In Good Health

in good July 2011 • Issue 139

Pregnancy & Yoga Find out what benefits prenatal yoga can offer to moms-to-be

Out to Get You

FREE FREE

CNY’s Healthcare Newspaper

The Struggles

to Become a Parent

This is the story of Erica Walther Schlaefer and her husband A.J. Schlaefer’s journey to become parents and how they touched other people’s lives in the process. Inside

Blood Donation : Passing On the Tradition Don’t let bugs bug you this summer. Find out how

Linking Patients to Family, Friends Joy Zimmerman was diagnosed with an aggressive form of breast cancer. Over eight months of treatment, she faced some bad days. She got through them with help from a free service that lived up to its name — CaringBridge. See inside

Hours Away From Being a Mother See ‘My Pregnant Life’ column inside

WOMEN’S ISSUE • New Text Messaging to Help Pregnant Women • Most American Women Experience Complications During Delivery • Liposuction: Lose Here, Gain Elsewhere July 2011 •

IN GOOD HEALTH – CNY’s Healthcare Newspaper

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Page 1

We perform a full line of comprehensive obstetric and gynecological services.

Dr. Richard Waldman

Elaine Mielcarski, CNM

Dr. James E. Brown, Jr.

Dr. Christopher LaRussa

Dr. John Rosser

Dr. Suchitra Kavety

Dr. Melissa Brown

Dr. Douglass N. Powell

Sheryl Lang-DiStefano, RPA-C

Heather Barnes, NP

Donna Gregory, NP

Dr. Eva Pressman

Dr. John C. Bowen

Kandice Kowalewski, RPA-C

Jane Fields, CNM

Paul Jessmsore, NP

7921⁄2 N. Main St. • N. Syracuse, NY 13212 • 701-0500 770 James St. • Syracuse, NY 13203 • 422-2222 4302 Medical Ctr. Dr., Suite 302 • Fayetteville, NY 13066 • 329-7222 4820 West Taft Road • Suite 208 • Liverpool, NY 13088 • 451-2261

Accepting New Patients www.afwomensmed.com Evening Hours Available • Exclusive delivery and surgical privileges at St. Joseph’s Hospital in Syracuse, New York •

WHEN YOUR HEART IS ON THE LINE, GETTING HELP FAST CAN MAKE ALL THE DIFFERENCE. Chest pain isn’t the only sign of a heart attack.

Shortness of breath; back, arm or jaw discomfort; severe nausea; or heavy sweating also may indicate a problem. As the first Accredited Chest Pain Center in Syracuse, St. Joseph’s knows just how important it is to diagnose and treat these symptoms quickly and accurately. Seeking medical help right away can help protect you from serious heart damage and create a more positive outcome from a potentially dangerous situation. So, don’t hesitate to call 9-1-1.

Your heart—and your life—may depend on it.

HEART ATTACK? EVERY SECOND COUNTS. CALL 9-1-1.

St. Joseph’s Hospital Health Center 301 Prospect Ave. Syracuse, NY www.sjhsyr.org St. Joseph’s Resource Line (Physician & Program Information): 315-703-2138 St. Joseph’s is sponsored by the Sisters of St. Francis.

Franciscan Companies is a member of the St. Joseph’s Hospital Health Center network.

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

SYRACUSE’S FIRST ACCREDITED CHEST PAIN CENTER

A Higher Level of Care

Bankruptcy Rates Among Cancer Patients Increase A n analysis linking federal bankruptcy court records to cancer registry data from nearly 232,000 adult cancer cases in western Washington during a 14-year period has found a hidden cost to survival: Insolvency rates increase along with the length of survival.

“Patients diagnosed with cancer may face significant financial stress due to income loss and out-of-pocket costs associated with their treatment,” said Scott Ramsey, a health care economist and internist at Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center who led the study. “On average, bankruptcy rates increased fourfold within five years of diagnosis.” Ramsey presented the findings June 6 at the 2011 annual meeting of the American Society of Clinical Oncology in Chicago.

The study found that compared to the general population, bankruptcy rates were nearly twice as high among cancer patients one year after diagnosis, and that the median time to bankruptcy was two and a half years after diagnosis.

“The risk of bankruptcy for cancer patients is not well known, and previous studies have relied on individual self-reports about medically related reasons for bankruptcy filing,” said Ramsey, a member of the Hutchinson Center’s public health sciences

division. “By linking two irrefutable government records of cancer and bankruptcy, we are able to determine how financial insolvency risk varies by cancer type, treatment and other factors,” he said.

For the study, Ramsey and colleagues linked Washington state cancer registry data with federal bankruptcy court records in 13 western Washington counties. They measured the rate of bankruptcy after a first cancer diagnosis and identified factors that increased bankruptcy risk among people with common cancers.

They found that bankruptcy risk varies widely across cancer types. The risk is highest for lung, thyroid and leukemia/lymphoma cancer patients.

In contrast, patients over 65, who are typically on Medicare, have a much lower risk of bankruptcy than younger patients. The researchers also found that bankruptcy rates among cancer patients have increased significantly since the U.S. financial crisis.

Ramsey and colleagues in the Hutchinson Center’s Public Health Sciences Division, along with researchers at the University of Washington, conducted the study in collaboration with the U.S. Bankruptcy Court, Western District of Washington, Seattle.

The National Cancer Institute funded the research.

49 Percent Rise in Drug-Related Suicide Attempts by Females Aged 50 and Older

A

new national study shows that from 2005 to 2009 (the most recent year with available figures) there was a 49 percent increase in emergency department visits for drugrelated suicide attempts by women aged 50 and older — from 11,235 visits in 2005 to 16,757 in 2009.

This increase reflects the overall population growth of women aged 50 and older.

The report by the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration also shows that, while overall rates for these types of hospital emergency department visits by women of all ages remained relatively stable

throughout this period, visits involving particular pharmaceuticals increased.

For example, among females, emergency department visits for suicide attempts involving drugs to treat anxiety and insomnia increased 56 percent during this period — from 32,426 in 2005 to 50,548 in 2009.

Similarly, emergency department visits for suicide attempts among females involving pain relievers rose more than 30-percent from 36,563 in 2005 to 47,838 in 2009.

The rise in the number of cases involving the misuse of two narcotic pain relievers, hydrocodone and oxycodone was particularly steep.

July 16, 2011 5K “Keepers of the Flame” Awareness Walk Onondaga Lake Park, Liverpool, NY

Epilespy Foundation of Rochester-Syracuse-Binghamton Visit www.epilepsy-uny.org to Register

Get Back to Your Life When recovering from a hip or knee replacement, stroke or other medical condition, you want to get back to your life and home as soon as possible.

The road back home starts at The Centers at St. Camillus.

The team of rehabilitation experts in the RehabPathTM Subacute Program provide comprehensive short-term inpatient rehabilitation to help you build strength and independence for a successful and speedy recovery.

For more information about the RehabPathTM Subacute Program at The Centers at St. Camillus, call 488-1500.

813 Fay Road • Syracuse, NY 13219 • www.st-camillus.org

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

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

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

Health CNY’s Healthcare Newspaper

Local News, Inc. Distribution: 35,000 copies. To request home delivery ($15 per year), call 342-1182.

In Good Health is published 12 times a year by Local News, Inc. © 2011 by Local News, Inc. All rights reserved. Mailing Address: P.O. Box 276, Oswego, NY 13126. • Phone: (315) 342-1182 • Fax: (315) 342-7776.

Neurofeedback, a medication free alternative

Editor & Publisher: Wagner Dotto • Associate Editor: Lou Sorendo Writers and Contributing Writers: Suzanne M. Ellis, Jim Miller, Eva Briggs, M.D., Gwenn Voelckers, Deborah Banikowski, Deborah Jeanne Sergeant, Anne Palumbo, Aaron Gifford, Chris Motola, Sylviane Duval, Melissa Stefanec, Amy Cavalier • Advertising: Donna J. Kimbrell, Tracy DeCann • Layout & Design: Chris Crocker • Proofreading: Shelley Manley • Office Manager: Laura J. Beckwith

For more information please call:

Syracuse Neurofeedback

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

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.

July 2011 •

IN GOOD HEALTH – CNY’s Healthcare Newspaper

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CALENDAR of

MAURO-BERTOLO THERAPY SERVICES, P.T., P.C.

HEALTH EVENTS

July 8

Gay Alliance sponsors Pride Parade in Rochester

Physical Therapy providing the most advanced and up-to-date treatment techniques in: Spine Care • Chronic Pain • Orthopedic & Sports Injuries Hand & Wrist Therapy • TMJ & Craniofacial Pain One of the few practices with specialized rehabilitation for Women’s Health Issues, including Incontinence • Pelvic Disorders • Obstetrical Pain Cicero Professional Building – 6221 Route 31, Suite #103 – Cicero, NY 13039

Phone (315) 699-1009 • Fax (315) 699-1094

The Gay Alliance of the Genesee Valley is organizing its 22nd Annual Rochester Pride Parade. The event will take place Friday, July 8, and will continue all month long Join the 21st Rochester Pride Celebration. The theme this year is “It’s a Gay World After All…Animated on Park! This year the group is celebrating LGBT (lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender) local, regional, national and international history with a variety of events to appeal to everyone. For more info and a complete schedule of events, visit www.gayalliance.org

July 16

First walk for epilepsy takes place in Liverpool Join the Epilepsy Foundation of Rochester-Syracuse-Binghamton on Saturday, July 16, for the first Salt City Walk for Epilepsy. Funds raised during the event will support the foundation

These people are all host parents in the Treatment Foster Care Program at Cayuga Home for Children

What does that mean?

It means they have big hearts, and they have opened their doors to an adolescent between the ages of 12 and 17 who needs some help in a safe, supportive home environment.

A big heart & A safe home All day & night

Bienestar Bilingual Counseling Center, LLC

2717 Bellevue Avenue 1st Floor Syracuse, NY 13210 (315) 437-1304 Randy Stetson, LCSW-R rstetson@bienestar-bcc.com www.bienestar-bcc.com

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

Mended Hearts has meeting at St. Joe’s in Liverpool The Mended Hearts, Inc., a national nonprofit organization that partners hospitals and rehabilitations clinics to offer services to heart patients through visiting programs, support group meetings and educational forums, is sponsoring a meeting at 5:45 p.m., Tuesday, July 26, at St. Joseph’s Network Building, located at 7246 Janus Park Dr. in Liverpool. Mended Hearts representatives are survivors of heart disease and they help patients, their families and caregivers deal with the many issues they may face as a result of a heart procedure or surgery and recovery.

Currently, there are about a dozen specially trained accredited visitors at St. Joseph’s who visited approximately 50 cardiac patients in its first half-month, and that number is expected to grow.

For more information about Mended Hearts Syracuse Chapter #287, call 7441427.

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and its efforts to raise awareness of the condition in Syracuse and Central New York. Registration will be at 9:30 a.m. at the Bayview Tent located in the Willow Bay area of Onondaga Lake Park in Liverpool. The walk will start at 10 a.m.

Register online at www.epilepsy-uny. org. Epilepsy is a neurological disorder that causes people to have recurrent seizures. A seizure is a brief disruption of electrical activity in the brain.

Approximately 2.5 million Americans have epilepsy, and over 180,000 new cases are diagnosed in the United States each year. In Onondaga County alone, more than 4,500 people are diagnosed with epilepsy.

The Epilepsy Foundation of Rochester-Syracuse-Binghamton office at 1045 James St. in Syracuse has been in operation for more than 12 years. It provides epilepsy and seizure education, support group, counseling, case management, service coordination and employment services to Onondaga and surrounding counties. Call Pam Hunter at 477-9777 for more information. The event will be sponsored by MediciGlobal, UCB and Lundbeck.

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Blood Donation: Passing On the Tradition Some donors say, the key is to get younger generations involved in blood donation

By Aaron Gifford

E

lizabeth Mitchell did not mark the milestone at a bar or restaurant, but in medical office. Instead of blowing out 21 candles, she donated her 21st unit of blood.

Dave Emerson, meanwhile, does not know if he’ll live to be 100, but that has not stopped him from registering his 100th blood donation.

The American Red Cross’ blood donation program has benefited from the kindness of the young and the notso-young, but its nation-wide numbers are not as impressive: Only 38 percent of Americans are eligible to donate blood, and only 8 percent of that number does so. That means, on average, only three of out of every 100 people in this country donate.

The need for blood, however, greatly outpaces the donations. Thirty-eight thousand blood donations are needed daily, or one every two seconds. A single car accident victim may require up to 100 pints of blood.

The Red Cross hopes Emerson and Mitchell can aspire others. Here are their stories: Mitchell, a Syracuse University student who grew up in Manlius, used to

accompany her parents to blood drives.

As a little girl, she aspired to follow in their footsteps. Joseph and Sally Mitchell actually had their second date at a blood drive. Then it became the couple’s special tradition to give blood and enjoy an ice cream cone afterward.

Mitchell started giving blood at 16 and returned to donor sites as often as she was allowed.

“It was during a blood drive at my school,” she recalled during an interview by email from her apartment in London, where she’s currently studying abroad. “And this way I also got to get out of class for an hour. I remember I was nervous about the process, never having gone through it before, but the Red Cross staff members explained everything to me and I felt much better.

When I finished donating, I felt like I had done my little part to help others, and I got free cookies for it. The next time I donated, my mom was the one who asked me to go with her, and since then it has just become something I do every 56 days, like getting my oil changed.”

Every time Mitchell donates blood she brings someone with her. Sometimes it’s her parents, but often it’s a friend who never gave blood before.

Those friends, in turn, have elected to go back and donate again.

“It can be scary to do something new, but is definitely worth it when you are finished,” said Mitchell, who plans to follow in her mother’s footsteps and become a high school chemistry teacher. “The main thing is to think of the benefit of what you are doing. You could be able to save three people’s lives every time you donate. How many times can you say you have saved a person’s life so far? For me, there are 60 in the world who have benefited from what I have done. I don’t know who they are, but I know I have made a difference in their time of need — and Elizabeth Mitchell, a Syracuse University student who grew up that is all I need to know.” in Manlius, used to accompany her parents to blood drives. She Dave Emerson, started donating at age 16 and continues to do so. Every time meanwhile, didn’t Mitchell donates blood she brings someone with her, like her give blood until he father, Joseph Mitchell. “It can be scary to do something new, but was 25. Forty years is definitely worth it when you are finished,” she said.

later, he tallied his 100th donation.

“Not that much thought went into it back then,” the 65year-old Oxford, Chenango County resident recalled.

“It sounded like an easy way to help other people.”

He remembered that he had just graduated from the SUNY College of Environmental Science and Forestry in Syracuse at the time; free time was easy to come by back then.

Four decades later, he still views giving blood as a great opportunity to enjoy some quiet time alone.

“After doing it 100 times,” he said, “it’s still a great way to get some time to yourself. Believe it or not, laying there with noth- For his 100th donation David B. Emerson of Chenango County was accompanied by his 18-year-old granddaughter, Rhiannon Begeal, ing to do is a great way to enjoy a student at Cazenovia College. It was her first time giving blood, yourself.” and she’s already signed up to make her second donation in July.

Some years, “The idea [now] should be to encourage others to take our place,” he’s donated Emerson said. blood every other month. During minutes. I can see why all those quesothers, he donated two or three times. tions are required, though.”

He keeps healthy by playing racquetEmerson’s wife, Mary, is unable to ball, exercising at the YMCA, and going hunting, fishing or hiking. “I pretty donate blood because of her low blood pressure and small veins, so she has much don’t sit around.” contributed to the campaign in the past Emerson is the principal owner by running local blood drives. of the BlueOx Energy Products and For his 100th donation, Emerson Services, one of the major gasoline, propane and kerosene suppliers in Central was accompanied by his 18-year-old granddaughter, Rhiannon Begeal, a New York. One of the first things he student at Cazenovia College. It was did when he began running that busiher first time giving blood, and she’s ness was to allow employees to give already signed up to make her second blood during the work day without donation in July. losing any pay.

“As people get too old — and I’m “It should be easy enough for other not saying I’m at that point yet — the businesses to do the same thing,” he idea should be to encourage others to said. “I really don’t understand why take our place,” Emerson said. more people don’t give blood. I think Marianne Schreyer, speaking for many people are worried that it hurts, but it doesn’t. You don’t even know the the American Red Cross’ New YorkPennsylvania Region, said donors needle is in you.” must be at least 17 (or 16 with parental He also said time constraints have permission in New York state), weigh discouraged previous donors from at least 110 pounds and be in general coming back. There ought to be a mechanism, he said, for getting regular good health on the day of donation.

There is no upper age limit for blood donors through the screening process donation, she said, “as long as you are quicker. well with no restrictions or limitations “Back when I first gave blood, it took 10 minutes,” Emerson said. “Now, to your activities.” you’re lucky if you’re on the table in 45 July 2011 •

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Meet

Your Doctor

By Suzanne M. Ellis

Dr. Richard Waldman Physician talks about his term as president of the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists, the nation’s leading group of physicians providing health care for women

R

ichard Waldman’s curriculum vitae spans nine single-spaced pages, each one documenting decades of involvement in obstetrics and gynecology on the local, state and national level. One of his proudest achievements was being named the 61st president of the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (ACOG) in May of 2010. ACOG, which was founded in 1950, is the nation’s leading group of physicians providing health care for women. He is now the group’s immediate past president.

Q: Tell us a little about the history of ACOG, its membership and its mission.

A: ACOG is a 55,000-member organization of women’s health professionals, representing more than 90 percent of obstetricians and gynecologists in the United States. Our primary mission is education, but we also are committed to advocacy, the needs of our members and promoting safe, efficient, evidence-based practices for women’s health. Many regard ACOG as the preeminent organization in the world of professionals who are committed to women. Dr. Edward Hughes, from Syracuse, was one of the founders of the organization. Our office is in Washington, D.C.

immediate past president. It is very time-consuming but a wonderful opportunity to have a real impact on society.

Q: When and where did you begin your obstetrics and gynecology practice, and why did you decide to go into that field of medicine?

A: I started at Prepaid Health Plan (PHP) in Baldwinsville in 1978. I thought I loved

Q: What is the role of the president of ACOG? A: We chair the executive board and committee and represent the college in national and international meetings. We travel the country giving lectures and advocating for women’s health issues in Congress. We testify before Congress when needed. For example, I recently testified before Congress on maternal mortality, its rising numbers and the increased vulnerability of African American women.

In the United States and most of the world, black women die almost four times more frequently during pregnancy than white women, and the cause is unknown. We are asking Congress to provide dollars to fund research.

Q: How long is your term as president, and is this a paid position?

A: It is a three-year, paid position.

We serve one year as president-elect, one year as president and one year as Page 6

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

gynecological surgery but, in reality, delivering babies was what I loved. I always regarded my choice as serendipitous, and it may have been for the wrong reason, but it was the best decision I ever made in my career. What an awesome job!

Q: What are some of the biggest changes you’ve seen over the years in obstetrics and gynecology?

A: There are so many, including the use of ultrasound, genetic testing, the development [or maturation] of the use of laparoscopic surgery. We have markedly decreased the number of hysterectomies by using ablation and intrauterine therapy. We have infertility management and intrauterine surgery for fetal anomalies. There have been so many advances in women’s health that many do not remember the way it used to be. Women had hysterectomies and stayed in the hospital for seven days, and then it took eight weeks after that to recover. Today, 90 percent of those surgeries are done with the laparoscope, and patients are home in one day and back to work in as little as two weeks.

Q: What do you feel is the greatest challenge facing today’s obstetricians and gynecologists?

A: Liability. I have successfully defended myself and colleagues in liability suits, and medical liability reform has been

my mantra for more than two decades.

Using the courtroom as a defender of the defenseless may have initially been a truly ethical cause, but today it is too often just a money crusade. Our society is being seriously harmed. Attempts are under way to seriously erode the ability of a physician to protect his patients with good quality medical care.

Q: What is the most rewarding aspect of your profession, and what is the most troubling?

A: Delivering a baby is the single greatest natural high in a medical career. Losing a mother in pregnancy is the most troubling. It devastates a father, a child, a family and a neighborhood. The trauma of losing a baby or mother is extremely hard on doctors and other caregivers as well.

Q. Looking back on your year as president, can you summarize your experiences, impressions, etc. of the past year?

A. Wow. There are so many impressions. I was truly humbled by being president of an organization that I adore and by being treated with such respect all over the world. The respect is for the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists, not so much for me but it was a reflection of the respect our organization garners throughout the world. We traveled to Ireland, Montreal, Chile, Russia twice, Mexico and felt that we made a real difference. We also traveled throughout the U.S., meeting fellows in Boston, West Virginia, Virginia, Milwaukee, Arizona, Kansas and Colorado — were able to fly the flag and support our physicians throughout the country.

Over the last two years we have forged a wonderful relationship with the ACNM [American College of NurseMidwives] and believe that the collaborative intelligence of our organization has markedly improved and that will pay huge dividends for our future.

Work at the college on issues that are dear to me — cerebral palsy, maternal mortality and looking at obstetrical — are ongoing and may very well be fruitful. And that was just the beginning.

Lifelines Date of birth: Nov. 25, 1946 Birthplace: Newark, N.J. Current residence: Dewitt Education: Weequahic High School (Newark), 1964; Rutgers State University, 1968; New Jersey College of Medicine & Dentistry, 1972; internship and residency at SUNY Upstate Medical University, 1973-1976 Family: Wife, Elaine; children Michele, Adam, John, Dana, Jeremy; grandchildren, Ashley, Dylan, Jack, Jake, Ryan, Colby, Jordan, Madison, Julia, Miriam and Matthew Hobbies: Reading, photography, travel Affiliations/ honors: ACOG Outstanding District Service Award, 2000; ACOG Outstanding Section Service Award, 1998; Onondaga County Medical Society Outstanding Physician Service to the Community Award, 1998; U.S. Air Force Commendation Medal, 1977; Merck Award, New Jersey College of Medicine, 1972

Don’t Let Bugs Bug You! Redness, swelling and size of the bite — anything more than a centimeter in diameter — is reason to see a doctor

By Deborah Jeanne Sergeant

W

asp and hornet stings and insect bites can take some of the pleasure out of a summer day.

But with first aid, the pain and itching can be minimized.

Bill Linsky, doctor of nursing practice specializing in family practice and emergency medicine at St. Joseph’s Medical Center, recommends removing any stinger.

“Honeybees are typically the only ones that leave a stinger with a little venom sac that will pulse and inject the venom into you,” Linsky said.

Use a magnifying glass if you need a closer look and gently lift from underneath with a credit card or a fingernail. Grasp the stinger with tweezers and pull it out.

“Wash with warm water and soap,” he added. “It’s the best in any case whether it’s a bite or sting. Applying ice is helpful, too.”

Most people recognize mosquito bites but may not immediately know what a chigger bites look like. Intensely

itchy, chigger bites can be red, flat or raised and may look like a blister. They tend to be located in areas with thin skin such as the ankles or where chiggers can hide such as the groin, under waist bands and in armpits.

Chiggers don’t suck blood like mosquitoes. They inject an enzyme that dissolves human skin so they can drink it. The skin reacts to the invading enzyme by hardening. Although it prevents the enzyme from spreading, the reaction forms a handy drinking tube for chiggers to continue sucking up liquefied skin. They cannot bite again once they are removed from the skin.

Symptoms of chigger bites are pronounced itching, and areas that may be reddened, flat or raised and sometimes will resemble a blister. It may take two weeks for the bites to heal entirely, but the intense itching should taper off during the first few days.

Bathing immediately after exposure can prevent or minimize chigger bites.

As with any bug bite, scratching chigger bites will set up the area for infection.

Instead of using your fingernails, visit your local pharmacy for help in battling the itch.

At Hargraves Pharmacy in Fulton, pharmacist Salvatore Lanzafame recommends 1 percent hydrocortisone cream.

“It’s not very expensive and it’s good for insect bites,” he said. “It wouldn’t hurt to put alcohol on it and allow to dry 15 minutes. Then apply a thin film of hydrocortisone cream. Do this one to three times a day.

“Oral Benadryl is good for itching, too,” Lanzafame added. “You can take both.

You take one 25 mg. tablet and be careful for drowsiness.”

Linsky at St. Joseph’s tells patients to watch the appearance of the bite.

“If redness and swelling are present beyond 24 hours, it’s good to seek some help to see if it’s something that requires an antibiotic,” he said.

“In most cases, it’s not a reaction but local response. Cellulitis and the local reaction can be hard to distinguish.”

Ticks carrying Lyme disease are more prevalent in the New England states than Andy Sanefski, owner of Perimin New York; however, anyone eTek Pest Management in Cicero offers visiting the North Country or more tips: New England should watch for a bull’s-eye rash around • “There’s not a lot you can do the bite. with spray to reduce ticks and mosqui“I pull one off someone toes since there are swamps all over about every day in urgent Onondaga County—although Ononcare,” Linsky said. “If one daga County does spray occasionally. finds a tick, he should try to But you can control breeding sites. pull it off with a fine pair of tweezers. If it’s pulled off, it • “Keep brush cut down as much will die in the process of pullas possible. Ticks and chiggers like tall ing it off. grass and underbrush. They climb up “If it’s on you more than on it to catch a ride on the next availthree days, we do worry about able host.”

the transmission of Lyme disease.

It takes about three days for a tick to get a full meal from you.”

Once a tick is full, it can regurgitate and transmit the germ that infects humans with Lyme disease.

Although there’s a slight risk of infection if the tick’s head remains behind, the risk of Lyme disease is greater if the tick remains on its host for three days.

A blood test can confirm Lyme disease.

Other rare illnesses such as West Nile virus, spread by mosquitoes, usually manifest with fever, aches and general malaise.

“If someone is stung or has a severe reaction, anaphylaxis, that involves the airways and ability to swallow,” Linsky said. “These are more dramatic reactions. These are potentially life threatening. If anyone feels swelling of the throat, inability to swallow or breathe they should call 911 right away.”

It’s hard to tell who will be allergic to stings until a person has been stung.

Family history can be one indicator but is not a certain predictor.

“The way the body works is unpredictable,” Linsky said. “You can be stung several times with no reaction and then all of a sudden you can have a reaction.”

Doctors treating people who have such profound anaphylactic reactions usually prescribe them with EpiPen (Epinephrine Auto-Injectors) for first aid for subsequent stings.

Minimizing Exposure to Bugs

W

ant to minimize your exposure to bugs that bite and sting? Try these tips from Walt Nelson, agriculture and horticulture program leader for Cornell Cooperative Extension: •“With a wet year, there are more puddles for mosquitoes to breed in.

There are a lot of areas you don’t have control over, but if it’s an old tire behind the garage, eliminate standing water.

• “Any kind of fish will eat mosquito eggs and larva. That’s a great meal. If you have a garden pond or earthen pond, have fish in there. You’ll have fewer mosquitoes.

• “Wear light-colored clothing.

• “If you’re inclined, use some sort of mosquito repellent. Citronella-based to those based on DEET: there are lots of them that can keep bugs away. I have had some success in reducing the mosquito count when I burn a citronella candle on the porch.

• “I’ve seen just one, but a CO2 generator designed for mosquito management might help. Carbon dioxide is one of the first attractants to mosquitoes. A woman told me that it’s a small burner that runs off a propane tank.

It runs 24/7 from late spring through summer and she can now be outside in the evening at dusk, prime mosquito time, and there isn’t one mosquito around. Mosquitoes get attracted to the burner and gets cooked or get conJuly 2011 •

fused. They can’t differentiate where the CO2 is coming from so they can’t find you. From an unbiased researcher’s perspective, I can only pass it on as anecdotal.

• “For ticks and chiggers, protect your legs. Tuck pant legs into socks so your skin is not exposed as you walk through fields. Use insect repellent on your clothing, especially on legs. They won’t hang on long if they smell repellent.

• “There doesn’t seem to be a direct correlation between the number of critters in a mown lawn and the meadow beyond the fence. You’re just not picking them up on your calf because the grass is only 2 inches high.

They jump off the back of a deer or meadow vole. We don’t have as many of those in our mowed areas because animals are as wary.

• “Since I’m allergic to bee stings, I look under eaves for small nests and I take it out when there are only one or two in the nest.

• “For the ground-dwelling ones, I’m really cautious about going out in the fields in the summer once the ground dwelling wasps get going. I don’t want to inadvertently brush by their nest and send them chasing me.

I watch where I step. I watch to see a beeline where they’re heading into our out of a particular point around you.

That focus is my sight to look for the hole.

IN GOOD HEALTH – CNY’s Healthcare Newspaper

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Page 7

Live Alone & Thrive

By Gwenn Voelckers

Practical tips, advice and hope for those who live alone

Suddenly Single: Finding New Friends is Key to a Fulfilling Life

I

could see the disappointment (or was it fear?) in her eyes. My newly divorced friend was sharing the details of her divorce settlement: “I got the house and the riding mower; he got the friends.” Her voice trailed off and she stared into the distance.

I could tell she thought he got the better end of the deal.

Losing close friends can be one of the toughest aftershocks of divorce. It can feel like heartbreak on top of heartbreak.

I know the feeling. I remember feeling socially alienated after my marriage dissolved. Some friends chose sides, others simply disappeared. I missed the impromptu deck parties and weekend outings. I missed the sharing, the laughing, the belonging.

Making new friends can be one of the biggest challenges for those suddenly single and living alone. It certainly was for me. But I discovered something along the way — an open space for self-awareness and healing.

The opportunity to find new friends that fit into the newly independent version of myself gave me a renewed sense of purpose and enjoyment. It became an adventure.

So how do you meet new people and cultivate friendships after a divorce or the loss of a spouse? Here are a few things I discovered: First, be your own best friend. Taking care of yourself matters. Loving yourself shows. The better you feel about yourself, the better friends you’ll meet.

Positive people appreciate and gravitate to other healthy, positive people.

Do what you like doing. You won’t make friends sitting alone at home, watching reruns of “Two and a Half Men.” Get out of the house and do those things you enjoy, whether it’s going to the gym, walking your dog, taking golf lessons, joining a book club, or any number of activities that are fun and active. You’ll meet people who share your interests and love of life. Friendships will likely follow!

Consider a support group.

It’s not uncommon for new friendships to be born out of compassion and empathy. A divorce or grief support group will put you in touch with others facing similar challenges. A friend of mine met her second husband in a divorce support group. She shared, “We got to know each other as friends first, and have remained ‘best friends’

throughout our marriage. It’s the best thing that ever happened to me.”

Say “yes” to invitations and opportunities to be with people. Circulating at parties, neighborhood gatherings, or any social event is one of the easiest ways to make new friends. You’ll be out and about with people with whom you share something in common. Show up and don’t be shy about extending an invitation to someone you meet. It could be a cup of coffee, drinks after work, or a game of tennis.

Don’t overlook your family. My sister is my best friend, and she helped me re-establish a network of friends after my divorce. I had gone into the proverbial “cave” and lost contact with practically everyone. Her friends became my friends, and now, years later, I enjoy the company of her friends, as well as my own.

Rekindle relationships with old friends.

Sometimes old friends drift away when marriage, kids, and careers take precedence and require time and focus.

That’s not unusual. But now, with the passing of time, a reconnection might be a welcome possibility. And who knows? Your old college roommate, high school pal, or former neighbor may be needing a friend, as well.

Friends from the past were an important part of your life at one point, and

may still have lots to offer. Pick up the phone.

Give “singles” events a try. Many divorced or widowed men and women find fun and friendship in community activities organized just for singles. It could be a hike, wine tasting event, dinner club, or dance. These opportunities are often included in community calendars you’ll find online or in your local newspaper.

Volunteer or join a cause. Supporting an organization or cause you believe in will put you in contact with people working toward a greater good. Charity walks, political parties, hospitals, museums, animal shelters and many other organizations often need volunteers. Strong connections can be made when you work alongside others who want to make the world a better place to live.

Good friendships are key to a fulfilling life. The company of someone who makes you laugh, who provides a shoulder to lean on, and who is just plain fun to be with is vitally important to health and happiness, especially for those who live alone.

As the Buddhists say, “The only way out is through.” Coming to grips with your losses and working to rebuild a network of friends will help you regain your sense of belonging and social footing. One step at a time, and I’m confident you’ll discover, as I did, many new friends and kindred spirits along your path.

Gwenn Voelckers is the founder and facilitator of Live Alone and Thrive, empowerment workshops for women held throughout the year in Mendon, New York. For information about her upcoming workshops or to invite Gwenn to speak, you can call her at (585) 624-7887, email her at gvoelckers@rochester.rr.com.

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Independent@Home

Linking Those With Health Challenges to Family and Friends Website provides ways for patients to share experience, encouragement

By Janet Gramza

J

oy Zimmerman has always tried to live up to her name.

“I told my parents naming me ‘Joy’ was a blessing and a curse,” she jokes, “because you can’t have a bad day when your name is Joy.” But last year, the 38-year-old mother of two was diagnosed with an aggressive form of breast cancer. Over eight months of treatment, she faced some bad days. She got through them with help from a free service that lived up to its name — CaringBridge.

CaringBridge, at www.caringbridge.org, is a non profit company that connects patients experiencing “a serious health challenge” to friends and family by giving them free websites where they can share their stories and receive messages of encouragement and support.

Zimmerman, director of Ontario Health & Fitness Center in Pulaski, knows hundreds of people from her work life alone. After her diagnosis with metaplastic carcinoma last summer, she wrote faithfully in her CaringBridge journal, updating it almost weekly for those following “Joy’s Journey.”

To date, her site has received 13, 947 visits, 795 guestbook entries and 12 “tribute” donations to CaringBridge in her honor.

“CaringBridge provided a way of letting people know what was going on with me, but not bothering them with emails or too much information,” Zimmerman said.

It also spared her from having to answer a lot of phone calls or emails at a time when just getting through treatment was a challenge. And, perhaps most important, it encouraged people to send her reassuring notes to be read at her convenience.

“I found that writing can be very therapeutic, and the messages people left in the guestbook did so much for me,” Zimmerman said. “There are times when you are going through cancer treatment when you feel fatigued and overwhelmed, and I would get online and just read the messages from people who took the time to write a little something so supportive, and I would just feel so blessed.”

Zimmerman’s is one of more than 250,000 CaringBridge sites created by patients in 50 states and 225 nations around the world, according to the company’s 2010 annual report. CaringBridge reports a total of 61,426 of those pages were created in the past year.

Caring Bridge began in 1997 with one website created by Sona Mehring of St. Paul, Minn., for close friends whose baby was born three months premature. With the mom in critical condition, the one-pound baby girl was rushed to a neonatal ICU. “I asked JoAnn and Darrin, ‘How can I help?’” Mehring said, “and they said, ‘Can you let people know what’s going on?’”

Mehring, then a computer consul-

tant, realized that a website was the best way to do that. “So the same night that baby Brighid was born, that first CaringBridge site was born,” she said.

“The website eased the burden of having to make a lot of phone calls, but the real ‘wow’ factor was the ability to bring a whole community of people together for David and JoAnn and baby Brighid,” she said.

“Brighid’s life was a roller coaster nine days long, and it ended tragically in surgery,” Mehring said. “But at the memorial service, so many people expressed awe at the experience of being connected by this website. It was a testament that this should be available to anyone going through a difficult health journey.”

Fourteen years later, CaringBridge has a budget of $8.1million, 90 percent of it provided by donor contributions.

More than 42 million people visited CaringBridge last year.

Mehring said CaringBridge sites often become personal outlets for patients and their families, letting them pour their hearts out about their experience and get an outpouring of love in response.

Supporters often use the sites to organize help with dinners or errands for the family or promote benefits to help with expenses. Friends of a young Mexico High School graduate who recently had a bone marrow transplant at Boston Children’s Hospital used his CaringBridge site to recruit helpers to make needed renovations to his family’s home while they were away.

“It is very empowering to understand what is going on, and as a result you reach out more,” Mehring said. “In the past, if you had a serious diagnosis, your amount of contact with others would drop off because people wouldn’t want to ‘bother’ you,” Mehring said. “CaringBridge reverses that, because it actually compels people to be engaged.”

CaringBridge does outreach with hundreds of hospitals and health care groups, but Mehring said most patients learn about it through “good old grassroots personal recommendations.”

Joy Zimmerman heard about CaringBridge from a member of her gym three days after her diagnosis.

Zimmerman is a bubbly, attractive woman who loves having a job that keeps her fit and in constant contact with people. She and her husband, Justin Zimmerman, have two daughters, Quincey, 13, and Jenna, 10, and they coach the girls’ soccer, basketball and lacrosse teams.

At a routine physical last June, Zimmerman’s doctor told her that women age 35 or so should get a “baseline” mammogram and offered to arrange one down the hall that very day.

“I am so thankful that he encouraged me and I followed his advice,” she wrote in her CaringBridge journal.

The mammogram showed a mass in her left breast that turned out to be

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Joy Zimmerman, the director of Ontario Health & Fitness Center in Pulaski, set up her CaringBridge website and within a day received a great number of messages. “I found that writing can be very therapeutic, and the messages people left in the guestbook did so much for me,” she said. metaplastic carcinoma.

“This is not ‘typical” breast cancer, but you all know that I have always been unique,” she wrote in her CaringBridge introduction. “Justin says that is one of the reasons he married me....he got the good with the bad on this one.”

Zimmerman said even though she’s not computer savvy, it was easy to set up her CaringBridge site. She immediately got such a great response that her first journal entry began, “WOW! I can’t believe how many of you have sent us such thoughtful and much appreciated messages in less than 24 hours. I am so glad that I found this website — and that we have all of you in our lives!”

Zimmerman documented her entire cancer “journey” on her site, from diagnosis through her mastectomy in September, through a winter of chemotherapy followed by breast reconstruction surgery in March.

Along the way, she worked as many days and coached as many games as she could. Her goal was to keep her attitude and her CaringBridge journal upbeat and positive, and beat cancer with help from her friends.

Her journal entry for Jan. 10, the day of her last chemo treatment, is typical.

“I have made it to the top of this mountain — fought against my cancer and won! When I picture me crossing the finish line in my head, I don’t picture myself crawling across or even running through with my arms in the air. I picture me body surfing (Mom, I have never done this by the way), being passed from person to person, with each of you playing a part in carrying me across that line. This isn’t a battle that I have fought on my own, but one that all of you have been fighting with me. There is no way for me to express how much the outpouring of support, love and prayers has affected me, I have never once felt alone in my fight.

You know what they say: “Strength in numbers!”

July 2011 •

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IN GOOD HEALTH – CNY’s Healthcare Newspaper

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Page 9

Why do I see Dr. Pete?...

My friend raved all about the positive changes her family had seen since they started going to see Dr. Pete. I decided to check it out because I had been suffering from lower back pain and a severe hunching problem.

When my husband and I came to our first appointment, we learned about all the other things that subluxation and misalignment can affect. Health and fertility is what I struggled with most. I had a cold or sickness more than 50% of the time, and we’d been trying to have a baby for some time.

After two and half months of regular adjustments, I have less back pain and an easier time standing up straight. I have not gotten one cold yet!!

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My Turn

By Eva Briggs

New Text Messaging to Help Pregnant Women A clever organization, text4baby, has figured out a way to use text messaging to improve healthcare

W

hen I was a teenager, the idea of a mobile phone was as outlandish and silly as the telephone that Maxwell Smart had in the sole of his shoe in a popular 1960’s TV sitcom. If you are too young to remember the show, a search on YouTube will bring up several episodes. The first one I clicked on even seemed uncannily prescient: Max’s phone rang and interrupted a symphony concert.

Only a decade ago text messaging was new; now it’s widely available.

The average U.S. teen sends a whopping 3,339 text messages every month.

Now a clever organization, text4baby, has figured out a way to use text messaging to improve healthcare.

This service sends health related tips, advice, and reminders to pregnant woman and new mothers. It’s absolutely free for the recipients, even if their mobile phone doesn’t have a text plan.

It’s paid for by a broad coalition of public and private sponsors. But there are no promotional messages.

The impetus for the concept is to

improve maternal and child health.

The program hasn’t been around long enough yet to determine whether text4baby will produce measurable outcomes. But two large studies are underway to answer that question.

Women can sign up by texting “BABY” (or “BEBE” for Spanish messages) to 511411. There’s also a link on the text4baby.org website for online enrolment.

The user inputs the baby’s due date or birth date. After an initial welcome pack, text4baby sends three messages per week tailored to the stage of pregnancy or the baby’s age.

Nineteen professionals develop and edit the messages, making sure that the information is based on reputable sources such as the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

The goal is to keep the messages clear and simple, with one idea per message.

Now, lets switch gears completely to a low-tech solution. Imagine that you are concerned about bedbugs.

But if you thought you were infested, you’d want to know for sure before go-

ing through the expense of exterminating them. Hiring a professional exterminator to set commercial trap could cost $200, or more.

A Rutgers University entomologist, Wan-Tien Tsai Ph.D., designed a do-ityourself bed bug detector that uses $15 worth of materials. The ingredients are a plastic cat food dish, a one-third gallon insulated jug, and dry ice pellets.

Dust the cat food dish with talcum powder — once the bedbugs are lured in, the powder prevents the critters from escaping. Place about 2.5 pounds of CO2 pellets into the insulated jug.

Leave the pour hole open so that the CO2 (which attracts bedbugs) can escape, and then place the jug into the dusted cat food dish. Tape a paper ramp to the dish so that the bedbugs can climb in. Leave the contraption bedside a bedpost overnight, and check the trap for your prey in the morning.

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

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M

edical malpractice premiums for physicians in different regions of the state can vary as much as five times the amount paid between regions and the difference can exceed $100,000 for some specialties, according to an analysis issued today

by Excellus BlueCross BlueShield.

“Medical malpractice rates for Upstate New York physicians are considerably less than those in downstate regions and are similar to the amounts paid by physicians in states that report the lowest premium rates in the country,” said Dr. Arthur Vercillo, regional president, Excellus BlueCross BlueShield.

“The Facts About New York State Medical Malpractice Coverage Premiums” shows that the standard malpractice premium for an internist in Buffalo, Syracuse, Binghamton and Utica ($9,874) is significantly lower than for an internist practicing on Long Island ($35,028). A similar differential exists for physicians in other specialties. For example, a general surgeon’s premium rate in those same Upstate areas is $32,663, contrasted with a Long Island surgeon’s rate of $115,872; and obstetricians/gynecologists in many Upstate regions may pay $52,650, while their Long Island counterparts face a standard rate of $186,772.

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

Physicians pose varying risks of liability based on their specialty, experience factors and the experience of other physicians in the regions where they practice medicine. Standard rates are reviewed and approved by the New York State Insurance Department.

From the standard rates, discounts, credits, experience factors and other considerations are used to determine the actual premium paid by individual physicians. The data presented in the fact sheet for New York state physicians is based on current standard premium rates of the Medical Liability Mutual Insurance Co., which insures most physicians in the state.

Standard medical malpractice premiums for typical physicians in New York state are referred to as “occurrence policies” that provide up to $1.3 million in liability coverage for a single injury and up to $3.9 million for a single policy year.

“Regardless of the regional differences in premium rates, physicians and hospitals that pay their physicians’ medical malpractice insurance premiums believe that the rates are too high and want to see them lowered by reforms to the state’s tort system,” Vercillo said. The fact sheet reviews reports that provide cost estimates on the impact that malpractice insurance

coverage and defensive medicine may have on total health care spending.

“We share physicians’ concerns about malpractice premium rates,” Vercillo said. Excellus BlueCross BlueShield has advocated, together with such organizations as the Medical Society of the State of New York and The Business Council of New York State, for tort reforms that would help lower medical malpractice costs and other liability expenses faced by businesses in the state.

One step taken this year by Gov. Andrew Cuomo and the New York state Legislature to help address rising malpractice insurance costs – particularly in response to downstate hospital pleas for help – was the establishment of a statewide medical indemnity fund to cover medical expenses for eligible children with birth-related neurological injuries.

The report issued today shows the various rating regions of the state and compares three common physician specialties. It also indicates states that have higher and lower malpractice insurance rates than those in New York.

A free copy of the “The Facts About New York State Medical Malpractice Coverage Premiums” fact sheet can be downloaded at excellusbcbs.com/factsheets.

My Pregnant Life

By Melissa Stefanec

Hours Away From Being a Mother

“Nine months,” “full term,” “any day now” — these phrases echo through my head on a nearly constant basis. It doesn’t seem real or possible, but somehow I could be hours away from being a mother. I could also be another highly uncomfortable four or five weeks away from being a mother, but either way parenthood is just around the bend.

I try not to dwell on the two-hour’s of sleep nights or all the bodily functions in my future. I instead try to think about how in only a short time I will be holding something in my hands that my husband and I created and that I worked over nine months on. As she tosses and turns in the little space left in my abdomen, it’s easy to imagine a baby in there. Imagining her out is exciting and at the same time terrifying. I’m so excited to meet her and yet nervous knowing I will occasionally fail her.

We’ve bought the safety gates, the outlet covers and the cupboard latches.

We’ve read on how long the car seats have to be rear facing, installed those same seats, taken all bumpers and toys out of the crib and turned down the hot water tank. We’ve found what we believe and hope to be safe and reliable childcare. We’ve bought the BPA-free and anti-colic bottles, washed her clothes in free of almost everything detergent and spent hours searching for the best-rated breast pump. (The one we ended up with makes you poached eggs on weekend mornings.) We’ve been reading to her in utero. I’ve taken my vitamins, shied away from dangerous foods and kept active. We took the expectant parent classes, saved money, redid the nursery and started longprocrastinated home repairs. The list of preparations could go on and on. Yet, somehow, I just don’t feel ready.

We’ve prepared for all the knowns, but what about the surprises? The things you never see coming, the things no one writes about — can we handle those? Can two people who only a short time ago revolved their lives around weekend trips, happy hours and dinners out really be good at this whole parenting thing? Only time will tell.

In other less introspective and serious news: I’ve packed my hospital bag and have starting toting it back and forth to work in my car. The bag is supposed to sustain me through child birth and packing it was an undertaking. It felt like packing for a trip you know almost nothing about. Let’s hope I will really want Gatorade while birthing, as I have assumed. However, something tells me I may be better suited by packing a flask of bourbon and having a deluxe cheesecake sent to my room during labor.

As instructed by my classes, I’ve had my husband stash trash bags in our cars so I have something to sit on in case my water breaks on the way to the hospital. After all, who needs to be worrying about upholstery cleaning and bills days after birth? I am especially cautious about this after learning that the baby may take her first bowel

@

9 Months

movement in utero, making for a less than savory water-breaking scenario.

I’m feeling OK as far as house-boat women with bowling balls in their pelvises go.

Some days I’m so swollen I can’t make a fist and my ankles feel as though they are about the size of my calves. Rolling over and getting up from lying or sitting down has become as desirable as a pending colonoscopy.

My back aches, I get leg cramps and random spots on my back go numb. I have the energy of a bed-ridden senior citizen. However, I already can’t stay mad. It’s all for her, so it is all OK. For all of you moms out there, I most certainly note the following: I’m perfectly aware that she is easier to take care of inside of me than outside, but that realization doesn’t make these pregnancy symptoms disappear.

When I started writing this column, it was as a challenge to truly think of myself as pregnant, now it’s a challenge to think ahead to when I won’t be pregnant. It’s a foreign concept to picture my child. It’s total speculation to imagine how my life is going to be different in just a few weeks. Maybe it’s the pregnancy-brain, but I just can’t get my head around it.

Speaking of pregnancy-brain, I’m a little afraid of the allegedly worse and shortly to follow mommy-brain. I already forget the word for purse and glass and find myself trailing off in the middle of sentences. Will I soon be reduced to a communication system of grunts and hand motions?

All joking aside, my husband and I realize we are about to embark on one the most challenging and rewarding journeys of our lives. She’s been 9 months in the making and we’ve had nine months to adjust and mentally prepare. Through all the unknowns and questions, I have confidence that we are ready for and welcome the challenges and rewards that await us.

To reach the author, send an email to melissastefanec@yahoo.com

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IN GOOD HEALTH – CNY’s Healthcare Newspaper

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Page 11

Women’s issues

Prenatal Yoga: Beneficial for Mom, Baby

By Deborah Jeanne Sergeant

D

uring pregnancy, even the most graceful female figure turns bulky and cumbersome. Participating in yoga may seem counterintuitive considering the typical twisted-up yoga poses, but prenatal yoga offers many benefits to moms-to-be.

“Yoga addresses body, mind and spirit, so taking a prenatal yoga class is one of the best things you can do for yourself and your baby during pregnancy,” said Erin McCollough, a licensed yoga teacher at CNY Fertility and Healing Arts Center in Syracuse.

McCollough, who also trained as a doula to assist with childbirth, listed many pregnancyrelated issues with which prenatal yoga can help, including carpal tunnel syndrome, poor balance, constipation, fatigue, headaches, heartMary Wilsch, burn, hip pain and ob/gyn with the varicose veins.

Many prenatal office of Howard Weinstein, MD, PC yoga instructors in Syracuse. “The teach specific yoga postures and can added flexibility help with each of and stretching these issues. The is such a plus benefits go beyond for pregnancy, alleviating the physical discomforts especially when caused by carrying a it’s time for baby, however. delivery,” she “You will said. develop a deeper

understanding and connection with your body and your baby and learn important relaxation techniques and positioning options that can be used during birth,” said Christa Corsaro Tyson, hatha yoga instructor at CNY Fertility and Healing and birth doula.

“The strength and stamina you will build during the classes will help lead to a faster postnatal recovery.”

Sound too good to be true?

Medical experts back up her claims.

“The added flexibility and stretching is such a plus for pregnancy, especially when it’s time for delivery,” said Mary Wilsch, ob/gyn with the office of Howard Weinstein, MD, PC in Syracuse. “It’s part of our bodies we don’t take care of. People who are physically active in pregnancies have better labors and pregnancies.”

Most birthing classes include learning how to breathe through contractions. Yoga also incorporates controlled breathing techniques.

“Focusing on the breath using a long inhale through the nose and an exhale through the mouth,” advises Barbara Collette, founder of The InnerPage 12

•

Sanctuary in Baldwinsville and registered yoga teacher. “This will help you mentally prepare for childbirth. Begin building a practice of recuperating after physical activity and train your body to relax on cue. It will come in handy down the road.”

McCullough believes that prenatal yoga helps prepare the body for birth as well by toning the pelvic floor muscles and helping moms-to-be to know where these muscles are to facilitate labor.

Many yoga positions share similarities with comfortable laboring positions. Practicing the positions in advance can help women stay more comfortable and relaxed during labor.

“Poses such as triangle, side angle and balance poses strengthen the leg muscles and pelvic floor muscles and are good to prepare the Barbara Collette, body for later founder of The stages of pregnancy and to encourage InnerSanctuary in Baldwinsville good circulation in the legs and to preand registered vent cramping,” Colyoga teacher. lette said. “Hip open“[Breathing ers such as bound techniques] will angle and wide angle help you mentally seated forward bend are helpful for the prepare for flexibility you will childbirth. need during delivery.

“Open seated twists are good to help relieve aches in lower back and to encourage good posture. Remember to ‘hinge from the hips’ and avoid any deep twists or standing revolved poses as they put too much pressure on the abdominal cavity.”

Laboring is a busy time for moms.

With various medical personnel and relatives telling them what to do, extreme pain and intense emotions distracting them from pushing long enough and hard enough. Corsaro Tyson said that prenatal yoga can help women keep a clear head.

“You will remember and draw upon the tools you learned in class to facilitate the labor process, soothe and empower yourself by finding your own rhythm, and improve your physical comfort,” she said. “Most importantly, you will be familiar with the muscles of the pelvic floor and be more likely to use them effectively. You will also know ways to relax during and be-

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

Christa Corsaro Tyson, hatha yoga instructor at CNY Fertility and Healing and birth doula. “The strength and stamina you will build during the classes will help lead to a faster postnatal recovery.” tween your contractions. These benefits can all lead to a safer and more emotionally satisfying birth.”

In addition to helping the body prepare, prenatal yoga can also affect the connection between mind and body.

“Yoga is a great way for you to learn to be ‘in the moment’ which is a very important skill to learn as you enter into the new world of motherhood,” Collette said.

Pregnancy changes women in many ways, both physically and emotionally. Many yoga teachers, like Sybil Gouchie, owner and yoga teacher at AM/PM Yoga Source in Phoenix, believe that prenatal yoga isn’t about challenging the body in difficult or long poses, but “it’s movement in and out of postures,” she said. “It’s about connecting with this baby inside you to come to a special relationship with what’s changing.”

McCullough has also found that many moms-to-be enjoy a deeper connection with their babies and emotional support from the other mothers in their classes.

Of course, the stereotypical tiedin-a-pretzel poses associated with yoga aren’t suitable for expectant moms after

a certain point.

“Women who’ve always been doing yoga as part of their routine, they’re pretty good at gauging what they can and cannot do,” said Renee Mestad, ob/gyn and assistant professor of obstetrics and gynecology at Upstate Medical University. “During the first trimester, women can pretty much do what they’ve always done. As the pregnancy progresses, they should avoid back bends, balancing on one leg, or anything where they’re upside down, or where they’re lying flat on the back or on the stomach.”

Corsaro Tyson advises pregnant patients to avoid “hot” yoga and stick with gentle yoga. Prenatal yoga avoids extremes and makes use of bolsters and supports to make some positions safer.

Corsaro Tyson often hears clients worry about lying supine since their doctors have told them to avoid lying flat on their backs after week 20 of pregnancy because doing so can allow the growing uterus to compress the mother’s major blood vessels and intestines.

Corsaro Tyson said that standing upright and still during the third trimester “can reduce maternal cardiac output by as much as 18 percent. Lying

on the back with legs extended can reduce cardiac output by as much as nine percent in the second and third trimester.

“In order to keep your body safe during pregnancy you will need to develop confidence to listen to your body and act accordingly,” she said. “If standing still starts to feel uncomfortable move and sway the hips, shift your weight or better yet, sit down.

If lying on your back starts to feel uncomfortable roll to your left side. Lying on the left side during pregnancy brings more blood flow to the uterus.”

Corsaro Tyson always gives her students the choice of participating in supine or standing poses or selecting other poses that are McCollough more comfortable.

For those standing or supine, they spend no longer than three minutes in those positions.

“Studies show that three to five minutes of exercise in supine positions had no adverse effects,” Corsaro Tyson said.

She also encourages students to discuss their prenatal yoga poses with their doctor or midwife.

“Although I am trained to keep women safe in my prenatal yoga classes, your doctor knows you much better

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SMOKING

than I do,” Coraso Tyson said. “Trust their advice and remember we can always find yoga poses specific to your needs and comfort level in my prenatal yoga classes.”

Wilsch advises pregnant patients interested in yoga, “Don’t spend significant amounts of time flat on your back because as the baby grows, the uterus can cause a decrease in blood flow. Everything in moderation is truly a good rule to live by.”

Carsaro Tyson adjusts the poses to the individual’s needs, such as avoiding squats for a woman struggling with varicose veins.

“In general I would avoid crossover twists, deep back bends and any strenuous poses for the woman,” Corsaro Tyson added.

“The practice should be gentle and slow.”

As for when to stop prenatal yoga, most instructors agree that unless the doctor or midwife objects, pregnant women may continue indefinitely.

“Many of my students practice prenatal yoga with me up to or past their due dates, again it is up to the woman and how she feels,” Corsaro Tyson said. “I taught prenatal yoga up to the day both my kids were born.”

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Drs. Juan and Dorothy Kassab of Smile Solutions can offer complete screening, and based on the findings, offer you treatment options.

July 2011 •

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Page 13

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

A

mong the mid-Atlantic and New England states, liposuction was the fourth most popular cosmetic procedure in 2010, accounting for 34,844 surgeries or 17 percent of all types, according to the American Society of Plastic Surgeons.

Usually, liposuction is performed on problem areas such as hips or thighs after patients have unsuccessfully tried to lose weight through exercise and diet.

Those stubborn pockets of fat may be suctioned out through the procedure, but a study recently published in “Obesity” indicated that some patients seem to subsequently gain fat in different areas of the body within a year.

Doctors Teri L. Hernandez and Robert H. Eckel of the University of Colorado found that although the study participants’ fat did not return to the previous problem areas of the thighs and lower abdomen, within a year, they gained the weight elsewhere, Quetell mostly in the upper abdomen, shoulders, and triceps of the arms. Each participant had an average of 5.8 pounds removed and that’s what each gained. The study was performed on a group of non-obese women and included a control group who did not have the procedure done.

Guillermo Quetell, a plastic and reconstructive surgeon in private practice in Syracuse, questioned the validity of the study.

“In plastic surgery, a lot of studies don’t have good evidence,” he said.

“It’s based upon ‘how I did it and it worked well.’ Society is pushing for evidence-based medicine, but that doesn’t make good media coverage.”

Gregory Baum, who practices at CNY Cosmetic and Reconstructive Surgery in Fayettville, questioned the size of the study.

“The study was small,” he said.

“Fourteen participants had liposuction and 18 did not. The number is too small to make any great conclusions on the long term effects of liposuction and the ability to keep weight off. They made conclusions on too small of a number.”

Baum has been in practice 10 years and occasionally has patients return for follow-up liposuction treatments “to touch up because they’re older and have had children,” he said. “The study didn’t say if these women had children. There are a lot of questions with that study.”

Women seeking liposuction should also realize the procedure’s purpose, he said.

“Liposuction is a body contouring procedure, not a weight loss procedure,” Baum said. “You have to modify your lifestyle to keep weight off.”

The research did not indicate that the women who regained weight followed their surgeon’s directions post-operatively, nor that the weight they gained elsewhere is abnormal for their age, diet and activity level.

While the study appeared to confirm that the cosmetic Baum surgery worked (the fat did not return to the areas that were treated with liposuction), it also underscored the necessity for patients to follow their doctor’s instructions.

“They should exercise and continue to keep a moderate diet,” Quetell said. “If they’re going through the time, effort and expense of surgery, you want them to sustain it as much as possible.”

A healthful lifestyle should include engaging in vigorous exercise at least 30 minutes per day most days of the week and reducing the calorie count to a level consistent with the person’s activity level, height, ideal weight and any health issues as directed by their physicians. The diet should include lean protein, low-fat dairy, whole grains and plenty of vegetables and fruits in their natural state. Processed foods and those high in sugar and fat should be minimal.

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Page 15

SmartBites

By Anne Palumbo

The skinny on healthy eating

Why Kale is King Your 24-Hour Phone & Web Resources The Contact Hotline

Counseling, Crisis and Suicide Hotline

315-251-0600

In Cayuga County call 1-877-400-8740

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Mental Health Connection Mental Health Information/Referral

315-445-5606

cnymentalhealth.org

contactsyracuse.org

T

rue confession: Before today’s column, I had nothing to do with kale. We didn’t meet weekly in the produce department, we didn’t share favorite recipes, we were total strangers. Like many of my peers, I was a deadbeat kale consumer.

But all that changed when I got to really know kale. Now, I can’t get it out of my mind or, off my shopping list.

A close cousin to cabbage and broccoli, kale rocks with so many health benefits it has reached “superfood” status. To begin, it teems with betacarotene, an antioxidant believed by some experts to be a major player in the battle against cancer, heart disease and other age-related diseases. Antioxidants, according to the National Cancer Institute, are substances that may protect cells from the damage caused by unstable molecules known as free radicals (byproducts of daily living and digestion).

This curly green may also inhibit the development of macular degeneration and cataracts. Research attributes this benefit to kale’s high concentration of lutein and zeaxanthin, two carotenoids that act like sunglass filters for our eyes, protecting them from excessive exposure to ultraviolet light.

In addition, kale is a spectacular source of vitamin K, with one cup providing 684 percent of our daily needs. Vitamin K, a vitamin typically associated with blood clotting and bone health, also prevents calcium build-up in tissues. Since a build-up of this mineral may lead to cardiovascular disease and stroke, it behooves all of us to make a beeline for kale.

Anyone looking to shed a few pounds before swimsuit season starts in earnest? Kale is a dieter’s dream food! Low in calories (33 per cup), fat and cholesterol, this tasty vegetable boasts a decent amount of filling fiber, along with impressive amounts of vitamins C and A.

Crispy Kale Chips with Sesame Dipping Sauce For the chips: 1 bunch kale 1 tablespoon olive oil 2 cloves garlic, minced Sea salt and coarse black pepper, to taste For the dipping sauce: 1 tablespoon tahini (sesame paste) 2 teaspoons soy sauce 2 tablespoons light mayonnaise 1 teaspoon honey 1 tablespoon water 1 tablespoon toasted sesame seeds Salt and pepper, to taste Preheat oven to 375 degrees. Rinse kale and, holding bunch by stems, shake water from leaves. Pat dry.

Remove leafy part from stem and rip into chip-size pieces. Toss with olive oil, garlic, salt and pepper in a large bowl, kneading kale gently with hands to disperse oil. Spread on a large cookie sheet and bake for about 16 minutes, flipping chips after 8 minutes to assure even baking. Since ovens vary, watch kale carefully so it doesn’t burn.

To make sauce: Thoroughly mix ingredients in a small bowl.

Anne Palumbo is a lifestyle columnist, food guru, and seasoned cook, who has perfected the art of preparing nutritious, calorie-conscious dishes.

She is hungry for your questions and comments about SmartBites, so be in touch with Anne at avpalumbo@aol.com.

Helpful tips:

When purchasing kale, choose firm, deeply colored leaves with hardy stems. Store kale, unwashed, in a zip-lock plastic bag for up to five days in the refrigerator. Note: The longer it is stored, the more bitter its flavor becomes.

Much More!

Page 16

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

Headaches: The Dental Connection Could a Dental Disorder Be Causing Your Headache?

Smile Solutions can help you find the possible cause of your pain and if it could be a dental problem

D

o you have head, neck or facial pain that just doesn’t go away?

Have you tried to find a cause for it and can’t? If nothing you have tried has helped long term and you have already seen a physician to rule out other possible causes, perhaps it’s time to see the dentist.

Doctors Juan and Dorothy Kassab of Smile Solutions have received local and national recognition for providing patients with healthy and beautiful smiles. They can use their state-ofthe-art equipment and non-invasive testing to help determine if your bite is a possible source of pain. Specialized instruments such as TEN, EMG and K7 enable the doctors to scientifically rule in or rule out a diagnosis. If a bite problem is diagnosed, they can treat issues behind your smile that can lead to discomfort.

Headaches, including migraines and back and neck pain, can be related to very common dental problems. If your teeth don’t align correctly, chewing can overwork your face and jaw.

Perhaps you are familiar with the term TMJ (temporomandibular joint disorder). TMJ (or TMD) is a chronic degenerative condition that often takes years to develop. TMJ affects millions of people and is caused by a bad bite. A poor bite, the way your teeth come together, can be the cause of pain almost anywhere in the head and neck area and today, with new knowledge and technology, dentists are able to diagnose and treat bite problems.

Doctors Juan and Dorothy Kassab have specialized training in neuromuscular dentistry, both over-the-shoulder, and in hands-on seminars which, among other things, enable them to diagnose the problem, correct it, and realign the jaw. Using their neuromuscular dentistry training, they can place the jaw into its optimal position, relieving the symptoms associated with TMJ.

Doctors Juan and Dorothy Kassab of Smile Solutions: “Smile Solutions is committed to providing the highest level of caring and professionalism by a dedication to state of the art, cutting edge technology coupled with continuing education and adaptation of best practice skills and procedures.

Our staff strives to achieve the pinnacle of patient care to ensure health, comfort, and optimal cosmetic appearance. Excellence in patient satisfaction is our primary mission.”

Blood Tests Made Easy

If you suffer from chronic headaches, you know how they can disrupt your personal life. Perhaps you have been diagnosed as having tension, stress, food allergy, whiplash, or even migraine headaches. Most people don’t know that headaches in the temple region are very commonly related to the bite and correcting the bite often does away with the headaches.

Smile Solutions can offer a complete screening and, based on the findings, offer you treatment options. And it is especially important to screen for a bite problem if you are considering cosmetic dentistry. Call Smile Solutions by the Kassabs at 315 697-9287 to set up an appointment for an evaluation or go to http://www.smilesolutionsofcny. com for more information.

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Page 17

Veneers can restore an attractive smile

By Deborah Jeanne Sergeant

P

orcelain veneers can offer dental patients with discolored, chipped, broken, gapping or even slightly crooked teeth a new smile with little time in the dentist’s chair.

In recent years, porcelain veneers have become very thin and more realistic than ever. Custom-designed in a dental laboratory to create replicas of the patient’s teeth, properly applied veneers look natural, but without flaws.

“They are a very good cosmetic procedure that brighten up the smile and lighten up the face,” said Gideon Ochiabuto, dentist with Quality Dental Clinic in Syracuse. “It gives you very high self esteem because you have very white teeth. People respect a good, white smile.”

It sounds like the ideal solution for anyone who wants a perfect smile; however, porcelain veneers have a few drawbacks and may not be suited for all patients.

With most patients, the teeth must have part of the enamel ground off to make room for the veneer so it aligns properly with the gums and doesn’t make the tooth appear too thick.

Veneers have improved in this aspect, however.

“The reason why veneers are nice is in the olden days they used to cut the teeth down and put crowns on them,” said Karen Lawitts a dentist who operates a practice in Syracuse. “Now we don’t have to cut them down. We can

Page 18

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shave them slightly if necessary. It’s a much more conservative treatment.

Veneers have become thinner and thinner so we don’t have to shave teeth as much.”

Veneers can last indefinitely; however, five to up to 20 years is average, depending upon how well patients care for their teeth at home and how they treat their teeth in general.

“A lot of people clench their teeth or grind them or use their teeth like tools,” said Susan Dunn, dentist with Smiles by Design in Syracuse. “With good care, veneers should last a good deal of years.”

A mouth guard can help prevent grinding problems. Since the underlying tooth may have had enamel removed, it can be important to replace a chipped or missing veneer right away.

“You must brush and floss,” Ochiabuto said. “One thing that causes failure is cavities. Acid causes decay and when it builds up around the veneer it causes it to fail.”

When a veneer is compromised, patients must have it replaced.

“They can fracture or come off or ‘de-bond’ as we call it,” said Howard J. Alexander, a dentist practicing in Syracuse. “New ones can be made. If one were to fail, you don’t necessarily have to have all of them redone at that point.”

Unlike dentures or orthodontic appliances, porcelain veneers do not

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

restrict the patient’s diet.

Since veneers are applied to the front side of the front teeth, surfaces not used for chewing, this presents little problem to most patients.

It takes about half an hour per tooth to apply the veneer. Most patients have their veneers applied during two to three visits.

Porcelain veneer application is not covered by insurance for most patients.

It can range between a few hundred to $1,100 per tooth.

For patients who require Before and after photos showing teeth a veneers to repair damaged transformation of the person’s front teeth. The ‘after’ teeth, insurance may cover photo shows off a smile that has benefited from part of the expense. whitening and veneers on the front teeth. Courtesy of “They’re considered cosmetic by insurance com- Dr. Ralph De Felice of Geneva. panies,” Dunn said. “Sometimes we recommend them as a conservative treatment if someone has big fillings on their front teeth and they can have a veneer as opposed to a full crown.”

Like most dentists, Dunn recommends braces first.

“If somebody is not opposed to orthodontics, I recommend that first to avoid cutting the tooth down,” she said. “Some people don’t want to go through orthodontics.”

Lawitts also helps paveneers. tients evaluate if veneers are the right “If they’re just rotated but the teeth solution to their dental issues.

“If someone’s teeth look pretty nice are fine, I tell them to have a consultaand straight and they’re discolored, we tion with the orthodontist first. For people with chipped, uneven teeth, vewill tell them to bleach,” she said. “If neers can create the illusion that they’re their teeth are rotated a little or misshapen and their color is off, we can do straight and white.”

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By Deborah Jeanne Sergeant

T

he New York State Dental Association views a dental hygienist as a professional who in the setting of a dentist’s office “helps to prevent disease while assisting patients to maintain their health.”

• “Keep regular visits to keep on top of things. Sometimes they forgo and have to play catch up for restorative work. The longer it goes, the worse it gets and the more expensive it is to fix.

• “Some patients, especially if they have periodontal disease, need to have cleanings every three months.

• “The research shows that it takes about three months to bacteria to colonize so it’s causing damage to the teeth. That’s one reason we tell people to brush three times a day. The bacteria can double every two to three hours.

When they grow to a large enough amount, that’s when they start to colonize.”

• “A majority of the population doesn’t floss. It’s more important than brushing for preventing periodontal disease.

• “Give us at least 24 hours’ notice if you can’t come. A lot of times we’ll have other people waiting for an appointment and we can call them to fill the space.

• “Come on time. Once someone shows up late, everyone will be behind as the day goes on. Not every office runs on time, but we try to stay on schedule. There’s nothing I hate more that waiting for hours in a doctor’s office.

• “A lot of people are nervous about dental treatment and they should voice that. If we don’t know they’re apprehensive, we don’t know we can do things to help. We practice pain-free dentistry.”

Amy Davies, hygienist at the office of Howard J. Alexander, DDS, PC in Syracuse • “Good dental hygiene promotes good health throughout the whole body. I’m looking at improving overall health in conjunction with oral health.

• “With children unable to brush and floss at school, chewing sugar free gum or using xylitol products can neutralize acid in minutes. It’s huge in cavity maintenance programs. Adults can [use xylitol products] when they’re going out to dine. It’s been approved by the ADA to prevent cavities.

• “If they’re new patients, it helps if they come in early to fill out the paperwork. That will give us more chair

side time with them.

• “We’re there to be their partners and help them in whatever way we can to keep their mouths healthy. It’s the entryway in to the rest of the body and it’s important for overall health.

I’m not there to look down on them but to be gentle and give them an overall positive experience.

• “A lot of people fear the dentist.

We hear that 80 percent of the time. It’s my job to turn that around for them to make it a positive, gentle experience for them.

• “We use a lot of digital X-rays and can show them a lot of things a lot of offices do not. I can show them this is why I’m recommending this.

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• “The cleaner, the better. If you do a good job brushing and flossing your teeth on a daily basis, you’ll have fewer problems with cavities and gum disease. It’s important to take care of your teeth.

• “Brush at least twice a day with a soft bristle brush.

• “The night time is the most important time to brush.

• “We are professionals conditioned for all situations but it’s nice if they at least brush before coming in.

• “Show respect and consideration; let us know if you’re not going to make the appointment. Things come up in people’s lives. We can understand that things happen but if we’re really booked solid we could give that appointment to someone else.

• “We do recommend bringing in a child in at age 3. The child should be able to rinse out. If they swallow the toothpaste, it’s not good for their stomachs. It’s something a parent could be working on with a 3- to f4-year-old.”

Sharon Hastings, hygienist at Fulton Dental Health Associate, PC

Deborah Jeanne Sergeant is a writer with In Good Health. “What Your Doctor Wants You to Know” is an ongoing column that appears monthly to give our area’s healthcare professionals an opportunity to share how patients can improve their care by helping their providers and by helping themselves.

July 2011 •

IN GOOD HEALTH – CNY’s Healthcare Newspaper

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Page 19

r Covery Sto

Passing on the Gift of Parenthood

Erica and A.J. Schlaefer tried for years to become parents. After they opted for adoption they started a nonprofit organization to help other couples become parents

By Amy Cavalier

T

his is the story of Erica Walther Schlaefer and her husband A.J. Schlaefer’s journey to become parents and how they touched other people’s lives in the process.

Erica has shared her and A.J.’s struggles with infertility and decision to adopt with hundreds of people across the country through her blog “Parenthood for Me.” And in 2009, the couple, who lives in Irondequoit near Rochester, founded a national nonprofit organization of the same name aimed at providing emotional and financial support, and educational tools to those adopting and pursuing assistive reproductive technology to try to conceive.

“What’s maddening to me is that parenthood comes down to the size of your bank account for so many people,” said Erica. “There’s so many children out there that need families.”

Married in 2003, Erica and A.J. tried to start a family. Unsuccessful, the couple visited a fertility specialist who informed them that their dream to have a child would not come easy. Both Erica and A.J. had reproductive issues that would make it difficult for them to conceive naturally. After four years and over $20,000 on assisted reproductive technology, the emotional and financial struggle became too much, Erica said,

and they decided adopt.

Erica and A.J. welcomed their son from South Korea in June of 2008 and they are expecting a second son through international adoption. Parenthood is a dream come true, Erica said in her blog in late April during National Infertility Awareness week.

“We couldn’t be happier with our little family, and it is very exciting to have a brother for our son,” she wrote on April 29. “However, the very long and arduous journey to parenthood has left an imprint on my soul forever.

Infertility, the disease of infertility, changes one’s life.”

Erica began her blog, “Parenthood for Me,” in October 2008.

“I knew by putting it out there, another man or woman would read it,” she said. “I guess if we’re going through this, we might as well have something good come out of it.”

Soon, the blog began to reach people across the United States. People Erica didn’t even know began reading the blog and coming forward to share their own stories about In vitro fertilization, infertility and adoption. There are 7.3 million Americans that suffer from infertility, Erica said, and one in four couples will have some problem with conception.

Erica and A.J. Schlaefer in a recent photo. The couple decided to adopt after fertility treatments failed to yield results. They now help couples across the nation though their nonprofit Parenthood for Me. Page 20

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

Although infertility was recently defined as a disease by the World Health Organization, Erica said, it’s debated by insurance companies as to whether infertility is more of a life enhancing procedure that’s not necessary or if it’s a medical procedure that’s a necessity of life.

“Procreating is such a natural part of being human,” Erica wrote in her blog. “When you are forced to come to terms with the fact that it may never happen, you are giving up a large piece of yourself. It’s a blow so unexpected it takes your breath away.”

In 2009, A.J. and Erica founded the nonprofit Parenthood for Me with the intention of providing education, emotional and financial assistance to other couples wanting to become families, either through reproductive therapy or adoption.

“I wanted a place under one umbrella where people could go who were desperate for parenthood... whether they wanted adoption, surrogacy, in vitro fertlization,” she said.

“We don’t claim to be an expert in any one of these areas, but we can point you in the right direction to the experts, to an infertility clinic in your area, because there’s a lot of research to be done and its very overwhelming.”

International adoption cost the couple about $25,000. It can range upwards of $40,000. A federal tax credit covered about $12,000, but Erica and A.J. still had to come up with all the money up front without taking out any loans. For many couples dealing with infertility, the cost of fertility treatments and adoption can be out of reach.

Parenthood for Me is raising money to provide grants to those adopting and pursuing assistive reproductive technology to try to conceive.

The nonprofit awarded its first set of grants in the summer of 2010. Out of the 90 applicants on the first grant round, Parenthood for Me gave a total of $12,000 to four couples, two who were pursuing assistive reproductive technology and two pursuing adoption. The couples were from New York, California, Florida and North Carolina.

Over 110 people attended the second annual Parenthood for Me Gala held in April. The organization recognized Dr. Eberhard Muechler with the 2011 Commitment to Excellence Award for his 43-year commitment to building families. Muechler was the first doctor to perform in vitro fertilization in Rochester at the University of Rochester Medical Center, according to Erica’s blog.

Other fundraising events have included Bowling for Babies and Artwork for Building Families, an ongoing fundraising effort that includes the sale of stationary note cards, posters

and bookmarks. Parenthood for Me will award its second grants in July.

Erica said she is amazed by the support she’s received from her blog followers, people she’s never had the chance to meet, who have helped her grow Parenthood for Me. “Its amazing, we’ve got so many grant applications from all over the country,” said Erica. “It makes you want to do more. I can’t tell you how many heartwarming, wonderful things that have happened since we started.”

Jerry Furciniti of Fairport, 34, serves on Parenthood for Me’s board of directors. He and his wife Laura began the adoption process with their first son Evan in 2009 and Evan arrived from South Korea on Christmas Eve that same year. Jerry and Laura struggled with infertility for four years before they decided to adopt. It felt like a weight had been lifted off their shoulders, he said.

“After going through years of treatments and the peaks and valleys of hope and despair, it really wears on you and you start evaluating where you are in life,” he said. “Is your point to become pregnant or to be parents?

For us, we really wanted to be parents.

It wasn’t necessarily important for us to be pregnant. We knew we wanted children in our lives and we felt this was the best way to build our family.”

Evan will be 3 years old in July.

This summer, the couple is expecting their second son, Dillon, also from South Korea. Knowing how hard it was emotionally and financially to adopt, Jerry said, he was eager to help other couples in the same position.

“The key theme of the organization is that the main prerequisite for having a family is a loving home, not tens of thousands in the bank account,” he said. “Knowing what we’ve been through and being able to help someone else go through it is so powerful.”

Parenthood for Me seeks more than funding. The organization’s goal is to break down the stigmas surrounding infertility and adoption. Infertility issues and complications with pregnancies are not acknowledged enough in society, Erica said.

“There’s no societal rules about the funeral or how to mourn a baby you’ve lost,” she said. “Those are things we don’t talk about enough, and I think if we did there would be a lot more empathy. There’s a lot more to it.”

Having children is a normal next step for couples after they get married, and often loved ones and friends begin asking questions about having a baby soon after the couple returns from thehoneymoon, she wrote in her blog.

“When a couple cannot conceive a child and are constantly being bombarded with questions about having a baby, it makes the situation all the more unbearable,” she wrote. “When friends and family members start their own families, there is a huge void and one often feels extremely alone and out of the loop. As a woman I feel like I will never be able to catch up in the circle of conversations that revolve around becoming a mom.”

Infertility is not something you just get over, Erica said. It’s been a long, emotional road, Erica said, but she wouldn’t have had it any other way.

“I wouldn’t change a thing, because the child we have as our son, if I had been able to get pregnant, I wouldn’t have him,” she said. “People say that our child is so lucky to have us, but we’re lucky to have him. Believe me.”

Separating or Divorcing?

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Learn how to deal with the legal and emotional issues that affect your children when the family is going through a separation or divorce.

Learn how to put your Children 1st!

Call 315-445-5606 for information about the sixhour Children 1st class.

By Jim Miller

Simplified Computers for Seniors Dear Savvy Senior Do you know of any home computers that are specifically designed for senior citizens? I would like to get a computer for my 73year-old mother, but she’s not computer savvy at all.

Look Around Dear Looking, There are actually several computers on the market today that are designed specifically for older boomers and seniors who want, and need, things simple.

Here are some top options to check out: Telikin

For seniors that have little or no computer experience the new Telikin “touch-screen” computer is a wonderful option. Ready to go right out of the box, this innovative computer comes pre-loaded with simplified software that makes accessing the Web, email, games, video chat, photo sharing, news, weather and more, just a touch of the screen away. And since it runs on Linux software instead of the standard Windows or Mac OS, it’s a virus-free computer too.

The Telikin comes with a sleek 18.6-inch LCD touchscreen (a 20-inch touchscreen will be available within a month), 320-gigabyte hard drive, builtin speakers, webcam, microphone, wired keyboard and mouse, and provides a unique “tech buddy” feature that can help seniors get computer assistance when needed. Priced at $700 (the 20-inch model will retail for $995), Telikin comes with a 60-day trial period, one-year warranty and free support for the first 60 days. Visit telikin.com or call 800-230-3881 to learn more.

It’s also worth noting that Telikin has a partnership with firstSTREET (firststreetonline.com, 800-704-1209), a senior product direct marketing company which is also selling this computer rebranded as the “WOW! Computer for Seniors.”

Senior PCs

Sold through Enablemart (enablemart.com, 888-640-1999), Senior PCs are Hewlett-Packard computers that also come completely set up and ready to use, but depending on your

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mom’s needs, you’ll have several options to choose from.

If you’re your looking for simplified “goof-proof” operation, the Autopilot desktop is the best model. This PC comes equipped with QualiWorld software that provides one-click solutions for tasks like letter writing, preparing a document, surfing the Internet, sending and reading e-mails and much more. The Autopilot also comes with OnTimeRx medication and appointment reminding software, HOYLE Crossword and Sudoku puzzles, a high contrast keyboard, mouse, 17-inch monitor, speakers and a color printer all for $1,125. They also offer this same Autopilot computer in a laptop edition for $1,165.

Or, for seniors with low vision their Vision Plus model may be a better fit.

This computer comes pre-configured with everything you need to see your PC, including state-of-the-art screen magnification software, a high visibility keyboard, and an all-in-one printer/ scanner for scanning in books, mail and other reading materials for magnification. It also comes with OnTimeRx medication reminder software, HOYLE Crossword and Sudoku puzzles, a 17-inch monitor, mouse and external speakers. The price: $1,255 for the Vision Plus desktop, or $1,895 for the laptop edition.

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Kiwi PC

If you’re looking for something more affordable, the new Linux-powered Kiwi PC for seniors is another option to consider. Priced at just $380, this user-friendly computer provides a simplified navigation system, with oversized tool bar, large icons and text that makes it easier to see and use.

Other features include a customizable “Me Menu” that provides quick and easy access to frequently visited websites, email and programs straight from the desktop, a color-coded keyboard, 19-inch monitor, and a toll-free phone support line that’s available 24/7. See kiwipc.com, or call 855-255-5494.

Savvy Tip: While it’s not designed specifically for seniors, the Apple iPad2 ($499) is another user-friendly option that has gotten great reviews from older users. See apple.com to learn more.

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

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Page 21

MACULAR DEGENERATION Now with prescribed telescopic glasses, you can read, drive, watch television and recognize faces better.

For a FREE telephone consultation please call George S. Kornfeld, O.D.

1-866-446-2050 www.ialvs.org

Baby Boomer’s website

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The Aunt Who Smoked Past Age 90

Expert: Some smokers may appear healthy but they are a “ticking time bomb” with a catastrophic illness just a couple puffs away

By Patricia Briest

S

moking: you enjoy it and it relaxes you. Besides, you feel well and your aunt smoked all her life and lived to be 90 years old.

If this is what you are thinking, you are not alone.

Many people enjoy smoking and they may have a family member or know someone who has smoked a long time and appears to be well.

Unfortunately, that is the exception.

While it is true that smoking causes the release of hormones that facilitate relaxation, your heart rate and blood pressure increase and your coronary arteries constrict, so blood flow is decreased.

Risk of a heart attack or stroke greatly increase following a smoking a cigarette, and that feeling of relaxation is short lived.

A much safer way to achieve that sense of relaxation is by using simple meditation, mindful deep breathing or by taking a leisurely walk. And that

person who has smoked a long time and appears to be well — while it is possible — the person is not actually well she is “a ticking time bomb” with a catastrophic illness just a couple puffs away.

Most people are aware that smoking causes disease. Most people regret that they ever started smoking, and most do not want their children to smoke.

So why don’t they quit?

If an individual is not ready to make a lifestyle change, quitting is not on their radar. If you use tobacco in any form and are not yet ready to quit, make a list of what might be better in your life if you did quit. Then, think about what it would take for you to make a quit attempt.

Be aware that there are local resources to help you if you decide to quit.

If you visit the New York state’s smokers’ quitline website (www.

nysmokefree.com) you can sign up for nicotine patches or gum, and you can view a list of local smoking cessation classes that you can attend for group support. Most classes are free.

If you prefer to get some help without leaving home, call the quitline toll free at 1-866-697-8487 to talk to a quit specialist who can coach you. The state tobacco control program’s budget has been reduced, affecting the quitline, cessation centers, community partnerships, as well as all of the other modalities.

There is no guarantee that free nicotine patches and gum will be available in the future, so contact the quitline now.

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

THE CENTENARIANS Ferne ‘Noni’ Parcells Celebrates 102nd Birthday Loretto Health and Rehabilitation Center resident Ferne “Noni” Parcells celebrated her 102nd birthday on May 28 with friends, family and staff members from Loretto’s Cunningham skilled nursing facility in Syracuse.

Parcells was born in Peterborough, Ontario, Canada in her grandparents’ home.

When she was a child, her family relocated to Auburn, and she later moved to Tully after she married her husband, Henry. Parcells helped her husband with several business Pictured from back left are Parcells’ granddaughters, ventures including Jill Copanas, of DeWitt, and Pat Estey, of Tully; from managing Tully’s coffee front left is 102-year-old Loretto resident, Ferne Parcells, shop, and finally retired dividing her time of Syracuse, with her great-great-grandson, Thomas between homes in Old Chatfield, great-granddaughter, Ryan Chatfield, and great-great-granddaughter, Evelyn Chatfield, all of Tully.

Forge and Largo, Fla. Parcells enjoys bible study, reading, writing, creathusband, Henry, and brother, Robert ing flower arrangements, attending Jewett, and has two children, Barbara church services and spending time Lee Franciosi, of Connecticut, and the with her family. She published a late Curtis Parcells, 11 grandchildren, book for her family about her life ti- 13 great-grandchildren and two greattled, “A Fabric of Memories, Thread great-grandchildren.

by Thread.” Parcells survives her Page 22

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

Celebrating Gertrude Griffith’s 103 birthday (second from left, front row) are from back left: son Richard Griffith of Fayetteville, granddaughter Audra Worthan of Liverpool, daughter-in-law Shirley Griffith of Merritt Island, Fla., and friend Carol Metzler of Skaneateles. In the front row from left: daughter-in-law Shirley Ann Griffith of Fayetteville, Gertrude Griffith and son Dan Griffith of Merritt Island, Fla.

Loretto Health and Rehabilitation Resident Celebrates 103rd Birthday Gertrude Griffith, a resident of the Loretto Health and Rehabilitation Center, and a PACE CNY(Loretto’s Program of All-inclusive Care for the Elderly) program participant, celebrated her 103rd birthday with friends, family and staff members on June 5.

Griffith was born in Noxen, Pa., in 1908 and later moved to Kingston, Pa. In 1943, Griffith and her husband, the late Willard Griffith, moved to Syracuse. Griffith first worked as a book-

keeper in Pennsylvania and then for Onondaga County Savings Bank in Syracuse.

She is the second youngest of nine children. She has two sons, Richard Griffith of Fayetteville, and Dan Griffith of Merrit Island, Fla., five grandchildren, 12 greatgrandchildren, and two great-greatgrandchildren.

Griffith always enjoyed making clothes for herself and for her grandchildren, as well as quilting, decorative lace tatting and needlepoint. She now spends her time visiting with family and staying active with activities at Loretto’s PACE CNY.

The Social Ask Security Office

By Deborah Banikowski, District Manager in Syracuse.

S

Spend Some Quality Time On Social Security’s Website

ummertime is here, and for many people that means vacation. Some of the best vacations are the ones that allow you to spend time with family members who live far away.

If you’re planning to visit your kids and grandkids this summer, why not make the most of your time with them? You may know your way around a computer.

But youngsters today who grew up on a computer can teach most of us some new tricks.

And they’d probably be thrilled to share some online time with their grandparents. Ask them to pull out their tablet, iPad, Banikowski or laptop and show you how to find your way around Social Security’s website, www.socialsecurity.gov.

Ask them to show you how to use www.socialsecurity.gov to avoid unneeded trips to a Social Security office.

Have them show you our library of online publications containing all the information you might want to know on an array of Social Security, retirement and Medicare subjects. The publications can be found at www.socialsecurity.gov/pubs/index.html. If you’re thinking about retirement, for example, you may want to check out “When To Start Receiving Retirement Benefits” at www.socialsecurity.gov/pubs/10147. html. (Unlike some libraries, there’s no due date to remember).

That was easy! With the young ones helping you, you might as well go ahead and spend another 15 minutes to get the job done. No need to put on your shoes and sunglasses — you can apply online without having to leave your home. Visit www.socialsecurity. gov/applyonline where you can apply for retirement benefits in as little as 15 minutes. Once you click the “submit”

Meet your

button, you’re done; in most cases there are no forms to sign or documents to mail in.

Here’s a way to get the attention of the young ones: ask them about Facebook and Twitter. Once they’ve got you on Facebook, you’ll have a new way of connecting with them. Did you know Social Security is on Facebook and Twitter too? Just go to www.socialsecurity.gov and click the Facebook and Twitter icons on the main page.

Visiting your kids and grandchildren can be a lot of fun. Make it productive as well by asking the young whiz kid in your family about www. socialsecurity.gov.

Q&A

Q: When a person who has worked and paid Social Security taxes dies, who is eligible for survivors benefits?

A: Social Security survivors benefits can be paid to: • Widows or widowers — full benefits at full retirement age, or reduced benefits as early as age 60; • Disabled widows or widowers — as early as age 50; • Widows or widowers at any age if they take care of the deceased’s child who is under age 16 or disabled and receiving Social Security benefits; • Unmarried children under 18, or up to age 19 if they are attending high school full time. Under certain circumstances, benefits can be paid to stepchildren, grandchildren, or adopted children; • Children at any age who were disabled before age 22 and remain disabled; and • Dependent parents age 62 or older.

Even if you are divorced, you still may qualify for survivors benefits based on the earnings record of a former spouse. For more information, go

to www.socialsecurity.gov.

Q: What is a Social Security “credit?”

A: During your working years, earnings covered by Social Security are posted to your record. You earn Social Security credits based on those earnings. The amount of earnings needed for one credit rises as average earnings levels rise. In 2011, you receive one credit for each $1,120 of earnings.

You can earn up to a maximum of four credits a year. Most people will need a minimum of 40 credits (or 10 years of work) to be eligible for retirement benefits. Learn more by reading the online publication How You Earn Credits at www.socialsecurity.gov/pubs/10072. html.

Drivers Wanted Help us distribute copies of “In Good Health” to offices in the area. $9/hour plus 30 cents per mile. One day a month only.

Call Laura at 342-1182

Q: What is the earliest age that I can begin receiving retirement benefits?

A: You can get a reduced benefit as early as age 62. Keep in mind that your monthly benefit amount would be about 33 percent higher if you wait until age 66 and nearly 80 percent higher if you defer payments until age 70. Visit our Retirement Estimator to find out how much you can expect to receive. You can find it at www. socialsecurity.gov/estimator.

Q: How does Social Security decide if I am disabled?

A: For an adult to be considered disabled, Social Security must determine that you are unable to do the work you did before and, based on your age, education, and work experience, you are unable to adjust to any other work that exists in significant numbers in the national economy. Also, your disability must last or be expected to last for at least one year or to result in death. Social Security pays only for total disability. No benefits are payable for partial disability or short-term disability (less than a year).

Q: My brother recently left me some money. Will this inheritance affect my SSI benefits?

A: We consider the money inherited from your brother income for the month you receive it. That could make you ineligible for SSI that month, depending on the amount of the inheritance. If you keep the money into the next month, it becomes a part of your resources. You cannot have more than $2,000 in resources to remain eligible for SSI. You should call Social Security at 1-800-772-1213 and report the inheritance. Representatives can tell you how your eligibility might be affected.

People who are deaf or hard of hearing may call our toll-free TTY number, 1-800-325-0778, between 7 a.m. and 7 p.m., Monday through Friday.

care team… Professional Excellence, Compassionate Care…Close to Home.

At Auburn Memorial Hospital, we respect that you have a choice of medical facilities. The decision is not one you take lightly…neither do the physicians who overwhelmingly refer their patients to us. When you are our patient, our highly qualified Care Team focuses on one thing: YOU. We take the time to understand your medical history and we personalize a care plan just for you. We strive to minimize your waiting time and give you priority treatment for acute conditions. AMH has invested in a state-of-the-art, ultra secure Electronic Medical Records system to seamlessly, instantly share your information among all members of your Care Team. That means you only tell your story once and your Care Team stays up-to-date on all aspects of your care. We are 800 staff members and 230 clinicians strong. We perform thousands of inpatient and outpatient procedures each year…focusing on one patient at a time. When you choose AMH, your Care Team provides professional excellence and compassionate care….close to home.

Auburn Memorial Hospital 17 Lansing Street, Auburn, New York 13021 P:315-255-7011

www.auburnhospital.org About the Care Team: The AMH Care Team of 800+ employees and 230+ clinicians perform thousands of inpatient and outpatient procedures each year. Our physicians are Board-certified in one or more specialties, including: Anesthesiology, Emergency Care, Medicine (including Allergy, Cardiology, Dermatology, Endocrinology, Family Practice, Gastroenterology, Internal Medicine, Nephrology, Neurology, Oncology/Hematology, Pulmonary Diseases), Oral Surgery, Obstetrics and Gynecology, Pathology, Pediatrics, Psychiatry, Radiology (MRI & Nuclear Medicine), and Surgery (Bariatric, Ear, Nose & Throat, General, Orthopedic, Ophthalmology, Plastic Surgery, and Urology).

July 2011 •

IN GOOD HEALTH – CNY’s Healthcare Newspaper

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Page 23

H ealth News Orion Dental announces grand opening in Clay Orion Dental Group announced the grand opening of its new office in Clay Aug. 1. The office is located at 3881State Route 31, just east of the main entrance to COR Center.

Orion Dental’s promise is to ensure that its patients receive only the highest quality of dental care and that each and every patient is treated with the utmost of courtesy and respect in a comfortable and inviting office environment.

“We are very excited about the opening of our new office in Clay. By providing the personal attention and focus on quality of care that is more often found in smaller traditional dental practices, but doing so through the conveniences of a larger and more centrally located office, we can offer to the community a unique blend of service and care. That is our commitment,” said dentist William M. Pullano, Orion Dental Group co-founder.

With its state-of-the-art technologies and on-site denture laboratory, Orion Dental will offer a full range of affordable dental and denture services for the entire family. The office will provide extended office hours, including Saturday appointments; and

walk-ins and emergencies are always welcome.

Orion Dental works with all insurance providers and will offer flexible and affordable payment options as well.

To schedule an appointment or for additional information, call 622-4200.

Auxiliary donates $11,000 to Oneida Healthcare The Oneida Healthcare Auxiliary recently granted nearly $11,000 worth of “wishes” to departments of the Oneida Healthcare and its extended care facility.

“Each year we invite the departments to submit ‘wish lists’ for equipment and projects that aren’t included in their regular budgets,” said Auxiliary President Marty Mallery. “We generally target purchases that will directly impact patient and resident care or address the needs of families and visitors,” she said.

Treasurer Loni Petri noted that the approved requests included an underwater stationary bike for the rehabilitation center’s therapy pool; a bariatric commode for the ICU; a procedure chair and artwork for radiology and a

John McBride, St. Camillus Foundation president and vice president of development for The Centers at St. Camillus, presents Jim Roy with a framed rendering of permanent dedication to his parents — Honorable Judge William Robert and Sally Roy — that was unveiled above the entrance of The Centers at St. Camillus, as Pat Curtin, William Fisher, Judge and Sally Roy’s granddaughter Colleen Leahy, Holly Glassford, Dan Ross, and Aileen Balitz look on.

The Centers at St. Camillus celebrates $3M expansion The Centers at St. Camillus celebrated its recent expansion May 19 by hosting an open house and naming dedication. The Centers at St. Camillus expansion project brings an additional 5,400 square feet of newly constructed space and the renovation of 6,500 square feet for the outpatient brain injury rehabilitation and adult day health programs.

The expansion project ensures greatly increased access to and improved quality of the life-changing services the outpatient brain injury rehabilitation and adult day health programs provide.

The event was attended by approximately 75 guests, who were welcomed by Aileen Balitz, President and CEO, The Centers at St. Camillus.

Page 24

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Guest speakers included Patricia Curtin, chairwoman, The Centers at St. Camillus board of directors; Michael Zandri, chairman, The Centers at St. Camillus Foundation board; Sen. John A. DeFrancisco; Assemblyman William B. Magnarelli; Congresswoman Ann Marie Buerkle; and Deputy County Executive William Fisher.

At the end of the event, a dedication at the entrance of the expansion reading “In Honor of The Honorable Judge William Robert and Sally Roy” was unveiled. The naming of the building had been announced April 9 as a way to celebrate the life of Judge William Roy, a former resident of St. Camillus, and his wife Sally, who currently resides at St. Camillus.

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

TV/DVD player for the maternal and child health center, as well as several heating blankets and patient scales. The extended care facility received a Pulse Oximeter for occupational therapy and four digital cameras for use on the resident floors.

“We are indeed fortunate to enjoy a wonderful partnership with the auxiliary,” said Gene Morreale, Oneida Healthcare President and CEO. “These donations will truly enhance the selected patient/resident services and help us to deliver exceptional care…always!”

Oswego Hospital has new breast MRI capabilities Oswego Hospital can now perform breast Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI), adding one more diagnostic tool in the fight against breast cancer.

A breast MRI is one of the latest technologies available to assist in the detection of breast cancer. This new technology allows radiologists to see abnormalities that sometimes cannot be seen on either a mammogram or ultrasound. Specialized software assists radiologists with the interpretation of the approximately 1,200 images created during a single study.

Oswego Hospital’s Chief of Radiology Mark Franklin, said that the most common indicator for breast MRI is women who are at high risk for breast cancer. Among those at higher risk are women who have had a first-degree family member with breast cancer. A first-degree relative is a mother, sister or daughter. The calculation can be estimated by visiting the U.S. National Institutes of Health website: www. cancer.gove/bcrisktool.

“This new technology is another tool for women at risk for breast cancer,” Franklin said. “A MRI of the breast has been performed for a number of reasons that include the diagnosis of breast implant rupture, surgical planning, staging of breast cancer and treatment planning, post surgical and post radiation follow up, dense breast tissue evaluation and evaluating trouble areas identified through a mammogram or ultrasound.”

Franklin added that a breast MRI is not a replacement for mammography or ultrasound imaging, but rather a supplemental tool for detecting and staging breast cancer and other breast abnormalities.

The breast MRI takes about 20 minutes and entails the use of intravenous contrast. A physician referral is required.

Auburn hospital receives $50,000 from Kinney Drugs Auburn Memorial Hospital (AMH) has announced it received a $50,000 contribution from Kinney Drugs toward the ongoing renovation of the maternity wing. This gift is part of the $2.5 million initiative to provide a place for mothers and babies, and provide the necessary state-of-the-art facilities to assist the exceptional maternity staff in providing the best possible care.

In the fall of 2010, the hospital launched a construction/renovation initiative for the labor and delivery area. The 6,600-sq.-ft. renovation will

feature a number of significant additions and improvements, including the addition of a fourth birthing suite and the conversion of patient rooms into seven private post-partum suites.

“Thanks to generous donations from organizations such as the Kinney Drugs Foundation, AMH has been able to continue with our mission for excellence in maternity services,” said Scott Berlucchi, president and CEO of Auburn Memorial Hospital. “The comprehensive renovation of the maternity wing is one more important piece of our performance improvement initiatives toward service excellence. We thank Kinney Drugs and our community for their continued support of AMH and our healthcare service mission.”

Dr. Reza Emami joins Auburn Memorial Hospital Auburn Memorial Hospital (AMH) to announce that physician Reza Emami has joined its medical staff. He will be employed as a full time emergency department physician through the Pegasus Emergency Management Group.

Emami completed his Doctor of Medicine (M.D.) degree at Robert Wood Johnson Medical School in Newark, N.J. He completed his internship at Staten Island University Hospital and his residency at North Shore University Hospital, Long Island. He is board certified in family medicine. Prior to his arrival to Auburn, he was employed at the Lehigh Valley Pennsylvania Hospital Network Emergency Departments.

He, his wife Olga and their two children have relocated to the Baldwinsville area.

Oswego Hospital adds certified diabetes educator Susan Callaway, a registered nurse at Oswego Hospital for more than 20 years, has earned the designation as a certified diabetes educator.

To earn this certification, Callaway was required to have a minimum of two years of experience and an additional 1,000 hours in diabetes patient and self-management education. Upon achieving both requirements, Callaway was permitted to sit for the four-hour examination administered by the National Certification Board for Diabetes Education, which is offered twice a year.

For Callaway earning this certification was a very personal career goal as her husband, David, was diagnosed with diabetes several years ago.

“When he was diagnosed, I went with him to a couple of his visits to see Oswego HospiCallaway tal Diabetes Educator Nola Gardner,” Callaway explained. “I learned a lot about the disease from her and thought I would really enjoy educating patients one-on-one. After these visits, Callaway decided to leave the hospital’s maternity department where she had worked for 20 years, and join the community health staff.

Callaway earned her required 1,000 hours in the Community Health

H ealth News Department that is required prior to taking the national examination. She provides diabetes care to Oswego Hospital patients and at the Phoenix Health Services Center.

Providing diabetes education along with Callaway is Nola Gardner, who became certified as a diabetes educator in 2006.

Community Memorial receives quality award Community Memorial Hospital recently received a National Quality Award for Clinical Excellence as one of the top 10 hospitals in the United States within the VHA organization in the 250-bed and under category. CMH was ranked fourth out of the top 10 hospitals.

VHA is an international organization of hospitals that works with its member hospitals on quality initiatives, purchasing and other related operational issues. Membership in the VHA is by invitation. The VHA organization consists of hospitals of all sizes including small and larger urban teaching hospitals.

The award was based on the federal value-based purchasing (VBP) methodology in place at the time of the analysis. Hospitals received a single overall hospital performance score based on their clinical score measures as well as their patient satisfaction measures.

Felton Denise Hummer, vice president for administration, and Diane Chase, director of nursing services, received the award at a recent VHA meeting in San Diego.

CMH had previously received a VHA Clinical Excellence Award in 2007 for the low rate of surgical complications and the outstanding infection control program.

In addition, CMH has been ranked in the top tier of hospitals in the county for orthopedics with a 5-star ranking five years in a row.

“We’re a small hospital and our numbers are very good,” David Felton, the hospital’s president and CEO, said.

“We focus on what matters most: providing a warm, caring and safe environment for our patients. In this sense, we are big on customer service.”

News from

ACR Designates Crouse Breast Imaging Center of Excellence — The Breast Health Center at Crouse Hospital has been named a Breast Imaging Center of Excellence by the American College of Radiology (ACR), making it the only breast imaging center in Syracuse to receive this designation.

“We’re very proud to receive this designation,” said Stephen Montgomery, medical director of the Crouse Breast Health Center. “It recognizes the quality of every aspect of the center and tells women that Crouse does not just meet, but significantly exceeds

national standards of finding breast cancer at its earliest and most treatable stages.”

According to the hospital, the designation also signifies that the Crouse Breast Health Center meets the highest standards of the radiology profession.

The ACR awards “Center of Excellence” designation only to imaging centers that have demonstrated excellence in breast imaging by achieving accreditation in mammography, breast ultrasound and ultrasound-guided biopsy and stereotactic breast biopsy.

The hospital voluntarily underwent the ACR’s rigorous review process and was successfully certified.

“This is great news for our patients,” said Brad Hellwig, director of medical imaging services at Crouse. “Our program offers the latest imaging technology and has the highest level of expertise to help patients through the entire process,” says Hellwig.

Led by Montgomery, who pioneered the use of stereotactic breast biopsy in Central New York in 1993, the Crouse Breast Health Center has long been a regional leader in the detection and treatment of breast cancer and other high-risk breast disease. The center’s comprehensive breast imaging program includes screening and diagnostic mammography; computer-aided detection (CAD); breast ultrasound; non-invasive outpatient breast biopsies; needle localizations; breast MRI with CAD; and interventional breast procedures such as stereotactic and ultrasound breast biopsies.

In addition, Crouse has recently added three nationally certified breast health navigators to the program to help women through the mammography process, from start to finish and on through surgical intervention, if required.

“Providing peace of mind during what can be an anxiety-filled experience for a woman is a primary focus of our entire team,” states Montgomery.

“Throughout the process of care, we’re all here to help make a patient’s experience just a little bit better, and a little less stressful.”

New Medical Director of Neuroscience Services Appointed — Dr. Tarakad Ramachandran has been appointed to the position of medical director of neuroscience services for Crouse Hospital.

Working closely with Crouse’s multidisciplinary stroke team, Ramachandran will provide leadership to enhance stroke services and further develop a neuroscience center of excellence at Crouse, which is a New York state-designated stroke Ramachandran center. Ramachandran has served as chief of neurology at Crouse since 1984.

“One of our strategic initiatives is to build on and enhance clinical services we’re known for in the community and region,” said Crouse CEO Paul Kronenberg. “Neurosciences [neurology, neurosurgery] is one of these key areas, and we’re thrilled to have someone of Dr. Ramachandran’s caliber

Upstate professor awarded Fulbright grant James Dwyer, Ph. D., associate professor of bioethics and humanities at Upstate Medical University, has been awarded a Fulbright Scholar grant to teach bioethics at the Medical School of National Taiwan University in Taipei, Taiwan, during the 2011-2012 academic year.

In addition to classes and seminars, Dwyer will assist with development of a graduate Dwyer bioethics program and the clinical ethics consultation service at National Taiwan University. He also will lead discussions on the ethical decisions made in endof-life care as well as ethical issues that arise in the context of Taiwan’s and reputation to help further develop this important clinical service.”

Highly regarded nationally and internationally as a clinician and educator, Ramachandran came to Syracuse in 1976 with training in internal medicine from the United Kingdom. After two years of residency and a year of chief residency in neurology at Upstate Medical University, he advanced his training with a year of fellowship in neuromuscular diseases and electrophysiology from Boston University School of Medicine. He returned to Syracuse in 1980 to pursue his career in neurology at Crouse and University hospitals.

Ramachandran has a strong interest in vascular neurology (stroke medicine) and chaired Crouse’s Operation Stroke Committee from 1996 to 2000.

As chief of neurology at Crouse, he was instrumental in creating Crouse’s Stroke Unit, which was the first in the region to be designated with “Gold Plus” performance achievement from the American Stroke Association. He also was active in the creation of the Stroke Unit at Upstate Medical University, from which he retired in 2010.

Ramachandran is a fellow of the American Academy of Neurology, which awarded him the A.B. Baker Teaching Award in 2007. Over the years, he has contributed significantly to neurological training and teaching in India as a visiting professor to many of its universities. In the 1980s he helped create a free CT scanning program for the underprivileged in Pune, India. As a delegate of the World Stroke Foundation, he participated in the inauguration of the Regional Asian Stroke Congress and first Indian Stroke Association Meeting, endorsed by the World Stroke Federation at Chennai, India in 2006.

Ramachandran holds a master’s in business administration from Syracuse University and a master’s in public health from Upstate and Syracuse University.

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universal healthcare and public health sectors. The work reflects Dwyer’s expertise as a teacher and his scholarly work in global health and the ethical issues that arise in the global context.

The Medical School of National Taiwan University is the largest medical school in Taiwan and considered to be the country’s most prestigious.

The Fulbright is a prestigious award from the Fulbright Program, the flagship international educational exchange program sponsored by the U.S. government. Forty-three Fulbright alumni have been awarded the Nobel Peace Prize, and 75 have received Pulitzers.

Dwyer holds faculty appointments with Upstate’s Center for Bioethics and Humanities and its department of public health and preventive medicine.

Crouse Doctor Named to National Quality Forum’s Palliative Care and End-of-Life Care — Russ Acevedo, critical care services co-medical director at Crouse Hospital, has been nominated to serve on the steering committee for the National Quality Forum’s Palliative Care and End-of-Life Care project. Acevedo, who also currently sits on the Quality Improvement Committee of the American College of Chest Physicians, is nationally recognized for his work in critical care and respiratory care medicine. As a steering committee member, Acevedo and his colleagues will work to identify and endorse measures for public reporting and quality improvement addressing quality of care for patients receiving palliative and/or end-of-life care.

New Board Member — Robert Miron has been appointed to a threeyear term on the Crouse Hospital board of directors. Miron most recently served as chairman and CEO of Advance Newhouse Communications and its predecessor companies. He retired at the end of 2010. A graduate of Syracuse University, Miron worked for Newhouse in various capacities and was appointed to lead the Newhouse cable television interests in 1974. He was active in the industry, serving on the board and executive comMiron mittee of the National Cable Television Association from 1983 until his retirement. Miron was a past chairman of NCTA serving in 1989-90 and 1997-98, and also served on the board of the Walter Kaitz Foundation.

He served on the board of C-Span for many years and was chairman of its executive committee from 2008 to 2010.

He currently is a member of the board of directors of Discovery Communication, Inc., having served in that capacity since 1985. He is also a member

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of the Syracuse University board of trustees and is a past vice chair of that board. In 2002, Miron was elected to the Broadcasting and Cable’s Hall of Fame. In 2001 he was inducted into the Cable Television Hall of Fame.

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New Heath Director of State and Federal Relations and Community Initiatives — Kristen Mucitelli-Heath has been appointed to the position of director of state and federal relations and community initiatives. She will coordinate, develop and act on all local, federal and state relations. She also will engage in community initiatives, working in partnership with St. Joseph’s Foundation to achieve organizational and strategic goals and development. Prior to joining St Joseph’s, Mucitelli-Heath spent two years as the executive director of the Upstate Senate Democratic Caucus. She came to the Senate from a position Mucitelli as the vice president of strategy and planning and senior advisor to the Upstate President at the New York State Economic Development Corporation (ESDC), where she developed agency strategies, policy priorities, budget initiatives, and new program development. During her time at ESDC, she was involved in facilitating the 2007 Upstate City by City program, and the 2007 Upstate Regional Blueprints Initiative, two major initiatives involving regional economic development analysis across all of Upstate New York and strategic deployment of state resources. A resident of North Syracuse, Mucitelli-Heath holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in communication with a concentration in public relations and advertising from Canisius College in Buffalo. She is a member of the board of directors for Syracuse 20/20, and serves as a board member for Parks and Trails New York.

New Patient Safety Program — St. Joseph’s Hospital Health Center today has implemented an aviation-based patient safety training program through LifeWings Partners LLC, a leader in aviation safety tools. St. Joseph’s will train all its operating room staff using LifeWings’ Crew Resource Management (CRM) program. Built by a former Top Gun instructor and a group of commercial airline pilots, former astronauts, physicians, nurses and risk managers, the training program has been proven to significantly and measurably reduce errors, increase patient and employee satisfaction, reduce turnover, and cut healthcare costs. The program consist of five phases and provides for a systematic, repeatable and scalable implementation, that includes leadership development, customized skills-based training, Hardwired Safety ToolsSM, measurement, and lifetime results.

“The medical teams we work with are, in many respects, just like flight Page 26

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crews. They are extremely skilled, highly dedicated and disciplined professionals who take their work seriously. We find that the practices developed for the LifeWings CRM program resonate with these expert workers,” said Captain Stephen Harden, president and co-founder of LifeWings Partners LLC. “It’s our goal, as St. Joseph’s new partner, to use the LifeWings system to produce measurable improvements in patient care among its surgical and clinical teams.”

News from

Researcher Wins Grant to Study Causes of ADHD, Autism— Dr. Yanli Zhang-James, a research assistant professor of psychiatry at Upstate Medical University, has been awarded a NARSAD Young Investigator Grant to further studies into the field of child mental health.

Zhang-James will use the two-year $60,000 grant to expand her research into the genetic mechanisms of child psychiatric disorders, such as attention deficit/hyperactive disorder (ADHD) Zhang-James and autism. Although ADHD and autism are two entirely different disorders, the symptoms are often both evident in many affected children. Zhang-James is researching a novel risk gene, SLC9A9, for both ADHD and autism.

“The shared genetic variants are unique windows that can lead us to understanding of some common mechanisms underlying the pathophysiology of the different disorders, shed light into common biological pathways that are fundamentally important for normal neurodevelopmental processes” she said.

Zhang-James will study the role of SLC9A9 in the development and function of brain cells in genetically engineered mice. “I hope this research can lead us to a better understanding of the causes for both ADHD and autism, and help us to discover novel therapeutic strategies for the children who suffer from both disorders, especially children who have co-occurrences of both sets of symptoms who may respond poorly to the standard ADHD treatments.

NARSAD’s Young Investigator grants are awarded to support innovative mental health research and pioneer breakthroughs in understanding and treating mental illness. Zhang-James is one of 214 researchers selected to receive one of NARSAD’s Young Investigator grants this year. More than 1,000 researchers applied for the funding.

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