in good The Diseases Your Pets Can Transmit to You
Back to School, Back to Sports NYS law requires that a student have a physical each year in order to participate in sports. Find out what’s involved
Teresa Schreiber Werth, a breast cancer survivor, turns to writing for comfort Gynecologist Judy Kerpelman talks about rewards of her profession and her new medical spa for women, Allur MedSpa
Living Alone. Need a Little Help?
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Rochester–Genesee Valley Healthcare Newspaper
October 2011 • Issue 74
New Challenges for Smaller Hospitals Study: Hospitals outside Rochester metro area may have to change in order to survive
New Chief of Surgery at RGH Reaches Out to Third World Countries Dr. Ralph Pennino, who has been appointed chief of surgery at Rochester General Hospital, is the founder and president of InteVol, a nonprofit that collects unused medical supplies and distributes them to Third World countries. October 2011 •
4 Great Reasons to Eat Garlic WOMEN’S ISSUE • Habits you should break • Got PMS? Try a glass of milk to ease symptoms • eMoms study looks at healthy pregnancy and beyond
IN GOOD HEALTH – Rochester / Genesee Valley Healthcare Newspaper
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IN GOOD HEALTH – Rochester / Genesee Valley Healthcare Newspaper • October 2011
Your Health... Your Choice Choose Finger Lakes Hematology & Oncology Close to home with a staff who cares about YOU... not just your disease!
Finger Lakes Hematology & Oncology Drs. Stephen Ignaczak & Bruce Yirinec 6 Ambulance Drive Clifton Springs, NY 14432 315-462-1472 www.flhocancercare.com
The Future of Breast Cancer Diagnosis is “Wide Open”
University Urology
Your husband has prostate cancer.
“Will I live?”is just one of his questions.
Your local Open-bore MRI provider now offers MRI imaging of the breast.
Men with prostate cancer aren’t just worried about surviving. They are usually concerned about avoiding impotence and incontinence, too.
Along with a state-of-the-art and patient friendly MRI scanner, Finger Lakes Radiology uses advanced 3D image analysis software solution, SpectraLook®, to assist in detecting breast cancer.
That’s why you should know this: University Urology, part of the University of Rochester Medical Center, is one of the most advanced and comprehensive practices in the region for the treatment of prostate cancer. We have the region’s widest range of treatments, so we can better customize your care. We have internationally recognized experts in robotic prostate surgery. And we provide complete, multidisciplinary cancer care all in one location. Make sure your husband has the very best chance for a full recovery. Learn more about prostate cancer treatment at URMC. Visit prostate.urmc.edu.
Talk to your doctor to see if a breast MRI is right for you.
To get our free booklet, Prostate Cancer: Facts & Fallacies, or to schedule an appointment, visit prostate.urmc.edu or call (585) 275-2838.
196 North Street • Geneva, NY 14456 315-787-5399 www.fingerlakesradiology.com 11-318 URMC Urology Ads 5x10.25-In Good Health.indd 2
October 2011 7/15/11 3:54:47 PM
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CALENDAR of
HEALTH EVENTS
Oct. 1, 8, 11, 16
Canandaigua cancer group plans events Embrace Your Sisters, a local breast cancer charity providing emergency financial assistance to breast cancer patients in the Finger Lakes, is organizing its “Breast Cancer Awareness Month in October.” The events are: • Oct 1, from 6–10 p.m. “Girls’ Night Out,” a women’s health and wellness event at Finger Lakes Community College Gymnasium open to the public. • Oct. 8 from 10 a.m.–3 p.m. “Positively Pink in Pittsford”, a 1.7 mile walk in historic Pittsford village to raise funds for Embrace Your Sisters. Prizes for individual and team costumes will be awarded. Register online and accept online donations at embraceyoursisters.org. Walkers will receive lunch and a T-shirt. Music and entertainment at the end of the walk! • Oct. 11 at 6:30 p.m. at Canandaigua Academy “Canandaigua Pink Out Soccer Game,” a soccer tournament fundraiser open to the public. • Oct. 16 from 2–5 p.m. “Chefs, Wine, and Art,” sponsored by Wegman’s and the New York Wine and Culinary Center at the New York Wine and Culinary Center, 800 S Main St., Canandaigua, featuring wine tastings, food pairings and a silent auction. Said Sue Cooney, EYS president: “Support Embrace Your Sisters at this critical time. More and more breast cancer patients really need our help and the funds you help us raise will prevent evictions, pay for copays, and keep utilities on when patients are struggling to get treatment and survive for themselves and their families.”
Oct 4.
Hearing loss group sponsors presentations Hearing Loss Association of America: Rochester chapter explores earmolds and inductive loops at its Tuesday, Oct. 4 meetings. At the 11 a.m meeting the topic is “The Essential Earmold.” Deborah Sanderson, an audiologist with Rochester Hearing and Speech Center, talks about what can go wrong with earmolds and how to know if yours are malfunctioning. “Looping Rochester,” presented by Donald Bataille AIA, CCS and panel, is the 7 p.m. meeting topic. Hearing loops (induction loops) work with hearing aid telecoil settings on hearing aids and cochlear implants to provide clear sound, free of background noises. Used extensively in Europe, they are gaining popularity in the US as a reliable and affordable assistive listening device in public and home settings. HLAA-Rochester member Donald Bataille, architect with SWBR Architects in Rochester, leads a panel discussion reviewing a comparison of induction loop, infraPage 4
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red, and FM assistive listening systems. The program includes a hands-on installation demonstration and review of the international IEC60118.4 compliance standard. The meetings are held in the vestry room at St. Paul’s Episcopal Church, East Ave. at Westminster Road, across from George Eastman House. Those needing a sign language interpreter should contact Linda Siple at 585 475 6712.
Oct. 5
Clifton Springs Hospital offers weight loss class Dieting can be so confusing – which foods are good for you, what portion is right, how many calories do you really need? Clifton Springs Hospital is offering an opportunity for you to get that professional advise from Rose Copper-Brown, a certified diabetes educator, and Paige Jablonski, outpatient nutritional counselor — they are both register dietitians. Offered as a series of six weekly lunchtime sessions, the weight loss class will include a weigh-in, short program with a dietitian and a discussion period. Classes begin Wednesday, Oct. 5, and are held 12–12:30 p.m. in the Diabetes Health Center classroom, suite 60, Clifton Springs Hospital, 2 Coulter Road in Clifton Springs. Cost is only $5 per class or $25 for the entire six-week series — attend one or the series. You don’t have to have diabetes to attend. Call 315-462-0220 or 315-462-0257 for more information.
Oct. 8
Free mammograms offered to women over 40 Highland Breast Imaging, The Breast Cancer Coalition of Rochester and The Cancer Services Program of Monroe County are inviting the public to join them during their annual “Breast Cancer Awareness Screening Day.”It will take place from 8 a.m – 12 p.m., Oct. 8 at Highland Breast Imaging Center, 500 Red Creek Dr., Rochester. Free mammograms for women 40 and older with no health insurance will be offered. A Reiki practitioner will also provide free 10-minute Reiki sessions. Refreshments and music for a relaxing atmosphere will be provided. To schedule an appointment, call 487-3304.
Oct. 11,18, 25
Living Alone: Survive and Thrive on Your Own Do you live alone? Is it a challenge for you? “Living Alone: How to Survive and Thrive on Your Own,” is a three-part workshop offered for women who want to gain the know-how to forge a meaningful and enriching life on their own. Participants will discover how to think differently about living
alone, overcome loneliness and other emotional pitfalls, rediscover their true selves, and socialize in a couples’ world. The workshop takes place from 7 – 9 p.m. at House Content Bed & Breakfast in Mendon on three consecutive Tuesdays: Oct. 11, 18 and 25. The workshop fee of $125 includes a Living Alone manual, empowerment exercises, and valuable resources. To register, contact Gwenn Voelckers at (585) 6247887 or email gvoelckers@rochester. rr.com
will take place at 2 p.m. at River’s Run 50 Fairway Drive in Rochester. The HCR Home Care’s Parkinson’s team will discuss the disease and how to remain independent in your home after diagnosis. To register, call 292-5440.
Oct. 11
The Rochester Chapter of the America Chronic Pain Association will meet from 6:45 – 8:30 p.m. Oct. 18 and Nov. 15 at The Baptist Temple—in Fellowship Hall, 1101 Clover St., Rochester. The American Chronic Pain Association is a nonprofit, self-help group designed to teach people who suffer from chronic pain—pain that continues longer than six months and is not completely relieved by medication or medical treatment—to reduce the impact pain has on their working and personal lives. All prospective members are welcome to attend or to contact Rita-Marie Geary at 585-4584954 for more information.
Re-Creation’s ‘Everyday People!’ held at the VA The recreation therapy department at the Canandaigua VA announced that Re-Creation’s “Everyday People!” show will appear at the Canandaigua VA Medical Center at 2 p.m., Oct. 11, in the building 5 auditorium, bringing a new stage presentation to hospitalized veterans, their guests and community members. The group represents ReCreation USA, Inc., which provides a national program of live entertainment for America’s hospitalized veterans in VA medical centers and state veterans homes. Re-Creation’s “Everyday People!” spotlights great songs and great stars as America’s young ambassadors to hospitalized veterans focus on this nation’s best-loved music. Dynamic vocal renditions are enlivened by intricate, disciplined dance and choreography as the stage and the entire room virtually erupt with Re-Creation excitement. For more information, call 585393-7371. The Canandaigua VA Medical Center is located at 400 Fort Hill Avenue Canandaigua, NY.
Oct. 12, 13, 17, 19, 25
Senior-related seminars held in Rochester area HCR Home Care, a Rochesterbased that has provided in-home health care services in the region for nearly 35 years, is sponsoring a series of programs designed for seniors, their families and friends. The programs are free of charge. They are: • Oct. 12: “Depression in the Elderly” presented by Tom Richardson. It takes place at 12 p.m. at Gables of Brighton, 2001 South Clinton Ave. Rochester. Register by calling 461-1880. • Oct. 13: “Preventing Falls,” which will take place at 4 p.m. at Perinton Park Manor, 7 Chardonnay Dr., Fairport This interactive presentation will provide attendees with helpful tips for maintaining good balance, as well as demonstrate exercises to measure your level of balance wellness. Register by calling 425-0210. • Oct. 17: “Aging Your Way: Remain Living Independently Where You Are.” This program will be at 6:30 p.m. at Legacy Willow Pond, 40 Willow Pond Way in Penfield. This program will discuss preventive solutions to many of the health related issues today’s seniors face, allowing them to age in place. To register, call 292-5440. • Oct. 19: “Caregiver Solutions” presentation at Ada Ridge Apartments, 1311 Long Pond Rd, This informational session will discuss how you can effectively navigate the health care, social services, and legal systems in order to provide the best solutions possible. Register by calling 225-3580. • Oct. 25: “Parkinson’s Disease,”
IN GOOD HEALTH – Rochester / Genesee Valley Healthcare Newspaper • October 2011
Oct. 18, Nov. 15
Nonprofit group deals with chronicle pain
On Going
Hospital offers diabetes education In Macedon The Regional Diabetes Health Center at Clifton Springs Hospital & Clinic is now providing diabetes self-management training in Macedon. The program is ongoing and is held in the PalMac Medical Center at 1900 Route 31, West Wayne Plaza, Macedon. Certified diabetes educators provide the same training in Wayne County as they have for several years at Clifton Springs Hospital. A healthcare provider referral (from an doctor, nurse practitioner or physician’s assistante) is required. The program is covered by most insurance companies. For more information, call the Regional Diabetes Health Center at 315-462-0220.
Roberts Wesleyan College offers yoga classes Roberts Wesleyan College is offering eight-week sessions of yoga instruction for the general public. Interested individuals must register two weeks prior to each session’s start date. Only 16 spots are available per class. Registration forms are available at the front desk in the Voller Athletic Center or by contacting Barbara Champlin at 585-594-6517 or emailing Champlinb@roberts.edu. Yoga participants must provide their own floor mat, towel and belt. Cost it $75 per person for each eight week session. The classes started in September but will also take place in October though November. They are as follows: Instructor Vinyasa Style: Oct. 3, 17, 24 and Nov. 7, 14 from 7 – 8:15 p.m. Instructor Lyengar Style: Oct. 5, 12, 19, 26 and Nov. 2 from 7 – 8:15 p.m.
Got an item you want to share? Email it to editor@GVhealthnews.com
Teen Graduated Driver Licensing Programs Show Mixed Results
Clifton Springs
Hospital & Clinic
Fewer fatal crashes among 16-year-olds, more among 18-year-olds
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he use of stronger graduated driver licensing programs for 16to 19-year old drivers in the U.S. that included restrictions on nighttime driving and allowed passengers were associated with a lower incidence of fatal crashes among 16-year old drivers, but a higher incidence among 18-year olds, according to a study in the Sept. 14 issue of JAMA. “Motor vehicle crashes are the leading cause of death in the United States for teenagers. From 2000-2008, more than 23,000 drivers and 14,000 passengers aged 16 to 19 years were killed,” according to background information in the article. “Graduated driver licensing (GDL) systems have now been adopted in all 50 states and the District of Columbia to reduce crashes among teenaged drivers. Graduated driver licensing is structured to ensure that young novices gain extensive experience driving in low-risk conditions before they ‘graduate’ in steps to driving in riskier conditions.” GDL programs in the United States apply only to beginning drivers younger than 18 years. “The question remains whether the benefits of GDL among drivers to whom provisions directly apply (16- and 17-year-olds) continue, are reduced, or may even be reversed, among older teenagers for whom the effects are only secondary. Previous attempts to quantify the result of GDL for all teenaged drivers across multiple states have experienced methodological difficulties that rendered conclusions unclear,” the authors write. Scott V. Masten of the California Department of Motor Vehicles and colleagues conducted a study to estimate the association of GDL with driver
involvement in fatal crashes for 16- to 19-year-olds. The study included an analysis of data of quarterly 1986-2007 incidence of fatal crashes involving drivers 16 to 19 years of age for all 50 states and the District of Columbia. There was a comparison of state-quarters with stronger GDL programs (restrictions on both nighttime driving and allowed passengers) or weaker GDL programs (restrictions on either nighttime driving or allowed passengers) with state-quarters without GDL. Over the study period, fatal crash incidence among teen drivers increased with age, from 16 to 17-yearold drivers before reaching a plateau at the ages of 18 and 19. After adjusting for various factors, the researchers found that stronger GDL programs (relative to no GDL program) were statistically associated with lower fatal crash incidence only for 16-year-old drivers. “For 18-year-old drivers, the rate of fatal crashes was statistically higher for stronger GDL programs than for programs having none of the key GDL elements. Rate ratios for 17-year-old drivers, 19-year-old drivers, and 16- to 19-year-old drivers combined were not statistically different from the null,” the authors write. The authors also found that stronger GDL programs appeared to be associated with a larger reduction in fatal crashes among 16-year-old drivers than weaker GDL programs but with a similar increase in fatal crashes involving 18-year-old drivers. “This suggests that modifying weaker existing state GDL programs to include nighttime as well as passenger restrictions may result in additional crash savings among 16year-olds as well as a larger net savings among teen drivers overall.”
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get better Breast Care Cancer Care Obstetrics & Gynecology Integrative Medicine Plastic Surgery Cardiology
Everything we do, we do so you can get better. 2 Coulter Rd. Clifton Springs, NY | 315.462.9561 | CliftonSpringsHospital.org
Macular Degeneration Dr. George Kornfeld uses miniaturized binoculars or telescopes to help those with vision loss keep reading, writing driving 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. Low Vision patient, Bonnie Demuth, with Bioptic Telescopes
In Good Health is published 12 times a year by Local News, Inc. © 2011 by Local News, Inc. All rights reserved. 106 Cobblestone Court Dr., Suite 121 – P.O. Box 525, Victor NY 14564. • Phone:(585) 421-8109 • E-mail: 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, Aaron Gifford, Sheila Livadas Advertising: Marsha K. Preston, Beth Clark 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.
October 2011 •
Bonnie was helped with two pairs of glasses: Special $475 prismatic glasses let her read the newspaper and bioptic telescopes helped her distance vision.
“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 including Rochester. For more information and a FREE telephone consultation call:
585-271-7320 Toll-free 1-866-446-2050
IN GOOD HEALTH – Rochester / Genesee Valley Healthcare Newspaper
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Meet
Your Doctor
By Chris Motola
Dr. Judy Kerpelman Gynecologist talks about her specialty, new medical spa for women, Allur MedSpa Q: What is it like to specialize in ob/gyn these days? A: It fantastic, very rewarding. It’s an exciting profession. I’ve been at it a long time and it’s still exciting. Every day is different. Office practices, taking care of the gynecological and obstetric needs of patients ranging from the age of 3 to 90 years old. There’s hospital work with the delivery of babies, which never gets old. It’s the best day of many couples’ lives and it’s a joy to be able to share in that. We take women of all ages. Part of the joy is watching them grow up, get married, have babies and take care of them through menopause and beyond. It just offers a huge range of care that is special to my profession. Q: What should your obstetric patients know before they step into your office? A: Prenatal care starts before pregnancy even happens. It’s a great idea to review your medical history, all your medication and habits, maybe get themselves in great shape before they get pregnant. It’s a good idea to have an appointment with an ob/ gyn before you get pregnant. There’s certain testing that can be done in advance, specific advice that can be given. So overall, that’s a good idea. Of course, if it doesn’t work out that way in advance, you can still get excellent prenatal care.
A: A lot of what we’ve been talking about is preventive care and overall wellness. So while I do take care of sick or impaired people, I am a big proponent of keeping people healthy and well, emotionally as well as physically. I’ve opened up a medical spa that offers different preventive programs, weight loss programs. Some women with medical conditions may experience excess hair growth, which is something we can treat. We also offer non-surgical cosmetic treatments that make women feel good. Q: Have you found that the medical and boutique aspect complement each other? A: It’s a natural combination for many reasons. I take care of the health needs of women, so they know me and trust me. They know my practice, which has a great reputation. So they’re com-
fortable coming to a place that they know. The other thing is, if you’re going to have things done, what better way to do it than through a physician who is medically trained? So I’ve actually found it to be a very natural combination. Women don’t seem to have any problem doing both in the same place. Q: Can you give me an example of what a visit to your medical spa would consist of? A: So, again, they might get their excess hair removed or excess pigmentation removed, but also things like laser facials, nutritional counseling. I do botox and filler treatment, which obviously isn’t medical, but I do it in a safe environment. So it’s very spa-like, which is great. Q: Are insurance companies willing to cover some of that? A: No, it’s not covered by insurance. My practice also has a huge range of other services: robotic surgery, ultrasound, bone density testing. So it’s really nice to be able to offer all of that in one place with different specializing physicians. That’s worked out very well; that’s part of the reputation that we have. Q: Do you also offer complementary medicine as part of the spa services? A: No, that’s not one of my subspecialties. I’m a big proponent of healthy choices that can prevent the need for extra medical care, like diet and exercise. Rather than introduc-
Q: Are young women well-informed about the benefits of regular gynecological appointments? A: That’s part of the joy of what I do. If I get young women in, I’m able to do a lot of preventive medicine. I can teach them a lot about how to avoid illness, avoid infection and how to take good care of themselves. And then, once they’re old enough for full gynecology care, they already know me, they’re comfortable with me. I can help them with their contraceptive needs. So there’s a lot that can be done with younger women. Q: Can you talk a bit about your new medical spa, the Allur MedSpa?
ing alternative things, working with what you’re given can do wonders. Q: Recently reports have found that the United States is falling behind most other industrialized countries in infant mortality rate. Why do you think this is? A: I think part of it is kind of ironic. We have more ability to take care of sicker and sicker patients, as well as pregnancies with complications. Some of what happens is that we can get patients to carry their babies far enough along that they can be delivered, but what you get in return is that very, very young and potentially ill babies; often don’t make it. In the old days, they wouldn’t have even have gotten that far. I think it’s more a sign of our medical advancement rather than a step backwards. Q: What has the response to the HPV vaccine been like at your practice? A: I think it has been a very successful and important program. That vaccination program is available from teenage up through age 26 and helps prevent cervical cancer. It’s very impressive that one vaccine can do that. I think we’ve been quite successful, with the help of pediatricians, of getting to that target population. It looks like it will be quite successful. Q: Do you find patients are coming in better or more poorly informed in the Internet age? A: It’s a little bit of each. I’m lucky to have people come in who are very well-educated, who are able to filter through what’s on the Internet and who come in with a lot of information. It’s very helpful, because it raises the level of conversation we can have. Of course, there are some who aren’t sure of which information to take in and which not to and in there case it’s usually a process of reeducating them.
Lifelines Practice: West Ridge OB/GYN (wrog.org) Education: University of Rochester Medical Center, Residency: Internship and residency in obstetrics and gynecology at Strong Memorial Hospital, University of Rochester, Rochester. After completion of residency she served as an ob/gyn in the U.S. Air Force stationed at Ellsworth Air Force Base, South Dakota. Memberships/Certifications: American College of Obstetrics and Gynecology; International Society for Clinical Densitometry; Certified Clinical Densitometrist; National Osteoporosis Foundation; Society of Laparoendoscopic Surgeons; International Association for Physicians in Aesthetic Medicine Personal: Resides in Rochester with her husband and daughter. Hobbies: Snowboarding, mountain biking, African drumming, traveling and spending time with her family. She is also certified as a fitness instructor
Don’t miss the next issue of In Good Health.
Special focus on careers in healthcare, golden years, diabetes and columns such as SmartBites, Living Alone, Savvy Senior and more Page 6
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IN GOOD HEALTH – Rochester / Genesee Valley Healthcare Newspaper • October 2011
The diseases your pets can transmit to you Pets can share several diseases with their owners, especially owners who are small children
Scientists develop tattoo-like monitoring device
By Deborah Jeanne Sergeant
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any people enjoy the companionship pets give them. However, in addition to sharing a home, cats and dogs can share diseases with you. Zoonotic diseases are ones that can be transmitted from animals to humans. Although uncommon, zoonotic diseases can be serious. In rare cases, some can cause blindness, for example. Tammy Healy, a registered nurse and infection preventist with Finger Lakes Health, said “Most zoonotic rarely come from your domesticated dog or cat, but there are a couple that are commonly transmitted from your pet to you. Just about all zoonotic diseases are treatable if caught in the early stages.” She listed hookworm and Lyme disease as comHealy mon diseases pets can transmit to humans through pets’ parasites. Hookworms are parasites that pass through the feces of infected animals and contaminate the ground where the animals eliminate. “People become infected when they walk barefoot or sit on contaminated soil or sand,” she said. “The larvae migrate through the skin, or oral ingestion due to hand contact with contaminated surfaces.” Small children are particularly vulnerable to hookworm because they tend to sit on the ground and put
Help prevent pet-to-human transmission of disease, follow these steps to keep pets healthy as advised by Dr. Paul Black, veterinarian with Animal Hospital of Pittsford in Rochester: • “Get routine, regular physical exams for the dog or cat. • “Follow an appropriate vaccine protocol for the lifestyle of the pet, whether it’s indoors or outdoors, a dog that goes hiking, or a pet that plays in the backyard. • “Use parasite prevention, both internal and external. Those depend upon the lifestyle of the pet. They may need all of them depending upon whether they’re inside and outside or come in contact with wild animals. • “Monitor them for any changes in their normal patterns: eating, drinking, bathroom habits.
their hands in their mouths more than older people. If left untreated, hookworms can take an irregular route through the body and even infect the eyes and cause blindness. Typically, up to three days of an oral anti-parasitic medicine clears up the infection. “Most cases of hookworm infections can be prevented by practicing good personal hygiene, eliminating intestinal parasites from pets through regular de-worming, and making potentially contaminated environments, such as unprotected sand boxes, off limits to children,” Healy said. “It is also important to clean up pet feces on a regular basis to remove potentially infective eggs before they become disseminated in the environment via rain, insects, or the active migration of the larvae.” Lyme disease is caused by an infected tick. If your cat or dog becomes a carrier of one, the tick could infect you with Lyme disMercurio ease. A cat or dog cannot directly transmit the disease to you. “During the early stages, oral antibiotics provide for a rapid and complete recovery,” Healy said. “If the disease process is too severe the patient may require intravenous treatment.” She recommends checking pets for ticks daily, “especially after they spend time outdoors.” Ticks should be removed immediately. Fleas can also spread disease, but remember with parasites like these, the cat or dog isn’t directly spreading the disease but is acting as a host to the parasite. Eliminating the parasites will solve the problem. Mary Gail Mercurio, an associate professor of dermatology and program director, Dermatology Residency at University of Rochester Medical Center, said that scabies mites that are specific to animals can be spread to humans who come in close contact. “The good news is that the animal scabies mite is different than the one that causes the usual scabies in humans,”
S
Mercurio said. “Animals’ scabies has a brief, self-limited course in humans.” Human-to-human scabies can be difficult to treat. Pets can also share fungal infections with humans such as ringworm. Mercurio said that ringworm infections are “particularly common in children from direct contact with infected cat or dog. Common locations are the neck or chin of a child from nuzzling a kitten.” Although fairly rare, rabies is a preventable viral disease most commonly transmitted through the bite of an infected animal. If your unvaccinated pet is bitten by a rabid animal, it could infect you. By law, cats and dogs must be regularly vaccinated against rabies. Should you be exposed to a rabid animal (not just bitten), “the combination of human rabies immune globulin (HRIG) and vaccine is recommended,” Healy said, “regardless of the interval between exposure and initiation of treatment. Rabies in humans is 100 percent preventable through prompt appropriate medical care,” Healy said. Maintain clean sleeping areas for your pets and don’t let pets sleep with you. Keep your pets clean. Cats bathed when they are kittens often tolerate a weekly bath well as they grow older. Don’t kiss your pets on the mouth or allow them to lick your face. Avoid sharing food or beverages with pets. Watch small children who might try to eat from pets’ bowls. Wash your hands with soap and warm water after handling your pets’ food and water bowls, cleaning up its waste and before preparing food or eating. Treat any bites or scratches you receive from your pet. Don’t allow your pets to drink from the toilet or eat feces (dogs especially like eating cat waste). Keep your pets’ elimination areas clean.
October 2011 •
cientists have developed an ultra-thin, self-adhesive electronics device resembling a temporary tattoo that can record health data about the human heart, brain waves and muscle activity. Devices that do the same, until now, have been bulky and required conductive fluids or glues. The device was developed by scientists at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Northwestern University, Tufts University, Institute of High Performance Computing in Singapore and Dalian University of Technology in China. The researchers said in a statement that the device works using a combination of careful theoretical modeling and precise micro-manufacturing. “Our goal was to develop an electronic technology that could integrate with the skin in a way that is mechanically and physiologically invisible to the user,” John Rogers, a professor in materials science and engineering at University of Illinois, said in a statement. “We found a solution that involves devices we designed to achieve properties that match to the epidermis itself. It’s a technology that blurs the distinction between electronics and biology.” A report on the device appears in the Aug. 12 edition of the journal Science.
Hospital Deaths from Heart Failure Cut by Half Over Seven Years
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he death rate of hospital patients who were admitted primarily for heart failure fell roughly by half between 2000 and 2007 — from 55 deaths to 28 deaths per 1,000 admissions, according to the latest News and Numbers from the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality. The federal agency also found that between 2000 and 2007, for heart failure deaths of hospitalized patients: • People age 85 and over experienced the largest drop from 87 to 48 deaths per 1,000 admissions. • For seniors age 65 and older, the rate fell from 64 to 34 deaths per 1,000 admissions. • The rate for people ages 45 to 64 dropped from 28 to 15 deaths per 1,000 admissions, while the rate for people ages 18 to 44 fell from 19 to 12 deaths per 1,000 admissions.
IN GOOD HEALTH – Rochester / Genesee Valley Healthcare Newspaper
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Live Alone & Thrive
By Gwenn Voelckers
Practical tips, advice and hope for those who live alone
Need a Change? And a Little Help?
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or me, the month of October is all about change — change of season, change of wardrobe, change of routines. I batten down the hatches and turn inward. The changing colors, seasonal aromas and early dusk can’t help but invite introspection and contemplation. In the warm glow of a fire, I think about my life: what was, what is, and what could be. I use this time of reflection to reassess and to initiate changes for the better. But this hasn’t always been the case. After my divorce, the fall season and all its romantic charm would leave me feeling more melancholy than motivated. I wasn’t making any plans. I wasn’t gearing up to “take on life.” Far from it. Nostalgia and regret were defining my days, and I just wanted to retreat into myself. For newly divorced and widowed men and women, this time of year can be particularly challenging. Even when change is welcome, the prospect of living alone can still be a daunting challenge. Could you use a little help? “Living Alone: How to Survive and Thrive on Your Own” is a three-part workshop I developed to help women discover the “know how” to create a satisfying and enriching life on their own. I’ve been leading the workshop
for six years now, and often get questions from “In Good Health” readers about what the workshop covers and how it is organized. In this month’s column, I am pleased to answer the most frequently asked questions: Q. What is the purpose of the workshop and what do you cover? A. Because I’ve walked in similar shoes, I can empathize with the challenges you may be facing. And I can support your efforts and desire to feel more content on your own. In many cases, it starts with a change in attitude. My workshop will help you think differently about living alone. Specifically, I cover how to overcome loneliness and other emotional pitfalls, banish negative thinking, rediscover your true self, socialize in a couples’ world, and embrace what may be a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to create a wonderful and rewarding life on your own. Getting good at living alone takes practice. There’s no magic pill and it doesn’t happen overnight. But it can happen, and good things can result. Feeling comfortable with your independence will improve your chances of finding happiness, and it will improve your chances of finding a new healthy relationship, if that’s
KIDS Corner Proper Sleep Is Crucial for Success in School, and Maybe Safety Experts advise 11-13 hours of sleep for young kids; 10-12 to 5 to 12 year olds
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oing back to school should not be just an excuse for kids to get new clothes and school supplies. Instead, say University of Alabama at Birmingham experts, it also should be a time to get them back to healthier sleep schedules. Long summer days lend themselves to later nights and fewer hours of Page 8
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restorative slumber, something pediatricians say is especially necessary for kids to have to succeed upon their return to the classroom. “From memory to judgment, attention span, emotional stability and even immunity, sleep deprivation negatively affects school-aged children,” explains Kristin Avis, UAB
what you desire. When you feel better about yourself — more confident and resourceful — life on your own or with a special someone can be richer and more satisfying. Q . Who attends the workshop? A. Most, but not all, of the women who attend the workshop are between the ages of 40 and 65, and have come out of long marriages or relationships. Some are on their own for the first time in their lives. All have one thing in common: They want to get a better handle on living alone and to feel more content with themselves and their independence. Many see this workshop as an extension of the support they are receiving from friends, family, a therapist, and/or their congregation. Q. I’m still grieving the loss of my marriage/spouse. Is this workshop right for me? A. Good question. My Living Alone workshop is a “nuts and bolts” practical workshop to help women become more resourceful and independent on their own. It is not a grief or mental health support group. If you are still in the grieving process and seek support, I recommend grief counseling or the help of a professional counselor. Q. What are your credentials? A. I’m not a licensed professional. My expertise is born out of real-life experience. I’ve “been there.” I emerged from my divorce feeling very deflated and very alone, faced with both the
assistant professor of pediatrics and a sleep specialist. If you think your child is different and does not need the required amount of sleep, think again. Of children under the age of 18, 60 percent polled by the National Sleep Foundation complained of being tired during the day, and 15 percent reported they fell asleep at school. To curb the feeling, doctors say, get kids to bed early. The NSF has guidelines for how much sleep children of various ages require. Three to 5-year-olds need 11 to 13 hours per night, while 5 to 12 year-olds need 10 to 11 hours each night. “As for adolescents, it’s a common myth that they need less sleep, and can handle only seven or eight hours, but they actually need nine hours of sleep. That’s typically the most sleepdeprived population in school,” says Avis. A lack of one good night’s sleep can be made up for, Avis says, but going an entire school week without sufficient rest can be detrimental.
IN GOOD HEALTH – Rochester / Genesee Valley Healthcare Newspaper • October 2011
practical and emotional challenges of living alone. After some “hit and misses,” I found my way and now thoroughly enjoy the freedom and independence that comes with living alone. My time-tested experience, wealth of valuable resources, and tried-and-true tips and techniques have inspired and helped many workshop participants. Q. How large are the workshops? A. Ideally, I like to have eight women in each workshop, although, on occasion, I have led workshops with a few more and a few less. A group of about eight gives everyone a chance to actively participate and benefit from the experience. The sharing quickly gives way to a comfortable camaraderie, and it’s not unusual for nice friendships to develop among participants. Q. Where are the workshops held? A. At House Content Bed & Breakfast in Mendon. House Content is a little historic gem, situated on a picturesque six-acre site, surrounded by horse farms and parkland. Reminiscent of a quaint English cottage, this setting serves as a peaceful and inspirational setting for the workshops. Q. I’d like to sign up for the workshop. What’s my next step? A. I like to speak with potential participants by phone, as a first step. That way, I can answer your questions and you’ll know better whether this workshop is right for you. Just call me at 585-624-7887 or email me at gvoelckers@rochester.rr.com. You’ll find information about my upcoming workshop in the Calendar of Health Events included in this issue, or at www.aloneandcontent.com. Gwenn Voelckers is the founder and facilitator of Live Alone and Thrive, empowerment workshops for women held throughout the year in Mendon, New York. For information about her upcoming workshops or to invite Gwenn to speak, you can call her at (585) 624-7887, email her at gvoelckers@rochester.rr.com.
“You can sleep until noon on Saturday and feel caught up, but then you will go to bed later that night, sleep in on Sunday, and then have the cycle repeat itself into the new school week,” says Avis. So the best bet is to make sure your child is getting suitable snooze-time every night. To guarantee their sleepy time is spent well, say both doctors, it is important to make kids’ bedrooms as tranquil as possible, which means getting rid of all those noise-makers. “On average, there are three to four electronic gadgets in a kid’’ room. It’s been shown that even sleeping with a television on deprives them of 20 minutes of sleep per night, which may not sound like a lot but adds up over a week’s time,” says Avis. “Cell phones are often used as an alarm clock, but for about $5 you can invest in a real alarm clock so the phone can be turned off,” Wallace adds.
26 percent of adult men in Finger Lakes area report binging on alcohol Figure is part of Excellus report about alcoholrelated health care cost in New York state
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xcessive alcohol use (including heavy or binge drinking) ranks third among the leading preventable causes of death in the United States, accounting for 79,000 deaths each year. These and other surprising statistics appear in a report recently issued by Excellus BlueCross BlueShield. In the Finger Lakes region, about 26 percent of adult men and about 11 percent of adult women reported binging on alcohol on an occasion. These percentages are based on a Centers for Disease Control and Prevention survey that asked adults about their drinking habits during the previous 30 days. The survey defined binge drinking as having at least five drinks per occasion for men and at least four drinks per occasion for women. Heavy drinking was defined as averaging more than two alcoholic drinks per day for men and averaging more than one alcoholic drink per day for women. “This CDC survey defined excessive alcohol use in a way that may surprise people who think of themselves as social drinkers,” said Martin Lustick, Excellus BCBS senior vice president and corporate medical director. “A 12-ounce bottle of beer, 5-ounce glass of wine or 1.5-ounce shot of 80-proof spirits is considered one drink.” According to the Excellus BCBS report, “The Facts About Alcohol Use Among Upstate New York Adults,” 18.1 percent of adults in the Finger Lakes region reported binge drinking during the month prior to the survey, as did 19.9 percent of adults in Upstate New York and 17.2 percent of adults in New York state. Heavy drinking was reported less frequently than binge drinking in the Finger Lakes region and across New York state. About 8 percent of adult men in the Finger Lakes Region and 5 percent of adult women reported heavy drinking. Overall, the prevalence of heavy drinking among adults in the region was 6.2 percent, which is below the upstate New York rate of 6.8 percent, but above the New York state prevalence of 4.8 percent. “Heavy and binge drinking behaviors are indicators of alcohol use disorders in a community,” said Lustick. “Both behaviors can progress to alcohol use disorders, including alcohol abuse and alcohol dependence or alcoholism, which is a major health hazard and can be fatal.” Nationwide, about 18 million people have an alcohol use disorder. The Excellus BCBS fact sheet documents the impact of alcohol misuse on overall health. “Many people are under the impression that regular, light to moderate drinking can be good for the heart,” said Lustick. The National Institutes
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For a free consultation, contact us 585.343.4154 Sports fans! We also provide braces! • Medicare participating provider • Most insurances accepted New! Fidelis Care now accepted! of Health warns that at-risk or heavy drinking increases the risk for injuries, a host of serious health problems and fetal alcohol effects, all of which outweigh any potential health benefits. Excellus BCBS’s research found that excessive alcohol markedly raises the probability of being injured or killed. Alcohol is a major contributor to deaths due to motor vehicle crashes, falls, suicides, homicides, burn injuries and drownings, and is a factor in half of all severe traumatic injuries and sexual assaults. From 2006 through 2008, alcohol-related motor vehicle crashes caused a yearly average of 7,500 deaths and injuries in New York state. “Heavy drinkers are at high risk for liver and cardiovascular diseases, sleep disorders, depression, stomach bleeding, various cancers and sexually transmitted diseases,” said Lustick. “If they already have a chronic condition such as diabetes or hypertension, managing it becomes very difficult, and babies born to women who used alcohol during their pregnancy can suffer brain damage and potentially lifelong health problems.” The fact sheet also highlights the impact that alcohol use has on government health care spending. The health-related costs of alcohol use to New York state, derived from a 2009 report by the National Center on Addiction and Substance Abuse at Columbia University, were about $2.2 billion in 2005, the most recent year of available data. Considering the strong correspondence between alcohol misuse and abuse of other legal and illegal drugs, this public spending estimate is conservative. The report also found that in 2005, alcohol-related health care cost the federal government $109.3 billion, state governments $21.5 billion and local governments $13.0 billion, totaling almost $144 billion. “Even what many people consider moderate alcohol use clearly can have lasting, negative effects on our health,” said Lustick. “Those costs, coupled with the monetary impact of substance abuse, should make us all think twice before consuming more than one [for women] or two [for men] alcoholic drinks in a day.” View the complete report on alcohol abuse among Upstate New York adults at excellusbcbs.com/factsheets. October 2011 •
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In the workshop led by Gwenn Voelckers — a women who’s “been there” — you’ll discover how to overcome loneliness and other emotional pitfalls, reconnect with your true self, and socialize in a couples’ world. $125 fee includes manual, empowerment exercises and other helpful resources. For more information, call (585) 624-7887 or e-mail gvoelckers@rochester.rr.com IN GOOD HEALTH – Rochester / Genesee Valley Healthcare Newspaper
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My Turn
By Eva Briggs
Back to School, Back to Sports Types of questions your doctor may ask during a “pre-participation exam”
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ack to school means back to sports for many returning student athletes. New York state law requires that a student have a physical each year in order to participate in sports. The primary purpose of this exam is to screen for injuries, illnesses or other factors that might be life threatening or disabling, or that might predispose to injury or illness. Secondary objectives include determining general health, serving as an entry point into the health care system for adolescents, and providing an opportunity to initiate discussion on healthrelated topics. When I first started in practice, we called this the “sports physical,” and the medical history and exam were basic and generic. Over the years, as doctors, trainers and coaches began to think about what was really important to meet the objective of reducing the risk to athletes, the preferred term became the “pre-participation exam” or “PPE.” The medical history and exam improved to focus on the most important elements. I like to use a form and plan developed jointly by the American Academy of Family Physicians, the American Academy of Pediatrics, the American College of Sports Medicine, the
American Society for Sports Medicine, the American Orthopedic Society for Sports Medicine, and the American Osteopathic Academy of Sports Medicine. Whew! That’s a lot of combined brainpower, and I figure that I can’t reinvent the wheel any better than that group. Believe it or not, an athlete’s medical history is usually the most informative part of the exam, more likely to yield useful information than the actual physical exam. So I’d like to explain the types of questions your doctor may ask during a PPE, and why. First there will be questions about cardiovascular health. Although serious hidden heart disease is rare among apparently healthy athletes, it is devastating when it does occur. Although certain heart conditions may occur without warning, a medical history that asks about symptoms that may be heart-related can identify athletes who might be at risk, so that further investigation can be performed. Typical questions ask not only about the patient’s symptom history, but also about relevant family history that can clue an examiner to possible inherited heart conditions. In the old days doctors would ask whether there was any family history of heart disease before age 50. Now we ask questions that are much more detailed and ask about specific heart conditions and symptoms. The next set of questions is about the central nervous system — the brain and spinal cord. Concussions are often under recognized and under reported, so there are questions designed to ferret out whether an athlete may have had a past concussion. There are questions about seizures, not because seizures necessarily limit athletic participation, but because special precautions may be needed, especially in water sports. Other questions ask about headaches, nerve injuries and spinal cord problems. There is a section that asks about general medical history. Chronic illnesses, such as asthma, diabetes, anemia and recurrent infections, can impact an athlete’s general health and fitness. The goal is not to exclude students
from athletic participation, but to be sure that chronic illnesses are controlled sufficiently to enable an athlete to play safely. Other conditions your doctor may ask about include blood borne pathogens, heat illness, medications and supplements, allergies, surgery, absence of a paired organ, infectious mononucleosis, sickle cell disease, eye disorders, immunizations, and stress. Pulmonary problems, such as asthma, are relatively common and there is a set of questions designed to ask about lung health. Remaining topics covered in the health questionnaire include the gastrointestinal, genitourinary, dermatologic and musculoskeletal systems. And finally there are a few specific questions geared just toward female athletes. It seems like a lot of questions — and it is! But that’s why I’m glad that other people put their brains together to figure out an organized concise way to ask and record all that information. Once the patient’s history is completed, the actual physical exam is relatively quick. Even the best PPE will miss a rare athlete with a serious
hidden condition. But by following a structured history and physical, your doctor can help reduce the chance that an undiagnosed or uncontrolled condition will cause harm. The goals of the PPE exam, as noted at the start of this column, do not include excluding athletes from play. In fact, only about 1–3 percent of athletes wind up disqualified from sports due to medical conditions. So don’t be afraid to get your PPE on time so that you won’t miss your first practice or game.
Eva Briggs, a board-certified physician, works on the staff at Cayuga Medical Center in Ithaca, in its two urgent care centers: one in Ithaca, and the other in Cortland.
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IN GOOD HEALTH – Rochester / Genesee Valley Healthcare Newspaper • October 2011
New Challenges for Smaller Hospitals in the Region Study: Hospitals may have to change in order to survive By Aaron Gifford
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small hospital on the eastern edge of the Finger Lakes region recently put out a quest for proposals to larger hospitals in both Rochester and Syracuse for shared services or a potential merger. The hospital, Auburn Memorial, wants a long-term plan for remaining financially viable. The move could spur a trend. With health care reform looming, other small hospitals outside of the Rochester metro area may have to change the way they do business in order to survive, says a recent report from the Finger Lakes Health Systems Agency (FLHSA), which advises health care providers in Ontario, Yates, Seneca, Wayne and Livingston counties. “Patients in that area are going to Monroe County hospitals for services that they could receive in local CFL [Central Finger Lakes] hospitals,” said the report, titled Strategic Recommendations. “CFL hospitals generally provide the same or similar clinical services as each other. Inpatient occupation in CFL hospitals has been flat or declining because patient migration and the shift to outpatient services.” The FLHSA wants to see the number of visits to Monroe County hospitals by Central Finger Lakes area residents reduced by 20 percent by 2020. Hospitals in the rural five county Central Finger Lakes area, meanwhile, are expected to see insurance reimbursements reduced by $63 million in the next 10 years, according to the Hospital Association of New York State. The FLHSA reported that the small hospitals must form partnership with each other and with Monroe County hospitals to absorb that shortfall. “Reduce duplications that result in competition over market share,” the report said. “Collaborations and partnerships should not be limited to providers in the five counties, and will likely include partnerships within Monroe County and beyond.” The report identified four options that every small hospital in the region should consider. The first is to develop individual partnership strategies where institutions establish “a strong, highvalue network” where CFL providers partner with Monroe County hospitals. The second option is to reduce overhead costs by sharing services. The list of areas that can be consolidated between hospitals is long: Accounting, clinical engineering, compliance, credentialing, human resources, imaging services, infection control, information technology, laboratory services, pharmacy, physician network services, physician recruitment, plant engineering, risk management, staff f, supply chain, transcriptions and treasury services. The third option is to create a primary care network and specialty care delivery system or even a clinical center of excellence by combining key specialty medical and surgical services. “The challenge is developing common treatment and referral protocols, quality staff development, clinical research and reporting systems,” the report said. And the fourth option is to create a
Mother of Amish Schoolhouse Shooter Interviewed at Lifetree Café in Greece
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regional organized system of care with all CFL hospitals combined. This would still require a network and referral relationship with Monroe County hospitals. The challenge with this program is to create a governance structure to oversee the regional care system. The report, which was completed in late August, said leaders from Central Finger Lakes hospitals and other appropriate medical professionals in the region were expected to review the FLHSA’s recommendations. The agency hopes that, within six months, the hospitals will have a collective plan to reduce the share of local residents who visit Monroe County hospitals instead of hospitals closer to home. Thompson Health in Canandaigua has not announced any partnerships or shared services with other health care organizations. Officials there only revealed that the hospital is “uniquely positioned to benefit from a number of proposed initiatives, many of which seek to deliver care at the highest quality and lowest cost setting.” “National, state and regional health care reform pose opportunities for providers of all sizes,” said Chris Mahan, Thompson senior vice president for development and support services. “Thompson enjoys a broad primary care base and a reputation for high quality. We look forward to serving our community for years to come with this same commitment to excellence and care.” Clifton Springs Hospital also does not have any current plans for a merger or management agreement with a larger hospital. Ethan Fogg, the hospital’s community relations director, said his hospital has low debt, is efficient and has been recognized nationally for its customer service. Clifton Springs wants to preserve that reputation and would resist any changes that compromise its ability to provide a level of personal service not offered by big hospitals. “In my modest opinion, the challenge to small hospitals in the future will be the same one experienced by small business in general — the influence of the ‘big box.’ In certain aspects of business there is no replacement for economies of scale [bulk purchasing, collective bargaining, administrative efficiencies], but at the end of the day, many of us find that the customer experience, worker engagement and attention to detail at these same “big boxes”
The FLHSA wants to see the number of visits to Monroe County hospitals by Central Finger Lakes area residents reduced by 20 percent by 2020.
October 2011 •
is sorely lacking,” Fogg said. But even if Clifton Spring’ customer base remains stable, keeping the hospital financially viable will continue to be a challenge because the service providers cannot pass along higher costs of doing business to consumers. Fogg said the hospital will come to depend more on philanthropy and the “grateful patient.” “Much of the growth and retooling we see in the region’s hospitals is being funded privately. A growing segment of health care consumers coming to understand what college alums and church-goers have understood for a long time — if you want to see their favored institution survive, they need to make a meaningful personal investment in it.” Lakeside Memorial in Brockport signed a collaborating agreement with the much larger University of Rochester Medical Center in March. The agreement provides Lakeside access to specialty services that weren’t previously available to the smaller hospital, including orthopedic services. Additional specialties will be added to the hospital in the future. Bill Beideck, Lakeside’s business development director, said physician recruitment has been a challenge for small hospitals, “but the collaboration with URMC has helped to identify quality candidates.” By the time the Central Finger Lakes Hospitals come up with a plan, Auburn Memorial may be operating under a formal agreement with a larger hospital. Roz McCormick, vice president, said proposals from interested hospitals are due Oct. 1. She stressed that the hospital is financially sound, so the move is not related to any current or anticipated debts. “We’re trying to be proactive,” she said. “We need to position ourselves because there are so many changes in the health care field related to reimbursement, and there’s a shortage of critical health care professionals.”
n exclusive filmed interview with Terri Roberts, mother of Amish schoolhouse shooter Charles Roberts, will be screened at Lifetree Café on Monday at 7 p.m., Oct. 3. On Oct. 2, 2006, Charles Roberts backed his truck up to the entrance of the West Nickel Mines School in Lancaster County, Pa. He barricaded himself inside and shot 10 young Amish girls. Five died. Roberts killed himself before police could enter the oneroom schoolhouse. Roberts’ mother, who was working nearby at the time of the shootings, was embraced by the Amish community. Amish members stunned observers when they openly forgave the killer and his family. The Roberts family is not Amish. Participants at this program, titled “Amazing Grace,” will experience never-before-seen footage and hear from Roberts, who still lives among the families of the girls her son murdered. “The trauma, pain, and shame endured by this mother turned into an incredible picture of forgiveness and grace,” said Lifetree’s Thom Schultz, who conducted the exclusive interview with Roberts. Admission to the 60-minute event is free. Snacks and beverages are available. Lifetree Café is located at 1301 Vintage Lane, Greece, half a mile west of Route 390. Questions about Lifetree may be directed to David Hurlbutt at 723-4673 or LifetreeCafe@s harethehope.org
Lung cancer rates down in U.S.
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ung cancer rates in the U.S decreased from the late 1990s to 2008 after increasing steadily for decades, according to a federal report. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said in its report that the drop in lung cancer cases corresponds with the decrease in the amount of people who smoke. For instance, fewer people smoke in the western part of the U.S., and consequently lung cancer incidence is decreasing faster in the region. The CDC researchers said declines in lung cancer rates can be seen as soon as five years after smoking rates decline. The researchers also said states that make the greatest investment in tobacco control strategies see largest reductions in smoking rates.
IN GOOD HEALTH – Rochester / Genesee Valley Healthcare Newspaper
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Page 11
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Is Marriage Good for The Heart?
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iving your heart to a supportive spouse turns out to be an excellent way to stay alive, according to new research from the University of Rochester. Happily wedded people who undergo coronary bypass surgery are more than three times as likely to be alive 15 years later as their unmarried counterparts, reports a study published online August 22 in Health Psychology, a publication of the American Psychological Association. “There is something in a good relationship that helps people stay on track” says Kathleen King, professor emerita from the School of Nursing at the University of Rochester and lead author on the paper. In fact, the effect of marital satisfaction is “every bit as important to survival after bypass surgery as more traditional risk factors like tobacco use, obesity, and high blood pressure,” says coauthor Harry Reis, professor of psychology at the University of Rochester. But the marriage advantage plays out differently for men and women. For men, marriage in general is linked to higher survival rates and the more satisfying the marriage, the higher the rate of survival. For women, the quality of the relationship is even more important. While unhappy marriages provide virtually no survival bonus for women, satisfying unions increase a wife’s survival rate almost fourfold, the study found. “Wives need to feel satisfied in their relationships to reap a health dividend,” explains Reis. “But the payoff for marital bliss is even greater for women than for men.” Some studies have suggested that marriage is not beneficial for women, Reis explains. But by factoring in the level of satisfaction, this research provides a more nuanced picture. “A good marriage gets under your skin whether you are male or female,” he says. The researchers tracked 225 people who had bypass surgery between 1987 and 1990. They asked married participants to rate their relationship satisfaction one year after surgery. The study adjusted for age, sex, education, depressed mood, tobacco use, and other factors known to affect survival rates for cardiovascular disease. Fifteen years after surgery, 83 percent of happily wedded wives were still alive, vs. 28 percent of women in unhappy marriages and 27 percent of unmarried women. The survival rate for contented husbands was also 83 percent, but even the not-so-happily married fared well. Men in less-thansatisfying unions enjoyed a survival rate of 60 percent, significantly better than the 36 percent rate for unmarried men. “Other research has shown that women are more physiologically sensi-
IN GOOD HEALTH – Rochester / Genesee Valley Healthcare Newspaper • October 2011
tive to relationship distress than men, so an unhappy marriage can take a greater toll on their health,” explains Reis. “Coronary bypass surgery was once seen as a miracle cure for heart disease,” says King. “But now we know that for most patients, graphs are a temporary patch, even more susceptible to clogging and disease than native arteries. So, it’s important to look at the conditions that allow some patients to beat the odds.” King is skeptical of the widespread belief that a major health scare like going through bypass surgery leads to life-changing behavior. “The data show that many people go back to the lifestyle that they had before,” she says. King says that this study points to the importance of ongoing relationships for both men and women. Supportive spouses most likely help by encouraging healthy behavior, like increased exercise or smoking cessation, which are critical to long-term survival from heart disease. She also suggests that a nurturing marriage provides patients with sustained motivation to care for oneself and a powerful reason to “stick around so they can stay in the relationship that they like.” These are qualities of the relationship that likely existed before bypass surgery, and continued afterward, says King. The study cites earlier research showing that people with lower hostility in their marriages have less of the kind of inflammation that is linked to heart disease, which may help explain why people in this study benefited from satisfying marriages. The University of Rochester (www. rochester.edu) is one of the nation’s leading private universities. Located in Rochester, N.Y., the university gives students exceptional opportunities for interdisciplinary study and close collaboration with faculty through its unique cluster-based curriculum. Its college, School of Arts and Sciences, and Hajim School of Engineering and Applied Sciences are complemented by its Eastman School of Music, Simon School of Business, Warner School of Education, Laboratory for Laser Energetics, School of Medicine and Dentistry, School of Nursing, Eastman Institute for Oral Health, and the Memorial Art Gallery.
SmartBites
Helpful tips
By Anne Palumbo
The skinny on healthy eating
4 Great Reasons to Eat Garlic
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ust four? Amen. Garlic’s got so much going for it, a tome could be written. But since space doesn’t permit such an outpouring, let’s look at top reasons why garlic — affectionately called “the stinking rose” — has been revered for centuries.
Heart protection
Garlic may help to reduce the risk of heart disease by boosting levels of a chemical that does a heart good. In a recent study conducted at the University of Alabama, researchers found that eating garlic appears to elevate our natural supply of hydrogen sulfide, a gas that works to relax blood vessels and increase blood flow.
Cancer prevention
According to the National Cancer Institute, several population studies show an association between increased intake of garlic and reduced risk of certain cancers. Findings from the Iowa Women’s Study showed that women who consumed the most garlic had a 50 percent lower risk of colon cancer. In studies conducted in China, researchers found that frequent consumption of garlic was linked to a reduced risk of esophageal and stomach cancers. How does garlic knock the wind
out of cancer’s sails? The jury is still out, but some believe that certain compounds within garlic slow or prevent the growth of tumor cells.
Antioxidant
Ah, oxidation, the body process that produces free radicals. While some free radicals are necessary to ward off disease, too many — from sunlight, pollution, smoking — can wreak havoc. Enter antioxidants, vital substances that can prevent cell damage by gobbling up free radicals. Garlic, bless its odiferous, sulfuric soul, is a known antioxidant.
Choose regular garlic (elephant garlic does not offer the same benefits) that is plump and sprout-free. Store uncovered in a cool, dark place away from heat and sunlight. To maximize garlic’s health benefits, crush or chop the clove and then wait at least five minutes before eating or cooking. During this time, important enzyme reactions occur that boost garlic’s nutritional benefits. Worried about garlic breath? Chew some fresh parsley.
Roasted Garlic Soup with Parmesan Adapted from Bon Appetit 2 heads garlic (about 30 - 35 cloves) ½ teaspoon olive oil 1 tablespoon olive oil 2 ¼ cups sliced onions 3/4 teaspoon dried thyme (or 1 ½ teaspoons fresh) 10 garlic cloves, peeled and coarsely chopped 3 ½ cups low-salt chicken broth ½ cup fat-free Half & Half (or 2 percent milk) Salt and pepper to taste ½ cup shredded Parmesan cheese (or low-fat cheese of choice)
Infection fighter
Historically, garlic’s antibacterial and antiviral properties are perhaps its most legendary feature. Long studied for its role in controlling infection from bacteria, viruses, and microbes (yeasts, fungi, worms), garlic is believed to strengthen the immune system by helping the body’s white blood cells gobble up enemy bugs.
October 2011 •
Juice from 1 lemon Baked croutons (optional) Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Break garlic heads into cloves and peel. Place cloves in small baking dish and toss with ½ teaspoon olive oil. Cover dish tightly with foil and bake until garlic is tender, about 35 minutes. Set aside. Heat remaining oil in heavy large saucepan over medium heat. Add onions and thyme and cook until onions are translucent, about 6 minutes. Add roasted garlic and 10 chopped garlic cloves and cook 3 minutes more. Add chicken stock; cover and simmer until garlic is tender, about 20 minutes. Puree soup with immersion blender until smooth. Add Half & Half (or milk) and bring to simmer. Season with salt and pepper. Stir in lemon juice. Divide cheese among four bowls and ladle soup over. Top with crunchy croutons and serve. Anne Palumbo is a lifestyle columnist, food guru, and seasoned cook, who has perfected the art of preparing nutritious, calorie-conscious dishes. She is hungry for your questions and comments about SmartBites, so be in touch with Anne at avpalumbo@aol.com.
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Women’s issues Pink-On-Pink Breast cancer survivor turns to writing for comfort By Sheila Livadas
S
pencerport resident and breast cancer survivor Teresa Schreiber Werth wants to live until she dies. Authoring “Pink-on-Pink: Writing My Way Through Breast Cancer” has helped light the way. Alternating between poetry and prose, “Pink-on-Pink” details how Werth, a former communications and public relations professional, reconnected with hope and humor even when stage 3 breast cancer did its best to knock her down. The book also explores how her cancer diagnosis brought unexWerth pected gifts, from longer hugs to a deeper understanding that this life is a one-way trip. Frustration with her illness plays out, too, in the poem, “The Year of the Weeds,” which touches on Werth’s inability to care for the flowerbeds around her home during her mastec-
tomy recovery. “But there was also this kernel of hope [that] next year would be different,” says Werth, who currently does not show evidence of having cancer but is not considered cured. Werth’s journey with cancer began on a sunny day in 2009, when she ran into her radiologist of more than 20 years at the dentist. The radiologist mentioned there were openings in her schedule that afternoon if Werth wanted to bump up her routine annual mammogram by a few weeks. Werth agreed. Shortly after, she was bowled over by the news of stage 3 breast cancer that required lymph-node removal, mastectomy, chemotherapy and radiation. And her cancer was not run-ofthe-mill. It was triple negative, meaning it does not express the hormones estrogen, progesterone or HER2 protein and typically has a poorer prognosis than other tumors because targeted hormonal therapies are not effective in treatment. To cope with having 49 lymph nodes removed and enduring eight
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individuals inspired Page 14
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IN GOOD HEALTH – Rochester / Genesee Valley Healthcare Newspaper • October 2011
chemotherapy rounds and 25 radiation treatments, Werth turned to writing. Yet it was hardly a new pursuit for her. “When I get ideas, I write [them] on anything…the back of a receipt, an envelope, a program, a napkin,” says Werth, whose kindergarten report card noted her knack for crafting poems and stories. To title “Pinkon-Pink,” Werth sought inspiration from a photo of herself with her granddaughter, who was only a month old at the time. Wearing pink pajamas in the image, Werth appears as bald as the rosy newborn. “I think many women say this and I certainly felt it: Losing my hair was more difficult than losing my breast,” she says. Unvarnished feelings about bidding farewell to her hair and her breast fuel Werth’s poem, “This is the Box.” It reads, in part: “This is the box where I keep my breast. No, of course not my ample, cocoanippled breast. What’s left of that is somewhere at the university, sliced/diced/frozen. No, not my prosthesis, perfect match of right to left/left to right. Slick magic trick, soft silicone deception. It’s supposed to make me whole, when
all it really does is give me pseudo-symmetry. Hug me. Go ahead. Squeeze me hard. I dare you to tell me which one’s real. This one in the box is my spare, for swimsuits and other rare occasions when a perky breast just seems unnatural.” Werth hopes her book will prompt others who are grappling with breast cancer to grab a pen or fire up their laptops. Forget grammar and punctuation, she adds. Writing and journaling often help cancer patients organize questions to ask their care team and objectify “some things that might really be frightening or troubling to you and examine them without just having them roll over and over and over again in your mind,” she says. Reluctant writers should take comfort in knowing that they do not have to share or keep what they have created. “The idea is to get it out of you and down on paper,” she says. “Pink-on-Pink: Writing My Way Through Breast Cancer” by Teresa Schreiber Werth is for sale at www. createspace.com/3595907, www.amazon.com and at Thelma’s Mastectomy Boutique, 251 Park Ave. in Rochester.
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Page 15
eMoms Study Looks at Healthy Pregnancy and Beyond By Deborah Jeanne Sergeant
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regnancy is a time in a woman’s life in which many women make positive health changes to increase their chances of a healthy baby. Quitting smoking, taking a daily vitamin, eating better and getting sufficient rest are a few of the ways many women alter their lifestyles. But these changes shouldn’t revert after delivery. “For a long time, the focus of pregnancy has been having a healthy baby,” said Christine M. Olson, professor of community nutrition for Cornell University’s division of nutritional sciences. “But it’s a time that women make changes in their lives that can promote their long-term health.” Olson has partnered with Dr. Diana Fernandez, who has a master’s in public health, as the principals in a University of Rochester Medical Center and Cornell study focusing on eMoms, an electronically-based intervention tool to see if it will help pregnant moms improve and maintain positive health habits through pregnancy and beyond. “Pregnancy seems to be for some women a factor to feed into their weight gain,” Fernandez said. “Women who gain more than expected during pregnancy are more likely to keep it over time. This study may help us understand more of how to slow the weight gain in the pregnancy and childbearing years.” Carrying excess weight exacerbates many other health issues such as heart disease, diabetes, and joint problems. The centerpiece of the intervention tools is an interactive website that offers women lists of local resources, opportunities to network with other local women, and opt-in tools such as receiving a daily text or email to remind them to take a pre-natal vitamin. Or choosing to receive reminders to exercise based upon the frequency they desire. Most women have plenty of positive health information, such as exercise during pregnancy is healthful, but may lack a practical way of using the information, such as a list of local gyms. The eMoms study addresses how women can practically carry out good health habits. “We know that after the baby comes, life gets pretty crazy for a while,” Olson said. “Some of the aspects of life that were easier before baby get more complicated. For the post-partum piece, we help mom problem solve and face some of the prob-
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IN GOOD HEALTH – Rochester / Genesee Valley Healthcare Newspaper • October 2011
lems like time management, getting food on the table and more practical help for dealing with this new life.” The study will follow 3,500 Monroe County women for two years, including their pregnancy and 18 months post-partum. Pregnant women will be screened for eligibility before 20 weeks and will be randomized to control and intervention groups. During the twoyear period, the participants will complete six online surveys including early and late pregnancy and six weeks, six months, one year, and 18 months after delivery. The study will also review each participant’s medical records for information about their pregnancy, delivery, and early postpartum. The age of participants, 18 through 35, is among the most technologically savvy. A preliminary survey conducted earlier this year of 110 pregnant women in Rochester showed that the electronic communications employed by the study are widely used: 87 percent said they used social networking, 96 percent own a cell phone, and 94 percent send text messages. Participants need not have a smart phone to participate, so long as their phones can text. “We’ll probably migrate more toward the smart phones with apps toward the end of the study,” Olson said. Since this age group tends to favor electronic resources for obtaining information, solving problems and connecting with others Fernandez and Olson believe that eMoms could prove helpful. They’re not the only ones. “I was reading about obesity and adolescents in Hong Kong and a study found that by texting and reminding them [of positive health habits] they had a decrease in obesity rates,” said Ontario County Public Health Mary L. Beer. “The use of technology can be helpful. Sometimes it’s about gentle reminders and we’ll see more and more uses of technology in that area. We lead busy lives and it’s not our intention to neglect what we should do but a gentle reminder can be beneficial.” So far, 270 have enrolled in the study of the 3,500 Fernandez and Olson hope to recruit. A $4.6 million grant Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development funds the study. For more information about the eMoms Rochester study, visit www. emomsroc.org or call (585) 273-3090.
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Women’s issues
Bad Habits Women Should Break
By Deborah Jeanne Sergeant
I
n general, women tend to be the family’s guardian of health. They usually cook more of the family’s meals than men, which heavily influence nutrition. Many women guide the family’s recreation, which impacts fitness. Most women schedule the lion’s share of the family’s preventive and illness-induced doctor visits. However, the fair sex still has a few bad health habits of her own to shake. Ontario County Public Health Director Mary L. Beer, said that one big reason women don’t care for themselves the way they should is a lack of time. “Women don’t often put themselves before their families’ needs,” she said. Pulled among the needs of their husbands, children, careers, households, and friends, women Beer usually put their needs last. Scheduling time for a routine screening test such as a Pap smear or mammogram can be difficult for some women. “Skipping those is very bad for your health,” Beer said. If affordability is an issue, check with the county health department for
clinics for the under- or un-insured that are less expensive than an out-of-pocket doctor visit. Despite ubiquitous public health warnings, many women still smoke. But they shouldn’t. Depicting smoking women on the large and small screen such as Sarah Jessica Parker in “Sex and the City” tends to glamorize the habit, especially to impressionable younger women. “It isn’t glamorous,” Beer said. “It’s one of the No. 1 issues related to health.” Jane Braband, registered dietitian with Lipson Cancer Center in Rochester, also shared a few of women’s bad health habits. “Not exercising enough is a big culprit,” she said. “Women don’t do it because of a hectic pace. Add to that a sedentary desk job and they aren’t nearly active enough.” In general, most women need a minimum of 30 minutes of aerobic exercise plus weight training most days of the week to maintain health and more to lose weight. Most diet-conscious women track calories, carbohydrates or fat; however, what women don’t eat also gives Braband concern. “Only one in five eats the recom-
Got PMS? Try a Glass of Milk to Ease Symptoms
A
new ad campaign, “Everything I Do Is Wrong,” is stirring mixed emotions and a number of curious readers to answer the question: Can milk really be the answer to alleviating PMS? The simple answer is, yes. According to the Office of Women’s Health at the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, this alternative therapy is already a wellknown fact. Calcium and vitamin D, found in milk, have been found to help relieve some PMS symptoms in women. Depending on age, some women may require higher doses of calcium each day, ranging between 1000-1300 milligrams. However, women should be careful to watch their fat content intake if they
are opting for this alternative therapy—along with caffeine, salt, sugar, and alcohol—as these substances may actually worsen symptoms of PMS. The easy fix: opt for reduced-fat or fat-free milk instead of whole. Other vitamins and minerals that may help reduce symptoms include: folic acid (400 micrograms), magnesium (400 milligrams), vitamin B-6 (50 to 100 mg), and vitamin E (400 IU). As for these new ads that skirt the line of sexism and chauvinism with a sense of humor and wit, it may actually be doing us more good than harm to turn the attention over to the dairy aisle rather than the pharmacist; especially with a light-hearted chuckle along the way.
mended five fruits and vegetables a day,” she said. “A lack of fruits and vegetables is a bad dietary habit. Don’t count French fries as a vegetable.” She recommends adding extra veggies to a tossed salad such as seasonal peppers, grated carrots, broccoli, and cauliflower. “When you make pasta sauce, add zucchini, bell pepper and mushrooms to it,” she said, “and add a carrot to tomato sauce to reduce the acid instead of sugar like grandma always said.” Frances Cordero, community liaison for Community Health’s Healthy Living Program in Rochester, also mentioned dietary habits that women should drop. “The worst habit is not eating breakfast in the morning because it’s like trying to start a car without gas,” she said. “It might run but a little while, but it will stall on you. That’s why you’re tired and groggy. “Skipping meals is also bad. People say they’ll go out [to eat] at night and skip lunch. You should eat at least a light salad or something nutritious.” She also said women have a few bad beverage habits they ought to kick, like avoiding milk because they don’t like its taste (despite its providing calcium and protein) and using energy drinks or coffee as a pick-me-up. She’s not a fan or soda, either. “We drink a lot of carbonated drinks,” Cordero said. “Even with diet sodas you’re not putting anything nutritious in your body. It’s a bunch of chemicals.” Remaining sedentary is a bad habit
October 2011 •
some women need to nix; however, even among those who exercise, there’s one type of exercise that they avoid: strength training. “We lose more strength as we get older but if we maintain muscle, we’re less prone to osteoporosis, arthritis and joint problems,” Cordero said. “We need more strength exercises and things like Pilates. It’s very important for us as we get older.” She added that consuming enough protein can help build and maintain muscle mass. Cordero also said that women should avoid revolutionizing their lives overnight. “We tend to try to make all types of changes at once, like a New Year’s resolution instead of making one change at a time,” Cordero said. “Start trying to eat something for breakfast if you don’t already. Then try to substitute one soda with water or a drink like Crystal Light.” Blame shifting represents another bad habit that impacts health when women say “My grandmother had diabetes, so I will have it” or “My mother was always heavy so there’s no hope for me to lose weight.” “But it’s also a fact that they didn’t take care of themselves as well as they should have,” Cordero said. “Lifestyle also has something to do with it. If you take care of yourself, eat right, and maintain your weight, those factors effect whether you’ll have diabetes or not or be overweight or not. “If you eat right and take care of yourself that affects your health.”
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New Chief of Surgery at RGHS Takes Integrated Approach Ralph Pennino: “The challenge is trying to be progressive and maintain the latest and greatest in technology” By Lou Sorendo
R
ochester General Health System recently made a major change in its leadership structure, and it is not purely cosmetic. Ralph Pennino, who specializes in plastic, reconstructive and hand surgery, was recently named chief of surgery at the Rochester General Health System. RGHS includes two hospitals and a surgery center: Rochester General Hospital, Newark-Wayne Community Hospital and the Lattimore Community Surgicenter. “From a systems approach, it includes oversight as far as trying to bring them all in alignment,” he said. The “mother ship,” Pennino said, is Rochester General Hospital and its divisions that include general surgery, plastic surgery, otolaryngology, neurosurgery, vascular surgery, urology and surgical intensive care. The system also features centers of excellence that focus on specialties such as bariatric, breast, laser and robotic surgery. These centers take an integrated approach in caring for patients dealing with a variety of disease entities. For example, the breast center was one of the few in the state and country to gain award of excellence status. “The center integrates not only diagnosis and treatment, but reconstruction and any medical and radiation therapy that may be needed in
the treatment of that so the patient has a holistic, comprehensive approach,” Pennino said. The new chief joined the staff of RGH in July 1987 and has served as associate chief of surgery for RGHS since May of 2001. Pennino resides in Victor with his wife and three children.
Facing healthcare realities
Pennino, 57, said the challenges that face the healthcare community today involve decreasing reimbursement, both to hospitals and fellow providers. “Healthcare is in a significant change of flux. We don’t know what the final outcome will be with Obama healthcare and we don’t even know what the final outcome will be on the state level, because the state is responsible for Medicaid reimbursement to the institution,” the New York City native said. “The challenge is trying to be progressive and maintain the latest and greatest in technology,” he said. RGHS does that on several fronts, Pennino said, particularly in telemedicine and robotic surgery. “Those all come at a price,” he said. “It’s about trying to maintain that edge and maintain that state-of-the-art for the community while doing it in a costeffective manner.” Pennino said he is chief over a “hybrid system.” “We have the best of a lot of differ-
ent worlds,” he said. Pennino said the health system features hundreds of surgeons who are in private practice, hospital employed and university employed. “That hybrid allows you, if you use it right, to take the best from all of those different areas and combine it into a working approach,” he said. “We want to be integrated.”
All for one
As chief, Pennino draws from the strengths of each of the system’s locations—a metro hospital, a smaller, rural hospital, and an ambulatory surgery center—while attending to each of their distinct needs. “If you put those all together, you present the department of surgery as a comprehensive, integrated service of multiple disciplines that serve the community and Western New York,” he said.
“In the past, I think our individual components acted too individually, and I don’t mean that in a negative way, but they each developed along their own service line,” he said. “We became very siloed. Urology sticks with urology, plastics stick with plastics, and general surgery sticks with plastic surgery. I want them integrated all together as a team, because there is a lot of cross-fertilization that goes between different areas,” he said. The perfect example is robotic surgery, Pennino said. Volume wise, the robotics center at Rochester General is one of the largest in the country. Robotics at Rochester General started in urology, where it was “crossfertilized” and extended into colorectal surgery and gynecology. It is now being introduced to general surgery. “Instead of just remaining robotics in urology, we are a robotics center that has integrated all the disciplines together where they help each other out,” he said. Education is also a key focal point within the RGHS. Pennino said the system has a new relationship with Rochester Institute of Technology’s new Institute of Health Sciences and Technology. It trains many of RIT’s physician assistant students and intends on featuring new areas of training within the PA program. RGHS also maintains a relationship with the University of Rochester Medical Center. It trains many of U of R’s residents and students as they rotate through several disciplines. Pennino characterizes his leadership style as being “inclusive and transparent.” “I include people in the decisionmaking process. I’m fortunate to have a lot of very smart people who are very talented. I look at myself as a facilitator and not someone who is dictatorial as a chief,” he said. “I try to facilitate the best interests of people who are in my department, whether they be doctors, PAs or nurses. I try to integrate it all with the end goal being a high level of quality care for the patient,” he added.
The world of plastic surgery
Pennino is a plastic, reconstructive and hand surgeon in private practice with the Plastic Surgery Group of Rochester and chief of plastic surgery for Rochester General Health System. Page 18
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IN GOOD HEALTH – Rochester / Genesee Valley Healthcare Newspaper • October 2011
Pennino said there has been a rise in elective-type cosmetic procedures over the last decade of so. “Part of that is the procedures are no longer viewed as something for only the rich and famous,” he said. “They are really for the average person.” “The baby boomer generation, of which I am part of, is also coming of age where they may be considering some of these procedures,” he added. “That generation will fight old age constantly.” “People are doing more, are more active and are living longer, so I think there is a new outlook, a new perspective,” he said. Pennino said the procedures are more sophisticated and less invasive with more predictability for outcomes. “And quite frankly, they are affordable,” he said. “People just want to feel better about themselves as they age. That’s why we are seeing more of them,” he said. Compared to 20 years ago, it is fairly common today to see an 80-yearold come in for an elective procedure other than cosmetic. “The one fun thing about plastic surgery is that it covers a broad spectrum of conditions,” he said. He said there are the “typical” plastic surgery procedures that one thinks of that are glamorized on TV, which are cosmetic surgeries involving the breast, face or body. Pennino also does reconstructive procedures to correct defects left by cancer or trauma. He also specializes in hand surgery and treats people with hand conditions that are a result of trauma, a degenerative condition such as arthritis, or a nerve compression issue such as carpal tunnel syndrome. His practice also deals with skin malignancies, particularly involving the face. “We are seeing more basal cells, squamous cells, and melanomas,” he said. “They are all on the rise.” One of the reasons is that people are simply living longer. The second is that they are usually sun related due to the accumulation of radiation damage over the years, he noted.
Chief of Surgery Reaches Out to Third World Countries By Lou Sorendo
D
Tackling the obesity problem
Pennino said obesity is definitely a major health threat today. “What’s alarming about it is that we are seeing a high percentage of the younger population involved with obesity,” he said. “That has enormous secondary effects needless to say, with regards to diabetes, hypertension and degenerative joint disease.” The latter condition occurs when people carry excess weight, which has a wearing-out effect on hip and knee joints. The Bariatric Center at Rochester General Hospital is a center of excellence. Pennino said bariatric surgery has been growing with procedures varying from bypass to lap bands. “It has come of age. It really does make a difference. Most of these patients are thoroughly evaluated prior to surgery,” Pennino said. “It’s not like surgery is their one-step answer.” Patients undergo psychological and dietary evaluations before being considered candidates for surgery. “The surgery works extremely well if people are compliant. It really has changed lives considerably,” he said. Pennino earned his undergraduate degree from the University of Notre Dame, and received his medical degree from Georgetown University Medical School.
Photos show volunteers at Intervol working at different sites in Belize in Central America. Top photo shows doctors Brianne Brandt-Griffith and Tammy DiNolfo performing an ultrasound on a patient; middle photo shows registered nurse Barbara Madigan writing patient information from a woman and her three children. Bottom photo shows a lounge where doctors checked different patients. Photos courtesy of Intervol. October 2011 •
r. Ralph Pennino has a vision. And from a community and global standpoint, it is 20/20. Pennino is founder and president of InterVol, an organization that collects unused medical supplies and distributes them to Third World countries. Pennino was recently named chief of surgery at the Rochester General Health System. Part of Pennino’s plastic surgery residency involved volunteer work overseas in Third World countries. “What people needed on an everyday basis were things we discarded or didn’t use,” he said. Technology that is dated by modern standards but still functioning is also utilized. “What we do is collect these things instead of throwing them away,” Pennino said. Pennino helped develop a program to collect these unused materials to be recycled and reused locally, nationally and globally. Pennino said the reason why hospitals don’t provide that service is because the labor cost involved would be prohibitive. A volunteer force exceeding 500 workers, including community groups and high school students looking to do service projects, help sort items. Volunteers perform warehousing chores, while high school students even take part in overseas trips. “They learn how privileged they are to live in this country and how lucky they are to have all the things they do,” he said. “There is a lot of gratification seeing them learn the value of helping others in need.” “There is a lot of gratification just in helping others,” Pennino said. “The whole key to InterVol is teaching others to give back,” he said. “It’s one generation showing the next how to give back.” Pennino noted the items are used at places ranging from lollipop farms to humane societies locally. Medical supplies such as gowns, gloves and basins are also used in school art classes. The bulk of the supplies are sent to Third World countries, he said. The community-based organization distributes about 8,000 pounds of supplies per week to destinations such as Africa, Central America and the Caribbean. A wall of images depicting the program recently created by externs under Pennino’s tutelage is now featured at the atrium at Rochester General Hospital. Pennino said the hospital and its foundation are high supportive of InterVol. InterVol features not only its recycling program, but volunteer medical personnel also go overseas to take part in programs. The most recent mission was in Haiti in the wake of the horrific earthquake there, while there has been an ongoing program in Belize for the past 11 years. Pennino takes part in many overseas missions as part of InterVol and considers it his main hobby. He is also involved in photography, and helps teach a course at RIT in medical photography.
IN GOOD HEALTH – Rochester / Genesee Valley Healthcare Newspaper
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Page 19
Eye on the Prize New York state is ranked one of the lowest in the nation in terms of number of total enrollees in the state registry for tissue donation — a new leadership at Finger Lakes Eye & Tissue Bank wants to change that By Lou Sorendo
U
nder new leadership, the Finger Lakes Eye & Tissue Bank headquartered in Rochester is continuing to strengthen both its clinical, research and public education campaigns. Loel Turpin, a resident of Honeoye Falls, was recently named administrative director at the facility. She is responsible for all administration, programs and operations at the eye and tissue bank. FLETB recovers, processes, preserves and distributes eyes and other tissue for transplant, research and medical education; teaches about tissue and organ donation through its public and professional awareness programs; funds transplant-related medical research; and maintains the New York State Donate Life Registry. FLETB serves the central and northern New York regions as well as some of the Southern Tier. It has office locations in Rochester at 524 White Spruce Boulevard and also shares office space at the Madison Irving Medical Center in Syracuse. “I ensure compliance with state and federal regulations, oversee dayto-day operations and, along with the board of directors, set goals and direction for the agency,” Turpin said. She has over 25 years experience in the field of research and seven years of tissue banking experience, two of which were with the eye and tissue bank as a tissue bank coordinator. A Michigan native, Turpin attended Central Michigan University, and earned majors in biology and public health education. Turpin previously worked as a senior technical associate in the department of microbiology and immunology at the University of Rochester Medical Center. She said her background in science and biology led to her being qualified for the coordinator position. “Having worked on the clinical side of tissue banking first, I gained a strong understanding of the services we provide and how important the work we do is in helping people live active lives,” she said. “I think in a position like this the regulatory aspects are always a challenge,” she said. Governmental regulations tend to be “ever changing,” she noted. “It comes down to the safety of the gift of tissues for the recipient. That is on the forefront of our job,” said Tammi Sharpe, clinical director at the agency. “It’s not only about providing safe tissue, but making sure we are compliant with both state and federal regulations.” The agency is licensed by New York state and registered with the U.S. Food and Drug Administration. It is also accredited by the Eye Bank Association of America.
Creating awareness
For Karen Guarino, communicaPage 20
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“Advances over the past few years have been great but there is always need for more.” “I think there is basic awareness but we are always working to improve that,” Turpin said.
Funding sources
The 501c(3) nonprofit organization covers its cost of recovering tissue through reimbursements from the recipient’s healthcare provider. It also relies on those who select the agency through the United Way donor designation program as well as through individual financial contributions. In the past, the United Way donor designation program generated about $50,000 for the FLETB. Those funds were directed toward public and professional education programs. Today, that same source only results in $7,000-$9,000 in revenue. “We rely on individual financial contributors and basically we work with what we have,” Guarino said. “We would be delighted to have more funds available to us for education and other purposes.” FLETB holds an annual appeal to cover costs associated with things like major equipment purchases. Last year, funds from its annual appeal went toward its education program.
tions director at the agency, one of her main responsibilities is public education. Guarino and staff strive to educate the public about the need for and benefit of organ, eye and tissue donations. This is accomplished by attending health fairs, community events and through school programs. FLETB has a staff of professional education people who work with healthcare High demand professionals at Last year, more than 1.5 hospitals. million people received some FLETB emkind of a tissue transplant. ploys 10 fulltime “Often people are amazed and several partnot only with that number, but time workers. It The staff at Finger Lakes Eye & Tissue Bank in Rochester is anchored by, from they are not aware of all the is also supported left, Loel Turpin, administrative director; Tammi Sharpe, clinical director; and tissues that can be donated,” by a host of vol- Karen Guarino, communications director. Guarino said. (See related unteers. story) Another of Guarino’s major tasks “People are more aware of the must download a form, complete it, is to inform the public about the new and send it by land mail. The website is need for organ transplants, but not as New York State Donate Life Registry. fully aware of the need for tissues,” she www.nyhealth.gov/donatelife. “The registry today is a consent added. FLETB has a website at www. registry and we encourage individuals She said from a public educarehpb.org. who have made the decision to donate tion standpoint, it is important for the Although the use of electronic sigabout the importance of enrolling in public to understand not only the need natures has been approved, it has not the registry. It’s not just signing the for donations, but what can be donated back of one’s driver’s license,” she said. yet been implemented, Guarino said. and how those donations are helping “Once we get electronic signatures The registry is a database that people to see and walk again and live features a confidential listing of names. implemented, we feel it will be easier active lives. for individuals to enroll,” she added. It is administered by the state DepartFLETB does not deal with major orWhen one obtains or renews their ment of Health. gans for transplant. That is handled by driver’s license, he or she can check a Upon notification of a patient’s the federally designated organ procurebox to enroll in the registry on the apdeath in a hospital, FLETB can access ment organization, the Fingers Lakes plication form. the registry to find if that person is a Also, FLETB distributes enrollment Donor Recovery Network. consented donor. “There are always recipients forms at health fairs and other public Guarino said the registry is not waiting,” Sharpe said. “We do have a education events. Staff then inputs only helpful from an agency perspecscheduled surgery list in our local area information directly into the registry. tive, but also to the family to know to fill. There are times we don’t have One can also call the FLETB office their loved one’s decision to be a donor. local tissue to fulfill the need for our at 1-800-568-4321 to have a self-ad“Prior to July of 2008, the registry cornea recipients in the area. In those dressed, no-postage-necessary enrollwas one of intent only,” Guarino said. times, we do have to look elsewhere to ment form mailed to them. “That meant for us we still needed to partners across the state and country to Two-pronged approach get consent from the next of kin.” provide us with corneas.” “Now as a consent registry, we Sharpe said the agency focuses priIn terms of distribution, FLETB don’t have to get consent from next marily on transplant potential. Howevfollows what is called a “fair and of kin. Instead, we are informing the er, there may be times when a situation equitable distribution system” that is family of its loved one’s decision to arises based on a donor’s medical hisrequired as part of its accreditation. donate,” she added. tory or some other factor when the gift Eyes and tissue that are harvested Guarino said New York state is of donation can’t be used for transplant at local hospitals are used in the local ranked one of the lowest in the nation but can be used for medical research. community first. If the need is filled in in terms of number of total enrollees in “We always make families aware the local community, then the gifts bethe state registry. She said the state is at that the gift of research is important come available on a regional, national about 16 percent. “We are working very as well. It not only helps one to two and possible international level as well. hard to bring that up,” she said. individuals, but may help thousands of The bank was founded in 1952 as She said there are several factors individuals,” Sharpe said. the Rochester Eye-Bank and Research affecting that low number. The gift of research tissue is disSociety by the Downtown Lions Club “Agencies like ours are working tributed to both local surgeons and and originally functioned solely as an hard across the state to make people researchers as well as to those across eye bank. aware of the registry,” she said. the state and nation. The agency began recovering other She said there are several mecha“I think there is always a need for tissue in the mid-1980s to meet communisms available to register. One can more research. I come from a strong nity need for advancing technologies in register online at the state level, but research background,” Turpin said. tissue transplantation applications.
IN GOOD HEALTH – Rochester / Genesee Valley Healthcare Newspaper • October 2011
What They Want You to Know:
By Jim Miller
How to Detect and Prevent Telemarketing Scams Dear Savvy Senior, Can you recommend some tips to help protect seniors from telemarketing scams? My 80-year-old mother has been swindled out of several hundred dollars over the past year and keeps getting calls from scam artists. Worried Daughter
provides a rundown on some of the most common phone scams making the rounds these days and what to watch for. They also offer some helpful publications you can get for her like “Putting Telephone Scams on Hold” and “Who’s Calling? Recognize & Report Phone Fraud” that you can order for free by calling 877-382-4357. The next step is to remind her to never give out her personal information like her credit card number, checking or savings account numbers, Social Security number or mailing address to telemarketers no matter what they promise or tell her. If she’s getting calls from telemarketers requesting this information, she should simply hang up the phone because it’s a scam. Dear Worried If, however, your mom is having a Telemarketing fraud is a hard time recognizing a scam or hanging up on pushy telemarketers, get big problem in the United her a caller ID and tell her not to pick up unless she recognizes the number States, particularly among of the caller. Or, ask her to let the calls seniors who tend to be the go to voice mail. Telemarketers rarely leave messages. most vulnerable and freAlso, make sure her phone number quently targeted. Here’s is registered with the National Do Not Call Registry which will significantly what you should know, cut down the number of telemarketing along with some tips to help calls she receives. You can register your mom’s phone number for free at donotprotect your mom. call.gov, or by calling 888-382-1222 from the number you wish to register. Unfortunately, being on the regPhone Fraud According to FBI reports, there are istry will not stop calls from political around 14,000 illegal telemarketing op- organizations, charities, pollsters and erations that steal more than $40 billion companies that your mom has an existing business relationship with. And, it from unsuspecting citizens each year – most of whom are over the age of 60. won’t stop telemarketing scams either. Telemarketing fraud happens when If your mom is getting a lot of calls, discuss the possibility of changing her a con artist calls you up posing as a legitimate telemarketer and tries to cheat phone number. Scam artists trade and sell what they call “suckers lists” of you out of your money by offering prior victims, and the only way to get things like free prizes, vacation packher off these lists may be to change her ages, sweepstakes or lottery winnings, number. discount medical or prescription drug plans, buying club memberships, credit Report It and loan promises, investment and It’s also important that you or your work-at-home opportunities and more. mom report any suspicious telemarketThey also usually demand that you ing calls she gets to the FTC (see ftcact right away and require some kind complaintassistant.gov or call 877-382of up-front payment to participate or 4357) and to her State Attorney Generreceive your winnings, which is always al. Reporting it helps law enforcement a red flag that the call is a scam. officials track down these scam artists Seniors also need to be careful of and stop them. You’ll need to provide fake charity and fundraising phone the telemarketer’s phone number, as scams, home improvement scams, fake well as the date and time of the call. checks (see fakechecks.org), grandparent scams, and invitations to free lunch seminars. Send your senior What You Can Do questions to: Savvy The first thing you should do to Senior, P.O. Box 5443, help your mom steer clear of phone Norman, OK 73070, or scams is to alert her to the problem visit www.savvysenior. and how to recognize it. To help you org. Jim Miller is a with this, the Federal Trade Commiscontributor to the NBC sion (FTC) offers a consumer education Today show and author website at ftc.gov/phonefraud that of “The Savvy Senior” book.
Physical Therapists By Deborah Jeanne Sergeant
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he American Physical Therapist Association (www.apta.org) states “Physical therapists (PTs) are health care professionals who diagnose and treat individuals of all ages, from newborns to the very oldest, who have medical problems or other health-related conditions that limit their abilities to move and perform functional activities in their daily lives.” • “’No pain no gain’ is not what we want. More pain is more damage. The pain is small micro-tears in the tendon. A body needs rest. RICE [an acronym for rest, ice, compression elevation] is so important to let that tissue start to heal and let the inflammation come down.” Rick Fame, physical therapist with Rochester General Hospital • “When they come in, we instruct them in exercise. They’re in here only one to two times per week with us. Oftentimes, there’s poor compliance with the exercises at home. They say ‘I felt good after you were with me and then it was worse.’ When I ask if they did their exercise, they say they were busy. It really slows down the process as far as being able to resolve the problem.” Michael Mimken, physical therapist with Unity Physical Therapy in Irondequoit • “We can have everything at our fingertips at a moment. The thing is, our bodies haven’t evolved with technology. Going into any injury or disorder the way technology has evolved won’t work. We’re spoiled to have everything immediately but our bodies don’t work that way. They don’t heal immediately. You have to go along with mother nature and go through
October 2011 •
the paces to feel better. Patients think they will be fixed but they have to put in a lot of work to feel better. They can’t come in and expect to be fixed by someone else. Your health care provider is a team member who’s there to help but can’t fix you. I don’t know how many people I’ve seen who have gone into knee surgery and two days later expect to be walking. They are often disappointed that they have to get back on their crutches. Our bodies are no different than they were 100 years ago when it comes to healing, even though we have better drugs. • “A lot of people go around wrestling with the thoughts of seeing a physical therapist or chiropractor or massage therapists. Are PTs or chiropractors or massage therapists bad? There’s no one group who’s ‘bad.’ If a chiropractor can help one of my patients, God bless them. • “You’re a health care consumer. Be vocal. Health care workers and insurance companies are like huge monsters with a tiny little patient in the middle, but really, the monsters wouldn’t exist without them.” Jim Briggs, physical therapist with Rochester General Hospital
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.
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100 Disability Conditions Fast-tracked
ere’s some important news if you’re applying for Social Security disability benefits for yourself or a loved one. There are 100 conditions which qualify for an expedited process known as Compassionate Allowances. Compassionate Allowances, which began in December 2007, are a way to quickly identify diseases and other medical conditions that, by definition, meet Social Security’s standards for disability benefits. “We have an obligation to award benefits quickly to people whose medical conditions are so serious they clearly meet our disability standards,” said Michael J. Astrue, Commissioner of Social Security. “We are now able to do precisely that for 100 severe conditions.” The Compassionate Allowances conditions are developed from information received at public outreach hearings, and from the Social Security and Disability Determination Service communities, medical and scientific experts, and the National Institutes of Health. We also consider which conditions are most likely to meet our definition of disability. “By definition, these illnesses are
Q&A
Q: How do I update or correct the name on my Social Security card? A: To update or correct the name on your Social Security card: • Complete an Application for A Social Security Card (Form SS-5), available at www.socialsecurity.gov/online/ss-5.pdf; • Show us original documents proving your legal name change, identity, and U.S. citizenship (if you have not already established your citizenship with us), or immigration status if you are not a U.S. citizen; and • Take or mail your completed application and original documents to your local Social Security office. Note that we must see originals and cannot use photocopies. We will return any original document you mail to us. Learn more at www.socialsecurity. gov. Q: How do I report a lost Social Security card? A: You do not have to report a lost Social Security card. In fact, reporting a lost or stolen card to Social Security will not prevent misuse of your Social Security number. You should let us know if someone is using your number to work (call 1-800-772-1213; TTY 1-800-325-0778). If you think someone is using your number, there are several other actions you should take: • Contact the Federal Trade Com-
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IN GOOD HEALTH – Rochester / Genesee Valley Healthcare Newspaper • October 2011
so severe that we don’t need to fully develop the applicant’s work history to make a decision,” said Commissioner Astrue. “As a result, Social Security has eliminated this part of the application process for people who have a condition on the list, and we can award benefits much more quickly.” The Compassionate Allowances initiative is one of two parts of the agency’s fast-track system for certain disability claims. When combined with the Quick Disability Determination (QDD) process, Social Security last year approved the claims of more than 100,000 people, usually in less than two weeks. This year, the agency expects to fast-track nearly 150,000 cases. Under QDD, a predictive model analyzes specific elements of data within the electronic claims file to identify claims where there is a high potential the claimant is disabled and where evidence of the person’s allegations can be quickly and easily obtained. Some of the conditions include pancreatic cancer, acute leukemia and batten disease. For more information on Compassionate Allowances, including a list of all 100 conditions, visit www.socialsecurity.gov/compassionateallowances.
mission online at www.ftc.gov/bcdp/ edu/microsites/idtheft or call 1-877ID-THEFT (1-877-438-4338); • File an online complaint with the Internet Crime Complaint Center at www.ic3.gov; • Contact the IRS Identity Protection Specialized Unit by calling 1-800908-4490, Monday – Friday, 8 a.m. – 8 p.m.; and • Monitor your credit report. Q: I work in retirement. How much can I earn and still collect full Social Security retirement benefits? A: Social Security uses the formulas below, depending on your age, to determine how much you can earn before we must reduce your benefit: • If you are younger than full retirement age: $1 in benefits will be deducted for each $2 you earn above the annual limit. For 2011, that limit is $14,160. • In the year you reach your full retirement age: $1 in benefits will be deducted for each $3 you earn above a different limit, but we count only earnings before the month you reach full retirement age. For 2011, this limit is $37,680. • Starting with the month you reach full retirement age: you will get your benefits with no limit on your earnings. Find out your full retirement age at www.socialsecurity.gov/pubs/ageincrease.htm.
H ealth News Acupuncture business moves to larger location Rochester Community Acupuncture recently moved to a new and larger location at Village Gate Square, in the Neighborhood of the Arts in Rochester. Its new home is located at 302 North Goodman St., suite 403. After almost three years in the South Wedge, the clinic’s owners said they needed a larger space and wanted to increase accessibility. The new space allowed for both—there are 12 recliners in a spacious open room (which allows each practitioner to treat up to 6 patients per hour), a separate reception area, and the clinic is now handicapped accessible. The business was founded in 2008 by Janeane Klingler and Angela Pauling, both graduates of The Finger Lakes School of Acupuncture. The clinic, like other community clinics across the country, provides affordable acupuncture to the Greater Rochester area and offers a “no questions asked” sliding scale of $15 to $35 per session. “We needed more space to accommodate our ever-growing patient base, and in order to help more people on their path to wellness,” says acupuncturist and co-owner Pauling. Along with the move, the clinic also increased its hours, now offering more evening hours and a Saturday shift, giving patients more opportunities to get treatment, and to get better, at an affordable price. “Health care doesn’t need to be expensive to be effective,” says co-owner and acupuncturist Klingler. “Acupuncture is no exception and the community model makes this possible”.
Lifetime Health has new family medicine doctor Board-certified family medicine practitioner Kira Kiriakidi has joined Lifetime Health Medical Group’s family medicine practice at the Greece Health Center, 470 Long Pond Road. Kiriakidi earned her medical degree from State Russian Medical University, Moscow, Russia. She completed her residency at Wyoming Valley Family Medicine, Kingston, Penn., where she provided care on an inpatient and outpatient basis to patients of all ages. Her efforts emphasized total health care for each family member, with a focus on healthy lifestyles Kiriakidi and preventive care. She completed an internship in otolaryngology (ear, nose and throat) in Lipetsk, Russia, focusing on the medical and surgical management and treatment of diseases and disorders of the ears, nose, throat and related structures of the head and neck. Kiriakidi then served as an otolaryngologist at the Lipetsk Regional Hospital, managing the care of patients with common and complicated ENT pathology in both outpatient and inpatient settings.
A member of the American Academy of Family Physicians and the American Medical Association, Kiriakidi volunteered in the outpatient cancer unit of Rochester General Hospital and participated in a mission medical trip to Burkina Faso, in West Africa, this past winter.
Pat Glavey named to Lifespan board of directors Patrick J. Glavey, vice president of Medicare at MVP Health Care, has been elected to the board of directors of Lifespan. Glavey, has been with MVP (formerly Preferred Care in Rochester) for more than 20 years. He is a graduate of Niagara University with a degree in marketing. He has his New York state brokers license for life, accident and health insurance, Glavey and is a certified health consultant (CHC) with BC/BS Association. Lifespan provides information, guidance and more than 30 services that help older adults and caregivers take on longer life — from care management for eldercare to finding a job in retirement.
St. Ann’s has new admissions social worker St. Ann’s Community recently hired Nichole McArdle of Bloomfield. She will serve as the organization’s admissions social worker. She will be responsible for assisting potential residents in finding the appropriate level of care for them at St. Ann’s Community. McArdle meets with families, provides tours and collaborates with clinicians. She previously McArdle worked at The Shire at Culverton as sssisted living program coordinator.
Roberts Wesleyan receives federal grants for students Roberts Wesleyan College has received two federal grants for students in the Masters of Science degree in nursing education program. These grants aim to help nursing students reduce loans and increase nurse faculty in underserved areas. “We’re delighted to receive these grants, especially during a time where there is a nursing shortage,” said Susanne Mohnkern, chairwoman of nursing and director of the graduate program at Roberts Wesleyan College. “Our goal is to provide a quality education while developing the nursing profession, and now our students can move forward more affordably.” October 2011 •
YMCA Among Best Employers for Workers Over 50 AARP recently announced the recipients of its 2011 “Best Employers for Workers Over 50.” The YMCA of Greater Rochester was listed at No. 6 out of 50 national companies. The list honors employers for demonstrating exemplary practices with regard to recruitment, retention and promotion of older workers. Additionally, organizations are recognized for creating and fostering a workplace that is supportive of the contributions older workers offer to the business community. “The Y provides meaningful work and a flexible schedule for employees in their encore careers,” said Fernan Cepero, vice president of human resources at the YMCA of Greater Rochester. “Inherent in our mission is the fact that the Y is for all, and that does not only apply to our services. We are proud to The Nursing Faculty Loan Program (NFLP) is a federal loan program that offers financial aid to eligible nursing students who complete their degrees. Loan recipients are eligible to cancel up to 85 percent of their loans in exchange for service as full-time nurses at schools of nursing after graduation. The college works with the Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) to establish and operate a distinct account for the NFLP loan fund. The goal of the NFLP is to make advanced nursing education more financially accessible to nurse faculty candidates and decrease the current shortage of nurse faculty. Roberts also received an Advanced Education Nursing Traineeship (AENT) grant through HRSA’s Burearu of Health Professionals (BHPr). This grant is available for students in the Master of Science degree in nursing leadership and administration program. It also provides training for registered nurses who need financial support to become advanced education nurses.
RGH: New appointments in surgery divison Ralph Pennino, chief of surgery at Rochester General Health System, has announced the following appointments: Robert Tripp has been appointed associate chief of surgery at Rochester General Health System. He received his medical degree from Loyola University in Chicago, and completed his residency in general surgery at Thomas Jefferson University Hospital in Philadelphia. Tripp has a private practice with Genesee Surgical Associates, and lives in Brighton. Timothy O’Connor has been appointed division chief of plastic surgery at Rochester General Hospital. O’Connor received his medical degree from Trinity College in Dublin, Ireland, and completed his residency in plastic
provide services to a diverse constituency and even prouder of the diverse staff we employ.” One of the chief reasons the Y is being recognized is because of its significant number of staff members over the age of 50. More than 20 percent of the 2,800 Y employees are over the age of 50. These employees serve in a variety of roles including management, child care, teachers, program instructors, custodians and office staff. The awardees were honored at a prestigious dinner in Chicago Sept. 13. Additionally, the best employers will be featured in the NovemberDecember 2011 issue of AARP The Magazine. The YMCA of Greater Rochester has placed on the best employers list for six consecutive years, staring in 2005 at No. 27.
surgery at the University of Rochester School of Medicine. O’Connor has a private practice with the Plastic Surgery Group of Rochester. He lives in Brighton Louis Eichel has been appointed division chief of urology at Rochester General Hospital. Eichel received his medical degree from the University of Rochester School of Medicine, where he also completed his residency in Urology. He also completed a minimally invasive surgery fellowship at the University of California, Irvine. Eichel has a private practice with the Center for Urology. He lives in Pittsford.
Lifetime Health physicians moving practices Two of Lifetime Health Medical Group’s family medicine practices have moved into a new, shared space at 1850 East Ridge Rd., Rochester. The practice of Dr. Robert Cole and Dr. Roopa Korni, and the practice of Dr. Leo Stornelli will both move across the street into a shared office space. The practices will remain independent, but patients of both will now benefit from the larger medical office space. The practices will be located in the lower level of the Ridgeview Plaza with the entrance off Brown Road. The hours and phone numbers for the practices will remain the same. “The new office space is larger and more contemporary. We are excited to offer our existing and new patients a state-of-the-art primary care setting,” explains Cole. Cole is the medical director for Lifetime Health Medical Group in the Rochester region. A member of the American Academy of Family Physicians, he has been with Lifetime Health Medical Group for 14 years. He earned his Bachelor of Science in Neuroscience from the University of Rochester, and earned his medical degree from the
IN GOOD HEALTH – Rochester / Genesee Valley Healthcare Newspaper
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H ealth News SUNY Health Science Center College of Medicine at Syracuse University; he obtained a Master’s in Business Administration from Rochester Institute of Technology with a concentration in Health Care Administration. Korni joined Lifetime Health Medical Group in July, relocating to Rochester from private practice in Brockport. She earned a Bachelor of Medicine, Bachelor of Surgery (M.B.B.S.) from Mysore Medical College, Mysore, India, and conducted a residency in obstetrics and gynecology from KMC Hubli, India, where she was awarded a Diploma in Obstetrics and Gynecology. Stornelli has been with Lifetime Health Medical Group for eight years. He earned his Bachelor of the Arts in biology from Denison University, and his medical degree from the University of Rochester. MVP Health Care recognized him with a Quality Award in the area of Diabetic Care in 2010. He was also presented a 2010 MVP Quality Award in the category of Outstanding Member Satisfaction, “For excellence in accessibility of care and the high level of satisfaction reported by MVP members who visited these offices.”
Sharon Pepper retires from Thompson Health After 20 years as Thompson Health’s senior vice president of senior living services, Sharon Pepper is retiring. She joined Thompson in 1991 and oversaw growth throughout senior living services’ continuum of care. This included the Continuing Care Center expanding from 108 beds to 188 and becoming a leader in dementia care, The Brighter Day nearly doubling the number of participants it serves and the development of Ferris Hills and Clark Meadows. “Since Sharon Pepper first joined the Thompson Health team two decades ago, her outstanding leadPepper ership, warm-hearted compassion and commitment to excellence has advanced services for seniors and family caregivers in our community,” Thompson Health President/CEO Linda Farchione said. “Under Sharon, a skilled team of staff and administrators provides excellent care with kindness and dignity, while navigating an increasingly complex industry and a growing population with ever-changing needs. We are forever grateful to her for all that she has done.” Pepper is a 2011 recipient of a Healthcare Achievement Award from the Rochester Business Journal and 2007 recipient of the New York Association of Homes & Services for the Aging James W. Sanderson Memorial Award. She announced her retirement plans in early 2010 but was encouraged to defer them until the fall of this year. She will remain at Thompson as a consultant through the end of the year, to aid in the leadership transition. Dona B. Rickard of Hammondsport Page 24
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has succeeded Pepper effective Sept. 6. Rickard served as administrator of continuing care services and operations for the Ira Davenport Memorial Hospital Skilled-Nursing Facility in Bath from 1999 through 2011. A licensed nursing home administrator and registered professional nurse, Rickard is a nursing graduate of Monroe Community College with a bachelor’s in health care administration from SUNY Empire State College.
Rochester General named an exemplar hospital Rochester General Hospital has been named an exemplar hospital by the Institute for Healthcare Improvement (www.ihi.org) for its work in infection prevention. Rochester General is participating in IHI’s Project JOINTS (Joining Organizations in Tackling Surgical Site Infection) initiative. In a letter to Rochester General, officials at IHI wrote “We commend your practices, specifically in alcohol skin prep. We also thank you for your willingness to help your fellow Project JOINTS participants. Your organization’s willingness to share your invaluable hands- on-experience with others will help make hip and knee surgery safer for patients across the country” Rochester General Hospital has been recognized for developing a comprehensive surgical site infection prevention plan in orthopedic surgery. This plan utilizes the best available evidence and translates that evidence into checklists and protocols which can easily be implemented on all patients. This has resulted in an over 50 percent reduction in orthopedic surgical site infections. “We are honored to be asked to collaborate with other healthcare providers to help reduce hospital infection rates,” said Edward Tanner, chief of orthopedics at Rochester General Hospital. “This effort is all about providing the best patient care possible.” The IHI Project Joints initiative includes 57 hospitals in New York State, and dozens across the country.
Lifetime earns highest rating for patient care All 12 of Lifetime Health Medical Group’s medical practices have now received recognition as Level 3 PatientCentered Medical Homes from the National Committee for Quality Assurance (NCQA). Four of Lifetime Health’s practices received the distinction in March 2011, and the remaining eight have now achieved the national agency’s highest designation. The most recent practices to achieve Level 3 are the Folsom, Greece and Wilson Health Centers, Artemis Health, Westfall Pediatrics and the family medicine offices at 1850 Ridge Rd. E. in Rochester, and the Hamburg Health Center in Buffalo. Only 437 practice sites in New York state were recognized as Level 3 Patient-Centered Medical Homes as of
Hospitals Implement Plain Language Emergency Codes In a an effort to increase public safety, the three Rochester health care systems — University of Rochester Medical Center, Rochester General and Unity — and Lakeside Memorial Hospital will begin using “plain language” codes to communicate emergency situations in the their hospitals. These new codes will replace the traditional color codes that were used previously. The transition for Strong Memorial, Highland, Rochester General and Lakeside hospitals will take place by Jan. 1. Unity Health System adopted its plain language alert system in September 2009. Monroe County is among the first in the country to adopt one consistent set of plain language codes. The adoption of a uniform emergency code by all providers will enhance the safety of patients, visitors and healthcare providers. While previously used alerts like Code Blue, Code Red and Code Yellow may have sounded familiar, there was no uniform standard as to what they meant. The lack of consistency in the codes used across the nation, region, or even within a health care system created the potential for confusion. In Monroe County hospitals alone, 49 different codes were used to announce various incidents like infant abduction, medical emergency or fire. The plain language alerts make it easy for patients, visitors and staff to understand the emergency.
August 2011, according to NCQA. “This recognition acknowledges both our commitment to quality and our guiding principle of putting patients first,” says Mark F. Perry, chief medical officer, Lifetime Health Medical Group. NCQA recognizes primary care practices that function as patient-centered medical homes, a model of care where the patient is at the center of his or her healthcare team and has an ongoing relationship with a personal physician who leads the team. Medical home physicians demonstrate the benchmarks of patient-centered care, focusing on coordination of care, quality, preventive care, and patient communication and outreach. To receive recognition, Lifetime Health Medical Group’s practices demonstrated the ability to meet the program’s key criteria embodying the characteristics of the medical home. Among these criteria are written standards for patient access and enhanced communications; appropriate use of charting tools to track patients and organize clinical information; and responsive care management techniques with an emphasis on preventive care.
IN GOOD HEALTH – Rochester / Genesee Valley Healthcare Newspaper • October 2011
It also eliminates the need for healthcare workers, who may work in multiple organizations, to memorize the various hospital emergency codes. In addition, it brings all of the area hospitals in further compliance with the National Incident Management System, a system developed by the US Department of Homeland Security. The initiative began two years ago, when several hospitals came to the Monroe County Medical Society (MCMS) Quality Collaborative to ask that it consider leading an effort to have consistent overhead emergency pages used throughout the area. After examining activities throughout the country, and hearing about the success Unity had with implementation of its system, the hospitals agreed to work towards the adoption of a set of plain language terms to be used for an emergency. Each hospital sought input from its clinical and administrative leaders and a common set of plain language pages was developed. “The standardization of the codes will help avoid confusion and ensure the quickest action in response to emergencies,” said Dr. John McIntyre, MCMS quality collaborative committee chairman. “Patients are our number one priority and reducing confusion will improve patient safety. I applaud the healthcare systems for voluntarily undertaking this important initiative.”
“We are proud that all of our practices have now been recognized for providing best in class primary care,” says Anne Ruflin, president of Lifetime Health Medical Group. “We’re honored to join an elite group of primary care providers to have achieved the highest level of recognition.”
Chiropractor certified in pregnancy care Chiropractor Mike Vorozilchak has recently become certified in the Webster technique to assist with the care of his pregnant patients. He practices at Finger Lakes Family Chiropractic & Wellness in Geneva. According to the International Chiropractic Pediatric Association, “the Webster technique, is ‘a specific chiropractic analysis and adjustment that reduces interference to the nerve system and balances maternal pelvic muscles and ligaments. This in turn reduces torsion in the uterus, a cause of intra-uterine constraint of the baby and allows for optimal fetal positioning in preparation for birth.’ Use of the Webster technique may help with baby
H ealth News positioning and optimal fetal positioning leads to a safer, easier birth.” Vorozilchak is currently completing an extensive post-graduate certification program in pediatric chiropractic care to help give the people of Geneva and the Finger Lakes a natural, drug-free healthcare option. “Our practice motto is that ‘kids who start ahead, stay ahead’ and we want to do everything possible to deliver the highest level of family wellness care in the region,” Vorozilchak said. “By implementing the Webster technique when caring for our pregnant moms, and by offering holistic pediatric care, we are able to be a unique resource to the community.
URMC pathologist honored for breast cancer work David G. Hicks, director of surgical pathology at the University of Rochester Medical Center, received a prestigious award in September from
the College of American Pathologists (CAP) for his efforts to improve the diagnosis of breast cancer. He received the CAP Excellence in Education Award, which recognizes outstanding contributions in continuing education in the field. Hicks designed and presented a rigorous program that gives pathologists the knowledge and skills to improve the accuracy of breast cancer diagnosis and factors involved in prognosis. “I am humbled to be recognized for work to which I am deeply committed,” said Hicks, who was a member of an international task force that changed the standards in 2010 for testing estrogen and progesterone, two important biomarkers, in breast tumors. Hicks earned a bachelor’s degree in biology from Canisius College of Buffalo, and received his medical degree from the University of Rochester School of Medicine and Dentistry. He completed his internship and residency at the Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania in Philadelphia.
Healthy Hero in the South Wedge
Letters
to the Editor
Ear Candling To the Editor: As a publication endorsing safe and healthy practices, I found it upsetting that “In Good Health” would publish and article on ear candling that contained such misleading and inaccurate information (“The Low Down on Ear Candling”). With a little investigative research it would be easy to find out that the practice of ear candling has absolutely no scientific basis or medical benefit to the ear, sinuses or brain. It was mentioned that the FDA has not approved this procedure, and for good reason: it does nothing of benefit and actually has potential to harm the participant. The providers mentioned in the article may have good intentions, but are unlearned in the area of basic human anatomy, physiology and the laws of physics. The intact outer ear canal is not connected to the sinuses, brain or any other structures mentioned. Also, the act of candling cannot create enough pressure to draw earwax or any other matter from the ear canal; this is physically impossible. The debris present is only the leftover debris from the candle; nothing else. To be told that this is cerumen or some other byproduct from the ear is deceitful. The human body is a miraculous thing and the ear is no exception. In most cases, earwax works itself out of the ear without help. In cases that the earwax is impacted, treatment should be sought from a medical professional. Any other concerns with pain, pressure in the ear and/or sinuses should also
be treated by a medical professional, not an esthetician or masseuse. Sarah Klimasewski Audiologist with Hart Hearing Centers EDITOR’S NOTE: The September issue of In Good Health featured several stories related to complementary medicine. The practice of ear candling was one of them. The goal of the story was not to endorse nor condemn the practice but to report on the method that several complementary medicine practitioners use. It basically brought the opinion of people perform ear candling and medical doctors. It emphasized that the practice is not FDA-approved and recommended readers to check with their doctors before having it done.
Calendar of Events To the Editor, I’d like to thank you for including Mended Hearts meeting information in your Calendar of Health Events. When it has appeared in your newspaper we invariably get new people who said that they read about our meeting in your newspaper. Once again, thank you for helping us get the word out to Rochester and Canandaigua heart patients and their families. Sharon Feldman President of Mended Hearts, chapter 50.
October 2011 •
Robert Boyd, executive director of the South Wedge planning committee, has earned a Healthy Hero Award from Greater Rochester Health Foundation. The child next to him was not identified. Robert Boyd, executive director of the South Wedge planning committee, has earned a Healthy Hero Award from Greater Rochester Health Foundation (GRHF) for his work helping his neighbors eat healthy while also increasing their physical activity. Boyd oversees the South Wedge Victory Garden that provides space for 36 families to grow their own fresh produce. The South Wedge planning committee is working on a second location to accommodate the waiting list and has enlisted the students at School #12 to help develop the new garden plots. “Gardening is an activity that lets children enjoy being physically active as they drop seeds into the soil, weed and harvest, and contribute to the family table,” says John Urban, president and CEO of GRHF. Another component of the
program is the South Wedge Farmers Market, which helps keep South Wedge children and their parents healthy. The market averages more than 500 customers a week and works with a variety of local producers who offer food that appeal to parents from varying income levels. The South Wedge group hosts School 12 Night at the market, where families are offered samples of healthy food and given a $5 token to buy fresh fruits and vegetables. “We are continuing our matching program for the use of food stamps at the market — you use $10 in food stamps and we provide a $5 match,” says Boyd. “This will stretch spending power and reinforce changing behaviors. There will also be a van to take people from the three housing towers in the area to the market to make it easy to obtain fruit and vegetables.”
IN GOOD HEALTH – Rochester / Genesee Valley Healthcare Newspaper
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IN GOOD HEALTH – Rochester / Genesee Valley Healthcare Newspaper • October 2011
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• Properly conceal and dispose of old or unused medications. For dates and locations of pharmaceutical waste collection sites located near you, visit www.monroecounty.gov/hhw.
HH_AD_igh_october2011(5x6.75).eps
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B y t i k i n es u omm THE
AWAR D Congratulations to Healthy Hero Dan Lill, who earned a Healthy Hero Award from Greater Rochester Health Foundation for coordinating 250 volunteers to refurbish bikes for kids and their parents. Volunteers have logged more than 15,000 hours and serve 64 Rochester agencies to help kids stay active through bicycling.
When breast cancer patients come to Finger Lakes Radiation Oncology Center we treat them with the care and respect they deserve, to make their visit as comfortable as possible and to make them feel at home. Along with state-of-the-art therapies and a top-notch staff of professionals, we look to the details that create a warm, compassionate and friendly environment that nutures healing.
• Comfortably close to home • Board-certified radiation oncologists and radiation therapists • Encouraging and supportive environment • Take charge and make us your choice for treatments
7 Ambulance Drive, Clifton Springs, NY 14432 (315) 462-5711 www.flrocenter.com
To nominate a Healthy Hero visit
Visit our Facebook page
Dedicated to Providing Quality Woman’s Healthcare Obstetrical Care Includes High Risk Complete Gynecologic Care Pediatric / Adolescent Gynecology
Jeroo K. Bharucha, MD Wendy M. Dwyer, MD Marc H. Eigg, MD Donald J. Gabel, MD Amanda R. Gorman, MD Marc S. Greenstein, DO Michelle M. Herron, MD Judith E. Kerpelman, MD, CCD Edward B. Ogden, MD Rachel R. Paulino, MD Derek J. tenHoopen, MD Sandra Moore, WHNP Beverly Shaheen, WHNP Mary Frachioni, WHNP Kelly Shoots, NP
Urogynecology and Pelvic Reconstructive Surgery Urinary Incontience Evaluation and Treatment Advanced Laparoscopic and Hysteroscopic Surgery Robotic Gynecologic Surgery Family Planning Infertility Evaluation and Treatment Menopause Management OB /GYN Ultrasound 3D and 4D Bone Density testing – DXA Scan Nutritional Counseling Aesthetic Treatments & Hair Removal October 2011 •
IN GOOD HEALTH – Rochester / Genesee Valley Healthcare Newspaper
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We do more than treat breast cancer. We outsmart it.
BREAST CANCER IS THOUGHTLESS. Conquering it takes a higher level of intelligence and expertise. We bring every essential discipline together to give patients a comprehensive and personalized course of treatment and support. It’s a new way to think about breast cancer care. And we’re the only comprehensive breast center in New York recognized as a Center of Excellence by the National Quality Measures for Breast Centers.
BREAST CENTER
See how our multidisciplinary approach is changing the way women overcome breast cancer at rochestergeneral.org/breastcenter or call us at 585.922.4715
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IN GOOD HEALTH – Rochester / Genesee Valley Healthcare Newspaper • October 2011