Gv igh 108 aug14

in good sex talk Delano Frazier, 18, is a peer mentor for Safe Sex Inc., a youth leadership program in Rochester that helps teens talk about sex with their parents

August 2014 • Issue 108

FREE

Rochester–Genesee Valley Healthcare Newspaper

Better Health?

Get Married Studies show married couples live longer than single counterparts Page 15

Not Healthy After All Study: A little alcohol may not be good for your heart after all

Dealing with Back Pain — the Alternatve Way Chief of radiation oncology at Lipson, Dr. Meri Atanas discusses new approach to treating cancer

Writer Launches Weight Loss Book Deborah Jeanne Sergeant, staff writer at In Good Health, Genesee Valley Healthcare Newspaper, has recently launched a book discussing weight loss. She is shown practicing martial arts as one of her fitness activities. Her book encourages people to find a vigorous hobby they enjoy to keep moving. Page 12

Page 14

August 2014 •

Meet the WNY Wreckers The WNY Wreckers is a Rochester-area wheelchair rugby team that meets twice a week.

Co-founder Jerremy Lorch said he’s been able to get the exercise he needs without going to the gym. “Bottom line: It’s fun,” he said.

Page 10

IN GOOD HEALTH – Rochester / Genesee Valley Healthcare Newspaper

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Page 1

A Little Alcohol May Not Be Good for Your Heart After All New gene-focused review suggests that cutting down on drinking is always heart-healthy

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new study challenges the widely held belief that light drinking of alcohol may be good for your heart.

Researchers analyzed more than 50 studies that examined drinking habits and heart health in more than 260,000 people.

They found that those with a form of a gene tied to lower levels of drinking generally had healthier hearts. The gene affects how a person’s body breaks down alcohol, resulting in unpleasant symptoms such as nausea and facial flushing. Having this variant has been shown to lead to lower drinking over the long term, the researchers explained.

On average, people with the gene had lower blood pressure, lower body-mass index (an estimate of body fat based on height and weight) and a 10 percent lower risk of heart disease.

The results suggest that cutting alcohol intake — even for light-to-moderate drinkers — benefits heart health, according to the authors of the

study in the July 11 issue of the BMJ. “While the damaging effects of heavy alcohol consumption on the heart are well-established, for the last few decades we’ve often heard reports of the potential health benefits of light-to-moderate drinking,” study senior author Juan Casas, a professor of epidemiology at the London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine, said in a university news release.

“However, we now have evidence that some of these studies suffer from limitations that may affect the validity of their findings.

“In our study, we saw a link between a reduced consumption of alcohol and improved cardiovascular health, regardless of whether the individual was a light, moderate or heavy drinker,” Casas said. The study could only show an association between the two, however, it couldn’t prove cause-and-effect.

Further large-scale gene studies are needed to confirm these findings, the researchers said.

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ransplant surgeon and researcher Christopher Barry in June presented new data analysis at the Donate Life America Annual Meeting in Baltimore that indicates the average number of people who die each year before they can receive a lifesaving organ transplant is nearly 11,000 or 30 people every day.

“That is the equivalent of 22 jumbo jets crashing every year with no survivors,” Barry said.

Since 1999, the donation and transplantation community has cited that the number of people who die while on the national transplant waiting list has hovered around 6,500 a year, or 18 a day. However, this does not take into account the more than 4,000 people who are removed from the waiting list every year due to being “too sick to transplant.”

“Being removed from the list because you are ‘too sick to transplant’ is generally not a good sign,” said Barry.

“For people with end-stage liver, heart or lung failure, it usually means that they will die in a short period of time.

There are certainly some people who can get back on the list because they are no longer ‘too sick,’ but they are in the minority.”

In addition, Donate Life America released the seventh annual National Donor Designation Report Card, which reports 117 million people had enrolled in various state donor registries by the end of 2013. While the number of registered donors continues to rise steadily,

IN GOOD HEALTH – Rochester / Genesee Valley Healthcare Newspaper • August 2014

it has not increased quickly enough to meet the needs of the growing national transplant waiting list.

According to Organ Procurement and Transplantation Network (OPTN), the waiting list has grown from 65,313 to 123,089 since 1999 — nearly a twofold increase. Those who are taken off the waiting list for being “too sick” has increased almost four-fold over that same period. Despite the clinical success of transplant therapy for end stage organ failure, the number of transplants performed has remained generally flat for the past decade.

“We must consider those who die after being taken off the waiting list for being ‘too sick to transplant’ as victims of the national organ shortage, because a donor organ did not come in time for them to be transplanted and restored to health.” says David Fleming, President and CEO of Donate Life America. “We can end this public health crisis by increasing the number of registered donors, promoting preventive health initiatives and encouraging people to consider living donation.”

Barry added, “It’s important to note that the equivalent of 56 jumbo jets, or 28,000 people, land safely and successfully each year through lifesaving transplants from both deceased and living donors. Donation is proven to save lives. We just need more of it.”

To register as a donor or for more information about donation please visit www.donatelife.net.

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August 2014 •

IN GOOD HEALTH – Rochester / Genesee Valley Healthcare Newspaper

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Page 3

CALENDAR of

HEALTH EVENTS

Aug. 4, 5

Child Care Council hosting active play workshop

Child Care Council Inc. is hosting a workshop for child care providers and early educators to provide tips for helping children under the age of 5 develop active play habits.

The active play workshop is intended to help alleviate childhood obesity, the most prevalent health concern facing children under five-yearsold in New York state. Attendees will learn fun, developmentally appropriate physical activities that work well in homes, child care centers and preschool classrooms. Instructors are Diane H. Craft, Ph.D., a professor of physical education at SUNY Cortland, and Patty Persell, the New York state Head Start collaboration director.

Intended for family child care providers, home visitors, UPK, child care, Head Start, nursery school teachers and administrators, the workshop is being offered in two sessions – from 6 – 9 p.m. Aug. 4, or from 9 a.m. to noon Aug. 5. Attendees will receive training credit and resources for their program.

There is a per-session fee of $5 to attend the workshop, and registration is required. People can register by email at course-reg@childcarecouncil. com or by downloading the registration form at childcarecouncil.com and sending the completed form to Child Care Council, 595 Blossom Road, suite 120, Rochester, NY 14610.

Aug. 5

Author to speak at vegetarian dinner The public is invited to a gathering of the Rochester Area Vegetarian Society (RAVS) to hear Will Tuttle, author of “The World Peace Diet,” speak on “Time to Wake Up! Be Healthy, Save the Planet.”

Tuttle is a former zen buddhist monk, a composer and pianist, and a philosopher of modern culture who

talks about widespread adoption of a vegan diet as the way to heal the world. He travels widely to spread his message of compassion and planetary awakening. Tuttle’s book and CDs will be available for sale and signing after the program.

It will take place at 5:30 p.m., Aug. 5, at Brighton Town Park Lodge, 777 Westfall Road.

The event will include a vegan potluck. Participants are asked to bring a dish with enough to serve a crowd, and a serving utensil. Organizers can help non-vegetarians or others uncertain about how to make or bring a vegan dish. Call 234-8750 for more information.

Aug. 12

Fibromyalgia meeting to discuss pain management Richard Pakozdi, a licensed massage therapist from Advanced Health Therapy Center in Brockport, will be the speaker at a support group meeting organized by the Fibromyalgia Association of Rochester New York.

The meeting, which will, focus on pain management techniques, will take place between 7 – 8:30 p.m., Aug. 12, at Greece Town Hall Meeting Center, 1 Vince Tofany Blvd. in Rochester.

Pakozdi is a specialist in the treatment of chronic pain. He incorporates techniques such as neuromuscular therapy, orthopedic massage, myofascial release, Bowen technique and lessons learned from Olympic and professional athletes. He has diplomas and certifications from Bowen Academy of Australia, New York Institute of Massage, Core Institute School of Massage Therapy and Connecticut School of Integrated Manual Therapy.

The Fibromyalgia Association of Rochester New York (FARNY) was formed in spring 1993 to educate and inform others about fibromyalgia syndrome (FMS), as well as to serve as a support system.

For more information, visit www. farny.org, email publicity@farny.org or call 585-225-7515.

Free screenings for colon, cervical and breast cancers The Cancer Services Program of Ontario, Seneca and Yates counties (CSP) provides free screenings for colorectal, cervical and breast cancers for eligible men and women with little or no health insurance.

The CSP is grant-funded by the New York State Department of Heath.

Clifton Springs Hospital & Clinic is the grant holder of this program for all three counties.

Screenings are available by many providers throughout OntarPage 4

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io, Seneca and Yates Counties.

Men and women age 50 and older may be eligible for annual at-home colorectal cancer screening kits, women age 40 and older may be eligible for Pap and pelvic exams; mammograms and clinical breast exams are provided for eligible women age 40 and older and men with confirmed breast symptoms.

To schedule a screening or for more information, 1-866-442-CANCER (2262) or 315-462-0602.

Aug. 12

Free summer concert at Cherry Ridge

Mark Mazur and The Little Big Band from Buffalo will perform from 6:30 – 8 p.m., Aug. 12, at Cherry Ridge, a senior community in Webster. The concert is part of “Under the Start” summer concert series that started in July. The community at large is invited to attend the complimentary event on the Cherry Ridge lawn. Refreshments will be served and attendees are encouraged to bring their own lawn chairs. In case of inclement weather, concerts will be moved inside. Cherry Ridge is located off Ridge Road, one block west of Hegedorns. Cherry Ridge is part of St. Ann’s Community. For more information, call 585-697-6701 or visit www.cherryridgecommunity.com.

Aug. 14, 15, 16

Saint Anne Church sponsors ‘Next to New Sale’ The Saint Anne Church, located at 1600 Mount Hope Ave. in Rochester, is inviting the community to participate in its “Next to New Sale” event designed to raise funds for several church activities. This high quality sale includes clean home goods such as working small appliances and lamps, furniture, linens, jewelry, antiques, china and crystal, everyday kitchen items, children’s games and toys, arts and crafts, yard and garden items, religious items, and clean clothing.

The sale will be held from 9 a.m.

– 6 p.m. Aug. 14, 15, and 16 in the church’s social hall and lower level at 1600 Mount Hope Ave., Rochester. The social hall entrance is accessed from the parking lot located behind the church.

Hot dogs and beverages will be sold each sale day between 11 a.m. – 2 p.m.

For more information, call 585-4363215 or email mbparkes@frontiernet. net.

Aug. 23

‘Let’s Get Muddy’ event to benefit YMCA The YMCA of Greater Rochester will host its inaugural “Let’s Get Muddy” 5K mud run. Participants can run, walk or jog through the trails, pastures and woods of the muddy obstacle course while encountering 14 obstacles along the way. Obstacles include mud pits, tree hurdles, creek crossings, staircase runs, uphill slip-and-slides, slimy noodles and more. Following the event, the Camp Arrowhead facility will be open for participants and their families to enjoy a bouncing pillow, archery range and climbing tower, along with its swim center pool and splash pad.

The food truck rodeo will be on-site, both during and after the race.

Participants must be 13 years of age or older. Any child under the age of 18 years must submit a registration form that is signed by a parent or legal guardian. T-shirts are guaranteed to the first 200 pre-registered entrants.

The event is made possible by major sponsor Medved Running & Walking Outfitters, and supporting sponsors, Phoenix Graphics, Rochester Fitness & Cycling, and Rochester Food Truck Alliance. Registration begins at 7:30 a.m., Aug. 23, at YMCA Camp Arrowhead, 20 Arrowhead Road,

IN GOOD HEALTH – Rochester / Genesee Valley Healthcare Newspaper • August 2014

Pittsford. For more information, visit rochesterymca.org/lets-get-muddy or visit the Southeast YMCA branch. Early registration is $30 or $35 on the day of the race.

Aug. 30

Vegetarian group to be guest chef at public market The Rochester Area Vegetarian Society will demonstrate how to make a fresh veggie dish and provide delicious samples, as part of the weekly Flavors at the Market series sponsored by the market, Friends of the Rochester Public Market and the Rochester Democrat and Chronicle. The event will take place from 10 a.m. – noon, Aug. 30 at Rochester Public Market outside the market office, 280 N. Union St.

Events support prostate cancer initiatives September is national prostate cancer awareness month.

Readers can show support for those affected by prostate cancer in WNY by attending these regional events: • Aug, 16 – 17: The 2014 Kwik Fill Rochester International Air Show at the Greater Rochester International Airport, from 9 a.m.– 6 p.m. Tickets are required and the cost range is $20-50. Proceeds-in-part will benefit the Camp Good Days Prostate Cancer Program where the local prostate cancer support group known as Us TOO Rochester NY conducts monthly educational meetings for survivors and those who love or care for them. For tickets and more information, visit: www. kwikfillairshow.com or call 585348-8075.

• Aug. 23 – 24: A Summer Retreat! — For the first time, those diagnosed with prostate cancer are invited to enjoy a two-day summer retreat sponsored by Camp Good Days & Special Times in collaboration with Us TOO Rochester NY. All meals and comfortable overnight accommodations in cabins with indoor plumbing are provided at no cost. This is a great opportunity for survivors to get away from daily obligations or chores and enjoy the company of others who know what you’re going through. The retreat takes place at the 13-acre recreational site for Camp Good Days located in the middle of wine-country on beautiful Keuka Lake in Branchport. Those diagnosed with prostate cancer, no matter where they live, work or receive care, can attend either or both days to enjoy boating, fishing, hiking, swimming, educational discussions and much, much more. Advance registration is required. Register online or get more information at www.campgooddays.org or call 585-624-5555 and ask about the prostate cancer retreat.

Rochester Hospitals Plan to Reduce Medicaid Costs

R

ochester’s health systems are leading a consortium that includes more than 200 community-based organizations throughout the region that will work together to redesign the way that health care is delivered to the region’s 320,000 Medicaid recipients.

The goal is to reduce avoidable hospital admissions by 25 percent over five years by keeping patients healthier.

The consortium, called the Finger Lakes Performing Provider System, was established by leaders from UR Medicine, Rochester General Health System and Unity Health System. They are seeking funding from the state’s Delivery System Reform Incentive Payment program, or DSRIP, which has received an $8 billion waiver from the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services to fund efforts across New York aimed at improving quality and driving down costs.

“For decades, the Rochester region has been recognized nationally for its innovative and collaborative approach to quality healthcare,” said Mark C. Clement, president and CEO of the Rochester General Health System.

“We are proud to co-lead this planning grant aimed at fundamentally changing the way healthcare is provided to Medicaid patients in our region.

With this grant, and with the collaboration of literally hundreds of healthcare providers in our 14-county area, we expect to refine delivery systems that not only continue to control cost, but more importantly improve quality and access for patients.”

In addition to the hospitals, the consortium includes health planning organizations, physicians, nursing homes, behavioral health and substance abuse programs, social service agencies, and other programs that provide services across the 14-county area around Rochester. Representatives from the organizations have been meeting since April to develop a needs assessment and to consider projects that the consortium should undertake to reduce avoidable hospital admissions.

Potential projects include: • Creating additional primary care services and establishing “medical homes” for Medicaid patients, who often rely on hospital emergency departments for health care because they don’t have a doctor.

• Intervening immediately when Medicaid patients visit the emergency

department because they don’t have a primary care provider. New triage systems would be set up to immediately assign those patients a primary care provider.

• Co-locating behavioral health and primary care services in the same locations to simplify referrals.

• Expanding transportation options so patients don’t miss routine medical appointments, which can cause conditions such as diabetes or asthma to worsen, resulting in hospitalization.

• Expanding transitional housing and care options, so patients discharged from a hospital can receive proper care and avoid readmission.

“Rethinking the way we deliver services through the Medicaid program is an essential step toward bending the cost curve of health care,” said Steven I. Goldstein, president and CEO of Strong Memorial and Highland hospitals. “In New York, like in other states, our challenge is to implement strategies that achieve lower costs by keeping people healthier and avoiding hospitalizations.”

The Finger Lakes Health Systems Agency will work with the consortium’s other stakeholders over the next two months to complete a needs assessment that will inform the final project selection. A final grant application will be submitted to the state’s DSRIP program in December.

If funded, teams from across the consortium would begin work in early 2015 to launch the projects and measure their effectiveness.

“America’s health care industry is going through fundamental change,” said Warren Hern, president and CEO of Unity Health System. “We’re pleased to be part of the team that will keep our community healthier and embrace the new model of health care delivery by sharply focused on improving health care quality, affordability and access for our underserved patients.”

In 2011, New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo established the state’s Medicaid Redesign Team, a group of health care experts and stakeholders charged with redesigning the state’s Medicaid program, whose costs exceed $50 billion annually. The Medicaid Redesign Team is administering the DSRIP grant process that will fund regional efforts across the state to improve quality and outcomes while reducing the state’s Medicaid costs.

Serving Monroe, Ontario and Wayne Counties in good A monthly newspaper published by

Health Rochester–GV Healthcare Newspaper

Local News, Inc. Distribution: 30,000 copies. To request home delivery ($15 per year), call 585-421-8109.

In Good Health is published 12 times a year by Local News, Inc. © 2014 by Local News, Inc. All rights reserved.

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Editor & Publisher: Wagner Dotto • Associate Editor: Lou Sorendo • Writers: Jim Miller, Deborah J. Sergeant, Gwenn Voelckers, Anne Palumbo, Ernst Lamothe Jr. Chris Motola • Advertising: Donna Kimbrell, Marsha Preston • Layout & Design: Chris Crocker Officer Manager: Laura Beckwith

No material may be reproduced in whole or in part from this publication without the express written permission of the publisher. The information in this publication is intended to complement—not to take the place of—the recommendations of your health provider. Consult your physician before making major changes in your lifestyle or health care regimen.

August 2014 •

IN GOOD HEALTH – Rochester / Genesee Valley Healthcare Newspaper

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Q: Your practice has been described as “personalized cancer care.” Can you elaborate on what that means?

A: Certainly there are standards of care that we all abide by, but what’s really exciting in cancer care is that we’re now able to really target patient’s therapy toward the type of cancer that the client has. We can analyze the cancer genetically and find out that, even though you and another patient may both have breast cancer, a drug that works for them may not work for you.

We’re getting better outcomes and can often save people from the side effects of drugs that wouldn’t be helpful anyway. When I first entered oncology, one of my mentors at the time told me that, by the time I was established, I was going to be run out of business because all care would be targeted. It ended up taking longer to occur and still takes oncologists, but it’s happening now.

Q: I recently interviewed another oncologist who said that cancer treatment has become a multi-disciplinary affair. Has that been your experience?

A: Definitely. Because of the complexity of the care, all of the stuff specialists in oncology do: surgeons, pathologists, radiologists, radiation oncologists come together in forums we call multi-disciplinary tumor conferences to discuss the care of patients at the time of diagnosis. We really come together as a team to outline the care plan for each individual so that when we meet with them, we can walk them through the whole journey and explain our rationale. Now, the science for this type of treatment isn’t available for all cancers, but it in the research stages for most cancers and currently available for breast cancer.

IV cancer across the board are 5-year survivors. I present with, ‘cancer may not be a disease we can cure in every case, but it is something you can learn to live with, just like you can learn to live with managing diabetes or your blood pressure. It’s up to you to decide how you live with that disease.’

Q: Does your practice focus on specific types of cancer?

A: We all deal with the bread and butter of all oncology, but my particular areas of interest are breast cancer and prostate cancer.

Q: Do you deal with the diagnoses as well as the treatment?

A: I primarily deal with the treatment. I also deal with organizing thoughtful ways to lead people through their survivorship, so that when you’re done with your care, you don’t feel like we’re cutting the chord.

That used to create a lot of anxiety for patients. Our survivorship care plan gives them a summary of their pathology and the care they re-

Q: A cancer diagnosis is still probably one of the most frightening things you can hear out of your doctor’s mouth.

Have survival rates been trending up with all this new research and technology?

A: So even if you’re diagnosed with Stage IV breast cancer — meaning your cancer has spread — that no longer means that your time is automatically limited to months.

The majority of folks with Stage

IN GOOD HEALTH – Rochester / Genesee Valley Healthcare Newspaper • August 2014

ceived and outlines resources available to them. These plans are still in their infancy, but are an important part of where we’re taking cancer care.

Q: Chemotherapy is often cited as the perfect example of the cure being worse than the disease. With the newer treatments, are the side effects less severe?

A: Certainly some of the remedies do cause the unfortunate side effects, but the majority of people are able to continue working and lead a normal life. We have wonderful drugs that prevent the nausea. We have drugs that support their bone marrow so their blood cell count doesn’t drop. We’ve also been branching out to embrace some holistic Eastern medicine, particularly the use of ginger to combat nausea and acupuncture to help women with hot flashes. Insurance companies have also become more open to covering these procedures.

Q: Do you refer patients for psychiatric care related to their cancer diagnosis?

A: Another initiative we’ve started is a psycho-social stress test that all our patients take. That gives us a basis from which to direct the conversation. For many of the people I care for, I’m their therapist, but some need more than I can give them. We do have psychiatrists and psychologists in our community who we’ll refer those patients to. It’s very individualized and a huge part of caring for that person.

Q: You were born in Yugoslavia, but I don’t hear much of an accent.

A: My great-grandfather came to America during the Depression and slowly through the years the entire family emigrated. My family moved to Australia when I was 4, so when we eventually moved to Rochester, I had an Aussie accent. Kids and grade school weren’t kind about it, so I quickly learned to lose that. But when I go to Canada or something like that, I drop the Rochester accent.

Q: How did you get into medicine?

A: So I was originally to go into the Fashion Institute of New York and become a designer. My father, a very opinionated Eastern European immigrant, didn’t see much value in that.

He wanted me to pick a career where I’m guaranteed a job. I wanted to show him, so I decided I’d be a doctor. Along that journey, I brought my design and three-dimensional design viewpoint to radiation oncology, which was really helpful in the days before high-detail three-dimensional imaging. When I retire, I want to get back into some kind of design. Maybe architecture.

Lifeline Name: Meri Atanas, M.D. Hometown: Bitola, Yugoslavia Education: SUNY Binghamton, Tufts University (Boston) Affiliations: Chief of Radiation Oncology at Rochester General Health System Organizations: American College of Radiology, Breast Cancer Coalition of Rochester Family: Married, two daughters Hobbies: Gardening, aerobics, swimming

TEENS Tips for ‘The Talk’ Learning about how to talk to parents about sex

By Deborah Jeanne Sergeant

M

ovies, music, TV, magazines, billboards: all often depict aspects of sexuality. Yet try talking about sex with your parents, and you may not have an easy conversation, or get the straight story.

If you’re a preteen or teen wondering about sex, it’s important to talk with your parents.

Delano Frazier, 18, is a peer mentor for Safe Sex Inc., a youth leadership program in RochDelano Frazier, 18, is a peer mentor for Safe Sex Inc., a youth ester. He said that leadership program in Rochester. “I encourage teens to talk although The Talk can be awkward with their parents. I just asked my mom how comfortable she because teens don’t was talking about sex and took it from there,” he said. want to talk about what they do or are thinking about “Teens have purpose outside of sex doing, “I encourage teens to talk with and people should like them for who their parents. I just asked my mom how they are,” she said. “It’s worth waiting. comfortable she was talking about sex Teens need to figure out how to love and took it from there. If the parent is themselves without sex being part of comfortable, they can go further in the their lives. They need standards to help conversation.” them respect themselves.”

Frazier thinks that it’s important Successful Pathways is a ministry for teens to understand how they can of Rochester Youth for Christ. Many protect themselves from the health teens in the program already have chiland emotional implications of sexual dren and Phillips has observed what activity. leads to teen sexuality.

“Your body is very special,” Frazier She said a lot of teens want to feel said. “Maintain it to keep a healthy loved and secure and turn to sex as the lifestyle.” answer. She encourages teens to join Malik Jones, 18, is a SOAR Youth positive groups such as church-based Leadership Team member. The group teen groups or civic groups where they is part of the city of Rochester Comhave both activities to stay busy and prehensive Adolescence Pregnancy accountability to hold to their personal Prevention program. He advises teens standards of morality. to “be direct because you may not get “Be involved in something where the answer you are looking for if you you feel like you belong,” Phillips said. aren’t honest about the questions you “Find an adult mentor at school, a are asking.” social event or a spiritual venue. It can You may be surprised at your parhave a huge impact to see a positive ents’ positive reaction for taking charge lifestyle if you have a parent who’s of your health and thinking about your irresponsible or doesn’t give you a future. good sense of self standards or sexual “Find a time where you are both standards.” comfortable and it’s quiet, so they are able to listen and answer,” Jones added.

For example, when your family first arrives home from work and school is likely not a good time.

Some parents feel extremely uncomfortable discussing sex for many reasons. Others may joke about it or The National Institutes of Health not provide accurate information.

Melique Butler, also 18 and a SOAR (NIH) has awarded a five-year, $9 million Research Program Project member, encourages teens to look to Grant (PO1) to scientists in the School other resources if their parents cannot of Medicine and Dentistry to adapt talk with them about sex. and develop cutting-edge imaging “There are doctors, clinics, nurses, techniques, allowing them to view the health professionals, teen advocates, immune system while it is fighting sex educators,” Butler said. “Your peers may not be the best people to ask infection and disease.

“Usually we take snapshots of an because they may not have the correct inflamed tissue and look at how the information.” immune system is functioning in that Once equipped with the knowltissue at that particular time,” says edge you need about sex, you don’t principal investigator Deborah J. Fowhave to act on it. In fact, Kerri Phillips, ell, Ph.D., who is also dean’s associate program director of Successful Pathprofessor in microbiology and immuways, encourages teens to wait. nology at the school

Test again at

U of R Scientists Get $9 Million to Study Immune System in Action

August 2014 •

Lead paint poisons more than 300 kids in Monroe County every year. The damage to their brains and bones is permanent. Make sure your children are tested at one and again at two years old. Have your home tested today. You can get the information you need to protect your children. Call 585-224-3125. Or visit www.letsmakeleadhistory.org.

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IN GOOD HEALTH – Rochester / Genesee Valley Healthcare Newspaper

•

Page 7

Live Alone & Thrive

By Gwenn Voelckers

Practical tips, advice and hope for those who live alone

Finding Love in Unexpected Places

R

emember the song, “Looking for Love” by Johnny Lee? I recently heard it on an oldies radio station, and it inspired this column.

Need a reminder? Here is the chorus:

I was lookin’ for love in all the wrong places, Lookin’ for love in too many faces, Searchin’ their eyes, lookin’ for traces Of what I’m dreamin’ of, Hopin’ to find a friend and a lover I’ll bless the day I discover Another heart lookin’ for love.

August is as good a time as ever to remember that love comes in all sizes and shapes, colors and contrasts. Some love appears shiny and bright like last month’s Fourth of July fireworks. Other loves come in plain brown “sandwich” paper.

Few would argue that love — in all its many manifestations — makes life rich and full and worth living. But love, defined too narrowly, can spell heartbreak and disappointment for those who don’t have a special someone in his or her life.

In one of my most cherished books, “Life Lessons” by Dr. Elisabeth Kübler-

Ross and David Kessler, the authors make an important point: that we don’t always recognize love because we categorize it, declaring romantic love to be the only “real” kind of love.

Those of us who live alone can fall prey to that way of thinking. I’ve been guilty of thinking along these lines myself. But, thanks to time, introspection, and the teachings of others, I have broadened my perspective. I now see and enjoy meaningful connections everywhere I go, and it has made an amazing difference in my life. It may make a difference in your life, too.

Lately, some of my most intimate moments have been with an old high school friend, Terry.

Both divorced, we enjoy a comfortable brother-sister relationship that is as practical as it is profound. We attend work functions together, we hang out and help each other with household chores on weekends, we celebrate birthdays, and we are there for each other when we are facing life’s challenges. While not romantic in the classic sense of the term, there is no shortage of love in my relationship with Terry.

Many single people have what can

KIDS Corner Baby Gate-Related Injuries Nearly Quadrupled Since 1990 Researchers call for advances in gate design, increased caregiver education

I

f you are a parent, chances are you have used or will use a baby gate at some point. Baby gates are designed to help protect young children from stairs and other dangers around the home. If you use these in your home, take note. A new study from researchers in the Center for Injury Research and Policy at Nationwide Children’s Hospital has found gates can lead to injury if used incorrectly.

The study, published in the MayJune print issue of Academic Pediatrics, Page 8

•

is the first nationally representative study to examine injuries associated with these gates. From 1990 through 2010, emergency departments in the United States treated an estimated 37,673 children younger than 7 years of age for baby gate-related injuries. That is an average of 1,794 per year, or about five injured children per day.

More than 60 percent of the children injured were younger than 2, and they were most often injured by falls down stairs after a gate collapsed or

be described as “passionate friendships” — those relationships in which we feel completely comfortable and where we can express ourselves openly and honestly, without the complications that can sometimes come with sexual intimacy. I enjoy this kind of relationship with Terry, and my life is the richer for it.

We delight in each other’s company and, because of this relationship, I have discovered that intimacy is not the exclusive purview of romantic unions.

While you may not currently have someone special on your arm, it doesn’t mean you won’t find and enjoy love in your life. Love can be found in many unexpected places, even in incidental, accidental relationships.

I’ve discovered that every relationship, every encounter, however trivial, can deliver happiness and take us to a loving place. I lead a body conditioning class at my local YMCA once a week on Saturdays. I show up, members show up, and we immediately get to work, building strength and getting healthier. We’ve been working out together for years.

While these class members could be considered passing strangers, they

when it was left open, leading to soft tissue injuries like sprains and strains and traumatic brain injuries. Children aged 2 to 6 years old were most often injured by contact with the gate itself after climbing on it, which can lead to cuts.

“Baby gates are essential safety devices for parents and caregivers, and they should continue to be used,” said Lara McKenzie, the study’s co-author and a principal investigator in the Center for Injury Research and Policy at Nationwide Children’s Hospital. “It is important, however, to make sure you are using a gate that meets the voluntary safety standards and is the right type of gate for where you are planning to use it.”

McKenzie recommends parents think of pressure-mounted gates as products that should only be used as room dividers or at the bottom of stairs because those kinds of gates are not designed to withstand much force and will not prevent a fall down stairs.

For the top of the stairs, only gates that have hardware, which needs to be screwed into the wall or railing, will be strong enough to prevent a child from falling down the stairs.

The fact that the rate of injury associated with this safety product nearly quadrupled during the time period covered by the study, going from 3.9 per 100,000 children in 1990 to 12.5 per 100,000 children in 2010, shows more can be done to prevent these types of

IN GOOD HEALTH – Rochester / Genesee Valley Healthcare Newspaper • August 2014

have, instead, become people I care about and who care about me. “I show up because of you,” one long-time member said recently. That made me feel loved!

More recently, I have entered into what I hope will become a penpal relationship with an In Good Health reader who describes himself as a “rapidly aging male, hardly in your target audience.” That made me smile. While we’re not potential “dating material,” I can already tell we share a love of the written word and have lots in common.

We are both divorced and have been living alone for more than 30 years.

In his most recent email he shared, “I like my house, and find the single life acceptable and sometimes definitely superior (though occasionally not) to anything else.” My thoughts exactly!

My advice to you this summer: Recognize the potential for love and intimacy in the world around you. Reach out and make real connections with the people you meet and interact with during your daily routines. Look them in the eye, hear what they have to say, and share what’s in your heart.

If you are not in an intimate relationship, it doesn’t mean that your life won’t be filled with richness, love and special moments. Count your blessings for the many opportunities for human warmth that exist and for the magic in the connections we experience every day, no matter how seemingly insignificant. Love is the wonder that surrounds us. With an open heart, you won’t miss this life-giving and lovefilled gift.

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

injuries. Study researchers recommended a combination of efforts to educate families on correct ways to use gates and changes in gate design to reduce these types of injuries.

Tips to help reduce gate-related injuries • Use hardware-mounted baby gates at the top of stairways. Gates that only press against walls, called pressure-mounted gates, are not secure enough to prevent falls.

• Install gates in homes with children between 6 months and 2 years of age.

• If possible, remove the gates when the child turns 2, or when the child has learned to open the gate or climb over it.

• If removing a gate is not possible because of other children in the home, use a gate without notches or gaps that could be used for climbing.

I Say URMC, You Say Strong Memorial Hospital After new name — UR Medicine — officials say they see positive results

By Ernst Lamothe Jr.

R

ebranding occurs for many reasons. Earlier this year, the University of Rochester Medical Center introduced the community to UR Medicine, which encompasses the patient care providers affiliated with the university, including Strong Memorial Hospital and its inpatient and outpatient components such as the Golisano Children’s Hospital, Wilmot Cancer Center, Flaum Eye Institute, Strong West and dozens of clinics, lab stations, physician practices and more throughout the region.

Its large medical empire also encompasses Highland Hospitals, Withers affiliated nursing homes, Thompson Health, University of Rochester Medical Faculty Group and Eastman Dental. Previously, these organizations were referred to as components of the University of Rochester Medical Center or URMC. “In the past, Berk this name successfully distinguished us as an academic health system,” said Karl Withers, chief marketing officer for the UR Medicine medical system. “But our network has grown. There are several new collaborations with hospitals in outlying areas.

These changes have transformed how we are delivering care and that has led to some confusion. Patients tell us that they think of URMC as a place rather than a system of providers. In fact, many believe that URMC is synonymous with Strong Memorial Hospital.”

After hearing that misconception

from the community and talking with a number of people within the organization, officials decided they needed a new brand that was easier to understand and does a better job at conveying who they are.

To more clearly convey that, Withers said, the organization went back to the drawing board. They wanted something that would keep its university affiliation front and center; also create a name that would stand for the common experience that patients and families are being promised at every location where they provide care. They looked at how institutions like John Hopkins, Duke, Penn, Stanford and others have tackled this problem because they are all also associated with a university setting. The whole process took more than a year before it was launched in 2014.

“We chose UR Medicine because it represents a special kind of care, one that combines the advantages of leading-edge research and teaching top-tier clinicians,” added Withers. “More than that, the name itself is a constant reminder of our focus on our patients and their needs. The goal is to clarify and strengthen our identity as an integrated health system delivering the highest level of care to our community and our region. We want our patients and referring doctors to recognize the breadth and ubiquity of our services.”

To educate the community about the rebranding, they launched an all-

out media blitz with TV, outdoor and print advertising.

They also launched a new patient care website; www.urmc. rochester.edu/patients-families/mychart/ “The new brand brings clarity, consistency, and visibility to a growing family of health care providers,” said physician Bradford C. Berk, CEO of URMC and UR Medicine. “In the last few years, we’ve expanded immensely.

As we grow, the UR Medicine brand will let patients know where they can access our services.”

Berk said in a short time, the health care system continues to increase their presence in the community and region.

And he believes that will be great for the public at large as well as the staff within medical organization. He views this as just the beginning to show the community the ways UR Medicine will be there for them in the future.

“Remarkable things happen every day within UR Medicine,” said Berk.

“Patients facing formidable odds are given new hope and treated with skill and compassion. Launching this new brand is not only a chance for us to share those stories, it’s an opportunity to re-inspire all 18,000 employees to consistently become ever better.”

While it is still early, Withers believes there has been several significantly positive results of the new rebranding since its introduction. “Our internal audiences have been quick to embrace the new brand and adopt its use,” he added. “And our affiliates, Thompson Health and Highland Hospital have both been among the first in the overall system to implement the new brand in signage and other materials.”

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Highland Hospital Introduces New Cancer Treatment

H

ighland Hospital has completed a 14-month, $3.3 million renovation of its radiation oncology unit including new technology investments to enhance care and bring additional treatment options to cancer patients in the Rochester area.

Highland’s radiation oncology unit, which delivers more than 30,000 treatments each year, has been reconfigured and completely refurbished.

Relocation of its entrance, patient registration and treatment areas offers added convenience and comfort for patients, and a more efficient space for physicians and staff to deliver care.

Radiation therapy uses high-energy radiation to shrink tumors and kill cancer cells; new technology investments at Highland are enhancing care and expanding the unit’s treatment options. Highland recently added

RapidArc Radiotherapy technology from Varian Medical Systems; the technology is much faster than conventional radiotherapy and reduces a patient’s treatment time by as much as 50 percent.

Cancer patients often undergo daily radiation treatments for several weeks at a time and must lie completely still on a treatment table while radiation therapy is administered. Cutting a treatment session from 20 minutes to 10, for example, improves patient comfort and the quality of care delivered.

Another new technology at Highland is a “4D” CT scanner, which radiation oncologists use to monitor each patient’s unique breathing cycle and see how the patient’s tumor moves as he or she breathes. This enables radiation oncologists to more precisely define the radiation target and protect

healthy tissue from radiation.

Highland recently became the first radiation oncology program in the greater Rochester area to offer high dose-rate prostate brachytherapy.

Traditional prostate cancer treatments include repeated daily external radiation treatments and/or implantation of radioactive seeds in the prostate to kill cancer cells at the site. High dose-rate brachytherapy uses tiny, hollow catheters, which are temporarily inserted directly into the tumor to kill cancer cells. This approach can shorten a patient’s treatment schedule; for many cancer types, the entire brachytherapy treatment takes one to two days, rather than five to seven weeks for external beam radiation therapy.

Highland Hospital’s radiation oncology program is part of the Wilmot Cancer Institute.

August 2014 •

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IN GOOD HEALTH – Rochester / Genesee Valley Healthcare Newspaper

•

Page 9

Jerremy Lorch handles the ball during a scrimmage. Lorch is one of the two co-founders of the WNY Wreckers.

David Sprout reaches for the ball during a scrimmage.

WNY Wreckers Provides an Outlet for Wheelchair-bound How to join M any people who get bored with going to the gym day after day find it difficult discovering a new way to get exercise. But looking for another physical activity becomes more of a challenge when you’re a quadriplegic. Members of WNY Wreckers have a found a way to exercise that is both challenging and fun.

The WNY Wreckers is a Rochester-area wheelchair rugby team that meets twice a week.

Member Jerremy Lorch said he’s been able to get the exercise he needs without going to the gym, which can be monotonous. “Bottom line: It’s fun,” he said about his rugby game.

Lorch, who is a full-time student at the SUNY Brockport, said that being on the team has encouraged him to focus on his physical goals. “It makes me focus,” Lorch said. “It’s the only way I get exercise.”

Member David Sprout said that it’s extremely important to get exercise as a quad, short for quadriplegic, as it increases lung function and cardiovascular fitness, and decreases the occurrence of bladder infections.

“It’s exercising that doesn’t feel like exercising,” he said. Sprout owns the business C6 Mobility that specializes in mobility aids for the disabled.

Being involved in the rugby team has encouraged Sprout to set physical goals for himself including to be strong, be faster, increase endurance.

“I don’t think I got this strong this fast in physical therapy in five years,” he said. “You have to have the endurance to keep up.”

The name “rugby” is a misnomer, Lorch said, as the game doesn’t share a lot of similarities with rugby. The one similarity Lorch has noticed is that “you have to carry the ball across the goal line.”

Wheelchair rugby was developed in Canada in 1977 by quadriplegic athletes who were looking for an alternative to wheelchair basketball.

Originally called murderball, the sport is now officially recognized by the Page 10

•

International Paralympic Committee as a full medal Paralympic sport.

“You just can’t call it murderball and have it be in the Olympics,” Sprout joked.

Players travel with the ball to the opposing team’s goal line to score a point. The sport is characterized by often aggressive contact between players to stop the other team from crossing the goal line.

“There are a lot of basics from other sports,” Lorch said. “There’s pick and roll from basketball and staying in your lane like hockey.” Lorch explained that pick and roll is an offensive play for a player to get open.

Each player is assigned a rating from 0.5 to 3.5 depending on their level of ability. Quads come in many forms, Lorch said. According to the International Wheelchair Rugby Federation, “[m]ost players have spinal cord injuries with full or partial paralysis of the legs and partial paralysis of the arms. Other disability groups who play include cerebral palsy, muscular dystrophy, amputations, polio, and other neurological conditions.” The total rating of the players on the court on each team cannot exceed eight. The higher the ability, the higher the level, Lorch said.

The players use specially made wheelchairs with a defensive chair that is for those with 0.5 to 1.5 classifications and the offensive chair is made for those with 2.0 to 3.5 classifications.

“The lower point chairs have a pick jam in the wheels,” Sprout said. This is used to block higher-point players, whose chairs have fenders on the front to move through barricades.

“Each person has a different role,” Lorch said. Those who have more limited abilities act as the defense to block high point players while high point players who act as the offense are looking to move the ball across the opposing team’s goal line.

The WNY Wreckers were formed in August 2013. Founding members Lorch and Chris Hilderbrant, with

The WNY Wreckers are looking for new members. To join, visit their Facebook page or their website at www.WNYWreckers. com.

the assistance of Buffalo-based Luther Vucic, saw the need for wheelchair rugby in Rochester.

Lorch’s initial interest stemmed from the 2005 documentary “Murderball” that follows the rivalry between the U.S. and Canadian teams in the 2004 Paralympic Games. “The first time I ever heard about it was through the movie ‘Murderball.’ I hadn’t seen it before I got hurt but I watched it after I got hurt,” Lorch said.

Lorch experienced a spinal cord injury during a diving accident in 2009 on a friend’s boat. Lorch was heading to the beach and dove in headfirst into what he thought was deep water. His paralysis was “instantaneous,” he said.

After his injury, Lorch was interested in joining a team sport as he played many sports before his accident.

“Really, the only thing you hear about is wheelchair basketball,” he said. “I hated that as much as I hated regular basketball.” That’s when Lorch became interested in wheelchair rugby.

Sprout was more reluctant to get involved.

“I kept saying ‘no’ because I was in a power chair,” he said. But once he got a manual, “I was just looking for reasons to get out.” Sprout had played sports before he experienced a recurrence of a tumor in his spinal cord.

After his initial diagnosis at age 13, Sprout had to use crutches or a wheelchair if he wanted to go long distances.

At 28, the tumor returned and he could no longer move from the shoulders down.

For Sprout, the WNY Wreckers was a way to meet new people but he quickly fell in love with the sport.

“It’s absolutely inspiring every

IN GOOD HEALTH – Rochester / Genesee Valley Healthcare Newspaper • August 2014

day,” he said. “You have the same kind of guys, same kind of situation, same attitude.” There’s just strength “not fear,” he said.

Lorch also finds the practices inspiring but is more focused on the aggression that is required of the game.

“We get to smash each other,” he said.

The game is two teams of four but due to the intense nature, substitute players are needed to switch out to provide rests for active players.

The WNY Wreckers had four people at their first practice, which was only enough for a single team.

They used their manual chairs to hit each other, which proved to be difficult as these chairs are easier to knock over. The wheelchairs that are specifically made for the sport are heavier and more difficult to knock over. The team received the rugby chairs, which initially came without wheels, through donations. The team has had to use the services of a welder to fix chairs that were broken in a practice, but Lorch said that it’s part of the game. New rugby chairs cost about $4,500 each.

The group now averages six members but have had up to a dozen involved. Members range in age from 27 to 42, and the team is open to both men and women. Players travel as far as Buffalo and Syracuse to attend practices at the Al Sigl Center on Elmwood Avenue and the Pieters Family Life Center in Henrietta.

To learn how to play, the team has watched games in person, viewed YouTube videos of games and through trial and error in scrimmages.

The WNY Wreckers depend on the support of friends and family who are able to substitute in when more players are needed, and to literally “pick us up when we fall down,” Sprout said.

“Rochester has been very supportive,” he said.

The team is looking for new members to join its ranks. Lorch and Sprout have two different reasons as to why others should join.

“To hit people,” Lorch said.

“To be inspired every day,” Sprout said.

No matter what the reason, the two agree that joining the team was the right decision.

“It has changed my life,” Sprout said.

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EARLY DETECTION of colon, rectal, breast and other cancers can dramatically improve treatment options and survival rates.

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August 2014 •

IN GOOD HEALTH – Rochester / Genesee Valley Healthcare Newspaper

•

Page 11

In Good Health Writer Publishes Weight Management Book Deborah Sergeant, a staff writer for In Good Health and 55 PLUS, recently launched her first book, “The Big, Fat Answer,” which is a compilation of information she accumulated while reporting on and writing about health-related topics for various publications since 2000

By Aaron Curtis

T

here’s no shortage of questions when it comes to how to lose weight and, when lost, how to keep that weight off.

There are also plenty of purported answers — the Atkins diet program, the grapefruit or “Hollywood” diet plan, and most recently, the consumption of garcinia cambogia extract, to name a few.

After reporting on the field of health for more than a decade, In Good Health writer Deborah Jeanne Sergeant said that the answer is simpler than these weight-loss fads popularized by media outlets. According to Sergeant, the answers are within reach of all those looking to shed those unwanted pounds, and is also outlined in her first book.

Sergeant recently penned “The Big, Fat Answer,” which is a compilation of information she accumulated while reporting on and writing about health-related topics for various publications since 2000. After reflecting on her notes from approximately 700 interviews from a hodge-podge of healthcare experts, the decision to layout her knowledge in a book was natural.

“It only makes sense for me to use this information I’ve absorbed through all these resources to write a book about healthy weight management,” Sergeant said.

Weight loss methodology seems to be a hefty topic across the U.S., and according to information posted by the

Center for Disease Control and Prevention, it is easy to understand why.

According to the organization, obesity affects nearly 35 percent of U.S. adults as well as 17 percent of children nationwide. The health issues experienced by the nation as a result of this fact is reflected in the medical cost of obesity in the U.S. — estimated to be $147 billion in 2008, according to the CDC website.

Since this problem has impacted so many, millions of Americans turn to a landscape of information through the various media outlets that submerge us all. According to Sergeant, the information out there can be conflicting and confusing, and might lead to disappointment for those desperate to drop a few belt sizes.

Sergeant reflected on the strife of a friend she has who decided to give one of the well-known diet plans a shot.

She noted that her friend was able to drop approximately 30 pounds as a result of her investment into the program. However, that newfound weight did not last, she said. When the diet was completed, the pounds came back.

All the hard work and the financial investment ultimately left her back at the weight-loss starting line.

“People are looking for that answer,” she said. “And it is not going to be found through tricks or a gimmick.

What it comes down to is practicing common sense and living the healthy lifestyle.”

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things that people can do to be active.

And if they find something they like, they’ll stick with it.”

For Sergeant, the motivation to maintain the healthy lifestyle is easy to explain.

“The motivator is to live a long and healthy life,” Sergeant said. “You hear the cliché of the man who lived to be 110 and died fat and happy. But hoping for that is gambling against the odds.

“Why go there?” she said. “Why not be sure that you are going to be that (person) with good health and vitality until the end.”

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That is the underlying message that Sergeant explores in her first book. “’The Big, Fat Answer’ does not provide a secret formula,” she said.

In her book, aside from expert perspectives, the 40-year-old married mother of two who lives in Wayne County lays out details of how she has kept herself in quality shape through the years. She pointed out that achieving that desired size doesn’t end with avoiding fast food, and targeting menus of healthy foods. Sergeant stated that it also comes down to movement — cutting the calories that the person is bringing in, and finding a fun way to do it.

“Find something that you enjoy to be active, “ Sergeant said. “I tried swimming ... but it didn’t work for me.

Some people hate going to the gym ... and that’s fine. There are plenty of

IN GOOD HEALTH – Rochester / Genesee Valley Healthcare Newspaper • August 2014

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SmartBites

By Anne Palumbo

The skinny on healthy eating

Water-Rich Cucumbers Are Nutrient-Rich, Too

I

am married to a man who eats an entire cucumber in one sitting.

Peel, seeds, ends, everything. So I asked him the other day if he knew what was nutritious about cucumbers. He shrugged his shoulders and speculated, “All the water?”

Yes, I confirmed, cucumbers are 96 percent water. Beyond that, though, he was clueless.

I don’t think he’s alone. Cukes don’t get much attention for the very fact that they are mostly water.

Not that being full of this vital nutrient is a bad thing. In fact, now, during the hot month of August, it’s a very good thing. Parched? Reach for a cuke. Headache looming? Corral the mighty cuke. Skin a tad dry? Ditto.

But a cucumber’s high water content is just the tip of its nutritious iceberg. This crisp and highly versatile vegetable (really a fruit!) is an impressive source of phytonutrients — valuable compounds found in plants that

to keep our tissues in tip-top shape.

And on the potassium front, cucumbers provide enough of this essential mineral to give it a shout-out.

Potassium helps regulate blood pressure and also works with sodium to maintain the body’s water balance.

Watching your weight? Cucumbers are a dieter’s dream food: they’re fat free; they’re low in calories (only 45 per medium cuke); and they have next to no sodium. Plus, they’re natural diuretics, which may make that swimsuit feel a bit less snug.

Helpful tips

may help prevent disease through their antioxidant, anti-inflammatory and anti-cancer benefits.

Reduced risk of estrogen-related cancers, in particular, has been associated with a specific group of cucumber phytonutrients known as lignans.

On the vitamin front, one medium cucumber is a commendable source of vitamin K, providing about twothirds of our daily needs, and a decent source of vitamin C, offering up about one-sixth of our daily needs. Vitamin K helps maintain bones and ensures proper blood clotting, while vitamin C, a powerful antioxidant with immune-boosting capabilities, works hard

Select cucumbers that are firm and bright medium to dark green. Avoid cucumbers that are wrinkled at the tips. Thin-skinned, narrower cucumbers generally have fewer and less bitter seeds. Store unwrapped in the refrigerator for up to a week, but the sooner you use — the better. Since a cucumber’s skin and seeds are both richer in nutrients than the flesh, consumption of these parts is highly recommended. If so desired, buy organically grown cucumbers (waxed or not) or conventionally grown cucumbers that have not been waxed. As a precaution, both should be thoroughly washed under cool water while scrubbing with a brush. Conventionally grown waxed cucumbers should always be peeled.

1 ¼ cups whole wheat couscous 1 ½ cups water 1 cup cherry tomatoes, halved 2 medium unwaxed cucumbers, cut into 1/4-inch pieces 2/3 cup chopped fresh flat-leafed parsley 2/3 cup chopped fresh mint 1 medium red bell pepper, seeded, diced 1 cup crumbled feta cheese 2 medium green onions, chopped 3 tablespoons fresh lemon juice 3 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil 1 tablespoon grated lemon peel 1 clove garlic, minced 1/4 teaspoon (or to taste) kosher salt 1/8 teaspoon (or to taste) coarse black pepper To prepare couscous, bring 1 ½ cups water to a boil in a large saucepan. Add couscous and stir to blend.

Remove saucepan from heat; cover and let stand 10 minutes. Once the granules have absorbed all the liquid, fluff the cooked couscous with a fork. Let cool.

Next, put the couscous, tomatoes, cucumbers, parsley, mint, red pepper, feta, and green onions in a large bowl.

In a separate bowl, whisk together lemon juice, olive oil, lemon peel, and garlic. Season with salt and pepper.

Pour over couscous; toss gently to coat.

Minty Tabbouleh with Cucumber, Tomato and Bell Pepper Adapted from eatright.org.

Serves 8

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.

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At UR Medicine, we offer the area’s only picosecond aesthetic laser. It provides more complete removal of tattoos with fewer treatments. It is even effective on dark green and blue inks, and on tattoos that have been previously treated.

And each treatment is provided by a board-certified plastic surgeon.

It’s common to regret a tattoo. You won’t regret getting the best help removing it. For a consultation, call 585.275.1000.

August 2014 •

IN GOOD HEALTH – Rochester / Genesee Valley Healthcare Newspaper

•

Page 13

Tattoo Removal: New Technique a ‘Quantum Leap’ Rochester dermatologist introduces new, quicker way to remove tattoos

By Aaron Gifford n the old days, tattoos were removed by pulling, cutting, burning, applying acid or securing skin grafts over the faded ink. All of those procedures, a Rochester plastic surgeon says, were even more painful than they sound.

Laser technology for tattoo removal was developed within the past 20 years. It was more effective than the previous techniques but still somewhat painful and much more expensive.

The latest technology available for tattoo removal, PicoSure, still utilizes lasers. But instead of just burning the ink inside the skin, the force is fast and Langstein precise enough to actually shatter colored material into dust-sized particles that are then absorbed and eliminated by the body’s white blood cells, clearing the body art completely, explained Howard Langstein, a plastic surgeon at the University of Rochester Medical Center. He began offering the procedure last year.

“When we got this,” he said, “it was a quantum leap above the existing technology. It delivers energy in a 100th of the time as the [previous] lasers that were used. It doesn’t hurt the overlaying skin nearly as much.”

Even though the PicoSure is more powerful and efficient than the last generation of lasers, the entire removal process requires two or more appointments, depending on the size of the tattoos. A period of eight weeks between appointments is required to allow the skin to recover. The cost per

I

treatment is about $150 per session, and the PicoSure procedure typically requires about one-third fewer appointments than that of the older laser procedures. Langstein offers discounts to patients who are getting tattoos removed in order to be eligible to enlist in the military.

He equates the level of pain to what you would feel when a thin rubber band is snapped against your skin. “I know this,” he said, “because I zapped myself to see what it’s like.”

Numbing cream is not needed beforehand and so far Langstein has not heard many complaints about pain after the procedure, though in some cases patients have reported developing a bit of crusty skin for a short amount of time as part of the healing process.

For those who tan in the summer, Langstein advises those patients to have the procedure done in the colder months after the tan fades. For those with extremely dark skin, the process is not as effective because much more energy is needed to counter the higher levels of melanin, which absorbs the laser light, putting the patient at risk for scarring.

“I think that could be the focus of what’s to come with the next generation of lasers,” Langstein explained.

“Who knows if they can make it even faster so it’s 100th of the time as the Pico? Maybe they can develop something to adjust the wavelengths for different colors [of ink], and maybe something to address all different pigments. These lasers could also treat skin lesions and potentially reduce skin cancer. The possibilities are pretty exciting.”

Besides Rochester, PicoSure is also offers his services in Buffalo and in Albany. Based on the demand for tattoo

When you do good,

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removal, it’s expected that other dermatologists or plastic surgeons in Upstate New York will pursue this technology, if they aren’t already.

According to the Centers for Disease Control, nearly one in four American adults has at least one tattoo.

A 2013 Harris Interactive poll determined that there was a 32 percent increase in tattoo removal procedures in the United States since 2003. It also said that the “regret factor” of 45 million Americans who had tattoos was about 20 percent. And the typical tattoo removal patient was described as being single, college educated and between the ages of 24 and 39.

As for the reasons for getting the ink done, 30 percent of those who responded to the Harris poll said tattoos made them feel sexier, and 25 percent said it made them feel more rebellious.

Sixteen percent said the body art made them feel spiritual, 9 percent said it made them feel healthier, 8 percent said it made them feel more intelligent, and 5 percent said it made them feel athletic.

“Tattoos really appeal to some people at a moment they didn’t think it through,” Langstein said. “I’m not in a position to say whether or not I would recommend ever getting a tattoo, but I will say this: If you’re going to get a

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S Lifespan has flexible, meaningful volunteer opportunities for you — right now!

• Respite volunteers give caregivers of people with memory impairment a needed break.

• Financial management volunteers help older adults with in-home budgeting and bill paying tasks.

• HIICAP volunteers help older adults understand Medicare and health insurance options.

• Volunteer drivers help older adults get to medical appointments.

• Coaches lead Living Healthy with Diabetes workshops.

• Want to work with children? We have opportunities in tutoring or mentoring.

• These are just a sampling of volunteer opportunities through Lifespan’s RSVP program.

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tattoo, put it in an area that’s not so conspicuous.”

Tattoo removal is becoming big business for dermatologists and plastic surgeons alike, and now many tattoo parlors also advertise tattoo removal services.

New York state does not require tattoo removal specialists to be medical doctors, but there is a licensing process.

County health departments regulate and monitor tattoo parlors.

Langstein said his office gets between 10 and 20 calls a day from potential tattoo removal patients. His patients range from military veterans over the age of 60, to housewives, to college students.

The plastic surgeon, who until last year spent much of his medical career removing sun spots and performing facial rejuvenations, said he has really enjoyed his new role.

“I get a big kick out of the story behind every tattoo,” he said. “They walk in, I fix it, and they leave. It’s nice to have a machine that does what it’s supposed to do.”

Lifespan provides training and support for every volunteer!

For more information on any of these meaningful, flexible volunteer opportunities call us at

585-244-8400. lifespan-roch.org

t. John’s wort, the leading complementary and alternative treatment for depression in the United States, can be dangerous when taken with many commonly prescribed drugs, according to a study by researchers at Wake Forest Baptist Medical Center released in June.

The researchers reported that the herbal supplement can reduce the concentration of numerous drugs in the body, including oral contraceptive, blood thinners, cancer chemotherapy and blood pressure medications, resulting in impaired effectiveness and treatment failure.

“Patients may have a false sense of safety with so-called ‘natural’ treatments like St. John’s wort,” said Sarah Taylor, assistant professor of dermatology at Wake Forest Baptist and lead author of the study. “And it is crucial for physicians to know the dangers of ‘natural’ treatments and to communicate the risks to patients effectively.” The

IN GOOD HEALTH – Rochester / Genesee Valley Healthcare Newspaper • August 2014

study is published in the current online issue of The Journal of Alternative and Complementary Medicine.

“Labeling requirements for helpful supplements such as St. John’s wort need to provide appropriate cautions and risk information,” Taylor said, adding that France has banned the use of St. John’s wort products and several other countries, including Japan, the United Kingdom, and Canada, are in the process of including drug-herb interaction warnings on St. John’s wort products.

“Doctors also need to be trained to always ask if the patient is taking any supplements, vitamins, minerals or herbs, especially before prescribing any of the common drugs that might interact with St. John’s wort.”

Co-authors are Steven Feldman, M.D., and Scott Davis, M.A., of Wake Forest Baptist. Funding was provided by the Center for Dermatology Research at Wake Forest Baptist.

A Healthy Marriage Studies show married couples live longer than single counterparts

FIRST TIM

By Barbara Pierce

W

ant to live a long life? Get married.

Study after study has shown that married people, particularly men, live significantly longer than their single friends.

Deanna Brady, family nurse practitioner and board member of the Nurse Practitioner Association of New York State, says being married not only elongates your life but also keeps you in general better health.

“Many studies have proven that being married not only lowers your risk for heart disease, but it also boosts your immune system, happiness levels and helps you live longer, while lowering stress and depression levels,” said Brady, who works in Utica.

Marriage comes with a priceless gift: better health.

Experts agree that happily coupled people have less stress, have lower Brady disease rates and enjoy other health perks. There are many reasons why a loving union makes for a longer, fitter life.

“Couples in long-term relationships usually have healthier and more stable lifestyle habits,” says Brady.

When women find mates, they spend less time at the late-night bar scene with a martini and cigarette.

Compared to singles, married people are less likely to smoke, drink heavily or use illegal drugs.

Plus, monogamy reduces the risk of sexually transmitted infections since you won’t be going home with a guy you just met.

You’re also less likely to participate in risky activities. Married people aren’t usually out there bungee jumping, sky-diving, or zip lining.

And if you’re part of a couple, you’re more likely to get into a structured routine of eating better and going to bed at the same time each day, which is better for your overall health.

Someone’s got your back

Having a spouse means there’s someone to remind you to take vitamins or get a mammogram.

There’s also an extra set of eyes to notice your health changes. If you have a complicated medication regime, you have someone to help handle it.

Your partner sees things you may not see. “I was having headaches every day,” said Richard Mason, a 69-yearold widower. “I just took pain medication and slept. Turned out I had a brain tumor. If I had a partner, she would have insisted I find out what was wrong with me. I need to find a partner for the sake of my health.”

Wedded people also spend less time in hospitals.

Your partner may even help you recover from a life-threatening illness.

Your ability to recover is tied to the idea that you’ve got a meaningful con-

S C I T N O D O RT H O M E R SUM L SPECEIEAVER

nection to another human being.

Indeed, one study found that a married woman’s risk of dying from any cause is half that of a single woman.

Marriage equals less stress

Brady said married people have less stress, less depression and anxiety and more of a “mental boost,” keeping them happier than singles. Results from a survey led by the University of Warwick showed that 40 percent of married people say they are happy in life, compared to only 25 percent of single people. The same study said married men have an additional seven years added onto their lives, while women get an extra three tacked on.

Brady said researchers at the Mayo Clinic support a theory which explains the reason for less stress among married couples: “A problem shared is a problem halved,” meaning that the ability to share worries with someone gives a person the financial and emotional resources of two people, which lessens their stress load.

Chronic stress can lead to or exacerbate just about every kind of health problem, including heart disease, stroke and cancer. Stress raises blood pressure, disrupts sleep, impairs immune function and raises the risk of obesity.

Plus, stressed people often fall back on bad coping mechanisms such as smoking, drinking, overeating and using drugs, which further erode health.

Having a partner to talk and laugh with — and lean on — eases burdens.

In a study of 400 nurses, British researchers found that those in long-term relationships were far less affected by job stresses than singles. In a healthy marriage, you have a regular listening partner who knows you well enough to understand your concerns. Having somebody to check in with and talk through stressful issues is helpful.

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But here’s the catch

Marriage only buffers stress if your union is fairly happy. Unhappy relationships with a lot of conflict and hostility are harmful to your health.

That’s especially true for women, because the physical effects of tension — elevated stress-related hormones, higher blood pressure, faster heart rate and depressed immune function — linger longer in females than in men.

The effects aren’t minor. In a 2009 University of Manitoba (Canada) study, depression rates were nearly three times higher among unhappily married women as those who were blissfully wed.

Marital discord has a physical toll too. People in stressful relationships are more likely to develop diabetes, cardiovascular diseases, and other chronic diseases.

But divorce isn’t the path to better health. In a study, people who lost their spouse to death or divorce had more chronic health problems on average than married or single people.

So although marriage can be very healthy for most, choose your partner carefully and put a lot of effort into making it work.

August 2014 •

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IN GOOD HEALTH – Rochester / Genesee Valley Healthcare Newspaper

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Page 15

Golden Years

‘One-Stop Shop’

New Rochester senior center provides physical, emotional, mental support

By Ernst Lamothe Jr.

L

ise Crevier felt that she needed an active life. The YMCA gave her that. Crevier, 77, joined the facility 10 years ago as a way to accomplish three goals: stay fit, create a structured life and volunteer for an organization that she believed in.

Now she gets to participate in a new senior center housed inside the YMCA on the west side of Rochester.

“There are so many more seniors getting involved and trying to stay healthy and socialize with each other,” said Crevier.

“The atmosphere is fantastic and it is great to have the kind of services we all need under one roof.”

The Westside Crevier YMCA, 920 Elmgrove Road in Gates, features a new senior center called MVP Health Care Living Well Center. Partnering with the United Way, LifeSpan, YMCA and MVP, the center is an effort to create a one-stop shop for health and wellness, volunteering and recreational resources.

The senior population in the county has increased by around 125,000, according to the Monroe County Center

for the Aging.

That prompted a need in the area to help educate seniors on eating well and staying active to increase their quality of life.

The center is open to YMCA members, but many seniors have access through Medicare Advantage plans.

“Forty percent of our population that we are working with are seniors,” said Julie Montgomery, active older adult coordinator for the west side YMCA. “When you have a facility like this, you are creating a culture for these seniors to come in and have their questions answered, to come here and have emotional support by interacting with friends or just coming here to grab a bite to eat.”

Finding an emotional connection

Montgomery said it’s essential for seniors to care about wellness because it comes in so many forms.

“Wellness might not mean fitness.

It may mean because they live alone, they need an emotional connect. They may need to make new friends if their husband or wife passed away,” she added. “It’s just a good feeling to know someone is waiting for you or to go someplace where people know your name and are happy to see you and also notice if you are not there.”

Crevier said many seniors she talked to did not have a senior center

to go to. If they did, they worried about having nobody to talk with. She said now seniors come to the west side center and compare health issues, talk about food and family and just enjoy themselves.

“There are more than 3,000 seniors in this area and we love to stay active,” said Crevier. “What I have found interesting is that there are a lot of men coming here to interact with other men and discuss issues. As women, we are used to gathering in groups and talking but it is nice to see the men taking advantage and wanting to be part of a group. They feel comfortable and that was always the goal.”

United Way opened Rochester’s first multipurpose aging resource center for seniors at the Maplewood YMCA in 2010. Since that time, hundreds of seniors have had the opportunity for lifelong learning and care coordination that has helped them combat isolation and maintain their health.

“Many of our community’s seniors face serious challenges like isolation and depression that can keep them from staying connected to resources,” said Dawn Borgeest, senior vice president and chief corporate affairs officer at United Way of Greater Rochester.

“Our resource center has helped hundreds of seniors stay independent and be healthy, and we’re thrilled that MVP

Health Care will assist us in expanding this successful program to help even more adults in Rochester.”

Programming available

Jodi Rowe, chief operating officer and corporate compliance officer at Lifespan of Greater Rochester, said the YMCA senior center offers fall prevention programs to reduce the fear of falling and increase activity levels among seniors. In addition, there will be a program on chronic diseases and health maintenance along with financial management programs. “We have a lot of seniors in our community and having a one-stop shop like this to help them with their various needs is essential,” said Rowe. “We know this is something they will utilize and be happy they have.”

Seniors are also able to read to toddlers or work in a garden together with kids, teaching them gardening skills.

“At MVP Health Care, we have a vision of creating the healthiest communities in America. A significant part of that vision is dependent on partnering with community agencies such as the YMCA, United Way and Lifespan, to provide health and wellness opportunities for community members in the Greater Rochester area,” said Denise Gonick, president and CEO at MVP Health Care.

New Horizons Clarinet Choir Invited to Play in Baton Rouge

T

he Eastman Rochester New Horizons Clarinet Choir has been selected through an audition process, to perform at the International Clarinet Festival in August in Baton Rouge, La. This ensemble is the only senior citizen group ever to be invited to this prestigious venue. Four years ago the group was privileged to perform at the Clarinet Festival in Austin, Texas.

Page 16

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In recent years Alan Woy and Ken Scott have expanded the repertoire and performing opportunities for this group helping it to grow to a 40-member ensemble. The Clarinet Choir has entertained at a variety of venues such as the George Eastman House, Oak Hill Country Club, senior residences and community events such as the Monroe Home and Garden Show.

The Eastman Rochester New Hori-

zons Clarinet Choir is just one of many performing groups which are part of the total New Horizons music program begun by Roy Ernst in 1991 for the purpose of engaging older adults in music; be they beginners, returning to the instrument after time off, or a seasoned player. This program now operates under the auspices of the Eastman Community Music School under the direction of Howard Potter and is open

IN GOOD HEALTH – Rochester / Genesee Valley Healthcare Newspaper • August 2014

to all senior adults who have a desire to engage in music: band, orchestra, chorus, jazz, and other small ensembles.

For more information about the clarinet choir, visit their website at www.nhclarinetensemble.org. For more information about the total New Horizons Music Program, visit www. rocnewhorizons.org or call the Eastman Community Music School at 585-2741400.

Ergonomic Tools That Can Ease Gardening Pains Arthritis, back problems, carpal tunnel pain can pose problems for those who do garden work.

Some tools can help

By Jim Miller

T

here’s no doubt that gardening can be tough on an aging body.

Garden work often requires a lot of repetitive stooping, squatting, kneeling, gripping and lifting, which can lead to back and knee pain, carpal tunnel syndrome and various other injuries.

To help make your gardening chores a little easer is a slew of new and improved gardening gear that’s lightweight, comfortable to use, and ergonomically designed to help protect her body from the physical strains of gardening. Here are several that can help.

Gloves

There are a number of specially designed gloves that can improve your grip and protect your hands while you work. Two of the best are the “Atlas Nitrile Touch Garden Gloves” (available at amazon.com for under $6), which are coated with a flexible synthetic rubber. And the “ReliefGrip Gardening” gloves (bionicgloves.com, $35), that have extra padding in the palm and finger joints that can improve grip, and cause fewer calluses and blisters.

Digging Tools

There are ergonomic tools that can help protect your wrists by reducing the bending and twisting wrist movement that often comes with digging and weeding.

Some good options include Radius Garden tools (radiusgarden.com), which make a variety of curved-handle hand tools (scooper, weeder, transplanter, cultivator and trowel) and shovels that run between $10 and $50.

And Corona tools (coronatoolsusa. com), which makes the ComfortGEL and eGrip hand garden tools.

Another excellent product is the “Cobrahead Weeder and Cultivator” (cobrahead.com), an all-purpose digging and weeding tool that’s available in a short handle version for close up work for $25; and a long handle for standing work for $60.

Knee and Back Aids

Kneepads and garden seats can also protect your knees and save your back when working close to the ground. Some popular products sold today through the Gardener’s Supply Company (gardeners.com) — a leading developer and manufacturer of innovative garden equipment — are the “GardenEase Kneeler” ($70), which is a kneeling pad with support handles; the “Garden Kneeler” ($35) that’s a knee-

pad/garden bench combo; and the “Deluxe Tractor Scoot with Bucket Basket,” which is a height-adjustable, swivel garden seat on wheels ($90).

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Pruning Tools

Fiskars (fiskars. com) makes some of the finest ergonomic pruning tools that have also earned the Arthritis Foundation’s Ease of Use Commendation, because of their patented PowerGear mechanisms that increases leverage to make cutting three times easier than traditional pruners. The Fiskars PowerGear Hand Pruners, Loppers and Hedge Shears all run between $25 and $48.

Bahco and Corona also make a nice line of ergonomic pruning tools and handsaws that you can see at bahcostore. com or coronatoolsusa.com.

Watering

To help make your watering chores a little easier, there are lightweight garden hoses; soaker or drip hoses that can be snaked throughout the garden; and hose chests that can automatically rewind themselves.

Some good companies that make these products include Water Right Inc. (waterrightinc.com), which makes a variety of super lightweight garden and coil hoses. The DIG Corp. (digcorp. com), which makes convenient drip irrigation kits and micro sprinkler kits.

And Suncast (suncast.com), the leading maker of self-winding hose reels and hose carts.

Container Gardening

Raised garden beds, trellises, and container gardening is also an easier way to grow plants and flowers because it brings the garden to you, eliminating most stooping, squatting and kneeling. The Gardener’s Supply Company (gardeners.com) offers a wide range of raised beds and garden containers at prices ranging anywhere between $10 up to $350.

Jim Miller is the author of Savvy Senior column, which appears every issue in In Good Health newspaper.

August 2014 •

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Page 17

Just Retired?

Time to Get Busy

The Social Ask Security Office

By Deborah Jeanne Sergeant

N

ow that you’re retired, it may feel like it’s finally time to loaf.

But don’t overdo it. Just as you planned financially for retirement, you need to know how you’ll spend your time now that your time is your own.

“It’s key to have some game plan when you reach this age,” said Richard Mittereder, geriatrician with Rochester Regional Health System. “Some get the attitude that they earned this time to sit back and take it easy, but it doesn’t work for the human body.

It creates more rapid aging.”

He added that staying active “creates a more positive, youthful persona.”

Some people Mittereder find that they miss the structure, purpose and social interaction work provided.

Lauretta Rice is a nurse practitioner for the Clifton Springs Nursing Home.

She said that to stay healthy, people need “to maintain physical, social and mental activity.”

Rice has worked with patients with cognitive decline and said that inactivity — not Alzheimer’s disease — sometimes is the reason that some patients have become less mentally sharp.

“Keeping socially, mentally and physically challenged helps combat that. Join a square dancing club. It meets all of those [objectives]. Tai chi and yoga are good for physical balance and mental focus. If we don’t maintain good muscle tone, we increase risk for falls.

“Getting 20 minutes of physical exercise or activity is just as important to your brain health as sometimes taking medications. Don’t skip your medication a physician recommends to you, but they work together.”

A part-time job can also help pad your retirement budget and help create structure in your days. Plus, a job can help you socialize more and feel productive and connected to the field with which you’re familiar.

But the job doesn’t need to be related to your previous career. In fact, you

More Americans Kept Awake by Fido, Fluffy

D

ogs whimpering that they need to “go outside,” cats with medical needs, even pets that snore — it’s all adding up to sleepless nights for many Americans, a new report finds.

Overall, the percentage of people reporting sleep-time trouble with their pets rose from 1 percent in 2002 to 10 percent by 2013, according to a small study

by Mayo Clinic researchers in Phoenix.

“While the majority of patients did

Page 18

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may welcome an opportunity to try something different.

Don’t fear that employers would shy from hiring someone your age.

Many employers treasure the experience and work ethic of retirees.

Rice encourages retirees to stay engaged by volunteering such as for the fire department, school district, ambulance corps, or hospital. The county’s office for the Aging can also suggest places to volunteer.

“Knowing you have a purpose to serve that day is a big part of volunteering,” Rice said. “People without purpose easily get depressed.”

Doug Della Pietra directs volunteering for Rochester General Hospital. He echoed Rice’s sentiment that “volunteers are happier than those who don’t volunteer. They seem to be very vibrant, have lower rates of depression and some studies say those who volunteer live longer than those who don’t.”

Most of the volunteers at Rochester General commit to a minimum of three to four hours the same day weekly so administrators can plan a schedule.

Judy Sims directs health and wellness at The Highlands at Pittsford, a URMC affiliate. She said that people retiring from professional careers that have given them lots of fulfillment, such as teaching, deeply miss that sense of satisfaction and accomplishment once they’ve finished their careers.

“You lose your sense of self when you [retire],” she said. “What we see is folks, after the initial fun of retirement, look for ways to fill that void and get a sense of what they had when they were working.”

That’s where volunteering helps a retiree feel connected. A former teacher who tutors, a former nurse who volunteers at the hospital or a retired business professional who organizes a charity’s operation has more free time for family and hobbies, yet uses skills they spent a lifetime mastering.

For other retirees, switching gears upon retirement offers a welcome change.

“Maybe someone who’s worked as an accountant for years but really wanted to go into theatre at some point can volunteer at a local theatre group,” Sims suggested.

not view their pets intolerably disturbing their sleep, a higher percentage of patients experienced irritation [and] this may be related to the larger number of households with multiple pets,” study lead author Lois Krahn, a Mayo Clinic psychiatrist, said in a clinic news release.

“One patient owned a parrot who consistently squawked at 6 a.m.,” Krahn noted. “He must have thought he was a rooster.”

The study was presented at the annual meeting of the Associated Professional Sleep Societies in Seattle, involved 110 patients treated at the Mayo Clinic Center for Sleep Medicine in Arizona between August and December 2013.

Column provided by the local Social Security Office

S

‘My Social Security’ Simplifies Your Life

o many people buzz through extremely busy and complicated schedules these days. A smartphone in one hand, a computer in front and a digital task list that never seems to end. In addition, to complicate things just a little more, there’s another event you need to add to your list — National Simplify Your Life week. This event takes place Aug. 1 through 7. Put it on your calendar so you don’t forget!

Most organized people agree that planning ahead is a great way to simplify your life. Whether you’re planning tomorrow’s schedule, next summer’s vacation, or your retirement.

We have a suggestion that can help you simplify your life when it comes to Social Security. If you haven’t already (it’s probably on your task list), open your own personal my Social Security account.

What’s my Social Security? It’s a free, secure, online account that allows you immediate access to your personal Social Security information. During your working years, you can use my Social Security to view your Social Security statement to check your earnings record and see estimates of the future

Q&A Q: I got married and I need to change my name in Social Security’s records. What do I do?

A: If you change your name due to marriage, or for any other reason, you’ll need to report the change and get a corrected Social Security card with your new name. You will need to fill out form SS-5. You can get a copy of this form by visiting www.socialsecurity.gov/ss5doc or by calling our toll-free number 1-800-772-1213 (TTY 1-800-3250778). You’ll also need to provide the original marriage certificate showing your new and old names. You can mail or take the documentation to your local Social Security office. In some cases, we may need other forms of documentation as well. For more information, visit www.socialsecurity.gov/ssnumber.

Q: Do I have to give my Social Security number whenever I’m asked?

A: No. Giving your Social Security number is voluntary. If requested, you should ask why the person needs your Social Security number, how it will be used, what law requires you to give your number, and what the consequences are if you refuse. The answers to these questions can help you decide whether to give your Social Security number. However, the decision is

IN GOOD HEALTH – Rochester / Genesee Valley Healthcare Newspaper • August 2014

retirement, disability and survivor benefits you and your family may receive based on your earnings. If you already receive Social Security benefits, you can use my Social Security to check your benefit information, change your address and phone number, change your electronic payment methods, and even obtain a benefit verification letter.

Check it out and sign up for my Social Security at www.socialsecurity.gov/ myaccount.

After you check your online Social Security Statement, be sure to visit our Retirement Estimator. Like my Social Security, you can use it as many times as you’d like. The Retirement Estimator lets you compute potential future Social Security benefits by changing variables, such as retirement dates and future earnings. You may discover that you’d rather wait another year or two before you retire to earn a higher benefit. To get instant, personalized estimates of your future benefits just go to www.socialsecurity.gov/estimator.

There are many tools at www. socialsecurity.gov that are simple and convenient to use. Open a my Social Security account today by visiting www.socialsecurity.gov/myaccount and simplify your life.

yours. Keep in mind that requestors might not provide you their services if you refuse to provide your Social Security number. For more information, visit www.socialsecurity.gov/pubs to read or print our publication, “Your Social Security Number And Card.”

Q: Will my retirement benefits increase if I wait and retire after my full retirement age?

A: Yes. You can increase your Social Security retirement benefit in two ways: • You can increase your retirement benefit by a certain percentage if you delay receiving retirement benefits. We will automatically add these increases automatically from the time you reach full retirement age until you start receiving benefits or reach age 70; and • If you work, each additional year you work adds another year of earnings to your Social Security record.

Higher lifetime earnings may result in higher benefits when you do retire.

For more information, visit www. socialsecurity.gov/pubs to read, print, or listen to our publication, When to Start Receiving Retirement Benefits. You also can use our Retirement Estimator at www.socialsecurity.gov/ estimator to determine your estimated future benefits.

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Where families expect more... and find it. u Private school for deaf and hard of hearing children, newborn to 21 years old. u New York State Regents-level education and support services provided for all students. u Safe and inclusive environment providing direct access to communication. u Individual attention from skilled professionals.

By Jim Miller

How to Protect Your Medicare Card from Identity Theft Dear Savvy Senior, I just turned 65 and received my Medicare card.

I see that the ID number on my card is the same as my Social Security number, and on the back of the card it tells me I need to carry it with me at all times. What can I do to protect myself from identify theft if my purse and Medicare card get stolen?

Conflicted Beneficiary Dear Conflicted, Many people new to Medicare are surprised to learn that the ID number on their Medicare card is identical to their Social Security number (SSN). After all, we’re constantly warned not to carry our SSN around with us, because if it gets lost or stolen, the result could be identity theft.

But the Medicare ID is more than an identifier. It’s proof of insurance.

Beneficiaries need to show their Medicare card at the doctor’s office and the hospital in order to have Medicare pay for treatment.

Over the years, many consumer advocates have called for a new form of Medicare identification. The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services, which administers Medicare, also acknowledges the problem, but so far nothing has been done.

One of the main reasons is because it would cost an estimated $255 to $317 million to fix it. And that’s just the direct cost to the federal government. It doesn’t include the expense for physicians and other healthcare providers to adjust their systems, or the cost to the states.

Other government health systems like the Department of Veterans Affairs and Department of Defense have already begun using ID numbers that are different from SSNs, but no one knows when Medicare will follow suit.

In the meantime, here are some tips offered by various consumer advocate groups that can help keep your Medi-

Building Futures...since 1876 Infant, Early Childhood, K-12 School and Sign Language Learning Programs Call: 585-544-1240 u Visit: www.RSDeaf.org u E-mail: info@RSDeaf.org

care card safe and out of the hands of fraudsters.

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Protect Your Card For starters, AARP suggests that you simply don’t carry your Medicare card at all, because it’s not necessary.

Most healthcare providers already have their patients in their electronic systems and know how to bill you.

But if you really don’t feel comfortable not having it with you, then the Privacy Rights Clearing House, a national consumer resource on identity theft, recommends that you make a photocopy of your card and cut it down to wallet size. Then use scissors to cut out the last four digits of your SSN, or take a black marker and cross them out, and carry that instead.

You will, however, need your actual Medicare card with you the first time you visit a new health care provider, who will likely want to make a photocopy of it for their files.

If you’re worried that you’ll need your card in an emergency situation in order to get care, you should know that emergency personnel cannot refuse you care until you show an insurance card. Although you’ll need to come up with billing information before leaving a hospital, that doesn’t mean you won’t receive care.

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Lost or Stolen Cards If your Medicare card does happen to get lost or stolen, you can replace it by calling Social Security at 800-7721213. You can also apply for a new card online at ssa.gov/medicarecard or go to your local Social Security office.

If your Medicare card has been lost or stolen, you will need to watch out for Medicare fraud. You can do this by checking your quarterly Medicare summary notices for services or supplies you did not receive. If you spot anything suspicious or wrong, call the Inspector General’s fraud hotline at 800-447-8477.

If you need help identifying Medicare fraud, contact your state Senior Medicare Patrol program. See smpresource.org or call 877-808-2468 for contact information.

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.

August 2014 •

IN GOOD HEALTH – Rochester / Genesee Valley Healthcare Newspaper

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Page 19

H ealth News The Friendly Home has new VP / administrator Michael D. Perrotta was recently appointed as vice president / administrator of the Friendly Home. He will be responsible for oversight of clinical and service departments, including nursing, social work / admissions, recreation, medical services, dietary, management information, and building and environmental services.

“With Mike’s experience, particularly in the area of culture change, I am certain that he is well-prepared for his new role within our organization,” said James E. Dewhirst, president and CEO of Friendly Senior Living.

Perrotta, a native of Rochester, comes to the Friendly Home Perrotta from the Catholic Health System in Buffalo, where he most recently served as administrator at St. Catherine Laboure Health Care Center. Prior to that, Perrotta was assistant administrator at St. Ann’s Community in Rochester, where he led the development and introduction of a comprehensive person-centered care program. In addition to his administrative experience, Perrotta’s professional background includes several years as a human resources generalist.

Perrotta graduated from Le Moyne College in Syracuse with a Bachelor of Arts degree in history and political science. He holds a Master of Science degree in secondary social studies from the University of Rochester. Perrotta will reside with his wife and children in Victor.

“With its excellent reputation of providing the highest quality of care to the senior population, I look forward to joining the Friendly Home’s leadership team and getting to know our Members, staff, families and volunteers and advancing our mission-driven service,” Perrotta says.

Unity has new diagnostic imaging chairman

Unity Health System announced that physician Sandeep Naidu has been appointed as chairman of diagnostic imaging.

Naidu joined Unity in 2008. He is a board-certified radiologist with fellowship training in nuclear medicine. He was appointed to the active staff in the department of diagnostic imaging.

Naidu earned his doctor of medicine degree from Temple University School of Medicine in Philadelphia.

He practiced his residency in diagnostic radiology Naidu and his fellowship Page 20

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in nuclear medicine at Upstate Medical University in Syracuse after a transitional year internship at Memorial Medical Center in Johnstown, Pa. Naidu lives in Victor.

Sports PT divests downstate clinics Sports Physical Therapy of NY (Sports PT), a statewide physical therapy company, recently divested its 13 New York City-area physical therapy clinics to Professional Orthopedic and Sports Physical Therapy (“Professional”), according to Sports PT owner and CEO Lynn Steenberg.

The clinics that transitioned to Professional, a Great Point Partners I, L.P. portfolio company, are based in Metro New York City, Brooklyn, Bronx, Queens and Rockland County. Through this divestiture, Sports PT will now devote additional focus on the growth and development of Steenberg the Upstate New York market from Buffalo to Saratoga Springs.

Sports PT was founded nine years ago.

“This transition is very exciting because it allows Sports PT to refocus on the tremendous opportunities in the communities of Upstate New York,” Steenberg said. “Due to the fact that Professional is headquartered in downstate, the staff, patients, and the medical community will benefit from more direct, local support. I saw this divestiture as a great opportunity to do what is best for both our patients and staff.”

Sports PT of NY now has seven locations in Upstate New York. There are two locations in the Buffalo area (Tonawanda and Downtown Buffalo), two locations in Rochester (Greece and Webster), two locations in the Syracuse area (Camillus and Liverpool), and one location in Saratoga Springs. It is headquartered in Syracuse.

There are active plans to expand in the Upstate New York market in 2014 and 2015, according to Steenberg.

RIT/NTID team wins NAD College Bowl For the second consecutive time, a team from Rochester Institute of Technology’s National Technical Institute for the Deaf won the National Association of the Deaf College Bowl Championship for deaf and hard-of-hearing college students.

The academic trivia contest, held every other year at the National Association of the Deaf Convention, was held July 3 at the NAD convention in Atlanta. Other teams represented the Southwest Collegiate Institute for the Deaf, Big Spring, Texas; the University of Texas at Austin; the University of

Minnesota at Minneapolis; Gallaudet University in Washington, D.C.; and California State University at Northridge.

RIT/NTID team members were Lauren Berger of Rochester; Asher Kirschbaum of Washington Grove, Md.; Eric Epstein of Tucson, Ariz.; and Linzie Fuechtmann of South St. Paul, Minn. The team coach was Christopher

Kurz, and assistant coach was Gary Behm. Both coaches are faculty members at NTID. “We could not have won without Chris Kurz and Gary Behm, and all the Chinese food they ordered during practice,” Epstein said. The team practiced each week since September, answering practice questions and playing mock matches with members from Roches-

Hurlbut donates bus to Medical Motor Service

Robert W. Hurlbut, president of Hurlbut Care Communities, with Sam Barton, driver for Medical Motor Service, in front of the new 16-passenger ambulatory bus donated to the nonprofit transportation organization. Barton has been a driver with Medical Motor Service for 24 years.

Hurlbut Care Communities has donated a new 16-passenger ambulatory bus to Medical Motor Service of Rochester. The donation began as part of a $100,000 Challenge Grant initiated by Joel Seligman, president of the University of Rochester, during his tenure as chairman of the board of the United Way of Rochester.

Robert W. Hurlbut, president of Hurlbut Care Communities and his wife Sarah Hurlbut, having been active participants in raising funds for the Al Sigl Center for years, saw the challenge as a great way to aid Medical Motor Service, a nonprofit member agency of the Al Sigl Community of Agencies. Sarah Hurlbut also currently serves on the board of the Al Sigl Community of Agencies.

The Hurlbuts brought the idea to Robert’s father, Robert H. Hurlbut, then chairman of ROHM Services, parent company of Hurlbut Care Communities. Working together, they developed fundraising efforts that culminated in a portion of the Challenge Grant being allocated to purchase this new bus. Prior to the purchase of the vehicle, Robert H. Hurlbut passed away. When the bus was presented to Medical Motor Service, the plaque on the side read, “Donated in memory of Robert H. Hurlbut.”

IN GOOD HEALTH – Rochester / Genesee Valley Healthcare Newspaper • August 2014

“Seeing this idea become reality would have greatly pleased my father,” said Robert W. Hurlbut.

“He loved helping people and it’s wonderful that we can commemorate his generosity and memory in this manner.”

There are 140 vehicles in the Medical Motors fleet, and this new bus is one of two donated. The ambulatory bus transports approximately 15 people per day, and its route is primarily focused on the Baden Street Senior Center and its nutrition program; along with covering part of the route for the Monroe County Office for the Aging.

Sam Barton, who has been a driver with Medical Motor Service for 24 years, drives the new bus almost exclusively. “They just love him over at the senior center,” said Damon Mustaca, director of operations for Medical Motor Service.

“If Sam takes a day off, they miss him.” Barton makes it clear that the feeling is mutual, noting: “I love driving for the seniors. We go on a lot of outings multiple times a day: Wegmans, Mr. Doug’s Deli, the movies, and social gatherings. We have a lot of fun together. And it’s so nice to be able to drive everyone on this high-tech, comfortable bus that makes their lives a bit easier.”

H ealth News ter School for the Deaf and RIT/NTID faculty members.

The RIT/NTID was the youngest team in the competition, and Epstein said he and his teammates hope to compete again at the 2016 NAD convention in Phoenix.

About NTID: One of nine colleges of RIT, NTID was established by Congress in 1965 to provide college opportunities for deaf and hard-of-hearing individuals who were underemployed in technical fields. Last year, 1,432 students attended NTID; more than 1,250 were deaf or hard of hearing. Others are hearing students enrolled in interpreting or deaf education programs.

RGH recognized supporting ‘Partners In Care’ Rochester General Hospital’s 24/7 visitor policy has been honored by The Institute for Patient- and Fami-

ly-Centered Care in Bethesda, Md. The institute named RGH a “Better Together Exemplar Hospital,” one of only 12 hospitals nationwide to receive this honor.

“These 12 hospitals are also committed to working directly with family members as care partners,” said Beverley Johnson, IPFEE president and CEO. “Nurses report greater job satisfaction because they are partnering with patients and families in care, instead of enforcing policies with which many don’t agree.”

Rochester General Hospital revised its visitation policy in 2001 to allow 24/7 visitation.

Rochester General Hospital has also been consistently proactive in creating a high quality patient experience by forming a patient and family advisory council made of up current and former patients and their family members, providing free Internet access, encouraging quiet time hours and offering patients’ a choice of meal selections based on their dietary needs.

RGH Performs First Procedure with Advanced Robotic Surgery System

New in Rochester: Rochester Regional Health System

CEOs Warren Hern of Unity Health and Mark Clement of Rochester General Health System will leave their positions when a new CEO is appointed to run both organizations, which has been renamed Rochester Regional Health System. Photo shows Hern and Clement in September when they announced the mergers of their organizations.

Name has been chosen to represent Rochester General Health and Unity Health systems

Rochester General Hospital, ranked among the top 1 percent of hospitals nationally for robotic surgery volume, is one of the first 20 hospitals in the U.S. to acquire the world’s newest and most advanced robotic surgical technology for minimally invasive surgery.

“Robotic surgery delivers many benefits to patients requiring surgery for a range of complex issues. These procedures are minimally invasive and reduce blood loss and post-operative pain. That frequently translates into shorter hospital stays and faster recovery periods,” said physician John Valvo, director of robotic surgery for Rochester General ,who performed the first procedure on the new da Vinci Xi System.

“As a national leader in robotic surgery for more than a decade, innovation has been integral to our success,” added Valvo. ”This new surgical system marks another important step in our ongoing ability to provide the

most advanced surgical care to our patients.”

Rochester General Hospital, one of the nation’s top sites for robotic colon and rectal surgery, in collaboration with board certified colorectal surgeons Stephen Rauh and Steven Ognibene, will be designated a national advanced observation site for the new da Vinci Xi System. Rochester General will host surgeons and their staffs from across the country who will come to learn the advanced techniques and best practices that can improve outcomes.

The two most common colon and rectal conditions treated with robotic surgery are colon, rectal and anal cancer and diverticulitis. Several colorectal surgeries were successfully performed earlier this week using the Xi system.

More than 7,000 robotic surgical procedures have been performed at Rochester General Hospital since 2008.

August 2014 •

Following more than a year of planning and regulatory review, on July 1, Rochester General Health System (RGHS) and Unity Health System formally came together to create a new nonprofit health care system. Today, the new entity’s official name – Rochester Regional Health System – was announced to more than 14,000 physicians, nurses, caregivers and support staff.

Interim co-CEOs Mark Clement and Warren Hern said the new name was chosen after a rigorous analysis, including extensive input from Unity and RGHS team members and physicians, as well as consumer market research across the region.

“This name reflects the vision of our new, unified system,” Clement said. “Rochester Regional Health System will build upon the work of Unity and RGHS, as a seamlessly integrated network — including primary care, ambulatory, senior and specialty services and acute care hospitals — delivering exceptional care throughout our 14-county region and beyond.”

“Rochester Regional Health System joins thousands of physicians and caregivers, all delivering community-focused, nationally recognized care to the greater Rochester region and beyond through our international ACM laboratory services,” Hern said. “Today’s announcement is another important step, as we move forward in a planned and thoughtful manner to improve access and lower costs to

the high-quality, patient-centered care for which RGHS and Unity have long been known.”

Hern and Clement emphasized that RGHS and Unity patients will enjoy continuity of care as the new combined organization continues to evolve. “They won’t see major changes or any compromises in the care they are accustomed to receiving at Unity or Rochester General health system sites,” Hern said.

The volunteer board, comprised of community, business and physician leaders, includes Robert Dobies, board chairmain; Michael Nuccitelli, vice chairman; Rob Sands, secretary; and Faheem Masood, treasurer.

Board members are Rachel Adonis, Linda Becker, Ralph DeStephano, Nancy Ferris PhD, Karen M. Gallina, John Genier MD, Robert Havrilla, Tarun Kothari, MD Anna Lynch, Jagat Mehta MD, Daniel Meyers, Leonard Olivieri, Elizabeth Patton PhD, Thomas Penn MD, John Riedman, Thomas Riley, Efrain Rivera, Leon Sawyko and Justin Smith.

All announced executive and senior leadership appointments for Rochester Regional Health System also took effect today. Over the next year these leaders will focus on integration efforts, operating plan development and building a common culture.

A search for a new permanent CEO is also underway, and expected to be complete by the end of 2014.

IN GOOD HEALTH – Rochester / Genesee Valley Healthcare Newspaper

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Page 21

Alternative therapy can treat chronic back pain

By Deborah Jeanne Sergeant

M

ost Americans will experience back pain at some point in their lives, most of them because of an injury. Especially for chronic back pain sufferers apprehensive about taking medication, alternative pain management may help.

Paul Knight, CEO of Cold Laser Therapy in Rochester and Webster, has offered a non-invasive, non-medicated approach to treating pain for 13 years. He said that most of his 20,000 patients have received relief for their pain.

Chronic pain spurred Knight Burdick to seek cold laser treatment for himself. Once he found how effective it was, he wanted to receive training in how to use the equipment get into the business himself.

“The medical profession says if it works, do it; if not, stop,” he said. “We recommend at least six treatments, but it starts working immediately.”

Most patients report five or six treatments bring significant pain relief.

Many of Knight’s patients seek treatment for back pain. He describes the process as the laser stimulating cells to restart the body’s own healing process and eliminate scar tissue using

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non-thermal frequencies of light.

“There are no known side effects,” he said.

Just the same, Knight said practitioners don’t use it on the thyroid gland, pacemakers, the fetus of a pregnant woman, or use it on anyone who’s had cancer for the past five years.

Treatments start at $65 and are generally not covered by medical insurance.

Ron Pratt, licensed acupuncturist at Abundant Wellness Acupuncture in Rochester, often treats clients with chronic back pain. Though acupuncture is highly effective for Chanler treating chronic back pain, Pratt looks at the whole picture.

“Pain, in general, is the body’s sign that something is ‘off’ in the body,” Pratt said. “For some people, back pain has been lifelong. For others, it’s because of a traumatic event. Effectiveness also has to do with other things going on in the person’s life. There’s no one modality that will correct everything and that you can go on and live your life without making any adjustments.”

Lifestyle changes could include reducing stress, becoming more active,

and eating better.

“People who just show up for acupuncture and take it like a pill, it will be effective for them but it will take longer and it may never completely heal,” Pratt said.

Sometimes, he works in conjunction with Western medicine experts, such as with clients experiencing disk degeneration.

“An acupuncturist can be part of the program,” Pratt said. Depending upon the issue, “acupuncture on its own may help or may help in partnership with other modalities.”

“Many people who get acupuncture say that even if the pain doesn’t

totally go away, it’s not controlling their lives.”

Many clients see him weekly for six weeks. Sessions cost $100 and focus on one client at a time. Some insurers cover acupuncture.

Andrew Brudick, licensed acupuncturist with Finger Lakes Acupuncture in Geneva, said that many patients see him for their chronic back pain.

He said that if patients don’t find permanent back pain elief through acupuncture, they may have something structurally amiss that requires surgery.

“Acupuncture is good but it can’t do everything,” he said.

He sometimes helps people awaiting surgery manage pain.

Shannon B. Chanler, licensed acupuncturist in Rochester, said that acupuncture treats the root of the problem, an imbalance in the body, and “is considered non-invasive and is very safe. It’s certainly effective for people of all ages.”

Back Pain at a Glance The American Chiropractic Association has found that: • “Thirty-one million Americans experience low-back pain at any given time.

• “Low back pain is the single leading cause of disability worldwide.

• “One-half of all working Americans admit to having back pain symptoms each year.

• “Back pain is one of the most common reasons for missed work. In fact, back pain is the second most common reason for visits to the doctor’s office, outnumbered only by upper-respiratory infections.

• “Most cases of back pain are mechanical or non-organic—meaning they are not caused by serious conditions, such as inflammatory arthritis, infection, fracture or cancer.

• “Americans spend at least $50 billion each year on back pain—and that’s just for the more easily identified costs.

• “Experts estimate that as many as 80 percent of the population will experience a back problem at some time in our lives.”

IN GOOD HEALTH – Rochester / Genesee Valley Healthcare Newspaper • August 2014

Meet Your Provider Comfort Keepers of East Rochester Q.: What is the nature of the business?

A.: Comfort Keepers is an in-home companion care agency helping to keep seniors and disabled adults safely and independently in their homes wherever that home may be. We service seniors in single-family homes, senior independent living and assisted living facilities, nursing homes, the VA and also in hospitals. We work closely with the Alzheimer’s Association, Lifespan and the Office for the Aging. Several of our Comfort Keepers are certified in dementia care.

Q.: Tell us more about your background?

A.: Comfort Keepers was started in 1997 by a visiting nurse who saw that her patients needed non-medical care such as meal preparation, medication reminders, light housekeeping, laundry, companionship and transportation. Comfort Keepers is a franchise and each office is independently owned and operated but must comply with

a strict set of standards and guidelines. Comfort Keepers of East Rochester has been serving clients in six counties since 2003.

Q.: What keeps your staff coming back day after day?

A.: Knowing that they are making a difference in the lives of the seniors they serve and bringing peace of mind to their families.

Q.: What is something you think our readers should know about your organization?

A.: Comfort Keepers has the most wonderful, compassionate and reliable caregivers and we are truly grateful for them. Also, we are willing to do whatever we can to enhance the quality of life for a senior. We will do as little as one three-hour shift up to 24hour care.

Q.: What are the plans for the future?

A.: To continue doing what we are doing for more seniors each day.

The owners of Comfort Keepers of E. Rochester, from left, Terry and Donna Hafler along with their son, Garrett. They say they feel very blessed to be able to serve in this unique way.

Comfort Keepers: 1163 Pittsford-Victor Road, Suite 215, Pittsford, NY 14534 • www.ComfortKeepers.com • 585-249-0100

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IN GOOD HEALTH – Rochester / Genesee Valley Healthcare Newspaper • August 2014