Mv igh 124 june16final

in good

Meet Your Doctor

June 2016 • Issue 124

Meet OHC’s Krislyn Flint See Page 4

MVhealthnews.com

Is Porn Poison?

free

Mohawk Valley’s Healthcare Newspaper

Compulsive behavior may lead to life-changing consequences

See story, Page 5

Men’s Health Special Edition

Lovin’ veggies Page 11

Watchful eye on vision care Page 6

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Summer is upon us and so is need to stay hydrated. For story, see page 10.

The Nutritious Perks of WholeGrain Pasta SmartBite columnist has ditched regular pasta in favor of wholegrain pasta. See Page 12.

Volunteer vibe Oneida County Office for Aging recognizes the best of the best.

Page 13 June 2016 •

Poor performance in bedroom can be indicator of serious health issues.

Page 7 New health care facility in Ilion Valley Family Health Center makes debut.

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IN GOOD HEALTH – Mohawk Valley’s Healthcare Newspaper

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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 group for OCD sufferers

What if you could choose?

5 Days or 45 Days

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.

Brian’s OCD Support Group meets from 6:30-8 p.m. every Monday except holidays in the Sister Regina Conference Room, first floor, St. Elizabeth Medical Center, 2209 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 p.m. 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

hoacny.com

Check out our digital edition at mvhealthnews.com!

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

Wednesdays/Thursdays

Overeaters Anonymous plans meetings Overeaters Anonymous meets from 5:30-6:30 p.m. every Wednesday in Room 101 (first floor) at Rome

IN GOOD HEALTH – Mohawk Valley’s Healthcare Newspaper • June 2016

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, weighins or diets.

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

June 1

Caregiver support group to assemble The Mohawk Valley Health System is hosting a six-week program with Karlene Lowell, a master’s degree student through the New England School of Social Work, dedicated to helping support caregivers.

The program begins June 1 for six weeks through July 6 at two locations — at the Faxton Campus, 1676 Sunset Ave., Utica: the Weaver Lounge on the first floor from 1:302:30 p.m.; or in the Cancer Center’s TV lounge on the main floor from 6-7 p.m.

The program will help caregivers, family and friends with stress management and coping skills, how to avoid burnout and how to provide self-care.

Light refreshments will be served. For more information or to register, call 315-624-5241 or email Laurie Conover, lconover@ mvhealthsystem.org.

The program is free and open to the public. Registration is required.

June is National Aphasia Month The Mohawk Valley Health System will host a free stroke support group presentation from 6-7:30 p.m. June 1 in the Soggs Room at St. Luke’s Home in the Center for Rehabilitation and Continuing Care Services, 1650 Champlin Ave., Utica.

June is National Aphasia Awareness Month. Aphasia is a language disorder that affects the ability to communicate and is commonly the result of a stroke.

The group will watch a video titled, “Lost Words — Finding Hope for Aphasia Through Technology,” directed by Andrew Gomory. There will be an aphasia simulation to help learn what some people experience with this disability and a discussion of ways to continue home therapy for aphasia.

Faxton St. Luke’s Healthcare is an affiliate of MVHS and is the area’s only designated primary stroke center.

For more information or to RSVP, call 315-624-6365.

Continued on Page 19

COMPREHENSIVE CANCER CARE

DR. PAUL ARIDGIDES, UPSTATE CANCER CENTER RADIATION ONCOLOGIST, AND PATIENT

If you’re facing a diagnosis of cancer, turn to the experts at the Upstate Cancer Center for highly personalized care. Treatment options include the advanced technology found at the region’s only academic medical center.

Our multidisciplinary teams of board certified physicians and oncology certified nurses are here for you.

More information call 855.964.HOPE or visit upstate.edu/cancer

CARING FOR PATIENTS. SEARCHING FOR CURES. SAVING LIVES. June 2016 •

IN GOOD HEALTH – Mohawk Valley’s Healthcare Newspaper

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Page 3

Website highlights DIY tools for challenged

T

wo Olin College professors have launched a website focused on making DIY tools accessible to help people with disabilities perform daily tasks and, along the way, offer a more expansive view of the maker movement.

The site can be found at http://engineeringathome.org/.

Since its launch the site has touched a chord among educators and the adaptive technology community, resulting in more than 7,000 visitors — and many more thousands of page views — in just the first few weeks.

Inspired by Cindy, a Massachusetts woman who lost both of her legs and varying amounts of each of her fingers following a catastrophic heart attack, the site is a resource created by Assistant Professor of Design Sara Hendren and Professor of Anthropology Caitrin Lynch, together with help from Olin College students William Lu, Mary Martin and Toni Saylor.

“We hope Engineering at Home will be a source for teachers and students to get ideas on new ways to think about technology and innovation in relation to disability, and it can also help people with disabilities to feel empowered to solve their own daily challenges,” says Lynch.

In order to perform everyday tasks, Cindy “Macgyvered” workarounds to common problems she encountered every day: opening a jar, selecting medication from a pill bottle, eating a sandwich. There are dozens of adaptations on the site, gathered under action-word headings such as hold, grasp, and squeeze. The just-a-click-away solutions range from adhesive wall hooks to help opening jars, a carabiner handle to carry a purse, to a small soft grip tube that helps Cindy apply make-up. Visitors to Engineering at Home are encouraged to create and adapt their own workarounds as they see fit.

Story idea?

Call 749.7070 today!

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Meet

Your Doctor

By Chris Motola

Krislyn L. Flint, M.D.

An early skeptic of method, chief of OB-GYN at Oneida Healthcare now favors use of daVinci robot in hysterectomy cases Q.: What kinds of patients do you treat?

A.: I treat a lot of women with chronic or irregular heavy bleeding or pelvic pain, and women with endometriosis who haven’t been able to treat their symptoms with more conservative treatment. When those things fail, that’s when we discuss a hysterectomy.

Q.: You perform most of your hysterectomies with the daVinci robot now, correct?

A.: In my training at SUNY Upstate Medical University in Syracuse, on my first day, I was working with a gynecologist-oncologist doing an open hysterectomy with an extensive incision. I think I’ve had one open surgery recently that had to be converted from a laparoscopic procedure due to the patient’s anatomy, but for the most part we can do their surgeries with a tiny incision and send them home the next day.

When they come back in two weeks to see me, they usually don’t even feel like they had surgery. It’s a big difference.

The robot lets us see their internal anatomy in three dimensions and perform very delicate, intricate dissection to avoid injuries. I was a little reluctant at first, because these are major surgeries, but I love it.

Q.: How big a difference are we talking about in terms of outcomes?

A.: With the incision, it would be about 10 centimeters. We call it the bikini cut, because the scar hopefully won’t be visible with a bikini. With a large incision, there’s a high risk of infection, more blood loss and more days in the hospital.

Q.: Hysterectomies are a fairly extreme procedure. What has to have happened for it to be considered the best course?

A.: I go through the same process pretty much with everyone. I try to control bleeding and pain with hormones, intra-uterine devices and endometrial ablation. So we try the more conservative measures first.

When those options don’t work, or we can’t use them effectively without harming the patient’s quality of life, we’ll look at a hysterectomy.

Q.: What percentage of women ultimately needs hysterectomies?

A.: That’s a good question. It’s one of the most common gynecological procedures, so the numbers are high. I would say about 30 percent.

It’s less than it used to be. The push for being conservative has worked, whether or not that turns out to be a good thing. A good goal is going through menopause without having

a major surgery.

Q.: What other procedures can you use the robot for?

A.: I’ve used it on younger women who suffer from chronic pelvic pain or endometriosis. That will be considered a minimally invasive procedure, even though no structures are necessarily removed.

Q.: Do you also do obstetrics?

A.: I deliver babies, too.

Q.: What percentage of your practice would you say obstetrics is?

A.: I’d say about 30 percent. It’s about 70 percent GYN. We’re trying to grow our OB practice. We’ve opened up an office in Rome. We’ve hired more mid-level personnel. It’s a work in progress.

Q.: Oneida is one of the region’s smaller hospitals. What are some of the challenges and responsibilities of serving a smaller, more remote

IN GOOD HEALTH – Mohawk Valley’s Healthcare Newspaper • June 2016

populace?

A.: We’re a small community hospital and a level 1 nursery. We do have high-risk patients. We try not to deliver under 35 weeks. I trained in Syracuse, but I’m from here. It took me a good two to three years to really adjust to moving here. I was always surrounded by multiple sub-specialties in Syracuse. There isn’t necessarily someone right down the hall here to call during an emergency. It took awhile to build up my confidence.

Q.: Do you have to have more of primary care philosophy than you might in a larger hospital?

A.: We do have a lot of primary care, as well as specialties like orthopedics and otolaryngologists.

We don’t have the GYN-oncologists or 24/7 anesthesia in house. It’s a different way of doing things. We have good outcomes. I’m glad that I did move here. It’s been a great experience.

Q.: To what degree does technology like daVinci help close the gap between larger and smaller hospitals?

A.: It helps. We don’t have residents or a lot of mid-level support. If I need an assistant on an open case, I’m taking one of three doctors out of our office to be an assistant. That in and of itself is a huge impact. It also lets us do more complicated cases we would otherwise refer out.

Despite what you might expect, you can actually see more with the robot than you can with an open cut.

Except in extreme cases, I don’t need to refer out anymore.

So we’re doing more with less manpower. It was a big step for the hospital to take, but it was worth it.

I was apprehensive about the training at first, but I called one of my colleagues for advice and he told me this technology is not going away. So I got the bug.

Lifelines Position: Chief of OB-GYN at Oneida Healthcare Hometown: Oneida Education: Ross University; SUNY Oswego (undergrad) Affiliations: American Medical Association, American College of Obstetrics and Gynecology Family: Married, one daughter, one son Hobbies: Gardening, running

Men’sHealth Pitfalls of Porn

Short-term pleasure can cause long-term damage

By Barbara Pierce

P

ornography is great for the psychotherapy business.

“In the last three years, I’ve seen a huge uptick in the number of clients coming to see me because of porn,” said Daniel Silverman, a licensed clinical social worker in Rome. “That’s not a good thing.”

Silverman provides counseling and therapy services for couples and families.

“Porn has tremendous negative effects. I’ve seen many divorces because of it,” he said.

“Porn doesn’t cause problems for every man, but it is a common problem,” said Silverman. “So many educated men don’t realize how porn abuse has so many negative effects — not just on their relationships with a partner, but on their work, their friendships, their kids.”

It is more prevalent these days as everything is so easily accessible: A few keystrokes and you’re there.

Kids are being exposed at an early age, explained Silverman.

For one, it’s an addiction, says Silverman. It’s an addiction just like an addiction to drugs.

For those addicted to porn, arousal declines with the same mate.

Porn trains the viewer to expect constant newness. You get desensitized to it, so you need “more” and “different” to get the same effect.

Novelty is always just a click away. Sex can get boring if it’s the same thing again and again. So porn makers produce increasingly novel images, in which women are pushed to do more, or are physically or verbally abused, or made to gasp, or cry.

Noah Church, a 26-year-old firefighter in Portland, Ore., discovered porn at age 9.

“I could find anything I imagined, and a lot of stuff I couldn’t imagine,” he told Time Magazine and online. “I had so thoroughly conditioned my sexuality for porn that I couldn’t achieve or maintain an erection for real sex when the oppor-

Oneida, Herkimer in good

Higher doses needed

When the brain gets re-wired, it takes a higher arousal threshold in order to get an erection, up to a point where such a state of arousal becomes impossible. Unfortunately, there is not enough research yet to determine the minimum amount of porn exposure that causes dysfunction.

Another major problem with porn: “It’s unrealistic,” says Silverman. “So many men think their girlfriend or wife will behave like they

and

Health MV’s Healthcare Newspaper

tunity came along.”

Twenty-eight-year-old Gabe Deem told Time Magazine: “I got with a gorgeous girl and we went to have sex, and my body had no reaction at all. I got freaked because I was super attracted to the girl.”

Adds Church: “I was always hungry for more — more sites, more variety, more extreme content — but no matter how deep I delved, it never made me happy. I was so desensitized that real sex was awkward, unexciting, and disappointing.

“Compulsive porn use warped my sexuality, my emotionality, my priorities, and my ability to form healthy relationships.”

Madison

counties

A monthly newspaper published

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. © 2016 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, Deb Dittner Advertising: Donna Kimbrell Layout & Design: Eric J. Stevens 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.

see on the screen. She doesn’t, and then they get frustrated and angry with her, and try to manipulate her.”

Some experts say if both parties in a relationship view porn — and if they agree about how to use it — porn can sometimes enhance a relationship. Watching it as a couple can help people learn each other’s sexual languages, and help them if they are inexperienced.

But porn does traumatize many couples. Words like “betrayal, “cheated on” and “trust” come up a lot in therapy.

Partners who discover the other one watches porn can feel so traumatized that some of them exhibit symptoms similar to those of people suffering from post-traumatic stress disorder. They realize this person they trusted isn’t the person they thought he was; they feel betrayed.

She may think: “What other secrets do you have that I don’t know about?”

“Education is the answer,” recommends Silverman. “As it is an addiction — the same as an addiction to drugs, gambling, or alcohol — this is how I treat it.”

“I had to teach myself to only expect sexual pleasure when I was with a partner,” said Church. “This meant avoiding getting aroused by any false stimuli, even those that wouldn’t qualify as “porn” per se, such as lower level stimulating material, like provocative movies and unhealthy Facebook browsing.”

“I recommend the same to other recovering addicts who want to recover as quickly as possible without relapsing,” said Church, who has written about his experiences in “Wack: Addicted to Internet Porn.”

To recover, you must avoid not only overtly pornographic material but include much lower-level stimulating material.

“Parents should be especially vigilant,” urges Silverman. “I’m a parent. We need to be vigilant in terms of what our kids do as this addiction starts in childhood and works its way up very quickly. Parents have to be careful.”

Silverman can be reached at 315-292-6367, or visit website: www. silvermanlcswr.com.

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IN GOOD HEALTH – Mohawk Valley’s Healthcare Newspaper

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Page 5

Men’sHealth Between You and Me

Power Posing Change people’s perceptions by how you present yourself

Y

ou and I meet for the first time.

We introduce ourselves, maybe shake hands and mutter, “Nice to meet you.”

But, before you have even said, “Nice to meet you,” you have already decided whether or not you like me; you’ve filtered me through your brain and made a decision about me.

In less than seven seconds, about the time it took you to read that first paragraph, you’ve Pierce formed an opinion of whether you want to get to know me better or not.

You made that decision in a flash — by the way I looked, the way I carried my body, the mood I projected, the tone of my voice. Those qualities — all non-verbal — contributed to your flash judgment of me.

We make sweeping judgments and inferences from body language.

Those judgments can predict really important things like who we hire or promote, who we ask out on a date, and who we vote for. Judgments of political candidates’ faces in just one second predict 70 percent of U.S. Senate and gubernatorial race outcomes.

Experts say the words we say count only 10 percent toward how we judge another person. I could say the dumbest, meaningless things with an open posture, a big warm smile, and an upbeat mood and you’ll almost certainly like me.

You probably already know this: Your nonverbal body language is what governs how others judge you — in just seconds.

But you probably do not know this: Your body language, all your non-verbals, affects how you see yourself. Your non-verbals govern how you think and feel about yourself.

There is evidence that “power posing” — standing in a posture of confidence, even when you don’t feel confident — can affect testosterone and cortisol levels in the brain, and might even have an impact on your chances for success.

In an informative “Ted Talk” video, social psychologist Amy Cuddy explains how your body posture actually changes your mindset and the way you perceive yourself. Her research has shown that adopting the body language associated with dominance for just 120 seconds is enough to create a 20 percent increase in testosterone (the “dominance” horPage 6

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Have the vision to protect eyes Take the initiative to protect your peepers

T mone, associated with a positive self image and assertive behavior) and a 25 percent decrease in the stress hormone cortisol. In other words, adopting these postures changes the chemistry in your brain to make you feel more powerful.

Be the lion

In the animal kingdom, it’s about opening up, making yourself big, stretching out, taking up space. This is true across the animal kingdom.

It’s not just limited to primates. Humans do the same thing.

When we are feeling powerless, both animals and humans do the same thing. We wrap ourselves up.

We make ourselves small and we don’t want to bump into a person next to us. Both animals and humans do the same thing. Think about a dog cowering submissively before an alpha dog. We do similar things.

“Change your body language and change your life,” says Cuddy.

“If you learn to tweak your body language a little bit, it could significantly change the way your life unfolds.”

Try this, suggests Cuddy: For two minutes, “power pose,” with your arms or elbows out, your chin lifted, and your posture expansive.

Your cortisol levels will plunge and testosterone levels will rise. Your subconscious feelings of power will correlate with those levels.

Then sit in a submissive way for two minutes, and inexplicably, you don’t feel as assertive. But change the pose to a powerful stance and a couple minutes later with no prompting, you feel like you’re in charge — as-

sertive and comfortable with making high-power decisions, even when they’re a gamble.

Power posing for a few minutes can actually change your life in a meaningful way, Cuddy says.

From speaking engagements to job interviews to your performance on the job and many other situations, you can change how others perceive you, and ultimately change your life by purposely adopting a new body language.

Tiny tweaks can lead to big changes. Before you go into the next stressful situation, for two minutes, try doing this: In the elevator, in a bathroom stall, or at your desk behind closed doors. Get into the power pose: Open up; stretch and expand your body to take up as much space as possible, raise your arms up, lift up your chin.

“Fake it ‘till you make it,” Cuddy advises, but don’t stop there: fake it until you become it — powerful, confident and proud to be you.

For more information, visit https://www.ted.com/talks/ amy_cuddy_your_body_language_ shapes_who_you_are?

• 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?” or if you have any concerns you would like her to address, contact her at BarbaraPierce06@yahoo.com.

IN GOOD HEALTH – Mohawk Valley’s Healthcare Newspaper • June 2016

he National Eye Institute reminds you to make your eye health a priority and encourages you to take five important steps to protect your sight.

• Get a dilated eye exam. Getting a comprehensive dilated eye exam is the only way to know if your eyes are healthy and you are seeing your best. Talk to your eye care professional about how often you should have one.

• Live a healthy lifestyle. Eating healthy foods, maintaining a healthy weight, managing chronic conditions and not smoking can lower your risk of eye disease.

• Know your family history. Talk to your family members about their eye health history. It’s important to know if anyone has been diagnosed with an eye disease, since many are hereditary. This will help to determine if you are at higher risk for developing an eye disease yourself.

• Use protective eyewear. Protect your eyes when doing chores around the house, playing sports, or on the job to prevent eye injuries. This includes wearing safety glasses, goggles, safety shields and eye guards that are made of polycarbonate.

Talk to your eye care provider about the appropriate type of protective eyewear for your sport or job.

Make a habit of wearing the appropriate type at all times and encourage your teammates and coworkers to do the same.

• Wear sunglasses. Wear sunglasses outside to protect your eyes from the sun’s ultraviolet rays. When purchasing sunglasses, look for ones that block out 99 to 100 percent of both UVA and UVB radiation, so you can keep your eyes healthy.

Prolonged exposure to sunlight can increase your risk for getting an eye disease like cataracts or age-related macular degeneration.

These steps can help you keep your eyes healthy and prevent vision loss and blindness from eye disease.

For more information, visit www. nei.nih.gov/healthyeyes.

Men’sHealth Bedroom as Barometer

Lack of performance in intimate situations could be sign of health problems

By Barbara Pierce

Y

our chances of suffering a heart attack or a stroke during sex are rare, said Laxmi Mehta, a cardiologist at Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center.

So rare they are negligible.

You’re more likely to drop dead after drinking a cup of coffee than you are from goings-on between the sheets, according to a report done recently in Belgium. In less than 1 percent of heart attacks is sexual activity a contributing factor.

Although heart attacks during sex are rare, Mehta cauMehta tions that the bedroom is often the first place couples may detect early symptoms of heart disease.

Persons of any age may experience these warning signs, though many are linked to aging.

“People need to pay heed if they start noticing issues in the bedroom — things like erectile dysfunction or hot flashes,” advises Mehta. “These are signs to look at, things that may signal an underlying problem.”

They could be nothing or they could be a clue of something serious.

Early detection is crucial, said Mehta.

Heart disease is the leading cause of death in the United States.

— Chest pain during intercourse: For many patients, the first time they have chest pain is during intercourse, Mehta says.

It’s not from really great sex.

The reason is really un-sexy, actually. This type of pain is “exertional” chest pain — pain caused by physical activity stemming from plaque buildup.

If you’re inactive, odds are you won’t discover this type of chest pain until you’re in the midst of doing the deed. If you’re inactive, this form of chest pain often does not happen until intercourse.

If sex is the only type of physical activity you do, chest pain can be serious as it can mean a significant blockage of heart arteries.

— Hot flashes: Menopausal women who have lots of hot flashes could face a higher risk for early stage heart disease, Mehta says.

A recent study compared the frequency of hot flashes with the thickness of the inner layers of the carotid

arteries. The thickness of those layers is a sign of early heart disease.

Women who had up to 12 hot flashes per day had thicker carotid artery layers than women with four or less per day. Those with less-frequent hot flashes were not considered at risk.

News flash: Be careful!

Women who have frequent hot flashes should be regularly screened for heart disease risk factors.

Mehta said women who began experiencing hot flashes at an earlier age or go through menopause rapidly have an increased risk for heart disease.

— Erectile dysfunction: There is a strong link between ED and heart disease. The two conditions share many of the same symptoms. If a young, healthy man has ED, Mehta recommends he be screened for heart disease.

“Men don’t like to talk about erectile dysfunction,” added Mehta.

“But there is a correlation between early ED and heart disease. Up to 40 percent of ED cases originate from vascular disturbances (poor blood circulation to and within the penis).

The two conditions share many of the same symptoms.

So, if you have ED, talk to your doctor so he can further investigate.

— Snoring: Snoring may seem harmless (though incredibly irritating to your partner), but can be a warning sign for heart issues in both men and women.

Mehta says if snoring causes lapses in breathing, it could be a sign of sleep apnea, a condition that

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prevents restful sleep and is linked to high blood pressure, arrhythmia, stroke and heart failure.

“People don’t like to talk about snoring,” added Mehta. “It’s embar-

rassing to be told you snore.”

But sleep apnea has so many very serious adverse effects — high blood pressure, stroke, irregular heartbeats, heart failure and heart attacks. It is also linked to diabetes, depression, headaches, and worsening of attention deficit/hyperactivity disorder and should not be left untreated.

— Heart palpitations while resting: If you notice your heart beating faster than normal or skipping and stopping a beat while at rest, you may be at risk for heart disease. Most people experience palpitations at one time or another, but Mehta says if your palpitations feel different or you notice frequent extra beats while resting you should see your doctor.

It’s not uncommon to feel a skipped beat, she added. This could be nothing, or it could be sign of abnormal heart functioning. Be concerned if it doesn’t stop after a few minutes.

If you notice any of these warning signs, discuss them with your health care professional. Early detection is crucial.

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June 2016 •

IN GOOD HEALTH – Mohawk Valley’s Healthcare Newspaper

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Page 7

Enhancing access to healthcare New nonprofit health care center opens in Ilion

By Patricia J. Malin

V

alley Family Health Center, a nonprofit healthcare center owned and operated by the Regional Primary Care Network, is open at 55 Central Plaza in the Ilion Mall in downtown Ilion.

Valley Family Health is a federally funded facility that will provide primary health care services and urgent care to Herkimer County residents, including adults with low incomes, Medicaid and Medicare recipients and individuals who lack health insurance. The services include screenings, pregnancy tests, immunizations and vaccinations. Fees will Markwardt be assessed on a sliding scale and determined by family income.

George Markwardt, a certified nurse practitioner and Herkimer County native, was named clinical administrator. In addition, he will work as a nurse practitioner two days a week and provide primary care services.

The facility has three exam rooms for general primary care, a patient registration area and waiting room, triage center, nurses’ station, an examination table for bariatric patients, an ultrasound machine, laboratory, consultation room and administrative offices. Appointments are available from 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. weekdays and transportation can be arranged.

The emphasis at Valley Family Health is placed on coordinated patient care, chronic disease management and preventive care. “Our goal is to eventually add prenatal, substance abuse, behavioral health and dental services,” Markwardt said.

Markwardt, 47, has an extensive background in nursing, including as a teacher and preceptor of nursing to students at Le Moyne College in Syracuse and Stony Brook University.

He previously was a member of the nursing faculty at SUNY Polytechnic Institute (formerly SUNYIT) in Utica Page 8

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and worked in emergency care at Bassett Healthcare in Little Falls and Herkimer.

He has extensively studied nursing and done research related to the organization and management of community-based services in rural and underrepresented populations to determine the best policy and clinical outcomes, he said.

He has authored numerous policies and patient education booklets and designed and taught undergraduate nursing and health administration courses. He is owner of Collaborative Healthcare Associates LLC, a consulting firm that specializes in helping distressed healthcare organizations Moffett write plans of correction. He is an approved provider of New York state-mandated infection control training for licensed professionals.

Valley Family Health recently added five new staffers: Rhonda White, registered nurse; Patricia McGrath, patient access associate; Catherine Holtz, medical associate; and Jasmina Miljkovic, practice manager. Bonnie Moffett will be available as a full-time certified enrollment counselor and patient navigator.

Moffett, a native of Mohawk, described Valley Family Health Center as a much-needed full-service provider. The county has nearly 65,000 residents spread out over 1,458 square miles in a primarily rural area.

There is only one hospital in the county, in Little Falls, which is operated by Bassett Healthcare.

In her experience as a patient, Moffett said it’s often difficult to get in touch with a doctor or nurse because of demand. “Their offices are full,” she said.

But RPCN’s Valley Family Health can fill a niche. “We can help patients obtain access to additional services, such as mental health, obtain lifeline phone service, Medicaid and health insurance if necessary,” she added.

The health care center was enabled in part by a $900,000 federal grant last year and will create 15 to 20 new jobs when fully operating.

RPCN is based in Rochester and operates a network of 23 federally qualified health care facilities in urban and rural communities in seven counties across Upstate New York. It has been operating the Utica Community Health Care Center on Oneida Street in Utica since 2011. Patients and their families who come to RPCN might be uninsured or home-

IN GOOD HEALTH – Mohawk Valley’s Healthcare Newspaper • June 2016

less. They are often from minority populations — such as Amish or refugees — are migrant or seasonal workers, live in public housing and in communities that are medically underserved.

Both RPCN health centers in Utica and Ilion are in a designated health professional shortage area for medical and dental staff. Planned Parenthood no longer has a facility in Herkimer County, making the Ilion health care center a vital place for prenatal and maternity services.

Men’sHealth Spying on your significant other Is it ever OK to snoop on partner?

By Barbara Pierce

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our partner leaves his or her cell phone or iPad on the table.

You can easily see her texts, emails, and social media pages. She’ll never know you looked. Would you look? Have you ever looked?

If you said yes, you’re definitely not alone.

“I can understand why people would do it,” said Daniel Silverman, a licensed clinical social worker specializing in individual, couples and family therapy, with a private practice in Rome. “But this is a boundary that shouldn’t be broken unless you have a good reason to suspect.”

Spying or snooping is a big boundary in relationships, yet many people end up doing just that to catch what they think may be going on.

“This is a big problem,” said Silverman. “Half of the counseling I do is marriage counseling. Spying is an issue. Someone looks at their partner’s cell phone or iPad and discovers they’re having an affair.”

Nearly twice as many men versus women admit to snooping on a partner’s phone.

“If partners have to snoop on one another, then there’s a problem in the relationship,” said Jeanne online. “A relationship without trust is worthless. Snooping says not only are you insecure, but you also do not have a trusting relationship. This is not the type of relationship I would choose to be a part of.”

Also online, David said if a girlfriend snooped on him, that relationship would end quickly. “Confidence is my aphrodisiac. I don’t like drama in my life. An insecure girlfriend wouldn’t make the cut,” he said.

The stakes of snooping can be huge. Nearly a third of people surveyed said they would consider ending the relationship if they learned

their partner had been looking over their texts, emails and Facebook messages without their consent.

Trust is essential in any relationship. Snooping is a betrayal of trust.

If you feel the urge to snoop, you should ask yourself whether you want the relationship to last. If you do, breaking trust by snooping adds negative baggage to the relationship.

Communicate instead

When you snoop through someone’s stuff, you’ll almost certainly find something you don’t like and you’ll never be able to look at your partner in the same way again.

You’re looking for trouble. You’re only going to hurt yourself.

It’s easy for things online to get blown out of proportion and taken out of context. If you have doubts about your partner, you need to talk with them about it.

Communication is always better than spying, unless you’ve already decided to break it off. In that case, just rip off the Band-aid and tell them that you aren’t happy and you both should move on.

Most of all, snooping on your partner probably means you’re with the wrong person. Anyone who drives you so crazy that you feel like you need to spy on them is probably not right for you. Or you’re not right for them. Or something.

Sometimes, there are situations that make it OK to snoop, said Silverman.

If your gut is telling you that something is wrong and you’ve talked about it, and are not satisfied with the answer, it might be OK to investigate some more.

For example, people have learned that their partner abused drugs or was a sex addict or involved in illegal activities. By spying, they were able to get out of a bad situation.

If you’re tempted to snoop, here

Sodexo Senior Living supports pantry

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hrough Sodexo’s stop hunger efforts and in partnership with Sodexo at Presbyterian Homes, Cindy Caggiano, general manager of Sodexo Senior Living at LutheranCare, was able to present a check for $660 to Country Pantry volunteer Jeanne Roback recently.

The check represents donations from the staff of both communities who were asked to “Share Your Heart with a Neighbor in Need” and donate to the stop hunger drive. The

Country Pantry, now in its 41st year, serves those in need in Clinton, Clark Mills, Westmoreland, New Hartford and parts of Rome and Oriskany.

Roback noted the monies raised will be used to buy supplies for Kids’ Paks, a summer feeding program which provides back packs filled with items including soup, peanut butter, crackers and healthy snacks for children who would otherwise be eligible for free school lunches.

are some strategies that may help you: • Be honest. How do you feel about yourself? Spying on a partner can be a sign of insecurity. You may feel that you’re not good enough for them and it’s only a matter of time before he or she leaves you. This is more about you, not your partner.

• Have a talk with your partner.

The better response to any suspicion is to talk about it — communicate your fears openly. Don’t start with accusations. Instead, talk about your observations and emotions, begin-

ning with “I” statements: “I feel as if you’re secretive. I notice you leave the room to talk on the phone. I feel like you’re working late a lot.” If you suspect bad behavior, give your partner a chance to explain.

Talk to a trusted friend. Bounce your suspicions off them. They may recognize that you have a history of insecurity. It is a release valve for your fears and can steer you away from the urge.

Silverman can be reached at 315292-6367 or www.silvermanlcswr. com/.

Community Information Seminar:

Bariatric Surgery JUNE 8, 2016 • 6:00 pm Presented by

January Hill, MD Utica Business Park 125 Business Park Drive, Suite 150, Utica, NY The offices of William A. Graber, MD, PC

To register call 315-235-2540 or toll free 877-269-0355

June 2016 •

IN GOOD HEALTH – Mohawk Valley’s Healthcare Newspaper

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Page 9

Diet & Fitness The Balanced Body

By Deb Dittner

Summertime when the livin’ is easy

Staying active, hydrated keys to enjoyment

S

ummer is on the horizon and the temperature is beginning to rise.

Heat and humidity abound.

With the temperatures in the 80s to 90s, it is important that you stay hydrated as this is essential for life.

If dehydration sets in, many types of symptoms can occur including headaches, dizziness, dry skin, constipation, fatigue, stiff and painful joints, muscle spasms, and an increase in infections.

Changes in hydration levels are very closely Dittner related to our nutritional status, our hormone balance and stress levels. The recommended amount of water to drink to your health is approximately six to eight (48 to 64 ounces) glasses of pure, clean water every day, or it can be calculated by taking your body weight, dividing that number by 2 to equal the amount needed in ounces.

That means you need to drink about a glass of water every two hours while you are awake. Also, you shouldn’t wait until you get thirsty as water assists in many vital functions of the body.

Here are a few facts regarding hydration: • 75 percent of Americans are chronically dehydrated • A single glass of water will eliminate midnight munchies for almost 100 percent of dieters, according to a University of Washington study.

• Feeling thirsty is frequently mistaken for hunger.

• Lack of water intake is the No. 1 cause of daytime fatigue.

ported through the body, delivering nutrients to where they are needed and will carry away toxins in the body through sweat and urine.

• Increased mood and brainpower: A well-hydrated brain is a quick, witty and cheerful brain.

Now add in physical movement and hydration is even more important. We all need to get up and move for a minimum of 30 minutes most days of the week. Find an enjoyable activity, as this will encourage you to continue and build on the exercise of your choice.

Come on, get happy!

• A mere 2 percent decrease in body water can aggravate short-term memory, decrease basic math skills, and cause difficulty concentrating on the computer screen or printed paper.

• Slight dehydration can slow down one’s metabolism.

• Drinking the recommended amount of water daily decreases the risk of colon, breast and bladder cancer.

Essential to the body

So what does water do to our bodies anyway?

• Skin: Drinking water helps keep your skin moisturized and plumps up the skin to fill out wrinkles. To help shrink pores, splash cool water on your face — It feels so good!

• Weight loss: If you are feeling hungry, drink a glass of water before reaching for a snack as a little dehydration can give you pangs of hunger.

• Energy: In order to transport vital nutrients throughout the body, water is needed so other systems of the body do not have to work harder in order to keep you going.

• Muscles and joints: Headache, muscle aches and joint pain are often caused by dehydration.

• Lubrication: Moisture and padding of muscles and joints encourages proper function and decreases rubbing to occur between these areas.

Water encourages absorption and the distribution to cells, muscles, membranes and cartilage.

• Transportation: Water is trans-

Consider mixing things up also.

Instead of going out for a walk every day at lunch, add in yoga class or join a tennis league, or play basketball with your children. This change in movement will work a variety of muscles and get you to your fitness goal more quickly.

Hiking trails or mountains with family or friends on the weekends encourages greater fitness and overall enjoyment. Carry water bottles — stainless steel over plastic or glass — and don’t forget healthy snacks.

Don’t like the taste of water?

Think that it’s boring?

Add a slice of orange, a slice of lime, a slice of lemon, fresh cucumber slices, berries, mint leaves, try fizzy mineral water, and enjoy it out of a fancy glass.

Drink (water that is) to your health! Cheers!

• Deborah Dittner is a nurse practitioner and health consultant for amateur and professional athletes. If you’re an amateur or professional athlete looking to increase your energy, boost your performance and shorten recovery time, check out www.debdittner.com to learn how.

Miracle Home Makeover benefits CMN Hospital at FSLH

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he Faxton St. Luke’s Healthcare Foundation recently announced the start of the 20th annual $100,000 Miracle Home Makeover to benefit the Children’s Miracle Network Hospital at FSLH. One lucky person will win a $100,000 Miracle Home Makeover or $100,000 in cash.

FSLH is partnering in the program with WKTV NewsChannel 2, Lite 98.7FM-WLZW, the Observer-Dispatch, Lewis Custom Homes and Home Builders and Remodelers Association of the Mohawk Valley.

In 19 years, more than $4 million has been raised by the project to benefit both women’s and children’s services at FSLH. Page 10

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A maximum of 4,300 tickets are available and may be purchased for $100 each with cash only. The FSLH Foundation is working with long-time CMN corporate supporters First Source Federal Credit Union and GPO Federal Credit Union to have tickets available at local branches.

Tickets will also be sold at the Evan Park Boonville Medical Office, Chanatry’s Supermarket, Countryside Stove & Chimney, Erie Materials, FSLH,

Greenscapes Garden Center and Landscaping Co., Jay-K Lumber Corp and Town of Webb Health Center.

Visit www.faxtonstlukes.com/ mhm or call the foundation office at 315-624-5600 for ticket locations.

The drawing will be held at 6 p.m. Oct. 12 at the St. Luke’s Campus of FSLH in New Hartford.

Projects such as the $100,000 Miracle Home Makeover allow FSLH to make a difference in the lives of many children and families by providing critical and lifesaving care, child-friendly pediatric medical equipment, as well as vital programs and services for children and families throughout the Mohawk Valley.

Evan Park of Whitesboro is the

IN GOOD HEALTH – Mohawk Valley’s Healthcare Newspaper • June 2016

2016 Miracle Child.

He was born unexpectedly at 36 weeks. Born prematurely, his lungs were underdeveloped which meant he had to spend time in the area’s only Level 2 special care nursery at FSLH until he was strong enough to go home.

He was cared for by neonatologists — physicians trained to provide specialized care to sick or premature babies.

Thanks to public support, CMN is able to support the nursery so patients such as Park could stay close to home with his family by his side.

For more information or to purchase a ticket, call the FSLH Foundation at 315-624-5600.

Valuable Veggies

Summer garden can produce healthy eating choices, nourishment

By Malissa Allen

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ere’s a guide to reaping the nourishment from freshpicked corn, cucumbers, tomatoes and zucchini.

Corn

Nothing beats eating flamebroiled corn with butter dripping off your chin. Even though corn is accessible year-round, straight from-thefield corn is a delight in mid-summer.

Although called a vegetable by the U.S. Department of Agriculture, corn is a grain. Like other grains, it is high in complex carbohydrates. It contains protein and fiber, plus some potassium and vitamin C. Ideally, corn should be purchased in the husk because that shields the kernels from drying out and lets you know how crisp the corn is. Damp green husks are obviously fresher than dry cocoa ones.

Avoid peeling back the husk to check for freshness —this can dry it out. Examine the husk for full, sharp bits. The satiny strings at the tip should be brilliant cocoa; a pale tuft is a sign the corn was picked too soon.

— Tips: Take the corn home promptly; don’t let it sit in a hot car.

The sooner you eat corn after buying it, the sweeter it will be since the sugar in corn starts changing into starch after it’s picked. If you can’t prepare corn right away, refrigerate it in a plastic bag with the husks left on, but cook within two days.

Cucumbers

Merely contemplating cucumbers cools you off. With its 95 percent

MVHS names maternity, nursery services leader

N

icole Henry has been named the assistant nurse manager of maternity and nursery services at the Mohawk Valley Health System.

Prior to this position, Henry was employed at Arnot Ogden Medical Center in Elmira in labor and delivery and at St. Elizabeth Medical Center on medical/surgical units.

Henry Henry received an associate’s degree in nursing from Crouse School of Nursing in Syracuse and a bachelor’s degree from the SUNY Institute of Technology in Utica.

Visiti mvhealth.com

water content, cucumber slices are as revitalizing as a glass of water.

While the cucumber isn’t known for being a nourishing powerhouse, it does give a little vitamin C — around 6 percent of the daily requirement.

The most popular cucumbers are the English or European nursery cucumber, frequently sheathed in plastic wrap to secure its thin skin, and the American cutting cucumber, which has a somewhat thicker skin and more seeds. Fresh kirbys and seedless nursery cukes offer an alternative to the typical tough cukes found at many grocery stores.

Check out other varieties, such as the pickling cucumber (also known as kirby) and Middle Eastern slicer.

There’s even a “burpless” cuke.

Burpless cucumbers are sweeter and have a thinner skin than other varieties of cucumber, and are reputed to be easy to digest and to have a pleasant taste. They can grow as long as 2 feet. They are nearly seedless, and have a delicate skin.

— Tips: Choose firm, substantial cucumbers. Avoid those that have any yellow streaks or have wrinkled spots at the ends. Store cucumbers in a ventilated plastic pack in the crisper drawer of your refrigerator.

Tomatoes

Once known as an “adoration apple,” the mid-year tomato deserves that nickname. It’s overflowing with vitamins and stacked with flavor. A medium tomato is a delicious feast of vitamins A and C. If you eat them in season, you’ll get twice as much vitamin C as the packaged ones.

Tomatoes contain the carotenoid lycopene that makes the tomatoes

red and is helpful in reducing prostate disease.

Bite-size cherry and grape tomatoes are delectable in plates of mixed greens or for eating. Roma or plum tomatoes usually contain fewer seeds and are useful for making sauces and adding to other cooked dishes. Plain “store reds” have flexible uses, but are especially good for cooking.

— Tips: Heirloom tomatoes are developed from more established seeds and chosen for their flavor and composition. Search for those that are full and gleaming, and give a bit when squeezed. Smell the stem end for its particular sweet fragrance.

Refrigeration obliterates the flavor, so store tomatoes at a cool room temperature out of the daylight.

Zucchini

Zucchini is copious in mid-summer. Little-to-medium zucchini are delicate and best for sautéing, barbecuing or eating raw. The massive ones are starchier, but are good for making stuffed zucchini.

Zucchini has only 29 calories and contains lutein, beta-carotene and zeaxanthin, cancer-prevention agents that advance vision. Among its extra supplements are potassium, magnesium, manganese, folate, fiber, and vitamins C and A. — Tips: Look for dim green zucchini — the freshest ones will have somewhat thorny skin — with soggy stems about 1-inch long. Avoid zucchini with breaks, cuts or weaknesses.

Obamacare: Nearly 1 million more kids covered

KIDS Corner N

early 1 million U.S. children gained health insurance the first year after the Affordable Care Act — also called Obamacare — was fully implemented, a new report shows.

The number of uninsured children fell from 5.4 million in 2013 to 4.5 million one year later, according to the study funded by the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation.

“The importance of coverage for all kids is perhaps the single most widely accepted position in the highly politicized world of health reform,” said Kathy Hempstead, who directs work on coverage issues at the foundation.

“We should be proud of the

progress that we have made in recent years, and redouble our efforts to extend these protections to the several million children who are still without them,” Hempstead said in a news release from the nonprofit organization.

Health care reform increased the percentage of kids eligible for the Medicaid/ Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP), the study found.

Across the country, 91 percent of kids eligible for Medicaid/CHIP were enrolled as of 2014. In 2013, 88.7 percent of eligible youngsters were enrolled. In 2008, enrollment was at 81.7 percent, the report showed.

Today, more than half of states have Medicaid/CHIP participation

June 2016 •

rates of more than 90 percent. States that expanded Medicaid for adults had the largest gains in Medicaid/ CHIP participation, the researchers noted. The researchers suggested that parents who received new coverage under Medicaid may have learned more about the options available to their children.

Of the remaining 4.5 million uninsured children in the United States, more than 60 percent were eligible for Medicaid/CHIP in 2014, the researchers said.

In states that expanded Medicaid, about 5 percent of eligible children were uninsured in 2014. In states that didn’t expand coverage, about 8 percent of children were uninsured.

IN GOOD HEALTH – Mohawk Valley’s Healthcare Newspaper

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Page 11

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SmartBites

The skinny on healthy eating

Nutritious Perks of Whole-Grain Pasta

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ast month, my husband and I took the plunge and went cold turkey on refined pasta.

For about a year, we’d been making half-and-half portions of refined and unrefined pasta to “ease” into the taste and texture of whole-grain pasta. But, finally, we both agreed: no more. Pasta made from unrefined whole grains is simply too nutritious to water down with regular pasta.

What makes whole-grain pasta better for you?

In a word, whole-grain pasta is made from grains that have the bran, germ and endosperm all intact, whereas regular pasta is made from refined grains that have been stripped of their bran and germ. While processors do add back some vitamins and minerals to enrich refined grains — so, indeed, these grains still contribute valuable nutrients — whole grains remain the healthier choice, providing more fiber, more disease-busting phytonutrients, and many important vitamins and minerals.

The bran portion of the grain provides good doses of fiber and phytonutrients, neither of which processors add back to refined pasta. Fiber keeps us regular, helps with weight control by promoting a full feeling, stabilizes blood sugars and ferries cholesterol-containing bile out of bodies. All

good things that may contribute to a longer life! Antioxidant-rich phytonutrients, whose consumption, according to the USDA, seems to be an “effective strategy” for reducing cancer and heart disease, promote good health by slowing or preventing free-radical cell damage and by quelling inflammation.

Many B vitamins, some protein, minerals and healthy fats are found in the grain’s germ portion. Wholegrain pasta is particularly high in both manganese and selenium.

Sometimes called the “brain mineral,” manganese is important for mental function, energy production, bone growth and collagen formation.

A powerhouse antioxidant, selenium helps make special proteins that play a role in preventing cell damage.

Lastly, the two of us have said “pasta la vista” to refined white pasta because of the nature of its carbs: they’re simple (just like those in processed breads, cookies, cakes, etc.), which means they get digested lickety-split — an assault that can send blood sugar soaring and increase risk for developing Type 2 diabetes. The complex carbs that make up wholegrain pasta, on the other hand, take longer to digest, which keeps bloods sugars and energy levels on a more even keel. According to the Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health,

there is convincing evidence that diets rich in whole grains protect against diabetes. Go, whole grains!

Helpful tips

Most supermarkets stock wholegrain pasta options — just be sure to take a close look at the nutrition labels. True whole-grain pasta will list the whole grain as the first ingredient, whether it’s whole-grain durum wheat flour, whole-grain oat flour or another whole grain. Also check the front of the package for “100 percent whole grain” or the orange “Whole Grain” stamp.

Whole-Wheat Pasta Salad with Spinach and Artichokes

Adapted from Rachel Ray

¾-1 box whole-wheat pasta of choice ½ pound fresh baby spinach 1 (15-ounce) can artichoke hearts in water, drained and chopped 1 red bell pepper, chopped or cut into thin strips ½ small red onion, chopped 1-2 cloves garlic, minced 1 lemon, zested 2 tablespoons lemon juice 2 tablespoons red wine vinegar ¼ cup extra-virgin olive oil

¼ teaspoon red pepper flakes 1 teaspoon dried thyme or basil salt and coarse black pepper to taste 1 cup cherry tomatoes, halved ½ cup crumbled feta cheese ¼ cup kalamata olives, sliced (optional) Prepare pasta according to box directions; drain and let cool.

Coarsely chop baby spinach. In large bowl, combine spinach with artichoke pieces, red pepper and red onion.

In small bowl, whisk together dressing ingredients: garlic, lemon zest, lemon juice, vinegar, olive oil and spices. Add pasta, cherry tomatoes, feta cheese and olives (if using) to the salad in large bowl.

Add dressing and gently toss. Serve or refrigerate.

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.

MVHS performs first trans-catheter aortic valve replacement surgery in region

T

rans-catheter aortic valve replacement is a minimally invasive procedure for people who have been diagnosed with severe symptomatic aortic stenosis and who may be too ill or too high-risk for open-heart surgery.

Aortic stenosis is a narrowing of the heart’s aortic valve opening, which does not allow normal blood flow through the heart. It is most often caused by age-related calcification, but can also be caused by a birth defect, rheumatic fever or radiation therapy.

The TAVR procedure allows Page 12

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a new valve to be inserted within the damaged aortic valve, allowing blood to flow through the heart normally. This minimally invasive procedure uses a catheter to replace the aortic valve instead of opening the chest and completely removing the damaged valve.

The valve can be placed using several different approaches. The trans-femoral approach utilizes the femoral artery in the patient’s leg; the trans-apical approach delivers the catheter through the apex of the heart, and the trans-aortic approach utilizes the ascending aorta to deliver

the replacement valve. As of April 14, eight patients at MVHS were treated with the TAVR surgery.

This groundbreaking procedure opens up treatment options to patients who would not previously have been candidates for open-heart surgery. In many cases, the TAVR procedure allows significantly reduced recovery times and a shorter hospital stay than traditional openheart procedures.

The cardiac program staff at St. Elizabeth Medical Center has been working for a number of months to bring the procedure to the commu-

IN GOOD HEALTH – Mohawk Valley’s Healthcare Newspaper • June 2016

nity. The organization has invested nearly $3 million in the program including a specialized hybrid operating room, specialized equipment and the training of staff. The procedure also involves a team of specialized physicians including cardiac surgeons, cardiologists and anesthesiologists.

In March, the MVHS performed the first three successful TAVR surgeries in the Mohawk Valley.

For more information about this procedure, contact Thomas Norton, director of MVHS cardiac services, at 315-801-3329.

By Jim Miller

Protect yourself from melanoma skin cancer Dear Savvy Senior,

Wilfredo Rosario Sr. was recently named Oneida County senior citizen volunteer of the year by the Oneida County Office for the Aging. Above, he and his wife Aurea, foreground, celebrate with family members.

Helping with heart

W

ilfredo Rosario Sr. immigrated to the United States from Puerto Rico in search of a better life.

Living and working in a number of places throughout the last four decades, including the Mohawk Valley, Rosario and his family eventually enjoyed that better life.

Since 1994, he has turned around and provided a better life for others in his community, especially in the city of Rome. The robust 68-year-old helps prepare meals for the Rescue Mission of Rome, volunteers at Maranatha Church and American Red Cross in Rome, mows lawns, shovels snow, and willingly offers his friendship and a pair of rugged helping hands to any elderly person in need.

For such efforts, Rosario was recognized as the Oneida County senior citizen volunteer of the year during a luncheon sponsored by the Oneida County Office for the Aging at Hart’s Hill Inn in Whitestown recently.

“Wilfredo’s character, work ethic and compassion exemplify the ‘Blaze A Trail’ theme of this year’s award,” said Office of the Aging Director Michael Romano.

A nonprofit group known as Heartfelt Helping Hands based in Camden was honored as the outstanding organization of the year.

Oneida County Executive Anthony Picente Jr. declared May Older Americans Month in Oneida County and presented proclamations to nearly 90 senior citizen volunteers and nine other organizations at the luncheon. New York Senator Joe Griffo (R-Rome) and Assembly representative Anthony Brindisi (D-Utica) also bestowed certificates of appreciation on the luncheon guests.

“God is good to me,” said Rosario in his brief acceptance speech.

In a later interview, as he shared his award with his wife, Aurea, and some of his nine children and 15

grandchildren, he explained that his reason for volunteering is to be “a blessing for God.” Rosario arrived in the U.S. in 1970. He settled in Brooklyn, where he got a job as a truck driver for Iberia Foods and met his future wife.

From 1983 to 1988, he moved back to Puerto Rico. He then returned to the U.S. and landed another job as a truck driver in Pennsylvania.

In 1994, he and his wife brought their large family to Rome. Rosario began working for ConMed Corporation in Utica, a manufacturer of instruments for the medical industry, until his retirement in 2009.

Serving rural seniors

Younger Sibling

Dear Sibling,

Oneida County Office for the Aging recognizes the power of volunteerism

By Patricia J. Malin

Does skin cancer run in families? My 63-year-old brother died of melanoma last year, and I’m wondering about my risks of getting this. What can you tell me?

Located on the western edge of Oneida County on the border with Oswego County, the residents of the small town of Camden sometimes feel forgotten by local leaders.

“We’ve been losing programs for seniors, so we stepped in trying to fill the gaps,” explained Jill Phelps, a teacher’s assistant at Camden Central School. “For example, Meals on Wheels was discontinued.”

Together with Juanita Wilson, a retired teacher, they started up a nonprofit in 2013 called Heartfelt Helping Hands that specifically helps seniors in the Camden area with basic needs. Some of the good deeds performed by the volunteers are helping seniors with household chores, meal preparation and driving them to doctor appointments, to stores or to church.

“There’s no public transportation in Camden either,” said Wilson, an amateur artist who recently opened a gallery in town and hosts art classes.

It also serves as a community center for fundraisers, one of which is an annual summer arts and craft show.

Heartfelt Helping Hands was organized under the umbrella of Cluster 13 Ministries Inc. of Camden.

It receives no government funding and relies entirely on donations and fundraising.

While long-term sun exposure and sunburns are the biggest risk factors for melanoma — the deadliest form of skin cancer — having a sibling or parent with melanoma does indeed increase your risk of getting it two to three times.

Each year, about 75,000 Americans are diagnosed with melanoma, and around 10,000 people will die from it. While anyone can get it, those most often diagnosed are Caucasians, age 50 and older. And those with the highest risk are people with red or blond hair, blue or green eyes, fair skin, freckles, moles, a family history of skin cancer and those who had blistering sunburns in their youth.

Skin Exams

The best way you can guard against melanoma and other skin cancers (basal and squamous cell carcinomas) is to protect yourself from the sun, and if you’re over age 50, get a full-body skin exam done by a dermatologist every year, especially if you’re high risk.

Self-examinations done every month or so is also a smart way to detect early problems. Using mirrors, check the front and backside of your entire body, including the tops and undersides of your arms and hands, between your toes and the soles of your feet, your neck, scalp and buttocks. Be on the lookout for new growths, moles that have changed, or sores that don’t heal. Follow the ABCDE rule when examining suspicious moles.

• Asymmetry: One half of a mole doesn’t match the other.

• Border: The border is blurred or ragged.

• Color: The mole has uneven colors, often shades of brown, tan or black, with patches of pink, red, white or blue.

• Diameter: The lesion is new or at least a quarter-inch in diameter.

• Evolving: The mole is changing in size, shape or color.

For more self-examination tips and actual pictures of what to look

June 2016 •

for, see SkinCancer.org or Melanoma. org.

In the spring and summer, there are a variety of places that offer free skin cancer screenings. Check with the American Academy of Dermatology (888-462-3376, aad.org/ public/spot-skin-cancer), which offers screenings done by hundreds of volunteer dermatologists across the U.S., and the American Society for Dermatologic Surgery (asds.net/ skincancerscreening.aspx).

Sun Protection

Even though you can’t change your skin or family history, there are some proven strategies that can help you protect yourself.

For starters, avoid tanning beds, and when you go outside, slather on broad-spectrum SPF 30, water-resistant sunscreen on both sunny and cloudy days. If you don’t like the rub-on lotions, try the continuous spray-on sunscreens which are easier to apply and re-apply and less messy.

Also, seek the shade when rays are most intense — between 10 a.m. and 2 p.m.

You can also protect your skin by wearing a wide-brimmed hat, and long sleeves and pants when possible. The best clothing options are tightly-woven fabric that help prevent the sun’s rays from reaching your skin, or you can wash-in an invisible shield sun protection into your cloths with SunGuard laundry additive (see sunguardsunprotection. com). You can even buy a variety of lightweight clothing and hats that offer maximum UV protection in their fabric. Coolibar.com and SunPrecautions.com are two sites that offer these products.

Treatments

If melanoma is caught and treated early, it’s nearly 100 percent curable. But if it’s not, the cancer can advance and spread to other parts of the body, where it becomes hard to treat and can be fatal. Standard treatment for melanoma is surgical removal. In advanced cases however, chemotherapy or radiation may also be used, along with a variety of new drug treatments.

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

Yoga, Aquatic Exercise Can Help Combat MS Symptoms

The Social Ask Security Office

From the Social Security District Office

Social Security supports National Cancer Survivors Day

E

xercise can have a positive influence on certain symptoms of multiple sclerosis: Patients who do yoga and aquatic exercise suffer less from fatigue, depression and paresthesia, as reported by researchers from the University of Basel and the Psychiatric University Clinics Basel in a joint study with colleagues in Iran.

Multiple sclerosis (MS) is a chronic progressive auto-immune disease in which the body's own immune system attacks the nervous tissue, potentially resulting in movement disorders. Other typical symptoms of MS include physical and mental fatigue as well as faintness, depression and paresthesia such as pins and needles, itchiness and numbness.

in the groups who had done yoga or aquatic exercise.

Fifty-four women with MS and an average age of 34 were assigned to one of three groups: yoga, aquatic exercise or no exercise. Before and after the trial, patients were asked to complete a questionnaire about their symptoms. All patients continued with their existing treatment, including any medication taken to regulate the immune system.

In a random trial, researchers from Basel and Kermanshah (Iran) have now shown that these symptoms significantly improved after an eight-week program of yoga and aquatic exercise. In comparison to the control group, fatigue, depression and paresthesia were significantly reduced in patients who took part in a three-times weekly training program. In the non-exercising group, the likelihood of moderate to severe depression was 35-fold higher than

"Exercise training programs should be considered in the future as possible complements to standard MS treatments," write the researchers.

Researchers from the Kermanshah University of Medical Sciences in Iran, the Psychiatric University Clinics (UPK Basel, Center for Affective, Stress and Sleep Disorders) and the University of Basel's Department of Sport, Exercise and Health took part in the study.

Increased risk of depression

Exercise complementary therapy

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n 2016, more than a million people will be diagnosed with cancer around the world. This alarming statistic affects people and families everywhere. On June 5 we observe National Cancer Survivors Day in the United States. In support of this day, Social Security encourages getting checkups to provide early detection, raise awareness through education and recognize the survivors who have gone through this battle or are still living with the disease.

Social Security stands strong in our support of the fight against cancer. We offer services to patients dealing with this disease through our disability program and our Compassionate Allowances program.

Compassionate Allowances are cases with medical conditions so severe they obviously meet Social Security’s disability standards, allowing us to process the cases quickly with minimal medical information. Many cancers are on our Compassionate Allowance list.

There’s no special application

Q&A Q: Will my son be eligible to receive benefits on his retired father’s record while going to college?

A: No. At one time, Social Security did pay benefits to eligible college students. But the law changed in 1981. We now pay benefits only to students taking courses at grade 12 or below. Normally, benefits stop when children reach age 18 unless they are disabled. However, if children are still full-time students at a secondary (or elementary) school at age 18, benefits generally can continue until they graduate or until two months after they reach age 19, whichever is first. If your child is still going to be in school at age 19, you’ll want to visit www.socialsecurity. gov/schools.

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

A: Social Security survivors

4 Riverside Dr., Suite 251, Utica, NY 13502 Page 14

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IN GOOD HEALTH – Mohawk Valley’s Healthcare Newspaper • June 2016

or form you need to submit for Compassionate Allowances. Simply apply for disability benefits using the standard Social Security or Supplemental Security Income (SSI) application. Once we identify you as having a Compassionate Allowances condition, we’ll expedite your disability application.

Social Security establishes new Compassionate Allowances conditions using information received at public outreach hearings, from the Social Security and Disability Determination Services communities, from medical and scientific experts, and from data based on our research. For more information about Compassionate Allowances, including the list of eligible conditions, visit www.socialsecurity.gov/ compassionateallowances.

If you think you qualify for disability benefits based on a Compassionate Allowances condition, please visit www. socialsecurity.gov to apply for benefits.

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

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

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YOU’RE TAKING

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If you’re not taking your prescriptions as directed, you’re taking a chance.

To learn more, visit ExcellusBCBS.com/TakeAsDirected. #TakeAsDirected

Healthcare in a Minute

By George W. Chapman

Drug spending continues to soar

Total spending on drugs was $425 billion last year up a staggering 12 percent from 2014. According to the AARP’s Public Policy Institute report, the average retail cost of a year’s supply of typically used prescription drugs by seniors is over $11,000.

The average annual cost for specialty drugs, like those treating cancer and hepatitis, was $53,384 three years ago. Overall Medicare spending was up only 1 percent last year to put the 12 percent drug increase into perspective. Drugs now account for 25 percent of overall spending. (Thirty years ago, drugs accounted for less than 5 percent of all healthcare costs.)

Currently, hospitals account for about 32 percent and physicians account for about 20 percent of overall spending. The balance of expenses goes toward skilled nursing facilities, substance abuse and addiction, mental health, durable medical equipment and implants, chiropractic, podiatry, nutrition, etc. Congress establishes Medicare payments to physicians and hospitals but cannot set drug prices.

Reduce your exposure

Seven typical household items rank as most hazardous to your health if not used or maintained properly. They are: step ladders (falls), dryers (fires), lawn mowers

(injuries), bed rails (injuries dues to poor installation), humidifiers (mold), blenders (lacerations, scalding), toasters (fires).

Insurance mergers

The pending mergers of insurance giants Aetna-Humana and Aetna-Cigna are undergoing increased scrutiny by the Department of Justice and are facing uphill battles. The DOJ is wary of all “super mergers” that may hurt consumers through less competition on service and price.

Hospital mergers are in the same boat. This increased scrutiny by the DJ has been happening despite the Obama administration being relatively passive when it comes to blocking mergers.

ObamaCare premium subsidies The House Ways and Means committee is questioning the Administration’s method of funding premium subsidies for the indigent who are purchasing insurance through ACA exchanges. Anyone with income between 133 percent and 400 percent of federal poverty guidelines qualifies for the subsidy.

(Those under 133 percent qualify for Medicaid.) Subsidies are expected to total $170 billion over the next 10 years. Without taxpayer support, insurers on the exchange could face the prospect of having to cover the subsidies themselves.

Calculating premiums

Determining competitive/fairly

priced premiums for new enrollees with uncertain health statuses has been a challenge for commercial carriers. United Health has already announced it is pulling out of most state exchanges next year. As more data becomes available each year, insurers will have more experience that allows them to better assess risk and determine premiums. The fear, however, is that if premiums are too high, it might drive away the relatively healthy. The only way to combat that potential exodus of the “healthy” is to make penalties for not participating much higher than they are now.

Medical errors

According to researchers at Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, medical errors in hospitals and other healthcare facilities are the third leading cause of death in the U.S., claiming over 250,000 lives annually — or 700 a day.

Head researcher Martin Makary, a physician, summarized: “It boils down to people dying from the care they receive rather than the disease or injury for which they are seeking care.” Only hospital-acquired infections have shown improvement over the years. Many experts believe healthcare has too much tolerance for variability in practice versus other industries. Lack of standardization makes it harder to identify and fix problems.

Opioid addiction

The unfortunate death of

June 2016 •

pop superstar Prince Nelson has brought more attention to the opioid painkillers addiction epidemic in the US. Someone dies from an opioid overdose every 20 minutes.

Many addiction experts question the rationale of turning to the pharmaceutical industry for more drugs to combat addiction to drugs. Treatment for the underlying psychological symptoms that can lead to substance abuse should also be part of a provider’s arsenal.

The FDA is considering making it mandatory (currently voluntary) for physicians who prescribe opioids to undergo safety training courses paid for by opioid manufacturers.

Short-term policy

It is a cheaper alternative to policies offered on the exchanges. It is meant to fill gaps in coverage, but for only a few months. However, short-term policies do not meet minimum ACA requirements for coverage and benefits, so buyers will face significant tax penalties.

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 15

H ealth News High 5 Club members step up The American Heart Association announced the team challenge totals for America’s Greatest Heart Run & Walk Weekend 2016 at the High 5 Club party recently, hosted by Hart’s Hill Inn in Whitesboro.

The High 5 Club party and memorial awards ceremony is held to honor those participants who raise $500 or more for America’s Greatest Heart Run & Walk. The High 5 Club has grown since its inception in 1985 and this year’s total of 223 “High 5” Club members raised $370,092.88.

The top fundraiser, Albert Pylinski, Jr., received a 32-inch HD TV. Albert raised $65,021.

Former president/CEO to serve on board Darlene A. Burns, former president-CEO of Rome Memorial Hospital, has been named to serve on the hospital’s board of trustees.

The volunteer board oversees the hospital’s quality of care, policy development and strategic planning.

“When we needed a trusted leader to serve as interim CEO last year, Darlene came out of retirement Burns and accepted the call for assistance without hesitation,” said Chester Patrick, chairman of the board of trustees. “For seven months, she kept the hospital moving forward as we completed our search for a permanent CEO. Now, her experience and life-long devotion to the hospital will be greatly respected and valued as she steps into her new role as a board member.”

A 1970 graduate of the Mercy Hospital School of Nursing, Burns started her career at RMH in January 1972 as an evening charge nurse. As she advanced through the nursing and administration ranks, she earned her master’s degree in health care administration from the New School for Social Research in 1991.

She was promoted from senior vice president-clinical services to senior vice president-CEO in 2001, and became president-CEO in 2002.

Burns retired from the hospital in 2011 after nearly 40 years of service.

Student uses earnings to help others Twelve-year-old Emily Elsenbeck is a great example of a young person motivated to help others.

Last fall, Elsenbeck, a sixth-grader at Bradley Elementary School in New Hartford, started her own Etsy business online. She calls her web business “Cases and Beyond 25.”

It is a company that sells custom phone cases with various designs, including popular television shows, Page 16

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movies, and animals. Elsenbeck’s business has taken off just a few months after she launched it.

Elsenbeck is a friend of Karyn Vitagliano, president of the Friends of The Arc Foundation Board. She has heard Vitagliano talk about the different fundraising events held by the foundation, and the people Elsenbeck whose lives are enriched by the many programs at The Arc, Oneida-Lewis Chapter. When Elsenbeck started to turn a profit through her business, she told her mother Andrea that she wanted to donate some of her earnings.

Emily chose The Arc as the recipient of a check for $100.

Vitagliano was not surprised at all, stating, “Emily is a very giving, compassionate and mature young lady. I am confident that this simple act of generosity is just the start of many amazing things that Emily will do in her future.”

Insight House names employees of quarter Mary Friedlander and Margarita Fuentes were recently selected as Insight House employees of the quarter.

Supervisors nominate employees of the quarter for their reliability, quality of work, initiative, professionalism and uniqueness of Friedlander contribution.

Friedlander, of Whitesboro, has been employed at Insight House for eight years. As a chemical dependency counselor in the day treatment program, she specializes in group, individual and family clinical services.

Fuentes, of Utica, is a laboratory technician, and provides routine laboratory care and testing in accordance with Fuentes agency policies and procedures.

She has been employed at Insight House for two years.

‘Go Red’ luncheon raises more than $135,000 More than 475 local women and men packed the room at Daniele’s Banquet Specialists in New Hartford recently to help fight heart disease in women.

The event raised more than $135,000 for the Go Red For Women

LFH employee is a real ‘GEM’ Beth Cabanas, a registered nurse at Little Falls Hospital, an affiliate of Bassett Healthcare Network, is the recipient of the 2016 first quarter Going the Extra Mile (GEM) award. The GEM award recognizes staff for going above and beyond their typical job duties and making a significant difference by improving the quality of health for those served and exceeding customer service standards with patients, clients, guests and co-workers. Cabanas has worked at LFH for 37 years. Celebrating the occasion are, from left, Marlene Little, senior director of human resources; Heidi Camardello, vice president of patient care services/chief nursing officer; Cabanas; and Michael Ogden, president and CEO. campaign.

Macy’s provided national sponsorship, along with local signature sponsor First Source Federal Credit Union.

This year’s luncheon recognized the area’s first-ever Go Red Survivor Class. The class features eight local women who are survivors of heart disease and stroke. Survivor class member Ondrea Grippe-Getz, who had open-heart surgery nearly 30 years ago, and her mother Donna Grippe, shared their family’s story.

Both women say they are impressed by the advancements in technology and research since the time of Ondrea’s surgery at 7 years old.

Attendees had the opportunity to attend a heart health fair to learn about stress management, healthy cooking and their personal risk of stroke.

MVHS offers $10,000 sign-on bonus A $10,000 sign-on bonus is being offered to full-time registered nurses and physical therapists that want to provide in-home care to patients in the community.

The Visiting Nurse Association of Utica and Oneida County, a subsidiary of the Mohawk Valley Health System, recently celebrated its 100th anniversary and serves nearly 2,200 patients in the community.

MVHS offers competitive wages and benefits packages and continuing education opportunities. Bonuses are also available for part-time and

IN GOOD HEALTH – Mohawk Valley’s Healthcare Newspaper • June 2016

per diem positions. RNs receive time and a half for working on weekends and every other weekend is not required.

Qualified applicants are invited to visit www.mvhealthsystem.org/ jobs to apply or call 315-624-6094 for more information.

MVHS consolidates home care services The Mohawk Valley Health System is consolidating its services provided by St. Elizabeth Home Care and the Visiting Nurse Association of Utica and Oneida County, effective June 30.

MVHS provides customers with a single source for their home care needs. Services range from hightech therapies to assistance with the basics of daily living and include nursing services, infusion therapy, wound care, disease management and multi-discipline rehabilitation therapy.

SEHC is no longer accepting admissions and will close effective June 30. All current patients that will require ongoing home care services will be assisted with the transition to another Oneida County agency to ensure home care services will not be interrupted.

For more information, visit www. stemc.org/outpatient-services/stelizabeth-home-care.

Continued on Page 17

H ealth News Continued from Page 16

Fund-raiser benefits Alzheimer’s Association Residents, their families and staff members of the Presbyterian Home for Central New York raised a total of $3,693 for the Alzheimer’s Association at the Walk to End Alzheimer’s recently.

The team raised pledge money, held basket raffles, a bake sale, and sold forget-me-nots to contribute to the total.

“We’re very proud of this group,” said Jane Devecis, director of activities for Presbyterian Home for Central New York. “It was a great team effort to help the Alzheimer’s Association battle this terrible disease.”

Presbyterian Home for Central New York is a member of the Presbyterian Homes & Services’ family of services, which also includes Presbyterian Residential Community, Presbyterian Homes Foundation, The Meadows at Middle Settlement, and Preswick Glen, an independent senior living community.

For more information, contact Devecis at 315-272-2207 or jdevecis@ presbyterianhome.com.

UCP welcomes new member to team Upstate Cerebral Palsy recently welcomed Lucy Rizzo, executive vice president of administrative services, to its executive team.

In this position, Rizzo is responsible for oversight of the human resources, compliance, information technology, payroll and purchasing departments.

She earned a Rizzo Bachelor of Science degree in finance from Binghamton University and a Master of Science in health services management from SUNY Polytechnic Institute.

Previously, she has worked 22 years at Rome Memorial Hospital in the finance, compliance and information technology departments and since November 2013 was the executive director of Central New York Cardiology.

UCP is a provider of direct-care services and programs for individuals who are physically, developmentally, or mentally challenged and their families, currently employing over 2,000 full- and part-time employees at 81 locations throughout a seven-county area.

UCP administrator graduates program Upstate Cerebral Palsy Senior Vice President of Education Services Nancy Seller was recently among 36 individuals who graduated from

the 2016 Health Foundation for Western & Central New York class of health-leadership fellows.

Launched in 2005, the health leadership fellows program seeks to produce a network of diverse, highly skilled leaders that will lead collaboratively from both within and outside of their organizations and become advocates for improved health care delivery, particuSeller larly for vulnerable older adults and children impacted by poverty.

The intensive 18-month program covers topics including personal leadership, leading change, communicating as a leader and results based leadership and collaboration.

In her role as senior vice president of education services at UCP, Seller provides leadership and supervision for children in the early intervention program, special education preschool program and school age day and residential program, overseeing over 300 staff members.

Senior companions being recruited The Region 2 Developmental Disabilities State Operations Office is looking for seniors aged 55 and older with limited income who are willing to provide companionship to individuals with developmental disabilities.

The benefits of being a senior companion are two-fold. People with developmental disabilities gain the companionship and encouragement to socialize, receive a helping hand and assistance with important tasks, and enjoy the help received in order to live more independently. The senior companion benefits from ongoing training, leave benefits including paid vacation, help with meals and transportation costs, a tax-free stipend, and the joy of helping others.

“If you are 55 or older, wish to volunteer 15-40 hours a week, have limited income, and love to help people, you might enjoy joining program,” said Sara Lohr, Senior Companion Program coordinator.

Positions are available in various parts of Oneida, Herkimer, Lewis, and Madison counties.

Those interested can call Lohr at 315-339-0110, ext. 511.

The Senior Companion Program is a service offered by the NYS Office for People With Developmental Disabilities in conjunction with the federal Corporation for National and Community Service.

St. Elizabeth College of Nursing graduates new nurses The St. Elizabeth College of Nursing graduated 89 new nurses recently. Of the 89 graduates, 75 attended weekday classes and 14 participated in the evening/weekend program. The 110th graduation ceremony was held at Our Lady of Lourdes Church, Utica, following a procession across Genesee Street. Above, SECON graduates pause before commencement. They are, from left, Alyssa Brennan, Rebecca McCauley, Cristiana DeFazio, Cierra Halladay and Victoria LaBelle. Oneida County Supreme Court Justice Norman I. Siegel, chairman of the Mohawk Valley Health System Board of Directors, gave the commencement speech.

SECON names top 2016 graduates St. Elizabeth College of Nursing has announced its 2016 weekday and weekend valedictorians and salutatorians: • Weekday valedictorian — Elizabeth Sears of Boonville is the daughter of Richard and Dorothy Sears and a graduate of Adirondack Central High School.

• Weekend valedictorian — Patricia KielSears basinski of Canastota is a graduate of Canastota High School.

• Weekday salutatorian — Shawna Lee of Boonville is the daughter of Randy and Renee Lee and a graduate of Adirondack Central High School.

• Weekend salutatorian — Alissa LaScala of Utica is a graduate of

Kielbasinski

Lee

Lascala

Walker

Thomas Proctor High School.

• Weekend salutatorian — Jessica Walker of New Hartford is a graduate of Galway High School.

Want to boost the bottom line?

Advertise with us today! Call 749-7070 June 2016 •

IN GOOD HEALTH – Mohawk Valley’s Healthcare Newspaper

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Page 17

Gimme Shelter

‘Grady’s Way’ to provide shelter for wayward youth

By Patricia J. Malin

A

s a long-time teacher’s assistant with the Utica Public School District, Grady Faulkner has frequently encountered troubled or misguided youth.

They might be eking out an existence on a back street or trying to escape an abusive home environment. They might be “couch-surfing,” moving from one friend’s couch to another or hiding their true whereabouts at night.

Nobody knows the actual population of this shadowy world, but Faulkner knows it’s a real place.

“It’s hard to put a number on it,” said Denise Cavanaugh, executive director of Catholic Charities of Oneida-Madison Counties, Inc. “Teenage boys don’t want to admit that they’re homeless.”

A conservative estimate, based partially on surveys by the Mohawk Valley Runaway & Homeless Coalition, might be 5 percent of the youth in the Mohawk Valley, “but it could be higher,” she added.

For many years, Faulkner’s conscience has been stirred by these youths. He can’t help but recall his own experiences. Although he was never homeless, he admitted that his father — who had sole custody of him after his parents’ divorce — was usually absent and provided little guidance.

Rather than turn to a life on the streets, Faulkner, now 41, said he was able to get help from his teachers, to rely on true friends and his own sense of worth to straighten up.

A big, amiable person, his empathy for troubled kids motivated him and some of his colleagues in the school district to try and establish a shelter for young men. He started his mission six years ago and he even obtained funds from an angel investor in Chicago. But it didn’t turn out as planned. With a heap of patience, however, it has worked out better than he imagined.

“People kept telling him not to try to establish his own nonprofit organization,” said Cavanaugh. “Grady and his team, including Steve Darman of the Runaway & Homeless Coalition, knocked on our door over a year ago and asked if Catholic Charities could help.”

Catholic Charities operates a runaway and homeless youth program in Madison County to alleviate the problems of troubled youth and the dangers associated with a lack of parental supervision.

The program provides 24-hour crisis intervention and an emergency hotline, safe shelters and therapeutic services to youth under the age of 21.

These services include case management, food and temporary shelter, mediation, counseling, and coordination with service providers and referrals.

Now with Faulkner’s prodding, Catholic Charities will establish a similar program in Utica for boys only, aged 12-18.

During a press conference recently, Cavanaugh joined with Faulkner Page 18

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Volunteer spirit alive and well at MVHS

T

From left, Grady Faulkner, champion of homeless youth; Denise Cavanaugh, executive director of Catholic Charities of Oneida-Madison Counties, Inc.; Jason Gugnacki, president of the board of directors for Catholic Charities; and Oneida County Executive Anthony Picente Jr. stand in front of 1404 Genesee St., Utica, the site of a future emergency shelter for young men. and local officials to announce plans for a 13-bed shelter, appropriately named, “Grady’s Way: A Home for a Brighter Tomorrow.”

Shelter plans laid out

It will be located in a three-story building at 1404 Genesee St., Utica, already owned by Catholic Charities, and next door to its own offices just south of Oneida Square. The organization has discussed plans with a local architectural firm and will be applying for funds to enable it to begin renovations. Nevertheless, it will be at least a year before the nearly 120-year-old former office building is ready for occupancy.

Cavanaugh said the shelter will be for emergency use only, meaning the youth will typically stay between 30 and 60 days until Catholic Charities can resolve their situations. The clients will come primarily through referrals from social workers, the school district, city, county, state and community agencies; perhaps from the police; and walk-ins will also be accepted.

Grady’s Way will provide a safe living environment where youth will learn critical life- and job-training skills. “It will allow high-risk young men to engage in supervised activities, mentoring, and counseling.

The shelter, which is located in a commercial neighborhood, will be renovated to add a recreation room, kitchen, sleeping quarters and offices.

The roof and windows alone need extensive repair. Renovations are estimated to cost $1.3 million.

Staffing requirements have not been determined, but approximately 18 people will be hired under the supervision of a resident manager.

“It will make life better for those who have it so hard,” said Oneida

County Executive Anthony Picente.

He acknowledged that county staff, particularly those who work at the youth bureau, have for years dealt with homeless youth. Grady’s Way also goes hand-in-glove with the county’s anti-poverty efforts.

“I want to thank Catholic Charities for taking this leap forward and providing a place of hope, a safe haven, a place of opportunity,” Picente said.

He also thanked Faulkner for not turning his back on these youths and instead, spotlighting the issue.

Faulkner was born in Brooklyn, the youngest of six children (five sisters), he said. His father was often irresponsible, had a drinking problem and absent. Faulkner’s mother divorced his father, which provided the impetus for the elder man to get counseling.

Interestingly, his father came to Utica and entered rehabilitation at Insight House, which led to his eventual turnaround. “It’s one of the best facilities in the state,” young Faulkner commented.

Faulkner came to live with his dad and attended Proctor High School. The school environment provided solace and security, plus he seemed to thrive with attention from teachers and more stable classmates.

After graduation, he went on to attend Heidelberg College, a music school in Ohio.

In the 20 ensuing years, the public school system has changed.

Few teachers have the willingness to devote to helping their students with their personal problems, Faulkner said. “Because of Common Core, they spend all their time preparing their students for testing,” he said.

IN GOOD HEALTH – Mohawk Valley’s Healthcare Newspaper • June 2016

his year, National Volunteer Week was celebrated from April 10-16 and the Mohawk Valley Health System used those days to accentuate the many gifts and talents its volunteers share with patients, families and employees on a regular basis.

“This year’s theme is ‘Our volunteers are worth their weight in gold,’” said Delta Rubsamen, director of volunteers for Faxton St. Luke’s Healthcare. “As a token of employee thanks, small gold mesh drawstring bags filled with gold coin candy were distributed to volunteers during Volunteer Week.”

In addition, volunteers had their names entered in a daily drawing for a gift of appreciation.

Volunteers complete all types of tasks at the MVHS. Some raise money for equipment and other needs.

All funds raised by the Faxton St. Luke’s Volunteer Association through the gift shops and vendor sales are donated directly back to the organization through the FSLH Foundation.

In 2014, in addition to other projects, monies raised were used to purchase new flat-screen TVs for patients and, in 2015 a patient education system was funded.

Additional TVs will be purchased for the specialty unit on AC 2 at the St. Luke’s Campus. Meanwhile, at SEMC, volunteers present funds raised to the hospital through the SEMC Guild, which gifted $15,000 last year.

“Volunteers range in age from 14 to more than 90,” said Grace Garro, director of volunteers for St. Elizabeth Medical Center. “We’re so grateful for the support they provide to more than 40 departments throughout the Faxton, St. Elizabeth, St. Luke’s, and Center for Rehabilitation and Continuing Care Services campuses.”

In 2015, the 597 volunteers across the MVHS donated 69,981 hours of their time to help patients and families.

Kelberman Center walk raises $140,000 The Kelberman Center Walks for Autism, presented by NBT Bank, were held throughout the month of April in Boonville, Mohawk Valley (SUNY Polytechnic Institute), Oneida, Cooperstown and Hamilton College.

More than 2,000 people participated to spread autism awareness and raised over $140,000 to support the many families in Central New York living with autism.

The Kelberman Center is able to feature this event through partnerships with event sponsor NBT Bank, gold sponsors NY Central Mutual Insurance and The Hartford, as well as committee members and volunteers.

Health CALENDAR of in good

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

June 2

Parents bond to battle addiction A support group — Parents of Addicted Loved Ones — will meet from 7-8:30 p.m. on the first and third Thursdays of every month at the Canajoharie Fire House, 75 Erie Boulevard, Canajoharie.

The support group is for parents with a son or daughter who is addicted to drugs and/or alcohol.

The next meeting is June 2.

According to recent research cited by the National Institute for Drug Abuse, opioid and heroin overdose deaths now exceed annual deaths from car crashes.

PAL is incorporated as a non-profit organization and is run by a volunteer board of parents. For more information on the organization, visit www.palgroup.org or call PAL at 480-300-4712.

June 7

Mohawk Valley Health System to host blood drive The Mohawk Valley Health System will host a blood drive from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. June 7 in the Soggs Room at St. Luke’s Home at the Center for Rehabilitation and Continuing Care Services, 1656 Champlin Ave., Utica.

More than 38,000 blood donations are needed each day in the United States, but only 38 percent of the population is eligible to donate.

Just one donor can help save or sustain up to three lives.

For more information or to make an appointment, call 315-624-8259.

You can also register online prior to the event at www.redcrossblood. org or the day of the event at wwwr. redcrossblood.org/rapidpass.

June 8

HealthNet to launch diabetes program Mohawk Valley residents with pre-diabetes or who are at high risk for Type 2 diabetes now have more resources to prevent the condition.

Herkimer County HealthNet is offering the National Diabetes Prevention Program. The program helps participants reduce their risk for Type 2 diabetes by learning to eat healthier, lose weight, become more physically active, and manage stress.

The program will begin June 8 and will meet from 5-6 p.m. every Wednesday for 16 weeks at the Herkimer County Chamber of Commerce, HARC building, 420 E.

German St., Herkimer.

After the first 16 weeks, the program will meet once monthly for six months to continue to offer support and help participants stick to their new healthy lifestyle.

Those interested in attending the program can call HealthNet at 315-867-1552 or email tcurnow@ herkimercounty.org.

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 from 7-9 p.m. June 8 at Rome Memorial Hospital in the classroom.

Sandy Graichen, a maternity nurse at the hospital with many years of experience in labor and delivery, will teach the free educational program.

She has experience teaching childbirth classes, cardiopulmonary resuscitation, and has children of her own.

No advance registration is required for the free program. 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.

EMPLOYMENT Advertise your health-related services or products and reach your potential customers throughout the Mohawk Valley for as little as $90 a month.

Call 749-7070 for more info.

WANTED Experienced Concrete Mixer Drivers for Syracuse, Waterloo, Fulton, & Rome Call Jim @ 433-5115 Ext 205 for phone interview

For delivery of IGH newspaper bundles

Support forum for patients, cancer survivors

June 15

Hospital hosts breastfeeding class Rome Memorial Hospital is hosting a free breastfeeding class at 7 p.m. June 15 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

Positions Available

MSW CASAC/CASAC-T LPN RESIDENTIAL AIDE High School/GED, and NYS Driver License required.

APPLY TO dvitagliano@insighthouse.com

Drivers Wanted

June 13

The Mohawk Valley Health System’s Cancer Center’s monthly support forum for patients and cancer survivors will be held at 6 p.m.

June 13.

The cancer support forum meets at 6 p.m. the second Monday of every month in the Cancer Center’s fireplace lounge on the main floor of Faxton Campus, 1676 Sunset Ave., Utica.

The forum, led by the Cancer Center’s social worker, offers support to anyone who has received a cancer diagnosis.

Light refreshments will be served. For more information or to RSVP, call 315-624-5241.

MV’S HEALTHCARE NEWSPAPER

maternity nurse at the hospital with children of her own. She has many years of experience helping new moms learn how to breastfeed.

The free class will also feature a breastfeeding video, a display of breastfeeding products, several information sheets to help reinforce the material presented, and a list of people to turn to for support.

No pre-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.

Visiti mvhealth.com

June 2016 •

Mohawk Valley In Good Health newspaper is recruiting drivers to help distribute its popular monthly publication.

The job entails delivering 20-lb. bundles of IGH to various dropoff sites in largely commercial districts. Individual must be hard-working, honest, have a dependable vehicle and be able to lift 20-lb. bundles and walk up stairs.

Interested? Contact Alice at 749-7070. The job pays $9 an hour plus mileage.

Sales Rep Needed Local News Inc. is looking for a sales professional to sell advertising for its highly popular healthcare monthly newspaper — In Good Health.

Excellent opportunity for someone who is energetic, motivated, articulate and organized. Compensation includes base salary plus healthy commission.

PLEASE EMAIL RESUME TO LOU@CNYMAIL.COM

IN GOOD HEALTH – Mohawk Valley’s Healthcare Newspaper

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Page 19

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Ancient Wisdom Integrated with Modern Medicine A LIFE CHANGING MEDICINE, MOVING MEDICINE FORWARD Page 20

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IN GOOD HEALTH – Mohawk Valley’s Healthcare Newspaper • June 2016