in good
Meet Your Doctor
June 2017 • Issue 136
MVhealthnews.com
free
Mohawk Valley’s Healthcare Newspaper
Abusive Partner
Ghassan Koussa New physician joins MVHS ranks Page 4
Men often fall victim to the wrath of women Page 5
Ramp up your cardio! Page 19
Autism Grandmother uses creativity, love to battle spectrum disorder Page 10
Men’s Health Special Edition
Golf imitates life
Golf — much like life itself — teaches participants the harshest of lessons. Page 6
Strawberries
How can such a sweet li’l thing be so nutritious? Who does it think it is having more vitamin C than an orange? Enough antioxidants to rival a raspberry? And as much fiber as an apple? See SmartBites inside
Meet Your Administrator
Kathleen Eisenhut takes reins at Valley Health Services Page 12
Americans Frantic for Fast Food
Eight in 10 eat it at least once a week, surveys find. Page 7 June 2017 •
IN GOOD HEALTH – Mohawk Valley’s Healthcare Newspaper
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CALENDAR of
The courage and determination of cancer survivors is an inspiration to all!
HEALTH EVENTS
NATIONAL CANCER SURVIVORS DAY
On National Cancer Survivors Day® .
Sunday, June 4, 2017 Hematology Oncology Associates of CNY
Got a health-related activity or event that you would like publicized? Call Lou Sorendo at 315-749-7070 or email lou@cnymail.com.
will honor those in our community who are living with and beyond cancer, and those who have supported them along the way.
Come celebrate life at Longbranch Park, Liverpool, NY on June 4, 2017 from 10:30 am until 1:30 pm.
HOPE GROWS HERE Our celebration will include: •Speakers • Fun Activities • Entertainment •Door Prizes • Picnic Lunch The event is free for survivors, family and guests. *RSVP email must include "RSVP" in the subject line.
Please include location you will be attending (Liverpool or Auburn) and survivor's t-shirt size.
Please RSVP to: rsvp@hoacny.com or (315) 472-7504 ext 1312
OFFERING MEDICARE PLANS In addition to our full service offerings, AmeriCU Services, LLC* is now offering Medicare Plans!
Mondays
Food Addicts in Recovery to meet Food Addicts in Recovery holds anonymous meetings from 6:30-8 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
Parents bond to battle addiction
Insight House Chemical Dependency Services, Inc. offers family support group meetings from 6:157:30 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.
Wednesdays/Thursdays
June 1
Overeaters Anonymous plans meetings Overeaters Anonymous meets from 5:30-6:30 p.m. every Wednesday in Room 101 (first floor) at Rome Memorial Hospital, 1500 James St.,
AmeriCU Services, LLC is designed to meet your insurance needs! *AmeriCU Services is a wholly owned subsidiary of AmeriCU Credit Union
Advertise with the pros! Call 749-7070 •
June 1
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 June 1 and June 15. The support group is for parents with a son or daughter who is addicted 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.
If you are 65 or will turn 65 soon, visit one of AmeriCU’s Financial Centers or contact Paul Holgate at 315.356.3312 or paulh@americu.org to set up an appointment with a representative.
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Rome. It also meets from 7-8 p.m. every Thursday at Oneida Baptist Church, 242 Main St., Oneida. Participants are asked to use the rear door. There are no dues, fees, weighins or diets. For more information, call OA at 315-468-1588 or visit oa.org.
IN GOOD HEALTH – Mohawk Valley’s Healthcare Newspaper • June 2017
Event to celebrate 50 years of history The Presbyterian Home of Central New York, an affiliate of Community Wellness Partners, will host a
Continued on Page 18
Community Information Seminar:
Bariatric Surgery June 14, 2017 • 6:00 p.m. Presented by
January Hill, MD Utica Business Park 125 Business Park Drive, Suite 150, Utica, NY The offices of William A. Graber, MD, PC
To register call 315-235-2540 or toll free 877-269-0355
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June 2017 •
IN GOOD HEALTH – Mohawk Valley’s Healthcare Newspaper
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Meet
Your Doctor
By Barbara Pierce
Ghassan Koussa
Ghassan Koussa has joined the Mohawk Valley Health System Pulmonary Medicine and Critical Care Group and has privileges at Faxton St. Luke’s Healthcare and St. Elizabeth Medical Center in Utica. Koussa is board-certified in internal medicine, pulmonary medicine, and critical care medicine. Q.: Your specialty is pulmonary diseases, which include conditions such as asthma, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, cystic fibrosis, lung cancer, and lung diseases. How did you decide on this as a specialty? A.: I grew up in Beirut, Lebanon, where smoking is very prevalent and socially accepted. I have seen it affect immediate members of my family. As a result, I became interested in pulmonary diseases and the fight against tobacco abuse. As a pulmonologist, my goal is to share this knowledge with my patients and with the community to prevent future generations from abusing tobacco and to help current smokers quit. Q.: What influenced you to become a physician? A.: It’s more about who influenced me. I was interested in medicine at a young age — most likely because of where and when I grew up: Lebanon during the civil war. My parents had such a positive impact on the person that I am today and were very supportive in helping me achieve my goal to become a physician. Q.: What is most gratifying about being a physician? A.: I’m board-certified in both pulmonary and critical care medicine. I spend half of my time in the intensive care unit treating very sick patients. It’s very gratifying knowing that the care I provide to my patients often leads to a healthy recovery. It’s also a great feeling to work in such a supportive community with such excellent staff. Being board-certified is important. While being licensed as a medical doctor sets the minimum competency requirements to diagnose and treat patients, board certification demonstrates a physician’s exceptional expertise in a particular specialty. Q.: What is most challenging about being a physician? A.: I deal with end-of-life care often, whether in my clinic with endstage lung disease or in the ICU with a patient who, unfortunately, will fail to recover. Although this may be a
pack a day for 30 years or longer. If you fit any of these definitions, talk to your primary care provider about lung cancer screening. Q.: What are risk factors for COPD? COPD, characterized by increasing breathlessness, describes progressive lung diseases including emphysema, chronic bronchitis, and non-reversible asthma. A.: By far, the most important risk factor for COPD is smoking, whether that is active smoking or second-hand exposure. Other important risk factors include uncontrolled asthma and environmental exposure to hazardous particles, dusts, gases, and fumes. Q.: What is the most important thing you wish your patients had done or had not done so they would not need to be your patients? A.: I wish they had never picked up that first cigarette. With that being said, it is never too late to quit smoking, and one should never stop trying to quit either. It takes a smoker an average of eight to 10 attempts to be successful in quitting smoking. Q.: After talking with you, we understand why you are so well liked by your patients and your colleagues. Is there anything else you would like people to know about you? A.: I love what I do and I really enjoy taking the time to explain and answer any questions my patients have regarding their health concerns. I believe that, as a physician, I have a responsibility to treat each and every patient with empathy and respect.
very challenging aspect of medicine, I am comfortable and confident in my ability to provide compassionate care for my patients and their family members. Q.: Before coming to MVHS, you were medical director of the lung cancer-screening program at Frisbie Memorial Hospital in Rochester. Since there are no symptoms of lung cancer in its early stages, and those who are diagnosed early have a much greater chance of survival, screening for lung cancer in the early stages is recommended. Who should get
screened? A.: Anyone who is a current smoker; anyone who quit less than 15 years ago; and anyone between the ages of 55-80 who has a 30 pack years smoking history should be screened. Pack years mean the number of years smoked multiplied by how many were smoked per day. For example, this means if you smoked two packs a day for 15 years or longer, you should be screened, as is true for someone who smoked one
Advertise with the pros! Call 315-749-7070 today! Page 4
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IN GOOD HEALTH – Mohawk Valley’s Healthcare Newspaper • June 2017
Lifelines Name: Ghassan Koussa Birth year: 1978 Birthplace: Beirut, Lebanon Current residence: New Hartford Education/qualifications: St. George’s University School of Medicine, Grenada, West Indies; Albany Medical College, Albany; board certified in internal medicine, pulmonary medicine, and critical care medicine Affiliations: Faxton St. Luke’s Healthcare and St. Elizabeth Medical Center Personal: Married to his wife Suhad. The couple has a 5-year-old boy and a 2-year-old girl, with a third on the way. Hobbies: Tennis, soccer, and hiking; living in this area, he would like to experience ice fishing and hunting
Men’sHealth
Men are abuse victims too Things you may not know about domestic violence By Barbara Pierce
Call for help
W
hen you hear the words “domestic violence,” what If you or someone you know comes into your mind? is a victim of domestic violence or Probably a pitiful woman beaten domestic abuse, get help immeup by the man in her life, poor, unedwouldn’t have any health insurance gay, and transgender persons. diately. ucated, maybe minority. or income.” The more we inform and educate Catholic Charities of HerThat’s the way most of us think, people about domestic violence, the kimer County also offers support Life in her hands because that’s the way the media closer we can get to eliminating it. to victims of domestic violence, And Jeff, a fit, muscular man in portrays it. “On TV, you see a wom“It’s most important to keep talking including a shelter, counseling, his 40s. As he held their infant son, an with a black eye and you know about it,” Loiacano said. legal advocacy, and support his girlfriend stabbed him in the a man has hit her. In the media, feLoiacano offers presentations on groups. Its 24-hour hotline is 315back, the last assault of many. The males are always the victim; men are prevention to the community. “We 866-0458. one that made him see he had to always the perpetrator,” said Melissa work in all of Oneida County, from YWCA Mohawk Valley in leave her to put his life back together Loiacano, community education supre-schools to senior citizen centers. Herkimer County’s 24-hour howithout her. pervisor, YWCA Mohawk Valley. “We need to be open to having tline is 315-866-4120. For Oneida Many believe that domestic vio“The female is always the victim. discussions with adolescent boys and County, call 315-797-7740. lence only occurs in uneducated, miWe’re forgetting about females as the young men about healthy relationThe National Domestic Vionority or dysfunctional relationships. abuser, not the victim, and we’re forships and staying safe in them. Edulence Hotline is 1-800-799-7233. That is far from the truth. Domestic getting about same-sex relationship cation is the first step toward fighting violence can affect anyone, any age, violence,” she said. And forgetting domestic violence and the stigmas gender, sexuality, ethnicity, race, or about all the other forms domestic that surround it. MP Order Propo educational background. In fact, a abuse can take. This ad will appear atme the classification of: “Keep the conversation going. any friends left; she never let see striking number of men are victims, Domestic violence is when one When the conversation stops, the viothem. She has to control me. And suffering physical, mental and sexual partner in an intimate relationship Rome NY lence grows.” she’s always accusing me of cheatabuse in both heterosexual and sameabuses the other. It’s not just about Loiacano said she lets men know ing on her. I never thought marriage broken bones or bruises. The abuse with in Home Date 05/2014 sex relationships. According to the they are vulnerable. would be like this.” Centers for Disease Control, one in can be physical, sexual, emotional, “What I say L is, ‘We all HCN6 need to beAd Id: A As a counselor an 2014 organization Date: March at 17, Acct# A1ZGFE Sales Rep: GRIMALDI, JENNIFER Size: four adult men in the United States financial, or a combination. vigilant,’” she said. providing help to victims, I helped will become a victim of domestic Though it is a serious and Many men don’t seek help for Robert deal with the tragedy his life violence during his lifetime. persistent social problem, domesdomestic abuse because they fear had become. At the YWCA, they are experts tic violence remains hidden in the they will look weak. The truth is that As I helped 63-year-old Pam: in the issue of domestic violence and shadows of private lives, shrouded in there is little that requires as much “We’ve been married 40 years; it’s offer life-changing help to victims. darkness. bravery as walking away from an never been the greatest, but since we All services are confidential. Their In emotional abuse, the abuser abusive relationship. moved to Florida, things have gotten shelter accepts men, women, lesbian, constantly humiliates and puts down so much worse. He’s such a miserthe victim with insults, threats, conable miser! He gives me $40 a week trol of physical activity, accusations of infidelity, control of economic deci- for everything. I have to sew my own Diabetes? clothes and make my own presents sions and social isolation. for my grandkids. He won’t let me go Flat Feet? Like 32-year-old Robert of Bradenton, Fla.: “Amy seemed so perfect anywhere but to the supermarket; he Plantar Fasciitis? wants me around to wait on him. He when we dated. Now we have two checks the mileage every time I come You may be eligible for shoes at little or no cost! boys, so I don’t want to leave her. back. He never talks to me, never will But she’s always mad at me. She go anywhere. I want to move back blames me for every little thing that to Ohio, where I had friends and a goes wrong. She doesn’t even want church. I can’t leave him because I me to talk to my family. I don’t have
Oneida, Herkimer in good
and
Health MV’s Healthcare Newspaper
Madison
counties
A monthly newspaper published by Local News, Inc. 20,000 copies distributed. To request home delivery ($15 per year), call 315-749-7070.
In Good Health is published 12 times a year by Local News, Inc. © 2017 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: Patricia Malin, Barbara Pierce, Kristen Raab, Deb Dittner, Amylynn Pastorella, Pauline DiGiorgio 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.
June 2017 •
AMZHMDNLM 14-Mar-2014 07:57 IN GOOD HEALTH – Mohawk Valley’s Healthcare Newspaper
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Men’sHealth Between You and Me
By Barbara Pierce
Life is like game of golf So quit puttering around and tee it up! “Golf is the closest game to the game we call life,” said Bobby Jones, who was a famous professional golfer years ago. Golf has an interesting way of imitating life. Or, maybe it’s the other way around. For those who aren’t golfers, this may seem like an odd topic. How could a game about controlling a little white ball be relevant? But there are remarkable parallels between the Pierce game of golf and the game of life. Whether or not we play golf, we can all learn from the golf pros. “You get bad breaks from good shots; you get good breaks from bad shots, but you have to play the ball where it lies,” said the legendary Bobby Jones. He was one of the most influential figures in the history of golf. He founded and helped design the Augusta National Golf Club, and co-founded the Masters Tournament. “Play the ball as it lies; play the course as you find it” is a basic official rule of golf, established long, long ago. “A player must not improve the lie of his ball.” What this means is that you must hit the ball from wherever it lands, no matter how difficult that is. A golfer must play his ball from wherever it lands — whether that’s in a sand trap, under a tree, in a lake, or rough ground. The game does not allow you to move your ball to a more favorable position. The golfer is expected to deal with the situation as it is without adjustments.
Of course, you’ve worked out how this is relevant to life: “Make the best of what you’ve got.” Take what you get and figure out how to make the best of it so you can move forward. Deal with it — play the hand you’ve been dealt, to mix in a poker metaphor. “If you’re in trouble, 80 percent of the time there’s a way out,” said the late Arnold Palmer. The golfing legend was one of the most likeable characters on the PGA Tour, producing a number of memorable quotes. I disagree with Palmer. I like to think the percentage is higher than 80 percent. I believe that about 98 percent of the time there is a way out of a bad situation. In my career as a psychotherapist, I often collaborated with clients who couldn’t see a way out of their troubles, totally overwhelmed by their problems, and hopeless to move forward.
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(315)724-5168 1-800-530-2741 www.insighthouse.com 500 Whitesboro Street, Utica New York 13502 Page 6
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There is a way out
Together, we’d look at what was going on, look at this tough spot they were in, and look for the best way to start dealing with what felt to them like a swirling cesspool. And, almost always, there were ways to deal with it. Buddhist teachings advise us to do what we can to change our situation. If there is nothing we can do about it, then step back and accept it, quite worrying about it and stressing out over it. Change the way we think about it. In golf, if you’re faced with a ball in an impossible place, you can’t change the lie, but you can change your stance to have a better chance at it. You can’t control the bad breaks you get from good shots, like Jones said. All you can control is your stance. All you can control is the way
IN GOOD HEALTH – Mohawk Valley’s Healthcare Newspaper • June 2017
you think about the situation. “Life’s battles don’t always go to the strongest man. But sooner or later, the man who wins is the man who thinks he can,” is another piece of Arnold Palmer wisdom that I like. “If you think you’re beaten, you are.” Confidence is your greatest asset to succeeding at whatever you want to succeed at. That’s something we all know; we just need to be reminded of it now and then. “I’ve always made a total effort, even when the odds seemed entirely against me. I never quit trying; I never felt that I didn’t have a chance to win,” said Palmer. Another lesson from yet another golf pro: “This is a game of misses. The guy who misses the best is going to win,” said Ben Hogan, who was considered one of the greatest players in the history of the game. Failure happens. Embrace failure, Hogan says. “When it happens, you’ve got a choice. It can cause fear and anxiety. Or you can look at it as normal and incredibly valuable. Two bad shots in a row used to make me want to walk off the course. But I’ve learned to embrace my failure, analyze, learn, and move on. My next shot may also go awry, but it won’t be for the same reason.” In both golf and life, mistakes are made on a regular basis. The lesson we can take from golf and apply to our lives is that it is only when we learn from our mistakes that we will see any improvement at all. • Barbara Pierce is a retired licensed clinical social worker with many years of experience helping people. If you would like to purchase a copy of her book, “When you Come to the Edge: Aging” or if you have questions for her, contact her at barbarapierce06@yahoo.com.
America Loves Fast Food Eight in 10 eat it at least once a week, surveys find
A
mericans love fast food — even if they can afford meals that aren’t prepackaged in grease-resistant wrappers, according to a new study. The study found that Americans of all economic classes eat fast food. Middle-income Americans are the most likely to eat fast food, but only by a slight margin from other income groups. Even the wealthiest Americans admit to eating fast food, trailing other groups by just a bit, the researchers said. “It’s not mostly poor people eat-
Correction
I
n the story “Between the Lines” that appeared on Page 17 in the April edition of Mohawk Valley In Good Health, a quote on why reading makes for a more interesting person was incorrectly attributed to Heidi McManus. The statement was actually made by Julie Buntin. The newspaper apologizes for the error.
ing fast food in America,” said study co-author Jay Zagorsky, a research scientist at Ohio State University’s Center for Human Resource Research. “Rich people may have more eating options, but that’s not stopping them from going to places like McDonald’s or KFC,” he said in a university news release. The study included information from a national survey. The researchers zeroed in on roughly 8,000 people who were questioned about their weekly fast food intake in 2008, 2010 and 2012. The participants, who were all middle-aged, were asked how many times they had eaten food from a fast food restaurant, such as McDonald’s, KFC or Taco Bell, in the past seven days. The answers were then compared to questions about their wealth and income. The study found that the fondness for fast food transcends economic classes and is shared by rich and poor alike. Overall, the researchers found that 79 percent of the participants ate fast food at least once a week.
Now approved for chronic pain
Medical Marijuana now approved for chronic pain
Senior Citizens:
Can’t see or reach to cut your toenails? GIFT CERTIFICATES AVAILABLE In home manicures & pedicures $25
Call Sharon at 315-735-4521
If you think something is wrong with this picture, you should see what’s being served up in stores. Tobacco companies spend billions on colorful signs, special discounts and promotions in stores where kids can see them. And the more kids see tobacco, the more likely they are to start smoking. It’s time for tobacco marketing to hit the road.
Tobacco companies place most of their advertising in stores where
75
% OF
TEENS
shop at least once per week
Take action now at SeenEnoughTobacco.org facebook.com/TobaccoFreeNYS
June 2017 •
@TobaccoFreeNYS
IN GOOD HEALTH – Mohawk Valley’s Healthcare Newspaper
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Men’sHealth
Want to be more likeable? Here are some easy-to-do suggestions By Barbara Pierce
W
e all want to be liked. If people like us, we’ll have more friends, no problem getting lovers, we’ll have better success in our work, and we’ll get more of what we want. In general, life just seems to flow along more smoothly for people who are likeable. It’s actually not that hard to become more likeable — there are simple things you can do, things that have been proven to work. “The best way to get someone to like you is to like them first,” claims dating coach Bela Gandhi on line. “Yes, it’s really that simple.” Act like you really like that person. When we think someone likes us, we tend to like him or her as well. One study found that participants in the study said the people they liked best were the ones who liked them. Here’s how to do it, she recommends. First, shift your attitude. Look for what is good in someone and find what you like. It could be their the warm smile, their Representing disabled for over 30easy years demean-
S O C I A L SE C U R I T Y DISABILITY Peter W. Antonowicz, Esq. Kelly L. Eichhorn, ADR
or, or their red lipstick — whatever it is. When you are looking for what is good in another person, you will find it. “Look for what is good, and say it. We see amazing results in the dating world, professional world and
even at home,” she said. “A good compliment will get you everywhere.” Compliment something other than someone’s looks if you can. Instead, notice something that shows their personality, like their purse or a book.
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S O C I A L SE C U R I T Y ISABILITY D Peter W. Antonowicz, Esq.
S O C I A L SE C U R I T Y DISABILITY
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IN GOOD HEALTH – Mohawk Valley’s Healthcare Newspaper • June 2017
Kelly L. Eichhorn, ADR
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Say what it is you like about them with a big smile and fierce eye contact. “It is viscerally impossible not to like someone who genuinely smiles at you,” states Wendy Patrick, behavioral expert and attorney, online. “This means smiling with your entire face, including your eyes. Try it — it will boost your likeability.” Make people feel good around you. It’s that simple. Life coach Rebeccah Silence of Whitesboro has other suggestions. “Do you like yourself?” she asks. “To be liked, people need to be their own authentic self. Respect yourself. Be natural.” Silence is a certified life coach with a master’s degree in counseling. Owner of Inspired Results in Whitesboro, she is known as the relationship guru, doling out expert coaching every Tuesday morning on KISS-FM in Utica.
Don’t be self-conscious
“The first thing is not to care about whether others like you,” she stressed. “Get off worrying about what others think about you. If I care about what you think of me, it will change who I am. Instead, be natural.” “Being honest is better than trying to find ways to compliment others,” she added. Another way to make people like you is to make them feel important by asking questions and encouraging them to talk about themselves. Most people love talking about themselves. — Know how to be a good listener. Ask questions about others; find interest in their life; show you care and that you want to know more about them. Be an empathetic listener. Reflect back on what you hear the other person saying. Make eye contact and give the person your full attention. The other person will feel heard, validated, and accepted — and they’ll want to spend more time talking with you. — Use their name often. People love to hear their own name — by using it, you’re connecting with them. Saying a person’s name in a conversation is an important tactic that most sales people know well. A person’s name is the greatest connection to his or her own identity and individuality. Use their name when you want them to feel good about themselves. Remembering their name after meeting them makes them feel respected and important. It makes a positive and lasting impression on them. — And, be pleasant. People like you if you’re pleasant and positive. People are strongly influenced to feel in a good mood if you’re in a good mood. Casually, subtly touching someone makes him or her feel more warmly toward you.
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5 Days or 45 Days
Celebrating 10 years of practice Cathryn J. Barns RN MS FNP ANP-C
Specializing in diseases of the skin, including acne, warts, moles, skin cancer, rashes, psoriasis, eczema, skin infections, sun damages, hair and nail disease
1 Notre Dame Lane Utica, NY 13502
315-733-7913 We continue to be located next to Notre Dame High School Provider Cathryn J. Barns, ANP-C, FNP
Mohawk Valley Health System to Host Blood Drive
T
he Mohawk Valley Health System will host a blood drive from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. June 6 in Allen-Calder Conference Rooms 1 and 2 at the St. Luke’s Campus, 1656 Champlin Ave., Utica. Participants are asked to enter through Allen-Calder Entrance 7 at the back of the campus.
Everyone who registers and donates will receive a voucher to Stewart’s Shops for a pint of ice cream. For more information or to make an appointment, call 315-624-8259. You can also register online prior to the event at www.redcrossblood. org or the day of the event at www. redcrossblood.org/rapidpass. June 2017 •
hoacny.com
IN GOOD HEALTH – Mohawk Valley’s Healthcare Newspaper
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He’s got the beat
Book written for autistic grandson major hit By Barbara Pierce
K
ayci Visalli’s recently published children’s book, “And He Sneezed Again!” is a hit on Amazon.com. Written as a way for the Utica grandmother to get through to her grandson who was diagnosed on the autism spectrum, the book is quirky and fun for all kids, not just those with autism. “I raised my grandson Isaiah from birth,” she explained. “He was born with special needs; there was lots wrong with him. He wasn’t walking, wasn’t talking.” “It’s been quite challenging,” she summed up. Isaiah, now 6, was diagnosed with autism spectrum disorder, sensory integration dysfunction, and global developmental delay. Autism spectrum disorder is a serious disorder that impairs the child’s ability to communicate and interact with others, say experts. It causes significant impairment in learning and most areas of functioning. Raising a child with autism spectrum disorder can be physically exhausting and emotionally draining. Developing a connection with a child with autism is usually quite difficult and Visalli found this true with Isaiah. She found it impossible to “break through to him, to get a hold of him, to reach him.” She needed to connect with him so that he could start learning. When trying ways to connect with him, she noticed that he responded to rhythm, especially drum rhythm. “He loved it. He would ‘play’ the couch at age 3,” she said. That was her breakthrough moment. She tried reading to him in rhythms and he responded. “I would read slow; I would read fast. He loved it! We finally began to con-
nect,” she said. He responded to the rhythm of words. And he began to make progress, good progress. “Now he’s doing excellent!” she said. “He’s in kindergarten, and is transitioning to a normal class. He walks fine, talks well, and is bright, funny and witty. He still struggles with things, like smiling — that doesn’t come naturally to him.” “Lovable little Hilbert Henry Higginbot wakes up one morning with a sneeze, then another, and another,” the book begins. “Hilbert doesn’t like sneezing, not one little bit, and he’s willing to try anything to get rid of them! When there’s no relief in sight, Hilbert calls the only person he can think of to help. But, boy, does he get more help than he bargained for!”
The beat goes on
“This quirky tale is a fun book for both listeners and readers!” claims Amazon.com. “In rhyming and metered verse, ‘And He Sneezed Again!’ was written to amuse and engage the author’s grandson diagnosed with autism spectrum disorder. Because he responded positively to instrumental music, this grandmother-turned-author penned the story lines to simulate percussion rhythms in a creative effort to promote a love for reading and stimulate language development.” Reviews are overwhelmingly positive, ranking Visalli’s book five stars out of five on Amazon.com, and 4.33 on Goodreads. “Great children’s book!” remarked Sarah Cifonelli online. “Used this in my K-2 special education classroom and it was a hit. This book is captivating and very easy for children to follow. It can be read in a short period of time and doesn’t lose the audience’s attention.” “Wonderful children’s story!” said another online. “My grandchil-
Kayci Visalli spends a tender moment with her autistic son, Isaiah. dren loved it! I’m sure we will be reading it over and over! Thanks for the fun!” Abby Leighton’s appealing illustrations on the cover and inside add to the book’s appeal. “Looking for an artist, I jumped onto Craigslist and was able to find a student at the Pratt Art Institute,” said Visalli. “I was so pleased to find her.” Visalli, from Indiana, has long been a writer of poetry and stories. This is her first book. Her life changed dramatically when Isaiah came into her life and she became a full-time mother. She had a career in mental health, working for the county. “I loved my job; I did lots of good stuff,” she explained. “If a person has mental health challenges, I worked with them, put them in
NancyPeek IS ACCEPTING
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At our Rome off ice
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IN GOOD HEALTH – Mohawk Valley’s Healthcare Newspaper • June 2017
safe houses, and helped their lives improve.” Then her daughter, Isaiah’s mother, was diagnosed with a terminal illness and in hospice. Through a miracle, she recovered. Though she was told she could never have children, she gave birth to Isaiah and his younger sister. As she was unable to care for Isaiah, he came to live with his grandparents. Visalli quit her job to care for him, and now is bringing up his 2-yearold sister. “My days are totally different now,” she said. “I put the same toys away six times a day. I still diaper the same end; that’s the only thing the same,” she laughed. For more information or to purchase Visalli’s book, “And He Sneezed Again!” go to Amazon.com.
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The Ragin’ Cajun
By Malissa Allen
Ewww, what’s that smell?
By Jim Miller
Should Boomers get tested for hep C?
Flatulence: the science of ‘tooting’
D
on’t you just hate those times when you need to “break wind” when you think no one can hear or smell you, only to realize you weren’t alone after all? It could be worse, however, if you were the surprised party and didn’t expect it to happen. Either situation can be rather unpleasant and have negative impacts on you and people around you. Since this bodily function is not going to go away, perhaps we can learn how to reduce the smell. First, it’s important to understand what causes flatulence, which is known as “passing gas” or belching. Both Allen actions release the gas we create in our tummy. When chewing gum, excess gas will seep into your system through your mouth, but is typically not smelly at all. However, many foods you eat tell a complete different smelly story. Foods, especially alkaline ones when mixed with the acid in your stomach, produce gassy carbon dioxide as it travels to the large intestine. As the food travels down our tracking system, along with it flows millions of different bacteria. These bacteria react to the undigested food residue, producing gas. Vegetables, in addition to beans, lactose and liquids, make additional gas since they contain certain sugars which our stomach can’t appropriately process, so it goes into the bowel unaltered. There, the microscopic organisms ferment them and create gas. Fiber is a starch that is good for our body, yet our body can’t process it. Fiber goes through our gastrointestinal tract to our digestive organs, where microbes separate it to produce gas. Gas that is non-foul typically produces the loud noises. They have around 59 percent nitrogen, 29 percent hydrogen, 9 percent carbon dioxide, 7 percent methane and 3 percent oxygen. As a rule, they originate from our mouth when we eat quickly or chew. The rise of nitrogen and carbon dioxide is normally substantial, so when they are released out of our bottom, the “toot” makes a noisy sound. However, it is scentless.
our body quietly. They are comprised of the gas indole, skatole, hydrogen sulfide (the outburst of sulfur in the digestive system) and mercaptan. Here and there, we do pass loud and stinky ones when the huge gas bubbles blend with little air pockets. In the event that you eat a ton of fat, it enters our system mostly unaltered when it makes its way through the large intestines. The microbes there change them into volatile fatty acid and they can smell truly terrible. Foods that create those stinky smells are rich in sulfur and this is because microscopic organisms break them down while producing hydrogen sulfide, which has a rotten odor. Cauliflower, eggs, beans, cabbage, yams, collards, mustard greens and garlic are foods that have sulfites — or sulfates — as preservatives, producing bad gas. Beverages such as coffee, wine, cocoa and tea have the same effect. Bananas, watermelon, and pineapple are gas-producing fruits. Sunflower seeds, walnuts, almonds, cashews and sesame seeds are the culprits in the nuts family. In dairy products, milk and sour cream can be your enemy. There are a few medical issues — for example being lactose intolerant — that impact the status of gas. When lactose intolerant, the body is unable to process milk sugar or lactose that travels through the gut to make foul gas. Now you know the science behind the quiet, deadly “toots” and those that rattle the walls. Next time you feel that rumbling down below, pay attention to what foods you eat and for everyone else’s sake, don’t eat it again.
“Toots” that are normally the smelly ones are produced as microorganisms feed on nourishment in our digestive system. They create little bubbles of gas, so they leave
• Allen, a native of Louisiana, is a contributing writer for Mohawk Valley In Good Health. To comment or suggest a column idea, contact her at jman41904@gmail.com.
Silent but ‘deadly’
Failure to treat can lead to significant, perhaps even deadly liver problems Dear Savvy Senior, I’ve recently read that all baby boomers should get tested for hepatitis C. Is this really necessary, and if so, what are the testing and treatment procedures? Healthy Boomer Dear Healthy, It’s true. Both the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommend that all baby boomers — people born from 1945 through 1965 — get a hepatitis C test. The reason is because baby boomers account for 75 percent of the 3 million or so hepatitis C cases in the U.S. Those that are infected are at very high risk of eventually developing liver cancer, cirrhosis or other fatal liver diseases. Most hepatitis C infections occurred in the 1970s and 1980s, before there were tests to detect them and before the nation’s blood supply was routinely screened for the virus. Hepatitis C is transmitted only through blood, so anyone who received either a blood transfusion or an organ transplant prior to 1992 is at increased risk too. So are healthcare workers exposed to blood, and people who injected drugs through shared needles. The virus can also be spread through microscopic amounts of infected blood that could occur during sex, from sharing a razor or toothbrush, or getting a tattoo or body piercing at an unsterile shop. Most people that have hepatitis C don’t know they’re infected because there are no symptoms until their liver becomes severely damaged. It can actually take 30 years for people to show any signs of the virus, but by then, it may be too late to treat. But if it’s detected in time, new treatments are now available that can cure it.
Testing and Treatment
If you’re between ages 52 to 72, or fall into one of the previously listed
June 2017 •
high risk categories, you should see your primary care doctor for a basic blood test to determine whether you have ever been infected with hepatitis C. This is a relatively inexpensive test and typically covered by health insurance under routine medical care. If the test is negative, no further tests are needed. But, if the test is positive, you’ll need another test called HCV RNA, which will show whether the virus is still active. If you test positive, you have chronic hepatitis C and will need to talk to your doctor about treatment options. If you’re infected, but have no liver damage, your doctor should monitor your liver at your annual physical. The main treatments for chronic hepatitis C today are several new FDA-approved antiviral medications that have a 95 percent cure rate. Compared to older treatments, these new medications have minimal side effects. Unfortunately, all the new drugs are very expensive — a 12-week treatment course can cost anywhere from $50,000 to $90,000. Not all health insurance plans, including Medicare Part D plans, cover all prescribed medications for hepatitis C. And due to the expensive nature of these medications, most insurance plans require that you meet several requirements in order to get coverage. If your insurance provider doesn’t cover the antiviral therapy your doctor recommends, there are financial assistance options available. To look for help, visit HEPC.liverfoundation.org and put your cursor on “Resources” and click on “What if I Need Financial Assistance to Pay for Treatment?” And for more hepatitis C information, along with a quick online quiz you can take to determine your risks, see CDC.gov/knowmorehepatitis. You can also get information over the phone by calling the national toll-free HELP-4-HEP helpline at 877435-7443. Send your senior questions to: Savvy Senior, P.O. Box 5443, Norman, OK 73070, or visit www.savvysenior. org. Jim Miller is a contributor to the NBC Today show and author of “The Savvy Senior” book.
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Meet
Your Administrator
By Patricia J. Malin
Kathleen Eisenhut
Kathleen Eisenhut recently became administrator at Valley Health Services in Herkimer, succeeding Lisa Betrus, who remains president. Eisenhut has spent 30 years of her career in Herkimer County, including the last 16 years at VHS, which is part of the Bassett Healthcare Network. She recently discussed her life’s work with In Good Health senior writer Patricia J. Malin. Q.: How did you get involved in nursing? A.: I was always interested in nursing from the time I was a kid, but there wasn’t any family influence. While I was in college, I worked as a health aide at Harding Nursing Home in Waterville. I started as a registered nurse at Little Falls Hospital. Later on, after I had children, I worked part-time as an RN. Then I began thinking about change. I did not want to work weekends anymore, so I switched gears and got involved in administrative work. I became director of community services at LFH, then director of community development at VHS. Q.: What is the role of Valley Health Services in the community? A.: VHS is a privately owned, nonprofit organization. It is a 160bed, long-term care and short-term rehabilitation facility that also offers skilled nursing. Residents participate in occupational, physical and speech therapies when needed. VHS opened on April 1, 1984 with 32 beds and was the old Herkimer Memorial Hospital. It was increased to 64 beds in May 1984, 128 beds in 1986 and 160 beds in 1991 and evolved to become a long-term care facility. We have 160 beds for long-term care and an additional 32 for shortterm rehabilitation, such as following hip surgery or knee replacement. At one time, there were three hospitals in Herkimer County, but the New York State Department of Health forced the closings and conversions. When I was a nurse’s assistant, I saw the health side transition to assisted living. There are more complex cases and needs in nursing homes now because people are living longer.
Q.: What are you planning for the future direction of VHS? A.: There won’t be a lot of changes from when I was assistant administrator, but I’m more involved now with day-to-day issues. I want to keep the place running as well as Lisa Betrus. She did a marvelous job. She is still with Valley Health, but she is also the vice president of the continuum of care for Bassett Healthcare Network and is working on long-term care planning for the network. We think there is still a need for more long-term care in Herkimer County. I think my first objective is to make sure our residents are happy and their needs are being met. I hope to give our residents more dining choices and introduce programming and activities that they’re interested in. Perceptions of nursing homes have changed over the years, but I feel we still have a long way to go. VHS recently opened Valley Residential Services in East Herkimer, which provides seniors with efficiency apartments and various services.
Lifelines Age: 60 Hometown: Rochester Current residence: Mohawk Education: Bachelor of Science degree in nursing, University of Tennessee, Knoxville, Tenn., 1978; additional courses, Herkimer County Community College, SUNYIT (SUNY Polytechnic Institute, Utica), Empire State College, national nursing home administrator’s licensing examination, 2005-08 Affiliations: Member, board of directors, Herkimer County Rural Health Network, 2001-present; executive committee member and treasurer, Herkimer HealthNet (formerly Herkimer County Rural Health Network), 2005-present; trustee, village of Mohawk, 2004-present Kathleen Eisenhut, the new administrator at Valley Health Services, Herkimer, joins Stephen Smith, president of the residents’ council at VHS.
Personal: Husband, Greg Eisenhut; three children
I lost 85 lbs. and found my strength and spirit. Overweight with diabetes, Nerissa wanted to get — and stay — healthy to be around for her young son. Since her weight-loss surgery at Crouse, she’s found a pursuit that’s built her own strength and spirit. She’s also found a caring and compassionate team to support her every move. Down 85 pounds and off medications, Nerissa’s on to an active new life. Hear Nerissa’s story at crouse.org/weightloss. A partnership with CNY Surgical Physicians
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Is Weight Loss Surgery Right for You? FREE Seminars: June 5 • June 15 July 10 • July 20 Aug. 7 • Aug. 17 To register: crouse.org/weightloss 315-470-8974
SmartBites
The skinny on healthy eating
The Audacity of Strawberries
H
ow can such a sweet li’l thing be so nutritious? Who does it think it is having more vitamin C than an orange? Enough antioxidants to rival a raspberry? Half the calories of a banana? And as much fiber as an apple? The nerve of this good-for-you goldmine! Let’s start with vitamin C and why it’s so important to our health. An essential nutrient, vitamin C — which is integral to collagen synthesis — works hard to keep bones, muscles and tissues in tip-top shape. Current research suggests it may even protect against skin wrinkling. And even though this immune-boosting vitamin may not be the cure for the common cold, it has been shown to reduce the length and severity of some colds. A cup of strawberry halves delivers a confident dose: 150 percent of our daily needs. Strawberries are antioxidant superstars, boasting enough of these magical molecules to rank among the top 10 fruits and vegetables for antioxidant content. Antioxidants are important compounds that protect our body from disease and accelerated aging by gobbling up harmful free
radicals — byproducts of the oxidation process that have been linked to cancer, heart disease, Alzheimer’s disease and more. Strawberries, already crazy-high in vitamin C (a powerful antioxidant!), are boldly loaded with the Michael Jordan of the antioxidant world: phytochemicals. Moving briskly to fiber: Strawberries are a darn good source of both soluble and insoluble fiber, delivering about 3 grams per sliced cup. While soluble fiber helps to stabilize blood sugar levels and lower cholesterol, insoluble fiber promotes regularity. Both contribute to a full feeling that helps curb snacking between meals, a boon for weight watchers. Think we’re all done with this heart-shaped hotshot? Hardly! This sassy superfruit flaunts an arsenal of “lows”: low in calories (only 50 per cup), fat, sodium and cholesterol; and, also, according to the American Diabetes Association, on the “low end” of the glycemic index. On top of everything, strawberries strut out an impressive amount of manganese, a mineral that’s good for bones and energy production.
Healthy Strawberry Smoothie
2 cups ripe strawberries, washed, hulled and sliced 1 cup low-fat plain Greek yogurt ¾ to 1 cup orange juice, almond milk or low-fat milk ¼ teaspoon vanilla 1 teaspoon sweetener of choice 1 tablespoon ground flaxseeds (optional)
Add the ingredients to a food processor or blender. Process until a well-blended puree forms, about 15 seconds, stopping to scrape down the sides of the container once or twice. Taste the mixture and adjust sweetener, if needed. If smoothie is too thick, add water, juice or milk. If smoothie is too thin, add more fruit.
Are You Living With Knee Pain?
S
Helpful tips
trawberries, once picked, do not ripen further, so choose berries that are firm, plump, and deep red with their caps attached. Medium-sized strawberries are often the most flavorful. Buy organic if possible and consume within a few days of purchase. Place unwashed berries in refrigerator until ready to use. Do not leave berries at room temperature or exposed to sunlight for too long, as this will cause spoilage and possible loss of nutrients.
Anne Palumbo
is a lifestyle columnist, food guru, and seasoned cook, who has perfected the art of preparing nutritious, calorie-conscious dishes. She is hungry for your questions and comments about SmartBites, so be in touch with Anne at avpalumbo@aol.com.
Andrew Wickline, MD, FAAOS (left) and John Sullivan, MD, FAAOS (right), are surgeons at SEMC who perform partial knee resurfacing.
Now there’s help. Partial knee resurfacing is available for adults living with early to mid-stage osteoarthritis. The procedure preserves more of your natural knee, reduces pain and helps get you back to your daily activities sooner. The MAKO Robotic Arm Assisted Surgery system is powered by a surgeon-controlled, robotic arm system that enables this advanced treatment option. Precision is the key to planning and performing knee surgeries as the implants need to be aligned and positioned just right. The system helps deliver that accuracy for each individual patient. St. Elizabeth Medical Center is the only hospital in the area to offer this type of surgery. To find out if you are a candidate for partial knee resurfacing, call for an appointment with: John Sullivan, MD, FAAOS
Andrew Wickline, MD, FAAOS
Slocum-Dickson Medical Group
Genesee Orthopedics and Plastic
315-798-1617
Surgery Associates 315-738-5069
Individual results may vary. There are risks associated with any surgical knee procedures, including MAKOplasty®. Your surgeon can explain the risks and help determine if it is right for you.
Faxton St. Luke’s Healthcare | St. Elizabeth Medical Center
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Business Spotlight
AmeriCU Medicare Program Services “ Medicare Program Services is one of our most exciting and important programs,” said James Lombardo, chief operating manager of AmeriCU Services, LLC. “It is so rewarding to all who are served by the program and receive the oneon-one personal attention that our Medicare staff provides.” In partnership with Syracuse-based Excellus BlueCross BlueShield, AmeriCU Services developed a Medicare enrollment program in 2016 in order to support persons turning 65 in Central New York. AmeriCU opened its doors and program to all persons in this cohort, members and non-members alike, and has been greeted with overwhelming support. The program offers no-cost educational seminars to learn about Medicare options in general; sales seminars to evaluate specific health plan options, and one-on-one meetings to review each attendee’s personal situation. Appointments to meet and speak with a Medicare representative may be scheduled at any of AmeriCU’s 19 locations or by
calling 315-356-3312. The entire Medicare evaluation and decision process can be confusing and complex depending on an individual’s situation. Many seniors face penalties and financial costs for the wrong Medicare decision. AmeriCU’s program can help identify relevant information, provide analysis to identify the factors that will be most meaningful to the attendee, and present options for his or her consideration. “An impulsive decision could cost you in penalties and money. We feel a better approach is to take the time to layout the details, apply the factors most important to you, walk through the plan options, and select your plan. Then you can walk away confident that you’ve made an informed decision and with peace of mind,” said Paul Holgate, Senior insurance Solutions Adviser at AmeriCU. To date, more than 150 people have participated in the program with significant growth expected. For additional details, visit any AmeriCU financial center or contact AmeriCU at 315-356-3312.
James Lombardo, Chief Operating Manager of AmeriCU Services, LLC.
AmeriCU Credit Union — Medicare Program Services: 315-356-3300 or 315-356-3312
COMMUNITY VALUE
We’re committed to providing affordable access to quality health care. As a nonprofit, we have no shareholders to serve. We serve our upstate communities. Our margins are low, which keeps the cost of our premiums below the national average. Affordable premiums mean more people with coverage and fewer uninsured. Because we’re local, we support thousands of local jobs and add hundreds of millions of dollars to the upstate economy beyond what we pay out in medical benefits. We’re neighbors helping neighbors build healthier communities.
A nonprofit independent licensee of the Blue Cross Blue Shield Association.
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Health News Luncheon raises more than $130,000 More than 440 local women and men packed the room at Daniele’s Banquet Specialists in New Hartford recently to help fight heart disease and stroke in women. The event raised more than $130,000 for the Go Red For Women campaign. The chairwoman of the 2017 Go Red For Women campaign was Kristen Martin, chief operating officer for presenting sponsor Utica National Insurance Group. “Go Red For Women encourages all of us to truly think about our own heart health and how we can improve the health of our community,” Martin said. This year’s luncheon recognized the second annual Go Red survivor class, sponsored by First Source Federal Credit Union. The class features eight local women who are survivors of heart disease and stroke. Additionally, heart transplant survivor Cheryl Murdock shared her story, including the story of the teenage girl who provided her new heart. Murdock says years of medical advancements are why she is still alive today and she believes if she were born even 10 years earlier she would not have survived.
AmeriCU supports Heart Run & Walk AmeriCU continued over 20 years of support for the American Heart Association by sponsoring the Kids Heart Challenge as part of the 2017 America’s Greatest Heart Run and Walk. The Kids Heart Challenge was held recently at Valley Gymnastics and was free and open to the public. Around 50 kids participated in the half-mile obstacle course, learned about making healthy choices, and received a bandana and participation medal. In addition to the Kids Heart Challenge, AmeriCU employees formed a team and raised funds through paper heart and pin sales, fundraisers, and individual efforts. In all, the AmeriCU employee Heart Run & Walk team raised over $16,000, making them one of the topfive teams in 2017. AmeriCU Credit Union is a nonprofit financial cooperative serving nine counties in Central and Northern New York.
AHA/ASA announces new office location The American Heart Association/American Stroke Association is doing its lifesaving work in a new location. The AHA/ASA staff moved into its new office at 125 Business Park Drive, Suite 106 in Utica recently. “Our new office location is more centrally located in our community, which makes it easier for our volunteers and others to visit us,” says Jennifer Balog, executive director of the AHA/ASA Greater Utica chapter.
Office hours are still 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. The office can be reached at 315-580-3964. An official ribbon cutting with the Greater Utica Chamber of Commerce will be held at a later date.
Infection preventionist joins workgroup Heather L. Bernard, director of infection prevention for the Mohawk Valley Health System, has been invited to participate in the New York State Department of Health hospital-acquired infection reporting program technical advisory workgroup. TAW is a group of physiBernard cians, nurses and representatives from professional organizations who provide guidance and expertise on the implementation and evaluation of HAI public reporting in the state. The director of the Bureau of Healthcare Associated Infections selects TAW members. “Being asked to participate is such an honor,” said Bernard. “I look forward to working with the other participants from across the state to help develop appropriate risk-adjustment methods in order to ensure fair and meaningful comparison of hospital infection rates.” The HAI TAW was established in 2006 for the purpose of advising the NYSDOH on the prevention, surveillance and public reporting of HAIs.
and eligible patients may be discharged the same day after surgery for total knee or total hip replacement. For more information, call 315801-3388.
St. John’s administrator earns award The American College of Health Care Administrators recently honored David Wallace Jr., administrator of St. Johnsville Rehabilitation and Nursing Center in St. Johnsville, with the 2017 Eli Pick Facility Leadership Award. The leadership award was celebrated during the awards luncheon at ACHCA’s 51st Annual Convocation and Exposition in St. Louis, Mo. Fewer than 9 percent of facilities nationwide qualify. This year, 1,288 facilities met the selection criteria. Two hundred and six administrators were awarded the facility leadership award nationally. Based on the premise that facility excellence reflects leadership excellence, this award recognizes the administrator of record who provided that leadership throughout the award year. The award is in memory of Pick, who was a consummate member of ACHCA, dedicated to advancing
Excellus BCBS board has new chairman Thomas E. Rattmann has been elected chairman of the board of directors of Excellus BlueCross BlueShield and its parent company. He succeeds Thomas A. Hildebrandt. Rattmann is chairman of the board of Columbian Financial Group, a life insurance organization based in Binghamton that is Rattmann primarily focused on the issuance of small-face life insurance products. He retired as Columbian’s chief executive officer in December 2016. Rattmann has been a member of the company’s governing board since 2010. He continues as chairman of
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Area surgeon quoted in national article Becker’s Spine Review, one of Becker Healthcare’s five publications for the health care industry, has quoted Andrew Wickline, an orthopedic surgeon who practices at the Mohawk Valley Health System’s St. Elizabeth Campus, in an article titled, “Is Physical Therapy Necessary after Total Knee Wickline Replacement?” It appears online at www.beckersspine.com. Wickline met with joint replacement specialists at a recent SwiftPath Symposium, where he doubted the customary approach to knee replacement and the automatic reliance on physical therapy that follows. For nearly a year, Wickline has used the accelerated recovery program for orthopedics and SwiftPath at MVHS — an advanced system with protocols and strategies to help patients succeed with outpatient hip and knee replacement. He is one of the first surgeons in New York state to use this program
professionalism and leadership in long-term care. Founded in 1962, the ACHCA is the only professional association devoted solely to meeting the professional needs of today’s post-acute and aging services leaders.
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Health News Continued from Page 15 the regional advisory board of Excellus BlueCross BlueShield’s Southern Tier region. In his career, Rattmann has served on boards of directors of leading life insurance industry trade organizations, including as past chairman of the Life Insurance Council of New York and as a director of the American Council of Life Insurers. He also has served on the boards of directors of various community organizations in the greater Binghamton area.
Insight House receives match grant Insight House Chemical Dependency Services, Inc. in Utica has received a Stewart’s holiday match grant of $500 to support its drug and alcohol treatment efforts for adolescents. This funding will be used to purchase supplies and incentives for the agency’s adolescent outpatient treatment program. Funding was made possible by Stewart’s, as customers donated more than $926,000 last year from Thanksgiving Day through Christmas Day. Stewart’s matched the amount collected, bringing the total amount awarded to charities and organizations to over $1.85 million. Since 1971, Insight House has provided professional and confidential drug and alcohol treatment services to individuals and their families.
Physicians join Rome Medical Practice Rome Medical Practice recently welcomed pulmonologist Mohammed Seedat and family nurse practitioner Katherine M. Freeman at its Rome Pulmonology and Sleep Medicine office, according to Giselle Wisdom, practice administrator. Located at 267 Hill Road, Suite 300, in Rome, the practice specializes in providing care for patients with lung disorders and diseases, and sleep disorders. “Dr. Seedat has been a practicing physician at Rome Memorial Hospital since 1997,” Wisdom said. “His exceptional training and Seedat years of experience in private practice make him a tremendous asset in the care of our patients.” “We are also happy to welcome Katherine Freeman to the practice to work with Dr. Seedat,” Wisdom said. “These caring providers offer the specialized care our patients need, coordinated within the hospital’s continuum of cardiopulmonary care services, including the Sleep Disorders Center and pulmonary rehabilitation program.” Page 16
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Seedat and Freeman provide care for patients with lung disorders and diseases, such as COPD, asthma, lung cancer and pulmonary hypertension. In addition, they treat a broad range of sleep disorders, including sleep apnea, insomnia, narcolepsy, and sleep-related movement disorders. Seedat has also been named medical director of cardiopulmonary services at Rome Memorial Hospital. As medical director, he will provide care directly Freeman or coordinate care for patients in the hospital’s cardiopulmonary department, as well as in the Sleep Disorders Center and pulmonary rehabilitation program. Seedat earned his medical degree from Pontifica Universidad Catolica Madre Y Maestra in Santiago, Dominican Republic, and completed his medical internship at Crouser Chester Medical University, Pa. He completed his residency at SUNY Upstate Medical Center. With 25 years experience in nursing, Freeman earned her Master of Science degree in nursing with certification as a family nurse practitioner from SUNY IT, Marcy in 2014. She is board-certified by the American Association of Nurse Practitioners.
RMH adds to plant operations staff Travis Smith is the new assistant director of plant operations at Rome Memorial Hospital. “Travis is a hard worker who is eager to learn and has shown great leadership qualities in his eight years working here at Rome Memorial Hospital,” department director James Marquette said. “I have full confidence in his abilities and look forward to working with Travis as we lead our plant Smith operations team.” The plant operations department is responsible for maintenance of the hospital building and 13 off-site facilities. Smith joined the plant operations staff in 2009 as a level one mechanic. Smith said one aspect of his new job will require him to be knowledgeable about all health care facilities accreditation program standards and ensuring RMH is meeting and exceeding those standards. Smith had taken over overseeing the maintenance of the hospital’s energy center last year and will continue that responsibility in his new position. Smith and his wife Andrea reside in Floyd with their two children.
June 21
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 June 21. 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. VHS is located at 690 W. German St., Herkimer. Questions may be directed to Tammi King, infection control nurse, at 866-3330, ext. 2308.
Upstate Cerebral Palsy welcomes executive staff Upstate Cerebral Palsy recently welcomed James Carhart, vice president of information services, and Debra Torchia, vice president of finance, to its executive team. In his position, Carhart coordinates, directs and designs operational activities of the information services department, as well as recommends, develops, implements and supports cost-efCarhart fective technology solutions for all aspects of UCP. Carhart graduated with a Bachelor of Arts degree in economics from SUNY Plattsburgh and was previously employed at Utica National Insurance Group as a senior vice president/chief information officer. As VP of finance, Torchia analyzes and communicates financial performance to agency partners throughout the Torchia organization and community. She is responsible for the budget compilation for all Upstate Caring Partners affiliates and has oversight of the billing and accounts receivable departments. Torchia graduated with a Bachelor of Science degree in accounting from Utica College.
Physician joins Upstate Family Health Center Paula Vecchio, a primary care physician, has joined the clinical staff at Upstate Family Health Center, 1001 Noyes St., Utica. Vecchio has been a primary care provider in the Utica area for more
IN GOOD HEALTH – Mohawk Valley’s Healthcare Newspaper • June 2017
than 30 years and has previously worked in private practice, most recently at St. Elizabeth Medical Group. The Upstate Family Health Center offers primary care services to people of all ages, including those who had formerly received primary care services through Upstate Cerebral Palsy Community Vecchio Health and Behavioral Services. Services include well child care and immunizations, treatment of chronic medical conditions including diabetes, heart disease, and hypertension, physical exams, gynecological care, preventive services, laboratory and X-rays. For more information on Upstate Family Health Center, including information on its Rome office opening soon at 205 W. Dominick St., contact 315-624-9470.
LFH has new human resources manager Eunice Bond has been named manager of human resources at Little Falls Hospital, a subsidiary of the Bassett Healthcare Network. In her new job, she will be responsible for planning, developing, implementing, and coordinating effective personnel programs and policies to attract, Bond retain and motivate staff; providing guidance to administration and management regarding department objectives and selecting and evaluating department personnel. Prior to joining LFH, Bond was the HR generalist at Cobleskill Regional Hospital in Cobleskill. In that capacity, she provided oversight for clinical employees including employment disputes, benefits and retirement administration and development. Bond’s educational background includes a bachelor’s degree in business administration from the University of Houston-Downtown, Houston, Texas.
Breakfast club supports development fund Little Falls Hospital, a subsidiary of the Bassett Healthcare Network, offers an incentive program for its employees that benefits the hospital and community. The LFH Breakfast Club, held at Beardslee Castle, honored those employees who make a contribution of $100 or more to the Hospital’s annual fund.
Continued on Page 17
Health News Continued from Page 16 The castle is modeled after an Irish castle, and the ivy-covered, circa-1860 manor serves wood-grilled fare. “As ambassadors for the hospital, the relationships they develop with our patients are crucial not only to the health of the community but our ability to realize gifts and donations to support our technology and equipment needs,” said Michael Ogden, CEO. Employees of LFH donated more than $18,000 toward the 2016 annual fund.
She’s a real GEM at Little Falls Hospital Missy Blask, a Little Falls Hospital dietary team member for 16 years, is the recipient of the 2017 first quarter GEM (going the extra mile) award. 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 those they serve and Blask exceeding customer service standards with patients, clients, guests, and co-workers. “Missy was nominated for the GEM award for her impeccable patient services and for her friendly disposition,” says James Marino,
director/executive chef. “Missy is a leader, advocate and true gem to our in-patient unit.” LFH, an affiliate of Bassett Healthcare Network, is an inpatient 25-bed acute care hospital.
Optometrist to join eye care center Michael P. Spellicy recently joined the Eye Care Center of Slocum-Dickson Medical Group PLLC, New Hartford, which includes ophthalmologist Alan D. Harris and fellow optometrist Ralph Lott. Spellicy is board-certified in optometry by the American Board of Optometry. He brings with him over 35 years Spellicy of experience as an optometrist specializing in vision evaluation and ocular health, as well as pediatric vision. Spellicy earned his Doctor of Optometry degree from SUNY College of Optometry in New York City and his Bachelor of Science degree from Grove City College in Grove City, Pa. He has previously served as a New York state deputy examiner for licensing through the board of optometry, as well as a lecturer in visual development at SUNY Morrisville and past chairman of the healthcare advisory council for Chenango County Head Start.
ds i K Corner Hear this! Keep cotton swabs out of kids’ ears
Prior to joining Slocum-Dickson, Spellicy cared for patients at an independent practice in Central New York for over 25 years. Spellicy is a member of the American Optometric Association, the New York State Optometric Association, and the College of Optometrists in Vision Development.
SDMG names employee of quarter Slocum-Dickson Medical Group PLLC in New Hartford has named Pat Piccione employee of the second quarter of 2017. Piccione is the group’s courier and has been a valuable member of the maintenance department for nearly 12 years. “He is Piccione responsible for efficiently delivering physician hospital orders each day in a timely manner and also making pick-ups and deliveries to various businesses and offices throughout the area,” a group spokesperson said. “His duties also extend to outside maintenance work such as mowing and shoveling as needed.”
Herkimer was selected as the employee of the first quarter of 2017. Krick joined the VHS staff in May 1989. Her co-workers affirm that she has been the backbone of VHS for 35 years, taking pride in her work, and always has a smile on her face. “Sherry puts the special touch Krick on everything she does. She is a joy and blessing to work with,” one co-worker said. VHS initiated the employee of the quarter program in an attempt to recognize the outstanding performance of its employees. The winner is entitled to several perks over a three-month period.
Chronic kidney disease program set
Sherry Krick of the dietary department at Valley Health Services in
The Dialysis Center at the Mohawk Valley Health System offers an educational program for those who have been diagnosed with chronic kidney disease. The program will take place from 5:30-8 p.m. June 6 in Weaver Lounge at the Faxton Campus, 1676 Sunset Ave., Utica. Registration is required as seating is limited. Contact Cindy Christian, CKD program coordinator, at 315-624-5635 or email cchristi@ mvhealthsystem.org.
pediatric otolaryngology, in Columbus, Ohio. “The ears canals are usually self-cleaning. Using cotton tip applicators to clean the ear canal not only pushes wax closer to the ear drum, but there is a significant risk of causing minor to severe injury to the ear,” Jatana said in a hospital news release. Indeed, most of the injuries occurred while using cotton swabs to clean the ears (73 percent), the findings showed. The rest occurred while playing with cotton swabs (10 percent), or with children falling when they had cotton swabs in their ear (9 percent). The majority of injuries occurred when children were using cotton
swabs by themselves (77 percent), followed by when a parent (16 percent) or sibling (6 percent) was using a cotton swab to clean a child’s ear. About two-thirds of patients were younger than 8 — and children under 3 accounted for 40 percent of all injuries, according to the report. The most common injuries were foreign body sensation (30 percent), perforated ear drum (25 percent) and soft tissue injury (23 percent). Foreign body sensation was the most common injury among children aged 8 to 17, while perforated ear drum was the most common among those younger than 8. The study was published online May 8 in the Journal of Pediatrics.
VHS select employee of quarter
An estimated 12,500 U.S. children are injured every year after cleaning mishaps, researchers say
T
housands of kids wind up in U.S. emergency rooms every year for ear injuries caused by cotton swabs, a new study reveals. The analysis of federal data found that about 263,000 children were treated in emergency departments for ear injuries caused by cotton swabs over the 21-year period from 1990 through 2010. That works out to about 12,500
such injuries a year, or about 34 injuries a day. “The two biggest misconceptions I hear as an otolaryngologist are that the ear canals need to be cleaned in the home setting, and that cotton tip applicators should be used to clean them; both of those are incorrect,” said senior study author, physician Kris Jatana. He’s with Nationwide Children’s Hospital’s department of June 2017 •
IN GOOD HEALTH – Mohawk Valley’s Healthcare Newspaper
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CALENDAR of
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 2 community event at 2 p.m. June 1 at the Presbyterian Home, 4290 Middle Settlement Road, New Hartford, to celebrate 50 years of commitment to the Mohawk Valley. Presbyterian Home of Central New York first opened its doors to the public as an 80-bed nursing home for the senior community in 1967, and was founded on the promise of compassion and devotion for every person the organization encountered in the later years of their life. Since that time, the Presbyterian Home has grown into a multifaceted community serving more than 1,000 people per day through home care, independent living, assisted living, rehabilitation, and skilled nursing care. The community celebration is free and open to the public. RSVPs are appreciated but not required. To RSVP, contact Tom Lorenz at 315272-2214. For more information, visit www.communitywellnesspartners. org.
June 2
Get ready to ‘Knock Your Socks Off!’ The Mohawk Valley Health System’s Central New York Diabetes Education Program is offering a free “Knock Your Socks Off!” foot (podiatry) clinic for people with diabetes. The event will take place at noon June 2 at the CNY Diabetes office located on the fourth floor of the Faxton St Luke’s Campus, 1676 Sunset Ave., Utica. An area podiatrist will conduct a brief educational seminar followed by a personal foot exam. For more information or to register, call CNY Diabetes at 315-624-5620. Proper foot care is especially critical for people with diabetes because they are prone to foot problems such as a loss of feeling in their feet, changes in the shape of their feet and foot ulcers or sores that do not heal.
June 2
Annual trauma symposium on agenda The St. Elizabeth Trauma Center of the Mohawk Valley Health System and Midstate EMS will host the 31st annual Trauma Symposium on June 2 at Vernon Downs Resort and Casino in Vernon. Presentations begin at 8:30 a.m. and continue until 4 p.m. Continental breakfast and lunch are included. For more information, costs, or to register for this year’s event, visit www.mvhealthsystem.org/trauma or call 315-801-8127. Page 18
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June 4
Cancer survivors’ day observed National Cancer Survivors Day will be celebrated locally from 10:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. June 4 at Longbranch Park, Liverpool. Hematology-Oncology Associates of CNY is honoring those in the community who are living with and beyond cancer, and those who have supported them along the way. The event is free to survivors, families and guests. The celebration will feature speakers, fun activities, entertainment, door prizes and a picnic lunch. Those interested in attending should RSVP to rsvp@hoacny.com or call 315-472-7504 ext. 1312.
June 5
CNY Diabetes to hold grocery store tour On June 5, people with diabetes, pre-diabetes and their family members are invited to grocery shop with a registered dietitian and learn more about their food choices. The grocery store tour, hosted by the Mohawk Valley Health System’s Central New York Diabetes Education Program, will run from 6-8 p.m. at Hannaford Supermarket, 4593 Commercial Drive, New Hartford. Calling CNY Diabetes at 315-6245620 to register.
June 5
Open house at Valley Residential Services Valley Residential Services, 161 Valley Drive, Herkimer, an enriched housing and assisted living facility in Herkimer County, is welcoming the public to an open house from 2-4 p.m. June 5. There will be an opportunity for the public to tour the independent living apartments and meet with staff. Those interested in learning more or becoming a resident of VRS are invited to attend. Light refreshments will be provided. For more information, contact Christine Shepardson, director of community life, at 315-219-5700 ext. 3239.
June 8
Laryngectomy support group to meet The Laryngectomy Support Group will hold its monthly meeting at noon June 8 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.
June 8-9
Navigate through your grief The Good News Center is hosting a day-and-a-half-long conference called, “Navigating Through Grief: Help, Hope and Healing.” It will be held from 12:30-5:15 p.m. June 8 and from 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. June 9 at the Radisson Hotel, Utica. For more information, contact Melissa Kehler at 315-749-4056, email melissa@thegoodnewscenter.org or visit www.thegoodnewscenter.org.
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. 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.
June 19
Rome Hospital Foundation sets dates
The Mohawk Valley Health System’s Cancer Center’s monthly support forum for patients and cancer survivors will be held at 6 p.m. June 12. 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.
Rome Hospital Foundation will hold three fundraising events this year as part of its continued effort to support the mission of Rome Memorial Hospital. — Kicking off the 2017 event series on June 19 at Teugega Country Club is Rome Hospital Foundation’s Annual Golf Classic. Registration and lunch begin at 10:30 a.m. A day of 18 holes of golf will begin with a shotgun start at noon. — In the fall, the seventh annual Brew Ha Ha craft beer tasting will take place at Woods Valley Ski Area in Rome. The event will be held from 4-8 p.m. Sept. 23. The Brew Ha Ha features more than 50 types of craft beer and wine for attendees to sample. — The annual gala is Rome Hospital Foundation’s cornerstone fundraising event and will be held from 6-11 p.m. Nov. 11 at Turning Stone Resort & Casino in Verona. For more information, contact Rome Hospital Foundation at 315-338-7181 or email foundation@ romehospital.org.
June 12
June 21
June 12
Support forum for patients, cancer survivors
Support group to meet at RMH The brain aneurysm, AVM (arteriovenous malformation) and stroke support group will meet from 5:30-7 June 12 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@JoeNiekroFoundation.org.
June 19
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. June 19 in the second floor classroom at Rome Memorial Hospital. The group meets the third Monday of each month and is free and
IN GOOD HEALTH – Mohawk Valley’s Healthcare Newspaper • June 2017
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 June 21. 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. VHS is located at 690 W. German St., Herkimer. Questions may be directed to Tammi King, infection control nurse, at 866-3330, ext. 2308.
Story idea? Call 749-7070
Pauline’s Pieces
By Pauline DiGiorgio
Be a HIIT at your gym! W
MV’S HEALTHCARE NEWSPAPER
EMPLOYMENT Advertise your health-related services or products and reach your potential customers throughout the Mohawk Valley for as little as $90 a month. Call 749-7070 for more info.
High-intensity interval training will have that weight melting off your body hen it comes to a common goal for fat loss, both men and women can agree on breaking the code to the best possible way of achieving it in the least amount of time. You can look around your gym and you’ll see both genders killing an hour on a cardio machine to get those extra pounds off. But what if I were to tell you there is a more time efficient way to blast more calories, up your endurance and be DiGiorgio out of the gym in 20 minutes tops! Read on to learn more on “Hitting it Right.” Let’s start off by stating what the HIIT acronym stands for — high-intensity interval training. A simple way to explain this is shifting between periods of intense activity that elevates your heart rate such as sprints to an “active rest,” an example of which would be marching in place. If you’re not a gym “newbie,” this type of training isn’t a foreign term to you. But recent research shows the fat-melting magic of HIIT isn’t typically done as effectively as it could be. Improper technique such as not resting during your “active rest” long enough makes those spikes of heart rate more like soft waves and reduces the effect of the workout. Not only does it “dull” the effects, it can create sloppy form that makes you more prone to injury. I’m here to give you a couple of my favorite easy-to-follow HIIT routines that fight any cardio boredom and gives you the lean, toned look you strive for! — First, always start with a warm up before you jump right in. My go-tos are air squats because they use the larger muscles (legs) and then standing band rows or light dumb bells to open up the chest, back and work those arms. — Then grab a timer or stopwatch. The first HIIT sequence will be with a cardio machine you may not be used to — the stair stepper.
Health in good
You will start for 30 seconds at an easy, moderate level, then follow with a challenging 30 seconds of step-ups. To start, place your entire right foot onto the bench or chair. Press through your right heel as you step onto the bench, bringing your left foot to meet your right so you are standing on the bench. Return to the starting position by stepping down with the right foot and then the left so both feet are on the floor. Lunge forward and focus using the back of your leg while keeping your core up and steady. I really love this type of HIIT versus typical sprinting because your able to work your mid section simultaneously. Complete 10 rounds and make sure to push yourself to the point where you are out of breath by the end of the 30 seconds, and then recover. — The second highly effective HIIT session will be the dumbbell pop up (use a 20-to-30 pound dumbbell), kettle bell or dumb bell. You’ll start your timer to 30 seconds of “goblet style” squats. Stand with your feet shoulder-width apart while letting the weight sink you into a squat position, leaning back on your heels. Then power up and thrust forward with your hips while tightening those gluts and hamstrings. When the 30 seconds are through, switch to weightless slow air squats. Repeat and do 10 rounds. So now that you have two new super moves to add to your exercise tool box, you’re probably wondering how many times a week you should incorporate this to start seeing results. Studies recommend about three times a week on non-consecutive days, switching it up with strength training workouts with weights. I promise adding these quick, sweaty bits into your new healthy fitness lifestyle makes a world of difference without taking up more time than putting away the dreaded laundry pile back at home! • Pauline DiGiorgio is a fitness ambassador and Group X instructor at Retro Fitness gyms. Questions? Email her at ptlifts@gmail.com.
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Shift work may put damper on man’s sex life
M
ale shift workers listen up: Two new studies link sleep disorders common in these men to urinary problems and erectile dysfunction. And a third report links the repercussions of shift work to lower-quality semen, which could make it harder for men to father children. The research doesn’t prove that shift work and its accompanying sleep issues cause these problems. However, “men who work shifts, particularly night shifts, should be aware they may be at risk for many health issues, and should be sure to seek care from a physician to help prevent and treat these conditions,” said physician Alex Pastuszak, co-au-
June 2017 •
thor of the three studies. Pastuszak is an assistant professor with the Center for Reproductive Medicine at Baylor College of Medicine in Houston. For the studies, researchers sought to better understand the role of “shift work,” which requires workers to be on the job outside of traditional daytime hours. “We know that shift work can disrupt circadian rhythms and disrupt normal hormonal function,” Pastuszak said. “Shift work can also put people at risk for shift-work sleep disorder, which causes insomnia or excessive sleepiness and a reduction of total sleep time due to a work schedule.”
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For me it’s personal! Upstate legacies: lifesaving and life-changing In 1993, my son David was on top of the world! He had graduated from a prestigious culinary institution and was building his reputation as an executive chef. Then David suffered a career-ending and life-altering spinal injury in a skiing accident. After months of outstanding care and physical therapy David is able to live an independent and productive life, BUT that’s not all! today, groundbreaking research is taking place at Upstate Medical University that we hope will one day restore all of David’s functions and reverse spinal cord injuries for thousands of others in Central New York and beyond. Through The Upstate Foundation, I have established A New Beginning Fund for spinal cord research, and I have remembered Upstate with an estate gift to fund this research and benefit many in our community for years to come.
I invite you to join me in creating a legacy gift through your will or financial plans. Together we can do great things for Central New York. Ruth Schwartz Charitable Giving Planner, The Upstate Foundation
it’s also personal for you since every Upstate legacy dollar stays right here in Central New York to help assure happy, healthy and longer lives for your loved ones, friends and neighbors.
For free and confidential information on how to make a low cost, high impact legacy gift contact, or have your professional advisor contact, John Gleason at 315-464-4416 or email us today at FDN@Upstate.edu Our legal name is THE UPSTATE FOUNDATION INC. Page 20
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IN GOOD HEALTH – Mohawk Valley’s Healthcare Newspaper • June 2017
www.UpstateFoundation.org