PRICELESS
Meet Your Doctor
MVHEALTHNEWS.COM
OCTOBER 2018 • ISSUE 152
STDs escalate
Dr. Jocelyn Morin Family physician practicing at Community Memorial Hospital’s Family Health Center in Cazenovia.
You can’t be careful enough
Page 4
See story, Page 3
Flu season runs October through April, with reported infections generally peaking between December and March.
Faithfully Yours
Women’s Health Special Edition
Page 16
Dentistry 101: What is a crown? Page 22
October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month Breast cancer is the second-leading cause of cancer death in women, after lung cancer.
Acorn Squash Of all the winter squashes, acorn squash has many of the most important vitamins we need.
‘Milk & Honey’ columnist Brook Stacia Demott and her husband Brian exemplify what faithfulness is. Page 15
Page 5
Doula
No Quit
Naomi Starsiak is a trained birth and postpartum doula. Find out about her role in the child-birthing process.
Amputee Katie Maneen of Utica takes on her challenge full force.
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See SmartBites Page 12 October 2018 •
IN GOOD HEALTH – Mohawk Valley’s Healthcare Newspaper
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BREAST HEALTH CARDIAC CARE WEIGHT-LOSS SURGERY UROLOGY PELVIC PHYSICAL REHAB GYN GYN ONCOLOGY
Women’s services at Crouse. As individual as you are.
N
o two women are alike. At Crouse, we believe you want — and need — healthcare that puts a continual focus
on what matters most — you. Our hospital was founded by women — and more than a century later, services for infants and women of all ages remain at the heart of Crouse Health.
Partner with women’s wellness providers who discover your individual needs by listening more closely and caring more deeply — and treating you with the respect and dignity you deserve.
crouse.org/women
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LOW & HIGH-RISK OB REGIONAL NICU LACTATION CONSULTANTS PERINATAL ANXIETY & MOOD DISORDER SPIRIT OF WOMEN Page 2
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IN GOOD HEALTH – Mohawk Valley’s Healthcare Newspaper • October 2018
STDs Skyrocket It’s catchy: Numbers shoot upward as sexually transmitted diseases increase By Jessica Arsenault Rivenburg and David Podos
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t is a day Justin will never forget — The day he learned he had chlamydia. “The doctor told me and for a second, I thought he must be joking, like in a second he was going to be like, ‘Naw, just kidding!’” Justin recalled. “And then the next minute my mind was just racing. I was angry and a little scared and wondering who I got it from and when. That week was easily one of the worst of my life.” Justin, who requested anonymity for this story, spent that next week notifying a few girls he had recently been involved with both in an effort to figure out where he contracted the sexually transmitted disease, and to whom he might have passed it. Justin, it turned out, was rather lucky in that he had not had the STD very long, and did not pass it on to anyone else. “It’s embarrassing to have to call up a girl and tell her you have an STD and may have had it when you guys were together,” Justin said. “I don’t think I’d wish it on my worst enemy.” Unfortunately, Justin’s is a scenario playing out more frequently as the number of chlamydia, gonorrhea
and syphilis cases have been increasing in recent years. “We are seeing an uptick in the number of people who are coming to the clinics asking for routine STD physicals,” said Emma Corbett, vice president of Planned Parenthood Mohawk Hudson. According to the Oneida County Health Department, the county saw 840 cases of chlamydia in 2017, 163 cases of gonorrhea and five cases of syphilis. So far in 2018, there have been 638 reported cases of chlamydia and 60 of gonorrhea. Syphilis numbers will not be available until early 2019. Cases of these three STDs, in particular, have been at a fairly steady increase since 2000 throughout the entire nation, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. In 2016, a total of 1,598,354 chlamydia infections were reported to the CDC. That same year, 468,514 cases of gonorrhea and 27,814 cases of syphilis were reported nationwide. These numbers represent a 4.7 percent, 18.5 percent and 17.6 percent increase, respectively, over 2015. While those numbers are high, officials fear actual numbers of those infected may be even higher, with a lack of symptoms and lack of easy
Welcoming New Patients to Five Local Family Health Centers!
Continued on Page 23
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In Good Health is published 12 times a year by Local News, Inc. © 2018 by Local News, Inc. All rights reserved. Mailing Address: 4 Riverside Drive, Suite 251, Utica, NY 13502 • Phone: 315-749-7070 Email: lou@cnymail.com
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Editor & Publisher: Wagner Dotto Associate Editor: Lou Sorendo Contributing Writers: Patricia Malin, Barbara Pierce, Kristen Raab, Deb Dittner, Pauline DiGiorgio, Brooke Stacia Demott Advertising: Amy Gagliano Layout & Design: Dylon Clew-Thomas Office Assistant: Kimberley Tyler 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.
October 2018 •
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Report: Cancer advances rely on U.S. funding
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lmost two dozen new cancer treatments received U.S. Food and Drug Administration approval in the past year, a new report reveals. These treatments include innovative immunotherapies that target cancer cells (called CAR T-cell therapies) and targeted radiotherapies, according to the report from the American Association for Cancer Research (AACR). Government-funded research is helping scientists find new ways to prevent, detect, diagnose and treat cancer, the association reported. “The unprecedented progress we are making against cancer has been made possible largely through basic research,” said physician Elizabeth Jaffee, president of the AACR. Now, a continued increase in federal funding is necessary to make major headway moving forward, she added in an association news release. According to the report, the fight against cancer to date has scored impressive wins: • Adult deaths from cancer declined 26 percent from 1991 to 2015. That’s nearly 2.4 million lives saved. • Public education and policy initiatives have reduced the smoking rate to 14 percent among U.S. adults, from 42 percent in 1965. However, cancer still poses enormous public health challenges, the report stressed. New cancer cases in the United States are expected to increase from more than 1.7 million in 2018 to nearly 2.4 million in 2035. The increase is due largely to an aging population. More than 600,000 Americans are expected to die from cancer this year alone. In addition, although the HPV (human papillomavirus) vaccine could prevent nearly all cases of cervical cancer and many cases of oral and anal cancer, less than half of U.S. teens aged 13 to 17 have had the recommended number of vaccinations. And another serious concern: Advances in the fight against cancer have not affected everyone equally. Disparities in medical care still persist.
Valley Health Services accepts syringes Valley Health Services is accepting the community’s medical waste of needles, syringes and lancets from noon until 2 p.m. on Oct. 17. The service is available on the third Wednesday of every month. The waste must be in approved puncture-resistant containers available at local pharmacies and properly marked “biohazard.” The containers may be brought to the outpatient receptionist on the ground floor at VHS, who will contact the personnel responsible for medical waste disposal. Questions may be directed to Tammi King at 866-3330, ext. 2308. Page 4
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Meet
Your Doctor
By Patricia J. Malin
Dr. Jocelyn Morin
Jocelyn Morin, who recently completed her residency at Ohio State University, has joined the staff at Community Memorial Hospital. She is practicing family medicine at CMH’s Family Health Center in Cazenovia. A.: I think the teaching experience translates well. Doctors have to be able to teach their staff, their patients, and even themselves. I also developed my communication skills by getting important information to people even with a language barrier or different culture. I think I also learned to find common ground and empathize with people from different circumstances.
Q.: How does it feel to finally begin putting down roots and beginning your career? A.: It feels pretty amazing to have arrived at this point. I have my ideal job as an outpatient family doctor. I love my work and I have strong support from my team at Community Memorial. The village of Cazenovia is a beautiful place to live and raise a family. A nice bonus is that my husband also has his dream job as a tenure track professor at SUNY College of Environmental Science and Forestry, so it would be accurate to say we’re putting roots down here. I plan to practice in this area for a long time, and I’m very excited about building relationships with my patients and the community. Q.: As a medical student, what were some of your memorable experiences in Africa with the Peace Corps and later in Vietnam? A.: I actually went into Peace Corps service after completing my bachelor’s degree at Dartmouth College, Hanover, N.H. I hadn’t started any medical training. My primary assignment was teaching at a high school in Malawi, where I lived for two years. I enjoyed my time there so much, I signed up for another nine-month service in Lesotho teaching chemistry at a nursing college. Much later, I spent a month in Vietnam as a medical student, studying tropical medicine at a teaching hospital in Ho Chi Minh City. I benefited immeasurably from my experiences. I’d say my service in Malawi was the most formative, although I did meet my husband in Lesotho. He was also a Peace Corps volunteer, and was recruited to teach physics at the same nursing college as me. Vietnam expanded my clinical experiences, allowed me to share skills and training with other providers, and offered a contrasting example of health care delivery to what we have in the U.S. Malawi taught me about service, community, resilience, and patience. So many people welcomed me and took me under their wing. One anecdote I often tell happened within my first month in the country. During training, I lived with a host family in a mud hut with a thatched roof. I had a water filter that I filled up to the brim before leaving for language lessons. When I returned, I realized I’d left the spigot wide open on my filter. All that freshly filtered water had drained out and melted the floor! I ran to my Amayi (house moth-
er) and apologized. She laughed, told me not to worry and sure enough, after the water dried and a little fresh mud was applied, the floor was level and solid once again. This was a recurring theme throughout my service; I was often ignorant of many skills even Malawian children take for granted. Fortunately, my community was always willing to help teach me. That’s how I learned how to plant maize, cut grass with a machete, and identify wild-growing African spinach. Q.: What did you learn there that translates to your practice in Central New York?
Q.: When you returned home, did you have a new appreciation for the U.S. health care system? A.: I feel lucky that I live in the U.S. where we have resources, medical providers, technology and money to spend on technology and research. In other places that I lived, there are fewer doctors, fewer trained staff, and infrastructure difficulties such as poor road conditions and no electricity that make it difficult or even impossible to use technology the way we would. However, one thing I admired greatly about health care in the other places is the innovation and creative solutions they find to help patients. While I lived in Africa, I had a chance to work with local government health clinics and the organization Partners In Health at its sites in Malawi and Lesotho. Both countries have been com-
Continued on Page 23
Lifelines Age: 30s Hometown: Columbus, Ohio Residence: Cazenovia Education: Bachelor of Arts degree in biochemistry (20052008); medical degree, The Ohio State University College of Medicine (2011-15) Residency training: Ohio State University Family: Husband Tim Morin, assistant professor, Department of Environmental Resources Engineering, SUNY College of Environmental Science and Forestry, Syracuse; 10-monthold son, Elliott Morin Hobbies: Family activities, spending time outdoors, playing music, exotic travel
IN GOOD HEALTH – Mohawk Valley’s Healthcare Newspaper • October 2018
Women’s Health
Breast cancer awareness
October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month; learn preventive measures By Rachel Evans
O
ther than skin cancer, breast cancer is the most common cancer in women. Breast cancer is also the second-leading cause of cancer death in women, after lung cancer. The chances are high that you know a woman who has been affected by breast cancer. Studies indicate that one out of eight women will be diagnosed with breast cancer in their lifetime. October is Breast Cancer Hammont Awareness Month. Early detection is important. If you have a family history of breast cancer, talk with your doctor about when you should get screened. Chelsea Hammont, a physician assistant at Mohawk Valley Health System Breast Care Center, said there are potential signs and symptoms of breast cancer to be aware of, including: — Lumps or hard areas in the breast — Nipple inversion — Bloody nipple discharge — Skin rash or discoloration of the breast — Skin dimpling or puckering Mammograms can help to detect breast cancer even before you have a lump or growth. Breast self exams are a good way to monitor what your breast looks and feels like, and can help you to be aware of any changes or irregularities when they do arise. It is possible for men to get breast cancer, so both men and women should examine their own breasts monthly. For women, a good time to do this is three to five days after their period. If you notice any changes or anything you are worried about, make an appointment with your doctor to rule out any problems. Here’s how to do a monthly selfbreast exam: — Using the pads of your fingers, move around your breast in a circular pattern moving from the outside to the center. — Use your fingers on your right hand to exam your left breast and vice versa. Make sure to do this over the entire breast and near the armpit area as well. — Pay special attention to any changes, lumps, or thickening. — Make an appointment with your doctor if anything seems out of the ordinary. In terms of screenings, the American Cancer Society’s current guidelines are as follows: • Women aged 40-44 have the option to start screening by mammogram yearly. • Women aged 45-54 should get
mammograms yearly. • Women aged 55 and older can switch to a mammogram every other year, or choose to continue to go yearly. Screening should continue as long as a woman is in good health and is expected to live at least 10 more years.
— Breast magnetic resonance imaging may be used to screen women who are at high risk for getting breast cancer. — Ultrasound may be done if a lump is felt but cannot be seen on an X-ray or if breast tissue is dense. Aside from getting screened for
breast cancer, Hammont said there are a variety of other ways to decrease the risks for developing breast cancer, including: — Maintain a healthy body weight “Being overweight, particularly after going through menopause, can pose a risk,” she said. “Fatty tissue stores estrogen and increased levels of estrogen in the body can contribute to the development of breast cancer.” — Stay active Hammont also underlines the importance of staying active. “Aim for 150 minutes of moderate intensity activity each week, which is 30 minutes a day, five days a week,” she said. — Minimize alcohol consumption and eat a wide variety of whole foods This is beneficial to prevention as well. Lastly, Hammont suggests minimizing exposure to exogenous hormones. “Hormone replacement therapy after menopause has been shown to increase the incidence of breast cancer,” she noted. For more information, visit the American Cancer Society website at www.cancer.org.
Genetic ties
According to Hammont, women with a family history of breast cancer affecting a first-degree relative (mother or sibling) should begin screening mammograms 10 years prior to the age at which their relative was diagnosed, but not before age 30. Mammograms are not routinely recommended for women younger than 30 because the breast tissue tends to be quite dense and it is hard to visualize abnormalities. Breast ultrasound is the preferred choice in patients younger than 30. Hammont also suggests talking with your doctor if a first-degree relative was diagnosed prior to age 50, as there is genetic testing that can be done to see if you carry a mutation that increases the risk of developing breast cancer. What should you expect during a screening? — Mammogram is essentially an X-ray of the breast. You may experience some discomfort during the test. If something is found during a mammogram, the doctor may issue follow-up testing. If a biopsy is needed, a doctor may use a thin needle to remove fluid or a small amount of tissue. Mammograms are one of the best ways to detect cancer early. The earlier that cancer is detected, the better the treatment options and the more successful treatment will be. For these reasons, screening for breast cancer is so important. Tomosynthesis or 3D mammograms are becoming more common. This provides 3D images to detect breast cancer.
St. Elizabeth Medical Center designated
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Knee and Hip Replacement Surgeries
Blue Distinction Centers+ are healthcare facilities recognized for their expertise and efficiency in delivering specialty care.
St. Elizabeth Medical Center Blue Distinction Centers (BDC) met overall quality measures for patient safety and outcomes, developed with input from the medical community. A Local Blue Plan may require additional criteria for providers located in its own service area; for details, contact your Local Blue Plan. Blue Distinction Centers+ (BDC+) also met cost measures that address consumers’ need for affordable healthcare. Each provider’s cost of care is evaluated using data from its Local Blue Plan. Providers in CA, ID, NY, PA, and WA may lie in two Local Blue Plans’ areas, resulting in two evaluations for cost of care; and their own Local Blue Plans decide whether one or both cost of care evaluation(s) must meet BDC+ national criteria. National criteria for BDC and BDC+ are displayed on www.bcbs.com. Individual outcomes may vary. For details on a provider’s innetwork status or your own policy’s coverage, contact your Local Blue Plan and ask your provider before making an appointment. Neither Blue Cross and Blue Shield Association nor any Blue Plans are responsible for non-covered charges or other losses or damages resulting from Blue Distinction or other provider finder information or care received from Blue Distinction or other providers.
October 2018 •
IN GOOD HEALTH – Mohawk Valley’s Healthcare Newspaper
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Health Careers
Doula
Mohawk Valley Doulas make childbirth experience less stressful by providing emotional support and physical help if needed By Barbara Pierce
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I’m always in awe! I get to see babies being born!” said Naomi Starsiak of her profession. Starsiak is a trained birth and postpartum doula. With her mother, Diane Starsiak, she operates Mohawk Valley Doulas, a network of doulas who share and teach about labor, birth and babies, and help new moms handle the challenges of birth. More families are hiring doulas than ever before. A doula is a trained professional who provides emotional, physical, and educational support to you during pregnancy and childbirth. Doulas don’t deliver babies or provide medical care. A certified doula has taken a training program. “I’m a consultant,” explained Starsiak. “You go to a lawyer for legal advice, a financial adviser for financial advice, and come to a doula when you’re having a baby.” When a couple contacts her any time during the prenatal period, she helps them craft a birth plan. “Many are first-time moms; they don’t know
Starsiak what this experience is going to be like. They don’t know what questions to ask,” she said. Creating a birth plan ahead of time helps you make decisions about how you want your labor and delivery to be, and lets others know your wishes. For example, it may include who you want with you in
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labor, whether you want pain meds, whether you want the lights dimmed — anything you think will make labor and birth more comfortable for you. “A birth plan is like a road map; it contains general guidelines,” Starsiak said. “I help them figure out what’s important to them.” During the pregnancy, Starsiak is available for questions. “She might feel like she can’t ask the doctor embarrassing questions like: ‘There’s hair growing on my boobs; is that normal?’ I can say ‘Yes, that’s normal because of pregnancy hormones.” When labor actually starts, it’s up to the mother and her team when Starsiak comes into the process. “Sometimes I come in when she’s in early labor, or sometimes I consult over the phone in early labor. Or, meet them in the hospital and stay until the baby is born and the mother and baby are stable. I provide support for the mother, for her partner and family during the birth,” she said.
Even burger runs
During labor, Starsiak provides comfort and support. “I do what she needs me to do for her. She might say: ‘I want this specific burger from this specific place’; so I make the burger run. I do whatever brings comfort to the mother and her team.” After the birth, she stays until the first breast-feeding is completed, often helping the new mother learn how. When the new family unit is ready to sleep, she bows out and comes back the next day to make sure all is going well. Research regarding doulas has found remarkably improved physical and psychological outcomes for both mother and baby. Doulas have a positive impact on the well being of the entire family. With a doula, labor is shorter, the chances of a Caesarean section are decreased, the need for pain medication is decreased, and
fathers participate more confidently. Also, there is increased success in breastfeeding. Starsiak describes how she became involved in her profession. “I’ve done this all my life. I grew up surrounded by pregnant women. When I was 5, my parents were house parents in a home for unwed mothers. I helped when the girls went into labor. At 15 and 16, I went to the hospital to help the girls; many were just my age. During those years, I learned firsthand about the wonder and complexities of childbirth.” In addition to her 15 years of experience, Starsiak became a certified birth doula by taking a weekend training course through Doulas of North America. The training is about what happens during pregnancy and birth, and things you need to know to support the mother and her team emotionally. Thirteen years ago, when the Starsiaks began Mohawk Valley Doulas, many people did not know what a doula was. “Mom and I spent several years going to health fairs or any opportunity we could to hand out fliers and share information. Nowadays, most people have some idea of what a doula is.” As well as being a birth doula, Starsiak is a post-partum doula, doing whatever the new mother needs. “I do whatever you need me to do to help you keep sane, like watch the baby so you can shower, do your laundry, go to the grocery store, or get rid of the dust bunnies under the cabinet — whatever support you need. We don’t have an extended family that used to do that for us. But I’m someone here for a new mom,” she said. Starsiak offers her experience on pregnancy, birth or newborn-related issues to anyone interested, and she will speak at any event. She can be reached at 315-7362503 or visit her on Facebook at @ APeacefulBirthDoulas.
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(315)724-5168 Page 6
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IN GOOD HEALTH – Mohawk Valley’s Healthcare Newspaper • October 2018
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Women’s Health
A leg up on competition
Utican Katie Maneen shows with perseverance, anything can be overcome By Patricia J. Malin
J
umping and running into the cool water, wriggling your toes in the sand at the beach, dodging waves, swimming contests with friends and family or just floating on your back in the water as you bask in the golden sun — these are among the eternal memories of summer for adults and kids of all ages. For two decades, these experiences have been rare for Katie Maneen of Utica. Until recently, she had to worry about damage from the water and sand, even the small pebbles on the bottom of the lake, on the prosthesis she wears on her right leg. This past summer she was finally unshackled, thanks to a new, custom prosthesis made by Syracuse Prosthetic Center. She made the most of her “freedom,” she said, by indulging in a trip to the Jersey Shore, as well as celebrating on the water rides at Water Safari in Old Forge. “I can climb the stairs up to the top of the water slide!” she exclaimed. Maneen, 27, was born with three toes on her right foot. That leg was lacking a fibula and had a severely curved tibia. When she was 14 months old, her doctors and parents decided her leg should be amputated above the knee. Since then, she has obviously outgrown and out-worn dozens of artificial limbs. A friend of hers recommended the Syracuse Prosthetic Center and the new models impressed her. Maneen, who has always enjoyed an active lifestyle, had gone swimming many times throughout her life, but admitted it was a struggle. If she wore the other prosthesis in the water, she had to worry about the screws rusting, and it was a “hassle” to dry it out. Usually, she chose not to wear the limb, which meant she had to hop on one leg to get from the shore to the water. Friends and family would provide assistance by holding her up until she got into deeper water. “I had a very good support system,” she said. Then she would crouch down on her left leg and place her right stump into the sand on the bottom of the lake. However, the sand and any debris in the water could irritate her stump. “Now I can walk right in and swim and feel safe,” she noted.
“Now I have independence and I can do what I want to do. It’s a good feeling.”
Blade runner
Both prostheses are made of titanium and made a few months ago. The sporty prosthesis is made with an extra layer of carbon in the socket. It features a narrow, angled spring-like blade made famous by Paralympic runner Oscar Pistorius, who following a court battle, competed against able-bodied athletes in the 2012 Olympics. Still it weighs about five or six pounds, slightly heavier than the limb she uses for routine walking. It’s not completely waterproof, so Maneen places a sleeve over the artificial limb when she goes in the water, but it is a lot more rust-resistant than the older models. It can withstand nicks and scrapes and it dries quickly. “I went to Ocean Grove, N.J., for a girls’ weekend with my mother, my aunt and my cousin, and that was big for me,” she said. “I walked on the beach and I didn’t have to worry about getting sand in my leg. It made for a fun summer.” Out of the water, Maneen has experienced few problems as an amputee. During the day, she wears a “walking” prosthesis that’s fitted with a durable foot. It has enabled her to attend school, play sports, have a career and live her life with confidence. She credits her parents, Peggy and Richard Maneen, for encouraging her to try anything. Actually, she said they took the advice of doctors at Shriner’s Hospital for Children in Springfield, Mass., where she used to go for treatment, who told them never to impose any limitations on their daughter. “They told my parents, ‘She’ll find some things challenging.’ I’m grateful to them. It’s the reason I’ve always been athletic.” She has played sports since she was 5 years old thanks to her father and her brother, Dan Dichiera, who is 7 years older. “He played football. He was my idol and I wanted to keep up with him,” she said. She never felt intimidated or embarrassed about competing. “I’m not going to not live my life,” she explained. “I am what I am. I have to deal with it.” While attending Frankfort-Schuyler Central School, she
“Now I can walk right in and swim and feel safe,” she noted. “Now I have independence and I can do what I want to do. It’s a good feeling.”
Katie Maneen displays the prosthesis she uses for athletic activity at her office at Utica College. played soccer, softball, volleyball and golf. She was also an assistant coach for her high school soccer team. She dedicated herself to track and field at Herkimer County Community College and later as a student at Utica College. Just two years after taking up running, she competed in two Paralympics national championships. She won bronze medals in the
100-meter run and silver medals in the 200 meters at the 2011 and 2012 national championships. Recognized as a local role model, Maneen received The Faxton Cup Award of the Regional Rehabilitation Center from Faxton St. Luke’s Healthcare in 2012. Since then, she has given up running, but now enjoys cycling, swimming, kayaking and occasionally downhill skiing.
Health News in Brief St. E’s earns Blue Distinction® Center+ designation Excellus BlueCross BlueShield has selected St. Elizabeth Medical Center, an affiliate of the Mohawk Valley Health System, as a Blue Distinction Center+ for knee and hip replacement, part of the Blue Distinction specialty care program. Blue Distinction Centers are nationally designated health care facilities shown to deliver improved patient safety and better health outcomes, based on objective measures that were developed by BlueCross and BlueShield companies with input from the medical community. Knee and hip replacement procedures are among the fastest growing medical treatments in the United States, according to studies published in the June 2014 Journal of Bone and Joint Surgery1 and the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons2. In 2010, the estimated cost of hip replacements averaged $17,500 and the estimated cost of knee replacements averaged $16,000, according to the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality. Hospitals designated as Blue Distinction Centers+ for knee and hip replacement demonstrate expertise in total knee and total hip replacement
October 2018 •
surgeries, resulting in fewer patient complications and hospital readmissions.
MVHS offers household sharps disposal program Mohawk Valley Health System offers the household sharps disposal program for community members to properly dispose of their medical waste. Items such as syringes and lancets may be dropped off from 7 a.m. to 3 p.m. weekdays at the Faxton St. Luke’s Healthcare Energy Center located on the St. Luke’s Campus, 1656 Champlin Ave., Utica, or at the Center for Rehabilitation and Continuing Care Services, also on the St. Luke’s Campus at 1650 Champlin Ave. Items dropped off at CRCCS may be given to the receptionist. In addition, sharp instruments may also be taken to the St. Elizabeth Medical Center Hospital Services Department, located in the SEMC basement, from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. weekdays excluding holidays. Only items from private residences in clearly marked “sharps” puncture-proof containers will be accepted. For more information, call the FSLH Energy Center at 315-624-6186 or SEMC Hospital Services at 315801-8249.
IN GOOD HEALTH – Mohawk Valley’s Healthcare Newspaper
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Women’s Health
conditions can occur; too little, and you’ll be at risk for hypothyroidism, responsible for robbing energy and adding unwanted weight.
Shifting the Balance
What causes imbalances?
How to recognize, naturally treat hormonal imbalances By Brooke Stacia Demott
W
e live in an age of options. For every medical condition, there are hundreds of traditional, natural, holistic and even spiritual solutions offered at the touch of a screen. Navigating the landscape of treatment options can be overwhelming. Some conditions, like hormonal imbalances, are complex, and thankfully, can be addressed in a variety of effective ways. Signs of premature aging, excess weight that doesn’t respond to diet and exercise, or loss of libido at a young age can be an indication that your hormones are out of whack.
What are hormones?
Hormones are the body’s chemical messengers and are part of the endocrine system. Endocrine glands make hormones, which travel through the bloodstream to tissues and organs, and control most of our body’s major systems, according to The Endocrine Society. So, our hormones are like little messengers sent by a director to a system of operators. If the messengers get the instructions wrong, often, the operation goes haywire. To help our bodies get the message straight, we need to manage the glands responsible for hormone production. The key is discovering what’s causing symptoms. Usually, when we’re talking about hormonal imbalances, the culprits are one of these four major players — estrogen, progesterone, testosterone, and thyroid. • Estrogen is produced in the
ovaries and to a lesser extent, in the adrenal gland. It’s the primary female sex hormone responsible for ovulation, breast development, and mood regulation. Ordinarily, men produce a low amount of estrogen. However, fat cells, (particularly in the mid-section) create what’s called an aromatase reaction which increases estrogen in women and converts testosterone to estrogen in men. The more fat cells you have, the more estrogen your body makes. And, the more estrogen your body makes, the more fat cells you’ll have. It’s a relentless cycle. • Progesterone creates a positive environment in utero for childbearing. In fact, endometrial progesterone levels are 200 times higher in fertile
women versus those who habitually miscarry, according to the International Society of Gynecological Endocrinology. Low progesterone is heavily linked to infertility. Additionally, a deficiency also contributes to premature aging and the development of intrusive ovarian cysts. • Testosterone, the primary male hormone, is produced in far larger quantities in men than women. It’s responsible for producing sperm, deep voices, muscle and bone mass, and hair growth, (particularly facial hair.) • Thyroid hormones are composed primarily of iodine, and work to regulate metabolism. When you have too much thyroid hormone, Grave’s disease/ hyperthyroid
— Dietary deficiencies: For instance, your thyroid requires iodine to function properly. In the Western world, we don’t have many bio-available — or easily absorbed — sources of iodine in our regular diet. Other than iodized salt — oft rejected for sea salt these days, which contains no iodine — there aren’t any potent sources of iodine in our regular diets. “Iodized salt is now the main source of iodine in the American diet, but only about 20 percent of the salt Americans eat contains the micronutrient,” said Purnendu Dasgupta, a chemistry professor at the University of Texas at Arlington. Dasgupta and colleagues recently tested 88 samples of iodized salt and found that 47 of them, or 53 percent, did not meet the U.S. Food and Drug Administration’s recommendations for iodine levels. His conclusion? Far more Americans are at risk for iodine deficiency these days. In many Asian counties, however, where diets are comprised of high amounts of kelp and seafood-rich sources of iodine, populations enjoy the lowest incidences of thyroid problems in the world. Studies indicate increased nascent iodine consumption, an easily purchased liquid supplement, can help balance the thyroid hormones naturally. — Age: There is a natural decline in the production of sex hormones that regulate reproductive cycles and contribute to youthful appearance as we age. Unfortunately, discomfort and embarrassment can cause people to utilize side-effect-laden synthetic hormone replacement therapy for relief. — Lifestyle: Commercial meats farmed with high doses of hormones can have disastrous effects on your body’s hormone regulation. A lack of regular exercise seri-
Continued on Page 22
Mohawk Valley Practitioners In practice for 22 years Now Accepting New Patients For Primary Care Call Now for an Appointment We are excited to announce the addition of Sarah Alexander RN, MS, FNP-C to the practice
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505 Roberts Street, Utica NY 13502 | 315-790-5392 | Inertiawellnesscenter.com Page 8
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Cathryn J. Barns RN, MS, FNP, ANP-C
IN GOOD HEALTH – Mohawk Valley’s Healthcare Newspaper • October 2018
1 Notre Dame Lane. Utica, NY 13502
315-733-7913
We continue to be located next to Notre Dame High School
Accepting Most Insurances We look foward to providing your care
Steeped in tradition Masonic Care Community continues to strive for excellence By Patricia J. Malin
I
n its 125-year history as a campus, the Masonic Care Community has undergone numerous changes in its name, physical layout and philosophy. Nevertheless, it has always remained devoted to two groups — children and older adults. At one time, it ran an orphanage and an elementary school. While those activities are in the distant past, the Masonic Care Community still operates a summer camp for local youths in the southern Adirondacks. Once known as the Masonic Home when it catered exclusively to aged and indigent Masons, their widows and children, MCC primarily serves seniors nowadays. It has evolved into a care center for 500 residents with different needs in what it calls a continuum of care. It is not exclusively for Masons. Its pleasant 400-acre campus in east Utica includes an independent living senior community (Acacia Village); inpatient short-term and long-term rehabilitation services for people who are recovering from an accident, illness or injury (Health Pavilion), and skilled nursing care for independent seniors who need a little extra assistance (Wiley Hall).
“The Masonic Care Community is one of the oldest nonprofit agencies in the state that has never wavered from its mission of caring for people,” said Kathy Contino-Turner, spokeswoman for MCC. The MCC has been celebrating its anniversary with several events over the past few months. A Community Day, with outdoor activities including games, food and fireworks, was held in conjunction with a “Wings and Wheels” car show in August. In April, the 154th anniversary of the incorporation of the Masonic Home by the New York State Legislature and Masonic Home Board of Trustees, MCC announced a new master plan and held a ceremonial groundbreaking. At a news conference in May, executive director Robert Raffle said the Masonic community is planning to offer additional services and improve quality of life for the residents, but final details are still being worked out. “There won’t be any construction this year,” he said. “We haven’t begun fundraising yet and there’s not even a budget yet.” Acacia Village hosted a gala recently to raise funds for the expansion of the rehabilitation units. The master plan approved by the
Acacia Village is an independent living senior community within the Masonic Care Community in Utica. board of trustees is designed to make the MCC a center for excellence. It includes rehabilitating the former administration building, which was the first structure built at the campus in 1893. Other key elements include updates to Acacia Village and construction of new housing on campus. Acacia Village was built in 1993, Raffle said, and has expanded to 135 apartments from 16 originally. It also has shops and a dining room. The expansion will add 75 more units for adults, typically 65 years older and up.
October 2018 •
“We are grateful to the Masonic fraternity as they could have invested anywhere in New York state,” Raffle added. “But due to the local community investment and track record of this facility, they have chosen to make this significant commitment to Utica.” In 1842, the Grand Lodge of the New York State Masons discussed the establishment of an “asylum” for elderly Masons, thus creating the original Masonic Home. It would be another 48 years
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IN GOOD HEALTH – Mohawk Valley’s Healthcare Newspaper
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Women’s Health Between You and Me
By Barbara Pierce
Dopamine: The chemical of desire T
ciation of that person in the here and now, or we can end the relationship and go in search of another roller coaster ride. It’s not an easy transition. It all comes down to dopamine, “the molecule of more,” as Daniel Lieberman and Michael Long explain in their new book: “The Molecule of More.” “Our brains are programmed to crave the unexpected,” they say. “We get a dopamine rush from promising surprises. But when anything new, including love, becomes familiar, the excitement slips away and so does the dopamine rush. “Dopamine is the chemical of desire that always asks for more — more stuff, more stimulation, and more surprises. From dopamine’s point of view, having things is uninteresting. It’s only getting things that matters — It’s the anticipation module,” they say. By accident, I watched a mediocre older movie not long ago, “Someone Like You.” Ashley Judd’s character gets dumped; her boyfriend leaves her for another girl.
ful feeling of excitement in the rush of first love is real; scans show that our brains are flooded with feelgood chemicals. But then there is an inevitable change over time from passionate love to what experts call compassionate love — or love that is deep but not as euphoric as that experienced during the early stages of romance. Harvard Medical School studied this phenomenon, which is online on its website called “Love and the Brain.” They have this to say: “For those whose long-term marriage has transitioned from passionate, romantic love to a more compassionate, routine type of love, it is possible to rekindle the flame that characterized the relationship’s early days. We call it the ‘rustiness phenomenon.’ Couples get out of the habit of sex, of being incredibly in love, and often for good reasons: work, children, a sick parent. But that type of love can be reignited. Sexual activity, for example, can increase oxytocin levels and activate the brain’s reward circuit, making couples desire each other more.” That alone may be enough to bring some couples back to those earlier, exhilarating days, when all they could think about was their newfound love, the writers said. Yes, sexual activity. I guess fairy tales have their purpose for young children, but I MP Order think more needs to be said to young Prop people to make them aware that passionate love doesn’t last. By its very nature, it burns itself out. And they need to be prepared for when that happens.
here is no Prince Charming and That’s because we’re human. no happily ever after. We fall in love, “passionate Those fairy tales our mothlove.” Dopamine and other chemier read us when we were young got cals in our brain create those feelings it all wrong. Cinderella doesn’t marof euphoria. Those feelings last only ry her prince and live happily ever about 12 to 18 months, according to after. Neither does Sleeping Beauty experts. or Snow White. After that, It’s all a fairy for the couple to tale; they sold us a remain attached fairy tale and led to each other, they us to believe that’s need to develop how it works. Find a different sort of your handsome love. That’s the prince and live way it works. It’s happily ever after. inevitable that What is true is we will lose that that the handsome intense feeling of No fooling the ‘Old Cow’ fascinating Prince passionate roShe rationalizes that he left her Charming becomes Lieberman mance. because of the “Old Cow Theory.” Pierce a pot-bellied guy What a great This says that bulls refuse to copulate picking his nose feeling that is and with a cow they have already mated and scratching his bald head. how sad that it won’t last. And how with, even when researchers disguise And Cinderella’s unappealing sad that nobody tells you that so you the old cow with the scent of a new wearing her ragged old robe and can prepare. one. blowing her nose into a ratty Kleen- ThisWhen the passion fades,at there ad will appear the classification of:suggests that all Old cow theory ex. comes a choice: We can transition to a love that’s NY fed by a day-to-day appre- males will leave all females eventualRome ly because their biological imperative is to find the new cow. with in Home Date 05/2014 I don’t know anything about cows. But whether theory is Date: March 17, 2014 Acct# A1ZGFE Salesthat Rep: GRIMALDI, JENNIFER L Size: HCN6 Ad Id: A right or wrong, we are more com• Barbara Pierce is a retired licensed plicated than cows. Lieberman and clinical social worker with many years Long say it’s dopamine that leads of experience helping people. If you one to keep seeking out new partwould like to purchase a copy of her book, ners. “When You Come to the Edge: Aging” or I do know for a fact that love if you have questions for her, contact her fades for most of us. That wonderat barbarapierce06@yahoo.com.
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IN GOOD HEALTH – Mohawk Valley’s Healthcare Newspaper • October 2018
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IN GOOD HEALTH – Mohawk Valley’s Healthcare Newspaper
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Page 11
SmartBites
The skinny on healthy eating
Nature’s Vitamin Pill:
Nutrient-rich Acorn Squash
S
ome foods serve up a little amount of a lot. While no superstar in any one nutrient, these foods boast decent amounts of many. Acorn squash, of all the winter squashes, falls into that commendable category. Of those “many,” however, acorn squash does shine with a few standouts. Though not as rich in beta-carotene (a precursor to vitamin A) as other winter squashes, this nutrient-dense squash is a very good source of vitamin C, potassium and manganese, and a pretty good source of some B vitamins, fiber and magnesium. One cup of acorn squash delivers nearly 25 percent of our daily vitamin C needs. A multi-tasking vitamin (and powerful antioxidant!) that’s essential for good health, vitamin C plays a vital role in collagen production, helps speed wound healing and may even lower our risk of many
chronic diseases by inhibiting the activity of cell-damaging free radicals. Another noteworthy perk: Acorn squash may contribute to heart health, thanks to its potassium and magnesium. While potassium helps to regulate blood pressure by lessening the negative affects of too much sodium, magnesium helps the heart maintain a healthy rhythm. Many studies have found that people with a higher dietary intake of both potassium and magnesium have a lower risk of heart disease and stroke. This dark green squash is a great source of thiamin (B1), an essential vitamin that contributes to healthy nerve and brain cells and helps convert food to energy, and a respectable source of folate, another important B vitamin that helps to reduce birth defects, maintain a healthy heart, and possibly thwart depression. Mellow-tasting acorn squash is low in fat, cholesterol, sodium and calories (about 60 per cubed cup),
CALENDAR
HEALTH EVENTS
Got a health-related activity or event that you would like publicized? Call Lou Sorendo at 315-749-7070 or email lou@cnymail.com.
Mondays
Thursdays
Food Addicts in Recovery to meet
Loved one on drugs? There is support
Food Addicts in Recovery holds an anonymous meeting from 6:308 p.m. Mondays at Trinity United Methodist Church, 8595 Westmoreland Road, Whitesboro. For more information, call Helen at 315-794-2314.
Tuesdays
Insight House offers family support group Insight House Chemical Dependency Services, Inc. is offering a family support group meeting from 6:15-7:30 p.m. Tuesdays at Insight House, 500 Whitesboro St., Utica. The group is free and open to anyone who is concerned about a loved one’s relationship with alcohol, opiates/heroin, or other substances. For more information about the group, call 724-5168, ext. 265, from 8:30-4 p.m. weekdays. All calls are strictly confidential.
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CNY Services Milestones is featuring a support group for anyone dealing with another person’s drug and/or alcohol addiction. The support group meets at 6 p.m. Thursdays at 502 Court St., Suite 210, Utica. The support group is free and open to those struggling with a child, partner, wife, husband, mother, father or friend who is battling addiction. For more information, call Tony at 315-717-9153.
Oct. 1
Parents bond to battle addiction A support group — Parents of Addicted Loved Ones — meets from 7-8:30 p.m. on the first and third Thursdays of every month at the Canajoharie Fire House, 75 Erie Boulevard, Canajoharie. The next meetings are Oct. 1 and Oct. 15. The support group is for parents with a son or daughter who is addict-
and offers a modest amount of fiber: 8 percent of our daily needs. As for carbs, acorn squash boasts the good ones—the complex carbs that provide a steady stream of energy because they take longer to digest.
Roasted Parmesan Acorn Squash Serves 2-4 1 acorn squash, washed 2 tablespoons olive oil 1/4 cup grated Parmesan 1 teaspoon garlic powder 1 teaspoon dried thyme ¼ teaspoon coarse ground pepper ½ teaspoon kosher salt (or, to taste) Preheat oven to 400 degrees. Trim ends from squash. Position squash upright on widest end and cut in half, using a large serrated knife (rind is tough!). Scoop out seeds and slice each half into ½” half moons. In a large bowl, mix together olive oil, cheese, garlic powder, thyme, pepper and salt. Add squash and, using your hands, toss to coat slices with mixture. Lay the squash out on a baking sheet and bake for 30 minutes. Serve immediately.
ed to drugs and/or alcohol. PAL is a nonprofit organization run by a volunteer board of parents. For more information, visit www. palgroup.org or call PAL at 480-3004712.
Oct. 8
Support forum for patients, cancer survivors The Mohawk Valley Health System’s Cancer Center’s monthly support forum for patients and cancer survivors will be held at 6 p.m. Oct. 8. The cancer support forum meets at 6 p.m. on the second Monday of every month in the Cancer Center’s fireplace lounge on the main floor of Faxton Campus, 1676 Sunset Ave., Utica. The forum, led by the Cancer Center’s social worker, offers support to anyone who has received a cancer diagnosis. Light refreshments will be served. For more information or to RSVP, call 315-624-5241.
Oct. 8
Support group to meet at Romer Memorial Hospital The brain aneurysm, AVM (arteriovenous malformation) and stroke support group will meet from 5:30-7 p.m. Oct. 8 at Rome Memorial Hospital’s second-floor classroom. The group meets on the second Monday of every month. RMH is located at 1500 N. James St., Rome. For more information, call Deb Dunn at 315-533-6467 or email RomeNY@Joe NiekroFoundation.org.
IN GOOD HEALTH – Mohawk Valley’s Healthcare Newspaper • October 2018
Helpful tips
Choose squash with a dull, dark green rind: a shiny rind means it was picked too early (will taste less sweet) and an orange rind means the squash is overripe (will be tough and fibrous). Store in a cool, dry place for up to a month. Squash that has been cut or cooked may last up to two weeks in the refrigerator. To maximize its nutritional benefits, steam or bake acorn squash to prevent the nutrients from being lost in the cooking water.
Anne Palumbo is a lifestyle colum-
nist, 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.
Oct. 8
Sign language offered for senior citizens Do you or someone you know have a hearing impairment that makes communication difficult? You can learn to communicate with them. Sign language classes for senior citizens will be held from 6:15-7:15 p.m. Oct. 8, 15, 22 and 29 at Trinity United Methodist Church on Westmoreland Road in Whitesboro. Cost is $30, which is a donation to the church. Those interested in participating can call the church at 315-736-7233 or email nsigning@gmail.com
Oct. 11
HealthNet offering free pre-diabetes program Mohawk Valley residents with pre-diabetes or who are at high risk for Type 2 diabetes now have more resources to prevent diabetes. A free diabetes prevention program designed to help participants reduce their risk for Type 2 diabetes by learning to eat healthier, lose weight, become more physically active, and manage stress is being offered by Herkimer County HealthNet. The program will begin Oct. 11 and meets from 5-6:30 p.m. every Thursday for 16 weeks at the Mohawk Reformed Church, 20 S. Otsego St, Mohawk. After the first 16 weeks, the program will meet monthly for six months to continue to offer support and help participates stick to their new healthy lifestyle. The cost for
Continued on Page 17
The Balanced Body
By Deb Dittner
Time to Take Care of Your Tummy Stomach problems? Take a close look at your intake
I
n determining your overall health and well-being, you need to take a close look at your digestive system. Around 80 percent of your immune system is located in your gut. So if your digestive woes are not addressed, the manifestation of chronic health conditions can occur. When your body becomes unbalanced from a variety of possibilities, look at digestion. Today’s foods, water, soils and more are tainted Dittner by a variety of chemicals that compromise the health of your gut. When your digestive system is “off,” you may experience a variety of digestive conditions such as constipation, diarrhea, irritable bowel syndrome, reflux, heartburn, bloating, or gas. Bringing your gut back into balance naturally takes patience and important steps. — Eat real foods: This may sound silly but many eat the Standard American Diet, which consists of non-food items. These fake,
processed and fast foods are typically high in refined salt, sugar and oils that your body doesn’t recognize and is unable to properly digest. Real food is acknowledged by your body and can then be broken down into the nutrients necessary to maintain a balanced gut. These whole nutrient-dense foods are made in nature. Aim for 80 percent of your daily intake to be real food. — Eat fermented foods: There are many fermented and cultured foods available to add to your daily nutrition. Fermented foods provide your gut with a variety of healthy micro-organisms, good bacteria that will begin to regenerate your gut flora naturally. Eating a small amount of these foods daily will aid in changing the gut environment and healing can occur. Try to incorporate foods such as sauerkraut, fermented vegetables, kimchi, kefir, or kombucha. — Reset your gut with a detox: A detox or cleanse will help to reset your digestive system. There are many types of detox programs out there and I recommend one that you will be able to follow. I run a five-day detox program every season (winter, spring, summer and fall) consisting of whole nutri-
ent-dense foods with the elimination of dairy and gluten, processed sugars and caffeine. Doing a short detox allows the body to release excess toxins that have been absorbed from processed foods, heavy metals such as mercury and aluminum, environmental toxins and emotional triggers. Symptoms of excess toxicity may be fatigue, food allergies, breathing difficulties such as asthma and allergies, skin conditions such as eczema, and digestive symptoms such as gas, bloating, and reflux. — Decrease chronic stress: I know, you’re thinking easier said than done. I hear you but you need to start somewhere and you need to find what works for you.
Stick to routine
Begin with a routine: be in bed by 10 p.m. each night, no electronics for a minimum of one hour before sleep, read, write in a journal, take note of what you are grateful for, have a cup of calming, soothing tea, take an Epsom salt bath with essential oils such as lavender, eat regularly throughout the day, maintain good hydration, move consistently through dance, yoga, high-intensity interval training, walking or kickboxing, play music, and take time daily just for you.
Chronic stress interferes with your digestive system and you may need to supplement with magnesium, zinc, and Vitamins B and D. I encourage you to discuss these options with your health care provider. — Decrease intestinal inflammation: Digestive disorders require nutrients to repair, restore and regenerate the intestinal lining. Some foods you may want to incorporate into your daily nutrition are cruciferous vegetables (cabbage, Brussels sprouts, broccoli), beets, beans, spinach and other dark green leafy vegetables, clean lean protein, and herbs and spices such as parsley and turmeric. Probiotics can be supplemented as well in therapeutic doses of 3-20 billion live cultures. — Listen to your body: You are a unique individual and only you know your body best. What works for one person may not work for another. • Deborah Dittner is a family nurse practitioner and health consultant. Her mission is to transform as many individuals as possible through nutrition and lifestyle changes. For more information, check out her website at www.debdittner. com or contact her at 518-596-8565.
AMERICANS WALK 5,000 STEPS A DAY ONLY HALF THE RECOMMENDED AMOUNT Let’s get stepping! ExcellusBCBS.com/LiveFearlessNation October 2018 •
IN GOOD HEALTH – Mohawk Valley’s Healthcare Newspaper
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Page 13
SURGERY AND RADIATION FOR BREAST CANCER IN AS LITTLE AS ONE DAY
Autism spectrum disorder: Don’t wait, evaluate!
R
ates of autism are increasing. However, many children with autism continue to go undiagnosed and untreated. This trend is alarming, according to the ADHD & Autism Services and Advocacy PLLC, Utica. Parents, physicians, and teachers are often unaware that autism can be validly diagnosed in children as young as 18 months. Diagnosing autism as early as possible is crucial given that early diagnosis leads to better long-term outcomes, according to AAPSA. Thus, all those involved in the care of children are strongly recommended to avoid a “wait-and-see approach.” In addition to early diagnosis, the type and quality of treatment is critically important. Applied behavior analysis (ABA) therapy is a gold standard in treatment of autism. ABA therapy is an effective, fun, and supportive therapy aimed at creating
positive and significant changes in key areas such as language, social communication and self-regulation, states AAPSA. Research clearly shows that children with autism have better outcomes when they receive ABA therapy beginning in early childhood and when ABA therapy is provided intensively each week, according to AAPSA. Every child deserves the opportunity to thrive. Accurate diagnosis and evidence-based treatment by 3 years old is critical to help a child with autism reach his or her full potential, the AAPSA states. If you are concerned about a child’s development, remember one simple thing: Don’t wait, evaluate! Not sure if your child is meeting developmental milestones? Check out the CDC’s checklist at https:// www.cdc.gov/ncbddd/actearly/ pdf/checklists/Checklists-with-Tips_ Reader_508.pdf.
Assessment Treatment Advocacy Early Diagnosis + Early Intervention = Better Outcomes! The Upstate Cancer Center is the first in the region to offer intraoperative radiation therapy (IORT) as a treatment option for early stage breast cancer. IORT can reduce or completely eliminate the need for weeks of follow-up radiation treatments. This means patients can get back to their normal lives, sooner.
AAPSA.net ...For a brighter tomorrow
Subscribe to In Good Health
With IORT, the breast surgeon removes the tumor during the operation, then the radiation oncologist delivers a concentrated dose of radiation to the site. The localized, single treatment means healthy tissue is less impacted by radiation, thus reducing side effects. Talk to your provider to see if you are a candidate for intraoperative radiation therapy or call the Upstate Cancer Center.
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IN GOOD HEALTH – Mohawk Valley’s Healthcare Newspaper • October 2018
Spiritual Health Milk & Honey
By Brooke Stacia Demott
Faithfully Yours The fruit of the spirit: unlimited devotion
J
etlagged and battle weary, our hero turns the corner of the airport terminal. Relief washes over him; he recognizes immediately the tearstained faces of his loving family. Cheers of joy and long-awaited hugs greet him at the gate. The soldier served his country faithfully, and faithfully, his family awaits his return. My experience wasn’t like that. I served in Operation Iraqi Freedom in 2003. Demott I wasn’t afraid of being at war; I was terrified of the commitment I’d made by joining the Navy. Panicked, I became obstinate, argumentative, rebellious and reckless during training and deployment. I was trying to get kicked out. And, once my battalion returned stateside, the commanding officer gladly granted my wish. At the airstrip, someone was waiting for every soldier except me. One 20-year-old girl with a broken family and a bad reputation left that airfield alone. Nobody anxiously awaited my return. I had a track record of jumping ship. At 16, I quit school. It was boring, and mounting social pressures proved too much for my weak character. Instead, I found that drugs and men distracted me from choosing a path of lackluster stability. I left home, sometimes living with friends, sometimes homeless. My parents’ unhappy marriage eventually dissolved. Realizing that life offered little to the uneducated pot head/highschool dropout, I joined the military on a technicality, and spent the whole tour in Kuwait and Iraq. That is, until my unceremonious release. Burning bridges was my fulltime occupation. Bouncing from one guy, job, and social group to the next, I left them all in flames — running far and fast away from anything that resembled “settling.” And it definitely left me unsettled. Truthfully, deep down, I longed to have stability and commitment. I just didn’t know how. Everyone around me thought little of quitting jobs, leaving town, or ditching their marriage. When life got hard — or uninteresting — they’d just start over. I didn’t see anybody slogging through hard times to get to a brighter side of the same coin. My world didn’t value loyalty. Commitment meant resignation to a life of regret. So I confused chaos for fulfillment, because chaos was familiar.
It wasn’t until God stepped in that I understood what I was missing. The Lord decided to show me exactly what faithfulness looked like, in the form of a 6’1” drummer with an easy smile and an obscene amount of patience.
Dependability factor
Brian pursued me so subtly that I barely knew it was happening. He was something I hadn’t encountered yet — dependable. He showed up when he said he would; and often, when he didn’t have to. When we started dating, he promptly explained to his female friends and exes that he would no longer be joining them for lunch or fixing their cars. They weren’t happy; I was stunned. Secretly, I was flattered. Brian asked my father for permission to marry me on the night he proposed. Since my family wasn’t close, I thought it unnecessary. Secretly, I was flattered. He promised to love and care
for my daughter, whose father had skipped town when she was 2. He eventually would adopt her. Everything seemed perfect. But shortly after we were married, I began to panic. Sharing my space was new and frustrating. When things were good, I held my breath and waited for the sky to fall. When they weren’t, I’d erupt in angry rage, suffocated by domestication. But Brian was patient. After many years, the stress of marriage, parenting, and regular life brought me to the end of my staying power. Our problems mounted; frankly, we’d stopped trying. I told my husband that I needed some space, and asked him to leave. I wasn’t sure what to expect. So, he left. But every night, he came to read the Bible to the kids and tuck them in. He always said as he was leaving, “I’m not going to give up on us. I’ll be back tomorrow. I love you.” He never threatened me or issued ultimatums. Our problems needed attention; we both needed to change, and we did. But what held our marriage together was Brian’s unshakable faithfulness. In my experience, people quit when things got hard, but my husband refused to give up. Why? God has taught my husband to be faithful, by His own example of
fierce loyalty. Brian has experienced the power of God’s faithfulness, and the depths of its eternal value. There’s a story often called “The Prodigal Son.” In it, a boy demands an inheritance from his father and runs headlong into the world to places that offer him pleasure without responsibility. His father lets him go. But he waits, every day, for his wayward son to return. One day, the boy runs out of options, and he does return — penniless, without excuses. His faithful father runs up the path to welcome him home with no explanation required. The father is God. The wayward son represents us. And sin is the road we wander, losing our inheritance, but there is good news. God, in His unending love, has cleared a path for our safe return. Jesus is the way back to God; He is our road home. My husband taught me, perhaps, the most important spiritual truth of all — in every season, in good times and bad, love is faithful. God is waiting, every moment, for us to turn the corner, so He might run to welcome us home. • Brooke Stacia Demott is a columnist with In Good Health newspaper. Got a question for Demott? Feel free to email her at brooketo@aol.com.
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October 2018 •
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IN GOOD HEALTH – Mohawk Valley’s Healthcare Newspaper
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Page 15
Achoo!
Mohawk Valley residents beware: The flu season is upon us By Jessica Arsenault Rivenburg
F
all means many things to many people. To those in the health care field, fall often means time to get a flu shot. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommends that everyone 6 months of age and older receive an annual flu vaccine. With the typical flu season beginning in
October, now is the perfect time to get that shot, said Caitlin Pohleven, supervising pharmacist at Kinney Drugs in Little Falls. “The flu vaccine takes two weeks to become fully effective in a person’s system,” Pohleven said. “So we start giving flu shots in the end of August. Any time now is the ideal time to get your flu shot.” According to the CDC, flu season in the United States runs October through April, with reported infec-
1 in 5 new moms experience a mood or anxiety disorder related to pregnancy?
Althought about 80% of moms experience the baby blues, this is different.
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tions generally peaking between become slightly more susceptible to December and March. In case people illness immediately following the flu shot as their body’s immune system think the flu is no big deal, between Oct. 1, 2016 and April 30, 2017, 18,256 is busy working on the flu vaccine. “Your immune system is busy people were hospitalized in the U.S. building antibodies to the flu, so if thanks to the virus. Even worse, the you come into contact with a cold flu claimed the lives of 101 children. a few days after receiving the shot, The 2017-18 flu season proved your body might not be able to hanthe worst in 15 years. The CDC dle it as well as it would otherwise,” reports 30,453 people were hospitalshe explained. ized with flu-related symptoms and Pohleven recommends those complications, and 180 children died. planning to get the flu shot begin “The flu can mean serious taking vitamin C or other imbusiness, especially for children, mune-boosting supplements a day those over 65 and anyone with a before receiving the vaccine, and compromised immune system or continue to do so pre-existing for a few days lung condition,” following the Pohleven said. vaccination. “Antibiotics don’t “I personally work because it is am a big fan of a virus, and TamiAirborne,” she flu is only effecsaid. tive in reducing One more flu symptoms if thing to consider, taken within the she said, is that first 48 hours of side effects from exposure, which the shot itself can is very hard to include a lowdo. Once you’ve grade fever and had symptoms mild body aches for a couple days, for a day or two, which is when which patients most people realsometimes misize it’s the flu and take for illness. not a cold, it’s too “Vaccines late for Tamiflu.” How severe do Caitlin Pohleven, supervising pharmacist have no doubt saved countless officials expect the at Kinney Drugs in Little Falls, administers a flu vaccine to a patient. lives,” Sullivan upcoming 2018pointed out. “Vac2019 flu season to cines have made major impacts in be? public health. For example, [Edward] “That is always a good quesJenner invented the smallpox vaccine tion,” said Kevin L. Sullivan, and now the disease is completely infection control specialist with eradicated. Bassett Medical Center based in “Dr. Jonas Salk invented the poCooperstown. “My answer is nobody lio vaccine. Now polio is not a major knows. However, I have read that threat for infantile paralysis. I could the CDC and National Institutes of go on with this list for quite a long Health believe this will be a bad flu time. season.” “Now to the flu shot. Influenza is Still, Pohleven said she hears highly contagious. If you choose not many people question the effecto get vaccinated, ask yourself this: tiveness and point of getting the flu Do you want to pass the flu to anyvaccine, while others believe they one who is in frail health, as contractcan catch the flu from the shot. ing influenza may kill them? Do you Each year, the CDC tracks muwant to get sick yourself and perhaps tations of the flu virus and selects have some complications? Do you the top three to four strains experts want to pass the flu to the public?” believe will pose the biggest threat The bottom line, Pohleven said, during the upcoming season, Pohlevis that receiving the flu vaccine annuen explained. Even if the strains ally is a safer bet than not. chosen continue to mutate or devi“I read a great quote about it ate from the exact make-up of the once,” she said. “‘Flu vaccines are vaccine, receiving a flu shot builds the body’s immunity to better handle like seatbelts. They’re not perfect, but they are the best protection we have and fight the virus, she said. against serious injury and death.’” “Receiving the shot will reduce Most pharmacies offer a variety the severity of the illness, even if the of flu shots without the need of a strain you catch is not the particular prescription nor appointment, and strain in the shot,” Pohleven said. many medical insurance companies As for catching the flu from the cover the cost of the shot completely, shot, Sullivan assures that simply Pohleven said. can’t happen. If you do fall victim to the flu this season, there are steps you can It won’t kill you take to reduce the severity and limit “That is not possible as the vacexposure to others, both Sullivan and cine is made up of killed virus,” he Pohleven said. explained. “There is no live flu virus — Of course first and foremost in the vaccine. It cannot give you the is taking preventive action including flu.” getting the vaccine and practicing What can happen, however, is good hygiene, they said. that someone who has received the “Wash your hands, wash your flu shot comes into contact with the hands, wash your hands,” Sullivan flu before the two-week immunistressed. “Hand hygiene is the easty-building process is over. Because iest, safest, cheapest way to protect their body has not finished building you, your friends, the public and up a resistance, they are still susyour loved ones.” ceptible to the virus, Pohleven said, — If you know you’ve come in which is why people are encouraged contact with the flu virus, try to get to get vaccinated before flu season to a doctor’s office within 24 hours, really gets going. Pohleven advised, for a dose of TamiAnother possibility is that people flu or other flu-reducing medication.
IN GOOD HEALTH – Mohawk Valley’s Healthcare Newspaper • October 2018
Health CALENDAR of in good
HEALTH EVENTS
Got a health-related activity or event that you would like publicized? Call Lou Sorendo at 315-749-7070 or email lou@cnymail.com. Continued from Page 12 this program is free and includes material to help participants learn how to become more physically active and learn skills to make healthy food choices. Pre-diabetes is defined as having a blood glucose (sugar) level that is higher than normal but not high enough to be diagnosed as diabetes. Those interested in attending the program can contact HealthNet at 315-867-1552 or email eenea@herkimercounty.org.
Oct. 11
Campaign For Quality to enlighten The Mohawk Valley Health System’s 2018 Campaign For Quality promises to give everyone in attendance a new perspective on the ever-changing health care industry. The educational event, celebrating its 17th anniversary, features international, national and local experts presenting on trends in health care, patient experiences, population health topics and patient safety initiatives. CFQ will be held at Hamilton College on Oct. 12 and is free to attend. On Oct. 11, a special evening presentation and dinner will be held at Delta Hotels by Marriott Utica. The conference is open to the public and more information and registration details can be found at mvhealthsystem.org/cfq.
Oct. 11
Laryngectomy support group to meet The Laryngectomy Support Group will hold its monthly meeting at noon Oct. 11 in the Sister Regina Conference Room on the first floor of the St. Elizabeth Medical Center hospital building, 2209 Genesee St., Utica. The support group is sponsored by SEMC. Laryngectomy support group meetings are held at noon on the second Thursday of each month. A laryngectomy is the procedure to remove a person’s larynx and separates the airway from the mouth, nose and esophagus. The laryngectomee breathes through an opening in the neck, called a stoma. The public is welcome to attend. Those with questions can call the speech therapy department at 315801-4475.
Oct. 13
Annual Pink Tie Gala on agenda Believe 271 and the Oneida County Volunteer Firemen’s Association have teamed up to feature a
night of dinner, dancing and enjoying the camaraderie of neighbors. The second annual Pink Tie Gala will be presented Oct. 13 at Hart’s Hill Inn in Whitesboro. The firemen’s ball is open to the public. The event starts with an open bar from 6-7 p.m. followed by a buffet-style dinner with carving stations. Entertainment will be provided as well. This is a semi-formal event and firefighters are encouraged to wear their Class A uniforms. For those without uniforms, suits or cocktail dresses are appropriate. Advance sale tickets are available for $60 each or can be purchased at the door for $70. Tables of eight can be reserved for $480, advance purchase only. For more information contact Brian McQueen at 315-552-8245 or Dave Glenn at 315-534-5048. Believe 271 is a nonprofit foundation that raises funds to support Herkimer and Oneida county firefighters with life-threatening illnesses such as cancer. To date, Believe 271 has provided local emergency responders with more than $170,000 of support. The OCVFA will be using monies from the event to fund its scholarship programs.
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Help create a human pink ribbon Community members and breast cancer survivors are invited to help promote Breast Cancer Awareness Month by creating a human pink ribbon. Participants are asked to wear dark pink and come together at noon Oct. 5 at Murnane Baseball Field, across from the Faxton Campus in Utica. An aerial picture will be taken at approximately 12:15 p.m. to promote Breast Cancer Awareness Month throughout October in the Mohawk Valley. There will also be a brief ceremony to honor breast cancer survivors. Those wanting to participate must register by Oct. 4 by visiting mvhealthsystem.org/pinkribbon or call 315-624-HOPE (4673). This event is sponsored by the Mohawk Valley Health System Cancer Center, Oneida County Health Department Cancer Services Program under the leadership of Oneida County Executive Anthony J. Picente, Jr., Utica Mayor Robert Palmieri, the American Cancer Society and Daughter For Hire, LLC.
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THE ARC IS A DRUG FREE WORK PLACE AND AN EOE
Oct. 15
Family support group focuses on addiction Families who are dealing with the problems of addiction can find help and information at a support group meeting from 6-7 p.m. Oct. 15 in the second floor classroom at Rome Memorial Hospital. The group meets the third Monday of each month and is free and open to everyone. Offered by the hospital’s Community Recovery Center, the support group provides an opportunity to discuss issues with others who are in the same situation. Certified by the New York State Office of Alcoholism and Substance Abuse Services, the Community Recovery Center, 264 W. Dominick St., Rome, offers alcohol and substance abuse treatment for adolescents and adults.
October 2018 •
Open from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. Monday and Friday and from 8 a.m. to 9 p.m. Tuesday-Thursday, the center participates with most major insurance programs, including Medicare and Medicaid. A sliding scale fee is available for self-pay clients. For more information about the support group or the Community Recovery Center, call 334-4701.
Oct. 25
Free blood pressure screening offered Rome Memorial Hospital will be offering free blood pressure screenings from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. in the hospital’s retail pharmacy. The pharmacy is located on the ground floor just inside the Bartlett Wing entrance, off East Oak Street in Rome.
IN GOOD HEALTH – Mohawk Valley’s Healthcare Newspaper
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Page 17
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Now Seeing Outpatients at Sitrin! Dr. Alfred Moretz
Orthopedic Surgeon Clinic Hours Monday & Tuesday: 9 am to 5 pm Thursday & Friday: 9 am to Noon On-call appointments also available
Dr. Alfred Moretz examines a patient in Sitrin’s Orthopedic Outpatient Clinic.
Orthopedic specialist joins Sitrin physical therapists for new injury management program
A
lfred Moretz, orthopedic surgeon and highly regarded musculoskeletal specialist, has joined the team at the Sitrin Health Care Center in New Hartford as an essential member of its orthopedic outpatient clinic. 2050 Tilden Avenue, New Hartford, NY 13413 • 315-737-2246 As part of the clinic, Moretz has implemented a program that www.sitrin.com will improve outcomes, cut health care costs, and remove frustration for individuals who have experiMRTZ-4.79x6.69 4C Ad.indd 1 9/20/18 1:43 PM enced an injury. This new injury management program focuses on fast, functional recovery by coordinating treatment within the clinic AmeriCU Services, LLC* will be hosting several Medicare workshops in your area! team. Please join them for one of the following dates: After an injury, urgent care can directly refer individuals to Sitrin’s AUBURN FINANCIAL CENTER LIVERPOOL FINANCIAL CENTER AUBURN FINANCIAL CENTER FAYETTEVILLE FINANCIAL CENTER SYRACUSE FINANCIAL CENTER clinic. This will allow people to 295 Grant Ave., Auburn, Oswego Rd., Liverpool, 295 Grant Ave., Auburn, NY 13021NY 13021 54397474 N. Burdick St., Fayetteville, NY 13066 NY 13090 6303 Thompson Rd., Syracuse, NY 13206 receive immediate treatment and October 2, 2, 30 &30November 20 • 4:00PM October 4, 18 &27 November 1, 15 & December 6 • 4:00PM October 10, 24 & November 7, 28 & December 5 • 4:00PM October & November 20 • 4:00PM October • 9:00AM work closely with the area’s most November 20 • 4:00PM WATERTOWN FINANCIAL CENTER CAMILLUS FINANCIAL CENTER GRIFFISS FINANCIAL CENTER advanced musculoskeletal and CAMILLUS FINANCIAL CENTER 871 Arsenal St., Watertown, NY 13601 physical therapists — 5212 W. Genesee St., Camillus, NY 13031 231 Hill Rd., Rome, NY 13441 neurological 5212 W. Genesee St., Camillus, NY 13031 LOWVILLE FINANCIAL CENTER October 3 & November 14 • 4:00PM October 13 • 9:00AM | October 24 & November 28 • 4:00PM October 29 & December 3 • 4:00PM Philip Fess, Shawna Marmet and October 13 • 9:00AM | October 24, 7394 Utica Blvd., Lowville, NY 13367 JamesCENTER V. Wallace. YORKVILLE FINANCIAL CAZENOVIA FINANCIAL CENTER HERKIMER FINANCIAL CENTER November 28 • 4:00PM November 9 • 3:00PM Sitrin’s therapists will provide 4957 Commercial Dr., Yorkville, NY 13495 326 East State St., Herkimer, NY 13350 82 Albany St., Cazenovia, NY 13035 5, 19individualized • 4:00PM October 5 & December 7 • 4:00PM CENTER October 17 & NovemberFINANCIAL 30 • 4:00PM CENTER October 15 & Novemberan treatment proCAZENOVIA FINANCIAL SYRACUSE gram, establish recovery goals, and 82 Albany St., Cazenovia, NY 13035 6303 Thompson Rd., Syracuse, NY 13206 CICERO FINANCIAL CENTER LIVERPOOL FINANCIAL CENTER begin the healing process immediOctober 5 &Cicero, December 7 • 4:00PM 7474October Oswego 10, Rd., 24 Liverpool, NY 13090 414 St Rt 31, NY 13039 ately. November 7, |28 October 27 • 9:00AM November 20 • 4:00PM October 5 & December 7 • 4:00PM If you would like to attend If improvement is not made CICERO FINANCIAL CENTER December 5 • 4:00PM or would like towithin learn more, two weeks, Moretz will conCORTLAND FINANCIAL LOWVILLE FINANCIAL CENTER 414 St Rt 31, Cicero, CENTER NY 13039 at 315.356.3312 3944 NY-281, NY 13045 7394WATERTOWN Utica Blvd., Lowville, NY 13367 CENTER please contact us duct an examination and make apOctober 5 & Cortland, December 7 • 4:00PM FINANCIAL
Do you have questions about Medicare?
November 2 • 4:00PM | December 1 • 9:00AM November 9 • 3:00PM or email paulh@americu.org. 871 Arsenal St., Watertown, NY 13601 CORTLAND FINANCIAL CENTER October 3 & November 14 • 4:00PM *AmeriCU Services, LLC is affiliatedNY with13045 AmeriCU Credit Union. The purchase of insurance from AmeriCU Services, 3944 NY-281, Cortland, LLC is not required to obtain credit or other services from AmeriCU Credit Union. Insurance products are not November 2 • 4:00PM 1 • 9:00AM YORKVILLE FINANCIAL CENTER credit union deposits and are| December not NCUA insured, nor are they obligations of or guaranteed by AmeriCU. 4957 Commercial Dr., Yorkville, NY 13495 FAYETTEVILLE FINANCIAL CENTER October 15 & November 5, 19 • 4:00PM THE BEST TIME TO 5439 N. Burdick St., Fayetteville, NY he SAVE Oneida County Office for the 13066 Aging/Continuing Care and FOR YOUR FUTURE IS NOW! the Community Elderwellness October 4, 18 & November 1, 15, You can contribute to an IRA any time Council, Inc. recently announced the December 6 • 4:00PM of the year. Consult your competent tax be honored at the ualified members (those who are covered by a High caregivers who will advisor regarding which IRA type is best for you prior to Life event Nov. 8. GRIFFISS FINANCIAL CENTER Deductible Health Insurance plan and meet other annual Celebrating 231 Hill Rd., Rome, NY 13441 contributing to an IRA. The Community Elderwellness criteria) can take advantage of AmeriCU’s Health Savings October (HSA) 29 & December • 4:00PM Council Board of Directors selected Account Checking3 or Savings. A member isIfable to make you would like to attend LouisLIMITS B. Tehan of Utica for the comtax-deductible contributions into their account, accumulate TRADITIONAL FOR 2018 or would like to learn more,& ROTH IRA CONTRIBUTION munity caregiver award; Janet “J.C.” HERKIMER FINANCIAL CENTER tax-deferred earnings and withdraw funds tax-free for $5,500: Age 49 andDegni youngerof One Caring Place, Utica for please contact us at 315.356.3312 326 Eastmedical State St., Herkimer, qualified expenses. We NY are 13350 pleased to offer these as $6,500: Age 50 and older the professional caregiver award and or email paulh@americu.org. October 17 & November • 4:00PM either a single or family 30 option. Lauren Kornmeyer of Whitesboro for
propriate next level care decisions. If, on initial evaluation, a physical therapist determines further orthopedic needs, Moretz will also be readily available to assess. “Patients direct the health care delivery in this model, not the health care system,” said Moretz. “We want to empower members of the community to take charge of their recovery.” This program serves to improve access to treatment and reduce overall costs by avoiding the traditional “health care maze” that can take weeks to even begin a treatment program. Individuals can heal better and faster by utilizing physical therapy first, eliminating undue costs, and maximizing time. This multidisciplinary approach enables patients to make informed decisions regarding their recovery. Clinic hours at the Sitrin Health Care Center are from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Mondays and Tuesdays and from 9 a.m. until noon Thursdays and Fridays. Moretz is also available for oncall appointments. For more information or to schedule an appointment, call 315737-2246. Sitrin is located at 2050 Tilden Ave., New Hartford, N.Y. 13413.
Community caregivers to be honored
Open Enrollment is Just Around the Corner!
Q
T
theatinformal caregiver award. HEALTH SAVINGS ACCOUNTS *AmeriCU Services, LLC BENEFITS is affiliated with AmeriCU Credit Union. VisitThe ourpurchase Retirement Central page www.americu.org November marks National Famof insurance from AmeriCU Services, LLC is not required to obtain credit or other Add an authorized signer for easy access to qualified under the Plan and Grow Tab. Click IRA Service Center medical ily Caregiver Month and the annual servicesexpenses from AmeriCU Credit Union. Insurance products are not credit union toor get started! by • Carry over and contributions yearinsured, to year nor are they obligations of deposits are notfrom NCUA guaranteed Celebrating Life event that is cosponAmeriCU. sored by the Office for the Aging/ • Establish a long-term savings alternative Here you can: •
•
Portability of your assets
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Medical costs are paid with pretax dollars
Page 18
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Open a new IRA or HSA with AmeriCU! Utilize the IN GOOD HEALTH – Mohawk Valley’s Healthcare • the October 2018 E-signNewspaper option to make process quick and easy.
Contribution Limits per year*
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Manage your existing IRA or HSA with AmeriCU. Make a contribution or request a withdrawal all from
Continuing Care and the Community Elderwellness Council, Inc. This event will honor three categories of caregivers. The categories include the community caregiver, which honors a community leader whose care giving spans across multiple populations. The professional caregiver honors a health care professional such as an employee of a hospital, nursing facility, or home care agency. The informal caregiver honors an unpaid caregiver that is usually a family member, friend or neighbor. For more information, call Oneida County Office for the Aging/Continuing Care at 315-798-5456.
Health News Employee celebrates 25 years with SDMG Dana Nemeyer was recently recognized for 25 years of service at Slocum-Dickson Medical Group in New Hartford. Nemeyer began her career with SDMG in August of 1993 as a physical therapy aide in the rehabilitation department. She quickly transitioned into the role of physical Nemeyer therapy patient services representative where she continues today. Over the past 25 years, she has proven to be a dedicated and dependable employee, according to a spokesperson at SDMG. “She has a professional rapport with patients and co-workers alike and is skilled in managing provider schedules while meeting patient needs,” the spokesperson said.
Neighborhood Center makes appointment The Neighborhood Center, Inc. in Utica has announced a new executive management appointment. Kelly D. Lane has been named director for the newly formed Mohawk Valley Behavioral Health Care Collaborative. In her position, Lane will work closely with the agency’s executive director and representatives from over 35 behavioral health care agencies around the Mohawk Valley. She will be responsible for development, implementation and on-going maintenance of the behavioral health care collaborative program. Working in behavioral health care since 2007, Lane has worked as a project manager for both Onondaga County System of Care and Central New York Care Collaborative managing, facilitating and evaluating collaborative efforts between many agencies. She earned her Master of Social Work and advanced certificate for conflict resolution in 2013. Lane lives in Syracuse and has two rescue dogs, Bosworth and Luna. In her spare time, she can be found renovating and managing rental property, doing yoga, and enjoying coffee on her porch. The mission of the Neighborhood Center, Inc. is to enrich the lives of individuals and families through cooperative opportunities, resources, and advocacy that embrace diversity, promote empowerment and foster responsible citizenship.
Pre-K program accepting students The Neighborhood Center, Inc. in Utica is accepting students for its universal pre-kindergarten program. The center partners with the Utica City School District to offer morn-
Carbone Subaru of Utica donates to MVHS Cancer Center For the third consecutive year, Carbone Subaru of Utica joined with Subaru of America, Inc., and The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society to donate blankets, messages of hope and arts-and-craft kits to patients fighting cancer at the Cancer Center at Mohawk Valley Health System. “In 2017, our outpatient infusion unit provided more than 5,700 treatments to members of our community,” said Nancy Butcher, executive director of cancer services. Celebrating the occasion are, from left, Butcher; Chris Cardello, sales manager at Carbone Subaru of Utica, and Ricky Zuccaro, Steve DeGrase, Nickolas Rosato and Michael Memery. Donations made to the cancer center are coordinated through the MVHS Foundations. For more information, call the foundations at 315-624-5600 or visit mvhealthsystem.org/foundation. ing and afternoon UPK programs to 4-year-olds living within the district. Childcare services are available onsite before and after UPK hours. A scholarship rate and Department of Social Services’ subsidies are accepted. Applications will be accepted through Oct. 3. For more information, call 315272-2760. All applicants must have been born on or before Dec. 1 and they must be 4 years old on or before Dec. 1. The center is a comprehensive human services agency in Central New York. For more information on the center, visit www.neighborhoodctr.org.
New practitioners join Upstate Family Health Upstate Family Health Center recently welcomed adult nurse practitioner Valerie Yager, family nurse practitioner Rachel Corbin and nurse practitioner Corey Corbin to its growing team of health care providers. Rachel and Corey are married. Yager will provide adult patients Yager with primary care services in Utica. She earned her Master of Science degree in nursing from the SUNY
Institute of Technology in Utica. Yager most recently worked for TeamHealth, providing medical care for elderly patients. Prior to that, she worked for 24 years in various roles with the Masonic Care Community in Utica, serving the elderly. Yager is a 2010 recipient of the New York Association of Homes and Services for the Aging’s Employee of Distinction Award, in addition to the 2015 recipient of The Genesis Group and Medical Societies of Oneida, Herkimer and Madison counties’ award for outstanding nurse practitioner. She is also a member of the Pioneer Network and the New York State Coalition on Elder Abuse. UFHC hired Rachel Corbin for its provider team at the Rome location. She graduated from SUNY Canton with a bachelor’s degree in nursing and earned her registered nurse designation. Rachel graduated from the nurse practitioner program at SUNY Institute of Technology in Utica, with a master’s degree in nursing, and earned her nurse practitioner Rachel Corbin designation. Prior to working at UFHC, Rachel most recently worked at SUNY Upstate Medical University, Syracuse, in its Level 1
October 2018 •
Trauma Center for pediatric patients and adults. Rachel is a long-time resident of Camden. Corey Corbin has joined the staff at UFHC’s Rome location. A graduate of the St. Elizabeth’s College of Nursing in Utica, Corey went on to earn Corey Corbin his bachelor’s and master’s degrees from SUNY Institute of Technology in Utica. Prior to joining UFHC, Corbin was employed with Oneida Healthcare in the emergency department.
Upstate Cerebral Palsy promotes staff The following people have recently been promoted at Upstate Cerebral Palsy: — Kathy Klosner of Boonville has been promoted to chief program officer at Upstate Cerebral Palsy. In her new role, Klosner will oversee Office for People with Klosner
Continued on Page 20
IN GOOD HEALTH – Mohawk Valley’s Healthcare Newspaper
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Health News Continued from Page 19 Developmental Disabilities and State Education Department-related programs. Klosner has spent the last 18 years at UCP leading its OPWDD services, which have grown significantly under her leadership. Klosner joined UCP in 1987. — Curt Pearsall Jr. of Whitesboro has been promoted to chief financial officer at Pearsall UCP after serving the last six years as controller. Pearsall has successfully overseen growth in the agency’s financial realm as well as growth of financial services for several affiliates under its parent corporation, Upstate Caring Partners, Inc. Pearsall joined the agency in 2008. — Lucy Rizzo of Rome has been named chief administrative officer at UCP. Rizzo will add oversight of Rizzo clinical operations in her newly expanded role. Rizzo joined the agency in 2016 as an executive vice president and will continue her primary oversight of human resources and information technology.
CNYHHN, Rome Alliance for Education bond The Central New York Health Home Network is employing two full-time site coordinator-intake worker positions using blended funding between CNYHHN and Rome Alliance for Education. The new positions work within the Rome City School District to address the needs of elementary school students who are at risk due to medical, behavioral or academic challenges. This collaborative will combine two emerging best practices — health home care management and the community schools model. The role of the site coordinators is working closely with identified school district staff to assess the overall needs of the school building as well as the needs of individual students and their families. It is anticipated that a comprehensive needs assessment will be conducted and a community school services committee will be developed comprised of school administrators, guidance and teaching staff, parents and other community agencies who partner with the school district to implement universal and targeted interventions for students. For more information on CNYHHN, contact Jane Vail, executive director, at 315-624-9670, ext. 5231. Page 20
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MVHS pulmonary program receives accreditation The Mohawk Valley Health System pulmonary rehabilitation program has met strict standards of practice and has been awarded certification through the American Association of Cardiovascular and Pulmonary Rehabilitation. For patients with chronic respiratory problems, pulmonary rehabilitation can help increase endurance and decrease shortness of breath. The pulmonary rehabilitation program at MVHS is one of only 18 programs in New York state certified by the AACVPR. Celebrating the occasion are, from left, pulmonary rehabilitation employees Adisa Brown, Elvisa Cerimovic, Julie Johnson and Patrick Dooley. The three-year accreditation ensures that the program meets essential standards of care.
Lithotripsy treatment available at RMH Rome Medical Practice urologists are offering patients an alternative to invasive surgery for the removal of kidney stones at Rome Memorial Hospital. Associated Medical Professionals’ urologists Wael Muakkassa, Bashar Omarbasha and Brent Carlyle will perform lithotripsy for the treatment of stones in the kidney and ureter in RMH’s newly renovated Carlyle procedure room. Lithotripsy uses high-energy shock waves, which are passed through the body and used to break stones into pieces as small as grains of sand. Because of their small size, these pieces can more easily pass from the body along with urine. During the procedure, the patient lies on top of a soft cushion or membrane through which the waves
pass. About 1,000 to 3,000 shock waves are needed to crush the stones. The complete treatment takes about 45 to 60 minutes. “The main advantage of this treatment is that many patients may be treated for kidney stones without an invasive procedure,” Carlyle said. “As a result, complications, hospital stays, costs and recovery time are reduced.” Lithotripsy may not be the best treatment option for all patients, however. “The size, number, location and composition of the stones are factors that must be taken into account when exploring treatment options,” Carlyle said.
RMG welcomes two new primary care providers Two new primary care providers have joined the team at Rome Medical Group, an affiliate of Rome Memorial Hospital. Diane Clute and Jonathan Mizgala are now seeing patients at RMG. They are skilled family nurse practitioners that have extensive ex-
IN GOOD HEALTH – Mohawk Valley’s Healthcare Newspaper • October 2018
perience in acute care, geriatrics and family practice. As primary care providers, Clute and Mizgala provide individualized care for patients for prevention, wellness, and the diagnosis and treatment of acute and chronic conditions. Clute received her associate Clute degree in nursing from Crouse Hospital School of Nursing, Syracuse, her bachelor of nursing from SUNY Canton, and her master’s degree in nursing with family nurse practitioner certification from SUNY IT, Utica. Mizgala, a 2003 graduate of Rome Catholic School, has returned to the area after living and working in Chicago for the past few years. He received his associate degree in nursing from St. Elizabeth Mizgala College of Nursing, Utica, his bachelor degree in nursing from Chamberlain College of Nursing, St. Louis, Mo., and his Doctorate of Nursing Practice advanced practice nursing-family practice degree from Rush University College of Nursing, Chicago, Ill.
Community Health Awards available to nonprofits Nonprofit organizations in Upstate New York can apply for Excellus BlueCross BlueShield Community Health Award grants that add up to a total of $100,000, which the company is offering to help fund health and wellness programs in Upstate New York. Nonprofit, 501(c)(3) organizations in Excellus BlueCross BlueShield’s 31-county Upstate New York region are invited to apply for an award of up to $4,000 each. The award can be used for programs that have clear goals to improve the health or health care of a specific population. Programs that improve the health status of the community, reduce the incidence of specific diseases, promote health education and further overall wellness will be considered. The deadline to submit an application is Oct. 8. To access additional information and the online application, go to https://www.excellusbcbs.com/ wps/portal/xl/news/company-information/corporate-giving. Award winners will be announced in November.
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Health News Cannan is also a certified respiratory therapy technician.
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Uninsured rate remains at historic low Upstate New York’s health insurance uninsured rate continued to hold at the historic level of 4 percent, while the state’s uninsured rate hit its lowest level in history, according to an Excellus BlueCross BlueShield analysis of the U.S. Census Bureau’s 2017 American Community Survey issued recently. The 4 percent rate for upstate NY compares favorably to a state-wide uninsured rate of 5.7 percent. The national rate is 8.7 percent. “More people than ever before are reporting they have coverage that provides them with access to the high-quality health care available in Upstate New York,” said Christopher Booth, chief executive officer of Excellus BCBS. “We’ve never seen these percentages of the population with coverage.” The American Community Survey is the largest and the U.S. Census Bureau’s recommended source for examining uninsured data at national, state and regional levels. It reports the annual uninsured rate for geographic areas with populations of 65,000 or more. The county-level data were aggregated to calculate the Upstate uninsured rate cited by the health plan. “We believe the historically low uninsured rates for Upstate are a result of lower-cost health care in this market of nonprofit health plans and nonprofit hospital systems,” Booth said. By comparison, the 2016 uninsured rate for the state was 6.1 percent, while the U.S. rate was 8.6 percent.
Flu season approaching: Get your flu shot! With flu season quickly approaching, the Oneida County Health Department is stressing the importance of being educated on prevention, and most importantly, getting a flu shot. It takes about two weeks after vaccination for antibodies to develop and to provide protection against the flu. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommends that everyone 6 months old and older get a flu vaccine every year. “The best way to safeguard yourself from the serious health risks posed by the flu virus, is to quite simply, get vaccinated,” said Oneida County Executive Anthony J. Picente Jr. “While I urge everyone to take all of the other necessary precautions to avoid contact with the flu, I urge you above all else to get a flu shot wherever they are available.” Additional tips to preventing the spread of the flu include: — Stay home from work and school if you are sick to limit the spread of germs. It is possible to have the flu and spread it before showing symptoms.
Medication reconciliation initiative launched
Valley Residential Services recognizes Assisted Living Week Musical entertainer Anthony LaBarbara, right, was a huge hit recently during Valley Residential Services’ commemoration of National Assisted Living Week. LaBarbara performed for residents, family members, staff and guests during an ice cream social in the VRS courtyard. LaBarbara played a variety of music by Frank Sinatra as well as music of the ‘50s and up which engaged the crowd. Shown taking in the music is resident Millie Ennis. — Cough or sneeze into the corner of your arm, or cover your cough or sneeze with a tissue. — Wash your hands. This is a very good way to limit the spread of germs. — Check with your doctor, pharmacy, or Oneida County Health Department if you would like a flu shot. For more information or to schedule an appointment for a flu shot, call 315-798-5747.
MVHS Washington Mills Medical Office gains NP Gina Marcantonio recently joined the Mohawk Valley Health System Medical Group at the Washington Mills Medical Office as a family nurse practitioner. She had been employed at the St. Luke’s Campus intensive care unit as a registered nurse since Marcantonio 2013 and has also worked in its emergency department. Prior to joining MVHS, Marcantonio was employed by Utica College as a clinical nursing instructor and as a care attendant at the St. Luke’s Campus. Marcantonio earned her Master of Science degree in family nurse practitioner studies from the SUNY Polytechnic Institute in Utica and her Bachelor of Science degree in nursing at Utica College. She is certified in advanced cardiac life support, pediatric advanced
life support, basic life support, emergency neurological life support and the National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale. Marcantonio is board-certified through the American Academy of Nurse Practitioners.
Barneveld Medical Office gains nurse practitioner Heidi Cannan has joined the Mohawk Valley Health System Medical Group Barneveld Office as a family nurse practitioner. Prior to joining the MVHS Medical Group, Cannan was Cannan employed as a registered nurse and registered cardiac sonographer in the non-invasive cardiac testing department at the MVHS St. Elizabeth Campus in Utica. She has also worked as a nurse at the St. Elizabeth Campus vascular access department, intensive care unit and cardio-thoracic intensive care unit since 1993. Cannan received her master’s degree in family nurse practitioner studies from the SUNY Polytechnic Institute in Utica and her bachelor’s degree from Utica College. She completed her Associate in Applied Science in nursing at Mohawk Valley Community College in Utica and is a member of the American Association of Nurse Practitioners.
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The Mohawk Valley Health System recently launched a public campaign to solicit community involvement in helping improve the delivery of care. Throughout the nation, health care providers and organizations are exploring ways to reduce the risk of harm by engaging communities in a more direct way with the delivery of their care. MVHS began the medication reconciliation campaign in order to reduce and prevent medication errors. This process depends heavily on the patient knowing what medications they are taking as well as their frequency and dosage. “Medication reconciliation is the process of comparing a patient’s medication orders to all of the medications that the patient is currently taking,” said assistant vice president of quality and patient outcomes, Derrick Suehs. “Medication reconciliation is performed to avoid medication errors such as omissions, duplications, dosing errors and drug interactions.” The MVHS medication reconciliation quality improvement team has developed an easy-to-remember acronym to support this effort: Keep a list of your MEDS. MEDS stands for Manage, Educate, Dosage and Stay up-to-date with medications and medical history. For more information about the initiative, visit mvhealthsystem.org/ meds.
MVHS selects Epic to unite health records The Mohawk Valley Health System has signed an agreement with Epic for a new, system-wide electronic health record. Currently, MVHS uses five different systems in its facilities: Allscripts, Paragon, Intergy, Centricity and Series Revenue Cycle. This is a significant step in improving and supporting patient clinical quality and outcomes at MVHS, a spokesperson noted. Epic is the most widely used, comprehensive health records system. The majority of U.S. News and World Report’s top-ranked hospitals and medical schools use Epic while working collaboratively every day to improve patient care, innovate health care delivery and achieve financial health. More than 60 percent of New Yorkers have a record in Epic. All organizations using Epic can interoperate, which means they can exchange patient data for improved patient care. At this time, the anticipated system-wide, go-live will take place in summer 2019.
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Dental Health Smile with Dr. Suy
By Dr. Salina Suy
Defining Dentistry: What is a Crown? Editor’s note: This is another segment in a continuing series titled “Defining Dentistry,” designed to enlighten readers on various components of dentistry.
H
ello beautiful Central New Yorkers! Can you believe it is already October? Time to whip out those fun fall boots, pick apples, frolic in the leaves and have everything pumpkin spice flavored! Autumn is such beautiful time of the year and it also means holidays are right around the corner. I love holidays! October also means some of us are dressing up in cute costumes and trick or treating! Someone Suy once asked me if dentists invented Halloween so people would give candy out and get cavities … um, of course not! Contrary to some people’s beliefs, your dentist wants you to prevent cavities. Now, don’t get me wrong, I love candy, but I also love proper oral hygiene and candy in the proper portions. I don’t think dentists made candy a thing on Halloween; I have a feeling the candy companies helped that tradition out.
Now, candy companies, don’t take that to heart but I am not taking the blame on this one. Back to business: In this month’s column, we are continuing our Defining Dentistry series with new knowledge on dental crowns. You may have heard someone you know talk about crowns before, commonly known as caps. Crowns are a great definitive restoration to prevent teeth from fracturing.
What is a crown?
A crown or cap is a type of dental restoration that overlies or encircles a tooth or dental implant. Crowns can be on a single tooth or implant, as part of a bridge or as an anchor for a partial denture. Crowns are often needed when a large existing filling or large cavity endangers the health of the tooth. Crowns help prevent fracture of healthy teeth and are very important
for root canal-treated teeth since they become brittle over time. If teeth are going to be anchors for partials or a bridge, the crown will help protect that tooth during the stress of anchoring your dental prosthesis. In some cases, crowns may be used to change a patient’s smile. The first step to getting a crown is proper diagnosing. If teeth require root canal treatment or a crown-core buildup, these procedures should be done before a crown prep, if possible. A crown-core buildup is the foundation of the tooth that the crown will be placed upon. Once the tooth is ready, the tooth is then “prepped” to make room for the material that is going to make the crown. Once the crown prep is complete, an impression is taken. Impressions can be made with impression material or digitally scanned. From the impressions, we will make the crown to fit your tooth and it will be cemented on. Depending on your dentist, your crown may take one hour to two weeks; treatment time varies with office technology. While crown impressions are sent out to a lab, the tooth needs to be covered with a temporary crown for your protection since it takes about two weeks to make. Crown impressions that are captured and fabricated in office will take about two hours. Both are good restorations. Crowns are made of many different materials — they can be made of metal, porcelain and a combination of both. Crowns are a great way to protect your teeth. Historically, older generations may need more crowns since dental medicine was once very aggressive; we find many large fillings result in fracture. Modern dentists are now much more conservative than that of our older counterparts. • Salina Suy is a health and wellness advocate and general dentist in Utica. Want to learn more? Visit Facebook @smilewithdrsuy or www.smilewithdrsuy.com.
Molecules produced by glands regulate physiology Continued from Page 8 ously impairs the endocrine system as well.
ID your symptoms
How do you know if you have a hormonal imbalance? • Identify your symptoms. Suppose you’re a woman between ages 40-50. You’ve got thinning hair, fatigue, weight gain, and dwindling sex drive. These symptoms may indicate estrogen dominance, low progesterone, or a combination of the two. A man aged 40-50, with the same symptoms, however, is more likely suffering from low testosterone. • Get tested. Lab tests at a hospital can be expensive, but saliva or blood home-test kits are accurate and economical. Find tests that can help expose issues. In these cases, the woman would want a test that would look at estradiol (the most prominent form of estrogen) and progesterone levels; the man would need a test to check his testosterone only. If your problem is weight manPage 22
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agement, you’ll want a test that also checks thyroid and cortisol levels. Cortisol is a steroid hormone that is released in response to stress and low blood-glucose concentration. Even if you aren’t sure what’s wrong, a basic hormone panel can tell you a lot. • Move forward with treatment. It’s important to know the dangers of hormone replacement therapy and the safer, equally effective natural alternatives. Malika Iton, the newest certified nurse midwife at Oswego County OB-GYN, helps us to understand. “Part of the concern with oral preps, birth control specifically, is the link between hormonal birth control and breast cancer once women are past a certain age,” Iton said. “Hormone replacement therapy doesn’t have as much research, but age and synthetic hormone seems to increase breast cancer risk.” Iton said she sees more hormonal imbalances in older women. “It tends to be self-limiting, often associated with menopause. Some people are lucky; it hits fast and boom, then you’re on the other side.
But for some people, it’s drawn out, and they want options for relief,” she said. Are natural preparations effective to balance sex hormones? “I think they certainly are viable and we are always looking for viable options for our patients who choose not to use synthetic hormones,” Iton said. Those viable options can be found in the form of bio-identical natural progesterone or estrogen creams, and they work wonders toward balancing the estrogen-to-progesterone ratio in a woman’s body, she noted. “Bio-identical” means the hormone in the cream looks identical to the hormone in your body. They report no side effects, can be purchased without a prescription, and since it is absorbed by the skin, lower doses are required for effective results, Iton said. Bio-identical testosterone creams are also available to men looking to offset a deficiency.
IN GOOD HEALTH – Mohawk Valley’s Healthcare Newspaper • October 2018
MCC sets sights on the future Continued from Page 9 before the concept took shape. The search committee voted to locate the facility in the geographic center of the state. The committee toured eight properties between the Finger Lakes and Binghamton before settling on Utica. The cornerstone of the administration building was laid in May 1890 and the first resident arrived in 1893. The first residents consisted of 34 Master Masons, eight widows and five orphaned children. In the 19th century, the 160-acre property on the outskirts of the city of Utica and on the edge of the Herkimer County line served as a horse track and picnic grounds. The current site still retains its original nature in a park-like setting. Wiley Hall, named after “Pop” Wiley, who served as superintendent of the Masonic Home from 19061945, was built in 1928 as a boys’ dormitory. There was also a separate girls’ dorm later on. From 1947-1960, the orphans attended elementary school, grades 1-6, on campus. Prior to that, they attended Utica city schools and also worked on the Masonic Home’s own farm. As early as the 1940s, the Masonic Home began to sense that its mission needed to change. “The trustees were clearly mindful of the need to keep the Home in step with the times,” the timeline states. “Slowly, the needs of the Masonic Home were being transformed from the primary concentration on kids to the devotion to the care of elderly Masons and their widows. Sensitivity to the needs of the old residents was to become the hallmark of the building projects carried out in the 1950s, 1960s and 1970s.” During the late 1960s and 1970s, over $10 million was put into the renovation of the Utica campus. Raffle was asked why the Masonic Home was opened to the entire Mohawk Valley community and beyond. “We saw a need to serve the community at large and the Masons were a declining population,” he explained. “We felt that seniors were underserved, but our child care center started 20-plus years ago.” Also, by relaxing its restrictions, the Masonic Care Community could accept adults on Medicaid and Medicare and get federal reimbursement for their care. Raffle, a native of Ilion, is only the eighth president at the Masonic facility and has been at the helm 14 years. He said he first became familiar with MCC through his in-laws, the Madia family, when they needed rehabilitation services. The needs of children were not forgotten, though. In 1991, childcare was established for use by employees and in 1992, the center was opened to the public. Camp Turk at Round Lake in northern Oneida County was originally a summer camp for orphans from the Masonic Home, but now serves youths aged 9-16 from throughout the area.
Sexually transmitted diseases take big jump Continued from Page 3 access to health care being the most likely driving factors behind the underreporting and increase in cases. While some may experience abdominal cramps, pain when urinating or during intercourse, or a discharge from the genitals, 75 percent of women and 50 percent of men diagnosed with chlamydia, for example, have no symptoms. In fact, the most common symptom of an STD is no symptom at all, said Phyllis Ellis, director of health for the Oneida County Health Department. But the lack of symptoms does not equal a lack of consequences. Left untreated, STDs can cause increasing abdominal pain, swollen testicles, pelvic inflammatory disease, pregnancy complications and can even leave women unable to get pregnant
and cause infertility in men. “STIs are incredibly common, with some data showing that about half of sexually active adults in the United States have had or currently have an STI,” Ellis said. “Talk to your health care provider about getting tested for STDs,” she advised. “Testing is the only way to know if you have an STD.” Testing for STDs can involve a urine test, genital swab or blood test. If those tests come back positive, in the case of chlamydia, gonorrhea and syphilis, there exist simple cures if the diseases are caught early. “Patients sometimes fear STI tests because they think it’ll be painful or invasive,” Ellis said. “In truth, STD testing is quick, easy, and it usually doesn’t hurt.” The next stumbling block to getting tested, some find, is difficulty in finding an affordable and convenient
Meet
Your Doctor
By Patricia J. Malin
Family practitioner settles in Cazenovia Continued on Page 4 bating maternal child mortality and an HIV/AIDS epidemic that is staggering. When I lived in Lesotho, HIV prevalence was estimated to be about 40 percent of the population. In both countries, ordinary villagers are trained to help their communities. These health care workers would pass along information about programs such as childhood vaccination blitzes; assist pregnant patients to come to central locations for their labor so if complications arose, they could be transported to a hospital; and do tasks like deliver and monitor use of antiretroviral therapy for HIV. I think wherever you go in the world, you’ll find people who care about others and are determined to combat illness and suffering. Q.: What prompted you to study medicine? A.: I’m the first in my family to go into medicine. My mother was a math teacher and my father was a computer engineer, but they were very supportive when I told them I wanted to be a doctor. Actually, I see medicine as a perfect combination of two of my passions: service and science. From a very young age, I was
fascinated by biology, disease and human physiology. My undergraduate major was biochemistry. I’ve also been very involved in research through college, medical school and residency, but I realized I wouldn’t be satisfied only with research. I wanted to have meaningful personal connections and feel like I was serving the people around me in my work. My life experiences, starting with ill family members and friends, service in the Peace Corps, and later on volunteering for the homeless and at free clinics called me to medicine and family medicine in particular to help people. Q.: What is the most challenging aspect of your job? A.: There are a lot of challenges in being a doctor, but I view this as a positive thing. Challenges allow for growth, and I feel satisfied when I can solve a problem or overcome a difficulty. One particular challenge that comes to mind is keeping up with the sheer volume of new medical research that comes out every day. My strategy for this has been to establish a study schedule where I review brief abstracts of research studies, read journals published for family physicians, and do in-depth
location to get tested and receive treatment if necessary.
Major reasons cited
“STI rates have been on the rise across America, and the biggest reason for that is a decreasing level of access to health services and STI testing for the average American,” said Ellis. Many agencies are struggling to meet the needs of the populations they serve because funding for health care programs has diminished significantly over the last several years, while costs of providing care and overhead continue to rise at a rate that outpaces resources available, she said. “The more convenient and accessible providers can be, the better the research on topics relevant to the patients I am scheduled to see. Q.: What is the most positive aspect of your job? A.: The relationships I form with my patients and my team. I think the doctor-patient relationship is the most important thing in medicine. I aim to get to know my patients and understand their background and community so we can tailor medicine to their specific needs. I value trust and mutual respect, and I want my patients to be empowered with the information to make their own decisions. I see myself in different roles: as a coach motivating patients to take charge of their health, as a liaison who coordinates patient care between specialists, and as an advocate for health in the community. Q.: What are the latest advances and trends in family medicine? A.: Family medicine is a field that is constantly developing and changing. Some of the latest trends include patient-centered medical homes, preventive health care and quality improvement. Patient-centered medical homes are a model of care for all situations — acute, chronic and preventive — where a patient’s primary care physician coordinates a health care team — including special-
health outcomes,” she said. Planned Parenthood Mohawk Hudson is funded to provide services to young adults in the Herkimer, Utica and Rome areas under the New York State Comprehensive Adolescent Pregnancy and Prevention grant, which means the agency provides free and low-cost testing treatment and other services based on income. Other services exist such as Quest Diagnostics, found locally at 2002 Genesee St., Utica. Quest Diagnostics allows patients to book appointments online, accepts most insurance plans, and for STD testing, does not require an order from a doctor.
ists, nutritionists, pharmacists, social workers, etc.) that focuses on the patient’s whole health and improves access to care. Preventive health is focused on disease prevention rather than treatment and is the reason you may hear about smoking cessation, vaccinations, cancer screening, diet, and exercise when you come to the doctor’s office. It allows a chance to intervene early in a disease process, hopefully avoiding a poor outcome for a patient. Quality improvement is a systematic process that doctors can use to identify problems in delivery of care and engineer solutions. An example would be a project I did as a resident, looking at the prescription of medications that could cause birth defects to women who could become pregnant. I found that roughly 20 percent of our female patients were at risk since they were on an unsafe medication for pregnancy. Our residency then had an opportunity to improve patient safety by changing the way doctors would prescribe medications, counsel about medication risks, and discuss family planning with our patients. All these trends hopefully focus health care on outcomes that are most important, improving function and quality of life and reducing morbidity and mortality for patients.
Little Falls Hospital employee gets GEM recognition
A
nn Sullivan was the recipient of the 2018 second-quarter GEM (going the extra mile) award at Little Falls Hospital. The GEM award recognizes staff for going above and beyond their typical job duties and making a significant difference by improving the quality of health for patients and exceeding customer service standards for patients, clients, guests and
October 2018 •
co-workers. “Ann is a great asset to the peri-operative services department,” says Nicole Eckler, nurse manager of the operating room. “She is a reliable and diversified technician in the operating room.” Sullivan has been at LFH since 1990, and has served as a peri-operative technician since 1992.
IN GOOD HEALTH – Mohawk Valley’s Healthcare Newspaper
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Vaping is new Rage To vape or not to vape — that is the question By David L. Podos
A
ccording to Webster’s Dictionary, the word vape is a noun. It is defined as a small device that heats up dry herbs and nicotine and creates a vapor to inhale. From the website “Vaping Daily”: Vaping is a modern trend, but even new vapes have their roots in ancient history. Ancient Egypt is known for its vaping techniques, such as using hot stones to vape herbs. Thousands of years ago, the first shisha — or hookah — was introduced to India. All those techniques led to the invention of current vapes as we know them today. Without a doubt, vaping and electronic cigarettes have come into their own. Latest statistics from the Centers for Disease Control estimate there are more than 9 million Americans who vape. Some people like Travis Pritchard, who manages Vaproz on Oriskany Boulevard in Whitesboro, believes this number is low and is more likely 11-12 million, as the CDC numbers are from a 2015 report. According to Pritchard, the store has over 2,500 regular customers ranging in ages from 18-75. Regarding the vapers themselves, “Not all e- cigarettes contain nicotine,” Pritchard said. “You can purchase a certain level of nicotine that is right for you, or none at all. It all depends upon the customers’ preference.” Pritchard said the latest development involving vaping is called JUUL. “It’s extremely low maintenance because it is devised of three parts — the device itself and the flavor pods,” he said. “However, we decided not to carry it because of the high level of nicotine that is used.” John Carruth, a former Whitesboro resident living in California, has been vaping for quite some time. “I used to smoke on average about a pack of cigarettes a day, and did that for almost 40 years, then I started vaping and have been for almost eight years now,” Carruth said. It’s often difficult to determine exactly how much nicotine a person ingests into their system when smoking cigarettes. This is because not all
cigarettes contain the same amount of nicotine and not all people are the same. According to Vaporif.com, a standard cigarette contains anywhere from 8 to 20 milligrams of nicotine, (with most on the lower end scale of 8 milligrams), and that the human body on average only absorbs about 1 milligram of nicotine per cigarette. For Carruth, vaping has provided him with nicotine along with many other benefits. “I find myself being able to breathe much better since I started vaping. I also have the energy to fulfill most of the physical labor I need to do as well as any other recreational activities. When I was smoking cigarettes, this was always a problem,” he said. When asked if he thought vaping might be dangerous or harmful in any way, Carruth said, “I am not sure if vaping is harmful. I think there has to be more long-term studies on that. I just know I feel better than I was when smoking cigarettes.” Most e-cigarettes contain nicotine, which is addictive, according to Regina Boyle Wheeler on WebMD. “When you stop using it, you can go into withdrawal and feel depressed and crabby. Nicotine isn’t good for people with heart problems. And some initial research shows it may hurt your arteries,” she said. According to WebMD, it can also: — Harm the developing brains of kids, affecting memory and attention
— Damage unborn babies. Pregnant women shouldn’t use anything with nicotine.
Danger ahead
But the concerns go beyond nicotine alone. Some brands contain chemicals including formaldehyde — often used in building materials — and another ingredient used in antifreeze that can reportedly cause cancer. Flavors in e-cigs also raise red flags. Some use a buttery-tasting chemical called diacetyl, which is often added to foods like popcorn. When it’s inhaled, it can be dangerous. “Diacetyl is a well-known harmful chemical, which, among other things, causes a lung disease called ‘popcorn lung,’” says Erika Sward, assistant vice president for national advocacy at the American Lung Association. The Food and Drug Administration is threatening to pull flavored e-cigarettes like JUUL off the market if the tobacco industry doesn’t do more to combat growing use of the products by children and teens. FDA Commissioner Scott Gottlieb said the agency will soon release data that shows a “substantial increase” in youth vaping this year compared with 2017. He said the problem had reached “epidemic
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proportion.” “I have grown increasingly concerned around what we see as rising youth use in these products, and I’m disappointed in the actions the companies have taken to try to address this,” Gottlieb said. The FDA told five major e-cigarette manufacturers recently to come up with ways to address youth use in 60 days or the agency could require them to stop selling flavored products that appeal to children. For others, there just isn’t enough evidence for them to be convinced that vaping is dangerous, or certainly not as dangerous as smoking cigarettes. “E-cigarettes aren’t thought of as 100 percent safe, but most experts think they’re less dangerous than cigarettes”, says Neal Benowitz, nicotine researcher at the University of California at San Francisco. “Cigarette smoking kills almost half a million people a year in the United States. Most of the harm comes from the thousands of chemicals that are burned and inhaled in the smoke,” he said. “E-cigs don’t burn, so people aren’t as exposed to those toxins.” According to the ALA, there are approximately 600 ingredients in cigarettes. When burned, they create more than 7,000 chemicals. At least 69 of these chemicals are known to cause cancer, and many are poisonous, the ALA claims. Kenneth Warner, a tobacco policy researcher at the University of Michigan, adds, “The worst critics of e-cigarettes would probably argue they’re a half to two-thirds less dangerous. But from a practical view, they’re probably on the order of 80 to 85 percent less dangerous, at least.” The debate will continue on in terms of what is safer — vaping or smoking cigarettes. What seems quite clear though is vaping is here to stay. According to Vapetrotter.com, the vape industry is estimated to hit $43 billion globally over the next five years. The growing awareness of the effects of smoking along with technological developments aiding in the development of safer alternatives to smoking has been driving the global e-cigarette market to new heights, according to Vapetrotter.com.