Igh cny april final

in good cnyhealth.com

April 2016 • Issue 196

Child Safety With 4.5 million dog bites occuring annually in the US, parents with young kids are advised to be careful before bringing a dog in their home

Girls Overlooked for Autism Screening Experts say girls may be underdiagnosed for autism

Going on Vacation?

A week’s vacation may leave many adults with a heavier midsection — extra weight that can hang around even six weeks post-vacation.

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CNY’s Healthcare Newspaper

Online Breast Milk There has been an explosion of websites that buy and sell breast milk and traffic in those sites has continued to rise. Transactions have more than doubled in the past three years. And it’s not just moms buying it. But how safe is buying breast milk online?

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UNINSURED RATE IN UPSTATE NEW YORK

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In 2014, Upstate New York’s uninsured rate was 52 percent lower than the national rate and 36 percent lower than the state rate, according to a report recently issued by Excellus BlueCross BlueShield. Story inside

Domestic Violence

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One in four women has been the victim of severe physical violence by an intimate partner, while one in seven men have experienced the same. Why this is still a problem and how local groups are trying to tackle it ­

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Treatment Gives Hope to Patients with Metastatic Liver Tumors Page 16

The Surprising Benefits of Portobellos

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Tai Chi Could Be a Healthy Move for Your Heart

Tai chi and other traditional Chinese exercises might reduce depression, improve quality of life for heart patients

Q&A with Jennifer Kwon, MD

This mushroom possesses such a unique and vast array of nutrients, it’s hard to know where to begin.

Physician Rainer Gruessner, transplant chief at Upstate University Hospital, sees record number of kidney transplants, Page 16 expects that number to rise further April 2016 •

IN GOOD HEALTH – CNY’s Healthcare Newspaper

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Pedestrian Deaths Projected to Jump 10%

W

alking in the United States appears to be more hazardous than ever.

A new report projects a 10 percent surge in pedestrian deaths between 2014 and 2015 — the largest annual rise on record.

While no one cause is apparent, the rise in pedestrian deaths could reflect increased traffic volume, growing cellphone use by drivers and walkers, and more people walking for health, economic or environmental reasons, according to the report from the Governors Highway Safety Association.

"We are projecting the largest year-to-year increase in pedestrian fatalities since national records have been kept, and therefore we are quite alarmed," said report co-author Richard Retting, of Sam Schwartz Consulting.

Researchers made the estimate by comparing preliminary data on the number of U.S. pedestrian deaths in the first six months of 2014 (2,232) and the first six months of 2015 (2,368).

Twenty-six states and Washington, D.C., reported increases in pedestrian deaths, the researchers said. Also, pedestrians now account for 15 percent of all motor vehicle crash-related deaths, compared with 11 percent a decade ago, according to the annual Spotlight on Highway Safety Report.

Vacations Not Good for Your Waistline

Study: Vacations can lead to weight gain, contribute to ‘creeping obesity’

A

week’s vacation may leave many adults with a heavier midsection — extra weight that can hang around even six weeks post-vacation.

A faculty member in the University of Georgia’s College of Family and Consumer Sciences found that adults going on a one- to three-week vacation gained an average of nearly 1 pound during their trips. With the average American reportedly gaining 1-2 pounds a year, the study’s findings suggest an alarming trend.

“If you’re only gaining a pound or two a year and you gained three-quarters of that on a one- to three-week vacation, that’s a pretty substantial weight gain during a short period of time,” said Jamie Cooper, an associate professor in the college’s department of foods and nutrition.

The study supports the notion of “creeping obesity,” the common pat-

tern of adults gaining small amounts of weight over long periods of time, leading to increased health problems later in life.

Cooper’s study involved 122 adults between the ages of 18 and 65 — average age of 32 — who went on vacations ranging from one to three weeks in length between the months of March and August.

One of the factors that likely contributed to weight gain for study participants was increased caloric intake, especially Cooper from alcohol consumption.

The average consumption prior to

vacation was eight drinks a week.

That number went up to an average of 16 per week for study participants, which accounts for a significant increase in calories.

“One of the challenges people face is unless you’re diligent about weighing yourself before and after vacation, usually you’re not going to notice a pound of weight gain,” Cooper said. “People don’t realize it’s happening, and that’s why they don’t lose weight following a vacation.”

Cooper noted there were some benefits to vacations. Study participants showed significantly reduced stress levels and a slight reduction in systolic blood pressure that lasted even six weeks post-vacation.

The study — “A prospective study on vacation weight gain in adults” — was published in the journal Physiology and Behavior and included Theresa Tokar of Texas Tech University as a co-author.

NOT TAKING YOUR PRESCRIPTIONS AS DIRECTED?

YOU’RE TAKING

A CHANCE.

If you have a chronic condition like high blood pressure, diabetes or high cholesterol, taking your prescriptions as directed is essential to healthy living. So remember:

If you’re not taking your prescriptions as directed, you’re taking a chance.

To learn more, visit ExcellusBCBS.com/TakeAsDirected. #TakeAsDirected

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IN GOOD HEALTH – CNY’s Healthcare Newspaper • April 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 and certain 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, Microvascular Therapy, is used to expedite healing and reduce pain through the process called “Vascular Profusion”. This is the process of delivering

blood to the capillary beds in the tissues and organs of the body. Microvascular Therapy is PAIN FREE and stimulates the pumping action of the smallest blood vessels which increases the oxygenation, nutrient transport to the cells and waste removal causing tissues to heal more rapidly.

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.

If you would like to learn more about this successful drug-free and pain-free protocol for neuropathy and other nerve and pain conditions call 622-0102 Mention This Article to Qualify For A Free Consultation.

3452 Route 31 • 622-0102 • Baldwinsville, NY 13027 (located across from Hickory Hill Golf Course) April 2016 •

IN GOOD HEALTH – CNY’s Healthcare Newspaper

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CALENDAR of April 9

HEALTH EVENTS April 12, 18

The Good Samaritan 5K run/walk The third annual Good Samaritan 5K Run/Walk will start at 10 a.m., Saturday, April 9, at Long Branch Park in Liverpool. The race is designed to raise funding for Christian Health Service of Syracuse, a nonprofit organization that serves thousands of people in the community.

The race is geared for runners and walkers of all levels. Race registration is $25 per person. Children 12 and under are free. Participants should register online at www. goodsamaritanrun.org. Register by March 9 to guarantee a long sleeve, moisture-wicking race shirt and a swag bag.

For more information and for registration, send an email to goodsamaritanrun@gmail.com.

Events to focus on injury prevention Syracuse Orthopedic Specialists (SOS) is hosting two “Stop Sports Injuries” events this month. SOS physicians will educate attendees about the rapid increase in youth sports injuries and the necessary steps to help reverse the trend to keep young athletes healthy. The events will be hosted April 12 at Sports Center 481, 6841 Collamer Road, E. Syracuse, and April 18 at CNY Sports Centre, 7201 Jones Road, Syracuse. Topics to be addressed include ACL injury prevention, benefits of cross training, nutrition and post-workout treatment for optimal muscle recovery.

For more information and registration, visit www.sosbones. com/481sports and www.sosbones. com/jonesroad.

April 14, May 11

Classes to help those who with Medicare questions Are you turning 65 soon? Are you overwhelmed by all the mail, calls and Medicare options? The Cayuga County Office for the Aging offers complimentary monthly classes to help people make sense

of Medicare. During classes, participants will learn how to determine the best plan in which they should enroll or how Part D drug plans work and whether EPIC co-pay assistance is an option. 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 next classes coming up will be held from 10 a.m. to noon April 14 in the basement training room of the Cayuga County Office Building.

The same class will be offered from 1 to 3 p.m., Wednesday, May 11, at the same location.

Seating is limited, so registration is required. For more information or to register, please call the Cayuga County Office for the Aging at 315253-1226, or visit website atwww. cayugacounty.us/aging under the News & Activities section.

April 20

Paralympic medalist to speak at Oncenter Anjali Forber-Pratt, a paralympian and assistant research professor at the Beach Center on Disability at the University of Kansas, will deliver the keynote address at an event being held by ARISE April 20 at the Oncenter in Syracuse. The event, the third annual “Celebrating Inclusion & Achieving Independence” Dinner will also honor physician Nienke Dosa and Leola Rodgers, the head of Syracuse Community Health Center.

Forber-Pratt was born in Calcutta, India, and was adopted by a family in Massachusetts. At the age of 2 months, soon after coming to the United States, she contracted an

Autism Awareness Prevent Autism NOW 5k Walk / Run Sat. April 23 • 9:30 am Longbranch Park • Willow Bay • Liverpool Join us for a fun walk/run to raise funds for Alternative Health Research 1st place prize: massage gift certificate Entry to win raffle with every registrant.

Win $100 gift certificate for Target.

Many other prizes.

Many alternative and natural products Exhibitors and samples. Water provided.

Healthy lunch available.

Register today

www.smarthealth4u.org $ 35 donation to register $ 50 includes event T-shirt

Kids are FREE

illness that affected her spinal cord and left her paralyzed from the waist down. Forber-Pratt’s fighting spirit prevailed and she has never allowed herself to be limited.

She became involved in adaptive sports at age 5 and became interested in track. By the age of 9, she was competing at the national level. At the age of 13, Anjali was injured in a road race crash and broke both of her wrists; but she didn’t let that stop her. She took a break from wheelchair racing and focused her attention on adaptive skiing, at which she became adept. After several skiing accomplishments, she went back to wheelchair racing and became a paralympic medalist.

For more information visit ariseinc.org/dinner or contact Cynda Penfield at 315-671-2909 or cpenfield@ariseinc.org.

April 21

YWCA’s workshop on barrier to progress YWCA of Syracuse and Onondaga County, Inc. invites area residents, educators, students, professionals, community organizers, and religious leaders to participate in the 18th Annual YWCA Day of Commitment to Eliminate Racism and Promote Diversity, to be held on Thursday, April 21. The event begins with Community Advocacy and Diversity Workshop Program at 8:30a.m., and concludes with a noontime luncheon and award presentation at 12 p.m. at SKY Armory, located at 351 S. Clinton St., Syracuse.

“A Real Conversation: Addressing the Barriers to Progress in CNY,” the 2016 Day of Commitment will feature Melanie Littlejohn, regional executive at National Grid, as keynote speaker; and Mark D. Muhammed, associate professor at Onondaga Community College, as master of ceremonies.

This year, the organization will present its Champion of Opportunity award during the luncheon, to recognize individuals, institutions, companies, and organizations leading noteworthy efforts to promote diversity and advance the elimination of racism at a local level.

For more information, or to register for the event, call 315-424-0040, email ywcaadmin@cnymail.com, visit www.ywca-syracuse.org or Like YWCA on Facebook at https://www. facebook.com/ywcasyracuse/.

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

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Meet

In the News

Your Doctor

By Chris Motola

Rainer Gruessner, M.D. Transplant chief at Upstate University Hospital sees record number of kidney transplants, expects that number to rise Q: Can you give us an overview of your organ transplant work?

A: I have an interest in abdominal organ transplantation, the kidney, the liver, the pancreas and the intestine in adults and children, both from living and deceased donors. I also have an interest in diseases of the pancreas and the liver.

Q: What conditions do your patients typically present with?

A: It's end stage renal disease.

End stage liver disease. Short bowel syndrome. Diabetes. In children, congenital abnormalities of the liver and intestine.

Q: What are some of the bigger causes of kidney failure?

A: The most common ones are diabetes and hypertension. There's also something called polycystic kidney disease where cysts form in the kidneys that ultimately lead to the cessation of kidney function.

Q: How would you know your kidneys are on their way out?

A: Usually you'll be very tired, fatigued. When that happens, they'll hopefully go to the doctor and get tests done. One of the tests that will give us an idea about the functioning of the kidney is to see whether creatinine is elevated. The physician will refer the patient to a nephrologist. If the patient has end stage renal disease, the patient will be put on dialysis. Dialysis is not only very expensive, but it shortens the life expectancy of patients. Transplantation is cheaper over the longterm, provides a better quality of life and has better survival rates.

In the case of liver disease, there can be many different metabolic problems, depending on the underlying disease. Those patients are also evaluated. In the case of the pancreas, those patients usually have diabetes.

The patients that we do transplants for usually have a very brittle form of diabetes and are unable to control their blood sugar. Because diabetes is one of the major causes of kidney disease, many patients who undergo a pancreas transplant will get a kidney transplant in conjunction. Finally, candidates for bowel transplants are usually children who have lost most of their intestines due to a congenital problems, or because they've had to undergo procedures that have removed most of their bowels. Those patients are often dependent on what's called TPN [total parenteral nutrition] for their nutrition, and one of the unfortunate side effects is that it often causes liver failure, so we'll often do a liver transplant in conjunction with the bowel transplant.

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Q: I understand there's been a recent increase in the number of transplants being done in CNY. Is this increase a good thing?

A: The reason I came to Upstate New York is because I realized it's still an underserved area. The number of transplants is not in line with the national average.

The population of Upstate New York from Buffalo to the Vermont border is about 8 million people.

Syracuse traditionally has only done about 20 to 40 kidney transplants a year.

This started picking up about two years ago and then, after I came about a year

ago, a total of 80 were done.

We're at about 30 this year so far. I think it's very clear that many more could be done here based on the fact that there are many patients here with end stage kidney disease and there are enough kidneys around the nation that aren't being used that we can use here. We just got an organ offer from Oregon for one of our patients who was high on the donor list. That organ will be flown here and transplanted here. This is important for families who can't afford to go down to New York City and have their families stay there. We want sick people in these communities to have a place to go to locally instead of having to go to a big city like New York, or drive six hours to a big transplant center in Pittsburgh or Boston. It's a bit multi-factorial as the numbers in Rochester and Buffalo have gone down a little as ours have risen, but I don't think we're even close to the number that we could be doing here in Central New York.

Q: Generally it's better to have a living kidney donor than a deceased one. What's the pitch for convincing

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

someone to part with one of their kidneys?

A: That's a good point because, while the number of transplants has increased, it's mostly been on the deceased donor side. There are some challenges with living donors.

The first is that not everyone has one. Even when someone wants to donate, not everyone can because he or she may have underlying diseases that prohibit the removal of a kidney.

Having said that, very often the recipients shy away from living donors because they worry about the health of the donor.

But let’s clear up some misconceptions about that.

The risk of dying from a kidney donation are about one in 10,000.

The chances of you are driving home tonight and being in a car accident is higher than the chance of dying from donating a kidney. Another thing to consider is that the life expectancy of kidney donors is actually higher than that of the general population. That probably has a lot to do with our doing a rigorous review of the patients' health. The donors also stay in a surveillance program for the rest of their lives. If there are abnormalities, they're caught early.

The third thing that comes into play is that, if your one remaining kidney fails at some point down the road, you will go to the top of transplant list. So there are a number of factors living donors to consider. We encourage anyone who has a loved one who needs a kidney to call our transplant center. Out of the 16,000 – 17,000 kidney transplants done each year, about one third are from living donors. We have about 108,000 people waiting for kidney transplants, so there's a huge supply and demand issue, and more living donors would do a lot to help the situation. Living donors can also be used for liver, pancreas and intestinal transplants, by the way.

Upstate University Hospital performed more kidney transplants in 2015 than ever before.

Eighty kidney transplants were performed last year, marking a 27 percent increase over 2014’s total of 63.

Physician Rainer Gruessner, who joined Upstate in September as its new transplant chief, said the recent growth in transplant cases is linked in part to increasing referrals from physicians across the region, as well as new faculty and staff positions to the transplant team.

“Nephrologists from across Central New York are witnessing the recent growth and consistency of the program and they are happy for their patients to be part of this development,” he said.

Q: Do the recipients of these transplants need to be on immunosuppressants?

A: Yes. A couple things. Normal kidneys and pancreases have a life expectancy of about 120 years, so getting a transplant from a 60 or 70-yearold doesn't mean you're getting a bad organ. These organs last longer than our cerebro-cardiovascular organs.

Getting an organ transplant is a little like buying a used car. They require a little more maintenance, but they'll run nicely for many years to come.

You'll need to take medications, unfortunately, regularly for the rest of your life. Since many of these patients are diabetic, though, and have to stick themselves regularly, having to take medications regularly is not a major quality of life change for them.

It's possible over our lifetimes, that we'll get better at inducing tolerance and reduce the need for medications over the longterm. If rejection occurs, we can treat it successfully over 90 percent of the time. The medications are well-tailored enough now that we don't see infections or tumors as a result of the medications too often.

Q: You're also working on a fairly unusual project for CNY. A: We're building what's called an islet laboratory. Islets are the cells in the pancreas that produce insulin.

While isolated islet cells transplants aren't as successful as transplants of the entire pancreas, there's one disease that requires a form of islet transplantation: chronic pancreatitis.

It's a horrific disease that causes a great amount of pain, but physicians have shied away from removing it because it will leave the patient with brittle diabetes, which carries a 4 to 8 percent mortality rate per year. So for these patients we isolate the islets from the patient and, in the same procedure, give them back to the patient. About half won't have to be on insulin. The other half will need only a low dose. The patients can become functioning human beings again and enjoy an almost normal lifestyle. So this is one of my interests. So this will be one of the only projects of its kind in New York.

Lifelines Name: Rainer Gruessner, M.D. Position: Chief of transplantation Hometown: (near) Frankfurt, Germany Education: University of Minnesota Affiliations: SUNY Upstate Medical Center Organizations: American Society of Transplantation, American Surgical Association Family: Married, two children Hobbies: History, art, music, skiing, tennis, piano

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Heart Surgeon Runs His Daily Commute

Michigan physician sets an example for patients by running to work every day

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I figured I'd better do something to stay active so I started running. I’ve basically run every day since then: college, medical school, residency and now that I’m on the faculty [as a professor of cardiac surgery].

• “My motivation to go to work running is basically that it’s my zen moment. I really take that time out and that’s when I think about stuff.

• “Some of my patients know that I run to work every day and they think it’s fascinating. They think it’s great that I’m getting in cardio every day. To practice what you preach is a good philosophy. I don’t know that running to work every day isn't practical for everyone, but doctors really should be examples for our patients.”

Tai Chi Could Be a Healthy Move for Your Heart

Bruce Stewart, DDS • Advanced Laser Periodontal therapy available.

• Implants placed and restored • CEREC Crowns - beautiful, strong, done in one visit • Digital low radiation x-rays • Root Canal therapy • Natural tooth colored fillings • Complete Smile makeovers • Complete recare services including periodontal and oral cancer screenings

heart surgeon at the University of Michigan Frankel Cardiovascular Center, who like the rest of us tries to fit in some daily exercise, has been running to work every day for the past 30 years. It’s physical activity and it’s stress relief for the 60-year-old who fixes faulty heart valves.

He’s one of the busiest mitral valve surgeons in the country, helping patients whose hearts are forced to work harder when their mitral valve isn’t working properly.

Before hitting the road in Ann Arbor, Mich., for his six-mile run, he shared a few thoughts about his routine: • “As a kid I was a swimmer.

When I pulled myself out of the pool

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

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ai chi and other traditional Chinese exercises may benefit people with heart disease, researchers report.

The new review of 35 studies included more than 2,200 people in 10 countries. The investigators found that, among people with heart disease, these types of low-risk activities appeared to help lower blood pressure and levels of LDL ("bad") cholesterol and other unhealthy

blood fats.

Tai chi, qigong and other traditional Chinese exercises were also linked to improved quality of life and reduced depression in heart disease patients, the study authors added.

But the exercises did not significantly improve heart rate, aerobic fitness levels or general health scores, according to the report published March 9 in the Journal of the American Heart Association.

Onondaga, Oswego, Cayuga and Madison Counties in good A monthly newspaper published by

Health CNY’s Healthcare Newspaper

Local News, Inc. 5,000 copies distributed throughout more than 1,000 high traffic locations, including all Wegmans stores.

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, Eva Briggs, M.D., Gwenn Voelckers, Deborah Banikowski, George W. Chapman, Deborah Sergeant, Anne Palumbo, Melissa Stefanec, Chris Motola • Advertising: Amy Gagliano, Cassandra Lawson Design: Eric J. Stevens • Office Manager: Alice Davis 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.

Upstate’s Uninsured Rate is 52 Percent Lower than U.S. Rate I

n 2014, Upstate New York’s uninsured rate was 52 percent lower than the national rate and 36 percent lower than the state rate, according to a report issued in March

by Excellus BlueCross BlueShield.

Favorable Upstate New York comparisons were the conclusion of the health plan’s analysis of the 2014 American Community Survey’s one-year estimates issued by the U.S. Census Bureau. They are the latest available figures that include comparable local regional estimates.

Excellus BlueCross BlueShield’s infographic presents a snapshot com-

parison of access to health insurance coverage in 2014, the first full year of federal health care reform implementation that included the opening of exchanges.

Upstate New York posted a 5.6 percent uninsured rate among all ages of the population. This compared to a rate of 8.7 percent for the state and 11.7 percent for the nation.

“We continue to monitor these rates carefully as we do all we can to enhance access to coverage,” said Christopher Booth, chief executive officer of Excellus BlueCross BlueShield, the largest nonprofit health in-

surer within the region studied. “The low rates are a testament to a region where community-based nonprofit health systems and physicians work together with local nonprofit insurers and employers to finance it.”

Regional rates for Upstate New York ranged from 5.4 percent for the Finger Lakes and Southern Tier regions to 6 percent in the Central New York and Watertown areas.

Uninsured rates of 5.5 percent were reported in the Utica, Rome and North Country region and in Western New York.

The U.S. Census Bureau’s Ameri-

can Community Survey is the largest available national data source that enables more accurate comparisons of national, state and regional figures.

The uninsured rate is a measure of the percentage of people who were uninsured at the time of the interview. The one-year estimates are published for counties with populations of 65,000 or more (representing 84 percent of the non-institutionalized civilian population), so some Upstate New York counties are excluded from the analysis.

To view the infographic, go to: http://tinyurl.com/j2pumzy.

Healthcare in a Minute

By George W. Chapman

Malpractice alternative

Patients seeking damages would present their grievance to a panel of experts and an administrative law judge. Rather than wait years for a settlement, the claimant would be quickly compensated should their case have merit. This would ameliorate if not eliminate the adversarial relationship the current malpractice system creates between physician and patient. It would also allow providers to acknowledge an error without fear of litigation. This Alternative Patient Compensation System model is being contemplated in Georgia, Florida, Tennessee, Maine and Montana.

Hundreds of US rural hospitals in jeopardy

One third of all US rural hospitals are in danger of closing.

Seventy percent of them have had negative operating margins for years. The loss to a community is more economic than clinical. While clinical care is typically available at other facilities in the area, rural hospitals are often one of the largest employers where they are located.

States with the most distressed rural hospitals are Texas and Mississippi.

There are about two dozen small/ rural hospitals in danger of closing in New York state. Two senators have introduced legislation, “Save Rural Hospitals Act,” to provide funding to keep the doors of rural hospitals open.

Without special funding, most rural hospitals will close unless they affiliate with a larger hospital or join a hospital system.

Hospital jobs on the rise

According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, hospital employment is at just over five million people.

Hospitals added a net 188,000 jobs in 2015. Most of the growth is attributed to acquisitions of medical practices, increased demand for outpatient services and gearing up for population health management.

The entire healthcare sector employs almost 19 million workers.

Employment was down in dental offices and laboratories.

Happy Danes

Like most Western nations, Denmark has a universal healthcare system. Danes are very happy with their lives and their healthcare because the bureaucracy that is typically associated with universal systems has been vastly reduced.

The Danish system emphasizes locally focused control. A lot of value is placed on close, unfettered relationships between patients and their primary physician. Danes average seven contacts (in person, phone, electronic) per year with their primary care provider. The US average is less than four contacts.

The main goal in Denmark is to catch problems early and treat. Danish per capita costs are about $5,000 compared to about $9,000 in the US.

Employer-sponsored plans cause concern

Large employers can avoid a lot of insurance regulation and requirements by forming and designing their own plans. The

hospital association is lobbying congress to close loopholes in coverage requirements. In a letter to Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Service (CMS), the American Hospital Association (AHA) expressed concern over the fact that that some employer plans are not covering outpatient surgery in order to cut costs. The AHA argues this puts employees at risk both clinically and financially, meeting neither the spirit nor mandate of the Affordable Care Act, which is to insure safe, affordable, accessible and comprehensive care to all Americans. The AHA suggests that CMS establish minimum coverage standards for all categories of care including surgery.

Healthcare advertising on the rise

The industry — providers and drug companies — spent $14 billion on ads in 2014, up 20 percent over 2011. Competition for patients and market share is fierce, causing concern among consumer groups about over utilization and higher prices to pay for the increased ads.

Moratorium on hospital mergers

While mergers can save vulnerable hospitals and/or improve services, many have resulted in nothing more than monopolies which typically lead to price hikes.

Connecticut Gov. Dan Molly has placed a moratorium on hospital mergers in his state. He issued this statement, “We need balance. Fewer healthcare systems mean fewer April 2016 •

choices for consumers, and that can dramatically affect both the quality of care and costs. It’s time we take a holistic look at the acquisition process.” In the same vein, many are questioning the impact of insurance company mergers on eventual premiums.

Medicare Advantage plans

Last year, more than 17 million seniors (about one third of Medicare eligibles) chose to enroll in an Advantage plan offered by a private commercial insurer. Advantage plans attract seniors by offering more benefits than traditional Medicare.

The feds entice private insurers to offer Advantage plans with more than $3 billion in incentives and bonuses. The insurer must reinvest monies earned into additional benefits and new approaches to manage chronic conditions like hypertension, diabetes and obesity.

United Health, for example, could earn over $1 billion in bonuses this year. Overall, commercial insurers have done well under the ACA.

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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Live Alone & Thrive

By Gwenn Voelckers

Practical tips, advice and hope for those who live alone

Take Good Care: You're Worth it!

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his morning, I got up early, got dressed, and took a walk as the sun was peeking across the horizon.

I do that every morning now. But that hasn’t always been the case.

After my divorce, I adopted a “What’s the point?” approach to caring for myself and my home: What was the point of getting up early, walking, eating healthy meals or putting on lipstick when no one was watching or cared what I did?

It’s not uncommon for people who live alone to fall into a “What’s the point?” frame of mind. Leaving the dirty dishes in the sink or wearing your pajamas all day may seem harmless, until you consider the impact these acts of indifference can have on your self-confidence and sense of self-worth.

Taking good care — very good care — of yourself is about the value of you. It’s about your intrinsic value to yourself, to your family, and to those you encounter throughout your day. It’s an essential part of feeling good and living alone with success.

Here’s why taking care of yourself is so important: It builds self-esteem: When you take good care of yourself you send an important message to yourself that you are worth treating well, cleaning up after, fuss-

ing over and protecting.

When I come home after a busy day and walk through my front door, I am reinforced when my house is tidy and the kitchen sink is empty. It means I care enough about myself to maintain an inviting home, even if it’s just for me.

The appearance of my home is a visible, tangible barometer of how I value myself — and, this is just one of many examples. My self-esteem gets a boost whenever I exercise discipline and do the things I know will deliver positive and self-affirming results.

It looks good on you: When you take care of yourself, it shows and people notice. It opens up your world. In my “What’s the point?” period — my blue period — I would leave the house without paying much attention to my appearance. My sorry, baggy attire was only made sorrier by the dour expression on my face.

Needless to say, I didn’t turn many heads nor invite connection with others. But, those were the old days. Today, I take more care.

My experience tells me that others notice when you pay attention to your outward appearance. When you care about yourself, you radiate vitality. It’s intriguing. And it may draw people, compliments, and unexpect-

‘Taking good care of yourself can help you acquire the personal strength and balance you need to create or re-invent a life that you truly love and live with gusto.’ ed connections your way.

It enables you to better care for others: Taking care of yourself can be essential to taking care of others. I like the “airline” example. When traveling by plane, we are all given instructions on how to use an oxygen mask, and we are cautioned to put ours on first if we’re traveling with a child or dependent person.

The reason is obvious: if we don't put our mask on first, we risk passing out and putting both lives in jeopardy.

One of the best things you can do for others is to take care of yourself.

That way, you’ll be better able — both physically and emotionally — to help your friends and family, when they need you.

It is essential to your health: Eating healthy, enjoying a good night’s sleep, getting regular health check-ups, and exercising can all contribute to feeling good and alive.

But living a healthy lifestyle can be a challenge when you live alone and there’s no one there to coax, inspire or embarrass you into action.

This is when becoming your own nudge (your own personal coach) can be so helpful.

I was having an awful time sticking to my exercise routine, so I decided to become a group exercise instructor. I knew I needed the

“obligation” of leading a class to force myself to show up. Believe me, I wouldn’t be going to the Y as often had I not become an instructor.

It was one way of taking better care of my physical health and it worked! It’s a self-care strategy you might consider for yourself.

It is rewarding: And, it can lead to self-discovery. Like anything else, learning how to care for yourself can reveal opportunities for personal growth and fulfillment. It can be fun and it can take you places you wouldn’t normally go.

Again, another personal example: I’ve discovered after years of living alone that my home environment is very important to me. To feel whole and complete, I need to be surrounded by inspirational images and objects, and to live in space that is at once peaceful and stimulating.

Taking care of this “visual” need of mine is a way of taking care of myself, and it has motivated me to seek out artists and to pursue creative endeavors on my own. What do you need to do to take care of your needs and wants? I encourage you to give it some thought.

So, what’s the point? You are the point. Your physical, mental and spiritual health are what matter.

Taking good care of yourself can help you acquire the personal strength and balance you need to create or re-invent a life that you truly love and live with gusto.

So . . . till next time, take care.

Very good care.

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.

Our established providers of A.M.P Urology-Camillus Our A.M.P. Urology Camillus Office has moved suites. We are now in Suite 124 at Medical Center West.

Our new office offers: more providers, more availability with new hours of operation and more services for our patients.

Call to schedule your appointment today 315.478.4185

Medical Center West 5700 West Genesee Street, Suite 124 Camillus, New York 13031 For more information on our services, please go to our website: www.ampofny.com Page 10

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

SmartBites

The skinny on healthy eating

Surprising Benefits of Earthy Portobellos

P

ortobellos are unlike any food you’ll encounter in the produce section. This mushroom, in fact, possesses such a unique and vast array of nutrients, it’s hard to know where to begin.

But first: What exactly is a portobello? Neither a fruit nor a vegetable, this large, flavorful fungus — known for its meaty texture — is really just a mature dark-button mushroom.

Indeed, portobellos are simply creminis that have been left to grow until their caps reach diameters of up to six inches.

That portobellos are low in fat, calories, sodium and cholesterol may not come as a big surprise. Most produce is known for being attractively low in all of the above. What may come as a surprise, however, is that portobellos deliver a decent amount of muscle-building protein (a little over 5 grams per large cap) and a good helping of heart-healthy fiber (about 3 grams per cap).

What may also raise eyebrows is that portobellos are a mineral superstar — with more potassium than a banana, nearly half of our daily copper needs, and enough selenium to make top-10 lists of foods highest in this mineral. Potassium helps to control blood pressure; copper is needed for energy; and selenium helps to protect cells from free-radical

damage.

Another big eye-opener: Portobellos may help prevent cancer, especially hormone-dependent breast cancer. Due to a unique fatty acid in portobellos that helps to lessen the production of estrogen, this mushroom may actually lower the risk of this breast cancer type.

And the icing on the cap: Eating mushrooms such as portobellos may be associated with reduced inflammation and a stronger immune response, according to researchers at Arizona State University and Penn State University. Translation? The humble portobello may reduce the risk of health problems associated with chronic inflammation, such as heart disease, certain cancers, and Type 2 diabetes.

Lastly, while mushrooms are often touted as being a good source of vitamin D, the particular form found in mushrooms has led experts to agree that you cannot count on mushrooms to be helpful with your vitamin D requirements.

Helpful tips

When selecting mushrooms, avoid mushrooms with bruises or that feel slimy, and go for those that smell earthy. If there’s any hint of ammonia or another odd odor, then you know the mushroom has

spoiled. Store unwashed mushrooms in a brown paper bag (plastic traps moisture and encourages sliminess) and place in refrigerator for up to a week. Clean with a soft brush or a damp paper towel or by a super-quick dunk in water.

Grilled Portobello Burgers with Rosemary Mayo Adapted from Bon Appetit Serves four Rosemary Mayo ½ cup fat-reduced mayo 2 teaspoons Dijon mustard 1 teaspoon dried rosemary, crushed 1 garlic clove, minced ¼ teaspoon each: coarse black pepper, salt Balsamic marinade 1/3 cup balsamic vinegar 1/3 cup water 2 teaspoons sugar 1 garlic clove, minced 1 teaspoon dried rosemary, crushed 1/4 teaspoon cayenne pepper (optional) 2 tablespoons olive oil Portobello burgers Nonstick vegetable oil spray 4 large portobello mushrooms, stems trimmed

4 whole wheat buns lettuce, sliced onions (optional) Place cleaned and trimmed mushrooms in a glass dish, stem (gill) side up. In a small bowl, whisk together marinade ingredients. Drizzle marinade over the mushrooms; cover and place in refrigerator for about an hour, turning mushrooms once.

While the mushrooms are marinating, mix mayo, mustard, rosemary, garlic and salt and pepper in a small bowl. Set aside.

To cook: Spray grill rack with nonstick spray, then prepare barbecue (medium heat). Grill portobellos until tender, turning once or twice, about 8 minutes per side. Baste with marinade to keep from drying out.

Place each mushroom on a bun and top with rosemary mayo, lettuce and onions (if desired).

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.

Correction: Last month’s bok choy recipe should have also included “1/4 cup sliced almonds, toasted.”

Golden Years Issue

Don’t miss the new issue of In Good Health—CNY’s Healthcare Newspaper.

For low-rate advertising information, call 342-1182

Nurses Week

Get ready to celebrate National Nurses Week Honor the nurses who have made a difference in your organization.

Advertise in the special May issue of In Good Health CNY’s Healthcare Newspaper 315-342-8211 • editor@cnyhealth.com April 2016 •

IN GOOD HEALTH – CNY’s Healthcare Newspaper

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Page 11

Women’s HEALTH Breastfeeding: Is Milk Sharing Safe?

Buying and selling breast milk online has become more popular but local experts warn moms against the practice

By Deborah Jeanne Sergeant

T

he World Health Organization, American Academy of Pediatrics and likely any pediatrician asked would agree that "breast is best" for baby's health. When moms cannot provide their own breast milk, turning to other moms for help is becoming more accepted.

But is milk sharing safe?

Alison Boissonnas, co-leader of Syracuse East La Leche League, urges mothers considering outside milk to avoid purchasing breast milk.

"If you're buying breast milk, you're contributing to a commercial endeavor and there may be an incentive beyond health,” Boissonnas said. It may not be screened. It's exploitative of families that don't have the means to access milk for money. There are other ways to fund the process of milk donation.”

Boissonnas said that though most women freely sharing milk likely give from a heart of generosity, those selling milk may be more motivated to increase their profits. Some may sell human milk diluted with water, formula or cow milk to make more money. Tainting human milk with other substances can cause harmful reactions to babies with allergies and diminishes the nutritional value of the milk.

Some honest moms may have a clean bill of health, but poor hygiene.

They may not use a new pump, for

example. Most providers discourage sharing pumps because even with new tubing and flanges, bacteria can build up in the machines. They may not wash their hands before pumping, clean the pump parts correctly or use sterile containers for holding the milk.

Pumping moms could leave the milk out of refrigeration or delay freezing the milk.

Moms could ship old milk but claim it's fresh. Bacteria still grows in frozen foods, just slower.

Some think milk banks are too complicated and offer or sell milk through online groups or Internet sites. Boissonnas cautioned that's the riskiest way to obtain milk and advised against obtaining milk from an unknown source.

She recommends Human Milk Banking Association of North America (https://www.hmbana. org), a Texas-based organization, as a possible source.

Medolac (www.medolac.com), based in Oregon, and New York Milk Bank (www.nymilkbank.org) follow similar protocol as Human Milk Banking Association.

Organizations like these screens donors, including blood work, and pasteurizes milk before it reaches its tiny recipients. Premature and sick babies receive priority. Those who donate regularly re-test periodically.

Typically, milk banks pool donations together because milk varies in its beneficial properties based upon the baby for whom it's originally intended. Milk made for a week-old baby is different from that of milk made for a three-monthold, for example. (A woman's body can actually fine-tune milk for an individual baby's needs throughout the day.)

The milk is pasteurized at low temperature to eliminate bacteria and improve its safety.

"We try to be upfront about balancing risks of milk from another source with formula," said Ava Zurita, co-leader of La Leche League Liverpool. "Look for milk banks with strict guidelines."

She mentioned Human Milk 4 Human Babies (http://www.hm4hb. net) and Eats on Feets (http://www. eatsonfeets.org) represent a growing number of informal milk sharing websites.

"From our perspective, human

Got Milk?

T

he Food and Drug Administration does not regulate breast milk. Despite experts' concerns about safety and ethics, buying breast milk has become vastly popular on the Internet. A simple Google search shows several links of individuals and organizations selling or buying breast milk.

According to www.theverge. com, traffic to online sites has continued to rise as more moms look to the Internet for help. Across the US, online transactions have more than doubled in the past three years, from around 22,000 in 2012 to about 55,000 today, according to The Verge, which quotes Jesse Kwiek, associate professor of microbiology at the University of Ohio and a co-author of a study on the subject.

Craigslist.com and ebay.com prohibit the sale of breast milk on their sites.

Most breast milk selling sites

Breast Care Partners Gets Accreditation Unique program includes Crouse, St. Joseph’s, other providers

B

reast Care Partners has been granted a three-year/full accreditation designation by the National Accreditation Program for Breast Centers (NAPBC), a program administered by the American College of Surgeons.

Formed in 2014, Breast Care Partners is a diverse group of breast health specialists in Central New York, who have partnered together to ensure each patient the best possible breast care available.

Members of the collaborative include Crouse Radiology Associates; St. Joseph’s Imaging; Hematology-Oncology Associates; CNY Surgical Physicians; St. Joseph’s Breast Care and Surgery; Crouse Health and St. Joseph’s Health, all of Page 12

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which have come together to provide a seamless, multidisciplinary program of breast care services — from initial imaging/screening all the way through surgical intervention and post-procedure support, treatment and management of disease, psychosocial and nutritional support, rehabilitation and survivorship.

In addition, the group is also committed to benign breast health and education in Central New York.

Accreditation by the NAPBC is only given to those centers that have voluntarily committed to provide the highest level of quality breast care and that undergo a rigorous evaluation process and performance review. During the survey process, the center must demonstrate compli-

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

ance with standards established by the NAPBC for treating women who are diagnosed with the full spectrum of breast disease. The standards include proficiency in the areas of: center leadership, clinical management, research, community outreach, professional education and quality improvement.

milk is usually preferable over formula because formula has risks," Zurita said. "But milk from an unknown source, that has risks. Don't buy on Craigslist. That's outside of everyone's comfort zone. We all want to do right by our babies."

Wet nursing and cross nursing used to be commonplace generations ago and is slowly becoming more acceptable to people as nursing grows in familiarity, according to Zurita, though La Leche League does not endorse informal milk sharing.

"Central New York has more natural, breastfeeding moms and educated and upper middle class," Zurita said. "They might be more open to wet nursing by someone they know well for an occasional instance or emergencies, but most use a freezer stash."

Nursing mothers who struggle to produce milk for their babies should contact a lactation consultant for help in producing more milk.

offer tips to lactating women who want to donate or sell their milk to others. They serve as a portal to match up milk sources with those who want milk without revealing the identities of either until participants choose to do so. Most breast milk sites leave it up to the buyers to screen their milk sources and the milk itself.

Buyers aren't just parents of babies who need milk. Plenty of others want it, too. Some purchase to supplement the diet of sick, injured, or elderly people. Some men drink breast milk as part of their athletic-enhancing diet, too. They claim it helps them build more muscle and protects them from illness.

A CNN new story, aired April 2014 and posted online, quotes several government sources who say people should be cautious about buying breast milk online.

The FDA recommends against feeding a baby breast milk acquired directly from individuals or through the Internet.

“A breast center that achieves NAPBC accreditation has demonstrated a firm commitment to offer patients every significant advantage in their battle against breast disease,” states Breast Care Partners program director Janet Ricciardiello, a registered nurse.

Receiving care at a NAPBC-accredited center ensures that a patient will have access to: • Comprehensive care, including a full range of state-of-the-art services • A multidisciplinary team approach to coordinate the best treatment options • Information about ongoing clinical trials and new treatment options • Quality breast care close to home.

For more information about Breast Care Partners visit: breastcarepartners.com.

Women’s HEALTH

Girls Overlooked for Autism Screening

www.newhopefamilyservices.com

Experts say girls may be under-diagnosed for autism

By Deborah Jeanne Sergeant

E

xperts had widely believed that autism spectrum disorders were much more prevalent among boys than girls. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) estimates that about five times as many boys (one in 42) have been diagnosed than girls (one in 189).

But gender differences and expectations could mask traits in girls that indicate autism spectrum disorders.

Although individuals on the spectrum exhibit a wide variety and degrees of symptoms, "there are quite a few gender differences between boys and girls," said Henry Roane, Ph.D, chief of the division of development, behavior and genetics at Upstate Golisano Children's Hospital. "The way that the two genders express autism is different. Some suggest that leads to girls being under-diagnosed. The main difference you see is that boys tend to display a little more repetitive behavior patterns, which is a core symptom behavior."

Repetitive behavior such as twirling or rocking may be overlooked in girls because their parents think they're pretending to be ballerinas or rocking a baby.

"If you see a girl playing quietly, there are societal expectations that girls play quietly," Roane said. "That thought process can lead to under diagnosis. Is she playing quietly because she's a girl or lacks societal skills?"

Whether on the spectrum or not, most girls "tend to be more involved socially," said Carroll J. Grant, Ph.D., director of the Margaret L. Williams Developmental Evaluation Center in Syracuse. "People with autism don't intuitively pick up cues for social interactions."

Some autistic girls may show more interest in social engagement, but lack the skills to effectively fit in with their peers. Their behavior may be dismissed as ordinary awkwardness or immaturity because at least they're trying to get involved socially, unlike some autistic boys, who tend to show no interest.

Many children on the autism spectrum obsess over one toy, character or concept. While most little girls love Disney princess characters, it's not typical to fixate on just one princess for month after month. Many girls enjoy collecting all the dolls in a series but a girl on the autism spectrum may line them up or arrange them in a special way instead of engage in imaginary play.

Some children on the autism spectrum may arrange their things in a particular way and become upset when the objects are moved. Some parents would view a boy behaving this way as unusual but chalk up a girl's outburst to "being a drama queen" since in general, many people expect girls to emotionally respond to disappointment.

Parents who observe non-traditional development in their child need to seek a professional diagnosis so that the child can receive the earliest intervention. By receiving support early, a child's chances of developing effective coping mechanisms increase dramatically.

"The big thing for parents is to know that the best advocate for the child is the parent," Roane said.

"That's the role they have: recognizing the abilities the child has. The parent needs to be thinking about the child's future differently for adjusting their expectations and outlook."

Story ideas?

If you’d like to submit a story idea for In Good Health, please send an email to editor@cnyhealth.com April 2016 •

IN GOOD HEALTH – CNY’s Healthcare Newspaper

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Page 13

Women’s HEALTH

Domestic Violence Still a Scourge

Nearly a quarter of women have been the victim of severe physical violence by an intimate partner, according to CDC

By Deborah Jeanne Sergeant

D

omestic violence has gained the national spotlight as it was revealed that American Saeed Abedini, recently freed from Iranian prison after three years of imprisonment, had abused his wife, Naghmeh Abedini.

Her plight is not rare. The CDC states "one in four women (22.3 percent) have been the victim of severe physical violence by an intimate partner, while one in seven men (14 percent) have experienced the same."

When including any kind of abuse (emotional, sexual, financial or spiritual), the statistic for women jumps to one-third and to one-fourth for men.

Local experts believe that those who have never experienced domestic violence do not understand its prevalence or dynamics.

"People don't think it's happening as often," said Sarah Bernard, community family and victims services director at Cayuga/Seneca Community Action Agency, Inc. in Auburn. "Domestic violence is an equal opportunity crime and all [kinds of] people are affected."

Abuse refers to a consistent pattern of manipulation and control meant to shift the power of the relationship to one partner. It usually starts subtly, increasing in intensity so slowly that the victim doesn't realize the growing danger.

Many people think domestic violence is only about black eyes and broken bones, but it's really "about power and control by whatever means," Bernard said. "It's also verbal, financial and everything else. It's about maintaining control."

Battering represents only one method the perpetrator uses to control the victim. Any infraction of ever-changing, nitpicky rules can

trigger a tirade of insults, threats and violence. Perpetrators respond vastly out of proportion to the offense, such as slugging the victim for forgetting to pick up the dry cleaning.

Physical violence can include punching, pushing, slapping, hair pulling, choking and any other action or inaction meant to cause harm.

The cycle of violence usually includes a long tension-building phase where survivors feel like they're walking on eggshells. After violence breaks the tension, a short "honeymoon phase" follows, filled with perpetrators' promises of good behavior and lavish gifts. But they never admit fault for their behavior.

To outsiders, perpetrators often appear warm and caring partners; however, they diligently hide their behavior, which simultaneously solidifies their reputation while eroding that of victims.

Sarah Bernard wants medical personnel to screen patients for domestic violence at every visit and call her organization's hotline to tap the advocacy services available.

"Confidentiality is the cornerstone of our operation," Bernard said.

"We're all trained in it."

Signs a health care provider would notice could include unexplained injuries, excessive control by the significant other and answering for the patient.

Survivors often lack resources

and think that no one will believe them or that they will be judged for loving their partner.

"Too often the conversation focuses on the survivor's actions," said Meaghan Greeley, campus sexual assault coordinator at Vera House, Inc. in Syracuse. "Instead of, 'Why did she stay?', we should wonder why should this person who says they love their partner keep hurting someone they say they care for and love."

Leaving and obtaining an order of protection may actually make survivors less safe since it breaks the perpetrator's control.

"Up to six months after they leave is when we see the large majority of all domestic violence-related homicides," Greeley said.

She calls survivors the experts on their perpetrators, which is why working with them to form an escape plan is so helpful in reducing the risks. It takes an average of seven attempts before successfully leaving.

Research indicates why people abuse those they claim they love.

Although substance abuse, stress and anger problems may exacerbate domestic violence, many people with these problems never abuse their partner. Most perpetrators can control their behavior with others, which indicates they are completely in control of their actions.

Upstate Offers Online Resource for Mothers, Expectant Mothers

U

pstate University Hospital launched in February a new way for expectant parents to access prenatal, childbirth and new family education. Upstate Best Beginnings, offered by the health education department, now includes online learning in addition to in-person classes on a wide variety of topics that have recently expanded.

“It is our goal to educate expectant parents on prenatal and newborn care,” said Cathy Narcavage-Bradley, a registered nurse, health educator.

“The new online classroom will serve as yet another way for us to reach more people and share this vital information.”

The new online education program for expectant parents is a selfPage 14

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paced, interactive education program that can be completed from home on a computer or mobile device. The virtual classroom offers eight learning sessions that cover pregnancy, labor, birth stories, comfort techniques, medical procedures, Cesarean birth, newborn and postpartum care.

Within each of these sessions, expectant parents have access to interactive tools, videos and customizable guides.

The new in-person classes offered by Upstate Best Beginnings are My New Sibling and Baby & Me. Introduced in 2016, the siblings class is specially designed for children 2 through 10 years of age with a parent or caregiver. The class helps children prepare for the birth of a new sibling

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

with a focus on the positive changes to the family and the sibling’s role in caring for a newborn. Baby & Me is a three-week series that connects new parents and caregivers with babies (ages 2 weeks to 6 months) to review child development, sleep patterns, infant feeding, childhood immunizations, infant safety, infant care, play time and positive parenting strategies.

Upstate Best Beginnings also offers an in-person expectant parent program class that is available as a four-week class, weekend class or refresher class for repeat parents.

The classes are taught by skilled nurse educators who review labor, relaxation and breathing techniques, medication options, interventions,

Research also doesn't reveal what type of intervention can stop their abuse. The New York State Office for the Prevention of Domestic Violence (OPDV) states on its site — www. opdv.ny.gov — states that 23 percent of perpetrators are "serial abusers: high-risk, violent offenders who have two or more orders of protection issued against them for up to eight different victims."

The organization further states that most abuse perpetrators charged were arrested again for a domestic violence offense within 10 years. Most domestic violence incidences are not reported.

OPDV states that counseling "has not proven to be effective in reducing violent behavior over the long term."

Studies on batterer intervention programs (BIPs) vary in the success rates offered since the studies define success differently. Some measure only subsequent arrests for physical violence; other measure continued manipulative behavior as well.

"Research indicates that BIPs have little effect on recidivism or attitudes of violent offenders," states the website of Stop Violence Against Women (www.stopvaw.org).

If you suspect a friend or family member is a victim of domestic violence, Greeley suggests offering a listening ear without judgment or negativity.

"A lot of times, the victim loses the ability to make choices," she said.

"Tell the person you believe in them and you'll support them no matter what."

Calling a hotline or other domestic violence resource for information can help you support a friend, too.

Engaging the perpetrator nearly always results in negative repercussions for the victim.

hospital procedures and the role of the support person.

The in-person classes are hosted throughout the year, and a calendar of sessions is available online at upstate.edu/women or by calling 464-2756. Complementary to the Best Beginnings classes, participants have round-the-clock access to the Upstate Women’s Health nurse phone line to ask questions about prenatal and newborn care.

The online education tool costs $85. The cost for the expectant parent program in-person class costs $55 for the refresher course, $95 for the weekend class, and $85 for the fourweek evening course.

To learn more about the childbirth and new family classes offered

by Upstate Best Beginnings, visit www.upstate.edu/women or call 315-464-2756.

Parenting

By Melissa Stefanec

The Bumbling, Fumbling Dad It’s time to embrace the competent daddy, in our lives and in the media

H

e seems to be everywhere.

He’s on television shows.

He’s on commercials. He’s on memes. He’s in the movies. He’s hilariously incompetent and supposed to be so incredibly relatable. He’s the bumbling, ill-equipped, clueless, infantile, slacker father. He’s a reliable stereotype that is as frequent in the media as temper tantrums are in my house. The problem is, I don’t think he’s real anymore. I think the bumbling, fumbling dad has jumped the shark.

And, thank God. As a woman who managed to mentally embrace the 21st century and happens to be married to someone who is an awesome father, I could do without this portrayal of men. It does a strong disservice to all the hardworking men who father like its 2016. It even does a disservice to the few dads out there who fit that stereotype. It allows them to think that being a clueless slacker is an amusing and acceptable option. Most men wouldn’t find the portrayal of their gender as dim-witted, weak or inferior acceptable under any other circumstance, so why should parenting be any different?

It’s time for society to embrace, endear and portray the capable daddy. The one who can do all of things a mom can do, and isn’t afraid to be proud of that. I want to see depictions that resemble the men I know in my everyday life, like the dads I see at the grocery store, swim lessons, pre-k and daycare. I want to see men like the ones who are my friends. I want to see men that resemble the actual men of my generation.

The ones who are willing to get into the nitty gritty of parenting. Most of the dads I know aren’t aloof; they are on their A-game.

I want this for me and all of the other moms out there who strive to be equals in their intimate relationships. I want this for all the dads who strive to be equals in their relationships. Even more importantly, I want this for my kids. I don’t want my son or daughter to grow up in a world that portrays fathers as idiots.

Sure, they have a man in the house who exemplifies the opposite, but media and pop culture have a way of worming into one’s brain. I want what they see in the virtual world to mirror what they see in the real world, so they won’t even know there is another option. I hope that for their generation, the fumbling disconnected father will be as archaic and foreign as dial-up.

To do my part to stop the stereotype, I am going to share some ways my husband is not my equal. I am going to show the areas where he shines brighter than me. The times

where he makes me look a little illequipped. We all have those areas, it’s just time recognize they aren’t dictated by gender.

He moves stuff when he mops the floors — not like this slacker. I prefer to mop around most things.

The part of the floor I can see is sparkling. Isn’t that what I am mopping for?

He can wrangle bath night alone — My husband can bathe both of our kids without me being in the house.

When I do solo bath nights, someone usually ends up in tears or with a fat lip. I won’t mention who that person usually is.

He conducts learning time like a pro — When I try to do learning time with the kids, my little guy usually has my daughter’s writing tablet torn in half and half eaten before I can coach her through a shape. Somehow, he keeps them both occupied and out of each other’s hair.

He needs less sleep — If I didn’t have kids, I’d be aiming for nine to 10 hours a night. Neither of us gets anywhere near that, but when one of us has to take a sleep hit for the team, it’s usually my husband. He can function better on less sleep.

He tackles dirty diapers like they are going out of style — When it’s time to call in the HAZMAT team, I call in my husband. I have a great sense of smell and weak stomach, so I try to pass the dirty work off on him.

Lucky for me, he typically obliges.

He’s better with vomit — Enough said.

He’s a better matcher — You know when you see kids out an about and their clothes just don’t quite match?

You probably think to yourself, “Daddy must have dressed that one.”

You are wrong. It was me. I have no issue with my son rocking argyle socks with striped pants or a brown vest with black pants. That’s how I roll.

When I want to get away, he doesn’t babysit — My husband is always supportive of me for escaping for some personal time, but he never “babysits” the kids when I do this.

He takes care of his own children.

Father’s don’t babysit their own kids, they just solo parent. My husband has no problems flying solo, because he is just as capable as me.

I could probably think of a hundred other ways my husband is an awesome dad, but I will stop there. I just want to make a point that we all have our strengths and weaknesses as parents, and most of the time, those things aren’t dictated by gender. It’s time to embrace the competent daddy, in our lives and in the media.

April 2016 •

IN GOOD HEALTH – CNY’s Healthcare Newspaper

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Page 15

Liver Tumors A view of the liver.

With Y-90 treatment, millions of tiny radioactive spheres surround and penetrate the liver tumor selectively irradiating it, according to experts.

Treatment Gives New Hope to Patients with Metastatic Liver Tumors

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

N

o one wants to hear the word cancer and much less the phrase metastatic cancer, which means that the disease has spread beyond the original tumor site. Unfortunately, that was the fateful news Ron Sager received when he was diagnosed with metastatic pancreatic cancer that had spread to the liver in July 2014.

At the time of diagnosis Sager was a patient of physician Daniel Bingam at Hematology-Oncology Associates of CNY. Bingam recommended that Ron see Dr. Aaron Sharma, an interventional radiologist at Crouse Radiology Associates to explore Y-90 microsphere treatment, also known as SIRT (Selective Internal Radiation Treatment) as a therapy to directly target the liver tumors.

SIR-Spheres Y-90 resin microspheres are microscopic radioactive spheres that are delivered by the millions directly to the tumor site thru a tiny catheter advanced to the liver.

While chemotherapy does it’s very important job of managing systemic disease, Y-90 microspheres specifically target the liver and they are often done in combination. Y-90 minimizes damage to healthy liver tissue because it targets the tumor, enabling the liver to handle more types of chemotherapy if needed for a longer time.

When asking another local oncologist, Rahul Seth, who practices at University Hospital hematology oncology department about the Y-90 treatment, he mentioned that recently published studies show that the control of liver disease is very important to extended disease-free survival and that this treatment option is possible for targeted liver disease when surgical removal of tumors is not possible.

According to the American Cancer Society, at least 60 percent of the nearly 140,000 Americans diagnosed with colorectal cancer every year will

see their cancer spread to the liver.

The liver is the most important organ to protect for these patients, with up to 90 percent of patients dying from liver failure.

Ron Sager had his Y-90 treatments last summer. Since then he has traveled to Costa Rica, Virginia, the Adirondack’s and gone hunting, fishing and hiking.

“I’m a young 75-year-old” says Sager ”The Y-90 procedure allowed me to live my life while dealing with my cancer in the liver. During my last visit with Dr. Bingham he told me that my biggest tumor had shrunk to half its size and some smaller ones were gone then he told me to go on vacation and come back in three months.”

Sager said the toughest part of the procedure was lying on the procedure table for a while but he went home the same day and went for a walk that night.

“SIR-Spheres Y-90 resin microspheres are a powerful weapon against one of the deadliest forms of cancer,” says Aaron Sharma, interventional radiologist at Crouse Hospital. “Y-90 has been proven to extend patient survival and, just as importantly, the treatment allows patients to maintain a good quality of life. The sooner we are able to treat liver tumors the better our results.

Sadly, often patients don’t get to see us until the liver tumors have taken over most of the liver. ” Locally, there are Y-90 microspheres programs at both Crouse and University hospitals.

For more information on SIRSpheres Y-90 and its use at Crouse Hospital, contact Terese Santaro-Gustke at 315-234-4686; at University Hematology Oncology department, contact Sue Hemingway at 315-464-5099.

Submitted copy.

Dog and Child Safety With 4.5 million dog bites occur annually in the US, parents with young kids are advised to prepare before bringing a dog in their home

By Deborah Jeanne Sergeant

A

re you considering adding a dog to your family? Consider the possibility carefully.

About 4.5 million dog bites occur annually in the US and nearly one-fifth of those becomes infected, according to the Centers for Disease Control. Strange dogs cause only half of all dog bite injuries, meaning that familiar dogs — those known by their victims — cause the remaining half.

Beyond the damage inflicted by the dog's teeth, dog bites can spread germs that can affect humans. Nearly 20 percent of dog bites infect people with bacteria, including rabies, capnocytophaga spp., pasteurella, MRSA (methicillin-resistant staphylococcus aureus), and tetanus (produced by clostridium tetani).

While most families enjoy dog ownership for decades without a bite incident, any dog can bite. But careful animal selection and training can greatly reduce the chances that your dog will bite.

Andrea Giordano, professional dog trainer and owner of Dogs Among Us in Oswego, encourages families to consider why they want a dog before obtaining one.

"I recommend that the family research breeds," she said. "Do you want a dog to go camping and hiking or a couch potato? Size can be a consider-

ation. Do you get an older dog or a puppy? Both have different needs."

Giordano also serves as a licensed presenter of Family Paws Parents Education programs and works with families to increase safety for babies, toddlers and dogs.

"Trying to raise puppies and toddlers is double trouble," Giordano said. "It adds to the challenges. Some aren't up for it.

"Working" breeds, such as the German shepherd, need lots of activity and exercise. The Italian greyhound, however, needs less exercise.

But all breeds need walking beyond their regular elimination time to remain healthy.

While dog breeds can give you a general idea of personality traits and exercise needs, don't assume that all members of a breed behave the same.

Or that there are "family" breeds guaranteed safe for children and "unsafe" breeds that can never live around children.

Giordano said that breeders, rescue organizations and shelters can help you decide the type of dog that best fits your lifestyle.

Fostering a dog may offer a good means to test the feasibility of bringing a pet into the home. Shelters usually temperament-test pets and can share their knowledge of the animal.

Proper breeding offers a good foundation, since some ill-temperament dogs should never be bred.

Giordano encourages families to seek a reputable breeder should they choose to purchase a dog. Schedule the animal's first vet visit in advance.

Otherwise, "you can expose your dog and possibly other pets in the meantime," Giordano said.

If you aren't sure how to train the dog, schedule training sessions before the dog even comes home.

Giordano likes the whole family to attend.

The dog's training — whether at home or through a trainer — and socialization between dog and children make the difference between good family life and a bad experience.

"Even an older dog may need training," Giordano said. "Set rules and be consistent. Where to sleep, where will the dog go when the family is gone."

Many trainers promote crate training, which means that the dog stays in its crate when unsupervised.

This method reduces accidents and helps dogs remain calm when home alone. The dog always has access to the crate when the family is home.

The crate provides the dog with a personal space for rest and retreat; therefore, children should not invade it.

"If you know your children don't have self control, they need to learn skills in advance before you get the dog in the house," Giordano said.

Children should leave dogs alone when they're resting, eating, hurt, sick or caring for young. Calling the dog to come to them, instead of hunt-

April 2016 •

Andrea Giordano, professional dog trainer and owner of Dogs Among Us in Oswego, encourages families to consider why they want a dog before obtaining one. "If you know your children don't have self control, they need to learn skills in advance before you get the dog in the house," Giordano says. ing down the dog for playtime, can help prevent problems.

Showing teeth and growling isn't the only sign a dog may bite. Many dogs also raise their hackles, pin back their ears, and lower or hide their tails.

By careful planning and education, you can greatly reduce the risk of a dog bite incident in your home.

IN GOOD HEALTH – CNY’s Healthcare Newspaper

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Page 17

Meet Your Provider

Total Care, A Today’s Options of New York Health Plan Interview with Chief Medical Officer Clint Koenig MD, MA, MSPH, Q.: How long have you been in the healthcare industry?

A.: I’ve been a doctor for nearly 20 years.

Between my roles as medical director and chief medical officer . I’ve been in leadership roles for over 10 years.

Q. Can you outline some of your main duties as chief medical officer?

A.: I enjoy the role because it allows me to help improve health through engaging the greater Syracuse community. Some of my day is supervising doctors and nurses. Much of that supervision is ensuring what we do is always to the benefit of patients. I really try and encourage my nurses and doctors to think about each patient, how they access our health care system and what barriers they have for care. We have a privileged place in our community. I encourage them to think like a local partner.

Physician Clint Koenig received his medical degree from Albany Medical College and completed his residency in family medicine at the University of Missouri. He also received master’s degrees in journalism and public health from the University of Missouri. He most recently served as the chief medical officer at a comprehensive outpatient health center in Rochester.

oftentimes a mistake is the usual result of a bad system or process and not a bad person. I also try to recognize the strengths and dignity of all and try to get those pieces to shine. I know it sounds trite, but through my dense brain, I am realizing that people really can make or break an organization.

Q. How has your past experience helped you in your current?

A.: I think my experience and education as a journalist help me most in my role. Sure, I need to make clinical decisions and use my medical degree from Albany Medical College. But my journalism experience has helped me be so much more of an effective communicator. For example, my experience in writing for newspaper and television allowed me to understand how to write for an audience. My public health degree has also been helpful to allow me to take a big picture view on health and allow me to see how groups and populations can really behave differently than individuals.

Q. What skill sets do you possess which make you an effective leader?

A.: I think the better question is ‘what skill Q. What’s rewarding about you job? sets do I not possess’ I try to be an effective A.: Helping people. I went into medicine to listener. I try to listen to people’s wants, needs help people. I figured out early for myself that and values and help leverage these to the organization’s mission. I also try to promote a culture “help” can take many different forms for a physician. For most physicians, it’s in direct patient of safety, meaning that we all mistakes and that

care. For me, “help” can be in policy development and working with elected officials; it can look like helping providers navigate a difficult payer system; it can look like educating new doctors and nurse practitioners. The day that I don’t feel like I am helping people in my career will be the day I leave medicine.

Q.: What are your future goals with Total Care?

A.: To continue to help people every day in my current role. When I can’t do that any longer, it would be time for me to go.

Total Care • 5232 Witz Drive, North Syracuse, NY 13212 • Phone: 1-800-223-7242

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

SEEKING COMPANION

By Jim Miller

How to Avoid Medicare Mistakes When You’re Still Working Dear Savvy Senior,

Should I enroll in Medicare at age 65 if I’m still working and have coverage through my employer?

Almost 65

Dear Almost,

The rules for enrolling in Medicare can be very confusing with all the different choices available today. But when you postpone retirement past age 65, as many people are doing, it becomes even more complicated.

First, let’s review the basics.

Remember that original Medicare has two parts: Part A, which provides hospital coverage and is free for most people. And Part B, which covers doctor’s bills, lab tests and outpatient care. Part B also has a monthly premium of $104.90 in 2016 (though it’s higher for individuals earning $85,000 or more a year).

If you are receiving Social Security, you will be enrolled automatically in parts A and B when you turn 65. If you aren’t yet receiving Social Security, you will have to apply, which you can do online at SSA.gov/medicare, over the phone at 800-772-1213 or through your local Social Security office.

If you plan to continue working past the age of 65 and have health insurance from your job, your first step is to ask your benefits manager or human resources department how your employer insurance works with Medicare. In most cases, you should at least take Medicare Part A because it’s free. But to decide whether to take Part B or not will depend on the size of your employer.

Small employer

If your current employer (or spouse’s employer if it’s providing your coverage) has fewer than 20 employees, Medicare will be your primary insurer and you should enroll in Medicare Part B during your initial enrollment period. This is a seven-month period that includes the three months before, the month of, and the three months after your 65th birthday.

If you miss the seven-month sign-up window, you’ll have to wait until the next general enrollment period, which runs from Jan. 1 to

March 31 with benefits beginning the following July 1. You’ll also incur a 10 percent penalty for each year you wait beyond your initial enrollment period, which will be tacked on to your monthly Part B premium.

Where Independent Living meets Personalized Care.

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Recently widowed easy-going Christian male from the Nedrow area looking for a female companion age 60's to early 70's to share conversation and companionship with. Enjoys activities such as staying active, animals, sports, movies, fishing, golf, bowling and going to church. Non-drinker, non-smoker.

If interested, Please contact: Ed Cogan at 315-469-6970

Large employer

If your employer has 20 or more employees, your employer’s group health plan will be your primary insurer as long as you (or your spouse if the coverage is from his/ her employer) remain an active employee. If this is the case, you don’t need to enroll in Part B when you turn 65 if you’re satisfied with the coverage you are getting through your job. But if you do decide to enroll in Medicare, it will supplement your employer insurance by paying secondary on all of your claims.

Once your employment (or group health coverage) ends, you will then have eight months to sign up for Part B without a penalty. This is known as the Special Enrollment Period.

Drug coverage

You also need to verify your prescription drug coverage.

Call your benefits manager or insurance company to find out if your employer’s prescription drug coverage is considered “creditable.”

(Creditable prescription drug coverage is one that is considered to be as good as or better than the Medicare prescription drug benefit.)

If it is, you don’t need to enroll in a Medicare Part D prescription drug plan. If it isn’t, you should purchase a plan (see medicare.gov/find-a-plan) during your initial enrollment period or you’ll incur a premium penalty (1 percent of the average national premium for every month you don’t have coverage) if you enroll later.

For additional help, visit Medicare.gov or contact your State Health Insurance Assistance Program (SHIP) at Shiptacenter.org. The Medicare Rights Center also offers a free helpline at 800-333-4114.

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.

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IN GOOD HEALTH – CNY’s Healthcare Newspaper

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Page 19

Home Care by Seniors for Seniors There’s a huge difference in the kind of home care you can receive from someone who really understands what your life is like as a senior. The concerns you have. The need for independence. Someone who, like you, has a little living under his or her belt. Our loving, caring, compassionate seniors are there to help. We offer all the services you need to stay in your own home, living independently.

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The courage and determination of cancer survivors is an inspiration to all. On National Cancer Survivors Day®

Sunday, June 5, 2016

Hematology Oncology Associates of CNY will honor those in our community who are living with and beyond cancer and those who have supported them along the way.

Come celebrate life at

Willow Bay @ Onondaga Lake Park on June 5, 2016.

Our celebration will include:

Speakers • Fun Activities • Entertainment Door Prizes • BBQ Lunch.

This event will be held from 10:30am until 1:30pm and is free for survivors and guests.

We encourage RSVP to pcase@hoacny.com or (315) 472-7504 ext 1133.

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The Social Ask Security Office

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

S

ocial Security is committed to the principles and spirit of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), which improves the lives of our beneficiaries and our employees who have disabilities. We are proud to say that we’ve been helping people with disabilities for over 25 years.

We also want you to see and hear from the people who rely on Social Security disability benefits to not just survive, but thrive, as active members of our communities.

Our Faces and Facts of Disability website highlights the real life stories of people who have disabilities. The address is www.socialsecurity.gov/ disabilityfacts.

The newest person we are featuring on our Faces and Facts of Disability website is Lynne Parks. She is an artist from Baltimore, Md. First diagnosed with metastatic fibrosarcoma at age 14, she has lived with this illness for nearly 35 years. It started in her face and moved to different parts of her body, including her abdomen and leg. She also has various tumors on her shoulder and arm.

Inflammatory responses, infections, and new tumors are complications that Parks deals with every day.

“Because of the tumors, I have limited use of my left arm,” Parks said. “I have weakness in my legs.

There's fatigue because my immune

system has taken such a big hit from the cancer and the cancer treatments.

I get sick all the time. There might be a day that I can be at home and resting and I'll try to make the best of it. I'll wake up, fix breakfast and eat, and that takes a while because of my physical limitations, but also because of my first tumor that was in my face.”

Having been helped by Social Security, Parks tries to help others. “I'm also helping people who have issues learn to cope with them, because they see in me someone as a role model, essentially. Life without Social Security benefits, it's a horror story, because I imagine myself on the streets.”

The disability benefits Parks receives are a crucial resource for her quality of life. Our disability programs continue to be a mainstay in the lives of many people — people just like you. Social Security disability beneficiaries are among the most severely impaired people in the country. It’s something that can happen to anyone when least expected.

We invite you to learn the facts about the disability insurance program, and see and hear these stories of hardship and perseverance at www.socialsecurity.gov/disabilityfacts.

Q: What is a Social Security Statement, and how can I get a copy?

A: Your online Social Security Statement gives you secure and convenient access to your earnings records. It also shows estimates for retirement, disability, and survivors benefits you and your family may be eligible for. You can get your personal statement online by using your own My Social Security account. If you don’t yet have an account, you can easily create one.

To set up or use your account to get your online statement, go to www.socialsecurity.gov/myaccount.

We also mail statements to workers attaining ages 25, 30, 35, 40, 45, 50, 55, 60 and older, three months prior to their birthday, if they don’t receive Social Security benefits and don’t have a My Social Security account.

If you don’t want to wait for your statement, you can access it online, whatever time of year you need it.

Q: I own a business. What should I do if an employee gives me a Social Security number but cannot produce the card, or if the employee is waiting to receive a Social Security number?

A: Seeing the card is not as important as putting the correct information on the worker's Form W-2. You can verify employee Social Security numbers by using our Social Security Number Verification Service.

Just go to www.socialsecurity.gov/ bso. This online service allows registered employers to verify employee Social Security numbers against Social Security records for wage reporting purposes. If the employee recently applied for a Social Security number, but does not yet have a card when you must file the paper Form W-2, enter the words “Applied for” on the Form W-2. If you are filing electronically, enter all zeros (e.g., 000-00-0000) in the Social Security number field. When the employee receives the card, file Copy A of Form W-2C, Corrected Wage and Tax Statement with Social Security to show the employee's number.

Q&A

H ealth News Reproductive center opens in Central Square Oswego County Opportunities (OCO) has recently opened a new part-time reproductive health services office in Central Square. Located at 544 S. Main St., the new center is open from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. the second Tuesday of each month.

It’s located inside the the offices of Daniel Walsh, DC, Family Chiropractic.

The new center exSousou pands OCO’s reproductive health services and makes access to those services easier for those in living in the southeast part of Oswego County.

“This area represents a large portion of the Oswego County population and we recognized a need for our services. We are happy to be adding Central Square to our list of centers,” said Inga Back, coordinator of administrative operations for OCO’s reproductive health and cancer services programs. Staffed by Lisa Sousou, a physician’s assistant, and licensed practical nurse Heather Buckley, the center offers a wide range of comprehensive reproductive health services for women and men including birth control and contraception, pregnancy testing, STD testing and treatment, HIV testing and counseling, HPV vaccine and morning-after pill among other services.

Loretto has new human resources VP Allison Wollen has joined Loretto as the vice president of human resources.

Wollen comes to Loretto from Rutland Regional Medical Center in Vermont, where she served as the vice president of human resources, volunteer services, employee health and training and development.

Prior to that, she Wollen served as corporate vice president of human resources at UMass Memorial Health Care-HealthAlliance Hospital in Leominster, Mass., and director of human resources at Boston Children’s Hospital.

Wollen has worked in the human resources field for over 15 years and has extensive experience in leadership development, employee engagement, labor relations, compensation

& benefits, recruitment & retention, relationship building and strategic planning. ] Wollen earned a bachelor’s degree in psychology and in management science from the SUNY Geneseo and her MBA from Clarkson University. She received her executive human resources certification from Cornell University.

“I am committed to leading a team that will be responsive, professional and consistent when dealing with employees, applicants and leaders. I want to make Loretto the best place to work in Upstate New York,” she said.

Universal American welcomes new employees Universal American, a family of healthcare companies that provides health benefits to its Medicare Advantage plan members and Total Care members with Medicaid, has announced several new employees who will join the company’s Northeast regional headquarters in Syracuse. Universal American’s Northeast operations include roughly 60,000 people with Medicare and/or Medicaid in Central New York.

New team members include: • Lori Winderl of Marcellus joined Winderl as quality assurance nurse. Prior to joining Universal American, Winderl was a home care nurse at VNA homecare.

She holds a bachelor’s degree in communications from SUNY Oswego and an associate of applied science degree in nursing from Crouse Hospital Russell School of Nursing.

• Julie Russell of Syracuse joined as provider relations supervisor.

Prior to joining Universal American, Russell worked as a contract manager for network development at POMCO. • Nicole McCurty of Syracuse McCurty joined as

enrollment coordinator.

McCurty previously worked as a retention representative for an insurance company. She received her associates degree from Onondaga Community College.

Ballard • Michael Ballard of Boonville joined as financial analyst. Ballard previously worked at National Government Services where he was a senior accountant. He received his MBA from SUNY Oswego.

Anne Zaccheo achieves board certification Anne E. Zaccheo, practice director at Nephrology Associates of Syracuse, has earned the professional designation of certified medical practice executive (CMPE) by the American College of Medical Practice Executives, the certification entity of the Medical Group Management Association.

Zaccheo The designation of CMPE demonstrates that Zaccheo has achieved board certification in medical practice management.

Through industry-leading board certification and fellowship programs, ACMPE certifies an individual’s professional competence when she or he passes rigorous essays and objective examinations that assess knowledge of the broad scope of medical practice management skills set as outlined in the Body of Knowledge for Medical Practice Management.

These include business operations, financial management, human resources management, information management, organizational governance, patient care systems, quality management and risk management.

The individual must also earn a minimum of 50 continuing education credit hours.

Zaccheo has been at Nephology Associates for nearly three years; previously, she worked at Excellus BlueCross BlueShield.

St. Joseph's Health welcomes new OB/GYNs St. Joseph's Health welcomes two obstetrics gynecologists to St. Joseph's Primary Care Center-West and the Maternal Child Health Center.

• Kevin P. Cunningham received his Doctor of Medicine from UniverApril 2016 •

sity at Buffalo School of Medicine in 1982 and completed his residency in obstetrics and gynecology at SUNY Buffalo affiliated hospitals in 1986.

Early in his career Cunningham was a staff OB/ GYN in the Cunningham United States Army at Fort Campbell, where he was promoted to the rank of major.

Following his military service, he provided medical care to rural and underserved areas throughout New York state and in 1992 was a founding partner in a group practice in Corning.

Cunningham has more than 27 years of clinical experience in the field of obstetrics and gynecology including private practice, emergency and policy and protocol development within his specialty. Most recently he practiced at Wyoming Community Center in Wassau, NY, providing service and support for a hospital based practice.

• Samuel Saleeb is an internationally trained OB/GYN physician specializing in urogynecology and minimally invasive surgery. He received his Doctor of Medicine from Assiut Medical School in Egypt in 1981, followed by a postgraduate diploma from Zagazig University. He has completSaleeb ed a clinical preceptorship in the urogynecology department at Cleveland Clinic in Cleveland.

A member of the Royal College of Physicians of Ireland, he completed programs in obstetrics and gynecology and laparoscopic surgery at Trinity College in Dublin, Ireland.

While in Dublin he completed both an OB/GYN residency at National Maternity Hospital and special training in urogynecology.

Prior to joining St. Joseph's, Saleeb was the medical director of Saleeb Gynecology and Urogynecology Center in Buffalo for 12 years.

He has been recognized as one of the leading doctors of the world and the top urogynecologist in Buffalo in 2010 and 2011.

Tania S. Anderson appointed CEO at ARISE Tania S. Anderson has been named chief executive officer beginning at ARISE starting April 1. She succeeds Tom McKeown, who is retiring from the position.

Anderson’s connection with

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Page 21

H ealth News ARISE began in 1999, when Child & Family Service, Inc. merged with ARISE. As a member of the board of Child & Family Service, Anderson agreed to serve on the ARISE board of directors.

Over the Anderson past 17 years, Anderson has served in a variety of roles with ARISE, and was president of the board of directors for seven years. She stepped down from the board when she was appointed chief operating officer in August of 2015, subsequently being selected by the board of directors as the incoming CEO. She is an attorney who is the parent of a child with disabilities.

Anderson’s daughter receives services from ARISE and is a participant at ARISE at the Farm. As a parent, she understands how difficult it can be to navigate the complex system of services, and she is excited about the opportunity to ensure that parents have assistance in securing services for their child.

“We are thrilled that Tania Anderson will take the reins following Tom McKeown’s extraordinary leadership,” says Susan Judge, president of the ARISE board of directors.

“Tania’s tremendous commitment to the organization, and her expertise as an attorney, will serve us well in this

time of change.”

During the past 14 years, ARISE has quadrupled in size. It currently serves more than 7,000 people in its five-county service area and employs 700 people.

CEO Ruscitto to Retire from St. Joseph’s Health Kathryn Howe Ruscitto, president and chief executive officer at St. Joseph’s Health, is retiring at the end of 2016.

She joined the organization in 2001 and became the president and CEO in 2011.

According to a news release, under Ruscitto’s leadership St. Joseph’s Ruscitto has built a stronger connection with the community and a better care delivery system overall. She inspired colleagues to serve as passionate stewards who protect the organization’s mission at every step. She reached out to the community with innovative programs that engage people and demonstrate how health care is central to an environment of growth and opportunities. New and stronger facilities are in place for cardiovascular care, orthopedics, maternal and child health, and general surgery.

Crouse Health Foundation Announces Major Naming Gift for Emergency Service Providing lifesaving care to 82,000 patients annually, Crouse Hospital’s emergency services department is the busiest in Syracuse. After 40 years of service, however, it is in need of renovation and expansion. To that end, the Crouse Health Foundation recently announced a major gift for its construction, as well as a new name: The Pomeroy Emergency Services Department. The generous naming gift was made by The William G. Pomeroy Foundation.

The project will start this month

and will be completed in phases by late 2018.

The William G. Pomeroy Foundation Executive Director Paula Miller said the gift was a natural expression of the allegiance the Pomeroys feel toward Crouse, as well as a perfect fit for the mission of The Pomeroy Foundation. “Based on their personal experiences with Crouse Hospital through the years, Bill and Sandra Pomeroy remain steadfast in their efforts to help ensure safe and quality patient care,” said Miller.

Rome Memorial affiliates with St. Joseph’s Health

Mission is to expand access to care for Central New York patients

R

ome Memorial Hospital’s board of trustees and St. Joseph’s Health of Syracuse announced a new collaborative relationship intended to expand patient access to needed services and technology.

The announcement was made jointly by RMH board chair Chester Patrick and RMH President/Chief Executive Officer David Lundquist recently.

Patrick said the two hospitals signed a transition service agreement. “The board has selected St. Joseph’s Health, a health care system that shares our commitment to providing patients with high-quality, coordinated care that is easily accessible,” he said.

RMH and St. Joseph’s still need Page 22

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to obtain the necessary regulatory approvals.

Meanwhile, RMH will continue to operate as an independent, separately licensed hospital with local governance.

“We are very excited about our relationship with Rome Memorial Hospital because it creates a seamless connection between our health care systems, improving patients’ access to the highest level of care,” said Kathryn Ruscitto, president and CEO of St. Joseph’s Health.

“Ranked among the top hospitals in the nation for heart surgery, St. Joseph’s is also recognized for its focus on expanding community-based primary care to improve the overall health of the people it serves,” Lund-

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

Rome Memorial Hospital President/Chief Executive Officer David Lundquist (center), Darlene Burns, former interim president/CEO (left) and Kathryn Ruscitto, president and CEO of St. Joseph’s Health. quist said.

Lundquist said the collaboration will make it easier for patients to navigate the health care system.

“Whether they receive care here close to home or need more specialized care, they will be reassured knowing we have the resources within the collaborative network to provide the care they need,” he said.

Lundquist recently joined the RMH administration on March 1.

Ruscitto added, “When open heart surgery or tertiary care is needed and a patient must come to St. Joseph’s, our partners will have a direct connection to our services, which will help them provide their patients with the best care possible in their home communities.”

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