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BFOHEALTH.COM
FEBRUARY 2021 • ISSUE 76
Special Issue
n Aging in Place: More accidents happen in the bathroom than any other room in the house. How seniors can make their bathrooms safer. n What Caregivers Should Know About Medicare: Having a working knowledge of Medicare can help them take full advantage of the coverage and services it provides n Acupuncture: Does it work and is it covered by Medicare? n Food Insecurity: Many seniors across the country (and in our region) are not certain if they will have food tomorrow. n Hearing Loss: What are the signs? n Heart Month: Post-heart attack. What is typical for patients after they’ve survived a heart attack?
Urgent Care, ER or a Visit to Primary Care Doctor? Where to Go When You Need Quick Medical Help P. 10
Drug Makers Raise Prices on 500 Prescription Drugs U.S. Cancer Death Rates Keep Falling
Surprising Benefits of Rye Bread P. 11
Medical Minute: Debunking Vaccine Myths
Also: ‘I’ve Already Had COVID-19, Do I Need the Vaccine?’
U.S. Cancer Death Rates I Keep Falling: Report
mproved lung cancer treatment is a major reason for the 31% decline in cancer death rates in the United States between 1991 and 2018, including a record 2.4% decrease from 2017 to 2018, the American Cancer Society says. How the COVID-19 pandemic will affect this downward trend is unknown, the society noted. “The impact of COVID-19 on cancer diagnoses and outcomes at the population level will be unknown for several years because of the time necessary for data collection, compilation, quality control and dissemination,” according to the report’s lead author, Rebecca Siegel. “We anticipate that disruptions in access to cancer care in 2020 will lead to downstream increases in advanced-stage diagnoses that may impede progress in reducing cancer mortality rates in the years to come,” she said in a cancer society news release. The American Cancer Society said about 3.2 million cancer deaths were prevented from 1991 through 2018 due to declines in smoking, earlier detection, and improvements in treatment that led to long-term decreases in deaths from the four leading cancers: lung, breast, colon and prostate. Lung cancer is the most common cause of cancer death, causing more deaths than breast, prostate and colon cancers combined. While there’s been slow progress against breast, prostate and colon cancers in recent years, declines in lung cancer death rates grew from
Decline boosted by fewer lung cancer deaths, says study
Time to Make A Move?
2.4% a year during 2009 to 2013 to 5% a year during 2014 to 2018. Lung cancer accounted for nearly half (46%) of the overall decline in cancer deaths in the past five years, driving the record single-year drop of 2.4% from 2017 to 2018 for the second year in a row, according to the cancer society’s new report on cancer statistics, which was published Jan. 12 in CA: A Cancer Journal for Clinicians. The report also appears in Cancer Facts & Figures 2021. Recent large reductions in lung cancer deaths reflect better treatment for the most common subtype of the disease — non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). Two-year survival for NSCLC increased from 34% among patients diagnosed in 2009 to 2010 to 42% among those diagnosed in 2015 to 2016, including gains of 5% to 6% for every stage of diagnosis. Two-year survival for small cell lung cancer remained at 14% to 15% over that time period. In 2021, nearly 1.9 million new cancer cases will be diagnosed in the United States and there will be over 608,000 cancer deaths, the cancer society estimated. However, that prediction is based on 2017-2018 data and doesn’t account for the potential effects of the COVID-19 pandemic. The report also said that cancer is the leading cause of death in Hispanics, Asian Americans and Alaska Natives. In addition, the five-year survival rate for all cancers combined that were diagnosed from 2010 through 2016 was 68% in white patients and 63% in Black patients.
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IN GOOD HEALTH – Buffalo & WNY’s Healthcare Newspaper • February 2021
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2021
Drug Makers Raise Prices on 500 Prescription Drugs
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ith the new year comes another round of prescription drug price
hikes. The data comes from 46brooklyn Research, a nonprofit company that aims to improve access to drug pricing information. AbbVie, Bristol Myers Squibb, GlaxoSmithKline, Pfizer and other major pharmaceutical companies are raising their prices by a median of 4.6%, the nonprofit said. In all, more than 500 drugs will cost more this year, the data shows. Drug prices are higher in the United States than in other developed countries, where governments typically negotiate with manufacturers to control costs. GlaxoSmithKline raised the price on 34 of its drug brands on Jan. 1, company spokesperson Lyndsay Meyer said in an interview. “Compared to last year, we’ve taken fewer list price increases and we didn’t raise the list price of 18 products across our portfolio,” Meyer noted. Pfizer officials said that its prices rose about 1%. “This modest increase is necessary to support investments that allow us to continue to discover new
Get on track in
medicines and deliver those breakthroughs to the patients who need them,” a company spokeswoman said. Bristol Myers Squibb “responsibly balances pricing its medicines so high-risk innovation is rewarded while providing access and affordability support for its patients,” the company said in a statement. the company sells the lung cancer treatment Opdivo, which is expected to rise 2% in price, and the arthritis drug Orencia, which is looking at a 5% jump, CBS News said. Other drugs expected to see price hikes include: • The pain medication Zipsor, by 10% • The anti-epileptic treatment Sabril, by 10% • The Crohn’s disease drug Humira, by 7% • The heart attack treatment Kengreal, by 6% • The diabetic nerve damage treatment Lyrica, by 5% • The smoking cessation drug Chantix, by 3%
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1/20/21 3:11 PM
Facebook Posts Big Drivers in Vaccine Resistance, Study Finds
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s Americans await their COVID-19 shot, a new study of a different vaccine shows the power of Facebook posts in fueling “anti-vax” resistance to immunization. The study included more than 10 years of public Facebook posts on the human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccine. It found that nearly 40% of 6,500 HPV vaccine-related posts from 2006 to 2016 amplified a perceived risk. The data suggest the posts had momentum over time. “We should not assume that only the disease is perceived as a risk, but when research supports it, that medical treatments and interventions might unfortunately also be perceived as risks,” said Monique Luisi, an assistant professor at the University of Missouri School of Journalism, in Columbia.
“It’s more likely that people are going to see things on social media, particularly on Facebook, that are not only negative about the HPV vaccine, but will also suggest the HPV vaccine could be harmful. It amplifies the fear that people may have about the vaccine, and we see that posts that amplify fear are more likely to trend than those that don’t,” she said in a school news release Luisi said the findings could shed light on the COVID-19 vaccine rollout and distribution. During the rollout, people will likely see a lot of negative information and that negative information will be what trends on social media, she said. “If the public can anticipate this negative information, it will be interesting to see if that will make them less sensitive to the perceived risk of the vaccine,” she noted.
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February 2021 •
IN GOOD HEALTH – Buffalo & WNY’s Healthcare Newspaper
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Meet
Your Doctor
By Chris Motola
Bruce R. Troen, M.D. Chief of geriatric medicine at UB discusses the challenges faced by seniors during COVID-19 and his study of vitamin D as possible drug to protect people against coronavirus Q: What challenges has the past year presented for geriatric medicine? A: The pandemic has changed lives for both patients and physicians. From the standpoint of geriatrics, there’s been an amplification of things that were taking place before COVID, and then a host of all new issues. Perhaps the biggest one on the new side is that nursing home residents have been the single most at-risk group when it comes to COVID. I think over 100,000 nursing home deaths, which makes up close to 25% of all the deaths in this U.S. And yet nursing home long-term care residents represent a very small portion of the general population. There are 1.3 million long term care residents at any given time, so this is a really tragic outcome. There’s no doubt that there are some things that affect older adults that make them more susceptible to what we call delirium, when you have a significant illness that can cause a change in mental status. COVID very
much fits the bill, not only as a significant stressor but because it can have direct impacts on the brain. So we’ve been sounding the alarm that this is manifestation of COVID-19 in older adults. And, of course, more broadly, it’s had an affect on how we interact with our patients. Q: How so? A: In order to protect patients, family members and also protect healthcare workers, we’ve gone to virtual interactions with our patients either by phone or video. That’s very challenging. The other aspect is, when we do have direct interactions, it’s behind masks and gowns. And when you’re dealing with a population that may have diminished hearing or eye sight, communicating with them can be a lot more difficult when they can’t see your lips. So, getting the information we need has been more of a challenge.
Q: What sort of effects does COVID-19 have on the brain? A: So delirium is an acute confusion state where there may be disorientation, memory loss, difficulty communicating, even outright delusions and agitation. People most at risk of that already have an existing cognitive impairment. So 10% of everyone 65 and older has some kind of cognitive impairment. That gets as high as 50% for 85 and older. Many have other illnesses and are on multiple medications. When you have a significant stressor, the risk of delirium is much higher. In addition to that, COVID can have direct effects on the brain. It can alter blood flow to the brain and even, in some circumstances, directly infect brain tissue. So it’s a double whammy. And there can also been long-term effects. You may have heard of “long haulers” who appear to have recovered from the acute illness but seem to exhibit some ongoing symptoms. The book hasn’t fully been written completely on this, so we’re still trying to figure this out. We may discover that there are long-term effects on cognition in older adults. Q: How does COVID care for older adults differ from that of younger patients? A: The first way to approach that is considering risk factors, not only in terms of infection, but worse outcomes from the infection. If you look at the big picture, you can say that 98% to 99% of individuals who get COVID survive. That 1%-2% mortality is still huge when it comes to modern illnesses. To put it in perspective, the seasonal influenza death rate is 0.1%. So COVID is at least 10 times more deadly. Now the thing that’s unfortunate is there’s a very significant age association with the death rate. So the death rate for COVID for people 80 and over is 20% or more. That’s astonishing. So, on the surface, it’s age-related, but also risk factors like
obesity, high-blood pressure, diabetes are all more common with age. We really don’t have age-specific treatments beyond making doubly sure that we manage the other aspects of their care. The interventions don’t tremendously vary by age. The best “cure” is prevention. Fortunately, the Pfizer and Moderna vaccines have been found in test cases to be just as effective in older patients as younger. Q: One of your areas of interest is vitamin D. There’s been talk about vitamin D levels and their role in fighting COVID-19 infections. A: What seems to be increasingly clear is that if you have better vitamin D status and you do get COVID, you have less of a risk of severe infection, less of a risk of transfer to the intensive care unit, and less of a chance of death. We’re conducting a study ourselves and have preliminary data, which is pointing in that direction. What I’d suggest is — and we don’t yet have proof — is that a good vitamin D status may offer some protection. Q: Moving away from COVID. What do you think constitutes “successful aging?” A: Even though we all want to live as long as possible — and that’s understandable — the focus should be just as much on what I call “healthspan” as lifespan. In other words, and this isn’t me being original, it doesn’t matter as much the years in your life as the life in your years. When you’re striving for a better healthspan, you want individuals with a high-functioning, high quality of life for as long as possible. None of us want to be incapacitated or cognitively impaired. So what I’m trying to do at both the clinical, research and educational level is provide that for older adults. We still have a long way to go, but so many opportunities to provide care for older adults. I think that it’s even imperative on a demographic level. Right now about 15% of the U.S. population is over 65. In our region it’s about 18% By 2030 20% with be 65 and older. In Western New York we’ll probably reach that by 2025. So we have a target-rich environment to do good things for older adults. There’s also some research that suggests if we improve the quality of life for older adults, we’ll be improving it for everyone. That’s because more efficient care also works for younger individuals, but also because functional older adults can help out with things like taking care of the grandkids.
Lifelines
Name: Bruce R. Troen, M.D. Position: Chief of the division of geriatrics and palliative medicine, UBMD Internal Medicine; professor of medicine UB; director of the Center for Successful Aging, University at Buffalo; director of the Center of Excellence for Alzheimer’s Disease in Western New York, University at Buffalo; physician-investigator, Veterans Affairs Western New York Healthcare System Hometown: Pittsburgh Affiliations: Kaleida; WNY VA; Erie County Medical Center Organizations: American Geriatrics Society Family: Wife, two sons Hobbies: Skiing, tennis, sci-fiction, hockey Page 4
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IN GOOD HEALTH – Buffalo & WNY’s Healthcare Newspaper • February 2021
‘Self-ish’ Book Emphasizes Self Care Tonawanda mental health counselor launches book By Deborah Jeanne Sergeant
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n case of an emergency, flight attendants recommend donning your own oxygen mask before helping a fellow passenger put on a mask. Without the ability to breathe, it would be difficult to aid someone else. That’s the line of thought behind “Self-ish Is the New Selfless: Your Pocketbook Guide to feeling GOOD without all the GUILT,” the first book by Brittany Bennett. A licensed mental health counselor, Bennett owns Bridge Over Troubled Water, PLLC in Tonawanda, a therapy and consulting practice. In a personable, conversational tone, Bennett shares with readers that it is OK — important, even — to take care of themselves first. “You can’t be your best for others if you’re not your best for yourself,” Bennett said. She derived her book’s title from the word “self” and the suffix “-ish.” “‘Self’ is how we connect to sensations, thoughts and feelings and ‘-ish’ is connected to something else,” Bennett said. “When you put them together with the hyphen, that’s the definition.” She said that many people she knows have expressed surprise that she has completed a book, as she kept it close to her chest while she
Some Americans Can’t Access Telemedicine, Study Shows
A big “digital divide” has prevented many from using telemedicine care
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elemedicine rapidly expanded during the COVID-19 pandemic as people turned to their phones and computers rather than leave their homes for health care. But some groups of people were left behind in the telemedicine boom, a new study reports. Middle-aged and older folks are much less likely to complete their scheduled telemedicine visits, as well as Medicaid recipients and those whose first language is not English, the researchers said. Many groups are also unable to take part in video visits, including middle-aged folks and seniors, women, Black and Hispanic people, and those with a lower household income, according to the study authors. The pandemic has revealed a “digital divide” in telemedicine care, with some people unable to take full advantage of the service because they either lack access to the technology or find it too daunting, said lead researcher physician Srinath Adusumalli. He’s a cardiologist and assistant professor of clinical medicine with the Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania, in Philadelphia. “Lots of the care we’ve historically delivered in person can be done via telemedicine, and therefore I do
think telemedicine is here to stay,” Adusumalli said. “Our goal now is to start refining that process.” For this study, Adusumalli and his colleagues surveyed records for nearly 150,000 patients who scheduled telemedicine visits with Penn Medicine between mid-March and mid-May, 2020, at the height of the pandemic’s first wave. Only 54% of those who scheduled a telemedicine visit actually followed through and completed it, the researchers found. Further, only about 46% of those who used telemedicine had a visit conducted via video, which is generally considered the best, Adusumalli said. The rest had phone visits. Age played a large part in whether a person would complete a telemedicine visit or use video during their visit: n People aged 55 to 64 were 15% less likely to complete a visit and 21% less likely to use video. nThose aged 65 to 74 were 25% less likely to complete the telemedicine consultation and 22% less likely to use video. n Seniors aged 75 and older were 33% less likely to successfully participate in telemedicine and 51% less likely to try video.
wrote it. Bennett only let a select few people read her drafts before its publication. She selected her beta readers for a certain type of feedback she anticipated from each. “One reader I chose looks tough on the exterior and doesn’t reflect or show a lot of emotion,” Bennett said. “If the book means something to them, I knew that it would reach the audience. That person did feel the book connected with them.” She hopes that readers come to the realization that they should do what they need to do be the best at what is important to them and not what others feel they should be the best at. The pressure in society to be the best parent, worker or partner places undue stress on people. “The book gives us permission that ‘self-ish’ is a wonderful trait,” Bennett said. “We can’t be selfless if we’re not ‘self-ish.’” As a young person, Bennett became interested in mental health after seeing the 1990s movie Harriet the Spy. A character in the movie received mental healthcare — something she did not yet realize was a service, let alone a career. While watching the movie, Bennett first realized that “you could speak with someone about whatever is happening in your life and whatever you share is
• Non-English speakers were 16% less likely to complete a telemedicine visit, and people on Medicaid were 7% less likely, the results showed. Lower video use was also observed among women (8% less likely), Black people (35%), Hispanics (10%) and low-income families (43% less likely for household income less than $50,000). The findings were published online recently in JAMA Network Open. Video allows doctors to visually examine a patient, check out their surroundings, and look directly at either medications they are taking or the results from self-monitoring devices like blood pressure cuffs or glucometers, Adusumalli said. “The common wisdom is that video is always best, but I think it’s best in certain clinical situations,” Adusumalli said. “Having conducted many home medicine visits myself, I do agree video makes the encounter richer. It allows you to connect more with the patient.” Adusumalli thinks there are several factors that could be contributing to the gap in access to telemedicine. Many people don’t have access to good broadband service, either wired or wireless, or might have a phone or computer that doesn’t support video, he said. Others might lack the technical ability to install a telemedicine program or app to their device, register it and run it properly. “The systems we use need to be as simple as possible,” he added. Adusumalli noted that his hos-
February 2021 •
between you and that person,” she said. “I wanted to be the person that people could be comfortable with and at peace with.” So, at age 9, she told her family she wanted to become a therapist when she grew up — clearly demonstrating that at an early age, she already understood how to be her best self. In “Self-ish,” she offers short sections that helps readers better understand vital areas. The three sections are The Pocketbook Guides (who you want in your life and how), The Heartfuls (compassion toward self and others), and The Random Stuff (a potpourri of life tips). Bennett wrote in an interactive nature so that the book’s questions can help readers reflect and find their own answers. It’s available on Amazon.com ($17), the book is 114 pages.
pital’s video vendor has refined their software to the point that people don’t need to download an app. Instead, they can access telemedicine directly from their computer or phone’s web browser. “That removes another barrier, and we hope that will increase the accessibility of video visits,” Adusumalli said. Telemedicine visits accounted for about 35% of primary care visits between April and June, according to a Johns Hopkins study published in JAMA Network Open in October. “In general, patients do find it convenient,” Adusumalli said. “You don’t have to pay for parking. You don’t have to take off time from work. You don’t have to obtain child care.” But American College of Physicians President Jacqueline Fincher isn’t completely pleased with the shift to telemedicine. “Telehealth is definitely not ideal. It beats nothing, but in terms of trying to really evaluate patients, especially those with chronic health problems, it does make it more difficult,” said Fincher, a primary care provider in rural Georgia. Video does help in a telemedicine assessment, Fincher said, but she added that many folks in rural areas simply don’t have access to either broadband or a device with a good camera. “In private practice, we know our patients. They’ve been with us a long time. When my patient’s not doing well and I’ve been treating them for 30 years, I can look at them and tell they’re not doing well or they’re sick,” Fincher said of video.
IN GOOD HEALTH – Buffalo & WNY’s Healthcare Newspaper
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Page 5
Live Alone & Thrive
By Gwenn Voelckers
Practical tips, advice and hope for those who live alone
Solo Travel:
‘You Had Me at Hello’
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ho doesn’t remember one of the most romantic lines ever spoken in a movie: “You had me at hello” from the 1996 film “Jerry Maguire.” In one of the film’s most memorable scenes, Tom Cruise’s title character pours out his heart to his on-screen wife, played by Renee Zellweger, and asks her for a second chance. Zellweger stops Cruise mid-sentence and tearfully says “You had me at hello,” after which they fall into each other’s arms, destined for a long and happy reunion. I watched the movie clip on YouTube this morning and it brought a tear to my eye. I’m a softy at heart. But, what in the world does this have to do with solo travel? For me, travel — like a captivating romance — holds intrigue, excitement and the promise of profound, life-changing moments. When I took my first stroll by myself in the Luxembourg Gardens in Paris, I could easily have exclaimed, “You had me at bonjour!” But those were the good ol’ days, when we could move easily throughout our lives and the world. Sadly, the pandemic brought travel to a near standstill in 2020, keeping most
of us hunkered down at home for most of the year. Because it may still be months before we can safely travel again (even with the roll-out of the vaccines), people are busy doing the next best thing: They are joyfully plotting, planning and preparing their future vacations and visits with loved ones. Goodbye Netflix; hello TripAdvisor! Now’s the perfect time to compile your bucket list of destinations near and far. And while you’re at it, consider including a solo dream trip in your planning. Why do I have such a love affair with solo travel? Let me count the ways: n You call the shots — When you travel alone, you are free to see and do whatever you like. Your decisions and itinerary are your own. And when it’s just you, you are reminded of who you are, what you enjoy doing the most, and what you like least. When you travel with other people, their interests may be at odds with yours. And precious time can be consumed with the inevitable negotiations that come with trying to satisfy everyone’s needs and desires. Traveling alone allows you to follow your heart and own path.
s d i K Corner
Youth Vaping Triples Odds for Adult Smoking
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aping may not be a way for kids to avoid the smoking habit, after all. A new study finds that teens who start vaping are three times more likely to smoke cigarettes in adulthood than those who never started with electronic cigarettes. Although the number of teens who start smoking cigarettes in high school has declined, vaping has soared. From 2016 to 2019, the number of cigarette smokers among U.S. high school seniors dropped from 28% to 22%, but e-cigarette use increased from 39% to 46%, the rePage 6
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searchers found. “The rapid rise in e-cigarette experimentation among the youth of our country appears to mean that we will have a whole new generation of cigarette smokers along with all the health consequences that follow,” said lead researcher John Pierce. He’s a professor emeritus in the department of family medicine and public health at the University of California, San Diego. “There is an urgent need to reconsider the policies on e-cigarettes and at least hold them to the same standards as the cigarette com-
n You make new friends more easily — I’ve discovered this time and time again. When I’m on my own, other travelers and “locals” are more likely to strike up a conversation with me or extend an invitation to join them. I’ve met some of the nicest, most interesting people this way. When traveling with friends and family, we tend to stay focused on each other and lose the chance to meet people we might otherwise have met. That could be a missed opportunity, especially if you are single and hoping to meet someone new. n You can release your adventurous spirit — By yourself (with no one watching), you may be willing to take more risks — maybe zip-lining, bungee jumping, or swimming with dolphins. I’ve never been that adventurous, but I have sampled some pretty exotic food, wrestled Old Paint into submission on a horse trail, and held on for dear life while rafting down the Colorado River. n Likewise, you can find some heavenly time to yourself — On your own and with fewer distractions, the opportunity for a tranquil, soul-soothing retreat is within your grasp. Whenever I travel, I like to build in time to myself to relax and recharge my batteries. Solo travel makes guilt-free “me” time possible. Want to sleep in till noon, find splendid solitude in a secret garden or enjoy your own company and a nightcap at the end of the day? Go for it, because you can. n You learn a new language faster — Je peux en témoigner! (I can vouch for that!). When traveling alone in France, I was forced to make sense of the language. It was either that or go hungry. Without a traveling companion to talk with or to aid in translation, I had to fend for myself. While I am far from fluent in French, I can at least order a croque-monsieur — a hot ham and cheese sandwich. Want to learn a
language more quickly? Travel solo. n You build your confidence and sense of independence — Even a small jaunt can boost your self-confidence. All the decisions are yours, including your budget. You decide how to get where you’re going, where to stay, and how much to spend on transportation, food, accommodations and things to do. In no time, you’ll discover your own resourcefulness, ability to solve problems, and capacity to spend some time alone. Those are invaluable, lifelong lessons. Solo travel is ripe with opportunities for self-discovery, growth and joy. Start dreaming today. When the travel advisories are lifted, you’ll be ready. Pack your bags, and with no reservations (pun intended), set out on your journey with a spring in your step and unbridled anticipation for all the hidden treasures that await. I’m already contemplating a vacation with just “me, myself and I” when the time is right. It might be a weekend away for a change of pace or a great big adventure for a jolt to the senses. Lately, I’ve been pouring over travel guides for Austin, Texas. I have a sneaking suspicion that the “Live Music Capital of the World” will — you guessed it — have me at howdy!
panies, such as restricting their right to advertise to our teens,” Pierce said. For the study, the investigators collected data on nearly 16,000 people in the United States, aged 12 to 24. Nearly two-thirds had tried at least one tobacco product, and almost one-third tried five or more tobacco products, of which e-cigarettes and cigarettes were the most popular, the findings showed. Each additional product tried increased the users’ odds of becoming a daily cigarette smoker, as did trying tobacco before age 18, according to the report published online Jan. 11 in the journal Pediatrics. Physician Pamela Ling is interim director of the Center for Tobacco Control Research and Education at the University of California, San Francisco. She said, “This is a problem because the tobacco companies are continuing to produce more new
tobacco products every year.” E-cigarettes and other new tobacco products gained popularity because people think of them as safer alternatives to cigarettes, explained Ling, who was not involved in the study. But this study shows that in the hands of young people, e-cigarettes lead to harm. “Some young people may think they are decreasing their risk because they smoke a little, vape a little, chew a little, but may not use any single product very much. But this poly-tobacco use behavior increases risk to end up a daily smoker,” Ling said. Pierce noted that there are a number of people who advocate e-cigarettes as a way of reducing the harm caused by cigarettes. These people have assumed that young people who start using e-cigarettes will become dependent on them to get their nicotine.
IN GOOD HEALTH – Buffalo & WNY’s Healthcare Newspaper • February 2021
NOTE: As of this writing, the CDC and other health experts and institutions advise staying at home as the pandemic surges. Gwenn Voelckers is the founder and facilitator of Alone and Content, empowerment workshops for women and author of “Alone and Content,” a collection of inspiring essays for those who live alone. For information about her workshops, to purchase her book, or invite Gwenn to speak, visit www. aloneandcontent.com
Fitness
Home Fitness Trend Continues with Pandemic One advantage of working out at home? “You don’t need any equipment,” says an orthopedic surgeon By Deborah Jeanne Sergeant
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s ever-changing pandemic guidelines persist, many people have turned to working out at home. Many gyms have limited the number of people at their facilities to prevent crowds and some people do not feel comfortable with exercising at a gym. Winter weather can also make getting to the gym difficult. That is why it can be important to develop a back-up means of working out at home. “It’s always a challenge in the winter,” said Brain DeLuca, director of impact sports performance at UBMD Orthopaedics & Sports Medicine in Cheektowaga. “COVID has exploited some of those challenges.” He said that home fitness equipment has become very popular, including the trendy Peloton bike, which offers accompanying content via its app. Peloton connects users, “offering a sense of community,” DeLuca said. Virtual workouts with a trainer are also popular, as these allow participants to sweat at home under the guidance of a professional for optimal safety and results. While not the same as the in-person session, virtual workouts provides both assistance and motivation, elements lacking in many home workouts. “Writer on the Run” is a
DeLuca also encourages making a goal to build in accountability. “Maybe train for something in the spring like running a 5K or starting something new,” he said. Nick Valente, orthopedic surgeon with Genesee Orthopaedics in Batavia, recommends seeking outdoor activity if possible, like cross-country skiing. “It’s low impact and is a total body workout,” Valente said. “It’s a good way to start. You can ease into it without a lot of impact on your joints.” When the weather is bad, he recommends low impact aerobics like jumping jacks, pushups, situps and body weight exercises like squats and planks. Yoga can also work well at home using online videos. “You don’t need any equipment,” Valente said. “It’s a moderate aerobic workout and good for maintaining flexibility.” Body weight exercises also reduce risk of injury. If you have no weights at home, you do not need to splurge on an expensive weight bench or even dumbbells. Katie Vaughn, who earned master’s in nutrition and dietetics from D’Youville College, recommends looking around the house for weights such as cans, bottles or
filling up different sized water jugs in lieu of weights. “You can add sand — dry or wet — or rocks to different containers” to use as inexpensive weights, she said. Vaughn is board-certified in sports dietetics, certified functional strength coach and owner of Katie Vaughn Nutrition in Rochester. For those with the means and desire to invest in fitness tools, Vaughn likes multifunctional equipment. “You can add versatility to workouts, while working a wide variety of muscle groups at once,” she said. She suggested items such as TRX bands, foam roller for body stretching and mobility, stability ball, medicine ball, resistance bands, sliding discs or Valslides to use underfoot, multi-grip pullup bar, or a regular or weighted jump rope.
One of the big pitfalls of working out at home is the temptation to skip or shorten workouts. To counteract this effect, Vaughn offers the following tips: 1. “Create an exercise schedule at the beginning of each week. 2. Share your schedule with your family or with a friend. 3. Have a friend join you virtually. 4. Take a class with group. 5. Designate a workout area in your house or garage. 6. Keep exercise equipment in plain view as a reminder, i.e. the yoga mat next to the bed for early morning stretches.” In addition, laying out or wearing to bed your workout clothing may serve as an easier segue into a morning workout session.
Writer on the Run By Jenna Schifferle
jenna.schifferle@gmail.com
Training to Run 30 Miles on My 30th Birthday “You’re a glutton for punishment,” my friend said as we cooled down following a morning run. I laughed at the veracity of her statement as a bubble of nerves worked its way to my throat. I had just shared my secret desire to run 30 miles on my 30th birthday, a milestone taking place this July. Christa, my lifelong friend and running buddy, stoked the fire by suggesting that I might have company during the first half. Her partner might even run the second half with me, she said. (Everyone needs a Christa for your bad ideas.) Running 30 miles is something I’ve never done before. When I ran the 26.2-mile distance during the Chicago Marathon in 2019, my body took a hit from all the training. Despite exhaustion and a nagging injury, I exceeded my own expectations and ran well. To do 3.8 miles more than that seems like tempting fate.
Yet, I’m oddly fixated on the idea. The idea to run 30 miles on my 30th came from another challenge I’m doing. Run the Edge, an organization based out of Colorado, hosts an annual Run the Year virtual challenge. This year, participants commit to running 2,021 miles in 2021. A different friend discovered the challenge and encouraged me to sign up. In exchange for running or walking 2,021 miles this year, they’ll mail me a shiny medal and T-shirt that tells the world, “Hey, I did this thing!” I was sold. The challenge aims to get people moving, and everyone can adapt the event to their fitness level. For me, this served as much-needed motivation following a tumultuous year. The pandemic inspired a series of poor health decisions in my life that destroyed my diet and exercise routine. Between working from home and not being able to go to the gym, I
lost the drive to move, let alone run. My step count barely exceeded 3,500 some days, and the time had come to make a change. The new year seemed ideal for taking initiative. Here are my rules for the challenge: • Strive for 5.5 … miles, that is. I will log approximately 40 miles each week to reach my goal by year-end. That equates to approximately 5.5 miles per day. • Walks count, but they must be intentional. Daily steps do not count. • Aim for 1,010.5 miles spent running by year-end. • In the event of an injury or burnout, I can log miles by biking; however, miles will be counted at a 2:1 ratio. (For every two miles biked, one will be logged.) Several weeks into this challenge, I have run at least one mile per day. I aim for 5.5 miles daily, which usually includes stretches of running
February 2021 •
and sporadic walks. Walking can be daunting, so I bring my cellphone and catch up with friends as I stroll the streets and log miles. I’ve found this to be a peaceful act during a chaotic pandemic. This time has been stressful for all of us, and exercising may seem like the last thing on anyone’s list. You don’t need to run 30 miles in a day or 2,021 miles in a year. Just bundle up in your warmest gear and take the first step. Your mind and body will thank you.
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U.S. Drug Overdose Deaths Reach Record High
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he number of U.S. drug overdose deaths reached a record high as the coronavirus pandemic held the country in its grip last spring, new government data shows. For the 12 months ending in May, more than 81,000 people died from an overdose. That is the highest number ever recorded during a 12-month period, scientists from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said. “The disruption to daily life due to the COVID-19 pandemic has hit those with substance use disorder hard,” CDC Director Robert Redfield said in a recent agency health advisory. “As we continue the fight to end this pandemic, it’s important to not lose sight of different groups being affected in other ways. We need to take care of people suffering from unintended consequences.” The primary driver behind the record-breaking numbers appeared to be the use of synthetic opioids such as fentanyl, which increased 38.4%. Of 38 U.S. jurisdictions with available synthetic opioid data, 37 reported increases in synthetic opioid-involved overdose deaths. In 18 of these jurisdictions, the increase was greater than 50%. Ten Western states reported a more than 98% increase in synthetic opioid-involved deaths, the researchers said. “We must continue to focus our efforts on prevention and treatment for opioid use disorder, including ready access to naloxone for all people who receive an opiate prescription,” said Dr. Robert Glatter, an emergency room physician at Lenox Hill Hospital in New York City. “Data indicates that this is one area where education about the proper use of naloxone can save lives. Families, significant others and relatives who have access to naloxone are able to intervene and save lives, before people become statistics,” said Glatter, who was not part of the study. While opioid overdose deaths were skyrocketing, overdose deaths involving cocaine also increased by 26.5%. Based upon earlier research, these deaths are likely linked to co-use or contamination of cocaine with illicitly manufactured fentanyl or heroin. Meanwhile, overdose deaths involving psychostimulants, such as methamphetamine, increased by 34.8%. “Coupled with isolation and reduced mobility during the lockdown in late March into April, the risk of a deadly overdose — compounded by possible co-infection with COVID-19 — markedly increased based on today’s new CDC data,” Glatter said.
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Harry Lindsey of Cheektowaga presents a bouquet to his daughter Danielle of Hamburg as she graduates from Trocaire College, where she Became a licensed practical nurse. He died of COVID-19 in May. “He remains my motivation and I know he’s looking down on me and guiding me through this thing we call life,” his daughter said.
Saying ‘Goodbye’ in the Time of COVID-19 By Julie Halm
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hen Danielle Lindsey found out that her mother had been diagnosed with COVID-19 on Easter weekend, she says she knew it was just a matter of time before her father also came down with the then-novel illness. While her mom, who works in a local health care center, took as many precautions as possible, the proximity of she and her husband was simply too great and the virus spread within their home. Her father Harry had pre-existing health conditions and Danielle said that from the moment of diagnosis, she did not foresee a positive outcome for her father, who was then 62. “I already knew he had comorbidities, so right then and there I knew in my gut,” she said. That feeling was an informed one, however, as she herself is a licensed practical nurse and has worked at Buffalo General Hospital as well as in the Buffalo Public School System. In her time at the hospital, Danielle was an aide, which she said has helped her become the nurse that she is today and understand medical surgical health concerns. Currently, in addition to BPS, she is at Father Baker Manor Nursing Home and is
dealing first-hand with the ramifications of the pandemic such as people not being able to visit with loved ones and students being unable to come to school. When her father became ill, Danielle said that he experienced a headache, body aches, a fever and some shortness of breath before he sought care. When he did go to an emergency room on April 19, he was diagnosed with pneumonia and sent home with an inhaler to recuperate. That was a mere two days after he began feeling unwell. The day after seeking emergency care, Harry had a pulse oximeter reading of between 84 and 88 — a normal reading is roughly 95% or above — and he was able to get tested for the COVID-19 virus. The following day, the results confirmed what Danielle said she already knew. He was positive. Before he was admitted for medical care, Harry’s blood oxygen saturation plummeted to 73% and he was admitted to St. Joseph Campus hospital for treatment. Communication was entirely digital as visitors were not allowed to be present, and while the calls and video chats were a small comfort, the experience was immensely challeng-
IN GOOD HEALTH – Buffalo & WNY’s Healthcare Newspaper • February 2021
ing for the whole family. “I think it was more frustrating because he was scared and you could see it in his eyes and you could hear it in his voice,” Danielle said. “He just knew he wasn’t coming out.” Danielle’s father began making phone calls to his daughters and sons, family members and old friends, just to say goodbye. As his condition steadily worsened, the chats with his family members got harder as Harry was put on a ventilator and then had to remain prone on his stomach in order to keep breathing. “Most of our video chats — which I still appreciated every single one we did have — was like, what do you say to this guy who is swollen and black and blue,” Danielle recalled. She said it was hard to recognize her own father as the virus progressed. When doctors felt there was nothing more to be done for Harry, Danielle was able to see her father in person one last time, an experience she cherishes despite how upsetting it was. The visit was not, however, what most people are granted when seeing a loved one out of the world. There were only 10 minutes to be had, with a full suit of personal protective equipment between a father who was reaching the end and a daughter who had come to say goodbye. On May 11, Harry died, leaving behind his wife, seven children, 20 grandchildren, three great-grandchildren and all of the future years that a family will be missing their loved one because of COVID-19. Danielle says that despite what she has witnessed and what she has lost, she understands that people require connection with one another, but urged others to be thoughtful in their interactions, especially as cases have risen again recently. “My suggestion is stay with the immediate family members who you have been with, who you know aren’t galivanting around,” she said. “You can only stay in the house so long, you have to live a little, but be cautious.”
Harry Lindsey was always the chef in the house, her daughter Danielle said. “He cooked all the meals and especially the holiday ones.”
New Product to Help Those with Hip, Knee Replacement, Other Implants BioPrax, a product to treat prosthetic infections being developed by UB and Garwood Medical Devices, may have wide range of applications By Jana Eisenberg
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ot a knee replacement or know someone who has? Ever think about what would happen if that newfangled metal joint inside your body got infected? While occurrences of infection in people who get knee implants is fairly low (less than 3% of around a million Americans who annually get the procedure), the experience can be devastating, and costs billions to our healthcare system. The current gold standard of treatment for an infection after joint replacement surgery is more surgery, says Wayne Bacon, CEO of Garwood Medical Devices. And the results are not always successful. Bacon’s company is working on a product based on a technology that was developed by University at Buffalo researcher Mark Ehrensberger, Ph.D., and researchers at Syracuse University, to market a less invasive, more effective treatment for prosthetic infections; these infections manifest as a biofilm on the metal implant surface. The technology behind the product could have much broader applications for saving money, saving lives and giving patients with infections on any kind of metallic implants — hips, shoulders, screws, plates or dental — a better quality of life.
Ehrensberger is the co-inventor of the antimicrobial technology known as cathodic voltage-controlled electrical stimulation (CVCES) that led to the development of a device, called BioPrax. Garwood Medical has the exclusive license to the technology, and was recently granted access to the Breakthrough Device program from the FDA for further clinical testing. The FDA Breakthrough Device Designation is for products that may provide more effective treatment or diagnosis of life-threatening or irreversibly debilitating diseases or conditions. Using CVCES, BioPrax works by a thin needle inserted into the body, where it comes in contact with the infected metal implant — a knee joint in the case of its planned initial use. In combination with two electrodes on the skin, BioPrax then delivers a very low voltage electrical stimulation via the needle to the metal implants. The result, a series of mild electrochemical reactions, ultimately creates a disruption of the biofilm, and kills the bacterial infection — so far, crucially, in pre-clinical studies, without harm to any other parts of the body, like bone or tissue. “Currently, these implant infections are treated like cancers — they
Mark Ehrensberger, Ph.D., is the co-inventor of the antimicrobial technology known as cathodic voltage-controlled electrical stimulation that led to the development of a device called BioPrax. Next to him is Anthony Campagnari, Ph.D., SUNY Distinguished Professor of Microbiology and Immunology, and senior associate dean for research and graduate education. Photo by Douglas Levere, courtesy of UB.
are hard to cure in place and the implant has to be removed,” said Bacon. “We are looking forward to further testing so that we can use this new technology to improve current treatment outcomes, with the goal of having the patient keep their implant. The technology is also being developed to both treat implant infections and to prevent implant infections on all kinds of metallic implants.’’ “When I first came to UB, I wanted to establish a new and impactful area of research,” said Ehrensberger, an associate professor in UB’s department of biomedical engineering, and the director of the Kenneth A. Krackow MD Orthopaedic Research Lab in the university’s Jacobs School of Medical and Biomedical Sciences Department of Orthopaedics. “I have a background in electrochemistry and corrosion — so I have a good understanding of the properties of the metallic biomaterials used for orthopaedic implants. I learned that infections were a big problem,” he said. “That led me to ask, ‘Can I utilize my knowledge to develop new electrochemically-based antimicrobial therapy for implant infections?’” He reached out to the Jacobs School’s Anthony Campagnari, SUNY Distinguished Professor of Microbiology and Immunology, and senior associate dean for research and graduate education, and together with their teams, discovered that the answer, happily, seems to be “yes.” Ehrensberger and his colleagues have worked on the invention for 10 years to bring it to this point, noting that in the bigger picture, the university’s availability of co-researchers with complementary knowledge and experience is crucial to such work. Most recently, Ehrensberger, Campagnari, and Garwood Medical
Wayne Bacon is CEO of Garwood Medical Devices, which is working on a product based on a technology developed by University at Buffalo and Syracuse University, to market a less invasive, more effective treatment for prosthetic infections. Photo courtesy of Garwood Medical Devices.
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An example of BioPrax at work in a clinical setting. The process creates an electrochemical reaction on the implant surface (in this case, a cobalt chrome femoral section of a knee joint replacement), resulting in the production of hydrogen peroxide and hydroxides. That, in turn, drives up the pH, which breaks up the biofilm and kills bacteria across the whole implant. Photo courtesy of Garwood Medical Devices. Devices, supported by a $749,000 grant from the Congressionally Directed Medical Research Program, have partnered with Thomas Duquin, Jacobs School Department of Orthopaedics clinical associate professor, and investigators at the Uniformed Services University/Walter Reed National Military Medical Center. They are exploring the use of the technology behind BioPrax for lessening infection concerns related to osseointegrated prosthetic limbs for people with amputations — like many military active duty members and veterans. “For some people with amputations, traditional socket prostheses don’t work well; prostheses that are integrated into the bone, and extend through the skin can be advantageous alternatives,” Ehrensberger said. “If we can mitigate those potential infection concerns with use of this new technology, these osseointegrated prostheses could be widely utilized to restore patients’ quality of life and mobility. That would be incredibly fulfilling.” It’s not unusual for a university and a privately-owned company to partner to bring inventions coming out of the school’s research to market to benefit the public. After all, “the public” is why the researchers are conducting their work in the first place. The UB/Garwood partnership continues to be symbiotic, providing the commercial venture with collaborative grant opportunities, a pipeline of talented new employees, and access to cutting-edge technologies, facilities and other valuable resources. “UB and Garwood Medical will continue working together to cure devastating knee implant infections,” said Bacon. “We are committed to making the most of this partnership to find even more new ways to improve people’s lives.”
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PCP, Urgent Care or ER? Where to go when you need quick medical help By Deborah Jeanne Sergeant
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rgent care centers have helped decrease the load on emergency rooms. According to a 2018 study published by JAMA International Medicine, ER visits dropped by 36% between 2008 and 2015 and during the same time period, visits to urgent care facilities and telemedicine increased by 140%. Shifting to urgent care and telemedicine can help reserve ER personnel and resources for the direst cases. Knowing the difference between what is treatable at the primary care physician (PCP), urgent care or ER can continue to improve those numbers. “More and more people are realizing that urgent care centers
fill an important care gap between primary care providers and the emergency room,” said Jenilee Foster, physician assistant and regional lead provider at WellNow Urgent Care, which operates in several New York state regions and other states. “Many patients are comfortable calling their PCP as a first step if they feel well enough to wait for an appointment. However, if someone is experiencing a non-life-threatening illness or injury and doesn’t have a PCP, or their PCP is not available and they need to be seen right away, urgent care is a good option.” Urgent care facilities typically use the same equipment as PCPs, plus have access to X-ray and oth-
er tools related to acute issues. But for issues like chest pain, suspected stroke or heart attack or a complicated fracture or burn, the ER is the right place to go. When it gets tough is when a patient cannot wait for a PCP visit but cannot decide if their issue is serious enough to go to the ER. If the illness or injury is not life, limb or function threatening enough for the emergency room, yet the availability of the primary care physician cannot accommodate them, the urgent care is a good option to avoid waiting several days. “Then a visit to urgent care would make sense,” Foster said. Urgent care is not meant to replace regular care from a PCP for chronic conditions. Ongoing treatment by a primary care physician would suit these patients better as they would see the same provider instead of whoever happens to be at the urgent care. Physician Gregory C. DiFrancesco with UBMD Emergency Medicine and director of business development, community division, has worked as an emergency room doctor and has owned urgent care centers in the past. “What I always come back to is the layman ‘self-triage’ probably won’t be as good as your doctor triaging you to the appropriate level of care,” DiFrancesco said. “For a layperson to make that judgment is very difficult.” That is especially true with symptoms that could indicate any number of health problems ranging in seriousness. Is the chest pain merely heartburn, treatable with an over-the-counter antacid, or a heart attack that can kill within minutes? That is why DiFrancesco recommends starting with a call to the PCP. “Give them the story and the symptomology,” he said. “If you can’t get ahold of them and feel you have a true medical emergency, you can go to the ER. Anyone who presents will be seen.”
He added that many times, people go to urgent care with what they think is a minor issue like heartburn and learn it’s a heart attack. “Precious time could be lost while waiting to be seen at a level of care that can’t see that problem,” DiFrancesco said. A PCP has familiarity with patients’ family and personal health history, which DiFrancesco said can help guide the decision. Especially for people who have other health concerns or who are infants or elderly, it is wiser to seek help at the ER instead of waiting because they may be more prone to negative health outcomes. Physician Kathleen Grisanti is president and medical director of Pediatric and Adolescent Urgent Care of WNY in Williamsville and Orchard Park, and president and medical director of Pediatric Urgent Care in Fairport. She said that the care offered by different urgent care practices varies. “We work very closely with pediatricians and we recommend that people contact their doctors to help them determine where to receive care,” Grisanti said. “Many physicians don’t do stitches in their offices anymore. If they need stitches or X-rays, that would require urgent care. If a broken bone is displaced, they’d need the ER.” “What it comes down to is every center is different. The consumer needs to know, so contact your doctor. They know what the urgent care centers in the area provide.” Any condition perceived as life threatening should be evaluated at the emergency department, including profuse bleeding, chest pain or concern for heart attack, difficulty breathing, seizures, suspected stroke, severe burns, abdominal pain, blood clot/deep vein thrombosis, anaphylaxis, drug overdose, significant head trauma, pregnancy complications, knife or gunshot wounds, large bone fractures.
Medical Minute: Debunking Vaccine Myths
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accine. The word conjures up a host of emotions, from relief and hope to skepticism and even fear. In truth, says physician Patrick Gavigan, a pediatric infectious disease physician at Penn State Children’s Hospital, vaccines are among the most heavily studied of all medical interventions, and the evidence shows they are safe and extremely effective. Many once-daunting diseases, such as measles, meningitis and pneumonia, have been combatted successfully with childhood vaccinations. Most parents readily accept the vaccine schedule and bring their children for well-child visits expecting the vaccines will be given, Gavigan said. Those who hesitate often want clarification on things they have heard about vaccine safety or additives. Doctors understand there is misinformation and are happy to set the record straight. “Most people with reservations about vaccines come to us with pretty good questions and are just looking for advice,” Gavigan said. Here are a few of the most common myths about vaccines and Page 10
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reassuring truths. n Vaccines can make you sick and cause the illness they’re supposed to prevent. The truth: Vaccines contain inactive viruses or components of the virus or bacteria and cannot cause infection in people with normally functioning immune systems. “Common side effects, such as fever or pain at the injection site, that people often mistake for illness are the immune system’s response to the components and actually show the body is building immunity to the virus or bacteria,” Gavigan said. (People with compromised immune systems should consult their physician before taking any live virus vaccines.) n Vaccines contain toxic ingredients. The truth: Mercury and thimerosal, a mercury-containing organic compound, are no longer used in childhood vaccines or in many other vaccines. Safety data shows, however, that there was no increased risk of harm even when these compounds were present, Gavigan said. n The choice not to vaccinate affects only my child, or only me. The truth: Vaccines protect the
person who gets vaccinated and build herd immunity by decreasing the prevalence of the virus to such low levels that people who are unable to get vaccinated or who don’t fully respond to the vaccine also are protected. A certain percentage of the population must be vaccinated to attain herd immunity, so a decision against vaccination affects the whole group, Gavigan said. n Natural immunity is better than vaccine-acquired immunity. The truth: While it may be true that someone who naturally catches a virus has longer-term immunity, the risks and consequences from actually getting sick with the infection far outweigh any value that may come from having the virus itself. “And with COVID-19, we don’t know that immunity from getting the infection is any better than the vaccine,” Gavigan said. n It’s best to space out vaccines and even delay the COVID-19 vaccine until the pandemic is over. The Truth: All of the data on a standard schedule for vaccines has shown them to be very safe. “Any time you space out vaccines, there’s a big risk that you’re providing
IN GOOD HEALTH – Buffalo & WNY’s Healthcare Newspaper • February 2021
additional time when you can contract the disease,” Gavigan said. In addition, getting multiple vaccines at the same time doesn’t diminish your immune system’s response to them, and there’s no need to worry that your body can’t withstand multiple vaccinations in short order. “The amount of antigen, or virus protein, in the vaccine is much lower than what you would encounter if you got the infection,” Gavigan said. The COVID-19 vaccine has been developed and approved in short order, which makes people understandably concerned about its safety, Gavigan said. “However, the data has been thoroughly looked at in tens of thousands of people involved in the studies, and the rates of adverse effects were exceedingly low,” he said. “This vaccine looks to be as safe and effective as we could hope for.” The Medical Minute is a health news feature produced by Penn State Health. Articles feature the expertise of faculty, physicians and staff. It’s distributed by Newswise.com
SmartBites
The skinny on healthy eating
Surprising Benefits of Rye Bread
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asteless, white Wonder bread was not the only bread I consumed during my growing years. Our family also ate a lot of rye bread: dark pumpernickel, marbled rye and traditional light rye. My German father insisted on it; and, over time, I grew to love the taste and texture. Since then, and with each pass-
ing year — years marked by disturbingly high cholesterol counts or worrisome digestive issues or tightening waistbands — my fondness for rye has only intensified. Why rye? Earthy, dense, chewy rye? Like other whole grains with the germ, endosperm and bran intact, unprocessed rye rocks with a variety of nutrients and health benefits.
Rye is a terrific source of fiber, ranging from about 2 grams to 6 grams per slice, depending on the kind of rye bread consumed. Many of our health problems — from heart disease to certain cancers, Type 2 diabetes to obesity — stem from too little dietary fiber, which is why leading institutions, like the American Heart Association, recommend we consume at least 25 to 30 grams of fiber a day. Whole-grain rye bread can help meet that goal. Blood sugar control is important for everyone, especially people with diabetes or at risk for developing Type 2 diabetes; and rye bread — thanks to its unique concentration of fiber, manganese, and phenolics (powerful antioxidants) — aids how we process sugar. Working together, these important nutrients help stabilize blood sugar levels by slowing both the release and absorption of sugar and insulin into the bloodstream. Adding whole grains like rye bread to your diet may reduce the risk of heart disease, according to studies at the Harvard School of Public Health. Multiple factors — from its cholesterol-lowering fiber to its aid in weight control (since whole grains make you feel full longer) to its inflammation-busting plant compounds — all contribute to healthier hearts.
Avocado Rye Toast with Egg, Tomato, and Sriracha Mayo
Sriracha Mayo 2 tablespoons light mayo ¼ cup plain low-fat Greek yogurt 1-2 teaspoons Sriracha sauce (or hot sauce of choice) 1 tablespoon lime or lemon juice salt and pepper to taste Lightly mash avocado with lime juice, salt, and pepper. Set aside. Whisk Sriracha mayo ingredients together in small bowl. Cook eggs any way you like. Toast rye bread. Spread Sriracha mayo (if using) over the toast, then top with avocado mash, tomato slices, and cooked egg. Lightly sprinkle with salt and pepper, if needed.
Helpful tips If possible, seek authentic rye bread from local bakers. If buying from store, read labels carefully: the first ingredient should say rye flour or rye meal, whether you buy light, dark or marbled rye. True pumpernickel, one of the healthier ryes, is made entirely from coarsely ground whole rye grains. For those who prefer a more lightly flavored rye, Pepperidge Farm makes a “Whole Grain Seeded Rye Bread” with a blend of whole wheat and whole grain rye flours.
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.
Serves 2
2 slices rye bread 1 avocado 1-2 teaspoons lime or lemon juice salt and pepper to taste 2 eggs 8 thin slices Roma tomato
AHA News: The Best Foods for Brain Health
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t’s easy to see the connection between an unhealthy diet and an expanding waistline. The connection between food and brain health can be harder to get your mind around. But experts agree. Eating right is essential for brain health. “Of all the organs in our body, the brain is the one most easily damaged by a poor diet,” said physician Lisa Mosconi, director of the Women’s Brain Initiative and an associate professor of neuroscience in neurology and radiology at Weill Cornell Medicine and NewYork-Presbyterian Hospital. “From its very architecture to its ability to perform, every aspect of the brain calls for proper food.” Mosconi, who has written books about the science of food and the brain, said many people have misconceptions about what “proper food” might be. One of the biggest fallacies she’s been hearing lately is the idea that a very high-fat diet is somehow helpful to the brain. “This is not what most research shows,” she said. Dietary supplements are another area where people get misled, said physaician Kristine Yaffe, professor of psychiatry, neurology and epidemiology at the University of California-San Francisco. Except when someone is deficient in a specific
nutrient, vitamin supplements don’t seem to improve brain health, she said. Similarly, supplements that contain omega-3 fatty acids and fish oil have gotten a lot of attention. But while they might help certain heart patients when prescribed by a physician, research has not confirmed benefits for brain health. “There have been a number of trials, and they haven’t borne out,” said Yaffe, who was a co-author on a 2017 American Heart Association advisory on brain health. So, what does work? “We still have a lot to learn about that,” Yaffe said. But certain foods do seem to help when they’re part of an entire dietary pattern. And that diet looks similar to the ones physicians recommend for heart health. A Mediterranean-style diet — heavy in fruits, vegetables, fish and nuts — lowers stroke risk in women and may lead to better cognitive ability in old age, studies have found. A 2018 study Mosconi led estimated it provided 1.5 to 3.5 years of protection against the development of biomarkers for Alzheimer’s disease. Another science-backed eating plan that limits red meat, sodium and added sugars and sweets, called DASH (dietary approaches to stop hyperten-
sion), may reduce stroke risk. Mosconi highlighted some nutrients — antioxidants, such as vitamin C, vitamin E and beta-carotene, and anti-inflammatory B vitamins and omega-3 fatty acids — that she said are important for the health of neurons. But neither Yaffe nor Mosconi is a fan of singling out something as the perfect brain food. “I don’t believe in ‘superfoods,’ or that any one food or food group is key to brain health,” Mosconi said. And not that there’s anything wrong with blueberries, Yaffe said, but “you wouldn’t want to be thinking, ‘If I only eat blueberries, that’s going to do it.’” It’s also important to think of foods that are potentially harmful to brain health, Mosconi said. Saturated fat, especially from animal sources, is associated with a higher risk of cardiovascular disease, she said. And some research also shows it increases the risk of cognitive problems. “When we eat a fatty, sugary meal and experience symptoms like sluggishness, brain fog and drowsiness — these symptoms originate not in the stomach but in the brain,” Mosconi said. And the effects aren’t necessarily temporary. Research indicates a poor diet
February 2021 •
may cause the loss of key structural and functional elements in the brain, she said, along with “a higher vulnerability to brain aging and dementia.” A 2018 report from the Global Council on Brain Health, an independent group convened by the AARP, noted that foods and diets that are good for heart health are also good for brain health. Yaffe, a member of that brain health council, said the mechanisms of the brain are complex, but it stands to reason that “if you’re eating a dietary pattern that is heart-healthy, it’s probably also healthy (for) the vessels in the brain.” She acknowledged that some people have a hard time seeing the connections between brain health and their diet – or with other activities such as smoking, sleep and exercise. Mosconi, also a member of the AARP brain health council, put it this way: “Day after day, the foods we eat are broken down into nutrients, taken up into the bloodstream, and carried up into the brain. Once there, they replenish depleted storage, activate cellular reactions and, finally, become the very fabric of our brains. “Consider that the next time you reach for a brownie. Its ingredients will actually become part of your brain.”
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A spa-like atmosphere awaits clients at the Driphouse in Williamsville, where they can lay in a relaxed bed wrapped in FAR-infrared heat-producing blankets that gradually increase in temperature to produce a tranquil, productive sweat session
Pricing is $48 per session with discounts for students and veterans. There is also a two-pack session for $70 and multi packs at discounted rates.
Eucalyptus infused cooling towel is applied to one of clients at Driphouse.
Sweating for Better Health at the Driphouse Williamsville spa is a place to go to be pampered, burn calories, break a sweat By Catherine Miller
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ebruary in Western New York is made to bring in the cold. But if you are longing to escape the dead of winter and surround yourself in warmth and relaxation, there is no better place than the Driphouse to reap health benefits and to break away locally from the mid-winter blues. Located in Williamsville, the Driphouse is a personalized sweat lodge where you lay in a relaxed bed wrapped in FAR-infrared heat-producing blankets that gradually increase in temperature to produce a tranquil, productive sweat session. Every visit detoxifies your body, eases muscles, cleanses the skin and destresses your mind, according to co-owner Malisa Lougher. The sessions lasts 30-60 minutes
and you can expect to burn between 600 to 1200 calories, said Lougher. She said that in addition to weight loss, clients have experienced decreased anxiety, reduced body aches and muscle pains and enhanced sleep, which is critical for good health. Utilizing the body’s own thermogenic potential the FAR-infrared heat increases blood flow and cardiovascular conditioning, while acting as a natural detoxification tool. Upon entering the Driphouse you will be given a drip suit, which includes a fresh pair of sweatpants, a long sleeve shirt and socks. It is suggested to bring a water bottle to continue to hydrate before and after your session or purchase a rehydration juice at the facility to maintain
proper hydration levels. During your drip session you will be brought to your drip room and wrapped in the heated, weighted blankets which will produce deep tissue warmth throughout your body. Patrons are closely monitored to ensure ideal temperatures and comfort levels. There is a video monitor for your Netflix viewing pleasure, or you can bring your own playlist and listen to music while being lulled away from the cold Buffalo winter to a heat-infused spa-like realm. “The experience is really what you make it,” said Lougher. “Especially during times like this when there is increased stress, you can come to the Driphouse and escape the craziness of the world and be pampered for an hour.” A lifelong fitness advocate, Lougher said that especially during this time when our fitness routines have been altered we need to pay just as much attention to our recovery time as we do to our workout and training time. A drip house session can be used to speed up recovery of your muscles and joints and enhance overall health. The drip session aids in the removal of stored toxins, metabolizes fats and soothes tense muscles, Lougher said. So who can benefit from a drip session? Almost everyone, Lougher said. The typical client ranges in age from 18 to 65 and beyond with all fitness levels utilizing the warmth of the FAR-infrared heat to aid in everything from arthritis and insomnia to boosting immunity levels which is so important in our current environ-
On Waitlist for Liver Transplants, Women Die More Often Than Men
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railty may explain why women awaiting a liver transplant are more likely than men to become too sick for a transplant or die before transplantation, a new study suggests. Exercise and a healthier diet may help narrow that gender gap, researchers say. For the study, researchers followed more than 1,400 patients with cirrhosis awaiting a liver transplant from nine U.S. transplant centers. About 40% were women. Page 12
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The men, aged 49 to 63, were more likely to have chronic hepatitis C and alcoholic liver disease. The women, aged 50 to 63, were more likely to have non-alcoholic fatty liver disease and autoimmune cholestatic liver disease. Both groups had similar levels of disease severity. However, the women were significantly frailer than the men, the researchers noted. “This is the first time that frailty has been identified and quantified as a risk factor among women
with cirrhosis who are waiting for liver transplants,” said lead study author Jennifer Lai, a general and transplant hepatologist at the University of California, San Francisco. “The importance of this finding is that this gender gap can potentially be mitigated through early interventions as basic as providing adequate caloric and protein intake and engaging in regular exercise. Clinicians can advise women on diet and exercise interventions that build strength,” she said in a university
IN GOOD HEALTH – Buffalo & WNY’s Healthcare Newspaper • February 2021
ment. Many essential workers take advantage of a drip session to quiet their minds and relax in a meditative state. The list of benefits goes on. There are a few health issues that would prevent you from using the Driphouse, which includes some cardiovascular or respiratory conditions, pregnancy and current chemotherapy treatment. You should consult a physician prior to visiting the facility if you are unsure if a drip session is right for you. First time users are normally surprised at how clean and refreshed they feel after their hour-long session and describe it as a “clean sweat” which continues for hours after leaving the facility. Those that have visited in the past find it as beneficial for their mental health as for their physical health. “I come out of the drip session very relaxed,” said Lisa Panek, who visit the Driphouse when she needs to destress, “It’s great to get away from the world for an hour. I come out calm and with a fresh perspective on life. I feel like a new person.” While each drip bed is set up to be private, they can also be combined so that you can drip with up to eight friends which makes it perfect for a day out, and a perfect addition to your self-care routine. Walk-in appointments are not always possible so its suggested that you make your reservation by calling 716-633-2902. Check out their website for additional information and don’t forget to hydrate before you take the trip to drip.
news release. Why women were frailer was not explored, but it is generally attributed to physical inactivity, chronic liver failure and poor diet, Lai said. The women had a 36% greater risk of being too sick for a transplant or dying before one was available. In all, frailty accounted for 13% of the gender gap, the researchers said. “The waitlist mortality gender gap has persisted for 15 years across the entire U.S. liver transplant system and will continue to persist if it is not recognized,” Lai said. “Now that it has been recognized, it can be addressed.” The study was published Dec. 30 in JAMA Surgery.
Game On: Roundnet’s Popularity Grows in WNY
Four-person game can be played indoors or outside on either grass, sand or snow By Daniel Meyer
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everal years after Kan Jam swept the nation as the latest backyard lawn game testing participant’s athleticism and strategy, a new sport has recently emerged that has become a favorite of many across the country, including here in Western New York. Roundnet — also known as spikeball — is a net sport inspired primarily by concepts from volleyball. The game is played by four people using a two-on-two format. Based on the ability to play the game outdoors as well as inside, the sport continues to grow in popularity in this region because of the long-term vision and strategic leadership of the organization known as Western New York Roundnet. “We have a lot of fun in helping promote and of course play the game,” said Jake Heidman, who coordinates the organized activities of Western New York Roundnet. “We have a goal of growing the sport by bringing together existing players with anyone new and unfamiliar with this great game. We offer competitive leagues and challenging tournaments and we also have fun pickup games.” Western New York Roundnet was founded in 2018 by Karl Chodora and Chris Wahl. Their beginning days of just a handful of players gathering for Sunday pickup games has grown over the past few years into an organization that has multiple teams that compete in regional tournaments against players from all over New York as well as players from Pennsylvania, Ohio and Canada. “The interest is growing,” said Chodora. “It’s a fun sport and most people who play really develop a passion for it. The tournaments are so enjoyable. The skills involved and the fast-paced excitement of the game are incredible.” Unlike traditional team sports such as baseball, football, basketball and hockey, the game of roundnet offers athletes of various skill sets the ability to compete without having had to play the sport for several years. “It’s very versatile in that you can have experienced players easily play and break in some people who are brand new to the sport,” said Wahl. “It allows for community and teamwork and collaboration and inclusiveness and that’s why it is a tremendous game.”
How to play The two versus two competition begins when one player begins a point by serving the ball down onto the spikeball net so that it riccochets up at the two opposing players. The returning team then has up to three hits between them to return the ball back onto the net. The rally continues until one of the teams is unable to re-
turn the ball onto the net within their three touches. Games are usually played to 21 points, but tournament organizers can change that at their discretion. As is common with similar games such as ping-pong, tennis and volleyball, teams can claim a victory by two points. Points can be scored the following ways: – When the ball doesn’t hit the net within three hits during a possession – The ball hits the ground – The ball hits the rim of the net – The ball does not bounce off the net on a single bounce, also known as a double hit – There are two consecutive illegal serves – The player hits themselves or their teammate with the ball after it makes contact with the net
Community mindset For a younger player like Heidman, his interest in the game is motivated by two factors. “I instantly fell in love with the game,” said Heidman, who is 20 years old. “I helped start the club team at the University at Buffalo and just really enjoy introducing the game to different people. It’s incredible to watch it grow.” Heidman’s description of the simplicity of the game but also the complexity of playing it at a high skill level may be the ultimate summary of why the sport of roundnet is so attractive to many athletes. “It’s so very easy to pick up and is a sport that is very, very, very easy to learn but at the same time is very, very, very hard to master,” said Heidman. “You can pick up the basics in a relatively short period of time but being able to dominate isn’t nearly as simple.” “There’s something special about how roundnet brings people together,” said Wahl. “There is a community feel to it that is hard to describe but really unique and cherished by those who play a game they grow to love. It’s pretty awesome.”
The future is bright “I’d love to see people in Western New York play the sport more indoors on quality turf surfaces, especially during the winter months,” said the 38-year-old Wahl. “The sport is too much fun to be limited to only be played outdoors in warmer weather. We’ve got to be able to find a way to obtain time at affordable rates to play it inside when the weather outside is less than ideal.” The goal is to recruit more high school aged players and continue to introduce the sport to students who attend local schools in the hopes of having the game eventually be added to the curriculum of physical education classes. “I also want to see more female
players because this is a sport than can easily be played by men and women,” said Heidman. “There is no limit to playing because of age, gender or athletic ability. There is skill involved, but you don’t necessarily have to be the greatest athlete in the world to play roundnet.” “It’s more than just a backyard lawn game you play when you have a picnic or invite some people over to your house,” said the 38-year-old Chodora. “It’s a sport that contin-
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ues to grow, not only here in Western New York but throughout the country and across the globe. It’s eventually going to be mainstream and become a common game played all over.” To learn more about Western New York Roundnet, you can search “WesternNYroundnet” on Facebook or “wny_roundnet” on Instagram or visit their website at www.wnyroundnet.com.
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as well as divert individuals away from law enforcement involvement.” Q. How many calls does the 24-hour hotline receive monthly and how many calls does the kids helpline receive? A. “Crisis Services manages multiple 24-hour hotlines servicing various crisis situations including suicide, addiction, domestic violence, sexual violence and trauma. In 2020, Crisis Services responded to 77,197 crisis calls; 13,595 NYS Domestic & Sexual Violence Hotline and Erie County Domestic Violence Helpline calls; 350 Kids Helpline Calls; and 896 Addiction Hotline calls. Our advocate team provided intervention and support to 735 domestic and sexual violence victims at area hospitals.”
Get Fit in Middle Age to Boost Your Aging Brain
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oderate-to-vigorous physical activity in middle age and beyond might help keep your brain healthy, a new study suggests. “Our study suggests that getting at least an hour and 15 minutes of moderate-to-vigorous-intensity physical activity once a week or more during midlife may be important throughout your lifetime for promoting brain health and preserving the actual structure of your brain,” said study author Priya Palta, an epidemiologist at Columbia University Irving Medical Center in New York City. “In particular, engaging in more than 2.5 hours of physical activity per week in middle age was associated with fewer signs of brain disease,” she said. For the study, published online Jan. 6 in the journal Neurology, Palta’s team collected data on more than 1,600 people (average age: 53) who had five physical exams over 25 years and rated their weekly activity levels. Participants also had brain scans at the end of the study to measure their gray and white brain matter and areas of injury or disease in the brain. While the researchers only found a correlation, those participants who didn’t do moderate-to-vigorous intensity physical activity in midlife had 47% greater odds, on average, of developing small areas of brain damage compared to people who engaged in high levels of moderate-to-vigorous intensity physical activity. Higher activity levels were also associated with more intact white matter. White matter is tissue composed of nerve fibers that link different areas of the brain. “Our research suggests that physical activity may impact cognition in part through its effects on small vessels in the brain,” Palta said in a journal news release. “This study adds to the body of evidence showing that exercise with moderate-to-vigorous intensity is important for maintaining thinking skills throughout your lifetime.”
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with Jessica Pirro
CEO of nonprofit Crisis Services says one in five people in WNY lives with a mental illness, but doesn’t report because of stigma By Michael J. Billoni
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essica C. Pirro in 2014 became the first woman appointed chief executive officer of Crisis Services and has led the agency’s first responders in helping those impacted by crisis with specialty areas focused on suicide prevention, emergency mental health, trauma, domestic violence, rape and elder abuse. Under her leadership, the agency has seen significant staff and financial growth as its annual budget is $6.6 million with more than 100 employees. A licensed social worker, Pirro moved to Buffalo in 1997 to establish the domestic violence unit for Erie County under the direction of the Wellstone/Murray Amendment Family Violence Option before working at Crisis Services in 1999 as the supervising counselor of the advocate program, the state’s Department of Health Rape Crisis Center. She became a coordinator in 2001 and five years later was promoted to associate director charged with overseeing all agency operations 24 hours a day. Q: Since Suicide Prevention and Crisis Services began in 1968, has this pandemic led to an overwhelming number of inquiries for a 10-month period? A: “Crisis Services history proves we will always be here for our community 24-hours a day. As this pandemic unfolded, we saw our
role highlighted even more to help existing and new clients impacted by this community trauma causing uncertainty, loss and stress. Our mission is to be there for anyone in crisis. Our team’s commitment, dedication and determination made sure our presence was seamless while diligently working to guarantee safety for our crisis first responders. Through this COVID experience we saw an increase in attention and encouragement to care for our mental health. As a result, we saw an increase of new callers and clients reaching out for help during this uncertain time.” Q: Describe the Emergency Mobile Outreach Program? A: “Our Emergency Mobile Outreach Program has provided emergency mental health evaluations for individuals at risk of psychiatric hospitalization since it began in 1980. This service extends our crisis response from the call to our hotline to face to face response and intervention for our community members in a mental health crisis. Referrals are received from a variety of sources, including family members, mental health clinics, doctors or the individual themselves. In addition, 15% of referrals into this program come from law enforcement officers in Erie County. Our goal is to divert individuals from unnecessary presentations at local psychiatric emergency rooms,
IN GOOD HEALTH – Buffalo & WNY’s Healthcare Newspaper • February 2021
Q. Have the number of suicides increased in WNY and how young is it reaching? How concerned are you with these numbers? A. “Buffalo and Erie County has seen a decrease in suicide deaths over the last several years. As the suicide prevention, intervention and postvention provider accredited by the American Association of Suicidology, our crisis response is to help keep people safe and save lives. In addition to our hotline and Mobile Outreach services we manage the Suicide Prevention Coalition for Erie County and the Suicide Fatality Review Team Project to bring awareness, significant training on suicide and work to understand the stories of those we have lost to help prevent future suicide deaths.” Q. How big of an issue is domestic, elder and sexual violence in WNY? A. “Crisis Services receives calls daily from community members impacted by domestic violence, sexual violence and elder abuse. Our advocate department is the designate Rape Crisis Center for Erie County and NYS approved domestic violence service provider. It provides numerous services responding to those impacted by these traumatic incidents to help them find safety, help and hope. Intimate partner and gender violence is an issue in our community that is underreported due to shame, stigma and concern for safety.” Q. How can the public help decrease the number of suicides and domestic violence numbers in WNY? A. “If you see something, step up, reach out, offer support. We want to encourage at all times, but especially during the pandemic for the community of good neighbors, to continue being there for each other. Our trained emergency first responders are available 24/7 and we want the community to know that they are not alone.” Q. How much of an issue are the stigmas associated with mental illnesses? A. “One in five people in WNY live with a mental illness. Because of stigma it can take up to 10 years for someone to seek help. Our community works diligently to reduce stigma and increase access to help and support. Crisis Services is proud to be a founding member of the Anti-Stigma Coalition whose main purpose is to reduce stigma and increase access for help. For more information, visit its website: www.crisisservices.org
Golden Years
U.S. Life Expectancy Rose in 2019, But 2020 Reverse That Trend
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efore the COVID-19 pandemic hit, life expectancy in the United States rose in 2019 for the second year in a row, according to two new federal government reports. But don’t expect that good news to be repeated in 2020. The impact of COVID-19 and other ills are projected to boost the death rate by 15% to exceed 3 million deaths for the first time in U.S. history, according to the Associated Press. COVID-19 has already killed more than 400,000 Americans. According to the AP, preliminary data suggest a year-end total for 2020 of more than 3.2 million U.S. deaths. That would be a new record and represent 400,000 more deaths than were recorded for 2019. The news agency noted that the rise from 2019 to 2020 marks the biggest such jump since 1918-1919,
when deaths soared due a combination of fatalities from World War I and the Spanish Flu pandemic. That remains the record period for any one-year uptick in American deaths, with fatalities rising by 46%, the AP reported. This year’s big rise in death comes after a welcome rise in Americans’ life expectancy during 2019, according to new data for last year, issued in December by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. The agency reported a record number of deaths nationwide in 2019 — 2,854,838, up 15,633 from 2018, which is expected as population rises. But life expectancy actually rose by 0.1 year, so that the average American had a life expectancy in 2019 of 78.8 years. Put another way, the age-adjust-
ed death rate fell from 723.6 deaths per 100,000 population in 2018 to 715.2 in 2019. For 2019, the reports from the CDC’s National Center for Health Statistics showed that • Heart disease remained the No. 1 killer, claiming 659,041 lives • Cancer came in second with 599,601 deaths, and • Accidents/ unintentional injuries totaled 173,040 deaths. In some good news, suicides fell from 48,344 in 2018 to 47,511 in 2019,
Food Insecurity: Nearly 200,000 People Affected in WNY Nearly 200,000 people in a 10-county Western New York area can experience food insecurity. Seniors are particularly affected By Deborah Jeanne Sergeant
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hile many people have figured out ways to get what they need and do what they need to do during the pandemic, some older adults still feel the effects of food access challenges because of COVID-19. Within the 10 counties comprising the Western New York, Feeding America’s annual “Map the Meal Gap” shows a 10.9% food-insecurity rate, which affects more than 136,000 people. The organization estimates that figure will rise to 15.7%, affecting almost 200,000 individuals. The counties include Erie and Niagara all the way to Monroe (Rochester area). While many businesses and organizations have opened since last year’s quarantine period and the supply chains have become re-established, many older adults are still understandably hesitant to go near crowds, even if that means avoiding the grocery store. The frailty of older age, along with the age-related conditions many older adults experience, makes them more vulnerable to illnesses such as COVID-19. Staying away from crowds represents one strategy to limit exposure; however, it also makes obtaining food difficult. “Many seniors I counsel are definitely concerned about going to a store, especially since the uptick in COVID infection numbers locally,” said Mary Jo Parker, registered dieti-
tian and certified dietitian nutritionist, nutrition therapist and consultant in Western New York. “Some go less frequently and some continue to order for delivery or have turned to deliveries from supermarkets.” The pandemic has also exacerbated food insecurity for older adults
who had previously relied upon senior centers for meals, since most of those remain closed; however, some have begun offering grab-andgo meals and are delivering meals to clients’ homes. “A lot of those places have gone above and beyond,” said Justine
February 2021 •
and the suicide rate also declined, from 14.2 per 100,000 in 2018 to 13.9 in 2019. According to the American Federation for Suicide Prevention (AFSP), that›s the first decline in the suicide rate in two decades.
Become healthier and living longer in 2019.”
For more information on life expectancy, visit www.cdc.gov/nchs/ fastats/life-expectancy.htm
Hays, registered dietitian and owner of Justine Hays Nutrition in Amherst. “Even in places where they haven’t done home delivery, they may do personal home delivery.” COVID-19 has also affected food affordability for some older adults. Although older adults on fixed incomes saw no change to their income because of the pandemic, some who are still working to supplement their income may have lost work hours or experienced a furlough or permanent layoff. Or they may live with relatives who are out of work or struggling to get by with fewer hours. That means less money for the household to spend on food. FoodLink offers a mobile food pantry as well as supplying conventional food pantries for anyone in need of help. Since March, the organization has served 120,000 drive-through meals; 700,000 meals from the community kitchen and has maintained 36 curbside markets to help vulnerable people access affordable food. Its reach includes Allegany, Genesee, Livingston, Monroe, Ontario, Orleans, Seneca, Wayne, Wyoming and Yates counties. FeedMore WNY (formerly The Food Bank and Meals On Wheels, https://www.feedmorewny.org) stocks food pantries in Erie, Niagara, Cattaraugus and Chautauqua counties. The organization conveyed more than 16 million meals to clients’ homes and through the nearly 300 pantries and other hunger relief organizations in the area. Other organizations such as churches and senior centers have organized grab-and-go meals, too. This helps connect seniors who are concerned about COVID-19 with the food they need until congregant meals open. Most of these programs have still not fully opened. Anyone struggling to obtain food because of COVID-19 concerns or finances should call 211 to ask about the options available to help.
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Golden Years
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Things You Need to Know About Alzheimer’s
lzheimer’s disease occurs when changes in the brain methodically stunt and slow down memory and cognitive thinking. Most people associate the disease with those in their senior years. It often worsens with time. Alzheimer’s disease is the most common cause of dementia — a continuous decline in thinking, behavioral and social skills that disrupts a person’s ability to function independently. Alzheimer’s disease is the sixth leading cause of death in the United States, according to the National Institute of Aging. More than five million Americans live with the disease By 2050, the number is projected to rise to nearly 14 million. Physician Kinga Szigeti, the founding director of the Alzheimer’s Disease and Memory Disorders Center and the Translational Genomics Research Laboratory in the Jacobs School of Medicine and Biomedical Sciences, discusses five elements of the disease.
1.
There are different stages of Alzheimer’s— In the early stage of Alzheimer’s, a person may function independently, according to the Alzheimer’s Association. He or she may still drive, work and be part of social activities. Middle-stage Alzheimer’s is typically the longest stage and can last for many years. As the disease progresses, the person with Alzheimer’s will require a greater level of care. In the final stage of
the disease, dementia symptoms are severe. Individuals lose the ability to respond to their environment, to carry on a conversation and, eventually, to control movement. “This is another reason why it is essential to see the warning signs as early as possible and not simply push memory loss as a sign of getting older in life,” said Szigeti. Support is essential — 2. Because Alzheimer’s targets the mental health of an individual,
it can cause layers of difficulties for those battling through it. That is why it is important to have a close support system. Family support is essential because once someone receives the diagnosis, they will need people around them for encouragement and overall help, especially if the disease progresses rapidly. “Because this is a condition where your brain cells are slowly dying, you need family members and friends to be around to help and support you through this process,” said Szigeti.
3.
Alzheimer’s is not just a part of aging — Medical officials believe one of the reasons that Alzheimer’s is diagnosed later than it should is because people just see memory loss as part of getting older. They equate it in the same manner as arthritis, back pain or diminished eyesight.
“This is a myth that has been going on too long. Losing your memory is not just another sign of aging. People too often dismiss this sign as normal and then they don’t look to seek medical advice until it is too late,” said Szigeti. Possible blood test — For 4. years, medical experts have hoped to find new ways to predict
someone’s propensity to getting Alzheimer’s. Recently, researchers found that a combination of brain PET scans and spinal fluid tests can help discover the disease as many as two decades before it occurs. While that doesn’t mean anything is reversible, when early detection occurs it can help any medical treatment. Experts say the new discovery could lead to testing of new drugs and creative treatment options. While it is optimistic, it remains early, according to Szigeti. “There is a lot of good work and regard we have for this possibility being an effective way for early and accurate diagnosis of Alzheimer’s. We know we can definitely detect the effects with imaging scans and spinal fluid tests.” Difference between mental 5. health and Alzheimer’s — The importance of mental health cannot be understated in these challenging times with everything going on in the world. However, medical officials want to make sure people understand the distinction between mental health and Alzheimer’s disease. Szigeti said those with mental health sometimes succumb to depression, anxiety, nervousness and a host of other symptoms. While
Acupuncture: Does It Work and Is It Covered by Medicare?
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any studies over the years — funded by the National Institutes of Health — have found acupuncture to be very effective in easing pain and helful with a variety of other ailments too. Here’s what you should know.
Acupuncture Treatment
First used in China more than 2,000 years ago, acupuncture has become increasingly popular in the United States over the past decade. While acupuncture isn’t a cureall treatment, it is a safe, drug-free option for relieving many different types of pain, including low back pain, neck pain, osteoarthritis, migraine headaches, fibromyalgia, postoperative pain, tennis elbow, carpel tunnel syndrome, dental pain and more. Studies have also shown that it can be helpful in treating asthma, depression, digestive disorders, menopause symptoms like hot flashes, and nausea caused by chemotherapy or anesthesia. Exactly how or why acupuncture works isn’t fully understood, but it’s based on the traditional Eastern theory that vital energy flows through Page 16
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pathways in the body, and when any of these pathways get blocked, pain and illness result. Acupuncture unblocks the pathways to restore health. However, today most Western practitioners believe that acupuncture works because it stimulates the nerves causing the release of endorphins, which are the body’s natural painkiller hormones. It’s also shown to increase blood circulation, decrease inflammation and stimulate the immune system.
What to Expect
During acupuncture, practitioners stimulate specific points on the body by inserting thin needles through the skin. The needles are solid, sterile and disposable (used only once), and as thin as a cat’s whisker. The number of needles used for each treatment can vary anywhere from a few, up to a dozen or more. And where the needles are actually stuck depends on the condition being treated, but they are typically inserted about a quarter-inch to one-inch deep and are left in place for about 20 minutes. After placement, the needles are sometimes twirled or manipulated, or stimulated with elec-
tricity or heat. You may feel a brief, sharp sensation when the needle is inserted, but generally it’s not painful. Once the needle is in place, however, you may feel a tingling sensation, numbness, mild pressure or warmth. How many treatments you’ll need will depend on the severity of your condition — 12 treatments done weekly or biweekly is very common. It’s also important to know that acupuncture can be used in conjunction with other conventional medical treatments, or by itself.
Cost and Coverage
The cost per treatment typically runs anywhere from $40 to $150, depending on where you are in the country and what style of treatment you are receiving. Today, an increasing number of private insurance plans, including some Medicare Advantage plans, and policies provided by employers offer some type of acupuncture coverage. You’ll also be happy to know that in January 2020, the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services announced that original Medicare will now cover up to 12 acupunc-
IN GOOD HEALTH – Buffalo & WNY’s Healthcare Newspaper • February 2021
Physician Kinga Szigeti. she believes it is essential to take care of yourself once you see these signs occur, the symptoms are starkly different for Alzheimer’s and dementia. One of the key indicators of Alzheimer’s is memory loss. While we all have moments of forgetfulness, what makes this different is the recurring aspects along with the sudden decrease of short-term memory. “You could be very happy and feel like you have a high quality of life without recognizing that you have Alzheimer’s,” said Szigeti. “Depression isn’t necessarily a symptom. But with both mental health and Alzheimer’s, people have coping mechanisms to get them through and with both you can’t handle the situation alone.”
ture sessions in 90 days for patients with chronic lower back pain. Eight additional sessions can be added if patients show improvement. But in order to receive Medicare coverage, you must use a licensed acupuncturist who is supervised by a medical doctor, physician assistant or nurse practitioner trained in acupuncture, who will need to process the acupuncture claim. Currently, licensed acupuncturists can’t directly bill Medicare. To find an acupuncturist in your area ask your doctor for a referral, or you can do a search online. Two good resources are the National Certification Commission for Acupuncture and Oriental Medicine (nccaom.org), and the American Academy of Medical Acupuncturists (medicalacupuncture.org), which offers a directory of MDs and DOs who are certified to practice acupuncture.
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What Caregivers Should Know About Medicare I am the caregiver for my 81-year-old mother, who recently fell and broke her hip, and have a lot of questions about how original Medicare works and what it covers. Where can I get some help understanding this program?
Overwhelmed Caregiver
Dear Caregiver,
Excellent question! Having a working knowledge of Medicare can help you take full advantage of the coverage and services it provides to ensure your mom receives the best care possible. Here’s what you should know.
Medicare Assistance
A good starting point to get familiar with Medicare is the official “Medicare & You” handbook that overviews the program. It’s mailed to all beneficiaries every fall and provides an up-to-date description of all services and benefits. You can also see it online at Medicare.gov/medicare-and-you. If you have a particular question, you can call and visit with a Medicare customer service representative at 800-633-4227. Medicare also works closely with State Health Insurance Assistance Programs (SHIP) to provide free health insurance counseling. To find a SHIP counselor in your area visit ShiptaCenter.org or call 877-839-2675. Caregivers also find Medicare’s secure website — MyMedicare.gov — especially useful. After setting up a personal account for your mom, you can view the details of her coverage, track recent health care claims and keep up to date on the preventive services she qualifies for.
Compare Tools
Medicare can also help you locate the right health care providers for your mother. At Medicare. gov/care-compare you can find and compare doctors, hospitals, home health agencies, dialysis facilities, inpatient rehab facilities, long-term care hospitals and nursing homes in your mom’s area.
What Medicare Covers
Medicare can reduce many outof-pocket medical expenses your mom incurs, but it doesn’t cover everything. Understanding what Medicare does and doesn’t cover can save you time and spare you frustration when navigating the caregiving maze. Here are some key points for caregivers: Besides basic hospital and physician services (which includes telehealth services) and optional
• Youth Services Counselor: High School
• Teacher I II: A Child Development Associate
• Program Coordinator: Associates degree,
• Substitute Teacher: High School diploma
• Youth Services Site Coordinator & Program Coordinator: 1 or more
in Early Childhood Education with 2-3 years’ experience teaching preschool age children.
By Jim Miller
Dear Savvy Senior,
• Teacher III: Bachelors or Associates degree
(CDA) in infant development completed within one year from hire date is required (paid for by CAO). This credential requires a GED/High School Diploma prerequisite.
prescription drug benefits, Medicare covers home health care too. To qualify, your mom must be homebound, under a physician’s care and in need of part-time skilled nursing care or rehabilitative services like physical therapy. Medicare also helps pay for oxygen, catheters and other medical supplies that a doctor prescribes for home use. The same is true for medically necessary equipment like oxygen machines, wheelchairs and walkers. In addition, Medicare covers skilled care in a nursing home for limited periods — up to 100 days — following hospital stays. But it doesn’t cover long-term stays. Patients who need custodial care (room and board) must pay out of pocket unless they’re eligible for Medicaid or have private long-term care insurance. Medicare pays for hospice care too, for someone with a terminal illness whose doctor expects to live six months or less. The hospice benefit also includes brief periods of respite care at a hospice facility, hospital or nursing home to give the patient’s caregivers an occasional rest. Besides long-term nursing home stays, original Medicare typically doesn’t cover regular dental care or dentures, regular eye exams or eyeglasses, and hearing exams and hearing aids. Likewise, it won’t pay for nonemergency ambulance trips unless a doctor certifies they’re medically necessary. To find out what Medicare covers, visit Medicare.gov/coverage and type in the test, item or service you have questions about, or download the Medicare “What’s covered” app in either the App Store or Google Play.
Financial Assistance
If your mom lives on a limited income, you should check whether she qualifies for help with prescription drug costs or with other Medicare-related premiums, deductibles and copayments. For help with drug costs, visit SSA.gov/prescriptionhelp or contact Social Security at 800-772-1213 and ask about the “Extra Help Program.” For help with other Medicare costs, go to Medicare.gov or call 800-6334227 and ask about the “Medicare Savings Programs.” Send your senior questions to: Savvy Senior, P.O. Box 5443, Norman, OK 73070, or visit SavvySenior. org. Jim Miller is a contributor to the NBC Today show and author of “The Savvy Senior” book.
or GED. Previous Head Start experience preferred.
• Principal: Bachelor’s Degree in Early
childhood or Child Development with 3 yrs. teaching exp. OR Associates degree with 5 years teaching experience.
• Certified Teachers: Part Time evening
Diploma with one-year experience working with children. minimum 3 yrs. exp. supervising senior and youth sports activities (Pratt Community Center). MUST have valid NYS Driver’s
license.
of the following: Associates degree, Elementary Education, NYS Children’s Program credential, School Age Child Care credential, Preferred Bachelor’s degree. 2 yrs. exp. working with children, at least 1 yr. supervisory exp. in a childcare program.
• Maintenance Associate: Exp. in janitorial
opportunities. BS in Elementary or Secondary Education with one-year exp. working with school age children. NYS Teacher’s Certification.
work, ability to learn handyman skills that would involve carpentry and plumbing. High School diploma or GED required.
• HR Benefits Specialist: Associates Degree,
Bachelors preferred with 5 years’ experience in Benefits Administration.
• Nutrition Associate: Good knowledge
of the methods to preparing and cooking foods in large quantities and the health and safety involved. High School diploma or GED required.
Visit us at www.caowny.org to learn more about the requirements and to complete an online application.
NESTLED IN THE HEART OF WILLIAMSVILLE, STILL WNY’S MOST AFFORDABLE ASSISTED LIVING AND MEMORY CARE • Three Celebrating home-cooked meals Our 13th Anniversary!! daily and snacks • • Three home-cooked meals Beautiful, full-sized Chapel daily and services snacks with daily • • Beautiful, full-sized Chapel Personally tailored Care with daily services Services • Personally tailored Care • Services Stimulating social, educational and • Stimulating social, recreational activities educational and • recreational Housekeepingactivities and laundry Beauty/barber salon • • Housekeeping and laundry • • Beauty/barber salon Transportation services Residents & staff would like • • Transportation services to thank all of the families & Soda Shop open 24 hours friends of Park Creek for all a day Shop open 24/7 • Soda of their love & support. • • Generous common areas Generous common areas
Happy Holidays from the Residents and Staff at Park Creek.
410 Mill St. • Williamsville, NY 14221 • 632-3000
HELP WANTED Like the newspaper you’re reading? Want to help us sell advertising? In Good Health—Buffalo’s Healthcare Newspaper is a niche publication with a huge distribution in Western New York. In print and online, it offers unique content and reach. We’re now selecting a dynamic, take-charge person with sales experience to help us sell ads for the publication. Work on a part-time basis from home. Candidate has to be familiar with the healthcare industry. Interested? Please send an email with your resume to BuffaloHealthNews@gmail.com
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Why Visit a Hearing Specialist? Expert says some people with hearing loss won’t admit the problem and wait years to look for treatment By Deborah Jeanne Sergeant
S
pecialists in the ears and hearing care for not only the actual function of hearing but may also deal with other issues and concerns such balance. Numerous conditions can affect hearing. “A really good audiologist will test a patient in the early stages of hearing loss,” said Lauren Aramini, audiologist and co-owner of Acura Audiology, PLLC in Williamsville, Cheektowaga and Lockport. “It’s our due diligence to refer you to professionals if medically correctible.” Diminished hearing may not mean a hearing aid is the answer. Sometimes, the cause is temporary or treatable. In some cases, a hearing aid may present the best way to solve the problem.
For people with identified hearing loss, it may seem “too late” to bother with an audiologist. Once the damage is done, it’s done; however, Jill Bernstein, audiologist with Hearing Evaluation Services of Buffalo, said that preserving the existing hearing is vital. “Even if you don’t perceive those air pressure changes of sound because of hearing loss, it can continue to cause damage,” Bernstein said. “If you lose some hearing, it’s so important to preserve the residual hearing you have.” She added that if hearing is different side to side, there is constant ringing, buzzing or humming, or if a person has any trouble understanding what people say, it is likely a sign
Aging in Place
More accidents and injuries happen in the bathroom than any other room in the house. How to make bathrooms safer and easier to use
By Jim Miller
B
ecause more accidents and injuries happen in the bathroom than any other room in the house, this is a very important room to modify, especially for seniors with mobility or balance problems. Depending on your parents’ needs and budget, here are some simple tips and product recommendations that can make their bathroom safer and easier to use. n Floor: To avoid slipping, a simple fix is to get non-skid bath rugs for the floors. Or if you want to put in a new floor get slip-resistant tiles, rubber or vinyl flooring, or install wall-to-wall carpeting. n Lights: Good lighting is also
very important, so install the highest wattage bulbs allowed for the bathroom fixtures and get a plug-in nightlight that automatically turns on when the room gets dark. n Bathtub/shower: To make bathing safer, purchase a rubber suction-grip mat, or put down adhesive nonskid tape on the tub/shower floor. And have a carpenter install grab bars in and around the tub/ shower for support. If your parents use a shower curtain, install a screw or bolt-mounted curtain rod, versus a tension-mounted rod, so that if she loses her balance and grabs the shower curtain the rod won’t spring loose.
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of hearing loss. “We have management techniques, but there’s no cure,” Bernstein said. “People with bothersome tinnitus are best served if they see someone who specializes in it.” Unfortunately, those whose hearing gradually diminishes don’t notice or don’t want to admit the problem for a long time. The loss occurs so slowly that many people might not notice. What draws many people to seek treatment for hearing loss is the discomfort of those around them who do not want the television so loud or become weary of repeating themselves. While primary care physicians can provide basic screening, an audiologist possesses a wider array of testing capabilities for hearing issues. Audiologists can help people with balance issues, as their training includes both how the ears contribute to hearing and to balance. Audiologists also help patients preserve their hearing with custom ear plugs, including designs especially suited for hunters and musicians who need to clearly hear for their pursuits but can also experience exposure to loud sounds. “We make custom plugs that
purchase toilet safety rails that sit on each side of the seat for support. Or you can install a new ADA compliant “comfort height” toilet that is 16 to 19 inches high. n Faucets: If your mom or dad has twist handles on the sink, bathtub or shower faucets, consider replacing them with lever handle faucets or with a touch, motion or digital smart faucet. They’re easier to operate, especially if she has hand arthritis or gripping problems. Also note that it only takes 130-degree water to scald someone, so turn the hot water heater down to 120 degrees. n Doorway: If your mom or dad needs a wider bathroom entrance to accommodate a walker or wheelchair, an inexpensive solution is to install some swing clear offset hinges on the door which will expand the doorway an additional two inches. n Emergency assistance: As a safety precaution, you should also consider purchasing a voice-enabled medical alert system like Get Safe (GetSafe.com) for her bathroom. This device would let her call for help by simple voice command, or by pushing a button or pulling a cord. You can find all of these suggested products at either medical supply stores, pharmacies, big-box stores, home improvement stores, hardware and plumbing supply stores, as well as online. estern ew ork
For easier access and safer bathing, consider getting a shower or bathtub chair so your parents can bathe from a seated position. In addition, you should also have a handheld, adjustable-height showerhead installed that makes chair bathing easier. If your mom or dad has the budget for it, another good option is to install a curb-less shower or a walk-in-bathtub. Curb-less showers have no threshold to step over, and come with a built-in seat, grab bars, slip resistant floors and an adjustable handheld showerhead. While walkin tubs have a door in front that provides a much lower threshold to step over than a standard tub. They also have a built-in seat, handrails and a slip resistant bottom, and some have therapeutic features like whirlpool water jets or bubble massage air jets. Curb-less showers and walk-intubs run anywhere between $2,500 and $10,000 installed. n Toilet: Most standard toilets are around 15 inches high and can be an issue for taller seniors with arthritis, back, hip or knee problems. If your mom has trouble getting on or off the toilet, a simple solution is to purchase a raised toilet seat that clamps to the toilet bowl, and/or
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have vents so you can hear while walking but as soon as an impulse sound goes off, they shut,” said Ashley Eisen Graney, audiologist with Buffalo Hearing & Speech Center. “They amplify the sound around you and shut off when the gun fires. We also make custom inner ear monitors for musicians. The more custom the piece, the better off you are.” For those best treated with hearing aids, the performance and capabilities of current instruments over instruments of even a decade ago have dramatically improved. “If it will keep you mentally, socially and physically happy and healthier for longer, it’s worth it,” Graney said. “Hearing aids don’t look like hearing aids anymore. It looks and works like an Airpod. Manufacturers have started making back-of-the-ear hearing aids because everyone’s wearing things on their ears.” Like eyeglasses, some aids come in fashion colors and designs, while others appear more discreet. Modern hearing aids use Bluetooth to stream phone calls and movies to the user and can come with features like fall detection for frail patients.
Editor & Publisher: Wagner Dotto • Associate Editor: Lou Sorendo • Writers: Deborah J. Sergeant, Jim Miller, Gwenn Voelckers, Anne Palumbo, Chris Motola, George W. Chapman, Michael J. Billoni, Catherine Miller, Jana Eisenberg, Jenna Schifferle, Julie Halm, Daniel Meyer • Advertising: Anne Westcott, Amy Gagliano Layout & Design: Dylon Clew-Thomas • Office Manager: Nancy Niet No material may be reproduced in whole or in part from this publication without the express written permission of the publisher. The information in this publication is intended to complement—not to take the place of—the recommendations of your health provider. Consult your physician before making major changes in your lifestyle or health care regimen.
IN GOOD HEALTH – Buffalo & WNY’s Healthcare Newspaper • February 2021
H ealth News ECMC recognized for its bariatric surgery services Erie County Medical Center (ECMC) Corporation has been recognized by BlueCross BlueShield of Western New York with a Blue Distinction Centers+ for Bariatric Surgery designation, as part of the Blue Distinction Specialty Care program. Blue Distinction Centers are nationally designated healthcare facilities that show a commitment to delivering high quality patient safety and better health outcomes, based on objective measures that were developed with input from the medical community and leading accreditation and quality organizations. The Blue Distinction Centers for Bariatric Surgery program provides a full range of bariatric surgery care, including surgical care, post-operative care, outpatient follow-up care and patient education. “ECMC has become a leader in bariatric surgery, and we appreciate this recognition of the excellent care provided to our patients by our physicians, nurses and entire bariatric care team,” said ECMCC President and CEO Thomas J. Quatroche Jr., Ph.D. To receive a Blue Distinction Centers+ for Bariatric Surgery designation, a healthcare facility must demonstrate success in meeting patient safety measures as well as bariatric-specific quality measures, including complication and readmission rate for laparoscopic procedures in sleeve gastrectomy, gastric bypass, and adjustable gastric band. All designated facilities must also be nationally accredited at both the facility and bariatric program-specific levels, as well as demonstrated cost-efficiency compared to its peers. Facilities designated as Blue Distinction Centers+
are on average 20 percent more cost-efficient in an episode of care compared to other facilities. Quality is key: only those health care facilities that first meet Blue Distinction’s nationally-established, objective quality measures will be considered for designation as a Blue Distinction Center+.
Population Health Collaborative receives $225,000 grant Population Health Collaborative, a Buffalo-based nonprofit organization, recently received a $225,000 grant from Health Research, Inc. and New York State Department of Health. The organization, which focuses on creating connections for Western New York health, will work with these funds to educate on the importance of sun safety with the end goal of community organizations adopting sun safety policies and practices. The grant will also focus on community education interventions to enhance support for the HPV vaccine as cancer prevention. The scope of this work will be conducted in Erie and Niagara counties, through the fall of 2021. “We can prevent loss of life and suffering through some pretty straightforward policy, systems and environmental changes,” said John Craik, Population Health Collaborative’s executive director. He noted that the types of cancer targeted through this initiative are preventable or at least reduceable. “At the end of the day we will work with a large number of partners to make those changes to save lives, and that’s an exciting prospect,” he added For more information on this
project please contact Karen Hall, program director, at khall@phcwny. org.
Dr. Luczkiewicz promoted to hospice medical director Physician Debra Luczkiewicz has recently been promoted to the role of hospice medical director at Hospice & Palliative Care Buffalo. She has been with the hospice for 11 years, a period in which she served in various capacities, including as edLuczkiewicz ucator. During the pandemic, she has also been an integral partner to clinical operations the hospice developed protocols and processes. “Dr. Luczkiewicz epitomizes the best of care at the bedside and for family members,” reads a hospice news release. “The longer I work here, the more excited and proud I am to see people within the organization grow into larger roles and leaders,” said physician Christopher Kerr, Hospice & Palliative Care Buffalo CEO. “Dr. Luczkiewicz is a perfect example of how our culture welcomes and creates opportunities for people to grow and to be promoted.” Luczkiewicz succeeds physician Megan Farrell, who will remain in the organization while gradually transitioning toward retirement over the next several years.
BlueCross BlueShield Distributes Thousands of PPE to Small Businesses Effort is part of ongoing community support during pandemic
I
n response to continuing needs of businesses impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic, BlueCross BlueShield of Western New York distributed 10,000 personal protective equipment (PPE) items to essential small businesses in Western New York. Nearly 200 small local businesses received kits that include face masks, hand sanitizers and gaiter face coverings for their employees. Several versions of workplace signage with proper COVID-19 safety precautions, provided by The Buffalo Sabres and The Buffalo Niagara Partnership, are also included in the kits. “BlueCross BlueShield understands the severe impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on our local economy, especially small business owners,” said Julie R. Snyder, senior vice president, chief marketing and communications officer at BlueCross BlueShield of Western New York. “As a community-based health plan that has been serving the region’s employers for over 85 years, Blue-
Cross BlueShield is proud to step in and help support our local business community during these trying times.” As part of its ongoing efforts to support the community during the pandemic, BlueCross BlueShield also recently partnered with The Buffalo Sabres to distribute 10,000 PPE kits, containing a mask and hand sanitizer, to local teachers and students throughout Western New York. Plus, through a partnership with the Ralph C. Wilson Jr, Foundation, The Teacher’s Desk and Project Play WNY, the local plan distributed 12,000 PlayPacks including playground ball, two tennis balls, jump ropes, chalk and a “Free Play”
deck of cards, featuring healthy activity challenges, to 43 Buffalo Public Schools in efforts to help keep students active, especially now, as students continue to adapt to remote learning. As a community-based health plan, BlueCross BlueShield’s Blue Fund donated $1 million to the WNY COVID-19 Response Fund to address the most critical and immediate community needs. The nonprofit health plan also recently announced it distributed $2.1 million in relief for nearly 150 local primary care provider groups through its COVID-19 Provider Relief Program. This is in addition to an $80,000 donation to 16 local organizations recovering from the COVID-19 pandemic, plus a donation of five tons of food for FeedMore WNY by BlueCross BlueShield employees. To learn more about BlueCross BlueShield’s response to the COVID-19 pandemic, visit www. bcbswny.com/coronavirus.
February 2021 •
Luczkiewicz is a graduate of the SUNY at Buffalo School of Medicine, is board certified in both family medicine and hospice and palliative medicine, and formerly worked as a clinical assistant professor in the department of family medicine at UB, teaching students, residents and fellows while maintaining a private practice in Amherst. She is originally from St. Louis, Missouri, but has made Western New York her home for many years, residing in Amherst with her husband Ken. Her two children live in Boston and the New York City area, and she is looking forward to the arrival of her first grandchild this spring.
Allergy/immunology at UBMD Pediatrics recognized The division of allergy/Immunology at UBMD Pediatrics has been named a Clinical Care Center of Distinction in the Food Allergy Research & Education (FARE) Clinical Network. FARE is the world’s leading food allergy advocacy organization and the largest private funder of food allergy research. Its clinical network is a coalition of top food allergy centers and sets the standard for breakthrough food allergy research and clinical care across the U.S. “We are honored to receive the designation of a Clinical Care Center of Distinction in the FARE Clinical Network,” said physician Heather Lehman, division chief of allergy/ immunology and rheumatology at UBMD Pediatrics and clinical associate professor of pediatrics at the University at Buffalo. “Our goal has always been to provide excellent care for the prevention, diagnosis and treatment of food allergies to the children of Western New York. Joining the FARE Clinical Network gives us the opportunity to ensure that state-of-the-art food allergy care and research is accessible to our patients and the community,” said Lehman. The designation indicates that FARE recognizes the division of allergy/immunology as a provider of exceptional patient care and community education while generating real-world data through daily clinical care. Physician Steven Lipshultz, president of UBMD Pediatrics and chairman of pediatrics in the Jacobs School of Medicine and Biomedical Sciences at UB, and pediatric chief-of service at Kaleida Health, said “This recognition reaffirms our dedication, commitment, and focus on achieving the best outcomes for children with food allergies. Designation from the Food Allergy Research and Education Clinical Network as a Clinical Care Center of Distinction allows us to provide even more cutting-edge treatments for our patients. Our center is a place of life and hope, where our physicians are hard at work refining disease treatments and creating novel therapies for you. Our mission is your health.”
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Our dedicated frontline heroes are here for you.
©2020 ECMC
Our ECMC family is incredibly grateful for the doctors, nurses, specialists, and staff who are working tirelessly to care for our community with undeterred dedication. Amid the challenges of the pandemic, you are fighting COVID-19 head-on. Even when we’re through this chapter, your courage and sacrifices will always inspire our community.
The difference between healthcare and true care ECMC.edu
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IN GOOD HEALTH – Buffalo & WNY’s Healthcare Newspaper • February 2021