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JUNE 2021 • ISSUE 258
✓ IS IT SAFE to send your kids to camp this summer? ✓ SUMMER SOCIALIZING for children is more essential than ever ✓ MEDIA TIME doubled for kindergartners during the pandemic
Kids' Health Special Tactics for Easing Back Into Life
MEET YOUR DOCTOR P. 4 Jenna Heistand, a new psychiatrist at St. Joe’s, talks about COVID-19, mental health
COPING WITH THE LOSS OF A PET P. 8
What it means to mingle, socialize, and be doing things again Page 14
U.S. Birth Rates Continue to Fall The 2020 rate, the lowest since 1979, raises concern about the economic effects of declining population levels
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he baby “boom” that some expected during last year’s pandemic lockdowns has turned into a baby “bust.” The U.S. birth rate continued to drop in 2020, marking the sixth consecutive year with fewer babies born in America and raising concerns about the economic effects of declining population levels. There were about 3.6 million babies born in the United States last year, down 4% from the 3.75 million born in 2019, according to researchers from the U.S. National Center for Health Statistics. It’s the lowest number of births
in America since 1979, the report noted. “Early on, some experts had speculated that births might increase due to people having more time at home, but as the pandemic worsened it became clear the rate was falling,” said physician Scott Sullivan, professor of obstetrics and gynecology at the Medical University of South Carolina. “A 4% drop is in the mid-range of what people expected,” Sullivan continued. “I think a combination of fear, economic insecurity, families dealing with actual infections and recovery, disruptions in health services
and other factors likely contributed to the decline.” The general fertility rate in the United States in 2020 was about 55.8 births per 1,000 women, down 4% from the rate of 58.3 births in 2019 and another record low for the nation, said the researchers, who were led by natality expert Brady Hamilton. And the projected number of births U.S. women might expect to have in their lifetimes — also known as the total fertility rate — declined again in 2020. The total fertility rate for the United States in 2020 was 1,637 births per 1,000 women, down 4% from the 1,706 projected lifetime births in 2019. These numbers are below what’s known as the “replacement level” — the level at which a generation can exactly replace itself and maintain the nation’s population level, the report said. There must be 2,100 births per 1,000 women to meet this level. U.S. birth rates have been generally below replacement levels since 1971 and consistently below replacement since 2007, the report said. “It could result in serious economic issues in the future, as there may not be younger workers to drive the economy or even help [take] care of the older generations,” Sullivan said.
Waiting longer This continued decline in birth rates “has been observed around the globe,” Sullivan said. “Japan and Russia have seen longer and more severe declines, for example.” The cost of having and raising kids — day care, housing, education
— has been a contributing factor that has led many young couples to delay starting a family or choose not to have kids at all, Sullivan said. “We have the worst family leave in the developed world, for example,” Sullivan said. “Day care is expensive and sometimes hard to get. The cost of education and levels of student debt are high and getting worse.” But one expert believes many women, and couples, simply may be putting their focus on things other than child-rearing. “There are a multitude of reasons people are waiting,” said physician Nicole Noyes, chief of endocrinology and infertility at Northwell Health in New York City. “The number one reason to delay childbearing is the desire to experience life and reach goals before being saddled with the responsibilities of early child rearing.” “Let’s face it, having children is a commitment, in time, energy and emotion,” she added. “In addition, people most often don’t want to have children unless they are in a relationship conducive to childbearing. Other major reasons include the perceived need to advance one’s career or having greater financial security before parenthood. To that end, more and more people are freezing their eggs [or embryos] to try to up the odds of having a child later–when they are “ready.” There’s some evidence from the new data that couples are indeed delaying having kids until later in life. Birth rates for women between 40 and 54 remained essentially unchanged between 2019 and 2020, even as the rates fell for younger age categories, the report found.
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IN GOOD HEALTH – CNY’s Healthcare Newspaper • June 2021
FAMILY CARE MEDICAL GROUP WELCOMES... Dr. Brian Kline Dr. Cline has joined Dr. Eppolito at: 2949 NYS Route 370, Cato, NY 13033 To schedule an appointment with Dr. Kline, contact the office at 315-626-2117
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Meet
Your Doctor
By Chris Motola
Jenna Hiestand, M.D. Stressed, BurnedOut Nurses Make More Medical Errors: Study
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ritical care nurses with poor mental and physical health are more likely to make mistakes, but a more supportive work environment could improve the situation, a new study suggests. “It’s critically important that we understand some of the root causes that lead to those errors and do everything we can to prevent them,” said lead author Bernadette Melnyk, dean of the College of Nursing at Ohio State University. For the study, researchers surveyed nearly 800 members of the American Association of Critical-Care Nurses. Sixty-one percent of respondents reported subpar physical health and 51% reported subpar mental health. About 40% of the nurses screened positive for depressive symptoms and more than half for anxiety. Those who reported worse health and well-being were between 31% and 62% more likely to make medical errors. Nurses who said their employer provided greater support for well-being were more than twice as likely to have better personal health and professional quality of life than those whose workplace provided little or no support. The findings were published May 1 in the American Journal of Critical Care. “It’s clear that critical care nurses, like so many other clinicians, cannot continue to pour from an empty cup,” Melnyk said in a university news release. “System problems that contribute to burnout and poor health need to be fixed,” she said. “Nurses need support and investment in evidence-based programming and resources that enhance their well-being and equip them with resiliency so they can take optimal care of patients.” Researchers noted that the study was conducted before the COVID-19 pandemic, so it’s likely that levels of stress, anxiety and depression among critical care nurses are even higher now.
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From Alaska to Syracuse: New inpatient psychiatrist at St. Joe’s talks about COVID-19 and mental health. ‘I think people are really struggling,’ she says Q: So you’ve worked in Alaska, Portland and now Syracuse. Why do you hate warm, sunny weather? A: I love how you worded that. I’ve actually also worked in North Carolina and Colorado. Q: Here’s a more serious version of the question. In northern climates with less sunlight, do you see more seasonal affective disorder? A: Oftentimes we’ll recommend lightboxes first thing in the morning for people with seasonal affective disorder to help people adapt. In Alaska there are long periods without sunlight, so those are pretty popular up there. Exposing yourself to sunlight first thing in the morning was often very effective. If the depression is very severe we might go to medication, but often the boxes were very helpful. Q: The past year could almost have been designed in a laboratory to test people’s mental health, from the pandemic, to the lockdowns, to the economy, to losing loved ones. What does the psychiatric health of the population look like this year compared to others? A: I think people are really struggling. Their routines have been lost, people have lost loved ones, and they’ve been socially isolated. So we’re seeing people who haven’t struggled before now facing oftentimes their first depressive episode. It really is quite different than we’ve seen in the past. I know a lot of families are dealing with children who are struggling because they’ve been out of school and haven’t been able to develop their normal social skills. And we’re seeing a lot of elderly people who are also struggling. So I think the need for mental health services is greater than ever before. Q: Is depression the main thing you’re seeing? A: There’s a lot of depression, alcohol and substance abuse, anxiety, panic attacks, suicide attempts. All of that has come to the forefront. Q: Do people seem to be aware of what the problem is, a lack of stable routine and social interactions, or do they more associate it with something else? A: I think people were able to hold on initially for a couple months. Now I hope things are now getting better, but for a long time that uncertainty of
IN GOOD HEALTH – CNY’s Healthcare Newspaper • June 2021
when will things get better, what’s safe for me to do, wanting to do the right thing but not really knowing what that is, all of that really put people in a bind. And then with the country as it was, people were struggling. There was a lot of butting of heads. People were listening and getting a lot of different information. They felt stuck, I think. Q: Do you think the mental health impacts of these events are getting enough attention? A: I think there are so many things to talk about right now that it’s hard to say if one thing should get more attention than another. I think there are so many different things, getting treated for all the medical care they’ve put aside for the year, which people are catching up with. Certainly, with mental health, we’re seeing a lot of people get admitted who have never been admitted before. People with overdoses, people who have developed alcohol or substance abuse disorders. I do think it’s a very pressing need. Q: As far as your own practice goes, I imagine you used to see patients in person more often? Or even just maintaining social distance? A: Well, here I see everyone in the hospital so it hasn’t really affected my practice here. When I was in Alaska, we started to see everyone via telemedicine. That only worked for so long. A lot of my patients didn’t have access to video conferencing or it just didn’t work for them. They were too acutely ill. So, we had to bring them in. There was really no other way. My main role here is as a
consult liaison psychiatrist. I work with people who are hospitalized in the medical unit and interact with other specialties to identify how I can help patients who are having psychiatric issues along with their other medical issues. So working as part of an integrative team is something I really enjoy doing. Q: What are some of the differences geographically, in the types of issues you encounter? A: In Alaska you essentially make do with what you have. It would not be unusual, when I worked in Juneau, which is a city of about 30,000 people, to fly in patients from Fairbanks. They’d be acutely mentally ill, often psychotic, and put on a commercial airline flying down through Anchorage with a guard to be taken to our in-patient psychiatric unit. That would not be unusual because that’s simply the best we could do with available resources. We also didn’t have a lot of the care that you guys have here and being able to refer people to all of these community agencies that are here. So that’s actually a relief to me. It’s one of the reasons I decided to come here. Q: For people who can’t access their regular support systems, what do you recommend, especially if they’re trying to maintain social distance? A: The more routines you can put into place, the better. Getting up at the same time each day. Going to bed at the same time. Getting outside into the light, into the fresh air, finding something to do while respecting social distancing. Reaching out to people, whether online or on the phone. There are a lot of good apps online if you can’t access a therapist. You can go to mobile.va.gov. There are a lot of high-quality apps there for psychotherapy. Also accessing a crisis line if you really need hope. There are also a lot of good agencies that are available on a walk-in basis. Q: What do you say to people who might be despairing that this is the new normal, that it’s never going to end? A: You kind of try to take it back. Look at where we were two years ago versus a year ago, versus now. Instead of worrying about next month or next year and all the things we can’t control focusing on the things we can. Because a lot has changed. There are vaccines you can get, that most people should get. That alone alleviates a lot of the stress and fear of being around people.
Lifelines
Name: Jenna Hiestand, M.D. Position: Inpatient psychiatrist at St. Joseph’s Health Hometown: York, Pennsylvania. Education: Washington University School of Medicine (1999); Tulane University (bachelor’s degree); psychiatry residency in 2003 at Barnes-Jewish Hospital, a teaching hospital affiliated with the Washington University School of Medicine Affiliations: St. Joseph’s Health Career: Board-certified psychiatrist with more than 17 years of clinical experience, including stints at Bartlett Regional Hospital in Juneau, Alaska, and supervising roles at Oregon State Hospital in Salem and Kaiser Permanente Northwest in Portland Organizations: Academy of Consultation-Liaison Psychiatry; American Academy of Addiction Psychiatry; American Society of Addiction Medicine
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IN GOOD HEALTH – CNY’s Healthcare Newspaper April 2021
June 2021 •
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Live Alone & Thrive
By Gwenn Voelckers
Practical tips, advice and hope for those who live alone
We may think we are nurturing our garden, but of course it’s our garden that is really nurturing us.”
Cocoon No More: It’s Time to Get Our Hands Dirty!
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he COVID-19 pandemic has inspired a rebirth of interest in all things gardening. So, let’s dig in! As we emerge from over a year of cocooning, time spent outdoors with our flowering friends is providing a welcome respite from the feelings of isolation many of us have been experiencing. It sure has been for me. What better time than now to reflect on the life lessons that gardening offers to those who live alone or have been sheltering in place. It has taught me the value of planning, preparation, patience, and pleasure — four essential “P’s” for a bountiful garden and ... a bountiful life. Fertile ground exists in each of us, and a little tending can produce glorious results. Here’s what I have learned: • Plan. Realizing the garden of your dreams begins in your imagination, followed by careful planning. Diagram your garden and it will help you avoid planting bulbs on top of
bulbs or mistaking a poppy for a weed. Likewise, envisioning your life goals and committing them to writing can help you flourish and grow. • Cultivate. Good, cultivated soil promotes healthy, deep roots. When you add fertilizer to your garden you are rewarded with abundance. Adding essential ingredients to the foundation of your dream garden (and your dream life) will nourish all that follows. You can’t go wrong with good, nutritious food; a walk in nature; a good book; soothing music; or saying “yes” to a new adventure that’s been tugging at your heart. • Plant. So many choices! Revisit your plan and embed your carefully selected seeds or seedlings with a tender, loving touch, being careful not to overcrowd or plant more than you can manage. And remember: We reap what we sow, so follow your plan. Plant a rose and you get a rose; plant a dandelion and you get a dandelion. Seed
Jenny Uglow your future with healthy choices that promote well-being. • Weed. We all need room to breathe and positive space in which to blossom. It holds true for your garden and your life. Gardening is all about consistent caretaking. Slack off, even for a few days, and all things unwelcome show up and take root. Weed out the negativity and any dream-stealing toxins that contaminate your life, dash your hopes, or spoil your fun. When you pull out the bad, you can more easily focus on the good in your life. • Prune. When weeding is not enough, a major pruning may be just what the arborist ordered. A job, relationship or home that no longer satisfies or meets your needs may need a hard look. It may be time to pull out that pair of “life loppers.” • Mulch. Mulching keeps weeds at bay and the ground moist, and returns nutrients to the soil. It also adds a finishing touch. Mulch offers a blanket of pro-
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IN GOOD HEALTH – CNY’s Healthcare Newspaper • June 2021
tection, in the same way that regular doctor appointments, insurances, and safety measures protect our lives. We can learn a lot from mulching. • Wait. We’ve all heard that “good things come to those who wait.” When we exercise patience, go slowly, and enjoy the gradual unfolding of a flower, an idea, or a friendship, your life can be savored and more deeply appreciated. Each year, I look to my garden to remind me that growth takes time. • Enjoy. Before you know it, your labor of love and patience will pay off. Take pleasure in the transformation as the colors, textures, and fragrances emerge. Too often, we fail to “stop and smell the roses” in our gardens and in our lives. By osmosis, gardening has taught me how to take better care of myself. I have absorbed its rich messages and learned how to nurture my inner garden and growth as a woman on her own. I encourage you to grab a spade and join me. Beauty, growth, and an energizing sense of renewal can be yours this month. It’s June and time to get our hands dirty! Gwenn Voelckers is the founder and facilitator of Alone and Content, empowerment workshops for women and author of “Alone and Content,” a collection of inspiring essays for those who live alone. For information about her workshops, to purchase her book, or invite Voelckers to speak, visit www.aloneandcontent.com
Refocusing on Getting Fit? Heart Experts Offer These Tips
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ant to get rid of all that weight you put on during the pandemic? To help out, the American Heart Association (AHA) is launching an initiative called Move More. One in four U.S. adults is sitting for longer than eight hours each day, which can harm one’s mental and physical health, according to the AHA. “For too many of us, our daily routines have become more sedentary over the past year due to the pandemic, making it even more important to find ways to increase physical activity in our day,” said physician Eduardo Sanchez, the AHA’s chief medical officer for prevention. “Any movement is better than no movement, and more is better. Even small breaks of activity throughout the day will benefit health and reduce stress,” Sanchez said in an AHA news release. The association outlines ways to get more active: • To avoid long stretches of inactivity, set reminders to move around for five minutes multiple times a day. • Find more ways to get off the couch. For example, take a walk around the house or do a few pushups between episodes of a TV show. If you have a pet, take breaks to play or go for a walk outside. Active chores such as vacuuming and tidying up clutter also help. • Reduce screen time. Schedule
a time each day for the whole family to unplug and take an activity break. Take a walk, play a game of hide-and-seek inside, or put on your favorite music for a dance party. • Move more while working at home. Try to reduce meetings by five minutes when possible and use that time to do basic strength exercises
like squats or crunches, move to a different part of your home to do stretches, or stand every time you create or answer an email. • Find types of exercise you enjoy and that fit your schedule. The AHA recommends that adults get at least 150 minutes a week of moderate intensity aerobic activity
such as brisk walking or gardening, or 75 minutes of vigorous intensity aerobic activity such as running or aerobic dancing, or a combination of both intensity-level activities. It also recommends two days of moderate-to high-intensity muscle strengthening activity weekly, such as resistance training.
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June 2021 •
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My Turn
By Eva Briggs, MD
Coping with the Loss of a Pet In recent years, the grief from pet loss has become more widely recognized and accepted
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osing a pet produces grief in many people. At one time, people were ashamed to admit this. In recent years, the grief from pet loss has become more widely recognized and accepted. Pets provide companionship. Animal companions reduce loneliness and depression. They can ease anxiety. The death of a pet disrupts our daily routine. There is no cat meowing for breakfast, no welcoming thump of a dog’s tail to greet us. Our exercise buddy is gone. There is no more socializing with other dog owners on our daily walks. We may be forced to find new exercise companions and new people to socialize with. In this age of social media, tales of our friends’ adorable pets bombard us daily to remind us of our loss. Without a pet to add meaning to our daily lives, we can feel lost and aimless. Recovering from the loss of a pet also requires recognition of compounding factors. • Guilt. We wonder, could I have recognized my pet’s illness earlier? Would that have changed things? If the pet’s death was due to an ac-
cident, we may constantly second guess what we could have done to prevent it. • Euthanasia. This excruciating decision may be plagued by doubt. Did I act to soon? Or did I delay too long and permit my pet to suffer unnecessarily? • Expectations that mourning will end at a particular time. You may worry that you should be over a pet’s death by a certain time. But everyone has their own individual timetable. Stressing over the time needed to mourn can actually prolong the grieving process. • Reawakening an old loss. When a pet dies, it may remind us of past pets, friends or family who have passed away. If any of those losses were never fully resolved, it complicates the current loss. • Resistance to mourning. Some people are afraid to mourn a pet for fear of appearing weak. Others fear that if they begin to cry, they won’t be able to stop. Here are some techniques to deal with grief following a pet’s death. • Find a support system. Talk to a trusted, supportive friend or family member. There are also support groups to help with bereavement due
This column is in memory of my border collie Boomer who died in February 2021 at the age of 14. He had a long and happy life of walks, rambles, hikes, camping trips and fetch sessions. He even spent 10 years as a certified search and rescue dog. He was active until the last week of his life, when his heart failed. to pet loss. There is an Association for Pet Loss and Bereavement (www. aplb.org) and a Pet Loss Grief Support (www.petloss.com). • Be patient with yourself. You have suffered a real and painful loss. Remember it will take time to recover. • Memorialize and remember your pet. Collect and review photographs of your pet. Write down memories of your pet. Perhaps plant a tree or garden in memory of your pet. Your vet may give you a clay pawprint to cherish. Consider creating a ritual such as a memorial service at home or at a favorite park. • Dispose of your pet’s possessions gradually. You don’t have to throw away beds, food bowls, collars or coats immediately. You can take your time unless the sight of those objects
Baldwinsville Pharmacist Develops Diabetic Foot Cream
is too painful. In that case move them out sooner. Do what is right for you. Perhaps save your pet’s collar or tags. If your grief is severe to the point where you become seriously depressed, seek professional mental health care or advice. Eva Briggs is a retired medical doctor who practiced in Central New York for several decades. She lives in Marcellus.
Pharmacist Frank Wretzel.
In addition to improving circulation, some users have found off-label uses the maker did not anticipate By Deborah Jeanne Sergeant
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or nearly 50 years, Frank Wretzel of Baldwinsville has worked as a pharmacist, most recently at Buffalo Pharmacy at The Centers at St. Camillus in Syracuse. He is also a certified diabetes educator. He has known of people with diabetic who suffered amputations because of their poor circulation. That is why he decided five years ago to develop a product to combat the issue. The result was Renew Foot Cream, produced by KPW Laboratories, LLC, and for sale on Amazon for the past two years. “I wanted it to be all-natural and without anything in it harmful to the skin,” Wretzel said. Working with a manufacturer in Miami, it took three years to develop the final product that he would name Renew Foot Cream. “It’s designed to improve the microcirculation in the epidermal layer of the skin where capillaries Page 8
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and small veins are,” he said. In addition to improving circulation, some users have found off-label uses he did not anticipate, like preventing nighttime leg cramps, helping reduce the cold, numbing effects of Raynaud’s syndrome, minimizing athletic soreness and supporting the renewal of dry, cracked skin in other places on the body. “’Foot cream’ has become a misnomer,” Wretzel said. “I left the name that way though. I’m really proud of what we’ve accomplished. It’s way beyond anything I had anticipated.” The cream uses peppermint oil as its base for a topical anesthetic. Wretzel said that the smell dissipates quickly, unlike menthol-based rubs like Ben Gay that linger indefinitely. Users also laud Renew for its quick absorption, as it does not leave behind a greasy residue. “My goal is to get it in the hands of as many diabetics as I can and
IN GOOD HEALTH – CNY’s Healthcare Newspaper • June 2021
people who could take advantage of the moisturizer,” Wretzel said. He also hopes to continue to expand its use for those with arthritic joint pain. “Ben Gay works because it causes irritation to the topical layers and causes the body rush blood flow to that area,” Wretzel said. “It makes you feel warm and good. But, the problem is because you get blood flow, after it dissipates, you get some under-skin swelling. That many times causes more pain than you originally started. That concept only feels good when you put it on but it doesn’t do anything. “Mine doesn’t cause skin irritation. It penetrates the skin to reduce the swelling where it’s being used.” In addition to peppermint oil,
Renew includes about 20 ingredients, such as tea tree oil, an anti-inflammatory agent; willow bark, another anti-inflammatory; and Peru balsam a moisturizer. The cream has no contraindications unless someone was allergic to any of its ingredients. Wretzel hopes to develop an additional formulation containing CBD. “We’ve had a lot of repeat sales,” Wretzel said. “With the five-star reviews on Amazon—I’m so thrilled. You can see how many people it is helping. I’ve started developing it while in my 70s. This is a dream and something I’ve been wanting to do a long time and I’m doing it.” A three-ounce jar is available on Amazon for $18.99. The product is made in the USA.
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U.S. COVID-19 Outlook Shows Improvement by July
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he United States could see a sharp decline in COVID-19 cases by the end of July, according to a new report from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Six research teams asked to project future COVID-19 trends have concluded that new infections will drastically drop in July and continue to fall through September, the researchers reported May 5 in the Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report. However, “substantial increases” in hospitalizations and deaths from COVID-19 are expected to occur if people stop taking basic pandemic precautions, such as wearing masks and maintaining social distance from others. The CDC asked the research teams to estimate future COVID-19 cases, hospitalizations and deaths based on four scenarios, including high or low vaccination rates, and
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high or low adherence to mask wearing, social distancing and other infection control measures. COVID-19 cases are projected to increase through May, the teams found. That’s due to the increased prevalence of the British B.1.1.7 coronavirus variant, as well as the relaxation of pandemic restrictions across the nation. But a sharp decline in COVID-19 cases is expected to occur in July, despite vaccination rates or personal adherence to infection control measures, the teams reported. The decline will be faster in scenarios featuring high vaccination rates. “We are not out of the woods yet, but we could be very close,” CDC director and physician Rochelle Walensky told the Associated Press, noting that variants of the coronavirus are a “wild card” that could set back progress.
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Woman Gives Birth to Nine BabiesMedicare Made Simple, LLC
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Malian woman who had been expecting seven babies gave birth to nine instead, and the mother, five girls and four boys “are all doing well,” Mali’s health minister said last month. The babies were born by cesarean section in Morocco, where their 25-year-old mother, Halima Cisse, had been sent for special care, the Associated Press reported. The nonuplets were placed in incubators in the private Ain Borja clinic in Casablanca.
The case appears to be the first on record of a woman giving birth to nine surviving babies at once, the AP reported. Cisse gave birth prematurely at 30 weeks and is now in stable condition after heavy bleeding for which she was given a blood transfusion, the AP reported. The Guinness Book of World Records told the AP that its current record for most living births at once is eight, and that it is verifying the Morocco births.
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In Good Health is published 12 times a year by Local News, Inc. © 2021 by Local News, Inc. All rights reserved. P.O. Box 276, Oswego, NY 13126 Phone: 315-342-1182 • Fax: 315-342-7776 • Email: editor@cnyhealth.com Editor & Publisher: Wagner Dotto • Writers: Deborah J. Sergeant, Jim Miller, Gwenn Voelckers, Deborah Banikowski, Anne Palumbo, Chris Motola, George W. Chapman, Melissa Stefanec, Chris Motola, Eva Briggs (MD), Mary Beth Roach, Anthony Tracey (MD) • Advertising: Cassandra Lawson, Amy Gagliano Layout & Design: Joey Sweener • Office Manager: Nancy Nitz
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IN GOOD HEALTH – CNY’s Healthcare Newspaper
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Page 9
U.S. Adults Gained Average of 2 Pounds a Month During Lockdowns
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merican adults under COVID-19 lockdowns gained an average of more than half a pound every 10 days, which works out to 2 pounds a month, a small study shows. That means that adults who maintained lockdown measures could easily have gained 20 pounds since the start of the pandemic a year ago, study senior author Gregory Marcus, a cardiologist and professor of medicine at University of California, San Francisco, told the The New York Times. The study included fewer than 300 people nationwide and used weight measurements from Bluetooth-connected smart scales. The
findings were outlined in a research letter published Monday in the journal JAMA Network Open. “We know that weight gain is a public health problem in the U.S. already, so anything making it worse is definitely concerning, and shelterin-place orders are so ubiquitous that the sheer number of people affected by this makes it extremely relevant,” Marcus, told the Times. Many of the people in the study were losing weight before shelterin-place orders were issued in their states, Marcus noted. “It’s reasonable to assume these individuals are more engaged with their health in general, and more disciplined and on top of things,”
he said. “That suggests we could be underestimating — that this is the tip of the iceberg.” Excess weight has been linked to a greater risk of developing more severe COVID-19 disease, and the United States already has among the
highest rates of overweight and obesity in the world. Some 42 percent of American adults over age 20 have obesity, while another 32 percent of Americans are overweight, the Times reported.
profitable commercial insurers begin to gobble up the competition. It is rarely, if ever, a question of survival. The American Anti-trust Institute is urging the DOJ to disapprove insurance giant United Health Group’s $13 billion acquisition of data analytic company Change Healthcare. UHG already owns data analytic company Optum. Both the AAI and the AHA fear the untoward impact of the massive consolidation of healthcare data under one company.
informed decisions. Some hospitals posted charges or prices while others posted negotiated insurance rates. Some hospitals did nothing. Consumers that are part of an organized healthcare system have little choice as to where they receive care so shopping around for prices is a fool’s errand. Consequently, CMS no longer requires hospitals to post negotiated prices with commercial Medicare Advantage plans. If nothing changes, this may be the harbinger of the end of the well intentioned pricing transparency requirement altogether.
Healthcare in a Minute
By George W. Chapman
Private Practices Continue to Shrink in Numbers
T
he number of physicians in private practice continues to decline. According to an AMA survey of 3,500 physicians, 49% responded they were in private practice. This is down from 54% in 2018. It is the first time the number has fallen below 50% and the trend will most likely continue. Younger physicians and recent grads show a preference or proclivity for employment, eschewing private practice altogether throughout their careers. Employment options for physicians are numerous, including: hospital systems, federally sponsored clinics,
independent urgent care practices and national chains like CVS, Walgreens and Walmart expanding into primary care. Baby boomer physicians, at or approaching retirement, are more apt to sell their practices to hospitals systems as their exit strategy because younger physicians show little interest in buying into private practice. Competition from better financed large hospital systems and corporations, increasing overhead costs and ever-changing reimbursement and regulations, have contributed to the virtual surrender of private practice.
Drug Ads: $147 Million in April
es. Families struggling to make ends meet often delay getting care due to high out-of-pocket expenses. 3. Invest more money in research and development to cure cancer, Alzheimer’s and diabetes development. Priorities No. 2 and No. 3 are easily paid for by the billions saved by priority No. 1. But with Washington gridlocked by partisan politics, seemingly nothing gets done.
While hospital and physician prices are established and controlled by Medicare and commercial insurers, drug costs are not. Specialty drug costs are especially out of control, now accounting for 52% of overall drug costs. Drug companies spent a combined $147 million in just April on the top 10 specialty drugs which generate huge profits. Anyone, who watches even a minimal amount of TV, will recall these top seven ubiquitous ads ranked by spending: No. 1 Humira for Crohn’s disease; No. 2 Dupixent for inflammation; No. 3 Rybelsus for diabetes; No. 4 Trulicity for diabetes; No. 5 Rinvoq for rheumatoid arthritis; No. 6 Skyrizi for psoriasis; and No. 7 Tremfya for psoriasis.
Biden’s Healthcare Priorities 1. Let CMS finally negotiate drug prices which would save us billions a year. 2. Lower the deductible for insurance plans sold on the exchangPage 10
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Mergers, Acquisitions and Anti-trust Hospitals mergers have often resulted in sole provider of care in a market. Consequently they are under Department of Justice scrutiny. The fear is, without competition, prices will begin to rise ultimately costing consumers. But in many of these cases, without merging, several smaller hospitals in underserved areas would close. It is a case of survival versus anti-trust. Because hospital reimbursement is virtually set by both government and commercial insurers, there is negligible profit in the hospital business. It is an entirely different situation when highly
IN GOOD HEALTH – CNY’s Healthcare Newspaper • June 2021
Hospital Rating System Overhauled CMS has employed a five-star rating system for both hospitals and nursing homes. Stakeholders (providers, consumers and payers) have criticized the logic, methodology and predictability of the five star system. Consequently, CMS has overhauled the system to make it less complex, easier to understand and more useful. Five basic measures now form the foundation: mortality, safety, readmissions, overall patient experience and timeliness/effectiveness of treatment. The AHA said it is happy with the changes, but more needs to be done. There are 4,580 eligible hospitals for the rating system. Of those rated, 14% received five stars; 29% received four stars; 30% received three stars; 21% received two stars; and 6% received just one. 26% of the 4,580 eligible hospitals were unrated.
Businesses Frustrated Businesses have long preferred free market solutions to industry problems, but not so much when it comes to healthcare. They are frustrated with out-of-control costs and pouring more money into our fragmented and inefficient healthcare system. A recent survey of more than 300 businesses, jointly sponsored by the Kaiser Family Foundation and the Purchaser Business Group, revealed an astounding 85% want the government to increase its role in managing costs and coverage during the next 10 years. 92% want the DOJ to step up its anti-trust activities as mergers and acquisition have tended to reduce competition and increase prices.
Hospital Pricing Transparency There was a PSA aired during the recent Oscars broadcast advocating hospital price transparency. “Powerto thepatients.org.” It is certainly well intentioned. But as discussed in my previous columns, the requirement for hospitals to post online their prices for 300 shoppable procedures is fraught with problems. There is no standardized reporting format, making it virtually impossible for consumers to navigate and make
George W. Chapman is a healthcare business consultant who works exclusively with physicians, hospitals and healthcare organizations. He operates GW Chapman Consulting based in Syracuse. Email him at gwc@gwchapmanconsulting.com.
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By Deborah Jeanne Sergeant f you provide care for a senior, whether in your home or not, you have many community resources that can help you. A referral agency can represent a good first step in discovering what is available to help meet the elder’s needs as well as to pursue self-care. “Because of the COVID-19 pandemic, we’ve had to reimagine how we’ve been working with caregivers,” said JoAnne Spoto Decker, deputy commissioner and executive director for the Onondaga County Office for Aging. Instead of offering in-person caregiver support groups, the Office for the Aging has hosted virtual groups where peers can offer tips and emotional support. Pre-COVID, their Institute for Caregivers provided in-person classes led by pro bono experts on many topics related to caregiving. The classes are now offered in a live virtual format and are archived on the organization’s website. The office also fields calls from caregivers seeking information and resources. Among the latter is the county’s short-term caregiver respite program, offered in-home or through an adult daycare setting. Help in applying for benefits and referrals to area resources can also help meet caregivers’ needs for meals, care and transportation. “We have a strong core of programs that can be individually tailored to the care receiver,” Decker said. “We have registered dietitians on our staff who are able to assist people who have a deficit in their nutritional needs. It’s a perfect opportunity for caregivers to call us, even if they have everything else in place if there are other needs.” Elizabeth Weimer, New York Connects caregiver service coordinator, also helps caregivers find caregiver support and programs to meet their loved one’s needs, such as transportation or the Home Delivered Meals program for those who struggle to cook or obtain healthful meals, both of which are for those 60 and older. In the Powerful Tools program, a six-week course offered online, “we have some tools on how to handle stress, set up a family meeting, take away the keys, transition to assisted living and more,” Weimer said. “It’s an evidence-based course.” New York Connects can also help connect seniors with funding for services such as reimbursement for companion care, medical items not covered by insurance or home repairs and upgrades. “Our ultimate goal is to keep seniors safe in their home as long as possible,” Weimer said. “We use our caregiver newsletter to give ideas.” Accessing care resources a la carte makes sense as the need for assistance can vary from a few services to many. Stephanie Button, vice president of PACE CNY, said that
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her organization offers “a comprehensive variety of services that help a caregiver from transportation to home care to assistance with medical management to using all the services at our day center. It’s one-stop shopping type of program and can avoid fragmentation.” The organization’s person-centered approach includes the caregiver with respite and programming. As for non-agency help, caregivers should reach out to trusted people in the community. Button recommended churches, community centers and other volunteer organizations. “People in your community may be able and willing to help,” she said. “Don’t be afraid to ask a neighbor for help for things like shoveling a driveway, taking out the trash.” Accessing food can be tough for seniors who lack transportation, struggle to walk through a large store or cannot lug the bags from the cart to the trunk and the trunk to the kitchen. Shipping goods to a senior may help. “You could be a distant or local caregiver and do it all online,” Button said. Some grocery stores provide delivery and some pharmacies will add store items to prescription deliveries. Stores now offer curbside pickup, which can aid those who can have a helper stop by the store and deliver their items to their home. A meal service such as Real Eats or Hello Fresh can help provide food for those who struggle with grocery shopping and cooking. Setting up telehealth can assist seniors who lack transportation to doctor’s visits. Button encourages seniors and caregivers to look into resources for help before they are needed. “Being prepared to acknowledge that and make decisions about what your care looks like helps you avoid operating in crisis,” she said.
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IN GOOD HEALTH – CNY’s Healthcare Newspaper
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Page 11
11 Habits Men Need for Good Health Experts highlight certain things men need to pay attention to By Deborah Jeanne Sergeant
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ome habits related to health are particularly pertinent to men’s health. While anyone could benefit from a healthful diet and exercise, these areas of health warrant attention from men. 1. Testosterone. “The biggest thing men want to maintain is good testosterone,” said Erica Callahan, a chiropractic doctor with a master’s degree in applied clinical nutrition. She is also an assistant professor at New York Chiropractic College in Seneca Falls. “There are healthy foods to maintain that, but physical activity that challenges muscles throughout the day will help increase testosterone like body weight exercise. Zinc is an important mineral for good testosterone. Whole foods with high fiber keep hormones in balance. Lean beef can help maintain muscle mass.” 2. Prostate cancer. Callahan said
that omega-3 fatty acids “have anti-inflammatory factors that decrease risk of prostate cancer. Fatty fish are the best source, as well as plantbased sources like walnuts, chia and flax seeds.” She also encourages consumption of produce containing beta carotene and lycopene to promote prostate health and decrease risk of prostate cancer. Beta carotene is found in orange, yellow and some red colored produce, like sweet potatoes, bell peppers, and leafy green vegetables. Lycopene is found in some red colored produce, such as tomatoes and other red fruits and vegetables, including watermelons, grapefruits, and papayas. Men should also seek prostate exams upon their physician’s recommended schedule. 3. Sexual function. Eating foods rich in lycopene supports more than
Where Are My Son’s Testicles? By Anthony Tracey, M.D.
M
ost male infants are usually born with both testicles resting comfortably in their
scrotum. The testicles normally make their way into the scrotum at around 32-36 weeks gestation. In about 3% of full-term newborn males, one or both their testicles may not have fully dropped into scrotum. This is also true in about one-third of premature boys. The good news is that the majority of these testicles will spontaneously descend on their own in the next three to six months. After 6 months of age, less than 1% of baby boys will still have this issue. This can affect one or both of your son’s testicles. Why is this a problem you may ask? Your son’s testicles should be in his scrotum for several important
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reasons. The first reason most people think of is future fertility. We know through many scientific studies that testicles develop best when they are in the scrotum due to the lower temperature and the special environment created there. The maximum fertility benefit of the scrotum involves getting the testicles down between the ages of 6 and 18 months of age. The second reason parents are concerned about the location of their son’s testicle is the risk of testicle cancer. There is a well-documented relationship between testicle cancer and undescended testicles. More contemporary studies still show an increased risk of developing testicle cancer in an undescended testis or a previously undescended testicle, however the risk is most likely not as high as we once thought. Making sure the testicles are down in the scrotum and able to be examined regularly is essential.
IN GOOD HEALTH – CNY’s Healthcare Newspaper • June 2021
prostate health. The red carotenoid hydrocarbon “is also good for erectile dysfunction,” Callahan said. Zinc can also promote erectile health. Shellfish, pumpkin seeds and beef are good sources, but stick with lean cuts of beef. Callahan also recommends beets and berries. “Beets have a compound that increases the production of nitric oxide, which opens the blood vessels,” she said. “Berries have some of that compound. They’re good for overall health with antioxidants.” 4. Sperm health. Men seeking fatherhood should include Brazil nuts, a source of selenium, in their healthful diet. Callahan said that selenium supports good sperm health. “They’re good for the thyroid, too,” she added. “Poultry, beef, turkey, chicken, fish and most animal products contain selenium.” Limit beef to occasional consumption of lean beef. 5. Heart health. “A small shift of the amount consumed of animal meat, the better the health,” said Lacey Roy-Ciciriello, certified nutrition coach and owner of Full Bodied Health in Fayetteville. “As cholesterol and blood pressure are an issue a lot of men struggle with animal protein does not help. Also, cutting back on the animal protein and increasing plant-based protein increases libido and stamina.” Food is one of the factors in heart disease. Russell Silverman, a cardiologist and medical director of the St. Joseph’s Health Heart Failure Clinic, wants men to better “manage risk factors for vascular disease including management of cholesterol, high blood pressure, diabetes mellitus and smoking. “Establish care with a primary care provider and keep your appointments up to date. Establish and stick to a regular exercise program. Physical activity is important to the maintenance of health in everybody.” 6. Tobacco use. Men use tobacco products more than women, according to the National Center for Chronic Disease Prevention and Health Promotion (US) Office on Smoking and Health. “Avoid all tobacco products and vaping products,” Silverman said.
Tobacco and vaping products contribute to multiple disease processes. 7. Health screening. “Make sure to stay up to date on cancer screenings such as prostate, colorectal screening for cancer, CT chest if you’re a smoker and other screening recommendations according to your primary care provider,” Silverman said. 8. Sleep. “Take note of sleep issues,” Silverman said. “Men have a high likelihood of developing sleep apnea as we age. Pay close attention to your sleep and sleep history and relay that information to your primary care provider.”
Anyone with testicles is at risk of testicle cancer and finding it early is the key to successful treatment. Bi-monthly self-exams when your son goes through puberty is a great idea. Two other reasons why parents should be concerned about undescended testicles are hernias and testicle torsion. Many undescended testicles also have inguinal hernias associated with them. At the time the surgery, these hernias are also fixed by the pediatric urologist to prevent future problems. Undescended testicles can also twist more easily when they are not secured in the scrotum. A twisted testicle is a serious problem and a medical emergency.
Some testicles are not really undescended but move back and forth between the scrotum and the groin, we call this a retractile testis. Who should do your son’s surgery if needed? The American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) recommends that fellowship-trained pediatric urologists perform these procedures given their expertise and training in this area. The success rate of putting the testicle in the scrotum (called an “orchiopexy”) is above to 95%. So please come and see us!
Ask Your Doctor When should you ask your doctor about your son’s testicles? As soon as he is born, your pediatrician should examine him and make sure both testicles are down, if they are not or there is a question, they should be seen by a pediatric urologist.
9. Weight control. “Men need balance,” said Randy Sabourin, team leader at MetroFitness in Fayetteville and Syracuse. “I have seen too many men over the years give up on achieving health goals because they often attack only one component, diet, no exercise or exercise, no diet changes, creating a lifestyle change. This approach will not create lasting change. I wish men would embrace a balance between adjusting their nutritional strategy to complement their efforts in the gym.” Avoid falling into the trap of becoming a “weekend warrior.” While some activity is better than none, over-exertion one day a week can lead to injury. Occasional workouts also do not bring lasting results. “Men need to give it more time; two weeks is not a fair test,” Sabourin said. “Give it two months and see what happens.” 10. Hydration. “Men don’t drink enough fluids,” said Peter Lacell, registered dietitian and clinical nutrition manager with Oswego Health. “They tend to drink more caffeinated drinks which are natural diuretics. You can drink other fluids, but most adults don’t drink enough fluids.” 11. Alcohol. “Alcohol comes down to moderation,” Lacell said. “Any alcohol item will be comprised of carbohydrates so there will be calories in there. Whether wine, beer or hard liquor, it is something you can manage. Most people, if they drink a six-pack a day, that’s a lot of extra calories. You don’t want to replace calories from food with calories from beverages.”
Urologist Anthony Tracey is an assistant professor in the department of urology at SUNY Upstate Medical University. He is board-certified in urology and board sub-certified in pediatric urology. He is a fellow of the American Academy of Pediatrics, the Society of Pediatric Urology and the Society of Fetal Urology.
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IN GOOD HEALTH – CNY’s Healthcare Newspaper
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Page 13
Tactics for Easing Back Into Life It’s good to mingle, socialize and be doing things again By Melissa Stefanec
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t this point, most of us miss people. Even the most introverted or curmudgeonly among us have shed many of our anti-social tendencies over the past year and a half. This pandemic has made us realize how much the people in our lives matter to us. From family, to friends, to neighbors, to coworkers, to acquaintances and strangers, we discovered we need each other. However, many of us spent more than a year being isolated or socially distanced from most other human beings. As people start getting vaccinated and we resume some portions of our pre-pandemic lives, real-life interaction can feel unnatural. If you’re having some difficulties reentering the world you once knew, you aren’t alone. For many people, the social anxiety that flared during the pandemic doesn’t immediately disappear after you get a vaccine and the restrictions are lifted. If you’re one of those people, here are some ideas for reentering society. Using tactics that work for you can help reacclimation be a joyous occasion. On a side note, if you’re having a lot of difficulties, you should talk to your doctor or a healthcare professional. They can help you devise a helpful and healthy plan.
Discuss your boundaries As you start to gather with people again, talk to those people Page 14
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about your boundaries. If you aren’t up for large gatherings, ask the host how many people will be there. If you want to be in control, set up an event where you’re the only one who invites people. Respect your own boundaries and expect others to do the same.
If vaccination status is important to you, ask! If you don’t feel safe being around unvaccinated people, ask for people’s vaccine statuses. If they don’t want to share that information, make a judgment call. Do what is right for you. Your loved ones should understand, even if they don’t agree.
Visit places where there are a lot of people (but where you can keep your distance) If you’re ready for people but not quite ready to socialize, you can try an outdoor event or a large indoor open space where there are numerous people. Not having to engage with these people might help you reacclimate to large groups.
Embrace outdoor events Outdoor events can be a great segue for returning to society. Fresh air and open spaces can really help a person feel safe. Things like outdoor markets, outdoor dining or parks and hiking trails might be a good place to start.
IN GOOD HEALTH – CNY’s Healthcare Newspaper • June 2021
Gather with people whom you trust Sometimes, it just makes sense to start small. If you’re nervous about being around a lot of people, start with people whom you trust to respect your wishes and boundaries. Don’t be afraid to ask for what you need.
Understand that you can’t control your environment If you venture outside of your home, you’re no longer in control of your environment. So, assume a level of risk that is appropriate for your tolerance. Understand that you don’t live in a risk-free world. When you’re out and about, people will do things you’re uncomfortable with, because we all have different comfort levels. Try your best to control the controllables and let other things slide.
Feel empowered to turn down invitations If you aren’t ready to attend a specific event, don’t attend it. Give yourself leeway as you reacclimate to social events and outings. If you aren’t up to it, now more than ever, it’s perfectly acceptable to politely decline an invitation.
Make a bucket list If you’re having trouble motivating yourself to get out there again, make a favorite’s list. Create a bucket
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This pandemic has made us realize how much the people in our lives matter to us. From family, to friends, to neighbors, to coworkers, to acquaintances and strangers, we discovered we need each other.
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list for 2021 and put all of your pre-pandemic favorite things on it. When you’re ready, start checking off the things that make you happy.
Make plans in the very near future Now that you have some ideas, make some plans. Don’t make those plans for weeks out; that will give you time to agonize over them. Instead, make plans for a small and accomplishable outing and do that thing. Sometimes, you just have to shed the fear and embrace life.
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Lean Flank Steak Boasts Abundant Nutrients
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ome folks never forget their first kiss: I’ll never forget my first flank steak. It happened in a Mexican restaurant. The lights were low, the guitars were thrumming, and the thin slices of steak in my fajita made me weak in the taste buds. Since that fateful night—and especially now during grilling season—I often reach for flank steak. But taste alone is not driving this meat crush: nutrition is, too. Deemed a “lean” cut, flank steak has less fat and fewer calories than, say, some of the beef cuts marbled with fat (porterhouse, ribeye, strip steak). Flank steak is packed with protein, with a 3.5-ounce portion delivering over half of our daily needs. Protein is often referred to as the building block of life because of its central role in the growth, development and maintenance of cells. Not getting enough of this powerhouse nutrient can lead to a variety of health issues: muscle loss, fatigue, thinning hair, a weakened immune system, and more. Adequate protein intake is especially important as we age to help maintain strength, posture and mobility. This flavorful steak, like most beef, sizzles with impressive amounts of niacin and respectable amounts of vitamins B6 and B12. All together, these essential nutrients aid in red blood cell production, help convert food to energy and promote healthy nervous and digestive systems. Since B12 deficiency is common among the elderly—whether through diet or poor absorption—it’s good to
know that beef is an excellent source of this beneficial B vitamin. Eating flank steak also boosts your intake of selenium, zinc, phosphorous and iron. These important minerals each provide a valuable function: selenium gobbles up cell-damaging free radicals; zinc fortifies the immune system; phosphorous keeps bones and teeth strong and healthy; and iron provides energy and mental clarity. What this cut doesn’t sizzle with is fat, particularly saturated fat. An average serving contains 7.5 grams total fat, with only 3 grams saturated fat. As a comparison, ribeye steak has 22 grams total fat, with 9 grams saturated fat. Foods that are high in saturated fats raise our total blood cholesterol and unhealthy LDL cholesterol levels—levels that, over time, contribute to clogged arteries and an increased risk of heart disease or stroke. Consuming no more than 15 grams of saturated fat a day is the recommended amount.
Flank Steak Fajitas with Sautéed Peppers 2 teaspoons chili powder 1 ½ teaspoons cumin 1 teaspoon onion powder 1 teaspoon garlic powder 1 teaspoon paprika ½ teaspoon Kosher salt ½ teaspoon coarse black pepper cayenne pepper to taste (optional)
1 ½ pounds flank steak 2 ½ tablespoons canola or olive oil, divided 3 bell peppers (multiple colors), cut into strips 1 medium red onion, sliced Flour tortillas, warmed Optional toppings: salsa, guacamole, shredded cheese, chopped cilantro Preheat grill to medium high. Heat oven to 350F; wrap a stack of five tortillas in a packet of foil and put in oven for 15 minutes (can do multiple packets at same time). In a small bowl combine chili powder, cumin, garlic and onion powders, paprika, salt, pepper, and cayenne (if using). Brush steak with 1 tablespoon oil, then rub about half the spice mixture into both sides of the meat. Add steak to grill and cook, flipping once until desired doneness (about 4-5 minutes per side). Let rest for 10 minutes. While steak is resting, heat remaining oil in large skillet over medium-high heat. Add bell peppers, onion and remaining spice mixture; sauté until tender crisp, about 6-8 minutes. Transfer to a serving dish. Thinly slice steak against the grain and serve on a warm tortilla with bell-pepper mixture and desired toppings.
Helpful tips Contrary to popular belief, marinating meat for hours on end does not equal greater tenderization, since marinades don’t really penetrate much beyond the surface of the meat. Long soaks, in fact, can turn the outermost layer of meat mushy, not tender. Much like dry rubs, marinades mainly add flavor. For lean meats like flank steak, chefs recommend using a meat tenderizing mallet, grilling over high heat (about 4-5 minutes per side), and cutting the meat across the grain into thin slices. Overcooking your flank steak will render it tough; and slicing with the grain will result in an unpleasantly chewy steak.
Anne Palumbo is a lifestyle colum-
nist, food guru, and seasoned cook, who has perfected the art of preparing nutritious, calorie-conscious dishes. She is hungry for your questions and comments about SmartBites, so be in touch with Anne at avpalumbo@aol.com.
Give Your Gas Grill a Safety Check Grilling season is upon us: before you fire up you gas grill, follow some simple safety steps
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ith Memorial Day weekend approaching and Father’s Day picnics and backyard graduation parties soon to follow, grilling season is officially here. In addition to practicing safe social distancing if necessary, you’ll also want to practice safe operation of your gas grill. Sixty-one percent of U.S. households own a gas grill according to a 2020 survey conducted by the Hearth, Patio & Barbecue Association. While that means lots of great smells wafting through your neighborhood as you take your evening walk, it also means an increased risk on your block for residential fires, and their chance for injury and property loss. “As the grilling season gets underway, we hear a lot about safe food handling, but we also need to be reminded of safety practices for maintaining and operating our gas grills,” said registered dietitian Pat Salzer, well-being engagement consultant at Excellus BlueCross BlueShield.
The National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) reports that, on average, there are 10,600 home fires started by grills each year, with gas grills contributing to a higher number of fires than charcoal grills. Patricia Salzer The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission urges backyard chefs to check their grills before their first use of the season, and then recheck them regularly. The agency offers the following safety tips: • Check to see if your gas grill has been recalled by going to SaferProducts.gov. If the grill has been recalled, contact the manufacturer and stop using it until you get a repair or replacement. • Visually inspect the hoses on
a gas grill for cracking, brittleness, holes and leaks. Make sure there are no sharp bends in the hose or tubing and that all connections are secure. Replace if necessary. • Check for propane gas leaks. Open the gas supply valve fully and apply a soapy solution with a brush at the connection point. If bubbles appear, there is a leak. Try tightening the tank connection. If that doesn’t stop the leak, close the gas valve and have the grill repaired by a qualified professional. • Keep the grill clean. Regularly cleaning the grill, as described in the owner’s manual, and also cleaning the grease trap, will reduce the risk of flare-ups and grease fires. “Use grills outside only in a well-ventilated area, and never June 2021 •
indoors or in a garage, breezeway, carport, porch or under a surface that will burn,” cautions Salzer. Additional safety tips include keeping the grill hoses as far away as possible from hot surfaces and dripping hot grease, and keeping children away from the grill area, since the outside grill surface can get hot and cause burns when touched. Nearly 20,000 people go to the emergency room each year because of injuries involving grills, with about half of them for thermal burns, according to the NFPA. See Salzer’s tips for grilling healthy meals on the Excellus BCBS YouTube channel at www.youtube. com/watch?v=tZsWQ30MwjY . Submitted by Excellus BCBS.
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Kids Special Summer Socializing for Children is Essential
makes it easier for parents to know who is in contact with their children and prevent unwanted contact. The CDC has established that activities outdoors are less likely to result in spreading the virus than indoor activity. Transmission by surface contact has also been proven very rare. For these reasons, going to the playground is fine; however, close contact with other, unknown children at the playground is likely the only issue. The greatest danger may be in allowing older children and teens to roam the neighborhood to play with unknown kids at playgrounds or other crowded areas. Camping is one way to allow children the opportunity to interact with other children more safely, whether going to day camp or overnight camp. “You could meet kids from all over the world, which is vital to their understanding of the world,” said Susie Lupert, executive director of The American Camp Association of New York and New Jersey. The organization is based in New York City. Just as schools have done, camps are making plans for opening for the summer based upon the state’s guidelines. Since children will be much more supervised than at a random playground; their risk while
interacting is mitigated. “There will be smaller group sizes,” Lupert said. “It’s not going to be a typical summer where hundreds of kids are interacting all at once.” Steven Blatt Providing a camp uses the proper screening and testing protocols, along with keeping children in smaller “pods,” she sees no reason why camping cannot form part of a child’s socializing for the summer. Parents concerned about the safety of their children’s socializing should consult with their child’s pediatrician and pay attention to the state-issued recommendations. “It is important to remember that the pandemic is still occurring and proper precautions need to be followed in order to reduce the risk of our children contracting COVID-19,” said Geoffrey Hopkins, M.D., chairman of the Comprehensive Psychiatric Emergency Program at St. Joseph’s Health. “Outdoor activities are preferable to indoor activities due to the natural protection that having distance and not being in confined quarters has towards reducing the transmission of COVID-19.” He encourages parents to have their children continue following the protocols they have been using at school: masks indoors, hand hygiene and six-foot distance between people. “Socialization is necessary for their development, both socially and emotionally,” Hopkins said. “It’s critical for children and adolescents to develop social skills through direct interaction. Additionally, socialization helps to reduce loneliness which can be a prime risk factor for the development of depression in children and adolescents.” Any parent or adolescent concerned about mental health should contact their healthcare provider.
important to ensure that they cannot hurt themselves. With a nightmare, children awaken to call for help. They can usually tell what they dreamed and why they feel upset. Parents’ efforts to comfort them can readily lull them back to sleep within a few minutes. Why night terrors happen is still not largely understood. Most of the time, they happen with young children. “It could be due to stress or sleep deprivation, but sometimes we don’t really know what’s going on,” Blatt said. “An analogous situation could be sleep walking. It’s hard to find the cause.” Night terrors represent a parasomnia condition like sleepwalking and sleep talking. As such, night terrors may run in families. Night terrors may happen when a child is undergoing a major change in development, such as when their language improves in a short period of time. Night terrors, unlike nightmares, are not generally associated with watching a scary movie with an older sibling. Fortunately, children do not later remember what frightened them
during a night terror episode and the experience will not bother them the next day. In most cases, night terrors may last a few weeks before children outgrow them. If not, a consultation may be a good idea. “Get them on a good schedule of 12 hours of sleep,” recommended pediatrician Megan Campbell, who practices at Madison Irving Pediatrics in Syracuse. Since children tend to experience night terrors within the first hour of sleep, Campbell recommends that parents purposefully awaken their children after 30 minutes of sleep to prevent an incident. While waking a sleeping child seem counterintuitive for ensuring a good night’s rest, this strategy has proven successful in disrupting the sleep cycle and preventing night terrors. Most children at this age can easily fall back asleep from a peaceful awakening. “If your kid is not a good sleeper, you have to weigh the risks and benefits,” she added. “The main contributor is lack of sleep and a good sleep routine. Night terrors is a phase; they’ll grow out it.”
Play is more than just fun; it is a big part of a child’s development By Deborah Jeanne Sergeant
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hildren’s play is more than fun and games. In a piece in the September 2018 issue of the journal Pediatrics, it states, “developmentally appropriate play with parents and peers is a singular opportunity to promote the social-emotional, cognitive, language, and self-regulation skills that build executive function and a prosocial brain.” While the pandemic limited child-to-child contact at school for the past year, children need interaction with peers to promote proper social development. That is why socializing this summer is vital. But parents also need to balance that need with continuing concern over COVID-19, keeping current protocols in mind. “In pre-COVID life, summertime was a great opportunity for kids to go off and exhibit some independence from their parents playing ball together or going on hikes,” said physician Steven Blatt, SUNY Upstate professor of pediatrics and director and medical director of the general pediatric division. “It’s going to be very tempting for kids to exhibit less than the best COVID practices.” Although the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has lifted some of the protocols for people who have received a full vaccination,
the vaccine has just recently been approved for children age 12. Parents will need to closely supervise when their children play with other children this summer. By scheduling playdates at their home or at others’ homes with only a limited number of children they know, such as a few families from their neighborhood, parents can more closely monitor who is in contact with their children. Blatt recommends that those old enough to be vaccinated do so and continue to wear masks irrespective of vaccination. “What’s going to happen is kids develop their own little pods where even though they’re not vaccinated, they take their masks off when they’re with their friends,” Blatt said. “They’ve generally done okay. It’s not exact healthcare recommendations, but it seems to work.” Limiting a pod to three exclusive friends seems to be effective, but that is hard on the 15-year-old wanting to play pick-up basketball with acquaintances at the park. Playing games with natural boundaries, such as tennis or badminton can help limit close contact, as can turn-taking activities like bowling, compared with games like tag or soccer. Young children should only play outdoors under a caregiver’s watch irrespective of the pandemic. That
Night Terrors Differ from Nightmares
Unlike nightmares, they aren’t generally associated with stress or from watching a scary movie By Deborah Jeanne Sergeant
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wakening to the sound of a child screaming is upsetting to any parent, especially if the child cannot be readily roused. That can indicate a night terror, which differs from a nightmare. Those who experience night terrors cannot easily be awakened. That is because they have entered rapid eye movement (REM) sleep, a deeper state of sleep than when one first falls asleep. Normally, night terrors happen within an hour of falling asleep. No parent wants to hear their child crying in the night. While rousing children from a night terror seems like a good idea, physician Steven Blatt, SUNY Upstate professor of
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pediatrics and director and medical director of the general pediatric division, said that it is both ineffective and unnecessary. If awakened from a night terror episode, children often feel temporarily confused, disoriented and irritable. “With night terrors, you typically cannot wake up the child and they’ll have no memory of it,” Blatt said. “Trying to wake the child won’t do anything. It’s scary because you cannot wake them easily. Just keep them safe. They’ll typically go back to sleep. There’s not a lot to do for them.” Some children thrash and move around during a night terror episode. Others may leave their beds, so it is
IN GOOD HEALTH – CNY’s Healthcare Newspaper • June 2021
Kids Special
Is it Safe to Send Your Kids to Summer Camp? Parents are encouraged to carefully review the camp’s COVID-19 protocols before sending a child to camp By Deborah Jeanne Sergeant
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unny days spent exploring the outdoors, learning new skills and undertaking new challenges are all part of the summer camp experience. COVID-19 shut down overnight camps last year while day camps operated much differently than in 2019. The 2021 camping season should include overnight camps and day camps with a few protocols. Physician Steven Blatt, SUNY Upstate professor of pediatrics, and director and medical director of the general pediatric division, has been consulting with a camp about
reopening. “As with everything, and school is a good analogy, this is about the tradeoff of a wonderful experience for kids versus the restrictions and risks that come with putting kids together,” Blatt said. “The goal is to provide something good but we need to do it safely to minimize risk.” Blatt thinks day camps may provide a setting closer to a school setting, contrasting that of an overnight camp where children will spend far more time together and some of that less supervised. Going to a summer camp within
New York may be a good idea this year. Other states abide by different COVID-19 protocols than New York. In addition, should an outbreak occur and the camp sends children home, a spontaneous couple hours’ drive is easier than arranging cross-country travel. Susie Lupert, executive director of The American Camp Association of New York and New Jersey based in New York City, said that her organization bases its recommendations to camps on their respective state’s guidelines. “We’re in a little bit of a holding pattern,” she said in mid-May. “We’re working with the governor’s office and the Department of Health on ways to open that is safe. We want to make sure our industry can thrive.” The most conservative guidelines at present include keeping children in dedicated cohorts, such all children who sleep in a particular a cabin or for day camps, chosen groups, who will not mingle with the rest of the camp. This strategy can limit the reach of an outbreak should one occur. “For overnight camps, there will likely be testing protocols and for day camps, daily health screenings,” Lupert said. “There will likely be various cleaning protocols throughout the day.” Last summer, day camps opened in New York and experienced very few issues. However, overnight camps did not open. Lupert said that this year, there will likely be masks worn while indoors and in a larger group. “Anyone eligible should receive
the vaccine,” she added. She recommends that parents send their children only to camps accredited with the American Camp Association and licensed by the New York State Department of Health. “That’s a better level of security that a camp is dedicated to the safety and health of their campers,” Lupert said. “They have to have medical staff and have Department of Health representatives who check on them before and during camp.” While the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention offers guidelines for camps on its site, it is up to camps to follow New York State guidelines for how they operate this summer. “Children need to be outdoors, have social interactions, get away from screens and have a great time,” Lupert said. “It’s of the utmost importance to get them into new and challenging situations. Mental health issues are on the rise, as is obesity. We know it’s a result of children being locked indoors for the better part of a year. Going to camp really can be an antidote to what they have experienced and encourage them to be more active for the rest of the year.” To read the New York State Department of Health’s general guidelines for children’s camps, visit https://www.health.ny.gov/ publications/3603. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s guidelines on COVID-19 and camping are at www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/community/ schools-childcare/summer-camps. html.
She recommends limiting screen time during the period of one to two hours before going to sleep and giving up the devices to parents before bedtime. While up to two hours or so of screen time each day is fine, excessive screen time prevents children from interacting with people in person. Those interactions are important for understanding how to get along with others. Physician Steven Blatt, SUNY Upstate professor of pediatrics, and director and medical director of the general pediatric division, said that the screen time necessitated by schooling at home has caused children to far exceed that recommendation. “They’re on the screen for
school,” Blatt said. “They’re told to be. It makes the issue impossible to address.” He added that excessive screen time eats into time children could use to become more active in their day. Too little exercise can also hamper sleep; however, timing is important. While physical activity is vital for good health, vigorous activity directly before bed can elevate body temperature and energize children rather than cause them to settle. It is better to exercise earlier in the day. Blatt believes in bedtime routines that help children wind down, not more screen time. Encourage children to prepare for sleep with reading time, talking about the day that has passed and the day to come.
Screens Diminish Children’s Sleep Quality Encourage children to wind down with a predictable routine prior to bedtime By Deborah Jeanne Sergeant
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hile you may feel you readily wind down in the evening by watching television—and perhaps fall asleep while binging watching a favorite show—it is not the ideal way to induce sleep, especially for children. As an additional drawback of too much screen time, watching videos or playing games just before bedtime can inhibit children’s sleep. Screen time may not delay children’s bedtime; however, a study from The National Sleep Foundation indicates that people who use devices with screens just before bed experience poorer sleep quality than those who did not use the devices. “Research shows that screen time before bed stimulates the brain and wakens it up,” said Megan Campbell, osteopathic doctor and pediatrician with Madison Irving Pediatrics in Syracuse. “Your body is not preparing to go to sleep.” The artificial light of screen devices—particularly in an otherwise dark environment before bedtime— can hamper sleep because it delays
the body’s production of melatonin, the hormone that induces sleep. Minimizing light closer to bedtime signals the body that it is time for rest. The device’s stimulation can also maintain wakefulness. Allowing children to keep devices in their rooms is inadvisable. While your children may say that they stay off their phones or tablets at bedtime and keep them away from their beds; that may not be enough. Not only is the temptation strong to check for messages “one more time,” but just the presence of the phone in the room may be detrimental to good sleep. Children wonder who has liked their post or responded to their text. Stressing over likes and posted comments can certainly make it difficult to sleep. “What we’re seeing in our practice is kids are on their phone all night long,” Campbell said. “They’re getting constant notifications that someone liked something on TikTok or text messages. Some kids stay awake until three in the morning listening to dings and notifications.”
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Kids Special Posture Important for Children When we ask our bodies to stay in one posture through the day … it can lead to aches, pains and weaknesses By Deborah Jeanne Sergeant
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hildren’s poor posture is more than appearance; it can affect their health, short-term and possibly long-term. In the past 15 months, as children spent more time hunched over screens and less time active, the effect has become more pronounced. “It can lead to discomfort and pain,” said Steven Blatt, M.D., SUNY Upstate professor of pediatrics, and director and medical director of the general pediatric division. “It’s a sign you’re engaging in non-healthy activity sitting around all the time. Being in front of a screen all day long is not good. It’s a sign we need to change behavior as opposed to changing the physics of our spine.” While he is not aware of studies linking poor posture with long-term health outcomes, it is arguable that no generation has spent as much time inactive and in the unnatural position of hunkering over a screen. The short-term consequences are more readily evident. “With all the devices they’re using for online learning, it’s easy to be in poor posture throughout the day,” said Erica Callahan, chiroprac-
tic doctor with a master’s degree in applied clinical nutrition. She works as an assistant professor at New York Chiropractic College in Seneca Falls. “We need to be cognizant of posture. We don’t want aches and pains to start earlier than they should.” She said that children should sit with their bottoms to the back of the chair, with their back in a natural posture, hips and knees bent at 90 degrees and the feet flat. As supportive as that seated posture is, children also need variation, such as sitting on an exercise ball and breaks to stand, stretch and move. One example Callahan calls the butterfly stretch: stand up straight, put their arms out like wings, and move them up, forward and back to stretch the arms and shoulders. “Even overhead stretching and side to side can help,” Callahan said. Yoga stretches such as “child pose” may help. To perform this move, children sit on the floor with their legs folded under them and move their arms and chest forward to the floor. She recommends that children take a short break to get up and
What Works Best to Ease Recurrent Ear Infections in Kids?
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requent middle-ear infections are the nemesis of many parents and young children. Now a new study suggests that a common treatment — “ear tubes” — may not prevent future bouts. Middle-ear infections (or acute otitis media) are second only to the common cold in creating childhood misery. They occur when the air-filled space behind the eardrum becomes infected and fills with fluid, which can cause pain, fever and obstructed hearing. Some babies and young children are prone to frequent infections. One treatment option is to surgically place a tiny tube in the eardrum, to help drain fluid built up behind it. But the new study, published Page 18
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May 13 in the New England Journal of Medicine, found that the tactic did not thwart future infections. Among 250 babies and toddlers researchers followed, those treated with ear tubes suffered about as many middle-ear infections over the next two years as those who received only antibiotics for each bout. The good news is that infections in both groups dissipated over time, said lead researcher, physician Alejandro Hoberman of UPMC Children’s Hospital of Pittsburgh. Kids normally outgrow the infections, he explained. Babies and toddlers are prone to them because of the structure of their eustachian tubes, which help drain fluid from the middle ear. As little ones grow older, that changes.
IN GOOD HEALTH – CNY’s Healthcare Newspaper • June 2021
move every hour of the day and engage in a physical activity each day. “When we ask our bodies to stay in one posture through the day, it shortens the muscles in the front and stretches the muscles in the back,” Callahan said. “It can lead to aches and pains and weaknesses. You might not notice it until you’re older. Then those aches and pains are more magnified.” Excessive use of laptops, phones and tablets recently has increased the number of young patients visiting Vincent Sportelli, chiropractor and owner of Sportelli Chiropractic Health & Wellness Center in Syracuse. “As kids slump over cell phones and other screens, they get what we call ‘text neck,’” he said. “It compromises their spinal health and growth. Sometimes, the posture is so acute that they can foster acquired scoliosis. It can happen easily with continuous contortion of spinal integrity.” He encourages parents to monitor their children’s posture and to provide an appropriate, ergonomic workspace for their schoolwork. He also recommends that children get moving, especially since school gym classes and sports have been nearly nonexistent for the past year. Most days have lacked recess and even the minimal movement of walking class to class. In addition to inactivity’s harm to the musculoskeletal system, it has also contributed to weight gain. “Some patients I haven’t seen in a year or two put on 10 to 12 pounds, and these are kids,” Sportelli said. “It adds to the obesity issue. The pan-
demic has been a traumatic and harmful experience in many ways.” Edward J. Galvin Jr., chiropractor and founder at Port City Chiropractic, PC in Oswego, wants parents Edward J. Galvin Jr. to become more aware of how much time children spend sitting. “The best thing kids could do right now is run around and play,” Galvin said. “Biking, jumping rope, swimming are all good things for posture and muscle development.” Children can learn better posture by standing against the wall with the head and shoulders touching it. Or they can lie on the floor flat on their backs to flatten out the spine. Many students learning at home have just a few minutes between their online classes and they have to hurry to log onto their next class. “Encourage them to take breaks, especially when reading or playing video games,” Galvin said. “Look at the ceiling for 15 seconds and look right and left. Frequently, they could squeeze their shoulder blades together to move their shoulders back. Get up at least every half hour or hour for 20 seconds.” By taking time to stretch and by getting more movement in each day, children can counteract the effects of their screen time.
According to Hoberman, the new findings suggest that for many children, tubes can be avoided. But, he added, some may need tubes if their rate of ear infection does not wane over time. Physician Steven Sobol is chairman of the American Academy of Pediatrics’ section on otolaryngology-head and neck surgery. He said the study “supports the well-established belief that many children with recurrent acute otitis media eventually grow out of their symptoms, regardless of whether they've been managed medically or surgically. But decisions on treatment, Sobol said, depend on various factors. They include whether infections are impairing a child’s hearing and speech development. That point was emphasized by physician Maura Cosetti of Mount Sinai’s New York Eye and Ear Infirmary in New York City. “The age of children in the study ... coincides with what’s felt to be the sensitive period for speech and language development,” Cosetti said. Unlike antibiotics, she explained, ear tubes “may provide immediate relief from hearing loss related to middle-ear fluid — the value of which may be difficult to quantify in the current study.” To Sobol, the study “emphasizes the importance of creating an individualized approach to management.” The trial included 250 children, ages 6 months to nearly 3 years, who had suffered recurrent middle-ear infections — at least three within six
months, or four within a year. Hoberman’s team randomly assigned them to have either an ear tube surgically placed or receive oral antibiotics whenever a new infection struck. Kids given ear tubes also received antibiotics when a new infection arose — but by ear drop. If that didn’t work, they switched to oral antibiotics. One potential advantage of ear tubes, Hoberman noted, is that they allow ear-drop antibiotics. That could reduce the risk of bacteria elsewhere in the body developing antibiotic resistance. Over the two-year study, though, there was no clear advantage of ear tubes when it came to new infections, or antibiotic resistance. The average rate of recurrent ear infection was around 1.5 per year in the ear-tube group, and 1.7 in the comparison group. Infections declined in the second year in both groups. Children with ear tubes did spend fewer days on oral antibiotics, the study found. But the two treatment groups showed no difference in the likelihood of harboring antibiotic-resistant bacteria in the nose or throat. Still, Sobol pointed out, there were some other advantages in eartube group. For one, they tended to remain infection-free longer before their first recurrence. They also generally had fewer days with infection symptoms—with the exception of drainage from the ear.
Parenting By Melissa Stefanec
MelissaStefanec@yahoo.com
An Inadequate Thank-You Letter Whoever you are and however you helped children this year, thank you
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o all of the people who work for and in schools: after this year, this nation owes you a debt of gratitude. The school year you weren’t sure you would make it through is almost over. I’m sure it wasn’t easy, but you kept going for the sake of the kids. Your hardships were many and often unseen. So, I want to use this column to recognize some of the people who made learning happen this year. • The cafeteria staff. Meals at school were certainly different. You didn’t see smiling faces lining up for pizza. You didn’t live in the energetic atmosphere of the school cafeteria. You packed rolling carts with brown bags. You prepared lunches for parents to pick up from their vehicles. You literally kept the kids fueled. • The greeters and wranglers. A lot of parents shuttled their kids to and from school this year. I want to thank the staff who stood in the wind, snow, cold and rain. Keeping hundreds of families safely moving through a queue is no easy task. You were efficient, careful and kind. It could have been a mess every day, but it wasn’t. • The librarians. The school library wasn’t open, but you ensured my kids had books. You packed a rolling cart with diverse titles. You listened to my children and saw to their requests. Library was one of their favorite specials. Thank you for finding a way to make books exciting with nothing but a cart. • The school administrators, clerical support and county health departments. I saw how many emails came on weekends. I saw Monday emails in which you said you just completed a three-day investigation. I saw the evening hours. I appreciated the efficient and direct communications. No matter the personal sacrifice, the safety of my kids was your top priority. • The school counselors and augmentation staff. Whether you were seeing to kids’ occupational or mental health, it had to have been a tough year. Speech pathology had to have been a hoot when everyone was in a mask. Thank you for overcoming your obstacles so children could overcome theirs. You were more essential than ever. • The bus drivers. Bus drivers have it tough without a pandemic. Thank you for putting your health on the line to see children to school. Thank for navigating the extra stressors this year must have brought. • The teachers and aides. It’s unlikely that anything in your education or experience would have prepared you to become a master app navi-
gator. A year and a half ago, Google Classroom probably wasn’t in your vocabulary. You had to acquire new technological skills while a stressedout world tracked your every move. And technology was just one of your challenges. You had to navigate a difficult world. You had to make it fun, when you didn’t even know how to make it happen. I know the work day likely took on a new meaning. No words I could type would capture the depth of your efforts or my gratitude. • The art teachers. My kids brought home some beautiful art this year, yet they never entered an art room. I have to imagine that finding socially distant and executable art activities was no easy task. Thank you for giving my children a creative outlet when they needed one the most. • The music teachers. Without singing and instruments, it was a tough year for music. However, you didn’t let the learning stop. My kids still looked forward to music class. I’m sorry that the very best aspects of your craft were taken from you. • The school nurses. Every cough, sniffle and warm forehead had new complications this year. I can only imagine the administrative and personnel headaches you faced. Thank you for staying engaged and supporting children. You were the first line of defense. • The PE teachers. Physical education often relies on proximity to others. It must have been a tough year for you. However, you found a way to make it fun. Thank you for keeping my kids’ bodies in motion, with six feet of social distancing. I don’t know how you did it. • The sanitation staff. You spent your afternoons and evenings scrubbing, wiping and disinfecting. Some of you never even engaged with the children you worked so hard to protect, but you kept doing your best by them. You were more than essential. • The communicators. In a politically and socially hostile environment, you found a way to send out subjective and direct communications about what the community had to do to keep each other safe. I appreciated your tact, consistency and level headedness. So, whoever you are and however you helped children this year, thank you. To anyone I may have missed, the sincerest gratitude and apologies. To the staff at my children’s school, you’re the reason my kids jumped in my car with a smile every day. I (and many other parents) am forever thankful for your contributions.
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Kids Special Getting Kids to Eat Veggies Overall, it may take persistence when introducing—and reintroducing—vegetables to children By Deborah Jeanne Sergeant
Y
ou may have heard it yourself and now tell your children, “Eat your vegetables.” That is good nutritional advice. “Veggies are super important because they are nutrient-dense,” said Lacey Roy-Ciciriello, certified nutrition coach and owner of Full Bodied Health in Fayetteville. “Veggies give our kids energy, help their digestive systems, support immune systems and during this time of rapid brain development those phytonutrients are crucial for support.” Children need between one to two cups of vegetables daily, depending on their ages according to https://www. myplate.gov. Unfortunately, some children Lacey Roy-Ciciriello do not enjoy the flavor of vegetables, which demotivates them to eat enough of them. Roy-Ciciriello believes that most children do not eat enough vegetables daily. Part of why might be convenience. Many fast-food places are light on vegetables unless children want a side salad. When offered side by side with French fries, most children want the fries. Children often do not like the taste of vegetables. Roy-Ciciriello suggests trying different seasonings and means of preparation.
When not serving them raw, avoid overcooking vegetables. Steamed, tender-crisp vegetables taste much better than limp, boiled ones. Try additional ways of preparing vegetables, such as seasoning with sea salt and garlic and roasting them in the oven. Don’t give up on serving vegetables if the first introduction is not a success. “Encourage your child to try foods even if they didn’t like them last week,” she added. “Our taste buds last a short time, about 10 days for adults, which means they’re constantly being refreshed according to what we consume.” Peter Lacell, registered dietitian and clinical nutrition manager with Oswego Health, said that offering vegetables frequently can make a difference in success. “Don’t give up after the first few attempts,” he said. “Don’t put too much pressure on kids. Some parents get a little over-protective making sure their kids eat healthfully. When they’re younger, don’t push too hard or they’ll be against trying new foods.” Ideally, children should start eating vegetables when they’re small so that they do not develop aversions, according to Vincent Sportelli, chiropractor, clinical nutritionist and owner of Sportelli Chiropractic Health & Wellness Center in Syracuse. “You’ve got to start them young,” he said. “Vegetables I recommend for kids: beets, cabbage, cauliflower, beans, avocadoes, asparagus,
eggplant broccoli and artichoke, especially. Instead of iceberg lettuce, use romaine or kale.” The strong flavor of those vegetables can make them off-putting unless children start eating them as babies. Sportelli is a big fan of colorful vegetables, as they are good sources of phytonutrients. “The more color in produce, the better they are for you,” he said. “When kids eat the proper foods, they have more energy. Their bodies are getting the building blocks they need. Parents should see that when they change their children’s diet around, their behavior will improve. It all plays on your fuel. If you give your body good fuel, you perform well.” Sofia Sepulveda, registered dietitian at the St. Joseph’s Health Food Farmacy, promotes keeping vegetables more accessible. “Provide vegetables as snacks,” she said. “Keep pre-chopped vegetables in the fridge for a quick after school snack. Keep tasty dips on hand such as hummus or light ranch to encourage intake.” She also recommends working more vegetarian meals into the family menu and substituting plant-based pasta for regular pasta. “Add a tomato-based, low-sugar pasta sauce on top and you easily have two to three servings of plant
foods in one meal,” Sepulveda said. For younger children, mixing more veggies into a casserole, sauce or soup oftentimes goes unnoticed. Sweet red peppers, mushrooms, and carrots as examples of highly compatible vegetables. Sepulveda suggests adding vegetables to baked goods and smoothies. Try adding a handful of baby carrots or spinach to a berry smoothie. Or pour the smoothie mixture into Popsicle molds for a healthful treat. As with most behaviors, parental modeling makes a big difference. “From the time that a child is born, it is important to demonstrate a good attitude towards eating vegetables,” Sepulveda said. “Some examples may be including your child in the preparation process and aiming to include more vegetables in their own diet.” Acknowledge “Emma’s salad” or “Cooper’s broccoli” at the table to the whole family so the children feel pride in their culinary creations. Even small children can wash and tear up lettuce for a salad, wash raw vegetables or sprinkle on a dash of sea salt. For more information on portions, visit www.dietaryguidelines. gov/sites/default/files/2021-03/ Dietary_Guidelines_for_Americans-2020-2025.pdf.
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To advertise in this special issue, please send an email to editor@CNYhealth.com
Excellus Selects 10 CNY Nonprofits to Receive Community Health Awards
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xcellus BlueCross BlueShield chose 10 organizations from among more than 80 Central New York nonprofits that submitted applications for the Community Health Awards the company made available in Upstate New York earlier this year. Each recipient was awarded up to $5,000 allocated by the company to help fund health and wellness programs in the company’s five-county Central New York region. Through a competitive application process, Excellus BlueCross BlueShield’s Community Health Awards support programs that have clear goals to improve the health or health care of a specific population. Awards focus on improving the health status of the community, reducing the incidence of specific diseases, promoting health education and enhancing overall wellness. Winning organizations are selected based on the proposed program’s scope of need, goals, and the number of people expected to benefit from it. The 10 nonprofit organizations in the Central New York region selected to receive Excellus BlueCross BlueShield’s Spring 2021 Community Health Awards are: • Children’s Hearing Aid Program — AURORA of CNY, Inc. Funding will support the organization as it assists economically disadvantaged families in obtaining hearing aids for
their children with hearing loss. The program also includes social work support to connect families to community resources and provide patient education. • Healthy Eating-Healthy Outcomes — Cayuga County Community Health Network, Inc. Funding will support the organization in its mission to increase children’s exposure to quality food, reduce mealtime stress, and create positive associations with food and mealtime for young children (typically 2 to 4 years old) which will reduce the likelihood of childhood obesity for 30 families with at least 1 toddler. • Equity through Enhanced Access to Language Services (EEALS) — Cayuga Medical Center at Ithaca. Funding will support the expansion of CMC’s capacity to provide high quality, equitable health care services to people with limited English proficiency (LEP) and to provide culturally and linguistically responsive services by increasing the number of electronic devices available for interpretation services and provide direct audio and visual interpretation in real-time for the duration of a patient’s stay. Funding will also support training and education for staff. • Suicide-safer Community Project — Contact Community Services. Funding will support the organization’s efforts to increase community awareness of suicide and its warning signs. The Project provides suicide pre-
vention information and resources through educational materials, media messaging, and QPR Gatekeeper training. The aim is to increase suicide prevention knowledge and skills to assist those in crisis within the community, thus reducing stigma and ensuring that those who need support will receive it before they reach a suicidal crisis. • Pantry Partners: Community Gardens — InterFaith Works of Central New York, Inc. Funding will support the organization’s efforts to address food insecurity and hunger in underserved communities in the city of Syracuse, supporting community members’ ability to grow and sustain their own healthful food sources, increase enjoyment of the outdoors, and build “community” among participants. • Your COVID Wellness Toolkit: More Tools to Keep Your Family Healthy, Safe, and Whole — Onondaga County Medical Society. Funding will support the organization’s efforts with families feeling the weight of unstable housing, food insecurity, family and social disruption and loss, and a year of overwhelming stress. Via outreach to schools, PTOs, churches, community centers, and physicians’ offices, program efforts will focus on generating participation from neighborhoods within Onondaga County that have the highest numbers of COVID-19 cases, the lowest rates of COVID-19 vaccine penetrance, and whose residents’ health and wellness is most precarious. • Lakeview Center for Primary Care — Oswego Health. Funding will support the organization in its efforts to engage the region’s underserved population of patients including those with mental illness. Individ-
uals seen at this facility often suffer from chronic, untreated health conditions including pulmonary illnesses. These illnesses, compounded by mental illness puts vulnerable patients at risk for developing chronic lung diseases such as asthma and COPD. • Fruit and Vegetable Prescription Program (FVRx) — Seven Valleys Health Coalition. Funding will support the FVRx Program which provides healthy, fresh produce to low-income and underserved rural residents who struggle to access fresh foods, as well as nutrition and cooking education through virtual cooking classes and one-on-one personalized nutrition counseling with a registered dietitian. • Summer Teen Farm & Food Justice Program — The Youth Farm Project. A diverse group of teens from across Tompkins County will engage in farm, food, and social justice education for seven weeks including community engagement activities, four community events, four local farm visits, and a wide variety of workshops. Farm fresh meals will be prepared daily on site with our chef. Teens will get to learn cooking techniques, enjoy a healthy lunch together, and learn new recipes. • Boosting vaccine equity in Syracuse — Syracuse Community Center Collaborative. Funding will provide transportation to COVID-19 vaccination appointments, resolving a main barrier to vaccine access for vulnerable Syracuse residents. The four city quadrants will be served by Syracuse Community Center Collaborative’s members - Westcott Community Center, Northeast Community Center, Syracuse Community Connections, and Huntington Family Center.
I’VE GOTTEN MY COVID-19 VACCINE, NOW WHAT? If you’ve received a COVID-19 vaccine, you may wonder what’s next, and how quickly things can go back to “normal”. Here are some of your questions answered by Dr. Lorna Fitzpatrick, Vice President of Medical Affairs.
Q. CAN I STOP WEARING MY MASK? If you’ve been fully vaccinated you can now safely participate in a number of activities without wearing a mask. The CDC and New York state recently updated guidance about wearing masks. Fully vaccinated people can now resume activities both indoors and outdoors without wearing a mask or physically distancing. There are exceptions based on federal, state and local regulations and local businesses and workplaces may have their own policies you will be asked to follow. Visit CDC.gov for more information.
Q. IF I’M FULLY VACCINATED, CAN I TRAVEL? Fully vaccinated travelers are less likely to get and spread COVID-19, so people who are fully vaccinated with an FDA-authorized vaccine can travel safely within the United States. Negative tests are not needed unless the destination requires it, nor is self-quarantining. However, still follow the recommendations of wearing a mask, washing your hands often and social distancing.
LORNA K. FITZPATRICK, MD Vice President of Medical Affairs
She is board-certified in pediatrics and pediatric hematology-oncology and obtained her medical degree at Jacobs School of Medicine, Buffalo, New York, and continued on to residency in pediatrics at St. Louis Children’s Hospital/Washington University, St. Louis. She completed a fellowship in pediatric hematology-oncology at Johns Hopkins University. While there, she participated in the graduate training program in clinical investigation at the Bloomberg School of Public Health.
Q. IS THERE AN UPDATE ON WHEN KIDS CAN GET VACCINATED? DOES THIS AFFECT THEM RETURNING TO SCHOOL? All residents of New York ages 12+ are now eligible for a vaccine. The Pfizer/BioNTech vaccine is approved for ages 12+ and the other vaccines are currently being tested to make sure they are safe and effective. As a pediatrician and mother, I know how important it is for children to return to school for both their social and educational development. Vaccines are one more tool to keep our children and teachers safe in the classroom.
Read our full Q&A with Dr. Fitzpatrick at
ExcellusBCBS.com/COVID19
The information in this document is current as of May 20, 2021. For the latest information on COVID-19, visit the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention online at CDC.gov. A nonprofit independent licensee of the Blue Cross Blue Shield Association
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New techonolgy has enabled senior facilities to connect their residents with their families and friends. Some residents can even attend church by streaming it on iPads or similar equipment.
Several senior facilities in Central New York, like St. Luke Health Services in Oswego, have used new technology to open their doors to family and friends. Shown is a Loretto resident during a virtual visitation.
Zooming Into the Future Long-term care facilities invest in iPads to keep residents connected, engaged By Payne Horning
P
rior to the pandemic, Linda Brown said her family had a “great thing going” to ensure that she or one of her six siblings were in touch with their mother, Roslyn Antonacci, every day. Antonacci, who recently turned 90, is a resident at Loretto’s Sedgwick Heights assisted living facility. If someone couldn’t visit her in person, then at the very least, Antonacci could expect a call. But the priority for Brown and her siblings was always taking their mother off campus for activities, like the occasional meal. “She loves getting social time with her family and getting outdoors,” Brown said. “She had crazy quirks, like she loved waffles and we couldn’t get them at the facility. So, I would take her out to breakfast to little diners, go have a waffle, you know, the little things meant the world to her.” These excursions, however, soon came to an abrupt end as did all in-person visits from the family. New York state shut down visitor access to nursing and other long-term care facilities in March 2020 and didn’t end up easing visitor restrictions until months later. Even then, many families were unable to get around the regulations. It was a desperate
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bid to reduce the alarming number of COVID-19 deaths among New York’s senior citizens. And while it likely saved many lives, some argue the strict policy may have cost some as well due to isolation. Thousands of families like Antonacci’s were cut off from their loved ones for much of 2020 and even into 2021. They resorted to phone calls or visits through closed windows to stay in touch. Annette Havens, a recreation therapist at Loretto, said the past year was a struggle. “We had families that would come in on a daily basis,” Havens said. “We had families that came in every weekend to play bingo with their loved ones, take them out for meals, and suddenly they weren’t they weren’t able to do that anymore.” Havens said staff at Loretto did its best to connect the residents with family members regularly by phone. Yet despite their best efforts, some were confused, and even upset, as to why their relatives were no longer visiting. So, Loretto’s recreation therapists brainstormed and realized, given the constraints, that if residents were going to be separated from their loved ones for an indefinite period of time,
IN GOOD HEALTH – CNY’s Healthcare Newspaper • June 2021
it was not enough to hear their families; they needed to see them too. The trouble was that each facility had a limited number of computers and handheld devices like iPads and many of the residents didn’t own smartphones or cellphones at all. Between an investment from Loretto and a grant from the New York State Department of Health, the company purchased dozens of new iPads, enabling staff to connect families through video conferencing apps like Zoom, Skype, and Apple’s FaceTime. It was a bit of a learning curve at first, according to Havens (some residents kept pointing their cameras at the ceiling rather than their faces), but well worth the work. “It was a lifesaver and a lifeline for our residents and their family members,” Havens said. “We would cry with families during these calls. The families would be like, ‘Oh we miss you. We wish we could hug you!’ And the residents would say ‘Oh it’s so good to see your face!’ It was very heartfelt.” Brown said since her mother started Zooming, she has not missed a single call. She is perkier than when they talk on the phone and the little compliments about what they can see, like what Antonacci is wearing or how her hair looks, makes a dra-
matic difference. Although Antonacci jokes that she doesn’t always like to be on camera, these video-conferences “hit the spot.” “My favorite part of Zooming is just seeing them all,” Antonacci said. “It’s like getting the family together, they talk among themselves too and communicate about things that are necessary for the whole family to understand, not just me.” More than just reuniting family members, though, Havens said residents participated in events that they otherwise would have missed because of the pandemic or because of their travel limitations. Through video-conferencing, Loretto residents over the last year have been able to attend weddings, birthday parties, funerals, anniversary celebrations, travel with families on vacation and see newborn descendants. This technology has opened new doors as well. Some residents now attend church by streaming it on these devices. St. Luke Health Services similarly added iPads in their senior residential facilities in Oswego. Director of Community Relations at St. Luke Greg Osetek said they have gotten creative with what these devices can offer. “While the focus is keeping our residents and family members engaged, we’ve also been able to use these technologies for a whole host of other opportunities around keeping our residents active and engaged in our community,” Osetek said. “We regularly host exercise classes that are online, we have sponsored and hosted local entertainers who perform for us via Skype or Facebook. We have programs now where folks are doing virtual visits of various museums.” As more people have become vaccinated and the number of cases of COVID-19 falls, family members are now, finally, able to visit their loved ones in long-term care facilities in New York. However, staff at Loretto and St. Luke think these iPads will not remain a relic of the pandemic. They anticipate making this investment in technology a permanent offering at their facilities given the wide range of activities that they enable. For example, Osetek said the iPads have made telehealth visits easier for their residents. And many families, like Antonacci’s, say they have become accustomed to video-conferences. Brown said in-person visits with mom are still the priority in her family’s visitation system, but Zoom has now replaced phone calls as the backup.
Home Care by Seniors for Seniors There’s a huge difference in the kind of home care you can receive from someone who really understands what your life is like as a senior. The concerns you have. The need for independence. Someone who, like you, has a little living under his or her belt. Our loving, caring, compassionate seniors are there to help. We offer all the services you need to stay in your own home, living independently.
By Jim Miller
Medicare Coverage Options for Retirees Eager to Travel Dear Savvy Senior, What are the best Medicare coverage options for COVID-19 vaccinated retirees who are eager to travel? My wife and I will both turn 65 over the next few months and would like to know which Medicare plans are best for extensive travelers. Almost 65
Dear Almost, The best Medicare plans for retirees who plan to travel will vary depending on your destinations. But before you book a trip make sure you know the current CDC COVID-19 travel recommendations (see CDC. gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/travelers), and research your destinations too so you can know if restrictions apply wherever you’re going.
Medicare Review
Before we dissect how Medicare works for travelers, let’s start with a quick review of your different Medicare options. One option is original Medicare, which covers (Part A) hospital services and (Part B) doctor’s visits and other medical services. If you choose original Medicare, you may also want to get a Medicare (Part D) prescription drug plan (if you don’t already have coverage) to cover your medications, and a Medicare supplemental (Medigap) policy to help pay for things that aren’t covered by Medicare like copayments, coinsurance and deductibles. Or, you could get a Medicare Advantage (Part C) plan instead, which is sold through private insurance companies, and covers everything original Medicare covers, plus many plans also offer prescription drug coverage and extra services like vision, hearing and dental care all in one plan. To help you evaluate your options contact your state health insurance assistance program (see ShiptaCenter.org), which provides free Medicare counseling. You can also shop and compare Medicare health and drug plans and Medigap policies at Medicare.gov/ find-a-plan. Also note that whatever Medicare plans you choose to enroll in, if you find that they are not meeting your needs or your needs change, you can always switch to a different plan during the open enrollment period, which is between Oct. 15 and Dec. 7.
U.S. Travel
If you and your husband are planning to travel domestically, original Medicare may be the better option because it provides coverage everywhere in the U.S. and its territories as long as the doctor or hospital accepts Medicare. Medicare Advantage plans, on the other hand, which have become very popular among new enrollees, may restrict your coverage when traveling throughout the U.S. This is because most Medicare Advantage plans are HMOs or PPOs and require you to use doctors, hospitals and pharmacies that are in the plan’s network within a service area or geographic region. So, if you’re traveling outside that area you may need to pay a higher fee, or your services may not be covered at all. If you do decide to enroll in a Medicare Advantage plan, be sure you check the benefit details carefully to see what costs and rules apply when traveling outside your service area.
Traveling Abroad
If you’re planning to travel abroad much, a Medicare Advantage plan may be a better option because many Advantage plans today offer emergency care coverage outside the U.S. But be sure you check before you choose a plan because not all plans offer it. Original Medicare, on the other hand, does not provide coverage outside the U.S. and its territories except in rare circumstances (see Medicare.gov/coverage/travel), and Medicare drug plans will not cover prescription drugs purchased outside the U.S. either. But if you do choose original Medicare, you can still get some coverage abroad through a Medigap policy. Plans D, G, M and N plans will pay for 80% of medically necessary emergency care outside the U.S. to new enrollees, but only for the first 60 days of the trip, and you have to meet an annual $250 deductible first. There’s also a lifetime limit of $50,000, so you’d need to cover any costs above that amount. Some beneficiaries, regardless of their Medicare coverage, purchase travel medical insurance for trips abroad, which you can shop for at InsureMyTrip.com or SquareMouth. com. Send your senior questions to: Savvy Senior, P.O. Box 5443, Norman, OK 73070, or visit SavvySenior. org. Jim Miller is a contributor to the NBC Today show and author of “The Savvy Senior” book.
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‘Each year, the Alzheimer’s Association puts out a facts and figures report — the Alzheimer’s Association 2021 Alzheimer’s Disease Facts and Figures — that updates the statistics. According to the report, there are 410,000 people in New York state living with Alzheimer’s disease. By 2025, we expect that to increase to 460,000.’
Q A &
with Cathy James
The executive director of the Alzheimer’s Association, Central New York Chapter celebrates 25 years on the job. She talks about the organization and what it’s doing to help those affected by Alzheimer’s By Mary Beth Roach
C
athy James is the chapter executive of the Alzheimer’s Association, Central New York Chapter. As such she oversees a staff of 20, a wide variety of programs and services over its 14-county area, and an annual budget of about $3 million to $3.5 million. She also works with the association on developing public policy initiatives. She celebrates her 25th year with the Alzheimer’s Association in June. Q: Can you provide some statistics regarding the number of people with Alzheimer’s in the chapter’s coverage area and nationwide? A: Nationwide there are about six million Americans that are living with Alzheimer’s disease. In New York state, it’s about 410,000. Each year, the Alzheimer’s Association puts out a facts and figures report — the Alzheimer’s Association 2021 Alzheimer’s Disease Facts and Figures — that updates those statis-
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tics. According to the report, there are 410,000 people in New York state living with Alzheimer’s disease. By 2025, we expect that to increase to 460,000. Q: What services does your chapter offer for people with Alzheimer’s and their caregivers? A: One of the services is a 24hour helpline. We have an 800 number at 1-800-272-3900. Individuals can reach a dementia care expert around the clock. We also have a language translation line that we can connect to more than 200 different languages through that 800 number. That is really the lifeline for individuals. It’s really that first connection to the association because people can call at any particular time day or night. We also have care consultation. People can reach that through our 800 number or they can have a care consultation through one of our staff. Right now, we’re doing that remotely or by
IN GOOD HEALTH – CNY’s Healthcare Newspaper • June 2021
Zoom and they can bring on other family members. A Care Consultation really helps a family and an individual living with Alzheimer’s disease to put a plan of action together. We get a lot of questions from family and individuals with the disease. They’re not quite sure what they should start with first. Perhaps the individual is living by themselves, so residential and safety issues are of concern. They may have some questions about how to get an accurate and timely diagnosis or legal and financial questions. Other services the association provides are education and training for the caregiver, as well as for the individual living with Alzheimer’s disease. There is a lot to learn about the disease, how to best to communicate, about behaviors and other changes that may be occurring as the disease progresses. Part of that support also includes peer-facilitated support groups. It’s great for individuals with the disease and their caregivers to meet other caregivers. A lot of learning and sharing goes on in those support groups. Individuals with Alzheimer’s disease are likely to wander at some point during their disease progression. The Medic Alert Safe Return program is an identification bracelet or necklace and a registration. Many of these services we’re able to provide free of charge. We also do some professional training for individuals who are professional caregivers through local nursing homes and assisted living facilities, and home care agencies that are interested in having their staff be trained in dementia care practices. Q: Are there day care programs in the area for them? A: There are many organizations that are providing adult day care services. Most of them are provided under the auspices of a long-term care or skilled nursing facility. There are some through our 14 counties that are provided through senior centers or other community-based services. Those are very valuable for family members and individuals. That break for the caregiver is vital. Adult day services have shown to be very valuable and important for the health of an individual living with Alzheimer’s disease. It gives them purpose; it keeps them physically, mentally and socially active. All of those components are very, very important. Q: Your organization can help families locate one of those programs? A: Through our website, we have a community resource finder. They can log in their zip code and information about what they’re seeking and they can get what services are available. Or they can call on that 800 number. Q: The association has a fundraiser coming up later in June called The Lon-
gest Day. How does that work? A: It really signifies that every day for a caregiver can be the longest. We want the event to shed light on all those caregivers and individuals living with Alzheimer’s to elevate that conversation. June is also Alzheimer’s and Brain Awareness Month. You choose an activity that may be meaningful for you or maybe meaningful for someone that you’re doing this in honor or in memory of. You can register on our website — alz.org/tld. There is a $20 fee to register and includes a kit to help you organize your event. Q: What do you see ahead in our nation’s fight against Alzheimer’s and finding a cure? A: The research component to put an end to Alzheimer’s disease and have the first survivor is truly what our mission, our work and our vision is all about. We are the largest private funder of research that takes place. Our work in research is around key areas, such as prevention, better treatment and a cure. We are waiting word on a drug, several drugs that have been in clinical trials. One in particular is called aducanumab. If it’s approved by the FDA, and we may be getting word in the beginning of June, this will be one of the first drugs available that will actually modify the disease. The drugs that we have currently help with some of the symptoms of Alzheimer’s disease, but they don’t modify what’s happening in the brain. Not necessarily a cure, but it could help to slow the progression. Our hope would be that it would provide more time for people living with the disease to have a better quality of life. The Alzheimer’s Association, in our public policy efforts, has been raising our voice each and every year. We are currently at just more than $3 billion of federal dollars appropriated for all Alzheimer’s and other dementia research. This year our appropriation request is another $289 million. That is what the scientists are saying is needed to continue to advance the research. Another barrier clinical trials have is finding enough subjects to be a part of the trial. Many of these trials often times do not have enough diversity to be able to really determine the impact of Alzheimer’s disease or the treatments on individuals of color. We do know that Alzheimer’s disease affects African-Americans twice as much as whites; Hispanic, one and a half times. It’s very important that these clinical trials are recruiting subjects that are representative of our community. We’re looking at how we can bring more scientists that are reflective of these communities into the field. This field of science is extremely important to the Alzheimer’s Association, and that’s a very important part of the mission and the work that we do every single day.
Health News
Jim Reed, new President and CEO of Excellus BCBS.
Reed joined Excellus BlueCross BlueShield in January 1996. Prior to serving as president and CEOelect, his roles included executive vice-president of marketing and sales, and Central New York regional president. As president and CEO, he assumes responsibility for the entire operation, including fulfilling the company’s mission and fostering the company’s corporate culture. “Our focus remains on providing access to high-quality health care to as many people as possible at a price they can afford,” Reed said. “As a locally based health plan, we are partners with those who provide care and those who pay for it and we want to build on that going forward.” The Lifetime Healthcare family of companies includes its nonprofit health plan, with 1.5 million members in 39 New York counties and about 3,900 employees. The health plan does business as Excellus BlueCross BlueShield across the Roch-
ester region, Central and Northern New York, the Utica region and the Southern Tier and operates as Univera Healthcare in eight counties surrounding the Buffalo area. Related entities include the national long-term care insurance company, MedAmerica Inc., and the employee benefit firm, Lifetime Benefit Solutions, Inc. Over the course of his career, Reed has been involved in the community through various nonprofit organizations. He serves on multiple committees and boards in the regions, including CenterState CEO, ROC 2025, Greater Rochester Chamber of Commerce, and the BlueCross BlueShield Association. Reed earned his bachelor’s degree in business administration and his master’s degree in business administration from Le Moyne College in Syracuse. Reed, age 50, and his wife reside in Skaneateles and have three children.
grant and the Mother Cabrini Foundation, Loretto had been planning for initiatives around digital literacy for its workforce throughout 2020. Digital literacy, or the skill of being able to find, discern, analyze and use high quality data found on digital platforms, is a critical component of providing high quality, affordable health care. Healthcare workers have faced roadblocks in growth around technology, though. “Digitally-literate knowledge workers have higher wages and lower unemployment rates than service and blue-collar workers, who are seeing persistently higher unemployment rates and wage stagnation,” said Kimberly Townsend, president and CEO at Loretto. For low income and rural populations, this disparity has a significant negative impact on the development
of their regions and on their ability to participate in an increasingly digital economy. Loretto is committed to providing the training and resources needed to allow each employee to fully participate in a digitally-driven, knowledge-based economy. But this training requires a significant financial investment. The Parker Family recognized the opportunity to effect change at both an organizational-level and personally for employees. “In 2007, my parents became residents of the Loretto community,” said Kathy Parker. “During frequent visits with them, I became acquainted with dozens of employees, who work diligently and with compassion. Technical literacy has become imperative for all workplaces of today and tomorrow. My family is honored to help Loretto initiate the EMR employee training program,
which will advance staff skills and allow them to enhance the service they provide.” The Parker family, comprised of Mark and Kathy, along with their three children, dedicated this support in honor of John and Shirley Mills, Kathy’s parents. While Shirley still resides in Syracuse, this support helps to keep John’s memory alive and at the forefront of their family’s minds. John and Shirley spent their lives as humble, devoted community members of Central New York, known for their commitment to helping populations in need. The family values philanthropic investments that generate outcomes, particularly for those who are most marginalized. Kathy still visits her hometown regularly to spend time with her mother.
organizations. His recent experience at Helio Health includes capital campaign funding to build a new facility to increase regional service capacity. “Since joining Helio Health in a different role, I have had the opportunity to work closely with some members of the leadership team. I have learned firsthand this is an organization that truly cares about its clients, employees and communities they serve,” Justice said. “Helio Health has grown greatly in the past few years while maintaining strong forward-thinking programs. I am excited to join Helio Health’s leadership team and be a part of their innovative approach to treatment, recovery and business growth.”
en’s services at Oswego Health. Leaf graduated from Cayuga Community College in 2007 and started her career in nursing as a med/surg nurse at the now-defunct A.L. Lee Memorial Hospital in Fulton. In 2009, Leaf joined Oswego Health and quickly Jessica Leaf transitioned in 2010 to the maternity department, where she has called home ever since. “I have the utmost confidence in Jessica, and she is perfect for this leadership role,” shared Director of Nursing Melissa Purtell. “Jessica is one who continually seeks out opportunities to enhance her skillset and most recently became certified in electronic fetal monitoring. We are so proud of her accomplishments at Oswego Health and thankful she’s a
part of our team.” Oswego Hospital’s maternity center is staffed 24 hours a day by experienced registered nurses, 24-hour breastfeeding support during the postpartum period and after discharge, and a neonatal nurse practitioner on duty for newborn care after delivery. Each year the department provides care to more than 500 expectant mothers and the hospital was recently recognized by Healthgrades and named top 5% in the nation for patient safety.
Jim Reed Takes Over as New Excellus BCBS President and CEO Excellus BlueCross BlueShield announced in May that James R. Reed has been appointed chief executive officer of the $6.2 billion health plan and its parent company, The Lifetime Healthcare Companies. Reed has been serving as president and CEO-elect since July 2020 and succeeds Christopher C. Booth who retired after leading the company since 2013. “Jim is strategic in his approach, has a strong sense of mission and brings a wide array of experience to the job,” said Marianne Gaige, chairwoman of the company’s board of directors. “He has been a leader in this company for 25 years and has been instrumental in shaping the company’s future in today’s ever-changing health insurance industry.”
Donation Leads to Digital Inclusion for Loretto Employees Thanks to the generosity of the Parker Family of Portland, Oregon, Loretto will launch a new technical training program to promote digital-inclusion with its employees. With this half million-dollar donation, the organization will begin training its diverse staff on new electronic medical records (EMR) that will significantly streamline how frontline healthcare workers provide care, as well as provide them with transferrable skills that will enable them to be successful in a digital, knowledge-based economy. Through collaborations with lead EMR vendors, and because of financial support from a New York state
Helio Health appoints new leadership member Helio Health recently announced that Jeff Justice will be part of organization’s leadership team and will serve as vice president of finance and facilities. “We are excited to have Jeff on our leadership team. I look forward to him building and empowering our team and contributing to the growth of our organization,” said Helio Health President and CEO Jeremy Jeffrey Justice Klemanski. Justice has over 15 years of accounting experience with extensive finance management expertise combined with strong business acumen. He has been involved with finance operations of multiple nonprofit
Jessica Leaf to direct women’s services at Oswego Health Registered nurse Jessica Leaf has been promoted to director of wom-
St. Joe’s gets an ‘A’ grade in Leapfrog hospital safety St. Joseph’s Health received an “A” grade in the spring 2021 Leapfrog Hospital Safety Grade, a national distinction recognizing the health system’s achievements protecting patients from errors, injuries, accidents and infections.
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Health News continued from pg. 25 It is St. Joseph’s fifth “A” in a row, and sixth overall. The Leapfrog Group is an independent national watchdog organization committed to health care quality and safety. The Leapfrog Hospital Safety Grade assigns an “A,” “B,” “C,” “D” or “F” grade to all general hospitals across the country and is updated every six months. It is the only hospital ratings program based exclusively on hospitals’ prevention of medical errors and other harms to patients in their care. “To receive another “A” safety grade from Leapfrog — our fifth in a row — while we are facing the incredible challenges of a global pandemic, is an extraordinary achievement,” said Leslie Paul Luke, president and CEO of St. Joseph’s Health. “We have always taken safety very seriously and the innovative work we’ve done this year with air quality, decontamination, COVID prevention measures and more, is a testament to our commitment. I am extremely proud of the entire St. Joseph’s Health team.” “An ‘A’ safety grade is an elite designation that your community should be proud of,” said Leah Binder, president and CEO of The Leapfrog Group. “The past year has been
extraordinarily difficult for hospitals, but St. Joseph’s Health shows us it is possible to keep a laser focus on patients and their safety, no matter what it takes.” Developed under the guidance of a national expert panel, the Leapfrog Hospital Safety Grade uses up to 27 measures of publicly available hospital safety data to assign grades to more than 2,700 U.S. acute-care hospitals twice per year. The Hospital Safety Grade’s methodology is peer-reviewed and fully transparent, and the results are free to the public. To see St. Joseph’s full grade details and access patient tips for staying safe in the hospital, visit hospitalsafetygrade.org and follow The Leapfrog Group on Twitter and Facebook.
Susan Berger named interim dean of the St. Joseph’s College of Nursing Susan Berger has been named interim dean of the St. Joseph’s College of Nursing.
Berger has deep connections to the college, having served on the governing board for the past seven years, and as a chairwoman since January. Her first nursing job when she moved to Syracuse, 40 years ago, was in the St. Joseph’s ICU. Prior to this appointment, Berger most recently served for 29 years as director of health services at Cazenovia College, 15 of which she also served as executive vice president and chief operating officer. Susan Berger “Dr. Berger brings with her a wealth of management experience in higher education,” said Leslie Paul Luke, president and CEO of St. Joseph’s Health. “We are confident that she will provide outstanding leadership and counsel to faculty, staff, and students, while we continue the search for a more permanent dean.” Berger is a registered nurse and nurse practitioner. She earned her Bachelor of Science and Master of
Science degrees in Nursing from Syracuse University, and received her doctorate in education, with a concentration in higher education leadership, from Fielding Graduate University. In addition to her time working as a nurse at St. Joseph’s, she worked as a nurse at Millard Fillmore Hospital in Buffalo and Albany Medical Center in Albany. She has also worked as a nurse practitioner at Syracuse University. As the interim dean of St. Joseph’s College of Nursing, Berger will handle the daily management of the college, focus on faculty development, curriculum and shared governance design, and assist with the search for a more permanent dean. Berger has one grown daughter and lives in Cazenovia with her husband.
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The Center for Wound Healing at Oswego Health Earns National Awards Oswego Health’s Center for Wound Healing has recently been recognized nationally for its commitment to patient care. Physicians, leaders and clinicians at Oswego Hospital gathered recently to celebrate the Robert A. Warriner III, M.D., Clinical Excellence Award, which was given to the Center for Wound Healing at Oswego Health. The center has scored in the top 10% of eligible Healogics Wound Care Centers on the clinical excellence measure, which is the comprehensive healing rate weighted by wound mix. The center was awarded this prestigious honor by Healogics, the nation’s largest Page 26
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provider of advanced wound care services. This award is named for physician Robert A. Warriner III, a pioneer in wound care and the former chief medical officer for Healogics. In addition, the Center for Wound Healing at Oswego Health was also the recipient of the Center of Distinction. The center achieved outstanding clinical outcomes for 12 consecutive months, including patient satisfaction rates higher than 92% and a minimum wound healing rate of at least 92% within 28 median days to heal. There were 555 centers eligible for the Center of Distinction award and 278 achieved the honor. “These two awards speak volumes to the level of care provided at the Center for Wound Healing,” said Chief Medical Officer Duane Tull. “We are fortunate to be able to offer this service locally and we could not be prouder of our team.”
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