24 minute read
mitigation, etc
Travel turns terrifying
Typical summertime travel plans anything but normal
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By Barbara Pierce
Nothing is normal this summer — including our summer vacation travel plans. The Centers for Disease Control & Prevention strongly advises against all nonessential travel, warning that travel increases your chances of getting COVID-19. Airports, bus and train stations, and public rest rooms are all places travelers can be exposed to the virus, whether it is airborne or on surfaces. To make matters worse, these are places Foster where it’s hard to social distance. Most of us don’t feel comfortable getting on a plane these days. As for a car trip, making stops for gas, food and bathroom breaks puts us at risk.
Checking into a hotel or motel is very different these days, and we’re not sure it’s entirely safe. As for the home-sharing company Airbnb, its cleanliness standards are reportedly inconsistent. The CDC even advises against camping or traveling in an RV.
Yes, travel is dicey this summer. It’s unsafe.
However, there are so many benefits from taking a summer family vacation. Research shows travel is good for your health.
Relationships become stronger when a couple or a family travels together; the benefits exist long after we return home.
Travel makes us happier; even the planning makes us happy.
People who take a regular break from the grind of daily life are healthier. Travel helps reduce stress and taking time to relax is so very valuable. People who regularly travel are less likely to die from heart-related issues. System and Masonic Medical Research Institute recently announced a new partnership to process MVHS COVID-19 tests at the MMRI laboratory.
This joint venture is designed to decrease the turnaround time for COVID-19 results for MVHS patients and will help identify those with COVID-19 faster, providing a significant benefit to MVHS, its patients and residents.
Under this new partnership, MVHS will collect the COVID-19 test sample from the patient and send it
And travel helps keep our minds sharp. When we get away from our usual environment, our brains become more active and that’s very good.
Travel is especially good for keeping the mind sharp because it implies change. It takes you to new places and introduces you to different people and novel locations. It forces your brain to adapt and remain flexible.
Experts advise us that to achieve the greatest effect, our vacation should be distinctly different from our day-to-day environment — especially the stressful parts.
So, the question is how can we get all these great benefits and stay safe?
The only answer: Explore on a day trip. We have many adventures and experiences that may be new to you right here in our local area. Play tourist right here.
It’s not how far you get that counts. It’s the stimulus of the new.
We asked local travel expert Sarah Foster for suggestions.
“We have itineraries — amazing itineraries,” said Foster, director of media relations, meetings and conference marketing manager for Oneida County Tourism. “We have worldclass experiences in our area.” to MMRI, which will run the test and send results back to MVHS the same day.
“This partnership creates a local solution to a national problem,” said Darlene Stromstad, MVHS president-CEO. “Like many hospitals across the country, we’ve had a challenge getting adequate supplies of testing materials.”
She said the limited supply of “rapid” COVID-19 tests that produce results in 45 to 90 minutes has meant MVHS has had to send its tests out to be run in other states, sometimes taking up to three days or longer to
Our area is packed with attractions that offer a variety of opportunities. Walk or bicycle our trails to experience breathtaking natural beauty; immerse yourself in history; get away to a beach for swimming and sunbathing; watch the sun set; or sample cheese.
The great outdoors
• Outdoor trails: This is a beautiful area to explore, with lots of great trails.
“I’ve been taking afternoon walks, and it’s helped give me peace as well as quality times with loved ones, while allowing me to see the area I live in differently,” said Foster.
“This inspired me to put together a list of outdoor trails,” she added. “Our main push has been getting people outdoors while maintaining physical distancing. We encourage people to explore the trails.”
“We have a unique park system in Utica,” said Foster. “My personal favorite is the South Woods Switchbacks located at Valley View Golf Course,” added Foster. “They go around the course and have beautiful views and quiet, dog-friendly trails.”
“South Woods is a world unto itself. With zigzagging trails and a canopy of trees, it’s a beautiful place to walk,” said Philip Bean, executive obtain results.
“Waiting for results has often led to longer hospital stays, particularly for nursing home patients who must test negative before they can go back to the home, and in some cases, has delayed elective procedures,” Stromstad said. “Now, we will be able to send our rapid tests to MMRI and get our results back the same day. And, it’s all accomplished right here in our region.”
She said MMRI has lab equipment that it uses for research that is a different process than producing testing results. director, Central New York Conservancy.
The South Woods Switchbacks can be reached from Steele Hill Road or Master Garden Road. This path is peaceful and retains areas of vegetation much like what early settlers would have seen.
For a complete list of trails, visit https://www.oneidacountytourism. com/blog/how-to-explore-the-outdoors-while-physical-distancing/. • Cheese trail: Cheese makers combine forces so we can appreciate the diversity of our area’s rich cheese-making heritage. Be a part of the flourishing and re-emerging cheese community. From goat farms to butter churns to cheese curds and chocolate, you’ll want to visit them all.
For a list of participating cheese companies, see: https://www.oneidacountytourism.com/what-to-do/ attractions/cny-cheese-trail/. • Beverage trail: Breweries and wineries have re-opened. Our local breweries, distilleries and wineries come together to invite you to visit. Area tourism advocates are urging residents to be a part of the flourishing, fast-growing beverage community.
“I especially love Brimfield Farm,” said Foster. “It’s a winery in Clinton that has a huge patio with stunning views, and great local wine and cheese. There’s also an amazing driving range on site.” • Bicycle trails: “Oneida County is a road cyclist’s dream,” Foster said. “There are hundreds of miles of state highways and well-maintained local roads with low traffic that connect welcoming small towns and villages. Some of the best riding is along the historic Erie Canalway Trail.”
For details, visit https://www. oneidacountytourism.com/what-todo/recreation/bicycle-and-pedestrian-trails/ .
For more ideas on local experiences, see https://www.oneidacountytourism.com/ or call 315-724-7221.
MVHS, MMRI form partnership to process COVID-19 tests on local basis
The Mohawk Valley Health
Happy adventures!
However, within three weeks of an outreach email from Maria Kontaridis, MMRI executive director of research, “we had an agreement on a process that worked for us both. This is good for our patients and community,” Stromstad noted.
“By partnering with MVHS and becoming a state testing laboratory for COVID-19, we hope to help local officials and physicians better manage their patients, reduce the deleterious effects of COVID-19, and help us all get our lives back to normal sooner,” Kontaridis said.
Reality check
Despite restrictions, it’s vital to find ways to stay socially connected
By Barbara Pierce
Finding calm in this pandemic storm is the challenge of the moment.
While COVID-19 has dissipated in terms of the number of positive cases and deaths associated with it, the dark reality of the “new normal” is setting in.
Essentially, the “new normal” means a previously unusual occurrence that has become commonplace.
Yes, it’s a stressful time; painful, but it’s only for the short run and essential to saving lives and getting this COVID-19 eliminated.
Humans are sociable creatures. We’re wired to need frequent contact with each other, and that’s what makes this so difficult.
Suggestions that may help: — Get into a routine: Our brain loves routine. Our brain thrives on routine.
Routines let our brain know all is well and we can continue as normal. Creating a structure to your day can focus your mind.
Days blend together when the things that used to distinguish them is missing. Fight against the blurring of the days by having a routine.
When you don’t have a routine, it can reduce your motivation to do those things you still need to do. It becomes a downward spiral.
For those still out of work or adhering to stay-at-home work orders, perhaps it would be advisable to get up a bit later in the morning, but set a time to be up and functioning. Shower. Dress. Eat breakfast. As you sip your coffee, review what you’re the new coronavirus: New research finds it appears to follow a seasonal pattern that is similar to the flu.
Scientists found that all cities/ regions with large COVID-19 outbreaks have similar winter climates, with an average temperature of 41 to 52 degrees Fahrenheit, average humidity levels of 47% to 79%, and are located within a latitude band of 30 to 50 N.
going to do today, if you haven’t already planned your day.
“It’s easy to fall into a lazy routine,” said college student Rachel Chang online. “For the most part, I believe I have a good routine down. I typically start off my days at the same time as I would if I were still at school. I get in a healthy breakfast to start my day off right. I’m dead set on not procrastinating my work, considering there’s really nothing better for me to do trapped inside my house. After I get most of my work done, I make sure I’m taking time to stay active. I find that working out in my back yard feels especially good for my well-being.”
Scheduling your day means planning for the things you need to do, then adding a few activities that you enjoy.
This includes Wuhan, China; South Korea; Japan; Iran; Northern Italy; Seattle; and northern California.
The findings also suggest that U.S. mid-Atlantic states may be at risk, as well as New England, according to researchers at the Institute of Human Virology (IHV) at the University of Maryland School of Medicine (UMSOM) and the Global Virus Network (GVN).
“Based on what we have documented so far, it appears that the
— Do something productive: There is so much benefit to doing something meaningful, something with a purpose. Viktor Frankl survived life in a concentration camp. His book, “Man’s Search for Meaning,” shares his experiences. The message: The difference between those who lived and those who died came down to one thing: meaning. Those who found meaningful things to do even in those horrendous circumstances were far more resilient to suffering than those who did not.
Keep brain in gear
Our brain does best when we give it something to be absorbed in.
You’re fortunate if you’re working from home. Add some things you really enjoy. virus has a harder time spreading between people in warmer, tropical climates,” said study leader Mohammad Sajadi, an associate professor of medicine at UMSOM, physician-scientist at IHV, and a member of GVN.
The researchers used weather data from the previous few months, as well as typical weather patterns from last year, to predict community spread of COVID-19 within the next few weeks.
The next step is to determine if
For Dennis Osborne of Floyd, Oneida County Master Gardener Program volunteer, it’s gardening.
“Gardening is something to do that keeps me occupied in a positive sense,” he explained. “I feel useful; I’m creating healthy food and beautiful flowers for my family and friends.”
His wife Karen Osborne is making masks that she contributes to hospital staff and friends. “I have fun doing it; I’m thrilled to be part of the process,” she said. “I love to sew, and I can make a difference.”
Reach out to those who are especially isolated, like the elderly. Consider making phone calls to strangers who would benefit from talking to someone.
Find a way to connect with others.
Reach out to your friends and family in virtual ways or by phone. If you can, use video — seeing someone face-to-face increases your feelings of connection. Consider setting up a family chat or having regular video meetings with co-workers. — Get moving, preferably outside: This is a beautiful time of year; get outside and enjoy it. Pull weeds in your garden; watch the birds; walk or ride your bike. It takes off the edginess that erupts from time to time.
Getting outside puts things in perspective. The earth will still be here; the trees, birds, squirrels, and clouds in the sky.
“When it is dark enough, you can see the stars,” an old Persian proverb, applies now.
Stay calm and carry on. We’ll
Study: Coronavirus may be seasonal after all
Here’s a glimmer of hope about
come through on the other side. weather and climate forecasts could make the predictions more reliable.
Study co-author Anthony Amoroso said, “I think what is important is that this is a testable hypothesis.” Amoroso is an associate professor of medicine at UMSOM and chief of clinical care programs for IHV.
“If it holds true, it could be very helpful for health system preparation, surveillance and containment efforts,” he added in an institute news release.
Won’t back down
Alpine Rehab and Nursing Center: Free of COVID-19
By Barbara Pierce
Mohawk Valley In Good Health newspaper senior staff correspondent Barbara Pierce recently spoke with Casey Bayes, assistant administrator at Alpine Rehab & Nursing Center, Little Falls, about the facility’s remarkable resilience in the face of the potentially deadly novel coronavirus.
Q.: Nursing homes are under attack from COVID-19 and are regarded as hot spots for transmission of the virus. Of the residents in Oneida County who have died of the virus, 70% were nursing home patients. The vast majority of patients who were hospitalized with the virus were from nursing homes. How is Alpine facing this major threat from COVID-19?
A.: We haven’t had COVID-19 in our building — not a single case.
Q.: That is remarkable! And much to be proud of! How did you achieve this?
A.: We started preparing in early March, before Gov. Andrew Cuomo mandated isolation of residents. Our ployees, physicians and community are of primary importance to the Mohawk Valley Health System.
Therefore, during the initial onset of the coronavirus in the state, MVHS immediately complied with strict recommendations by the state of New York to limit visitors to its facilities.
Its goal was to limit exposure to COVID-19, especially important to individuals with compromised health status.
“We took our role to help flatten the curve of potential exposures very seriously,” an MVHS spokesperson said.
“We recognize that separation of patients and their loved ones during company, Personal Health Care, provided an adequate amount of personal protective equipment for the staff.
They also provided help with policies and procedures. We’ve had continuous education throughout this pandemic and our staff is wonderful and very cautious. Staff, residents and families have all taken this very seriously in cooperating with the many changes.
Q.: Experts say to meet this challenge of COVID-19, what is needed in nursing homes is adequate testing, protective gear and staffing. Many nursing homes have found that price too high, cutting into their already thin profit margin. What is your response to this?
A.: Our company feels protecting our residents is the top priority. We’re taking needed safety measures. The testing and PPE have been mandated; having adequate staffing available has much to do with availability. We’ve been lucky to have staff that have been with Alpine for many years and are dedicated to what they do. The testing is costly, but necessary; we’re happy to comply.
Q.: The “no visitor” policy must
hospitalization can cause significant stress and anxiety. And now that the curve has been flattened, the state has provided updated guidance for hospitals regarding visitation,” the spokesperson noted. “We are happy to allow our patients to have visitors and will continue to keep you safe by following recommendations to ensure the health and well-being of our patients.”
Visitor guidelines:
Inpatient hospital units
Visiting hours for inpatient hospital units are from 3-7 p.m., seven days a week.
Each visit is limited to one person at a time for a maximum of four
be difficult for residents. How are you helping them get through this isolation?
A.: We’re on one level, so each resident has a window and can have window visits, which keeps spirits up. A window visit helps; they can’t hug their family, but they can see them and be reassured they are well.
We get the residents outside individually as much as we can. We’re looking forward to taking them out to the zoo, the museum, and other places of interest. That’s what we plan to do: outside activities.
And we have tele-visits all day. Our activity director, Deandra Macri, goes around with her laptop, connecting people with their families. It’s a huge success, especially for people who don’t have family in the area.
Q.: Do you have a mix of rehab patients and long-term patients?
A.: About half our residents are short-term residents, to whom we provide rehabilitation. They are recovering from a stroke, a hip replacement, or in declining health. We can do therapy seven days a week for these people, as opposed to hours per day. Only two visitors, in total, are permitted during the four hours of visitation per day.
Visitors will be screened by a temperature check and asked about symptoms. Visitors will be denied entry if they report significant COVID-19 exposure or symptoms during the prior 14 days or have a temperature equal to or greater than 100 degrees Fahrenheit.
Visitors will be given a mask to wear for their entire visit and will be instructed in appropriate hand hygiene.
For the protection of patients and employees, visitors will be asked to leave the facility if they fail to or refuse to wear a mask.
Visitors must maintain social distancing of six feet even in the patient room.
A visitor must remain in the patient room unless otherwise directed by the clinical staff.
At this time, the hospital cafeterias remain open only to employees.
Also, MVHS will not be expanding visitation to patients who tested positive for COVID-19, are persons under investigation for COVID-19, or given limited supplies of personal protective equipment unless there are special circumstances as defined by the state Department of Health in its most rehab facilities that offer only five days a week. The average length of stay for our rehab residents is 28 days. We love to see our residents go home safely and successfully!
Half our residents are long-term. We love them all the same and they become family.
Q.: What will the “new normal” look like for Alpine?
A.: Virtual visits will be a bigger part of what we continue to do, especially for those with no family locally. It helps to engage the residents and keeps their spirits up.
Q.: Anything else you would like to add?
A.: In 2017, we won the national Silver Award for Excellence through the American Health Care Association. This award is based on achievement in health care quality. Less than 10% of nursing homes have won the gold or silver award; it’s difficult to achieve and we’re very proud of it.
We’re working on our Gold Award application and look forward to showing our never-ending efforts to continue to improve the quality of
The safety of its patients, em
Oneida, Herkimer and Madis n c unties Health MV’s Healthcare Newspaper In Good A monthly newspaper published by Local News, Inc. 20,000 copies distributed. To request home delivery ($21 per year), call 315-749-7070.
In Good Health is published 12 times a year by Local News, Inc. © 2020 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 Editor & Publisher: Wagner Dotto Associate Editor: Lou Sorendo Contributing Writers: Barbara Pierce, David Podos, Deb Dittner, Jessica Arsenault Rivenburg, Brooke Stacia Demott, Daniel Baldwin, Traci DeLore Advertising: Amy Gagliano Layout & Design: Dylon Clew-Thomas Office Assistant: Nancy Nitz
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.
care and life for our residents. earlier guidance. This includes: — Patients in labor, delivery, and the remainder of the patients’ admission — Pediatric patients — Patients for whom a support person has been determined to be essential to the care of the patient (medically necessary) including patients with intellectual or developmental disabilities and patients with cognitive impairments including dementia. — Patients in immediate end-oflife situations.
During this phase one of visitation, a no-visitor policy remains in effect for the behavioral health units at MVHS hospitals.
All visitors will be given a onepage hand out that details visitor guidelines, provides information on safety measures such as hand hygiene, wearing a mask and practicing social distancing, and contact information for questions.
All visitors must be older than 18 years of age except for previously documented exceptions.
For more information about specific areas of the hospitals such as emergency departments, outpatient services and maternity, visit mvhealthsystem.org/visitation.
Subscription? Call 315-749-7070
Healthcare in a Minute
By George W. Chapman
Telehealth Surge
Virtual medicine skyrockets tremendously
No one could have predicted that a pandemic would be the catalyst or “black swan” event for telehealth.
Up until the pandemic, telehealth was infrequently used. It was approximately 10% of a typical provider’s schedule in 2019. In April 2020, it had ballooned to 46%. Industry experts are predicting that telehealth could be $250 billion a year in spending post pandemic.
Both providers and consumers are adapting to the new reality. According to a recent consumer survey by McKinsey & Company, 75% of respondents are highly/moderately likely to use telehealth services. Seventy-five percent of respondents who recently received services via telehealth were satisfied. Up until the pandemic, providers were somewhat reluctant to incorporate telehealth into their business models, primarily due to poor reimbursement from insurers.
Telehealth was used mostly to reach isolated, rural or homebound patients. Because of the pandemic, Medicare began to reimburse providers for a telehealth visit the same as an office visit. Most commercial carriers followed suit.
The big question is whether or not Medicare will continue improved telehealth reimbursement beyond the pandemic. The longer this pandemic lasts, the further the horse is out of the barn. Medicare would certainly face a backlash from both providers and consumers who have adapted to this deliver of care option. Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) Administrator Seema Verma sounds like she is hedging her bets, though, when she said that while telehealth is getting us through this pandemic, it won’t replace the “gold standard” of in-person care.
AHA addresses racism
The pandemic has disproportionally impacted people of color. It has exposed the systemic racism in public health. Rick Pollack, CEO of the American Hospital Association, recently addressed the problem. “As places of healing, hospitals have an important role to play in the wellbeing of their communities.
As we’ve seen in the pandemic, communities of color have been disproportionately affected, both in infection rates and economic impact. The AHA’s vision is of a society of healthy communities, where all individuals reach their highest potential for health … to achieve that vision, we must address racial, ethnic and cultural inequities, including those in health care, that are everyday realities for far too many individuals.
While progress has been made, we have so much more work to do.”
COVID19 vaccine
Dr. Tony Fauci is the nation’s leading expert on infectious disease. As director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, or NIAID, Fauci is cautiously optimistic about the development of a vaccine by bio tech firm Moderna.
However, he believes the vaccine will not be a one and done solution and will most likely require boosters. Once a vaccine is approved for use, the question remains what will be its durability. It could be six months or a year or two. (It should be noted: Moderna is not the only bio tech firm developing a vaccine.)
There has been much confusion over wearing masks. Fauci emphasized the three basics of mitigation
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are still the most effective at slowing the spread of the virus: frequent hand washing, social distancing and masks in public. The latter all the more important when inside. Meanwhile, in anticipation of a vaccine, the federal government has begun stockpiling 400 million syringes by December.
What we know so far
A recent article in the New York Times gave a summary. 1. We will be dealing with this pandemic for a long time. 2. Masks mitigate the spread. 3. Our public health infrastructure needs an update if not an overhaul. 4. The pandemic is hugely expensive: testing, treatment, PPE, lost wages, mitigation, etc. 5.
We can’t count on herd immunity to protect us. 6. There are far more symptoms than expected or experienced. 7. We can worry less about surface transmission of the virus. It is mostly person to person. 8. We can worry less about a mutating virus. 9. Warm weather will not defeat the virus.
Estimates of the cost of the virus to insurance companies, (commercial, Medicare Advantage and Medicaid) are modeled/based on infection rates. A population infection rate of 10% puts cost estimates around $30 billion while an infection rate of 60% could cause cost to skyrocket toward $500 billion.
Reopening healthcare
The pandemic forced hospitals and physician offices to close to non-emergent care. The cancellation of elective surgeries and routine office visits have put most provides in dire financial straits.
Most have resorted to furloughing or laying off staff as bottom lines flounder. In April, CMS issued guidelines for providers to open up again for normal business. Basically, “non-emergent, non-COVID care (NCC) should be offered to patients, as clinically appropriate, in localities or facilities that have the resources to provide such care, as well as the ability to quickly respond to a surge in COVID-19 cases, if necessary.
Decisions should be consistent with federal, state and local orders, and CDC guidance and made in munity Behavioral Health Clinics grant, a two-year grant awarded by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration.
The grant is intended to assist the agency in improving the behavioral health of community residents through high-quality, coordinated, community-based mental health and substance use disorder services built on evidence-based practices and integration of physical health care services.
As a CCBHC, UCP’s Community collaboration with state and local public health authorities. Careful planning is required to safely deliver in-person care to patients requiring NCC, and all aspects of care must be considered.”
If you have been putting off care, you are encouraged to contact your provider and resume your treatment or address your health concerns.
CVS testing NURO
If pizza can be delivered via drone or autonomous vehicle, why not drugs? CVS pharmacy is currently testing delivering prescriptions via autonomous vehicle “NURO” in a Houston suburb.
NURO is a business that started in 2018 delivering groceries in Texas and Arizona. The company raised over $1 billion from investors.
ACA exchange update
While the supreme court will not determine its fate till next year, it is still what approximately 20 million people rely on for their insurance.
The removal of the individual mandate caused enrollment to drop after years of expansion, but unemployment caused by the pandemic may cause more people to buy insurance on the exchange when they lose their employer-based insurance.
From 2016 through 2018, the Blues have dominated most markets, offering almost 50% of the plans on the exchanges.
Medicaid insurers comprised another 25% of the plans being offered. Some commercial carriers like Aetna dropped out altogether while others like United Health are considering re-entering the exchanges due to increasing unemployment.
George W. Chapman is a healthcare business consultant who works exclusively with physicians, hospitals and healthcare organizations. He operates GW Chapman Consulting based in Syracuse. Email him at gwc@gwchapman
UCP receives behavioral health federal grant
Upstate Cerebral Palsy recently received the Certified Com
consulting.com. Health and Behavioral Services clinic will increase access to and improve the quality of community mental and substance use disorder treatment services. The grant provides UCP with the necessary funding to provide a comprehensive collection of services that create access, help stabilize people in crisis, and provide the needed support services.
As a CCBHC, UCP will provide person- and family centered integrated services including comprehensive 24/7 access to community-based mental and substance use disorder services; treatment of co-occurring disorders; and physical health care in one location.
