In Good Health: CNY #288 - December 2023

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DECEMBER 2023 • ISSUE 288

THE HOLIDAYS AND OUR Mental Health

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Meet Your Doctor JAMES J. GIANNONE, D.O. New robotic surgeon at St. Joe’s specializes in minimally invasive hernia and gall bladder surgeries, and wound healing.

P. 4 ALSO INSIDE

KELLY OCAMPO: HOPE FOR BEREAVED HELPS THOSE WHO’VE LOST A LOVED ONE

CROUSE LAUNCHES 36TH ANNUAL LIGHTS OF LOVE CAMPAIGN

THE BIG SQUEEZE: PHYSICIANS’ FEES CUT AGAIN WHILE OPERATING COSTS GO UP

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Single-Port Robotic Surgery:

E X P E R I E N C E M AT T E R S As the region’s leader in robotic-assisted surgery Crouse Health is the only area hospital to offer the latest, minimally invasive technique for prostate surgery using a single, small incision. The da Vinci SP system uses advanced technology designed for access to tissue in the body with greater precision and enhanced mobility.

A pioneer in robotic-assisted surgery, urologist Po Lam, MD, is the first and only surgeon in the region to utilize the da Vinci Single Port robotic system for prostate removal. His experience with the SP system places him in the top tier* of robotic surgeons in the U.S. using this innovative technology. *Intuitive Surgical

See interview with Po Lam, MD, and SP patient Dan Cannucciari:

crouse.org/RoboticsSinglePort crouse.org/ Ask your physician if Single Port robotic surgery is appropriate for you.

Page 2 • IN GOOD HEALTH – CNY’s Healthcare Newspaper • December 2023

MEET THE UPSTATE UROLOGY TEAM Chairman Urologic oncology; robotic and laparoscopic surgery of prostate, kidney, bladder and adrenal

General urology, andrology

GENNADY BRATSLAVSKY, MD ZAHI N. MAKHULI, MD

OLEG SHAPIRO, MD

General urology, male health, urologic oncology, enlarged prostate, kidney stones At Upstate Urology of Auburn.

Pediatric urology, treatment of hernias and hydroceles, robotic surgery, urinary tract infections, penile abnormalities

Male infertility, erectile dysfunction, andrology, general urology, prosthetics, and Peyronies

JC TRUSSELL, MD

Urologic oncology and endourology, robotic and laparoscopic surgery of prostate, kidney, bladder and adrenal; kidney stones

MATTHEW D. MASON, MD, FAAP

General urology, female and reconstructive urology

RYAN SIDEBOTTOM, DO

Reconstructive urology; incontinence, prosthetics, urinary stula, neurogenic bladder, urinary diversion. Robotic surgery.

STEPHEN BLAKELY, MD

ELIZABETH FERRY, MD Kidney Stones, Minimally Invasive Kidney Surgery, Enlarged Prostate

SCOTT WIENER, MD

General urology

ROBERT FLEISCHER, MD

Urologic oncology; robotic and laparoscopic surgery of prostate, kidney, bladder, and adrenal

HANAN GOLDBERG, MD, MSc Urologic oncology; robotic and laparoscopic surgery of prostate, kidney, bladder, and adrenal

SEETHARAM BHAT, MD, MBBS

Incontinence, urethral stricture disease, vesicovaginal stula, reconstructive surgery, transgender care

DMITRIY NIKOLAVSKY, MD

MRI fusion, male health, prostate cancer and kidney stones

TIMOTHY K. BYLER, MD Female and reconstructive urology, urinary incontinence in women, pelvic oor treatment and neurourology

General urology

IMAD NSOULI, MD

NATASHA GINZBURG, MD

Urologic oncology; robotic and laparoscopic surgery of prostate, kidney , bladder and adrenal

General urology, male health, urologic oncology, enlarged prostate, kidney stones , and robotic surgery

JOSEPH JACOB, MD, MCR

MAHMOUD CHEHAB, MD

Pediatric urology, treatment of hernias and hydroceles, robotic surgery, urinary tract infections, penile abnormalities

ANTHONY J. TRACEY, MD, MPH, FAAP

Pediatric urology, treatment of hernias and hydroceles, robotic surgery, urinary tract infections, penile abnormalities

JEFF VILLANUEVA, MD

General urology, male health, urologic oncology, enlarged prostate, kidney stones At Upstate Urology of Auburn.

GARRETT SMITH, MD

Urologic oncology; robotic and laparoscopic surgery of prostate, kidney , bladder and adrenal

EYAL KORD, MD

FOR QUESTIONS OR TO MAKE AN APPOINTMENT, CALL 315.464.1500

You’re Not Alone: 1 in 5 U.S. Adults Now Has Arthritis

A

rthritis is becoming a disease of the masses, striking 21% of U.S. adults, or over 53 million people, a new report shows.

“It's important first to point out that arthritis is a general term that includes over a hundred different chronic diseases that affect the joints and the tissues around those joints,” said researcher Elizabeth Fallon, an epidemiologist for the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

The finding was culled from an analysis of data from the National Health Interview Survey from 2019 to 2021.

How did the numbers break out? About 88% of all arthritis cases were adults aged 45 and up, while about 50% were working-age people ranging in age from 18 to 64.

Additional risk factors included being a woman, being a veteran or having another chronic disease or disability, Fallon said.

Although this analysis didn't look for trends over time, “it's already a large public health problem,” Fallon noted. “If it's growing, we need to know that so we can appropriately address it from a public health perspective."

Arthritis is a leading cause of activity limitations and disability, as well as chronic pain.

A common thread in the findings was that more than half of folks who had arthritis also had other health conditions. About 58% of people who have COPD have arthritis, as do 56% of those with dementia, 53% who have had a stroke and 52% with heart disease. About 55% of adults with a disability have arthritis.

“Arthritis can be a barrier to engaging in, for example, physical activity, that we know would be beneficial for managing arthritis, but also beneficial for managing those other chronic diseases,” Fallon explained.

“If a physician is working with the individual who has heart disease and is recommending physical activity, they should also be aware that that person is likely to have arthritis,” Fallon added.

“And if that's a barrier to their physical activity, [doctors should] ... help to connect them with community-based programs to help them address physical activity in a way that works for them.”

Steps to help prevent and manage arthritis can include maintaining a healthy weight, exercising regularly and avoiding joint injury, according to the CDC. Individuals with arthritis may find they can engage in a variety of different activities to get exercise, including walking, yoga, tai chi, swimming, water aerobics, gardening and dancing, Fallon said.

“There's a lot of opportunity for people to be physically active in a way that doesn't bring pain associated with it,” Fallon said.

The findings were published Oct. 13 in the CDC's Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report.

Meet

Your Doctor

By Chris Motola

James J. Giannone, D.O.

New robotic surgeon at St. Joe’s specializes in minimally invasive hernia and gall bladder surgeries, and wound healing: ‘Robotics has been a real asset in making things better for both the patient and the surgeon,’ he says Q: When did you join St. Joe’s?

A: I officially started in August.

Q: How do you like it so far?

A: It’s been great. I’m from Vestal and my wife is from Albany. With training and residency and previous jobs we’ve been looking for a place to call home. This came up for me, so it’s been nice for us both to be close to family. I’ve worked other places — I’m not that far out from graduation — in Philadelphia, Staten Island and Oregon and can absolutely say that St. Joe’s is such a high-quality organization. Everybody is so professional.

The medical staff is cutting edge. It’s inspiring to go in with these people because they inspire you to bring your best. It’s great to be able to call this home.

Q: You’re a general surgeon who specializes in robotic surgery.

What types of surgeries do you perform most often?

A: Anything I can do minimally invasive and robotic, I like to do it that way. I do a lot of hernias and gall bladders.

Q: What kind of positive effects on outcomes do you see for those types of surgeries?

A: The nice thing with doing things minimally invasive, especially with

Page 4 • IN GOOD HEALTH – CNY’s Healthcare Newspaper • December 2023

the robot, is that people usually seem to have less pain and can get back to their activities more quickly. This assumes it’s the right thing for them and is appropriate for the surgery.

When we can do it that way, we like to. Less pain, less pain medicine, less time away from the things they like to do. And it’s beneficial for both the easy stuff like hernias and the more complicated procedures.

Q: What’s involved in repairing a hernia?

A: A hernia is a hole where it shouldn’t be. What I tell folks is you end up with that hole and things either stretch out and cause you pain or things can start to push through, either fat or intestines. It can get stuck or caught, which then lands you in the emergency room. That’s why we usually tell people to come in and get checked out.

If we find them or your primary care physician finds them it’s good to take care of it when it’s small and easy.

Q: Are repairs usually permanent?

A: What I usually tell people is that fixing a hernia is intended to be a permanent fix.

There certainly is a risk of things coming back and causing trouble down the line. It’s a combination of closing it with stitches and using a piece of mesh to reinforce everything, which decreases the risk of recurrence. There are different kinds of mesh. So we try to make sure it’s the right surgery and appropriate kind of mesh for the repair so that it will hopefully be permanent.

Q: In what ways does osteopathic education inform your approach to surgery?

A: When I was in school, I had the same broad-based education as everyone else, but we had more of a focus on musculoskeletal medicine and manipulation labs. I don’t currently practice manipulation, but I do think studying the musculoskeletal system may have given me a slightly different perspective on surgery. You can get a great outlook without osteopathic training, but for me I think taking into consider the broader context of the pathology and other things that may be going on with that person. It informs some of the ways I approach disease, surgery and treating people in general.

Q: I hear you also have some specialization in wound care.

A: I had some experience in the past working in a wound care center.

It was a great experience seeing things you don’t always see in general surgery. I got to know patients with long-term problems pretty well, getting their dressings changed. You get to know them over time. That was in Philadelphia.

Q: Where do you see surgery advancements going?

A: Robotics has been a real asset in making things better for both the patient and the surgeon, and a lot more of us have experience with it now and can talk to colleagues about it. And patients like to know they’re getting cutting edge technology that is also well-established.

Lifelines

Name: James J. Giannone, D.O. Hometown: Vestal Education: Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine from New York College of Osteopathic Medicine in Old Westbury; Master of Science certification from New York Institute of Technology, New York City; Bachelor of Science in biology (with honors) from Bucknell University in Lewisburg, Pennsylvania.

Completed internship and general surgery residency at Philadelphia College of Osteopathic Medicine, Philadelphia; completed an advanced GI/MIS fellowship at the Richmond University Medical Center, Staten Island Affiliations: St. Joseph’s Hospital Health Center Organizations: American College of Surgeons, American College of Osteopathic Surgeons, Society of American Gastrointestinal and Endoscopic Surgeons Family: Wife (Katie, a physician) Hobbies: Running, hiking, spending time with his dog

The #1 hospital in Syracuse.

Every day, our doctors, nurses and specialists work hard to earn your trust. That’s why we’ve been named a Best Regional Hospital for the 9th year in a row.* With our 12 high performing designations, we’re leading the way in the region. Because when you need medical care, you want to be in safe, capable hands you can depend on. *U.S. News & World Report

A H I G H E R L E V E L O F C A R E | sjhsyr.org/USnews © 2023 St. Joseph’s Health. © 2023 Trinity Health. All rights reserved.

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11/13/23 3:25 PM5 December 2023 • IN GOOD HEALTH – CNY’s Healthcare Newspaper • Page

Healthcare in a Minute

By George W. Chapman

The Big Squeeze: Physicians’ Fees Cut Again While Operating Costs Go Up

M

edicare is proposing to reduce physician payments in 2024 by 3.36%. That comes on the heels of a 2% reduction this year.

The American Medical Association (AMA) figures that, adjusted for inflation, it is tantamount to a 26% cut in reimbursement over the last 20 years. If you factor in the fact that staff and overhead expenses increase at about 3% a year, physicians are getting squeezed from both ends.

Medicare has offered alternative payment models to physicians which have basically made attaining their

fees more complicated, risky, expensive and frustrating. To use a hackneyed sports reference, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) keeps moving the goal post.

To make matters worse, commercial payers mimic Medicare when it comes to establishing their physician and hospital fees. It seems like CMS is trying to kill private practice. Over half of all practicing physicians are now employed by either a hospital, gigantic health system or a corporation like CVS or Walmart. That number will go much higher as most physicians finishing their residency

opt for employment versus the hassle of private practice. Ironically, CMS determined reimbursement rates for physicians and hospitals are becoming less relevant as more and more seniors opt for Medicare Advantage plans which are administered by commercial insurers like the Blues, United, Aetna and Cigna. Sooner than later, large health systems with several hospitals and thousands of physicians will sit across the negotiation table with Advantage plans to negotiate fees rather than having to lobby Congress.

RxPass

employers to drop health insurance altogether for their workers. That never happened. The Employee Benefit Research Institute found that between 2014 and 2022 workers eligible for health coverage increased 5 percent. As of 2022, for all employers in aggregate, 81% of private sector workers are eligible to be covered by their employer’s plan. Eligibility is 99% among workers in businesses with more than 1,000 employees.

It’s 97% for businesses with 100-999 workers; 80% for businesses with 25-99 workers and 25% for businesses with less than 10 employees. The ACA did away with denying coverage for pre-existing conditions and established basic coverage requirements for three levels of coverage: bronze, silver and platinum. Critics have tried to repeal the ACA more than 60 times.

authored a resolution to at least maintain neutrality, versus outright disdain, for a single payer system. It was narrowly defeated 53 to 47. But the shift in attitude is palpable. Coincidentally, those numbers (53-47) reflected the 53% of docs in private practice versus the 47% of employed docs. Today, 2023, more docs (over 50%) are employed than in private practice. Times have changed. Commercial insurers are earning billions of dollars annually on both their commercial and Advantage plans, while physician fees are slashed. The hassles of private practice, corporatization of medicine and the desire for better life-work balance among younger docs are driving the AMA ever closer to outright endorsing some sort of single payer or Medicare for All plan.

AMA “Leaning Into” Single Payer

AI in Claims Processing

The old-fashioned proprietary drug store on the corner was replaced decades ago by corporate chain stores operated by Rite Aid, CVS, Walgreens, etc. Now, the corporate chain stores are being replaced.

Rite Aid recently filed for bankruptcy and pharmacists at CVS and Walgreens staged a three-day walk out over working conditions. To cut costs, the chains have understaffed their stores causing poor working conditions. Basically, brick and mortar drug stores are struggling. Who better to come to the “rescue” than Amazon, which has almost single handedly closed thousands of retail stores? Prime members will be issued their RxPass which guarantees twoday delivery in select cities so far: Austin, Seattle, Phoenix, Indianapolis and Miami. And it will someday be delivered via drone.

Impact of ACA When the Affordable Care Act became law in 2010, naysayers said the new minimum requirements for insurance coverage would cause

For almost a century, the American Medical Association was staunchly opposed to any kind of healthcare reform. Any. It lobbied to defeat reform efforts in the 1930s and 1940s. The AMA delayed Medicare for years and killed attempts by President Clinton (famously spearheaded

by Hillary) to overhaul our expensive and disjointed healthcare system.

But then….. it endorsed the ACA in 2009. In 2019, the proactive medical student section of AMA delegates

Page 6 • IN GOOD HEALTH – CNY’s Healthcare Newspaper • December 2023

Providers are already experimenting with AI when it comes to electronic medical records and answering high volume inquiries from patients (ChatGPT).

Congress is now concerned with Medicare Advantage plans using artificial intelligence algorithms and tools to deny claims. (This could also be an issue with commercial plans.) Con-

gress is concerned Advantage plans will deny more claims than traditional Medicare. Again, Advantage plans are operated by for-profit commercial carriers. A committee is recommending CMS compare Advantage plans to traditional Medicare when it comes to elapsed time between care and denial, the diagnosis, the reason for denial and whether an algorithm is corrected once a certain denial has been reversed in most cases.

Medical Debt While medical debt can no longer affect your credit score, a survey conducted by the Commonwealth Fund of 6,100 INSURED adults revealed medical debt is still a problem. 27% reported medical debt more than $500 and 15% reported debt more than $2,000. Besides causing anxiety, respondents said the debt causes them to postpone care or cut back on prescriptions. And 43% of those covered by employer coverage reported they are struggling with debt. 57% with individual plans reported they are struggling. Also 45% covered by Medicaid and 51% covered by Medicare said they were struggling with medical debt. One can only imagine what the average medical debt is for people without health insurance.

Life Expectancy The good news is that US life expectancy has risen, moderately, from 78.93 years in 2020 to 79.11 in 2023. The bad news is, despite spending more per capita than ALL developed countries, 40 of them have better life expectancy than the U.S. The leaders are Hong Kong 85.29, Japan 85.03, Macao 84.68, Switzerland 84.25, Singapore 84.07, Italy 84 and Spain at 83.99. Most of the 40 countries ahead of us have universal plans or in our vernacular, Medicare for All.

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.

SUFFERING FAILED BACK SYNDROME?

F

U.S. Infant Mortality Rate Climbs for First Time in 20 Years

ollowing nearly two decades of decline, U.S. infant death rates edged up by 3% in 2022, new provisional government numbers reveal.

“This was the first year we saw statistically significant increased rates of infant mortality in about 20 years,” said study author Danielle Ely, a statistician at the U.S. National Center for Health Statistics. Infant mortality measures how many babies die before they reach their first birthday.

The study wasn't designed to say why more babies are dying, but at least one expert suggested that the pandemic, which put a strain on the health care system, could have played a role.

“The U.S. was still in the throes of COVID in 2022, which had myriad and varied impacts across the U.S. and disparate impacts by race, ethnicity, maternal age and geographical region,” explained Deborah Campbell, a neonatologist at the Children's Hospital at Montefiore in New York City.

“The impact of COVID on pregnancy and delivery care nationwide

was dramatic, affecting access to and utilization of maternity care, and pregnant people avoiding pregnancy care and hospital births," she noted.

For the study, researchers looked at birth certificates and infant death data collected through the U.S. National Vital Statistics System for 2021 and 2022. They found that the infant mortality rate in 2022 increased for moms aged 25-29. In addition, the rate also rose for preterm babies, male infants and infants born in Georgia, Iowa, Missouri and Texas.

Infant death rates climbed by more than 20%, from about 7.4 deaths per 1,000 births to more than 9 deaths per 1,000 births, for infants born to American Indian or Alaska Native women. Meanwhile, infant mortality rates for white women increased by about 3%.

Death rates for infants of Black women did not increase by that much, but Black infants still experienced the highest overall rates of infant mortality, Ely noted.

The findings were published in the November issue of Vital Statistics Rapid Release Reports.

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In Good Health is published 12 times a year by Local News, Inc. © 2023 Local News, Inc. All rights reserved.

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Editor & Publisher: Wagner Dotto • Associate Editor: Stefan Yablonski • Writers: Deborah J. Sergeant, Jim Miller, Gwenn Voelckers, Anne Palumbo, Chris Motola, Melissa Stefanec, Eva Briggs (MD), Mary Beth Roach, Ernst Lamothe Jr., George Chapman, Norah Machia, Dawn Wightman Perrault • Advertising: Amy Gagliano, Pam Roe, Tom Bachman Layout & Design: Angel Campos-Toro • Office Manager: Allison Lockwood

No material may be reproduced in whole or in part from this publication without the express written permission of the publisher. The information in this publication is intended to complement—not to take the place of—the recommendations of your health provider.

Consult your physician before making major changes in your lifestyle or health care regimen.

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December 2023 • IN GOOD HEALTH – CNY’s Healthcare Newspaper • Page 7

Live Alone & Thrive

By Gwenn Voelckers

Practical tips, advice and hope for those who live alone

friends to join you. Take on the role of “social secretary” and you’ll gradually feel your holidays, social life, and social circle becoming more active and interesting.

Say YES to creating a new holiday tradition

Be Happier This Holiday Season: Say ‘YES’

“Thank you so much for thinking of me. I would love to attend but have another commitment. So sorry.”

D

o you find yourself using this familiar refrain? When feeling overwhelmed with life after my divorce, my first line of defense was to say “no” to invitations and opportunities.

This was especially true during the holidays when I was alone and coping with all the decisions and choices and shopping and schlepping. Saying “no” was my way of keeping life simple and more manageable during a hectic, emotion-laden time. I thought it would make life easier and, therefore, happier.

But it didn’t.

Experience has taught me that there’s a downside to “no.” Declining invitations, deciding not to send holiday cards and discounting the value of holiday traditions and gatherings didn’t make me any happier. In fact, the opposite happened. By not showing up I felt empty and lonelier than ever.

One of the world’s longest studies on happiness (conducted by Harvard researchers) revealed that good, close relationships are what keep people happy and healthy throughout their lives.

Saying “no” keeps us apart.

Saying “yes” brings us together. And it’s the togetherness that contributes to happiness. In the end, doing the things that nurture our relationships is what lifts our spirits.

Whether you celebrate Christmas, Hanukkah, Kwanzaa or the December solstice, the holidays can be a real challenge if you’re newly divorced or widowed. They were for me until I took the reindeer by the horns and decided to say a resounding “YES” to life during this festive time of year.

Consider the following:

Say YES to slowing down Better yet, stop what you’re doing altogether. Find a quiet moment to ask yourself what the holidays really mean to you. Rebirth? Hope?

Generosity and goodwill? Love and connection?

Revisit your most deeply held beliefs about the season and make a conscious decision to participate in the holiday rituals, traditions and activities that align with your values, views, and spiritual underpinnings.

Say YES to accepting and extending invitations It’s the most wonderful time of year to meet and greet old and new friends. This is a joyful time and people at holiday gatherings are typically in good moods and filled with positive energy. Say “yes” to invitations and show up for your happiness fix!

Or become the initiator. Identify a holiday concert or event you’d like to attend and invite family and

This is especially important if you are bemoaning the loss of irretrievable traditions of a “past life.”

Consider instituting your very own “signature” tradition of volunteering to help others. When you give of yourself, you reap two big rewards: First, you’ll develop connections with people who share your spirit of giving and second, you’ll nurture your soul.

I love serving as a gift-wrapping volunteer at my local book store. The tips go to a good cause and I get to chat with patrons about their purchases and delight in finding just the right book for a loved one. The entire experience warms my heart.

Say YES to random acts of kindness If volunteering doesn’t fit into your schedule, bake some holiday goodies for your family and friends.

Or leave a little something (maybe a pine-scented candle?) on a neighbor’s doorstep. When you are thinking about and doing for others, you “get outside” of yourself and feel less lonely – more a part of the world and of this season of giving.

Say YES to inviting people over It will give you an incentive to decorate, if you don’t feel motivated to deck the halls for yourself. No need to plan anything elaborate. Inviting a few friends over for brunch, to make wreaths or to watch a holiday special on TV can brighten your day (and theirs!).

Consider including children in your planning. For years, I hosted a cookie-decorating party for my friends and their kids. The children’s silliness, curiosity and wonder added a magical (and messy!) dimension to the holidays.

Say YES to sending out holiday cards Take this occasion to go “old school” and send season’s greetings by snail mail. I love getting an unex-

pected card from a long-lost friend and I delight in tracking down and sending holiday wishes to those who might be surprised to hear from me.

Sure enough, good things happen when you reach out to others.

I encourage you to address a few envelopes this season.

Say YES to being realistic For those who live alone, some degree of loneliness can be considered normal during the holidays. It’s a good time to remember that feelings of loneliness aren’t terminal, nor are they a “state of being” reserved for single people.

Loneliness has very little to do with being alone. It has everything to do with your state of mind. Prayer, meditation, mindfulness and communing with nature can remind you of your intrinsic belonging to your inner self, to others, and to all of life. Embrace the felt experience of belonging to an all-encompassing universe.

Say YES to happiness Let go of the notion that you need to be married or in a romantic relationship to enjoy the holidays.

The potential for happiness is all around you. You’ll find it in the personal connections with family, friends, neighbors, colleagues, even people you meet in passing.

You have a choice. Choose to be with people rather than isolate.

Choose to deepen and strengthen your ties with loved ones. Choose to appreciate what you have rather than focus on what you’re missing.

Choose to say “yes” and be happier this holiday season!

Gwenn Voelckers is the founder and facilitator of Alone and Content empowerment workshops for women (now on hiatus) and the author of "Alone and Content: Inspiring, empowering essays to help divorced and widowed women feel whole and complete on their own" To contact Voelckers or purchase her book, visit www.aloneandcontent.com

Spreading Cheer and Joy: Embracing the Spirit of Giving with the Regan’s Acts of Kindness Ornament Drive

C

entral New Yorkers have the chance to bring joy to more than 1,000 children through the Regan’s Acts of Kindness Ornament Drive.

The 501c3 charity was started after the death of 3-year-old Regan Shetsky, who was hit by a car and killed in her nursery school parking lot in Syracuse. She was holding her father, Mark’s, hand at the time.

For the seventh year, the organization is collecting new ornaments to give to babies born at St. Joseph’s Health Hospital, and children at Golisano Children’s Hospital, Upstate Cancer Center, Joslin Diabetes Center, McMahon Ryan Advocacy Cen-

ter, Elmcrest Children’s Center, and Ronald McDonald House Charities.

The ornament drive was born from Regan’s love of all things Christmas.

“Giving out ornaments seems like such a small, inconsequential act of kindness, but it brings smiles to so many faces,” said Kelly Shetsky, Regan’s mom, and president of Regan’s Acts of Kindness. “We are brightening the lives of children facing challenges, whether it’s battling medical conditions or residing in temporary homes. In a world that craves more kindness, we are delighted to make a positive impact.”

These local businesses are collect-

Page 8 • IN GOOD HEALTH – CNY’s Healthcare Newspaper • December 2023

ing ornaments: • Big Mike’s Service Center – 7459 Morgan Road, Liverpool • Bug, Bear & Bean Candles – 2721 James St., Syracuse • Cam’s Pizza – 112 Kasson Road, Camillus • East Area YMCA – 200 Towne Dr., Fayetteville • Glazed and Confused – 211 N. Clinton St., Syracuse • Manlius YMCA – 140 W. Seneca St., Manlius • Mom’s Diner – 501 Westcott St., Syracuse • Once Upon a Child – 5775 Bridge St., E. Syracuse • Playday – 4999 W. Taft Road.,

Liverpool • Sal’s Pizza – 41 E. Genesee St., Baldwinsville • Syracuse Fire Department Credit Union – 211 Wilkinson St., Syracuse People can also order from an Amazon Wish List: https://tinyurl. com/RegansOrnamentDrive2023 “Year after year, we genuinely appreciate the unwavering support of this fantastic community,” said Shetsky. “Together, we are impacting so many lives; one act of kindness at a time.”

More information is available on the charity’s public Facebook page: Facebook.com/RegansActsofKindness.

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Sitting: The ‘New Smoking’ Excessive sitting contributes to a host of health issues

By Deborah Jeanne Sergeant

Y

ou may not have a pack-a-day tobacco habit. But too much sitting can also cause and exacerbate numerous health issues.

James Levine, physician and professor of medicine at the Mayo Clinic, developed the concept that “sitting is the new smoking,” referring to excessive time in a seated position, whether driving, working or watching a screen.

Of course, working out for an hour three times a week is good for you. But the medical journal Circulation states that it’s not effective in undoing hours of sitting. It’s about sitting less and breaking up sitting sessions, not about working out longer.

“A sedentary lifestyle can lead to obesity and can also lead to heart disease, diabetes, high blood pressure, along with high cholesterol,” said Jill Murphy, co-owner of Mission Fitness. “Also, a sedentary lifestyle causes one to lose muscle or atrophy, and if the muscles around the joints are not strong, the integrity of the joints become compromised.

Randy Sabourin

“Living a sedentary life can eventually decrease one’s quality of life, leaving them with the inability to do what they were once able to do: go for a walk with family or friends, shovel, rake, mow the lawn, move things around in the house and carry the groceries. I love the quote ‘a body in motion stays in motion.’ There is so much truth to that.”

It’s important to stand and move throughout the day, in addition to 150 minutes of aerobic exercise weekly, performing one or two sessions of strength training, plus stretching.

“We have had clients who have two, one-hour sessions and sit the rest of the week,” said Randy Sabourin, certified personal trainer and owner of Metro Fitness in Syracuse.

“They have back problems and wonder why. You would get metabolic benefit to moving more during the day.”

He encourages walking and stretching during the day to increase flexibility, burn calories and increase circulation.

Taking a brisk, 10-minute walk at

each work break can help. Although it may not always be advisable in bad weather, walking the hallways can also get more steps into the day.

If possible, consider varying your workday so you can stand for a period each hour. Sabourin recommends setting reminder alarms to get up and move each hour.

“If you have a raised computer platform on your desk, try doing some of your work standing,” Sabourin said. “It gets your spine in a good position.”

Keeping hand weights or resistance bands at your workstation can also help you get in a few sets of exercises during the day.

Ask your primary care provider before beginning an exercise regimen.

Remedies to Excessive Sitting According to the Mayo Clinic: • Five minutes of standing activities (walking the dog, folding laundry or taking out the trash) for every hour of sitting is sufficient to combat sedentary behavior.

• Set alarms on your phone to remind you to stand up and move every hour.

• Walk around while talking on your phone.

• Stand up during television ads and walk around the room.

• A short walk (10 minutes) after each meal reduces the risk of Type 2 diabetes.

• Take the stairs when that is an option.

• One simple lifestyle change: reducing the time you spend sitting is the key to a dramatic difference to your physical and mental health. You have the key.

• Trash Collection • Free Wi-Fi • Bus for shopping/groceries • Heat, Electricity & Hot Water • Snow Removal & Lawn Care • Planned Activities • All repairs & maintenance Preference given for veterans & spouses of veterans.

Equal Housing Opportunity Supervised by NYS DHCR

WRITERS WANTED Local News Inc. is hiring CNY-based free-lance writers to write news and feature stories for In Good Health, CNY’s Healthcare Newspaper and 55 PLUS magazine.

Stories range from profiles of newsworthy people in the community to medical issues to nonprofit organizations.

View the publications online at www.cnyhealth.com and cny55.com.

We’re considering only people who have writing experience, preferably in a daily or weekly newspaper.

Please email resume and copies of recent published stories to editor@cnyhealth.com

Jill Murphy December 2023 • IN GOOD HEALTH – CNY’s Healthcare Newspaper • Page 9

My Turn What to Do and Not to Do in Case of a Seizure

By Eva Briggs, MD

Y

our brain’s nerve cells — neurons — communicate with one another via electrical impulses.

If the electrical activity is temporarily disrupted, it causes a seizure.

When most people hear the word seizure, they imagine someone losing consciousness, falling over, stiffening and jerking. That is one kind of seizure called a tonic-clonic seizure.

Tonic refers to stiffening and clonic refers to jerking movements.

But there are many kinds of seizures.

Seizures are broken down into three broad categories. Focal onset seizures begin in one group of neurons on one side of the brain. The patient may be awake and aware (focal aware seizure) or confused (focal impaired awareness seizure.) A second group of seizures are generalized seizures which start on both sides of the brain at once. This includes tonic-clonic seizures, absence seizures, atonic seizures and others. The third group of seizures is unknown onset when it is not known whether the seizure was focal or generalized at the start. This might happen if the person is alone and the seizure is unwitnessed or if the seizure starts at night while the patient is sleeping.

A seizure is a single event. Epilepsy is a condition where a person has recurrent unprovoked seizures.

The following conditions may

provoke a seizure: low blood sugar, high fever, infection, injury, sleep deprivation, stress, dehydration and exposure to flashing lights.

Unprovoked seizures don’t have an obvious link to a cause. They may be due to a neurologic disorder, genetics or metabolic disease.

So, what should you do if someone has a seizure?

Things Not to Do • Don’t put anything into their mouth. People having a seizure will not swallow or choke on their own tongue. But putting something into their mouth could block the airway or injure the teeth or jaw.

• Don’t hold the person down.

It will not stop or shorten the seizure but might cause injuries. It could confuse or frighten the person and even make them combative.

• Don’t offer water of food until the person is fully awake and alert. If they are not alert, they could choke and inhale food or water into the lungs.

Things You Should Do • Check for a medical bracelet or other emergency information. If the person is at risk of falling, call for help and get the person down on the floor. If the person is lying down,

3D illustration of a synapse part of a neuron or nerve cell. Stock photo. gently turn them on their side with their mouth pointing down to help saliva drain away from the airway.

• Clear the area around the person to prevent them from injuring themselves on anything sharp or hard. Keep onlookers away because waking up to an audience might be confusing or embarrassing.

• Stay calm and comfort the person. This can help keep others calm and reassure the patient that he or she is safe. Offer to call a loved one.

Time the seizure. It’s helpful for medical personnel to know how long the seizure lasted from onset to the end. Also, time how long it took to recover and return to baseline.

Stay with the person until the seizure is over. Seizures can be unpredictable. Help them sit in a safe place.

When Call 911 • A first seizure in someone who has never had a seizure before.

• The person having the seizure asks you to call 911.

• The seizure lasts more than five minutes.

• The person has trouble breathing or waking up after a seizure.

• The person has another seizure shortly after the seizure ends.

• The person is injured during the seizure.

• The seizure happened in water.

• The person has an underlying medical condition such as heart disease, diabetes or pregnancy.

Eva Briggs is a retired medical doctor who practiced in Central New York for several decades. She lives in Marcellus.

Let us help you breathe easier with a free lung cancer screening!

November is Lung Cancer Awareness month. As a service to our community, Hematology-Oncology Associates of CNY and CRA Medical Imaging are offering a free lung cancer screening to qualified participants.

Who:

Free screenings are available for individuals ages 50-80 who: - are heavy smokers (e.g., 1 pack a day for 20 years or 2 packs a day for 10 years) - OR are former heavy-smokers who quit in the last 15 years - AND have not previously received a free lung cancer screening from us.

Note: Anyone with insurance can contact our office to discuss getting a lung cancer screening at your convenience.

When: Saturday, November 4, 8:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m.

Where: HOA’s Onondaga Hill, East Syracuse and Auburn offices To learn more, call 315-472-7504 extension 1301 or visit hoacny.com

This free screening event is co-sponsored by:

Page 10 • IN GOOD HEALTH – CNY’s Healthcare Newspaper • December 2023

Profile

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Kelly Ocampo: Hope For Bereaved Helps Those Who’ve Lost a Loved One

By Mary Beth Roach

A

s the new executive director of Hope for Bereaved, Kelly Ocampo plans to build on the legacy of founder Therese Schoeneck, who created the organization in 1978 following the death of her daughter, Mary.

Assuming the leadership position in the 45-year-old group in October, Ocampo said, “I’m going to do my best to follow in her footsteps, but nobody can. My goal is to get them set up for the next 45.”

Hope for Bereaved is peer grief counseling, with one-on-one counseling and support groups to help those who have lost a loved one grieve. The counselors and facilitators have lived experience, having been through loss themselves. For example, the ones leading the Hope for Bereaved Parents group have lost a child as well.

Among her objectives moving forward, Ocampo would like to expand services and programming; enhance the nonprofit’s online presence; diversify its fundraising efforts; further promote the Butterfly Garden on the shores of Onondaga Lake in Liverpool and continue to build relationships within the organization and in the community.

A native of Central New York with nearly 20 years of experience with area nonprofits, Ocampo has developed many connections.

“I pride myself on being a bridge builder and that could be the linkages between the staff and the volunteers, staff to staff, the community to us,” she said. “People want to feel like they’re a part of what’s happening around them.”

She would like to create a support group for those who have lost a loved one through a violent crime or murder and she plans to reach out to organizations in the area directly

tied to those situations and partner with them. In addition, she would like to reach out to Syracuse University, OCC, Bryant and Stratton and OnPoint for College to create internships in marketing, social media, event planning and administrative assistance in the office.

By the end of 2023, Hope for Bereaved is on track to host more than 100 support groups for nine types of grief; provide more than 13,500 monthly newsletters to community members; counsel over 2,600 times to 442 different clients and receive 480 new referrals. These services have been provided by a team of 10 staffers and well more than 100 volunteers.

However, the numbers only tell part of Hope’s story. Ocampo explained that those volunteers and staff are the backbone of Hope for Bereaved. At one point, those counselors and facilitators have used the services at Hope when they were going through some of their hardest times and now they want to give back, she said.

“I think that’s part of the magic we do here,” she said. “The person that’s talking to you has been through it. They can empathize in a different way from someone else.”

During these sessions, she explained further, the bereaved are able to talk without being judged and to see people who are like them and not to feel alone.

“I’ve heard multiple times ‘Hope saved my life.’ I’ve heard that Hope has saved marriages,” she noted. “It gives them the opportunity to see people who were in their shoes six months ago, a year ago and allows them to dream and to hope to get to that place where they’re OK. That’s what it does.”

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Call me to set up in-person or over the phone consultation and let me help you, at no cost!!

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We do not offer every plan available in your area. Any information we provide is limited to those plans we do offer in your area. Please contact Medicare.gov or 1-800-MEDICARE to get information on all of your options.

December 2023 • IN GOOD HEALTH – CNY’s Healthcare Newspaper • Page 11

SAY HELLO TO HEALTHY

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SmartBites

aging and increase your risk of heart disease and cancer. Several studies, in fact, have linked higher levels of vitamin E intakes to lower rates of heart disease and Alzheimer’s.

Consuming flour made of almonds also boosts levels of magnesium, an important nutrient that may help lower blood pressure and control blood sugar. Foods made with refined wheat flour—which are high in carbs but low in magnesium and fiber—may cause spikes in blood sugar followed by rapid drops. Some studies estimate that between 25-38% of people with Type 2 diabetes have a magnesium deficiency.

Although almond flour is slightly higher in calories and fat than wheat flour, its fat is mostly monounsaturated fat—the beneficial fat that helps protect your heart by maintaining levels of “good” HDL cholesterol while reducing levels of “bad” LDL cholesterol.

Another tempting reason to reach for this nutritious flour: Almond flour is both wheat- and gluten-free, making it a great alternative for those who can’t tolerate wheat or gluten.

Adapted from simplyhomecooked.com | About 24-30 cookies ¾ cup butter, softened ¾ cup brown sugar 1½ teaspoons vanilla extract ¼ teaspoon almond extract (optional) 1 large egg and 1 large egg yolk

3 cups almond flour ½ teaspoon baking soda ½ teaspoon salt 1¼ cups semisweet chocolate chips ¾ cup chopped nuts: pecans, walnuts, or almonds

1. Preheat oven to 350F line two large baking sheets with parchment paper.

2. In a large mixing bowl, beat ¾ cup softened butter with ¾ cup brown sugar at medium speed for 3 minutes.

3. Add both extracts (if using almond, too), egg and egg yolk, and then mix on medium-high speed until well blended.

4. In a separate bowl, whisk together almond flour, baking soda, and salt. For a cookie with a finer texture, sift the dry ingredients right into the mixing bowl and mix at a slow speed until well blended.

Otherwise, slowly add the dry ingredients to the mixing bowl and blend well at a slow speed.

5. Fold in chips and nuts (if using).

6. Drop by large, rounded tablespoons onto prepared sheets and bake for 10 to 12 minutes or until golden brown. Cool on baking sheets for 2 minutes; remove to wire racks to cool completely.

Note: For a more festive cookie, replace dark chocolate chips with white chips and chopped nuts with dried cranberries.

Here when you need us

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mericans purchase and consume more flour during December than any other month, according to the research elves at Fleischmann’s Yeast and Karo Syrup.

No surprise there! Who doesn’t love to give as well as receive homebaked cookies, cakes, breads and pies during the holidays?

I love to bake — and this year I’m shaking things up by baking with almond flour, a gluten-free flour with enough health benefits to give Santa pause. While I won’t use it for all recipes—the lightness of the real deal is hard to replicate—I’ll use it for many.

Made from blanched almonds that are ground and sifted into a fine flour, almond flour has an astonishing array of valuable nutrients.

One-fourth cup of almond flour (the amount typically found in one baked good) contains around 7 grams of protein, 3 grams of fiber, and 70 mg of calcium—all of which join hands to keep us strong, regular and full of energy.

Almond flour teems with vitamin E, a powerhouse nutrient that acts as an antioxidant, neutralizing harmful free radicals that accelerate

CHOCOLATE CHIP COOKIES WITH ALMOND FLOUR

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Why You Should Try Almond Flour

For lighter, less-grainy baked goods, look for almond flour that says “super fine or finely sifted,” like Bob’s Red Mill Super Fine Almond Flour or Blue Diamond Finely Sifted Almond Flour. Many recipes recommend additional sifting for an even fluffier result.

In most cases, almond flour can replace wheat flour in a l:1 ratio.

Almond flour should be stored in a fridge, freezer or cool pantry to keep from going bad.

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The skinny on healthy eating

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By Anne Palumbo

Helpful Tips

December 2023 • IN GOOD HEALTH – CNY’s Healthcare Newspaper • Page 13

We’re here to help ensure your golden years are your best years!

Committed to exceptional, family-focused care – and provided by over 60 physicians, 40 advanced practitioners, and 28 locations across our region – FCMG is uniquely situated to care for seniors. Our comprehensive range of services includes: • General family care and internal medicine • Endocrinology, including diabetes testing, care and education • Sleep lab and treatment of sleep disorders • Physical medicine and rehabilitation • Among many others FCMG is also a proud partner in Salt City Senior Care Advantage – which provides a new approach to care delivery by focusing on preventative care and care coordination resources when you need them.

Turning 65? FCMG participates in of Senior Health Connect . Talk to your provider for more details!

Let our family care for yours!

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Page 14 • IN GOOD HEALTH – CNY’s Healthcare Newspaper • December 2023

Ronald McDonald House $1 Million Renovation Underway

By Stefan Yablonski

T

o meet the evolving needs of families, Ronald McDonald House Charities of Central New York has embarked on a $1 million expansion of the CNY Ronald McDonald House, at 1100 E. Genesee St., Syracuse, to create new family suites.

The organization will renovate more than 9,000 square feet of unfinished space on the fourth floor of the house, adding six new family suites to increase the capacity of the home and enable the nonprofit to better accommodate large and multigenerational guest families.

“For more than 40 years, the CNY Ronald McDonald House has been a place of love and support for families facing the unthinkable.

While that will never change, we recognize that the needs of our guest families are growing and so our house must too,” said Beth Trunfio, executive director, RMHC of CNY. “We’re excited to build out our fourth floor with new family suites that will enable us to keep even more families comfortable and close when

it matters most. Our chapter is celebrating 41 years in November 2023.”

The first RMH opened — it will be 50 years next year, she added.

The fourth floor expansion will feature four one-bedroom suites and two two-bedroom suites — providing a total of 14 beds to accommodate more guests. In addition to bedrooms, the suites will include private kitchenettes, bathrooms and living rooms. The floor will also feature shared laundry facilities.

The six new suites will enable the nonprofit to offer more family-centered spaces to large and multigenerational families while giving working parents and family members a designated space to work remotely during their stay. Additionally, the suites will provide a private living space to families with children who are immunocompromised, Trunfio added.

“When a family stays with us, parents, grandparents and siblings often stay at the house in order to remain together,” said Trunfio. “Our new family suites will help us to better serve those families, while

increasing our capacity so that we may continue to serve even more families in need in the years ahead — especially as local hospitals continue to expand their services and future population growth is expected in the area.”

The CNY Ronald McDonald House serves as a temporary home for families with seriously ill children who travel to Syracuse for medical care. The house provides guest families with the convenience of a comfortable room and warm bed, home-cooked meals and snacks and support and compassion — all at no charge to the families — while keeping them close to Syracuse-area hospitals and medical centers. In the first six months of 2023 alone, 415 family stayed at the CNY Ronald McDonald House for a total of 1,782 nights.

How many served over the years?

“Oh gosh, you know — it would be tens of thousands,” she said.

“Families are able to stay as long as their child is receiving medical care at one of the Syracuse area hospitals or clinics.

“For families who need to travel for care, being distanced from your child is truly unthinkable. The Ronald McDonald House takes away that situation. What we do here at RMH is truly eliminate any barrier for a family to access care for their child, whether it be just the distance to the hospital or a financial burden.

There’s no charge to stay at a Ronald McDonald House. We provide home cooked meals or meals provided by our local restaurant partners.”

Most importantly is the care and comfort and support not only from the organization but from parents or other families who are going through the same thing, she explained. “It becomes this really organic support system.”

Construction on the expansion project began this fall and will be managed by Zausmer-Frisch Scruton & Aggarwal, who designed and built the CNY Ronald McDonald House in 2011-12, Trunfio said.

Services will not be interrupted for those currently staying at the house.

and healthcare facilities and the ability for families to be together, to not be worried about anything other than focusing on the medical care of their child and be fully engaged in that care at no cost to families.

that was coming to help support this family — that the need for larger space was important. It was really important to us to think about larger families; what is evolving with the care of children; how families are living and working remotely. Some of these are long-term stays and parents need to be able to work and maintain their livelihoods while they’re here.

They’re juggling so many things and we just wanted them to be able to do so in a way that reduced any kind of stress in their lives.

Q: How big is your staff and budget?

A: We have a $1.6 million operating budget. We have eight full-time staff. We’re evolving as an organization, expanding our programs and our services and with that, our team.

We are staffed 24/7, so we have weekend, evening and overnight employees.

Q A &

with Beth Trunfio

Executive director talks about the mission of the Ronald McDonald House Charities of CNY

B

By Mary Beth Roach

eth Trunfio has been the executive director of the Ronald McDonald House Charities of Central New York for 24 years.

The facility on East Genesee Street opened its doors on Thanksgiving Day in 1982 and is currently undergoing a $1 million expansion, which is expected to be open by spring.

Q: Can you briefly describe the work of the Ronald McDonald House?

A: The Ronald McDonald House keeps families with seriously ill chil-

dren together and close to the care and the resources that they need.

Q: How do you do that?

A: We have served as a temporary home for thousands of families who’ve traveled to Syracuse from across this state, other states and some foreign countries to access the medical care that we have. We provide all of the basic needs that a family needs — a home-cooked meal, a place to rest and rejuvenate — very close to our local hospitals, clinics

Q: How are you funded?

A: Strictly from private donations, from donors, the generosity of our community. We are a grassroots organization. We have really relied on that model since we opened and it’s how we continue to be funded and supported today.

Q: Do you get any support from McDonald’s Corporation?

A: Yes, McDonald’s is our forever and founding mission partner.

Through McDonald’s, we have wonderful support in those restaurants.

One of the programs is the roundup program. When you drive through a restaurant, you will or likely be asked to round up for the Ronald McDonald House. Our local McDonald’s owners are extremely supportive. They also will come in and cook for our guest families, serve on our board of directors, do wish-list drives for those much-needed day-to-day items that we need to support our families, as well as personally make financial contributions.

Q: How many families, on average, do you serve in a year?

A: In 2022, we served 450 families. This year, we are at 2,400-night stays already [as of end of October 2023)].

Q: What prompted the expansion?

A: We noticed that as family support grew — maybe there’s a grandparent or an aunt or an uncle

Q: If anyone is interested in donating to the expansion, how can they do that?

A: They can go to our website, www.rmhcny.org. It’s a great place to go to learn about the expansion and stay updated, but certainly to learn how to get involved in other ways.

We have a youth board, a young professional board. There are a lot of ways to get involved and engaged and support these families during a really critical time.

Q: In September, it was announced that the Ronald McDonald House was undergoing a large expansion. What will that involve?

A: We will be renovating more than 9,000 square feet of unfinished space we have on our fourth floor.

The expansion will include six family suites, providing a total of 14 additional beds to accommodate more guests. Four of those suites will be one-bedroom suites and we will have two, two-bedroom suites. They’ll be private bathrooms, kitchenettes, living room space. There’s a shared laundry facility on that floor. What’s unique about this space is that it will enable us to accommodate these larger multi-generational families that we serve. What we know and what research shows is that when families are together and when parents are fully engaged and involved in that care at the hospital, the children who are being treated do better. We’re very focused on creating space for these families to be able to have some sense of normalcy while they’re going through such a really unthinkable time.

December 2023 • IN GOOD HEALTH – CNY’s Healthcare Newspaper • Page 15

Holidays

Have a Foodie on Your List?

Treat ‘em Right

By Deborah Jeanne Sergeant

I

f you want to give a food gift this holiday season, skip the sugary baked goods and candy and give food gifts that are both decadent and healthful.

“If we can give things like a fruit basket, that’s great,” said Piek L. Tan, registered dietitian at CNY Family

Care in East Syracuse. “But if it is going to be a fruit basket, make it more fun than oranges and clementines. Find something less common.

Maybe a fig and nuts platter, along with some cheeses. Dried fruit, nuts and cheese platter is always enjoyed during the holidays. Some combina-

tions like that is always enjoyable.”

Fruit is rich in vitamins, antioxidants, and in most cases fiber. Nuts provide minerals, fiber and in some cases, omega-3 fatty acids.

A variety of colorful fruits can provide a wide array of nutrients.

Lay a tea towel or other padding in the basket to cushion the fruit and arrange the fruit so it piles above the rim of the basket. Tuck in a few small items among the pieces of fruit, like English walnuts. Consider securing the fruit in place with cellophane if you need to transport the basket and top with a large bow.

Give local goods, like New York state apples, maple syrup, cheese or honey. Many people enjoy these as treats.

Dark chocolate has long been touted for its antioxidant properties. Give dark chocolates that have at least 70% cacao. For a DIY dark chocolate gift, create healthful dark chocolate bark by pouring a layer of melted chocolate over broken nuts arranged on waxed paper. Allow the chocolate to harden in the refrigerator before breaking into pieces and packaging.

Create chocolate raspberries by washing raspberries to completely dry. Gently place a dark chocolate chip inside the berry with the flat side at the bottom and arrange on a glass tray.

Coffee and tea are also rich in antioxidants. Find a few “fancy” flavors to nestle in a basket with mugs, a tea towel and flavoring agents like honey.

Kimberly V. Higgins, registered dietitian in private practice in Manlius, likes making and giving DIY food gifts like seasonings.

“Custom spice blends whether your favorite meat rub, a Tex Mex rub or taco spice blend that could go into dipping oils,” are good gifts, she said. “Another is flavored vinegars

Give Healthful Memberships

These gifts keep on giving all year

By Deborah Jeanne Sergeant

Y

ou can support the good health of the health buffs on your list with a yearlong membership.

These kinds of gifts will definitely get used — unlike yet another tchotchke or sweater — and you can help your recipients reach their health and wellness goals.

Kimberly V. Higgins, registered dietitian in private practice in Manlius, said that finding the time to prepare healthful meals represents a big barrier to many of her clients’ efforts to eat right.

“Consider things like meal subscriptions or cooking lessons,” she said. “I can see those as being very desirable as people who are so timecrunched. So many people are taxed by the concept of meal prep, shopping and execution. If you can make those steps easier, they’re all for it.”

Selecting a variety of produce items for regular delivery can especially help busy families or older adults who struggle to do weekly

grocery shopping for perishable items. It also keeps fresh produce in the kitchen: a big plus for people who want to eat right.

“A lot of people are finding that produce is squeezed out of their grocery list because of price concerns,” Higgins said. “They’re choosing different things or buying less of it. They don’t buy a pomegranate or mango. Produce is expensive. A nicely curated mix of seasonal fruits is often appreciated.”

Fruit-of-the-Month or similar memberships can help. Higgins also suggested membership with a meal kit service. These companies deliver the prepared, measured elements to make a meal, but the recipient does the mixing and cooking. In addition to saving time, meal prep packages also help people learn how to cook for themselves, which can aid in weight loss and improving produce intake. Most meal kit companies include options such as Mediterranean,

Page 16 • IN GOOD HEALTH – CNY’s Healthcare Newspaper • December 2023

Kimberly Higgins keto, vegetarian, low-fat or other health-conscious meals to accommodate any preferred eating plan.

Fitness subscriptions can also help people who want to stay healthy. However, consider a shortterm membership especially if it’s to a specific type of gym or class and not a yearlong membership. A general gym that has many types of classes and personal trainers present may be a better bet.

and oils where you infuse it with herbs, spices and in a beautiful jar. Or a custom vinaigrette. Make it up and jar it. As long as there’s no dairy it, it’s shelf stable. It encourages people to eat salads and put it on roasted vegetables.”

Meal preparation delivery helps people save time on fixing meals.

Give a similar type of gift by creating one yourself. Higgins recommended making soup mix with beans, spices and dried pasta in a Mason jar with a custom recipe card. https://masonjarrecipe.com/34-mason-jar-drysoup-mixes-recipes offers numerous healthful mixes.

“I find even though we live in an age of constant access to recipes, people want new things and things they know will work,” Higgins said.

“Food gifts that do some of the work like the recipe and assembling the ingredients, people appreciate it.

People don’t want more stuff to find a place for.”

It also enables givers to create a wholesome soup with whole grain pasta or brown rice.

Higgins likes giving mini herb growing kits.

“People can grow little herb gardens in pots in the kitchen in the winter months,” she said. “Wegmans and Tops offer rosemary plants shaped as trees that are live and people can keep it in their kitchens. It will last a few months. It’s also decorative and smells delicious.”

Herbs add flavor without additional salt or fat.

Giving coffee or tea baskets promotes healthful eating also, as these “are the biggest sources of antioxidants in the American diet,” Higgins said. “Package specialty coffees with mugs, tea towels and accessories.

Or you could do a chai tea mix with the spices. Especially in the winter, people enjoy warm beverages.”

“Most gyms sell a short-term membership with time with a trainer,” said Randy Sabourin, certified personal trainer and owner of Metro Fitness in Syracuse. “Sometimes, with a gym membership, you’re buying access but what they should start with is an introductory membership.

If they can’t make the introductory period work, it’s a big waste of money to be stuck in a contract they won’t use.”

A gift certificate for active lessons, such as gymnastics, boxing, dancing or martial arts could help keep someone of any age moving more. Practices such as yoga and tai chi have been linked with stress reduction and tend to be gentle on the joints. Many fitness minded people like trying new activities and a gift certificate for a class may be just the motivation to branch out.

For people who like home workouts, subscribing to a fitness program such as Beach Body or Peloton can encourage regular workouts, which help fitness minded people connect from anywhere.

Good health also relies upon rest and relaxation, but most people take little time for self-care. Consider giving a gift certificate for massage therapy or spa to provide relaxation.

Holiday time-and-energy savers

Holidays

Survival Guide for a StressFree Holiday Season

By Kimberly Blaker

D

o you dread the hustle and bustle of another holiday season?

Between shopping, wrapping, baking, holiday cards, parties, and many other obligations and tasks, surviving the season can be a feat, let alone finding the time to enjoy it with your family. This year, why not make a pact to eliminate stress by following these tips?

Early planning First, close your eyes and think back to the last couple of years and how hectic and stressful they felt.

What percentage of holiday activities and tasks would you need to eliminate to make the season truly enjoyable and relatively stress-free?

During this process, don't think about what you can't remove. Just determine the percentage of reduction you need to make.

Next, make a list of everything you need to do during the holiday season, to which parties you'll be invited, and how much money you'll spend. Now cross off the least

important, least necessary, and least popular events and tasks. Then review the list, and calculate how much time and expense you've shaved off.

If you haven't reached your predetermined reduction, go through your list again.

Once you've decided which parties you'll attend and the commitments you'll make, plan how you'll say 'no' to all the others, so you're not caught off guard.

Share in the preparation Enlist your family to help prepare for the holidays, and divvy up the tasks. Don't expect perfection from yourself or your family. Remember, you probably don't notice or mind the imperfections in others' holiday gatherings. They're just as unlikely to see any in yours.

Also, keep in mind the holiday season isn't the time to be head cook.

Plan potluck gatherings. Then, either suggest what each person should bring or, to avoid duplicates, ask guests to let you know what they'll bring.

Post-Holiday Blues

After weeks of build-up, it’s easy to feel let down

A

By Deborah Jeanne Sergeant fter the busy holiday season, do you feel a little blue? A tad bummed? It’s a common phenomenon.

“Post-holiday blues are similar to the ‘slump’ we often feel after a vacation, birthday, major celebration or milestone,” said Monique Winnett, doctor of psychology, clinical psychologist and coordinator of integrated behavioral health services at St. Joseph’s Health. “It’s that sense of feeling let down after something we were looking forward to. For many, this can also mean a return to work, school, normal routines, habits and restrictions which we often give ourselves a break from during the holidays.”

It especially hits hard for those who don’t often take breaks throughout the year and for those with high expectations for the holiday season.

Instead of a Hallmark movie-perfect holiday, family members don’t get along, gifts disappoint and illnesses

curb the festivities. It can also be a time where rumination over past holidays foster all sorts of feelings, such as regret, loneliness and sadness.

There are also financial stressors for some, like traveling expenses, gifts and entertainment that throw off the budget and lead to stress.

Although unpleasant, these “down” feelings are short-lived.

Depression is much different in many ways. Winnett said that a major depressive episode includes two to four of these symptoms: loss of enjoyment, depressed mood, changes in appetite or sleep, low energy or motivation, feeling worthless or guilty, diminished ability to concentrate and/or recurrent thoughts of death) and these last for at least two weeks.

“Clinical depression significantly and negatively inhibits a person’s ability to carry out daily tasks or responsibilities and can negatively impact relationships, work or

Save time in gift-wrapping by setting up a station in a spare room or the basement. Or stock a large box or basket with wrapping paper, ribbon, bows, tags, tape, scissors, and pens, so everything is stored in one place. Have extras of everything on hand.

Keep cleaning to a minimum during the holidays. Dismiss unused areas guests won't see or use, and clean only the obvious in rooms that will be seen. The barely-visible layer of dust on your baseboards is unlikely to be noticed with all the holiday decorations and festivities.

Make everyday meals quick and easy throughout the season.

Soups, sandwiches, fresh fruit and vegetables, cottage cheese, pre-cut veggies and dip, and other prepared or semi-prepared healthy foods will suffice for one month of the year.

Do your holiday shopping early in the day on weekdays while your energy is high and crowds are small.

Shop online or by catalog. If an item lacks details, search for a manufacturer's website to get the information you need.

Give gift cards. Hard-to-shop-for recipients will appreciate something practical. Gift cards to restaurants, department stores, sporting good outlets, and specialty shops, or for a massage, pedicure, or round of golf make great gifts.

Don't overdo the baking. Your guests will likely have had their fill of holiday treats long before your gathering arrives. As for the warm gesture of taking a plate of baked goodies to friends or neighbors, instead, show they're in your thoughts by visiting or calling them to wish them a happy holiday season.

extended family, friends, coworkers, and others about forgoing gift exchanges, putting a cap on the price, or doing a drawing instead. You'll likely learn many feel the same as you do.

Care for yourself Enjoy holiday treats in moderation. High fat and sugary foods and the lack of healthy meals can lead to tiredness and stress. Keep goodies stored in the freezer where they'll be less of a temptation. Have plenty of convenient, healthy snacks such as raw vegetables and nuts on hand.

Prepare low-fat meals that won't bog you down.

Pace yourself, and don't try to do everything in one day.

Finally, give yourself a break.

Get plenty of exercise such as a brisk walk in the fresh air, and set aside time for relaxation, like a long bubble bath.

Things to do for next year

Does your gift list grow each year? Decide with whom it's essential to exchange gifts. Then talk to

Start your shopping early. Create a new tradition with a friend or family member and set a monthly shopping date for the upcoming year. By making a scheduled commitment, you'll be more likely to follow through. Keep the early holiday shopping fun and choose a different town or shopping center for each trip, focusing on unique malls or trendy cities.

Also, get a label printing software program or app early in the year and enter all of the addresses on your holiday card list. When the holidays roll around, you can print the labels and eliminate the most time-consuming aspect of sending out holiday greetings.

Finally, remember the holiday season should be a joyful time for everyone, including yourself, to join in the good cheer with family and friends. Maximize ways to ease your stress to keep the 'happy' in your holidays!

school,” Winnett said. “This tends to be more chronic and long-term than post-holiday blues in which most people ‘swing back’ to feeling like themselves after a short period of time.”

Kate Flannery, executive director of the Alzheimer’s Association for Upstate New York and licensed master social worker and licensed psychotherapist, encourages people to ward off the post-holiday blues through practices such as “priming.”

“It’s identifying three things I am grateful for, three intentions or prayers for others and three specific goals I’ll accomplish that are manageable. They can be making a phone call, not something big.”

After weeks of planning surprises and special times for others, the post-holiday period can feel less meaningful. To keep those good feelings going, Flannery suggested volunteering, which promotes good mental health by taking the focus off of self.

Volunteering can also help people ward off isolation.

“Connectivity is so important,” Flannery said. “You have to look for connection: family, friends and volunteering. Every study you’ll see talks about a great deal of our wellness is dependant on our social network.”

Jodi Mullen, Ph.D., licensed mental health counselor at Integrative Counseling Services in Oswego also thinks that staying connected is important.

“Plan random January social gatherings to ease the blues,” she said. “Make sure you’re connecting with people in person. It makes a big difference.”

Mullen is a professor at SUNY Oswego. She added that getting in nature can also help lift a blue mood post-holiday.

“Discover something you like to do outside of the house,” she said.

“Maybe you’re not a person who would go snowshoeing, but sledding.

Lean into winter and the weather. So much of it is about having the right gear. What are close by places for an adventure in the winter? Have you tried figure skating? A lot of us feel like hibernating. Don’t do that.

Some of the research shows that even looking at nature on a laptop can be helpful.”

It can also help to shake up the routine by establishing new traditions like making a new dish every Friday night. Or plan a lunch or dinner with friends you haven’t seen in while. Mullen said these strategies can help you have something to look forward to, which can also help ward off the blues.

Money saver

December 2023 • IN GOOD HEALTH – CNY’s Healthcare Newspaper • Page 17

Health Career: Podiatrist A Multifaceted Career, Podiatrists Care for the Lower Extremities

By Deborah Jeanne Sergeant

I

f you want to pursue a medical career and enjoy hands-on patient care and a variety of delivery methods and possibilities of care venues, podiatry could be for you.

Podiatrists complete a four-year undergraduate degree, followed by four years of podiatry school and then a three- to four-year residency.

After completing these, the licensed provider is able to practice.

“Podiatry is one of the few fields where patients walk in, get something for their treatment and most of the time walk out feeling better,” said Ryan D’Amico, podiatrist at Syracuse Podiatry in East Syracuse. “There was a visible aspect where people stand up and feel better already.”

He finds that very satisfying.

D’Amico also likes the variety of podiatry, in that they can address issues that include creating orthotics, treating wounds, providing patient education about health habits that affect the feet and lower legs, administering injections, treating pain and addressing problems with surgery.

Podiatrists work in private practice, as part of a hospital system, for

orthopedic practices and sometimes in settings such as long-term care facilities. They work with all ages, not only older adults.

“Pediatrics is one of our biggest referral sources,” D’Amico said.

“I don’t think you could make a business out of pediatric podiatry, though. We have one with sports medicine. I like the dermatology aspects. Some are orthopedic. We care for nerves with podiatry. We can sub-specialize.”

He advises anyone interested in podiatry to shadow a podiatrist, which is what he did.

“Once you go to podiatry school, you’re into podiatry and that’s it,” he said. “You need to make sure this is what you want to do.”

The New York State Board for Podiatry requires 50 hours of continuing education every three years to maintain licensure. Some hospitals and other organizations have their own requirements for continuing education.

James Burruano, doctor of podiatric medicine at Neighborhood Health Center in Buffalo, likes that

podiatry allows him to provide immediate improvement to patients, which isn’t often the case in medicine.

He also likes getting to know patients.

“That relationship is important,” he said. “Family medicine and podiatry have relationship building.

That drew me to it. I’ve known some patients for 30 years and it’s very rewarding in that respect.”

The work-life balance also appeals to Burruano, as podiatrists are done at the end of the day.

“Over my 32 years of practice, I have rarely taken work home with me,” he said. “Having that separation of personal life and professional life is the key to all my years in practice; you’re not on call. That’s a true positive of being a podiatrist.”

He said that podiatrists have opportunities to specialize with the right training. Diabetic wound care, pediatric and ulcer care are a few examples.

Burruano foretells growth in the industry from a shortage of podiatry students and increased demand for their care.

“The US is having a hard time having enough podiatrists available,” he said. “On the other side, podiatrists are really being incorporated into larger practices and the solo practitioner is being phased out over the next 10 to 30 years. It’s the nature of medicine as the administrative costs are rising.”

The Bureau of Labor Statistics predicts that the demand for podiatrists in New York will grow by 12% between 2020 and 2030.

The aging baby boomer generation will continue to need more

Build Social Connection.

Prevent Loneliness.

We may not think of loneliness as posing serious health risks, but if feelings of loneliness are not addressed, they can significantly impact our health. There are ways to help prevent loneliness and the resulting health impacts. If you’re feeling lonely, consider the following: • Seek support: Reach out to friends, family or a therapist. Support groups can also foster a sense of community and understanding.

• Volunteer: Helping others can boost self-esteem and foster meaningful relationships.

• Take up a hobby: Engage in activities that bring you joy. Join a club or group with shared interests to meet new people and build relationships.

• Practice self-care: Maintain a healthy diet, get enough sleep, exercise regularly, and practice mindfulness and self-compassion.

• Try something new: Step outside your comfort zone. It can be intimidating but can also lead to new connections and relationships.

Listen to our episode, “The Loneliness Epidemic” on the Community Check-in to learn more about this issue and who is most at risk.

A nonprofit independent licensee of the Blue Cross Blue Shield Association

Page 18 • IN GOOD HEALTH – CNY’s Healthcare Newspaper • December 2023

Ryan D’Amico is podiatrist at Syracuse Podiatry in East Syracuse. healthcare, including podiatry. The obesity epidemic also contributes to the demand for podiatry, as carrying excess weight negatively affects the health of the lower extremities and increases the risk for Type 2 diabetes.

The median annual income for a podiatrist in the Syracuse area is $127,150.

Parenting

By Melissa Stefanec MelissaStefanec@yahoo.com

Hybrid Motherhood

N

Remember those simpler times when the world divided moms into two categories?

ot too long ago, there were stay-at-home moms and working moms.

Now, in a post-pandemic world, there’s a new mom in the mix — the working-at-home mom.

She’s flexing hours and flexing her biceps at the ability to “have it all.”

Jokes aside, the ability to work from home or use flex time has been a personal and professional boon for many women. We can fit in work around life and work life around work.

This allows us to be more present and less harried parents. Our stress levels have gone down. But, as with most advancements, there is a dark side: the unintentional but inherent sexism embedded in flexible working arrangements. n The S word — Sexist is a heavy-hitting description for an advancement that can help parents better structure their lives. But, before you label me as a sensationalist banshee, hear me out. When we start accounting for gender imbalances, expectations and perception, flexible work can help the very women it

ought to help.

If employers, managers and employees don’t take a moment to consider how flexible work policies can very quickly turn sexist, these policies will do just that, no matter how well-intended they are. n The gender imbalance of work — When it comes to administrating life, moms and dads are hardly experiencing egalitarianism.

According to 2022 data from the Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development, there are large discrepancies regarding the ratios of unpaid and paid work performed by men and women in America. When averaged out, women dedicate about 4.5 hours to unpaid work each day, and men dedicate about 2.8 hours. When it comes to paid work, women spend 4.1 hours and men spend 5.5 hours per day.

That data is affirming, but I don’t need it to justify a reality that I see daily — women disproportionately perform the tasks that keep the family ship afloat.

They are more likely to block out their calendars for daycare and school drop offs and pickups. They

are more likely to cover the budget, meal planning, the food shopping, the clothes and activity shopping, the parent conferences, the field trips, the medical appointments, the school volunteer work, the after-school activities, the paperwork and the homework.

Perhaps, in the greatest imbalance of all, women do most of the remembering, tracking and scheduling. If families were businesses, most women would hold every position in the C-suite and still be performing the bulk of the work on the ground. n Weren’t you talking about hybrid work and how sexist it could be? — I promise the above wasn’t a digression. Women disproportionately perform administrative duties for their families and that fact leads us to a very logical conclusion. Women are much more likely to take advantage of hybrid and flexible work models.

Women are more likely to be the ones with inconvenient times blocked out on their calendars. They are more likely to call into that important meeting from the urgent care parking lot. If working in the office is optional, women are less likely to be onsite. Similarly, men will be more likely to go into the office. When it comes to virtual meetings, men are more likely to be seated at the same desk and at a consistent location.

Meanwhile, women are more likely to be camera off while they wait in the school pickup line.

With these and similar differences, bias is already rearing its ugly head. We see men maintaining their professional images and taking advantage of flex work far less than women. All of this consistency and presence could be seen as a superior level of dedication, one worthy of associated promotions, special projects

and wage increases.

And these biases will be rampant in men and women. That’s how subconscious bias works; you don’t even know you’re being unfair, because your brain took a bunch of shortcuts to arrive at a seemingly logical conclusion. n Slamming the brakes on bias — So how do we stop ourselves from being biased against working women who take advantage of flexible work arrangements? First, we have to acknowledge it’s a thing that is happening. Second, we have to actively work to mitigate that bias.

If you currently work at an organization that embraces a flexible work model, please ask yourself the following questions, no matter how progressive you think you are. Think about that woman on your team that is home with a sick kid for what feels like the tenth time this month. Think about the woman who took a zoom call with seatbelts and carseats in the background. Think about the woman with daycare transportation on her calendar every day.

How are you judging her as a professional, even if her work is just as stellar as he male counterparts?

Now, think about the man who is always there, even though he has a family. How are you judging him?

When you think about their individual performance. Are you judging their work products or the illusion of their dedication?

If we aren’t careful, the very systems that should help women will be just another way to keep them down.

Unless we check our biases and judgments, remote work will leave women asking: if I use this benefit, will it benefit everyone in my family but me?

We’re in your corner in the fight against breast cancer.

We help knock out the financial worries of breast cancer care in CNY.

Chemotherapy. Radiation. Lab work.

Transportation. Childcare...

The costs of fighting a breast cancer diagnosis mount quickly. Fortunately, breast cancer patients in CNY with financial need may qualify for financial support from Saint Agatha Foundation.

Through medical and non-medical service providers across seven counties, our support can make the fight against breast cancer a little easier.

If you or someone you love is fighting breast cancer and its financial challenges – OR if you’re a service provider interested in helping breast cancer patients – visit saintagathafoundation.org to learn more!

Learn about our Founder’s inspirational fight with breast cancer December 2023 • IN GOOD HEALTH – CNY’s Healthcare Newspaper • Page 19

St. Joseph’s Upgrading its Hospital-based Lab

The Social Ask Security Office

St. Joe’s exiting itself from co-ownership of Lab Alliance, investing $9.1 million in new lab

S

t. Joseph’s Health announced that construction is underway to expand laboratory services at the hospital. As it announced earlier this year, the healthcare system is divesting its co-ownership of Laboratory Alliance of Central New York (LACNY) in January 2024.

This move allows for the expansion of a high-tech anatomic pathology laboratory at the hospital that is designed to optimize work processes and enable faster delivery.

In addition, St. Joseph’s Health and St. Peter’s Health Partners are evaluating ways to share resources to better serve the needs of both regions.

“The demand for high-quality lab services in our community remains strong,” said Meredith Price, senior vice president of acute operations at St. Joseph’s Health. “To meet that demand, we’re expanding our anatomic pathology area by 1,600 square feet, which will allow us to better process the approximately 45,000 pathology and cytology spec-

imens that originate at our facilities every year.”

Effective January 2024, laboratory testing that is currently being sent from St. Joseph’s Physician practices to LACNY will be redirected to the St. Joseph’s Health Hospital laboratory. A new lab information system, Epic Beaker, is also being integrated.

The total cost of the project is $9.1 million and will result in dozens of new jobs.

“We have extended offers to all the LACNY employees who work at the existing hospital-based Rapid Response Lab,” said Price. “We also started recruitment efforts in the community a few months ago and continue to bring new colleagues into St. Joseph’s laboratory positions with each orientation,” said Price.

St. Joseph’s Health is offering a $5,000 sign-on bonus to all new lab hires and a $5,000 referral bonus to current St. Joseph’s Health employees and new lab colleagues who refer someone to a lab position.

Nursing Schoo Launches New Program

E

ffective fall 2024, Pomeroy College of Nursing at Crouse Hospital will offer a licensed practical nurse (LPN) advance placement program completion pathway for LPNs who have obtained licensure within the past five years. Those entering the pathway will receive transfer credits for the college’s initial nursing course, foundations of nursing practice thus allowing students to complete the program sooner.

“Offering advance placement is a great option for LPNs who wish to continue their education and pursue an A.A.S. in nursing. It’s an affordable, efficient pathway which will save students time and allow them to enter the professional nursing workforce sooner,” says Amy Graham, assistant dean for enrollment.

The nursing component of the

pathway can be completed in just three semesters (traditional day option) or three terms (evening-weekend option). Advance placement is considered on an individual basis after review of all LPN coursework, syllabi and official transcripts. A maximum of eight transfer credits may be awarded and only granted for foundations of nursing practice.

If LPN coursework had been awarded in a format other than credit hours (such as clock hours), conversion to credit hours will be conducted. Students awarded advance placement must meet the college’s preco-requisite general education course requirements during enrollment.

Learn more about the pathway and requirements at crouse.org/ lpnap.

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Page 20 • IN GOOD HEALTH – CNY’s Healthcare Newspaper • December 2023

From the Social Security District Office

Social Security Benefits Increase In 2024

M

By Warren Beck Social Security District Manager in Syracuse.

ore than 71 million Americans will see a 3.2% increase in their Social Security benefits and Supplemental Security Income (SSI) payments in 2024. On average, Social Security retirement benefits will increase by more than $50 per month starting in January.

Federal benefit rates increase when the cost-of-living rises, as measured by the Department of Labor’s Consumer Price Index (CPI-W). The CPI-W rises when inflation increases, leading to a higher cost-of-living.

This change means prices for goods and services, on average, are higher. The cost-of-living adjustment (COLA) helps to offset these costs.

We will mail COLA notices throughout the month of December to retirement, survivors and disability beneficiaries, SSI recipients and representative payees. But if you want to know your new benefit amount sooner, you can securely obtain your Social Security COLA notice online using the Message Center in your personal My Social Security account at www.ssa.gov/myaccount.

You can access this information in early December, prior to receiving the mailed notice. Benefit amounts will not be available before December. Since you will receive the COLA notice online or in the mail, you don’t need to contact us to get your new benefit amount.

If you prefer to access your COLA notice online and not receive

the mailed notice, you can log in to your personal my Social Security account at www.ssa.gov/myaccount to opt out by changing your preferences in the Message Center. You can update your preferences to opt out of the mailed COLA notice, and any other notices that are available online. Did you know you can receive a text or email alert when there is a new message waiting for you? That way, you always know when we have something important for you — like your COLA notice.

“Social Security and SSI benefits will increase in 2024, and this will help millions of people keep up with expenses,” said Kilolo Kijakazi, acting commissioner of Social Security.

January 2024 marks when other changes will happen based on the increase in the national average wage index. For example, the maximum amount of earnings subject to Social Security payroll tax in 2024 will be higher. The retirement earnings test exempt amount will also change in 2024. Learn more at www.ssa. gov/news/press/factsheets/colafacts2024.pdf.

Be among the first to know! Sign up for or log in to your personal my Social Security account today at www.ssa.gov/myaccount. Choose email or text under “Message Center Preferences” to receive courtesy notifications.

You can find more information about the 2024 COLA at www.ssa. gov/cola.

Q.: Do members of Congress have to pay into Social Security?

A.: Yes, they do. Members of Congress, the president and vice president, federal judges, and most political appointees, have paid taxes into the Social Security program since January 1984. They pay into the system just like everyone else, no matter how long they have been in office. Learn more about Social Security benefits at www.ssa.gov.

Finally, you’ll want to check out the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau, which offers educational information on a number of financial matters, including mortgages, credit cards, retirement, and other big decisions. Visit the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau at www.consumerfinance.gov.

Q&A

Q.: I’m trying to figure out how much I need to save for my retirement. Does the government offer any help with financial education?

A.: Yes. For starters, you may want to find out what you can expect from Social Security with a visit to Social Security’s Retirement Estimator at www.ssa.gov/estimator. The Financial Literacy and Education Commission has a website that can help you with the basics of financial education: www.mymoney.gov.

Q.: I worked for the last 10 years and I now have my 40 credits. Does this mean that I get the maximum Social Security retirement benefit?

A.: Probably not. The 40 credits are the minimum number you need to qualify for retirement benefits.

However, we do not base your benefit amount on those credits; it's based on your earnings over a lifetime of work. To learn more about how you earn Social Security credits and how they work, read or listen to our publication How You Earn Credits, available at www.ssa.gov/pubs.

need to type in your ZIP code and choose the types of benefits you’re interested in. Then you’ll need to answer a few questions regarding your personal and financial situation.

Once completed, you’ll get a list of programs to choose from, followed by a personalized report that explains each program, and tells you where you can get help or how to apply.

If you need some assistance or you don’t have internet access, you can always speak with a benefits support specialist by calling 800-7946559. You can also get help in-person at any of the 85 benefit enrollment centers located across 41 states. See NCOA.org/article/meet-our-benefits-enrollment-centers to search for a center in your area.

By Jim Miller

How Seniors Can Get Help Paying for Everyday Needs

Dear Savvy Senior,

What types of programs are available to help seniors struggling with their everyday bills, and how do I go about finding them? Since I lost my husband last year, my Social Security survivor benefit is barely enough to get by on.

Types of Benefits

Searching Senior

Dear Searching, I’m very sorry for your loss, but you’ll be happy to know that there are dozens of different financial assistance programs and government benefits that may be able to help you with your everyday costs.

To locate these types of programs, your best resource is Benefits CheckUp.org.

This is a free, confidential online screening tool designed for older

adults and people with disabilities. It will help you find federal, state and local benefits programs that can assist with paying for food, utilities, health care, medications, housing and many other needs. This site — created by the National Council on Aging in 2001 — contains nearly 2,000 programs across the country.

To identify benefits, you’ll first

Depending on your income level, location and circumstance, here are a few of the many different benefits you may be eligible for: • Nutrition assistance: Programs like the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) can help pay for food at the grocery store. The average SNAP benefit for 60-and-older households is around $105 per month. Some other nutrition programs that are available to seniors include the Senior Farmers Market Nutrition Program and the Commodity Supplemental Food Program.

• Utility assistance: There’s the Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP) that provides assistance in lowering home heating and cooling costs. And for broadband assistance, the Affordable Connectivity Program provides a $30

monthly subsidy that can be applied toward your home internet costs.

• Health care and medicine: Medicare Savings Programs and Medicaid can help or completely pay for seniors’ out-of-pocket health care costs.

And for assistance with medications, there’s a low-income subsidy program called ‘Extra Help’ that helps pay premiums, deductibles, and co-payments on Medicare (Part D) prescription drug coverage. You can also search for prescription drug help through patient assistance programs or your state pharmaceutical assistance program at Medicare.gov.

• Supplemental Security Income (SSI): Administered by the Social Security Administration, SSI (see ssa. gov/ssi) provides monthly payments to very low-income seniors, age 65 and older, as well as to those who are blind and disabled. In 2023, SSI pays up to $914 per month for a single person and up to $1,371 for couples.

In addition to these benefits, there are dozens of other programs BenefitsCheckUp can help you identify, like housing assistance, property tax reduction, home weatherization assistance, tax relief, veteran’s benefits, senior transportation, caregiving support, free legal assistance, disability services, job training and more.

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

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NUNNSHME.COM December 2023 • IN GOOD HEALTH – CNY’s Healthcare Newspaper • Page 21

Health News Crouse welcomes SU’s Mike Haynie to its board of directors

Physician assistant joins St. Joe’s Care Center West

Crouse Health Board of Directors Chairman Patrick A. Mannion has announced the appointment of Mike Haynie to the organization’s board.

Haynie is currently vice chancellor for strategic initiatives and innovation at Syracuse Michael Haynie University and executive dean of the Martin J. Whitman School of Management.

Haynie is responsible for a diverse portfolio of academic programs, centers and innovation initiatives that include the University’s Office of Veterans and Military Affairs, the D’Aniello Institute for Veterans and Military Families (IVMF), as well as the Office of Government and Community Relations.

In 2011, Haynie founded the IVMF, the nation’s first interdisciplinary training and research institute informing and advancing the policy, economic and wellness concerns of the America’s veterans and families.

Today, the institute’s national training programs serve 20,000 transitioning service members, veterans, and military spouses annually, and is widely acknowledged as the nation’s leading academic voice related to issues impacting veterans and military-connected families.

In 2018, Syracuse University named Haynie a university professor, the most senior rank awarded to faculty. Before beginning his academic career at Syracuse University, Haynie served for 14 years as an officer in the United States Air Force.

Haynie has received numerous awards for his scholarship, teaching and community engagement, and he routinely provides counsel to private and public sector leaders on issues related to small business, innovation and veterans.

“Mike Haynie is a nationally and internationally recognized and respected academic, scholar and community leader and we are honored to welcome him to the board of directors,” says Mannion. “His vast and impressive professional and far-ranging research, academic, military and community engagement experience will serve Crouse well as we continue to strategically position the organization as a major healthcare resource in the region.”

Mannion also announced that current board members Tim Kennedy and Barbara Ashkin will also serve as vice chairs. Kennedy currently serves as regional president, Advance Media. Ashkin is vice president and chief financial officer for Syracuse-based CXtec.

Certified physician assistant Taylor Arpano has joined St. Joseph’s Health Primary Care Center West. In her new role, Arpano will collaborate with an integrated team of experienced professionals committed to supporting their Taylor Apano patients’ health goals.

Arpano joins St. Joseph’s Health as a National Health Service Corp member after graduating from Le Moyne College’s Physician Assistant Studies program where she completed elective clinical rotations in interventional radiology, cardiology and cardiothoracic surgery.

“I really enjoy family medicine and providing care to patients of all ages and multiple family members,” said Arpano. “I am especially proud to be working with the St. Joseph’s team of committed caregivers and working together to provide the best in community-based health care.”

Arpano earned master’s degree in physician assistant studies from Le Moyne College and her bachelor’s degree from the University of Massachusetts, Amherst. In 2017, while completing her studies, Arpano was the sole phlebotomist at one of six federal medical centers nationwide, equipped with a dialysis center, dementia unit, mental health unit and hospice unit. She worked closely with patients on the transplant panel as well as providers. She also created a mobile lab station during the COVID-19 pandemic; the first of its kind.

Dr. Pittari joins Auburn Neurology Services Physician Joseph Pittari joined Auburn Neurology Services from The University of Rochester Medical Center department of neurology where he completed his headache medicine fellowship.

Pittari attended medical school at the Joseph Pittari University at Buffalo School of Medicine and Biomedical Sciences and did his residency at the University at Buffalo adult neurology residency program before completing his fellowship at the University of Rochester.

“I am excited to join Auburn Neurology Services and to be part of the Auburn Community Hospital. The neurology team serving Auburn is very focused on ensuring the patient experience is exceptional

Page 22 • IN GOOD HEALTH – CNY’s Healthcare Newspaper • December 2023

and I appreciate that. I look forward to working together to provide new services and a high level of care to this community,” said Pittari.

“We are thrilled to have Dr. Pittari join Auburn Neurology Services.

A key component of the hospital’s strategic plan is to bring necessary services and physicians to ACH, so people have access to high quality care and don’t have to drive to Syracuse, or Rochester, for neurology issues,” said Scott Berlucchi, president and CEO at Auburn Community Hospital.

Community Memorial’s orthopedic practice welcomes PA Community Memorial in Hamil ton has introduced its newest addition to the orthopedic practice, Frank J. Walczak IV. He joins as a physician assistant with a strong foundation in orthopedics and athletic training with a commitFrank Walczak ment to delivering exceptional patient care.

Walczak is a recent graduate receiving a Master of Science in physician assistant studies from Le Moyne College and a Bachelor of Science in kinesiology with a concentration in athletic training from SUNY Cortland.

He holds multiple national certifications, including a NCCPA certified physician associate (PA- C) certification, NSCA certified strength and conditioning specialist (CSCS), and NATABOC certified athletic trainer (ATC).

Walczak is also licensed as a New York state physician associate and holds certifications in advanced cardiovascular life support (ACLS), basic life support (BLS), and first aid from the American Heart Association.

In addition to his professional qualifications, Walczak is an active member of professional organizations, including the New York State Society of Physician Assistants (NYSSPA), the American Academy of Physician Assistants (AAPA), the National Strength & Conditioning Association (NSCA), and the Na-

tional Athletic Trainers Association (NATA).

Before joining Community Memorial, Walczak worked as an athletic trainer at Victory Sports Medicine & Orthopedics in Skaneateles, where he provided athletic training services in high school and junior collegiate settings. He also assisted with rehabilitation, created personalized exercise training programs, and supported orthopedic providers as a physician extender.

Laboratory Alliance names director of information services Laboratory Alliance of Central New York has named Jim Zielinski director of information services. A skilled information technology (IT) professional, he has more than 20 years’ experience in healthcare IT and an extensive background in software and systems implementation, data analysis, .NET programming, database management, DevOps administration and network administration.

Zielinski joined Laboratory Alli ance in early 2023 as a programmer analyst. He holds a Master of Science in information systems management from the University of Phoenix and has received multiple IT-related certifications Jim Zielinski throughout his career.

Laboratory Alliance provides computerized patient results at the fingertips of those directly responsible for patient care. The information systems team provides a strong communications link between all partners through the use of multiple commercial laboratory connectivity products.

Laboratory Alliance, now in its 25th year, provides all inpatient and outpatient clinical and anatomic pathology testing for Crouse Hospital and St. Joseph’s Health and for regional hospitals, long-term care facilities and healthcare practices in a 16-county region in Central New York. The company performs more than 10 million tests per year through its patient centers and three laboratory locations.

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Crouse Launches 36th Annual Lights of Love Campaign

T

he holiday season is upon us and with it one of Central New York’s most glowing traditions: the annual Crouse Health Foundation Lights of Love campaign.

Each of the 3,000 lights on the iconic Crouse clocktower are illuminated, representing gifts — given in honor or in memory of someone — that will support the hospital’s ability to provide comprehensive medical services and programs for our community.

This year’s campaign proceeds will benefit the update and repair of the iconic Crouse clocktower itself, a Syracuse landmark that has been lighting the city’s skyline since 1927.

The clocktower is in need of structural repairs and restoration including the roof, windows and painting.

“The Crouse clocktower has long been a signal of strength and hope for the communities we serve in Central New York and its preservation is essential,” said Crouse Health Foundation Chairman Vincent Spina.

“With this restoration, it will continue to serve as a visible reminder of the Crouse mission, vision and values.”

For more information about purchasing a light in honor or in memory of a loved one go to crouse.org/lights.

Oswego Health’s gala raises over $149,000 The 4th Annual Oswego Health Foundation Gala in November raised over $149,000 to support local healthcare and the newly created Oswego Health Foundation endowment fund.

During the program, Oswego Health presented three awards: • The 2023 Community Partner Award was presented to ConnextCare. For over 50 years, ConnextCare has been providing a family-oriented healthcare practice for Oswego and surrounding county residents. It offers a variety of comprehensive health care services in a timely and efficient manner.

• The 2023 Physician of the Year Award was presented to urologists Elizabeth and Gary Bozeman. The Bozemans have made a profound impact on the community, serving countless patients and families with their expertise and care, according to a hospital’s press release.

• Jody Wood received the 2023 Oswego Health Nurse of the Year Award. As operating room director since early 2020, Wood skillfully guided her team through two pandemic-related shutdowns, successfully rebuilding the nursing team. She balanced increased volumes with an unwavering commitment to patient safety and quality, resulting in OR volumes exceeding pre-pandemic levels.

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