Gv igh 133 september final

in good September 2016 • Issue 133

Meet Your Doctor Pediatrician Martin Lustick serves as senior VP and corporate medical director at Excellus BCBS. He talks about career, reimbursement policies and more

Healing the Mind and Soul

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Rochester’s Healthcare Newspaper

MEDICAL ERROR A new study shows that medical errors are the third leading cause of death in the U.S. Officials from one local health system explain how they confront, contain the element of human errors Page 12

Want to Raise a Puppy?

Guide Dog Organizations Need Help

Hospital chaplains, such as Rev. Robin Franklin of Strong Memorial, offer support to ease the worry of patients

Donating Old Hearing Aids, Eyeglasses and Mobility Equipment

Heads Up: Concussions Can Endanger High School Athletes Page 16

Page 18

See this month’s Savvy Senior column ‘Responding to the Rise in Heroin and Prescription Pain Medications’ by Jennifer Faringer of NCADD-RA

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Grapes

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What Americans Fear the Most The biggest fear many Americans have is blindness. Losing vision would be as bad or worse than losing hearing, memory, speech or a limb, survey finds Inside

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IN GOOD HEALTH – Rochester / Genesee Valley Healthcare Newspaper • September 2016

September 2016 •

IN GOOD HEALTH – Rochester / Genesee Valley Healthcare Newspaper

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Blindness Biggest Fear for Many Americans Losing vision seen as bad or worse than losing hearing, memory, speech or a limb, survey finds

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lindness is what many Americans fear most, a new survey shows.

“These findings underscore the importance of good eyesight to most and that having good vision is key to one’s overall sense of well-being,” said lead researcher Adrienne Scott and colleagues. Scott is an assistant professor of opthalmology at Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine in Baltimore.

“The consistency of these findings among the varying ethnic/racial groups underscores the importance of educating the public on eye health and mobilizing public support for vision research,” the researchers added in a news release.

The nationwide online poll, commissioned by the nonprofit health research group known as Research!America, found that 88 percent of more than 2,000 respondents considered good vision vital to overall health. And 47 percent said losing their sight would have the most effect on their day-to-day life.

Overall, respondents ranked losing vision as equal to or worse than losing hearing, memory, speech or a limb. The top concerns associated

with vision loss were quality of life and loss of independence.

Close to two-thirds of the respondents said they wear glasses.

But respondents’ awareness of eye diseases varied widely. Sixty-six percent were aware of cataracts; 63 percent, glaucoma; 50 percent, macular degeneration; and 37 percent, diabetic retinopathy. One-quarter of the respondents were not aware of any eye conditions.

While 76 percent and 58 percent, respectively, knew that too much sunlight and family history were potential risk factors for vision loss, only half were aware that smoking puts eyesight at risk.

The study was published online Aug. 4 in the journal JAMA Ophthalmology.

Drowsy Driving Causes 1 in 5 Fatal Crashes: Report

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early 84 million sleep-deprived Americans take to the roads every day. And, drowsy driving was a factor in crashes that claimed about 5,000 lives last year, a new report shows.

Traffic deaths rose almost 8 percent in the United States in 2015.

Drowsy driving is estimated to cause up to 20 percent of all road fatalities, but the extent of the problem is not fully known, according to experts.

The threat posed by tired drivers prompted the U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) to expand its definition of impaired driving to include drowsy driving.

The annual cost to society of fatigue-related crashes that cause injury or death is $109 billion, according to a government report.

But there are challenges associ-

ated both with measuring and with combating drowsy driving, GHSA’s executive director, Jonathan Adkins, said in an association news release.

“Law enforcement lack protocols and training to help officers recognize drowsy driving at roadside. And if a crash occurs, the drowsy driver may not report the cause due to concerns about monetary and other penalties,” he said.

Some drivers are at greater risk for drowsy driving.

“Teens and young adults are involved in more than half of all drowsy driving crashes annually,” Adkins said. “People who work nights or long or irregular shifts are also more likely to get behind the wheel when they are too tired to drive, along with the estimated 40 million Americans who suffer from a sleep disorder.”

Serving Monroe and Ontario Counties in good A monthly newspaper published

Health Rochester–GV Healthcare Newspaper

by Local News, Inc. Distribution: 33,500 copies throughout more than 1,500 high traffic locations.

In Good Health is published 12 times a year by Local News, Inc. © 2016 by Local News, Inc. All rights reserved.

154 Cobblestone Court Dr., Suite 121 – P.O. Box 525, Victor NY 14564.

• Phone: 585-421-8109 • Email: Editor@GVhealthnews.com

Editor & Publisher: Wagner Dotto • Associate Editor: Lou Sorendo Writers: Jim Miller, Deborah J. Sergeant, Gwenn Voelckers, Anne Palumbo, Chris Motola, George W. Chapman, Ernst Lamothe Jr., Diane Kane (M.D.), Jennifer Faringer , Jessica Gaspar • Advertising: Donna Kimbrell, Anne Westcott • Layout & Design: Staff designers • Office Assistant: Michelle Kingsley 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.

IN GOOD HEALTH – Rochester / Genesee Valley Healthcare Newspaper • September 2016

September 2016 •

IN GOOD HEALTH – Rochester / Genesee Valley Healthcare Newspaper

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CALENDAR of

HEALTH EVENTS

Sept. 13

HLAA exec director to speak in Rochester In her Rochester talk, “Saying yes to the future,” Hearing Loss Association of America Executive Director Barbara Kelley will discuss the state of the organization as well its role in contributing to the recent report on “Hearing Health Care for Adults:

Priorities for Improving Access and Affordability” issued by the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering and Medicine.

Kelley will speak at both the 11 a.m. and 7 p.m. HLAA meetings, Tuesday, Sept. 13. Both meetings take place in the Parish Hall at St. Paul’s Episcopal Church, Rochester, East Avenue at Westminster Road across from the George Eastman Museum.

Free and open to the public.

Visit www.hlaa-rochester-ny.org or call 585-266-7890.

Sept. 29

‘Suddenly Single’ is topic of group meeting Neutral Ground Support Organization Inc., a nonprofit support group organization that works with people who are divorced, widowed, separated or ending a significant relationship, will hold a meeting from 7 to 9 p.m. Sept. 29 at HUCC 1400 Lehigh Station Rd., Henrietta. It’s titled “Suddenly Single.”

The program is open to the public. For more information, visit http://neutralground1.com.

Oct. 12, 19, and 26

Workshop for women who live alone Do you live alone? Is it a challenge for you? “Living Alone: How to Survive and Thrive on Your Own” is a three-part workshop offered for women who want to rediscover joy and contentment, and to gain the know-how to forge a meaningful life on their own. You’ll meet others in similar circumstances and learn practical strategies to overcome loneliness, rediscover your true self, socialize in a couples’ world and make the best of this opportunity on your own.

The workshop takes place from 6:30 to 8:30 pm. at House Content Bed & Breakfast in Mendon on three consecutive Wednesdays: Oct. 12, 19, and 26. The workshop fee of $135 includes a Living Alone binder, empowerment exercises, and helpful resources you can trust. To learn more, contact Gwenn Voelckers at 585-624-7887 or email gvoelckers@ rochester.rr.com.

Series to help adults use Internet, Facebook, emails Chapel Oaks, a retirement community for people who want to enjoy an active lifestyle with complete independence, is sponsoring a series of 90-minute classes that will address basic knowledge on how to use the Internet, emails, Facebook and other related issues.

The Chapel Oaks Technology Series will take place from 1:30 to 3 p.m. at Chapel Oaks, 1550 Portland Ave., Rochester, on the following days: • Thursday, Sept. 8. Topic: “Understanding the Internet” • Wednesday, Oct. 12. Topic: “Internet Security, Privacy and Safety” • Thursday, Nov. 17. Topic: “What the Heck is Facebook?”

Daniel Jones, a local instructor whose classes are specially designed to help older adults make sense of technology, will present the series.

For information and reservation, call Kathy at 585-697-6604.

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IN GOOD HEALTH – Rochester / Genesee Valley Healthcare Newspaper • September 2016

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Healthcare in a Minute

By George W. Chapman

Hospital rankings released

After months of delay due to concerns about the methodology used, the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) released the results of its hospital quality rankings. 4,600 hospitals received from one to five stars based on 64 quality measures like post-surgical infection rates, average waiting time in the emergency department, readmission to the hospital after a heart attack, use of CT and MRIs, complications after hip surgery, etc. Only 102 hospitals (2 percent) earned five stars. 934 (20 percent) earned four stars. 1,770 (38 percent) earned three stars. 723 (16 percent) earned two stars. 133 (3 percent) earned one star. 937 hospitals (20 percent) received no ranking due to insufficient data. NYS had the most one-star hospitals with 35 of the 133. Thirty three of those 35 were downstate. Faxton-St. Luke in Utica and SUNY Health Science Center in Syracuse were the two Upstate hospitals getting a single star. Many believe the rankings were biased against teaching hospitals, which typically treat more trauma, transfers from other hospitals and the more complex cases. Go to www.cms.gov and look for “CMS Hospital Compare” online to check a hospital’s ranking.

Cancer survivors increasing

The number of cancer survivors will increase by 11 million over the next two decades, according to the National Cancer Institute. Its numbers will increase from the current 15 million to over 26 million. Almost 75 percent of the survivors will be over 65 by 2040.

Text messaging your physician

CMS is working on guidelines for text messaging. The availability of better and secure text messaging technology caused CMS to reconsider its ban on text messaging which has been in force since 2011. Various studies indicate text messaging can accelerate care, boost communications between patients and their providers and streamline patient activity.

A recent study of women diagnosed with breast cancer found a much higher level of satisfaction with both treatment plans and their decision making among women who used some means of electronic communication with their physician.

Healthcare to be 20 % of GDP

According to Office of the Actuary under CMS, healthcare expenditures will grow 5.8 percent a year between now and 2025. That is about 1.3 percent faster than the rest of the economy, which could make healthcare 20 percent of the gross domestic product — or GDP — by 2025. We spent $3.2 trillion last year on healthcare. The Affordable Care Act has been credited with keeping annual increase to “moderate levels” compared to the 8 percent growth rate in the two decades prior to the ACA. Price inflation accounted for less than 1 percent of the increase in expenditures. We continue to spend far more per capita or percentage of GDP, than any other country.

Curbing fraud

Penalties will soon double. The minimum penalty for each false claim submitted to CMS will double from the current $5,500 to nearly September 2016 •

$11,000. The maximum penalty per false claim would increase to over $21,000. There are typically thousands of false claims in a particular case meaning penalties reach into the million and sometimes billions.

Whistleblowers receive a cut of the monies recovered. Many feel the higher penalties may invoke the constitutionality of the fines as a defense.

The eighth amendment prohibits excessive fines. However, most cases are settled on damages or the government’s actual losses versus penalties.

Trump’s plan

Republicans have tried to repeal the ACA nearly 50 times. Donald Trump has vowed to repeal it if elected. According to the non-partisan Center for Health and Economy, Trump’s plan would upend most of the recent reforms under the ACA. Eighteen million Americans would lose their insurance due to elimination of tax credits and Medicaid expansion. Premiums would decrease across all plan categories (bronze, silver, platinum) by removing actuarial rating and deductible restrictions and the individual mandate. Medical productivity would increase 2 percent due to a shift from employer-sponsored plans to individual plans. More cost sharing would result in a more price-conscious consumer. Provider access would increase 11 percent based on the assumption that new low-benefit, low-premium catastrophic plans would offer a wider network of providers. The federal deficit would decrease $583 billion over the next decade due to provisions directly related to removing the standard benefit packages under the ACA.

Feds to Increase value of primary care

In a continuing effort to make primary care more appealing to medical students and to reward those already practicing, Medicare will increase payments for internal medicine, family medicine, OB-GYN, pediatrics, geriatrics and mental health by $900 million next year. Most of the increase will come at the expense of specialists. Commercial insurers tend to follow Medicare’s lead on how physicians and hospitals are paid.

Random health facts

Lack of exercise causes as many deaths as smoking. Eating out regularly at restaurants doubles your risk of obesity. Laughing 100 times equals 15 minutes of exercising on a stationary bike. 30 percent of cancer can be prevented by avoiding tobacco, limiting alcohol and exercising regularly.

Averaging less than seven hours of sleep a night reduced your life expectancy. Just one soda a day increases your chances of Type 2 diabetes by 22 percent.

George W. Chapman is a healthcare consultant who works with hospitals and medical groups.

He operates GW Chapman Consulting based in Syracuse. Email him at gwc@gwchapmanconsulting.com.

IN GOOD HEALTH – Rochester / Genesee Valley Healthcare Newspaper

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Meet

Your Doctor

By Chris Motola

Martin Lustick, M.D. Pediatrician serves as senior VP and corporate medical director at Excellus BCBS. He talks about career, reimbursement policies and more Q: You have a pretty unique role in the medical industry. Tell us a bit about what you do and the decisions you make.

A: As corporate medical director for Excellus BlueCross BlueShield, my role is essentially to oversee all of the clinical functions that the health plan is engaged in. That includes all of our activities around assuring and driving improvements in our delivery system and all our utilization management activities and our case and disease management activities.

Q: So we’re talking a lot about doing cost-benefit analysis with regard to whether procedures are medically necessary or desirable?

A: We actually start with a medical policy function. We use a variety of resources that are nationally accepted tools for evidence-based care. InterQual is the main tool that we use for guidelines, for example, to figure out what is an appropriate site of service. We also have our own medical policy staff where we’re constantly reviewing literature on new technologies, new uses for current technologies. Those policies are then brought to a committee made up of providers in our network — we have some our own people on the committee, but it’s mostly people from outside Excellus BCBS. So they review the summaries we bring forward and determine our policies about when technology should be considered a standard of care as opposed to investigational or experimental. That sets the foundation of our utilization management function. When cases fall into the latter categories, we’ll review the case and make a determination on it. So it’s not an arbitrary process at all.

Q: So there are cases in which an experimental procedure might be deemed appropriate?

A: Yes. First of all, we have a whole set of policies, many of which have regulatory components regarding what we will or will not cover.

For example, we do cover experimental therapies that are being done as part of a study. In addition to that, we don’t deny any service without a medical director making a final decision. And we do that because, no matter how we design the policies, there will always be gray areas that require clinical judgment. So we’re not trying to play “gotcha”, it’s to try to get to the best decision that we can, given any unique issues the case may have. We also give providers and patients the ability to appeal our decisions, depending in part upon the product they have. We’ll typically consult an outside specialist in that case to determine if we made the Page 8

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right call the first time.

Q: To what degree has the Affordable Care Act changed the way these decisions are made?

A: An interesting question. Most of what was in the ACA was around insurance reform, in terms of eliminating preexisting conditions as a criteria for coverage. So there were a whole lot of changes that increased access and provided subsidies for people in the lower income bracket.

In New York, many of the reforms were already a part of the way the state regulated insurance, so there was less impact here than in most of the country. From my own point of view, one big impact was that it foretold the dramatic changes that were going to take place, both as a result of the ACA and preexisting trends. It brought local hospitals, physicians and providers together to talk about how the landscape was changing. It made us put our heads together and talk about how we were going to navigate this new world.

The positive side of that is I spend a lot more time working with them to improve care.

So then you have to call that patient back, cause them anxiety, and have them come in for additional tests.

There’s good evidence that, in people without history or symptoms, the tests don’t have a lot of value. So you can cause harm by doing things people don’t need to have done.

On another level, our vision is to create access to good healthcare for as broad a group of the population as we can. By avoiding unnecessary care, we can help keep the costs down and, in turn, make it available to more people. So the long-term benefit is that more people can have access to better care if we’re prudent in how we deliver care.

Q: What brought you to this particular niche?

A: I took a route that’s a little unusual. I trained as a pediatrician.

When I went into practice in Washington D.C., I went into practice in the Kaiser Permanente system.

Essentially, the care-delivery system and the health plan, despite technically being two different organizations, kind of function as one. So it brings all of that together. From my own perspective, working there for 17 years, the distinction between coverage and delivery has always been blurred. Both are necessary in order for people to access quality care. So I’ve never really never made a big distinction in my own head. They’re all tied together. We need people who understand both sides of the equation to make it work.

Q: It’s not uncommon for people to feel as though insurance providers are an obstacle to care. Is there a case to be made, from your vantage point, that the management of care can be in the patients’ interest?

A: I think there are a lot of levels to a response to that question. I think if people are being exposed to a lot of unnecessary treatment or tests — everything has risks associated with it — there is risk to the patient. To give a simple example, it used to be common to do a large panel of tests on patients who came in for checkups. If you look at the way those tests are done, the normal range for each test has a 95 percent confidence level. So each test has a 5 percent chance of the test showing a problem despite the person being perfectly normal.

If you do that on 20 different tests, there’s a good chance that one will fall outside of normal parameters.

IN GOOD HEALTH – Rochester / Genesee Valley Healthcare Newspaper • September 2016

Q: There’s a push toward outcome-based reimbursement with healthcare now. What does that look like from an insurer’s perspective?

A: We have our own version of an accountable care organization that we call Accountable Cost and Quality Arrangements. Really, what we’re trying to do is align incentives between ourselves and providers so that we’re all focused on improving quality and cost trends at the same time. We do that through financial arrangements where providers have an opportunity to share savings, getting an increasing percentage of those savings based on quality scores. The basic idea is that, if they can continuously improve quality and costs, they stand to benefit. Even if they don’t control costs, they still have an incentive to improve quality. We now have the capability for nurses to digitally fill in the details of a procedure to get immediate approval on procedures, which lessens the administrative burden. About half of all procedures are approved using this system.

Lifelines Name: Martin Lustick, M.D. Position: Senior vice president and corporate medical director at Excellus BlueCross BlueShield Hometown: Watertown, NY Education: Cornell University (undergrad); Columbia University (medical).

Completed his residency at Children’s National Medical Center in Washington, D.C. Career: Was in clinical pediatric practice for 17 years. Also served as the chief operating officer for Kaiser Permanente in the Mid-Atlantic states. Before coming to Excellus BlueCross BlueShield in 2005, served as the chief medical officer for Thompson Health in Canandaigua Organizations: Member of the Monroe County Medical Society, the Canandaigua Medical Society and Medical Society of the State of New York. Also a member of Rochester RHIO; East House; Community Technology Advisory Assessment Board Family: Married, two adult sons Hobbies: Guitar, wood working

Responding to the Rise in Heroin and Prescription Pain Medications in Rochester

CELEBRATING 50 YEARS Grasta's Beauty and Wig Studio

By Jennifer Faringer

I

n response to the ongoing rise in heroin abuse and prescription pain medication misuse as well as rising numbers of overdoses in our community, DePaul’s National Council on Alcoholism and Drug Dependence-Rochester Area (NCADD-RA) brought together individuals from multiple sectors to create the Monroe County Opioid Task Force. uring bimonthly meetings, local and state data have been reviewed, assets and barriers specific to the opioid epidemic have been identified, and a mission and set of goals have established.

There have been several successes that include the passage of the NYS Comprehensive Opioid Legislation package and the passage federally of the Comprehensive Addiction and Recovery Act. The Monroe County Opioid Task Force seeks a comprehensive multisector response with approaches that include prevention education, treatment, recovery and enforcement strategies. The goals include access to services equal to that of other diseases, immediate access to treatment as well as after care and wrap around services, access to Narcan to reverse opioid overdoses, access to prevention education services, clear process for low level crime referral to treatment, and access to medications to support treatment and recovery.

Progress is underway and resources have been created that include the

D

“Treatment Availability Dashboard” found at the New York State Office of Alcoholism and Substance Abuse Services (OASAS) website at www.oasas. ny.gov; a series of NYS OASAS YouTube videos (Navigating the Substance Use Disorder System of Care Series) found at www.oasas.ny.gov/treatment; and the resource-rich Combat Heroin website at www.combatheroin.ny.gov.

The Monroe County Opioid Task Force continues to move forward to ensure that individuals and families impacted by the disease of addiction will have full and complete access to services equal to that of other diseases.

We seek to remove the stigma surrounding the disease of addiction.

Prevention education efforts, with requests to NCADD-RA for education on opioids, are at an all-time high. To request more information or schedule a presentation contact Jennifer Faringer at jfaringer@depaul.org.

Jennifer Faringer is the director of DePaul’s National Council on Alcoholism and Drug Dependence-Rochester Area. For more information, visit www.ncadd-ra.org

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Do you live alone?

Living alone can be a challenge, especially for women in mid-life who are divorced or widowed. But it can also be the start of a rich and meaningful chapter in your life. Need a jump start?

Living Alone: How to Survive and Thrive on Your Own Wednesdays, Oct. 12, 19 and 26 6:30 pm - 8:30 pm House Content B&B, Mendon, NY

In the workshop led by Gwenn Voelckers — a women who’s “been there” — you’ll discover how to overcome loneliness and other emotional pitfalls, rediscover your true self, and socialize in a couples’ world. $135 fee includes manual, empowerment exercises and lots of helpful resources.

For more information, call 585-624-7887 or email gvoelckers@rochester.rr.com IN GOOD HEALTH – Rochester / Genesee Valley Healthcare Newspaper

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Page 9

Live Alone & Thrive

By Gwenn Voelckers

Practical tips, advice and hope for those who live alone

Forging a New Life on Your Own. Need Some help?

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or some women, living alone in mid-life is a welcome change, especially if they are coming out of an unhappy marriage. eing alone can offer a respite from the stress and heartache of a relationship gone bad. But for many others, the change is not welcome, and the prospect of living alone can appear on the horizon as a daunting challenge.

The ending of my own marriage years ago fell into the latter category; it was not a welcome change. But it was a change nonetheless and one I had no choice but to accept and ultimately to embrace.

It took some time and some hard-knock lessons, but I eventually discovered a resourcefulness within myself that enabled me to forge a joyful and meaningful life on my own. It is that same resourcefulness that gave me the confidence to organize and offer workshops to support other women in the similar circumstances.

“Living Alone: How to Survive and Thrive on Your Own” is a threepart workshop I developed to help women discover the know how to create a satisfying and enriching life on their own. I’ve been leading the workshop for over 10 years now,

and often get questions from “In Good Health” readers about what the workshop covers and how it is organized.

In this month’s column, I am pleased to answer the most frequently asked questions: Q. What is the purpose of the workshop and what do you cover?

A. Because I’ve walked in a similar pair of shoes, I can empathize with the challenges you may be facing. And I can support your efforts and desire to feel more content on your own.

In many cases, it starts with a change in attitude, and my workshop will help you think differently about living alone. Specifically, I cover how to overcome loneliness and other emotional pitfalls, banish negative thinking, rediscover your true self, socialize in a couples’ world, and otherwise embrace what may be a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to create a wonderful and rewarding life on your own.

Feeling comfortable with your independence will improve your chances of finding happiness, and it will improve your chances of finding a new healthy relationship, if that’s what you desire. When you feel better about yourself — more self-as-

sured and resourceful — life on your own or with a special someone can be richer and more satisfying.

Getting good at living alone takes practice. There’s no magic pill and it doesn’t happen overnight. But it can happen, and good things can result.

Q. Who attends the workshop?

A. Most, but not all, of the women who attend the workshop are between the ages of 40 and 70, and have come out of long marriages or relationships. Some are on their own for the first time in their lives.

All have one thing in common: They want to get a better handle on living alone and to feel more content with themselves and their independence.

Many see this workshop as an extension of the support they are receiving from friends, family, a therapist or their congregation.

Q. I’m still grieving the loss of my marriage/spouse. Is this workshop right for me?

A. Good question. My Living Alone workshop is a “nuts and bolts” practical workshop to help women feel more whole and complete on their own. It is not a grief or mental health support group. If you are still in the grieving process and seek support, I recommend grief counseling or the help of a professional counselor.

Q. What are your credentials?

A. I am not a licensed professional. My expertise is born out of real-life experience. I’ve “been there.”

I emerged from my divorce feeling very deflated and very alone, faced with both the practical and emotional challenges of living alone. After some hits and misses, I found my way and now thoroughly enjoy the freedom and independence that comes with living alone.

My time-tested experience, re-

sources, and tried-and-true tips and techniques have inspired and helped many workshop participants. My workshop has been the jump-start they needed to reclaim their lives.

Q. How large are the workshops?

A. Ideally, I like to have eight women in each workshop, although, on occasion, I have led workshops with a few more and a few less. A group of about eight gives everyone a chance to actively participate and benefit from the experience.

The sharing quickly gives way to a comfortable camaraderie and it’s not unusual for nice friendships to develop among participants.

Q. Where are the workshops held?

A. At House Content Bed & Breakfast in Mendon, near Rochester.

House Content is a little historic gem, situated on a picturesque six-acre site, surrounded by horse farms and parkland. Reminiscent of a quaint English cottage, this setting serves as a peaceful and inspirational setting for the workshops.

Q. I’d like to sign up for the workshop. What’s my next step?

A. I like to speak with potential participants by phone, as a first step.

That way, I can answer your questions and you’ll know better whether this workshop is right for you. Just call me at 585-624-7887 or email me at gvoelckers@rochester.rr.com, and we’ll schedule a time to talk. You’ll also find information about my upcoming workshop in the Calendar of Health Events included in this issue.

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

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Rochester Holistic Center Natural Ways to Treat Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD)

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all is coming and with the shorter daylight comes a very common malady known as seasonal affective disorder (or SAD). It is estimated over 25 percent of Americans living in northern regions of the country experience SAD each year.

occur too, affecting the hypothalamus and pituitary gland.

How can I treat SAD? Taking vitamin D 3 (the most active, readily absorbed form) is ideal. Check your level with your doctor and if you’re not at 50 ng/mL, it is generally What is SAD? safe to take 4000 IU [international units] daily until Seasonal affective disorder is diagnosed when a spring. Studies have shown improved symptoms person experiences three categories of symptoms: 1) in patients who took 4000 IU per day vs. 600 IU cognitive, where you’re unable to focus easily, have per day. Upping your dose appears to be safe, but scattered thoughts or poor recollection of informaplease check with your physician to be sure. tion; 2) mood symptoms, where you’re feeling deAnother option is to obtain a light fixture that pressed, anxious, irritable or having mood swings; emits 10,000 LUX of light. Amazon.com carries 3) neurological symptoms, where you lose appetite, many of these therapeutic devices. The treatment have low energy or have changed sleep patterns. works best if you sit in front of the light every morning for 30 to 45 minutes from August until mid-April. Studies have shown this to be effective What causes SAD? for moderate-to-severe cases of SAD. SAD is caused by changes in hormones and neurochemicals (such as serotonin, the “feel good” neurotransmitter) brought about by the reduced Are there supplements I can take? amount of sunlight during the fall and winter There are several supplements (besides vitamin seasons. This change is attributed to the relative D3) that studies prove effective for symptoms of positioning of the Earth to the sun. The duration, SAD. For mood swings, depression, low energy and wavelength and intensity of the sunlight cause inability to focus, consider combination therapies physiological changes in the human body. Vitamin such as vitamin D and our NeuroBalance, Super D levels are compromised and hormones such as B12, and an activated B-complex called Awesome B. melatonin are affected as well. Changes in the brain Every supplement we offer is pharmaceutical grade,

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Rochester Holistic Center • 585-690-3782 • www.rochesterholisticcenter.com Page 10

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IN GOOD HEALTH – Rochester / Genesee Valley Healthcare Newspaper • September 2016

Healing the Mind and Soul Hospital chaplains offer support to ease the worry of patients

Rev. Robin Franklin is the director of chaplaincy services at Strong Memorial Hospital. “Nurses have patients that they have to get medicine to. The chaplain has time to sit. When someone is worried, they have time to listen. We may not have the answer, but we can listen.” Franklin said.

By Jessica Gaspar

A

diagnosis of any medical condition is intimidating and downright scary.

Doctors provide a planned course of action. If it’s cancer, then chemotherapy, radiation and maybe surgery. Nurses take your vitals, dispense your medication, and draw your blood. Through all of this, you trust you’re in good hands, that your assigned caregivers will take care of you.

But when the worry sets in and you are afraid to talk with your family or spouse, then with whom do you talk? Doctors and nurses have many other patients and often don’t have the time to talk.

That’s where hospital chaplains come in.

Many Rochester-area hospitals offer spiritual care services or chaplaincy services with chaplains who are charged with providing patients a listening ear and time.

At Strong Memorial Hospital, Rev. Robin Franklin is the director of chaplaincy services.

“Nurses have patients that they have to get medicine to. The chaplain has time to sit. The chaplain has time.

When someone is worried, they have time to listen. We may not have the answer, but we can listen,” Franklin said.

Caring for patients’ emotional state of mind is just as important as caring for their physical body, she said. Critically ill patients may have too great of an emotional load to bear in order to properly heal.

“If my spirit is not well or if my spirit is out of sync, it’s hard to pull my physical body together to do what I need to do to get well. I can take the medicine and I can do what the doctor tells me to do, but if I’m worried about my kids at home, or I’m worried about whether God loves me … it’s going to be hard to focus on getting physically better,” Franklin said.

All of the hospitals encompassed by the University of Rochester Medical Center and the Rochester Regional Health System provide non-denominational chaplaincy services.

Not only do they listen to patients and talk with them, they often offer prayer support. If a patient requests a Bible, a Torah, or Quran, a hospital chaplain will fulfill that request. In

some instances, Roman Catholic patients may ask for a rosary to pray.

Chaplains also provide Holy Communion or Eucharist to patients. They will often call in Catholic priests who may need to perform a ritual called anointing of the sick (also known as last rites) for critical or dying patients. In some instances, chaplains may perform emergency baptisms if a newborn baby is in a critical state or will not live. Certain naming rituals or blessings may also be performed depending on the parents’ faiths.

“We minister to people from all different religious backgrounds, even those who don’t believe in God,” said Marianne Katz, a chaplain with Rochester Regional Health at Unity Hospital.

Chaplains at Unity Hospital also provide support services to staff

members. During Nurse’s Week, an annual blessing of the hands is performed.

Katz also remembers an incredibly difficult time after an employee passed away.

“It really took the whole department by surprise,” she said.

Chaplains provided grief support to other employees at Unity while they coped, and they even provided a prayer service for that colleague.

Occasionally, chaplains have presided over weddings in Unity’s interfaith chapel. Another time, they oversaw an adoption ceremony between a birth mother and an adoptive mother.

“We care for the spirit of the person. We help people connect with whatever resources will help them cope with what’s going on,” Katz said.

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September 2016 •

IN GOOD HEALTH – Rochester / Genesee Valley Healthcare Newspaper

•

Page 11

Medical Errors: A Hidden Killer How one Rochester health system confronts, contains the element of human error

By Ernst Lamothe, Jr.

I

t’s always painful when a family or friend dies no matter what the circumstances. However, knowing how they died can be an important element in a person’s closing.

The Centers for Disease Control (CDC) recently compiled the most common causes of deaths in the United States, and medical error landed as No. 3 on the list. Medical error is defined as an unintended act of omission, a wrong plan of action or a deviation from the process that caused the patient harm.

Many of these medical errors are due to human miscalculations such as diagnosis mistakes, poor judgment or inadequate skills. Yet the term medical error is never included on a death certificate. More than 250,000 people die in the U.S. yearly because of medical care gone wrong, which is just behind heart disease and cancer, according to the CDC study. It’s an issue that is calling for change and more transparency.

“As healthcare consumers, we should know what procedures our physicians have done and how efficient and effective they were before we select them as our doctors,” said David Norris, CEO and founder of MD Insider, an organization based in Santa Monica, Calif., that analyzes doctor performance using intricate comparison data. “We may know a lot of information about a particular hospital, but not about the surgeons and other doctors who are at that hospital.”

However, hospitals in the Rochester area are taking an active role in examining medical error for the Page 12

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safety of their patients. Officials at the University of Rochester Medical Center, for example, conduct annual quality and safety surveys among physicians and all clinical teams.

They use the findings to identify specific actions to take.

“We take a system-wide, comprehensive approach to quality and safety, with everyone in our organization trained and engaged to promote patient safety and the best possible outcomes,” said physician Robert J. Panzer, chief quality officer and associate vice president at URMC. “Our leadership conducts weekly, monthly and quarterly reviews of our quality performance to identify and address areas for improvement.

A few examples of recent additions URMC system has made to its quality and safety procedures include: • Using electronic medical records to gather and analyze outcomes as well as building new patient care safety tools. URMC officials have identified 25 “best practice” guidelines that have been shown to reduce surgical site infections.

• They have mobilized teams that include nurses and other front line staff to development improvement approaches. Like other healthcare organizations across the country, the hospital has adopted lean methodology as an improvement tool, which is continuously improving any process through the elimination of waste.

• They have implemented the Patient Story online hand-off tool, which provides real-time data on

patients, including their vital signs, current medications, lab tests and patient care summary.

The tool makes this essential information viewable by everyone involved in Robert J. Panzer, chief the patients’ quality officer and care, wherassociate vice president ever they are physically at URMC. located, so every hospital team member has the same up-to-date information about the patient.

Officials from Rochester Regional Health were contacted for this story but declined to comment on the issue.

The annual list of the most common causes of death system in the United States is created using death certificates filled out by physicians, funeral directors, medical examiners and coroners. When people die, the process begins with assigning them an International Classification of Disease code for cause of death. Because medical error doesn’t have its own code class, it can’t be entered as a reason for death.

“The problem of people dying from poor medical care is not known,” said Martin Makary, surgical director at John Hopkins University School of Medicine in Baltimore,

IN GOOD HEALTH – Rochester / Genesee Valley Healthcare Newspaper • September 2016

who helped write the study with physician Michael Daniel. “We spend a lot of money on heart disease and cancer, but we don’t discuss nationwide medical care. This is a problem that is likely not just in the United States, but throughout the world.”

According to the World Health Organization, 117 countries code their mortality statistics using this same system.

For David Norris of Insider MD, the passion for transparency began with a personal story. About 20 years ago, he went to a hospital for knee surgery. It seemingly went well because he came in the morning and was able to leave in the afternoon.

Then three days later, the knee began to swell three times its size.

“They had to pull out fluid and then they told me I had a staph infection,” said Norris. “That put me back in the hospital for another three weeks and they had to re-do my surgery and inject me with antibiotics.

They never gave me more information. I thought I went to a good doctor, but apparently not.”

Medical researchers who worked on the CDC study recommend strategies to reduce death from medical care. They consist of three steps: making errors more visible when they occur so their effects can be intercepted; having remedies at hand to rescue patients; and making errors less frequent by following principles that take human limitations into account. An example would be putting a place in the death certificate where doctors could write whether a preventable complication contributed to the death. However, that would also make the physician liable and the medical community may not be interested in setting a precedent that might later lead to greater number of lawsuits.

The Affordable Care Act has promoted increased participation in accountable care organizations with the aim of improving the safety and quality of care while reducing costs.

According to the CDC researchers, possible solutions include implementing checklists for physicians or teams whose error rates are higher than average and enforcing the hospital’s hand-washing program for those groups who are seeing an increase in infection rates.

Medical errors: What you can do to reduce the risk • Communication is key: Speak up to your doctors and nurses and ask them what they are doing and why they are doing it.

• Vet your providers: Find out if they have a good success rate and try to find out from others what their perspective on medical errors is. Do they encourage a culture of open reporting?

• Wash your hands often.

Ask anybody who attends to you if they have washed their hands between patients. Make sure they do. Many dangerous infections are contracted in hospitals each year.

• Check to see how your hospital is doing online. The federal government keeps tabs and so should you. Go to https://www. medicare.gov/hospitalcompare/ search.html?

SmartBites The skinny on healthy eating

Good-For-You Grapes Burst with Benefits

A

lthough grapes are available year-round, nothing heralds the start of fall in Upstate New York quite like grapes. From our grape festivals to our grape stomping to our roadside grape pies, everything is all about the grape.

As a child, I liked grapes for their taste; as an adult, I like grapes for their taste, their thirst-quenching qualities — and most importantly — their

bountiful health benefits.

To begin, grapes of all colors — red, green and dark purple — contain an impressive variety of antioxidants known as polyphenols.

Antioxidants promote health and longevity by neutralizing damaging free radicals that have been linked to a host of health conditions and chronic diseases.

Eating a variety of grapes may be especially good for hearts. Human studies have shown that grapes may promote relaxation of blood vessels, which helps to maintain healthy blood flow and reduce heart stress.

Animal studies have demonstrated that grapes may lower blood pressure and reduce

inflammation. Controlling inflammation is particularly important in lowering our risk for atherosclerosis and other life-threatening diseases, such as cancer.

Dark red and purple grapes have high concentrations of resveratrol, a widely researched polyphenol that might be responsible for the cardiovascular benefits of red wine. Exactly how resveratrol might do this is still a mystery, but some researchers suggest that it reduces bad cholesterol, thwarts damage to blood vessels and prevents blood clots. Bring on the merlot, please!

And while grapes do contain more sugar than a lot of fruits, eating colorful, nutrient-rich fruits is crucial to a healthy diet. A 2013 study published in the British Medical Journal, in fact, found that people who ate at least two servings each week of certain whole fruits — particularly grapes, blueberries, and apples — reduced their risk for Type 2 diabetes by as much as 23 percent in comparison to those who ate less than one serving per month.

Low in fat, sodium, cholesterol and calories (only 100 per cup), grapes are also an excellent source of vitamins C and K. Immune-boosting vitamin C helps the body maintain healthy tissues and heal wounds, while bone-building vitamin K aids in proper blood clotting.

Helpful tips Select firm, plump grapes that are even in color and firmly attached to the stem. Don’t wash grapes when you return home, but do refrigerate them in the bag they came in. Rinse before eating in a colander under

cold water.

Orzo-Grape Salad with Feta and Mint Adapted from EatingWell 1 cup orzo, preferably wholewheat 2 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil 2 tablespoons lemon juice 1/4 teaspoon salt 1/4 teaspoon freshly ground pepper 2 cups quartered or halved seedless red and green grapes 1/2 cup crumbled feta cheese 1/4 cup chopped fresh mint 1 to 2 garlic cloves, minced 2 tablespoons finely chopped red onion (optional) Bring a large saucepan of water to a boil. Add orzo and cook until just tender, about eight minutes.

Drain in a colander and rinse with cold water until cool.

Meanwhile, whisk oil, lemon juice, salt and pepper in a large bowl.

Add grapes, feta, mint, onion and the orzo; toss to combine.

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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IN GOOD HEALTH – Rochester / Genesee Valley Healthcare Newspaper

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Page 13

Men’sHealth

Thyroid Disease: Few Male Patients Know They Have It

By Deborah Jeanne Sergeant

A

n estimated 20 million Americans have a thyroid condition and up to 60 percent of those do not realize it, according to the American Thyroid Association.

The organization states that women are five to eight times more likely than men to experience thyroid problems.

But local experts agree that male patients and even their physicians are less likely to recognize thyroid disease.

“It may be under-diagnosed because men don’t seek medical care as readily,” said UR Medicine endocrinologist Ismat Shafiq. “Women may be more concerned about the symptoms and seek care sooner.

“If a patient comes to me, regardless of sex, and they have the symptoms, I think thyroid disease, but I’m not sure a general practitioner would consider it.”

Treating thyroid disease is important for men and women. The gland is located in base of the neck and produces hormones that regulate

every call of the body and vital functions such as metabolism. Men can also experience low libido, low sperm count, and erectile dysfunction.

Thyroid conditions UR Medicine include endocrinologist Ismat hyperthyShafiq. roidism, when the the gland makes too much hormone and causes mood swings, weakness, weight loss and eye problems. With hypothyroidism, the thyroid produces too little hormone and the patient can experience fatigue, memory issues, weight gain and depression.

Over time, hypothyroidism can raise

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patients’ risk for cardiovascular disease, osteoporosis, and infertility.

Doctors typically treat hyperthyroidism and hyperthyroidism with medication that must be taken for life. The conditions require periodic monitoring.

Shafiq said that the same medication is prescribed regardless of gender and it’s usually quite effective, though men may need a slightly higher dose.

Eastern medicine practitioners also look at diet and other lifestyle factors that affect the thyroid.

Physician Azhar Tahir operates holistic and internal health offices in Henrietta. Like Shafiq, he said that many doctors don’t consider thyroid disease as a possibility for men which results in later diagnosis. Part of the reason is that men’s low libido and fatigue is blamed on other causes.

Also, because thyroid conditions can be caused by autoimmune disorder, doctors often don’t consider that as the reason for their male patient’s complaints.

“Women have more likelihood to have autoimmune conditions,” Tahir said. “No one knows why they do.”

Men may complain of more general symptoms, such as fatigue or low mood, which make diagnosis more difficult; however, a blood test easily indicates thyroid disease by measuring levels of thyroid stimulating hormone.

Tahir said that at home, people can screen themselves for hypothyroidism by checking their temperature and pulse first thing in the morning before rising. If the pulse is under 65 and the temperature under 98, it could indicate hypothyroidism.

“People are treated unnecessarily for depression or have heart conditions that are really hypothyroidism,” Tahir said.

Like most health conditions, prompt treatment helps improve outcomes. If sought early, proper treatment for thyroid disease can reverse many of its symptoms, although patients will require lifelong maintenance.

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IN GOOD HEALTH – Rochester / Genesee Valley Healthcare Newspaper • September 2016

Men’sHealth

Testosterone Therapy Improves Sexual Interest, Function in Older Men

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argest placebo-controlled study to date finds testosterone can address low libido, erectile dysfunction Older men with low libido and low testosterone levels showed more interest in sex and engaged in more sexual activity when they underwent testosterone therapy, according to a new study published in the Endocrine Society’s Journal of Clinical Endocrinology & Metabolism.

The study is the largest placebo-controlled trial in older men conducted on the subject to date. The sexual function study is part of the Testosterone Trials, a series of seven studies examining the effectiveness of hormone therapy in men who are 65 or older, who have low testosterone levels and are experiencing symptoms of testosterone deficiency.

The research is supported primarily by the National Institutes of Health.

Early Prostate Cancer Diagnoses Continue to Fall in U.S., Shows Study Decline follows recommendation against routine screening, but experts not sure if trend is good or bad

D

iagnoses of early prostate cancer continue to decline in the United States, following the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force recommendation against routine screening for the disease, researchers report.

The screening involves a blood test that identifies levels of PSA (prostate specific antigen), a protein produced by the prostate gland. That test can determine when cancer exists, but it often wrongly identifies nonexistent cancer.

These “false positive” results can cause anxiety and lead to unnecessary follow-up tests. Because of this, the task force issued a draft recommendation against routine screening in 2011 and a final guideline in 2012.

Since then, diagnoses of early prostate cancer in American men aged 50 and older dropped by 19 percent between 2011 and 2012 and by another 6 percent the following year, said lead researcher Ahmedin Jemal. He is a physician and vice president of the American Cancer Society’s surveillance and health services research program.

But while many men may have been spared unnecessary anguish, less frequent screening may have a downside. Some experts worry more men will develop potentially fatal prostate cancer as a result.

“Prostate cancer is a slow-growing tumor, so it takes time. We may see it over the next three to five years,” Jemal said.

There is a balance in the task force recommendation, said Anthony D’Amico, chief of genitourinary radiation oncology at Brigham and Women’s Hospital and the Dana Farber Cancer Institute, in Boston.

“Some men who should not be treated are not being diagnosed, but that also means some men who should be treated are either losing the chance for cure or presenting later and needing to undergo more treatment and more side effects for a possible cure,” he said.

“The answer to this dilemma will come with personalized medicine based on risk-based screening — screening men preferentially in good health and at high risk,” D’Amico added.

Testosterone is a key male sex hormone involved in maintaining sex drive, erectile function and sperm production.

The Endocrine Society’s Clinical Practice Guideline recommends using testosterone therapy to treat men with symptoms of androgen deficiency and low levels of testosterone.

Androgen deficiency occurs when a man has consistently low levels of testosterone and resulting symptoms such as sexual dysfunction.

In the past 15 years, use of testosterone therapy has rapidly expanded among men. Testosterone levels decline as men age, and some men develop low testosterone levels and symptoms. Since 2000, the number of men beginning testosterone therapy has almost quadrupled in the United States, according to a 2014 study published inThe Journal of Clinical Endocrinology & Metabolism.

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IN GOOD HEALTH – Rochester / Genesee Valley Healthcare Newspaper

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Page 15

Heads Up: Concussions Can Endanger High School Athletes Experts: Play safe, protect your head, identify when the problem arises

By Deborah Jeanne Sergeant

W

hile participating in school sports promotes teamwork skills, fitness and healthy self-image, student athletes can sustain serious, even lifelong injuries or die because of concussions.

Emergency personnel treat more than 170,000 school-aged children and teens annually for traumatic brain injuries, which include concussions, related to recreation or sports, according to the Centers for Disease Control.

Before your children don their uniforms, consider how you can help lower their risk.

There’s no “safe” sport, so pulling your children out of football, lacrosse, hockey and soccer won’t eliminate the chance of sustaining a concussion. However, those sports do tend to see the highest rates of concussions. Any type of sport in which a participant falls, is shaken or receives a blow to the head can cause a concussion. One example that surprises many parents is cheerleading. Though not a contact sport, the activity places participants high in

the air where a fall or missed catch can be disastrous.

Concussions can cause shortterm symptoms, including headache, confusion, loss of consciousness, nausea, vision disturbance, lack of memory about the incident, slurred speech and dizziness. Secondary concussions can cause more serious consequences, including lifelong brain damage or death.

The key to preventing serious concussion injury lies in protection, playing safely and identifying concussion.

Ensure your children have and properly use any protective gear appropriate for the activity every time they participate, including practices at home or school. Explain why the equipment is important. Though teens tend to think nothing bad will happen to them, statistically, it may.

Visit your children’s school during a practice to see how safety equipment and rules are enforced.

Coaches and other players should not encourage rough play, though the CDC states that rough or illegal play

contribute to about 25 percent of concussion incidences.

“To a certain degree, some concussions are unavoidable,” said physician Robert Anderson, who works at Finger Physician Robert Lakes Anderson, Finger Lakes Health.

Health.

“Prevention of concussion comes from teaching children how to play sports properly.”

Many school coaches teach football players to keep their heads up, not down, when tackling to reduce the risk.

“Limiting full contact activities when necessary but focusing on skills

are emphasized by professionals,” Anderson said.

The school’s athletic department should also maintain a concussion awareness program, which includes removing athletes from play who may have suffered a concussion.

They should follow a return to play protocol that includes a multi-disciplinary examination and clearance.

That can help “make sure they can tolerate regular play,” Anderson said. “We know that a second concussion often can worsen and prolong symptoms than a first concussion.”

Only recently have physicians recognized the effects of the second impact, which can include swelling of the brain, neurological injury and death.

Telling athletes to “shake it off” and return to play endangers their health and, possibly their lives.

Although it’s rare, athletes have died from secondary concussions. It’s not worth the risk.

“Know your kids,” said Christine Blonski, a physician with Rochester Regional Health who earned a certificate of added qualification in sports medicine. “Keep an eye on them and realize when they’re not themselves.

Try to correlate if there’s been an injury with the sport they’re playing.

If there’s any concern that your child isn’t acting right the best thing is to get an evaluation by a professional.”

In the meantime, the athlete should not practice, scrimmage or compete.

Blonksi urges coaches to stay current. What they learned even a year ago about concussions is likely outdated.

“Annual updates on the identification, treatment, and management of concussion is really important,” Blonski said. “Recognition early is the most important piece and education. Annual programs that help coaches get ready is really important to stay up-to-date.”

Student athletes should tell their coaches or parents if they don’t feel right after an impact.

For more information and resources related to sports-related concussion, visit http://www.cdc. gov/headsup/index.html

Is Health Insurance on Your Back-to-School Checklist?

Excellus official: ‘There’s no reason your child has to go back to school uninsured’

I

n addition to notebooks, pencils and backpacks, your back-toschool checklist may include one very important item: health insurance for your child.

“Fortunately, there is no reason your child should go back to school without health coverage, especially given all the shots and physicals needed this time of year,” said Lynn Johnson, sales director at Excellus Page 16

•

BlueCross BlueShield.

Uninsured children may be eligible for coverage through one of the discounted government health insurance programs offered through Excellus BCBS. Eligibility is based upon a family’s monthly income and number of people in the household.

“A family of four making about $748 a week, for example, wouldn’t have to pay a monthly premium to

receive comprehensive health coverage for their children,” Johnson said.

The government health insurance programs include: • Medicaid — Children ages 1 through 18 years of age in a family of four, for example, may qualify for Medicaid if their family’s gross monthly income is at or under $3,119.

Income requirements are higher for a child under the age of 1. Families will

IN GOOD HEALTH – Rochester / Genesee Valley Healthcare Newspaper • September 2016

not pay a premium for their child’s Medicaid insurance.

• Child Health Plus — Families will either pay no premium, a premium ranging from $9 to $60 per child per month, or the full premium. A family of four with a gross monthly income of $7,088, for example, would pay $45 per child per month.

To see if you or your child qualifies for discounted insurance or to make an appointment with an Excellus BCBS representative, call 1-888-370-7098.

Arc: Providing Numerous Services in the Community

By Deborah Jeanne Sergeant

F

or more than 60 years, the Arc of Monroe has offered persons with developmental or intellectual disabilities, including those on the autism spectrum, a wide scope of supports.

These include more than 12 programs related to the organization’s main services of supporting residential, occupational and health.

In addition, its day programs focus on socializing, volunteering, building work skills and enrichment.

Many people aren’t aware of some of the Arc of Monroe’s other services provided to about 1,700 individuals and their families.

Linda Riggs, director of service coordination for Arc, said that although most people know of the organization’s programming for adults, many don’t realize that Arc serves children and their families.

“We have service coordinators for families who have children with developmental disabilities because it can be a confusing process,” Riggs said. “We help families with benefits if they qualify for Medicaid or any kind of benefits.”

In addition to assisting with the arduous application process, the Arc also helps families find benefits from other agencies with whatever they need, including housing, day programs, and “anything like that,” Riggs added. “Quite often, people don’t know what’s available and it’s overwhelming. An advocate who’s

there to support you and your family takes the burden off a little bit.”

Internal resources of Arc include day programs, memory care day programs, creative programs, and community integration efforts.

“We want them to have the opportunity to get involved in the community,” Riggs said. “Years ago, people were not exposed to what’s going on in the community. Folks [with developmental disabilities] didn’t have interaction with the community. Some of our community day programs offer a lot of opportunities for individuals with disabilities to have an opportunity to take part in any community programs.”

In addition to opportunities, Riggs added that Arc seeks to offer support to individuals with developmental disabilities, and also advocacy, “but we do not enable,” Riggs said. “Some people have skills in areas that haven’t been developed yet because they haven’t had exposure to them.”

John Seward, 18, son of Ray and Jody Seward of East Rochester, has used the Arc of Monroe services for many years.

“The biggest thing we wanted for our son is to get involved in things with children his own age,” Jody Seward said.

Since he had few children in his neighborhood and even fewer with special needs, engaging in programs through the Arc of Monroe and

John Seward, 18, standing in the middle, has used the Arc of Monroe services for many years. He now attends BOCES classes, works part-time at Applebee’s, and works out at the YMCA. The Seward family, from left, standing, Chelsea, John and Jody Seward. Seated from left are Kaylea and Ray Seward.

through agencies the Arc recommends has helped John.

“He’s more outgoing,” Seward said. “Considering he was a child who didn’t talk until he was 5 years old and most of his young adult life he was standoffish, now he walks up and sticks his hand out and says, ‘Hi, I’m John. Nice to meet you.’”

In addition to socializing, the Arc programs have helped John learn more life skills like meal planning, riding public transportation and developing discernment about strangers. Now that he has finished high school, John and his family are looking toward a career for him.

They have also received much needed information about programs that can help John eventually live more independently such as in a group home, once he finishes his vocational training at BOCES. “They’re leading us to the path where we wanted to take John,” Seward said. “The Arc has really helped John a lot.”

John attends BOCES classes, works part-time at Applebee’s, and works out at the YMCA. “I’d definitely recommend the Arc,” Seward said. “They help us as a family find good opportunities for John. There’s so much out there that if you don’t know where to go and where to look, you’re completely lost.”

Ray and Jody are also parents to daughters Chelsea and Kaylea.

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September 2016 •

IN GOOD HEALTH – Rochester / Genesee Valley Healthcare Newspaper

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Page 17

FDA Bans E-Cigarette Sales to Minors

Linda DeTuy, retired letter carrier and a puppy raiser in Macedon, heard about Guiding Eyes on her mail route in 1987. A man with visual impairment asked if she would raise a puppy for Guiding Eyes. She’s currently raising her 18th puppy for the organization.

Agency also details other retail restrictions on access to vaping products

T

he sale of e-cigarettes to minors has been be banned starting Aug. 8, as part of the U.S. Food and Drug Administration’s long-awaited plan to extend the agency’s regulatory powers across all tobacco products.

The new rules halt the sale of e-cigarettes and any other tobacco product to anyone younger than 18.

The regulations also require photo IDs to buy e-cigarettes, and ban retailers from handing out free samples or selling them in all-ages vending machines.

The rules also cover other alternative forms of tobacco like cigars, hookah tobacco and pipe tobacco.

Electronic cigarettes are battery-operated devices designed to create an aerosol that delivers nicotine, flavor and other chemicals when inhaled by the user.

Manufacturers have marketed the products as a way to help smokers quit cigarettes. But opponents contend that the nicotine-laden e-cigarettes actually encourage people — especially vulnerable teens — to pick up the smoking habit.

“This final rule is a foundational step that enables the FDA to regulate products young people were using at alarming rates, like e-cigarettes, cigars and hookah tobacco, which had gone largely unregulated,” Mitch Zeller, director of the FDA Center for Tobacco Products, said during a media briefing when the oversight was announced in May. The FDA action earned universal praise from medical associations, which have been concerned that e-cigarettes serve as a gateway drug to draw teenagers into a lifetime of smoking addiction.

“Youth use e-cigarettes more than any other tobacco product on the market today, serving as an entry point to more traditional tobacco products and placing kids at risk to the harms and addiction of nicotine and other tobacco products,” Harold Wimmer, national president and CEO of the American Lung Association, said in May. “Ending the tobacco epidemic is more urgent than ever, and can only happen if the FDA acts aggressively and broadly to protect all Americans from all tobacco products.”

E-cigarette manufacturers also will not be allowed to promote the devices as a healthy alternative to smoking, unless they provide strong scientific evidence that supports the claim, Zeller said.

Page 18

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Want to Raise a Puppy?

Guide Dog Organizations Need Help Puppy raisers needed to provide the first training for dogs that will serve as guide dogs

By Deborah Jeanne Sergeant

G

uiding Eyes for the Blind, an organization that trains service animals, estimates that about 2 percent of people in the U.S. with visual impairment use guide dogs, amounting to about 10,000 guide dogs.

Numerous regional and national organizations train guide dogs, but before dogs qualify for guide dog training, they need a foster home.

That’s where puppy raisers come in. Everyday people may be good candidates for providing a potential guide dog’s first home.

Most organizations don’t enforce many parameters about a puppy raiser’s age, occupation or marital status; however, a few traits help make a puppy raising experience successful.

Without plenty of adult help, children likely cannot raise a puppy themselves, but many families enjoy raising guide dog candidates together.

Puppy raisers should have plenty of time to spend with a puppy. People who travel to places

where puppies can’t go or spend numerous hours away from home may not be ideal puppy raisers.

Retirees, at-home parents, small business owners, and those with accommodating workplaces possess the flexibility to tend to day-to-day puppy care, attend training meetings and take the puppy to plenty of places for socialization.

Puppy raisers must keep in mind the long-term goal for their new charge: placement as a guide dog.

That means following the directions of the guide dog organization, such as teaching good manners, enforcing housebreaking, and preparing to return the dog at about 18 months of age. At that point, the dog is usually ready for further training as a guide dog if it passes muster.

Depending upon the organization, dogs that don’t “pass” guide dog training may be passed along to a different branch of their organization or to a different service organization for another type of service. Some return the animals first to the puppy raiser for optional

IN GOOD HEALTH – Rochester / Genesee Valley Healthcare Newspaper • September 2016

adoption, and, if refused, to another good home.

Guide dog training organizations source dogs through different methods. Some breed and raise their own animals, usually favoring Labrador retrievers and German shepherds. Others use rescue dogs of various and mixed breeds.

Regardless of their source, the animals are expected to learn good manners and balance obedience with the moxie to contradict their handlers if that’s what it takes to guide them away from danger.

Linda Damato, director of the puppy program for Guiding Eyes for the Blind in Yorktown Heights, NY, said that the organization has about 440 puppies in foster homes. Guiding Eyes serves the area from Ohio eastward and from Maine to North Carolina.

“Our puppy raisers are the heart and soul of our organization,” Damato said. “None of this can happen without the amazing work of the puppy raisers.”

Though it’s a lot of work to socialize and care for a puppy, Damato said that “most of the puppy raisers say when they hand in the dog that they get out of it more than they give. There’s a connection with the community they build.”

Cindy Swift, Wayne County region coordinator, said that the average puppy raiser spends about $1,800 out-of-pocket to raise a puppy.

“We look for people who want to give back, raisers who are openminded,” she said. “Guiding Eyes does have certain techniques and dog skills we like to introduce that we’ve proven in our program that brings the pup to his fullest potential.”

Many potential puppy raisers grapple with the idea of handing over “their” puppy at the end of its socialization. But Swift said that the puppy raisers are invited to attend the graduation of the dog and the person with visual impairment who has been matched with the dog.

“It brings the whole experience full circle,” Swift said. “They can keep in touch with the raiser if they both want.”

She added that saying goodbye to a dog going to a loving home and bright future is different than parting from an older dog whose quality of life has declined with age and disease.

Linda DeTuy, retired letter carrier and a puppy raiser in Macedon, heard about Guiding Eyes on her mail route in 1987. A man with visual impairment asked if she would raise a puppy for Guiding Eyes. She’s currently raising her 18th puppy for the organization.

Her biggest surprise has been the variety of personalities each dog exhibits, and also how much training each dog can absorb.

“We had one dog that graduated with a gentleman who was blind, deaf and mute,” DeTuy recalled.

“The dog had to learn the number of taps on his leg because he could not call his name.”

Her puppy adventures have taken her to venues such as Portugal and Brazil where her dogs have been placed.

“We have had one dog in Brooklyn and the gentleman comes up every year for Thanksgiving,” she said. “We’re close to all of them.”

Ask St. Ann’s

End-of-Life Care: What is a MOLST form?

By Jim Miller

Donating Old Hearing Aids, Eyeglasses and Mobility Equipment Dear Savvy Senior,

Where are some good places to donate old hearing aids, eyeglasses and mobility equipment? My uncle passed away a few months ago and left behind a bunch of useful aids that could surely help someone else.

Searching Nephew

Dear Searching,

Donating old, unused assistive living aids or medical equipment is a great way to help those in need who can’t afford it, and in most cases its tax deductible too. Here are some good places to check into.

Hearing Aids

There are several national nonprofit service organizations that offer hearing aid recycling programs.

Hearing aids that are donated are usually refurbished and either redistributed to those in need or resold with the proceeds going to buy new hearing aids for people who can’t afford them.

One of the most popular places to donate old hearing aids, as well as hearing aid parts or other assistive listening devices is the Starkey Hearing Foundation “Hear Now” recycling program (starkeyhearingfoundation.org, 800-328-8602), which collects around 60,000 hearing aids a year. Hearing aids and other listening devices should be sent to: Starkey Hearing Foundation, ATTN: Hearing Aid Recycling, 6700 Washington Ave. S., Eden Prairie, MN 55344.

Some other good nonprofits to donate to are the Lions Club Hearing Aid Recycling Program (go to lionsclubs.org and search for: HARP), and Hearing Charities of America (hearingaiddonations.org, 816-3338300), which is founded by Sertoma, a civic service organization dedicated to hearing health.

Or, if you’re interested in donating locally, contact your Hearing Loss Association of America state or local chapter (see hearingloss.org for contact information). They can refer you to state agencies or community service programs that also accept hearing aids.

Eyeglasses

One of the best places to donate old eyeglasses is to the Lions Club Recycle for Sight program. They collect nearly 30 million pairs of glasses

each year and distribute them to people in need in developing countries.

To donate, look for a Lion’s Club glasses donation drop-off box in your community. You can often find them at libraries, community centers, churches, schools and many local eye doctor offices or call your local Lions Club for drop-off locations.

See directory.lionsclubs.org for contact information.

New Eyes (www.new-eyes.org/ recycle) is another nonprofit organization that collects unused eyeglasses and distributes them abroad to people in need.

Medical Equipment

If you have old wheelchairs, walker, canes, shower chairs or other durable medical equipment, there are many foundations and organizations that would love to receive them. For example, Goodwill and Salvation Army stores are popular donation destinations, as are foundations like the ALS Association (alsa.org) and Muscular Dystrophy Association (mda.org), which accept donations at local chapters.

There are also state agencies and local nonprofit organizations that accept medical equipment donations and redistribute them to people in need. To find what’s available in your area, contact your state assistive technologies program for a referral.

See ataporg.org/programs for contact information.

Or, if you’re interested in selling your uncle’s old medical equipment, you have options here too, including craigslist.com, recycledmedical.com and usedhme.com, which are all free sites that let you list what you want to sell online.

Tax Deductible

Don’t forget that donations to nonprofits are tax-deductible, so when you drop off your donated items, be sure to ask for a receipt for your tax records. Or, if you’re mailing it in or are using one of the Lions Club drop-off boxes, you’ll need to include a note requesting a letter of acknowledgement of the donation.

Your note should include your name and a brief description of what you donated, along with a self-addressed stamped envelope.

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.

September 2016 •

How does it differ from a health-care proxy and living will?

By Diane Kane, MD

H

onoring the wishes of older adults regarding medical treatment is an important part of end-of-life care.

There are several documents that can be used to capture those wishes, including the Health Care Proxy form, the Living Will, and the MOLST, short for Medical Orders for Life-Sustaining Treatment.

A health care proxy lets you appoint another person (a proxy) to express your wishes and make healthcare decisions when you are unable to do so yourself. You complete the form when you have the capacity to do so, but it applies only when you lose capacity for medical decision-making.

A living will usually conveys one’s wishes in the event of a terminal illness but in many instances is very vague and difficult to interpret.

The MOLST communicates your wishes regarding life-sustaining treatments including CPR, mechanical ventilation (to replace lung function), tube feeding, and others. The MOLST applies as soon as the patient, their health-care proxy, or their surrogate consents to the orders and it is signed by a physician. A health-care proxy or surrogate cannot make decisions unless the patient is deemed to lack medical decisionmaking capacity as determined by a physician.

Getting specific The MOLST contains specific medical orders that travel with the patient across health-care settings.

It ensures that physicians, nurses, health-care facilities, and emergency personnel follow the patient’s wishes for life-sustaining treatment.

By contrast, a Living Will typically contains more vague instructions and cannot be followed by health-care providers and emergency personnel.

All adults are encouraged to complete a Health Care Proxy form,

whereas MOLST is most often used by people with serious health conditions, particularly if they: • Want to avoid or receive lifesustaining treatment • Live in a long-term care facility • Might die within a year Start with a conversation Completion of the MOLST begins with a conversation between the patient, family member, and healthcare professional. Together, these parties identify the patient’s goals for care and review possible treatment options as outlined in the form.

As suggested by the website “Compassion & Support at the End of Life,” it’s important to consider the following questions when making decisions about life-sustaining treatment: • Will the treatment make a difference?

• Do the burdens of treatment outweigh the benefits?

•Is there hope for recovery? If so, what will life be like afterward?

Use these questions to guide the conversation and make decisions.

Completing the MOLST form ensures there will be shared, informed medical decision-making that reflects the patient’s wishes— which is the ultimate goal.

Physician Diane Kane is chief medical officer at St. Ann’s Community.

She is boardcertified in internal medicine, geriatrics, and hospice and palliative medicine and has been involved in senior care for 29 years. Contact her at dkane@ stannscommunity.com or visit www. stannscommunity.com.

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Page 19

The Social Ask Security Office

From the Social Security District Office

Prepare for Your Disability Interview: Tips From Social Security

W

hen a person becomes disabled, it can be a very stressful time in their life. There are many questions and unknowns when you have to transition out of the workforce due to medical issues.

While an employer may offer short or long-term disability, most people faced with a disability will file for benefits with Social Security.

If you’re facing life with a disability and don’t know where to start, we encourage you to visit our website at www.socialsecurity. gov/disabilityssi. You can apply for benefits on our website; it’s the most convenient way. Additionally, you can contact us at 1-800-772-1213 (TTY 1-800-325-0778) or visit your local office if you wish to apply for disability benefits. When applying for benefits, you should be prepared to answer a number of questions including: When your conditions became disabling: • Dates you last worked; • The names, addresses, phone numbers, and dates of visits to your doctors; • The names of medications that

Q&A

Q: I usually get my benefit payment on the third of the month. But what if the third falls on a Saturday, Sunday, or holiday? Will my payment be late?

A: Just the opposite. Your payment should arrive early. For example, if you usually get your payment on the third of a month, but it falls on a Saturday, we will make payments on the Friday prior to the due date.

Find more information about the payment schedule for 2016 at www. socialsecurity.gov/pubs/calendar. htm. Any time you don’t receive a payment, be sure to wait three days before calling to report it missing. To ensure that your benefits are going to the right place, create a my Social Security account. There, you can verify and update payment information without visiting your local office.

Please visit www.socialsecurity.gov/ myaccount to create your account.

Q: How many Social Security numbers have been issued since the program started?

A: Since 1935, we have assigned more than 465 million Social Security numbers and each year we assign about 5.5 million new numbers. With approximately 1 billion combinations of the nine-digit Social Security numPage 20

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IN GOOD HEALTH – Rochester / Genesee Valley Healthcare Newspaper • September 2016

you take and medical tests you’ve had; and • Marital information.

In addition, if you plan on applying for Supplemental Security Income (SSI) disability payments, for people with low income who haven’t paid enough in Social Security taxes to be covered, we will ask you questions about: • Your current living arrangement, including who lives there and household expenses; • All sources of income for you and your spouse, if applicable; and • The amount of your resources, including bank account balances, vehicles, and other investments.

You can view our disability starter kit at www.socialsecurity.gov/disability/disability_starter_kits.htm.

Remember, we are there when you might be faced with one of the hardest obstacles of your life. Social Security helps secure today and tomorrow with critical benefits for people with severe disabilities, not just during retirement. Learn more at www.socialsecurity.gov.

ber, the current system will provide us with enough new numbers for several generations into the future.

To learn more about Social Security numbers and cards, visit www.socialsecurity.gov/pubs/10002.html.

Q: I have a 38-year-old son who has been disabled by cerebral palsy since birth. I plan to apply for retirement benefits. Will he be eligible for benefits as my disabled child?

A: Yes. In general, an adult disabled before age 22 may be eligible for child’s benefits if a parent is deceased or starts receiving retirement or disability benefits. We consider this a “child’s” benefit because we pay it on the parent’s Social Security earnings record. The “adult child” — including an adopted child, or, in some cases, a stepchild, grandchild, or step grandchild — must be unmarried, age 18 or older, and have a disability that started before age 22.

Q: What is the earliest age that I can receive Social Security disability benefits?

A: There is no minimum age as long as you meet the Social Security definition of disabled and you have sufficient work to qualify for benefits.

To qualify for disability benefits, you must have worked under Social Security long enough under to earn the required number of work credits and some of the work must be recent.

www.chapeloaks.net www.cherryridgecommunity.com September 2016 •

IN GOOD HEALTH – Rochester / Genesee Valley Healthcare Newspaper

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Page 21

Health News Rochester Regional earns pregnancy certification Rochester Regional Health announced four of its outpatient women’s centers have earned certification in centering pregnancy. Centering pregnancy is an evidence-based model of prenatal care proven to reduce preterm deliveries and improve birth outcomes for mothers and their babies.

The certification, awarded by Centering Healthcare Institute based in Boston is determined after a site evaluation. Of the 27 approved centering pregnancy sites in New York state, six are in Rochester: Rochester Regional women’s practices at Clinton Avenue, Alexander Park, Portland Avenue and Newark-Wayne Community Hospital (in Wayne County) participate in the centering pregnancy program.

In this innovative care model, groups of eight to 12 women in similar gestational stages meet together with their healthcare provider to learn care skills, participate in a facilitated discussion and develop a support network with fellow members.

Each group meets for 10 sessions throughout pregnancy and early postpartum. Physicians work with patients to complete physical health assessments, including having the women weigh themselves and take their own blood pressure readings, providing a dynamic atmosphere for learning and sharing.

“This journey to certification

has taken us two years and we’re so proud to have helped our patients and their babies achieve such positive outcomes by being part of this program,” said Tara Gellasch, chief of OB-GYN at Newark Wayne Community Hospital. “I am thrilled that this important initiative has been recognized for doing amazing work on behalf of our patients and their families.”

$19M grant to help URMC speed medical advances

The University of Rochester Medical Center has recently been awarded more than $19 million from the National Institutes of Health (NIH) to continue programs that remove hurdles in the process of applying medical research to patient treatment and population health.

The award will support “bench-tobedside” research and is the medical center’s third consecutive translational science award, bringing total funding from these grants to almost $86 million.

The University of Rochester Clinical and Translational Science Institute (UR CTSI) was one of the first 12 institutions in the nation to receive a Clinical and Translational Science Award (CTSA), a program which was established by the NIH’s Center for Advancing Translational Science in 2006 to help get new therapies to patients faster and to improve the health of the general population. In addition to the new funding, the UR CTSI has provided research support

to investigators across the university that aided them in collectively obtaining nearly $58 million of further NIH funding over the past decade.

“Ten years ago the University of Rochester was catapulted to the forefront of the National Institutes of Health’s initiative to reengineer our nation’s biomedical research enterprise,” said Joel Seligman, president and CEO of the University of Rochester. “This award marks another important milestone in our efforts to bring together the scientific talent, the resources, and the expertise necessary to advance medicine and improve health.”

The development of the UR CTSI was also the catalyst that led to the construction of the Saunders Research Building, which was completed in 2011 with $50 million New York state funding. The 200,000-squarefoot space was built to provide a home for clinical and translational research. The building was named in recognition of E. Phillip Saunders, whose long-standing commitment to medical research at URMC and generous $10 million gift to the CTSI has been instrumental in fostering muscular dystrophy, cancer, and translational biomedical research.

“Translational medicine represents the bridge between new scientific discoveries and better health and the UR CTSI will continue to drive both research growth and improvements in patient care both in Rochester and beyond,” said physician Mark Taubman, CEO of the University of Rochester Medical Center and dean of the School of Medicine and Dentistry. “This new grant is a testament to the medical center’s national leadership in this field and our commitment to harness biomedical research to improve health.”

Thompson awarded perinatal care certification

NYCC Holds Commencement for Seven Graduate Programs New York Chiropractic College recently held commencement exercises in the Standard Process Health and Fitness Center for all seven of its graduate programs: 27 from the Doctor of Chiropractic (DC); 26 from the Master of Science in Acupuncture and the Master of Science in Acupuncture and Oriental Medicine; 71 from the Master of Science in Applied Clinical Nutrition; 36 from the Master of Science in Human Anatomy & Physiology Instruction; one Page 22

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from the Master of Science in Diagnostic Imaging; and one from Master of Science in Clinical Anatomy. Conferral of degrees and hooding of candidates was performed by Frank J. Nicchi, DC, (’78), president of NYCC and Michael A. Mestan, DC, EdD, executive vice president and provost.

Associate Professor Hunter Mollin, DC, (’80) served as grand marshal.

Daniel Seitz, JD, EdD, founding dean of several NYCC programs, delivered the commencement address.

UR Medicine’s Thompson Hospital recently earned a perinatal care certification from The Joint Commission, the premier healthcare quality improvement and accrediting body in the nation.

The advanced certification program — established in 2015 — recognizes Joint Commission-accredited hospitals committed to achieving integrated, coordinated and patient-centered care for mothers and their newborns. “This prestigious certification affirms the capability of a community hospital to provide care at the highest level,” said Thompson Hospital Director of Obstetrical Nursing Deborah Jones.

Thompson underwent a rigorous on-site review on July 21 and 22 to assess its compliance with certification standards for perinatal care.

Erin Masaba, M.D., joins Strong Fertility Center Physician Erin M. Masaba recently joined UR Medicine’s Strong Fertility Center as a reproductive endocrinology and infertility special-

IN GOOD HEALTH – Rochester / Genesee Valley Healthcare Newspaper • September 2016

ist. In addition to seeing patients at the center, located at 500 Red Creek Drive, she will see patients one day a week in Syracuse at Associates for Women’s Medicine.

Masaba earned her medical degree from Upstate Medical University in Syracuse and completed her residency in OB/GYN at Abington Memorial Hospital in Abington, Pa. She then completed a fellowship in reproductive endocrinology and infertility at Weill Cornell Medical College in New York City, one of the foremost in vitro fertilization centers in the nation. Her special interests include helping couples who have sustained recurrent pregnancy loss and IVF implantation failure.

Masaba is a member of Masaba the Society for Reproductive Endocrinology and Infertility, New York Reproductive Society, American Congress of Obstetricians and Gynecologists, and American Society for Reproductive Medicine.

Masaba is a native of Hornell and lives in Pittsford.

RRH expands urgent care services

Rochester Regional Health is expanding its relationship with TeamHealth and Rochester Immediate Care in Greece, Henrietta and Webster, a move that underscores the system’s commitment to providing care in a variety of diverse settings across the region.

Rochester Regional is planning to open additional urgent care centers in the near future through this expanded relationship. Additionally, effective Aug. 1, Rochester Regional Health Immediate Care will accept UnitedHealthcare as a participating insurance provider, creating greater healthcare access for the patients and families we serve.

“We are deeply committed to making care convenient and accessible to patients across the region, and, as a result we are expanding our relationship with TeamHealth,” said Rochester Regional President and CEO Eric Bieber. “Urgent care centers meet a critical need for healthcare that is not only expert and reliable, but also patient oriented, convenient and cost effective.”

The Rochester Immediate Care urgent care facilities, which will be named Rochester Regional Health Immediate Care going forward, are the region’s only Joint Commission-accredited urgent care centers, and have been repeatedly voted “Rochester’s Choice: Best Urgent Care Center.”

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Page 23

Rochester’s Only Freestanding Transitional Care Center.

Not a hotel.

our beautiful and comfortable rooms (But you’ll feel likeEnjoy you’re in one.) while you can. Because St. Ann’s has the latest

The Wegman Transitional Care Center brings a whole new kind of care to Rochester. It is the first and only freestanding center But in the Recovering from surgery ortransitional a stroke is care no vacation. the area.

In other words, it is separate fromrehabilitative St. Ann’s Wegman Transitional Care Center offers advanced skilled building has ancomfortable. environment care in annursing environment that’sand remarkably with a single focus: helping you gain the Rochester’s onlyyou freestanding care center. independence need to transitional return home.

• Separate from St. Ann’s skilled nursing building.

And the Wegman Transitional Care Center seems • Singularly focused on helping you gain the independence you more like a hotel than a rehab center. With private need to return home. spacious rooms, private baths with personal showers, and flat-screen TVs, you truly feel like one of The Hotel-like amenities.

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technology and the most advanced accreditations You’re the boss. to help accelerate Where you go foryour rehabrecovery. is strictly up to you. If you a surgery scheduled, youscheduled? can preplan your stay Havehave a surgery that’s already Remember, withyou us go andfor eliminate decisions—and where rehab last-minute is completely up to you. disappointments.

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IN GOOD HEALTH – Rochester / Genesee Valley Healthcare Newspaper • September 2016