in good Meet Your Doctor New orthopedic surgeon in Auburn, Kamaljeet Singh Banga, discusses common causes of joint injuries and compares his medical experience in Canada, India and the U.S.
March 2017 •
Issue 207
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MEN’S HEALTH
‘Guys, Get Tested!’
Meal on Wheels With not enough money to feed all the seniors who seek the program, officials from four MOWs say they have to restrict meal delivery to seniors.
Todd Baxter is a 27-year veteran of law enforcement and director of Veterans Outreach Center, a nonprofit organization that works with veterans in Upstate New York. He was diagnosed with prostate cancer in September. He discusses his ordeal and urges other men to get tested.
Teens & Drug Local experts offer suggestions about what parents can do to prevent their kids from drug and alcohol use
Special ‘Men’s Health’ inside
page 17
Colon Cancer Excellus: Upstate New Yorkers risking their lives by not being screened for colon cancer. 800 people a year die from the disease in the region
Tax Return Do you really need to file a tax return in 2017? See who is exempt. Savvy Senior column It’s March. How’s that resolution to quit smoking working out?
Girl Meets Dog The Chill Spot How a friendly German shepherd changed the life of a blind paramedic-turnedparalympian
page 7
Cantaloupes
Some fruits are so fragrant and luscious and yummy that we don’t think twice about their nutritional value. For many, a cantaloupe is just that sort of fruit. Read more in SmartBites.
Outpatient Golisano Children’s Hospital clinic focuses on challenging behaviors displayed by children with autism and related disorders page 15
Supplements
Some supplements commonly advertised to treat obesity and erectile dysfunction problems can cause health problems page XX page XX
Experts Reveal Hidden Dangers Behind Supplements Some supplements commonly advertised to treat obesity and erectile dysfunction can cause health problems
E
meritus Professor Duncan Burns, a forensically experienced analytical chemist from the Queen’s University Belfast’s Institute for Global Food Security, has been working with a team of specialists on a peer-reviewed paper to examine the detection of illegal ingredients in supplements. The research found that overthe-counter supplements — commonly advertised to treat obesity and erectile dysfunction problems — are labelled as fully herbal but often include potentially dangerous pharmaceutical ingredients, which are not listed on the label. “Our review looked at research from right across the globe and
questioned the purity of herbal food supplements,” said Burns. “We have found that these supplements are often not what customers think they are — they are being deceived into thinking they are getting health benefits from a natural product when actually they are taking a hidden drug. “These products are unlicensed medicines and many people are consuming large quantities without knowing the interactions with other supplements or medicines they may be taking. This is very dangerous and there can be severe side effects.” The survey raises serious questions about the safety of slimming supplements containing sibutramine.
Sibutramine was licensed as the medicine Reductil until 2010, when it was withdrawn across Europe and the US due to an increased risk of heart attacks and strokes associated with the use of the drug. Tadalfil and sulfoaildenafil were among the most frequently undeclared ingredients in products for erectile dysfunction. When taken with other medicines containing ni-
trates, they can lower blood pressure drastically and cause serious health problems. “This is a real issue as people suffering from conditions like diabetes, hyperlipidemia and hypertension are frequently prescribed nitrate containing medicines. If they are also taking a herbal supplement to treat erectile dysfunction, they could become very ill,” Burns said.
Pet Meds Sending Kids to the ER
It’s not uncommon for toddlers to ingest drugs intended for dogs and cats, study finds
T
he flea medications and heartworm pills that millions of Americans give to their beloved pets pose poisoning risks to any children in the home, new research warns. The study authors said just one poison center in Ohio received more than 1,400 calls for poisoning from
pet medications over the course of 15 years, with 87 percent of those calls involving children under the age of 5. “We realize that pets are common and an important part of families, especially those with young children,” said study co-author Kristi Roberts, from the Center for Injury Research and Policy at Nationwide Children’s
Hospital in Columbus, Ohio. “However, pets often require medications to keep them healthy, and these medications could be dangerous to a child if the child is exposed,” she added. Poisoning occurs in several ways, the researchers explained. Toddlers can pick up pills spit out by a pet or
eat food containing medications left uneaten in a food bowl. Also, kids who pet an animal being treated with a lotion or cream can get it on their hands and then put their hands into their mouths. The report was published online Feb. 6 in the journal Pediatrics.
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IN GOOD HEALTH – CNY’s Healthcare Newspaper • March 2017
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Aetna Medicare is a PDP, HMO, PPO plan with a Medicare contract. Our SNPs also have contracts with State Medicaid programs. Enrollment in our plans depends on contract renewal. See Evidence of Coverage for a complete description of plan benefits, exclusions, limitations and conditions of coverage. Plan features and availability may vary by service area. This information is not a complete description of benefits. Contact the plan for more information. Limitations, copayments, and restrictions may apply. Benefits, formulary, pharmacy network, provider network, premium and/or co-payments/co-insurance may change on January 1 of each year. Members who get “Extra Help” are not required to fill prescriptions at preferred network pharmacies in order to get Low Income Subsidy (LIS) copays. You must continue to pay your Medicare Part B premium. The Part B premium is covered for fulldual members. Our dual-eligible Special Needs Plan is available to anyone who has both Medical Assistance from the state and Medicare. Premiums, co-pays, co-insurance, and deductibles may vary based on the level of Extra Help you receive. Please contact the plan for further details. Other pharmacies, physicians and/or providers are available in our network. The formulary, pharmacy network, and/or provider network may change at any time. You will receive notice when necessary. Aetna complies with applicable Federal civil rights laws and does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national origin, age, disability, or sex. ATTENTION: If you speak a language other than English, free language assistance services are available. Visit our website at www.aetnamedicare.com or call the phone number listed in this material. ESPAÑOL (SPANISH): ATENCIÓN: Si usted habla español, se encuentran disponibles servicios gratuitos de asistencia de idiomas. Visite nuestro sitio web en www.aetnamedicare.com o llame al número de teléfono que se indica en este material. 繁體中文 (CHINESE): 請注意：如果您說中文，您可以獲得免費的語言協助服務。請造訪我們的網站 www.aetnamedicare.com 或致電本材料中所列的電話號碼。 Y0001_4002_9196_FINAL_1 Accepted 01/2017
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March 2017 •
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IN GOOD HEALTH – CNY’s Healthcare Newspaper
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CALENDAR of
HEALTH EVENTS
March 3
Speiser Fund accepting grant applications The Allen Speiser Memorial Fund for Vocational Rehabilitation is accepting grant applications from programs that promote the placement and retention of employees with disabilities in the workforce. The application deadline is March 3. Eligibility is limited to 501(c)(3) nonprofit, human service organizations that serve people with disabilities in Onondaga, Madison, Oswego, Cortland or Cayuga counties. The Speiser Fund generally provides grants of up to $2,000 to agencies that support education and employment opportunities for people with disabilities and raise awareness of the employment potential of people with disabilities. However, collaborative or innovative projects may exceed a $2,000 request.
Programs that address job placement and retention will also be considered. Visit www.cnycf.org/SpeiserGrants for guidelines and an application form. Questions may be directed to Danielle Hurley at (315) 883-5554 or DHurley@cnycf.org. Formerly the C.I.G.S. Foundation, the Allen Speiser Memorial Vocational Rehabilitation Fund was established in 2001.
March 6
Medicare Q&A meeting takes place in Auburn 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. Here people will learn how to determine whether the plan they considering will give them peace of
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mind or potential headaches. They’ll learn about how Part D drug plans work and whether EPIC co-pay assistance is an option for them. If their income is limited, they’ll learn about programs to help pay for insurance coverage, as well as a listing of the free and low-cost preventive care under Medicare. All classes will be held in the basement training room of the Cayuga County Office Building. Classes are scheduled for from 10 a.m. to noon, Monday, March 6. Registration is required and all classes are open for enrollment now. For more information or to register, call the Cayuga County Office for the Aging at 315-253-1226, or visit www.cayugacounty.us/aging under the News & Activities section.
March 14, April 11
Alzheimer’s disease for caregivers offered Families seeking support for a loved one suffering from Alzheimer’s disease are invited to take part in several free programs offered at The Manor at Seneca Hill. Alzheimer Association facilitators will offer a basics of dementia program, on different upcoming dates: from 5 to 6 p.m. March 14 and April 11, giving community members an opportunity to attend a program convenient to their schedules. The sessions will be held in the adult day health services room. The program provides information on detection, causes, and risk factors, stages of the disease, treatment and much more. This interactive workshop features video clips of
people with Alzheimer’s disease and their families sharing their stories. Along with program, The Manor hosts a free Alzheimer’s support group each month that is held from 7 to 8:30 p.m. the fourth Wednesday of each month Later this spring, a five-session Alzheimer’s program will be offered by the Alzheimer’s Association will also be held at The Manor. This program covers related topics in depth. Advanced registration for this program is also required and can be arranged by calling the Alzheimer’s Association at 472-4201, extension 100.
March 28
Fibromyalgia group to hear about acupuncture Tennille Richards, a local licensed acupuncturist specializing in traditional Chinese medicine, will be the guest speaker during a March 28 meeting held by the New Fibromyalgia Support Group in Rochester. The event will take place from 6 to 8:30 p.m. in the meeting room at Westside YMCA, 920 Elmgrove Road. Richards will discuss how acupuncture and traditional Chinese medicine can promote increased healing and wellness that will improve better blood flow, range of motion and overall wellness. Reservations are required. Please email your name, and details to fibro123.wellness.programs@ gmail.com or call 585-752-1562. For more information, visit www.newfibrosupport.com.
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Healthcare in a Minute By George W. Chapman
New HHS Secretary
The Senate recently confirmed physician Tom Price, a 12-year republican congressman from Georgia, as secretary of health and human services. Price is a former orthopedic surgeon. He will be the first physician to be the secretary in 20 years. He faced rigorous opposition from democrats because of his investments in medical device companies shortly before he introduced legislation that would kill “bundled payments” for certain joint replacement surgeries. To control costs, hospitals would be paid a lump or bundled payment (say $50,000) which would cover all costs associated with the joint replacement procedure including hospital, surgeon, anesthesiologist, knee or hip implant, physical therapy, etc. Being capped at $50,000, hospitals would have an incentive to lower costs by negotiating lower implant prices with the manufacturers. Price is an outspoken critic of the Affordable Care Act. The AMA was quick to endorse Price, hoping he could reduce the excessive regulatory burdens imposed on physicians.
Top 10 lobbyists
Last year, over 11,000 organizations spent over $3 billion lobbying the federal government. Although the lowest since 2007, experts expect the amount to increase as Trump looks to shake up the status quo on a lot of things, especially the Affordable Care Act. All the top lobbyists have some sort of stake in healthcare, be it: taxes, commercial insurance, Medicare, hospitals, device manufacturing, drugs, physicians, research, IT or the self-employed. The top 10 lobbyist by total spending, healthcare
or otherwise, are: 1. US Chamber of Commerce: $75 million. 2. National Association of Realtors: $53 million. 3. Institute for Legal Reform: $28 million. 4. Pharmaceutical Research and Manufacturers: $20 million. 5. American Hospital Association: $19 million. 6. American Medical Association: $19 million. 7. Boeing: $17 million. 8. Business Roundtable: $16 million. 9. Google: $15 million. 10. Dow chemical: $13 million.
72 and Prime Healthcare, 44. Three of these top five are based in Tennessee. The five largest nonprofits are: Ascension, 141; Catholic Health Initiatives, 103; Trinity, 92; Baylor, 48; Adventist, 46. The average length of stay in 2015 was about five days, but that is misleading considering the different types of hospitals. The average profit or operating margin for most nonprofits is around 1-2 percent.
Most promising healthcare jobs
At this time, it seems there won’t be an immediate repeal and replacement of “ObamaCare.” Congress is discovering the ACA is far more complex. While applauding the selection of Tom Price, five physician specialty organizations have asked congress to consider the following when they tinker with the ACA. 1. Do not increase the number of uninsured. 2. Protect the healthcare safety net. 3. Protect consumers from excessive insurance costs. (This should apply to ALL Americans, not just the 20 million covered by the ACA). 4. Maintain premium subsidies currently received by about 7 million people. 5. Protect small insurance markets.
Using data from the US Bureau of Labor Statistics, LinkedIn evaluated the jobs in healthcare based on salaries, demand, annual growth and advancement opportunities. The rank: 1. pharmacy manager; 2. project manager; 3. compliance officer.; 4. hospitalist (MD); 5. financial analyst; 6. sales director (insurance); 7. pharmacist; 8. product manager; 9. program manager; 10. regional director of operations.
Hospital facts
There are 5,564 hospitals across the U.S. That total includes: academic/teaching, community, VA, longterm care, psychiatric, drug abuse and rehab hospitals. The vast majority, 85 percent, are your basic general or community hospital. About a third of all hospitals serve rural communities. 20 percent are state owned; 59 percent are nonprofit and 21 percent are for profit. (NYS does not allow for-profit hospitals). Hospital mergers declined slightly last year. There were 102 in 2016 vs, 112 in 2015. The five largest for-profit hospital systems, based on the number of hospitals in the system, are: Hospital Corp. of America, 169; Community Health Systems, 158; Tenet Healthcare, 79; lIfePoint Health,
ACA future
Right to die
This highly charged and controversial topic has been brought to the forefront again by the nomination of Neil Gorsuch to the Supreme Court. He is on record as being deeply opposed to physician-assisted suicide or euthanasia. His belief is based upon the premise that all humans are intrinsically valuable and the intentional taking of another life by a private person is always wrong. Five states have passed “death with dignity” laws: Oregon, Washington, California, Vermont and Colorado. These March 2017 •
laws allow physician-assisted death for terminally ill patients. This issue confronts physicians with a conundrum. On one hand they pledge to do no harm. On the other hand they may be forcing people to go through a prolonged and painful death. Participating in an assisted death is clearly up to the individual physician. In the meantime, Vice President Mike Pence is in favor of a “right to try” law that would allow terminal patients to receive experimental, not-yet-finallyapproved drugs.
Prevention
According to the World Health Organization, the leading causes of premature death are, in order: hypertension, smoking, malnutrition, sexually transmitted diseases, poor diet, obesity, physical inactivity, alcohol/drug abuse, poor air quality, unsafe water.
Health information
To research just about any health issue, from A to Z, try www. health.ny.gov/healthaz www.health. ny.gov/healthaz. Being informed makes you a better partner with your physician.
George W. Chapman is a healthcare business consultant who works exclusively with physicians, hospitals and healthcare organizations. He operates GW Chapman Consulting based in Syracuse. Email him at gwc@gwchapmanconsulting.com.
IN GOOD HEALTH – CNY’s Healthcare Newspaper
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Meet
Your Doctor
By Chris Motola
U.S. High School Kids Abandoning Sweetened Sodas CDC study finds daily intake of these and other sugary drinks fell to just 20 percent by 2015
T
here’s good news when it comes to American teens’ diets, with more high school kids saying no to sodas and other sweetened beverages, researchers say. A new report from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention found that while just over a third of kids in grades nine through 12 drank a sweetened beverage each day in 2007, that number had fallen to 20.5 percent by 2015. Still, more can be done to help kids avoid the empty calories of sweetened sodas and drinks, the CDC team said. Despite declines in soda consumption, “intake of other sugar-sweetened beverages, including energy drinks and sports drinks, are increasing,” noted a group led by CDC researcher Caitlin Merlo. “And overall consumption of all sugar-sweetened beverages, such as soda, fruit drinks and sweetened coffees and teas, remains high.” According to the report, children and adolescents get about 20 percent of their daily calories from beverages. Some of these drinks can contain nutrients such as calcium or vitamins D or C, but many “provide [only] calories with no beneficial nutrients.” Rising child obesity rates have given new urgency to messages about the health hazards of sugary drinks, and the new study suggests those messages may be getting through. In the study, Merlo’s team looked at 2007-2015 data from a large U.S. survey of youth health. Besides noting the big drop in daily intake of sugary drinks, they said that teens’ daily intake of milk also declined (from about 44 percent to 37 percent of those responding), as did 100 percent fruit juice intake (27 percent to 21.6 percent). It’s not clear what, if anything, teens are drinking instead of sodas, milk and juice, although the Dietary Guidelines for Americans currently recommends no-added-sugar beverages such as water. The decline in soda intake was seen across all subgroups — boys and girls, all races/ethnicities and all socioeconomic levels.
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Kamaljeet Singh Banga, M.D. New orthopedic surgeon in Auburn discusses common causes of joint injuries and compares his experience in Canada, India and the U.S. Q: Tell us about your position and the patients you see at Auburn Community Hospital. A: I’m a new sports and orthopedic surgeon here at Auburn. I see mainly patients with sports injuries, both young and middle-aged patients. So if a young person has a dislocation of the shoulder, I’ll treat that surgically. If someone has a shoulder pain from a labral tear, I’ll treat that. I also do meniscal repair and reconstruct ACL ligaments. For middle-aged patients, I treat rotator cuff tears. I also do knee, hip and ankle repair and treat traumas to the lower and upper extremities. So that includes hip fractures, femur fractures, elbow fractures, ankle fractures, all those types of injuries. Q: What are some of the common causes of joint injuries? A: There are different causes. If you have a young patient who is a sports guy in his 20s and he puts enough stress on his joints, his joints may look like those of a 40 or 50-yearold guy from overuse. But sometimes, you’ll get big, traumatic events that completely dislocate the joint. So there’s been damage to the stabilizing structure, which means the joint can’t function properly until you fix the structure. Q: In terms of outcomes, to what degree can you restore damaged joints to normal usage? A: If someone has a traumatic dislocation in their 20s and have a labral tear, if you don’t repair it within six months to a year, you’re going to start seeing arthritic
IN GOOD HEALTH – CNY’s Healthcare Newspaper • March 2017
changes almost immediately, whereas they might not normally begin until their 40s and 50s. When you fix it, after three or four months of rehab, the joint will be almost normal and you won’t see those arthritic processes. Q: What determines whether a full replacement is needed, as opposed to a more modest intervention? A: If someone’s younger than 40, I try my best to preserve the joint. I don’t want to replace a joint in less than a 40-year-old guy. So we’ll do different procedures, depending on the damage. If someone’s over 40 and they have a lot of damage, we’ll try to give them anti-arthritic treatment up until around the time they’re 50, and then we’d look at joint replacement. But age is a big factor. Joint replacements last about 10 to 12 years. So if someone has a joint replacement at 60, he might need two joint replacements. If you do in earlier than that, you’re looking at three or four. And every time you revise the joint, you lose more bone. So we don’t want to have to do it too many times. Q: You have experience practicing in India and Canada, as well as the United States. What are some of the differences you noticed between the systems and populations? A: There’s not too much difference between the U.S. and Canada, but India is fairly different. In India, the volume of traumas in common hospitals is much higher than those of elective surgeries. My practice is more elective surgeries than traumas, but it’s the opposite in India. Between Canada and the U.S., it is mostly a matter of differences in the healthcare systems. There are more patients coming to the hospital in Canada because healthcare is free. The companies that provide the replacement
joints are the same all over. It’s just a matter of whether you’re paying from [out of] pocket or through the government. Q: Does that mean you tend to see more advanced damage in America, since patients might defer healthcare? A: I think, in America, patients with insurance tend to come in earlier, which is a good thing. People without insurance will come pretty late, which is a bad thing. So you have two populations of patients with different behavior. In Canada, everyone’s kind of coming in an intermediate state because they aren’t defering treatment, but they may have to wait six months for surgery. They’re not too late or early. Here, I see people who only have impingements, where I’ll see more tears in Canada since there’s more time between the complaint and the treatment. Q: What is arthritis, exactly? A: Every joint has specialized cartilage. That cartilage can withstand a lot of pressure, but unfortunately our bodies aren’t very good at replacing and repairing that cartilage. In a kid, it’s about 5 mm thick. With time, it softens and then thins out. Eventually the cartilage disappears and you have bone-on-bone. At the point, the joint is very painful and stiff. Injuries can increase conditions for earlier arthritic symptoms. Q: How did you become interested in orthopedic surgery? A: I think it was in my blood. When I was in medical school, I was thinking of becoming an internist. The board exam for internist was very competitive, so I decided to take a year off to prepare for it. In that year, I had a job assisting at an orthopedic hospital. It made me realize that I wanted to be an orthopedic surgeon.
Lifelines
Name: Kamaljeet Singh Banga, M.D. Position: Orthopedic surgeon at Auburn Community Hospital Education: Punjab University; McMaster University; Royal College of Surgeons Training: Fellow, orthopedic surgery upper extremity and sports, McMaster University, Hamilton, Ontario, Canada; fellow, orthopedic sports surgery at Fowler Kennedy Sports Clinic, University of Western Ontario, London, Ontario, Canada; resident, department of orthopedic surgery, McMaster University, Hamilton, Ontario, Canada; co-investigator and research coordinator, adult reconstruction unit, Ottawa General Hospital, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada; chief resident, department of orthopedic surgery, Shivalik Hospital & Trauma Center, Mohali, India; orthopedic resident, department of orthopedic surgery, Army Command Hospital, Chandim Andir, India; medical officer, AJIT Hospital, Khanna, India Hometown: Punjab, India Affiliations: Auburn Community Hospital Organizations: American Association of Orthopedic Surgeons; Canadian Orthopedic Association; European Sports Medicine Association Family: Married, two sons Hobbies: Skiing, golf
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When I I I ICall Call Alternative Hypnosis for Call Call Alternative Alternative Hypnosis Hypnosis for for Call Alternative Hypnosis for a aaa golf, I walk now instead of riding. golf, golf, I walk I walk now now instead instead of of riding. riding. golf, I walk now instead of riding. free hypnosis screening, and say free free hypnosis hypnosis screening, screening, and and say say It’s easier playing basketball, and It’s It’s easier easier playing playing basketball, basketball, and andfree hypnosis screening, and say It’s easier playing basketball, and Mike Poirier sent you. Mike Mike Poirier Poirier sent sent you. you. Poirier sent you. the gym isn’t achore anymore. the the gym gym isn’t isn’t achore chore anymore. anymore. Mike the gym isn’t a achore anymore. I’m Mike Poirier. I’m I’m I’m Mike Mike Poirier. Poirier. I’m I’m I’m Mike Poirier. I’m a aaa customer relations manager. customer customer relations relations manager. manager. customer relations manager. 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Teens & Drug Abuse. What Parents Can Do Local experts offer suggestions about what parents can do to prevent their kids from abusing drugs and alcohol By Deborah Jeanne Sergeant
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December 2016 University of Michigan study shows that teens’ use of tobacco and alcohol has reached the lowest level since the 1990s, but marijuana use remains at the same level. With the recent opioid epidemic, spurred by a segue between prescription pain killers and street drugs, it’s clear that more parents and adult mentors of teens need to intervene to curb substance abuse. “The biggest thing is to keep the lines of trust and communication open,” said Elizabeth Toomey, certified prevention specialist, and team leader for prevention education and information services with Prevention Network in Syracuse. “Kids are curious and having thoughts about trying something new. They’re looking for someone to talk to. If there’s a trusted adult in their lives, they’ll turn to that adult. Sometimes it’s a parent, coach, scout leader or other adult they’re engaged with.” Toomey added: • “Have conversations when the opportunity arises. Ask what their friends think about it and what they know about it. Have it when the opportunity arises, not ‘I’m going to talk with my kid right now.’ • “Start when your kids are starting to ask or have a misconception about drugs or alcohol. That’s the perfect opportunity, as early as Kindergarten and throughout their school careers. We do it across the lifespan. • “Get kids involved. The more things kids are involved in extracurricular, sports, clubs, church and their neighborhoods, the less likely they are to use drugs or alcohol. They have a different mindset. They’re not bored. Some of the clubs and sports have guidelines. If they want to be involved, they have to follow the guidelines. These are also outlets for young people that would otherwise turn to drugs when they’re frustrated or angry. • “Prescription medicine safety is a concern, especially in our area.
If it’s not prescribed for you, you shouldn’t take it because you don’t know what it will do to your body. Parents need to be very vigilant to keep medication out of the reach of young people, including little children and teenagers. Teenagers are at a time in their lives where they’re trying to gain independence and they don’t need those temptations in the medicine cabinet. If you have any of the prescription left, dispose of it immediately. The police department will take back medicine.” Part of the reason teens turn to drugs and alcohol is that substance abuse has become normalized. Erica Brier-Kennedy, student assistant program counselor with Contact Community Services, said that her organization works in the school “to emphasize that substance use is harmful,” she said. “We’re discussing the impact on families and communities and setting the standard that this is a drug-free school. We don’t accept or condone it.” Brier-Kennedy added: • “Teens are trying to figure out who they are and where they fit in the world. They’re exploring. In that process, if they don’t find their niche and their interests, and they may be dealing with additional life stresses, drugs and alcohol may seem really appealing. • “Parental influence plays a huge role. When drinking and drug use is a way to cope with stressors, that’s what young people see as acceptable. A parent might make a comment that ‘Today was so stressful, I can’t wait to get a glass of wine.’ Most parents have their kids as friends on social media. they may not consider their kids look at that as well.” • “The school and community need to come together to provide information on the dangers of substance abuse. They need to discuss ways young people can practice refusal strategies: ways to say no when faced with peer pressure.”
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My Turn
By Eva Briggs
Pneumonia Season
Who are the people at highest risk of catching it?
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s I write this article, it’s pneumonia season. Not an official season, but people catch pneumonia more often during the winter, especially during influenza outbreaks. How do you catch it? The most common way is breathing in infectious viruses or bacteria. An infected person coughs or sneezes, spewing organisms into the air, where a second person inhales them. Sometimes the infection arises when germs in your own mouth or stomach are inhaled during swallowing or vomiting because the protective gag reflex fails. Occasionally organisms reach the bloodstream from another source, like a skin infection, and then spread to the lungs. Pneumonia is an inflammation of the small air sacs (alveoli) of the lung. Infection with bacteria is the most common cause. Other microorganisms, such as viruses and fungi, cause some pneumonias. Breathing in toxic substances, reactions to certain medicines, and some autoimmune diseases also cause pneumonia. The people at highest risk of catching pneumonia are very young children, older adults, and people whose immune systems are compromised. Small children have small airways, their immune systems are still
developing, and lack prior exposure to infectious diseases. Older adults’ immune systems may function less well, and geriatric patients often have other illnesses that affect their ability to fight off infection. Immunocompromised patients include those with disorders of the immune system, chronic diseases, including diabetes and lung disease, and people taking medicines that suppress their immune systems. Typical pneumonia symptoms include fever, cough, shortness of breath and sputum production. Doctors determine the severity of infection based on findings. The more rapid the respiratory rate and lower oxygen level, the sicker the patient. Vomiting, which prevents adequate fluid intake, and decreased blood pressure are further signs of severe disease. The sickest patients require hospital care for IV antibiotics, fluids, oxygen and, in the most severe cases, ICU support. Fortunately most people with pneumonia don’t require hospitalization and can be treated as outpatients. That’s what lay people often call by the nonmedical term “walking pneumonia.” Usually chest X-rays diagnose pneumonia. Sometimes ultrasound or CT scan is used. These imaging studies show the location of the
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pneumonia, whether it is diffusely affecting the lungs or confined to a single lobe of the lung. Tests to figure out the specific cause of pneumonia often fail to identify the cause. Treatment aimed at the most common bacterial causes of pneumonia usually work. So doctors typically test for specific causes only when patients have severe disease. Sometimes blood cultures will grow the causative agent. Sputum may also be cultured or looked at under the microscope. Some bacteria produce substances that show up on special urine tests. Very sick patients might need invasive tests like bronchoscopy (a scope inserted through the mouth and into the lungs to sample infected secretions) or thoracocentesis (insertion of a needle between the ribs to withdraw infected fluid.) If you are being treated for pneumonia at home, be sure to take all your antibiotics as prescribed. If you think that you are having a problem caused by your medication, contact your doctor right away. Keep hydrated by drinking plenty of fluids. As annoying as it is to cough, cough suppressants should be avoided when possible, because your cough reflex helps to clear infectious material from your airways. Expectorants such as guaifenesin may thin
your secretions but there isn’t a lot of evidence proving their effectiveness. Stick with over-the-counter pain relievers rather than narcotics to treat chest pain or other associated pains. Narcotics can suppress the cough reflex and delay your recovery. The pneumonia vaccine, recommended for children, adults 65 and older, and certain other at-risk people, protects against pneumonia caused by the bacteria pneumococcus. The influenza vaccine also reduces your risk of pneumonia by protecting not only against pneumonia caused by the influenza virus, but also because when your airway is affected by influenza other bugs can cause secondary pneumonia infections. Practice good hygiene — stay home when you are sick, wear a mask, cover your mouth when you cough. But don’t cough into your hand. Use a tissue or cough into your elbow.
Eva Briggs is a medical doctor who works at two urgent care centers (Central Square and Fulton) operated by Oswego Health.
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Member of the American Urological Association (AUA) and American College of Osteopathic Surgeons (ACOS) Assistant professor of Urology at SUNY Upstate Medical University
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IN GOOD HEALTH – CNY’s Healthcare Newspaper • March 2017
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Girl Meets Dog
How a friendly German shepherd changed the life of a blind paramedic-turned-paralympian By Matthew Liptak
S
hawn Cheshire didn’t want a guide dog. At some point, she didn’t even want to keep on going. But Kiara changed all of that. Cheshire had been in the Army for eight years, working as a helicopter mechanic. Then she worked as a paramedic in Central New York. It was during a shift as paramedic four years ago that she lost her sight. The Camillus resident was in the back of the ambulance. She got knocked off her feet and struck her head. She had a traumatic brain injury. Her sight was gone. It was as simple, sudden and terrible as that. As difficult and challenging as life without sight can be, Cheshire, now 41, didn’t want help from a four-legged friend. “I’ve lived sighted my entire life,” she said. “I’ve been completely blind probably for a little over four and half years. I did not want a guide dog.” But those close to her were persistent. A dog might be just what she needed to turn her life around. They were right. Today things are different. “I never really knew I could love a dog like this,” she said. Cheshire has a photo of her first meeting with Kiara. In it, Cheshire is
petting the dog on the head. She said she picked a shepherd specifically because she thought they were known to be more aloof. She was in for a surprise when she was on her own with Kiara. Once the training was done and they were together, the dog regularly demanded love and affection from her. “I couldn’t figure out why she was doing that,” Cheshire said. “It was driving me nuts. I didn’t want a needy dog.” It wasn’t until later that Cheshire learned there was a reason for Kiara’s gentle nuzzles and requests for attention. She was not only a guide dog. She was becoming Cheshire’s therapy dog. “One of the things my PTSD counselor told me is when I’m having a rough day she seems to be the most needy as far as needing me to love on her,” she said. “She drove me nuts. It was driving me nuts. What she was doing was she could sense that I was kind of distraught. She was trying to bring me out of that by focusing on something positive which was her affection towards me. When I shifted my focus to her and not thinking about what’s making me distraught it pulled me out of that.” Kiara brought Shawn Cheshire out of herself and so did the U.S.
Shawn Cheshire and her dog, Kiara, a German shepherd. “She’s just more than a dog,” Cheshire says. “She’s a soul. Veterans Administration. It was they who suggested she consider the paralympics. She took them up on it. Cheshire is now a world-class paralympian, driving the tandem bike she rides as her pilot steers it. They finished sixth in the Rio 2016 Paralympics. “I’d never been a cyclist before,” she said. “They sent me to a camp and they put me on a tandem. I was overweight and not a happy person, but somebody gave me a challenge. I didn’t know anything about the paralympics. It just gave me a focus — a reason to get out of bed every morning.” Being an athlete is now Cheshire’s full-time gig. When interviewed she was in California, training for the nationals. Kiara was there too. Kiara waits quietly for her owner
in the center of the track while she trains, satisfied with a towel to lay on and a deer antler to occasionally gnaw on. And of course she’s there to greet her two-legged friend at every finish line. “Over the last four years of racing I’ve shifted from I needed to do this, to I do this now because I love it,” she said. “I have goals. I want to be a world champion.” The nationals this year are at the end of April. Cheshire will be competing in a 30-kilometer time trial and a 90-kilometer road race. Wherever she places in those contests, her biggest four-legged fan should be there to greet her. The bond between them is a life-changing one for both. “She’s just more than a dog,” Cheshire said. “She’s a soul.
FIRST IN THE REGION FOR ROBOTIC SURGERIES The surgeons at St. Joseph’s Physicians performed more general robotic surgeries than all five area hospitals. *Per Intuitive Surgical MSA numbers for 2016
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A H I GH E R L E V E L O F CA R E
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Live Alone & Thrive
By Gwenn Voelckers
Practical tips, advice and hope for those who live alone
Embrace the ‘Ides of March’
O
ften associated with Julius Caesar (and his untimely demise), the month of March has gotten a bad rap. Sure, it’s cold, it’s gray, it’s damp. But it need not be the death knell of your contentment. If the month of March is stretching out in front of you as a big, dreary void to fill, you are not alone. For many, our winter wonderland is not so wonderful when cabin fever sets in. That’s when anxiety can make an unwelcome visit. You might feel yourself spiraling down, questioning the past, and second-guessing your decisions. And that’s when you could be tempted to grab for the TV remote and head to the couch. I can remember many nights after my divorce, coming home after work to an empty apartment with hours on my hands and a heavy heart. The prospect of a long, lonely evening ahead was almost unbearable. I was fine during the day, but when the sun started to set or the weekend rolled around, I would start to panic. After way too many nights watching mind-numbing reruns, I had finally had enough and started making better use of my “me time.” I am now much more comfortable spending time by myself and have After surgery, you need the right place to recover. Elderwood offers come to enjoy my own company. a wide range ofyou rehab services, no matter what level of care youIn fact, it’s not unusual for me to After surgery, need the right place to recover. pass on an invitation out, in favor require. We’ll customize treatment plan toservices, your personal Elderwood offersa widea range of rehab no needs, of spending a nice quiet evening at using protocols and technologies that coordinate your care more home — relaxing or fully engaged in matter what level of care yourequire. We’ll customize something I love to do. enhanced improved aeffectively treatmentfor plan to yourstrength, personal needs, motion using and decreasedIf you are challenged by time alone this time of year, consider the protocols your careoffers pain.surgery, You’lland benefit from with highly Elderwood specialized training, After youtechnologies need thetherapists rightthat placecoordinate to recover. suggestions below. You might even for enchanced strenght, improved along with access toservices, diagnostic services thatlevel no longer aclip this column and post it on your amore wide effectively range of rehab no matter what of care require you refrigerator as a handy reminder. motion and decreased pain. You’’l benefit from hospitalWe’ll visit.customize So you can get well and backpersonal home, faster. require. a treatment planget to your needs,It’s why • Read In our busy lives and with therapists with highly specialized training, along with so many electronic options vying for Elderwood is the right place, for the right care. using protocols and technologies that coordinate your care more our attention, reading can fall by the access to diagnostic services that no longer require a effectively for enhanced strength, improved motion and decreased wayside. It’s such a shame. Reading hospital Sofrom youtherapists can get with well highly and get back home pain. You’llvisit. benefit specialized training, for enjoyment and enlightenment can turn a lonely evening into a lovely faster. along with access to diagnostic services that no longer require a evening. It’s whyvisit. Elderwood the right the faster. right care. Don’t know where to start? Ask hospital So you canisget well and palce, get backfor home, It’s why a friend for a suggestion or select a Elderwood is the right place, for the right care. New York Times bestseller. Snuggle in a comfy, well-lit place, and let 315-457-9946 Get in touch with us to schedule up a good book introduce you to new elderwood.com a tour and learn more. people, new places, and new ideas. We rarely feel alone when reading. I just finished “The Boys in the Boat” by Daniel James Brown and highly recommend it. • Write Marcel Proust wrote, “We 315-457-9946 Get in touch with us to schedule are healed of a suffering only by elderwood.com a tour and learn more. expressing it to the full.” Even if you never look back at what you write, the act of committing thoughts and feelings to paper is therapeutic. Consider starting a journal, if you haven’t already done so. A few minutes in the evening or on the weekend is a perfect time to write. As you work through some of the issues associated with living alone, and you become more content,
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IN GOOD HEALTH – CNY’s Healthcare Newspaper • March 2017
you will find that reading and rereading your journal entries will be a great way to see how much progress you are making. • Clear Out the Clutter I know this might sound uninspiring, but clearing out the clutter can be very satisfying and a great way to spend a few hours alone. I spent one recent Tuesday night sorting out my closet and filling two bags for Volunteers of America. It felt terrific. I not only lightened my load, I did something for a good cause. As a result, I felt part of something bigger than myself and less alone. • Pursue a passion This can be daunting, especially if you’ve yet to identify your passion, but hang in there. Many men and women in long-term relationships often lose sight of their own interests in favor of attending to the needs of others. The pursuit of your own passions or personal pursuits can be lost in the process. Now is a good time to rediscover your “loves” and to dedicate your time alone to those pursuits. Do some digging and identify the things you loved as a child or young adult, then make a conscious decision to revisit those things now. Evenings or weekends spent doing what you love can be very fulfilling. Loneliness can dissipate and you can feel alive again. • Reach Out With time on your hands, you are in a great position to reach out and make connections with others, including long lost friends. This can be a very meaningful way to spend an evening. Just yesterday, I received an email from a former colleague. I was very touched, and accepted her kind invitation to get together with her and a few other retired co-workers. So, pick up the phone, send an email, or send a snail mail note to someone with whom you’ve lost touch. Chances are you’ll be rewarded with a warm reunion. • “Veg out.” That’s right, veg out. Grab the TV remote, a pint of ice cream, and head for the couch. Do it without guilt; do it without beating yourself up. Everyone is entitled to an occasional night when they just hang out, do nothing, and eat junk food. Indulge yourself and tell yourself you deserve it. Wake up the next morning — free of remorse — and ready to take on the day: alone at home and “at home” with yourself, even in the Ides of March. Gwenn Voelckers is the founder and facilitator of Live Alone and Thrive, empowerment workshops for women held throughout the year in Mendon, NY. For information about her Living Alone workshops or to invite Gwenn to speak, call 585-624-7887 or email: gvoelckers@rochester.rr.com.
How to be a Quitter
It’s March. How’s that New Year’s resolution to quit smoking working out? By Deborah Jeanne Sergeant
A
rea experts — including a former smoker — offer their best tips for ridding your life of cigarettes.
From Christopher Owens, director of CNY Regional Center for Tobacco Health Systems at St. Joseph’s Health: Get professional help. “The first step to attempting to quit smoking should be a conversation with your healthcare provider. Each person interested in quitting tobacco use is unique, and healthcare personnel are exceptionally positioned to provide the most specialized assistance to each individual as they undertake this process.” Don’t use just one method. “We know that from years of data collection that a combined approach of counseling and medications provides the greatest opportunity to be successful.” Consider using medication. “If your health insurance plan covers pharmacotherapy for quitting tobacco use, then it will be necessary to receive a prescription for the specific product your physician recommends for it to be covered.” Call for support. “The New York State Smokers’ Quitline (1-866-NY-QUITS or www. nysmokefree.com) is also a great resource to use after speaking with your healthcare team. The Quitline provides ongoing counseling to help people through stressful situations and when cravings occur.” Get local support. “Local support groups available
include ALA Freedom from Smoking in Syracuse, Bridges to Prevent Tobacco in Canastota, Oneida County Health Department in Utica, and Samaritan Medical Outpatient Clinic in Watertown. There are also local programs dedicated to helping pregnant women quit smoking, including the Baby & Me Tobacco Free Program in Chenango County and Smoke Free for My Baby and Me in Oswego County.” Develop a quit plan. “Having a plan is an important part of quitting. Every person is different and every person who smokes quits differently. It is important to identify your smoking pattern, and keep track of when, where and why you smoke for a week.” Develop support systems. “Do you have a family member or friend who can support you? Talk to them about your plans and ways that they can support you in the process. “ From Susan Jenkins executive director Bridges, Madison County Council on Alcoholism and Substance Abuse, Inc: Choose what method works for you. “It really is a very individual thing. Some quitters say ‘I quit cold turkey and I never had another cigarette’ and that works for some, even those who have smoked a great deal. Others try many options that don’t work. It partly has to do with their motivation.” Understand the dual nature of smoking. “It is an addiction so there’s a physiological and emotional connection. Some use nicotine replacement
Steve and Rhonda Ferry of Liverpool began smoking in their teens. Now in their 50s, they quit smoking together two months ago. They share their experience. therapy. Others use a support group as well. It really is impossible to tell someone what will work for them.” Be patient. “Most people started when young and it’s a long-term addiction, not a habit. It will take time. Some quit and go back to it in a relapse, like alcoholism and other substances. Most people will say they wish they never started, but once they started it’s very hard but not impossibl to quit.” From Steve and Rhonda Ferry began smoking when they were teenagers, to gain popularity. Now in their 50s, they quit smoking together two months ago. They chose to quit for health reasons, with the help of Theresa Hankin, a Mayo Clinic certified tobacco treatment specialist and a registered respiratory therapist for Upstate’s Cancer Center. Hankin is part of upstate’s smoking Cessation resources. From Rhonda Ferry: Join a cessation program. “To me, that’s very important to have a smoking cessation program in place. [The leader] gave us tools to use to quit smoking. Toss your smoking paraphernalia. “We made our own cigarettes. The night before we quit, we got rid of our machine that helped us roll.
Remind yourself as to why you’re quitting. “I wrote ‘It’s damaging my health’. I have a lot of health issues anyway, but smoking was making it worse. Another reason is ‘Quitting gives me a chance in living longer.’” Get peer support. “I’m in a quit smoking support group online. You can find these through Facebook. There are people from all over the world who support each other on their journey of quitting. I’ve seen people who say they’re so stressed today or are thinking about buying a pack of cigarettes. They really, really support each other.” Don’t reserve smoking for “emergencies.” “Remember NOPE: Not One Puff, Ever. It’s very easy to say ‘one little puff’ and then I’ll be back to my quitting. I don’t want to slip up at all. I don’t want to have to go back and start over. From Steve Ferry: Keep your mouth busy. “I have become ‘addicted’ to Jolly Rancher cinnamon candy. I’ll be done with a meal and think about a cigarette, but I go grab a Jolly Rancher. The wrapper is my new ‘butt’ because they’re everywhere.” Accept that you may gain weight. “We didn’t gain anything unhealthy weight wise. I’ve gained maybe 14 to 15 pounds. I could afford to put on some weight.”
Community Information Seminar:
WANDERERS’ REST HUMANE ASSOCIATION NEEDS YOUR HELP
March 14, 2017 • 6:00 pm
Every day the flood of orphaned and homeless animals arrive needing help. Some are abused, neglected or abandoned. Your support is critical because without it we could not accomplish the responsibility that comes with preparing these homeless sweet souls for a new life and a better chance. Please do not wait to send your financial support. Please do it NOW, for every day another one awaits. We will continue to provide each one with the love, care and opportunity they deserve. But we need every one who care enough to help us do exactly that.
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YOUR GENEROSITY CAN SAVE THEM March 2017 •
IN GOOD HEALTH – CNY’s Healthcare Newspaper
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SmartBites
The skinny on healthy eating
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Cantaloupes S
Savory Cantaloupe Salad with Feta and Basil
ome fruits are so fragrant and cantaloupe (one cubed cup) more than luscious and yummy that we meets our daily needs for vitamin A. don’t think twice about their nuVitamin C seekers will be thrilled tritional value. For many, including to know that a cup of cantaloupe boasts me, a cantaloupe is just that sort of nearly 100 percent of our daily needs. fruit. Oh, to sink your teeth into that Vitamin C, which contributes to collasweet juiciness: Who can blame us for gen synthesis and development, plays forgetting that it’s a nutritional pow- an important role in wound healing erhouse? and in maintaining healthy, resilient Orange-fleshed cantaloupes are skin. (Wrinkles, watch excellent sources of beta-carotene, out!) And although which the body then c o n v e r t s this immune-boostinto vitamin A. Esing vitamin can’t sential for growth prevent colds, and healthy viresearch has resion, vitamin A vealed that loadhelps maintain ing up on this the immune sysnutrient may help tem and also acts shorten the time as an antioxidant, you’re sick and reprotecting our cells duce the severity of your from free radical damsymptoms. age. A study Potasby the Nation- Some fruits are so fragrant and luscious and yummy sium-rich al Eye Institute that we don’t think twice about their nutritional cantaloupes showed that value. For many, a cantaloupe is just that sort of are great for certain antiox- fruit. hearts. A idant vitamins must-have (A,C, E) and zinc helped to slow the mineral, potassium helps trigger your progression of advanced macular de- heart to squeeze blood through your generation by about 25 percent over a body. It also helps your muscles to six-year period. An average serving of move, your nerves to work, and your urologyIGH.10.25x6.75.qxp_Layout 1 8/19/16 1:12 PM Page 1
½ cantaloupe, seeded and cut into bite-size cubes 1 cup cherry tomatoes, halved 1 garlic clove, minced ¼ cup minced shallots 1 small jalapeno or Fresno chile pepper, seeded and finely chopped (optional) ½ cup fresh basil, chopped or cut into slivers Zest from 1 lime 1/3 cup crumbled feta or goat cheese 2 tablespoons lime juice 1 tablespoon olive oil ½ teaspoon kosher salt ¼ teaspoon coarse black pepper ½ cup slivered almonds, toasted In a large bowl, combine the cantaloupe, cherry tomatoes, garlic, shallots, jalapeno or Fresno pepper (if using), basil, lime zest, and crumbled cheese. Gently mix. In a small bowl, whisk together the lime juice, olive oil, salt and pepper. Pour over the cantaloupe mixture and toss lightly. Garnish with toasted almonds and serve immediately. To toast almonds: Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Place almonds on a baking sheet and bake for 7 minutes.
kidneys to filter blood. While potassium doesn’t treat or prevent heart disease, it does help control blood pressure and also enables your heart to beat in a healthy way. An average serving of cantaloupe has about as much potassium as a banana. Nutritious cantaloupes are low in fat, cholesterol, sodium and calories (about 50 per cubed cup), and offer a modest amount of fiber: 6 percent of our daily needs. As for sugar, it has less than a banana, more than strawberries and about the same as a peach.
Helpful tips
Select a cantaloupe that feels full and heavy. Ripe cantaloupes sound dull (not hollow) when you tap the rind with your finger. Smell the end opposite from the stem end: it should smell fragrant, but not overpowering. Store your ripe cantaloupe in the refrigerator for three to four days; cut cantaloupe should be eaten within three days. Unripe cantaloupe can be left out at room temperature for a couple of days to soften. Cantaloupe needs to be washed before slicing because the skin can harbor harmful bacteria; but wait to wash it until just prior to cutting.
Anne Palumbo is a lifestyle columnist, food guru, and seasoned cook, who has perfected the art of preparing nutritious, calorie-conscious dishes. She is hungry for your questions and comments about SmartBites, so be in touch with Anne at avpalumbo@aol.com.
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IN GOOD HEALTH – CNY’s Healthcare Newspaper • March 2017
Parenting
By Melissa Stefanec
Slaying the Time Gobblers
SUSPECT A STROKE?
THINK FAST. THINK UPSTATE.
Our lives in no way resemble the lives of our parents — the times have changed.
W
hen I browse social media, I see my peers nostalgic for the parenting styles of our youth. We’ve all seen the memes where people reflect that the streetlights served as a summer curfew. Similar memes praise the mom who shoved you out the door to play after breakfast and didn’t want to hear from you until lunch. These sentiments reveal at least one thing: our parents, and our parents’ parents, had more free time than we do. That’s because they didn’t spend every free moment on their children. There are many who think we should return to the so-called goodold-days of hands-off parenting. However, no matter how you feel about the way things are now, we can’t go back. We have to tackle our time’s obstacles. Parents aren’t going to simultaneously let their children out to play for nine hours at a time. Moms aren’t going to leave the workforce in mass to return to their kitchens. Things have changed, and being nostalgic about the past isn’t going to change our present. We have to find a way to make things work now. Some aspects of modern parenting are amazing, and others aren’t. One thing that isn’t working now is the near-constant overscheduling. It’s the bane of a modern parent’s existence. It’s like my generation is scrambling to set right the broken pieces of our world by over-raising our children. It’s a grand charge, and one that leaves everyone, including the children we are trying to help, depleted. I am not going to offer a bunch of easy or trite answers on how to overcome this challenge. I am instead going to start small. If I never seem to have enough time, I need to review what is occupying me. I can’t put more hours in the day, but I can change how I use my hours. To that end, I am going to share a list of things that gobble my time. I bet many of these items are on my contemporaries’ lists. As such, maybe we can improve on them together. That way, I am not the only jerk mom saying no to birthday parties, putting the hammer down on too many extracurriculars and missing almost every post on Facebook. Time Gobbler #1 – The Internet You know what I’m talking about. In fact, you are probably only reading this article (in a newspaper) because some social media feed started to bore you. We need to put down our phones, tablets and laptops and stop giving them so many precious minutes. I am going to set 15 minutes aside each day and try to keep my social media scrolling within that window.
Time Gobbler #2 – Errands to special stores There’s a reason Walmart super centers are so popular, and it might have less to do with prices than most would think. There is something to be said for going to a single store and getting everything I need. However, I don’t like shopping at generic, catch-all stores. I have certain items I want from certain places. To that end, I need to limit my shopping to one store a week. Running around to different stores every week is insanity. I need to plan my shopping trips to allow for one store every seven days. Time Gobbler #3 – Children’s engagements I love little kids and the joy that abounds at parties, but I can’t have them be a constant thing. The growing trend is to invite the whole class to your little’s birthday. It doesn’t stop there. Many kids are involved in numerous extracurricular activities. This might have been OK when one parent stayed home but, for many of us, having engagements every day of the week just isn’t practical. Life needs to consist of more than running children around to engagements. We need to stop teaching our children that they can have it all. They can’t and we can’t. Life is full of tough choices, and I believe happiness truly lies in the ability to say no. Time Gobbler #4 – Shopping for deals I can’t help but shop for good deals. Whether they are online, instore, at a yard sale, on craigslist or present on any number of Facebook community pages, I am always browsing. This is practical sometimes, and sometimes it’s just plain silly. When saving money turns into missed, rescheduled, and canceled meet-ups and constant trips to the post office or stores for returns, the money saved is no longer worth it. I need to get less stuff, which leads me to #5. Time Gobbler #5 – Stuff I might just write a whole column on the negative consequences of stuff. If your home is anything like mine, dealing with physical stuff (e.g., toys, games, books, clothes, tools and junk) is a constant battle. You have to pick up the stuff. You have to organize the stuff. You have to consign the stuff. You have to donate the stuff. You give your hard-earned time to the stuff. We are teaching our children to love stuff, and that’s dangerous. The only way to beat stuff is to nix stuff, and an upcoming column might just have some strategies for doing that. (Hint: It will be a four-word column — stop buying; start donating.)
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IN GOOD HEALTH – CNY’s Healthcare Newspaper
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Page 13
Case Assessor Kate Downing delivers food to Doris Paratore, 93, of North Syracuse, as a part of the North area meals on wheels program.
Lack of Funds Forces Meal on Wheels to Restrict Meal Delivery to Seniors
With not enough money to feed all the seniors who seek the program, officials from four MOWs are asking the public for help By Charles Ellis
F
our Meals on Wheels programs in Central New York don’t have enough money to serve all the people who want to use them, officials say, and the situation isn’t expected to improve in the near future. The affected agencies in Onondaga County are Meals on Wheels of Eastern Onondaga County (formerly FM-JD), Kosher Meals on Wheels at Syracuse Jewish Family Service, North Area Meals on Wheels and Meals on Wheels of Syracuse. Waiting lists for meal service, from all four agencies, are necessary at least through April, if not longer, officials say. These programs provide nourishing hot and cold meals, case management, nutrition counseling, daily social contact and safety checks to homebound older adults and disabled adults in most parts of Onondaga County. Officials say they have been affected by insufficient funding in the federal Older Americans Act. The money goes to New York state’s wellness in nutrition program, which distributes money to counties around the state, including Onondaga Coun-
ty’s Office for Aging, which, in turn, gives money to the Meals on Wheels programs, officials say. “If this doesn’t change … a lot of people will be waiting for meals and end up not eating properly, and ending up in hospitals and staying longer in hospitals,” said Mason Kaufman, executive director of Meals on Wheels of Syracuse. “Essentially, it will cost everybody more if we don’t feed our seniors.” Together, the four Meals on Wheels programs provided more than 439,000 meals to about 1,300 seniors and disabled adults in 2016. The Syracuse program, which includes Syracuse, Nedrow, the Onondaga Nation, Skaneateles, Jordan and Elbridge, serves about 400 clients a month, Kaufman said. The suggested contribution is $7.75 for two meals a day. Potential clients who say they can’t afford are charged $4, but they don’t have to pay anything if they can’t afford it, Kaufman said. About 69 percent — about 280 — are subsidized. Seven people are on the Syracuse waiting list, but they are being subsidized for now, thanks to a reserve fund.
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Meals on Wheels of Eastern Onondaga County serves Fayetteville, Manlius, Jamesville, Dewitt, LaFayette, Tully, Fabius, Pompey and other areas of eastern of Onondaga County. It serves about 125 people and about 45 percent are subsidized, said Terry Davis, director. She said two people are technically on its waiting list; one is being subsidized for the time being and the other has chosen to wait for money to become available. The Kosher Meals on Wheels program is much smaller, with three days of deliveries covering five days’ worth of food, for $9 a day for two meals. It has 15 current clients, and 12 are subsidized. Its waiting list is one, and that person is being subsidized under a separate grant program for the time being. For the North Area program, which serves North Syracuse, Cicero, Mattydale, village of Liverpool, Clay and areas in Baldwinsville, Brewerton and Bridgeport, the waiting list has grown to 20, said Jennifer Covert, director, but so far her agency is paying for those clients as well. “We have set aside money to help them until we can’t do it any-
more,” she said. “It’s our motto: No seniors go hungry.” About 240 people are served by the North’s five-day program, and the charge is $8 a day for people who can pay. About 75 percent — approximately 180 — don’t pay anything. As with the Syracuse program, clients can order food for the weekend, which is delivered frozen on Wednesdays and fresh on Fridays. One of the most recent clients is Doris Paratore, 93, of North Syracuse. She became a client around the beginning of the new year. She lives alone in a senior apartment complex and her closest relative is a son in Rochester. Until recently, she said, she was doing well on her own. She drove her own car until last August, but her doctor ordered her to stop driving when she was prescribed a narcotic medication for back pain. In the last few months, the back pain has made it more difficult to move around. “It got very hard for me to stay on my feet long enough to make a meal,” she said. “I wasn’t doing OK. I was eating mostly frozen things that I could take out of the freezer and pop in the microwave and put on the table.” The high sodium in the frozen dinners wasn’t good for her, because she she’s supposed be on a low-sodium diet, she said. When her pastor suggested Meals on Wheels, her original reaction was, “you’ve got to be kidding.” But now she says she’s pleasantly surprised. “I’m very pleased,” she said. “Last night for supper I had fish with squash and brown sugar on it like it should be.” Meals are delivered to her every weekday at 11 a.m., enough for six days a week. She eats with friends on Sunday. It costs about $1,200 to feed five seniors two nourishing meals a day for one month, Kauffman said. Local Meals on Wheels officials are welcoming individual donations. The local Meals on Wheels agencies are also asking for concerned members of the public to join the #Seniorscantwait effort by going to www.mealsonwheelsamerica.org/ take-action/advocate/seniors-cantwait/email-congress to sign the national Meals on Wheels America petition and send it to their federal representatives. Additionally, they are encouraging calls and letters to local and state legislators to add urgency to the call for official action.
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In Good Health is published 12 times a year by Local News, Inc. © 2017 by Local News, Inc. All rights reserved. Mailing Address: P.O. Box 276, Oswego, NY 13126. • Phone: 315-342-1182 • Fax: 315-342-7776. Editor & Publisher: Wagner Dotto • Associate Editor: Lou Sorendo Contributing Writers: Jim Miller, Gwenn Voelckers, Deborah Banikowski, George W. Chapman, Deborah Sergeant, Matthew Liptak, Anne Palumbo, Melissa Stefanec, Chris Motola, Ernst Lamothe Jr. Eva Briggs (M.D.), Charles Ellis, Lynette Loomis • Advertising: Amy Gagliano, Cassandra Lawson • Layout & Design: Dylon Clew-Thomas • Office Assistant: Kimberley Tyler
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IN GOOD HEALTH – CNY’s Healthcare Newspaper • March 2017
The Chill Spot Helps Children with Autism
Outpatient clinic focuses on challenging behaviors displayed by children with autism and related disorders By Mary Beth Roach
M
arina taps the big buttons on the console, changing the color of the large bubble tube; from there, she hops over to the bright stepping stones, slides down a small chute and lands on an oversized keyboard on the floor that plays different notes as she dances up and down on the keys. The 6-year-old youngster is in the new Chill Spot, a multi-sensory room at the Upstate Golisano Children’s Hospital Family Behavior Analysis Program on East Genesee Street in downtown Syracuse. The Chill Spot opened in the fall and offers a creative tool in the center’s therapy treatments for children with challenging behavior, autism or feeding problems. The program provides treatment for approximately 240 patients each year, ranging in age from 2 to 21. While most of the those being treated at the center have autism, there is about 20 to 30 percent who don’t have cognitive or developmental impairments, or they have other impairments other than autism, especially in the feeding therapy program, said program director Henry Roane. Therapists work with some kids who might have had some intense GI issues. Maybe they have had surgeries or tube placements, and the therapists transition them away from tube feedings to oral feedings, explained Roane, who holds a Ph.D. degree in behavioral psychology from Louisiana State University, Baton Rouge. Marina attends the center for feeding therapy, and every time she complies with the treatment, she earns time to play in that room, said Heather Kadey, her therapist. “It’s a big motivator to do things that are very difficult for her to do on her own,” she added. “The therapists are asking the children to do something that, by definition, is hard for them, so it only makes sense that if you ask them to put forth that effort, you allow them either rewarding activity or time to decompress,” said Roane. Marina has been attending the center for about eight weeks, and absolute-
ly loves The Chill Room, according to her mother, Danielle. “Marina is in there every day. She loves it. It really is what motivates her to do her therapy and do what she’s supposed to do. I find it extremely beneficial,” Danielle said. The children are not the only ones who like the room; it can also provide parents with a break during the treatment sessions. Danielle conducts the feeding therapy sessions under Kadey’s guidance, but she’s actually the one doing the feeding. So, while Marina is in the Chill Spot with a staff member, who monitors and plays with her, Danielle and Kadey can discuss what happened during the session and any changes that need to be done. The Chill Spot was made possible by a $24,000 grant from the Green Family Foundation, and Roane estimated that it took about nine to 10 months, from applying for the grant to the completion of the room. It was a pipe dream for Roane. “We’ve been wanting to do some-
The Chill Spot includes interactive sensory devices, such as the bubble tube, swirling fiber optic lights, gel floor tiles, a crash mat, a soft play tunnel with LED lights, foam flooring, concentration rockers, underwater scenes projected on the walls, iPads with sensory apps, an Xbox, and other product combinations, designed to address the sensory needs of children diagnosed with autism.
not that the room is some sort of magical cure for autism, he continued. It’s really using it in a way to let a child either access it as a reward or de-stress. From the parents’ perspective, it’s very scary when they get a diagnosis of autism or their child’s not eating, said Roane. So often, the parents meet with the doctor in an office that’s pretty bland or sterile, he said. With a space like the Chill Spot, the child can go in play, and it helps with the therapy right from the beginning. As for Marina, her mother already sees improvement. On the ride home from therapy one day, she commented to Danielle that she never gets enough time in the Chill Spot. Danielle asked her if she knew what she had to do to get additional time in the room. “’Yes, I drink my juice,’” Marina told Danielle. And the next day, she did better in her treatment.
thing like this for quite awhile,” he said. To determine what to include, the team at the center conducted focus groups with the parents and looked at other facilities that have similar rooms. Once the equipment was delivered, it took the staff about two days to rehab the existing space at the center into this relaxing and calming space. The room includes interactive sensory devices, such as the bubble tube, swirling fiber optic lights, gel floor tiles, a crash mat, a soft play tunnel with LED lights, foam flooring, concentration rockers, underwater scenes projected on the walls, iPads with sensory apps, an Xbox, and other product combinations, designed to address the sensory needs of children diagnosed with autism. There’s been research going back to the 1970s that looked at the therapeutic impact of these rooms on people with intellectual disabilities, said Roane. It’s
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IN GOOD HEALTH – CNY’s Healthcare Newspaper
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Men’sHealth
Colon Cancer Screening at Home
Colonoscopy remains the gold standard, but home screening is an option for low-risk people, experts say By Deborah Jeanne Sergeant
A
s a general rule, most people 50 and older should receive colon cancer screening. But the liquid diet and laxatives required for colonoscopy, followed by an exam that can include sedation and a rectal probe, deters some people from receiving the lifesaving screening. Colon cancer is a largely preventable cancer since colonoscopy can detect pre-cancerous polyps and include remove of them. Current compliance with colon cancer screening is about 50 percent nationwide — but home colon cancer screening kits may change that. Available since about five years ago, the fecal immunochemical test (FIT) screening involves taking small fecal samples at home. Users do not need to make dietary changes in advance or perform the test at a doctor’s
office. They simple mail in the samples and await the lab results. The test looks for blood in the stool, a common sign of polyps. When stool leaves the body, it tends to bump into polyps, which resemble large grapes on a stem. When polyps move, they often bleed a little. Though the blood is often invisible in the stool, the test can detect it, along with other evidence of colon cancer. “Any test is better than no test,” said Michael Sapienza, president and CEO of Colon Cancer Alliance in Washington, DC. “The colonoscopy is the gold standard, but you have to look at the actual number of people who will do the test.” One of the disadvantages of the FIT is that it must be repeated annually. People with average risk of colon cancer need return for a test every decade after their initial test shows no polyps. A person whose FIT comes back
with questionable findings must proceed with a colonoscopy at that point. Those who receive colonoscopy can have polyps removed before they awake from sedation. “Normally, this is a disease affecting people over 50, but over the past two decades, we’re seeing a 2 to 3 percent increase every year in people who are younger and being diagnosed with colon cancer,” Sapienza said. “But screening is only covering people over 50. If you have cramping, night sweats, change in the size of stool, or blood in your stool, ask for a screening.” Most people should begin screening at age 50, unless they have a first-degree relative diagnosed with colon cancer under the age of 50. In that case, the patient should begin screening 10 years before the age of their relative at the time of diagnosis. Blacks should begin screening at 45, as people with
bowel issues such as irritable bowel syndrome, colitis, or diverticulitis. “Talk with your doctor,” Sapienza said “There are a lot of things that could potentially make you a candidate to go in earlier.” If you lack sufficient insurance to cover the cost of colonoscopy or other screening method, community organizations may help, such as your county health department. Oswego County Cancer Services Program, for example, offers the FIT. Rather than offer only colonoscopy, the most costly screening, the FIT can save money on the majority of people who won’t need polyps removed. Whether a home test or a colonoscopy, “the best test is the test that gets done,” said Martha Ryan, RN, and senior director of Community Engagement for the Eastern Division American Cancer Society, Inc. “Many people have a fear of the procedure or of the unknown. They may not want to take that much time off. They have to be sedated lightly to do colonoscopy.” She said that the most important step is to discuss the test with a primary care physician.
800 a Year Die from Colon Cancer in Upstate New York Excellus: Upstate New Yorkers risking their lives by not being screened for colon cancer
T
ens of thousands of adults in Upstate New York are gambling with their health by choosing not to be screened for colon cancer, according to research findings recently issued by Excellus BlueCross BlueShield. Colon cancer is the second-leading cause of cancer death among adults in the United States. “Each year in upstate New York, 2,300 people are diagnosed with colon cancer,” says physician Richard Lockwood, vice president and chief medical officer of Excellus BlueCross BlueShield’s Central New York region. “Upstate New York averages 800 deaths a year from the disease.” Regular screenings can detect early-stage colon cancer before symptoms develop. Early detection is important because treatments are more likely to be successful for earlyrather than late-stage cancer. Colonoscopy is the most thorough screening test and is proven to prevent the disease. Removing benign or pre-cancerous polyps during colonoscopy can not only prevent colon cancer, but also reduce deaths from the disease for years, according to the National Institutes of Health. Colon cancer screening is recommended every 10 years for all adults ages 50 to 75. Individuals who have Page 16
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colon cancer risk factors, including a family history of colon cancer, or previous polyps, may need to have their first screening at a younger age, or more frequently. Excellus BCBS pledged its support for the National Colorectal Cancer Roundtable’s “80% by 2018” goal of having 80 percent of adults aged 50 and older screened for colorectal cancer by 2018. Currently, one-third of Upstate New York adults in the 50- to 75-year-old age range have not been screened. The NCCRT was founded in 1997 by the American Cancer Society and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. If achieved, the screening goal of “80% by 2018” would prevent 277,000 cases of colorectal cancer, and 203,000 associated deaths by 2030. “Colon cancer screening is covered in full as an ‘essential benefit’ of all health insurance, so there’s really no excuse for not getting screened,” says Lockwood, “and it could save your life.” Learn more about colon cancer screening from a viewable and downloadable Excellus BCBS infographic, online at http://tinyurl. com/j3bnxo7. Learn more about the “80% by 2018” initiative at http:// nccrt.org/.
IN GOOD HEALTH – CNY’s Healthcare Newspaper • March 2017
Men’sHealth
Todd Baxter: ‘My Battle with Prostate Cancer’ By Lynette M. Loomis
T
odd Baxter is a 27-year veteran of local law enforcement and also served three years of active duty with the US Army. He is the executive director of Veterans Outreach Center, a nonprofit organization that provides services to veterans within a 14-county area that includes Central New York. Baxter continued his military service with the US Army Reserves for another 19 years before retiring as a master sergeant, brigade anti-terrorism NCO. He is a guy’s guy so to speak — he also is a prostate cancer survivor. “Guys talk about sports, business and our kids. But we usually don’t talk about personal health issues,” he said. “I can’t recall a single conversation I ever had with a friend about prostate cancer. “The only man who spoke to me about it? My doctor during a routine physical. Dr. Charles Courtsal [of Rochester] pointed out that while they were taking blood samples anyway, one more test wasn’t a big deal.” The extra test proved to be crucial in Baxter’s life — it was in fact a big deal. It turned out that Baxter was diagnosed with prostate cancer last September. “I was emotionally devastated. I kept the news from my wife and two boys as long as possible as I did not believe it could be true. I work out all the time and am considered pretty fit, so my sons couldn’t really process that while I looked fine, I had cancer. It was not an easy conversation but a lot easier than the conversation my wife would have had with them if we hadn’t caught this in time. I in no way saw myself as a cancer victim.” The procedure to remove his prostate in November took about four hours. The recovery was difficult, taking about four weeks. “Once they got in there, they found that the cancer had spread. Our blessing is that the surgeon, Dr. Jean Joseph [of University of Rochester Medical Center], was able to remove all of the cancerous cells.” Baxter was able to return to work part-time and then returned to full time after another two weeks. Two months after surgery he and his son Zac completed a 5K race. “It was a personal goal, to prove to myself and my sons that obstacles can be overcome,” Baxter said. Now his goal is to have as many men as possible hear about the early warning testing and how it saved his life. “Guys, go get the test done. It’s a lifesaving test and most of us don’t realize we need to do it. Like me, most men procrastinate going to the doctor. This is a good opportunity for me to share the burden that got placed on me and make it a positive thing.”
Over 50? No insurance?
No Problem!
Todd Baxter is a prostate cancer survivor. Baxter feels grateful. “Faith and family, especially my beautiful wife Mary, have carried me through. Amazing medical professionals have done their job with expertise. Now, continued prayers for clean blood tests are invited as I will be evaluated in in late winter. I will live a healthy positive life and I, now more than ever, will evaluate what is really important. “I now see myself as a cancer survivor. Guys, I can’t say it often enough. Talk to your doctor. Get the PSA test. Live.”
How Common is Prostate Cancer? Other than skin cancer, prostate cancer is the most common cancer in American men. The American Cancer Society’s estimates for prostate cancer in the United States for 2017 are: • About 161,360 new cases of prostate cancer • About 26,730 deaths from prostate cancer • About one man in seven will be diagnosed with prostate cancer during his lifetime. • Prostate cancer develops mainly in older men. About six cases in 10 are diagnosed in men aged 65 or older, and it is rare before age 40. The average age at the time of diagnosis is about 66. Source: American Cancer Society.
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From 2011 – 2015, Excellus BlueCross BlueShield’s annual earnings before interest and taxes averaged 2.1 percent of premium, considerably less than the 7.4 percent earnings of large national insurers. Because we are a business, not a charity, we need to earn a margin, but we do not need to pay dividends to shareholders. That works in your favor. We’re a nonprofit health plan, so we deliberately budget for low margins to keep coverage more affordable. We know you have other important things that matter. We’re neighbors helping neighbors build healthier communities. A nonprofit independent licensee of the Blue Cross Blue Shield Association.
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OLD ERIE PLACE APARTMENTS STAY IN YOUR OWN HOME, LONGER!
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Do You Need to File a Tax Return in 2017? Dear Savvy Senior, What are the IRS income tax filing requirements for retirees this tax season? My income dropped way down when I retired last year in 2016, so I’m wondering if I need to even file a tax return this year. New Retiree Dear New, There are several factors that affect whether or not you need to file a federal income tax return this year, including how much you earned last year (in 2016), and the source of that income, as well as your age and filing status. Here’s a rundown of this tax season’s (2016) IRS tax filing requirement thresholds. For most people, this is pretty straightforward. If your 2016 gross income — which includes all taxable income, not counting your Social Security benefits, unless you are married and filing separately — was below the threshold for your filing status and age, you probably won’t have to file. But if it’s over, you will. • Single: $10,350 ($11,900 if you’re 65 or older by Jan. 1, 2017). • Married filing jointly: $20,700 ($21,950 if you or your spouse is 65 or older; or $23,200 if you’re both over 65). • Married filing separately: $4,050 at any age. • Head of household: $13,350 ($14,900 if age 65 or older). • Qualifying widow(er) with dependent child: $16,650 ($17,900 if age 65 or older). To get a detailed breakdown on federal filing requirements, along with information on taxable and nontaxable income, call the IRS at 800-829-3676 and ask them to mail you a free copy of the “Tax Guide for Seniors” (publication 554), or see IRS. gov/pub/irs-pdf/p554.pdf.
Special Circumstances
There are, however, some other financial situations that will require you to file a tax return, even if your
gross income falls below the IRS filing requirement. For example, if you had earnings from self-employment in 2016 of $400 or more, or if you owe any special taxes to the IRS such as alternative minimum tax or IRA tax penalties, you’ll probably need to file. To figure this out, the IRS offers an interactive tax assistant tool on their website that asks a series of questions that will help you determine if you’re required to file, or if you should file because you’re due a refund. It takes about 15 minutes to complete. You can access this tool at IRS. gov/filing — click on “Do you need to file a return?” under the Get Ready tab. Or, you can get assistance over the phone by calling the IRS helpline at 800-829-1040. You can also get face-to-face help at a Taxpayer Assistance Center. See IRS.gov/localcontacts or call 800-829-1040 to locate a center near you.
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If you find that you do need to file a tax return this year, you can get help through the Tax Counseling for the Elderly (or TCE) program. Sponsored by the IRS, TEC provides free tax preparation and counseling to middle and low-income taxpayers, age 60 and older. Call 800-906-9887 or visit IRS.treasury.gov/freetaxprep to locate a service near you. Also check with AARP, a participant in the TCE program that provides free tax preparation at more than 5,000 sites nationwide. To locate an AARP Tax-Aide site call 888-2277669 or visit AARP.org/findtaxhelp. You don’t have to be an AARP member to use this service.
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If performed annually, as recommended, the key to detecting breast cancer early and saving lives is screening MAMMOGRAPHY.Women who are 40 and older with no symptoms of breast disease should schedule their screening mammogram annually. A physician referral is not required for this exam, however, the physician can request that the patient be seen in office prior to the exam.
The Social Ask Security Office By Deborah Banikowski District Manager, Syracuse
Your Contributions Make Our Nation Stronger
A
t first, seeing taxes taken out of your paycheck can be a little disappointing. However, you can take pride in knowing you’re making an important impact each week when you contribute to Social Security. Understanding how important your contribution is takes some of the sting away because your taxes are helping millions of Americans — and protecting you and your family for life — as well as wounded warriors, the chronically ill and disabled. By law, employers must withhold Social Security taxes from a worker’s paycheck. While usually referred to as “Social Security taxes” on an employee’s pay statement, sometimes the deduction is labeled as “FICA” which stands for Federal Insurance Contributions Act, a reference to the original Social Security Act. In some cases, you will see “OASDI” which stands for Old Age Survivors Disability Insurance. The taxes you pay now translate to a lifetime of protection — for retirement in old age or in the event of disability. And when you die, your family (or future family) may be able to receive survivors benefits based on your work as well. Because you may be a long way from retirement, you might have a tough time seeing the value of benefit payments that could be many decades in the future. But keep in mind that the Social Security taxes you’re paying can provide valuable disability or survivors benefits now
Q&A Q: I recently retired and am approaching the age when I can start receiving Medicare. What is the monthly premium for Medicare Part B? A: The standard Medicare Part B premium for medical insurance is currently $134 per month. Since 2007, some people with higher incomes must pay a higher monthly premium for their Medicare coverage. You can get details at www.medicare.gov or by calling 1-800-MEDICARE (1-800633-4227) (TTY 1-877-486-2048). Q: I recently applied for a replacement Social Security card, but I might be moving before it arrives in the mail. What should I do if I move before I get it? A: Once we have verified all your documents and processed your application, it takes approximately 10 to 14 days to receive your replacement Social Security card. If you move after applying for your new
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in the event the unexpected happens. Studies show that of today’s 20-yearolds, about one in four will become disabled, and about one in eight will die before reaching retirement. Be warned: if an employer offers to pay you “under the table,” you should refuse. It’s against the law. They may try to sell it as a benefit to you since you get a few extra dollars in your pay. But you’re really only allowing the employer to cheat you out of your Social Security credits. If you’d like to learn a little more about Social Security and exactly what you’re building up for yourself by paying Social Security taxes, take a look at our online booklet, How You Earn Credits, at www.socialsecurity.gov/pubs/10072.html. If you have a friend who lost a parent when they were a child, they probably got Social Security survivors benefits. Social Security helps by providing income for the families of workers who die. In fact, 98 of every 100 children could get benefits if a working parent dies. And Social Security pays more benefits to children than any other federal program. You can learn more at www.socialsecurity.gov/survivors. Do you prefer videos to reading? Check out webinar, “Social Security 101: What’s in it for me?” The webinar explains what you need to know about Social Security. You can find it at www.socialsecurity.gov/ multimedia/webinars/social_security_101.html as well as on YouTube at www.youtube.com/watch?v=5hkLaBiavqQ You can also learn more at www. socialsecurity.gov.
card, notify the post office of your change of address and the post office will forward your card to your new address. If you do not receive your card, please contact your local Social Security office. To get a replacement, you will have to resubmit your evidence of identity and United States citizenship, or your lawful immigration status and authority to work. You can learn more at www.socialsecurity.gov. Q: Why is there a five-month waiting period for Social Security disability benefits? A: The law states Social Security disability benefits can be paid only after you have been disabled continuously throughout a period of five full calendar months. Social Security disability benefits begin with the sixth full month after the date your disability began. You are not able to receive benefits for any month during the waiting period. Learn more at our website: www.socialsecurity.gov/disability.
Health News Oswego maternity gets ‘Certificate of Excellence’ Oswego Health’s Maternity Center continues to be recognized for the safe and high-quality care it provides to new families. The facility has received the Certificate of Excellence award for its hepatitis B immunization program. The award, from the New York State Department of Health, recognized efforts to prevent perinatal transmission of the hepatitis B virus. The Maternity Center achieved 100 percent compliance with the hepatitis B program. “The nursing staff is committed to providing the best and most comfortable care to our families,” said registered nurse Kim Hyde, clinical director of the Maternity Center. “Along with our compassionate care team, our facilities are very homelike, offering a wonderful birth experience to area families.” This award is another quality achievement for the Maternity Center. Last year, the Maternity Center was honored by the New York State Perinatal Quality Collaborative (NYSPQC), which in partnership with the state Department of Health aims to provide the best and safest care for women and infants in the state. The center was presented with the Obstetrical Improvement Project Quality Improvement Award for its participation in a project that focused on identifying and treating maternal hemorrhage and hypertension, the two leading causes of maternal morbidity and mortality in New York. In addition to this quality honor, Oswego Health’s maternity center was once again named to the Immunization Action Coalition Birth Dose
Honor Roll. The maternity center was among the 25 hospitals in the state that achieved a 90 percent or higher coverage rate the previous year for the birth dose of hepatitis B vaccine. To be a part of this honor roll, the maternity center must also provide high quality care to patients. Oswego Health has been honored with this award for many years as it recognizes the importance of early HBV vaccination.
Liz Madonian named hematology tech manager Elizabeth “Liz” Madonian of Manlius has been promoted to hematology technical manager, where she will oversee hematology at Laboratory Alliance’s main laboratory at Electronics Business Park in Liverpool, as well as at the three area hospital rapid response laboratories. She joined LabMadonian oratory Alliance in 1998 and most recently served as technical supervisor of hematology. Madonian has more than 29 years of experience in the fields of hematology, coagulation and urinalysis, including 19 years in supervisory roles. Prior to Laboratory Alliance, she worked in the laboratory at Crouse Hospital. She is licensed by New York state in clinical laboratory technology and a member of the Clinical Laboratory Management Association.
Madonian earned her four-year degree in medical technology from Rochester Institute of Technology and an MBA in organization and management from Syracuse University. Laboratory Alliance provides clinical and anatomic pathology testing services and performed more than 10 million medical tests last year. Laboratory Alliance employs 400 Central New Yorkers, operates four laboratories and 12 patient service centers in three counties.
Dr. Yambo joins practice in Central Square Physician Christina Yambo, MD, has recently joined the staff of the Primecare Medical Practice in Central Square An experienced family practice physician, Yambo has worked in both an urgent care and emergency room setting. At Primecare, she will provide care to community members aged birth to maturity. The opportunity to practice at the Central Square Primecare Practice fit her needs both professional and personally. She said she enjoys delivering care to those of all ages and that the location was ideal, as it is close to her home where she and her husband live with their young triplets. At Primecare, Yambo will treat upper respiratory issues, sick visits, Yambo injuries, infections, rashes and sprains or strains, as well as routine screenings and the related
follow-up care and women’s health services. Yambo earned her medical degree from SUNY at Stony Brook, School of Medicine, and completed her family practice residency at St. Joseph’s Hospital and Family Practice Center in Syracuse. During her training, Yambo earned several awards, including a community service outreach award, presented by the American Academy of Family Physicians; a community service award, given by the Medical Society of New York and the Albert Schweitzer Award presented to her while attending medical school at Stony Brook. Yambo is following her father’s footsteps as a family physician. As a young child, she enjoyed watching her father as he delivered care in both his Long Island private practice and during his hospital rounds.
OB-GYN joins St. Joe’s Primary Care Center OB-GYN Regina Farrell recently joined St. Joseph’s Primary Care centers. She will see patients at St. Joseph’s Primary Care Center-West and at the Primary Care Center on the main campus of St. Joseph’s Hospital. Following her graduation from Cornell University in biological sciences, Farrell earned her Doctor of Medicine from Upstate Medical Farrell University. She completed her residency in obstetrics and gynecology at
Cancer Care
Free Breast Screening Patient Navigator Program to Help Women Access Care
B
reast Care Partners, LLC (BCP), a nationally accredited breast center, recently announced Leesa Kelley has joined its program in the role of breast screening patient navigator. This new position is a key element of recent funding BCP received to expand services for underserved women, regardless of their insurance status, to navigate the healthcare system to complete breast cancer screenings. The National Accreditation Program for Breast Centers (NAPBC) Patient Navigation Project is one of a number of programs that are part of New York State Gov. Cuomo’s statewide initiative to increase breast cancer screening by 10 percent over the next five years. The NAPBC Patient Navigation project began in October 2016 with
the goals of: 1) increasing the number of women screened for breast cancer and 2) improving the quality of breast cancer screening and diagnostic follow up by enhancing existing patient navigation services. The project is being implemented with support from Health Research, Inc. and the New York State Department of Health. “At no cost to patients, Kelley is available to help all women, regardless of income or insurance status, to: secure convenient screening appointments; navigate the system of securing insurance to cover screening costs; understand the process of screening mammograms to alleviate fears; secure transportation to mammography appointments, and more,” said registered nurse Janet Ricciardiello, BCP program director. “We’re
making it easier for women to take advantage of this important cancer screening.” Kelley joins Breast Care Partners with many years of local healthcare community relations and marketing experience. She most recently served as community health outreach manager for Crouse Hospital, where she worked to address healthcare needs of underserved and underinsured individuals in Onondaga County. For questions and concerns about scheduling mammograms, Kelley is directly available to women of all ages and medical providers by phone or text at 315-313-3160. Messages left are confidential. Formed in 2014, BCP is a diverse group of breast health specialists in Central New York, who have partnered together to ensure each March 2017 •
patient the best possible breast care available. Members of the collaborative include Crouse Radiology Associates; St. Joseph’s Imaging Associates; Hematology-Oncology Associates of CNY; CNY Surgical Physicians; St. Joseph’s Breast Care and Surgery; Crouse Health and St. Joseph’s Health, all of which have come together to provide a seamless, multidisciplinary program of breast care services. In 2015, the program received three-year, full accreditation designation by the National Accreditation Program for Breast Centers (NAPBC), a program administered by the American College of Surgeons.
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Health News the University of Oklahoma Health Science Center in Oklahoma City, Okla., and the Galloway Fellowship in Gynecologic Oncology at Memorial Sloan-Kettering in New York City. Prior to joining St. joseph’s, Farrell was a private attending physician at OBGYN Associates of CNY in Utica, where she delivered care to her patients in the office, and performed gynecological surgery and provided labor and delivery care in the hospital. As an attending physician at St. Elizabeth’s Medical Center in Utica, she attended to an active outpatient clinic, maintained labor and delivery responsibilities as well as gynecological call and surgical responsibilities while supervising family practice obstetrics attending physicians and residents. An experienced researcher, Farrell’s work is in press and has been submitted to multiple journals in her field of obstetrics and gynecology, and women’s health. Farrell is board-certified by the American Board of Obstetrics and Gynecology, and is a member of the American Congress of Obstetrics and
Gynecology, the Society of Gynecologic Oncology, and the American College of Surgeons.
Loretto adds 20 assisted living program beds The NYS Department of Health has awarded Loretto to add 20 Medicaid-eligible assisted living program beds at its Sedgwick Heights location. “This takes us from 120 to 140 assisted living program beds at the Sedgwick Heights community,” said Rick Mills, executive director of housing at Loretto. “This means that 20 of our existing beds will now become eligible for residents through the Medicaid program.” Sedgwick Heights offers an adult home program for older adults who require some assistance with activities of daily living; an assisted living program for medically stable individuals who qualify medically for a nursing home facility; as well as
respite stay for individuals who need a temporary living setting with support services, such as immediately after a hospital stay or while caregivers are away. “We are always working to find new ways to keep up with the growing demand for our services,” added Penny Abulencia, senior vice president, Loretto. “These additional beds help us to support our mission to provide care for families and individuals at all income levels, especially with the growing demands from the aging population in our community. Thanks to the aging of baby boomers, there are more than 128,000 people needing some kind of elderly care right here in Onondaga County.” Loretto submitted an application for the additional Medicaid-eligible assisted living program beds in 2016 in response to the NYS Department of Health’s assisted living program opportunity for development. This program was made available through a budget initiative to expand the assisted living program by 6,000 beds over seven years.
Ground breaking of the newVNA Homecare’s headquarters in Syracuse.
Construction Begins on VNA Homecare’s New Headquarters VNA Homecare, a local leader in home health care services, began a new chapter in its 127-year history Jan. 19 with a groundbreaking ceremony for its new 47,000-sq.-ft. operational headquarters at 1050 West Genesee St., Syracuse. The new building will allow for an expanded and centralized location of VNA Homecare’s Continuing Care Call Center, which will serve as the pointof-entry for home and community-based services. In addition, space will be allocated for public use, bringing community memPage 22
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bers closer to the services that can assist them across the lifespan and continuum of care. The new building will also provide an additional 9,000 square feet of floor space, allowing for: an expanded lobby/waiting area; public and private elevators; community room; staff gym; outpatient PT/OT suite; expanded Eldercare Social Day Program; exterior courtyard; and additional parking. The architect for the building project is King & King Architects, LLP of Syracuse. The construction company is the Hayner
IN GOOD HEALTH – CNY’s Healthcare Newspaper • March 2017
Hoyt Corporation, also of Syracuse. The project is expected to be complete in approximately 18 months. “This event marked the moment when years of planning and preparation finally came to realization,” said Kate Rolf, president and CEO. “At the culmination of this project, VNA Homecare’s organizational headquarters will be a branded facility and community asset, helping us better serve our mission of bringing care to patients in their own homes, as well as bringing the community into ours.”
The organization also received approval to add 38 Medicaid-eligible assisted living program beds at The Bernardine in October 2016. This brings the number of assisted-living program beds at The Bernardine to 108, out of the 148 total beds at this location. The designation of these additional beds at Sedgwick Heights and The Bernardine brings the total number of Medicaid-eligible assisted living program beds in the Loretto system up to 352, the largest number in Onondaga County.
St. Joe’s receives the Women’s Choice Award St. Joseph’s Health has been named one of America’s best hospitals for heart care by the Women’s Choice Award — it’s the only hospital in Onondaga County to receive this award, according to a hospital’s news release. The award means that St. Joseph’s Health is in the top 9 percent of 4,789 U.S. hospitals offering heart care services. “With such strong prevalence of heart disease, every woman should know where to find the very best heart care before she ever has an incident,” said Delia Passi, founder and CEO of The Women’s Choice Award. “We help women by conducting evidence-based research and recognizing the hospitals that could one day save their lives.” The methodology used to select St. Joseph’s Health evaluates: • The number of cardiac/vascular services offered. Recognized hospitals must offer at least six of the following services: cardiac catheter lab, cardiac rehabilitation, cardiac surgery, carotid stenting, coronary interventions, electrophysiology, vascular interventions, vascular surgery and coronary intensive care (CCU). • 30-day mortality and readmission rates for heart attack and failure • Patient recommendation ratings on the Hospital Consumer Assessment of Healthcare Providers and Systems (HCAHPS) Survey • Primary research about women’s healthcare preferences
MedTech welcomes new member company MedTech Association, a bioscience and medical technology trade association for New York state based in Syracuse, announced that PEKO Precision Products, Inc. has joined the organization. “We are thrilled to have PEKO join our MedTech family,” said MedTech Association President Jessica Crawford. “We are extremely proud of the growth within our membership and we continue to look forward to helping the bio/med industry in New York prosper.” According to MedTech, PEKO Precision Products, Inc is a contract manufacturing company that specializes in manufacturing and designing
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Victims of violence program renamed Liberty Resources Victims of Violence Program has recently changed its name to Help Restore Hope Center. The name was chosen as part of a contemporary and empowering program identity to aid survivors and provide education and prevention services in the community, according to a news release. Since 1988, the Liberty Resources Victims of Violence program has proHartzeim vided free confidential support to victims of domestic violence, sexual assault or trauma in the Madison and Chenango counties. While the name of the victims of violence program is changing, the scope of services and program activities remain the same. Help Restore Hope Center provides services for survivors, education, and prevention on domestic violence, child abuse, dating violence, and other forms of abuse.
A new, designed website has been created at www.HelpRestoreHopeCenter.org. “We are excited to launch our new branding and a website that is easy navigate and contains important resources about Help Restore Hope Center services,” says Sara Haag, Liberty Resources divisional Ddirector. “We also hope it enables more people to find us including victims searching for help, as well as supporters who want to get involved or make a donation.”
Crouse had new surgical quality director Physician Thomas Hartzheim has been named surgical quality director for Crouse Health. Hartzheim, chief of surgery at Crouse and partner in CNY Surgical Physicians, is a highly regarded, long-time member of the medical staff. In this role, Hartzheim will work closely with the hospital’s quality improvement team, medical staff and hospital leadership to advance the delivery of high-quality surgical care to patients. “This critically important role within the Crouse care delivery system reflects our continued commitment to building on hospital/ physician alignment and quality efforts made to date while further positioning the organization for the future,” said Crouse Chief Medical Officer Seth Kronenberg.
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IN GOOD HEALTH – CNY’s Healthcare Newspaper • March 2017