Rochester igh 154 june 18

PRICELESS

Meet Your Doctor Emil Lesho, Rochester Regional infectious diseases physician, warns of rapid increase in insectborne illnesses — in certain cases incidence has tripled in the last decade

JUULING More than 20 percent of New York state high school students use e-cigarettes — one brand, JUUL, which looks like a USB flash drive, accounts for more than half of the users

GVHEALTHNEWS.COM

JUNE 2018 • ISSUE 154

Is Complementary Medicine For You? About one-third of Americans use complementary or “integrative” medicine, according to the most recent statistics offered by the National Institutes of Health. But is it right for you? Page 15 ALSO INSIDE n Cancer: Can Complementary Medicine Help? n What is Naturopathy? n Benefits Extend Beyond Wellness: Mayo Clinic

Gardening Isn’t Just for Adults

Top Weight Loss Mistakes Men Make

Also Inside: Is Vegetable Gardening Worth It?

Many men possess plenty of motivation to lose weight; however, self-sabotaging behavior thwarts their efforts.

Area experts weigh in

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New Shingles Vaccine New shingles vaccine approved by the FDA is believed to be 97 percent effective in people under 69 and 90 percent effective in those 70 and older

Boost Vitamin C with Sugar Snap Peas A cross between snow peas and regular green peas, sugar snap peas have a lot going for them.

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Already in Town This season, illnesses tied to ticks, mosquitoes are soaring.

CDC says incidence of ticks tripled from 2004 to 2016.

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Rochester Takes Flight: Aerialists Prepare Showcase Performances

By Jennifer Aline Graham

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he students and instructors at Aerial Arts of Rochester are working to prepare their annual summer showcase that will highlight performances on aerial silks, lyra (aerial hoop), trapeze and aerial hammock.

A Unique Studio for a Unique Form of Fitness William and Jennifer Dovidio opened Aerial Arts of Rochester in 2010 hoping to bring an alternative form of fitness to the Rochester community. It was obvious there was interest in having circus arts in the Flower City and they instantly grew a passionate following. Along with dedicated students came interest in performing — leading to summer and winter showcases, themed recitals and the creation of The Up! State Cirque Troupe. “[Circus arts] are really changing in the 21st century,” William Dovidio said about the future of aerial arts.

Both Dovidios have an impressive list of credentials supporting their aerial arts endeavors that include trainings at Sunshine Circus in Florida, ESH Aerial Arts in Massachusetts, Philly Circus Arts in Pennsylvania and New England Center of Circus Arts in Vermont. Their passion and persistence pushed them to create the successful studio that is now Aerial Arts of Rochester as well as its sister

cause you have to check your outside world at the door and once inside, you have to focus on what you’re doing,” says Mindy Topel Walsh, a student-turned-instructor with five years aerial experience.

Since many students, and instructors, have gained this newfound sense of confidence, they are diligently preparing performances for the annual summer showcase. The aerialists prepare routines that range from solos to duets to group performances on a variety of circus apparatuses.

“There’s always progress to be made and I strive to make my next performance better than my last,” explains Andrea Morris, a multi-talented aerialist who has been involved with Aerial Arts of Rochester for three and a half years. “It’s a workout for the body and mind.” Morris, along with many other high-level students, has performed in numerous showcases over the years as well as taken part in public performances and fundraisers.

If You Go studio in Buffalo, Up! Aerial Fitness.

Aerial Arts of Rochester has many workouts available, including session classes utilizing apparatuses such as aerial silks, aerial hammock, lyra (aerial hoop), trapeze and pole.

Since many adults live busy lives and cannot commit to weekly, scheduled classes, the studio offers walk-in classes such as bungee dance, aerial yoga, fly barre trapeze as well as many more. They also host a range of kid’s classes as well as group parties for both children and adults.

The Annual Summer Showcase Highlights Local Talent Those who attend classes have not only seen an improvement in their aerial skills, but also in their confidence level during their time spent at the studio, William Dovidio said. For him, Aerial Arts of Rochester promotes a positive sense of self along with the large assortment of classes available and those who partake in classes often leave feeling uplifted and mentally strengthened.

“It’s a great stress reliever be-

Aerial Arts of Rochester Summer Showcase details: • Where: Aerial Arts of Rochester, 565 Blossom Road, Rochester • When: Saturday June 23, Sunday June 24 • Tickets sold online and at the door For more information, call 585201-8202, email info@aerialartsrochester.com or visit www.aerialartsrochester.com

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

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Jewish Senior Life’s Physician House Calls program brings a team of skilled, compassionate healthcare professionals and a wide range of services—directly to your home.

Our doctor provides one-on-one primary care, medical assessments, and coordination of care with other home health services. The Physician House Calls team will work with you to develop a comprehensive care plan that will give you and your family peace of mind.

This program is available to individuals 65 years and older.

“Dr. Baratta is wonderful. I feel comfortable when she is here; she’s so welcoming and makes me smile.”

Call (585) 244-5993 or visit jslphysicianhousecalls.org A service of Jewish Senior Life

– Lily, Physician House Calls patient since 2010

2021 Winton Road S., Rochester, NY 14618

PRIMARY CARE • HEALTH ASSESSMENTS • CARE COORDINATION • MEDICATION REVIEW June 2018 •

IN GOOD HEALTH – Rochester / Genesee Valley Healthcare Newspaper

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CALENDAR of

WE’RE HIRING! Trillium Health is growing, and we’re looking for candidates like YOU! Currently recruiting: Community Health Specialist Consumer Relations Specialist Licensed Practical Nurse (LPN) Registered Nurse (RN) and more!

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HEALTH EVENTS

June 2

Buy Nothing group sponsors free exchanging event Monroe County’s Buy Nothing groups present Rochester’s First Free-for-All from 10:30 a.m. to 3 p.m., Saturday, June 2, at the Thomas P. Ryan Recreation Center, 530 Webster Ave. This is an event for the community to share items with one another for free. There will be no cash exchanged or bartering allowed. Bring what you wish to give away. Receive what others may no longer need.

Discover the power of neighbors helping neighbors. There will be 20 tables onsite, with more available if necessary.

Contact amycavalier@hotmail. com if you plan to bring things to give away. Buy Nothing groups are hyper-local, adult-only, gift-based economies in which members can ‘give away, lend or share’ with their neighbors. There are currently more than 10 Buy Nothing communities in Monroe County. To find a group in your area, visit https://buynothingproject.org/find-a-group/.

June 6

Training for volunteer drivers at Lifespan A free workshop for volunteers interested in providing transportation for non-driving neighbors will be held from 9 a.m. to noon, Wednesday, June 6, at Lifespan, TOPS Plaza at 1900 Clinton Ave. S., in Brighton.

Training for the Give-a-Lift program includes safe driving tips, visual and hearing awareness and sensitivity, “safe assisting,” emergency responsiveness, proper escorting, and signs of elder abuse.

Volunteers are needed in many areas of Monroe County from Greece to Fairport, Gates to Irondequoit.

For more information and to register, call Lifespan at 585-244-8400, ext 142.

You don’t have to face hearing loss alone.

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

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June 9

Riding to Fund a Cure: the 2018 Manning & Napier Tour de Cure

The Manning & Napier Tour de Cure, an event that raises money to support research, education, and advocacy for people living with Type 1, Type 2 and gestational diabetes, will take place Saturday, June 9. “The money raised by our cyclists, walkers, and runners is funding groundbreaking research locally at the University of Rochester and around the world,” said Kerrie Merz, development director, American Diabetes Association Rochester.

Local fundraising also supports Camp Aspire, a two-week summer camp in Rush for children

aged 13-17 with diabetes. The main goal of Camp Aspire is to allow the campers the ability to feel at ease and accepted in a community where having diabetes is the norm, not the exception.

The Manning & Napier Tour de Cure has grown to become the top Tour de Cure in the country, raising more funds than any other ADA tour event in 2017, according to organizers. This year, the goal is to maintain the top spot in the U.S. and surpass the fundraising amount achieved in 2017. Additional elements have been added to the 2018 program to encourage continued community support and increase participation, such as a new 5K run and a new training challenge.

More information about the training challenge can be found at strava.com/clubs/trainingchallenge. More information about registering for the Tour de Cure can be found at diabetes.org/rochestertour.

June 10

‘Blue-Ribbon Ride’ for prostate cancer To honor those affected by prostate cancer in the Finger Lakes region, including military veterans, American Legion Riders Department of New York collaborated with UR Medicine Noyes Health and Us TOO Rochester to sponsor and organize the region’s first Blue Ribbon Ride, a fleet of vehicles for prostate cancer awareness.

The ride takes place on Sunday, June 10, and will cover 125 miles of beautiful countryside across Alleghany, Livingston and Steuben counties with a few rest stops at American Legion Posts along the way. Anyone concerned about prostate cancer, veterans and community members alike, is encouraged to join the ride.

All motor vehicle types are welcome.

Registration is $25 for any vehicle and its driver, and $20 for each passenger. A $5 discount is offered to those who register online (www. blueribbonevent.org). Registration includes breakfast at the start location provided by Lima American Legion Post 282 (8–10:30 a.m.) Post 282 is located at 2475 state Route 65 in Bloomfield. Registration also includes a cook-out dinner at the end location provided by American Legion Post 87 in Dansville (4–6 p.m.).

Proceeds benefit prostate cancer patient programs provided by Us TOO Rochester and the patient transportation fund at Ann & Carl Myers Cancer Center in Dansville. Both are nonprofit 501(c)3 organizations. For more information, call Patrick Fisher (for Us TOO Rochester) at 585-7874011, email: pfisher0317@gmail.com; or Bob Wallace, director at American Legion Riders, Department of New York) at 585-738-4642, email: alrdirector@nylegion.org. To register online (and save $5), visit https://goo.gl/ ZEBgjL or go to: www.blueribbonevent.org before June 7.

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

June 23

Amyloidosis group holds meeting Cardiologist Omar Siddiqi from Boston University Medical Campus will be the guest speaker during an Amyloidosis Support Group meeting 8:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m., June 23, at the Weiner Conference Room at Rochester General Hospital, 1425 Portland Ave., Rochester. Amyloidosis is a life-threatening rare disease often misdiagnosed and under-diagnosed — early diagnosis is vital for a chance of survival.

The group wants to raise awareness of the disease.

For registration or more information, call 866-404-7539 toll free (leave a message if no one is there). Locally, call MaryAnn Kraft 585-334-7501 or send her an email, thumbelinamk@ yahoo.com.

July 2

Gap Mangione to Perform at Chapel Oaks St. Ann’s Community at Chapel Oaks announced that Rochester jazz legend Gap Mangione will perform a free outdoor concert this summer at the gazebo on its Irondequoit campus.

The concert will take place at 6 p.m. Monday, July 2. Food will be available for purchase beginning at 5:30. Audience members are asked to bring lawn chairs.

The event is free and open to the public. Reserve a space by calling 585-697-6604.

St. Ann’s Community at Chapel Oaks is located at 1550 Portland Ave., Irondequoit, directly behind St. Ann’s Home.

A pianist, composer, arranger, and bandleader, Gap Mangione has recorded 10 solo albums and performed at venues around the world.

He is a mainstay of the Rochester jazz scene, performing regularly at the Xerox Rochester International Jazz Festival, the Lodge at Woodcliff, and as a guest soloist with the Rochester Philharmonic Orchestra.

He was inducted into the Rochester Music Hall of Fame in 2015.

Summer Concert Series opens at Cherry Ridge Music will be in the air during the outdoor Summer Concert Series at St. Ann’s Community at Cherry Ridge beginning in June.

The concerts are free and open to the public.

The Summer Concert Series lineup:

• 6:30 p.m., Thursday, June 21 Mark Mazur & The Little Big Band • 6:30 p.m., Thursday, July 19

Ruby Shooz • 6:30 p.m., Thursday, Aug. 23

Les Femmes de Nik

Picnic fare will be available for purchase beginning at 5 p.m..

Audience members are asked to bring lawn chairs.

For more information, call 585-697-6701 or visit www.cherryridgecommunity.com.

at Cherry Ridge

SUMMER CONCERT U.S. Motorcycle Deaths Dropped 6 Percent Last Year

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otorcycles are still deadlier than cars, but there’s some good news: Nearly 6 percent fewer bikers died on U.S. roads last year than in 2016, a new report says.

Preliminary data indicate that there were 4,990 motorcyclist fatalities in the United States in 2017 — which is 296 fewer than the year before, according to the Governors Highway Safety Association (GHSA).

But even with that reduction, motorcyclists account for a disproportionate amount of all traffic deaths. Deaths per mile traveled are 28 times higher among motorcyclists than among people in passenger vehicles, the report noted.

“Motorcyclist fatality numbers have fluctuated from year to year over the past decade,” said report author Tara Casanova Powell.

“While we are cautiously optimistic about this projection, we really need to see a sustained trend downward toward eventually eliminating motorcyclist fatalities altogether,” she said in a GHSA news release.

Last year, motorcyclist deaths fell in 30 states, remained the same in two states and rose in 18 states, according to the report.

In 2016, one-quarter of motorcy-

clists who died had a blood alcohol level over the legal limit, the highest percentage of any vehicle type. Data suggest that trend continued in 2017.

Several states had an increase in distracted riding-related motorcycle deaths in recent years. And one state (Virginia) had more than double the number of such deaths between 2016 and 2017.

Motorcyclists are aging, and riders over age 40 now account for the largest share of motorcyclist deaths nationwide, the findings showed.

The average age of motorcyclists killed in 2016 was 43. And in onethird of states, the majority of 2017 motorcyclist crashes involved older riders.

A particularly active hurricane season in 2017 may have led to fewer motorcycle riders on the roadways, Casanova Powell pointed out. But, she added, “clearly, we can’t — and shouldn’t — rely on bad weather to prevent motorcyclist deaths.”

Recently, some states have considered ignition interlocks as a way to reduce alcohol-impaired riding.

These prevent a motorcycle from starting if alcohol is detected on the rider’s breath.

Serving Monroe and Ontario Counties in good A monthly newspaper published

Health Rochester–GV Healthcare Newspaper

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

In Good Health is published 12 times a year by Local News, Inc. © 2018 by Local News, Inc. All rights reserved.

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• Phone: 585-421-8109 • Email: Editor@GVhealthnews.com Editor & Publisher: Wagner Dotto • Associate Editor: Lou Sorendo Writers: Jim Miller, Deborah J. Sergeant, Gwenn Voelckers, Anne Palumbo, Chris Motola, George W. Chapman, Kim Petrone (MD), Colleen M. Farrell, Jennifer Aline Graham • Advertising: Anne Westcott, Linda Covington • Layout & Design: Dylon Clew-Thomas • Office Assistant: Kimberley Tyler No material may be reproduced in whole or in part from this publication without the express written permission of the publisher. The information in this publication is intended to complement—not to take the place of—the recommendations of your health provider. Consult your physician before making major changes in your lifestyle or health care regimen.

June 2018 •

Series JUNE 21

MARK MAZUR AND THE LITTLE BIG BAND

JULY 19 RUBY SHOOZ

AUGUST 23 LES FEMMES BY NIK Food for purchase starting at 5:00pm Music: 6:30pm-8:00pm Bring your lawn chairs and enjoy these great free outdoor concerts.

Call 697-6700 for details and rainy day information.

St. Ann’s Community at Cherry Ridge, first-class senior living in the heart of Webster!

CherryRidgeCommunity.com IN GOOD HEALTH – Rochester / Genesee Valley Healthcare Newspaper

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Meet

Your Doctor

By Chris Motola

Emil Lesho, D.O. Rochester Regional infectious diseases physician warns of rapid increase in insect-borne illnesses — in certain cases incidence has tripled in the last decade

Could Time in a Sauna Lower Stroke Risk?

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lder adults who like to bask in the heat of a sauna may be less likely to suffer a stroke, a new study suggests.

The study, of more than 1,600 Finnish adults, found that those who hit the sauna at least four times a week were about 60 percent less likely to suffer a stroke over the next 15 years versus people who had only one weekly sauna session.

Finland is the birthplace of the traditional sauna which involves sitting in a room filled with dry heat at temperatures that top 160 degrees Fahrenheit.

Sauna bathing is ingrained in the Finnish culture, and most people do it at least weekly, according to the researchers on the new study.

So it’s not clear whether the results would extend to other types of heat therapy from steam rooms to hot tubs that are more common in other countries, said lead researcher Setor Kunutsor.

But the findings do build on evidence that traditional saunas benefit people’s cardiovascular health, said Kunutsor, a research fellow at the University of Bristol in England.

Past studies have found that frequent sauna users have lower rates of heart disease and dementia, compared to infrequent users.

There’s also evidence the sessions lower people’s blood pressure, and make the blood vessels less stiff and more responsive to blood flow.

It’s those effects, said Kunutsor, that might explain the lower stroke risk seen in this study.

The findings are based on 1,628 adults who were between the ages of 53 and 74 at the outset.

None had a history of stroke.

The findings were published online May 2 in Neurology.

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Q: You’ve been talking about insect-borne illnesses lately. Is that your specialty.

A: I’m a health care epidemiologist for Rochester Regional Hospital.

I look at communicable diseases, focusing on preventable infections that patients can get when they go to the hospital. But some diseases we take care of are borne by insects like Lyme disease, West Nile virus, etc.

Q: Have the incidences of these diseases been increasing?

A: According to reports from the CDC, yes. Over the last 10 to 12 years, the rates have doubled or tripled.

Q: I grew up in downstate, which was kind of ground zero for Lyme disease. Has it become a major concern in Western New York?

A: Yeah, it’s pretty prevalent up here. As the climate gets warmer, a lot of diseases that were isolated to more southern regions are spreading northward.

Q: Has the medical strategy for these diseases been more preventive or treatment-oriented?

A: It’s both. It’s hard to prevent every mosquito bite, especially since you won’t always know if you’re getting bitten by one. But you can wear bright clothing, wear insect repellant, and those things also help prevent tick bites. With ticks, you can check yourself or have family members check you for bites. The tick needs to be imbeded for a day or two before it can transmit Lyme disease. I would also encourage people not to feed deer or encourage them to

come into their yard, since they carry a lot of ticks. I would say both treatment and prevention are important.

Some types of mosquito-borne illnesses, particularly those that affected the brain, have no treatments. In those cases it’s just supportive care.

Q: How are medical institutions like Rochester Regional preparing?

A: That same report says that not enough resources are being put toward surveillance and that our current procedures need bolstering.

We’re talking about studying ticks and mosquitos, seeing what species are out there, and whether they’re carrying these diseases. We are, however, pretty familiar with these diseases.

Q: With regard to your research into antibiotic resistant bacterial strains, is that mostly hospital-based?

A: It is primarily hospital-based, but more research and reports are showing that they’re found throughout the community, especially in places where sanitation is poor. But it’s mostly hospital-based. If you’re having a lot of surgeries, you’re more vulnerable. A lot of those strains used to be sensitive to antibiotics, but those same strains are sometimes resistant to some antibiotics.

Sometimes they’re resistant to all antibiotics.

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

Q: What do you do when you have a strain that’s resistant to all antibiotics?

A: There’s not much you can do.

You hope and pray. You use combinations of antibiotics. You use the highest dose you can use without causing toxicity. You administer it more slowly, over a longer period of time. You basically are trying to weaken the bac-

In The News “Disease cases from mosquito, tick, and flea bites tripled in the US from 2004 to 2016.”

CDC report teria enough for the body’s immune system to be able to finish it off.

That’s one of the components of the resistant crisis, but there’s another: the lack of new antibiotics coming to market. Bacteria develop resistance pretty quickly, so the drug companies are disincentivized to make new ones. So we have what we call a dry pipeline.

Q: Is there any attempt being made to fix the pipeline?

A: Yes, there has been, but the current administration isn’t prioritizing it. The previous administration had a plan to address antibiotic resistance.

Q: I understand the challenge isn’t just with bacterial, but fungal infections as well.

A: The technical name is Candida auris that’s emerged in the U.S. since 2016. The vast majority of cases in the U.S. are in New York state, and the vast majority of those are in New York City. There was a patient transferred from a New York City hospital to our hospital carrying the fungus but, through a series of best practices, we were able to keep it from spreading. It can easily spread through hospitals and has a substantially high mortality rate.

Q: What sort of practices help?

A: We were aware of the early reports from around the world about this fungus. So, the first best practice is awareness and vigilance. We were very diligent about sending any suspect-looking organisms to the lab for confirmation. The next step is, for lack of a better term, locking down the patient and equipment. You don’t share any equipment until its cleaned. The next step is cleaning services and using a powerful disinfectant on the equipment. We then swab hospital surfaces and disinfect them again until we no longer detect the organism. It’s teamwork, feedback, communication and using the right chemicals.

Lifelines Name: Emil P. Lesho, D.O. Position: Infectious diseases specialist at Rochester Regional Health Hometown: White Haven, Pa. Education: Philadelphia College of Osteopathic Medicine Certification: American Board of Internal Medicine Affiliations: Rochester Regional Health Organizations: Infectious Diseases Society of America; Society of Healthcare Epidemiologists of America; American College of Physicians; Rochester Academy of Medicine Family: Wife; dog Hobbies: Mountain climbing, gardening, piano, guitar

U.S. Illnesses Tied to Ticks, Mosquitoes Are Soaring

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iseases transmitted by biting insects — ticks and mosquitoes in particular — have more than tripled in the United States over the past decade, a new federal government report shows.

These pests caused more than 96,000 cases of illness in 2016, up from roughly 27,388 in 2004 and part of a continuing increase in insect-borne diseases, CDC researchers said.

“Zika, West Nile, Lyme and chikungunya — a growing list of diseases caused by the bite of an infected mosquito, tick or flea — have confronted the U.S. in recent years, making a lot of people sick. And we don’t know what will threaten Americans next,” CDC director, physician Robert Redfield, said in a statement.

Several factors are likely behind the increase, researchers said.

Mosquitoes and ticks are increasing in number and moving into new

areas, carrying with them the diseases they transmit through their bite, the report said.

For example, Aedes aegypti — the mosquito most responsible for transmitting Zika — has now expanded its range into as many as 38

states, the report found.

Overseas travel also is contributing to the increase, with travelers picking up insect-borne illnesses in other lands and bringing them back to the United States.

Further, nine new germs spread

by mosquitoes and ticks have been discovered or introduced since 2004, seven of those in ticks alone.

“The data show that we’re seeing a steady increase and spread of tickborne diseases, and an accelerating trend of mosquito-borne diseases introduced from other parts of the world,” physician Lyle Petersen, director of the division of vector-borne diseases in the CDC’s National Center for Emerging and Zoonotic Infectious Diseases, said in a statement.

Tick-borne diseases are mainly found in the eastern continental United States and areas along the Pacific coast, the researchers said.

West Nile virus, the major mosquito-borne disease in the continental United States, can be found widely distributed across the country. Dengue, chikungunya and Zika viruses were almost exclusively transmitted in Puerto Rico, American Samoa and the U.S. Virgin Islands.

Though rare, plague was the most common disease resulting from the bite of an infected flea.

The findings were published May 1 by the CDC as a Vital Signs report.

Healthcare in a Minute

By George W. Chapman

Medicare: More Than $59 Billion Lost to Fraud

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he lead article in the current AARP Bulletin explains Medicare fraud. Last year, Medicare spent $591 billion on claims. Medicare covers about 58 million senior and disabled Americans so that works out to $10,000 per enrollee.

(11,000 to 12,000 people a day become eligible for Medicare.) According to Medicare, 10 percent of the $591 billion was lost to fraud which comes to about $1,000 a year per enrollee. However, many experts in the field believe the amount of fraud could actually be more. Commercial carriers like BlueCross BlueShield, Aetna, Cigna, United, etc., all investigate suspicious claims before paying them. Medicare pays claims and investigates after paying them. Crooks have opened phony pharmacies or

medical equipment stores, submitted phony claims using stolen social security numbers, made millions and closed down before Medicare got wise. The federal government spends a lot of money chasing fraud.

The key is to prevent it in the first place. A major change is the current discontinuation of social security numbers for Medicare identification.

All enrollees will have a personal ID number this year. The format will look like this: 1GJ5 HB5 LR72.

Another change is the enrollment of Medicare members into Advantage plans that are run by commercial carriers. Finally, Medicare recipients can help fight fraud by reviewing their bills and reporting any service or item items not received. The Medicare fraud hotline is 800-633-4227.

DNA sequencing he medical community agrees that this will help them pinpoint your treatment. In 2015, President Obama introduced the Precision Medicine Initiative and Cancer Moonshot projects as a way to get individually tailored treatment plans.

While most insurers still consider DNA sequencing as “experimental,” which is their way of saying they won’t pay for it, the tide is turning.

The Geisinger Health System, based in Pennsylvania, recently announced it will make DNA testing a routine part of preventive care, just like mammograms, colonoscopies and cholesterol tests. The “forecasting” provided by DNA testing allows physicians to provide active versus reactive treatment. Geisinger expects 10 percent to 15 percent of their patients will benefit from the testing.

While most industry experts see the benefits of DNA testing, they are

concerned about privacy and the use of the results, which will predict the diseases a person is prone to, by life and health insurance companies.

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Uninsured rate up The number of uninsured Americans is heading in the wrong direction, according to a Commonwealth fund survey. The number of uninsured has increased to 15.5 percent as of March 2018. That is up from 12.7 percent in 2016 and is expected to increase further, primarily due to the gutting of the Affordable Care Act and particularly due to the repeal of the individual mandate. Premiums for those seeking insurance on the exchange will increase as younger and healthier people drop coverage.

Drug prices continue to be virtually uncontrolled and add significantly to everyone’s premium increases, not just those on the exchange. According to a congressional report, drug June 2018 •

prices have risen 10 times faster than inflation in just the last five years.

Both President Trump and HHS Secretary Azar have vowed to bring drug prices down.

Physicians with computers The paper record is virtually dead. A computer in the exam room, either hand held or on a stand, is as evident as an exam table. Computers are part of everyday life. Ironically, healthcare has historically been well behind other industries when it comes to computers. So, that all being said, just what does the average patient think of providers using computers in the exam room? The University of Texas conducted a study to find out. Participants were asked to watch two videos with exactly the same script. In one video, the physician used a computer. In another video, the physician used a notepad.

Seventy-one percent of participants preferred the physician without the computer and ranked him higher on communication and professionalism.

Realizing the computer is here to stay, researchers believe strategies that mitigate the perceived negativity of computers in the exam room are imperative to effective communication between provider and patient.

Hopefully as providers become more familiar with their electronic medical records, their “art of eye contact,” while inconspicuously using their computer, should improve.

NPs and PAs Just as computers and electronic records are now generally accepted integral parts of healthcare, so too are advanced practice clinicians better known as nurse practitioners and physician assistants. There are now about 375,000 active NPs and PAs as compared to about 950,000 active physicians. The anticipated physician shortage would certainly be worse without the 375,000 advanced practice clinicians. By now, most of us have come into contact with a NP or PA in the course of our care. Initially used primarily for follow up care,

to the care provided by a physician, NPs and PAs now see new patients and provide acute care. In many instances, a NP or PA is the only provider on duty at many practices.

Value-based care reimbursement and financial incentives for team-based care have further stimulated the use of NPs and PAs in both primary and specialty care settings.

Veteran’s care In response to recent criticism of the care provided by the VA system, the VA Mission Act of 2018 has been introduced to Congress. It allows vets to seek care from private, non-VA providers in the general community.

A caveat is the veteran’s VA-based provider must agree that private care in the community is the best interest of the veteran. Timely access to care would be a critical consideration for the ultimate approval to go elsewhere. If the veteran is denied approval to receive care elsewhere, there is a clinical appeals process.

Rural healthcare CMS has recently vowed to take into consideration how their proposed policies and payments might, inadvertently, negatively impact rural-based physicians and hospitals.

Sixty million of us live in rural areas which have higher rates of poverty and under-insurance as well as larger gaps in the delivery systems versus urban areas. CMS plans to increase its rates for telemedicine and make it easier for rural providers to bill for them.

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 7

Tomato plants are easy to grow and remarkably productive. Tomatoes are longseason, heat-loving plants. They can grow in pots just about anywhere you have a sunny spot — no garden bed required.

Dennis Keady, general manager at Garden Factory, Syracuse. “It’s not so much about the cost but about getting outside and enjoying the experience,” he says about gardening.

Is Vegetable Gardening Worth It?

example, don’t need the intensive care that strawberry plants require for weeding and watering.

“You get fruit off it for weeks and come October, I don’t think there’s a shrub with better fall foliage than the blueberry,” Nelson said. “Grow a blueberry, and you have that red color and a handful of blueberries for your cereal.”

He also likes chokecherry and pink, white, red or black currants.

Netting can keep feathered foes away from the fruit.

Nelson also likes the glossy green leaves of pepper plants. They’re pretty easy to grow and few pests bother them.

Nelson said that container gardening can help people with small yards, patio homes and even apartments grow food.

Drilling holes into a five-gallon bucket and filling it with soil can provide a portable growing pot for a patio. Garden centers also sell pouch plants and containers meant to hook on railings or hang from porches.

Nelson likes to mix flowers and edibles on his 8,000-sq.-ft property.

In fact, he has no lawn to mow in front of his house as flowers and fruit comprise his yard with mulch among the plants.

Gardeners planting directly in

Exercise, fresh air and the freshest produce available are some of the best reasons to grow vegetables

By Deborah Jeanne Sergeant

D

ennis Keady, general manager at Garden Factory in Rochester, said that the average $286 expenditure on gardening will result in more than $700 in produce. He encourages people on a fixed income and those who want to save money to consider gardening to enhance their food budget. But that’s not the only reason to garden.

“It’s not so much about the cost but about getting outside and enjoying the experience,” Keady said.

Area experts say that gardening offers many benefits and, with a few modifications, most people can garden well into their retirement years.

Walt Nelson, agent with Cornell Cooperative Extension of Monroe County, lists exercise, fresh air and the freshest produce available as the best reasons to vegetable garden.

“You may not do it to get a whole season’s produce for the table, but it’s the pleasure of being able to, at the last minute, decide there’s a cucumber in the garden for the salad tonight,” Nelson said. “I find that more rewarding than remembering to put it on the grocery list.”

Busy people may feel like they don’t have the time to garden.

Nelson encourages them to consider edible landscaping. Berry bushes, for

Gardening Isn’t Just for Adults

S

till having a hard time getting your kids to eat fruits and veggies? Studies show one solution is to grow your own.

Kids get excited as they watch a garden yield fresh foods and are more motivated to eat what they helped grow. It gives kids a good understanding of what it takes to get vegetables to the dinner table and teaches them about healthy food choices. Gardening is also a great way to take a break from all the technology, and get into extra exercise and enjoy being outdoors.

Whether you have a small patio bucket or can allocate square

Page 8

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footage in your backyard, start your planning now. It’s important to know which growing zone you are in, so use online resources to determine your right climate zone and planting times.

To get kids interested, the Arizona Farm Bureau suggests looking through colorful seed catalogs together and letting them help pick out choices. But you don’t need to bore them with every planning detail.

Keep their responsibilities age appropriate. Older children can be more involved in the planning and design of the garden, harvesting and even preserving some of the yield.

Younger children can help with

planting seeds, weeding and watering, but try and get them their own age-appropriate tools and gloves that fit them, according to the farm bureau. Little ones will enjoy their tasks more with gloves and tools sized for small hands.

You should also give the kids their own space and vegetables so they have a sense of ownership with a gardening space all their own, within Mom’s and Dad’s larger plot.

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

urban and suburban soil can obtain a soil analysis for around $15, but Nelson said that produce growing off a plant, such as a pepper, is less likely to become contaminated since plants tend to store contamination in leaves and not the produce. Lettuce, cabbage and spinach represent exceptions since humans eat the leaves.

At Gro-Moore Farms in Henrietta, Laurie Beahon in customer service, encourages gardeners to use containers for growing herbs or a plant or two if they don’t have much space.

“It’s awful nice to have a pot of herbs like basil or dill,” she said. “As long as it’s sunny, you can get a lot of food out of a small pot.”

She says that the sense of community is another great reason to garden, as gardeners have something to talk about with other dirt scratchers.

Some plants grow longer in containers, as gardeners can bring them indoors once frost starts.

“In a huge pot, put cherry tomato plants,” she said. “It will give you fruit all season long, along with a pepper plant. Keep basil short and it will produce all season.”

Smaller-scale produce, like cherry tomatoes, take up less space that larger-sized items.

Juuling: E-cigs Craze Hooks More Kids

Specializing in consistent, effective, one-on-one care.

Serving the Community since 1982.

MORE THAN PHYSICAL THERAPY Aquatic Physical Therapy 24/7 Fitness Memberships Personal / Small group training HITT Classes Wellness/Nutritional Counseling Onsite Chiropractor and Massage Therapist

By Deborah Jeanne Sergeant

Y

ou’d surely notice the tell-tale odor of cigarette smoke on your child if he or she were lighting up. But e-cigarettes make nicotine addiction stealthy. E-cigarettes use water vapor as the means to deliver nicotine. Their use is skyrocketing among young people.

According to the Campaign for Tobacco Free Kids, 20.6 percent of New York state high school students use e-cigarettes, compared with 4.3 percent who smoke.

While it may appear e-cigarettes offer a harmless, smoke-free diversion, physician Leslie J. Kohman said there is an effort to prevent young people from using them. “The American Cancer Society strongly recommends that every effort be made to prevent the initiation of e-cigarettes by youth,” she said.

Kohman serves on the board of directors of the Eastern Division Board of the American Cancer Society. She’s also a thoracic surgeon specializing in thoracic oncology at Upstate Medical University in Syracuse.

Ironically, marketed as an alternative for established smokers or cessation aid, e-cigarettes contribute to youth picking up smoking combustible cigarettes, according to a 2018 report by the National Academies of Science, Engineering and Medicine.

The design of one brand, JUUL, appears to be a sleek, cylindrical USB flash drive and even charges in a USB port. JUUL’s replaceable cartridges, which contain the nicotine “juice” come with flavors adolescents like, such as mango, fruit medley and crème brulee.

Add to that the novelty of a gadget, the rebellious notion of smoking and the false sense of security in smokeless tobacco and it’s little wonder that JUUL use has become popular. So many children use that brand that the slang term “Juuling” was coined to describe the habit.

JUUL products comprise half the e-cigarette market.

Physician Michael D. Mendoza, commissioner of Public Health in Monroe County, said that the JUUL packaging reminds him of juice boxes.

“They’ve been successful in marketing to kids,” Mendoza said, “just as cigarettes were 35 years ago.”

In a statement on the company website, JUUL Labs CEO Kevin Burns said that the company is “committed to deterring young people, as well as adults who do not currently smoke, from using our products.

We cannot be more emphatic on this point: No young person or non-nicotine user should ever try JUUL.” Despite the statement, the fad of Juuling has become widespread enough that schools have developed

policies about e-cigarettes because of the potential for harm.

“No one should smoke cigarettes, and every effort should be made to get smokers off all forms of tobacco and to prevent everyone, especially youth, from starting to use any tobacco product,” Kohman said.

“Smokers are strongly advised to use proven cessation methods, such as prescription medications and counseling, to quit smoking.”

Though likely less harmful than combustible cigarettes, little is known about the full extent of the harm caused by e-cigarettes. JUUL’s website states that their product “contains chemicals known to the state of California to cause cancer and birth defects or other reproductive harm” according to California Proposition 65.

Mike Seilback, vice president of Advocacy and Communications at the American Lung Association New York in Albany, wants the federal government to find out exactly what the products contain.

Many brands of e-cigarette cartridges, for example, are imported from China and have no oversight as to what is in the chemical cocktail that produces the flavor. JUUL’s website states that some components of their products are domestic and some are imported.

“The FDA still hasn’t regulated these products in a way that we know exactly what is in these products,” Seilback said. “We know that when some of these products over the entire market were lab tested, ones claiming to be nicotine free weren’t.”

He isn’t sure if that was intentional or lab errors; however, he said that “inhaling anything into your lungs, say anything of something mixed in lab thousands of miles away, isn’t the safest thing to do.”

Seilback believes that the Juuling trend has reversed decades of work to make tobacco use unappealing to young people.

“We now see teens proudly declaring they are Juul users,” Seilback said. “They might hide it from their parents, but it’s gotten to the point where it’s cool to their peers in identifying with these products.

“We’re alarmed we might see a generation of youth who are addicted to tobacco products without realizing the long-term effects.”

He’s also troubled by e-cigarettes that don’t contain nicotine (though all JUUL products do), since they encourage and glorify the habit which can readily lead to nicotine-containing products.

Seilback believes that e-cigarettes were developed to groom a new generation of smokers to keep tobacco companies profiting.

June 2018 •

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IN GOOD HEALTH – Rochester / Genesee Valley Healthcare Newspaper

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Fighting and Conquering Addiction Huther Doyle’s Esperanza Latina program connects Spanish-speaking substance abusers with treatment in their first language.

By Colleen M. Farrell

R

afael Rosado still bears some of the physical scars from his more than 20-year relationship with drugs.

His addiction, which began at age 15, led him down a path he never expected.

Homelessness. Time in jail. Poor health. Fractured relationships with family.

The abscesses on his arm — from shooting heroin — are healing.

Bearing the wounds is “like torture,” he says, because they are a visible reminder of his struggle.

“And now, I’m thinking, I’m not supposed to do [drugs] because I am marked for the rest of my life.”

Inside, Rafael is healing, too, as a participant in Huther Doyle’s Esperanza Latina program. Esperanza Latina is an arm of the substance abuse treatment facility in Rochester.

It serves those whose primary language is Spanish.

“I’m so happy that Huther Doyle offers a program like that because it’s so needed in this community,” said Maria Panitsidis, a senior counselor at Huther Doyle.

In fact, an additional Spanish-speaking counselor was recently added to the staff because there has been an influx of Latinos seeking treatment for opioid addiction, Panitsidis said. About 1,660 people were assessed for treatment at the center in 2017 — 17 percent (or 287 people) were identified as Hispanic.

Rosado, 38, is one of them.

His substance use started out with marijuana experimentation as a teen in his native Puerto Rico. One day, though, he had a different reaction after smoking. He began feeling ill as the effects wore off. He mentioned it to his best friend, who helped him discover that the marijuana had been laced with heroin. Rosado knew he’d continue to feel sick without more as he underwent withdrawal.

His body and mind were hooked.

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Eventually, he started sniffing heroin, but as his use increased, so did his tolerance. He transitioned to IV use. After discovering heroin, Rosado spent the ensuing years in a back-and-forth dance with it. Sometimes, he’d get off the junk, but he always found a way back.

One day, while on his motorcycle and under the influence, Rosado got into an accident. He lost some teeth, something which left him ashamed.

He injured his leg and developed an ulcer which wouldn’t fully heal due to the effects that the drug use was having on his system.

He relocated to Rochester in 2009, where his sister and nephews live. Spending lots of money on his addiction, he resorted to becoming a drug mule. He received drugs by mail and was arrested shortly after arriving here.

Rosado spent three years in prison. After his release, he lived in a halfway house before moving in with his sister.

But the addiction surfaced again.

His sister did not want him around if he was using. Rosado estimated that he lived on the streets for months, sleeping wherever he could find a place — often in empty houses.

He credits an encounter with physician Timothy Wiegand at Strong Memorial Hospital’s emergency department last winter for putting him on a successful path. Wiegand, an emergency room physician and toxicology specialist, is on staff at Huther Doyle.

His body beaten down by heroin, his mind battered from seeing too many friends die because of addiction, Rosado accepted Wiegand’s outreach.

“I told him, ‘I don’t wanna use no more,’” Rosado recalled.

He connected with Huther Doyle and began inpatient treatment. He has been clean since December.

“The first week is hard,” Rosado

Rafael Rosado, 38, smiles as he talks with one of the counselors at Huther Doyle.

Rosado is one of the clients at the facility’s rehabilitation program for Spanishspeaking addicts. He said he’s been clean since December. said. “They want you to change and it’s like the devil is with you. It’s hard. You’re in a fight with him.”

Rosado, who is soft-spoken, was “really shy” in the first phase of treatment, according to his counselor, Floriday Diaz.

“Now, in phase two, I have to tell him to stop talking,” she said with a laugh. “Now he’s really active in group.”

Seeking treatment is a big enough step for most addicts, Diaz said. Language and cultural barriers, as well as a lack of a support system, can make recovery more difficult.

The clients in Esperanza Latina in particular celebrate each other’s successes, Panitsidis said. And it’s not uncommon for them to bring in dishes to share with each other, she said.

“They literally are like family,” she said.

Rosado said he had tried other rehabs before with little success. This time is different, he said, because he feels more comfortable. Being part of a Spanish-speaking program makes it easier to express himself, he said.

“I listen to the other people, too, and every day I learn something

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

new,” he said.

As he accumulates more clean time, Rosado said sobriety has become easier.

“You’ve got to fight with your mind,” he said.

Like his scars, the secrecy and shame that come with addiction are fading. Rosado’s relationships with his sister and nephews have improved. He said they want to be around each other and are more comfortable with each other.

In addition to medical and substance abuse treatment, Rosado has also received dental care and is now quick to flash his repaired smile.

“He looks better every day and I am constantly telling him how good and how great he looks because he is taking care of himself,” Diaz said proudly.

Rosado’s next goal is to reconnect with his two children in Puerto Rico. He said he didn’t want them to see him when he was in bad shape.

He wants them to lead better lives than he did.

He said he’s grateful for the way life is going now.

“Everything is becoming better and better,” he said.

Meet Your Provider

STAR Physical Therapy Five physical therapists, a chiropractor and a massage therapist offer wide range of services at Fairport practice Q: What services do you provide at STAR Physical Therapy?

A: We have five dedicated physical therapists and one physical therapy assistant who provide comprehensive physical therapy intervention for a wide variety of musculoskeletal conditions — most notably low back pain, neck pain, rotator cuff injuries, sprains/strains, arthritis, balance disorders/vertigo, chronic pain, and post-surgical rehab.

At your initial visit you will be evaluated in a private, one on one environment where all aspects of your condition are discussed and examined. Your treatment plan will then be established.

A typical plan of care includes a combination of therapeutic exercise, manual therapy techniques, education regarding your condition and appropriate activities, modalities (moist heat, ice, electrical stimulation, ultrasound), and/or aquatic therapy.

Our facility is also home to a 24/7

gym with memberships available, a post rehab specialist, personal training, HIIT classes, senior fitness classes, wellness/nutritional counseling, chiropractor, and massage therapist.

Additionally, we are affiliated with Greater Rochester Chiropractic Spine Care Associates and Kali Spoto LaRue, doctor in physical therapy and certified in OCS (orthopedic physical therapy), sees patients there one day per week.

Q: Can you tell us more about the history of your practice?

A: The practice was established in 1982 by John Spoto and Marcia Spoto and has been serving the Fairport community ever since. John Ciavaglia was one of their first staff PTs and remains an invaluable part of the team 30-plus years later. Three of the Spotos’ six children are now involved with the practice — Kali Spoto LaRue, physical therapist; Jamie Thompson, front office manager; and Stephanie Spoto, who leads Anchor Fitness and Wellness.

Q: What sets you apart from other physical therapy facilities?

A: We are often told that STAR Physical Therapy provides a friendly, welcoming environment. We have a top-notch team of PTs who are all

passionate about what they do. John Ciavaglia and Tony Mencucci have been with STAR for over 20 years and provide a wealth of knowledge from their experience. Our other three therapists have all completed the OCS (orthopedic certified specialist) certification process from the ABPTS (American Board of Physical Therapy Specialties). STAR is a multidisciplinary facility focused on encouraging overall health and wellbeing beyond physical therapy. Many of our gym members are former patients from more than 30 years ago.

Q: What are your aspirations and vision for the future?

A: We would love to continue to grow our wellness offerings in the community. We recently re-branded

our gym as “Anchor Fitness and Wellness” when Stephanie Spoto joined the team. She is a former D1 basketball player and personal trainer with a degree in exercise science who works with a wide variety of clients to meet their personal fitness and wellness goals.

We hope people in the community all stop in and pay us a visit sometime soon. If you have been hoping “that pain” or injury would just go away with time, or had to stop an activity that you love, or just want an opinion on how best to recover or ease into activity safely with a structured and guided approach, come see us. You do not need a physician referral with most insurances — so what are you waiting for?

585-425-1018 | www.star-physicaltherapy.com

790 Ayrault Road, Fairport, NY 14450

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

From 2012-2016, Excellus BlueCross BlueShield’s annual operating margin has averaged 0.3 percent, considerably lower than the average of the four major for-profit health plans. Based on a comparison of earnings before interest and taxes, we would have needed to collect $1.6 billion more in premium revenue to achieve the same level of earnings as the major carriers over that period.

Because we’re a business, not a charity, we need to earn a margin. But we do not pay dividends to shareholders. That works in your favor. We’re a nonprofit health plan, so we deliberately budget for low margins to keep coverage more affordable. We know you have other important things that matter. We’re neighbors helping neighbors build healthier communities.

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

June 2018 •

IN GOOD HEALTH – Rochester / Genesee Valley Healthcare Newspaper

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Page 11

Live Alone & Thrive

By Gwenn Voelckers

Practical tips, advice and hope for those who live alone

What My Garden Has Taught Me

G

ardening season has finally arrived, as witnessed by the abundance of daffodils, forsythia and gorgeous flowering trees.

June is the perfect time for us to dig in and get our hands dirty!

And it’s a good time to reflect the many life lessons that gardening offers to those who live alone. It has taught me the value of planning, preparation, patience, and pleasure — four essential “P’s” for a bountiful garden and ... a bountiful life.

Fertile ground exists in each of us, and a little tending can produce beautiful results.

Here’s what I have learned: n Plan. Realizing the garden of your dreams begins in your imagination, followed by careful planning. Diagram your garden and it will help you avoid planting bulbs on top of bulbs or mistaking a poppy for a weed.

Likewise, envisioning your life

goals and committing them to writing can help you flourish and grow. n Cultivate. Good, cultivated soil promotes healthy, deep roots. When you add fertilizer to your garden you are rewarded with abundance.

Adding essential ingredients to the foundation of your dream garden (and your dream life) will nourish all that follows.

You can’t go wrong with good, nutritious food; a walk in nature; a good book; soothing music; or saying “yes” to a new adventure that’s been tugging at your heart. n Plant. So many choices!

Revisit your plan and embed your carefully selected seeds or seedlings with a tender, loving touch, being careful not to overcrowd or plant more than you can manage.

And remember: We reap what we sow, so follow your dreams. Plant a rose and you get a rose; plant a dandelion and you get a dandelion.

Seed your future with healthy choic-

es that promote well-being. n Weed. We all need room to breathe and positive space in which to blossom. It holds true for your garden and your life. Gardening is all about consistent caretaking. Slack off, even for a few days, and all things unwelcome show up and take root.

Weed out the negativity and any dream-stealing toxins that contaminate your life, dash your hopes, or spoil your fun. When you pull out the bad, you can more easily focus on the good in your life. n Prune. When weeding is not enough, a major pruning may be just what the arborist ordered. A job, relationship or home that no longer satisfies or meets your needs may need a hard look. It may be time to pull out that pair of “life loppers.” n Mulch. Mulching keeps weeds at bay and the ground moist, and returns nutrients to the soil. It also adds a finishing touch.

Mulch offers a blanket of protection, in the same way that regular doctor appointments, insurances, and safety measures protect our lives. We can learn a lot from mulching. n Wait. We all know that “good things come to those who wait” and it’s not just what comes out of the Heinz ketchup bottle. When you exercise patience, go slowly, and enjoy the gradual unfolding of a flower, an idea, or a friendship, your life can be savored and more deeply appreciated.

s d i K Corner

Kids of Youngest, Oldest Moms at Risk of Developmental Issues: Study

C

hildren with the youngest and oldest mothers may be at increased risk for developmental vulnerabilities, a new study reports.

Researchers analyzed data from nearly 100,000 children and found that overall, 21 percent of them had at least one developmental vulnerability at age 5.

The rate was highest (40 percent) among those born to mothers age 15 and younger. It then steadily decreased to the lowest rate (17 percent) among children born to mothers aged 30 to 35, and then rose to 24 percent among children born to mothers aged 35 to 45.

Social and economic disadvantages accounted for at least half the increased risk of developmental vulnerabilities among children born to Page 12

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young mothers, according to the authors of the study, published recently in the journal PLOS Medicine.

“To our knowledge, this study is the largest scale evidence internationally on the relationship between maternal age at childbirth across the whole distribution of maternal ages and early childhood development,” Kathleen Falster, of the University of New South Wales in Sydney, Australia, and colleagues wrote.

“Further research to better understand the mechanisms that underlie the elevated risk of developmental vulnerability … may inform policies and interventions to promote positive child development across the population,” the researchers added in a journal news release.

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

Each year, I look to my garden to remind me that growth takes time. n Enjoy. Before you know it, your labor of love and patience will pay off.

Take pleasure in the transformation as the colors, textures, and fragrances emerge. Too often, we fail to “stop and smell the roses” in our gardens and in our lives.

So get busy, then step back and take a good look. There’s nothing quite as satisfying as admiring what you’ve accomplished. It’s reason to celebrate!

By osmosis, gardening has taught me how to take better care of myself. I have absorbed its rich messages and learned how to nurture my inner garden and growth as a women on her own.

I encourage you to grab a spade and join me. Beauty, growth, and an energizing sense of renewal can be yours, season after season after season.

Gwenn Voelckers is the founder and facilitator of Live Alone and Thrive, 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 invite her to speak, or to purchase her new book, call 585-624-7887, email her at gvoelckers@rochester.rr.com, or visit www. aloneandcontent.com.

Top Weight Loss Mistakes Men Make

By Deborah Jeanne Sergeant

O

besity taxes each bodily system and represents one of the roots of many disease processes. Many men possess plenty of motivation to lose weight; however, self-sabotaging behavior thwarts their efforts. Area experts offered ways to be more effective in losing wieght.

‘Changing your routine is huge’ “Many are not paying enough attention to nutrition. Nutrition and exercise work hand in hand. They complement each other. Oftentimes, guys who want to lose weight go to the gym five times a week. If they addressed nutrition, they could go three times a week, and would be better off.

“I also see guys do drills they did in high school but they weren’t meant to help them lose weight. They were drills to enhance their sports performance.

“You don’t want to work out hardcore every day. You don’t want to exercise at the expense of your joints. A half hour walk you can do daily. You need to balance high and low intensity so your body reaps the benefits.

“Some guys are stuck in the same routine they did 10 years ago. The importance of changing your routine is huge.

“Trying to take too many supplements is a mistake.

“Be patient and have discipline.”

— Cameron Apt, a certified athletic trainer with UR Medicine Sports Medicine.

‘Not eating often enough slows the metabolism’ “Not a lot of them eat regularly. Their dietary patterns are to eat when they can. They think they need protein shakes and do tons of weight

lifting, but not eating often enough slows the metabolism.

“A lot of guys are still learning about how to cook healthfully. It’s still something they’re not very comfortable with.

“Alcohol is something a lot of people still enjoy to relax, but a couple of beers at the end of the day or glasses of wine are not conducive to weight loss.

“As our metabolism slows down as we age, a lot of fat storage is in the midsection. That is a big concern for men.

“It’s about making sure you’re persistent but self-compassionate. It’s not all or nothing.

“There’s no magic diet. The more you go to one extreme to eliminate things, the more likely you will be to not be able to stick with it. Extreme diets can jumpstart your diet, but it’s not sustainable.

“It’s the same with exercise. Find something you’ll stick with.”

— Physician Joanne Wu, certified yoga instructor and integrative wellness coach, board certified in rehabilitation medicine and holistic medicine specializing in wellness, Rochester.

‘Picky eaters: Don’t limit yourself” “Male clients don’t cut back enough on alcohol. There’s the calories and the lower inhibition. They eat more. When you’re around people who are eating bar food, you’ll likely eat bar food.

“Men who are bachelors, it’s usually very hard for them to plan food. It’s a disservice that men aren’t given the skills to plan meals for themselves.

“What you do to change, you have to do it all the time: a dietary pattern you can live with the rest of your life. Many times, a person

Passionate about care.

Committed to community.

makes big transformation but they can’t keep it up.

“Some call themselves ‘picky eaters’ and I say ‘Don’t limit yourself.’

“Fathers often finish their children’s food. Don’t do it. Use a smaller plate and don’t serve your kids a big portion.”

— Carol Plotkin, registered dietitian and owner of On Nutrition in Rochester ‘Under-eating can hurt you’ “We focus on My Plate, not trying to cut things out, although cutting back on sugar and processed foods is good. When cutting out food groups and focusing on high fats, your body tends to freak out a little bit.

“Cut out sugary drinks and drink more water. Whenever I go to the gym, I see men with all sorts of protein shakes. Who knows what’s in those massive jugs? Drink water over sugary sports drinks or energy shots.

“Lots of men overcompensate with food. You don’t need tons of food after a workout.

“Under-eating can hurt you as well. Studies show that not eating enough can cause you to gain weight.

Find that right balance that works for you.”

— Jessica Kouzan, nutrition educator for Cornell Cooperative Extension of Monroe County

‘Most men don’t drink enough water’ “In general, men are less likely to reach out for help for weight loss or any health reasons. I have many more women than men clients.

“Men want to just go to the gym and lift, rather than approach it from a health perspective.

“Men are less likely to read labels and read about food. News sources men read aren’t heavily health-based.

Their magazines are about eating protein and lifting weights. They focus on putting on weight and not eating a balanced diet.

“Some men drink diet soda all day to keep them awake. Or a quickbagel or doughnut in the morning.

Quick acting carbs spike blood sugar and then take it back down. Don’t have it be a constant in your meals.

“Most men don’t drink enough water. I have people purchase a water bottle. It saves plastic and there are ounce marks on there. Oftentimes, men say they’re not thirsty.

But their body has adapted to not having water throughout the day.

“It’s not about not eating, but making a little more health friendly so you can enjoy what you love. Use whole wheat bread instead of white, or pork tenderloin instead of chops, for example.”

— Berit Young, registered dietitian and owner of The Cupcake Dietitian in Rochester

As a leading provider of comprehensive care for the Finger Lakes region, our mission is to not only provide the latest technologies and treatments, but to help build a healthier community as we grow.

At Rochester Regional Health we are driven by the belief that we are partnering with our patients, making every next moment—every next day the healthiest it can be.

WELCOMING NEW PATIENTS. CALL TODAY. Clifton Springs Hospital & Clinic 315.462.9561 June 2018 •

Newark-Wayne Community Hospital 315.332.2022

IN GOOD HEALTH – Rochester / Genesee Valley Healthcare Newspaper

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Page 13

SmartBites

The skinny on healthy eating

Boost Vitamin C with Sugar Snap Peas

A

cross between snow peas and regular green peas, sugar snap peas have a lot going for them.

One, the entire pea is edible, including the pod. Two, they’re a fantastic source of vitamins, minerals and other nutrients that promote good health. And three, they’re low in calories (only 40 per one-cup raw), deliciously crunchy and a terrific vehicle for hummus and vegetable dip.

One of the most notable health benefits of sugar snaps is their high vitamin C content: one cup boasts nearly 100 percent of our daily needs.

This workhorse vitamin speeds wound healing, boosts immunity and aids in the production of collagen. A powerful antioxidant, vitamin C also helps to neutralize free radicals — unstable atoms that can damage cells, causing illness, aging and premature wrinkling.

During the summer, vitamin C is especially important for heat regulation. According to research, vitamin C helps to prevent serious problems caused by excessive heat — such as

heat stroke and heat rashes — by keeping sweat glands in good working condition.

Sugar snaps are surprisingly good for bones, as they boast decent levels of four important nutrients that contribute to normal bone growth and overall bone health: vitamins A and K and the minerals manganese and iron. Beset by osteopenia now, I’m always on the lookout for foods that will fortify my bones and prevent osteoporosis later.

Hearts benefit from this tasty pea, too. From its low fat content to its cholesterol-clearing fiber to its folate (a B vitamin that may reduce the risk of heart disease and stroke by nearly 20 percent), sugar snaps may keep our tickers tocking longer.

Are sugar snaps full of sugar and bad for diabetics and others watching their sugar intake? No! According to the American Diabetic Association, we should snap up this non-starchy vegetable with its complex carbs, low glycemic index and relatively low amount of sugar. Non-starchy veg-

Helpful tips

Look for pods that are bright green and crisp (when broken in half, they should make a snapping sound). They can be refrigerated for two to three days, but will be sweetest if cooked or eaten raw as soon as possible after purchase. Do not wash until ready to use.

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etables like sugar snaps keep blood sugar in check and can actually aid in the prevention of diabetes.

Sugar Snap Peas and Noodles with Ginger-Sesame Sauce Adapted from Cookie and Kate 8 ounces soba noodles or spaghetti noodles of choice 3 cups sugar snap peas, trimmed and cut diagonally in half 2 cups frozen edamame 3 large carrots, peeled and julienned 1 medium red pepper, chopped 2 tablespoons minced shallots (optional) ½ cup chopped fresh cilantro Ginger-Sesame Sauce ¼ cup reduced-sodium soy sauce 2 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil 1 small lime, juiced 2 teaspoons sesame oil 2 teaspoons honey or agave nectar 1 clove garlic, minced 2 teaspoons freshly grated ginger 1 teaspoon Sriracha or pinch of red pepper flakes (optional)

Bring a big pot of water to boiling. Add the soba noodles and cook for five minutes. In the last 20 seconds of cooking, add the sugar snap peas. Drain and rinse the noodle-pea mixture in cool water. Drain again.

Prepare edamame according to package directions. Drain.

Place the noodles and peas in a large bowl. Add the carrots, pepper, edamame, and shallots.

Whisk together the dressing ingredients and add to the noodle mixture. Top the salad with cilantro and serve.

Anne Palumbo is a lifestyle colum-

nist, food guru, and seasoned cook, who has perfected the art of preparing nutritious, calorie-conscious dishes. She is hungry for your questions and comments about SmartBites, so be in touch with Anne at avpalumbo@aol.com.

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Complementary MEDICINE Is Integrative Medicine Right for You?

A

ny approach that differs from conventional — or Western — medicine is typically considered complementary and alternative, or CAM. But these practices have be-

come much more mainstream, leading to growth in the health care approach called integrative medicine, which draws on traditional and non-traditional systems tailored to each individual’s needs.

it easier to find integrative doctors and medical centers.

The U.S. National Institutes of Health agency that reports on CAM therapies has even changed its name to the National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health, to better reflect this shift in philosophy. Getting familiar with integrative health will help you decide if it’s the approach you want.

Integrative medicine focuses on your well-being and considers all aspects of your health: physical, emotional, mental, social, spiritual and environmental. It draws on whatever medical approaches — traditional or alternative — will serve you best.

Integrative medicine centers are now part of many leading institutions across the United States, such as the University of Arizona, Duke, Scripps, Vanderbilt and the University of California, San Francisco.

Board certification for practitioners from the American Board of Integrative Medicine was introduced in 2014. These advances have made

• Creating a partnership between patient and practitioner.

• Using conventional and alternative methods as needed, and less-invasive yet effective interventions when possible.

• Focusing on prevention and promoting good health as well as treating illnesses.

• Training practitioners to be models of health and healing.

Prevention is a hallmark of integrative care because it’s easier, less expensive and better for people to avoid an illness rather than have to treat and manage one.

Integrative medicine also recognizes that physical illnesses can affect you emotionally and vice versa, so all aspects of your well-being are addressed.

if you just do homeopathy you’ll be cured. If they still have stress going on at home, this won’t help.”

Physician Joanne Wu is a certified yoga instructor and integrative wellness coach, board-certified in rehabilitation medicine and holistic medicine, specializing in wellness.

She sees clients in Rochester and other Upstate cities.

She’s part of the integrative oncology program of Wilmot Cancer Center.

“Patients’ bodies are changing so rapidly,” Wu said. “They need a lot of support.”

Since treatments like chemotherapy and radiation kill healthy and malignant cells, they take a toll on patients’ bodies. Wu said that using complementary modalities helps mitigate these effects.

“Co-morbidity like depression, anxiety, nerve damage that increase falls are common side effects not well managed with the traditional model,” Wu said.

Acupuncture often helps control pain. Yoga, as another example, reduces stress, depression and anxiety, while improving sleep.

For Krista Ingerick, licensed massage therapist at The Springs Integrative Medicine Center & Spa at Clifton Springs Hospital & Clinic, massage “primarily benefits quality of life via relaxation and stimulation of the parasympathetic nervous system,” she said. “Massage can address anxiety, depression, sleep disturbances, pain, fatigue, immune function, and

relieve nausea.

“Reiki is a very gentle approach that has demonstrated decreased anxiety, and reduced symptoms of fatigue and pain.”

Physician Marilyn Ling, a radiation oncologist with a special interest in complementary medicine and integrative oncology at Pluta Cancer Center, said that evidence-based modalities are worth pursuing if it could enhance patients’ health and wellbeing.

“We want to do no harm,” she said. “That’s the first thing we’re taught at medical school. Some can be harmful. There’s a reason for testing.”

She listed meditation, stress management, yoga and music therapy as evidence-based to reduce stress, anxiety, depression and mood disorders.

Acupressure and acupuncture have also been proven to manage chemotherapy-induced nausea and vomiting for patients who don’t want to take medication for these symptoms.

Ling hopes that continued testing will prove more modalities can help.

Physician Sachiko Kaizuka, who works at Highland Family Medicine, said that following a healthful living regimen — exercise, nutritious diet, and stress reduction — can offer cancer patients benefits.

“I’ve seen people who have cancer who are told to eat what they want,” Kaizuka said. “They should eat more produce rich in antioxidants and phytochemicals, and less refined carbs and sugar.”

Key Tenets of Integrative Medicine:

Cancer: Can Complementary Medicine Help?

Experts say a number of therapies can help in the treatment of cancer and its side effects

By Deborah Jeanne Sergeant

A

ll any patient with cancer wants is healing and to reduce side effects during and after treatment. An increasing number of patients consider and turn to complementary medicine.

One of them is Annette Lutz of Seneca Falls. While receiving treatment for breast cancer at Clifton Springs Hospital in 2011 and 2012, she found that massage therapy helped her cope with her medical journey, which included double mastectomy, removal of lymph nodes, chemotherapy and radiation.

“It was wonderful,” Lutz recalled. “For 30 or 45 minutes, it just took all my worries and troubles and anxiety. The setting was very relaxing and the people were very supportive.

You could talk about what you were going through or just lie there and enjoy the massage. It was very stress relieving.”

Four years later, cancer returned to Lutz, this time as ovarian cancer, resulting in a total hysterectomy.

Lutz tried both massage and acupuncture at Clifton Springs, though at first she felt skeptical of acupuncture. After a few treatments, “I became a believer,” she admitted.

Because of her illness, she experienced anxiety and bloating. She felt as if her body was in turmoil.

She feels that acupuncture and massage helped mitigate the effects of the traditional therapies.

This year, Lutz faces cancer for the third time, now in her kidney. She continues to go to Clifton Springs

Spa for massage and acupuncture while undergoing treatment.

“They seem to get my body back in alignment and my emotional status,” she said. “It makes you feel so much better.”

“Emotional status and attitude when going through any kind of illness is so important,” Lutz said. “You have to maintain a positive attitude and stay emotionally strong or you can spiral down and the cancer or illness can take over your life.”

She credits her continuing success to her traditional and complementary health care, along with the support of friends and her husband, Bill.

Physician Az Tahir, who practices internal holistic medicine in Rochester, said that some cancer patients come to his practice for improving their health overall — and thus improve their chances of beating cancer with traditional care — while others don’t plan to pursue traditional care.

“Natural treatment can improve the effect of chemotherapy and radiation and support in reversing the cancer,” Tahir said.

He cautions against panacea “cures” promised by some.

“If someone says they can cure cancer with homeopathy alone, I don’t agree with that,” Tahir said.

“We have to apply the basics, like nutrient, stress reduction, good sleep, physical exercise and supplements.

Then apply essential oil, acupuncture and homeopathy. Some practitioners are giving the wrong impression that June 2018 •

IN GOOD HEALTH – Rochester / Genesee Valley Healthcare Newspaper

•

Page 15

Complementary MEDICINE

Complementary Medicine Becoming Mainstream

One third of Americans report using some form of complementary medicine

By Deborah Jeanne Sergeant

A

bout one-third of Americans use complementary or “integrative” medicine, according to the most recent statistics offered by the National Institute of Health.

Complementary medicine describes using evidence-based practices to support health in conjunction with — but not replacing — Western health.

“Alternative health” tends to describe modalities replacing Western health care.

Many complementary medicine methods have ancient roots. Their recent growth in popularity represents a desire for more natural ways of supporting good health, according to physician Joanne Wu, MD, a certified yoga instructor and integrative wellness coach, board certified in rehabilitation medicine and holistic medicine, specializing in wellness.

She sees clients in Rochester.

Wu said that many patients have become turned off from rising costs and the side effects of Western medicine’s surgery and medication.

“Invasive treatments have a lot of long-lasting, irreversible side effects,” Wu said. “People want to use everything that’s natural that will help them in the long run.”

The holistic approach of complementary medicine, which addresses the person’s overall health rather than only reducing symptoms, appeals to many patients because it seems more personable and addresses the cause of the problems.

Wu sees modalities that promote the mind/body connection as among the most popular, including yoga, tai chi, qi gong and mindfulness.

“These reduce stress and pain and have been proven to improve outcomes,” she said.

Natural approaches include eating a balanced diet of whole foods and using supplements and herbs.

Wu cautioned that one drawback of supplements and herbs is the lack of regulation on the products, so consumers must ensure they seek high quality items.

Les Moore, doctor of naturopathic medicine, certified herbalist and licensed acupuncturist, directs the Center for Special Medicine in Pittsford. He has served as president of the New York Association of Naturopathic Physicians and co-founded the Page 16

•

White House Health, Tourism, and Recreation Task Force on Obesity.

“In the past, the two paths were separated, Western and complementary medicine,” he said. “Now, more are sharing information on either path you choose to go or if you choose both paths.”

Western primary care physicians should know the modalities their patients choose and complementary medicine practitioners should know about any prescriptions and procedures in their clients’ care. It’s up to patients to ensure everyone knows what’s going on.

Although more cooperation has made coordinating care easier, insurance coverage would make complementary care more accessible to all patients.

Moore said that complementary care’s emphasis on preventing health issues and taking the least invasive method possible makes it generally less expensive and less time consuming than many conventional therapies.

Increasing volumes of clinical evidence proving efficacy has been driving the trend of complementary medicine, according to physician Az Tahir, who practices internal holistic medicine in Rochester and Syracuse.

“Many prominent medical doctors have found that putting patients with complicated cases on regimens of better nutrition and exercise gives better outcomes,” Tahir said.

He has observed at his own practice that good nutrition, stress reduction, adequate sleep, exercise, social support and supplements supports the improvement of patient health.

He said like likes to “diagnose modernly and treat naturally.”

Physician Leila Kirdani, board-certified in anti-aging, metabolic, and functional medicine, operates Quality of Life Medicine in Rochester and New Hartford.

She said that the region is moving towards more complementary medicine.

She added that some of the resistance of traditional medical doctors to consider referrals to complementary practitioners has to do with liability.

“Doctors worry about being sued,” she said. “There’s almost less

of a willingness for doctors to have an open dialogue. Patients are less able to bring what they feel is the best medicine for them to the table, even though we’re taught there’s a physician-patient relationship and part of that good health is having collaborative care.”

Physician Sachiko Kaizuka, who works at Highland Family Medicine, said that she uses supplements with patients the most, followed by deep breathing, meditation and chiropractic and osteopathic medicine combined.

“Vitamin D was considered as supplement and now, it’s a treatment,” she said. “Certain probiotics are now used for inflammatory bowel diseases. Studies coming out are showing causative effects of turmeric and essential fatty acids.”

While supplements can’t replace proper diet, and, in fact, work better when patients eat right, Kaizuka said that they can fill in any gaps in the diet to help improve health.

She added that modalities such as meditation, deep breathing and mindfulness are often overlooked, despite the body-mind connection.

“When we are stressed, there are physical consequences — always,” Kaizuka said. “Seventy percent of doctor visits are stress-related health conditions. Even if it didn’t start with stress, stress worsens many conditions.”

These may include pain, migraine, stomach upset, poor sleep, high blood pressure, low autoimmune function and autonomic nervous system imbalance.

Steven Sadlon, a licensed acupuncturist, certified internal health specialist, chiropractor and master’s level psychologist, operates Chiropractic Health and Acupuncture in Penfield. He believes one of the catalysts for growth in complementary medicine is consumer demand for personable health care.

Lower insurance reimbursements have forced many traditional physicians to see more patients per day

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

to stay in business. As a result, visits can feel brief and cursory.

Physician extenders often see routine cases, which turns off some patients. At complementary providers who don’t use insurance, the interaction is longer and more personable. They’re not required to fill out lengthy exam forms during visits, so they can spend more time interacting with patients.

Sadlon hopes that complementary providers will continue to receive more recognition and licensure so that insurance will cover visits.

“With the information available on the internet, people won’t just sit home,” he said. “We have to provide more choices for the public and let the free market decide.”

Krista Ingerick, licensed massage therapist at The Springs Integrative Medicine Center & Spa at Clifton Springs Hospital & Clinic, said that the integrating of conventional and complementary medicine comes from a “perspective where we meet the patient where they are. It isn’t one method or another, nor do we suggest that massage or acupuncture replace standard medical care.

“We are working with a patient’s current care plan and attempting to offer additional resources to help patients heal,” Ingerick said.

Pain management in the face of the opioid epidemic represents a major area where complementary modalities have made tremendous headway.

“By offering evidence-based, non-pharmaceutical options for patients needing pain management, we can contribute to stronger, healthier communities,” Ingerick said.

She listed modalities with strong evidence for efficacy to include massage therapy, traditional Chinese medicine and acupuncture, chiropractic, meditation, aromatherapy, Ayurveda, and yoga.

“Reiki is also frequently offered, although the mechanisms of action are not understood completely,” Ingerick added.

What is Naturopathy?

WORLD TAE KNOW DO CENTER

MEN n WOMEN n CHILDERN

By Deborah Jeanne Sergeant

S

ince New York doesn’t license or regulate naturopathic medicine, few in the state know what it’s about. People like Sean E. Heerey, a naturopathic doctor with Connecticut licensure, want to help consumers and lawmakers to understand naturopathic medicine. Heerey heads the New York Association of Naturopathic Physicians. He’s also a New York state licensed speech language pathologist specializing in individualized nutrition, homeopathy and autism spectrum disorder.

Despite his four years of medical school and board exams, Heerey said that some newcomers to his practice still view naturopathy skeptically.

New York doesn’t license naturopaths, which hamstrings providers from practicing at the full scope of their education.

In New York, naturopaths aren’t permitted to examine Heerey patients, diagnose or write prescriptions, unlike the licensing states.

Many use only part of their education such as acupuncture, pursue other approved modalities, or function as a “wellness coach” to offer suggestions that patients can follow to support good health.

“There’s no one-size-fits-all approach to health and that’s a strength of naturopath,” Heeley said.

“We aim to individualize our recommendations. We ask questions that go deeper. A lot of times, they tell me what they told an M.D. That may suffice to get a prescription, but I want to know about their stress, life and major traumas.

“In the Moore course of a whole holistic perspective, these details paint a picture that help me individualize recommendations for a patient.”

He views medical doctors are better suited to acute health crises and naturopaths as suited to chronic and multi-faceted cases.

Naturopaths also strive to educate patients about essential aspects of health such as diet, exercise and stress management.

Les Moore, doctor of naturopathic medicine, certified herbalist and licensed acupuncturist, directs the Center for Special Medicine in Pittsford. He has served as president of the New York Association of Naturopathic Physicians and co-founded the White House Health, Tourism, and Recreation Task Force on Obesity.

He said that people look to naturopaths for an expert in natural medicine “who can look their chronic disease, particularly those who haven’t responded to the treatment they’ve been given. There’s always room for someone to look at their condition at a different angle. It’s the

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forte of the naturopath.”

Physician Leila Kirdani, board-certified in anti-aging, metabolic, and functional medicine, operates Quality of Life Medicine in Rochester and New Hartford and has a doctorate of nurse practitioner in naturopathic medicine on her staff.

“I hope they do become licensed in New York,” she said. “I wish I’d done that the first time around. It’s a wonderful specialty. It’s what I have with my medical degree and special fellowship and more, like acupuncture and homeopathy.”

She likes the variety Carson of modalities available because not every patient responds to a particular modality. In that sense, doctors of naturopathic medicine have a wide variety of tools available to treat the “whole person.”

Klara Carson, doctor of naturopathic medicine and owner of Ray Of Light Healing in Rochester, said that the whole person approach avoids the pitfall of suppressing symptoms.

“We want to get to the underlying causes,” Carson said. “Our job is to give the body the tools it needs to heal itself, whether better food, specific nutrients, herbs, homeopathy or whatever else.”

Naturopathic doctors also learn the primary care aspects of allopathic traditional Western medicine, but use the natural, least invasive approaches first.

She believes that state recognition of naturopathy could lead to insurance coverage of the care provided and also help alleviate the physician shortage. Since naturopathic care takes the least invasive — and usually least expensive — steps to address health issues first, it also represents a cost savings.

“We are being blocked by committee at the State Senate,” Carson said. “We lobby every year to keep our bill at the forefront of the State Assembly.”

Few naturopathic doctors practice Upstate because they won’t receive insurance reimbursement for their naturopathic services and operate cash-only practices that attract more well-to-do clients.

“People don’t understand that we are clinically trained doctors,” Carson said. “We’re not just people with a strong interest in herbs. We don’t just replace pharmaceuticals with herbal pills. We try to work to use food as medicine and lifestyle changes as medicine. It’s more of a commitment than take this herb for blood pressure instead of this medicine. There’s an investment in your own health with naturopathic care.”

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Page 17

Complementary

Excellus: More MEDICINE People with Diabetes Need Benefits of Integrative Medicine Eye Exam

R

ates of diabetic eye exams for Excellus BlueCross BlueShield members are higher than statewide and national averages.

However, according to a new analysis of medical claims by the health insurer the rates are below target goals set for commercial, Medicare and Medicaid populations.

“People with diabetes live with an increased risk of becoming blind, a condition that can be prevented most of the time by getting a complete eye exam each year. Early detection allows for early treatment,” said physician LouAnne Giangreco, chief medical officer, health care improvement for Excellus BlueCross BlueShield. “It can be challenging to make time in our busy schedules to prioritize our health. We are working with partners in the health care community to provide diabetic patients with those important reminders to have regular eye exams.”

Excellus BlueCross BlueShield collaborates with a variety of health care partners in the Rochester area to reinforce the importance of regular diabetic screenings. For example, in addition to regularly working with network providers to help identify gaps in care for diabetic members, Excellus BCBS helps support a diabetic care coordination program with Lifespan for older adults with diabetes.

The program’s goal is to increase patient compliance to help reduce emergency room visits and hospitalizations.

Excellus BCBS reports data based upon a random sample of medical record reviews of members with diabetes. Comparisons of compliance rates of the members of other insurers are also reported.

Diabetes is a serious health condition where the body does not produce or properly use insulin to digest sugar (glucose). Over time, high blood sugar levels can damage many parts of the body, including blood vessels and nerves in the eye. This damage can lead to diabetic eye disease and can result in blindness.

“If our numbers were a representative sample of the population of Upstate New York, it would mean that approximately 180,000 out of 540,000 people with diabetes are not getting the eye exam that could save them from a major life-altering condition,” said Giangreco.

Excellus BCBS is working with local providers in the community to remove barriers to screening for diabetic patients.

A recent Excellus BCBS grant provides retinal cameras to select UR Medicine primary care practices to improve screening rates.

Installation and training for primary care personnel will be provided by the David & Ilene Flaum Eye Institute. The goal of the program is to screen diabetic patients in the primary care setting at their normal appointments, removing the need to see a specialist or make another appointment unless an abnormality is found.

Page 18

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Extend Beyond Wellness: Mayo Clinic

I

ntegrative medicine has become an increasingly popular way to enhance treatment for health concerns. At Mayo Clinic, two forms of integrative medicine acupuncture and massage have already helped numerous patients.

In a review of several case studies in Explore, Mayo Clinic researchers examined the potential role of integrative medicine as a therapeutic and diagnostic benefit when combined with a patient’s treatment plan.

A massage therapist’s ability to have hands-on contact with a patient and potential for seeing patients for multiple sessions not only can relieve symptoms, but also aid diagnostic detection. Such was the case in a study where Mayo Clinic researchers observed a patient who underwent a partial small bowel resection and was being followed up with massage for persistent pain. The massage therapist detected tenderness upon palpating an area and alerted the patient’s

care team. Subsequently, the team found an intestinal leak and infection in the abdominal cavity.

“We have done over two dozen studies on massage and acupuncture showing the benefits that both treatments have on patients. Skilled practitioners of integrative medicine are able to be a member of the care team and contribute their expertise, while also delivering care directly to patients,” says physician Brent Bauer, director of research for Mayo Clinic’s integrative medicine program, who is the lead author.

Acupuncture is another treatment that has been widely noted for its role in helping with chronic pain management. “Our experience with patients at Mayo Clinic confirms that we see a tremendous number of patients for which acupuncture is a central part in their pain management strategy,” says Bauer.

Along with pain relief, acupuncture also can play an important

role in assessing underlying health issues. Another case study focusing on acupuncture treatment at Mayo Clinic revealed that a mass was identified on a patient who initially was referred for acute upper-back pain.

The acupuncturist noted a small mass in the muscle and brought it to the attention of the primary doctor.

Subsequently, an ultrasound of the area was ordered, which showed that the mass was positive for sarcoma.

As these case studies show, bringing acupuncture and massage into the clinical setting can have benefits that extend beyond therapeutic wellness. Acupuncturists and massage therapists can bring another level of healing and a second set of eyes to a patient’s overall treatment plan. As Bauer notes, “That is the definition of integrative medicine in a nutshell — combining the best of both worlds to optimize health and healing for our patients.”

Some Essential Oils Can Cause Pets to Become Sick

By Deborah Jeanne Sergeant

E

ssential oils aren’t just a hippy hobby or millennial fad. The global market should reach $13.94 billion by 2024, according to San Francisco-based Grand View Research, Inc. In the United States, oils are used primarily for health, spa/relaxation, and household cleaning among consumers.

People want a natural, safe way to stay healthy, rejuvenated and hygienic.

However, those who use essential oils should also consider their animal companions when using the product.

Some oils can cause pets to become sick or die if used incorrectly.

Physician Joanne Wu, an integrative wellness coach, board certified in rehabilitation medicine and holistic medicine, specializes in wellness. She sees clients in Rochester and other locations. She also advises on use of essential oils.

She said that pets’ smaller size can require greater dilution of essential oils to keep them safe, such as a single drop in a teaspoon of “carrier oil” such as coconut or olive oil, for example. The amount of dilution necessary correlates with the weight of the pet.

“Don’t put oils directly on the skin for any mammal,” Wu

said. “Avoid mucus membranes around the mouth and eyes. Like any product, it will sting, even though it’s natural.”

Pets should not drink water containing essential oils.

Cat livers don’t process oils in the same way as humans and dogs, so don’t use them with cats — internally or topically — unless under veterinary direction.

Dogs should take them internally only with veterinary guidance.

Oils safe and useful for external use on dogs can include citronella, eucalyptus and geranium for repelling fleas.

Don’t apply the oils directly. Instead, make a large batch and soak a leather or fabric collar in the solution. Allow the collar to dry and it’s ready for use.

“There’s not a lot of natural substances for ticks from an evidence-based standpoint,” Wu said.

“We usually still recommend more chemicals at this point. Make sure you check them regularly on the body.”

That’s especially true after a hike through a forest or tall grass, where ticks like to await hosts.

Dogs and cats may also benefit from calming oils used in a diffuser, including sage and cedar. Lavender

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

is OK for dogs, but not cats.

Avoid using “hot” oils, such as cinnamon bark, on pets, as they can ingest the oil while grooming.

Physician Sachiko Kaizuka, with Highland Family Medicine, advises against using diffusers near small pets like birds and animals in tanks because the concentration could be too high compared with a human and they can’t move away from the diffuser.

In any case, use diffusers for only brief periods and in a well-ventilated room. Never enclose any pet in a small area with a diffuser.

Promptly clean up any spilled essential oils, as pets may step in them and lick it off their feet. Secure essential oils away from curious pets.

Treat any accidental exposure as a pet health emergency and call your veterinarian immediately.

Veterinarian’s Money Digest (www.vmdtoday.com) recently listed the following oils that pet owners should avoid in a non-exhaustive list:

For dogs:

Clove, garlic, juniper, rosemary, tea tree, thyme, wintergreen.

For cats:

Cassia, cinnamon, citrus, clove, eucalyptus, lavender, lemon, lavender, peppermint, spruce, tea tree, thyme.

Other oils may also make pets sick. Consult with a veterinarian to ask about any specific oils and do not use an oil if you feel uncertain.

Improving Well-Being for Older Adult Family Dementia Caregivers

Are you caring for a family member with dementia?

Caring for someone who has dementia can be challenging and stressful.

A new study is investigating two brief programs to reduce stress, and improve the well‐being and immune health of family caregivers.  You may be eligible if you are age 55 or older and are

By Jim Miller

New Shingles Vaccine Provides Better Protection for Seniors Dear Savvy Senior, A good friend of mine got a bad case of shingles last year and has been urging me to get vaccinated.

Should I?

Suspicious Susan Dear Susan, Yes! If you’re 50 or older, there’s a new shingles vaccine on the market that’s far superior to the older vaccine, so now is a great time to get inoculated.

Here’s what you should know.

Shingles, also known as herpes zoster, is a burning, blistering, often excruciating skin rash that affects around 1 million Americans each year. The same virus that causes chickenpox causes shingles. What happens is the chickenpox virus that most people get as kids never leaves the body. It hides in the nerve cells near the spinal cord and, for some people, emerges later in the form of shingles.

In the U.S., almost one out of every three people will develop shingles during their lifetime. While anyone who’s had chickenpox can get shingles, it most commonly occurs in people over age 50, along with people who have weakened immune systems. But you can’t catch shingles from someone else.

Early signs of the disease include pain, itching or tingling before a blistering rash appears several days later, and can last up to four weeks.

The rash typically occurs on one side of the body, often as a band of blisters that extends from the middle of your back around to the breastbone. It can also appear above an eye or on the side of the face or neck.

In addition to the rash, about 20 to 25 percent of those who get shingles go on to develop severe nerve pain (postherpetic neuralgia,

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

New vaccine is 97 percent effective in preventing shingles in people 50 to 69 years old, and 91 percent effective in those 70 and older, says manufacturer

caring for a family member who has dementia.  All procedures are free and subjects receive up to $200 for participation.

Scheduling is flexible and optional respite care is available for your loved one.

Periods of enrollment occur once a year, typically June thru August.

For more information, please call (585) 275‐6835 , or email us at: mindbody@urmc.rochester.edu.

Visit our website at: Research.SON.Rochester.edu/dementia‐caregiving

or PHN) that can last for months or even years. And in rare cases, shingles can also cause strokes, encephalitis, spinal cord damage and vision loss.

Serving Men, Women and Children

New Shingles Vaccine The Food and Drug Administration recently approved a new vaccine for shingles called Shingrix (see Shingrix.com), which provides much better protection than the older vaccine, Zostavax.

Manufactured by GlaxoSmithKline, Shingrix is 97 percent effective in preventing shingles in people 50 to 69 years old, and 91 percent effective in those 70 and older.

By comparison, Zostavax is 70 percent effective in your 50s; 64 percent effective in your 60s; 41 percent effective in your 70s; and 18 percent effective in your 80s.

Shingrix is also better than Zostavax in preventing nerve pain that continues after a shingles rash has cleared — about 90 percent effective versus 65 percent effective.

Because of this enhanced protection, the Center for Disease Control and Prevention recommends that everyone aged 50 and older, receive the Shingrix vaccine, which is given in two doses, two to six months apart.

Even if you’ve already had shingles, you still need these vaccinations because reccurring cases are possible.

The CDC also recommends that anyone previously vaccinated with Zostavax be revaccinated with Shingrix.

You should also know that Shingrix can cause some adverse side effects for some people, including muscle pain, fatigue, headache, fever and upset stomach.

Shingrix, which costs around $280 for both doses, is (or will soon be) covered by insurance including Medicare Part D prescription drug plans, but be aware that the shingles vaccines are not always well covered.

So before getting vaccinated, call your plan to find out if it’s covered, and if so, which pharmacies and doctors in your area you should use to insure the best coverage.

Or, if you don’t have health insurance or you’re experiencing medical or financial hardship, you might qualify for GlaxoSmithKline’s patient assistance program, which provides free vaccinations to those who are eligible. For details, go to GSKforyou.com.

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MONITOR– count your medication regularly

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DISPOSE– drop off any unwanted/unused and expired medication to your local disposal site

Medication Drop Box Locations: Bristol: Town Hall

Farmington: State Troopers

Canandaigua: FLCC (Keuka Wing) The Medicine Shoppe Ontario County DMV Office Thompson Hospital (lobby) Mental Health Clinic Police Station (lobby)

Clifton Springs: Hospital (Lobby) Geneva: North St. Pharmacy Police Station

Phelps: Community Center

Richmond: Town Hall

Rushville: Village Hall

Shortsville/Manchester: Red Jacket Pharmacy

Victor: Mead Square Pharmacy Questions, please call us at 585-396-4554.

IN GOOD HEALTH – Rochester / Genesee Valley Healthcare Newspaper

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Page 19

Ask St. Ann’s

Ask The Social

By Kim Petrone, MD

Is Music Therapy Beneficial for Seniors “Life is one grand, sweet song, so start the music.”

—Ronald Reagan As we age, we can have days filled with loneliness, boredom and helplessness. This is especially true of seniors in long-term care settings.

Adding music therapy to their routine can have them singing a happier tune.

Therapeutic and fun Music triggers the brain’s auditory, physical and emotional centers, even in people with dementia.

Playing or listening to music encourages them to move, helps blood flow to the brain and enhances range of motion, balance, strength and endurance. The sensory and intellectual stimulation it provides can significantly improve seniors’ quality of life.

Senior living communities provide music therapy for residents as a way to promote wellness, manage stress, alleviate pain, express feelings, enhance memory, improve communication and promote physical rehabilitation.

What to look for If music is an essential part of your older loved one’s life, choose a senior living community that has music therapy professionals on staff.

For example, St. Ann’s Home currently has six board-certified music therapists working with seniors one-on-one and in groups. There are many benefits to this approach:

Security Office

From the Social Security District Office

disciplinary care team that works toward each resident’s healthcare goals. The therapist’s daily interactions with the nurses, doctors and therapists who care for your loved one will ensure they stay updated on his or her progress.

Timely and safe: If the music therapist is concerned about your loved one’s ability to participate in a music intervention, they can consult with physical, speech, occupational and recreational therapists in real time.

Together, they can make modifications to ensure he or she can participate safely.

Community: People come together around music, so it’s a beautiful way to socialize and experience community. With music therapists on staff, seniors have access to weekly group therapy or individual sessions as well as activities and events. For example, St. Ann’s residents can join an adaptive hand-bell choir or an intergenerational choir with students from a local elementary school.

Ending on a happy note Getting older is something we can’t avoid. But with music therapy as an essential part of the continuum of care, we can stay young at heart and happy into our senior years.

Now that’s something to sing about!

St. Ann’s Community also offers caregiver support through its continuum of eldercare services.

Physician Kim Daily interactions: Full-time music Petrone is medical therapists know the seniors they director of St. work with. They have plenty of opAnn’s Community portunities to observe and accurately and the Rochester assess their emotional well-being, General Wound physical health, social functioning, Healing Center at St. Ann’s. She is communication abilities and cogniboard-certified in internal medicine and tive skills, based on musical responsgeriatrics and has been providing medical es. care for seniors at St. Ann’s since 2005.

Interdisciplinary care: The music Contact her at kpetrone@mystanns.com therapist’s assessment and recomor 585-922-HEAL (4325), or visit www. mendations help inform the multistannscommunity.com.

UEAC World Awareness Day 9.75X3.1944.qxp_Layout 1 5/15/18 12:52 PM Page 1

For every known case of elder abuse, cases are hidden.

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Three Ways Your Social Security Payment Can Grow After Retirement

Y

ou made the choice and now you are happily retired. You filed online for your Social Security benefits. They arrive each month in the correct amount exactly as expected. But did you ever wonder if your Social Security check could increase?

Once you begin receiving benefits, there are three common ways benefit checks can increase: a cost of living adjustment (COLA); additional work; or an adjustment at full retirement age if you received reduced benefits and exceeded the earnings limit.

The COLA is the most commonly known increase for Social Security payments. We annually announce a COLA, and there’s usually an increase in the Social Security and Supplemental Security Income (SSI) benefit amount people receive each month. By law, federal benefit rates increase when the cost of living rises, as measured by the Department of Labor’s Consumer Price Index (CPI-W). More than 66 million Americans saw a 2 percent increase in their Social Security and SSI benefits in 2018. For more information on the 2018 COLA, visit www.socialsecurity. gov/cola.

Social Security uses your highest 35 years of earnings to figure your benefit amount when you sign up for benefits. If you work after you begin receiving benefits, your additional earnings may increase your payment.

If you had fewer than 35 years of earnings when we figured your benefit, you will replace a zero earnings year with new earnings. If you had 35 years or more, we will check to see if your new year of earnings is higher than the lowest of the 35 years (after considering indexing). We check ad-

Risk factors for elder abuse and financial exploitation include: • Isolation • Power & control • Addictive behavior

JUNE 15 IS WORLD ELDER ABUSE AWARENESS DAY. Break the Silence about Elder Abuse.

Call the Upstate Elder Abuse Center at Lifespan.

585-244-8400 Page 20

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

ditional earnings each year you work while receiving Social Security. If an increase is due, we send a notice and pay a one-time check for the increase and your continuing payment will be higher.

Maybe you chose to receive reduced Social Security retirement benefits while continuing to work.

You made the choice to take benefits early, but at a reduced rate. If you exceeded the allowable earnings limit and had some of your benefits withheld, we will adjust your benefit once you reach full retirement age. We will refigure your payment to credit you for any months you did not receive payments. Your monthly benefit will increase based on the crediting months you receive. You can find additional information about working and your benefit at www.socialsecurity.gov/pubs/EN-05-10077.pdf.

Are you 60 years of age or older?

Do you have trouble connecting with or getting along with others?

If so, you may be eligible for current HARP studies. For more information, or to learn about other studies available for seniors, please call the study team at: (585) 276-6204 or email HARP@urmc.rochester.edu

H ealth News Dr. Colleen Fogarty selected for ADFM fellowship Physician Colleen T. Fogarty, associate chairwoman for interprofessional practice and education, and medical director at Highland Family Medicine with the University of Rochester/ Highland Hospital department of family medicine, has been selected by the Association of Departments of Family Medicine (ADFM) for a Fogarty year-long fellowship program that provides academic leadership development for those interested in being a chairman or considering that as a potential career direction.

The program includes a fellowship project, shared with colleagues through a venue at the ADFM winter meeting, formal mentorship from a fellowship adviser, and pa––rticipation on the ADFM chairmen’s listserv during the fellowship year and one year after. It also includes participation in two back-to-back ADFM winter meetings and some extra programming, such as a fellowship workshop, an in-person new chairmen’s and fellows’ fall workshop, and webinars throughout the year.

Fogarty’s fellowship project is titled “Developing a Departmental Mission, Vision, and Plan for Interprofessional Education at Highland Family Medicine.”

Fogarty completed a bachelor’s degree in chemistry at Cornell University and earned her medical degree at the University of Connecticut, School of Medicine. She completed her family medicine residency

and chief residency at the University of Rochester. Fogarty has additional training in family systems from the University of Rochester and a Master of Science in epidemiology and biostatistics from the Boston University School of Public Health. She has spent much of her career in community health center practice, both rural and urban.

Fogarty is also a writer, having published empirical and creative work. She serves as assistant editor for the journal Family Medicine. Fogarty was named co-editor (with Larry Mauksch) of the journal, Families, Systems, and Health in 2013.

Highland Hospital has new chief of neurology Physician Bogachan Sahin has been appointed as the new chief of neurology for Highland Hospital.

Sahin has been an assistant professor of neurology at the University of Rochester’s School of Medicine and Dentistry since 2013. He earned his undergraduate degree in molecular biology at Princeton University and his medical and doctoral degrees in neuroscience at the Sahin University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center. Sahin completed his residency in neurology and fellowship in vascular neurology at Johns Hopkins University.

In 2015, he became the director of the vascular neurology fellowship program at the University of Rochester Medical Center and has transformed the fellowship. In 2017, there were 76 vascular neurology fellowship programs across the United States and only 36 of them were

Unique Wellness Spa Opens in Webster Owner: Facility is the first completely accessible, all-inclusive wellness spa where individuals can attend regardless of their abilities Inclusion Wellness Spa has recently opened its doors in Webster. Rebecca Brown, owner, said it is the first completely accessible all-inclusive wellness spa where individuals can attend regardless of their abilities.

“I am excited to create a spa where everyone feels welcome and included, and that is the reason why we named it Inclusion. The logo 111 means positive energy is manifesting to new beginnings,” said Brown.

The spa is designed to accommodate all guests from able-bodied to those with physical impairments. Child care is also provided for guests in a safe, video-recorded environment where the parents can get their pampering and know their child can play safely in a sound proof

room.

The spa features state-of-the art laser hair removal services, skin tightening, all types of massages, manicures, pedicures and facials. Other services provided include skin care and makeup application featuring the GLO Skin Beauty line. This makeup line was chosen because it is mineral based and PETA approved, Brown said. The make-up is tripled milled and contain no parabens.

According to Brown, the business’ mission it to provide an all-inclusive environment that promotes spiritual, emotional, and physical well-being.

Inclusion Wellness Spa is located at 811 Ridge Road, Suite 111 Webster. It’s website is www.

Inclusionspa.com.

June 2018 •

Dr. Devgun Appointed MCMS’s New President Physician Surinder Devgun has recently been elected as the 2018-2019 Monroe County Medical Society president. Devgun has been a private practice physician at Rochester Gastroenterology Associates since 2005. In addition, he is an attending gastroenterologist at both Unity Hospital and Rochester General Hospital of Rochester Regional Health.

Devgun volunteers as teaching faculty at Unity Health System’s medicine residency program and is an author of numerous abstracts and posters with his residents. Devgun has been a member of Monroe County Medical Society since 2005.

In addition to Devgun, members of the MCMS’s executive committee for the 2018-19 period are: filled. Under Sahin’s leadership, the University of Rochester’s program has filled for three consecutive years and counting.

“Dr. Sahin is an outstanding clinical neurologist and a passionate educator. We look forward to Dr. Sahin bringing the same positive leadership approach to Highland that he’s brought to the vascular neurology fellowship program as we continue to integrate and expand our acute care service,” said physician Robert G. Holloway Jr., professor and chairman of the department of neurology at the University of Rochester Medical Center.

“Highland hospital is a new york state designated Primary Stroke Center and an integral part of our stroke care network in UR Medicine. As a board-certified vascular neurologist, Dr. Sahin will also serve as the stroke center director, ensuring Highland Hospital maintains its vital role in providing excellent stroke care to our community,” said physician Curtis Benesch, professor of neurology and neurosurgery and medical director, URMC Comprehensive Stroke Center.

Sahin follows Adam Kelly, who served as Highland Hospital’s chief of neurology for almost six years.

School of Nursing unveils online program The University of Rochester School of Nursing has launched a new online program designed for nurses or other health care pro-

• President-elect: Lisa Smith, an internist/pediatrician at Ridgewood Med-Peds; • Secretary: Edith Grannum, a family practice physician in solo practice at The Family Medicine Practice of Edith Grannum MD; • Treasurer, Susan Danahy, a board-certified diagnostic radiologist at Borg & Ide Imaging; • Member-at-large: J. Chad Teeters, executive medical director of accountable Health Partners and a practicing cardiologist and chief of cardiology at Highland Hospital; • Member-at-large: Balazs Zsenits, an internist who also serves as chief medical information officer at Rochester Regional Health; and • Immediate past president: Peter Ronchetti, a hand surgeon at Hand Surgery Associates, LLP Board of Censors for the 2018 2019 period are the following physicians: Wade Hedegard, Shylasree Krishnan, Christine Stewart, Jerry Svoboda, Matthew Witmer and Rachael Wojtovich.

Delegates to the Medical Society of the State of New York are the following physicians: Ahmed Ghazi, Allison Giordano, Tarun Kothari and Raymond Lanzafame.

Physicians who are hospital representatives are James Haley, Unity; Jennifer Muniak, Highland; Robert M. Kerper, Strong Memorial; and Derek J. tenHoopen, Rochester General fessionals interested in pursuing advanced education in care management.

The care management education program, aimed at addressing the rising demand nationwide for qualified care managers, is one of the first care management education programs in the country run by faculty from a top-tier university and an academic medical center. It is broken down into 10 learning modules produced by expert educators from the UR School of Nursing. Students may take the full program or purchase modules a la carte. The interactive program is 100 percent online, so students can complete the modules at their own pace, at any time, from anywhere in the world.

“We’re proud and excited to be able to offer this program in care management education,” said School of Nursing Dean Kathy Rideout.

“This program is the result of a lot of intensive research and planning by our faculty and staff. We strongly believe it will serve as a critical resource for individuals who are already care managers and seek role-specific continuing education, as well as those health care providers who wish to enter this growing field. In addition, the program offers tremendous benefit to health care organizations, who can be assured that their employees who complete the course have the latest knowledge and skills needed to thrive in today’s workplace.”

Care management is a relatively new field that specifically focuses on closing quality gaps and promoting continuity in care delivery across

IN GOOD HEALTH – Rochester / Genesee Valley Healthcare Newspaper

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H ealth News health care settings, as well as caring for people living with multiple chronic conditions who are at risk for poor clinical outcomes. However, the role of a care manager tends to be inconsistently defined and operationalized across the nation’s health care delivery system. Few educational programs specifically focus on the tenets of care management, which mirror the Triple Aim initiative promoted by the Institute for Healthcare Improvement: population health management, improving patients’ experiences of care, and reducing health care costs and inefficiencies.

“It’s really important for care managers to understand the economics and changing landscape of health care. For decades, health care costs have been trending at rates above and beyond what we as a country can afford. And the complexity of our system contributes to fragmented care, which too often leaves patients dissatisfied with the care they receive,” said Daryl Sharp, professor of clinical nursing and senior director of care management for Accountable Health Partners and the University of Rochester Medical Center.

Thompson on ‘150 Top Places to Work’ list UR Medicine Thompson Health is on the 2018 “150 Top Places to Work in Healthcare” list released April 9 by Becker’s Hospital Review.

According to the monthly publication featuring business and legal information for healthcare industry leaders, the list highlights hospitals, health systems and healthcare companies that promote diversity within the workforce, employee engagement and professional growth.

This is the fourth year in a row for Thompson to place on the list.

This year, Thompson is the only organization in Upstate New York to place, with six Downstate. The list includes organizations both big and small, with some of the better-known hospitals including the Cleveland Clinic, the Mayo Clinic and St. Jude Children’s Research Hospitals.

“Inclusion on this list means a

lot to Thompson Health because we work hard to offer our associates an environment in which they feel empowered and in which they can flourish both professionally and personally,” said Thompson Health Vice President of Associate Services and Wellness Jennifer DeVault. She further noted Becker’s cited Thompson’s on-site exercise classes, biometric screenings, opportunities for professional development and more as reasons for selecting Thompson for this honor.

According to Becker’s, the annual list of “150 Top Places to Work in Healthcare” is based on nominations and editorial research. Organizations do not pay and cannot pay for inclusion on the list.

employees appreciate that our formal training will help them advance their careers.”

In a separate event, HCR Home Care was recognized as a leader in lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and queer (LGBTQ) healthcare equality.

The Human Rights Campaign Foundation, the educational arm of the country’s largest LGBTQ civil rights organization, cited HCR

HCR Home Care wins workplace, LGBTQ awards HCR Home Care has been recognized as a top workplace, according to an independent survey of company employees.

The company was awarded a 2018 Top Workplaces honor by the Rochester Democrat and Chronicle, and it earned special recognition for its outstanding employee-training programs.

The awards are based on employee feedback gathered through a third-party survey administered by Energage, LLC, a leading provider of technology-based employee engagement tools. The anonymous survey measures several aspects of workplace culture, including alignment, execution and connection.

“HCR is delighted to receive this award, which is a testament to our ongoing efforts to foster a positive and collaborative workplace environment,” said Elizabeth Zicari, president of HCR Home Care. “This recognition is especially meaningful because it is based on the feedback of our employees, who stated strongly that HCR is a great place to work.”

Chris Chimenti, HCR’s senior director of clinical innovation, accepted the training award. “We take pride in our education programs at HCR,” he said. “It is rewarding that our

Leo Center is a 10-bed inpatient care center serving those needing hospice and palliative care. It is now offering virtual tour of the facility.

Leo Center for Caring launches virtual tour

F

amilies can now take a virtual tour of the Leo Center for Caring at St. Ann’s by visiting the St. Ann’s Community website, www. stannscommunity.com — under “Services,” click on “Leo Center for Caring.”

The tour allows visitors to virtually walk through several areas including a patient room, lounge, kitchen and meditation room.

“Deciding where a loved one will spend their final days is a difficult task for any family,” said Michael E. McRae, president and CEO of St. Ann’s Community. “We hope the virtual tour gives them an idea of what the Leo Center has to offer as they begin making those important decisions.”

Highland Hospital Honors Providers of the Year Annual awards recognize providers who exemplify Highland’s commitment to the highest standard of patient care Highland Hospital in June is honoring Cynthia Angel as physician of the year and Sheila Marcoccia as advanced practice provider of the year.

Angel, a Highland gynecologic oncologist, is also professor of obstetrics and gynecology, University of Rochester School of Medicine and Dentistry. The Victor resident was nominated for the prestigious award, also called distinguished physician, by administrators, colleagues, and other co-workers for healthcare excellence.

Page 22

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with its coveted “Leader in LGBTQ Healthcare Equality” designation in its 2018 Healthcare Equality Index.

HCR was the only home care agency in New York state to make the list.

The company earned a maximum overall score of 100 in the annual HEI survey, which recognizes healthcare institutions doing the best work and encourages equal care for LGBTQ Americans.

“I am thrilled to receive this award,” said Angel. “I am already honored to care for patients and families and learn from them every day at Highland during their most poignant life events.

But I couldn’t do anything that I do without my partners, colleagues, nursing staff and others who support Angel me and my work.”

“Dr. Angel among the finest clinicians in our region. She is known for her incredible diagnostic and surgical skills and for her kind, thoughtful, and compassionate care,” said physician Joseph Nicholas, president of the Highland Hospital medical staff.

Advanced practice provider Sheila Marcoccia serves as chief physician assistant in the department of medicine. “I am very honored to receive this award,” she said. “I am thankful for all of my dedicated colleagues in the department of medicine and appreciate the friendly and profes-

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

The Leo Center is a 10-bed inpatient care center serving those needing hospice and palliative care.

It is located in a quiet wing of the Wegman Care Center on St. Ann’s Portland Avenue campus, separate from St. Ann’s Nursing Home.

Its focus is on ensuring patients’ dignity and comfort while providing the specialized medical care needed by those who are terminally ill.

The center offer spacious, private rooms for patients and comfortable surroundings for families to gather, share memories, and say their goodbyes. Families can visit 24/7, and pastoral care is available.

For more information or to arrange an in-person tour, call 585-6976311 or visit StAnnsCommunity.com.

sional atmosphere we have created.

Providing compassionate care to my patients and their families is always my first priority.”

Marcoccia was also nominated by administration and colleagues for the award. “Sheila Marcoccia is an extremely dedicated provider who has supported our organization and provides excellent care to our patients,” said Cindy Marcoccia Becker, Highland vice president and chief operating officer. “She is a leader and role model for others who remains positive and supportive even during busy and stressful high census peaks. She is a true asset to Highland Hospital.

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IN GOOD HEALTH – Rochester / Genesee Valley Healthcare Newspaper

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We finally got our pool.

We waited our whole lives, but with all that was going on we just never had the time. Now we do—and time for a lot more.

Like cooking and fitness classes, relaxing dinners, and just enjoying our time together. Best part: it all happens right here at Chapel Oaks.

Come see our indoor pool and much more!

Schedule a tour today: (585) 697-6606 St. Ann’s Community at Chapel Oaks, Irondequoit Page 24

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