IGH CNY #221 May 2018

PRICELESS

Meet Your Doctor

CNYHEALTH.COM

Physician Lisa Lai is the medical director of Upstate’s breast cancer program. Now she also sees patients in Oswego County.

Page 8

Doctor Salaries

MAY 2018 • ISSUE 221

BABY BOOMERS SPECIAL ISSUE

Report shows physicians have had modest rise in salaries.

See how much they earn. Page 2 n Related: NY ranks nearly worst state for docs. Page16

• Top health issues affecting boomers • Blood pressure: understanding • Checklist for your Social Security annual check-Up • Elder abuse. What you need to know • What to know about the new Medicare cards n Starts on page 19

Also: Want to live longer?: Follow some tips from two centenarians

Sprint into Spring All That Overtime Could Be Killing You

May marks the start of the spring running season. Temperatures are ideal to participate in a race. It’s not too hot, not too cold, and the humidity hasn’t kicked in yet.

And CNY offers a wide variety of races for people of all levels.

Page 10

Study: Working more than 60 hours a week increases the risk of coronary heart disease, stroke

One-Day Total Knee Replacement offered at Community HELP WANTED See page 31

Slim Down with Shiitake Mushrooms

They contribute to weight management by providing enough protein and fiber to keep us feeling fuller longer.

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BLOOD PRESSURE New guidelines mean more Americans have high blood pressure. Find out if you are one of them. Page 13

Doctor Salaries Show Modest Rise, Report Says Survey shows salaries of male doctors remain much higher than their female counterparts

P

rimary care and specialty doctors in the United States have seen a modest increase in earnings this year over last year, according to the Medscape Physician Compensation Report 2018.

The increases reflect a continued rise in doctors’ income over the past seven years. While there are many reasons involved, the main one comes down to the basic rules of economics.

“The fact remains that the physician workforce is relatively stagnant in terms of growth and that demand for physician services keeps rising. The result, inevitably, is more spending and higher incomes for physicians,” said Tommy Bohannon, vice president of Merritt Hawkins, a doctor recruiting firm.

The overall average doctor salary — including primary care and specialties — sits at $299,000. The average salary for primary care doctors is $223,000, compared with $217,000 in 2017. For specialists, it’s $329,000 this year, compared with $316,000 last year.

Top-earning specialties with the highest average salary include: • Plastic surgeons: $501,000 • Orthopedists: $497,000 • Cardiologists: $423,000 • Gastroenterologists: $408,000 • Radiologists: $401,000 The lowest-earning specialties, on average, are: • Internal medicine: $230,000 • Family medicine: $219,000 • Diabetes and endocrinology: $212,000 • Pediatrics: $212,000 • Public health and preventive medicine: $199,000 As in prior years, male doctors earn more than female doctors. Male primary care doctors earn $239,000, almost 18 percent more than women, who earn $203,000. Male specialists earn $358,000, about 36 percent more than female specialists, who earn $263,000.

Also as in previous years, white

0.3%

doctors earned more than those of other races. Here’s how they ranked: • White: $308,000 • Asian: $293,000 • Hispanic/Latino: $278,000 • African-American: $258,000 Who’s Up, Who’s Down? Is It Fair?

Psychiatrists are seeing the biggest gains in compensation this year (+16 percent). “We have never seen

demand for psychiatrists this high in our 30-year history,” said Bohannon.

“Demand for mental health services has exploded, while the number of psychiatrists has not kept pace. The short version is that aging produces many mental health challenges, including dementia and its associated pathologies, and that societal ills, such as the opioid crisis, are driving the need for more mental health professionals.”

Other specialists who’ve gotten notable boosts in pay are plastic surgeons (+14 percent), physical medicine and rehabilitation specialists (+13 percent), oncologists (+10 percent), and rheumatologists and critical care specialists (+9 percent). Specialties earning less include general surgery (-9 percent), urology (-7 percent), otolaryngology,diabetes and endocrinology (-4 percent), and pathology and neurology (-2 percent).

Overall, 55 percent of doctors feel that they’re fairly compensated. And for the third year in a row, doctors cited “gratitude/relationship with patients” as the most rewarding part of their job (27 percent), followed by “being very good at what I do/finding answers, diagnoses” (24 percent) and “knowing that I’m making the world a better place.”

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

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

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

Page 2

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Newspaper • May 2018

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Benefits, formulary, pharmacy network, provider network, premium and/or co-payments/co-insurance may change on January 1 of each year. Members who get “Extra Help” are not required to fill prescriptions at preferred network pharmacies in order to get Low Income Subsidy (LIS) copays. You must continue to pay your Medicare Part B premium. The Part B premium is covered for fulldual members. Our dual-eligible Special Needs Plan is available to anyone who has both Medical Assistance from the state and Medicare. Premiums, co-pays, co-insurance, and deductibles may vary based on the level of Extra Help you receive. Please contact the plan for further details. Other pharmacies, physicians and/or providers are available in our network. The formulary, pharmacy network, and/or provider network may change at any time. You will receive notice when necessary. Aetna complies with applicable Federal civil rights laws and does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national origin, age, disability, or sex. ATTENTION: If you speak a language other than English, free language assistance services are available. Visit our website at www.aetnamedicare.com or call the phone number listed in this material. ESPAÑOL (SPANISH): ATENCIÓN: Si usted habla español, se encuentran disponibles servicios gratuitos de asistencia de idiomas. Visite nuestro sitio web en www.aetnamedicare.com o llame al número de teléfono que se indica en este material. 繁體中文 (CHINESE): 請注意：如果您說中文，您可以獲得免費的語言協助服務。請造訪我們的網站 www.aetnamedicare.com 或致電本材料中所列的電話號碼。 Y0001_4002_9196_FINAL_1 Accepted 01/2017

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IN GOOD HEALTH – CNY’s Healthcare Newspaper

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Page 3

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May 3, June 4

Auburn office holds seminar on Medicare

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All classes will be held in the basement training room of the Cayuga County Office Building. The current schedule is: 10 a.m. to noon May 3, and 5 to 7 p.m. June 4.

For more information or to register, please call 315-253-1226, or visit www.cayugacounty.us/aging under the News & Activities section.

May 8

Event focuses on women and heart disease Oswego Health announces its rescheduled Healthy You event, which will focus on how women can remain heart healthy. It will be a night of education, wellness and fun on Wednesday, May 9, at GS Steamers, 70 E. First Street in Oswego. The event was originally planned in February, but due to inclement weather it was postponed Cardiologists Thomas Grady, Jr. and Oluwadamilola Ojutalayo and nurse Kathleen Whitney will be panel presenters at the event.

The presenters will discuss how women experience different heart attack symptoms than men and the important role a heart rehabilitation program plays following a cardiac event. In addition, there will be representatives from the Oswego YMCA and the America Heart Association, who will promote details on how to embrace a heart healthy lifestyle.

The Ask The Doctor Forum is a free presentation sponsored by the Oswego Health Community Development Office. The Ask The Doctor Forum is designed to create an open dialogue between health care providers/professionals and interested members of the greater Oswego County community. Reservations are encouraged by calling 315-349-5500.

May 8, 30

Senior Fair at the Liverpool, Cicero libraries Nancy Aureli of Community Living Advocates and Joan Sardino of Serving Seniors have teamed up with Page 4

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IN GOOD HEALTH – CNY’s Healthcare Newspaper • May 2018

ga). It’s free and open to the public.

For more information, call 315-4921727.

May 9, 10, 16, 17

ARISE recruits volunteers for ombudsman program

Liverpool Public Library to host a Senior Information Fair from noon until 2 p.m., Tuesday, May 8. It’s designed for seniors, caregivers and for all caring advocates for the CNY senior community. Various representatives from Onondaga Office of the Aging, Upstate Geriatrics and more will be available during this time. There is no fee for this event. It is an opportunity for seniors to gather information from local organizations. The library is located at 310 Tulip St., Liverpool.

A similar fair will be held at Cicero Northern Onondaga Public Library from 1 to 3 p.m. Wednesday, May 30.

Community Living Advocates is a local CNY on-line directory for caregivers, seniors and people with disabilities. Serving Seniors specializes in offering services to the senior community in Central New York.

For more information call Sardino at 315-382-4300 or send her an email to jsardino@cnyservingseniors. com

ARISE will offer the free longterm care ombudsman program training course for interested volunteers. Ombudsmen are dedicated, certified volunteers who visit nursing homes and assisted living facilities to help advocate for residents. They are impartial persons to talk over concerns. They can provide guidance and information during challenging times. According to ARISE, an ombudsman volunteer must be a dedicated and professional person who wants to truly make a difference in the lives of the local elders during this most vulnerable time in their lives.

The program will be offered from 9 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. May 9, 10, 16 and 17 and will be hosted by Regional Long-Term Care Ombudsman Coordinator Jeffrey Parker. People interested in learning more about this program or the training should contact Parker at 315-671-5108 or jparker@ ariseinc.org.

May 9

Proponent of plant-based diet to speak in Syracuse

Eldercare Foundation luncheon to feature artist Mike Rayburn

Physician Ted Barnett, who in 2015 founded Rochester Lifestyle Medicine, a practice in Rochester that promotes health and healing through plant-based nutrition, physical activity, stress reduction, and other improvements in lifestyle, will come to Central New York to speak about “Plant-based Nutrition and Evolving Medical Paradigms.”

Barnett has made many appearances on radio, and has been online and in print, including in peer-reviewed publications. He has lectured to the general public at various venues as well as to medical students and law students. From 2012 to the present, he has given a six-week course, “A Plant-based Diet, Eating for Happiness and Health,” accredited through the University of Rochester School of Medicine and Dentistry for 12 hours of Continuing Medical Education credit. The course has been presented 15 times to nearly 700 people, including physicians and members of the public. He is also on the current issue of the Rochester edition of 55 PLUS magazine.

Barnett is also a partner in Borg and Ide Imaging, where he has practiced interventional and diagnostic radiology for more than three decades. In 2017 he was elected a fellow of the American College of Lifestyle Medicine and also became board-certified in lifestyle medicine when he passed the inaugural examination given by the American Board of Lifestyle Medicine. In 2017, the founded the Rochester Lifestyle Medicine Institute which aims to conduct research, educate the public and subsidize uninsured and indigent patients receiving Lifestyle Medicine treatment.

The event event will take place at 7 p.m., Wednesday, May 9 at Onondaga Free Library, 4840 W. Seneca Turnpike, Syracuse (town of Ononda-

Nascentia Health’s Eldercare Foundation will welcome internationally acclaimed keynote artist Mike Rayburn to Syracuse for his first performance in Upstate New York. Rayburn will present his transformational “What If?” keynote experience at the foundation’s first Legacy Luncheon, scheduled for Wednesday, May 16, at the Marriott Syracuse Downtown.

A two-time TED Talk presenter and international hall of fame speaker, Rayburn’s personal and professional mission is simple: transform communities. Using his world class guitar skills and hilarious music-based comedy as a metaphor, he’ll illustrate three tools designed to turn guests into an army of innovators with the peak performance skills to transcend the status quo and lead by creating change.

Complementing Rayburn’s performance will be the presentation of the foundation’s first Legacy Awards, recognizing community members/ organizations and Nascentia Health patients who have made a profound and lasting impact on the greater Syracuse community or shown a commitment to advocating for the aging and/or eldercare services.

The event will begin with registration at 11 a.m. Tickets are $50 per person ($500 for a table of 10) and may be purchased by calling 315-4779582, emailing events@477home.org, or by visiting nascentiahealth.org/ foundations/events.

All proceeds will benefit The Eldercare Foundation, which exists to increase our community’s compassion for aging individuals and their families and to raise funds to enable our community’s elders to live at home with dignity and independence.

May 16

Continued on page 6

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May 2018 •

IN GOOD HEALTH – CNY’s Healthcare Newspaper

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Page 5

CALENDAR of

HEALTH EVENTS

from page 4

May 17

Drug presentation at Onondaga Free Library As abuse of opioids and other

drugs continue to grab the headlines, the Friends of Onondaga Free Library will sponsor a public information session titled “Current Drugs of Abuse” at 6:30 p.m., Thursday, May 17, at the library, 4840 W. Seneca Turnpike. Featured speaker will be Gail Banach, director of public education and communications with the Upstate New York Poison Center of Upstate Medical Center.

Banach will address some of the most recent drugs of abuse, including what they are, how they are used,

who is using them, who is affected and what is being done in the community to address the problem.

Banach has been with the Poison Center for more than 25 years, and also sits on many local committees, including the Onondaga County Drug Task Force, the Perinatal Substance Abuse Committee and is on the advisory board for the Product Stewardship Institute and the Central Region Addiction Resource Center.

May 18

EMS providers to be recognized in Fulton The Oswego County Emergency Medical Services Advisory Council (EMSAC) will honor area emergency medical services providers for their outstanding patient care during its annual awards banquet on May 18 at the Oasis at Thunder Island, 21 Wilcox Road, Fulton. The evening begins at 6:30 p.m., with the dinner at 7:30 p.m. and award ceremony to follow.

The excellence in EMS awards are based on the actions of emergency medical services (EMS) providers during the calendar year 2017, which are chosen by a EMSAC subcommittee. Among the awards to be presented are basic life support provider of the year, advanced life support provider of the year, physician of excellence, RN of excellence and the EMS leadership award, among others.

The awards dinner helps kick off National EMS Week, which officially begins on May 20. This year’s dinner theme is “Stronger Together.”

The public is invited to the event.

Reservations with payment are due

by May 1 to Uniforms Etc., 19 Cayuga St., Fulton, NY 13069. There is a $15 cost to attend and checks may be made out to “EMS Awards Banquet.”

May 19

Walk/run to prevent autism in Clay

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Page 6

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IN GOOD HEALTH – CNY’s Healthcare Newspaper • May 2018

May 28

Event benefit food pantry in LaFayette The Columbian Presbyterian Church, corner of routes. 11 and 20 in LaFayette, will host its annual Memorial Day Benefit for LaFayette Outreach. It will take place from 8 a.m. to noon, Mon. May 28. All of the proceeds will be donated directly to LaFayette Outreach, which is the local food pantry and service-referral agency. The event consists of a silent auction, bake sale, plant sale, “Red, White & Blue Ice Cream Sundaes,” and a free kids’ craft area. For questions or donations call 315-677-3293 or email cpresbyt@twcny.rr.com.

Online

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are now 1050 West Genesee Street, Syracuse, NY 13204 Call 888.477.HOME

Willow Running and SmartHealth Inc., a nonprofit organization that conducts and supports alternative health research based on the science of bio-energetics and epigenetics, will sponsor its Third Annual Prevent Autism Now 5K walk/ run and 10K run. The event will take May 19 at Docks Grill, Pirates Cove Marina, Horseshoe Island in Clay.

To sign up for the event, visit www. smarthealth4U.org.

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All That Overtime Could Be Killing You

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Study: Working more than 60 hours a week increases the risk of coronary heart disease, strokeÂ

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40-hour work week may sound like a vacation to those burning the midnight oil. But a study in the American Journal of Industrial Medicine shows that consistently surpassing this standard can be detrimental to your health.

Researchers said they found that working 61 to 70 hours a week increased the risk of coronary heart disease by 42 percent, and working 71 to 80 hours increased it by 63 percent.

Heart disease is the leading cause of death worldwide, with more than half a million deaths each year in the United States alone, according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

Another study, published in The Lancet, found that employees who work long hours have a higher risk of stroke than those working standard hours.

Even more shocking is that putting in these extra hours may not even lead to increased productivity because long work spans can actually decrease your efficiency. Germany boasts the largest economy in Europe, yet the average worker there only spends 35.6 hours a week on the job.

Working less may not seem like

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First, get more sleep at night.

This will give you the energy to be more productive during the day and get out of the office sooner. Create an organized list of tasks each day.

Check off each item when completed to give yourself the motivation to get through your day more efficiently.

Working fewer hours will give you more free time in the short term and could decrease your risk of heart disease to give you a higher quality of life in the long term, according to the researchers.

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Onondaga, Oswego, Cayuga and Madison Counties

CNY’s Healthcare Newspaper

A monthly newspaper published by Local News, Inc. 5,000 copies distributed throughout more than 1,000 high traffic locations, including all Wegmans stores.

In Good Health is published 12 times a year by Local News, Inc. Š 2018 by Local News, Inc. All rights reserved. Mailing Address: P.O. Box 276, Oswego, NY 13126. • Phone: 315-342-1182 • Fax: 315-342-7776.

Editor & Publisher: Wagner Dotto • Associate Editor: Lou Sorendo Contributing Writers: Jim Miller, Gwenn Voelckers, Deborah Banikowski, George W. Chapman, Deborah Sergeant, Anne Palumbo, Melissa Stefanec, Chris Motola, Eva Briggs (MD), Kyra Mancine, Mahmoud Chehab, M.D. • Advertising: Amy Gagliano, Cassandra Lawson • Layout & Design: Dylon Clew-Thomas • Office Assistant: Kimberley Tyler No material may be reproduced in whole or in part from this publication without the express written permission of the publisher. The information in this publication is intended to complement—not to take the place of—the recommendations of your health provider.

Consult your physician before making major changes in your lifestyle or health care regimen.

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IN GOOD HEALTH – CNY’s Healthcare Newspaper

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Page 7

Meet

Your Doctor

By Chris Motola

Diabetes Now Affects 23 Million U.S. Adults

T

he latest tally of Americans adults affected by diabetes finds more than 23 million struggle with the blood sugar disease.

Of those, the vast majority — 21 million cases — are caused

by Type 2 diabetes, which is often linked to overweight or obesity, according to the report from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

Another 1.3 million cases are attributed to Type 1 diabetes, an autoimmune disorder where the body fails to produce enough of the blood sugar hormone insulin.

The number of diabetes patients is now “nearly 10 percent of the entire [adult] population,” noted physician Robert Courgi, a diabetes specialist at Northwell Health’s Southside Hospital in Bay Shore, Long Island.

“As expected, the overwhelming majority is Type 2 diabetes — usually caused by obesity and treated with pills,” added Courgi, who was not involved with the new report.

On the other hand, “Type 1 diabetes results in a destruction of the pancreas, is difficult to diagnose and must be treated with insulin,” Courgi said. “Type 1 must be recognized quickly and treated appropriately.”

The new CDC numbers were based on 2016 data on more than 33,000 adults from the federal government’s National Interview Survey. The researchers noted that the 2016 survey was the first to add “supplemental questions to help distinguish diabetes [by] type.”

According to the team, led by CDC investigator Kai McKeever Bullard, certain populations seem to be hit harder by either Type 1 or Type 2 diabetes. For example, the researchers said “white adults had a higher prevalence of diagnosed Type 1 diabetes than did Hispanic adults,” while “blacks had the highest prevalence of diagnosed Type 2 diabetes.”

While Type 2 diabetes affected about 8 percent of white adults, that number rose to 9 percent of Hispanics and 11.5 percent of blacks, the report found.

Overall, diabetes prevalence rose with advancing age but fell as levels of education and income improved.

The findings were published March 30 in the CDC journal Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report.

Page 8

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Lisa Lai, MD Medical director of breast cancer program at Upstate now seeing patients in Oswego County Q: What circumstances brought you to Oswego Health?

A: Oswego lost their breast surgeon and had a gap where there was no dedicated breast surgeon working in Oswego County. Our Upstate Medical oncologist and radiation oncologist have well-established practices in Oswego, so from my standpoint it just made sense to form this association, because now breast cancer surgery services are restored to Oswego County and the Upstate breast cancer team is complete there.

It helps that the doctors I’m collaborating with there are the ones I’m collaborating with in Syracuse.

Q: What are some of the benefits of this kind of arrangement?

A: The benefit is that the patient knows that they’re getting treatment from a regional academic medical center, but they’re getting it in their hometown. We’re coming to them, essentially.

Q: Does the more rural environment affect how the practice works?

A: The way I perceive things to be is that we have access to things that can be otherwise difficult to find. Since we’re reactivating the breast cancer program, we’ll be able to plug patients right back into that. We have a few challenges, as well as great resources that have always been there. The hospital administration and clinical support staff are very attentive to finding these resources for us. We’re rebuilding a practice, so it’ll take a little time, but I

IN GOOD HEALTH – CNY’s Healthcare Newspaper • May 2018

have no doubt that we’ll be able to do it.

Q: What types of patients will you see?

A: It’s pretty much everything related to breast health, from patients who need screening to patients who have had an abnormal mammogram, to others who have a diagnosis of breast cancer. To others who may have several family members with breast cancer. I’m able to offer treatments of benign masses, mastectomies, lumpectomies. The only thing I’m not offering at the moment is mastectomies with reconstruction because we don’t have a plastic surgeon. Those patients will have to come see me in Syracuse.

Q: How will you be splitting your time between sites?

A: I’m at Oswego Health one day a week. I’m very enthusiastic about this opportunity and deeply committed to it. I’ve had a very warm welcome.

Q: Will you be using telemedicine to interface with Oswego patients at other times?

A: The patient advisement will mainly go through clinic staff and our breast patient navigator, or they’ll come to see me in Syracuse.

Q: Since you’re doing administrative work at Upstate, how challenging is it to work this new role into your work life?

A: My job has really been one of evolution. I’ve taken on

In the News

Physician Lisa Lai recently started providing cancer services to patients of Oswego Health in Oswego County. Lai is affiliated with the Cancer Center at Upstate Medical Center where she serves as the medical director for the breast cancer program. She will provide radiation oncology and medical oncology services locally for the convenience of cancer patients. This partnership will further benefit local breast cancer patients who require specialized care or choose to have plastic surgery following a breast procedure. a lot of new rules. I’ve always tried to stay focused on what needs my attention. I have a really good team helping me, so I’m trying to focus on both the administrative tasks and patients who need me. I have a nurse practitioner who I trust who can treat patients who don’t need surgery while also being available to the patients who need me.

Q: Do you see these kinds of rural/ urban partnerships as being a good model for addressing needs in underserved areas?

A: Absolutely. Medicine these days has become so specialized. It’s not practical anymore for a smaller hospital to try to hire all of these specialists. So forming affiliations with larger medical centers is a natural evolution. Surgery is an interesting case. You consider that surgery is usually a one-time event and that patients are usually willing to travel for that one-time event. But that’s leaving out the pre-operative and post-operative care and all the follow-up visits a breast cancer patient needs. So patients usually appreciate being able to do that within their own community.

Q: Will this arrangement be long term?

A: A lot of the patients in Oswego seem to hate to travel if they don’t have to. I see it as a long term affiliation. It’s a win-win situation. It allows our cancer center to perform regional outreach while bringing our expertise to those communities.

And it frees up Oswego Health to not have to try to recruit somebody, which can be very difficult. The attention of the administration can be spent on other programs. We’re starting out rudimentary, but I think we have tremendous potential. It’s on the backburner for now, but eventually we’d like to try to seek accreditation and official breast cancer program status.

Lifelines Name: Lisa M. Lai, M.D. Hometown: Buffalo Education: SUNY Buffalo School of Medicine (medical degree); SUNY Upstate Medical University (surgery residency); Emory University School of Medicine in Atlanta (fellowship in breast surgical oncology) Affiliations: University Hospital; Oswego Health Organizations: American Society of Breast Surgeons; American Medical Association; American College of Surgeons; Onondaga County Medical Society Family: Married, one son Hobbies: Travel, time with family

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Healthcare in a Minute

By George W. Chapman

Physicians Rated: Patients Give Their Doctors 4 Out of 5 Stars

T

he online ratings site “Healthgrades” and the Medical Group Management Association collaborated on a survey to determine what people think of their physician.

Close to 7 million people went online to rate over 1 million physicians. The bottom line is that people don’t just want to see a physician, they want to be seen. People care about both the clinical and patient experiences as essential to a positive encounter with their provider. Fifty percent of people cited at least one of these factors as

Walmart Getting Into the Act Hopefully, the physician practices that belong to the Medical Group Management Association will take heed of the above survey results.

Physician- and hospital-sponsored primary care practices are under assault. Large corporations see an opportunity and are keenly attuned to consumer trends and desires. Not to be outdone by the announced mergers of Cigna/Express Scripts and Aetna/CVS, Walmart announced a possible deal with insurer Humana.

Walmart would pay Humana around $37 billion. All three merger partners have said the improvements in access to convenient community-based care far outweighs concerns about hurting competition. They claim they are responding to what consumers want, implying physician and hospital sponsored practices are failing to meet the grade. Just a few weeks ago Amazon, JP Morgan Chase and Berkshire Hathaway announced a potential joint healthcare venture.

important: compassion, comfort, patience, personality and bedside manner. Twenty-three percent cited at least one of these factors as important: knowledge, time, insurance, appointment scheduling and communication.

There was little difference in physician ratings by gender. Overall, respondents were very happy with their physician giving an average rating of four out of five stars. In open comments, the interaction with staff was critical to a positive experience.

Fraud Down The DOJ and HHS recovered $2.6 billion in fraudulent claims last year.

This is a decline of 21 percent from the previous year because stricter enforcement efforts are making it harder to get away with fraud. The joint anti-fraud effort has a recovery to expense ratio of 5 to 1. In other words, the government spends $1 to recover $5. Last year, the government (DOJ/DEA) created an opioid fraud unit. In just a couple of months, the DEA revoked the controlled substance license of 147 prescribers. The DEA is focusing on prescribers and pharmacies that dispense disproportionate amounts of controlled substances. The DOJ is seeking special permission from the courts to participate in settling lawsuits filed by states against opioid manufacturers and drug distributors.

Superbugs Are Here Seemingly right out of some

dystopian science fiction novel, the Centers for Disease Control has discovered hundreds of antibiotic-resistant superbugs. The CDC’s Antibiotic Resistance Lab found 221 bacteria that could not be killed by any or most known agents. It costs us $2 billion per year to combat these superbugs which, if uncontained, are on track to kill more people than cancer by 2050. The CDC has issued containment strategies to healthcare facilities, emphasizing the need for quick identification of superbug cases including regular internal infection control assessments. People most at risk for spreading infections are people who have recently traveled or were treated elsewhere.

Healthcare Cost Study Confusing There is no argument: US healthcare costs too much. A recent study published in JAMA, Journal of the American Medical Society hypothesized that our exceedingly high cost per capita of care ($10,000-plus) is not because of too many doctor visits, hospitalizations, procedures and tests. Researchers concluded it’s the cost of these services that create the overall high cost of care compared to virtually every other country. No kidding! Their reasoning is specious.

Americans don’t see their doctor as much and have fewer procedures versus other countries because costs are prohibitive. Our notoriously high deductibles and copays serve as disincentives to seek care. So the volume of services we consume is artificially low due to high out-ofpocket responsibilities. Citizens of other developed countries don’t face our financial barriers and see their providers more often. The result is better outcomes.

Healthcare Success Success in healthcare emanates from an active partnership between provider and patient. Neither partner May 2018 •

can say they “owe it all” to the other.

There are seven things patients can do to be a better partner in their care.

Ask questions about tests, procedures, treatment plan, medications even the provider’s experience. Be clear on what the game plan is.

Know what’s in your record.

The information belongs to you. Most of us now have electronic records and most practices offer access through an online portal.

Be prepared for your appointment. Do your homework. Know your family history and your medications. It doesn’t hurt to go online and research your symptoms or illness.

Be open and honest. It doesn’t help to sugarcoat things like the medications, vices or bad habits.

Be committed to the game plan. There can’t be success without your participation and buy in.

Seek “well” care, not just “sick” care. When you’re in the exam room because your aren’t well, the provider’s focus will be on only that. There is little time to discuss or review your master plan.

Keep your appointment. Life is full of surprises and unplanned events; so when one occurs please call the office and reschedule!

The quickest way to fall from grace with any provider is to be a “no show”.

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George W. Chapman is a healthcare business consultant who works exclusively with physicians, hospitals and healthcare organizations. He operates GW Chapman Consulting based in Syracuse. Email him at gwc@gwchapmanconsulting.com.

IN GOOD HEALTH – CNY’s Healthcare Newspaper

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Page 9

Kids Fun Run and 10:15 a.m. 5K. The parking lot shuttle to the New York State Fairgrounds in Syracuse begins at 7:30 a.m. https://komenupstatenewyork.org/race/ Sunday, May 20

Fit to Be Tied 5K Run & 3K Walk

Break out your craziest tie for the contest that is a part of this event!

This run is in memory of Bob Palmer, a fitness enthusiast and school psychologist who wore silly ties to make students smile. The run supports amyloidosis research. Amyloidosis is a rare disease that impacts organ tissue. The event starts from the Sawmill Creek Pavilion at Willow Bay, Onondaga Lake Park, Syracuse. Run the 5K at 9 a.m. or do the 3K walk at 9:15 a.m.

• www.fittobetied.org Saturday, May 26

Tribute to the Fallen 5K

Runners and walkers are all smiles during this 5K in Fayetteville.

Sprint into Spring

By Kyra Mancine

R

unners and walkers — get ready! May marks the start of the spring running season.

Temperatures are ideal to participate in a race. It’s not too hot, not too cold, and the humidity hasn’t kicked in yet. There are plenty of races out there, from small community races to larger events, beginner to advanced.

Whether this is your first 5K or your fiftieth, lace up those shoes and get out there.

Not a runner?

You can always walk these events, or attend as a spectator to cheer on your friends and family.

Sunday, May 6

Mountain Goat Run 10 mile, 2-person relay & kid’s run

Up for a challenge? This popular, hilly race attracts thousands.

The theme this year is “40 Years of Running Over the Hill.” Registration includes an insulated shopping bag, pint glass and blanket as well as post-race food and craft beer. The half mile kid’s run starts at 8:50 a.m., the 10 mile and relay starts at 9:15 a.m. Race begins at Clinton Square in Syracuse.

• www.mountaingoatrun.com Saturday, May 12

Trumansburg May Day 5K & 5 Mile

Starting at 10:30 a.m., this family-friendly event starts from the Trumansburg Central School Campus.

• https://mayday5k.org/

Right to Run 19K, 5K

These races in Seneca Falls celebrate the women’s movement.

Proceeds benefit the future home of the National Women’s Hall of Fame.

Both the 19K and the 5K start at 8:30 a.m. All registrants get a gender specific T-shirt and post-race food.

• http://righttorun19k.org/

Little Moe 5k

Love animals? Race proceeds go toward a nonprofit that cares for rescued horses and other animals.

The trail race is dedicated to “Little Moe,” a rescued pony that touched the community. This pet- and family-friendly event, starts at 8:15 a.m. from Green Lakes State Park (West beach) in Fayetteville. New this year — your bib gets you free admission to The Haven at Skanda farm park in Cazenovia after the race.

•www.facebook.com/littlemoe5k/ Sunday, May 13

Cortland Mother’s Day 5k

This is one of the races in the 2018 BorgWarner/Cortland YMCA Race Series. Starting from the Cortland YMCA at 9 a.m., runners go through residential neighborhoods before returning back to the Y. Registration includes a T-shirt.

• www.cortlandymca.org/for-healthy-living/ ymca-races/ymca-race-series/

Show Your Swell 5K and 1 Mile Fun Run

Preceded by the Fun Run at 9:15 a.m., the 5k starts at 10 a.m. from Onondaga Lake Park (Long Branch Park area) in Liverpool. 5k participants get finisher’s medals and T-shirts.

This race is a fundraiser with proceeds benefiting the US Hereditary Angioedema Association. HAE is a rare and life threatening genetic condition.

• www.facebook.com/ShowYourSwell5K Friday, May 18

Wilber-Duck Mile

This night race, cosponsored by the Syracuse Track Club and Fleet Feet Sports, starts at 6:45 p.m. from Wilber Duck Chevrolet in Oneida.

Females are in the first flight, followed by males and then walkers.

Participants receive a T-shirt with registration. Event also includes live entertainment and a car push at 6:30 p.m. Event benefits Fit Kids of Madison County and the Oneida United Way. • http://syracusetrackclub.org/RaceApps/ WilberDuck2018.pdf Saturday, May 19

Susan G. Komen Race for the Cure 5K and Fun Run

This fundraising event is for survivors, those living with breast cancer and those who support them.

Opening ceremonies begin at 8 a.m., followed by a Pink Parade, 9:15 a.m.

This race is held in the town considered the birthplace of Memorial Day. It starts and ends at Waterloo High School. An evening race, it starts at 6:30 p.m. Registered participants receive a race T-shirt.

• http://waterloony.com/memorial-day/celebrate-commemorate/events/5k-walk-run.

Beak & Skiff Orchard 4 Mile Run, Kids 1 Mile Run, 1 Mile Orchard Walk

Want to give trail running a try?

These races will have you running through hilly terrain at apple orchards in LaFayette. Prior to the race, you can join their free training series on May 3, 10 or 17. Race day times start at 8:30 a.m. for the 1-mile and walk and 9 a.m. for the 4-mile trail race.

• http://cnyorchardrun.com Sunday, May 27

Majorpalooza Catch Me If You Can 5K

This race in Auburn is intended to raise awareness and support for children in Central New York who are disabled, underprivileged or afflicted with a life-threatening or terminal medical condition. This family-friendly event includes music, entertainment, beer, wine and food.

The course starts at 8:30 a.m. from city hall and runs past historic homes and Veterans Memorial Park. The Stefanak Sprint (in memory of Caitlyn Stefanak, a 4-year-old who lost her battle to cancer) is for children under 10 years old. It starts at 9:45 a.m.

• www.majorpalooza.com/catch-me-if-youcan-5k.html

Other Upcoming Races • www.syracusetrackclub. org/Calendar.shtml • www.cnyrunning.com/ • www.fleetfeetsyracuse.com/ calendar

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IN GOOD HEALTH – CNY’s Healthcare Newspaper • May 2018

hospiceofthefingerlakes.org 30

Upstate orthopedic surgeons, from left, Timothy Damron, Robert Sherman and Emil Azer, will begin offering outpatient total knee replacement surgery at the Community Campus.

One-Day Total Knee Replacement offered at Community

U

pstate University Hospital is now offering total knee replacement surgery on an outpatient basis.

The Swift Knee program, as it’s called, will be available at Upstate’s Community Campus at 4900 Broad Road in Syracuse. Patients will have the option of spending several hours in the hospital instead of an overnight stay for knee replacement surgery.

Doctors say patients will arrive at the hospital by 6 a.m. for surgery and be home by 3 p.m. following surgery.

Before being discharged to home, patients will meet with their medical team, including a physical therapist, to go over at-home physical therapy responsibilities. Patients will begin walking on their new knee immediately after surgery.

Performing total knee replacement surgery without a hospital stay is a growing trend, thanks to a decision by the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services to remove total knee arthroplasty from its list of inpatient-only procedures.

“We know there are patients who would much prefer to have this procedure done on an outpatient basis and avoid an overnight stay at

the hospital,” said Upstate orthopedic surgeon Timothy Damron. “Now Upstate is giving them that option.”

Benefits of outpatient surgery for total knee replacement include greater attention to pre-op preparation or “prehabilitation,” and the ability to recover at home in familiar surroundings.

Prehabilitation routines may require that patients do exercises to build supporting muscle strength, as well as making healthier diet choices or even losing a few pounds.

“The healthier a patient is prior to getting their outpatient knee surgery, the easier the recovery will be,” said Damron, one of three Upstate surgeons, along with Emil Azer, and Robert Sherman, who will perform the outpatient total knee surgeries.

Total knee replacements are among the most common orthopedic surgeries in the United States. The procedure is often needed to relieve pain from osteoarthritis.

Upstate’s Community Campus was the first hospital in New York to be designated as a Center of Excellence for Hip and Knee Replacement surgery by DNVGL-Healthcare, a national hospital-accrediting agency.

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Page 11

Live Alone & Thrive

By Gwenn Voelckers

Practical tips, advice and hope for those who live alone

Embracing Faith: ‘You Are Never Alone’

T

his year, Easter and Passover overlapped. While the two celebrations are very different, they share common themes: spring and hope.

The coinciding of these two holidays reminded me of the healing power of faith and a conversation I had with Teresa Jackson, one of the most thoughtful and inspiring women I’ve met through my Live Alone and Thrive workshops.

She is now happily remarried.

Her faith lifted her up and carried her through the darkest times. Her journey may inspire yours. n Would you care to share a little bit about your faith?

I’m a Christian. I’ve looked at other religions and have made a conscious decision to remain a Christian, even though I don’t understand it all. n What role did your personal faith play in your adjustment to living alone?

My Christian beliefs hold to the tenet that I am never alone — that Christ is with me wherever I am. I’ve prayed a lot and have found indescribable peace in that praying.

n What was the biggest challenge you faced living alone and how did your faith help you heal?

Grieving the end of my marriage caused me the most pain while alone.

All the ‘what ifs and why mes’ really tore at my heart. “The Purpose Driven Life,” by Rick Warren, and other inspiring Christian books helped me get things into perspective.

I also listened to Christian radio programs.

Talking to girlfriends was also a huge part of my healing. n Is there a particular experience you had that captures the power of your faith?

My son was 7. After dinner he brought me his homework book to sign, as this was his teacher’s daily requirement. He’d been at his dad’s house the previous three days and I saw his dad’s girlfriend’s signature on the parent line in the book.

Something snapped — all the weeks my precious children were away from me ... all the awfulness ... all the hatred and injustice and fear. I sucked it up and forced my shaking

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hand to sign my name next to hers.

I made my way outside, stumbling in the cold, and collapsed under my pear tree.

I laid on my back clutching my chest, my heart. No tears. Just intense pain. I did not, could not, make a sound nor move, but after a while my mind prayed a lament, begging God for relief from this excruciating pain.

In that instant, a ‘peace that passes all understanding’ moved over me and I felt my golden retriever, Kyla, appear and quietly curl up next to my body. n Did you ever lose faith or struggle to regain your faith?

I did not lose my faith but, boy, did I ever have a few words with God! One morning during breakfast with my two young boys, I ran to the garage and grabbed my bike after just learning of another injustice the boys endured.

I needed to get out of the house so the boys wouldn’t hear my rant at their father. I tore down the road, enraged and screaming at God, ‘How could you let this happen?!’

About a half mile from home, I saw a doe standing by an apple tree by the side of the road. I calmed down immediately and just sobbed.

I turned the bike around just as the sun burst over the horizon, washing the sky, the quiet country road, and me in orange light. I was reminded again ‘You are never alone.’ n What advice would you give to those whose suffering has challenged their faith?

Remember a time when you risked it, trusted God, and felt pretty good after you did. Remember that, ‘This, too, shall pass.’ Remember that there are things we can only learn when we are alone. That God has a bigger plan than our plan. n What do you find most rewarding about your faith?

I feel like I have a purpose in life.

My job is to be a servant to God. He’s the boss of me! The thing is, I need to figure out each day what he’d like me to do with the time and resources he has put in my care. n What role does prayer play in your life?

Prayer is the great wireless communication connection to God. God speaks to us in three ways, (1) through the Bible, (2) through people, which includes books people write and teachers like you, and (3) through prayer, which includes sending things in nature to us for comfort like sunrises, dogs, and deer. n How can those who live alone activate their faith more fully?

It’s like exercise and eating right.

You get out of it what you put into it. You prepare your body for the years ahead by keeping moving and putting good things into it.

You prepare your mind for the times ahead by studying your faith, whichever faith you choose, and putting good things into your mind, like good music, good words, and good visuals. n Was there a favorite scripture passage that lifted you up during your challenging times that you’d like to share with my readers?

‘Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.’ Philippians 4:6-7

Gwenn Voelckers is the founder and facilitator of Live Alone and Thrive empowerment workshops for women held throughout the year in Mendon, N.Y. For information about her workshops, book, or to invite her to speak, call 585-624-7887, email gvoelckers@ rochester.rr.com, or visit www.aloneandcontent.com.

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IN GOOD HEALTH – CNY’s Healthcare Newspaper • May 2018

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Meet Your Provider

Acu-Care Acupuncture Center An acupuncturist who has a medical degree is on a mission to marry authentic family-inherited acupuncture with Western and Chinese medicine.

Q. How did you get interested in acupuncture?

A. When as a small child, I saw my grandfather, my uncle and my father inserting needles to treat patients. From then on, I told myself that I would be a doctor to help more patients. When I was in middle school, I started to learn traditional Chinese medicine (acupuncture) from my grandfather and father.

After my grandfather passed away, I studied under my father and would also visit my uncles’ clinic.

Later, I decided to go to medical school. I wanted to study medicine, not only traditional Chinese medicine, but also Western medicine. I wanted to know the difference between the two medical ways of practice. My goal was to use modern scientific technology to study Chinese medicine and to find scientific evidence to prove how acupuncture works and to develop a

novel acupuncture treatment modality to improve acupuncture treatment results for all patients. I also wanted to be specialized in integration of both traditional Chinese medicine and western medicine to reach the ultimate clinical outcome.

Q. Did you always see yourself as a health care practitioner?

A. After graduating from medical school and after several years of studying medical research at the University of Minnesota Medical Center and University of Pittsburgh Medical Center, I found out that Americans needed authentic acupuncture to improve their overall health and quality of life. It was then that I decided to practice acupuncture.

It was and it remains my goal to show people how acupuncture works by combining the authentic familyinherited training with my academic training in western and Chinese medicine to my acupuncture practice.

Q. How long have you used acupuncture to treat neuropathy and pain?

A. I have more than 20 years

experience treating neuropathy and pain. In fact, acupuncture used as a method to treat neuropathy and pain has been well-documented in literature. Acupuncture can reach amazing clinical results in certain autoimmune diseases, such as multiple sclerosis, rheumatoid arthritis, Hashimoto’s thyroiditis, dermatomyositis, etc.

Acupuncture is also an effective cancer support care focusing on improving cancer patient’s quality of life and modulating cancer immunity.

Q. Why is acupuncture becoming so popular?

A. This is due to more and more people experiencing positive outcomes with acupuncture care.

How to integrate acupuncture care with conventional Western medicine practices is the current hot topic amongst healthcare providers. In my recent experiences more and more MDs are becoming interested in acupuncture as an effective method of treatment. As a private practitioner I receive hundreds of referrals from local MDs and other health care practitioners.

Rui Wang, third from left, operates Acu-Care Acupuncture Center in both Rochester and Syracuse. She is the seventh generation of her family to practice acupuncture. In addition, she has received medical training at Tianjin Medical University and post-doctoral training at University of Minnesota Medical Center and University of Pittsburgh Medical Center.

Web: www.AcupunctureCenterUSA.com Email: AcuCareAcupunctureCenter@live.com

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IN GOOD HEALTH – CNY’s Healthcare Newspaper

3/6/18 10:26 PM • Page 13

My Turn

By Eva Briggs

Hip Dislocation A

friend who recently had hip replacement surgery suffered a dislocated hip about a month after her surgery.

It turns out that there are three scenarios that lead to hip dislocation: after hip replacement, following trauma or in infants with developmental dysplasia of the hip.

The hip joint consists of a ball at the top of the thigh bone (femoral head) that fits into a socket (acetabulum) in the pelvis. The joint surfaces are covered by cartilage to provide a smooth gliding surface. A ring of fibrocartilaginous tissue, the labrum, surrounds the hip joint and helps seal the joint and keep the bones stabilized in the proper position.

Traumatic hip dislocations require a high force injury such as a motor vehicle accident or fall from a significant height. The hip is pushed and forced out of the socket. About 90 percent of the time the hip is pushed backward leading to a posterior dislocation. Less often the hip dislocates forward, an anterior hip dislocation.

This is a serious, painful injury.

The ligaments, labrum, muscles and nerves may be damaged. The patient won’t be able to move his leg. If the nerves are damaged the patient may lose feeling in the foot or leg.

Often there are broken bones, such as a piece of the acetabulum broken off when the hip is forced out of the

socket.

Because hip dislocations occur in high force accidents, there may be breaks to other bones in the leg or pelvis, spine injuries, or head trauma.

When there are no other injuries, an orthopedic surgeon may be able to reduce (manipulate into place) the dislocation after the patient receives anesthesia or sedation. Sometimes this is done in the operating room.

If broken bits of bone or torn soft tissues are in the way, surgery might be required to maneuver the hip back into place.

Complications include injury to the sciatic nerve in about 10 percent of patients, causing pain, numbness or weakness. Damage to blood vessels within the hip can lead to bone death (osteonecrosis) of the femoral head. This produces pain and rapid development of severe arthritis, often necessitating hip replacement. Damage to the smooth cartilage lining the hip joint during hip dislocation also leads to arthritis.

Hip dislocation after hip replacement usually occurs in the first few months after surgery, when the soft tissues surrounding the hip joint haven’t fully healed. It can usually be reduced without surgery. Rarely the hip dislocations are recurrent, requiring additional surgery.

Developmental dysplasia of the hip (DDH) occurs when the hip joint hasn’t formed properly and the ball

is loose within the hip socket. Typically it is present at birth, but can develop in the first year of life. Pediatricians check for this in newborns and at each well child exam. When DDH is suspected, the doctor can order an ultrasound or X-ray, depending on the child’s age.

Risk factors for DDH include family history of DDH in parents or siblings, female sex, first born, breech position, and decreased amniotic fluid.

Most infants identified with DDH can be treated with a soft brace such as a Pavlik harness worn for a few months. This keeps the hips flexed and the legs rotated outward.

It positions the ball within the socket allowing the hip to form properly.

It turns out that improper swaddling, with the baby’s legs out straight, can cause DDH. For example, an educational program about correct swaddling in Japan reduced

Kidney Stone: Chances of Having a Second One Is 50%

By Mahmoud Chehab, M.D.

K

idney stone disease or nephrolithiasis is a common problem in the developed world. Currently, in the US it is estimated that one in 10 Americans will have a kidney stone at some point during their life time. Each year more than half a million people go the emergency room due to pain from kidney stones.

In general, Caucasians and males are more likely to develop a kidney stone but the number of women getting a kidney stone is on the rise.

Kidney stones are mineral deposits that form in the kidney and may travel down to the bladder through the ureter. Most of the time while the stone travels down the ureter it causes some obstruction in the flow of urine to the bladder causing the urine to back up in the kidney causing swelling of the kidney or hydronephrosis, which causes pain.

Sometimes the stone causes complete obstruction and the urine from the kidney becomes trapped and could get infected causing a urinary tract infection that could lead to sepsis and death, if not treated in a timely fashion. Some stones remain in the kidney and might grow over time, others remain dormant and do not change in size.

Page 14

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There are different types of stones but the most common stone in the U.S. is made out of calcium.

Other stones could be made out of uric acid or cystine or a combination of different types. The most common cause of kidney stones is a low urine volume caused by not drinking enough fluids that lead to dehydration and concentrated urine. In hot weather sweating also leads to dehydration if fluid intake is not increased. A general rule is to drink about 100 ounces of fluid a day to maintain a urine production of two-thirds of gallon per day. It is recommended to replace dark soda products and drinks rich in tea with liquids rich in citrus products like orange juice and lemonade. Diet also plays a role in forming kidney stones.

A diet rich in animal protein such as beef, fish, chicken and pork may increase the risk of forming calcium and uric acid stones. Diets with high oxalate levels such as tea, spinach and chocolate could also increase the risk of forming stones. There is also certain bowel conditions such as diarrhea or a history of gastric bypass that leads to kidney stone formation.

The way to diagnose a kidney stone is by imaging, usually an X-ray,

IN GOOD HEALTH – CNY’s Healthcare Newspaper • May 2018

a CT scan or kidney ultrasound. If a stone is growing in size over time or causing uncontrolled pain or obstruction is present then intervention may be indicated. There are other conditions that also require intervention.

There are different ways to manage kidney stones depending on the type of stone that might be present, sometimes we use dissolution therapy to dissolve uric acid stones, other times we use laser to break the stones down into small pieces using endoscopic techniques and the stones are then removed with a basket or dusted into sand that will passed in

DDH from 3 percent of infants to less than 1 percent. A good video (although a bit dry) from the International Hip Dysplasia Institute can be found at https://hipdysplasia.org/ developmental-dysplasia-of-the-hip/ hip-healthy-swaddling/ The speaker explains how improper swaddling might cause an infant’s hips to dislocate, then shows video examples of three ways to properly swaddle an infant.

Eva Briggs is a medical doctor who works at two urgent care centers (Central Square and Fulton) operated

by Oswego Health.

the urine. If the stone is visible on X-ray, shockwaves could be used to break down the stone into smaller pieces that then pass in the urine.

Shockwave therapy is the least invasive method to break down the stone but some stones are hard and may not break, requiring further intervention with more invasive methods.

In case of large stones or multiple stones, percutaneous nephrolitotomy or PCNL is utilized to make a half-inch incision in the back to enter the kidney with a rigid telescope and remove large stone fragments.

If you had a stone your chance of having another stone over the next 10 years is about 50 percent. Kidney stones require follow up and management to prevent increase in size and recurrence. If you have experienced a kidney stone before or feel you might have a stone I recommend you have a visit with a urologist for further evaluation.

Physician Mahmoud Chehab is a graduate of Upstate Medical University and currently serves as an assistant professor in the department of urology at Upstate University Hospital. He also practices and operates at Cortland Regional Medical Center. To reach him, Call 607-428-5757.

The Longest Day

Downtown Oswego to go purple June 2-21 in fight against Alzheimer’s

By Mary Beth Roach

P

arts of downtown Oswego will be turning purple June 21 as members of the community join with other cities and towns across the country to mark “The Longest Day,” a campaign by the Alzheimer’s Association dedicated to all those affected by the disease. Purple is the color associated with the Alzheimer’s Association.

The Longest Day campaign coincides with the summer solstice to symbolize the challenging journey of those living with the disease and their caregivers. For them, every day can feel like the longest day. According to the national Alzheimer’s Association, The Longest Day is all about love — love for those affected by the disease, to do an activity they love — or one loved by those affected.

The Port City event, dubbed the Oswego County Longest Day, will include a walk, an information booth at the Oswego Farmer’s Market and displays in downtown store windows. Oswego Mayor Billy Barlow has given his approval to turn the exterior lights at City Hall purple that night, according to Elizabeth Weimer, caregiver services coordinator with the county’s office of the aging. Weimer is working with Meave Gillen from the RSVP (Retired and Senior Volunteer Program), and Joan Sardino, from Serving Seniors Inc., to coordinate the event.

“All three of us have been touched by Alzheimer’s or dementia personally and professionally and we felt it was time to do some kind of awareness in our county,” Weimer said.

For Sardino, whose company Serving Seniors Inc. provides inhome non-medical care, said that she sees this as an opportunity for her to learn more about Alzheimer’s, and in turn, provide better care to her clients.

The team is also involving nearly every aspect of the Oswego community in this endeavor — not just City Hall. They are reaching out to local downtown businesses to have them hang purple paper chain links in their front windows, and those links

will be crafted by the residents of St. Francis Commons and The Gardens

by Morningstar, two assisted living facilities in Oswego.

“We’re all linking together to show our community support for those that suffer for disease,” Weimer explained.

The Oswego event will kick off at 5 p.m. June 21 from the Oswego Farmer’s Market and include Oswego’s Healthy Mile route, from West First Street, to Bridge Street, to East First Street, to Utica Street and back to the market, where there will be an information table and a representative from the Alzheimer’s Association. Along the bridges on Bridge and Utica streets, the organizers will have posters focused on the 10 warning signs of Alzheimer’s.

“We’re really focusing on the education and awareness piece this year,” Weimer said.

Other groups and individuals from the area are encouraged to create an event for The Longest Day, as well, according to the Central New York Chapter of the Alzheimer’s Association.

Sarah Parton, events manager for the CNY chapter, likens it to a do-it-yourself event in which you create an event around an activity you like to do or one that your loved one enjoyed in order to honor a caregiver, someone with Alzheimer’s or someone who has lost their battle with this disease. It’s an opportunity for the community to get involved in a way that makes sense for them, she explained. It’s an opportunity for those interested in the cause to get involved, especially if they are not able to make it to the Syracuse area for the Walk to End Alzheimer’s in September, she said.

The 2017 local event, with 24 registered teams and event hosts, raised about $30,000, more than doubling the total raised in 2016, Parton noted.

For those interested in creating their own event, Parton pointed out that the website – alz.org/thelongestday — has some helpful information on getting started.

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IN GOOD HEALTH – CNY’s Healthcare Newspaper

•

Page 15

SmartBites

The skinny on healthy eating

crumbs and egg. Refrigerate mixture for 10 minutes.

Divide mixture into 4 portions and shape into 1/2-inch thick patties.

Place on a lightly oiled baking sheet.

Bake at 425°F for 8 minutes, flip; then cook for 7-8 minutes more.

Meanwhile, combine ingredients for spicy aioli in a small bowl and mix well.

Top burgers with spicy aioli and garnish of choice.

Slim Down with Shiitake Mushrooms

W

ith swimsuit season right around the corner, many of us are looking to drop a few pounds. But how do we stick to our diets when some of the lower-calorie foods are so blah?

Mushrooms, including shiitakes, may be the ticket, as they provide a big blast of deliciousness for very few calories.

One cup of cooked shiitakes, for example, has only 80 calories and next to no fat. Make your next burger with half beef and half chopped shiitakes — and you’ll have a tasty patty with half the calories and fat.

Low calories notwithstanding, shiitakes contribute to weight management by providing enough protein and fiber to keep us feeling fuller longer. According to a recent study on satiety published in the journal of “Appetite,” those who ate a mushroom-rich meal experienced less hunger, greater fullness, and decreased prospective consumption compared to those eating meat.

More research — conducted at the University at Buffalo — indicated that mushrooms may help with weight loss by regulating blood sugar. The preliminary study examined how plant-based glucose can aid in normalizing blood sugar, which then supports the essential hormone balance needed to shed pounds.

Peter Horvath, associate professor in the department of exercise and nutrition science at UB, suggested that both a mushroom’s dense phytonutrients and antioxidants work together to nourish cells and level blood sugar.

Beyond being a dream diet food, this rich-flavored mushroom contributes more nutrition than you might think.

Shiitakes are a knockout source of copper, selenium and vitamin B5 (pantothenic acid), nutrients we need to keep our systems running smoothly. An essential trace mineral, copper joins with iron to form red blood cells and helps maintain healthy bones, blood vessels, and nerves. Selenium is a powerful antioxidant that fights oxidative stress and helps defend the body from chronic diseases, such as heart disease and cancer. And vitamin B5 plays a role in energy metabolism, red blood cell production, and nerve function. All three keep the immune system humming.

Lastly, shiitakes contain unusually high amounts of two antioxidants — ergothioneine and gluthatione — that some scientists suggest could help fight aging and bolster health, according to a team of Penn State researchers. Few mushrooms boast such high levels.

Shiitake-Black Bean Burgers with Spicy Aioli Adapted from One Green Planet Serves 4

For the Burgers: 1 tablespoon olive oil 2 cups shiitake mushrooms, stems removed, finely diced 15-ounce can unsalted black beans, drained and rinsed 1/4 cup finely chopped red onion 3 garlic cloves, minced 2 teaspoons lower-sodium soy sauce 1/2 teaspoon salt 1/4 teaspoon coarse black pepper 1/4 cup breadcrumbs 1 beaten egg For the Spicy Aioli: 1/2 cup plain Greek yogurt 1 garlic clove, minced 2 teaspoons hot sauce (recommend: Sriracha) 2 teaspoons fresh lime juice

Preheat oven to 425°F. Heat olive oil in large skillet over medium heat.

Add onions and garlic and sauté until lightly browned, about 4 minutes.

Add mushrooms and cook 3 minutes more, just until mushrooms start to soften. Remove from heat.

Place beans in large bowl and mash. Stir in sauté mixture along with soy sauce, salt, pepper, bread-

Helpful Tips

If available, buy loose over prepackaged shiitakes (so you can inspect quality) and store in a partially open zipper-lock bag, which maximizes air circulation without drying out the mushrooms. Look for shiitakes with the thickest caps you can find and avoid those that appear wet, slimy or shriveled.

Take a whiff: they should smell earthy not sour or fishy. Keep packaged shiitakes in their original containers and simply rewrap those not used in the box with plastic wrap. Quickly rinse shiitakes before cooking, or simply wipe the caps with a damp paper towel; remove tough shiitake stems with a sharp paring knife.

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.

New York Ranks Nearly Worst State for Docs

By Deborah Jeanne Sergeant

T

he personal finance website WalletHub recently released its report on 2018’s Best & Worst States for Doctors. New York came in third from last, meaning only Rhode Island and New Jersey are worse states in which to practice. South Dakota, Nebraska, Idaho, Iowa and Minnesota ranked as the top five best states.

The report included 16 key metrics, which includes average annual physician wages to the quality of the public hospital system.

For doctors practicing in New York, the outlook is grim.

In the following categories, the Empire State rated: • 49th — Average annual wage of physicians (adjusted for cost of living) • 42nd — Average monthly starting salary of physicians (adjusted for cost of living) • 51st — Hospitals per capita • 16th — Insured population rate • 28th — Projected percent of population aged 65 & older by 2030 • 46th — Projected physicians per capita by 2024 • 49th — Malpractice award payout amount per capita • 50th — Annual malpractice liability insurance rate Physician Leila Kirdani practices Page 16

•

at Quality of Life Medicine in New Hartford.

Kirdani practiced in traditional family medicine for 15 years. Her offices don’t accept insurance but operate on a fee-for-service business model to eliminate the Kirdani red tape and allow providers to practice in a more patient-centered fashion.

She said that the insurance company mandates since the Affordable Care Act have made it “ridiculously complicated to see patients.” For her, so much is being demanded of doctors. “It’s not about the relationship with the patients, which is what a lot of doctors and people value. It’s about documentation.”

For example, if a doctor doesn’t check off every box and include the required wording in each area of the chart, he doesn’t receive reimbursement for the visit — which can be paltry to begin with compared to the doctor’s operating overhead.

“Rochester has one of the lowest reimbursement rates for primaries,”

IN GOOD HEALTH – CNY’s Healthcare Newspaper • May 2018

Kirdani said. “It gets down to bean counting. Are you checking off all the right boxes? It’s not about patient satisfaction.”

Instead of focusing on patients, doctors’ noses are buried in laptops as they fire off questions and tap in patients’ responses, she said.

Richard Chmielewski, DO, founder and medical director at The Falcon Clinic for Health Wellness and Recovery in New Hartford, said that malpractice suits represent a leading reason for many physicians who accept insurance reimbursement to cram in as many visits as they can.

“If a patient is injured as a result of malpractice, they deserve to be covered,” he said. “Lawyers get a contingency fee of one-third or more of the awards. The incentive is to go really high for pain and suffering, which drives up the cost of everything, especially the cost of medical malpractice insurance.”

Barbara Greenwald, executive director of the New York State Osteopathic Medical Society, also said that the high rate of medical malpractice suits in New York has complicated the delivery of medical care. As a result, doctors must pay high premiums for medical malpractice insurance to protect themselves.

She said that her organization

and the Medical Society of the State of New York has been lobbying for a cap on emotional damage claims.

“We don’t get very far,” she said. “Lawyers are more apt to go into politics than doctors.”

Greenwald She said that doctors Downstate struggle to make enough money to afford the high cost of living in the city, since insurance reimbursements are so low.

Here in Upstate, health organizations struggle to attract enough care providers to meet the needs.

“To draw docs to sparsely populated areas, you need to enhance the infrastructure,” Greenwald said. “It’s a more complex problem. To attract physicians, they’ll want amenities and a hospital nearby. Some doctors are going back to making house calls.

It should be ‘prescriber prevails’ instead of the insurance company deciding on cost.”

To read the entire report, visit https://wallethub.com/edu/bestand-worst-states-for-doctors/11376.

Allergy Prevalence Up 50% It’s not just an impression — allergy incidence has gone up dramatically in the last 20 years

By Deborah Jeanne Sergeant

I

recall only one child at my school with a food allergy and just one or two had seasonal or pet allergies. Now it seems like many more children suffer from allergies — and some of those, like peanut allergy, can be life-threatening.

Statistics from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention bear out this impression. Between 1997 and 2011, prevalence of allergies have increased 50 percent.

But why? And for those with allergies, what can help?

“We are definitely more allergic to stuff,” said physician Leila Kirdani, who is board-certified in both metabolic medicine and family practice and practices at Quality of Life Medicine in New Hartford and Rochester.

She said that genes account for about 20 percent of the reason people develop allergies, and environmental factors 80 percent.

“We have genetic buffers in our system but we can take only so many assaults,” Kirdani said.

She cited a correlation between

countries with higher pesticide and herbicide use and increased incidences of allergies. She added that cotton, corn and peanuts are crops which traditionally are treated with high levels of these chemicals.

“Countries that import our peanuts have high levels of peanut allergies,” Kirdani said. “Pesticides act as a nerve stimulant to cause anxiety, itchy eyes, congestion, shortness of breath and runny nose. Are you really allergic to spring or the pesticides sprayed on crops? Toxins in general wreak havoc in general, creating inflammation.”

Physician Mariah Pieretti, who specializes in allergy, asthma, and immunology at Asthma & Allergy Associates, PC in Fayetteville, said several hypotheses try to explain why more people have allergies now.

In part, doctors are better at recognizing and diagnosing allergies, she said.

She also mentioned the hygiene hypothesis, which asserts that lack of exposure to immune system stimulants — like bacteria — results in

overreaction when presented with allergens. The theory holds that overuse of antibiotics and antibacterial cleaning agents, along with lack of exposure to dirt, have led to more allergic responses.

Anti-bacterial agents kill both the harmful and the “good” bacteria in the gut, for example. Circumstantial evidence supporting the hygiene hypothesis includes studies of plain sect communities, whose members manifest few allergies, and other farm families.

“Industrialized countries and agricultural communities tend to have fewer allergies with that exposure earlier in life,” she said.

But many other factors could reduce rural folks’ chances of having allergies.

To combat the effect of the hygiene hypothesis, some experts suggest using antibiotics only when necessary and avoiding anti-bacterial cleaning products. Standard soap and water do the job fine. Not everyone can live on a farm, but cat or dog ownership seems to make a

difference in reducing environmental allergies.

For food allergies, earlier exposure to more foods within the first year seems to decrease the chances of food allergies, though Pieretti cautioned that children with a family history of food allergies should use caution. This is a reversal from advice given just a few years ago, which encouraged parents to wait for first exposure of common allergenic foods like peanuts.

A study in Israel showed that infants fed a peanut-based food, Bamba, by 6 months of age showed no more incidence of peanut allergies than children who wait.

Pieretti encouraged breastfeeding, but also said that parents shouldn’t avoid feeding common allergenic foods like peanut products, wheat, soy and eggs because they feel they’re protecting their children.

Babies should not eat peanuts or peanut butter because of the choking hazard.

A peanut product suffices.

Pieretti A couple new treatments may eventually help children with peanut allergy. Patch therapy would desensitize children through gradual, increasing exposure. The hoped outcome would be protection against accidental exposure.

“The big challenge is we want everyone to be tolerant,” Pieretti said. “The patch exposes them to peanuts all the time.”

Similar to the idea of using allergy shots for airborne allergies, oral desensitization for peanut allergies represents another method of treatment yet on the horizon.

“It introduces a small amount and gradually builds up so the kids can tolerate a dose,” Pieretti said.

“But they can have an allergic reaction during treatment and it may not promote tolerance. Most allergists are not doing that yet.”

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this one achieves two goals.

I am going to keep a small bin of clothes near the entrance to my home. That way, my kids can come in, pick something out, change, and run back outside. I want them to enjoy themselves when they are outdoors, not worry about muddy pants.

I plan to keep a bag in my car with play shoes, play clothes, wipes, sunscreen, insect repellent, water and some snacks. I will make sure to have these items available for everyone in the family. That way, when we want to fit in a last-second adventure, we have the tools to make it happen.

On my way home, I pass a couple of parks, a creek trail, a canal trail and a couple of playgrounds. There is no reason the kids and I can’t take five minutes and play a game of tag before we head home. Sometimes the best way to accomplish a goal is to make it your first priority.

Summer events start filling up our calendar as soon as the trees start budding. When we are deciding on what events to attend, I am going to give preference to the ones that are outdoors.

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The play-clothes bin

The commute detour

Morning prep

If I want to get my kids outside after work, I can prep in the morning to make that happen. I can pack water and snacks to tide my kids over until dinner. I can have leftovers ready for dinner when we get home.

I can wear an outfit and footwear to work that are conducive to hanging out at playground happy hour.

Independent living

315-592-5300

Page 18

A

lthough winter has been slow to release its grasp on our Central New York landscape, spring can’t remain in the shadows much longer. A well-known bridge is Syracuse displays, “Winter Longs,” SAGE Upstate offers programs — and this year that bridge has been andaccurate. socials for older gay, lesbian, painfully Asbisexual such, cabin fever is running and transgender adults in high in my household, and my famiSyracuse, Cortland, Oswego & U�ca ly is ready for prolonged exposure to the elements.

I send my kids out to play during the colder months, but it’s never long before a rainboot is full of cold puddle water, a glove has gone missing in a snowbank or someone’s pants are covered inside and out with mud or snow. So, our jaunts outside 315-478-1923 or during the cold-weather months sageupstate.org leave us longing for the outdoor experience only spring can promise.

When you work full time, it can be really hard to get your kids outside. After I pick them up from daycare and drive home, there is barely enough time to make dinner, do homework, pick up and prepare for bed. The problem with that schedule is it doesn’t leave much time for the outdoor play and fresh air kids so desperately need to healthy and happy.

So, this spring, I am going to be better about getting my kids outside.

Here are some of the strategies I plan to employ to make that happen.

IN GOOD HEALTH – CNY’s Healthcare Newspaper • May 2018

My kids are finally old enough that I can send them out to play by themselves for a little while. I give them firm instruction on where they can and cannot go. I keep the doors and windows open and an eye on my front yard and street. Kids need independence like they need fresh air, so

Setting expectations

Most kids are going to get pretty upset if they are sent outside to play, only to be called in 10 minutes later. To help my kids deal with that disappointment, I plan to communicate clearly with them about what our outdoor activities will consist of.

If they go into an activity knowing it will be brief, they are less likely to melt down.

Earning free time

To help maintain balance, I plan to have my kids chip in more around the house. I will tell them that in order to go outside the next day, they need to accomplish a certain number of tasks. Maybe it’s picking up toys or unloading the dishwasher. Maybe it’s putting away laundry or re-ordering their bookcases. Whatever it is, I will encourage them to do it in the evening or early morning hours so we can all enjoy our precious evening sunlight.

Open-air playdates

Instead of setting up times for my kids to have friends over or visit friend’s homes, I will coordinate with parents to have meetups outdoors.

With enough planning, playdates can involve playgrounds, hikes or natural excursions. This will also give me a chance to get to know some other parents while chatting on the playground.

Keeping a car bag

Put it on the calendar

Recurring fresh air

One of the best ways to accomplish something is to make it a habit.

America has fallen in love with taco Tuesday, so why can’t fresh air Friday be the next big thing? Habit-forming activities are awesome things, if you revolve them to the right habits.

Listening to the wisdom of children

We grownups like to get caught up in our routines. We like to worry about accomplishing the necessary tasks of everyday life. We make dishes, dinner, homework and laundry our top priorities. We forget to make play and fresh air a priority. Our kids are wise enough to call us on our folly. So, when I hear my kids ask to play outside, I can say “yes” more.

Golden Years

Catherine Sellin, age 101: She credits her long life to her habit of “working hard and eating good,” she says. “And get a man.”

Kay West, age 105: “I like to have a vodka tonic at least a couple nights a week. Doctors’ orders,” she says.

Want to Live Longer?

Centenarians share tips for healthy aging

By Deborah Jeanne Sergeant

I

t’s not polite to ask a lady her age.

But Catherine Sellin, a resident at Loretto’s Highland House in Syracuse, readily volunteers that she’s 101. At her age, it’s a badge of honor.

She’s also excited to share, “The mayor used to live here, you know?”

That means a lot, apparently, to a lifelong Syracusan.

She married on Thanksgiving Day.

“He was 29 and I was 19,” Sellin said as she referred to her late husband, Raymond. “He was tall and handsome. I was married in a lady’s suit, which was quite a big deal, and he wore a brown suit. We had our reception and Thanksgiving Dinner at Tubbert’s on North Salina Street.”

The couple used to spend summers in a rented camp.

“We went up for the great fish-

ing, but sometimes I just went to get a tan,” Sellin recalled.

They also bowled and dabbled a bit in golf.

She worked for L.C. Smith & Bros. Typewriter Company in Syracuse.

“We made typewriters, then machine guns during the war, and then back to making typewriters again afterwards,” Sellin recalled. “My husband worked there as well.”

Her employment included 32 years at Syracuse China. She worked until she was 72 years old in 1989 and only retired because of her dimming eyesight.

Longevity seems to have blessed Sellin and her sister, who died four years ago at age 92. Their remaining three siblings died much earlier.

Sellin said that her daughter, Patricia Roarke, has three children.

They have presented her with nine great-grandchildren and that generation has produced three great-great grandchildren.

Sellin seems excited to serve as the matriarch of five generations. She credits her long life to her habit of “working hard and eating good,” she said. “And get a man.”

Apparently, a good relationship helps, too.

Another Loretto golden girl, Kay West lives at Buckley Landing and has reached 105 years. Also a Syracuse native, West worked at the Syracuse Herald Journal as a secretary.

These days, she likes going out shopping and talking with Buckley Landing staff.

“I liked to golf and ski with my

children when I was younger,” West said.

Other than occasional body aches, she doesn’t have any major health concerns. West’s mother lived into her 90s but West said, “I don’t think of things like that. It depends on what you call ‘old.’”

West’s keys for living a long, healthy life include: • “Live a good life. Eat the right foods. Make your life the best you can make it. If you make it a bad life then you’re a sourpuss.

• “I like to have a vodka tonic at least a couple nights a week. Doctors’ orders!

• “Eat right, be positive — and laugh.

• “It’s all about how a person keep themselves. I am very particular about what I do and don’t do.”

What she doesn’t do is just as important — smoking and poor diet.

She also has good genetics with little family history of disease.

Sellin and West may be onto something.

Physician Douglas Tucker, chief medical officer at Loretto’s PACE, said that good social support can help improve the chances for a long, healthy life, along with a healthful diet.

“Stay active with both physical and mind-enhancing activity,” Tucker added. “Don’t smoke. Take your medications as directed, follow instructions from your health care providers and don’t be afraid to ask questions.”

Blood Pressure: Understanding the New Guidelines New parameters mean more Americans have high blood pressure

By Jim Miller

I

f you’re unsure what your blood pressure levels should be, you’re not alone. Recent changes in the hypertension guidelines made by the American Heart Association and the American College Cardiology mean that roughly 30 million more Americans than previously thought are now considered to have high blood pressure (hypertension).

According to the new guidelines, anyone with a blood pressure reading above 130/80 is considered to have high blood pressure.

Previously, those with a blood pressure reading between 120/80 and 139/89 would have been put in the prehypertension category and wouldn’t have been considered hypertensive until they got to 140/90.

But the new guidelines eliminate the prehypertension category, putting everyone with systolic pressure readings (top number) between 120 and 129 and a diastolic reading (bottom number) below 80 in a new “elevated” category. And those with a reading of 130/80 or higher fall in some stage of hypertension. Here’s a complete rundown of the new five category blood pressure ranges: • Normal: A top number less than 120 and a bottom number less than

80.

• Elevated: A top number between 120 and 129, and a bottom number less than 80.

• Stage 1: A top number between 130 and 139, or a bottom number between 80 and 89.

• Stage 2: A top number of 140 or higher, or a bottom number of 90 or higher.

• Hypertensive crisis: A top number over 180 or a bottom number over 120.

Millions of Americans with high blood pressure don’t know they have it because it usually has no outward signs or symptoms. But high blood pressure, over time, can damage your arteries and increase your risk for heart disease, stroke, kidney damage and even dementia. To guard against this, everyone over the age of 40, as well as those younger with risk factors for hypertension should get their blood pressure checked at least once a year.

If you find that your blood pressure numbers fall in the “elevated” category, you should take steps now to get it under control. Lifestyle changes like eating a healthy diet, losing weight, exercising, watching your salt intake, quitting smoking

and cutting back on alcohol is often all you need to get it back to normal.

Even if your blood pressure numbers are in the “stage 1” category, lifestyle changes are recommended first, unless you’ve had a heart attack or stroke, or you’re at high risk for cardiovascular problems because you smoke, have high cholesterol or Type 2 diabetes. Then medications may be prescribed.

But if your blood pressure falls in the “stage 2” or higher category, the new guidelines suggest medicaMay 2018 •

tion, regardless of age, plus lifestyle changes.

There are several different kinds of drugs used to lower blood pressure.

It usually makes sense to start with the oldest, safest, and least expensive drug: diuretics or water pills, such as chlorthalidone or hydrochlorothiazide. But these meds can drive up blood sugar levels, so if you have Type 2 diabetes or are at risk of it, your doctor may prescribe another drug, such as an ACE inhibitor, ARB or calcium channel blocker.

You should also be aware that blood pressure drugs could cause side effects including dizziness, gastrointestinal problems, fatigue and headaches. They can also cause a decline in kidney function so make sure your doctor periodically monitors your potassium levels.

For more information, see the American Heart Association comprehensive web page on high blood pressure at Heart.org/HBP.

IN GOOD HEALTH – CNY’s Healthcare Newspaper

•

Page 19

Golden Years 6 Health Issues

Affecting Older Adults

By Deborah Jeanne Sergeant

M 1.

any issues affect the health of older adults. Area experts weighed in on eight of them.

Hormone imbalance “Every cell in our body has receptors for hormones,” said physician Leila Kirdani, board-certified in both metabolic medicine and family practice at Quality of Life Medicine in New Hartford.

“Hormone imbalance affects all areas of the body.”

She explained that as hormone levels decline, the cells won’t function as well. People experience unwanted changes in energy level, mood, aches and pains, short-term memory, cholesterol levels, organ function and bone strength.

Supplements and over-the-counter medication can help better balance hormones, she said.

2.

Alzheimer’s disease The number of people in New York with Alzheimer’s disease is expected to increase by 15 percent in the next seven years, according to the New York State Alzheimer’s Association Coalition.

“As we look at risk reduction and prevention, one of the things we’re looking at is how we can detect this disease at its earliest form,” said Cathy James, co-chairwoman of the New York State Alzheimer’s Associ-

ation Coalition. “We’re working on early detection at this point because we don’t have biomarkers. Clinical trials are going on to determine what those biomarkers are. Perhaps then, some of the medication that hasn’t shown efficacy at a certain stage would have more effect with individuals who are pre-clinical symptoms.”

Age and genetics represent leading risk factors for Alzheimer’s disease.

At present, nothing cures Alzheimer’s disease, but taking a few preventive steps may help delay onset for some of those who will develop the disease: exercise, maintaining physical health, proper diet, keeping the brain active and social interaction.

“Restorative sleep is also a factor that may recharge our brains,” James said.

3.

Nutrition

“Many elderly tend to go toward snacking on items like crackers, toast, coffee or eating prepared microwaveable meals or eating out,” said Laurel Sterling, registered dietitian, nutritionist and educator with Carlson Laboratories in Canastota. “Food choices depend on their home life whether they live alone or not, monetary status and health status.”

The problem with many of these choices is that they’re high in sodium, fat, preservatives and calories but lower in nutrients. Eating a balanced diet rich in many colors of fruits and vegetables, whole grains and lean sources of protein promotes better health.

4.

Supplementation As needed, supplements may help support a health-

ful diet.

“Studies are supporting the benefits of incorporating a multi-vitamin and mineral supplement into our daily supplemental regime,” Sterling said. “People aged 60 and beyond might need additional vitamin D, calcium, magnesium, and B vitamins.

Those with specific health concerns like heart disease, diabetes, and others will need additional specific nutrients in their multi-vitamins.”

5.

Digestion Along with many other areas of the body, digestion can change with age. Some people may discover they’re more sensitive to certain foods than they used to be.

“Digestive enzymes can assist

in digestive issues,” Sterling said.

“Families can assist by preparing healthful meals, batch cooking for their loved one to use heat up as needed, assist with shopping choices and make sure there are no dental issues with chewing.”

People with ill-fitting dentures may forgo nutritious foods such as raw fruits and vegetables and nuts.

6.

Polypharmacy While it can be dangerous — even life-threatening to abruptly stop taking medication, polypharmacy refers to taking many unnecessary medications or medication that should not be taken together.

“People believe medication save lives, but not necessarily,” said physician Az Tahir, who practices holistic integrative medicine at High Point Wellness in Syracuse.

He said that many older adults don’t know why they take certain medications and their physicians simply don’t review their pills. They may experience side effects and even take medication to counter them without exploring other medication that would bring fewer side effects.

Aerobic Exercise Key for Brain Health Practice helps prevent cognitive decline, say experts

By Deborah Jeanne Sergeant

A

erobic exercise may offer protection from cognitive decline, according to two recent studies.

• Researchers at the University of Southern California in Los Angeles in 2017 published a report showing that about one-third of Alzheimer’s disease cases could be prevented through changes in habits — including exercise.

• A small study by the Center for Aging and Health at the University of Gothenburg in Sweden showed up to a 90 percent reduction in dementia associated with fitness regimens begun women in their 50s who were followed for the next 44 years. Very few of the fittest women experienced dementia. The benefit lessened for women who were active, but not as fit, according to the study.

Although any activity is better than no activity, an occasional stroll to the mailbox or quietly puttering in the garden won’t do it. To achieve Page 20

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this positive effect, the World Health Organization recommends that people 65 and older participate in at least 150 minutes of moderate to 75 minutes of intense activity every week.

You may not dream of achieving a buff beach body, but staying fit may benefit the brain.

Other studies indicate that starting younger in life offers the most benefit, but “it’s never too late to start,” said Cathy James, co-chairwoman of the New York State Alzheimer’s Association Coalition.

“Sometimes we think of high impact, but even moderate exercise may help us lower James our risk for things like Alzheimer’s disease and it

IN GOOD HEALTH – CNY’s Healthcare Newspaper • May 2018

can contribute to brain health.”

If the exercise involves learning and retaining skills, such as taking a martial arts class, that may offer more benefits, as would exercise that’s social in nature, such as participating on a sports team. Involving music could also promote more brain activity while in motion, such as a dance class.

Jill Murphy, certified personal trainer and co-owner of Mission Fitness in East Syracuse, said that aerobic exercise is recommended for cognitive health by Joseph Mercola, a board-certified physician in family medicine and author of three New York Times best-selling books.

“One of the things he found is when you do aerobic exercise, you create neuro-genesis,” Murphy said.

“You’re producing new brain cells.

Aerobic exercise helps rejuvenate and regenerate the brain, which fights dementia.”

Murphy added that aerobic exercise helps reduce stress, depression and sleeplessness: all conditions associated with declining cognitive health.

Murphy encourages clients to find a form of exercise or activity they like.

“That’s the key,” she said. “You could try Zumba if you like dance.

If you like being outside, find something outside. If you enjoy it, you’ll keep doing it.

“Try out different things you’ll enjoy doing. Educate yourself about the benefits and why you do it. You many not enjoy it 100 percent, but at least you’ll get a return on your investment.”

Murphy wants younger people to start the habit of exercise earlier in life, rather than waiting. But older adults can still benefit from exercise, including improving overall health, possibly reducing the need for certain kinds of medication (with doctor approval), and supporting brain health.

Though exercise offers numerous benefits to body and mind, it can’t guarantee lifelong cognitive health.

Genetics, nutrition, social engagement and advanced age all represent other risk factors for cognitive decline.

Before undertaking any change in nutrition or exercise, consult with a health care provider. A personal trainer may offer helpful advice for exercising safely and effectively.

You make it possible.

Thank you to nurses everywhere in celebration of National Nurses Week

Exceptional care is so often only possible with an exceptional nurse.

At Nascentia Health, we’re especially proud of our 160 nurses who support our mission and our community every day. Their contributions are immeasurable, and their skill, enthusiasm and commitment to providing the best possible care to those we serve is inspiring.

Their effort, compassion and dedication ensures a stronger, healthier community for us all.

And for that, we thank them.

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May 2018 •

nascentiahealth.org • Page 21

IN GOOD HEALTH – CNY’s Healthcare Newspaper

Golden Years

Elder Abuse Often Unseen

By Deborah Jeanne Sergeant

I

n 2011, the New York State Elder Abuse Prevalence Study estimated more than 260,000 older adults have been victims of at least one form of elder abuse in the preceding year.

Too often, family members can remain blind to red flags because they believe the best about caregivers and other family members. The victim’s health can also block others’ means of helping.

According to Verahouse.org, the signs of elder abuse may include: • Unexplained injuries, bruises or burns • Excessive fears, withdrawal, agitation • Sudden inability to pay bills, buy food or personal items • Isolation and withdrawal from people and activities • Changes in appetite; unusual weight gain or loss

• Poor personal hygiene • Unaware of personal finances • Changes in behavior around a family member/caregiver Cathy James, co-chairwoman of the New York State Alzheimer’s Association Coalition, said that problems with judgment and reasoning often put people with Alzheimer’s disease at greater risk for abuse and financial exploitation.

She advises checks and balances so that there’s not just one person looking at the individual’s finances and managing all his care.

“If someone has concerns, there are lots of resources within our community, like the Alzheimer’s Association and the local office for the aging,” she said.

Call ­­­800-342-9871 to connect with any local office for the aging or (315) 468-3260 to reach the 24-hour hotline at Vera House.

Debra Kostiw’s First-Hand Experience with Elder Abuse Debra Kostiw, president of Home Helpers of Rochester, never dreamed that her mother, Ellie McGarigle, would join the statistic. McGarigle loved playing card games, socializing at the theater and Faith United Methodist Church, and welcoming new people to her Fairport neighborhood.

She also couldn’t resist cheesecake and shrimp cocktail, and traveling to new places.

Though diagnosed with Alzheimer’s disease many years before, she still lived independently, as the disease progressed very slowly.

A few years ago, McGarigle began needing more help. Kostiw hired a nurse to check on her and set up her medication boxes. That enabled Kostiw to continue working and caring for her own family.

Two years ago, discussing McGarigle’s driving strained their relationship. Kostiw said that McGarigle decided on her own to put down a deposit at an independent living community, a move Kostiw supported.

Kostiw said that her brother in Michigan rarely contacted their mother. Upon hearing about the move, he and his family visited.

Kostiw arranged for them to tour the community with their mother.

She later learned that the tour was canceled and McGarigle made her son her power of attorney. More shocking to Kostiw, McGarigle moved to Michigan to live with Kostiw’s brother four days later.

Kostiw said she later learned that her brother had filed for bankruptcy four months before the visit and that he charged his mother $400 a month to rent a bedroom in his home.

Attorneys told Kostiw the only way she could get her mother back Page 22

•

was to sue for guardianship, which would cost her $20,000 and likely her relationship with McGarigle.

Kostiw said that over the following months, McGarigle would call her, asking for help in moving back home, but in a few days, she’d changed her mind. Occasionally, McGarigle used strong language to complain about her daughter-inlaw’s behavior — a change Kostiw then attributed to Alzheimer’s.

Other household changes bothered Kostiw, like her brother’s new car, despite having recently filed for bankruptcy and losing his job.

Then, another bombshell: McGarigle gave her son $130,000 to buy a boat and lakefront mountain house, located a two-hour drive from the previous one. The previously savvy lady did not seem to understand Kostiw’s warnings about how she handled her money.

Kostiw said that calls from her mother increased in frequency and her brother eventually agreed to drive McGarigle to New York.

Kostiw then learned all her mother’s expensive furniture was gone, replaced by mismatched garage sale items.

More troubling, the formerly impeccably-kept woman’s hair straggled down her shoulders. Her room was a mess. She had also fallen in the shower the year before and broken her clavicle, unknown to Kostiw at the time.

Kostiw said that closer to moving time, “she said they wouldn’t speak with her and they were stealing all her money,” Kostiw said. “I said to not worry about it; we’d take care of it when she got here.”

Kostiw said that her brother would not even help with their mother’s medication and that he has a history of mental health problems.

Abruptly, he canceled the drive to

IN GOOD HEALTH – CNY’s Healthcare Newspaper • May 2018

Ellie McGarigle and her daughter Debra Kostiw: Bad experience with elder abuse.

New York. Kostiw said he sounded frustrated. She told him to book the soonest direct flight for her.

He took his mother for one last trip to the bank. Her brother told her later that he wasn’t feeling well and was going to pull over. He drove into a tree instead. McGarigle died in the crash.

Only later did Kostiw learn devastating revelations about her mother. According to Kostiw, McGarigle’s best friend related that McGarigle told her that her daughter-in-law crushed her hand during an argument until she cried and told her that she was no longer welcome.

She spoke with her brother privately, assuming his ignorance to the abuse. She was wrong. His mother had showed him her swollen, bruised wrists a couple of days after

altercation, Kostiw said. McGarigle received no medical treatment. He threatened his wife with divorce if she ever did it again.

Kostiw said that at her mother’s funeral, “instead of loving memories, I got all these stories from people saying she called and asked them to come get her and she wanted to live with them. She couldn’t even pet her own dog there.”

Friends told Kostiw that her mother hid in her bedroom at night and on weekends to avoid strife.

Remorse compounded Kostiw’s grief. The happy homecoming had turned into a funeral, where McGarigle’s friends cut pieces of ribbon that could span their outstretched arms and laid their last “hug” about her in her casket.

By Jim Miller

What to Know About the New Medicare Cards Dear Savvy Senior, What can you tell me about the new Medicare cards? I’ve heard there are a lot of scams associated with these new cards and I want to make sure I protect myself.

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.

Leery Senior Dear Leery, The government will soon be sending out brand new Medicare cards to 59 million Medicare beneficiaries. Here’s what you should know about your new card along with some tips to help you guard against potential scams.

New Medicare Cards Starting in April 2018, Medicare will be removing Social Security numbers from their new Medicare cards, and begin mailing them out to everyone who gets Medicare benefits. The reason for this change is to help protect your identity and reduce medical and financial fraud. The new cards will have a randomly generated 11-character Medicare number.

This will happen automatically. You don’t need to do anything or pay anyone to get your new card.

Medicare will mail your card, at no cost, to the address you have on file with the Social Security Administration. If you need to update your official mailing address, visit your online Social Security account at SSA. gov/myaccount or call 800-772-1213.

When you get your new card, your Medicare coverage and benefits will stay the same.

If you have a relative or friend who lives in another state and gets their card before you, don’t fret. The cards will be mailed in waves, to various parts of the country over a 12-month period starting in April, and ending April 2019. Medicare beneficiaries in Alaska, California, Delaware, the District of Columbia, Hawaii, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Virginia and West Virginia will be the first to receive the mailings, between April and June.

The last wave of states will be Kentucky, Louisiana, Michigan, Mississippi, Missouri, Ohio and Tennessee, along with Puerto Rico and the Virgin Islands.

When you get your new Medicare card, don’t throw your old one in the trash. Instead, put it through a shredder or cut it up with a pair of scissors and make sure the part showing your Social Security number is destroyed.

If you have a separate Medicare Advantage card, keep it because you’ll still need it for treatment.

Watch Out For Scams As the new Medicare cards start being mailed, be on the lookout for Medicare scams. Here are some tips: n Don’t pay for your new card. It’s yours for free. If anyone calls and says you need to pay for it, that’s a scam. n Don’t give personal information to get your card. If someone calls claiming to be from Medicare, asking for your Social Security number or bank information, that’s a scam. Hang up.

Medicare will never ask you to give personal information to get your new number and card. n Guard your card. When you get your new card, safeguard it like you would any other health insurance or credit card. While removing the Social Security number cuts down on many types of identity theft, you’ll still want to protect your new card because identity thieves could use it to get medical services.

For more information about changes to your Medicare card go to Go.medicare.gov/newcard. And if you suspect fraud, report it to the FTC (FTCcomplaintassistant.gov), AARP’s fraud help line, 877-9083360, or your local Senior Medicare Patrol program. Go to SMPresource. org for contact information.

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

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IN GOOD HEALTH – CNY’s Healthcare Newspaper

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Page 23

Golden Years

Healing garden: Landscaper Jim Sollecito has consulted with professionals in Alzheimer’s care to select what elements would work the best for these clients. Among other things, he uses sculptures, from traditional to brightly painted bicycles, to provide visual appeal.

Master Gardener Designs ‘Healing Gardens’

By Deborah Jeanne Sergeant

M

any people enjoy spending time in a well-kept garden.

For people with Alzheimer’s disease, a sensory garden could provide a soothing environment that evokes a sense of calm.

That’s why Jim Sollecito, owner of Sollecito Landscape Nursery in Syracuse, has begun designing what

he calls “healing gardens” on private and commercial properties.

Sollecito is New York state’s first lifetime-certified senior landscape professional. He has more than 45 years in the industry. This breadth of knowledge enables him to create gardens that appeal to all the senses.

He plans the flower varieties so

they provide visual and scent appeal continually all season. He also uses sculpture, from traditional to brightly painted bicycles.

Wind chimes and fountains are among the auditory accruements.

Recycling items such as kitchen hand tools or bicycle parts in the wind chimes adds a touch of whimsy.

Plantings of Juneberries and other edibles appeal to the sense of taste.

Varied surfaces, from stone walkways to turf to wooden benches add textural appeal.

“We have a display garden here and it’s not much of a stretch to add movement, sound and scents to transform it into a healing garden,” Sollecito said.

He also designs sensory gardens for general stress relief and relaxation.

Sollecito has consulted with professionals in Alzheimer’s care to select what elements would work the best for these clients.

“Sights and smells of a familiar plant can trigger happy memories and topics of conversation to share with the family,” Sollecito said. “I have relatives that have had dementia, so I know firsthand the types of things that are positive.”

Cathy James, co-chairwoman of the New York State Alzheimer’s Association Coalition, said that Sollecito is on the right track.

“A sound or smell puts you back into an experience,” James said.

“That’s how our experiences cause us to categorize experiences. Some are

more auditory; others are more olfactory. Anything to cause us to awaken memories helps.”

A sensory garden could also give people with Alzheimer’s disease a means of reconnecting with gardening again.

“We hear from caregivers often that they want activities, like, ‘Mom used to enjoy gardening,’” James said. “This type of experience can help an individual.”

James also said that caregivers may enjoy the experience and chance to relax as well, and a sensory garden may be a place to enjoy together if they choose.

As Alzheimer’s and other dementia diseases progress, some people are aware of the disease process.

“It can be an incredibly frustrating experience,” said Orion Roeder, director of recreation at PACE CNY. “Compensating with sensory engagement is one way for individuals to feel empowered and trigger pathways to long-term memory.

“A sensory garden offers a dynamic experience that engages every sense, and is immersive in the natural world.”

She said that this kind of experience may trigger long-term memories, from childhood mud pies to planting their own gardens in adulthood.

In the later stages of Alzheimer’s disease, when memories don’t come readily, sensory input associated with happy memories can still generate positive emotions, she said.

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IN GOOD HEALTH – CNY’s Healthcare Newspaper • May 2018

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OCO Welcomes New Board Members Oswego County Opportunities (OCO) recently announced the appointment of seven new members to OCO’s board of directors.

They are: • Christine Hirsch is a faculty member in the department of communications at SUNY Oswego.

Hirsch is fulfilling her desire is to give back to a population she understands, and to help and empower those that OCO serves.

• Nancy Deavers is the chief nursing officer for the Northern Oswego County Health Services (NOCHSI). She provides direction for quality initiatives and care delivery to insure they are meeting the needs of all of their patients, regardless of their ability to pay. Her background would allow her to assist with providing guidance to the OCO leadership in supporting the mission and vision of OCO. • Lori Donahue has served on many committees and boards that serve those who are experiencing low-income situations. She has worked as an emergency services coordinator where she helped people who were experiencing eviction, homelessness, energy bill disconnects and many other issues. She currently works as a marketing coordinator at H&R Block.

• Douglas Bower is a residential housing specialist for the Oswego Housing Development Council, and is retired from the U.S. Navy Seabees.

His expertise is in quality assurance for the building industry, where he secures and inspects contractor work for families with low incomes throughout Oswego County to make sure their dwellings are safe.

• Crystal Perry, currently the Visa coordinator at Oswego County Federal Credit Union, became familiar with OCO through the credit unions partnership with agency and volunteering at OCO events.

• Tim Stahl is currently the deputy director of Community Development Office for the City of Oswego.

• Patricia Krauss is a former Head Start parent, and is currently the director of the Office of Learning Services at SUNY Oswego.

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IN GOOD HEALTH – CNY’s Healthcare Newspaper

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Page 25

The Social Ask Security Office

By Deborah Banikowski District Manager, Syracuse

Checklist For Your Social Security Annual Check-Up

Monitor at the new TeliStat Restorative Care Unit (TRCU) has opened at the Loretto Health and Rehabilitation tracks patients’ multiple health risks in real-time.

Loretto’s New Tech-Savvy Unit Expected to Decrease Hospital Readmissions

A

new TeliStat Restorative Care Unit (TRCU) has opened at the Loretto Health and Rehabilitation Center in Syracuse. This unit is the first of its kind in Central New York.

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services,” said Kimberly Townsend, Loretto’s president and CEO. “Bringing this level of care to Loretto gives cardiac patients the opportunity to complete their rehab at a lower cost and reduces their risk of rehospitalization.”

The new 25-bed unit has portable monitors that track multiple health risks in real-time. Residents in the short-term rehabilitation program receive a portable Wi-Fi/cellular biometric monitor which registers real-time data. It also allows them to access physicians any time of day or night.

The TRCU concept and associated proprietary technology were developed by physician Anthony Bacchi, an innovative healthcare leader in New York, according to Loretto.

In addition to utilizing the latest technology, this new unit was also a reason for Loretto, the sixth largest employer in Central New York, to add several new jobs. Among those hired to staff the TRCU were registered nurses, a program director, a care coordinator, a medical director and a cardiologist. With the new skilled nursing staff and remote medical team in place, the rehabilitation facility will be able to maintain a patient-to-RN-ratio of approximately six to one, well above industry standards, with additional support coming from certified nursing assistants.

Through this technology and the additional medical staff, Loretto can care for hospital patients recovering from major cardiac surgery and diagnoses requiring hemodynamics and telemonitoring.

Loretto will work with St. Joseph’s Health, Crouse Hospital and Upstate University Hospital to serve patients.

Loretto is now the third location in New York state using TRCU. This telemedicine technology, combined with the skilled nursing staff and a remote medical team, empower Loretto to provide much-needed care while helping to decrease hospital readmission rates and associated costs in Central New York, according to a news release.

IN GOOD HEALTH – CNY’s Healthcare Newspaper • May 2018

S

ay “annual checkup” and most people imagine waiting at the doctor’s office. But there’s another type of checkup that can give you a sense of wellness without even leaving home. Visit www.socialsecurity.gov and follow these five steps to conduct your own Social Security annual checkup.

Your Social Security statement is available online anytime to everyone who has a my Social Security account at www.socialsecurity.gov/myaccount. Creating your account gives you 24/7 access to your personal information and makes it impossible for someone else to set up an account in your name. We still send paper statements to those who are 60 and older who don’t have an account and aren’t receiving Social Security benefits. Your statement provides information about work credits (you need 40 credits to be entitled to a Social Security retirement benefit), estimates for retirement, disability, and survivors benefits, plus a history of your earnings. n Work Credits Count — If you have earned 40 work credits, your statement will show estimates for retirement, disability and survivors benefits. If you don’t have 40 work credits, the statement shows how many you have and how many you still need to qualify for benefits. n Review Earnings Record — Review your history of earnings year by year to make sure each year is correct.

This is important because Social Security benefits are based on your lifetime earnings. If any years are incorrect or missing, you may not receive all the benefits you are entitled to in the future. If you need to correct

Q&A Q: I recently retired and am approaching the age when I can start receiving Medicare. What is the monthly premium for Medicare Part B? A: The standard Medicare Part B premium for medical insurance is currently $134 per month. Since 2007, some people with higher incomes must pay a higher monthly premium for their Medicare coverage. You can get details at www.medicare.gov or by calling 1-800-MEDICARE (1-800633-4227) (TTY 1-877-486-2048).

Q: When a person who has worked and paid Social Security taxes dies, are benefits payable on that person’s record?

A: Social Security survivors benefits can be paid to: • A widow or widower — unre-

your earnings, contact Social Security at 1-800-772-1213 between 7 a.m. and 7 p.m. Monday through Friday.

Please have your W-2 or paystubs when you call. n Study Benefit Estimates — Review the section titled “Your Estimated Benefits.” Be sure to review not only your retirement estimate, but your disability and survivors estimates.

No one likes to think about disability, but a 20-year-old worker has a one in four chance of becoming disabled before reaching retirement age, underscoring the importance of disability benefits. Since the value of the survivors insurance you have under Social Security may be more than your individual life insurance, be sure to check your survivors estimates also. n Calculate Additional Estimates — You can use our Retirement Estimator to compute future Social Security benefits by changing variables such as retirement dates and future earnings.

If you want to project what future earnings could add to your benefit, visit www.socialsecurity.gov/estimator. n Schedule Your Annual Check-Up — Each year, make a date with yourself to review the most recently posted year of earnings on your Statement.

By checking your record every year, you can be certain when you retire that Social Security will have a correct record of earnings to use when computing benefits for you or your family members.

Social Security helps you secure your today and tomorrow by providing information to make your financial planning easier. Social Security is more than retirement; it is a family protection plan. For more information about benefits, visit us at www. socialsecurity.gov.

duced benefits at full retirement age, or reduced benefits as early as age 60; • A disabled widow or widower — as early as age 50; • A widow or widower at any age if he or she takes care of the deceased’s child who is under age 16 or disabled, and receiving Social Security benefits; • Unmarried children under 18, or up to age 19 if they are attending high school full time. Under certain circumstances, benefits can be paid to stepchildren, grandchildren or adopted children; • Children at any age who were disabled before age 22 and remain disabled; and • Dependent parents age 62 or older.

Even if you are divorced, you still may qualify for survivors benefits. For more information, go to www.socialsecurity.gov.

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May 2018 •

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H ealth News St. Joseph’s recognized for stroke care St. Joseph’s Health has recently received the Bronze Award from the American Heart Association/American Stroke Association “Get With The Guidelines” Stroke program.

In addition, the Public Health and Health Planning Council of the New York State Department of Health has designated St. Joseph’s Health Hospital as a Primary Stroke Center.

“Stroke is the fifth leading cause of death and remains the No. 1 cause of long-term disability in the United States. It is critical for patients suffering from a stroke to get care as quickly as possible, and we want people to know that they shouldn’t drive past St. Joseph’s Health in their ambulance to get to another hospital,” said Kevin Thomas,a neurohospitalist, neurology section chief and medical director the stroke program at St. Joseph’s Health.

“Having this primary stroke designation helps the stroke team at St. Joseph’s Health Hospital improve the quality of care that our community members receive. The rapid evaluation, transportation, and coordination of care provided by all stroke team members can preserve precious brain tissue and improve the outcomes of our stroke patients. “ For a hospital to receive the bronze level award from the “Get With The Guidelines” stroke program, the hospital must consistently demonstrate for 90 consecutive days that patients arrive at the hospital within two hours of the start of the stroke and are treated within three hours of the start of the stroke, among many other requirements for patient treatment at the hospital as well as during and after discharge.

FamilyCare Medical Group achieves Level 3 PCMH FamilyCare Medical Group (FCMG) has achieved Level 3 Patient Centered Medical Home (PCMH) recognition from the National Committee for Quality Assurance (NCQA).

“This certification is considered one of the leading standards of measuring a medical practice’s commitment to patient-centered care using evidence-based procedures and best practices,” said physician Mitchell Brodey, president and CEO for FCMG. “To be recognized, FCMG went through a very challenging submission process and was evaluated on a set of criteria with an award of Level 3. Level 3 being the most difficult to obtain and the most prestigious.”

HANYS Solutions Practice Advancement Strategies and FamilyCare Medical Group Brodey co-presented at Page 28

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NCQA PCMH Congress held Nov. 3-5 in Orlando with more than 1,000 attendees from across the country.

FamilyCare Medical Group is a multi-specialty medical group dedicated to providing the highest quality medical care throughout Central New York. FCMG provides their patients with a full complement of medical services to meet their healthcare needs. FCMG physicians specialize in areas including family medicine, internal medicine, gynecology, cardiology, endocrinology, ophthalmology, otolaryngology, regenerative spine and musculoskeletal, infectious disease, HIV and more.

Founded in 1996 by 13 family doctors, FCMG has grown to more than 120 medical providers. It practices in 34 locations in Onondaga, Cayuga and Cortland counties and its physicians are affiliated with Crouse Health Hospital, St. Joseph’s Hospital Health Center, Auburn Memorial Hospital, Upstate Medical Center and Cortland Memorial Hospital.

“Deeply rooted in our core values, at FCMG we believe in long lasting relationships, delivering quality care, and empowering both physicians and patients to live a higher quality of life,” said Brodey.

Loretto announces staff promotion, hiring Registered nurse Alisha Hosein has been promoted to the role of nurse manager at Loretto’s Fahey location.

An employee at Loretto since 2016, Hosein has been a nurse for 11 years.

Her past experience includes working at St. Joseph’s Hosein Health as part of its medical/surgical telemetry unit and at the Syracuse VA Medical Center working on the medical/surgical oncology unit.

Hosein holds an Associate Degree in Science and earned her nursing degree from St. Joseph’s College of Nursing. She has also earned basic life support (BLS) certification from the American red Cross.

Natasha Glynn has been hired as director of clinical recruitment and retention for Loretto.

Glynn recently launched the healthcare division for CPS Recruitment in her role as director of healthcare Glynn staffing.

She has 20 years of experience in the healthcare industry, including more than a decade of recruiting for healthcare.

Glynn earned her Bachelor of

IN GOOD HEALTH – CNY’s Healthcare Newspaper • May 2018

Science degree in health science from Florida Gulf Coast University.

Bishop Rehab and Nursing introduces ‘Real Time’ Many changes are taking place at Bishop Rehabilitation and Nursing Center on James Street in Syracuse.

Since the takeover of James Square

by Edward Farbenblum in December, the newly named Bishop Center has been making patient-centered advancements and changes to promote both safety and comfort of their residents. The most recent of these changes is the addition of Real Time Medical Systems.

Real Time provides a simple app that nursing homes can access to manage their patients and revenue using live data. Real Time allows the patient care staff to not only intervene immediately if needed but also to see even a small change in a resident’s condition early enough that it can be addressed in a proactive way.

According to Real Time founder Scott Rifkin, a physician and longtime owner of post-acute and long term care facilities, the addition of Real Time at Bishop Rehabilitation and Nursing Center is an important investment for the future. “We are thrilled to be chosen by Bishop Rehab to help bring interventional real time data to the fingertips of the nurses and doctors. With this data, the facility will have the core information it needs to assure that every patient’s personal health issues are responded to in a timely manner. Our system is in hundreds of clinically superior nursing facilities and reduces hospital admissions by 50 percent or more.”

Bishop Center Administrator Margaret Mary Wagner said, “I feel that the advanced integration of Real Time into our electronic medical records system puts us on the cutting edge of medical management of our residents. Real Time has already made a difference in the care we are able to give to our residents.”

St. Joseph’s acquires New York Heart Center

St. Joseph’s Health has recently reached an agreement to acquire the New York Heart Center, a Syracuse-based cardiology practice that offers comprehensive services for the diagnosis, treatment and prevention of a wide variety of heart conditions.

Since its establishment in 1983, the board certified cardiologists at the New York Heart Center (NYHC) have worked closely with St. Joseph’s Health and other local hospitals and health systems to create streamlined care for patients at each of its seven locations in Syracuse, Cicero, Oswego, Watertown, Auburn, Gouverneur and Pulaski. It serves more than 40,000 patients a year.

“The New York Heart Center is a key strategic partner of St. Joseph’s

Health,” said physician Joseph Spinale, chief medical officer at St. Joseph’s Health. “The formal union of both organizations is a decisive and major step in the creation of a sustainable best-in-class cardiology practice given the complexities of the business of health care, alternative Medicare payment models and the uncertainties of reform. Together, we will enhance care in new ways that improve quality and outcomes for heart patients across Central and Northern New York. Indeed, the NYHC was recently cited in a Stanford University study as among the very few US cardiology practice sites that ranked favorably for both high quality outcomes provided at a low cost to the patient.”

St. Joseph’s Health will now include the NYHC’s seven locations and 99 employees, including its 11 cardiologists, as part of the acquisition. There will be no disruption in service and patients should expect the same high level of care they received at the NYHC. “Our cardiology team is very excited to formalize our strategic partnership with St. Joseph’s Health,” said physician Eugene Lozner, president of the New York Heart Center. “Our goal is to continue to team with referring physicians to provide patients with complete care as well as create the best treatment or preventative plans possible to meet their needs. This care philosophy will be greatly enhanced through our integration into St. Joseph’s Health.

Aligning with the region’s leader in cardiovascular care gives our patients even greater access to physicians, nurses and cardiac technicians who consistently care for more patients than any other provider in the region.”

Liberty Resources partners with Genoa Healthcare Liberty Resources will partner with Genoa Healthcare to provide full service onsite pharmacy services as another important step in furthering its integrated health care.

This complementary service will advance Liberty’s integrated care strategic initiative.

Construction has begun to convert unused office space at 1045 James St. in Syracuse into the new pharmacy. The pharmacy is set to open in May 2018.

Liberty Resources Integrated Health Care provides mental health care as well as primary care and other wellness services. Genoa’s pharmacists will be part of the treatment team allowing Liberty Resources to provide a higher level of service to clients.

Studies show that centralizing clinical and pharmaceutical care for behavioral health conditions results in higher rates of medication adherence, which helps people live productive lives and reduces healthcare spending.

Having an onsite pharmacy will give Liberty Resources Integrated Health Care clients the option to fill

H ealth News all their medications prescribed by its medical staff as well as primary care and other outside prescribers, in the privacy and convenience of the onsite pharmacy. Genoa Healthcare also provides a system to organize medications by day and time in customized bubble packs to help patients and their caregivers keep track of the medication regimen.

The pharmacy staff will work with Liberty Resources prescribers to help track medication adherence — how often and whether consumers are filling prescriptions.

As the fifth largest drug chain with over 400 full-service pharmacies located within community mental health centers across the U.S., Genoa is one of only a few pharmacy service organizations that specialize in working with behavioral health providers.

As a result, their pharmacists are experts at working with issues related to mental health, such as difficulties in getting prior authorizations and the need to address other issues that challenge optimal medication adherence.

CHESS Health, Crouse Health Partner to Address Substance Use Disorders SAMHSA grant brings technology to drug court efforts to prevent drug abuse relapse

C

HESS Health, a leading provider of addiction and relapse prevention technology company, is working with Crouse Health on a grant aimed at transforming the lives of area citizens who are struggling with substance use disorder.

The grant, funded by SAMHSA (Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration), brings Syracuse Community Treatment Court, a problem solving court, and Crouse together to help those with substance use disorders recover and remain in recovery.

The grant, which became effective in September, funds two certified peer recovery advocates, who, together with Crouse clinical staff, will use CHESS Health’s relapse

prevention technology to help recovering addicts remain in recovery and prevent a return to drug use leveraging movable technology to maintain connection between peer specialists and those struggling with addiction.

The A-CHESS platform and Connections App is smart phone-based mobile technology that connects users to support professionals, delivers alerts about ‘danger zones’ and provides encouragement through recovery material and personalized motivations.

“Since 2010, we’ve seen a huge shift in our substance abuse treatment admission numbers from alcohol to heroin and other opioids — it challenges our clinical staff in ways we couldn’t have imagined,”

says Monika Taylor director of health services at Crouse Health. “The A-CHESS platform supports continuous connection, a critical factor in staying on the path to recovery.”

Taylor emphasizes that many of their SUD patients also present with other illnesses, such as Hepatitis C, diabetes, COPD, and asthma. While Crouse is enabled to address the behavioral and medical issues involved, CHESS Health supports connection between the health system and the drug court. The evidence-based technology, together with peer advocates who are empowered to intervene, help to chart a path forward for those plagued by substance use disorders.

EXPERIENCE BETTER Learn more at ExperienceBetterSJH.org

We all know, the more you do something, the better you get.

At St. Joseph’s Health, we perform more adult inpatient*, and robotic general surgeries than all five area hospitals**. When it comes to choosing your health care provider, you can rest easier and heal faster by trusting what you already know: The most experienced surgical team in the region means the best experience for you.

A H I G H E R L E V E L O F C A R E | 8 8 8 . STJ O E S 1 *HANYS Market Expert, NYS SPARCS Inpatient Surgery Dataset for 2015 **Per Intuitive Surgical; Syracuse MSA data 2016

© 2018 St. Joseph’s Health. © 2018 Trinity Health. All rights reserved.

May 2018 • SJH18009.04_Gen-Surg_Print_Ad_9.75x8.44_v01.indd 1

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4/25/18 1:02 PM

pathways to pathways to independence independence

pathways to Coordination of Services

Receiving Excellus BlueCross BlueShield’s Community Health Awards are: Seated: Carolyn Beyers, Human Services Coalition of Tompkins County; Kelly Quinn, Foodnet Meals on Wheels; Laura Clary, Auburn YMCA; Bill Bilka, Cortland Regional Medical Center; Standing: Beth Hurny, Prevention Network; Debbie Stack, WCNY; Myron Thurston III, Clear Path for Veterans; Jim Reed, Excellus BlueCross BlueShield; Jessica Gosa, Foodnet Meals on Wheels; physician Richard Lockwood, Excellus BlueCross BlueShield; Mark Webster and Debbie Nadolski, both of Cortland Regional Medical Center.

independence Excellus BCBS Selects Nonprofits to Receive Awards Coordination in of Services Assistance Locating

(Meals, Nutrition, Transportation, Medical Appointments, etc.)

Appropriate Housing

(Meals, Nutrition, Transportation, Medical Appointments, etc.)

Assistance in Locating Appropriate Housing Arranging Care Services Arranging In-Home In-Home Care Services Coordination of Services (Meals, Nutrition, Transportation, Medical Appointments, etc.)

Financial Assistance Assistance forfor Housing Financial Housing

Assistance in-7551 Locating (315) 565 -7551 (315) 565 sasyr .org/pathways sasyr .org/pathways Appropriate Housing

S

even nonprofit Central New York organizations have been chosen to receive Excellus BlueCross BlueShield’s Community Health Awards from among close to 60 applications submitted.

Each award recipient will receive up to $4,000 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 seven nonprofit organizations in the Central New York region selected are: • Auburn YMCA-WEIU, Auburn, to establish a structured, 12-week strength training and aerobic exercise program to help people who have diabetes achieve the American Diabetes Association’s recommendations for exercise. The goal is to lower participants’ need for medication and to prevent the possibility of future complications.

• Clear Path for Veterans, Chittenango, to fund a “Cooking for Better Health” program to help people who are veterans, on active duty, in the Reserves or the National Guard and their families learn how to cook healthy meals made with fresh, locally-sourced ingredients. The goal is to help prevent the onset of chronic health conditions, such as diabetes and heart disease.

• Cortland Regional Medical Center, Cortland, for its smoking cessation program for pregnant women.

Coordination of Services (Meals, Nutrition, Transportation, Eligibility: Arranging In-Home Care Services MedicalEligibility: Appointments, etc.)

Active Medicaid Medicaid, A Chronic Physical Disability, Need for In-Home Care A Chronic Physical Disability Assistance in Locating Financial Assistance for Housing Appropriate Housing Need for In-Home Care Arranging In-Home Care Services Financial Assistance for Housing

(315) 565 -7551 sasyr .org/pathways Eligibility: Eligibility: Active Medicaid Active Medicaid A Chronic Physical Disability A Need Chronic Disability forPhysical In-Home Care Need for In-Home Care Page 30

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IN GOOD HEALTH – CNY’s Healthcare Newspaper • May 2018

Participants must attend at least four of six, free smoking cessation sessions. As long as the women remain smoke-free, they receive $25 in free diapers each month for six to 12 months postpartum.

• Foodnet Meals on Wheels, Ithaca, to add nutrient-dense items, such as grains, beans and fiber-enriched fruits and vegetables, to nearly 700 daily meals that the organization delivers to more than 400 older adults and others in need in Tompkins County. The goal is to promote nutritional health and alleviate inadequate nutrient intake among the population served.

• Human Services Coalition of Tompkins County, Ithaca, to further the Health Planning Council’s Red Folder Project. The council will create and distribute large, red folders that patients can use to better track and manage all of their relevant health information, including medication lists, discharge papers, health care proxy forms, personal health records, appointment reminders and physician contact numbers.

• Prevention Network, Syracuse, to purchase 265 drug deactivation kits for distribution among families across Onondaga County. The kits include a proprietary activated carbon system to safely dispose of unused prescription medications.

Distribution will take place at 15 community health, wellness and substance abuse prevention events that will be held this year.

• WCNY, The Public Broadcasting Council of Central New York, Syracuse, to offer “Food and Fun Fridays” summer programming at its stateof-the-art Broadcast and Education center on the Near Westside. On the two Fridays before Labor Day, the organization will offer two hours of entertaining, educational programming for children, culminating with children packing bags of healthy foods to take home for the weekend and beyond.

EMPLOYMENT Reach thousands of healthcare professionals every month.

Advertise with In Good Health Call 315-342-1182 for more info or email: editor@CNYhealth.com

Critical Care Nursing

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Join the New Leadership and New Vision Maintenance Painter Part-Time Maintenances Help Part-Time Certified Nurses Assistants Full-Time & Part-Time Beautician Part-Time Social Worker Full-Time Activities Assistance Full-Time Music Therapist Full-Time Publication Relation Specialties Full-Time Nurse Practitioners Part-Time Evenings Part-Time Weekends

Director of Nurses United Helpers, founded in 1898, is seeking a Director of Nurses with the skills, compassion, and commitment to making a difference in the delivery of quality of care. This position will provide leadership and oversight of nursing department clinical staff at Maplewood Health Care and Rehabilitation Center located in Canton, NY. This is a fulltime position.

Our successful candidate will enjoy learning and mentoring others.

At least five years of nursing leadership experience, preferably in long term care, is required.

Maplewood Health Care and Rehabilitation Center is a 96-bed facility specializing in outpatient therapy, subacute rehabilitation, skilled nursing, asssisted living and services for individuals with dementia.

Touting health & wellness. Maplewood Campus was designed based on years of documented research which cite the benefits of providing care and services on a smaller scale. Maplewood incorporates the arts, nature, spiritual and recreational opportunities, as well as community and intergenerational connections into a residential health care setting.

If you enjoy a collaborative teamwork environment, providing highquality services, are interested in learning and mentoring others, and making a positive difference in the lives of others every day, we encourage you to apply.

Apply for this job and more on-line www.unitedhelpers.org/apply (315) 393-3074 United Helpers is a Non-Discriminatory and Equal Opportunity Employer.

Cortland Regional Medical Center is Growing!

Located in the heart of Central NY, we offer a competitive wage scale, excellent benefits package, generous PTO program, 403b match, free parking, flex scheduling, and more.

Top Openings:

• Surgical Technologist • Medical Technologist • Transitions Health Coach • Certified Nursing Assistant • Pharmacist • Radiologic Technologist • CT Technologist

Check out our website for a full list of current openings or to learn more about our Facility and community by Visiting www.cortlandregional.org

Apply online:

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Bishop Rehabilitation & Nursing Center 918 James Street Syracuse NY 13203

315-474-1561 ext 531 Ask for Bill Rowe

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cnyhealth.com

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For the Rome, Fulton and Syracuse Plants Home Nightly • Excellent 401K Program • Health Benefits If Interested Call Jim @ 315-433-5115 Ext. 205 May 2018 •

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LIFE CHANGING MEDICINE, MOVING MEDICINE FORWARD

IN GOOD HEALTH – CNY’s Healthcare Newspaper • May 2018