Twin Tiers Health — June/July 2016

Olean Times Herald • The Bradford Era • The Salamanca Press

June/July 2016 Volume 1 • Issue 2

Canticle Farms in Allegany educates on growing healthy food

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Twin Tiers Health

June/July 2016

Bradford Publishing

Twin Tiers Health

June/July 2016

Bradford Publishing

June / July 2016 Volume 1 • Issue 2

What’s inside...

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ask us | Q & A with Korin Trumpie, PA-C

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LOCAL IMPACT | It’s time to protect yourself, family from ticks

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MIND & BODY | Outdoor Zumba classes to be offered in ‘Fitness in the Park’

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FITNESS & EXERCISE | Experts urge practice of water safety

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FITNESS & EXERCISE | Cool down, and exercise, in the pool

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FEATURE | Canticle Farms in Allegany educates on growing healthy food

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FEATURE | Keep it movin’ Ways to stay active this summer

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HOME & FAMILY | Keeping your credit score healthy

FOOD & NUTRITION | Myths on dehydration and tips to avoid it

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community comments | Summer safety advice from Bradford Regional Medical Center and Olean General Hospital

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OFF YOUR ROCKER | Keeping aging loved ones safe

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LOCAL UPDATE | Upper Allegheny, Kaleida announce affiliation process

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LOCAL UPDATE| Cuba Memorial Hospital to join with Kaleida Health

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LOCAL UPDATE| ‘A different way of serving people’

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HEALTH NEWS |

Publisher

Executive Group Editor

Special Sections Editor

Advertising Managers

Digital Manager

Jim Bonn Jim Eckstrom Rich Place Justin Parkes Jill Henry Preston Cochran Chelsea Place

Contributors

Korin Trumpie, PA-C Rick Miller Deb Wuethrich Kelsey Boudin Kate Day Sager Amber Turba JoEllen Wankel Bob Clark Tom Dinki

Advertising Representatives

Deborah Belli Lucy Nuzzo Deborah Perry Christina Briggs

Graphic Designer

Matt Keim

Circulation Manager

Nichole Finnerty

Amy Hayden Leanna Cameron Tiffany Mager Jenn Mong

Published every other month by Bradford Publishing

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Twin Tiers Health

June/July 2016

Bradford Publishing

ask us

By Korin Trumpie, PA-C

Special to Twin Tiers Health

Q: Summertime means lots of fun outside, but I also want to keep safety in mind with the children. What are some of the best safety tips to keep in mind as the weather heats up?

A: Summer is full of fun activities to do with your whole family. It is a great time to get outside and be active!! It can also be a time of hazards for children.

There are insect bites that can make you sick, playground equipment that is not well kept, skateboards and other things with wheels that can be harmful if not used correctly.

It might seem to be overkill to be so concerned, but if you take a few simple precautions, kids can have summer fun and make memories that will last a lifetime without injuries.

Remember sunscreen! The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends applying sunscreen using a “broad spectrum” on the label with an SPF of at least 15 and apply every two hours. It is also best to keep babies under six months old away from direct sunlight exposure.

Swimming and water safety are key. Never let your child unattended around a pool or other water.

Beat the heat by getting kids to drink more fluids preferentially water, regardless of their activity level. Don’t wait until your children say they’re thirsty.

Most injuries are preventable and falls are the leading cause.

Check to make sure that the surfaces under playground equipment are safe, soft and consist of appropriate materials (such as wood chips or sand, not dirt or grass).

Use home safety devices, such as guards on windows that are above ground level, pool and stair gates, plus guard rails to keep children from tumbling.

Make sure your child wears protective gear during sports, biking and recreation. For example, when in-line skating, use wrist guards, knee and elbow pads, and a helmet.

Supervision is key so watch young children at all times around fall hazards.

“On behalf of Cole Memorial, we wish you and your family a safe and healthy summer,” added Korin.

For more information or an appointment, please call Cole Memorial’s pediatrics offices in Coudersport (814) 274-9198 or Port Allegany (814) 2747205.

(Korin Trumpie, PA-C, is a member of Cole Memorial’s pediatrics team from the Port Allegany Community Health Center.)

Bradford Publishing

June/July 2016

Twin Tiers Health

It’s time to protect yourself, family from ticks

By Rick Miller Special to Twin Tiers Health OLEAN — In early June, a man wearing a white “moon suit” and rubber boots walked into Eric Wohlers’ office at the Cattaraugus County Health Department.

Wohlers, who is the director Environmental Health Division recognized him as Jamie Haight, a state Health Department entomologist who regularly conducts surveillance of insects like ticks and mosquitoes across the Southern Tier.

For years, the Health Department has sent all kinds of insects to the Buffalo Regional Office of the state Health Department where Wayne Gall would identify them. He has since retired, according to Wohlers.

Haight had been collecting ticks by dragging a white cotton material through tall grass at the edge of wooded areas and other areas where deer ticks carrying Lyme disease are likely to be.

There are several areas in each county where tick surveillance is carried out each year. In Cattaraugus County those areas include public areas of Allegany State Park and in Gargoyle Park and surrounding areas.

“Jamie said he was spending the week dragging for ticks,” Wohlers said. “He had just come from the area between Gargoyle Park and Eden Heights and had no trouble collecting 50 nymphs (the stage ticks are in now).”

The ticks are placed in a bottle and sent off to an Albany laboratory for testing to see how many are carrying the bacterial infection that causes Lyme disease in humans.

One summer camp in the county reported a couple of children had come into contact with ticks last year. That area may be added to the list of areas to regularly check for deer ticks, Wohlers said.

While only a handful of cases of Lyme disease in humans are reported by physicians in this county, it has been increasing as more doctors test for the disease because of the presence of deer ticks in the area.

Between 2010 and 2014, the county averages four cases of Lyme disease a year. Lyme disease symptoms include: flu-like symptoms, fever, chills, muscle aches, fatigue, and often, but not always, a bulls-eye rash.

According to Susan Andrews,

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local impact director of Patient Services, two confirmed cases of Lyme disease have been reported among county residents this year, and another 10 cases are suspected.

In 2015, there were 11 confirmed cases of Lyme disease in residents from Olean, Allegany, Limestone, Kill Buck and Salamanca; 14 cases in 2014 involving residents from Allegany, East Otto and Salamanca; 4 in 2013 in residents from Portville and Olean; 2 in 2012 from Allegany and Salamanca and 6 in 2011 involving residents from Hinsdale, Cattaraugus, Great Valley, Allegany and Machias, Health Department statistics show.

Susan Andrews, director of Patient Services for the Health Department, said, “There are most likely additional cases in the community that have not been identified.”

It can be 36 to 48 hours before an infected deer tick completes its blood meal on a protected area of a human host, Wohlers said. It is not until the end of the feeding cycle that the tick infects the host with bacteria including borrelia burgdorferi, which causes Lyme disease.

“The sooner you find and remove a tick the better,” Wohlers said.

It requires patience, a steady hand and a pointed set of tweezers to safely remove a tick. With a slight, steady pulling pressure on the tick, it should release its grip in a minute or so.

The State Health Department recommends the following steps to safely remove a tick: • Using tweezers, grasp tick near the mouth parts, as close to skin as possible.

• Pull tick in a steady, upward motion away from skin.

• Do not use kerosene, matches, or petroleum jelly to remove tick.

• Disinfect site with soap and water, rubbing alcohol or hydrogen peroxide.

• Record date and location of tick bite. If rash or flu-like symptoms appear contact your health care provider immediately.

Based on 2014 sampling in early summer and fall, the percentage of ticks carrying the Borrelia burgdorferi bacteria in Gargoyle Park was 15.1 percent in the spring and 28 percent in the fall. None of the ticks collected in the Red House area in the spring carried the bacteria, but 26 percent of the adult ticks collected in the fall had the bacteria.

The state health Department has been collecting deer ticks in Cattaraugus County and determining whether they had the bacteria that causes Lyme disease in 2008. Nymphs are collected in the spring and adults in the fall.

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That first year no nymphs or adult deer ticks were found in the Allegany State Park, but 13.8 percent of the nymphs and 36 percent of the adult ticks found in Gargoyle Park carried the Lyme disease bacteria.

In 2009, no nymphs were found in Allegany State park, but the percent-

Health Department recommendations for protecting yourself and family members in areas where deer ticks are found include:

age of adult ticks with the bacteria jumped to 14.3 percent. In Gargoyle Park, no nymphs were found, but the adult infestation rate was 18.5 percent.

In 2010 no nymphs or adult ticks were found in Allegany State Park with the bacteria, but in Gargoyle Park, 21.6 percent of nymphs and 40.5 percent of adults tested positive.

In 2011, No nymphs were found in the Allegany State Park survey and 8.8 percent of adults in the fall survey tested positive. In Gargoyle Park, 7.8 percent of nymphs and 44.8 percent of adult ticks tested positive.

In 2012, there were no Allegany State Park nymphs detected with the bacteria and 5.9 percent of adults tested positive in the fall. In Gargoyle Park, 15 percent of the nymphs and 38.8 percent of adult deer ticks tested positive.

In 2013, no nymphs or adults were found that carried the bacteria that causes Lyme disease were found in the Red House survey. In Gargoyle Park, 27.6 percent of the nymphs had the bacteria, but none of the adults.

State Health Department officials emphasize that the surveys in Red House and Gargoyle Park are only snapshots and are not intended to predict the danger from deer ticks posed elsewhere in Cattaraugus County.

• In tick-infested areas, your best protection is to avoid contact with soil, leaf litter and vegetation.

• Wear light-colored clothing with a tight weave to spot ticks easily.

• Wear enclosed shoes, long pants and a long-sleeved shirt. Tuck pant legs into socks or boots and shirt into pants.

• Check clothes and any exposed skin frequently for ticks while outdoors and check again once indoors.

• Consider using insect repellent. Follow label directions.

• Stay on cleared, well-traveled trails. Avoid contacting vegetation.

• Avoid sitting directly on the ground or on stone walls.

• Keep long hair tied back, especially when gardening.

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June/July 2016

Twin Tiers Health

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Twin Tiers Health

Keeping your credit score healthy

June/July 2016

Bradford Publishing

Home & Family

By Deb Wuethrich Special to Twin Tiers Health PORTVILLE — If your body needs a checkup, you take it to the doctor. If the car needs a tune-up, you schedule some time in the shop. You work to maintain both on a preventative basis.

The same strategies help keep finances in good shape. The condition of your credit score can make the difference between a successful application or being turned down when attempting to obtain a loan, take out a mortgage or even rent an apartment as even rental management companies do credit checks.

“Your credit score number is just a portion of what lenders look at to qualify someone to borrow, but it does help in making a decision,” said Katrina Savitcheff, Portville Branch Supervisor of Community Bank N.A. Scores are based on a potential borrower’s financial history, noting occasions the applicant has borrowed before and how it was paid back.

“What a lender wants to see is that you can make payments, do it monthly and pay on time,” said Savitcheff. “They’re looking for patterns of reliability.”

Three major credit bureaus track credit scores: Experian, Equifax and TransUnion. Scores stack up from Very Bad (300-599) to Excellent (800-850), with higher scores providing eligibility for the lowest interest rates and best terms.

Don’t know your score? Consider giving it a check-up. The Fair and Accurate Credit Transaction Act makes it possible for individuals to secure one free report each year from each bureau. Some spread their three requests over several months in the same year in order to track their progress if they are working on increasing the scores.

Some tips to keep scores in the “wellness” range include not having a lot of open credit cards, and not spending more than 50 percent of your credit limit on each card. According to Savitcheff, most people keep three cards, whether traditional credit cards or store charge cards.

“When more than half is used, it can look like you’re in a situation where you can’t make monthly payments and that you’re borrowing to make ends meet,” she said. “It can also affect your credit score.”

It’s also not advisable to take out too many cards or loan applications in a short period of time, as too many credit inquiry “hits” can also affect the scores. In today’s world, it’s sometimes difficult to avoid the temptation

to add a credit card to the wallet when the invitations arrive regularly in the mailbox. But staying financially healthy means keeping payments manageable. Also when closing credit card accounts, keep the one you’ve had the longest.

Other ways to work toward financial fitness is to develop a savings plan and wise spending habits. Some people believe they are not savers or don’t make enough money to save. One solution is to have an automatic paycheck deduction.

“What I tell my customers is to take out the money before taxes,” said Savitcheff. “If you don’t see it, you’re not going to spend it. This works whether you get a paper check or a direct deposit. Have it deducted into your savings, even if it’s just $10.” She said bank customers who want to save up for a house have often come in with big smiles on their faces, ready to make a down payment on a home they’ve been planning for.

“Set aside some savings this way and you won’t even notice it’s gone,” she said. “Squirrel it away. Miraculously, you’ll still be okay.”

Those looking for savvy tips on financial wellness also do research on things like finding zero percent credit cards and determining whether a home equity loan might be a right fit for them.

“Many people don’t know they can do this, and banks such as ours have really low home equity rates,” said Savitcheff. “And it’s the only interest you can write off anymore.”

Another way to save is to tap into 401K and other plans at work, especially the ones where employers match a percentage of the contribution.

Finally, part of a healthy strategy is to spend wisely, and especially to avoid impulse spending. A zero percent interest for six months deal for something you want right now won’t look so good all too soon when the payments kick in.

“Our parents put aside money for the things they needed and wanted,” said Savitcheff.

In a society that resorts to credit cards to buy the daily coffee—and one where even fourth graders are getting cell phones and accompanying plans—that’s not always easy. But there can be an enormous sense of accomplishment in saving up for a dream.

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June/July 2016

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Mind & Body

Outdoor Zumba classes to be offered in ‘Fitness in the Park’ OLEAN — If Olean’s warm summery evenings have you wanting to get out and play, come on over to Gargoyle Park for free fun-filled outdoor Zumba classes.

As an on-going push toward health and wellness in the community, the ReHabilitation Center and City of Olean have teamed up to present Fitness in the Park, five weeks of Zumba classes held from 6 – 7 p.m., Wednesdays, June 22, July 6, July 20, Aug. 3 and Aug. 31.

“Fitness in the Park is part of the agency’s focus on health and wellness and reflects our strong commitment to the community,” Mari Howard, the Rehabilitation Center’s CEO and President, said. “We have partnered with the City of Olean to offer these dance classes as an excellent form of exercise which keeps the body healthy and the brain sharp.”

The City of Olean joined the Rehabilitation Center’s fitness-centered initiative to encourage exercise as a way to increase health among City residents.

“I’m very happy the city is co-sponsoring Fitness in the Park with the Rehabilitation Center,” Olean Mayor William J. Aiello said. “I encourage everyone to take part in these events.”

In response to the nation’s rising health consciousness, fitness in public

parks is finding a positive reception everywhere from St. Petersburg, Fla., to Los Angeles, Newark, Denver, Minneapolis, Buffalo and now Olean.

Zumba is a dance fitness program which involves dance and aerobic movements performed to energetic music and incorporates hip hop, soca, samba, salsa, merengue and mambo.

Fitness in the Park Zumba classes are open to all ages and fitness ability levels. No sign-up is required, but you can join the Rehabilitation Center’s Facebook event page.

The Rehabilitation Center provides professional support to people with developmental and behavioral disabilities throughout Cattaraugus, Allegany and Chautauqua counties.

It supports people in 18 residences, including a youth home, and provides life skills, day lab and senior support services in its Allegany site. The agency also has a pre-vocational employment program, and provides employment to hundreds of people in its Olean and Salamanca-based SubCon Industries.

For additional information, contact the ReHabilitation Center at 3754730, ext. 562 or ebombardier@rehabcenter.org

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Twin Tiers Health

Experts urge practice of water safety Water, summer and kids having fun are things that naturally go together. But pools, ponds and other bodies of water also pose dangers, particularly to young children.

According to the Consumer Product Safety Commission, drowning is the leading cause of accidental death among children 5 years old and younger in the United States. Every year an average of 390 children 14 and younger drown in pools or spas.

In addition, the National Safety Council said an estimated 5,000 children ages 1 to 14 are hospitalized due to unintentional drowning-related incidents each year and as many as 20 percent suffer severe, permanent neurological disability.

The Consumer Product Safety Commission developed a national water safety campaign to compliment the Virginia Graeme Baker Pool and Spa Safety Act. Although a strong swimmer, Virginia, 7, died in June 2002 after she became stuck to a hot tub drain and was unable to pull herself free. Efforts by her mother to pull Graeme from the drain proved unsuccessful. Two men who eventually freed Graeme from the spa pulled so hard that the drain cover broke from the force. Graeme died from drowning, but the real cause of her death was suction entrapment due to a faulty drain cover.

To protect children this summer, the Southern Tier Child Health and Safety Team urges pool and spa owners to follow these pool and spa safety guidelines from the Consumer Product Safety Commission: • Never leave a child unattended in a pool or spa and always watch your child when he or she is in or near open bodies of water such as ponds and lakes.

• Teach children basic water safety tips.

• Keep children away from pool drains, pipes and other openings to avoid entrapment.

• Have a telephone close by when you or your family is using a pool or spa.

• If a child is missing, look for him or her in the pool or spa first.

• Share safety instructions with family, friends and neighbors.

The commission also recommends that all children receive swimming lessons as the first step to protect them against drowning. Caregivers supervising swimming children should also know how to swim or learn how if they plan to supervise swimming children.

Toddler wading pools should be emptied after each use and put away. An overnight rain could partially fill a pool and create a danger to neighborhood children, experts say. Portable pools, which include small wading pools of less than 18-inches deep and soft-sided inflatable pools up to 4-feet deep, can be particularly dangerous.

A study by The Research Institute at Nationwide Children’s Hospital in Columbus, Ohio, found that many safety measures used for permanent pools such as fencing, pool alarms, safety covers and removable or

Learn to Swim at Allegany State Park

June/July 2016

Bradford Publishing

Fitness & Exercise

lockable ladders are often too expensive or not available to families with portable pools.

The study highlighted the importance of undistracted adult supervision when children are using a pool or swimming in an open body of water.

Researchers said that adults were supervising children in 43 percent or less than half of the incidents that led to drowning or near-drowning.

However in most cases, 73 percent, an adult was at home, either inside or on the property, at the time of the accident.

Parents and caregivers should be present to supervise children anytime they are swimming in any body of water, officials said.

The New York State Department of Health recommends that pool owners make pools inaccessible to children unless an adult is directly supervising them. The New York State Uniform Fire Prevention and Building Code requires pool owners to enclose their pools with fencing and that the fencing include a self-closing, self-latching gate.

Pool and spa owners should periodically check to make sure their pool and spa gates are closed and latched when the pool or spa are not in use to protect small children.

The code also requires that all pools installed since 2006 have an alarm that will sound when someone enters the water. The alarm must sound at the pool and another location such as inside the house. Doors or windows of a home that open directly into the pool or spa area must also sound an alarm when opened.

Officials also recommend parents and caregivers take a CPR and first aid course. Class information is available by calling 372-2552 or by visiting www.redcross.org/CPR-Training.

Supported by a grant from the New York State Office of Children and Family Services, the Southern Tier Child Health and Safety Team was founded to explore the causes of preventable child deaths in Allegany and Cattaraugus counties and make recommendations to the community to prevent child deaths and improve the health and safety of children.

For more information about the Child Health and Safety Team and links to additional resources, visit www.sthcs.org and click on “CHST.” More information is also available by calling Southern Tier Health Care System Inc. at 372-0614.

RED HOUSE — While you’re camping in Allegany State Park, why not introduce the kids to the healthy and refreshing benefits of swimming?

The New York State Parks is offering free swimming lessons at many of its parks throughout the state, including at the Red House Beach area of Allegany State Park. The program runs from 11:15 a.m. to noon Mondays through Wednesdays from July 11 to 27.

Registration for the program is required and space is limited. To register, email Tiffinni.Keys@ parks.ny.org or call (716) 354-2185.

The 2016 Learn to Swim Program is sponsored by the American Red Cross, National Swimming Pool Foundation, NESPA Foundation and the New York State Office of Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation.

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June/July 2016

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Cool down, and exercise, in the pool

Twin Tiers Health

June/July 2016

Fitness & Exercise

By Kelsey Boudin Special to Twin Tiers Health OLEAN — Giving the rise in temperature and the often high humidity, exercising outside during the summer can often be difficult and dangerous.

So why not get your exercise while you’re cooling down in the process?

Community pools can be great opportunities to go for a refreshing dip while also keeping fit by swimming, treading water or simply walking around in the water.

Both the pool at the William O. Smith Recreation Center and the wading pool at Franchot Park opened earlier this month.

“Once we get going full-fledged when school is out, between the pool and the parks, we’ll probably have about 30 seasonal employees, primarily high school and college kids that work the program,” said John Anastasia, program director.

From June 23 through Aug. 12, the main pool at William O. Smith will be open daily from noon to 7 p.m. Mondays through Fridays and noon to 5 p.m. on weekends. From Aug. 13 through Sept. 5, the main pool will be open from noon to 5 p.m. every day.

“I need to thank the employees for getting the pool clean and getting it ready,” Anastasia said earlier this month. “It looks beautiful. We have a lot of school pool parties, too, before school gets out. We’ve got a seven-week session there where the pool has extended hours.”

On the Fourth of July, the pool will be open from noon to 5 p.m.

A lap swimming lane at the Rec Center pool will be open during all public swimming hours, Anastasia said.

Public swimming fees per daily session will be $1.50 for children and senior citizens, $2.50 for adults, and $8 for families. Season passes will cost $30 for children and senior citizens, $50 for adults, and $75 for families.

There will also be beginner swim lessons offered in three sessions this summer. Preregistration will be required by calling 373-7465.

The free wading pool at Franchot Park has already been open weekends and will again be open from Thursday, June 23 to Sunday, June 26 from noon to 5 p.m. Daily swimming at the wading pool will run from Monday, June 27 to Sunday, Aug. 14 from noon to 5 p.m.

Per safety precautions, children under 9 years old must be accompanied by an adult at the city pools. Flotation devices are not allowed, including in bathing suits, officials said. The pools may close due to poor weather. Swimming diapers are mandatory for babies and will be available on site for a small fee, officials added.

For more on the city’s recreational summer program call 373-7465 or 376- 5698 or visit cityofolean.org and select the Youth and Recreation Department tab.

“We run a diversified program,” Anastasia said. “My philosophy has always been to try to run as many activities as possible to reach as many kids as possible. … We hope it builds into another good year. We’ve got the brochures out to the schools and around town to get the ball rolling. It’ll be here before we know it.”

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June/July 2016

Twin Tiers Health

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Twin Tiers Health

FEATURE

Photo by Kate Day Sager Canticle Farm employee Mike Meyers weeds a variety of fresh lettuce grown in a high tunnel at the farm’s South Nine Mile property.

By Kate Day Sager Special to Twin Tiers Health ALLEGANY — On a beautiful spring day in late May, Canticle Farm employees Jen Tussel and Mike Meyers planted dozens of napa cabbage and Swiss chard plants in rows of rich, naturally fertilized soil.

When the vegetables are harvested in the next few months, they will be sold to local shareholders and the public who appreciate the nutritious, wholesome value of the naturally grown summer crops.

Canticle Farm was founded 16 years ago on South Nine Mile Road by the Franciscan Sisters of Allegany who have seen their original 42 shareholders grow to an average of 200 shareholders. The farm property and

market are operated by eight to 12 full- and part-time employees.

In addition to cultivating a variety of crops without the use of pesticides or herbicides, the farm educates people in the area on sustainability, growing honest food, and cooking; and donates fresh, healthy food to many lower-income community members.

As they worked in the field planting vegetables, both Tussel and Meyers said they love their work under the guidance of farm manager, Mark Printz.

“After working here three days a week, I sleep very well,” Meyers said with a smile.

Canticle Farm employee Kelly Hendrix said shareholders appreciate and comment on the abundance of farm-fresh produce.

“You actually have more nutrients in something that is local because it doesn’t get packed up and transferred 2,000 miles to the grocery store,”

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Photo by Kate Day Sager Canticle Farm employees Danielle Dorchak (foreground) and Kelly Hendrix set out fresh vegetables at the farm’s Old State Road market in preparation for sales to the public.

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Hendrix pointed out. “If you buy local, you’re getting the nutrients right from the farm - basically this is from farm to table.”

She said the nonprofit community-supported agriculture farm continues to welcome more shareholders from the Twin Tier region.

“Shareholders are always welcome, especially from Bradford,” Hendrix said of the market’s distribution site in Pennsylvania. “They can get applications here on the farm (on South Nine Mile), at the market on Old State Road or online.”

Hendrix said shareholders not only receive a variety of fresh, delicious vegetables throughout the season, they are also given recipes every week for vegetable preparation.

“Other shareholders are a great resource to ask how to prepare it,” she added.

Hendrix said he public can share in the bounty of the fresh vegetables by becoming shareholders or shopping at the Old State Road market. Summer shares will be distributed to shareholders beginning June 14. During the same time frame, the market will expand its days of operation of 2 to 6 p.m. Tuesdays to include the same hours on Fridays In addition, the R.E.A.P. Farmers Market at the Olean Center Mall is now open from 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. Saturdays throughout the summer season.

For more information on Canticle Farm, or to obtain a Photo by Kate Day Sager Jen Tussel, production manager at Canticle Farm, plants napa cabbage while Mike Meyers waters a row of newly planted lettuce at the South Nine Mile property.

Together...

...we can make a difference

shareholder application, visit canticlefarm.org or call the office at (716) 373-0200, ext. 3358.

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Keep it movin’

Bradford Publishing

Twin Tiers Health | FEATURE

Photo by Francine Long

Ways to stay active this summer

By Amber Turba Special to Twin Tiers Health As the days get hotter and the nights grow shorter, summertime is the perfect season to mix up your daily routine by taking your workout outside, and there are a variety of ways to stay active outdoors and a slew of benefits to doing so.

Robyn Stuhr, exercise physiologist and director of the Women’s Sports Medicine Center at New York’s Hospital for Special Surgery for 20 years, said exercising outside may improve energy levels and overall vitality and decrease obesity and stress to a greater extent than working out inside.

Additionally, Vitamin D, a fat-soluble vitamin essential to strong bones and a healthy immune system, can be obtained from extra sun exposure during outdoor exercise.

“And if you love doing an activity, you’re more apt to do it regularly,” according to Stuhr. “Some of the best, and most enjoyable, fitness activities out there are things that people do every day anyway, things like walking, jogging, biking, swimming, hiking and kayaking.”

Walking is one of the easiest and most leisure exercise opportunities there is, and is a great option, particularly in the summer season when natural scenery is at its most blossomed point.

“I love walking around town with my friend, Sara, every day because it’s just plain fun, and we get to catch up and chat, see all of the trees and flowers, and it’s also a good jumpstart to the day,” according to Andria Meyers of Foster Brook.

Current national guidelines recommend exercise, such as brisk walking,

for 30 minutes most days in a week. According to these guidelines, walking for 30 minutes, five days a week, at a brisk pace will also help ward off chronic disease.

“Walking is easiest on the joints, no equipment is required, and it’s a good way to burn calories in a modest amount,” added Stuhr. “Your risk of heart disease, diabetes and high blood pressure go down as a response to just increasing your level of physical activity. Walking is a weight-bearing exercise, which means it’s good for bone health, and it also helps build cardiovascular endurance. Almost everyone can do it, regardless of their fitness level.”

The trick is to incorporate walking into life’s daily routines, Meyers noted, such as walking children to the school bus or to their friend’s house, or choosing to walk to the local grocery store rather than going by vehicle or bus.

“Walking the dog is also a good one,” Meyers added, for it’s a simple and necessary daily routine that can also be enjoyable. “And if you have a dog like mine, it normally turns into more of a run — even better for you!”

Jogging is good for the heart and the lungs, Stuhr confirmed, and also serves to improve physical stamina. If the goal is weight loss, jogging along the sidewalk can burn calories more quickly than walking.

“On the negative side, running does put more stress on the joints — the knees, ankles, and hips,” Stuhr noted.

The key is to start slowly, and only increase your time or distance by no more than 5-10 percent each week.

Bicycling is another “excellent” cardiovascular exercise, according to Stuhr, and is a great opportunity to explore the local community by traveling through parks, paths or trails.

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“While running tends to target the hamstrings, or the muscles in the back of your thighs, cycling uses the quadriceps, or the muscles on the front of the thighs, more avidly,” Stuhr explained.

Scattered throughout Bradford are trails ideal for frequent recreation and exercise walking, jogging or running, according to the Tuna Valley Trail Association. Many feature excellent surfaces, easy grades and beautiful views of the local landscape.

“I personally enjoy the Pitt Trail,” said Rachel Brenneman, a student at the University of Pittsburgh at Bradford who often spends summertime in Bradford. “It has a lot of shade, so even in the summertime, you can stay cool.”

And for those who’d prefer to spend more time being cool than not, swimming is “a wonderful cardiovascular conditioner” that allows those with joint problems to exercise “weightlessly,” said Stuhr.

“Swimming will increase your stamina, can help ward off diabetes and high blood pressure and relieves stress,” she explained.

And for those who enjoy swimming as a source of exercise, there will be a Water Aerobics program from 5:30-6:15 p.m. on Mondays and Wednesdays beginning on June 1 at the Duke Aquatic Center of the Richard E. and Ruth McDowell Sport and Fitness Center at the University of Pittsburgh at Bradford.

Also a watersport activity, many enjoy kayaking during the summertime, and not only is the region well-prepared to suit any experience-level kayaker, but has numerous hiking trails that allow locals and tourists alike to plan a day trip to places like Crook Farm, Lewis Run and even the Kinzua area.

“Kayaking is primarily an upper-body sport, but it also works the muscles of the center of your body, back, and stomach,” Stuhr said. “Hiking uses a lot of up-and-down movement, so you get a tremendous leg workout along with the cardiovascular benefits. When combined, the two make excellent complimentary workouts that target the entire body.”

Other full-body activities available in the region include the Bradford Soccer Club, which offers youth leagues for U-6, U-8, U-10, U-12, U-14 age groups, and many local children are looking forward to participating in the community sports like soccer and baseball, enjoying the traveling league that gives them an opportunity for friendly competition with children their own age; the YMCA, located on Boylston Street, is a favorite for many children in the Bradford area looking to hang out and have fun while staying active; on beautiful sunny days, children are expected to flock to outdoor parks and playgrounds like longtime-favorite Callahan Park in Bradford; CARE for Children on East Main Street in Bradford also offers many summer activities and group sessions for local children.

Traveling outside of Bradford, summer hotspots like Kinzua Bridge State Park near Mount Jewett also attract many local children and their families.

At Kinzua Bridge State Park, outdoor recreation involving hiking, picnicking and scenic viewing is “a huge” attraction for locals and tourists alike looking to jumpstart their summer, according to the Pennsylvania Department of Conservation and Natural Resources, and is one of the region’s many opportunities to do so.

“There’s just so much to do in this area,” Allegheny National Forest Visitors Bureau Executive Director Linda Devlin said, “and summertime is the best season to get out, find what you like to do and, above all, stay active.”

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Twin Tiers Health | FEATURE

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Twin Tiers Health

Myths on dehydration and tips to avoid it

By Deb Wuethrich Special to Twin Tiers Health PORTVILLE—One of the stealthiest thieves that can rob a person of his or her well-being is dehydration. It can happen simply from not drinking enough water, with consequences ranging from interfering with bodily functions to serious issues such as kidney failure, seizures and brain swelling, according to information provided by the Mayo Clinic and other medical resources.

A 2010 survey conducted by the Harris Interactive Service Bureau on behalf of Versta Research found that many parents knew very little about how dehydration can affect young children, and 59 percent of respondents believed that June, July or August are the peak months when children are at the highest risk of dehydration.

While steps should be taken to avoid dehydration during the warmer months or when participating in sports and other exercise, one of the most common causes is the stomach flu, which often occurs during winter and spring months. People can become dehydrated year-round and it isn’t just the result of sweating. Illnesses and simply a need for more water can lead to depletion of fluids and electrolytes from the body.

While it can happen anytime, schools that engage in sports activities are especially cognizant of the problem during spring and summer workouts and events.

“Our coaches always take a cooler of water down to the softball and baseball fields and put it in the dugout,” said Beth Colligan, Athletic Director at Portville Central School. There is also a drinking fountain near the football field that students have access to.

“Coaches give multiple breaks for kids to go over there,” said Colligan, who added that the district also has an on-staff athletic trainer, Matt Ganan. “Matt is always there reminding kids to drink plenty of water,” she said.

During football season, and especially hot practice days, such breaks and reminders are crucial as fluids can be quickly depleted, but Colligan said players are pretty savvy about it.

“I know we’ll see players, especially during football season, carrying water bottles around with them,” she said. “They are constantly drinking to stay hydrated, especially on game day.”

There are known benefits of staying hydrated. The body uses water to maintain temperature, remove waste and lubricate joints, much like a well-oiled machine. Water is also important to healthy skin and to keep the heart pumping with ease. It can also affect brain function, allowing a person to stay focused.

The body may not be getting enough water, however, if warning signs are present such as dry mouth and cracked lips, fatigue and an obvious one, thirst. Constipation and difficulty urinating can also indicate a potential problem, especially a baby who hasn’t wet a diaper for three or more hours.

While flushed skin may be present from exertion or time in the sun, dry, flushed skin can also be a warning. With a headache, try drinking some

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Food & Nutrition water before popping an aspirin—your body may just be in need of rehydration.

More serious symptoms include rapid breathing and increased heart rate, dizziness and difficulty concentrating or nausea, which may require immediate medical attention.

Visible signs can include pinching the skin to see if it is elastic as it should be or if it takes longer to go back into place. Another is the color of urine. Those getting enough water should have clear or light-colored urine.

If it is dark, rehydration may be required.

Those who work in industrial settings, or outdoors where they are exposed to high heat and physical exertion, may also need to ensure they are getting enough water throughout the day.

To help someone who is sick, the Centers for Disease Control recommends encouraging patients to sip fluids, including water, broth, sports drinks or even suck on ice chips or frozen ice pops. Nursing or bottle feeding a baby should supply enough water for them, the CDC notes. Doctors may also recommend special fluids with electrolytes, if needed.

With serious symptoms, it may take medical intervention with an intravenous fluid to rehydrate, but in many cases, just staying hydrated can help prevent issues with dehydration.

Some people, however, say they don’t like water and have a hard time drinking enough. Soft drinks and caffeine-laden drinks should not be used as a substitute, as these can add unwanted calories or run through the body too fast. Flavored water is a popular alternative, but beware some of them contain sugar-free sweeteners.

Some online medical sites suggest trying more natural additives, such as squeezing fresh lemon or lime into the water, or cutting up a few pieces of fruit, such as strawberries, kiwi or raspberries and letting them flavor the water. It’s also recommended that the water be sipped throughout the day, not guzzled, to keep the body in its prime, hydrated condition.

Photos courtesy Metro Creative Connection

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community comments

Summer safety advice from Bradford Regional Medical Center and Olean General Hospital The cold and snow are gone, school’s out and the sun is shining. It’s summer!

Bradford Regional Medical Center and Olean General Hospital have some summertime safety advice as people head outdoors for the warmth of the sun and fresh air.

Sunburn

After a long winter, northerners everywhere seek the warmth of the sun. But who wants to be stuck indoors with a nasty sunburn? The effects of the sun, either a tan or a sunburn, is in essence, skin damage. It causes, aging, wrinkling and skin cancer. While the look of bronzed skin may look appealing, it’s best to limit the time spent in the sun and protect the skin from overexposure. While outside, broad spectrum sunscreen with an SPF of 30 or higher should be used and applied frequently, especially on a hot day or while swimming. Protective clothing, such as a brimmed hat, long sleeves and pants and sunglasses also help protect the skin. Seeking shade whenever possible is a good idea also. The sun’s rays are strongest between 10 a.m. and 4 p.m. If the skin does become burned, people can seek relief by taking a cool bath, applying a topical moisturizer like aloe or hydrocortisone cream, taking an over the counter pain reliever such as ibuprofen or acetaminophen, and staying indoors or in the shade. If severe sunburn occurs and includes blisters, see a doctor for treatment.

As part of the Community Connections program, Bradford Regional Medical Center and Olean General Hospital will distribute free sunscreen to parents/guardians as well as information on the importance of sun safety at Callahan Pool in Bradford and the William O. Smith Pool in Olean from 12:30 to 3 p.m., June 27 and throughout the summer at events around the community.

Dehydration and heat stroke

Outdoor activities in the heat can cause common heat related conditions. Dehydration occurs when the body loses excessive amounts of fluid by overexposure to the sun and heat while not drinking enough water. To avoid dehydration, drink plenty of fluids taking in more fluids than are lost and if possible, schedule outdoor activities during cooler times of the day. Heat stroke is the most severe form of heat illness. It occurs when the body builds up heat to dangerous levels and can’t sweat enough to cool the body’s temperature. Symptoms include headache, dizziness, disorientation,

agitation, confusion, fatigue, seizure, hot/dry skin, loss of consciousness, rapid heartbeat or hallucinations. If heat stroke is suspected, the person should seek medical attention immediately.

Bug bites

Being outdoors often comes with a few pests, mainly mosquitos and ticks. More than just a nuisance, bites can cause infections or viruses and should be avoided when possible. Mosquitos can carry viruses such as West Nile or Zika. Mosquito bites can be avoided by wearing long sleeve shirts and pants outdoors, using insect repellent, and getting rid of any standing water (mosquitos can breed in a bottle cap of water). Ticks can transmit Lyme disease in animals and humans.

Ticks attach themselves to an animal or human and are typically found in grassy, wooded areas. When spending time outdoors, people should check for ticks regularly, especially in hidden areas such as the scalp or behind the ears. To remove a tick, do not use bare hands. Using tweezers, grab the tick firmly by its mouth or head as close to the skin as possible and remove slowly and steadily without twisting until it lets go. Do not squeeze the tick, use petroleum jelly, solvents, knives or a lit match. Insect repellents with DEET can help repel ticks but it does not kill them. Wearing light colored clothing, long sleeved shirts, long pants and legs tucked into socks can also help. When coming inside, check children and pets for ticks and shower after all outdoor activities. If you suspect an insect-related virus or disease, see your primary healthcare provider for a risk assessment and appropriate testing.

Food borne illnesses

Nice weather means outdoor living and eating. Whether the potato salad or deviled eggs sit on the picnic table too long or the hamburgers didn’t go on the grill right away on a hot day, people can be at risk for food borne illness. Warm temps are a perfect breeding ground for bacteria to grow on food, which makes people sick and nothing ruins a party faster. To avoid food borne illness, keep foods cool in the refrigerator or on ice, cook food to an appropriate temperature to kill bacteria, use separate utensils/dishes for raw and cooked meat, wash hands with soap and water or use a hand sanitizer.

For more information on staying safe this summer, visit education.ogh. org or education.brmc.com.

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Keeping aging loved ones safe

By JoEllen Wankel Special to Twin Tiers Health Seniors are susceptible to injuries related to falling, and the number of aging adults who are falling each year is frightening. According to the National Council on Aging, one in three older adults, or 12 million US residents, fall annually. This makes for real concern if you are an adult with an elderly parent living alone - or even in an assisted living facility. The potential for a fall to occur increases as an individual gets older, making it more important to be aware and proactive with loved ones as they age.

While an individual getting older is not preventable, there are measures that can be taken, both by the aging senior and his or her loved ones, to minimize the risk of a fall. The Centers of Disease Control published the following ideas are for the aging senior themselves: • Exercise - Being stationary most of the time can make for weakened muscles and an increased risk of a fall when moving. Getting regular exercise can help keep muscles in shape and allow older individuals to avoid falls more often than not. It is also important to remember that when muscles weaken, that issue can be reversed. It isn’t too late to exercise and have stronger muscles.

• Wear sturdy shoes with non-stick soles and that fit correctly.

• Keep vision sharp - Cataracts and older prescription glasses can make it challenging to see an obstacle. Annual eye doctor visits and proper eye care can help older adults navigate their home and other areas more safely.

• Keep Track of Medication - Stay consistent. Missing medication can lead to unsteadiness or other health issues that can make a fall more likely.

• Eliminate hazards at home - Fix lighting issues, remove clutter and fix any uneven flooring or other potential hazards. Keep clutter to a minimum, and remove small throw rugs or secure them to the floor to avoid tripping and/or sliding.

• Organize cupboards to keep items used more often within reach and minimize use of step stools • Use non-slip mats on floor of shower and in bathtubs The Mayo Clinic, meanwhile, approaches keeping seniors safe through an active partnership and effective communication between the individual and his or her loved ones. For those loved ones, the follow tips may come in handy: • Be informed regarding medications, medical conditions and history of falls Make sure you are involved with your aging loved one enough to know the dangers they face. This may help you address issues before the danger increases.

• Encourage your Loved One to Keep Moving - Walking or water workouts are recommended for those who are aging, in order to stay moving and be healthy.

• Convince them to work with you • Make sure a visit has been made recently to the eye doctor.

• Watch for cues • Do a walk-through safety assessment.

• Secure railings for all stairs, Check bulbs and change regularly to maintain good lighting, Install grab bars in tub/shower or a shower chair with handheld shower.

Keeping these tips in mind can go a long way toward keeping your loved ones safe as they age. Share these tips with those in your community who may not have family members to help them be aware of fall prevention methods.

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Upper Allegheny, Kaleida announce affiliation process Officials: Kaleida soon to become parent company

By Kelsey Boudin Special to Twin Tiers Health OLEAN — Looking into the future “from a position of strength,” Upper Allegheny Health System and Kaleida Health jointly announced in late May a heightened affiliation.

Specifically, officials with both organizations signed a nonbinding letter of intent to soon make Kaleida Health, the largest health care system in Western New York, the parent company of UAHS and members Olean General Hospital and Bradford (Pa.) Regional Medical Center.

So what is slated to happen?

Officials for now would continue a courtship — which in 2013 brought both the Interventional Cardiac Catheterization Laboratory to Olean and the Visiting Nurses Association of Northwestern Pennsylvania home care program to Bradford — until establishing a legal agreement for Kaleida Health to pull UAHS under its umbrella. The process from now until state regulatory filings in Albany and Harrisburg, Pa., would likely take six to 10 months, said Tim Finan, president and CEO of UAHS. If the plan becomes reality, Finan would remain in his current posts atop UAHS, Olean General and Bradford Regional. The system and its hospitals would retain their separate legal identities as well as control of local operations and patient care, while Kaleida Health would be “ultimately responsible” for Upper Allegheny and its facilities, officials said.

Even their names would remain the same, Finan said. Current employees at both hospitals also would for now keep their jobs as all services between Olean and Bradford continue as normal, he added.

Upper Allegheny’s board of directors began exploring an external alignment in 2014, said Brenda McGee, board chairwoman.

“We did so from a position of strength. Our process was very strategic, proactive and detailed with the specific goal of preserving and enhancing our mission of service to our communities and our vision for the future,” McGee added in a press conference in May announcing the plans. “We took the time necessary to learn about partners that might become a part of our family. It was really important to the board to find an urban medical center that was a good fit, the right match, beyond economics.”

Finan further maintained the affiliation was not reactionary in terms of declining revenue figures. Olean General and Bradford Regional have enjoyed nine and five consecutive years, respectively, of profitability, he said.

According to the latest financial figures provided to the Times Herald by Dennis McCarthy, vice president of marketing and communications at UAHS, Olean General’s annual revenue was $114.2 million and Bradford Regional’s was $63.9 million with the two employing 932 and 540 staff, respectively.

Kaleida’s collective revenue was $1.3 billion while employing roughly 9,500 staff. It was unclear Tuesday how financial operations would run between the affiliated systems.

The general outlook for rural hospitals nationwide, however, is troubling, Finan allowed.

“We’ve looked out five years … (and) just the tough row to hoe that rural hospitals have, it’s not a compelling picture,” Finan said. “Quite honestly, we’re not sure we’re big enough to solve the entirety of our problems we anticipate.”

McGee said, “We know full well that the outlook for rural hospitals is a matter of significant concern. In the past year alone, more hospitals in our nation’s rural areas have closed than the total number combined over the last 15 years. So it’s very clear to our board that good stewardship requires our alignment with a larger health system.”

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local update Sixty-five percent of hospitals in the United States operate in alignment or partnership with others, she noted.

Kaleida Health reaches extensively throughout Western New York. Its member hospitals include Buffalo General Medical Center, DeGraff Memorial Hospital, Gates Vascular Institute, Millard Fillmore Suburban Hospital and Women & Children’s Hospital of Buffalo. The organization is also affiliated with Great Lakes Health, Erie County Medical Center and the University at Buffalo.

Kaleida also recently announced pending affiliations with Brooks Memorial Hospital and Lake Shore Health Care Center, both of which were previously operating at a loss.

But the area’s foremost health-care network isn’t without blemishes. Kaleida Health this year saw its Medicare payments slashed by more than $1 million for alleged patient safety issues uncovered by the Hospital Acquired Conditions Photo by Kelsey Boudin Tim Finan, president and CEO of Upper Allegheny Health System, Reduction Program discusses a pending agreement May 24 to affiliate with Kaleida through the AffordHealth. If finalized, Kaleida would become the parent company able Care Act. to Upper Allegheny and member hospitals Olean General HospiThe reduction tal and Bradford (Pa.) Regional Medical Center. program, however, has been criticized by some considering patient wealth demographics a cause behind infections and some accidents attributed to hospitals.

“In terms of Kaleida, quite honestly, simply stated, we could not have picked a better partner,” Finan said, noting a longstanding network of local referrals to Kaleida-member hospitals with “incredible clinical capability up in Buffalo.” But Kaleida would not encroach upon current referral pathways between Bradford Regional doctors and specialists in Pittsburgh and Erie, he added.

The parental affiliation would also work to establish infrastructure to bring specialized doctors to Olean and Bradford, said Jody Lomeo, president and CEO of Kaleida Health.

“As you do an analysis of the needs in the community, we want to start with the clinical needs,” Lomeo said at the press conference. “We want to start with where we can help fill that gap. I’ve been a long believer that the quality of care will determine the finances. The finances won’t determine the quality of care.”

Asked in which areas specialists may be needed locally, Finan said it’s too early to tell what that analysis may detail.

“We don’t know chapter and verse. I could hazard a guess kind of at 100,000 feet, but we’re very clear on where the opportunities are,” Finan said. “I would say in the Bradford community, general surgery and (obstetrics) is an example.”

Olean Mayor Bill Aiello applauded the plan.

“I think (Olean General) being affiliated with a bigger hospital, in today’s world with technology and all that, is going to give more services down here,” said Aiello, who recently recovered from heart surgery conducted through the current relationship between Olean General and Gates Vascular Institute. “... This is a positive thing for Olean.”

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Cuba Memorial Hospital to join with Kaleida Health

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local update

By Bob Clark Special to Twin Tiers Health CUBA — For the second time in two weeks, a local hospital has announced a partnership with the largest hospital system in Western New York.

Cuba Memorial Hospital officials announced earlier this month they will form a partnership with Kaleida Health, connecting the local Critical Access Hospital with a group of hospitals ranging from Bradford, Pa., to Buffalo.

Andrew Boser, CEO of Cuba Memorial, said the plan comes after months of discussions.

“This process has probably been nine months in the making, at least,” Boser said.

The partnership will allow residents to receive more advanced care from regional doctors in a more streamlined fashion, according to Boser. The pact also will boost technology and administrative functions, which will keep costs down while producing better care, he added.

“Every little guy needs a big brother,” Boser said, “so it is for the good of the hospital and the good of the community to have an agreement with a tertiary care center.”

“We are very pleased and honored to partner with Cuba Memorial Hospital,” Jody Lomeo, president and CEO of Kaleida Health, stated in a press release. “Working together, we can enhance care for the residents of Allegany and Cattaraugus counties while improving access where and when needed. This is all about doing what’s best for the community and the patients that we serve.”

The biggest advantage for patients, Boser said, will come from more streamlined access to specialists the Southern Tier doesn’t have access to locally.

“We have a great relationship with Olean General Hospital,” Boser said, making special note of the Olean cardiac catheterization lab that was established in conjunction with Kaleida Health as a major boon to area health care, “but there’s some things beyond Olean General Hospital that members of the community need.”

Cuba Memorial houses a 20-bed acute care center, an urgent care center and a 61-bed residential health care facility. The hospital dates back to 1923.

“All of our services stay the same. Our core services remain the same,” Boser said, noting Cuba Memorial will keep its board of trustees.

The agreement is the third of its kind in three months as Kaleida Health expands into the Southern Tier.

The recently announced partnership came two weeks to the day after Upper Allegheny Health System, which includes Olean General Hospital and Bradford Regional Medical Center, announced a similar partnership.

In March, TLC Health Network — which operates Lake Shore Health Care Center in Irving — and Brooks Memorial Hospital in Dunkirk announced their intentions to affiliate with Kaleida Health. Both were operating at a loss.

Other partners include Buffalo General Medical Center, DeGraff Memorial Hospital, Gates Vascular Institute, Millard Fillmore Suburban Hospital and Women & Children’s Hospital of Buffalo. The organization also is affiliated with Great Lakes Health, Erie County Medical Center and the University at Buffalo.

Cuba Memorial Hospital is a Critical Access Hospital, a hospital certified under a set of Medicare rules regarding limited inpatient beds, short patient stays and 24-hour care with a focus on common conditions and outpatient care, while referring other conditions to larger hospitals. According to Medi-

Photo by Bob Clark Cuba Memorial Hospital will enter a partnership with Kaleida Health, connecting the rural Critical Access Hospital with the largest group of health care providers in Western New York.

care, the program gives reimbursements on different scales, allowing small, rural hospitals to stay open.

As a Critical Access Hospital, Cuba Memorial received more than $3.3 million in support through the state Interim Access Assurance Fund and Vital Access Providers programs in 2014.

Kaleida officials said Cuba Memorial also will have access to backoffice and information technology support from Upper Allegheny — which was funded by the state with a $4.7 million grant in March to convert Upper Allegheny and Cuba Memorial to an electronic health record system. That system, Boser said, expands to other Kaleida partners.

“If you’re out in Irving, and you get injured, and your doctor is at Olean Medical Group, he can utilize that common platform, so that’s important,” Boser said. “The world is too small, I guess, for all these systems (without interconnectivity), and if there’s an economy of scale, we should take advantage of that.”

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‘A different way of serving people’

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local update

By Tom Dinki Special to Twin Tiers Health OLEAN — Patricia Blue may not see herself as a therapist or counselor.

But she thinks she can still help those with mental health and substance abuse issues.

She knows she can help by being the person that walks the YMCA track with someone having a bad day, gets a coffee with someone who’s grieving, brings a snack to a hungry child or visits a disabled person’s home to help them fill out paperwork to get physical care.

Most of all, she sees herself as someone who can care for those who need it in a nonclinical setting, and refer them to places where they can get clinical help if necessary.

That’s the role she’ll be filling as her recently announced position of care coordinator at the YMCA – a partnership between the Olean YMCA and ReHabilitation Center. The two organizations held a meet-and-greet session for Blue, a lifelong resident of Olean and previously a skillset builder and respite worker with the ReHab Center, at a recent YMCA meeting.

Blue will work out of the YMCA offices and will both reach out to community members who may be dealing with health or substance abuse issues, as well as be available for those who walk through the door seeking her help.

“The ReHab and the YMCA have come together, and they’ve tapped a

Photo by Bob Clark Cuba Memorial Hospital will enter a partnership with Kaleida Health, connecting the rural Critical Access Hospital with the largest group of health care providers in Western New York.

nerve and they’ve found a need,” Blue said. “Sometimes people are in dark places and they need to know somebody cares. They need to know that they have a friend. Just smiling and saying hello to somebody or sitting on a bike next to somebody and laughing and talking … that might make a big difference. That might stop something from happening.”

Olean YMCA CEO Jeff Alevy said the partnership between the YMCA and ReHab Center began after a series of suicides, as well as upward trends of mental health issues, in the Olean area. He said once the two organizations identified the need, they believed creating a care coordinator position was the most effective way to use their collective assets.

“The skill set and resources the Rehab Center brought was that expertise and funding to place a care coordinator at the YMCA,” Alevy said. “The resources the Y brought was basically the facilities, and then integrating our staff to identify people that we’d be able to serve with this position. The Y’s cause is strengthening community, and I think the ReHab Center’s is similar.”

Daniel Gayton, director of care coordination at the ReHab Center, said in his research he hasn’t found anything quite like this partnership and position before.

“It’s new, it’s unique, it’s a different way of serving people in the community,” he said.

Blue said she has already met with five people that were referred to her. After her meet-and-greet session, she headed to the home of an Olean resident who’d just had a knee replacement surgery so she could collect his information and get him set up for care at the YMCA. Alevy said Blue’s position will allow her to help people in a nonthreatening environment. Blue said the theory of the position is in part to provide a person, who may be afraid of the “stigma of walking through a clinic door,” with care and resources in a more social environment like the YMCA. “We may see a kid that’s hungry all the time. Why is he hungry?” Blue said. “I may bring him a snack and sit down with him, and may find out his family doesn’t have food, and if they don’t have food, I may link them to where they can get food or go with them to get the food. That piece is there to help.”

Not only will Blue work with people herself and through the YMCA facilities, but she’ll also reference them to other agencies in the community if they could better serve them. Alevy called Blue a “one stop resource for identifying the needs of the people that are referred to her and setting them in the right direction.”

Blue said she will be working out of the YMCA every day and will try be in during the busier hours of 8 a.m. to 4 p.m., although the hours will be flexible as well.

Blue said she has a bathing suit and workout clothes in her office, so she’s ready to do whatever is necessary for a person in need at a moment’s notice, even if it’s jumping in the pool or running on the treadmill with them.

“Whatever the need is, if I can do it I will do it,” Blue said. “If I can’t do it, I will find somebody who can. And that’s what this is about.”

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health news

Brazil health minister says Zika not a worry for Olympics

AP Photo/Felipe Dana Health Minister Ricardo Barros speaks to the foreign media about Zika at Itamaraty Palace in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, on June 10. Brazil’s new health minister has gone on the offensive to dispel worries about the country’s Zika outbreak, which has cast a pall over the upcoming Rio de Janeiro Olympics.

RIO DE JANEIRO (AP) — Brazil’s new health minister went on the offensive in mid-June in a bid to dispel worries about the country’s Zika outbreak, which has cast a pall over the upcoming Rio de Janeiro Olympics.

Speaking at a news conference with the foreign press corps on June 10, Ricardo Barros added his voice to the chorus of Olympic and Brazilian officials pledging that the Aug. 5-21 games will be safe. He insisted there’s practically “zero” risk of any of the 350,000-500,000 expected foreign visitors contracting Zika.

The virus has been linked to a surge of microcephaly — a devastating birth defect that has seen thousands of babies in Brazil born with unusually small heads and often severely compromised brains — and some athletes, journalists and others have expressed reservations about taking part in the games.

Last month, 150 health experts issued an open letter to the U.N. health agency calling for the games to be delayed or relocated “in the name of public health.” The agency, the World Health Organization, responded that such steps would “not significantly alter the international spread of Zika virus.”

Barros highlighted the WHO’s position, categorically ruling out any changes to the Olympic calendar.

“There is not any scientific proof to recommend that kind of decision,” he said, adding that he hoped his assurances would help convince any athletes on the fence about competing in Rio to make the trip.

Barros said mosquito populations drop significantly in August, a winter month in the Southern Hemisphere, and cited data showing that infections of dengue — another virus spread by the same mosquito — tend to spike in the hot summer month and taper off in the winter.

“There’s almost zero risk” of Zika spreading during the games, Barros said, appealing to the journalists to take that message back to the public in their home countries. Due to winter weather, “we will be in one of the regions with less circulation of the virus.”

However, experts say that because Rio’s winters tend to be extremely mild, it’s not unheard of to have mid-winter hot spells that can trigger sud-

den proliferations of mosquitoes. One day in August 2013, thermometers spiked to 37 degrees Celsius (98 degrees Fahrenheit.)

Barros also said the federal government was injecting 64.5 million Brazilian reais ($19 million) into Rio’s strained public health system to improve the quality of care ahead of the games. He said about 2,400 health professionals were being recruited, though it was not clear whether they would stay on after the games.

Rio has been particularly hard-hit by the recession slamming the country, with basic services on the chopping block as falling tax revenues have shrunken state coffers.

“The federal government sent additional funds to the state and will do it again if more resources are needed to maintain the health structure in Rio de Janeiro,” Barros pledged.

Friday’s was the second news conference this week aimed at soothing foreign fears about Zika, which is seen as the latest in a series of problems besetting the Rio Games, including the economic downturn that has seen unemployment and inflation spike, the country’s ongoing political crisis and lackluster ticket sales.

Barros, a congressman and engineer by training, is new to the Health Ministry. He was appointed last month after President Dilma Rousseff was suspended pending the end of impeachment proceedings against her, and her vice president, Michel Temer, temporarily assumed the top office.

NY Gov. Cuomo, lawmakers agree on plan to combat heroin ALBANY (AP) — New York state may limit opioid prescriptions for acute pain to seven days as part of a broader effort to combat a staggering rise in addiction and overdose deaths.

The new limits on prescriptions are one of several proposals contained in a deal announced by Democratic Gov. Andrew Cuomo and legislative leaders earlier this month. The full Legislature was expected to formally pass the proposals late last week.

Other measures in the deal include requiring insurance companies to cover more of the cost for rehab and recovery programs, as well as enhanced treatment services.

Additionally, prescribers would be required to complete addiction training and the state would increase funds for programs to help recovering addicts stay clean.

More than 1,800 New Yorkers died from heroin- and opioid-related overdoses in 2014.

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Twin Tiers Health

June/July 2016

Bradford Publishing