in good ARTIFICIAL HEART
The URMC cardiac transplant team has replaced a 49-year-old man’s heart with a total artificial heart. We spoke with the surgery’s lead doctor
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Rochester–Genesee Valley Healthcare Newspaper
June 2012 • Issue 82
Synthetic Drugs Story on page 12
THE HOARDERS
Three Cheers for
Cherries
Why you should eat more cherries? Go to page 13
Making Cancer Patients at Ease
On a Mission
Chris Pyle was diagnosed with Crohn’s disease three years ago. He is now raising funds nationally to help find a cure for the disease
Kim McDonough, of Henrietta, is the first line of comfort people see and interact with when they enter the Pluta Cancer Center. As new patient coordinator, she helps those in the clinic feel more at ease as they begin their treatment. Find out how she chose this tough job June 2012 •
The A&E show “Hoarders” has drawn attention to extreme situations and has shed light on an issue which was, up until recent years, a secret that many people kept in their families. A Rochester area psychologist shares his insights into the causes of hoarding and the best way to treat this obsessive compulsive disorder. We also spoke with two professionals who share their tips on keeping up with your clutter IN GOOD HEALTH – Rochester / Genesee Valley Healthcare Newspaper
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IN GOOD HEALTH – Rochester / Genesee Valley Healthcare Newspaper • June 2012
National Council on Alcoholism and Drug Dependence – Rochester Area
Over 1 In Every 10 Babies Born Premature Globally
M
ore than 10 percent of babies worldwide are born prematurely, according to a new report issued by Save the Children, WHO (The World Health Organization), The March of Dimes, and Newborn & Child Health. The report, called “Born Too Soon: The Global Action Report on Preterm Birth”, informs that over 1 million premature babies die soon after they are born, while several million more suffer from physical, neurological or educational disabilities. The economic burden of these disabilities to family members and society overall is considerable. The report also includes the first ever country ranking of preterm birth rates. “Being born too soon is an unrecognized killer,” said Joy Lawn, coeditor of the report. “Preterm births account for almost half of all newborn deaths worldwide and are now the second leading cause of death in children under 5, after pneumonia, and six times more than child deaths due to AIDS.” There are huge disparities between countries regarding preterm births and associated mortalities. All but two of the 11 countries with preterm birth rates over 15 percent are in sub-Saharan Africa. Sixty percent of all preterm births worldwide occur in South Asia and sub-Saharan Africa. The authors emphasize, however, that preterm birth really is a worldwide problem. Brazil and USA are among the 10 countries with the highest number of preterm births. In the U.S., 12 percent of all babies are born premature, that is more than one in every nine births — twice as many in the majority of European countries (twice as many as in China). “The numbers of preterm births are increasing,” said Lawn. “Of the 65 countries with reliable trend data for preterm birth rates, all but three countries have shown increases in the last 20 years. Worldwide, 50 million births still happen at home and many babies die without birth or death certificates. These first ever country estimates give us a clear picture of how many babies are born too soon and how many die.” Why are preterm birth rates rising in rich countries? Several factors have
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The following nations have the highest number of preterm births: India ...........................................3,519,100 China .........................................1,172,300 Nigeria ..........................................773,600 Pakistan ........................................748,100 Indonesia ......................................675,700 United States ................................517,400 Bangladesh ..................................424,100 Philippines ....................................348,900 Demo. Republic of the Congo ......341,400 Brazil.............................................279,300
The following countries have the highest rates of preterm births: Malawi .................................. 18.1 per 100 Comoros and Congo ............ 16.7 per 100 Zimbabwe ............................. 16.6 per 100 Equatorial Guinea ................. 16.5 per 100 Mozambique ......................... 16.4 per 100 Gabon ................................... 16.3 per 100 Pakistan ................................ 15.8 per 100 Indonesia .............................. 15.5 per 100 Mauritania ............................. 15.4 per 100
The following countries have the lowest rates of preterm births: Belarus ................................................ 4.1 Ecuador ............................................... 5.1 Latvia ................................................... 5.3 Finland, Croatia, and Samoa ............... 5.5 Lithuania and Estonia .......................... 5.7 Antigua/Barbuda .................................. 5.8 Japan and Sweden .............................. 5.9
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contributed to a rising rate of preterm births in high-income nations, including: More older women are giving birth than before; more women are using fertility drugs to get pregnant, which increases the number of multiple pregnancies; more women of reproductive age have diabetes and more women of reproductive age are obese There are more inductions and C-sections before full term, many of which are medically not unnecessary. Experts say that approximately 75 percent of the preterm babies who currently die worldwide could be saved, with inexpensive care if proven treatments and preventions were available and used.
SERVING MONROE, ONTARIO AND WAYNE COUNTIES in good A monthly newspaper published by
Health Rochester–GV Healthcare Newspaper
Local News, Inc. Distribution: 30,000 copies. To request home delivery ($15 per year), call 585-421-8109.
In Good Health is published 12 times a year by Local News, Inc. © 2012 by Local News, Inc. All rights reserved. 106 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 and Contributing Writers: Eva Briggs (M.D.), Jim Miller, Deborah J. Sergeant, Gwenn Voelckers, Anne Palumbo, Chris Motola, Jessica Spies, Ernst Lamothe, Debbie Waltzer, Carol Kivler Advertising: Marsha K. Preston, Donna Kimbrell Layout & Design: Chris Crocker Officer Manager: Laura Beckwith No material may be reproduced in whole or in part from this publication without the express written permission of the publisher. The information in this publication is intended to complement—not to take the place of—the recommendations of your health provider. Consult your physician before making major changes in your lifestyle or health care regimen.
June 2012 •
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CALENDAR of
HEALTH EVENTS
June 2
June 9
Thompson hosting free health event for seniors
Meeting in Rochester to address chronic pain
In observance of National Senior Health & Fitness Day, Thompson Health’s Rehabilitation Services Department will host a free health and fitness event for seniors from 9 a.m. to noon Saturday, June 2, at F.F. Thompson Hospital, 350 Parrish St., Canandaigua. This event includes screenings and assessments for blood pressure, stress, stroke and diabetes, as well as information on fall prevention, total joint replacement, golf fitness, chiropractic, complementary medicine and more. Refreshments and prize drawings will be included. There will also be interactive demonstrations and presentations during the following times: yoga, 9 – 9:30 a.m.; “My Healthy Back,” 9:35 – 10:05 a.m.; Nia, a sensorybased movement practice, 10:10 – 10:40 a.m.; Zumba Gold, 10:45 – 11:15 a.m.; diabetes prevention and management, 11:20 – 11:50 a.m.; and senior fitness program, 11:50 a.m. – Noon. For more information, visit www. ThompsonHealth.com. RSVPs are appreciated by calling Jessie Meyers at 585-396-6156 by May 29.
The Rochester Chapter of the American Chronic Pain Association (ACPA) will meet from 6:45 – 8:30 p.m. June 19 at The Baptist Temple, 1101 Clover Street at the corner of Highland Avenue. ACPA is a nonprofit, self-help group designed to teach people who suffer from chronic pain and suggest ways to cope with the problem. Those who have chronic pain are invited participate and share their experience. Participants will also have a chance to ask questions and learn helpful tidbits and possible solutions. Prospective members are welcome to attend or to contact facilitator, Rita-Marie, at 585458-4954 for more information.
June 7
Perinatal Network holds annual meeting Sheree Toth, an associate professor of psychology at Univeristy of Rochester and executive director at Mt. Hope Family Center, will be the guest speaker during the Perinatal Network’s annual meeting, scheduled for 4 – 6:30 p.m. June 7 at Holiday Inn Airport, 911 Brooks Ave, Rochester. The meeting will feature networking opportunities, exhibits, and hors d’oeuvres. Awards will be given to: Mardy Sandler, chief social worker, social work division, University of Rochester Medical Center and the Golisano Children’s Hospital at Strong (2012 Community Champion) and Alice McAdam, Parents As Teachers Program manager at Family Resource Centers of Crestwood (2012 Direct Service Award). For more information, call 585-546-4930 ext 215 or email jisaacs@perinatalnetwork.net.
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June 9
Rochester Deaf Festival takes place Exhibits, entertainment, food, a cake contest, prizes, activities for children and more will be part of The Fourth Rochester Deaf Festival, Inc. will take place from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m., Saturday, June 9, at Ellison Park. The event is made possible by exclusive “Diamond” sponsorships from The Z® and Harter Secrest & Emery, LLP, plus valuable partnerships with Deaf Rochester BBQ, Rochester Deaf Rotary and Rochester Recreation Club for the Deaf. For additional information, visit rochesterdeaffestival.org, “Like” RochesterDeafFestival on Facebook and follow @RocDeafFestival on Twitter.
June 9
autoimmune disease characterized by a hardening of the body’s connective tissue. With no known cure, scleroderma is a painful, life altering disease that can be fatal. There are an estimated 300,000 people living with scleroderma in the United States — about 80 percent of which are women, typically diagnosed between the ages of 25 and 55. There are an estimated 30,000 cases of scleroderma in Tri-State Chapter’s New York, New Jersey and Connecticut service area. The Syracuse walk helps the Scleroderma Foundation / Tri-State, Inc. Chapter build awareness and raise funds for dealing with this devastating disease. Tri-State provides support to help scleroderma patients and their families cope with the disease through support groups, physician and peer referrals and educational forums. The Tri-State Chapter also advocates for and funds medical research aimed at finding new and better treatments and ultimately, a cure for scleroderma. For more information on scleroderma and the Scleroderma Foundation / Tri-State, Inc. Chapter, call 800-867-0885 or visit www.scleroderma.org/chapter/tristate.
June 16
June 10
Scleroderma Foundation holds event in Syracuse The Scleroderma Foundation / Tri-State, Inc. Chapter will hold its annual Syracuse’s “Stepping Out to Cure Scleroderma” walk at Onondaga Lake Park (Onondaga Lake Parkway, Liverpool) June 10. Walk registration starts at 9 a.m. and the walk begins at 10. Scleroderma is a chronic, degenerative
June 17
Vegan dinner open to public held in Brighton Rochester Area Vegetarian Society will hold a meeting that will offer people the opportunity to learn about vegan cooking. It will be held at 5:30 p.m., Sunday, June 17, at The Brighton Town Park Lodge on Westfall Road. It will start with a vegan share-a-dish dinner. Attendants are encourage to bring a dish (with enough to serve a crowd), utensils and a place setting for the dinner. Organizers help non-vegetarians or others uncertain about how to make or bring a vegan dish. At 7 p.m. the program will be a presentation by a panel of experienced vegan cooks. While not a cooking demonstration, this program will give attendants valuable meal ideas, recipes, and tips about shopping for vegan meals and planning your menus for the week. Lots of time will be reserved for Q & A. For more information, call 585-234-8750.
Mended Hearts to meet at Sonnenberg Gardens
June 18
In lieu of a regular monthly meeting, members of the Mended Hearts Rochester are planning the 16th Annual Rose Walk, which will be held from 8 – 11:00 a.m. Saturday, June 16, on the grounds of Sonnenberg Gardens and Mansion, a state historic park located in Canandaigua. The event will benefit the cardiac rehab department at F.F. Thompson Hospital. Mended Hearts Rochester is in its 46th year of giving support to people with heart disease and their families, by visiting those recovering from heart surgeries at Strong Memorial and Rochester General Hospitals and through its informative monthly meetings. For more information, visit www.mendedheartsrochester.org.
Physician Ling Ong will speak about “What’s on the Horizon: Promising New Developments” June 18 at the Jewish Community Center, senior lounge, 1200 Edgewood Ave. in Rochester. The meeting is organized by Mended Hearts Rochester. Ong obtained his medical degree at the University Indonesia Faculty of Medicine, Jakarta, Indonesia, and completed his residency at Genesee Hospital. For more information, including the schedule, call Sharon Feldman at 585544-1565.
June 16
Hospital auxiliary sponsors Pinehurst promotes concert drug drop-off in Honeoye Falls The Rochester New Horizons Band will perform at Pinehurst Senior Living Community at 1 p.m. Saturday, June 9. The band will perform light classics, Broadway shoe tunes, marches and patriotic selections. The event will take place under Pinehurst’s backyard tent and is free of charge with complimentary refreshments. This is a rain or shine event. Bring a lawn chair and enjoy the music. Pinehurst is located in Honeoye Falls at 1000 Pine Trail. For more information, please call 624-5970.
Ontario County Sheriff’s department officers will oversee the collection and a pharmacist will be on site.
The Clifton Springs Hospital Auxiliary announced it joined with the Partnership for Ontario County and the Ontario County Sheriff’s Office to host a pharmaceutical collection event at the hospital from 9 a.m. to 12 p.m. Saturday, June 16. The purpose of the event is to collect and properly dispose of unwanted and outdated prescription and over-the-counter medications. Household waste, pesticides, etc., will not be collected at this event. According to the Pharmaceutical Research and Manufacturers of America, 3-7 percent of all medications go unused. Some of these drugs end up in the hands of young people or can contaminate the water supply. Officials say bringing unused medication to an authorized collection event protects seniors against crime and prevents the medications from being improperly used. In 2011, events in Ontario County alone collected more than 1,300 pounds of medications. At this event, volunteers will direct vehicles through the designated area of the Clifton Springs Hospital parking lot. This will be a vehicle-only drop-off event. No walk-ups will be allowed due to security concerns.
IN GOOD HEALTH – Rochester / Genesee Valley Healthcare Newspaper • June 2012
Heart issues to be addressed in meeting
July 10-14
Scor! string camp for adults held in Penfield Scor! presents an event for adult players of string instruments (violin, viola, cello, bass) July 10-14 at Bay Trail Middle School in Penfield. The Rochester Scor! Camp includes ensembles, hands-on topical group sessions, and additional options. Participants include experienced amateurs, hobbyist players, and recent beginners. More details about offerings, fees, schedules, and faculty are available at www.StringCamp.com or by calling 1-877-726SCOR (7267). Scor! affords the opportunity to learn and be inspired in a relaxed and musically enriching environment. Adults of all ages benefit from instruction by experienced professional musicians and the opportunity to meet, play music, and build community with others of similar interests. Rochester Scor! Camp is presented in a flexible format with choices including all three days of main camp, or single day options. Additionally, a Fiddle and Cello Fiesta, and Chamber Music or Techniques Intensive sessions are included as an option prior to camp on Tuesday and Wednesday.
SUNBURN Young Adults at Higher
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oung adults are increasing their risk for developing skin cancer, according to two studies by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the National Cancer Institute. One study, of people aged 18-29, found that 50 percent reported at least one sunburn in the past year, despite an increase in protective behaviors such as sunscreen use, seeking shade, and wearing long clothing to the ankles. Another report found that indoor tanning is common among young adults, with the highest rates of indoor tanning among white women aged 18-21 years (32 percent) and 22-25 years (30 percent). Both reports evaluated data from the National Health Interview Survey’s Cancer Control Supplement. They are published in today’s issue of CDC’s Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report. “More public health efforts, including providing shade and sunscreen in recreational settings, are needed to raise awareness of the importance of sun protection and sunburn prevention to reduce the burden of skin cancer,” said Marcus Plescia, director of CDC’s division of cancer prevention and control. “We must accelerate our efforts to educate young adults about the dangers of indoor tanning to prevent melanoma as this generation ages.” Skin cancer is the most common form of cancer in the United States, and melanoma is the most deadly type of skin cancer. Exposure to ultraviolet radiation from the sun and from indoor tanning equipment is the most important preventable risk factor for skin cancer. Indoor tanning before age 35 increases a person’s risk of getting melanoma by 75 percent. Sunburn indicates too much exposure to ultraviolet radiation. “Efforts to shape public policies awareness regarding indoor tanning generally have been targeted toward adolescents rather than young adults to help change behavior of minors,” said Anne Hartman, study coauthor from the Applied Research Program of NCI’s Division of Cancer Control and Population Sciences. “This study suggests that as adolescents mature into young adults, they may continue to need environmental support to develop and maintain healthy behaviors and to change their perspectives about tanning.” Findings from the two studies: • Among adults aged 18-29 years, whites reported the highest sunburn prevalence (66 percent in 2010) whereas the lowest rates were among blacks (11 percent in 2010). Although sunburn is not as common among blacks as compared to whites, blacks can get sunburned. • The most common sun protective behaviors reported among women aged 18-29 years in 2010 were using sunscreen (37 percent) and staying in the shade (35 percent). White women
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Building Futures...since 1876 were less likely to stay in the shade, and black women were less likely to use sunscreen compared to other racial/ethnic groups. Among men aged 18-29 years, the most common sun protective behaviors reported in 2010 were wearing long clothing to the ankles (33 percent) and staying in the shade (26 percent). • Among white women aged 18-21 years who reported indoor tanning, an average of 28 visits occurred in the past year. White women aged 18-21 years were the most common users of indoor tanning. • The highest prevalence of indoor tanning was reported among white women aged 18-21 years residing in the Midwest (44 percent), and those aged 22-25 years in the South (36 percent). • Among white adults who reported indoor tanning, 58 percent of women and 40 percent of men used one 10 or more times in the previous year.
For Early Childhood, K-12 School and Outreach programs and services Call: 585-544-1240 (Voice/TTY) ◆ Visit: www.RSDeaf.org ◆ E-mail: info@RSDeaf.org
People should take these steps to protect themselves from ultraviolet light exposure that could lead to skin cancer by: • Seeking shade, especially during midday hours (10 a.m. to 2 p.m.). • Wearing clothing to protect exposed skin. • Wearing a wide-brimmed hat to shade the face, head, ears, and neck. • Wearing wrap-around sunglasses that block as close to 100 percent of ultraviolet A (UVA) and ultraviolet B (UVB) rays as possible. Sunglasses safeguard your eyes from UVA and UVB rays, protect the tender skin around your eyes from sun exposure, and reduce the risk of cataracts and ocular melanoma. • Using sunscreen with sun protective factor 15 or higher, and both UVA and UVB protection. • Avoiding indoor tanning. June 2012 •
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IN GOOD HEALTH – Rochester / Genesee Valley Healthcare Newspaper
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Page 5
Meet
Your Doctor
By Chris Motola
H. Todd Massey URMC physician who performed the first artificial heart transplant in Upstate New York talks about the procedure Q: You just performed the first artificial heart transplant in Upstate New York. First off, what is an artificial heart? A: This was considered a total artificial heart. Then, of course, some of the other devices we use are called ventricular assist devices. The difference is, in the case of a total artificial heart, we’re taking the native heart out and replacing it with an artificial one. In a ventricular assist device, you leave the native heart and attach the artificial parts to it. Q: So with the ventricular assist device, you’re replacing sections of it? A: You almost bypass it in a way. We would put one in so it would, say, drain the blood the left side of the heart and go to the aorta. The heart itself just kind of acts as a conduit. There are different clinical situations where you want to use a ventricular assist device over a full artificial heart or even vice versa. The rationale between the ventricular assist devices is that you still have the native heart there in case the system stopped worked. There’s no back-up with the artificial heart. As far as durability goes, we have people going on seven years with the newer ventricular assist devices, so their durability is much better. They’re also probably better when it comes to adapting to people’s normal lifestyle. Q: What materials are these made out of? A: The total artificial heart has a lot of components, but it’s basically medical-grade plastic with mechanical valves. It’s pneumatically driven and has bladders within it for pumping the blood. Q: How does the pumping mechanism work? A: We actually inject air into the bladders to help pump the system.
It’s currently used in the United States only as a bridge device. Someone who would require a bi-ventricular assist— both sides of the heart have failed—or there’s some reason why we couldn’t do other interventions. It’s not meant for lifetime therapy, although there will probably be some trials to that effect in the near future. Q: Do you have to worry about anti-rejection drugs with artificial hearts? A: No, they don’t have to take any rejection medications. Now, the one thing they do have to do is take a blood thinner like coumadin. It’s the same drug people with mechanical valves have to take. Q: What’s the prognosis for someone with an artificial heart? A: Most of them had pretty severe heart failure beforehand, so their quality of life usually improves. Obviously now they have to wear the driver that runs the system, but they don’t have to worry about heart failure.
locally? A: I’m a heart surgeon, but my subspecialty is kind of heart failure, heart transplant and artificial heart systems. I also do high-risk heart surgery. Q: How do you see this technology fitting together with the cardiac care system? A: So heart transplants have been around since 1967, but they went away for awhile since the results weren’t that good because the immunosuppressant drugs weren’t very good. In the 1980s, with the advent of better drugs, heart transplants became standard therapy. The problem with transplants has been that there’s always been more demand than supply. We just don’t have enough parts. We do 2,000 transplants a year in the United States. That’s been pretty constant; we haven’t been able to increase the availability of organs. Obviously things like seat belt laws, air bags and gun laws have been good for humankind, but they do also decrease the availability of donors. At the end of the day, we have heart failure rates
Q: Do you also do traditional, organic heart transplants
Q: How often does that have to be done? A: It’s doing it continuously, the air is going in and out through air drive lines to an outside reservoir, which is the system driver. Q: Is it something the person can wear or do they have to plug in to a larger unit? A: We’ve transitioned from a larger unit to a portable unit they can go home with. They have to wear it all the time. Q: Who is a candidate for this procedure? A: For the total artificial heart, the indication is someone who is going to be waiting for a heart transplant or would qualify for a heart transplant. Page 6
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IN GOOD HEALTH – Rochester / Genesee Valley Healthcare Newspaper • June 2012
increasing; there are about 700,000 new cases of heart failure a year, so 2,000 procedures isn’t really even making a dent in it. That’s why there’s been so much energy put into making mechani-
cal support devices. Our intent with the development of these systems is not just to bridge people to heart transplants, but to open this therapy up to people who don’t have anything available to them. When people ask, “when are these systems going to replace heart transplants,” my response is it’s already happening. If you’re 1A patient in need of a heart transplant, you have an expected survival rate of two weeks, you’re not getting a [organic] heart transplant. We just can’t get the hearts that quickly. So artificial hearts have replaced them, just in terms of availability. There are around 250,000 to 300,000 deaths per year that can be prevented by this technology.
Lifelines Name: Howard Todd Massey, M.D. Hometown: Athens, Ga Education: Received his medical degree from the Medical College of Georgia. He completed his surgical residency in thoracic surgery at the University of Louisville and his general surgery residency at the University of Texas Southwestern. Following residency, Dr. Massey attended the Duke University Medical Center where he completed fellowships in heart/lung transplant and adult cardiac surgery. Affiliations: University of Rochester Medical Center Organizations: Society of Thoracic Surgeons, member; American Heart Association, member; Monroe Medical Society, member; New York Cardiological Society, member; Rochester Institute of Technology – adjunct professor; International Society of Heart and Lung Transplant Surgeons, member; American College of Surgeons, member Family: Son (Josh) Hobbies: Bicycling, skiing, fly fishing, outdoor activities How to reach him: 585-275-6964
A Teen on a Mission Chris Pyle, coping with Crohn’s disease, raises thousands of dollars nationwide to help find cure for disease
Are Your Facing a Social Security Disability/SSI Claim?
Let Me Represent You. “That’s All I Do.” Twenty years experience.
By Ernst Lamothe
I
t’s very easy to just give up. Whether it’s undertaking a difficult new task or battling a crippling disease with no cure, taking the uncomplicated and undemanding route can seem like the best path. But Chris Pyle, 18, had no intention of letting unfortunate circumstances dictate his lot in life even though it kept him from graduating with his senior class this year. He wasn’t going to complain and wallow through the experience. Instead, he was going to make a difference in anyway he could. Pyle has spent years fundraising for the Crohn’s and Colitis Foundation, a national organization performing cutting edge research to find a cure. “My life was transformed from that of a typical teenager to one where every day can often become a struggle to accomplish even the most basic tasks,” said Pyle, of Scottsville, who was diagnosed with Crohn’s disease three years ago. “But even though this is something that can really get you down, I had to keep trying to find the things that make life better.” Crohn’s disease is a chronic disorder that causes inflammation of the digestive or gastrointestinal tract. Although it can involve any area of the gastrointestinal tract from the mouth to the anus, it most commonly affects the small intestine and colon. Ten percent, or 140,000, of the estimated 1.4 million Americans who suffer from inflammatory bowel disease are under the age of 18. The disease is marked by an abnormal response from the body’s immune system. In people with Crohn’s disease, the body mistakes bacteria in the immune system that is normally found in the intestine, for foreign or invading substances, and launches an attack. The body sends white blood cells into the lining of the intestines, where they produce chronic inflammation. Pyle firmly believed that raising awareness was the vehicle for a cure. He set out to make a difference during the past three years and fundraise for the Crohn’s and Colitis Foundation of America, a non-profit, volunteer-driven organization funding studies at major medical institutions. He sold inspirational bracelets and necklaces that raised awareness for his fellow inflammatory bowel disease suffers. “He and I have gotten many emails from people who cherished these jewelry items. They are selling nationwide,” said Jan Pyle, Chris’ mother. “He took something that was so difficult to deal with and turned it into something positive.” Two years ago he went a step further and launched the Chris Pyle challenge, where he raised donations from all 50 states. They contacted Lion’s Club members and other volunteer organizations. The family put a giant map in the living room and every time they would get a donation, they would put the person’s name on there. He sifted through letters and sending out emails, all to raise money and awareness about debilitating auto-immune disease. Over a three-year period, he raised more than $9,000.
Mary Perry, ADR 585-424-2928
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Good Nutrition is the Best medicine! You may be eligible for Food Stamps. In Monroe County call MCLAC’s NOEP at (585) 295-5624 to find out. Prepared by a project of Hunger Solutions New York, USDA/FNS and NYSOTDA. This institution is an equal opportunity provider.
“My life was transformed from that of a typical teenager to one where every day can often become a struggle to accomplish even the most basic tasks,” said Chris Pyle, of Scottsville, who was diagnosed with Crohn’s disease three years ago. Pyle is not graduating from high school this year as he expected, because of the disease. “We just started throwing ideas out one day on what we could do to raise awareness and then all of a sudden we decided getting donations from all of the states would be something we should try,” he said. “We were surprised at how well everything went. I think the key was that people had pride that they were representing their own state and that they wanted to do something to help with the disease.” Jan Pyle said the problem with a disease like Crohn’s is that it can be a silent killer and people don’t often take it seriously when sufferers are discussing it with others. Because most of the initial symptoms may be nonspecific weight loss or delayed growth, the correct diagnosis can be difficult to make. The average delay in diagnosis is three years from the onset of symptoms. “Chris did lose a lot a weight in a small time and his eyes looked dark, but often times people look OK who are dealing with this,” she said. “They don’t look as sick as those with other diseases so it’s hard to explain to people how severe this is.” Symptoms range from mild to life-threatening and include persistent diarrhea, abdominal pain, rectal bleeding, intermittent fever, inflammation of joints creating arthritic-like symptoms and inflammation of the skin or eyes. Surgery is sometimes needed to help control symptoms and doctors do suggest dietary changes to replace lost nutrients. Another issue with the incurable disease is that although progress has
been made in inflammatory bowel disease research, investigators don’t know yet what causes it. “We were doing a lot of blood tests early on to find out what was wrong and it took us some time before we got the official answer. It’s just scared seeing your kids in pain and not knowing what to do,” said Chris’ mother. “Some of the drugs made Chris jittery and some have been known to create angry mood swings even though Chris has been able to avoid that.” Pyle has started Remicade infusions this year as an attempt toward remission. Before that he was taking an average of 25 pills a day for years. He was saddened that he won’t be able to graduate this summer from Wheatland-Chili High School because he had to miss so much time due to the disease. He was constantly vomiting and losing energy. “He just continues to move forward with a good attitude and a hopeful perspective,” she said. “The first year, he was diagnosed he was depressed but fought through it. This disease can make a lot of people isolated because it’s something that so few people want to talk about.” Pyle has some advice for those who are to shy to talk about. “You can’t be afraid of this and you need a good support system because you can’t do it alone,” he said. “Whether it’s finding the right medication or changing your diet you have to keep going because it is hard to deal with and you can feel overwhelmed.”
June 2012 •
Macular Degeneration Dr. George Kornfeld uses miniaturized binoculars or telescopes to help those with vision loss keep reading, writing and maintaining independence.
By Elana Lombardi, Freelance Writer Just because you have macular degeneration or other eye diseases like diabetic retinopathy doesn’t mean you must give up driving. “People don’t know that there are doctors who are very experienced in low vision care.” Dr. George Kornfeld, a low vision optometrist. “My new telescopic glasses make it much easier to read signs at a distance.” Says Bonnie, “Definitely worth the $1950 cost. I don’t know why I waited to do this. I should have come sooner. ”Low vision devices are not always expensive. Some reading glasses cost as little as $450 and some magnifiers under $100. Every case is different because people have different levels of vision and different desires. “Our job is to figure out everything and anything possible to keep a person functioning visually.” Says Dr. Kornfeld. Dr. Kornfeld sees patients in his five offices throughout upstate New York.
For more information and a FREE telephone consultation call: 585-271-7320 Toll-free 1-866-446-2050
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IN GOOD HEALTH – Rochester / Genesee Valley Healthcare Newspaper
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Page 7
Live Alone & Thrive
By Gwenn Voelckers
Practical tips, advice and hope for those who live alone
Forgiveness: It Can Set You Free W ho could blame her? After 34 years of marriage, three kids and a lifetime of memories, she arrived home from work one day to find a hand-written note on the kitchen table. He had left her to “find himself.” Completely blindsided, she dropped to her knees in disbelief. He was gone. His clothes closet empty. His home office cleared out. With no word about his whereabouts. In shock, she called friends and family. With loved ones gathered around her, she desperately tried to make sense of his bizarre behavior. How had she missed this? Was he ill? And where in the world was he? Days later, her heartache was replaced by anger when she inspected his computer history and discovered that he had met someone online. He and his newfound “soul mate” had scheduled a rendezvous in Massachusetts. It’s been five years now since this nightmare, but to hear her talk about it today is to bring everything immediately to the fore — the deep emotional wound, the humiliation, and the loss of life as she knew it. The retelling of her ordeal quickly ignites a seething anger just beneath the surface. How could he have done this to her and the kids? How could he have betrayed them? While my friend’s lingering bitterness is understandable, it is also unfortunate. By dwelling on this hurtful
event and hanging onto her anger, she is allowing her resentment and hostility to fester. Left unchecked, she risks bringing negativity into current relationships and experiences, or worse — losing important and enriching connections with the people who matter most in her life. I feel for her. Are you holding onto a grudge? Does an abiding bitterness occupy your thoughts? Nearly all of us have been hurt by the words or actions of others somewhere along the way. The wounds may be deep, but if you don’t practice forgiveness, you might be the one who pays the biggest price. While it can feel almost impossible to let go of a longstanding grudge and feelings of resentment, I can tell you from my own experience that forgiveness can bring some peace that enables you to move on with your life. It might even make room for compassion and understanding. I’ve also learned that forgiveness doesn’t just happen on its own or overnight. You must choose to forgive. It’s a process of change that requires a commitment, patience, and practice.
KIDS Corner In Child Sexual Abuse, Strangers Aren’t the Greatest Danger
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arents generally teach their children about “stranger danger” from an early age, telling them not to talk to, walk with or take gifts or candy from strangers. But statistics show danger often lurks closer to home. According to numbers provided by the National Association of Adult Survivors of Child Sexual Abuse, the vast majority of children who are sexually abused are abused by someone they know – most often a family member, an adult the family trusts or, in some instances, another child. Parents can help protect their children from sexual abuse by talking frankly to them about abuse, starting Page 8
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at a young age with age-appropriate information. “It’s essential that parents have a continuing conversation with their children about sexual abuse,” said Kay Knaff, clinical services program manager for Youth Villages, a private nonprofit organization that helps children with emotional, behavioral and mental health issues, as well as children who have been abused or neglected. “This may seem hard to do, but it’s the best way to protect your child. It’s best to start talking to your children about child abuse as early as age 3 or 4.” Parents should talk to their children about inappropriate touching and other forms of child abuse, and make
Below you’ll find a few things you can do to help this process along: • Acknowledge and share your pain. Let it all out. Share your suffering with someone you trust, and don’t hold back. When there’s someone there to really listen, your pain can become tolerable and more likely to dissipate. • Empathize with the person who hurt you. I know this may not be easy. But none of us is perfect. The person who hurt you may have been acting out of self-preservation, an unspoken fear, or pain of their own. To quote Mariah Burton Nelson, author of The Unburdened Heart: Five Keys to Forgiveness and Freedom, “Behind every jerk, there’s a sad story.” Hard as it might be, try to see the situation from the offending person’s point of view.
health benefits, as well, when you carry a lighter emotional load. The more I practice forgiveness, the less stress I experience and the better I feel. • Focus on the future. Rather than focus on the past and your wounded feelings, seek out positive, healthy relationships and experiences. Put your energy into finding beauty and kindness around you. • When you are ready, actively choose to forgive the person who hurt you. Remember, you can forgive the person without excusing the act. Forgiveness is not about condoning. It’s a gift to give yourself — to release yourself from bitterness and vengeful thinking. • Reinforce your forgiveness with a symbolic act. In my Living Alone workshops , participants take part in a “letting go” ceremony, during which they symbolically release anger, negative attitudes, and unhealthy behaviors into a fire. Many capture their thoughts in writing and enjoy seeing their past hurts go up in flames. Symbolic acts such as this can help the healing process. As you let go of anger, grudges, resentments, and thoughts of revenge, you will no longer define yourself and your life by your past hurts and grievances. When you embrace forgiveness, you are embracing the promise of renewed compassion, kindness, and gratitude. Forgiveness can set you free.
• Embrace the benefits of forgiveness. Forgiveness enables you to reclaim your personal power and avoid slipping into a “victim mentality.” It can set you free from the past and release the control the offending person has had in your life. There may be
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 the workshops, call 585-624-7887, email gvoelckers@rochester. rr.com, or visit aloneandcontent.com.
sure their children know what behavior is right and what is wrong. In addition, Knaff said parents should teach children to say “no” to their abuser if they can, try to get away from the abuser and call for help so other people become aware of the situation. “Child abuse data shows that the majority of children keep abuse a secret,” Knaff said. “That means it is even more important that parents not only talk to their children about what child abuse is and emphasize that it is never the child’s fault. Abuse is always wrong, and children should report it to a trusted adult. Parents need to keep the lines of communication open and seek out their children whenever they feel like something is going on with their child or their child is behaving differently in some way from usual.” To encourage children to report any abuse, parents should let the child know about two or three people designated as safe adults the child can talk to if he or she suffers abuse or feels unsafe. “Children need to know who they can talk to,” Knaff said. “They also need to be encouraged to tell what happened to them to more than one person and keep telling until someone believes them and does something about it.” Knaff also recommends parents specifically teach their children to report any touching that feels uncomfortable or wrong, even if it is by a family member, teacher, coach, pastor or church official, youth group leader or another child.
How to talk to your child about sexual abuse: • Tell your child about good touch — a hug or a pat on the back — and bad touch, when someone is touching your private areas. • Tell your child nobody — no family member, teacher, other child or adult — is allowed to touch him or her in the areas covered by a bathing suit because these are private areas. Exceptions are a parent bathing a young child or helping the child with using the bathroom, as well as a doctor or nurse when examining the child at a doctor’s office or healthcare facility. • Tell your child he or she has permission to tell any adult who touches them in their private areas, “No!” • Tell your child that if anyone ever touches him or her in any way in their private areas, he or she should tell mom, dad and or grandma/grandpa or another trusted person about it immediately. Other forms of child sexual abuse are exposure to sexual acts or sexually explicit materials not intended for minors, as well as indecent exposure. Children should be encouraged to talk to the designated safe adults any time they feel unsafe. Get help immediately If you suspect your child has been abused, act immediately. Either call your local police department, your local rape crisis center, child protective services or the Childhelp National Child Abuse Hotline at 1-800-4-A-CHILD (1-800422-4453).
IN GOOD HEALTH – Rochester / Genesee Valley Healthcare Newspaper • June 2012
Making New Cancer Patients at Ease Kim McDonough chose to work at Pluta Cancer Center because four of her relatives had cancer By Ernst Lamothe
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ancer, unfortunately, has had a large impact on Kim McDonough’s life. Her brother, Joe Tedesco, died of metastatic testicular cancer. Her father had stomach cancer. Her father-in-law had pancreatic cancer. Her grandfather had neck cancer. Helping her family members through their difficult times is what helped her decide to enter the medical field. McDonough, of Henrietta, is the first line of comfort people see and interact with when they enter the Pluta Cancer Center. As new patient coordinator, she helps those in the clinic feel more at ease as they begin their treatment. McDonough coordinates information between the patient’s primary care physician and Pluta Cancer Center, provides patients with an orientation to the center and communicates information to doctors and primary care physicians. Ensuring that a new patient is able to get their first appointment at Pluta within 72 hours of initial inquiry is also one of her primary roles. “It’s better to deal with one person in the beginning when you can ask questions to someone you feel like you can trust. It’s a scary time in a person’s life, so they like a familiar face,” said McDonough, who has worked in health care for more than 20 years. “I always greet them with a smile and enjoy being a patient’s first contact, giving them all the information they need to get through everything.” Established at Genesee Hospital in 1975 by a grant, Pluta Cancer Center became one of the most comprehensive sources for cancer care in the Rochester community. After Genesee Hospital closed, it later moved to its current location on 125 Red Creek Drive in Henrietta. When patients first come into Pluta, they are trying to cope with a range of emotions. Some are sad; others are anxious or terrified. McDonough lets them know that even though she has never been a patient herself, she has family members with cancer and understands the pain that comes with it. “They all want to know one question, ‘Why is this happening to me?’” said McDonough. “I know it’s a cliché, but you really have to take it day by day. I let them know it is OK to be confused or want to cry.” She said she cried many tears when her brother died. But when it happened, McDonough knew she wanted to work in a cancer center. She didn’t want to shy away from the medical field, which had intrigued her ever since junior high. When she was younger, McDonough volunteered at a nursing home facility. Whether she was visiting patients, talking to them or simply holding their hand, they appreciated some compassion from the outside world. She started her career as a medi-
Kim McDonogh is Pluta Cancer Center’s new patient coordinator. cal secretary in a family practice and worked her way up. She then moved to Rochester General Hospital and later transitioned into cancer services before going to Pluta, which is where her brother was treated. “I wanted to work someplace where I could be in the community and help make people’s overall experience so much better,” said McDonough. When Pluta CEO Kelly McCormick-Sullivan sees the work that McDonough has performed in the past year, she marvels at the comfort that patients feel after just one meeting. During the time when the new patient coordinator position was being discussed, there were several requirements they sought. They wanted someone who would be the face of Pluta when dealing with patients who were coming to the center for the first time. That person would have to be not only professional and thorough, but also friendly and compassionate. They would have to be someone who could work well with physicians and coordinate patients’ information so that the transition would be smooth. McCormick-Sullivan said Mc-
Donough always has been a dedicated member of the staff with outstanding communication and customer service skills. She believed that McDonough would excel in her new, pivotal role for the center, but McDonough has exceeded all expectations. “When you think of someone who has been diagnosed with cancer, they are in shock. Their whole lives have changed and that can build up so much anxiety,” said McCormick-Sullivan. “But Kim is fantastic putting them at ease. She is patient, and she is the kind of compassionate person that fits the mission of our center.” McCormick-Sullivan said the center strives to make sure that each new patient is to be seen within 72 hours. She believes the new patient coordinator is the critical first step of a process. “We have gotten really good feedback not only from our patients but our physicians,” said McCormickSullivan. “They said it has been so easy dealing with one main point of contact to start the process. And one of the reasons why things have gone so well is because Kim works tirelessly to make sure they do. We are lucky to have her.”
June 2012 •
New Women’s Health Center at Lattimore Improves Access to Care
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he University of Rochester Medical Center celebrated the opening of its Women’s Health Center at Lattimore April 30. Strong Memorial Hospital relocated and expanded its Women’s Health Practice and OB/GYN ultrasound service from the hospital’s ambulatory care facility to 125 Lattimore Road. The newly renovated space was expressly designed to meet the outpatient OB/GYN needs of women. Renamed the URMC Women’s Health Center at Lattimore, this community-based setting is close to the hospital and affords easy access for patients. “The Women’s Health Center at Lattimore enhances our ability to deliver care and ultimately improve health outcomes and reduce disparities for many who find it a challenge to come to appointments at the hospital,” says James R. Woods Jr., Henry A. Thiede professor and chairman of the department of obstetrics and gynecology at URMC. “Additionally, this new location will serve as a medical home for women’s health, enabling us to offer extended hours and enhancing our ability to provide coordinated care for our patients.” The Women’s Health Center at Lattimore serves all women in need of outpatient general and special obstetric and gynecological care. Other services include ultrasound, fetal monitoring, genetic counseling, laboratory testing, and support such as nutritional counseling, social work services, and financial assistance for health care services “Women in our community have a beautiful, new facility in which to receive their health care,” said Woods. “The center is designed for timely patient flow, offers free parking, and is accessible by RTS bus service, which also takes patients to and from the hospital if they need to pick up prescriptions or are in need of other services.” While care providers at the previous location in the hospital’s ambulatory care facility saw 23,000 patients annually, the Lattimore Road site will have capacity for 30,000 visits per year, helping to meet a growing demand for services in a more timely and efficient manner.
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IN GOOD HEALTH – Rochester / Genesee Valley Healthcare Newspaper
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Synthetic Drugs New drugs quickly growing in popularity putting drug enforcement and advocacy groups on notice By Ernst Lemothe
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ike a new virus, it’s a growing battle that never stops. Every year, a new drug comes into the youthful status quo, often marketed to teens, which allows for a more intense, psychedelic high advised as lower risk. Today, the new drug goes by names such as “Spice,” “K2,” “Mr. Nice Guy,” “Purple Wave” and “Galaxy Gold.” But it’s generally known as synthetic marijuana, a $10 product that is being sold as a legal alternative to marijuana in convenience stores, smoke shops and tobacco stores. These substances consist of plant material coated by chemicals that mimic THC, the active ingredient in marijuana. The New York State Health Commissioner recently issued an order of summary action banning the sale of synthetic marijuana products in New York state. Gov. Andrew M. Cuomo called upon the Department of Health to take action to ban the sale of these products because the drugs have been linked to severe adverse reactions, including death and acute renal failure, increased heart rate, paranoid behavior, agitation and irritability. In addition, it brings nausea, vomiting, confusion, drowsiness, headache, hypertension, seizures and loss of consciousness. The symptoms can persist for days. The state is calling for the sale and distribution of these products to cease
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immediately. However even as these drugs are becoming more popular in college campuses and among young teens, many adults still don’t know exactly what synthetic marijuana is? “You’re never sure what’s in them and they can have tragic side effects like rapid heart rate and increase in blood pressure,” said Benjamin J. Domingo, director of health services for University of Syracuse Health Services. “The hallucinations and in some cases irritability seem to be much worse.” Domingo said the last year-and-ahalf to two years was when synthetic marijuana first became the topic of conversation around the office. Bath salts were the first to enter the forefront. Synthetic drugs are a large family of chemically-unrelated structures that are synthesized and marketed to mimic the psychoactive feeling of marijuana. The drug is packaged and sold as incense, herbal mixtures, bath salts and often carry a “not for human consumption” label in order to disguise the true purpose of the substance. Users smoke the substance just as you would with marijuana, but officials say the high mirrors cocaine or LSD more than just pot. The bath salts are crystallized chemicals that are snorted, swallowed or smoked. They contain two powerful stimulants, which mimic methamphetamine. Syracuse University Health Ser-
vices has a spotlight informational about synthetic drugs on its website. Officials also ask students to fill out a behavioral health risk assessment form when they visit the office, said Domingo. The form assesses risk and other departments like residential life and the counseling center are also do their part to educate the students. “I think students who choose to experiment with synthetic drugs are risking their lives because the stimulants and synthetic ingredients increase the likelihood of sudden cardiac arrest,” said Domingo. Young people have been using the drug during the past year not only as a legal substitute for getting high, but as a substance that does not show up on a urine drug screen. According to New York Poison Control Centers, instances of poisoning from products containing synthetic cannabinoids increased more than 200 percent from 2010 to 2011. With the rapid increase in abuse and the harmfulness due to its high potency, the drug is causing imminent hazard to public safety. “When you are talking with emergency departments, they will tell you that they have seen a significant spike in this product,” said Jennifer Faringer, director of DePaul’s National Council on Alcoholism and Drug Dependence
IN GOOD HEALTH – Rochester / Genesee Valley Healthcare Newspaper • June 2012
for the Rochester area. “The problem with drug prevention is the type of drug changes all the time. And kids tell their parents that this is potpourri or bath salts, but trust us it’s not the kind of bath salts you get from Bed Bath and Beyond.” The National Council on Alcoholism and Drug Dependence is a researched-based substance abuse prevention serving a diverse population through education, support, resources and referrals. Faringer first started hearing about synthetic marijuana during the second half of last year. At that point, it was a relatively new phenomenon. While designer drugs weren’t a new concept, the new drug quickly grew in popularity putting drug enforcement and advocacy groups on notice. Rochester will host an event on June 15 at the Holiday Inn Airport, 911 Brooks Ave. in Gates, to educate the public on bath salts, synthetic marijuana and other emerging analogues. The event features speakers ranging from director of medical toxicology and chair of the department of emergency medicine from the University of Rochester Medical Center to officials from Upstate New York Poison Center, the Drug Enforcement Administration and the supervisor of drug chemistry for the Monroe County Crime Lab. There was a concrete effort to get people from the human resource, mental and substance abuse, university and crime departments together because the drugs and their effects ripple through each department. “People taking this don’t know exactly what compounds are in the substance and it could push you over the edge to schizophrenia where you can’t tell the difference between real and unreal experiences,” said Faringer. “We are hearing too many kids talk about synthetic marijuana and as a community we want to get a handle on it.” Onondaga County Commissioner of Health Cynthia Morrow said in the past months synthetic drugs slowly became something that officials needed to be concerned about. Reports of emergency room visits associated with the drug were increasing. They started working with partner agencies like Poison Control and Prevention Network to spread the news. “We expect that other drugs will replace these,” said Morrow. “The technological advancements are frightening. What makes this new wave of synthetic drugs so dangerous is that they are an unpredictable, unregulated drug that are associated with a wide range of dangerous health outcomes.”
SmartBites
By Anne Palumbo
The skinny on healthy eating
Three Cheers for Cherries
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or decades, my late grandmother asserted that eating cherries soothed her aching joints and gave her a better night’s sleep. For nearly as long, I dismissed her claims as old wives’ tales. How could a fruit this gorgeous, this sumptuous, this sweet be anything but a nutritional lightweight? Well, it looks like ol’ granny knew what she was talking about. According to recent research, cherries possess some pretty remarkable health benefits or, as I like to call them, “cheers.” Cheer #1: Cherries contain a good amount of melatonin, a hormone produced in the brain that has been credited with fighting insomnia and reducing jet lag. A new study in the “European Journal of Nutrition” found that adults who had two daily glasses of tart cherry juice slept about 40 minutes longer on average. Whether drinking juice or eating them fresh (1 cup = 2 milligrams of melatonin), researchers advise consumption 30 minutes to an hour before bedtime for better zzzs. Cheer #2: Cherries act as a natural painkiller. Thanks to anti-inflammatory
and a moderate source of fiber, cherries are also a good source of vitamin C and potassium. Worried about the sugar content? Cherries’ glycemic index is lower than many fruits: bananas, grapes, strawberries, and oranges, to name a few. They say, “Life is a just a bowl of cherries.” I say, “Cherries are really a bowl of life!”
Helpful tips
compounds that nip the nasty enzymes responsible for inflammation in the bud, cherries’ effect on pain has been likened to that of aspirin or ibuprofen.What’s more, research has suggested that drinking cherry juice helps muscles recover better after a strenuous workout. Suffer from arthritis or gout? Cherries, which help to lower uric acid levels, may ease your symptoms. Cheer#3: Cherries are a rich source of disease-fighting antioxidants, particularly anthocyanins. These powerful compounds (the same found in red wine) help keep the immune system strong and protect against cancer, heart disease, and other diseases associated with aging. Low in calories (about 90 per cup)
Choose plump, firm, brightly colored cherries. Look for cherries with stems intact, which increases shelf life. Loosely pack unwashed cherries in plastic bags or pour them into a shallow pan (single layer) and cover with plastic wrap. Store in refrigerator for up to a week. Wash cherries well before consumption; buy organic when possible.
Grilled Chicken with Savory Cherry Sauce
1 tablespoon fresh rosemary (or 1 teaspoon dried, crushed) 1 garlic clove, minced Salt and pepper, to taste 1/3 cup gorgonzola cheese (optional) Marinade chicken breasts for 30 minutes to an hour. While chicken is marinating, make sauce. Chop fresh cherries in half. If using frozen cherries, follow thawing instructions, then chop in half. In medium saucepan, combine all ingredients and bring mixture to a boil over medium-high heat. Reduce heat and simmer, uncovered, 30 minutes or until mixture thickens, stirring frequently. Add salt and pepper, to taste. Heat outdoor grill to mediumhigh heat. Brush the grate of the grill with canola oil just before you grill the chicken. Grill for 6 to 8 minutes on each side. Arrange the chicken on a platter, top with savory cherry sauce, and sprinkle with crumbled gorgonzola cheese.
Serves 4
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.
4 boneless, skinless chicken breasts 1 cup Spiedies marinade (or any vinaigrette marinade) 2 cups pitted fresh cherries (or frozen, unsweetened dark sweet cherries) 2 tablespoons balsamic vinegar 3/4 cup water 1/2 teaspoon Dijon mustard 1 tablespoon honey
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IN GOOD HEALTH – Rochester / Genesee Valley Healthcare Newspaper • June 2012
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Using inline skates, roller skates, skateboards and scooters should warrant donning a helmet. “It is the law for those 14 and below, but that doesn’t mean it isn’t safe for 15year-olds,” Brayer said. “I’ve had teens I’ve treated say, ‘I’m 15 and I don’t have to.’ It’s not something you grow out of.” Although bicyclist must wear helmets until age 15, the law does
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not require children in other wheeled activities to do so. “Kids that do skateboarding don’t feel they’ll get hurt so they don’t wear the gear they should,” said Robert Weinberg, pediatrician with Finger Lakes Medical AssociBrayer ates. “I have trouble getting the kids to wear a helmet.” Children inline skating and skateboarding should also wear wrist guards. Knee and elbow pads prevent scrapes, but wrist guards help prevent fractures since most people reflectively throw out a bent hand to protect themselves when they fall. “Wrist guards have a hard piece of plastic that takes the brunt of the fall,” Brayer said. “The hand is partly bent back so it’s comfortable and you’ll fall on the brace, not on the hand.” Horseback riders should also wear a helmet. If your children ride only sporadically, Brayer said that a bike helmet will likely do fine. Contact and ball sports can also necessitate a helmet and mouth guard. Brayer noticed the first day of baseball practice this spring that four dental injuries required treatment and three of those were related to baseball. To make these pieces of safety gear effective, they need to fit and be worn properly. Choose a helmet the right size for your child, not one he can “grow into.” It must be worn parallel to the ground, not tilted. “When we fit helmets, we tell parents that when the helmet is properly fitted, the child should be able to look up and see the helmet,” Brayer said. “When they shake their heads, it should move with them.” Insist that your child fasten the chin strap so that it will stay on his head if he were to fall. “You’d be amazed the number of times the kids ride around with it unattached,” Brayer said.
Safety Tips Dr. Robert Weinberg, pediatrician with Finger Lakes Medical Associates,
shared more summer safety tips: • “Avoid high traffic areas on bicycles. • “At playgrounds, wear sneakers and no flip flops. There’s a higher chance of getting foreign bodies in the foot. • “Most of the injuries we see in the summer are related to playground injuries, sunburn, contact injuries from soccer, softball with sliding, or being hit with the ball. • “I never recommend trampolines for kids at all because of Weinberg the accident rates from falling off. We see kids going off the side and hitting their heads, bumping into other kids. The injury rate is so high that the Academy of Pediatrics says don’t let them on them at all. • “Avoid ‘floaties’ on the upper arms in the pool because they give parents a false sense of security. Kids in water should wear a life vest or jacket. Infants and toddlers should always be within arm’s length of adult supervision.”
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Page 13
HOARDINGtter
u l C n Whe s e m o c Be
s o a Ch
A Rochester area psychologist shares his insights into the causes of hoarding and the best way to treat the obsessive compulsive disorder By Amy Cavalier
C
lutter can create stress, health hazards and unsanitary living conditions. For some of us, the problem may be relegated to one area such as the attic or basement. “There are definitely people who could just use a hand with getting or-
ganized,” says Mark Larson, a clinical psychologist. “We all tend to let things pile up sometimes. There’s a fundamental difference between that and someone whose possessions become so overwhelming that it begins to influence their lives in significant ways.”
A place for everything and everything in its place Being disorganized can be the cause of stress, dangerous living conditions, and at its worst, can turn into hoarding. Two Rochester area professional organizers share their tips on keeping up with your clutter.
D
o you ever feel like you just never have enough room for all of your belongings? Maybe you need to file the boxes of paperwork accumulating in your office or get the attic, basement or garage organized. For many pack rats, that has even spilled over into the need for a self-storage unit. According to the Self Storage Association, an industry advocacy group, square footage of rentable storage has increased 740 percent in the past two decades; a billion square feet of storage space was created between 1998 and 2005; and there are now 6.8 square feet of storage for every man, woman and child in America. It begs the question — Do we really need all that stuff? “Clutter can produce anxiety,” Tracy Roach of Rochester says. “It’s Page 14
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hard to locate things you might need. It’s also difficult to work in a space you don’t feel comfortable in.” Roach founded her own professional organizing business, “From Anxious to Amazing,” last year. “The United States is one of the only countries in the world that I could have a decluttering business,” she says. “Our culture is pretty materialistic and there’s always going to be people in the U.S. who have way more than they need or will ever use.” Roach says she realized her passion for professional organization while helping her grandmother tackle some hoarding tendencies. “It just gave me a sense of satisfaction knowing I was keeping her safe and I could tell that it was a big relief to her to not have so much stuff around,” she says.
In some cases, clutter can evolve into a much more serious problem. Experts estimate that as much as 2 percent of the population meets the criteria for hoarding. “Attorneys, surgeons, business executives — some very bright and
successful people that you’d never suspect have this problem. Sometimes they’re the life of the party, but nobody’s ever been invited to their home,” says San Francisco psychologist Michael A. Tompkins in a recent article in “The Wall Street Journal.” Tompkins
Diane Zielinski of Gates admits she’s been a clutter bug herself. “I’ve lived with Christmas ornaments hidden behind my pillow shams in my guest room, or having to read every page of the newspaper before I could throw it out,” she said. Zielinski founded her business “Gentle Decluttering” about five years ago after she led a class on the “Spirituality of Clutter” and more than 25 people showed up. “I was surprised because up until then, people had all lived in shame with their clutter,” Zielinski says. “They simply would not let people in the front door.” Now she works with clients oneon-one. She also offers classes such as “What to do with mother’s things,” to be offered for free at Scottsville Public Library on January 21, and runs a Clutter Bug support group which meets once a month in Gates. Zielinski shares information about recycling opportunities, and hazardous and medical waste days which are offered periodically through Monroe County on her website and in her newsletter. Zielinski says one of the reasons people don’t want to get rid of things is that many items contain sentimental value. “They can rememRoach ber when they wore it,
when they read it or when their child made it for them, so I try to help them get the idea that they can save some of these items, but they don’t need to save them all,” she says. Another cause for clutter is children who have moved out of the home but their parents continue to maintain their “museum,” says Zielinski. Her solution? Pass all those trophies and mementos onto your grandchildren so they can see what their parents were up to when they were youth. Take books and magazines to your dentist’s office or bring unwanted clothing to your local clothing pantry or charity. Roach says tax write-offs for donations to charity can add up. If you’re saving something you think might be valuable, Zielinski recommends checking on eBay to see if they truly have value or not. Decluttering is like training for a marathon, Zielinski says. “You don’t start the first day with 25 miles; you let your muscles grow stronger,” she says. “What I tell people is to start with the easiest clutter for you to get rid of emotionally. Don’t start with family photos. Start with the really smelly old sneakers with holes or the old clothes that you haven’t worn in 20 years.” Set a goal of getting Zielinski rid of 10 things a week.
IN GOOD HEALTH – Rochester / Genesee Valley Healthcare Newspaper • June 2012
is author of “Digging Out,” a book aimed at helping families of hoarders. The A&E Show “Hoarders” has drawn attention to extreme situations and has shed light on an issue which was, up until recent years, a secret that many people kept in Larson their families. Unfortunately, psychologist Larson says, the show presents an unrealistic scenario for those struggling with hoarding. “We can’t just have a television show swoop in and fix it for us, not to mention they don’t have the time to address the underlying problem,” he says. “Oftentimes they can help someone clean out a house, but then it may fill up again.” Larson has his own private practice where he deals with a gamut of different anxiety disorders such as panic disorder, post-traumatic stress disorder, and obsessive compulsive disorder (OCD). Hoarding is a subset of OCD. For the person struggling with hoarding, it can lead to divorce, alienation from other family members, and guilt and shame which can cause people to become isolated, he says. “They’re certainly not hosting dinner parties, and they might not even be willing to let repair people into their homes,” he says. Larson says there is not one specific reason that causes hoarding. “The question that people always want the answer to is, is it nature or nurture?,” he says. “Is it something you learn from your parents growing up, or is this something you were born with? As is true with most psychiatric disorders, the truth is somewhere in the middle.” In some cases, Larson says, hoarding is a learned behavior, but there may be a “genetic component” as well. “The bottom line is, not all hoard-
ers are created equally,” Larson adds. For some, messiness is a habit they picked up as a kid that stuck with them into adulthood. For others, hoarding is a response to traumatic or stressful circumstances, such as a death or an abusive relationship, or it could be secondary to an issue such as alcoholism. “One of the difficulties not only with identifying hoarders, but also with treating them, is that they often don’t want to change,” he says. “They’re not terribly concerned by their situation.” Hoarders have trouble realizing the scope of their problem, says Larson, and may defend themselves by saying they “just need to get organized.” “They can sometimes live with a fair amount of guilt and shame that they don’t want to be brought out into the light,” he says. “They may know their patterns are unusual and they may be, for example, embarrassed to have someone over to their house, but that doesn’t mean they want to get treated for it.” A spouse who’s threatening to leave or a landlord threatening eviction may trigger a hoarder to seek help, says Larson. One of the biggest mistakes family members make is trying to “brow beat” the person into changing or coming in to try to clean up the mess themselves. “The kids convince the parent to go away for a couple of days and they come home and the entire place has been cleaned out,” Larson says. “You would think that on one level you’re doing a good thing, but that stuff is very important to the person who has the clutter, and it can really feel like a violation.” Instead, Larson advises families of hoarders to be supportive and encourage them to seek help from a professional, whether it’s a mental health professional, an organizer or both. The Mental Health Association of Rochester offers hoarding support groups for people struggling with this problem.
The more you can declutter, the easier it is to organize, says Zielinski. “If you’re overwhelmed with things, it’s difficult to decide where to put them if there’s literally no room anywhere,” she says. Decluttering can actually save you money in the long-run, Zielinski says, because you’ll be able to find the things you need rather than going out and buying them again because they are lost in the mess. “So you add a few extra bags to the landfill,” she says, “a worse problem is turning your own home into a landfill.” Paperwork is one of the biggest causes of clutter. Zielinski suggests checking with Classified Shredding Service, a division of Lifetime Assistance which offers Community Shredding days twice a year where members of the public can bring in up to three boxes of papers to be confidentially disposed of. Another reason people resist cleaning out, Roach says, is because they don’t want to see their stuff going to waste. “For some people, it’s essential that their stuff goes to a good home and doesn’t get thrown out,” she says. That’s where “freecycling” can come into play, says Roach. Freecycle. org is a network made up of 4,991 groups with 8,825,077 members around the world. The nonprofit movement assists with people giving and getting stuff for free in their own towns with the goal of diverting trash from
landfills. Roach also has a link on her website, www.fromanxioustoamazing. com, to the Monroe County recycling website. “Many of my clients don’t know exactly what can be recycled,” she says. “For example, Monroe County residents can now recycle plastic containers numbered one through seven, instead of just one and two.” You may also be able to make some money with jewelry and coin exchanges, or Half.com, an eBay company through which you can sell DVDs or books, Roach says. Two of the most useful tools for organizing, Roach says, are clear plastic bins and a label maker. “You can see what’s in them; they’re easy to stack, and you can get the ones that are small enough to hide in a closet,” she says. Whether you seek out the help of a professional or tackle your organizing to-do list on your own, the rewards of clearing out the clutter will be worth it. “If you’re organized, it’s much easier to do everything,” says Roach. “It’s easier to pay bills, you’re more comfortable having friends over, it’s easier to schedule things and keep a schedule.” For more information: Gentle Decluttering: www.gentledecluttering.com From Anxious to Amazing: http:// www.fromanxioustoamazing.com/
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Page 15
Men’sHealth Men Behind Women When it Comes to Oral Care By Deborah Jeanne Sergeant
V
anity may make many women The American Academy of Perispend more time than most men odontology has also found that women getting their hair “just right” are 26 percent more likely than men every morning, but vanity can also con- to floss on a daily basis and that 44 tribute to women’s better oral health. percent of women are aware that perioAccording to the American Acaddontists can help contribute to overall emy of Periodontology, 74 percent of good health, compared to 33 percent of women would be embarrassed by a men. missing tooth, a possible consequence Paul Sussman, a dentist in pracof periodontal disease, compared to 57 tice in Rochester, said, “Gingivitis, an percent of men. inflammatory disease that affects the The academy also found that gums, is more prevalent in men than women are almost twice as likely to women. Women are more proactive notice missing teeth on another person than men at seeing their dentist for than men. Most dentist agree that good regular bi-annual dental check-ups and oral care contributes greatly to prevent- cleanings, and they are more likely to ing periodontal disease. schedule the recommended treatment Beyond the aesthetics and function following the dental check-up.” of a healthy set of teeth, oral health can Though women can experience indicate and influence health in the rest gingivitis during pregnancy, women of the body. also are more vigilant with their home Michael S Adsit, a dentist practiccare so the increase risk is usually ing in Newark, said that the germs mitigated. that cause gum disease can “go to your Adsit, the Newark dentist, said that heart and there’s a higher correlation some men procrastinate in receiving with stroke and heart care. attack. People with “You find a lot of gum disease have a women who come in harder time with diaand get dental work betes. Infections such done but some guys as those in the mouth might put it off a little make it harder to conbit and not see the trol their insulin.” need to get it done,” Along with genethe said. “Regardless of ics, proper oral care how good your home determines whether or care is, you need rounot our teeth last a lifetine dental work done time. Though we can’t to make sure everyAdsit Sussman pick our parents, we thing is fine.” can choose to take better care of ourAlthough smoking has decreased selves and that’s where men slack off. between both genders, men still smoke
more than women (21 percent vs. 18 percent, according to 2010 data gathered by the Centers for Disease Control) and the negative impact on oral health statistically hits men harder. Smoking decreases blood flow to the mouth and the heat also irritates gums. Jeremy Leichtner, dentist with Leichtner & Reed DDS in Rochester, sees a different tobacco trend among younger patients: dipping snuff. “A wad of tobacco or snuff under their lip causes carcinomas of the mouth,” he said. “It destroys the bone, gums and then the teeth are lost. It’s a male thing. I have not to this point seeing young women here who do it. We do see more men smokers. “People who tend to neglect oral care tend to abuse sugar as well,” he added. “Men tend to eat more quantities of sugar because women are more worried about how they look and their figure.” All the dentists agree that the best way to care for teeth for either gender is brushing after meals, flossing at least once daily, preferably before bedtime, and keeping regular check-ups every six months or more often if advised. Leichtner likes Listerine mouth
rinse to kill the bacteria that cause gum disease, but he doesn’t want patients to think that using a rinse excuses them from brushing and flossing. Sussman stressed that even with perfect home care, professional cleanings are important because they remove tartar from below the gum line. “Tartar is bacteria-ridden, and if it is not removed, the bacteria will eat away at the structures supporting the tooth,” he said. “If left untreated, this can lead to periodontal disease and tooth loss. “The dental hygienist removes all tartar, which unfortunately cannot be removed with a toothbrush alone, and provides instruction and guidance to the patients about brushing habits and specific areas in the mouth of particular concern.”
Father’s Day is June 17 J
une 17 is Father’s Day has been celebrated annually since 1972 when President Richard Nixon signed the public law that made it permanent. Here’s some stats about fathers in the United States:
• 70.1 million
Estimated number of fathers across the nation.
• 24.7 million
Number of fathers who were part of married-couple families with children younger than 18 in 2011
• 1.7 million
Number of single fathers in 2011; 15 percent of single parents were men. Page 16
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• 176,000
Estimated number of stay-at-home dads in 2011. These married fathers with children younger than 15 have remained out of the labor force for at least one year primarily so they can care for the family while their wives work outside the home. These fathers cared for upwards of 332,000 children.
• 17%
In spring 2010, the percentage of preschoolers regularly cared for by their father during their mother’s working hours.
• $1.9 billion
Amount of child support received by custodial fathers in 2009; they were due $3.5 billion. In contrast, custodial mothers received $19.5 billion of the
IN GOOD HEALTH – Rochester / Genesee Valley Healthcare Newspaper • June 2012
$31.7 billion in support that was due.
34%
Percentage of custodial fathers who received all child support that was due in 2009, not significantly different from the corresponding percentage for custodial mothers, 42 percent. Source: Custodial Mothers and Fathers and Their Child Support: 2009 <http:// www.census.gov/prod/2011pubs/p60240.pdf
70%
Percentage of custodial fathers receiving noncash support, such as gifts or coverage of expenses, on behalf of their children. The corresponding proportion for mothers was 58 percent Source: Custodial Mothers and Fathers and Their Child Support: 2009
Men’sHealth Single Men Spend Weekends Sitting & Watching TV
By Randy Dotinga
S
ingle, middle-aged people who live alone spend more time sitting. A new study, published in the American Journal of Preventive Medicine discovered that men tended to sit for longer periods watching TV on the weekends while women sat for longer periods doing activities such as reading or dining out. Unemployed people tended to spend more time sitting than employed people. Sitting habits, which lead to risks of poor health, were found to vary by gender, age, health status and during weekdays versus weekends. “Sitting is not the same for everyone,” said study lead author Nicola Burton, a senior research fellow at The University of Queensland. “If we want to identify who does prolonged sitting, we need to think about the context of sitting and take into account group differences.” It’s important to study sitting habits because research has begun to link them to health problems, Burton said. “While people may associate prolonged sitting with muscular problems such as back and neck pain, research
evidence is emerging to suggest that prolonged sitting a total of more than 6-8 hours a day or watching television more than 4 hours a day is in itself also potentially harmful for cardiovascular and metabolic health.” Among other things, she said, researchers have linked lots of sitting to high blood pressure, heart problems, diabetes and higher death rates. Studies suggest that sitting causes problems even in people who exercise, she said. The study authors analyzed survey responses from 7,719 people aged 40 to 65 in Australia who were asked about their daily activities. The researchers found that people sit longer on weekends than on weekdays, and sitting habits among groups differed depending on what they did while sitting. The findings would probably be similar in other Western countries like the United States, Burton said. “The next step is to develop and evaluate strategies to reduce sitting time, and see what works for whom, and in what context,” she said. “This is different from strategies to increase exercise, as sitting time can be ex-
What They Want You to Know:
Dermatologists
By Deborah Jeanne Sergeant
Dermatologists are medical doctors who specialize in diagnosing and treating conditions of the skin, hair and nails. • “Tis the season to begin thinking about sun protection. The incidences
of melanoma, the deadliest skin cancer, continue to rise at an alarming rate, particularly among young women. And the numbers of patients with more common skin cancers, basal cell and squamous cell, are also increasing. • “The people at highest risk for skin cancer are those who have fair complexions, freckles, red or blonde hair and who always burn instead of tanning. • “There is no such thing as a ‘safe tan’ so both natural and artificial tanning should be avoided. Newer June 2012 •
changed for things other than exercise.” Is it really possible to neither sit nor exercise? Yes, Burton said. “Some research is suggesting that interrupting sitting time is important, so people could think about how to break up sitting for light activity that is not exercise, like doing things around the house during TV commercial breaks or taking standing or walking breaks during the working day.” Susan B. Sisson, an assistant professor who studies diet and exercise at the University of Oklahoma said the findings are important because they can be used to figure out how best to coax people to not sit so much. “For example, this study found that individuals that are single and living alone sit more… A media campaign telling people to do on a walk with their spouse would likely not be as effective in this group.”
research corroborates what many have thought for years: that tanning is addictive just like smoking and both behaviors can lead to cancer. • “In fact, the new term ‘tanorexia’ refers to the insidious lure to tan. Often, the summer sun creeps up on us, especially after an unusually cold spring, and some of the worst burns can be at the start of the season when people are caught off guard outdoors for long stretches without sun block. • “Dermatologists recommend an SPF of 30 or higher and remember to reapply if swimming or sweating. • “There are now so many options to choose from as far as lotions, gels, sprays or sticks, so there is a fit for everyone. • For those who absolutely cannot appreciate the beauty inherent in un-tanned skin, ‘tan in a can’ is a safe alternative.” Mary Gail Mercurio, dermatologist at the University of Rochester Medical Center. • “I see people of all ages and all different kinds of skin conditions. • “A lot of what I do are skin cancer screenings and whole body scans looking for melanomas, basal cell cancers and more. I talk a lot about sun protection and having people monitor their own skin so they can monitor if their skin is changing. Then they can bring it to their doctor’s attention. • “I see a lot of teens who are
Randy Dotinga is a contributing writer with Health Behavior News Service, where this story originated.
tanning which concerns me. People 30-plus have learned to protect their skin form excess sun but we’ve failed to communicate that to teens. Tanning salons are a very dangerous form of UV. • “I’m always happy when people come in with lots of questions. I try to cater the exam to what people are looking for. • “A lot of people think that getting a base tan before they go to a warmer climate or tanning for prom is somehow not dangerous behavior and that is a myth. I worry that intermittent tanning before prom is a dangerous way to expose your skin. It can turn into a dangerous tanning habit. Emily M. Lambert, dermatologist at Geneva General Dermatology
Deborah Jeanne Sergeant is a writer with In Good Health. “What Your Doctor Wants You to Know” is an ongoing column that appears monthly to give our area’s healthcare professionals an opportunity to share how patients can improve their care by helping their providers and by helping themselves.
IN GOOD HEALTH – Rochester / Genesee Valley Healthcare Newspaper
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Page 17
PETS
Doggy Tune-up Time Getting your dog ready for the summer
By Deborah Jeanne Sergeant
I
s your dog prepared to hit the nature trails with you for a hike? Before you and your pooch get outside to enjoy summer, get ready with a “doggy tune-up.” Check your dog’s rabies vaccination schedule to make sure it’s up-todate. A bite from a rabid wild animal can infect your dog with the disease, though the Centers for Disease Control reports that “transmission has been rarely
documented via other routes such as contamination of mucous membranes….” In addition to rabies vaccination, which is required by law, Kristin Kisiel, licensed veterinary technician at East Ridge Animal Hospital in Rochester, recommends annual leptospirosis vaccination. Dogs can pick up the infection from urine and other bodily fluids of disease wildlife and standing bodies of water. “Leptospirosis causes severe liver and kidney problems and is transmissible to humans through dog urine,” Kisiel said. Kisiel recommends Lyme disease vaccination, too. “It’s the only thing for tick-borne diseases for dogs. It’s not available for humans. It needs to be given with a booster two to three weeks later and annually after that to have immunity against Lyme disease.” You should also check for ticks on your dog’s head and ears since ticks are attracted to hosts by sensing carbon dioxide. As your dog exhales, a tick on a nearby leaf may grab and likely attach near the nose, mouth or possibly ears. Taking care of flea and tick control can spare your dog from bites. “We see more ticks this year
than we ever have,” said Karen Oros, veterinarian with Macedon Veterinary Care. “We’re also seeing Lyme disease carried by the deer tick.” Fleas carried indoors by one dog can quickly and easily infest a home and transfer to other pet and human hosts. Some preparations work against both fleas and ticks; however, do not assume that all do. You have plenty of products from which to choose, including topical and oral ones. Flea sprays and powders can be messy and more easily transferred to children and furnishings. It can be hard to know if you have used the correct amount. “Those are old school and not the best thing to use anymore for efficacy,” said Lorraine Cummings, licensed veterinary technician with Phelps Veterinary Hospital in Phelps. “Flea collars are a thing of the past because they don’t work.” The problem is that the fleas are repelled only where the collar is worn, so fleas will live near the tail instead. In addition to ineffective, flea collars are also dangerous for dogs to wear since they do not break easily if a dog gets caught on something. Different oral and topical types of flea and tick products work differently. Some kill pests only if your dog has been bitten. Others repel them so the dog can stay free of bites. “It’s a wonderful thing,” Cummings said. “Fleas jump off as soon as they jump on. We have a lot of people who go to Wal-Mart and a pet store and many of those are not as safe as what we can get for them. Putting the wrong product on an animal can cause an allergic type reaction or some will get a sore spot or have seizures.” Drops need to be applied to only one spot-between the shoulder bladesand they last for about a month. Oral medication is usually used in conjunction with flea drops. Ask your vet what is right for your dog and follow all the directions carefully. Oros advises starting flea and tick protection in early spring and con-
tinuing it until a few hard frosts have occurred. Year round, dogs need de-worming treatment, too. As you walk your dog, take care on hot surfaces such as asphalt and sand as the mercury rises. If it would be too hot for you to walk barefoot, it is likely too warm for your dog. Light-colored dogs with thin coats can get sunburn on their ears or noses. Since sun screen isn’t practical for dogs, limit their time in the sun and always provide adequate shade. “Make sure they have enough water outside and watch them in the heat,” Oros said. “Don’t leave them in cars even though you think it’s cool enough. Cars heat up quickly in a short period of time.” Many pet stores sell collapsible water bowls, making it convenient to give your dog a drink on a hike. If you take your dog on car trips, restrain it in a travel harness or crate. Travel harnesses strap to the dog and have places for a seat belt to slide through so your dog will be secure in case of an accident. A crate can also offer protection and prevent your dog from becoming a projectile, harming both it and you. Planning to take your dog boating or swimming? Even if yours is a good swimmer, watch it carefully since dogs can tire or become caught in an undertow. Especially watch older and unfit dogs. Attach to your dog’s collar its license tag, rabies vaccination tag, and identification tag. Occasionally check your dog’s leash and collar for wear. If a squirrel darts across the trail, a frayed leash or collar can give way. Regularly trim your dog’s toenails. Nails that grow too long can cause problems in the dog’s toes, feet and even its gait because the nails’ excess length will force its paw to move unnaturally. If you notice it limping or licking a paw repeatedly, examine the paw for a cut or other problem to keep your dog healthy and by your side where it belongs.
Pet Food: How Safe Are You? Recent cases of pet owners getting sick because of pet food raises concerns about pet food safety By Deborah Jeanne Sergeant
I
n the past several decades, feeding cats and dogs has become as convenient as scooping up a serving of kibble or opening a can. But recent cases of contaminated pet food sickening people bring to light the importance of safely handling pet food. Pet food can carry pathogens such as salmonella, which can cause serious illness or even death, especially for small children, the elderly, or people with compromised immune systems. Although processed kibble seems as safe as your children’s breakfast cereal, it is not because pet foods are made with meat as an ingredient. Since meat can harbor harmful bacteria, even dry food should be handled as if handling raw meat. Some people choose to feed raw meat to their cats and dogs and several alternative pet food companies sell raw pet food. Natural Pet Foods Company in Rochester deals in numerous brands of natural and raw foods for pets. Page 18
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“It’s the customer’s choice,” said Mario Cerasuolo, the company owner. “ If your dog is on raw food and you have a toddler, you probably should not be feeding raw food or be extra careful that the two should not kiss.” Cerasuolo likens feeding raw meat to handling ground beef while preparing a meal; however, dogs or cats eating raw meat may not be as careful to stay away from children while eating or shortly after. Anne Clarkson, who advises pet owners on raw food diets through Awesome Raw Foods, tells pet owners to simply feed pets outside or in a crate to keep them separated from young children until feeding time is over. “Clean up the dog’s mouth before it comes in contact with the family,” she said. “If you can keep babies away from pets’ poop, you can keep them away from raw food.” Cats are typically fastidious groomers but most dogs aren’t. Use a warm,
wet cloth and diluted pet shampoo to clean up messy chops after a meal. Follow the same procedures for storing, handling and serving raw and cooked pet food as you would preparing a meal with raw ingredients, including avoiding contact between foods to reduce the chances of cross-contamination, and cleaning up afterwards. Store meat in the lowest portion of the refrigerator so if it drips it won’t drip onto other foods. Keep the meat cold. Use a dedicated utensil for scooping kibble or else wash it after each use. Wash pet bowls frequently. “Dishes and utensils that have held raw meat should always be cleaned properly after use,” said Laura Sugarwala, registered dietitian and nutrition resource manager at Foodlink, Inc. in Rochester. “Cleaning is the process of removing dirt and particulate matter
IN GOOD HEALTH – Rochester / Genesee Valley Healthcare Newspaper • June 2012
from surfaces, while sanitizing reduces the number of pathogens from the surface.” Use soap and water that is 110 degrees Fahrenheit. Rinse thoroughly and allow to air dry. Or, use the dishwasher. “Hands should be scrubbed vigorously for no less than 20 seconds and rinsed thoroughly,” Sugarwala said. “Always wash hands after handling raw meat and before touching other foods.” Just as you would not let young children handle raw meat, do not allow them to feed pets or handle pet food of any sort — dry kibble, canned or raw.
By Jim Miller
How to Make the Most of Your Doctor’s Visit Dear Savvy Senior, Can you write a column educating patients on how to prepare for doctors appointments? I manage a number of small health clinics, and have found that patients — especially seniors — who come prepared when they visit our doctors are much more satisfied with the care they receive. Thanks for your help. Patient Educator Dear Educator, You’re right. Studies have shown that patients who help their doctors by providing important health information and preparing themselves for appointments tend to get better care than patients who don’t. Here are some simple things we can all do to help maximize our next visit to the doctor. Before Your Appointment Gathering your health information and getting organized before your appointment are the key steps to ensuring a productive meeting with your doctor. This is especially important if you’re seeing multiple doctors or are meeting with a new physician for the first time. Specifically, you need to: • Get your test results Make sure the doctor you’re seeing has copies of your latest X-ray, MRI or any other test or lab results, including reports from other doctors that you’ve seen. In most cases, you’ll need to do the leg work yourself which may only require a phone call to your previous doctor asking them to send it, or you may need to go pick it up and take it yourself. • List your medications Make a list of all the medications you’re taking (prescription drugs, overthe-counter medications, vitamins, minerals and herbal supplements) along with the dosages and take it with you to your appointment. Or, just gather up all you pill bottles and put them in a bag and bring them with you. • Gather your health history Your doctor also needs to know about any previous hospitalizations, as well as any current or past medical problems, even if they are not the
reason you are going to the doctor this time. Genetics matter too, so having your family’s health history can be helpful. The U.S. Surgeon General offers a free Web-based tool called “My Family Health Portrait” (see familyhistory.hhs.gov) that can help you put one together. • Prepare a list of questions Make a written list of the top three or four issues you want to discuss with your doctor. Since most appointments last between 10 and 15 minutes, this can help you stay on track and ensure you address your most pressing concerns first. If you’re in for a diagnostic visit, you should prepare a detailed description of your symptoms.
During Your Appointment The best advice when you meet with your doctor is to speak up. Don’t wait to be asked. Be direct, honest and as specific as possible when recounting your symptoms or expressing your concerns. Many patients are reluctant or embarrassed to talk about their symptoms, which makes the doctor’s job a lot harder to do. It’s also a good idea to bring along a family member or friend to your appointment. They can help you ask questions, listen to what the doctor is telling you and give you support. Also consider taking some notes or ask the doctor if you can record the session for later review. If you don’t understand what the doctor is telling you, ask him or her to explain it in simple terms so you can understand. And if you run out of time and don’t get your questions answered, ask if you can follow up by phone or email, make another appointment, or seek help from the doctor’s nurse.
Savvy tip The National Institute on Aging offers a booklet called “Talking With Your Doctor: A Guide for Older People” that provides great information including a variety of questions to ask that can help you be a more informed patient. To get a free copy mailed to you, call 800-2222225 or visit www.nia.nih.gov. 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.
Older Men’s Hidden Health Concerns
D
o men harbor concerns about aging in good health? Do they confide these concerns to their physicians? Are men’s concerns the same as women’s? The answers to these questions can be found in a large cross-sectional survey of 2,325 Canadian men, aged 55 to 97, led by Cara Tannenbaum, geriatrician, of the Université de Montréal. The results of a parallel survey querying the health concerns of older Canadian women was published in the Canadian Medical Association Journal in 2005.
er’s disease (16 percent), anxiety (17 percent) and incontinence (18 percent). Additionally, because of stigma surrounding incontinence, patients are reluctant to bring up the issue on their own. The good news is that health problems such as stroke, heart disease, diabetes, pneumonia and prostate disease appear to be well managed, since more than 80 percent of respondents said that they had been provided with information, screening or treatment for these conditions.
Priorities: maintaining one’s independence and quality of life
Solutions for engaging in dialogue and delivering information
Health issues of greatest concern to men included ailments that risk compromising independence and quality of life. Mobility impairments (64 percent), memory loss (64 percent) and medication side effects (63 percent) ranked top among their list of concerns. Vision loss (61 percent), hearing loss (52 percent) and falls (51 percent) followed in second place. Are concerns being addressed by physicians? Paradoxically, health practitioners appear not to be providing older men with adequate health information on the issues of greatest concern to them. With the exception of addressing medication side effects, men reported that only a minority of them had received counseling on strategies to prevent, screen, and treat health-related conditions that could threaten their physical and mental health. For example, respondents reported that risk factors and screening for mobility impairment and memory loss were only discussed with 13 percent and 9 percent of them respectively. The survey reveals important information gaps for depression (only 9.5 percent declared that their health care provider had discussed this with them), end-of-life care (12 percent), osteoporosis (13.5 percent), Alzheim-
The geriatrician in charge of the investigation was struck by the disparity between what older men want and what they seem to be receiving from health care professionals. “It is time for the health care system to invest in strategies for older adults to preserve their autonomy, mental health and well-being. As older men and women’s health priorities become better understood, a shift in the way health care is delivered and reimbursed will be required. More time is needed during the patient’s health care encounter to provide individualized counseling about exercise, nutrition, bladder, and brain health in old age. Incontinence post-prostatectomy is becoming more frequent and has a devastating impact on a man’s selfesteem and sexual function. Depression and anxiety, resulting from sensory impairments or the loss of loved ones, and the resultant social isolation that can ensue, are also important issues for men that need to be addressed in order to promote continued independence and quality of life”, stated Tannenbaum. “Increased awareness of these issues through public health campaigns or accredited information on a website for seniors will have to be developed to inform the population of age-related health challenges and how they can be appropriately managed”.
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Overcome your bladder control problems. Talk to your doctor
The Social Ask Security Office Column provided by the local Social Security Office
Less than half of adults with bladder control issues ever seek medical care
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our doctor may ask you to drink less coffee or perform exercises that strengthen your pelvic floor muscles to help you control your bladder control problems. The inability to hold in urine is a common problem among older adults. Many people have trouble controlling their bladder when they cough or sneeze or when they have sudden, uncontrollable urges to urinate. “Bladder control issues don’t usually cause major health problems, but the issue can embarrass individuals and cause them to avoid certain social functions and physical activities,” said Jamie Kerr, a physician who serves as vice president and chief medical officer for utilization management, Excellus BlueCross BlueShield. “Less than half of adults with
urinary incontinence ever seek medical care, so the first step in solving a bladder control problem is to talk to your doctor,” she added. An individual may suffer from bladder control problems because of weak lower urinary tract muscles or problems with the nerves that control urination. Men may also suffer from prostate problems. Kerr advises anyone who answers “yes” to any of the following questions to talk to their doctor: • Do you have sudden urges to urinate that are difficult to control? • Do you ever have urinary leakage when laughing, coughing or lifting heavy objects? • Do you get up twice or more during the night to go to the bathroom?
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Give him some “Extra Help” worth up to $4,000
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ou can probably think of a number of times when you asked your dad for a little extra help. Now, with Father’s Day right around the corner, is the perfect time to offer a little extra help for Dad. People across the nation are helping their dads save nearly $4,000 a year on the cost of Medicare prescription drugs. You can help your dad, too — and it won’t cost you a dime. The high cost of prescription medication can be a burden on fathers (or anyone) who have limited income and resources. But there is “Extra Help” — available through Social Security — that could pay part of his monthly premiums, annual deductibles, and prescription co-payments. That Extra Help is estimated to be worth about $4,000 a year. To figure out whether your father is eligible, Social Security needs to know his income and the value of his savings, investments, and real estate (other than the home he lives in). To qualify for the Extra Help, he must be enrolled in Medicare and have: • Income limited to $16,755 for an individual or $22,695 for a married couple living together. Even if his annual
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Q: I’m getting married later this month and plan to change my name. What documents do I need to apply for a new Social Security card with my new name? A: To change your name for any reason in Social Security’s records, and on your Social Security card, you’ll need to provide proof of your U.S. citizenship (if you have not previously established it with us) or immigration status. You’ll need to show us evidence of your legal name change by showing us documentation of your old and new names. Such documents could include a court order for a name change, marriage certificate, divorce decree, or certificate of naturalization. Finally, you’ll need to show us proof of identity. All documents submitted must be either originals or copies certified by the issuing agency. We cannot accept photocopies or notarized copies of documents. Visit our website about your Social Security card and number at www.socialsecurity.gov/ssnumber where you can get more information and fill out your application. Or call us at 1-800-772-1213 (TTY 1-800-325-0778). Q: Recently, I was told I shouldn’t be carrying my Social Security card around. Is that true?
IN GOOD HEALTH – Rochester / Genesee Valley Healthcare Newspaper • June 2012
income is higher, he still may be able to get some help with monthly premiums, annual deductibles, and prescription co-payments. Some examples where income may be higher include if he or his spouse: —Support other family members who live with them; —Have earnings from work; or —Live in Alaska or Hawaii. • Resources limited to $13,070 for an individual or $26,120 for a married couple living together. Resources include such things as bank accounts, stocks, and bonds. We do not count his house and a car (if he has one) as resources. Social Security has an easy-to-use online application that you can help complete for your dad. You can find it at www.socialsecurity.gov/prescriptionhelp. To apply by phone or have an application mailed to you, call Social Security at 1-800-772-1213 (TTY 1-800325-0778) and ask for the Application for Help with Medicare Prescription Drug Plan Costs (SSA-1020). Or go to the nearest Social Security office. To learn more about the Medicare prescription drug plans and special enrollment periods, visit www.medicare. gov or call 1-800-MEDICARE (1-800633-4227; TTY 1-877-486-2048).
A: We encourage you to keep your Social Security card at home in a safe place. Do not carry it with you unless you are taking it to a job interview or to someone who requires it. Identity theft is one of the fastest growing crimes in America, and the best way to avoid becoming a victim is to safeguard your card and number. To learn more, visit our Social Security number and card page at http://www.socialsecurity. gov/ssnumber. Q: I just started my first job and my paycheck is less than I expected. Why am I paying for retirement benefits when I have a lifetime to live before retirement? A: Besides being required by law, you are securing your own financial future through the payment of Social Security and Medicare taxes. The taxes you pay now translate to a lifetime of protection, whether you retire or become disabled. And when you die, your family (or future family) may be able to receive survivors benefits based on your work as well. Aside from all the benefits in your own future, your Social Security and Medicare payments also help today’s retirees. To learn more, visit our website at www. socialsecurity.gov.
H ealth News Unity announces appointments, new roles Unity Health System announce new roles and appointments for several of its longtime leaders. • Stewart Putnam has been appointed president of Unity’s health care services division. He has more than 30 years of experience in health care administration and has held key leadership roles at St. Mary’s and Unity since 1984, serving most recently as executive vice president/ chief operating officer of Unity Hospital. Prior to the creation of Unity Health System, Putnam served as president of St. Mary’s Putnam Hospital. He was instrumental in establishing Unity’s outreach programs for the vulnerable and underserved. Putnam earned his bachelor’s degree in biological health from Pennsylvania State University. He lives in Brighton. • Michael Nazar has been appointed to senior vice president for clinical affairs of Unity Medical Group. The physician has been with Unity since 1985, most recently as vice president of primary care and community services for Unity Health System. He received his medical degree from the University of Connecticut School of Medicine in 1982. He completed his residency in family medi-
cine at the Highland Hospital, University of Rochester program in 1985. He is board certified in family medicine and geriatric medicine and a clinical associate professor of Family Medicine at the University of Rochester School of Medicine. His professional/ Nazar administrative appointments include serving as chairman for the department of family medicine for St. Mary’s Hospital from 1994 to 1998 and serving as a medical director of Westside Health Services from 1987 to 1988. Professional society affiliations encompass the American Academy of Family Practice, Rochester Academy of Medicine, and the Monroe County Medical Society. Nazar has also been involved in many community committee memberships including the Rochester Community Individual Practice Association, United Way Community Allocations, and Community Technology Assessment Advisory Committee (CTAAB). He currently serves on the board of the Finger Lakes Health System Agency and is chairman-elect. Nazar lives in Rochester. • Joyce Zimowski has been appointed to senior vice president of Zimowski
High school students from New Visions, a class at Rochester General Hospital developed by the Eastern Monroe Career Center of Monroe #1 BOCES, share an active interest in the field of medicine. They recently reinforced the importance of infection prevention on the Rochester General campus by sharing a dance and music video that promotes hand hygiene, and by creating a hand hygiene-themed game for RGH team members. Rochester General’s Institute for Patient Safety and Clinical Excellence helped coordinate the New Visions activities. Pictured (from left): Liz Kaltenbach (Webster); Blair Carney (West Irondequoit); and, Nico Banghart (Pittsford).
operations for Unity Medical Group. Zimowski joined Unity Health System in 1981 and has held various positions since that time, including controller, vice president for finance and, most recently senior vice president of Unity Hospital. Prior to Park Ridge Hospital, Zimowski spent four years with a national public accounting firm, servicing healthcare and manufacturing clients. She joined the Park Ridge family in 1981. She has a bachelor’s degree from St. Bonaventure University and holds a CPA certificate from New York State. Zimowski lives in Pittsford.
St. Ann’s Community adds professionals Daryl Cronk of Henrietta was hired as the executive chef at Cherry Ridge in Webster. In his new role, he manages seven cooks and 10 other kitchen personnel, oversees food production for Ray and Mary’s Orchard Café, The Glen Assisted Living dining room and St. Ann’s Care Center at Cherry Ridge, and develops menus for special catering events. Cronk is a graduate of Cronk the Culinary Institute of America and also worked at Geneva on the Lake. Cronk was previously employed by Heather Heights of Pittsford as food service director. • Michelle Dwyer of Penfield will serve as office manager for St. Ann’s Care Center at Dwyer Cherry Ridge in Webster. In her new role she manages medical records and secretaries on the households, creates the nursing schedule and provides administrative support to the administrator and director of nursing. Dwyer was previously employed by the University of Rochester Harris Medical Center as the management preceptor and lead supervisor to the food and nutrition department. • Deborah Harris of Rochester was appointed nurse manager on the ninth floor at St. Ann’s Home. In her new role, she is responsible for overseeing the residents’ care and Hargrove-Wise day-to-day activities. Harris worked in long term care for 15 years at Hill Haven Nursing Home as a nursing supervisor. Most recently she was employed by the University of Rochester as a psychiatric nurse. • Laura Hargrove-Wise of Gates was hired as nurse manager on the second floor at St. Ann’s Home. Her
June 2012 •
responsibilities include the oversight of staff and the day-to-day activities of residents on her floor. She previously worked at Clarebridge of Perinton as the director of nursing.
Thompson joins NYS Partnership for Patients Thompson Hospital recently joined a groundbreaking national project, through the New York State Partnership for Patients. The Healthcare Association of New York State (HANYS) is behind the partnership, which is part of a movement across the country to reduce hospital-acquired conditions by 40 percent and preventable re-admissions by 20 percent. As part of the partnership, Thompson will work with more than 170 other hospitals across New York to enhance organizational capacity for quality improvement (QI) while simultaneously working on a series of patient safety and QI initiatives. The Partnership for Patients focuses on five core clinical domains: building culture and leadership, nursing-centered initiatives, infection prevention, preventable re-admissions and obstetrical safety. Thompson Director of Quality and Safety Kiera Champlin-Kuhn says each of these domains reflect Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services’ initiatives calling for a substantial portion of hospital reimbursement to be tied directly to safety and other measures of the quality of care they deliver. “What’s great is that these five goals also align with Thompson’s five existing strategic aims,” she says, adding, “The value to Thompson in joining the NYS Partnership for Patients is that it facilitates collaboration with many other hospitals, giving us an edge in identifying innovative ideas that will improve our patient care.”
VA nurse starts tenure as president of national group The Association of periOperative Registered Nurses (AORN) membership elected its board of directors for the 2012-2013 term and, with the election, marked the beginning of the term for Deborah Spratt, the chief of sterile processing at the Canandaigua VAMC in Canandaigua, who will serve as the organization’s president until March next year. The 2012-13 board was inducted into office at the AORN annual Congress in March 30 in New Orleans. AORN, representing the interests of more than 160,000 perioperative nurses, provides nursing education, standards, and services that enable optimal outcomes for patients undergoing operative and other Spratt invasive procedures. AORN’s 41,500 registered nurse members facilitate the management, teaching, and practice of perioperative nursing, are enrolled in nursing
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H ealth News education or engaged in perioperative research. Board elections are conducted annually.
Newark-Wayne switches to electronic records
Unity awards scholarships to local students
Since May 1, Newark-Wayne Community Hospital joined its affiliate, Rochester General Hospital, in launching Care Connect, Rochester General Health System’s name for its new electronic medical records (EMR) system. The launch of the EMR system at Newark-Wayne went smoothly with hospital officials crediting the more than two years’ worth of planning, training and testing that were dedicated to this effort. Newark-Wayne’s launch is part of Rochester General Health System’s plan to bring all eight of its affiliates on-board with Care Connect in the next two years. The $65 million project is converting the entire Rochester General Health System from a combination of independent paper-based and computer-based patient record systems to a single, fully-integrated electronic system that will significantly enhance quality and patient safety as well as the efficiency and effectiveness of care provided to all patients. Rochester General Hospital “went live” with the system in November of last year. “The Newark-Wayne physicians and caregivers can now access their patients’ most up-to-date information for faster information sharing and ultimately enhanced patient care,” said Mark Klyczek, president of NewarkWayne Community Hospital. “This is another example of the quality we are able to provide as an affiliate of the Rochester General Health System.” Protecting patient confidentiality is a major component of the Care Connect system. All of the data in the EMR is encrypted and password protected, so access to a patient’s information is strictly limited only to those who are authorized. In addition, Rochester General Health System is partnering with Wayne County physicians to assure they have, with the patient’s explicit permission, access to the patient’s most up-to-date records to further improve clinical outcomes and quality of care. And with other hospitals in Rochester transitioning to electronic medical record technology, sharing of patient information between Systems will be greatly simplified. Physicians from throughout the Rochester Region can now access records at Newark-Wayne when needed for specific patient treatment. The Care Connect system is also protected against the loss of patient information through a robust back-up system that is readily available, in the event of a computer malfunction.
Unity Health System announced the recipients of its 2012 Nursing Scholarship Program. The scholarships are awarded to high school seniors intending to pursue an R.N. degree. A total of six scholarships, $1,000 each, will be awarded to the following students who have been accepted into a four-year nursing program and are graduating in 2012: Michaela Burns, Hilton Central School District; Ciera Linder, Greece Central School District;Lisa Wayda, Spencerport Central School District;Whitney White, Rochester City School District;Sereta Williams, Greece Central School District; and Erica Wydra, Hilton Central School District. A reception was scheduled to be held June 5 at Unity Hospital.
Therapist joins Lake Country PT in Canandaigua Lake Country Physical Therapy and Sportscare, PC of Canandaigua announced that physical therapist Robert C. Christakos recently joined the practice. Christakos hails from southern California where he provided orthopedic and geriatric rehabilitation and worked extensively with high school and college athletes for more than 12 years. He holds a master and a doctor degree in physical therapy. He has achieved the highest level of certification in Pain Reflex Release Technique (PRRT) and is certified in Graston Technique. “PRRT is a gentle, ‘hands on,’ effective integration of pain management and treatment of muscles, nerves, and Christakos joints,” said Zoe Fackelman, president, Lake Country Physical Therapy and Sportscare, PC, who is also a PRRT practitioner. “Our patients typically experience pain relief and restored function from the first session.” Christakos now resides in South Bristol and is a member of the Canandaigua Rotary Club. He also enjoys snowboarding and skiing, water skiing, hiking, mountain biking, and golfing.
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Eastman Dental Tapped for Role in Major National Research Project Eastman Dental, the clinical arm of The Eastman Institute for Oral Health at the University of Rochester Medical Center, is part of a national research effort that aims to transform oral health and clinical practice throughout the United States. The newly formed National Dental Practice-Based Research Network will provide community dentists the opportunity to be on the forefront of research that addresses day-to-day issues they face with patients. The network was established by a seven-year, $67 million grant to the University of Alabama at Birmingham School of Dentistry from the National Institute of Dental and Craniofacial Research, part of the National Institutes of Health. A dental practice-based research network, or DPBRN, is a consortium of practices and clinics devoted principally to the oral health care of patients, but whose members investigate research questions with practical impact that will improve the quality of dental care. Through six regional research centers, dentists across the country will be able to propose and participate in research studies designed
Foundation announces funding opportunities Greater Rochester Health Foundation (GRHF) announces the availability of “Opportunity Grants” for 2013. Grants typically range from $50,000 for a one-year program to more than $750,000 for multi-year programs. “Through the Opportunity Grant program, organizations identify the most pressing health needs of their target population and propose a program or activity to address either prevention or health care delivery,” says Louis Papa, a physician who chairs the foundation’s program committee. “Projects that can accomplish health improvements in a one to three-year timeframe, as well as continuation funding for interventions previously funded through GRHF Opportunity Grants will be considered. Typically
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IN GOOD HEALTH – Rochester / Genesee Valley Healthcare Newspaper • June 2012
to help quickly expand the profession’s evidence base and improve patient care. Eastman Institute for Oral Health will run the northeast region, comprised of Connecticut, Delaware, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Vermont, U.S. Virgin Islands and Puerto Rico. “This network will allow dentists nationwide a unique opportunity to address questions that arise in their practices every day,” explained Cyril Meyerowitz, EIOH director and the northeast region’s principal investigator. “They can have a role in determining what questions are asked and participate in discovering the answers, which can then translate quickly into practice.” This is the first dental practice based research network on a national scope. Oral health practitioners, including dentists and hygienists in the northeast region area are encouraged to enroll and participate in the various studies. For more information, contact EIOH Research Administrator Kathy Bohn at Kathy_bohn@urmc. rochester.edu or 585-273-5272.
our external panel of topic experts review and scores three dozen or more proposals in each funding cycle.” John Urban, president and CEO of GRHF says, “We encourage organizations who might consider applying for a 2013 Opportunity Grant to sit down and talk with us about their ideas over the spring and early summer before submitting a letter of intent or full proposal. These informal conversations are a great way to surface opportunities and refine possible concepts.” The foundation has awarded more than $17 million in Opportunity Grants over the past five years to nonprofit organizations in Genesee, Livingston, Monroe, Ontario, Orleans, Seneca, Wayne, Wyoming and Yates counties. Proposals for 2013 Opportunity Grants are due in September 2012. For more information, visit www. thegrhf.org.
REACH DOCTORS, HEALTH PROFESSIONALS, CONSUMERS Email inquiries to “editor@GVhealthnews.com”
HELP REDUCE ER CROWDING. FOR COLD AND FLU SYMPTOMS, SEE YOUR DOCTOR. A recent study found that each year there are hundreds of thousands of emergency room visits in upstate New York that could be avoided. Minor conditions like cold and flu symptoms, congestion, back pain, earaches and sports injuries are best treated by your doctor. If your doctor isn’t available, consider visiting an urgent care facility. And do your part to relieve ER crowding.
Sponsored by the Monroe County Medical Society, Finger Lakes Health Systems Agency, and Excellus BlueCross BlueShield. A nonprofit independent licensee of the BlueCross BlueShield Association
Some feature stories in this issue: • Grandparents opening their wallets • How to be a super sitter • Golfing is a four-season obsession for “Driller” • Who will provide your retirement paycheck? • English country dancing still alive in Rochester • The sandwich generation is getting bigger and busier • Tony Bannon retiring from George Eastman House • How to hire a trustworthy contractor • Early bloom for area green thumbs • Changing the way we see nursing homes
President of the Eastman Kodak Retiree Association talks about pension and benefits from Kodak Subscribe today and get 55 PLUS magazine mailed to your home! Name ____________________________________________________ Address __________________________________________________
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