CVPH has expansion of services PLATTSBURGH — The Champlain Valley Heart Center at CVPH Medical Center has opened a third catheterization laboratory and will open a cardiovascular short-stay unit ater this month. The two additions will enable staff to provide more comprehensive and expeditious services for patients from throughout the region. The third catheterization lab will be used exclusively for electrophysiology procedures and cardiac device implants which were done on more than 500 patients in 2010. They represented slightly more than 20 percent of the total cases done in the two previously existing laboratories. Electrophysiologist Samer Siouffi, M.D., will perform electrophysiology procedures and device implants in the laboratory, which opened Jan. 11. Cardiologists Seema Lodha, M.D., and Joel Wolkowicz, M.D., will use the all-new equipment for pacemaker implants. The temporary lab is located on the second floor of CVPH adjacent to the Fitzpatrick Cancer Center entrance. A nine-bed cardiovascular short-stay unit is scheduled to open Monday, Jan. 31, on the second floor in proximity to the original catheterization labs, intensive care unit and surgery. All patients will be under the direct supervision of a cardiologist. Those receiving care in the new unit include people who underwent outpatient diagnostic cardiac catheterizations, cardiac interventions and electrophysiology procedures, as well as cardiac access patients sent here for care from other regional hospitals. The new unit will help to avert unnecessary admissions, enable more rapid assessment of cardiac patients, help to provide a single location experience for patients and provide comprehensive monitoring for any post-procedure complications. Most patients will stay in the cardiovascular short-stay unit for 24 hours or less.
Healthy Neighborhoods in town PLATTSBURGH —The Healthy Neighborhoods Program of the Clinton County Health Department is conducting health and safety surveys throughout the city of Plattsburgh. Surveys will be held January through March and are briefly designed to help identify health and safety concerns dealing with safety products such as, fire extinguishers, carbon monoxide detectors, first aid kits, flashlights and child safety products. The in-home visits are to educate local individuals on safety and prevention. Information and referrals will be provided for eligible families regarding available community recourses. Participation in the the Healthy Neighborhood Program is free for all Clinton County residents. For more information, call 565-4993 or visit www.clintonhealth.org.
Bullying lecture this Wednesday PLATTSBURGH — “Bullying: A Community Conversation,” part of the CVPH Community Lecture Series sponsored by the Foundation of CVPH, will be held Wednesday, Jan. 19, at West Side Ballroom, 253 New York Road, beginning at 6 p.m. The free program will feature a panel of educators, mental-health and law-enforcement professionals examining the impact of bullying and how the community can come together to stop it. For more information or to register in advance, call 562-7320.
National Alliance of Mental Illness: Champlain Valley Executive Director Amanda Bulris, far left, discusses the mission of the Columbia University TeenScreen program as fellow NAMI representatives Mary Anne Cox and Catherine Tallon look on. Photo by Jeremiah S. Papineau
NAMI: CV gets grant for services By Jeremiah S. Papineau jeremiah@denpubs.com PLATTSBURGH — The Foundation of CVPH Medical Center is helping to continue one mission of National Alliance of Mental Illness: Champlain Valley. The foundation recently announced it will award an $8,600 grant to fund voluntary mental health check-ups for students at Plattsburgh High School and Chazy Central Rural School as part of NAMI: CV’s participation in the Columbia University TeenScreen program. The program, said NAMI: CV Executive Director Amanda Bulris, helps teens and their parents by helping with early identification of mental health problems such
as depression. “Early identification is one of our key points,” said Bulris. “If we can diagnosis students with depression or anxiety early on, that can lead to more serious disorders.” According to information provided by NAMI: CV, the two local high schools have helped screen more than 300 students over the past four-and-a-half years. Of that figure, approximately 9 percent of students screened have been referred for further evaluation. “Students who have participated in the screenings seem to welcome the opportunity to talk about their anxieties, feelings and problems whether they have had a positive or negative screening result,” Bulris said. “They benefit from the Teen-
Corinna’s January recipe of the month Because of its high antioxidant content, butternut squash may also have anti-inflammatory effects which could help reduce the risk of inflammationrelated disorders such as rheumatoid arthritis and asthma.
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ich in phytonutrients, antioxidants, low in fat, and high in fiber, makes butternut squash exceptionally healthy like many other gifts from the garden. It provides significant amounts of potassium, which is important for bone health, and vitamin B6, which is essential for the proper functioning of both the nervous and immune systems. Butternut squash’s orange hue indicates its high abundance of super nutrients called carotenoids, which have been shown to protect against heart disease. This squash is particularly high in beta-carotene which is converted to vitamin A by the body. You can get nearly half your recommended daily dose of vitamin C in just a one cup serving.
Savory Butternut Squash Soup 1
large
butternut
squash 1 Tbsp. butter (organic if possible) 1 large yellow onion diced 3 cloves of garlic 1 carton of chicken or vegetable broth (low sodium or homemade is best) 1-2 Tbsp. oregano dried or fresh 1-2 Tbsp. basil dried or fresh Cut the butternut squash in half
4 • to your health
Screen by being able to discuss their concerns and to receive positive feedback about their emotional well-being.” The funding through the Foundation of CVPH will help further efforts by NAMI: CV by funding screenings at the two schools from July 1 through June 2012. NAMI: CV was facing a financial challenge as grant funding through Columbia University was depleted for the program. “This program has obviously proven successful,” said Foundation of CVPH Board President Mike Zurlo. “It’s been a great tool in identifying mental health issues such as depression in our teenagers for several years now. It would, quite frankly, have been a shame for this program not to continue.”
January 15 - 21, 2011
lengthwise and remove the seeds. Place into a baking dish face down with about one inch of water. Bake at 400 degrees for about 45 minutes or until soft Melt the butter in a saucepan and sauté the onion, garlic, oregano, and basil. Cook until the onion is soft, about five minutes. Scoop the butternut squash into a blender, along with the sautéed spices, and slowly add the broth while blending until desired consistency is reached. Serve hot or freeze for later. Corinna Maggy is the owner of Corinna Maggy Fitness Consulting, and Women On Weights, a health and fitness program developed specifically for women. She is a National Academy of Sports Medicine Certified Personal Trainer and Corrective Exercise Specialist. Corinna offers private personal training, small group classes, and both individual and group weight management programs as well as corporate wellness programs. She can be reached at 605-3549 or by email at corinnamaggy@yahoo.com.
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