IGH - ROCH 185 - January 21

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GVHEALTHNEWS.COM

JANUARY 2021 • ISSUE 185

Time to Rethink New Year’s Resolutions COVID-19 has changed everything. P14

ALSO INSIDE • 10 REASONS TO GO PLANT-BASED IN 2021 • FITNESS AND WEIGHT LOSS TRENDS • TOP 10 ACTIVITIES FOR YOU TO STAY IN SHAPE THIS SEASON

How a Writer’s Family in WNY Has Been Affected by COVID-19 Writer Catherine Miller discusses how COVID-19 spread among her family members, including her grandson Jack. Page 8

Making Rochester Neighborhoods More Walkable

Common Ground Health through its Complete Streets Makeover initiative seeks to help local communities become more walkable, healthier. Page 11

Healthier Chicken Wings? They Do Exist!

P. 15

Older Motherhood Offers Benefits, Problems

P. 16

Daily Mental Healthcare

By Deborah Jeanne Sergeant

L

ittle daily habits can add up in big ways. For example, eating a big lunch can result in gained weight because of excess calories. Or, on a positive note, going for a daily walk can cause weight loss because of burned calories.

Mental healthcare is similar.

Instilling good daily habits can also contribute to good mental health.

Ann Altoonian, a licensed psychologist sees clients in Rochester and Syracuse, said that staying grounded can increase the likelihood of good mental health. She encourages meditation, mindfulness, and yoga that requires some learning.

“Luckily, there are what seems like an infinite number of courses, classes, books, websites and apps to guide people in these practices,” said Altoonian, who holds a doctorate in psychology. “Other techniques can be done immediately upon reading them. One is the ‘5-4-32-1’ grounding exercise, where working backward from 5, you use your senses to list things you notice around you — five things you hear, four things you see, three things you can touch or feel, two things you can smell, one thing you can taste.

“Another is if you are able, take a short walk, concentrating on your steps, even by counting them. Notice the rhythm of your footsteps; how it feels to put your foot on the ground and then lift it again.”

These techniques help you stay

present instead of longing for the past or worrying about the future.

Neither of the latter is healthy.

Gratitude can also help turn thoughts toward the positive side of life. Carl Christensen, licensed clinical social worker with North Coast Counseling in Rochester, said that it’s as simple as “counting your blessings, the things that make you happy and give you satisfaction.”

It can be as simple as feeling thankful for the view outside your window or as important as a healthy body.

Another way of staying positive is doing something for someone else. Despite the limitations of the pandemic, Christensen said, “there are still things we can do to benefit others.”

Contributing shelf stable goods to a food pantry, donating gently used clothing to a shelter or dropping off groceries to an elderly person could all represent ways to think of others.

If unwanted feelings begin manifesting, it is important to identify them correctly. Nicki Ditch, licensed mental health counselor at In Truth Mental Health Counseling Services in Rochester, said that not every unwanted feeling equals depression.

“Depression isn’t the same thing as sadness, rejection, grief, embarrassment or abandonment,” she said. “Try to identify what you feel. Labeling it ‘depression’ may

keep us in a depressed state.

Depression is a mindset and once we’re in that mindset, why wouldn’t we be upset?”

She encourages self-care, such as obtaining regular and Nicki Ditch sufficient sleeping, eating a healthful diet and engaging in regular physical activity “When I push my body beyond its limits, I’m not at my best,” Ditch said. “I didn’t realize this until the quarantine, which showed me how much I need rest. I was hard to quarantine, but it made a whole lot of people just settle down and get some rest.”

She also said that the same applies to food for many people, since spending more time at home has allowed them to engage in cooking more nourishing, wholesome foods instead of grabbing what is fast and often unhealthful.

Self-care can also mean listening to uplifting music, taking time to set daily goals, and staying away from social media, since the difference between the posted life and real life is so different. For example, the post showcasing the perfectly decorated home, gourmet meals and well-behaved children looks

like an impossible ideal to emulate.

But those viewing the website don’t see the online household’s messes, kitchen mishaps and squabbles.

“Sometimes I wish people would post the things we ‘shouldn’t’ post, like, ‘Today I dropped something on the floor and left it because I was too lazy to pick it up,’” she said.

“Something revealing about the other side of us.”

Of course, daily mental health practices cannot replace professional help when that is what is needed.

Ditch said to reach out for help should you notice that for two weeks or longer, you’re avoiding contacting others, performing routine personal care or dropping formerly enjoyed interests for no reason. Anyone experiencing suicidal thoughts or thinking no one would care if they died should seek professional help, as should those abusing alcohol, using drugs or misusing prescription medication.

“Depression is a state we can put ourselves in and keep ourselves in,” Ditch said. “If we can openly talk about it, it stands less of a chance.”

Do what you love.

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IN GOOD HEALTH – Rochester / Genesee Valley Healthcare Newspaper • January 2021

auggie 1. vera 99.

Life is about looking back and moving forward.

Life is a mix of the years ahead of us and the years behind. As we commemorate 100 years, Jewish Senior Life is learning from a long history of leadership in senior care and looking ahead to a new century committed to the personal safety and well-being of our residents. To experience the difference at Jewish Senior Life, call 585-427-7760.

All photos safely taken prior to COVID-19 pandemic.

January 2021 •

IN GOOD HEALTH – Rochester / Genesee Valley Healthcare Newspaper

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Page 3

Meet

we’re doing great as an institution.

Your Doctor

By Chris Motola

Sunil K. Bansal, M.D. How to Be a Living Liver Donor

A

bout one in five Americans waiting for a liver transplant dies before getting the organ. Their odds might be better if more people knew they could donate a portion of their liver in a process called living liver donation.

Doctors at the Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minnessota, want to raise awareness of these living liver transplants.

“About 12,000 to 13,000 people are on the liver transplant waiting list, which means about 2,500 people who are on the list each year will either die or become too sick while waiting for a liver transplant,» said physician Timucin Taner, surgical director of liver transplantation at Mayo.

In a living donor liver transplant, a portion of the healthy person’s liver is removed surgically and placed in a person whose liver does not work properly. The liver regenerates in about three to four weeks in both the donor and the recipient. Patients who receive a transplant from a living donor generally have better results.

“The incidence of technical issues during surgery can be somewhat higher for the recipient because it’s more difficult to transplant a partial organ. There can be increased risk of bile duct complications and arterial thromboses,” said Taner. “But in living donor liver transplantation, the transplant typically occurs before the recipient becomes dangerously ill awaiting transplant, which improves the outcome.”

Donors typically are under age 60, must be in good physical health and will undergo blood tests to ensure blood and tissue types are compatible with the recipient.

“It’s a significant operation for the donor,” Taner said. “Although in the past, it required a larger incision, over the past four years, we’ve used a hybrid procedure that reduces the size of the incision, which translates into better pain control. The time in hospital is about four to six days, and typically it takes about four to six weeks for donors to have a full recovery.”

The number of living donor liver transplants doubled last year, to 6% of all liver transplants nationwide.

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Highland ER doctor, who recently earned the hospital’s title of doctor of the year, talks about the stress, the rush, the work of treating COVID-19 patients and keeping staff and other patients safe Q: Highland Hospital nominated you as doctor of the year. How’d you pull that off?

A: Yes, they did. Fortunately I work with incredibly esteemed colleagues and peers, and I was nominated by my colleagues and peers. Being nominated by such a high-quality group of physicians and other colleagues and peers has been very humbling. I’ve been at Highland for close to 10 years now and have gotten to know quite a few of the physicians, nurses and advanced practice providers. Its annual award is given to one physician.

Q: Quite the year to win it in, too.

A: It was actually the 2019 award, with the nominations coming in in 2019. Then they announce the winner in 2020. It was just about the same time that COVID-19 was starting to take off in the U.S., so it didn’t get quite as much traction as it normally would.

Q: You’re in emergency medicine.

What kind of impact has the virus had on your practice this year?

A: It’s had an incredible impact.

It’s required us to be very nimble and very accommodating to the ever-changing times. In spring we did a lot of preparation. We were ready for a surge. It never really came then. It was nothing like it is now. As I’m sure you know, the numbers are spiking. It’s dramatic. Trying to keep the patients who are coming in safe, trying to keep the staff safe. And also trying to see patients who are coming into the department with non-COVID issues. Those are the patients who tend to be scared to come in. Those fears are very justifiable, but we’re doing our best to keep people safe and keep exposures to a minimum. So it’s had a dramatic impact on how we practice.

of [people] coming into the hospital. Some of those patients probably didn’t have emergency conditions, but there were also patients who had emergency conditions who weren’t coming in, and that’s a bad thing obviously. Then over the summer we started to see our numbers start to normalize as COVID was fairly dormant in our area. Now we’re starting to see the numbers rise, but we’re still not at the level we were at preCOVID. With that being said, we’re practicing in a very different environment with social distancing and the requirements to wear personal protection equipment. So it’s a lot more time-consuming to see patients than it used to be.

Q: What effect has all this had on relationships between coworkers?

A: Fortunately, I think the healthcare professionals at Highland Hospital have handled this extremely well. It’s exhausting, there’s no doubt about it. People are working more hours than they were, or necessarily want to, but as it’s a smaller place and we feel like a team, and see the same people each day, I think we’ve done a pretty good job of keeping moral up. I think relationships have remained very collegial within the emergency department, and to all the other departments in the hospital. We’re in the thick of it right now, and who knows how much longer this is going to last, but I think

Q: Has COVID-19 increased or decreased the patient inflow at Highland’s emergency department?

A: In the spring it reduced inflow for quite some time. I think what we saw was a fear

IN GOOD HEALTH – Rochester / Genesee Valley Healthcare Newspaper • January 2021

Q: What advice would you give to people in similar roles?

A: I think the most important thing is that we support each other.

That we all understand that each of us are facing different hardships.

What’s challenging for me on a given day may be different than what’s challenging for a nurse or a patient care technician. I think acknowledging that and trying to see through their perspective has really helped.

And just being mindful of the fact that we’re all under stress. And we don’t want to see people getting sick and leaving the healthcare workforce, so I think my advice would be to support one another.

Q: What’s an example of supporting your team?

A: In the emergency department we’re constantly under time pressure and crunches, and the need to make room for other patients. That can be challenging. If a nurse or colleague is assigned to take care of a new patient but is managing a very sick patient with COVID, that may delay the ability of that person to get to another patient. So being understanding of that, or talking to a charge nurse or other nurse to help that individual who is occupied with another sick patient. Checking in on each other’s patients. So those are the kinds of things we’re doing on a day-to-day basis to help each other out.

Q: Do you see this COVID-19 spike playing out differently than the spring?

A: I can tell you right now that we’ve far exceeded hospitalizations due to COVID during this current spike than we did in the spring. Even the severity of illness has increased.

We are seeing a lot of patients with COVID who can be managed at home, so we’re able to discharge them from the hospital. But we are seeing a lot of patients with respiratory issues that require hospitalization. I don’t think we’ve hit the peak yet. Overall, I think this surge seems to be much more severe than the first.

Q: New York had the second worst death rate in the country from COVID, most of that from the spring. Why aren’t we seeing the huge death rates this time around?

A: I think a lot of it is preparation. It’s also more spread out through the nation now whereas it very concentrated around the New York City area.

Lifelines Name: Sunil K. Bansal, M.D. Position: Assistant medical director for the emergency department at Highland Hospital; assistant professor of clinical emergency medicine, University of Rochester School of Medicine and Dentistry Hometown: Pittsford Education: SUNY Buffalo School of Medicine; board-certified physician in emergency medicine, and a fellow of the American College of Emergency Physicians Affiliations: Highland Hospital; Strong Memorial Hospital Organizations: American College of Emergency Physicians; American Board of Emergency Medicine Family: Wife, three children Hobbies: Hiking, running, reading, whiskey enthusiast

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Healthcare in a Minute

By George W. Chapman

Meet the New Secretary of Health and Human Services

P

resident-elect Biden has nominated current California Attorney General Xavier Becerra for the post of secretary at Health and Human Services.

Becerra will replace former big pharma executive and lobbyist Alex Azar. As California AG, he was a strong champion for consumers. Becerra sued giant Sutter Health System for driving up prices causing Sutter to settle for $575 million. He sued Teva pharmaceutical for a “pay and delay” scheme causing Teva to settle for $70 million. Becerra will inherit a surging pandemic, overwhelmed and financially stressed providers and the mass distribution of COVID-19 vaccines. He will oversee rule changes for expanded telehealth services, hospital pricing transparency and provider reimbursement that is transitioning away from traditional fee for service to pay for performance and bundled care reimbursement. Industry trade associations like the AMA, AHA and Association of Health Insurance plans (AHIP) have lauded the nomination hoping Becerra hits the ground running. They see him as a much-needed consumer advocate in that position.

Geographic Direct Contracting

The new HHS secretary will oversee the rapidly increasing transition from fee-for-service volume-based reimbursement to more cost-effective models that require coordination and risk assumption among providers in a specific region.

The goal is to improve the quality, access, integration and outcomes of medical services delivered to Medicare and Medicaid members while also lowering costs. Physicians and hospitals serving a defined region would coordinate management services, telemedicine, provider recruiting, purchasing and develop a preferred panel of quality providers.

The new entity would be paid via capitation, so much per member per month, based on the area’s historical claims. The entity can keep any savings it creates based on the amount of risk it assumes.

The incentive for Medicare members to join the newly formed integrated network is improved care and a reduction in the amount of health premium deducted from their social security check. CMS, which determines physician reimbursement, recently proposed a “budget neutral” fee-for-service schedule. What that means is increases for some services, typically primary care, will be offset by decreases in other services, typically specialty. While the AMA

has registered disappointment, CMS is sending a clear message that feefor-service reimbursement is being phased out in favor of alternative payment models as herein described.

New CDC Director

Biden has nominated current chief of infectious disease medicine at Massachusetts General, physician Rochelle Walensky, for the post of CDC director. She will replace Robert Redfield. Walensky is also on the faculty at Harvard. Two thirds of us live in areas with limited to no access to an infectious diseases specialist.

There has been a critical shortage of I.D. physicians. Thanks to the notoriety of colleague Anthony Fauci and her recent nomination, applications to medical school are up 18%, an all time high. The expectation is many medical students will elect to specialize in infectious diseases.

Retail Primary Care Accelerating

Retail druggist Walgreens has invested $1 billion in primary care provider VillageMD. The partnership plans to expand beyond their Houston-based pilot market and open up 40 more pharmacy/primary care centers by summer and 500 more over the next five years. The business model intends to increase the involvement of pharmacists in January 2021 •

the delivery of effective primary care to its members with emphasis in underserved areas. The entry of these well-financed for-profit retail medicine clinics into the market presents a competitive threat to typically under-financed private practices, federally sponsored clinics and hospital-sponsored practices.

Tech oriented primary care startup Carbon Health recently received a $100 million infusion from investors in addition to the initial $28 million infusion in May. The goal is to open 1,500 clinics by 2025 and 100 pop up COVID-19 clinics now. Carbon Health will offer “omnichannel” care via retail clinics, video, phone apps and work place clinics. Traditional providers of care have their reimbursements controlled and set by Medicare and commercial payers which prohibits them from amassing decent profits and building huge cash reserves for expansion.

The entry of cash laden for-profit corporations, which have been free of price controls of any kind, creates an unfair playing field.

Vaccine Distribution

“Operation Warp Speed” has accomplished the “easier” part of the mission: development and approval of a COVID-19 vaccine by the end of 2020. Several drug manufactures — including Pfizer, Moderna, Astra Zeneca and Johnson & Johnson — met the challenge. The harder part of the mission will be the efficient distribution and storage of the vaccines in 2021. The plan is to have 100 million of us vaccinated by the end of February, which should cover healthcare workers and nursing home residents.

The challenges are: ensuring the second dose of Pfizer and Moderna vaccines are available and given within the recommended follow-up period; storing the Pfizer vaccine in super sub-zero refrigerators; (Moderna can be stored in regular refrigerators); ensuring providers, typically clinics and physician practices, that give the vaccines are adequately trained and prepared for the onslaught; and determining priorities based on: age, comorbidities, essential, military, school, etc.

ICU Nurses Give Perspective

The Washington Post recently

ran interviews with ICU nurses from across the country: Idaho, Mississippi, Iowa, Illinois, Utah and Ohio.

Most of us are far removed from the battle zone in hospitals and need to be reminded what it is like for our first defenders and healers. The nurses revealed what it’s like to work in their highly stressful environments.

Here is the gist of the interviews.

Some people arrive barely short of breath and tell the nurses they feel fine. Within just hours, many of these patients go into rapid oxygen decline and end up on a vent or deceased.

Nurses are used to processing death, but they say the pace of death caused by the virus is overwhelming. (As of this writing we are over 3,000 deaths per day.) Nurses and physicians are getting sick, but it’s not from lack of PPE. It’s from community spread.

They are angry at people who believe the virus is no big deal or even a hoax and bristle at the mixed messages from our leaders. As the surge in hospitalizations increases, and vents are fully utilized by COVID-19 patients, nurses worry about treating incoming heart attacks and other serious illnesses or injuries requiring an ICU bed. They are pleading with us to do our small part and follow CDC guidelines.

Music can soothe

A survey by music streaming service Pandora, with about 65 million users, revealed 80% of respondents said music has helped them cope with the pandemic. 58% of the respondents said music was their “go to” coping mechanism. The average time spent listening to music was 40 minutes. Experts report music can ward off or mitigate anxiety and depression, improve blood flow and lower stress-related hormones

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.

IN GOOD HEALTH – Rochester / Genesee Valley Healthcare Newspaper

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Page 5

Live Alone & Thrive

By Gwenn Voelckers

Practical tips, advice and hope for those who live alone

Coming Home Alone

Put Out the Welcome Mat ... For Yourself

H

aving a “home sweet home” has taken on a whole new meaning and imperative as we continue to shelter in place during this pandemic. Our homes have become our sanctuaries, as well as our safe places.

Now, more than ever, I encourage those who live alone to take a fresh look at your indoor and outdoor space with an eye toward comfort, peace, security and happiness.

I’ll be joining you!

Making small, meaningful improvements at my own “House Content” is on my growing list of New Year’s resolutions.

As I contemplate these changes, I am reminded of an experience I had in my early 30s that influenced my perception of home. I remember it well.

I was working for a small nonprofit agency and was asked to deliver a document to a board member who lived in one of Rochester’s older, gentrified neighborhoods.

As I walked up the steps to Jane’s front porch, three things caught my eye: the seasonal bouquet in a hand-painted ceramic pitcher, the tasteful wreath on her door and a doormat that simply said “All are welcome here.”

A good feeling came over me.

I announced my arrival by softly tapping the sweet little heart-shaped iron knocker on her front door. Then I waited. I stood on Jane’s porch feeling as if I had arrived at a special place — a place that held the promise of comfort and hospitality.

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When Jane answered the door and invited me in, I saw that she had brought the warmth of her front porch into her home. I walked into an oasis of rich earth tones, subtle lighting and art from around the world that invited inspection.

I just wanted to sink into one of her overstuffed tapestry chairs and savor the warm embrace of her home.

And so it came as a big surprise to me when Jane told me she lived alone.

I remember thinking: “What? This can’t be.” It just didn’t add up. I had assumed that a home this wonderful — a home this lovely and complete — could only be the home of a family or, at the very least, a couple.

But no; this was Jane’s home. Her retreat. Her wonderful life.

Little did I know that, years later, my experience on Jane’s front porch would stay with me and influence the way I decorated and furnished my home inside and out. Unbeknownst to her, she was a role model and, by example, showed me that a house can be a home, even when it’s occupied by only one person.

Thanks to Jane, I found the inspiration to make my home inviting for the most important visitor of all: me.

If returning home alone triggers feeling of loneliness and loss for you, you might consider making some changes yourself. I suggest starting with your front porch: • Set the stage. I want to feel welcome even before I set foot on my front porch. That’s why you’ll

find flameless candles glowing in my windows all year long, not just during the holidays. Programmed with timers, the candles come on at dusk and their soft luminescence fills me with warmth and security as I approach my home after dark.

• Keep your front porch clean. It’s no fun (in fact, it can be a real downer) to come home to a messy front porch cluttered with muddy boots, tools or a pile of collapsed shipping boxes. I’ve learned that lesson!

These days my porch is clear of extraneous items and I make good use of the handmade artisan broom I have hanging by the door. Once a month I wipe the cobwebs and “bug juice” off my porch lanterns, window sill and hand railings.

Stepping onto a nice clean porch makes me feel good about myself. A sense of pride wells up in me before I even walk over the threshold. That little boost gets my evening off to a good start.

• Add some inspiration. I see my porch as a blank canvas, and I’m the artist.

I delight in making decorative changes that reflect the seasons,

IN GOOD HEALTH – Rochester / Genesee Valley Healthcare Newspaper • January 2021

capture my taste, and stimulate the senses: My wind chimes create an immediate soothing effect, my “Believe” wreath reminds me to have faith, and my charming little chalkboard invites messages from visiting friends and relatives.

One friend recently wrote “Welcome Home, G.” I left his kind message in place and enjoy this friendly greeting on a daily basis.

I know that coming home alone can be a challenge, especially if you are accustomed to returning to a house filled with the hustle-bustle of family life. I also know that making “welcome” changes can ease the way into a new life and home of your own.

Roll out the welcome mat for yourself and discover all the good things that may arrive at your doorGwenn step! Voelckers is the founder and facilitator of Alone and Content, empowerment workshops for women, and author of “Alone and Content,” a collection of inspiring essays for those who live alone. For information about her workshops, to purchase her book, or invite her to speak, visit www. aloneandcontent.com

AcuteKids Offers Rapid COVID-19 Tests for Kids, Adults

By Deborah Jeanne Sergeant

I

nstead of waiting days for COVID-19 test results, how about waiting mere minutes?

AcuteKids Pediatric Urgent Care in Webster now offers rapid testing for COVID-19 for adults and children.

The Cepheid GeneXpert Xpress offers four-in-one results for COVID-19, influenza A and B and respiratory syncytial virus (RSV).

Patients can receive a call at home in as little as 35 minutes after they were tested.

Founder Chrysa Charno calls the rapid testing a game-changer. “Instead of waiting days to get results, and causing people to miss work and school, we can shut down the vectors for the virus right away.”

Otherwise, those who have COVID-19 can unwittingly spread the disease before patients have received their diagnosis. By confirming a positive diagnosis sooner, they can take the additional precautions needed to stop the virus’ spread and so those whom they exposed can quarantine themselves.

“Our primary service is for children,” Charno said. “We opened the testing to adults because there’s such a need in our community.”

The state mandates that children with a headache, upset stomach, diarrhea, vomiting, nasal congestion and other symptoms must stay at home until they have a negative COVID-19 test. Many companies have adopted similar standards.

While policies like these curtail the spread, they also keep healthy people out of work and school needlessly for days.

Rapid PCR Testing can mean zero to one missed day. The test fulfills school requirements for returning to class.

“It’s really impressive technology,” Charno said. “The company that offers it, Cepheid, is a well-known company that offers multiple platforms for molecular testing of a variety of pathogens. It’s the same testing they would do in a hospital and it’s the most accurate way to look for certain pathogens. Everyone keeps asking the accuracy of the test. It is the same platform the hospitals have.

It’s now available to specialized office labs. It’s not that easy to obtain, which is why everyone doesn’t have it. You have to be a CLIA certified lab to have this technology.”

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Clinical Laboratory Improvement Amendments “include federal standards applicable to all U.S. facilities or sites that test human specimens for health assessment or to diagnose, prevent, or treat disease.”

Charno said that PCR tests detects particles of the viral DNA, an FDA-approved method of testing approved in October. Its ability to detect COVID-19, RSV and two strains of flu is also novel.

“In the past we had to do three different swabs,” Charno said.

Chrysa Charnoa, a physician’s assistant who founded AcuteKids Pediatric Urgent Care in Webster, which offers rapid COVID-19 testing.“Instead of waiting days to get results, and causing people to miss work and school, we can shut down the vectors for the virus right away,” she says of the test she offers.

Obviously, most people prefer just one, especially parents of small children who will not sit quietly for the swabs.

Charno said that AcuteKids tests about 80 to 100 people daily. Part of the reason that the facility cannot test more people is that supplies, such as the cartridge required for each test, are extremely limited.

“A lot of people don’t understand that we get 50 to 100 cartridges in a shipment and they’re gone in a day,” Charno said.

Charno said that AcuteKids offers online registration, walk-in visits (call from the car before entering) and contactless registration prior to or at the beginning of the visit.

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IN GOOD HEALTH – Rochester / Genesee Valley Healthcare Newspaper

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Page 7

Baby Jack, Catherine Miller’s grandson, not a happy camper after contracting COVID-19 . Many in Miller’s family tested positive after

How a Writer’s Family in WNY Has Been Affected by COVID-19

‘The virus spread like wildfire ... my husband and I, my son and daughter, four other family members from various households — we all tested positive’

By Catherine Miller

M

y family found out the hard way that the spread of the coronavirus happens quickly, easily and the virus is often spread before symptoms occur.

When my father died Tuesday before Halloween (not related to COVID-19), a few close friends stopped by to offer condolences. Three nights later I joined my siblings and cousins in an informal get-together in memory of my father.

While I was feeling fine that Friday night I awoke Halloween morning feeling sluggish, congested and overall just “under the weather.” My daughter had had a cold two weeks earlier and I attributed my illness to the same.

I was unaware that I had been exposed to the coronavirus the prior Tuesday from a friend who was asymptomatic. As a result, I then exposed others to the virus that Friday evening despite being asymptomatic myself. That Halloween evening my son and his wife stopped by briefly to show off my two grandkids in their costumes. I kept a distance as to not share “my cold.” By then it was too late.

The following Wednesday, eight days after initial exposure, I lost my sense of smell — a tell-tale sign of COVID-19. On the same day, the friend who had visited the prior Tuesday told me that she had tested positive for the virus.

My husband left work and he and I immediately went to get tested, Page 8

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as my husband had just begun to feel ill. My daughter, a recent college graduate living at home, had no symptoms and immediately packed a bag and moved to a friend’s house to avoid further exposure.

Regardless, the virus spread like wildfire. As the next two weeks unfolded, my husband and I both received positive results, my son and daughter contracted the virus, and four other family members from various households from our Friday night event also tested positive.

From that point many of their families were exposed, and more have shown signs and symptoms of the virus and are awaiting test results. In turn, each of the exposed persons working outside the home exposed their co-workers at their places of employment. In my husband’s instance each person working with him from the time of his exposure to the onset of his symptoms was sent home to quarantine. Deep cleaning was conducted at each of the offices he worked at, and two of the offices had to close for several days due to staffing issues. We had set off a domino effect.

As I work from home my exposure was limited to the family. My symptoms consisted of two days of feeling like I was hit by a truck and two weeks of fatigue. I never had a fever or experienced the standard cough that has been noted with the virus. The lack of smell was the oddest symptom, and my appetite

was nearly non-existent. Overall, my symptoms were minimal. My sisterin-law was not so fortunate. She was diagnosed with pneumonia, experienced extreme nausea and suffered with her symptoms for over two weeks.

Since the onset of COVID-19 in our family, we have learned that vitamin C, vitamin D and zinc can aid in boosting the immune system and minimizing symptoms. Testing at the first sign of symptoms helps to identify positive cases, but from what our family experienced if you know you were exposed to the virus assume you are positive until you get a negative test result, and quarantine once exposed.

People in the same household with an exposed person should wear a mask and avoid common areas with that person until test results are obtained. It is difficult to look back at the course of events and say what I would do differently to avoid the spreading of the virus. I was exposed and exposed others before symptoms surfaced. Once my exposure was known I immediately informed all those I was in contact with of their possible exposure. As of my first symptom though I should have avoided all contact with those outside of my home.

If you are experiencing symptoms or think you were exposed avoid others and get tested immediately.

The WellNow Urgent Care

IN GOOD HEALTH – Rochester / Genesee Valley Healthcare Newspaper • January 2021

Clinics and MAC Centers in our area offer COVID-19 testing. The WellNow facility I visited was quick and efficient, and they called me to relay my positive test result.

A member of the county health department contacted each family member after we received a positive test result and asked a myriad of questions regarding our contact with others and if we had notified all others of our test result.

One suggestion from the health department was to download its “COVID Alert NY” app, which can be used on your phone. It is a mobile contact tracing app that is anonymous, voluntary, and can alert you to potential exposure risks of people you have been in the immediate area of, whether at a restaurant, store, or work environment. The system will notify you if you have been in the vicinity of someone that has tested positive, allowing you to take immediate action.

In the words of “It’s a Wonderful Life”, “Each man’s life touches so many others.” This is true in the good times as well as the bad.

Despite all best efforts to control the coronavirus, exposure will happen. We can limit it and try to avoid it but, this season, it is part of our lives.

Wear your mask, keep a distance between you and others, and avoid crowds. And realize that just because you feel fine doesn’t mean you are.

Assume you can pass on the virus and plan events accordingly. And when you do spend time with others — cherish each moment.

Catherine Miller is a contributing writer to In Good Health.

She lives in Buffalo with her family.

Cancers in U.S. Teens, Young Adults Up Study shows incidence of cancer among young adults up by 30% since 1970s

C

ancer cases among U.S. teens and young adults have shot up 30% since the 1970s, new research reveals.

Kidney cancer has risen at the greatest rate, increasing more than threefold among young men and women, according to the researchers.

Breast cancers were the most common cancers among women and testicular cancer was the most common among men.

Using data collected by the U.S. National Cancer Institute, the investigators looked at half a million cancer cases diagnosed between 1973 and 2015 among people aged 15 to 39.

What explains the dramatic rise in this age group?

Other research has pointed to a range of potentially problematic lifestyle factors. They include a rise in obesity, worsening diets, insufficient exercise and UV/tanning bed exposure, said study co-author, physician Nicholas Zaorsky, an assistant professor of radiation oncology at Penn State Cancer Institute.

Many of those issues were also cited by physician Archie Bleyer, a clinical research professor in radiation medicine at Oregon Health & Science University, in Portland.

Bleyer added substance abuse and risky sexual activity to a list of behavioral trends “that may cause cancer [and that] occur predominantly in older adolescents and young adults.”

He said, “Cancers that are related to obesity in older adults are frequent cancers in young adults. And obesity has been steadily increasing in American young adults. Also, diagnostic imaging [CT scans, MRIs, ultrasound scans, etc.] has increased in young adults, leading to diagnoses of a ‘cancer’ that would not have created a problem for the rest of the person’s life.” In other words, Bleyer said, “overdiagnosis” may play a role.

New year, new home.

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Heart Disease Is World’s No. 1 Killer Heart disease cases worldwide nearly double— China leads as the country with highest incidence

H

CRISIS REVEALS CHARACTER

eart disease is the leading College of Cardiology. cause of death worldwide — Along with being the leading accounting for one-third of cause of death, cardiovascular disDuring this unprecedented time deaths in 2019 —and the death toll ease (CVD) — especially ischemic we honorand stroke — our CariolaisSuperheroes— continues to rise, a new paper says. heart disease a major China had the highest numcause ofDirect disability and rising health Support Professionals ber of heart disease deaths in 2019, care costs.

Residential followed by India, Russia, the United There was a significantManagers increase States and Indonesia. in the heart disease-related years Teachers • Nurses Heart disease death rates were of life lost and the number of years Social Workers • Clinicians lowest in France, Peru and Japan, lived with heart disease-related diswhere rates were six times lower Staff ability doubled toSupport 34.4 million from than in 1990.

1990 to 2019, the study found. commitment dedication is inspiring!

Countries need to create cost-ef- Your “Global patternsand of total CVD fective public health programs to have significant implications for clinreduce heart disease risk through ical practice and public health policy behavior changes, according to the development,” said lead author, 1000 Elmwood Avenue • Rochester, NY 14620 • 585-271-0761 • MaryCariola.org report’s authors, who examined 30 physician Gregory Roth, an associate years of data. professor of cardiology at the UniverHeart disease cases nearly sity of Washington in Seattle. doubled over the period — from “Prevalent cases of total CVD During this unprecedented time 271 million in 1990 to 523 million are likely to increase substantially We’d love tothis have you join our in 2019, and the number of heart During unprecedented timeteam! we honor our Cariola Superheroes— as a result of population growth disease deaths rose from 12.1 million and aging, especially in Northern we honor Cariola Superheroes— to 18.6 million. In 2019, the majorAfrica and Western Asia, Central Direct our Support Professionals ity of heart disease deaths were and Southern Asia, Latin America Direct Support Managers Professionals Residential attributed to ischemic heart disease and the Caribbean, and Eastern and and stroke, with a steady increase Southeastern Asia, where the share of Teachers •Managers Nurses Residential from 1990. (Ischemic heart disease is older persons is projected to double Social Workers• Nurses • Clinicians Teachers a term for heart problems caused by between 2019 and 2050,” he said, narrowed arteries.) calling for increased attention to proSupport Staff Social Workers • Clinicians In 2019, heart disease was the un- moting heart health and healthy agderlying cause of 9.6 million deaths Support Staff ing throughout life.

Your commitment and dedication is inspiring!

Show Your Character and Apply Today among men and 8.9 million deaths “Equally important, the time among women globally. More than Your commitment and dedication is inspiring! has come to implement feasible and 6 million of those deaths occurred in affordable strategies for the preven1000 Elmwood Avenue • Rochester, NY 14620 people between 30 and 70 years of tion and control of CVD and to mon1000 Elmwood Avenue • Rochester, NY 14620 • 585-271-07 age. itor results,» Roth said in a journal 585-271-0761 • MaryCariola.org The findings were published news release.

1000 Elmwood Avenue • Rochester, NY 14620 • 585-271-0 Dec. 9 in the Journal of the American

CRISIS REVEALS REVEALS CRISIS CHARACTER CHARACTER

January 2021 •

IN GOOD HEALTH – Rochester / Genesee Valley Healthcare Newspaper

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Page 9

Fitness/Weight loss

Home Fitness Continues with Pandemic ‘You don’t need any equipment,’ says exercise specialist

By Deborah Jeanne Sergeant

A

s ever-changing pandemic guidelines persist, many people have turned to working out at home.

Many gyms have limited the number of people at their facilities to prevent crowds and some people do not feel comfortable exercising at a gym. Winter weather can also make getting to the gym difficult. That is why it can be important to develop a back-up means of working out at home.

“The more you can figure out to do at home, the better off you’ll be in case you can’t get out,” said Doug Keller, nationally accredited through the National Academy of Sports Medicine and owner of Keller Fitness and Personal Training in Rochester.

He recommends high intensity interval training (HIIT) workouts, which are particularly helpful for people who lack time for long workouts. HIIT involves working out as hard as possible for a short burst alternating with a short recovery

period of slower, less intense movement. HIIT workouts typically last about 20 to 30 minutes.

“HIIT is fast and effective for those who want quicker routines,” Keller said. “It can be hard to do longer routines without equipment at home.”

For those unable to acquire equipment at home, HIIT can offer an efficient workout.

Nick Valente, orthopedic surgeon with Genesee Orthopaedics, which is associated with Rochester Regional Health, recommends seeking outdoor activity if possible, like cross-country skiing.

“It’s low-impact and is a total body workout,” Valente said. “It’s a good way to start. You can ease into it without a lot of impact on your joints.”

When the weather is bad, he recommends low impact aerobics like jumping jacks, push-ups, sit-ups and body weight exercises like squats and planks. Yoga can also work well at

home using online videos.

“You don’t need any equipment,” Valente said. “It’s a moderate aerobic workout and good for maintaining flexibility.”

To stay motivated, it’s important to find something you like doing in a comfortable environment. Who wants to huff and puff for an hour on an exercise bike in a dimly lit basement? Instead, physician Kerry Graff, board-certified in family and lifestyle medicine at RRH Family and Lifestyle Medicine-Canandaigua, encourages people to find something they like doing. When the weather is appropriate, she enjoys cross-country skiing for a few hours.

For those doing something mindless, like pedaling a bike, it helps to have something interesting to watch.

“I have an elliptical that I can hop on while I’m watching the

Weight Loss, Fitness Trends for 2021

By Deborah Jeanne Sergeant

I

f losing weight is among your New Year’s resolutions, learn about the trends for weight loss local experts foresee for 2021. Here they are:

• “A big trend that has already hit fitness is intermittent fasting. It’s a popular way people are finding success at losing weight. I think that will be the most popular diet type of 2021. Intermittent fasting is a type of nutritional intake where you fast for a time and eat your days’ calories in a shorter period. It gets people on a schedule and stops people form overeating. It helps manage intake. It doesn’t work for everyone, just seven out of 10 people. Also, it can be hard to get started if you’re the type of person who will struggle with fasting for 16 hours straight.

• “Wearable technology will be big in 2021. It’s a lot easier to track your important health metrics. Wearable tech is helpful to developing healthier lifestyle, manage diseases and improve efficiency of exercise. It will be very popular.

• “Virtual training will be very big because of the global pandemic.

More are turning to at home workouts like Peloton.

• “Another big trend will be outdoor workouts. In many places, gyms are closed or limited capacity.

Being outdoors is less dangerous.

• “The combining of exercise and mindfulness together is also a trend.

With the pandemic creating a new Page 10

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kind of stress, people are looking for new ways to relieve that stress and exercise will help with that. This year, the body-mind connection will be a big part of the fitness industry.”

— Doug Keller, nationally accredited through the National Academy of Sports Medicine and owner of Keller Fitness and Personal Training, Rochester • “The ketogenic diet [low carb, high fat] is fading out. It’s either not maintainable for long-term weight loss and it’s water weight loss mostly. You gain it back when you stop following the diet. New studies show you lose muscle mass on this diet. That has not been shown with a low-fat, vegan type diet. People are pulling away from keto for that reason.

• “The biggest thing I’m seeing is, people are waking up to the disconnection between what’s maintainable for weight loss and what’s best for health and what’s best for the environment. I think people are more aware anyway of the influence of what we eat for our health. People aren’t just about weight loss. What’s healthiest for me and the planet and our communities?

• “The biggest thing is people are starting to wake up to the fact that it should be lifelong changes to maintain weight loss. You’re worse off doing something to lose 20 pounds and gaining it back. Your metabolism will slow down a little. You tend to gain back more than you’ve lost. If you do

physical activity and take in fewer calories, your metabolism will want to slow down to reserve calories.

• Definitely things like Noom are becoming more popular. Using apps is a way to look at your behavior and make small changes that make a big difference over time.

• “There’s more cooking at home going on and experimenting with that. Some people like online cooking classes if they’re trying to eat healthier and more plant based. The meal kits that have been super popular in the past seems to be waning. They’re really costly and they also have a ton of packaging so there’s a lot of waste.

• “There’s a lot of web-based training. When this [the pandemic] is over, will people go back to the gym?

I’m not sure. Doing yoga virtually is not the same. You’re also not getting the correction physically to help you get the right movement.”

IN GOOD HEALTH – Rochester / Genesee Valley Healthcare Newspaper • January 2021

news,” she said. “All of a sudden, I did 30 minutes while not paying attention. You can distract yourself.”

Instead of Netflix and chill, why not Netflix and sweat?

For more guidance and motivation, workout apps and videos can help.

Exercise equipment manufacturers making equipment such as the Peloton bike are now offering apps and connectivity to guide those working out.

“You sign on for a class and you’re doing it along with people,” Graff said. “It works well for competitive people. There are other services where you can get online with a group or personal trainer.”

At www.studiosweatondemand. com, people can stream fitness classes of all sorts, led by trained professionals.

— Physician Kerry Graff, board-certified in family and lifestyle medicine at RRH Family and Lifestyle Medicine in Canandaigua.

• “People realize carbs, processed food and sugar are not healthful. There’s a connection with those foods and a lot of people needing to be on medication to treat diabetes, high cholesterol, high blood pressure and even depression. A lot of our clients are able to reduce their medication significantly or even get off them with their doctor’s recommendation.

• “People are starting to learn that losing weight has other positive effects. Most women I work with have lost a minimum of 13 pounds up to 21 pounds in a month. Once you start getting the weight off, you have more mobility and you think clearer. You’re sleeping better. Women with hot flashes stop or significantly reduce. Most of that is changing their diet. They feel like exercising now.”

— Susan Freemesser, natural hormone balancing specialist, Be Balanced Hormone Weight Loss Centers, Rochester.

Fitness/Weightloss

Common Ground Health has advocated for traffic safety, including colorful cross walks, higher visibility crosswalks around schools and playful sidewalk projects. Photos provided by Common Ground Health

Group Wants More Walkable Neighborhoods in Rochester Common Ground Health through its Complete Streets Makeover initiative seeks to help communities become more walkable, healthier

By Deborah Jeanne Sergeant

A

brisk walk on a crisp winter day can provide exercise and a sense of rejuvenation. As gyms and other places of fitness have been closed or working on a limited basis, walking can offer many people a means of exercise.

It takes little equipment to enjoy walking — a pair of comfortable shoes and adequate clothing — but finding a place to walk can present more of a challenge to some people.

That is why people like Mike Bulger, healthy communities coordinator with Common Ground Health in Rochester, has worked on projects like Complete Streets Makeover. The initiative seeks to help communities become more walkable.

“We know walkable streets are important to the residents in the city of Rochester for a number of reasons,” Bulger said. “We’ve heard for years that unsafe and unwalkable streets are barriers to walking to school, a playground or other place to play. It is an obstacle to healthy development, not just physical.”

Traits of walkable communities include places to walk that are safe from traffic, such as sidewalks in good repair, appropriate pedestrian-scale lighting, safe cross walks and drivers who practice safe driving habits. The sidewalks are cleared of debris, snow and ice and also accessi-

ble for people who have trouble with mobility.

“A walkable street connects destinations,” Bulger said. “Is it walkable if there’s nowhere to go? If the park or playground is locked or in poor condition, there’s no place to go. People think of crime and stranger danger, but parents are often more concerned about scary dogs and vacant houses. Neighborhood beautification is something we talk about.”

The sidewalks that lead to things like a playground, library, transit stop and other important destinations are priority sidewalks. Bulger said that with limited resources, it becomes necessary to prioritize.

Common Ground Health has advocated for traffic safety, including colorful cross walks, higher visibility crosswalks around schools; Drive 2 B Better, a traffic safety education campaign; street makeovers; playful sidewalk projects around schools where murals and stencils help make the space more engaging; and story walks at libraries that can help people spend more time outside and be more active.

“That creates an environment where people feel like they belong as a pedestrian and they enjoy their walk,” Bulger said. “In all these projects, what we do is try to elevate residents’ voices.”

January 2021 •

Most of the funding of Complete Streets Makeover projects come from the New York State Department of Health and some comes from local foundations.

Pamela Bailie has served as manager of community-based programs at the Center for Community Health & Prevention and is now the senior human project coordinator at Wilmot Cancer Institute’s Office for Community Outreach, Engagement and Disparities. She thinks that improving a neighborhood’s walkability improves life for residents in many ways, starting with health.

“Going for a walk increases heartrate and improves cardiovascular health,” Bailie said. “Getting moderate exercise of 150 minutes a week has been shown to play a role in decreasing the likelihood of developing certain chronic diseases, such as diabetes and heart disease, and improves overall health.”

She added that walking with others can add a social element to the activity.

To make neighborhoods more walkable, she said that sidewalks should be “designed to make it easier for people to walk to stores and schools.”

One example from the Center for Community Health & Prevention, in coordination with Action for a Better Community and the city of Rochester, was the Rochester Walks! effort, which developed eight walking paths in the city with maps to identify points of interest in the city.

Bailie said that organizations such as churches and recreation centers “adopted” the routes to maintain them.

“What is amazing about these routes is that they are interesting — they move through some of the amazing architecture and urban landscapes that make Rochester a beautiful place to live, and bring people together for both fun and fitness,”

Mike Bulger, healthy communities coordinator with Common Ground Health in Rochester, has worked on projects like Complete Streets Makeover.

“We know walkable streets are important to the residents in the city of Rochester.”

Bailie said.

Similar collaborative efforts with Common Ground Health, the Edgerton Neighborhood Association and the JOSANA neighborhood association have identified walking paths, too.

“Having parks and schools as focal points on these paths was key, as it creates more incentive for people to use the routes on a regular basis,” Bailie said. “Residents in these neighborhoods are excited and dedicated to improving the health and safety of their neighborhoods, and it was an honor to play a role in helping them to achieve their goals.”

She believes that engaging the community to take part in developing and maintaining the walking paths “gives a sense of ownership” which may make residents “more likely to highlight them and spread the word.”

IN GOOD HEALTH – Rochester / Genesee Valley Healthcare Newspaper

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Page 11

Fitness/Weightloss

Make Fitness Fun in This Winter Top 10 activities for you to stay in shape this season

By Kyra Mancine

H

appy New Year! It’s time to head outside and get active.

Don’t let the cold weather stop you. Dress in layers, grab a friend or family member and get started.

Did you know that the American Heart Association recommends 150 minutes of moderate to intense physical activity a week? Choose from this list and you’ll be well on your way to meeting your exercise and fitness goals this year.

Walking — The Erie Canal 1.

Trail offers hundreds of miles of flat and scenic paths across

Upstate New York, making it ideal for all ages. Pick a different section each week and start racking up those miles. Visit https://nycanalmap. com/ for an interactive map with descriptions of each section of the canal path.

Chasing Waterfalls — Many 2. waterfall trails are inaccessible in winter due to treacherous con-

ditions. However, these are safe to trek to, making the walk well worth the reward.

• Niagara Falls, 332 Prospect St., Niagara Falls. The colder it gets, the more breathtaking this trip becomes.

The falls never freeze entirely, however the combination of the cold and wind (especially the effect on the trees opposite the falls) make this your winter wonderland workout.

• Taughannock Falls, 1740 Taughannock Blvd., Trumansburg — These falls, at 215 feet, are three stories taller than Niagara Falls. You can view them from the overlook or take the ¾ mile flat trail to the bottom.

This is one of the only gorge trails in the New York state trail system open in the winter.

• Upper, Lower & Middle Falls — Letchworth State Park, 6786 County Road 38, Castile. There are many trails and areas you can hike in order to view these spectacular waterfalls.

If we get a really frigid season, you can see the “Ice Volcano” outside the Glen Iris inn. This ice “mountain” grows when the fountain in the pond freezes. Note some entrances of the park will close depending upon conditions.

Learning to Snowshoe — The 3. city of Rochester offers snowshoe rentals at the Recreation Bureau Office at 400 Dewey Ave. You can also rent snowshoes at the Hansen Nature Center (1525 Calkins Road, Pittsford) and the Helmer Nature Center in Irondequoit (154 Pinegrove Ave., Rochester).

Start a Running Streak — Track 4. how many days you can finish a mile or more. Or, make your goal to run or walk a marathon (26.2 miles) by the end of the month.

Page 12

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Niagara Falls never freezes entirely, however the combination of the cold and wind make this your winter wonderland workout.

Shown is a mist rising above the falls at Niagara Falls State Park.

Get creative — you could plot your course to go around one or more of the Finger Lakes or across New York state — without ever having to leave your own town. If you’re looking for a virtual race for added motivation and accountability, visit https://runsignup.com/

5.

Outdoor Ice Skating — You’ll heat up quickly as you torch calories on the rink. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Memorial Park offers rentals and season passes. You can also ice skate at Churchville Park (bring your own skates) and Ellison Park.

Downhill and Cross-Coun6. try Skiing — Head to Bristol Mountain (38 slopes), Swain (35

trails) or Hunt Hollow in Naples (80 acres of trails) for your skiing adventure (including lessons), day or night.

7.

Snowboarding — Combining elements of surfing, skateboarding and skiing, your snowboarding experience awaits at Brantling Ski & Snowboard Center in Sodus, Bristol Mountain in Canandaigua, Swain Ski Resort or Kissing

Bridge in Glenwood. Many resorts offer a ‘snowboard school” for beginners. Visit www.iskiny.com/skinew-york for additional information, including instructional videos and up-to-date snow conditions.

Sledding — You’re never too 8. old to go sledding! If you want to go beyond smaller slopes

in your neighborhood or backyard, there are plenty of places to hike up that hill and fly down it. A few cool spots include parks in Pittsford-Mendon Ponds (try the hill on Douglas Road and Canfield Road) and Powder Mills Park (near the North and South lodges), Black Creek Park in Chili, Ellison Park in Penfield, Cobbs Hill in Rochester and Webster Park.

Snow Tubing — Looking for 9. a dose of adrenaline and adventure? Give snow tubing a try!

These rubber inflatable discs are faster than a sled and intended to maneuver over special courses with moguls and bumps. Snow Tubing at Greystone (1400 Atlantic Ave., Walworth) offers a 10-lane, 1,000-foot snow-tubing run. For more information, visit www.greystonetubing.

IN GOOD HEALTH – Rochester / Genesee Valley Healthcare Newspaper • January 2021

com. If you’re willing to travel a little farther, head to the Holiday Valley Tubing Company (5673 Bryant Hill Road, Ellicottville) or Greek Peak Adventure Center (1856 NYS Route 392, Cortland) which offers a tubing center with 18 lanes.

Hiking — The city of Roch10. ester offers free Weekend Park Hikes for youth and adults from 10-11:30 a.m. starting January 16th.

They will even provide snowshoes if conditions warrant. Hikes include Washington Grove, Seneca Park and Turning Point Park. Visit www. cityofrochester.gov/winteradventures/ for more details. In addition, there are 21 parks in Monroe County that total 12,00 acres with miles of trails to choose from. Visit www. monroecounty.gov/parks for more information.

Editor’s Note: Due to COVID-19 and CDC and county guidelines, it’s advisable to check each venue for hours, availability, and protocols (including advanced online registration) regarding upcoming events.

SmartBites

The skinny on healthy eating

Healthier Chicken Wings Do Exist!

A

re you sitting down? Last year, on Super Bowl Sunday, we Americans consumed 1.4 billion chicken wings. Holy hot sauce!

That’s a lotta wings!

But no surprise, right? Football and wings go together like chips and dip.

Decades ago, before kids, my husband and I wolfed down a basket of chicken wings every Friday. We were on a mission to find the best wings in town. Our focus? Taste and crisp-factor. Our lack of focus? Nutrition. Never, not once, did we even wonder about fat, calories or sodium back then.

Chicken wings can have that effect. They’re so delicious, so addictive, so (for some) special-occasion, that you just want to enjoy them without the guilt.

Are you still sitting down?

Chicken wing consumption doesn’t have to be riddled with guilt! With a few tweaks here and a few bad-for-you ingredients slashed there, you can easily make this popular appetizer a whole lot healthier.

But before we delve into wing do-overs, let’s talk nutrition.

While clearly there are healthier parts of the chicken to be had, wings still have something to cluck about. When roasted in the oven, one drumette with skin provides about 100 calories, 9 grams of protein, and decent amounts of both niacin and selenium.

An essential nutrient that powers many chemical reactions in our body, protein helps to keep our muscles and bones strong, which is important for maintaining balance and mobility

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as we age. Niacin, a B vitamin, helps convert food to energy and influences how we process cholesterol, while selenium, a powerful antioxidant, plays an important role in the health of our immune system and helps to protect our body from damage caused by oxidative stress.

Unadulterated, chicken wings are super low in sodium and fairly low in cholesterol. Wings are, however, the fattiest part of the chicken, delivering about 6.5 grams per wing (2 grams saturated). So, what happens to sodium, cholesterol and fat when wings are drenched in flour, deep-fried in oil and slathered with hot sauce? All levels skyrocket. As an example, a popular chain restaurant posts the following amounts for 10 fried Buffalo wings: 5,020 mg of sodium, 515 mg of cholesterol, and 69 grams total fat (18 grams saturated).

To shed perspective on these amounts: The USDA recommends that healthy adults limit their sodium intake to less than 2,400 mg per day, their cholesterol intake to no more than 300 mg per day, and their total fat intake from 44 to 78 grams per day (with saturated fat making up no more than 22 grams). Again, that’s per day, not per appetizer!

Healthy Cooking and Eating Tips Grill or bake wings. Read wing sauce labels, opting for one with less sugar, sodium and calories. If recipe calls for adding butter to the sauce, replace it with heart-healthy olive oil or better yet, skip it altogether. Make your own blue cheese dipping sauce with Greek yogurt. Be mindful of your intake: calories quickly add up!

Blue Cheese Dipping Sauce 4 tablespoons blue cheese or gorgonzola crumbles ½ cup nonfat Greek yogurt 2 tablespoons fresh lemon juice ½ teaspoon garlic powder ¼ teaspoon each salt and coarse black pepper pinch of cayenne pepper (optional) Preheat oven to 400 degrees F. Line a large rimmed baking sheet with foil and place an oven-safe rack on top of the foil. Coat the rack with cooking spray or a light layer of canola oil.

Pat chicken wings dry to remove moisture. Place wings in a large bowl and rub olive oil well into each piece.

Combine all seasonings in a small bowl; sprinkle over wings; toss until thoroughly coated.

Arrange wings in a single layer on the prepared rack and bake for 30 minutes. Flip wings and bake 20 minutes more or until the skin is crispy.

To make the dip: Combine all the ingredients in a small bowl and mix well.

Serve wings with celery, blue cheese dip and (optional) a small bowl of hot sauce for dunking.

Anne Palumbo is a lifestyle colum-

Crispy Baked Chicken Wings 2 pounds chicken wings (about 20 drumettes and wingettes) 1 tablespoon olive oil 1 tablespoon chili powder 1 tablespoon smoked (or regular) paprika 2 teaspoons ground cumin 2 teaspoons garlic powder

2 teaspoons onion powder ¼ teaspoon cayenne pepper (optional) 1 ½ teaspoons kosher salt 1 ½ teaspoons coarse black pepper Celery, trimmed and cut into sticks Hot sauce of choice (optional)

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.

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Page 13

taken an economic hit. Kayaking, touring our arts centers, lunching on the waterfront and visiting places like Olcott, Ellicottville and the Elmwood Village for a local shopping excursion will be much needed ventures after the long hiatus.

Finances

My expenditures have definitely changed this past year. With my youngest child returning from college and grocery prices going up, my weekly grocery bill increased considerably. At the same time, our social budget diminished without daytrips, dinners out, movies and the like. It is time to redraft the monthly budget to take these new factors into account.

It’s also a great time to check out the balances on your mortgage, loans and credit cards, and touch base with lenders for better rates. If you are able to put more into savings, shop around for the best rate and don’t forget to check rates at your local credit union to keep the funds in our regional market.

Organize and Declutter

New Year: Time to Rethink Resolutions

By Catherine Miller

L

ike many others I use the fresh start of the new year to reaffirm my goals and make resolutions to enhance my life.

Losing weight, improving finances and trying new experiences tend to top my yearly list.

But what happens after a year like 2020?

Last year’s list was thrown into the wind during the chaos of the pandemic. Getting to the gym and eating healthier were replaced with making sure we had food on the table and taking care of families in need.

But now that we have had time to absorb the changes in our lives, it is time to take a fresh look at our traditional goals and fine-tune them to make the most of the coming year.

Health: Physical and Mental Goals Health goals top my list each year. This year it is a two-fold resolution. In addition to improving physical health, I have added improving mental health to the list. The stress Page 14

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of the past year has hit most of us. I like ritual. I like planning. 2020 took me out of my office routine and into a homebound work format that had to be reset. This year I plan to use daily meditation to relax and reassess daily goals. There are so many variables in our lives now that it’s important to be fluid in what we plan to accomplish on a day-to-day level on both a personal and professional level. I plan to go back to regular yoga classes that will help with both mental and physical health. With the use of DVDs and online videos I can continue yoga while social distancing. Daily walks will continue to be my go-to fitness and de-stress tool.

Read Daily

Offering relaxation, what better way than reading to transport your mind from the cold WNY winter to a distant place with crowds of characters waiting to be discovered.

Reading stimulates brain activity and promotes creativity and imagination.

As our current world becomes more limited in experiences, reading offers a way to expand our horizons. Our

local bookstores have thousands of books that offer an immediate retreat to a new realm and visiting our community bookstores aids in our local economy. A definite win-win.

Travel Local and Statewide

Every year I try to visit new destinations along with rediscovering a few from my past. The pandemic is making this difficult, but not impossible. Even with elevated positivity rates you can visit outdoor or non-populated venues and get away from your daily routine. Niagara Falls, often noted as one of the seven wonders of the world, is available for a day trip and displays its winter beauty in cascades of frozen snow and ice. The Festival of Lights is underway and is breathtaking. Having not visited in years, the falls will remake an appearance on my travel list, along with trips to the Thousand Islands and Adirondack Mountains.

All venues offer non-populated open-air activities. Once nicer weather makes its way back to the region, I plan to visit local venues that have

IN GOOD HEALTH – Rochester / Genesee Valley Healthcare Newspaper • January 2021

Decluttering is a goal I began during the stay-at-home phase of the pandemic that I continue to complete in the new year. After 20 years in our house there are objects stored in the back of our closets that need to find a new home. Surely my son will not miss that Ninja Turtle suitcase from 1995. While continuing my efforts in 2021, I am redistributing what I can to those in need and donating useful items to local donations centers to avoid them ending up in a landfill.

There are more people than ever utilizing donation centers due to financial constraints and a perfect time to donate to them.

The above are my traditional top resolutions. But in 2021 it is time to add a new resolution:

Reach out to Others Normally a very social person, there has been a marked decrease in my interaction with people since the onset of the pandemic. Working from home and minimizing time with family and friends to limit exposure have combined to make my social life nearly non existent. I reside with two family members which gives me daily human interaction, but I know many who live alone. This year I resolve to reach out on a regular basis to those who are isolated. While phone calls are the easiest, I have decided to use video calling more regularly to allow for a more personalized experience. The next few months promise to be difficult for those that are isolated, and a friendly face might make all the difference.

As we trek into 2021 we should be mindful that times of transition offer a chance for new growth. Instead of continuing resolutions of old, we should embrace this opportunity to change things a bit to suit the current climate and embrace activities within our current limitations. Certain changes made can aid the local economy — which is a much-needed bonus. If you are planning to add health goals to the new year include activities that can be completed with social distancing and improve your mental health as well as physical.

Finding new ways to keep active, socialize and relax will continue to be essential as we learn to roll with what comes our way in the 2021 frontier.

10 Reasons to Go Plant-based in 2021

By Susan Friedman, M.D.

I

t’s a New Year. If you want to make a change that will help you be a better you, and help make the world a better place, consider going plant-based.

You may have heard the term before, but what does it actually mean?

“Plant-based” is shorthand for eating a whole-food plant-based (WFPB) diet.

like beans, vegetables and whole grains. These take longer to digest, and so you don’t get the spikes and drops in your blood sugar that can leave you feeling tired.

3.Improve mood

It is a diet that centers on plant foods from four categories: vegetables, fruits, whole grains and legumes (beans, peas and lentils). The “whole-food” part means minimally processed — nothing good removed, and nothing bad added. Think brown rice instead of white, and potatoes instead of potato chips.

Why? Glad you asked! Here are 10 reasons to start you off with:

WFPB eating can be good for your mood! This can result both from what you are leaving out, as well as what you are adding in. Ditching the animal products has been shown to improve mood in two weeks. Adding in complex carbohydrates stimulates serotonin release — this is a chemical in the brain that boosts happiness and well-being. Quercetin, a chemical found only in plant foods, increases multiple chemicals in the brain, including serotonin. Apples, kale, berries, grapes, onions, and green tea are good sources of quercetin.

the risk of 1.Reduce chronic disease

4.Manage weight

What is that, exactly?

About 90% of adults in this country will eventually get one or more chronic diseases — conditions like diabetes, high cholesterol, high blood pressure and heart disease.

The usual progression is one of more chronic illness, more pills and worse health over time. But there is good news. It has been estimated that 70-80% of our chronic illnesses are preventable through lifestyle, and what we eat is the No. 1 lifestyle risk factor implicated in early mortality.

So that gives you three opportunities each and every day — breakfast, lunch and dinner — to improve your health! A WFPB diet has been shown to prevent, treat and even reverse some of our most common chronic conditions. A low-fat WFPB diet is the only dietary pattern that has been demonstrated to reverse established heart disease. Type 2 diabetes, which will affect one in three Americans born after the year 2000 – and one in two people of color — can sometimes be reversed with a WFPB diet.

Eating a plant-based diet is a great way to lose weight without dieting. Plants are naturally lower in calories than animal foods and processed foods, with fewer calories for a given volume. Have you ever looked at the nutritional information on a typical salad tub? A 16-ounce tub has a total of 100 calories. Imagine how full you could get on just 100 calories! Another reason that plant-based eating helps with weight loss is that plants are full of fiber. A randomized controlled trial — the gold standard for clinical studies — compared a WFPB diet to usual care, and found that people in the plant-based arm lost an average of more than 26 pounds in six months, without limiting calories or exercising. To repeat — participants weren’t counting calories or limiting what they ate — they just ate till they were full. What’s more, when people were surveyed at one year, they had sustained the weight loss — avoiding the setbacks of yo-yo dieting.

2.

5.Reduce chronic pain

Sleep is essential for health.

Consistently getting a good night’s sleep helps you think better, helps your immune system, reduces blood pressure, helps you manage stress, keeps your heart healthy and helps you manage weight, among other things. Unfortunately, one in three Americans are chronically sleep deprived. People who eat plant-based diets tend to sleep better, and this can happen pretty quickly when you change what you eat.

A better night’s sleep will help you be more energetic during the day. So will the weight loss that you will likely experience (see No. 4 below). But the increase in energy that many people experience happens quickly after they switch to a WFPB diet — even before substantial weight loss. One reason is the complex carbohydrates found in foods

The Standard American Diet creates a state of low-level, chronic inflammation.

This not only drives a lot of our chronic illness, but is a factor in chronic pain.

Many people who switch to a plantbased diet notice that their joints are less achy and other pains have improved as well.

Sleep better and increase your energy

for the 6.Better environment Eating a WFPB diet is the single best thing that an individual can do to improve the environment. A plantbased diet conserves water, cuts your carbon footprint and leads to cleaner air. There are so many examples to choose from, but consider these: It takes 1,000 gallons of water to proJanuary 2021 •

duce just one gallon of milk. It takes 1,799 gallons of water to produce a pound of beef. So if you eat one less quarter pounder, that is the equivalent of almost an entire month’s worth of showers! Furthermore, the US Department of Agriculture estimates that farm animals raised in factory farms generate about 500 million tons of manure a year — three times more waste than is generated by humans. To put it in perspective, that is enough poop to completely fill every house in Monroe County — over six times. It has been estimated that every day that you eat a plant-based diet saves 1,100 gallons of water, 30 square feet of forest, and 20 pounds of CO2. If you are worried about climate change and the impact on generations to come, this is a great way to be a better ancestor.

7.Reduce social inequities It takes about 100 times more water to produce a pound of animal protein than it does to produce a pound of grain protein. If we are concerned about feeding the nearly 8 billion people on the planet, it is easier to do if we are eating lower on the food chain, and “cutting out the middleman.”

Opportunity to 8.cultures explore other When you start to eat a WFPB diet, it can open up whole new worlds of cuisine. Many cultures are “plant-centered,” and you can find all kinds of wonderful WFPB recipes from countries in every continent (except maybe Antarctica). Moving toward a plant-based diet is an opportunity to explore new flavors, new spices, new foods. Plus, when you move to a plant-based diet, and “detox” from the high-fat, high-salt, processed foods in the standard American diet, you will be amazed at how your taste buds “wake up” and appreciate this new range of taste sensations.

9.Better for animals

Clearly, animals do better when we don’t eat them. But beyond that,

there are other reasons that eating plant-based is better for animals.

About a third of land that is suitable for growing crops is used for animal agriculture — producing the food that feeds the animals that are used for meat. This leads to outcomes like deforestation and destruction of native vegetation, which in turn reduces natural habitats for many animals, and puts them at risk for extinction. And animal agriculture can create terrible lives for the animals involved.

10.Save money

There is a perception that eating plant-based is very expensive. Actually, the opposite is true. The staples — items like beans, grains, root vegetables — are inexpensive and filling.

Buying frozen food in bulk and fruits and vegetables in season can help save money. And remember that it is expensive to be sick. We spend 90% of our $3.35 trillion healthcare budget on patients with chronic disease.

That works out to over $9,000 per person per year. Imagine how much money we could save — individually and collectively — if we were healthy! To quote Michael Pollan, a food writer, “it’s better to pay the grocer than the doctor.”

Hopefully, this list will give you some food for thought. Give it a try for a couple weeks — better yet, go plant-based with a loved one or a friend. What have you got to lose? A few pounds, several points on your cholesterol, fatigue? It could be the start of a whole new you.

For more information on what plant-based nutrition can do for you, go to https://nutritionfacts.org/ or www.forksoverknives.com/.

Physician Susan Friedman is a professor of medicine and geriatrics at the University of Rochester. She serves as the medical director of the Rochester Lifestyle Medicine Group, and the director of clinical studies at Rochester Lifestyle Medicine Institute.

IN GOOD HEALTH – Rochester / Genesee Valley Healthcare Newspaper

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Women’s Health

Older Motherhood Offers Benefits, Problems Study suggests later maternal age for a woman’s last child may indicate greater longevity; experts say late pregnancy brings more risks for the unborn Deborah Jeanne Sergeant

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study published in Menopause, the journal of The North American Menopause Society, suggests that later maternal age for a woman’s last child may indicate greater longevity for the mom.

While it is yet unknown if the ability to naturally achieve a later pregnancy indicates a healthier woman or if the later pregnancy causes a longer life, it is still an interesting finding.

Most news for older moms is not as positive. For many reasons, it is ideal for the health of moms and babies for mothers to become pregnant younger; however, life does not always happen that way.

“From what we know so far, if you’re 35 or older, it presents more challenges and you’re at greater risk for birth defects, premature birth, getting pregnant with multiples and complications in pregnancy,” said Darcy Dreyer, director of maternal and child health for March of Dimes across the region from Buffalo, Rochester to Syracuse.

She said one of the reasons behind the uptick in complications is that many women as they hit their mid-30s are more likely to have chronic health problems such as diabetes, hypertension and high blood pressure. Fertility also begins to decline.

Dreyer encourages women who want to have a baby to get healthy before getting pregnant. “Everyone should try to get healthy, but if you’re hoping to have a baby, these things carry more weight. Get a pre-conception health check up at the OB-GYN and manage any chronic health conditions.”

If left untreated and unmanaged,

chronic health conditions can contribute to more problems; however, the age of the mom also matters. A woman’s eggs are formed when she is developing as a baby in her mother’s uterus. She is born with all the eggs she will ever have. New eggs do not develop. The eggs age along with the woman, so with many women, eggs fertilized at age 37 are more likely to have suffered age-related degradation than those fertilized at age 27. To an extent, her lifelong health habits do play a role in the health of her eggs.

Physician Ahmed I. Ahmed is an assistant professor with University of Rochester and is board-certified in both clinical genetics and genomics and obstetrics and gynecology. He works with at-risk pregnant women. He said that a major risk of later conception is “having a baby with a chromosomal abnormality, mainly Down Syndrome, trisomy 13 and trisomy18. The higher the age, the higher the risk.”

According to the National Institutes of Health (NIH), most children with trisomy 13 die before their first month of life and survivors commonly experience lifelong disabilities and complications, including breathing issues, deafness, feeding problems, heart failure, seizures and vision problems. Those surviving infancy may also have intellectual disabilities and developmental delays and higher risk for cancer. The NIH describes trisomy 18 as a chromosome disorder that can cause a hole in the heart, wasting syndrome, permanent flexion of the finger and cognitive impairment.

Ahmed added that mothers above 40 also have higher risk for

preeclampsia, gestational diabetes, premature labor, premature rupture of membranes, labor problems, post-partum hemorrhage, labor problems, and prolonged labor.

While some younger mothers experience complications and it is impossible to eliminate risk during pregnancy, it is helpful for any mother to take care of herself prior to and during pregnancy. Ahmed said this includes achieving a healthy weight before conception as well as managing any pre-existing conditions.

“If she’s diabetic, or has thyroid problems, she should have strict control of them at least three months before the pregnancy,” Ahmed said.

“Optimal control of health problems before pregnancy will be a major factor in improving the outcome of pregnancy.”

He also recommends a healthy lifestyle, including avoiding tobacco use, alcohol, contraindicated prescription and over-the-counter drugs and street drugs.

Exercising regularly before pregnancy and as advised during pregnancy, along with taking prenatal vitamins support healthy pregnancy.

“See your provider for prenatal appointments,” Ahmed said. “Mental health is very important. If she has anxiety, depression or if she’s on any medication, she should discuss it with her primary care provider as not all are safe with pregnancy.”

Birth defects can occur even before a woman knows she is pregnant, so pre-conception care is vital.

Ellen Derby, certified birth doula, post-partum doula and breastfeeding counselor in Clifton Springs, has

worked with numerous mothers near or over age 40. The oldest was 45.

“It generally goes pretty well,” she said. “I think for women — whether 22 or 42 — it’s always good to practice good nutrition, maintain good health and get some movement and chiropractic in your life.”

She urges women to choose their provider wisely.

“If you have a doctor who views you as ‘older maternal age’ and they assume because of that you will have complications, it may help you to find someone who’s supportive and doesn’t think there will be complication upon complication upon complication despite your good health.

Some are 40 and unwell and some are as healthy and active as at 29 because they have a good weight and are healthy.”

She said that most moms near 40 experience more fatigue while pregnant and after delivery, so resting more is important; however, at this age her parents may be elderly and not as able to help them. Hiring a post-partum doula may help, as these professionals assist the mom with caring for the baby and light housekeeping right after the baby is born. At this point in her life, a near40 mom is likely better financially situated to afford the help, compared with when she was in her 20s.

They may lack the energy of the 20-something mom, but older moms are more likely to have more patience and maturity to cope with the nearly overwhelming changes a new baby brings to a household.

U.S. Moms-to-Be Are Much Less Healthy Now

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n the past 30 years, U.S. women have been in progressively worse physical shape as they become pregnant, a new study finds.

A combination of obesity, high blood pressure, diabetes and having children later in life have led to potentially more complications, and even infant and maternal death, researchers say.

Obesity is a major driver of these complications, said lead researcher, physician Eran Bornstein. He’s vice chairman of the department of obstetrics and gynecology at Lenox Hill Hospital in New York City.

“They’re also going to have more hypertensive disorder [high blood pressure] because older women are at a higher risk for all of these complicaPage 16

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tions,” he said. “Basically, we showed that over the last three decades, women’s health in the United States has worsened.”

For the study, Bornstein’s team used data from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention to calculate risk factors and trends in pregnancies from 1989 to 2018.

During that period, the prevalence of high blood pressure disorders rose 149%, the investigators found.

Specifically, chronic hypertension increased 182%, diabetes increased 261% and having babies at an older age rose 194%. Also, the number of twin and triplet births increased 33%.

The increase in chronic hyperten-

sion was mostly seen in the past 20 years. High blood pressure tied directly to pregnancy and having more than one baby was seen largely in the last 10 years, the findings showed.

The rates of all these conditions were highest among women who had children later in life, the study authors noted.

“Hypertensive disorder is associated with significant morbidity to the mother and significant complications for the baby,” Bornstein said.

“Hypertensive disorders of pregnancy are one of the three major risks for maternal mortality.”

The advice to women is twofold, he said. “First of all, even before pregnancy, young women should concentrate on improving their

IN GOOD HEALTH – Rochester / Genesee Valley Healthcare Newspaper • January 2021

health and their metabolic status.

That means that they watch their weight, diet, exercise – just the basics in good health care,” Bornstein said.

Second, women should be aware of the potential consequences of delaying childbearing, “and try to complete childbearing at a younger age,” he said.

It’s difficult to tell women they need to complete childbearing by a certain age, but childbearing at 40 is associated with major complications, Bornstein said.

The report was published online recently in the journal E Clinical Medicine.

Women’s Health

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Study: Home Hair Color Not Strongly Linked to Increased Cancer Risk

(585)-284-3455

Deborah Jeanne Sergeant

A

new study published by BMJ indicates that permanent hair color does not increase risk of most cancers and only slightly elevates risk of a few.

For 36 years, the study followed 117,200 women in Boston who did not have cancer at the beginning of the study.

The women who used hair dye did not show an increase of cancers of the bladder, brain, colon, kidney, lung, blood and immune system nor those effecting the skin or breast.

Only slight risk of basal cell carcinoma of the skin was seen in women with naturally light hair.

Certain breast cancers also showed a slight risk in correlation with the amount of dye exposure.

Risk for Hodgkin lymphoma increased for women with naturally dark hair.

The research is limited because it mainly included white women of European origin and no men, although only 10% of men use hair color.

The study also was not conducted as scientifically as possible because some of the women stopped and restarted using color or may have misclassified their coloring product as permanent when it was temporary.

Still, the research does not indicate a marked elevation of risk, which should be a relief for the scores of those turning to bottles of dye to maintain their look while at home during the pandemic.

At press time, Monroe County-area salons were shutting down services and providing only curbside pick-up of any products purchased by customers.

“It’s not clear how much personal hair dye use might raise cancer risk, if at all,” said Jason Coleman, Cancer Control Strategic Partnerships manager for American Cancer Society throughout Upstate New York. “Most studies done so far have not found a strong link, but more studies are needed to help clarify this issue.

“If someone is still concerned about hair dye safety, they can embrace their natural hair color or try some of the newer hair dye products that are vegetable-based. These products may have some drawbacks, such as not being able to change hair color drastically or having the color fade sooner than is seen with permanent

dyes unless they contain some of the same ingredients as the permanent dyes.”

There is also a difference between home color available at stores and color used at salons by professionals such as Scott Dennis, owner and founder of R Salon and Spa in Webster. He uses only natural Aveda products. The company’s hair color products are 93% to 99% naturally derived, depending on the shade.

“Metallic salts are the actual ingredients within hair color linked to cancer,” Dennis said. “Those haven’t been used in most professional hair color lines in over a decade. That’s why there’s not a link between professional hair color and cancer.”

Nonetheless, he sticks with natural products to avoid the chemicals in standard products.

Since the pandemic began, he has been working with clients to prepare custom hair coloring for curbside pick-up, along with printed instructions and links to YouTube tutorials so they can safely maintain their color at home. Dennis said he worked with the manufacturer to make sure his hair color kits are safe and effective; however, he does this only for existing customers so he can meet their specific needs.

“We worked with companies that worked on the formulation that would be safe to give them,” Dennis said. “Many salons have been doing that: creating hair color kits to go.”

He said that receiving coloring treatments from a professional helps minimize customer exposure, so those concerned about their hair color should see a stylist “as your safest bet. They know what they’re doing,” Dennis added.

Many of his clients chose not to color during the pandemic’s quarantine period and are growing out their gray.

At Studio A Hair Salon in Webster, owner Annalisa Termine said that few clients request natural products when they come in for coloring, though she thinks natural products are better for people.

“I have some clients that their scalp gets irritated so I buy some natural products for them,” Termine said. “I cannot pronounce half of the words in regular hair color. With natural stuff, their ingredients are less.”

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Local oncologists believe telemedicine is here to stay with or without COVID-19 but reimbursement is an important issue that needs to be addressed if telemedicine is going to continue to play a pivotal role. pandemic, approximately 70% of oncology appointments were held via video conference. He estimates that it’s down to 40% now but the pendulum could be swinging back due to the recent COVID-19 resurgence.

The future of telemedicine

Cancer Care in Pandemic Era Utilizes Telemedicine

At the height of the pandemic, about 70% of oncology appointments in some Rochester cancer centers were held via video conference

By Todd Etshman

M

eeting an oncologist in person on a regular basis has always been an important aspect of an effective cancer care treatment program no matter how inconvenient that may be for the patient and their family.

When the pandemic began however, social distancing restrictions affected doctor-patient meetings of every kind, including doctor visits for cancer treatment.

The ability to meet an oncologist virtually via video conferencing eliminated the need for many visits that previously had to be done in person without the danger of spreading the virus to patients or medical staff.

A telemedicine or telehealth meeting is more convenient for patients in many ways. Patients can be more comfortable in their own homes and don’t have to travel or take time off from work or obligations.

Family members, caregivers or friends can also be included.

“There are some things we thought we weren’t going to be able to do when we got into this at the beginning of the pandemic,” says Nimish Mohile, an oncologist specializing in brain cancer at Wilmot Cancer Institute, but thanks in large part to telemedicine, that hasn’t been the case.

How it’s used Telemedicine may be better suited to cancer patients that are clinically stable but it’s not often that telemedicine isn’t useful for some aspect of cancer care.

“There is a role for telemedicine Page 18

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in all types of cancer but it’s going to be a different role,” says Mohile.

At first, Mohile worried that it would be difficult to meet and establish a relationship with a diagMohile nosed cancer patient whom he hadn’t met before.

Instead, having the patient comfortable in their own home with friends or family members present made establishing a relationship easy.

Mohile says telemedicine is well suited to brain tumor patients because a lot of it has to do with asking questions. “We can communicate and understand their needs in the same way with telemedicine. We can also asses a lot of brain function through a video platform. You don’t necessarily need to touch a patient to get a sense of what part of their nervous system has been affected by this.”

“We always know there is a Plan B for them to come in or see their local physician,” Mohile says.

The hands-on visit is a staple of the doctor patient relationship that isn’t going to be replaced by telemedicine. Telemedicine is simply going to reduce the need for all doctor patient meetings to be in person.

Once a CT scan or MRI is completed, the need for a physical exam is diminished, says Farhan Imran, an oncologist at the Lipson Cancer and Blood Center at Rochester General Hospital. Radiological technology provides the full picture. A discus-

sion and assessment of the symptoms can be made via a virtual telemedicine appointment.

URMC oncologist Arpan Patel likes that he can pull up cancer scan results with a patient in a video meeting and show that Patel patient where the cancer is and what course of treatment is going to be used to fight it.

If there is difficult or challenging news to impart, then it’s easier for the patient to hear it in the comfort of their own home.

The ideal telemedicine visit comes with staff instruction on how to maximize benefit on Skype, Zoom or other video software. Doxmity video conferencing has been enhanced specifically for medical needs and is easy to use. There isn’t one preferred video program to use although the technology will improve in the future.

Depending upon the nature of the meeting, a simple telephone call may even be sufficient although video conferencing is preferred since more information can be shared such as body and cancer scans.

“I’ve had some very difficult conversations through video conference, Mohile says. “Sometimes people are more open about things on their couch than they are in a clinical visit.”

Patel says at the height of the

IN GOOD HEALTH – Rochester / Genesee Valley Healthcare Newspaper • January 2021

For telemedicine to be more effective and reach more patients, oncologists such as Mohile say better broadband access is needed in rural areas and poorer areas of the city.

Improving cyber security in the future is an issue that will have to be addressed, Patel said. It isn’t widespread but it is possible for hackers to use a random ID number to jump into a meeting. Pursuant to HIPAA laws, only those involved in a patient’s care are allowed to attend a virtual visit.

Clinical trials are another area that may be able to use telemedicine more in the future since participants who aren’t local could be included.

“I think that’s an important future benefit, Mohile says. “We’re still working on it. Groups are working with the FDA on how best to do this.”

Local oncologists believe telemedicine is here to stay with or without COVID-19 but reimbursement is an important issue that needs to be addressed if telemedicine is going to continue to play a pivotal role.

Medical insurance companies have cooperated by fully reimbursing doctors for telemedicine appointments during the pandemic but changing the old method of fully reimbursing doctors only for face to face Farhan meetings after the pandemic will be harder to change.

“Reimbursement is an evolving thing. It’s not so simple and no one knows what will happen, says Imran.

“We’ll just have to wait and see what direction insurance companies will take.”

Telemedicine isn’t for everyone.

Some patients don’t like it and some older doctors are not big fans, either, since they believe hands-on is the only way to treat patients correctly.

“It’s not replacing traditional medicine but it is emerging as an alternative and acceptable way of practicing medicine, says Imran.

“Innovation is harder to embrace than tradition but telemedicine is changing the oncology world and the medical world in general,” he says.

As with anything new in the health care field, cancer patients should check with their doctor to see if telemedicine is a viable option in their treatment plan.

which are substance abuse counselors, on site. They provide coaching and counseling for people who are recovering from substance abuse, and run group therapy sessions.

Those groups are primarily at our shelter. In addition, we case-manage veterans’ cases in veterans’ treatment court. We also offer mental health treatment, chiropractic care and hydro-massage therapy.

Q A &

with Laura Stradley

Director of the Veterans Outreach Center: “If you served our country, it’s our turn to serve you”

By Mike Costanza “If you served our country, it’s our turn to serve you.”

All hear that message whenever they call the Veterans Outreach Center, Inc., which offers a wealth of services for veterans of all ages and their families.

Executive Director Laura Stradley, a veteran of eight years in the US Army, spoke to In Good Health about the ways in which her organization aids those who once served their country in uniform. The Rochester nonprofit was created close to 50 years ago, employs about 46 people, and has a current budget of just over $2.9 million. All services are free of charge.

Q. What is the Veterans Outreach Center’s mission?

A. Our mission is to serve veterans with compassion and advocate for all who’ve worn our nation’s uniforms, so that they can rise and live life to the fullest. The reason we use that term “rise” is because it represents our core organizational values, which include respect, integrity, service and excellence.

Q. The US Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) runs a large hospital in Canandaigua and an outpatient facility here in Monroe County. Doesn’t it offer all the services that local veterans need?

A. Unfortunately, not everybody who served their country is eligible for VA health care or benefits. I think the statistics locally are that about 26% of the population is eligible for VA health care, which means that 74% of the men and women who served don’t have any services when they come home. The Veterans

Outreach Center was initially created largely because of that.

Q. Were there other reasons for creating the center, as well?

A. Back in the 1970s, our Vietnam veterans were not welcomed in many veterans’ circles. Many veterans service organizations and the VA really didn’t welcome them with open arms, and they wanted a place where they could just kind of be with each other and support one another. That’s the big reason why we were created. I think we’ve been able to sustain our operations going on almost 50 years now because there is such a strong bond between those who have served.

Q. Aren’t Vietnam veterans now more accepted in veterans’ circles than they were back in the 1970s?

A. A lot of the service organizations and the VA now do very much welcome all veterans into their fold, or at least veterans who have eligibility. We don’t have any eligibility criteria that would rule somebody out from coming in. It doesn’t matter what era you served, how long you served, if you’re a combat veteran or not, if you went overseas or not, if you were on active duty a day or 10 years. Anybody who served is welcome at VOC. We fill a lot of service gaps, as well. We have programs at the Veterans Outreach Center that completely span the gamut of anything a person would need if they find themselves in tough times.

Q. Could you tell me about the VOC’s treatment programs?

A. We have licensed CASACs, January 2021 •

Q. Your website mentions residential services. What are they?

A. We have emergency shelters, transitional living and a permanent supportive housing complex — it’s brand new this year. It has 33 apartments in it, and supports veterans who have low income and vets who are disabled or were homeless. We also have employment training programs, and have folks on site from the New York State Division of Veterans Affairs. They offer benefits counseling for VA benefits.

Q. Do you offer other services, as well?

A. We have a barbershop, laundry services and a partnership with RTS [Regional Transit Service]. We hand out free bus passes to all veterans. We also have a very large food pantry, and offer a lot of clothing for business attire and cold weather, also small appliances, essential items, hygiene items and pet food.

Q. How has the coronavirus pandemic changed your operations?

A. We know that veterans are at higher risk in many cases because of exposures that they had in the military. Many of them have preexisting conditions that are very dangerous for somebody who gets diagnosed with COVID. The isolation factors involved with the pandemic have also exacerbated a lot of mental health problems. Veterans who are experiencing PTSD already experience a suicide rate that’s double the national average.

Q. How are you serving vets while keeping their risk of coronavirus infection as low as possible?

A. We have actually given dozens of veterans tablets with internet connections so that they can access health providers via telehealth at home. They can also connect with loved ones and sobriety groups and do job networking. All of that can be done from home for people who did not previously have the technology, the connectivity or the means to afford that. We’ve also taken a lot of our peer support groups and made them virtual, so they don’t have to meet in person.

Q. These are difficult times for nonprofits. How is the VOC doing financially?

A. We rely in part on both state and federal dollars to fund our programs and services. In the current COVID-19 state of affairs, we are not clear whether all of those dollars will be available this year. The uncertainty of government support continues to present a challenge, and calls us to rely heavily on our corporate donors, foundations and individual investors to give generously.

Editor’s Note: For more information on the Veterans Outreach Center, go to https://veteransoutreachcenter.org or call 585-546-1081 or 866-906-VETS (8387).

Those having serious difficulties can call the Veterans Crisis Line: 800-273-8255.

Don’t Schedule Your Operation on Your Surgeon’s Birthday

I

f you have a choice, you might want to avoid having an operation on your surgeon’s birthday.

A new study finds that seniors who have emergency surgery on their surgeon’s birthday have a much higher risk of dying in the following weeks.

Researchers analyzed data on nearly 981,000 emergency surgeries performed on Medicare beneficiaries by about 48,000 surgeons between 2011 and 2014.

The analysis included 17 different types of surgery.

Of those operations, 0.2% occurred on the surgeons’ birthdays.

In the 30 days after surgery, death rates were 6.9% among patients whose procedures were performed on their surgeons’ birthdays and 5.6% among other patients, a difference of about 23%.

Surgeons may be more distracted on their birthdays than on other days, but further research is needed to learn more about this issue, according to the authors of the study, published Dec. 10 in the journal BMJ. “Our study was the first to show the association between a surgeons’ birthday and patient mortality, but further research is needed before we make a conclusion that birthdays indeed have a meaningful impact on surgeons’ performance,” said researcher Yusuke Tsugawa, an assistant professor of medicine in the division of general internal medicine and health services research at UCLA’s David Geffen School of Medicine in Los Angeles.

“But at this point, given that evidence is still limited, I don’t think patients need to avoid a surgical procedure on the surgeon’s birthday,” Tsugawa said in a university news release.

The study had a number of limitations, the researchers noted.

They weren’t able to identify the mechanisms that led to a higher death rate among patients who had their operations on their surgeons’ birthday, so it wasn’t possible to prove a causal link between surgeons’ birthdays and patient deaths.

Also, the study was limited to older patients and the findings may not apply to younger patients or those having elective surgery.

IN GOOD HEALTH – Rochester / Genesee Valley Healthcare Newspaper

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Page 19

COVID Fatigue

By Deborah Jeanne Sergeant

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f it feels like the pandemic is dragging on endlessly, you are not alone.

That feeling is ubiquitous in fact that it has been dubbed “COVID fatigue.”

Though not a clinical diagnosis, the term describes a common feeling of resulting from life changes resulting from the pandemic. Wearing masks, little-or too much-work, changes in schooling, fear of the virus striking, lack of socializing and

entertainment, shortages of goods or services and remote everything all add up to COVID fatigue.

“People are strained by COVID-19 and the worry of it and some of the social and political struggles,” said Carl Christensen, licensed clinical social worker with North Coast Counseling in Rochester. “The restrictions are getting old. People are tired of having to accommodate this. I think people are sometimes forgetful and some are resentful so

they get angry about it. I think we all are struggling some.”

But Christensen added that for those with existing mental health challenges, the restrictions caused by the pandemic add further strain.

Isolation, changes in routines and uncertainty can exacerbate some mental health issues. Reaching out to therapists for remote sessions can be helpful, even though it is not the same as meeting in person.

Christensen said that avoiding or denying the reality of the pandemic are not helpful strategies. It is OK to mourn disappointments and miss loved ones; however, remaining stuck in those thoughts and feelings is not healthful.

Christensen said building structure into the day with goals to accomplish can help people feel more normal during pandemic life, as well as engaging in enjoyable activities.

“It’s important to figure out ways you can get out safely,” he said. “I recommend little day trips in the car to state parks where they’re out in the open. As the weather gets colder, it’s hard. ‘There’s no such thing as bad weather, only bad clothing,’ states a Danish proverb.”

He also encourages people to remember that the pandemic will not last forever and that things will improve.

Excessive news exposure Nicki Ditch, licensed mental health counselor with In Truth

Mental Health Counseling Services in Rochester, reminds clients to stay off social media and avoid excessive news exposure.

“There are people worried about not being informed but sometimes there’s too much information,” she said.

She said that it is vital to ask for help when needed, whether that is a listening ear or someone who can propel you forward.

Instead of ignoring safety precautions or holing up for weeks on end, “look for the balance,” Ditch said. “Step outside the house. Anywhere you can go, just wear a mask and go. Just use the outdoors as much as possible.”

She encourages essential workers to take time for themselves, as many have been working extra hard during the pandemic. Those who have been out of work may need to do some volunteering, home repair or working on projects or something else to do to feel useful and productive.

It also helps to realize that no one is going through the pandemic alone.

Some people have posted signs with slogans such as “We will get better.”

“Even though they’re strangers, knowing others are going through this helped get me more balanced,” Ditch said. “It put that reminder in me that others had the same idea I had. It helped get more balanced.

“It’s an acknowledgement. It’s like a nurturing mother who says, ‘There’s hope.’

St. Ann’s Community Utilizing Rapid Detection Devices for Point-of-Care Testing in Staff

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t. Ann’s Community is one of several skilled nursing facilities in the Greater Rochester area to receive rapid testing devices from the Centers for Medicaid Services (CMS) with the goal of rapid detection of COVID-19 in nursing home staff. Per guidance from New York state, nursing home staff must be tested once a week in order to minimize virus exposure and spread to residents and other staff members.

The devices provided to St. Ann’s Community by CMS, known as the BD Veritor Plus System, can read a sample in approximately three seconds and give a COVID-19 positive or negative result. The process currently consists of a nasal swab which

takes a sample from each nostril. The swab is then placed inside of a vial with a solution, and the vial deposits three drops onto a cartridge. The cartridge then rests for 15 minutes and is inserted into the device for a rapid result.

This rapid testing has made for a much easier and more efficient way of testing the nearly 1,200 staff members at St. Ann’s Community.

While the testing of staff may be more efficient with the devices, the difficult comes with the data obtained from the rapid testing devices.

New York state requires the data for all testing completed for each individual to be uploaded within three hours to the New York State Depart-

Yes, Pot Is Stronger Now Than in Decades Past, Study Finds

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arijuana packs a lot more punch than it did 50 years ago, making it a greater threat to health, researchers say.

“As the strength of cannabis has increased, so too has the number of people entering treatment for cannabis use problems,” said study co-author Tom Freeman, director of the addiction and mental health group at the University of Bath in England.

In Europe, more people now enter drug treatment because of pot than heroin or cocaine, Freeman said in a university news release.

He and his team assessed how Page 20

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concentrations of THC (the marijuana component that causes a high) has changed over time in different types of cannabis. They analyzed data from tests on more than 80,000 street samples collected in the United States, United Kingdom, Netherlands, France, Denmark, Italy and New Zealand over the past 50 years.

THC concentrations in herbal cannabis increased by an average of 14% from 1970 to 2017, primarily due to a rise in stronger varieties, according to the authors.

They previously found that frequent use of cannabis with higher

ment of Health for results and lab tracking. This data then needs to be electronically submitted and uploaded to the Electronic Clinical Laboratory Reporting System (ECLRS), which has caused more work and time dedicated to data analyzation and uploading of information for compliance purposes.

This is all done while ensuring St. Ann’s has the necessary staff, tools and processes to carry out the testing and uploading of data.

“I believe we’re the first of the Alliance for Senior Care homes, and perhaps the first of any Rochester area skilled nursing facility to test, capture and upload live data [not just test data] to New York state,”

said Aaron Fields, chief information officer at St. Ann’s Community. “This means we’re no longer reliant on just one testing method, and we now have multiple options for COVID-19 testing. In our current ever-changing world, it has made our access to testing supplies better and our results and reporting times faster, especially when so many of these supplies are in high demand and there are frequently long wait times for results with other testing methods. We have a fantastic team in place which makes this that much easier. It’s really putting us ahead of the curve for point of care testing.”

THC levels increases the risk of addiction and psychotic disorders.

The study also found particularly large THC increases in cannabis resin, with a 24% jump between 1975 and 2017. Cannabis resin is extracted from herbal cannabis and is now typically stronger than herbal cannabis, the researchers said.

“Cannabis resin — or ‘hash’ — is often seen as a safer type of cannabis, but our findings show that it is now stronger than herbal cannabis. Traditionally, cannabis resin contained much lower amounts of THC with equal quantities of CBD [cannabidiol],” said study co-author Sam Craft, also from the addiction and mental health group at the University of Bath.

“However, CBD concentrations have remained stable as THC has risen substantially, meaning it is

now much more harmful than it was many years ago,” he said in the release. CBD is not intoxicating and may have potential medical uses.

Marijuana – the most widely used illicit drug in the world – is legal in many countries and a number of U.S. states.

“As the strength of cannabis has risen, consumers are faced with limited information to help them monitor their intake and guide decisions about relative benefits and risks. The introduction of a standard unit system for cannabis – similar to standard alcohol units – could help people to limit their consumption and use it more safely,” Freeman said.

The study was published recently in the journal Addiction.

IN GOOD HEALTH – Rochester / Genesee Valley Healthcare Newspaper • January 2021

Senior Special • 5 things you need to know about Alzheimer’s • Signs you may need to visit an audiologist • How to find affordable housing for seniors • Make your bathroom safer and easier to use • Latest on hearing aids

By Jim Miller

What You’ll Pay for Medicare in 2021

Don’t miss theFebruary issue of In Good Health —Rochester’s Healthcare Newspaper To advertise and reach more than 60,000 healthconscious readers, please call 585-750-7051 / email editor@GVhealthnews.com

Dear Savvy Senior, I know there will be a small cost-of-living increase in Social Security benefits next year but what about Medicare?

What will the Medicare Part B monthly premiums be in 2021, and when do the surcharges kick in for higher income beneficiaries?

Health Conscious Readers In Good Health — Rochester’s Healthcare Newspaper — reaches nearly 100,000 readers who are interested in reading all about healthcare.

Inquiring Senior

Advertise

Dear Inquiring, The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services recently announced their cost adjustments for 2021 and the increases for premiums and out-of-pocket costs for most beneficiaries will be modest. But if you’re a high earner, you’ll pay more.

Here’s what you can expect starting in January.

Medicare Part B While Medicare Part A, which pays for hospital care, is premium-free for most beneficiaries, Part B, which covers doctor visits and outpatient services does have a monthly premium. Starting in 2021, the standard monthly Part B premium will be $148.50, up from $144.60 in 2020. That $3.90 bump represents a 2.7% increase, which is more than double the most recent Social Security cost-of-living adjustment which was 1.3%.

But if you’re a high earning beneficiary, which makes up about 7% of all Medicare recipients, you’ll have to pay more. Medicare surcharges for high earners are based on adjusted gross income from two years earlier, which means that 2021 Part B premiums are determined by 2019 annual income.

So, if your 2019 income was above $88,000 up to $111,000 ($176,000 up to $222,000 for married couples filing jointly), your 2021 Part B monthly premium will be $207.90, up from $202.40 in 2020.

Monthly premiums for singles with an income between $111,000 and $138,000 ($222,000 and $276,000 for joint filers) will rise from $289.20 to $297. Individuals earning above $138,000 up to $165,000 ($276,000 to $330,000 for joint filers) will see their monthly premium increase from $376 to $386.10.

Those with incomes above $165,000 up to $500,000 ($320,000 to $750,000 for joint filers), you’ll pay $475.20 per month in 2021. And single filers with income of $500,000 or more ($750,000 or more for joint filers) will pay $504.90 per month next year.

Medicare Part D If you have a Medicare (Part D) prescription drug plan, the average premium in 2021 will be about $30 per month for most beneficiaries. But, again for high earner with annual incomes above $88,000 ($176,000 for joint filers) you’ll pay a $12.30 to $77.10 monthly surcharge on top of your regular Part D premiums.

How to Contest Income Beneficiaries that fall into any of the high-income categories and have experienced certain life-changing events that have reduced their income since 2019, such as retirement, divorce or the death of a spouse, can contest the surcharge.

For more information on how to do this, see “Medicare Premiums: Rules for Higher-Income Beneficiaries” at SSA.gov/benefits/medicare/medicare-premiums.html.

Other Medicare Increases In addition to the Part B and Part D premium increases, there are other cost increases you should be aware of. For example, the annual deductible for Medicare Part B will see a bump from $198 to $203 in 2021.

The deductible for Medicare Part A, which covers hospital services, will increase from $1,408 in 2020 to $1,484 in 2021. There are no surcharges on Medicare deductibles for high earners.

For more information on all the Medicare costs for 2021 visit Medicare.gov and click on “2021 Medicare Costs,” or call 800-633-4227.

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

January 2021 •

Experiencing Vision Loss?

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Advertise once, get results all month long 585-421-8109 editor@GVhealthnews.com

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IN GOOD HEALTH – Rochester / Genesee Valley Healthcare Newspaper

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Page 21

Ask St. Ann’s

Ask The Social

When is a Good Time to Talk to My Aging Parents About Finances?

Submitted by St. Ann’s Community

O

ne of the most meaningful things adult children can do for aging parents is to honor their wishes regarding eldercare.

There’s no better time than the present to ask about their plans to ensure they have the resources necessary to receive the quality of care they may need in the future.

Engaging a loved one in the often well-guarded subject of finances takes time and patience because seniors may not want to ask for help, even when they need it. Experts at St. Ann’s Community offer the following tips to help you ease into the conversation.

Start talking now Talk with your loved one about the future before the added stress of an emergency enters the mix. When you visit, are there signs help may be needed such as stacks of unpaid bills, maintenance issues or a lack of groceries?

Daily living tasks like these are good conversation starters. Ask what supports can be put in place now, like setting up automatic bill pay or a home shopping service, to help your parents remain as independent as possible. Also, talk with other family members about how they can support your parents so you can preserve financial resources for future eldercare needs.

Help organize important information

Are you able to pay a bill or handle a transaction on your parents’ behalf in the event of a health emergency? Work with them to gather financial and health information early on so you understand their obligations and what resources are available to pay expenses. Store this information in a safe place so you and other fiduciaries can access it easily.

Another important document is a power of attorney that indicates who

your parent(s) appointed to manage their affairs if they become unable to do so. If they don’t have one, put that at the top of your to-do list.

Other common essential documents to look for include: • Mortgage and loan debt, including all credit card accounts • Monthly utility and household bills • Bank account statements • Retirement accounts and social security income statements • Mutual funds, brokerage accounts, stock certificates, savings bonds • Insurance policies (Medicare, Medicaid, health, and long-term care) • Property deeds and titles • Recent tax returns • Doctors’ names and contact information • Health care proxy: Who is it and does this person have a good understanding of your loved one’s health condition, medical history, medications, and end-of-life wishes?

Guidance from professionals Consider talking with eldercare professionals to help your parents review the big picture and make informed decisions. Be sure to include family members with decision-making power in these meetings from the very beginning to assure that everyone is on the same page.

In time, doing small tasks to support your parents’ independence or helping gather financial, healthcare, and legal documents will help your parents see you are there to help. By talking to your parents while their health is good, you’ll have a plan in place to truly honor their eldercare wishes.

Submitted by St. Ann’s Community, a senior community offering a full continuum of care in Rochester, NY. For more information, call us at 585-6976000 or visit www.stannscommunity.com.

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Security Office

From the Social Security District Office

Get Your New Standardized Benefit Verification Letter Online

I

f you receive a benefit verification letter, sometimes called a “budget letter,” a “benefits letter,” a “proof of income letter,” or a “proof of award letter,” we have good news for you! A new standardized benefit verification letter is now available when you need proof of Social Security benefits, Supplemental Security Income or Medicare.

In addition to name, date of birth and the benefits received, the new benefit verification letter includes other identifiers to prevent misuse and fraud. This is an added benefit to you as proof of income for loans, housing assistance, mortgage and other verification purposes.

The same standardized letter is

Q&A

Q: Are Social Security numbers reassigned after a person dies?

A: No. We do not reassign Social Security numbers. In all, we have assigned more than 500 million Social Security numbers. Each year we assign about 5.5 million new numbers.

There are over one billion combinations of the nine-digit Social Security number. As a result, the current system has enough new numbers to last for several more generations.

For more information about Social Security, visit our website at www. socialsecurity.gov.

Q: I prefer reading by audio book.

Does Social Security have audio publications?

A: Yes, we do. You can find them at www.socialsecurity.gov/pubs.

Some of the publications available include “What You Can Do Online,” “Working While Disabled — How We Can Help,” “Apply Online for Social Security Benefits,” and “Your Social Security Card and Number.”

You can listen now at www.socialsecurity.gov/pubs.

Q: I haven’t received my Social Security Statement in the mail the last few years. Will I ever get one again?

A: We currently mail Social Security statements to workers age 60 and over who aren’t receiving Social Security benefits and do not yet have a my Social Security account. We mail the statements three months prior to their birthday. Instead of waiting to receive a mailed statement, we encourage people to open a my Social Security account at www.socialsecurity.gov/myaccount so they can access their statement online, anytime.

Q: What type of information will I need to provide if I’d like to apply online for

IN GOOD HEALTH – Rochester / Genesee Valley Healthcare Newspaper • January 2021

also available if you need proof that you do not receive benefits, or proof that benefits are pending. If you are an individual representative payee, you can use the my Social Security representative payee portal to access the same standardized benefit verification letter online for your beneficiaries.

This new standardized benefit verification letter is another example of our commitment to improve our service to you.

No matter how you request your letter, whether calling our National 800 Number, your local office, the interactive voice response system, or online with your personal my Social Security account at www.ssa.gov/ myaccount, the benefit verification letter now contains a seamless look.

Social Security retirement benefits?

A: Whether you apply for retirement benefits online or by phone, we suggest that you have the following information at hand when you do it.

This will make completing the application easier for you: • Your birthdate, place of birth, and Social Security number; • Your bank account number and your bank’s routing number, for direct deposit; • The amount of money you earned last year and this year. If you are applying for benefits in the months of September through December, you may also need to provide an estimate of what you expect to earn next year if you plan to continue working; • The name and address of your employer(s) for this year and last year; • The beginning and ending dates of any active military service you had prior to 1968; and • The name, Social Security number, and date of birth of your current and any former spouses.

Depending on your situation, you may need to provide additional documentation with your application. We’ll give you instructions on how to mail it to us. To get started, visit our Retirement Planner at www. socialsecurity.gov/retire2.

Q: If I call 1-800-772-1213, can a Social Security representative take my application for Medicare prescription drug help over the phone?

A: If an interviewer is available when you call the 800 number, he or she can take your application over the phone. If an interviewer is not immediately available, we can schedule a telephone appointment for you.

For the fastest and most convenient way to apply for Medicare prescription drug help, go online to www. socialsecurity.gov/prescriptionhelp.

Drinking Water for Weight Loss: Does it work?

By Deborah Jeanne Sergeant

C

ould something as simple as water help you lose more weight?

Area experts say yes.

While it is obvious that replacing a caloric beverage with calorie-free water would help with weight loss, water offers other advantages to people working at weight loss.

Doug Keller, nationally accredited through the National Academy of Sports Medicine and owner of Keller Fitness and Personal Training in Rochester, said that people often mistakenly think they are hungry but they are actually thirsty.

“Some people who overeat do so when they’re supposed to be drinking water,” Keller said. “The next time you feel hungry, drink a full glass of water and see if that satisfies you. Sometimes, it’s thirst. If you’re replacing those hunger sensations with water, you’ll take in a lot less calories. If you do that every single day, you’ll eat a lot less calories than before and that will relate directly to a loss of weight.”

Drinking during a meal can also help people feel full sooner instead of continuing to eat after their satiated.

Keller said that can also aid in taking in fewer calories.

It may seem sensible to drink beverages using artificial sweeteners or natural stevia; however, physician

Kerry Graff, board-certified in family and lifestyle medicine at RRH Family and Lifestyle Medicine-Canandaigua, said that strategy can backfire.

“It makes you want to crave more sugar-sweetened foods,” Graff said.

To make drinking water more interesting, add a tiny amount of juice to give it a splash of flavor. Add slices of cucumber, citrus fruits or berries. It will not add calories but does offer a light flavor. Unsweetened hot or iced tea can also make it easier to get enough fluids daily but go for caffeine-free options. Because caffeinated beverages tend to cause dehydration, Graff cautioned dieters to minimize these and consume them by noon to avoid sleep issues.

Graff likes non-caffeinated fruit teas, as they offer a little flavor without calories. She drinks tea after dinner as “it helps with ‘snack mode.’

What you really want is TLC and you end up noshing on 1,000 calories of chips. It’s about recognizing you have a need for TLC. That ‘hug in a mug’ helps with decaffeinated tea or coffee.”

Consuming sufficient water supports good health, which in turn, supports healthy weight loss.

Susan Freemesser, natural hormone balancing specialist at Be Balanced Hormone Weight Loss

You don’t have to face hearing loss alone.

Centers in Rochester, recommends drinking half the body weight in ounces of “distilled, reverse osmosis spring water.”

She said that by drinking more water, along with eating more whole foods and eliminating processed foods and by exercising, she lost 35 pounds and maintained it for a year and a half.

She said that water can flush out toxins that cause the body to grab onto and store excess calories. She also recommends water because it is calorie-free.

“I tell people if they’re not drinking close to the full amount, drink a little more at a time until they get there,” Freemesser said. “Don’t force yourself. Women who don’t get their water in retain more weight. It’s harder for the weight to go.”

The Rochester Chapter of the Hearing Loss Association of America (HLAA) unites people with all degrees of hearing loss.

Come to one of our monthly chapter meetings to meet others with hearing loss and learn from the professionals who treat it.

Visit our website for details: HearingLossRochester.org

RECONNECT WITH YOUR HEALTH. WE’RE HERE TO HELP. At Excellus BlueCross BlueShield, we’re here to care for communities across Upstate New York. And a big part of that is helping people take care of themselves. If you’ve been holding off on scheduling appointments or addressing ongoing health concerns, now’s a good time to reconnect with your doctor. So focus on your health and move forward with confidence, knowing that we’re with you every step of the way.

Get started today at ExcellusBCBS.com

Find a doctor or specialist Compare your options Estimate out-of-pocket costs for care

A nonprofit independent licensee of the Blue Cross Blue Shield Association

January 2021 •

IN GOOD HEALTH – Rochester / Genesee Valley Healthcare Newspaper

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Page 23

Dental assistants enjoy a wide range of responsibilities including patient care Something to Smile About: A Paid Dental Assistant Training Program

U

Working at Home Brings Its Own Health Perils: Survey

W

orking from home may take its toll on mental and physical health, but making some tweaks to your workspace and your headspace may help maximize Page 24

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the potential benefits and minimize any downsides, a new survey suggests.

Nearly 65% of people who were working from home due

R Medicine’s Eastman Institute for Oral Health has recently announced an innovative new program, designed to provide employment and paid training opportunities while helping treat the area’s increased number of dental patients.

The pandemic has created a critical need for dental assistants locally and nationally because many current employees need to be home with their school-age children, among other reasons. In addition, the many unemployed workers in hospitality, sales and service industries don’t have the ability or resources to obtain training in a different field.

“This new dental assistant training program solves that problem, because those accepted into the program will receive full-time pay and benefits while getting on-the-job training,” said Holly Barone, Eastman’s chief operations officer. “It’s a win-win for the Rochester community.”

Eastman Institute for Oral Health was one of the few in the region to stay open during the pandemic. But since routine and elective procedures re-opened, staff shortages coupled with new challenges have resulted in

higher demand for emergency and routine dental treatment, thus limiting the ability to treat non-emergency patients in a timely fashion.

The new, one-year training program begins Jan. 19, when participants will have two hours of classroom learning, followed by observation and hands-on training each day. Upon completion, they can then work independently as a chairside assistant, help the dentist provide patient care, work in the lab, take X-rays, sterilize equipment and many other responsibilities.

Dental assistants enjoy a wide range of responsibilities including patient care.

“Because people are so busy, we purposely designed the program to be strictly on-the-job training,” added Barone. “No homework, no tests and no prior dental or health experience necessary. The goal is to make it convenient to learn valuable new skills while serving our community.”

The training will be conducted in Eastman Dental’s General Dentistry Department at 625 Elmwood Ave., near Strong Memorial Hospital. For more information and an application, visit dentalassistant.urmc.edu.

to COVID-19 restrictions reported new physical woes including “tech neck” and lower back pain, and about 74% said they had one new mental health issue, such as anxiety or depression. These risks were heightened among women and parents of toddlers and infants, who were juggling work and life responsibilities.

The findings were published online recently in the Journal of Occupational and Environmental Medicine.

Overall, telecommuters felt that more was expected of them and that the distractions were far greater at home.

“The shift to work from home was abrupt when COVID-19 first hit, and no one was truly prepared,» said study author Burcin BecerikGerber, co-director of the Center for Intelligent Environments at the University of Southern California, Los Angeles. “It is super stressful and the demands and work expectations didn’t go down, plus many of us also have to be a teacher and a parent,” said Becerik-Gerber, who is also a mother of three who now works from home.

Work from home does have it perks, namely more flexibility, no commute and more family time. And it is likely here to stay even after the pandemic ends now that many companies have systems in place, she said.

In the study, Becerik-Gerber and her colleagues asked close to 1,000 people who transitioned to work from home due to COVID-19 how the new arrangement affected their physical and mental well-being.

They asked about overall mental and physical health, and took a deeper

dive into specific symptoms and conditions.

The survey spanned many occupations and took place during the early days of the pandemic.

On average, workers spent about 1.5 hours more per day at their work station when they worked from home. Telecommuters also reported getting less physical activity and eating more than they did before the shift.

“Improperly fitted desks and chairs, and extended periods of sitting and sedentary behavior can increase risks for physical problems,” Becerik-Gerber said.

In the study, just one-third of respondents had a dedicated area for their work, while close to 50% shared their workspace with others. Those who scheduled their work around others were more likely to report new physical or mental health issues, the survey found.

Other factors that can increase productivity and boost physical and mental health while working from home include adequate natural lighting, which helps regulate your sleep-wake cycle, BecerikGerber said. “Having access to nature is extremely important, and setting your work station up where you can see trees may help offset mental health problems,” she explained.

In the pre-COVID-19 days, coworkers provided social support, and telecommuters are feeling this loss, she noted. “All of those interactions with co-workers or even seeing people on the way to a meeting are the things that take your mind off of work and are very important to mental health,” Becerik-Gerber added.

IN GOOD HEALTH – Rochester / Genesee Valley Healthcare Newspaper • January 2021

H ealth News Lindeman joins Quail Summit as marketing rep St. Ann’s Community, Rochester’s leading senior housing and health services provider, has hired Rebecca Lindeman as the marketing representative for Quail Summit, a St. Ann’s Community partner located in Canandaigua.

LindeLindeman man earned her Bachelor of Science in business administration with a minor in gerontology from SUNY Oswego, and she recently earned her Master in Business Administration degree with a concentration in marketing from Niagara University.

She comes to Quail Summit with experience previously working at St. Ann’s Community as a communications specialist for the marketing and admissions teams.

Lindeman is active in the Gerontological Society of America and the Greater Rochester Area Partnership for the Elderly (G.R.A.P.E.).

As a member of the marketing team at Quail Summit, she will be responsible for increasing awareness of the community through marketing activities, meeting with seniors seeking information on senior living options, as well as being a community resource.

Audiologist joins Hart Hearing & Balance Centers Audiologist Ally Centola has recently joined the Hart Hearing & Balance Centers. Centola received her Doctor of Audiology from the University of Pittsburgh, and a Bachelor of Arts from SUNY Plattsburgh. She is originally from Centola Rochester.

Centola will see patients in the practice’s Greece and Irondequoit offices. Providing patient-centered care, Centola has vast experience in comprehensive audiologic testing for both pediatric and adult patients, as well as hearing aid dispensing, troubleshooting and programming. She also helps patients who experience persistent tinnitus.

AHA recognizes Thompson for workplace health The results of the American Heart Association 2020 Workplace Health Achievement Index were

announced recently and for the third consecutive year, UR Medicine Thompson Health achieved national gold-level recognition for taking significant steps to build a culture of health in the workplace.

Thompson is one of 776 organizations that completed the index assessment this year, evaluating the period of July 30, 2019 to June 30, 2020. Of the organizations that completed the index assessment, 35% received gold recognition, the highest percentage to date.

The American Heart Association created the index with its CEO roundtable, a leadership collaborative of more than 45 members from some of America’s largest companies who are committed to applying evidence-based approaches to improve their employees’ overall health. The index is a web-based scorecard that looks at organizational best practices and aggregates employee health data to evaluate the overall quality and comprehensiveness of workplace health programs. Studies show that worksites with a culture of health with comprehensive, evidence-based policies and programs and senior leadership support are more likely to have engaged employees and a healthier, more productive workforce.

“Thompson Health works very hard to offer our associates a number of opportunities to improve their health, so achieving gold-level recognition once again is something we’re very proud of,” said Vice President of Associate Services and Wellness Jennifer DeVault. “We are one of the area’s largest employers and this achievement lets potential hires know we are fully committed to their well-being and have demonstrated this commitment in such a way that an outside organization ranks our internal wellness offerings as among the very best.”

Thompson honors more than 30 with annual awards UR Medicine Thompson Health recently presented its Associate of the Year Award as well as more than 30 Shining Star Awards, recognizing individuals throughout the health system who were both nominated and selected by their peers.

The 2020 Associate of the Year is Sarah Gallagher of Canandaigua. A nurse, Gallagher is both the stroke coordinator for F.F. Thompson Hospital and a quality improvement coordinator for the health system.

An anonymous committee of employees reviews all of the nominations submitted by fellow employees and makes the selections.

This year’s Shining Stars are the following: Halie Adams of Farmington, case management/social work, M.M. Ewing Continuing Care Center; Melissa Bauer of Victor, physician practice management; Stephanie Bavis of Newark, pharmacy; Lisa Beeman of Geneva, physician billing; Kristen Bloom of Macedon, infection control; Kerry Clark of Canandaigua, pharmacy; Mary Kate Corey of StanJanuary 2021 •

Former CEO of Ronald McDonald House Charities of Rochester to lead philanthropic arm of RRH

R

ochester Regional Health has appointed Kelly McCormick-Sullivan as president of Rochester Regional Health Foundations.

McCormick-Sullivan has been a leader in the Rochester healthcare community for more than a decade.

Most recently, she served as president and CEO of Ronald McDonald House Charities of Rochester, which helps children and families access much-needed pediatric medical and mental health services. McCormick-Sullivan also has held top executive positions at CommuniCare Partners, Pluta Cancer Center and Carestream Health.

“Kelly is a visionary leader with deep roots in Rochester and a proven track record of empowering nonprofit organizations to improve the quality of life in our community,” said physician Eric Bieber, president and CEO of Rochester Regional Health. “With Kelly at the helm, Rochester Regional Health Foundations will be in an even stronger position to support a powerful range of health-system innovations.”

Rochester Regional Health Foundations is the catalyst that engages generous people to invest in opportunities to deliver quality and compassionate healthcare to residents of the Rochester region. The foundations seeks to empower individuals and groups through philanthropic participation and inspire them to engage in acts of goodwill – from funding new heart and new stroke programs, to building the state-of-the-art Sands-Constellation Center for Critical Care, and underwriting outreach for the community and advanced education programs for the hospital’s staff.

“I am incredibly honored to join the foundations team, which

ley, nursing ICU; Tessa Cratsley of Naples, emergency department/urgent care center registration; Amanda DeWispelaere of Wayland, nursing obstetrics; Vicki Erway of Farmington, hospital nursing floats; Melanie Ferrin-Morey of Shortsville, nursing operating room; John Goodman of Canandaigua, MRI; Stephen Harrington of Avon, purchasing; Laura Hernandez of Bloomfield, environmental services; Melissa Hoffman of Pittsford, nursing obstetrics; Kimberly Hyde of Middlesex, nursing operating room; Mathew Janczak of Farmington, M.M. Ewing Continuing Care Center, administration/rehabilitation services; Cindy Kaufman of Canandaigua, wellness/human resources; Holly Maynard of Port Gibson, internal medicine; Lauren Maynard of Naples, diabetes education; Marco Mennucci of Livonia, pharmacy; Physician Leslie Myers of Canandaigua, medical staff; Kenneth Nesbitt of Middlesex, nursing

Kelly Mccormick-Sullivan Appointed President of Rochester Regional Health Foundations has done remarkable work over the past five years,” McCormick-Sullivan said. “The overall strength of the foundation is reflected in the historic progress made in the Because Care Matters campaign.

I look forward to building on the track record of success — working side by side with a talented, dedicated team, and sharing the powerful story of Rochester Regional’s significant role in delivering outstanding care for patients and families across Western New York and the Finger Lakes Region.”

McCormick-Sullivan holds a master’s degree in health system administration from Rochester Institute of Technology; a master’s degree in public communication from American University; a master’s certificate in human resources from Cornell University; and a bachelor’s degree from The Catholic University of America.

She resides in Pittsford with her husband, Dan Sullivan, and their three children. The family enjoys traveling, downhill skiing, and watching “Jeopardy!” together. post-anesthesia care unit; Christine Reyes of Palmyra, case management/social work; Heather Sadler of Farmington, outpatient OB/GYN; Melissa Sharp of Fairport, hospital nursing administration; George Smith of Canandaigua, facility services; Physician Joseph Talarico of Victor, general surgery; James Taylor of Rush, nutrition services; James Ufholz of Newark, purchasing; Claire Watson of Naples, resident services; Kerry Westerfield of Himrod, M.M. Ewing Continuing Care Center Skilled Transitional Unit; Physician Max Yarowsky of Geneseo, hospitalists.

Typically, Thompson recognizes the associate of the year and the Shining Star recipients during a ceremony often attended by their loved ones. Due to the pandemic, the CEO presented this year’s awards individually. He surprised each recipient in their work setting, joined by a small group of others.

IN GOOD HEALTH – Rochester / Genesee Valley Healthcare Newspaper

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IN GOOD HEALTH – Rochester / Genesee Valley Healthcare Newspaper • January 2021

H ealth News

A Friendly Senior Living employee takes a swing at a COVID-19 pinata during a recent event at the facility.

Friendly Senior Living Recognizes Healthcare Heroes

F

riendly Senior Living hosted a virtual Healthcare Heroes event to recognize the extraordinary efforts of its staff throughout the COVID-19 pandemic. Event highlights included a heartfelt and moving video in which employees shared their COVID-19 experiences, as well as an original song that was performed by Friendly Senior Living residents, families and staff. On the day of the event, employees across the senior living continuum were cel-

ebrated with games, prizes, doughnuts, music and even a piñata “We couldn’t be prouder of our employees, who have met this crisis with determination, compassion and excellence,” said Glen Cooper, president and CEO. “Every day, despite the challenges of COVID-19, our team comes to work and delivers the superior care and services our residents deserve. They are truly heroes among us.”

CALENDAR of

HEALTH EVENTS

Hearing Loss Group Sponsors Virtual Meetings

Hearing Loss Association of America (HLAA) Rochester Chapter begins the new year with virtual programs for anyone interested in hearing loss. All use the Zoom platform. Preregistration is required by visiting the HLAA website at: http:// hearinglossrochester.org All programs are free and in real time. Closed captioning is an option for all participants.

The programs are: • Noon, Jan. 5. Presenters: Audiologist Erin Pickett and Suzanne Johnston, past president of Hearing Loss Association of America/Rochester Chapter. Topic: “Aural rehabilitation/Speechreading: Improved listening and communication for individuals with hearing loss.”

Pickett explains the benefits of aural rehabilitation, which uses technology to improve communication functioning. She will demonstrate specific strategies to enhance communication skills as well as environmental considerations and resources

for listening practice. Johnston will define speechreading and explain how to acquire skill in using speakers’ facial expressions and body language to understand speech better.

• 10 a.m., Jan 12. Facilitator: Retired audiologist and hearing aid user Joseph Kozelsky. Topic:”Hearing Other People’s Experiences (HOPE)” Prospective, new or experienced hearing aid users can share their experiences, questions, and hearing loss journeys in an informal virtual round table discussion. Real hearing aid users discuss real problems and concerns.

• 10 a.m., Jan. 21. Virtual ALD Demo center. HLAA/Rochester Technology Team. This is a continuing orientation to the online Virtual Demo Center website. It is a review of selected assistive listening devices, captioning-capable and amplified telephones, signaling-alerting devices and smart phone Apps related to hearing enhancement and gives the opportunity for the presenters to answer questions from those joining the Zoom meeting.

HLAA Rochester P.O. Box 1002 Fairport, NY 14450 Email: hlaa.rochester@yahoo.com Telephone: (585) 266-7890 January 2021 •

Students at New York Chiropractic College donating their time to build and repair homes through Habitat Humanity of Seneca County.

Community Service Hours Lead to Years of Local Partnership

N

YCC students have been volunteering with Habitat Humanity of Seneca County for at least eight years. Recent projects in Seneca Falls had some students spreading gravel for a sidewalk at a home on East. Bayard Street, while others helped build a shed on Tyler Avenue.

President of Habitat for Humanity of Seneca County Menzo Case said that student volunteers help them stay on time with their projects.

“Our experience with NYCC students is that they are willing to take on any task — demolition, building walls, putting in plumbing, wiring, roofing, you name it.

They bring with them a willingness

to learn and patience to work with both skilled and unskilled volunteers and family members,” Case noted.

Habitat for Humanity of Seneca County partners with people in the community to help build or renovate existing homes to create affordable housing.

A global nonprofit housing organization working in local communities across all 50 states in the U.S., Habitat has long been a favorite choice for NYCC students fulfilling their volunteer duties. To learn more about the organization, contact Habitat for Humanity at 315-568-1190 or email volunteer@ habitatseneca.org.

Serving Monroe and Ontario Counties A monthly newspaper published

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

In Good Health is published 12 times a year by Local News, Inc. © 2021 by Local News, Inc. All rights reserved.

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, Christine Walsh, Mike Costanza • Advertising: Anne Westcott, Linda Covington Layout & Design: Dylon Clew-Thomas • Office Manager: Nancy Nitz No material may be reproduced in whole or in part from this publication without the express written permission of the publisher. The information in this publication is intended to complement—not to take the place of—the recommendations of your health provider. Consult your physician before making major changes in your lifestyle or health care regimen.

IN GOOD HEALTH – Rochester / Genesee Valley Healthcare Newspaper

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Nothing to do but enjoy your life.

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Instead of home maintenance, you can focus on today’s exciting group activity, outing or dining option. Maybe you’ll just enjoy quiet time for yourself in spacious, beautifully maintained surroundings with 24-hour security.

Choosing Cherry Ridge means you can live the lifestyle you’ve always wanted and having priority access to on-site assisted living, memory care, and skilled nursing if you ever need it.

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IN GOOD HEALTH – Rochester / Genesee Valley Healthcare Newspaper • January 2021