IGH ROCH #149 January 2018 by In Good Health: Rochester's Healthcare Newspaper

in good Meet Your Doctor Surgeon William J. Koenig talks about misconceptions about plastic surgeries and his missions to Guatemala to treat kids with facial deformities

Sustainability Rochester Regional Health has decided to take an especially aggressive stance when it comes to tackling the issue of sustainability.

Health Trends to Watch

New Year’s Resolution

Moving past the weight loss plateau. Local experts weigh in on the subject

GVhealthnews.com

January 2018 • Issue 149

priceless

Rochester’s Healthcare Newspaper

What to Eat This Winter How do we stay warm and happy, fit and healthy during the winter months?

Run Strong All Winter Long Maintaining a running routine during the cold and snow?Yes, it’s possible

Study: Flu Incidence Higher than Last Year

Grapefruit Don’t look to the grapefruit to melt fat, but do look to this mouth-wateringly tart fruit for a host of other health benefits. See three reasons you should eat more of it

Who’s More Distracted Behind the Wheel? Men or Women? And what’s the most common source of distraction? You’ll be surprised. It’s not texting or talking on the phone.

I’m ready to live. That’s why I’m making the move—while I’m still young enough to enjoy the pool, the fitness center, the excursions, dining, entertainment and all the friendly people. Lots of people my age want to slow down. Not me, I’m just getting started.

Caring for the Most Important People on Earth To tour St. Ann’s Community at Chapel Oaks and enjoy a complimentary lunch for two, call Al Brumagin at (585) 697-6606.

0.3%

OUR LOW AVERAGE MARGINS MEAN YOU CAN SAVE FOR OTHER IMPORTANT THINGS.

From 2012-2016, Excellus BlueCross BlueShield’s annual operating margin has averaged 0.3 percent, considerably lower than the average of the four major for-profit health plans. Based on a comparison of earnings before interest and taxes, we would have needed to collect $1.6 billion more in premium revenue to achieve the same level of earnings as the major carriers over that period. Because we’re a business, not a charity, we need to earn a margin. But we do not pay dividends to shareholders. That works in your favor. We’re a nonprofit health plan, so we deliberately budget for low margins to keep coverage more affordable. We know you have other important things that matter. We’re neighbors helping neighbors build healthier communities.

A nonprofit independent licensee of the Blue Cross Blue Shield Association.

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IN GOOD HEALTH – Rochester / Genesee Valley Healthcare Newspaper • January 2018

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IN GOOD HEALTH – Rochester / Genesee Valley Healthcare Newspaper

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CALENDAR of

HEALTH EVENTS

Jan. 10

OB/GYN practice offers weigh loss program

Who’s More Distracted Behind the Wheel? Study finds that “fiddling with the radio” was the most common source of distraction while driving

exting, talking on cellphones, eating, drinking — distractions such as these are a driving hazard, and are more likely to occur among young men, new research shows. People most prone to distracted driving also often tend to think it’s “no big deal” and it’s socially acceptable, the Norwegian study found. These drivers often also felt that they had little control over being distracted. On the other hand, older women, and people who felt they could control their distracted behaviors, were most able to keep their focus where it belongs — on the road ahead. “I found that young men were among the most likely to report distraction,” said study lead author Ole Johansson of Norway’s Institute of Transport Economics. “Others more prone to distraction include those who drive often, and those with neurotic and extroverted personalities.” According to the study authors, the World Health Organization estimates that more than a million

lives are lost on roadways each year due to distracted driving. And it only takes two seconds of looking away from the road for risks of an accident to rise significantly, the researchers noted. There was good news, however, from the survey of Norwegian high school students and adults: Overall rates of distracted driving were low, and “fiddling with the radio” was the most common source of distraction. The study was published Nov. 17 in the journal Frontiers in Psychology. One way to reduce distracted driving may be to have drivers devise their own prevention plans, Johansson said. For example, simply presenting people with information about distracted driving made people aware of the problem. Interventions like those “could focus on at-risk groups, such as young males with bad attitudes to distracted driving and a low belief that they can control their distraction,” Johansson said in a journal news release.

Do you have trouble hearing on the phone or listening to the TV? If yes, stop by the new

Assistive Listening Device Demo Center

It’s free and open to the public! The Rochester Chapter of the Hearing Loss Association of America was established in 1983. The formation of the Chapter allowed people living in western New York to meet and share common concerns surrounding the challenges of living with a hearing loss.

Stop by on the third Thursday of each month from 10:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m.

The center is located at Lifespan, 1900 S. Clinton Ave, Rochester, NY 14618

Sponsored by HLAA Rochester

Audubon Women’s Medical Associates in Williamsville near Buffalo is offering its 2018 “New Year’s Resolution 10 Week Weight Loss Program,” designed for women who want to lose weight, increase energy, identify and reduce sugar cravings and create healthier eating habits. The workshop will be led by Kim Fenter, a certified health nutrition coach. Meetings will take place from 6:30 to 8 p.m. every Wednesday starting Jan. 10. The group will meet at Audubon Women’s Medical Associates, 2240 N. Forest Road in Williamsville. For more information, call 716-639-4034 ext. 513 or email Kim. fenter@audubonwomens.com.

Jan. 11

Prostate group to hold meeting in Brighton Men, their family and friends are invited to learn more about prostate cancer prevention and treatment during a seminar presented by Us TOO Rochester slated for 7 a.m. Jan. 11 at the Jewish Community Center of Greater Rochester,1200 Edgewood Ave. in Brighton Us TOO Rochester is the regional affiliate chapter of Us TOO International, a nonprofit 501(c)(3) organization providing support, education and advocacy for those affected by prostate cancer in Monroe and surrounding counties of the Finger Lakes region. The local group conducts peer support meetings in addition to patient education seminars where men get access to unbiased information regarding advances in screening, diagnosis, imaging and treatment options for prostate cancer no matter where they receive medical care. Us TOO seminars are facilitated by medical providers from across the region. For more information, send email to ustoorochesterny@gmail.com; visit www.sites.google.com/site/ustoorochesterny or search the internet for “Us TOO Rochester.”

Jan. 21

Vegan group to host founder of FarmKind Those attending the Jan. 21 meeting of the Rochester Area Vegan Society will hear Harold Brown speak on “The Humane Myth.” Brown is the founder of FarmKind (farmkind. org), a group that was founded to raise issues concerning food, how it is produced and the many complex connections it has to the world. Brownwas also featured in Tribe of Heart’s film “Peaceable Kingdom:

The Journey Home.” The meeting will take place at 5:30 p.m. at Brighton Town Park Lodge, 777 Westfall Road, Rochester. Following the event, the group will hold a vegan share-a-dish dinner at 7 p.m. Dinner is a vegan potluck. Vegan means no animal products (no meat, poultry, fish, eggs, dairy products or honey). Bring a dish with enough to serve a crowd, and a serving utensil; also bring a place setting for your own dinner. The group can help non-vegetarians or others uncertain about how to make or bring a vegan dish. For more information, call 585-234-8750 for help or visit rochesterveg.org.

Feb. 6

Hearing loss group to discuss hearing loss and dementia The Hearing Loss Association of America Rochester Chapter invites anyone interested in hearing loss to any or all of several events taking place Tuesday, Feb 6. All programs are held at St. Paul’s Episcopal Church, East Avenue at Westminster Road, Rochester, across from the George Eastman Museum. The program is as follows: • 10:15 a.m.: “Hearing Other People’s Experiences” (HOPE) at church vestry room. Prospective or new hearing aid users can share their experiences, questions and hearing loss journeys in an informal round table discussion. Retired audiologist and hearing aid user Joseph Kozelsky facilitates. • 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. Parish hall. Program begins at noon. “Untreated hearing loss and Alzheimer’s Disease: Connected?” A generally held idea holds that untreated hearing loss may be a factor in dementia. Physician Anton Porsteinsson, an internationally known expert on dementia, will update chapter members on current concepts in Alzheimer’s disease. Porsteinsson is the director of the UR Alzheimer’s Disease Care, Research and Education Program (AD-CARE) as well as the William B. and Sheila Konar Professor of Psychiatry in the UR School of Medicine and Dentistry. As a geriatric psychiatrist, he has devoted his career to the care and study of individuals with memory disorders. • 7 to 9 p.m. Parish hall. Program begins at 8 p.m. “Winter Wellness for Hearing Loss” is an informal round table discussion with chapter members participating. All HLAA programs are free. Anyone interested in hearing loss is welcome. For more information, view the organization’s website at hlaa-rochester-ny.org or telephone 585 266 7890.

Deadline to submit events for the “Calendar of Health Events” is on or before the 10th We are one of the oldest and most experienced of each month. Email your event to editor@GVhealthnews.com HLAA local chapters in the 4 country. Page • IN GOOD HEALTH – Rochester / Genesee Valley Healthcare Newspaper • January 2018

(585) 266-7890 n www.HearingLossRochester.org Sharing information, ideas and support while working

By George Chapman

Health Trends to Watch

The State of Healthcare in the US: Where We Stand Going into 2018

Cost of Care Everyone agrees it is just too expensive. We spend much more per capita on healthcare (about $10,500) than any other developed country in the world. Healthcare is now 19 percent of our GDP and costs are rising faster than our economy grows. The federal budget is about $3.65 trillion. Healthcare accounts for the biggest chunk of the federal budget at 28 percent or $1.022 trillion. To put that into perspective, pensions account for 25 percent; defense, 21 percent; welfare 9, percent; interest on debt, 7 percent; education, 3 percent; protection, 2 percent; transportation 2 percent and other 2 percent miscellaneous; and finally general government, 1 percent. Premiums for 2018 are hard to project because of the uncertainly in the market created by the White House. The actual cost for care will increase around 12 percent due to factors like medical inflation, aging and morbidity adjustments, and the ACA tax to cover the medically indigent. Experts warn that the conflation of terminating the individual mandate (everyone buys insurance), terminating the subsidies for the indigent (who buys insurance on the exchanges), and just general uncertainty over what Washington is doing could cause rates to jump another 17 percent.

Coverage or Who Pays Almost half of all Americans, 156.8 million people or 49 percent, are covered by their employer. On average, employers pay for about two thirds of the employee’s premium. The other half is covered by some sort of government program. 64 million people, or 20 percent of us, are covered by Medicaid. Medicare covers 44.8 million seniors or 14 percent of us. 22.4 million or 7 percent of us are covered by non-employer groups. The 7 million people who purchase individual coverage on the exchanges are part of this group. The VA and federal employment cover 6.4 million or 2 percent of Americans. The remaining 26.6 million of us (or 8 percent) are still uninsured. If the federal government follows through on cutting

‘The average profit for healthcare insurance companies is just 3.2 percent for health insurance companies. The average profit margin for drug manufacturers is 20.8 percent; medical instruments and supply companies average 12.5 percent; medical appliance and equipment sellers average 9.5 percent. Hospitals’ profit average is 3.7 percent.’ the subsidies on the exchanges, most likely the uninsured rate will climb.

The Culprits Our costs are high mainly because of prices, (particularly for drugs and implantable devices), administration, inefficiently delivered and unnecessary services, fraud and emphasis on treatment versus prevention. All told, it is estimated that the above “culprits” cost us around $765 billion per year. Ironically, a contributing culprit could be we don’t see/use our physicians enough. We average 4.1 doctor visits a year. People in developed countries with far lower costs and better health status see doctors more often: Australia, 6.7 times a year; Canada, 7.4; France, 6.8; Germany, 9.7; and the U.K., five visits a year. Our high deductible plans may be keeping us from seeing the doctor when we should. Drugs developed in the US are cheaper in most other countries. For example, in 2015 the heartburn medication Nexium sold in the US for about $215. It was $60 in Switzerland, $58 in Spain, $42 in England and $23 in the Netherlands.

Profit Margins Most people believe the insurance companies are making the big money. Highly publicized CEO salaries and the president threatening to “cut the subsidies to greedy insurance companies” may contribute to this belief. The average profit margin for insurance companies is 3.2 percent. The ACA actually capped how much of the premium an insurer could retain for operations at 15 percent. If an insurer spent only January 2018 •

80 percent on claims, retaining 20 percent, they had to refund 5 percent of the premium to consumers. The 15 percent covers marketing, reserves, administration and profit. So, after covering their operating expenses, the average profit was just 3.2 percent for insurance companies. The average profit margin for drug manufacturers is 20.8 percent; medical instruments and supply companies average 12.5 percent; medical appliance and equipment sellers average 9.5 percent. Hospitals average 3.7 percent. While profits are quite healthy for the drug and manufacturing companies, medical debt is the No. 1 for personal bankruptcies for people with insurance and without insurance. 62 percent of filings for personal bankruptcy are due to medical bills. Job loss, excess credit, divorce and unexpected expenses round out the top 5 reasons for personal bankruptcy.

Performance Ever since comparisons have been made, our healthcare system pales when compared to other developed countries. Based on a variety of measurable and accepted factors, the highly reputable World Health Organization ranks the US No. 37. Ahead of us are countries like France, Italy, Spain, Japan, the U.K., Germany, Canada, Australia, Greece, Norway, Ireland and Sweden. The Commonwealth Fund compared 11 countries on things like: prevention, safety, coordination, accessibility, affordability, timeliness, administrative efficiency, equity throughout all income levels and nine measures of

healthcare outcomes or status. We came in dead last behind No. 1 U.K., No. 2 Australia, No. 3 Netherlands, No. 4 New Zealand, No. 5 Norway, No. 6 Sweden, No. 7 Switzerland, No. 8 Germany, No. 9 Canada and No. 10 France.

Hospitals There are about 5,500 hospitals in the US with almost 900,000 staffed beds admitting 35 million of us per year. 80 percent of hospitals are nonprofit. In NYS, all 195 hospitals are nonprofit. 1,800 hospitals are located in rural communities and they are the most vulnerable financially in an increasingly competitive and volatile market. Hospital consolidation, through mergers and acquisitions will save many of the at-risk rural and smaller suburban hospitals. The Accountable Care Act was the catalyst for increased merger and acquisition activity, encouraging larger, integrated, comprehensive and more efficient delivery systems. It will very be rare in the near future to find an independent stand-alone hospital. Most will become cogs in a huge clinical wheel. The FTC is keeping a wary eye on hospital consolidation. So far, consolidation has saved some failing hospitals and improved recruitment of physicians but it has not resulted in lower prices for consumers. If consolidation ultimately results in a virtual monopoly that won’t negotiate price with insurers, the FTC will step in and break it up.

Physicians More than half of all active physicians are now employed by a hospital or healthcare system. As the business side of medicine becomes more regulated, confusing and complicated, the trend away from the hassle of private practice will continue. Depending on your source, the number of active physicians varies significantly. According to the Kaiser Family Foundation, there are about 923,000 professionally active physicians. According to the Association of American Medical Colleges, there are about 861,000. Dire predictions of a severe shortage of physicians seem to highly exaggerated. If you split the above difference in the number of active physicians and call it 900,000, that would be about one physician per 360 of us.

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‘In 2015 the heartburn medication Nexium sold in the US for about $215. It was $60 in Switzerland, $58 in Spain, $42 in England and $23 in the Netherlands.’ (US population: about 323,000,000). About half the active physicians are in primary care. That would still be just 720 of us per primary care physician which seems more than manageable despite our aging population. Some of these self-serving predictions fail to account for or minimize the impact of 88,000 physician assistants, 160,000 nurse practitioners, technology, telemedicine and increased consumer involvement in our care.

The Leading Killers The average life expectancy in the US is 79 years. 75 percent of all deaths can be attributed to just 10 causes. Heart disease is the No. 1 killer at 23 percent of all deaths. Cancer is No. 2, causing 23 percent of all deaths. Chronic lower respiratory disease (COPD) is No. 3 causing 5.6 percent of all deaths. The rest are: No. 4, accidents; No., 5 strokes; No. 6, Alzheimer’s; No. 7, diabetes; No. 8, flu and pneumonia; No. 9, kidney disease; and No. 10, suicide. Moving quickly up the top killer list is overdose from opioid/heroine. 140 people a day or 51,000 a year die from overdosing on oxycodone, fentanyl, codeine, hydrocodone, etc. Once the prescription expires, addicts turn to cheaper heroine.

Good Health 50 percent of good health is impacted by your “life.” That includes factors such as income, disability, education, social exclusion, social safety net, gender, employment or working conditions, race, diet, housing and sense of belonging to your community. 25 percent of good health is impacted by your healthcare, including access to care, the system you choose and wait times. 15 percent of good health is affected by your biology and genetics. Finally, 10 percent of good health depends upon air quality and civic infrastructure. Of the factors you can control, keeping in contact with your primary care physician is the best thing you can do to reduce or mitigate, if not completely prevent, untoward health events.

George W. Chapman is a healthcare business consultant who works exclusively with physicians, hospitals and healthcare organizations. He operates GW Chapman Consulting based in Syracuse. Email him at gwc@gwchapmanconsulting.com. Page 6

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Meet

Your Doctor

By Chris Motola

William J. Koenig, MD Surgeon talks about misconceptions about plastic surgeries and his missions to Guatemala to treat kids with facial deformities Q: What are some of the misconceptions people have about plastic surgery? A: A lot of people think it’s just cosmetic surgery or just for people with a lot of money. Those are probably the two major ones. But before I confined my practice to a more specific area, we worked from the head down. We do reconstruction of the head and neck area, we do breast reconstruction after cancer, we take care of wounds. We take care of birth defects, all kinds of trauma. We do hand surgery. There’s a huge range of things plastic surgeons do nationally. Q: What about the patients you see? A: My practice is almost entirely cosmetic surgery. That’s what I do on a day-to-day basis. But most of us start off with a lot of reconstructive surgery and then over time people’s practice kind of evolves into doing the things that interest them most. Most of my practice now is confined to cosmetic surgery of the breast and body. My patients are about 10-15 percent men, the rest are women. Women range from 18 to 85 years old. Most want an improvement they can’t achieve with diet or exercise, or they want to have part of their body brought back to a more youthful look. Q: What ultimately led you to focus on the breast and body? A: It was a combination of the staff I wanted to join, where I wanted to live, my interests and what my experience led me to be good at. Q: Do patients have reasonable expectations from plastic surgery? A: I think most patients come in with a pretty good idea of what they want. Most of them have perused before and after pictures on the internet.

Certainly part of our job is giving them an accurate sense of what we can achieve. Q: With breast surgery, are we talking enhancement, reduction? A: My practice, personally, involves breast augmentation, lifting the breasts, making them have a more youthful shape. My partner does everything I do plus breast reconstruction and reductions. Q: What materials are used nowadays? A: We’re now on the fifth generation of silicone implants. Silicone implants were taken off the market in 1992 and returned to the market in 2006 for cosmetics. They were never taken off for reconstructive purposes. The old silicone was more liquidy, the current generation is more cohesive. So even if you had a rupture, it still doesn’t go anywhere. So it’s safer. Q: My understanding is that you’re involved in the HUGS Foundation, which corrects congenital facial deformities in kids who live in poor countries. Tell us about that? A: In the past I had been very involved in cleft lip and palate, which is what I do for HUGS. I’ve been doing surgical missions in other parts of the world for the last 25 years. It’s a big part of my life. It was established to help children with birth defects. So it’s a great foundation that was started by my partner, Dr. Vito Quatela. We have fundraisers every year. We have a lot of volunteers in the Rochester area, but there’s also people from all over the country who come on these four trips we do throughout the year.

IN GOOD HEALTH – Rochester / Genesee Valley Healthcare Newspaper • January 2018

The one I go to is in Guatemala. They also go to Ecuador and Vietnam. This year we’ll be going to Peru. Q: And you guys are primarily doing facial reconstructive surgery on those missions? A: The mission to Vietnam and Ecuador are mostly microtia, which is ear reconstruction. The missions to Guatemala and Peru are microtia and cleft lip and palate. Q: How many patients do you usually see on a trip? A: Usually about 60 to 80 patients are operated on during a single mission. Q: What kinds of facilities do you use while you’re there? Do you have to improvise? A: Microtia surgery is very complex, so it’s done at hospitals in those countries. They don’t have necessarily the equipment that we do, though, so we’ll transport that with us. It’s basically at the same level that we would do here. Cleft lip and palate is a bit easier, so that can be done in a less clinical setting, but all of our work is done in hospitals. Q: When are the fundraisers? A: There’s a big fundraiser in February and another, an outdoor concert, in August. do?

Q: What other procedures do you

A: I do a lot of tummy tucks and liposuction. A lot of my day is doing mommy makeovers, which includes those and a breast lift or augmentation. Basically returning the body to how it looked before they had children. Q: Even though it isn’t really a weight loss procedure, what are some of the impacts on the body from removing fat? A: Liposuction is taking a part of your body with too much fat and making it more in proportion to the rest of their body. So it’s never been for weight loss. It does get rid of weight, but that’s not its purpose. It’s for dealing with problem areas. So if you think of fat cells like box cars that hold fat. When you gain weight, every fat cell gets bigger. When you lose, they all get smaller. Liposuction takes some box cars away. The patient will still gain weight, but they won’t put it back on in the same way. So they may not get as fat in their belly. They’ll be a heavier version of what they looked like when they got the liposuction. Usually it’s people who are in good shape, but have a problem area that they just aren’t able to deal with, or can’t find normal sized clothes for.

Lifelines Name: William J. Koenig, MD Position: Plastic surgeon with Quatela Center for Plastic Surgery Hometown: Hazelton, PA Education: Northwestern University Medical School Affiliations: Unity and Highland Hospitals Organizations: American Society of Plastic Surgery; Monroe County Medical Society Family: Married, two children Hobbies: Biking, running, golf, travel

Isn’t It Time For a New You! Medical Weight Loss Programs in Rochester, New York Things you need to know

In the last couple of years, Weight Loss Programs have been popping up on every street corner in Monroe County. You can’t help but hear or see a commercial about Extreme Weight Loss when listening to the radio or watching TV or even on the evening news. As the first and most experienced Medical Weight Loss Program in Rochester, New York, the Medical Staff at New Genesis is concerned about the safety and credibility of those running what they claim are “Medically Monitored Weight Loss Programs.” The Obesity Medicine Association (of which we are members) is an arm of the American Medical Association. Both have expressed concerns about low calorie diets (defined as less than 1000 calories) that they should only be done under Medical Supervision as they have been and can be life threatening.

What is Medical Supervision? If the provider supervising your diet does not have a Medical Doctor, Osteopathic Doctor, Physician Assistant or Nurse Practitioner after their name, they are not qualified to monitor a Low Calorie Diet of less than 1000 calories or a Very Low Calorie Diet as low as 800 calories. A Chiropractor is not trained or qualified to “medically supervise” any diet less than 1000 calories. We have personally been told by Some Weight Loss Programs by receptionists on the phone that several of the Chiropractor run Rochester based programs are “medically supervised.” However, this is simply not true.

Why is Medical Supervision so necessary for extreme weight loss diets? During these rapid weight loss diets, changes can occur to your body that need to be monitored by a Medical Professional. A Chiropractor is unable to practice medicine by any

definition; they are Doctors of Chiropractic who are licensed to perform spinal manipulation. They cannot order the laboratory tests necessary to screen at the onset of a low calorie diet or during the diet as required by the Obesity Medicine Association and the AMA in their safety protocols for Low and Very Low Diets. Even if they were to look at blood work ordered by your licensed medical provider, the truth is they have never been trained to evaluate or understand the meaning of such tests and they would not understand what they are looking at. During Very Low Calorie Diets, electrolyte shifts can and do occur that can be life threatening. This is something we have seen in our practice, serious electrolyte shifts, but have caught them because we were able to monitor the patient’s blood work. This needs to be monitored on a monthly basis by a Licensed Medical Provider who can interpret the tests. In the 1970’s, fad diets very much like the ones being offered by Chiropractors today resulted in sudden deaths of many of its participants. This is likely because those diet participants had what is called an undiagnosed prolonged QT interval on their electrocardiogram. A QT interval represents how long it takes for the heart to reset itself after each beat. If it is long and there are electrolyte shifts due to a diet, the patient could experience sudden death. Every patient who is going to participate in a Very Low Calorie Diet should be screed at onset for a prolonged QT interval by a Medical Provider with an Electrocardiogram. Chiropractors are prohibited by law from doing EKGs as it constitutes the Practice of Medicine, and they certainly do not know how to read electrograms. We predict that it is only a matter of time before patients on these so called “medically monitored” programs will have a patient with a prolonged QT interval who will die a sudden death in Rochester as a result of a prolonged QT interval and electrolyte shifts caused by a very low calorie diet. When looking for a rapid weight loss program, it is important to ask, “Who will I be seeing that will medically supervise the program?” “Is it an MD, DO, PA or an NP?” If it is not, then STOP and ask yourself if it is worth the risk? Ask, “Will initial and monthly blood tests be done that will monitor my electrolytes, my kidney function, my liver function, and my EKG in the event there is a problem that can only be detected through these tests?” If not, life threatening consequences can occur, when not monitored on a regular basis.

Medications Ask if medications are available to help curb appetite during the rapid weight loss phase which many patients find helpful. Only a licensed medical provider can help you with this. Chiropractors cannot prescribe any of the six FDA approved medications for weight loss.

Red Flags A Red Flag should be if the weight loss center claims to have a “magic” or “miracle” water that you must drink as part of the program. There are no scientific studies that endorse such things. Another Red Flag should be if the diet center ever mentions the use of the hormone HCG with any diet at all. The Obesity Medicine Association and the American Medical Association have both come out with a position statement condemning the use of HCG as studies have proven it is useless in weight loss. They also state that HCG may in itself be life threatening as it increases the risk of blood clots in the leg. These blood clots in the leg can break off, travel to the heart and lungs, and cause serious problems or death! You may say, “I have a friend who has lost weight at a rapid weight loss center, and they did not have any problems.” They have been lucky and, yes, whenever you restrict someone’s caloric intake to 500 calories, they will lose weight regardless of exercise, “magic” water, or HCG drops. They are risking their lives in the meantime. Everyone likes hearing that it is “not your fault,” and “we can reset your metabolism.” All of our metabolisms slow as we get older, and it changes with menopause. One of the first things to do is to check your metabolism regulator which is your thyroid. If you have a thyroid problem, medication needs to be prescribed by a licensed medical professional. At New Genesis, we seek to normalize your thyroid numbers with medication. If you don’t have a thyroid problem, then the cause of your obesity is clear: you are consuming too many calories and doing too little exercise. It does you no good to be told that it is “not your fault” and “we can fix your metabolism” by eating 500 calories and drinking our “magic” water. The only way to fix your metabolism is through a lifestyle of cardiovascular exercise or the results simply won’t last. If you, like millions of Americans suffer from a BMI over 30, you have a 100% chance of dying an early death from an obesity related issue. It is time for change, change that will save your life by helping you lose weight rapidly and safely. We invite you to check out the competition and remember these questions: “Who is the licensed medical provider I will be seeing?” “How often will I see the provider?” “How many calories is the diet?” If it is less than 1000 and not monitored by a Licensed MD, DO, NP or PA, get out of there as soon as possible and find a real Medical Weight Loss Program.

Remember these Red Flags: A Red Flag for you should be if the caloric intake you are being told to take is less than 1000 a day and there is no licensed medical provider to monitor your laboratory results. Another Red Flag should be if the person who is monitoring you is not licensed to practice medicine or is a chiropractor. Finally, the third Red Flag is, “Am I being asked to drink “magic” water or HCG drops?”

What to Expect at New Genesis 1. A Complimentary Consultation with our certified Weight Loss Coordinator to make sure you are a good fit with our program

2. A Physical Examination with our Licensed Medical Provider and review of your laboratory findings (Appetite suppressant medications will be discussed to determine if they will benefit you.) 3. Shop for Meal Replacement selections from a wide verity of choices. 4. You Begin the program 5. You Receive weekly coaching sessions with our Weight Loss Coordinator for support 6. You attend monthly meetings with our Exercise Physiologist creating a custom designed exercise program with realistic goals for you for the future 7. 24-hour medical emergency on-call service 8. Commonly we do consultations with your primary care physician as the weight falls off of you, to lower your blood pressure medications, anti-cholesterol medications, and even some heart medications We encourage you to shop around, but if there are Red Flags, beware. Then meet with our weight loss coach at no cost to you. If you battle with obesity, you will have to learn to control it for the rest of your life, and that is what we do best. Anyone can get the weight off, but here at New Genesis we excel at doing it safely and in keeping it off for a life time. Remember you are not alone; over 30% of adults and children are now considered obese in America. At New Genesis, we are committed to helping you lose weight and keep it off for the rest of your life. We are facing an epidemic of unprecedented proportions, and the time to act is now. Call New Genesis today for a complimentary evaluation. You have nothing to lose except 25, 50, 100 pounds or more. Call 381-9966 today for your complimentary consultation. Mention this Ad from “In Good Health” and receive $100 off* your program. *May not be combined with other discounts or offers.

CENTER FOR MEDICAL WEIGHT LOSS AND COSMETIC MEDICINCE 3300 Monroe Ave., Suite 345, Rochester NY 14618 (585) 381-9966 l www.newgenesis.com January 2018 •

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Live Alone & Thrive

By Gwenn Voelckers

Practical tips, advice and hope for those who live alone

Build a Home in Your Heart in 2018 “Build thy home in thy heart and be forever sheltered.” – Anonymous

love this saying. It captures so beautifully what I practice every day and what I preach in my Live Alone and Thrive workshops — that the relationship with ourselves is the most enduring of all and that it is worth nurturing. Most of the women and men whom have made peace with living alone are busy leading interesting lives and making it their own. They have challenged, as have I, the age-old and deeply held belief that marriage, as it has been traditionally defined, is the only state in which we can be happy, fulfilled, secure and successful. We have come to consider our time alone as a gift, not a burden. Whether divorced or widowed, we are not spending this precious time bemoaning our fate. We have overcome adversity and we are the stronger for it. We have taken our lives into our own hands and have embraced the choices and possibilities that living alone has to offer. This is what we know . . . Living alone doesn’t mean being alone. All you need to do is pick up the phone, text a friend or email a colleague.

Accepting party invitations is worth doing, even if it’s a party with mostly couples. Keep in mind that guests often separate into groups of women and men, so singles blend right in. Traveling solo is an adventure in self-discovery. Whether it’s Paris or Peoria, striking out on your own will expand your horizons and build self-confidence. Figuring out how to replace the flapper valve in your toilet — all by yourself — can be very rewarding! The stereotyped images of single women and men as desperate and miserable are exaggerated and just plain untrue. Recent studies on the subject bear this out. Rediscovering your “true self” and identifying those things that bring meaning and joy into your life can turn living alone into an adventure of the spirit. Pursuing a new career or college degree in midlife can be liberating and fun. Doing a “random act of kindness” is a great antidote when you’re feeling lonely and sorry

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for yourself. Friends matter. Reach out. Nurture your friendships. Honor your commitments. Accepting a dinner invitation does not obligate you to anything. Paying your own fair share on a date can feel good and empowering. Loneliness is not a “state of being” reserved for single people. Were you ever lonely in your marriage? Letting go of the idea that you need to be married to have any chance of being happy and fulfilled is essential. This idea will only keep you mired in self-pity. Treating yourself well builds esteem. Prepare and enjoy decent meals at home. Get enough sleep. Exercise. You’re worth it. Tell yourself so by taking good care of yourself. Your children are your first priorities, even in the face of an enticing romance. Getting out of your comfort zone is worth the discomfort. Try something new — dancing, a book club, golf lessons… whatever. It’s a great way to have fun and meet people. Isolating on holidays, birthdays, Sundays, etc. is no good. Solitary confinement is punishment for criminals, not single people. Make plans. Comb your hair. Lose the sweat pants. Put a smile on your face. It’s important to create your own positive feedback. Looking good tells people you value yourself. It will draw people (and compliments) to you. Who doesn’t need and want that?

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shut off their technology before bed. And don’t let the cellphone be next to them while they sleep,” advised Fuller. She is a medical student at the Penn State Hershey College of Medicine. It’s important to note, however, that while the study found associations between technology use at bedtime and some negative outcomes, the study wasn’t designed to prove a cause-and-effect relationship. About 40 percent of youngsters have their own cellphone by fifth grade, according to background notes in the study. And there are now electronic and tablet-based children’s toys for even younger kids, the study authors noted. Children who watched TV or

used their cellphones at bedtime were more than twice as likely to be overweight or obese, the study findings showed. Unsurprisingly, kids who played more sports or played outside more often were less likely to be overweight. Also, kids who watched TV or played video games at bedtime got about 30 minutes less sleep nightly than those who didn’t watch TV, according to the study. The video gamers also had more trouble staying asleep. In general, kids who used their phones or computers at bedtime lost about an hour of sleep each night compared to those who put their technology away earlier.

9. 10. 11. 12. 13. 14. 15. 16. 17. 18.

There’s no shame in asking for help. It’s not a sign of weakness. On the contrary. Self-confidence and humor are powerful aphrodisiacs; neediness and desperation are not. Doing anything alone means you enjoy life and your own company; it does not mean you are a loser. Expanding your definition of love beyond “romantic love” will stand you in good stead. Embrace “passionate friendships” — those relationships in which you can be yourself and feel completely comfortable. Hanging out with negative people is a real downer. Put yourself with people who make you feel good about yourself and about life. Living alone takes practice. Know that there is always someone you can call or something you can do to improve your situation. So there you have it, two dozen tips for building thy home in thy heart. I’ll end as I started, with another quote I love. This one is by Gilda Radner:

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“Whether you’re married or not, whether you have a boyfriend or not, there is no real security except for whatever you build inside yourself.”

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

s d i K Corner

Tech at Bedtime May Mean Heavier Kids Study shows that use of electronic gadgets in bed disrupts children’s sleep

ids and their smartphones aren’t easily parted, but if you want your children to get a good night’s sleep and to stay at a healthy weight, limiting bedtime screen time appears key, new research suggests. Parent surveys revealed that using a smartphone or watching TV at bedtime was tied to a greater body mass index (BMI). BMI is an estimate of body fat based on height and weight. And using any technology at bedtime — cellphones, TVs, laptops, Page 8

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iPads and video games — was linked to getting about an hour less sleep, poorer sleep and, not surprisingly, morning fatigue. The one bit of good news from the study was that technology use didn’t seem to increase the risk of attention problems. “Parents should have a conversation with their child’s pediatrician about age-appropriate use of technology,” recommended the study’s lead author, Caitlyn Fuller. “You want kids to be getting a good amount of sleep, so ask kids to

IN GOOD HEALTH – Rochester / Genesee Valley Healthcare Newspaper • January 2018

Excellus: Flu Incidence Higher Than Last Year Rates of the flu incidence as of Dec. 9 are higher than last year’s. Official encourages people to get vaccinated against the flu. “It’s never too late,” he says

he number of confirmed flu cases in New York state is greater than the number of cases reported by this time last year, according to an Excellus BlueCross BlueShield review of New York state health data. As of Dec. 9, 1,820 cases of the flu have been confirmed in New York state. A year ago, New York state had reported 1,264 confirmed cases of the flu. The number of hospitalizations associated with influenza this year (684 as of Dec. 9) is also greater than the number of influenza-associated hospitalizations at this time last year (491 as of Dec. 10, 2016) “Most of the flu cases being reported now are from the influenza A strain, which is a component of this year’s flu vaccine,” said physician Richard Lockwood, a vice president and chief medical officer of Excellus BlueCross BlueShield. “The annual flu vaccine is designed to protect against three or four flu strains during a season.” According to Lockwood, different flu strains can circulate at different times during a flu season that can extend to as late as May. “It’s never too late to get vaccinated,” he said. During the 2016-2017 flu season in New York state, only half of the population aged 6 months and older got the flu vaccine. That resulted in 65,000 New Yorkers getting the flu. “The health of a community hinges on increasing the percentage of people who are vaccinated,” said Lockwood. “That’s especially true this year, when the number of reported flu cases is on pace to exceed last year’s total,” he continued. “A flu shot not only protects you from getting the flu, but also protects others from catching the flu from you, so there’s a community benefit to getting a flu shot.” Statistically, every 100 people who get the flu will infect 127 others. One person with the flu can infect

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In Good Health is published 12 times a year by Local News, Inc. © 2018 by Local News, Inc. All rights reserved. 154 Cobblestone Court Dr., Suite 121 – P.O. Box 525, Victor NY 14564. • Phone: 585-421-8109 • Email: Editor@GVhealthnews.com Editor & Publisher: Wagner Dotto • Associate Editor: Lou Sorendo Writers: Jim Miller, Deborah J. Sergeant, Gwenn Voelckers, Anne Palumbo, Chris Motola, George W. Chapman, Ernst Lamothe Jr., Matthew Liptak, Kyra Mancine, Christine Green, Diane Kane (MD) • Advertising: Anne Westcott, Denise Ruf • Layout & Design: Dylon Clew-Thomas • Office Assistant: Kimberley Tyler 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.

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Solar panel generators at Rochester Regional Health’s the Riedman campus at 100 Kings Hwy. S. in Rochester.

Rochester Regional Health Seeks Out Sustainability By Matthew Liptak

ochester Regional Health, the area’s second largest employer, has decided to take an especially aggressive stance when it comes to tackling the issue of sustainability. The health system has formed a department of sustainability and is already making inroads in cutting costs and reducing environmental impact. It has a goal of taking all its electrical power from renewable energy sources by the year 2025. “We have to be good stewards of the environment that’s our home and home to the people we serve,” said Eric Bieber, the president and CEO of Rochester Regional Health. “Furthermore, we’re living in a time when the technology allows these investments to be smart business decisions that pay for themselves. No matter how you look at it, it’s the right thing to do.” Spearheading the effort for Bieber and the health system is Mike Waller, director of the sustainability department. “We’re actually able to get things done,” Waller said. “A lot of organizations don’t have anyone focused on it. They throw the term around. We call it ‘greenwashing’, where companies say they’re doing all these things that are great for the local economy, for the environment, finding all these ways to be more efficient, when in reality they’re not. They just cover it up with something flashy.” Waller is tackling sustainability through a multi-pronged effort Page 10

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involving energy efficiency, waste management, sustainable purchasing, building design, food sourcing, and community outreach and education. Energy may be the area that’s getting the most attention from the public, in part due to the large array of solar panel generators Rochester Regional Health put up in October at its Riedman campus. And in part due to the cost savings. The numbers are almost as big as the health system’s ambitions. “By the end of 2025 we anticipate we’ll be spending $1.5 million less on electricity than we are today,” Waller said. “That’s actually a really conservative number.” The department is also trying to have a positive impact in smaller ways too. For example, they want to phase out Styrofoam cups. “There are some concerns over certain materials like Styrofoam,” he said. “There’s more and more data coming out that some of these things can be harmful in the long term to people and the environment.” Waller works with just two interns, but also many devoted staff members from other departments who are passionate about the sustainability. When he first came on a couple years ago, Waller thought he would encounter resistance from staff about implementing the changes, but the opposite has been true. Despite the controversial aspect of the subject of sustainability, he said he hasn’t received much or any blowback from fellow workers.

Mike Waller, director of the sustainability department at Rochester REgional Health. “By the end of 2025 we anticipate we’ll be spending $1.5 million less on electricity than we are today,” he says. In fact, the main challenge he said he has is that there is more work to be done than hours in the day to do it. “Honestly I think the biggest challenge is there are just so many places to make progress in, and there’s not enough time to do them all,” he said. Rochester Regional Health expects to meet the 2025 goal by constructing renewable energy generators both on and off site, and, to a smaller extent, purchasing green energy for its supply needs. And patients will reap the benefits of the network’s sustainability initiative. “We’re a nonprofit,” said system spokesperson, Derek Desol. “That means anytime you’re reducing cost it’s reinvested into care somehow. The solar array at Riedman is really the first step of a long journey here. It’s all done for the right reasons. It’s all being done responsibly and for a long-term financial benefit. In addition, it’s great for the environment.

IN GOOD HEALTH – Rochester / Genesee Valley Healthcare Newspaper • January 2018

As a health care organization don’t we have an obligation to do both? I think that’s what it boils down too.” Waller said he encourages other institutions to pursue sustainability in their practices and their infrastructure. Although Rochester Regional Health may be taking the lead when it comes to changing the conversation, he said many other are engaging in rethinking the how they do things too. He sees a day not too far in the future when fossil fuels will have gone the way of the dinosaurs themselves. Sustainability is the future, he believes. “Any kind of environmental problem just comes up later on as a human health problem,” he said. “All of these things that we are doing are trying to make sure those human health problems don’t occur down the road. I think eventually 30,40, maybe 50 years from now renewable energy is just going to be all that we have.”

Run Strong All Winter Long Maintaining a running routine during the cold and snow. Yes, it’s possible By Kyra Mancine

It’s All About Attitude

You may be eligible if: You are between the ages of 21-65 years l You have been using Waterpipe/Hookah only or smoking cigarettes only, or smoking cigarettes and waterpipe/hookah together (dual use)

Be Prepared

Ellen Brenner, vice president, Fleet Feet Sports in Rochester, advises runners to cover all exposed skin, including neck, ears and even the ankles — which can easily be overlooked if you wear capris or ¾ length running pants. “Stick to polyester or wool for your base layer — no cotton, which stays wet and can add to your chill. Even your underwear should be a fabric other than cotton.” To help run in snow and icy conditions, she recommends traction/ cleat type devices (such as Yaktrax or STABILicers) that runners can slip on over their shoes. You can even have metal studs inserted into running shoes to help with traction and stability on snowy roads or trails. If snow is deep, trail shoes are recommended because they have deeper treads like

Earn $100 by participating in our study!

Winter runners look at their outdoor runs as a chance to enjoy the beauty of the season. “I like running in winter because I like the cooler weather, plus I find it pretty and peaceful, especially on my early morning runs,” said Beth Frawley, a runner from Irondequoit. “I even like running when it snows.”

Expert Advice

Research Waterpipe or Hookah User/Smoker?

Waterpipe/Hookah Study Two visits ($50 per visit)- anytime 3-4 weeks apart from the first visit for blood draws (two teaspoons) and urine collection

For many runners, their running season ends when the cold, dark days of winter are upon us. For others, they running season continues, even when the snow falls and temperatures tumble. How and why do they do it?

It’s important to be ready for the conditions. Is it going to be windy? Is it slippery? What is the temperature going to be during the run? The answers to these questions dictate how you should dress. Start off by wearing layers. Frawley wears base layers, thermal-running pants and wool socks. “I also have a few different jacket options, depending on the temperature, as well as assorted hats, ear warmers and gloves. Sometimes I use hand warmers, but not too often.” Be mindful to not overdress though, otherwise you risk overheating. You want to dress as if it’s 15 to 20 degrees warmer than it is outside. Fabrics that wick sweat are ideal, because they can vent moisture as you warm up during your run. You also want to make sure to wear a hat and protect your face from frostbite. “It’s all about preparation. Once you get going, you warm up quickly and, while you’re still aware of the cold, it doesn’t feel uncomfortable,“ said Todd Youngman, an avid runner from Rochester who runs outdoors five miles a day, six days a week, year-round. “There’s also a sense of accomplishment in knowing that you’re braving the elements.”

Volunteers Needed

Contact

The bonding and team feeling that comes with engaging in the sport can be a big motivator for cold weather runners. If you don’t want to run with a group, seek out a running partner and commit to a few outdoor runs a week. a snow tire. Whatever footwear you choose, “don’t ignore the conditions – be logical,” Brenner said. “Runners still need to be cautious and shorten their stride, no matter what type of shoe they’re wearing. “

Pre-and Post-Run Besides being dressed appropriately for the conditions, it’s also important to warm up before you start out. Being a bit chilly before a run is OK, but getting your heart rate up indoors (by doing a few jumping jacks or jumping rope for instance) before heading outdoors can help take away the initial shock of the cold to your system. In addition, changing out of sweaty, wet garments post-run is extremely important. Having a hot beverage after a run is beneficial too and gives runners something to look forward to as well. If you’re running early in the morning or at night, be sure to wear reflective or fluorescent gear, a headlamp or other bright attire with a light source. Some runners also run with flashlights. Remember — your phone doubles as one as well. There are many other products to make your outdoor runs safe and more January 2018 •

comfortable. Check out your local running store, and don’t be afraid to ask the staff for advice. Most of them are runners too!

our Research Coordinator on (585) 273-2843 if you are interested or if you have any questions. Thank you!

Camaraderie counts The bonding and team feeling that comes with engaging in the sport can be a big motivator for cold weather runners. If you don’t want to run with a group, seek out a running partner and commit to a few outdoor runs a week. It’s much harder to back out when you have someone to hold you accountable and the date is on your calendar. Locally, there are numerous groups with running opportunities. The Rochester Running Store offers a variety of free runs that start from its store on Mt. Hope Avenue. Medved Running & Walking Outfitters on Monroe Avenue in Pittsford also offers free running events. Fleet Feet goes one step further and offers a free winter warrior program where runners participate in pre-set goal oriented workouts and other events to keep them motivated throughout the winter months. You can also seek out a winter race to keep you training toward a goal. Check out local race calendars to find upcoming events.

Be Realistic Don’t expect to be as fast as you are in warmer conditions. Accept that you aren’t going to beat any personal records. You never want to risk injury just to get a run in. And yes, there will be times when the best choice is to skip that outdoor run. With a little preparation and the right mindset though, outdoor running can be an invigorating way to enjoy the weather this winter.

Volunteers Needed Non-smokers and e-cigarette users

Earn $100 by participating in our study! Two visits ($50 per visit). The second visit will be 6 months after the first. There will be lung function test and blood draw (two tablespoons), saliva, breath condensate and urine collection at each visit. You may be eligible if: You are between the ages of 18-65 years l You have been using e-cigarettes only, or nonsmokers l

Contact

Call our Research Coordinator (585) 273-2843 if you are interested or if you have any questions. Thank you!

IN GOOD HEALTH – Rochester / Genesee Valley Healthcare Newspaper

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SmartBites

The skinny on healthy eating

What’s So Great About Grapefruit? E ver since the infamous Grapefruit Diet made its debut — back in the l930s to help starlets lose weight — grapefruits have been associated with weight loss. Fans claim it contains enzymes that help burn off fat. Some studies have shown that people who eat half a fresh grapefruit or drink grapefruit juice before each meal lose more weight than people who do not. But not all studies have shown the same weight-loss benefit; and scientists can’t say if the weight loss was specifically due to the grapefruit or to filling up on a low-calorie food in general. Final word from nutritionists: Don’t look to the grapefruit to melt fat, but do look to this mouth-wateringly tart fruit for a host of other health benefits.

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Great factor No. 1: All grapefruits pack a hefty dose of vitamin C, with the red and pink ones providing a good dose of vitamin A, too. A powerful antioxidant, vitamin C plays a vital role in the formation of collagen, may speed wound healing, and has even been linked with wrinkle reduction. An equally essential nutrient, vitamin A promotes good vision, normal bone growth, and all-around good health. Both vitamins work hard to keep our immune systems humming, which is especially important during flu season. Great factor No. 2:

Grapefruit can help lower “bad” cholesterol. Numerous studies have shown that grapefruit eaters, particularly those eating red, had a notable drop in LDL cholesterol. While researchers can’t pinpoint why grapefruits have this affect on cholesterol, they do suggest its cholesterol-clearing fiber, high concentration of antioxidants and beneficial phytonutrients may all contribute to this hearthealthy benefit. More good news for your heart: Grapefruit appears to lower levels of triglycerides, another type

of “bad” fat that can clog up arteries.

Great factor No. 3:

Grapefruit may lower blood pressure. Grapefruit, especially grapefruit juice, provides enough potassium to be included in the DASH (Dietary Approaches to Stop Hypertension) Diet, a healthy diet plan that was developed by the National Institutes of Health to lower blood pressure without mediation. Numerous studies suggest that boosting your potassium intake, while curbing salt and sodium, can significantly reduce your risk of stroke and heart disease. A grapefruit’s high vitamin C content may also reduce blood pressure, according to research that links vitamin C with this positive effect.

Not-so-great factor:

Grapefruit and grapefruit juice can seriously interfere with some prescription medications. Because these interactions can cause potentially dangerous health problems, experts recommend you ask your pharmacist whether your medication interacts with grapefruit.

Helpful Tips

Select grapefruits that are firm, smooth, heavy for their size and yield to light pressure. The thinner the rind, the sweeter the grapefruit. Go for the imperfect-looking grapefruit with a discolored rind: they’ll be sweeter than those with uniform color. Store grapefruits at room temperature for up to a week or refrigerate for up to three weeks. Bring refrigerated grapefruits to room temperature for maximum flavor. Rinse grapefruits under cool water before you dig in.

IN GOOD HEALTH – Rochester / Genesee Valley Healthcare Newspaper • January 2018

Grapefruit, Kale and Toasted Walnut Salad

Adapted from Health.com

1 bunch kale, rinsed 2 pink grapefruit 1 shallot 1/4 cup fresh lemon juice 1/2cup plain yogurt 2 to 3 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil 1/2 teaspoon kosher salt 1/4 teaspoon coarse black pepper 1/2 cup toasted walnuts

Remove the tough ribs from the kale; discard. Chop the kale leaves into small, bite-sized pieces and transfer to a mixing bowl. Sprinkle the kale with a dash of salt and use your hands to massage the kale by scrunching up the leaves. Peel and segment grapefruit, reserving 2 tablespoons of the juice for the dressing. Cut shallot in half, horizontally: mince half; slice other half into thin rings. In small bowl, whisk together minced shallot, reserved grapefruit juice, lemon juice, yogurt, oil, salt and pepper. Add more oil if dressing tastes too tart. Toss dressing with kale. Top with shallot rings, grapefruit, and toasted walnuts.

Anne Palumbo is a lifestyle colum-

nist, 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.

What to Eat This Winter How do we stay warm and happy, fit and healthy during the winter months? By Anne Palumbo

ome winter — a season of short days, long nights, chilly temps and lavish holiday spreads — it’s easy to make some unhealthy food choices. We’re cold; we’re bored; we’re tempted; we’re restless. And some of us, no thanks to the decrease in sunlight, may also feel seriously down in the dumps. Compound all of the above with dry, itchy skin and a cold that won’t relent, and it’s no wonder we’re reaching for that second helping of mashed potatoes. Of course, we may also be reaching for that second helping simply because it’s winter and our appetite is heartier for comfort foods: stews, mac ‘n’cheese, pancakes, pies. While some experts suggest our cravings are a throwback to the days when we needed an extra layer of fat to survive the cold, most say it’s just physiology. “When outdoor temperatures drop, your body temperature drops, and that’s what sets up a longing for foods that will warm you quickly,” says nutrition expert and registered dietitian Kristin Herlocker. “Carbohydrate-rich foods provide the instant ‘heat’ boost your body is longing for.” So, how do we stay warm and happy, fit and healthy during the winter months? Read on for healthy food choices that are easy to implement.

If you’re gaining weight, reach for better snacks Studies indicate that the average person gains 1 to 2 pounds during the winter months, with those who are already overweight likely to gain more. Nutritionists suggest that consuming sugary, starchy fillers between meals may be the culprit, as these foods often don’t satiate us the way harder-to-digest foods do. Instead of snacking on chips or candy, eat a high-protein, high-fiber snack

between meals — a snack that keeps you feeling fuller longer and your blood sugar steadier — like peanut butter on celery sticks, low-fat cheese on whole-grain crackers, or some nuts. Nutritious snacks will fuel the body’s heat mechanism — and the toastier we stay, the less we crave carbs. What’s more, healthy snacks are typically much lower in calories than unhealthy snacks. For example: One cup of unbuttered air-popped popcorn—30 calories; one cup of potato chips — 150 calories; one cup of strawberry halves — 50 calories; one Snickers bar — 250 calories.

If you’re feeling blue, try these mood-boosting foods Being cooped up during the coldest, darkest days of the year can make us feel so listless and down. Is it any wonder our sweet tooth flares during the wintertime? Oh, if only that cookie were a legit fix! Unfortunately, a steady diet of simple carbs is the last thing our moods need in the winter. What we need, according to experts, is to consume foods with proven mood-boosting nutrients and fatty acids, such as vitamin D, the sunshine vitamin (found in fortified dairy products, eggs and mushrooms); folate, a B vitamin, that may help lessen depression (abundant in spinach, asparagus and lentils); and omega-3s, brain-building fatty acids believed to stabilize moods (found in salmon, walnuts and flaxseed). And chocolate? Many studies support that consuming chocolate can help improve your mood, especially dark chocolate, which stimulates the production of endorphins, chemicals in the brain that create feelings of pleasure. Dark chocolate also contains serotonin, a mood-boosting antidepressant. The key with chocolate, however, is moderation.

January 2018 •

If you’re susceptible to colds and coughs, fortify your body with these superstars Most of us come down with something over the winter months, no matter how rigorous our hand-washing, no matter how sterile our environment, no matter how dutifully we’ve instructed those around us to sneeze into a tissue. But we can lessen our chances, experts say, by keeping our immune system healthy. While the jury is still out on which nutrients strengthen our immune system most, there is some evidence that foods rich in vitamins A, B, C and E (all powerful antioxidants), as well as zinc, iron, folate and selenium, do an immune system good! In other words, a balanced diet that’s high in a variety of fruits, vegetables, nuts and whole grains. A few superstar recommendations: broccoli, dark leafy greens, almonds, oatmeal, sweet potatoes, pumpkin seeds and garlic. Will loading up on vitamin C during the cold months keep you sniffle-free? Doubtful. Studies, so far, have found no evidence that vitamin C prevents colds. What some studies have found, however, is that higher doses taken at the onset may help shorten the length of your cold and reduce the severity of symptoms. How much vitamin C? The National Institutes of Health suggests that adults consume no more than 2,000 mg each day, as too much vitamin C may cause kidney stones, nausea and diarrhea. To pack the ultimate vitamin C punch, think outside the OJ carton and load up on these fruits and vegetables (which have more C than an orange): red and green bell peppers, broccoli, cauliflower, strawberries and kiwis. And what about Grandma’s favorite cold remedy: chicken soup?

There’s hard science that supports Granny’s claims! Research shows that chicken soup can ease your symptoms and may help you get well sooner — thanks, in part, to an amino acid in chicken that helps thin mucous to calm your cough and stuffed up nose. Welcome news for those pressed for time: Store-bought soups are just as effective.

If your skin is dry and itchy, add these skin-boosters to your diet From the wind chill outside to the dry air inside, winter is not your skin’s best friend. Thankfully, the right foods can alleviate some common cold-weather skin woes by providing the nutrients needed to help skin cells stay strong, supple and hydrated. When it comes to relieving dryness, foods containing healthy fats are the ultimate power food for skin. Healthy fats — from the omega-3 fatty acids found in salmon to the monounsaturated fats found in nuts and avocados to the polyunsaturated fats found in corn oil — are known to strengthen skin membranes by locking in moisture and protecting skin cells. Eating a variety of colorful fruits and vegetables also promotes optimum skin health. Loaded with skin-protecting antioxidants and vitamins A, C, and E, fruits and vegetables help fight dry skin by keeping it renewed, elastic, and plump. Of course, water is a must and probably one of the most important nutrients you can consume to keep your skin hydrated and itchfree.

Note: The foods suggested throughout are merely recommendations, the tip of the iceberg when it comes to healthy eating. You know best what foods work for you.

IN GOOD HEALTH – Rochester / Genesee Valley Healthcare Newspaper

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Page 13

Why Go Vegan? Most Do For Health Reasons More than 70 people attended a recent monthly potluck vegan dinner in Brighton where they sampled a variety of food By Christine Green

he first week that Keith Row of Webster tried a vegan diet he admitted to having a “bad attitude” about the whole thing. Row hadn’t considered going vegan until his girlfriend, Kim Taylor, decided to take the plunge herself. Row figured he’d go along for the ride, at least for two weeks. Now, over seven weeks later, he is committed to his new way of eating as is Taylor. Taylor’s mother, Sue Taylor of Brighton, has been a vegan for six years and is overjoyed that her daughter and boyfriend are onboard with veganism: “It makes me so happy. I’m thrilled to death!” She was particularly excited to bring her daughter and Row to their first Rochester Area Vegan Society (RAVS) meeting on Nov. 19 at the Brighton Town Park Lodge.

Rochester Area Vegan Society

Stan and Rhoda Sapon founded RAVS in 1989 as the Rochester Area Vegetarian Society. In 1995 physician Ted D. Barnett and Carol H. Barnett of Rush took over as co-coordinators. In 2014 they changed the name of the group from the Rochester Area Vegetarian Society to the Rochester Area Vegan Society to better reflect the mission, “which has always been to advocate and promote a completely plantbased diet.” Barnett is a diagnostic and interventional radiologist as well founder of Rochester Lifestyle Medicine, PLLC. Carol Barnett has a Ph.D. in English literature and a law degree but works as a full-time volunteer, primarily as an advocate of vegan diet and vegan living. The couple became vegan in 1991 and raised three children who as adults are still eating a vegan diet. RAVS meets every month for a vegan (potluck) dinner and an educational program. RAVS also hosts informational tables at health and wellness fairs at colleges, towns, and places of business. Ted Barnett also offers courses in plant-based nutrition.

Monthly Meeting

The November meeting at Brighton Town Park Lodge was full to capacity with well over 70 attendees socializing and eating. The atmosphere was jovial and light as people filled their plates with a variety of scrumptious vegan dishes. The three long food tables were laden with fresh salads including a kale salad tossed with a light peanut dressing and a wild rice salad filled with veggies. Other delicacies included a vegan version of red beans and rice, California coleslaw, mac and “cheese” made with pureed squash, and a plethora of baked goods such as oatmeal bars and a vegan version of Page 14

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old-fashioned chocolate chip cookies. In fact there are so many tasty vegan recipes and cookbooks available that most vegans can’t choose just one favorite dish. Carol Barnett’s motto: “So many vegan recipes, so little time!”

Sue Taylor of Brighton (left) has been a vegan for six years and is overjoyed that her daughter, Kim, and boyfriend, Keith Row (above), are onboard with veganism: “It makes me so happy. I’m thrilled to death,” she said.

Why Go Vegan

There are a variety of reasons why people adopt a vegan diet. Carol said that “each person comes to RAVS for different reasons and is on different paths and maybe has a different complex of motivations.” Perhaps one of the biggest reasons people choose a vegan diet is to improve their health. Ted Barnett said that more than 10 percent of adults over 20 have Type 2 diabetes, 30 percent are overweight, and 30 percent are obese. This population is statistically more likely to experience illnesses such as coronary heart disease or stroke as well as other debilitating conditions. The physician said that eating a plant-based diet can not only prevent these conditions but also help reverse them and cited several studies by such well-known doctors and researchers as Neal Barnard, Dean Ornish, and Caldwell Esselstyn. Bruce Manuel of Greece knows firsthand how veganism can drastically improve physical health. His wife, Carol Manuel, has been a vegan for 11 years. During that time he had to prepare his own meat dishes to accompany the vegetables he served. Two years ago he was diagnosed with Type 2 diabetes and knew his lifestyle had to change. He joined his wife on her vegan journey. Within three months he completely reversed his diagnosis and today does not have any sign of diabetes. David Benjamin of Brockport also experienced a drastic change in his health after becoming a vegan last year. Because of a heart attack 10 years ago he had to take a host of prescription medications including a statin and blood pressure medication. Since becoming a vegan, his doctors have taken him off all prescriptions because his blood work and blood pressure have improved significantly. He does say, though, that sometimes, “beef on weck still looks really good but it’s no longer worth it.” Other reasons for going vegan include spiritual beliefs, compassion for animals and environmental sustainability. “It’s wonderful how aligned the health aspects and the environmental aspects are. It truly is remarkable that the healthiest diet a person can eat is also the healthiest for the planet,” said Ted Barnett noting that a report issued by the United Nations in 2006 (“Livestock’s Long Shadow”) found that raising animals for food causes more greenhouse gas emissions than all forms of transportation combined.

One of the three long food tables at the November potluck dinner sponsored by Rochester Area Vegan Society. On the menu, among other things, were fresh salads including a kale salad tossed with a light peanut dressing and a wild rice salad filled with veggies, a vegan version of red beans and rice, California coleslaw and mac and “cheese” made with pureed squash.

RAVS Monthly Potluck

Carol Barnett said that monthly RAVS potluck attendees don’t have to be a vegan or vegetarian to join or come to the meetings as long as they bring vegan food. “We like to attract meat eaters and non-vegans because when they rub elbows with people who are further along with being vegan it helps them continue on the path,” she said. Ali Lawrence of Honeoye Falls is a recent Cornell graduate as well as a graduate of the Culinary Institute of America. She brought freshly-made

IN GOOD HEALTH – Rochester / Genesee Valley Healthcare Newspaper • January 2018

sourdough bread to her first meeting in November and said she had been a vegan for six months. She came to the potluck because she “really wanted to connect with other vegans in person.” She certainly wasn’t the only person there seeking to meet other like-minded vegans to talk to and start friendships with.

Contact RAVS

To find out more about the Rochester Area Vegan Society and their programs visit rochesterveg.org or call 585-234-8750.

Women’s HEALTH New Year’s Resolution: Moving Past the Weight Loss Plateau See what four local experts have to say about overcoming weight loss plateaus By Deborah Jeanne Sergeant

as your New Year’s weight loss resolution hit a plateau? Don’t worry. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, people who lose weight steadily and slowly — about one to two pounds per week — tend to keep it off successfully. One pound of body weight equals roughly 3,500 calories, so to lose weight, a body needs to negate 500 to 1,000 calories per day by eating less and burning more to achieve the goal of one to two pounds lost weekly. If a couple weeks pass and the scale won’t budge, take heart, try these tips from area experts: Tips from physician Tom Campbell, board-certified in family medicine at University of Rochester Medical Center: • “Even when weight loss is highly successful, most people have a zigzag kind of pattern. They have a great couple weeks, and then don’t have a great couple weeks. They can have a month of plateau. Part of a healthy response to a plateau is it’s normal and no reason to throw in the towel. Sometimes we can’t explain it. • “As you lose weight, the process slows down a little. You stop burning as many calories. You

may need to cut your intake more or exercise more. I generally encourage to not think just about calories, but making healthful food choices, just as much or more of that food amount. • “Sometimes, people let things sneak back into their food choices. It can even be something small, like a handful of chips here or there. Our brains are good at rationalizing things like that and we instantly forget about it. • “Sleep is really important. Fragmented and poor sleep increase hunger hormones and can change metabolism. It clearly seems to increase hunger, insulin resistance and all of these things are bad.” Tips from Mike Schuber, program manager, Rochester Regional Health, Wellness Center: • “Make sure to get enough protein, fruits, and veggies — and steer clear of sugars and simple carbs. • “Add intensity. Mix in some sprints or change up your lifting routine by changing rep or set schemes or adding a little more resistance. • “Change exercises. Use different exercises that hit the same muscle groups.

• “Cross train. Mix it up and try some new and different training styles. • “Vary repetitions. Maybe gradually go a little heavier and do fewer reps or change the amount of sets you do. • “Work on weak spots. It’s time to do the exercises you always dislike and avoid. • “Be sure to take days off. Muscles rebuild during rest, so take it easy once in a while. Tips from Cameron Apt, senior athletic performance specialist, UR Medicine – Sports Medicine: • “ Be consistent. Keep doing what you’re doing to get through those points. • “Once you lose weight, the number of calories you need will change. You have to adjust it for what you weigh now. • “What you’re eating becomes even more relevant. If you did your

initial weight loss by quantity, it’s time to also look at quality. Everything you do to lose weight should become your new lifestyle.” Tips from physician Joanne Wu, an integrative and holistic medicine and rehabilitation doctor who specializes in wellness and practices in Rochester and Buffalo: • “Many people, when they work on weight loss, work on only one part. It should include what you eat, well being, stress management and exercise — what they do for movement. • “Set reasonable goals and take steps toward them. If you still plateau, we look at what we can refine. • “Don’t just look at the New Year to make short-term changes, but a long-term wellness program for mind, body and soul. You want to enhance a healthy lifestyle. If we always approach weight loss with that approach, we’re much more consistent at weight loss.”

Weight Loss Can Help You Live a Longer, Healthier Life By Rachel Conley, MD

he latest data shows 39.8 percent of Americans are obese. What is obesity? It is not just the accumulation of excess fat or a high body mass index (BMI). Obesity is a chronic, relapsing, multi-factorial, neurobehavioral disease. It is complicated. It is not a matter of eating less and exercising more as so many people have often been told. Obesity can affect the body from head to toe. It can increase the risk of many diseases, including diabetes, heart disease, stroke, hypertension, arthritis, cancer and infertility. Weight loss can help lower blood pressure, cholesterol and blood sugar, reduce joint pain, improve fatty liver disease, pulmonary disease AND skin issues, and can improve energy/mood. Weight loss can help you live a longer, healthier life. Many people try to lose weight and get frustrated at weight loss attempts. They end up losing weight to only regain the weight they lost plus add some additional pounds. The market is flooded with the latest

diet trend, weight loss gadget and exercise tool. So much misinformation exists regarding weight loss it is difficult for the average person to decipher fact from fiction. Every one promises rapid weight loss. However, some of these programs can be harmful to people, especially if you are diagnosed with a medical problem or are taking medications. It is best to discuss weight loss options with your primary care physician so they can determine if it may be best for you to see a bariatric physician, a doctor with specialized training in weight loss medicine. Physician Rachel Conley is a board certified in internal medicine and bariatric medicine. She practices at Helendale Dermatology & Medical Spa and specializes in a number of cosmetic procedures and medically supervised weight loss. For more information, visit www.helendaledermatology.com or call 585-266-5420. January 2018 •

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Page 15

Women’s HEALTH Lose Weight Fast: Ramp Up Your Metabolism By Deborah Jeanne Sergeant

fast metabolism — how quickly your body burns through calories — seems the Holy Grail for weight maintenance. Instead of carefully watching every spoonful, some people seem to eat what they want and not gain an ounce. But Cameron Apt, senior athletic performance specialist with UR Medicine Sports Medicine said, “there isn’t really one way to ‘hack your metabolism’” despite what social media and advertisements claim. But you can make a few changes that can improve your metabolism. Try these expert tips from Apt and other local experts: Tips from Cameron Apt, senior athletic performance specialist with UR Medicine Sports Medicine: • “Work out in the morning. It wakes you up more and you will burn more thorough the day. If you’re a distance runner, work on sprints and interval training. Change up what you’re doing. You burn the most calories learning a new thing. • “Weight training is huge. More studies reinforce that, show-

ing strength training leads to higher amounts of weight loss than just cardio.” Tips from Shelly Marsh, director of Fitness & Wellness, exercise physiologist, Rochester Regional Health: • “You have to eat to lose weight, not starve yourself. • “It’s true metabolism slows as we get older. For some, it may never have been fast. To fire up your metabolism it needs to start with the right mix of protein, complex carbohydrates, and healthy fats. Eat five to six times a day, every two and half to three hours (breakfast, mid-morning snack, lunch, mid-afternoon snack, dinner and an evening snack if you choose). Eating is the key. By not eating, your body goes into conserve mode. Eat too much and your body is overloaded, which will bring down your energy level. By eating in frequent intervals you avoid those peaks and valleys in your sugar levels. • “Not everyone reacts the same way to foods so I encourage everyone to keep a food journal to track

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their progress. The goal is to find what foods work for you in the right amount, the right combination, and at the right time of day to fire up your metabolism. • “Avoid foods filled with salt, sugar and chemicals that will slow your metabolism — foods with a shelf life. If you’re disciplined and committed to making better eating choices coupled with regular exercise you’ve earned that cookie. Enjoy. The key is finding a balance, enhancing your quality of life and being able to have more life experiences.” Tips from physician Leila Kirdani, board-certified in both metabolic medicine and family practice and owner of Quality of Life Medicine in Rochester: • “The biggest thing with this is exercise. It’s a sad, hard truth for people who don’t like to exercise. When you build muscle, you build mitochondria. Walking is wonderful, but if you’re really trying to speed up your metabolism, it requires a more aerobic exercise and weight training. • “High intensity interval

Leila Kirdani training has been shown to increase metabolism more quickly than conventional exercise. It’s not as good at reducing obesity and helping cholesterol levels, but if the goal is to increase metabolism, it’s fabulous. • “Things that help mitochondrian health include supplementing with alpha lipoic acid. This is an enzyme helper where the body makes molecules of energy. It can help increase the metabolism, keep cholesterol panels good and is a powerful antioxidant. • “Supplement with D-ribose, a sugar that doesn’t raise your blood sugar but makes up part of the molecule of energy. If you take it before a workout, your body will able to burn more energy.”

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Women Still Want Annual Mammograms

ost American women would prefer to get a mammogram to screen for breast cancer every year rather than every two years, a new study finds. Currently, the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force recommends that women at average risk for breast cancer be screened every two years, beginning at age 50. The recommendation is based in part on potential harms associated with screening mammography. Those include diagnosis and treatment Page 16

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of noninvasive and invasive breast cancers that would not have posed a threat to a woman’s health, as well as unneeded biopsies and the anxiety caused by false-positive results. However, other experts believe that the benefits of early breast cancer detection far outweigh the potential harms. To get women’s views, the researchers surveyed 731 women, 59 years old on average, who had screening and diagnostic mammograms done at Einstein Medical Cen-

ter in Philadelphia between December 2016 and February 2017. The investigators found that 71 percent of the women said they’d prefer a screening mammogram every year. Those with a family history of breast cancer and a prior breast biopsy were more likely to be in favor of yearly screening. “Women understand that yearly mammograms have been shown to save lives and do not consider previously reported ‘harms’ to be as important as getting screened,” study

IN GOOD HEALTH – Rochester / Genesee Valley Healthcare Newspaper • January 2018

author Ghizlane Bouzghar, chief radiology resident at Einstein Medical Center in Philadelphia, said in a society news release. “Many women are much better educated about the value of screening mammography than they are given credit for. I also think that some of the [task force’s] concerns about the ‘harms’ were somewhat paternalistic,” Bouzghar said.

Women’s HEALTH

Gotta Go. Fast… Nearly half of middle-aged women are affected by urinary incontinence. See what local experts say about the problem By Deborah Jeanne Sergeant

f you’re a woman experiencing urinary incontinence, you’re like many other American women. The National Institutes of Health estimates that about 20 to 30 percent of young adult women experience urinary incontinence; that rises to 30 to 40 percent of middle-aged women and then to 30 to 50 percent of elderly women. Urinary incontinence involves urge incontinence — the feeling of needing to urinate — and stress incontinence, which occurs when the patient sneezes, coughs, laughs or otherwise moves in a way that causes urine leaks. The leaks are significant enough to cause health or social problems. Several factors relate to why women experience urinary incontinence, including childbirth. During pregnancy, the body decreases support in the pelvic floor and produces hormones that relax the connective tissues to make birthing easier. The growing baby places pressure on the bladder and can stretch tissues as well. Preventing urinary incontinence during and after pregnancy depends mostly upon maternal weight, according to Paula Doyle, OB-GYN with University or Rochester Medical

Center. “Have a body-mass below 25 before becoming pregnant,” Doyle said. “If a woman’s BMI is 30 or higher before pregnancy, for every BMI point above 30, the risk is 3 percent higher during and after pregnancy. They’ll probably have incontinence if their BMI is 35 or 40.” Advanced maternal age also increases the risk, as women in their mid-30s have experienced more wear and tear on their pelvic floor. That’s also the age at which people begin losing muscle tissue. “They’re also more likely to be overweight and diabetic and, if they’ve been smoking, they’ve been smoking longer than younger women,” Doyle said. Genetics also play a role. The more children a woman bears, the greater risk she has of urinary incontinence, but the risk doesn’t increase much more after the third or fourth pregnancy. “The pelvic floor muscles play a vital role in both types of incontinence,” said Elizabeth Loycano, who earned a doctorate in physical therapy, and practices at Finger Lakes Health. “The stress of delivering a baby directly affects these muscles.” Loycano earned additional cer-

Hot Flash Relief Experts discuss ways women can reduce incidence of hot flashes By Deborah Jeanne Sergeant Chances are if you’re a peri-menopausal woman you experience hot flashes as one of the 75 percent of American women who do, according to the North American Menopause Society. “Some hot flashes are easily tolerated, others are annoying or embarrassing and others can be debilitating,” the organization’s website states. James Woods is an OB-GYN physician at University of Rochester Medical Center and author of “The Little Book of Menopause” (available on Amazon.com). He would agree that the effects of menopause are significant. “They are more than an inconvenience,” Woods said. “Beyond being a little embarrassing, it is biologically based.” Woods explained that during women’s younger, reproductive years, their bodies have a half degree of thermal tolerance. As environmen-

tal factors affect their body temperature (such as an extra blanket, thick socks, a hot cup of coffee), their bodies don’t signal the brain about the change. Woods said that menopause happens when the ovaries slow down during what he calls the “20-year window.” As the body makes fewer estradiol hormones, the skin becomes more sensitive to minor changes in temperature and overreacts, causing a perception of much more extreme heat and triggering a perspiration response to cope. Woods wants more women to consider treating their menopausal symptoms since losing estradiol hormones permits inflammation to increase in the body. Inflammation is associated with numerous disease processes. Woods said that women and their doctors can select from various treatments, including low-dose estradiol creams and patches. “It’s enough to calm the body,” January 2018 •

Loycano tification related to women’s pelvic health. She helps women learn movements that strengthen the core muscles, including the pelvic core. “Good body mechanics, such as when lifting the baby or car seat and remembering to keep a flat back and engage abdominal muscles, can help,” Loycano said. This advice applies for both vaginal and C-section births, once cleared for exercise. Despite the difference in delivery method, both experience the months of hormonal changes that result in lax connective tissues and he said. He added that patients have a 25 to 60 percent success rate. Physician Leila Kirdani, board-certified in both metabolic medicine and family practice, operates Quality of Life Medicine in Rochester. She believes that stress to the body, in addition to hormonal changes, causes hot flashes. “If we’re stressed too long and the adrenal glands struggle to supply enough cortisol, one of our stress hormones and one of the primary hormones that regulate the body, that can be experienced as a hot flash as well,” Kirdani said. “I find it important to look at where people’s stress levels are to know how best to balance their hormones.” She believes that healthful diet, including leafy green vegetables and balancing the electrolytes — sodium, potassium and chloride — help prevent the body from being depleted at the cellular level. Kirdani also encourages patients in menopause to consider replacing their DHEA (dehydroepiandrosterone), a hormone the body produces in smaller amounts as it ages. “If the adrenals struggle to make DHEA and cortisol and the ovaries are shutting down because of menopause, we have trouble,” she said. She said that 25 mg. of orally dissolved DHEA in the morning supports better energy and if hot flashes are caused by low adrenals, it will

the pressure of carrying a baby. Loycano also recommends Kegel exercises. To find the right muscles, try to stop a flow of urine while on the toilet and then engage those muscles elsewhere throughout the day, increasing the time holding the muscles for each repetition. Most women recover from childbirth-related urinary incontinence within three months of delivery. Especially for those who don’t, “a physical therapist can tailor a program if you have urge or stress or both to figure out the kind of contraction you need and the kind of exercises do to,” Loycano said. Physician Leila Kirdani is board-certified in both metabolic medicine and family practice. She operates Quality of Life Medicine in Rochester. She also recommends Kegels. “Do them throughout the day until you work up 50 or 100 a day,” Kirdani said. Of course, women need to wait until they’re cleared for exercise and have healed from delivery. Older women may benefit from balancing their hormones. Kirdani said that low estriol can affect urinary control but topical, over-thecounter estriol cream can help.

help reduce hot flashes, too. Environmental controls she recommends include medication, relaxation, a reduction in the to-do list and some personal time. Kirdani recommends menopausal patients exercise, as that helps destress the mind and body, and reduce sugar, caffeine and alcohol. “When our metabolism is slowing down, we don’t metabolize carbs as well,” she said. “Women realize if they eat carbs before bed, they’ll have more hot flashes.” Instead, they should eat more produce, serve meat as a side and include whole grains while eschewing processed foods. Supplements she suggests include chaste berry, black cohosh, and dong quai, depending upon the patient.

IN GOOD HEALTH – Rochester / Genesee Valley Healthcare Newspaper

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Page 17

Alzheimer’s Cases to Double by 2060: Report

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s the baby boomer population ages, the number of Americans with Alzheimer’s disease will double by 2060, researchers report. The study findings, which show cases of Alzheimer’s and mild cognitive impairment going from 6 million this year to 15 million in four decades, highlight the need to better identify people with a brain-related disease, and to slow its progression. “There are about 47 million people in the U.S. today who have some evidence of preclinical Alzheimer’s,” said study author Ron Brookmeyer. He is a professor of biostatistics at the Fielding School of Public Health at University of California, Los Angeles. “Many of them will not progress to Alzheimer’s dementia in their lifetimes. We need to have improved methods to identify which persons will progress to clinical symptoms, and develop interventions for them that could slow the progression of the disease, if not stop it altogether,” Brookmeyer said in a UCLA news release. The researchers used information from large Alzheimer’s studies to create a computer model to estimate the number of future Alzheimer’s

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cases. The investigators determined that by 2060, about 5.7 million Americans will have mild cognitive impairment and another 9.3 million will have full-blown Alzheimer’s. Of those with Alzheimer’s, about 4 million will require intensive care, such as that provided in nursing homes. “Estimates by disease state and severity are important because the resources needed to care for patients vary so much over the course of the illness,” Brookmeyer said. People with mild cognitive impairment (MCI) have significant short-term memory loss but do not necessarily have problems with daily functioning. While those with MCI are more likely to go on to develop Alzheimer’s disease, MCI does not always lead to dementia. In fullblown Alzheimer’s, the symptoms are more severe, and include memory loss as well as impaired judgment and thinking, problems with performing normal daily activities and, sometimes, personality changes. The study was published Dec. 7 in Alzheimer’s and Dementia: The Journal of the Alzheimer’s Association.

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Recognizing and Treating Depression in Retirement Dear Savvy Senior, Since retiring a few years ago, my husband has become increasingly irritable and apathetic. I’m concerned that he’s depressed, even though he may not admit it. Where can we turn to get help with this, and what, if anything, does Medicare pay for?

Concerned Spouse Dear Concerned, Depression is unfortunately a widespread problem among older Americans, affecting approximately 15 percent of the 65-and-older population. Here’s what you should know, along with some tips and resources for screening and treatments, and how Medicare covers it.

Identifying Depression

Everyone feels sad or gets the blues now and then, but when these feelings linger more than a few weeks, it may be depression. Depression is a real illness that affects mood, feelings, behavior and physical health, and contrary to what many people believe, it’s not a normal part of aging or a personal weakness, but it is very treatable. It’s also important to know that depression is not just sadness. In many seniors it can manifest as apathy, irritability or problems with memory or concentration without the depressed mood. To help you get a handle on the seriousness of your husband’s problem, a good first step is for him to take an online depression-screening test. He can do this for free at Mental Health America, a national nonprofit organization that offers a variety of online mental health screening tools at MentalHealthAmerica.net — click on “Take a Screen” in the menu bar. Or at HelpYourselfHelpOthers.org, which is offered by Screening for Mental Health, Inc. Both of these tests are anonymous and confidential, they take less that 10 minutes to complete, and they can help you determine the severity of your husband’s problem.

Get Help If you find that he is suffering from depressive symptoms, he needs to see his doctor for a medical evaluation to rule out possible

medical causes. Some medications, for example, can produce side effects that mimic depressive symptoms — pain and sleeping meds are common culprits. It’s also important to distinguish between depression and dementia, which can share some of the same symptoms. If he’s diagnosed with depression, there are a variety of treatment options including talk therapy, antidepressant medications or a combination of both. Cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) is a particularly effective type of talk therapy, which helps patients recognize and change destructive thinking patterns that leads to negative feelings. For help finding a therapist who’s trained in CBT, ask your doctor for a referral, check your local yellow pages under “counseling” or “psychologists,” or check with the Association for Behavioral and Cognitive Therapies (FindCBT.org), or the Academy of Cognitive Therapy (AcademyofCT.org). And to search for therapists that accept Medicare, use Medicare’s Physician Compare tool. Go to Medicare. gov/physiciancompare and type in your zip code, or city and state, then type in the type of profession you want locate, like “psychiatry” or “clinical psychologist” in the “What are you searching for?” box.

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You’ll be happy to know that original Medicare currently covers 100 percent for annual depression screenings that are done in a doctor’s office or other primary care clinic. They also pay 80 percent of its approved amount for outpatient mental health services like counseling and therapy services, and will cover almost all medications used to treat depression under the Part D prescription drug benefit. If you and your husband get your Medicare benefits through a private Medicare Advantage plan, they too must cover the same services as original Medicare but they will likely require him to see an in-network provider. You’ll need to contact your plan directly for the details.

Send your senior questions to: Savvy Senior, P.O. Box 5443, Norman, OK 73070, or visit www.savvysenior. org. Jim Miller is a contributor to the NBC Today show and author of “The Savvy Senior” book. January 2018 •

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IN GOOD HEALTH – Rochester / Genesee Valley Healthcare Newspaper

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Page 19

Ask St. Ann’s

The Social Ask Security Office

By Diane Kane, MD

Antibiotics: When You Need Them, And When You Don’t

Rosie The Riveter: Working Women’s Icon

n 1928, Alexander Fleming accidentally discovered penicillin, the first antibiotic for curing and preventing bacterial infections. Unfortunately, because of the overuse of this wonder drug, we now have bacteria that resist antibiotics, causing infections that are harder to cure and more costly to treat. Each year, antibiotic-resistant bacteria infect at least 2 million people in the United States, and at least 23,000 people die as a direct result of these infections. Many more people die from other conditions complicated by an antibiotic-resistant infection.

When are antibiotics OK?

Antibiotics kill bacteria, not viruses, so they are not an appropriate treatment for most viral infections: • Colds and flu • Sore throat • Bronchitis • Sinus or ear infection • Conjunctivitis (pink eye) However, you may have a bacterial infection if you have the above ailments along with a fever of 102°F or a fever accompanied by green or yellow mucus and lasting three or more days. Additional symptoms may indicate the presence of bacterial pneumonia or strep throat. In these cases, treatment with antibiotics is appropriate after a doctor confirms the diagnosis. If you have an artificial heart valve, a heart valve repair or a previous history of an infected heart valve, you can prevent a bacterial infection by taking antibiotics before having dental work.

Take only when necessary

Misdiagnosis can also result in the unnecessary use of antibiotics. Seniors typically have bacteria in their urine; it does not necessarily indicate a urinary tract infection (UTI). Your doctor should test for a UTI only if you have symptoms such as burning when urinating or severe urgency and frequency of urination. Similarly, leg swelling due to varicose veins is often misdiagnosed as cellulitis or a skin infection.

By Deborah Banikowski

Beware of side effects

Antibiotics can unleash other health problems such as allergic reactions (skin irritations, swelling of the face and throat and breathing problems), intestinal problems leading to dehydration and kidney issues, and drug interactions, especially with blood thinners. Moreover, antibiotics kill good bacteria, giving life-threatening C. difficile (“C. diff”) bacterium a chance to infect the colon. At least 250,000 illnesses and 14,000 deaths result from C. diff annually in the U.S.

Be proactive

Reduce your risk of illness by getting an annual flu shot; a pneumonia shot; a Tdap shot to protect against tetanus, diphtheria and whooping cough; and a shingles vaccination. If you get sick and an antibiotic is appropriate, follow your doctor’s instructions and get plenty of rest. Be sure to finish your prescription, even if you start to feel better. While antibiotics are good for many things, they are not right for everything. They should be prescribed with care to avoid the potential (and serious) consequences of misuse and overuse. Physician Diane Kane is chief medical officer at St. Ann’s Community. She is board-certified in internal medicine, geriatrics, and hospice and palliative Medicine and has been involved in senior care for 30 years. Contact her at dkane@stannscommunity. com or visit www.stannscommunity. com.

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From the Social Security District Office

“

Rosie the Riveter” is an American icon representing women working in factories during World War II. These women learned new jobs and filled in for the men who were away at war. They produced much of the armaments and ammunition to supply the war effort. They also paid FICA on their wages, contributing to the Social Security program. These “Rosies” embodied the “can-do” spirit immortalized in a poster by J. Howard Miller. Both the image and the spirit live on today. If you asked Rosie about Social Security, she would use her rivet gun to drive home the value of Social Security for women. More Rosies work today, and nearly 60 percent of people receiving benefits are women. Women tend to live longer than men, so Social Security’s inflation-adjusted benefits help protect women. You can outlive your savings and investments, but Social Security is for life. Women provide their own basic level of protection when they work and pay taxes into the Social Security system. Women who have been married and had low earnings or who didn’t work may be covered through their spouses’ work. Today’s Rosie will turn her “cando” spirit to learning more about

Q&A

Social Security and what role it will play in her financial plan for the future. She focuses on our pamphlet called “What Every Woman Should Know.” available at www.socialsecurity.gov/pubs/10127.html for a game plan. She rolls up her sleeves and sets up her “my Social Security” account (www.socialsecurity.gov/myaccount) to review her earnings and estimates. If she finds an incorrect posting, she’ll locate her W-2 form and quickly contact Social Security to correct it because she understands these are the earnings used to figure her benefits. She dives into understanding benefits at our planner pages at www.socialsecurity.gov/planners. She examines how marriage, divorce, death of a spouse, work, and other issues might affect her benefits. She studies our fact sheet “When to Start Receiving Retirement Benefits” at www.socialsecurity.gov/pubs/ to help her decide when it’s time to lay down the rivet gun. And when the time is right, she will file for retirement benefits online at www. socialsecurity.gov/retire. Whether it was keeping the war effort production lines humming or discovering what is available to her from Social Security, Rosie symbolizes the motto: “We Can Do It.” Rosie and millions like her rely on the financial protection provided by Social Security in assembling their own financial futures.

Q: Is it illegal to laminate your Social Security card? A: No, it is not illegal, but we discourage it. It’s best not to laminate your card. Laminated cards make it difficult — sometimes even impossible — to detect important security features and an employer may refuse to accept them. The Social Security Act requires the Commissioner of Social Security to issue cards that cannot be counterfeited. We incorporate many features that protect the card’s integrity. They include highly specialized paper and printing techniques, some of which are invisible to the naked eye.

retirement age. For example, if your full retirement age is 66, you can get 35 percent of your spouse’s unreduced benefit at age 62 (a permanent reduction); if your full retirement age is 67, you can get 32.5 percent of your spouse’s unreduced benefit at age 62 (a permanent reduction). The amount of your benefit increases if your entitlement begins at a later age, up to the maximum of 50 percent at full retirement age. However, if you are taking care of a child who is under age 16 or who gets Social Security disability benefits on your spouse’s record, you get the full spouse’s benefits, regardless of your age. Learn more about retirement benefits at www.socialsecurity.gov/ retirement.

Q: I have never worked but my spouse has. What will my benefits be? A: You can be entitled to as much as one-half of your spouse’s benefit amount when you reach full retirement age. If you want to get Social Security retirement benefits before you reach full retirement age, the amount of your benefit is reduced. The amount of reduction depends on when you will reach full

Q: Who is eligible for Supplemental Security Income (SSI)? A: People who receive SSI are age 65 or older, blind, or disabled with limited income and resources. Go to www.socialsecurity.gov for income and resource limits. The general fund of the United States Treasury makes SSI payments. They do not come out of the Social Security Trust Fund.

IN GOOD HEALTH – Rochester / Genesee Valley Healthcare Newspaper • January 2018

H ealth News Physicians achieve board certification in lifestyle medicine Rochester Lifestyle Medicine (RLM) announced that five Rochester physicians are among the 204 physicians nationally who are the first to be board-certified in lifestyle medicine. The doctors, Ted Barnett, Susan Friedman, Kerry Graff, Thomas Roberts and Sandra Sarnoski-Roberts passed the inaugural certification examination given by the American Board of Lifestyle Medicine (ABLM) in Tucson, Ariz., Oct. 26. “I couldn’t be prouder of the physicians on our team! Rochester is truly on the forefront of the movement to transform healthcare in our nation with simple and inexpensive lifestyle changes,” said Barnett, founder and medical director of RLM. Barnett, who has practiced interventional and diagnostic radiology in Rochester for over three decades, founded Rochester Lifestyle Medicine in 2015 in order to bring simple and sustainable healthcare solutions to our community. “Ultimately it’s about returning the locus of control to our patients while teaching them how to take personal responsibility for their health with lifestyle changes,” says Barnett. Lifestyle medicine, as defined by the American College of Lifestyle Medicine, is a new medical discipline focused on treating the causes of disease rather than just the symptoms. It involves the use of evidence-based lifestyle therapeutic approaches, such as a predominantly whole food, plant-based diet, physical activity, adequate sleep, stress management, tobacco cessation, and other nondrug modalities, to prevent, treat, and often reverse chronic disease. “Gone are the days of diagnosing the ill, prescribing the pill and sending the bill, which has worked so well in combating communicable disease, but is hopelessly inadequate in the fight against chronic disease,” said ABLM Executive Director Stephan Herzog. “Nourishment, movement, resilience and social connectedness will become the focal point of physicians in addressing the underlying causes of chronic disease, with increasing numbers of medical schools starting to train their students in the principles of lifestyle medicine.”

Us TOO Rochester has new leadership

Effective Jan. 1 there is new leadership for a group of local cancer survivors. Us TOO Rochester NY is the regional affiliate chapter of Us TOO International, a nonprofit 501(c) (3) organization providing support, education and advocacy to those affected by prostate cancer in Rochester and the Finger Lakes region. Patrick Fisher co-founded the local chapter in November 2012 and served as the group’s chapter leader. In his five-year tenure, Fisher worked diligently to engage local urologists, oncologists and physical therapists in

support of the organization’s mission; making men aware of all their options no matter where they receive care for their cancer. What started in 2012, as a group of only two men diagnosed with prostate cancer, has grown to help hundreds of local men get the information they need to make informed treatment decisions. The organization’s new chapter leaders are Mark and Peggy Richardson. The Richardsons live in Pittsford, have three children and several grandchildren. They are retired and have been involved with the Us TOO program for the past two years. Mark is a Vietnam era veteran who served in the US Air Force for four years and has a bachelor’s degree from RIT in electrical engineering. He worked at Kodak and Carestream Health for 41 years in the customer equipment services division providing product support, customer training and new product development. Peggy has certification in alternative dispute resolution from Cornell NYSSILR. She has a bachelor’s degree from SUNY Brockport and worked at Center for Dispute Settlement as director of the Finger Lakes region. She was a director at the YWCA. They hope to continue having monthly peer support meetings, patient education seminars and community awareness events. Chapter meetings are always free and open to the public. Anyone affected by prostate cancer, including those in active surveillance or on hormone therapy, are welcome. Spouses and significant others are encouraged to also attend.

RRH recognized for electronic medical records Healthcare Information and Management Systems Society (HIMSS) Analytics has recognized Rochester Regional Health hospitals with HIMSS Stage 7 validation. Achieved by only approximately 6 percent of hospitals nationwide, HIMSS 7 validation is the industry’s highest standard for electronic medical record adoption and implementation. The journey to HIMSS 7 achievement is a multi-year, eight stage process that requires collaboration and coordination of team members at every level of the health system. Rochester Regional Health’s HIMSS 7 achievement requires a steadfast commitment to transforming the delivery of healthcare across the continuum enabling caregivers to provide a safer, more seamless care experience to residents throughout the region. Rochester Regional’s Rochester General Hospital, Unity Hospital, Clifton Springs Hospital & Clinic, and Newark-Wayne Community Hospital, are the only hospitals in the Upstate New York that have achieved HIMSS 7 and comprise one third of all hospitals in New York state to have achieved Stage 7 designation. Outside of Manhattan, Rochester Regional comprises four of the five hospitals that have achieved this distinction. This designation demonJanuary 2018 •

Highland Hospital Physician Elected Vice President of International Geriatric Fracture Society The International Geriatric Fracture Society (IGFS) has elected Highland Hospital associate chief of medicine, physician Daniel Mendelson, as vice president. Mendelson will serve a two-year term, followed by a two-year term as president. A founding board member, Mendelson will be the first geriatrician to lead this group. Founded in 2012, the IGFS is a nonprofit, 501(c)(6)-designated organization whose membership includes some of the world’s premier thought leaders on geriatric fracture care management. The mission of the society is to be recognized as the foremost international authority for collaboration on the delivery of evidenced-based, patient-centered care for the treatment of geriatric or fragility fractures. Highland Hosstrates Rochester Regional Health’s leadership in innovation and investment in technology that enables caregivers to work seamlessly across the system to deliver better, safer care to patients across the region. “Achieving HIMSS Analytics Stage 7 designation is a tremendous achievement for Rochester Regional Health. It is the result of continuous collaboration and commitment across all levels of our healthcare organization to deploy and utilize an integrated, comprehensive paperless electronic medical record system,” said John Glynn, chief information officer and executive vice president of Rochester Regional Health. “Our transformation away from the reliance on paper has allowed us to significantly reduce potential medical errors and ultimately provide safer, more efficient, cost effective and higher quality of care for our patients.” Philip Bradley, regional director of North America for HIMSS Analytics states, “Rochester Regional Health has accomplished an excellent deployment of a comprehensive acute care EMR. The case studies of quality and efficiency improvements are

pital was one of the first hospitals to become IGFS certified and has maintained its certification at the highest level. Mendelson co-founded and continues to co-direct the Geriatric Fracture Center at Highland Hospital and lectures worldwide about topics related to fragility fractures and co-management. He is the medical director for the American Geriatrics Society’s AGS CoCare: Ortho program, which is a project supported by the John A. Hartford Foundation to disseminate geriatrics co-management. Mendelson was a founder of UR Medicine Geriatrics Group and established Highland Geriatrics Hospitalists and Highland Hospital Palliative Care Consult Service. Mendelson is the William and Sheila Konar Family Professor of Geriatrics, Palliative Medicine, and Person-Centered Care in the division of geriatrics at the UR School of Medicine & Dentistry. Mendelson serves or has served as a member of several local, nonprofit boards of directors, as well as the boards of UR Medicine Home Care, and Lifespan of Rochester, which helps elders take on the challenges of aging successfully. He has also served on the ethics, quality, and nominating committees of the American Geriatrics Society as well as the ethics committee of the NY Chapter of the American College of Physicians. He is the immediate past chairman of the American Hospital Association (AHA) Section for Long-Term Care and Rehabilitation Council. A graduate of Rochester Institute of Technology in chemistry, Mendelson received his master’s degree in biophysics and his medical degree from the University of Rochester where he also completed his residency in internal medicine and a fellowship in geriatrics. among the best we have ever seen. We congratulate Rochester Regional Health in achieving Stage 7 status for acute care EMR adoption.”

Jewish Senior Life has new program for stroke patients Jewish Senior Life is expanding its stroke patient rehabilitation program, responding to an increasing need for specialized care following a hospital stay. The organization has named the program myPath Stroke Rehabilitation Program, solidifying its commitment to focus on this service and remain one of the largest post-acute care providers in Monroe County. The myPath Program is part of the Jewish Home of Rochester’s short-term rehabilitation program, the only CARF-certified rehabilitation program in a skilled nursing facility in the Rochester area. The Commission on the Accreditation of Rehabilitation Facilities (CARF) accredits organizations upon an

IN GOOD HEALTH – Rochester / Genesee Valley Healthcare Newspaper

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Page 21

evaluation based on standard criteria and guidelines that provide the best outcomes. “Our organization prides itself on providing excellent care and remaining proactive to the needs of our community,” said Mike King, president and CEO at Jewish Senior Life. “We now will have a specialized clinical program for stroke patients that will focus on their specific needs.” Jewish Senior Life’s myPath Program will aim to help stroke patients regain as much physical and cognitive function as possible and get back to their best selves. Jewish Senior Life is a member of the National Stroke Association’s Stroke Center Network (SCN). SCN participants are chosen based on their strong and clear commitments to providing quality stroke care. Through SCN, Jewish Senior Life staff will receive specialized ongoing stroke education in addition to extensive training by other experts in the field. The myPath Stroke Recovery Program’s full-time highly skilled medical staff includes physicians, registered nurses, physical/occupational therapists and registered dietitians. Program offerings include: individualized care plans; anxiety and pain management; physical, occupational, and speech therapy seven days a week; state-of-the-art technology to improve neuromuscular control; nurses trained in stroke intervention and rehabilitation care; and patient and family education.

Three orthopedic surgeons join Highland UR Medicine/Highland Hospital announces the addition of three new orthopaedic surgeons to its team. They are: • Sandeep Mannava specializes in sports medicine and shoulder reconstruction and replacement. He earned his Doctor of Medicine from SUNY Upstate Medical UniMannava versity in Syracuse before going on to earn a Doctor of Philosophy in neuroscience from Wake Forest University. Mannava completed a post-doctoral research fellowship in orthopedic surgery, orthopedic regenerative medicine, biomedical engineering and neuroscience during his residency at Wake Forest University. After completing his residency, Mannava went on to work in the Stead man-Philippon Research Institute in Vail, Colo., as a fellow for knee, shoulder, and hip sports medicine. • Emmanuel Menga specializes in degenerative and traumatic Menga spine disorders. Menga is a veteran of the U.S. Navy where he served as a petty officer with the Construction Battalion Unit. He earned his medical degree at Page 22

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the University of Rochester School of Medicine and Dentistry. Menga completed his residency training and served as chief resident in orthopedic surgery at The Johns Hopkins Hospital. He then completed his fellowship training in orthopedic spinal and deformity surgery at NYU Langone Medical Center and the Hospital for Joint Diseases in a combined orthopedic and neurosurgery training program. • Susan McDowell specializes in orthopedic oncology. She is also a veteran, who served in the United States Navy and Naval Reserves, advancing to the rank of lieutenant McDowell commander in the medical corps. While on active duty, she was deployed for nearly one year to Kandahar, Afghanistan. McDowell completed both her Doctor in Medicine and residency in orthopedic surgery at Indiana University School of Medicine before continuing on to a fellowship in musculoskeletal oncology at the Mayo Graduate School of Medicine-Mayo Foundation. “The recruitment of these elite surgeons is proof that UR Medicine and Highland Hospital are dedicated to delivering medicine of the highest order in all aspects of our care,” said physician Paul Rubery, chairman of the department of orthopedics and rehabilitation at the University of Rochester Medical Center.

Giovanna Lerminiaux joins Cherry Ridge in Webster St. Ann’s Community, Rochester’s leading senior housing and health services provider, announced the addition of Giovanna Lerminiaux as marketing representative at St. Ann’s Community at Cherry Ridge in Webster. Lerminiaux serves as the primary connection between prospective new residents and Giovanna Cherry Ridge, providing information and assistance to help them make a successful transition to senior living. Prior to joining St. Ann’s Community, she was a senior living consultant with Episcopal SeniorLife Communities. St. Ann’s Community at Cherry Ridge is a senior living community located on 41 wooded acres in Webster. Cherry Ridge offers stylish apartments and spacious cottage homes for independent living, a maintenance-free lifestyle, and a wide range of first-class amenities. Residents also have priority access to the continuum of care that St. Ann’s is known for, including assisted living, memory care, and skilled nursing, all on the Cherry Ridge campus.

Thompson Health celebrates six employees The Service Excellence Team at UR Medicine’s Thompson Health recently announced the fourth quarter recipients of the health system’s Service Excellence Awards. They winner are: • Shannon Cooper, registered nurse, of Farmington, 3 West floor; • Kim Kleiman, of Canandaigua, M.M. Ewing Continuing Care Center admissions office; • MJ O’Neill, registered nurse, of Bloomfield, radiology administration; • Gina Smith, registered nurse, of Canandaigua, radiology administration; • Alvin Taylor, of Canandaigua, 3 West floor; • Karen Wingate, registered nurse, of Naples, 3 East floor. The Service Excellence Award acknowledges Thompson employees who consistently deliver exceptional service. They are selected each quarter by the SET, which reviews system leaders’ submissions of compliments from patients, families and coworkers.

Lima lab draw station opens to all patients UR Medicine Thompson Health recently opened its Lima lab draw station to all community members. The station, located within Thompson’s Lima Family Practice at 7325 Community Drive, was previously open only to patients of Thompson’s primary care locations. Now, lab orders are welcome from any physician or hospital, on any type of order form. Services at the Lima lab draw station include blood draws and specimen drop-offs. All samples are sent to the laboratory at Thompson Hospital in Canandaigua for analysis. Thompson has seven other lab draw station locations in Ontario, Monroe and Wayne counties.

Friendly Home named a “Best Nursing Home” Friendly Home has recently been named a “Best Nursing Home” by U.S. News & World Report for the second year in a row. Friendly Home, located on East Avenue in Brighton, was ranked in the top 15 percent of 15,000 skilled nursing facilities evaluated across the nation. Of the Rochester-area’s 47 nursing homes, only five organizations received this recognition. The designation is given only to nursing homes that demonstrate consistent top performance in national quality measures. Of the 613 nursing homes in New York state, 84 received an overall top performance rating. “On behalf of our board of directors and leadership team, we sincerely thank each and every Friendly Home team member for their role in achieving this level of excellence,” said Glen Cooper, president and CEO of Friendly Senior Living, the continuum of communities that includes Friendly Home. “It is the dedicated and compassionate care we deliver to our Members, always, that makes this ranking possible.”

IN GOOD HEALTH – Rochester / Genesee Valley Healthcare Newspaper • January 2018

Lifetime Health Announces New Owners for Six Area Health Centers UR Medicine and Rochester Regional are taking over six health centers

ifetime Health Medical Group announced it has received approval from the New York State Department of Health to transition ownership of its six primary care practices to local health systems. Beginning Jan. 1, Rochester Regional Health will take ownership of these Lifetime practices, including all services at each location: • Greece Health Center, 470 Long Pond Road; • Perinton Health Center, 77 Sully’s Trail; • Joseph C. Wilson Health Center, 800 Carter St. Patients may continue to use primary care and urgent care services at these locations without interruption. For changes or temporary adjustments to other services, patients will receive information directly from Rochester Regional Health. Also beginning Jan. 1, UR Medicine will take ownership of Lifetime’s medical practices at: • Artemis Health, 2561 Lac de Ville Blvd. • Westfall Pediatrics, 2561 Lac de Ville Blvd. • Marion B. Folsom Health Center (including specialty and urgent care services), 1850 Brighton-Henrietta Town Line Road. Patients will continue to see Artemis and Westfall providers and staff at their current locations. Primary care providers and other medical services at Folsom, including eye-care services, will move to existing UR Medicine locations nearby. Patients have been notified about these changes by Lifetime Health, and they can expect to receive communications from the new practice owners in the near future. “This decision was made in the best interest of our patients, employees and the community, knowing that Rochester Regional Health and UR Medicine will expand on our legacy, and continue to provide patients with quality medical care within a system that is well positioned to thrive in the evolving health care landscape,” said physician Stephen H. Cohen, president of Lifetime Health Medical Group. “Combining the strengths of our medical group with the larger health systems expands patient access to the high quality care to which they are accustomed and sustains the practices into the future.”

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At the Wegman Transitional Care Center at St. Ann’s, we want to make your rehab as pleasant and comfortable as possible. That’s why we offer more than the average rehab center, including free parking, private rooms, cable TV with premium movie channels, free wi-fi, and a beautiful bistro. And with an expert staff focused solely on your recovery, you’ll be back on your feet before you know it.

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IN GOOD HEALTH – Rochester / Genesee Valley Healthcare Newspaper • January 2018