot water when washing the face and body.
• If you choose to exfoliate, find the right exfoliating schedule to avoid over-exfoliating, which can leave the skin red and irritated.
• Seek shade, wear sun-protective clothing, and apply sunscreen when outdoors, since the sun’s ultraviolet (UV) rays can damage skin even on cloudy or cool days.

Beyond routine care, Dr. Nazarian encourages patients to build a positive relationship with their skin.

“During skin exams, I routinely point out harmless findings that I think are special and unique,” Dr. Nazarian said. “Many skin findings are found in multiple members of the same family, so I ask patients who else has these same spots. I remind them that their skin is a kind of anatomical family diary, and that reminder often helps patients love and care for the skin they have.”

Skin: A window into overall health

Board-certified dermatologists are trained not only to treat skin, hair, and nail conditions, but also to recognize when a skin finding may point to a broader, and sometimes serious, medical condition. Dermatologists frequently see patients whose skin conditions are connected to other health conditions, including issues affecting the digestive system, heart, and hormones.

“The skin is a reflection of everything underneath,” Dr. Nazarian said. “A board-certified dermatologist is well versed in identifying external signs of internal disease. There are signs on the skin of diabetes and insulin resistance, poor blood circulation, liver and gallbladder dysfunction, autoimmune disease, and even inflammatory bowel disease, among many others.”

According to Dr. Nazarian, skin findings can prompt further evaluation for conditions such as diabetes, lupus, Crohn’s disease, or ulcerative colitis, and can also reveal more common issues such as vitamin or iron deficiency. In some cases, findings on the skin, hair, or nails do not point to an exact diagnosis on their own, but they allow a dermatologist to begin narrowing down the underlying cause, as is often the case with hair loss.

“Dermatologists have the training and expertise to diagnose and treat more than 3,000 skin conditions,” Dr. Nazarian said. “The differences between one diagnosis and another can be incredibly subtle, and the room for error is significant. Board-certified dermatologists have the skillset to identify the slight differences in the skin, hair, and nails that only become recognizable with experience and proper education.”

Dermatologists’ knowledge has direct implications for successful treatment and care for serious conditions, including skin cancer. Many potentially life-threatening skin conditions, including melanoma, have significantly better survival rates when diagnosed early. Seeing a board-certified dermatologist, who has years of formal training, gives patients the greatest opportunity to have these conditions identified early, which can improve their quality of life and long-term survival.

During National Healthy Skin Month, the AAD reminds the public to appreciate and protect the skin you’re in. Learn how to perform a skin self-exam so that you can check your own skin for signs of skin cancer, adopt a simple and consistent skin care routine that protects and strengthens the skin barrier, and remember that skin changes can sometimes signal a health issue elsewhere in the body.

You do not have to figure it out alone. Board-certified dermatologists are there to help, with the training to spot what others might miss. To find a board-certified dermatologist in your area, visit aad.org/findaderm.