Igh cny 199 july16 final by In Good Health: CNY's Healthcare Newspaper

in good BEFORE VIAGRA

Urologist Felix Oben talks about the role Viagra has played in treating erectile dysfunction — and what were the treatments that existed prior to it

July 2016 • Issue 199

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Mistaken Identity

DIABETES TREATMENT Bariatric surgery gains more credibility as a standard treatment option for diabetes

A unique center in Upstate New York, The Gender Wellness Center has seen number of transgender patients skyrocket in one year

Oneida Healthcare, Bassett reach agreement

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Chill Out Hot Flashes Experts suggest ways to cope with the problem

Mental Health & Kids What parents need to do to provide a mentally healthy summer for their kids

The New MIND Diet May Help Prevent Alzheimer’s

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Hot Dogs SmartBite columnist: The good, the bad and the healthy about hot dogs.

Live Alone & Thrive Author of ‘Live Alone & Thrive’ column gets a new puppy and writes about the importance of touching. ‘Touch: An Essential Ingredient for Those Who Live Alone’ Page 8

Americans Living Longer and Better Improvements in heart and vision care likely behind the progress, study finds

mericans aren’t just living longer, they’re living more years without disabilities, too, a new study shows. Harvard University researchers reviewed federal government data. They found that in 1992, life expectancy for the average 65-year-old was 17.5 additional years, 8.9 of which were disability-free. By 2008, life expectancy for someone age 65 was an additional 18.8 years, 10.7 of which were disability-free. “This suggests, for the typical person, there really is an act beyond work — that once you reach age 65, you can likely look forward to years of healthy activity,” said study co-author David Cutler, a professor of applied economics at Harvard. “So this is good news for the vast bulk of people who can now look forward to healthier, disability-free life, but it’s also good news for medical care because it demonstrates the value of medical spending,” he said in a university news release. The researchers said improvements in vision care and in heart disease prevention and treatment are major factors behind the trend

toward healthier, longer lives. “There has been an incredibly dramatic decline in deaths and disabilities from heart disease and heart failure. Some of it is the result of people smoking less, and better diet, but we estimate that as much as half of the improvement is because of medical care, especially statin drug treatment, which is both preventing heart attacks and improving people’s recovery,” Cutler said. Cataract treatment is responsible for much of the improvement in vision health. “In the past, cataract surgery was very lengthy and technically difficult. That same surgery today can be done in an outpatient setting, so that complications and disability are significantly ameliorated,” Cutler said. “It used to be that when you turn 70, your occupation became managing your health. Now you can increasingly just live your life,” he concluded. The study is described in a working paper released recently by the National Bureau of Economic Research.

New Psoriasis Drug Works Longer Term, Too Moderate-to-severe skin disease improved with Taltz over 60 weeks, study finds

new drug that has shown “unprecedented” effects on the skin condition psoriasis seems to work well in the longer term, too, researchers report. The drug, called ixekizumab (Taltz), was approved in March by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration. That came after initial trials showed that over 12 weeks, the drug soundly beat standard medication for moderate-to-severe psoriasis. The new findings show the benefits are still there after 60 weeks. At that point, about 80 percent of patients were seeing at least a 75 percent improvement in their skin symptoms, the researchers said. So far, ixekizumab has shown “unprecedented efficacy” against more severe cases of psoriasis, said Joel Gelfand, a dermatologist who wasn’t involved in the research. The drug, given by injection, targets an inflammatory protein called IL-17, said Gelfand, who directs the Psoriasis and Phototherapy Treatment Center at the University of Pennsylvania. The FDA approved another IL-17 inhibitor, called Cosentyx, last year.

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IN GOOD HEALTH – CNY’s Healthcare Newspaper • July 2016

New Non-Surgical Protocol for Neuropathy What is Neuropathy?

Neuropathy is a collection of disorders that occur when nerves of the peripheral nervous system are damaged. The condition is generally referred to as peripheral neuropathy. In the United States, over 20 million people suffer from peripheral neuropathy. Neuropathy can be brought on by a number of different causes including Diabetes, Back Problems, Chemotherapy and certain prescription drugs such as Gabapentin, Lyrica, Neurontin and Cholesterol Lowering Drugs (statin drugs). Damaged nerves send incorrect signals back to the brain causing scattered signals resulting in numbness, burning, tingling and sharp pain sensations that are usually felt in the feet, legs, hands and arms. Symptoms associated with the motor portion of the nerve may include muscle weakness, cramping and spasms as well as a lack of coordination and poor balance.

Are you Experiencing Pins & Needles? Numbness and Tingling? Pain or Burning in your Feet or Hands?

Traditional Treatments:

Over the years neuropathy treatments in general have had poor results at best. Many medications are used that have signiﬁcant side effects and poor treatment outcomes. Only recently have we had a promising breakthrough to help reduce symptoms of neuropathy with lasting results.

New Non-Surgical For Neuropathy:

Protocol

A new development in Class IV laser technology called Deep Tissue Laser Therapy has been shown to improve the function of the blood vessels and tissues that surround the injured nerves. This improves the elasticity and function of the blood vessels. As the blood vessels become healthier, the nerves begin to thrive. Another choice of treatment, Peripheral Neuropathy Vibration Therapy, is used to

expedite healing by increasing blood circulation to the muscles by repeated contraction and relaxation of your muscles. This brings freshly oxygenated and nutrient rich blood to all tissues causing accelerated healing. This treatment also increases the transmission of nerve signals to the affected area to reduce neuropathy pain. Additionally, a landmark study demonstrates the beneﬁts of an arginine based nutritional protocol for patients. This pharmaceutical grade supplement containing L-Arginine boosts the production of Nitric Oxide in your body and has been labeled The Ultimate Cardio Health Solution. The Nobel Prize in Medicine was awarded in 1998 validating the effects of nitric oxide on the cardiovascular system and how L-Arginine is critical to the production of nitric oxide in the body. Ironically the use of L-arginine was also found to deliver dramatic results to patients with diabetes and peripheral neuropathy by improving circulation.

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IN GOOD HEALTH – CNY’s Healthcare Newspaper

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CALENDAR of

HEALTH EVENTS

July

Summer camp for kids with diabetes Sitting around a campfire, swimming, boating, climbing a rock wall, zip lining — all aspects of a great summer camp. However, each year the American Diabetes Association holds a camp that’s much more than a typical camp. It’s a place where kids with diabetes meet other kids just like them and feel “normal.” And it all happens under the supervision of a medical staff dedicated to making sure that everyone stays safe both day and night. The American Diabetes Association holds Camp ASPIRE at the Rochester Rotary Sunshine Campus in Rush during the month of July. The camp runs for two one-week sessions. Children aged 13-17 will attend from July 3-8 and children aged 8-14 will attend from July 10-15. Registration is now open. Camp ASPIRE is an acronym for “Always Sharing Priceless, Inspirational, Rewarding Experiences.” The goal of Camp ASPIRE is to allow the campers to feel accepted in a community where having diabetes is the rule, not the exception. The campers learn to understand diabetes and the process of self-management under continuous medical supervision. According to organizers, the children go home feeling more self-confident and self-reliant, having gained the knowledge they need to live successful, full lives with diabetes. For more information about Camp ASPIRE, visit www.diabetes. org/adacampaspire.

July 12

Bishop’s Commons hold discussion on medication Pharmacist Jamie Branshaw, from Wayne Drugs in Oswego will discuss a wide range of topics related to medications. Topics to be discussed in the presentation — titled “Know Your Medications” — include drug interaction; definition and information about over-the counter, supplements and generics; the

importance of taking medications as directed; the role of the pharmacist; and where to find valid information. The event is co-sponsored by The Oswego County Office for the Aging and Bishop’s Commons and will take place starting at 7 p.m. Tuesday, July 12, at Bishop’s Commons, 4 Burkle St. in Oswego. Branshaw, who has 20 years of experience serving the community, will offer an overview of the basics consumers should be aware of regarding both prescribed and overthe-counter medications. Register for the event by calling the Oswego County Office for the Aging at 315-349-3484 or Bishop’s Commons at 349-0799.

calls and Medicare options? The Cayuga County Office for the Aging offers complimentary monthly classes to help you make sense of Medicare. Here you will learn how to determine whether the plan you are considering will give you peace of mind or potential headaches. You’ll learn about how Part D drug plans work and whether EPIC co-pay assistance is an option for you. If your income is limited, experts will provide information about programs to help pay for your insurance coverage, as well as a listing of the free and low cost preventive care under Medicare. The class will be held in the basement training room of the Cayuga County Office building in the following days: • From 5 to 7 p.m., July 19 • From 5 to 7 p.m., Aug. 4 • From 2 to 4 p.m., Sept. 14 Registration is required. Call the Cayuga County Office for the Aging at 315-253-1226, or visit www.cayugacounty.us/aging under the News & Activities section.

Aug. 6

Walk for Dave to raise of ataxia ‘New to Medicare’ seminar awareness The Fourth Annual Walk for takes place in Dewitt Dave will take place from 9 a.m. to July 12

The Onondaga County Office for Aging will hold a free “New to Medicare” seminar to provide an overview of Medicare for people becoming eligible for the insurance program. The event, open to the public, is presented by Health Insurance Information Counseling Assistance Program and will include these topics, among others: Medicare parts A and B, Medicare Advantage plans (Part C), Medicare prescription drug plans (Part D), Medigap supplemental plans, EPIC (Elderly Pharmaceutical Insurance Program) and subsidy assistance. The event will take place from 7 to 9 p.m., July 12, at Jewish Community Center, 5655 Thompson Road in DeWitt. Space is limited and those interested in participating are encourage to register by Thursday, July 7. For more information, or to register, please call the Office for Aging at (315) 435-2362.

July 19, Aug. 4, Sept. 14

Experts offer answers to Medicare questions Are you turning 65 soon? Are you overwhelmed by all the mail,

noon, Saturday, Aug. 6, at Bay View Tent at Willow Bay portion of Onondaga Lake Park (7199 Onondaga Lake Park Trail). The event is to raise ataxia awareness and funds for the National Ataxia Foundation and is dedicated to the memory of David Alessi, who died in October 2011 from complications of spinocerebellar ataxia type 2. People with ataxia have problems with coordination because parts of the nervous system that control movement and balance are affected. Ataxia may affect the fingers, hands, arms, legs, body, speech, and eye movements. The word ataxia is often used to describe a symptom of incoordination, which can be associated with infections, injuries, other diseases or degenerative changes in the central nervous system. Ataxia is also used to denote a group of specific degenerative diseases of the nervous system called the hereditary and sporadic ataxias. Registration is $10 per participant. All proceeds benefit the National Ataxia Foundation (NAF), a nonprofit organization. To volunteer or for more information, contact 315-506-3260 or mja244@cornell. edu. To register, go to www.ataxia. org/walk/walk4dave.

Aug. 6

Multi-organ blood analysis to be held in Oswego Oswego Health and the Oswego Kiwanis Club will hold their annual multi-organ blood analysis from 6:30 to 10 a.m. on Saturday, Aug. 6, at Leighton Elementary School in Oswego. Appointments can be made by calling 341-0018, lines will be open 24-hours a day, or register online by visiting www.oswegohealth.org/ BloodAnalysis. The analysis screens individuals for various conditions such as anemia, diabetes, coronary, kidney and liver diseases, among other conditions. Phlebotomists from Oswego Hospital will be on hand to conduct the blood draw. The cost of the analysis is $35. Typically, these tests can cost more than $340. In addition, this year there are two optional tests that cost $20 each. These tests include a prostate specific antigen (PSA) test, vitamin D test. Residents are encouraged to consult their physician whether to have this extra blood screening. A 12-hour fast is required.

Aug. 20

GiGi’s Playhouse hosts walk/run event GiGi’s Playhouse Syracuse will be conducting its fifth annual sanctioned 5K run/walk/dash for Down syndrome on Saturday, Aug. 20. This event will raise money for all of the programming offered by the playhouse. The organization’s mission is to increase positive awareness of Down syndrome through national campaigns, educational programs, and by empowering individuals with Down syndrome, their families and the community. The race will start and finish at the at the Willow Bay Pavilion of Onondaga Lake Park in Liverpool. Registration starts at 7:30 a.m. and race to begin at 9:30 a.m., rain or shine. Early registration fee is $25 for all participants. After Aug. 5 the price will be $35 for all participants. Deadline to register and win a T-shirt is Aug. 11. The event will include music, food, a bounce house and other fun activities. There will also be an opportunity to take the #GenerationG pledge. For more information on Gigi’s Playhouse and to sign up for this event, visit http://gigisplayhouse. org/syracuse or call 315-288-PLAY (7529).

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IN GOOD HEALTH – CNY’s Healthcare Newspaper • July 2016

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Talking, Texting Teen Drivers Take Deadly Toll

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Distractions played role in 60 percent of crashes involving teenagers, new AAA report shows

here’s an epidemic of distracted driving that’s maiming — and in too many cases — killing people in crashes involving teen drivers, a new report shows. A full 60 percent of car crashes involving teenagers occur while these young and inexperienced drivers are talking, texting or are otherwise distracted. And this happens far more often during the summer, according to the American Automobile Association (AAA). “I think everyone gets that distracted driving is bad and you shouldn’t do it, but until now parents didn’t have data in front of them to suggest that it was a much bigger problem that they should be concerned about for their teens,” said Jake Nelson, director of traffic safety advocacy and research at the AAA. For the study, researchers at the University of Iowa and the AAA Foundation for Traffic Safety analyzed the moments leading up to a crash in more than 2,200 videos from in-car dashboard cameras. The researchers found these top three distractions for teens: • Talking to passengers accounted for 15 percent of crashes. • Talking, texting or operating a cellphone accounted for 12 percent of crashes. • Looking at something inside

the car accounted for 11 percent of crashes. According to the AAA report, released June 1, more than 1,000 people die in crashes involving teen drivers every year. And summer is the most dangerous season, when the average number of deaths involving teen drivers aged 16 to 19 increases 16 percent per day compared with other times of the year. In the report, the researchers also found teens were more likely to be texting or looking at the phone than talking on it. AAA’s Nelson said distracted driving makes crashes more likely because it “makes you less likely to react quickly to a dangerous situation.” Also, a phenomenon called “attention blindness” — when you don’t see something right in front of you because you’re focused on something else — can be deadly, he said. The association urges parents to teach their teens about the dangers of distracted driving with these tips: • Talk early and often about the dangers of distraction. • Have a parent-teen agreement that sets rules against distracted driving. • Teach by example — keep your eyes on the road while driving.

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

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In Good Health is published 12 times a year by Local News, Inc. © 2016 by Local News, Inc. All rights reserved. Mailing Address: P.O. Box 276, Oswego, NY 13126. • Phone: 315-342-1182 • Fax: 315-342-7776. Editor & Publisher: Wagner Dotto • Associate Editor: Lou Sorendo Contributing Writers: Jim Miller, Gwenn Voelckers, Deborah Banikowski, George W. Chapman, Deborah Sergeant, Matthew Liptak, Aaron Gifford, Anne Palumbo, Melissa Stefanec, Chris Motola, Aaron Gifford, • Advertising: Amy Gagliano, Cassandra Lawson Design: Eric J. Stevens • Office Assistant: Michelle Kingsley No material may be reproduced in whole or in part from this publication without the express written permission of the publisher. The information in this publication is intended to complement—not to take the place of—the recommendations of your health provider. Consult your physician before making major changes in your lifestyle or health care regimen.

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Meet

Your Doctor

By Chris Motola

Felix Oben, M.D.

Fulton urologist talks the role Viagra has played in treating erectile dysfunction — and what treatments existed prior to it Q: As a urologist, what kinds of issues do you encounter in your practice? A: I practice general adult and pediatric urology. I see everything from kidney stones, to incontinence, to urinary tract infections, general urinary problems and erectile dysfunction. Q: Urology seems to be the closest thing men’s health has to an OB-GYN. Does urology play a special role in men’s health? A: Yes, we do. Generally, when we talk about men’s health, it’s kind of subdivided into two groups. There are things that are more general health, things like colon cancer, cholesterol. The other side is things that specifically affect the gender. Things like prostate cancer, impotence, men’s sexual health. Q: Viagra really raised the profile of erectile dysfunction as a men’s health issue. What are the causes of it? Is it primarily age-related? A: The incidence of erectile dysfunction hasn’t really changed much over the last 50 years, however more and more people started talking about it after the advent of Viagra. It used to be a condition where, once you had it, there wasn’t much that could be done, so there wasn’t too much to talk about. Well, that’s not entirely true. There were a few options that are a bit more complicated. So before that, you had many patients taking a look at the available op-

tions and saying, “Nah.” One of those treatments is an injection right into the penis. You can probably understand why that one never really caught on. Q: Yeah, that’s a bit of a mood-killer. How often did you need to get the injections? A: Each time you wanted to have an erection. “I’m in the mood now, let’s take a break, I need to inject myself. I’ll be back shortly.” And then there were the urethra suppositories, which are inserted directly into the urethra. And again, you’d have to do that every time. The medication would be absorbed directly into the penis through the urethra. And the next one is the one people might be more familiar with, a vacuum tube that’s either hand or battery operated that pulls blood into the penis. Then a ring is used at the bottom of the penis

to keep the blood in the penis. And, finally, there are prostheses, inflatable cylinders or malleable cylinders. All of those were around for at least 20 years, but you didn’t hear about them much, but they’ve all become more popular since the advent of Viagra, because people are talking about erectile dysfunction now. They’re aware of the pills, so they ask what else is out there. Q: On the preventive side of things, what are some of the risk factors? A: ED comes basically from dysfunction in the small blood vessels in the penis. So anything that can compromise blood supply to the penis can lead to ED. So age isn’t actually a risk factor in and of itself, but the incidence increases with age. One of the most common causes is diabetes. Another is high cholesterol levels. Cardiovascular disease. There are also testosterone-related issues that can lead to erectile dysfunction. There can also be complications from pelvic surgery or radiation therapy. Q: Why is the prostate such a problem for men? A: One out of every nine men will suffer from prostate cancer at some point in their life. This has been a topic of great controversy in the urology community over the last 10 years. That’s because a United States task force was debating whether or not we should screen for prostate cancer because there were what were called “clinically insignificant prostate cancers,” that, if left untreated, would have fairly little effect on the patients’ lives. So the question became, “Are we over-treating this disease?” We used to only treat patients who were in really bad shape and had a very poor quality of life. So you have a situation now where the world is asking, “Should we treat this patient?” On the other side, people left untreated can develop a very advanced form of the disease. So it’s a question of how to separate the at-risk patients from the clinically insignificant ones. Luckily, we’re beginning to get the answer to some of those questions. Q: What led you to urology? A: It was one of those things that kind of picked me rather than me picking it. It covers two very private but significant issues — urination and sexual health. A lot of people shy away from it, but I found it very intriguing. After my initial rotation, I found that, while it wasn’t the most glorious specialty, it was one I enjoyed a lot. So when I had an opportunity to pick an elective, I went back to prove to myself that it was what I really wanted. I found it more intriguing and challenging, and my interest just piqued from there.

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IN GOOD HEALTH – CNY’s Healthcare Newspaper • July 2016

Name: Felix Oben, M.D. Position: Urologist at Oswego County Urology Hometown: Ngaoundere, Cameroon Education: Howard University Hospital Afﬁliations: Oswego Health Organizations: Oswego County Medical Society, Medical Society of the State of NY, American Urological Association Family: Married (Abit); daughter (Morh’ese) Hobbies: Sports, travel, watching daughter’s games and recitals

Among U.S. Military, Army Members Face Highest Suicide Risk Firearms implicated in about two-thirds of cases, study finds

uicide rates have been increasing among all active U.S. Navy, Air Force and Army personnel, but those in the Army appear to be most at risk, new research indicates. An analysis of all U.S. military suicides between 2005 and 2011 revealed that the suicide rate among Army members was roughly double that seen among the second highest risk group, the Marines. The investigation further revealed that guns are the principal cause of most military suicides. Firearms were implicated in more than 62 percent of all suicide cases that have a definitive cause of death, the study found. "The trends in suicide are similar to what others have found," said study lead author Andrew Anglemyer, from California State University, Monterey Bay. "The differences in those rates between services are striking, though. Not only are most suicides in the active duty military among the Army personnel, but the

suicide rate among Army personnel is the highest and has been every year since 2006." Suicide was the 10th leading cause of death in the United States as of 2010. And the current investigation comes amid a rising suicide rate among military personnel throughout the last 15 years of continual war. In fact, the U.S. military has seen its overall suicide rate nearly double between 2001 and 2011, the researchers said. The latest study looked at suicides among all active-duty enlisted U.S. military personnel as recorded by the suicide data repository. This listing combines information from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the National Death Index, and the Military Mortality Database. The research team identified 1,455 U.S. military suicides between 2005 and 2011. The Army had the highest rates between 2006 and 2011.

There were between roughly 19 and 30 cases of suicide for every 100,000 soldiers. The most commonly held positions were in infantry or special operations, the study found. The lowest suicide rate — nearly 10 suicides for every 100,000 — was seen among both Air Force and Navy personnel in the year 2005, the study showed. Of all the military cases, men accounted for the lion's share of suicides at 95 percent. More than three-quarters of the suicides involved white service members. Marital status didn't appear to exert any influence on suicide risk. The vast majority of suicides (87 percent) involved service members who had no more than a high school education, the research revealed. Across all military branches, the

average age at suicide was 25. The median length of time served by a military member who took his life was four years, the study said.

Healthcare in a Minute By George W. Chapman

Medicare fraud

We are losing more than $60 billion annually to Medicare fraud. While the Affordable Care Act has greatly expanded resources to prevent and detect fraud among providers, it is still difficult to completely stop it. First, Medicare is huge. It is by far the largest healthcare insurer/payer in the country. It receives more than 4.5 million claims daily and pays out over $1 billion to providers daily. Second, Medicare is more “open” (trusting) than commercial insurers. Once an applicant provider meets all the basic requirements, Medicare is obligated to begin processing the claims and paying. Medicare does not physically confirm the existence of all new providers be they a home health agency, medical group, pharmacy or durable medical equipment supplier. In addition to the cost, fraud makes it more difficult for Medicare to make policy or health decisions because a lot of the claims upon which decisions are made are fake/tainted, distorting claims data. How much damage can just one doctor do? In 2012, Dallas physician Jacques Roy bilked Medicare for $375 million through a phony home care company. It is still the largest home care fraud case in the history of Medicare. Most get caught because they get greedy. Roy “enlisted” more than 11,000 beneficiaries to receive home care through his phony company. This number of enrollees was, by far, the most by a single physician in the country. Fraud auditors were immediately suspicious as this came up on their radar. Roy is serving a life term in prison, but most of the $375 million he stole is gone.

Fee for service: phased out

It has long been argued that fee for service or volume payments to physicians and hospitals has produced the wrong incentives and the highest costs in the world. In a FFS environment, there is no incentive to not provide unnecessary care or to focus on long-term outcomes or to coordinate care with other providers. Experts believe the sooner FFS is gone, the better for all. Recently, 52 percent of the members of the New England Journal of Medicine Catalyst’s Insights Council agreed that FFS reimbursements must go and it stands in the way of providing value-based and outcomeoriented care. The switch to value based reimbursement will not only change how physicians practice. Consumers will be increasingly expected to hold up their end of the bargain by eating healthy, exercising and following physician orders.

Primary care doctor salaries up

Although most specialists still earn more, compensation for primary care physicians is improving. According to a reliable and respected national survey of medical practices, primary care compensation has increased 18 percent over the past five years. Specialist compensation rose 11 percent over the same period. This is good news because it should encourage more medical students to pick primary care and alleviate the predicted shortage of primary care providers. The transition from feefor-service to value-based care shifts more responsibility, and therefore more money, toward primary care.

Family health premium

According to the Milliman Medical Index, health insurance for an average household of four, with an employer-sponsored plan, costs $25,826. This is more than three time the cost of $8,414 in 2001. Employers still pay most of the premium (57 percent) but cost shifting to the employee is increasing. The average household is paying about $11,000 or about 43 percent of the total premium. The “good” news is annual rates of cost increases have dropped from 10 percent years ago to 5 percent in recent years.

Exchange rates up 8 percent

According to the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation, the average premium on the exchanges rose 8.3 percent, but there was tremendous disparity across the country. Rates went up almost 42 percent in Oklahoma, but fell 12 percent in Indiana. So, the RJW researchers concluded the national average is a fairly meaningless statistic and more attention should be paid to comparing the characteristics of markets with high rates of increases to those with lower rates of increases. Despite the disparities among markets, many predicted the average rate of increase would be in the double digits. Insurers like United are pulling out of the exchanges as the enrollment of sicker and more expensive consumers creates “unsustainable” losses. Some states (Alaska, Alabama, Wyoming so far) will have only one insurer on their exchanges next year. Insurer losses would be mitigated or offset by the enrollment of younger and healthier consumers. But the current penalty for not buying insurance is still far July 2016 •

cheaper than buying premiums; so, younger and healthier people take their chances by foregoing insurance and paying the penalty.

Big Pharma “charity”

You have heard on the ubiquitous drug ads that, “if you are having trouble paying for….. (the particular drug), financial assistance is available.” This seemingly charitable / humanitarian act is done to deflect much deserved criticism for profit mongering and bankrupting the entire healthcare system and to boost sales. To offset the “charity” or discount, drug manufacturers merely increase the prices of their drugs.

Protect your identity

Hackers want to steal your personal information and your identity. Your mobile phone, laptop and router are all access points for thieves. The best way to reduce your risk of being hacked is to frequently change your passwords. The main reason why we don’t do this nearly enough is that we all have several (too many) passwords. Experts remind us that the hassle of changing our passwords pales in comparison to the disruption of life and financial loss if we are hacked.

George W. Chapman is a health consultant who operates GW Chapman Consulting in Upstate New York. To reach him, email gwc@gwchapmanconsulting.com.

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Treating More Than AIDS Patients ACR Health’s new executive director says agency is expanding to treat those with opioid addiction, among others By Matthew Liptak

il Murtaugh has been at ACR Health for 23 years. The SU grad got a job running a jewelry store here decades ago, lost it, and called the organization to volunteer. “I actually started the development department in fundraising for the agency,” he said. Murtaugh was successful from the start. He began the first AIDS walk/run in Syracuse in 1993 and never looked back. To date, the event has raised more than $130,000. The Syracuse resident says he loves the city. He could take or leave the winter weather, but the people are why he is here. He hasn’t been standing still, having worked his way up at ACR Health. He was deputy executive director since 2009 before recently taking over as the organization’s executive director. The raging opioid epidemic has him flashing back to the organization’s beginnings. “We were formed by the AIDs crisis,” he said. “This heroin epidemic gives me flashbacks to that because it’s very similar. People will be using or getting needles and they might not come back because they’ve overdosed. “We just had a client the other day pick up some needles and they walked down the street, walked into a Burger King and overdosed in the

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Wil Murtaugh has been at ACR Health for 23 years. He recently became the organization’s new executrive director. bathroom.” Tragedies like that impact everyone at the organization, but Murtaugh said, in a way, it makes them

IN GOOD HEALTH – CNY’s Healthcare Newspaper • July 2016

work harder. ACR Health is instilled with the mission to help those who are coping with chronic illness, be it AIDS, opioid addiction, diabetes, mental health issues, heart disease or other illnesses. While ACR Health provides services for all these patients, two high-value targets for them have been leading the state’s initiative to end AIDS by 2020 and to try to curb the heroin and painkiller epidemic. The organization has met with marked success with some of its programs. Murtaugh started the needle exchange program at ACR Health in 2010. He expected only 150 participants, but now there are 1,800 enrolled users of the program getting clean needles for opioid addiction, hormones, steroids and diabetes. That program and ones like it have cut New York state’s HIV infection rate dramatically. “Fifty percent of the infections in the state were by a needle,” Murtaugh said. “Now because of the syringe exchange and people using clean needles, that infection rate has dropped down to under 3 percent.”

Delivering an antidote

Murtaugh said his organization has been saving lives in other ways too. They have instituted a Narcan instruction program, teaching more

1,000 people, which led to 30 reversals of drug overdoses. The nonprofit is not stopping there. “The big thing is we just opened up was our medical clinic,” Murtaugh said. “I never thought we’d be in this business, but we actually have a medical clinic for injected-drug users. We’re looking into starting a pharmacy.” The executive director said there is often a heavy stigma attached with an injected-drug user coming to a medical provider. That stigma won’t exist at the new clinic. Murtaugh has a lot on his agenda. He is at the top of an organization that has nine offices in nine counties throughout Central New York with 176 employees and over 400 volunteers. But in talking to Murtaugh, it is clear the mission of ACR Health is near and dear to him. He wants to continue to help people. “I’ve lost friends and it just motivates you more to keep going,” Murtaugh said. “I’ve lost people that I’ve known and I’ve made friends here that we’ve lost. You’re motivated to keep helping because if you can save lives it’s a good thing. “If people need our help, please reach out to us. We serve a lot of populations that no one else serves.” For more information on ACR Health, call 800-475-2430 or email Information@ACRHealth.org.

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New Ways of Treating Diabetes Bariatric surgery gains more credibility as a standard treatment option for diabetes By Aaron Gifford

team of local bariatric surgeons is advocating weight loss surgery as the best way to treat, and most likely cure, Type 2 diabetes. In medical circles, there was already significant data in the past two or three years to back up claims that weight loss surgery, which includes gastric bypass procedures, is an effective way to combat the disease. Recently, 45 international professional organizations issued a joint statement urging that weight loss surgery be recommended or considered as a treatment option for certain categories of people with diabetes, including people who are mildly obese and fail to respond to conventional treatment. While there has been a national debate between bariatric surgeons and the endocrinologists who strongly advocate traditional methods for treating diabetes patients, the American Diabetes Association no longer denounces bariatric surgery as a last resort, though it still does not identify the procedures as a cure. “They just moved it up on the list [of recommended treatment options],” said Ken Cooper of Crouse Hospital’s weight loss surgery program. “That doesn’t sound like a big deal, but it actually is.” Type 2 diabetes is the condition where glucose (sugar) levels rise higher than normal because the pancreas cannot produce insulin fast enough. Insulin, which is a hormone, breaks down food into energy. Sugar builds up in the blood if that break down does not take place properly. That build up can lead to many problems besides obesity, including problems with blood flow and organ failure. According to WebMD, about

27 million Americans have Type 2 diabetes, and another 85 million are considered to have “pre-diabetes,” where their blood glucose is not normal. People who are severely overweight Cooper are at a much greater risk for diabetes. Bariatric surgery is generally considered for people who are moderately obese (body mass index of at least 35) to severely obese. Those who are 100 pounds overweight regardless of other conditions are considered good candidates, and those who are closer to the moderately obese classification and already have diabetes, hypertension, heart disease, sleep apnea or other problems are also candidates. There are two main types of surgery. In a gastric bypass operation, the stomach is shrunk and the path food takes through the small intestine is shortened, limiting the number of calories the body can absorb. With a laparoscopic procedure, an adjustable belt is wrapped around the stomach, clinching it and giving it the ability to feel full with much less food. According to Cooper and other bariatric surgeons who advocate weight loss surgery as a primary choice for overweight Type 2 diabetes patients, these procedures combat diabetes by improving the delivery system of nutrients to the blood, stimulating the pancreas to produce

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insulin appropriately. Cooper said about 90 percent of the diabetes patients who had weight loss surgery at Crouse were cured of the disease or have seen significant improvements to their health to the point that they are nearly cured. When diabetics are cured, they no longer needs to monitor their blood sugar throughout the day and self-administer insulin injections.

Long road for acceptance

“It’s been known for a long time, but it has been very difficult to get the medical community to sign off on it,” Cooper said. “In my opinion, the overwhelming mountain of evidence is hard to ignore. The last couple of weeks have been an ‘I told you so’ moment.” “Patients are liberated from a lifetime of finger pricks and pills,” Cooper added. “They hear what their sugars [levels] are, and they get so excited. They could have never imagined a world like that.” Cooper said when he went into practice 13 years ago, it was difficult to find bariatric surgeons in this region, and most medical insurance plans would not cover it. He knew of many patients who traveled to New York City for procedures and paid the costs out of pocket. Now the procedure is covered by most insurance plans, including Medicare and Medicaid. Locally, weight loss surgery is also available at University Hospital in Syracuse, St. Joseph’s Hospital and Medical Center in Syracuse, and Auburn Community Hospital in Cayuga County. Cooper estimates that nationally, less than 5 percent of those who would be candidates for weight loss

surgery even consider the procedures. Obesity is still a sensitive subject among patients, and many physicians are worried about hurting their feelings. “They might not want to tell someone that they are way too fat,” Cooper said. “There is still a bias against weight loss surgery, and there’s also a comfort level for patients. But the obesity epidemic is still out of control. We live in a society of abundance.” Patient Linda Gomes, of Syracuse, can attest to that. She was diagnosed with Type 2 diabetes about 15 years ago while still in her 40s. Both of her parents developed diabetes and she had been overweight most of her life. She is 5-feet 4-inches tall but weighed as much as 260 pounds. She recalls eating an entire big bag of peanut M&Ms in one sitting. She had lost weight through various diets and programs, but failed to keep the pounds from coming back. Her diabetes required five self-injections daily. In July of last year, she underwent the gastric bypass procedure at Crouse. Jeffrey DeSimone performed the surgery. Gomes shed 87 pounds and has maintained her weight, and most days she only requires one insulin injection, if any. It’s not unusual for her to go two or three days without requiring one. Now she has set a goal to lose another 15 pounds on her own and is optimistic that at some point she’ll never require an insulin injection again. “Dr. DeSimone told me that he couldn’t guarantee a cure for diabetes because I had already had it for over 10 years,” she said. “But I told him anything would help. I’m always less hungry. I can hear my body telling me, “Don’t eat it or you’ll regret it.’ I can have just a few M&Ms and be happy. I feel 100 percent better.” Bariatric surgery is not a procedure used to combat Type 1 diabetes, also known as juvenile diabetes, which is the condition where the pancreas fails to produce insulin. The only surgery available to treat that condition is a transplant of the actual pancreas organ, though researchers are looking at the possibilities of eventually using just the cells of a healthy pancreas to make a much more widely available cure. “Honestly,” Cooper said, “I believe diabetes is the kind of disease we can get a handle on during our lifetime.”

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IN GOOD HEALTH – CNY’s Healthcare Newspaper • July 2016

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CDC: 1 in 3 antibiotic prescriptions unnecessary New CDC data show large percentage of antibiotics misused in outpatient settings

t least 30 percent of antibiotics prescribed in the United States are unnecessary, according to new data published early May in the Journal of the American Medical Association (JAMA) by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), in collaboration with Pew Charitable Trusts and other public health and medical experts. The study analyzed antibiotic use in doctors’ offices and emergency departments throughout the United States. CDC researchers found that most of these unnecessary antibiotics are prescribed for respiratory conditions caused by viruses — including common colds, viral sore throats, bronchitis, and sinus and ear infections — which do not respond to antibiotics. These 47 million excess prescriptions each year put patients at needless risk for allergic reactions or the sometimes deadly diarrhea, Clostridium difficile. The researchers also estimated the rate of inappropriate antibiotic use in adults and children by age and diagnosis. These data will help inform efforts to improve antibiotic prescribing over the next five years. “Antibiotics are lifesaving drugs, and if we continue down the road of inappropriate use we’ll lose the most powerful tool we have to fight life-threatening infections,” said CDC Director Tom Frieden, a physician. “Losing these antibiotics

would undermine our ability to treat patients with deadly infections, cancer, provide organ transplants, and save victims of burns and trauma.”

The fight to stop antibiotic resistance

In 2015, the White House released The National Action Plan for Combating Antibiotic-Resistant Bacteria (CARB), which set a goal of reducing inappropriate outpatient antibiotic use by at least half by 2020. This means that 15 percent of antibiotic prescriptions (or half of the 30 percent that are unnecessary) must be eliminated by 2020 to meet the CARB goal. As part of the effort to achieve the national goal, CDC researchers analyzed the 2010–2011 National Ambulatory Medical Care Survey (NAMCS) and the National Hospital Ambulatory Medical Care Survey (NHAMCS) to determine the number of outpatient visits resulting in antibiotic prescriptions by age, region, and diagnosis in the United States from 2010-2011. They found that: Of the estimated 154 million prescriptions for antibiotics written in doctor’s offices and emergency departments each year, 30 percent are unnecessary. This finding creates a benchmark for improving outpatient antibiotic prescribing and use. July 2016 •

IN GOOD HEALTH – CNY’s Healthcare Newspaper

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Live Alone & Thrive

By Gwenn Voelckers

Practical tips, advice and hope for those who live alone

Touch: An Essential Ingredient for Those Who Live Alone

s I sit here at my computer writing this column, I can hear my new puppy Scout trotting toward me. She nuzzles my leg and looks up at me with her big, brown eyes, begging for attention and a little touch. My heart swells and I scratch the back of her neck. She bows her head, asking for more, and I happily oblige. I’m such a pushover! Scout asks for what she needs without reservation, without any shame or self-consciousness. She knows what we all know in the deepest parts of ourselves: we need touch to survive. I’m no expert on these matters, but others are, and research has shown that touch is absolutely essential for healthy emotional and physical development. In fact, studies have shown that premature infants who are tenderly touched on a daily basis gain weight more rapidly than those who are not touched. It’s because touch releases certain chemicals in the brain that, in turn, promote the baby’s development. But I don’t need a study to con-

vince me of the value of touch and affection. I have my own “proof,” and it’s revealed to me whenever I am touched or touch another. A friend’s warm hug can lift my spirits, a reassuring hand on my shoulder can hold the demons at bay, even a handshake can be affirming. Those who live alone can often unwittingly, almost unconsciously, neglect this vital component of a happy, healthy life. It’s easy to do, especially if you have a tendency toward isolation or are without a significant other in your life. If that’s the case, I encourage you to take notice. Is touch absent in your life? Has it been weeks or months since you have felt the warmth of an embrace? When was the last time you felt the comfort of a soothing caress? Below are a few tips to “keep in touch.” They have worked for me, and it’s my hope that you, too, will benefit from incorporating positive, loving touch into your life. n Become a hugger. If you’re not a hugger, I might suggest you become one, even if it’s outside your comfort zone. A little practice is all it takes. Hugging wasn’t natural for me.

It felt awkward for me to hug relatives, much less friends. I was forever bumping cheeks and leaning right, when I should have been leaning left in an embrace. But years ago, I made a deliberate decision to become a hugger. I intuitively knew I was missing out on this natural form of human expression. The good news? I got better at it over time, and life is sweeter, as a result. It gave me an opportunity to convey love and friendship, and accept it in return. n Volunteer to touch. The benefits of “loving touch” are not just for the ones receiving it. Those who deliver it also reap great personal rewards and satisfaction. If you look around, there are plenty of opportunities to administer positive, healthy touch to someone in need. Many hospitals have volunteer “rockers” for newborns, and nursing homes are often looking for volunteers to make personal connections with residents who may not have family nearby. Just an hour talking to a nursing home resident, while applying hand cream, could change his or her day. To volunteer in this way can be a healing act of kindness, one that says that we are in this life together. What soothes one soothes us all. n Own a pet. A number of wellknown studies have shown that petting a dog or gently stroking a cat has a calming effect on people, reducing blood pressure and heart rate. Again, I don’t need a study to validate my own experience. Petting Scout or snuggling with her on the couch has an almost immediate and relaxing effect on me. After a long day, almost nothing is as grounding as a few minutes with

my affectionate pooch. Feeling bereft of touch? Owning a pet can help you feel connected and comforted. n Become in touch with yourself. “Self-touch,” with the goal to sooth, heal or relieve tension is natural, and can be a healthy expression of self-care and an act of self-affirmation. When self-love and pleasure are the intent, something profound and restorative can be the result. n Splurge for a massage. I read recently that, “Massage is to the human body what a tune-up is for a car.” Among its many benefits, therapeutic massage can bring relief from anxiety, reduce stress, fight fatigue, and increase your capacity for tranquil thinking and creativity. If you are touch-deprived, this form of safe, non-intimate touch can refocus the body’s natural ability to heal and regenerate itself. Hugging, caressing and soothing touch are natural expressions of friendship and affection, compassion and comfort. We all can benefit — both physically and emotionally — from good, loving touch on a regular basis. It enhances bonding and gives us a sense of belonging and well-being — important essentials for everyone, but especially for those who live alone. Gwenn Voelckers is the founder and facilitator of Live Alone and Thrive, empowerment workshops for women held throughout the year in Mendon, New York. For information about her upcoming workshops or to invite Gwenn to speak, call her at 585624-7887, email her at gvoelckers@ rochester.rr.com.

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UPSTATE UROLOGY IS PROUD TO INTRODUCE THE NEWEST MEMBERS OF THE TEAM: N NATASHA A GINZBURG, MD G I

Assistant A ss Professor FFemale em and reconstructtive ive urology, urinary incontinence in women, inc p el floor treatment pelvic aand nd neurourology.

GENNADY BRATSLAVSKY, MD

ZAHI N. MAKHULI, MD

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JC TRUSSELL, MD

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SPECIALTIES: Urologic Oncology Robotic and laparoscopic surgery of prostate, kidney, bladder, and adrenal

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ZAHI N. MAKHULI, M.D.

DMITRIY NIKOLAVSKY, MD

SPECIALTY:

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Pelvic Organ Prolapse Vessico Vaginal Fistula, Reconstructive Surgery

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Assistant A ss Professor Pediatric P ed urology, ttreatment re nd of hernias and hydroceles h yd in children, rrobotic ob surgery in cchildren, hi urinary tract in nfe infections, and penile aabnormalities. bn

Professor Department of Urology

RAKESH KHANNA, MD

Assistant Professor Department of Urology SPECIALTIES: urologic oncology robotic and laparoscopic surgery of prostate, kidney, bladder, and adrenal

JONATHAN RIDDELL, MD

FRCS Assistant Professor y Department of Urology SPECIALTY: pediatric urology

RYAN SIDEBOTTOM, MD RY

Assistant A s Professor All A ll urologic needs, general urology, m a health, urologic oncology, male enlarged e n prostate, kidney stones. Dr. D r Sidebottom sees patients at Upstate Urology of Auburn office U p Auburn, NY iin nA penile

DMITRIY NIKOLAVSKY, MD

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IMAD NSOULI, MD

Associate Professor Department of Urology Associate Professor SPECIALTY: general urology

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SmartBites The skinny on healthy eating

Hot Dogs: The Good, The Bad and The Healthy

Let’s be frank: When it comes to healthy foods, hot dogs rarely top anyone’s list. They’re processed; they can be high in fat, calories and salt; they’re sometimes made from ingredients we don’t even want to think about; and they’ve recently been linked to cancer. Nonetheless, we Americans love our hot dogs. According to the National Hot Dog and Sausage Council, more than 7 billion will be eaten between Memorial Day and Labor Day, with 155 million downed during the biggest hot-dog holiday of the year: July 4th weekend. Whoa, doggies. No wonder July is National Hot Dog Month. Taste aside — and, oh, they can be so delicious! — there must be something else good about them, right? Indeed, hot dogs are a convenient, economical source of protein, supplying on average about 7 grams per link. What’s more, the hot dog itself is not all that caloric, averaging around 150 calories per link, with lower-fat versions boasting a mere 50. (As a comparison, a typical hamburger patty has about 230 calories.) On the other hand, hot dogs are dogged — and rightly so — by several things that do not make them

man’s best friend. To begin, they’re processed; and diets high in processed meats have been linked with cancer, especially colorectal cancer. Also, they’re no slouch in the salt department, with some dogs running over 700 mg per link. Consuming high amounts of sodium contributes to high blood pressure, which can then lead to stroke, heart disease and heart failure. Lastly, many hot dogs teem with fat, including the dreaded saturated fat. Too much fat never does a body good. So, what’s a hot-dog lover to do? Can we teach an old hot dog new tricks? Yes! Thanks to the responsiveness of hot-dog makers to our demands for healthier products, we now have all kinds of healthier hot dogs — from lower-fat turkey and chicken hot dogs to lower-sodium beef hot dogs to uncured hot dogs preserved with celery salt (versus artificial sodium nitrite). The selection at major grocery stores is doggone good.

Healthy tips

Read labels carefully. Opt for healthier “uncured” hot dogs over conventional, highly processed ones, which typically contain low-quality meats, oodles of preservatives and

more fat, calories and salt. Choose varieties that say 100 percent beef, 100 percent chicken, etc. to avoid byproducts. Consider vegetarian versions. Pair with a whole grain bun or pita and add fresh toppings. Most importantly: Eat hot dogs in moderation, as they are processed, and, according to the American Institute for Cancer Research, “eating hot dogs every single day is an unhealthy choice.”

Mediterranean Hot Dogs with Pesto and Chopped Tomatoes 4 grilled hot dogs ½ cup prepared pesto 1 – 2 teaspoons reduced-fat mayo 1 large tomato, chopped ½ cup sliced Kalamata olives

1 small onion, chopped (optional) crumbled feta cheese 4 whole-wheat buns In small bowl, blend pesto with mayo. Arrange buns on plates. Spread each with pesto mixture, then top with grilled hot dog. Sprinkle dogs with chopped tomatoes, olives, onions (if using) and cheese. 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.

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Women’s HEALTH Chill Out Hot Flashes By Deborah Jeanne Sergeant

f you’re a woman experiencing menopause, hot flashes can become a real nuisance. Drenching perspiration at unexpected times during the day, and sleep disrupting night sweats make many menopausal women miserable. For years, doctors prescribed hormone therapy as the best option for 40-plus menopausal women who wanted relief from hot flashes, along with other menopausal symptoms. However, since a World Health Organization study linked hormone therapy with an increased risk of heart disease, stroke, blood clots, and breast cancer, fewer physicians routinely recommend hormone therapy. Physician Kaushal B. Nanavati, director of Integrative Medicine at Upstate Cancer Center and clinical assistant professor with the department of family medicine at Upstate Medical University, said that hormone replacement therapy “works better than many, many things, especially natural herbal remedies.” Nanavati is also author of “The CORE 4 Wellness” (CreateSpace Independent Publishing Platform: 2016). He advises women who have no contraindications for hormone replacement and are interested in it to go with the smallest effective dose for the shortest period of time. “Any case where you’re concerned about estrogen dependent disease or cancers, we stay away from it,” Nanavati said. If hormone replacement

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therapy isn’t for you, other, nonpharmaceutical choices may help. Environmental measures can help you stay cool, such as keeping the room temperature cool with open windows and fans or air conditioning; cooling your skin with a wet cloth, and dressing in layers so you can lighten your clothing as needed. Drinking cool beverages may also help lessen a hot flash. Nanavati suggested yoga, mindfulness-based stress reduction, and supplementation to help with reducing hot flashes. Anecdotal evidence shows dong quai, black cohosh, and soy as helpful “Soy has decent evidence behind it because it is a phytoestrogen,” Nanavati said. “It is thought to benefit symptoms of menopause, especially hot flashes.” He referenced studies that indicate soy can help cut symptoms by up to 50 percent. He also said that flax seed is thought to be high in phytoestrogen, which is the plant form of estrogen, and vitamin E at lower doses, about 400 international units per day. “If you’re tapped out because of stress from family, work, trauma or pain, you need to take things that help your adrenal glands, like B vitamins, trace minerals, and magnesium,” said Laurel Sterling, registered and integrative dietitian in Syracuse, working as a nutritionist and educator for Carlson Lab. Supplements such as chaste tree berry, evening primrose oil or

IN GOOD HEALTH – CNY’s Healthcare Newspaper • July 2016

magnesium could also help. Many supplement manufacturers also make combination formulas. Sterling also suggested sage tea, non-GMO fermented soy and red raspberry leaf tea. Sterling also recommended that women experiencing menopause should consider removing from their diet food that is sugary, caffeinated, hot in temperature and spicy, as these can trigger a hot flash. Other triggers can include stress, anxiety and cigarette smoke. Some women find that losing weight helps reduce hot flashes. Avoiding excessive cardiovascular exercise can minimize hot flashes. Swimming may provide a good form of exercise, since the water may help prevent the increase in body temperature associated with exercise. Eric Mena, store manager at Green Planet Grocery in Oswego, mentioned black kohash and products that blend chiste tree berry and black cohosh with essential fatty acids as beneficial for reducing hot flashes. “We’ve had quite a few women ask about this,” Mena said. Estrotone by New Chapter and Source Naturals’ Hot Flash are best sellers at Green Planet for women with hot flashes. “Natural products generally need to be taken on a regular basis for your body to respond positively and get the results you want out of the product,” Mena said. “We encourage people to research the companies, and go over the product with their doctors,” Mena added. “We can help them find the product that’s most appropriate for them. We get a lot of response from women who say these products take the edge off hot flashes.”

A small study published in 2011 indicated that women treated with acupuncture showed markedly fewer

menopausal symptoms than women treated with psudo-acupuncture, where the practitioner did not insert the needles with sufficient depth to stimulate the nerves. Women should consider options other than hormone replacement therapy if they smoke heavily, or have a history of liver disease, breast cancer, or blood clots, among other factors that can contraindicate the treatment. Women should also weigh the risk compared with how hot flashes and other menopausal symptoms affect them. With some women, other medication has anecdotally shown to reduce hot flashes, although they’re not approved for treating hot flashes. These include gabapentin and pregabalin, normally prescribed for nerve pain, gabapentin, a seizure medication, and antidepressants venlafaxine, fluoxetine, and paroxetine. Before making any changes in diet, exercise or supplementation, it’s important to consult your physician.

Women’s HEALTH

Positively Pink Promotes Hope By Deborah Jeanne Sergeant

Diagnosed at 32 with breast cancer, Jennifer Tom felt blindsided. She wanted more information about breast cancer and craved comfort during her treatment and reconstruction. She needed hope, and found it in a handful of inspirational books, helpful products and supportive friends and family. From the dreadful experience, Tom started Positively Pink Packages, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit to provide free care packages full of resources to breast cancer patients in Central New York. Tom founded the organization in 2004 to give to others the items that “kept me going,” she said. “I was still young and wanted children, but a lot of women were talking about their grandchildren. When I would say I have 15 lymph nodes diagnosed and I was stage 3 and was this young, I felt alone. “Once I found all these resources, I thought everyone should have these.” As a professional working full time in a payroll department, Tom knew what it takes to launch a program. She created a business plan — complete with PowerPoint slides — and began to reach out to those who could donate the items in pink packages. She thought she could create the program for an existing nonprofit agency to administer; however, the research organizations receive funding only for research. Though they saw merit in her idea, no other organizations could fit the vision she held for her packages. That’s when Tom decided to found a nonprofit organization to do it herself. Every year, health care providers distribute about 1,000 of her packages, which contain information,

coping tools and comfort aids based upon what proved most helpful to Tom and other cancer patients. She developed packages for those newly diagnosed, undergoing chemotherapy and undergoing radiation to meet their specific needs. Tom also partners with a professional salon in Fayetteville to help women cope with the hair loss that accompanies chemotherapy. Rose & Company Hair Design offers free, new wigs from among 150 styles; free head shaving and free wig cutting, all in a private salon room. The salon also receives donations of new and used wigs for Positively Pink Packages. After five years of working fulltime and running Positively Pink, Tom knew doing both wouldn’t work anymore. “I realized this is a passion and purpose for my life,” she said. Tom keeps Positively Pink’s overhead low. She stores the care package’s materials and packages them at her Fayetteville home and uses only volunteer help. About 20 people assist her throughout the year. She has refrained from paying herself a salary by adjusting the family budget so she can work part-time at Positively Pink while caring for her family, Brian, her husband, and their young son, Jason. The organization’s annual Kentucky Derby Fundraiser, an event that takes place every May, represents its main fundraising event. The St. Agatha Foundation and other supporters help provide its $45,000 budget as well. With only a few administrative expenses, “the money being donated goes right into the items in the care packages,” Tom said.

'Viagra’ for Women Pill May Not Be Worth It

he much-touted "female libido" pill — also known as “Viagra for women” — seems to cause a host of serious side effects while failing to spark much additional passion in a woman's life, a new review suggests. Addyi (flibanserin) quadruples the risk of dizziness and sleepiness, more than doubles the chances of nausea, and increases the risk of fatigue by more than half, according to the analysis. For all that trouble, a woman taking Addyi can expect to gain one-half of one additional satisfying sexual event per month, on average, according to the report. It was pub-

lished online Feb. 29 in the journal JAMA Internal Medicine. "We found women had, on average, 2.5 satisfying sexual events per month before entering the study, and flibanserin added one-half additional satisfying sexual events per month," said senior study author Ellen Laan, a professor of sexology and psychosomatic gynecology at the University of Amsterdam, in the Netherlands. The side effects are troubling, said physician Mamta Mamik, an assistant professor of obstetrics, gynecology and reproductive science at Mount Sinai's Icahn School of Medicine in New York City. "The article is pretty comprehen-

Jennifer Tom of Fayetteville was diagnosed with breast cancer at age 32. After the dreadful experience she founded Positively Pink Packages in 2004, a nonproﬁt organization that provides free care packages full of resources to breast cancer patients in Central New York. She hopes to build more infrastructure into the organization and grow it to become more sustainable. Once she has accomplished those goals, she wants to expand into more counties (although no one requesting a package for a breast cancer patient from outside the Central New York area is denied). “It is our goal to provide these packages to the women and men that will be diagnosed with breast cancer this year in our community,” Tom said. Positively Pink Packages provides care packages to CNY Surgical Physicians, Upstate Surgical Group, Wellspring Breast Center at Community General Hospital, Breast Care Program at University Health Care Center, Hematology Oncology Association of Central New York, Syracuse Hematology/Oncology Regional Oncology Center at Upstate, Fingerlakes Oncology (Auburn) and RISE, Inc. Tracy Chamberlain Higginbotham, director of Women TIES, LLC, a

networking organization that promotes female entrepreneurs, believes that Tom’s passion for helping others diagnosed helps her succeed. “She obviously has a very emotional connection to the women she’s trying to help,” Higginbotham said. “When it’s coming from that place, you feel fueled to keep doing what you’re doing. She came out of this horrible ordeal with a very positive attitude. When inspired like that, it’s easy to succeed.” She said that Tom joined Women TIES to help bolster her marketing efforts. “Women entrepreneurs think we’re going to be the next Oprah Winfrey because we’re so passionate about our business, but the truth of the matter is, it takes three years if you’re marketing consistently and creating collaborative relationships to get to the point where you can have a good income coming in. That’s been the truth of both of my businesses. Promote. You can’t have an ego about it. It takes a while to make money and raise awareness.”

sive in addressing the issues. They raise valid concerns," Mamik said. "I think we have to be careful when a drug is marketed before its safety profile is approved and proper trials have been conducted." The U.S. Food and Drug Administration approved Addyi last year after a contentious review process, making it the nation's first drug designed to help women with low libido. Only 227 prescriptions for the drug were filled in its first few weeks on the market, Bloomberg reported. In the new review, Laan and her colleagues reviewed eight clinical trials conducted with Addyi, including five published and three unpublished studies involving almost 6,000 women. The combined evidence showed that Addyi provides marginal benefit

for women who are suffering hypoactive sexual desire disorder, a condition involving a persistent or recurrent lack of interest in sex. For example, women taking the drug scored just 0.3 points higher on a 5-point sexual desire scale and experienced a minimal increase in satisfying sexual events each month, the review authors found. However, Mamik noted that it's hard to judge how well Addyi performs because female desire is difficult to assess. "When you try to judge efficacy for a drug without an accurate measure of what the drug's supposed to do, it becomes fairly difficult," she explained. "It's not like blood cholesterol levels, where there's a number. How do you measure it? That's where the problem lies."

July 2016 •

IN GOOD HEALTH – CNY’s Healthcare Newspaper

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Page 15

Women’s HEALTH

By Deborah Jeanne Sergeant

omen tend to make a few mistakes in their health that can cause bigger problems in the future. We recently interviewed four local experts (listed at the bottom of the story). Here’s what they said of the 10 most common mistakes women make:

1 2

Mistakes Women Make in Their Health

Skipping regular home and ofﬁce dental care. “Twenty three percent of women ages 30 to 54 and 44 percent of women over 55 have severe gum or periodontal disease. That can lead to chronic inflammation in the body. Floss daily and brush twice a day.”

Skipping self breast exams. “While they may or may not have the greatest evidence behind them, self breast exams are a simple thing that can help.”

Adding unhealthful toppings and condiments. “They order a salad with stuff on them like creamy dressing and foods that are higher in fat like blue cheese and feta. It ends up being like a burger in a bowl for the calories.”

Neglecting spiritual wellness. “People get uncomfortable with it, but they need to understand the concept of contentment and peace are at the core of our needs. Then we’re not stressed. That can have an impact on the quality of life over time.”

Avoiding resistance training. “The women I see here are oftentimes intimidated by weight training. They need a personal trainer to show them how to use the machines correctly.”

6 7 8 9

Skimping on exercise. “I think sometimes, women’s lifestyle when they have kids lowers fitness in their priorities.” Neglecting self care. “I think that women are caretakers and much more worried about caring for others than themselves. They put themselves last, usually.”

Stressing out. “That leads to other health problems. I encourage clients to eat right, exercise, meditate, use infrared sauna and get body dry brushing as stress reducers.” Skipping breakfast. “You have to take advantage of your metabolism to get it going the moment you wake up. The sooner you eat, the

better. Otherwise, you tend to make it up later on in the day. Then you’re dealing with a slower metabolism. If you’ve defined it as a ‘famine day’ your body wants to store it as fat. Skipping breakfast is a big one.”

Good calories. “We focus way too much on calories and not enough on protein. I know a lot of women who feel if they have a 200-calorie doughnut, since they stay within a decent calorie range, that’s okay. But it’s the quality and quantity of the calories and the timing. Starchy carbohydrates will be directed into fat storage.”

Sources for the story: • Physician Kaushal B. Nanavati, director of Integrative Medicine at Upstate Cancer Center and clinical assistant professor Department of Family Medicine at Upstate Medical University (tips 1-4) • Helen Green, co-owner of Powerhouse Gym in Syracuse (tips 5-6) • Gina Insalaco, owner of Saunacuse in Syracuse (tips 7-8) • Physician Wendy Scinta, medical director at Medical Weight Loss of New York in Fayetteville, founder BOUNCE Pediatric Obesity Program, assistant professor of Family Medicine at Upstate Medical University (tips 9-10)

Meet Your Provider

floor physical therapist, can also improve symptoms related to pelvic floor disorders. In some cases, medications or a pessary may be helpful. For many patients, the choice to have surgical correction of their prolapse or incontinence may be the best option. The type of procedure that is appropriate varies depending on both patient and disease-specific factors. Upstate Urology offers a variety of minimally invasive treatment including the gold standard for prolapse repair: sacrocolpopexy. It can be performed with an open abdominal technique or Physician Natasha elvic floor disorders are among the most with use of minimally invasive techniques. Transcommon urologic concerns for women and Ginzburg of Upstate vaginal techniques are also offered as another the likelihood that more women will be Urology is the only female type of minimally invasive surgery requiring no affected by the disorder is growing. In 2010, more abdominal incisions or scars. urologist in Syracuse who than 28.1 million women suffered from pelvic Women who suffer with pelvic floor disorders is trained in female pelvic floor disorders in the United States. Current prohave many options for treatment for their bothmedicine. She specializes in jections expect an increase to 43.8 million women ersome symptoms. Working together with the female and reconstructive by 2050 to suffer from this condition. patient the best solution can be found to achieve urology, urinary Women suffering from pelvic floor disorder optimal outcomes. incontinence in women, may experience urinary problems (urgent need to The benefit Upstate Urology brings to female pelvic ﬂoor treatment and urinate, painful urination or incomplete emptying and other patients is its link with Upstate Medical neurourology. of the bladder), constipation (straining or pain University the region’s only academic medical during bowel movements), and pain or pressure center. Physicians at Upstate Urology aren’t just in the vagina or rectum. clinicians, they are teachers and researchers, often Successfully treating such conditions is a izes in female and reconstructive urology, urinary bringing new techniques and treatments to their hallmark of Upstate Urology, a practice featurpatients. Their clinical and research work has incontinence in women, pelvic floor treatment ing some of the leading urologic physicians and been published in numerous journals in the past and neurourology. researchers that is part of SUNY Upstate Medical Ginzburg is the only woman urologist who is year and hundreds of physicians and researchers University and affiliated with the Upstate Cancer fellowship trained in female pelvic medicine and from around the world have attended Upstate Center, both located in Syracuse. Urology conferences on the latest in care and reconstructive surgery in the Syracuse area. One physician specializing in the treatment of treatment. Depending on the type of pelvic floor dispelvic floor disorders is Natasha Ginzburg, who order, options for treatment include watchful not only serves as a clinician with Upstate Urolo- waiting as well as specific behavioral modificaUpstate Urology’s 2016 Report offers more gy, but also as a member of the Upstate faculty. In tions. Pelvic floor muscle exercises, either self-di- information on its breakthrough care. To receive a addition pelvic floor disorders, Ginzburg special- rected or under the guidance of a skilled pelvic copy, call 315-464-1500.

Upstate Urology Practice offers treatment for women with urologic problems, including pelvic ﬂoor disorders

For more information about Upstate Urology, call 315-464-155 Page 16

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IN GOOD HEALTH – CNY’s Healthcare Newspaper • July 2016

Parenting 2 By Melissa Stefanec

9 Lessons I Learned From a 5-year-old Little ones in our lives source of enlightenment

ou know the old saying: “Time flies when you’re raising children.” Well, maybe it isn’t a saying, but it should be, because in just two short days, my daughter turns 5. Thus far, parenting has been the sort of ride that I never could’ve prepared for. It’s also the sort of ride that I never want to stop. Being a parent does all the clichéd things everyone tells you it will. It changes you and makes you grow. There have been a lot of ups and downs, but parenting has brought me a joy I didn’t know was possible. It has also taught me more about life than any other experience to date. It has taught me things I never wanted to learn and things I desperately needed to learn. I spend many of my days trying to teach my daughter. Some of those things are mundane, and others seem inconceivable to the little brain I am trying to cram them into. Sometimes teaching is rewarding, sometimes it’s frustrating, and sometimes it feels downright unbearable (cue

the phrase, “If I have to tell you one more time”). However, teaching is a two-way street. So, to celebrate my daughter’s fifth year on this crazy planet, I am going to share some of the things she has taught me.

. Nature versus nurture is a very real thing Prior to parenting, I pictured guiding my child’s mind as it developed. After having kids, I realize all I am trying to do is keep that mind on the road. As soon as babies see the light of day, they have personalities. These personalities are somewhat a product of their environments, but so much of a person is wound up in their genes. My job as a parent has been to help her navigate this world using her mind and teaching her strategies to overcome her obstacles. She is her own person and I have to help her grow that, not teach her to be me or one of my ideals. It’s minutia, but it’s integral to the way I want to parent.

. Almost everything is washable and vacuum- friendly If it isn’t either of these things, I’ve tried to make it such. Being a mom has truly brought out some creativity in my cleaning. I do whatever I have to do to maintain some semblance of order. I’ve tried so many shortcuts to save my sanity. Hit me up if you want to know if stove grates can go in the dishwasher or if cleansing wipes are carpet/blanket/ car upholstery-friendly.

. Make time for fun It’s easy to lose the fun when you are caught up in the day-to-day business. Stella has taught me to find fun in routine. She has taught me that laundry sorting is way more fun if you toss it into piles from across the room. Eating dinner is more fun if you take time to make silly faces and talk in silly voices. A walk in the woods is more fun if you look around and learn. Grocery carts make good racecars. Being a mom has taught me to take the mundane less seriously and drink up the world around me.

. A smile makes you beautiful Kids have a way of smiling that is honest and beautiful. Adults often shy away from this sort of smiling. We look at the ground. We offer half or guarded smiles. Kids don’t do this very often, and that is part of what makes them so beautiful. Maybe adults should smile more like children.

. Enjoy your food There is something about being five years old that makes you really enjoy food. As adults, many of us shy away from foods we like because we feel guilty. We also eat food mindlessly while watching television or hovering over

July 2016 •

our keyboards during our working lunches. This is silly. Food is to be enjoyed.

. Meet each person with an open heart My daughter isn’t a shy child. She greets almost every person she meets with conversation, energy, and often, hugs. She assumes everyone she meets is nice and likes her. She sees a new friend. Imagine if we tackled new relationships with this attitude. There would be a lot of positive energy in the air, and it just might be contagious.

. Wear what you want Judgment be darned! If you like it, wear it. If it makes you feel beautiful, that is what matters. If you want to rock cat pants with a cat T-shirt because cats match, rock that outfit. Life is too short to care about what other people of think of you. Wear what you like, and wear it with confidence and pride.

. You pick what you want to be when you grow up. It seems simple enough, but too many of us don’t do this. We feel like our futures are already decided. We feel like we can’t change things about ourselves. Kids aren’t afraid to change. If tomorrow doesn’t feel the same as yesterday, they embrace it. They realize things change and then change right back again.

. Life is better with you Sometimes, the people we are closest to can make things the most difficult. They are the easiest to squabble with. They can get under our skin. Love is like that. Despite all of those annoyances, our lives are better because of the people we love, and my life is better because of a 5 year old.

IN GOOD HEALTH – CNY’s Healthcare Newspaper

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Page 17

Women’s HEALTH

Tia Falcone of Tia Falcone Fitness, a certiﬁed personal trainer in Dewitt, advises changing your workout routine every 12 weeks to avoid plateaus.

Calorie Burners: Break Through the Plateau By Deborah Jeanne Sergeant

f you’re starting to get fit and eat right but have hit a weight loss plateau, burning more calories can help you break through. To really torch calories during your workout, some strategies and activities will prove more helpful than others. Though any exercise is better than none, engaging in certain activities can give you more benefit for the time you spend doing them. And how you engage in any activity makes a difference, too. Helen Green, co-owner Powerhouse Gym in Syracuse, recommends taking shorter rest periods between sets or between intense bursts of exercise. “A lot of times, that will increase the calorie burning,” Green said. “For some people, increasing the intensity is all they do.” Using proper form and control when weightlifting, instead of letting weights flop around, uses more calories. Shuffling through a Zumba class, instead of high-stepping with the rest of them, won’t burn as many calories, either. Tia Falcone, a certified personal trainer in Dewitt and owner of Tia Falcone Fitness, advises changing your workout routine every 12 weeks to avoid plateaus. She’s also a big fan of high-intensity interval training in which participants alternate working out as intensely as possible for a minute with brief rests. If you have only a limited time to exercise, you could benefit more from compound movements, such as curling weights while performing lunges. Choosing a more intense physical activity also helps. A 150-lb. person burns about 600 calories practicing martial arts, compared with 225 calories walking at a moderate pace, for example. Walking offers a good entry level activity and helps many people get fitter. But many other activities burn more calories per hour. “You never really replace walking, but add other things,” said Nick

Page 18

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IN GOOD HEALTH – CNY’s Healthcare Newspaper • July 2016

Murphy, life coach, personal trainer and owner of Mission Fitness in E. Syracuse. “In resistance training or a fitness program, you cause an adaptive response and the intensity you get conditioned to. You create greater intensity until you reach your potential of intensity.” He noted that swimming and elliptical machines and other cardio machines that engage the legs and arms without stressing joints keep workouts “simple and safe. They work all the muscles of the body at once with intensity.” Running mostly works the legs, although adding hand weights or movements such as planks, pushups, chin-ups and pull-ups can help involve more of the body. Building and maintaining muscle mass is also vital for losing weight. Murphy said that after age 25, people lose 1.5 pounds of muscle annually unless they engage in resistance training at least twice per week. That could include using a weight machine, lifting free weights or using resistance bands. “Your body has a very intricate hormonal system that controls weight,” Murphy said. “They control whether you gain or lose weight. Resistance training sends a positive hormonal signal and turns the body’s growth hormone production on.” Choosing an activity that includes lots of variety, or selecting a few activities that includes the entire body, along with resistance training, can help you break through a weight loss plateau.

Keeping Track So how many calories do burn performing your activity? Your smartphone may already have an app that can give you an idea. Numerous websites may also help you estimate, such as www.myfitnesspal.com and www.healthstatus.com/calculate/cbc.

Distinctive Maternity Care. At Crouse. A

s the region’s premier provider of maternity care, Crouse is proud to be designated as one of the first hospitals in the nation to receive Excellus BlueCross BlueShield’s Blue Distinction Center+ for Maternity Care designation.

We thank our entire Kienzle Family Maternity Center team for this special recognition. We’re proud of the highly trained, experienced clinical staff and physicians who care for our mothers and their newborns — over 4,000 last year alone.

See why more babies are born here than at any other hospital in Central New York. Visit crouse.org/babies

CROUSE

Kienzle Family Maternity Center

Blue Distinction Centers (BDC) met overall quality measures for patient safety and outcomes, developed with input from the medical community. A Local Blue Plan may require additional criteria for facilities located in its own service area; for details, contact your Local Blue Plan. Blue Distinction Centers+ (BDC+) also met cost measures that address consumers’ need for affordable healthcare. Each facility’s cost of care is evaluated using data from its Local Blue Plan. Facilities in CA, ID, NY, PA, and WA may lie in two Local Blue Plans’ areas, resulting in two evaluations for cost of care; and their own Local Blue Plans decide whether one or both cost of care evaluation(s) must meet BDC+ national criteria. National criteria for BDC and BDC+ are displayed on www.bcbs.com. Individual outcomes may vary. For details on a provider’s in-network status or your own policy’s coverage, contact your Local Blue Plan and ask your provider before making an appointment. Neither Blue Cross and Blue Shield Association nor any Blue Plans are responsible for non-covered charges or other losses or damages resulting from Blue Distinction or other provider finder information or care received from Blue Distinction or other providers.

Health in good

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Drivers Needed Only one or two days a month In Good Health, CNY’s Healthcare Newspaper is expading its distribution and needs additional drivers to help place copies of the paper at various businesses in the area. One or days a month. $9 an hour plus 30 cents per mile. No heavy lifting. Must have dependable vehicle. Please call Michelle at 342-1182.

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IN GOOD HEALTH – CNY’s Healthcare Newspaper

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Page 19

Part of the team at The Gender Wellness Center in Oneonta are, from left, physicians Diane Georgeson and Carolyn Wolf-Gould (the practice’s founder) and Tania Villa, a registered physician assistant. The one-of-a-kind center opened last year and has seen a surge in number of patients, some coming from Massachusetts and Pennsylvania.

Mistaken Identity

A unique center in Upstate New York, The Gender Wellness Center has seen number of transgender patients skyrocket in one year By Aaron Gifford

arolyn Wolf-Gould found a way to combine her two passions — medicine and social justice. So when the physician expanded her family practice in Oneonta to include a special emphasis on treating transgender patients, she immediately realized that the need for these services was both overwhelming and long overdue. Within a few months, she was seeing dozens of patients of all ages who traveled to the rural college town located in the foothills of the Catskill Mountains from all parts of Upstate New York and even neighboring states. “Our practice is completely thriving,” she said. The Gender Wellness Center inside the Susquehanna Family Practice officially opened last year, though Wolf-Gould has been treating transgender patients for nearly nine years now. Since June of 2015, the center’s patient load increased from 180 patients to 350 patients, and some travel from Pennsylvania, Massachusetts and the New York City area. Transgender is defined as the mismatch between a person’s assigned sex at birth and their gender identity. Someone who is transgender is not necessarily homosexual, and the classification of transgender is not restricted only to those who are taking steps toward a sex change. Wolf-Gould had been in practice as a family physician for decades before she carved out her niche. The genesis came in 2007 after a patient — formerly female — had just moved to the area to work at one of the colleges and requested a prescription Page 20

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for testosterone. Wolf-Gould had little knowledge of transgender care, but was persuaded to help. “He was so persistent,” she said. “He otherwise had to go to Philadelphia for testosterone. He asked me, ‘Would you be willing to learn?’” Wolf-Gould, who had worked in the Congo as a Peace Corps volunteer, sponsored a school in Mali and set up a free clinic in Oneonta, was more than willing to learn. She soon learned that many providers across the state declined to provide transgender care to patients because it was out of their comfort zone. “People have been turned away from doctors, even for treatment for a broken leg,” Wolf-Gould said. “They were treated like curiosities or mocked. That’s what happened with African-Americans a number of years ago.” “I think patients, in general, are lovely people,” she added. “People come to me because they feel they aren’t living authentically.” The National Center for Transgender Equality conducted a national study that found nearly 20 percent of those surveyed were refused medical care because of their transgender status, and 50 percent indicated that they had to teach their physicians about transgender care. Twenty-eight percent responded that they had postponed medical care due to discrimination issues. The study, which consisted of interviews from 6,450 transgender or gender non-conforming participants across the country, reported that 41 percent of the respondents had previously attempted suicide, and a significant number of them were

IN GOOD HEALTH – CNY’s Healthcare Newspaper • July 2016

fired from a job, bullied in school, had low household incomes, or were the victims of assault. In addition, 53 percent of the respondents reported being verbally harassed or disrespected in public places like retail stores, hotels, restaurants, bus terminals, public offices, courtrooms, hospital emergency rooms and medical offices. Wolf-Gould said medical providers who care for transgender patients often face distrust and suspicion from their peers. “Many doctors think that gender dysphoria is a mental illness or a perversion, and treat these patients with hostility or contempt,” she said. “Transgender patients face terrible discrimination in health care settings because of this. The doctors who treat these patients are often treated in similar ways by their peers — considered quacks, or to be practicing on the fringes. This is mostly because of lack of education about this gender variance.”

Unusual center in Upstate

The Susquehanna Family Practice and the Gender Wellness Center, which is affiliated with Bassett Healthcare Network, is also staffed by Wolf-Gould’s husband, physician Chris Wolf-Gould; with physician Diane Georgeson, Michelle Kutalek (nurse practitioner), Justine Wollner Wise (licensed master social worker), and Susan C. Turell (psychologist). According to its website, the Gender Wellness Center offers primary care and gynecologic care for nonconforming youth

and adults; cross-sex hormone therapy; evaluation of gender nonconforming youth and treatment with pubertal blockers and crosssex hormones when indicated; referrals for gender confirmation surgeries locally, nationally and internationally; referrals to voice therapists and support groups; preoperative and postoperative care for gender confirming surgeries; and training and mentoring for health care providers with an interest in transgender health. Wolf-Gould said this is the only multi-disciplinary group in Upstate New York that also offers onsite mental health services to transgender patients, and the network has surgeons who have been trained in transgender care. “I think it’s unusual in New York state,” she said. “We offer a good mix.” An Internet search for transgender medical services in Upstate New York indicates there are many physicians who are identified as transgender friendly and offer services such as hormone prescriptions and therapy, but there were no other listings of entire practices specifically for transgender patients. Patient Rebecca Drebert, of Binghamton, made her first trip to the center last year after learning about the practice at a transgender conference in Boston. An Episcopal priest, Drebert was always transgender and legally changed her identity from David Drebert to Rebecca Drebert several months ago. She is undergoing hormone therapy but is undecided if she will eventually get a sex change operation. When Drebert was forced to leave her former position at an Episcopal Church, Wolf-Gould immediately made the trip from Oneonta to Binghamton to support Drebert in her time of need and offered to discuss the matter with congregation members who forced Drebert out of the church. “That’s the kind of person she is,” Drebert said. “She is so very caring about everyone and wants to get the message out that transgender is not all we are. I know physicians, lawyers, mechanics and priests who are transgender. This is an important part of our lives and it’s who we are, but it’s not all we are.” There is no board standard for transgender care specialists, but a new certification program was established last year for medical professionals with no previous experience in this field. Transgender care is in not usually a required part of medical school curriculum, Wolf-Gould says, but gay, lesbian and transgender advocacy groups are pressuring for change. “Medical school doesn’t touch on this right now, but I think that’s going to change,” she said. “I think transgender [care] has become a visible issue in the last couple years.” Wolf-Gould added there is a strong demand to extend her practice well beyond the Oneonta area. She envisions an “Upstate Center for Transgender Excellence” someday, and believes that in the short-term, she and her staff can offer services to patients who live far away via telemedicine technology. “I love the mix of medicine and social justice,” she said. “It’s a beautiful process to watch them be able to live more authentically.”

We Recognize the Symptoms You Live With… By Jim Miller

The New MIND Diet May Help Prevent Alzheimer’s Dear Savvy Senior,

I’ve heard there’s a new diet that can help prevent Alzheimer’s disease. What can you tell me about this? My 80-year-old mother has Alzheimer’s and I want to do everything I can to protect myself.

Concerned Daughter

Dear Concerned,

It’s true! Research has found that a new diet plan — called the MIND diet — can have a profound impact on your brain health as you age, and can even lower your odds of getting Alzheimer’s disease. The MIND diet takes two proven diets — the heart-healthy Mediterranean diet and the blood-pressure lowering DASH diet — and zeroes in on the foods in each that specifically affect brain health. The MIND diet, which stands for “Mediterranean-DASH Intervention for Neurodegenerative Delay,” was developed by Martha Clare Morris, a nutritional epidemiologist at Rush University Medical Center, through a study funded by the National Institute on Aging. The study followed the diets of nearly 1,000 elderly adults, who filled out food questionnaires and underwent repeated neurological testing for an average of 4.5 years. It found participants whose diets most closely followed the MIND recommendations had brains that functioned as if they were 7.5 years younger, and it lowered their risk of developing Alzheimer’s disease by as much as 53 percent. And even those who didn’t stick to the diet perfectly but followed it moderately well reduced their risk of Alzheimer’s by 35 percent.

The MIND Menu

The MIND diet has 15 dietary components. The emphasis is on eating from 10 brain-healthy food groups, and limiting foods from five unhealthy groups. Here’s a rundown of the healthy foods you should work into your diet: • Green leafy vegetables (like

spinach and salad greens): Eat at least one serving per day. • Other vegetables: At least one other vegetable a day. • Whole grains: Three or more servings a day. • Nuts: Five one-ounce servings a week. • Beans: At least three servings a week. • Berries: Two or more servings a week. • Fish: Once a week. • Poultry (not fried): Two times a week. • Olive oil: Use it as your primary cooking oil. • Wine: One glass a day. And the five unhealthy food groups you should limit include: • Red meat: Eat fewer than four servings a week. • Butter and margarine: Less than a tablespoon daily. • Cheese: Less than one serving a week. • Pastries and sweets: Less than five servings a week. • Fried or fast food: Less than one serving a week.

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Other Benefits

One of the best things about the MIND diet is that it’s easer to follow than most other diets and you don’t have to stick to it perfectly to gain the benefits, which makes it more likely you’ll follow it for a long time. And the longer you eat the MIND way, the lower the risk of getting Alzheimer’s disease. Another advantage is that the MIND diet can help you lose some weight too, if you keep your portions in check and are careful about how the food is prepared. It’s also important to understand that even though diet plays a big role, it’s only one aspect of Alzheimer’s disease. So get regular exercise, if you smoke, quit, and learn how manage your stress to lower your risk even more.

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. July 2016 •

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Onondaga County Honors Seniors Who Make a Difference The Onondaga County Department of Adult & Long Term Care Services Office for Aging recently held its 2016 Celebration Luncheon for Onondaga County Seniors where it honored three seniors who have made a difference in the community. The event was held May 19 at Drumlins.

The following seniors were recognized:

Senior Citizen of the Year

Bob Luongo of Syracuse, also known by his work name "Bob Barker," was selected as the 2016 Onondaga County senior citizen of the year. He lost his courageous battle with cancer on April 29. He was honored posthumously. Luongo He was born in 1939 and grew up on the North Side of Syracuse. According to a news release, he built a hot dog cart by hand and took to the Syracuse street corners in 1981. He had multiple hot carts throughout the city of

Syracuse and two indoor restaurants — one on Park Street at the Regional Market and one on New Court Avenue in Lyncourt, which he operated with his wife Jan and five daughters. He was a hot dog vendor by trade, but his first concern was always for those, in need. “Bob continued to participate in local community events, parades and visiting nursing home resident's despite his own health issues,” read the news release. “His attitude and spirit were amazing. He said he would always continue to volunteer his services and time to our great community and he did. He believed that today's generation will inherit the future and his being a good role model could only help.

Esteemed Elder of the Year Vinh Dang of Syracuse was

an officer in the Army of the Republic of Vietnam, fighting against communism alongside Americans for over 10 years. After the fall of Saigon, he spent over Dang seven years in a communist re-education concentration camp because of his association with the United States. When he was released from prison in June of 1996 he was allowed to come to Syracuse through the Humanitarian Organi-

zation (HO) together with his wife and children. According to a news release, Dang served Neighborhood Advisors in Syracuse for almost seven years and when he retired in 2007 he took a volunteer position as adviser at the organization’s community executive committee where he continues to work to better the community. Dang worked with the city of Syracuse and Onondaga County to grant a proclamation to recognize the former South Vietnamese flag as a symbol of freedom and for those who fought alongside America in the Vietnam War to be recognized for their service and sacrifice. He is also a founding member of the Vietnamese Senior Association.

Senior Services Honoree of the Year Diane Weiermann of

Camillus has been employed by AccessCNY (formerly Enable) for 30 years. In her current role as program director of outreach services, Weiermann has Weiermann touched the lives of hundreds of seniors living in Onondaga County, according to a news release. Although AccessCNY primarily serves individuals with disabilities, the outreach department can help anyone who requires assistance with a one-time or ongoing need due to illness, injury or just the Page 22

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normal aging process. Weiermann’s commitment to seniors is unwavering, read the news release. “Once she connects with a senior in need, she becomes his or her strongest advocate. Her primary goal is to have each senior live in his or her own home for as long as it is safely possible.” Weiermann helps seniors enroll for benefits, find doctors, secure home repairs or environmental modifications, find legal representation and often accompanies individuals to medical appointments. “Diane’s warm and engaging personality is always welcome. People do not forget her laugh or how respectfully she has treated them. Diane’s special talent is how intently she listens, empathizes, and then puts a plan into action,” reads the release.

IN GOOD HEALTH – CNY’s Healthcare Newspaper • July 2016

The Social Ask Security Office

From the Social Security District Office

Social Security’s Programs Are As Diverse As Those Served

rom women and children, to the elderly and disabled, Social Security has you covered. Because we value and appreciate the differences that make up our nation, our programs are as diverse as those we serve. We’re with you throughout every stage of your life, and we’re always working to provide services that meet your changing needs. Our programs serve as vital financial protection for millions of people. When you work and pay Social Security taxes, you earn credits. These credits count toward retirement, disability and survivors benefits. A program everyone should be familiar with is Social Security’s retirement program. Whether you’re a young adult paying Social Security taxes for the first time or a retiree receiving benefits, this is a program that will affect you during and after your working years. You can learn more about your earnings and potential benefits by visiting www. ssa.gov/retire/. Social Security administers the largest disability program in the

Q&A

Q: I am receiving Social Security retirement benefits and I recently went back to work. Do I have to pay Social Security (FICA) taxes on my income? A: Yes. By law, your employer must withhold FICA taxes from your paycheck. Although you are retired, you do receive credit for those new earnings. Each year Social Security automatically credits the new earnings and, if your new earnings are higher than in any earlier year used to calculate your current benefit, your monthly benefit could increase. For more information, visit www. socialsecurity.gov or call us at 1-800772-1213 (TTY 1-800-325-0778). Q: I want to estimate my retirement benefit at several different ages. Is there a way to do that? A: Use our Retirement Estimator at www.socialsecurity.gov/estimator to get an instant, personalized retirement benefit estimate based on current law and your earnings record. The Retirement Estimator, which also is available in Spanish, lets you create additional “what if” retirement scenarios based on different income levels and “stop work” ages. Q: I am expecting a child and will be out of work for six months.

nation. A severe illness or injury robs a person of the ability to work and earn a living. Thankfully, Social Security disability benefits can provide a critical source of financial support during a time of need. For more on disability benefits, visit www.socialsecurity.gov/disability. When a family loses a wage earner, it can be both emotionally and financially devastating. However, Social Security can help secure a family’s financial future if a loved one dies with survivor benefits. The best thing you can do for your family is prepare as much as possible: get started at www.socialsecurity.gov/ survivors. Social Security’s programs are neutral regarding gender, age, race, and orientation — individuals with identical earnings histories and needs are treated the same in terms of benefits. We’re proud the diverse public we serve reflects the programs we offer. Visit www.socialsecurity. gov today to see how we can serve you and secure your today and tomorrow.

Can I qualify for short-term disability? A: No. Social Security pays only for total disability — conditions that render you unable to work and are expected to last for at least a year or end in death. No benefits are payable for partial disability or short-term disability, including benefits while on maternity leave. Q: I get Social Security because of a disability. How often will my case be reviewed to determine if I’m still eligible? A: How often we review your medical condition depends on how severe it is and the likelihood it will improve. Your award notice tells you when you can expect your first review using the following terminology: • Medical improvement expected — If your condition is expected to improve within a specific time, your first review will be six to 18 months after you started getting disability benefits. • Medical improvement possible — If improvement in your medical condition is possible, your case will be reviewed about every three years. • Medical improvement not expected — If your medical condition is unlikely to improve, your case will be reviewed about once every five to seven years. For more information, visit www. socialsecurity.gov.

Strategic Partnership Oneida Healthcare, Bassett reach agreement By Lou Sorendo

neida Healthcare and Bassett Healthcare Network are pursuing a partnership agreement aimed at enhancing the delivery of health care services in the Oneida region, with a strong emphasis on population health management and expanded access to primary care. Changes in the health care landscape have made it difficult for small community healthcare providers to continue to operate independently, said Oneida Healthcare President and CEO Gene Morreale. These changes include offering products on the New York Health Exchange, preparing for entry into Medicare population health management programs as well as participating with the Excellus BlueCross BlueShield accountable-cost and quality-of-care program. The goal of the ACQA is to make everyone in the health care delivery system — patients, health care providers and health insurance companies — responsible stewards of health care dollars, according to Excellus. “As time passes, it would become more difficult for Oneida Healthcare to catch up on the many positives these programs bring to the communities we serve,” he noted. Morreale said OHC’s board of trustees considered proposals from several surrounding healthcare networks prior to choosing Bassett, headquartered in Cooperstown. Both organizations share a common vision of what is necessary to improve the delivery of health care services in the Oneida region, he said. “With improvement in the quality of care as our vision, we will now initiate a process of determining how to collaborate to bring our vision to fruition,” Morreale said. “Our desire is to have a signed partnership in place by the fourth quarter of 2016.” “We chose Bassett’s proposal because it was advantageous to our ongoing growth and development goals while allowing us to manage independently,” he said. “We believe they share a common vision for what is required to improve the delivery of health care services in Oneida and the surrounding communities we serve.” Other factors that influenced OHC’s decision included Bassett’s depth of experience in primary care delivery, success in population health management and accountable care, excellent clinician recruitment resources and its willingness to share best practices, he added. Under the initial proposal, OHC will remain an independent organization governed by its current board and management team.

Three-pronged goal

“Our partnership with Bassett will facilitate more desirable outcomes in achieving the ‘triple aim’ of healthcare: improving the patient experience, improving population health and reducing the cost of healthcare in the Oneida region,”

Oneida Healthcare President and CEO Gene Morreale

Morreale added. Under the terms of the agreement, OHC would also be allowed to participate in the Bassett accountable care organization, Bassett Accountable Care Partners, LLC, a Medicare-shared savings arrangement; Bassett’s ACQA with Excellus, as well as participate in Bassett-branded insurance products offered through Excellus BCBS on the New York Health Exchange. Health care consumers in the region will benefit from the partnership agreement, Morreale noted. “Patients in our region will benefit from increased access to primary care and improved clinical outcomes through shared best practices,” he said. “A key component of our pursued strategic partnership is to expand local quality care. Bassett will augment medical services already in place.” He said a successful partnership hinges on both entities taking advantage of cost savings through the use and enhancement of services. “Benchmarks include increased access to primary and specialty care, demonstrated success in improving clinical outcomes and cost reduction,” he said. “Today, more than ever, the delivery of health care requires a network of coordinated services, built upon a strong foundation of primary and preventive care,” said Bassett Healthcare Network President and CEO Vance M. Brown. “Our collective goal is to improve the population’s quality of life through good preventive care, care coordination and a strong emphasis on care management and the management of chronic diseases.” Earlier this year, Bassett opened a new primary care center in Oneida that provides preventive primary care as well as laboratory, X-ray and orthopedic services. Since establishing its health center in Oneida, Bassett has been exploring opportunities to partner with a Central New York health care provider in support of its population health strategies. OHC serves an area comprised of approximately 24 communities in Madison and western Oneida counties with a population of about 80,000. July 2016 •

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IN GOOD HEALTH – CNY’s Healthcare Newspaper • July 2016

ummer is about to begin in earnest. Those adults who have children in their lives likely have a checklist of summer necessities to keep kids healthy. Sunscreen, bug spray, water bottles, Band-aids and other such necessities will help kids stay physically healthy and well through the summer. But what about a checklist for kids’ mental health this summer? What’s necessary to help kids be mentally healthy during the summer months? When we care for our children (whether they’re our own offspring or someone else’s), it’s natural to want them to thrive. “Have a great summer” can take on a new level of meaning, and there can be a great deal of pressure behind that command-style wish. There are certain things all children need in order to experience mental health and well-being and thus have a great summer. Think of the following list as a checklist for a mentally healthy summer.

n 1 — Kids Need a Sense of Belonging in the Summer to Enhance Mental Health

Prominent psychologists such as Abraham Maslow, William Glasser and others have demonstrated through copious amounts of research that a basic human need is love and belonging. It’s essential for mental health and well-being. For most of the year, school is a major source of belonging for kids of all ages. While kids don’t feel close to everyone at school (and there are some people they’d love to get far away from), school in general provides an important sense of belonging and human connection. When the doors close for the summer, some kids can have a hard time adjusting to a sudden void in their network of

connections. Tips to help children adjust and maintain a sense of belonging: • Help them know that if they’re feeling lonely or down, they’re not alone. It’s normal to need some time to adjust to a change, even a good change. • Plan some special activities together. A picnic in a park, a game of catch in the backyard, a night of stargazing — anything that allows your child to connect with you is excellent. • Allow your child to have friends over, go to friends’ houses, and otherwise connect with kids of the same age. For optimum mental health, kids need connections with peers. It fulfills the need for belonging, and it creates a support network that contributes to the development of resilience.

n 2 — A Sense of Purpose Gives Kids a Mental Health Boost Throughout the Summer

As much as kids grumble about homework or their classes in school, these things are actually very good for them in a number of ways. Academics aside, school helps kids develop a sense of purpose. A universal question, worded differently across the life span, is “why am I here?” We answer that question by discovering a sense of purpose. School-age kids need to feel a drive, a motivation, a sense of purpose in order to be mentally healthy. Sometimes, the summer months can contribute to feelings of depression or anxiety because of their lackadaisical days. To help kids maintain a sense of purpose, and thus mental wellness, consider these ideas: • Let them help decide and plan activities (with age-appropriate limitations, of course). Allow them

to brainstorm things to do, and have them make the plans for it. This can apply to the lunch menu or to a weekend outing. Kids thrive when they are allowed to have some responsibility for what the family does. • Give them age-appropriate chores. Sure, they’ll likely grumble, but behind the rolled eyes is a kid who is developing a sense of purpose, a sense that there are things to do during the summer and that they can contribute to getting them done. That develops self-confidence, an important component of mental health.

Kinney Drugs recognized for top performance Kinney Drugs, a leading community pharmacy in New York and Vermont, was recently recognized by CVS Caremark, the prescription benefit management business of CVS Health, as the No. 1 pharmacy chain in the country for their patient

medication adherence performance in 2015. This recognition is part of the CVS Caremark Network’s performance program, which focuses on driving improvements in medication safety and adherence and increasing health outcomes of each patient. “We are truly honored to receive this prestigious recognition, as it is a testament to the quality of care that

our pharmacists deliver each and every day,” said Jim Spencer, president of Kinney Drugs. “Providing exceptional care for our patients is and always has been a hallmark of Kinney Drugs. Much of our success is due to strategic partnerships that we have developed within the health care system.”

n 3 — Summer Fun is Essential to Kids’ Mental Health

Like belonging and a sense of purpose, fun is actually essential to mental health and well-being. Experiencing fun reduces stress, anxiety and depression, and it increases our connection to others. For kids who are out of school, away from their normal routine, network of supportive adults, and peers, summer vacation can become a drag. Kids can become listless and apathetic or irritable and prone to getting into trouble. Introduce fun for a mentally healthy summer. Fun is a balancing act. Kids need structured fun, such as involvement in sports, clubs, classes and camps. Structure provides routine and a sense of safety. Too much structure, though, can be stifling and stressful, even contributing to anxiety. Kids also need unscheduled time for free play to enhance their mental health. To find this balance: • Decide how much you can spend on structured activities, and research what is available in your area. The older your child is, the more input she can have in this process (other than the budget, of course). Let her help you choose one or a few structured activities • Put together a kit or box for free time. Again, let your child contribute. Being set loose for free time can be overwhelming for kids, resulting in the complaint that there’s nothing to do. Having things on hand for your child to do is helpful in getting them into the fun. You might have noticed that belonging, purpose and fun are interconnected. They exist together, contributing to each other positively. Together, belonging, purpose, and fun help your child have a mentally healthy summer. Children, like adults, are complete and complex creatures. Their skin must be protected from the sun’s rays. Their bodies must be properly nourished and hydrated. And their mental health needs to be cared for as well to help them thrive through the summer and well into next school year.

Tanya J. Peterson is a nationally certified counselor, novelist and columnist who uses writing to increase understanding of and compassion for people living with mental illness. Her last book, “My Life in a Nutshell: A Novel” (Inkwater Press, 2014) was awarded a Kirkus Star, an honor given by Kirkus Reviews “to books of remarkable merit.” July 2016 •

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Health News Soul Soothings opens new Manlius location Author and holistic wellness educator Kathy Ozzard Chism has moved her Soul Soothings wellness boutique from The White House in Fayetteville to a much larger location at 131 W. Seneca St., suite 1, next to the UPS store in Manlius. “This lovely oasis is filled with all-natural, organic, non-toxic, chemical-free, vegan, eco-friendly, cruelty-free, stress-reducing items for body, mind, and spirit,” she said. The store offers botanical skincare for men, women, children, and infants, yoga accessories, oils, organic pet products and a wide variety of gifts, among other items. She also provides massage therapy and personalized holistic wellness consultations Author of “The Power of Know – 30 Days of All-Natural Ways to Heal Mind, Body, and Spirit,” upon which Soul Soothings is based, Chism holds a certificate in plant-based nutrition from Cornell University, is a Level I Bach Flower therapist, taught national certification courses in massage therapy for 18 years in Florida, California, and Texas, and founded / directed the global all-volunteer nonprofit Dream One World for 11 years, among her many credentials.

GiGi’s Playhouse has new board of directors GiGi’s Playhouse Syracuse, a local nonprofit organization whose mission is to increase positive awareness of Down syndrome, recently appointed four new members to its board of managers as well as the full slate of members for 2016. Joining the board of managers are Lisa Ross, vice president of sales CXtec; Jodi DeAugustine, market manager of Pathfinder Bank; Julie Tennant, owner of The Love Chromosome; Jessica Page, CPA, tax manager at Firley, Moran, Freer & Eassa. “All four of our newest board members boast talent, expertise and energy. They each have an amazing repertoire of skills that they bring to the table. I feel very privileged that they will be a part of the amazing GiGi’s team as we continue to expand our outreach and mission,” said Christina Cacciola, site coordinator. Other members of board are Matt Dwyer, president; Heather Rodriguez, vice president; Patricia Graham, secretary; and members Janet M. LaSalle, Emily Schwytzer and Theresa Szuba. GiGi’s Playhouse serves children and adults with Down syndrome by providing educational and therapeutic programs at no charge to families; and in a format that individuals with Down syndrome learn best. All programs aim to maximize self-confidence and empower individuals to achieve their greatest potential.

Kelley join OCO’s crisis and development services Dan Kelley has been named director of Oswego County OpportuPage 26

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nities (OCO) crisis and development services. Kelley joins OCO from Onondaga Case Management Services in Syracuse where he most recently served as director of licensed programs. Kelley will oversee a wide array of programs including Kelley health education services, intervention services (including homeless services and services to aid families, SAF), care management services and the OCO Crisis Hot Line. “It’s meaningful to be a leader in an organization that provides vital human services and creates an environment that is conducive to delivering services in an effective fashion,” said Kelley. “Human services work is important to me. I’d like to think that I live my life in a meaningful way that helps people live better. I’m thankful to be a part of OCO as it allows me to do that.”

Upstate recognized for its stroke care Upstate University Hospital has received the American Heart Association/American Stroke Association’s Get With The Guidelines-Stroke Gold Plus Achievement Award with Target: Stroke Honor Roll Elite Plus for 2016. The award recognizes the hospital’s commitment to providing the most appropriate stroke treatment according to nationally recognized, research-based guidelines based on the latest scientific evidence. Hospitals must achieve 85 percent or higher adherence to all Get With The Guidelines-Stroke achievement indicators for two or more consecutive 12-month periods and achieve 75 percent or higher compliance with five of eight Get With The Guidelines-Stroke Quality measures to receive the Gold Plus Quality Achievement Award. “This recognition from the American Heart Association reflects the high-level of expert care that Upstate’s Comprehensive Stroke Center team provides our patients,” said physician John McCabe, CEO of Upstate University Hospital. “The Gold Plus Award and the Honor Roll Elite Plus recognize that at Upstate we begin providing the optimum care for stroke the moment that patient arrives at our door. And as McCabe we know in stroke care, time to treatment is cru-

IN GOOD HEALTH – CNY’s Healthcare Newspaper • July 2016

cial in ensuring full recovery following stroke. When it comes to stroke care, Upstate exceeds national quality measures.” To qualify for the Target: Stroke Honor Roll Elite Plus, hospitals must meet quality measures developed to reduce the time between the patient’s arrival at the hospital and treatment with the clot-buster tissue plasminogen activator, or tPA, the only drug approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration to treat ischemic stroke. If given intravenously in the first three hours after the start of stroke symptoms, tPA has been shown to significantly reduce the effects of stroke and lessen the chance of permanent disability. Upstate University Hospital earned the award by meeting specific quality achievement measures for the diagnosis and treatment of stroke patients at a set level for a designated period. These quality measures are designed to help hospital teams follow the most up-to-date, evidence-based guidelines with the goal of speeding recovery and reducing death and disability for stroke patients.

Interventional spine doc joins St. Joe’s Physicians Interventional spine specialist, physician David Moorthi, has recently joined St. Joseph’s Physicians Spine Care at Northeast Medical Center in Fayetteville. In his new role, Moorthi will collaborate with referring providers to intervene at the onset of acute spine pain through development Moorthi and coordination of treatment plans that seek to prevent unnecessary treatment. “No one wants to live with chronic back pain. Addressing acute spine pain at early onset can help patients avoid future issues with chronic pain and narcotic dependency, and improve quality of life,” said Julianne Himes, chief operating officer for St. Joseph’s Physicians. “Dr. Moorthi brings nearly 20 years of experience in interventional spine diagnosis and treatment to St. Joseph’s enabling us to continue to provide high-quality, cutting- edge care to patients suffering with acute spine pain.”Moorthi earned his Doctor of Medicine from University of Madras, Stanley Medical College in Madras, India. He completed a fellowship in anesthesiology pain management, and completed residency training in physical medicine and rehabilitation at Strong Memorial Hospital in Rochester. Moorthi comes to St. Joseph’s from Spine & Pain Care, LLC in Rochester. Moorthi is a member of the American Academy of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, the Medical Society of State of New York,

and is board certified by the American Board of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation.

Kirshner to head national cancer research board Physician Jeffrey Kirshner, a partner and director of research at Hematology-Oncology Associates of CNY, has been selected as the chairman of the data and safety monitoring board of the Alliance for Clinical Trials in Oncology. The organization seeks to reduce the impact of cancer by uniting a broad community of scientists and clinicians from many disciplines who are committed to discovering, validating and Kirshner disseminating effective strategies for the prevention and treatment of cancer. They are headquartered at Dana Farber Cancer Institute in Boston, headed by leading oncology researchers from the Mayo Clinic, MD Anderson, Memorial Sloan Kettering, Duke University and other organizations. The Alliance for Clinical Trials in Oncology seeks to reduce the impact of cancer by conducting high quality, multidisciplinary cancer control, prevention and treatment trials that engage a comprehensive research network. It’s dedicated to furthering the understanding of the biology of cancer and treatment and they provide a scientific and operational infrastructure for innovation in cancer care and research. The research trials conducted by the group promise new therapies and utilize the best science to develop optimal treatment and prevention strategies for cancer. It is funded by the National Cancer Institute and it comprises nearly 10,0000 cancer specialists at hospitals, medical centers and community oncology practices like Hematology-Oncology Associates across the US and Canada. Hematology-Oncology Associates was established in 1982. It’s the only practice in Central New York certified by the American Society for Clinical Oncology for quality (QOPI Certification). HOA CNY is one of only nine practices in the country and the only practice in New York state to have obtained designation as a certified oncology medical home (OMH) by the Commission on Cancer.

New development director at St. Joe’s Vincent J. Kuss has been appointed director of development at St. Joseph’s Hospital Health Center effective Sept. 3. In this role he will be responsible for cultivating major gift grateful patient prospects in key service lines and helping manage development operations, including completing St. Joseph’s Generations capital campaign to support the ex-

Health News pansion project at the organization’s hospital campus. Kuss brings to St. Joseph’s more than 11 years of healthcare and higher education development experience ranging from annual and alumni giving, capital campaigns, major gifts, fundraising events management and public Kuss and donor relations. He has held development positions at two major universities and most recently served as executive director for the College of Med-

icine Foundation at SUNY Upstate Medical University. “We are pleased to have Vincent join our foundation,” said Douglas G. Smith, vice president of development for St. Joseph’s. “He will assist us as we continue our fundraising and capital campaign activities to position St. Joseph’s for the future.” A graduate of the SUNY Cortland, Kuss holds a bachelor’s degree in sociology. He also earned his Master of Science in higher education administration from Syracuse University and a Master of Business Administration from Le Moyne College. He is a member of the Association of Fundraising Professionals of Central New York, the Association for Healthcare Philanthropy and several other donor and philanthropic associations. He resides in Manlius.

Oneida Walmart Rolls Out Employee Breastfeeding Support Program The Madison County Health Department announced that the Oneida Walmart is the first business in Madison County to successfully complete the “The Business Case for Breastfeeding,” a national initiative. Walmart collaborated with the Madison County Health Department to complete each step of the process, which supports nursing moms at work. The very first step was to complete a lactation program assessment. The assessment showed that Walmart, which employs more than 300 people in its Oneida store, already had a breastfeeding mothers’ support policy in place. This laid a firm foundation for identifying other ways management could support the pregnant and nursing mothers they employed. With the help of the Madison

County Health Department, Walmart developed an action plan that would enhance the supports already in place. “Oneida Walmart employees can take pride in knowing their employer has developed a comprehensive lactation program to support nursing mothers when they return to work,” says Cheryl Geiler, director of community health services for Madison County Health Department. Other Madison County businesses are encouraged to develop an employee lactation support program. The county health department suggests businesses to visit www.breastfeedingpartners.org (and look for the “Making it Work Toolkit” link) or call the Madison County Health Department at 315-366-2361 for more information.

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IN GOOD HEALTH – CNY’s Healthcare Newspaper • July 2016