Wny january 2016

in good Flu? What Flu?

January 2016 • Issue 15

bfohealth.com

So far, number of cases has been very low, according to experts.

When will the flu season start?

Hard to predict, they say

priceless

Buffalo & WNY’s Healthcare Newspaper

Erie County Exec

Community Health a Priority Newly-re-elected, Mark C. Poloncarz wants to tackle poverty, community health

Talking shop with David Pierce, MD, chief medical officer at Millard Fillmore Suburban Hospital

Why Premiums Keep Going Up

Soup Can Aid in Weight Loss

And why you’ll have to pay a higher penalty If you don’t have health insurance in 2016

Soup contains no ‘magical’ properties that cause weight loss but it can replace higher calorie choices

Living Alone: Making the Best of 2016

Turmeric Why you should add this Indian spice to your diet

Plus:Choosing Choosinga aplan plannot notasaseasy easyasasininthe thepast past Plus: ­

Stress Levels Doctor Burnout Rates on the Rise January 2016 •

U.S. Abortion Rate Hits Record Low: CDC

IN GOOD HEALTH – Buffalo & WNY’s Healthcare Newspaper

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When Will Flu Season Start?

The start of flu season is hard to predict. So far, number of cases has been very low

T

here's not much flu going around in the United States so far this season, according to a new report released in mid December by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

Between Oct. 4 and Nov. 28, the percentage of people visiting the doctor who were there because of a flulike illness was just 1.9 percent, which is actually slightly lower than the percentage typically seen in the "off season," or the summer months, the report said.

And during the last week of November, 44 states reported minimal flu activity (the level of activity that's normal for the off season), while just two states (Oklahoma and South Carolina) reported increased, or moderate flu activity. No states reported high flu activity. "[Flu] activity is still really low," said Lynnette Brammer, an epidemiologist in the

CDC's influenza division. "There are multiple ways that we measure flu activity ... [and] any of that data that you look at, there's just not a lot going on flu-wise," Brammer said.

And the start of flu season is hard to predict, Brammer said.

Last year, flu activity started to rise in late November and peaked in December. Sometimes, flu outbreaks can start as early as October, while in other years, flu activity has not increased until February.

"You will start to see it begin to increase, but it's really hard to predict when it's just going to really kick in and take off," Brammer said.

Doctor Burnout Rates on the Rise

B

urnout is a growing problem among American doctors, a new study indicates.

Analyzing the results of 2011 and 2014 surveys of more than 6,000 doctors across the U.S., researchers found that the number who met the criteria for burnout rose from 45 percent to 54 percent over that time.

Burnout rates rose in nearly all specialties, but the highest rates of burnout were among those in general internal medicine, family medicine and emergency medicine. There was no increase in work hours or in rates of depression among doctors.

Doctors' satisfaction with worklife balance fell between the two surveys, according to the study, which was published Dec. 1 in the journal Mayo Clinic Proceedings and conducted by Mayo Clinic researchers in partnership with the American Medical Association.

"Burnout manifests as emotional exhaustion, loss of meaning in work, and feelings of ineffectiveness," study author, physician Tait Shanafelt, said in a Mayo news release.

"What we found is that more physicians in almost every specialty are feeling this way, and that's not good for them, their families, the medical profession or patients."

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IN GOOD HEALTH – Buffalo & WNY’s Healthcare Newspaper • January 2016

Children Born to Women After Bariatric Surgery at Higher Risk — Weight-loss surgery can boost

fertility in women and reduce the risk of pregnancy complications that commonly occur in obese women. However, a new study in rats suggests that weight-loss surgery alters mothers’ hormone and chemical balance, which harms offspring during gestation and later in life.

Weekday Sleep Changes May Raise Risk of Diabetes, Heart Disease — Monday mornings could be harmful to your health. Even routine sleep changes such as waking up early for work during the week may raise the risk of developing metabolic problems such as diabetes and heart disease, according to a new study published in the Endocrine Society’s Journal of Clinical Endocrinology & Metabolism.

Viagra Improves Insulin Sensitivity in People at Risk for Diabetes — The medication sildenafil — sold under Viagra and other trade names — improves insulin sensitivity in people with prediabetes and also reduces a biological marker that signals heightened risk of kidney and heart disease, according to an article in the Endocrine Society’s Journal of Clinical Endocrinology & Metabolism.

U.S. Abortion Rate Hits Record Low

Greater use of more effective birth control may help explain trend, expert says

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he U.S. abortion rate has declined by more than one-third over the past two decades to a record low, federal officials reported Friday.

Abortions fell 35 percent between 1990 and 2010, reaching 17.7 procedures per 1,000 women aged 15 to 44, said report lead author Sally Curtin, a statistician for the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's National Center for Health Statistics.

That's the lowest abortion rate since the CDC began tracking the procedure in 1976, Curtin said.

"Abortion has been on a nearly steady decline since the rate peaked in 1980," she said.

The pregnancy rate also hit an all-time low in 2010, according to the report.

Many factors likely contribute to the reduction in abortions, but increased use of highly effective birth control is one of the most important trends, said report co-author Kathryn Kost, principal research scientist at the Guttmacher Institute, a sexual and reproductive health think-tank.

Pregnancy rates have been declining across the board for women under age 30, according to the CDC report. That includes a 67 percent reduction for teens 14 or younger and a 50 percent reduction for teens 15 to 19.

At the same time, pregnancy rates increased for women 30 and older between 1990 and 2010, suggesting that men and women are using effective contraception and choosing to start families later in life, Kost said.

"Across the states, the rate of unintended pregnancy is going down," Kost said. "That suggests that fewer women are getting pregnant when they don't want to.

It's happening across the board, and affects the birth rate and the abortion rate."

January 2016 •

IN GOOD HEALTH – Buffalo & WNY’s Healthcare Newspaper

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Transplanted Face May Age Prematurely Transplanted faces seem to age faster than normal, a new study suggests.

More than 30 face transplants have been performed worldwide, but there is little information about recipients’ long-term outcomes, the researchers said.

In this study, three fullface transplant patients were followed for three years. They had a significant decrease in facial volume that resembled premature aging, said physician Bohdan Pomahac, of Brigham and Women’s Hospital and Harvard Medical School, both in Boston.

This change in appearance was the result of bone and muscle loss rather than the reduced facial fat or skin thickness that occurs in normal aging of the face, said Pomahac, who in 2011 led the first full-face transplant in the United States.

The study was published online Dec. 3 in the American Journal of Transplantation.

The findings show the need to find ways to prevent, delay or reverse muscle and bone loss in face transplant patients, Pomahac said.

Cornell: Private Hospital Rooms Cut Infection In the war against infections, constructing single-patient rooms — rather than sick-bay style, multi-patient rooms — reduces hospital-acquired infections among patients.

A new Cornell-led study finds that the purported high building costs of private hospital rooms are more than offset by the financial benefits of keeping patients safer from infection.

“We showed that although single-patient rooms are more costly to build and operate, they can result in substantial savings compared with open-bay rooms — all of this by avoiding costs associated with hospital-acquired infections,” said Hessam Sadatsafavi, Cornell postdoctoral researcher and lead author of a recent paper in the Journal of Critical Care.

Parkinson Drug May Prevent and Delay AMD RPB-supported researchers have made a significant discovery that might lead to the delay or prevention of the most common cause of blindness in the elderly: age-related macular degeneration (AMD). Patients who take the drug L-DOPA (for Parkinson disease, restless legs or other movement disorders) are significantly less likely to develop AMD and, if they do, it is at a significantly later age.

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Meet

Your Doctor

By Chris Motola

David L. Pierce, M.D. ER doc who serves as chief medical officer at Millard Fillmore Suburban talks about his dual role and how he draws strength from each Q: What does your administrative role entail?

A: I'd say the largest part of my job is really quality and process improvement and physician relationships. I'll be very honest in saying that this job entails far more than I ever thought it would. Beyond the quality, patient safety, the patient experience aspect, a lot of my day is spent trying to improve relationships and build bridges between physician service lines, support staff and everyone working in the hospital. The overreaching goal of making it a better facility to get patient care.

It's a very complex environment, but there are a lot of rewards that go along with it. We have a lot of good people here who are determined to make a difference, and every day we try to get better so that we can take care of the community.

Q: How much time are you able to put into clinical duties?

A: I work one day clinically each week. Tuesdays I'm in the emergency department for the whole day, clinically. Having said that, the administrative job is 24/7. So if I try to put it into percentages, the administrative role would be something like 150 percent. But I don't want to give up the clinical side. I love my job as a clinician. It also helps me to keep perspective when I'm doing my administrative role.

Q: How do your two roles inform each other?

A: I think one of the greatest advantages of continuing to work clinically is that it reminds me how difficult and challenging clinical medicine can be, whereas the decisions can seem very straightforward on the administrative side, which is based on quality control measurements, or outcomes, or

finances. As a clinician you understand some of the barriers far better than if you just sat at a meeting and made decisions. It also allows me to keep up relationships with the clinical staff. Medicine is about trust and confidence. I think if I stopped working clinically, I'd lose a lot of the confidence of the people that I work with. And I would never want to give up clinical medicine. I trained a long time to be able to do it, and I love doing it. This position was more of an opportunity to try to make, maybe, a bigger impact on the community.

Q: Has the ACA taken any pressure off your emergency department?

A: Honestly, no. From a volume standpoint, it's been steadily increasing at Suburban. The way the law is structured tries to move more things into urgent care and outpatient care, but having said that, we're seeing more seriously ill patients as opposed to the minor injuries and lacerations I would have seen in the past. You would think it would be going down, but we've being seeing these steady volumes of more ill patients. So to be honest with you, it might be more challenging than when I started.

Q: Would the aging population account for that?

A: Especially at Suburban, we have a higher percentage of geriatric patients than other hospitals I've worked at. I think part of that it can be attributed to the patient population we have at Amherst, yes.

IN GOOD HEALTH – Buffalo & WNY’s Healthcare Newspaper • January 2016

Q: What kinds of patients do you see?

A: You see everything from orthopedic dislocations to renal failure, to acute coronary syndromes, strokes, ab-

dominal pains, gall bladder and appendix issues, down to minor traumas and car accidents. The variety is endless. You never know what you're going to walk into.

Q: What challenges do hospitals in Western New York face that are difficult to solve?

A: I would say one of the greatest challenges is communication. Sometimes communicating with primary physicians, specialists. A hospital never really closes. Sometimes getting in contact with the people who are responsible for the care of the patient out in the community can be challenging. So we're trying to create a population health-based model, where patients can flow easily from the outpatient arena into the hospitals and back without communication suffering.

Q: Are physicians receiving the communication training they need?

A: I can say that, when I was in residency, there wasn't as much of a focus on communication as there was providing excellent care. As we've moved toward electronic health records and other modes of communication have become more common, you lose a bit of the social interaction.

Many physicians in the community no longer come to the hospital, so many may be unknown to you, even when you're caring for their patients.

I think the younger generation is better trained in communication, but not necessarily the type that leads you to face-to-face interaction and getting to know people.

Q: What kinds of initiatives do you have to address that?

A: I can tell you that one focus we're working on is when people are discharged from the hospital. We make sure they have an appointment when they leave, that they have the right medications, that we're communicating with their primary care physician. We have a number patients can call to re-listen to their discharge instructions. But that is a great tool to reinforce that communication. Figuring out which way each primary care physician prefers to be contacted has been a challenge, but we're trying to make sure we know how to do that.

Q: What advice would you give to physicians considering administrative work?

A: This is not in any way, shape or form what I'd planned for myself, but I will say that when you're a physician you're caring for a couple people at a time. When you transition to an administrative role, it gives you an opportunity to make an impact on a greater number of people as long as you keep your eye on what's important. It's a privilege.

Lifelines Name: David L. Pierce, M.D. Hometown: North Tonawanda, NY Position: Vice President of Kaleida Health, chief medical officer of Millard Fillmore Suburban and DeGraff Memorial Hospital Education: New York Medical College Affiliations: Kaleida Health Organizations: American College of Emergency Physicians; Society of Academic Emergency Medicine Family: Wife, four children Hobbies: Hockey, drawing, spending time with family

Food Allergy: 50% More Children Suffer from It

Excessive consumption of antibiotics to blame?

Local experts weigh in

By Amanda Jowsey

T

he number of Americans with a food allergy, an estimated 15 million, has risen in recent years, but the exact cause is unknown.

Allergies among children, specifically, jumped 50 percent between 1997 and 2011, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

Several theories attempt to explain this increase, including the latest idea that early or excessive exposure to antibiotics can diminish healthy digestive bacteria, thus weakening the immune system and increasing an individual’s susceptibility to food allergies. Studies show that enough antibiotics are prescribed each year to distribute them to four out of five Americans.

Physician Stanley A. Schwartz explained that this is not a popular idea in the medical community,

but that it is reasonable. “There’s no question that if you change the normal flora in your gut, all sorts of things can happen; so as a theory, it has merit.”

Schwartz is a distinguished professor of medicine, pediatrics and microbiology at the University at Buffalo School of Medicine and Biomedical Sciences. He is also chief of the allergy, immunology and rheumatology division for the University at Buffalo Medical Group (UBMD) and chief of medicine for Schwartz Kaleida Health.

“When you upset the applecart by exposing the normal bugs that seem to be living in harmony with the person to an antibiotic, you change the whole dynamic of the mi-

crobiome. All the flora, bacteria and organisms living in your gut are part of the microbiome,” Schwartz said.

Antibiotics generally do, however, work specifically enough to harm only the bugs needed for an infection to thrive, according to Schwartz. This may help to disprove the theory that antibiotics cause food allergies solely as a result of their harming all digestive bacteria.

Protein-inhibiting antibiotics are often used, but are not related to the development of protein allergies.

“The whole idea of an antibiotic is not just for protein in general, but for a specific protein that is needed by a bug to survive,” Schwartz said.

Schwartz believes that the hygiene hypothesis, the predominant theory in the medical community, is the most plausible explanation for the development of food allergies.

“We live such clean lives that the immune system isn’t challenged in children and even in adults. Consequently, it turns to doing bad things like causing allergies or autoimmune diseases,” Schwartz said.

American board-certified allergist and immunologist practicing in Western New York since 1991, Jeffrey B. Rockoff, believes that antibiotics “turn on” T-helper cells in the body, which may best explain the theorized link between antibiotics and allergies.

“Your body and my body have

T-helper cells that are programmed to do certain things. T-helper 1 brings on cardiovascular disease as well as inflammatory bowel disease and a few other disease states. T-helper 2 is the allergen producing cell. It Rockoff promotes the allergy antibody IGE (Immunoglobulin E), possibly making someone more susceptible to food allergies and other types of allergic processes,” Rockoff said.

Rockoff believes that several things may contribute to the recent rise in allergies. “The early introduction of Tylenol and anti-inflammatory agents, like Motrin, has also been shown to have a similar type of play on the T-helper cells. The hygiene hypothesis, also, is a factor,” Rockoff said.

“They call it the yin-yang theory between T-helper 1 and T-helper 2.

It’s almost like a see-saw that kids play with at the park, where you go high on one end and low on the other, and then back and forth,” Rockoff said. “The antibiotics, the Motrin, the Tylenol and the sterilization all help to promote more T-helper cells,” which upsets the cell balance and could increase a person’s risk for developing a food allergy.

Healthcare in a Minute

By George W. Chapman

Healthy competition

Competition among insurance companies is good — up to a point.

According to studies published in the recent edition of Health Affairs, the addition of just one more insurance company doing business in a market tended to lower rates for the one existing plan that was considered the benchmark or dominant plan in its market by an average of 3.5 percent.

However, the impact on the benchmark plan’s premium with the addition of two or more plans was nominal. Going “too low” in the market can result in disaster. So, a choice of two or three plans is good.

Health Republic, a New York-based insurance coop, was one of 17 plans offered on the NY Exchange. It came in with premiums way below market.

It had no impact on the premiums of market-dominant plans.

In November, Health Republic, citing claims expenses far exceeded premium revenues, went out of business. “Healthy’ competition means that the plan you select would still be around for the foreseeable future.

Like anything else we buy, if the price seems too good to be true …

Exchange deadline

To enroll for healthcare coverage via the exchange, you must do by Jan. 31. In previous years, there was a special enrollment around April 15.

If you elect not to buy insurance, you will be fined the greater of $695 or 2.5 percent of your household income.

Affordable Care Act 2017

It’s hard to predict what will happen to the ACA once President

Obama is out of office at the end of 2016. He won’t be around to veto any more attempts to repeal it.

However, it is safe to say that the entire law will not be repealed because too many Americans count on the ACA for insurance. Certain basic features like insurance portability from job to job, the elimination of lifetime limits and an insurer’s right not to cover preexisting conditions are all firmly incorporated into all commercial and government plans.

Also to be considered, but still fairly transparent to most consumers, is the impact of the ACA on hospitals, physicians and even insurance companies. The entire delivery system and how providers will be paid is being revamped. It will be close to impossible to turn back this tide.

Billions have been invested on electronic records, information technology and the formation of large, integrated comprehensive healthcare systems — accountable care organizations — that encourage and reward cooperation and coordination between physicians and hospitals.

Most likely, any efforts to reform the ACA post 2016 would include eliminating the individual and employer mandates, the medical device tax and the Cadillac tax on super-rich benefit plans.

Cost is top concern

Not surprisingly, a recent Gallop poll revealed that the biggest concern among us is cost. Twenty-two percent of respondents indicated this as their No. 1 concern. A family premium averages about $20,000 a year. The No. 2 concern was access

to care. Regarding the No. 1 concern, cost-containment measures are slowly being introduced to the delivery system under the ACA. Most will take effect by 2018.

Despite how much it costs, only 53 percent of those polled rated U.S. healthcare as good or excellent, which is the lowest rating in 10 years.

It is hoped that the development of more consumer-focused delivery models will improve satisfaction scores.

Concierge practices

Also referred to as direct primary care, “concierge” medicine is still a very small component of the healthcare system. Almost all of these practices have four or fewer physicians. The average monthly cost to a patient is around $100. According to one survey, 84 percent of these practices relied only on the monthly fee. It should be noted that most of their patients also carried traditional insurance to cover all other care not provided by the concierge practice.

Concierge or DPC medicine is still an emerging model, so there still isn’t a lot of reliable data proving it provides better care than traditional practices.

In 1915

Or 100 hundred years ago: Average life expectancy: 47 years.

Homes with a phone: 8 percent.

Average hourly wage: about 25 cents.

Physicians with college education: 10 percent (They attended so-called medical schools right out of high school.) Leading causes of death: flu, tuberculosis, diarrhea, heart disease,

January 2016 •

stroke. Number of states: 45. High school graduates: 6 percent of population. Available over the counter: Marijuana, heroin, morphine.

Who we still trust

Despite all the problems consumers have with costs, accessibility, quality and the overall “medical establishment” per se, according to a study published in the New England Journal of Medicine, most of us trust and value our own physician. So, physicians can play a huge role in mitigating the confusion and fear among consumers trying to fend their way through the maze of our increasingly faceless healthcare system.

A lot of confusion and fear is created by the drug industry through direct to consumer advertising. In a largely symbolic gesture, the American Medical Association has recently voted to support a ban on drug advertising that drives up both the cost and unnecessary utilization of drugs.

While the U.S. is only 4-5 percent of the world’s population, we consume 50 percent of all the drugs.

The powerful drug industry counters that it is merely creating an informed consumer.

George W. Chapman is a health consultant who operates GW Chapman Consulting in Upstate New York.

To reach him, email gwc@gwchapmanconsulting.com.

IN GOOD HEALTH – Buffalo & WNY’s Healthcare Newspaper

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Page 5

No Health Insurance?

It's Going to Cost You Those who don’t have insurance will have to pay up to $900 penalty this year; amount to go up to $2,085 next year

By Deborah Jeanne Sergeant If you don't have a health insurance policy, you likely paid a penalty when you filed your income taxes last year. Expect that penalty to sharply increase for the 2016 tax year — and go even higher for the next year.

The penalty for the 2015 tax season ranges from $162.50 per child under 18 to $325 per adult with a $900 maximum. Next tax season, expect more than double that amount, $347.50 per child, $695 per adult with a $2,085 family maximum.

"They ratcheted it up so people get the message, I guess," said Fran Vaguhan, owner of FMV Tax Professionals with offices in Williamsville and Hamburg.

She said the people skipping health insurance include retirees who aren't yet 65, the self employed, parttime employees, those who make too much money to qualify for Medicaid but can't afford health insurance premiums and those working for exempted companies of fewer than 50 employees.

"A lot of people hit with the fee are low income, and not necessarily working multiple part-time jobs," Vaughan said. "If they have only one job making $20,000 to $40,000 a year and have a family, they don't want to pay for health insurance costing from $3,000 to $6,000 or more a year apiece, plus a $3,000 deductible, especially when they get nothing back for that. They want to pay out of pocket for health care. Even the penalty doesn't scare them. If they never use doctors, they feel the odds are with them."

Last tax season, about 7.5 million paid the penalty out of 138 million taxpayers.

Some opt out of their company's bare-bones plan if the portion of the premiums that they pay stretches their budget too far. The mandated premium contribution cap — it must be no greater than 8.5 percent of the gross household income — pushes premiums out of reach for some people such as those with large households. Those with no chronic health

problems seldom require health care.

Some would rather pay the penalty than pay more for services they don't use.

As another factor, the difficulty in signing up may turn off some people.

"Going on the exchange is difficult," Vaughan said. "I have a master's degree and am good at paperwork. If I find it complicated, I feel sorry for those who don't have the patience for paperwork or who can't read well.

"It's not right that it's so complex. What about people who have no Internet connection? Some don't live near where they can get Internet access."

The online Health Plan Marketplace has received criticism for its difficulty of navigation and, during open enrollment periods, crashes and glitches. But the wait time for the call center can drag on for nearly an hour, plus the time it takes to wade through all the questions.

Why Premiums Keep Going Up Consumers need to carefully examine coverage options when it comes to heath insurance

By Ermst Lamothe Jr. The healthcare landscape has drastically shifted causing numerous initiatives, mergers, joint programs, unintended consequences and unanswered questions. Unfortunately, increasing health care premiums is the only constant during the past decade and especially during the last few years.

Single and family premiums for employer-sponsored health insurance rose an average of 4 percent this year, continuing a decade-long period of moderate growth, according to the Kaiser Family Foundation / Health Research & Educational Trust, a national organization which surveys results each year.

Since 2005, premiums have grown an average of 5 percent each year, compared to 11 percent annually between 1999 and 2005. The average annual premium for single coverage is $6,251. And in many states, more than half the plans offered for sale through HealthCaregov, the federal online marketplace, Page 6

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have a deductible of $3,000 or more, according to the New York Times.

Michael Szymoniak, employee benefit consultant for Lawley in Buffalo, believes one of the biggest trends today is the buffet of choices consumers have.

“It used to be that the human resources or finance team gave employees two or three plans and they were stuck to chose between them.

Today, the number of plans are rapidly growing, and it is not uncommon to see as many as six or eight different plans, and some companies even going as far as 10 to 12 plans,” added Szymoniak. “Employees at least get to be in the driver's seat of picking the plan that works best for them.”

Because variety is the theme of the moment, Lawley wanted to educate employees about their different options. During enrollment season, employees can log onto a computerized tool, which asks them questions about their projected health care needs and gives them a algorithm

options about what plans might work best for them.

“It allows

people to feel more educated about their insurance, which is key to making a good decision,” said Szymoniak. “We have received great feedback and it does make people spend more time as they should looking at health care insurance.”

Just like every other company, Szymoniak said Lawley has heard complaints about premiums on the rise. “Nobody likes spending more money than they have to,” he said.

“But we are a little luckier in New

IN GOOD HEALTH – Buffalo & WNY’s Healthcare Newspaper • January 2016

Deadline to Enroll is Jan. 31 If you don't have health insurance, you have until Jan. 31 to enroll for 2016 unless you qualify for a special enrollment period.

These include changes in your family status or employment that affect insurance. To avoid paying any penalty, you must carry insurance for the entire year.

Want to figure out the penalty you may owe if you don't have health insurance coverage?

Visit www.healthinsurance.org/ obamacare/obamacare-penalty-calculator. For more information on health insurance in New York, visit www.healthinsurance. org/new-york. The official site for signing up for insurance is https://nystateofhealth.ny.gov.

If you have no insurance, you may not pay the penalty if: • Your income is low enough that your share of premiums (after federal subsidies and employer contributions) would total more than 8.5 percent of your income • You don't make enough money to file income taxes.

• You had a short gap in coverage during the year, that lasted no more than three months (if you’re uninsured for more than three months, the penalty is prorated) • You qualify for a religious exclusion.

• You are a member of a Native American tribe.

• You are an illegal immigrant or are incarcerated.

• You qualify for a hardship exemption.

York state where the medical increases are not going up as rapidly as what I am hearing in other states.

That can be thousands and sometimes tens of thousands of dollars in savings in New York than other areas.”

And things are not going to get any better anytime soon.

“Unfortunately, we are seeing premiums increase where they are going up 10 to 15 percent each year in most markets,” said Brooks Wright, sales and marketing director at KBM Management in Syracuse.

“It’s a trend that doesn’t seem to be changing anytime soon.”

Wright’s organization provides employers with cost containment strategies and implementation to better manage their health and Workers’ Compensation insurance business.

They do a thorough market analysis, fiscal management, budget guidance and personalized customer service.

Through analysis performed by the company, he is seeing higher deductibles for any business with 100 or less employers. He said it is not uncom-

continued on next page

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Premiums Keep Going Up Experts: Picking up a health plan: not as easy as before from previous page mon to see an individual having a $4,000 to $6,000 deductible.

“Health insurance is getting more complicated and costly,” said Katy Votava, president and founder of Goodcare, a nationwide, independent healthcare consulting firm in the Rochester area. “Because of this issue, people have to look ahead of time on all the health plans that are available and be their best advocates.”

Since 2010, both the share of workers with deductibles and the size of those deductibles have increased sharply, according to Kaiser.

These two trends together result in a 67 percent increase in deductibles since 2010, much faster than the rise in single premiums (24 percent) and about seven times the rise in workers’ wages (10 percent) and general inflation (9 percent).

Businesses are looking at either high deductible health plans or health saving reimbursement plans to offer to employees.

“They are setting up a situation where employees will pay more if they want better benefits, but also offering other plans where if you are healthy then you might be fine paying a higher deductible,” Votava added.

Sometimes employers mitigate cost simply by passing it on to those doing unhealthy risk behaviors.

“The first step we are going to see is groups making smokers pay a higher percentage of the premiums,” Wright added.

Votava believes too often people put themselves in tough situations by not doing their own due diligence.

Whether it is because of the time consumption to look through plans, difficult to understand healthcare language or a general laissez-faire attitude, she sees a knowledge gap in

people understanding their coverage.

“I think that if people did a little more of their homework and looked at all their options, they would be better off,” he added. “I advise people to look at various health care plans and really see what fits them best. Find out what medications you have to take and what doctors you want to see and find something that make sense for you.”

Votava has also written an ebook called “Making the most of Medicare: The Guide for Baby Boomers.” The book talks about how people should be educating themselves about Medicare a minimum of six months to a year. This guide highlights the most important factors to help you plan for your Medicare transition right now. Votava also reveals how some savvy financial planning before you enroll in Medicare can have a big impact on how much you will pay. She hopes that her advice and books help people become less afraid of health care insurance and simply better informed.

“Some people are still eligible to look for health care options until the end of January and that is something that not everyone knows,” said Votava. “You need to find out what window of opportunities you have because when the window is closed you can’t make changes.”

But the conversation often turns back to the inescapable premiums.

Another trend she sees is families putting their children under a different plan than their employer such as New York State Child Health Plus. To be eligible for either Children's Medicaid or Child Health Plus, children must be under the age of 19 and be residents of New York State. Whether a child qualifies for Children's Medicaid or Child Health Plus depends on gross family income.

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US Life Expectancy Holds Steady; Infant Death Rate Drops

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nfant mortality dropped to a record low in the U.S in 2014, and mortality rates for several leading causes of death among adults have decreased as well, according to a report from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

The infant mortality rate dropped from 596 infant deaths per 100,000 live births in 2013 to 581 infant deaths per 100,000 live births in 2014 — a rate that’s a “historic low,” the researchers wrote in their report, published Dec. 9.

When the researchers looked more closely at this drop, analyzing the rates of the 10 leading causes of infant death, they found that the rates remained largely the same from 2013 to 2014. The only significant change was in the rate of deaths from respiratory distress in newborns, which dropped from 13.3 deaths per 100,000 live births to 11.5 infant

deaths per 100,000 births, according to the authors of the report.

There was also a slight decrease in the rate of death among adults, which dropped from 731.9 deaths per 100,000 people in 2013 to 724.6 deaths per 100,000 people in 2014, according to the report. This rate also represents a new record low, the researchers wrote.

The rates of death decreased significantly for five of the 10 leading causes of death among adults: heart disease, cancer, chronic lower respiratory diseases, diabetes, and influenza and pneumonia (these two conditions are grouped together).

On the other hand, the rates of death increased significantly for unintentional injuries, stroke, Alzheimer’s disease and suicide. There was no change in the rate of death from kidney disease.

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IN GOOD HEALTH – Buffalo & WNY’s Healthcare Newspaper

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Page 7

Live Alone & Thrive

By Gwenn Voelckers

Practical tips, advice and hope for those who live alone

Making the Best of 2016

A little gratitude can make a big difference

W

hen loss is gripping my heart, when change feels threatening or when disappointment overcomes me, I find it helpful to revisit and add to my “gratitude list.”

Lately, it’s been a daily ritual. I’ve kept my list close at hand and have used it to lift my mood and renew my hope.

I have found the process of writing down and reflecting on those things for which I’m grateful to be a fulfilling, even healing, exercise. More and more, I am relying on my gratitude list to bolster my spirits.

By focusing on gratitude, we become more aware of the positive aspects in our lives, which in turn can help shift our thinking and attitudes.

One of the easiest ways to make it a part of your life is to start a gratitude journal. The following five steps may help you get started: First step: Purchase a blank notebook or journal in which to write

every day. Any kind will do, but I suggest choosing one that reflects your own individuality. Mine is a beautiful little spiral-bound journal covered in handmade paper, with a decorative satin ribbon.

It’s pretty just to look at, and very inviting. I keep it within easy reach on my bedside stand.

Second step: Find a time to write in your gratitude journal each day.

It might be the last thing you do before you go to sleep or the first thing you do in the morning. What’s important is that you find a quiet time when you can be alone with your thoughts and feelings. I’ve found I do a better job of keeping my journal when I make a commitment to write at a regular time each and every day.

Third step: Think back over your day. Identify those things or people or places that made an impression on you or that touched your heart.

Great or small, it could be the sound of a breeze through the trees, a new

KIDS Corner The Medical Minute: Electronic Cigarette Use Rising Among Teenagers

U

se of electronic cigarettes — or e-cigs, for short — has increased among adolescents, but the jury is still out on how many young people are becoming addicted, and how harmful they are for both young people and adults, relative to

Page 8

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cigarettes.

Jonathan Foulds, professor of public health sciences at Penn State College of Medicine, says use of e-cigs among young people is escalating — as public health professionals continue to explore how dangerous it is.

“Thirteen percent of American high school students have tried an e-cig in the past 30 days, but the proportion using them most days is quite small,” Foulds said. “Of those who’ve tried an e-cig in the past month, 45 percent only used it on one or

assignment at work, your daughter’s decision to go back to school or a stranger’s warm hello in passing.

Make your list personal, and try to come up with at least two blessings. If nothing comes to mind, just take your time and keep thinking.

You may be surprised at what surfaces, and discover the transformative power of gratitude.

Fourth step: Start every day with an open heart and with a view to see the positive and the possibilities in life. If you bump into an obstacle, try to appreciate the opportunity it presents to overcome it. When you focus on the wonderful things in life, wonderful things begin to happen. It reminds me of the law of attraction.

Your positive thoughts and energy can become a magnet and draw even more positive thoughts and energy in your direction.

Document these miraculous moments in your journal.

Fifth step: Make your gratitude journal your own. Make your writing come to life by adding doodles, photos, quotes, scripture, or magazine clippings. I love embellishing my journal with my favorite sayings and simple sketches.

So, what will I include in my gratitude journal before I turn in for the night? I have so much to be thankful for, but today, I am especially grateful for my family and friends: — I’m grateful for my parents’ influence, which I feel in the deepest part of me, even in their absence. I’ll forever be grateful for my mother’s strength, sensitivity and caring touch.

Her big smile and warm hug when I came to visit was always so reassur-

ing and welcome.

I am also reminded of and thankful for my father’s creative, entrepreneurial ways whenever I pick up a tool, dare to take a risk, or find the courage to be direct in my dealings with others.

— I’m grateful for my sister Anne’s gigantic heart, sense of humor and passion for her family and friends. She knows me like no other, and still enjoys my company! When I’m with her, I’m inspired to be a better person (and a sillier one, too). Our relationship is precious and brings me so much joy!

— I’m grateful for my dear friend Terry’s generous and determined spirit. When confronted with life’s uncertainties, he perseveres with resourcefulness and conviction. We share a wonderful friendship, and I just smile when I think of his patience, warmth and engaging personality.

Even after years of gratitude journaling, I am struck by how the simple act of writing down what I value and love every day can change my world for the better.

It’s simple. It’s free. And it can work wonders. So give it a try, and count your blessings!

Gwenn Voelckers is the founder and facilitator of Live Alone and Thrive, empowerment workshops for women held throughout the year in Mendon, New York. For information about her upcoming workshops or to invite Gwenn to speak, call her at 585624-7887, email her at gvoelckers@ rochester.rr.com.

Cholesterol Levels Are a Problem for Many US Kids About 20 percent of U.S. children have problems with their cholesterol levels, such as high levels of "bad" cholesterol or low levels of "good" cholesterol, according to a new report.

The report found that, overall, 7.4 percent of children ages 6 to 19 have high levels of total cholesterol, meaning their cholesterol levels are at or above 200 milligrams per deciliter.

High cholesterol levels are more common in children who are obese, the report found. Among obese children in the study, 11.6 percent had high total cholesterol levels, compared with 6.3 percent of children whose body weight fell into the normal range.

In addition, the researchers found that girls were more likely to have high cholesterol levels than boys: nearly 9 percent of girls had high total cholesterol levels, com-

pared to about 6 percent of boys.

The most common cholesterol problem in kids was having levels of "good" cholesterol that were too low, meaning having levels of HDL cholesterol below 40 mg/dL, the report found. Overall, 13.4 percent of children had low HDL cholesterol, but the rate was much higher among obese children. About 33 percent of children with obesity had low HDL cholesterol, compared with only 6.8 percent of children with a normal weight.

Studies suggest that risk factors for heart disease, including abnormal cholesterol levels, "track from childhood into adulthood," the researchers said. "Continued monitoring of abnormal cholesterol levels among children and adolescents may inform public health interventions to promote long-term cardiovascular health and prevent [cardiovascular disease] in adulthood," they said.

two days in the month and only 16 percent used on 20 or more out of the past 30 days. This means that around 2 percent of high school students are daily e-cig users.”

Current opinion is that e-cigs do much less damage than smoked cigarettes, the use of which has decreased to about 9 percent among adolescents, according to recent studies.

However, that does not mean e-cigs are harmless. The nicotine itself is harmful to the unborn fetus when absorbed during pregnancy, and a

recent study in Hong Kong found an association between adolescent e-cig use and respiratory symptoms.

Although the nicotine can still create or feed an addiction, there is great variability in the types and use of e-cigarettes. Foulds said among adolescents who use e-cigs, some studies have found that more than 40 percent say they use e-cig liquid that does not contain nicotine. “Many say they just tried it once or twice to see what it was like,” he said.

IN GOOD HEALTH – Buffalo & WNY’s Healthcare Newspaper • January 2016

Nearly 200 police agencies in New York state, including the Erie County Sheriff’s Department, Buffalo Police Department and a number of SUNY University police departments, carry the nasal spray that can reverse the effects of an otherwise fatal opioid overdose

The Antidote Naloxone counteracts drug overdoses, saving lives

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rug overdose deaths have surpassed car wrecks to become the leading cause of injury death in the United States, according to a Centers for Disease Control and Prevention report based on data from 2013.

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At the center of this crisis are heroin and prescription drugs, which accounted for more than half of overdose deaths — about 24,500 — in the CDC report.

In an effort to combat this heroin

and painkiller epidemic, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration recently approved a nasal spray form of naloxone, a drug that can reverse the effects of an otherwise fatal opioid overdose in a matter of minutes. The FDA granted fast-track designation, approving the drug after a review period of only about four months.

FDA spokesperson Eric Pahon said the drug — commonly known by its brand name Narcan and manufactured by Adapt Parma, Inc. — comes in a spray bottle that requires no assembly, allowing it to be administered even faster than the injectable form of naloxone.

Once administered, the opioid’s effects are reversed almost immediately. Within two to three minutes, Pahon said, the victim’s heart rate begins to increase, breathing is restored and consciousness returns.

“It very quickly reverses the effects of the drug,” Pahon said.

“Naloxone won’t solve the problem of the opioid epidemic but it will save lives.”

And it has.

The heroin epidemic has grown so severe that law enforcement agencies in 28 states are already carrying a nasal spray form of naloxone.

Detective Pat Glynn of the Quincy, Mass., police department led the effort. The nasal spray form was so fast and easy to use that it was quickly adopted by New York state law enforcement agencies, with the Buffalo Police Department among the first, said Sharon Stancliff, medical director of the Harm Reduction Coalition.

Today, nearly 200 police agencies in New York state, including the Erie County Sheriff’s Department, Buffalo

Police Department and a number of SUNY University police departments, carry the nasal spray.

“It became pretty clear that police officers could use this,” Stancliff said.

Now with FDA approval, addicts and those living in drug abuse environments can get naloxone nasal spray through a prescription.

However, Stancliff said naloxone is already available, at no cost, through a myriad of drug abuse and syringe exchange programs throughout the state.

Critics of these programs cite the cost and claim the availability of life-saving drugs enables addicts to continue using. Stancliff said studies have shown no change in drug use rates by making naloxone available, and compared their argument to criticizing the use of seat belts for encouraging reckless driving.

“There appeared to be no impact at all,” Stancliff said of the connection between naloxone and drug use rates.

However, giving people in addiction environments naloxone may save more lives, because they are on the scene before police officers and EMTs. She cited one study in New York City in which 400 people living in addiction environments were given naloxone nasal spray. A year later, health workers found that more than 20 percent of them had used the drug at least once, potentially saving nearly 90 lives.

“We have found far more reversals taking place at the hands of community members,” Stancliff said.

“Community members are the real first responders.”

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IN GOOD HEALTH – Buffalo & WNY’s Healthcare Newspaper

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Page 9

Soup Can Aid in Weight Loss Experts: Soup contains no ‘magical’ properties that cause weight loss; however, it can replace higher calorie choices

By Deborah Jeanne Sergeant

N

o reputable dietitians advocate trying fad diets like the cabbage soup diet to lose weight; however, eating more soup this winter as part of a healthful, balanced diet, paired with adequate exercise, may help you lose a few of those holiday pounds.

Perception helps soup make a good meal choice for weight loss.

Since it's mostly water, you can enjoy a large serving with few calories.

"Soup can be a really great way to feel full using low calorie ingredients," said Lynda Hart, registered dietitian and certified dietitian and nutritionist with Personalize Health Nutrition, PLLC in Buffalo.

She recommended ingredients such as vegetables, beans, and lowfat sources of protein like turkey, fish or meat "to help you feel full with less calories."

Soup contains no "magical" properties that cause weight loss; however, it can replace higher calorie choices well.

"Broth based vegetable soup is really good to serve as a meal, or with a meal to help you eat less," said Kathy Adams, registered dietitian with Mercy Hospital in Buffalo.

"If you add beans or lean meat, it can be very filling, as it provides fiber and vegetables servings."

That's why soup can help you feel more satisfied while eating fewer calories. Depending upon the type of soup you eat, soup can increase your intake of low-calorie, nutrient dense foods, which can also help you feel full.

"High fiber soup, plus the volume of the water in soup, helps give you a full feeling," Adams said.

"That, in turn, helps you eat less.

"It's a nice way to experiment with new vegetables, like kale. It's a nice way to get a good variety of vegetables. You can put anything in soup."

Chopped kale or spinach taste great in Italian-based soups. Diced carrots taste good in many varieties.

Although veggies dish up plenty of vitamins, soups that skimp on protein can lead to overeating later.

"Look for ones with a good source of protein like beans, lentils, chicken or turkey," said Natalie Greco, registered dietitian and owner of Nutrition by Natalie in Lancaster. "That's

the filling component of the soup."

If your soup du jour contains little protein, pair it with sides like low-fat Greek yogurt, low-fat cheese on crackers, or nut butter spread on apple slices or whole-grain crackers.

When you're pinched for time, even canned soup offers a better option than many other choices "if it has vegetables and protein source," Greco said. "Compare canned soup with a frozen Banquet meal. Those are higher in sodium than soup."

Many soup brands offer low-sodium varieties. Or, you could add prepared low-sodium stock or water to reduce the sodium by volume.

Beware of Canned Soups While eating more soup can help you lose weight, watch out for these caveats of adding more soup to your diet.

More sodium. Canned soup, prepared broth and canned beans added to soup all pack a wallop of salt. "If you're looking to avoid sodium, make it yourself or look on the labels for lower sodium varieties," said Kathy Adams, registered dietitian with Mercy Hospital in Buffalo. "Use the Crock Pot and it's done for dinner."

Try freezing homemade soup in meal-sized portions to eat later.

Natalie Greco, registered dietitian and owner of Nutrition by Natalie in Lancaster advises clients to "mix together regular canned soup and low sodium soup."

Indulging in cream or cheese soups.

"Avoid the cream and cheese soups," Adams said. "They add calories and fat. If you use beans, puree them to give it a thicker texture and make it a filling meal. Squash-based soups are really good."

Eating soup with too many items on the side. "These can easily start to rack up calories," Hart said. "Keep things in moderation."

Eating only soup. "Soup is okay, it's the extremes of the diet," Adams said.

"It's not balanced."

Beware of Sodium in “Salty Six” Foods Eating too many salty foods can create many health problems, including high blood pressure ,which can lead to stroke, the No. 5 killer of Americans. But did you know the majority of the sodium we consume is not from a salt shaker at the dining table? It’s from common foods we enjoy every day.

The American Heart Association/American Stroke Association is increasing

awareness of sodium and the “Salty Six” — common foods that may be loaded with excess sodium that can increase your risk for heart disease and stroke.

Sodium overload is a major health problem in the United States.

The average American consumes Page 10

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about 3,400 milligrams of sodium a day — more than twice the 1,500 milligrams recommended by the American Heart Association/American Stroke Association. That’s in large part because of our food supply; more than 75 percent of our sodium consumption comes from processed and restaurant foods.

Salty Six top sources for sodium in today’s diet Breads and rolls. We all know breads and rolls add carbohydrates and calories, but salt, too? It can be deceiving because a lot of bread doesn’t even taste salty, but one piece can have as much as 230 milligrams of sodium. That’s about 15 percent of the recommended amount from only one slice, and it adds up quickly. Have two sandwiches in one day? The bread alone could put you close to 1,000 milligrams of sodium.

Cold cuts and cured meats. Even foods that would otherwise be con-

sidered healthy may have high levels of sodium. Deli or pre-packaged turkey can contain as much as 1,050 milligrams of sodium. It’s added to most cooked meats so they don’t spoil after a few days.

Pizza. We know that pizza is not exactly a health food, because of cholesterol, fat and calories but pizza’s plenty salty, too. One slice can contain up to 760 milligrams of sodium — and frozen varieties can be even higher. Two slices can send you over the daily recommendation in just one meal.

Poultry. Surely chicken can’t be bad for you, right? Well, it depends on how you prepare it. Reasonable portions of lean, skinless, grilled chicken are OK but may still contain an added sodium solution.

And when you start serving up the chicken nuggets, the sodium also adds up. Just 3 ounces of frozen and breaded nuggets can add nearly 600 milligrams of sodium.

Soup. This is another one of those foods that seems perfectly healthy.

It can’t be bad if Mom gave it to you for the sniffles, right? But when you take a look at the nutrition label it’s

IN GOOD HEALTH – Buffalo & WNY’s Healthcare Newspaper • January 2016

easy to see how too much soup can quickly turn into a sodium overload.

One cup of canned chicken noodle soup can have up to 940 milligrams of sodium. And remember that soup cans typically contain more than one serving.

Sandwiches. This covers everything from grilled cheese to hamburgers. We already know that breads and cured meats may be heavy on the sodium. Add them together, then add a little ketchup or mustard and you can easily surpass 1,500 milligrams of sodium in one sitting.

Be sure to keep in mind that different brands and restaurant preparation of the same foods may have different sodium levels.

The American Heart Association Heart-Check mark—whether in the grocery store or restaurant helps shoppers see through the clutter on grocery store shelves to find foods that help them build a heart-healthy diet. For more information on sodium and nutrition visit www.heart. org/sodium or www.heart.org/nutrition.

SmartBites

The skinny on healthy eating

The Amazing Health Benefits of Turmeric Why does India have one of the lowest rates of colorectal, prostate and lung cancer in the world? Why do elderly villagers in India have one of the world’s lowest rates of Alzheimer’s?

Interest in turmeric — and especially curcumin, the active ingredient in the spice credited with its numerous health benefits — began years ago when researchers went looking for answers to these important questions and arrived at this possibility: The reason may be the turmeric that they consume in their daily curries.

Turmeric, a brightly colored relative of ginger, is a major ingredient in Indian curries, makes American mustard yellow, and adds a distinctive zing to most dishes. It is also believed to have anti-inflammatory, antioxidant and perhaps even anticancer properties, which explains why turmeric is one of the most researched medicinal plants in history.

What has the research revealed?

Let’s begin with turmeric’s anti-inflammatory properties, since chronic inflammation and its link to a plethora of diseases seems to top many of our health-worry lists.

In some studies, turmeric’s anti-inflammatory effects have been shown to be comparable to potent drugs, from hydrocortisone to Motrin. That’s good news. Also good: Unlike the drugs, which may produce side effects, turmeric is relatively side-effect free. Recent research suggests that turmeric may help quell inflammatory bowel disease, may offer relief for arthritis,

and may even play a role in protecting us from life-threatening diseases linked to inflammation, such as heart disease and Alzheimer’s.

Turmeric is a powerful antioxidant, the Michael Jordan of the spice world. Antioxidants minimize cell damage that may lead to heart disease, cancer, Alzheimer’s and other diseases by neutralizing toxic free radicals that attack healthy cells and tissues. According to a study published in the journal Basic and Clinical Pharmacology and Toxicology, mice receiving turmeric showed significant decrease in oxidative stress and notable increase in a liver-produced enzyme that acts as an antioxidant. Another study showed that turmeric may improve liver function by increasing its detoxification abilities.

This bright yellow spice may also turn out to be a bright light in our fight against cancer. While there is no definitive research on humans that shows that turmeric can prevent or treat cancer, early trials have shown some promising results. In a recent American study that combined curcumin with chemotherapy to treat bowel cancer, cells in a laboratory showed that the combined treatment killed more cancer cells than the chemotherapy alone. In another American study, mice appeared to show that curcumin helped to stop the spread of breast cancer to other parts of the body.

While our culture is not one of “daily curries” — a dietary behavior that may explain the low rates of certain cancers in India — there are

TransitPoint

easy ways we can bolster our diet with turmeric.

We can add it to scrambles, frittatas and rice; toss it on roasted vegetables; eat more curried dishes; consume extracts in tablet and capsule form; and drink turmeric tea (I add ¼ teaspoon directly to my mint tea).

Helpful tips

How much turmeric should we consume to reap benefits? Amounts vary because turmeric can be consumed in many forms, from the fresh root to the dried root powder. The University of Maryland Medical Center recommends ½ to 1 ½ teaspoons per day of powdered turmeric, while other sources say the ideal turmeric dosage is about 1 teaspoon per day.

Almost all sources recommend eating turmeric with black pepper and some fat, as the combo boosts absorption of curcumin. Best bet on amount?

Check with your doctor or nutritionist.

Cauliflower Steaks with Ginger, Turmeric, and Cumin Adapted from The Kitchn (Serves 3-4)

1 large head cauliflower Salt and pepper 2 tablespoons olive oil, divided 1 teaspoon freshly grated ginger (or ¼ tsp. dried) 1 teaspoon ground cumin ½-1 teaspoon ground turmeric Small handful of cilantro, chopped

Preheat the oven to 400°F. Remove the leaves and trim the stem end of the cauliflower, leaving the core intact. Using a large knife, cut the cauliflower from top to base into three 3/4-inch-thick "steaks." Season each steak with salt and pepper on both sides. (Reserve any loose florets for another use.)

Heat 1 tablespoon of olive oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Sear the cauliflower steaks until golden brown, about 2 minutes per side. Gently transfer the steaks to a baking sheet.

Whisk together the remaining 1 tablespoon of olive oil, ginger, cumin, and turmeric. Brush or spoon the mixture onto the cauliflower steaks.

Roast in the oven until tender, about 15 minutes. Garnish with cilantro.

Suggestion: Serve atop a bed of quinoa; add chickpeas for more protein Anne Palumbo is a lifestyle columnist, food guru, and seasoned cook, who has perfected the art of preparing nutritious, calorie-conscious dishes. She is hungry for your questions and comments about SmartBites, so be in touch with Anne at avpalumbo@aol.com.

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IN GOOD HEALTH – Buffalo & WNY’s Healthcare Newspaper

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Page 11

Fitness

7

any task throughout the day.

5

Small Diet Changes = Big Difference

Proper diet, sleep and exercise essential to well being

By Nancy Cardillo

L

et’s face it: It’s not easy losing weight.

It’s even more difficult keeping it off. It takes discipline, willpower, knowledge and stick-to-itiveness.

But your desire to trim the pounds does not mean you have to completely change your life, deprive yourself of every food item you love and spend hours every day walking the treadmill. In fact, those big changes are not the best way to get lasting results.

So, what is the key to losing weight and keeping it off?

The first step is to make “you” a priority, says Kim Fenter, a certified health and nutrition coach with Audubon Women’s Medical Associates in Williamsville. “You tend to lose yourself when you don’t take the time to acknowledge your needs,” says Fenter.

“Recognize your likes and dislikes, small and big

moments of joy and improvements in your health, strength and energy.

Remember it is not selfish when you take time to stay healthy — mind, body and spirit!”

Making small changes you can easily adapt into your lifestyle and adhere to over the long haul can make a big difference in your ability to lose weight and keep it off.

Here are some ideas:

1

Keep a food journal Write down everything you eat, every day — no cheating.

You’ll be amazed at what you are consuming, and you’ll see patterns establishing, such as eating when you’re stressed or regularly needing a sugar fix mid-afternoon.

Keeping a food journal will motivate you to eat properly and, as you “see” yourself eating better foods, you’ll be encouraged and even more motivated.

2

Move your butt If going to the gym doesn’t appeal to you, try some form of exercise that will hold your interest, such as swimming, dancing, power walking, biking or skiing. Take the stairs instead of the elevator. Park further away from the door. Get up during TV commercials and jog in place. Exercise is essential to a healthy lifestyle and, even in small increments throughout the day, will

App-etite for Fitness Fitness apps significantly change the way people diet

By Tim Fenster

L

ooking to start a new regimen of healthy eating, portion control and regular exercise?

As the old Apple ad slogan goes, there’s an app for that.

In fact, there are a good many fitness apps available that do everything from count calories to track workouts to offer recipes for healthy dishes and ideas to better manage a healthy lifestyle.

These apps have gotten so popular that they are actually changing the ways millions of people approach diet and exercise.

For dietitians like Allyson Odachowski, of Custom Dietetics in Williamsville, this trend is truly a Page 12

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game-changer.

“The majority of my clients use the same types of fitness apps. I see it a ton, and I think it’s a great tool,” Odachowski said.

As little as four or five years ago, that was not the case at all, she said.

But as smartphones and their free apps have grown increasingly ubiquitous in recent years, more dieters are realizing the benefits of having a calorie counter, workout journal and health food recipe book right in your pocket.

“Four or five years ago, I would have most patients track foods in a journal with pen and paper,” Odachowski said. “I very rarely have

create energy and muscles, which encourages even the most stubborn metabolism to move in a positive direction.

3

Use a pedometer A pedometer works in a similar way to a food journal, and is a great way to keep track of how many steps you take in a day while keeping you motivated to move. Shoot for 10,000 steps daily.

4

Get some sleep When you don’t get enough sleep, it increases the chances you’ll make bad decisions, such as skipping your workout because you’re tired or indulging in that large, sweet caffeinated beverage or late-night snacking. To increase your chances of a restful night, create a routine that promotes relaxation and restful sleep. Avoid caffeine, alcohol and nicotine later in the day, as these may disrupt your sleep patterns.

Make your bedroom a comfortable sleep environment, not an entertainment center complete with TV, computer, phone, etc. Waking ready for your day with energy and drive puts you in the right state of mind to conquer clients that keep a paper journal anymore.”

The most popular apps, at least for Odachowski’s patients, include MyFitnessPal, Fit Bit and Lose It. While these apps vary in their details, all three — and many others — track both calories consumed and calories burned via exercise, identify the caloric content of Odachowski millions of food products, allow the users to set goals, and more. Some, like Fit Bit, count steps as well.

For extra motivation, Odachowski will typically ask patients for their app username and password. That way she can log in and see if her clients are keeping up with their regimen. If they falter, she can then work

IN GOOD HEALTH – Buffalo & WNY’s Healthcare Newspaper • January 2016

Don’t skip breakfast It truly is the most important meal of the day, and by beginning your day with adequate protein, you’ll tame your appetite and cravings all day long. Eat regularly throughout the day to fuel your body properly. Three meals and two snacks will help your body generate a steady supply of energy all day.

6

Hydrate The benefits of drinking more water are plenty. Drinking water increases energy, promotes weight loss, flushes out toxins, maintains bowel regularity, boosts your immune system and improves skin complexion. Make it your goal to drink half your body weight in water in ounces every day, plus an additional 30 ounces of water for each hour of exercise.

7

Eat your veggies Vegetables are one of the most nutritious foods you can eat, and contain amazing components, including fiber, antioxidants and other powerful phyto-chemicals.

Every day you should aim to eat 6-12 cups of vegetables, a combination of raw and cooked. By doing this, you will prevent disease, get your dose of vitamins and minerals, generate energy, promote digestive health and improve skin complexion.

Most importantly, don’t compare yourself to others. “You are an individual being, unique in every way,” says Fenter. “Do not create self-sabotage by comparing yourself to others.

Be kind to yourself by remembering that no one walks in your shoes, nor do you walk in anyone else’s shoes. You will be happier, more energized and more peaceful by recognizing the personal achievements you have made toward your goals and by striving to be a better, healthier, happier you every day.”

with them to find a solution.

“It streamlines my practice as a dietician, so that we can see where are they having issues and how can we address that,” she said.

Many of her patients say they feel more pressure to follow through with their plans because they know she is checking.

Meanwhile, a number of websites such as All Recipes and Pinterest — which also have mobile app versions — offer users valuable suggestions on recipes for healthy foods, snacks and portion control.

The trick, Odachowski says, is to find the right app for each patient.

For example, patients with less free time often prefer apps like Meal Logger, which allows users to receive nutritional feedback on a meal simply by taking a picture of their food and posting it to the app.

“The nice thing about the wide variety of tools out there is I can steer my clients toward the ones that work for them,” she said.

Fitness

Achieve Better Health Through Improved Nutrition

Why does it seem everyone is having knee replacement?

Procedure is on the rise. Experts weigh in on how to protect your knees

By Deborah Jeanne Sergeant

I

f it seems like everyone you know is getting total knee replacement, you're not imagining things.

Use of the procedure is on the rise, both because of an uptick in demand as aging baby boomers want to remain more active and also because advances in the procedure have made knee replacement more successful than it's been in the past.

If you want to protect your knees against damage, local experts offer a few tips.

One example of an activity that's generally hard on the knees is skiing.

Its twists, turns and bumps stress the connective tissues.

Running also batters the knees because of the hard, weight-bearing impact.

"The best form of Joshi exercise that's easy on the joints is swimming," said Bob Alessi, owner of Bob Alessi Personal Training in Buffalo. "In addition, elliptical is pretty good. The equipment is impact-free and friction-free."

To strengthen the knee joint without making the knees bear weight, he recommends strengthening the connecting ligaments and tendons using a leg press machine that works on hinges, not a sled mechanism, since the former works with the body.

"One of the sports people I've worked with called the knee joint the 'dummy joint' because it goes where the hip or ankle wants it to go," said Robert O'Malley, Sports outreach coordinator and an athletic trainer at Excelsior Orthopaedics in Orchard Park.

He encourages clients to try performing a modified squat or stepping on and off a step or BOSU ball, which strengthens the lower body and helps with balance.

"No pain, no gain" isn't true. Acute, sharp pain during exercise--not a mild burning or post-workout soreness--indicates the body needs rest.

As part of a regular

workout, Anita Joshi, licensed physical therapist at Amherst Orthopedic Physical Therapy, P.C. in Buffalo, recommends ankle pumps, moving the ankles in, up, and down 10 times, and then rotating the ankles while lying down on the floor. Flex and extend the leg at the knee and at the hip for 10 repetitions.

"Do these every day," Joshi said.

"It should take you 15 minutes. After exercises u will feel lot better and less stiff."

Regular conditioning for strength, flexibility and fitness can help people build up to higher levels of fitness. Engaging in "weekend warrior" behavior — performing rigorous athletic activity only sporadically — raises the risk for an acute injury. Events such as a 5K run, Tough Mudder or Warrior Dash are too demanding for people not regularly working out already.

Although exercise benefits the body and mind in numerous ways, engaging in it carelessly, especially as you age, can result in injury that can keep you sidelined and de-conditioning even more.

Make sure your activity fits your age. You likely can't do the same workout that a college football player can if you're 50. That's not to say you can't improve your physical performance and condition, however. It just takes time.

"Do cross training," said Lindsey Bilson, physical therapist with Buffalo Rehab Group with locations throughout Western New York. "You need to strengthen muscle groups around the knee. Use the entire body, not an isolated function."

She said that the hip, gluteus maximus (the large muscle on the backside) and core muscles all contribute to knee stability and support.

Squats that engage the gluteus maximus and multi-directional lunges can help strengthen muscles that enhance knee stability.

As with any change in your fitness regimen, seek a doctor's approval before beginning an exercise program or new activity, especially if you have not regularly engaged in physical fitness recently.

Slowly increase intensity to help prevent injury.

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IN GOOD HEALTH – Buffalo & WNY’s Healthcare Newspaper

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Page 13

W

ith the snow flying and the temperatures falling, it is not uncommon to see Erie County Executive Mark C. Poloncarz on a pair of ice skates at Cazenovia Park in South Buffalo.

He is normally barking instructions to young hockey players he coaches or occasionally ice-skating at Rotary Rink at Fountain Plaza in downtown Buffalo.

In the spring and summer, the first tee at the South Park Golf Course in South Buffalo is a 10-minute ride from his office on the top floor of the Rath Building in downtown Buffalo. The 48-years-young native of Lackawanna first played this beautifully manicured home to the South Park Golf Club in his early teenaged years when he played nine holes with his father, Chuck, shooting a 55 for nine holes.

To say Poloncarz loves golf is an understatement. Before he played on an actual course, he would use old clubs and golf balls from a friend’s father and hit around in a field next to a playground in Lackawanna that was not far from the home he grew up in. He and his friends created their own holes and would eventually tee off over railroad tracks adjacent to the field.

A longstanding member of the South Park Golf Club, Poloncarz continues to play there in tournaments and enjoys playing rounds with his father and longtime friends. He says he was lucky to receive lessons early on from Ed Kaczor, his former golf coach at Lackawanna High School.

Poloncarz says his swing has not changed much since those days when he competed for the Steelers.

Entering his second term as the eighth Erie County executive, a healthy community is important to him.

“Our region’s economy is improving, so now it is time to try and make Erie County prosperous for all of its residents,” he says from his office which provides a spectacular view of downtown Buffalo and beyond. “We need to build a foundation for the future so this great revival everyone is excited about and one that we are presently experiencing is not just for the lucky few. If we do not do this now, we likely will never do it.”

Poloncarz and his team have been busy working on collaborations with community partners and the administration of Buffalo public schools to create mobile health centers for students to receive medical screenings, contraceptive counseling, immunizations and mental health care.

“By working together and communicating, we can truly make a difference in our county about the health and well-being of our resi-

Community Health a Priority

As he starts his second term, Erie County Executive Mark C. Poloncarz focuses on creating healthy environment from top down

By Michael J. Billoni

dents,” he says.

“This starts within county government. Our commissioners, department heads and other employees from various county departments and agencies such as health, social services, senior services, mental health, veterans’ services and our office of the disabled are all going to play a role in this effort,” he says.

Poloncarz has challenged his commissioners and department

The Unstoppable

Page 14

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heads to look for ways Erie County can a do a better job of servicing its poorest residents. One of his proudest accomplishments during his tenure as county executive is the re-opening of the Erie County Health Mall, located at 1500 Broadway on the east side of Buffalo.

The facility is a collaborative effort among Erie County, Catholic Health, the University at Buffalo Dental School, Lake Shore Behavioral

Health, Inc., and the Mid-Erie Counseling and Treatment Services.

“This collaboration is really the first of its kind in Western New York because it is a public-private collaboration that brought together primary, dental and mental health care under one roof,” Poloncarz explains. “It is open to all county residents and it represents a model for the delivery of these much-needed services to a community that has been sorely lacking them since health clinics were closed by the prior Erie County administration.

“Our partners in this wonderful initiative recognized the need to be proactive in improving health outcomes and hopefully reducing the expensive emergency room visits that so often resulted prior to this facility being opened,” he adds.

Poloncarz said he is also proud of his administration’s health and human services plan, “Initiatives for a Stronger Community,” which was unveiled last March.

It is an extensive, wide-reaching plan that contains 49 initiatives spread across four major areas that Erie County can take to effect a positive change among its residents.

“By working in conjunction with numerous community partners, I am confident we can improve the lives of residents who truly are in need,” he says.

Poloncarz works closely with the county’s departments of health; mental health; social, senior and veterans’ services; probation; public advocacy and the Office for the Disabled to introduce programming he hopes will introduce change to the daily lives of county residents from all walks of life. In addition, the development of partnerships with numerous community-based human service agencies is also helping to address the initiatives of the health and human services plan.

The plan includes four categories: employment and financial security; strong families, strong schools, strong children; lifelong health; and help where and when it is needed.

Specifically, Poloncarz’s administration wants to address why Erie County is ranked ninth in New York state for poor health outcomes, with 64 percent of its residents classified as being either overweight or obese.

By breaking down barriers to employment, supporting children and families, promoting good health, and providing assistance when and where it is needed, Poloncarz said he is confident his health and human services plan will introduce positive change in the lives of many.

With winter here, the Erie County executive encourages all residents to get out of their homes and visit one of the many county parks for some winter activities or pleasant walks or to visit Canalside to ice skate.

Forty-eight-year-old Erie County executive seems he can’t sit still. When he is not working, he may be found playing golf, fishing, practicing white water rafting or on the swings with senior center residents.

IN GOOD HEALTH – Buffalo & WNY’s Healthcare Newspaper • January 2016

Health Program to Reach 2,000 Students in Public Schools

A

s the official health plan of Buffalo Public Schools, and in an effort to instill healthy habits in children, BlueCross BlueShield of Western New York announced a unique program to teach third-graders about healthy eating, fitness, and living.

The Healthy Zone program includes the funding and development of curriculum and Healthy Zone activity kits that were hand-delivered to more than 135 third-grade classrooms within the district –reaching more than 2,000 students.

The kits contain 25 fun and interactive resources including nutrition charts, fitness dice, jump ropes, pedometers, exercise bands, super-sized teeth for brushing, and prompt cards with ideas on healthy living.

The concept of the activity kits, and the program at large, is to provide teachers with the resources they need to instill healthy habits in their students in an interactive manner.

“It’s our role as a community-based health plan to ensure young students are given the foundational building blocks they need to lead a healthy lifestyle,” said Dave Ander-

son, president and CEO, BlueCross BlueShield of Western New York.

“This program teaches healthy habits in a fun and engaging way, and the Healthy Zone game show engages family members and the community.”

Recent statistics released by the United Way of Buffalo & Erie County and reported by the Buffalo News, show that childhood obesity continues to grow in Western New York (32 percent of children ages 11 and under in Erie County were obese or overweight in 2012 — up from 28 percent in 2008 and is 12 points higher than the 20 percent national average).

BlueCross BlueShield wants to help reverse this trend and also complement a recent New York state educational requirement calling for enhanced curriculum and more resources around physical education.

“Practicing a healthy lifestyle helps children to succeed in school,” said Buffalo Public Schools Superintendent Kriner Cash. “Healthy bodies support healthy brains and better learning. I encourage our students to take the lessons they learn home and incorporate healthy lifestyles into

their family routines.”

Another major component to the Healthy Zone program, is the launch of the Healthy Zone Game Show, a 30-minute trivia game show in which five students from third grade classrooms square up to test their health and wellness knowledge.

The competing students are selected by their teachers to represent their school on-stage, and all students are part of the “studio audience.”

The Healthy Zone Game Show was filmed at Kleinhans Music Hall and will air weekly on local channel WBBZ-TV. The show will continue to air every Monday at 6:30 p.m. with encore presentations on Fridays at 6:30 p.m. and Saturdays at 11:30 a.m. Episodes will air on WBBZ-TV through Saturday, April 2.

In May of 2016, a special grand finale celebration will be held to celebrate the Healthy Zone program with participating classrooms and invite finalists to compete in the grand finale. The date, time, and location of the celebration will be announced at a later date.

UB study finds motivational interviewing effective against older adults misusing opioids

P

rescription opioid abuse has reached epidemic proportions, with more than half of patients being treated for chronic pain reportedly misusing their medication at some point.

However, new research led by University at Buffalo psychiatric nursing researcher Yu-Ping Chang found motivational interviewing, a form of behavioral counseling, is an effective tool at curbing the abuse.

Prescription opioids — which includes pain medications such as morphine, Lortab and codeine — are abused by 1.9 million Americans and cause nearly two deaths every hour from overdose or respiratory depression. Nearly 75 percent of opioid addiction patients switch to heroin as a cheaper source of the drug, according to data from the American Society of Addiction Medicine (ASAM).

“Older adults are at high risk for complications resulting from

prescription opioid misuse,” says Chang, associate professor and interim associate dean for research and scholarship in the UB School of Nursing.

“As the baby boomer generation ages and more patients are prescribed opioids, abuse is likely to become an even greater problem.”

The study, “The Effect of Motivational Interviewing on Prescription Opioid Adherence Among Older Adults With Chronic Pain,” was published in a recent issue of Perspectives in Psychiatric Care.

Motivational interviewing (MI) is designed to promote a patient’s desire to change problem behaviors by expressing empathy for their experiences, using non-confrontational dialogue, and developing discrepancies between actual and desired behavior.

Although MI was developed to treat alcohol abuse, researchers won-

dered if the intervention also could be effective in treating opioid misuse in older adults.

The researchers examined patients 50 years of age and older who experienced chronic pain and were rated at risk for opioid misuse based on screening tools. The participants underwent MI for one month, which consisted of an in-person meeting followed by weekly phone sessions with counselors, and later received a one month follow-up test.

“Primary care providers who prescribe opioids to their patients with chronic pain are in the unique position to identify and intervene with patients whose use is hazardous or harmful to their health,” says Chang. “With motivational interviewing techniques, a brief and practical behavioral intervention, they can reduce the risk of opioid misuse and abuse.”

January 2016 •

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Page 15

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Everyone is entitled to affordable healthcare.

Under the law, a new “Patient’s Bill of Rights” gives the American people the stability and flexibility they need to make informed choices about their health. Some of the benefits of this coverage include: Ending pre-existing condition exclusions for children: Health plans can no longer limit or deny benefits to children under 19 due to a pre-existing condition.

Keeping young adults covered: If you are under 26, you may be eligible to be covered under your parent’s health plan.

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If you are 65 or older, you are entitled to Medicare. Certain people younger than age 65 can qualify for Medicare, including those who have disabilities and those who have permanent kidney failure. The program helps with the cost of healthcare, but it does not cover all medical expenses or the cost of most long-term care.

You can access everything you need for Medicare, including online applications and publications, at www.socialsecurity.gov/medicare.

Social Security and affordable healthcare go hand-in-hand. The Affordable Care Act and Medicare help ensure that you and your family are covered.

may be able to receive a higher benefit based on those earnings. This is because Social Security automatically re-computes the retirement benefit after crediting the additional earnings to the individual’s earnings record. Learn more by reading the publication, How Work Affects Your Benefits, at www.socialsecurity.gov/ pubs.

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In Good Health is published 12 times a year by Local News, Inc. © 2016 by Local News, Inc. All rights reserved.

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Open enrollment began in November and ends Jan. 31. Compare healthcare plans so that you can find the best one for you, and sign up before the enrollment period ends. You can learn more about the insurance marketplace and how to apply for benefits at www.healthcare.gov.

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You now have the right to ask that your plan reconsider its denial of payment.

Editor & Publisher: Wagner Dotto • Associate Publisher: Jamie Sandidge • Associate Editor: Lou Sorendo • Writers: Deborah J. Sergeant, Jim Miller, Gwenn Voelckers, Anne Palumbo, Chris Motola, George W. Chapman, Ernst Lamothe, Jr., Tim Fenster Advertising: Jamie Sandidge (585-317-1671), Donna Kimbrell (716-332-0640) • Layout & Design: Eric J. Stevens • Officer Manager: Alice Davis 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 • January 2016

Senior Apartments for 55+ South Pointe Senior Apartments • Hamburg

By Jim Miller

How To Write Your Own Obituary Dear Savvy Senior, Can you provide any tips on how to write your own obituary? At age 80, I am in the process of preplanning my funeral and would also like to take a crack at writing my own newspaper obit, too.

Still Alive Dear Alive, For many people, writing their own obituary can be a nice way to sum up their life, not to mention avoid any possible mistakes that sometimes occur when obituaries are hurriedly written at the time of death. Here’s what you should know, along with some tips and tools to help you write one.

What to Include

If you’re interested in writing your own obituary, you may also be interested in writing a legacy letter or ethical will.

A legacy letter is a heartfelt letter that you write to your loved ones sharing with them your feelings, wishes, regrets, gratitude and advice.

And an ethical will (which is not a legal document), is like an extension of a legacy letter that many people use to express their feelings as well as explain the elements in their legal will, give information about the money and possessions they’re passing on, and anything else they want to communicate.

For help in creating these, there are lots of resources available like celebrationsoflife.net and personallegacyadvisors.com, which offers practical information, examples and materials you can purchase to help you put it together.

Depending on how detailed you want to be, the most basic information in an obituary usually includes your full name (and nickname if relevant), age, date of birth, date of death, where you were living when you died, significant other (alive or dead), and details of the funeral service (public or private). If public, include the date, time, and location of service.

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Other relevant information you may also want to include is: cause of death; place of birth and parents names; your other survivors including your children, other relatives, friends and pets and where they live; family members who preceded your death; high school and colleges you attended and degrees earned; your work history and military service; your hobbies, accomplishments and any awards you received; your church or religious affiliations; any clubs, civic and fraternal organizations you were members of; and any charities you feel strongly about that you would like people to donate to either in addition to or in lieu of flowers or other gifts.

You’ll also need to include a photo, and be sure to leave copies with your funeral director and/or immediate family members.

If you need some help writing your obituary there are free online resources you can turn to like legacy. com, obituaryguide.com or caring. com/obituary, which offer tips, templates and sample obits.

Or, if you want your obit to be more memorable, purchase the ObitKit (obitkit.com). This is a $20 workbook that helps you gather the details of your life so you can write an obituary that will reflect your personality and story.

Before you start writing your obit, your first step is to check with the newspaper you want it to run in.

Some newspapers have specific style guidelines or restrictions on length, some only accept obituaries directly from funeral homes and some only publish obituaries written by newspaper staff members.

If your newspaper accepts self-written obits, find out if they have a template to guide you, or check with your funeral provider.

Most funeral homes provide forms for basic information, and will write the full obituary for you as part of the services they provide.

You also need to be aware that most newspapers charge by the word, line or column inch to publish an obituary, so your cost will vary depending on your newspaper’s rate and length of your obit — most range between 200 and 500 words.

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Golden Years Special Issue of In Good Health Buffalo’s Healthcare Newspaper

January 2016 •

Call 716-332-0640

for more information and to reserve your advertisement space IN GOOD HEALTH – Buffalo & WNY’s Healthcare Newspaper

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Page 17

H ealth News Kaleida gets proposals to reuse children’s hospital Kaleida Health announced that five developers have proposed potential reuse plans for Women & Children’s Hospital of Buffalo.

Ciminelli Real Estate, Ellicott Development, Pyramid Brokerage (Syracuse), Sinatra & Company Real Estate and Uniland Development all submitted proposals for the Bryant Street campus.

“The response has been great and the proposals are high quality,” said Michael P. Hughes, senior vice president for Kaleida Health. “This sets up strong competition between the developers which, in turn, will only benefit the community.”

A preliminary review of the proposals show a range of interests and ideas including developing housing, lodging, retail and more across the campus.

The Oishei Children’s Hospital, which is currently under construc-

tion on the Buffalo Niagara Medical Campus, will open in late 2017 and replace the nearly 125-year old Bryant Street facility.

The Women & Children’s Hospital of Buffalo property is comprised of seven interconnected buildings constructed between 1917 and 1995, and encompassing approximately 617,000 square feet on a site between Bryant Street and Hodge Avenue.

Additional properties include 187 Bryant Street and 125 Hodge Avenue (home of Hodge Pediatrics, an electrical substation and a maintenance garage). The campus also includes a second parcel of more than two acres — one block away on West Utica Street now used mostly for parking.

"This process was guided by community stakeholders, and because of that involvement, we have a document which clearly lays out the community vision for reuse, and expectations for developers,” said New York State Assemblyman Sean Ryan, who represents the neighborhood.

Over the next 90-120 days, Kaleida Health, its board of directors and its project advisory committee will vet the proposals, including hosting a public exhibition for developers to share their plans with the community.

ECMC Participating in Trial Studies to Treat Head and Neck Cancer Patients The center for oncology care department of head and neck, and plastic and reconstructive surgery and medical oncology at Erie County Medical Center (ECMC) was selected

by AstraZeneca to be among the first cancer treatment providers in the nation to take part in a clinical trial with the AstraZeneca investigational product durvalumab (MEDI4736).

AstraZeneca is currently running two phase two studies in which ECMC is participating to determine the effectiveness and safety of an investigational product in the treatment of patients with recurrent or metastatic squamous cell carcinoma of the head and neck who have progressed during or after treatment with a platinum-containing regimen for recurrent or metastatic disease.

Durvalumab is a monoclonal antibody immune checkpoint inhibitor targeting programmed cell death ligand 1 (PD-L1). Expression of

PD-L1 by tumors helps tumors avoid detection by the immune system.

Durvalumab blocks this signal, empowering the patient’s immune system to attack the cancer. Durvalumab has demonstrated clinical activity in end stage head and neck cancer patients with both PD-L1 positive and negative tumors in phase one studies.

“We are pleased that ECMC was selected as one of a small number of providers to participate in these trials,” said oncologist Ritesh Patil.

“More importantly, we are hopeful that with our participation and the participation of the other providers and qualified patients, AstraZeneca will be able to find a new treatment option for patients with recurrent or metastatic squamous cell carcinoma of the head and neck.”

Those physicians who treat patients who may be eligible for these studies are invited to provide their patients with the necessary contact information.

Physicians or their patients may also wish to review the listings for these studies on www.clinicaltrials. gov.

For more information about these trials and/or the Center for Oncology Care at ECMC, call 716-898-3698, or visit: www.ecmc.edu.

Parkinson’s Dance Instructor Recognized Cynthia Pegado turns challenges into opportunities through her PDdance classes

T

he National Parkinson Foundation of Western New York (NPFWNY) announced that teaching artist Cynthia Pegado has been awarded a grant through the Give for Greatness campaign to expand her work with the area’s Parkinson’s community.

Pegado is one of the talented instructors who bring the joy and the physical expression of dance to a mobility-challenged audience.

The $1,000 award will provide

new opportunities for her PDdance classes and support further training for her work with those battling Parkinson’s disease.

Parkinson’s disease is a progressive, degenerative neurological disease with an unusually strong presence in Western New York.

Symptoms of PD include muscle rigidity, loss of balance and depression, all of which are improved with engagement in dance.

Pegado has received specific

training for teaching Parkinson’s challenged pupils through the internationally recognized Parkinson’s Dance Program with the Mark Morris Dance Group in Brooklyn.

The Ralph C. Wilson, Jr. Foundation Donates $4.2 Million To Kaleida

T

he Ralph C. Wilson, Jr. Foundation announced a $4.2 million donation to Kaleida Health to support an endowment for the organization’s adult day services and senior home care in Western New York.

Officials from the Ralph C. Wilson, Jr. Foundation were on hand to present the gift to Jody Lomeo, president and CEO of Kaleida Health, at the DeGraff Adult Day Center in North Tonawanda. Among these officials were Mary Wilson, wife of former Buffalo Bills owner Ralph C Wilson Jr. and life trustee; Mary Owen, Wilson’s niece and Ralph C. Wilson, Jr. Foundation life trustee; and Gerard Mazurkiewicz, a longPage 18

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time Kaleida Health volunteer and new member of the Ralph C. Wilson, Jr. Foundation board.

“We are excited to announce today’s donation and to continue our support for the services Kaleida Health provides to more than one million patients and visitors each year,” said Mary Wilson. “Ralph cared deeply about the importance of what Kaleida Health means to the Western New York region and was particularly passionate about ensuring a place for seniors and adults in need of health and nutritional services. We hope that today’s donation will be an important piece in continuing to provide that level of care.”

For many years Ralph C Wilson

Jr. provided annual funding to help defray the cost of attendance and transportation to the adult day service program. He has also provided funding for programmatic activities and much needed capital purchases.

The endowment in Wilson’s name will honor his legacy and ensure these programs are available for generations of families in the years ahead.

Kaleida Health operates two adult day service centers, in Amherst and North Tonawanda. Both will now be named the Ralph C. Wilson Jr. Adult Day Services. The Wilson’s donation will also assist Kaleida Health’s home care program, the Visiting Nursing Association.

IN GOOD HEALTH – Buffalo & WNY’s Healthcare Newspaper • January 2016

She offers two PDdance sessions per week throughout the year with support from NPFWNY, and her classes draw capacity groups.

“On behalf of our board of directors, our employees and the patients that we serve, I cannot thank the Wilson family and the Ralph C. Wilson, Jr. Foundation enough for their generosity,” said Jody Lomeo, president and CEO of Kaleida Health. “This endowment continues Mr. Wilson’s giving legacy to Kaleida Health and will tangibly impact thousands of lives in the years ahead. We are so thankful for the support.”

Adult day services are an important component of the community-based service delivery system that helps to delay or prevent placement in a higher level of care. The social adult day service program is a structured, comprehensive program that provides functional individuals with socialization, supervision and monitoring, personal care and nutrition in a protective setting. Individuals attend from one to five days a week, depending upon individual and caregiver needs.

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IN GOOD HEALTH – Buffalo & WNY’s Healthcare Newspaper

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Page 19

Ditch the Treadmill. Try Zumba for a Chance Many say it feels more like a dance party than a workout

By Tim Fenster

F

or many of us, working out can be a real drag — an hour or more of grueling self-punishment with nothing but some music or a muted TV to keep our busy minds entertained.

But it doesn’t have to be.

More and more health-conscious Americans, particularly women, are ditching the treadmill and handweights in favor of a more upbeat, engaging fitness program known as Zumba.

The increasingly popular program incorporates a variety of modern and Latino dance music styles including hip-hop, soca, samba, salsa, merengue and mambo. With energetic and relatively simple dance moves to accompany the music, many say Zumba feels more like a dance party than a workout.

“I just took a liking to the fact that we’re having fun, we’re laughing, we’re dancing, we’re listening to this fun, upbeat music,” said instructor Joscelynn Baio, of Sow It Now Fitness in Tonawanda. “We’re not even realizing that we’re working out. That’s basically the bottom line.”

Zumba was founded in the mid-

90s by Colombian dance instructor Alberto Perez. The story goes that one day, while getting ready to teach an aerobics class, Perez forgot his usual music. So he played his own merengue and salsa music tapes and improvised dance moves in the style of what we now call Zumba.

In 1999, Perez relocated to Miami, in hopes of making a breakthrough with his new dance fitness program, according to Reuters, a news service. There he landed a partnership with technology entrepreneur Alberto Perlman, and together they developed the Zumba name (a play off the Spanish word “rumba,” which roughly translates to “party,” a line bright Zumba clothes and a fitness video.

Ever since, the program has become steadily more popular.

When Baio began instructing Zumba classes in 2010, her classes only brought in about five to 10 dancers.

Today, her classes number as high as 35 some evenings. Participants have ranged from as young as 15 to one 87-year-old dancer. She

says participants are free to take breaks and set the pace of their own workout, making it optimal both for fitness buffs and people just starting a workout regimen.

And while participants are predominantly female, Baio says it is not uncommon to have one or more guys in a class.

“Most ladies want to have something fun to do [for fitness], but I also have had a number of men coming in here too,” Baio said. “They have to take a stand for their health.”

Of course, fitness trends tend to

come and go, with a number of fitness programs, diet plans, and pieces of equipment having gone the way of jazzercise and Tae Bo. But Baio insists the program is here for the long haul. She notes that dozens of area women are registering to become Zumba instructors each year. Meanwhile, Sow It Now alone offers numerous variations on the original program, including Zumba Step, Aqua Zumba and Zumbini (Zumba for babies and toddlers).

It’s this elasticity, along with its penchant for invigorating participants, that makes Zumba such an effective workout program, Baio says.

“It’s just been proven to me, year after year after year, that it’s just growing,” Baio said. “It’s not about it being a fad; it’s about being what people make of it.”

Baio holds Zumba classes at Sow It Now on Tuesday and Thursdays, from 6 – 8 p.m., and Saturdays from 9 a.m. – 11 p.m. Classes are $5 apiece and require no contracts. Sow It Now is located at 345 McConkey Dr., Tonawanda. Newcomers are always welcome.

Group of Zumba dance at Sow It Now in Tonawanda.

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IN GOOD HEALTH – Buffalo & WNY’s Healthcare Newspaper • January 2016