CNY In Good Health

in good No.1

New study shows walnuts beat peanuts, almonds, pecans and pistachios as the top nut for hearthealthy antioxidants

Men Fuel Rebound in Cosmetic Surgery Do men do Botox?

Find out what types of cosmetic surgeries are more popular with guys

What’s in E-cigarettes?

Are They Safe?

May 2011 • Issue 137

FREE FREE

CNY’s Healthcare Newspaper

Losing Weight

Hula e ThHoop

OUR FITNESS ISSUE

Way

Studies by Excellus help shed light on health issues Meet Your Doctor:

Ivan Proano L I V I N G A LO N E

Tending the Garden Within

Healthy Kids

New medical director Maritza Alvarado takes reins of Syracuse city schools as number of school nurses shrinks

Golden Years

Doctors Building School for the Poor in India Doctors Suman and Brij Mishra have spent more than $2 million in project • Memory-boosting games: Beneficial or bunk?

• Elder abuse: Many still don’t report problem • Reverse mortgages have gotten more affordable • A valuable gift for mom: A savings of nearly $4,000 • Home healthcare helps elderly, ill May 2011 •

IN GOOD HEALTH – CNY’s Healthcare Newspaper

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Premier Joint Replacement: At St. Joseph’s, we approach each surgery as a team, but treat each patient as an individual.

Seth Greenky, MD, & Brett Greenky, MD Co-Directors, St. Joseph’s Joint Replacement Program

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�������������������������������������������������������������������� At St. Joseph’s, we’re proud of our reputation for joint replacement: outstanding outcomes, shorter lengths of stay and an award-winning program—all while performing the most joint replacement procedures in Central New York.

But the fact is, with each new patient who walks through our doors, we’re building a different kind of reputation by working with them and their families as a team—before surgery, during the procedure and throughout recovery.

To us, that’s what a higher level of care is all about. ��

Recipient of HealthGrades Joint Replacement Excellence Award™ (2011)

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Five-star rated by HealthGrades for joint surgery (2007-2011)

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Designated a Blue Distinction Center for Knee & Hip Replacement® by Excellus BlueCross BlueShield

13th Annual HealthGrades Hospital Quality in America Study.

Designation as Blue Distinction Centers® means these facilities’ overall experience and aggregate data met objective criteria established in collaboration with expert clinicians’ and leading professional organizations’ recommendations. Individual outcomes may vary. To find out which services are covered under your policy at any facilities, please call your local BlueCross and/or BlueShield Plan.

2011

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IN GOOD HEALTH – CNY’s Healthcare Newspaper • May 2011

Men Fuel Rebound in Cosmetic Surgery New statistics show sizeable increases in facelifts and other surgical procedures for men

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tatistics released March 21 by the American Society of Plastic Surgeons (ASPS) show that more men are going under the knife. Overall cosmetic plastic surgery procedures in men were up 2 percent in 2010 compared to 2009.

However, many male surgical procedures increased significantly.

Facelifts for men rose 14 percent in 2010 while male liposuction increased 7 percent.

2010 ASPS statistics show that men underwent more than 1.1 million cosmetic procedures, both minimally invasive and surgical.

The majority of the men’s top 10 fastest-growing cosmetic procedures are surgical, which bucks the previous trend of growth in minimally invasive treatments.

“The growth in cosmetic surgical procedures for men may be a product of our aging baby boomers who are now ready to have plastic surgery,” said ASPS President Phillip Haeck.

“Minimally invasive procedures such as Botox and soft tissue fillers work to a point. However, as you age and gravity takes over, surgical procedures that lift the skin are necessary in order to show significant improvement.”

Plastic surgeons say that another trend they see in male plastic surgery is the type of patient seeking their services.

“Typically people think of celebrities and high profile men going under the knife,” said Stephen Baker, an ASPS member surgeon based in Washington DC. “And while that may be true, the typical male cosmetic surgery patient that I see is an average guy who wants to look as good as he feels. Most of my patients are ‘men’s men,’ the kind of guy you might not think would have plastic surgery.”

Baker said that baby boomers who are now reaching retirement age are the new face of the male plastic surgery trend. “They want to look good. So when they have the financial means to do it, they are ready to do it now,” said Baker.

In fact, one of Baker’s patients is an “average Joe” named Joe Marek.

He recently underwent a facelift and eyelid surgery. The 57-year old said, “I didn’t feel that old. I felt young. I was working out. I was pretty active and I wanted to look like I felt inside.”

Marek also said his 52-year-old girlfriend supported his decision to have plastic surgery.

For more statistics released today on trends in plastic surgery including gender, age, regional, national average fees, and other breakouts, visit the ASPS Report of the 2010 Plastic Surgery Statistics at http://www.plasticsurgery.org/Media/Statistics.html.

Fastest Growing Male Cosmetic Procedures (by percentage increase)

The list is comprised of the fastest growing surgical and minimally invasive procedures from 2009 to 2010. Criteria for inclusion: Procedure performed on at least 1,000 men in 2010.

1) Facelift* ........................................................... 14% Increase 2) Ear Surgery* (Otoplasty) ................................. 11% Increase 3) Soft Tissue Fillers ........................................... 10% Increase 4) Botulinum Toxin Type A..................................... 9% Increase 5) Liposuction* ...................................................... 7% Increase 6) Breast Reduction in Men* ................................. 6% Increase 7) Eyelid Surgery* ................................................. 4% Increase 8) Dermabrasion* .................................................. 4% Increase 9) Laser Hair Removal .......................................... 4% Increase 10) Laser Treatment of Leg Veins ........................... 4% Increase (Surgical procedures are denoted by *).

Become a Foster or Adoptive Parent and Give the Gift of

Family!

Children who need foster and adoptive families have often been removed from their homes because of abuse, neglect, and abandonment.

Berkshire Farm Center and Services for Youth is currently looking for foster parents willing to share their love and provide stable and nurturing homes to children in need. Foster parents are provided with: • Comprehensive, free training • Excellent financial compensation • 24/7 assistance and support • Clinical and medical support for the child We carefully match children and families based on the family’s strengths and the child’s needs.

For more information, visit berkshirefarm.org, or call 315-454-4700 xt 307

Enhance school performance, resolve behavioral problems, increase attention and capability through brain training.

Most Popular Male Cosmetic Procedures

Neurofeedback exercises regulatory control of brain function by using video games that respond to shifts in brainwave activity. Impact the function of the brain and you can impact everything from sensory processing, to behavioral and emotional control, social and academic skills, speech, coordination, and sleep.

(by volume)

This list is comprised of the top five surgical and top five minimally invasive procedures by volume in 2010: 2010 Top 5 Male Cosmetic Surgical Procedures: 1) Nose Reshaping ........................................................ 64,000 2) Eyelid Surgery .......................................................... 31,000 3) Liposuction ................................................................ 24,000 4) Breast Reduction in Men ............................................ 18,000 5) Hair Transplantation ................................................... 13,000

Neurofeedback, a medication free alternative

2010 Top 5 Male Cosmetic Minimally-Invasive Procedures:

For more information please call:

1) Botulinum Toxin Type A............................................ 337,000 2) Laser Hair Removal ............................................... 165,000 3) Microdermabrasion ................................................. 158,000 4) Chemical Peel ........................................................... 90,000 5) Soft Tissue Fillers ...................................................... 78,000

Syracuse Neurofeedback

Barry Bates (315) 492-3789 Priscilla Young (315) 350-8816 170 Intrepid Lane Syracuse, NY 13205 www.syracuseneurofeedback.com May 2011 •

IN GOOD HEALTH – CNY’s Healthcare Newspaper

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CALENDAR of

HEALTH EVENTS

May 4

‘Medicare 101: Learn About Medicare’ workshop Are you new or soon to be new to Medicare? Are you receiving Medicare benefits now but are overwhelmed or confused by all the information and options out there? If so, come to a free Medicare 101 session for some helpful information. The event is sponsored

by Cayuga County Office for the Aging and will discuss basic information about Medicare, including original Medicare, Medicare Advantage and Medicare Part D; Medicare costs, co-pays and deductibles, and what assistance is available for low-income beneficiaries to help cover costs; Medicare preventive benefits; and Medigap supplemental insurance and EPIC. It will take place 9:30 – 11:30 a.m. at the Cayuga County Soil & Water Conservation Offices, County House Road in Sennett. For additional information, call 253-1226.

May 5

Free seminar on managing hip and knee pain St. Joseph’s Hospital Health Center will host a free informational session titled, “Managing Hip and Knee Pain: What Are Your Options?” at 6 p.m. on Thursday, May 5, at the Fayetteville Free Library, 300 Orchard St. in Fayetteville. I. Michael Vella, a board-certified orthopedic surgeon, will explain what causes joint pain, discuss treatment alternatives and rehabilitation options and review the benefits of preparing for surgery. Space is limited. To register, call St. Joseph’s at 744-1244 or e-mail community.programs@sjhsyr.org.

May 10

Adults with myeloma invited to attend meeting In response to the needs of Syracuse patients, the Western & Central New York Chapter of The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society is now offering a new monthly support group.

This support group is open to adults diagnosed with myeloma, their family and friends. The group which meets the second Tuesday of each month, will include education on topics such as dealing with the stress of diagnosis, communicating with your health care team, and complementary therapies.

Participants will learn the latest information and have an opportunity to discuss the unique issues faced by those who have myeloma. Family members and friends are welcome. Light refreshments will be served. The next meeting will be held from 6 – 7 p.m. May 10 at The Oaks in Dewitt. The group is free but pre-registration is required. For more information or to register please contact Coleen Jones at 1-800-784-2368 Ext. 4667 or coleen.jones@lls.org.

May 12, 18

Meetings for prospective foster/adoptive parents Families in Onondaga County who are considering foster or adoptive parenting are invited to attend informational meetings offered in Onondaga County from 6 – 7:30 p.m. on Thursday, May 12, at DeWitt Community Library, 3649 Erie Blvd., DeWitt, and from 10 – 11:30 a.m. Wednesday, May 18 at Baldwinsville Public Library, 33 East Genesee St., Baldwinsville. Registration is required. Attendees of a “Learn to

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For more information, call (585) 624-7887 or e-mail gvoelckers@rochester.rr.com Page 4

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IN GOOD HEALTH – CNY’s Healthcare Newspaper • May 2011

Be a Foster/Adoptive Parent” meeting will learn about some of the requirements for and the process of becoming certified as a foster/adoptive family.

Onondaga County is especially in need of homes for children 12 and older, sibling groups and children with special medical needs, including mental health and developmental issues. Attendance at these meetings is not required, but recommended to families interested in completing the 11-week pre-certification program. This program prepares families for fostering/adopting by teaching agency procedures and home expectations. The Department of Social Services provides public benefit programs along with casework programs for the citizens of Onondaga County.

To register for the meeting and/or for additional information, visit us online at www.giveyourlifeasmile.com, or call 435-3827.

May 12

Aurora to honor Dr. Hoepner, raise funds Syracuse ophthalmologist John Hoepner and his wife Judy will be honored at this year’s “Musical Feast for the Eyes and Ears,” an annual fundraiser for Aurora of CNY, Inc. The event will be held starting at 6 p.m.

May 12 at The Lodge at Welch Allyn in Skaneateles. The event will include dinner, dancing, music by Mere Mortals and silent and live auctions, which will feature gift baskets, getaways, jewelry and more. “Dr. Hoepner takes every opportunity to explain Aurora’s mission to his patients, colleagues and the community at large,” said Debra Chaiken, Aurora’s executive director.

“He provides compassion without compromise and never loses sight of his patients’ needs.” For more information, call Diane LaBeff at Aurora, 4227263 (TDD 422-9746).

May 14

Amyloidosis support group to meet in Rochester The Amyloidosis Support Group is sponsoring a meeting 9 a.m. to 4 p.m., Saturday, May 14, at Rochester General Hospital, Weiner Conference Room, 1425 Portland Ave. in Rochester.

Complimentary lunch will be provided and participants will hear a discussion of the condition led by Dr. Raymond Comenzo. Amyloidosis is a life threatening illness caused by the production of abnormal proteins circulating in the blood and accumulating in the organs as heart and kidney and liver, leading to organ failure. There is no cure, but with early detection, there are treatment options. Amyloidosis is considered a rare disease and is often underdiagnosed or misdiagnosed. For more information, call MaryAnn Kraft at (585) 334-7501, Muriel Finkel at (866) 404-7539 or visit www.amyloidosissupport.com.

May 19

The Center at St. Camillus to exhibit MEGA Brain To raise awareness about brain injury and prevention, The Centers at St. Camillus will host “Use Your Head: Preventing Brain Injury One Helmet at a Time,” featuring the MEGA Brain, the world’s only inflatable, walk-through brain exhibit. As seen on The Dr. Oz Show, the MEGA Brain provides visitors with a highly interactive educational experience about the

central nervous system’s most critical organ. Visitors can step inside the human brain, learn about the various structures and normal brain function, observe examples of brain trauma and disease, and view displays explaining some of the latest neurological medical treatments. The event takes place from 5–7 p.m. Thursday, May 19, at The Centers at St. Camillus, 813 Fay Road, Syracuse. It will coincide with the National Bicycle Safety Week starting May 16. Traumatic brain injury is on the rise and bicycle accidents are a major cause of injury in children under 15. For more information, call 703-0731.

May 19, 20

St. Joseph’s hosts Red Cross blood drives St. Joseph’s Hospital Health Center will host American Red Cross Blood drives from 10:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., Thursday, May 19 and from 9:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m Friday, May 20 in the conference rooms behind the main lobby elevators. To schedule an appointment, contact the Volunteer Office at 448-5186, or send an email to Volunteer1@sjhsyr.org. Walk-ins are also welcome.

June 3

St. Joe’s holds annual gala at Turning Stone St. Joseph’s Hospital Foundation will host its annual black tie optional gala dinner dance on June 3. The event, which netted more than $304,381 last year, will be held at the Turning Stone Resort & Casino with a “green and silver eco-chic” theme. The theme celebrates the first stage of one of the largest “green” building projects in Upstate New York — St. Joseph’s emergency services building — as well as the 20th year of successful galas held to support St. Joseph’s many programs and services. Presenting sponsor is Central New York Infusion Services, LLC; gala co-chairpersons are doctors Susan Merola-McConn and Mark McConn, and Dr. Alan and Mrs. Deborah Simons. Cocktails begin at 6:45 p.m. in the event center atrium with dinner to follow at 8 p.m. in the main ballroom.

Dancing will be to the live music of Atlas. Reservation deadline is May 6. For more information, contact St. Joseph’s Hospital Foundation at 703-2137 or email foundation@sjhsyr.org.

June 24

Oswego Industries to hold 6th annual golf open The date has been set for the 6th Annual Oswego Industries Golf Open fundraiser. This year’s golf open will be held at Battle Island Golf Course in Fulton. Those interested in playing can register any time before June 17. Registration fees include 18 holes with a cart, lunch, T-shirt, tee prizes, and more.

Also included in the golf open is the nonprofit’s signature “Disability Hole” at which players tee off while simulating a disability. Past years have had players hit their drive from a wheelchair, or with one arm immobilized, or while standing on a balance board.

Player registration is $90 per person or $350 per foursome (a $10 savings off the single price). To register, or to get more information including sponsorship opportunities, contact Stephanie Crowley at scrowley@oswegoind.org or 598-3108 ext. 222.

ER Visits Related to “Ecstasy” Use Increased Nearly 75 Percent Nearly 70 percent of these visits involved patients aged 18 to 29

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new national study indicates that the number of hospital emergency visits involving the illicit drug Ecstasy increased from 10,220 in 2004 to 17,865 visits in 2008 — a 74.8 percent increase.

According to this new study by the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA), most of these Ecstasy-related visits (69.3 percent) involved patients aged 18 to 29, but notably 17.9 percent involved adolescents aged 12 to 17.

Ecstasy use can produce psychedelic and stimulant side effects such as anxiety attacks, tachycardia, hypertension and hyperthermia.

The variety and severity of adverse reactions associated with Ecstasy use can increase when the drug is used in combination with other substances of abuse — a common occurrence among Ecstasy users.

This SAMHSA study indicates that 77.8 percent of the emergency depart-

ment visits involving Ecstasy use also involve the use of at least one or more other substances of abuse. Among Ecstasy-related emergency department cases involving patients aged 21 or older 39.7 percent of the patients had used Ecstasy with three or more other substances of abuse.

“The resurgence of Ecstasy use is cause for alarm that demands immediate attention and action,” said SAMHSA Administrator Pamela S. Hyde. “The aggressive prevention efforts being put into place by SAMHSA will help reduce use in states and communities, resulting in less costly emergency department visits related to drug use.”

The study “Emergency Department Visits Involving Ecstasy” was developed as part of the agency’s strategic initiative on data, quality and outcomes. A copy of the report is accessible at: http://oas.samhsa.gov/2k11/ dawn027/ecstasy.cfm.

Cancer Death Rates in Decline, Report Finds

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report from the nation’s leading cancer organizations shows rates of death in the United States from all cancers for men and women continued to decline between 2003 and 2007.

The findings come from the latest Annual Report to the Nation on the Status of Cancer.

The report also finds that the overall rate of new cancer diagnoses for men and women combined decreased an average of slightly less than 1 percent per year for the same period.

Dr. Edward J. Benz, Jr., president of Dana-Farber Cancer in Institute in Boston, called the news encouraging, but cautions we still have a very long way to go in our fight against cancer.

“Overall, the rate of cancer deaths is falling, but not by a lot, not nearly enough,” said Benz. “But considering that the incidence of cancer continues to increase, while the number of deaths is flat or falling a little bit, it does suggest that efforts of prevention, early detection, and better treatments are having a positive impact.”

The report is co-authored by researchers from the North American Association of Central Cancer Registries, the National Cancer Institute, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, and the American Cancer Society. It was posted on the website of the Journal of the National Cancer Institute on March 31, and was expected to be published in the journal’s May 14 print issue.

The authors emphasized the need to focus further on reducing the cancer burden in the population as a whole through prevention, detection and treatment of cancer.

“One of the best ways to avoid dying of cancer is to prevent it in the first place,” added Benz. “This involves making lifestyle adjustments, such as not smoking, being careful about exposure to the sun, diet and exercise, and being careful about exposure to chemicals in the workplace. Patients also need to be sure to participate with their primary care physician in the kinds of screening that can pick up cancers very early.”

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. © 2011 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 Writers and Contributing Writers: Suzanne M. Ellis, Jim Miller, Eva Briggs, M.D., Gwenn Voelckers, Deborah Banikowski, Deborah Jeanne Sergeant, Anne Palumbo, Aaron Gifford, Chris Motola, Patricia Briest, Richard Block, Karyn Johnson • Advertising: Donna J. Kimbrell, 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.

May 2011 •

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Dr. Ivan Proano

New president of Oswego Hospital medical staff focusing on retention and recruitment of new doctors

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Q. You’re the new president of the medical staff at Oswego Health. How does that differ from being the medical director?

A. The medical director is a hospital employee, interfacing between the medical staff and the administration, but dealing more with regulatory issues. I’m an independent physician.

My fellow physicians elected me president of the medical staff.

Q. So you’re still practicing as normal?

A. Right. This is a volunteer position, the interface between the medical staff and the administration.

Q. What sort of duties do you have?

Mostly meetings. We have what’s called a medical executive committee meeting, where all the chiefs of services — emergency room, pediatrics, all the departments that we have — get together with administration and go over the issues as they come up. I’m also on the Oswego Hospital board and interact with the chairman, people from finance, public relations, lay members of the community, to discuss the workings of the hospital itself. My position there is to act as a liaison for the medical staff, describing our wishes and concerns.

Q. Can you give me an example of an issue you would bring up?

A. One of the issues we are working on with leadership from the hospital is physician recruitment and retention. The Oswego Hospital medical staff sees a need for an ear, nose, and throat [otolaryngologist] and an orthopedic surgeon in our community. In addition, the hospital is also actively recruiting for physicians in the specialties of ob/gyn, psychiatrist and gastroenterologist. Through our combined efforts, we have had several strong physician candidates visit the hospital and community recently.

Q. How can a rural hospital make itself more attractive for younger doctors? What are they looking for?

They’re looking for lifestyle. The government and insurance companies are cutting our

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IN GOOD HEALTH – CNY’s Healthcare Newspaper • May 2011

reimbursement, so you’re not going to see the physician as the highest paid professional in a community anymore.

So, the physician coming out of training says, “OK, I’m going to make a decent salary, but I don’t want to be working 50 weeks a year, 50 to 80 hours a week. How am I going to get that lifestyle?” The answer, for most of them, is joining a group of other specialists.

They’ll do call once every three or four days. If they’re in solo practice, they’re on call every day or every other.

Q. So, the more physicians in your specialty, in your practice, the more free time you’ll have?

A. Sure. I work 8 to 4, but if the phone rings at 3:59, I take it and I am there another hour. If you’re in a group, the on-call person handles it.

If somebody calls and you’re the only practitioner, you’re always the on-call person. If you’re in a group of five, that’s a much more pleasant lifestyle.

You’ve also got the economies of scale. If the office needs new equipment, you’re only paying a percent of the costs instead of all of it. There’s a downside: you need to make group decisions. If four out of five of you want to do something and you don’t, you’re doing it. The kind of person who comes to a small community like Oswego is independent-minded, someone who wants to make their own decisions.

And, that’s not what the market is looking for today.

Q. Has the recent growth of Oswego Health made recruiting any easier?

A. Yes, the growth at Oswego Hospital that occurred when Fulton closed has helped us see the need to modernize.

There have definitely been growing pains, but now we have a beautiful, stateof-the-

art facility. When you bring a young doctor in and you show him that you’re willing to invest in your facility, that helps sell itself. Yes, growth is a positive on many levels that outweigh the growing pains.

Q. Would you say it’s easier to distinguish yourself in a smaller community?

A. Sure, Not just at the hospital, but at the community level. There are two ophthalmologists in our town.

There’s one orthopedic surgeon in our town, very well-regarded, very well-recognized. But that’s another thing about it. Some physicians have a hard time going to a small community because when things go bad, when you don’t have the outcome you’re expecting, there’s no place for you to hide.

You’ll be seeing their family at the supermarket, at the movies. In a big city, physicians may live a mile or two from their patients, but there are innumerable people in between. So yes, there’s a good and bad. When you shine, people will say, “That’s the doctor who saved me.” When the outcomes are less than favorable, there can be a lot of negative energy headed your way. That scares some physicians. It’s a more powerful microscope you’re working under.

Q. Tell me a bit about your own practice.

A. I’ve been here for about 20 years. I came here from Baltimore, where I did my training. It’s a one physician office. I have an optometrist associate who works here once a week.

She sees patients when I’m operating on Tuesdays. I see the general problems that an ophthalmologist will see: glaucoma, cataracts, macular degeneration.

It’s a medical/surgical practice. Most of the surgery we do is cataract surgery.

I also perform oculoplastic surgery on eyelids.

Q. You mentioned you have an optometrist associate. What kind of working relationship do ophthalmologists and optometrists have?

The classic hierarchy is you have an ophthalmologist with a higher level of training — we’re medical and surgical specialists. We’re MDs, who have specialized in eyes. So, I have a background in heart and lungs, orthopedics, delivering babies, but my specialty is eyes. An optometrist is someone who after college, trains in the more superficial aspects of the eye. Optometrists mostly deal with glasses and contacts.

Then there are opticians who do the actual fitting and measurements for eyeglasses. It works out pretty well because what you’re seeing with the aging population is a demand for more healthcare workers. The number of ophthalmologists that are graduated every year is tightly controlled by state and federal government funding and, as we all know, they’re in trouble right now. The larger pool of optometrists helps ease the burden on the MDs by diagnosing and treating certain problems and referring them to ophthalmologists when necessary. That’s a very useful division of labor.

Lifelines: Age: 54 Education: Hunter College CUNY, Einstein College of Medicine Bronx. N.Y. Affiliations: American Academy of Ophthalmology, New York Ophthalmology Society Residencies/internships: Ophthalmology Maryland General Hospital Personal: Three dogs Hobbies: Motorcycle touring

“Live Chat” With Human Resources Recruiters

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t. Joseph’s Hospital Health Center announced a new feature to its career opportunities website, www. sjhsyr.org/jobs. The opportunity to “chat” in real-time with recruiters from the hospital network’s human resources and nurse recruitment departments.

St. Joseph’s is the first hospital in Syracuse to offer this feature to prospective employees. The “live chat” component of the job opportunities website allows recruiters to monitor visitors in real time, allowing them to engage those visitors via a chat window. Visitors can also opt to reach out to recruiters in real-time by clicking on the chat button during certain hours.

“This feature appeals to all generations, particularly the Gen X and Y types,” explained Anne Orr, manager of recruitment for St. Joseph’s. “It helps us convert visitors to applicants and improves satisfaction among those who are searching for a career at St. Joseph’s.”

Orr added that “live chat” helps streamline the recruitment process by reducing the number of phone calls that human resources representatives receive. The “live chat” feature is also used for nurse recruitment; applicants may elect to chat live with a nurse recruiter or leave a message for the recruiter.

SUNY Chancellor Nancy L. Zimpher and Upstate Medical University President David R. Smith unveiling project to expand the university’s Institute for Human Performance (IHP).

Upstate Breaks Ground on $72M Expansion of the Institute for Human Performance

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UNY Upstate recently held a groundbreaking ceremony for a $72 million, 158,273 square foot expansion of the university’s Institute for Human Performance (IHP).

“The expansion of IHP is about more than just bricks and mortar; it’s about putting New Yorkers to work, investing in and raising up Syracuse and central New York, and forging new strategies and setting new boundaries in interdisciplinary research,” said SUNY Chancellor Nancy L. Zimpher, who attended the event.

Upstate Medical University President David R. Smith said: “This is an investment — a down payment — on the new economy of Central New York.

The expansion of IHP embodies SUNY Upstate Medical University’s mission of research and service, and it aligns both with New York’s need to push forward with a knowledge-based economy and Chancellor Zimpher’s strategic plan, The Power of SUNY.” The expansion of the IHP will allow the university to further its interdisciplinary and interdepartmental approach to the study of disorders of the nervous system and speed the pace of scientific discovery. It will also strengthen Upstate’s research enterprise, projected this year to total $42 million. The expanded facility is expected to open in the spring of 2013.

Rather than working within the confines of their own discipline,

Meet your

interdisciplinary research encourages scientists from various disciplines and departments to work as a team on specific diseases. These collaborations will integrate diverse scientific approaches to advance knowledge into the cause and progression of diseases of the brain, spine and visual system. This knowledge can then be translated to medical practice, otherwise known as translational research, leading to new management or curative therapies for that disease.

“The IHP expansion will create an environment that is necessary for interdisciplinary research to thrive,” said Steven Goodman, vice president for research and dean of Upstate’s College of Graduate Studies.

Currently, interdisciplinary research at the IHP is devoted primarily to human activity and rehabilitation.

The new, expanded facility will house investigators from various disciplines whose studies involve disorders of the nervous system, such as behavioral disorders like ADHD, disorders of the visual system, and neurodegenerative diseases, such as ALS, Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s.

Four disease-based pillars stimulate interdisciplinary research at Upstate. In addition to disorders of the nervous system, the pillars include: cancer; infectious diseases; and diabetes, metabolic disorders and cardiovascular disease.

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May 2011 •

IN GOOD HEALTH – CNY’s Healthcare Newspaper

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Page 7

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Live Alone & Thrive

By Gwenn Voelckers

Practical tips, advice and hope for those who live alone

Living Alone: Tending the Garden Within

I

t wasn’t until I purchased my country home with its overflowing flowerbeds that I unwittingly discovered my love of gardening.

It was a do or die situation: either I do the work or they die — all those gorgeous peonies, iris, columbine, daisies, pink poppies and more. Not on my thumb!

So I got busy.

I picked up my trowel and dug right in. I became a self-taught, homegrown gardener and have never looked back. I’m completely hooked. Come springtime, I get restless with anticipation and can’t wait to get my knees and hands dirty.

Gardening is all about caretaking and tending and love. Slack off, even for a few days, and all things unwelcome show up and take root.

By osmosis, gardening has taught me how to take better care of myself.

I have absorbed its rich messages and learned how to nurture my inner garden and growth as a women on her own.

Gardening is ripe with life lessons for those who live alone. Fertile ground exists in each of us, and a little tending can produce beautiful results. Here’s what I have learned: Plan. Realizing the garden of your dreams begins in your imagination, followed by careful planning. Diagram your garden and it will help you avoid planting bulbs on top of bulbs or mistaking a poppy for a weed. Likewise,

envisioning your life goals and committing them to writing will help you flourish and grow.

Cultivate. Good, cultivated soil promotes healthy, deep roots. When you add fertilizer and mix it up you are rewarded with abundance. Adding essential ingredients to the foundation of your dream garden (and your dream life) will nourish all that follows. You can’t go wrong with good food and plenty of sunshine!

Plant. So many choices!

Revisit your plan and embed your carefully selected seeds with a tender, loving touch, being careful not to overcrowd or plant more than you can manage.

And remember: We reap what we sow, so follow your dreams. Plant a rose and you get a rose; plant a dandelion and you get a dandelion. Seed your future with healthy choices that promote well-being.

Weed. We all need room to breathe and positive space in which to blossom. It holds true for your garden and your life. Weed out the negativity and any dream-stealing toxins that contaminate your life, dash your hopes, or spoil your fun. When you pull out the bad, you can more easily focus on the good in your life.

Prune. When weeding is not

KIDS Corner Acne is More Than a Nuisance For Some Teens Study shows acne can cause depression, lead to suicidal thoughts

A

merica’s prom season is on the horizon and with it comes distress for thousands of teens who will be distraught to see a pimple raise its ugly head on their nose or chin.

They’ll get over it — eventually. But for many teens, acne is a bigger problem than a facial blemish. New research from Wake Forest University Baptist Medical Center finds that depression and other psychological disorders may be more prevalent in adolescent acne patients.

Steve Feldman, a medical doctor and a professor of dermatology at Wake Forest Baptist, conducted a systematic review of published literature which Page 8

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IN GOOD HEALTH – CNY’s Healthcare Newspaper • May 2011

found that while most teenagers consider acne to be a cosmetic problem, many others report that acne has a significant impact on their self-esteem and quality of life, often leading to anxiety, depression and suicidal thoughts. The study appears on Dermatology Online Journal.

“With this study, we found that acne is more than skin deep for those aged 13 to 18,” Feldman said. “Depending on how the patient feels about it, acne can have a potentially large and negative impact on their lives or it can have a small affect.”

As a result, Feldman said the presence of these psychological disorders

enough, a major pruning may be just what the arborist ordered. A job, relationship, or home that no longer satisfies or meets your needs may need a hard look. It may be time to pull out that pair of “life loppers.”

Mulch. Mulching keeps weeds at bay, keeps the ground moist, and returns nutrients to the soil. It also adds a finishing touch!

Mulch offers a blanket of protection, in the same way that regular doctor appointments, insurances, and safety measures protect our lives. You can learn a lot from mulching!

Wait. We all know what happens to those who wait. When you exercise patience, go slowly, and enjoy the gradual unfolding of a flower, an idea, or a friendship, your life can be savored and more deeply appreciated.

Each year, I look to my garden to remind me that growth takes time.

Enjoy. Before you know it, your labor of love and patience will pay off.

Take pleasure in the transformation as the colors, textures, and fragrances emerge. Too often, we fail to “stop and smell the roses” in our gardens and in our lives.

Take a deep breath.

And a good look. There’s nothing quite as satisfying as stepping back and admiring what you’ve accomplished. It’s reason to celebrate!

And now, if you’ll excuse me, I have some work to do. My garden and my life need tending, and there’s no time like the present. Why not grab a spade and join me? Beauty, growth, and an energizing sense of renewal are waiting for us season after season.

“should be considered in the treatment of acne patients when appropriate.”

Acne affects 85 percent of teenagers, and some adults. It doesn’t have to be viewed as a normal rite of passage that goes along with puberty, Feldman said. A strong physician-patient relationship and taking a thorough medical history may help to identify patients at risk for these adverse psychological effects, he added. And for teens who are successfully treated, symptoms of depression can be alleviated and their quality of life improved.

“Acne affects how we perceive ourselves. It affects how others perceive us. And it affects how we perceive how other people perceive us,” Feldman said.

Feldman said the research also shows that teenagers and their parents may not always be adequately educated about the causes and treatment of acne which may further delay or affect successful treatment. And poor adherence to therapy is also a barrier to successful acne treatment.

“It’s a medical condition and there are some really good treatments.” Feldman said. “Teens afflicted with acne shouldn’t have to suffer. They should talk to their physician.”

Health is in Session New medical director Maritza Alvarado takes reins of Syracuse city schools as number of school nurses shrinks

Bienestar Bilingual Counseling Center,

By Richard Block

LLC

A

bout six months ago, Maritza Alvarado went from being a pediatrician in private practice to an administrator with the largest school district in Central New York.

Still becoming acquainted with the Syracuse City School District, Alvarado is responsible for both children’s and employees’ health.

Regarding children, Alvarado says, “I review all the policies and procedures for the school district. I make sure that we are doing all the mandates that we are required to by New York state. And, I make sure we are following all the policies and procedures.

Also, I work with the nursing supervisor who oversees the 47 school nurses we currently have.”

In addition to the children attending Syracuse city schools, Alvarado is also responsible for the health of all the children who attend charter schools and parochial schools within the city of Syracuse. All told, this accounts for more than 20,000 children.

Alvarado also oversees the health of Syracuse School District employees.

This involves pre-employment physicals for anyone entering the district who does not have their own physician. They can get a physical in the district’s central office, 725 Harrison St. Her office also does employee clearances in order for one to return to work after being out for a specified period of time.

They must come to her office before they are cleared to go back to work.

Obesity an epidemic

Alvarado says there is one health problem affecting all Syracuse school children regardless of age. It is what she calls “an epidemic of obesity.”

“We just recently were mandated

by New York state to collect data for BMI [body mass index] measurements.

We found that starting in kindergarten and going right through for all children we screened, there are a large number of obese children,” she said.

Alvarado says another major issue is asthma.

“But, while a lot of children have asthma when they are young, as they grow older, they either grow out of it, or the symptoms are not that severe, or may be better managed by the child.”

Still another major health problem Alvarado sees are “a lot of kids who come to school and they are sick. A lot of other kids just get sick when they are at school. You come to a place and you are exposed to a lot of different things. Some are viruses, while others are illnesses that children carry in. That is why we always tell parents, “If your

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child is sick, please keep your child home before exposing other kids to the illness.”

Alvarado acknowledges that kids being kids, some will try to fake an illness in order to get out of class or a test.

However, she says, “Our nurses are pretty savvy and they are really good assessors. If a child is truly sick, the assessment will determine that. If a child is really trying to wrangle out of going to class, the nurse will do the assessment and send that child right back to class.”

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Support system

Alvarado says there is one health problem affecting all Often, Alvarado as- Syracuse school children regardless of age. It is what she calls sists the school nurses. “an epidemic of obesity.”

“I help them out in terms of any questions that come up.

Making the rounds They do the assessments and if there are any questions about what to do, Since she has been on the job only they contact me,” she said. “So, for about six months, Alvarado has yet example, making a plan. Sometimes, to go around and visit the Syracuse it is a simple case—the child has a schools. This is something she intends fever and is sent home. The child has to do. Also, she looks forward to sitting been throwing up and is sent home. down with the new Syracuse school But, sometimes a child may need to be superintendent, Sharon Contreras. transported to a hospital emergency Alvarado said she was “very imroom.” pressed” with the two finalists when School nurses can give medication she observed them at two separate to a child who is asthmatic — provided public forums. She expects to hear Conthere is a plan in place for medication treras’s vision for the health services to be left in school, brought by the departments. parents, with a signed order from a But, easily the biggest challenge physician. facing Alvarado, her staff and departSpecial needs children are mainment are budget cuts. At this time, of streamed. They too have plans. For her 47 school nurses, 11 are slated to be example, some require gastrostomy fired. feedings during the school day. That Nevertheless, Alvarado vows, is where a tube goes directly into the “There will be a nurse in every school child’s stomach. Usually, a little button building. We just have to sit down is attached to the intravenous bag for and figure out how best to provide the feeding—mostly liquid feedings. services to the children.”

Each year, more children who Regarding the best part of her job, either are refugees or where English Alvarado says while she no longer is a is a second language enter the Syrapediatrician in private practice, she is cuse School District. Fortunately for now involved in public health. everyone concerned, Alvarado says “So, instead of seeing a child on an the district and health officials are well individual basis, I can do a lot more for prepared. a lot more kids on a global basis,” she “We have our own refugee asnoted. sessment program where interpreters Still, Alvarado readily admits missare available. Also, we use the AT&T ing the daily interaction with children. language line. We call a pre-set number for a specific language,” she said.

Editor’s note: Contributing writer Richard Alvarado says her parents claim Block recently interviewed Dr. Maritza when she started first grade, she did Alvarado about her job, the challenges of not speak any English. As a result, she being the medical director for the Syracuse can easily relate to the refugees and City School District and her biggest conothers having difficulty with English. cern—substantial budget cuts.

Got a story idea you’d like to share with our readers?

E-mail it to “editor@cnyhealth.com”

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May 2011 •

IN GOOD HEALTH – CNY’s Healthcare Newspaper

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Page 9

My Turn

By Eva Briggs

What’s in E-cigarettes?

Are They Safe?

O

ver the past year, increasing numbers of patients tell me that they use or plan to try electronic cigarettes — or e-cigarettes. That led me to wonder what exactly is in those gizmos. Are they safe, and do they work?

E-cigarettes are devices designed to produce a vapor resembling cigarette smoke that can be inhaled, or “vaped,” purportedly without the risk of fire and with less adverse health effects than cigarettes. Most are constructed to resemble cigarettes, although some look like pens or small screwdrivers. They contain a mouthpiece, heating element, and battery.

The mouthpiece, or cartridge, is a small plastic container open at each end. It’s filled with absorbent material that can be saturated with the solution to be vaporized and inhaled. When the solution is used up, the mouthpiece is either refilled or replaced with a pre-filled cartridge.

The heating element, or atomizer, contains filaments that heat the solution in the cartridge sufficiently to turn it into a vapor.

The battery segment houses a rechargeable battery to power the atomizer, as well as a logic board to control various other features. These other components may include an LED light that glows to simulate a real cigarette, a cut-off switch to prevent overheating, and an airflow sensor.

The liquid used in ecigarettes is called e-liquid, e-juice, or nicotine solution if it contains nicotine.

What’s in e-liquid?

First is a substance that combines with water to turn into a vapor when heated. The most common are propylene glycol (PG), polyethylene glycol (PEG) or vegetable glycerin (VG).

When heated, the resulting vapor looks like cigarette smoke. All three are common food additives, and PG has been used in inhaler and nebulizer medications for

years without evidence of adverse effects.

Next are assorted flavorings. Some are designed to mimic actual cigarettes or specific brands. Other flavors are more creative: Apple, peach chocolate, coffee, vanilla, or (yum) banana split anyone? Or (yuk!) cigar? Finally, some liquids contain nicotine in various concentrations.

Are e-cigarettes safe?

The jury is still out on this question. After all, e-cigarettes are recent development.

They were invented in 2003 by a Chinese pharmacist and weren’t found in this country until about 2005-2006: a mere five years ago — so there has not been much time for adequate scientific study.

On the one hand, some liquid solutions do contain not only nicotine but also cancer causing substances such as nitrosamines that are found in real cigarettes.

But the concentration of these things is very low, only a trace of that found in cigarettes. There is the fear that the availability of flavored solutions might lure teenagers to start using e-cigarettes, which could serve as a stepping-stone to smoking.

E-cigarettes are legal in the U.S. The FDA attempted to have the devices regulated as drug delivery devices. But that was overruled by the courts. However individual states can regulate e-cigarettes.

Can e-cigarettes help smokers quit

smoking?

Officially e-cigarette manufacturers claim that the product is targeted toward people who already smoke, but not specifically targeted to people who want to quit smoking. That was one of the reasons that e-cigarettes escaped FDA regulation, since the manufacturers are not supposed to be pushing the devices as smoking cessation aids. But let’s face it, that’s why many of patients buy e-cigarettes. Early studies suggest that e-cigarettes do help many people quit smoking.

And it’s not just the nicotine content of the e-cigarettes, because solutions without nicotine appear to work about as well as those containing nicotine at suppressing the urge to smoke.

The physical act of holding and puffing the e-cigarette, as well as the flavor and sensation of the vapor appear to reduce cravings as well — or better than — traditional nicotine replacement products like patches and gum.

And substitution of e-cigarettes for the real thing is likely to substantially reduce illness and death compared to smoking.

E-cigarettes are a new product.

Like any other new product, I think that we’re in a honeymoon period.

Only a little more time will tell whether e-cigarettes reduce tobacco use and improve public health over the long term.

Eva Briggs, a board-certified physician, works on the staff at Cayuga Medical Center in Ithaca, in its two urgent care centers: one in Ithaca, and the other in Cortland.

Be a Proud Former Smoker

By Patricia Briest

I

f you are thinking of quitting smoking, there is no better time than right now — but not so fast.

Have you ever tried to quit in the past? Perhaps you succeeded, but only for a while. Nicotine cravings are no joke. They are real and can temp a former smoker to have just one. And another one. And another — there is no such thing as “just one.”

Perhaps you didn’t succeed the first, or second, or third time. Most people make multiple quit attempts before they become a former smoker.

The good news is that with support and treatment, everyone can quit.

Medications can help with nicotine cravings. Nicotine patches, gum and lozenges are available without a prescription. Nicotine inhaler and nasal spray are available with a prescription from your doctor. Zyban and Chantix are also options that require a prescription form your doctor.

Smoking is not just about the nicotine addiction. It is also about a change in lifestyle, which can be scary. People who smoke often have relied on smoking for so many years; it is difficult to think of life without tobacco.

It is estimated that a pack-a-day smoker puts his/her hand to mouth

about 73,000 times a year. That becomes one strong habit. Without a cigarette, some feel lost without that hand-to-mouth motion. In addition to that, if friends and family members smoke, there is a psycho-social connection as well.

One very important and critical part of quitting smoking is to plan ahead by setting a quit date.

The date should be realistic — not during a time of additional stress (as during the holidays).

When people call our Cessation Center for advice on quitting, we ask them what their plan is. They tell us

their plan is “to quit smoking.” That is their goal; their plan is how they will get there. How will you get there?

If you are not sure, contact the NYS Smokers’ Quitline at (toll free) 1-866-697-8487. An expert “quit coach” will walk you though the steps and help you with your plan. You may also qualify for free nicotine patches or gum to get you started.

Patricia Briest, a board certified family nurse practitioner, is the program manager for Tobacco Cessation Center at St. Joseph’s Hospital and “TakeShapeSJH.” She may be reached at 458-3600 ext 298

Do You See What Your Kids See?

By Karyn L. Johnson

M

ay 31 is “World No Tobacco Day.” Every day, kids are exposed to a large amount of tobacco ads in grocery stores, convenience stores and pharmacies.

Studies show that kids are twice as likely as adults to notice and remember tobacco ads. The more tobacco marketing they see the more likely kids are to smoke.

In an effort to protect kids, Tobacco Free Onondaga County (TFOC) Page 10

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is focusing its community education on the benefits of not exposing kids to tobacco product displays. Parents and other adults need to be more aware of what kids see when they are at stores that sell tobacco products. This “Point of Sale” program is an effort to get rid of tobacco marketing aimed at kids.

As part of our “Point of Sale” education program, your support of our efforts is needed.

TFOC would like adults to be more

IN GOOD HEALTH – CNY’s Healthcare Newspaper • May 2011

aware of what kids are seeing when they are at retail stores that sell tobacco products.

As you stand at the check out or customer service counter, check out how tobacco products are being displayed.

It is our goal to have tobacco products completely out of sight of kids.

Protect our kids from tobacco marketing in stores. To learn more, visit www. tobaccofreeNYS.org.

For more information on how you can actively support change contact Tobacco Free Onondaga County at 4353280 or visit www.TobaccoFreeOnondaga.org.

Karyn L. Johnson is public health educator with Onondaga County Health Department.

BRIEFS Pharma companies release new versions of erectile drugs to battle generics Pharmaceutical companies are releasing new versions of erectile dysfunction drugs in anticipation of more competition from generic makers as they battle for a larger slice of the $5billion a year market.

Pfizer recently launched Viagra Jet, a chewable form of Viagra in Mexico, and will soon market the erectile drug to other countries.

Another ED drug, Levitra, is sold as a dissolvable tablet in nine European nations by Bayer and will soon be sold in the U.S. under the brand name Staxyn. The tablet fizzes and dissolves in seconds.

Cialis, now eight years in the market, is the best seller among the ED drugs because of its promise of enhanced sexual performance for males for 36 hours. Industry observers forecast that Cialis will dethrone Viagra

from the No. 1 spot held by Pfizer since 1998.

A Brazilian drug firm is creating a faster-acting version, which dissolves faster under the tongue and would increase blood flow to the male organ within 10 or 15 minutes. It would work faster than existing pills which enter the bloodstream indirectly through the stomach, intestines and liver.

When Pfizer’s patent for Viagra’s chemical expires in the U.S. in 2012, generic ED pills could be sold for only a fraction of the current selling price of branded versions at $10 or more.

Pfizer has a second patent for use against impotence, which will lapse by 2019. The firm filed a lawsuit in a Virginia federal court in March 2010 against Teva Pharmaceutical Industries over patent use.

Study: Vegetarians at lower heart disease risk

Figures show 2.6 million babies stillborn yearly

Vegetarians may be at a significantly reduced risk of developing heart disease than their carnivorous peers, according to a new study.

Researchers at Loma Linda University said that vegetarians have a 36 percent lower prevalence of metabolic syndrome than meat eaters.

Metabolic syndrome is a precursor to heart disease, diabetes and stoke.

The condition is defined as exhibiting at least three of the five total risk factors — high blood pressure, elevated HDL cholesterol, high glucose levels, elevated triglyceride levels and an unhealthy waist circumference.

The study’s participants were a group of 700 randomly sampled adults.

The Loma Linda researchers said that while 25 percent of vegetarians had metabolic syndrome, the number went up to 37 percent for semi-vegetarians and 39 percent for non-vegetarians.

A report on the study is published in the journal Diabetes Care.

The World Health Organization recently reported that about 2.6 million stillbirths occurred worldwide in 2009.

This amounts to more than 7,200 babies a day. Ninety eight percent of the stillbirths happened in low- to middle-income nations. The WHO statistics show that stillbirths worldwide have declined by only 1.1 percent per year, from 3 million in 1995 to 2.6 million in 2009. The five main causes of stillbirth children are childbirth complications, maternal infections in pregnancy, maternal disorders like high blood pressure and diabetes, fetal growth restriction and congenital abnormalities, according to a WHO statement.

Almost half of stillbirths — 1.2 million — happen when women are in labor. WHO says these deaths are directly related to lack of skilled care.

About 66 percent of stillbirths occur in just 10 countries: Afghanistan, Bangladesh, China, Democratic Republic of Congo, Ethiopia, India, Indonesia, Nigeria, Pakistan and the United Republic of Tanzania.

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May 2011 •

IN GOOD HEALTH – CNY’s Healthcare Newspaper

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Page 11

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IN GOOD HEALTH – CNY’s Healthcare Newspaper • May 2011

“My pink clothes and nursery paint are here to stay”

@

7 Months

H

ere I go with lucky month number seven. It’s my third trimester and I can’t believe where the time has gone. Only a few months ago I was hardly able to choke down some popsicles and saltines; now I find myself searching for random restaurant menus on the Internet just so I can ogle the choices. Pregnancy is a truly odd time, especially when it’s your first. You never know what to expect next, except a baby at the end.

I had another sonogram to check things out. Although the sonographer wasn’t doing the sonogram to check gender, I asked if she would be kind enough to check for any rouge genitalia while she was at it. If my baby turned out to have a hotdog instead of a hamburger (as fetus anatomy was previously explained by another sonographer), I wanted to know now. Sure I would have some returning and registry rework to do, but I would rather know now than later. She confirmed I was still carrying a hamburger. Looks like all my pink clothes and nursery paint are here to stay.

My nesting instinct has kicked into high gear. The pile of stuff I have in the garage sale pile, (which I seem to think I will make time for before the baby arrives) seems like it’s actually starting to dwarf the items I want to keep in my home. I’ve been filing, purging, reorganizing and consolidating as though I’m moving overseas. My to-do list for my husband probably rivals the President’s agenda. I’m acting as though my new baby is going to look down on me if all my photos from the past 10 years are not neatly tucked away in photo albums or that she’ll shun my husband if the scratched molding hasn’t been sanded.

I’m hoping my ever-increasing size will soon dampen my nesting energy and I’m willing to bet there is someone else hoping for that same thing.

My expectant parent class is next week and I’m not quite sure on what to expect. I had to get a permission card signed by my doctor so that I could participate in the exercise portion of the class. I don’t know what they have lined up for us, but it better not be pregnancy zumba. I’m sure some pre-labor exercise instruction will be helpful, but I also think I could vastly benefit from a few other tutorials. For example, a lesson in how to cut down on cursing during the most painful parts of labor would be beneficial, as

would a lesson in the achieving the willpower to turn down desserts number two and three.

These desserts wouldn’t be such an issue if I followed the advice of every story and message board I read that says I should be exercising 30 minutes a day on most days. I want to note I have remained quite active during pregnancy. I make it to the gym two or three times a week and try to get out for a snowshoe, hike or walk on the weekends. As far as pregnant women go, I think I’ve done pretty darn well on the exercising and eating healthy fronts. So far I have gained a healthy amount of weight and I feel pretty well.

However, this exercising hasn’t curbed my desire for all unhealthy foods.

I seriously want to find a woman in her third trimester who says to herself, “Instead of having this brownie, I’m going to have a third helping of asparagus and tack on another mile of walking before bed.” On second thought, I don’t think I want to find her. That would probably result in an unsavory interchange.

Joking aside, things are really gearing up. I have the class soon and a pediatrician interview at the end of the month. I’m squaring things away with the insurance company and packing my hospital bag, though it’s hardly finished yet. I hope my nesting instinct remains intact until I’ve finished all the actually necessary things.

Until next time, eat your brownies.

Losing Weight the Hula Hoop Way Jen Moore goes from 285 lbs. to 145 lbs. thanks in part to hula hooping — now she’s teaching others how to do it

By Karen Boughton Siegelman

J

en Moore never enjoyed hula hooping as a child, but this 30-year-old mother is certainly making up for lost time.

Moore rediscovered this activity after she had a very unpleasant experience while making some childhood memories for her own kids at Seabreeze Amusement Park.

“My 4-year-old daughter and I started to board the pirate ship ride,” recalled the Rochester resident, “ but I was told by the attendant that I had to get off because I weighed too much.

Then five minutes later we went on another ride, and as I walked away I heard the attendant refer to me as a ‘fat cow.’”

At the time Moore said she was over 150 pounds overweight, tipping the scales at 285. She admits she has struggled with her weight throughout her life, and in the past few years she had added additional pounds while coping with the stillborn death of her daughter.

“The incidents at the amusement park made me feel just horrible about the weight I had gained,” continued Moore. “I grew up in an unstable household, and based on my experiences with my mother, who had addiction issues, I have always strived to be the best mom I could be. I never wanted to be a mom who embarrassed her children, and that day at the amusement park I realized I could turn out to be one of those mothers if I didn’t do something.”

Moore had tried fad diets in the past, but was unsuccessful at keeping the weigh off, so she knew drastic measures were necessary if she was going to drop pounds and inches.

“I needed to make a lifestyle change,” said Moore, “I also had to teach myself how to be active, but I wanted something fun to do that I would look forward to doing.”

Moore decided to go back to an exercise studio where she had felt comfortable a few years ago when she was pregnant with her son, who is now 4 years old. She explained the teacher there had been a certified hoopnotica instructor. (hoopnotica, which started in California in 2006, is a fat-burning workout program that utilizes 1.5 lb fitness hoops and rhythmic movements).

Unfortunately Moore found out the instructor had moved and the studio no longer offered hoopnotica classes.

She decided to buy a hoop and hoopnotica DVD and teach herself.

I started in September 2009 doing 15 minutes in a corner of the YMCA gym,” said Moore.” I attracted some

attention because I spent more time dropping the hoop and then picking it up, but I was exercising. I lost 12 pounds in the first month.”

“After three weeks I believed I could do it,” Moore added, “and I improved so much because I had some confidence. In three weeks I went from just keeping the hoop up for three seconds to lasting through an entire song.

I kept teaching myself more and more

AFTER

moves, went from level one to four and soon discovered I had lost 50 to 60 pounds.”

Early last year Moore became a certified hoopnotica instructor, and she was inundated with offers to teach hooping at various facilities. She now teaches classes seven days a week at local YMCAs and fitness centers. She also works privately with individuals in their homes and leads classes for employees of various businesses and the Rochester City School District.

Moore, who now weighs 145 and has reduced her body fat composition from 49 to 19 percent, points out that many people arrive at her classes with preconceived notions about hooping, based on their childhood experiences with old-fashioned hula hooping.

However she soon convinces them that

the exercise she believes in so strongly is quite different.

“First of all, I recommend using a hoop that weighs only 1 ½ pounds, instead of the 3 to 5 pound hoops you see in the stores,” explained Moore, whose husband, Keith, makes the recommended hoops and sells them online at (www.

RocCityHoopdance.com).

“Also we use bigger hoops [in diameter] because they make slower revolutions so beginners don’t give their muscles a workout that is too strenuous.”

“Of course during the first few classes it can look like you are having seizures,” Moore said. “I also hear all kinds of excuses at the beginning about how someone’s hips are too big or small; however, I promise everyone that they will walk out of the class hooping, and they do.”

Besides using a push/ pull motion to keep the hoop around their waist, participants may also spin the hoop around other parts of the body such as the arms and legs during

laugh about it. There’s no feeling of having to keep up with the next person.”

“I love it because it is different, fun and brings back some childhood memories,” Galusha continued. “It’s sort of like riding a bike. You pick up where you left off. After taking the first class I could really feel a difference in my obliques, and from what I hear, Jen’s got some pretty tough moves using the hoop not just on your waist, but also your hips and legs, so you can target all areas of your body.”

This versatile and fun exercise can burn 300 calories an hour at a low impact pace, according to Moore.

“If you add squats and lunges, and moving inside the hoop, you can burn up to 500 to 600 calories,” she added.

“It never gets boring because you can add weights and more hoops as you get better at it.”

“However it is not a competition to see who can use the most hoops,” Moore stressed. “ It is all about finding your own individual flow.”

Moore has definitely found her own flow. She is now studying to be a master trainer with hoopnotica, which will allow her to certify others to teach these classes. She is also part of a circus arts performance group BEFORE called the R.O.C. ShowGirls, which use hoops in some Jen Moore before and after her hula hoop practice (with of their routines. husband Keith) about four years ago. She has lost 140 pounds.

Moore also has a business partner the hour classes. who believes in hooping as strongly “Hooping is a full body workas she does. Her husband, who is also out,” Moore said. “ It is very versatile a hoopnotica instructor and personal and multi generational too. Everyone trainer, has lost over 100 pounds since from my 6-year-old to my 77-year-old he began his involvement in this exergrandmother can do it. In fact I did a cise program. demonstration at a nursing home and “We are proof that it is never too a 95-year-old woman was twirling the late, “said Moore, who was a size 26, hoop around her hands while sitting in but now heads to the size 4 racks. a chair.”

“Hooping has completely changed our Therese Galusha, 54, of Greece, life, and it is allowing us to help others attends Moore’s hooping class once a change their lives too” week, and she agrees that everyone can do this type of workout.

For more information on Jen Moore’s hoop“We all make mistakes and drop ing classes go to www.RocCityHoopdance. the hoop,” said Galusha, “but we all com or www.Hoopnotica.com.

May 2011 •

IN GOOD HEALTH – CNY’s Healthcare Newspaper

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Page 13

Is a ‘Dance Party’ Really a Good Workout?

It is estimated that Zumba participants can optimally burn about 700 calories per hour.

By Deborah Jeanne Sergeant

Z

umba Fitness urges wouldbe participants to “ditch the workout and join the party.” The dance exercise program features upbeat Latin music, less structure than most aerobic classes and an inclusive environment for all ages and body types.

Since its inception in 2001, Zumba has grown to include 10 million participants taking weekly classes in more than 90,000 locations in over 110 countries. The numbers alone attest to its popularity, but is a “dance party” really a good workout?

Kelly Meyers physical therapist at Upstate Medical University, has taken Zumba classes before.

“I think it can be helpful,” she said. “I’ve attended Amanda Coriddi, a several difZumba instructor at ferent Zumba Personal Fitness, Inc. in classes and it Syracuse. “I noticed my varies a lot. muscles were sore the There doesn’t day after my first Zumba seem to be class,” she said. “That a standard was proof that Zumba Zumba class. challenged my body,” she It depends says. upon where you’re taking it. It’s definitely very aerobic if done correctly.”

She added that if a person is taking a Zumba class for one hour twice a week, he should add one more exercise session to maintain cardiovascular health.

It is estimated that Zumba participants can optimally burn about 700 Page 14

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calories per hour, which is higher than the average number burned by highimpact aerobics (511 to 763 per hour, states the Mayo Clinic).

The number of calories burned in any activity depends upon the weight of the individual and other variables.

The Mayo Clinic’s range of calories was based upon a person weighing 160 to 240 pounds. Someone weighing less would burn fewer calories per hour.

Most methods of exercise don’t cover all facets of fitness, however.

“I wouldn’t consider it strength training,” Meyers said. “You’re probably building muscle with the movements, but it’s more cardiovascular and toning. You are working muscles and calves.

If you’re adding weights, it does gives some resistance training.”

Strength training keeps muscles strong and helps promote a healthy weight, but Zumba could be a valuable part of an overall fitness plan.

Zumba Toning and Zumba in the Circuit, variants of the original program, incorporate strength training moves. There’s also Zumbatomic, a child-oriented program, Zumba Gold for Baby Boomers, and Aqua Zumba, a pool-based workout.

In addition to its ability to torch calories, Zumba attracts many participants because of its novelty.

“I think Zumba is so popular because it’s fun, it’s different, anyone can do it, and it’s very effective for burning calories and toning up,” said Amanda Coriddi, a Zumba instructor at Personal Fitness, Inc. in Syracuse.

She began taking Zumba classes two years ago.

“I noticed my muscles were sore the day after my first Zumba class,” she said. “That was proof that Zumba challenged my body. Upon continuing I noticed more stamina and more muscle tone after about a month. It was important to be consistent and disciplined with both diet and exercise to

IN GOOD HEALTH – CNY’s Healthcare Newspaper • May 2011

see results.”

Coriddi has been teaching Zumba for a few months.

After Meyers had tried Zumba, she “felt like it was a step aerobics class,” she said. “I was warm and had used some muscles.”

She encourages anyone who has felt dissatisfied with a particular Zumba class to try a different location.

“It varies quite a bit, depending upon the instructor,” she said. “You can take classes at dance studios, gyms, and private shops. A lot of times, the gym instructors are taking various classes and Zumba might not be their specialty.”

Before engaging in any new exer-

The Zumba story from www.zumba.com “In the mid-‘90s, no one could have predicted the success of the Zumba program, not even Alberto “Beto” Perez, who created the Zumba program, after what many have called a true ‘happy accident.’

“As a fitness instructor in his native Cali, Colombia, Beto’s life took an unexpected turn one fateful day in the mid-‘90s when he darted off to teach an aerobics class and forgot his traditional aerobics music. He improvised using his own mix of music from tapes he had in his backpack (salsa and merengue music he grew up with).

Spontaneously, he created a new kind of dance-fitness, one that focused on letting the music move you (instead of counting reps over the music). Energy electrified the room; people couldn’t stop smiling.

His class loved it! And on that day, a revolutionary new fitness concept was born — the Zumba fitness-party.”

cise program, check with your health care provider. It’s also important to wear the right clothing and shoes.

Clothing should be comfortable and non-restrictive.

“Sometimes people don’t wear the best shoes for exercising,” Meyers said.

“They have specific shoes for Zumba that have the right amount of traction so you don’t slip and don’t stick. And good shock absorption. A lot of Zumba classes have some hopping in them and that will hurt if you don’t’ have shock absorption in your shoes.”

Participants are encouraged to wear non-skid, supportive shoes such as cross-trainer shoes and comfortable exercise clothing. Zumba also sells licensed apparel. Devotees can purchase Zumba videos to follow at home.

Keep in mind previous injuries and other limitations your body has.

“I’ve also seen people with shoulder injuries who injure them further in Zumba,” Meyers said. “They need to modify the activity.”

“You can’t just get into a high intensity exercise program like that,” she added. “If done correctly, it is good for the core but if you have a low back injury, that twisting might bother you. If you’re not doing it correctly, you might end up hurting yourself.”

You should also allow time for the learning curve every newbie experiences.

“Zumba moves fast, and there’s a potential to injure yourself if you’re trying too hard to keep up with the instructor,” Meyers said. “Work your way up. You may not feel like you’re getting a good workout when learning the steps.”

Meyers has previously taken salsa lessons and has worked as a Pilates instructor, so she felt fairly comfortable with Zumba. Someone with no dance experience or the proverbial “two left feet” should take it easy and just have fun with it instead of struggling too hard to keep up.

Have a Ball Getting Fit

By Deborah Jeanne Sergeant

S

tability balls may puzzle those not familiar with them. How can a piece of equipment that looks like a beach ball and weighs almost nothing help anyone get fit?

Also known as “exercise balls” or “fitness balls,” they can enhance and encourage a variety of exercise movements.

Merely sitting on stability balls without attempting any additional movements engages muscles. It works because as the ball shifts slightly, it throws the user off-balance. Muscles compensate for the imbalance to keep the upright.

“Everything you do with a ball is on an unstable environment so you have muscles getting involved that you wouldn’t with a machine,” said John LoDrago, strength and conditioning coach at Champions Fitness Center in Cicero. “It helps develop proprioceptive alertness, the body’s awareness of its location in space.”

Performing other exercises using a stability ball will maximize the workout because more muscles are being used at the same time.

John Timmerman, head fitness trainer at Trillium Wellness Center in East Syracuse, said stability ball may be used in performing the abdominal crunch.

“It helps support your lower back better than doing it on the ground,” he said. “It’s the same small muscle activation: a short range of motion and you have the natural curvature of your lower back along the ball.”

A stability ball may enhance push-ups. The novice version involves placing your hands on both sides of the ball and then lowering and raising your body.

“Perform it the same way as on the ground,” Timmerman said. “Performing the push-up with your ankles on the ball, hands on the ground, is more advanced.”

A stability ball call help improve the posture of wall squats, too.

“Place the ball on the lower back and sit back into the ball, allowing it to support the lower back while you roll it down into the squat position,” Timmerman said.

At home or work, some people replace their desk chair with a stability ball; however, it’s not for everyone.

People who primarily sit all day may find that they already have tight hip flexors, the muscles on the front, upper leg. Sitting on the stability ball requires the hip flexors to contract all the time, which “would cause them to become

How Stability Balls Came About The use of stability balls originated in rehabilitation. As early as the 1900s, physical therapists have been using balls in addressing the neurological disorders of their patients.

Then, in the early 1960s, Aquilino Cosani, an Italian toy maker, made the ball and sold it, known then as the ‘Gymnastik.’ .

Because of the advantages, the use of the ball then shifted to the athletic area, in the 90s.

At present medical specialists and fitness professionals recommend the use of the stability ball in your exercise program.

even tighter,” Timmerman said.

If your body position at work is varied, a stability ball may be helpful, however.

Most exercise balls come with an instructional booklet or DVD. Numerous websites offer free stability ball workouts, too.

Especially if you have experience back problems, it’s wise to get your doctor’s approval before using a stability ball. Then select the right size.

Measure the distance from the floor to the top of your knee when you’re seated in a chair with your hips and knees at a 90 degree angle. This measurement should equal the diameter of the ball. You may need a slightly larger ball if you have long legs, have experienced back problems or if you plan to use the ball for a chair.

If you’re not sure, go with one slightly larger since you can always leave it a little underinflated.

Select a model that comes with its own air pump. You may not have the right sized air pump at home. When you’re just starting out, leave the ball a little soft. It makes it easier to use because the “give” will make it more stable.

If sitting on a ball seems like an accident in the making, don’t worry; most people won’t fall. Just as cats right themselves while they fall to land on their feet, our bodies respond to prevent us from falling.

Karen Kemmis, physical therapist

with physical medicine and rehabilitation at SUNY Upstate, recommends that people with balance problems use a spotter or place the stability ball in the corner until they become accustomed to it.

“In general, if you have injuries, avoid certain movements on the ball as you would in any other exercise,” she added.

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contactsyracuse.org May 2011 •

IN GOOD HEALTH – CNY’s Healthcare Newspaper

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Page 15

Walnuts Are Top Nut for Heart-Healthy Antioxidants

A

almonds, pecans, pistanew scientific study positions chios and other nuts,” said Joe walnuts in the No. 1 slot among Vinson, Ph.D., who did the analysis. a family of foods that lay claim “A handful of walnuts contains alto being among Mother Nature’s most nearly perfect packaged foods: tree and most twice as much antioxidants as an equivalent amount of any other comground nuts. In a report at the 241st monly consumed nut. But unfortunateNational Meeting & Exposition of the ly, people don’t eat a lot of them. This American Chemical Society in Calistudy suggests that consumers should fornia, scientists presented an analysis eat more walnuts as part of a healthy showing that walnuts have a combination of more healthful antioxidants and diet.”

Vinson noted that nuts in general higher quality antioxidants than any have an unusual combination of nutriother nut.   tional benefits — in addition those an“Walnuts rank above peanuts,

tioxidants — wrapped into a convenient and inexpensive package. Nuts, for instance, contain plenty of high-quality protein that can substitute for meat; vitamins and minerals; dietary fiber; and are dairy- and gluten-free.

Years of research by scientists around the world link regular consumption of small amounts of nuts or peanut butter with decreased risk of heart disease, certain kinds of cancer, gallstones, Type 2 diabetes, and other health problems.

Despite all the previous research, scientists until now had not compared both the amount and quality of antioxidants found in different nuts, Vinson said. He filled that knowledge gap by analyzing antioxidants in nine different types of nuts: walnuts, almonds,

peanuts, pistachios, hazelnuts, Brazil nuts, cashews, macadamias, and pecans. Walnuts had the highest levels of antioxidants.

Vinson also found that the quality, or potency, of antioxidants present in walnuts was highest among the nuts.

Antioxidants in walnuts were 2 to 15 times as potent as vitamin E, renowned for its powerful antioxidant effects that protect the body against damaging natural chemicals involved in causing disease.

“There’s another advantage in choosing walnuts as a source of antioxidants,” said Vinson, who is with the University of Scranton in Pennsylvania.

“The heat from roasting nuts generally reduces the quality of the antioxidants.

People usually eat walnuts raw or unroasted, and get the full effectiveness of those antioxidants.”

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IN GOOD HEALTH – CNY’s Healthcare Newspaper • May 2011

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SmartBites

By Anne Palumbo

The skinny on healthy eating

Rhubarb: More Than Just Pie Filler

A

h, the sweet smells of spring… cut grass, clean air, hyacinth flowers, and the enticing aroma of a freshly baked strawberry-rhubarb pie. Raised in Ohio, where rhubarb grew wild alongside our house, I couldn’t wait to harvest the tall, pinkish stalks.

These days, I continue to eat rhubarb, both fresh and frozen. While I don’t consume it on a regular basis, I appreciate its tart taste, as well as its many health benefits.

Low in fat, cholesterol, sodium and calories (only 26 per diced cup), rhubarb is a decent source of fiber, a good source of vitamin C, and a great source of vitamin K. Vitamin K, which according to nutritionist Susan Brown, helps to keep calcium in the bones and out of the arteries, is an “overlooked bone builder and heart protector.”

Used in traditional Chinese medicine for thousands of years, rhubarb is often prescribed as a digestive aid and laxative for its natural ability to stimulate a sluggish system. That being said, no wonder rhubarb has earned the nickname, “nature’s broom.”

On the research front: Scientists at Sheffield Hallam University in the UK recently found that baking rhubarb for 20 minutes boosted its levels of anti-

cancerous chemicals. The antioxidants, known as polyphenols, have been shown to selectively kill or prevent the growth of some cancer cells.

All the good stuff notwithstanding, I’ll be reaching for rhubarb this May because nothing evokes the feel-good memories of my childhood quite like this unique vegetable .

Helpful tips

Choose stalks that are medium in width, firm, and have glossy skin. Cut off and discard the leaves (if present), which are poisonous. Wrap rhubarb in plastic wrap and store in the coldest part of the refrigerator for up to a week. Cook only in non-reactive cookware — glass, stainless steel, Teflon-coated aluminum, etc. — due to its acidic nature.

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.

May 2011 •

IN GOOD HEALTH – CNY’s Healthcare Newspaper

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Page 17

Local doctors building a school in western India to serve poor children School in Pilani has expanded from 60 pupils to 504 in seven years. Doctors Suman and Brij Mishra have spent more than $2 million in project

By Aaron Gifford

T

his is something Suman and Brij Mishra have worked their entire lives for. It’s not an elaborate trip to Europe, a vacation home in the Caribbean, imported sports cars, boats or other luxury items that successful physicians save up for. For the Mishras, it is a school in western India that serves poorer children who would otherwise have little hope to escape life in the lower castes.

In the coming months, the structure they built in the town of Pilani will be expanded to include high school classes, the capstone of an ambitious undertaking they began in 2004. All told, they have put more than $2 million into the effort so far.

“We always wanted to do this,”

said Suman, a gynecologist at the Women’s Place at North Medical in Liverpool. “This really has been a dream come true.”

It is a dream that both had before they married and became physicians in the United States. Both Suman and Brij were born into comfortable families, but at an early age each was challenged to eventually help others. Suman’s father was a member of India’s “Freedom Fighters” and went on to build a 1000bed hospital in the town of Sikar that is still supported today by donations from wealthy citizens. Brij’s father was involved in the nation’s Green Revolution and worked to open Indian’s import and export market.

“As a kid, not even half of the

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Students at Smt. Jamuna Mishra Academyin in the town of Pilani, in western India. The project has been financed doctors who work at North Medical in Liverpool. people in my community [Pilani] had a television or transportation,” Brij recalled. “But just in the last eight years, everyone has either a motor scooter or a motor bike or a car, and 70 percent of them have cell phones.”

“I will help in education, but I can’t help India,” he said. “The graduates, they will be the ones to help India.”

Suman’s father told her that the best way she could help her country was to become a doctor. Her sister is also a gynecologist, and works at the hospital their father built. Her brother

is an engineer and has donated his services to bring water and necessary infrastructure to poor communities.

Brij, a retired psychiatrist who now owns two local motels and one hotel, spends about three or four months a year in Pilani to oversee the school’s operations and ongoing expansion.

Suman gets there for about two months annually with hopes of visiting there more frequently in the future.

In the past seven years, the school has expanded from 60 pupils to 504. All of the instruction is in English, which

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IN GOOD HEALTH – CNY’s Healthcare Newspaper • May 2011

Pregnancy prevention services introduced in Onondaga County New program seeking community volunteers to promote sexual health among adolescents

R

Suman and Brij Mishra, both doctors in region, have spend more than $2 million to build Smt. Jamuna Mishra Academyin will bolster the graduates’ opportunities to get into college and eventually secure steady employment. English, the Mishras say, is a gateway out of the lower castes. Families pay about $100 per year for tuition to help offset a fraction of the operating costs.

“It has become the best school in the area,” Suman said. “Every year, so many parents are asking to bring their kids there. There could be very smart kids who didn’t have opportunities.

Right now there is an educational revolution in India.”

Brij and Suman met in India before attending medical school there and coming to the United States for their residencies. They’ve been in Syracuse since 1985. Brij retired from his psychiatry practice after undergoing open heart surgery. “Now,” he said, “the main thing in my life is the school.”

“When you see small children there, it’s very touching,” he said.

Suman said she went into gynecology because she wanted to do something about the high rate of infants or mothers who die during birth in India.

Gynecology practices there handle huge patient loads due to the country’s large population, she said, but in general, doctors there seem to provide a lot more personal care and compassion to patients in comparison to their counterparts in the United States.

“And it’s regardless of if you’re rich or poor,” she said. “Here, it’s always tests, tests, tests. But the thing that I like about it here is people [patients] are a lot more educated and it’s easier to explain things to them.”

Suman, who volunteered her services regularly at her father’s hospital, said it’s rare for patients there to have regular check-ups. Typically, they only seek care when they are desperate.

“We are so lucky here,” she said.

“We have so many resources. Everything you need is here.”

After the school is completed, the Mishras will then set their sights on eventually building a gynecological hospital in Pilani. The facility would also offer eye care, as their son, Gautan, a Jamesville-Dewitt alumnus, is an ophthalmologist who desires to follow in his parent’s charitable footsteps.

Brij was quick to point out that many local doctors, and not just those of Indian descent, have done tremendous job donating money and services to needy communities in India, Africa and the United States.

“In this country, people are very generous and very good,” he said.

“Giving has always been part of our culture, but it really seems like it’s becoming part of the doctors’ culture everywhere. Because of our MDs, life is better for us and we earn well. Helping others is the most rewarding part, though.”

Brij said he will recruit retired doctors or those who are fairly close to retirement to donate their services to the future hospital. It is common for visiting physicians and dentists from other countries to participate in “camps” where they set up shop in an impoverished community for several days to treat diseases and medical conditions.

EACH CNY, Inc. has recently introduced the new Comprehensive Adolescent Pregnancy Prevention (CAPP) initiative in Onondaga County. Funded through 2015 by the New York State Department of Health, this program aims to reduce initial and repeat teen pregnancies, STDs and HIV infections among adolescents.

According to the nonprofit, there are areas in Onondaga County that have the highest teen birth rates in New York.

“Through CAPP our community will be able to work together to promote sexual health for our adolescents,” said Erin Bortel, the program’s director. “CAPP will offer age appropriate sexuality education that has been shown to be successful in reducing teen pregnancy. Youth will also learn about healthy relationships, life skills, financial literacy and career development.

Access to reproductive healthcare will be promoted through our partners at Planned Parenthood and Family Planning Services.”

According to Bortel, CAPP is youth and community driven and there will be many opportunities for youth to participate.

“Youth aged 10-21 can join our Youth Task Force and work on projects like producing educational videos, helping to develop youth friendly materials, and planning special events.

The Youth Task Force will have a voice to help guide CAPP’s wider community efforts,” said Bortel.

Parents and community members, along with youth, will make up the organization’s newly formed Community Advisory Council (CAC). The CAC will meet monthly to suggest strategies to prevent teen pregnancy, STDs and HIV in our community.

Programs will be coordinated through REACH CNY and will also be available at these sites: The Salvation Army, Huntington Family Center and Planned Parenthood of the Rochester/ Syracuse region.

For more information visit www. reachcny.org. If you’d like to schedule a CAPP program for your youth group, contact Program Director Erin Bortel at ebortel@reachcny.org.

Suicide prevention group launches program to reach out to recently bereaved

R

esearch shows that during the course of our lifetime, more than 60 percent of us will know someone who dies by suicide and more than 20 percent of us will lose a family member. Every suicide leaves behind family members and friends — or survivors — to cope with the loss.

To help, the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention (AFSP) has created the Survivor Outreach Program, which sends specially-trained volunteers who are survivors themselves to visit with those who are recently bereaved. Visits are made upon request only, and volunteers provide information about local resources, including support groups, healing conferences and suggested reading materials. They will also listen with compassion, share their own experiences and offer reassurance that surviving a loss of a loved one by suicide is possible. .

“When you lose a loved one to suicide, it can feel like no one re-

ally understands what you’re going through. Survivors often feel like they are alone,” said Joanne Harpel, AFSP’s director of survivor initiatives. “AFSP’s trained volunteer survivors have been there, so they can offer invaluable support, information and reassurance.”

Debra Graham, an Oswego County resident, stated, “I wish this program was available when I lost my youngest son Josh to suicide on April 16, 2003.”

This program is currently offered through several AFSP chapters nationwide, including the Central New York chapter. Bereaved family members and friends who are interested in scheduling a visit should contact Debra Graham — CNY Survivor Outreach Program coordinator at 695-2201 or macdag0153@aol.com; or Wylie Tene, AFSP national public relations manager at 888-333-AFSP ext. 24; wtene@afsp. org. For more information, visit www. afsp.org/outreachprogram.

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What brings them under the same umbrella is that they work exclusively in the hospital, and they have dedicated their careers to the care of hospitalized patients.”

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• The program is also a benefit to our patient’s family members as we are available to discuss in person their concerns and answer their questions.

• In addition, we do consult with our patient’s primary care physicians, to learn their health history and to talk about the details of the plan of care upon discharge.

• “After a patient is discharged from Oswego Hospital, any follow- up care is provided by the patient’s primary care physician.

• “In January 2007, Oswego Hospital joined the national trend adopted by facilities across the country to meet the changing needs of both physicians and patients and implemented a hospitalist program. Hospitalist programs have become popular since some physicians have decided to only see patients in their offices due to their own busy patient schedules.

• “Oswego Hospital’s hospitalists are board-certified internists or family medicine physicians. Complementing their care are nurse practitioners and physician assistants.”

Mohamed Ahmed, hospitalist with Oswego Hospital • “We are internal physician doctors [other groups include family practice also], some of us are subspecialtists, that provide care in the

hospital only.

• “We take care of patients of multiple medical groups (their physicians do not come to the hospital and we have agreements with) or patients that do not have a physician that need admission.

• “We also provide consultations for other subspecialties (ED, ortho, surgery, neurosurgery, GYN, etc.) and co-management with other specialties (neurology, gastroenterology, etc).

• “We see all the patients daily and sometimes more often depending of their needs.

• “Our role is the same as their primary care provider in the hospital, but we have the advantage of being available for their needs 24 hours a day.

• “We have a physician in-house during the night.

• “We coordinate the care with their PCP , obtain records and follow up appointments on discharge.

• “From our point of view, the patients could help significantly if they always carry a list of their current medications with them.

• “It would help if they knew the name of their physicians and current medical problems or contact information.

• “Many admissions are done after hours and we don’t have immediate access to their records.

• “We realize that sometimes if frightening to see new faces when you are sick and we try to make the transition as smooth as possible.

• “I find it that it works very well when the patient and the family are involved actively in their care and medical decisions and are not just passive recipients.”

Cristina Topor, hospitalist with Crouse Hospital

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.

“Cranio Kids”

By Lisa Jo Greenfield

T

his fall while doing some research on glutathione, I was interrupted by my husband yelling “Lisa come quick, you have to see this!” I ran into the living room just in time to view a segment on the MLB channel about The Jorge Posada Foundation and Craniosynostosis.

I was glued to the TV. As information on the foundation was presented, I began to well up with tears. Ten years ago, at the age of 2 months, my son T.J. was diagnosed with craniosynostosis.

Craniosynostosis is defiend by the Merriam-Webster Dictionary as “premature fusion of the sutures of the skull.” Basically, a baby’s skull is made up of five pliable bones and held toghether by fibrous tissue called sutures. When the sutures (soft spot) close prematurely, the skull can’t expand and the brain can’t grow equally in all directions. This causes the skull to be misshapen and in some cases, there is significant pressure on the brain.

It is estimated that one out of every 2,100 infants is born with craniosynostosis. There is no known cause for this condition and surgery is required to correct it. Through the research I have done, I was able to find a link between cigarette smoking, low glutathione and craniosynostosis. However, it is not conclusive.

Early diagnosis and treament are critical. If left untreated, craniosynostosis can cause developmental disabilites, blindness and hearing loss. Unfortunately, misdiagnosis is common, especially in light of the sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS) campaign advocating that babies sleep on their backs. Babies who sleep on their backs often develop flat spots and have misshapen heads which can be confused with craniosynostosis.

In my son TJ’s case, we were fortunate to have a pediatrician who was fully versed on craniosynostosis. At our 2-month well visit he immediately

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ordered an X-ray and we were able to quicly confirm the diagnosis. He then provided us with information on the two types of surgeries that were available.

After extensive research, my husband and I decided to have an endoscopic strip craniectomy performed on T.J. This surgery was considered to be experimental at the time, but was much less invasive and not nearly as traumatic as the traditional surgery.

T.J. was the 58th infant to have this experimental procedure done in the U.S. and it was overwhelmingly successful. There were no long hospital stays, blood transfusions or infections, which are common with the traditional surgery. To date¸ TJ’s head is perfectly shaped and no additional surgeries have been necessary.

Since T.J.’s surgery, the endoscopic strip craniectomy has been fully acknowledged and accepted by the medical community. Favorable results have been published in peer reviewed medical journals as well as in many other publications. For more information on the endoscopic strip craniectomy and doctors David Jimenez and Constance Barone, the pioneers of this procedure, go to www.universityhealthsystem. com/.

As the mother of a “cranio kid,” I have worked to create awareness of this condition. So, as you can imagine, hearing about The Jorge Posada Foundation was significant to me. The purpose of The Jorge Posada Foundation is to provide emotional and financial support to families and kids who are diagnosed with craniosynostosis and to create awareness about the condition.

As a member of the Mentors Network, I would like to invite you visit The Jorge Posada Foundation on line at www.jorgeposadafoundation.org.

Lisa Jo Greenfield maintains the website www.LookLiveFeelBetter.com.

Fall prevention: St. Joe’s nurses happy with safety procedures new safety procedure at St. Joseph’s Hospital Health Center aimed at preventing patient falls has already led to positive outcomes.

The new procedures, implemented hospital-wide in early March, include using color coded magnets above patient bedrooms to indicate fall risks, as well as thorough walk-by checks in bedrooms to quickly identify a potential patient fall scenario.

By following these new procedures, St. Joseph’s staff members were already able to identify two fall risks and prevent each from happening.

While walking down a hallway, volunteer Bob Burns identified a patient’s fall risk magnet and checked inside the room to find the patient in danger of falling. He quickly informed a unit coordinator who prevented the fall from occurring.

Staff members on one of the nursing units similarly recognized a

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Clinical nurse specialist Marty Pond said St. Joseph’s is under the national average when it comes to patient falls, but there is always room for improvement.

“Our overall goal is to have zero falls per year,” Pond said.

The procedures focus on identifying potential risks and developing individualized care plans for each patient based on what Pond calls “nursing intuition.” Frequent observation in designated rooms and post fall debriefings are also components of the new safety procedure. With more eyes on at risk patients and discussions on why falls occurred, patient falls will likely continue to decrease at St. Joseph’s.

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Page 21

Golden Years Home Healthcare Helps Elderly, Ill Option helps keep people at home getting the help they need

By Deborah Jeanne Sergeant

A

s Dorothy put it in The Wizard of Oz, “There’s no place like home.” For seniors or younger people with disabilities facing independence issues, living at home can be challenging. Home healthcare represents one way they can stay more independent.

“The majority of people prefer to live their life at home rather than in a facility away from their loved ones,” said Deborah Murray, branch director of NurseCore in Syracuse.

Of course some patients’ medical needs cannot be accommodated at home, but for people recovering from surgery or illness or for those who need only minimal assistance to stay at home and do not really need skilled nursing care, assistance at home can make a big difference.

Many factors are behind the increased popularity of home healthcare.

As the Baby Boomer generation ages, a larger number of people need healthcare and in-home care seems to be the preferred option to the generation that has come to expect customizable services.

“More and more patients and their families are trying to keep family members home for as long as possible,” said Mark Fiorini, president of Home Helpers in Oswego. “This can be to preserve resources, decrease overall costs, and [keep] promises to family.”

Fiorini also cited family member’s lack of trust in long-term care facilities and the lack of available space at facilities as reasons that home care is on the uptick.

Home healthcare will only increase

Page 22

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in popularity. The Bureau of Labor Statistic’s Career Guide to Industries 2010-2011 Edition, states that home healthcare employment will increase 46 percent by 2018.

Care in a skilled facility or hospital ranges in the hundreds of dollars per day. Home-based service tends to be more of an a la carte pay rate.

Home Helpers, for example, charges $15 to $17 an hour for home health aide assistance for those who need just a little help a few times a week. Their daily live-in rate depends upon the care that clients need; however, Fiorini said that it’s still less than paying for residence at a care facility.

Most agencies charge hourly rates, unlike at a skilled care facility, where the care and the cost it incurs are continual.

Many services are covered by Medicare, Medicaid, HMO Medicare products and commercial insurance.

Few agencies’ clients are self-pay.

Insurers have every reason to pay for home healthcare because of the savings it offers.

The fewer medical services provided, the less expensive a home-based service is. For example, the rates of CCH Home Care & Palliative Services, Inc., in Liverpool are around $200 per day for medical home health care, compared with thousands per day in a hospital or skilled nursing facility.

For people who are basically healthy but are lonesome and physically unable to take care of a household, companion care services can help them delay entering a skilled nursing facility and incurring in additional costs related to that higher level of care.

But some clients receive home care services while living in an assisted living or skilled nursing facility. This helps keep residents more content.

Traditional home healthcare involves medical personnel helping with health issues.

“We are so fortunate that we can do an array of things in patients’ homes,” said Gail Carmichel, director of patient services at CCH

IN GOOD HEALTH – CNY’s Healthcare Newspaper • May 2011

Home Care & Palliative Services, Inc. “We can do IV therapy instead of putting them in the hospital for six weeks,” she added as just one example.

“They’re home with their families, sleeping in their own beds and eating their own foods they like. They’re not in a sterile, cold environment with strangers. They’re not exposed to the infections in hospitals. When you get people out of the hospital and into their own space and environment, they recover faster. They can keep their activity level up.”

Most offer skilled nursing services by registered nurses, including managing an illness or injury, post–treatment home care needs, diet, nutrition and self-administration of medications.

Nurses can administrate infusion therapy and care for wounds, ostomies, pressure ulcers, incontinence and other ongoing health needs.

Most agencies provide rehabilitative services such as physical, occupational and speech therapies. These services can help clients maintain mobility, regain independence and assist with activities of daily living such as personal care, dressing, and meal preparation.

Home health aides focus on aspects of daily living without the medical piece. Social workers help clients choose community services that meet their needs such as transportation and financial guidance.

Home care employees can also assess the safety, suitability and accessibility in the home.

“The hospital personnel can’t see the scope of what we can see,” said Kimberly Graf, community relations manager for Visiting Nurse Association of Central New York in Syracuse.

“We can see when their cupboards are empty. We can see what barriers are on a broader scale. They had a knee replacement and are 70 and live in a three-story home. They might not say that in the hospital upon discharge.”

Once a need has been identified, home health agencies can provide or help families find the resources they need.

“Sometimes they need ramps and more expensive equipment,” Carmichel said. “We help coordinate how they can have those things managed and whether insurance can cover or not. There are different organizations we can contact.”

As technology advances, more companies offer “tele-health” services, which helps personnel remotely keep tabs on clients’ health by monitoring readouts transmitted via telephone from home-based equipment, including clients’ heart rate, blood pressure, oxygen saturation levels, and more.

Most home healthcare companies offer respite care for families who are normally the primary caregivers but need a temporary break to go on vacation or because they

are ill.

Most agencies have a mix of disabled, ill, recovering and elderly clients with the lion’s share of them elderly. Considering their clients’ vulnerable state, agencies typically hire very carefully. They conduct thorough background screening on qualified applicants, including a national criminal background check and driving record check.

The help of a familiar person may be more readily received by a senior, but others prefer the businesslike relationship with a stranger that does not bear obligation other than monetary.

Instead of waiting until a crisis situation, it pays to look into the home care options in advance.

“Too many people wait until they are desperate for help and then find out they don’t have the resources to cover expenses,” said Murray with NurseCore.

Check with the insurance agent to see if home care is covered before services are needed.

“If they don’t have homecare coverage then research and invest in long term care insurance,” Murray said.

“Most people don’t put any thought into homecare until the need arises.”

Oftentimes, important decisions made during an emergency are not the best, most well-informed decisions.

“Families and clients need to be safe and comfortable that their loved ones are being looked after and supported by quality people and quality organizations,” Fiorini said. “Organizations that can help negotiate the convoluted process that is health care and long term care.”

Sandra H. Martin, president of Home Aides of Central New York offers the following tips when researching a home healthcare company: • “Before you call, gather all the information you can about the person in need of care, including previous care, medical providers, financial resources and any pertinent information about the current situation.

• “Contact reliable sources, such as the New York State Health Department and county offices on Aging, for information about the home care agencies in the community.

• “Discuss your situation with a nurse at each agency you choose to contact so that you understand your options. Each agency should help you determine what type of care the person needs, based on the situation and your family circumstances.

• “Ask about any special programs, such as Alzheimer’s care, that may be available to fit your situation.”

Elder Mediation Can Help Adult Families Resolve Conflicts

W

hile mediators have been used for years to help divorcing couples sort out legal and financial disagreements and avoid court battles, elder care mediation is a relatively new and specialized field designed to help families resolve disputes that are related to aging parents or other elderly relatives.

Family disagreements over an ill or elderly parent’s caregiving needs, living arrangements, financial decisions and medical care are some of the many issues that an elder care mediator can help with. But don’t confuse this with family or group therapy. Mediation is only about decision-making, not feelings and emotions.

The job of an elder mediator is to step in as a neutral third party to help ease family tensions, listen to everyone’s concerns, hash out disagreements and misunderstandings, and help your family make decisions that are acceptable to everyone.

Good mediators can also assist your family in identifying experts such as estate-planners, geriatric care managers, or health care or financial professionals who can supply important information for family decision making.

Your family also needs to know that the mediation process is completely confidential and voluntary, and can take anywhere from a few hours to several meetings depending on the complexity of your issues. And if some family members live far away, a speaker phone or webcam can be used to bring everyone together.

If you’re interested in hiring a private elder care mediator, you can expect to pay anywhere from $100 to more than $400 per hour depending on where you live and who you choose. Or, you may be able to get help through a nonprofit community mediation service which charges little to nothing.

Since there’s no formal licensing or national credentialing required for elder mediators, make sure the person you choose has extensive experience with elder issues and be sure you ask for references and check them. Most elder mediators are attorneys, social workers, counselors or other professionals who are trained in mediation and conflict resolution.

To locate an elder mediator, start by calling your area aging agency (call 800-677-1116 or see www.eldercare.gov to get your local number) which may be able to refer you to local resources.

Or try websites like eldercaremediators.com and mediate.com. Both of these sites have directories that will let you search for mediators in your area. Or, use the National Association for Community Mediation website (www.nafcm.org) to search for free or low-cost community-based mediation programs in your area.

Savvy Tip: The Center for Social Gerontology (see www.tcsg.org) provides some good information on their website including an online brochure titled “Caring for an Older Person and Facing Difficult Decisions? Consider Mediation.”

Golden Years Elder Abuse: Many Still Don’t Report Problem New study shows one in 13 older adults suffers abuse

By Deborah Jeanne Sergeant

C

hild abuse and spousal abuse garner numerous headlines, as well they should. However, another population commonly endures abuse and is mostly overlooked: the elderly.

According to a summary report released by Lifespan of Greater Rochester, Inc. of a study on elder abuse, one in 13 older adults suffered some form of elder abuse in the year preceding the survey.

The study also points to a dramatic gap between the rate of elder abuse reported by older residents in the survey and the number of cases referred to and served by formal elder abuse service systems.

Bill Reed, adult services provider for Oswego County Social Services, said the findings are “pretty believable, if you’re counting physical, financial and emotional abuse.”

Abuse is a pattern of behavior that inflicts harm on another. It can be physical, mental/emotional, and financial.

Sometimes, elderly people are abused in more than one way.

Ann Marie Cook, president/CEO of Lifespan, was present when 90-yearold Mickey Rooney testified before the U.S. Senate Select Committee on Aging about his experience of being financially exploited.

“He told the committee, ‘Life was unbearable,’” Cooke said. “’I felt trapped, scared and helpless.

When I tried to speak up, I was told to shut up and was told that I didn’t know what I was talking about.’”

Often, abuse victims, regardless of age, are made by their tormentors to feel they are mentally unfit, mistaken or confused. Abusers can be very gregarious and charming to outsiders, which helps conceal the abuse, while making the victim appear to be the cause of anything which might indicate an abusive situation to an outsider.

If an elderly person’s abuser is also his caretaker, he can feel he has no place to turn because if he seeks help and the abuser finds out, the abuse will worsen.

“Most don’t seek help,” said Larry Schmidt, aging services administrator for Oswego County Office for Aging. “Generally you’ll find that a great percentage of seniors won’t admit to it. “We find intimidation is especially high with seniors.”

Victims often fear if they speak up, their treatment will worsen or that no one will believe them.

“If it can happen to Mickey Rooney, it can happen to anyone, and it does,” Cook said. “As Dr. Mark Lachs, our principal investiga-

tor, stated in his testimony before the same committee, ‘Elder abuse is the most hideous form of ageism imaginable.’”

Many times, the abuser is a relative or has befriended the victim to gain his trust and the abuse grows gradually.

Like the proverbial frog in the pot of boiling water, the abuse increases so slowly that the victim does not realize what is happening until he is trapped.

Physical abuse can include intentionally inflicting pain to the elderly person’s body or withholding adequate necessities of life: food, clothing, medication, meaningful activity/socialization and shelter. Mental/emotional abuse includes manipulation, willfully causing emotional anguish or fear, belittling or humiliating the elder.

Financial abuse may be manifested by stealing the elder’s identity, using or taking his finances, or gaining power of attorney over the elder’s assets.

Of course, occasionally a friend or loved one may say something that hurts an elderly person’s feelings or make a mistake in finances; however, abuse is earmarked by a pattern of this kind of behavior and the abuser admits no wrongdoing but rather attempts to make the victim take the blame.

The study’s major findings included: • A total one-year incidence rate of 76 per 1,000 older residents of New York state for any form of elder abuse. Applying the incidence rate to the general population of older New Yorkers, an estimated 260,000 older adults in the state were the victims of at least one form of elder abuse in a one-year period in 2008 and 2009.

• However, the survey of “documented cases” identified just 11,432 victims in all service systems in New York state in 2008, meaning for every known case, 24 were unknown.

• The highest one-year rate of elder abuse occurred for major financial exploitation (theft of money or property, using items without permission, impersonation to get access, forcing or misleading to get items such as money, bank cards, accounts, power of attorney) with a rate of 41 per 1,000 surveyed.

• The study also found that 141 out of 1,000 older New Yorkers have experienced an elder abuse event since turning age 60.

May 2011 •

Seniors who are victims of abuse should call 963-5339 Oswego County 253-1218 Cayuga County 435-2815 Onondaga County 366-2211 Madison County Abuse victims do not have to accept this treatment.

Anyone in imminent danger should call 911. Each New York county has its own adult protective services unit and may respond to a call for help with a home visit to evaluate the situation.

They can direct abused seniors to the right resources.

“We are authorized to investigate cases of abuse, neglect and financial exploitation,” Reed said.

“If we believe a crime has been committed, we have to report it to law enforcement.”

In some cases of neglect, the caretaker needs more support and training to give adequate care and adult protective services can help direct caretakers to resources.

If a senior needs a safe place to stay, a nursing home is not the only and usually not the first answer.

“We can help them find other placement and look for the least restrictive level,” said Reed of the Oswego County Social Services. “It’s like adult foster care, where an adult could go live with a supportive family in the community and live pretty independent.”

“It’s our goal to keep them out of placement like nursing homes if we can do it safely.”

It’s also important to note that if an elderly person calls for help, no one will force him to act.

“They’re concerned that they might be taken out of their homes or placed in a nursing home,” Schmidt said. “If a person is competent, they can make a decision for themselves, no one can put them in a nursing home.”

IN GOOD HEALTH – CNY’s Healthcare Newspaper

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Memory Boosting Games: Beneficial or Bunk?

By Deborah Jeanne Sergeant

Geriatric Behavioral Services Serving the behavioral • Psychotherapy health needs of seniors, • Psychological Evaluation their families and their • Consultation caregivers

Page 24

Golden Years Y

ou’ve probably seen ads for electronic memory boosting games that promise to help you stay sharp as a tack as you grow older.

The baby boomer generation provides a sizable market for these products since most people are concerned about maintaining their ability to recall facts and process information quickly. Who wouldn’t want to play games that could help ward off dementia? But do these games live up to the hype?

“There’s no scientific basis that these games work to prevent Alzheimer’s or keep your memory sharp in any way,” said Sharon Brangman, geriatrician with SUNY Upstate Medical University. “But on the other hand, they don’t hurt.”

The companies selling the games may point out that improving your performance each time you play a particular game demonstrates your brain function is increasing; however, that improvement may not help you remember where you parked at the mall or recall that your phone bill is due in five days.

“People shouldn’t do them to get a therapeutic benefit,” Brangman said, “but because they enjoy them. The science as to whether or not that they engage the brain enough to keep you away from memory problems is still up for debate.”

Betty Woods, memory care director at Emeritus at Bellevue Manor in Syracuse, recommends “word games, word searches, or a numbers game like

Sudoku,” she said. “There are computer games of course, but just music is good for you as you can remember the words to a song.

“Using your brain can help you in the long run to sustain your memory and prolong it. What works for one might not for another,” Woods added.

Some people prefer jigsaw puzzles, cross word puzzles, or Sudoku. Others like Scrabble, playing checkers, cards or bingo.

Researching genealogy, learning how to paint, picking up a new instrument or practicing a familiar one: any one of these could be an example of brain-stimulating activities.

Socializing is also stimulating.

“It’s very important too,” Brangman said. “People who maintain connections with their community tend to do better than those who become isolated.”

Sitting at home and watching television is too passive to provide much mental exercise and also tends to be an isolating activity. Staying socially active does wonders for maintaining cognitive ability.

Some baby boomers enjoy using the Internet for reading and socializing, but face-to-face contact is better for staying connected because of the physical aspects are lost when interaction takes place through the screen.

Joining a club or civic organization, signing up for a class or attending church are a few ways to socialize.

It’s also important to take care of

your general health.

“Something that does seem to improve memory and sharpen cognitive function,” Brangman said.

Exercise is also important, according to Brangman. “There’s increasing evidence that aerobic exercise, like walking and swimming, and weight training, may have benefits. I don’t discourage crosswords or Sudoku; people should do them because they’re fun.”

After receiving a doctor’s approval, 30 minutes of aerobic exercise three times a week is a good starting point towards a fitness plan. Aerobic exercise could include dancing, bicycling, hiking, or circuit training.

A diet that is healthful for the heart is also good for the mind and can help the brain age well.

“Similar blood vessels that go to your heart go your brain,” Brangman said. “You don’t want to block those, either.”

She also advises patients to quit using tobacco products, minimize drinking and limit it to wine and beer, and control the vital health statistics: blood sugar, cholesterol, and blood pressure.

“There is also some evidence that stress can have an impact over the long term on our brains,” Brangman said.

“Reduce your stress and engage in an activity that relieves stress like exercise, or a creative outlet.”

Keep in mind that mental decline is only partly preventable. Genetics can also impact how long you stay mentally sharp.

NEW CENTENARIANS Samuel Koss, a WW II survivor, celebrates Samuel Koss, a resident at The Oaks at Menorah Park in Syracuse, has celebrated his 100th birthday March 30.

Koss was born on March 30, 1911 in the city of Smorgon, Poland. Shortly after the Germans invaded Poland in World War II he and his young bride left everything behind and escaped to the woods of Vilna. They joined the Russian Army to fight the Nazis. After the war, Koss realized that his family had been killed and his home was destroyed. He and his wife came to the United States in 1947 and settled in Brooklyn, where Koss worked as a dentist.

Koss’ son and daughter-in-law live in the area; he has two grandsons and one great granddaughter.

According to a press release issued by Menorah, “Sam is a remarkable man who has a zest for life and brings much joy to everyone he meets.”

IN GOOD HEALTH – CNY’s Healthcare Newspaper • May 2011

Therapeutic recreation specialist Pepper Hess, of Cortland, from left, with PACE CNY participant Lillian Van Fleet, of Jordan, and program director Ruth Kirk of Tully,

PACE CNY Participant Celebrates Lillian Van Fleet, a participant in Loretto’s PACE CNY (Program for All-Inclusive Care for the Elderly), of Jordan, recently celebrated her 100th birthday with family members, friends and staff at the PACE CNY Day Center located on 700 East Brighton Ave. in Syracuse.

Van Fleet was born in Syracuse March 30, 1911. She worked as an EKG/EEG technician at St. Joseph’s and Community General hospitals. She enjoys spending time with her family, attending church weekly, live entertainment at the PACE CNY Day Center and laughing.

Van Fleet has one daughter, a nephew and a niece, and attributes her longevity to her “wonderful mother and hard work.”

The Social Ask Security Office

By Deborah Banikowski, District Manager in Syracuse.

A Valuable Gift For Mom

By Jim Miller

Reverse Mortgages Have Gotten More Affordable Dear Savvy Senior, What can you tell me about reverse mortgages?

I was considering one a few years ago but decided against it because it was too expensive. But now I hear they are much more affordable. What can you tell me?

Looking for Cash Dear Looking, One of the biggest drawbacks of reverse mortgages over the years has been the high upfront costs. But now, thanks to some new federal rules and reduced lender fees, reverse mortgages are much cheaper for cashstrapped retirees to get into.

Here’s what you should know.

The Basics

Let’s start with a quick review. A reverse mortgage is a unique loan that lets older homeowners convert part of the equity in their home into cash that doesn’t have to be paid back as long as they live there. To be eligible you must be age 62 or older, own your home (or owe only a small balance) and currently be living there. There’s no income qualification. You can receive the cash either as a lump sum, a line of credit, regular monthly checks or a combination of these. And with a reverse mortgage, you, not the bank, own the house, so you’re still responsible for property taxes, insurance and repairs.

Repayment is due when you or the last borrower dies, sells the place or lives elsewhere for 12 months. Then you or your heirs will have to pay off the loan (which includes the money you borrowed plus accrued interest and fees) either with the proceeds from selling the place, or if you want to keep the house, with money from another source.

Cheaper Loans

Most reverse mortgages on the market today are known as Home Equity Conversion Mortgage (HECM), which are backed by the Federal Housing Administration (FHA). The big complaint about HECMs has always been the high upfront fees, which include a 2 percent loan origination fee,

2 percent mortgage insurance, along with appraisal fee, closing costs and other miscellaneous expenses. All told, the cost of getting a HECM can run around 5 percent of the value of your home.

But starting last fall, the FHA introduced a new HECM “Saver” loan that offers a smaller loan amount that’s about 40 percent cheaper than a traditional HECM has been (which is now known as the HECM “Standard”). The new Saver loan virtually eliminated the 2 percent upfront insurance premium to create the savings.

But with the Saver, the amount you can borrow is about 10 to 20 percent less than what you could get with the HECM Standard. So, for example, a 70year-old with a home worth $300,000 could get a lump sum of about $149,000 with a Saver, versus around $187,000 with a Standard loan. To calculate how much you may be able to borrow visit www.rmaarp.com.

Lender Fee Cuts

You also need to know that as a way to drum up business, many lenders today — like Generation Mortgage, MetLife Bank, Bank of America, Wells Fargo and others — are waiving loanorigination fees and other upfront charges on some loans, which could also save you thousands of dollars.

Most lenders, however, are offering these deals only to fixed-rate HECMs that require borrowers to take out a lump sum. The cuts are generally not available to adjustable-rate loans that can be taken as a line of credit or in monthly payments.

Required Counseling

Because reverse mortgages are very complicated, you’re required by the government to first meet with an independent counselor to make sure you completely understand how they work.

Counseling can be done in person or over the phone and many counseling agencies today provide it for free or at a minimal fee. Some locations charge around $125. For more information on reverse mortgages, or to locate counseling agencies in your area, visit hud. gov/offices/hsg/sfh/hecm/hecmhome.cfm or call 800-569-4287.

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.

Helping moms save nearly $4,000 a year

M

other’s Day is right around who live with them; the corner. It’s always nice to –Have earnings from work; or give Mom a card, flowers and –Live in Alaska or Hawaii; and candy. But this year people all over • Resources limited to $12,640 for the country are helping their moms an individual or $25,260 for a marsave nearly $4,000 a year on the cost of ried couple living together. Resources prescription drugs. You can help your include such things as bank accounts, mom too — and it won’t cost you a stocks and bonds. We do not dime. count her house and car as The high cost of prescripresources. tion medication can be a Social Security has an burden on mothers (or anyone) easy-to-use online application who have limited income and that you can help complete resources. But there is extra for your mom. You can find help — available through Social it at www.socialsecurity.gov.

Security — that could pay part Just select the link on the left of her monthly premiums, anof the page that says, “Get nual deductibles, and prescripextra help with Medicare tion co-payments. That extra prescription drug costs.” help is worth an average of To apply by phone or Banikowski almost $4,000 a year. have an application mailed To figure out whether your mother to you, call Social Security at 1-800is eligible, Social Security needs to 772-1213 (TTY 1-800-325-0778) and know her income and the value of her ask for the Application for Help with savings, investments and real estate Medicare Prescription Drug Plan Costs (other than the home she lives in). To (SSA-1020). Or go to the nearest Social qualify for the extra help, she must be Security office. enrolled in Medicare and have: To learn more about the Medicare • Income limited to $16,335 for prescription drug plans and special enan individual or $22,065 for a marrollment periods, visit www.medicare. ried couple living together. Even if her gov or call 1-800-MEDICARE (1-800annual income is higher, she still may 633-4227; TTY 1-877-486-2048). be able to get some help with monthly So this Mother’s Day, give your premiums, annual deductibles, and mom a gift she can really use yearprescription co-payments. Some exround — a savings of up to $4,000 a amples where income may be higher year on her prescription drugs. Flowers include if she or her spouse: whither and candy is consumed, but –Support other family members the extra help through Social Security will keep on giving throughout the year.

Q&A

Q: I can’t seem to find my Social Security card. Do I need to get a replacement?

A: In most cases, knowing your Social Security number is enough. But if you do apply for and receive a replacement card, do not carry that card with you. Keep it with your important papers. For more information about your Social Security card and number and for information about how to apply for a replacement, visit www. socialsecurity.gov/ssnumber. If you believe you’re the victim of identity theft, read our publication Identity Theft And Your Social Security Number, at www. socialsecurity.gov/pubs/10064.html.

Q: What can Social Security do to help me plan for my retirement?

A: Social Security has some great online financial planning tools you can use to make an informed decision about your retirement. Social Security’s online Retirement Planner and our online Retirement Estimator are both tools you can access online at any time. These will let you compute estimates of your future Social Security retirement benefits. They also proMay 2011 •

vide important information on factors affecting retirement benefits, such as military service, household earnings, and Federal employment. You can access our Retirement Planner at www. socialsecurity.gov/retire2. Find the Retirement Estimator at www.socialsecurity.gov/estimator.

Q: I understand that to get Social Security disability benefits, my disability must be expected to last at least a year or be expected to result in death.

But I’m disabled now. Does this mean that I must wait a year after becoming disabled before I can receive benefits?

A: You do not have to wait a year after becoming disabled. If you’re disabled and expect to be out of work for at least a year, you should apply for disability benefits right away. It can take months to process an application for disability benefits. If we approve your application, your first Social Security disability benefit will be paid for the sixth full month after the date your disability began. For more information about Social Security disability benefits, refer to Disability Benefits (Publication No. 05-10029) at www. socialsecurity.gov/pubs/10029.html.

IN GOOD HEALTH – CNY’s Healthcare Newspaper

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Health

issues

Gaining insight Studies by Excellus help shed light on health care issues

By Aaron Gifford

I

n the early 1990s, officials at BlueCross BlueShield wanted a better way to explain to its customers the connection between insurance premiums and health care costs.

The company set up a corporate communications office and made plans to generate reports on what the true costs of health care really looked like— and what the public could do to keep the costs from constantly increasing. In the days before the World Wide Web, it was quite an ambitious undertaking.

“There was a need for more conversation about personal habits and how it affected health insurance costs,” said Geoff Taylor, Excellus BlueCross BlueShield senior vice president of corporate communications.

Taylor, who had worked as a news reporter for The Associated Press, was recruited for the initiative because the company wanted to produce materials that its customers could understand, free of scientific jargon and technical medical terms. “The main idea,” he said, “was to help people connect the dots.”

As the Internet emerged, the reports evolved from a global approach designed to serve the entire customer base to a targeted approach for individuals. In 2003, the company began putting fact sheets on its website, with the topics ranging from cigarette smoking, to cancer screening, to insurance coverage for experimental treatments.

A 2005 study published on costs savings for generic prescriptions made a huge splash in the insurance industry and with the media, as newspapers across the state published the Excellus report in its entirety.

“It just got a ton of interest,” Taylor said.

Ad hoc approach

And yet, Excellus BlueCross BlueShield does not have a dedicated staff for these reports. Rather, it utilizes a team of writers and researchers that spends most of its time producing other types of materials for the company, and several in-house experts. That list includes chief pharmacy officer Joel Owerbach, who is considered a national expert on generic drugs, and Patricia Bomba, a geriatrician and national expert on end-of-life issues, Taylor said.

“It’s entirely in-house people— even practicing surgeons contribute,” Taylor said. “And the writers work with them to make sure they speak plain English. They can’t use scientific terms or industry jargon.”

All told, there are 49 different reports, surveys or fact sheets on Excellus’ website. The items are organized under 12 different general topics: AcPage 26

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cess and Health Coverage; Behaviors and Health Conditions; Costs—General; Dental Care; End of Life Care; Experimental Treatment and Clinical Trials; Health Measurements; Hospitals; Malpractice; Medical Advances; Prescription and Nonprescription Drugs.

Taylor could not estimate an annual or total cost for producing the fact sheets and studies, saying there is no line item in the communications budget for that program. He also could not estimate how many employees work on a report in any given year. In fact, there is no formal schedule or plan for producing the fact sheets and the topics are not planned out way ahead of time, Taylor explained.

Backed by the facts

Employees keep an eye out for trends, and ideas for potential reports are discussed often, but the communications staff must be assured that the concepts, ideas and trends can be illustrated with reliable statistics and expert insight before anything is published.

A typical fact sheet is 10 pages or less, and consists mostly of graphics, charts and comparison numbers for different regions of Upstate New York. All the data comes from reputable sources, Taylor said, such as the Centers for Disease Control and the state Department of Health.

The final section of the fact sheet typically brings steps consumers can take to keep health care costs down and/or maintain a healthier lifestyle.

A recent report on fall incidence and insurance costs for older adults, for example, said seniors can reduce the risk of fall by wearing sensible, properly fitting shoes and installing non-slip treads on wooden floors.

Excellus officials said they know the fact sheets are well read, but it’s difficult to gauge whether these reports can be credited to customers making healthier and more economical decisions to help keep health care costs stagnant. Taylor did point out that generic prescription fill rates in Upstate New York grew faster than in any other region of the country after Excellus’ 2005 report.

Liz Martin, Excellus vice president of communications in Syracuse, said the Compassion and Support health care website was inundated with hits after Excellus released its fact sheet on end of life care in 2008. The report noted that living wills and documents for health care proxies could be obtained from the site.

“There has been a real up-tick in how many people were clicking on it for information,” she said. “There was

IN GOOD HEALTH – CNY’s Healthcare Newspaper • May 2011

clearly a pent-up desire for people to get that information.”

Hot button topics

Moreover, the 2005 national media coverage of the debate surrounding the care of a Florida woman, (Terry Schiavo), who was in a vegetative state, prompted Excellus BlueCross BlueShield to engage in that topic with the community locally.

“Patricia Bomba was involved in that as well,” Taylor said. “It’s not a pleasant topic, but we wanted to facilitate conversation between family members. It’s important to talk to your family about what your wishes are for end of life care.”

The immediate future of the fact sheet initiative, Taylor said, is to update some of the reports for which the data has changed. A previous report on smoking, for example, showed that smoking rates were decreasing. The latest round of regional statistics on

smoking, however, no longer indicates a downward trend.

“It’s somewhat discouraging,” Taylor said, “but we have an obligation to report the facts. The latest round of numbers hasn’t necessarily been moving in the right direction.”

Martin stressed the role of the reports isn’t solely to encourage change or containing health care costs. That would be the case for the 2008 report on the leading causes of death in Upstate New York, which showed that heart disease and cancer were the No. 1 and No. 2 causes, respectively, of death in five regions of Upstate New York from 2003-2005.

“Sometimes it’s just putting the information out there,” she said. “There’s not always a call to action. And it’s not always about the financial toll, but the human toll.”

Excellus findings Excellus BlueCross BlueShield has issued 49 reports and surveys in the last few years. Here are some of the findings: • Nearly 2 million New York state adults are informal caregivers • Close to 15,000 older Upstate NY adults are injured and hospitalized due to falls • An Excellus BlueCross BlueShield report finds that 127,000 upstate New York adults survived a stroke.

• “New Report: Upstate Is Ripe with Opportunities to Save Lives, Time and Money with E-prescribing” • “Report: Upstate New Yorkers Unnecessarily Use the ER” • “Increase in Generic Fill Rate Saved Upstate New York $127 Million in 2009” • “Sexually Transmitted Diseases: The Silent Epidemic” To view other studies, fact sheet and surveys, go to excellusbcbs.com/factsheets.

H ealth News DeRoberts Plastic Surgery receives accreditation DeRoberts Plastic Surgery, PLLC recently received accreditation from the American Association for Accreditation of Ambulatory Surgery, Facilities, Inc. (AAAASF) to perform office-based procedures up to and including procedures that are performed under general anesthesia.

Being an accredited facility will allow DeRoberts to provide higher level of care to his cosmetic and reconstructive patients in a safe, efficient and private office environment.

AAAASF is one of three national organizations approved by New York state to accredit office-based surgery centers. In New York state physicians who wish to perform invasive procedures and surgery requiring general anesthesia are required to become accredited as part of the office-based surgery law enacted in 2007.

DeRoberts Plastic Surgery, PLLC was established on Oct. 4, 2010 by Dean DeRoberts, board-certified plastic surgeon. DeRoberts recently returned to Syracuse to be closer to his family and friends. He previously served as the founder and medical director of the Aesthetic Center of Jacksonville in Jacksonville Beach, Fla. He specializes in breast augmentations, breast reductions, breast reconstruction, tummy tucks, and face lifts.

Alzheimer’s group gets award for its newsletter The Alzheimer’s Association, Central New York chapter has received the 2010 All Star Award from Constant Contact, Inc., a trusted marketing adviser to more than 400,000 small organizations worldwide. The chapter’s e-newsletter alzmail was one of Constant Contact’s 2010 top performers and most prolific user of its tools.

“Our constituents have told us time and time again that “Alzmail” is a great resource and we are proud to be recognized within the email marketing industry,” Catherine James, chief executive officer for the Alzheimer’s Association, Central New York Chapter, said.

“Alzmail” debuted in 2005 as the first e-newsletter produced by an Alzheimer’s Association chapter.

Since then, it has surpassed more than 1,000 subscribers. The e-newsletter’s open and click rates surpass industry averages. alzmail, published three times weekly, carries headlines about Alzheimer research and caregiving, and as well as information about local programs offered by the Central New York Chapter. The 1,000th edition of “Alzmail” will be published later this year. To subscribe, visit www.alzcny. org/alzmail.

Saini Eye Care opens in Fayetteville Saini Eye Care, a new full-service eye care facility, has opened in the Towne Center in Fayetteville.

Saini Eye Care provide compre-

hensive family eye care, full-service eyeglass and contact lens care, and diagnosis and treatment of eye diseases.

The new facility will also offer a large selection of designer eyewear.

Saini Eye Care is locally owned and operated by Dr. Nita Saini of Manlius.

For more information, visit www.sainieyecare.com or call 632-6036.

Endocrinologist joins AMH medical staff Steven Zygmont, an endocrinologist, has recently joined Auburn Memorial Hospital’s medical staff and will be practicing full time with Auburn Memorial Medical Services at 77 Nelson St. in Auburn.

Zygmont completed medical school at SUNY Health Science Center Syracuse. His internship and residency were completed at Strong Memorial Hospital, Rochester.

His fellowship was in endocrinology, diabetes and metabolism at the Medical UniverZygmont sity of South Carolina, Charleston. Prior to joining Auburn Memorial Hospital, Zygmont practiced at the Joslin Clinic in Syracuse for 11 years. He was also an associate professor of medicine, endocrinology, diabetes and metabolism at SUNY Upstate Medical University.

He is board certified in internal medicine as well as board certified in endocrinology, diabetes and metabolism. Zygmont is a member of the American Diabetes association, Endocrine Society and the American Association of Clinical Endocrinologists.

1987. Main had most recently held the position of microbiology supervisor/ infection control practitioner.

Hale obtained his bachelor’s degree from Syracuse University and his masters in health administration from the New School of Social Research.

Hale is a licensed medical technologist and a member of the American Association for Clinical Chemistry and the American Society for Clinical Pathology. He has been an employee of Oswego Hospital since 1985.

Among Hale’s duties are to assist in the daily operation of the lab including the department’s information system, reference testing and billing.

He will also oversee all chemistry testing and instrumentation. He had previously held the title of chemistry supervisor.

N. Syracuse resident named Employee of the Month Jennifer Catalano, a social worker on the third floor of Loretto Health and Rehabilitation Center’s Fahey Rehab in Syracuse, has recently been chosen as employee of the month because of the “integrity and professionalism she brings to the job.” She has been with

the organization for six years.

Prior to Loretto, Catalano worked with abused children, the developmentally disabled and as an educator trainer.

According to Loretto, she has always enjoyed working with the elderly, which attracted Catalano her to the organization. She enjoys helping elders and other patients “get back home.” She also enjoys the day-to-day challenges of rehabilitation, which she states are “always changing.” Catalano’s coworkers describe her as “a pleasure to deal with and team player who works collaboratively with her unit.”

Catalano resides in North Syracuse with her husband of three years, Joe. She enjoys the outdoors and taking Zumba classes.

Aurora of CNY welcomes new employees Lauren O’Donnell of Syracuse joined Aurora of CNY, Inc. as full-time scheduling clerk in Aurora’s Marjorie

Two promoted at Oswego Hospital lab Oswego Hospital has announced the promotion of two of its laboratory employees.

Patricia Main has been named administrative director for the department while Ed Hale has been named assistant administrative director.

Main now is responsible for the overall operation of the laboratory, including personnel, budget and materials management. She will also assure quality standards are achieved and oversee customer/ patient relations.

Main Main earned a bachelor’s degree in medical technology from SUNY Upstate. She has also obtained a master’s of business administration and a master’s in management, both from SUNY Oswego.

Main holds a certification in infection control, a license in medical technology and is a diplomat in laboratory management. She has been an employee of Hale Oswego Hospital since

VA outpatient clinic is rated No. 1 in NYS. From left are Celestine Drake, nurse practitioner; Bimpe Oguntola, clinical pharmacist; Nancy Vitale-Medical, technician; Stephen Rusin, local veteran; Tom Filiak, vice president of operations; Laura Delaney, nurse practitioner; John Baran, chief financial officer; Shirley Flynn, receptionist; Eric Allyn, president of Auburn Memorial Hospital’s board of trustees; Deidre Hutchings, registered nurse; and Roz McCormick, vice president of public relations/medical staff.

The Auburn Memorial Hospital Outpatient VA Clinic is Rated No. 1 in NYS The Veterans Administration Outpatient Clinic at Auburn Memorial Hospital has been rated the top clinic in New York state in the first quarter of 2011. It was rated No. 2 in New York state for 2010.

According to clinic officials, this recognition is based on patient satisfaction, quality of patient care and access to care. The results were compared to 28 other VA clinics in New York state. The Auburn MeMay 2011 •

morial Hospital VA clinic has been providing primary care and behavioral health services for veterans in Cayuga County and surrounding area since 2000.

Stephen Rusin, a local veteran, said, “I really enjoy going to the clinic because the people are wonderful and have been very helpful.

After many many years, they are the ones who got my blood pressure down. The staff is always so great.”

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H ealth News Clere Interpreter Referral Service, where she accepts and processes requests for sign language interpreters, and dispatches interpreters, for the service’s clients.

O’Donnell has a bachelor’s degree in secondary Spanish education from SUNY Cortland and a master’s degree O’Donnell in secondary education from Grand Canyon University.

David Roberts of Syracuse joined the nonprofit as full-time secretary. His duties include processing paperwork for new consumers and managing consumer databases, as well as greeting and assisting visitors to Roberts Aurora’s office. Roberts has two associate degrees from Bryant and Stratton: one in business management and the other in micro computer

systems management.

He also works as a supervisor/communication assistant at Communication Services for the Deaf (NY Relay Service).

Alishia Menendez of Parish joined the organization as part-time job developer. In this role she is helping conMenendez sumers who are blind or visually impaired find employment.

Surgeries: Crouse named one of top 26 U.S. hospitals The American College of Surgeons National Surgical Quality Improvement Program (ACS NSQIP) has recognized Crouse Hospital as one of 26 ACS NSQIP participating hospitals in the United States that have achieved exemplary outcomes for surgical patient care.

As a participant in NSQIP, Crouse

Oswego Hospital Unveils Its New Medical Imaging Department Oswego Hospital has completed its major renovation project with the unveiling of a new medical imaging department, the final hospital area to be updated under the construction plans.

The updated first-floor medical imaging department was officially opened April 4. The department features several pieces of technology.

A new general X-ray room has the technology that turns a routine scan into a wealth of information.

Using GE’s state-of-the-art Discovery equipment that features dual energy, two scans are taken nearly simultaneously that provide radiologists with a standard image; an image with bones “subtracted” for an unobstructed view of soft tissue; and an image of the bones to highlight foreign objects or calcified structures In other department upgrades, the 64-slice computed tomography (CT) equipment has been moved to a new location and is ready for

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use. This department also has a high field open magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) machine. Other services offered by the department include digital mammography, bone density, ultrasound, fluoroscopy and nuclear medicine.

The medical imaging department has a new waiting area conveniently located off the hospital’s main lobby that is both spacious and comfortable.

The newly opened department is adjacent to the hospital’s new ER, which was unveiled in late December. Other new departments include the third floor laboratory, intermediate care unit and an attractive first floor lobby.

Oswego Hospital held a ribbon cutting in its new medical imaging department, which officially opened the first week in April. Among those in the photo are radiologists from Crouse Radiology Associates, staff members, and members of the health system’s leadership team.

IN GOOD HEALTH – CNY’s Healthcare Newspaper • May 2011

tracks the outcomes of inpatient surgical procedures and collects data that directs patient safety and the quality of surgical care improvements. The hospital then benchmarks its data against more than 300 other participating hospitals and health systems.

The NSQIP recognition program commends a select group of hospitals for achieving exemplary outcome performances related to patient management in five clinical areas: DVT (deep vein thrombosis, thrombophlebitis and pulmonary embolism); cardiac incidents (cardiac arrest and myocardial infarction); pneumonia; SSI (surgical site infections-superficial and deep incisional and organ-space SSIs); or urinary tract infection.

Crouse attained exemplary outcomes in the following areas: cardiac complications; surgical site infections; unplanned intubation; morbidity and use of ventilators.

Risk-adjusted data from the June 2010 ACS NSQIP Semiannual Report were used to determine which hospitals demonstrated exemplary outcomes.

“This recognition from the American College of Surgeons affirms Crouse Hospital’s commitment to patient safety and quality surgical care,” said Crouse President and CEO Paul Kronenberg. “This distinction tells patients that they are receiving high-quality surgical care, which is a reflection on the outstanding team of surgeons, nurses and technicians who provide inpatient surgical care.”

NSQIP is the only nationally validated quality improvement program that measures and enhances the care of surgical patients. The program measures the actual surgical results 30 days postoperatively as well as risk adjusts patient characteristics to compensate for differences among patient populations and acuity levels.

The goal of ACS NSQIP is to reduce surgical morbidity (infection or illness related to a surgical procedure) and surgical mortality (death related to a surgical procedure) and to provide a firm foundation for surgeons to apply what is known as the “best scientific evidence” to the practice of surgery.

Additionally, when adverse effects from surgical procedures are reduced and/or eliminated, a reduction in healthcare costs follows. NSQIP is currently used in over 300 hospitals.

State association honors TLC Medical Transport At ceremonies in Albany, the founder and president of TLC Emergency Medical Services Inc. and TLC Medical Transportation Services Inc. was presented with the top honor of the United New York Ambulance Network (UNYAN), a statewide trade association representing more than 40 commercial ambulance services across the state.

The award was preButler sented at UNYAN’s recognition banquet at Albany’s Crowne Plaza hotel. In addition, three medics with TLC were among a number of

outstanding employee awards presented at the banquet.

David J. Butler, president and founder of TLC, was awarded The Ron Kintz Award of EMS Excellence, named after a founding member of UNYAN. The award is presented each year to an association Keegan member who makes a significant contribution to the industry.

Butler has a long history in the medical transportation and emergency response field. He is a former emergency medical technician who started an ambulance and wheelchair transportaBinns tion business in 1973 in Onondaga County. That business has grown to operate ambulance services in Cortland, and under contract to the City of Auburn and the Brewerton Ambulance District.

In addition to operating TLC, Butler is also a member of the Cortland County 911 Symonds Advisory Board and Cortland County Local Emergency Planning Board. He is vice chairman of the Cortland County EMS Advisory Board and is the longest serving member of the Central New York Regional Emergency Medical Services Council.

The three TLC medics receiving outstanding employee recognition awards were Mike Keegan, a supervisor with the Cortland office; Ed Binns, a paramedic supervisor in TLC’s Syracuse operation; and Jay Symonds, A paramedic supervisor for TLC in Cortland.

News from Crouse Medical Practice Executive Director Appointed — Alfred Dunn has been named executive director of Crouse Medical Practice, PLLC. According to the organization, CMP was formed in 2010 as a way for Crouse Hospital to further align the organization with its physicians, with the goal of building an integrated healthcare delivery network over time. This is a strategic focus of the hospital and officials say it will be critical as Crouse positions itself to address challenges and opportuDunn nities brought about by healthcare reform.

The first physician group to join CMP was Syracuse-based Internist Associates in 2010. Other groups have expressed interest as well.

As executive director, Dunn will provide leadership and oversight of CMP’s clinical and financial operations and direction, including the ongoing

H ealth News strategic growth and development of the practice in concert with the hospital’s mission, vision and values.

Dunn is an experienced, accomplished healthcare executive who brings more than 20 years of senior management experience to this important role. Most recently, he served as chief operating officer, clinical affairs for the University of South Carolina School of Medicine in Columbia, S. C. The school’s practice plan is comprised of 180 clinical faculty and 450 staff.

Prior to that, he was assistant executive director for the department of medicine at Scott & White Healthcare in Texas, one of the nation’s largest multi-specialty health systems. He has also held senior leadership positions at Emory University School of Medicine and SUNY Buffalo.

A native of Buffalo, Dunn holds master’s degrees in business administration and public administration, both from Canisius College in Buffalo.

Sodexo to Manage Dining Services at Crouse — In January, Crouse Hospital contracted with Sodexo, which serves 10 million consumers in 6,000 locations in the United States, Canada and Mexico, to manage the hospital’s nutritional services operations. For the past two months, the company has been making physical and menu enhancements to the Clock Tower Café, the hospital’s cafeteria for visitors and staff, which will undergo extensive renovations next winter.

In late fall, to help the hospital fulfill its mission to provide the best in patient care, Sodexo will introduce “At Corcoran Your Request — Room Service Dining,” the leading healthcare room service program in North America. To help implement these changes, Crouse has announced two key appointments to the nutritional services team. Liverpool native Alec Neider has been named director of nutritional services for Sodexo at Crouse Hospital. Neider comes to Crouse with vast experience in nutritional services, particularly in healthcare, working as a director in both long-term and acute Neider care, and most recently having opened new Sodexo operations in the Kalieda Health system in Buffalo and Jackson Health system in Miami.

Todd Corcoran of Union Springs has been named executive chef at Crouse.

Corcoran has been with Sodexo since 2000, and during those years served as food production manager at its SUNY Albany location and as executive chef at New York Chiropractic College and Wells College. He earned his associate’s degree in culinary arts in 1998 from Schenectady Community College.

News from

Kimberley Murray Appointed to Service Line Administrator For Orthopedic And Spine Services — St. Joseph’s Hospital Health Center has appointed Kimberley Murray to service line administrator for orthopedic and spine services. In this role, she will be responsible for providing administrative support and direction of orthopedic services, including financial and clinical performance, marketing and strategic planning.

Murray has been with St. Joseph’s for more than 25 years, Murray most recently serving as director of surgical services. Under her leadership, St. Joseph’s surgical services has grown to include two outpatient surgery centers and several new services, including aesthetic, bariatric and robotic surgery to name a few. Murray also helped establish the hospital’s blood conservation program, which recently was honored by the American Red Cross for the significant accomplishments the program has made in the way of saving precious blood and blood components.

An accomplished nurse leader at St. Joseph’s, Murray has been honored numerous times, most recently with the Nursing Leadership Award by her peers at St. Joseph’s.

Murray is a graduate of St. Joseph’s College of Nursing. She earned a Bachelor of Science degree in nursing from the State University of New York College of Technology at Utica-Rome, and a Master of Science degree in nursing from Syracuse University, graduating from both programs summa cum laude.

Murray is a member of the Association of Operating Room Nurses, American Society of Perianesthesia Nurses, National Association of Orthopedic Nurses, Sigma Theta Tau Nursing Honor Society, New York and Central New York Organizations of Nurse Executives. She is certified as an operating room nurse.

A resident of Onondaga Hill, Murray services on the board of directors for Contact Family Services and the board of advisors for the Finger Lakes Donor Recovery Network.

New Doc s— St. Joseph’s has welcomed two new anesthesiologists to its staff: Yuri Khibkin of Fayetteville and Horatius Roman of Manlius.

St. Joseph’s Medical Imaging Honors Colleague For Excellence — St. Joseph’s Hospital Health Center’s Medical Imaging department recently

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Send an email to editor@cnyhealth.com

Upstate Medical University researchers, doctors and breast cancer survivors gather to celebrate a $150,000 grant from the Baldwin Foundation. From left, Bernard Poiesz, Lynn Conroy, Andrzej Krol, Bryan Margulis, Beth Baldwin of the Baldwin Foundation, Patricia Numann, Ziwei Huang, Lynn J. Schwenn Johnson, Ying Huang, and Jing An.

Upstate receives $150,000 grant from Baldwin Foundation The Carol M. Baldwin Breast Cancer Research Foundation has awarded Upstate Medical University $150,000 to support breast cancer research.

Six researchers with the Upstate Cancer Research Institute were presented checks for $25,000 to help fund an array of research, including the development of new drug therapies and a noninvasive painless, risk-free virtual breast biopsy.

“The Baldwin Foundation has been a steadfast partner with Upstate in the fight against breast cancer,” said Ziwei Huang, director of the Upstate Cancer Research Institute. “The foundation’s ongoing

honored a radiologist with a Staff Appreciation Award for excellence in patient care. Dr. Juno Lee, a resident of Jamesville, was recognized for living and supporting the mission, vision and values of St. Joseph’s while providing excellent patient care as part of the Lee medical imaging team.

“There is no greater compliment than to be recognized by those with whom you work every day,” said Nicholas Trasolini, chair of the medical imaging department at St. Joseph’s. “Dr. Lee, the third recipient of this annual award, is quiet and unassuming, as well as extremely efficient and very caring, according to his colleagues and patients.”

At a ceremony on Apr. 14, Robert Whitmarsh, director of medical imaging for StIL Joseph’s read excerpts from nomination forms. Nominees cited Lee for his dedication, pleasant demeanor and ability to maintain reverence and stewardship at all times.

May 2011 •

support brings us that much closer to better treatments and better lives for cancer patients.”

Since 2002, the Baldwin Foundation has awarded more than $1.4 million to Upstate cancer researchers, and has endowed an annual lecture named in honor of a cancer survivor.

The Upstate Cancer Research Institute (CRI), which opened last year, serves as the hub of Upstate’s cancer research with ongoing work, such as cancer biology, structural and chemical biology and bioinformatics, viral oncology, stem cell research and drug discovery and translational research.

News from

Upstate honors faculty, hospital announces appointments and CEO McCabe earns national recognition—Upstate Medical University has acknowledged the outstanding work of eight faculty members with its Gold Standard Award. The award recognizes individuals who consistently show passion, vision and commitment in their research, clinical service and teaching, while promoting the university’s values of driving innovation and discovery, respecting people, serving the community and valuing diversity.

Those honored are: (place of residence in parenthesis): • Sandra Banas, assistant professor of physician’s assistant studies, College of Health Professions (Clay); • Dr. Gregory Fink, associate professor of surgery, College of Medicine (Manlius);

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H ealth News • Dr. Sheila Lemke, associate professor of medicine, College of Medicine (Syracuse); • Dr. Barbara Krenzer, professor of medicine, College of Medicine (Manlius); • Dr. James Megna, associate professor of psychiatry and behavioral sciences, College of Medicine (Syracuse); • Dr. Bettina Smallman, associate professor of anesthesiology, College of Medicine (Phoenix); • Dr. Amar Swarnkar, associate professor of radiology, College of Medicine (Jamesville); • Frederick Werner, professor of orthopedic surgery, College of Medicine (DeWitt) Upstate University Hospital also announced the following appointments: • Scott Jessie, a registered nurse, has been appointed patient service

supervisor for the surgical/trauma and burn intensive care unit. Jessie lives in Liverpool • Donna Sowles, a registered nurse, has been appointed a regiona lresource coordinator for the Regional Resource Center, which provides comprehensive planning and preparedness resources to assist hospitals, long term care facilities and other responses agencies across the Central New York region in increasing their emergency preparedness. Sowles lives in Weedsport.

• Upstate University Hospital Chief Executive Officer John McCabe, a medical doctor, has been named to a list of the 130 Hospital and Healthcare System CEOs to Know compiled by Becker’s Hospital Review, a bimonthly national publication and e-newsletter that offers information on business of hospitals and health systems. McCabe resides in Cazenovia.

Health in good

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Auburn Memorial Awarded Accreditation From The Joint Commission Auburn Memorial Hospital has earned The Joint Commission’s Gold Seal of Approval for accreditation by demonstrating compliance with the Joint Commission’s national standards for health care quality and safety in hospitals. The accreditation award recognizes Auburn Memorial Hospital’s dedication to continuous compliance with The Joint Commission’s state of the art standards.

Auburn Memorial Hospital underwent a rigorous unannounced on-site survey in January 2011. A team of Joint Commission expert

surveyors evaluated Auburn Memorial Hospital for compliance with standards of care specific to the needs of patients, including infection prevention and control, leadership and medication management.

“In achieving Joint Commission accreditation, Auburn Memorial Hospital has demonstrated its commitment to the highest level of care for its patients,” says Fred Kaempffe, chief medical officer at the hospital. “Accreditation is a voluntary process and I commend Auburn Memorial Hospital for successfully undertaking this challenge to elevate its standard of care and instill confidence in the community it serves.”

RN SUPERVISOR Michaud Residential Health Services, an 89 bed skilled nursing and rehabilitation facility, is seeking a full time night and part time evening RN supervisor, must possess a N.Y. RN license.

Qualified candidates may receive $1500 sign on bonus.

Please submit your resume to:

Michaud Residential Health Services Attn: Human Resources 453 Park Street Fulton, NY 13069

Or on line at www.michaudhs.com Equal Opportunity Employer

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CELEBRATING UPSTATE NURSING! Upstate Nurses provide award-winning nursing care.

They initiate changes that enhance patient - and family centered care. They exceed expectations by shaping an environment that inspires excellence, respect and dignity. They are students, graduates, mentors and teachers. They are active in our community. They are ALL this, because they are Upstate Nurses.

We would like to thank our nurses for their incredible dedication.

NATIONAL NURSES WEEK, MAY 6-12

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55 PLUS Magazine & Website: Reaching the fastest growing population in Central New York Page 30

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IN GOOD HEALTH – CNY’s Healthcare Newspaper • May 2011

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May 2011 •

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IN GOOD HEALTH – CNY’s Healthcare Newspaper • May 2011