Mv igh 108 feb15

in good February 2015 • Issue 108

Let’s ‘Meet Your Doctor’ See Page 4

MVhealthnews.com

free

Mohawk Valley’s Healthcare Newspaper

The Death Planner Make sure your affairs are in order See Page 5

Valentine’s Day traditions See Page 14

Time to kick up your sex life?

See Page 8

Golden Years Edition

Protect elderly from devastating falls See Page 7

Big Loser

See Smart Bites on page 10

Move Over, Chicken: It’s Pork Time!

Compassionate Friends ease grieving process See Page 19

Rebranding process See Page 3

Utica’s Tanya Hyde takes the plunge, transforms her body See Page 9

WELCOMING NEW PATIENTS!

Internist Associates OF CENTRAL NEW YORK

Affiliated with Crouse Medical Practice, PLLC

CNY Medical Center 739 Irving Avenue, Syracuse, NY 13210 Monday - Friday, 7:30 a.m. - 5 p.m.

A

s the area’s largest internal medicine practice, we welcome you and your family to our practice of more than 20 highly qualified, board-certified primary care/internal medicine providers — all affiliated with the Crouse Medical Practice care network and conveniently located across from Crouse Hospital.

Monazza Ahmed, MD

Soubhi Azar, MD

Lisa Dorsey, MD

Matthew Marvel, MD

Family Medicine

Internal Medicine

We are pleased to welcome these new physicians to our family, each of whom is currently accepting new patients!

Family Medicine

Internal Medicine

CA L L 315/479-5070 TO S C H E D U L E YO U R A P P O I N T M E N T TO DAY!

CALENDAR of

HEALTH EVENTS

Got a health-related activity or event that you would like publicized? Call Lou Sorendo at 315-749-7070 or email lou@cnymail.com.

Mondays

Support available for OCD sufferers The Central New York Obsessive Compulsive Foundation, Inc., a registered nonprofit agency, has offered OCD sufferers in the region a weekly support group since 1997.

The group meets from 6:30-8 p.m. every Monday except holidays at St. Elizabeth’s College of Nursing, firstfloor conference room, 2215 Genesee St., Utica.

Meetings are professionally assisted the third Monday of each month.

For more information, call founder Susan Connell at 315-768-7031, email her at info@cnyocf.org, visit www. cnyocf.org or check out Cen NY OCD Support Group on Facebook.

A speakers’ bureau is available at no cost.

Women’s support group to get together A women’s support/therapy group is meeting weekly from 5:30-7 on Mondays.

Groups will be held in a confidential location in New Hartford and group size will be limited to protect anonymity.

Topics of discussion may include family issues, stress, anger, relationships, grief, and more.

Clinical therapist Cynthia Davis, who has over 20 years of experience, will lead the group.

To pre-register, contact Davis at 315-736-1231, 315-794-2454 or email cindycsw@yahoo.com

Tuesdays

Insight House offers family support group Insight House Chemical Dependency Services, Inc. is offering a family

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support group meeting from 6:15-7:30 p.m. Tuesdays at Insight House, 500 Whitesboro St., Utica.

The group is free and open to anyone who is concerned about a loved one’s relationship with alcohol, opiates/heroin, or other substances.

For more information about the group, call 724-5168, ext. 265, from 8:30-4 p.m. weekdays.

All calls are strictly confidential.

Support for the grief stricken Grief Survivors meets from 6-7:30 p.m. every Tuesday at The Good News Center, 10475 Cosby Manor Road, Utica. Drop-ins are welcome.

This is a faith-based support group for those suffering the loss of a loved one.

For more information, contact Tanya at 315-735-6210, tanya@thegoodnewscenter.org or visit online at www. thegoodnewscenter.org.

Wednesdays/Thursdays

Overeaters Anonymous plans meetings

Is food a problem for you? Do you eat when you’re not hungry? Do you binge, purge or restrict? Is your weight affecting your life?

Overeaters Anonymous meets from 5:30-6:30 p.m. every Wednesday in Room 101 (first floor) at Rome Memorial Hospital, 1500 James St., Rome.

It also meets from 7-8 p.m. every Thursday at Oneida Baptist Church, 242 Main St., Oneida. Participants are asked to use the rear door.

There are no dues, fees, weigh-ins or diets.

For more information, call OA at 315-468-1588 or visit oa.org.

Feb. 4

Program helps expectant parents prepare Parents-to-be can learn about childbirth, newborns and other related topics by attending the upcoming “Baby Care Basics” program, set for 7-9 p.m. Feb. 4 at Rome Memorial Hospital in the classroom.

Sandy Graichen, a maternity nurse at the hospital, will teach the free educational program.

No advance registration is required. Refreshments will be served.

Participants are asked to meet the instructor in the hospital lobby, North James Street entrance.

For more information, call 3387143.

Feb. 5

‘Choosing a Nursing Home’ topic of Health Night Choosing a nursing home for yourself or a loved one is an important and often emotional decision.

Rome Memorial Hospital’s Health Night program will provide information to help you make informed decisions and plan ahead.

The free presentation will be held at 7 p.m. Feb. 5 in the hospital’s classHeinrich room, located on the second floor of the hospital.

Keith Heinrich, administrator of the hospital’s Residential Health Care Facility, will discuss what to look for in a nursing home and long-term care alternatives. A question-and-answer session will follow his presentation.

Guests are asked to enter the North James Street entrance of the hospital.

There will be signs to the classroom.

Health Night is a free monthly lecture series. Advance registration is not required. Refreshments will be served.

For more information, call 3387143.

Feb. 7

Ready to ‘Dance the Night Away?’

The Good News Center’s ninth annual “Dance the Night Away” will be held from 6:30-11 p.m. Feb. 7 at Hart’s Hill Inn, 135 Clinton St., Whitesboro.

The cost is $50 per ticket with proceeds benefitting programs at The Good News Center.

Contact Michelle to reserve seats at 315-735-6210, email her at michelle@ thegoodnewscenter.org or visit www. thegoodnewscenter.org.

Feb. 8

Separated? Divorced?

There is support The Separated & Divorced Support Group will meet from 5-6:30 p.m. Feb. 8 at The Good News Center, 10475 Cosby Manor Road, Utica.

The group meets every other Sunday.

The meetings are free and open to all.

Continued on Page 18

Rebranding Mode St. E’s, Faxton St. Luke’s Healthcare working on new identity

By Patricia J. Malin

N

early a year into the affiliation of Faxton St. Luke’s Healthcare and St. Elizabeth Medical Center, the Mohawk Valley Health System is forging ahead with its own identity.

Officials from the longtime institutions teamed up to create a new brand and introduce the MVHS logo at a press conference recently at SEMC. “Establishing a single brand for MVHS was an important part of the affiliation because it is vital to our success in building a new culture for the system,” said Scott H. Perra, president/ CEO of MVHS. “The brand highlights the integrated services and continuum of care being offered to Perra patients and residents as a result of the affiliation.”

In March 2014, the two facilities received final approval from the New York State Department of Health to integrate their services and begin operating under a single, 18-member board of directors.

The affiliation is an administrative, not a physical change, and has created a more economical, streamlined operation, according to Robert Scholefield, senior vice president for operations of MVHS. It’s important to remember the Scholefield facilities did not merge and they will continue to retain their separate names and services, he noted.

“We’ve done well in the past year,” said Scholefield. “We set about to structure the organization and day-today operations. We worked on consolidating contracts with vendors and on purchasing agreements with suppliers.

I know our operating loss in 2014 was less than in 2013, but we don’t have the final figures yet (for 2014). I would estimate that we spent 50 percent less (on supplies).”

The new MVHS logo is designed with a U-like figure suggesting unity between two former competing healthcare organizations in the Mohawk Valley. The logo is meant to express cohesiveness between St. Elizabeth Medical Center and Faxton St. Luke’s Healthcare and a stronger identity under a single umbrella.

Due to its increased size and needs, MVHS is entitled to bulk discounts from vendors. Scholefield compared the savings to a large family shopping for groceries at a discount warehouse versus a small neighborhood grocery store.

In his blog on the MVHS website, Perra said the organizations had a combined loss of nearly $21 million in 2013 and added, “This year we will end with an estimated loss of $8 million.”

MVHS has 4,700 employees and annual revenues of approximately $540 million.

All about quality

MVHS officials said they will “continue to focus on clinical quality, access to services throughout the system and physician recruitment” in 2015. It is also finalizing a new, three-year strategic plan, which will guide collaboration of departments and services.

Personnel from FSLH and SEMC have not been affected by the affiliation. “I think we have 14 fewer employ-

ees now,” Scholefield noted, “and it was due to normal attrition. There were no losses related to direct care.”

There were also some minor changes in back-office departments. “I’m not saying we’ll see cuts in personnel or services, but maybe there will be relocations,” Scholefield said.

Perra announced on the MVHS website that he is encouraging feedback from the staff. He said 45 percent of MVHS employees participated in a recent survey and he was expected to release results in early February.

SEMC was founded in west Utica as a Catholic hospital and its first patient was admitted on Dec. 12, 1866. It is located on a 25-acre site at 2209 Genesee St. and has 201 beds. The medical center is still involved with the Sisters of St. Francis of the Neumann Communities and the Syracuse Diocese.

FSLH is a nonprofit healthcare system that resulted from a number of mergers throughout the 20th century.

INSIGHT HOUSE

Oneida, Herkimer, Madison and Otsego counties in good A monthly newspaper published

Health MV’s Healthcare Newspaper

by Local News, Inc. 20,000 copies distributed. To request home delivery ($15 per year), call 315-749-7070.

In Good Health is published 12 times a year by Local News, Inc. © 2015 by Local News, Inc. All rights reserved. Mailing Address: 4 Riverside Drive, Suite 251, Utica, NY 13502 • Phone: 315-749-7070 Email: lou@cnymail.com Editor & Publisher: Wagner Dotto Associate Editor: Lou Sorendo Contributing Writers: Patricia Malin, Barbara Pierce, Kristen Raab, Malissa Allen, Mary Stevenson, Deb Dittner, Amylynn Pastorella, Mary Christopher, Traci DeLore Advertising: Donna Kimbrell, Marsha Preston, Jasmine Maldonado Layout & Design: Chris Crocker Office Manager: Alice Davis No material may be reproduced in whole or in part from this publication without the express written permission of the publisher. The information in this publication is intended to complement — not to take the place of — the recommendations of your health provider.

On Jan. 1, 1989, Faxton Hospital and Children’s Hospital merged to become Faxton Hospital.

St. Luke’s and the former Memorial Hospital merged in 1949. In 1957, St. Luke’s Memorial Hospital opened at its current location on the St. Luke’s Campus on Champlin Avenue in New Hartford.

Faxton and St. Luke’s have been affiliated since 1992. In 1998, the hospitals formed a single management.

On Jan. 1, 2000, the consolidation was completed by the creation of a single entity — FSLH. There was further consolidation of programs and services in 2002 resulting in one acute care, inpatient facility at the St. Luke’s campus with 372 beds and one primarily outpatient facility at the Faxton campus on Sunset Avenue in Utica with 202 long-term care beds.

A.J. Wiswell, a graphic designer and marketing assistant at SEMC, designed the new blue-and-green MVHS logo.

She chose green to represent well-being, health and purity while the blue is meant to inspire trust, as well as stability and reliability.

The logo will begin appearing on signage, advertising, social media, stationery, employees’ badges, vehicles, publications and forms. A new website will come online later this year.

Chemical Dependency Services, Inc.

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(315)724-5168 1-800-530-2741 www.insighthouse.com 500 Whitesboro Street, Utica New York 13502 February 2015 •

IN GOOD HEALTH – Mohawk Valley’s Healthcare Newspaper

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Page 3

Excellus makes grants available to nonprofits

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onprofit organizations can apply for Excellus BlueCross BlueShield Community Health Awards that add up to $85,000 to help fund health and wellness programs in Upstate New York.

Nonprofit, 501(c)(3) organizations in Excellus BCBS’s 31-county Upstate New York region are invited to apply for an award of up to $4,000 each.

Excellus BCBS’s region includes Herkimer, Madison and Oneida counties.

Thompson The award can be used for programs that have clear goals to improve the health or health care of a specific population. Programs that improve the health status of the community, reduce the incidence of specific diseases, promote health education and overall wellness will be considered.

“The company’s Community Health Awards demonstrate a corporate commitment to support local organizations that share our mission as a nonprofit health plan,” said Bob Thompson, vice president, community health engagement, Excellus BCBS. “These awards complement our existing grants and sponsorships with agencies that work to enhance quality of life, including health status, in Upstate New York.”

The deadline to submit an application to be considered for an Excellus BCBS Community Health Award is Feb. 9.

Applications and additional information are available online or by emailing Community.Health.Awards.

ROC@Excellus.com. Applications received after Feb. 9 will not be considered. Awards will be announced in March.

Health News in Brief She was ‘Caught Caring’ at St. Johnsville

S

helley Flanders has been named recipient of December’s Caught Caring Award at St. Johnsville Rehabilitation and Nursing Center.

“She is a very gentle person and residents appreciate her thoughtfulness,” a spokesperson said.

Caught caring is a peer program dedicated to highlight the center’s values of trust, respect and dignity.

Flanders Other staff members “caught caring” were Jenna Smith, Amanda Carpenter, Brenda Merrill, Sheryl Ursi, Sally Rush and Ryan Hart.

Page 4

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Meet

Your Doctor

By Patricia J. Malin

Dr. Mallory Sullivan

Dr. Mallory Sullivan is definitely a “hometown girl.” She grew up in a small village south of Utica and received her training locally at Faxton-St. Luke’s Healthcare and St. Elizabeth Medical Center. Last August, she started her career in family medicine at the St. Elizabeth Medical Group’s outpatient clinic in Waterville and is committed to continuing her practice here.

She recently spoke with In Good Health senior correspondent Patricia J. Malin about her dedication to working in a rural community.

Q.: Why did you decide to begin your practice in the Mohawk Valley?

A.: I chose to settle in the Mohawk Valley mainly for family reasons. Both my husband’s and my family reside here and we are all very close. I grew up in a very small town and I really liked that feeling.

Everybody knows everybody and is connected in some way. Sometimes that can be a little difficult, but most of the time it lends itself to a nice community feel. There is no other place I’d be able to call home.

Q.: What prompted you to become a doctor? Were there any family influences?

A.: I just always wanted to be a doctor, as long as I can remember.

My favorite childhood toy was a toy stethoscope. There are no other doctors in my family, but quite a few friends and relatives work in healthcare. We have a few nurses and my sister is a CT and X-ray technician.

Q.: Why did you decide to specialize in osteopathic medicine?

A.: I liked the well-rounded, holistic approach that osteopathy offered.

It felt more like a “treat the patient, not just the problem” type of approach and that hit home with me.

Q.: What ailments or diseases do you commonly treat?

A.: There is such a wide variety of problems that my patients come to me with and that’s why I chose family medicine. I really enjoy seeing the full range of patients, from infants to the elderly, and dealing with all different issues, from depression to diabetes and beyond. It never gets boring.

Q.: What is the most challenging aspect of your job?

A.: The most negative aspect of my job currently is the time spent catching up on paperwork. I love seeing my patients and working with our office staff, but a large percentage of my time at work is spent at my desk, behind my computer catching up on notes and documentation. It can become a little tedious at times.

Q.: What is the most fulfilling aspect of your job?

A.: The people, hands down.

Working in Waterville, we have a large population of very kind, down-toearth people that make the job so enjoyable. Not just the patients, but also the people that I work with everyday.

I was fortunate to get into a practice full of wonderful people, from the office staff, to the nurses to my fellow

providers.

Q.: Why do you prefer to practice in a rural environment?

A.: That’s where I’m comfortable. As I said before, I grew up in a small, rural town so this is home to me. Everybody knows everybody; we treat not just patients but families and friends. I’m also working on becoming more comfortable doing a variety of office procedures. We have a lot of opportunity to do minor surgeries and

IN GOOD HEALTH – Mohawk Valley’s Healthcare Newspaper • February 2015

suturing in our office since it is rural and most patients would rather not drive the 20 to 30 minutes (to Utica) to an emergency department or urgent care if they don’t have to.

Q.: What are the latest developments in osteopathy?

A.: There are a lot of alternative medicine practices being adopted into osteopathy currently. Some practitioners are becoming certified in acupuncture, acupressure, Reiki and other naturopathic forms of healing, which could be great complements to more traditional medicine.

It’s never say never. However, it’s not something I had thought about pursuing in the near future, as I have a lot on my plate currently just getting started and getting to know my patients. But I definitely think they are useful modalities and I may consider implementing them in the future.

Q.: How do you keep up with new trends in osteopathic medicine?

A.: I try to spend at least a few hours per week reading. I do subscribe to several medical journals, two of which are osteopathic journals. Things change so rapidly in medicine that it is a little hard to keep up. Admittedly, I should devote more of my time to reading, which is actually one of my New Year’s resolutions for 2015 now

Continued on Page 15

Lifelines Hometown: Bridgewater Residence: Bridgewater Education: Nurse’s aide, Faxton-St. Luke’s Healthcare, Utica, 2003-2007; Bachelor of Science, biology, Utica College, 2007; doctor of osteopathy, New York College of Osteopathic Medicine, Old Westbury, 2011 Board certification: Family medicine Family: Husband, David Curtin Hobbies: Running, snowshoeing, gardening, traveling, cooking, spending time with family and friends

Golden Years

Final Wishes Ease the burden on your loved ones by planning

By Barbara Pierce

“

She did nothing,” said 84-year-old Robert Goss about his deceased wife. “I’ve paid an attorney a bunch of money and two years later, he still hasn’t got it all sorted out.”

Goss misses her terribly, and cherishes her memory, but he wishes she had prepared better for her death.

For five years, she was in decline, but they didn’t talk about it. He didn’t know what type of memorial service or funeral she wanted; he didn’t know the details of her finances. Her relatives are still bickering over her possessions and who should take her beloved golden retriever.

Goss wants everyone to know what he’s learned through these dark, challenging times: Ease the burden on your loved ones by making some simple preparations in addition to a will.

“It’s not about money; it’s about family,” said attorney Harry M. Scaramella of LifeLaw LLC in Utica. “It’s about the heritage of things you want to leave to those who are left behind.”

LifeLaw provides personalized, inhome estate planning for families. On his website, lifelawllc.com, Scaramella offers a video, “Estate Planning 101,” which provides all the basics on estate planning.

As Scaramella sits down with people to plan, he includes the supplemental information described below.

AARP.com suggests that, in addition to a will, individuals prepare a letter of instructions to include this supplemental information.

Scaramella helps his clients pull together all this essential information.

AARP suggests one can do this without legal assistance.

Unlike a will, the letter of instruction is not legally binding, but it can be a helpful road map for your family in your absence and can provide more detail than is customary in a will.

Here’s a guide

Scaramella and AARP suggest you include the following: • Details of how you would like your funeral or memorial service will help your loved ones. (Scaramella takes this a step further, having his clients do a video recording, speaking to children and grandchildren, leaving their wisdom behind.)

• Include a list of people to notify upon your death, with their contact information. Make sure to include relevant organizations, such as Social Security, and professionals such as your accountant, banker and attorney.

• Specify your wishes as to organ or tissue donation (along with the recipient organization’s contact information) and burial method. If you’ve paid in advance for funeral arrangements, include that information as well as the location of the burial plot. If you wish to be cremated, indicate where you’d like your ashes placed.

• If you’d like a charitable organization to receive donations in your honor, include this. You might also consider outlining an obituary in advance, or at least providing relevant details.

• Provide up-to-date information so a family member or executor can put

your personal financial affairs in order.

Provide contact information for your employer, attorney, financial planner, insurance agent and stockbroker.

• Give the location of personal documents in addition to your will, such as birth and marriage certificates, diplomas, military papers, citizenship/ naturalization papers and any divorce or adoption papers. Also specify the location of car registration(s) and title(s).

• List all financial accounts, including retirement accounts, stock holdings, pension and credit cards. Provide contact information for your account beneficiaries so that your executor can easily get in touch with them.

Take this as an opportunity to ensure that your beneficiary designations are current. These occasionally conflict with your will; one important step Scaramella takes is to insure the designations do not conflict with your will.

• Keep an up-to-date list of information about debts owed to you, and debts you owe — such as your mortgage, car loans or credit cards. List your computer passwords and passwords to online accounts, like Amazon. com or online bill pay. Make sure to update this list often, since passwords can change frequently.

Give the location of safe-deposit or

Healthcare in a Minute

By George W. Chapman

The changing ACA landscape

A

ffordable Care Act-ObamaCare.

Now that the GOP controls both houses in Congress, it is further emboldened to repeal at least some aspects of the ACA. There have been over 50 attempts to repeal so far.

Realizing President Obama will clearly continue to veto any repeal of the entire law, the GOP plans to hack away at parts of the law like the employer mandate and the medical device tax.

The GOP is also hoping the U.S. Supreme Court will declare federal subsidies unconstitutional. The states would then have to step up and pay 100 percent for ObamaCare, which many believe would be its undoing. In the meantime, early signs indicate that enrollment will hit more than 9 million.

That includes 6.7 million returning

enrollees. Small businesses under 50 employees do not have to offer health insurance.

Consequently, many are dropping employer-sponsored insurance and are encouraging their employees to shop for care on the exchanges, many of which would qualify for a subsidized/ cheaper premium.

While some larger employers like Sears and Walgreens have opted for private health exchanges, most large employers are taking a wait-and-see approach and continue to provide employer-sponsored insurance.

About 3 percent of all large employers opt to send their employees to an exchange for their insurance. The House just passed a bill raising the definition of “full time” from the current 30 hours to 40 hours. Most likely

this bill, even if passed by the Senate, would be vetoed.

Many predict the tactic will backfire as more people would be dropped by their employer and seek government-provided insurance which would increase the deficit.

The Congressional Budget Office estimates if the full-time definition was raised to 40 hours, 1 million people would lose their employer insurance by having their hours cut to just below 40. They would end up on taxpayer-supported healthcare, increasing the deficit by $46 billion over the next 10 years.

Medical debt. According to the Consumer Financial Bureau, 43 million of us have unpaid medical debts averaging $1,766. Fifty-two percent of the debt referred to collection agencies is healthcare-related.

Healthcare-related debt is one of the major causes of personal bankruptcy. Some nonprofit hospitals are suing patients or garnisheeing their wages via a for-profit subsidiary. Nonprofit

February 2015 •

post-office boxes, including the institution’s address, as well as the location of the key or the combination.

• In the supplemental letter, you can go into greater detail than is customary in a will in terms of allocating your personal possessions. Here’s where you can specify who gets the pots, pans, jewelry, clothes and books.

This will save family fights.

• You might even consider writing individual notes to family members in addition to the general document.

• You should also leave instructions for the care of your pets, says AARP and Scaramella.

Scaramella recommends involving the family in the process. After completing all the documents, he sits down in a meeting with family members and explains what to expect.

Store this letter of instructions in a secure place. Since it contains sensitive financial information, keep it in a fireproof lock box in your home. Make sure a family member or your executor knows where you keep it and make sure to update it at regular intervals.

For more information on estate planning, view Scaramella’s video on lifelawllc.com or contact him at 855543-3472.

hospitals are tax-exempt primarily because of their charitable mission.

Medically uninsured rate down. According to Gallup, the percentage of Americans without health insurance is 12.9 percent. It was 17.1 percent a year ago.

This is due to a combination of the ACA (Medicaid expansion and commercial coverage through private exchanges) and an improving economy.

Massachusetts remains the only state that mandates individual coverage.

Only 1.5 percent of that state’s residents are uninsured. The Obama administration is said to be amenable to considering conditions on Medicaid enrollment like job requirements, plan premiums or wellness screenings.

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

To reach him, email gwc@gwchapmanconsulting.com.

IN GOOD HEALTH – Mohawk Valley’s Healthcare Newspaper

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Page 5

Golden Years

Survivors Breast cancer support group sustains itself with courage, conviction

By Patricia J. Malin

K

aren Christensen remembers when she started a local support group for breast cancer survivors with just a handful of names and addresses.

Back in 1990, she had to send out notices by hand, using snail mail and postage stamps. Thankfully, computers and email have come along.

“I think our mailing list now is about 1,200,” said Christensen, who announced the 25th anniversary of the ABC (After Breast Cancer) support group during the group’s monthly meeting recently at the St. Luke’s rehabilitation facility of Faxton St. Luke’s Healthcare.

Christensen, the ABC coordinator, always arranges for a guest speaker to enlighten the group. Joanne Joseph, an associate professor at SUNY Polytechnic Institute in Utica and a licensed psychologist, is a familiar figure and one of the group’s favorite speakers.

“I can remember talking about starting this group,” Joseph said as some 25 members braved a cold morning to share coffee, snacks and relate their holiday activities to friends.

Joseph is a consultant for the Faxton Regional Cancer Center. She provides clinical services to cancer patients and their families while also offering consulting services to the staff at FSLH dealing with cancer patients.

Joseph is one of the group’s insiders and was drawn to the group in part because her mother died from breast cancer. She has compiled the local group’s personal stories throughout the years and published a small booklet.

She is planning to publish another guide to deal with breast cancer this fall.

In the past, ABC members have been able to listen to and discuss

©

Dr. Graber is pleased to welcome Vladan Obradovic, MD to the practice Dr. Obradovic is now seeing new patients for surgical consultation for those considering weight loss surgery Our program has successfully met the highest standards set forth by the American Society for Metabolic and Bariatric Surgery and is recognized as an ASMBS Center of Excellence.

Surgeries are performed at Faxton-St. Luke’s Healthcare in Utica, and at St. Joseph’s Hospital in Syracuse. Dr. Graber is the Director of Bariatric Surgery at both hospitals.

To find out more, visit DrGraberMD.com or call 877-269-0355 to discuss how we might help you in your search to find a healthier you!

Page 6

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IN GOOD HEALTH – Mohawk Valley’s Healthcare Newspaper • February 2015

From left, Deb Cohen chats with Joanne Joseph, a Utica psychologist, and Karen Christensen, coordinator of the After Breast Cancer support network, at the group’s January meeting. their treatment with radiologists, pharmacists, surgeons, reconstructive surgeons, psychologists, nutritionists, herbalists and other experts who Christensen said “could help us get on with our lives.”

Appreciative of support

Joseph directed praise at the members themselves.

“You do a phenomenal job of support,” she told the group of 23 women and two men. “Why do you think these types of support groups are necessary?

Because they’re so helpful to the immune system,” she responded.

Clinical and psychological studies show a connection between depression and the immune system. Depression affects the body’s ability to defend itself against disease and that’s when discussing feelings with a psychologist can be helpful.

“When you clear up the depression, things pop back into place,” she said.

Though some members of ABC have survived breast cancer and been in remission for more than two decades, Joseph reminded them, “You never adjust to the diagnosis of breast cancer. You will have times when you’re up and down and you might not be able to cope. Most people will experience some depression.”

There is a surprising upside to the experience of surviving cancer, what Joseph referred to as “post-traumatic growth.” Survivors eventually return to a coping pattern and will feel optimistic about their chances of recovery.

“It’s a theme we (psychologists) have been working on,” Joseph said.

She also cited the importance of meditation and therapy, humor, and above all, the support of family and friends.

One in eight women will be diagnosed with breast cancer in her lifetime, explained ABC member Donna Goodwin of Utica, who is a retired nurse. However, the survival rates keep improving. One in 37 women will die from the disease, according to 2011 statistics, the latest available.

Goodwin started coming to the

group’s meetings when she was first diagnosed in 2007. “I see new people here every time,” she said.

Often the members will offer examples of coping mechanisms, just as Joseph suggested.

Deb Heiderich joined the group in 2014 at Goodwin’s suggestion. Heiderich had her first “scare” in 2000, but it turned out she didn’t develop breast cancer until later. When she did get it, she said she was more informed about the disease, but also more relaxed.

“I’ve always believed in being positively engaged and educate myself,” she said. She also wants to become more informed on behalf of her 13-year-old daughter.

A fellow survivor also introduced Deb Cohen of Oneida to the ABC group.

“It’s a wonderful group. It’s helped me a lot. There are some people who think (getting cancer) is awful, but my family has helped me deal with it,” she added, referring to her two sons, Andrew, 29, and Ryan, 26.

She recalled when she was diagnosed with breast cancer four years ago that she and her family took a trip to Disney World just prior to her treatment.

“I used to get sick on the rides, but this time I decided to go on the rides. I had nothing to lose,” she said. “I knew I was going to be getting chemo and I knew I would get sick then.”

Cohen said humor was an important factor in dealing with her cancer, but it is also important to carry on with one’s normal routine.

While she was undergoing chemo at Upstate University Hospital’s clinic in Oneida, she said she busied herself by crafting handmade wedding invitations for her son’s wedding. “It was something that made me happy every day,” she said.

The ABC group will celebrate its anniversary at its next meeting on Feb. 21. The group meets monthly from September to June at the St. Luke’s Home. For more information, contact Christensen at 315-732-8953.

Golden Years ‘I’ve fallen, and …’

Falls can be beginning of end for many seniors

By Barbara Pierce

E

lva Green, 62, stumbled on a throw rug, fell and broke several bones in her foot.

Surgery and six weeks of not walking resulted.

Soon after her injury, her 40-yearold daughter, Liz Bober, tripped over a cord strung across the floor and fell.

Knee surgery and several weeks off work resulted.

Then Green’s sister, Barbara Mason, 68, fell over the coffee table when she went to the kitchen to get water during the night. She was the lucky one. Aside from a few bumps and bruises, she’s fine.

“I couldn’t believe it!” said Green.

“In a split second, I went from being perfectly OK to not being able to walk — for weeks! It was terrible!”

None of the women had any mobility issues before their falls; none had problems like arthritis, osteoporosis, neuropathy or post stroke that would cause them to have a much greater risk of falling. Each of their falls was easily preventable.

“Falls are a serious risk for people of any age. Falls are a very common reason people are admitted to our facility,” said Nicole Geraty, physical therapist, rehabilitation director, Mohawk Valley Health Care Center in Ilion. “People generally stay four to six weeks after a fall for extended rehabilitation.”

Mohawk Valley Health Care Center provides orthopedic rehabilitation and other services to residents.

A simple fall may seem harmless but can lead to severe injury, even death, in seniors. A simple fall may have serious health consequences.

More than one of every three seniors falls each year, according to the Centers for Disease Control. Falls cause moderate to severe injuries — such as hip fractures and brain injuries — that make it harder to live independently.

People over 75 who fall are in danger of entering a long-term facility for a year or longer, and falls increase the risk of death.

The older you are, the more risk you have of being seriously injured or dying following a seemingly harmless fall. The older you are, the slower your protective reflexes work.

Heed these guidelines

Most falls are preventable, said Geraty. The key is to follow these simple common sense tips: • Keep pathways in your home clear so you do not have to walk

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around furniture. Tripping over coffee tables and ottomans causes many injuries; be cautious around low furniture.

• Either remove throw rugs and area rugs or use double-sided tape so the rugs won’t slip. Immediately fix any bulges that appear in the carpet.

• Pick up things that are on the floor. Keep clutter off the floor.

• Don’t stretch electrical cords across anywhere you might walk. Coil or tape cords and wires next to the wall so you can’t trip over them.

• Ensure that stairs are even. Do not store items on your steps. Carpet should be firmly attached. It is best to have handrails on both sides. Do not walk up and down carrying heavy loads.

• Hallways and stairways should be properly lit so you can see where you are going.

• In the kitchen, try to keep items on lower shelves so you do not have to reach up or use a step stool. If you need a step stool, get one with a bar to hold on to. Never use a chair or other makeshift substitutes instead of a step stool.

• Use non-skid mats in the tub and be extra cautious on wet floors. Install grab bars in the tub to hang onto when

SUPER CHARGE

getting in and out. Towel racks will not hold your weight.

• Some medicines make you dizzy; talk to your doctor as dizziness leads to falls.

• Get up slowly after you sit or lie down.

• A fall alert button is a good idea for someone who lives alone.

CDC experts add these recommendations: • Poor eyesight causes many accidents. Have your eyes checked once a year; update your glasses to maximize your vision.

• Exercise regularly. Focus on increasing leg strength and improving balance. Tai chi is especially good.

• Wear proper shoes with low heels and good tread. Loose fitting shoes, especially sandals, are associated with falls, as are heels.

• Use nightlights when you get up at night. Never wander into a part of the house that is dark; you can’t see and you may be half asleep.

• Always slow down and take your time. Don’t rush to get the front door or answer the telephone. Use a cane or walker if you feel unsteady. Use care when walking on uneven surfaces.

• Watch where you’re walking and stay focused on what you’re doing.

This time of year, admissions to Mohawk Valley Health Care Center have increased because of falls on ice, said Geraty. Ice is a serious hazard and requires extra caution. Wear boots with traction.

“Walk like a penguin on the ice; walk with a wide base of support,” she added.

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IN GOOD HEALTH – Mohawk Valley’s Healthcare Newspaper

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Page 7

Sexual Health Between You and Me

By Barbara Pierce

Spice things up Add some zip to an otherwise bland sex life

By Barbara Pierce

A

fter you’ve had sex with the same person at least a thousand times, it’s easy to fall into a rut.

For nearly all of us, the most exciting part of a relationship is at the beginning. Then, being together is filled with newness and possibility, hot and heavy flirtation, and even hotter and heavier sex.

The problem with relationships is that they can be new only once.

After being with someone for a while, things can get boring. We stop trying as hard. We’d rather reach for the remote and a pint of Pierce Chunky Monkey than our partner. Quite simply, the thrill is gone.

Sadly, this is how life works and how sexual excitement works. When we’ve been with the same person for a while, the passion ebbs for the simple reason that we both know exactly what’s coming. It could be the best sex anyone has ever had, but it doesn’t matter: It’s the same as it was last time.

The uncertainty is gone.

It doesn’t mean that we care any less about each other, or find him or her any less sexually attractive. It just means we need to break the spell of sameness, break out of our stale sex routine.

When it comes to desire and attraction, a little unpredictability goes a long way. It spikes the brain’s natural amphetamines, which play a big role in sexual arousal.

Changes are good to break out of

the sameness. The change can be some lacy lingerie, a massage, introducing sex toys into the mix, or just being bold enough to suggest you two take a shower together. Even one small change can have orgasmic-sized proportions in bed.

We especially like these recommendations from Mensjournal.com: • Communication is key: Everyone has heard this a million times, but it is important. People who talk about sex are more satisfied with sex. Those who talked about sex while participating in the act were even more sexually satisfied, a study showed.

Talking about sex can be difficult, but any awkwardness will be well worth it. If you’re afraid to verbalize exactly what you want, start with non-verbal cues to signal to your partner your desires.

• Get inspired by the past: Think back to what you used to do when you were first together. The logic here is pretty simple: It worked before; it can

probably work again.

• Embrace romance: As relationships age, people often settle into a comfort zone. There is plenty that’s great about the comfort zone but feeling desired and loved should not be sacrificed. Whether it’s flowers, an at-home dinner, or dancing to a favorite song, a special night of romance ramps up a relationship.

For most women, being spoken to in a romantic way gets us aroused.

Even for men, sweet nothings become increasingly important as they grow older. Compliments sprinkled throughout the day can make any partner feel more desired, which often translates to passion.

• Be creative: If you have meat and potatoes every day, it’s going to get boring. So you have to keep it interesting and exciting for it to be arousing and pleasurable. Visit an adult toy store together, stop in for a couples massage, watch an R-rated video, have a date at a topless bar. Liven things up.

• Don’t overthink: Overthinking sex is guaranteed to take out the fun.

As women tend to have a tougher time climaxing, their partners may see sex without orgasm as a failed endeavor. The objective is not to get her to achieve an orgasm but to give each other pleasure.

• Relax: Stress can ruin sex lives.

There are little steps everyone can take to get themselves more in the mood, like a pleasure-focused evening in complete with music, a couples bath or shower, and sensual massage.

• Stay fit: Time to lace up those running shoes. When we get down to it, sex is a bodily function. That means a healthy person is more likely to have successful sex than an unhealthy one. It will also help you last longer and experience fewer problems in the bedroom.

Men who are sedentary are more likely to experience erectile dysfunction.

Businessinsider.com adds these suggestions: • Add purple to your bedroom: People with purple bedding or furniture have more active sex lives, according to a new study.

• Order that glass of wine at dinner: A study revealed that females who drank one to two glasses of wine a day had more fulfilling lives in the bedroom than those who didn’t drink.

Men too — the study found that male sexual performance improved with alcohol, despite the widespread belief to the contrary.

So, spice up your sex life. Add new twists, surprises, and the unexpected.

It works.

• Barbara Pierce is a retired licensed clinical social worker with many years’ experience in helping people. If you would like to purchase a copy of her book “If I’m so Fantastic, Why am I Still Single?” contact her at BarbaraPierce06@yahoo.com, or contact her if you have any concerns you would like her to address.

CDC: Hospital infection rates fall, but improvement needed

R

ates of many types of hospital-acquired infections are on the decline, but more work is needed to protect patients, according to a U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention report.

“Hospitals have made real progress to reduce some types of health care-associated infections — it can be done,” CDC Director Tom Frieden said.

The study used national data to track outcomes at more than 14,500 health care centers across the United States. The researchers found a 46 perPage 8

•

cent drop in “central line-associated” bloodstream infections between 2008 and 2013. This type of infection occurs when a tube placed in a large vein is either not put in correctly or not kept clean, the CDC explained.

During that same time, there was a 19 percent decrease in surgical site infections among patients who underwent the 10 types of surgery tracked in the report. These infections occur when germs get into the surgical wound site.

Between 2011 and 2013, there was an 8 percent drop in multidrug-resis-

IN GOOD HEALTH – Mohawk Valley’s Healthcare Newspaper • February 2015

tant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) infections, and a 10 percent fall in C. difficile infections. Both of these infections have prompted concern because some strains have grown resistant to many antibiotics.

Catheter-associated urinary tract infections rose 6 percent since 2009, but initial data from 2014 suggests that these infections have also started to decrease, according to the annual CDC report.

The CDC also noted that on any

given day, about one in 25 hospital patients in the United States has at least one infection acquired while in the hospital, which highlights the need for continued efforts to improve infection control in U.S. hospitals.

According to Frieden, “the key is for every hospital to have rigorous infection-control programs to protect patients and health care workers, and for health care facilities and others to work together to reduce the many types of infections that haven’t decreased enough.”

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Diet & Nutrition Ace’s Angle

By Amylynn Pastorella

Big Loser Utica’s Tanya Hyde takes the plunge, transforms her body

By Amylynn Pastorella

W

ho says a loser can’t win?

Not Tanya Hyde, 32, of Utica.

Having struggled with weight since she was young, Hyde was a frequent flyer at Weight Watchers. Each time she rejoined, she weighed more than she had the first time before.

She says the last time was the hardest because she was in her mid-20s and started gaining weight back faster than she lost it.

Trying all that she can to maintain a comfortable weight, Hyde found solace in a friend.

“My friend contacted me and told me she was holding an accountability group and wondered if I would be interested in joining,” said Hyde.

“Exercise was never a passion of mine, and besides that, I worked so much I just always used the lack of time as an excuse.”

At the time, Hyde was working three jobs and couldn’t find the time to work out. Hyde’s friend told her there was a Beachbody program developed by well-known fitness instructor Shaun T, called Focus T25. The workouts were, and still are, 25 minutes long.

“I took a few days to think about it and after deliberating with myself, I decided to go for it,” Hyde said.

According to Hyde, the first day of the program was torture.

She started second guessing her choices and wondered if she would be able to continue. However, she didn’t

give up.

If there was an exercise move she could not physically do, the program provided modified movements. With her schedule being extremely hectic, what should have been a 60-day program turned into closer to 75 days. Either way, she survived and got results from her hard work and dedication.

“When I looked at my before and after photos I took, I couldn’t believe my eyes. It was amazing to see how I was becoming stronger.

I was so proud of what I accomplished,” said Hyde.

Becoming quickly hooked, she finished the entire Focus T25 program, moving on to new Hyde programs such as Insanity, 21 Day Fix, Turbo Jam, PiYo and then going back to Shaun T, who recently released his latest program, Insanity Max:30.

Having accomplished so much, Hyde is still not sure where she wants to be.

“It’s not about just looking good, it’s about being healthy and stronger.

One of my goals is being able to do a perfect push-up. It may sound crazy but when I first started, I could barely lower myself and push myself back up,” said Hyde.

“I am not perfect yet. To gain that

Tanya Hyde’s physical transformation from before she started her workout program to now. strength would be a tremendous feat for me,” she said.

Her friend and now coach who introduced her to her fitness regime approached Hyde about joining her team and becoming a coach herself. Not a salesperson, she soon found out that creating sales was not the most important part of being a coach.

“I am a person and that’s all that I need to be,” said Hyde.

Hyde said she is a coach because she wants to help others see that they can fit exercising in their schedules, no matter how busy they are. Hyde says that her particular program, Beachbody, has programs that take only 10, 25 and 30 minutes a day and can be done in your own home.

“It’s about taking time for you. You only get one body and you need to take

care of it. Eat healthier, work out when possible, and stop making excuses,” said Hyde.

“Be the best you can be, for you,” she added.

• Amylynn Pastorella is a contributing writer for Mohawk Valley In Good Health. To reach Amy, send correspondence to In Good Health, 4 Riverside Drive, Suite 251, Utica, 13502 attn: Amy or email her at acesangle@gmail. com.

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February 2015 •

IN GOOD HEALTH – Mohawk Valley’s Healthcare Newspaper

•

Page 9

Your Serving of Dairy News

By Victoria Treadwell

Power Packed!

Milk certainly does do a body good

M

ilk has been a common beverage for a while, with its variety of flavors and unique nutritional package.

Consuming milk is one of the natural ways of receiving calcium.

There are choices of whole milk, 2 percent reduced fat milk, 1 percent low-fat milk, and fat-free milk, also known as skim milk to suit consumers’ needs. The only difference between Treadwell these milks is the fat content. Every variety of milk besides whole milk has to be fortified with Vitamin A and Vitamin D. By drinking just one 8-ounce serving of milk daily, it can help you complete the three-to-four servings of dairy needed daily.

Did you know that milk contains nine essential vitamins and minerals the body needs to function properly?

Here they are: • Calcium, which helps build and maintain strong bones and teeth.

Calcium also plays an important role in nerve function, muscle contraction and blood clotting.

• Vitamin D helps the body absorb calcium and enhances bone mineralization.

• Protein in milk is high quality, so it contains the essential amino acids or “building blocks” of protein. Protein serves as a source for energy during high-powered endurance exercise, as well as builds and repairs muscle tissue.

• Potassium regulates the body’s fluid balance and helps maintain normal blood pressure. Muscles need potassium to help with movement.

• Vitamin A helps maintain normal vision and skin, along with regulating cell growth and keeping the immune system functioning properly.

• Vitamin B12 helps build red blood cells that carry oxygen from the lungs to working muscles.

• Riboflavin or Vitamin B2 helps the body convert food to energy.

• Niacin keeps many enzymes in the body functioning. Niacin is also

SmartBites

By Anne Palumbo

The skinny on healthy eating

Move over, chicken: It’s pork time!

E

ver since the medical community revealed links between heart attacks and foods high in saturated fat — such as red meat — I have made a concerted effort to consume less of this particular protein, especially the fattier cuts.

In its place, I initially substituted beans, fish and the only white meat I could think of: chicken. But then, recalling a brilliant ad campaign that positioned pork as “the other white meat,” I looked into pork, the leaner cuts touted in the ads. I am now a bona fide pork-a-holic.

Although technically a red meat, pork (select cuts) has many of the health advantages of lean, white meat: it’s low in fat and calories, it’s super high in protein, and it’s chock full of B vitamins.

On the fat and calorie front, an average 3-ounce serving of pork loin has only 3 grams of total fat, 1 gram of saturated fat, and 122 calories, which is on par with a similar serving of skinless chicken breast. A 3-ounce rib eye steak, on the other hand, has 18 grams of total fat, 9 grams of saturated fat and 230 calories.

According to the American Heart Page 10

•

Association, the average adult should not consume more than about 15 grams of saturated fat a day. As many know, foods that are high in saturated fats raise our total blood cholesterol and unhealthy LDL cholesterol levels — levels that, over time, contribute to clogged arteries and an increased risk of heart disease or stroke.

On the protein front, pork is a prodigious source, serving up around 22 grams per 3-ounce serving. A nutrient we need to build up, keep up and replace tissues in our body, protein also makes up the enzymes that power many chemical reactions and the hemoglobin that carries oxygen in our blood. Put another way: We’d be limp noodles without this mighty nutrient.

In addition to all that good pro-

involved with the metabolism of sugars and fatty acids.

• Phosphorus helps to strengthen bones and produces energy in the body cells.

All of these vitamins and minerals are provided in milk and various other dairy products. Children aged 4-8 need three servings of dairy every day.

Children aged 9-18 need to have four servings of dairy daily.

Adults 19-50 years of age need to have three servings daily and adults 50 and up need to have four servings of dairy daily.

Milk isn’t fattening. People become overweight due to lack of exercise and

consuming too many calories. With the varieties of milks, each has different calorie and fat contents to suit everyone’s needs. Just pay attention to the nutrition facts panel on the milks and drink up!

• Victoria Treadwell is one of 35 county dairy princesses involved in the New York State Dairy Princess and Promotion Program. The purpose of the program is to promote the dairy industry and increase milk and dairy product sales, and is funded by local dairy farmers through their check-off investments in the American Dairy Association and Dairy Council, Inc.

tein, pork is also an excellent source of thiamine (helps convert food to energy), niacin (good for nerves, digestion and skin), vitamin B12 (essential for red blood cell production and overall energy) and selenium (a powerful antioxidant).

Helpful tips

Select lean cuts of pork — tenderloin, loin chops, and boneless loin roast—if you’re looking for healthy pork options. Bacon, pork cutlets, spareribs and shoulder roast are all higher in saturated fat and calories. Just a few years ago, the USDA lowered its safe cooking temperature of pork to 145 degrees, from the longtime standard of 160 (trichinosis, a type of parasite sometimes found in undercooked meat, can’t survive above 145 degrees). The easiest way to tell when pork is done is to use a meat thermometer.

Pork Tenderloin Studded with rosemary and garlic Adapted from “Cooking Light” Serves 4

IN GOOD HEALTH – Mohawk Valley’s Healthcare Newspaper • February 2015

2 tablespoons finely chopped fresh rosemary (or, 2 teaspoons dried, crushed) 4 garlic cloves, minced 1 (1-pound) pork tenderloin, trimmed 1/2 teaspoon salt 1/4 teaspoon black pepper Canola oil Preheat oven to 475°. Combine

the rosemary and garlic. Make several 1/2-inch-deep slits in pork; place about half of rosemary mixture in slits. Rub pork with remaining rosemary mixture; sprinkle with salt and pepper. Place pork on a rimmed baking sheet lightly coated with canola oil. Insert a meat thermometer into thickest portion of pork.

Bake at 475° for 20 minutes or until the thermometer registers 145° (slightly pink) or desired degree of doneness. Let stand 5 minutes, and cut into 1/2-inch-thick slices. Note: If using fresh rosemary, strip leaves by running your fingertips along the stem in the opposite direction from which the leaves grow.

Anne Palumbo is a lifestyle columnist, food guru, and seasoned cook, who has perfected the art of preparing nutritious, calorie-conscious dishes.

She is hungry for your questions and comments about SmartBites, so be in touch with Anne at avpalumbo@aol.com.

Portion Patrol

Controlling food portions key to healthy eating

By Traci DeLore

Y

ou’re running late for work, so you grab a bagel on the way out the door and eat it during your morning commute.

While it seems like an easy breakfast choice, what you probably don’t know is that a bagel used to be a much better choice, according to U.S. Center for Nutrition Policy and Promotion, which oversees federal nutrition guidelines.

Twenty years ago, that bagel was three inches in diameter and had about 140 calories. Today, a bagel is closer to six inches in diameter with 350 calories — and that’s before you add the cream cheese.

Portion distortion is no joke, but there are ways to battle back and eat smart, says Janine Jaquays, a registered dietitian and clinical nutrition manager at St. Elizabeth Medical Center in Utica.

“Everyone’s perception of portion and what is normal is their own,” she said, but there are some handy tricks people can use to make sure their portions are more in line with what dietitians recommend.

Even everyday items can help people control portion size, Jaquays said. A baseball is roughly the size of a medium fruit, which equals one serving.

Use your closed fist to estimate a cup of raw vegetables.

A computer mouse is about the same size as a one-half cup serving of rice or pasta. A deck of cards is equal to about two to three ounces of meat.

Knowing what a correct portion size is and what that portion looks like are the first steps, she said, but it’s also important to know how much of each type of food you should be eating every day.

According to federal ChooseMyPlate guidelines, everyone should aim for a mix of fruits, vegetables, lean proteins, grains (at least half from whole grain sources), and dairy every day.

Jaquays likes to steer people toward the MyPlate image that shows half of a plate filled with fruits and vegetables, one-fourth filled with protein, and one-fourth filled with grains as a healthy foundation for controlling portions.

While delicious, that piece of chicken parmesan shouldn’t fill half your plate, she said. Neither should the pasta.

“All foods can fit into a healthy diet,” Jaquays said, but portion control is the key. Keep that serving of chicken parmesan small, have a small side of pasta and fill the rest of the plate with a green salad, she suggested.

“I think most people don’t think of using all the food groups as a guideline,” she said. People tend to fall short on their fruit and vegetable servings

and will find if they work to add those servings in, it will help create a natural portion control for the other food groups, she said. Instead of focusing on taking some food groups away, focus on ways you can add fruits and vegetables into your diet.

Adding vegetables to some tomato sauce or using a spiral vegetable cutter like a Vegetti to make some zucchini “noodles” and then substituting those for some of your spaghetti will help bulk up a meal, Jaquays said. That way, you can still eat a hearty portion in terms of the volume of food, but have a healthier meal, she said.

Dining out can be a little trickier when it comes to portion control, she noted. Some tips for keeping portions in check include asking your server not to bring a bread basket to your table or splitting a dinner with someone

else, as restaurant servings tend to be much larger than a normal portion size.

“When you go out to eat, be mindful of that,” Jaquays said.

She also recommends people slow down and become more aware in general of what they are eating. Eat slowly and enjoy your meal, and you’ll give yourself time to notice when you are full. Look for single-serving packages of foods that tempt you to overindulge.

Writing down what you eat can also help keep you on track, she said.

Don’t view it as a diet or focus on depriving yourself of foods, Jaquays said. Focus on eating healthier. “There is so much you can do to eat healthier and still enjoy your food,” she said.

For more information on ChooseMyPlate guidelines and the Center for Nutrition Policy and Promotion, visit www.ChooseMyPlate.gov.

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IN GOOD HEALTH – Mohawk Valley’s Healthcare Newspaper

•

Page 11

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•

H

alf of the teen and young adult drivers who die in car crashes are under the influence of either pot, alcohol or both, suggests a new study done in states where toxicology screening for accident victims is routine.

What’s more, the increasing legalization and availability of marijuana does not seem likely to push alcohol use aside, the researchers said. The crash victims in the study who were over age 21 (and of legal drinking age) were more likely than younger victims to have used both marijuana and alcohol prior to their crash.

“Given the rapid changes currently underway in marijuana availability and permissibility in the U.S., understanding the effects of drug control policies on substance use behavior and adverse health outcomes, such as fatal motor vehicle crashes, has never been more important,” study researcher Katherine Keyes, of Columbia University’s Mailman School of Public Health,

IN GOOD HEALTH – Mohawk Valley’s Healthcare Newspaper • February 2015

said in a statement.

Car crashes are the leading cause of death of 18- to 25-year-olds in the U.S., and driving under the influence is a major cause of accidents. Not every state conducts routine toxicology tests on car crash victims right after the accident, but those that do have come up with alarming results. For example, a 2012 study in the journal Addiction found that 57.3 percent of the drivers in this age group who died were on some kind of mind-altering substance, usually alcohol.

For Keyes and her colleagues pulled data on 16- to 25-year-olds from the Fatality Analysis Reporting System (FARS), a federal database of fatal crashes. They focused on California, Connecticut, Hawaii, Illinois, New Hampshire, New Jersey, Rhode Island, Washington and West Virginia, because each of these states tests at least 85 percent of its fatal car crash victims for drugs and alcohol within an hour of the accident.

OCD: The Doubting Disease What exactly is obsessive-compulsive disorder?

By Susan Connell

O

bsessive-compulsive disorder is a common affliction.

It is the fourth most common psychiatric disorder, and is twice as prevalent as panic disorder and schizophrenia.

OCD is part of a group of mental disorders which includes eating disorders, Tourette syndrome, trichotillomania (compulsive hair pulling) and body dysmorphic disorder.

It’s estimated that more than 7 million Americans have OCD. It affects all age groups and ethnicities, men, women and children.

One in 40 adults and one in every 200 children are afflicted. It is slightly more common among boys than girls, and has been diagnosed in children as young as 2 years old.

OCD sufferers typically hide their symptoms for fear of being thought of as “crazy.” They can become isolated and depressed.

Encouragement to seek diagnosis and treatment from family members and friends is crucial.

Treatment can dramatically change the lives of OCD victims for the better and restore hope.

Much progress has been made in research, diagnosis and treatment of this anxiety disorder since Dr. Judith Rapoport authored “The Boy Who Couldn’t Stop Washing” and the release of the movie “As Good As It Gets.”

Expanded media coverage of OCD has effectively helped to educate the public about this debilitating mental illness. The increase in OCD awareness and improved treatment modalities have begun to persuade more sufferers to seek help sooner than in years past when it was typical for OCD victims to acquire an accurate diagnosis 17 years after the onset of symptoms.

OCD is characterized by obsessive thoughts and compulsive behaviors that significantly interfere with normal life. The line between a recurring thought and an obsession, between a nervous habit and a compulsion, should be drawn when the thought or habit begins to interfere with a person’s life for more than an hour a day.

Obsessions are unwanted, recurrent and disturbing thoughts. Victims in fact are often aware that their obsessions are unrealistic, and their compulsive rituals counterproductive, but they feel trapped with their thoughts and actions — unable to control either.

These obsessions create overwhelming anxiety.

Compulsions are repetitive, ritualized behaviors the person feels driven to perform in efforts to alleviate the anxiety of the obsessions. Relief is short lived; in the long run the compulsion perpetuates the obsession.

In severe cases, obsessions and compulsions consume hours of each day rendering individuals unable to work or attend school. Many OCD victims are repulsed by their thoughts and behaviors and make attempts to conceal their symptoms, suffering in silence.

Common obsessions: — Fear of contamination

— Getting images/thoughts “stuck” in their heads — Fear of causing harm to oneself or others — Fear of making a mistake — Fear of behaving in a socially unacceptable manner — Need for symmetry or exactness — Excessive doubt Common compulsions: — Cleaning/washing — Checking — Mental rituals — Arranging/organizing — Collecting/hoarding — Counting/repeating

What causes OCD?

While the exact cause is unknown, an abnormality in the way nerve cells process the brain chemical serotonin seems to play a major role.

Research indicates that OCD is a neurobiological disease involving an imbalance of serotonin. Serotonin carries impulses from one nerve cell to another. Without enough serotonin, “thoughts get stuck.”

Additional studies have linked strep throat to the onset of OCD in some children. If untreated, strep can cause the body to manufacture antibodies that may lead to OCD within months.

OCD is stressful. Stress does not cause OCD; however, stressful situations can exacerbate symptoms.

Research suggests there are also genetic and environmental factors that may contribute to the onset of OCD as well.

Psychiatrists, psychologists and clinical social workers can diagnose and treat OCD. Standard effective treatment includes a combination of medication and behavior therapy.

A variety of effective medications are available to treat OCD. These medications help to restore the brain’s balance of serotonin.

In addition, the Central NY OC Foundation Support Group is available to help people with OCD, and assist their family members to learn more about the disorder.

A Utica-based support group meets from 6:30-8 p.m. on Mondays — except holidays — in the St. Elizabeth Hospital School of Nursing first-floor conference room, 2215 Genesee St., Utica.

All aspects of the group are confidential. There are no fees to attend.

The group is professionally assisted on the third Monday of each month.

For more info, call 315-768-7031 or 315-335-1891, email info@cnyocf.org or visit www.cnyocf.org.

Also, one can join the group on Facebook at Cen OCD Support Group.

The CNYOCF, a registered 501(c)3 nonprofit agency, maintains its programs through the generosity of donations. All contributions are tax deductible. The group is also accessible through the United Way and the State Employees Federated Appeal.

Contributions may be sent to CNYOCF, PO Box 74, Whitesboro, N.Y. 13492.

• Susan Connell is the founder of CNYOCF.

By Jim Miller

What Medicare doesn’t cover Dear Savvy Senior, I’m about to sign up for Medicare Part A and B and would like to find out what they don’t cover so I can avoid any unexpected costs down the road.

Almost 65 Dear Almost, While Medicare covers a wide array of health care services, it certainly doesn’t cover everything. If you need or want certain services that aren’t covered, you’ll have to pay for them yourself unless you have other insurance or you’re in a Medicare Advantage health plan, which may cover some of these services.

Here’s a rundown of what original Medicare generally does not cover.

Alternative medicine: This includes acupuncture or chiropractic services (except to fix subluxation of the spine), and other types of alternative or complementary care.

Cosmetic surgery: Elective cosmetic procedures are not covered, however, certain surgeries may be if necessary to fix a malformation. For example, breast prostheses are covered if you had a mastectomy due to breast cancer.

Long-term care: This includes nursing home care, the costs of assisted living facilities and adult day care.

Medicare does, however, help pay up to 100 days of skilled nursing or rehabilitation care immediately following a three-day inpatient hospital stay.

Personal care: The cost of hiring help for bathing, toileting and dressing are not covered unless you are homebound and are also receiving skilled nursing care. Housekeeping services, such as shopping, meal preparation and cleaning, are not covered either unless you are receiving hospice care.

Dental and vision care: Routine dental and vision care: Medicare will not cover routine dental checkups, cleanings, fillings or dentures. Nor do they cover routine vision care like eye exams, eye refractions, contact lenses or eyeglasses — except when following cataract surgery.

February 2015 •

Hearing: Routine hearing exams and hearing aids are not covered either, although some hearing implants to treat a severe hearing loss may be covered.

Foot care: Medicare does not cover most routine foot care, like the cutting or removing of corns and calluses, nor does it pay for most orthopedic shoes or other foot supports (orthotics).

Medicare will, however, cover foot injuries or diseases like hammertoes, bunion deformities and heel spurs, along with foot exams and treatments if you have diabetes-related nerve damage.

Non-emergency services: Medicare does not pay for copies of X-rays or most non-emergency transportation including ambulette services.

Overseas coverage: In most cases, health care you receive outside of the United States is not covered.

The best way to find out if Medicare covers what you need is to talk to your doctor or other health care provider. Or visit medicare.gov/coverage and type in your test, item or service, to get a breakdown of what is and isn’t covered.

Also keep in mind that even if Medicare covers a service or item, they don’t usually pay 100 percent of the cost. Unless you have supplemental insurance, you’ll have to pay monthly premiums as well as annual deductibles and copayments. Most preventive services, however, are covered by original Medicare with no copays or deductibles.

For more information on what original Medicare does and doesn’t cover, see the “Medicare and You” 2015 booklet that you should receive in the mail a few months before you turn 65, or you can see it online at medicare. gov/pubs/pdf/10050.pdf.

You can also get help over the phone by calling Medicare at 800633-4227, or contact your State Health Insurance Assistance Program (SHIP), who provides free one-on-one Medicare counseling in person or over the phone. To find a local SHIP counselor visit shiptalk.org, or call the eldercare locator at 800-677-1116. If you enroll in a Medicare Advantage plan, you’ll need to contact your plan administrator for details.

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.

IN GOOD HEALTH – Mohawk Valley’s Healthcare Newspaper

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Page 13

Mary in the Middle

The Social Ask Security Office

By Mary Stevenson

Valentine’s Day Some traditions still endure

I

t is no secret around here that I am not a fan of Valentine’s Day. For years, I have fed into the “If you are single you are a loser” or “If you don’t get chocolate, a dozen roses and engaged, no one loves you properly” mentality.

My first boyfriend bought me a single rose and a teddy bear for our first (and only) Valentine’s Day together. I did love it.

It wasn’t the big display the commercials showed but it was from his heart and that is what mattered.

Subsequent Februarys sometimes did meet my expectations. Most did not. I Stevenson spent a few crying over my situations, or lack of. When I was finally sick of crying, I came to the sad realization this was a strictly commercial holiday in every sense.

I did not need one day out of 365 for that someone special to prove his love. A real partner who truly loved me would show me every day of the year, would he not? In fairness, if I were a real partner, wouldn’t I show my love the same way?

So I worked on sharing my love every single day. I called my parents as much as I could (before I moved back home) to see how they were and if there was anything I could do for them.

I spoke a little sweeter to my

young boys, even when their behaviors or their attitudes drove me up a wall. I was available for my family and friends as best I could be, as an ear to listen or a shoulder to cry on. I would show love every day.

I did still partake in the economics of the warm holiday in the cold month of February. Just as my parents would give us a heart-felt card and a small box of chocolates when we woke in the morning, I did the same for my boys.

My tradition included a grown-up card (not the one of three dozen in a box variety that I had to buy for their classroom parties) and a box of chocolates that had one of the Looney Tunes’ characters on the cover.

“Taz” was for my oldest, “Bugs” was for my middle and “Tweety” for the youngest. The boys looked forward to this each year and you can be sure they pointed it out if I tagged the wrong child with the wrong character.

Now grown, the boys still look forward to their card and chocolates each and every Valentine’s Day. I am very happy to do this for them and carry on our tradition. It warms my heart immensely.

• Mary Stevenson is a contributing writer for Mohawk Valley In Good Health.

Meet

Your Doctor

By Patricia J. Malin

Documentation a challenge Continued from Page 4 that I have finished my board exam.

Q.: What challenges do you see in the future regarding medicine and health care in general?

A.: I think that as requirements for reimbursement become stricter, documentation will become more difficult.

We are already required to comply with a much higher level of detail in our documentation that we were even when I started residency three and half years ago.

It will be important to remember that we are treating people, and to take the time to focus on that and not get lost in the process of documenting our patient encounters.

Q.: You grew up using technology and computers. How does technology help you in your current practice and what innovations would you like to see in the next few decades?

A.: Well, I’d like to say that I’m Page 14

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technologically savvy, but I’m definitely not. I can type, and that’s about it.

Switching over from paper to electronic health records was a challenge, but it has definitely made some aspects of my job easier. For example, writing prescriptions is now a much quicker process. Instead of handwriting each script, they can be computer-generated and sent directly to the pharmacy.

There are also a lot of aspects of documentation that are easier with electronic health records. Instead of having to remember a list of points in your head that need to be documented while dictating, there are checklists and reminders in the forms that we use to generate notes in patient charts.

It will be very helpful once a national database is established and a patient’s health information can be accessed no matter where they are. That will help eliminate a lot of confusion and uncertainty and speed treatment.

By Deborah Banikowski

Heartfelt Gestures F ebruary is the month when we celebrate love and friendship. The Centers for Disease Control (CDC) has also declared February as American Heart Month to bring awareness to the leading cause of death for both women and men in the United States: heart disease.

We encourage you to wear red all month to promote cardiovascular disease prevention.

Just as the heart is vital to our emotional and physical well-being, Social Security disability benefits are often a vital lifeline for people who are unable to work due to severe disabilities — whether heart-related or not.

There are numerous ways to protect our hearts, including eating well, exercising and not smoking. We get checkups and make sure to keep our cholesterol down.

However, sometimes these measures aren’t enough. In fact, disability will affect one in four of today’s 20 year-olds before reaching retirement age. The Social Security disability program excels in providing financial help to people when they need it most — help they earned by paying Social Security taxes on their earnings or as dependents of someone who paid Social Security taxes.

Social Security pays benefits to covered people who can’t work and whose medical conditions meet the

Q&A

Q: I heard that Social Security benefits increased at the beginning of the year. What is the average Social Security retirement payment that a person receives each month?

A: You are right — Social Security benefits increased this year. In 2015, nearly 64 million Americans who receive Social Security or Supplemental Security Income (SSI) began receiving a cost-of-living adjustment (COLA) increase of 1.7 percent to their monthly benefit payments. The average monthly Social Security benefit for a retired worker in 2015 is $1,328 (up from $1,306 in 2014). The average monthly Social Security benefit for a disabled worker in 2015 is $1,165 (up from $1,146 in 2014). As a reminder, eligibility for retirement benefits still requires 40 credits (usually about 10 years of work). The Social Security Act details how the COLA is calculated. You can read more about the COLA at www. socialsecurity.gov/cola.

Q: I recently got married. How can I update my insurance under the Affordable Care Act? A: You can do so before the Affordable Care Act open enrollment period ends Feb. 15. You and your spouse

IN GOOD HEALTH – Mohawk Valley’s Healthcare Newspaper • February 2015

strict definition of disability under the Social Security Act. A person is considered disabled under this definition if he or she cannot work due to a severe medical condition that has lasted or is expected to last at least one year or result in death. The person’s medical condition must prevent him or her from doing work that he or she did in the past, and it must prevent the person from adjusting to other work based on their age, education and experience.

You can find all the information you need about eligibility and benefits available to you by reading our publication, Disability Benefits, available at www.socialsecurity.gov/pubs.

If you are disabled, and think you are eligible to receive disability benefits, you will need to complete an application for Social Security benefits. It’s easy to apply online at www.socialsecurity.gov/disability.

We also invite you to visit our “Faces and Facts of Disability” website to watch and read stories about people who have truly benefited from Social Security’s disability program and to get the facts about this very important program. Helping people is at the heart of what we do. You can learn more at www.socialsecurity.gov/disabilityfacts.

During American Heart Month, go ahead and wear your heart on your sleeve. Go red, and go to www.socialsecurity.gov/disabilityfacts.

can shop for a new healthcare plan any time before Feb. 15. Be sure to update your information, including your new name, address or anything that might have changed. Healthcare.gov is your hub for everything involving affordable healthcare. To start shopping for a plan that best suits you, visit the website at www.healthcare.gov.

Q: My child lost his Social Security card. How can I get a replacement?

A: You can replace your child’s Social Security card at no cost to you if it is lost or stolen. You are limited to three replacement cards in a year and 10 during a lifetime. Legal name changes and other exceptions don’t count toward these limits. Also, you may not be affected by these limits if you can prove you need the card to prevent a significant hardship.

The documents you will need to provide will differ depending on whether your child is a citizen of the United States or foreign-born citizen.

To get a new card, you will need to provide original documents that prove citizenship. No photocopies or digital replications are accepted. You will have to provide proof of your identity as well using a U.S. driver’s license, a state-issued non-driver identification card, or a U.S. passport.

H ealth News MVHS names medical director of rehab services John D. Thomas II has been named medical director of rehabilitation services for Mohawk Valley Health System.

Thomas has served as medical director for rehabilitation services at St. Elizabeth Medical Center since 1998.

In this role, he consults with several national companies and performs independent evaluations and disability reviews. In addition, Thomas serves as assistant to the chief medical Thomas officer at SEMC. Thomas attended Hamilton College in Clinton and the University of the Northeast Medical School in Tampico, Mexico.

Thomas is active in the American Medical Association, the New Hampshire Medical Society, the Medical Society of the State of New York (House of Delegates), and has served as both trustee and president of the Oneida County Medical Society.

He is a member of the American Academy of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, American Academy of Pain Management, American Academy of Neuromuscular and Electrodiagnostic Medicine and the American Academy of Disability Analysts.

Faxton St. Luke’s Healthcare and SEMC are affiliates under the MVHS.

Appointee named to CNYONEL, NYONEL Rita Popeo, assistant vice president of nursing for the Mohawk Valley Health System, has been appointed president-elect of the Central New York Organization of Nurse Executives and Leaders and to the board of the New York Organization of Nurse Executives and Leaders.

Popeo oversees Popeo medical-surgical services and the intensive rehabilitation unit.

Popeo received her Bachelor of Science in nursing from Georgetown University in Washington, D.C., and her Master of Science in nursing administration from Syracuse University.

She also completed the University of Pennsylvania, Wharton School, Financial Management Program for Nurses and Directors in Philadelphia, Pa.

MVHS offers household sharps disposal program Mohawk Valley Health System offers a household sharps disposal program for community members to properly dispose of their medical waste.

Items such as syringes and lancets may be dropped off from 7 a.m. to 3 p.m. weekdays at the Faxton St. Luke’s Healthcare Energy Center or at the Center for Rehabilitation and Continuing Care Services, both located on the St. Luke’s Campus, 1656 Champlin Ave., New Hartford.

Items dropped off at CRCCS may be given to the receptionist.

In addition, sharp instruments may also be brought to the St. Elizabeth Medical Center Hospital Services Department, located in the SEMC basement, from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. weekdays, excluding holidays.

Only items from private residences in clearly marked “sharps” puncture-proof containers will be accepted.

For more information, call the FSLH Energy Center at 315-624-6186 or SEMC Hospital Services at 315-7988249.

MVHS names rehabilitation leader Jan Simpson has been named director of rehabilitation services for the Mohawk Valley Health System.

In this position, Simpson oversees all rehabilitation services, including audiology, occupational therapy, physical therapy, speech therapy and wellness in acute care, acute rehabilitation, sub-acute rehabilitaSimpson tion and outpatient settings.

Simpson has been an employee at St. Elizabeth Medical Center since 1979, serving as a physical therapist, director of physical therapy, and, most recently, director of rehabilitation services.

She also serves as assistant professor of physical therapy at Utica College.

Simpson earned her Bachelor of Science in biology from LeMoyne College in Syracuse, her Bachelor of Science in physical therapy from SUNY Health Science Center in Syracuse, her Master of Science in health services management and policy from the New School of Social Research Graduate School of Management & Urban Policy in New York, and her Doctor of Physical Therapy from Utica College.

Faxton St. Luke’s Healthcare and SEMC are affiliates under the MVHS.

MVHS establishes legal leaders Mohawk Valley Health System recently made the following staff announcements: • Thomas Soja has been named vice president, legal and compliance for MVHS. In this role, he is responsible for legal matters system-wide with administrative responsibility for corporate compliance, privacy and internal audits, governance and corporate matters, financing activities and physician and healthcare entity contracting.

Prior to this position, he was

general counsel for Mohawk Valley Network, Inc., and its affiliates, including Faxton St. Luke’s Healthcare, since 2000. He was general counsel for St. Luke’s Memorial Hospital Center from 1995 through 2000.

Soja graduated Soja from Albany Law School and served as notes and comments editor of the Albany Law Review. He received his Bachelor of Arts in government from Cornell University, College of Arts and Sciences.

• Traci Boris has been named assistant vice president, legal and compliance, for MVHS. She previously served as the legal counsel for St. Elizabeth Medical Center.

In this role, she is responsible for legal matters associated with labor relations Boris and human resource issues, and manages professional and general liability litigation and claims. Boris also assists with insurance programs and oversees regulatory matters.

Boris graduated cum laude from Albany Law School, was a member of the Albany Law Review and participated in the Gabrielli Moot Court Appellate Advocacy Competition. She completed her Bachelor of Science magna cum laude in political science at SUNY Oneonta.

• Heather Haglund has been named assistant general counsel of MVHS. She previously served as assistant general counsel at SEMC for more than five years. Haglund is responsible for legal matters associated with patient Haglund rights, real estate and mental hygiene, provides support to regulatory and risk management and is a key resource for the corporate compliance officer and privacy officer.

A member of the New York State Bar since 1999, Haglund has more than 15 years of legal experience. She earned her Juris Doctorate from Syracuse University College of Law and her Bachelor of Arts degree from the University of Michigan.

Haglund also earned a Master of Science in health care administration from the New School for Social Research in Utica and an Associate of Science from the Community College of the Air Force.

• Nancy Ricci has been named corporate compliance officer of MVHS. In this role, she is responsible for maintaining an enterprise-wide compliance program consistent with the federal sentencing guidelines, as well as with compliance program guidelines established by the Office of Inspector General and the New York State Office

February 2015 •

of Medicaid Inspector General.

Ricci has been an employee at FSLH for 18 years, serving most recently as corporate compliance officer and privacy officer.

She earned her Master of Jurisprudence in health law from Ricci Loyola University Chicago School of Law and her Bachelor of Science in accounting from Utica College of Syracuse University.

• David Carlson has been named director of internal audit and privacy officer for MVHS. In this position, Carlson is responsible for developing and maintaining an internal audit program and overseeing the organizaCarlson tion’s privacy-related issues.

Carlson has been an employee at SEMC since 1987. He has held various positions within the finance department and has served as the compliance officer since 2003.

He has previously held the positions of internal auditor and privacy officer. He received his Bachelor of Science in accounting from Utica College.

FSLH and SEMC are affiliates under the MVHS.

SEMC medical staff elects new officers Urologist Robert P. Fleischer of New Hartford has been elected president of the medical staff at St. Elizabeth Medical Center for 2015.

Family practitioner Mark E. Warfel of Clinton has been elected vice president and infectious disease specialist James L. Bramley of Clinton has been elected secretary-treasurer.

Fleischer is a urologist who attended Duke University for undergraduate work, where he graduated magna cum laude, and he received his medical degree from Duke University Medical School.

He completed a surgical internship/ residency at Dartmouth and a urologic residency at Duke University Medical Center.

He is board Fleischer certified in urology and is a fellow of the American College of Surgeons. Fleischer and his wife, Joann, reside in New Hartford and have four children.

Warfel is the St. Elizabeth Family Medicine Residency Program Director and director of medical education for the Mohawk Valley Health System.

He is a graduate of the St. Elizabeth Hospital Family Medicine

Continued on Page 16

IN GOOD HEALTH – Mohawk Valley’s Healthcare Newspaper

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Page 15

H ealth News Continued from Page 15 Program. He received his Doctor of Osteopathy degree from the University of New England College of Osteopathic Medicine in Biddeford, Maine, and a Bachelor of Pharmacy degree from the Massachusetts College of Pharmacy, Boston.

He is a fellow of the American Warfel Academy of Family Physicians; member of the New York State Academy of Family Practice; Medical Society of the State of New York; the Oneida County Medical Society; American College of Physician Executives; American Academy of Hospice and Palliative Medicine and the American Osteopathic Association.

Warfel and his wife, Katie, reside in Clinton. They are the parents of six children.

Bramley is an infectious disease specialist who earned his undergraduate degree from Hamilton College and a medical degree from Georgetown University School of Medicine.

He completBramley ed a residency in internal medicine at Albany Medical Center and a fellowship in infectious diseases at the Brown University Program in Medicine.

He is board-certified in internal medicine and infectious diseases and is a member of the Oneida County Medical Society and the Medical Society of the State of New York.

He has been active in the infection prevention programs of both SEMC and Faxton St. Luke’s Healthcare since starting practice in Utica in 1988.

He lives in Clinton with his wife, Patricia. They have two adult children.

FSLH and SEMC are affiliates under the Mohawk Valley Health System.

SEMC offers new rapid HIV test The St. Elizabeth Medical Center Laboratory is offering a new rapid HIV test.

It is the first FDA-approved rapid test that detects both HIV-1/2 antibodies and free HIV-1 p24 antigen. This fourth-generation test has the ability to identify HIV sooner than conventional rapid tests, which rely solely on the presence of HIV-1/2 antibodies.

It enables healthcare providers to diagnose HIV infection earlier allowing individuals to seek medical care sooner. It will be available 24 hours a day, seven days a week.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has issued updated recommendations for HIV testing by laboratories in the United States.

The complete recommendations Page 16

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titled “Laboratory Testing for the Diagnosis of HIV Infection: Updated Recommendations” can be downloaded at www.cdc.gov/hiv/testing/lab/ guidelines.

Faxton St. Luke’s Healthcare and SEMC are affiliates under the Mohawk Valley Health System.

FSLH names new program director Sue Spina has been named program director of the St. Luke’s Home Adult Day Health Care Program at the Center for Rehabilitation and Continuing Care Services in Utica.

In this position, Spina is responsible for overseeing the community-based, long-term care program that provides comprehensive Spina healthcare with therapeutic, social, educational and recreational activities for elderly, chronically ill and disabled adults while maintaining their residence in the community.

Spina will also continue to supervise the long-term care social work staff at SLH. Spina has been an employee at FSLH since 2012, most recently serving as director of social work/transitional care for SLH. Spina received her bachelor’s degree in psychology from SUNY Potsdam and her master’s degree in social work from Syracuse University.

FSLH and St. Elizabeth Medical Center are affiliates under the Mohawk Valley Health System.

New safety officer arrives at FSLH Keith Roach has been named director of environmental safety and emergency preparedness (safety officer) at Faxton St. Luke’s Healthcare in Utica.

In this position, Roach is responsible for the oversight of all activities related to the provision of a safe, functional environment and Roach coordination of the emergency preparedness program.

Roach has been an employee at the organization since 1995, serving as a bio-med technician at Faxton-Children’s Hospital and director of clinical engineering and telecommunications for FSLH. He earned his Bachelor of Science degree in engineering technology at SUNYIT in Utica, is a certified internal auditor and has served on various committees including emergency management and safety steering.

FSLH and St. Elizabeth Medical Center are affiliates under the Mohawk Valley Health System.

Orthopedic spine surgeon joins SDMG

The Arc hires new development associate

Anthony Lapinsky is joining Slocum-Dickson Medical Group in New Hartford in the specialty of orthopedic spine surgery.

Lapinsky specializes in the surgical care of all spinal conditions including cervical, thoracic and lumbar decompression, stabilization, and reconstruction.

He treats conditions including fractures, disc herniations, spinal stenosis, Lapinsky spondylolisthesis, tumors, kyphosis and scoliosis.

Lapinsky completed his fellowship in adult reconstructive spinal surgery at Beth Israel-Deaconess Medical Center in Boston, Mass. and his fellowship in pediatric orthopaedics and scoliosis surgery at the Texas Scottish Rite Hospital in Dallas.

He completed his orthopedic surgery residency at the Naval Medical Center in San Diego, Calif.

Lapinsky completed his internship in general surgery at the Naval Medical Center in Portsmouth, Va. He earned his Doctor of Medicine degree at SUNY Health Science Center in Syracuse, and graduated cum laude with a Bachelor of Science degree from Cornell University in Ithaca.

Lapinsky is board certified in orthopedic surgery by the American Board of Orthopaedic Surgery.

He is a member of the North American Spine Society, the Pediatric Orthopaedic Society of North America and a fellow of the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons.

Lapinsky served as a general medical officer in the U.S. Navy and a lieutenant colonel in the U.S. Army Reserves.

He earned an Army commendation medal for his service in Operation Enduring Freedom in Afghanistan in 2010.

Heather Gaetano has been hired as development associate for The Arc, Oneida-Lewis Chapter, NYSARC. Gaetano is a lifelong resident of Utica. She attended Utica College, earning a bachelor’s degree in psychology.

She began working for Upstate Cerebral Palsy in the children’s residential program as a Gaetano residence counselor.

She earned a master’s degree in special education K-12, focusing studies on autism and emotional disorders.

Gaetano was a teacher in the Tradewinds Education Program for almost 14 years before pursuing another master’s degree in education administration. She then became education director with the Tradewinds program.

Gaetano is a member of Kindred Spirits Greyhound Rescue. She works to educate the public about Greyhound racing and works to rescue retired Greyhounds and find them homes.

Gaetano has a daughter, Olivia.

For more information about The Arc, visit www.thearcolc.org or call 315-272-1532.

Staffer honored for 25 years of service with SDMG Slocum-Dickson Medical Group in New Hartrford recently recognized Donna Tofolo for her 25 years of service to the group.

A celebratory breakfast for all employees was held in honor of Tofolo.

She began her career with SDMG in 1989 as a patient service represenTofolo tative under the guidance of the business office where she continued until 1996 when she was transferred to the pediatric department as a receptionist.

In 2001, she became a medical assistant within the clinical department. In 2008, she was assigned to Jerry Sloan’s medical office where she continues to be an essential part of the office.

IN GOOD HEALTH – Mohawk Valley’s Healthcare Newspaper • February 2015

Arc features new compliance officer Jennifer Hatch was recently promoted to corporate compliance/HIPAA privacy officer at The Arc, Oneida-Lewis Chapter.

Hatch is a resident of Durhamville and graduated from Cazenovia College with a bachelor’s degree in human services.

She began her career at The Arc in 2006 when she was hired as a program manager in residential services. She left for a brief time to work at Liberty Resources in Syracuse before returning to The Arc in early Hatch 2012.

In January 2013, Hatch joined the corporate compliance office, becoming the quality assurance manager. In July of 2013, she was promoted to agency investigator.

In her new role, Hatch will oversee the corporate compliance office and help ensure the agency meets all compliance standards.

When she’s not working, Hatch and her husband are advocates for orphan care and adoption. They’re pursuing adopting a child of their own.

The Arc, Oneida-Lewis Chapter, NYSARC is a nonprofit human services agency accredited by the Council on Quality and Leadership International that provides advocacy and services

Continued on Page 17

H ealth News Continued from Page 16 for people with intellectual and developmental disabilities in Oneida and Lewis counties.

For more information about The Arc, visit www.thearcolc.org or call 315-272-1532.

LFH nurse receives certification Kim Whiteman has received her certified emergency nurse certification at Little Falls Hospital.

The CEN certification is specific to emergency nursing and measures the attainment of a defined body of nursing knowledge pertinent to that specialty.

The CEN exam is based on emergency nursing practice in the United States.

LFH nurse achieves certification Nicole Ellis, a registered nurse at Little Falls Hospital, has achieved the American Nurses Credentialing Center’s medical-surgical nursing board certification.

This certification eligibility requires an active RN licensure, at least two years of full-time practice as a registered nurse, and proof of at least 30 hours of continuing education units in medical-surgical nursing.

Ellis The eligible candidate must successfully pass a certification test. The test provides an assessment of clinical and knowledge and skills of a registered nurse in the medical-surgical specialty.

Little Falls Hospital recognizes employees Little Falls Hospital recently recognized three employees who have earned Lean Six Sigma Green Belt certifications.

Loretta Mosher, Stephanie Dyer and Julie Bush all passed the final exam associated with Binghamton University’s Healthcare Lean Six Sigma Green Belt training.

Six Sigma training includes 40plus hours of direct-instructor training followed by a successfully executed certification project.

LSSGB teaches a rigorous application of practical, proven quality management principles that provide the tools, techniques, resources, culture, and business focus needed to maximize customer value.

LFH staffer receives case manager certification Heather Dora, medical social worker and supervisor of case management at Little Falls Hospital, recently obtained certification as an accredited

case manager.

The American Case Management Association created the ACM certification specifically for hospital case management professionals.

To obtain ACM certification, Dora passed a comprehensive examinaDora tion that tested core case management knowledge as well as the ability to use this knowledge in practical settings.

Middle school students exhibit artwork Seventeen works of art by students in Donnalyn Shuster’s Art 7 classes will represent Frankfort-Schuyler Middle School as the featured school through February on the inpatient unit at Little Falls Hospital.

LFH has instituted an open gallery for Herkimer County schools on the inpatient unit to exhibit student artwork on a rotating basis.

This affords patients, staff and students the opportunity to bring artwork to the community and focus on the therapeutic efforts from these original pieces.

Works by students include both colored pencil and metal embossings inspired by Vincent Van Gogh and his sunflower series done in the 1880s.

Participating students include Cassidy Maneen, MaKenzie Williams, Brandon Miles, Brandon Adams, Maddison Winters, Joey Casamento, David Silchuk, Mike Ricci and Abby Perotta.

Oneida Healthcare Center’s birthing center recognized

O

neida Healthcare Center has been recognized by the Immunization Action Coalition and the Madison County Health Department for achieving one of the highest reported rates in the state for its work to protect newborns from hepatitis B virus infection.

OHC is the newest entry into IAC’s birth dose honor roll, which recognizes hospitals and birthing centers that have attained high coverage levels for administering the hepatitis B vaccine at birth.

OHC immunized 96 percent of babies in 2013 and took additional steps to prevent perinatal transmission of hepatitis B. The other 4 percent was due to parental choice not to have their babies immunized.

The national standard of care to prevent hepatitis B virus infection in babies is to administer hepatitis B vaccine to all newborns before they leave

the hospital or birthing center. This standard is being adopted by centers of healthcare excellence nationwide as a safety net to protect newborns from a wide range of medical errors that lead to babies being unprotected from perinatal hepatitis B infection.

Oneida Healthcare also received a certificate from the New York State Department of Health regarding its initiative to reduce the number of scheduled deliveries at earlier than 39 weeks gestation.

“The DOH certificate was for the last six months of 2013, but adding in the information, so far, from 2014, we are actually well over a year without any scheduled deliveries sooner than 39 weeks [without an approved reason for doing so]. I’m really proud of our team’s commitment to both of these initiatives,” said Cheryl Tibbitts, the hospital’s obstetrics nurse manager.

VHS announces staff appointments Bethany Williams has been named chief financial officer and Amanda Hein has been promoted to director of rehabilitation services at Valley Health Services in Herkimer.

Williams served as vice president of finance/assistant controller at Upstate Cerebral Palsy and joins VHS with a depth of experience in nonprofit and Medicaid management.

Williams gradWilliams uated from Utica College of Syracuse University summa cum laude with a Bachelor of Science degree in accounting and was a member of the Leadership Mohawk Valley Class of 2013.

In her new position as CFO, Williams will oversee the financial health and welfare of the organization.

She resides in Hein Barneveld with her

Oneida Healthcare Center is the newest entry into Immunization Action Coalition’s birth dose honor roll, which recognizes hospitals and birthing centers that have attained high coverage levels for administering the hepatitis B vaccine at birth. husband, Jeremy, and two children, Dylan and Brooklyn.

Hein has been an employee at VHS since 2010, most recently serving as inpatient rehab coordinator.

Prior to joining VHS, Hein had lengthy experience in the field of physical therapy in the skilled nursing facility setting.

In her new role, she will be responsible to plan, develop and oversee all rehab services to ensure the highest degree of quality care.

Hein graduated from Ilion High

February 2015 •

School and received her Bachelor of Clinical Science degree and her master’s degree in physical therapy from Ithaca College.

She resides in East Herkimer with her husband, Barry, and son, Brayden.

Advertise in Mohawk Valley In Good Health

IN GOOD HEALTH – Mohawk Valley’s Healthcare Newspaper

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Page 17

CALENDAR of

HEALTH EVENTS

Got a health-related activity or event that you would like publicized? Call Lou Sorendo at 315-749-7070 or email lou@cnymail.com.

Continued from Page 2 For more information, contact Judy at 315-735-6210, judy@thegoodnewscenter.org or visit www.thegoodnewscenter.org.

Feb. 8

Ready to explore The Third Option?

The Third Option support group for married couples will meet from 6:30-8:30 p.m. Feb. 8 at The Good News Center, 10475 Cosby Manor Road, Utica.

The group meets every other Sunday.

For more information, contact Tanya at 315-735-6210, tanya@thegoodnewscenter.org or visit www.thegoodnewscenter.org.

Feb. 11

Hospital to host breastfeeding class Rome Memorial Hospital is hosting

a free breastfeeding class at 7 p.m. Feb. 11 in the hospital’s classroom to help mothers-to-be recognize the benefits of breastfeeding and give them the encouragement to overcome some of the obstacles.

The speaker, Sandy Graichen, is a maternity nurse at the hospital with children of her own.

She has many years of experience helping new moms learn how to breastfeed.

No pre-registration is required.

Refreshments will be served.

Participants are asked to meet the instructor in the hospital lobby off the North James Street entrance.

For more information, call 3387143.

Feb. 12

Prayer group to assemble The Rest in God Prayer Group meets from 6-8 p.m. on the second and fourth Thursdays of the month at The Good News Center, 10475 Cosby Manor Road, Utica.

The next meeting is on Feb. 12.

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For more information, contact Diana at 831-5946 or email her at lovericd@gmail.com.

To register, call Tanya at 735-6210 or visit TheGoodNewsCenter.org.

Feb. 13

Call out for children’s poetry contest Abraham House has a call out to all children aged 5–12 to create a poem about meatballs.

Six winners will be chosen to participate in the kid judges’ panel for March Meatball Madness on from noon to 3 p.m. March 1 to determine which local restaurant has the best meatball recipe.

March Meatball Madness will be held at The Hotel Utica located at 102 Lafayette St., Utica.

The poem about meatballs must be no longer than eight lines. The six winners will receive four complimentary tickets to March Meatball Madness and a Meatball Madness trophy.

Children must email their poem to info@theabrahamhouse.org or mail or drop off their poems by Feb. 13 to Abraham House, 1203 Kemble St., Utica.

On the back of their poem, the children need to include their name, school, telephone number and age.

Winners will be notified by phone.

For further information, contact the Abraham House at 733-8210.

Abraham House’s mission is to provide a secure and loving home without charge to the terminally ill.

Feb. 18

‘40 Days for Life’ to be observed “40 Days For Life” will be observed from Feb. 18 to March 29.

The event features 40 days of prayer and fasting for an end to abortion.

Those interested are also invited to stand and peacefully pray during a 40-day vigil in the public right-of-way on Francis Street outside Utica Planned Parenthood and also to help spread the word about this community outreach effort.

For more information or to volunteer, contact Emilie Huxley at 219-1096 or visit 40daysforlife.com/Utica.

Feb. 20

Call out for meatball-eating contestants Abraham House has a call out to anyone 18 years and older who would like to participate in Abraham House’s meatball-eating contest during March Meatball Madness.

The sixth annual March Meatball Madness will be held from noon to 3 p.m. March 1 at The Hotel Utica, 102 Lafayette St. The winner who can eat the most meatballs in two minutes will receive $100 and a winner’s trophy along with bragging rights.

Applications are available at Abraham House or request an application by email at info@theabrahamhouse.org or download an application from www. theabrahamhouse.org.

The deadline for applications is Feb. 20.

For further information, contact the Abraham House at 733-8210.

Abraham House’s mission is to provide a secure and loving home without charge to the terminally ill.

IN GOOD HEALTH – Mohawk Valley’s Healthcare Newspaper • February 2015

Feb. 20

Women’s retreat at Good News Center “Thy Kingdom Come — A Women’s Retreat” presented by Margaret Castellini will take place from 5:30 p.m.

Feb. 27 to 3 p.m. Feb. 28 at The Good News Center, 10475 Cosby Manor Road, Utica.

The cost of $75 includes the program, semi-private lodging and all meals. Registration is accepted through February 20.

To register, contact Tanya at 315735-6210, tanya@thegoodnewscenter. org or visit online at www.thegoodnewscenter.org.

Feb. 24

Women at the Well to gather Women at the Well will meet from 6:30–8 p.m. Feb. 24 at The Good News Center, 10475 Cosby Manor Road, Utica.

The faith-based group meets on the last Tuesday of each month. Drop-ins are welcome.

For more information, contact Tanya at 315-735-6210, tanya@TheGoodNewsCenter.org or visit www. thegoodnewscenter.org.

Feb. 25

Bible study program scheduled “Bible Study: Walking Toward Eternity — Daring to Walk the Walk,” an eight-part Bible study, will be held from 10 a.m. to noon or 6-8 p.m. Feb. 25 to April 15 at The Good News Center, 10475 Cosby Manor Road, Utica.

The cost is $20 per person.

To register, contact Tanya at 315-735-6210, email tanya@thegoodnewscenter.org or visit www.thegoodnewscenter.org.

March 1

Are you ready for March Meatball Madness?

Abraham House’s sixth annual March Meatball Madness will be held at The Hotel Utica, 102 Lafayette St., Utica from noon to 3 p.m. March 1.

Area restaurants will compete for the public’s vote for who has the best meatballs in the Mohawk Valley.

New this year, restaurants can make any kind of meatball with or without sauce and new trophies will be given out to best ethnic and most original recipes.

Included will be a celebrity and a children’s judging panel and a meatball-eating contest.

Adult tickets are $10; children 6-12 are $5 and children 5 and under are free.

Seniors 65 and over get half-price admission for $5 and there will be free admission for anybody with presentation of a military ID. Tickets are available at the door or at Abraham House, 1203 Kemble St., Utica.

For further information, contact the Abraham House at 733-8210 or email at info@theabrahamhouse.org.

The Abraham House’s mission is to provide a secure and loving home without charge to the terminally ill.

Spotlight on Nonprofits

Compassionate Friends of the Mohawk Valley Grieving parents can find comfort in Compassionate Friends

By Mary Christopher

Compassionate approach

I

t’s a club no one wants to be a part of but is so needed for the support it provides to the most hurting of families.

Compassionate Friends of the Mohawk Valley established a local chapter after several grieving parents agreed there wasn’t enough offered to specifically help parents who lost a child.

Unfortunately, the number of people in the Mohawk Valley who need their support has grown every year.

Listening, sharing stories and remembering their children who passed away are key when aiding those grieving.

“Many people think there is a playbook for grief, but it does not work like that,” said David Roberts, chapter Roberts leader. “We help them through their grief and not to ‘get over it.’ Our families have a safe place to go.”

Roberts’ life was forever changed on March 1, 2003 when his daughter, Janine, died at age 18 from a rare form of cancer in the connective muscle tissue.

“I’m not the same person that I was, but I have found my peace through helping others,” he said.

C

ompassionate Friends of the Mohawk Valley meeting schedule: • Parent support group meeting (for parents, grandparents or adult siblings) held from 7-8:30 p.m. the second Tuesday of each month at the Stittville United Methodist Church, 9066 Main St., Stittville • Sibling support group meeting (for siblings 14 years or older) from 6-7:30 p.m. at the Delta Lake Bible Conference Center, 8912 Turin Road, Rome For information, visit www. tcfmohawkvalley.org or call 315-7368684

What is Compassionate Friends?

Compassionate Friends of the Mohawk Valley is a self-help, mutual assistance organization that offers friendship, understanding and hope to bereaved parents and their families.

It is one of 650 Compassionate Friends organizations in the United States and operates primarily from local donations with a few fundraisers held throughout the year.

Money raised helps pay for the cost of literature and pamphlets to spread awareness and provide beneficial information. The steering committee that facilitates meetings and organizes events is all done on a voluntary basis and each member of the committee has also lost a child.

Since the local chapter formed in 2010, it has served about 80 families in the Mohawk Valley, Roberts said.

When a child dies at any age, the family suffers intense pain and may feel hopeless and isolated. Compassionate Friends provides comfort, hope and support to every family member experiencing the death of a son or daughter, brother or sister or grandchild.

Two different meetings are held per month, one for parents and another for siblings. Families can come and share their stories and feelings or sit and listen, Roberts said.

Compassionate Friends of the Mohawk Valley hosts a candlelight remembrance ceremony every December for parents and families who lost a child. Throughout the year the organization facilitates support groups and other activities for grieving families.

A lending library of grief-related books is available to anyone wishing to borrow between meetings. The steering committee also speaks on behalf of the organization to other local agencies interested in learning how to be more supportive to families that have experienced the death of a child.

Every year, a candlelight remembrance ceremony is held on the second Sunday of December in observance of a worldwide candle lighting that honors all children who died. About 130 people came to last December’s ceremony.

“Grieving parents are still parents and want to hear their children’s names,” said Audrey White, sibling group coordinator.

Coping with unbearable pain

Those who attend the regular meetings are in different phases of grief

and the stories shared by other parents who have experienced the same kind of loss helps everyone cope through the different phases.

“Everyone is in a different part of their journey and we can help along the way,” White said. Her daughter Jennie died suddenly at age 4 on Christmas night 35 years ago.

“You don’t get over it, you don’t get under it, you learn how to manage it,” she said. “Thirty-five years later I still have very bad days but they are fewer and far between.”

Grief is experienced in different forms and in different waves. Those who have had a child die often immediately feel shock, numbness, denial and disbelief, all of which act as a cushion against the full impact of the loss.

As time passes, these emotions

February 2015 •

wear off and others emerge and can include guilt, anger, despair, loneliness, sadness and regret.

Some express their grief easily and openly, while others keep their feelings locked inside.

Some stigmas might be related to certain causes of death. Suicide and death by a drug overdose may cause families to feel even more isolated than they already are, Roberts said. Compassionate Friends remains steadfast on focusing on the loss of a child regardless of the cause of death White and age of death.

Members respect the rights and privacy of parents and families and let them take their own path in their journey through grief.

Facing the future

The pain that is endured by families after losing a child can make looking at the future unbearable and overwhelming. Knowing there are people to turn to who can provide solace and comfort is crucial to the bereaved, White said.

She also hopes to further expand the group’s community outreach by continuing to work with students in local high schools who are affected by a sibling’s death.

Roberts and White have both found inspiration and healing working with families who have experienced similar pain.

“We are all parents who are on the same road,” White said. “All of us have the same story, and it’s the story of our kids.”

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IN GOOD HEALTH – Mohawk Valley’s Healthcare Newspaper • February 2015