IGH Rochester #183 November 20

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This Thanksgiving ...

Say ‘No Thank You’ GVHEALTHNEWS.COM

NOVEMBER 2020 • ISSUE 183

LONGEVITY GAP

Read Gwenn Voelckers’ column on page 6

Wealthy outlive poor by nearly 10 years.

We talk to local experts.

Page 20

Always Be Ready for a Trip to the ER

Diversity Inclusion, access and equity: priorities for Excellus BCBS, officials say

Rochester Regional Health Heavily Expanding in the Finger Lakes Page 11

Why isFrozen Spinach Such a Healthy Choice?

P. 15

Is Election Stress Getting to You? You’re Not Alone

P. 2

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Is Election Stress Getting to You? You’re Not Alone

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or most Americans, the 2020 presidential election is a big source of stress, a new nationwide survey shows.

Nearly seven in 10 adults (68%) surveyed called the election a significant source of stress, compared with 52% in 2016, the survey commissioned by the American Psychological Association (APA) showed.

Former Vice President Joe Biden, a Democrat, is trying to unseat Republican President Donald Trump in a divisive campaign that has put a spotlight on the president’s handling of the coronavirus pandemic, the economy and widespread racial unrest.

And pre-election stress is high among people of all political stripes: 76% of Democrats, 67% of Republicans and 64% of Independents, the survey found.

Arthur Evans Jr., APA’s chief executive officer, said this is an election year like no other.

“Not only are we in the midst of a global pandemic that has killed more than 200,000 Americans, but we are also facing increasing divi-

sion and hostility in the presidential election,” Evans said in an APA news release.

“Add to that racial turmoil in our cities, the unsteady economy and climate change that has fueled widespread wildfires and other natural disasters. The result is an accumulation of stressors that are taking a physical and emotional toll on Americans,” Evans said.

But some groups are feeling the stress more acutely than they did in 2016, the survey found. For example, 71% of Black adults said this election is a source of stress, compared with 46% four years ago.

Adults with chronic health conditions are also more likely than those without one to say this election is stressful (71% versus 64%). Rates were lower in both groups during the 2016 campaign (55% versus 45%).

And the stress, which has intensified in the past year, goes beyond the election itself.

In 2020, 77% of respondents said they are stressed out about the future of the United States, up from 66% in 2019.

The survey of more than 3,400 adults was conducted online by The Harris Poll from Aug. 4 to 26, 2020.

If election-related stress is getting to you, you can take steps to relieve it, the APA advised.

Avoid dwelling on things you can’t control and focus on what you can control. Limit your media exposure. Do activities you enjoy and get involved in things that matter to you, the experts suggested.

Stay socially connected. Go for a walk or spend time with friends and family. Stay or get active — physical activity helps release stress-related energy.

Do what you love.

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IN GOOD HEALTH – Rochester / Genesee Valley Healthcare Newspaper • November 2020

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Page 3

Meet

Your Doctor

By Chris Motola

Always Be Ready for a Trip to the ER

A

ccidents happen, and being prepared for an emergency room visit could help speed treatment and reduce anxiety if the need occurs, an expert says.

The first step is determining which ER you want to use in the event of a sudden or severe illness or injury, said Susan Promes, chairwoman of emergency medicine at Penn State Health Medical Center.

“You’ll want to know what’s available in your area, and what options they offer,” Promes said in a Penn State Health news release.

A convenient location is important, but so are the capabilities of the emergency department and hospital.

“Every emergency department offers general emergency care. But are the doctors trained in the specialty of emergency medicine? If you have children, you may also want to know if there are physicians with additional training in pediatric emergency medicine,” Promes said.

For your research, go to a hospital’s website, click its emergency department link, and then click on the providers to see if they’ve had specialty training. The website should also provide information about whether the hospital is a trauma center equipped to stabilize and treat critical injuries, she noted.

When you arrive at the ER, you should have a list of all current medical conditions, medications and doses, and any known allergies.

“I’d even list any previous surgeries and their dates,” Promes said. “It would also be helpful to know who your doctors are and what their phone numbers are in case the emergency medicine physician needs more information to provide the best care.”

Keep this health information in a purse or wallet, or store it in a cell phone, she suggested.

Another recommended document to have ready, especially for older adults, is a Physician Orders for Life-Sustaining Treatment form. “If you’re critically ill, it’s really important to be able to communicate what your wishes are,” Promes said.

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Matthew J. Landfried, M.D. Orthopedic surgeon discusses how ROSA Knee System is improving accuracy, outcomes in knee replacement surgeries Q: Tell us about the knee replacement system you’re now using.

A: This is the ROSA robotic knee replacement system, essentially. It’s a robot assistant rather than a robot doing the surgery directly. When working with ROSA — everyone calls her “she” — you set up the total knee the same way you do any other total knee [replacement]. And then after exposure is made, you insert some pins above and below the knee in the tibia bone. These have GPS trackers in them. These trackers are then centered. It gives you the axis from the hip to the ankle of the leg, length, angulation and space. It’ll tell you what the alignment is, how much bone and cartilage is worn away, and then it can help calculate precise cuts to balance the knee.

Basically, you’re resurfacing the knee, you’re cutting some cartilage and arthritis off the bone and you’re placing new surfaces which are metal with some plastic in between them. But they don’t wear equally, so the robot can calculate that and tell you how much to cut precisely. The most important part of the surgery is balancing the ligaments.

You have four major ligaments in the knee. It depends on which exact knee replacement you’re doing, but generally you remove the ends of the cruciate ligament and then count on the other three ligaments for stability in the knee. The prosthesis makes up for anterior cruciate ligament by design. It’s very critical to have the knee balance ligament-wise from inside to outside. If the knee looks nice, is perfectly straight on the outside, but inside isn’t balanced, that knee will be unstable.

ROSA not only gives you bone cuts, but can also calculate in real time the ligament strengths and balances and recalculate the cut as needed.

Q: How do you like working with it?

A: I like gadgets and technology, I guess. There’s a learning curve with the OR setup and positioning.

Once that’s accomplished it comes down from about a two-and-a-half hour procedure to an hour, which is closer to a normal total knee [replacement]. So, at first, it’s a little slower, but it gives you information you didn’t have before. It’s a very useful tool, and even more so when you’re dealing with deformities. It brings in cutting guides. The whole machine weighs 800 pounds so once it’s in place, it’s not going anywhere. That allows the surgeon to make the cut through the guide. So it’s actually still a surgeon-driven process, just machine-guided.

Q: What are the advantages of this hybrid approach compared to one that’s entirely machine-driven?

A: Any malfunction. You don’t want a machine to continue cutting when it should stop. I guess that’s possible with a surgeon too, but I’ve never heard of anyone cutting clear through the back of a knee.

You get the feel, you make the cut.

Sometimes you’ll get a bone so thick the saw blade will deflect off of it.

When you’re doing the cutting, you can feel it and assess it. Also, most surgeons like feeling in control, and this allows us to maintain control.

In some other systems the robot is kind of in control. So there are two different kinds of platforms and two different kinds of ideas. This one, not our particular machine, which is orthopedic, but ROSA also works for neurosurgery. It’s all GPS-guided. The machine captures 14 points in space, which is how it can track motion of the joint. It’s been very helpful. There’s a lot of enthusiasm about it, and even most of the skeptics are onboard now.

The patients also like the idea of technology-driven precision.

IN GOOD HEALTH – Rochester / Genesee Valley Healthcare Newspaper • November 2020

In the News

Rochester Regional Health recently became the first healthcare system in the Rochester region to perform a robotically-assisted total knee replacement, using the Zimmer Biomet ROSA Knee System.

The system has been at the forefront of robotically assisted surgery for more than 15 years with more than 10,000 robotic surgeries to date. According to the hospital, the assistance of ROSA, which stands for robotic surgical assistant, provides a greater degree of accuracy for the orthopedic surgeon and a quicker return to daily activities for the patient. It also provides increased longevity of the implant.

Four of the hospitals within Rochester Regional Health will have the system.

Q: Does it have an effect on recovery time?

A: The studies do show the recovery time is quicker. And I think that’s true in a sense. The standard procedure requires larger pins than these guides to be driven into the bone. Some of them go into the canal of the femur or tibia, so there can be more bleeding or disruption of the marrow, more hematomas. So I think it does speed up the recovery.

Q: Is the expectation that this will increase the longevity of joints?

A: That’s the expectation. There’s no data yet that it provides a better knee. We do know it will give you a perfect cut every time. What tends to end a total knee replacement is wear.

So when there’s less stress, better alignment, the more precise you are, the less wear there is. There are machine tests that simulate weight and stress cycles, but it doesn’t have the physiological effects of joint fluid and things like that. But the expectation is that it will increase the longevity of the joint. The other side of this is that the data we’re collecting from these machine-assisted total knee replacements will also lead to better and better prosthesis designs. We expect to start being able to do half-knee replacements next year, and maybe also total hips. Same robot.

Q: Will it make it easier to go back in later and do adjustments if you need to?

A: They’re doing revisions in studies. The information the robot allows you to collect should make it make easier to do revisions, save more normal anatomy, cut less bone when you’re taking out a prosthesis that isn’t working. The potential is almost limitless.

Lifelines Name: Matthew J. Landfried, M.D. Position: Chairman of the department of surgery and chief of orthopedics for United Memorial Medical Center, part of Rochester Regional Health Hometown: Greenville, Pennsylvania Education: Temple School of Medicine Affiliations: United Memorial Medical Center, part of Rochester Regional Health; Medina Memorial Hospital Organizations: American Academy of Orthopedics; American Academy of Orthopedic Sports Medicine Family: Wife (Kary), Children (Rebekah; Matthew) Hobbies: Beekeeping; shooting

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Page 5

Live Alone & Thrive

By Gwenn Voelckers

Practical tips, advice and hope for those who live alone

This Thanksgiving...

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f you are a regular reader of my column, you know that I usually fill my Thanksgiving column with tips and creative ways to manage what can be a challenging holiday for those who live alone.

But this year is unlike any in recent history.

We’ve endured and continue to endure a frightening pandemic, a divisive election process, environmental disasters, an economic crisis and increasing violence in our streets.

This year, I feel compelled to share a different message.

In addition to counting your blessings this Thanksgiving, I encourage those of you who live alone (as well as those who don’t) to say “No thank you” to the things that get in the way of your health and happiness.

• Say “No thank you” to any suggestion that COVID-19 is nothing to fear. You’ve picked up this copy of “In Good Health,” which tells me you are interested in your health and overall well-being.

Follow your instincts and the advice of medical experts, scientists, and researchers to protect yourself, your family and your friends. We all know what to do.

• Say “No thank you” to anyone who mocks you for wearing a mask, keeping your distance or declining an invitation to a gathering or event that you feel poses a risk.

I’m still reluctant to go out to eat unless there is an outdoor option. That’s my choice. This is my life. Others may choose differently.

That’s fine. I respect their choices and expect the same in return.

• Say “No thank you” to unreliable sources and “pundits” in the mainstream media and online who may be spreading fake news. Even well-meaning members of your inner circle of friends and family may share misinformation, even if unintentionally.

Develop a critical eye and turn to trusted media outlets that follow rigorous editorial guidelines. Look for evidence-based stories by highly trained and experienced reporters.

My favorite fact-checking site is Snopes.com.

• Say “No thank you” to disrespectful, insulting and deceit-ridden public discourse. Turn it off and tune it out.

Turn instead to voices of reason, empathy and compassion. When we really listen to one another and seek to understand each other’s needs, we have a prayer of moving forward and entering into productive conversations and problem solving.

Even when we don’t see eye to eye, we can still show respect and treat each other with loving kindness.

The challenge is to stay present, curious and connected amidst so much pain and turmoil. Let’s all do our part, big or small. Every good

intention to improve our world matters. So does every VOTE. So make a plan. Our lives literally depend upon it.

• Say “No thank you” to hoarding paper items, meat and other essentials. As news of a potential second COVID-19 surge spreads, so spreads a resurgence of panic buying.

Those who can’t afford to buy in bulk or easily find transportation to the store are left looking at bare shelves. They go home empty-handed, often to the expectant eyes of young children or aging parents.

Let this time bring out the best versions of ourselves. Let’s exercise restraint in our shopping and acknowledge those in need. Let’s demonstrate generosity, see who needs assistance, and donate our food, time, and money for the greater good.

• Say “No thank you” to disappearing into TV, a bottle, or online shopping to assuage your fears and dread of what the future may hold.

It can become a slippery slope, so now’s a good time to take notice.

What might feel like a welcome stress-reliever today can turn into a hard-to-break habit tomorrow.

I find that daily meditation eases my anxiety and worries about the future. In the peace and quiet I can open my heart and embrace our collective goodness and care for one another.

I find it reassuring and inspiring.

• Say “No thank you” to languishing on the couch (except on Thanksgiving).

We all get a pass that day!

The more you move your body, the healthier it gets, and the better you can feel, physically and emotionally.

The good news?

Studies show that it doesn’t take an enormous amount of physical exercise to achieve health-enhancing results. Keep moving.

• Say “No thank you” to beating yourself up for being less than productive during this highly unusual year. These are trying times.

And many of us, myself included, have experienced “low energy” days when we walk in circles, stare out

IN GOOD HEALTH – Rochester / Genesee Valley Healthcare Newspaper • November 2020

the window, and just can’t seem to get anything done.

Let’s be kind to ourselves.

Give yourself a break if you aren’t re-imagining your career, re-inventing your retirement, or re-invigorating your love life. All of that takes energy. Some days, I need all the energy I can muster just to put away the laundry.

• Say “No thank you” to conversations that drift into politics during your Thanksgiving holiday. Even if you are surrounded by friends and family who share your views, the tone and language of these conversations can devolve into headshaking and criticism of the “other side.” It can become a real downer.

Instead, choose to uplift the conversation. Reminisce about the good ol’ days, discuss future travel plans or talk about what’s on your post-pandemic bucket list.

At my Thanksgiving table, we take turns sharing items on our gratitude list, which pairs perfectly with the dessert course!

A closing note: I want to thank you for taking the time to read this column and for thinking with me about how we can help ourselves and each other during this time of unrest.

I’m optimistic that together we can build our capacity for compassion, return to restorative calm, and enjoy a better, brighter, and – importantly – healthier future.

Gwenn Voelckers is the founder and facilitator of Alone and Content, empowerment workshops for women, and author of “Alone and Content,” a collection of inspiring essays for those who live alone. For information about her workshops, to purchase her book, or invite her to speak, visit www.aloneandcontent.com

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1 in 3 U.S. Parents Won’t Get Flu Shots for Their Kids: Survey

T

he coronavirus pandemic and the upcoming flu season could pose a double threat, but many U.S. parents plan to skip flu shots for their kids, a new survey finds.

Though public health experts stress the need for people of all ages to get the seasonal flu vaccine during the COVID-19 pandemic, one in three U.S. parents said they don’t plan on taking their child for a flu shot this fall. Just a third think having their child get vaccinated is more important than usual this year.

Common reasons cited include unfounded concerns about side effects or mistaken beliefs that a flu shot isn’t necessary or effective.

Those are among the findings from the C.S. Mott Children’s Hospital National Poll on Children’s Health at Michigan Medicine. It was conducted in August and included nearly 2,000 responses from parents of children between 2 and 18 years of age.

“We may see peaks of flu

and COVID-19 at the same time, which could overwhelm the health care system, strain testing capacity and potentially reduce our ability to catch and treat both respiratory illnesses effectively,” said poll co-director Sarah Clark.

“Our report finds that even during the pandemic, some parents don’t see the flu vaccine as more urgent or necessary,” she added in a poll news release. “This heightens concerns about how the onset of flu season may compound challenges in managing COVID-19.”

Since 2010, the flu has caused 9 www.aloneandcontent.com million to 45 million illnesses, 140,000 to 810,000 hospitalizations, and 12,000 to 61,000 deaths a year, according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

Children under age 5, and especially those younger than 2, are at high risk for serious, flu-related complications. Last flu season, 188 children died of the flu, CDC data show.During this unprecedented time

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CRISIS REVEALS CHARACTER we honor our Cariola Superheroes—

Nearly 20% of Americans Don’t Have Enough to Eat

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Elmwoodbody Avenue • Rochester, NY 14620 • 585-271-0761 • MaryCariola.org report shows.

Food insecurity has a range of “The percentage of adults with health consequences, all of them negfood insecurity — the lack of acative, she said. Obesity is key among cess to adequate food — more than them.

During this unprecedented time doubled between 1999 and 2016,” “Food insecurity and obesity said Candice Myers, Ph.D., assistant are not mutually exclusive,” Myers During unprecedented timeteam!

We’d love tothis have you join our we honor our Cariola Superheroes— professor at Pennington Biomedical said. “Rather, these health issues are we honor Cariola Superheroes— Research Center and lead author of linked in such a way that a solution Direct our Support Professionals the article published in JAMA. “The will require public policy that adCOVID-19 pandemic has undoubted- dresses both at the same time.”

Direct Support Managers Professionals Residential ly worsened the situation. The counPennington Biomedical ExecTeachers •Managers Nurses Residential try may face long-term economic and utive Director John Kirwan, Ph.D., health consequences unless we solve said the intersection of food insecuriSocial Workers• Nurses • Clinicians Teachers this public health crisis.” ty and chronic disease highlights the Support Staff The study looked at national impact of the research center’s work.

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Show Your Character and Apply Today from the National Health and Nutriforts to explore these issues, but also Your commitment and dedication is inspiring! tion Examination Survey. The study develop new and innovative projects found that food insecurity rates that delve into understanding their 1000 Elmwood Avenue • Rochester, NY 14620 jumped to: impact on the health of the citizens of 1000 Elmwood Avenue • Rochester, NY 14620 • 585-271-076 • 35% among Hispanic adults, our community, state and the entire 585-271-0761 • MaryCariola.org from 19.5% country,” Kirwan said.

1000 Elmwood Avenue • Rochester, NY 14620 • 585-271-07 • 1% among Blacks, from 12.4%.

November 2020 •

CRISIS REVEALS CRISIS REVEALS CHARACTER CHARACTER

IN GOOD HEALTH – Rochester / Genesee Valley Healthcare Newspaper

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Page 7

Healthcare in a Minute

By George W. Chapman

COVID-19 Vaccine: Providers, First Responders Among the First to Get It

T

he FDA has made clear it will not take potentially dangerous short cuts when granting emergency authorization to vaccine producers. The White House, eager to get a vaccine approved by the election, has reluctantly acquiesced to the FDA’s authority, expertise and caution. Front runners Pfizer and Moderna believe they will qualify for FDA emergency authorization possibly in December. Providers, first responders, seniors and people with comorbidities will be among the first to be vaccinated in 2021. Whether or not the vaccine will be “free” is undetermined as of this writing.

Big Tech Health Insurance

Despite increasing scrutiny over their potentially monopolistic practices, big tech giants Google, Amazon, Facebook and Apple are venturing into tech driven health insurance. It begins with their wearable monitoring devices which gives them remote and live access to considerable and significant personal health data. Google has already launched their insurance company called Verily. Amazon offers employees coverage through its spinoff called Haven.

It plans to offer it to its 900,000-plus U.S. e-commerce sellers. Big tech enters the health insurance market with literally billions to invest. Traditional commercial health plans like the Blues, Aetna and Cigna are limited by law to no more than 20% profit on their premiums. Any “profit” above 20% must be refunded to the buyer. (They are allowed up to three years to settle.) As long as there is the Affordable Care Act, the 20% profit ceiling should also apply to the big tech newcomers. The billions needed Page 8

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to survive in the industry, then, will come from other operations. Big Tech will reap unlimited profits in wearable devices, internet sales, phones and advertising. Traditional health insurers are merging with retail drug chains where profits are not limited.

If the Supreme Court determines the entire Affordable Care Act is unconstitutional early next year, expect your healthcare premiums to skyrocket as the 20% restriction on profits disappears.

Hospital COVID-19 Reporting

CMS Chief Seema Verma is giving non-compliant hospitals three to four months to get up to speed with daily COVID-19 reporting requirements. If they fail to comply, they will lose their participation in Medicaid and Medicare. Among the required daily COVID-19 related stats are: deaths, hospitalizations, ICU admissions, number of ventilators, staffing shortages and remdesivir inventory. In the middle of a pandemic, this seems like a rather reasonable requirement from CMS which pays hospitals for treating patients with COVID-19 and related comorbidities.

Incredibly, the knee jerk reaction from the American Hospital Association is call the reporting requirements overly burdensome and overkill.

Uninsured Increasing

The impact of the pandemic is evident in fatalities, increased social anxiety, a faltering economy and loss of jobs. It is estimated that as many as 8 million workers will lose their jobs temporarily, if not permanently. Consequently, they will lose their employer based or sponsored

health insurance. If the ACA is struck down, subsidized commercial insurance plans on the exchanges will no longer be an option as it is currently for 20 million Americans.

Physicians and hospitals, already in financial peril due to the pandemic, are understandably concerned about the further strain on their revenue sources as patients lose their better paying commercial insurance plans.

The newly uninsured who qualify based on income, will be covered by Medicaid. Those who don’t qualify may decide individual commercial insurance is too expensive and risk being uninsured. Health insurance, for most under 65, has traditionally been employer-based. The ACA was designed to offer an alternative to employer-based plans.

Physician Burnout Rising

An international survey of 7,500 physicians, conducted by Medscape, revealed an unsurprising increase in burnout combined with a precipitous decrease in income. Five thousand of the respondents were U.S. physicians. About 25% of U.S. docs said they plan to retire earlier with 64% reporting feeling burned out. Nine percent of U.S. physicians reported 76% to 100% lost income; 14% lost 51% to 75%; 28% lost 26% to 50% and 33% lost 11% to 25% of their income compared to last year. Basically, about half of the reporting physicians lost at least a quarter of their income due to the pandemic. The larger drops in income were among ophthalmologists, allergists, plastic surgeons and ENTs. About 54% of the physicians surveyed treated a patient with COVID-19 and 6% of the physicians got infected. Food was

IN GOOD HEALTH – Rochester / Genesee Valley Healthcare Newspaper • November 2020

the top source of comfort. To make matters worse for physicians, recalcitrant and rude patients are contributing to staff and provider burnout.

Agitated patients are complaining about masks or outright refusing to wear them. Others are arguing with staff about restrictive visitor policies.

While the reported occurrences are rare, they are deeply upsetting to already frazzled staff. Please understand and be nice!

Employer-based Care 2021

The Business Group on Health revealed employer plans for 2021.

The pandemic has clearly impacted how they will approach next year.

Most commercial insurers and selffunded plans have experienced significant decreases in claims and utilization this year, so 2021 premiums increases are expected to be in the 0% to 4% range. (Neither employers nor insurers are sure of the eventual impact of pent-up demand on costs.)

Fifty-seven percent of employers said they do not plan on shifting more out of pocket costs to their employees.

Fifty-three percent are interested in expanding virtual healthcare where they will also cover chronic care management, mental health, prenatal care and weight management. There seems to be an increase in employer empathy for the plight of their workers. Sixty-one percent plan to provide clinics on site. Eighty-one percent plan on directing employees to condition specific centers of excellence.

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

Do you have Doglaucom you have or Do you glaucoma have high ey or glaucoma pressur high eye

Americans Are Cutting Back on Sugary Drinks

D

rinking lots of sugary beverages can wreak havoc on your health, but new research finds more Americans are turning away from those high-calorie drinks.

And that includes many people who used to drink large quantities of sweetened beverages — the equivalent of 3.5 cans of soda daily.

“Our study found the percentage of children and adults who are heavy [sugar-sweetened beverage] drinkers has declined significantly over time,” said study author Kelsey Vercammen. She’s a doctoral degree candidate in the department of epidemiology at the Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health in Boston.

For the study, the researchers reviewed data from the U.S. National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey from 2003 to 2016, studying responses from more than 21,000 children (aged 2 through 19 years) and 32,000 adults.

The investigators found that the percentage of heavy consumers of sugar-sweetened beverages — 500 calories or more daily — among children declined from 11% to 3%. The percentage of heavy sugar-sweetened beverage consumers among adults dropped from 13% to 9%.

“Our research team was particularly interested in looking at the heavy sugar-sweetened beverage consumers because these individuals are the ones who are obviously

drinking the most sugar-sweetened beverages, so we think that they likely face the biggest health risks,” Vercammen said.

Potential explanations for the recent steep decline in intake include the impact of beverage taxes imposed by local jurisdictions, ordinances that have required serving healthy beverages with children’s meals instead of sugar-sweetened beverages, and public health campaigns about the harms of sugary drinks, Vercammen noted.

“We think that these efforts combined with the awareness that they have generated in the public may be driving some of the declines that we’ve seen in the recent years of data,” she added.

For a couple of groups, the results were not as positive.

Adults aged 40 to 59 saw no reduction in heavy sugar-sweetened beverage consumption. Older adults had a slight increase in consumption.

Adults who are Hispanic, but not Mexican, also had no reduction in consumption. Reasons could include that racial and ethnic minorities are often disproportionately exposed to and targeted for marketing of sugary drinks, Vercammen said. In addition, adults aged 40 to 59 grew up at a time when there was increasing availability and marketing of ultra-processed foods, she said.

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Editor & Publisher: Wagner Dotto • Associate Editor: Lou Sorendo Writers: Jim Miller, Deborah J. Sergeant, Gwenn Voelckers, Anne Palumbo, Jennifer Faringer, John Addyman, William Ferris (DC), Derek Johnstone (DC), Sister Mary Louise Mitchell, Mike Costanza • Advertising: Anne Westcott, Linda Covington Layout & Design: Dylon Clew-Thomas • Office Manager: Nancy Nitz No material may be reproduced in whole or in part from this publication without the express written permission of the publisher. The information in this publication is intended to complement—not to take the place of—the recommendations of your health provider. Consult your physician before making major changes in your lifestyle or health care regimen.

November 2020 •

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Page 9

and t

5

Things You Should Know About Bones, Joints

By Ernst Lamothe Jr.

I

n the foundation of the human body, bones and joints remain a critical structure for our bodies.

Many times people overlook the value of making sure their skeletal system is strong. Maintaining healthy bones requires more than just a doctor’s visit once in a while.

“It is critical that your bones and joints stay healthy and functional as you age. If they begin deteriorating, it will be difficult to maintain your independence and control the choices you want for your life,” said David Grimm, an orthopedic surgeon and one of the partners at Canandaigua Orthopaedic Associates, which operates under the umbrella of Rochester Regional Health. “It will greatly affect how you spend your time and your ability to craft your aging process.”

Grimm offers five ways to keep healthy bones and joints.

“After the age of 21, your skeleton can no longer produce additional bone mass. This means that for the rest of your life, you are simply trying to decrease the rate at which you naturally lose bone,” he said.

Reduce weight 1.

Maintaining a healthy weight enables individuals to live

active lives, avoid problematic medical conditions and prevent added pressure on bones and joints.

“It is well documented that reducing weight decreases the load forces delivered to your joint cartilage. Extra body weight can significantly accelerate the arthritic process,” said Grimm. “The force you place on your joints can measure up to six times your body weight. Think

of the impact this has on your joints and the damage that can be caused to the cartilage with activities as common as navigating stairs or rising from a seated position.”

He stresses the impact of just slightly reducing your weight.

“I inform my patients that any amount of weight loss is beneficial.

For example, a hard-earned weight loss of just five pounds removes 30 pounds of force from your joints!” said Grimm. “We have no method of reliably healing or adding joint cartilage once it is significantly damaged.

The only surgical option is to remove it entirely and replace it with metal and plastic components — in other words, a joint replacement.”

2.

Increase motion Significant data exists stating regular motion reduces stiffness and increases flexibility. Whether you choose low impact exercising such as cycling or walking or more strenuous workouts like running, dancing or tennis, moving the body on a regular basis can help prevent weak bones.

“If you keep the body active and in motion, you will decrease stiffness and weakness, both of which can lead to injuries,” Grimm added.

“Moving the body helps to lubricate the joints and can have a significant impact on muscle and bone strength.”

And because of increasing office jobs, many times people are sedentary throughout their work day.

“I would certainly recommend getting up frequently throughout the day and walking in place if you have a job that requires extended sitting.”

he added.

Stretching and balance 3. make a difference Stretching will help you improve

your range of motion, your athletic performance and decrease your risk of injury. Better flexibility enables your muscles to work most effectively because it increases blood flow to the muscles. “There are plenty of activities that emphasize balance and stretching exercises such as yoga, Pilates, and tai chi that are wonderful for motion,” said Grimm. “We know that flexibility, strength, balance and weight-bearing exercise are keys to preventing injury.”

Eliminate hazards 4.

Smoking rates in the U.S. have declined in recent de-

cades. However, about 15.5% of the population — or about 37.8 million adults — smoke cigarettes, according to the latest numbers from Centers for Disease Control. And with the popularity of e-cigarettes, which are battery-operated devices that people use to inhale an aerosol that typically contains nicotine, the issue is not going away. Smoking is an issue that leads to disease and disability and harms nearly every organ of the body and is the leading cause of preventable death.

“Smoking has a number of negative effects on the skeleton and joints.

It decreases the blood supply to bones and nicotine poisons the cells that form bones,” said Grimm. “It decreases the absorption of calcium and breaks down estrogen faster in women.”

Grimm also said reducing alco-

David Grimm is an orthopedic surgeon and one of the partners at Canandaigua Orthopaedic Associates, which operates under the umbrella of Rochester Regional Health. hol consumption can be helpful in maintaining maximum bone mass.

Eat right 5.

Proper nutrition and a well-balanced diet are key to healthy

bones and joints. Grimm recommends whole grains, calcium-rich foods such as milk and broccoli, fruits, vegetables, and lean meats. He also advises that avoiding processed foods with large amounts of refined sugars can be beneficial.

“The amounts of added sugar and carbohydrates in a typical American diet, make it easy to gain weight and jeopardize the health of your joints. The rate of Type 2 diabetes is rising even in children, and this will certainly have significant implications for the health of their bones and joints as they age,” Grimms added.

Medical Spas: Open for Business

By Deborah Jeanne Sergeant

M

edical spas have reopened with plenty of precautions and changes. A few area medical spas weighed in on how things are going at their locations.

Krista Ingerick, operations manager for The Springs at Clifton Springs Hospital and Clinic, said that the center is offering massage, acupuncture, mineral baths, Ayurvedic bodywork, and their signature treatments.

“The only exception is that we are not offering any facial massage, including our signature sinus relief treatment,” Ingerick said.

Depending upon the type of treatments offered, area spas have been reopening over the summer as permitted — and as they are able to adjust how they do business to comply with state regulations.

When you visit a spa next, expect to make an appointment. Do not assume you can get an appointment Page 10

•

at the same time as a friend; many spas are staggering appointments to allow fewer people in the facility at a time and to permit enough time to disinfect surfaces. The staff will ask a few questions about your health and if you have traveled recently.

You will likely have your temperature taken upon arrival, use hand sanitizer and answer a few more questions. Do not bring anyone else with you. If the waiting area is open, the décor will likely be different than before with social distancing markers on the floor, Plexiglas shielding the receptionist and, so it is easier to keep the area clean, fewer soft surfaces. Like many other businesses, it is likely high-touch amenities like beverage centers will be gone. Testers are also a thing of the past. Electronic payments are preferred.

The staff and providers will be wearing masks and you should, too. If your service requires you to remove your mask, remove it when

asked. Your provider will likely wear a face shield and gown.

The service area will likely look different, too. Some spas may not offer the same services as before the pandemic.

“We are able to perform all services safety following CDC mandatory guidelines,” said Margaret Gilmore, spa manager of Inclusion Wellness Spa in Webster.

Some of the services offered may look a little different than before the pandemic. For example, The Springs has moved the chairs apart for services like community-style acupuncture.

“We felt that we needed to continue to offer a low-cost option for the community, so we rearranged our chairs and moved them into separate rooms, so patients can still take advantage of the option, but can be adequately socially distanced from others,” Ingerick said.

Despite these measures, “we

IN GOOD HEALTH – Rochester / Genesee Valley Healthcare Newspaper • November 2020

have definitely seen a decrease in our volume from where we were at the end of 2019,” Ingerick said. “We have had to make operational changes to offset these decreases, and we take a conservative approach.”

At this point, the practitioners are taking their own phone calls, for example, and checking in their own clients; however, Ingerick said that clients seem to appreciate the personal service.

Helendale Dermatology & Medical Spa in Rochester reopened for dermatology May 18 with similar precautions as and other spas. The medical spa reopened Sept. 14.

Though Helendale is fully open, “capacity isn’t quite up to 100%,” said Trish Hohman, practice administrator.

Apparently, it will take more time for people to feel that the precautions in place will reduce the risk to a comfortable level.

This is one of the new state-of-the-art operating rooms at Clifton Springs Hospital, part of the Rochester Regional Health, and evidence of the continuing $32 million Medical Village expansion at Clifton Springs that is regionalizing health services in the Ontario and Wayne counties.

Rochester Regional Heavily Expanding in the Finger Lakes

By John Addyman

T

here’s a lot of hammering going on as the Rochester Regional Health expands its facilities in Newark, Phelps and Geneva, moving services a lot closer to suburban communities in Wayne and Ontario counties and the Finger Lakes.

RRH’s Newark-Wayne Hospital has recently gone through a major renovation, creating a model of patient acceptance and care that is being emulated in a $32 million Medical Village project at Clifton Springs Hospital and further development and expansion at the new Geneva Medical Campus.

“There’s a lot going on,” said Dustin Riccio, a physician who is president of the Newark and Clifton Springs hospitals. “When you look at Newark-Wayne Hospital, it does an excellent job of serving the community of Wayne County. We’ve continued to elevate its game for quite some time. The addition of Clifton Springs Hospital to Rochester Regional Health is very critical: what’s happening at Newark and Clifton-Springs is that they are creating a regional approach. We’re keeping both campuses but not duplicating services.

“We’re trying to elevate the services that were at Clifton Springs and keep them local, not forcing people to go to Rochester to get something we believe we can take care of locally.

The regional set-up is important because Clifton Springs was a hospital that had been struggling for some time.

“Ontario is one of the very few counties in Upstate New York that is growing and doing it at a relatively

good clip. There’s an additional and growing market to be served in the Finger Lakes. In addition to that, while we are executing our plan to keep care local, what we’re finding is that there’s an additional market there as well: people say, ‘You know what? I don’t have to go to RGH or Strong to see a specialist: I can actually stay local and get my care at Newark-Wayne and Clifton Springs.

We recognize that market is here and we’ve invested in it.”

Why go to Rochester?

If people can get the same level of care and see their specialists close to home, why drive to Rochester?

Riccio feels that strengthening facilities at both hospitals and adding on to the Geneva Medical Campus will meet a community need that’s growing, increase the presence of Rochester Regional in the area, and increase market share. Convenience, technology, and a superior patient experience are Rochester Regional’s goals.

At Clifton Springs, the Medical Village Project has birthed a new patient access center and two of the most technologically advanced operating rooms in Upstate New York, said Riccio. “An orthopedist wants to be there and wants to give that level of care to whomever is coming through our system.”

Witness to that is Canandaigua Orthopaedic Associates, which has joined forces with Rochester Regional. “Those doctors will be doing surgery in the best possible location critical to their success and the November 2020 •

well-being of their patients,” Riccio said.

The Medical Village is focused on adding space for services and specialties surrounding primary care.

“Everything you need in the form of outpatient perspectives is here — dental, surgical, GI, women’s health services — which Clifton Springs hasn’t had in more than 10 years, pulmonary, sterile processing, cardiac rehab, occupational and physical therapy, and a new comprehensive psychiatric emergency program — the only one of its kind in the Finger Lakes. The CPEP has four beds, doubling what we currently have.

This was a big piece of the project.

With this new emergency department, we give those patients some of the space they need to get the care they need. They need a de-escalated environment and that’s what we provide with four patient rooms and a common area.”

Also new are two ambulatory procedure rooms and two endoscopy suites, plus a renovated post-anesthesia care unit. Everywhere, the focus is on maintaining a comfortable, attractive, pleasant experience for patients and family.

“A big piece of the project was the procedural suites and the operating rooms,” Riccio said. “What we wanted to offer was the highest quality of surgical or operative care.”

The latest portion of the work at Clifton Springs is a new emergency services suite, which will finish in 2022. “It will offer additional treatment rooms, triage space, and greater comfort for visitors and patients, with easier access,” Riccio said.

Dustin Riccio, president of the Newark and Clifton Springs hospitals: “There’s a lot going on in Clifton Springs and Newark,’ Riccio said. “It’s where we live, and for those two hospitals, it’s a growing area and we’re proud to be part of it…and we’re very proud of what we’re doing.”

He said Rochester Regional learned a lot with the new welcome area at Newark-Wayne and the patient-handling processes there, applying that to the changes in Clifton Springs. “You now have a patient-registration process that creates an elevated experience which flows through the rest of the facility, flows through the care, whether it’s in-patient or outpatient.” One small thing that made a huge difference was the addition of sliding doors to the registration offices, offering privacy and peace. “That was a big win for our patient experience,” he said.

In Geneva, the former Finger Lakes Bone & Joint space on Pre-Emption Road will be more than doubled, with the addition of a floor full of specialists — family care, allergy and rheumatology; ear, nose and throat; endocrine; diabetes and nutrition; neurosurgery; orthopedics and orthopedic emergency care; vascular surgery, and gastroenterology.

And in Newark, orthopedists are using the new ROSA robotic knee-replacement system made by Zimmer Biomet. ROSA, which stands for robotic surgical assistant, allows for better outcomes because a surgeon can more precisely visualize where bone and soft tissue are for a more prefect replacement. ROSA will also be used at Rochester General and other RRH affiliates at United Memorial Hospital in Batavia and Unity Hospital in Unity Hospital in Greece.

“There’s a lot going on in Clifton Springs and Newark,’ Riccio said.

“It’s where we live, and for those two hospitals, it’s a growing area and we’re proud to be part of it… and we’re very proud of what we’re doing.”

Editor’s Note: We offered the University of Rochester Medical Center an opportunity to describe its expansion plans in the Finger Lakes, but after several attempts got no response.

IN GOOD HEALTH – Rochester / Genesee Valley Healthcare Newspaper

•

Page 11

Interior of Modern Chiropractic & Pain Relief, located three miles south of East View Mall on 311 W. Main St, Victor. The practice is a Chiro Club, which gives patients a collection of services and unlimited visits, with no co-pays.

Modern Chiropractic Launches Chiro Club

New Modern Chiropractic approach offers a collection of services, unlimited visits and no co-pays

By William Ferris, DC, Derek Johnstone, DC

T

raditionally, chiropractic has been built on an old school model that some feel is now antiquated. Three visits a week was not uncommon, which meant co-pay after co-pay after another expensive co-pay.

While the treatments themselves could be effective, the model was unsustainable in many regards. Every day men and women were sometimes having difficulty affording that type of care because expensive, unnecessary, co-pays seemed to be rising each year and the three-visita-week model became cost prohibitive.

The new Modern Chiropractic approach does away with all that and gives forward-thinking patients all-access to the things they actually

need, which are items and services that address the whole musculoskeletal system. Pain relief patients are dealing with both muscles and bones so therefore the Modern approach gives patients access to all of these services that address the entire system, with one interesting twist, namely not being over burdened with expense of too many co-pays.

Introducing Chiro Club The new exciting model called Chiro Club is a collection of vital services for one low price. It’s offered at Modern Chiropractic & Pain Relief in Victor. Patients can choose from several plans, ranging from $79 to $99.

Here’s how it works: Chiro Club offers board-certified chiropractic

adjustments, which have been proven effective to restore and improve motion while providing pain reduction within the spine and extremities.

This removal of bony restrictions and the proper return to good articular motion is what enhances lubrication of the joint spaces while giving patients longevity over the course of their lives. Isn’t it time to get the “warranty” out of your one and only human body?

Here’s where things get interesting, in the new Chiro Club model patients also receive a proprietary “ultimate soft tissue package.”

This means they will benefit from zero gravity massages prior to the board-certified chiropractic adjustments. This will loosen up the muscles and relax the patient, which may allow the adjustments to last and hold longer. Inflammation goes down during periods of relaxation.

In addition to that, patients will receive HyperVolt. This is an advanced soft tissue percussion technology, which releases soft tissue restrictions.

The “Ultimate Soft Tissue Package” provides the patient with access to doctor-trained hands-on soft tissue release techniques that will further break up difficult to reach scar tissue.

Each treatment is soothing to the patient in an enjoyable and relieving, experience.

We saved the best for last. As a special bonus. patients will also have access to CRYOFOS, which is brand new in North America and the only unit currently available in Rochester.

Typically billed across the nation at $60-$65 per treatment it’s included free with participation in Chiro Club, this is the latest technology using cryo therapy to stop inflammation in its tracks.

When potential patients critically evaluate the entire package and put it all together they will quickly see an unbeatable value. They will also benefit from a reduction in pain while achieving a healthier and more productive life as they keep more of their hard-earned dollars in their pocket, thus bypassing the old, expensive, antiquated copay system.

This means keeping ahead of pain and remaining engaged in the activities they love.

The new model puts the patient in the driver seat giving them unlimited visits while having a say in their treatments. Patients may want their shoulder treated one visit and perhaps their knee, back or hip looked at on the following visit. Either way, the new Chiro Club is patient centric giving them control of how to best address their individual needs.

Dr. William Ferris, DC Dr. Derek Johnstone, DC Chiropractor

Chiropractor

William Ferris, DC, and Derek Johnstone, DC, of Modern Chiropractic & Pain Relief have a combined 30 years of experience with an average 4.9 (out of 5.0) positive Google rating. For more information, call 585-398-1201 or visit https:// modernchiropractic.com.

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www.homecare.urmc.edu • IN GOOD HEALTH – Rochester / Genesee Valley Healthcare Newspaper Prepare for Fall by preventing falls!

Page 12

Stay safe & independent at home

• November 2020

Food + Diet

Couples Who Lose Together Lose More

By Deborah Jeanne Sergeant

A

study published in August

by Lotte Verweij, a registered nurse and Ph.D. student at Amsterdam University of Applied Sciences in the Netherlands, indicates that couples lose more pounds than people going it alone.

Although the study of 824 patients focuses on heart attack survivors who would benefit from weight loss, smoking cessation and physical activity the study’s most striking finding is that undertaking weight loss with a partner rather than solo works better.

“Lifestyle improvement after a heart attack is a crucial part of preventing repeat events,” said Verweij as quoted by www.sciencedaily.com.

“Our study shows that when spouses join the effort to change habits, patients have a better chance of becoming healthier — particularly when it comes to losing weight.”

Those with a partner were more than twice as likely to participate in a healthful lifestyle change than those without a partner. The finding makes sense to Az Tahir, M.D., who practices holistic medicine in Rochester.

“Anything done by family together brings results and love,” Tahir said.

He said that in addition to fitness activities, eating healthful meals and engaging in stress reduction together are important as well.

“I also suggest family pray, meditate, [practice] yoga and play together,” he added.

So, what is so helpful about getting healthy together?

Physician Kerry Graff, board certified in family and lifestyle medicine at Rochester Regional Health’s Fam-

ily and Lifestyle Medicine-Canandaigua, said that “it’s really hard to resist” when someone trying to be healthy sees someone else enjoying a treat.

“Giving into cravings is your DNA,” she said. “We’re designed to get our hands on the most sugary, fatty things so we can get through a famine.

“Being around someone who’s supportive is certainly more helpful.”

She explained that humans, like animals, have three basic drives: pleasure, avoiding pain and doing these with as little effort as possible.

“If you’re doing this with a spouse and they’re not bringing unhealthful things into your house, you’d have to go out to get it,” Graff said. “Usually number three kicks in and you won’t go get it.”

The hassle of cooking two meals — a healthful one and a not-sohealthful one — can become a drag.

But cooking a healthful meal to share with someone who wants unhealthful food can hurt the relationship.

In addition to food, the principle applies to fitness. Undertaking something painful (beginning to exercise again) is easier when someone else is with you.

“You don’t want to let down the other person,” Graff said. “If it’s just you doing it, you might forget it.”

She said that couples trying to lose weight may consider a goal, such as if they both complete physical activity and eat right each day that they put money away for a trip or other reward.

“It shouldn’t be a weight loss challenge since guys have more muscle mass and they tend to lose

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weight easier,” Graff said. “It should be things both can do.”

If the other person is not ready to get healthy with you, you can do it on your own with a little planning.

Mathew Devine, osteopathic doctor with Highland Family Medicine, said that friends and family can help instead. Make goals with your buddy such as to work out so many days a week, or to eat a certain number of servings of produce daily.

Joining a group or class of like-minded people you do not know can help. That helps build in accountability and support.

“Some may have more immediate success but that’s not a reason to

not participate,” Devine said.

It may need to be a virtual group; however, the effect is similar. Phone apps may also assist in weight loss, since they can be used to track movement, lead workouts, record calories and in a sense become more accountable.

“Apps are fantastic and continue to get better and better,” Devine said.

“Many can simulate groups getting together. During the pandemic, it’s been a time we’ve had to adjust. In some cases, they’re better than the in-person opportunities. It’s unfortunate we’ve had to distance ourselves, but we’ve advanced technology to helps us get together.”

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Please speak to your doctor to be provided with more information.

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IN GOOD HEALTH – Rochester / Genesee Valley Healthcare Newspaper

•

Page 13

Meet Your Provider Celestial Dental

Launching Stellar Smiles!

By Antonio Calascibetta, DDS (“Dr. C”) What makes Celestial Dental different from other dental offices?

“Wow, it doesn’t even feel like I’m at a dental office!” We often hear this from patients. Going to the dentist is either boring or terrifying, which is why we eliminated both factors completely.

Our office is a combination of my two passions — dentistry and astronomy. In addition to oral health, our office is meant to delight and educate patients on humanity’s intergalactic achievements. For instance, each room is named after an influential NASA space mission (i.e., Apollo), displaying images captured by rovers or probes.

Aside from our space theme, our staff is dedicated to transparency in all treatments performed. We are constantly educating our patients using images of our patients’ teeth. In fact, our treatment rooms are designed almost like one-on-one classrooms, which help patients better understand why treatment is performed and how they can best take care of their teeth.

What services are offered?

Our practice offers almost every type of dental treatment — from wisdom teeth removal to teeth whitening. I have spent many hours in formal training and on continuing education.

As a result, our team can perform more specialized procedures, such as implants placement, root canals, and sleep apnea management.

Dr. C with his dental assistants and hygenist at their office in Henrietta.

What cutting-edge technology does your office have?

What’s the best way to maintain my oral health between visits?

Our most high-tech devices include a 3-D X-ray, 3-D oral scanner, 3-D printer, and crown milling machine. The 3-D scanner lets us process more than 1,000,000 3-D points per second, allowing us to get highly accurate data of the mouth. The milling machine can process a dental crown in under five minutes!

In March, we also installed one of the most advanced medical-grade air purification systems available. This technology continuously provides surgically-clean air quality to our office every 30 min., and within each operatory every 2-3 min. It eliminates viruses much smaller than the coronavirus.

Check out “Dr. C’s Top 10 Tips” on our website. This is information I’ve gathered from the most respected dental journals and publications, simplified for patients to understand how to maintain oral hygiene.

How can I improve my at-home oral hygiene routine?

This varies from patient to patient, but generally speaking, electric toothbrushes and fluoridated mouthwash along with daily flossing will benefit most people tremendously.

We recommend brands like Sonicare, Oral-B, Crest, Listerine, and Waterpik.

Should I worry about bleeding gums?

Yes, bleeding gums are a sign of inflammation, a response our body has when trauma or an infection is present. Inflamed gums are usually caused by the presence of plaquecausing bacteria. Left unchecked, the inflammation can spread to the bone, and in severe cases, the heart! Routine visits to your dentist will keep them in check, creating peace of mind

Are you accepting new patients?

Yes! We participate with many private insurances and routinely see new patients for check-ups or on an emergency basis.

CelestialDental.com | drc@celestialdental.com 4178 W. Henrietta Road, Suite B | 585-360-0202

CALENDAR of

HEALTH EVENTS

Oct. 3

ADA’s 2020 Tour de Cure going virtual

The American Diabetes Association (ADA) has decided to change the format of the 2020 Tour de Cure: Rochester, presented by Excellus BCBS. This year’s event will be held virtually Oct. 3, allowing individuals and companies the opportunity to continue to support the orgniaztion’s mission. The new interactive, virtual event will advance the efforts in the fight against the diabetes epidemic by raising funds for lifesaving research, education and advocacy.

“This is a great opportunity for our local community to help us keep driving our mission by funding research and programs that help people with diabetes thrive,” said Bob Russell, executive director. “The funds we raise are critically important to the people we serve, so we are excited that technology and social media will allow us to continue to provide an event virtually for our strong community of supporters while keeping their health and safety at the forefront. This virtual event is another great example of how the ADA works to be connected for life in Rochester!”

Page 14

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The 2020 Virtual 2020 Tour de Cure: Rochester, presented by Excellus BCBS will encourage participants to focus on the three main components: Being active and committing to Ride, Run or Walk in your local neighborhoods on the event day.

Participants are asked to wear red to represent the ADA and complete intended distance. Additional ways to engage virtually can be found on the website diabetes.org/rochestertour.

To register, go to diabetes.org/ rochestertour. For more information, contact Jeff Collins at 585-458-3040 ext. 3479 or jcollins@diabetes.org.

Oct. 25 – Nov. 1

JCC Book Festival Goes Virtual

The JCC Lane Dworkin Jewish Book Festival may be virtual this year, but it will still be vital — keeping the community connected and keeping the arts alive at a time of great uncertainty. The festival, now in its 28th year, has consistently brought world-class writers and thinkers to Rochester and this year will prove no different. There will be comedy, history, religion, politics and, of course, food. Programming will be via Zoom and include conversations, panels and lots of time for audiences

to interact with authors.

The festival begins online Sunday, Oct. 25, and runs through Nov. 1.

Select highlights include: • 7:30 p.m., Sunday, Oct. 25, Stephanie Butnick and Liel Liebovitz, editors at Tablet magazine and hosts of Unorthodox, the “world’s leading Jewish podcast,” will introduce you to their irreverent, smart, funny and insightful new book, “The Newish Jewish Encyclopedia: From Abraham to Zabar’s and Everything in Between.”

• 7:30 p.m., Monday, Oct. 26, Jason Rosenthal, whose Ted Talk “The Journey Through Loss and Grief” has had over 1.4 million views will talk about his memoir “My Wife Said You May Want To Marry Me” about the frank discussions he and his wife, writer Amy Krouse Rosenthal, had before her death from ovarian cancer.

Other programs will take place through Nov. 1 Tickets for all events are $6 for daytime events/$12 for evening events and are available online at www.rjbf.org. For more information go to the RJBF.org website and follow RJBF on Facebook.

Nov. 10, 17, 19

Hearing loss group holds virtual programs

Hearing Loss Association of America Rochester chapter (HLAA) offers a series of virtual programs in November for anyone interested in hearing loss. All use the Zoom platform. Preregistration is required by visiting the HLAA website at hearin-

IN GOOD HEALTH – Rochester / Genesee Valley Healthcare Newspaper • November 2020

glossrochester.org. All programs are free and in real time. Closed captioning is available to participants.

The November schedule is as follows: • Noon, Tuesday, Nov. 10. Pete Fackler will discuss “What’s New From National HLAA.” HLAA’s national organization, like the rest of the world, has been profoundly impacted by COVID-19. Fackler, serving on the national board of directors, updates Rochester chapter members on struggles and successes at headquarters during this unusual year.

HLAA “went virtual” for a canceled convention, all the Walks4Hearing, and ongoing webinars. Staff moved to a new location after decades in Bethesda, Maryland. “Global standards for cochlear implant users,” a major collaborative study, was published in JAMA. Fackler reveals how the national office continues supporting people with hearing loss.

• 10 a.m., Tuesday, Nov. 17. Joseph Kozelsky will discuss “Hearing Other People’s Experiences (HOPE)” Prospective, new or experienced hearing aid users can share their experiences, questions and hearing loss journeys in an informal virtual round table discussion facilitated by Kozelsky, a retired audiologist and hearing aid user.

• 10 a.m., Thursday Nov. 19. “Virtual ALD Demo Center.”

HLAA-Rochester Technology Team.

It is a review of selected ALD’s, captioning-capable and amplified telephones, signaling-alerting devices and smart phone APP’s related to hearing enhancement and gives the opportunity for the presenters to answer questions from those joining the Zoom meeting.

SmartBites

The skinny on healthy eating

What’s Makes Frozen Spinach Such a Healthy Choice

ultraviolent rays. Studies suggest that diets rich in these two nutrients promote better vision and may help hold off age-related eye diseases, like cataracts and macular degeneration.

These same antioxidants, along with several others in spinach, including vitamin C, also boost immune function.

Spinach is a vitamin A superstar, providing over twice your daily needs in an average (frozen) serving.

This workhorse nutrient is essential for preserving your eyesight, may lower your risk of certain cancers, and supports both bone health and a healthy immune system.

More good reasons to fill your freezer with spinach? This nutritious green is a terrific source of folate (vital for a healthy pregnancy), iron (helps prevent anemia), and fiber (keeps things humming south of the border).

Healthy Spinach Gratin Serves 4 to 6

F

resh, frozen or canned spinach is a superfood. Nutrient-dense and calorie-light, this dark, leafy green provides a remarkable array of health benefits, above and beyond Popeye’s claim to fame.

This month’s column features frozen spinach for three key reasons: it lasts up to a year in the freezer; it’s just as nutritious as fresh spinach (in some cases, more); and it’s a versatile vegetable to have at your fingertips.

Spinach is super good for bones,

thanks to its rich supply of two very important nutrients for bone health: vitamin K and magnesium. Just one-half cup of frozen spinach has an astounding 600% of your daily vitamin K needs. Vitamin K may help to lower your risk of bone fractures, and both vitamin K and magnesium improve bone density.

Eyes light up for spinach because it contains two potent antioxidants — lutein and zeaxanthin — that can help protect peepers from harmful

Do Fasting Diets Really Work? New Study Finds Little Benefit

M

ore and more people are turning to “intermittent fasting” to lose weight, but the jury is still out on whether the tactic works.

In a new clinical trial, researchers found that one type of intermittent fasting did help overweight and obese adults drop a couple of pounds over 12 weeks. But they fared no better than a comparison group who ate whenever they wanted.

The findings conflict with some recent studies suggesting the diets are effective. And researchers said this is not the final word on intermittent fasting.

For one, many people find the tactic easy to follow, according to Krista Varady, a professor of nutrition at the University of Illinois at Chicago.

And that’s a plus, she said, since lasting weight loss requires sustainable lifestyle changes.

Varady, who was not involved in the new study, does her own research into intermittent fasting — specifically, the version known as time-restricted eating. It gives people a limited time window for eating each day.

In a recent study, Varady’s team found that the diet helped people lose about 3% of their starting weight over eight weeks. In contrast, people who stuck with their usual eating routine saw no change.

The principle behind time-restricted eating is simple: People don’t have to change what they eat, but

simply limit themselves to dining between certain hours.

“There’s a natural calorie restriction that happens just by watching the clock,” Varady said. “People seem to like it because it’s simple.

There’s no calorie-counting, and you don’t have to buy any special foods.”

But liking something does not mean it’s effective. And despite the popularity of fasting-type diets, only recently have studies begun to test them.

The new trial, published online Sept. 28 in JAMA Internal Medicine, is the latest.

For the study, the researchers randomly assigned 116 overweight or obese adults to either follow a time-restricted diet for 12 weeks, or stick with their usual eating habits. The time-restricted group was told to eat only between noon and 8 p.m.

In the end, those participants lost about 2 pounds, on average. But people who stuck with their usual routine also lost a bit of weight — which meant there was no statistically meaningful difference between the two groups.

The researchers, led by Dr. Ethan Weiss of the University of California, San Francisco, acknowledged that their findings contradict some previous research. A potential reason, they speculated, is that the 8-hour time window for eating was “not optimal.”

November 2020 •

1 16 oz. bag frozen spinach, thawed 2 teaspoons olive oil ½ onion, chopped 2 cloves garlic, minced 1/3 cup low-fat milk ½ cup Greek or plain yogurt 1 tablespoon reduced-fat mayonnaise 1 tablespoon lemon juice ¼ teaspoon nutmeg pinch of cayenne pepper (optional) salt and pepper, to taste 2 tablespoons whole-wheat breadcrumbs 2 tablespoons grated Parmesan cheese Preheat oven to 450 degrees.

Lightly coat a 2-quart baking dish with oil or nonstick cooking spray.

Foods, Medicines That Can Lower Colon Cancer Risk

C

ertain nutrients, foods and medicines may help protect you against colon cancer, a large research review suggests.

A team of international researchers led by physician Marc Bardou, of Dijon Bourgogne University Hospital in France, reviewed about 80 studies that examined how diet and certain medicines affected colon cancer risk. The studies were published between September 1980 and June 2019.

In terms of medicines, aspirin (a nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug, or NSAID) appears to lower the risk by 14% to 29% at doses as low as 75 milligrams (mg)/ day and as high as 325 mg/day.

The use of NSAIDs for up to five years was associated with a 26% to 43% reduction in incidence.

High intake of folic acid, a B vitamin, was associated with up to a 15% lower risk, although it wasn’t possible to determine a minimum dose, according to findings published Sept. 28 in the journal Gut. Similarly, eating dairy products appeared to lower risk by 13% to 19%, but the amount needed to protect against colon cancer was unclear.

Fiber intake was associated with a 22% to 43% lower risk, while fruit/vegetable consumption with

Helpful tips

For maximum vitamin retention—whether using fresh or frozen—use quick-cooking methods that don’t include water (or very little): steaming, microwaving, stir-frying or sautéing. When using frozen spinach for soups and stews, you can reduce vitamin C loss by adding it, unthawed, directly to your dish. Other dishes, such as casseroles, however, do turn out better if spinach is quickly thawed in the microwave. Lastly, check with your doctor before consuming spinach in any form, as its nutritional profile is not for everyone.

Squeeze water from thawed spinach and put in medium bowl.

Heat oil in skillet over medium-high heat. Add chopped onions and sauté until softened, about 5 minutes. Add garlic and sauté 1 minute more. Transfer mixture to bowl with spinach and combine.

In small bowl, whisk milk, yogurt, mayonnaise, lemon juice and spices until blended. Combine with spinach mixture; transfer to prepared baking dish; top with breadcrumbs and Parmesan cheese. Bake for 10 to 15 minutes.

Anne Palumbo is a lifestyle colum-

nist, food guru, and seasoned cook, who has perfected the art of preparing nutritious, calorie-conscious dishes. She is hungry for your questions and comments about SmartBites, so be in touch with Anne at avpalumbo@aol.com.

as much as a 52% lower risk.

There was no evidence that vitamins E, C, multivitamins, beta carotene or selenium were protective against colon cancer, the review found.

Results on the impact of tea, garlic or onions, vitamin D either alone or combined with calcium, coffee and caffeine, fish and omega-3 were weak or uncertain, and there were inconsistent findings on whether vitamin A and the B vitamins offered any protection.

There was conflicting data on high calcium intake and cholesterol-lowering statin drugs.

Meat, particularly red and processed meat, was associated with a 12% to 21% increased risk of colon cancer.

Alcohol also was linked to significantly higher risk. Even one or two drinks a day increased colon cancer odds, and the more people drank, the higher their risk.

In a journal news release, the researchers noted that the level of evidence of nutrients, foods and medicines providing protection against colon cancer is low or very low in most cases.

Even so, they said their findings could help doctors advise patients on the best diet to reduce bowel cancer risk and also guide future research.

Worldwide, more than 2.2 million new cases of colon cancer and 1.1 million deaths are projected annually by 2030. In the United States, colon cancer strikes about 1 in 20 people.

IN GOOD HEALTH – Rochester / Genesee Valley Healthcare Newspaper

•

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Two Epidemics Colliding: Addiction and COVID-19

By Jennifer Faringer

T

his has been an unprecedented year with the sudden introduction of the COVID-19 pandemic, its early and devastating impact on New Yorkers and the subsequent efforts undertaken that have markedly reduced infection rates and deaths in our state.

During this period of social isolation and shutdown, the addiction epidemic did not disappear.

Instead, the collision of the pandemic and the opioid epidemic that began to become a global health crisis in the 1990s has significantly set back a decade of progress in combating the opioid epidemic and the devastation it has caused families and communities.

We know that those with a substance use disorder are at higher risk of being both more susceptible to and dying from COVID-19. This is especially true for those with an opioid use disorder (also those with a tobacco use disorder). According to Nora Volkow, director of the National Institute on Drug Abuse, “Drugs inhibit the ability to fight viral and bacterial infections, disrupting immune function.”

Opioids decrease the effective functioning of the respiratory centers in the brain. Both the impact upon immune function and upon the respiratory centers lead to increased risk of COVID-19 and its many complications. Opioids include not only heroin and fentanyl but also oxycodone, hydrocodone and other prescription medications. This category of drugs not only reduces pain, but in affecting our ability to breathe, makes its combination with COVID-19 potentially lethal.

In late July, PBS News Hour ran a comprehensive episode titled “How the Pandemic is Complicating America’s Addiction Crisis” illustrating how both epidemics have become major health concerns. To view this video visit www.pbs.org/newshour then in the search feature, type “addiction crisis.”

Our challenge going forward is to take what we’ve learned in creating the real time data and mapping

Jennifer Faringer is the director, DePaul’s NCADD-RA (National Council on Alcoholism & Drug DependenceRochester Area). She can be reached at jfaringer@depaul.org or 585-719-3480. . capabilities that New York state has instituted to flatten the curve and apply this sense of urgency and immediacy in response to the addiction epidemic.

The time to increase resources and access to early prevention for youth, families, and communities is now. It is time to continue to increase access to treatment, eliminating any remaining access barriers and increase access to supportive recovery peer services.

There is hope if we are, as a community, committed to responding to the pandemic by practicing social distancing and wearing a mask.

There is also hope if we are willing to ensure that those struggling with addiction can receive the support they need, from prevention to treatment to recovery services.

To learn more, to request a presentation, or to download NCADDRA’s Directories of Services for Prevention, Treatment, Recovery, Medication Assisted Treatment, and access many other addiction support resources, visit NCADD-RA’s website at www.ncadd-ra.org or follow the NCADD-RA on Facebook at www.facebook.com/NCADDRA.

• For specific heroin and prescription pain medication resources and to download the Opioid Task Force of Monroe County Brochure visit ncadd-ra.org/resources/opioidtask-force-of-monroe-county/

National Council on Alcoholism and Drug Dependence – Rochester Area To learn more or to schedule a presentation, contact NCADD-RA at (585) 719-3480.

www.ncadd-ra.org Page 16

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IN GOOD HEALTH – Rochester / Genesee Valley Healthcare Newspaper • November 2020

CA-00087634

DIVERSITY

Inclusion, access and equity: priorities for Excellus BCBS, officials say

Excellus issues $21 million in premium refund credits as part of its COVID-19 pandemic response

E

xcellus BlueCross BlueShield is issuing $17.6 million in medical premium refund credits to about 700 large group employer and union-sponsored plans that are prospectively rated as part of its comprehensive community response to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Training the leadership

and languages in this area has to be diverse to be successful. But on top of that, it has to be inclusive.

“Employees perform better when they feel valued and have a voice in the process,” said Searles. “For us, that is the real business case for diversity and inclusion, and it makes us an employer of choice, able to attract and retain the most talented people. To achieve that, it’s real important to have commitment from the top down and the bottom up — our CEO is very serious about this work.”

Sady Fischer is the corporate director of diversity, equity and inclusion at Excellus. “I oversee everything that covers our policies, our high rate of retention, and looking at our culture as an organization. In 2019 we started truly investing in diversity, equity and inclusion by helping our employees understand

Getting the IDEA program started and earning corporate buy-in from the top required a shift in thinking for many managers and executives. Like many companies, Excellus had a white male way of looking at things.

To turn that around, Fischer and Searles began a training program for executives that required them to read “Waking Up White: And Finding Myself in the Story of Race”

by Debby Irving, a book about white privilege and implicit bias.

Jim Redmond, who is the Excellus regional vice president of communications and community investment, provided a simple example.

“The training is to look beyond the obvious,” he said. “For many people, when you think of a pilot of an airplane, your obvious thoughts, what you picture, is an older white male with white or gray hair, like US Airways pilot Chesley ‘Sully’ Sullenberger who landed his plane in the

Joseph Searles is Excellus BlueCross BlueShield corporate diversity relations director.

Sady Fishcher is Excellus BlueCross BlueShield corporate director of diversity, equity and inclusion.

This comes one month after the health insurer issued $3.4 million in premium refund credits to employer groups who offered the plan’s dental coverage.

“Keeping health care affordable is our mission as a nonprofit insurer and it starts with not collecting more than we need to pay claims and run the business,” said Christopher C. Booth, CEO of Excellus BCBS. “When Upstate New York went into lockdown and elective medical care decreased, our claims payments also declined. We are returning a portion of the premium.”

The medical premium credit will

appear on the bills being sent out in November.

The dental premium refund was credited on the groups’ October invoice.

To date, the health plan has spent or expects to spend more than $300 million this year as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic.

This has taken the form of COVID-19 related claims and expanded coverage during the state of emergency, reductions in the administrative burden for health care providers, distribution of personal protective equipment for employers and providers, and contributions

By John Addyman “For us, diversity and inclusion are not just the right thing to do, they are a business priority,” according to Joseph Searles, the Excellus BlueCross BlueShield corporate diversity relations director. “They drive the incubator for innovation, allow us to better serve our customers and achieve better business results.”

Searles, a 20-year veteran of the company, has been involved in diversity efforts in the last 10 years, which he describes as a “real journey with the organization.”

He feels the advantages of a diverse workforce makes sense: “People and businesses want to do business with an organization that they can see themselves in, or where they feel valued. People want to do business with an organization they feel values their business. There’s a community steward perspective to this.”

Working through some of life’s difficulties are so much easier when the people trying to help you look and sound like you. Excellus provides services to maintain health care for a widely diverse population in the area.

To get an appreciation for what the company contends with every day, just go to the bottom of the first page of its website, www.excellusbcbs.com, and look at the list of languages supported: English, French, Russian, Greek, Italian, Polish, Tagalog (Philippines), Yiddish, Italian, Spanish, Chinese, Haitian Creole, Korean, Bengali, Arabic, Urdu and Albanian. The company’s translation services even go well beyond those languages for those who need help.

You have to figure a company that works with that many cultures

what that meant to them, and how those things applied to their work.

We rolled out what we called an IDEA mindset of inclusion, diversity, equity and access.

“It is the responsibility for all employees to ask, to look at things in terms of, are they being inclusive?

What more can they do in terms of inclusion around a process or their meetings? Who was missing around the table? Did they need a different perspective? A certain background?

Community representation?

“Equity is about leveling the playing field. What barriers were in place and what could we do to help eliminate some of those. Access is acknowledging people’s unique needs, looking at our employees and our customers: how do we fill their needs to provide better access for them to our services?”

November 2020 •

Hudson River.

“But the pilot could be a woman, a veteran, someone of color or a combination. The book gets you to look beyond what your obvious thoughts are.”

And that’s where the Excellus journey began, Searles said. “We didn’t come out of the gate talking about unconscious bias. What we have done is to evolve the organization to understand diversity and inclusion and why they’re important to the business.”

“Excellus is here to improve the health of our members and their communities. When you look at the business case and wonder why you want diversity and inclusion and access, you’re asking how you’re serving your members, how you’re serving supporter groups, and how you’re treating your employees.”

“Reception to our programs has been really positive,” said Fischer, “especially in light of the racial equity issues in Rochester right now.

Employees of all backgrounds have been ready for more information, realizing they haven’t quite been aware of all the injustices, especially about structural racism.

We’re getting more requests for information. We’re organizing book clubs. We’re doing forums with open dialogue. We’re asking our leaders to check in with their employees to see how they’re doing in these times.

We’re asking leaders to ask their people ‘How are you doing? What is it you need?’ We’ve also been focusing a lot on self-care.”

She said Excellus has a 21-day racial equity challenge program covering issues of white privilege, microaggression and structural racism, and encourages all employees to participate. Next year, all employees will be required to go through annual training on diversity, inclusion and equity concerns.

Not everyone is a fan of this kind of training. In September, President Donald Trump signed an executive order banning employee diversity and inclusion training for federal agencies, contractors, grant recipients and the military that is “rooted in the pernicious and false belief that America is an irredeemably racist and sexist country.” The order targets “divisive and harmful sex- and race-based ideologies…(and) white privilege diversity training.”

“The executive order does not change our company’s commitment to diversity, inclusion, equity and access, nor the extensive trainings and programs we maintain to support this important work,” said Redmond.

“As to whether we are required to modify our training materials, we are evaluating the executive order, although we anticipate little impact on our current training modules.” to food banks and food pantries throughout the health plan’s upstate service territory.

“Our priority continues to be taking care of the customer and making sure members have access to the care they need,” Booth said. “Our claim volumes have returned to normal levels given the demand for elective procedures and routine care that may have been put off during the quarantine. We are also still bracing for a possible second wave in COVID-19 related costs. We hope it doesn’t come but we are prepared if it does.”

IN GOOD HEALTH – Rochester / Genesee Valley Healthcare Newspaper

•

Page 17

throughout their lifetime. They have limited coping skills. They have difficulty in school. There may be a difficulty going on in the family’s home. Typically, we are serving birth through age 26, but for a few key programs we’re going beyond age 26.

Q. What types of community-based services does Hillside offer?

A. They focus on behavioral health, assessment services, family support services, social-skill-building services. They are for youth that are in crisis. They are also for young people that are struggling with the juvenile justice system, and are preventive in nature. They’ve [kids] sometimes have reached the point where they have been removed from their family’s home. They would then either be placed in a foster home, or be served at one of our campuses that provides residential treatment.

Q A &

with Maria Cristalli

President and CEO of Hillside talks about the organization’s mission to help children in need

By Mike Costanza

S

ince Hillside opened its doors in Rochester in 1837, it has come to serve the needs of children, adults and families in Western and Central New York, the Southern Tier, and Prince George’s County, Maryland. Altogether, the nonprofit operates at about 40 different locations, including offices, group homes and residential campuses, and employs approximately 1,900 people. Maria Cristalli, Hillside’s president and CEO, spoke to In Good Health about the goals and services of her organization (which was once called the

Hillside Family of Agencies).

Q. In a nutshell, what is Hillside’s mission?

A. We partner with youth, adults and their families to provide individualized health care, education and human services through an integrated system of care.

Q. What kind of child might benefit from your services?

A. The kind of child that we might help could be a child in crisis that has had traumatic experiences

Q. Can you tell us about the treatment services that you offer on your residential campuses and in your group homes?

A. Those services are provided for youth around the clock, and they’re in a therapeutic environment.

A multidisciplinary team is serving the young person and their family.

That includes mental health care, a youth care worker, family support and education. We have both psychiatric and pediatric providers that work with the children.

Q. What kinds of supports does Hillside provide for the families of children in residential treatment?

A. The children are placed with us for mental health programs, or programs that serve children with developmental disabilities. Parents certainly have the will, but they may not have the tools to care for their child. They’re coming to us to learn tools and strategies. They’re also coming to us for family support, because we can help connect them with other families that have experienced these same challenges.

Q. Could you describe some of the other services that you have for families?

A. We have Family Resource Centers that are dedicated to helping parents and their children. The Family Resource Centers use the Parents as Teachers program, a home-visiting program for parents with young children. A staff person visits with the family to help them with developmental screenings and linkages with community resources, so parents can raise healthy and happy children.

Q. Peer support can really help those who are having difficulty raising their kids. How does Hillside bring members of different families together to support each other?

A. We have family peer support professionals that are part of our multidisciplinary teams that work directly with the family. As a family member, you’re going to have a clinician, you’re going to have a youth care worker, you’re going to have the option to utilize a family peer support professional to work directly with you.

Q. What kinds of educational services do you offer on your campuses?

A. For the most part, if they’re living on our campuses, they would come to one of our schools. They are non-district schools licensed by the (New York State) Office of Special Education.

Q. Does Hillside provide other educational services?

A. We have the nationally recognized Hillside Work-Scholarship Connection. It is for a child who is struggling in school, might be overage and under-credited, is struggling with core subjects like math and English, and is having problems with attendance. For some youngsters, they may be in school but they’re struggling with behaviors and may be on track for suspensions. It helps young people that are struggling to graduate from high school and go on to college and a career.

Q. Hillside also has programs for those over 26 years old. What are some of them?

A. One example is the health home care management program that we provide directly to adults that have chronic conditions that need attention. Those can include a behavioral health condition like depression or anxiety for example.

They could also have a chronic physical condition like diabetes or cardiovascular issues. In partnership with the individual, the care manager provides support and coordination of services from a primary health and a behavioral health point of view.

Q. How has the coronavirus pandemic forced Hillside to change its operations?

A. Our five campuses and 11 group homes are operating 24/7, as usual. For our community-based services, about 1,000 staff are delivering services through telehealth technology.

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IN GOOD HEALTH – Rochester / Genesee Valley Healthcare Newspaper • November 2020

Meet Your Provider

Thrive Physical Therapy Feel good again: ‘Use it and Improve it!’

Thrive Physical Therapy brings exceptional physical therapy to you — in the comfort and convenience of your own home.

While working as a physical therapist in multiple settings, Thrive’s founder, Ashley Lorch, saw all too often that barriers such as finding transportation, a lack of consistency, and not having access to a therapist who specialized in their condition prevented people from getting the most out of their rehabilitation. Thrive was created to solve these problems and bring compassionate and effective care directly to you.

Our therapists are specialists in working with aging adults and people with neurologic conditions and are ready to work with you in the place that matters most — your home.

outpatient PT clinics, you don’t need to travel to an appointment in a busy gym. We make it easy for you to get the consistent therapy you need.

• Personalization — Because we come to you, our therapists can focus on your specific challenges right where you’re having them. Your therapist will get to know you and what matters most to you in your life. This relationship is the foundation that allows us to customize your PT to suit your personality, interests and goals.

• Specialization — Our therapists are experienced in helping older adults navigate the challenges associated with aging. We also have board-certified neurologic specialists who are experts in disorders that affect the brain, like stroke, MS, and Parkinson’s disease.

What makes Thrive Physical Therapy special?

What is a neurologic specialist and why is that important when choosing a physical therapist?

• A unique model — Thrive blends the intensity of outpatient physical therapy with the convenience of a house call. Unlike with home health agencies, you do not need to be homebound to qualify for PT with Thrive. And, unlike

Many people don’t realize that physical therapists can be specialists — just like doctors specialize in different areas of medicine. Neurologic specialists are highly skilled at treating complex conditions including stroke, Parkinson’s,

spinal cord injury, MS and acquired brain injury. Their neurologic expertise also makes them great at helping people suffering from balance disorders and falls because these problems often begin in the brain too. It’s important to see a physical therapist who is experienced, knowledgeable, and skilled in your condition to help you reach your true potential.

What kind of things do you do in PT? Thrive empowers our patients to take an active role in their rehabilitation.

Together, we will set goals that are

meaningful to you, and then we’ll work together to achieve them. Our therapy is always based on the latest research and always considers our patient’s unique preferences.

One of our favorite mottoes is “Use it and Improve it!” Our patients can expect to be up and moving during their sessions and to learn how to live their best, during and after their physical therapy course of treatment. And you don’t need to worry about having workout equipment at home—your friendly physical therapist will bring the equipment right to you.

Ashley Lorch, PT, NCS | Thrive Physical Therapy, PLLC (585) 851-8259 | www.thriveptandwellness.com

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Most importantly, we have designed communities to help you embrace living your way.

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November 2020 •

IN GOOD HEALTH – Rochester / Genesee Valley Healthcare Newspaper

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Defeating Cancer

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Women Alzheimer’s

Breast Cancer Awareness Month INSIDE

Numerous studies show women have twice the risk of Alzheimer’s disease than men. What is behind that?

■ Is breast cancer the leading cause of cancer death in women? (It’s not) ■ 10 things young women should know about breast cancer ■ Latest news in cutting-edge gene-targeting and testing

Story on page 17

■ The history of the pink ribbon

Cancer Risk & Your Genes

SIMPLY SMILING MAY BOOST YOUR OUTLOOK

5

Cara Cappello, founder of Breast Previvors ROC, a group for women who choose prophylactic mastectomy. The “previvors” in Capello’s group carry a strong predisposition to cancer. Story on p. 12

Things You Need to Know About Depression

Americans Now More Likely to Get COVID-19 Vaccine: Poll

Brussel sprouts America’s most-hated vegetable doesn’t deserve the bad rap P. 15

New funding and designation help further research into intellectual and developmental disabilities, says chief of child neurology at Golisano Children’s Hospital, Jonathan Mink

Profits for Major Insurers Double This Year.

Does it Mean We Will Get a Premium Rebate?

SHIFT WORK

Early Intervention Challenged During Pandemic

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Compliance

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P. 9

Study: Women more likely to skip meds than men

P.15

P. 5

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Wealthy Outlive Poor by Nearly 10 Years

By Deborah Jeanne Sergeant

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esearchers with University College London recently published a study that correlates wealth as the greatest factor that indicates when a person’s health will begin declining with age.

Wealthy people in the study of more than 25,000 adults over age 50 in England and the U.S. lived nine years longer in good health than poor people.

The study indicated that wealthy women were expected to live an average of 33 years without age-related disability compared with those with less money, who live only 23 to 24.6 years in good health.

Well-to-do men could anticipate 31 healthy years but poor men could expect 22 to 23 years.

One reason behind the gap is where a person lives.

A recent report by Finger Lakes Health Systems Agency (FLHSA) predict that children born today in Pittsford’s 14534 ZIP code will live up to nine years longer than those living in Rochester’s 14608 ZIP code.

“Where you live can significantly affect your health, your health behaviors and eventually your health outcomes,” said Albert Blankley, director of research and analytics for FLHSA in a news release. “People may be close geographically, but their health outcomes often are worlds apart.”

Neighborhood factors such as high smoking rates, a lack of access to healthy food and exercise opportunities, and unhealthy housing can significantly reduce life expectancies.

“This important report highlights many significant health issues and disparities,” said physician Michael Mendoza, Monroe County Commissioner of Public Health in a statement. “Together with our many local partners, we will continue to work to improve the health of all residents of Monroe County.”

Monroe County’s 2016-18 Health Profile states that adult smoking rates in the city of Rochester (21.8%) is much higher than Monroe County (14.5%) and Upstate (17.3%).

Finger Lakes Health Systems Agency has tracked county data for decades, but this is the first year the agency has produced individual county profiles.

“The profiles are designed to be easy to read and understand, with maps, data graphs and icons that bring the information to life,” said Catie Kunecki, regional planner and analyst for FLHSA. Kunecki noted that FLHSA will maintain updated county health data on its website and intends to publish updated versions of the report in the future.

‘Poverty drives health inequity’

Registered nurse Christy Richards has a master’s degree in public health and serves as the health educator for Ontario County Public Health. She said that before the

IN GOOD HEALTH – Rochester / Genesee Valley Healthcare Newspaper • November 2020

pandemic, the county’s No. 1 health concern was poverty.

“Poverty drives health inequity,” Richards said. “With poverty, you don’t have equal access to things like adequate housing, healthy foods and health insurance. It drives to inequities that cut lives short more than any other factor.”

She said that in the Finger Lakes region, these inequities cost $1 billion annually, including lost income and preventable medical expenses.

“Health inequity has to do with years of potential life lost,” Richards said. “That means when we’re talking about it biostatistically, it’s people who have died but shouldn’t have died.

“It’s important to understand that poverty isn’t a race or an ethnicity; it’s a socioeconomic status,” she added.

In the Finger Lakes, chronic health conditions are more common in people of lower socioeconomic status — those making less than $20,000 per year — than in those making $70,000 per year.

Lower income makes people 154% more likely to have diabetes, 105% more likely to have teeth removed prematurely, 224% more likely to have a depressive disorder.

“It makes sense when we think about chronic stress,” Richards said.

“They’re wondering, ‘Where will my next meal come from? How will I pay rent?’”

Richards said that the living environment is a minor factor compared with health behaviors such as “tobacco and vaping use, exercise, alcohol abuse, inappropriate sexual activity, and sexually transmitted diseases. These are all modifiable.”

Access to healthcare also makes a big difference for preventing preterm birth, chronic health problems and emergency room visits.

Protective factors include family and social support, community safety and education. Not everyone who has a low income is uneducated. For example, an artist or childcare provider may have a good education but doesn’t make a lot of money. However, their education helps them make better lifestyle choices about health.

“Knowledge can help them mitigate their stressors,” Richards said.

“We’re all in this together so we need to work on this together.”

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention states that adults who are 25 and lack a high school diploma can expect to die nine years earlier than college graduates. Approximately 65% of Monroe County residents attended some college, higher than the statewide rate of 59%.

Visit www.commongroundhealth.org/insights/library to view county profiles on all nine counties: Chemung, Livingston, Monroe, Ontario, Schuyler, Seneca, Steuben, Wayne and Yates.

Golden Years

Medicare 101

If the rules of Medicare confuse you, you are not alone

By Deborah Jeanne Sergeant

Y

es, it’s confusing. An entire industry has developed around explaining the parameters of Medicare to adults anticipating their time to sign up at age 65.

While no one is required by law to sign up for Medicare, it is vital to understand the basics of Medicare to avoid lifelong monthly penalties should you decide to sign up later.

In general, people receiving Social Security income (SSI) for two years for a disability are automatically enrolled. Those who are aged 65 are eligible to enroll in Medicare. The age-related enrollment period is three months before and after the person’s birth month and the birth month.

A person currently with group insurance supplied by an employer of 20 or more can remain on their current plans and wait until they retire and thus lose their coverage.

The same applies to a spouse on their plan. They do not have to wait until the next open enrollment period, which runs Oct. 15 through Dec. 7, because loss of coverage constitutes a qualifying event. Coverage under COBRA does not qualify.

If they don’t like their current insurance, they may choose to drop it in favor of Medicare.

Medicare plans are designated as “Parts.”

• Part A covers hospital care and some home care. If you have worked 40 quarters in your lifetime, it’s free.

• Part B covers doctor visits, diagnostic services and other outpatient care. The base premium is $144.60 per month. Individuals making $87,000 or more or couples making $174,000 or more pay higher premiums. It’s on an income-based, tiered structure, based on income figures from two years ago.

Parts A and B together are also known as “Original Medicare.”

Terry James, health insurance broker with Medicare Easy in Rochester, said that many people believe that it’s mandatory to Terry James have Medicare Part B. “If an individual is covered through their employer’s plan or spouse’s employer plan, then Medicare Part B is optional,” James said.

“They can turn it down as long as the coverage is considered creditable by

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the government. You don’t want to be in a situation where you’re paying for an employer plan and Medicare Part B.” After age 65, those using the New York State Marketplace must sign up for Medicare. For those receiving Social Security, the premiums are deducted from their monthly checks. Those not receiving Social Security pay quarterly.

Those who do not enroll in Medicare on time will pay a penalty of 10% of the premium for each 12-month period they could have been enrolled in Part B. Someone who waited two years would pay 20% more; those waiting three years would pay 30% more per month for the duration of their enrollment.

Kathy Coler, Medicare specialist and independent broker for ROC Insurance Services in Rochester, said that a recent change to Medicare is the Part B giveback. It rolls money into the Social Security check toward the Part B premium.

“Not all carriers have it but some do,” she said. “It’s worth asking. You can get up to $400 or $500.”

• Part C, also known as Medicare Advantage, includes amenities like vision, dental care, wellness rewards and fitness. About 36% of those enrolled in Medicare are in Medicare Advantage, as of Sept. 29, 2020.

The plans are offered through private insurers like BlueCross BlueShield, Humana, Aetna, Cigna and United HealthCare and include Parts A and B. Most also include Part D. • Part D is the prescription drug plan offered through private insurance companies.

“New York State has EPIC, a program that works in conjunction with Part D plan to save seniors money on prescription Michael King drugs,” said Michael King, broker with Century Benefits Group in Rochester. “If enrolled in EPIC, they can change their Medicare plan at any time of the year.”

People making a higher annual income must meet a deductible but pay nothing for EPIC. Those with a

lower income have a small fee, but no deductible.

• Part F has no deductibles and pays all coinsurance. It covers 80% of expenses.

Supplement plans, also called MediGap, fill in areas that Medicare doesn’t cover, such as expensive cancer drugs or treatments for multiple sclerosis.

“Doing a drug analysis is extremely important to make sure your drugs are covered in the plan and that you’re paying the least cost possible,” King said.

“Clients give us a list of drugs and our computer software tells us the plan best for them based on where Lizz Ortolani they live.”

He added that a lot of seniors do not check the drug list.

Where you spend your time also matters. If you travel a lot or snowbird during the winter, make sure your plan covers non-emergency care elsewhere. Emergency care is nearly always covered.

Lizz Ortolani, licensed in life, accident and health and certified in America’s Health Insurance Plans, is president of Ortolani Services, Inc. in Rochester.

“Typically, when people pick Medicare, they pick the original and MediGap with prescription plan or an Advantage Plan that privatizes it,” she said. “People often ask which is better and it’s more about the right fit for their needs.

“Sometimes one spouse will pick one over the other.”

That is why seeing a broker can make a big difference in how well you’re covered and how much it will cost.

“Certainly, you can do your homework on your own,” Ortolani said. “National articles are helpful but there are rules specific to New York state and then the markets.”

She said that the guidance from brokers is free to consumers because brokers receive a commission based on the companies with which they are contracted.

MEDICARE MADE EASY Medicare Advantage Plans NY State EPIC Prescription Drug Plans Supplement Plans Dental Plans Fitness Memberships

Jim Knipper, Health Insur. Broker (585) 880-5327 • Jknipper11@gmail.com

November 2020 •

IN GOOD HEALTH – Rochester / Genesee Valley Healthcare Newspaper

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Page 21

Golden Years

Older Adults Cautious on Senior Living Facilities

By Deborah Jeanne Sergeant

A

re nursing homes really a safe place for seniors to live?

According to a Sept. 18 article by Judith Graham published

by Kaiser Health, a lot of older adults are rethinking their final planning and considering other options than going to a nursing home or assisted living facility should they need help with activities of daily living.

The article cited a survey in August by the National Investment Center for Seniors Housing & Care that 74% of senior housing executives said families have expressed concern

about safety amid rising COVID-19 cases.

To assuage these concerns and to keep residents safe, the industry in general is responding, according to Timothy Holahan, doctor of osteopathic medicine and assistant professor of medicine at University of Rochester Medical Center. He is also medical director for The Hurlbut, Penfield Place and Woodside Manor.

“We’re doing a lot,” he said.

“Part of how we’ve handled this isn’t just as individual nursing homes but the Department of Health and the

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local community have been active to change infection control now that we know how the disease spreads.”

Ramping up measures to quarantine ill residents, limit the contact of all residents with potential sources of infection, using personal protection equipment more, and testing staff for COVID-19 weekly have helped curtail the virus’ spread.

Holahan hopes that as a silver lining to the pandemic, facilities will have improved their protocols for the outbreak of any illness regarding preventive measures, acquiring and using PPE, and stocking necessities.

“COVID has been very difficult on patients, families and staff,” he said. “When we come out of this, we’ll be able to do to things better.

This is an opportunity for that. We are now better prepared for further outbreaks in nursing homes or other infectious diseases, like flu or RSV. We’ll be able to prevent those.”

For those with the means to do so, choosing home health may help reduce the population of people living in nursing homes to a safer capacity. Some estimate that a rate of 80% capacity helps prevent the spread of COVID-19. But it is difficult to tell what level of care one will need in 10 or 20 years.

“As much as people try to predict whether or not they will need nursing home care, a lot of people will,” said Nate Sweeney vice president skilled services at St. John’s Home in Rochester.

According to AARP, 52% of people turning 65 years old will need long-term care at some point in their lifetime. AARP further states that more than half will need care for more than two years.

“For the folks who do need it, we went to create the safest environment possible with their choices and preference in consideration,” Sweeney said. “We have added more private rooms than we had before.”

In addition to increasing cleaning protocols, technology like ultraviolet radiation machines can help the dedicated cleaning staff disinfect surfaces that are more difficult to disinfect, like upholstery.

Sweeney said that the rules about visitation continue to evolve, but the amount of space at St. John’s helps with social distancing.

IN GOOD HEALTH – Rochester / Genesee Valley Healthcare Newspaper • November 2020

All the changes taking place have cause caregivers to reevaluate how they operate.

“All of our protocols are constantly being looked at and updated,” Sweeney said. “We have a great interdisciplinary team that comes together from different perspectives to look at anything COVID related.

That process has been very beneficial for us. You make the best decisions when it’s a variety of diverse perspectives.”

He believes that the pandemic has encouraged cross-discipline collaboration among long-term care providers and greater agility to adapt when unexpected emergencies occur.

At St. Ann’s Community, physician Kim Petrone, medical director, has seen similar types of protocols become the new way of providing care for seniors who are in assisted living, long-term care, memory care and short-stay rehabilitation.

“Each of those places has implemented extraordinary number of measures to keep the virus out of their member population,” Petrone said.

Because of the pandemic, “we’re seeing more caution on the side of seniors and they’re more hesitant to consider senior living environments,” she added. “We’re seeing a minor decline in assisted living” as a choice.

The nursing home isn’t seeing a decrease in interest because it’s typically medically necessary unless individuals can afford in-home care.

But Petrone said that nursing home care is also “the most highly regulated environment.”

That has fostered more measures that address the spread of infection, such as limiting visitors to certain areas and only if the facility has had no infections for 14 days; requiring weekly testing and daily screening of staff; and testing residents weekly for two weeks if a staff member or resident tested positive.

“We have been monitoring them for temperature daily and oxygen levels daily, and if you’re new to our environment or you come from the hospital, you’re on a quarantine for 14 days isolated to your room,” Petrone said. “If you come from a hospital, we require a negative COVID test before you come.”

The facility also keeps the same staff in the same parts of the building to limit the possibility of widespread transmission.

Although no one wants to go through a pandemic, Petrone said that providers like St. Ann’s have learned from the experience. One lesson is that isolation can curtail disease. She has noticed that since St. Ann’s had no visitors from March through September, the number of communicable illnesses plummeted.

Along with isolation came the challenge of loneliness. St. Ann’s created a “buddy system” which assigned staff members to each elder so they spend casual time together doing what the resident wants, such as playing cards, chatting or assisting with technology. The positive feedback to the buddy system has made it clear that it could offer benefits anytime.

As an organization, the pandemic “has made us nimbler,” Petrone said. “We’ve learned how to plan in a very quick way. It makes us more sensitive to others’ jobs as we’ve had to cross-train. If we had another catastrophic event like this, we’re now more able to cope.”

Providing Independent and Enriched Living WHY SPEND ANOTHER SNOWY Apartments to Seniors in the Finger Lakes WINTER COOPED UP for over 20 years.

OR STRANDED?

By Jim Miller

Providing Independent and Enriched Living apartments Providing Independent andhold Enriched Living to seniors in the We Finger Lakes for overapartments 20 years.

the key to for over 20 years.

Lakes Coronavirus Vs. Flu: How to to seniors in the Finger affordable living!

Tell the Difference

Dear Savvy Senior, Can you explain the differences between the coronavirus and seasonal flu? I’m 70 years old, and usually get a standard flu shot, but would like to find out what else I can do to protect myself this winter.

Worried Senior Dear Worried, Great question! Because of the dual danger of influenza (flu) and COVID-19, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recently warned that this fall and winter could be the worst ever for public health. Understanding this, knowing the differences and similarities between the viruses, and knowing what you can do to protect yourself is the best way to stay healthy and safe through this difficult time.

Flu vs COVID Because many of the symptoms of flu and COVID-19 are similar, it may be hard to tell the difference between them based on symptoms alone, so testing may be needed to help confirm a diagnosis. With that said, here are some similarities and differences you should know.

For starters, seasonal flu symptoms come on pretty quickly, whereas COVID-19 develops gradually over a period of a few days and then either fades out or gets worse.

Common shared symptoms include fever, sore throat, muscle aches, cough, headache, fatigue and even chest pain. Pinkeye and a dry cough are associated with COVID-19, while it’s now thought that a fever is more likely with the flu, as are diarrhea and nausea.

Many people are having their temperatures taken these days before entering public spaces. But fever occurs in only half of COVID-19 cases.

Fever does not rule out COVID-19, but the absence of fever makes flu unlikely.

You’re also unlikely to have a runny or stuffy nose with the flu, but you may with COVID-19. What sometimes happens within the nose with COVID-19 is loss of smell and, often as a consequence, loss of taste, too.

To learn more about the similarities and differences between flu and COVID-19, visit the CDC website ​ at CDC.gov/flu/symptoms/flu-vscovid19.htm.

How to Protect Yourself While there is currently no vaccine available yet to prevent

‘Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recently warned that this fall and winter could be the worst ever for public health.’

COVID-19, the best way to prevent illness is to avoid being exposed to this virus. So, stay home as much as you can. If you have to go out, wear a mask and keep at least six feet away from other people. And every time you come home, wash your hands with warm water and soap for at least 20 seconds.

There’s also evidence that suggests that people who are deficient in vitamin D may be at higher risk of getting COVID-19, than those with sufficient levels. So, make sure you take in around 800 to 1,000 international units (IUs) of vitamin D from food or supplements daily, and get outside as much as you can.

And to help guard against the flu this year, you should consider getting a flu shot that’s specifically designed for people 65 and older. The “Fluzone High Dose Quadrivalent” or the “FLUAD Quadrivalent” are the two options that provide extra protection beyond what a standard flu shot offers. You only need one flu shot, and if you haven’t already gotten it, you should do it now because it takes up to two weeks to build immunity after you receive it.

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Pneumonia Vaccines If you haven’t been vaccinated for pneumonia, you should also consider getting the pneumococcal vaccines. Both flu and COVID-19 can lead to pneumonia, which hospitalizes around 250,000 Americans, and kills around 50,000 people each year.

But these numbers could be much higher this year.

The CDC recommends that all seniors, 65 or older, get two vaccinations — Prevnar 13 and Pneumovax 23. Both vaccines, which are administered one year apart, protect against different strains of the bacteria to provide maximum protection.

Medicare Part B covers both flu and pneumonia shots.

To locate a vaccination site that offers any of these shots, visit VaccineFinder.org and type in your location.

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Page 23

Ask St. Ann’s

Ask The Social

Security Office

From the Social Security District Office

I

Remaining Hopeful for the Holidays

By Sister Mary Louise Mitchell

W

e all feel the collective grief that has come from placing our lives on pause due to COVID-19. The loss of time with friends and family who are still with us, the freedom to go about one’s day without restrictions, and the joy of celebrating holidays and milestones in our community weigh on us. The good news is —even amid this grief — we can find the strength to give the gift of hope this holiday season.

When we choose to be present with grief instead of trying to make it go away, we arrive at a middle ground: A place that does not ask us to deny our grief and does not doom us forever. Honoring this very human experience will lead to healing and joy.

• Honor this time with compassion. Start by getting out of your head and into your heart.

Trust that love will prevail and extend kindness, care, and compassion regularly to yourself and others. This simple act can help restore peace and balance to everyday life.

In recent months, many seniors at St. Ann’s Community expressed their gratitude for being safe and well-tended, yet they felt powerless to help others. When they looked within, they quickly found ways to extend compassion to themselves and others. Their advice includes: • Write a gratitude list.

Record the blessings of each day to keep hope alive. Merely reading your list can help you stay balanced and maintain a more positive outlook on life.

• Send prayers and positivity. Say prayers for those on the frontline, positive affirmations to yourself, and offer praise to others to help counter the news’ negativity and help bring balance to your life.

• Write letters. Hand-written cards will brighten the day and are Page 24

•

more personal than email or texts.

Having lived through World Wars and the Great Depression, seniors can be wise messengers of hope and reassurance that bad times do come to an end.

• Plan now for online celebrations.

With COVID still circulating, extended family gatherings may not be the safest way to go, but they can always be uplifting. The pastoral care team at St. Ann’s Community recommends using online technologies to have virtual dinners with loved ones.

Another option is to place photos around your table to remember loved ones who’ve passed or to include those who cannot celebrate with you this year.

Senior living communities can also adapt holiday celebrations to be as uplifting and inclusive as possible. St. Ann’s Community will ramp up the decorations to lifts residents’ spirits and hope to broadcast holiday masses so their families can share in the celebrations.

With compassion, love, and creativity on your side, you’ll not only find new and beautiful ways to inhabit what hurts, but you’ll also keep traditions—and hope—alive.

That’s the best gift you can give!

Mary Louise Mitchell, SSJ, Ph.D., RN, is the director of pastoral care for St. Ann’s Community.

You can reach her at 585-697-6446 or mmitchell@ mystanns.com, or visit www. stannscommunity. com.

Social Security Can Help With Your Plan For Achieving Self Support

f you rely on Supplemental Security Income (SSI) payments or Social Security Disability (SSDI) benefits and want to start working or return to work, we can help.

A Plan for Achieving Self-Support (PASS) is a rule under SSI to help people with disabilities return to work. If you receive SSI or could qualify for SSI after setting aside income or resources so you can pursue — or achieve — a work goal, you could benefit from a PASS. How does a PASS help someone return to work?

• We base SSI eligibility and payment amounts on income and resources (things of value that the individual owns).

• PASS lets a disabled individual set aside money and things he or she owns to pay for items or services needed to achieve a specific work goal.

• The objective of the PASS is to help disabled individuals find employment that reduces or eliminates SSI or SSDI benefits.

Q&A Q: Is it true I can save about $4,900 per year if I qualify for Social Security’s Extra Help with the Medicare prescription drug program?

A: Yes. If your income and resources meet the requirements, you can save nearly $5,000 in prescription costs each year. Resource limits for 2020 are $14,610 (or $29,160 if you are married and living with your spouse). Income limits are $19,140 (or $25,860 if you are married and living with your spouse). If your income or resources are just a bit higher, you might be eligible for some help with prescription drug costs. To learn more, visit www.socialsecurity.gov/ prescriptionhelp.

Q: My spouse died recently and my neighbor said my children and I might be eligible for survivors benefits. Don’t I have to be retirement age to receive benefits?

A: No. As a survivor, you can receive benefits at any age if you are caring for a child who is receiving Social Security benefits and who is under age 16. Your children are eligible for survivors benefits through Social Security up to age 19 if they are unmarried and attending elementary or secondary school full time. Keep

IN GOOD HEALTH – Rochester / Genesee Valley Healthcare Newspaper • November 2020

You can read all about the PASS program at www.ssa.gov/pubs/EN05-11017.pdf.

The plan must be in writing, and Social Security must approve it beforehand. To start, contact your local Social Security office for an application (Form SSA-545-BK) or you can access the form at www.ssa.gov/ forms/ssa-545.html.

There are many people who can help you write a PASS, including a Ticket to Work service provider, a vocational counselor or a relative. Social Security’s Ticket to Work (ticket) program supports career development for SSDI beneficiaries and SSI recipients who want to work and progress toward financial independence. The ticket program is free and voluntary.

Please call the Ticket to Work Help Line at 1-866-968-7842 or 1-866-8332967 (TTY) Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. ET to learn more about the Ticket program.

Your job isn’t just a source of income — it can be a vehicle to independence or a beginning to fulfilling your dreams. Let Social Security’s PASS help you achieve your goals.

in mind that you are still subject to the annual earnings limit if you are working. If you are not caring for minor children, you would need to wait until age 60 (age 50 if disabled) to collect survivors benefits. For more information about survivors benefits, read our publication Survivors Benefits at www.socialsecurity.gov/pubs.

Q: Why is it so important that my baby have a Social Security number?

A: Your child may need a Social Security number if you are planning to open a bank account, buy savings bonds, obtain medical coverage, or apply for government services for the child. Your child will also need a Social Security number if you are going to declare him or her on your taxes.

Getting a Social Security number for your newborn is voluntary, but it is a good idea to apply when your child is born. You can apply for a Social Security number for your baby when you apply for your baby’s birth certificate. The state agency that issues birth certificates will give us your child’s information and we will mail you a Social Security card with the child’s Social Security number. Visit www.socialsecurity.gov/ssnumber for more information.

H ealth News St. Ann’s Community, Quail Summit announce affiliation The boards of directors for St. Ann’s Community and Quail Summit, two nonprofit senior living healthcare and housing providers, have agreed to affiliate.

The new affiliation will create one of the area’s largest nonprofit organizations, providing senior healthcare and housing services.

“We could not be more pleased about our new affiliation with St. Ann’s Community,” said Phil Beckley, president of the Quail Summit board of directors. “St. Ann’s recognizes and appreciates what a unique community we have created here in Canandaigua. By joining together, we create a stronger organization that will support the changing needs of our residents for many years to come.”

The affiliation will also ensure long-term stability, achieve economic benefits, manage costs and allow access to premier services across Monroe, Ontario and Genesee counties.

“Aligning our leadership, experience and expertise creates an opportunity to better meet the evolving expectations of a growing population of older adults,” said Ron Salluzzo, chairman of St. Ann’s Community board of directors.

Michael E. McRae, president and CEO of St. Ann’s Community, and Andrew R. Tyman, CEO of Quail Summit, will both coordinate and oversee the transition. St. Ann’s will also consult on the day-to-day Quail Summit operations until the affiliation is completed.

“Joining together with Quail Summit strengthens our mission and commitment to building strong and engaging communities, while also connecting people with the services and relationships they need to thrive,” said McRae. “Quail Summit’s tradition of quality service to seniors and the community makes them an ideal partner. We are truly excited to come together and serve the broader Canandaigua community.”

Doc joins Canandaigua Family Practice UR Medicine Thompson Health recently welcomed physician Ashley Leubner to Canandaigua Family Practice, an affiliate of F.F. Thompson Hospital.

Leubner is board certified in family medicine, with Leubner special interests in pediatrics and women’s health.

She is accepting patients of all ages and genders at the practice, which is located at 3170 West St. in Canandaigua.

A native of Greenwood in Steuben County, Leubner graduated with a bachelor’s degree in biology from

Keuka College, going on to obtain her medical degree from St. George’s University School of Medicine, Grenada, West Indies. She then completed her family medicine residency at Union Hospital in Terre Haute, Indiana.

At Canandaigua Family Practice, Leubner joins a team that also includes physicians Joseph Duba, Susan Landgraf and Bryan Sandler, as well as Jamie Kline, a family nurse practitioner.

“We are so excited to have Dr. Leubner with us at Canandaigua Family Practice and are looking forward to seeing her success over many years to come,” said Thompson Health Director of Practice Management Catherine Shannon.

Genesis Pediatrics adds doctor, nurse practitioner Genesis Pediatrics, located on Elmgrove Road in Gates-Chili, has recently added a new physician and a nurse practitioner to its staff.

• Pooja Makhija is a board-certified physician and a fellow of the American Academy of Pediatrics (FAAP). She received her medical degree from the State University of New York at the University of Buffalo in 2016.

She finished her pediatric Makhija residency at the John R. Oishei Children’s Hospital in Buffalo in 2019. She also completed one year in cardiology fellowship at Washington University in St. Louis, Missouri. Makhijia is passionate about newborns and adolescent medicine. She resides in Rochester with her fiance.

• Caitlynn Fantigrossi is a New York state registered nurse and completed her pediatric nurse practitioner (PNP) degree from the Unversity of Rochester in May 2020.

Before joining Genesis, she worked as an Fantigrossi RN at Golisano Children’s Hospital at Strong Memorial Hospital and was part of the pediatric critical care transport team for seven years. Fantigrossi is passionate about congenital heart defects. Fantigrossi resides in Rochester with her husband.

EWBC opens office in Webster ELizabeth Wende Breast Care (EWBC) has a new office in Webster.

Patients will have another choice for their routine screening mammograms (with results while you wait) November 2020 •

and breast ultrasound.

The facility is located at 55 Barrett Dr., suite 300. According to a news release, the Webster office provides an alternative location for patients, especially those located north of Rochester and in Wayne County.

All offices have the same experienced staff, physicians, sonographers and

technologists.

“We are excited to be a part of the Webster community offering the latest 3-D mammography.

Along with the main office in Brighton, they now have locations in Batavia, Carthage, Greece, Geneseo, Victor and now Webster.

Friendly Home ranked No. 2 best nursing home in NYS For the second consecutive year, the Friendly Home has been recognized for excellence on Newsweek’s list of 2021 Best Nursing Homes.

Of the 70 nursing homes in New York state that placed on the list, the Friendly Home was No. 2.

Newsweek partnered with Statista, a global research firm, to establish nursing home rankings based on rigorous criteria including performance data, peer recommendations, and response to COVID-19.

Newsweek and Statista took extensive, multiple measures to address the impact of the global pandemic with the objective of recognizing those nursing homes which have put in place the best possible responses

and protocols. The ranking identifies the 400 top nursing homes across 20 states; only three nursing homes in Monroe County were featured on the list of America’s Best Nursing Homes 2021.

“This prestigious recognition reflects the Friendly Home’s commitment to providing excellent and compassionate care and services always,” Friendly Senior Living President & CEO Glen Cooper said. “Our staff of healthcare super heroes goes above and beyond every day. Now more than ever, we are extremely grateful for every employee’s dedication to the safety and well-being of those we serve.”

Highland Hospital Honors Providers of the Year Highland Hospital has recently honored Sunil Bansal as its physician of the year and Andrea Avidano as advanced practice provider of the year.

Bansal is assistant medical director and ultrasound director in the department of emergency medicine at Highland. He is also an assistant professor of clinical emergency medicine, University of Rochester School of Medicine and Dentistry.

The Pittsford resident was nominated for the prestigious award, also called Distinguished Physician, by administrators, colleagues and other co workers for healthcare excellence.

“I’m truly honored to be selected for this award,” said Bansal.

“Highland Hospital has been my sole place of practice for nearly 10 years.

It is the collegial and patient-centered environment that allows medical professionBansal als to thrive.

I’m proud to practice at Highland Hospital emergency department, and look forward to many more years to come.”

Bansal received nominations from several colleagues. One of them was Timothy Lum, chief of emergency medicine at Highland. “I personally regard him as one of the finest, most skilled physicians with whom I have ever worked,” said Lum. “He embodies the highest virtues of our

profession and I am proud to be his colleague.

Previous recipients of the award include physicians: Tulsi Dass, Bilal Ahmed, Theodore Hirokawa, Jeffrey Harp, Daniel Mendelson, Alice Taylor, Joseph Nicholas, Melissa Schiff, David Holub, Youngrin Kim, Cynthia Angel, and Ashish Boghani.

Advanced Practice Provider Andrea Avidano has served as an adult nurse practitioner at Highland since 2009. “Highland equals family,” said the Rochester resident. “I love that everyone knows each other. We’re able to share information and show the ICARE values with each other and our patients.”

Avidano was also nominated by several colleagues for the award. “Andrea Avidano Avidano is the epitome of professional excellence and behavior,” said Youngrin Kim, chief hospitalist. “She is always very happy and eager to help in her role as an endocrinology consultant. Her clinical judgment is spot on. As a result of her excellent knowledge base, judgement and compassion, our patients and providers at Highland benefit immensely.”

Previous recipients of the APP of the Year Award include: Abby McCarthy, Pamela Heiple, Sheila Marcoccia and Jessica Mahoney.

IN GOOD HEALTH – Rochester / Genesee Valley Healthcare Newspaper

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IN GOOD HEALTH – Rochester / Genesee Valley Healthcare Newspaper • November 2020

Nothing to do but enjoy your life.

You’re one of the most important people on earth. You deserve a care-free retirement at St. Ann’s Community at Cherry Ridge.

Instead of home maintenance, you can focus on today’s exciting group activity, outing or dining option. Maybe you’ll just enjoy quiet time for yourself in spacious, beautifully maintained surroundings with 24-hour security.

Choosing Cherry Ridge means you can live the lifestyle you’ve always wanted and having priority access to on-site assisted living, memory care, and skilled nursing if you ever need it.

Luxury 1- and 2- Bedroom Apartments DRIVERS WANTED •

Charming 2- Bedroom Cottage Homes

To distribute copies of In Good Health, Rochester’s • Healthcare Newspaper, in offices and other high traffic locations in Monroe County. Great for active retirees or at-home moms in•need of some extra cash.Not a regular job. Work only one or two days a month during office hours (9 to 5). $11.80/h plus 30 cents per mile —it amounts to about $150 - $200 per month. The paper is distributed at the beginning of the month, usually on Mondays and Tuesdays.

Drivers pick up the papers at our storage area near Kodak.

No heavy lifting. Drivers are required to have a dependable vehicle, be courteous and reliable.

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Page 28

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IN GOOD HEALTH – Rochester / Genesee Valley Healthcare Newspaper • November 2020