Mv igh #96 february14

in good

Mohawk Valley’s Healthcare Newspaper

February 2014 • Issue 96

Meet Dr. Bruce Stewart Page 4

FREE

Medicinal Marijuana Once taboo drug stirs controversy in healthcare industry. See Page 3

Protect your peepers Page 11

Gluten-free not just a fad See Page 15 Get ‘In Good Health’ at home.

See coupon inside

Special Golden Years Edition

Seniors explore social networking

See Page 7

Is it time to hang up the keys?

See Page 6

Declutter your life See Page 19

Discover natural winter care See Page 10

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.

February

CNY Diabetes at FSLH focuses on prevention

The Central New York Diabetes Education Program (CNY Diabetes) is offering the National Diabetes Prevention Program that focuses on treating pre-diabetes to prevent Type 2 diabetes.

The program will begin in February and will be held at CNY Diabetes located on the fourth floor of the Faxton Campus, 1676 Sunset Ave., Utica.

Type 2 diabetes threatens one in three Americans and 90 percent of these individuals don’t even know they’re at risk.

At the pre-diabetes stage, blood sugar levels are elevated but not so high they can’t be lowered. Lifestyle changes are the key.

The NDPP is a scientifically proven program to reduce the risk of developing Type 2 diabetes.

To qualify, you must be at high risk for diabetes by scoring a nine or greater on a risk assessment test, have been

diagnosed with pre-diabetes by your doctor or have a history of gestational diabetes (diabetes during pregnancy).

For more information or to register, contact CNY Diabetes at 315-624-5620 or mjenning@mvnhealth.com.

The Central New York Diabetes Education Program is a cooperative effort of Faxton St. Luke’s Healthcare and St. Elizabeth Medical Center in Utica.

Feb. 4

Tobacco cessation classes on agenda

The Tri-County Quits Tobacco Cessation Program is offering a three-part Fresh Start class to help participants stop smoking.

The Fresh Start Program is a groupbased tobacco cessation support program offered by the American Cancer Society. The classes will be held at 6:30 p.m. Feb. 4, 11 and 18 at The Regional Cancer Center at Faxton St. Luke’s

Continued on Page 14

ALL ABOUT HEALTHCARE IN CNY Healthcare Guide 2014 CENTRAL NEW YORK

Grab a copy of the 2014 CNY Healthcare Guide at various doctors’ offices, hospitals, diners, dentists’ offices, libraries and many high traffic locations.

Or receive it at home or office at no charge when you subscrinbe to In Good Health 80-plus pages about local hospitals, trends and nonprofit organization. PLUS profile of 29 leaders in the healthcare industry BONUS: Resource Directory listing hundreds of support groups, nonprofit organizations, cancer services and mcuh more

Name________________________________________________ Address______________________________________________ City / Town__________________ State__________________ Zip les | Trends | Nonprofit Organizations Leaders in Healthcare | Hospital Profi ORY PLUS: RESOURCE DIRECT

s Healthcare Newspaper Published by In Good Health, CNY’ cnyhealth.com

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IN GOOD HEALTH – Mohawk Valley’s Healthcare Newspaper • February 2014

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Cover Story

Stirring the Pot

Experts remain noncommittal as to safe use of drug in New York

By Mary Christopher

L

ocal health care providers maintain cautious stances on whether or not medicinal marijuana could be a positive treatment option if it becomes available for some patients in New York state.

Opinions are neutral and slightly conservative because there is ambiguity surrounding the proposal compared to existing laws in other states.

Gov. Andrew Cuomo’s efforts to loosen marijuana restrictions in New York to treat some serious illnesses are still in the early stages.

For Deanna Brady, a family and psychiatric nurse practitioner at Adirondack Community Physicians and Faxton-St. Luke’s Healthcare in Utica, there is a lot to take into consideration beBrady fore she could ever “blanket say I’m going to prescribe it.”

“As providers we need to at least invest time into (researching) it because it could be another tool in our tool box,” Brady said. “It may be very useful in some instances, but it has to be a case-by-case scenario.”

As a practitioner who works with patients dealing with mental health issues, medical marijuana has the potential to be a beneficial treatment for some, but depending on what the law states, psychiatric illnesses may not be included, Brady said.

In January, Cuomo proposed that 20 hospitals in the state would distribute the drug to patients suffering from serious illnesses. The plan would use executive action and bypass legislative approval.

“Research suggests that medical marijuana can help manage pain and treatment of cancer and other serious illnesses,” Cuomo said in his annual State of the State address without elaborating on which other illnesses could be eligible for treatment.

Twenty states aboard

The District of Columbia and 20 states allow medical marijuana programs, each one with varying conditions, according to the National Conference of State Legislatures website, www.ncsl.org.

In states that permit medical marijuana, it is commonly prescribed for chronic pain, nausea from cancer chemotherapy, glaucoma and other conditions.

Oncologist Manzurul Sikder, a physician who treats cancer patients at Slocum-Dickson Medical Group in Utica, said medicinal marijuana is known to benefit the following conditions: • Relieving cancer-related pain that

is not well controlled on currently approved agents • Controlling chemotherapy-associated nausea and vomiting • Works as an appetite stimulant in patients with severe weight loss from cancer and advanced HIV • Relieving the symptoms of glaucoma A marijuana plant has more than 50 biologically active components called cannabinoids, the most potent being THC (tetrahydrocannabinol).

Sikder Sikder said for centuries people have been using marijuana for “medical purposes” in treating constipation, rheumatism, depression and insomnia, but using raw marijuana for medicinal purposes is difficult because the plant contains different amounts of cannabinoids making it hard to predict its effects.

“Many clinicians, therefore, would argue that smoking marijuana should not be considered a medicine,” he said. “Depending on how marijuana is ingested, it can have different effects.

Plant extracts can also have different effects on the human body.”

Range of effects

According to the National Institute on Drug Abuse (www.drugabuse. gov), the main effects of marijuana on mood vary and may include euphoria, calmness, anxiety, or paranoia. Getting high or “stoned” is the reason most pot smokers use marijuana.

Other short-term psychological effects include: • Distorted sense of time • Paranoia • Magical or “random” thinking • Short-term memory loss • Anxiety and depression

These psychological signs of using marijuana generally ease after a few hours. But residual effects can last for days.

One of Brady’s biggest concerns is how marijuana would interact with other medications taken. She said more information and studies need to be shared before providers should be able to prescribe marijuana as a treatment.

There have not been enough clinical trials showing that marijuana’s benefits outweigh its risks in patients with the symptoms it is meant to treat. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration requires carefully conducted studies in large numbers of patients (hundreds to thousands) to accurately assess the benefits and risks of a potential medication, according to NIDA. To be considered a legitimate medicine, a substance must have well-defined and measurable ingredients that are consistent from one unit (such as a

pill or injection) to the next. This consistency allows doctors to determine the dose and frequency.

Until there are standard recommendations by medical societies on the use of medical marijuana, it will be difficult to prescribe in a uniform manner, Sikder said.

“Guidelines need to be implemented in regards to the different strains of the plant, the dosage, the frequency, among other things,” he said. “As a physician, one of my primary responsibilities is not to cause harm to my patients. We will need clearer guidelines before starting to write prescriptions for medical marijuana.”

Sikder said until more research and detailed information are provided, he will “continue to prescribe the FDAapproved agents, which have helped many a patient with anorexia, nausea and pain.”

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

February 2014 •

IN GOOD HEALTH – Mohawk Valley’s Healthcare Newspaper

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Page 3

Upstate’s low uninsured rate already exceeds national goal Study shows New Yorkers setting pace

U

pstate New York has a lower uninsured rate than all but three states in the nation and already exceeds the goal of what federal health care reform seeks to accomplish by the year 2023, according to a new report issued recently by Excellus BlueCross BlueShield.

“The Facts about Health Insurance Coverage in Upstate New York” analyzed the most recent data available (2010-2012) for residents of all ages, and 2012 data for residents through age 64. At age 65, all U.S. citizens automatically become eligible for Medicare.

Upstate New York’s uninsured rate of 8.4 percent was significantly below the state’s uninsured rate (11.4 percent) and the national rate (15.1 percent). “What that means,” said Excellus BCBS Regional President Eve Van de Wal, “is that 324,000 more Upstate New Yorkers have health insurance than would have coverage if we were at the national rate.”

The report points out that the Upstate New York region studied has a population larger than 28 other states, but its uninsured rate is lower than all states in the nation, excluding Massachusetts and the less populous states of Vermont and Hawaii.

Upstate New York’s employerbased health insurance coverage rate of 62.5 percent also compared favorably to the state rate of 57.4 percent and national rate of 54.8 percent, according to the Excellus BCBS analysis.

“From a taxpayer’s perspective, job-based health insurance is preferable to government-based coverage, because it costs taxpayers less,” Van de Wal observed. “We have 371,000 more Upstate New Yorkers covered due to job-based benefits than we’d have if we were at the national rate for employer-based coverage.”

Looking at 2012 survey data pertaining to residents younger than age 65, the Excellus BCBS analysis shows that 91.3 percent of Upstate New Yorkers had health insurance coverage, well above the national rate of 83.1 percent.

A May 2013 Congressional Budget Office report forecasted that the health insurance coverage rate for the U.S. population younger than age 65 would reach 89 percent by the year 2023. “Before federal health care reform could even have an impact, our region started where the nation as a whole hopes to be nine years from now,” Van de Wal said.

“Our region is in much better shape than most of the country,” Van de Wal said. “I believe that Upstate New York promotes a climate for wiser health care spending fostered by strong local collaborations among those who provide care and the employers and insurers who finance it. Upstate New York is also in a predominately local, nonprofit health plan marketplace characterized by low operating margins among most competing insurers.”

Page 4

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Meet

Your Doctor

By Lou Sorendo

A. Bruce Stewart DDS

Dr. A. Bruce Stewart has been practicing dentistry in Oneida for 27 years. Recently, Mohawk Valley In Good Health Associate Editor Lou Sorendo interviewed Stewart regarding his profession and career.

Q.: What motivated you to get into dentistry?

A.: When I first went to college, I went with the idea of going to medical school. My dad was a pediatrician, and that seemed to be what I wanted to do.

As I went along, I didn’t really feel that medicine was where I wanted to go, and so I started looking at dentistry. I knew that my strengths included fine motor skills and I had a good aptitude in science. I also knew that I wanted to own and run my own business. As an undergraduate, I took a lot of music and arts, and as I got into dentistry, I found there was quite a bit of creative outlet to it.

Q.: What is the most gratifying aspect of the profession? What do you enjoy most about it?

A.: I get the most gratification out of helping people. There’s a lot of technical things that I do that give me gratification, but I think what has really kept me in it and motivated is that real sense of helping people. It is what gets me up in the morning.

Q.: You have been practicing in Oneida for 27 years. What has been the key to your success and longevity as a dentist?

A.: I would say the biggest thing is surrounding myself with people that are like-minded. My staff really has that passion to help people. I also really enjoy the evolution of the profession as it develops and changes. I really enjoy the aspect of learning and presenting new things to help my patients with whatever issues they have.

Q.: What are some of the latest technological developments in dentistry that have made diagnosis and treatment easier?

A.: There’s been quite a bit of technological change. It has changed to the point where I don’t do anything the way I learned in dental school. As far as the way I used to do root canals, it was a very long process. With the new technology that we are using to do root canals today, it has reduced the time by a third.

The way we do crowns now is using a CAD/CAM program. Instead of taking compressions and sending them to a lab to have crowns made, we now basically take images of the teeth and create a virtual design. We then mill the crown in a milling machine. We can have it ready that day, so there is no more need for two visits anymore.

The biggest advance over the last 10 years is the use of dental implants to replace missing teeth. That has become a big part of what we do in dentistry. It really has made a dramatic difference in helping people stay healthy. Now I do them using three-dimensional imaging

IN GOOD HEALTH – Mohawk Valley’s Healthcare Newspaper • February 2014

and software and precisely treatment plan it. In a lot of instances, I don’t have to make incisions to put them in and they are much quicker. It takes a quarter of the time that it used to take, is much more precise and requires much less healing time. What all this technology has done is decrease the

time patients have to be in the chair. Obviously, it is something that has reduced a lot of stress of coming to see me.

The other technological advance is the use of a laser to treat gum disease.

The older process involved scraping the roots and cutting the gums. We don’t really have to that anymore. This new laseraided periodontal therapy actually helps regenerate the bone and is something that we could not do before.

Q.: What are some of the more common procedures you perform?

A.: We pretty much treat all things and all ages.

I also do a lot of surgery, which is not something that most general dentists do. I do extractions and provide tooth-colored fillings. It is a full-service dental practice. A lot of it has to do with being where I am. I really do this for my patients’ benefit so they don’t have to travel to specialists. Once patients become confident in you, they really prefer having you do their work rather having you send them out to somebody else. I can treatment plan a patient here and the continuity is much better. It’s all-inclusive for the patient to get their

Continued on Page 12

Lifelines Birth date: May 10, 1956 Birthplace: Wilmington, Del. Current residence: Oneida Education: Skaneateles High School; Bachelor of Arts in biology, SUNY Binghamton (1978); Doctor Dental Surgery, SUNY Buffalo School of Dentistry (1982); general practice residency program, SUNY Upstate Medical University (1983) Affiliations: American Dental Association; Fifth District Dental Society Board of Governors; American Academy of Implant Dentistry; Cerec Doctors; CNY Implant Study Club; Rotary Club International Personal: Married to Kristen; sons Matt and Brian Hobbies: Sports cars, traveling, cooking classes, singing, hunting and fishing

FSLH, SEMC closer to affiliation History in the making on Mohawk Valley healthcare scene

By Patricia J. Malin

T

he proposed affiliation between two Utica healthcare providers — St. Elizabeth Medical Center and Faxton St. Luke’s Healthcare — could be finalized as soon as the end of February, if not sooner.

“We think it will happen in late February or early March,” said Debra Altdoerffer, vice president of communications and marketing for FSLH. In the meantime, the two institutions are awaiting approval from the federal government. The two hospitals filed a notification with the Federal Trade Commission late in 2013 and expected to hear back within 30 days or the end of January if the FTC had any objections.

The last step, according to Scott H. Perra, president/ CEO of FSLH, was to get approval from the Department of Justice under anti-trust regulations. Its stamp of approval was expected within Perra 60 to 90 days or the FebruaryMarch timetable.

“If they have no objections, we will be able to move forward with the affiliation as early as the spring of 2014,” Perra said recently.

On the other hand, no news is good news, Altdoerffer noted. The FTC nevertheless reserves the right to review the affiliation agreement at any point in the future.

Under the proposal, FSLH and SEMC will retain their separate licenses as nonprofit healthcare centers. They will soon begin sharing resources and staff under the name Mohawk Valley Health Systems.

Scott Perra, president-CEO of FSLH, will become CEO of the new entity. Mohawk Valley Health System will have authority to approve bylaws, select board members and take financial and operational responsibility for the two hospitals.

The hospitals have already received approval from two key state

regulatory offices: The New York State Attorney General’s office and the New York State Public Health and Health Planning Council.

Healthcare titans unite

During a recent press conference at the St. Luke’s campus, Perra and his counterpart at SEMC, Richard Ketcham, admitted there are still many details remaining before the affiliation could be solidified, but promised transparency. The two organizations combined will have nearly 4,500 employees and a total operating budget of more than $500 million. This is not a merger, which is a legal arrangement in which the two organizations combine assets and liabilities into one corporation.

The public, though, will notice little outward change. “Nothing is going to happen from a service perspective,” Perra said.

More importantly, SEMC, which operates a 25-acre center on Ketcham Genesee Street in Utica, will preserve its ties with the Sisters of St. Francis of the Neumann Communities. FSLH, headquartered at Champlin Avenue in New Hartford, will remain a secular organization.

“We will continue to follow the Catholic structure,” said Ketcham, “even though I can’t say it will last forever. (The affiliation) doesn’t mean our values will change.” He called the affiliation “a positive move,” one that “provides a strong foundation to better respond to the healthcare needs of our community.”

A new board of directors, comprised of 18 members from both FSLH and SEMC, will oversee the parent organization and Perra will become the health system’s administrator, while Ketcham will step aside from his post.

Ketcham said he will help guide SEMC through the transition as long as it takes. A graduate of the Univer-

sity of Rochester and Cornell University, he will eventually retire to his home base in Western New York (Fredonia) and become a hospital consultant.

FSLH includes St. Luke’s Home, Senior Network Health, Mohawk Valley Home Care and the Visiting Nurse Association of Utica and Oneida County. The Adirondack Community Physicians medical group offers eight primary care offices located throughout Oneida and Herkimer counties and multi-specialty providers including general surgery, orthopedic surgery and neurosurgery.

For years, the two hospitals have jointly cooperated in running the Mohawk Valley Heart Institute at St. Elizabeth and the Central New York Diabetes Education Program at the Faxton campus.

Following a trend

The proposed affiliation between the two hospitals was first announced publicly in December 2011. Throughout 2012 and 2013, the two boards of direc-

tors met independently and jointly to review financial and operating details.

Once they approved the affiliation, it went before a number of government agencies, such as the state health department. St. Elizabeth executives also consulted with the Catholic Church.

Perra said hospital consolidations are happening throughout Upstate New York, citing Buffalo, Rochester, Syracuse, Schenectady and Albany.

With the improved affiliation and bolstered services, he said SEMC and FSLH will gain credibility in attracting medical personnel.

“From a physician perspective, we will have a larger footprint in some specialties,” Perra said. “There will be more admissions and patients and it will allow us to recruit more physicians.”

Size-wise, the Mohawk Valley Health System would be comparable to Crouse Hospital in Syracuse, he said, although it would still be half the size of healthcare networks in Buffalo and Albany.

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

Health MV’s Healthcare Newspaper

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

In Good Health is published 12 times a year by Local News, Inc. © 2014 by Local News, Inc. All rights reserved. Mailing Address: 4 Riverside Drive, Suite 251, Utica, NY 13502 • Phone: 315-749-7070 Email: lou@cnymail.com Editor & Publisher: Wagner Dotto • Associate Editor: Lou Sorendo Contributing Writers: Patricia Malin, Barbara Pierce, Kristen Raab, Malissa Allen, Mary Stevenson, Deb Dittner, Amylynn Pastorella, Mary Christopher Advertising: Donna Kimbrell, Jasmine Maldonado Layout & Design: Chris Crocker Office Manager: Laura Beckwith 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.

February 2014 •

IN GOOD HEALTH – Mohawk Valley’s Healthcare Newspaper

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Page 5

Golden Years

Too old to drive?

Here’s some driving tips for the elderly

By Barbara Pierce

“

The greatest fear most older people have is losing their ability to drive,” said Ed Welsh, regional general manager, AAA of Utica. “My father is 78; he drives very well, but the fear of not being able to drive is on his mind. I want to see him driving for a long time in the future.”

“Our job at AAA is to help people stay on the road as long and as safely as possible,” said Welsh.

Toward this goal, Welsh offers the following suggestions: • The Utica AAA offers driver improvement classes every month.

Driving is a skill that can and should be continually improved.

You will increase your confidence and awareness behind the wheel by taking this class. You will refresh your driving knowledge and get the most out of your vehicle. This comprehensive program will ensure that you have the most up-to-date driving techniques and understand the latest vehicle technologies.

Also, by completing the driver improvement class, you will receive a 10 percent discount on insurance premiums.

People find this six-hour class very valuable, Welsh says. It is also offered online, where you can go at your own pace.

• As you age, it is important to know and understand how to adjust for slower reflexes, weaker vision and other changes.

For most us, as we age, our eyes don’t work as well at night. The chang-

es are usually gradual, and we may not be aware of how much our night vision has decreased. Welsh recommends having your eyes checked every two years by an ophthalmologist.

You may need to change your driving patterns to accommodate these changes. Do your errands early in the day, when your vision is better and when you may have more energy.

Hearing loss also is common among older adults. Like vision, often it gradually worsens. This loss can put you at risk in driving. For example, the inability to hear high-pitched tones, such as sirens from emergency response vehicles, can be troublesome,

Foot and Ankle Specialist Calvin Hu, M.D. joins Hamilton Orthopaedic Surgery & Sports Medicine Dr. Hu’s fellowship training focused specifically on the disease, injury, and treatment of the feet and ankles. Before joining our practice in 2013, he worked with a renowned group of foot and ankle specialists at Harborview Medical Center in Seattle, Washington.

Procedures offered by Dr. Hu include, but are not limited to: • Fracture care • Correction of arthritic deformities • Total ankle replacements • Bunion and hammer toe correction/fusions • Flat foot correction • Heel cord lengthening • Tendon repairs and transfers • Brostrom procedures Call 315-824-1250 to make an appointment with Dr. Hu at one of our three offices located in Rome, New Hartford, and Hamilton.

Please visit our website for more information www.hamiltonorthopedic.com Page 6

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IN GOOD HEALTH – Mohawk Valley’s Healthcare Newspaper • February 2014

especially among background noise like horns or railroad warnings.

A screening for whether your hearing has diminished is recommended on a regular basis. Many types of hearing loss can benefit from treatment.

Medications may not mix with driving

• Prescription medication plays a big role in affecting the driving ability of seniors, says Welsh. There aren’t many seniors who aren’t on at least one prescription medication.

“Seniors are probably the most responsible group of drivers,” commented Welsh. “They wouldn’t think of drinking three or four drinks, then driving. But they don’t realize that the medication they take may affect their driving as much as three or four drinks.”

Some medications or combinations of medications can impact your ability to drive safely. To receive personalized feedback about how the medication you are taking and the interactions between your medications may impact your safety behind the wheel, the AAA Foundation for Traffic Safety has designed an online tool. Roadwise Rx can be found at https://www.aaafoundation.org/.

Enter your medications and the program will give you side effects that can affect your driving.

“Things change,” concluded Welsh.

“Admit it and plan for it. Look at what you can do, not what you can’t do. And there is no reason you can’t continue to drive for several years.”

• Another very helpful website is www.seniordrivingaaa.com. With thorough information on the issues that face senior drivers, its goal is helping seniors drive safer and longer.

On this website is a self-rating tool where you can check your driving performance. Every time you get behind the wheel of a car, you must decide how to react to other vehicles and drivers, traffic signs and signals, highway conditions and your vehicle’s performance — and often take quick action. With the self-rating tool, you will rate yourself and your ability to drive safely, and get information about your strengths and weaknesses, along with suggestions for how to improve your driving.

Evaluate driving skills

If you or a family member are concerned that your driving skills may have diminished over time, consider getting a comprehensive skills evaluation or clinical assessment, suggests this website.

Not only can this help you recognize and correct possible shortcomings, it also can result in a personalized training plan to continue driving safely.

Think about getting an assessment the same way you look at visiting your doctor for annual wellness checkups.

It’s a smart way to identify and manage any physical or mental changes.

Licensing policies for older adults vary from state to state. In New York, motorists are required to renew their driver’s licenses and pass a vision test or submit test results from a vision specialist every eight years. Motorists may renew by mail if they submit a vision report; otherwise, they must apply in person. There are no additional requirements for senior drivers in New York.

To contact local AAA offices, call the Utica office at 315-797-5000 or the Herkimer office at 315-866-1845.

The Arc awarded CQL accreditation

T

he Arc, Oneida-Lewis Chapter, NYSARC recently was awarded the four-year Council on Quality and Leadership Person-Centered Excellence Accreditation from CQL. This award confirms that the organization shares CQL’s vision for person-centered solutions to improve the quality of life for people receiving supports and services.

“No other agency in this region has CQL accreditation. It is our foundation and anchor. No matter what challenges we may have ahead, The Arc will always remember that we will and do keep quality in our focus for the

1,600 people we support,” said Karen Korotzer, chief executive officer at The Arc. When The Arc partnered with CQL to pursue accreditation, it undertook a rigorous process to review and improve services and supports. Its efforts were focused on empowering the people who receive support from their organization to make choices in how they live their lives.

For more than 40 years, CQL has been a leader in raising the bar for human service organizations and systems to continuously define, measure and improve the quality of life of all people.

Golden Years

Seniors Savvy on Cyberspace

Mohawk Valley seniors aboard the social networking wagon

By Mary Christopher

W

hen Anne Puleo was asked whether Facebook is her Internet pastime of choice, she sheepishly smiled and replied that it is among several.

The 82-year-old Utica resident is a huge fan of Pinterest for recipes and doit-yourself ideas, online games and shopping on her iPad. A group is planning her 65th high school reunion through Facebook, which Puleo prefers because it means spending less Cohen time talking on the phone. However, she is still making plans to see old friends in person.

“There is a world of knowledge out there if you start looking for it,” Puleo said. “Even if I’m alone I feel connected.”

Puleo — like many senior citizens from around the Mohawk Valley — is part of a growing demographic across the United States of senior citizens who are using social media.

About 43 percent of Americans over age 65 used at least one social networking site in 2013, compared with 26 percent in 2010 and 13 percent in 2008, according to the social media website Mashable.com.

Although the majority — about 40 percent — of seniors is going social to connect with family and friends, 20 percent log on for social gaming and 10 percent are looking for contests and games.

Local health experts have noticed seniors using social media for a variety of reasons including staying engaged with out-of-area friends and family, sharing pictures and avoiding isolation, said Scott Cohen, a family practice physician and chief medical information officer for the Bassett Healthcare Network.

“Seniors who are not as mobile as they used to be may find it easier to stay engaged using social media. They are more likely to get responses from their younger family members who are constantly connected,” Cohen said.

James LaCava, a geriatrician and internal medicine physician for the Bassett Healthcare Network and Otsego Manor in Cooperstown, said it is important especially for seniors living in rural areas with no family members nearby to feel united by communica-

tion through social media.

“They also found no problems becoming familiar with a computer and navigating through sites like Facebook,” LaCava said.

Some other local seniors “got connected” for similar reasons. Theresa Boehlert, 85, of New York Mills, laughed when she explained how surprised her family was to see her join Facebook.

“They were shocked to see me,” she said. Boehlert keeps in touch with relatives around the country and enjoys lookLaCava ing at pictures, playing games and finding out information on book authors, recipes and general news. “(Social media) is a great source of information,” Boehlert said.

Theodore Mowers, 78, agreed. As a resident of the St. Luke’s Home in Utica, he took a class that introduced him to email and from there, a friend asked him to connect through Facebook. Since joining Facebook, Mowers has found much pleasure from communicating with family friends who live away.

“I really enjoy using the computer to talk to family friends. I talk to my nephew and nieces using email or Facebook,” Mowers said. “I find it easier to communicate through the computer rather than on the phone or through the mail.”

Anne Puleo, 82, of Utica, logs onto Facebook using her iPad. Puleo is part of a growing demographic of senior citizens using social media to reconnect with family and friends.

Watch out for nonsense

One thing Mowers does not enjoy is offensive comments or pictures that are sometimes posted or unwanted advertisements that often pop up on the screen.

Puleo finds it annoying that “some people are inclined to post nonsense or ridiculous statements that aren’t necessary.” It is comforting to know that she can block or delete friends that post excessively offensive material.

Another possible negative feature of social media that seniors — or anyone using social media — should be aware of are con artists using online schemes to extract money from people.

“Social media can provide another point of contact for these unscrupulous characters,” Cohen said.

Looking ahead, LaCava said once more visual online conversations, such as Skype, become more popular and less expensive, he expects seniors to gravitate toward those.

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IN GOOD HEALTH – Mohawk Valley’s Healthcare Newspaper

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Page 7

Golden Years

Joint Effort Knee replacements becoming more prevalent you play tennis, play doubles.

If your knee is sore, the most important thing for knee health is to be active, though this may sound counterintuitive.

A knee that isn’t used gets stiff; the muscles around it start to atrophy, and because these muscles would otherwise absorb some of the shock that moves up the leg with every step, a stiff knee has to take on more of the body’s weight than a supple one.

• Stretch regularly: Maintaining flexibility is important, especially in the muscles and tendons that connect directly to the knee, such as the hamstrings and the quadriceps. If these tissues become overly tight, they can pull the knee out of alignment.

By Barbara Pierce

K

nee replacements for younger people are becoming more prevalent, according to Ryan Monaco, a physical therapist and certified athletic trainer at Sitrin Health Care Center, New Hartford.

More and more people under 60 are opting for knee replacements.

Ten years ago, Monaco never saw a 50-year-old with a knee replacement.

Now it’s common.

It’s common because technology and equipment has improved so much, he explained, and because people want to remain active. They aren’t content to cut back on activities.

Also, the parts are lasting longer, said Monaco. Knee replacements don’t wear out like they did in the past. Today’s metal and ceramic parts are more durable than the parts previously used.

The vast majority of knee replacements last at least 15 years or longer.

Arthritis is the most common reason for knee replacement surgery, and arthritis is striking at an earlier age.

Younger people are developing arthritis pain.

There is an “epidemic” of younger people with advanced knee arthritis, according to experts. Obesity is the main cause of knee arthritis, says the National Institutes of Health. “Each step puts a force on your knee equal to six times your body weight, NIH experts say. So gaining even 10 pounds puts 60 pounds of pressure on your knee joints.

For all these reasons, knee replacement surgery has doubled over the

Preserve your replacement

past decade. Women have a higher rate of knee replacements than men.

If knee pain bothers you, Monaco recommends a course of physical therapy, which he provides at Sitrin Health Care Center. Sitrin offers a comprehensive, evidence-based program of PT, including a pool.

“You never get rid of arthritis, but with exercise, you can strengthen the muscles around the joints,” Monaco said.

“And that will help considerably.”

Help yourself

Other recommendations to avoiding

knee replacement: • Drop pounds: Losing as little as 5 percent of your body weight can dramatically reduce your chances of developing knee arthritis. Research found that those who lost 11 percent of their body weight cut down their pain by 50 percent.

• Move more: Those with the strongest thigh muscles had much less knee pain. Exercise every day; make it a habit. Walking for 20 to 30 minutes a day strengthens leg and knee muscles. Avoid high impact exercises like jogging or basketball. If

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IN GOOD HEALTH – Mohawk Valley’s Healthcare Newspaper • February 2014

MC

If you do opt for knee replacement surgery, experts recommend how to make your knee last as long as possible: • Stay at a fighting weight. The same things that prevent knee osteoarthritis from getting worse also slow down the wear on your replacement.

If you’re 50 and overweight, your risk of revision will be high. If you can maintain a near-ideal body weight, that’s the best thing you can do for your joint.

• Keep leg muscles strong. Good muscle tone is also important to avoid another joint replacement.

• Physical therapy can help following surgery. But skip leg squats and lunges. Deep knee bending isn’t good for the knee before surgery or after. It’s hard on the joints.

Golden Years

Spirit of Independence The Villas in Clinton offers home away from home for seniors

By Patricia J. Malin

A

group of three friends sat down to a hot lunch one recent afternoon in Clinton.

The tables in the formal dining room at The Villas of Sherman Brook are decorated with white linen tablecloths and red poinsettia plants. The diners looked over the menu and could choose either herbed chicken legs or crab cakes with salmon sauce, plus salad, water, dessert, tea and coffee or a glass of wine.

Anne Leinkuhler, Jane Collins and Anne Femia didn’t have to venture out into a blustery cold, snowy environment, and in fact they didn’t even have to leave home. Restaurant-style dining is one of the features at The Villas, an independent living community for seniors.

Chef Dominick Bersani is a former executive chef at Horned Dorset, a gourmet restaurant in Leonardsville, about 20 miles south of Utica. Though the clientele at The Villas might not be as diverse as it was then, it doesn’t change his approach to preparing flavorful meat and seafood dishes using low-sodium, heart-healthy cooking techniques.

“It’s all about offering choices,” he said. The Villas’ chefs will cater special events, even preparing dishes from residents’ own recipes. A private dining room is available to entertain family and friends.

Bersani’s arrival is one of many changes at The Villas, which is run by Brookdale Senior Living. Brookdale is a national chain that operates senior care communities in 50 states, including 14 in New York. Clare Bridge of Clinton, located in a separate building next to The Villas, provides Alzheimer’s and dementia care for seniors.

For the first time in 23 years, The Villas is undergoing a thorough renovation that includes new furniture and carpeting, improvements to the 81 apartments, a game room, a theater, a woodworking shop, even new computer stations.

Love at first sight

Leinhkuhler, 84, a retired teacher and librarian from Oneonta, wanted a community close to her daughter in Waterville. Leinkuhler came to The Villas three years ago and needed no prodding. “I was here before they told me (to move),” she said.

She said she likes the freedom of participating in her own activities, “as much as I choose. I’ve got my own thing going. I do exercises, yoga and Pilates.” The Villas’ fitness center has a group called “B-Fit.” On the other hand, Collins arrived two years ago, not at her own choosing.

“I came here for respite after falling,” she said. “I had a back injury.” Not long after her recovery, though, she felt right at home. “I lived in Frankfort originally and then New Hartford, but this worked out well,” she said.

Femia, 103, a Utica native, dressed in a bright pink jumpsuit and was a

Marketing director Traci Blaser, center, and chef Dominick Bersani join three residents of The Villas in a toast to the new year. The residents are, from left, Jane Collins, Anne Leinkuhler and Ann Femia. noticeable figure in the dining room. “I lived with my daughter in New Hartford for 11 years, but then we decided this was a good place to be,” she said.

Knowing other members of her family were already living here sealed the deal for her. “This was not a new place to me,” she said. “This is independent living as much as I can be.” When asked about how she manages to stay healthy and active, she replied, “The good Lord.”

Anna Morelli strolled in the hallway past Alan Fox and Julio Labor of Modern Domain in Albany. The workers were down on their hands and knees applying finishing touches to the carpeting.

follows trends in senior living has led The Villas’ turnaround.

“We needed to upgrade and modernize to attract the baby boomers,” said Michael Courtwright of Cazenovia, the project manager in the maintenance department. “They

will want to see that we have modern technology and Wi-Fi. Some of them are already moving in.”

The Villas has started a new marketing campaign to get the word out to the community about its facilities. The theater room is now being offered for public meetings and private groups.

Food for thought

On the second floor, Harold Hutton, 83, tinkered in the woodworking shop as his wife Margaret looked on. The couple, originally of Holland Patent, has lived here a year and a half. “She got tired of cooking for me,” Harold quipped. “I can be assured of three meals a day here.”

That’s obvious, but he noted that The Villas’ Alzheimer’s-dementia unit (with 42 rooms) is nearby if the time comes when he or his wife needs skilled nursing care. “It was not a difficult decision to make (to come here),” he explained. “I like that it’s independent living.”

He keeps busy in the workshop everyday. He also fashioned a small train, handmade from pine blocks, that was displayed under the Christmas tree in the dining room.

An experienced management staff that has worked here for decades and

Harold Hutton, a resident in the independent living unit at The Villas, takes command in the woodworking shop.

February 2014 •

IN GOOD HEALTH – Mohawk Valley’s Healthcare Newspaper

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Page 9

Winter Care The Balanced Body

By Deb Dittner

Natural Winter Care

Develop strategies that are going to keep you healthy this winter

I

t’s that time of year when cold and flu symptoms seem to appear everywhere.

You’ll find germs lurking in schools, the office, museums, fitness studios, the grocery store; you name it.

Many of us who are exposed to viruses on a daily basis have a variety of strategies that, for the most part, work extremely well. By incorporating what you can into your daily life will help keep you and your family healthy.

Here are some strategies to help keep you well: • Wash your hands frequently with a nonabrasive soap; pat thoroughly dry then moisturize. Do not touch your face, nose or eyes after touching contaminated Dittner surfaces.

• Drink half your body weight in ounces of water. This keeps mucus membranes hydrated and flushes toxins out of the body.

• Drink black or green tea with honey and lemon. The steam from the tea stimulates cilia (hair follicles in the nose) thus helping to get rid of germs.

Honey coats the throat and is anti-bacterial. Lemon helps to thin mucus.

• Say no to alcohol as this will interfere with sleep.

• Sleep seven to nine hours nightly.

Proper rest keeps our immune system healthy, protecting us from infection.

• Eat clean and enjoy eight to 10 servings of veggies and two to three servings of fruit daily.

Can’t seem to get all that in, you say? Try smoothies or juicing. A variety of combinations can create a very tasty and nutritious meal.

Shoot for two to three of veggies and one of fruit in your preparation.

Use what you have on hand in the fridge such as coconut water or almond milk, apple, cucumber, kale, broccoli, carrot, spinach, lemon, and fresh herbs.

Diets low in protein can also deplete the immune system. Consider adding hemp seeds, chia seeds, flax seeds, and nut butter for some added protein. Avoid processed foods because they are nutrient-depleted.

• Self-care such as massage, acupuncture, reiki, and tai chi all help to boost the immune system by distributing more oxygen into blood, increasing your circulation, and creating relaxation. Breathing techniques will also help reduce stress while keeping you healthy.

At home Epsom salt and therapeutic grade essential oil baths, reading a book, enjoying a good laugh and being with family and friends help to boost immunity.

• Movement for a minimum of 30 minutes most days of the week causes us to sweat, releasing toxins from the body. You can also take the stairs, walk your dog, find a buddy to go to the gym or walk during lunch to get you moving.

• Speaking of movement: Going to the gym can also expose you to many a germ. If you use equipment such as bicycle handlebars, yoga mats, free weights, pull up/chin up bars, towels, balance balls, and medicine balls, be sure to clean those areas that you will touch.

Make your own cleaner that is toxin-free such as a mixture of water

Winter Weather Warning

Deaths from heart disease rise during cold months

W

ith cold temperatures and lots of snow falling in Central New York, the American Heart Association is warning people to protect their hearts in the cold weather.

People who may be at high risk include those with existing heart disease or stroke, people with a strong family history, high blood pressure, high cholesterol, smokers, those who are overweight and the sedentary.

For these individuals, the stresses of the season may pose extra concern.

The AHA is urging individuals to

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exercise due caution to avoid sudden cardiac death.

Deaths from coronary artery disease tend to rise rapidly in the cold winter months. Several factors may influence this unfortunate trend, from an increase in respiratory infections during the winter, to increased workload on the heart from activities such as shoveling of heavy snow.

The AHA recommends the following tips to help respond to and prevent sudden cardiac arrest: • Avoid sudden cold weather exer-

with Thieves household cleaner.

• Office environments are a huge breeding ground for germs and illness.

Areas that need mention are water fountains/coolers, railings, door knobs, microwaves, copy/fax machines, elevator buttons, arm chairs, pens, cell phones, shaking hands, shared charts, tablets and computers. Make sure these items are frequently cleaned.

• Sore, scratchy throat coming on? Salt water gargles, zinc lozenges, a teaspoon of raw, local honey with a drop of Thieves oil swirled in, water, tea with honey and lemon can all be of help.

Therapeutic grade essential oils such as lavender or Thieves are great hand sanitizers.

• If someone coughs or sneezes as tion — Snowstorms present particular challenges for everyone, primarily because getting rid of the snow usually means sudden exertion in cold weather.

In and of itself, snow shoveling can be healthy, good exercise, but not if you are normally sedentary, are in poor physical condition, or have risk factors that make snow shoveling inadvisable for your health.

• Recognize the symptoms of hypothermia — Hypothermia occurs when your body can’t produce enough energy to keep the internal body temperature warm enough, causing it to fall below normal. It can kill you.

Heart failure causes most deaths in hypothermia. Symptoms include lack of coordination, mental confusion, slowed reactions, shivering and sleepi-

IN GOOD HEALTH – Mohawk Valley’s Healthcare Newspaper • February 2014

you are walking by, breathe out slowly until you are approximately 6-10 feet away, keeping you as free from contaminated air as possible.

• Nasal congestion? Use a neti pot with a saline solution to clear away viruses and thickened secretions.

• Have gratitude. A journal describing gratitude reminds us of the blessings that surround us each and every day.

Here’s to a winter season of health and well being and the beginning of a more natural approach to caring for ourselves and our families.

• Deborah Dittner is a family nurse practitioner specializing in reiki and holistic nutrition. Check out her website at www.The-Balanced-Body. com. ness.

• Stay warm — People with coronary heart disease often suffer chest pain or discomfort called angina pectoris when they’re in cold weather.

Besides cold temperatures, high winds, snow and rain also can steal body heat. Wind is especially dangerous, because it removes the layer of heated air from around your body.

• Avoid alcohol before heading outdoors —Alcohol gives an initial feeling of warmth, but this is caused by expanding blood vessels in the skin.

Heat is then drawn away from the body’s vital organs.

Alcohol consumption and physical activity in harsh winter weather conditions can increase the likelihood of hypothermia.

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Insightful look at eye care Glaucoma the ‘sneak thief of sight’

By Amylynn Pastorella

G

laucoma disease is a leading cause of blindness that many Americans don’t even know they have.

Over 2 million adults in the United States and about 60 million worldwide are affected by glaucoma.

It is vital to realize what conditions are out there that may affect you.

Often referred to as the “sneak thief of sight,” risk factors for glaucoma include eye pressure level, older age, family history, thinner central cornea, low blood pressure, Type 2 diabetes mellitus and genetic mutations.

Having no noticeable symptoms, vision loss can progress at such a gradual rate that people affected by the condition are often unaware of it until their sight has already been compromised.

The best defense against developing glaucoma is by having routine, comprehensive eye exams.

“Unfortunately, the early stages of glaucoma may be asymptomatic for most patients and people who have it may not even know it. Many times patients will not feel any differently if the eye pressure is higher than it should be,” said Scott Bushinger, an optometrist in Utica.

Additionally, patients often don’t notice if the peripheral (or side) vision is affected,” he added.

Threatens sight

Glaucoma is nerve damage that occurs within the eye secondary to high pressure within the eye. If the pressure within the eye is too high, it can potentially damage the nerve fibers that bring information from the eye to the brain. If a significant number of individual nerve fibers are damaged, a loss of vision may occur.

Typically, the loss of vision secondary to glaucoma initially occurs in the patient’s peripheral vision. If left untreated, the vision loss associated with glaucoma can gradually affect the central vision and may lead to blindness in severe cases.

There are both acquired and hered-

itary forms of glaucoma. In acquired forms, patients may have had a history of trauma to the eye or a history of significant inflammation within the eye.

Both may alter the intraocular anatomy and interfere with the regulation of pressure within the eye.

“It is important that individuals protect the eyes from blunt injury when playing sports or when participating in other activities that may threaten the eye,” Bushinger said.

The American Academy of Ophthalmology recommends all adults have a baseline, comprehensive dilated eye exam at least by the age of 40, a time when early signs of disease and changes in vision start to happen.

The exam can include an eye pressure check, and also a visual field examination as determined by an ophthalmologist. The academy recommends for seniors aged 65 and older to have a comprehensive eye exam every one to two years.

Some patients may experience increased eye pressure secondary to the long-term use of steroids. Recent studies have also shown that some migraine medications may cause a spike in eye pressure.

Bushinger advises it is always best to have eye pressure checked by an optometrist or ophthalmologist if prescribed these medications.

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SEMC recognized for organ donation outreach

S

t. Elizabeth Medical Center in Utica was among a select group of hospitals nationwide recognized by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services for reaching gold, silver and bronze levels of recognition for public education about donation and state donor registries.

SEMC conducted awareness and registry campaigns to educate staff, patients, visitors and community members about the critical need for organ, eye and tissue donors and, by doing so, increased the number of potential donors on the state’s donor registry.

The hospital earned points for each activity planned between September 2012 and May 2013 and was awarded gold recognition through the Workplace Partnership for Life Hospital Campaign, a program launched in 2011 by HHS’s Health Resources and Services Administration.

Of the 924 hospitals and transplant centers participating in the campaign, 322 were awarded recognition, with St. Elizabeth being one of only 131 hospi-

February 2014 •

tals that received gold-level recognition.

This campaign is a special effort of HRSA’s Workplace Partnership for Life to mobilize the nation’s hospitals to increase the number of people in the country who are registered organ, eye and tissue donors.

Currently, there are over 119,000 people waiting for a life-saving organ transplant in the United States. On average, 17 people die every day due to lack of organs available for transplantation.

St. Elizabeth Medical Center worked with the Center for Donation & Transplant in Albany on the campaign to coordinate a number of events, such as posting donation information, displaying posters, flying a donate life flag for all donors, celebrating April as donate life month and hosting several donor-registry enrollment events in the hospital and throughout the community.

To date, the campaign has registered a total of 221,834 donors nationally.

IN GOOD HEALTH – Mohawk Valley’s Healthcare Newspaper

•

Page 11

Meet

Your Doctor

By Lou Sorendo

Oneida dentist has passion for sports cars Continued from Page 2

service done here at one office by one dentist.

Q.: How can people improve their own dental health? What are some of the necessities in maintaining proper dental health?

A.: Most of it starts with general, overall good health. It’s having good nutrition and home care. One of our focuses here is to educate patients on how they can help themselves and tailor a home care regimen to their specific needs. A healthy diet and lifestyle is important as is getting proper amounts of sleep. Dentistry is really part of the overall package of health.

Q.: What do you believe are the most significant threats to dental and oral health?

A.: I would say the biggest thing we see is the cultural change in the way we eat. With this society being so fast paced, we have a society where a lot of people eat pre-packaged meals for efficiency. Their nutrition is not as good. There’s a lot of hidden sugar in processed foods. Other threats include smoking and alcohol consumption.

Also, we have a lot of diabetes in our society and these factors definitely impact oral health.

Q.: We hear that you and your wife Kristen, along with team members, do outreach in the community. What type of outreach do you do?

A.: We do a lot of Healthy Kids Days at different schools, and Madison County features a Healthy Kids Day at one of the parks every year that we have participated in. We do several open houses and “meet and greets” every year to try to educate people about what new technologies are available for patients. We also are involved in an internship program through MadisonOneida BOCES. We have a high school student — usually a senior — come in and do an internship while he or she looks for ideas on what they want to do from a career standpoint. There is also a dental hygiene program at the Rome Community Based Outpatient Clinic, and we have students come and do their externships here.

Q.: We see that you also offer a free dentistry day. What is the mission of this special day and what is its goal?

A.: Part of our mission statement is to provide community support through contributions, and that’s really where it started. We have been part of this community for a long time and felt like we needed to give back. We also saw there

KIDS Corner Doctors Unaware That More Teens Are Turning to E-Cigarettes

T

he use of electronic cigarettes, battery-operated devices that often look like cigarettes and deliver vaporized nicotine, is on the rise, including among minors. In a survey between 2011 and 2012, 10 percent of high school students reported ever using an e-cigarette. However, many clinicians are unfamiliar with or uncomfortable with addressing the use of e-cigarettes with their young patients, finds a new study in the Journal of Adolescent Health.

“The scientific community is still learning about e-cigarettes, and while there is much that we don’t know, most people would probably agree that minors should not be using them,” said

Page 12

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lead author Jessica K. Pepper, of the University of North Carolina Grillings School of Global Public Health.

Pepper and her colleagues analyzed feedback from an online survey of 561 Minnesota health care providers who regularly see adolescent patients.

was a tremendous amount of patients who couldn’t afford dentistry and it seemed like a way to give back. What we do is have a day where we offer either a free filling, extraction or cleaning to people who come see us. Usually we service between 50-70 patients in a day.

It’s a long day, but it’s an incredibly satisfying thing. People are so grateful, and it is extremely rewarding. The first year we did it, I was amazed at how much of a need there is and how quickly people came. This past year, we had one of the first patients actually show up at 11:30 the previous night.

The first year, we had somebody ride his bike from Hamilton to Oneida.

Q.: You participate in “track days” at Watkins Glen International and run sports cars there. What is that experience about?

A.: For the past 15 years, I’ve had sports cars. One of the oldest ones in particular that I’ve been tuning over the course of the time I’ve owned it — a Nissan 300ZX — got way too dangerous to really have fun with it on the roads.

There are track days where you can take you car to Watkins Glen and run it on the track. There are instructors who show you how to safely drive your car at triple digit speeds, but it’s not actually racing. Instructors take passengers out with them, and my wife Kristen actually had an introduction to high speed. Track days are a lot of fun and just a nice, safe way to enjoy your sports car without being a danger to society.

I also have a Rossion Q1 that I call a four-wheel sports bike. My Nissan is a quick car but this thing is a monster.

It’s the one I have recently been taking down to the track. It’s a component car, and is very light, powerful and fast. It’s almost to the point where I don’t really drive it much on the road because it’s much more of a track car than street car. I’ve always loved cars and it gives me that outlet where I can get up and get out of office and do something other than dentistry.

Health Briefs Martyrdom explored

Beth Lynch, an Auriesville historian, will do a presentation on “The North American Martyrs” from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. Feb. 27 at The Good News Center, 10475 Cosby Manor Road, Utica.

The presentation will focus on eight Jesuit missionaries living among the Hurons in the mid-17th century who were brutally tortured while sowing the seeds of the Catholic faith in Canada and the Mohawk Valley.

The cost is $10 per person and includes lunch. Registration must be made before Feb. 25.

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

Prohibition party to aid St. E’s upgrades

St. Elizabeth Medical Center Foundation and F.X. Matt Brewery will hold the sixth annual Prohibition Party, sponsored by Theresa Flemma, vice president of M. Griffith Investment Services, Inc. The event will be held from 6-9 p.m. April 25 at the historic F.X. Matt Brewing Co. Proceeds from the Prohibition Party will be used to support the upgrade of patient and employee security, as well as update patient care rooms for St. Elizabeth Medical Center.

If you are interested in sponsorships, call 315-734-4287, or e-mail bfilletti@stemc.org.

Tickets may also be purchased online at www.stemc.org/foundation or by visiting the St. Elizabeth Medical Center Foundation Office at 2209 Genesee St., Utica, or the F.X. Matt Brewing Co. Gift Shop/Tour Center at 830 Varick St., Utica.

Conversations on Sex Lacking Between Doctors and Teens

D

octors are missing a prime opportunity to share information about sex with their teenage patients by failing to broach the subject during checkups, according to researchers at Duke Medicine.

The study, published Dec. 30 in JAMA Pediatrics, found that less than two thirds of doctors and teenage patients talk about sex, sexuality or dating during annual visits, and the conversations that occur last less than a minute on average.

“It’s hard for physicians to treat adolescents and help them make healthy choices about sex if they don’t have these conversations,” said lead author Stewart Alexander, associate professor of medicine at Duke. “For teens who are trying to understand sex and sexuality, not talking about sex could have huge implications.”

During annual visits, doctors can promote a range of healthy behaviors to teenage patients by talking about issues such as smoking, drinking and wearing seatbelts.

Sex is another topic that the American Academy of Pediatrics recommends physicians address with

IN GOOD HEALTH – Mohawk Valley’s Healthcare Newspaper • February 2014

teens. While these conversations may be uncomfortable for the patient and provider alike, they are important opportunities to discuss sexual development, sexually transmitted infections and pregnancy prevention.

One-on-one confidential time during annual visits is recommended to allow for these sensitive conversations. Confidential discussions help establish trusting relationships between doctors and patients and foster candid disclosures from adolescents.

Between You and Me

Creating Joy

By Jim Miller

How to Choose a Continuing-Care Retirement Community Dear Savvy Senior, Can you give me some tips on picking a good full-service retirement community that offers all levels of housing, from independent apartment-style to nursing home care? My wife and I are both approaching 80 and are looking to downsize from our current home, but we want our next move to be our last.

One More Move Dear One, If you want your next move to be your final one, a full-service retirement community — better known as a continuing-care retirement community (or CCRC) — is a good option to consider, but they aren’t cheap, so you need to be prudent when choosing.

CCRCs are different from other types of senior housing because they provide all levels of housing, services and care in one convenient location.

While they vary greatly in appearance and services, most CCRCs offer apartments or sometimes single family homes for active seniors who need little if any help with their daily needs.

In addition, they also offer on-site assisted living for people who require aid to bathe, dress or perform other basic tasks, and nursing home care for residents who need full-time skilled nursing care.

CCRCs also provide a bevy of resort-style amenities and services that include community dining halls, exercise facilities, housekeeping and transportation as well as many social and recreational activities.

But be aware that all these services come at a hefty price. Most communities have entry fees that range from $20,000 to $500,000 or more, plus ongoing monthly service fees that can vary from around $1,000 to over $5,000 depending on the facility, services and the long-term care contract option you choose.

By Barbara Pierce

With nearly 1,900 CCRCs in operation throughout the U.S, finding a facility that fits your lifestyle, needs and budget can take some legwork.

Here are some steps you can take to help you proceed.

• Make a list: Start by calling the county’s office for the aging (call 800-677-1116 for contact information) in the area you want to live for a list of CCRCs. You can also search online at leadingage.org/findmember.aspx or carf.org/aging that has a national listing of accredited CCRCs. • Call the facilities: Once you’ve located a few, call them to find out if they have any vacancies, what they charge and if they provide the types of services you want or need.

• Take a tour: Many CCRCs encourage potential residents to stay overnight and have a few meals in their dining hall. During your tour, notice the upkeep and cleanness of the facility, and talk to the current residents to see how they like living there. Also, check out the assisted living and nursing facilities and find out how decisions are made to move residents from one level of care to another.

To check up on a facility, call the state long-term care ombudsman (see ltcombudsman.org) who can tell you if the assisted living and nursing facilities within the CCRC have had any complaints or other problems. Also, use the Medicare nursing home compare tool (medicare.gov/nursinghomecompare), which provides a ranking system.

• Investigate fees: During your visit, get a rundown on the different kinds of contracts that are available and their costs. Also, find out what types of services are included and what costs extra.

What yearly price increases can you expect? How much of your entry fee is refundable to you if you move or die?

And what happens if you outlive your financial resources?

• Research the community’s financial health: Find out who owns or sponsors the facility and get a copy of their most recently audited financial statement and review it, along with the copy of the contract with your lawyer or financial advisor. Also get their occupancy rate. Unless it’s a newer community filling up, occupancy below 85 percent can be a red flag that the facility is having financial or management problems.

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.

Bring delight, jubilation into your life

I

love the idea of joy, the meaning of joy, and the potential in that word!

Joy, delight, great pleasure, jubilation, exultation, rejoicing, glee, ecstacy.

Aren’t those wonderful words?

Don’t they make you want to experience those feelings?

I think it is possible to get there; to have those good feelings much of the time because I don’t think it has to do with our circumstances. I think it has to do with something in our heads, the way we think. And we can change the way we think.

I read something online that I really agree with. Four ways to find inner joy, on Aish.com, written by Slovie JungreisWolff, who is a writer and a personal coach like me.

Feeling joy begins with a sense of gratitude.

Show me a positive, happy person and I’ll show you a grateful person.

Gratitude is appreciation for your present Pierce reality.

If you’ve watched Oprah and other popular hosts, you’ve heard this: “Practice gratitude.”

Write down the little things you are grateful for, as well as the big ones.

Here’s mine for today: “I am grateful for this good peanut butter sandwich I am eating. That I have time to read the new book I got as a gift. That the man I care about called me on New Year’s Eve.” Instead of focusing on what’s wrong, train yourself to see what’s right, advises Jungreis-Wolff. Pay attention to the number of times a day you react negatively, with criticism or a complaint.

Work on quieting that negative side and building the positive. You will find yourself more pleasant to be around and you will evolve into a more joyous person.

Also, gratitude is expressing love to those you care for. Let them know that you appreciate about them.

This will be the best gift you can give someone. For a Christmas gift, I gave the man in my life a list of things I appreciate about him. He said it was the best gift he had gotten since he was a child.

Look around and what do you see most people doing? Going through life talking or texting, observes JungreisWolff.

“I recently spoke to a chiropractor who told me most of her clients are children whose neck muscles are strained from constantly looking down at their phones or ipads,” she said.

We have stopped appreciating the life around us, continues Jungreis-Wolff. We have lost our sense of awareness and with it, our delight for the people, objects, and moments that

February 2014 •

surround us. Of course this mindlessness affects our relationships. We begin to take it all for granted.

To have joy, we need to experience the fullness of life. See the colors of a sunset, listen to the giggles of a child, enjoy the scent of a home cooked dinner, share an intimate thought with a loved one. Be aware of what others are doing for you. Be aware, tune into now.

Become a giver

Those who give are genuinely happier people. Researchers have shown this is true.

When we feel we have a purpose, we feel pleasure. We know that we count and that we make a difference. We feel needed.

We feel alive. We experience the joy of giving.

We also transform ourselves into more sensitive human beings who touch people with our kindness.

We grow happier knowing that we have left a beautiful imprint in this world.

Give a bright smile in times of need, a reassuring hug, a listening ear, and an encouraging message when things seem bleak. When we build bonds, we feel joy. This is the joy that money can never buy. It is priceless.

Times of hardship and crisis can leave us feeling used up, the opposite of joyous. However, even in the most difficult moments of our life, it is important to try and recognize the good.

It is difficult to find positives when we are going through difficult times.

A serious illness can show you how loved you are, what a supportive family and friends you have. Losing a job can help you rediscover how beautiful the little free moments of life are, moments that you took for granted.

Working through serious issues in a relationship will help the relationship grow stronger.

Of course, no one wants to go through suffering and hardship, but if one does go through struggle, what now? The fact that you are still standing means that you have that to be joyful for.

Though we cannot choose life events, we can choose to live with gratitude and greater awareness. We can stop feeling sorry for ourselves and build bonds with those we love. We can take a better look at the positives that we have gained despite the ordeals.

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

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Continued from Page 2 Healthcare, 1676 Sunset Ave., Utica.

The Fresh Start Program is designed to help individuals quit smoking by providing essential information, skills for coping with cravings and group support.

The Tri-County Quits Tobacco Cessation Program works throughout Oneida, Herkimer and Madison counties to support healthcare providers and organizations with training and technical assistance that promotes quitting smoking.

For more information or to register, call 315-624-5639.

Feb. 5

Baby 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. Feb. 5 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.

No advance registration is required for the program.

Refreshments will be served.

Participants are asked to meet the instructor in the hospital lobby off the North James Street entrance. She will then provide an escort to the classroom.

For more information, call 3387143.

Feb. 6

Learn about emphysema, chronic bronchitis

Over 12 million Americans suffer from chronic bronchitis and emphysema, two major breathing disorders known as chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, and an estimated 12 million more are undiagnosed.

Learning how to breathe a little easier is the focus of Rome Memorial Hospital’s free Health Night presentation scheduled for 7 p.m. Feb. 6.

Lynda Ferris, registered respiratory therapist and Rome Memorial Hospital’s pulmonary rehabilitation coordinator, and registered respiratory therapist Cindy Soares will present the program to the public in the hospital’s classroom.

“Obstructed airflow and interference with normal breathing are characteristics of chronic bronchitis and emphysema,” Ferris said. “The two conditions frequently co-exist and therefore are referred to by the medical term COPD.” Smoking is a primary risk factor for COPD. Second-hand smoke, history of childhood respiratory infections, air pollution and heredity are also contributing risk factors.

“People who have breathing difficulties can learn to breathe easier and live a full life by managing the symptoms,” Soares said.

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Health Night is a monthly lecture series, sponsored by Rome Memorial Hospital, to promote health and wellness. No registration is required for the lecture. Refreshments will be served.

For more information, call 338-7143.

Feb. 8

Heart Run & Walk pre-registration available

Participants in the 40th annual America’s Greatest Heart Run & Walk in Utica are encouraged to register online or at one of the following sites.

They can also pick up their packets and incentives in advance of the event on March 1.

America’s Greatest Heart Run & Walk Weekend’s fundraising goal is $1,133,000.

A minimum amount of $25 in pledges for participants 18 years and older is required at registration to participate in the Heart Run & Walk.

Here is a list of pre-registration sites: • Feb. 8: Rome Free Academy, Griffiss Business & Technology Park, Rome, 8:30-11:30 a.m.

• Feb. 12: Hannaford supermarket, Commercial Drive, New Hartford, 3-7 p.m.

• Feb. 22: The Fitness Mill, Main Street, New York Mills, 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.

• Feb. 25: Herkimer County Community College, physical education building, Herkimer, 3-6 p.m.; Oneida Healthcare Center, Oneida, 4-7 p.m.; Colgate University, Reid Athletic Center, Hamilton, 5-7 p.m.

• Feb. 26: Sangertown Square Mall, New Hartford, 2-7 p.m.; Kirkland Art Center, Clinton, 3-7 p.m.; Lee Schoff Registration Day, Boonville village offices, Boonville, 4-8 p.m.

• Feb. 27: Sangertown Square Mall, New Hartford, 7-10 a.m.; Van’s Tavern, Barneveld, 5-8 p.m.

• Feb. 28: Heart Expo, Utica College, Clark Athletic Center, Utica, 9 a.m. to 9 p.m.

• March 1: Utica College, Clark Athletic Center, 6-9 a.m.

If you have registered online, you will still need to stop at one of the sites listed above to pick up your packet — including your bib number — and turn in additional funds.

For more information on America’s Greatest Heart Run & Walk 2014, contact the American Heart Association at 315-266-5403 or visit www.uticaheartrunwalk.org.

Feb. 8

After breast cancer support group meeting set

The after breast cancer support group will meet at 11 a.m. Feb. 8 at the community room at St. Luke’s Home in the Center for Rehabilitation and Continuing Care Services on the St. Luke’s Campus, 1650 Champlin Ave., Utica.

ABC meetings are free and open to the public.

The February meeting is titled “Laughter is the BEST Medicine” and

ABC members will lead the discussion.

Attendees will share their amusing stories about treatments, recovery and all that goes with it.

Women who have had breast cancer created the ABC support group.

For more information, call 315-6245764 or email bfriend90@aol.com.

Feb. 8

Ready to ‘Dance the Night Away?’

The Good News Center’s eighth annual “Dance the Night Away” will be held from 7-11 p.m. Feb. 8 at Hart’s Hill Inn, Whitesboro.

The cost is $50 per ticket.

Proceeds from this event support marriage and relationship programming at the center.

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

Feb. 12 in the hospital’s classroom to help mothers-to-be recognize the benefits of breastfeeding and give them the encouragement to overcome some of the obstacles.

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

No pre-registration is required. Refreshments will be served.

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

For more information, call 3387143.

Feb. 13

Free lecture series offered on Alzheimer’s

The Third Option will meet at 6:30 p.m. Feb. 9 at The Good News Center, 10475 Cosby Manor Road, Utica.

The group meets every other Sunday.

The Third Option support group is for married couples that are seeking resolutions to problems.

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

A free educational lecture series, presented by Rome Memorial Hospital and the Alzheimer’s Association, will offer helpful information for those living with or caring for someone with Alzheimer’s disease.

Attendees to the educational series of lectures will learn about memory loss, dementia and Alzheimer’s disease.

The dates and topics of the sessions are: • Thursdays, Feb. 13, 20 and 27: “Living with Alzheimer’s — Middle Stage for the Caregiver” • Thursdays, March 20 and 27: “Living with Alzheimer’s — Late Stage for the Caregiver” All sessions will be held from 5:307 p.m. in the hospital’s second floor classroom.

To reserve a seat for one or more of the lecture series, call the Alzheimer’s Association at 315-472-4201 ext. 108.

Feb. 10

Feb. 14

The Faxton St. Luke’s Healthcare Wellness Center is hosting an open house from 4-6 p.m. Feb. 10 at the Faxton Campus, 1676 Sunset Ave., Utica.

The open house will feature complimentary chair massages, blood pressure screenings, body fat analyses and information on nutritional health and diabetes prevention.

For more information, call Bethany Kleist at 315-624-5484, email her at bkleist@mvnhealth.com or visit www. faxtonstlukes.com.

Abraham House has a call out to all children aged 5–12 to create a poem about meatballs.

Six winners will be chosen to participate in the children’s judging panel to determine which restaurant has the best meatball recipe for March Meatball Madness from noon to 3 p.m.

March 2 at The Hotel Utica, 102 Lafayette St., Utica.

The poem about meatballs must be no longer than eight lines.

Besides being on the children’s judging panel, the six winners will receive four complimentary tickets to March Meatball Madness and a trophy.

Children must send or drop off their poems by Feb. 14 to Abraham House, 1203 Kemble St., Utica, or they can be emailed to info@theabrahamhouse.org.

The child’s name, school, telephone number and age must be included with the poem. Winners will be notified by phone by Feb 20.

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

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

Feb. 9

Are you ready to consider ‘The Third Option’?

FSLH Wellness Center to hold open house

Feb. 10

Women’s support therapy group to meet

A women’s support therapy group will meet from 5:30-7 p.m. Feb. 10 at 1 Ellinwood Court, New Hartford.

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

The group begins Feb. 10 and will meet every Monday from 5:30-7 p.m.

Cynthia Davis, who has 20 years of experience leading groups, will facilitate the meetings.

Group size will be limited to protect anonymity. To register, call 7361231 or email cindycsw@yahoo.com.

There will be a small fee to register for these groups.

Feb. 12

Hospital to host breastfeeding class

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

IN GOOD HEALTH – Mohawk Valley’s Healthcare Newspaper • February 2014

Call out for poetry contest contestants

Feb. 21

Abraham House features March Meatball Madness

Abraham House’s fifth annual March Meatball Madness will be held at The Hotel Utica, 102 Lafayette St., Utica from noon to 3 p.m. March 2.

At least 13 area restaurants will

Continued on Page 15

The Ragin’ Cajun

By Malissa Stinger

Gluten-free: Not just a trend

Can diet influence the incidence of ADHD in children?

E

verywhere you look these days, you see something pertaining to gluten or to the gluten-free diet.

What you don’t see much of are the reasons behind it.

Celiac disease is an autoimmune digestive disorder that is caused by the consumption of the protein gluten.

Gluten is found in many foods that contain wheat, barley or rye. The most common foods that contain gluten are bread, pasta, pizza, most pastries and cereal. According to www.gluten-free-for-life. com, celiac disease is becoming more common. It now affects 1 out of 100 people in Stinger the United States.

In order to treat CD, people have to completely avoid eating gluten and have to go on a gluten-free diet the rest of their lives. There is no cure; however, people that follow a strict gluten-free diet can live a long, healthy life.

A large number of foods contain gluten. Gluten provides structure or binding to baked food products. While it’s quite difficult to avoid gluten, many stores, particularly natural food stores, display foods in a gluten-free area of the store. Still, it’s important to read nutrition labels to see if there are additives containing gluten.

When someone is on a gluten-free diet, most bread and grain products are forbidden. Therefore, it is important to make sure the person receives ample fiber, vitamins, and minerals.

Supplementation can help make up for the lack of these nutrients when foods containing gluten are eliminated.

So what is it about a simple food product that can cause such havoc on a body?

Gluten can cause serious issues on the mind and body of those who are afflicted with celiac disease.

Changing kids’ behavior

Parents are attesting to the fact that their children’s behavior changes drastically when removing gluten from their diets. Children with autism become more aware of their surroundings and children with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder become more settled, being able to live a more calm everyday life, with stronger concentration levels.

Parents have said for years that diet appears to play a role in their children’s symptoms of ADHD, and many have removed food dyes and additives, along with sugar, from their children’s plates in an effort to manage the condition. However, recent research is pointing to a new

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Continued from Page 14 compete for the public’s vote for who has the best meatballs in the Mohawk Valley.

New this year will be the use of both floors of The Hotel Utica to allow for more space and seating. There will also be free taste testing.

Joe LaPaglia will provide entertainment.

Included will be a celebrity and a children’s judging panel and a meatballeating contest.

Tickets are $10 for adults, $5 for

children 6-17 while those under five eat free.

Tickets are available at the door or at Abraham House, 1203 Kemble St., Utica.

Abraham House has a call out to anyone 18 years and older who would like to participate in the meatball eating contest.

The winner who can eat the most meatballs in two minutes will receive $100 and a winner’s trophy along with bragging rights.

Applications are available at Abraham House or request an application

potential culprit for ADHD symptoms: gluten. The evidence for an association between ADHD and celiac disease or sensitivity to gluten is strong. Children and adults with undiagnosed celiac disease have a much higher risk of ADHD than the general population.

In one study, researchers tested 67 people with ADHD for celiac disease.

Study participants ranged in age from 7 to 42. A total of 15 percent tested positive for celiac disease. That’s far higher than the incidence of celiac disease in the general population, which is about 1 percent. Once they started on a gluten-free diet, the patients’ parents reported significant improvements in behavior and functioning. These improvements were backed up by ratings on a check list physicians use to monitor severity of ADHD symptoms.

Not everyone who has a problem with gluten has celiac disease. Recent research has identified markers for non-celiac gluten intolerance or gluten sensitivity, which seems to involve a reaction to gluten but not the intestinal damage that characterizes celiac disease.

Gluten intolerance, or gluten sensitivity, may affect up to 8 percent of the population. For people with gluten intolerance, studies show it’s possible that gluten plays a role in ADHD symptoms, but it’s less clear how large a role it plays.

Anecdotally, parents of children with ADHD have reported improvements in behavior — some quite

significant — when they placed their children on special diets, including a gluten-free diet. However, it’s difficult to correlate those improvements with the dietary changes.

Currently, there’s no accepted test to detect gluten intolerance. The only way to know is if your symptoms — which usually involve digestive problems but also can involve neurological issues such as headaches — clear up when you go gluten-free.

If you suspect gluten may be contributing to yours or your child’s ADHD symptoms, what should you do?

First, you should consider testing for celiac disease, especially if you or your child shows other celiac disease-related symptoms. Remember, not all symptoms involve your digestive system. Celiac disease symptoms in children may involve something subtler, such as short stature or failure to thrive.

In most cases, your physician will use a blood test to screen for celiac disease, followed by an endoscopy if the blood test is positive. If the tests are negative for celiac disease or if you decide not to pursue testing, you may want to discuss dropping gluten from your diet or your child’s diet for a month or so to see if symptoms improve.

To do this test properly, you’ll need to avoid gluten completely, not just cut back on it. If the symptoms are influenced by gluten ingestion, you should notice a change within that month.

by emailing info@theabrahamhouse. org.

The deadline for applications is Feb. 21.

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

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

$50 for those aged 5-12 and 13-18 for both audience choice and judge’s choice.

Parents need to email the child’s YouTube video link to info@theabrahamhouse.org or submit a CD by mail, or drop off to Abraham House, 1203 Kemble St., Utica, N.Y. 13501 by Feb. 21.

Email info@theabrahamhouse.org or call Abraham House at 733-8210 to request applications.

There is no entrance fee for contestants. Up to 20 contestants will be selected by a panel from Abraham House by Feb. 26.

Tickets for the “Singing Sensations” Talent Show are $10 and $5 for children 18 and under and will be available at the door or in advance at Abraham House.

For further information, call Abraham House at 733-8210. Abraham House provides a secure and loving home without charge to the terminally ill in the community.

Feb. 21

Call out for child singers for talent show Abraham House has a call out for singers 5-18 years old for its third annual “Singing Sensations” Talent Show.

The talent show will be held at 6:30 p.m. March 14 at the Mohawk Valley Community College Theater, Information Technology & Conference Building, 1101 Sherman Drive, Utica.

First-place winners will receive $75 and second-place winners will receive

February 2014 •

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H ealth News Medical staff elects new officers at SEMC

Mark E. Warfel of Clinton, family medicine residency program director, director of medical education and medical director of the St. Elizabeth Medical Group, has been elected president of the medical staff at St. Elizabeth Medical Center for 2014.

Urologist Robert P. Fleischer of New Hartford has been elected vice president and infectious disease specialist, while James L. Bramley of Clinton has been elected secretary-treasurer.

Warfel is a family practitioner and is a graduate of the St. Elizabeth Hospital Family Medicine Program. He received his Doctor of Osteopathy degree from the University of New England College of Osteopathic Medicine in Biddeford, Maine, Warfel and a Bachelor of Pharmacy degree from the Massachusetts College of Pharmacy, Boston.

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

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

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

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

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

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

He completed Bramley a residency in internal medicine at Albany Medical Center and a fellowship in infectious diseases Page 16

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at the Brown University Program in Medicine.

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

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

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

Dispose of sharps, needles at St. E’s

St. Elizabeth Medical Center in Utica provides a household sharps disposal program for people who want to dispose of sharp medical instruments such as insulin hypodermic needles.

The program is open to individuals from private residences, not businesses.

Sharp instruments, packed in a puncture-proof container and clearly marked as “sharps,” may be brought to the hospital services department, located in the basement of the medical center, from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. weekdays, excluding holidays.

For more information, contact hospital services at 315-798-8249.

St. E’s opens lactation room for nursing moms

St. Elizabeth Medical Center in Utica, in accordance with the New York State Nursing Mothers in the Workplace Act, provides unpaid break time to nursing mothers who wish to express milk at work, for up to three years following childbirth.

In response to this need, the medical center has created a lactation room on the hospital’s third floor for employee and visitor use, either for expressing milk or nursing infants.

The lactation room is located by the 3B unit waiting area and can be reached by hospital elevators 1 and 2.

The human resources director will work with employees who work at SEMC community sites and their department managers to provide suitable areas there as well.

The Mohawk Valley Perinatal Network provided a stipend which was used toward creation and furnishing of the lactation room.

Big Brothers Big Sisters seeks mentors

Do you have a couple hours per week to mentor a child?

That’s all the time it takes to help the more than 85 children across Central New York who are awaiting a Big Brother or Big Sister for guidance and friendship.

The local Big Brothers Big Sisters chapter serves children aged 6-14 who are from single parent homes or who reside with a grandparent or guardian.

Big Brothers Big Sisters of America is the oldest, largest and most effective youth mentoring organization in the United States helping children reach

their potential through one-to-one relationships with mentors that have a measurable impact on youth.

National research has shown that positive relationships between youth and their Big Brother and Big Sister mentors have a direct and measurable impact on children’s lives. By participating in this youth mentoring program, youngsters are more confident in their education, interact better with family members, and are less likely to use drugs, alcohol or skip school.

For more information about becoming a Big Brother or Big Sister, call 315-797-4080.

FSLH names new chief medical officer

Michael Trevisani has been named senior vice president/chief medical officer at Faxton St. Luke’s Healthcare.

In this role, Trevisani is responsible for quality improvement, credentialing, the physician support services office, physician recruitment and the medical staff office.

Trevisani received his bachelor’s deTrevisani gree from Hamilton College in Clinton and earned his medical degree from SUNY Upstate Medical University in Syracuse.

He completed a residency at Robert Packer Hospital in Sayre, Pa., and a fellowship in colon and rectal surgery at UMDNJ-Robert Wood Johnson Affiliated Hospitals in New Brunswick, N.J. Trevisani also received his Masters of Business Administration from the University of South Florida in Tampa, Fla. Trevisani most recently held the position of vice president of medical affairs/CMO at UHS Chenango Memorial Hospital in Norwich and UHS Delaware Valley Hospital in Walton.

Trevisani is a fellow of the American Society of Colon and Rectal Surgery and the American College of Healthcare Executives.

He is board-certified by the American College of Physician Executives and is a member of the Iroquois CMO Group.

Volunteer association announces board officers

The Faxton St. Luke’s Volunteer Association recently announced the 2014 officers for its board of directors.

Jane Gwise has been named president and has served as vice president and member-at-large.

Gwise began volunteering more than 20 years ago at Faxton Hospital serving on the Faxton Council. She volunteers in the outpatient infusion unit in the Regional Cancer Center at the Faxton Campus.

John Levitas has been named vice president and has been volunteering

IN GOOD HEALTH – Mohawk Valley’s Healthcare Newspaper • February 2014

at FSLH since 2007, during which time he has volunteered more than 4,000 hours of service.

In addition to serving on the board, Levitas delivers mail and newspapers, and staffs the gift shop, surgery waiting room and information desk.

Craig Heuss Gwise has been named treasurer and has been a volunteer for the past seven years. He originally delivered mail before assuming the position of treasurer for the volunteer association. In this capacity, he has implemented a software system that saves time and improves efficiency.

The volunteer association actively seeks to improve the care patients, residents and their families receive, contributing nearly 60,000 hours of service to FSLH in 2013.

The organization operates gift shops at both the St. Luke’s and Faxton Campuses, and organizes vendor sales throughout the year.

Profits from these endeavors allowed the association to make a $150,000 donation to FSLH to purchase new TVs for inpatient rooms in 2013.

If you would like to get involved and volunteer at FSLH, call Sue Warwick, director of volunteer services, at 315-624-6052.

FSLH makes staff announcement

Paul Abbass has been named chief of medical physics for The Regional Cancer Center of Faxton St. Luke’s Healthcare as well as radiation safety officer for the Faxton campus.

Abbass received a bachelor’s degree in fitness and cardiac rehabilitation from Ithaca College and a second bachelor’s degree in radiation therapy from SUNY Upstate Medical University in Syracuse.

He earned his master’s degree in medical physics from Abbass Illinois Institute of Technology in Chicago, Ill., and earned board certification as a therapeutic medical physicist through the American Board of Radiology. He is also a board certified radiation therapist and medical dosimetrist.

Prior to his promotion, Abbass worked for six years as a staff physicist at The Regional Cancer Center. In his new role, Abbass is responsible for the safe and accurate administration of radiation for cancer treatment.

He oversees the dosimetry planning team and is in charge of the calibration and quality assurance of

Continued on Page 17

H ealth News Continued from Page 16 two linear accelerators, one radioactive source remote afterloader system, one CT simulator and monthly prostate seed radioactive implants.

He uses his knowledge of radiobiological principles to ensure patients are treated safely and effectively. In his role as radiation safety officer, Abbass oversees all radiation-related activities taking place at the Faxton campus.

Abbass is also an adjunct professor at SUNY Upstate Medical University, teaching junior and senior level radiation physics courses.

Nurse manager takes on new duties at FSLH

Melanie Pogoda has been named nurse manager of 2 West for Faxton St. Luke’s Healthcare in Utica.

Pogoda’s previous position with FSLH was as nurse manager of urgent care.

Prior to joining FSLH, Pogoda was a nurse manager of the orthopedic neurosurgical unit at Southern Hills Hospital in Las Vegas, Nev. She has also held staff and charge nurse poPogoda sitions at Sentara Potomac Hospital in Woodbridge, Va., as well as St. Elizabeth Medical Center in Utica.

Pogoda earned an associate’s degree in nursing from St. Elizabeth College of Nursing and a bachelor’s degree in nursing from Utica College, both in Utica.

She is enrolled at the University of Phoenix in the masters of healthcare administration/informatics program.

Surgeon general: War on smoking far from over

The United States Surgeon General recently released the 32nd report on smoking and health in recognition of the 50th anniversary of the first smoking and health report released in January 1964.

The 1964 report was the first one made to the American public that identified smoking as a cause of lung cancer in men.

The 32nd report provides new findings on the health effects of smoking along with a call to end the tobacco use epidemic.

New York state is a leader in tobacco control with strong clean indoor air laws, the highest tobacco taxes in the nation, smoke-free outdoor laws, youth prevention initiatives and cessation programs that together have led to substantial reductions in smoking rates among adults and youth. Despite these efforts, more than 25,000 New Yorkers still die every year due to tobacco use, a leading cause of premature death and disease.

The New York State Tobacco Control Program effectively reduces to-

bacco use, saves lives and saves money.

The Department of Health estimates that approximately 35 percent of the total decline in adult smoking is attributable to youth prevention strategies.

The significant reduction in smoking among young adults will reduce future health care costs by approximately $5 billion.

“Quitting smoking is very difficult so it is best if you have a plan in place as well as support,” said Eileen Gleason of the Tri-County Quits Tobacco Cessation Center at Faxton St. Luke’s Healthcare in Utica. “Contact the New York State Smokers’ Quitline at 1-866NY-QUITS or talk to your doctor for advice, support and possibly medication to give you the best chance for success.”

medicine department in May of 2006, John has consistently delivered an exceptional level of care and compassion to his patients and always ensures they have the best experience possible at Slocum-Dickson, a spokesperson said.

In addition to patient care, John John has been instrumental in many of the group’s initiatives such as marketing and physician recruitment.

VHS welcomes new cardiac SDMG names its employee rehab nurse of year

Valley Health Services in Herkimer recently welcomed Ashley Lundquist as its cardiac rehabilitation nurse.

Lundquist attended Mohawk High School and continued her education to successfully receive a bachelor’s degree from SUNYIT in psychology during 2008 and a bachelor’s degree in nursing during 2012.

“I truly look forward to what each day will bring in cardiac Lundquist rehab at VHS,” commented Lundquist. “As a nurse, this position allows me to fulfill many different roles, such as an educator, personal trainer, counselor and an overall health coach. I enjoy using these different aspects to guide cardiac patients in the right direction post heart surgery.”

Prior to joining VHS, Lundquist worked on a cardiothoracic progressive care unit, and noted, “I’m actually working with the same population of patients, but just at a different phase in the process. It is very interesting to be on the other side and watch patients overcome the challenges that follow a major cardiac event. I feel very privileged to be in the unique position to help our patients lead a new life filled with exercise, heart-healthy eating and overall wellness.”

A lifelong resident of the Mohawk Valley, Lundquist resides in Clinton and is looking forward to her marriage in October at Disney World in Florida.

SDMG names outstanding physician of the year

Thomas John has been named outstanding physician of the year for 2013 at the Slocum-Dickson Medical Group in New Hartford.

John received this recognition by his fellow physicians for the substantial contributions he has made to the group, the patients it serves, and the community in general.

Since joining the group’s internal

Slocum-Dickson Medical Group in Utica recently named Bob Gibbs employee of the year for 2013.

Gibbs began his career with Slocum-Dickson Medical Group in 2006 as a computer operator in the information technology services department and was promoted in 2007 to an information technology systems analyst.

In January of 2011, Gibbs took on the role of electronic medical records

systems analyst where his focus is on creating many of the specialized forms used in SlocumDickson’s EMR system.

Gibbs has been instrumental in the group’s “meaningful use initiative.” This initiative helps to ensure the completeness and accuracy of patient medical information, allows better access Gibbs to information, and promotes patient empowerment.

Gibbs earned his associate degree in computer repair technology from Corning Community College and his bachelor’s degree in computer information systems from SUNY Institute of Technology.

Gibbs also served as a combat engineer in the U.S. Army Reserves.

St. Johnsville names top employee of quarter

St. Johnsville Rehabilitation & Nursing Center elected Jim Brown em-

Continued on Page 18

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Page 17

Mary in the Middle

H ealth News Continued from Page 17 ployee of the first quarter of 2014.

Brown has worked in the finance department since October 2012.

“Jim is always willing to help anyone with computer and printer issues. He is very knowledgeable and always goes the extra mile, whether it is helping someone with computer issues or helpBrown ing a resident with their finances,” a St. Johnsville spokesperson noted. “He never makes you feel incompetent and always tries to answer all your questions.”

St. Johnsville worker ‘Caught Caring’

St. Johnsville Rehab and Nursing Center recently awarded Stephanie Timmerman with its December 2013 “Caught Caring” award.

Timmerman was selected at random from 36 entries to win a $100 cash prize. She was nominated by Jessica Wall for “going above and beyond her job duties to help each resident everyday.”

Caught Caring is a peer program dedicated to highlight SJRNC’s values of trust, respect and dignity.

Any employee can be “Caught Caring” by demonstrating these values and enriching the lives of residents.

Raffle tickets selling at record pace

Tickets for Sitrin Medical Rehabilitation Center’s 18th annual HarleyDavidson Raffle are selling faster than ever.

With fewer than 900 tickets remaining, buyers should not procrastinate.

Sitrin anticipates an early sell-out.

This year’s model is a 2014 Street Glide FLHX. It is valued at $20,899.

Tickets are $10 each and a total of 4,250 will be sold. They can be purchased securely online at www.sitrin. com, in person at Sitrin, 2050 Tilden Ave, New Hartford, or by calling 315737-2245.

The raffle will be held at noon on Valentine’s Day, Feb. 14, at Sitrin.

Ticket buyers do not need to be present at the drawing to win. Entrants must be 18 years of age. Tickets are available to U.S. residents only.

Proceeds from this fundraiser benefit Sitrin, which provides a variety of comprehensive medical rehabilitation services for children and adults, including the STARS adaptive sports program for people with physical disabilities.

LFH recognizes inpatient unit nurse

Little Falls Hospital recently celebrated the achievement of Patty Denslow, who received her bachelor’s degree in nursing from Keuka College.

Denslow attended Keuka College from 2011-2013. She attended college full time and is also a full-time geriatric Page 18

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A Drive Around Memory Lane W

resource nurse on the inpatient unit at Little Falls Hospital.

Prior to this, Denslow was a certified nursing assistant at St. Elizabeth’s Medical Center in Utica.

While attending college full time and working full time, Denslow maintained a Denslow GPA of 3.94. She said what drove her was the amazing support from her family.

Denslow lives in Newport with her husband, Rodney, and three children.

hen my mother was younger, she used to pack a lunch to last the entire afternoon and load my cousins in the car then take a ride to wherever.

“Let’s just get in the car and go,” she’d say. When she had her own children, we did the same. Not as often it seemed as she did when she was younger but it was still a tradition to do.

During the summer, we’d wind up at different beaches around the area. In the fall, we’d find pumpkin patches or apple farms to soak in all the sights, sounds and smells of autumn. I get carsick on Stevenson a regular basis but I never seemed to have problems on these jaunts of hers.

It’s no wonder that I took a liking to just driving around. I did that when I was younger and just needed time to think. Or time to unwind. Or just have five minutes to myself. I’d drive past places I lived in as a kid or people’s homes that I recognized from years earlier. I probably could have been charged with stalking if anyone had seen me driving around and slowing as I passed by certain homes.

I still think about doing that once in a while these days but packing up four kids aged 7 and under becomes more work than it’s worth just to take a ride sometimes. And it’s usually them I need a break from!

Before the weather turned cold, I decided to take dad for a ride. Not quite the unscripted rides mom used to host; this one had a purpose. You see, dad has been around for almost 90 years. He has seen a lot and done so much more.

There are nine decades of memories inside that active mind of his and I was hoping to tap into more of them. Many of those years were spent out of state but the majority was spent in Central New York, so that’s where we went.

Presbyterian Homes Foundation receives grant

The Presbyterian Homes Foundation has received a $100,000 grant from the Community Foundation of Herkimer and Oneida Counties, Inc. for the renovation of the Presbyterian Home lobby and corridors.

The renovation is part of the organization’s five-year master building repair and renovation plan that includes eventual upgrades of major portions of the home in order to better serve its residents.

“We know that first impressions are important, both to the confidence and the quality of life of our residents and their families,” said Lenora D’Apice, executive director of advancement for the Presbyterian Homes Foundation. “We’ve been working hard to upgrade major areas of the home to improve their experience and provide better services as well.”

The entire lobby, originally built in 1967, will be renovated, along with both corridors leading to the Presbyterian Home resident areas.

The lobby will be furnished with a donor recognition wall to recognize all donors to the Presbyterian Homes & Services family of services, along with special recognition to the Community Foundation as the major benefactor.

The lobby/donor area will also be named after the Community Foundation.

The Presbyterian Home has already renovated the main parking lot, the Presbyterian Home dining room, and facility sprinkler system in the Presbyterian Home. The main lobby and corridor renovations will complete this first round of upgrades to the organization’s main building areas.

Presbyterian Homes & Services honors employees

Presbyterian Homes & Services in New Hartford held its 35th annual Employee Recognition Dinner recently to honor staff members for their service in the past year.

The event was held at the Vernon Downs Casino & Hotel, and featured awards to more than 60 staff for their years of service, from five to 35 years.

In addition to awards for years of service, several special awards were given.

• Dr. Anna Gosline Memorial Achievement Award for the Presbyterian Home for CNY: Eileen Kaskela,

By Mary Stevenson

night supervisor • Preswick Glen Employee of the Year: Thomas Chamberlain, facility services • Presbyterian Residential Community Employee of the Year: Diane Nasso, home health aide and house supervisor Six employees were recognized for 35 years of service.

They were: • Presbyterian Residential Community activities: Johann Page • Presbyterian Home for CNY adult day health care: Judith Acee, Leslie Green • Nursing administration: Norma Gonzalez, Jacquelyn Lince • Nursing: Virginia Geary

IN GOOD HEALTH – Mohawk Valley’s Healthcare Newspaper • February 2014

Dad was born and grew up in Utica. He was born during the Great Depression, one of six children total.

They moved around a lot due to lack of money and resources. Dad used to rattle off the street names when recalling stories of his childhood and some of them I remembered. I took him to the old neighborhoods to see what was still there and what had changed.

One house was still standing, while one had been wiped from the landscape. Still others showed the wear and tear of weather and use.

We drove past the high school that he dropped out of to join the military and support his family.

He told me that he used to get a free cab ride to and from school each day because he rode with a boy who was in a wheelchair.

He helped the boy get to and from school and he was rewarded with cab fare. He talked about his first job on Oneida Square as a soda jerk at a luncheonette. That luncheonette no longer stands but his memories are still clear.

We took a drive to the cemetery to see my mom, his mom and his dad. We rode past other family members. Each pass would elicit a memory from his childhood or young adulthood — some good, some not so good, but all his. No one can take them away from him.

I hoped that by taking him on this physical ride down memory lane, it would give him a look at what I see when I look at him. I see a man who lived a life — a fantastic, full life, chock full of laughter, tears, food and family. I now see his memories as he saw them that day. And I will add them to my ride around the old neighborhood on the next drive, when it’s my turn to take a drive

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

Rome Hospital RHCF resident 100 years young

Anita Garofalo celebrated her 100th birthday at Rome Memorial Hospital’s Residential Health Care Facility recently with her family and friends.

A lifelong resident of Rome, Garofalo retired from her job in the Rome Garofalo City School District. She has three sons, five grandchildren and two great-grandchildren.

Clutter Control Get organized and live healthier!

By Barbara Pierce

T

he magazine rack is overflowing, the dining room table holds a week’s worth of mail, the stairs are an obstacle course, and your desk is totally covered with papers in no particular order or organization.

You’re stressed out anyway. All the clutter in your home or your office piles on much more stress.

“Physical clutter breeds mental clutter,” says declutter coach Deborah Cabral of New Hartford.

“Being disorganized causes stress.”

It makes you feel overwhelmed.

Having too much stuff can not only drain and frustrate you, but it can make it difficult to get things done.

Cabral Too much stuff drains your energy, you can’t find things, and it interferes with all aspects of your life.

Clutter is bad for your physical and mental health, say experts.

“Cluttering is common,” says Cabral. “We’re so busy. Our lives are so fast paced; we don’t take time to declutter. And we’re so materialistic, we are in the mode to acquire more and more stuff.”

Cabral, a professional organizer and productivity and efficiency coach, is president and owner of Cabral Enterprises. The business offers insights to help you declutter, create, and maintain an organized life.

Our home should be calm and soothing, a place where we can escape from the outside world, and a safe haven, believes Cabral. Also our office needs to be a comfortable, organized and productive place.

“We forget to do what we need to do to keep our space comfortable and calm,” she says.

Words from the wise

She offers these tips: Look at the objects around you. Look at them with these two criteria in mind:

• Do you absolutely love it and cherish it?

• Do you absolutely need it and use it.

If the object is not something you dearly love or something you actually use, it’s got to go.

Cabral shares her experience helping a client declutter his kitchen. He had drawers full of gadgets he hadn’t used in years, she recalls. Kitchen utensils and stuff he hadn’t used for ages filled a huge box that went to Goodwill.

“You said I’d feel a lot better if I got rid of a lot of my stuff,” he told her.

“But I didn’t believe you when you said that. Now I have to say you were right. Now that I have done it, I feel like a big weight has been lifted off my shoulders.”

You’ve got to stay on top of your unloved and unused things, declutter experts recommend. Start small; do a little at time. Throw out those torn and stained T-shirts and unmatched socks as you see them. Toss out the kitchen paraphernalia clogging up your drawers; recycle the magazines that have sat unread for several months.

Or, take one room and spend a few

hours going through all the stuff. Or go even smaller: Go through one drawer in your file cabinet or one drawer in your kitchen each week. Once you get decluttered, maintain your clutter-free way of life.

Another of Cabral’s tips: “Living within your financial means is always good advice,” she says. “We should also live within our physical means.”

Most of us don’t have unlimited space to keep adding stuff. A family living in a 3,000-square-foot house can have many more things before they feel cluttered than can a family in a 1,200square-foot house.

Everything has a place

Create a place for everything. What doesn’t have a home is either going to get lost or end up as a mess. If you don’t have a place for it in your home, don’t bring it home.

“Be able to live comfortably live with your belongings,” she advises.

We get overwhelmed with papers: school papers, catalogues, bills. Cabral suggests we handle a piece of paper only once. Throw out what you can immediately; don’t let it pile up.

“Clutter breeds clutter,” she says.

And, “for every minute spent organiz-

February 2014 •

ing, an hour is earned.”

“The process of purging and paring was one of my family’s most liberating experiences,” says Ciji Ware in AARP magazine.

Ware continues: “What you will discover, as you begin to declutter the space around you, is that you will change. Your choices will broaden, your life feels more manageable, and your surroundings become better suited to who you are now --- and what you’re aiming for in the future.”

Cabral helps individuals, families, and businesses to get rid of the clutter, to get organized, change habits and become more productive at home, at work, and in life. She donates her time to nonprofit organizations to help them become more efficient.

For more information on Cabral Enterprises, call 315-794-9495 or see www.decluttercoachdeb.com/meetdeb.php.

Cabral will be a special guest at the 2014 Home Show in Verona on Feb. 7-9.

She will present eight workshops over the three days.

The home show is at the Turning Stone Casino & Resort, 5218 Patrick Road, Verona.

IN GOOD HEALTH – Mohawk Valley’s Healthcare Newspaper

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