IGH - WNY, #80 JUNE 2021

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JUNE 2021 • ISSUE 80

✓ IS IT SAFE to send your kids to camp this summer? ✓ SUMMER SOCIALIZING for children is more essential than ever ✓ MEDIA TIME doubled for kindergartners during the pandemic

Kids' Health Special Tactics for Easing Back Into Life

MEET YOUR DOCTOR

Roswell Park dermatologist Elizabeth Conroy discusses her new Depew practice

WNY PLAYGROUNDS: The Perfect Place for Summer Fun! P.11

What it means to mingle, socialize, and be doing things again Page 6

U.S. Birth Rates Continue to Fall The 2020 rate, the lowest since 1979, raises concern about the economic effects of declining population levels

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he baby “boom” that some expected during last year’s pandemic lockdowns has turned into a baby “bust.”

The U.S. birth rate continued to drop in 2020, marking the sixth consecutive year with fewer babies born in America and raising concerns about the economic effects of declining population levels.

There were about 3.6 million babies born in the United States last year, down 4% from the 3.75 million born in 2019, according to researchers from the U.S. National Center for Health Statistics.

It’s the lowest number of births

in America since 1979, the report noted.

“Early on, some experts had speculated that births might increase due to people having more time at home, but as the pandemic worsened it became clear the rate was falling,” said physician Scott Sullivan, professor of obstetrics and gynecology at the Medical University of South Carolina.

“A 4% drop is in the midrange of what people expected,” Sullivan continued. “I think a combination of fear, economic insecurity, families dealing with actual infections and recovery, disruptions in health services and

other factors likely contributed to the decline.”

The general fertility rate in the United States in 2020 was about 55.8 births per 1,000 women, down 4% from the rate of 58.3 births in 2019 and another record low for the nation, said the researchers, who were led by natality expert Brady Hamilton.

And the projected number of births U.S. women might expect to have in their lifetimes — also known as the total fertility rate — declined again in 2020.

The total fertility rate for the United States in 2020 was 1,637 births per 1,000 women, down 4% from the 1,706 projected lifetime births in 2019.

These numbers are below what’s known as the “replacement level” — the level at which a generation can exactly replace itself and maintain the nation’s population level, the report said.

There must be 2,100 births per 1,000 women to meet this level. U.S. birth rates have been generally below replacement levels since 1971 and consistently below replacement since 2007, the report said.

“It could result in serious economic issues in the future, as there may not be younger workers to drive the economy or even help [take] care of the older generations,” Sullivan said.

has led many young couples to delay starting a family or choose not to have kids at all, Sullivan said.

“We have the worst family leave in the developed world, for example,” Sullivan said. “Day care is expensive and sometimes hard to get. The cost of education and levels of student debt are high and getting worse.”

But one expert believes many women, and couples, simply may be putting their focus on things other than child-rearing.

“There are a multitude of reasons people are waiting,” said physician Nicole Noyes, chief of endocrinology and infertility at Northwell Health in New York City. “The number one reason to delay childbearing is the desire to experience life and reach goals before being saddled with the responsibilities of early child-rearing.”

“Let’s face it, having children is a commitment, in time, energy and emotion,” she added. “In addition, people most often don’t want to have children unless they are in a relationship conducive to childbearing.

Other major reasons include the perceived need to advance one’s career or having greater financial security before parenthood. To that end, more and more people are freezing their eggs [or embryos] to try to up the odds of having a child later — when they are “ready.”

There’s some evidence from the new data that couples are indeed delaying having kids until later in life.

Birth rates for women between 40 and 54 remained essentially unchanged between 2019 and 2020, even as the rates fell for younger age categories, the report found.

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This continued decline in birth rates “has been observed around the globe,” Sullivan said. “Japan and Russia have seen longer and more severe declines, for example.”

The cost of having and raising kids — day care, housing, education — has been a contributing factor that

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IN GOOD HEALTH – Buffalo & WNY’s Healthcare Newspaper • June 2021

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IN GOOD HEALTH – Buffalo & WNY’s Healthcare Newspaper

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Page 3

Meet

Your Doctor

By Chris Motola

Elizabeth Conroy, M.D. Stressed, BurnedOut Nurses Make More Medical Errors: Study

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ritical care nurses with poor mental and physical health are more likely to make mistakes, but a more supportive work environment could improve the situation, a new study suggests.

“It’s critically important that we understand some of the root causes that lead to those errors and do everything we can to prevent them,” said lead author Bernadette Melnyk, dean of the College of Nursing at Ohio State University.

For the study, researchers surveyed nearly 800 members of the American Association of Critical-Care Nurses. Sixty-one percent of respondents reported subpar physical health and 51% reported subpar mental health.

About 40% of the nurses screened positive for depressive symptoms and more than half for anxiety.

Those who reported worse health and well-being were between 31% and 62% more likely to make medical errors.

Nurses who said their employer provided greater support for well-being were more than twice as likely to have better personal health and professional quality of life than those whose workplace provided little or no support.

The findings were published May 1 in the American Journal of Critical Care.

“It’s clear that critical care nurses, like so many other clinicians, cannot continue to pour from an empty cup,” Melnyk said in a university news release.

“System problems that contribute to burnout and poor health need to be fixed,” she said. “Nurses need support and investment in evidence-based programming and resources that enhance their well-being and equip them with resiliency so they can take optimal care of patients.”

Researchers noted that the study was conducted before the COVID-19 pandemic, so it’s likely that levels of stress, anxiety and depression among critical care nurses are even higher now.

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Roswell Park dermatologist talks about her new Depew practice, how dermatology treatments have changed and why people from climates like Buffalo may be more prone to get skin cancer Q: You’re going to be heading a new location for Roswell Park Dermatology in Depew?

A: The location is on Transit Road in Depew. It’s very centrally located right off the Thruway, so I think people in the suburbs will have very easy access to the location. Patients who don’t want to go downtown will still be able to get care in the Roswell Park community network.

Q: What is the composition of the practice at the new location?

A: In my office I’m the only dermatologist. I do have a physician’s assistant. There’s certainly capacity to grow. Our building has 11 exam rooms, so we have a lot of ability to take on providers as the practice grows.

Q: What treatments are available at the new site?

A: I’m a general dermatologist.

I think in almost any dermatology practice a great deal of your practice is treating skin cancer. But I treat all dermatologic conditions. We can provide diagnosis, biopsy, surgery, so pretty much a full spectrum of therapy based on whatever the patient might need. Then if they do need something beyond what we can do in the office, being part of the Roswell Park network gives me access to colleagues and pathology and surgery and oncology. So that’s a real benefit to patients, having that kind of network behind us.

Q: You’re a Buffalo-area native?

A: Yeah, I was born in North Tonawanda. I went to school in NT, I went to Canisius for my pre-medical studies and I went to

UB for medical school.

Q: It seems like there’s a misconception in more northern, cloudier climates that there isn’t much risk of getting too much sun. Is there any truth at all to that belief?

A: No, it’s not at all true. Unfortunately, the biggest danger for skin cancer is melanoma. The people who are most at risk of melanoma are actually people who get severe intermittent sunburn. That’s the kind of thing that people in climates like Buffalo do tend to do. They’re so desperate to be outside once the weather gets good that they do go out and burn themselves and don’t protect themselves. Or they go on vacation and are on the beach 24/7 and burn themselves so badly that it’s hard for their cells to recover from the damage. And that sets them up for things like melanoma in the future. The other issue, which is becoming less prevalent now, but was a big draw for many years, is tanning beds. They were a big draw for people who were missing the sun and used them yearround and burned themselves. So no, unfortunately people in the Northeast are still at risk of skin cancer due to their habits.

Q: What would be considered a severe amount of sunlight exposure?

A: A severe amount of sunlight would be enough to cause a blistering sunburn.

Q: How have dermatology treatments changed in recent years?

A: The treatment has changed significantly in part because people are being more proactive about their healthcare. They’re seeing specialists to get skin screenings based on their past histories. So things are being caught much earlier, where the surgeries are small and can be done in an office as opposed to in a hospital under anesthesia.

There are also treatments for cancers other than melanoma like basal cell carcinoma and squamous cell carcinoma, which are much more common than melanomas. And they can be treated surgically. There are also prescription creams that can be used to help destroy the altered DNA in the cancers. So for patients who don’t want or aren’t candidates for surgery, those creams can sometimes be used in their treatment. And

IN GOOD HEALTH – Buffalo & WNY’s Healthcare Newspaper • June 2021

in the last five to 10 years, like the treatment of many metastatic cancers, melanomas can be treated with some of the more selective immunotherapies, which have increased the success of treatment in general to the point where we’re using it now for some earlier stage melanomas to prevent them from metastasizing.

And Roswell Park is at the forefront of that kind of research.

Q: Are most dermatological surgeries outpatient surgeries?

A: Yes, typically. Excisions or pre-cancerous and cancerous lesions primarily. We also do excisions of non-cancerous lesions like cysts and lymphomas.

Q: Are most of your patients referrals or do they come to you directly?

A: I think most of them come directly to tell you the truth. They come based on their knowledge of their family histories and preventive medicine. I do, of course, get many patients who are sent to me from primary care because their physician found something during an examination.

Q: I take it part of why patients come is because it’s pretty easy to observe changes in their own skin?

A: Yes, it’s a very visual field.

Q: How can a patient learn to differentiate between something they should have examined and something that might just be a normal variation in their skin?

A: In general, the great majority of skin cancers and melanomas are things that were not always there.

So something that is new, something that is growing, something that is causing symptoms like itching, bleeding or hurting, those are warning signs to have that thing examined. Also if you’re someone who gets heavy sun exposure, you should get in the habit of getting an annual skin examination so that you can be treated at an earlier stage if anything arises.

Q: What’s the prognosis for a melanoma that’s caught early?

A: Greater than 90% of melanomas are caught at a stage where they can be removed and cured.

Q: And an excision is usually enough to cure it?

A: Yeah. It’s a big surgery. You have to take adequate margins to make sure you remove it all and that it doesn’t come back. But it is curative for most patients.

Lifelines

Name: Elizabeth Conroy, M.D. Position: Dermatologist at Roswell Park Dermatology Hometown: North Tonawanda Education: Medical degree from the University at Buffalo Jacobs School of Medicine and Biomedical Sciences; residency at Cleveland Clinic Foundation Affiliations: Roswell Park Comprehensive Cancer Center Organizations: Society for Pediatric Dermatology; Medical Society of the State of New York; American Academy of Dermatology, Women’s Dermatology Society, American Medical Association Family: Husband; four children Hobbies: Taking care of elderly parents

U.S. Adults Gained Average of 2 Pounds a Month During Lockdowns

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merican adults under COVID-19 lockdowns gained an average of more than half a pound every 10 days, which works out to 2 pounds a month, a small study shows.

That means that adults who maintained lockdown measures could easily have gained 20 pounds since the start of the pandemic a year ago, study senior author Gregory Marcus, a cardiologist and professor of medicine at University of California, San Francisco, told the The New York Times.

The study included fewer than 300 people nationwide and used weight measurements from Bluetooth-connected smart scales. The

findings were outlined in a research letter published Monday in the journal JAMA Network Open.

“We know that weight gain is a public health problem in the U.S. already, so anything making it worse is definitely concerning, and shelterin-place orders are so ubiquitous that the sheer number of people affected by this makes it extremely relevant,” Marcus, told the Times.

Many of the people in the study were losing weight before shelterin-place orders were issued in their states, Marcus noted.

“It’s reasonable to assume these individuals are more engaged with their health in general, and more disciplined and on top of things,”

he said. “That suggests we could be underestimating — that this is the tip of the iceberg.”

Excess weight has been linked to a greater risk of developing more severe COVID-19 disease, and the United States already has among the

highest rates of overweight and obesity in the world. Some 42 percent of American adults over age 20 have obesity, while another 32 percent of Americans are overweight, the Times reported.

profitable commercial insurers begin to gobble up the competition. It is rarely, if ever, a question of survival.

The American Anti-trust Institute is urging the DOJ to disapprove insurance giant United Health Group’s $13 billion acquisition of data analytic company Change Healthcare.

UHG already owns data analytic company Optum. Both the AAI and the AHA fear the untoward impact of the massive consolidation of healthcare data under one company.

informed decisions. Some hospitals posted charges or prices while others posted negotiated insurance rates.

Some hospitals did nothing. Consumers that are part of an organized healthcare system have little choice as to where they receive care so shopping around for prices is a fool’s errand. Consequently, CMS no longer requires hospitals to post negotiated prices with commercial Medicare Advantage plans. If nothing changes, this may be the harbinger of the end of the well intentioned pricing transparency requirement altogether.

Healthcare in a Minute

By George W. Chapman

Private Practices Continue to Shrink in Numbers

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he number of physicians in private practice continues to decline. According to an AMA survey of 3,500 physicians, 49% responded they were in private practice. This is down from 54% in 2018. It is the first time the number has fallen below 50% and the trend will most likely continue. Younger physicians and recent grads show a preference or proclivity for employment, eschewing private practice altogether throughout their careers.

Employment options for physicians are numerous, including: hospital systems, federally sponsored clinics,

independent urgent care practices and national chains like CVS, Walgreens and Walmart expanding into primary care. Baby boomer physicians, at or approaching retirement, are more apt to sell their practices to hospitals systems as their exit strategy because younger physicians show little interest in buying into private practice. Competition from better financed large hospital systems and corporations, increasing overhead costs and ever-changing reimbursement and regulations, have contributed to the virtual surrender of private practice.

Drug Ads: $147 Million in April

es. Families struggling to make ends meet often delay getting care due to high out-of-pocket expenses. 3. Invest more money in research and development to cure cancer, Alzheimer’s and diabetes development. Priorities No. 2 and No. 3 are easily paid for by the billions saved by priority No. 1.

But with Washington gridlocked by partisan politics, seemingly nothing gets done.

While hospital and physician prices are established and controlled by Medicare and commercial insurers, drug costs are not. Specialty drug costs are especially out of control, now accounting for 52% of overall drug costs. Drug companies spent a combined $147 million in just April on the top 10 specialty drugs which generate huge profits. Anyone, who watches even a minimal amount of TV, will recall these top seven ubiquitous ads ranked by spending: No. 1 Humira for Crohn’s disease; No. 2 Dupixent for inflammation; No. 3 Rybelsus for diabetes; No. 4 Trulicity for diabetes; No. 5 Rinvoq for rheumatoid arthritis; No. 6 Skyrizi for psoriasis; and No. 7 Tremfya for psoriasis.

Biden’s Healthcare Priorities 1. Let CMS finally negotiate drug prices which would save us billions a year. 2. Lower the deductible for insurance plans sold on the exchang-

Mergers, Acquisitions and Anti-trust Hospitals mergers have often resulted in sole provider of care in a market. Consequently they are under Department of Justice scrutiny. The fear is, without competition, prices will begin to rise ultimately costing consumers. But in many of these cases, without merging, several smaller hospitals in underserved areas would close. It is a case of survival versus anti-trust. Because hospital reimbursement is virtually set by both government and commercial insurers, there is negligible profit in the hospital business. It is an entirely different situation when highly

Hospital Rating System Overhauled CMS has employed a five-star rating system for both hospitals and nursing homes. Stakeholders (providers, consumers and payers) have criticized the logic, methodology and predictability of the five star system.

Consequently, CMS has overhauled the system to make it less complex, easier to understand and more useful. Five basic measures now form the foundation: mortality, safety, readmissions, overall patient experience and timeliness/effectiveness of treatment. The AHA said it is happy with the changes, but more needs to be done. There are 4,580 eligible hospitals for the rating system. Of those rated, 14% received five stars; 29% received four stars; 30% received three stars; 21% received two stars; and 6% received just one. 26% of the 4,580 eligible hospitals were unrated.

Businesses Frustrated Businesses have long preferred free market solutions to industry problems, but not so much when it comes to healthcare. They are frustrated with out-of-control costs and pouring more money into our fragmented and inefficient healthcare system. A recent survey of more than 300 businesses, jointly sponsored by the Kaiser Family Foundation and the Purchaser Business Group, revealed an astounding 85% want the government to increase its role in managing costs and coverage during the next 10 years. 92% want the DOJ to step up its anti-trust activities as mergers and acquisition have tended to reduce competition and increase prices.

Hospital Pricing Transparency There was a PSA aired during the recent Oscars broadcast advocating hospital price transparency. “Powerto thepatients.org.” It is certainly well intentioned. But as discussed in my previous columns, the requirement for hospitals to post online their prices for 300 shoppable procedures is fraught with problems. There is no standardized reporting format, making it virtually impossible for consumers to navigate and make

June 2021 •

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.

IN GOOD HEALTH – Buffalo & WNY’s Healthcare Newspaper

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Page 5

Live Alone & Thrive

By Gwenn Voelckers

Practical tips, advice and hope for those who live alone

We may think we are nurturing our garden, but of course it’s our garden that is really nurturing us.”

Cocoon No More: It’s Time to Get Our Hands Dirty!

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he COVID-19 pandemic has inspired a rebirth of interest in all things gardening. So, let’s dig in!

As we emerge from over a year of cocooning, time spent outdoors with our flowering friends is providing a welcome respite from the feelings of isolation many of us have been experiencing. It sure has been for me.

What better time than now to reflect on the life lessons that gardening offers to those who live alone or have been sheltering in place. It has taught me the value of planning, preparation, patience, and pleasure — four essential “P’s” for a bountiful garden and ... a bountiful life.

Fertile ground exists in each of us, and a little tending can produce glorious results.

Here’s what I have learned: • Plan. Realizing the garden of your dreams begins in your imagination, followed by careful planning.

Diagram your garden and it will help you avoid planting bulbs on top of

bulbs or mistaking a poppy for a weed.

Likewise, envisioning your life goals and committing them to writing can help you flourish and grow.

• Cultivate. Good, cultivated soil promotes healthy, deep roots. When you add fertilizer to your garden you are rewarded with abundance. Adding essential ingredients to the foundation of your dream garden (and your dream life) will nourish all that follows.

You can’t go wrong with good, nutritious food; a walk in nature; a good book; soothing music; or saying “yes” to a new adventure that’s been tugging at your heart.

• Plant. So many choices! Revisit your plan and embed your carefully selected seeds or seedlings with a tender, loving touch, being careful not to overcrowd or plant more than you can manage.

And remember: We reap what we sow, so follow your plan. Plant a rose and you get a rose; plant a dandelion and you get a dandelion. Seed

Daniel’s Law Seeks to Help Mental Health Crises

The legislation is ‘a benefit to a person in crisis’

By Deborah Jeanne Sergeant

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n Feb. 4, New York Assemblyman Harry B. Bronson (D-138) and Sen. Samra Brouk (D-55) introduced legislation to establish state and regional mental health councils to bring mental health care professionals to the scene of mental health emergencies and train 911 dispatchers to summon the needed personnel.

The proposed law is named “Daniel’s Law” after Daniel Prude, a man who died in March 2020 of asphyxiation days after an altercation with Rochester Police. Prude was experiencing a mental health crisis and was allegedly high on PCP, a mind-altering drug that may lead to hallucinations. The law seeks to meet the needs of people who need crisis services for which law enforcement officers may not have adequate training.

James Acquilano, a semi-retired licensed psychologist, calls the legislation “a benefit to a person in crisis.”

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Acquilano worked for the Office for People with Developmental Disabilities and Office of Mental Health and has extensive experience with people in crisis. He currently consults with organizations serving people with brain injuries, epilepsy and developmental disabilities.

Acquilano said that the typical responses of law enforcement such as authoritative postures and commands work well in typical scenarios, but not for soothing people in a mental health crisis.

In addition, “if physical restraints are used too early in an intervention, they may lead to an escalation and the person with mental health needs or the law enforcement personnel may become injured,” Acquilano said. “In addition, if a law enforcement officer is involved in a physical intervention it is potentially a crime charged against the person with mental health needs. It is typically not charged as a crime if a mental

Jenny Uglow your future with healthy choices that promote well-being.

• Weed. We all need room to breathe and positive space in which to blossom. It holds true for your garden and your life. Gardening is all about consistent caretaking. Slack off, even for a few days, and all things unwelcome show up and take root.

Weed out the negativity and any dream-stealing toxins that contaminate your life, dash your hopes, or spoil your fun. When you pull out the bad, you can more easily focus on the good in your life.

• Prune. When weeding is not enough, a major pruning may be just what the arborist ordered. A job, relationship or home that no longer satisfies or meets your needs may need a hard look. It may be time to pull out that pair of “life loppers.”

• Mulch. Mulching keeps weeds at bay and the ground moist, and returns nutrients to the soil. It also adds a finishing touch.

Mulch offers a blanket of prohealth professional is involved in a physical intervention.”

“I think this law is a good first step towards moving us in the direction we need to be,” Acquilano said.

“There’s a perception in our society about those with mental illness that is similar to the one where people think that people of color are more violent. Some think that people with mental illness are more prone to violence and neither of those is true.

We need to move people away from that viewpoint. If people come into a crisis and have a perception that people with mental health issues are dangerous, they will move towards control.”

He added that many people with underlying mental health issues are driven to a point of crisis because of the stressors of inadequate support such as housing and physical and mental healthcare. With those needs taken care of, “people are less likely to be in a state of crisis. There’s a huge systemic change that needs to take place. We need to figure out why the person is in crisis.”

Although law enforcement personnel receive some training in crisis intervention, it is not at the level of a mental healthcare provider.

“There are some law enforcement personnel that do a good job; however, it should not be their job to be the first responders to people with mental health disorders who are in crisis,” Acquilano said. “As with any professional, the more jobs you ask them to take on, the more stressed they become and the less efficient.”

Since law enforcement personnel are trained to both gain control of situations and enforce the law, their expertise is not attuned to support-

IN GOOD HEALTH – Buffalo & WNY’s Healthcare Newspaper • June 2021

tection, in the same way that regular doctor appointments, insurances, and safety measures protect our lives. We can learn a lot from mulching.

• Wait. We’ve all heard that “good things come to those who wait.” When we exercise patience, go slowly, and enjoy the gradual unfolding of a flower, an idea, or a friendship, your life can be savored and more deeply appreciated.

Each year, I look to my garden to remind me that growth takes time.

• Enjoy. Before you know it, your labor of love and patience will pay off. Take pleasure in the transformation as the colors, textures, and fragrances emerge. Too often, we fail to “stop and smell the roses” in our gardens and in our lives.

By osmosis, gardening has taught me how to take better care of myself. I have absorbed its rich messages and learned how to nurture my inner garden and growth as a woman on her own.

I encourage you to grab a spade and join me. Beauty, growth, and an energizing sense of renewal can be yours this month.

It’s June and time to get our hands dirty!

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 Voelckers to speak, visit www.aloneandcontent.com ing mental health issues, according to Charles E. Cote, licensed clinical social worker in private practice in Rochester.

“Mental health is not their expertise,” Cote said. “What we see in Rochester is situations escalating unnecessarily as people with mental health issues are treated as engaging in criminal behavior. Mental health approaches could de-escalate these situations to avoid ending in violence. There still might be violent situations that can happen in a mental health episode, but someone with mental health training could help de-escalate. Law enforcement does this, but it is not their core competency.”

He said that part of the problem is that some people view law enforcement personnel “as someone trying to arrest them or get them into the criminal justice system,” Cote said.

That misguided perception of the police as foe and not as a helpful community resource may be hurting the chances of law enforcement personnel de-escalating mental health crises.

Peg DeBaise, licensed marriage and family therapist in private practice in Brighton, pointed out that the training level among mental healthcare providers affects their ability to assist in mental health emergencies.

“There’s a specialization in dealing with crisis,” she said. “Not all of us are trained in crises intervention.

That’s why with continuing education, we do things like learn about suicide prevention and how to help people when they’re at their lowest point of crisis. Not everyone can do this.”

Destructive Therapy Unique form of stress relief takes place in Niagara Falls

By Daniel Meyer

W

hen life gives you lemons, sometimes you need to smash them.

With unprecedented levels of stress because of continued concerns over the uncertainty of the ongoing global pandemic, there is a growing need for residents of Western New York to find a way to ease their mental anguish.

Look no further than the Smash Brothers Rage Room. Located at 1204 Niagara St. in the city of Niagara Falls, the truly unique business provides a forum for aggressive behavior that helps relieve tension. Strategically designed “rage rooms” allow participants to safely demolish and destroy items to ease the stress of the challenges you may be dealing with personally and/or professionally.

Each room is fully stocked with a variety of items that can be broken, including glassware, outdated electronics, ceramic materials and other breakable items. Participants are given a choice of “weapons” that include a variety of different aluminum baseball bats and metal crowbars.

Before being given the go-ahead to destroy whatever is in front of them, participants must show proof that they are at least 18 years of age and then must sign a waiv-

er acknowledging that rage room activities are classified as an extreme sport. Protective gear is then provided, including a helmet with a mask, gloves, coveralls and protective booties for your footwear. From there the door is closed and participants can then hit, throw, kick and do whatever

else is needed to cause destruction and relieve stress.

The options for activity sessions are: “Simple Smash” for two people costs $75 for 15 minutes “Beast Mode” for four people costs $100 for 20 minutes “Ultimate Rage” for five people costs $125 for 30 minutes “Private Party” for six people or more costs $25 per person for 30 minutes Recent visitors to Smash Brothers Rage Room spoke about their ability to overcome initial fear and apprehension to achieve previously unimaginable stress relief.

“It took me a few minutes to get used to it because you are ultimate-

Each room at Smash Brothers Rage Room is fully stocked with a variety of items that can be broken, including glassware, outdated electronics, ceramic materials and other breakable items. Participants are given a choice of “weapons” that include a variety of different aluminum baseball bats and metal crowbars.

ly obliterating things like drinking glasses and dinner plates that normally you handle with great care,” said Christine Patton of Buffalo. “But once you really swing away and smash away, you get hooked! It was very exhilarating and helped me let off some steam because I was really overwhelmed with having changed jobs and planning my wedding and dealing with some personal health issues. I can’t wait to do it again.”

“The whole thing is very aggressive and at first I was full of anger while I was swinging away, but I then started laughing because I was overcome with an awesome sense of relief,” said Craig Jacobs of Lockport.

“You find yourself inside a world of organized chaos and just wreaking havoc and making an incredible mess and when you are finally done you are just amazed by how absolutely phenomenal you feel.”

Owned by Bill and Morgan Kellerman, the married couple obtains the majority of their damaged materials directly from local nonprofit donation centers. Realizing the importance of preserving the environment, they separate and recycle the broken rubbish collected after each smash session.

Smash Brothers Rage Room is located one mile from the Rainbow Bridge and approximately a half mile from Seneca Resorts and Casino. Free parking is available on both sides of the street in front of the business. Until further notice, appointments are available on Fridays and Saturdays, with special private parties and gift certificates available for purchase.

Reservations can be made by calling 716-299-8317 or visiting www. smashbrothersny.com

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3380 Sheridan Dr., #251 • P.O. Box 550, Amherst, NY 14226 Phone: 716-332-0640 • Fax: 716-332-0779 • Email: editor@bfohealth.com Editor & Publisher: Wagner Dotto • Writers: Deborah J. Sergeant, Jim Miller, Gwenn Voelckers, Anne Palumbo, Chris Motola, George W. Chapman, Michael J. Billoni, Jenna Schifferle, Julie Halm, Daniel Meyer, Catherine Miller, Greg Fabiano, Ph. D. Advertising: Anne Westcott, Amy Gagliano • Layout & Design: Joey Sweener 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.

June 2021 •

For advertising information: editor@BFOhealth.com

IN GOOD HEALTH – Buffalo & WNY’s Healthcare Newspaper

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Page 7

Punching Past the Pandemic

Boxing lessons help support young people during uncertain times

By Daniel Meyer

T

here are no salespeople.

There are no contracts.

There is no juice bar.

There aren’t even fancy mirrors hanging on the wall.

Unlike some of the more elaborate fitness centers and state-of-theart gymnasiums that exist throughout Western New York, KC’s Fitness is a simple neighborhood gym that has provided youth boxing lessons and submission grappling classes for nearly three decades. While emphasizing excellence in the sports of boxing and martial arts is the main focus thanks to a strong emphasis on personal training and conditioning classes, the sense of community, camaraderie and character has taken on a greater importance over the course of the global pandemic.

“We’re a very different type of facility,” said Kevin Cunningham, who has owned KC’s Fitness since 1992. “We’re not a big box gym and we don’t promise to be all things to all people. We don’t offer a bunch of different classes. What we do offer is a few things and we do those few things exceptionally well.”

The numerous ways the COVID-19 crisis has changed our day-to-day lives has caused many youth sports organizations to reevaluate how they provide support to those in need, especially teenage boys and girls who are struggling in some fashion.

“Community is the most profound thing that we offer,” said Cunningham. “It’s a great place and you are with some wonderful other souls who want to learn and advance themselves in some form or fashion.

We can do that with through community building and having every-

one help motivate and support and encourage one another.”

KC’s Fitness may be a no-nonsense and relatively unassuming gym. But the business model is rather remarkable based on the number of long-time clients they’ve taught at their former long-time location on the West Side of Buffalo and their current facility on Thorn Avenue in Orchard Park.

“We provide our students the ability to study boxing as a discipline,” said Cunningham. “We offer a warm, supportive and welcoming environment where there is definitely a commitment to excellence, with special attention paid to the quality of souls who hopefully smile just as often as they sweat.”

Members embrace the fun, welcoming and supportive atmosphere during these difficult times that have seen students have to learn to adapt

4 in 10 Adults Over 50 Consult Online Reviews When Picking a Doctor

F

inding a new doctor can be a daunting task. For help, many older adults turn to online reviews, a new study finds.

In fact, many people rate online reviews as highly as they would a recommendation from friends and family when picking a doctor, the new research found.

“Doctors and policymakers should know that many older adults are viewing and valuing online ratings and reviews when choosing physicians,” said researcher Jeffrey Kullgren. He’s a physician and assoPage 8

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ciate professor of internal medicine at the University of Michigan in Ann Arbor.

However, “the information on online physician rating sites often provides little insight into the context of health care encounters or the quality of care provided,” Kullgren added. “This can make some patients skeptical of ratings and reviews.”

Diana Zuckerman is president of the National Center for Health Research, a nonprofit think tank that conducts research on a range of health issues. She said that choosing

to frequent stop-and-start scheduling of their academic classes, constantly adjust to changes in the work schedules of their parents, and cope with the social component of having to wear facemasks in public and attempt to follow government regulations related to physical distancing and other public place policies that are anything but normal.

“What I liked about what Kevin taught us was the importance of being a decent human being and how you can achieve some pretty lofty personal goals,” said Derek Hill, who began taking youth boxing classes as a teenager shortly after his parents separated. “That was a very difficult time for me because there was so much to process. I’m sure the current students are benefiting from the diverse community that exists there and it’s a nice distraction from all the uncertainty that kids today are deal-

ing with because of the pandemic.”

Due to the mental health implications of the pandemic that are expected to impact young people for the foreseeable future, the need to remain active is important because physical activity can help achieve stress relief and encourage inspirational thinking so children can become the greatest version of themselves.

“We don’t say we’re the best, but we definitely do our best,” said Cunningham. “To offer somewhere safe that is so much more than a place to learn some self defense and get in shape. This is a community that offers motivation, support and inspiration and I think the students who come back and visit tell us how much they enjoyed that this was a thoughtful and intelligent place to spend time.”

a doctor is a complex undertaking.

“The trouble with these ratings are they’re not based on how good the physician is,” said Zuckerman, who wasn’t involved in the new study. “They’re usually based on convenience issues, like how long do you have to wait in the waiting room, how nice is the doctor, and does the doctor listen to you. These are all nice things, but they’re not really the important things.”

In the new study, Kullgren and colleagues used data from the National Poll on Healthy Aging, a recurring survey of U.S. adults.

In all, the survey found that 40% of adults aged 50 to 80 have used online doctor rating sites and trust them almost as much as recommendations from family or friends for choosing a doctor. Also, online ratings were seen as more important than where a doctor went to medical school or

trained.

“Many older adults now find online ratings and reviews to be very important when choosing a physician, and some individuals are more likely to use and value this information,” Kullgren noted.

Women, people with more education and those with chronic conditions were the most likely to turn to online rating sites, the investigators found.

Still, other factors besides online reviews were important in choosing a doctor. These included whether the doctor accepted their health insurance (93%) and whether the doctor was of the same race or ethnicity (2%). Online doctor ratings and reviews ranked ninth in importance.

The report was published online April 12 in the Annals of Internal Medicine.

IN GOOD HEALTH – Buffalo & WNY’s Healthcare Newspaper • June 2021

Q: How did you go from banking to running a large social services agency?

A: From the work I had been doing as a deacon visiting the churches, I felt an attachment to Catholic Charities, but it was quite a surprise when the bishop asked me to take this role around Christmas of 2019. I thought I was just going to retire from the bank. But, as I prayed on it, I just felt a calling to take this position and I have never looked back.

Q A &

with Deacon Steve Schumer Catholic Charities’ leader talks about meeting fundraising goals and transitioning from banking to being a nonprofit CEO

By Michael J. Billoni

D

eacon Steve Schumer joined Catholic Charities of Buffalo in late 2019 as president and CEO after a distinguished 34-year career with M&T Bank. Ordained a deacon in the Diocese of Buffalo in 2014, he was assigned as a Catholic Charities ambassador visiting churches throughout Western New York promoting services of the 98-years-old nonprofit that is

a separate legal organization from the diocese. He was recruited to the position by the search committee when Dennis Walczak announced his retirement after 15 years.

Catholic Charities of Buffalo has a $40 million budget, 400 employees and provides 57 programs offering a variety of services in 80 locations across the eight counties of Western New York.

Q: What was it like when you began at Catholic Charities?

A: That was 2019 and for the first time in the long history of Catholic Charities the campaign did not reach its goal. That was mostly due to the priest scandal within the church and donors were mad at the church.

We tried to make the point we are a separate organization, but a lot of people did not immediately make that distinction. We told them by not donating they are hurting those in most need of the services we offer.

Within one week of taking the job I am standing with the interim bishop announcing our 2020 campaign and we kept the goal the same at $10 million. We were very confident but three months later the COVID-19 pandemic occurred and the world as we know it came to a screeching halt. We raised $8.5 million of our same $10 million goal and, under those conditions, that was impressive. Our 2021 campaign ends June 30. All signs are positive that we will meet our goal of $10 million. What is impressive is we have 30,000 people who support us through the appeal and 90% of money raised comes from parishioners in the parish and handful of big donors.

Q: How did the pandemic affect services offered by Catholic Charities?

A: More and more people needed help from Catholic Charities. We actually changed our marketing campaign from please donate to ‘Are you anxious? Are you depressed?

Are you having problems with substance abuse? Call Us. We Can Help!’ and ‘Are you worried about

paying your mortgage or rent? Call Us. We Can Help.’ The number of people in Western New York who were experiencing those issues was substantial. But, those are services we provide; so were able to help many people. We are now trying to inform all residents of the wide-ranging services available to them. People do not realize we have nine food pantries across Western New York and with kids home from school and parents not working, the pantries were quite busy; but we kept up with the demand.

Q: How big are the behavioral health services Catholic Charities offers?

A: The demand for our behavioral health services increased tremendously throughout the pandemic.

We are now doing much more video conferencing with our clients and that is working out very well for our counselors who can work remotely and still talk and treat parents and children. Our Msgr. Carr Institute, which houses our Clinical Services and Behavioral Health Services departments, represents 20% of our agency.

Q: Discuss your education and job training programs?

A: We are one of the largest providers of high school equivalency examinations through our workforce and education department at the former American Axle plant on East Delavan that was donated to us by its owners, Jon and Heather Williams of OSC, Inc. We are helping a lot of people obtain their education and skills so they can get ahead with their lives and not be reliant upon government support. The high school equivalency is needed for them to join the Northland Workforce Training, which we were instrumental in establishing. We are also able to offer financial literacy through a grant from M&T Bank and we are one of four immigration resettlement agencies in Western New York.

For more information, visit www.ccwny.org.

Writer on the Run

By Jenna Schifferle

jenna.schifferle@gmail.com

30 Miles to Reflect on 30 Years

N

ext month will bring warmer weather and my 30th birthday. Looking back on the last three decades, it’s incredible to see how far I’ve come, in the general sense and as a runner.

At age 20, I wasn’t much for running, barely able to run two sluggish miles. It wasn’t until 2014 that I hit my first four miles without walking.

Sporting neon blue-and-gray Nike sneakers, I tracked miles on a treadmill in the corner of a gym. When I finished, I felt depleted but proud — until massive blisters showed up.

Little did I know that cotton socks are just as much of an enemy to a runner as ill-fitted shoes. For anyone who doesn’t know, cotton retains moisture, increasing the likelihood that your skin will rub. I’ve since turned to a polyester blend and have never looked back (and so should

you!).

A lot has changed since those early days of running, including nearly a dozen half marathons, a full marathon and a community of “run friends” to go with a strange obsession.

Now, I’m about to run 30 miles for my 30th birthday.

I’ve made the decision not to run straight through the 30 miles but to stretch it out over the course of 24 hours, beginning on my birthday and extending into Saturday. By doing this, I hope to make the journey more enjoyable and less stressful on my body.

I’ve recruited two friends to run part of the 30 miles with me and along the way, we plan stop at a few cafes for caffeine and concessions.

I’ve done many races competitively throughout the course of my

running career, but this won’t be one of them. Instead, I want to savor the miles and use them as a form of meditation. This will be my way of reflecting on the past 30 years while setting my sights on the next 30.

Here are my ground rules for the run: • Cover 30 miles in 24 hours. I will run as many miles as I can but give myself the leeway to walk if I need to do so.

• Use each mile for meditation.

For the first 15 miles, I will reflect on one accomplishment or memory from the last 30 years. For the last 15 miles, I will set an intention for the next 15 years.

• Enjoy the time with my friends while visiting some of our favorite sites in Western New York.

• Cross the metaphorical finish line and celebrate with the biggest

June 2021 •

ice cream I can find. There’s no better motivator than chocolatey deliciousness!

My goals for this journey look a little different than they did when I ran the Chicago Marathon. As time goes on, I’m realizing that I have to find joy in the miles if I’m going to be a lifelong runner.

This race is where that mindset begins.

So, here’s to finishing my first 30 years on a high note.

Wish me luck!

IN GOOD HEALTH – Buffalo & WNY’s Healthcare Newspaper

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Page 9

SmartBites

Helpful tips

The skinny on healthy eating

Lean Flank Steak Boasts Abundant Nutrients

S

ome folks never forget their first kiss: I’ll never forget my first flank steak. It happened in a Mexican restaurant. The lights were low, the guitars were thrumming, and the thin slices of steak in my fajita made me weak in the taste buds.

Since that fateful night—and especially now during grilling season—I often reach for flank steak.

But taste alone is not driving this meat crush: nutrition is, too. Deemed a “lean” cut, flank steak has less fat and fewer calories than, say, some of the beef cuts marbled with fat (porterhouse, ribeye, strip steak).

Flank steak is packed with protein, with a 3.5-ounce portion delivering over half of our daily needs. Protein is often referred to as the building block of life because of its central role in the growth, development and maintenance of cells.

Not getting enough of this powerhouse nutrient can lead to a variety of health issues: muscle loss, fatigue, thinning hair, a weakened immune system, and more. Adequate protein intake is especially important as we age to help maintain strength, posture and mobility.

This flavorful steak, like most beef, sizzles with impressive amounts of niacin and respectable amounts of vitamins B6 and B12. All

Top AntiAging Foods

Eating a healthy diet along with exercise can help reduce problems as we age

By Deborah Jeanne Sergeant

N

o food represents an edible fountain of youth. However, eating a variety of healthful foods, along with exercise, adequate sleep, stress mitigation and eschewing unhealthful habits like tobacco use and drug abuse, can support healthy aging.

The key areas that promote overall wellness while aging include the gut, brain, skin and joints.

In addition to what to eat, Jimmy Scaringi, nutrition response testing practitioner and owner of Synergy Nutrition and Wellness, is concerned about what not to eat. His business operates in North Tonawanda, Williamsville and Clarence.

“The greatest enemy to gut, brain, skin and joints is white, refined processed flour and sugar,” he said.

“They are in things like bread, pasta and cookies. Those things cause you to be mineral and vitamin deficient.

It’s a key point that we want to limit these as they will negate vitamins

Page 10

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together, these essential nutrients aid in red blood cell production, help convert food to energy and promote healthy nervous and digestive systems. Since B12 deficiency is common among the elderly—whether through diet or poor absorption—it’s good to know that beef is an excellent source of this beneficial B vitamin.

Eating flank steak also boosts your intake of selenium, zinc, phosphorous and iron. These important minerals each provide a valuable function: selenium gobbles up cell-damaging free radicals; zinc fortifies the immune system; phosphorous keeps bones and teeth strong and healthy; and iron provides energy and mental clarity.

What this cut doesn’t sizzle with is fat, particularly saturated fat. An average serving contains 7.5 grams total fat, with only 3 grams saturated fat. As a comparison, ribeye steak has 22 grams total fat, with 9 grams saturated fat. Foods that are high in saturated fats raise our total blood cholesterol and unhealthy LDL cholesterol levels—levels that, over time, contribute to clogged arteries and an increased risk of heart disease or stroke. Consuming no more than 15 grams of saturated fat a day is the recommended amount.

and minerals in the body.”

Gut health is important as it is viewed as a vital part of the immune system and as the body’s means of absorbing nutrients.

Scaringi advises eating foods Jimmy Scaringi containing probiotics—the good bacteria—such as plain yogurt from grass fed animals’ milk, kefir, kimchi, okra, cinnamon, garlic and, unless inflammation is a problem, kombucha.

Supplementation may also help.

To feed the good bacteria, eat plenty of fiber sourced from produce or naturally occurring whole grains like oatmeal, spelt, kamut pasta or Ezekiel bread.

“These are grains the way God intended, not bleached and processed,” Scaringi said. “They haven’t lost their mineral content. Good carbs offer energy, but you want non-adulterated carbohydrates.”

Brain health while aging is a big concern for many adults. Since the brain is mainly comprised of fat, Mary Jo Parker, registered and certified dietitian nutritionist in private practice in Williamsville, recommends consuming fat. However, it must be the right kind.

“Fish has long been talked about as ‘brain food’ and the omega-3 fatty acids in fatty fish, as well as in flax

Flank Steak Fajitas with Sautéed Peppers 2 teaspoons chili powder 1 ½ teaspoons cumin 1 teaspoon onion powder 1 teaspoon garlic powder 1 teaspoon paprika ½ teaspoon Kosher salt ½ teaspoon coarse black pepper cayenne pepper to taste (optional) 1 ½ pounds flank steak 2 ½ tablespoons canola or olive oil, divided 3 bell peppers (multiple colors), cut into strips 1 medium red onion, sliced Flour tortillas, warmed Optional toppings: salsa, guacamole, shredded cheese, chopped cilantro Preheat grill to medium high.

Heat oven to 350F; wrap a stack of five tortillas in a packet of foil and put in oven for 15 minutes (can do multiple packets at same time).

In a small bowl combine chili powder, cumin, garlic and onion powders, paprika, salt, pepper, and cayenne (if using). Brush steak with 1 tablespoon oil, then rub about half the spice mixture into both sides of the meat. Add steak to grill and cook, flipping once until desired doneness (about 4-5 minutes per side). Let rest

and walnuts, are found in high concentrations in the brain,” she said.

Other examples of healthful oils are plant-based oils such as olive oil.

Since a high level of inflamMary Jo Parker mation ages the brain, consuming anti-inflammatory, such as in fruits and vegetables—especially leafy greens and berries--can help mitigate the effects. Parker also recommends legumes, nuts, seeds and minimally processed whole grains to reduce inflammation.

“In addition, don’t forget added ingredients, like herbs and spices like turmeric or cumin, garlic, onion, rosemary, oregano, pepper and more,” she said.

Physical activity supports good health at any age; however as one grows older, painful joints can make it harder to keep moving. Anti-inflammatory foods benefit joints in supporting good health.

Adequate protein intake is also vital for promoting healthy joints, according to Debi Bryk, board certified holistic nutritionist and certified health educator. She is president of Holistic Nutrition 4 Health, LLC, in Orchard Park.

“Older adults do not utilize protein as efficiently as younger people,” she said.

IN GOOD HEALTH – Buffalo & WNY’s Healthcare Newspaper • June 2021

Contrary to popular belief, marinating meat for hours on end does not equal greater tenderization, since marinades don’t really penetrate much beyond the surface of the meat. Long soaks, in fact, can turn the outermost layer of meat mushy, not tender.

Much like dry rubs, marinades mainly add flavor. For lean meats like flank steak, chefs recommend using a meat tenderizing mallet, grilling over high heat (about 4-5 minutes per side), and cutting the meat across the grain into thin slices. Overcooking your flank steak will render it tough; and slicing with the grain will result in an unpleasantly chewy steak. for 10 minutes.

While steak is resting, heat remaining oil in large skillet over medium-high heat. Add bell peppers, onion and remaining spice mixture; sauté until tender crisp, about 6-8 minutes. Transfer to a serving dish.

Thinly slice steak against the grain and serve on a warm tortilla with bell-pepper mixture and desired toppings.

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

Debi Bryk

She added that insufficient protein also effects muscle tone, skin integrity and wound healing.

She encourages those who lack protein to choose meat and eggs from pastured animals, and nuts,

seeds and beans.

Hydration also improves skin quality, among its many benefits to the rest of the body. Bryk said to stick with unsweetened beverages and to control caffeine consumption.

“If you’re not a big fan of water, try herbal iced tea,” she said. “Kombucha can help you get off soda or seltzer water with some lemon or lime. Infuse with strawberries or cucumber. It’s a great way to make it more palatable. Get a pretty water bottle that holds 24 to 32 ounces and aim to drink two of those a day.

“There is no one magic food, but it’s a matter of consuming whole foods 80% of the time. Save the 20% for special occasions or eating out.”

“If you live a lifestyle conducive to health, your body will repair itself,” Scaringi said. “God designed your body to heal. Don’t eat those things that take away from health.

The more we can get removed from a standard American diet the healthier you will be as you age.”

Kids Special

Island Park in Williamsville.

Buffalo Harbor State Park Playground.

Austin Greenway swings at Billy Wilson Park in Williamsville.

Ian and Oliver play at Allendale Elementary School.

WNY Playgrounds: The Perfect Place for Summer Fun The season for playground fun has just begun

By Catherine Miller

S

unny skies and warm weather are finally upon us and its time to get outdoors. Some of the best family open-air activities are located at the hundreds of playgrounds scattered throughout our region. Playgrounds are a great place to bring your children for exercise and social interaction. Best of all, they are free.

If you have a habit of bringing the little ones to your favorite neighborhood playground, why not travel out a bit and explore a new fun zone in Western New York?

BEST VIEW

Buffalo Harbor State Park Playground 1111 Fuhrmann Blvd., Buffalo This nautical-themed playground built just a few years ago continues to beacon families from around the region. Built harborside with a beautiful water view and plenty of picnic areas, it is the ideal place for kids of all ages. With climbing walls, tunnel slides and swings spaced throughout the expansive play area, this play park can entertain scores of children without feeling congested. Add to that the curved walking paths that

Hamburg Community Playground 107 Prospect Ave., Hamburg

and there is so much to do.”

Aside from the playground area Billy Wilson Park boasts a variety of stroller-friendly walking trails. The Hamburg Community Playground is tucked in a residential setting with a walkable area to their main streets.

Billy Wilson Park 1290 Hopkins Road, Williamsville Whether you live in the north or south towns, there is an inclusive playground not far off. Built to accommodate people of all abilities, these structures allow for groundbased fun with musical activities, rocking and swaying areas that are accessible for people with limited mobility with a variety of accessible socializing areas. These playgrounds include ziplines and challenging climbing areas as well as unique and easily accessed gliders and spinning features.

“I live south of Buffalo but started coming to the park during the beginning of the pandemic last year,” said Jennifer Greenway, while visiting Billy Wilson Park. “Now we come here regularly. The boys love it

Allendale Elementary School 1399 Orchard Park Road (And other school playgrounds!)

Let’s face it, most elementary school areas have a playground or are playground-adjacent. These aren’t the playgrounds of old with the heated metal slides that would burn the back of your legs and the swings that were built over treacherous cement landing strips. School playgrounds have upgraded to towering climbable structures with safely designed havens crafted to spur creativity and fun. The Allendale Elementary School’s playground is a great example. With tall dueling spiral slides, ground-based musical equipment and a fossil-enhanced cavern, this schoolyard is easily transformed to a treasure island or a

are speckled with walkers, bikers and rollerbladers and the whole area becomes the perfect picture of summer.

IDEALLY INCLUSIVE

June 2021 •

TRADITIONAL FUN

mountain adventure with just a bit of youthful imagination.

“We homeschool our kids and find it’s important to keep them active on a regular basis,” said Trevor Trethewey, father of Ian and Oliver.

“We come to the Allendale playground a couple of times a week.”

While Allendale is noted to be a favorite community play area, there are no nearby benches for the parents. So bringing a folding chair is wise. But once there, relax and watch the fun begin.

Venture out. Explore the new playgrounds or even some older ones that you may not have visited recently.

Check out county and town parks for more structures, bring a picnic lunch and a blanket and maybe plan a nature hike in the area. The season for playground fun has just begun.

CLIMBERS’ PARADISE

Island Park 5577 Main St., Williamsville Tucked behind Williamsville Town Hall and a few steps over a water-enhanced bridge is the Island Park Playground. This relatively new play area features an oversized weblike climbing area with additional arched, roped and wall-ready areas just waiting for your mini mountaineer. Swings and slides add to the fun and there are rentable picnic pavilions if you wish to make a day of it.

While in the heart of Williamsville there is plenty of off-street public parking making this hidden gem very accessible.

IN GOOD HEALTH – Buffalo & WNY’s Healthcare Newspaper

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Page 11

Kids Special Summer Socializing Important to Children Play is more than just fun; it is a big part of a child’s development

By Deborah Jeanne Sergeant

C

hildren’s play is more than fun and games.

A piece in the September 2018 issue of the journal Pediatrics, it states: “developmentally appropriate play with parents and peers is a singular opportunity to promote the social-emotional, cognitive, language, and self-regulation skills that build executive function and a prosocial brain.”

While the pandemic limited child-to-child contact at school for the past year, children need interaction with peers to promote proper social development. That is why socializing this summer is vital. But parents also need to balance that need with continuing concern over COVID-19, keeping current protocols in mind.

“It’s beneficial for adolescents to be able to socialize and learn valuable lessons they’d miss by not being together,” said Marcy Abramsky, licensed clinical social worker and InspireAmMarcy Abramsky ind Counseling clinical social worker and therapist in private practice in Buffalo. “This is the time to learn it before the cost gets higher. It gets higher when you

get older.”

She said that in addition to the mental health benefits of friendship and camaraderie, children usually engage more in physical activity when they have like-age friends around than when solo or with much younger or older siblings.

“Children especially really need person-to-person socialization to develop into well-adjusted people,” said Anna Shurmatz, licensed clinical social worker and owner of Shurmatz Counseling in Cheektowaga. “It is very important that kids have those outlets. They learn to share, how to not always get what you want, how to be part of team. You need more people in your life than your family.

When social needs are not met, we do not do well, especially long-term.”

Although the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has lifted some of the protocols for people who have received a full vaccination, the vaccine has only recently been approved for children younger than 12.

Parents will need to closely supervise when their children play with other children this summer. By scheduling playdates at their home or at others’ homes with only a limited number of children they know, such as a few families from their neighborhood, parents can more closely monitor who is in contact with their children.

Or they could limit their socialized playtime to children of whose parents have been vaccinated.

Playing games with natural boundaries, such as tennis or badminton can help limit close contact, as can turn-taking activities like bowling, compared with games like tag or soccer.

Young children should only play outdoors under a caregiver’s watch irrespective of the pandemic. That makes it easier for parents to know who is in contact with their children and prevent unwanted contact.

The CDC has established that activities outdoors are less likely to result in spreading the virus than indoor activity. Transmission by surface contact has also been proven very rare. For these reasons, going to the playground is fine. However, close contact with other, unknown children at the playground is likely the only issue.

The greatest danger may be in allowing older children and teens to roam the neighborhood to play with unknown kids at playgrounds or other crowded areas.

Camping is one way to allow children the opportunity to interact with other children more safely, whether going to day camp or over-

Community Action Organization of WNY

night camp.

“You could meet kids from all over the world, which is vital to their understanding of the world,” said Susie Lupert, executive director of The American Camp Association of New York and New Jersey. The organization is based in New York City.

Just as schools have done, camps are making plans for opening for the summer based upon the state’s guidelines. Since children will be much more supervised than at a random playground, their risk while interacting is mitigated.

“There will be smaller group sizes,” Lupert said. “It’s not going to be a typical summer where hundreds of kids are interacting all at once.”

Providing a camp uses the proper screening and testing protocols, along with keeping children in smaller “pods,” she sees no reason why camping cannot form part of a child’s socializing for the summer.

Parents concerned about the safety of their children’s socializing should consult with their child’s pediatrician and pay attention to the state-issued recommendations.

Do you know a child who has trouble with ADHD behaviors in school?

Come grow with us!

• HR Specialist • HR Assistant • Purchasing & Inventory Clerk • Principal • Urban Farmer • Child Development Specialist • Substance Abuse Counselor • Family Case Worker • Data & Assessment Coordinator • Community Crisis Specialist • Job Developer • Health Coordinator

• Family & Community Partnership Coordinator • Maintenance Associate • Nutrition Associate • Security Guard • Teacher III • Teacher IV • Certified Teachers • Teacher I II • Youth Services Counselor • Youth Services Site Coordinator (Job #1250) • Program Coordinator (Job #1233) • Family Partner

For full job descriptions and to apply, please visit our website: www.caowny.org Page 12

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IN GOOD HEALTH – Buffalo & WNY’s Healthcare Newspaper • June 2021

Families with children entering 1st to 5th grade are now being recruited for a study to find out the best ways to help.

If a child qualifies for the study, they will be randomly assigned to: — (1) assessment and progress monitoring of school performance

OR — (2) a coach will work with the child’s teacher throughout the school year.

Coaches will work with teachers and families to provide behavioral therapy, more intensive behavioral therapy, or medication treatment, if needed, based on the child’s response to treatment across the school year.

There is no fee for participating in this study. All progress monitoring reports and treatment are provided as part of the study.

To learn more, or to apply, call 716-359-7500

Kids Special

Is it Safe to Send Your Kids to Summer Camp?

Parents are encouraged to carefully review the camp’s COVID-19 protocols before sending a child to camp

By Deborah Jeanne Sergeant

S

unny days spent exploring the outdoors, learning new skills and undertaking new challenges are all part of the summer camp experience.

COVID-19 shut down overnight camps last year while day camps operated much differently than in 2019.

The 2021 camping season should include overnight camps and day camps with a few protocols. If your children are attending day camp or overnight camp this summer, carefully review the camp’s COVID protocols. They may be different then compared with now.

Overall, the mental health benefits to children may outweigh the risk since few children have experienced severe illness because of COVID-19.

Children’s opportunities to socialize were so curtailed for the past year, making this an ideal summer for camp.

“They develop conflict resolution skills and other skills as they have to make decisions,” said Marcy Abramsky, licensed clinical social worker and InspireAmind Counseling clinical social worker and therapist in private practice in Buffalo.

“They know they don’t have their parents. They have to make decisions on their own and be more self-reliant.

It does help them to get along with peers better. It fosters more skills in making friendships, keep friendships for a period of time.”

She added that since children have remained cooped up so long for the past year, going away to camp can help them make up for some lost time in developing social skills, providing they can do so safely.

The big issue is if the children raise the risk of infecting those more vulnerable populations. Going to a summer camp within New York may be a good idea this year. Other states abide by different COVID-19 protocols than New York. In addition, should an outbreak occur and the camp sends children home, a spontaneous couple hours’ drive is easier than arranging cross-country travel.

Susie Lupert, executive director of The American Camp Association of New York and New Jersey based in New York City, said that her organization bases its recommendations to camps on their respective state’s guidelines.

“We’re in a little bit of a holding pattern,” she said in mid-May. “We’re working with the governor’s office and the Department of Health on ways to open that is safe. We want to make sure our industry can thrive.”

Positive Support for Children with ADHD Is More Important Than Ever In contrast to a medication-only approach, parents and educators should be focused on how to implement positive behavior supports

By Greg Fabiano

T

he unexpected school closures in March 2020 were an event of generational impact for schoolaged children.

Looking back, no one thought these educational setting disruptions would continue into the 2020-21 school year, let alone all of it!

It is to the credit of educators and school administrators that they were able to pivot to remote and hybrid instruction so readily. Yet, there are likely to be consequences of these school changes, particularly for students who benefit greatly from in-class instruction, such as those with attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD).

ADHD is a relatively common childhood mental health disorder, where the child exhibits developmentally inappropriate levels of inattention, overactivity and impulsivity.

All children exhibit these be-

haviors some of the time, but a child with ADHD exhibits these behaviors to a much greater degree and importantly to a degree that causes them problems.

The behaviors interfere with their academic progress, social relationships with peers and teachers, and it may negatively impact the child’s ability to function in group settings like their school classroom.

Studies that follow children with ADHD into adolescence and young adulthood show that if the behaviors are not adequately addressed in childhood, the child may grow up to be less successful in school and in an eventual career.

By far the most common treatment for ADHD is providing stimulant medication. However, our team has finished some recent studies that suggest that relying solely on medication as a treatment may be ineffec-

The most conservative guidelines at present include keeping children in dedicated cohorts, such all children who sleep in a particular a cabin, or for day camps, chosen groups, who will not mingle with the rest of the camp.

This strategy can limit the reach of an outbreak should one occur.

“For overnight camps, there will likely be testing protocols and for day camps, daily health screenings,” Lupert said. “There will likely be various cleaning protocols throughout the day.”

Last summer, day camps opened in New York and experienced very few issues. However, overnight camps did not open.

Lupert said that this year, there will likely be masks worn while indoors and in a larger group.

“Anyone eligible should receive the vaccine,” she added.

She recommends that parents send their children only to camps accredited with the American Camp Association and licensed by the New York State Department of Health.

“That’s a better level of security that a camp is dedicated to the safety and health of their campers,” Lupert said. “They have to have medical staff and have Department of Health

representatives who check on them before and during camp.”

While the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention offers guidelines for camps on its site, it is up to camps to follow New York State guidelines for how they operate this summer.

“Children need to be outdoors, have social interactions, get away from screens and have a great time,” Lupert said. “It’s of the utmost importance to get them into new and challenging situations. Mental health issues are on the rise, as is obesity.

We know it’s a result of children being locked indoors for the better part of a year. Going to camp really can be an antidote to what they have experienced and encourage them to be more active for the rest of the year.”

To read the New York State Department of Health’s general guidelines for children’s camps, visit https://www.health.ny.gov/publications/3603. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s guidelines on COVID-19 and camping are at https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/community/ schools-childcare/summer-camps. html.

tive, in both the short- and long-run.

In the short-run, medication may increase attentiveness and reduce hyperactivity, but additional supports are needed to help the child learn academic material, make friends and develop social skills, and teach parents how to support the child.

In addition, many children with ADHD stop taking medication in adolescence (adolescents often don’t do anything their parents ask them to do, including taking medication) and if all those other supports were not put in place, families may be left with a number of challenges as there are no lasting effects of medication once it is stopped.

In contrast to a medication-only approach, parents and educators should be focused on how to implement positive behavior supports, especially as a child with ADHD returns to full-time school.

After a year of changing routines and expectations, nearly all children with ADHD would benefit from a simple positive behavior support plan we often call a “Daily Report Card.” With this plan, parents and educators list some goals for the child to meet each day (completes seatwork within time provided; uses a respectful tone when talking to the teacher or friends).

The teacher then provides positive feedback to the child throughout the day on whether the goals are being met and sends a report to the parent at the end of the day on how the child did. Parents then provide

home privileges contingent on meeting these goals such as slightly later bedtime or screen time. Although this sounds like a simple approach, a lot of research studies support it as a positive way to guide the child toward successful behaviors. It replaces the need to correct the child following an unsuccessful situation.

A guide for setting up a Daily Report Card is available here: (https:// ccf.fiu.edu/research/_assets/how_ to_establish_a_school_drc.pdf) These positive behavioral supports strategies will be an important tool for helping children with challenging behaviors such as those associated with ADHD return to classroom settings. This will help them get back on track toward the growing and learning that all good classroom settings promote.

June 2021 •

Greg Fabiano, Ph. D., is a child clinical psychologist who has worked in the Western New York area with children with ADHD and their families for more than 20 years. He currently works at the Center for Children and Families of WNY, located at 4600 Main St., Amherst. For more information, call 716-359-7500.

IN GOOD HEALTH – Buffalo & WNY’s Healthcare Newspaper

•

Page 13

Kids Special Screens Diminish Children’s Sleep Quality Encourage children to wind down with a predictable routine prior to bedtime

By Deborah Jeanne Sergeant

W

hile you may feel you readily wind down in the evening by watching television—and perhaps fall asleep while binge-watching a favorite show—it is not the ideal way to induce sleep, especially for children.

As an additional drawback of too much screen time, watching videos or playing games just before bedtime can inhibit children’s sleep.

Screen time may not delay children’s bedtime; however, a study from The National Sleep Foundation indicates that people who use devices with screens just before bed experience poorer sleep quality than those who did not use the devices.

“When it comes to our sleep, light regulation is one of the most important things,” said Soda Kuczkowski, sleep health educator with Start With Sleep in Buffalo. “We need natural light in the morning and noon hour because it keeps our circadian rhythm in motion. We have hormonal process it switches on, like serotonin that evokes a happy mood.”

The artificial light of screen

devices—particularly in an otherwise dark environment before bedtime— can hamper sleep.

“That can delay melatonin production for three hours,” Kuczkowski said. “That reduces REM sleep, the brain’s waste removal system.”

Reducing light closer to bedtime signals the body that it is time for rest.

Kuczkowski uses blue light blocking glasses for viewing a screen after 7 p.m. This helps filter out the most stimulating type of light.

Sometimes, it is the device’s stimulation that keeps children awake. Allowing children to keep devices in their rooms is inadvisable.

While your children may say that they stay off their phones or tablets at bedtime and keep them away from their beds, which may not be enough.

Not only is the temptation strong to check for messages “one more time,” but just the presence of the phone in the room may be detrimental to good sleep. Children wonder who has liked their post or responded to their text. Stressing over likes and

What Works Best to Ease Recurrent Ear Infections in Kids?

F

requent middle-ear infections are the nemesis of many parents and young children.

Now a new study suggests that a common treatment — “ear tubes” — may not prevent future bouts.

Middle-ear infections (or acute otitis media) are second only to the common cold in creating childhood misery.

They occur when the air-filled space behind the eardrum becomes infected and fills with fluid, which can cause pain, fever and obstructed hearing.

Some babies and young children are prone to frequent infections. One treatment option is to surgically place a tiny tube in the eardrum, to help drain fluid built up behind it.

But the new study, published

Page 14

•

May 13 in the New England Journal of Medicine, found that the tactic did not thwart future infections.

Among 250 babies and toddlers researchers followed, those treated with ear tubes suffered about as many middle-ear infections over the next two years as those who received only antibiotics for each bout.

The good news is that infections in both groups dissipated over time, said lead researcher, physician Alejandro Hoberman of UPMC Children’s Hospital of Pittsburgh.

Kids normally outgrow the infections, he explained. Babies and toddlers are prone to them because of the structure of their eustachian tubes, which help drain fluid from the middle ear. As little ones grow older, that changes.

posted comments can certainly make it difficult to sleep.

While up to an hour or so of gaming or watching a video each day is fine, excessive gaming prevents children from interacting with people in person. Those interactions are important for understanding how to get along with others.

“Children are often more tired and don’t sleep after using devices before bed,” said Christopher Grazen, a chiropractic doctor who holds a bachelor’s degree in exercise science who owns Grazen Chiropractic Lancaster. “I tell my kids to turn the phones off at least half an hour before bed. I still have alarm clocks for the kids so they don’t have a phone in their rooms.”

Instead of engaging with screens before bed, encourage children to wind down with a predictable routine—not screen time stimulation.

“Part of easing into sleep is shutting our brains down,” said Anna Shurmatz, licensed clinical social worker and owner of Shurmatz Counseling in Cheektowaga. “It’s about slowing down. Some people are sensitive to blue light from electronics, which makes some people feel alert. It’s a good idea to create a routine to reduce screen time in the hour between winding down and trying to go to sleep.”

She suggested reading stories with children, talking about the day, discussing tomorrow’s plans and listening to their thoughts.

According to Hoberman, the new findings suggest that for many children, tubes can be avoided.

But, he added, some may need tubes if their rate of ear infection does not wane over time.

Physician Steven Sobol is chairman of the American Academy of Pediatrics’ section on otolaryngology-head and neck surgery. He said the study “supports the well-established belief that many children with recurrent acute otitis media eventually grow out of their symptoms, regardless of whether they've been managed medically or surgically.

But decisions on treatment, Sobol said, depend on various factors. They include whether infections are impairing a child’s hearing and speech development.

That point was emphasized by physician Maura Cosetti of Mount Sinai’s New York Eye and Ear Infirmary in New York City.

“The age of children in the study ... coincides with what’s felt to be the sensitive period for speech and language development,” Cosetti said.

Unlike antibiotics, she explained, ear tubes “may provide immediate relief from hearing loss related to middle-ear fluid — the value of which may be difficult to quantify in the current study.”

To Sobol, the study “emphasizes the importance of creating an individualized approach to management.”

The trial included 250 children, ages 6 months to nearly 3 years, who had suffered recurrent middle-ear infections — at least three within six

months, or four within a year.

Hoberman’s team randomly assigned them to have either an ear tube surgically placed or receive oral antibiotics whenever a new infection struck.

Kids given ear tubes also received antibiotics when a new infection arose — but by ear drop. If that didn’t work, they switched to oral antibiotics.

One potential advantage of ear tubes, Hoberman noted, is that they allow ear-drop antibiotics. That could reduce the risk of bacteria elsewhere in the body developing antibiotic resistance.

Over the two-year study, though, there was no clear advantage of ear tubes when it came to new infections, or antibiotic resistance.

The average rate of recurrent ear infection was around 1.5 per year in the ear-tube group, and 1.7 in the comparison group. Infections declined in the second year in both groups.

Children with ear tubes did spend fewer days on oral antibiotics, the study found.

But the two treatment groups showed no difference in the likelihood of harboring antibiotic-resistant bacteria in the nose or throat.

Still, Sobol pointed out, there were some other advantages in eartube group.

For one, they tended to remain infection-free longer before their first recurrence. They also generally had fewer days with infection symptoms—with the exception of drainage from the ear.

IN GOOD HEALTH – Buffalo & WNY’s Healthcare Newspaper • June 2021

Tactics for Easing Back Into Life It’s good to mingle, socialize and be doing things again

By Melissa Stefanec

A

t this point, most of us miss people.

Even the most introverted or curmudgeonly among us have shed many of our anti-social tendencies over the past year and a half. This pandemic has made us realize how much the people in our lives matter to us. From family, to friends, to neighbors, to coworkers, to acquaintances and strangers, we discovered we need each other.

However, many of us spent more than a year being isolated or socially distanced from most other human beings. As people start getting vaccinated and we resume some portions of our pre-pandemic lives, real-life interaction can feel unnatural.

If you’re having some difficulties reentering the world you once knew, you aren’t alone. For many people, the social anxiety that flared during the pandemic doesn’t immediately disappear after you get a vaccine and the restrictions are lifted.

If you’re one of those people, here are some ideas for reentering society. Using tactics that work for you can help reacclimation be a joyous occasion. On a side note, if you’re having a lot of difficulties, you should talk to your doctor or a healthcare professional. They can help you devise a helpful and healthy plan.

Discuss your boundaries

As you start to gather with

people again, talk to those people about your boundaries. If you aren’t up for large gatherings, ask the host how many people will be there. If you want to be in control, set up an event where you’re the only one who invites people. Respect your own boundaries and expect others to do the same.

If vaccination status is important to you, ask!

If you don’t feel safe being around unvaccinated people, ask for people’s vaccine statuses. If they don’t want to share that information, make a judgment call. Do what is right for you. Your loved ones should understand, even if they don’t agree.

Visit places where there are a lot of people (but where you can keep your distance)

If you’re ready for people but not quite ready to socialize, you can try an outdoor event or a large indoor open space where there are numerous people. Not having to engage with these people might help you reacclimate to large groups.

Embrace outdoor events

Outdoor events can be a great segue for returning to society. Fresh air and open spaces can really help a person feel safe. Things like outdoor markets, outdoor dining or parks and hiking trails might be a good place to start.

Gather with people whom you trust Sometimes, it just makes sense to start small. If you’re nervous about being around a lot of people, start with people whom you trust to respect your wishes and boundaries.

Don’t be afraid to ask for what you need.

Understand that you can’t control your environment

If you venture outside of your home, you’re no longer in control of your environment. So, assume a level of risk that is appropriate for your tolerance. Understand that you don’t live in a risk-free world. When you’re out and about, people will do things you’re uncomfortable with, because we all have different comfort levels.

Try your best to control the controllables and let other things slide.

Feel empowered to turn down invitations

If you aren’t ready to attend a specific event, don’t attend it. Give yourself leeway as you reacclimate to social events and outings. If you aren’t up to it, now more than ever, it’s perfectly acceptable to politely decline an invitation.

Make a bucket list

If you’re having trouble motivating yourself to get out there again, make a favorite’s list. Create a bucket list for 2021 and put all of your

June 2021 •

“

This pandemic has made us realize how much the people in our lives matter to us.

From family, to friends, to neighbors, to coworkers, to acquaintances and strangers, we discovered we need each other.

”

pre-pandemic favorite things on it.

When you’re ready, start checking off the things that make you happy.

Make plans in the very near future

Now that you have some ideas, make some plans. Don’t make those plans for weeks out; that will give you time to agonize over them.

Instead, make plans for a small and accomplishable outing and do that thing. Sometimes, you just have to shed the fear and embrace life.

IN GOOD HEALTH – Buffalo & WNY’s Healthcare Newspaper

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Page 15

In NYS 410,000 Seniors Live with Alzheimer’s: Report

Ask The Social

Security Office

New report examines racial and ethnic attitudes on Alzheimer’s and dementia care

F

indings from two national surveys appearing in the Alzheimer’s Association 2021 “Alzheimer’s Disease Facts and Figures” report reveal that discrimination is a barrier to Alzheimer’s and dementia care.

More than one-third of Black Americans (36%) and nearly one-fifth of Hispanic Americans (18%) and Asian Americans (19%), believes discrimination would be a barrier to receiving Alzheimer’s care. In addition, half or more of non-white caregivers say they have experienced discrimination when navigating health care settings for their care recipient.

The 2021 “Facts and Figures” report provides an in-depth look at the latest national statistics on Alzheimer’s prevalence, incidence, mortality, costs of care and impact on caregivers. New disease-related statistics for New York State revealed the following: • Number of New York residents aged 65 and older living with Alzheimer’s in 2020: 410,000 • Estimated number of New York residents living with Alzheimer’s in 2025: 460,000 • Percentage change: 12.2% • State wide deaths from Alzheimer’s disease (2019): 3,753 • Number of New York residents serving as unpaid family caregivers: 586,000 • Total hours of unpaid care provided: 774,000,000 • Total value of unpaid care: $14,620,000,000 “The new Facts and Figures report shows that Alzheimer’s disease and other dementias continue to be a significant burden for too many New York state families,” said Jill Horner, executive director of the Western New York Chapter of the Alzheimer’s Association. “Our staff will continue to provide care and support services to all impacted by dementia, and we encourage everyone to continue to work toward advancing new treatments that can stop or slow the progression of Alzheimer’s.”

For the first time, the accompanying special report, “Race, Ethnicity and Alzheimer’s in America,” exam-

ines perspectives and experiences of Asian, Black, Hispanic, Native and white Americans in regard to Alzheimer’s and dementia care.

Findings in the report, reveal that non-white racial and ethnic populations expect and experience more barriers when accessing dementia care, have less trust in medical research and are less confident that they have access to health professionals who understand their ethnic and racial background and experiences.

Among the findings: • Two-thirds of Black Americans (66%) believe it is harder for them to get excellent care for Alzheimer’s disease or other dementias. Likewise, 2 in 5 Native Americans (40%) and Hispanic Americans (39%) believe their own race or ethnicity makes it harder to get care, as do one-third of Asian Americans (34%).

• Nearly two-thirds of Black Americans (62%) believe that medical research is biased against people of color — a view shared by substantial numbers of Asian Americans (45%), Native Americans (40%) and Hispanic Americans (36%) as well. Only half of Black Americans (53%) trust a future cure for Alzheimer’s will be shared equally regardless of race, color or ethnicity.

• Fewer than half of Black (48%) and Native Americans (47%) feel confident they have access to providers who understand their ethnic or racial background and experiences, and only about 3 in 5 Asian Americans (63%) and Hispanics (59%) likewise feel confident.

“Despite ongoing efforts to address health and health care disparities in Alzheimer’s and dementia care, survey results show there is still a lot of work to be done,” said Carl V. Hill, Ph.D., chief diversity, equity and inclusion officer, Alzheimer’s Association. “Clearly, discrimination, lack of diversity among health care professionals and mistrust in medical research create significant barriers to care and demand the country’s full attention.”

From the Social Security District Office

Replacement or Corrected Social Security Cards During COVID-19

S

ocial Security offices are currently open only for in-person appointments for limited, critical situations, depending upon local office conditions. However, you can continue to apply for a replacement Social Security card online and by mail. Before requesting a replacement card, please remember that you might not need the physical card.

Most of the time, simply knowing your Social Security number is enough.

If you have a critical situation that requires you to have a physical card and you cannot apply by mail or online, you should call your local Social Security office. Please visit our coronavirus (COVID-19) updates page for more information at www. ssa.gov/coronavirus.

Applying Online

If you don’t need any changes to your Social Security number record (such as a name or date of birth change), applying for a replacement card online is your most convenient option. You don’t need to mail proof or visit an office.

You can use our online application if you are an adult, have a state-issued drivers’ license or non-driver identification card, and live in the District of Columbia or one of the 45 states that verifies state-issued documents for us. All you need to do is create a my Social Security account to access and complete the online application at www.ssa.gov/myaccount/replacement-card.html.

If you live in one of the five states that do not participate — Minnesota, Nevada, New Hampshire, Oklahoma and West Virginia — know that we are working hard to bring this service to you as soon as possible.

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Q: How does Social Security decide if I am disabled?

A: For an adult to be considered disabled, Social Security must determine that you are unable to do the work you did before and that, based on your age, education and work experience, you are unable to adjust to any other work that exists in significant numbers in the national economy. Also, your disability must last or be expected to last for at least one year or to result in death. Social Security pays for total disability only.

No benefits are payable for partial disability or short-term disability

IN GOOD HEALTH – Buffalo & WNY’s Healthcare Newspaper • June 2021

Applying by Mail

We require proof of your identity with your replacement card application (www.ssa.gov/forms/ss-5.pdf), usually a state-issued drivers’ license or non-driver identification card, or U.S. passport. We call these documents “primary” identity proofs. We understand mailing primary identity proofs with your replacement card application can be challenging. To help, we are temporarily expanding our policy to accept alternative identity documents — or what we call “secondary proofs” — when you cannot mail primary proof.

Acceptable secondary proofs include, but are not limited to: employee identification card, school identification card, health insurance card (not a Medicare card) and U.S. military identification card.

These proofs must be current (not expired), show your name and identifying information (such as your date of birth or age), and be an original or a certified copy.

If you need to change your name, when you mail your replacement card application, you will need to submit proof of identity plus proof of the name change. The proof of identity can be primary or secondary proof. Proof of the name change could be a marriage certificate, divorce decree, certificate of naturalization showing the new name, or a court order approving the name change.

You may be able to submit one document to serve as proof of your name change and identity. For example, you may submit a marriage certificate as proof of name change and identity if the certificate shows the marriage occurred within the prior two years and includes your prior name; includes your age, birth date or parents’ names; this information matches your Social Security number record.

We will return any documents you send us.

(less than a year). For more information, read our publication, Disability Benefits, at www.ssa.gov/pubs.

Q: My daughter receives SSI and child support from her father. Does the child support have to be reported?

A: Yes. The child support your daughter receives is countable income for SSI purposes. As with any income received for an individual or a parent, if the child is under 18, it needs to be reported to your local Social Security office. For more information regarding the SSI program, visit www.ssa.gov/disabilityssi/ssi. html.

Thank you to all of our dedicated staff.

We appreciate you!

By Jim Miller

Medicare Coverage Options for Retirees Eager to Travel Dear Savvy Senior, What are the best Medicare coverage options for COVID-19 vaccinated retirees who are eager to travel? My wife and I will both turn 65 over the next few months and would like to know which Medicare plans are best for extensive travelers.

Almost 65

Dear Almost, The best Medicare plans for retirees who plan to travel will vary depending on your destinations. But before you book a trip make sure you know the current CDC COVID-19 travel recommendations (see CDC. gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/travelers), and research your destinations too so you can know if restrictions apply wherever you’re going.

Medicare Review

Before we dissect how Medicare works for travelers, let’s start with a quick review of your different Medicare options.

One option is original Medicare, which covers (Part A) hospital services and (Part B) doctor’s visits and other medical services.

If you choose original Medicare, you may also want to get a Medicare (Part D) prescription drug plan (if you don’t already have coverage) to cover your medications, and a Medicare supplemental (Medigap) policy to help pay for things that aren’t covered by Medicare like copayments, coinsurance and deductibles.

Or, you could get a Medicare Advantage (Part C) plan instead, which is sold through private insurance companies, and covers everything original Medicare covers, plus many plans also offer prescription drug coverage and extra services like vision, hearing and dental care all in one plan.

To help you evaluate your options contact your state health insurance assistance program (see ShiptaCenter.org), which provides free Medicare counseling.

You can also shop and compare Medicare health and drug plans and Medigap policies at Medicare.gov/ find-a-plan.

Also note that whatever Medicare plans you choose to enroll in, if you find that they are not meeting your needs or your needs change, you can always switch to a different plan during the open enrollment period, which is between Oct. 15 and Dec. 7.

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U.S. Travel

If you and your husband are planning to travel domestically, original Medicare may be the better option because it provides coverage everywhere in the U.S. and its territories as long as the doctor or hospital accepts Medicare.

Medicare Advantage plans, on the other hand, which have become very popular among new enrollees, may restrict your coverage when traveling throughout the U.S. This is because most Medicare Advantage plans are HMOs or PPOs and require you to use doctors, hospitals and pharmacies that are in the plan’s network within a service area or geographic region. So, if you’re traveling outside that area you may need to pay a higher fee, or your services may not be covered at all.

If you do decide to enroll in a Medicare Advantage plan, be sure you check the benefit details carefully to see what costs and rules apply when traveling outside your service area.

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Traveling Abroad

If you’re planning to travel abroad much, a Medicare Advantage plan may be a better option because many Advantage plans today offer emergency care coverage outside the U.S. But be sure you check before you choose a plan because not all plans offer it.

Original Medicare, on the other hand, does not provide coverage outside the U.S. and its territories except in rare circumstances (see Medicare.gov/coverage/travel), and Medicare drug plans will not cover prescription drugs purchased outside the U.S. either.

But if you do choose original Medicare, you can still get some coverage abroad through a Medigap policy. Plans D, G, M and N plans will pay for 80% of medically necessary emergency care outside the U.S. to new enrollees, but only for the first 60 days of the trip, and you have to meet an annual $250 deductible first. There’s also a lifetime limit of $50,000, so you’d need to cover any costs above that amount.

Some beneficiaries, regardless of their Medicare coverage, purchase travel medical insurance for trips abroad, which you can shop for at InsureMyTrip.com or SquareMouth. com.

Send your senior questions to: Savvy Senior, P.O. Box 5443, Norman, OK 73070, or visit SavvySenior. org. Jim Miller is a contributor to the NBC Today show and author of “The Savvy Senior” book.

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IN GOOD HEALTH – Buffalo & WNY’s Healthcare Newspaper

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Page 17

BPPN’s Buffalo Fatherhood Initiative Partners With Say Yes Buffalo

B

uffalo Prenatal-Perinatal Network’s Buffalo Fatherhood Initiative (BFI) in partnership with Say Yes Buffalo is premiering a new video to support the #InvestinDads Campaign, which aims to raise $40,000 to support program development for fathers and male caregivers.

To date, the #InvestinDads Campaign has raised $11,200 from Univera Healthcare, Five Star Bank, National Fuel, the Aquino Family Foundation and many generous, individual donors.

“Say Yes Buffalo has been instrumental in the development of our campaign. We are truly appreciative of their continued support, partnership, and leadership in our community,” said Antoine Johnson, program manager of the Buffalo Fatherhood Initiative.

“Coming out the pandemic, the need for engaged fathers is greater than ever,” said David Rust, executive director at Say Yes Buffalo. “The community’s been in crisis in a lot of ways, both economically and socially, and when fathers are more engaged the data shows that students are more likely to do well in school and more likely to seek postsecondary education.”

Say Yes Buffalo has been a partner with the Buffalo Fatherhood Initiative since 2018, offering parenting and financial literacy education, as well as oneto-one mentoring with fathers.

“We’re grateful for the program funders — the John R. Oishei Foundation, Key Bank, the First Niagara Foundation, and the Mother Cabrini Foundation— for answering the call for work like this to occur in the community,” Rust said.

The campaign video is a call-to-action for the community to support this critical program that empowers healthy father and male involvement for children, women, and families while providing the tools and resources needed to become a better father.

The program focuses on building a future for our children and our community – one father at a time.

The #InvestinDads Campaign will run through June 2021, culminating in an event known as “Fathers Eve” at 6:30 p.m. June 19 Fathers Eve is a nationally recognized and is all about celebrating dads everywhere. Fathers Eve is always held the evening before Father’s Day. It’s an opportunity for fathers, father figures, and stepfathers to get together and celebrate the “Brotherhood of Fatherhood.”

For more information, contact Antoine Johnson at ajohnson@ bppn.org to learn. Individuals can donate at this link: https:// InvestingDads.givesmart. com and through Text to Give Platform by texting ‘InvestingDads’ to 76278.

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Health News Tom Quatroche reappointed to national group Erie County Medical Center (ECMC) Corporation recently announced that ECMC President & CEO Thomas J. Quatroche Jr., Ph.D., has been reappointed to the board of directors of America’s Essential Hospitals by a vote of the association’s full national membership.

The national organization represents Tom Quatroche more than 300 hospitals that fill an essential healthcare role. First formed in 1981 as the National Association of Public Hospitals, America’s Essential Hospitals is a leading advocate on federal public policy issues that affect its member institutions across the United States that care for a high volume of vulnerable patients.

Quatroche also accepted another term as chairman of the association board’s education committee, and he was also appointed to the board’s finance committee.

According to its website, America’s Essential Hospitals has a rich history and long record of accomplishments on behalf of its members. Since its inception, the association has been universally recognized for its expertise on issues affecting care for the nation’s most vulnerable patients.

The organization’s mission statement is: America’s Essential Hospitals champions excellence in health care for all, regardless of social or economic circumstance, and advances the work of hospitals and health systems committed to ensuring access to care and optimal health for America’s most vulnerable people.

Roswell Parks appoints first-ever chief diversity officer A new role will give a Roswell Park Comprehensive Cancer Center researcher and public-health expert expanded opportunity to apply her deep-rooted commitment to improving the lives of people from underElisa Rodriguez served communities.

Roswell Park recently announced the promotion of Elisa M. Rodriguez, Ph.D., to chief diversity and equity officer for faculty.

Rodriguez first came to Roswell Park as a graduate student, and in 2012 joined the staff as director of community engagement resource, a role she still holds today. In the new role of chief diversity and equi-

ty officer for faculty, she will lead Roswell Park’s work to build bridges between researchers and the community all around our center, highlighting the cultural diversity that exists both within and outside of Roswell Park. She will also be a resource and support for Roswell Park clinical and research faculty from underrepresented groups.

In her contributions as a faculty member within the department of epidemiology and prevention, Rodriguez has worked to amplify Hispanic, Latinx, Black and Native American voices in conversations surrounding medical research and access to care. She directs Roswell Park’s research oncology community knowledge program (ROCKstars), which enlists cancer survivors and researchers, and serves as staff liaison to the Community Advisory Board that informs and guides the work of Roswell Park’s Community Outreach and Engagement team.

“Dr. Rodriguez is a faculty champion who has already been a great resource for her colleagues,” says Candace S. Johnson, Ph.D., president and CEO and M&T Bank Presidential Chair in Leadership of Roswell Park. “She is an outstanding researcher who has committed her career to overcoming health disparities, and will be an incredible asset and support for all of us in this new position.”

A Western New York native, Rodriguez holds a doctorate from John Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health and completed her master’s degree through Roswell Park’s graduate program, the Roswell Park Graduate Division of the University at Buffalo.

Renowned Roswell Park immunologist promoted to endowed chair role Following a national search, Roswell Park Comprehensive Cancer Center has promoted physician Pawel Kalinski, Ph.D., to Jacobs family endowed chair of immunology, chief of the division of translational Pawel Kalinski, Ph.D immuno-oncology and senior vice president for team science.

On staff at Roswell Park since 2017, this sought-after physician-researcher has helped to elevate both the profile and potential of Roswell Park’s immuno-oncology team.

Kalinski has previously served as vice chairman for translational research, director of cancer vaccine and dendritic cell therapies, Rustum family endowed professor for molecular therapeutics and translational research and co-leader of the tumor immunology and immunotherapy program.

“The work Dr. Kalinski leads is stunning in its scope, its uniqueness and its potential for improving

IN GOOD HEALTH – Buffalo & WNY’s Healthcare Newspaper • June 2021

patient care and survival,” says Candace S. Johnson, Ph.D, president & CEO and M&T Bank Presidential Chair in Leadership at Roswell Park.

“We look forward to seeing all that he will accomplish and the achievements he will inspire our team to realize.”

Kalinski directs a portfolio of more than $22.5 million in active grants. These include a $14.5 million award from the National Cancer Institute for a multicenter collaboration supporting five separate collaborative clinical trials and a $6.42 million project that’s part of a larger U.S. Department of defense breakthrough award, led by Kalinski himself, which supports two clinical trials.

His role leading team-science initiatives at Roswell Park will be particularly important, as it represents an opportunity to promote interactions between laboratory and clinical faculty in advancing outstanding science and developing effective collaborations with partners in academia and the biotech and pharma sectors.

“We could not attract and keep talent of this caliber without the support of community leaders like the Jacobs family, who created the endowment supporting this area in 2007, and we acknowledge a deep debt of gratitude to them for their long support of immunology innovators at Roswell Park,” says Johnson.

Independent Health hiring 57 customer service positions Independent Health aims to fill 32 customer service representative positions and its affiliate company, Nova Healthcare Administrators, is hiring 25 care navigators, including several bilingual care navigators, in its customer service department.

Independent Health and Nova are looking to fill these positions by late May or June.

“As locally based, deeply rooted companies, Independent Health and Nova are pleased to be in a position to hire 57 employees and help further support the economic rebound of our region,” said Patricia Clabeaux, executive vice president and chief human resources officer. “And as a nationally recognized, award-winning company for customer service and member satisfaction, we look forward to adding more associates to our team who share our company’s passion for service and commitment to our members and community.”

Independent Health and its affiliate companies offer competitive salaries, generous health care and paid-time-off benefits, education assistance, considerable 401(k) matching contributions, and career development opportunities.

Highmark Blue Cross Blue Shield Provides Over $397,000 to Area Nonprofits

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ighmark Blue Cross Blue Shield of Western New York recently announced that it invested a total of $397,375 in 47 nonprofit organizations in Western New York in the first quarter of 2021 for partnerships and sponsorships, supporting and enhancing the community’s health and well-being.

Among the organizations benefitting from sponsorship investments between January and April of this year are the Buffalo Olmsted Parks Conservancy for MLK, Jr. Park, American Foundation for Suicide Prevention (WNY Chapter), Boys & Girls Clubs of Buffalo, Girls on the Run Buffalo, Westminster Economic Development Initiative (WEDI Buffalo) and WNY Women’s Foundation.

These confirmed nonprofit sponsorships are in addition to 2021 Blue Fund grants that will be awarded by Highmark Blue Cross Blue Shield in health-focused grants this June. The regional health plan will also invest in partnerships focused on racial and

health inequities in both Western New York and Northeastern New York.

“Our company has an 85-year history of investing in organizations that make our region a healthier, more vibrant place to live,” said Julie R. Snyder, vice president, community affairs for Highmark Blue Cross Blue Shield of Western New York. “Supporting community partners so that they can further their impact is part of who we are as a not-for-profit, community-based health plan. We will continue strategically investing in organizations and programs that enhance the health of our entire region.”

Highmark Blue Cross Blue Shield’s local investments support programs that aim to improve the overall health and well-being of the community, close gaps in health disparities, reduce the prevalence of specific disease states, promote health education and assist communities in recovering and rebuild-

Evergreen Health Debuts Cabenuva The first HIV drug of its kind, following FDA approval

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vergreen Health debuted cabenuva (cabotegravir and rilpivirine), an HIV-1 treatment regimen approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) in January and trialed by Evergreen’s own physician, Alyssa Shon.

Shon is also a physician in the division of infectious diseases in the department of medicine at the University at Buffalo Jacobs School of Medicine and Biomedical Sciences.

“We are excited to introduce a monthly injectable medication to treat HIV, the very first of its kind and a method for treatment that eliminates the need for patients to take daily pills, which has been the standard for HIV care for decades,” said Shon, who is a provider at Evergreen Health. “This is the first

complete regimen involving long-acting injectable medications and it revolutionizes the way we treat HIV.” Shon participated in three trials for cabenuva: the LATTE trial, to determine effectiveness of the oral dose of cabotegravir; the ATLAS trial, the main trial that led to FDA approval of Cabenuva; and the POLAR trial, a rollover trial for LATTE trial patients, who have already transitioned from the 28-day oral lead-in to bi-monthly injectable medication. The last two trials, ATLAS and POLAR, are currently underway at Evergreen and have been approved by the University at Buffalo Jacobs School of Medicine.

Cabenuva is currently approved as a complete regimen for adults living with the HIV-1 infection who

ing from the COVID-19 pandemic.

Over the last five years, the health plan contributed more than $20 million to more than 900 organizations across Western New York through Julie R. Snyder corporate partnerships and its Blue Fund.

Highmark Blue Cross Blue Shield of Western New York supports nonprofits in its main membership areas of Allegany, Cattaraugus, Chautauqua, Erie, Genesee, Niagara, Orleans and Wyoming counties. The nonprofit organizations that received community funding from Highmark Blue Cross Blue Shield during the first quarter, include: Alright-Knox Art Gallery Art Truck; Alzheimer’s Association; American Foundation for Suicide Prevention; American Lung Association; Boys & Girls Clubs of Buffalo; Buffalo Philharmonic Orchestra; Buffalo Olmsted Parks Conservancy (MLK, Jr. Park); Buffalo Prenatal-Perinatal Network; Buffalo Prep; Buffalo State College Foundation; Camp Good Days & Special Times; Cani-

sius High School; Central Amherst Little League; Classic Rink; Delaware Soccer Club; ECMC Foundation; Elmwood Village Farmer’s Market; FeedMore WNY; Friends for a Better Buffalo; Gardens Buffalo Niagara; Girls on the Run; Hamburg Natural Historical Society; Hertel North Park Little League, Imagine Hamburg: Village Community Market; John R. Oishei Children’s Hospital; Junior Achievement; Kaleida Health Foundation; Leadership Buffalo; Leukemia and Lymphoma Society; Lou Gehrig Youth Baseball & Softball; Medaille College; Mel Ott Little League; Mount St. Mary’s High School; Nardin Academy; North Tonawanda Babe Ruth Baseball; Orchard Park Little League; Police Athletic League of Buffalo; Sisters Hospital Foundation; St. Francis High School; Susan G. Komen Foundation; The Summit Center; Tonawanda American Little League; Town of Tonawanda Fitness Series; University at Buffalo: Mobile Market Summit; WBFO: Health Desk; WEDI Buffalo; and WNY Women’s Foundation.

Organizations interested in learning more about Highmark Blue Cross Blue Shield’s corporate giving should visit bcbswny.com/community. To apply for support visit www. bcbswny.com/communitysupport.

are virally suppressed (undetectable), to replace their current antiretroviral regimens. After taking an oral leadin for 28 days in the form of a pill, patients are able to forgo daily pills typically prescribed as part of HIV treatment, in favor of two long-acting intramuscular injections administered once each month.

According to 2019 data, it was estimated that there were 3,400 people living with HIV or AIDS within the eight counties of Western New York.

Of those individuals, 2,929 knew their diagnosis. Evergreen Health cares for 1,593 patients living with HIV or AIDS (as of 2020).

The goal of all HIV treatment is to bring patients to an undetectable viral load. This means there is very little HIV found in the body, which reduces the impact HIV has on your system and eliminates the possibility of transmitting the virus to others.

As a result of treatment, patients living with HIV/AIDS across New York state experienced a 69% viral suppression rate (2019). At Evergreen, there is a 89% viral suppression rate (2020), with 69% of patients undetectable. From the first data of diagnosis, 83% of linkage to HIV care

occurs within 30 days (2019). At Evergreen, 100% of linkage to HIV care occurs within 14 days or less (2020) – with 56% of patients linked the same day as diagnosis, also known as rapid treatment.

Cabenuva is an ideal treatment option for anyone experiencing pill fatigue, stigma of taking HIV medication, or those who are compliant with medical visits but non-adherent to taking medications after their appointments.

“I am proud that Dr. Shon, a member of the UB Division of Infectious Diseases, was an investigator in the LATTE, ATLAS, and POLAR trials. Clinical studies such as these enable physicians to provide ever-improving care for patients in Western New York,” said physician Thomas Russo, professor and chief of the division of infectious diseases in the department of medicine at the University at Buffalo Jacobs School of Medicine and Biomedical Sciences. “The availability of Cabenuva at Evergreen Health enables selected individuals to receive the most recent and a significant advance in HIV care.”

Don’t Miss The Next Issue of In Good Health.

WOMEN'S HEALTH SPECIAL Stories include discussion of weight loss, common diseases women need to watch for, and so much more!

To advertise in this special issue, please send an email to editor@bfohealth.com June 2021 •

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Our dedicated frontline heroes are here for you.

©2020 ECMC

Our ECMC family is incredibly grateful for the doctors, nurses, specialists, and staff who are working tirelessly to care for our community with undeterred dedication. Amid the challenges of the pandemic, you are fighting COVID-19 head-on. Even when we’re through this chapter, your courage and sacrifices will always inspire our community.

The difference between healthcare and true care ECMC.edu

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IN GOOD HEALTH – Buffalo & WNY’s Healthcare Newspaper • June 2021