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Visit us online at www.guidetogoodhealth.com FREEFALL 2012
SENIOR LIVINGGUIDE
See pages 38-49
D E P A R T M E N T S :ASK THE PHARMACIST 11
CHIROPRACTIC HEALTH 12CHILDREN’S HEALTH 30
ADDICTION 35LIVING WITH A DISABILITY 36
HOME CARE/HOSPICE 38INSURANCE: MEDICARE 44
SENIOR LIVING 46CAREGIVERS CORNER 48
SENIOR RESOURCES 49DIRECTORY 50
Health News You and Your Family Can Use
Medical Profile:Orthopedic & Sports Physical Therapy Associates
WOMEN’S HEALTH: Understanding Varicose Veins • Genetic Counseling • Breast Cancer pages 4-9
ORTHOPAEDICS: Ankle Replacements • Shoulder Surgery pages 13-16
DIABETES UPDATE: Are You At Risk for Diabetes? • Diabetes and Hearing Loss pages 18-22
MEDICAL PROFILES: Dr. Judith Balk • Dr. Blair A. Jobe • Dr. Jason A. Smith • Dr. Malay ShethCHILDREN'S HEALTH: Signs of Autism • Teenage Addiction • Help for Your Special Needs Child pages 30-34
SENIOR GUIDE: Is It Time for Hospice? • 5 Ways to Boost Your Brain • Support for Caregivers pages 38-49
Do You Need a Flu Shot?
St. Clair Hospital Opens OutpatientBreast Care Center
NovemberADA DiabetesExpo Preview
page 18
2 GUIDE TO GOOD HEALTH www.guidetogoodhealth.com Fall 2012
Washington100 Trich Drive, Ste. 2
Washington, PA 15301-5892Main Office: 724-225-8657
1-800-828-(CAST)2278
Waynesburg112 Walnut Ave., Ste. BWaynesburg, PA 15370
724-225-8657
CharleroiCharleroi Medical Plaza
1200 McKean Ave., Ste. 106Charleroi, PA 15022
724-225-8657
McMurray5000 Waterdam Plaza Drive, Ste. 240
McMurray, PA 15317724-941-0111
Bethel Park180 Fort Couch Road, Ste. 400
Pittsburgh, PA 15241724-225-8657
Physicians Nine experienced Doctors, each specialized in specifi c orthopaedic care & procedures.
Hospital Now providing care at the new Advanced Surgical Hospital located in Washington, PA.
Therapy Advanced therapists & equipment for precise treatment for all types of musculoskeletal ailments.
www.advancedorthopaedics.net
LOCAL NEWS
In 2002, a community-basedfacility to treat heart diseasebecame a reality with the open-
ing of The Heart Institute atJefferson Regional Medical Centerin Jefferson Hills. Ten years later,The Heart Institute is an award-winning center with a reputationfor outstanding patient care,advanced technology and highly-skilled cardiologists and cardiotho-racic surgeons who treat the mostcomplex cardiac cases.
The Heart Institute offers full-ser-vice diagnostic and interventionalprocedures for the treatment of car-diac, thoracic and vascular diseases.A team of more than 20 board-cer-tified cardiologists, four board-cer-tified cardiothoracic and vascularsurgeons and a highly trained staffprovides the highest level of com-prehensive, quality cardiac care.
The cardiac team at The HeartInstitute at Jefferson Regional, ledby Sang Park, MD, medical directorand a well-respected leader in car-diothoracic surgery, has improvedthe quality of life for thousands ofpatients, in just 10 years.
Dr. Park’s sons, Chong Park,M.D., and Kyung Park, M.D., – alsorespected cardiothoracic surgeons –along with highly trained and expe-rienced cardiologists, clinical car-diac electrophysiologists and sup-port staff, are forging a new futurefor current and future heart patients
and their families – families whoseloved ones will live to see theirgreat-grandchildren, will live life tothe fullest, will benefit from theexperience and dedication of med-ical professionals at The HeartInstitute.
In a heart program built from tra-ditional surgeries, new minimallyinvasive procedures are bringinghope to patients by surgeons likeDr. Kyung Park. Through video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery, lungcancer can be diagnosed and treat-ed, and patients can experience lesspain, less trauma and quickerrecovery time.
From cardiac, thoracic and vas-cular surgery and cardiac catheteri-zation to diagnostic testing, electro-physiology services and rehab ser-vices, The Heart Institute is poisedfor a second decade of service to thecommunities it serves.
Dr. Chong Park said it’s easy tounderstand why the heart programhas done so well and how it willcontinue to advance the level of car-diac care into the next decade. “AtJefferson Regional, our main focusis our patients,” he said. "If we con-tinue to focus on our patients, theycan be assured of excellent cardiaccare now and in the future.”
For more information, call(412) 469-5000 or visitwww.jeffersonregional.com.
Jefferson Regional Celebrates 10 Years of Excellence in Cardiac Care
Jefferson Regional Medical Center welcomed its newest cardiothoracic sur-geon, Mitsuko Takahashi, DO, MPH, who joined the medical team of ParkCardiothoracic and Vascular Institute at Jefferson Regional on Aug. 1, 2012. Dr.Takahashi has advanced training and experience in cardiac, thoracic and vas-cular procedures. She comes to Jefferson Regional from Mount Sinai MedicalCenter in New York.
>Fall 2012 www.guidetogoodhealth.com GUIDE TO GOOD HEALTH 3
As part of a system-wide, concentrated effort to recruit and provideveterans with employment opportunities, UPMC has partneredwith a number of military friendly organizations to bridge the gap
between employees and candidates, educate staff about veterans’ uniqueskills and provide meaningful employment opportunities.
UPMC is working with 100,000 Jobs Mission, a coalition of 54employers across the country that have set out to hire 100,000 veteransby 2020. UPMC also has developed resources to assist veterans in iden-tifying relevant career opportunities at UPMC and to help recruiters bestmeet the unique needs and concerns of veterans.
A veteran-specific portal – which can be found at the websiteupmc.avature.net/military – provides direct access to job-transitioncoaching, and special training has been provided to recruiters to helpevaluate the unique skill sets possessed by members of the military.POWRR for Veterans, a UPMC workforce readiness program, offersworkplace preparedness courses for veterans focused on how to be suc-cessful at UPMC, how to make successful transition to civilian employ-ment, and the program guarantees that attendees will be reviewed in therecruitment process. In November, UPMC will host a citywide veteranhiring event to further encourage employment of veterans.
UPMC Recruits Military Vets
New, state-of-the-art mobile MRI technology that improves patientcomfort and accessibility is available at Heritage Valley HealthSystem diagnostic center locations, beginning with Heritage
Valley Chippewa. The mobile Espree Open Bore MRI is operating atHeritage Valley Chippewa and will begin traveling to other HeritageValley diagnostic centers in Moon and Center Townships later this sum-mer. The new mobile MRI unit provides high power to achieve qualityimages and an extra-large opening to accommodate and give patientsmore space during testing. The larger opening gives the patient one (1)foot of additional headroom and the MRI’s shorter design enables manyexams to be done with the patient’s head outside of the unit. The MRI’sdesign helps to alleviate anxiety and fear of tight spaces among patientsundergoing testing. The Espree Open Bore MRI will also be available atHeritage Valley Moon Township and at the Heritage Valley Women’sHealth Center.
For more information or to schedule an appointment, contactHeritage Valley Radiology at (866) 901-4624.
Why enroll in the WROCathletic programs andnot a health club?
Because we offer more than pro-grams! The WROC is part of some-thing bigger. It is part of a family –first the church family and then ourextended community. The WROCinstructors care for the whole per-son through prayer, encourage-ment, and knowledge of health andfitness.
Join us in our large, air condi-tioned gym, with certified instruc-tors, reasonable prices, and childcare for select classes. We have pro-grams for a range of fitness levelsfrom low impact to high intensity.Try us the first time for free – you’llfeel the difference!
• Adult Open Basketball andVolleyball
• Anti-Aging Total Body Workout
• Arthritis Foundation Exercise Program
• Cardio Sculpt• Energy Boost Cardio/
Strength Workout• Essential CORE and Strength • Kickboxing• M-W-F Aerobics• Personal Training• Strength-Sculpt-Stretch• Tai Chi for Health • Yoga• Zumba• Zumba Sentao
For dates and times for classes, call WROC director Kathy Long at (412) 835-6630 ext. 200 or
visit wroc.westminster-church.org.
Westminster Recreation and Outreach Center(WROC) Offers Fall Athletic Programs
Heritage Valley Chippewa Adds State-of-the-art MRI Services
>
>
4 GUIDE TO GOOD HEALTH www.guidetogoodhealth.com Fall 2012
By Dr. Maxim Bocharov
There are three main cate-gories of veins in your legs.Deep veins, found at the
bone and muscle level, carry mostof the blood back to the heart.Superficial veins, closer to the skinsurface, carry the blood to the deepveins. Perforator veins join thedeep and superficial systems. Alongthe blood’s pathway are many one-way, cup-like valves that open asblood travels upward, then snapping shut to keep the blood from flowingbackward. When the valves do not close properly, blood escapes and col-lects in the vein. The excess blood weakens the vein walls and causes thevein to bulge and twist, often seen through the skin’s surface. This condi-tion, known as venous insufficiency, can lead to complications such as vari-cose veins.
Common causes of varicose veins include genetics, aging, pregnancy,standing or sitting for long periods, obesity, chronic constipation and asedentary lifestyle. Legs that swell, throb, burn, cramp, itch, feel tired orheavy can also be warning signs of varicose veins. Left untreated, they canprogress to more severe complications such as phlebitis (inflammation ofthe veins), skin ulcers, and blood clots.
A qualified physician can accurately diagnose venous insufficiency byutilizing an ultrasound exam that charts the blood flow in the veins, andrules out other leg disorders. Endovenous Laser Treatment (EVLT) orRadiofrequency Ablation (RFA), nonsurgical treatments for varicose veins,are extremely successful, in-office, minimally invasive procedures that arecompleted in less than an hour and are covered by most insurance carriers.Following an EVLT or RFA procedure, most patients walk out of the officeand return to their daily routines. Options, such as ambulatory phlebecto-my and/or ultrasound-guided sclerotherapy, are available to patients withresidual varicose veins from a prior procedure. There are treatments forunsightly spider veins as well.
Focus on the warning signs (i.e.: legs that swell, throb, burn, cramp, itch,feel tired or heavy). The lack of visual symptoms may not be indicative ofwhat is happening beneath the surface. Varicoseveins are a burden on your circulatory system. Theyare not just a cosmetic problem.
>
Understanding Varicose Veins
Call today to schedule an evaluation. Healthy,beautiful legs can be yours! Dr. MaximBocharov and Dr. Gennady Geskin, GreaterPittsburgh Vascular Associates (A Division ofJefferson Cardiology Association), can bereached at (412) 469-1500 or visit www.jeffersoncardiology.com.
Legs that swell, throb, burn,
cramp, itch, feel tired or heavy
can also be warning signs of
varicose veins. Left untreated,
they can progress to more severe
complications such as phlebitis
(inflammation of the veins), skin
ulcers, and blood clots.
WOMEN’S HEALTH
Dr. Maxim Bocharov
Fall 2012 www.guidetogoodhealth.com GUIDE TO GOOD HEALTH 5
By Nancy Kennedy
For some women,having a mammo-gram is an ordeal;
for others, it’s viewed as anecessity, but also as anuisance. Few womenlook forward to the expe-rience: the drive to thehospital, the search for aparking space, the trekthrough the garage andthen long hospital corri-dors, the wait for elevatorsand the time spent in acrowded waiting room with a blar-ing TV. Then there’s the actualmammogram: changing into a gownin a community dressing room,walking the halls in that gown, hav-ing the mammogram and thenreversing the whole process. Add toall this, of course, the anxiety overthe results of the mammogram. Itcan take a lot of time and energy.Even though they recognize itsimportance, many women put offhaving mammograms, citing thisinconvenience and stress, and someavoid having mammograms at all.
Imagine having a very differentmammogram experience, in a beau-tiful, calm, private setting dedicatedentirely to this service. Imagine theconvenience of valet parking andthe reassurance of private rooms.Picture yourself waiting in a sereneand elegantly decorated room, sit-ting beside a quietly babbling water-fall. Consider the peace of mind ofknowing that, right there, some ofthe region’s foremost breast carespecialists are prepared to offer youthe most advanced diagnostics andcare, with compassion and exper-tise.
All this is available to women ofthe Pittsburgh region, now that St.Clair Hospital has opened a brandnew, state-of-the-art outpatientBreast Care Center. Located on theThird Floor of the St. Clair HospitalOutpatient Center – Village Square,2000 Oxford Drive, Bethel Park,near South Hills Village, the centerblends spa-like ambience with themost advanced diagnostic imagingtechnology. Specialists in radiologyand breast surgery provide compre-hensive, expert breast care servicesin a warm and caring environmentwhere comfort and convenience arepriorities. "We have opened theBreast Care Center in order to bringthe best technologies to St. ClairHospital, with the goal of offeringwomen the highest quality breastcare services in a way that is effi-cient and comfortable for them,"says Sherri Chafin, MD, a diagnosticradiologist at St. Clair who special-izes in breast imaging. “We have an
excellent breast careprogram at St. Clairand this center willenhance the qualityof our care. The newcenter was designedto make it as easy aspossible for womento have their mam-mograms.”
Everything aboutSt. Clair Hospital’sBreast Care Center,which opened inOctober, is designedto make the experi-
ence of having a mammogram pos-itive and pleasant. That begins inthe parking lot, where parking isfree and plentiful. Valet parking isan option, and for center patients,there is no fee for this service. Thebuilding is easily accessible anddoes not require walking long dis-tances, which can be a challengefor older adults or those with dis-abilities. The center is a 6,000square foot suite, just steps fromthe elevator.
The space was designed by archi-tectural firm IKM of Pittsburgh topromote relaxation and ease anxietywhile assuring the most efficient useof a patient’s time. The aesthetics areelegant and feminine, with soft col-ors in light blue and silver and atouch of sparkle. There is even awaterfall in the waiting area. “Thesight and sound of flowing waterhas a soothing, therapeutic effect,”explains Dr. Chafin. “It reducesstress and helps patients relax.”There is soundproofing in some ofthe center’s doors, adding anotherlayer of privacy.
The all-digital center has the mostadvanced imaging equipment,including breast 3-D tomosynthesis,which works like a CT scan, takingimages of the breast in slices. Thisreduces overlapping breast tissueshadows, which helps radiologistsinterpret the mammogram accurate-ly. “We offer two types of screeningmammograms,” Dr. Chafinexplains. “Some women want to getin and out as quickly as possibleand we offer mammograms to becompleted in just 30 minutes. Butfor those who prefer to wait forresults, we have scheduled appoint-ments for same-day results. If amore extensive work-up is neces-sary, we can offer that right away."
The screening mammogram isthe most important tool for earlydetection of breast cancer. Earlierthis year, the U.S. PreventiveServices Task Force published a rec-ommendation that mammographyfor breast cancer was unnecessaryfor women under 50. But Dr. Chafinexplains that both the American
Cancer Society and AmericanCollege of Radiology still recom-mend that annual screening mam-mograms begin at age 40. If there isa family history of breast cancer,then screening should begin 10years before the age of diagnosis inthe family member, but not beforeage 25.
St. Clair Hospital breast surgeonRaye J. Budway, MD, director of theSt. Clair Hospital Breast CareCenter, shares Dr. Chafin’s enthusi-asm about the new center and will
relocate her offices there from theSt. Clair Hospital ProfessionalOffice Building in Mt. Lebanon.“Women need to know that breastcancer is treatable and survivable,”she says. “Early detection, primarilythrough screening mammograms, isthe key. It increases your odds ofsurviving.”
To schedule an appointmentfor a mammogram at the St. Clair Hospital BreastCare Center, call (412) 942-3177.
>
St. Clair Hospital Opens Spa-like Breast Care Center in Bethel Park
Dr. Sherri Chafin, a diagnostic
radiologist at St. Clair who specializes in
breast imaging.
The Breast Care Center is located on the Third Floor of the St. Clair HospitalOutpatient Center, Village Square, on 2000 Oxford Drive
in Bethel Park, near South Hills Village.
6 GUIDE TO GOOD HEALTH www.guidetogoodhealth.com Fall 2012
By Nancy Kennedy
The women of the Pittsburgh region who have been fortunate enoughto experience the exquisite care of Magee-Womens Hospital obstetri-cian-gynecologist Judith Balk, MD, will most likely name her expert
clinical skills, her personal interest in her patients, her easy approachabilityand her openness to blending conventional medicine with complementarycare as some of the traits they value in her. Balk is an exceptional physician:an OB-GYN who specializes in women’s health at midlife, a critical time ina woman’s life when she makes the transition from the childbearing years tothe wisdom years. In her busy practice at Magee, Balk not only helps herpatients with the physical challenges of peri-menopause and menopause,but also facilitates their journey to successful aging. As a clinician, she deliv-ers excellence and expertise, but it is her self-chosen role as advocate forwomen, and her passion for women’s health, that truly sets her apart. Whenit comes to caring for and about women, Balk is a powerhouse of energy,empathy and empowerment.
At Magee, Balk is a staff physician with the Midlife Health Center, an asso-ciate professor in the Department of Obstetrics, Gynecology andReproductive Science, and assistant professor, Clinical and TranslationalScience. “I provide gynecology care with a focus on menopause,” sheexplains. “Today, menopause is viewed differently than in the past, and weare learning more about it all the time. We used to think it was all hot flash-es and mood swings. Now we have better knowledge of how hormonalchanges affect the body and the brain as well. Many women simply don’t feel
like themselves; they’re tired and anx-ious. Some of these changes are hor-monal but some probably are not.Menopause gets blamed for a lot ofthings that are more likely lifestyleissues. By the time they are 50, womenneed to be taking better care of them-selves.”
Good self care means living a healthylifestyle, primarily, plus seeing a doctorfor regular check-ups and gettingappropriate screenings, such as mam-mograms. But to Balk, it’s much morethan that. “Health and successful agingare not achieved through medicationand doctors. As I see it, health is com-posed of four essential factors: effectivecoping skills; social support; a healthydiet, and exercise. It’s never too late tostart creating these in your life.”
In the not-so-distant past,menopause was referred to as “thechange” – an obscure euphemism thatsuggested that there was somethingshameful about this perfectly normal
physiologic transition. Today the word “change” is still associated withmenopause, but in a far more positive way: change as transformation, to ahealthier and more authentic self. Balk reminds women that the years fol-lowing menopause represent one-third of a woman’s life. “Life is hardly overwhen you stop ovulating. Midlife is a time of transformation and that canbe entirely positive. We know that women don’t need estrogen to be femaleor healthy; we can become calm, grounded, wise women without takingestrogen. I believe that there’s a better way to approach it.”
For Balk, that approach is multifaceted. “When I see women withmenopausal symptoms, who are suffering, I have options for them: phar-maceuticals, including hormone therapy, anti-depressants and gabapentinfor hot flashes and sleep; in addition I have non-medical therapies, such asnutritional supplements, yoga and acupuncture. There is decent evidencethat these things can be effective.”
Not everyone is a candidate for hormone therapy, including women withknown heart disease, high risk for cancer and certain metabolic diseases.
Balk, who also practices acupuncture, strongly believes that change ispossible. “It’s never too late to feel better and improve one’s quality of life. Iknow that people can change; I also know that it can be very hard. I seemany women who are quite distressed, living in crisis, for many reasons: ill-ness, addiction, weight, family, emotional problems. The most distressed arethose who are alone – they’re angry, disappointed and they feel isolated.This is not a medical issue, but it affects their health; loneliness is a factorin illness. I try to help them find ways to cope.
“I love my job, in part because I get to see women make it through crisis,change their behavior, and come back looking and feeling better.
“My message to women is that health is how you live your life. It’s not themedications you take, or what doctors you see, or even how you look. Thequality of your life depends on a healthy lifestyle, not on health care.”
Now, Dr. Balk’s special brand of midlife care is available to women acrossa much broader geographic region, with the opening of her office at MageeSpecialty Services in the South Hills. “We have all the specialty serviceshere, making it more convenient for women to access the care they need,closer to home, without having to go into Oakland,” she says. “Our locationon Bower Hill Road is close to Interstate 79, so that women from not onlythe South Hills but even the North Hills can get here easily.”
To make an appointment with Dr. Judith Balk, call (412) 641-1441.
Dr. Judith Balk Brings Expert Careto Midlife Women at New Magee
Specialty Services in Mt. Lebanon
“Health and successful
aging are not achieved
through medication and
doctors. As I see it, health
is composed of four
essential factors: effective
coping skills; social support;
a healthy diet, and exercise.
It’s never too late to start
creating these in your life.”
-Judith Balk, M.D.
>
WOMEN’S HEALTH
Nutrients for Your 40+ SkinBy Paula Martinac, M.S.
When we reach middle age, we allstart to notice changes in ourbodies, including in the skin,
which is our largest organ. During the nat-ural aging process, collagen, a protein thatgives your skin its strength and firmness,begins to break down, as does elastin,which keeps your skin supple. You start tosee little lines in your face and neck thatweren’t there five or 10 years earlier.
Although you can’t turn back the clock,you have options other than cosmeticsurgery. A healthy diet full of a wide rangeof colorful fruits and vegetables can helpkeep your skin looking young and even giveyou a radiant natural glow.
Here are a few key nutrients tohelp fight off the effects of the
natural aging process.
1. Vitamin C doesn’t just help you min-imize colds; it also supports healthy skin.This powerful antioxidant does battle withthe free radicals that cause oxidative dam-age to your skin and other tissues. Some ofthe best food sources are broccoli, kiwi, cit-rus fruits, bell peppers, papaya, parsley andstrawberries. Women in middle age shouldget about 75 milligrams daily; a cup ofsliced strawberries provides you with 98mg.
2. The mineral copper helps your body metabolize vitamin C. It’s widelyavailable in foods, especially shellfish, nuts, legumes, dried fruit and wholegrains. At 40, women need about 900 micrograms a day; just a half-cup ofraisins supplies a whopping 263 mcg.
3. Carotenoids belong to a family of plant compounds that help maintainhealthy tissues, including skin. Beta-carotene, in particular, can diminish thedamage done to the skin by ultraviolet light and the breakdown of collagencaused by aging. Eat plenty of orange and yellow produce, such as carrots,cantaloupe, yellow peppers and sweet potatoes, to benefit from this nutrientand give your skin a natural glow. Green veggies such asparsley, kale, spinach, collards and other greens alsosupply beta-carotene.
Fall 2012 www.guidetogoodhealth.com GUIDE TO GOOD HEALTH 7
Magee-Womens Hospital of UPMC has a wide range ofspecialty services and world-class physicians to helpwomen with a variety of conditions.
Gynecologic OncologyState-of-the-art,compassionate, comprehensivecare for women withgynecologic malignancies.John Comerci, MD
Gynecologic SpecialtiesEvaluation and treatmentof women with complexgynecologic needs relatingto: minimally invasivegynecologic surgery (MIS).Nicole Donnellan, MD
Maternal Fetal MedicinePhysician, nurse and obstetricteam specializing in high-riskpregnancies, and medicalconditions that affect pregnancy.Katherine Himes, MD
Midlife Health CenterImproves health of women inmidlife through eitherco-management of care with aPCP or primary gynecologist, orby providing full-scope women’shealth care, including primarycare services.Judy Balk, MD
Reproductive Endocrinologyand InfertilityInfertility services for males andfemales, including advancedreproductive technologies.
Serena Dovey, MDJoseph Sanfilippo, MDAnthony Wakim, MD
UrogynecologyThe Women’s Center for Bladderand Pelvic Health treats womenwith disorders of the pelvicfloor, including urinary and fecalincontinence and pelvic organprolapse.
Michael Bonidie, MDJonathan Shepherd, MD
Magee-WomensSpecialty Services1082 Bower Hill Road, Suite 125Pittsburgh, PA 15243.
412-429-3900
WELCOMING NEW PATIENTSMAGEE-WOMENS SPECIALTY SERVICES
Affiliated with the University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine,UPMC is ranked among the nation’s best hospitals by U.S. News & World Report.
> Paula Martinac, M.A., M.S., is a nutrition educator and holistic health coach in private practice at the Nuin Center in Highland Park. She can be reached at (412) 760-6809 [email protected]. Visit her website at www.nutritionu.net.
8 GUIDE TO GOOD HEALTH www.guidetogoodhealth.com Fall 2012
WOMEN’S HEALTH
By Margie Webb, RN, NCTMB, LMT
In 2011, the politicians said to women that their firstmammogram should be at age forty. General Millshad on the back of their cereal box, five beautiful
women sharing the topic, “we are all in this together –share Hope at PinkTogether.com.
All the women are breast cancer survivors. All foundBreast Cancer before the age of forty.
Crystal, 31 6 year survivor age 25Jackie, 47 2 time survivor 7 years age 40Molly, 45 2 time survivor 12 years age 33Irene, 37 2 year survivor age 35Linsey, 26 3 year survivor age 23 Why do women have to fight for early detection?
Regardless of age, decisions should remain in the handsof women and their doctors. Breast cancer strikes youngwomen as well as those beyond the age of forty.
In 1968 at age 19, I had my first mammogram. Why?My female doctor said, "I don’t know what I’m feeling .It’s like buck shot.” Just what a teenager wants to hear!I thought having a lumpy breast was abnormal. I wastold to perform monthly self breast exams, MSBE, tolook for a lump. After several visits to the doctor forfalse alarms, not knowing what I was feeling, I becamediscouraged and gave up the monthly exams.
Fast forward to 2001, I learn that Breast Massage waspart of a program at a massage school in Toronto. As I
read the text book through the eyes of a registerednurse, I was alarmed that I had been misled about many“so called” facts. First we are not told that breasts arelumpy.
Second, we’re not told that the breast tissue changesthroughout a women’s life from teens to senior. Whatevolved was a breast health program that I developed soI can share this information with women: a programwith hard facts and humor which includes informationon the female anatomy, how to empower yourself andknow your lumps, review of new guidelines for selfbreast exams, and how to boost your immune system. Ihave dedicated my massage practice to women’s healthand wellness. Call or email for a program near you.
For more informationcontact, Margie Webb at Ahhh a Massage at(412) 877-8569 or
[email protected] visit the website atwww.ahhhamassage.com. Call or email for more informa-tion about the Breast HealthProgram, “ Not The Same OldStuff” for dates and times or tobook the program for youragency, club or church.
Not The Same Old Stuff - Women’s Breast Cancer
>
Next issue: Male Breast Cancer
PUBLISHER
Nancy Lammie
EDITORIAL MANAGER
Judy Gramm
ACCOUNT EXECUTIVE
Margie Wilson
DESIGN & LAYOUT
(412) 835-5796
CONTRIBUTING WRITERS
Laurie Bailey, Lisa Bianco, Vanessa Orr, Nancy Kennedy,
Lois Thomson
WEB SITE DESIGNER
Keith Trageserwww.keithtrag.com
WINTER ISSUE DEADLINES:EDITORIAL: NOVEMBER 23
AD MATERIAL: DECEMBER 3
HOW TO REACH US:ADVERTISE / SUBSCRIBE
2574 Oldfield Ave, Pittsburgh, PA 15102
The Guide To Good Health is published quarterly(4 issues per year) by JMC Publications. The contentsof this publication may not be reproduced in whole orin part. All rights reserved.
Early Detection Saves LivesBy Bethany Narey, CCT
When it comes to your health there shouldn’t be any surprises, andespecially not the kind that can be avoided. A brand new state ofthe art technology called thermography now allows women to
detect cancer far earlier than traditional testing. Breast thermography, alsoknown as infrared imaging of the breast, is a pictorial representation of theinfrared emissions of the breasts. A heat- sensing imaging device is used todetect subtle cell changes up to 10 years before other diagnostic tools.Thermography is also non-invasive, painless, and has NO radiation.
Today 1 in 8 women are diagnosed with breast disease however tradition-al practice is for a woman to have her first mammogram between the agesof 40-50. This leaves a dangerous void for young women.
Until now there have been no options available for women too young toreceive a mammogram or those who find them uncomfortable or do not careto expose themselves to radiation. Thermography provides a safe alternativeand earlier detection for ALL women.
Breast thermography scans are able to detect the very first signs that can-cer may be forming ... up to 10 years before other traditional procedures andlong before a tumor is dense enough to be seen with mammography. Earlydetection can lead to earlier diagnosis and better treatment options. Annualthermograms are just like going to your primary care doctor or your OBGYNyearly, your annual thermograms allow you to monitor your breast healthand changes that occur year by year.
Women today are more health conscious than ever.We know the benefits of detecting disease at an earlystage. Thermography is one the latest tools available toenhance the well being of women in our community.
We invite you to visit Health EnhancingThermography at our brand new location at110 Fort Couch Road in Bethel Park. Call Health Enhancing Thermography (855)
254-HEAT or visit us online at www.heat-images.com.
>
Genetic Counseling Can HelpDetermine if Cancer Risk is Greater for Certain Patients
By Vanessa Orr
There are many risk factors thatdetermine whether or not aperson gets cancer—every-
thing from environmental issues tolifestyle choices to genetics. Andwith one in three individuals beingdiagnosed with cancer at some pointin their lifetimes, it’s important tolearn who is most at risk, especiallyif early diagnosis and treatment canprevent the disease from occurring.
According to West PennAllegheny Health System CertifiedGenetic Counselor Megan Marshall,MS, CGC, seven to 10 percent ofcancers are inherited and can betraced to a single genetic factor.“There are a number of different fac-tors that can indicate a hereditarypredisposition to cancer,” sheexplained. “These include the factthat multiple generations of a familyhave the same or a related type ofcancer, such as a mother, daughterand grandmother all having breastcancer.”
Because cancer is a disease ofaging, someone who gets cancer at ayounger age—such as breast, ovari-an or colon cancer before the age of50—can also signal an inherited pre-disposition. A patient or patient’s rel-ative who has more than one prima-ry cancer, such as breast and ovariancancers, or has a primary cancer inbilateral organs (breast, ovaries, kid-neys or adrenal glands), may alsoraise a red flag, as can being a mem-ber of a family that has a rare cancertype, such as male breastcancer. Certain ethnici-ties, such as theAshkenazi Jewish, mayalso carry an inheritedpredisposition to the dis-ease.
“While a person whohas some or all of thesefactors may be more atrisk to get the disease,there is not a 100 percentchance that it will hap-pen,” explained Marshall.“Some people have‘reduced penetrance,’which means that thoughthey carry the gene muta-tion, they do not developthe disease.”
While many patientsare referred to a geneticcounselor by their doc-tors, other individualsmay self-refer if they have
questions or concerns about theirfamily histories. In an informalmeeting, a genetic counselor will goover a patient’s medical and familyhistory to determine if he or she mayhave a hereditary link to the disease.“In addition to talking about risks,we also provide medical manage-ment options and talk about psy-chosocial issues which can impactboth the patient and his or her fami-ly members when they learn thatthey have a hereditary predispositionto the disease,” said Marshall.Working with surgeons, medicaloncologists, nurse navigators andthe patient, genetic counselors maysuggest earlier or further screeningand medical management based onpublished guidelines.
Those who may have a hereditarycancer risk are often screened at ear-
lier ages than typicalpatients, and may under-go different screeningtechniques, such as abreast MRI to look forbreast cancer. Whileinsurance covers genetictesting on a case-by-casebasis, Marshall says thatin her experience, 90percent of patients arecovered at 90 percent orbetter.
“What’s important toremember is that genet-ics do not predeterminesurvival,” she added.“That can depend onmany things, includingthe condition of thepatient, aggressiveness ofthe cancer and the biolo-gy of the individual can-cer diagnosis.”
Girls’ Night OutOctober 11, Canonsburg
General Hospital, Center for Women’sHealth, 6-10 p.m.
Bring your daughters, momand girlfriends and treat yourselfto everything from mini-mani-cures to chair massages whilelearning more about mammo-grams, genetic counseling, heartdisease and more. Space is limit-ed, so register early by callingPhysician Access at (412) 330-4469.
For more information about genetic testing, call (412) 359-8064 or visitwww.wpahs.org/specialties/cancer-institute/cancer-genetics.
“Some people have
‘reduced penetrance,’
which means that
though they carry the
gene mutation, they
do not develop
the disease.”-West Penn AlleghenyHealth System Genetic
Counselor MeganMarshall, MS, CGC
Fall 2012 www.guidetogoodhealth.com GUIDE TO GOOD HEALTH 9
10 GUIDE TO GOOD HEALTH www.guidetogoodhealth.com Fall 2012
By Marcia Hale
IF YOU HAVE THEM OR KNOW SOMEONE WHO DOES, THE WORDS ‘SORE,’ ‘PAINFUL’ AND ‘UGLY’ SOUNDVERY FAMILIAR. PHRASES LIKE, “I CAN’T FIND ANY COMFORTABLE SHOES,” OR “I CAN NO LONGER WEARATTRACTIVE SHOES,” OR EVEN, “ALL OF MY SHOES HAVE AN UGLY, WORN- OUT BUMP” DESCRIBE YOURFOOT FASHION.
If you’re rubbing your foot aswe speak, you’ve probably con-sidered doing something about
it, but for some reason have not. Ican assure you, now is the time todo something!
I was a former bunion procrasti-nator and can promise that theissue doesn’t just go away. Instead,it gets worse. I used every excusein the book including, “I can’t taketime off work,” and “I have kids torun around after,” and “I’m afraidof surgery,” and “My bunionsdon’t look that bad.” Even “Theydon’t hurt that much!” If I’d comein sooner, there would have been alot of other options available totreat the issue before it progressedto the point of needing surgery.
Finally, I agreed to have surgery.“Wow!
What a relief!” It looks fantas-tic. Now, my new shoes won’tneed to be two sizes too big to becomfortable because of the uglybump. When I reach down to rubmy foot, I’m not saying “Ouch!” tomyself. I have to look twicebecause the area is smooth andpain- free! Then I look at my otherfoot and say … “You’re next!”
If you have any questionsabout bunions, as well asvarious other lumps andbumps and cysts and
tumors, call Beaver Valley FootClinic at (724) 375-1577. They arelocated in the CranMar Plaza onRt.19 in Cranberry Township andhave four other locations in Beaver,Butler and Allegheny Counties. For more information, visitwww.BVFootClinic.com.
>
Remember the
Guide To Good
Health In Your
2013 Marketing
Plans
Call for a media kit412-835-5796
Fall 2012 www.guidetogoodhealth.com GUIDE TO GOOD HEALTH 11
Q. Do I really need aflu shot every year?
A. Influenza is a contagious respiratoryillness caused by viruses that infect the nose,throat and lungs. The illness can be mild tosevere and in some cases lead to death. Thebest way to prevent the flu is by getting a fluvaccine each and every year. The CDC recom-mends that everyone 6 months and oldershould get a flu vaccine especially if you are athigh risk of having serious flu related compli-cations or if you live with or care for people at high risk for developing com-plications. So who are those high risk people? They include adults 65 yearsof age and older, children younger than 5, pregnant women and individualswith certain medical conditions such as asthma or chronic lung disease,heart disease, diabetes, a weakened immune system and others. Be sure tocheck with your doctor to see if you fall into this high risk category. Yearlyflu vaccination should being in September and continue throughout the fluseason. Flu season can begin early as October however most of the time sea-son flu activity peaks in January or February.
Vaccination is just one way to protect you from the flu. Good hand wash-ing and hygiene is also very important. The flu viruses spread mainly bydroplets made when people with flu cough, sneeze or talk. These dropletscan land in the mouths or noses of people who are up to about 6 feet way.To avoid this, people should wash their hands often with soap and water oruse an alcohol based hand rub. Most health adults may be able to infect oth-ers beginning one day before symptoms develop and up to a week afterbecoming sick. That means that you may be able to pass on the flu to some-one before you know you are sick.
Some people should not be vaccinated without first consulting their doc-tor. These include people who have an allergy to eggs, people who havedeveloped Guillian Barre syndrome and children under 6 months of age.Also, if you are ill with a fever you should wait until your symptoms lessenbefore getting vaccinated.
Flu can be unpredictable and its severity can vary from one season to thenext and one factor that we can control is how many people get vaccinated.No time to be sick? Make time to stay well. Finding a flu shot clinic is eas-ier than ever. Be sure to talk to your doctor or pharmacist about a flu shotthis season.
Beth Biedrzycki, Clinical Director, Hometown Pharmacy/RxMap,can be reached at (412) 921-7731 or visit www.myrxmap.com.See our ad on page 49 to learn more about RxMap, a medication compliance packaging system.
By Beth Biedrzycki,PharmD
ASK THE PHARMACISTHOMETOWN PHARMACY
FLU SHOTS
>
SOUTH HILLS ORTHOPAEDIC SURGERY ASSOCIATES
Eric D. Nabors, M.D. I Derrick J. Fluhme, M.D.
Christopher M. Manning, M.D. I Brett Perricelli, M.D.
Damon Combs, DPM I David K. Mayer, CRNP
Kristina L. Ferenac, PAC I Nicole Kovach, PAC
2000 Oxford Drive, Suite 211
Bethel Park, PA 15102
For appointments, please call
412-283-0260 or 888-817-2019Visit our website at:
www.southhillsortho.com
South Hills Orthopaedic Surgery Associates’ team of
highly trained medical professionals provides a wide
variety of orthopaedic care to patients of all ages.
Common procedures and treatment performed by our
orthopaedic physicians include:
• Arthroscopic Surgery
• ACL and Rotator Cuff Repair
• Treatment of Sports Injuries
• Surgery of the Hand and Wrist
• Carpal Tunnel Release
• Back and Neck Surgery
• Herniated Discs
• Epidural Steroid Injections
• Surgery of the Foot and Ankle
• Total Joint Replacement
• Fracture Care
Our eye physicians & surgeons are professionallytrained in the diagnosis and treatment of:
CATARACTS & IMPLANTS(PREMIUM MULTIFOCAL, TORIC & MONOFOCAL CATARACT
IMPLANTS & SURGICAL ASTIGMATISM CORRECTION)GLAUCOMA - MACULAR DEGENERATION
DIABETIC EYE DISEASE - LASER SURGERYROUTINE AND COMPREHENSIVE EYE EXAMS
DRY EYES Dr. Benjamin Chun, M.D.Medical Director
MD - Brown-DartmouthOphthalmology Residency -
Madigan Army Medical Center
Dr. Eugene Ooi, M.D.Eye Physician & Surgeon
MD - Medical College of GeorgiaOphthalmology Residency -
University of Pittsburgh (UPMC)
Six Locations close to homeWhite Oak - Irwin - Oakland - North side - Southside - Robinson
Call today for an Appointment
412-681-8505
www.cliofpa.com
The
Cataract & LaserInstitute of Pennsylvania
By Dr. Amy Jennings
Do you feel pain on the bottom of one or both of your feet when youstep out of bed in the morning? Or when you have been on your feetall day? You may be dealing with a painful inflammatory condition
known as plantar fasciitis. Plantar fasciitis is caused by excessive wear andtear to the fascia of the foot.
This can occur for several different reasons:1.You have either high arches or flat feet.2.You have abnormal pronation of the feet, meaning they roll inward
when you walk.3.You are carrying around extra weight.4.You walk or stand for long periods of time on hard surfaces.5.The shoes you wear either don’t fit well or they are worn out.6.Your Achilles tendons or calf muscles are too tight.
Most people with plantar fasciitis have pain when they take their firststeps out of bed in the morning or after they have been sitting for long peri-ods of time. This is primarily because the fascia has tightened up (contract-ed) during those periods of rest. Many of the symptoms lessen as they movearound and loosen the fascia.
Diagnosing plantar fasciitis is relatively simple with a past history of ill-ness or injury, when and where the symptoms occur, and what types ofphysical activity are performed on a daily basis. Your doctor should check
your gait and the position of yourarches while you are standing.Several different treatments havebeen effective, even though it typi-cally takes at least six months toresolve all of the symptoms. Plantarfasciitis does have a good long-termprognosis generally.
Treatments that have beeneffective include:
1. Chiropractic adjustments ofthe feet and ankles
2. Stretching the Achilles tendon and plantar fascia3. Resting, limiting the activities that seem to aggravate the condition4. Cold compression or ice massage5. Arch supports or heel lifts, possibly getting new shoes6. Therapeutic ultrasound
A chiropractor can help with each of these treatments, as well as aligningyour spine. When you are looking for a chiropractor, make sure to ask ifthey work with extremities. Some chiropractors only work with the spineand not the extremities. Your feet are your foundation and when they hurt,the rest of your body is affected. This is one condition that can be helped,so don’t wait any longer.
CHIROPRACTIC HEALTH
What is Plantar Fasciitis and How Can Chiropractic Help?
Dr. Amy Jennings with a patient.
Visit us online at www.guidetogoodhealth.com for a calendar listing of upcoming events and local healthcare directory.To sign up for our monthly enewsletter of local events, email your address to [email protected]
12 GUIDE TO GOOD HEALTH www.guidetogoodhealth.com Fall 2012
For more information, con-tact Dr. Amy Jennings of Jennings Chiropractic [email protected] (412) 283-1060.
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By Nancy Kennedy
For people who are sufferingwith severe pain and physicallimitations as a result of ankle
arthritis, there are a number of med-ical and surgical options that canrelieve pain, stabilize the joint andprovide improved mobility.
That’s the good news from aregional expert, David M. Welker,M.D., an orthopaedic surgeon whopractices with the AdvancedOrthopaedics and Rehabilitation(AOR) group, based in Washington,PA. Welker specializes in problemsof the lower extremities and hassuccessfully treated numerouspatients over the years for arthritis,fractures and other musculoskeletalproblems of the legs, knees andankles.
One of Dr. Welker’s specialties isankle surgery. He sees manypatients with ankle arthritis, usuallydue to one of three causes: the nor-mal “wear and tear” degeneration ofosteoarthritis; rheumatoid or otherautoimmune forms of arthritis; orpost-traumatic arthritis that some-times develops following a fracture.Each type is treated differently, buttreatment may include activitymodification; steroid injections;brace immobilization; anti-inflam-matory medications and the use ofassistive devices such as canes toreduce weight bearing and easepain.
Welker performs both anklefusions and ankle replacements.“Surgery is always a last resort,when conservative measures are nolonger effective to maintain the per-son’s lifestyle. Ankle fusion andankle replacement are options, andboth procedures produce good out-comes. The decision always has tobe tailored to the individual. Thepatient and I decide together.”
Having an ankle replacement ver-sus ankle fusion depends on severalconsiderations. Primary amongthem are age and activity level.According to Welker, if you areyoung, age 40-50, and you lead anactive, athletic lifestyle, you wouldbe a candidate for fusion rather thanreplacement. An ankle fusionrelieves pain and restores function,although some flexibility is sacri-ficed; it also has the benefit of dura-bility, usually lasting a lifetime. Anankle fusion procedure involvesremoval of the surface cartilage ofthe joint so that the ankle bones, thetibia and talus, grow together, orfuse. Screws are placed across thejoint to hold it together while the
bones fuse. Ankle replacement surgery is not
nearly as common as hip or kneereplacement, but it is an increasing-ly popular option for people whohave severe ankle pain. Welker saysthat ankle replacement is probablythe better choice if you are older, inthe 60-75 age group: “Anklereplacement is best suited for thosewho live a less active lifestyle. Theylower the demand on the new jointand are less likely to wear the jointout.”
Ankle replacement involvesremoving actual bone, taking off theend of the tibia and the top of thetalus and replacing them with pros-thetic (artificial) parts. “Anklereplacement is not new but isbecoming increasingly accepted,”Welker says. “The procedure had abad reputation for awhile, back inthe 70’s, but that has changed. Thequality of the prosthetic ankle jointis much improved, with betterdesign, providing greater durabilityand longevity.”
Ankle fusion and ankle replace-ment are actually opposite proce-dures, Welker explains. “When youdo a fusion, you eradicate the anklejoint. In a replacement, you pre-serve the joint. Both are equallychallenging for me as a surgeon.Both involve a fairly long recoveryperiod; you can’t bear weight on theaffected foot for six weeks. Physicaltherapy is provided to strengthenthe joint, reverse muscle atrophyand improve gait.”
Welker grew up in Altoona,where he was active in schoolsports, and attended Juniata Collegeand West Virginia University. He ismarried to Melissa, who was hisjunior prom date, and they haveidentical twin daughters, Hannahand Sarah. Welker knew he wantedto become an orthopaedic surgeonwhen a high school friend suffered asports injury that required kneesurgery. “I thought it would be coolto be able to help people after aninjury like that,” he recalls. He isstill an athlete who runs marathonsand competes in triathlons.
Welker has always been sympa-thetic to the pain and immobilitythat orthopaedic injuries can createfor his patients, but in May of thisyear, he gained firsthand knowledgeof this when he suffered a rupturedAchilles tendon while playing bas-ketball. “My injury gave me thepatient’s perspective. It gave me newinsights and made me more com-mitted to helping people who areliving in pain. I’ve always been eager
to help those whose lives are limitedby pain and loss of mobility, andI want people to know that thereis no need to live in misery. Youmay not need surgery, but weoffer other great solutions that thatcan ease your pain and keep youactive.”
AOR’s expert, highly credentialedsurgeons perform joint replacementand other elective orthopaedic pro-cedures at Advanced SurgicalHospital (ASH), a dedicated, state-of-the-art hospital that AOR openedin Washington, PA in 2010. Theentire facility is dedicated toorthopaedic specialty care andserves as a ‘one-stop shopping’ set-ting, where patients have access toall the services that they need underone roof. AOR is based inWashington but also has offices inthe South Hills, Mon Valley andGreene County.
To learn more about anklefusion surgery or jointreplacement, about AOR orAdvanced Surgical Hospital,
visit www.advancedorthopaedics.net.
Ankle Replacement versus Ankle Fusion:
Which Procedure Is Right For You?
Dr. David M. Welker
ORTHOPAEDICS
“Ankle replacement is best
suited for those who live a less
active lifestyle. They lower the
demand on the new joint and are
less likely to wear the joint out.”
“If you are young, age 40-50,
and you lead an active, athletic
lifestyle, you would be a
candidate for fusion rather
than replacement.”
>
Fall 2012 www.guidetogoodhealth.com GUIDE TO GOOD HEALTH 13
14 GUIDE TO GOOD HEALTH www.guidetogoodhealth.com Fall 2012
By Nancy Kennedy
ANYONE WHO IS CONCERNED THAT ASENSE OF HUMAN CARING HAS BEENLOST IN THE COMPLEX, HIGH-TECHWORLD OF HEALTHCARE, WILL BEREASSURED TO LEARN THAT THERE AREOUTSTANDING ORGANIZATIONS THATSTILL PUT PEOPLE FIRST.
One of these is Orthopedic and Sports PhysicalTherapy Associates (OSPTA), an exemplary health-care organization that offers a broad range of the
highest quality, state-of-the-art clinical services within anenvironment of compassion, empathy and respect.
OSPTA is a family business, in more ways than one. It wascreated 25 years ago by brothers Alan Henson, P.T., C.S.C.S.and Jim Henson, P.T., C.S.C.S., two physical therapists whoshared a vision of a patient-centered facility where theycould provide highly individualized care with convenientaccess and hours. “We both worked in hospital PT depart-ments, and saw a need for services in the evenings for work-ing people,” recalls Alan Henson. “It definitely met a need –we would work at our hospital jobs, and then see patientsuntil 11 o’clock at night. We decided to launch a business.”They founded OSPTA in 1984, and have shepherded theircompany from a fledgling start-up, using borrowed officespace, into the successful enterprise that it is today. Theirearly expansion was gradual and careful, Jim Henson says,but in 1997, they made a pivotal decision. It was the era ofmergers and acquisitions in healthcare, and many P.T. prac-tices were selling to national groups. The Hensons weretempted to accept one of the offers that came their way, butinstead chose to hold on to OSPTA and initiate an expan-sion. It was a risk, but one that they have not regretted.
As their company grew, the Henson’s thoughtfully honedphilosophy evolved. They practice exceptionalresponsiveness to the human needs of theirpatients and their staff: at OSPTA, relationshipsmatter, and everyone – patients, staff, visitors - istreated like family. “We want our patients to feelcomfortable with us, from the first phone callthrough treatment to discharge,” the brotherssay. That means providing superb, individualizedcustomer service and creating a culture of gen-uine community throughout their system. It alsomeans providing services with a human touch –literally.
“At OSPTA, physical therapy is hands-on care.We believe in the ‘laying on of hands’ as an essen-tial aspect of healthcare,” explains Jim Henson.“We have a staff of very skilled professionals inphysical and occupational therapy and we arecurrent in all the latest therapeutic techniquesand technology in the field. We also believe in the power of touch, and useour hands as part of the healing process for our patients. Healing has bothmental and physical aspects, and hands-on care impacts both. Touchaffects the neurological and endocrine systems and produces musclerelaxation; a relaxed muscle is more receptive to treatment. Our thera-
pists know what is expected of them and eachhas a unique way of expressing our philosophyin their work.”
OSPTA has 25 locations throughout theregion and features a home care division. Thecompany has a staff of 205 that includes 44physical therapists, 11 occupational therapists, 6certified hand therapists and 2 speech therapists.The clinical team also includes aides, techni-cians and administrative staff, most of whom arelong-time employees. Eric Walt, M.S., P.T.; MarkKerestan, P.T.-P.A.-C., CEAS; and Mark Aaron,M.S., P.T. are employees who are shareholders inOSPTA. In addition, Alan’s two children, Jodyand Laura, are both physical therapists whowork for OSPTA. Jody is in charge of the homecare division and OSPTA human resources;Laura is beginning to take an active role in thegrowth of the company. Jan Pieri, MarketingDirector, has been with OSPTA for 22 years.“Working here is rewarding; we have a greatteam. Most of the staff, like me, has advancedbeyond their original positions. The Hensonsbelieve in education and career development fortheir employees.”
OSPTA offers traditional physical therapy ser-vices for patients of all ages who are recoveringfrom surgery, injuries and other problems, or areworking to improve their strength and mobility.As the baby boomer generation begins aging,they are likely to need increased PT services.Alan Henson explains: “As you age, you losestrength and may get injured. There’s no magictool; exercise is the way to correct the deficits ofaging and help you function effectively in yourdaily life. Our attitude is, “Let’s teach people tomove well, then encourage them to movemore.’”
There are special programs at OSPTA, offeredat various locations:
The Women’s Health Programfocuses on urinary incontinence andteaches patients to strengthen theirpelvic floor muscles. The HandCenter is staffed by certified handtherapists, who are PT’s withadvanced training in treating prob-lems of the hands and wrists.Sportsmetrics is a knee injury preven-tion program for women, to minimizethe risk of ligament tears, which aremore common in women. TheIndustrial Rehabilitation Programoffers PT for the workplace andincludes injury prevention programsand ergonomic assessments. TheVestibular Rehabilitation Program is
an exercise approach to the management of dizziness and disequilibrium forpatients with vestibular disorders.
To learn more about OSPTA or to schedule an appointment, visit www.osptainc.com or call 1-800-337-6452.
Orthopedic & Sports Physical Therapy Associates Excellent Care with a Special Human Touch
COVER STORY: MEDICAL PROFILE
COVER PHOTO: Staff of Orthopedic & Sports Physical Therapy Associates (OSPTA) include (pictured l-r) James B. Henson, PT, Vice President of OSPTA; Jody Henson, MPT, Alan's son; Alan Henson, PT, President of OSPTA; and Laura Henson, DPT, Alan's daughter (sitting).
Physical therapy aide Bill Holzapfel assists patient Meghan Bagnell with her knee exercises.
>
Eric Walt PT (right) is discussing atreatment plan for a patient with the
physical therapy assistant Steve Pazzabon.
Lymphedema therapist Lori Baumann
Fall 2012 www.guidetogoodhealth.com GUIDE TO GOOD HEALTH 15
j e f f e r s o n r e g i o n a l . c o m
Ouch!Get expert evaluation as soon as tomorrow with Ortho1Call.
Making an appointment is pain-free. Call 412-469-7711.Sprain? Strain? Tear? Don’t wait another day to find out. If you’re in pain, but it’s not an emergency, try Ortho1Call, a new program by the Orthopedic Institute at Jefferson Regional Medical Center. You’ll get great orthopedic care in one easy step. Just call and a medical professional will see you as soon as possible. You’ll find our board-certified doctors offer comprehensive, award-winning care. In fact, our Joint Care Center earned the Gold Seal of Approval from the Joint Commission. And we’re designated as an Aetna Institute of Quality for orthopedic surgery. So if you’re suffering with aninjury, call our experts. The sooner you know what’s wrong, the sooner you’ll be back in action.
565 Coal Valley Road | Jefferson Hills, PA 15025 | 412.469.7711
16 GUIDE TO GOOD HEALTH www.guidetogoodhealth.com Fall 2012
by Nancy Kennedy
The shoulder is a remarkablepart of the human anatomy.It is the most flexible joint in
the body, able to move in a range ofdirections that allow us to reach,lift, throw and perform countlessessential functions with our handsand arms. That marvelous mobility,however, also means that the shoul-der is exceptionally vulnerable toinjury. In fact, 7.5 million peopleseek medical help for shoulder painevery year.
In the Pittsburgh region, shoulderspecialist Christopher M. Manning,MD, a board certified orthopaedicsurgeon at South Hills OrthopaedicSurgery Associates (SHOSA), seespatients of all ages and activity lev-els who have shoulder pain, often asa result of activities that involveexcessive repetitive overheadmotion such as tennis, weight lift-ing and painting.
Although these types of activitiesplace the shoulder at risk for injury,Dr. Manning explains that whatmight feel like an injury may actual-
ly be age related “wear and tear.” “Asignificant percentage of mypatients will not be able to recall aspecific event that caused theirpain,” he says. “They often have agradual onset of pain, radiatingdown the side of the arm. This painis often at its worst at night.”
The shoulder joint consists of alarge ball (the humeral head) and avery shallow socket (the glenoid)and is comparable to a golf ball rest-ing on a tee. The stability of thejoint is afforded by numerous liga-ments, a soft tissue rim called thelabrum and a healthy rotator cuff.The rotator cuff is a sleeve of fourtendons that envelop the humeralhead and help provide motion,strength and stability to the joint.
One of the most common sources ofshoulder pain is arthritis, in whichthe cartilage between the ball andsocket wears out over time, leadingto pain, stiffness and loss of func-tion. Shoulder arthritis can often betreated conservatively with anti-inflammatories, home-based exer-cise, cortisone injections and finallysurgery.
The most common surgical treat-ment for shoulder arthritis is ashoulder replacement. There areseveral types of shoulder replace-ment options, ranging from a partialshoulder replacement, in whichonly the humeral head is replaced,to a total shoulder replacement inwhich both the ball and the socketare replaced. “In most situations,I’ll recommend a total shoulderreplacement instead of a partialreplacement because the pain reliefand range of motion return aresuperior,” Manning explains.However, a total shoulder replace-ment is more technically demand-ing and time consuming. Patientswho are very young (in their for-ties) or those who have fractures orwho have worn out their socketsseverely, may not be good candi-dates for a total shoulder replace-ment but still may benefit from apartial replacement.
A newer type of shoulder replace-ment is the reverse total shoulder,which has a long track record inEurope and has been FDA approvedin this country since 2004. Theprocedure was originally developedfor patients with irreparable rotatorcuff tears but it also may be used incomplex revision cases and forpatients with severe fractures.According to Dr. Manning, “In thepast these patients had no viableoptions to treat their pain; howeverthe reverse shoulder replacementhas been a wonderful advancementin the field for patients with theseproblems. From my perspective, itis a great feeling to restore apatient’s ability to raise his or herarm overhead, especially when theygain a new level of independencebecause of the procedure.”
Shoulder replacement surgery
has become increasingly commonin the United States, with over53,000 procedures being performedevery year. This is in comparison toapproximately 900,000 hip andknee replacement procedures per-formed annually. Dr. Manningpoints out that over 90% of thepatients who undergo a shoulderreplacement will have it done byphysicians who perform 2 or lessannually in their practice. Studiesshow that physicians who performover 25 to 30 shoulder replace-ments per year will have lower com-plication rates and better outcomes.Dr. Manning, who does over 250shoulder procedures a year, com-pletes approximately 75 shoulderreplacements per year.
Dr. Manning explains that “Istarted my practice with the prima-ry focus on hand and wrist surgerybecause there was a need for a full-time hand specialist in the SouthHills and specifically at St. ClairHospital. However, my true profes-sional passion has always been andalways will be treating patients withproblems of the shoulder.” He uti-lizes the most current non-operativeand operative techniques andmodalities to treat patients withboth routine problems of the shoul-der and those who have complexand revision problems.
Dr. Manning completed his med-ical school and residency training atthe University of Pittsburgh andcompleted an additional year ofupper extremity and micro vasculartraining as well. He is a native ofUpper St. Clair and currentlyresides there with his wife, Maria,son Niko (8) and daughtersTomasina (6) and Francesca (3).“I’m blessed to have had the optionto stay here and treat the great peo-ple of this area,” he says.
Dr. Manning sees patients onMondays, Wednesdays andFridays at his new office in
the St. Clair Hospital Outpatient Centerat 2000 Oxford Drive, Suite 211 inBethel Park. To contact South HillsOrthopaedic Surgery Associates, visitwww.southhillsortho.com or call(412) 429-0880.
Partial or Total Shoulder Replacement?At South Hills Orthopaedics Dr. Christopher
Manning Specializes In Shoulder Surgery
>
At the
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“In the past these patients had no viable options to treat their pain; however the reverse shoulder replacement has been a wonderfuladvancement in the field for patients with these problems. From my perspective, it is a great feeling to restore a patient’s ability to raise his or her arm overhead, especially when they gain a new level of independence because of the procedure.” -Christopher M. Manning, M.D.
ORTHOPAEDICS
Fall 2012 www.guidetogoodhealth.com GUIDE TO GOOD HEALTH 17
When a bad fall resulted in shoulder surgery for Vicki, she was determined to get
back to her new hobby – kayaking. To help her regain strength and motion, she
chose UPMCCenters for Rehab Services.We offer access to expert physical and
occupational therapists, and with our many locations throughout the region, you
can find a location that’s close to you. We also accept most major health plans.
We helped Vicki get back to doing what she loves. Let us do the same for you.
Affiliated with the University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, UPMC is ranked among the nation’s best hospitals by U.S. News &World Report.
To schedule an appointment, or to learn more about Vicki’s story,
visit UPMC.com/MyCRS or call 1-888-723-4CRS (4277).
More than50physical therapy locations.Moreways to keepdoingwhat you love.
18 GUIDE TO GOOD HEALTH www.guidetogoodhealth.com Fall 2012
By Lisa Bianco
For those living with diabetes,November’s Free DiabetesEXPO Pittsburgh is a can’t
miss event, whether you are newlydiagnosed, or already accustomedto living with the condition. You’llnot only be educated about diabetesbut also entertained, at the popular-ly featured Divabetic area, featuringthis year’s theme of Gilligan’s IslandExperience—a tropical stage showwith self-care games, fitness demon-strations and diabetes care advice.
The American Diabetes Associa-tion (ADA) EXPO is being heldNovember 10, 2012 at the David L.Lawrence Convention Center from9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. All agegroups and family members areencouraged to attend this highlyinteractive event, with activitiesavailable for everyone and focusareas that include:
Making Healthy Food Choices:Enjoy healthy food sampling, cook-ing demonstrations and tasty andhealthful recipes.
Getting Active on the Let’s Move& Groove Area. Learn how to workfitness into your everyday life in theLet’s Move & Groove Area,” offeringplenty of exercise tips and ongoingfitness demonstrations.
Free Health Screenings: Whilesupplies last take advantage of free
screenings for A1C (measure ofestimated average blood glucose.),Cholesterol, Blood Pressure, FootScreenings, Diabetes RiskAssessment, Eye Screenings, BMI.
Ask the Experts, sponsored byUPMC. Bring your health care ques-tions to our onsite professionalsfrom the community who willanswer your diabetes questions.
Youth & Family Anchor: Healthyliving programing and entertain-ment for the entire family.
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MMeeddiiccaall CCoonnddiittiioonnThroughout the day nine interest-
ing and essential workshops arebeing led by diabetes experts.Beyond Survival: Strategies forThriving with a Chronic MedicalCondition, is presented by Dr.Timothy Cline, PhD, MCC, and theSenior Director of Clinical Trainingand Development for UPMC HealthPlan. Dr. Cline discusses the com-mon stages individuals typicallyundergo when diagnosed with achronic medical condition like dia-betes. “The diagnosis represents aloss to most people, with the unspo-ken idea that ‘life as I know it willnever be the same.’ This loss bringswith it normal stages of grief—denial, anger, bargaining, depres-sion, and acceptance. For most,
having the rightsocial and emotionalsupport plays animportant part inhow well the personnavigates those stagesand adjusts to livingwith a chronic condi-tion.”
Dr. Cline explains that beyond apositive attitude, healthy adjustmentis evidenced in individuals whoacquire the knowledge, self-manage-ment skills and discipline to stay ontrack with their self-care plan – evenwhen the going gets tough. “It’s alsoa very promising sign when the per-son shifts from being a passive recip-ient of health care, to partneringwith the medical provider in manag-ing their condition,” he asserts.
Another important factor Dr.Cline observes with individualswho successfully come to termswith a chronic condition, comesfrom the field of PositivePsychology.
Centered on the Japanese conceptof ikigai – whose closest meaning isthe French term, raison d'être (whatone lives for, what gives you mean-ing and purpose in life) – a signifi-cant factor psychologists look for ishow strongly individuals feel thatlife is worth living. Among olderJapanese men and women, thosewith a strong reason to live, for
example to see grandchil-dren grow up, emotionallysupport a spouse or fight for
a cause, have a reduced risk of deathfrom any cause. They appear tohave higher immune system func-tioning, be more resilient, recovermore quickly from illness, and aremore likely to take on the behaviorsneeded to manage a chronic condi-tion. “But you don’t have to feel thatyour cause is one that will changethe world to have a strong sense ofikigai. This motivating factor isavailable to everyone,” says Dr.Cline. Beyond Survival: Strategies forThriving with a Chronic MedicalCondition will be presented by Dr.Cline at 10:30 a.m. in the EXPOWorkshop area.
Says Terri Seidman, EXPODirector of the ADA, “EXPOPittsburgh is a free event designedfor people managing their diabetes,people at risk of developing diabetesand people who want to live health-ier lives. The schedules for theWorkshops, Healthy Eating Demos,Move & Groove Anchor, Divabetic,the Youth & Family Anchor andpre-registration are all onlinewww.diabetes.org/expopittsburgh.”
November’s Free Diabetes EXPO will Educate and Entertain You about Better
Ways to Live Healthy with Diabetes
DIABETES
Are You at Risk for Diabetes?by Jennifer Holst, M.D.
Diabetes is among the top 10 leading causes of death in the UnitedStates. One out of every 10 people in our country has the disease.Some 8.3 percent of the population has been diagnosed with dia-
betes, while another 2.3 percent have the disease, but don’t know it. And, the number of people at risk for diabetes is growing. Millions of peo-
ple in the United States have what’s known as pre-diabetes. People with pre-diabetes have blood sugars higher than normal levels, but lower than dia-betic levels. Elevated blood sugar means a higher risk for heart attack, anda higher than average risk of developing diabetes.
Factors that increase risk for diabetes are:• Being overweight• Carrying excess weight in your belly (as opposed to carrying excess
weight in your hips, thighs, and buttocks)• Little or no physical activity• Smoking • Having a close relative with diabetes• A history of gestational diabetes when pregnant• Being Asian, Latino or BlackYour doctor can perform tests to determine if you have pre-diabetes or
diabetes. The most common test is the fasting blood glucose, where theblood sugar is checked after fasting for eight hours. A fasting glucosebetween 100 and 125 indicates pre-diabetes. A less commonly performed
test is called an oral glucose tolerance test. In this test, the patient drinks asugary beverage, and the blood sugar is checked two hours later. If the glu-cose is between 140 and 199, pre-diabetes is the diagnosis.
DDiiaabbeetteess ccaann bbee pprreevveenntteedd oorr ddeellaayyeedd::• Dropping excess pounds will help prevent diabetes. You don’t need to
get down to a “normal” weight to make a difference. Just losing five percentof body weight reduces risk. For example, if a person weighs 200 poundsand loses 10 pounds, that represents a five percent loss in body mass and adecreased risk.
• Eating healthier foods also helps to prevent or delay onset of diabetes.Increase fruit, vegetable and whole grain consumption. Stay away fromrefined grains such as white flour and processed cereals as well as sweetdrinks like soda (diet soda is o.k.), and juice.
• Being active for 30 minutes a day. You don’t have to go to the gym, walk-ing or gardening for 30 minutes counts as activity.
• Quitting smoking may reduce your risk for developing diabetes, as wellas reduce the risk for heart attack or stroke.
Jennifer Holst, M.D., is the Associate MedicalDirector of Joslin Diabetes Center affiliates atWest Penn Allegheny Health System. She sees patients in Bloomfield and Peter’s
Township. For more information, call the Joslin DiabetesCenter at Allegheny Valley Hospital (724-367-2400),Forbes Regional Hospital (412-858-4474) or West Penn Hospital (412-578-1724)
Beyond Survival:Strategies forThriving with a
Chronic MedicalCondition will bepresented by Dr.
Cline at 10:30 a.m.
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For pre-showannouncements,
RSVP online atDiabetes.org/
EXPOPITTSBURGH, orcall 1-888-DIABETES, ext 4608. RSVP is notrequired. If you don’t
RSVP, simply join us onSaturday, November 10,
2012 at the David L.Lawrence Convention
Center from 9 am to 4 pm.
Fall 2012 www.guidetogoodhealth.com GUIDE TO GOOD HEALTH 19
Affiliates at West Penn Allegheny Health SystemOver 20 Years of Excellence
Preventing Diabetes:
You Can Do ItNew Program Starts in September 2012
ARE YOU AT-RISK FOR DIABETES? YOU WILL LEARN...
� Family History �What is pre-diabetes� Overweight � Signs and symptoms� Age � Am I at risk for diabetes?� High blood pressure �What to ask your healthcare provider� History of pancreatic disease � How to prevent or delay diabetesCheck one or more – this class is for you. �Ways to keep a healthy weight
Allegheny Valley Hospital - First Thursday of each month - 9 to 10 a.m., 724.367.2400Forbes Regional Hospital- Call to schedule, 412.858.4474West Penn Hospital - Fourth Thursday of each month - 11 a.m. to noon, 412.578.1724
Cost: $20 per participant/class (cash or check)
Presented by a certified diabetes educator from the Joslin Diabetes Center,Affiliate at West Penn Allegheny Health System.
20 GUIDE TO GOOD HEALTH www.guidetogoodhealth.com Fall 2012
DIABETES
Do You Know Someone With Vision Loss?
We Can Help 412-368-4400
Changing the lives of persons with vision loss by fostering independence.
People With Diabetes More Likely to Suffer Hearing Loss
By Nicole Wasel, Au.D.
Arecent study published by the Annals of Internal Medicine suggeststhat diabetics are susceptible not only to vision problems, but tohearing problems as well. For years, physicians who treat people
with diabetes have regularly ensured that their patients receive regularvision check-ups. This important study underscores the need for physiciansnow to encourage each of their patients to get their hearing checked as well.
In the study, National Institutes of Health (NIH researchers analyzed datafrom hearing tests administered to 5,140 participants between 1999 and2004 in the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey(NHANES). Their findings? Patients with diabetes are more than twice aslikely to suffer hearing loss than non-diabetics. More than 40 percent of thepatients who participated in the study had some hearing damage. “Peoplewith diabetes should ask their doctors to check their hearing,” said SergeiKockin, Ph.D., executive direction of the Better Hearing Institute (BHI). “Ahearing check can be invaluable in identifying diabetic patients with poten-tial hearing loss, and giving them an opportunity to receive the treatmentthey need.”
Studies conducted by BHI, a not-for profit education organization whosemission is to educate the public about hearing loss treatment and preven-tion, show that people with untreated hearing loss experience a lower qual-ity of life than people with normal hearing or people who use hearing aids.
The Better Hearing Institute has designed a “Quick Hearing Check” tohelp people quickly assess whether they have a hearing loss requiring acomprehensive hearing test by a hearing professional. The quick check isavailable online at www.hearingcheck.org.
Washington Ear, Nose & Throat has been the regional leader in the diag-nosis and treatment of hearing loss for over 10 years. Our board-certifiedEar, Nose and Throat (ENT) physicians and Doctor’s of Audiology are com-mitted to bringing university quality care to thepatients in our community and surrounding areas.
If you suspect hearing loss, ask your primarycare doctor about getting your hearing tested.
Nicole Wasel, Doctor of Audiology,Washington Ear, Nose and Throat, can bereached at [email protected] or(724) 225-8995. For more information,
visit www.washingtonent.net.
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Kidney Walk Scheduled for November 4
Stroll through the Pittsburgh Zoo & PPG Aquarium this November andhelp to call attention to the prevention of kidney disease and the needfor organ donation. Participants of the 2012 Kidney Walk will aid the
National Kidney Foundation Serving the Alleghenies in reaching its$200,000 fundraising goal. The noncompetitive walk will be held onSunday, November 4, 2012 at the Pittsburgh Zoo & PPG Aquarium.Registration begins at 7:00 a.m. and the Walk starts at 9:00 a.m.
Walkers can participate as individuals or form a team with family, friendsand colleagues. The Walk will feature a walk warm-up, live music, specialappearances by favorite Pittsburgh mascots, refreshments, and more. Theofficial walk commencement will take place at 9 a.m., and participants canbegin to run, walk, or wheel their way through the picturesque PittsburghZoo. To register for the event, call (412) 261-4115 or sign up online atwww.kidneywalk.org. On-site registration will also be accepted. While aregistration fee is not required, a donation will be required in order to enterthe Pittsburgh Zoo free of charge.
Yearly Eye Exams Are a Must forPersons with Diabetes
By Erica A. Hacker, O.D.
Diabetes can cause damage throughoutthe body, including the eyes. Over time,high levels of sugar in the blood affect
the circulatory system of the retina. The retina isthe thin, light-sensitive tissue at the back of theeye. Damage to the tiny blood vessels preventsthe retina from receiving the proper nutrients itneeds to maintain vision. Diabetic retinopathy isthe result. The longer a person has diabetes, themore likely he or she will develop diabeticretinopathy.
The symptoms of diabetic retinopathyinclude blurry vision, seeing a smudge in thecenter of your vision, spots “floating” in your vision, and trouble seeing atnight. Diabetic retinopathy often has no early warning signs. In many cases,individuals do not notice a change in their vision until late in the disease. Thisis why it is so important for diabetics to get yearly dilated eye exams.
While diabetic retinopathy can be treated to prevent blindness, persons withthis eye disease may still experience mild to severe vision loss. For those indi-viduals, low vision devices are available to restore vision for reading, testingblood sugar and preparing insulin.
SOME EXAMPLES:• simple eyeglass loupes provide hands-free magnification so you can
use your glucometer and insulin pen• raised markings on appliances make setting dials and pushing buttons
easier• small lighted magnifiers are effective for reading food labels• strong reading glasses or video magnifiers are helpful for reading
small print and for handwritingPersons with vision loss from diabetes or other reasons can learn techniques
that will keep them safe around the home and restore their enjoyment of activ-ities. Kathryn is a Type II diabetic. She learned to use a talking scale and talk-ing alarm clock through the low vision rehabilitation program at Blind andVision Rehabilitation Services of Pittsburgh. Her optometrist prescribed a light-ed magnifier for reading food labels and telescope glasses to watch TV. At age91 and living alone, she and her family are grateful for the help from low visionservices.
Blind and Vision Rehabilitation Services of Pittsburgh (BVRS) is the solenonprofit rehabilitation agency in Allegheny County for persons who are blindor vision impaired. This 102-year-old agency is locat-ed near the Waterfront shopping area at 1800 West St.,Homestead. Low vision services also are available at4411 Stilley Road at Route 51, Brentwood.
Erica A. Hacker, O.D., is an optometrist in theClient Services/Rehabilitation Department atBlind and Vision Rehabilitation Services ofPittsburgh. For more information on Blind and
Vision Rehabilitation Services of Pittsburgh, call (412) 368-4400 or visit www.BlindVR.org.
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Diabetic retinopathy
often has no early warn-
ing signs. In many cases,
individuals do not notice a
change in their vision
until late in the disease.
This is why it is so impor-
tant for diabetics to get
yearly dilated eye exams.
Make sure to visit the Western Pennsylvania Guide To Good Health on Facebook and hit “Like”
Fall 2012 www.guidetogoodhealth.com GUIDE TO GOOD HEALTH 21
by Lisa Bianco
On September 27, a day-longDiabetes Symposium was held atthe Passavant Hospital Foundation
Conference Center and Legacy Theatre.This free event boasted interesting andinformative hour long presentations, freehealth screenings, resource tables and a ver-itable powerhouse of diabetes informationfree to the public at the Conference Centerat Cumberland Woods Village in AllisonPark (on the campus of UPMC PassavantMcCandless).
Jennifer Sotirake and Luann Berry, regis-tered dietitians and diabetes specialists atUPMC Passavant’s Diabetes Center spokeon, “How Does Food Impact Diabetes.”The pair used a fun, interactive Jeopardyquestions format to teach the audience howfood impacts diabetes, the way specificnutrients impact blood sugar and makingthe best dining and restaurant choices.
About their presentation JenniferSotirake commented, “People don’t trulyunderstand how food impacts blood sugar.They think it’s just a matter of cutting outwhite sugar and refined carbohydrates alto-gether. It’s really more vital to balance carbswith other nutrients, proteins and fat. Andyou also have to work with meal timingand portion size. But it’s really not as com-plicated as it sounds.”
She explained to listeners that people canpersonalize their menus to fit their families,special needs, food preferences, and indi-vidual health issues. “We help our clientslearn how to make healthy restaurant choices. For instance, you can orderitems grilled not fried and ask the waitress for details about the entrée. Withthe large portions restaurants typically serve, expect to take half the foodhome with you. Or, we advise ordering a senior portion.” Jennifer also rec-ommended an excellent website—CalorieKing.com—that helps with manyrestaurant choice decisions.
Jennifer stressed the value of attending educational events like theDiabetes Symposium. “Being around other people who are dealing with thesame issues is motivating. Attendees learn from each other and come awayencouraged. Chances are, they also leave feeling empowered to get back ontrack with their diets and stay on track.”
Being an educator is one of Jennifer’s primary duties as a DiabetesSpecialist. Over the years she has witnessed many people come to her,newly diagnosed with diabetes, and scared about how it will change theirlives. She teaches them that change is managed through small steps. Clientsmake small changes and they realize, ‘I can do this.’ “Many times I’ve seenclients change one or two things about their eating habits—when they eat,how much they eat, or better balancing protein, fat and carbs—and thenthey clearly see that it impacts their blood work for the better. That’stremendously motivating to them.”
Jean Wagner, Director of Foundation Services and Board Relations forPassavant Hospital Foundation remarked, “We wanted community mem-bers to be able to meet local diabetes experts who could answer their ques-tions, and give them the opportunity to learn about a well-roundedapproach to diabetes education and self-care. We’re enormously pleased atthe hundreds who turned out for the event.”
The 2012 Diabetes Symposium was presented by Passavant HospitalFoundation in collaboration with UPMC Passavant Diabetes Center andwith the support of PNC Bank.
How Does Food Impact Diabetes Passavant Hospital Foundation Diabetes
Symposium Presents Powerhouseof Diabetes Information
“Many times I’ve seen
clients change one or two
things about their eating
habits—when they eat,
how much they eat, or
better balancing protein,
fat and carbs—and then
they clearly see that it
impacts their blood work
for the better. That’s
tremendously
motivating to them.”
-Jennifer Sotirake, dietitianand diabetes specialist at
UPMC Passavant’sDiabetes Center
22 GUIDE TO GOOD HEALTH www.guidetogoodhealth.com Fall 2012
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by Sherry Chappell, RN, BS
When most people think of a woundcare center they usually think of apatient with an open or surgical
type wound. However, there are many caseswhere those with non-healing diabetic ulcersor infections may also benefit. Fortunately,technology has come a long way in assistingthose with chronic or non-healing wounds.
We are often asked, ‘When is it time to seekspecialized wound care?’ Generally, if awound has not responded to normal medicalcare within 30 days, it’s time to consider spe-cialized wound care treatment. In addition totraditional wound therapies, such as surgeryand antibiotic therapy, we also offer hyperbar-ic oxygen treatment, which is designed to fur-ther enhance and speed the healing process.
Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy (HBOT)involves placing a patient in a clear chamberwith the goal of increasing the oxygen level to the wound. Patients generally participate in 20-30 ninety minutetreatments. While in the chamber, they can speak to members of the treatment team, watch a movie or just relax.Since the chamber is clear, many report feeling quite comfortable during treatment.
Darlene Saheta, DPM, Podiatrist (left) explains the wound care pro-gram to visitors during an open house celebration. The event wasdone in collaboration with the Waynesburg Area Chamber ofCommerce. Pictured l. to r.: Dr. Saheta; Michelle King, WaynesburgArea Chamber of Commerce; Cassie Teegarden, Greene CountyDepartment of Economic Development; Judi Tanner, First Federal ofGreene County and Cindy Crouse, First Federal of Greene County.
If you have ever wondered whatit would be like to receivehyperbaric oxygen therapy youcan call the Southwest
Regional Medical Center Wound CareCenter at (724) 627-1600 to arrange atour. You can also speak to your physi-cian about a referral to our Wound CareCenter. Sherry Chappell, RN, BS, isDirector, Wound Care Services.
Hope for Hard-to-Heal Wounds
3 Easy Ways to Overcome Food Guilt
By Lindsey Smith
As much as I enjoy food now, I used to spend more time worryinghow many cookies I was going to indulge in at a family outing thanI did actually enjoying and savoring both the taste of the cookies
and the time spent with family. I felt ashamed for worrying and having to constantly think about food
at events. I felt stressed about my weight and body. I felt upset that Icouldn’t engage in quality time with people I love because I was fixatedon whether or not I would give into the temptation of the dessert table. Iwas suffering from major “food guilt.”
People who experience food guilt tend to see food as black and white,good and bad, and calories in and calories out. We feel bad when we eatsomething we know we shouldn’t. We mentally stress about our foodchoices at home, at work, and at social gatherings. We think about whatdiet we can start next to overcome the cake and ice cream we had fordessert. Negative thoughts of food crowd our mind, making it hard tothink about anything else.
But when it comes down to it, we need food to live. So how do we haveour cake and eat it too? How can we start experiencing food in a new wayin which frees us from the guilt we have been continuously hanging over?
Three simple ways to help you to stop stressing and start enjoying:
1. Cook with Love: Anytime you are cooking up a dish, express grati-tude and love during the entire process, from sautéing to chopping. Youwill be so filled up from the cooking process that you will take more timeto enjoy your food and spend less time worrying about it.
2. Eat with Love: Go into every situation you have with food with asense of love and appreciation. Whether it’s a bunch kale or a few cook-ies, express the same sense of love by appreciating your food and where itcame from, showing gratitude, and taking time to savor every bite.
3. Love Others: Know that your friends and family are a sense of nour-ishment too! The more time you spend with people that love you, themore full you will feel. No cookie can do justice!
And remember, these small changes and shifts inmindset add up to big results! Start with one andwork your way up!
Lindsey Smith is a health coach and authorof Junk Foods & Junk Moods: Stop Cravingand Start Living! For more information or to purchase a book, visit www.FoodMoodGirl.com.
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Fall 2012 www.guidetogoodhealth.com GUIDE TO GOOD HEALTH 23
By Vanessa Orr
For the past 19 years, Blair A. Jobe, MD has been a specialist in the fieldof esophageal disease. As one of the country’s leading experts, he wasintrigued by the idea of creating a multidisciplinary center to treat
patients suffering from esophageal cancer and other esophageal disorders aswell as thoracic disease.
In July of 2012, Dr. Jobe joined West Penn Allegheny Health System(WPAHS) and the staff at Canonsburg General Hospital to make this con-cept a reality. “The idea of working together with others who specialize inthe field excited me,” he explained of the large-scale effort to develop a clin-ic specifically designed to help patients with esophageal cancer, Barrett’sesophagus, esophageal mobility disorders, gastroesophageal reflex disease(GERD) and thoracic disease. “To have all of these minds looking at the dis-ease from different perspectives can only help our patients.”
In the last 30 years, the incidence of esophageal cancer in the UnitedStates has increased by 500 percent and the death rate for those diagnosedwith the disease is quite high. In the United States in 2008, for example, theAmerican Cancer Society estimated that there were 16,470 new cases ofesophageal cancer and 14,280 persons were expected to die of the disease,resulting in a mortality rate of 87 percent. And patients with Barrett's esoph-agus, which affects about 1 percent of the population, are 30 to 40 timesmore likely to develop esophageal cancer.
“There is definitely a need for this,” said Dr. Jobe of the clinic, whichoffers medical treatment, surgical treatment and novel, emerging proceduresthat are showing strong benefits for patients. “Instead of one surgeon work-
ing in isolation, there are many experts workingon each case, and the whole is greater than thesum of its parts. This multidisciplinary approachis also much easier for patients—they don’t needto go and see five different specialists to achievethe goal of therapy.”
In addition to offering treatment for benignesophageal problems such as GERD, surgicaloptions such as Nissen fundoplication can help
patients with more severe GERD, or for whom medical therapy hasn’tworked. “When done right on the right patient, this procedure is tremen-dously successful,” said Dr. Jobe. A new FDA-approved procedure, theLINX Reflux Management System, is also offered as an alternative to theNissen procedure and has been found to have fewer side effects, withapproximately 90 percent of patients able to stop taking all proton pumpinhibitors within 12 months of surgery.
Patients with Barrett’s esophagus can now be treated on an outpatientbasis with new technologies including radiofrequency ablation, in whichthe inner lining of the esophagus is burned off to enable new stem cells togrow back, and endoscopic resection, in which the diseased inner lining ofthe esophagus is removed. “Patients with dysplasia, or who need to havetheir esophagi removed as a result of esophageal cancer, can now be treatedwith novel endoscopic approaches,” added Dr. Jobe. “For example, we cannow remove an entire esophagus through a minimally invasive esophagec-tomy that requires small poke incisions in the abdomen and chest. This lim-its post-operative pain and allows the patient to recover more quickly.”
Dr. Jobe will be seeing patients at the West Penn Allegheny HealthSystem’s Outpatient Care Center in Peters Township. For more information, call (412) 260-7300.>
Esophageal Specialist Joins WestPenn Allegheny Health System
Surgeon to lead clinic to treat esophageal and thoracic diseases
wpahs.org
At Canonsburg General Hospital’s Emergency Department, the majority of patients never even see the waiting room. We are committed to providing the most rapid care in our region.
Upon arriving at the ED, you are immediately taken into an examination room. You will be quickly assessed and cared for by experienced emergency nurses and board-certified emergency medicine physicians. You can depend on us for
compassionate, quality care with the advanced technology you need for an accurate diagnosis.
There’s no need to wait at any Emergency Department. At Canonsburg General Hospital… you are our priority.
In an emergency, you shouldn’t have to wait.
Dr. Blair A. Jobe
24 GUIDE TO GOOD HEALTH www.guidetogoodhealth.com Fall 2012
By Lois Thomson
One of the reasons Dr. Jason A. Smith joinedWashington Urology Specialists of The Washington Hospital in Julyis because the hospital recently acquired a robot, and that forms a
good match with his urology practice. Dr. Smith trained on robotics whilein residency in Philadelphia, so he is familiar with the process and com-mented, "Robotics has been a growing area in urology. We are able to offermore and more procedures performed with the help of a robot."
He said that robotics is becoming a more common means to treat some ofthe complex urologic problems, such as kidney, prostate, and bladder can-cers, and explained why it is better than the traditional methods: "Therobot affords a better vision, we're able to make smaller incisions and getdown to tighter spaces with the precise movements of our hands beingtransmitted to the robot. There's magnification in the areas by a camera sowe're able to see things very clearly, and do maneuvers we're not able to dowith an open procedure." The result is that patients may be discharged fromthe hospital and return to their normal lives faster, and with decreased bloodloss and complications.
Dr. Smith added with a chuckle, "It sounds kind of like a space-age pro-cedure, but it's really not. It's the same procedure that we've always beendoing, we're just able to do it more precisely with the robot. The surgeonis in complete control, we are in charge of the robot, but the robot affordsus movements that we couldn't get to in an open procedure."
The idea of using a robot to assist with surgery is fascinating but that's notwhat interested Dr. Smith in medicine in general, and in becoming a urolo-gist in particular. His father is a family doctor in Waynesburg, so he hasbeen around medicine his whole life, and while in college, he shadowedsome doctors and discovered he liked the surgical aspect of medicine. "I fol-lowed around general surgeons who kind of steered me to urology. I likedwhat they did, and in med school, I was really surprised at how diverse urol-ogy was. I got more and more interested and decided that was the way Iwanted to go."
By "diverse," Dr. Smith said most people are surprised to learn that hispractice covers everything from cancers to incontinence to sexual dysfunc-tions to kidney stones. He also compared urology with other types of sur-gical specialties, saying "They may fix the problem and you never see thepatient again. But for us, we see people with cancers and make sure theydon't have recurrences, or people with stones and make sure they don't getnew ones. So we usually get to build some nice, long-term relationshipswith our patients."
For more information, call Washington Urology Specialists at (724) 222-8871 or visit www.washingtonphysicians.org
Dr. Jason A. Smith, Urologist
Kidney StonesTreating kidney stones is part of Dr. Smith’s practice, and he
said that they are a big problem in this region, and a lot of mis-conceptions surround them. "The reality is that there are a lotof different varieties of stones and many causes. So the key forme is to treat the stones that the patient may have now, and gointo prevention mode, seeing what we need to do, whethermedications vs. surveillance vs. dietary. Certain dietary factorscan affect what kind of stones the patients have, and that's whywe can't group everybody in the same classification. We needto test everybody, we can't treat everybody the same. There'sno 'magic bullet.'"
Urologist Treats Everythingfrom Cancer to Kidney Stones
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Fall 2012 www.guidetogoodhealth.com GUIDE TO GOOD HEALTH 25
Robotic Surgery 'The Next
Great Step' By Lois Thomson
Dr. Malay Sheth has been servingpatients with his gynecologicalpractice at The Washington
Hospital for nearly 20 years. During thattime he has seen numerous changes andadvances in the field, but he considersthe da Vinci Surgical System, or the useof robotics, to be the latest in advancedtechnology.
"In the operating room, it's one of themost interesting things I've seen in 19-plus years," he said. "It's just building onall of the great things we've already done.When I first started performing laparo-scopic surgeries that was the amazingthing. This is the next great step."
Laparoscopic surgery transformed tra-ditional, open surgeries that requiredlarge incisions, to ones that could be per-formed by making a series of small inci-sions, anywhere from 1/2-inch to oneinch long, according to Dr. Sheth. "Wecould do multiple types of surgeries,whether it was gynecologists removingthe ovaries or the uterus, or general sur-geons taking out gall bladders or theappendix or even performing bowelsurgery. Urologists have used it to takeout kidneys. Now the robot is an exten-sion of laparoscopic surgery in the sensethat instead of me directly controlling theinstruments through the laparoscope, Icontrol the instruments with a robot, theda Vinci system."
Dr. Sheth discussed why the new tech-nology is such an improvement: "Youhave greater control of the instrumentsbecause they can move in multipledimensions. Right now, a regular laparo-scopic instrument can only move in twodimensions because that's how they'remade. The da Vinci robotic instrumentmoves in all three dimensions. It basi-cally acts like a wrist and hand. The wayyou can move your wrist up and downand side to side and back and forth, youcan do the same with the instruments through the da Vinci system."
He went on to describe the system as being 3D. "It's almost as if you lit-erally put the surgeon inside somebody's abdomen, that's how well you cansee." Because of that, surgeons have greater control over the operation andit has allowed patients to have hysterectomies or have their gall bladder ortheir prostate removed through multiple small incisions rather than onelarge one. So recovery is therefore much faster, there are fewer complica-tions, infections are less likely, and especially important – people can get upand move around sooner. "One of my partners did a robotic hysterectomyon a Monday," Dr. Sheth said, "and the patient called on Friday and said shewanted to go back to work."
He concluded, "I think it's a great technology that's well received, andsomething great to offer to patients. That's the beauty of the da Vinci robot."
For more information or to make an appointment, call (724) 225-3640 or visit the website www.washingtonobgyn.net.
GynecologicalSurgeries Using
the daVinciSurgical System
Robot For the past several
months, Dr. Malay Sheth ofWPG-Washington Ob/GynAssociates has been per-forming gynecological surg-eries using the da VinciSurgical System robot. Heexplained the process: "Justlike laparoscopy, you makesmall incisions and you usu-ally put three to five portsin somebody's stomach. Youput a camera in through themiddle one, and put instru-ments through the otherports, and all of these areattached to the robot. Thenwe go to a console – similarto a video game – and youlook through the consoleand put your hands insidethe controllers, and throughthose controllers you canactually manage the instru-ments inside the robot. Theimpression is the robot isdoing the surgery, but it'snot. We, as the surgeons,are controlling and directingthe instruments at alltimes."
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Dr. Malay Sheth, Ob/Gyn
Fall 2012 www.guidetogoodhealth.com GUIDE TO GOOD HEALTH 29
Chronic constipation is a common, debilitating disorder affecting 12-19% of the general population that worsens with age, affecting 40%of those 65 and over. Likewise, irritable bowel syndrome (IBS),
which also commonly afflicts women, affects 10-15% of the population.“Both are problematic for patients and physicians alike with little in the wayof available pharmacologic therapy. When these two conditions overlap,treatment becomes especially problematic” according to Dr. Michael A.Pezzone, M.D., Ph.D., Adjunct Associate Professor of Pharmacology &Chemical Biology at the University of Pittsburgh, and Director of PezzoneGastroenterology Associates, P.C.
Dr. Pezzone recalls asking a scientific question to the C.E.O. ofIronwood Pharmaceuticals at a Physician Investigator Meeting prior toparticipation in several clinical trials for linaclotide (Linzess) which heconducted at the University of Pittsburgh and more recently at his SouthStrabane office. To Pezzone,the drug’s mechanism ofaction for constipation wasnovel but straightforward,but “how did linaclotideimprove abdominal pain andsensitivity and other symp-toms of IBS in patients withConstipation-predominantIBS?” Pezzone’s intriguingquestion and his expertise invisceral pain led to a personalinvitation to visit IronwoodPharmaceuticals where hepresented his research find-ings and discussed futurestudies with Ironwood scien-tists.
In collaboration with Ironwood, a group fromFrance, and a group from UCLA, Dr. Pezzone per-formed two pre-clinicals confirming the beneficialeffects of linaclotide on intestinal pain fibers. Apublication detailing these studies was recentlysubmitted to the scientific journal, Pain.
Linzess will be available later this year.
Dr. Pezzone has received research support from IronwoodPharmaceuticals but has no financial interests.
To be considered for treatment with Linzess or management of constipation and IBS, call Dr. Pezzone at (724) 503-4637 or visit the website www.DrPezzone.com.>
Dr. Michael A.Pezzone
FDA Approves New Treatment for Constipation and Irritable Bowel Syndrome: Local Gastroenterologist Part of Development
TM
PPuurree,, SSaaffee,, BBeenneeffiicciiaall• Skin Care Classes• Personalized one on one make
up consultations• Health and wellness education
“The other rea-
son pertussis has
made such a
comeback is that
fewer people are
getting vaccinat-
ed. Parents who
refuse vaccines
for their children
are helping the
Bordetella
pertussis
bacteria enjoy a
resurgence.”
-Dr. Brian W.Donnelly
30 GUIDE TO GOOD HEALTH www.guidetogoodhealth.com Fall 2012
By Brian W. Donnelly, M.D.
In 2010, California was the site of an epi-demic of pertussis, or whooping cough.For that year, there were 9,154 reported
cases, the most since 1947. Ten infants died.This year, Colorado is battling another per-tussis epidemic. By June 16, the number ofreported cases had reached 2,520, a 1,300%increase compared with 2011, and the high-est number of reported cases since 1942.155 of these cases involved infants. 41 % ofthe infants requiring hospitalization wereless than 2 months old. No fatalities haveyet occurred from pertussis in Colorado thisyear. Unfortunately, through June 14, eightinfants in the United States have died fromwhooping cough.
Pertussis begins just as a typical cold. Butit is diagnosed primarily by the cough. Ininfants, spasms (or paroxysms) of cough areinterrupted by a gasping, high-pitchednoise, which sounds like a “whoop.” Thesecoughing spells are often followed by eme-sis. Because of the smaller diameter of thebaby’s airway, the disease is worse for them.Their work of breathing is increased,resulting in higher hospitalization andmortality rates. Adults who suffer frompertussis deal with an annoying cough,which often lasts much longer than
expected. In fact, in the old days, pertussiswas referred to as “the 100 day cough.”Often, pertussis is undiagnosed in adultsand adolescents.
The most effective treatment for pertussisis a macrolide antibiotic. This includes ery-thromycin, azithromycin, and clar-ithromycin.
Once someone has contracted pertussis,and has taken the macrolide, the best pre-vention is to cover their cough, and to avoidcontact with infants. The linchpin of pre-vention is vaccination. The pertussis immu-nization is given along with the diphtheriaand tetanus components, starting at 2months old. Since 1997, the acellular per-tussis vaccine has been used in the UnitedStates. The previous whole cell vaccinecaused many more side effects (fever,malaise, and, rarely, convulsions), but it wasmore effective. The other reason pertussishas made such a comeback is that fewerpeople are getting vaccinated. Parents whorefuse vaccines for their children are helpingthe Bordetella pertussis bacteria enjoy aresurgence.
Brian W. Donnelly M.D., North HillsDivision, Pediatric Alliance, can be reached at (412) 364-5834.>
CHILDREN’S HEALTH
WWee CCaarree AAbboouutt YYoouurr
KKiiddss!!
EExxcceeppttiioonnaall ccaarree ffoorr yyoouurr cchhiillddrreenn,, ccoonnffiiddeennccee aanndd ccoonnvveenniieennccee ffoorr yyoouu..
LLOOCCAATTIIOONNSS::NNoorrtthh:: SSoouutthh:: SSppeecciiaallttyy DDiivviissiioonnss:: Arcadia Division: 412-366-7337 Chartiers Division: 412-221-0160 Division of Pediatric Endocrinology:Fox Chapel Division: 412-767-0707 McMurray Office: 724-941-2747 412-371-3000North Hills Division: 412-364-5834 Greentree Division: 412-922-5250Cranberry Office: 724-776-4344 St. Clair Division: 412-221-2121 Division of Allergy, Asthma, and Northland Division: 412-366-5550 Immunology: 412-348-6868Cranberry Office: 724-776-6030
Pediatric Alliance is proud to be the largest physician owned pediatric practice in our area. We offer quality, personalized, patient-centered care at 12 different locations. Pediatric Alliance strives to provide innovative services to our community and takes a progressive approach to meet the needs of busy families.
Visit our website for accurate health information and more about our practice: wwwwww..ppeeddiiaattrriiccaalllliiaannccee..ccoomm •• Follow Us on Twitter • Follow Us on Facebook
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Whooping Cough Makes Comeback
Fall 2012 www.guidetogoodhealth.com GUIDE TO GOOD HEALTH 31
By Diana Fletcher
Anew school year! You receivereminders about physicals, vacci-nations, team sign-ups and after-
school clubs. Taking care of your children involves
a lot of time, attention and planning.However, there is one more thing you
need to do. You need to protect your child from the dangers that manytimes people don’t want to talk about.
Predators come in all shapes and sizes. Often, sexual abuse takes place inthe home or a place where they frequently go, and the abuse is from some-one you know and trust. Children may be told that they must keep theabuse a secret or their family will be killed or hurt or that they won’t bebelieved.
You need to commit to making time every day to listen to your child, payclose attention to their moods and open up conversations to all sorts of sub-jects, without judgment or punishment.
You must make sure your child knows that they can tell you anythingand you will protect them. They must never keep secrets about somethingthat does “not feel right.”
Children who are abused will suffer over and over again and are vulner-able to further attacks. They bear emotional scars that other predators willspot immediately.
HERE ARE A FEW WARNING SIGNS THAT SOMETHING MAY BE WRONG IN A CHILD’S LIFE:
1. Sudden change in behavior or grades2. Expensive gifts being given to your child or teen3. Dropping out of activities they used to enjoy4. Fear or depression5. For girls, a boyfriend considerably older6. Suddenly not wanting to spend time with certain people
without explanation
Children need to know that we are watching out for them. This goes forparents, aunts, uncles, teachers and everyone who comes into contact withchildren. We all have a responsibility to this most vulnerable group.
If you need help dealing with a situation, get help! Call the police, callrape hotlines, tell other people.
Do not let your own fear hold you back.
Diana Fletcher is the author of Happy onPurpose Daily Messages of Empowermentand Joy for Women, and Reduce Your StressMonth by Month Stress Reducing Strategies.
Her books are available on amazon.com in both printand Kindle versions. They are also available for theNook at barnesandnoble.com. Diana can be reachedthrough her website, www.dianafletcher.com or(412) 612-5977.
>
SPECIALNEEDSTRUSTS
andPLANNING
LEGALL FEESS WAIVED!$500 expense fee charged
Special Needs Planning legal fees normally are between $4,500 to $7,500 - these fees are waived
D’Onofrio Law Office, P.C.Moon Twp, PA
412.893.2552WHAT WILL HAPPEN TO YOUR SPECIALNEEDS CHILD IF SOMETHING SUDDENLYAND UNEXPECTEDLY HAPPENS TO YOU?
The YMCA of Greater Pittsburgh Offers Health Tips
The YMCA of Greater Pittsburgh— a leader in youth development andhealthy living—wants to help families in Pittsburgh understand therisks of childhood obesity and how to incorporate regular physical
activity and healthy eating into their lives. “At the YMCA of Greater Pittsburgh we want families to understand the
risks of childhood obesity and the lifetime benefits of eating right and get-ting physically active,” said Gretchen North, AVP, Healthy Living. “Smallchanges can make a big difference when it comes to healthy living and theY is a great place for families to get started.”
The following tips can help families live healthier:Eat Healthy: Make water the drink of choice (supplemented by 100 per-
cent fruit juices and low-fat milk) and have fruits and vegetables availableat every meal. Snack time should include foods that contain whole grainsand lean protein instead of saturated and trans fats.
Play Every Day/Go Outside: Kids and adults should have at least anhour a day of unstructured play outside (when possible) at least three timesa week by getting 20 minutes or more of physical activity.
Get Together: At least once a day families should dine together, withkids involved in meal preparation and clean up. In addition, adults shouldspend one-on-one time each day with their kids.
Reduce Screen Time: Time spent in front of a television, computer, cellphone and video game should be limited to two hours per day.
Sleep Well: Kids and adults need to keep a regular sleep schedule –10-12 hours per night for kids and seven to eight hours for adults.
The Allegheny YMCA, the Wilmerding YMCA and the HomewoodBrushton YMCA offers programs such as The Healthy Family HomeTraining Camp. This program helps families prevent obesity by engaging them in activities that support a healthy lifestyle.
Incentives like family memberships are offered to participants at no cost.Groups are now forming. To learn more, contact Gretchen North at (412) 227-3820 or [email protected].
>
Is Your Child inDanger?
32 GUIDE TO GOOD HEALTH www.guidetogoodhealth.com Fall 2012
Having a child diagnosed with autism can be a difficult time. As a par-ent or caregiver, one of the most important things to do is to educateyourself and become familiar with the developmental milestones of
your little ones’ life. As we know, there currently is not a cure for autism butwith early intervention and treatment, symptoms related to autism cangreatly improve.
Autism is a neurodevelopmental disorder that impacts the normal devel-opment of the brain in the areas of social interaction, communication skillsand cognitive function. Individuals diagnosed with the disorder experiencedifficulty with communication and social skills and often engage in repeti-tive patterns of behavior, interests or activities. Since the first diagnosis ofautism in 1943, we have learned a lot more about the disorder. In fact, doc-tors throughout the United States have seen and treated an increase inpatients with autism. Currently one in 88 children is diagnosed eachyear. A diagnosis can range from very mild to very severe and occur in allethnic, socioeconomic and age groups. However, males are four timesmore likely to have autism than females. Autism generally appears before
age 3, although some children can show no signs before age 1 or 2 and thensuddenly digress.
Early signs of autism:• No babbling by 12 months• No words by 16 months• No meaningful, two-word phrases by 24 months• Does not reach out to be picked up• Does not smile when smiled at• Lack of interest in playing with other children• Little or no eye contact• Does not ask for help or make other basic requests• Fixates on an activity or object
If you have concerns and would like to have your child evaluated, inAllegheny County call The Alliance for Infants & Toddlers at (412) 885-6000. In Westmoreland County, call Westmoreland CaseManagement & Supports, Inc. at (724) 837-1808. Ask that ACHIEVA be your early intervention provider.
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The inclusion of young children withspecial needs into child care centersand preschools has been encour-
aged internationally as a positive means ofenhancing early development. Alsoknown as “blended child care,” inclusiveprograms offer children with and withoutdisabilities the chance to participate in thesame routines and play experiences. “AChild's VIEW: Vision In ExtraordinaryWays” is an early childhood center locat-ed on the Oakland campus of the WesternPennsylvania School for Blind Childrenproviding comprehensive blended childcare opportunities for typically develop-ing children and those with visual impairmentsages 6 weeks to 5 years. This innovative programis designed to benefit all children, no matter theirability levels or sensory deficits.
The benefits of blended child care program-ming have great impact on all young childrenwhether they have special needs or are typicallydeveloping. Children naturally become aware ofdifferences and similarities between themselvesand their peers. As they play and learn together,
they develop a sense that everyone, regardless ofskill level, has an important contribution.
OTHER BENEFITS INCLUDE:• Children develop an appreciation of diversi-
ty rather than taught to do so later on in life• They learn to respect their differences
while cultivating empathy and sensitivity toothers
• Children thrive in an environment wherean emphasis is placed on being responsive toindividual strengths and needs
Understanding the advantagesof an inclusive child care environ-ment, the Western PennsylvaniaSchool for Blind Children intro-duced an integrated child careprogram in 2012 that blendsyoung children with visualimpairments with typically devel-oping sighted peers. At “A Child’sVIEW”, we recognize children asdistinct individuals with specialinterests, challenges and abilitylevels. The uniquely qualifiedstaff continually makes creativemodifications to routines and
activities so that each child benefits from partici-pating. Each day we strive to meet the needs ofeach child and work with our parents to maintaina partnership that helps every boy and girl reachhis or her full potential.
For more information on A Child’s VIEW,please visit the Western PennsylvaniaSchool for Blind Children’s website at
www.wpsbc.org or call (412) 621-0100.
Everyone Benefits From Inclusion During Early Childhood DevelopmentWestern Pennsylvania School for Blind Children Introduces
“A Child’s VIEW: Vision In Extraordinary Ways” Blended Child Care Program
>
Thanks to Pace,
I am more focused and
enjoy coming to school.
Butler:116 Browns Hill RoadValencia, PA 16059724-903-0083 www.paceschool.org
Pace Programs teach children with emotional disorders and autism to
break through social and emotionalbarriers to school success.
Churchill:2432 Greensburg PikePittsburgh, PA 15221412-244-1900
CHILDREN’S HEALTH
Early Signs of Autism
We are looking for babies and toddlers who are normally developing, ages 6 to 17 months, for a study lookingat how babies and toddlers respond to sounds.The study will take place at the University of Pittsburgh.
Please call 412-383-6570 for more information.
Compensation for participation and parking will be provided.
If you don't have an estate plan at all, or are worried that your previous plan is notappropriate, your next step should be to contact Attorney John A. D’Onofrio today at
(412) 893-2552 or at [email protected]’Onofrio Law Office, P.C. is located in Moon Township, PA and can be found on the web at www.donofriolawoffice.com.
Fall 2012 www.guidetogoodhealth.com GUIDE TO GOOD HEALTH 33
What Will Happen to Your Special Needs Child ifSomething Happens to You?
By Attorney John A. D’Onofrio
The one question that I receive ona daily basis, as a Special NeedsAttorney, is “what will happen
to my special needs child if somethinghappens to me?”
Where will my Special Needs Childlive? Who will take care of my child ona daily basis? How will my SpecialNeeds Child get to doctors’ appoint-ments, school, or to other activities?Where will the money come from forhousing, clothing, food, medicalneeds, and other necessities?
Special Needs Parents need to planin advance for the support and protec-tion of their Special Needs Child. Donot wait until you are older, like mostpeople who for some reason or anoth-er think that they will live forever. Thetime to plan is now!
Keep in mind that unlike a healthychild, a Special Needs Child will notbe able to fend for himself or herselfand thus the plan that you put intoplace is going to answer that mostimportant question asked above.
A good Special Needs Plan consistsof a Last Will and Testament, GeneralDurable Power of Attorney, and a Living Will for each parent as well as aSpecial Needs Trust and other ancillary documents. Together these docu-ments will provide for monies, a Guardian, Custodian, and Trustee for theSpecial Needs Child and will also ensure that the Special Needs Child willnot lose his or her government benefits if the documents are drafted prop-erly and implemented correctly.
This short article is meant to get you thinking about your estate plan andthe many options available to ensure your Special Needs Child's care whenyou are no longer here.
>
A good Special Needs Plan
consists of a Last Will and
Testament, General Durable
Power of Attorney, and a Living
Will for each parent as well as
a Special Needs
Trust and other ancillary
documents.
34 GUIDE TO GOOD HEALTH www.guidetogoodhealth.com Fall 2012
For children and parents, the beginning of the school year is a time ofanticipation and excitement. However, as the school year progresses,it can be challenging to keep children, especially young children,
excited about school. Barbara Pergar, a teacher at The Early LearningInstitute’s (TELI) Ohio Valley Learning Center, has these tips to keep thelines of communication open between children and parents.
1. Talk to your children about school – One of the most importantthings that a parent can do to help their child be successful in school is toknow what’s happening, especially in these days of bullying. Unfortunately,even small things like classmates making fun of a child’s clothing can set thetone for the rest of the school year. Talk to your child and ask plenty ofquestions about their school experience. If the child doesn’t like school,find out exactly what the child doesn’t like.
2. Journaling – Keeping a short, simple school journal with your childis a great way to continually talk about school on a daily or weekly basis.The journal doesn’t have to be a novel. It can simply be a few short sen-tences, pictures, art projects, drawings, fill-in-the blank questions, etc. Askchildren questions such as “What did you like about school this week?”“What did you not like about school this week?” “What did you learn?”“What were some of your great accomplishments?” For little kids, thishelps with their verbal abilities. It’s almost like creating a joint diarybetween the parent and child.
3. Capitalize on the positive – Parents need to capitalize on what chil-dren do like about school, rather than what they don’t. A lot of times, kidsget wrapped up in what they don’t like and can be negative about school.
Children take great pride in their work, so talk about their accomplishmentsand successes as often as possible.
4. Acknowledge anxieties – We’re all anxious about different things.We shouldn’t deny any anxieties, but help children to understand how towork through anxiety. It is a good idea to act out scenarios that make chil-dren anxious so they can practice a response/behavior. For example, chil-dren can get anxious about being able to find their room, having a toy takenfrom them by another child, being able to get dressed and undressed whenhaving to use the restroom, etc. If you discuss a child’s anxieties and a planof action before they occur, children feel safer when a situation arises.
If your kid is feeling anxious about school either at the beginning of theyear or during the school year, it’s a good idea to look at yourself as a par-ent. It is very possible that parents who are continually anxious about theirchild’s school experience can pass along their feelings of anxiety to theirchildren. The best way to combat negative school experiences and to keepthem from reoccurring is to keep the lines of communication open withchildren.
The Early Learning Institute’s early learning centers are located inKennedy Township (Ohio Valley Learning Center) and in WilkinsTownship (Penn Center East). For more information, please visitwww.telipa.org or call (412) 922-8322.
Back to School Keys for Successfor Children and Parents
>
• In-home and community-based Early Intervention programs
• Customized programs to meet the unique needs of every child:
— Physical Therapy
— Occupational Therapy
— Speech/Language Therapy
— Educational services includingvision and hearing
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Serving Children for Over 50 Years
The Early Learning Institute
Serving all of Allegheny County • telipa.org • 412.922.8322
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Fall 2012 www.guidetogoodhealth.com GUIDE TO GOOD HEALTH 35
By Philip Buttenfield, LCSW, JD
Withdrawal from drug or alcohol dependency is extremely stress-ful, both physically and emotionally. Physical symptoms includemuscle pain, bone aches, headaches, vomiting, tremor, diarrhea,
cravings, seizures, sleep disorders and loss of appetite. Psychological symp-toms, which can last longer than the physical discomfort of withdrawal,include anger, shame, grief, guilt, low self-esteem and extreme moodiness.The pain of these symptoms often drives the addict back into using again.
Empirical reports from Reiki programs in recovery centers indicate thatReiki can be a powerful adjunct to more traditional methods of withdraw-al. The calming effect of a Reiki treatment helps the recovering addict torelax, which alleviates the intensity of his or her physical symptoms.Concomitantly, the peacefulness and compassion communicated by thegentle touch of the Reiki practitioner creates a safe space for emotionalhealing to begin. Many people in recovery have reported experiencinga feeling of unconditional acceptance during a Reiki session. Awarenessthat one is not being judged is an essential foundation for resolving psy-chological issues.
Furthermore, there is a considerable body of evidence indicating thatwhen an individual is calm and relaxed, and feels supported, there is less ofa tendency to fall into automatic patterns of behavior and thought. (For theperson in recovery, such automatic behaviors most often include seeking
recourse to drugs or alcohol.) The mind is less defensive, more open. Theindividual is more objective, more creative. This allows a recovering alco-holic or addict (or anyone, for that matter) to address painful, difficultissues in a more skillful manner.
This effect occurs not only in the initial withdrawal stages, but in thelonger term. As life involves stress, regular Reiki treatments can assist theperson who is in recovery from addiction in learning to tolerate the “slingsand arrows of outrageous fortune”, in finding creative and constructiveways of managing stress, rather than falling back into the self-destructivepatterns of addiction.
The benefits of Reiki are available through self-treatment as well as treat-ment by a Reiki professional. Reiki can be learned in a weekend, at a rea-sonable cost.
Reiki for the Recovering Alcoholic and Addict
Philip Buttenfield is a principal of Key StoneReiki, an association of independent Reikipractitioners; see their website atwww.KeyStoneReiki.com. Philip also offers
psychotherapeutic and Reiki services through his private practice, Green Stone Therapies - www.greenstonetherapies.com. He can be reached at(412) 805-6811 or [email protected].
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“There has been this perception that teenagers in nice suburbs in nicehouses don’t use drugs, but that simply isn’t the case,” said Dr. NeilCapretto, Medical Director of Gateway Rehab. “Chemical addiction doesn’tdiscern between race, gender or family income. Simply, it doesn’t discrimi-nate. It cuts a swath across the suburbs as well as urban areas.”
Capretto added that, unfortunately, not only is drug abuse widespreadacross all our communities, but it is increasing. For that reason, he said it iscritical that family members understand that no one is immune from chem-ical addiction, and parents especially need to be vigilant in looking for thewarning signs.
“Parents, in particular, need to trust their gut,” Capretto said. “If theythink something is wrong, 99 percent of the time they’re right. The soonerthey act, the better. At Gateway Rehab, we have a 20-year history of suc-cessfully treating thousands of adolescents with addiction issues. In thegreat number of those cases, parents tell us they suspected problems longbefore they sought help for their child. It’s important to get ahead of theproblem.”
Capretto offered some tips for families when they suspect a child has an chemical addiction problem.
• Know your kids: By knowing your child well, you are more likely torecognize a change in behavior.
• Know your kid’s friends: Peer pressure is still an influencing factor intoday’s society. If their close friends - especially their best friends - are usingdrugs, warning sirens should be going off.
• Be a role model: Your behavior sends messages to your kids. Parentswho indulge in excessive alcohol or drug use open the door for their chil-dren to follow suit. These parents are much less effective in providing posi-tive support for their children.
• Learn all you can about alcohol and drug addiction and theprocess of recovery. Addiction is a family disease. If a child is involved intreatment, the entire family needs to be involved in the recovery. Attendfamily educational and therapy meetings.
• Investigate drug and alcohol rehabilitation clinics before mak-ing a commitment. It is important that you find a clinic where the treat-ment staff is passionate about the organization’s mission. A quality staff iscritical, and you want one that works very closely with families and rec-ognizes addiction as a family disease.
Capretto said it is important to recognize addiction as a chronic diseasethat requires lifelong management.
“A brief stay in a rehab clinic will not totally fix things for the rest of aperson's life,” Capretto said. “At Gateway Rehab, we are continuallyresearching and looking for new and innovative ways to treat addiction.For example, when we recently constructed our new, state-of-the-artYouth Services Center, we made sure it was not only a physically attractivespace, but one that accommodates the needs of addiction treatment in the21st Century, and builds on Gateway Rehab’s tradition of therapeuticexcellence.”
While it is important to get an addicted individual into treatment asquickly as possible, Capretto notes that caregivers also have a responsibil-ity to their personal well-being.
“Dealing with a loved one who has the disease of addiction can take itstoll on any member of the family, so I encourage family members to gethelp for themselves, as well,” Capretto said. “Thatmay include working with a therapist as well asbeing involved with family groups such as Al-Anon or Nar-Anon. It is important that you takecare of your mind body and spirit. The better youtake care of yourself, the better able you are totake care of a loved one.”
For more information, contact GatewayRehab at 1-800-472-1177 or visitwww.gatewayrehab.org.
ADDICTION
MYTH: Teenage Addiction is Relegated to the Inner City Males
FACT: Teenage addiction is equally prevalentin the suburbs among boys and girls.
>Dr. Neil Capretto
36 GUIDE TO GOOD HEALTH www.guidetogoodhealth.com Fall 2012
There are those who have theconfidence and the sense ofmission that leads them to
accept great challenges and find theresources to accomplish their goals.The founders of Verland are justsuch people. Established in 1978 asa non-profit residential agency forindividuals with intellectual disabil-ities, Verland was created by threewomen who were motivated bycompassion for children in theirown lives with such disabilities.They are Carol B. Mitchell, TheoHanzel O’Neil and Nancy D.Chalfant. Together, their persever-ance overcame daunting issues oflocation, funding and the regula-tions governing the support of per-sons with disabilities. On donatedland in Sewickley and with a $2 mil-lion bond issue and a loophole inthe regulations, Verland was born.
“In the 1970s, many facilitiestreating these individuals decidednot to deal with lower-functioningkids,” explained Virginia Hill, who
signed the incorporation papers forthe organization along with BobPrince and Eleanore “Sweetie”Nevin. “When the time came tophase these places out, there wasnowhere for the children to go. Wedidn’t want to put them in stateinstitutions, like Western Center,where there were already huge wait-ing lists.”
Carol Mitchell, an employee ofsuch a facility, knew there was a bet-ter way to treat these individuals.She was inspired by her connectionwith David Tresch, a young boy liv-ing at the facility she directed.“Those of us who started Verlanddid so because we wanted to helpsomeone we loved,” explainedMitchell, who is now the organiza-tion’s CEO. “I personally believethat all of us need help at times fromsomeone else, and people with dis-abilities especially need this sup-port. If their families can’t do it,there needs to be a place likeVerland.”
Hanzel O’Neil and Chalfant alsofound inspiration from their chil-dren, Andrew Hanzel and VerlindaChalfant. Though both were severe-ly challenged, their bravery and loveinspired their mothers to join withMitchell to create a better place for‘God’s most challenged people.’“Verland might not have come intobeing if the three of us had not metone another,” said Hanzel O’Neil ofthe organization’s founding. Whenground was broken in 1979, thewomen honored Verlinda, Andrewand David’s contributions by nam-ing the organizationwith a part ofeach of their names.
In January 1981, Verland formal-ly opened its doors on 14 acres ofland in Sewickley that was donatedby Helen F. Grove. Continuing togrow, Verland’s main campusincludes 10 large homes, and anAdult Training Center. It is now anIntermediate Care Facility (ICF) forthose with profound disabilities.There are also 37 other communityhomes in four counties, supportedby three training facilities, and oneIntermediate Care Facilities for per-sons who have physical disabilitiesonly - all under Verland’s auspices.
“We provide 24 hour residentialservices, and physical, occupation-al, speech and hearing, equestrian,aquatic and music therapies,” saidMitchell. “We also provide all med-ical and nursing services that ourclients need, including medical spe-cialties on a consulting basis fromdentistry to neurology.”
Verland currently serves 222individuals, with an average age of50. “When we first started we hadmore children, but our average agehas increased over the years,” saidMitchell. “More services are nowprovided for children with intellec-tual disabilities, so not as many peo-ple come to us at a young age.”
According to Virginia Hill,Verland provides a dignified, lovingplace for people with challenging
medical conditions who can’tbe cared for at home. “Because ofthe wonderful supports they’vereceived, many of the Verlandershave lived full, wonderful lives farlonger than they were expected to,”she said. David Tresch’s brother,John, added “The people who workat Verland obviously care abouttheir clients—they are concernedabout their welfare and it shows. Iknow that my brother receives out-standing care; I couldn’t hope tofind anywhere better.” David is now56, and still makes his home atVerland.
Mitchell believes it takes a specialperson to work at Verland. “Youhave to be very compassionate andhave a really warm heart to workwith our clients,” she said. “But asMother Teresa said: ‘It is an honor tobe invited to help with God’s workon earth.’ I believe that we’re doingGod’s work here.” To continue theirmission, Verland relies on donationsand holds several annual fundrais-ers. There is the Verland - JohnSiciliano State of the Heart™ GolfTournament held in June and theVerland Annual Open at The Clubat Nevillewood in August. Also,visit www.verland.org for details.
Mitchell hopes for continuinggrowth to help some of the thou-sands of people with intellectualdisabilities still on waiting lists inPennsylvania and the nation. “Atthe time we started, we neverthought the success we see todaywas possible,” said Hanzel O’Neil.“A lot of this is because of Carol; shenever stops working and neverstops pushing for Verland.”
For more information onVerland, call (412) 741-2375 or visit the websitewww.verland.org.
(Sadly, co-founder, Nancy DoyleChalfant, who was very active in sup-porting many other charitable organi-zations in addition to Verland, passedaway in April 2012.)
We’ve Got Something That Will Move You
Wheelchair accessible vans for sale or for rent, scooter lifts, hand controls and much more.
Phone: 412-824-8091
New and pre-owned vans ready for sale.
We’ve Got Something That Will Move You
Stowage lifts for scooters and power chairs.
The Verland StoryMaking a difference in the lives of thosewith intellectual and physical disabilities.
LIVING WITH A DISABILITY
“We provide 24 hour
residential services, and
physical, occupational, speech
and hearing, equestrian,
aquatic and music therapies.
We also provide all medical
and nursing services that our
clients need, including
medical specialties on a
consulting basis from
dentistry to neurology.”
-Carol Mitchell
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For more Health News You Can Use, visit us online at www.guidetogoodhealth.com
Fall 2012 www.guidetogoodhealth.com GUIDE TO GOOD HEALTH 37
By Lance Alexander
There are manyoptions fromwhich to choose
when deciding how tobest transport yournew mobility scooterdevice. The best optionis usually determinedby having a profession-al Certified MobilityConsultant (CMC)perform a needs analy-sis with you. He/shewill ask questionsabout your physicalabilities and limita-tions, anticipated typeand frequency of use, the scooteritself and the type of vehicle beingused to transport it. Once the CMCknows that information, they canrecommend adaptive equipment thatis compatible with your vehicle, yourscooter and your lifestyle.
Sometimes a client will simply usea scooter lift that is concealed in thetrunk of a car or cargo area of anSUV. Other times an external liftmounted to a tow hitch may be indi-cated. And there is always the optionof getting a lowered floor minivanwith an automatic ramp. The doorand ramp can be operated remotelyfrom a key fob, so the scooter opera-tor can simply drive right inside totransfer.
A scooter should never be occu-pied during transport. Four point tiedowns or a scooter docking stationshould always be used to secure a
scooter, to assure that it neverbecomes a projectile in the event ofan accident.
When selecting any adaptive dri-ving equipment for your scooter,always make sure that it is FMVSSand NHTSA compliant. For furthersafety assurance, make sure thatthe equipment is supplied by aNMEDA member in good stand-ing. This will make certain that theequipment meets all federal safetystandards, and is installed by anaccredited Quality AssuranceProgram distributor.
Lance Alexander is theGeneral Manager atMobilityWorks located inWall, PA. For additional infor-
mation, contact MobilityWorks at 877-857-9759, email [email protected] visit www.mobilityworks.com.
I’m Getting a Mobility Scooter ... Now How Do I Transport It?
PHOTO COURTESY OF BRUNO INDEPENDENT LIVING AIDS.
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Verland’s 47 Pittsburgh Region homes support independence in community living arrangements.
Known for its home-like quality and caring staff, Verland provides day programs and therapeutic activities, as well
as 24-hour nursing for those with serious needs.
Verland has many employment opportunities in several locations.Call today to learn more.
Verland - State-of-the-Heart Services Verland - State-of-the-Heart Services in Western Pennsylvania for 34 yearsin Western Pennsylvania for 34 years
Blind & Vision Rehabilitation Services LaunchesProgram for Adults with Disabilities
Through a grant from the Highmark Local Workforce Initiative Fund,a donor advised fund of The Pittsburgh Foundation, Blind and VisionRehabilitation Services of Pittsburgh (BVRS) is offering a new program toprepare adults with disabilities for employment. Participants will learnskills necessary for using computers to find and apply for jobs online andskills to market themselves to employers, along with interviewing prepa-ration and organizing job searches.
For more information, contact Diane Celidonia at 412-368-4400 ext.2229 or [email protected].
Senior GuideWestern Pennsylvania Senior & Boomer
Guide to Home Health Care & Wellness
Home Health And Hospice Services
1.888.266.8211
Providing exceptional healthcareis the guiding principle for whatwe do as a home health agency
serving Allegheny, Washington,Beaver, and Westmoreland Counties.Because of our commitment toimprove the quality of life and therecovery process for our patients, weare introducing a new specializedtherapy treatment program.
This innovative therapy addressesa wide range of health conditions.These non-surgical, medication-freeprograms use patterned electricalneuromuscular stimulation (PENS),infrared therapy, and therapeuticultrasound also known as therapeu-tic modalities with proven treat-ment techniques resulting in better
care and quality of life for you andyour loved ones.
Professional, Collegiate SportTeams and Olympians have utilizedthis type of therapy for many yearsto improve recovery following aninjury. For many years, skilled nurs-ing facilities and rehabilitation cen-ters as part of their treatment planhave included this advanced thera-py. It has been essential in meetingthe complex needs of aging adultsfollowing a hospitalization.
Our new treatment programs arebased on scientific research andaddress a wide range of conditionsto include: Pain Management; JointReplacement Recovery (Hip andKnee); Stroke Recovery; Knee
Osteoarthritis; Rheumatoid Arth-ritis; Chronic Obstructive Pulmon-ary Disease; Heart Failure; BladderControl; Strength and Balance;Neuropathy; Wound Healing; andNeuromuscular Conditions (i.e.Parkinsons).
The equipment used in our spe-cialized treatment programs havebeen used safely and effectively withpeople of all ages. These proventherapies are comfortable and welltolerated by most people.
By decreasing pain, inflammationand edema, our state-of-the-arttherapeutic equipment canincrease patient comfort forother rehabilitation techniques.They can also help therapists
treat more complex conditions,increase strength, accelerate recov-ery and improve neuromuscularcontrol in patients with orthopedicand neurological diagnoses.
We want the community and ourarea medical professionals to knowwe are committed to quality careand progressive therapy techniques.Our healthcare team is really excit-ed about these new programs. Weare convinced it is going to make adifference in the lives of our patientsand their families.
For more information, contactChristina Lonigro, CommunityLiaison, Interim HealthCare,Inc., at (412) 436-2200 or
Interim HealthCare Announces New Innovative Therapy in the Home
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38 GUIDE TO GOOD HEALTH www.guidetogoodhealth.com Fall 2012
Fall 2012 www.guidetogoodhealth.com GUIDE TO GOOD HEALTH 39
By Lucy Novelly
Recently, the local HomeInstead Senior Care officesintroduced an approach to
help area families manage the chal-lenges of Alzheimer’s and otherdementias. Called the Alzheimer’s orOther Dementias CARE: ChangingAging through Research andEducationSM Training Program, itoffers a personal approach to helpfamilies care for seniors withAlzheimer’s disease at home, where60 to 70 percent live, according tothe Alzheimer’s Association.
The foundation of the Alzheimer’sCARE Training Program is anapproach called “Capturing Life’sJourney®” that involves gatheringstories and experiences about thesenior to help CAREGivers providecomfort while honoring the individ-ual’s past. Because people withAlzheimer’s disease have difficultywith short-term memory, the Cap-turing Life’s Journey approach tapsinto long-term memory. The HomeInstead Senior Care network assem-bled the top experts in Alzheimer’sdisease to develop the CAREapproach, including geriatrician Dr.Eric Rodriquez, an associate profes-
sor of medicine in the geriatrics divi-sion of the University of Pittsburgh.
While area offices offer free com-munity workshops to train familycaregivers, their own professionalCAREGivers began extensive train-ing, too. At the South Hills andWashington County offices, morethan 80 percent of the CAREGivershave participated.
“We have made this training a pri-ority, because statistics show thatnearly half of people aged 85 andolder have Alzheimer’s disease orother dementias. For our CARE-Givers to be able to manage behav-iors, engage their clients in meaning-ful activities while keeping themhappy and safe is a priceless accom-plishment for our clients, their fami-lies and our company,” said MargeMacNeal, Manager of CAREGiverRelations at that office.
By the end of the year, almost halfof the CAREGivers at the Oakmontoffice will be trained.
“One CAREGiver shared her storyof how she carried on a conversationwith her client concerning the babyshe believed she was caring for. Atthe end of the conversation, theclient was smiling with joy, becauseher CAREGiver was relating to what
she believed to be true,” said KathyLenart, co-owner of the OakmontHome Instead office.
The Munhall and Jeannette officeshave dozens of CAREGivers trainedand are holding training monthly.Other area offices in Forest Hills,Coraopolis and Beaver and ButlerCounties have begun training theirCAREGivers as well.
LucyNovelly isFranchiseOwner
and CEO of HomeInstead SeniorCare. For moreinformation, con-tact Home InsteadSenior Care at 1-866-996-1087 orvisit the website at www.homeinstead.com/greaterpittsburgh.
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A New Approach to Alzheimer’sDisease Training and Education
40 GUIDE TO GOOD HEALTH www.guidetogoodhealth.com Fall 2012
Trusted by families and theirphysicians for compassionateHospice & Palliative Careservices since 1981.
To learn more about VNA Hospice & Palliative Care services,visit our website at www.vna.com or call toll-free 877-862-6659.
HOSPICEC A R E
3Y E A R S
By LuAnn Onufer, RN, BSN
Hospice has many benefits and services to offer individuals with a lifelimiting illness. Many individuals think of cancer when they think ofhospice but as we age, what was once a chronic illness can become
life limiting.Hospice can provide pain management. A hospice nurse begins assessing
pain from the very first visit. The individual, physician, pharmacist andnurse come up with a pain management plan that fits the individuals needsbased on type of pain, and ability to swallow. Pain medication can be in theform of pills that are taken orally, gels that can be rubbed on the person’s skinand liquids for under the tongue.
Hospice care may be delivered in a number of settings. Care is deliveredbased on patient need rather than where they reside. Therefore a hospicepatient can receive nursing visits, aide visits for personal care, Chaplain forspiritual and socialization needs and a social worker for counseling, support,and referrals to community services for additional services in the home.Hospice Volunteers are available to sit with the patient while the caregiverruns errands or to socialize.
The hospice admission process involves a visit by a hospice worker tomeet with the patient and family and exchange information about what theindividual’s needs are and what hospice can provide. There is no charge forthis service. If the individual and there family decide that hospice is for thema registered nurse visits and does a physical assessment, reviews medicationsand gets a medical history. The nurse then calls the patient’s physician forreview. The person’s physician will still remain in charge of the person’s careand will work with the hospice Medical Director to assure optimal care.
The patient and family should make the decision to choose hospice alongwith their physician when there are no more treatment options, the patientchooses not to pursue aggressive treatment, or wantsto reduce emergency room visits and hospitaliza-tions.
Families are often the one’s to approach the physi-cian and ask for hospice. Patients and families canstart the conversation and ask their physician whattheir options are.
LuAnn Onufer is the Director of Compliance atGateway Hospice. For more information, visitwww.gatewayhospice.com.
Start the ConversationAAsskk PPhhyyssiicciiaannss WWhhaatt YYoouurr HHoossppiiccee OOppttiioonnss AArree
Is it Time forHospice?
by Debbie Kaylor
When the “H” word, Hospice, ismentioned, it often brings a lotof feelings and emotions along
with it. Initially, they are not always posi-tive. They may catch people off guard andconsist of overwhelming feelings of fear,thoughts of giving up, and even impendingdoom. Although these are very real feel-ings at a time when someone is alreadyvulnerable from having a disease andrecent, often exhausting treatment, these thoughts could not be further fromthe truth.
To understand this, it’s important to know what hospice is really all about.Hospice care is for those with a life-limiting illness who have made the dif-ficult decision to focus on comfort rather than cure. It’s an empoweringchoice to take control of the care you receive with an emphasis on makingthe most of the time you have left. It not only addresses physical needs,but also the emotional and spiritual needs of the patient, as well as thoseof their loved ones through education and support.
So, when should you decide to choose hospice? By choosing to havehospice involved earlier rather than later, patients and families can optimizetheir quality of life, share in important decision-making and delivery of care,improve communication throughout the process and preserve the dignity of
loved ones. Making the decision toutilize hospice care greatly lessens theanxiety that comes from waiting untilthe last minute to seek help.
The choice to receive hospice care isup to the patient, but usually involvesinput from one’s physician and familymembers. The key to successfullymanaging your affairs is being able totalk openly with others about health-care decisions, financial and legal mat-ters, and spirituality and counselingconcerns.
For patients who are no longerreceiving or seeking aggressive, cura-tive treatment, hospice can work withyour physician to provide comfort and
pain management. This type of care helps patients feel better and helps fam-ilies enjoy their remaining time together.
There is no doubt that making the choice to accept the benefits of hospiceis difficult. Once made, the benefits outweigh alter-native options and many wonder, “Why didn’t I callhospice sooner?”
Deborah Kaylor, RN, BSN, is Director ofCustomer Relations with VNA, WesternPennsylvania. For more information on hospice care, you can reach Deborah at
(724) 431-3283, email [email protected] visit the website www.vna.com
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Health-Focused Businesses! Case ManagersIf you need more copies of the Guide To Good Health for your patients, call (412) 835-5796 or e-mail [email protected]
Fall 2012 www.guidetogoodhealth.com GUIDE TO GOOD HEALTH 41
By Lisa Conway, MSW, LSW
Through my work as a socialworker with Celtic Health-care, I have learned a lot
about death, dying, and grief. Inworking with hundreds of familiesand talking to many in the commu-nity, I have realized that people donot fully understand what exactlyhospice is. When I think of hospice,however, I think of compassion,love, dignity, and quality of life.
I know that there are many mythsthat are floating around out thereand my hope is that through writingthis article, I can educate the com-munity about the benefits of hos-pice and help people to understandthat hospice is all about makingyour loved ones comfortable, painfree, and hopefully supporting youand them so they can die with dig-nity and peace.
Hospice consists of a team of pro-fessionals from different specialtieswho coordinate and provide a vari-ety of services and care to thepatient and their family. Yes, I said,“AND their family”. As hospice spe-cialists, we believe it is important tosupport the family during this timein order for them to work throughthe upcoming loss.
The hospice team consists of
Registered Nurses, LicensedPractical Nurses, Nurse's Aides,Chaplains, Social Workers,Admissions Directors, BereavementCounselors, Volunteers, and many,many more people behind thescenes.
The team members make ongo-ing visits and assess the patient andfamily to determine their needs.Whatever those needs are, we doour best within our capacity to helpmeet those needs.
Who can have hospice services?
Many people believe that one hasto have been diagnosed with cancerto get hospice services, but this isnot entirely true. Most times peoplecringe when they hear the word“hospice”. People think that a per-son has to be literally on their“death bed” in order to get services,but this could not be further fromthe truth. A person can qualify forhospice services if they have beendiagnosed with a terminal illnessand given a prognosis of six monthsor less to live.
Let me make one thing clear,there is no limit on how long a per-son can be on hospice. The teammakes ongoing assessments tomake sure the patient is still appro-
priate for the service and qualifiesunder their insurance.
Some of the diseases that we seein hospice are: End Stage Dementia/Alzheimer’s, Chronic Lung Disease(i.e. COPD), Renal Failure, all dif-ferent Cancers, End Stage CardiacDiseases, Parkinson’s disease, andmore.
Where are the servicesprovided?
Hospice services are providedwherever the patient is. Thatincludes thepatient’s home, apersonal care home,assisted living, andyes, even in the areanursing homes.Hospice providesany medical equip-ment the familyneeds to take care ofthe patient as well as
some select medicationsrelated to the patient’s diag-nosis and pain issues. All ofthese are overseen by theRegistered Nurse and thetreating physician.
The ultimate goal of hos-pice is to help provide thepatient with some quality oflife for whatever time theyhave left. Those whose fam-ily members have been onour hospice and died mostfrequently comment thatthey wish they had gotten
their loved ones on the programsooner.
There are multiple benefits to onegoing on hospice early in receivingtheir terminal diagnosis. One is thatpain can be managed much moreefficiently if it is taken care of earli-er. Also, the earlier the person getson the program, the more time theyhave to bond with the hospice team,empowering the team to anticipatethe person’s needs much sooner.
If you would likesomeone to speak toyou, your family, orfor a group, feel free
to contact Celtic Healthcareat [email protected] (800) 355-8894. LisaConway is BereavementCoordinator for CelticHealthcare.
Hospice Care: What is it Really?
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42 GUIDE TO GOOD HEALTH www.guidetogoodhealth.com Fall 2012
Therapeutic Technology Works toBridge the Generation Gap
By Stephanie Desmond
With the recent advances intechnology, it can be said thatthe generation gap is at an all-
time high. As grandparents, parents andchildren grow further apart, any chanceto bring them together is a rare opportu-nity. Some skilled nursing facilities areoffering one such occasion, in a veryunlikely place: the therapy gym.
Through the use of Accelerated CarePlus (ACP) rehabilitation equipment,Jefferson Hills Manor offers patients anextensive physical, occupational andspeech therapy regimen. One of themost modern and innovative productsoffered is the OmniVR virtual realityaugmented therapy system. This tech-nology is the first 3D “virtual rehabilita-tion” system designed specifically foraging adults and others with physical limitations. Those in the youngergeneration may compare it to a Nintendo Wii or Kinect for Xbox 360.
“It brings seniors into the new age, which is something they’d neverexperience otherwise,” said Sandra Voytko, the daughter of 96 year-oldpatient Olga Szoko. “I think it’s a wonderful tool; I wish we had one athome.”
Voytko experienced something any family can only dream of: their lovedone excelling in therapy and enjoying it. Her mother told her she could notwait to go to therapy, because she’s “good at it.” Beaming, Szoko explainedthat one of the games she played required her to “kick” away bugs from thescreen. At one of her last sessions, she hit a high score of 232 bugs, muchhigher than the average goal of 50. This and the rest of the games, such asbingo and volleyball, used on the OmniVR keep patients entertained andinterested while utilizing important rehab techniques.
“If our patients are not engaged, they quickly lose focus and don’t hittheir full potential,” commented Dr. Sean Leehan, medical director atJefferson Hills Manor.
The OmniVR uses a unique “time of flight” camera and specialized soft-ware that enters the patient into a computer simulated environment.Precise movement is captured in real-time then broadcasted on the largescreen. Therapeutic categories include seated exercis-es, upper extremity exercises, walking courses, cogni-tive activities and more. At the end of treatment, ther-apists receive a training summary that measures ongo-ing progress and performance.
Stephanie Desmond is the Admissions/ MarketingCoordinator at Jefferson Hills Manor. For moreinformation, call (412) 653-1128 or [email protected].
Jefferson Hills Manor patientOlga Szoko improves her mobil-ity with the OmniVR virtual reha-bilitation system and help fromPhysical Therapy AssistantMorgan Flickner.
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By Jessica Higgs
How we age is determined, inlarge part, by what we dowith our years. And a lot of
what we CAN do in our later years isdependent on our brain health.According to educator and worldrenowned author Paul Nussbaum,PhD, a Clinical Neuropsychologistwith the University of Pittsburgh,our brains have the capability toform new neurons until the day wedie. He has identified five compo-nents to a proactive brain-healthylifestyle which we, at ProvidencePoint, have incorporated into ourbrain health programs. They are:
• Socialization: Stay connected tofriends and family. Continue to meetnew people, engage in conversation,and find commonalities. Getinvolved in a church or communitygroup, to keep social circles—andour brains—healthy.
• Spirituality: Take control andfocus on your spirituality to givemeaning to life. Prayer, meditation orother forms of spiritual discovery,keep us grounded, and teach us howto deal with the stress of day-to-daylife.
• Mental stimulation: Stimulate,challenge, and keep your brainactive. Whether it’s reading, writing,developing a new hobby, or doingpuzzles—just keep on doing it.
• Nutrition: Eat a well-balanceddiet. It is good for the body and thebrain. Eating a diet rich in antioxi-dants and healthy fats helps the brainfunction properly as we age.
• Physical: With every heart beat,25 percent of your blood travels toyour brain. So exercise is vital.Research shows that physical activitylowers the risk of memory loss anddementia as we age.
Dr. Nussbaum says, “Exposure toenriched environments across yourlifespan will lead to new brain celldevelopment and increased cellularconnections.” In simple terms, itmeans we are never too old to learnor try something new. Just one newactivity can affect several of the fivecomponents of brain health. Forinstance, learning tai chi can havesocial, physical and mental benefits.Learning to cook a new cuisine canmentally challenge and nourish thebrain.
In short, keeping your brainhealthy is simple if you commit tolearning, doing, trying, and sharingthroughout your life.
Jessica Higgs is Fitness Coordinator atProvidence Point. For more information,
visit www.providencepoint.org.
At Providence Point, the components for brain healthare incorporated into programs like TasteSensations. Residents learnabout various cuisines, and inthe process learn new things,eat healthy, and socialize. ChefCameron Clegg talks aboutfood choices with DonnaViehman and Bonnie Amos.
Jessica Higgs, full-time FitnessCoordinator at Providence Point,works one-on-one with residentShirley Stevens. Jessica teacheswellness and fitness classes andspeaks about fitness and brain healthas part of Baptist Homes Society’soutreach programs.
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Visit our website at www.vcs.org
• Marian Manor (Greentree) 412-440-4300 • Vincentian Personal Care (McCandless) 412-366-1039• Vincentian de Marillac (Stanton Heights) 412-361-2833 • Vincentian Villa Retirement Community (McCandless) • Vincentian Home (McCandless) 412-366-5600 412-364-6592• Vincentian Regency (Allison Park) 412-366-8540 • Vincentian Rehabilitation Services 412-348-1593
Vincentian Collaborative System is a not-for-profit Catholic organization sponsored by the Sisters of Charity of Nazareth (formerly Vincentian Sisters of Charity). Vincentian provides a continuum of senior services
including independent living, personal care, memory care, skilled nursing and rehabilitation.
Five Ways To Boost Your Brain
Fall 2012 www.guidetogoodhealth.com GUIDE TO GOOD HEALTH 43
There may come a time when you need a hand getting
back on your feet. Presbyterian SeniorCare’s rehabilitation
services can help you transition from hospital to home
again. Experts in physical, occupational and speech
therapy, our specialists will map out a recovery plan
focused on your personal wellness goals.
We’ll help you regain your independence, so you
can get back to your life.
Where recovery is a moving experience.
www.SrCare.org Washington Campus1.866.797.6270
Oakmont Campus1.866.797.6233
REHABILITATION SERVICES
Check out our new website!www.SrCare.org
44 GUIDE TO GOOD HEALTH www.guidetogoodhealth.com Fall 2012
By David Straight
If you are age 65 or older,October 15th throughDecember 7th may be a
very important time periodfor you. It is your window ofopportunity to enroll in aMedicare Advantage Plan.
There is a lot of confusionregarding Medicare. Thetopic has become a focalpoint in this year’s presiden-tial election. Regardless ofyour political affiliation, thechoices you have during thisopen enrollment period arevery real and worthy of con-sideration.
There are many excellent options for Medicare-eligible seniors inWestern Pennsylvania. Medicare Advantage Plans have become very pop-ular. Thirty-eight percent of seniors in Pennsylvania have elected one ofthese plans, and the satisfaction levels are higher than with OriginalMedicare.
If you elect a Medicare Advantage plan (often referred to as Part C), youwill have insurance that covers all the services that Original Medicare(Part A and Part B) covers. Medicare Advantage plans often offer extracoverage including routine vision, hearing, and dental care and can costfar less than Original Medicare plus a Medicare Supplement or Medi-Gapoption. Many plan options also include Part D, which is the prescriptiondrug benefit.
Sorting out which approach or plan is right for you can be confusing.Consider working with an expert. Here are just a few ways you can feelconfident that you are working with qualified Medicare Advantage repre-sentative:
• Their services are always free and you are under no obligation • They are not permitted under Federal law to discuss other products
or services • They are often willing to accommodate you by meeting at your home
and will present identification• They welcome you to have trusted family members attend meetings• They will be prepared to look up your doctors and other medical
providers to help determine which plan will meet your needs • They will look up your prescription drugs to identify which plan
includes them in their preferred drug list or formulary At my firm, Matt Montgomery and Arlene Pushcar have been trained,
certified and are experts and have helped hun-dreds of seniors make the right choices.
David Straight is the President and CEO of Benefits Network, Inc., a leadinginsurance agency and consulting firm specializing in employee benefits,
property & casualty insurance, and individual andMedicare products. For more information, call(724) 940-9400 or visit the website at www.benefitsnetwork.biz.
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Medicare Advantage Plans havebecome very popular. Thirty-eight percent
of seniors in Pennsylvania have electedone of these plans, and the satisfaction
levels are higher than with Original Medicare.
Hey Seniors – It’s Medicare AdvantageOpen Enrollment SeasonWhat You Need to Know
Liken Home Care’s goal is to providesuperior service while enhancing theindependence, comfort, and dignity ofour clients.
Our Companions, Aides, LPNs andRNs have been helping individuals athome for over 35 years with: bathing,personal care, mobility, meals, lighthousekeeping, medication and more.
Our care managers provide a lifelinebetween families and their loved oneswith our Peace of Mind Program.
The region’s
most
trusted source
for care
in the home.
Call for a free consultation with our Care Management Team
(412) 816-0113Or visit our website: www.likenservices.com
46 GUIDE TO GOOD HEALTH www.guidetogoodhealth.com Fall 2012
One of the keys good healthand happiness as we age?Remaining engaged in the
world around us. Certainly that canbe more challenging over time butconnecting with your communitythrough your favorite civic activityor place of worship contributes tooverall health and wellness.
And during an election year, whatbetter way to engage than to get outand vote? The “buzz” surroundingElection Day this year is aboutPennsylvania's new Voter ID law,requiring every voter to present anacceptable form of photo identifica-tion prior to casting a vote. Whilethis may not be a big deal for mostvoters, questions abound regardinghow the new law affects seniors’ease of voting. Here’s helpful infor-mation from the PA Department ofState:
All photo IDs must contain anexpiration date that is current,unless noted otherwise. AcceptableIDs include:
• Photo IDs issued by the U.S.Federal Government or theCommonwealth of Pennsylvania
• PA Driver’s License or Non-dri-ver’s License photo ID (IDs are validfor voting purposes 12 months pastexpiration date)
• Valid U.S. passport• U.S. military ID- active duty and
retired military (a military or veter-an’s ID must designate an expirationdate or designate that the expirationdate is indefinite). Military depen-dents’ ID must contain an expira-tion date
• Employee photo ID issued byFederal, PA, PA County or PAMunicipal government
• Photo ID from an accredited PApublic or private institution of high-er learning, including colleges, uni-versities, seminaries, communitycolleges and other two-year colleges
• Photo ID issued by a PA carefacility, including long-term carefacilities, assisted living residencesor personal care homes
Don’t have one of the forms of IDlisted above? You may be entitled toa new photo ID free of charge at aPennDOT Driver License Center. Tofind the Center nearest you, visitPennDOT's Voter ID Website atwww.dmv.state.pa.us and click onthe “Voter ID Law “. The website atwww.VotesPA.com is a greatresource or you may call theDepartment of State's Voter IDHotline at 1-877-868-3772.
For more about PresbyterianSeniorCare’s accredited livingand care options, visit our
website at www.SrCare.org, follow uson Facebook, connect with us onLinkedIn or call (412) 828-5600.
>
The Voter I.D. Law and Seniors:Some Helpful Tips
Brought to you by PresbyterianSeniorCare and its Affiliates
Senior
LivingOptions
Fall 2012 www.guidetogoodhealth.com GUIDE TO GOOD HEALTH 47
Independent Living At It’s BestThe following amenities are provided in our monthly rental fee:
3 Meals per dayAll Utilities (except phone)HousekeepingLinens and TowelsLaundry FacilityTransportationLawn/Snow ServicePersonnel on site 24 Hours24 Hour Emergency Pull Cord Service
Discover Arrowood! Call 412-469-3330To Schedule Your Personalized Tour Today!
(Enjoy a Free Lunch)
Lewis Run Road in Pleasant Hills, near Century III Visit our website: www.southwesternhealthcare.com
48 GUIDE TO GOOD HEALTH www.guidetogoodhealth.com Fall 2012
Support forCaregiversBy Rafael J. Sciullo,
MA, LCSW, MS
As Angie and Donnaentered the room, theuncertainty on their
faces was readily apparent.They were feeling a littlelost, unsure, maybe evenintimidated. After all, theirhusband and father wascoming home from the hos-pital under hospice care.Norm’s illness had pro-gressed to the point wherehe just wanted to be comfortable,surrounded by those he loved.
Norm would need his wife anddaughter now more than ever. Theywere no longer only family – theywere now assuming the roles of pri-mary caregivers.
Maria, the Family Hospice andPalliative Care community liaisonwho met with Angie and Donna atthe hospital, suggested they attendour Family Hospice CompassionateCaregiver Training Session.
“You already know how to loveNorm,” Maria told them, “but you’reentering a crucial phase of his lifewith him. The training session willenable you to address his needs as apatient. You’ll learn how to help himbe comfortable.”
Compassionate Caregiver Trainingis an approximately two-hour ses-sion offered free to those with aloved one under Family Hospice’scare. Among the first programs of itskind nationally, the sessions aredesigned to provide knowledge,basic skills and confidence for thosecaring for their loved one at home.By the end of the session, caregiversare familiar with medical equipment,common medications and skills suchas positioning, bathing and feeding.
Compassionate Caregiver Trainingsessions began at our Center forCompassionate Care (inpatient cen-ter and administrative offices) in Mt.Lebanon. I am proud to report thatthe program has expanded in reachand is now available in several con-venient locations:
• The Center for CompassionateCare, 50 Moffett St., Mt. Lebanon(Tuesdays, 10 a.m.-Noon; and byappointment).
• The Center for CompassionateCare/Canterbury, 310 Fisk St.,Lawrenceville (by appointment).
• Grove City Medical Center, 631N. Broad St. Ext., Grove City(Fridays, by appointment).
• Longwood at Oakmont, 500Route 909, Verona (by appoint-ment).
• Family Hospice's AndersonManor, 1423 Liverpool St.,Pittsburgh's North Side (beginningFall, 2012).
The role of caregiver can be quitetaxing both physically and emotion-ally. The sessions also address theimportance of the caregiver takingcare of him or herself. This alignswith the hospice philosophy of car-ing for the patient and the patient’sloved ones.
Angie and Donna had hands-oninstruction. They asked a lot of ques-tions. And by the end of the session,they were visibly relieved and feltconfident in themselves that theycould provide the support that Normneeded.
“Along with honoring Norm’swishes for hospice, this is the bestthing we could have done,” saidAngie. “The educators at FamilyHospice were patient, understand-ing, and thorough. What we learned,down to the smallest detail, wasincredibly helpful. This has trulymade all the difference.”
Family Hospice and Palliative Care
Compassionate Caregiver Training provideshands-on instruction for those who care for
Family Hospice patients at home.
By Sue Janosko
In any given year, more than 50 millionpeople provide some level of caregivingservices, often for sick or frail family mem-
bers. According to the Bureau of LaborStatistics, their collective services are valuedat more than $315 billion annually. In addition, with an estimated 25 per-cent of every business’s workforce providing care to an older loved one,lost productivity due to the employees’ needs to address eldercare issuescost businesses on average $25 billion per year. Approximately 20% ofthese caregiving employees will utilize a family medical leave of absence orquit their jobs to provide care full-time care.
Caring for a loved one – whether full-time, part-time or long distance –takes a huge toll, both physically and emotionally, on the health of the fam-ily caregiver. It is now recognized that the stress of caregiving results in anynumber of long-term health effects for the family caregiver, includinginfectious diseases, depression, sleep deprivation and premature aging.Additionally, caregiving can result in constant anxiety, irritability or anger,feelings of detachment, numbness or exhaustion, withdrawal from usualactivities and negligence or even hatred of caregiving responsibilities. Theyoften end up more sick than the person for whom they are providing care.
TIPS FOR CAREGIVERS:• Schedule regular afternoons or evenings out. • If nothing else, take time each day for a phone conversation with
a friend or family member. • Eat nutritious meals. Avoid excess sugar and alcohol.• Get enough sleep. Take naps if necessary. • Exercise regularly, even if it means finding someone else to
provide care while walking or going to exercise class.• Join a support group, either locally or on the Internet.• Draw strength from faith if that is appropriate for the situation. • Find a time each day to relax and not provide care. • Plan a weekend getaway or a weeklong vacation.• Make a list of jobs that necessitate outside help and seek out
assistance; such as home care for respite or geriatric care management.• Hire ongoing home care to allow for consistent care, and for time
away from direct caregiving.
In celebration of National Family Caregivers Month this November,Liken Home Care wants to honor the family caregivers who unselfishlymake sacrifices in their own lives to provide care for their loved ones. Ourprofessional Care Managers and Patient Care Coordinators can assist thesefamilies to find a balance with their caregiving needs.
Call Liken Home Care today for more information at (412) 816-0113 or visit us on the web at www.likenservices.com.Sue Janosko is Director of Operations, Liken Home Care.
Family Caregiving:A Growing Social Issue
>
Rafael J. Sciullo, MA, LCSW, MS, is Presidentand CEO of Family Hospice and Palliative Care and Past Chairperson of the NationalHospice and Palliative Care Organization.
He may be reached at [email protected] or(412) 572-8800. Family Hospice and Palliative Careserves nine counties in Western Pennsylvania. More information at www.familyhospice.com and www.facebook.com/familyhospicepa.
CAREGIVERS CORNER
>PPrriinntt
ServicesServices• PUBLICATIONS AND REPORTS • FLYERS • NEWSLETTERS
• LOGOS • BUSINESS CARDS • ADVERTISEMENTS • COPYING SERVICES
Color Copies for as low as 35 cents per copy
Call 412-835-5796 or e-mail [email protected]
JMC PUBLICATIONS, PRINTING, GRAPHICS & DESIGN
Fall 2012 www.guidetogoodhealth.com GUIDE TO GOOD HEALTH 49
ALZHEIMER’S CARESchenley Gardens412-621-4200 www.schenleygardens.com
Woodside Place412-828-5600 www.SrCare.org
ASSISTED LIVINGSchenley Gardens412-621-4200 www.schenleygardens.com
Presbyterian SeniorCare1-888-448-5779 www.SrCare.org
HOME CARE/HOMEHEALTH/HOSPICEAnova Home Health Care Services, Inc.Pittsburgh - 412-859-8801Belle Vernon - 724-929-4712www.anovahomehealth.com
Celtic Healthcare1-800-355-8894 celtichealthcare.com
Comfort Keepers412-653-6100comfortkeepers.com
Family Hospice & Palliative Care1-800-513-2148www.familyhospice.com
Gateway Hospice412-536-2020 or 1-877-878-2244www.GatewayHospice.com
Home Instead Senior Care1-866-996-1087homeinstead.com/greaterpittsburgh
Hospice Care of The Washington Hospital724-250-4500www.washingtonhospital.org
Interim Health Care800-447-2030 www.interimhealthcare.com
Liken Health Care412-816-0113 • www.likenservices.com
SeniorLIFE1-877-998-LIFE (5433)Uniontown – 724-434-LIFE www.seniorlifeuniontown.comWashington – 724-222-LIFE www.seniorlifewashington.com
VNA Hospice & Palliative Care Services877-862-6659 www.vna.com
HOUSING- SPECIAL NEEDSVerland412-741-2375 • www.verland.org
INDEPENDENT LIVINGVincentian Villa RetirementCommunity (McCandless) 412-364-6592 www.vcs.org
Willow Heights1-866-812-1615 www.IntegraCare.com
OUTPATIENT REHABILITATIONVincentian Rehabilitation Services412-348-1593 www.vcs.org
PERSONAL CAREVincentian Personal Care(McCandless)412-366-1039 • www.vcs.org
PHARMACYHometown PharmacyExclusively offering Rx Map1-877-3RXMAPS www.myrxmap.com
RETIREMENT & SENIOR LIVINGArrowood at Southwestern412-469-3330www.southwesternhealthcare.com
Baptist Homes412-563-6550 • www.BaptistHomes.org
Newhaven Court at Clearview1-888-261-5753 • www.IntegraCare.com
Newhaven Court at Lindwood1-888-261-8178 • www.IntegraCare.com
Providence Point412-489-3560 • www.providencepoint.org
The Pines of Mt. Lebanon1-866-812-1615www.IntegraCare.com
The Residence at Willow Lane1-888-219-4180www.IntegraCare.com
SKILLED NURSING CARE & REHABILITATIONJefferson Hills Manor(412) 653-1128
Marian Manor (Greentree) 412-440-4300
Vincentian de Marillac (Stanton Heights) 412-361-2833
Vincentian Home (McCandless) 412-366-5600
Vincentian Regency (Allison Park) 412-366-8540
SENIORRESOURCES
Rx Map is offered exclusively byHometown Pharmacy your locally owned
and operated independent neighborhood pharmacy.
For additional information pleasevisit us at: www.myrxmap.com www.hometownpharmacy.biz
Or give us a call at 412-539-1331to speak with one of our
RxMap pharmacists.
CONFUSEDABOUT YOURMEDICATION?
• RxMap is a medication compliance packaging systemdesigned to alleviate the confusion out of taking multipledaily doses of medication.
• It’s a pill cup that can be tornout, it’s a calendar to keep your medications on schedule, andit’s reassurance for caregiversand patients that medicationare taken they way they were prescribed.
• With automatic refills, free delivery in the WesternPennsylvania area, and ongoingmedication reviews, it’s the bestway to ensure compliance withyour medication.
2103 Noblestown Road,Pgh, PA 15205
CALL412-539-1331
Seniors want to stay inthe place they call home.We can help.
In-Home ServicesFree Consultation Provided
1.866.996.1087homeinstead.com/greaterpittsburgh
Licensed by the PA Department of Health
Addiction TreatmentGateway Rehab1-800-472-1177www.GatewayRehab.org
Breast SurgeonNatalie Furgiuele-Iracki, M.D.724-942-0010www.radiancesurgerycenter.com
Cardiology/ Vascular CareJefferson CardiologyAssociation412-469-1500 www.jeffersoncardiology.com
Careers In HealthcareLake Erie College of Osteopathic Medicine814-866-6641 • www.lecom.edu
Children With Special NeedsACHIEVA412-995-5000 or 1-888-272-7229www.achieva.info
D'Onofrio Law Office, P.C.(412) 893-2552
The Alliance for Infants and Toddlers412-885-6000 • www.afit.org
The Early Learning Institute412-922-8322 • www.telipa.org
The Children's Home & Lemieux Family Center412-441-4884www.childrenshomepgh.org
New Story412-373-5235 Monroeville724-463-9841 Indianawww.newstory.com
Pace School412-244-1900www.paceschool.org
River Pediatric Therapies412-767-5967www.RiverPediatric.com
Wesley Spectrum Services412-342-2300www.wesleyspectrum.org
Western Pennsylvania School for Blind Children1-800-444-1897 • www.wpsbc.org
ChiropracticJennings ChiropracticDr. Amy M. Jennings, D.C.412-283-1060
Cosmetic SurgeryRadiance Plastic SurgeryLori Cherup, M.D., FACS412-220-8181 • www.drcherup.com
Diabetes Care St. Clair Hospital Diabetes Center412-942-2151 • www.stclair.org
Joslin Diabetes Center New Kensington – 724-367-2400Monroeville – 412-858-4475Bloomfield – 412-578-1724wpahs.org
Ear, Nose & Throat Washington Ear, Nose & Throat724-225-8995 www.washingtonent.net
Eye CareThe Cataract & Laser Institute of Pittsburgh412-616-1554 - www.cllofpa.com
Fitness CentersHealthTrax® Fitness & Wellness412-835-0500 www.healthtrax.com
Health InsuranceBenefits Network724-940-9400www.benefitsnetwork.biz
UPMC Health Planwww.upmchealthplan.com
HospitalsCanonsburg General Hospital 1-877-284-2000 • www.wpahs.org
Heritage Valley Health System1-877-771-HVHS (4847)www.heritagevalley.org
Jefferson Regional Medical Center412-469-5000www.jeffersonregional.com
Southwest Regional Medical CenterWaynesburg, PA 724-627-3101 www.sw-rmc.com
St. Clair Hospital412-942-4000 • www.stclair.org
The Washington Hospital724-225-7000 www.washingtonhospital.org
ImagingHealth EnhancingThermography1-855-254-4328 (HEAT)www.heat-images.com
Laboratory TestingQuest Diagnostics1-800-LAB-TEST (1-800-522-8378)QuestDiagnostics.com
Life CoachingDiana Fletcher724-733-7562 www.dianafletcher.com
Massage – TherapeuticAhhh a Massage Margie Webb, RN, NCTMB, LMT310 E. McMurray Rd, McMurray412-877-8569www.ahhhamassage.com
Medical EquipmentEagle Medical Equipment Corp7937 Steubenville Pike, Oakdale724-218-1051 www.pittmedicalsupply.com
MobilityWorks412-824-8091www.mobilityworks.com
Mental HealthSRMC Center for Recovery and Wellness 130 Greene PlazaWaynesburg, PA 15370724-627-2756
Natural Health Key Stone Reiki412-727-1731www.keystonereiki.com
Nutrition and LifestyleEnhancements
Nutrition UPaula Martinac, MA, MS412-760-6809www.NutritionU.net
The Real YouLindsey Smith724-882-2662www.TheRealYouNutrition.com
OB/GYNMcMurray OB/GYN Associates724-942-5420
Washington OB/GYN Associates724-225-3640www.washingtonobgyn.net
OrthopedicsAdvanced Orthopaedics & Rehabilitation1-800-828-CAST (2278)www.advancedorthopaedics.net
South Hills Orthopaedic Surgery Associates412-429-0880 or 888-817-2019www.southhillsortho.com
PediatricsPediatric Alliance, P.C.12 different locationswww.pediatricalliance.com
PharmaciesHometown PharmacyExclusively offering Rx Map1-877-3RXMAPS www.myrxmap.com
Physical and Spiritual Health Westminster Presbyterian Church2040 Washington RoadPittsburgh, PA 15241412-835-6630 www.westminster-church.orgWestminster seeks to be a caring com-munity of faith committed to bringingpeople to Christ and developing theirfaith through worshiping God togeth-er, teaching the faith, and serving inmission.
Westminster Recreation &Outreach Center (WROC)wroc.westminster-church.orgWROC Mission: "To reach out to peo-ple for Jesus Christ and develop theirfaith through recreational activitiesand Christian fellowship."
PhysiciansWashington Physician HospitalOrganization Provider NetworkSee pages 26-28
Physical TherapyOrthopedic & Sports PhysicalTherapy Associates, Inc.1-800-337-6452 www.osptainc.com
UPMC Centers for Rehab Services1-888-723-4CRS(4277)UPMC.com/4CRS
WESTARM Therapy & Homecare 800-291-5060www.westarmtherapy.com
PodiatryBeaver Valley Foot Clinic 724-772-3668 BVFootClinic.com
Primary Care PhysiciansPreferred Primary CarePhysicians Walter J. Robison, M.D.Ashith Mally, M.D.Stephanie Colodny, M.D.Madhavi Davuluri, M.D.724-941-8877 - www.ppcp.org
RadiologySouthwest Regional Medical CenterWaynesburg, PA 724-627-2622 • www.sw-rmc.com
Rehabilitation Novacare Rehabilitation159 Waterdam Road, McMurray724-942-1511Physical, Occupational and AquaticTherapy. Incontinence Rehab.Massage Therapy open to the public.
Special Needs, Adults & Children
Blind & Vision RehabilitationServices of Pittsburgh412-368-4400www.blindvr.org
Verland412-741-2375 • www.verland.org
Vein CenterAdvanced Vein Center724-987-3220 • AdVeinCenter.com
Jefferson CardiologyAssociation412-469-1500 www.jeffersoncardiology.com
Wound CareSRMC Wound Care andHyperbaric Center220 Greene Plaza Waynesburg, PA 15370724-627-1600
Women's HealthMagee-Womens Specialty Services412-429-3900
Woman's Specialty BoutiqueK&J's Complete WomanBethel Park - 412-835-5093Monroeville - 412-646-4661
YogaAt OM [email protected]
50 GUIDE TO GOOD HEALTH www.guidetogoodhealth.com Fall 2012
DIRECTORYIn order to choose a health professional who is right for you, you need information. The following guide is a good place to start.
Visit www.guidetogoodhealth.com for more local health resources for you and your family
Natural Health
Fall 2012 www.guidetogoodhealth.com GUIDE TO GOOD HEALTH 51
Chiropractic CareJennings Chiropractic
DR. AMY M. JENNINGS, D.C._________________________________“Gentle Healing Hands of Chiropractic”
1010 Clifton Road • Bethel Park, PA412-283-1060
Accept most Insurances (UPMC, BC-BS,
Auto, Ect.)
HOURS: Monday: 8:30 - 11:30 a.m. & 4 - 8 p.m. • Tuesday: 11 a.m. - 4 p.m. Wednesday: 8:30 a.m. - 6 p.m. • Thursday: 4 - 8 p.m. • Friday: 10 a.m. - 3p.m. • Saturday: 8 - 11a.m.
Experience Your Therapeutic Massage In A Serene Setting
Ahhh a MassageMon.- Thurs: 9-7; Fri. 9-5
Seen by Appointment Only
412-877-8569
PAIN & STRESS MANAGEMENTMargie Webb, RN, NCTMB, Licensed Massage Therapist
Benefits from Massage Therapy• Relief from Muscle Pain & Spasm • Increase Flexibility – Range of Motion• Improved Sleep & Concentration
FREE CONSULTATION
Specializing in Fibromyalgia, Cancer, and Mastectomy Massage
310 East McMurray Road, McMurray, PA 15317 ( 5 doors from Peters Twp High School – turn at the arbor)
Ahhh a Massage iscelebrating its
12th anniversay
Ahhhamassage.com
»Relieves Pain
»Accelerates Healing
»Reduces Stress
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»Supports Addiction Withdrawal
»Enhances Other
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»Relieves Pain
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»Reduces Stress
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»Improves Mental Health
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»Enhances Other
Treatments & Therapies
KEYSTONEREIKI
KEYSTONEREIKI
For introductory, reduced rate: 412.805.6811 or [email protected]
www.keystonereiki.com
Guide To Good HealthDirectory
• Walter J. Robison, M.D.• Ashith Mally, M.D.• Stephanie Colodny, M.D.
5000 Waterdam Plaza, Suite 120
(724) 941-8877www.ppcp.org
____________________________________________________________________________________________All board certified Internal Medicine. • Additional location on 1039 Brookline Blvd, Pittsburgh.
159 Waterdam Road, Suite 120McMurray, PA 15317
Tel: 724-942-1511 • Fax: 724-942-1513
Specializing In Treatment For The
Incontinent Patients____________________NovaCare Rehabilitation offers a wide variety of programs and services.____________________
Judith Post, MPT, COMTPhysical Therapist • Center Manager
DIANA FLETCHER, Author
Happy on Purpose Daily Messages of Empowermentand Joy for Women and Stress Reducing Strategies
___________________________________Books available at www.amazon.com
and www.barnesandnoble.com___________________________________
Contact:www.dianafletcher.com
LL IINNDDSSEEYY SSMMIITTHH,, HHeeaa ll tt hh CCooaacchhwww.TheRealYouNutrition.com
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ST. CLAIRHOSPITALOUTPATIENTCENTER–VILLAGESQUARE . 2000OXFORDDRIVE . BETHELPARK, PA 15102 . 412.942.3177 . WWW.STCLAIR.ORG
Faced with a family history of breast cancer, these sisters sought out one of the region’s leading
breast surgeons for precise treatment for their individual needs. Raye J. Budway, M.D. and the
St. Clair Hospital Breast Care Center’s team of diagnostic radiologists, surgeons and nurse navigators
are helping guide them every step of the way. From consultation to screening, diagnostic
mammograms, breast MRIs, biopsies and treatment, Lori, Cindy and Linda are receiving expert care
with a healing touch — all within a warm, comfortable environment at the St. Clair Hospital
Outpatient Center–Village Square in Bethel Park. As one of the nation’s 100 Top Hospitals, St. Clair
continues to invest in leading physicians, technologies and processes to deliver superior care.
Raye J. Budway, M.D. earned her medical degree at Hahnemann University in Philadelphia. She completed her residency training in general surgery at TheWestern Pennsylvania Hospital and a fellowship in surgical critical care at The University of PittsburghMedical Center. She served as the Site Surgical ClerkshipProgram Director for Temple University School of Medicine, Site ProgramDirector for the Allegheny General Hospital General Surgery Residency Program, andDirector of the Surgical Breast Disease Program and Surgical Intensive Care at West Penn Hospital. She is board-certified in surgical critical care andgeneral surgery. She is a Fellow of the American College of Surgeons and serves on the Fellowship’s Commission on Cancer.
Breast surgeon Raye J. Budway, M.D.(at left) with her patients, Lori Hawthorne,Cindy Bartram and Linda Russell.
EALINGTOUCH.EXPERTCARE.
Three sisters turn to Dr. Budway for expert care.
