In Good Health by In Good Health: CNY's Healthcare Newspaper

in good EASTER MEALS Planning a big Easter Sunday meal with family but trying to watch what you eat?

‘Leading With Love’ Maryann Roefaro, CEO of Hematology Oncology Associates of Central New York, has written a book caping her more than 30 year in healthcare leadership positions

April 2012 • Issue 148

Straight From the Farm

FREE FREE

CNY’s Healthcare Newspaper

How Community Supported Agriculture (CSA) is making it easy for Central New Yorkers to get food directly from the farm. Story on page 12.

More Women Enjoying Martial Arts Find out why

Meet Your Doctor Maria Ciciarelli on contraception, Rush Limbaugh and the work she’s done to introduce a computerized physician order entry (CPOE) system at Crouse

Nearly 4 Million Kids Still Smoke

20 Years Granting Wishes Diane Kuppermann doesn’t have super powers but as the first and current executive director of the Make-A-Wish Foundation for Central New York she and her team have turned the dreams of more than 1,300 kids into reality. From sending kids to Disney World, to arranging meetings with their favorite celebrities, the organization has been a source of hope for kids and their families. “We try April 2012 •

to give kids and families the opportunity to dream about their future and take their mind off the now,” says Kupperman. “We want to be the sunshine during those very difficult times. We’ll move mountains to make wishes come true.” The director reflects on her 20 years as the head of the organization and how it’s been able to keep its donations flowing despite tough economic times. IN GOOD HEALTH – CNY’s Healthcare Newspaper

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IN GOOD HEALTH – CNY’s Healthcare Newspaper • April 2012

Veteran Helpful

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Nearly 4 Million U.S. Kids Still Smoke

“Vitamin D and Breast Cancer Biomarkers” A Research Study- Sponsored by The National Cancer Institute

Report: tobacco industry targets children

ore than 3.6 million children and teens in the United States smoke, according to a Surgeon General’s report released in March that calls on the nation to curb youth smoking. “Today, all over America, there are middle-schoolers developing deadly tobacco addictions before they can even drive a car,” said Kathleen Sebelius, secretary of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), during a press conference. More than 600,000 middle school students and more than 3 million high school students smoke. And three out of four teen smokers will continue to smoke into adulthood, the surgeon general’s report warned. Regina Benjamin, the Surgeon General, said “the report challenges us to end the epidemic of smoking among young people. “Cigarettes are designed for addiction,” she explained at the press conference. Added ingredients such as sugar, flavoring and moisteners make them even more addictive because they remove the harshness of tobacco. In addition, additives like ammonia make it easier for nicotine to get into the brain, she said. The report — the first since 1994 to focus on young smokers — blames tobacco companies, specifically tobacco marketing, for the onset of adolescent smoking, noting that tobacco companies, despite claims to the contrary, continue to direct their ads at children. Howard Koh, assistant secretary for health at HHS, said it is no accident that “too many of our children are addicted and too many cannot quit and too many go on to die far too young.” Koh said tobacco companies spend more than $1 million an hour — some $27 million a day — on marketing and promoting their products in ways that make smoking look acceptable. These messages are particularly prominent on the Internet, in movies and video games, he said. “The tobacco industry says its intent is only to promote brand choices among smokers, but there is a difference between stated intent and documented impact. Because regardless of intent the impact of tobacco marketing is to encourage underage youth,” he said. According to the report, tobacco is

the leading cause of preventable and premature death in the country, killing more than 1,200 Americans every day. For everyone who dies from tobaccorelated causes, two new smokers under age 26 replace them, the report said. Almost 90 percent of these new smokers smoke their first cigarette by the time they are 18, the report noted. “From 1997 to 2003 youth smoking fell rapidly, but since that time the rate of decline has slowed,” Koh said. “In fact, there would be 3 million smokers today if we as a society had sustained the declines seen between 1997 and 2003.” Many teens are also using other tobacco products and using several tobacco products together, he said.

United States Sees Highest Suicide Rate in 15 Years

he latest data reported by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) shows that the rate of U.S. suicide has been increasing since 2000, with 2009 marking the highest number of suicides in 15 years. The CDC report showed that between 2008 and 2009, the suicide rate increased 2.4 percent, with 36,909 suicide deaths reported nationally. In August 2011, a report from the CDC showed that in 2008, 13.4 percent of people who committed suicide had experienced job and financial problems. The National Suicide Prevention Lifeline, an emergency crisis hotline reported a 14 percent increase in call volume between 2010 and 2011. The CDC’s thus recommended increasing counseling, job placement and financial services that can help reduce the mental distress that can increase suicide risk. Between 2008 and 2009 an estimated 8.3 million adults (almost 4 percent of the U.S. adult population) reported having serious thoughts of suicide in the past year, according to the CDC. More than 2.2 million adults reported making suicide plans in the past year, and more than 1 million adults reported attempting suicide in the past year.

▲ Are you premenopausal (and age 55 or younger)? ▲ Do you get regular mammograms? ▲ Are you willing to be assigned to take a Vitamin D supplement or a placebo pill daily for 1 year? ▲ Have you been informed that you have dense/ﬁbrous breasts? You may be eligible for a research study comparing the effects of Vitamin D supplementation on breast density and blood biomarkers, to explore prevention of breast cancer. For more information, please call: Hematology Oncology Associates of Central New York Research Department 315-472-7504 ext.72493

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ONONDAGA, OSWEGO, CAYUGA AND MADISON COUNTIES in good A monthly newspaper published by

Health CNY’s Healthcare Newspaper

Local News, Inc. Distribution: 35,000 copies. To request home delivery ($15 per year), call 342-1182.

In Good Health is published 12 times a year by Local News, Inc. © 2012 by Local News, Inc. All rights reserved. Mailing Address: P.O. Box 276, Oswego, NY 13126. • Phone: 315-342-1182 • Fax: 315-342-7776. Editor & Publisher: Wagner Dotto • Associate Editor: Lou Sorendo Contributing Writers: Jim Miller, Eva Briggs, M.D., Gwenn Voelckers, Deborah Banikowski, Deborah Jeanne Sergeant, Anne Palumbo, Aaron Gifford, Chris Motola, Melissa Stefanec, Joyce Gramza, Deborah Graff, Suzanne Ellis • Advertising: Jasmine Maldonado, Tracy DeCann • Layout & Design: Chris Crocker • Proofreading: Shelley Manley • Ofﬁce Manager: Laura J. Beckwith No material may be reproduced in whole or in part from this publication without the express written permission of the publisher. The information in this publication is intended to complement—not to take the place of—the recommendations of your health provider. Consult your physician before making major changes in your lifestyle or health care regimen.

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CALENDAR of

HEALTH EVENTS

April 11

Leukemia Society offering support group by phone The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society is offering a support group by telephone for adult patients who are dealing with a diagnosis of leukemia, myelodysplastic syndromes (MDS), Hodgkin or non-Hodgkin lymphoma, or myeloma. “We recognize that individuals often don’t have a chance to speak with one another about their experiences,” reads a press release issued by the nonprofit. “It can be challenging to find an appropriate support group in the community or to take the time to attend. Our hope is that this telephone group will provide an opportunity for you to talk about any issues of concern in a convenient, supportive environment.” The telephone group will be run by a trained oncology nurse facilitator. The group will be limited to 10 participants and participation will be on a first-come first-served basis. In addition to April 11, the group will hold such meetings every second Wednesday of the month between 7– 8 p.m. For more information or to preregister, call or 800-784-2368 ext. 4667. Space is limited.

April 12

Hospice of Central New York is looking for volunteers Hospice of Central New York is searching for volunteers—people who are emotionally mature, compassionate and dedicated to providing sensitive support at end of life to people and their families. It will offer training for volunteer family caregivers starting Thursday, April 12, and concluding May 31. A total of eight consecutive Thursday evening meetings from 5 – 7:30 p.m. Participants must register before April 4. For more information, contact Michele Devlin at hospice at 315-634-1100. Family caregivers work with a professional hospice team to help families care for their loved one at home, residential, or inpatient facilities. Hospice volunteers receive comprehensive training, education and ongoing support.

April 13, 14

Event focuses on suicide awareness, prevention Laura K. Vannah, owner of Bright Star ProductionZ and founding executive director of the Native Circle, and Onondaga Community College have joined together to present “Know You

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MATTER — Igniting Hope, Lighting The Way,” a suicide awareness and prevention weekend to be held at Onondaga Community College and Long Branch Park in Liverpool April 13 and 14. The event will feature a benefit concert from 2–5 p.m., April 14, at Onondaga Community College’s brand new SRC Arena, 4585 W. Seneca Turnpike, Syracuse. Several contemporary international artists will perform. Advance general admission tickets are $25 per person, $15 for students. A “Know You MATTER Remembrance Ceremony” honoring those lost due to suicide will be held at 9 a.m. April 14, at Long Branch Park. A forum to discuss issue, featuring Scott Chisholm, Founder of Collateral Damage Project, will also take place. For more information, to get involved or to make a donation, visit www.KnowYouMATTER.com or call 315-963-3820.

April 19

Aurora of CNY offers free vision screening Aurora of CNY, Inc. is offering free vision screening from 10 a.m. – 1 p.m. April 19 at its offices at 518 James St. in Syracuse. Vision screening is a non-medical test that evaluates a person’s visual acuity and checks for color-blindness, field-of-vision defects and other conditions. If the screening reveals a possible problem, a visit to a physician is recommended. Each screening takes approximately 15 minutes; appointments can be scheduled by calling Aurora at 422-7263. Aurora, the only non profit that works exclusively with people in Central New York who are deaf, blind, visually impaired or hard of hearing, is a United Way agency of Central New York and Oswego and Cayuga counties.

May 8 , 15, 22

Workshop on living alone scheduled in Mendon Do you live alone? Is it a challenge for you? “Living Alone: How to Survive and Thrive on Your Own,” is a three-part workshop offered for women who want to gain the knowhow to forge a meaningful and enriching life on their own. You’ll discover how to think differently about living alone and learn practical strategies to overcome loneliness and other emotional pitfalls, rediscover your true self, and socialize in a couples’ world. The workshop takes place from 7 to 9 p.m. at House Content Bed & Breakfast in Mendon, a Rochester suburb, on three consecutive Tuesdays: May 8, 15, and 22. The workshop fee of $125 includes

a Living Alone manual, empowerment exercises, and lots of helpful resources. To register, contact Gwenn Voelckers at 585-624-7887 or email gvoelckers@rochester.rr.com

April 26, 28

Events aim at raising awareness of autism The Central New York Chapter of the Autism Society of America will host two events designed to increase awareness of autism. A conference for professionals and parents of children with autism will take place from 9:30 a.m. – 5 p.m. April 26 at Sheraton Syracuse University Hotel & Conference center, 801 University Ave., Syracuse. Titled “Children with Social, Emotional & Behavioral Challenges Including Autism Spectrum Disorders: The Collaborative Problem Solving Approach,” the conference will feature presenter Ross Greene. On April 28, the chapter will host “Autism Awareness Walk — One Piece at a Time,” at 10 a.m. at Long Branch Park in Liverpool. The events are sponsored by the Margaret L. Williams Developmental Evaluation Center in conjunction with CNY Coalition for Young Children with Special Needs. Online registration is available at AutismSyracuse.com. Professionals pay $85 (by April 6) or $95 (after April 6); parents pay $55 (by April 6) or $65, after that date. For more information go to AutismSyracuse.com or call 4724404

May 9

Alzheimer’s chapter presents conference Patti Kerr, certified Alzheimer’s disease educator and author of “I Love You...Who Are You?: Loving and Caring for a Parent with Alzheimer’s,” will be the keynote speaker for Dementia Care 2012, a caregiver conference from the Alzheimer’s Association, Central New York chapter. The full-day workshop takes place on May 9 at the DoubleTree by Hilton Hotel Syracuse. The conference’s goal is to empower caregivers with the practical solutions they need during their journey. Kerr will discuss “What I Wish Someone Had Told Me,” an empowering and educational presentation about the myths, facts and unspoken truths related to dementia caregiving. The New Jersey native lost her mother and grandmother to Alzheimer’s disease. Following her mother’s death in 2007, she interviewed more than 100 family caregivers about their journeys with the disease, compiling those stories into her 2010 book. Registration for the conference, which begins at 8:30 a.m. and ends at 4:30 p.m., is $75 per person and includes admission to all programs and an expo of local vendors, a guide with the day’s presentations and local caregiving resources, and lunch. Dementia Care 2012 is presented by the Kirkpatrick Day Program, Syracuse’s only dementia-specific adult day program. Space is for the conference is limited and reservations can be made at 315472-4201 or online at www.alz.org/cny.

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IN GOOD HEALTH – CNY’s Healthcare Newspaper • April 2012

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IN GOOD HEALTH – CNY’s Healthcare Newspaper

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Meet

Your Doctor

By Chris Motola

Dr. Maria Ciciarelli New OB-GYN talks about contraception, Rush Limbaugh, being a new doctor and the work she’s doing to introduce a computerized physician order entry (CPOE) system at Crouse Hospital Q: Tell me about your specialty. A: I’m an OB-GYN. I’m a generalist, so I do a little bit of everything. The things I do mostly, because I’m new in practice—I got done with my residency two years ago—I do a lot more obstetrics in my group practice. That’s usually how you build your patient base. I have a fair number of gynecological patients. tor?

Q: What’s it like being a new doc-

A: I would describe it as challenging. I try to keep up on the studies, on what’s new and fresh while taking information from my older partners who have been doing this for a while. I try to combine the newer stuff I’ve learned with experience to figure out how I practice best for myself. I think it’s harder to establish a patient base when you’re working with a lot of people who have been doing it for a while. Patients are used to the group running one way, so when someone new is added, sometimes it’s harder to get them to trust you when you’re younger.

Crouse, can you talk about that? A: I was part of the committee when that was getting started. That is the system that Crouse uses to order medication, any patient orders, any nursing orders; there’s no more paper orders. We actually used a very similar system at Upstate during my training. The basics of CPOE is to have everything electronic, easy access for records and patient safety. That actually just started back in February, starting with the OB-GYN and pediatric floors. I think it’s going well. We’re going to get the rest of the hospital involved as well. I think, as with anything new, it has a learning curve. We’re working the kinks as far as making sure all the orders we need are programmed in. But once you get used to it, it’s pretty user-friendly. It reduces handwriting errors, medication dosage errors, it crosschecks medications patients are already on. They’ve done some

Q: What appeals to you about your specialty? When did you know you wanted to do it? A: I was a kid. My dad’s a family doctor and he used to deliver babies. I had to go the hospital with him one night and I asked the nurse what he was doing and she told me he was delivering a baby. I looked at her and told her I was going to do that one day. I tried everything in medical school. I knew I wanted to do some surgery but still have primary care base where I still see patients on an annual basis. OBGYN was definitely the best fit. Q: On the other hand, are you more comfortable with new processes and technology? A: I came out of residency trained how to use the newer devices for tubal ligation and was exposed to daVinci even though I didn’t get training in that. But, yeah, I did get exposed to a lot of the up-and-coming procedures that some of my partners had to get on-the-job training or specialty training, whereas I got to do it during my residency. Q: You’re involved with the computerized physician order entry (CPOE) system at Page 6

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IN GOOD HEALTH – CNY’s Healthcare Newspaper • April 2012

really good studies that show a reduction in patient errors and a reduction in near-misses, which might not normally get reported. Q: Are there any disadvantages? A: The learning curve and the frustration levels. Sometimes what you want hasn’t been programmed-in yet. Another thing I found, brought to me by another physician, is that if you’re not paying attention, you can put in an order in for the wrong patient. That’s true for a paper chart too, but the patient’s name is at the top of each page of the patient chart, so you’re a little less likely to miss it. With the CPOE, when you scroll down, you might not see the patient name if you aren’t paying attention. It’s not a major issue, but you do need to be aware of what you’re doing. Q: Aside from annual checkups, what do your patients most often come in for? A: I don’t know if it’s specific to the area, but I do see a lot of depression and a lot of menopause. When you do your residency training, you see some menopause, but when you see those patients in the clinic, you don’t get a sense of how much of it is out there, so far as menopausal symptoms go. I find myself talking a lot about depression, decreased libido and its effects on marriage. I don’t know if the depression a seasonal thing, with the decreased amount of sun. Q: There’s been a lot of noise in politics lately about women’s health and contraception. Do you see this having an impact on the OB-GYN specialty, or do you think the issue will mostly just stay political?

A: I heard what Rush Limbaugh said a few weeks ago and, as an OBGYN, it made me just cringe. We use birth control pills for so many things, not just what the public sees it as. So I don’t know that it’s necessarily going to impact my practice beyond what they decide as far as coverage goes. Women out there are really educated about their options, so most of them come with an idea in mind. Once you do the right amount of education, it’s not going to change either my prescribing habits or what care patients receive. Q: As far as educating patients goes, how do you get the most bang for your buck considering the short amount of time you have with them? A: Believe it or not, I always take the time to do as much of the counseling as I can myself, even if it takes more time. The American College of Obstetrics and Gynecology has a number of published materials that are very helpful for patients. Depending on the product we’re using, some of the products have very good educational websites. But I try as much as I can to do my own patient education. I frequently work through lunch or go over my allotted time with patients. Q: How can a patient tell good online resources from the junk? A: Unfortunately, the only way to know is to check and see if there’s a study and then review the study yourself. And unless the patient’s a scientist, they probably haven’t done that. A lot of times, if I’m not sure, I ask the patients to print it out and bring it to me. If there’s a citation on there, I’ll look it up and see if there are problems with it. For example, a patient wanted a heat-sensitive test instead of a mammogram from a test. I told her I’d never heard of it or seen any research on it, so I’ll be interested to see if there are any studies on that. Q: What do you think the appeal of alternative medicine is relative to peer-reviewed, established medical practices? Do you find that it’s hard to convince patients that tried-and-true methods are best? A: I think it’s very hard to convince people. Everyone has a story of someone who got mammograms every year but still got breast cancer. They did what they were supposed to do and still got a bad outcome. The people who’ve made up their minds are hard to convince. But people who are on the fence, I think talking to them about studies and evidence can make a difference. The problem with the first group is that they ignore the many positive outcomes those processes and treatments have produced.

Lifelines Hometown: Clay, NY Education: SUNY Upstate Medical University, SUNY Geneseo Afﬁliations: CNY Women’s Healthcare, Crouse Hospital Organizations: American College of Obstetrics and Gynecology (ACOG) Family: Husband, two children Hobbies: Knitting, sewing, reading How to reach her: CNY Women’s Healthcare , (315) 446-4400

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he area’s first pediatric urgent care center is now open at Upstate University Hospital at Community General. The center, called The Upstate Golisano After Hours Care, is dedicated to caring children, from newborns to those 21 years of age suffering from minor injuries or illnesses that do not require a visit to the emergency room. “We are excited to be open this new service,” said Meredith Price, chief administrative officer of Upstate University Hospital at Community General. “Our team of pediatric physicians and nursing staff make this center one of a kind, and we are eager to provide this service for the community.” The four-room center offers flat screen televisions in each room, in addition to a large waiting room equipped with a 60-inch flat screen television that features an Xbox Kinect game system. The waiting room also features a 250-gallon fish tank, donated

by the Children’s Miracle Network. Services such as X-rays, IV rehydration, laceration repair, pharmacy and laboratory are also available on site. “Our team of Upstate emergency medicine and pediatric specialists will care for patients in an environment that reflects the Upstate Golisano standard for excellence,” said medical director Alison McCrone. The center’s design and renovation was made possible in part by $26,000 in grant support from the Upstate Foundation and the Community General Advocates Committee. Golisano After Hours Care is on the first floor of the hospital, located at 4900 Broad Road, Syracuse. Hours are 4 – 11 p.m. weekdays, and noon to 11 p.m. weekends. Appointments are not required. Free parking is available, and most insurance plans are accepted. For more information, visit http://www. upstate.edu/gch/services/afterhours.

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Home Aides Receives Workforce Retraining Grants

ome Aides of Central New York was recently awarded two grants, totaling $86,000, from the New York State Department of Health under the New York State Health Workforce Retraining Initiative (HWRI). The Health Workforce Retraining Initiative is jointly managed by the New York State Department of Health and Department of Labor, and seeks to address health workforce shortages and assist health care workers in developing new skills to adapt to changes in the health care system. These grants will help Home Aides of Central New York address the special care needs of aging individuals in the Central New York community while providing enhanced employment opportunities for individuals in the home health care field. The grants will be given over a two-year period, and will specifically fund two important home health care

projects: 1). specialty training programs for home health aides in end-of-life care, care for patients with a mental illness or substance abuse diagnosis, and care for those with Alzheimer’s disease and dementia; and 2). the training of employees in the use of a new electronic record-keeping system. “Grants such as these expand our ability to provide service to individuals who wish to remain at home,” said President Sandra H. Martin. “In addition, they allow us to provide more complex and specialized levels of care.” The New York State Department of Labor statistics lists personal and home care aides first among the top 25 fastest growing occupations in the Central New York region. As the largest notfor-profit provider of home health aide services in Central New York, Home Aides of Central New York is continually recruiting and training new home health aides to fill these critical health care positions. April 2012 •

IN GOOD HEALTH – CNY’s Healthcare Newspaper

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Organ • Eye • Tissue Donation To Enroll in the NY State Registry

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Live Alone & Thrive

Practical tips, advice and hope for those who live alone

It All Starts With You!

ast month, I had the pleasure of speaking to a local chapter of AARP. Its members, most of whom were divorced after long marriages, were eager to hear about my personal journey toward contentment and how I learned to love living alone. I began my talk, as I do in my Living Alone workshops, with a gentle word of caution: There is no magic pill. Getting good at living alone, like mastering any new skill, requires effort and lots of practice. A good place to begin is to determine who you really are and what you really want for your life. No “shoulds” or other people’s agendas. Sounds simple, but for those coming out of a long relationship, rediscovering “who you really are” can be daunting. After years of focusing on the needs and desires of a spouse and family, many discover that, somewhere along the way, they have disappeared around the edges and lost their own sense of self. Rediscovering yourself and identifying those things that bring joy and meaning into your life can turn living alone into an adventure of the spirit. Once you identify and begin pursuing your individual interests, you’ll find that time alone no longer feels empty and that the silent spaces between events becomes more bearable, even enjoyable. Below is an exercise to help you get back in touch with your true self.

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In Good Health 35,000 COPIES DISTRIBUTED EACH MONTH Email inquiries to editor@CNYhealth.com Page 8

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Look Back And Reach In

Identify those things that fully engrossed you as a child or that today completely consume you — those things that make you feel complete, as though nothing is missing. These are your “loves.” These pursuits reveal your true self.

Spend Time With These Questions

1). Search back. What were things you did or pursued as a child that gave you joy? The things you thought you did particularly well, that you perhaps secretly took pride in? What did you just love doing as a kid? 2). More recently, when do you completely lose yourself in something? What are you doing when time flies? 3). What are the kinds of things you do when you have time to yourself, perhaps on vacation? How do you spend your time, when no one’s watching, when you’re just being you? 4). And finally, when you open a newspaper or magazine, what articles interest you most? This may help to define areas that pique your interest.

Then Take Action

Based on the answers above, identify one step (even a small step) you can take — now — to reconnect with a past pursuit or to delve more deeply into an existing interest. When I went through this exer-

KIDS Corner

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By Gwenn Voelckers

Study: Hospitalization of US Underage Drinkers Common, Costs $755 Million a Year

ospitalization for underage drinking is common in the United States, and it comes with a price tag — the estimated total cost for these hospitalizations is about $755 million per year, a Mayo Clinic study has found. Researchers also found geographic and demographic differences in the incidence of alcohol-related hospital admissions. The findings were recently published online in the Journal of Adolescent Health. Of the roughly 40,000 youth aged 15 to 20 hospitalized in

IN GOOD HEALTH – CNY’s Healthcare Newspaper • April 2012

2008, the most recent data available, 79 percent were drunk when they arrived at the hospital, researchers say. Alcohol abuse and addiction and drinking-related emotional problems were among the diagnoses. Among all U.S. teens, roughly 18 of every 10,000 adolescent males and 12 of every 10,000 females were hospitalized after consuming alcohol in the year studied. In all, 700,000 young people in that age group were hospitalized for various reasons, including non-alcoholrelated conditions, in 2008.

cise years ago, I rediscovered a part of me that I had neglected — without realizing it — for years. That part was my creative side. While I was thinking back over my life and childhood, I remembered how much I enjoyed art classes as a kid and I recalled the hours I spent engaged in pencil drawing and other artistic endeavors. Then, when I looked at my life as an adult, I realized how very few creative outlets I had incorporated into my daily and weekly routines. So I set out to make a deliberate change in my life and to reincorporate creative expression into my world. The result? I now make jewelry, enjoy decorating my home, and, in the summer months, design and tend gardens that burst with color, texture, and fragrance. Those of us who live alone have the gift of abundant time to ourselves. Use it wisely. Use the time to get to know yourself all over again. When you identify the things you love to do, and do them, you will feel less lonely. Stated positively, you will feel more integrated and in touch with who you are. You’ll be spending your time pursuing activities that bring you personal satisfaction — activities that reinforce who you are and who you want to become. When that happens, living alone becomes secondary to living fully! Gwenn Voelckers is the founder and facilitator of Live Alone and Thrive, empowerment workshops for women held throughout the year in Mendon, New York. For information about the workshops, call 585-624-7887,email gvoelckers@rochester. rr.com, or visit aloneandcontent.com.

“When teenagers drink, they tend to drink excessively, leading to many destructive consequences including motor vehicle accidents, injuries, homicides and suicides,” says researcher Terry Schneekloth, a Mayo Clinic addiction expert and psychiatrist. Underage drinking is common in the United States: 36–71 percent of high-school students report having consumed alcohol at least once, although the prevalence of heavy drinking (more than five drinks in a row within the preceding two weeks) is lower (7–23 percent). “Alcohol use necessitating acutecare hospitalization represents one of the most serious consequences of underage drinking,” Schneekloth says. “Harmful alcohol use in adolescence is a harbinger of alcohol abuse in adulthood.” The average age of those with alcohol-related discharges was 18; 61 percent were male. Nearly a quarter of the alcohol-use disorder hospitalizations included an injury, most commonly traffic accidents, assaults and altercations. For adolescent males and females, hospitalization incidence was highest in the Northeast and Midwest, lowest in the South, and intermediate in the West.

20 Years Granting Wishes Make-A-Wish executive director doesn’t have magic powers but she has managed to turn the dreams of more than 1,300 kids into reality By Aaron Gifford

children who eventually succumbed to their illness after their wish came true, but she also took solace in the fact that her agency was able to be a part of that child’s life, even if for a short while. Many “Wish Kids” the agency served in its early years are alive and well today. BJ Evans, of Utica, is one of them. He was diagnosed with a rare and very life-threatening type of bone cancer at the age of 13. As he endured a grueling battle with the disease, his wish was to attend the master’s golf tournament in Augusta, Ga. Kuppermann, a Utah native who was relatively new to the Syracuse area and her job at Make-AWish Foundation, made it happen. She spread the word to the other chapters throughout the country, which in turn lobbied hundreds of radio stations to put out a call for help. An anonymous donor soon provided master’s tickets to Evans and his parents. A doctor in the Augusta area lent the family his luxurious home for a week. BJ was feeling well enough to play golf with his father when he was down there and walk with the pros during their practice rounds. He met Payne Stewart, Greg Norman and Duffy Waldorf, who later disclosed that he was the one who donated the tickets. BJ even joined Davis Love III and Joey Sinclair for dinner one night, and he was thrilled with the attention he received from the local media. “I think it all helped in my recovery,” said Evans, who is now 34, married with two children and the owner of two pizzerias in the Utica area. He has made a full recovery but still has some scars on his leg and walks with a slight limp. “Just that little break — it got my mind off the cancer for awhile. We had been in and out of the hospital so much. This was kind of a turning point.” Dan Kosick, of Binghamton, was granted his wish to meet some of the Washington Redskins and spend a week with his favorite players. He continued to ski after cancer took one of his legs and excelled in adaptive skiing, competing in the 1998 Paralympics in Nagano, Japan. He even trained with able-bodied skiers locally to excel against the competition internationally. A few years later, he became the first “Wish Kid” to serve on the chapter’s board of Cayuga County 10 year-old Hunter wished for a bedroom directors, and remakeover. Make-A-Wish Foundation managed to turn his wishes mains a key part of that decisioninto reality.

s Diane Kuppermann sees it, “no” is never an option when you’re in the business of making dreams come true. Kuppermann, the first and current executive director of the Make-A-Wish Foundation for Central New York, does not have magical powers. Yet she’s made hundreds of wishes come true during her 20 years at the helm of the organization. There’s a long list of local kids who went to Disney World or Yankee games, or got a chance to meet their favorite celebrity. She even helped a 12-year-old boy get into the Army. “Sometimes we are a source of hope,” she said. “We try to give kids and families the opportunity to dream about their future and take their mind off the now. We want to be the sunshine during those very difficult times. We’ll move mountains to make wishes come true.” The agency has much to reflect on as it enters its third decade of service. It has successfully granted between 80 and 86 wishes a year, and has its sights set on raising that benchmark to 100. In October it granted its 1,300th wish when it enabled a North Syracuse 5year-old boy, Connor, to take part in a Disney Dream Cruise. Even during a recession it has raised enough money locally to maintain a $1.4 million budget, keeping its overhead costs fairly lean with a staff of only seven full-time employees and one part-timer to cover the 15-county area that it serves. The average wish costs about $9,000, but a limit is not applied to any request. Remarkably, the Make-A-Wish Foundation has always fulfilled the wishes of 100 percent of the children that were referred to the agency. It serves children between the ages of 2 ½ and 18 who have life-threatening medical conditions. Over the years, Kuppermann has mourned the loss of

Diane Kupperman, executive director of the Make-A-Wish Foundation for Central New York, spent time with “Wish Kid” Becca this winter at the Northeastern Police Ski Championships in Lake Placid. making body today. “I’ve stuck with it because her [Kuppermann’s] positive energy is so contagious,” said Kosick, who works as a school social worker and coaches lacrosse. “She’s so passionate and enthusiastic about what she does. It’s easy to get excited about the work that they are doing.” Kuppermann does most of her work behind the scenes and does not always get a chance to meet each “Wish Kid” or their families. It does not matter to her if the kids she’s trying to help never find out what role she played in fulfilling their dream. In 1990, before the local Make-AWish chapter expanded to paid staff, Kuppermann and her fellow volunteers approached the U.S. Department of Defense to allow a terminally ill 12-yearold boy from the Syracuse to join the Army, just like his older brother. It was during the weeks leading up to the first Gulf War and a very busy time for the military, but a handful of high-ranking officers at the Pentagon dropped everything they were doing to fly the boy to Washington, D.C. for a full induction ceremony. He was issued a uniform, April 2012 •

dog tags and working orders, and his brother made a surprise visit from Fort Drum. The boy was elevated to sergeant that day so he would outrank his brother. A few hours after the ceremony, he was brought to nearby Fort Belvoir for a twilight training exercise using night vision goggles. It was that wonderful example of human kindness that inspired Kuppermann to grant wishes for a living. “All those people stopped what they were doing in pre-war time to make this little boy’s dream come true,” she said. “Sometimes it’s not about the money, but getting at the heartfelt wish of the child.” Make-A-Wish was finally granted its own wish in 2007, when more than 80 area companies pitched in to give the agency a place of its own. A new East Syracuse office replaced the small, borrowed space at the Hotel Syracuse. “There was donated money, labor, materials,” Kuppermann said. “Central New York is such a very caring community. It’s humbling to think about the number of people who have helped this organization to become what it is.”

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Page 9

My Turn

By Eva Briggs

The Care You Get at Urgent Care Facilities

’ve worked over the years at several urgent care locations. Each has its own individual way of operating the facility, and as a savvy consumer, you might want to ask a few questions when deciding when and where to go urgent care treatment. First, remember that some conditions are best handled at an emergency room rather than an urgent care. These include, but are not limited to, chest pain, abdominal pain, possible stroke symptoms or broken bones with obvious deformity or visible bone protruding. If you are not sure whether your illness can be treated at an urgent care, call ahead and ask. And for potentially life threatening conditions, such as inability to breathe, chest pain, or an unconscious patient, call an ambulance. Once you’ve determined that your problem is suitable for an urgent care, consider the location. Can you get there, and is there sufficient parking? Some urgent care facilities are located in a hospital adjacent to an emergency room. The plus side is that such facilities can send you right over to the emergency room if that is where you belong. And such facilities may have access to laboratory and imaging studies (CT, MRI, or ultrasound) not available at a small urgent care. The down side is that parking may not be as easy or simple as parking at a freestanding facility.

Once you have determined what urgent care you’d like to visit, check to see that the facility is open. Hours vary widely. For example, in the Central New York region, North Medical’s urgent care facilities operate from 7 a.m. to 11 p.m. every day including weekends and holidays. And their new medical director, Michael Schiano states that they are considering extending their hours to be open nights as well. On the other hand, the shortest hours appear to be Auburn Community Hospital’s hours of 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. on weekdays, and 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. on weekends. Next, ask who provides the care at the facility. A physician, whose training requires four years of medical school after completing a college degree, may see you. According to Lynn Cleary a physician who serves as senior associate dean for medical education at Upstate Medical University, a medical degree entails four semesters of classroom work as well as 80 weeks of supervised clinical training. Following medical school, a physician completes three or more years of intensive residency training. A physician assistant’s training requires at least 32 semester hours of classroom work (two semesters) as well as 40 weeks (1,600 hours) of supervised clinical training. A nurse practitioner is a registered nurse with advanced training, which can be ac-

complished, according to the state’s website, through several avenues. An example would be at SUNY Buffalo’s School of Nursing. Its full time NP program is three years for someone with a bachelor’s degree in nursing. This includes at least 1,000 hours (25 weeks) of clinical care. In summary, after receiving a four-year college degree, a PA has two years of training, an NP has three years of training, and a physician has seven years of training. Some urgent care centers have only physicians on site: for example, the mission statement of Immediate Care of Central New York in Manlius is, “Our mission: You always see a physician.” Many busy urgent care centers, such as North Medical Urgent Care and Fulton Urgent Care, use a model that has a physician always on site, who may be working alongside a midlevel professional, a nurse practitioner or physician assistant. A few urgent care centers, such as those operated by Auburn Community, use a model where most days only a midlevel provider staffs the urgent care. This is unusual in world of urgent care. When I contacted the Urgent Care Association of America, they told me that they estimate that less then 1 percent of urgent care facilities nationwide are staffed without a physician present. In fact, they stated that the presence of a physician is, in their opinion, what dif-

ferentiates an urgent care from a retail clinic. A retail clinic is located within a retail store to care for minor problems only. I am not aware of any retail clinics locally. Next, determine whether the urgent care you plan to see accepts your insurance. Facilities operated by hospitals generally accept most insurances and won’t turn away uninsured patients. Private urgent cares will generally require payment at the time of service for uninsured patients, and may opt not to participate in some or all of the following: Medicaid, Medicare, Worker’s Compensation, or Motor Vehicle insurance. In an ideal world, everyone would have a primary care provider. But because not everyone does, sometimes patients find themselves needing care for such things as a physical exam for employment, school, or sports participation. Some urgent care centers provide these services and others don’t, so be sure to call ahead. Some factors may not be easy to determine in advance: Is the facility clean? Is the staff friendly? Is the wait, especially if long, comfortable? Is your visit quiet and private? Don’t hesitate to ask your friends or family about their urgent care experience, although remember to take everything with a grain of salt, because a single person’s experience may not be represenEva Briggs is a tative. medical doctor who works at the Fulton Urgent Care operated by Oswego Hospital and at Immediate Medical Care of CNY in Manlius.

Rates for Sexually Transmitted Diseases in CNY on the Rise Rates in Cayuga are stable but other CNY counties see rise in STD incidence By Deborah Jeanne Sergeant

exually transmitted diseases (STDs) comprise a serious threat to public health. The Centers for Disease Control (CDC) estimates that Americans report 19 million new infections annually, costing $17 billion to the US healthcare system. STDs cause notable physical repercussions, too, since some cause lifelong issues. “We did a comparison year to year on our statistics and I wouldn’t say we’ve seen any wild swings,” said Joan Knight, director of community services for Cayuga County Department of Health. But the rate is creeping up in other counties in CNY. Liz Crockett, executive

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director REACH CNY, Inc. in Syracuse, expressed concern “because the rates are higher than we want them to be,” she said. “Around the whole nation, there are increasing rates of chlamydia and gonorrhea in people between 15 and 19. CDC has found that about half new STD infections that are diagnosed are among teens 15 to 19. The local rates are reflective of that.” People of that age represent only 25 percent of the sexually experienced population in the US. Crockett also mentioned that Syracuse has one of the highest rates of teen pregnancy, which indicates that it also has greater risk for teens contracting STDs. STDs among seniors has also increased. Oswego County Health Department statistics show that rates for chlamydia, gonorrhea and syphilis are rising in the county. Six cases of gonorrhea were reported in 2010, 12 in 2011 and four from January through February 2012. As for chlamydia, 126 cases were reported in 2010, 112 in 2012 and 41 as of February 2012. “If that stays on track, we’ll surpass last year’s numbers,” said Judy

IN GOOD HEALTH – CNY’s Healthcare Newspaper • April 2012

Lester, supervising public health nurse for Oswego County Health Department. In both 2010 and in 2011 one case of syphilis was reported. In 2012, the number jumped to five. As of February this year, none have been reported. “They’re all going up,” Lester said. “You see the economy decrease and you see STDs and crime go up.” Another of the reasons is that people tend to consume more alcohol during a recession and, under the influence, they lose their inhibitions about risky behavior such as promiscuity. As for the spike in cases among teens, Jeanette Shanley, program director for REACH CNY, Inc., believes that lack of communication may be partly to blame. “Even though one may get treated, the other may not get treatment,” she said. “Someone who has symptoms gets treatment but they don’t tell the partner or else the partner does get notification and doesn’t seek treatment because they don’t have symptoms. With chlamydia and gonorrhea, they may ignore the symptoms. They think it will go away or get better.” Seniors, unconcerned about preg-

nancy, are unlikely to seek the protection from STDs that condoms offer. To help reduce rates, REACH CNY has launched Comprehensive Adolescent Pregnancy Prevention, a statefunded program that “increases access to and the friendliness of adolescent health education to keep yourself safe and identifying your values and your family values about sexual activity,” Shanley said. Any person who engages in sex outside of one mutually monogamous and mutually lifelong relationship is at risk for a sexually transmitted disease. “The information we give out hasn’t changed,” Lester said. “It’s the same message we’ve been saying for years. Know your partner. Be tested before you commit to a sexual relationship. Use good judgment. Make sure you use a condom. That’s not 100 percent foolproof. It’s the possibility of a condom leaking, breaking, falling off or not being used through the whole encounter. There are lots of variables.” To learn about testing clinics, contact your local public health office. Free, confidential STD clinics are advertised in local shopping papers.

Blind Bowlers On The Ball

embers of The Salt City Blind Bowlers, which is part of the American Blind Bowling Association founded in the 1940s, bowling in a recent outing at Solvay Recreation Alley. Aside from metal guide rails that define the sides of the lanes for those who are totally blind, there are no special accommodations. Bowler Ron Pyer, 60, of Syracuse doesn’t use the railings because he has some vision. Pyer, who was born legally blind and washes dishes at a local restaurant, joined the league as a substitute in

2001. “I’ve always enjoyed bowling. I used to do it for the fun of it at open bowling,” he said. He also enjoys the camaraderie that develops among the bowlers, who sometimes go out for a snack afterwards . “Ron is very social. He likes to be active,” said Darlene, his wife of 38 years. The league is organized by Aurora of CNY, a nonprofit that works exclusively with people in Central New York who are deaf, blind, visually impaired or hard of hearing. For more information, call 422-7263 (TDD 422-9746).

Ron Pyer (foreground) and Jack Green, both of Syracuse, are two members of the Salt City Blind Bowlers. The league bowls Wednesday evenings at Solvay Recreation Alley.

DMV re-launches MS license plate Money goes to state’s two pediatric MS research centers

he New York State Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) is re-launching a National Multiple Sclerosis Society (NMSS) custom license plate. The plates bearing the MS logo are available to motorists statewide who wish to contribute to the effort to fight MS. The $25 annual renewal fee goes to the New York State Multiple Sclerosis Research Fund to support research at the state’s two Pediatric MS Centers of Excellence.

Since the first launch eight years ago, the custom plates have raised more than $26,000. A large portion of the money is planned to be released to Jacobs Neurological Institute in Buffalo to support its current pediatric research programs. The funds will be split with the pediatric MS center at Stony Brook Long Island Children’s Hospital. The MS plate is available in both passenger and commercial class. It can be ordered online at www.dmv.ny.gov/

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Straight From the Farm Community-supported agriculture shares the harvest By Suzanne M. Ellis

ure, it’s only April, but who doesn’t admit to thinking about the soon-to-be-savored flavor of garden-fresh vegetables, plucked from the field just hours earlier? There’s a great way for consumers to enjoy that delectable experience without devoting their spring, summer and fall to the expense and tedium of tending their own backyard gardens: It’s called community supported agriculture, and it’s better known as CSA. During the last 20 years or so, CSA has become a popular way for consumers to buy local, seasonal food directly from farmers. There are nearly two million farms in the U.S., and roughly 80 percent of them are small, family-owned farms, according to localharvest.org, a site devoted to the CSA concept. These days, increasing numbers of farmers are selling directly to consumers through these programs. Here are the basic concepts of CSA, according to localharvest.org: 1). A farmer offers a certain number of “shares” to the public. Typically, the “share” consists of a box of vegetables each week, but other farm products also may be included such as eggs, flowers and fruits. 2). Consumers purchase a share (also referred to as a “membership” or “subscription”) and in return, they receive a box, bag or basket of seasonal produce each week throughout the growing season. Benefits to the farmer include the opportunity to market their products in the spring, before their 16-hour days in the fields begin. They also receive payment earlier in the season, which helps with cash flow during what can sometimes be a difficult time financially. Lastly, they often have the chance to get to know the people who use the

food they grow. Benefits to the consumer include the regular delivery of farm-fresh vegetables and the healthy goodness they contain. Consumers usually get the chance to visit “their” farm and may discover that children actually like vegetables they might otherwise not eat because they are being grown on “their” farm. Consumers can get to know a farmer and learn more about how their food is grown. Grindstone Farm (www.grindstonefarm.com), which is south of Pulaski in the town of Richland, Oswego County, has approximately 230 acres with more than 25 of those acres dedicated to food and livestock production. With a 24-year track record, Grindstone was one of the earliest farms to begin cultivating the idea of CSA. It currently has more than 200 shareholders, said Dick de Graff, who owns the farm with his wife, Victoria Ladd-de Graff. “We’ve been doing this since 1988,” Dick de Graff said. “We first became involved in CSA, and CSA-growing, so we could offer food directly to consumers without having to go through a middleman. I thought it was a pretty good idea then, and it has been very successful over the years.” The farm also grows custom, select crops for restaurants, co-ops, and wholesale buyers. “This is an excellent way for a consumer to connect with a local organic farm and be assured of getting good, fresh, local organic food,” Dick de Graff said. Early Morning Farm in Cayuga County has been in the CSA business for about 13 years. “When a household makes the commitment to eat a box full of local, organic vegetables each week, it can have a significant health impact on the whole family,” said Anton Burkett, the owner of Early Morning Farm (www. earlymorningfarm.com). The 20-acre vegetable farm is located in the heart of the Finger Lakes, nestled between Genoa and Kings Ferry. Since becoming involved in CSA, Early Morning Farm served custom-

Dick de Graff at Grindstone Farm in Pulaski has sold his produce directly to consumers since 1998. ers in Ithaca, Cortland, Auburn and Skaneateles. This season, it will be expanding its customer base to include pick-up locations in Baldwinsville, Cazenovia, Camillus, Dewitt, Syracuse, Lafayette and Marcellus. “We plan to have over 600 families participating in our CSA program this year,” Burkett said. “Households purchase a share of the harvest in the spring and then receive a weekly box of produce grown on our farm, through-

out the growing season. The boxes of produce are picked up at local businesses and/or non-profits.” A few of the other participating CSA farms in the Central New York area are Frost Briar Farm in Martville, Cayuga County (www.localharvest. org/frost-briar-farm), Daily Harvest Farm in Fabius, Onondaga County (www.dailyharvest.com), and Hartwood Farm in Fenner, Madison County (www.hartwoodfarm.com) .

CSA: From the Farm to the Dinner Table The cost of receiving fresh food on a weekly basis can go from $250 to $500 per season By Deborah Graf

traight from the farm to the dinner table, community supported agriculture (CSA) is one of the fastest growing and best ways to make local, seasonal food the natural choice. “There are so many benefits with CSAs,” says Lea Kone, assistant director, Northeast Organic Farming Association of New York (NOFA-NY.) “Besides the fact that it’s an easy way to eat healthier with the freshest local food that is in season, it’s a very strong model to help farms and communities support each other.” Originally instituted by Robyn Page 12

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Van En in Massachusetts in the early 1980s, CSAs have had a steady increase in participants, with approximately 180 CSA farms across the state of New York, according to Kone. “Consumer count has shown growth even in economic downturns,” Kone says. “CSAs offer a broad range of healthy food, and consumers can choose their farm according to what they want and different specialties.” She says traditional models were vegetables, but have expanded to offer fruit, meats, dairy, and “add-ons” such as eggs. New CSA farms are even form-

IN GOOD HEALTH – CNY’s Healthcare Newspaper • April 2012

ing to offer things like fresh cut flowers and bakery items. “There is a tremendous variety,” Kone says. “Each farm grows a whole season’s worth of food, anything from greens to radishes, so by the end of the season members may have had 75 to 100 different fruits, vegetables, herbs, and more in their shares.” According to Kone, cost for a halfshare serving two people can range from $250 to $300 per season. For a full share serving four, approximately $500. The season lasts about 26 weeks and the amount of food can often be

enough to preserve for later consumption off-season, through canning, drying, and freezing. CSA offers convenience and opportunity for members to choose healthier food options that match their lifestyle. Some farms ask members to pick up the food directly from the farm, which gives consumers a chance to connect with the farmers; other farms establish community or neighborhood drop-off sites for members.

Careers in Healthcare

Work in health or medicine without a bachelor’s degree By Deborah Jeanne Sergeant

career in a health or medical field does not necessarily mean becoming a doctor. More and more young people and older workers shifting careers are turning to options that don’t even require a four-year degree. They can work in a rewarding job that pays well without acquiring the mountain of debt a physician incurs in medical school. Becoming a registered nurse requires only two years’ education and offers many opportunities to grow after one is pinned. At St. Joseph’s College of Nursing in Syracuse, Rhonda Reader, assistant dean of admissions, said that Reader once a graduate passes the licensing exam, he is likely to earn about $45,000 annual starting salary. “There’s a predicted nationwide shortage [of nurses] that will continue,” Reader said. “In New York state and nationwide, there’s a shortage of nurses so their job prospects look good well into the future.” To be successful nursing students, they should have interest in and good

grades in math and science classes in high school. “Applicants don’t realize how much of nursing is based in math and science,” Reader said. “Interest in helping others is important. Organized time management lends itself well to nursing.” With additional education, such as pursuing the bachelor’s in nursing, the nurse can gain more responsibility and larger salary. “Often, institutions will support the nurses to continue their education with loan reimbursement or tuition assistance programs,” Reader said. “You can continue your education while still working.” At Onondaga Community College in Syracuse, it pays to have taken biology and chemistry in high school for applicants interested in the surgical technology program. MaryPat Annable, who chairs the department, said that the admission is competitive for this challenging, three-semester program. But applicants who aced high school biology and chemistry may do well. “We take the most qualified according to their ranking,” Annable said. Graduates from the surgical technology program will likely work in a hospital-based operating room or alongside a specialist at an outpatient, free-standing surgery center. The starting salary is about $32,000. “A lot of people who go through

our program use it as a stepping stone,” Annable said. “A lot of times after you’ve worked at a hospital for a while, they give you education benefits. Nursing seems to be an easy transition. Operating room nurses are in high demand. I’ve had a couple students go on to PA [physician’s assistant] or medical school.” The program is structured so that during the first semester, students spend two days observing in an operating room, which often helps students know whether or not they would enjoy this type of work. Dan Cleveland chairs the respiratory care program at Onondaga Community College, which represents another good-paying medical career that doesn’t require a four-year degree. With similar background requirements as for the surgical tech program, applicants to the respiratory care program can do well. “Eighty-five percent of respiratory therapists work in hospitals,” Cleveland said. Others work for home care sales companies, nursing homes, and sleep labs. A graduate of the two-year program could start at $40,000 per year. “It’s similar to nursing program,” Cleveland said. “A few go for dual credentials and become an RN as well. The shared science between the two helps. Getting a bachelor’s degree would make it more competitive for

supervisor jobs or teaching jobs.” Cynthia Warner chairs the physical therapist assistant program. She said that a high school graduate needs two years of high school math and science and good grades in the subjects to do well in the program. “Also have great problem solving and communication skills,” Warner said. “Interest in fitness and sports helps and you have to love people, be compassionate and be a motivator.” As an assistant to a physical therapist, a graduate would work alongside a physical therapist and expect a starting salary of $32,000 to $38,000 annually. “They do nearly everything a physical therapist does except the evaluation and discharge,” Warner said. “With the baby boomers growing older, we’re on the top 20 fastest growing professions.” Other health care and medical careers that may pay off well include massage therapy (two years of schooling/$31,980 annual salary and tips, according to the American Massage Therapy Association for therapists giving 15 hours of massage weekly), radiologic technician (21-months/$35,000), dental hygienist (2 years/$58,600) and sonographer (1 year, $50,000). Unless stated otherwise, salary estimates are from the Bureau of Labor Statistics.

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General Gynecology and Well Woman Services • Including menopause and PMS

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IN GOOD HEALTH – CNY’s Healthcare Newspaper • April 2012

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about 250 asthma-related deaths in New York state each year between 2005 and 2007. “It’s important that people with asthma work with their health care provider to develop a plan for managing their condition,” said Arthur Vercillo, a physicians who serves as regional president for Excellus BlueCross BlueShield. “By taking the right medication, avoiding triggers and

being able to recognize the symptoms and know what to do in the event of a sudden attack, asthma patients can live a normal life and avoid unnecessary trips to the emergency room.” The Excellus BlueCross BlueShield report — “The Facts About Adult Asthma in Upstate New York” — details which adults in upstate New York have a greater chance of having asthma: Women, blacks, 18- to

24-year-olds and adults making less than $15,000 annually. The report also shows the following: • In upstate New York, older adults (age 65+) were hospitalized due to asthma at more than twice the rate of adults ages 18 to 64, but this younger group made more frequent visits to the emergency room for treatment. • Incremental direct medical costs

for upstate New York adults with self-reported asthma was an estimated $793 million annually. • Adults ages 18 to 64 in the Finger Lakes region had the highest asthma prevalence (13.4 percent), and the Southern Tier region had the lowest (10.2 percent). To access the full report, go to excellusbcbs.com/factsheets.

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Page 15

Lighten Up Easter Feast

If you simply can’t have Easter without ham, try to reduce the sodium in the rest of the meal by cooking from scratch. By Deborah Jeanne Sergeant

lanning a big Easter Sunday meal with family but trying to watch what you eat? It may seem like it is Ok to splurge for just one meal, but you may eat more “special” meals every year than you think: Super Bowl feasts, Mardi Gras, St. Patrick’s Day, and all the graduation parties and wedding receptions yet to come this spring. “Healthy meal alternatives are suggested for optimal health,” said Heather Richardson registered dietitian and outpatient registered dietitian for Upstate at University Health Care Center. “Healthy substitutions provide these benefits: lower blood pressure, cholesterol and triglyceride levels; glycemic [blood sugar] control; and weight management. As well, it provides valuable nutrients the body needs, such as fiber, healthy fats, vitamins and minerals while providing calories for fuel.” It’s hard to resist those special treats and traditional dishes that are rolled out only a few times a year. With a few easy Fauler

switches, you can make the feast a more healthful one. Ham is a traditional Easter meal centerpiece. Laden with sodium and artificial curing agents, ham isn’t a terrific choice. Richardson suggested turkey, Cornish game hen or baked chicken instead. Maureen S. Fauler, registered dietitian and manager clinical nutrition at Crouse Hospital, recommends lamb or turkey for people who need to watch their sodium consumption. Three ounces of baked ham provides approximately 900 milligrams of sodium; three ounces of roast lamb contains about 60 milligrams of sodium; three ounces of roast turkey contains about 70 milligrams of sodium. Concerned about your fat intake? Ham, lamb and turkey are pretty close but turkey is the winner. Three ounces of ham provides approximately 5 grams of total fat with 0 grams of saturated fat. The same amount of lamb provides Beeman

SmartBites

By Anne Palumbo

The skinny on healthy eating

The Lowdown on Oatmeal

“

Your cholesterol is too high!” Ever since my doctor delivered those dreaded words, I have worked hard to lower my cholesterol through diet. In a word, I scale back on foods that raise it and devour those that don’t. I also make a conscientious effort to eat foods that actually lower blood cholesterol, like walnuts, salmon, and my all-time favorite and star of today’s column: oatmeal. Oatmeal in April? Yes! Odd as it may seem to feature such a cold-weather comfort food at the beginning of spring, I am purposely dishing on this nutritious grain to promote its yearround consumption. Unique among grains, oats almost

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approximately 8 grams of total fat with 3 grams of saturated fat. Turkey is leanest with 4 grams of total fat, none of which is saturated. But if you simply can’t have Easter without ham, try to reduce the sodium in the rest of the meal by cooking from scratch, which usually decreases the amount of sodium over pre-made foods. Creamy vegetable casseroles at least include healthful vegetables, but serving them in a cream sauce boosts the saturated fat content of the meal. Instead, try steamed veggies you may not eat often such as asparagus to make it special. “Steamed broccoli, carrots, asparagus, Brussels sprouts or pearl onions, are healthy, traditional Easter dishes if they aren’t creamed or laden in butter or sauces,” said Darlene Beeman, a St. Joseph’s Hospital dietitian in the Clinical Nutrition Department. Switching up how you cook vegetables can make a difference. “Roasting vegetables is also a great way to preserve the nutrients

in oats have beneficial effects on blood pressure. Oatmeal is no lightweight when it comes to protein either, with one cup delivering about 11 grams (an egg has 6). Need one last reason to reach for the oats? They’re super high in manganese, a mineral that’s essential for healthy digestion, brain function, and bone formation. So, how’s my cholesterol? Fortunately, for me, diet did the trick.

Helpful tips never have their bran and germ removed in processing, which means you’re virtually guaranteed the whole grain and its many benefits. Current research indicates that eating whole grains helps reduce the risk of many chronic diseases, such as heart disease, diabetes, and cancer. Oatmeal is high in a specific kind of soluble fiber that helps lower LDL “bad” cholesterol, while maintaining the good cholesterol that your body needs. Since high cholesterol levels correlate with the build-up of plaques in blood vessel walls, which can then lead to a heart attack or stroke, it makes sense to lower these levels whenever we can. Me? More oats, please! My mother, who suffers from high blood pressure, never goes a day without a bowl of oatmeal because it’s one of the eight foods on the DASH (dietary approaches to stop hypertension) eating plan recommended by the NIH (National Institutes of Health). Both the fiber and magnesium found

IN GOOD HEALTH – CNY’s Healthcare Newspaper • April 2012

Since the nutritional differences are quite minor between the various kinds of oats – from steel-cut to instant – go with the oatmeal whose texture and method of preparation appeal to you most. I like a chewier texture and so eat regular rolled oats, while my mother prefers the softer texture of instant oats. Both are easily prepared in the microwave in under 3 minutes. Oatmeal, stored in a cool, dark, and dry place, lasts for about 2 months. Note: Be sure to check the nutrition fact panel on flavored instant oatmeal, especially its sugar and salt contents.

Chewy Oatmeal Raisin Cookies Adapted from Nick Malgieri’s dessert cookbook I cup flour (Recommend: ½ whole wheat; ½ unbleached all-purpose flour) 1 teaspoon baking powder ½ teaspoon baking soda

and minerals in the vegetables,” Fauler said. “Because roasted vegetables are sweeter and have more intense flavor, additional salt and fat can be decreased.” Offer more than one vegetable. Variety includes more nutrients in the meal and people tend to eat some of everything they’re offered. Skip scalloped potatoes and candied sweet potatoes with marshmallows. Instead, serve baked potatoes with fat free sour cream, light spread, and chives for toppings. Baked sweet potatoes represent a terrific source of beta carotene. Drizzle with a little real maple syrup for a touch of sweetness. Beeman suggested using low sodium, fat free chicken broth in place of milk or cream in mashed potatoes. Leave on the skins to preserve more nutrients. A dash of garlic and parsley

1 teaspoon cinnamon ½ teaspoon salt 2 tablespoons butter, room temperature (Recommend: I Can’t Believe It’s Not Butter sticks) ½ cup granulated sugar ½ cup brown sugar (or ¼ cup Splenda Brown Sugar Blend) 1 large egg ¼ cup unsweetened applesauce 1 teaspoon vanilla extract 1 1/3 cups old-fashioned oats (not instant) ½ cup raisins ¾ cup chopped walnuts, toasted Preheat oven to 375 degrees; line baking sheets with parchment paper. In a small bowl, whisk together the flour, baking powder, baking soda, cinnamon and salt. In a large bowl, beat the butter and granulated sugar until smooth. Mix in the brown sugar, then the egg, applesauce and vanilla. Stir in the dry ingredients, then the oats, raisins, and nuts. Drop the batter by rounded teaspoons or tablespoons 2-inches apart on the baking sheets and use a fork to gently flatten the dough. Bake cookies about 12 to 14 minutes, rotating the sheets during baking for even heating. Makes 18 large cookies, 24 medium.

Anne Palumbo is a lifestyle columnist, food guru, and seasoned cook, who has perfected the art of preparing nutritious, calorie-conscious dishes. She is hungry for your questions and comments about SmartBites, so be in touch with Anne at avpalumbo@aol.com.

adds even more flavor and value. Many families like fruity, dessertlike side dishes. Some use artificial whipped topping, salad dressing and sweetened gelatin. Beeman suggested using sugar-free gelatin and fruit packed in juices, not syrup. You can also skip the fat and sugar and serve a fruit salad instead. Fauler said this will bring more vitamins and antioxidants to your feast. If you use only fresh fruit, toss with a little apple juice to keep banana slices from browning. If you buy rolls, look for “whole wheat” not “wheat” on the package to get an all-whole-wheat product. “Wheat” rolls can also have white flour in them. “Having whole wheat rolls is a great way to add fiber to an Easter meal,” Fauler said.

For a light Easter dessert, Fauler recommends angel food cake with fresh berries, which “provides approximately 110 calories, 0 grams of fat, and 210 milligrams of sodium while a similar size piece of coconut cake would provide 400 calories, 19 grams of fat, and 500 milligrams of sodium. “Having the angel food cake with fresh berries will provide less than half the amount of fat, calories and sodium, and provide antioxidants from the berries, making it a better choice. Some of the calories you save can go toward eating your chocolate bunny.” Lemon soufflé can add a sweet ending to the meal without a lot of fat, as can a spice cake made with applesauce replacing some of the fat. In many baking recipes, heart-healthy oil can replace butter or shortening.

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IN GOOD HEALTH – CNY’s Healthcare Newspaper • April 2012

CEO Shares Her Secret To ‘Leading With Love’ Maryann Roefaro in May will celebrate 10 years as the CEO of Hematology-Oncology Associates of Central New York. In a new book she discusses her experiences as a leader in several local health organizations and how working with people who suffer from cancer has changed her By Joyce Gramza

ow many CEOs would say that the keys to leading a successful business are inner peace, love, self-healing and spirituality? In her new book, “Building the Team from the Inside-Out,” Maryann Roefaro, CEO of Hematology-Oncology Associates of Central New York, describes her “inside-out” approach as the “self-mastery journey” leaders can undertake to instill love, confidence and trust in themselves. And, she argues, when leaders then insert these values into their organization, the results are “winning teams and authentic relationships” among leadership, staff and clients that make workplaces “efficient, resilient and harmonious.” “If there were a self-help truck and a leadership truck and they had a headon collision, the result is this book!” Roefaro laughs. Her own 30-year leadership path took Roefaro from microbiology lab technologist to CEO of the largest private-practice cancer and blood disorder treatment and prevention centers in the region. Along the way, she has become a reiki (the eastern art of energy healing) master, a hypnotherapist, and a doctor of divinity who now espouses these concepts in all aspects of life. But, she says, her self-mastery journey really began during her childhood in Utica. When Maryann was just 14, her mother, Angela, died of a hospital-acquired blood infection. “It was very difficult watching her die. And in those months, as I know she knew she would never come home, you can imagine the type of spiritual conversations we had… It was the most difficult and most precious time of my life.” “One of the greatest tragedies and gifts in my life was losing her,” says Roefaro. That’s because in those conversations, Angie convinced her daughter that, actually, she never would lose her. “She convinces you she’s going to be on your shoulder your whole life and you develop a trust in something unseen,” Roefaro says. “It will be 39 years and she is still continuing to convince me that there is no death. So we’ve been on this self-mastery journey together.” Roefaro’s father, Renato, to whom her book is dedicated, continued to “fill the house with love” for Maryann and her two brothers. “He has really been that one person consistently throughout my life who has been my greatest supporter, with an incredible sense of unconditional love.”

As Roefaro recounts these memories, her gratitude and smile shine, affirming her approach to leadership and life. On the one hand, she wants to share the gifts bestowed on her, while on the other, it’s all been a choice. Roefaro’s conviction is not only that we can choose to see the positive milestones in every adversity, but also that we have “co-created” our life journey together with “divine resources.” That belief is the foundation of her other key principles — that every individual possesses accountability and empowerment — because, “We can’t change the past” and “Nothing occurs without our permission from some level of consciousness.” Download just a couple of installments of the Internet broadcast that Roefaro co-hosts, “Leaders of Light,” on the “Co-Creator Network“ and you’ll hear things like: • “When we get up in the morning, are we looking down the corridor of potential, or of limitation?” • “ We are only limited by the boundaries we place on ourselves.” • “Love-based decisions get results in dollars and cents.” Roefaro says she always knew from a young age that she would be a leader — she just “didn’t know of what.” She followed her passion for clinical microbiology and earned her Bachelor of Arts degree from Albany College of Pharmacy in 1981. Working at the VA Medical Center in Syracuse, she won her first promotion, to supervisor of the microbiology lab, under then lab director Paul Grenato. “I thought being a microbiology lab supervisor would fulfill my dreams until the day I became a microbiology lab supervisor,” she recalls. She says Grenato, “among my first mentors and still a friend,” encouraged her ambitions. She moved to head of the microbiology section at Community General Hospital, and then, “in the big transition to administration,” was hired to set up North Medical Center’s laboratory services. “That’s how Dr. A. John Merola noticed me. I was fortunate to become the administrator of the largest family practice in the area at that time, and the first administrator of the first urgent care in the area,” Roefaro says. “Creating the first urgent care in the area provided a great opportunity to make it successful and to educate the public on a new concept.” Roefaro spent nearly seven years at North

Medical “learning a lot about business” and doing “really creative things,” including developing a long term care project. In 1996, she moved to Crouse Hospital as corporate vice president of ambulatory care services, “an incredible opportunity to put together a very large primary care infrastructure,” she says. When Crouse affiliated with Community General Hospital in 1999, “I was a VP over both entities and consolidated or expanded the primary care services.” But then Crouse filed for bankruptcy, and Roefaro “spent the next couple of years executing the disassembly of what I had assembled.” Through all her experience and accomplishments, Roefaro says she gained the insight that “the source of every emotion — of every thought — is from two basic parameters: love or fear. So, you can live in a love-based leadership mode or a fear-based mode. Are your thoughts being motivated by love, or fear?” “The easy way for me to tell the difference is from what root— which will be manifested in results and actions—is how it feels,” she says. “Fear-based thoughts have discomfort within, and something love-based has an inner peace and joy.” April 2012 •

And in May of 2002, “came Hematology-Oncology Associates… their CEO resigned and before they did a national search, they called me.” “I’ve been here the longest position of my career — it will be 10 years in May — and in all of my career experiences, these 10 years have been the most profound.” “Everything came together here,” says Roefaro. From science to leadership to creativity, “every hat I ever wore came together, and this is also where the importance of the self-mastery journey became illuminated for me.” Roefaro immediately fell in love with the patient population. “The spirit and resilience of a cancer patient is incredible. They are so precious because every day has great meaning,” she says. “In a primary care setting, you may meet a patient getting grouchy because they have a sore throat. There is an appreciation you develop here for life, for end of life, and for all of the challenges in between.” At the same time, she was aware that complementary and alternative therapies were being proven by scientific studies and being incorporated Continued on page 20

IN GOOD HEALTH – CNY’s Healthcare Newspaper

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Page 19

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IN GOOD HEALTH – CNY’s Healthcare Newspaper • April 2012

into wellness programs that benefited patients at large cancer care centers nationally. Interested in developing a holistic, or “integrative wellness program” for HOA’s population, “I thought at first that it was ‘cutting-edge,’ but I had no reference point,” says Roefaro. “To understand it, I had to explore it, and because I am a scientist and a skeptic at heart, I had to immerse myself in all of the aspects of energy healing.” “An aspect of my personal and spiritual development really blossomed as a result,” she says. “The passion that developed in me led me to become a reiki master-teacher. We are beings of energy, and reiki therapy… which has been around for 4000 years… can assist an individual in healing themselves.” Roefaro studied for more than four years to become a “master teacher” of reiki. Similarly, in exploring hypnotherapy, Roefaro “felt a calling to become a heart-centered hypnotherapist.” Hypnotherapy, she explains, “helps people to unlock aspects that reside solely within their subconscious… helping to heal wounds of the past that affect tomorrow.” “Heart-centered,” she says, means the technique is “based in loving the self and healing the self.” Recently, Roefaro led HOA to open a wellness center to offer integrative and preventive services to the general public. Located in 4,000 square feet of HOA’s space at Medical Center West in Camillus, it offers massage therapy, reiki, acupuncture, yoga, and even Zumba and belly dancing programs. Roefaro works a few evenings a week at her own private practice in energy healing and hypnotherapy, which she says is “booked for months out.” “It’s incredible—by day I am the CEO of this practice and in the evening, I become a part of the healing team,” Roefaro says. Her ever-deepening interest in spirituality made her want to “study the history of religions… and many

aspects of personal transformation and self-discovery.” And she did through a distance learning program from the American Institute of Holistic Theology, she earned her Doctor of Divinity degree in 2009. Roefaro decided to share her insights through a book aimed at leaders. “It’s a different paradigm for business leaders,” she says. “Some may think love-based leadership is ‘touchy-feely’ and lacks accountability. That’s not the case… there’s a level of accountability when we take responsibility for everything that occurs in our path.” For example, she says, terminations of employees who “are not a good fit” can be understood as having value in that “there are no failures, just redirections.” “I wrote the book because I’ve seen how it works over 30 years of managing successful teams,” she says. She says she makes a point of not “selling” her personal spiritual beliefs in the book— just the principles and tools of working “from the inside-out” to produce good leaders that result in productive work groups and organizations. But Roefaro also believes that the philosophies, ideas and tools that have benefited her, her colleagues, and everyone they relate with, must and will change the world in the new millenium. And of course, in Roefaro’s view down the corridor of potential, the mind-body-spirit development of individuals and leaders will ultimately make the world a better place. To buy Roefaro’s book, visit www.Amazon. com (in hard/soft cover and Kindle), www. bn.com (in hard/soft cover and Nook), iTunes store e-Book, and the Dewitt Barnes and Noble Store. For information on the “Leaders of Light” Internet radio series, visit www.co-creatornetwork.com/ archive_leadersoﬂight.htm

Women’s issues

Having a Bad Hair Day? Hair health can indicate other problems By Deborah Jeanne Sergeant

or most women, a head of thick, lustrous hair is an important beauty feature. But when hair shows dullness, breakage and thinning, it may be more than a vanity issue. It could indicate a health problem. “Changes in the quality or quantity of your hair have many possible causes, including genetics, diet, illness, cancer treatment, stress, hormonal changes or imbalance, giving birth, medications, and even your hairstyle or hair accessories,” said Ellen M. Dethloff, who has a master’s degree in nursing and works at St. Joseph’s Hospital. “A thorough medical history is important to recognize the possible stresses or triggers as a cause of hair loss.” If hair turns fragile, it’s likely because of how it’s treated. “Excessive use of styling tools causes hair breakage,” Dethloff said. “Chemicals used on hair for dyeing, alcohol, formaldehyde, and waxy coatings will all dry hair.” Relaxers and perms also damage hair, as does the heat from hair dryers, curling irons, crimping irons or flat irons. “They both dry and break hair,” Dethloff said. “Every time that you style your hair you damage it. Even brushing damages your hair.” Styling or brushing hair while it is wet especially damages hair since it is most prone to damage then. Allowing it to air dry and gently brushing it with a natural bristle brush is the safest way to handle hair. The frequency with which women wash their hair can also impact hair health. “Excessive washing and blow drying can dry hair,” said Ramsay Farah, associate professor of pathology and chief of dermatology at SUNY Upstate Medical University and dermatologist

with Farah Dermatology and Cosmetics in Syracuse, Watertown, Camillus and Fulton. “Most people take a daily shower and wash their hair daily. That can cause dry, brittle hair.” Most women 25 and older can skip a couple days between washing. Using a mild, botanically-based shampoo and allowing hair to air dry can help limit damage. Forgo harsh chemical treatments until new, healthy hair grows out and keep regular appointments with a stylist to trim off the damaged hair to maintain a healthier look. Avoid styles that pull and stretch hair such as tight braids, pony tails or barrettes. Emotional health can impact hair, both directly and indirectly. “Excessive worry, loss of loved one and over-demanding schedules effect the way we eat and sleep,” Dethloff said. Taking care of yourself also takes care of your hair. Get enough rest and find healthful ways to de-stress. Eating right helps support healthy hair. “Generally speaking, their nutritional status should be appropriate,” Farah said. “Severe vitamin deficiencies can impact nail and hair growth. See what you’re doing for diet. If you eat in one food group, that can lead to poor nutritional status.” Deficiencies in zinc, vitamins A and C, protein or iron can impact hair. Although a good diet is important for maintaining healthy hair, miracle vitamin cures usually aren’t worth the hype. A daily multi-vitamin will do. Poor quality hair and shedding too much—more than 100 to 150 hairs a day—is a good reason to see a dermatologist. After taking down a patient’s medical history and completing a physical exam, a dermatologist typically examines sample hairs under

a microscope to look at the shaft and may order blood tests to determine if the excessive shedding is caused by an internal problem. “Both hypothyroidism and less commonly hyperthyroidism can cause hair changes, first dry brittle hair and eventually hair loss,” Dethloff said. “In hypothyroidism the loss of the outer third of the eyebrow hair is common.” Alopecia areata is another autoimmune disease that causes abnormal shedding that can affects only the head

or other parts of the body, too. A dermatologist can also help determine if an infection such as ringworm is the culprit. As women become peri menopausal, hair can thin, though genetics play a role at this stage, too. Some older women never experience thinning. Many dermatologists recommend Rogaine as an effective treatment for patterned hair loss, though quitting the product will, in a few months, return hair to its previous state.

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Women’s issues Diabetic & Pregnant: Some Extra Care is Needed

Pregnancy can make mom more insulin-resistant By Deborah Jeanne Sergeant

anaging type 2 diabetes involves some important lifestyle changes, as does supporting a healthy pregnancy. If you’re a diabetic woman planning to become pregnant, you need to be especially vigilant about a few areas of your health for your sake and baby’s health. Planning ahead for the pregnancy will result in the most healthful pregnancy. Any woman should have a physical, get in shape, maintain a healthful weight for her height, eat a balanced diet, take a daily multi-vitamin formulated for pregnant women and calcium supplement, and avoid smoking, illicit drugs, and over-thecounter drugs contraindicated for pregnant women. Once pregnant, women should limit caffeine intake and avoid raw and undercooked foods and alcohol. “Good nutrition is extremely important during pregnancy,” said Alfredo Lopez, OB-GYN with St. Joseph’s Hospital. “I recommend seeing a registered dietitian who can create a diet plan for during your pregnancy, based on your weight, height, physical activity and to take into account your food preferences. That will help you determine how many calories you will need each day by determining the portion sizes and [it will help you] to balance your meals with the amount of protein, carbohydrate and fat.” It may seem complicated, but in general, diabetic and non-diabetic women “follow the same principles of healthy eating during pregnancy,” said Julie Mellen, registered dietitian with Upstate Medical Center. “Choose a variety of foods from each of the food groups that are good sources of vitamins and minerals, especially folic acid and iron and fiber rich.” Page 22

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Some pregnant women mistakenly believe that “eating for two” means literally doubling their caloric intake. This line of thinking can seriously impact a diabetic’s health. “There is no need for extra calories in the first trimester since energy requirements do not increase until the second trimester,” said Jill Hayes, certified diabetes educator and registered dietitian for Crouse Hospital. “Approximately 300 calories can be added during the second trimester and 400 calories during the third trimester to meet increased energy requirements.” In addition, the rise in estrogen, progesterone, and increased insulin resistance natural to pregnancy will impact blood glucose levels as the pregnancy progresses. Cravings, morning sickness and gradually increasing caloric needs can make eating right tricky for any pregnant woman, so seeking help from a diabetes educator or obstetrician can help. “With diabetes during pregnancy, women should be more aware of the carbohydrate-rich foods they eat,” Mellen said. “Daily consistency in both meal times and amounts is important. What they eat, how much they eat and when they eat all affect their blood glucose.” Eating three meals a day with snacks as needed and avoiding blood sugar spikes can keep mom healthy and avoid health problems for the baby. Selecting a variety of foods as close to their original form as possible is the most healthful way to go In general, Hayes recommends a balanced prenatal diet to include three to four carbohydrate food choices per meal and one to two carbohydrate foods per snack.

IN GOOD HEALTH – CNY’s Healthcare Newspaper • April 2012

These could include a small piece of fruit, slice of bread, cup of milk or half a cup of whole grain cereal, rice, pasta, beans, sweet potatoes or winter squash. “Add protein from meat, poultry or fish, about the size of the palm of a hand, two to three cubes of cheese or a half cup of cottage cheese or one to two eggs,” Hayes said. “Beans, rice and whole grains combined at a meal also provide protein. One or two tablespoons of nuts, seeds or plant oils are necessary for absorption of some vitamins and minerals. Flaxseed and oily fish such as salmon can provide omega fatty acids important for fetal brain development.” As for eating right on the go, Mellen suggests planning ahead. “Pack a container of water to drink,” she said. “Carry fresh fruit and vegetables. They are portable and need no refrigeration. Whole grain crackers, low-fat cheese sticks, nuts and seeds, peanut butter, whole grain cereal bars, hard-boiled eggs are also some ideas of portable snacks for onthe-go.” Pregnancy can make Mom more insulin resistant. The blood sugar can remain in the blood stream and cross the placenta, causing the baby to use his insulin reserves to bring down Mom’s blood sugar. In extreme cases, babies can become large and have increased risk for developing type 2 diabetes sooner in life. “Blood sugar monitoring needs to be done frequently and reported to the physician at each visit so changes can be made to the treatment plan based on those readings,” said Susan Callaway, Oswego Health certified diabetes educator. “The body’s ability to main-

tain blood sugar varies greatly during pregnancy related to the hormone and weight changes.” It may also help to keep notes of the results and possible reasons for blood glucose levels being out of the goal range. Mom can then discuss her findings with her health care providers so they can help her get back into range. Exercise during pregnancy is also recommended for diabetics. “Exercise burns calories, decreases blood glucose levels and increases our feeling of well-being,” Callaway said. Decades ago, pregnant women were advised to take it easy. But barring any restrictions from her obstetrician, a pregnant woman can continue any form of exercise she enjoyed before, as long as it does not involve risk of falling, such as skiing and in-line skating, or a blow to the abdomen, such as boxing or martial arts sparring. Later in the pregnancy, women should also avoid lying flat on the back, arching the back in a bridge pose, or lying on the abdomen. Toward the end of the term, women should also be careful about stretching since pregnancy hormones loosen ligaments in anticipation of birth. Women who are unaccustomed to exercising should be especially careful if they begin a new exercise program during pregnancy. “Walking 10 to 20 minutes, two to three times a day, is another effective strategy for managing blood sugars during pregnancy,” Hayes said. “A woman should have approval from her physician before engaging in an exercise program. A pregnant woman should discuss all questions and concerns with her doctor.”

More Women Enjoying Health Benefits of Martial Arts

When you need laboratory tests, we’re in your neighborhood Experienced professional staff • No appointments necessary • Many locations open on Saturdays • Most medical insurance plans accepted

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Crouse Hospital PromptCare in CNY Medical Center (315) 470-2951

BALDWINSVILLE Village Commons (315) 857-0329 CICERO Lakeshore Professional Bldg (315) 752-0077 LIVERPOOL North Medical Center (315) 452-2280

Crouse Hospital Patient Preadmission Center (315) 470-7942 St. Joseph’s Hospital Health Center Medical Office Centre (315) 703-5004 Upstate University Hospital at Community General Physician Office Building (315) 492-5428 Sonja Kuljanin, thirddegree black belt instructor and program director at Tearney’s Karate in Syracuse, has been practicing 16 years.

FAYETTEVILLE Northeast Medical Center (315) 329-7047

PULASKI North Jefferson Street (315) 298-4743 In the suburbs

CAMILLUS Medical Center West (315) 468-0501

EAST SYRACUSE Medical Center East (315) 656-9560

Maps and directions online at www.laboratoryalliance.com

ust a few decades ago, women seldom practiced martial arts. But these days, not only are many area classes nearly half populated by women and girls but many martial arts instructors are also women. Donna Miori, a sixth-degree black belt karate instructor and co-owner of Miori Martial Arts, began her training as a child. “When I first started, there was only one other women in my class,” she said. “Now it’s closer to 50 percent men and 50 percent women.” She co-owns three schools in Syracuse, Cicero, and Cazenovia. Kim Andrello, a sixth-degree black belt and co-owner of Team Andrello, teaches a blended martial arts style that includes kick boxing, Muay Thai, jiu jitsu, self defense techniques and weapons training at her mixed martial arts school. “There has been a big push for women to develop their own interests and not just be caregivers,” Andrello said. “They want time for themselves.” Andrello switched from dance lessons to martial arts training as a child because her father, a police officer, wanted his two daughters to learn self defense. Nearly 30 years later, Andrello and her husband, Jim, also a sixth-degree black belt, operate schools in Liverpool, Baldwinsville and Rochester and rear four children. Andrello lauds martial arts for all it gives women. “It develops their confidence, self esteem and self respect,” she said. “It gives an overall sense of wellbeing to them. Martial arts isn’t just a sport where you kick and punch.” As more women have begun to understand the benefits of martial arts, Andrello has seen the disparity narrow

in number between the genders. “Sometimes, as the media portrays martial arts, there’s a push for cage fighting and people think martial arts is about physical violence or hurting someone and that is not what it is,” Andrello said. “People may take it to that level but we have a family atmosphere. We have a sense of belonging, and team and it’s a place where people support you.” Miori agrees that the male-dominated reputation of martial arts may have kept girls and women away from martial arts decades ago, but “people are recognizing it’s good for fitness as well as mental self discipline,” she said. “I get more little girls because of the self defense.” Sonja Kuljanin, third-degree black belt instructor and program director at Tearney’s Karate in Syracuse, has been practicing 16 years. She thinks the crime rate growth in the last decade has ramped up the number of women practicing martial arts, but also more women want a new way to get in shape and improve their confidence. Nearly half the students in her classes are female. “It’s the best way to stay in shape,” Kuljanin said. “I feel safe and secure by myself.” She touts control of weight, blood pressure, and blood sugar level as benefits of practicing martial arts. “It helps improve balance and flexibility,” she said. “You lose that as you get older. We have people who come in after knee surgery and start our program to strengthen the cartilage about the knee.” As a weight-bearing exercise, martial arts also support good bone health, a concern of women who are worried about osteoporosis.

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IN GOOD HEALTH – CNY’s Healthcare Newspaper

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Parenting By Melissa Stefanec

What They Want You to Know:

Martial Arts Instructors By Deborah Jeanne Sergeant

artial arts can range from mixed, sport styles that incorporate movements from a variety of countries and backgrounds to strictly guarded, copyrighted curriculum that adheres to a single nation and culture as its source. Martial arts can include Eastern health modalities such as acupressure and meditation. Most schools focus on fitness, self discipline, personal defense and body conditioning. Martial arts instructors usually have progressed to black belt level through numerous years of training under the supervision of a martial arts master and have passed tests that demonstrate their skill. Many schools belong to a larger governing body or association. • “Many people don’t know about the long-term benefits of martial arts like the conditioning, muscles and circulation for the adults. It is an invaluable asset as they get older. • “Mostly for the children, the self-respect they get gives them respect for others. The self discipline isn’t just learning how to control their bodies in karate but reaches out into other areas of life such as how well they get along with others. • “We work with teachers in keeping their grades up in school. My teen black belts are usually straight-A students and are very organized. • “Every once in a while I get someone who thinks, ‘I don’t want to have my child learn how to beat someone up.’ It’s not only about the physical aspects and we learn those only as self defense. There’s so much more that goes along with it. I’ve had some parents say I’ve helped them raise their child to be what they are today. My students, children and adults, are much more disciplined than the general public.” Donna Miori, 6th degree black belt instructor and co-owner Miori Martial Arts, Syracuse, Cicero, and Cazenovia • “People think we’re rough on kids and beat them. They think we pressure them into doing 100,000 pushups. The main thing we want to get across is anyone can do it. It’s an easy, happy, friendly environment. If you’re 4 or 70, you can still do it. It’s fun. • “You get a lot of benefits from it. For health reasons, why wouldn’t you do it? It’s not as hardcore as it used to be. It’s the 21st century. It’s still disciplined but intuitive as to what the kids really need. • “The adults think they will have to fight. We do sparring which is lighttouch fighting, like tag. It’s not actual Page 24

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fighting. You have safety gear on. There are lots of instructors on the floor to help you. You won’t have to fight your way out of a situation. “It’s fun, good for you and why not try it?” Sonja Kuljanin, 3rd degree black belt instructor/program director at Tearney’s Karate, Syracuse • “It’s not all about punching or striking. It’s a complete way of life. It provides self-defense, physical fitness, or stress relief. • “A lot of people see the karate movies on TV and that’s not what it really is. It’s a lot more than learning a couple moves. It’s learning how to walk in some ways. It’s learning balance. • “Karate is for everyone, not just the athletic. • “A lot of the old school karate had tests that were less than half an hour. You do a few moves and you’re awarded your belt. The new way is more conditioning and focused because it’s about protecting yourself against an opponent. You have to have everything. In those several hours, there is conditioning and a lot of mental focus involved. At the end they do their forms and now they’re tired and have to dig down deep inside. It’s easier to do the movements when you’re not tired. But an opponent will attack you when you’re tired. We plan the tests in the same way. • “Karate is the name of the art and it means ‘empty hand’ in Japanese. A lot of the other styles like kung fu and tae kwon do will correct you that it’s not ‘karate.’ • “Karate is something you can do all your life. If you start at a young age or middle life or later age, you can continue doing it. Karate can help establish balance. With the patterns we do, it can help prevent Alzheimer’s because of the memorization. Rande Lawrence, 9th-degree black belt, head instructor at World Class Karate, Syracuse Deborah Jeanne Sergeant is a writer with In Good Health. “What Your Doctor Wants You to Know” is an ongoing column that appears monthly to give our area’s healthcare professionals an opportunity to share how patients can improve their care by helping their providers and by helping themselves.

IN GOOD HEALTH – CNY’s Healthcare Newspaper • April 2012

Feeding our 8-month old organic food

hether or not you are eating healthy, you are likely being bombarded with information telling you to do so. Articles, broadcast stories, commercials, Internet advertisements and the like are all inviting (and in some cases coercing) us to reshape the way we eat. I’ve been on the healthy eating bandwagon for quite some time. As I start to feed my little one grown-up food, I’m roping her on to the wagon ride with me. A healthy diet isn’t as scary as it sounds. In fact, the first two dictionary definitions of the word diet are: a) food and drink regularly provided or consumed and b) habitual nourishment. The word diet may conjure up thoughts of cabbage soup and sugar-free snacks, but a diet is simply an adopted eating pattern. It is my and my husband’s goal to provide habitual nourishment that is in fact nourishing and therefore create a healthy eating pattern. It’s my hope that raising my daughter on a mostly healthy diet will set her up for a lifetime of healthy eating. Establishing good eating habits from the get-go certainly can’t hurt anything. For the first four or five months, my daughter’s version of the healthy baby diet was one thing, breast milk. Although most of her nutrients are still coming from this source (for anyone following this column, the weaning never actually happened), some of her nourishing is now arriving in solid form. Creating a healthy baby diet in the form of solids can be a little tricky, but luckily we had a game plan. A baby’s first solid food is typically cereal, and our daughter was no exception. I was a little overwhelmed when I wandered down the baby food aisle for the first time. I was bombarded with 15–20 kinds of cereal. A baby’s first solid food is typically single grain rice cereal. I chose single-grain brown rice cereal that was organic. It was only about 50 cents more a box and considering it took her about three weeks to eat the box, going organic was an easy choice to make. Going organic didn’t stop there. My husband and I started doing the math. Babies don’t eat large quantities of food. Although my husband and I don’t have the means to eat a consistently organic diet, feeding our daughter such wasn’t such a stretch. A jar of organic baby food costs 10 to 20 cents more a jar. Depending on his or her age, a baby probably isn’t eating more than 10–15 jars of food a week. That means you end up spending less than $5 a week to go organic. Most of us can find $5 in our weekly budgets. Many of us could cut out one fancy coffee beverage a week and make up the difference. Once we decided to strive for an organic diet for our little one, my wheels really started turning. Before long, I was scheming to make my own

baby food. Making organic baby food turned out to be a fraction of the cost of buying it. It’s cheaper to make her organic food than it is to buy non-organic baby food. Making baby food isn’t that hard or time consuming. One of my first projects involved a bag of organic lentils and a bag of organic, mixed, frozen vegetables. It took two minutes of steaming, 20 minutes of bowling and 1 minute of pureeing. Active prep time was about 10 minutes and the raw goods cost me about $3. When all was pureed and done, I had enough organic murky puree for an army of hungry babies. When I have time to make baby food, I do. When I don’t, I buy. When I make it, I make it in bulk and freeze it in baby food containers (or those small disposable plasticwares). Between making and buying, I feed my daughter (almost) organically for the same price most other people feed their children with non-organic options. Making baby food has turned into a pastime for my husband and me. It feels good to know exactly what is going into her food. It makes us take the time and put thought into something that is of dire importance—nutrition. Sometimes we get daring. Sweet potatoes, ginger and bananas were a hit. Curried baby food was met by clamped-shut baby mouth and resulted in mommy eating a rather questionable series of “curried soup” lunches. Organic food is now almost mainstream. You can buy organic cereal, munchies, cookies, teething biscuits and finger foods for babies. In most cases you don’t have to go to an obscure specialty store (though they are bound to have more variety). You can walk into your local grocery store and find a lot of it. Thinking about our baby’s diet has also forced us to evaluate our own. We are striving to eat fewer processed foods. We try to eat food that resembles actual food. I try to picture my food choices growing in nature or as a combination of foods growing in the wild. If I can’t do this, I try to avoid that food. It’s amazing how picturing a snack cake pushing up out of the dirt gets your brain spinning. We read ingredient lists. If a list has 10 chemicals I can’t pronounce, it doesn’t go in my cart. Eating organic is one way to keep your foods wholesome. We know that feeding our child organic food is good for her body and good for the environment. Organic food is free of pesticides, hormones and genetically modified ingredients. I make certain my household chemicals are on lock-down. Why would I willingly put very similar things into her young, developing body? She will put enough things in her mouth that she isn’t supposed to; we might as well make an effort to keep the avoidable no-nos out.

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Dear Savvy Senior What tips can you recommend to help me save on my drug costs? I’m 62 years old, and currently take six different prescription medications that I can barely afford. Poorly Insured Dear Poorly, There are actually a variety of ways you can reduce your medication costs without cutting quality, but you’ll need to take a proactive approach. The following tips can also help seniors with a Medicare prescription drug plan avoid the “donut hole” coverage gap, or reduce their costs once they reach it. Here are some cost-cutting strategies to try. Check your insurance

If you have drug coverage, your first step is to find out what your plan does and doesn’t cover. You can do this by visiting the insurer’s website or by calling their 800 number on the back of your insurance card. Once you have this information, share it with your doctor so (if possible) he or she can prescribe medications that are best covered by your plan. You also need to find out if your insurer has a mailorder service. This would help you to purchase your medications for 20 to 40 percent less.

Talk to your doctor or pharmacist

Find out if the medications you’re taking are available in a generic form or a less expensive brand-name drug (you can also look this up online at sites like destinationrx.com). About 75 percent of all premiums drugs on the market today have a lower-cost alternative. Switching could save you between 20 and 90 percent. Many chains like Wal-Mart, Target, Costco, Kmart, CVS and Walgreens sell hundreds of generics for as little as $4 for a 30-day supply and $10 for a 90-day supply. Another cost cutter is to buy your medications in bulk. Many pharmacies give discounts if you buy a threemonth supply of drugs versus a 30-day supply. Also, find out if the pills you’re taking can be cut in half. Pill splitting allows you to get two months worth of medicine for the price of one.

Shop around

Drug prices can vary form drugstore to drugstore, so it’s definitely

worth your time to compare prices at the different pharmacies in your area. Using U.S.-based online pharmacies are another way to save 25 percent or more. Drugstore.com and familymeds. com are two good sites that provide solid savings, but there are dozens to choose from. If you opt for an online pharmacy, be sure you purchase from ones that have the “VIPPS” seal of approval (see vipps.info) from the National Association of Board of Pharmacy. Seniors enrolled in a Medicare prescription drug plan also need to make sure the online pharmacy they’re buying from is included in their network. Otherwise, the purchase may not count toward their deductible.

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Search for drug assistance programs

If your income is limited, you can probably get help through drug assistance programs offered through pharmaceutical companies, government agencies and charitable organizations. To find these types of programs use benefitscheckup.org, a comprehensive website that lets you easily locate the programs you’re eligible for, and will show you how to apply.

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Buy from Canada

This option offers savings between 50 and 80 percent on brand-name drugs, but it’s important to understand that it’s illegal to import drugs from Canada. The FDA, however, does not prosecute anyone who imports prescription drugs for personal use. If you’re interested in this option, see pharmacychecker.com, an independent resource that finds the lowest prices from licensed and reputable Canadian pharmacies. (Note: This is not a good option for Medicare Part D beneficiaries because it will not count toward their deductible.)

Send your senior questions to: Savvy Senior, P.O. Box 5443, Norman, OK 73070, or visit www.savvysenior. org. Jim Miller is a contributor to the NBC Today show and author of “The Savvy Senior” book. April 2012 •

IN GOOD HEALTH – CNY’s Healthcare Newspaper

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Page 25

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Macular Degeneration Dr. George Kornfeld uses miniaturized binoculars or telescopes to help those with vision loss keep reading, writing driving and maintaining independence.

By Elana Lombardi Freelance Writer Just because you have macular degeneration or other eye diseases like diabetic retinopathy doesn’t mean you must give up driving. “People don’t know that there are doctors who are very experienced in low vision care.”Dr.George Kornfeld, a low vision optometrist. Low Vision patient, Bonnie Demuth, with Bioptic Telescopes

Bonnie was helped with two pairs of glasses: Special $475 prismatic glasses let her read the newspaper and bioptic telescopes helped her distance vision. Page 26

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By Deborah Banikowski, District Manager in Syracuse.

“My new telescopic glasses make it much easier to read signs at a distance.” Says Bonnie, “Definitely worth the $1950 cost. I don’t know why I waited to do this. I should have come sooner.” Low vision devices are not always expensive. Some reading glasses cost as little as $450 and some magnifiers under $100. Every case is different because people have different levels of vision and different desires. “Our job is to figure out everything and anything possible to keep a person functioning visually.” Says Dr. Kornfeld. Dr. Kornfeld sees patients in his five offices throughout upstate New York including Rochester. For more information and a FREE telephone consultation call:

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IN GOOD HEALTH – CNY’s Healthcare Newspaper • April 2012

Our Egg Hunt For You

ggs have long been a symbol of new life in the spring. In America, the Easter egg hunt finds its roots in the 1700s when German immigrants brought the tradition to Pennsylvania. Today, the traditional egg hunt thrills children everywhere. We at Social Security would like to serve up our own Easter egg hunt. Instead of eggs, we challenge you to hunt for our most popular online services. Our online services are almost as easy to find as they are easy to use. Let us lead you in Banikowski the right direction: begin your hunt at www.socialsecurity. gov. Here are some of the good eggs worth discovering. The Retirement Estimator provides an instant, personalized estimate of your future benefits. In just minutes, you can have a nice ballpark figure of what to expect in future benefits. The Online Retirement Application lets you complete your application for Social Security retirement benefits in as little as 15 minutes. Better yet, you can apply from the comfort of your home or office at a time most convenient

Q&A Q: How many Social Security numbers have been issued since the program started? A: Since 1935, we have assigned more than 465 million Social Security numbers and each year we assign about 5.5 million new numbers. With approximately 1 billion combinations of the 9-digit Social Security number, the current system will provide us with enough new numbers for several generations into the future. To learn more about Social Security numbers and cards, visit www.socialsecurity. gov/pubs/10002.html. Q: How do I change my citizenship status on my Social Security record? A: To change the citizenship shown on our records you need to: • Complete an Application For A Social Security Card (Form SS-5), available at www.socialsecurity.gov/ssnumber/ss5.htm; and • Show us documents proving your age, identity and new or revised citizenship status (We only accept certain documents as proof of citizenship. These include your U.S. passport, a Certificate of Naturalization, or a Certificate of Citizenship. If you are not a U.S. citizen, Social Security will ask to see your current immigration documents.) • Take (or mail) your completed application and documents to your local Social Security office. All documents

for you. There’s no need to drive to a local Social Security office or wait for an appointment with a Social Security representative. It’s so easy. The Online Medicare Application allows you to apply for Medicare benefits if you’re age 65 but not yet ready to start receiving retirement benefits. It takes less than 10 minutes to sign up for Medicare. Apply for Extra Help with your Medicare prescription drug plan costs. The Extra Help is worth about $4,000 a year. To qualify for the Extra Help, you must be receiving Medicare, have limited resources and income, and reside in one of the 50 States or the District of Columbia. Get a Replacement Medicare Card if you already receive Medicare and you can’t find the card you were issued. Request a Proof of Income letter that verifies your Social Security benefit information, including Medicare and SSI benefits. Get Answers to Our FAQs. Getting an answer to our most frequently asked questions is as easy as finding the big question mark on our home page. Also on our website, you’ll find such treasures as links to publications, videos, and our Facebook and Twitter pages. The more you search the corners of the website, the more good eggs you’ll find. Start the egg hunt now! You’ll find all the eggs in one basket: www.socialsecurity.gov.

must be either originals or copies certified by the issuing agency. We cannot accept photocopies or notarized copies of documents. For more information, visit www.socialsecurity.gov. Q: Why doesn’t my estimate using the Retirement Estimator take into account my work as a teacher? I’ve worked for 20 years for the state and thought it would count. A: If you work for a state or local government agency — including a school system, college, or university — your earnings may not be covered by Social Security. If you are covered only by your state or local pension plan and you don’t pay Social Security taxes, your earnings won’t be shown on your Social Security record. (Your record will show your Medicare wages if you pay into that program). For information on how your pension from noncovered state or local employment may affect the amount of your Social Security benefit, you can visit www.socialsecurity. gov/retire2/wep-chart.htm Q: I have never worked but my spouse has. What will my benefits be? A: As a spouse, you may be entitled to one-half of a retired worker’s benefit amount when you reach full retirement age. If you want to get a Social Security retirement benefit as early as age 62, the amount of your benefit is reduced. The amount of reduction depends on when you will reach full retirement age.

H ealth News Lennon elected at addiction medicine society Dorothy Lennon, medical director of Tully Hill Chemical Dependency Treatment Center, has been elected chairwoman of the membership committee for the New York Society of Addiction Medicine at an annual conference held in New York City Feb. 3. Lennon has worked for Tully Hill since October 2003 and has served as the medical director since Lennon 2005. Lennon is certified by both the American Society of Addiction Medicine and American Board of Addiction Medicine.

Syracuse Community Health recruits physicians Syracuse Community Health Center, which operates 15 health care delivery sites in the region, announced it had retained two physicians. • Bukie Akinpelu joined in December as a physician in family medicine at the LaFayette Family Health Center in LaFayette. Akinpelu is a graduate of Towson University in Baltimore, and received a Bachelor of Science degree in biology in 1999. She attended medical school at the SABA University School of Medicine in Netherland Antilles and completed Akinpelu her residency at Sacred Heart Hospital in Allentown, Pa. • Indira Koshy has joined as a physician in the family medicine department at Syracuse Community Health Center East, located at 1938 E. Fayette St. in Syracuse. In 1955, Koshy attended medical school and completed her residency at Christian Medical College in Vellore, India. She received a diploma in ophthalmology in 1967 from the Punjab University Eye Hospital, Koshy Amritsar, India. Koshy has practiced medicine for more than 20 years in the Syracuse community, including the Veteran’s Administration Hospital, Syracuse University and Syracuse Community Health Center in 1990. Koshy operated a private practice for children, adolescents and adults from 1991-2011 in Syracuse.

Creekside Counseling expands Oswego ofﬁce CreekSide Counseling Services (CCS) —an agency serving children, adolescents, and adults in Oswego and Northern Onondaga Counties—has grown and since early March is occup-

ying the entire second floor of its current Oswego office is at 335 W. First St. (Time Warner Building). “Our client base has risen substantially. To accommodate this growth, we’re moving to larger quarters, “ said Jody Fiorini, owner and a licensed Fiorini mental health counselor. CCS also has an office at 428 S. Main St., Suite 111, North Syracuse. The agency specializes in serving clients’ needs regarding divorce and separation; sexual orientation; depression; obsessive compulsive disorders; anxiety and panic; grief and loss; stress and life transitions; and relationship issues. Fiorini, a national certified counselor, is also a professor at SUNY Oswego in counseling and psychological services. She received her Ph.D. in counselor education and supervision in 2001 and since then she has worked as a counselor educator at Oswego State University where she continues to supervise students and provide case consultation services to professional colleagues.

Seniors Helping Seniors opens for business in CNY Seniors Helping Seniors in-home services are opening its doors to help older seniors stay self-sufficient in their own homes, in the Oswego, Cayuga, Seneca, Wayne counties and the Baldwinsville, area. The non-medical home care organization can provide as much or as little help as someone needs, including cooking assistance, light housekeeping, shopping, doctor visits, transportation, computer assistance, house maintenance, yard work, small repairs, pet care, 24-hour care and, most importantly, companionship, all by seniors who get paid for their work. “Our providers, who are seniors themselves, understand what aging is about. They often come from a long history of caring professions, nurses, social workers, teachers and craftsmen. All our providers say they receive as much as they give,” said Deb Turner, a new franchise partner with Seniors Helping Seniors in-home services. “It’s simple. When seniors who want to help, meet and care for seniors who need help, everybody wins.” Turner and her husband Mike, also a partner in the local franchise, live in Marcellus. Mike is a senior engineering manager at Welch Allyn in Skaneateles. Seniors Helping Seniors has grown to over 150 franchises in more than 35 states. For additional information, contact Deb Turner (315) 720-4441 or visit www.seniorshelpingseniors.com/cny.

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AURORA welcomes new board members AURORA of CNY, Inc. recently announced the addition of four new members to its board of directors. They are: • Edwin Kelley is chairman of the business law department and the public finance practice group at Bond, Schoeneck & King. He is on several local boards of directors, including those of the Burton Blatt Institute at Syracuse University; the YMCA of Greater Syracuse; and St. Joseph’s College of Nursing. He earned a Bachelor of Arts degree from St. Kelley Lawrence University, a Master of Science degree in accounting from Syracuse University and a Juris Doctor degree from Syracuse University. • Pat Culeton is a project manager at Excellus BlueCross BlueShield and holds a Bachelor of Arts degree from SUNY Oswego. She became interested in AURORA while she was helping her mother cope with macular degeneration, which causes central vision loss and is a major cause of blindness in people 60 and older. In December, Culeton and her family held Culeton a fundraiser to raise awareness of the disease. The event raised more than $7,000, which was divided between AURORA and Oswego County Visually Impaired (OCVI). Culeton • Ted Pasinski is past president and CEO of St. Joseph’s Hospital Health Center, where he helped shape the local healthcare landscape through the development of successful collaborations with community stakeholders. Evidence of his hard work at St. Joseph’s can be seen today in the continuation of neighborhood improvements on Syracuse’s North

Side and in the expansion of the health center’s campus. Pasinski is currently a consultant with Franciscan Management. An avid golfer, Pasinski serves on AURORA’s ForeSIGHT Golf Classic committee and was honorary chair of the event in 2011. • James T. Snyder, a partner in the law firm of Green & Reid, PLLC, in Syracuse, said he decided to join AURORA’s board Pasinski of directors after watching his father, aunt and uncle all become deaf in middle age. His father was one of the first cochlear implant recipients in Syracuse, and he became acutely aware of the lack of access and accommodation for those with sensory impairments and other disabilities, which led to his interest in disability rights law. Snyder serves on the board of advisors of the Burton Blatt Institute at Snyder Syracuse University, served on the board of the Frank H. Hiscock Legal Aid Society, and is a member of the Disability Rights Bar Association. In 2003 he received the New York State Bar Association’s President’s Pro Bono Service Attorney Award. Snyder founded the Franciscan Legal Referral Clinic and teaches at Syracuse University and LeMoyne College. He was a speechwriter and assistant counsel to Gov. Mario M. Cuomo in Albany after working as a senior trial attorney at the Legal Aid Society of New York City, in the criminal defense division in Brooklyn. Snyder received his Bachelor of Arts degree magna cum laude from Colgate University and his Juris Doctor degree from the Albany Law School of Union University.

News from

Onondaga and Madison counties. Prior to 2003, she worked in the for-profit as well as the nonprofit sector. During her tenure at Lifetime Health, Excellus BlueCross and BlueShield, Bishop was responsible for extensive primary and specialty care service divisions. Bishop A resident of Kirkville, she received her Bachelor of Arts degree from Colgate University, a Master of Science degree from the University of Miami, and, in 2007, completed an 18-month post-graduate fellowship in healthcare leadership through The Community Health Foundation of Western and Central New York.

Mary Bishop Behavioral Health Service Line Administrator — St. Joseph’s Hospital Health Center has appointed Mary Bishop behavioral health service line administrator, a new position for St. Joseph’s. In this role, she will integrate all behavioral health services and develop a strategic model for delivering cost effective, high quality patient care. Most recently, Bishop served as executive director of the Comprehensive Psychiatric Emergency Program(CPEP), the only licensed psychiatric emergency room serving April 2012 •

Nuclear Medicine Program Earns

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H ealth News American College Of Radiology Accreditation —St. Joseph’s Hospital Health Center has earned a three-year term of accreditation of its entire nuclear medicine program as the result of a recent review by the American College of Radiology (ACR). Nuclear medicine is a branch of medical imaging that uses small amounts of radioactive material administered to the patient to diagnose and treat a variety of diseases, including many types of cancers, heart disease, and certain other abnormalities within the body. “This accreditation demonstrates to our patients that St. Joseph’s imaging department performs at the highest levels of quality and safety,” said Nicholas Trasolini, medical director of the medical imaging department. The ACR gold seal of accreditation represents the highest level of image quality and patient safety. It is awarded only to facilities meeting ACR Practice Guidelines and Technical Standards after a peer-review evaluation by board-certified physicians and medical physicists who are experts in the field. Image quality, personnel qualifications, adequacy of facility equipment, quality control procedures, and quality assurance programs are assessed. The findings are reported to the ACR Committee on Accreditation, which subsequently provides the hospital with a comprehensive report they can use for continuous practice improvement.

The Maestri Family Chapel at The Centers at St. Camillus scheduled to open in May Construction on The Maestri Family Chapel at The Centers at St. Camillus is underway and moving forward at a rapid pace. Since the project began, a set of new double doors have been installed, new beams constructed, stained glass windows framed and installed, new chairs and flooring ordered, and an electrical system equipped with an alarm system installed. The chapel, funded solely by donations, will be open 24 hours a day for private prayer and meditation for St. Camillus residents, family and staff. The chapel is scheduled to open in early May.

James Blais, president of JFB Construction Co., Inc. in Syracuse, working diligently toward the completion of the new Chapel.

Excellus BlueCross BlueShield CEO David Klein to Retire David Klein, the chief executive officer of Excellus BlueCross BlueShield and its parent corporation for the past nine years, announced he will retire at the end of 2012 after 40 years in the health insurance industry. “I’m proud to have helped build, and then to have had the privilege to lead, the largest and most successful nonprofit health plan in Upstate New York,” Klein said. “As an organization we’ve remained true to our misKlein sion of providing as many people as possible with access to quality health care at an affordable price. I’m proud to say our company continues to improve the quality of life in the communities we serve.” As the CEO of the health plan’s parent organization, The Lifetime Healthcare Companies, Klein oversees a $5.6 billion enterprise that provides health insurance coverage to more than 1.8 million people, sells long-term care coverage in 50 states, and provides direct patient services through its home care business Lifetime Home Care and Hospice and through Lifetime Health Medical Group. The company’s board of directors will announce his successor in April. “David was instrumental in leadPage 28

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ing this corporation for more than 25 years,” said Randall Clark, chairman of the board of directors. “During that time, it went from a single health plan in Rochester with revenues of less than $400 million to a $5.6 billion entity that is the largest nonprofit financier of health care in upstate New York.” “As a key part of the management team that merged a series of companies to foster growth and financial stability, David helped us grow from a membership of 700,000 to 1.8 million,” said John Doyle, former chairman of the board. “When he started here in 1986, our company had about 1,000 employees. Now it has about 6,600 and it is one of Upstate New York’s largest employers.” Klein joined the Blue Cross Blue Shield Association in 1972 and worked for Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Illinois as a senior sales and marketing executive before moving to Rochester in 1986 to join Blue Cross and Blue Shield of the Rochester Area. That company merged with other Upstate New York blues plans in 1998 to form Excellus BlueCross BlueShield. In 2003, Klein was appointed chief executive officer of Excellus BCBS and its parent organization. Under Klein’s leadership, the corporation has enjoyed financial stability and growth. In 2007, he spearheaded a strategic investment to transform and improve the health plan’s operations through business process standardization, systems conversion and administrative cost containment.

IN GOOD HEALTH – CNY’s Healthcare Newspaper • April 2012

“Our goal has always been to innovate,” Klein said. “We have partnered with doctors and hospitals to enhance the vitality and efficiency of the health care system. As a result, health insurance here costs significantly less than the national average and we are consistently ranked among the nation’s best health plans.” According to a 2010 a price comparison study, the national average family premium was about 30 percent more than Excellus BCBS. “David is nationally recognized in the health care industry as a thoughtful, innovative leader and a progressive executive,” said Joseph Kurnath, and chairman of the board when Klein was appointed CEO. “At every level — whether it is local, state or federal — he is valued as a trusted business adviser and someone who seeks collaborative solutions with physicians, hospitals and employers to community issues.” Klein’s industry leadership includes serving as a director of BlueCross BlueShield Association and of America’s Health Insurance Plans. He is co-chairman of the AHIP policy committee. As a result, he has been extensively involved in both Washington and Albany with health care reform. He is also chairman of the BlueCross BlueShield Association Not-for-Profit Leadership Council. As the head of one of Upstate New York’s larger employers, Klein is the vice-chairman and secretary of the Business Council of New York State and the treasurer of the Rochester Business Alliance. As a community leader, Klein has

volunteered as the chairman of United Way of Greater Rochester, president of the local Boy Scout Council, chair of the American Heart Association Heart Walk and chairman of an American Cancer Society capital campaign to establish the Hope Lodge in Rochester. He has also served on the boards of the Rochester Downtown Development Corporation, the Jewish Federation of Greater Rochester, Greater Rochester Enterprise and the former Metropolitan Development Association in Syracuse. His awards include the Boy Scouts’ Distinguished Eagle Scout, Silver Beaver and Silver Antelope, United Way of New York State’s Volunteer Leader of the Year and the American Cancer Society’s Champion of Hope. Klein received his Bachelor of Science degree from Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute in 1970 and his Master of Business Administration from the University of Chicago in 1972. Klein’s interests extend to business education. He has been chairman of the University of Rochester’s William E. Simon Graduate School of Business Health Sciences Advisory Board and an assistant professor in its School of Medicine and Dentistry Department of Community and Preventive Medicine. He is also pastpresident of the University of Chicago Health Administration Alumni Association. Klein resides in Pittsford. He has two grown sons. His wife, Linde, died in July 2011 after a long battle with cancer.

Upstate gets accreditation as chest pain center Upstate University Hospital in Syracuse has received full accreditation from the Society of Chest Pain Centers as an accredited chest pain center. The society is an international not-for-profit that is focused on helping hospitals improve quality, cost and patient satisfaction in cardiovascular care. Hospitals that are accredited chest pain centers have developed an expertise in dealing with patients who arrive with symptoms of a heart attack. Their staff emphasizes the importance of standardized diagnostic and treatment programs for chest pain and heart attack. They also evaluate and treat other medical problems and promote healthy lifestyles that can reduce the risk factors for heart attack. Upstate is an accredited chest pain center with “PCI,” percutaneous coronary intervention, which is emergency treatment that reduces the amount of heart muscle permanently damaged by heart attack. To become accredited, Upstate had to: • reduce the time from the patient’s onset of symptoms to the diagnosis and treatment;

St. Joseph’s program celebrates 20 years

Nearly 1,800 people have been helped as a result of the pulmonary rehabilitation program at St. Joseph’s Hospital Health Center. It began in 1992 and has since grown to 100 participants annually. It’s the area’s only nationally-accredited pulmonary rehabilitation program “Working in pulmonary rehabilitation is one of the best ways to help people with a pulmonary disease feel better,” says Susan L. Woods, pulmonary rehabilitation coordinator. “These people struggle with shortness of breath, cough, and fatigue daily and because of these symptoms, it is common for our patients to feel poorly and subsequently withdraw from life.” UNY Upstate Pulmonary Medical University rehabilitation works (Syracuse, NY) erform clinical care in the Pulmonary/ ritical Care Division. Perform and teach e evaluation of patients and procedures. ffer clear and effective instruction within eas of expertise to students and medical sidents in the College of Medicine and raduate Studies. Contribute to medical holarship by supporting clinical research rough participation in clinical trials and ontributions to medical literature, cluding educational, ethical or research ports. eqs: M.D. or Foreign Equivalent and ree (3) years of experience as a Medical esident. Completion of a ACGME sidency program in Internal Medicine. ompletion of Fellowship in Critical Care nd Pulmonary Disease. Board ertification/Board eligibility in Internal Medicine; Board certificaton/Board igibility in Pulmonary/Critical Care Medicine; and License/Permit to practice edicine in the State of New York. ease send CV to: Stacy Mehlek Faculty Affairs & Faculty Development 750 E. Adams Street

Clinical Assistant Professor

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• treat patients more quickly during the critical window of time when the integrity of the heart muscle can be preserved; and • monitor patients when it is unclear whether they are having a heart attack, to make sure they are not sent home too soon. “People tend to wait when they think they might be having a heart attack, and that’s a mistake,” says Gregory Fink, chief of cardiac surgery at Upstate. “The average patient arrives in the emergency department more than two hours after the onset of symptoms, but what they don’t realize is that the sooner a heart attack is treated, the less damage to the heart and the better the outcome for the patient.” Accreditation through the society is more collaborative than other traditional certification models. The accreditation process begins with a document that details key elements of optimal care. Its content is derived from peer-reviewed medical journals, professional society guidelines and the body of clinical insight of participating clinicians.

Health in good

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with people who have COPD and other respiratory diseases. Patients perform exercise training which is monitored and supervised, disease management skills training/education, psychosocial assessment/ intervention, and nutritional assessment/intervention. Patients attend two to three (60 minute) sessions per week as an outpatient for many weeks at the pulmonary rehabilitation gym, located at 7246 Janus Park Drive, Liverpool. All sessions take place while a physician is available to intervene if necessary. “Pulmonary rehabilitation has been proven to improve the quality of life for people with chronic lung conditions. It is one of the few things that can really make such a difference. I am privileged to be able to work with caring and skilled clinicians to provide such an important service to our community,” says Leslie Holmberg, director of pulmonary rehabilitation.

Clinical Assistant Professor SUNY Upstate Medical University (Syracuse, NY). Perform clinical care in the Pulmonary/ Critical Care Division. Perform and teach the evaluation of patients and procedures. Offer clear and effective instruction within areas of expertise to students and medical residents in the College of Medicine and Graduate Studies. Contribute to medical scholarship by supporting clinical research through participation in clinical trials and contributions to medical literature, including educational, ethical or research reports. Reqs: M.D. or Foreign Equivalent and three (3) years of experience as a Medical Resident. Completion of a ACGME residency program in Internal Medicine. Completion of Fellowship in Critical Care and Pulmonary Disease. Board certification/Board eligibility in Internal Medicine; Board certificaton/ Board eligibility in Pulmonary/Critical Care Medicine; and License/ Permit to practice medicine in the State of New York. Please send CV to: Stacy Mehlek, Faculty Affairs & Faculty Development, 750 E. Adams Street. Syracuse, NY 13210.

SUNY Upstate Medical University is an AA/EO employer engaging excellence through diversity. Women and minorities are encouraged to apply.

IN GOOD HEALTH Issue: April Size: 2.5 x 3 3/8

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“I had cancer. Cancer never had me.” Yesterday, I got out my fishing rod. I couldn’t help thinking of everyone at HOA. It was last spring when I found out. I was overwhelmed, distraught - and scared. I thought my fishing days were over. Then I went to HOA. My medical team all said, “We have the technology to fight this thing!” and showed my the CyberKnife. It sounded scary, but when I learned how it worked and how safe it was, I had hope for the first time. Your attitude really inspired me, your staff always encouraged me and your plan of action worked. I may have had cancer, but cancer never had me. Today, my kids and I are heading up to the lake.

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Autism Awareness Programs supported by Kohl’s Autism and Related Disorders Program

CONFERENCE Children with Social, Emotional & Behavioral Challenges Including Autism Spectrum Disorders: The Collaborative Problem Solving Approach PA R E N T S & P R O F E S S I O N A L S - YO U A R E I N V I T E D ! Sheraton Syracuse University Hotel & Conference Center • 801 University Ave.

April 26, 2012 from 9:30 a.m. - 5 p.m. Presenter Ross Greene, Ph.D. Online registration at AutismSyracuse.com Professionals: $85 (by April 6) $95 (April 7-16) • Parents: $55 (by April 6) $65 (April 7-16) For more information go to AutismSyracuse.com or call 472-4404.

Sponsored by Margaret L. Williams Developmental Evaluation Center in conjunction with CNY Coalition for Young Children with Special Needs.

AUTISM AWARENESS WALK Saturday, April 28th 10:00 am Long Branch Park in Liverpool.

“one piece at a time”

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hosted by CNY ASA Central New York Autism Society of America