in good November 2014 • Issue 105
Get in touch with self See Page 12
Mohawk Valley’s Healthcare Newspaper
Give Thanks
Are hospital mergers a good thing?
Being grateful leads to positive health consequences See Page 3
Check out George Chapman’s column, Page 14
Lessen diabetes risk with proper diet See Page 9
free
Golden Years Special Edition
Her head is in the clouds See Page 5 Rutabaga rocks with nutrition
Find out why rutabaga is the star of this month’s SmartBites column.
Ready to become a nonagenarian? See Page 7
Toxic relationship Your body is being besieged by poisons. See Page 11
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. Mondays
Women’s support group to get together A women’s support/therapy group is meeting weekly from 5:30-7 on Mondays. Groups will be held in a confidential location in New Hartford and group size will be limited to protect anonymity. Topics of discussion may include family issues, stress, anger, relationships, grief, and more. Clinical therapist Cynthia Davis, who has over 20 years of experience, will lead the group. To pre-register, contact Davis at 315-736-1231, 315-794-2454 or email cindycsw@yahoo.com
Tuesdays
Support for the grief stricken
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Grief Survivors meets from 6-7:30 p.m. every Tuesday at The Good News Center, 10475 Cosby Manor Road, Utica. Drop-ins are welcome. This is a faith-based support group for those suffering the loss of a loved one. For more information, contact Tanya at 315-735-6210, tanya@thegoodnewscenter.org or visit online at www. thegoodnewscenter.org.
Wednesdays/Thursdays
Overeaters Anonymous plans meetings
Quality Cancer Care: Recognizing Excellence
The only CNY Cancer Practice that is certified for quality by the American Society of Clinical Oncology
Is food a problem for you? Do you eat when you’re not hungry? Do you binge, purge or restrict? Is your weight affecting your life? Overeaters Anonymous meets from 5:30-6:30 p.m. every Wednesday in Room 101 (first floor) at Rome Memorial Hospital, 1500 James St., 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, weigh-ins or diets. For more information, call OA at 315-468-1588 or visit oa.org.
Nov. 2
Separated? Divorced? There is support
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The Separated & Divorced Support Group will meet from 5-6:30 p.m. Nov. 2 at The Good News Center, 10475 Cosby Manor Road, Utica. The group meets every other Sunday. The meetings are free and open to all. For more information, contact
IN GOOD HEALTH – Mohawk Valley’s Healthcare Newspaper • November 2014
Judy at 315-735-6210, judy@thegoodnewscenter.org or visit www.thegoodnewscenter.org.
Nov. 2
Ready to explore The Third Option? The Third Option support group for married couples will meet from 6:30-8:30 p.m. Nov. 2 at The Good News Center, 10475 Cosby Manor Road, Utica. The group meets every other Sunday. For more information, contact Tanya at 315-735-6210, tanya@TheGoodNewsCenter.org or visit www. thegoodnewscenter.org.
Nov. 5
FSLH Stroke Support Group to meet Faxton St. Luke’s Healthcare will host a free stroke support group presentation at 6 p.m. Nov. 5 in the Soggs Room at St. Luke’s Home in the Center for Rehabilitation and Continuing Care Services, 1650 Champlin Ave., Utica. Kevin Hoehn, pharmacy clinical coordinator at FSLH, will discuss what constitutes the flu season as well as various strategies to maintain one’s health during the fall and winter months. For more information or to RSVP, call 315-624-6847.
Nov. 6
Freelance cartoonist to be featured The Good News Luncheon Series will present “Divine Comedy with Dan Reynolds” at 11 a.m. and 6:00 p.m. Nov. 6 at The Good News Center, 10475 Cosby Manor Road, Utica. Reynolds is a professional freelance cartoonist whose work has been featured on greeting cards, TV shows and in various magazines over the past 24 years. Those interested can choose either the 11 a.m. show with lunch or the 6 p.m. show with hors d’oeuvres. The cost is $15 per person. Contact Tanya at 315-735-6210 ext. 234, Tanya@TheGoodNewsCenter.org or visit www.thegoodnewscenter.org.
Nov. 6
Wound care topic of Health Night Advanced treatments for hard-toheal wounds will be the topic at Rome Memorial Hospital’s free Health Night
Continued on Page 18
The Balanced Body
Link between gratitude, health
By Deb Dittner
of a person, place or thing that you are grateful for and hold that thought.
— Keep grateful company. Notice who you spend time with and keep the company of those who are grateful. — Thank you notes. Remember as a child writing thank you notes to those who gave you a holiday gift?
Bring that tradition back or start a new one where you hand-deliver it. • Deborah Dittner is a family nurse practitioner specializing in Reiki and holistic nutrition. Visit her at www.The-Balanced-Body.com.
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s the holidays approach, I think about all the wonderful things in my life for which I am truly thankful. I am thankful for having the best children on the planet who have all grown to be productive, responsible and empowered in what they do. I am thankful for my friends both near and far as we share our lives together. I am thankful for my two “furry” children as they are always beside me providing me with love, warmth and happiness. I am thankful for the harvest from my garden that will provide for me into the cold months of winter. I am thankful for the Dittner completion of my first book soon to be launched. I am thankful for my yoga friends. I am thankful for my health as that is the key factor in appreciating everything else in my life. Thank you. Giving thanks is a politeness that we learn as a child. As we grow, giving thanks becomes so much more. Recent studies show there are numerous benefits of giving thanks: • May reduce stress • Improve sleep • Complete relationships • Bring more joy • Create a deeper sense of spirituality • Boost your immune system • Decrease the risk of cardiovascular disease • Live a longer life Gratitude brings positive emotions into our lives. It’s a practice that produces a bond or relationship between everyone that we are in contact with. Taking the time to give thanks strengthens our daily lives. To help you toward a daily practice of gratitude, you can follow these simple steps: — Keep a gratitude journal. Upon retiring for the night, write down three to five things that you are grateful for this day. — Slow down and be mindful. By slowing down, you will notice more things to be grateful for. — Share. Take five minutes during your evening meal or at the end of each day and share some positives from your day. — Change directions. View the world in a positive light focusing on what has gone well in your day and all that you do have. — Practice kindness. When you give to others without restriction, you provide happiness in ways that money can’t buy. — Visualize. Take a mental picture November 2014 •
IN GOOD HEALTH – Mohawk Valley’s Healthcare Newspaper
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News in Brief Regional Dialysis Center to present program The Regional Dialysis Center at Faxton St. Luke’s Healthcare will offer an educational program for those who have been diagnosed with chronic kidney disease. The program will take place from 6-8:30 p.m. Nov. 11 in Weaver Lounge at the Faxton Campus, 1676 Sunset Ave., Utica. According to the National Kidney Foundation, 26 million Americans have CKD and millions of others are at risk for developing the disease. Registration is required as seating is limited. Contact Cindy Christian, CKD program coordinator, at 315-6245635 or cchristi@mvnhealth.com.
‘Gallery of Expression’ to feature UCP artists “Gallery of Expression,” an art exhibit and sale featuring works from Upstate Cerebral Palsy artists, will take place from 5:30-8:30 p.m. Nov. 21 at The Stanley Theater, 259 Genesee St., Utica. This event is free and open to the public. Register by calling 724-6907 ext. 2278 or email susan.macrina@upstatecp.org.
Fall bazaar on LutheranCare agenda LutheranCare ActiveDay’s annual fall bazaar is set from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Nov. 14 at the Community Room in the Martin Luther building at LutheranCare, Route 12B, Clinton. The event will feature a variety of arts and crafts, floral arrangements, glassware and much more and serves as a venue for early holiday gift shopping. Lunch is also available from 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. at a cost of $5. The event is open to the public. Proceeds from the event will benefit the participants in the ActiveDay social model adult program at LutheranCare. For more information on this and other events at LutheranCare, contact Karen Ostinett, director of development, at 315-235-7104.
Separated? Divorced? There is hope The Separated & Divorced support group will present “Surviving the Holidays!” from 5-6:30 p.m. Nov. 16 at The Good News Center, 10475 Cosby Manor Road, Utica. For more information, contact Tanya at 315-735-6210 ext. 234, Tanya@TheGoodNewsCenter.org or visit www.TheGoodNewsCenter.org.
Women at the Well to gather Women at the Well will meet from 6:30–8 p.m. Nov. 25 at The Good News Center, 10475 Cosby Manor Road, Utica. The faith-based group meets on the last Tuesday of each month. Dropins are welcome. For more information, contact Tanya at 315-735-6210, tanya@TheGoodNewsCenter.org or visit www. TheGoodNewsCenter.org. Page 4
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Meet
Your Doctor
By Patricia J. Malin
Dr. Emir Hodzic
Emir Hodzic, who has ties to the Utica area, joined the staff as a family medicine physician at St. Elizabeth Medical Group’s Town of Webb Health Care Center in Old Forge recently. He was born in Bosnia, but he has lived in the Utica community for many years and has worked with Bosnian refugees. He recently spoke with Mohawk Valley In Good Health senior correspondent Patricia J. Malin about his career. Q.: All your clinical training occurred in Brooklyn, but your first practice comes in a tiny town in the Adirondacks. Was there a culture shock? A.: This town is quite tourist oriented, so there is not as much culture shock as one would think. On the other hand, Brooklyn is unbelievably much more fast-paced than the Adirondacks. Sometimes it would feel as if there was not enough time to catch my breath because there was so much that had to be done and not enough time to do it all on time. The Adirondacks have a more relaxed feel and doing the same amount of work does not feel as stressful as it would in a big city. Q.: Do you want to continue practice in Central New York or would you like to also deal with patients in a bigcity environment? A.: I definitely would like to continue to practice in Central New York. However, I’m not so sure if I would like to practice in a big city. Q.: What prompted you to become a doctor? A.: Becoming a doctor was my childhood ambition. I do not know what actually started it, but it is as if I knew all along that I would become a doctor and that is what I pursued. At any point during my education, I considered pursuing other things, thinking that medicine might not be a good fit for me. Q.: You had clinical training in many areas, including psychiatry, pediatrics and obstetrics/gynecology. What do you enjoy about family practice? Would you consider specializing in one field in the future? A.: I like family medicine because it encompasses every field, which allows for a greater variety of cases and in turn leads to a less monotonous day’s practice. Q.: What is the most challenging aspect of your job? A.: The most challenging aspect of my job would be achieving better compliance with my patients when it comes to treating certain medical conditions, especially preventive care. Q.: What is the most fulfilling aspect of your job? A.: It would be seeing my patients get better and show improvements in the long term.
Q.: What are the newest developments in family medicine? A.: Having the family medicine field being recognized on a global level and having other countries implement training for their physicians has been a very exciting development for my profession. Q.: How do you keep up with the latest research and developments in healthcare? A.: There is a constant need to keep up to date with healthcare-based magazines and healthcare-based websites that contain the most current guidelines. Q.: What challenges do you foresee in the future regarding healthcare?
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IN GOOD HEALTH – Mohawk Valley’s Healthcare Newspaper • November 2014
A.: It is hard to tell what additional challenges may be present in the future, but minimizing healthcare costs will be a challenge that will always remain. Q.: What suggestions do you have to improve your specialty in the future? Is it possible for a doctor at the local level to make changes in healthcare or is it best left to fulltime researchers working at universities or private labs? A.: This is the era of giants where big universities and research facilities tend to steer healthcare without giving local physicians much voice. This is ironic because local physicians and universities have the most face time with patients and research facilities seem to be far removed from face-to-face experience. So how is it that we can get accurate input if these facilities that make decisions have no means of getting appropriate feedback from the patients? Q.: What do you do to relax from a stressful job? A. Ride my bicycle, kayak, walk and run depending on the season. Doing these activities right after a stressful event gets rid of all of my frustration and allows me to gather myself and achieve better clarity of thought and different perspectives on the situation that caused the stress. This time allows me to reflect back on the event.
Lifelines Age: 32 Birthplace: Sarajevo (Bosnia) Residence: Utica Education: Bachelor’s degree, Utica College, 2003; medical degree, St. George’s University School of Medicine, Grenada, West Indies, 2009 Hobbies: Gardening, reading, running, car repairs, welding, volunteer at refugee center
Golden Years
Sky’s the Limit Clinton senior doesn’t let age get in way of fun ent. “He wanted me to check it out with my doctor first,” she explained, “and to remember that I have osteos with most seniors, Julie Arnold’s 80th birthday was des- porosis. He was worried about what would happen to me when I landed.” tined to be a special occasion. But other Nevertheoctogenarians, less, Arnold including one told her family by the name of to forego the President George birthday cake H.W. Bush had and party. She successfully was determined taken up the not to spend the activity and day, Sept. 24, in drew worldwide her room at the attention and Lutheran Home plaudits. in Clinton. “It’s not She simply really considered wanted to go skydiving,” Arskydiving. nold noted. The Despite participants are what appeared safely secured at first glance by harness to to be an outraan able-bodied geous request, guide who also Arnold said her Julie Arnold of Clinton celebrated her 80th takes a video daughter, Cathy birthday recently in high style by skydiving footage of the Mantor of Sherfrom about 11,000 feet. She did a tandem jump precious morill, did agree to with chief instructor Jeff Whitt of Sky Dive of ments. buy the skydivSo on the ing adventure as Central New York in Weedsport. morning of Sept. a gift. Her son, 24, Arnold and her daughter went to James Mantor, who lives in Washingthe skydiving center. The participants ton State, however, expressed doubts viewed two videos with instructions. about the activity. “They told us the bad things that So there was Arnold on a gorgeous could happen,” Arnold joked. “But I late summer day, freefalling out of wasn’t scared. My daughter said she a plane over the Finger Lakes. Who was too scared to watch me, so she could ask for more? Arnold described the experience as went up in the plane with me and decided to jump as well. They showed us thrilling, although too fleeting. how to curl up in a ball when we jump “You can’t top this on your birthout of the plane. Then they showed us day,” she exclaimed. a second video of people skydiving.” “I had checked out this compaThen the worthy — albeit nervous ny (Sky Dive of Central New York in — mother-daughter team walked to Weedsport) online and it was rated four stars,” related Arnold while sitting the tarmac and boarded the private plane. Still, no one turned around and comfortably on a patio at the Lutheran ran away, too frightened to attempt it. Home. “I read the expert testimonials “The plane takes us up two miles from other first timers. And I had talked to different people who went hot air (11,000 feet) and we jump out,” Arnold related calmly. “We were falling ballooning.” at about 130 miles per hour and it She admitted her son had some took only seven minutes to reach the reservations about her birthday pres-
By Patricia J. Malin
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ground. I was hoping it wouldn’t end.” Arnold reassured her children beforehand that she knew what she was doing. It wasn’t like Mom wasn’t always a little bit on the adventurous side. “I had traveled to China, Brazil and Russia with my husband Edgar, and we had taken a lot of cruises,” she said. But for many years, Arnold was a homebody. She grew up in Sherrill and worked at nearby Oneida Limited cutlery for decades, most recently 1973-90, in between raising her family. Her athletic pursuits then were limited to rounds of golf, often with the Oneida Limited team. After her husband passed away three years ago, Arnold moved from Sherrill to The Lutheran Home. The decidedly sociable Arnold soon became a volunteer in the gift shop. She maintains her conditioning by attending exercise classes at Sitrin Rehabilitation in New Hartford, and she tries to take daily walks around The Lutheran Home grounds. In addition, she finds time to travel with her daughter to visit Arnold’s brother in Florida. “I keep busy,” she comments. She has become somewhat of a celebrity on the campus and spreads her enthusiasm with the other Lutheran Home residents. She is now thinking about
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adding zip lining to her bucket list. That’s an activity in which a person is harnessed to a rope, almost like a clothesline, and swings from one platform to another while hanging above the ground. But she said the sensation of free-falling was an unforgettable birthday present. “I’d love to do it again,”
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Golden Years
All in the family
Recorded family health histories raise awareness By Mary Christopher
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aking proactive measures to maintain good health and being more aware of the medical conditions and illnesses that run in the family are becoming common among Americans. In fact, this year marks the 10th anniversary of Thanksgiving being designated as National Family History Day by the Surgeon General. Over the holiday, or at other times when the family gathers, Americans are encouraged to talk about and write down the health issues that have appeared in a family. Knowledge of diseases and conditions that occur within a family may help ensure a longer, healthier future
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together, according to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services website. All adults are encouraged to know — and overall are becoming increasingly mindful — of their family medical history. A written family health history is like a family tree for health. Information should include relatives’ medical conditions, at what age they were diagnosed, lifestyle and age of death. This makes a person Anweiler aware if they face an increased risk for developing serious health problems. A recent HHS survey found that 96 percent of Americans believe knowing their family health history is important, but only one-third of them had ever tried to gather and write down specific details, according to the HHS website.
Taking charge of your health
Knowing what medical conditions
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and illnesses run in a family is a powerful screening tool for health providers and a must for those wanting to take a proactive approach to maintaining their health. “People want to be more preventive,” said Lisa Anweiler, an adult nurse practitioner at St. Luke’s Home in Utica. “They exercise and diet more and stay on top of blood work and their blood pressure.” She has worked with patients who keep journals detailing their own health and other relatives as a reference and to pass information to other kin when needed. A patient’s family health history is usually documented by a physician and kept in their records. This is a key indicator of what chronic diseases and conditions a provider should screen for. Cancer, heart disease, diabetes, hypertension, cholesterol and stroke are the most commonly screened illnesses, Anweiler said. People can’t change the genes they inherit, but they can change things such as diet, physical activity and medical care to try and prevent diseases that could be hereditary. Many illnesses result from combinations in genetics, lifestyle and environment and staying on top of what you can help prevent is key in keeping good health. Anweiler, who also teaches a nursing class at SUNY Polytechnic Institute in Utica, said she requires her students to complete a genogram, a
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pictorial display of a person’s family relationships and medical history. This is helpful in determining patterns of disease or illness within a family. Websites, such as https://familyhistory.hhs.gov/fhh-web/home.action and http://nihseniorhealth.gov/ allow users to create and organize their own family health histories by filling in information for each relative. That information is then transferred into a genogram format. When gathering information, a person should go back at least three generations of first-degree relatives and find out: • What countries they were born in (some genetic diseases occur more often in certain population or ethnic groups) • Where they lived geographically after birth (different diets and living environments can influence the risk of developing certain diseases) • What kind of lifestyle/occupation they had • Illnesses and health conditions and at what age they were diagnosed • Age and cause of death Because health records are private, there are no databases or resources that would allow someone to look up another person’s medical history. Those who don’t have any record of family health conditions or are adopted and have no way of tracing relatives’ should be diligent with screening and, of course, “include a healthy diet and exercise,” Anweiler said.
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Golden Years
Nonagenarians Want to live over 90? Here are some surprising revelations By Barbara Pierce
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landmark study of seniors who lived past the age of 90 provides helpful suggestions for us all on how to lead a longer, happier and healthier life. People 90 and over are the fastest-growing segment of the United States population. Little is known about people who achieve this milestone, so this study of 16,000 residents of a large retirement community in Orange County, Calif. provides answers to the questions of what allows people to live to age 90 and beyond. As reported on “60 Minutes” and in several scientific journals, The 90+ Study is one of the largest studies of the oldest of the old in the world. Researchers at the University of California found a gold mine when they discovered that residents of the community once known as Leisure World had filled out detailed questionnaires when they moved into the community back in the 1980s. They were able to follow up on who had died and when and who was still alive and over 90. They located and signed up 1,600 of the 90-plussers, as they call them, many who still live in the same community. Each is examined physically and cognitively every six months. Some of the findings are no surprise: Smoking led to shorter life spans. And, those who exercised lived longer — as little as 15 minutes a day on average made a difference. Keeping active in non-physical ways, such as socializing, playing board games and attending book clubs, also was associated with longer life. “For every hour you spent doing activities in 1981, you increased your longevity, and the benefit of those things never leveled off,” researcher Claudia Kawas told “60 Minutes.” Overall, if you lead an active, extroverted life and are something of a thrill seeker, you might be genetically primed to live into your 90s or longer, according to the study.
Other researchers have found similar outcomes. It’s as simple as this: if you are more engaged in physical and intellectual activities as you age, this is a good predictor of adding more years to your life. Other findings were unexpected. Vitamins did not prolong life. Diet didn’t seem to matter. The seniors over 90 didn’t appear to watch what they ate; they seemed to love dessert.
Extra weight an advantage
One surprise: The best thing you can do as you age is gain weight. Carrying extra weight does prolong life. People who were overweight in their 70s lived longer than normal or underweight persons. “It’s not good to be skinny when you’re old,” Kawas said. Another surprising finding: Moderate alcohol intake positively affected longevity; people who drank up to two drinks per day lived 10 to 15 percent longer compared to non-drinkers. It didn’t matter whether they drank red wine, beer or hard liquor; people who drank moderately lived longer. Tee totaling is not a healthy practice, it appears. Those who regularly drank coffee lived longer. Another unexpected outcome was that low blood pressure doesn’t seem to help the elderly. High blood pres-
sure in a 90-year-old seems to ward off dementia. One of the biggest surprises of the study is nearly half of the time, what was dementia and seemed to be Alzheimer’s disease in people over 90 actually was not Alzheimer’s. It was another form of dementia. The researchers learned this by studying the brains of the subjects after death. Many showed evidence of microscopic strokes, strokes the victims were not even aware they were having. They haven’t yet figured out what caused the small strokes so can’t say how to prevent them. But they did say they could be related to low blood pressure. What is also notable is that, for others, though an autopsy showed their brain had changes that should result in cognitive losses, they had not demonstrated any symptoms of cognitive decline or dementia. Apparently they had cognitive reserves that protected them against showing any symptoms of cognitive losses. Though the study did not include romance and sex, some participants said they definitely believed part of the secret to their longevity was maintaining affection, romance and an active sex life. To lead the kind of physically and mentally active life that the study found leads to a longer life, consider volunteering. “We can help you find a volunteer position,” said Kari Johnson, director of volunteer services at Parkway Senior Center in Utica. “We’ll match you with a local agency.” Contact Johnson at Mohawk Valley Regional Volunteer Center of the Parkway Senior Center at 315-223-3973, or see www.mohawkvalleyvolunteers.org. Seniors in the Mohawk Valley have many opportunities to keep their brains and bodies challenged and active through continuing education. Mohawk Valley Institute for Learning in Retirement at SUNY IT is a special learning community to meet the educational needs and interests of retired persons.
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Diabetes
Are you at risk for diabetes? A simple test can give you the answer with a finger stick that gives immediate results. Anything over 140 two hours after you last ate is too high, and could indicate pre-diabetes.
By Barbara Pierce
O
ne in three of us are at high risk of developing diabetes, and most of us don’t know it, say the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Diabetes is a common disease. “We have a very large number of people with diabetes in this area,” said Dr. Joseph Booth of Deerfield Family Practice in Utica. “We see many patients with diabetes in our practice.” Diabetes means your body can’t produce glucose. What’s the big deal about that? It’s very dangerous, as excess glucose builds up in your body and causes high blood sugar. Long periods of high blood sugar cause very serious problems, like kidney disease that can ruin the way your kidneys work and you end up on dialysis, eye problems that cause blindness, nerve problems that can affect your ability to walk, heart problems, dental problems, stroke, and death. If you are at risk of having diabetes, you will not have symptoms. You will not have a clue. But your body, especially the heart and circulatory system, may already be suffering longterm damage. The good news is that you can find out if you are at risk of having diabetes. And, if so, you can reverse your risk.
Are you at risk?
“It’s easy, quick and inexpensive to do the test to determine if a person is at risk of developing diabetes,” said Booth. The test, called hemoglobin A1c, reflects your average blood sugar level over the past two to three months.
Who should get tested?
Booth identifies the following risk factors for pre-diabetes: • Obesity • Inactive lifestyle • High-carb diet • Family history of diabetes • Family history of coronary artery disease • High blood pressure • High cholesterol If you are diagnosed as pre-diabetic, or have any of the risk factors, it is recommended you get tested every six months.
Symptoms of diabetes
A normal A1c is in the high 4’s and low 5’s, explained Booth. A level of 5.5 to 6.5 indicates a pre-diabetic condition; over 6.5 indicates diabetes. To get the diagnosis that you are pre-diabetic indicates you have a serious condition, yet it does indicate that there is still time to do something to prevent it from developing into full-blown diabetes.
What if you are at risk?
If you are found to be pre-diabetic, the first things you should do are start exercising and watching your diet, recommended Booth. Start exercising, 45 minutes every other day, and focus on eating complex carbohydrates rather than high-carbohydrate foods. “This is life changing,” Booth added.
“It corrects the underlying defect in a natural way.” In fact, increasing exercise and limiting high-carb foods can control your A1c for at least 20 years. However, if a person who is diagnosed as pre-diabetic does exercise and watch his diet, and his A1c is still too high, then Booth will consider medication to control blood sugar levels. Booth’s first choice is Metformin, which controls blood sugar and helps with weight loss. Also, a random blood sugar test can be helpful to show your blood sugar at that time. To be accurate, it should be done at least two hours after you have eaten. It is easy to do
Cyber Doc
Online website provides virtual healthcare By Melissa Stinger
T
he younger generation today may find it hard to believe the only place available for information on drugs, illness or suggestions on what to take for a cold would be through the local pharmacist. A few generations ago, drug stores were the place to go for answers regarding your health or medications. The pharmacist was more than a pill pusher; he or she knew all there was to know about colds, major illnesses and how to supply you secretly with condoms without anyone seeing the transaction. The pharmacist still exists today, but due to modern technology, getting answers about your symptoms on a website is right at your fingertips. Drugs.com is a major website that offers premium knowledge in the medical/pharmaceutical industry.
What is this pill I found?
Drugs.com originally started as a Page 8
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website where an individual could look up any pill and get all its information. The website is easy to navigate while learning everything known about the drug. Not only will you have a name and proper dosage of the medicine, it also provides you with a list of other medications the pill could have adverse reactions to. Drugs.com will ask about the pill — such as numbers engraved or the shape and color —then a list instantly pops up providing the user with options for the pill identity. Inputting information will provide accurate information on over 23,000 medications. Not only does this reassure the user of the correct medication, but it also allows you to monitor old or outdated prescriptions. Drugs.com offers additional services, too: • Symptom checker: The symptom checker helps the individual understand any medical concerns he or she may be having, as well as assisting in making decisions about overall health.
IN GOOD HEALTH – Mohawk Valley’s Healthcare Newspaper • November 2014
• Interactions checker: By inputting your prescriptions, you get an accurate list of all medications, foods or other substances that may cause mild to severe interactions with the medication you are taking. Be sure to bring this list to your physician so that he or she can monitor or change any medications that require immediate attention.
Updated news
Healthcare news is available 24 hours a day, and often updated. There are also question-and-answer forums where people can write to a medical professional while seeking answers to their questions. Links to other helpful apps are available along with a place to write notes, reminding the user of things such as when a prescription is due for a refill. Drugs.com is a one-stop shop for when you need answers to just about any medically related topic that may arise in your life.
Though pre-diabetes has no symptoms, diabetes does. Early symptoms of Type 2 diabetes can be subtle or seemingly harmless: • Excessive thirst and increased urination as your kidneys as working • Fatigue as your body is not getting the proper use of sugar for energy • Weight loss and constant hunger • Blurred vision • Slow-healing sores or frequent infections • Tingling hands and feet • Red, swollen, tender gums If you have any risk factors for pre-diabetes or symptoms of diabetes, the test is easy and inexpensive. The earlier you are diagnosed, the sooner you can begin to lower blood sugar. Diabetes and pre-diabetes are serious conditions, but can be managed.
Diabetes
Control your fate
Diet, exercise vital in staving off diseases such as diabetes By Kristen Raab
T
ype 2 diabetes is the most common form of diabetes, but we can reduce our risk of getting it. Moreover, reducing your risk for diabetes may also reduce your risk for other diseases such as heart disease and cancer. Healthy food choices, a healthy weight and getting active are great starting points for anyone hoping to reduce the risk of serious conditions. What should you eat? Picking whole grains over processed, refined grains and increasing servings of fruits and vegetables are great changes to make. Also, aim to eat lower-fat meat and dairy products. While there are many foods that are part of a healthy diet, the ones highlighted below offer easy ways to incorporate healthful options into our busy lives.
Berries and other fruit
Full of fiber, vitamins and antioxidants, berries are a great choice for a healthy snack. Some people might worry about the sugar that fruits contain, but it is “not comparable to what’s in a candy bar.” Pat Salzer, registered dietitian and health and wellness consultant with Excellus BlueCross BlueShield, notes the difference between the sugar in an apple and the amount in an apple pastry. “The pastry also has added calories and fat,” she said. The amount of sugar in an apple will not be damaging to your health.
Cheese
It may be surprising to hear you can eat cheese and be healthy. Like most things in life, consuming cheese must be done in moderation. Cheese has protein and fat, so it keeps you satisfied. Salzer suggests a snack of an apple and an ounce of cheese to prevent hunger until the next mealtime. A great perk is that “it helps with your willpower, so you’re not looking for sweets,” she noted.
Eggs
“Eggs are part of a healthy diet in moderation. An egg a day is OK,” Salzer said. “Benefits include the quality
of the protein and reasonable cost. Eggs are an “economical and nutritional bargain,” and their versatility makes them a great dining option, she added.
Fish
High-fat fish is “heart healthy” when those fats are naturally present in the fish such as salmon. Fish fries are a local staple, but those dishes are frequently unhealthy. They are breaded haddock that is deep-fried. Choose healthier fish and bake, broil or grill it for the healthiest outcome.
Avocados
Avocados contain mono-saturated fats. It is healthy to have avocado every day, but keep your serving size to about 50 calories (a fifth of an avocado). Try avocado on a sandwich instead of using mayonnaise, slice for salad, or mash into a creamy guacamole. It will help you stay satisfied while providing plenty of nutrients.
Olive oil
Olive oil also contains heart-healthy fats. It should be consumed in moderation. Drizzle a bit on vegetables or your salad. Make sure that salad includes bright leafy greens and tomatoes, and you are well on your way to a nutritious meal. Consuming these foods will contribute to disease prevention, but your overall diet should be healthy to reap the greatest benefits. Losing excess weight is an important part of regaining your health. Being overweight puts you at a high risk for many diseases including diabetes. The American Diabetes Association recommends losing about 7 percent of one’s body weight. This means someone who is 200 pounds would aim to lose about 14 pounds. Whether you need to lose weight or just want to add additional movement into your life, the tips below will get you started.
Exercise
The easiest step we can take toward better health is to avoid sitting too long. “We stop burning fat while we sit,” Salzer said. “Therefore, even if you work out, sitting all day long negates some of
those positive effects.” Some easy changes to boost movement include: — Choose restrooms, copy machines and parking spots that force you to walk a greater distance. — Stand whenever it is possible, such as when you are on a conference call. — Take walking breaks rather than coffee breaks. If you need the coffee, take the long way back to the office as time allows. — For small groups, consider holding a walking meeting. — Be inefficient. Make several trips with laundry and groceries to incorporate more movement into your daily activities.
— During your favorite TV show, do stretches, lunges, hand weights, or walk in place during commercials. Salzer said, “You still enjoy your favorite TV show, but you also incorporate activity.” — Household chores such as raking leaves and cleaning windows are two necessary tasks that will also boost your activity level. — Use a journal to log healthy food choices and physical activities. Maintaining health is a lifelong process. Developing healthy habits can improve how you feel and the results of your next doctor’s visit. For more information on reducing your risk of developing diabetes, visit diabetes.org/are-you-at-risk/loweryour-risk/.
Vehicular crashes take significant human, financial toll
M
ore than 2.5 million people went to the emergency department (ED) — and nearly 200,000 of them were hospitalized — because of motor vehicle crash injuries in 2012, according to the latest Vital Signs report by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Lifetime medical costs for these crash injuries totaled $18 billion. This includes approximately $8 billion for those who were treated in the ED and released and $10 billion for those who were hospitalized. Lifetime work lost
because of 2012 crash injuries cost an estimated $33 billion. “In 2012, nearly 7,000 people went to the emergency department every day due to car crash injuries,” said CDC Principal Deputy Director Ileana Arias. “Motor vehicle crash injuries occur all too frequently and have health and economic costs for individuals, the health care system, and society. We need to do more to keep people safe and reduce crash injuries and medical costs.” Key findings include: • On average, each crash-related ED
visit costs about $3,300 and each hospitalization costs about $57,000 over a person’s lifetime. • More than 75 percent of costs occur during the first 18 months following the crash injury. • Teens and young adults (1529 years old) are at especially high risk for motor vehicle crash injuries, accounting for nearly 1 million crash injuries in 2012 (38 percent of all crash injuries that year). • One-third of adults older than 80 years old who were injured in car
November 2014 •
crashes were hospitalized — the highest of any age group. • There were almost 400,000 fewer ED visits and 5,700 fewer hospitalizations from motor vehicle crash injuries in 2012 compared to 2002. This equals $1.7 billion in avoided lifetime medical costs and $2.3 billion in avoided work loss costs. •For related story, check out this month’s edition of ‘Kids Korner’ on Page 13.
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Diet & Nutrition Your Serving of Dairy News
By Victoria Treadwell
Got Milk?
Low-fat chocolate milk flows nicely for fall sports athletes
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t’s the lights of the stadium as they light up the whole town. It’s the roaring of fans in the stands cheering for their team. Whether it’s a high school football game, soccer game or any game, athletes need to refuel their bodies after a big game. My name is Victoria Treadwell, and I’m the Herkimer County dairy princess. I reside on my family’s 290-acre dairy farm in Little Falls. We milk about 80 Holsteins twice a day. I am studying at Mohawk Valley Community College and majoring in nutrition and dietetics. What do your athletes drink after practice or the big game? I hope it’s low fat chocolate milk! Within 30 minutes of working out, athletes should consume eight fluid ounces of low-fat chocolate milk.
Scientific research suggests low-fat chocolate milk helps refuel and restore exhausted muscles. Low-fat chocolate milk contains the ideal ratio of 3-to-1 of carbohydrates to protein. Along with being able to refuel the exhausted body, chocolate milk contains the nine essential vitamins and minerals your
SmartBites
By Anne Palumbo
The skinny on healthy eating
Humble rutabaga rocks with nutrition
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rown beneath the earth, stored in dark basements for weeks on end, a tad gnarly on the outside: root vegetables can be a scary bunch! It’s no wonder we give some of these veggies the bum’s rush at the market. Many look like they’re from another planet. But hold the phone. Roots are loaded with nutrients, versatile in the kitchen, and last longer than most vegetables when properly stored. Rutabaga, the star of today’s column, shines in the vitamin C department — yes, vitamin C! — with one cup serving up about 50 percent of our daily needs. A powerful antioxidant with immune-boosting capabilities, vitamin C helps the body maintain healthy tissues and is essential for healing wounds. Although no studies confirm that vitamin C prevents colds, it may shorten the length of a cold. This tasty root also packs a decent fiber punch, with one cup providing about 3 grams of primarily insoluble fiber, a type of fiber that does not break down within the digestive tract. Consuming insoluble fiber promotes regularity and, according to the American Heart Association, can lessen your chance of cardiovascular disease. Concerned about blood pressure? Page 10
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body needs daily. They are calcium, vitamin D, protein, potassium, vitamin A, vitamin B12, riboflavin, niacin and phosphorus. Many people believe chocolate milk contains a lot of sugar. Actually, research has shown that not only does chocolate milk contain the nine essential nutrients, it has the perfect combination of carbohydrates and protein your body needs to recover after a strenuous workout. Low-fat chocolate supplies your body with the sugars it needs after a long extended exercise. Some may feel that drinking chocolate milk after exercising may cause them to feel sick. Try chilling your milk with extra ice. Chances are you won’t feel sick afterwards; you’ll feel refreshed. I challenge all athletes and non-athletes to try refueling with low-fat choc-
olate milk after exercising, a practice or a game. • Victoria Treadwell is one of the 35 county dairy princesses involved in the New York State Dairy Princess and Promotion Program. The purpose of the program is to promote the dairy industry and increase milk and dairy product sales. Local dairy farmers fund the program.
sible for the bitter taste and pungent aroma of these kinds of vegetables. According to research conducted at the Linus Pauling Institute, glucosinolates may help eliminate carcinogens before they damage DNA, thus thwarting the transformation of normal cells into cancerous ones. Lastly, this sweet yet savory vegetable has no fat or cholesterol, scant sodium, a bit of calcium, and is only 60 calories per cup.
Helpful Tips Choose firm, medium-sized rutabagas (about two inches across) that feel heavy: extra large ones tend to be tough and not as sweet; lighter ones may be woody. Because they are often waxed, they should be peeled. To peel: trim ends, cut in half, place flat side down on cutting board, and then remove peel with a paring knife. Rutabagas are good keepers and will last up to two weeks (or more) in the refrigerator. To store in fridge: first rinse rutabagas under cool water, cut off tops and small roots, dry well, and then place in a plastic bag.
Reach for a rutabaga: one cup has as much potassium as your average banana. While research has shown for some time that potassium can lower blood pressure, a new study shows that aging women whose diets are rich in potassium are less likely to suffer strokes and die than women who have less of this mineral in their diet. Eating more potassium is essential not only for heart health, but for the skeletal and muscle systems as well. Rutabagas, like all cruciferous vegetables, are top sources of cancer-fighting glucosinolates, which are sulfur-containing compounds respon-
Treadwell
Mashed Rutabaga with Fresh Chives Serves 4
2 medium rutabagas, peeled and cut into 1-inch chunks 2 teaspoons butter (optional) 1/3 cup milk (regular or reduced-fat) 2 tablespoons sour cream (regular or light) salt and black pepper (to taste) 2 to 3 tablespoons chopped fresh chives
IN GOOD HEALTH – Mohawk Valley’s Healthcare Newspaper • November 2014
Cover the chopped rutabaga with about two inches of cold water and bring to a boil. Add a generous pinch of salt, cover pan, and boil until tender, about 40 minutes. A fork should easily penetrate the chunks. Drain and return to the pot. Mash with a potato masher for a few minutes. Then, add butter (if using), milk, sour cream and salt and pepper; mash until fairly smooth. They will be chunkier than your traditional mashed potatoes. Add more milk or sour cream if you desire a creamier consistency. Mix in the chives, and enjoy! (Not a chives fan? Try dill.)
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.
Diet & Nutrition The Ragin’ Cajun
Herkimer College
prepares you for a future of helping others.
By Malissa A. Allen
Toxic Overload
Offering programs in healthcare and service:
A.A.S. Emergency Medical Technician – Paramedic Health Services Management Technology * Human Services * Physical Therapist Assistant A.S. Liberal Arts & Sciences: Science Certificate Medical Coding – Transcriptionist *
Beware: Poisons barraging your body By Malissa A. Allen Close your eyes and think about a world where foods are invented and overloaded with chemical toxins. The air you inhale is polluted with chemicals and the water is unsafe for consumption. Now open your eyes and look around. This scenario is not some dreary world in a science fiction movie, but the world you live in now. You eat, sleep and breathe all these unsafe toxins. The human body can only rid itself of so much of the toxins before they overload, spilling out into your bloodstream. Think of your body as a trash can. Everyone fills a trash can with everyday Allen toxins the body comes in contact with, such as food, air, water and medications. For instance, your body is subjected to heavy metals. Mercury, aluminum and arsenic are contained in the products you use daily. These metals bind to the organs until the body detoxes them. A healthy person’s immune system will reject these dangerous metals and excrete them through natural bodily functions. But while the body is fighting off everyday illnesses and germs, more toxins are added to your garbage can. Suddenly a person’s garbage can become full again. Overflowing toxins will go into your bloodstream, organs and straight to your brain. That’s when you begin to feel tired and restless with achy joints and bloating. Perhaps you are experiencing more headaches than normal and your stress level is beyond its normal capacity. What you are experiencing is your garbage can overflowing with dangerous toxins. The overflow is telling your body it’s time to shut down because it can no longer care for and protect you from illnesses because it’s filled with toxic waste. Your system’s ability to properly dispense the trash and toxins plays an enormous role in how well you lose weight or maintain what is considered a healthy weight. Toxins that overflow might find their new home within fat cells. Not only are you filling your body with dangerous toxins, you are feeding the fat cells with chemicals that can only leave the body through detox or chelation.
www.herkimer.edu 315-866-0300, ext. 8278
Once the fat cells become a home for these toxic cells, they multiply, creating masses of fat cells within the body’s vital organs, such as the stomach. Weight is easily gained and becomes harder to lose due to the body’s unwillingness to give up the fat and toxins it has stored over time. The body creates more fat cells for two reasons. Toxins are poisonous; therefore, the body will react as though it has been poisoned. Secondly, when this takes place, no matter how little food a person eats, he or she will not lose weight. Not only is weight gain a problem with toxic overload, but organs will begin to slow down and not function. Anytime there is a problem with the body’s digestive system, weight loss will typically be impossible. When the thyroid becomes overwhelmed with toxins, it will begin to function at a slower pace. This in return will make a person feel exhausted and sluggish. It is true that the environment plays a huge role in the body’s consumption of dangerous toxins.
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because it’s tyme to give. Now is the perfect time to say thank you to a friend or family member who went that extra mile for you this year. Let them know how much their appreciated with the gift of relaxation, rejuvenation and good health. Massage and yoga have been proven to reduce many common ailments such as stress, muscle tightness, aches and pains, even anxiety and depression. Audrey is certified and trained in Swedish Medical Massage, Senior Massage, Aromatherapy Massage and Yoga Therapy.
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However, there are many ways you can enhance your body’s ability to rid toxins. • Urinating: By drinking lots of water, at least eight, 8-ounce glasses of filtered, clean water per day, you are allowing your kidneys to do the job they do best — making you pee a lot. The kidneys are responsible for removing toxins from the blood. The more you drink, the more you will flush from your bloodstream and the faster you will see positive results. Once your urine is clear, this means you are on the right track. If your urine has a strong odor or is a dark color, you need to increase your water intake. • Bowel movements: Having one or two bowel movements per day is the best way of ridding toxins from your body. If this isn’t possible, increase the fiber in your diet as well as consider using a stool softener. • Malissa A. Allen is a gluten-free chef and cooking instructor based in Camden. Her “Ragin’ Cagun’ column appears regularly in Mohawk Valley In Good Health. November 2014 •
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Yoga: Unlock the key Discover the mind-body relationship By Amylynn Pastorella
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ll human beings are in a constant state of change. Through self-education and yoga, individuals can acknowledge and process this change and help eliminate the stress that constantly thwarts us. “As we move through life our bodies internalize, process and filter our experiences mostly without our conscious awareness,” said Audrey Ventura, a certified therapist with Phoenix Rising Yoga Therapy in New Hartford. “Our thoughts and feelings remain stored within us and are often the cause of stress as well as emotional and Ventura physical pain or discomfort.” Phoenix Rising Yoga Therapy offers a way to explore the relationship between your body, your mind and your life in a private setting with a certified, highly trained practitioner. Combining classical yoga techniques with elements of contemporary body-centered psychology, Phoenix Rising facilitates the release of physical, mental and emotional tension, often resulting in lower stress and increased energy. Yoga therapy differs from pure yoga or meditation. The difference is that therapy encourages an inward focus by asking and answering questions. With Phoenix Rising Yoga Therapy, you become aware of your thoughts and feelings first and then accept yourself, eventually learning to love your body and your mind completely.
Benefits of yoga therapy
In a Phoenix Rising session, you are guided through a sequence of carefully selected yoga postures and
breathing work designed to take you deeper into your internal experience. According to Ventura, clients find yoga therapy beneficial for a wide variety of situations including chronic pain, recovery from substance abuse, or healing from past physical/sexual abuse. Some clients use it as an adjunct to more traditional forms of treatment, such as psychotherapy and physical therapy. Phoenix Rising yoga classes are meant to empower students to use their yoga practice to change their lives and overcome stress, reduce symptoms of depression or anxiety, heal relationships and discover their unique magnificence. “You are invited to explore the sensations, emotions, memories or images that are present in your body. Each session includes integration to help you process your experience and explore how to bring your insights into action,” said Ventura. Sessions vary between one and 1 1/2 hours. Offered on a personal, oneon-one basis in an atmosphere of safety and acceptance, each session is geared to your individual needs. As Ventura stated, “We create a safe and neutral space for students of all levels of experience and disability. My goal is to see my students experience their yoga. I use themes and dialogue to encourage deep reflection and inward focus.” She added, “By not concentrating solely on the physical aspects of yoga, we peel away the layers, notice the relationship to ourselves and how that awareness relates to our lives in the choices we make.”
Find the real you
Ventura said it’s not about shutting the mind down; it’s about bringing awareness to what is inside you. “Many times, at least for myself, by allowing whatever wants to come up, my mind eventually quiets on its own without trying to turn it off. My goal is to see my students or clients learn how to use their body and its wisdom to help them in every aspect of their life,” she said. For over 16 years, Ventura has worked as a New York state-licensed massage therapist, a nationally certified
Phoenix Rising Yoga therapist Audrey Ventura works on Mohawk Valley In Good Health contributing writer Amylynn Pastorella during a recent session. medical massage therapist and certified yoga instructor. She was inspired to become a Phoenix Rising Yoga Therapy instructor after her own personal struggles. Ventura knows what it is like to hit rock bottom. In a few short years, she was diagnosed with a brain tumor, divorced, financially devastated and had a tragedy with her child. Having felt as if her heart turned to coal, she blamed herself for everything. She could find no compassion for herself. “I was my own worst enemy,” said Ventura. Ventura searched for a way to find a new self and she discovered Phoenix Rising Therapy. “Phoenix Rising Yoga Therapy saved my life,” she added. “I am no longer in constant fear or beating myself up about everything that happens. Now no matter what, I know who I am and I can handle things much better rather than stuffing the feelings away and exploding or completely shutting down.” By opening up about her personal experience, Ventura hopes people become aware of the many ways to heal. “People should not give up hope
that they will never feel whole again because no matter what has happened you can become whole again,” said Ventura. But it doesn’t happen overnight. In doing research on Phoenix Rising Yoga Therapy, I got first-hand experience. Having never done yoga, I did not know what to think. I was acquainted with stretching and yoga positions, but I was also engaged to examine myself. Ventura would ask, “How does this [position] feel?” and if I replied, “It feels good,” she repeated my statement back, which allowed me to realize that everything was good. I realized that whatever stress or distress I felt in my life, I was still good. I learned more about myself, what moves me, how to overcome fear and much more in just one session. I felt extremely empowered because I saw myself as I never had before. I had a front row seat to viewing the inside of me. If you are interested in Phoenix Rising Yoga Therapy for a class or a one-on-one session, contact Ventura at 315-520-2176 or email her at Audrey@ unwindTymewithAudrey.com.
Heat and Eat. With SNAP, you don’t have to choose. To find out if you, or someone you know, may be eligible for SNAP, call your Nutrition Outreach and Education Program (NOEP) Coordinator. It’s free and confidential. Maximum gross monthly income guidelines – Effective October 1, 2014 – September 30, 2015
THERE’S NO PLACE BETTER THAN HOME
If you are approved for SNAP, you may also be eligible for help with your heating bill through HEAP.
In Herkimer County Call Catholic Charities of Herkimer County
315-894-9917, ext. 235
@home
ELDER INDEPENDENCE SERVICES Prepared by a project of Hunger Solutions New York, USDA/FNS, and NYSOTDA. This institution is an equal opportunity provider.
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RCIL@home provides a full range of eldercare services and programs designed to keep our seniors at home.
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IN GOOD HEALTH – Mohawk Valley’s Healthcare Newspaper • November 2014
Immersed in rural healthcare Project aims to draw providers into highneeds areas By AmyLynn Pastorella Five pre-med students from City College of New York spent five days “immersed” at Little Falls Hospital recently in an effort to explore rural health care first hand. Through the Rural Healthcare Immersion Project, college students are given the opportunity to familiarize themselves with the operations of a critical access hospital. They shadow the providers both at the hospital and within the community in order to identify their potential scope of practice. The students explore and identify issues of public health in the community and come to understand the economic role/partnership of the hospital and providers in the community. In the meantime, the students evaluate the culture of a rural community in Upstate New York. RHIP began last year by Richard K. Merchant, chief executive officer of the Central New York Area Health Education Center and Northern Area Health Education Center, to recruit well-prepared and trained healthcare providers to rural communities. “What is incredibly great about this program is that it creates a powerful nexus of community, health care and education which is essential to build the health care workforce in our communities,” said Merchant. Studies have shown that RHIP gives students insight into the challenges and rewards of providing health care in a rural environment while promoting the Little Falls community to future health care providers. LFH partnered with Manhattan-Staten Island Area Health Education Center and the local AHECs
(Central New York and Northern New York) to bring Faiza Boukerche, Ivan Silva, Samantha Campbell, Collisia Parker and Ayesha Rehman to LFH. The project also aims to address a critical shortage of physicians. According to the Association of American Medical Colleges, the nation will be short more than 90,000 physicians by 2020. “We are all in this together,” said Merchant. “The students know it, feel it and carry that understanding with them way beyond the term of the program, hopefully to the point when they are deciding on where to set up practice.” Rural healthcare environments are hit by the shortage of physicians in that most physicians do not elect to locate and practice in areas of most need, but rather closer to the medical centers where they were trained, usually in urban environments.
Changing healthcare culture
Also due to changes related to the Affordable Care Act and the Patient-Centered Medical Home Model, healthcare is moving to outpatient services and care for populations of people moderated by a primary care provider and their team. Telehealth and telemedicine advancements are furthering this change. Traditional recruitment efforts have involved a hard, fast push to introduce the best parts of a community to the providers interviewing over a course of one or two days. This can be an ineffective method of recruitment. The RHIP, on the other hand, initiates community engagement while focusing on encouraging physicians to practice in rural areas.
KIDS Corner Teen Driving
Crashes leading cause of death among teenagers
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otor vehicle crashes are the leading cause of death among teenagers. In 2011, about 2,650 teens in the United States aged 16 to 19 were killed and almost 292,000 were treated in emergency departments for injuries suffered in motor-vehicle crashes. This means that seven teens aged 16 to 19 died every day from motor vehicle injuries that year. Per mile driven, teen drivers aged 16 to 19 are three times more likely than drivers aged 20 and older to be in a fatal crash.
Among teen drivers, those at especially high risk for motor vehicle crashes are: • Males: In 2011, the motor vehicle death rate for male drivers and passengers aged 16 to 19 was almost two times that of their female counterparts. • Teens driving with teen passengers: The presence of teen passengers increases the crash risk of unsupervised teen drivers. This risk increases with the number of teen passengers. • Newly licensed teens: Crash risk
Students witness how residents in remote areas of the region are transported by LifeNet, an air medical transport service, and the city of Little Falls EMS team. Taking part in the recent immersian project are Ayesha Rehman, Collisia Parker, Ivan Silva, Samantha Campbell and Faiza Boukerche. Here is what the students had to say about their experience with RHIL at LFH: • “There is a high demand for physicians in rural settings,” said Silva, who is from Brooklyn and studies biochemistry. “Little Falls Hospital uses state-of-the-art equipment which is beneficial for patients in a small city and having this equipment prevents patients traveling to other hospitals located in different counties.” • “I am interested in primary care and was able to tour where the primary care physicians work,” said Campbell, a biology student from the Bronx. “In some ways, this experience swayed me to possibly pursue primary care in a rural community instead of an urban setting.” • “I have learned that it doesn’t matter where one might go in terms of healthcare, there is a national search for primary healthcare professionals to address the shortage,” said Parker, who is from Brooklyn and studies biology and studio art. However, with the limitation that LFH has, the physicians, nurses and
staff make sure they do their best to provide that personal, quality care to their patients each day, Parker added. Studies have identified areas where rural environments are challenging in recruiting and retaining physicians. These challenges include a lack of access to restaurants, shopping, cultural events, lack of diversity, sense of isolation, lack of educational choices, poor weather, insufficient extracurricular activities and inadequate access to professional peers. Rewarding opportunities that come with practicing in rural communities are found through love of the outdoors and associated activities; sense of community; familiarity with community members and patients; the ability to contribute to the community as a whole; lower crime; slower pace and a relatively low cost of living. “The need for primary care, rural care, underserved care is higher than ever and growing. Graduating physicians need to be prepared to understand principles of public health and managing population health along with individual health,” said Merchant.
is particularly high during the first months of licensure.
seat belts reduce serious crash-related injuries and deaths by about half. • Not Drinking & Driving — Enforcing minimum legal drinking age laws and zero blood-alcohol tolerance laws for drivers under age 21 are recommended. • Graduated Licensing Systems (GDL) — Driving is a complex skill, one that must be practiced to be learned well. Teenagers’ lack of driving experience, together with risk-taking behavior, puts them at heightened risk for crashes. The need for skill-building and driving supervision for new drivers is the basis for graduated driver licensing systems, which exist in all US states and Washington, DC. Graduated driver licensing puts restrictions on new drivers; these are systematically lifted as the driver gains experience. Research suggests that the most comprehensive graduated drivers licensing (GDL) programs are associated with reductions of 38 percent and 40 percent in fatal and injury crashes, respectively, among 16-year-old drivers. When parents know their state’s GDL laws, they can help enforce the laws and, in effect, help keep their teen drivers safe. •Source: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).
Other factors
• Low seat belt use: Compared with other age groups, teens have the lowest rate of seat belt use. In 2013, only 54 percent of high school students reported they always wear seat belts when riding with someone else. • Drinking and driving: At all levels of blood alcohol concentration, the risk of involvement in a motor vehicle crash is greater for teens than for older drivers. • In 2012, 23 percent of drivers aged 15 to 20 involved in fatal motor vehicle crashes were drinking. • In a national survey conducted in 2011, 24 percent of teens reported that, within the previous month, they had ridden with a driver who had been drinking alcohol and 8 percent reported having driven after drinking alcohol within the same one-month period. • In 2012, 71 percent of drivers aged 15 to 20 who were killed in motor vehicle crashes after drinking were not wearing a seat belt. There are proven methods to helping teens become safer drivers. • Seat Belts —Research shows that
November 2014 •
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Holiday Season: Beware of Fraud
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ith all of the holiday shopping going on this time of year, both in stores and online, there is no better time to remind you to beware of fraud — you never know where it is lurking. When it comes to doing business with Social Security online, there is little to worry about — all of our online services are protected by strong Internet security protocols and you should have confidence that they are safe and secure. But there are other ways identity thieves and criminals can obtain your personal information and cause you significant harm. Here are some tips to help keep that from happening. If someone contacts you claiming to be from Social Security and asks for your Social Security number, date of birth or other identifying information, beware. Don’t provide your personal information without first contacting Social Security to verify if Social Security is really trying to contact you. It could be an identity thief phishing for your personal information. Call Social Security’s toll-free number at 1-800-772-1213 (TTY 1-800-325-0778). If you receive a suspicious call, report it by going to http://oig.ssa.gov/ report. Or call 1-800-269-0271 from 10 a.m. – 4 p.m. You should provide as much of the following information as
you know: • The alleged suspect(s) and victim(s) names, address(es), phone number(s), date(s) of birth, and Social Security number(s); • Description of the fraud and the location where the fraud took place; • When and how the fraud was committed; • Why the person committed the fraud (if known); and • Who else has knowledge of the potential violation. Identity theft is one of the fastest-growing crimes in the United States. If you or anyone you know has been the victim of an identity thief, contact the Federal Trade Commission at www. idtheft.gov, or 1-877-IDTHEFT (1-877438-4338); TTY 1-866-653-4261. Another form of fraud that people fall victim to: businesses using misleading advertisements that make it look as though they are from Social Security. These businesses often offer Social Security services for a fee, even though the same services are available directly from Social Security free of charge. By law, such an advertisement must indicate that the company is not affiliated with Social Security. If you receive what you believe is misleading advertising for Social Security services, send the complete mail-
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My Take By George W. Chapman
Do hospital mergers drive up costs? Where there is no competition, there is trouble
T
hey are happening all around us. But we are faced with a conundrum. On one hand, in order to survive, many hospitals are merging. Smaller hospitals have little purchasing power, cannot justify providing certain expensive services, and face an increasingly difficult time recruiting, retaining and paying physicians. Larger multi-hospital systems should be able to reduce costs, provide more services and retain physicians. On the other hand, mergers reduce or outright eliminate competition. Since hospitals are still in a predominantly fee-for-service/volume environment, several studies show mergers have resulted in price increases, (not to be confused with cost increases), as any merged hospitals take advantage of their new found market dominance and raise prices. For this reason the FTC must approve and then monitor mergers. It remains to be seen what will happen to hospital prices once providers are paid based on outcome and performance versus volume.
Costs to escalate again
The non-partisan Office of the Actuary at Center for Medicaid and Medicare Services (CMS) is predicting healthcare spending will once again begin to escalate this year. Healthcare spending will account for 19-20 percent of our economy by 2023. It was 17.2 percent in 2012. The dire prediction comes after a few years of relatively modest increases of 4 percent. The report, published in Health Affairs, predicts an average annual increase of 6 percent a year from 2015 through 2023. Contributing factors are increased coverage under the Affordable Care Act, an aging population and overall economic growth. The “good” news is the experts are not calling for a return to the double-digit increases of the 80s and 90s. Much of the growth in spending will come from CMS, which now covers 100 million people.
Nurses needed
According to the American Nurses Association, we will need another 1.1 million nurses by 2022 as 20 percent of existing nurses are set to retire soon. Several other countries are predicting nurse shortages as well.
U.S. hospitals lead
This goes right along with our world leading highest per capita spending on healthcare ($8,000-plus). According to a study published in Health Affairs, 25 percent of hospital costs are for administration, more than twice that of in Canada and other countries. However, in defense of US hospitals, many of the other countries in the study, like Canada, have a single payer system, which makes running a hospital far easier when you have to deal with only one set of benefits, one fee schedule and one set of rules and reg-
IN GOOD HEALTH – Mohawk Valley’s Healthcare Newspaper • November 2014
ulations. Hospitals in the United States must deal with a myriad of payers, which results in dealing with a myriad of benefits, fee schedules and rules.
U.S. leads in obesity
In addition to leading the world in costs, we claim the No. 1 position in obesity. In 1980, no state had an obesity rate over 15 percent. Today, Mississippi and West Virginia lead the way with 35 percent, closely followed by Arkansas, Tennessee, Kentucky, Louisiana and Oklahoma. On average, we are 24 pounds heavier than our counterparts in 1960. The least obese state was Colorado at 21 percent. When considering high costs of healthcare, we all need to take a good look in the mirror.
Reference pricing
As deductibles and coinsurances increase, consumers want to know “how much.” Reference pricing is an idea to make prices more competitive. Insurers would establish payment for elective services (office visit, knee replacement, colonoscopy, etc.) and require the consumer to pay the difference between the reference price or payment and the provider’s charge. Theoretically, people will seek the cheapest (and hopefully qualified) provider. The FTC argues this won’t work in a market dominated by one hospital (see mergers above). The counter to that is these are elective procedures and most people have access to transportation (the world is getting smaller) and would be willing to drive 50 miles to a qualified provider if they would save hundreds if not thousands of dollars.
New York Healthcare Forum
The healthcare industry is confusing and constantly in flux. You need to advocate for yourself and understand how things work in order to make your experience more satisfying and productive. An informed and engaged patient will always have a much better relationship with their providers and insurers. I am constantly asked for advice when it comes to navigating the healthcare system. Consequently, a group of us with decades of experience in the industry created a website to assist consumers — free. Check it out at www.newyorkhealthcareforum.com. GEORGE W. CHAPMAN is a health consultant who operates GW Chapman Consulting in Syracuse. To reach him, email gwc@gwchapmanconsulting. com.
Between You and Me
Choosing a partner
By Jim Miller
Vaccination options for seniors this flu season Dear Savvy Senior, I understand that there are several types of flu vaccines being offered to seniors this flu season. What can you tell me about them? Cautious Senior Dear Cautious, Depending on your health, age and personal preference, there’s a buffet of flu shots available to seniors this flu season, along with two vaccinations for pneumonia that you should consider getting too.
Flu shot options
Just as they do every year, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommends a seasonal flu shot to almost everyone, but it’s especially important for seniors who are at higher risk of developing serious flu-related complications. The flu puts more than 200,000 people in the hospital each year and kills around 24,000 — 90 percent of whom are seniors. Here’s the rundown of the different options: Standard (trivalent) flu shot: This tried-and-true shot that’s been around for more than 30 years protects against three strains of influenza. This year’s version protects against the two common A strains (H1N1 and H3N2), and one influenza B virus. Quadrivalent flu shot: This vaccine, which was introduced last year, protects against four types of influenza — the same three strains as the standard flu shot, plus an additional B-strain virus. High-dose flu shot: Designed specifically for seniors, age 65 and older, this vaccine, called the Fluzone HighDose, has four times the amount of antigen as a regular flu shot does, which creates a stronger immune response for better protection. But be aware that the
By Barbara Pierce
Finding that soul mate can be challenge of a lifetime
high-dose option may also be more likely to cause side effects, including headache, muscle aches and fever. Intradermal flu shot: If you don’t like needles, the intradermal shot is a nice option because it uses a tiny 1/16-inch long micro-needle to inject the vaccine just under the skin, rather than deeper in the muscle like standard flu shots. This trivalent vaccine is recommended only to those ages 18 to 64. To locate a vaccination site that offers these flu shots, visit vaccines. gov and type in your ZIP code. You’ll also be happy to know that if you’re a Medicare beneficiary, Part B will cover 100 percent of the costs of any flu shot, as long as your doctor, health clinic or pharmacy agrees not to charge you more than Medicare pays. Private health insurers are also required to cover standard flu shots, however, you’ll need to check with your provider to see if they cover the other vaccination options.
Pneumonia vaccines
The other important vaccinations the CDC recommends to seniors, especially this time of year, are the pneumococcal vaccines for pneumonia. An estimated 900,000 people in the U.S. get pneumococcal pneumonia each year, and it kills around 5,000. This year, the CDC is recommending that all seniors 65 or older get two separate vaccines, which is a change of decades-old advice. The vaccines are Prevnar 13 and Pneumovax 23. Previously, only Pneumovax 23 was recommended for seniors. Both vaccines, which are administered just once, work in different ways to provide maximum protection. If you haven’t yet received any pneumococcal vaccine you should get the Prevnar 13 first, followed by Pneumovax 23 six to 12 months later. But, if you’ve already been vaccinated with Pneumovax 23 you should get Prevnar 13 at least one year later. Medicare currently covers only one pneumococcal vaccine per older adult. If you’re paying out of pocket, you can expect to pay around $50 to $85 for Pneumovax 23, and around $120 to $150 for the Prevnar 13. 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.
I
n the perfect world of the future — as seen in the new movie, “The Giver,” based on Lois Lowry’s book — there is no suffering, no hunger, no war. Everyone is happy. But also, there are no choices. “When people have the freedom to choose, they make the wrong choices,” says a leader. So a committee of elders makes all the decisions for all citizens. They assign careers to the young, they decide the names of the infants and which infants are placed with which adult couples. They decide when it is time to “release” an aged person from the community. The committee also Pierce decides the male-female pairings for the community. A list of characteristics for each person is considered, and the committee matches people according to what appears to be the greatest chance of compatibility. Sounds like a chilling prospect and totally distasteful to us, who were encouraged to make our own decisions practically from birth. Another thing that happens in this perfect world: When the young first get “the stirrings,” they are given a pill; a pill to take every day of their life. It does make you think. I’m glad I’m living in the here and now, with stirrings and the chances to make the wrong choices. I’ve made a lot of good choices. My career, for example. I loved the work I did as a psychotherapist. I loved helping my clients learn to make better choices and begin to have happier lives. I was richly rewarded time and time again throughout the years. And deciding to adopt a 9-year-old daughter as a single parent was a good choice. I chose not to get pregnant; birth control pills were just beginning to be used when I was young. Then when I was ready to get pregnant, it was too late for me. But adoption was a good choice. My daughter and I are close, and I adore my grandchildren.
Toxic relationships
But, looking at my relationship history, one might say I would have been better off if a committee had made the choice of a partner for me. From the alcoholic artist I was madly in love with when I was 22, to the wildly inappropriate man I was crazy about when I was 72, from the married man for whom I fell hard for several years, to the one I married with bipolar disorder who stripped me of my assets, one might say, “What was she thinking?” Yes, if a committee looked at my characteristics and matched me with
November 2014 •
a mate, he definitely would not have been any of the men I chose. The ride has certainly been fun and I’m still having a really good time. And maybe that is all that counts at the end of the day. Now I am entering a partnership with what I hope will be the last man in my life. I wonder: Will he be another on my long list of “The Wrong Choices?” This time, I vowed to ignore my stirrings and chemistry and choose a man based on his characteristics. Find someone I liked, someone who was good, caring, sensible. We’ll be “walking each other home.” That kind of person. Yes, friendship and genuine liking of another person is a key ingredient in a good relationship. That’s what I looked for. Not romance, not stirrings, not good chemistry. That’s what got me in trouble time and time again. “The fairy tale of romance” is how Dr. Harville Hendrix, author of “Making Marriage Simple” and other really good books about how to make a relationship work, describes it. “Flowers, batting eyelashes, shared meals, laughter. Sunset walks and little love gifts to each other. You spend hours looking forward to your next time together.” “Romantic love sticks around long enough to bind two people together. Then it rides off into the sunset,” Hendrix says. So I’ll just get to the chase, I said. I’ll go right to the stage after romantic love. Go for friendship and real love, based on knowing a person over time. But I met man after man; most of them fine people. But — each of them — I just didn’t care if I ever met him again. Totally left me cold. Didn’t work for me. Then, nearly a year ago, I met a tall handsome man who got me from the first time I saw him. Romantic love can’t be denied, at least not by me. But we’re learning to know each other. We’ve gone through the romantic love, and are settling into the love that comes only with knowing another over time. Wish me well as I venture into this new territory. • Barbara Pierce is a retired licensed clinical social worker with many years’ experience in helping people. If you would like to purchase a copy of her book “If I’m so Fantastic, Why am I Still Single?” contact her at BarbaraPierce06@yahoo.com, or contact her if you have any concerns you would like her to address.
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H ealth News Cardiologist joins ranks with ‘Every Heartbeat Counts’ SDMG celebration a success Prasanna Venkatesh Kumar will be joining Slocum-Dickson Medical Group in New Hartford on Nov. 10 in the specialty of cardiology. Kumar is a fellowship-trained interventional cardiologist specializing in coronary, structural and peripheral interventions. Kumar completed his interventional cardiology fellowship at the Mayo Clinic, Rochester, Minn., and his carKumar diovascular diseases fellowship at Louisiana State University Health Science Center in Shreveport, La. He completed his internal medicine internship and residency at Rosalind Franklin University of Medicine and Science at the Chicago Medical School in North Chicago, Ill., where he also served as chief resident. Kumar earned his medical degree from Madras Medical College in India. Kumar also served as a clinical instructor of medicine and clinical assistant professor of medicine for Southern Illinois University School of Medicine.
PA joins staff at Rome Surgical Specialists Lindsey Sampo has joined the staff of Rome Surgical Specialists. Certified by the National Commission on Certification of Physician Assistants, Sampo will be assisting David Kulick, Abha Ojha, and Pedro DelPino in the care of their surgical patients. Rome Surgical Specialists is located at 267 Hill Road, Suite 300, Rome. A physician assistant is a mid-level medical practitioner who works under the supervision of a licensed doctor. Sampo Sampo will act as a surgical first assist for the surgeons in the operating room at Rome Memorial Hospital, carrying out such tasks as directing the laparoscopic camera, holding retractors so that the surgeon has better access, and suturing to close incisions. A native of Central New York, Sampo grew up in Baldwinsville and resides in Liverpool. A graduate of Clarkson University, Potsdam, Sampo earned a Master of Science degree in physician assistant studies. She did her undergraduate studies at St. John Fisher College, Rochester, earning a Bachelor of Science degree in biology with a minor in chemistry. In addition to her board certification, she is a member of the American Academy of Physician Assistants. Sampo has completed over 1,800 hours of clinical rotations as a physician assistant student in hospitals and clinics in northern New York. Page 16
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More than 260 community leaders and friends of the Masonic Medical Research Laboratory in Utica attended the “Every Heartbeat Counts” celebration hosted by the advisory board of the Cardiac Research Institute at MMRL. The gala recognized the contributions of the MMRL to the world of science and medicine as well as to highlight the honor and prestige it has brought to the Mohawk Valley. Antzelevitch The event, held at the Jorgensen Center of Mohawk Valley Community College, was a resounding success due to the efforts of many. Guests heard about advances in the Mohawk Valley through a presentation by Randy VanWagoner, MVCC president, and were informed about the research on-going at the MMRL by Charles Antzelevitch, MMRL executive director and director of research. The Grand Lodge of the State of New York founded the MMRL in 1958. Attendees were given an opportunity to learn more about freemasonry through a presentation by William Thomas, Grand Master of Masons in the State of New York. The event raised more than $85,000 to support lifesaving research at the MMRL. All funds raised stay in the local community and 84 cents of every $1 goes directly to support the on-going research at the MMRL.
FSLH receives recognition from the ACS The American College of Surgeons National Surgical Quality Improvement Program has recognized Faxton St. Luke’s Healthcare in Utica as one of 44 ACS NSQIP participating hospitals that have achieved meritorious outcomes for surgical patient care. As a participant in ACS NSQIP, FSLH is required to track the outcomes of inpatient and outpatient surgical procedures and collect data that directs patient safety and the quality of surgical care improvements. The recognition program measures outcomes related to patient management in eight clinical areas: mortality; unplanned intubation; ventilator use greater than 48 hours; renal failure; cardiac incidents, such as cardiac arrest and myocardial infarction; respiratory incidents, such as pneumonia; surgical site infections; and urinary tract infections. FSLH earned this recognition based on its outstanding composite quality score in the eight areas listed above. ACS NSQIP is the only nationally validated quality improvement program that measures and enhances the
MVHS’ 2014 Campaign For Quality celebrates anniversary Mohawk Valley Health System’s Campaign For Quality recently celebrated its 13th anniversary with more than 425 physicians, healthcare workers, students and community members from across New York state in attendance. This program held at Hamilton College in Clinton featured international, national and local experts who presented on current trends in healthcare, patient experiences, population health topics and patient safety initiatives. Taking part in the program are, from left, St. Elizabeth Medical Center employees Teresa Inkawhich, Karen Coyle, Stacey Walton and Leah Boek. care of surgical patients.
SEMC welcomes new emergency physician St. Elizabeth Medical Center, an affiliate of the Mohawk Valley Health System, recently welcomed William Gaetano, an emergency physician with Team Health, to the medical staff. Gaetano received his Bachelor of Arts in Gaetano psychology with a minor in public health from Siena College in Loudonville and his Master of Public Health and Doctor of Medicine from St. George’s University School of Medicine in Grenada, West Indies. He completed his family medicine residency, during which time he served as chief resident at SEMC in Utica.
New SEMC physician joins Old Forge staff Emir Hodzic, a family practice physician, has joined St. Elizabeth Medical Center and its medical staff. He joins Thomas Socash and Karla Dalious in providing care at St. Elizabeth Medical Group’s Town of Webb Health Care Center.
IN GOOD HEALTH – Mohawk Valley’s Healthcare Newspaper • November 2014
Hodzic earned his medical degree from St. George’s University School of Medicine, Grenada, West Indies. He completed a Bachelor of Science in Arts and Sciences from Utica College of Syracuse University, with a major in biology and a minor in chemistry. Hodzic is a graduate of the St. Elizabeth Family Practice Residency Program and has clinical experience Hodzic in OB-GYN, internal medicine and pediatrics. Faxton St. Luke’s Healthcare and St. Elizabeth Medical Center are affiliates under the Mohawk Valley Health System.
SEMC gains reaccreditation DNV GL-Healthcare recently reaccredited St. Elizabeth Medical Center in Utica. By earning reaccreditation, SEMC has demonstrated it meets or exceeds patient safety standards set forth by the U.S. Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services. DNV GL’s accreditation program is the only one to integrate the ISO 9001 Quality Management System with the Medicare Conditions of Participation.
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H ealth News Continued from Page 16 “The DNV GL program is consistent with our long-term commitment to quality and patient safety,” says Scott H. Perra, president/CEO of SEMC and Mohawk Valley Health System. “The ability to integrate ISO 9001 quality standards with our clinical and financial processes is a major step forward.” In 2005, SEMC achieved compliance with ISO 9001, the world’s most trusted quality management system used by performance-driven organizations around the world to advance their quality and sustainability objectives. SEMC was also the first hospital in the country to reach ISO environmental quality 14001:2004 standards. DNV GL is a world-leading certification body. Within healthcare, it helps customers achieve excellence by improving quality and patient safety through hospital accreditation, managing infection risk, management system certification and training.
AHA calling for Lifestyle Change Award nominations The American Heart Association is working to celebrate individuals who have made a positive impact on their health. AHA is accepting nominations for the Lifestyle Change Award. The Lifestyle Change Award, sponsored by Olivari Mediterranean Olive Oil, honors someone who has made significant, positive changes in an effort to live longer and healthier. Friends, co-workers or relatives can submit nominations. Individuals can also choose to nominate themselves. A panel of judges will choose finalists, who will be announced at the America’s Greatest Heart Run and Walk Kick-Off event in November. The winner will then be chosen and recognized at the America’s
Greatest Heart Run and Walk closing ceremony on March 7, 2015 in the Utica College gymnasium. Email heartofutica@heart.org or calling 315-580-3964 to request a nomination form. Completed copies can be emailed to heartofutica@heart.org or printed versions may be mailed to: Attn: Lifestyle Change Award American Heart Association 120 Lomond Court Utica, NY 13502 Deadline for submissions is Nov. 5.
AHA recognized for helping community The Greater Utica board of the American Heart Association/American Stroke Association recently earned national recognition for its work saving and improving lives in the community. The bronze award recognizes the Greater Utica board as one of the tops in the country. This is the second time the board has been honored with bronze recognition. The AHA recognizes these boards for their impact, which in turn helps build toward the association’s nationwide goal to dramatically improve the cardiovascular health of all Americans by 2020. “As we launched our 2020 Impact Goal, we recognized leadership of our boards is essential to the success of the American Heart Association,” said Dick Mattia, executive director of the Greater Utica American Heart Association. “Strengthening the core of our volunteer leadership, our local boards and committees is one of the keys to our success.” The association’s 2020 Impact Goal is to improve the cardiovascular health of all Americans by 20 percent while reducing deaths from cardiovascular diseases and stroke by 20 percent.
Free baseline screening available
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tudents enrolled in the physical therapy assistant program at Herkimer College are receiving specialized training at the Sitrin Medical Rehabilitation Center in New Hartford to allow them to conduct free baseline screens for athletes. An essential component to concussion management, baseline screening involves gathering data on how athletes think and how well they maintain their balance. “These two areas are vital and allow therapists to individualize return-to-play decisions for athletes,” said James Wallace, director of clinical rehabilitation services at Sitrin. “There are many athletes in our community and the demand exists to address this missing link.” Wallace is a leading expert of baseline concussion testing and post-concussion treatment. He imple-
mented Sitrin’sEquili-BRAIN-ium Concussion Management Network several years ago. He and his concussion management team have performed hundreds of baseline tests and post-concussion assessments. They use an evidence-based approach, assessing both the physical and cognitive aspects of concussion. The team’s goal is to return athletes to competition as safely as possible as well as offer the most current and effective treatments for any athlete sustaining a concussion. Twenty-three students have been participating in this program for several weeks. “This partnership improves access, care, and most importantly, maximizes the health and safety of the community’s greatest asset — its children,” said Wallace.
Log A Load for Kids® donates to pediatric department at FSLH Log A Load For Kids®, through the New York State Forestry Association, recently delivered a handcrafted bench and picnic table to the pediatric department at Faxton St. Luke’s Healthcare in Utica. The table and bench were used at the 2014 Woodsmen’s Field Days to help raise funds for the Children’s Miracle Network Hospital at FSLH. Children were able to help decorate the table and put their handprints on the bench with a donation to CMN. The bench and table were then donated to FSLH. Alex and Jud Kilmer, partners in Kilmer Timber Harvesting located in Grove, crafted and donated the table. Celebrating the occasion are, from left, Log A Load volunteers Katie Miranda, Mark Mowery, Jason Miranda and Eileen Mowery. Log A Load For Kids® is a national organization whose mission is to raise funds to improve children’s health through treatment, education and research at CMN hospitals.
Mid-State EMS earns national accreditation Mid-State Emergency Medical Services in New Hartford has earned continuing accreditation through 2019 from the Commission on Accreditation of Allied Health Education Programs. The accreditation allows students of the Faxton St. Luke’s Healthcare Paramedic Program to obtain national certification, exceeding those set by the New York State Department of Health. They are also certified by the state DOH. Of 23 state paramedic programs, only nine are accredited. The FSLH Paramedic Program has graduated approximately 150 paramedics in the six years it has been accredited, with graduates employed across this region and the nation. Robert and David Paddock are the course instructors and John Rubin is the medical director. Mid-State EMS is an affiliate of the Mohawk Valley Health System.
Help make holidays bright at UCP Upstate Cerebral Palsy children are in need of holiday gifts now more than ever. Upstate Cerebral Palsy has begun its annual Holiday Miracles Project to help supply needy children receiving
November 2014 •
agency services with gifts and necessities this holiday season. Each year, caseworkers identify children who receive services at the agency who are in need of assistance. Volunteers from the area are then assigned a child, receive a child’s wish list from his or her caseworker, and then purchase items on the list. Co-workers, families and individuals are invited to participate and help make Holiday Miracles a success, through either sponsoring a child or children, volunteering to shop or wrap gifts or through making a donation. For more information or to shop for a child this season, visit upstatecp. org/holiday-miracles-project or call 315-724-6907 ext. 2302.
Senator recognized as “Partner in Quality” LutheranCare in Clinton, a leading provider of services to older New Yorkers in the area, recently recognized Senator David J. Valesky (D-Oneida) with the “Partners in Quality” award created by LeadingAge New York. LeadingAge is a statewide association representing 570 organizations that provide care to some 500,000 New Yorkers of all ages. The award was designed to acknowledge elected officials who fight to preserve quality services for seniors.
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CALENDAR of Rise above life’s Ace’s Angle
By Amylynn Pastorella
HEALTH EVENTS challenges
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 lecture at 7 p.m. Nov. 6. Professionals from The Regional Center for Wound Care will present the free program in the hospital’s second floor classroom. Health Night is a free monthly lecture series sponsored by Rome Memorial Hospital. Advance registration is not required. Refreshments will be served. For more information about Health Night, call 338-7143. For more information about the Regional Center for Wound Care, call 338-7540.
Nov. 8
After Breast Cancer Support Group to meet The After Breast Cancer Support Group will meet at 11 a.m. Nov. 8 in the community room at the Center for Rehabilitation and Continuing Care Services on the St. Luke’s Campus, 1650 Champlin Ave., Utica. Maria Santa Maria, coordinator of outpatient physical therapy services for FSLH, will be discussing how cancer patients can maximize function and combat fatigue through exercise. ABC Support Group meetings are free and open to the public and were created by women who have had breast cancer. For more information, call 315-6245764 or email bfriend90@aol.com.
Nov. 8
FSLH Wellness Center classes to begin The Faxton St. Luke’s Wellness Center is offering a new session of specialty classes beginning Nov. 8. All classes run in eight-week sessions. Space is limited and registration is on a first-come, first-served basis. Participants must register and pay for the entire eight-week session of a class or purchase a pre-paid punch card for per-class entry. Class offerings include aquatic exercise, aquatic dance, aquatics for back pain, aquatics for total joint replacement, “Mommy and Me” (for parents and their children under 4 years of age), PiYo (a combination of pilates and yoga) and Zumba. Visit www.faxtonstlukes.com/wellness for more information. Call 315-624-5484 or email wellness@mvnhealth.com to reserve a spot or purchase a pre-paid punch card.
Nov. 8
Grief survivors face the holidays Grief Survivors will present “Surviving the Holidays!” from 6–7:30 p.m. Page 18
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Nov. 8 or Dec. 16 at The Good News Center, 10475 Cosby Manor Road, Utica. For more information, contact Melissa at 315-735-6210 ext. 228, Melissa@TheGoodNewsCenter.org or visit www.TheGoodNewsCenter.org.
Nov. 10
Support forum for patients, cancer survivors The Regional Cancer Center’s monthly support forum for patients and cancer survivors will be held at 6 p.m. Nov. 10. The cancer support forum meets at 6 p.m. on the second Monday of every month in The Regional Cancer Center’s Fireplace Lounge on the main floor of Faxton Campus, 1676 Sunset Ave., Utica. Guest speaker will be Gerda Mortelette, a health benefit navigator from Mohawk Valley Perinatal Network. She will talk about the New York State Health Insurance Exchange and insurance options for open enrollment. Light refreshments will be served. For more information or to RSVP, call 315-624-5241.
Nov. 11
Faxton St. Luke’s to host blood drive Faxton St. Luke’s Healthcare will host a blood drive from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Nov. 11 in Allen-Calder Conference Rooms 3, 4 and 5 at the St. Luke’s Campus, 1656 Champlin Ave., Utica. Guests are asked to enter through Allen-Calder entrance 7 at the back of the campus. More than 38,000 blood donations are needed each day in the United States, but only 38 percent of the population is eligible to donate. One donor can help save or sustain up to three lives. For more information or to make an appointment, call 315-624-8259. Registration is also available online at www.redcrossblood.org.
Nov. 13
Explore wonders of centering prayer The Rest in God Prayer Group meets from 6-8 p.m. on the second and fourth Thursdays of the month at The Good News Center, 10475 Cosby Manor Road, Utica. The next meeting is Nov. 13. For more information, call Diana at 831-5946 or email her at lovericd@ gmail.com. To register, call Tanya at 735-6210 or visit TheGoodNewsCenter.org.
Never underestimate the power of positive thinking
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ast November, I remember a trend across social media was to take all the days leading up to Thanksgiving and say one thing you were thankful for each day. What a great way to change your way of thinking. Instead of focusing on the negative, more and more people identified what makes them happy and thankful. It can be so difficult to change when many things can boggle our minds. Feeling overwhelmed and stressed seems so much easier to fall to because it can be more convenient to just run away from it or hide instead of standing up to it. Stress is wasteful. Where does it get us? It leads to Pastorella us feeling unhealthy, unhappy and uncomfortable. I don’t know about you, but I am UN-comfortable with this notion. I acknowledge the benefits of being healthy and happy so much because I believe we do have the power to control how we feel. If we stand tall, be proud of who we are and what we have, then nothing can get us down. Going back to being thankful, this is the time of year to celebrate all we have, but positive thinking can go a long way. I am sure last year many more people were happy because they recognized what made them that way. I firmly believe social media will explode this year at Thanksgiving time with people announcing their blessings in life.
Count your blessings
Whether you participate in social media or not, take the time to look at what makes you thankful. Count your blessings and spread happiness. In your lowest moments, positive thinking will help you quickly overcome grouchy demons. Along the lines of positive thinking, I wanted to share a book called “Flights of Fancy” by Bernadette Bland. Bland, from New York’s Capital District area, fearlessly reveals the beauty in life’s daily struggles and encourages positive thinking with rhythmic poetry. “I tried to express the emotions we all experience in this world of which
IN GOOD HEALTH – Mohawk Valley’s Healthcare Newspaper • November 2014
we are such an integral part,” said Bland. “I hope to share this rhythmical creation with readers everywhere.” According to www.mayoclinic. org, researchers continue to explore the effects of positive thinking and optimism on overall health. Some benefits that positive thinking may provide include increased life span, lower rates of depression, greater resistance to the common cold, better coping skills during hardships and times of stress, and reduced risk of death from cardiovascular disease. We often hear the saying, “Life is a rollercoaster,” and it’s true. Everyone experiences a compilation of emotional highs and lows throughout life. Bland’s book is an example of an imagination set free that will encourage readers to step into the sunshine of life and never be deterred from their heart’s true desires. Presenting yourself with a positive attitude and thoughts will change your perspective instantly. If you are having some bad luck, stresses or feeling low in life, as Peter Pan once said, “Think happy thoughts.” • Amylynn Pastorella is a contributing writer for Mohawk Valley In Good Health. To reach Amy, send correspondence to In Good Health, 4 Riverside Drive, Suite 251, Utica, 13502 attn: Amy or email her at acesangle@ gmail.com.
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Fire on Ice Fire victims get support in Mohawk Valley through hockey fundraiser By Patricia J. Malin
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hildren who become victims of fires sometimes suffer long-term physical and emotional scars. Seeing them this way tugs at Mitch Dryer’s heart. “A lot of them have burns from a lot of ways, from house fires, campfires, accidents,” said the retired Oneida City firefighter. “They were just in the wrong place at the wrong time through no fault of their own.” Ever since his own accident in 2007, Dryer has felt a sense of responsibility for young victims, leading him to volunteer for the Burn Foundation of Central New York. “I feel bad for the kids,” he added. “I knew the risks of being a firefighter, but I never thought about getting injured. Some of the kids end up being scarred, but some others don’t show the scars.” As a passionate volunteer, Dryer has been helping others behind the scenes. On Nov. 8, he will be in the spotlight as the guest of honor at Fire on Ice II, a special hockey game at the Kennedy Arena in Rome to benefit the Burn Foundation of CNY. Firefighters from Utica-Rome, Syracuse and Washington, D.C. will take to the ice for a pair of games that day. A team from Utica-Rome will challenge the Syracuse firefighters in the opening game at 3:30 p.m. Around 6 p.m., Dryer will drop the ceremonial puck in a featured game between the local firefighters combined versus a team from Washington. D.C. Dryer, 41, grew up in Oneida, the son of a volunteer firefighter and dreamed of a career with the fire department. His father, Mitch Sr., was a lifetime member of the Verona Fire Department for 40 years. “I was always around the firehouse and got to ride in the truck with him,” Dryer recalled. In 2002, he took the civil service test for firefighting and scored 95. He joined the city of Oneida’s paid fire department in June 2005. Shortly thereafter, Dryer enlisted in the Army National Guard. Following basic training, he was assigned to the Department of Defense Fire Academy in San Angelo, Texas, where he completed firefighter, hazardous materials and airport rescue firefighting classes. From September 2006 to January 2007, Dryer was deployed to the Middle East as part of Operation Iraqi Freedom. When he returned home, he took advantage of a veteran’s exemption and returned to his job in Oneida.
Fateful evening
On the night of April 22, 2007, firefighters were called to the City Lanes bowling alley in Oneida. Dryer recalled they didn’t see any indication of a fire at first. With his fellow firefighter, Dan Cowles, Dryer entered the back of the building, which had been the site of an old movie theater dating from the 1920s. As they began inspecting the ceiling tiles, flames erupted and the ceiling suddenly collapsed. Both firefighters were trapped under debris. Cowles found himself under a table that shel-
tered him somewhat and he eventually pushed his way out. Realizing his partner was still trapped, Cowles yelled “mayday” and firefighters rushed to his rescue. “Everything suddenly went black,” Dryer remembered of the fateful moment. He was trapped roughly for 20 to 30 minutes. He was rushed to Oneida Hospital, but later transferred by Mercy Flight helicopter to the Clark Burn Center at University Hospital in Syracuse. He suffered third- and fourth-degree burns to his face and neck and a devastating injury to his right arm. He was placed in a medically induced coma temporarily. The 34-year-old’s arm required amputation. He was hospitalized two full months. He spent two years in outpatient rehabilitation. He said he was fortunate that his medical bills were covered by worker’s compensation. He credited the nurses and therapists at the Clark Burn Center and volunteers at the Burn Foundation in Syracuse with encouraging him to look to the future and not dwell on the accident. “I never suffered from depression,” he said. “Virtually from the get-go, they told me to get involved. I never had negative thoughts. I don’t know what it was, but I’ve never been one to sit on the sidelines. I’d rather be active. I don’t know what motivates me to volunteer. I guess it’s God’s grace.” It’s not unusual that accident victims and amputees experience emotional and physical problems. This is when Burn Foundation volunteers enter the picture. Dryer’s appearance is both startling and reassuring to the children. “The first thing kids ask me is, ‘What happened to your arm?’” he said, noting he doesn’t always wear his prosthesis. “Then they notice that my ear is missing, too.”
Concept is born
At one time during his rehab, Dryer was sent to Washington, D.C., for two days as part of a research project to fit firefighters with prostheses. While there, he met Greg Smith, a Baltimore (now D.C.) firefighter and native of Frankfort, outside Utica. Smith struck up a conversation with Dryer and mentioned his involvement with benefit hockey games for firefighters. When Dryer returned home, he collaborated with Jim Ennis, the chairman of the Burn Foundation of CNY, and other firefighters into starting a local version of the hockey benefit game for burn victims. After an 18-month effort, Fire on Ice made its debut in 2013. Smith, who never was seriously injured while fighting fires, has been instrumental nonetheless in enlisting his fellow firefighters to travel to Rome for the Fire on Ice tournament the last two years.” “Last year’s inaugural game raised nearly $4,000 for the Burn Foundation of CNY and we are striving to double that donation,” said volunteer organizer Michelle Crippen. The proceeds from the game help the Burn Foundation sponsor its annu-
Mitch Dryer is shown with his wife Aimee. al burn camp for children. Dryer has chaperoned children at the summer camp for several years. The Burn Foundation of Central New York is a federally registered 501(c)(3), nonprofit organization committed to burn support, awareness and prevention in 32 counties throughout New York state, from the Canadian border to Pennsylvania. Dryer has also dedicated himself to helping firefighters be more aware of the dangers of the profession, recently completing the Washington, D.C. Firefighter Burn Foundation’s course in firefighter burn awareness. Dryer and his wife, Aimee, are the parents of 4-year-old twins, Daniel and Emeri. The couple has completed the Garage Gym Trainers program and plan to work with clients in the fire service and with military veterans who
Health
have been injured in the line of duty. J.R. Martinez, an Army veteran, TV actor and motivational speaker, is also expected to make a guest appearance at Fire On Ice. Martinez suffered devastating injuries after his Humvee struck an explosive device while serving in Iraq. He not only learned to walk again, but became the winner of “Dancing With the Stars” in season 13. Tickets are available at Rome’s main firehouse on Black River Boulevard and at firehouses throughout Utica and Syracuse. Tickets are $5 and will be limited to 1,200. Donations may be claimed as tax-deductible contributions. For further information, contact fireonicehockey315@gmail.com or organizers John Stephens (315-9850669), Kyle Stephens (315-534-1351) or Crippen (315-269-3502).
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November 2014 •
IN GOOD HEALTH – Mohawk Valley’s Healthcare Newspaper
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Spotlight on Nonprofits
The Rescue Mission
Organization in Utica a constant in helping the Mohawk Valley’s needy By Mary Christopher
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he Rescue Mission of Utica has served the local community for almost 125 years and shows no signs of slowing down as it continues to be a beacon for those in need or in crisis. Always keeping in mind its mission statement of assessing and meeting the physical, emotional and spiritual needs of people coming for assistance, The Rescue Mission has grown into a faith-based, multi-service, nonprofit charitable organization that operates 24 hours a day, 365 days a year. “As needs in the community changed our services expanded and we continue to see if these needs are met and if we could do more,” said Ernie Talerico, director of operations. “We could not do this without our volunteers and wonderful support from our community.” The Rescue Mission provides lodging, food, clothing, case management, counseling, advocacy, education, referrals and support services for individuals overcoming homelessness, abuse, addictions and disabilities. In 2013, the organization provided more than 45,000 nights of care, served almost 131,000 hot meals and distributed around 16,600 food boxes to shut-ins and underprivileged families — a 14.8 percent increase compared to 2012 that represents an additional 81,000 meals.
So much to offer
The mission’s goal is to provide hurting people with the tools they need to become productive members of society. A chapel fills the spiritual component with non-denominational services, morning devotionals, bible studies and countless other programs address the poverty, unemployment, homelessness, mental illness and addiction cases The Rescue Mission sees every day. Located on Rutger Street, the organization is a hub for those in need. It includes a campus of several buildings that provide housing shelters, resident programs, outreach programs, Page 20
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Deerfield’s Dale Litz attends to cooking duties at The Rescue Mission of Utica. a community kitchen, food pantry and learning center — just to name a few. As the need for services are in constant demand, administrators would like to see more space acquired for expansion. Shelters are almost always filled to capacity and there is usually a waiting list for a bed in the Enriched Living Center for adult men and women with mental illness, Talerico said. “We are actively looking at where needs are and what services are lacking in our entire area,” said Debi Kenyon, director of development. “We don’t want to duplicate services, but if there is a legitimate need, we want to fill that.”
Community steps up
The Rescue Mission operates on a $3.7 million budget and employs around 95 employees. There are more than 300 Rescue Missions in the United States, but Utica’s Rescue Mission is independent and not affiliated with any of the others. While the organization receives government funding and makes a small profit from rental incomes, donations and grants are crucial in helping it survive. Fundraisers are held throughout the year, most recently being the recent
popular “Gourmet Guys to the Rescue” charity event. Nonperishable food items are constantly needed for food boxes that are distributed daily and are used as a supplement for many families, Kenyon said. Clothing is always accepted as many who go there have few clothes and others who are completing programs and entering the workplace need suits or other garments to move forward.
True success story
Someone who holds the Rescue Mission’s services and outreach close to his heart is its food service director, Dale Litz. The Deerfield resident, 34, came to the Rescue Mission in 2007 struggling with a serious drug and alcohol problem. He arrived at the Addiction Crisis Center with a small bag of clothes and later spent over seven months at the Parker House Residential Program. Once he was on the road to recovery, Litz worked on academic and vocational skills at the Morris Learning Center. As Litz began to set the foundation he needed to start a new life, he realized he had talents as a chef. From
IN GOOD HEALTH – Mohawk Valley’s Healthcare Newspaper • November 2014
The Rescue Mission, he was accepted into the Culinary Institute of America in Hyde Park and graduated with degrees in culinary arts and culinary management. Litz and his wife, Kari, were married by the Rescue Mission’s chaplain Rick Johnson in 2012 and are expecting their first child, a daughter, due this month. “I first arrived here with a Godsized hole and filled it with everything but God,” Litz said. “Today I see people and they will say, ‘You don’t know what I’m going through,’ and I can honestly tell them yes I do.” He credits his recovery and empowerment to Talerico, who was director of the Parker House when Litz was a resident, and the staff at the Rescue Mission who always provided encouragement, guidance and resources. Today, Litz heads an immaculate kitchen and oversees a staff of eight employees and several volunteers. He prides himself on bringing organizational leadership and a professional culinary experience into the kitchen that includes creativity and diversity to the dining room tables. By not serving typical “soup kitchen” menu items, interesting dishes offered include Jamaican jerk chicken with sweet sauce and Hungarian goulash amongst the occasional sloppyjJoes. As the holidays approach, Litz is expecting to serve 1,300 eat-in or takeout meals per day on Thanksgiving and Christmas. It’s typical for people to remember the less fortunate this time of year as the holidays and cold weather move in, but Litz stressed it is important to think of them all year as the organization relies heavily on food and monetary donations. The Rescue Mission of Utica is located at 212 Rutger St., Utica. For information on programs, donating or volunteering, call 797-1645. Urgent items needed include warm clothing, socks, hats and gloves for men and women, turkeys for dinners served at the mission and to be donated to families in need and a variety of non-perishable foods.