Fall - Western Pennsylvania Guide to Good Health

Transcription

11
20
EE
LL
FA
FR
New Test for Concussions • Choosing A Home Care Provider • Senior Resources
Health News You and Your Family Can Use
The Perry Sextuplets Wish Magee
a Happy 100th Birthday See Page 3
Also inside this issue:
Do You Need
A Flu Shot?
DIABETES EXPO PREVIEW
and Advice for Diabetics
INSIDE THIS ISSUE
SPORTS MEDICINE 6
PAIN MANAGEMENT 8
DENTAL HEALTH 8
BREAST CANCER 12
CHILDREN’S HEALTH 19
MEDICAL PROFILES
Breast Cancer Screening
BACKPACK FACTS
Visual Impairments
Dr. Brett Perricelli
Lakeside Primary Care
LIVING WITH A DISABILITY
REHABILITATION
CHIROPRACTIC HEALTH
NATURAL HEALTH
36
37
38
40
44
46
Caregiver Solutions
plus SENIOR LIVING OPTIONS
See pages 48-60
For more details see
our ad on page 7
of this issue
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GOOD HEALTH
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Fall 2011
Happy 100th Anniversary, Magee!
Maples Nursery 1911
Elizabeth Steel Magee Hospital
Hospital was erected on the Magee Homestead
known as “The Maples”
Facilities expanded in 1952 and
new maternity suite was installed in 1956
Elizabeth Steel Magee Hospital 1915
By Nancy Kennedy
Magee Womens Hospital of UPMC is celebrating its 100th anniversary this
year.
Magee opened in January 1911 when 14 mothers and their newborns were
transferred there by horse-drawn carriages from Reinemann Maternity Hospital
in Polish Hill. The original Magee Hospital was located in a stately mansion
which had been the home of hospital founder Christopher Lyman Magee. His
10-acre estate was known as The Maples and is the same site where the Magee
Hospital complex sits today. He named the hospital The Elizabeth Steel Magee
Hospital in honor of his mother and directed in his will that all women who
needed to be admitted for childbearing should be welcomed without any conditions or questions.
The Maples mansion had been modified to serve as a temporary hospital during the construction of the permanent facility, and had room for 40 women and
their infants. That facility, completed in 1915, remains the core of Magee
Hospital today, although numerous expansions have taken place to house the
multifaceted, world-class center for care, medical education and research that
Magee has become.
Magee began as an obstetric hospital and eventually expanded to include
gynecology, women’s cancer care and medical-surgical care of both women and
men. In 1962, Magee merged with Womens Hospital and became MageeWomens Hospital. Through the 70’s and beyond, Magee became a national
leader in the care of women with complicated pregnancies and in the care of
premature and critically ill newborns. A second merger, in 1994, with UPMC
further expanded Magee’s capabilities and the hospital now offers a full range
of medical and surgical services.
Magee has evolved into one of the world’s most progressive centers for womens and infants healthcare and research. It is one of the largest womens hospi-
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tals in the U.S., with nearly 10,000 annual births, and is partnered with the
Magee Womens Research Institute, an internationally recognized center that
was the first research facility devoted exclusively to women’s health. Together,
the hospital and Research Institute have been designated Centers of Excellence
in Womens Health by the Department of Health and Human Services. Magee is
home to a Neonatal ICU whose cutting-edge design has set a national standard
and is the largest in Pennsylvania, treating over 1500 infants annually.
COVER PHOTO: The Perry sextuplets are all ready for the new school year. They are
in birth order, left to right - Ian, Simon, Olivia, Zoe, Joshua and Madison. They were
born to Erin and Joe Perry at Magee in March 2003 and were the first set of sextuplets
born in Western Pennsylvania. They have an older brother, Parker.
Have you been
wanting to:
Improve your eating habits and
your health?
Make your self-care a priority?
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Cottrill, Arbutina Wealth Management Group
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McMurray, PA 15317
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Magee will mark the 100th anniversary with a
special Centennial Celebration to take place on
November 10, 2011.The Magee 100 Mosaic will be
unveiled at this event.The Mosaic is a collection of
small photographs of infants, families, staff and
volunteers arranged to compose a larger image;
it will be installed in the Magee lobby. To participate
or learn more, visit www.mageemosaic.com.
❥
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Centennial Celebration:
November 10
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Fall 2011
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GUIDE
TO
GOOD HEALTH 3
Ask the
Pharmacist
Q: Do I really need a
flu shot every year?
A:
• If you are confused or
have trouble remembering
to take your medication,
then Rx Map could be the
solution you’re looking for.
Rx Map is offered exclusively
by Hometown Pharmacy
your locally owned and
operated independent
neighborhood pharmacy.
For additional information
please visit us at:
www.myrxmap.com
www.hometownpharmacy.biz
Or give us a call at
1-877-3RXMAPS to
speak with one of our
RxMap pharmacists.
• RxMap is a medication
compliance packaging
system designed to
alleviate the confusion out
of taking multiple daily
doses of medication.
• It’s a pill cup that can be
torn out, it’s a calendar to
keep your medications on
schedule, and it’s
reassurance for caregivers
and patients that
medication are taken they
way they were prescribed.
Influenza is a contagious respiratory illness
caused by viruses that infect the nose,
throat and lungs. The illness can be mild to severe
and in some cases lead to death. The best way to
prevent the flu is by getting a flu vaccine each and
Beth
every year. The CDC recommends that everyone 6
Biedrzycki,
months and older should get a flu vaccine espePharmD
cially if you are at high risk of having serious flu
related complications or if you live with or care for
Clinical Director
people at high risk for developing complications.
Hometown
So who are those high risk people? They include
Pharmacy/RxMap
adults 65 years of age and older, children younger
than 5, pregnant women and individuals with certain medical conditions such as asthma or chronic lung disease, heart disease, diabetes, a weakened immune system and others. Be sure to check with
your doctor to see if you fall into this high risk category. Yearly flu vaccination should being in September and continue throughout the flu season. Flu
season can begin early as October. However most of the time season flu
activity peaks in January or February.
Vaccination is just one way to protect you from the flu. Good hand washing and hygiene is also very important. The flu viruses spread mainly by
droplets made when people with flu cough, sneeze or talk. These droplets
can 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 or
use an alcohol based hand rub. Most health adults may be able to infect others beginning one day before symptoms develop and up to a week after
becoming sick. That means that you may be able to pass on the flu to someone before you know you are sick.
Some people should not be vaccinated without first consulting their doctor. These include people who have an allergy to eggs, people who have
developed Guillian Barre syndrome and children under 6 months of age.
Also, if you are ill with a fever you should wait until your symptoms lessen
before getting vaccinated.
Flu can be unpredictable and its severity can vary from one season to the
next 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 easier than ever. Be sure to talk to your doctor or pharmacist about a flu shot this
season.
>
Beth Biedrzycki, Clinical Director, Hometown Pharmacy/RxMap,
can be reached at (412) 921-7731 or visit www.myrxmap.com.
Flu season can begin early as October. However most
of the time season flu activity peaks in January or February.
• With automatic refills, free
delivery in the Western
Pennsylvania area, and
ongoing medication
reviews, it’s the best way
to ensure compliance with
your medication.
RxMap is
featured on jennifercares.com as a makelife easier tool for women and families.
4 GUIDE
TO
GOOD HEALTH
Fall 2011
Planning For Our Future Today
By Adam Conway
T
hose of us who are fortunate enough to be in good health
today must learn from our parents and grandparents experiences with death and dying. All of us, sooner or later, will
come to the end of our lives and the experiences of friends and relatives can help us to understand this and plan for our own eventual deaths. The kind of care we receive, the environment we are
in, and who is nearby to offer support and comfort are factors that
will allow us to experience the end of our lives as we wish – if we
share our desires with the friends and family who will help us to
make our wishes known.
We must consider now what we feel is important about the care
we will receive when we are no longer well. We must share these
thoughts with our loved ones as well; first to share our desires so
our support network is aware of our preferences, and second to
begin a discussion that will allow us to learn about the desires of
our friends and family. The challenge for many of us is the taboo
of death, but the experience is universal, and many of us, particularly if we are older, have a great deal of experience with it and can
be the strong and supportive voice in the conversation. A grandmother at age 90 is often a strong, wise, and insightful woman who
has certainly considered death and is likely to have advice for a
curious or anxious grandson.
For those who need additional assistance, the website
http://www.closure.org/ has a collection of interactive, educational
modules about illness, death and dying, as well as resources for
those who wish to have conversations about the end-of-life.
Ultimately, we are each responsible for our own lives, and having
conversations about how we would like our lives to end can only
improve our experiences as patients, families, and caregivers, while
bringing us all closer together to grieve the loss of a loved one.
>
Fall 2011
All of us, sooner or later, will
come to the end of our lives
and the experiences of friends
and relatives can help us to
understand this and plan for
our own eventual deaths.
For more information, contact the Jewish Healthcare Foundation
at (412) 594-2550 or visit the website http://jhf.org/.
GUIDE
TO
GOOD HEALTH 5
SPORTS MEDICINE
New Test Could Have Great
ImPACT on Concussions
By Lois Thomson
Having a baseline test is important
because if the athletes do get injured,
they can be re-tested and the scores
ne reason why young people
can be compared with the original.
enjoy playing sports is because
However, Violette said that if a basethey welcome the competition.
line isn't available, "We can just use
But a different type of competition, one
normal age-matched data that we have
related to concussions, is something
from studies to compare their test
that could have a greater impact on
results."
their lives. Or perhaps that should be
Violette works closely with Dr.
"ImPACT."
Mary Lamb at the new Lakeside
ImPACT – Immediate Post-ConPrimary Care Center at Waterdam
cussion Assessment and Cognitive
Plaza, and Dr. Todd Franco at Medical
Danielle Violette
Testing – is a test given to athletes who
Rehabilitation, Inc., located in the
have suffered a concussion or head
injury. Danielle Violette, Sports Medicine Wilfred R. Cameron Wellness Center; both physiCoordinator at The Washington Hospital, adminis- cians follow up with athletes. "Any athletes who
have experienced a concussion need to be out of play
ters the 20-minute test that is taken at a computer.
"It's set up to be like playing a video game or some- until they're well evaluated by a sports medicine
thing on the computer," she said. "It's very task-ori- trained physician, so that they can be completely
ented and challenging. Some of the tests will show evaluated and cleared to return to play."
The Washington Hospital started offering
you pictures of things, or they'll show you a list of the
words, and you'll have to recall them later. Some of ImPACT testing just last year and the testing is now
the tests (focus) more on concentration, like recog- accessible at three locations: The Washington
nizing colors and words and putting them together. Hospital Outpatient Rehabilitation, along with the
You use a mouse to click through the whole thing, so Urgent Care Center and Lakeside Primary Care, both
it challenges your concentration and focus ability, in McMurray. Violette wants people to know about
and your reaction time. The goal is to be as fast and the program's availability in the area. "A lot of peoas accurate as you can—that's how they get the ple drive all the way into Pittsburgh to get it, so we
scores, based on how many right answers you get and really want to get the word out that the test is available here, closer to home."
how quickly you get them."
Ideally, young athletes should take the test before
For more information or to schedule an
any type of injury occurs. "Usually what we recomappointment, call The Washington
mend to athletes, especially if you play a collision
Hospital Outpatient Rehabilitation at
sport like football, hockey, lacrosse, or basketball, is
(724) 250-6280; the Urgent Care Center
that you do a baseline test when you're healthy and
at
(724)
969-4321; or Lakeside Primary Care
uninjured. Most of the athletes really do enjoy that,
they find it challenging and their competitive spirit at (724) 969-1001; or visit the website
comes out. They really want to perform well on it." www.washingtonhospital/orthoneuro/sportsmedicine.
O
>
CONCUSSION
EVALUATION FROM
EXPERIENCED
SPORTS MEDICINE
PHYSICIAN
VITAL
Danielle Violette said concussion
evaluation is like piecing together a
puzzle. "Concussions are unique
from other injuries. If you break
your arm you can get an X-ray, see
the fracture, know it's broken, and
know how to treat it. But a concussion doesn't show up on an MRI or
a CT scan." Violette, Sports
Medicine Coordinator at The
Washington Hospital, said, "That's
why it's important that these kids
be seen by an experienced sports
medicine physician, because they'll
know the different facets of a concussion to evaluate for. We check
for headache, dizziness, blurry
vision, balance problems, memory,
reaction time, concentration. Any
one of those independently may not
seem like a big deal, but someone
who's trained can piece it all together, and may be able to evaluate that
patient differently. It's common for
two athletes to sustain a very similar hit, and the one only has memory problems and the other only has
dizziness. Concussions are an individualized injury and should not be
compared with anyone else's."
Plasma Injections Accelerate Healing from Sports Injuries
W
ith the advent of platelet-rich plasma (PRP) injections in
sports medicine, many athletes have found an alternative that
helps them heal faster and get back to the activities they love.
Although PRP injections have been used for more than a decade, they
have only recently begun to be incorporated in sports medicine.
Already, quite a few notable athletes, including Tiger Woods, Troy
Polamalu of the Pittsburgh Steelers and Takashi Saito of the Los
Angeles Dodgers, have sought this treatment. With so many high-profile athletes embracing them, PRP injections have begun to garner a lot
of attention.
“By using PRP injections, we can augment the body’s healing
response,” says Patrick J. DeMeo, MD, chair of the Orthopaedic and
Rehabilitation Institute and medical director for the Pittsburgh Pirates.
6 GUIDE
TO
GOOD HEALTH
“Since the platelets come from patients’ own bodies, they are literally
receiving a large, concentrated dose of their own medicine.”
Despite the effectiveness of the injections, Dr. DeMeo points out that
they are not a cure-all. Injuries that involve a torn tendon or ligament
cannot be treated with PRP injections alone.
“The PRP injections can augment healing, but they don’t replace
surgery,” says Dr. DeMeo. “However, in cases of severe pain such as
chronic tendinitis, the injections may help patients avoid surgery by
supplementing the healing capabilities of the body.”
For professional athletes, playing a sport is not just a game; it is a way
of life. Injuries can significantly impact a team’s season or even a player’s career. The quicker recovery time PRP injections provide makes
them very appealing to athletes eager to get back in the game.
Fall 2011
IRG Diagnostic Provides
Full Range of Imaging Services
By John Fries
J
ust 20 years ago, people who needed to have MRIs, sonograms and
other diagnostic procedures generally went to a hospital that offered those
services. Today, those same services are
available from IRG Diagnostics in
White Oak and South Hills.
IRG Diagnostic is a service of
Monongahela Valley Hospital. Both
offices offer conveniently location,
quality imaging services combined with
compassionate care, have earned the
trust and confidence of countless
patients and physicians across southwestern Pennsylvania over the past two
decades.
IRG’s offices provide a full range of
diagnostic radiology services, encompassing both open MRI and 1.5 T ultra
short high field MRI, as well as multislice CT scanning, echocardiography,
ultrasound, MRI arthrograms and fullbody bone density DEXA scanning.
“IRG provides state-of-the-art technology combined with patient friendliness and ease of access,” says Prashant
Gosai, the company’s manager.
“We have an excellent professional
>
Fall 2011
staff that includes board-certified radiologists and technologists,” says Gosai.
“They use the best equipment available.
Plus, we’re completely digital, so we’re
able to provide reports to doctors literally minutes after an exam is completed.”
This takes place via a web server, that
provides physicians with 24-hour
access to high-quality images and
reports. IRG also has a PACS system
that enables staff radiologists to monitor exams as they’re performed, increasing the level of efficiency, and a 3D
work station that allows them to view
images in a multiplane mode for better
interpretation.
Same-day or next-day patient
appointments are available. Walk-in Xray service is available between 9:00
a.m. and 5:00 p.m. and results are provided on the same day. The offices also
maintain weekend and evening hours
for the convenience of patients, and
emergencies can be accommodated.
Virtually all forms of insurance are
accepted and IRG has a specialized
team to assist both referring physicians
and patients with their insurance questions.
To make an appointment at one of IRG’s locations, call
888-474-8867 or visit www.mritest.com and register online.
Regular vs. Open MRI:
What’s the Difference?
Magnetic resonance imaging, or MRI, is a test that uses a magnetic field and pulses of radio wave energy to make pictures of
organs and structures inside the body. Often, MRIs give different
information than can be seen with other diagnostic tests, such as
X-ray or ultrasound. MRI tests may also show problems that cannot be seen with other imaging methods.
During an ultra short high field MRI, the part of the body being
studied is placed inside a machine that contains a strong magnet.
The body part is scanned, and digital images are saved and stored
on a server for further study, both by medical professionals in the
IRG office and by the patient’s physician at his or her location.
MRI machines have been around for many years and are
extremely effective in diagnostic imaging. However, because many
traditional MRI units have a narrow area in which patients are
placed, some patients who experience claustrophobia can feel
uncomfortable, since the patient must typically remain still for an
extended period of time.
For this reason, many patients prefer open MRI, which is now
considered the most reliable method of imaging. Although IRG
offers both types of MRI systems, IRG’s open MRIs have a unique
advantage. In contrast to the tunnel-like structure of a closed MRI
machine, open MRIs provide a system that is open on all sides.This
makes it ideal for everyday people, larger patients (IRG’s system
can accommodate up to 550 lbs.), elderly and pediatric patients
and those who experience claustrophobia.
The unique engineering and award-winning design of IRG’s open
MRI system provides superior image quality compared to other
open MRI systems on the market. It features the strongest MRI
Imaging magnet of its kind, offering the highest resolution images
and greatest diagnostic potential possible.
When you call IRG to make your appointment, ask if open MRI
is right for you.
GUIDE
TO
GOOD HEALTH 7
Growing Problem Needs Specialist's Care
By Lois Thomson
PAIN MANAGEMENT
people with sleep disorders who
have had life-threatening experiences because
their breathing has been affected by these medications. "If you depress their breathing it can
lead to unnecessary deaths."
Further, Dr. Karpen is concerned that physician error can cause harm. "Obviously pain specialists have a little more knowledge and experience in writing these prescriptions, but danger
still lurks at all levels. It could be insufficient
education, so we have to determine the prescribers' behavior – what level of education do
they have in this area, what are their prescribing
A
s a chronic pain specialist, Dr. Jay
Karpen is quite familiar with the
growing problem of unnecessary
deaths related to opioid medications. "We
see this on many levels," he said, "and
because of this, deaths related to prescription opioids has brought intense scrutiny in
the practice of pain medicine."
Dr. Karpen believes the reasons vary, and
Dr. Jay Karpen
include patient mis-use – whether intentional or unintentional – and insufficient
education among the doctors prescribing medications. habits?"
While Dr. Karpen firmly believes that "preventing
For example, he said studies have found in opioid-related
deaths that "they are exacerbated by the presence of other unnecessary deaths should be a main focus of everyone
substances, whether alcohol, illicit drugs or other pre- working in the field of pain medicine," he is also adamant
scription medications. One area that has a high incidence that corrective actions should not impede access to the use
of problems is benzodiazepines. That's a class of medica- of these medications for chronic-pain patients who use
tions we commonly use for either treating anxiety, as a them appropriately. "In my practice we're always as dilisedative, muscle relaxer, sleep aid – like Xanax, Valium gent as we can be with every visit. You need a compreand Ambien. So there has to be a heightened awareness hensive history to try to reveal certain things that predisthat the concomitant use of opioid medications and ben- pose a patient to these kinds of problems. And I make it a
point to explicitly go over side effects and potential side
zodiazepines poses a problem."
Another cause can be revealed in the patient's back- effects with patients, how they must use their medications
ground. "We've found by reviewing records and doing and without deviation. However, keeping all of this in
studies that a significant proportion of people who die mind, it's extremely important from my point of view that
from opioid-related overdoses had histories of risky behav- it should not reduce access to these therapies."
The takeaway is that most patients with chronic pain
ior, psychiatric disorders, and/or substance abuse in the
past. So it's important in the doctor's evaluation to get a shouldn't have a problem if they are properly monitored
good psychological record and review of patients' social and if the doctor is both educated and diligent.
circumstances, aside from just their pain history."
For more information, call Dr. Jay Karpen’s office at
Additionally, studies have shown a high incidence of
the Center for Pain Relief at (724) 942-5188.
>
Invisalign: It’s Easy, Comfortable and Convenient
By Lois Thomson
C
onvenience. Isn't that what everyone is looking for these
days? Dr. Robert Luther Jr. may not be able to help with
all areas of life, but if you are interested in conveniently
straightening your teeth and improving your smile, he has the
answer: Invisalign.
Dr. Luther calls Invisalign "braces without braces," because
these aligners have so many advantages. "In contrasting
Invisalign with regular braces," he said, "comfort and convenience are major factors. The aligners
are a very gentle method of gradually moving the teeth over the
course of time. They are smooth
and comfortable, and they don't
irritate the gums or the cheeks,
which is an issue you can have
with conventional braces."
Invisalign aligners are also
much more convenient when it
comes to cleaning your teeth.
"Food can collect around the
brackets and the wires of conventional braces, and it's a challenge in that you have to spend
substantial time cleaning your teeth.
Otherwise you can run into problems
with tooth decay and gum disease
that often occur if teeth aren't
cared for extremely well."
Invisalign is a system of clear,
plastic, thin aligners that fit
directly over the teeth and are virtually invisible, and the process is
simple to get started. Dr. Luther takes
8 GUIDE
TO
GOOD HEALTH
Treatment
Can Save A
Patient’s Life
In treating his patients,
chronic pain specialist Dr. Jay
Karpen does not have an easy
job. While he is diligent about
not over-prescribing, he points
out that treating too little may
prove to be as risky as treating
too much. "A patient's life may
hinge on the treatment they
receive. We see a link between
chronic pain, depression and
suicide. Think of the overwhelming despair some of
these patients have to be in,
that unrelenting level of pain on
a daily basis. So sometimes
undertreating can also lead to
serious comorbidity and mortality. As a physician in this specialty, it's very difficult at times
to find that balance between
treating patients safely so they
have some level of function and
quality of life, and preventing
harm. They really do have to be
monitored very closely."
DENTAL HEALTH
some photographs and makes impresWhile some people may have their
sions, and a treatment plan is developed from
teeth straightened because they don't
those records. During each subsequent trip
have good occlusion, most of the time
to the dentist, the patient receives three sets
they do it for cosmetic purposes.And if
of aligners, each of which is worn for two
aesthetics is the reason, Invisalign alignweeks, and you work your way through the
ers are a great choice over conventionsystem. An average case takes about a year to
al braces. As Dr. Robert Luther Jr. says,
complete, so the treatment is often faster
"They're virtually invisible, so for the
than with conventional orthodontics.
most part, you can wear them at work
And, since people generally get three sets of
and to any of your normal activities,
aligners at each appointment, they only have
and people wouldn't know; you could
to pick them up every six weeks. "That's
actually go through treatment and
another convenient aspect of the treatment,
people wouldn't know you were
because with conventional braces you typistraightening your teeth."
cally see the dentist every three to four weeks
Other advantages include ease and
for an adjustment. For people with busy
schedules, this is much more convenient
comfort in getting a great result, often
because there are fewer visits to the office."
in a shorter period of time; easier to
Additionally, patients aren't limited in what
clean and floss your teeth, resulting in
they can eat. With conventional braces, peoa healthier mouth; and fewer trips to
ple should avoid certain things like hard pretthe dentist. Invisalign treatment is easy,
zels, apples, corn on the cob, or sticky foods.
it's comfortable, and it's convenient.
With Invisalign, "You take the aligners out to
eat so you can eat whatever you choose and
then clean your teeth and put them back in."
Invisalign is an excellent treatment for adults and teens alike
who have their full complement of teeth. It works for those
who never wore braces, as well as for adults who had braces but
have experienced relapse or unwanted change in the position of
their teeth.
And best of all, it's convenient.
>
To make an appointment with Dr. Luther,
call (412) 788-6300 or visit the website
www.pittsburghlaserdentist.com.
Dr. Luther
Fall 2011
FITNESS
The FIT Recipe
By Peggy Gregor, BA
W
hen putting together a results-oriented workout, one must make sure to include all the right
ingredients to ensure success, just as you would when making any other recipe. It is the
combination of four major ingredients - Strength Training (Muscle Conditioning),
Cardiovascular Strength/Stamina, Balance and Flexibility that deliver the most healthy benefits.
Often, we focus on only one or two ingredients. For most, that would be Strength Training and
/ or Cardiovascular Training. That makes a fairly ‘bland’ dish. Over time, we will tire of that
same ‘taste’, and begin to lose interest, or worse, not be ‘nourished’ by the workout (i.e.: get
results)! Strength and Cardiovascular training are main ingredients, but your FIT recipe should
also be seasoned with Balance and Flexibility – which enhance the flavor of those main
ingredients.
Strength Training
We all know that lifting weights is beneficial. Muscles support the skeleton and provide strength for daily activities. In addition, muscle can
help metabolize fat. Keep in mind that strength training doesn’t
always need to include fancy equipment. Body weight exercises,
such as push-ups, tricep dips, pullups and squats, all engage many
muscle groups and can elicit gains
in strength.
Cardiovascular
Training
Your heart and lungs are the
engine that drive your body.
Keeping them in shape is critical.
Walking, jogging, running, biking
and dancing are some excellent
examples of cardiovascular training. Make sure that the activity is
somewhat challenging and consistent.
Balance Training
The spice that many of us leave
out! Adding Balance to your fitness
recipe will improve the strength in
smaller muscle groups which support our joints and allows us to create strength in weaker parts of the
body. Balance also requires more
focus to perform – greater focus
equals more results. Easily done
anywhere, balance can be as simple
as standing on one foot while raising the opposite arm or walking on
your tip-toes.
Flexibility Training
An important ingredient in the
FIT Recipe. Flexibility helps prevent injuries. The more flexible we
are, the stronger we are. Think of a
skyscraper. It is built to ‘sway’ in
the wind to avoid being damaged.
Your body is the same; when flexible it can withstand greater outside
forces.
VOILA!
Leap into Fall with
New & Improved Legs!
They’ll look at your
legs for a whole
new reason.
To create the tastiest FIT recipe,
combine all ingredients and enjoy
the results!
Peggy Gregor, group exercise
director at Healthtrax
Fitness and Wellness in
Bethel Park, PA, can be
reached at [email protected].
>
Fall 2011
GUIDE
TO
GOOD HEALTH 9
E-mail your news items to
[email protected]
LOCAL NEWS
UPMC for Kids Passes
15,000-member Mark
Updated Guide to Health
Services Now Available
St. Clair Hospital Seeks Input On
Community Health Care Needs
Pennsylvania’s Children’s Health Insurance
Program (CHIP), brought to you by UPMC for
Kids™, has passed the 15,000-member milestone. To celebrate this achievement, UPMC
Health Plan has made a major contribution to
Reading Is FUNdamental (RIF) Pittsburgh.
UPMC Health Plan also designed a special bookplate that RIF Pittsburgh will place in brand-new
books delivered to daycare centers served by the
Storymobile throughout the Pittsburgh region.
Children will be able to take these books home,
keep them, and have a special place to write their
name on the bookplate.
CHIP is available to uninsured children and
teens (up to age 19) who are not eligible for
Medical Assistance. No family’s income is too
high to qualify for CHIP.
In response to the growing number of people
without health insurance – in excess of 50 million according to the 2010 U.S. Census, the
Allegheny County Health Department has updated its directory of local health centers and clinics
that serve people with minimal or no health
insurance.
The 38-page guide lists more than 40 local
clinics and health centers as well as resources to
help with other needs, including prescription
drugs, vision care, dental care, transportation and
health advocacy. It also features a listing of health
insurance options for low-income families.
The directory is available on the Allegheny
County Health Department website, under
Timely Topics, at www.achd.net, or by calling
412-687-ACHD (2243).
Doug Kaleugher Nominated
for Next Generation
Pharmacist Award
UPMC Opens New Specialty
Clinic for Smokers, Offers Early
Screenings That Could Save Lives
St. Clair Hospital is reaching out to area residents for their opinions on which health care
needs they deem most important for their respective communities.
The Hospital has launched a new initiative to
encourage public input via St. Clair’s website,
www.stclair.org. Visitors to the site will be directed to a survey of questions that will gauge an
overall sense of the health issues most important
to area residents. Topics cover the types of experiences encountered when trying to obtain health
care, satisfaction with support services in the
community, barriers to local services, and identification of principal health issues facing the community.
“This is just one, but an important part, of a
multifaceted Community Needs Assessment the
Hospital is currently conducting,” said Andrea L.
Kalina, vice president, Human Resources and
Organizational Advancement at St. Clair.
To access the online St. Clair Hospital health
needs survey, please visit www.stclair.org.
Parata Systems and
Pharmacy Times magazine have announced the
finalists for the second
annual Next-Generation
Pharmacist awards.
Doug
Kaleugher,
owner of Med-Fast
Pharmacy, is a finalist in
the
category
of
Entrepreneur of the year.
Doug Kaleugher
Kaleugher opened his
first Med-Fast Pharmacy
in 1990. Since then Kaleugher has opened
National Sign Inc., Shamrock Limousine, Thrifty
Car rental, Thrifty Car Sales, Studio DCI, iServe
Technologies, located in Cranberry and Beaver
County. Kaleughers success, achievements in
business and knowledge in Pharmacies are what
prompted the nomination for this award.
UPMC has established a new specialty clinic
that will offer early lung cancer screening using
low-dose helical CT scanning, a technique that
was proven in a national trial to reduce deaths
because tumors were detected early when treatment is more effective.
The Lung Nodule Clinic, located on the fourth
floor of Falk Clinic in Oakland, is intended to
screen current and former heavy smokers, said
Christopher Faber, M.D., medical director of the
UPMC Comprehensive Lung Center.
A low-dose helical CT scan, also referred to as
spiral CT, uses X-rays to obtain a multiple-image
scan of the entire chest during a 7 to 15 second
breath-hold. Patients will be strongly encouraged
to quit smoking during the educational session,
which will include smoking cessation information. Results of the CT scan will be sent to the
patient and their primary care physician.
The lung screening program currently is not
covered by insurance. The out-of-pocket fee of
$200 includes the nurse coordinator-led class, CT
scan and valet parking.
For more information or to see if you qualify
for the screenings, call 1-855-588-6542.
Pediatrician Receives
Breastfeeding Advocacy Award
The Allegheny County Health Department
recently recognized Dr.
Diego Chaves-Gnecco of
the North Hills, a pediatrician with Children’s
Hospital of Pittsburgh of
UPMC, for his work to
promote breastfeeding
and support of breastfeeding moms and their
Dr. Diego Chavesbabies. Dr. ChavesGnecco
Gnecco, a developmental-behavioral pediatrician, is Assistant Professor
of Pediatrics with the University of Pittsburgh
School of Medicine and the Founder and Director
of Salud Para Niños, the region’s first bilingualbicultural pediatric primary care program.
10 GUIDE
TO
GOOD HEALTH
Monongahela Valley Hospital’s
Online Health Library Is a
Great Community Resource
Monongahela Valley Hospital’s new online
health library, monvalleyhospital.com/healthlibrary, is a reliable resource that provides more
than 10,000 topics, 3,600 articles, 2,000 color
illustrations and 180 videos to answer common
medical questions related to diseases and conditions, medical tests, symptoms, injuries, treatment options, surgical procedures, poisoning and
Nutrition.
Expert in Pediatric
Neurodegenerative Diseases
Appointed to Lead New Rare
Disorders Program at Children’s
Hospital of Pittsburgh of UPMC
-Maria Escolar, M.D., M.S., nationally and
internationally known for her groundbreaking
work to improve the treatment of children with
neurodegenerative diseases, has been appointed
director of the new Program for the Study of
Neurodevelopment in Rare Disorders (NDRD) at
Children’s Hospital of Pittsburgh of UPMC. The
program is the only one of its kind in the United
States. Children’s new NDRD program will provide evaluation, education, research and intervention for patients from around the world with
rare, inherited neurological conditions.
For more information about Dr. Escolar, the
NDRD or Children’s Hospital of Pittsburgh of
UPMC, please visit www.chp.edu.
Physician Brings Cutting-edge
Cancer Treatment to
Monongahela Valley Hospital
Monongahela Valley Hospital uses many effective approaches in the fight against cancer.
Mohsen Isaac, M.D., director of radiation oncology at MVH, and clinical assistant professor at
Temple University School of Medicine, utilizes an
innovative technique to treat high-risk patients
with early stage, non-small cell lung cancer.
Dr. Isaac has recorded proven success implanting low-dose radioactive iodine seeds permanently into the lungs of people with Stage 1 lung cancer. The treatment, which is primarily used on
patients with limited heart/lung function, reduces
recurrences.
Fall 2011
Heritage Valley Beaver Dedicates
Austin’s Playroom in Newly
Renovated Emergency Department
WELCOMING
NEW PATIENTS
Tri-State Neurosurgical Associates–UPMC is now accepting new
patients from Pennsylvania, West Virginia, and Ohio.
Look no further for expert spine care and surgery. Our spine surgery
team has performed more than 1,700 spine procedures. We work
with pain management clinic and physical rehabilitation physicians
and therapists to provide alternatives and tailor treatment plans.
Joseph C. Maroon, MD, FACS
Neurological Surgery
(Pictured above at the ribbon cutting ceremony of Austin’s Playroom in the
Heritage Valley Beaver Auxiliary Emergency Department are:
Kevin and Tammy McCarl, Austin Lemieux, and Norm Mitry.
Dr. Maroon is vice chairman and clinical professor in
the Department of Neurological Surgery at UPMC.
He is a board-certified neurosurgeon. He completed
his neurosurgical residency at Indiana University,
and held a fellowship in microneurosurgery at the
University of Vermont. He has special interest in
minimally invasive spine surgery, pituitary tumor,
and brain surgery; prevention and treatment of
traumatic injuries to the central nervous system;
and complimentary approaches to inflammatory
diseases associated with aging.
Heritage Valley Health System unveiled its “Austin’s Playroom” in the
Heritage Valley Beaver Auxiliary Emergency Department with a special ribbon cutting ceremony on Tuesday, September 13.
“Austin’s Playroom,” is a specially designed, child-friendly waiting area for
pediatric patients and their siblings, which was constructed through a generous donation by Kevin and Tammy McCarl. The playroom is named after
Austin Lemieux, the son of former Pittsburgh Penguins star and current
Penguins owner, Mario Lemieux, and his wife Nathalie. Austin’s Playroom
Project was established following Nathalie and Mario Lemieux's personal
experience while caring for their profoundly premature infant son at MageeWomens Hospital. As they were tending to young Austin, there was no place
to engage the lively minds of his sisters, as well as provide a comfortable
calming environment. It was then that Nathalie devised this idea to someday
raise funds for playrooms in hospitals and medical facilities.
Austin’s Playroom was the final piece of the larger expansion and renovation project for the Heritage Valley Beaver Auxiliary Emergency Department.
Matt El-Kadi, MD, PhD, FACS
Dr. El-Kadi is chief of Neurosurgery at UPMC
Passavant and vice chairman and clinical professor
in the Department of Neurological Surgery at
UPMC. He specializes in minimally invasive spine
surgery, spinal and disc disease surgery, spine
tumors, image-guided surgery and complex
spinal instrumentation and fusion surgery. He is
board-certified in neurosurgery and a member of
the American Association of Neurological Surgeons.
Sudden Death of a Parent May Pose
Mental Health Risks for Children
In the first longitudinal study of its kind, researchers at the University of
Pittsburgh School of Medicine have found that 40 percent of children
bereaved by sudden parental death will require intervention to prevent prolonged grief reaction and possible depression.
Building upon their prior findings, the researchers studied 182 children
between ages 7 and 18 whose parent died from suicide, accident or sudden
natural deaths. They found that more than half of the children were able to
cope with their grief within one year of the loss of their parent. However, the
course of grief was shown to be more difficult for some children, with 30
percent showing a more gradual easing of their symptoms and about 10 percent displaying high and prolonged grief for nearly three years after their
parents died. Those children with prolonged grief reaction also showed
increased incidents of depression.
The researchers previously noted increased rates of psychiatric disorders
in the parents prior to their deaths, not only among those who died from suicide but also those who died from accident and sudden natural death, suggesting a pre-existing vulnerability in their children that puts them at higher risk for adverse psychiatric outcomes following their deaths.
The research team found that the combination of complicated grief in the
surviving parent and in the child were particularly strong in predicting
depression in children up to three years after the death.
Pedro J. Aguilar, MD
Dr. Aguilar is clinical assistant professor in the
Department of Neurological Surgery at UPMC. He
is board-certified in neurosurgery. He received his
medical degree from the University of Texas and
completed his residency in neurosurgery at UPMC.
He has special interest in spine disorders, pain
management, as well as functional neurosurgery
including intrathecal morphine pump and spinal
cord stimulation.
Affiliated with the University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, UPMC is
ranked among the nation’s best hospitals by U.S. News & World Report.
Fall 2011
GUIDE
TO
GOOD HEALTH 11
Cancer Patient Education
Network Honors UPMC
Cancer Education Director
Lynda Tunon
The UPMC Cancer
Centers’ director of
cancer center education, Lynda Tunon, has
been awarded the
Cancer Patient Education
Network
(CPEN) Distinguished
Service
Award
–
CPEN’s highest form of
recognition given for
outstanding contribution to the practice and
profession of patient education.
An integral part of UPMC Cancer Centers
for almost 20 years, Tunon has developed a
comprehensive patient education program
that has been implemented across the more
than 40 UPMC Cancer Centers so every
UPMC patient can access the same information as those at the Hillman Cancer Center.
Each week day, Tunon teaches a
chemotherapy education class at the Hillman
Cancer Center. After class, she serves as the
go-to nurse for patients with questions about
managing side-effects of cancer treatment.
When she isn’t working directly with
patients, Tunon updates cancer education
materials and is an active member of CPEN’s
Learning Resource Center and marketing and
membership committees.
12 GUIDE
TO
GOOD HEALTH
BREAST CANCER
Early Detection of Breast Cancer:
The Breast Self Exam
By Dr. Natalie Furgiuele-Iracki
T
he largest risk factor for breast cancer is
being female and aging. So, what’s a woman
to do? Mortality has decreased significantly
with the use of regular breast screening. Screening
means looking for disease when an individual is
completely without symptoms, as opposed to diagnostic testing done to evaluate symptoms like
breast pain or a breast lump. Current recommendations for screening are baseline mammography
at age 35 and yearly from age 40 on. Unfortunately,
“there is no perfect x-ray!” Breast imaging is pretty
darn good, but it can miss up to 15% of breast cancers.
What about breast self exam? Anyone who has
ever felt their breasts knows that there are “lumpybumpy” areas. Breast tissue changes in response to
hormones and since it extends into the armpits, so
can tenderness. Deciding whether an area is abnormal can be a dilemma. In my opinion, the best time
to do your breast exam is after your menstrual
cycle is finished. The breasts are primarily symmetrical, so one side of each breast should feel like
the other side. Comparing sides can help determine if there is an abnormality. If doing a breast
self exam causes too much anxiety, at least look at
your breasts in the mirror occasionally. Raise your
arms looking for retraction (pulling in of skin)
around the nipple. Glance inside your bra to look
for staining, and at the nipple itself checking for
crusting. “Drainage” can be physiologic or normal
depending on your age, the number of ducts
involved, and current medications. Drainage that is
bloody, clear, or coming from a single duct can be
more serious and needs further evaluation. Women
may not feel comfortable doing breast self exams
but as we age, our risk increases, so try to be observant.
Without coordination with breast imaging,
breast self exam alone may not necessarily save
lives. Because of its variability it can be difficult to
know if what your feeling is abnormal. So, common sense should prevail. If you suspect that an
area is not normal for you it is reasonable to seek
help from a medical professional. You can’t run
away - your breasts go with you! Early detection
can save lives. The breast self exam is one of the
first steps in that direction.
>
Dr. Natalie
Furgiuele-Iracki,
Breast Surgeon at
Radiance Surgery Center,
also operating at St. Clair,
Mon Valley, UPMC South,
and The Washington
Hospital/Tri-State,
can be reached at
(412) 833-9722.
Fall 2011
X-RAYS
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Fall 2011
WE DON’T JUST LOOK. WE SEE.
GUIDE
TO
GOOD HEALTH 13
BREAST CANCER
Variety of Screening Options Available to Detect Breast Cancer
By Vanessa Orr
O
ne in every eight women in the United States will
develop breast cancer. Some women will discover the
cancer themselves; others will be diagnosed as a result
of a physician’s examination, mammography, ultrasound testing or biopsy.
“Diagnostic testing for breast cancer usually begins with a
monthly self-exam, with a woman palpating for a jelly beansized area,” explained board-certified plastic surgeon Amelia
Paré, M.D. While some lumps may turn out to be cysts or
fibrocystic disease, the majority of cancers are found by
patients. While most cancers are not painful, women should
look for lumps or discharge from the nipple.
Women who think they might have a problem should schedule a doctor’s visit and a mammogram, which can show suspicious calcification in ductal carcinoma, the most common type
of breast cancer. “Lobular carcinomas will not be detected by
mammograms, though an ultrasound can be used to delineate
solid and cystic masses,” said Dr. Paré. “However, ultrasound
is not a good tool to use to find new breast cancers.”
An MRI, which is more sensitive, can help to detect breast
cancer, but may also pick up false positives. Because cancer
cells require tremendous energy to grow rapidly, a PET scan
can also be used to detect how quickly glucose is being taken
up by the cells. Other tests that may be used are CT scans, thermography, MIBI scans, trans-illumination and diaphanography.
“Once something is detected, it may require a needle biopsy,” explained Dr. Paré. “If it is palpable, than this biopsy may
be done without other diagnostic testing; however, in some
14 GUIDE
TO
GOOD HEALTH
While some
lumps may turn
out to be cysts or
fibrocystic
disease, the
majority of
cancers are
found by patients.
While most
cancers are not
painful, women
should look for
lumps or
discharge from
the nipple.
-Dr. Amelia Paré
cases, it may require radiologic assistance to make sure that the
biopsy is from the correct spot.”
If a larger open surgical biopsy is required and the mass is not
palpable, than a patient might need to have the mass removed,
using the needle as a guide to assure that the surgeon is removing
the proper area. Once the biopsy is done, a microscopic evaluation
will be performed to determine if the tissue is normal or cancerous.
“Depending on the size of the tumor and the tumor size relative
to the woman’s breast, the patient may be offered a lumpectomy,
node biopsy with radiation postoperatively, or a mastectomy with
or without a node biopsy,” said Dr. Paré. Armpit lymph nodes are
evaluated by a sentinel lymph node dissection; if these are also
positive for cancer, additional tissue may need to be removed.
Prior to surgery, a patient may choose to visit with a plastic surgeon to discuss breast reconstruction that may be started at the
time of breast cancer surgery. “After the breast tissue is examined,
it may be determined that the patient will need to have radiation;
however, all lumpectomy or breast conservation cancer positive
patients should have radiation in order to have the same five-year
survival rate as mastectomy patients,” said Dr. Paré.
What’s most important is that women understand that they are
not alone. “Patients will meet numerous caregivers including
radiologists, mammographers, surgeons, radiation oncologists,
oncologists and physical therapists,” said Dr. Paré. “They are all
determined to make sure that breast cancer patients receive the
best care possible.”
>
For more information, call Dr. Paré at
(724) 941-8838 or visit www.amypare.com.
Fall 2011
ASK THE EXPERT:
Weinstein Imaging Associates
Q: I’ve been called back
for extra mammogram
pictures. Should I be
worried?
Readers of this magazine already know that
women should have annual mammograms
starting at age 40 to check for breast cancer. What if you had your regular mammogram
Thomas S. Chang,
and the mammogram facility now wants you to
M.D., FACR
return for extra pictures? Should you be worried?
Nationally, about
Before we get to that, we first need to discuss
10% of mammothe purpose of extra views. They help in evaluating calcium deposits (“calcifications”) and possigrams require
ble spots or masses on the original mammogram.
additional imagCalcifications show up as tiny white specks
ing. About 15% of
and can be a sign of cancer. If the calcifications
are new or increasing, magnified pictures are
those patients end
often necessary to determine if they have a
up needing a biopsy,
benign shape and can be left alone or if they need
to be biopsied.
three-quarters of
The most common reason for extra pictures is
which turn out
to investigate possible masses. What makes mammography challenging is that it’s a 2-dimensional
to be benign.
shadow picture of a 3-dimensional organ, often
with confusing overlapping shadows. It’s almost
like looking at the shadows on a screen of various objects placed in front of
a flashlight and trying to pick out a marble. If there are very few other objects
(i.e. “fatty” breasts), the marble is easy to spot. But if there are too many
other shadows (i.e. “dense” breasts), the marble may be completely hidden
or the combination of other shadows can simulate a marble. Special additional views help to clarify these spots or to prove that no mass exists.
Nationally, about 10% of mammograms require additional imaging. About
15% of those patients end up needing a biopsy, three-quarters of which turn
out to be benign. Therefore, if you are asked to return for extra mammogram
pictures, you have only a 4% chance of having cancer. That’s a 96% chance
of NOT having cancer.
So, don’t worry!
Hopefully, you won’t have to wait weeks to get the extra pictures done.
Because the possibility of breast cancer causes so much anxiety, there’s no
reason why you should have to wait a long time for the additional imaging.
If the mammogram facility that called you back can’t accommodate you in a
timely manner, ask your doctor and friends for other options.
A:
>
Dr. Robert Luther, Jr.
412-788-6300
1050 Oakdale Road
Oakdale, PA 15071
www.pittsburghlaserdentist.com
Dr. Robert Luther, Jr., is a limited partner of
Luther & Noel Dental Associates LLP
Feel Like You Again . . .
When Compassion Counts . . .
K & J’s
Complete
Woman
Dr. Thomas S. Chang is one of four specialized radiologists at
Weinstein Imaging Associates, with offices in Shadyside
(412-441-1161), North Hills (412-630-2649), and South Hills
(412-440-6999). For more information, visit weinsteinimaging.com.
Join Glimmer of Hope’s Fight Against
Breast Cancer On October 17
Please join Heath and Katie Miller to help make a difference in the
fight against breast cancer at “A Glimmer of Hope” on Monday,
October 17 from 7 – 11 p.m. at Bossa Nova, 7th Street, Pittsburgh.
Mix, meet and mingle with Pittsburgh Steeler Heath Miller #83 and
many of his invited teammates. Ticket includes heavy hors d’ouevres,
cocktails, a white panel football for autographs and gift cards in a custom gift bag, as well as complimentary valet service. Proceeds benefit
the largest under 40, premenopausal breast cancer study in the country being conducted at Magee-Womens Research Institute. Register
online at www.symbolofthecure.com or call 800-454-6746 for tickets.
Fall 2011
BREAST FORMS • BRAS • WIGS
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2550 Monroeville Blvd., #3
5761 Library Road
GUIDE
TO
GOOD HEALTH 15
Lasers Safe and Effective Treatment
of Varicose Veins For Men and Women
By Nancy Kennedy
T
here was a time when
treatment for varicose
veins meant major
surgery, anesthesia, a long
hospital admission and a
slow,
painful
recovery.
Thankfully, that is no longer
the case, due to advances in
medical science and technology. Vascular surgeons are
able to provide effective treatment with minimally invasive procedures that deliver excellent
results with minimal discomfort
and disruption to one’s life.
“Varicose veins are a medical
problem,” says Gennady Geskin,
M.D., a vascular specialist with
Jefferson Cardiology Association
who is certified in vascular and
endovascular medicine, including
procedures that eliminate varicose
veins. “Some people view them as a
cosmetic problems and a nuisance,
but they are much more than that.
They cause throbbing, aching,
swelling and cramping in the legs
and can be severe enough to limit
one’s activity. Untreated, varicose
veins can lead to cellulitis, a skin
infection, and ulcers.”
but men can get varicose
veins too.”
Abbodanza’s work as a
singer, performer and
recording artist demanded
long periods of standing,
and that took a toll. For
years, he was the lead
but men can get
singer for the Poverty
varicose veins too.”
Neck Hillbillies, who
became the official band of
-Abby Abbodanza
the Pittsburgh Steelers – a
prestigious honor in
Medical treatment for varicose
Steeler
Nation.
The band broke up
veins can address symptoms but
cannot eliminate the problem. in 2008 and today he is a solo artist
Compression hose are the most who performs in regional clubs and
common treatment, but they must festivals; he is also an entrepreneur
be worn all day and can be hot and with businesses in Washington
County.
uncomfortable to wear.
“I’m very pleased with the results
Varicose veins develop when the
of
my treatment. The EVLT procevalves in the superficial leg veins
dure
wasn’t painful and afterwards I
fail to close completely and blood
cannot be returned efficiently to the just had some aching. Since then,
heart. It pools in the lower legs, dis- all my symptoms are gone and I feel
tending the veins and causing great. Dr. Geskin is one of the best
doctors in Pennsylvania for this
swelling.
Endovenous Laser Treatment, or procedure and I recommended him
EVLT, is the gold standard for the to my father. Everyone at Jefferson
elimination of varicose veins. EVLT Cardiology was very accommodatuses laser energy, which is a highly ing and the quality of care was
concentrated beam of light. There is excellent.”
With his partners at Jefferson
no incision – just a tiny needle
Cardiology
- Alan Bramowitz, MD,
entry point, through which Geskin
inserts a thin fiber into the damaged Peter Lemis, MD, and Michael
vein. The laser light is transmitted Nathanson, MD, plus nurse practithrough this fiber and as the fiber is tioner Jennifer Wicks - Geskin
pulled back in the vein, it delivers offers state-of-the-art cardiovascuthe exact amount of energy needed lar care, including prevention, diagto close and seal the vein. The nostics and treatment. He is a native
blood is automatically shunted to of Latvia and completed his fellowship at Allegheny General Hospital.
other healthy veins.
“This procedure requires no He and his partners practice at
anesthesia other than a local to Jefferson Regional, Mon Valley and
numb the insertion site,” says UPMC Shadyside Hospitals and
Geskin. “It’s an outpatient proce- have offices at Jefferson Hospital
dure and there is no bleeding. Medical Building and in Belle
Patients are often able to return to Vernon.
Dr. Geskin encourages patients
work the next day. Most will expewith
varicose veins to consider laser
rience minor pain relieved with
over-the-counter medication. They treatment. “There is no reason to
will be instructed to wear compres- suffer with varicose veins. This is
sion hose post-procedure for two usually covered by health insurance; it is not the same thing as
weeks.”
Varicose veins are an occupation- sclerotherapy, which is for spider
al hazard for those who stand all veins. EVLT treatment produces
day and especially those who tend excellent long term results. Lasers
to stand in one position. This are safe and effective and rarely
includes surgeons, dentists, hair cause complications.”
“As a performer, I was
always on my feet.
People tend to think of it
as a woman’s problem
stylists, cashiers – and musicians.
Chris “Abby” Abbodanza, known
to many Western Pennsylvanians as
a popular local musician, is a
young, athletic man who developed
varicose veins severe enough to
impair the circulation in his feet.
“My feet were always cold and I
developed swelling and bulges in
my legs,” he says. “I felt fatigued all
the time. As a performer, I was
always on my feet. People tend to
think of it as a woman’s problem
16 GUIDE
TO
GOOD HEALTH
>
To learn more about the
treatment of varicose
veins, visit the web site,
www.jeffersoncardiology.com.
To contact Jefferson Cardiology
Association, call (412) 469-1500.
To learn more about Abby
Abbodanza, listen to his music and
view his touring schedule, visit his
web site www.abbyabbodanza.com.
Fall 2011
Are You At Risk For An Ankle Sprain?
By Karen K. Luther, D.P.M.
A
nkle sprains account for approximately 20% of single injuries sustained during sports, resulting in over 1 million health care visits per
year. Ankle sprains can occur due to accidents beyond your control,
but because more people are working out for overall health and more children are participating in sports, the potential for injury increases even more.
There are however ways to decrease your risk factors.
1) Improve the stability of tendons and ligaments surrounding the ankle
joint with range of motion and strength training exercises. Consider a brace
if your ankle joint ligaments are very flexible or you’ve had a previous
sprain.
2) Foot posture can determine the amount of stress on the ankle joint
area and some feet benefit from taping and bracing during activity to provide more ankle support. Orthotic appliances can control abnormal
mechanics of the feet to decrease stress. Professional computerized gait
scanning analyzes force vectors passing through the foot into the ankle joint
area and above, then a custom orthotic is designed to help diminish the
impacts.
3) Watch other factors that may increase your risk for ankle injury. If you
are overweight or have high body mass index (BMI), start slowly, because
these issues increase pressure on your lower joints, feet and ankles. Sports
involving sustained running and jumping, like soccer, lacrosse and basketball increase the possibilities for injury. And other factors, like footwear, the
playing surface, and your skill level are variables to consider, since they can
contribute to your risk of ankle sprains.
Treat any ankle sprain promptly. Sprains damage the ligaments, which
maintain the stability of the ankle joint and if not treated properly, the initial inflammatory response post-injury can lead to scar tissue. This can
cause future problems from a reduction in energy absorbing capacity, causing functional limitations.
Repetitive ankle sprains can lead to chronic instability, causing osseous
(bone tissue) problems at the ankle joint and issues with tendons and ligaments. And individuals who suffer more than one ankle sprain may be at
risk for other medical complications. Engage in
exercise and maintain an active lifestyle, but think
ahead and avoid risk factors that make you susceptible to ankle sprains.
>
Visit our website at www.pffcpc.com for
more information on ankle sprains and
strengthening exercises. You can reach
Dr. Luther at Pittsburgh Family Foot Care, P.C.
at (724) 941-9440.
NEW HEALTH MINISTRY AT WESTMINSTER
Westminster Presbyterian Church in Upper St. Clair has always tried to
offer health related programs for its members and the community. The
interest in these programs has grown over the years to form Westminster’s
new Health Ministry. It is comprised of Congregational Care, led by Rev.
Tammy Yeager, and the Westminster Recreation & Outreach Center
(WROC) under the direction of Lisa Boyd.
Congregational Care offers several health options on Sunday mornings.
• Blood Pressure Screening: On the fourth Sunday of each month, stop
by Memorial Parlor between services to have your blood pressure checked
by a parish nurse.
• Blood Drive: Twice each year the Central Blood Bank and the
Westminster Deacons hold a blood drive at the church.
• Flu Shot Clinic
The Westminster Recreation & Outreach Center offers many exercise
classes throughout the year. They also offer health classes such as:
• First Place 4 Health is a Christ-centered health and weight-loss program, with a free orientation being held on September 14.
• Take Care of the Temple – A Wellness Journey will help you to grow
spiritually, lose weight, and develop a practical plan for lifelong healthy
living.
These are just some of the Health Ministry offerings at Westminster.
Visit www.westminster-church.org to learn more. Also, visit the WROC
website at wroc.westminster-church.org. Rev. Yeager and Lisa Boyd can be
contacted by calling the church office at (412) 835-6630.
Fall 2011
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
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
• Herniated Discs
• ACL and Rotator Cuff Repair • Kyphoplasty
• Treatment of Sports Injuries • Epidural Steroid Injections
• Surgery of the Hand and Wrist • Surgery of the Foot and Ankle
• Carpal Tunnel Release
• Total Joint Replacement
• Back and Neck Surgery
• Fracture Care
For appointments, please call 412-429-0880 or 888-817-2019
Visit our website at: www.southhillsortho.com
363 Vanadium Road
Waterdam Commons
159 Waterdam Road, Suite 120
McMurray, PA 15317
GUIDE
TO
GOOD HEALTH 17
Pregnancy Massage:
The Differences and
How It Can Address Issues
With Pregnancy at all Stages
By Danielle D. Thomas, Massage Therapist L.M.T., PA., WV.
P
regnancy massage is not like receiving a Swedish or deep tissue
massage. Careful consideration are taken at every stage
of the pregnancy whether you are in your first trimester or
your third trimester. If you are having issues with lower back pain,
edema, headaches, thoracic outlet syndrome all call be address
with a pregnancy massage. As you go through the different stages
the body has dramatic changes such as more stress begins on
pelvis, back and pectoral girdle, skin stretching, muscle cramping and varicose veins may appears. With the pregnancy massage it is able to aid in alleviating some of the ailments.
Most high risk pregnancy can get massage and those with
serious medical problems will need a clearance from their
OB-GYN.
Pregnancy massage not only supports the physical changes
it also aid in the emotional and mental stresses. Several studies have been published on the effect of massage during and
after pregnancy. It improves labor outcomes, relieves muscle
spasm, myofascial pain, increases blood and lymph circulation,
lowers anxiety, depression and promotes postpartum restoration
of abdomen.
When you come in for your massage a full history is taken so
proper precautions are taken for comfort and safety of the
mother and fetus.
Depending on what stage you are and any contraindication to
consider in the massage will dictate how the massage is
approached. We never place any pregnant women in prone
position after the 13 weeks due to the fact that it may cause
undue strain and complications for the mother and fetus.
Techniques used in a pregnancy massage are lymphatic
drainage, myofascial release, deep tissue, some zone therapy,
Swedish, strain/counter strain and stretches. We will also go
over exercises, breathing techniques and pelvic tilt education
that you can do at home.
As for massage postpartum we can address muscle
strain/fatigue, pelvic floor dysfunction, facilitate restoration of pre-pregnancy physiology, promote structural
realignment of pelvis facilitate healing, provide
education and support.
With profound effects of massage on the
body systems and techniques used to
address specific issues while observing
contraindications will benefit the pregnant
women and future family.
When looking for a therapist they should be
certified with a practical and written test.
Information taken from Kate Jordan, CMT, NCTMB, JSCC Bodywork for
the Childbearing Year.
>
For more information on
pain management with
massage, call Danielle
Thomas at (412) 519-4566,
visit ddtmassage.com or
amtamassage.org or stop by
850 Boyce Rd. Suite 10,
Bridgeville Pa 15017.
Coming this Winter ... Medical Profiles of DENTISTS
For more information, call (412) 835-5796 or email [email protected]
18 GUIDE
TO
GOOD HEALTH
Fall 2011
Why Breastfeeding Matters:
5 Things for New Mothers
CHILDREN’S HEALTH
Premature
Babies and
Physical Therapy
By Dr. Renee B. Hickman, M.D.
I
n Pennsylvania, more than 17,000
babies are born too soon each year,
before their lungs, brains or other
organs are fully developed (March of
Dimes, 2010). But, there is hope. Since
premature babies are more “at-risk” for
developmental delays and many require
Janelle as a baby
a stay in the Neonatal Intensive Care
Unit (NICU), they are automatically
tracked to receive Early Intervention (EI)
services. These EI services may include
occupational, physical, and speech therapy, as well as developmental, vision,
hearing and nutrition services. EI services are provided for children ages birth
to three in the home or community setting and are at no cost to the family in
Pennsylvania.
A common need for babies born prematurely is physical therapy. Since most
babies are born curled up and preemies
are born extended, physical therapy may
Janelle now
be required to “bring them back to their
middle.” Because many premature babies
are hooked up to life-saving support such as oxygen for the first few weeks
after birth, they remain extended and can be sensitive to touch. The key is
to bring their hands to their middle (chest) and teach them that touch is
good.
Three-year old Janelle is a wonderful example of how physical therapy can
help a child excel. Born early with a few complications at birth, Janelle began
receiving physical therapy through The Early Learning Institute (TELI) at
nine months old. When she began therapy, she kept her head way to the side,
did not look at anybody, startled at everything and to her, touch was unpleasant. Right away, TELI physical therapist Kay Donovan began “putting Janelle
back together,” by making things less scary for her and continually bringing
Janelle to her center.
“That is when we found Janelle,” said Kay. “Soon, she had head control
and her own little personality.” And, through continued therapies, Janelle
can now roll, pivot, scoot, sit independently and stand with support. Kay
believes her job is to ensure that babies and their parents have a better time
together. Janelle’s mother, Jennifer, agrees. “They’ve given us resources and
the confidence to be able to take care of our child.”
>
For more information about The Early Learning Institute (TELI),
call (412) 922-8322 or visit www.telipa.org.
A
recent study released in Pittsburgh indicated that more needs to be
done in hospitals to support new mothers and encourage them to
breastfeed. If you are a first-time mother, these tips may help:
1) Remember, breastfeeding
is about more than just nutrition.
Offering a complete infant support system, breastfeeding leads to babies
with less respiratory infections, allergies, eczema, asthma, and a decreased
risk of diabetes. Nothing beats holding your baby close, bonding and knowing they will be sick less often. Formula is not even close to breast milk in
terms of the benefits it can offer.
2) Find out if your Doctor
will commit to a breastfeeding partnership
Some physicians place a high value on breastfeeding and others do not.
Before your baby is born, talk to your doctor to find out if he or she will commit to offering you 24/7 support.
3) Ask for help when you need it.
Just because it is natural to breastfeed, that does not mean it is easy, particularly given the sleep deprivation of the first few weeks. Before you get
discouraged, ask for help. Call your doctor, come to the office or contact a
lactation helpline or La Leche League for support.
4) Have an Enforcer.
In the early days of breastfeeding, privacy and rest are critical. Designate a
spouse, friend or relative to be your enforcer, assuring that you get the privacy and rest you need. Let them encourage people to bring food and visit
no longer than 15 minutes.
5) Remember, it gets easier.
The first few weeks with a new baby can be daunting. It gets easier.
Beyond its spectacular health benefits, breastfeeding is convenient and efficient, saving time and money. Breastfeeding exclusively for the first 4-6
months is ideal and new moms should nurse their babies as long as they can.
In many ways, breastfeeding is like learning to dance with a new partner.
It takes patience. Parents who want the best for their child understand the
importance of using a car seat to assure that their
child is safe. Breastfeeding is no different. It matters
that much.
>
Dr. Renee B. Hickman is a member of the
team of physicians at Premier Medical
Associates and the Academy of
Breastfeeding Medicine.
For more information, visit
www.premiermedicalassociates.com.
The Early Learning Institute
Serving Children for Over 50 Years
• 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 including
vision and hearing
• Social workers available
Serving all of Allegheny County • telipa.org • 412.922.8322
Fall 2011
GUIDE
TO
GOOD HEALTH 19
The Education Center
CHILDREN’S HEALTH
Behavior Support Academy
Visual Impairments
in a Visual World
Friendship Academy
LEAP Preschool
Psychological
Services
Respite
School-based Cyber Academy
Training & Consultation
Learn more about our school programs, services and
resources for special needs students, their parents
and special education professionals on our website:
www.thewatsoninstitute.org
412-741-1800
866-893-4751 (toll free)
T
he importance of sight to a complete understanding of the world cannot be overemphasized. The other four senses play their part, but sight
completes and furnishes answers to the questions that other senses
bring to mind.
We feel a sharp point and we look to see what the point is, how to avoid
it or how we use it; we hear a noise and we look to see where it originated
and how its closeness might affect us; we smell a skunk and look to see
where it is; we taste something and we look to see its appearance.
A greater quantity of information is gained in a shorter period of time with
vision than any other single sense organ. When entering a room, an
immense amount of information is immediately available through one’s visual system: how many women vs. men, older vs. younger, and so much more.
Incidental learning occurs more through vision than any other sense.
A visual impairment certainly affects how one gathers and processes information. The visual system can be thought of in terms of the eye, the optic
nerve and the brain. The eye collects the information, the optic nerve transmits it, and the brain interprets the information. All parts must work together for good vision or a clear image to occur. There are numerous things that
can go wrong with the visual system, resulting in hundreds of eye disorders.
At The Watson Institute students diagnosed with an intellectual disability
often have visual impairments as well. A teacher of the visually impaired will
assess the student’s vision using a functional vision evaluation. The student’s
educational team works closely in developing appropriate adaptations to
materials, instruction and the environment to increase each student’s ability
to use their visual system to the fullest extent.
Vision provides the tool for actively organizing one’s world and one’s experiences and is critical to learning and development.
>
For more information on programs and services at The Watson Institute,
call (412) 741-1800 or visit our website at
www.thewatsoninstitute.org.
I kept my hands to myself
and got all my work done!
Pace School Programs teach children
with emotional disorders and
autism to break through social
and emotional barriers to
school success.
Locations:
116 Browns Hill Rd.
Valencia, PA 16059
724-903-0083
20 GUIDE
TO
GOOD HEALTH
2432 Greensburg Pike
412-244-1900
Fall 2011
Backpack Facts
By Tressa Bitonti, MS, PT
PUBLISHER
Nancy Lammie
T
he new school year will soon begin, and students
will once again carry their backpacks to and from
class. Backpacks feature multiple compartments
that allow students to stay organized, while toting various books and papers back and forth from school.
When worn correctly, the weight of the backpack is
evenly distributed across the body, thus preventing
neck and shoulder injuries that may occur with a messenger bag or purse. However, when worn improperly,
various problems can arise.
Backpack related injuries to the neck, back and
shoulder can be reduced by following usage guidelines.
The first thing to consider is the construction of the
backpack. The American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP)
recommends choosing a lightweight pack, made of canvas verses leather. The backpack should also have two
wide, padded shoulder straps, which prevent “digging”
in to the shoulders. A padded back is also necessary to
provide comfort, and to protect the individual from
being poked by sharp edges on objects (pencils, rulers
etc.) inside the pack. A waist belt, as well as multiple
compartments in the backpack, will help to distribute
the weight more evenly across the body. Wheels on the
backpack may be a good option, however many schools
do not permit these type of packs as they can pose tripping hazards in school hallways.
Purchasing the proper backpack is only one part of
the equation. Physical therapy and physician organizations recommend that backpack loads are no more than
10% -15% of the individual’s body weight. (See chart)
Therefore, it is important to carry only the necessary
Fall 2011
EDITORIAL MANAGER
Judy Gramm
Body Weight Backpack Weight
10%-15% body weight
80 pounds
8 to 12 pounds
100 pounds
10 to 15 pounds
130 pounds
13 to 19.5 pounds
150 pounds
15 to 22.5 pounds
200 pounds
20 to 30 pounds
items in the pack. Use both shoulder straps, adjusting
the straps so that the load is snug and positioned along
the mid to lower back. Utilize all the compartments of
the pack, putting heavier items closest to the center of
the pack. When standing, or waiting for prolonged periods of time, it is beneficial to take the pack off and place
it down.
Educating students regarding proper backpack features,
fit and weight is imperative to
preventing the numerous problems that can occur with
improper use.
>
Tressa Bitonti, OSPTA
Inc – Charleroi,
can be reached at
(724) 483-4886.
ACCOUNT EXECUTIVES
Margie Wilson
Lynette Tomasetti
DESIGN & LAYOUT
JMC Graphics
[email protected]
(412) 835-5796
CONTRIBUTING WRITERS
Laurie Bailey, Lisa Bianco,
Ron Cichowicz, John Fries
Vanessa Orr, Nancy Kennedy,
Ron Paglia, Lois Thomson
WEB SITE DESIGNER
Keith Trageser
www.keithtrag.com
[email protected]
HOW TO REACH US:
ADVERTISE / SUBSCRIBE
[email protected]
412-835-5796
2574 Oldfield Ave, Pittsburgh, PA 15102
The Guide To Good Health is published quarterly
(4 issues per year) by JMC Publications. The contents
of this publication may not be reproduced in whole or
in part. All rights reserved.
VISIT US ONLINE or at FACEBOOK
GUIDE
TO
GOOD HEALTH 21
DIABETES
MARK YOUR CALENDAR: November 5
American Diabetes Association EXPO
and the WTAE TV Healthy 4 Life EXPO
9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. • David L. Lawrence Convention Center
November Diabetes EXPO Offers Education,
Fun and Access to Experts and Lifestyle Coaches
By Lisa Bianco
T
his fall, the public will have a unique opportunity
to speak with diabetes health care experts and
lifestyle coaches at the November 5, 2011
American Diabetes Association (ADA) EXPO, and the
WTAE TV Healthy 4 Life EXPO, held at the David L.
Lawrence Convention Center from 9:00 a.m. to 4:00
p.m. Designed to be a highly interactive event, activities
are available for all age groups, including a Healthy
Aging Showcase focusing on issues which are particularly relevant to seniors. Mini-seminars geared to seniors
will also be offered, including:
• Better Choices Better Health: Self-management of
chronic disease program for older adults with ongoing
health issues such as diabetes, arthritis, and heart disease, presented by John Miller, Project CoordinatorChronic Disease Self-Management Program at the
Allegheny County Department of Human Services/Area
Agency on Aging.
• Home
and
Community-Based
Care:
Understanding Available Services for Older Adults,
presented by Ray Landis, Senior Advocacy Manager with
AARP Pennsylvania.
• Identity Theft-Protect Your Most Important
Asset—Yourself!!, presented by Jason Tarap, Deputy
Sheriff, Crime Prevention Specialist from the Allegheny
County Sheriff’s Office.
• Medicare—Choosing a Plan that Fits Your Needs,
presented by Allegheny County APPRISE program.
Everyone is invited to this free, one-day health and
wellness event presented by Giant Eagle Pharmacy. Says
Terri Seidman, EXPO Director of the ADA, “We want to
stress that all the members of your family can attend. So
many millions of people today are walking around with
pre-diabetes and don’t know it.” Opportunities for fun,
education and activities will be divided into four anchor
areas: Living Better Screening sponsored by Wal-Mart,
Healthy Eating—a venue with plenty of cooking demonstrations—sponsored by Giant Eagle pharmacy, Have
Fun/Get Active, and Youth & Family. Have Fun/Get
Active is an area where live physical fitness demos will
take place, including fencing, square dancing, Zumba,
ballroom dancing and Silver Sneakers. EXPO goers also
get a chance to meet Sherry Johnston of The Biggest
Loser-Season 9, Pink Team, sponsored by Philips
Respironics. Sherry will be speaking about Sleep Apnea
in the Divabetic Pavilion at 12:00 PM.
Empowering Strategies to Manage
Diabetes and Live a Happy Life
The educational features of the EXPO will provide
valuable information on how to manage diabetes from
the standpoint of emotional, physical and social aspects
of life, from motivation and education to cooking and
having fun. “EXPO Pathways to Better Health,” the
prevalent theme of the EXPO, allows attendees to follow
different roads and make stops to gain insight into better
overall management of diabetes and healthier living.
Terri recommends going to the event website to pre-register for the EXPO at www.diabetes.org/EXPOPITTS-
DIABETES EXPO
PREVIEW:
Insulin Myths & RealitiesRuth Charne, Champion,
(Sponsored by Sanofi-Aventis)
From Surviving to Thriving:
Strategies for Living well
with Diabetes
Timothy R. Cline, PhD, MCC, Sr.
Director of Clinical Training
and Program Dev. Health Promotion,
(UPMC Health Plan)
Play Jeopardy!!
(for Type 2)
Tammie Payne RN, MSN –UPMC
Bedford Hospital, Patricia MckissockGittinger RN, CDE-Highlands
Hospital, Diane Battaglia, RN, CDE,
CPT-UPMC Mercy Diabetes Center
(Sponsored by UPMC)
What Can You Do
to Prevent Diabetes?
Stephanie Harriman-McGrath, RPH,
Pharm D & Dave Zora, RPH
Sleep Apnea as Seen &
Implemented for TV
Sherry Johnston- The Biggest Loser Season 9, Pink Team,
(Sponsored by Philips Respironics)
I Don’t CookConnie Frazier, RD, LDN, CDE,
Joslin Diabetes Center,WPAHS
(Forbes Regional Hospital)
BURGH. “That will allow people to see the list of events,
plan their day and choose the sessions they don’t want to
miss.”
Returning again to this year’s EXPO, is the big crowd
pleaser, the Divabetic Pavilion with Mr. Divabetic Max
Szadek. “Diabetes-Golden Girls Style” is this year’s
theme. EXPO goers can take advantage of beauty services, massages, consultations with diabetes experts,
giveaways and much more. The goal of Divabetic® is to
empower and educate women living with, at risk of, or
affected by diabetes to take charge of their condition and
live their lives like divas. Max Szadek, Founder,
Executive Director and host of Diva TalkRadio, at first
began Divabetic in October, 2004 as a one-time t-shirt
fundraising endeavor after his late boss, R&B legend
Luther Vandross, suffered a stroke. Divabetic eventually
evolved into diabetes education that included live stage
shows and stylish outreach events.
Last year’s American Diabetes Association EXPO in
Pittsburgh drew more than 5,000 attendees to the daylong event.
Diabetic Retinopathy:Vision
for the Future
Martin A. Boscarino, MD, Miguel A.
Busquets, MD, FACS,
Brian H. Jeward, MD,Vitreo-Retinal
Specialists at Associates in
Opthomology
Play Jeopardy!! (for Type 1)
Tammie Payne RN, MSN-UPMC
Bedford Hospital, Pat MckissockGittinger, RN, CDE-Highlands
Hospital (Sponsored by UPMC)
Diabetes 101
for Type 2 DiabetesBeth Ann Coonrod, PhD, MPH, RN,
CDE , Diabetes Disease
Management Coordinator,
(St. Clair Hospital Diabetes Center)
The Slippery Slope of
Lifestyle Change,
(The Graduate School of Public
Health, University of Pittsburgh)
For more information and to pre-register for the Diabetes EXPO, log onto the website at: Diabetes.org/EXPOPITTSBURGH,
or call (412) 824-1181 x 4608 or 1-888-DIABETES (1-888-342-2383).
22 GUIDE
TO
GOOD HEALTH
Fall 2011
Diabetes in
Childhood
ARE YOU DIABETIC?
Do you know that insurance
covers one pair of
shoes a year?
By Deborah Rotenstein, M.D.
Dr. Comfort
Diabetic
Shoes
O
f the chronic diseases seen in
childhood, diabetes is one of the
most common with approximately 125,000 patients less than age 19
and 13,000 new cases yearly in the U.S.
There are two types of diabetes and both
occur in children. Both types of diabetes
involve insulin, a hormone necessary to
be able to utilize the sugars and starches in food and
convert them to energy needed as fuel for cells. Type 1
(previously known as juvenile diabetes) is the result of
a genetic predisposition and an immune attack on
insulin producing cells making it necessary to replace
insulin by injections or a pump. Type 2 diabetes (once
believed to occur only in adults) happens when there
is not enough insulin or the individual cannot use the
insulin properly. The number of youth with type 2 diabetes has been rising steadily since 1994 and is most
often seen in overweight children and more often in
girls ages 12 to 14 years. Symptoms of both types can
include frequent urination, thirst, weight loss, extreme
fatigue, fruity or sweet breath, labored breathing. Some
patients with Type 2 will have no symptoms at all!
With one third of children in the U.S between ages of
10 and 17 years in the overweight to obese category,
this type of diabetes is likely to increase.
>
At present, here is no cure for type 1 diabetes but
individualized treatment with insulin and other agents
for type 2, allow patients to grow, be healthy and active
and have full lives. There needs to be a balance
between medication, a healthy diet and regular exercise. Those with type 1 need multiple insulin injections
per day or insulin that is delivered by pump. Glucose
checks are done many times in the day and there are
also continuous monitors that allow glucose determinations every 5 minutes! Patients with type 2 may take
oral medications or insulin or may be able to lose
weight to their ideal weight and not need treatment
other than diet and exercise.
Patients, families, the healthcare team and schools need to
communicate and cooperate
to keep children with diabetes
healthy and safe.
Dr. Deborah Rotenstein, Pediatric Endocrinologist/Diabetologist
with Pediatric Alliance, Division of Endocrinology, can be reached at
(412) 371-3000 or visit www.pediatricalliance.com.
Diabetic Shoes covered by
Insurance Highmark and Medicare.
Little to no cost and
FREE DELIVERY!
FREE Glucose Meter With Order of Supplies
EAGLE MEDICAL
EQUIPMENT CORP.
PRODUCTS AND SERVICES
• Aqua Relief
Systems
• Back Braces
• Bath Safety
• Beds &
Accessories
• Canes & Crutches
• Commodes
• Diabetic Shoes
• Electrotherapy
• Patient Room
Home Care
• Patient Room
Institutional
• Personal Care
• Powered Mobility
• Pressure
Prevention
• Respiratory
• Rollators
• Walkers
• Wheelchairs
• Wound Care
Products
We accept Medicare, Medicaid, Highmark,
and most private insurances.
7937 Steubenville Pike Oakdale, PA 15071
Phone (724) 218-1051
Fax (724) 218-1165
www.pittmedicalsupply.com
Exceptional care for your children, confidence and convenience for you.
Pediatric Alliance, P.C.
Providing Pediatric and Adolescent Medicine
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:
w w w.pediatricalliance.com • Follow Us on Twitter • Follow Us on Facebook
LOCATIONS:
North:
Arcadia Division: 412-366-7337
Fox Chapel Division: 412-767-0707
North Hills Division: 412-364-5834
Cranberry Office: 724-776-4344
Northland Division: 412-366-5550
Cranberry Office: 724-776-6030
Fall 2011
South:
Chartiers Division: 412-221-0160
McMurray Office: 724-941-2747
Greentree Division: 412-922-5250
St. Clair Division: 412-221-2121
Specialty Divisions:
Division of Pediatric Endocrinology:
412-371-3000
Division of Allergy, Asthma, and
Immunology: 412-348-6868
We Care
A b o u t Yo u r
Kids!
GUIDE
TO
GOOD HEALTH 23
5 Tips to Control the
Side-Effects of Diabetes
DIABETES
Taking Your Diabetes Medications
By James S. Costlow, M.D.
By Marlene Sperl, CRNP
M
any times at Joslin Diabetes Center we find patients are not taking
their diabetes medications appropriately. Any time you begin a
new medication, ask about how it works, when to take it, what to
expect, and possible side effects.
Glimeperide(Amaryl), glyburide (Diabeta, Micronase, Glynase), glipizide
(Glucotrol), repaglinide (Prandin) or nateglinide (Starlix) should be taken
before the meal. Without food, these medications may cause hypoglycemia.
Any metformin (Glucophage) medication should be taken with the meal.
Acarbose (Precose) and miglitol (Glyset) should be taken with the first bite
of the meal. Pioglitizone (Actos), rosiglitazone (Avandia), sitagliptin
(Januvia), saxagliptin (Onglyza), and linagliptin (Tradjenta) should be
taken at the same time each day.
Combination pills should be taken before meals if one of the medications
can cause hypoglycemia.
Exenatide (Byetta), liraglutide (Victoza), and pramlintide (Symlin) are
non-insulin injectables. Liraglutide may be taken once daily at any time, but
exenatide is usually taken twice daily before breakfast and dinner and pramlintide before each meal.. They do not typically cause hypoglycemia but
could if taken in combination with insulin or another pill.
Insulin also may cause hypoglycemia. Long acting insulins such as
glargine (Lantus) and detemir (Levemir) should be taken at the same time
each day. Intermediate acting insulin, NPH, does not need to be given with
a meal, but meals should be eaten regularly. A short acting insulin, Regular,
should be taken 1/2 hour before eating a meal. Take rapid-acting insulins
lispro (Humalog), aspart (Novalog) and glulisine (Apidra) no more than 15
minutes before a meal.
The main concern with most of these medications is hypoglycemia or low
blood sugar. If this occurs you may feel hungry, shaky, nervous, dizzy, weak,
or angry, and you can even pass out. A blood glucose level less than 70 is
low for most people. Check your blood sugar and if low, treat with 15 grams
of carbohydrate such as 3 glucose tablets, 4 ounces
of juice, or 5-6 ounces of regular soda.
Stop any activity and rest for 15 minutes, then
recheck your blood sugar. If this occurs repeatedly,
contact your health care provider.
>
I
n the United States today, 25.8 million children and adults currently suffer from diabetes. Maintaining a healthy blood glucose level is important,
but if you suffer from or are prone to diabetes, you must be aware of other
factors. These tips may help:
1. Maintain Healthy Blood Pressure and Cholesterol Levels
The larger the waistline is, the greater the risk of diabetes, elevated cholesterol and high blood pressure. Ask your doctor if they can connect you
with a diabetic educator who can help you learn about eating a healthy diet,
exercise and other steps to prevent worsening symptoms, such as heart
attacks and strokes.
2. Keep Track of Your Kidneys
Be sure your doctor monitors your kidney levels since kidney disease is a
common side effect of poorly controlled diabetes. Ask about ACE inhibitors,
a specific type of blood pressure pill that protects the kidneys. If not monitored, kidneys can fail and dialysis becomes necessary.
3. Schedule Yearly Eye Exams
Each year, your eye doctor should screen for diabetic retinopathy. This
occurs when elevated sugar levels cause vessels to form in the eye that could
burst, scar the retina and cause blindness.
4. Understand Insulin
Many diabetic patients fear insulin shots, but today they are more sophisticated and almost pain free – with needles as thin as a human hair. Insulin
is unable to be ingested since it must disperse through your body slowly, so
this must be achieved by injection. If you start early enough on insulin, you
prevent your diabetes from worsening.
5. Find out if your doctor keeps a diabetic registry
Ask your doctor to keep you in a diabetic registry. This tracks diabetic
patients to ensure they receive correct medication, blood work, yearly eye
exams and other preventative measures. It also helps doctors catch deficiencies before they escalate.
Living with diabetes can be daunting, however
properly caring for diabetes and taking preventative
measures can eliminate more serious side effects
and allow for a healthier and happier life.
>
Marlene Sperl is a nurse practitioner and
certified diabetes educator with the Joslin
Diabetes Center at West Penn Hospital.
She can be reached at (412) 578-1724.
Dr James S. Costlow is a member of the team
of physicians at Premier Medical Associates.
For more information, visit the website
www.premiermedicalassociates.com.
Improving Your Diabetes by Treating your Sleep Apnea
By Michael F. Hnat, D.M.D.
A
ccording to National Institute of Health statistics, diabetes affects
8.3% of the U.S. population across all age groups. Type II diabetes is
the predominant type and comprises 90-95% of all diagnosed cases.
Interestingly, it is also linked to sleep-related breathing disorders – specifically snoring and obstructive sleep apnea. They are strong risk factors that
contribute to this type of diabetes. The lack of proper oxygen levels in the
blood as a result of sleep apnea increases insulin resistance, which is considered a precursor to developing diabetes. Insulin resistance results in
increasing blood sugar levels leading to the onset of diabetes.
Treating the obstructive sleep apnea can help diabetic patients control
their blood sugar levels and the severity of their disease. It can also lower
one’s risk of complications associated with the diabetes, such as heart dis-
>
24 GUIDE
TO
ease and stroke.
Current treatment modalities for sleep apnea are dental appliances, CPAP
(a nighttime breathing mask with air pressure) or airway surgery. It has been
proven that for mild and moderate levels of sleep apnea, individuals actually prefer the use of a dental appliance to stabilize their breathing while
asleep and maintain proper blood oxygen levels. The American Academy of
Sleep Medicine validates these appliances as first line treatment options. A
dentist with specialized training in the field of dental sleep medicine custom
fabricates these FDA approved appliances to fit over the teeth in such a way
that keeps the breathing airway from collapsing.
Medical insurance carriers also recognize that dental sleep appliances are effective treatment options
and can provide reimbursement accordingly when
provided by a qualified dentist.
Dr. Michael F. Hnat, has advanced training and certifications in the field of dental sleep medicine.
An integral focus of his McMurray practice is oral sleep appliance therapy.
For more information, visit www.progressivedentalsolutions.com or call (724) 942-5630.
GOOD HEALTH
Fall 2011
Take Control of Your Diabetes!
The Joslin Diabetes Center affiliates at West Penn Allegheny Health System help
patients manage diabetes by creating a customized care plan based on individual
needs and lifestyle. We offer a team of specially trained professionals dedicated
to helping people take control of their condition and maintain better health.
Our services include:
• Insulin therapy
• Medication management
• Nutrition planning
• Management of diabetes during pregnancy
• Group education classes
• And much more!
With three convenient locations throughout the Pittsburgh area, it’s easy to
schedule an appointment. You can find us at the following locations:
• Allegheny Valley Ambulatory Care Center, New Kensington 724.367.2400
• Forbes Regional Hospital, Monroeville
412.858.4475
• The Western Pennsylvania Hospital, Bloomfield
412.578.1724
wpahs.org
Fall 2011
GUIDE
TO
GOOD HEALTH 25
DIABETES
Lifestyle Changes Can Reduce Risk for
Onset of Type 2 Diabetes and Heart Disease
A
and/or abnormal blood fats. Over 79 million Americans are thought to
re you ready to make lifestyle changes toward a
have pre-diabetes and about one-fourth of U.S. adult population has
healthier you? Healthy changes that cause you to
the metabolic syndrome.
become more fit and to tighten your belt have been
The Group Lifestyle Balance healthy lifestyle intervention is lookshown to lower your risk for diabetes and heart disease!
ing
for individuals who may be at risk for developing diabetes and
The number of people with type 2 diabetes is growing fast
heart disease to participate in this lifestyle change program. It will
in the United States.
be offered at two LifeSpan, Inc. locations (300 Lincoln Avenue,
However, a national research study, the Diabetes
Carnegie & 3000 Lebanon Church Road, West Mifflin). Screening
Prevention Program, demonstrated that making small
for study eligibility will be conducted at these locations this fall. If
changes in lifestyle such as healthy eating and
you are age 18 years or older, non-diabetic,
increasing physical activity lowered the chances of
overweight and have any of the risk factors
developing type 2 diabetes in those at high risk for
mentioned you may be eligible to particithe disease (1). This program also helped to
(2,3)
pate.
lower risk factors for heart disease .
The National Institutes of Health (NIH) is
Please see the ad on page 27
funding the University of Pittsburgh’s
Diabetes Prevention Support Center (DPSC)
for initial phone screening
to evaluate the impact of offering a healthy
contact information.
lifestyle intervention called Group Lifestyle
References
Balance (GLB) within the local community.
Knowler, W., Barrett-Connor, E., Fowler, S., et al. Reduction
The DPSC is partnering with LifeSpan, Inc.
in the incidence of type 2 diabetes with lifestyle intervention or met(funded in part by the Allegheny County Area
formin. N Engl J Med. 2002; 346 393 - 403.
Agency on Aging), to offer GLB to overweight
Orchard, T.J., Temprosa, M., Goldberg, R., et al. The Effect of
Metformin and Intensive Lifestyle Intervention on the Metabolic
adults at risk for diabetes and heart disease with
Syndrome: The Diabetes Prevention Program Randomized Trial. Ann Intern Med.
pre-diabetes and/or the metabolic syndrome.
2005; 142 (8):611-619.
Individuals with pre-diabetes have elevated
Diabetes Prevention Program Research Group. Impact of Intensive Lifestyle
and Metformin Therapy on Cardiovascular Disease Risk Factors in the Diabetes
blood glucose levels that are not yet high
Prevention Program. Diabetes Care. 2005; 28 (4):888-894.
enough for a diagnosis of diabetes. A person
with the metabolic syndrome could have one
The Group Lifestyle Balance healthy lifestyle intervention
or more of the following
is
looking
for individuals who may be at risk for developing diabetes
risk factors: high blood
and heart disease to participate in this lifestyle change program.
pressure, large waist,
(1)
(2)
(3)
26 GUIDE
TO
GOOD HEALTH
Fall 2011
Program at Canonsburg General Hospital Supports Healthy Lifestyle
By Laurie Bailey
A
DIABETES SUPERFOODS
new nutrition and exercise program at
Canonsburg General Hospital is filling the
gap between being diagnosed with type 2
diabetes and gaining the necessary support for
making lifestyle changes.
Type 2 diabetes occurs when glucose builds up
in the blood instead of going into the cells, starving cells of energy. If not properly treated, the
increase of glucose, or blood sugar, can cause serious eye problems, nerve, feet or kidney damage
“When I meet
and problems with the heart and blood vessels.
with a patient, I
According to the American Diabetes Association
focus on diet
(ADA), two of the most common causes of type 2
changes with an
diabetes are being overweight and lack of physical
activity.
emphasis on the
“Treating diabetes is more than just taking medneed for
ication from your doctor,” said Malcolm Gregory,
exercise.”
DPT, PhD., physical therapist at the Department of
-Caren Surlow
Rehabilitation Services at Canonsburg General
Hospital.
During the four week program, patients meet with Dr. Gregory and nutritionist, Caren Surlow, chief clinical dietician at Canonsburg General
Hospital, to create a plan that will establish healthy habits for exercise and
diet. There are normally two sessions a week, each lasting from 30-50 minutes.
“When I meet with a patient, I focus on diet changes with an emphasis
on the need for exercise,” said Surlow.
Together, Surlow and the patient create a plan to modify habits for healthier eating.
Dietary changes she recommends may include:
• Eating a balanced diet throughout the day.
• Eating breakfast. Not doing so can affect the metabolism.
• Monitoring fat content to reduce calories, lower blood pressure and
better control blood sugar.
• Watching portions to help keep blood glucose levels even. It’s okay to
have a small piece of cake once in a while. Just be mindful of it working into
your diet for that day.
• A high fiber diet with whole grain is important. Unlike their white
equivalents, whole wheat breads and cereals and brown rice will help control blood sugar levels.
In the program, patients also learn how to read labels and control carbohydrate choices for each meal.
“Generally, it’s good to count carbs, and it’s not hard,” she said. And while
she encourages plenty of vegetables, she said it’s important to be aware that
starchy vegetables like corn, peas and sweet potatoes should be taken into
account when counting carbohydrates.
“The goal of the exercise program is to help
patients to become independent with an activity
program because that is what they need for long
term health,” said Dr. Gregory.
In the gym, Dr. Gregory will have a patient walk
on the treadmill to get their heart rate going. For
strength training, they will use ankle weights and
an elastic band – both very inexpensive ways to get
the muscles working, he noted.
“I do a series of individualized sessions with each
patient to get them to the point where they can safe“The goal of the
ly exercise on their own,” he explained.
exercise
Throughout the program, the patient’s heart, blood
pressure and glucose levels are monitored at each
program is to
session.
help patients to
"Patients are often surprised at how quickly exerbecome
cise can affect their glucose levels" said Dr. Gregory.
independent with
Current ADA guidelines recommend that
an activity propatients walk at a moderate pace for about 30 minutes a day, or boost their activity levels by swimgram because
ming, biking or even raking leaves and gardening.
that is what they
Benefits also come from strength training two to
need for long
three times per week.
term health.
Repeated working of the muscles improves the
body’s ability to use insulin and absorb glucose.
-Dr. Malcolm Gregory
Fall 2011
According to the American Diabetes Association,
“Being overweight is one of the leading modifiable
risk factors for type 2 diabetes.” Since 1980 the
obesity rate among adults has doubled, and for children it has tripled. Here is a list of diabetes “superfoods,” many of which are lacking in the typical
western diet:
• Beans – starchy fiber-pack veggies that provide
protein without the saturated fat in red meat
• Dark leafy vegetables as spinach and kale
• Citrus for vitamin C
• Sweet Potatoes – starchy veggies with vitamin A and fiber
• Berries – for antioxidants, vitamins and fiber
• Tomatoes – for vitamins C, E and iron
• Fish high in omega 3 fatty acids – like salmon
• Whole grains like barley and oatmeal
• Nuts
• Fat free milk and yogurt
"The most important thing is to establish a regular exercise habit" said Dr.
Gregory "it can be difficult to get started and keep at it – that’s where the
program can help."
And let’s not forget additional benefits of physical activity that include
lowering the risk of heart disease and stroke, keeping your heart and bones
strong and your joints flexible, reducing body fat and stress levels and lowering the risk of falling. Throughout the program, Surlow stresses the
importance of sticking with changes in diet and exercise beyond the four
week program to maintain healthy sugar levels.
“When weight goes down, blood sugar does down,” she concluded.
>
For more information about the nutrition and exercise program
at Canonsburg General Hospital, call (724) 745-3919.
University of Pittsburgh
Research Study
A research program for adults at risk for
type 2 diabetes and/or heart disease.
TM
If you are age 18 and older, do not have
diabetes, and are overweight, please call
877-444-DPSC (3772), to find out if you
are eligible for a screening assessment to
determine eligibility for the lifestyle
intervention research study.
Individuals who join the study will:
• Take part in a lifestyle change program
to help prevent diabetes and lower risk
for heart disease
• Learn how to improve eating and activity
habits and to safely lose weight
SCREENINGS WILL BE HELD AT THE
COMMUNITY RESOURCE CENTER operated by LifeSpan, Inc.
at 300 Lincoln Avenue, Carnegie, PA 15106
and the
COMMUNITY PROGRAM EXTENSION operated by LifeSpan, Inc.
in the West Mifflin Borough Building at 3000
Lebanon Church Road, West Mifflin, PA 15122.
________________________________________________________
There is no cost to take part in this study.
Participation is voluntary; all results are confidential.
GUIDE
TO
GOOD HEALTH 27
DIABETES
Need-to-Know Details About Medications
By Dr. Beth Ann Coonrod
T
here are important details for an individual to know about each
insulin and/or diabetes medication he is taking. Two of them are the
name and the timing of when it should be taken.
Name
At one time, there were essentially two types of insulin. A person could
describe his insulin as "clear" or "cloudy", and it was fairly easy to determine the type of insulin to which he was referring. Also at one time, there
was only one way in which an oral diabetes medication worked, so a person's saying that he took a "pill" for diabetes carried some meaning. That is
not the case anymore.
As more and more has been learned about how
to develop insulins that act in different ways (how
quickly they start working, when they work hard- Dr. Beth Ann Coonrod
est, how long they last), more and more types of
insulin have been produced. "Clear" can mean any of a variety of insulins,
as can "cloudy"; so nowadays, an insulin can not be distinguished by a
description of its appearance.
As more and more has been learned about the diabetes-related processes
that go on in the body of a person with type 2 diabetes, more and more types
of medications have been developed, each targeting different processes. This
means that they work in different ways from each other; so these days, "pill"
can mean any of a variety of types of oral medications.
Additionally, there are now injectable medications used for treating diabetes that are not insulin. Therefore,
"taking shots" does not necessarily
mean that a person is taking insulin.
Timing
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28 GUIDE
TO
GOOD HEALTH
The way in which a type of
insulin or a non-insulin medication
works factors into the timing of
when it should be taken. Some are
prescribed in specific timing related
to a meal; others are not. Some are
prescribed for a consistent time on
the clock; others are not. Besides
"when", a person needs to know the
answers to such questions as:
• What does "with food" mean –
before eating, with the first bite, or
after the meal? If before eating, how
long before; and if I forget to take it
before I start eating, what should I
do?
• What does "at bedtime" mean –
whenever I go to bed, or is consistent timing important?
Other Details
This is not an all-inclusive list of
the details that are important for a
person to know about the insulin
and/or diabetes medication he is
taking. Among other details are
doses, side effects, precautions for
specific situations, proper storage,
and the correct way to prepare and
inject insulin and injectable medications.
Pharmacists, physicians, and
Certified Diabetes Educators are
among the team of health care
providers that can help an individual learn about his medications.
However, in order to do so, the individual will first need to be able to
provide them with the exact names
of what he is taking.
>
Dr. Beth Ann Coonrod
is the Diabetes Disease
Management Coordinator of
the Diabetes Empowerment
Program at the St. Clair Hospital
Diabetes Center. For more
information, call (412) 942-2151
or visit www.stclair.org.
Fall 2011
Wound Care Center Provides Hope, Healing
W
hen 88-year-old George Pyle scraped his leg on his car door, the
wound did not heal properly, making George and his wife, Freda,
worried about the outcome of George’s health if the wound didn’t start to improve.
After one visit to Dr. Darlene Saheta, DPM, a podiatrist at the new Wound
Care and Hyperbaric Center that opened this past spring at Southwest
Regional Medical Center (SRMC) in Waynesburg, Pyle was quickly on his
way to recovery. In fact, Pyle was the first patient treated and healed at the
center.
The SRMC Wound Care and Hyperbaric Center is the hospital’s newest
and most exciting addition, made possible through a partnership with
Diversified Clinical Services (DCS).
With the rising rate of diabetes and a rapidly aging America, places like
the Wound Care Center have become a necessity. SRMC’s new center offers
two hyperbaric chambers for patients who need the hyperbaric oxygen therapy (HBOT). DCS centers had a reputation for achieving excellent clinical
outcomes, including high limb salvage rate, an 90% healing rate and highpatient satisfaction feedback.
Diabetic patients specifically should seek help through the Wound Care
Center since non-healing wounds of the feet in diabetics is considered to be
one of the most significant complications of the disease and can negatively
affect a patient’s quality of life. Statistics show that an estimated 6.5 million
diabetics nationwide suffer with chronic or non-healing wounds that are
associated with poor circulation and immobility.
Many diabetics have little feeling in their lower extremities and often
don’t even know a severe ulcer or wound is present until it is too late.
Without prompt treatment, advanced wounds can eventually require amputations.
Patients who seek help at the SRMC Wound Center have the advantage
of the HBOT therapy which involves the systemic delivery of oxygen
(l-r) Dr. Darlene Saheta, a podiatrist, is pictured with George, the first healed
patient of the new Wound Care and Hyperbaric Center, along with
Darla Mylan, R.N.; and Dr. Ferdinand Martinez, General Surgeon.
through pressurized chambers; with this method 94% of patients maintain
an intact limb 55 months after surgery.
The SRMC Wound Care and Hyperbaric Center is an outpatient, hospital-based program that works in conjunction with the patient’s primary care
physician. Several physicians will oversee the program including Dr. Saheta;
Ferdinand Martinez, MD, FACS; Amy Diamond, MD and John Martin, DO.
The physicians will coordinate an individualized plan of care for each
patient, working in partnership with the referring physician.
>
For more information about the SRMC Wound Care
and Hyperbaric Center, call (724) 627-1600.
Many diabetics have little feeling in their lower extremities and often don’t even know a severe ulcer or wound is present until it is too late.
Without prompt treatment, advanced wounds can eventually require amputations.
Fall 2011
GUIDE
TO
GOOD HEALTH 29
Antioxidants Promote Cellular Longevity*
Pure, Safe, Beneficial
• Skin Care Classes
• Personalized one on one make
up consultations
• Health and wellness education
By Dr. Yibing Wang
What do you mean
by longevity?
What is an antioxidant?
A long duration of
individual life or long
continuance.
Let's start with a little
background information
first. Just like rust on a car,
oxidation can damage our
bodies' cells and may contribute to the aging
process. Oxidation happens as the result of invading, damaging molecules
called free radicals. Free
radicals are unstable oxygen molecules that get into
the body as a result of overexercise, stress, being exposed to dirty air and other
environmental pollutants.
Antioxidants help prevent oxidation by counteracting free radicals.* They do this by binding to them and
transforming them into non-damaging compounds.
Consequently, antioxidants are integral in supporting
the body's natural defense system.*
What do you mean by promote?
TM
To contribute to the progress of something in a positive way.
What can we
conclude from the
claim "Antioxidants
Promote Cellular
Longevity?"*
The conclusion is
powerful. Antioxidants,
because of their free
radical
scavenging
capabilities, have the ability to promote the longevity of
individual cells and when individual cells in the body
are supported in a positive way, the body as a whole
becomes supported. This in turn contributes to the
potential for overall well-being and vitality in the long
term.* Antioxidants are a crucial part of any serious
nutrition program and independent laboratory tests
confirm Vemma® is the most powerful liquid antioxidant available anywhere!
* These statements have not been approved by the Food and Drug
Administration. These statements are not intended to diagnose, treat or
cure or prevent any disease.
What do you mean by cellular?
412-983-7076
[email protected]
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30 GUIDE
TO
GOOD HEALTH
Copyright 2005-2011 Vemma® Nutrition Company
In relation to the human body, cellular means of,
relating to or consisting of cells. A cell is the smallest structural unit in the body capable of functioning independently.
>
To learn more about Vemma, or to order Vemma
products, please visit www.bodyfuel.vemma.com.
Non-Surgical Treatment
of Incontinence
By Judith Post, MPT
H
ave you ever laughed so hard that you could not make it to a nearby bathroom before you leaked in your underwear? Incontinence
affects more than 10 million Americans, eighty percent of whom
can effectively be treated with lifestyle modification techniques and
biofeedback assisted pelvic floor exercises.
Typically, more women are affected than men. Men may become incontinent after a surgical intervention for prostate problems. Women are usually affected as a result of anatomical structure, hormonal changes, medications and childbirth. Even with the high percentage of population with
problems, urinary incontinence typically goes untreated, as people are
afraid or embarrassed to discuss these issues with their primary care physician or health care provider.
Treatment options include toileting diaries, education on how diet
affects continence, biofeedback, and a home exercise program. Patients are
encouraged to participate in an aerobic walking program or alternative aerobic activity for 20 minutes a day, three times a week. Strengthening the
muscles of the pelvis can assist with supporting the weak muscles of the
pelvic floor.
The biofeedback portion of treatment includes a computerized device
that measures the pelvic floor muscle strength. Patients are shown how to
properly perform pelvic floor exercises with a proper breathing pattern
while watching a colored monitor. Patients, men and women, are fully
clothed at all times as a sensor registers muscle activity.
Treatment may also consist of scheduled visits with a specially trained
physical therapist. A prescription can be obtained from your physician and
most insurance providers cover treatment. Urinary incontinence is a very
treatable condition without the need for expensive medications or surgery.
>
For more information, contact Judy Post, Incontinence Specialist,
NovaCare Rehabilitation, at (724) 942-1511 or visit the website
www.novacare.com.
Fall 2011
Fall 2011
GUIDE
TO
GOOD HEALTH 31
Advertorial
Cutting Edge Technology Comes to Cranberry
L
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GUIDE
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GOOD HEALTH 35
Dr. Brett Perricelli, Orthopaedics
Dr. Brett Perricelli:
Improving Lives through
Advanced Joint Replacement Surgery
By Nancy Kennedy
T
he newest member of the physician group at South Hills Orthopaedic
Associates is a highly credentialed and extensively trained orthopaedic
surgeon who specializes in advanced surgical approaches to hip and
knee replacement and is eager to offer his cutting edge expertise to the people
of the Pittsburgh region. Brett Perricelli, M.D., is an orthopaedic surgeon, a
graduate of the University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine and a proud
Pittsburgh native who is pleased to be “back in the ‘Burgh” after completing a
specialty orthopaedic fellowship in North Carolina. He brings a patient-centered philosophy to his work, with the goal of helping people achieve pain
relief and restoration to the highest possible level of functioning in every
aspect of their lives.
“Orthopaedic surgery is all about restoring quality of life,” Perricelli says,
“for people with debilitating conditions and injuries. It is often life changing.
Pain and disability can rob you of life’s pleasures; they limit your life and keep
you at home, isolated and avoiding the activities that you once enjoyed.”
Dr. Perricelli performs state-of-the-art surgery to replace worn out, arthritic hip and knee joints, but says that his job is to educate the patient about all
Pain Relief . . .
Every Step
of the Way!
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Step Causes Pain . . .
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Treatments and techniques for:
• Bunions
• Digital Custom-made
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• Sports injuries
• Traumatic foot and ankle
injuries/fractures
• On-site X-rays
• Skin problems such as warts
• Hammertoes (crooked toes)
• Diabetic and arthritic foot care
• Endoscopic procedures with
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• Extracorporeal Shock Wave
therapy for heel pain
Evening, lunchtime appointments. Handicapped accessible,
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Pittsburgh Family Foot Care, P.C.
Dr. Karen Luther & Associates
2001 Waterdam Plaza Drive, Suite 207
Centralized Scheduling (724) 941-9440
Visit our doctors and many locations: www.pffcpc.com
South Hills • UPMC Mercy Primary Care • Deer Lakes Medical
Greensburg • UPMC Mercy Greentree
36 GUIDE
TO
GOOD HEALTH
the options, which may not always mean
surgery. “The options include NSAIDs,
which are over-the-counter anti-inflammatory medications; steroid injections;
viscosupplementation injections to cushion the joint, and exercise. For some people, glucosamine and fish oil supplements seem to help. If medical approaches are ineffective, then we discuss the
risks and benefits of joint replacement
surgery.”
There are exciting advances in joint
replacement surgery: newer knee and hip
components, alternative and improved
bearing surfaces for hips, new tissuesparing approaches to total hip replacement, multi-modal analgesia to control post-operative pain and accelerated
rehabilitation techniques. According to Perricelli, these changes have resulted
in an intervention that both relieves pain and restores high levels of function.
He is one of very few surgeons in the region using a less invasive, muscle
sparing technique called a direct anterior approach. Unlike the traditional procedure, which involves a long incision and major cutting of muscles, this
method uses a natural interval between muscles. It can mean less post operative pain, shorter admission, faster recovery and most significantly, less risk of
dislocation and limb length inequality.
Perricelli performs surgery at St. Clair Memorial Hospital, which he
describes as a full service patient-centered hospital. “Orthopaedic surgery
requires precision and teamwork and the team in the O.R. as well as on our
dedicated Orthopaedic Unit are excellent. Plus, the hospital has specialists in
every field who are available in case of medical complications.”
Although orthopaedic surgery is a complex, highly technical field, Perricelli
is committed to a patient-centered model of care. “I’m not just treating a diseased joint; I’m treating a person. My background in general surgery enables
me to keep the perspective of the entire patient. During my orthopedic residency I began to see the big picture, beyond the joint and the diagnosis, and
to recognize how the problem impacts the patient’s life. I ask what life was like
before the pain interfered; my goal is to restore them to that level of activity.”
Perricelli is from Murrysville and attended Franklin Regional High School.
After graduating from Bucknell University, he attended medical school at Pitt,
where he was president of his class for all four years and received several prestigious honors including the Golden Apple Teaching Award for excellence as
a teacher and role model. He completed three years of a general surgical residency prior to switching to an orthopaedic residency at UPMC, where he
served as Chief Resident, and then went to North Carolina to train at the Hip
and Knee Center of OrthoCarolina with Thomas Fehring, M.D., his mentor
and role model. “Dr. Fehring is a brilliant surgeon and exceptional physician.
I learned from the best and did over 600 surgeries including a high volume of
complex revision work. I’ve brought that expertise back to the people of the
Pittsburgh region.”
Caring for patients whose lives have been disrupted by arthritis is satisfying
work for Perricelli. The highlight, he says, is seeing the patient free of pain and
active again at the first post-op appointment. When he is not performing
surgery or caring for patients, Perricelli enjoys family time with his wife and
daughter. He likes to play golf, watch sports and read and is an enthusiastic
member of Steeler Nation. “I love Pittsburgh, the sports and the wonderful
people here,” he says. “I’m happy to be home.”
According to the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons, the aging of
the vast Baby Boomer generation, plus the soaring rate of obesity, are among
the factors creating an epidemic of osteoarthritis – by 2020, 18.2% of
Americans will be diagnosed with it. Consequently, the number of people who
will need joint replacement will rise dramatically. Knee replacements are
expected to increase by 500% by 2030, and younger people are choosing to
have the surgery earlier rather than waiting until pain and disability become
unbearable.
“People need to know that they don’t have to suffer the pain and limitations
of osteoarthritis,” says Dr. Perricelli. “There are many ways that we can help.
Come in for an appointment and we’ll sit down with you and discuss all the
options.”
>
To contact South Hills Orthopedic Associates, visit
www.southhillsortho.com or call (412) 429-0880.
Fall 2011
Lakeside Primary Care
Lakeside: Combination of
Urgent Care and PCP
By Lois Thomson
T
here is a reason why
express medical centers have become
popular. Most people would
prefer to go to their primary
care physician when they
need quick medical attention, but they can't get an
appointment; and to go to
Dr. Mary Lamb and Dr. Kristen Romesberg
the emergency room often
seems a bit excessive. With
Lakeside Primary Care, Dr. Mary
In addition to the in-office comLamb has found a way to combine the
ponents, Lakeside Primary Care
best of both worlds.
features a high-tech website that
Prior to Lakeside, which offers fullallows patients to print forms to
service, comprehensive primary care,
fill out and bring to their first
Dr. Lamb ran The Washington
appointment. It also permits them
Hospital's Urgent Care Center in
to receive test results, request an
McMurray. She explained, "For the
appointment, or message the docpast four years all I've heard about
tor. "It doesn't take the place of a
from patients is how much they don't
doctor's appointment," said Dr.
like their PCPs, how hard it is to get
Mary Lamb, "but it allows some
in, how inconvenient it is. That's why
communication that used to be
urgent care is in existence.
endless phone tag." The website
"My goal is to return patients to
also features an online survey.
enjoying their primary care practice,
"We really want to hear from our
getting the care they feel they need,
patients – what they want and
and having as many conveniences of
what they need," she added. "We
urgent care in a primary care practice
want it to be a patient-centered
as is feasible."
primary care practice where
Opened at the end of August in
patients are happy, they want to
Waterdam Plaza, Lakeside Primary
go there, they feel like they're getCare is currently staffed by Dr. Lamb
ting the right care at their home
and Kristen Romesberg, D.O. In the
base."
vein of urgent care providers, Dr.
Lamb said, "We're certainly going to
have scheduled appointments, but
we're also going to have same-day scheduling, where patients can call and
get fit in that day, and we're going to accommodate walk-in visits as much
as possible."
Along with more convenient hours, Lakeside offers other patient-friendly services. "We're going to have on-site medications for patients. That's the
convenience and service patients love without having to go to the pharmacy."
Other offerings include onsite testing so that people who might come in
with an infection or other ailment will be able to get immediate results. Also
available are standard vaccines, injectable medications for migraines, nausea, etc. "We're able to do a lot of acute care medicine along with routine
chronic care maintenance."
In addition, Dr. Romesberg is a doctor of osteopathic medicine, which
means she includes chiropractic techniques as part of her practice. As Dr.
Lamb said, "So many patients go to chiropractors, but what's nice about
Kristen is that she combines traditional medical philosophy and training
with manipulation techniques."
She continued, "Patients definitely like things about urgent care, so I'm
hoping to implement those but make the services more patient friendly. I
recognize the need for urgent care, but also recognize that it's better for
patients to be seen by their own doctors who know them. And most would
do that if they could get in. So my goal is to provide conveniences that
urgent care offers and hope that people choose to get their care at their
home base. It's less expensive, it's better for them, it's better for the system,
it's better all the way around if you can make it happen."
>
Lakeside Primary Care is located at 1001 Waterdam Plaza Drive in
McMurray. For more information, call (724) 969-1001 or visit
www.lakesideprimarycare.org.
Fall 2011
GUIDE
TO
GOOD HEALTH 37
LIVING WITH A DISABILITY
Verland Not the 'House Next Door'
By Lois Thomson
"We could be the house next door,"
Steve Lindberg said, "a large residential home in a residential community." That may be true, but the
house next door to you likely isn't
having the same impact as the one
Lindberg is referring to.
Lindberg is Program Manager of
the Natrona Heights Verland
Foundation Intermediate Care
Facility
for
Other
Related
Conditions (ICFORC). Verland's
mission throughout its facilities is
to support and operate residences
and programs for the treatment,
education and long-term care of
children and adults with intellectual or physical disabilities, in residences that are truly home-like;
they do not look institutional.
However, what goes on inside
ICFORC is 24-hour care, the goal
being to train the eight residents to
achieve more independent living,
perhaps with just 10 or 12 hours of
personal care assistance per day.
Training includes residents assisting
in running the house, by helping to
shop or clean. If they aren't physically able, they verbally direct staff
how to do it. "Everything they do
here revolves around hopefully
moving them into their own apartment someday," Lindberg said.
"When they move out they would
be arranging and managing their
personal care needs, budgeting their
own money. We train them how to
do that. So hopefully by the time
they move they have all the skills
needed to succeed."
Residents are also required to
attend some type of day program.
"A lot of them choose sheltered
workshops that have some functional use of their extremities, like
doing piece work or packaging.
Many attend United Cerebral Palsy
in Pittsburgh for some life skills and
academic training. Several have
chosen to go the college route."
The latter has provided a particularly interesting success story: One
of the residents with cerebral palsy
recently received an associates
degree in journalism from CCAC
Boyce Campus, despite the fact that
the only part of his body he can
Greg Smith, resident who earned
his associates degree from CCAC
PROFILES OF SUCCESS
(l-r) Verland residents
Ken Tripodi and John Barron
move is his right thumb. "He
attended class – our staff would get
him there – but he did all of the
class work and homework himself.
And he can't speak – he uses his
thumb to drive his wheelchair and
to use an augmented communication device."
Lindberg said the physical abilities of the residents varies. "We have
an individual who has been at the
same job at Life's Work for 15 years.
He gets up every morning and the
staff assists him in getting ready. He
has more functional use of his
extremities so he needs a little less
assistance." Another has been
attending Community College for a
few years and is learning computeraided drafting to help his father
with his drafting business doing
bridge deck design.
Working with the residents isn't
easy. "You have to be emotionally
and physically strong. Most of the
residents here need 100 percent
assistance with everything." Yet
Lindberg said Verland has a number
of employees who have been there
for 20 years. "There's no glory in
this work and the pay's not great
either, but the staff is very dedicated
to the needs of the residents both in
management staff and the direct
care staff."
Program Manager Steve Lindberg
talked about an individual at the
Verland ICFORC who does some
consulting as a hobby and would like
to turn it into a regular business.The
University of Pittsburgh has assisted
him in trying to develop a business
plan and has provided him with support. He visits different college campuses throughout the Pittsburgh
area, mostly those that graduate a
lot of teachers, and does presentations or lectures on his experiences
as a special-needs student going
through high school. "His presentations are part PowerPoint, part lectures about his experiences, both
good and bad. Hopefully they'll learn
from him about mistakes people
have made in relating to him, and he
tries to encourage them to be a little more tolerant when they are in
the classroom. Two of his housemates sometimes go with him and
do the presentation.They've been to
Pitt, Slippery Rock, Robert Morris –
many places."
>
For more information, call
(412) 741-2375 or visit
www.verland.org.
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.
38 GUIDE
TO
GOOD HEALTH
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GUIDE
TO
GOOD HEALTH 39
REHABILITATION
Back on His Feet:
One Man’s Rehab Journey
With Presbyterian SeniorCare
“I WAS IN PRETTY BAD SHAPE
WHEN I GOT THERE.”
Albert Fox bluntly describes his
physical condition on June 13, 2011,
his first day at Presbyterian
SeniorCare’s Southmont community
in Washington. The 64-year-old
Fallowfield Township man is equally
straightforward in assessing his nearly ten-week stay in the skilled nursing and rehabilitation programs.
“Now I’m up walking four or five
times a day,” he says. “I really came a
long way. The rehab there was excellent, absolutely excellent.”
Albert and his wife Arta turned to
Presbyterian SeniorCare (PSC) after
an infection following a January
2011 back surgery landed him in the
hospital twice in five months. “I certainly was in no shape to be cared for
at home,” he shared. “I couldn’t
stand up –it took three people to get
me out of my chair that first day.”
Physical Therapist Assistant Lisa
Szekeres and Southmont’s rehab
team were glad to help. “Albert was a
very, very motivated hard worker; he
wanted to walk again and he
embraced the importance of therapy.
It helped that Arta was so dedicated
too. They’d be ready to go for each
day’s session.”
In addition to providing Rehabilitation Services to residents in its
skilled nursing communities, PSC
offers therapy to residents in its independent living and personal care settings. By providing rehabilitation
services across its continuum of care,
the organization aims to increase
care coordination, improve care
>
40 GUIDE
TO
GOOD HEALTH
The newly-remodeled Rehabilitation
Services Suite at Presbyterian
SeniorCare’s Oakmont Campus
transitions and decrease hospital
readmissions. In 2009, PSC’s
Longwood at Oakmont campus in
Verona renovated and expanded its
rehab suite; the same was done in
April 2011 at The Willows’ rehabilitation suite in Oakmont. Plans are in
the works to expand and renovate
Southmont’s rehab areas.
Albert Fox meanwhile continues
his rehab exercises at home and has
high praise for PSC staff. “Lisa was
so nice – they all were so nice. Once
they got me down there and I started
to improve, I could just see it catch
on for me. I thought, ‘I’m gonna
make it back.’”
To get back on your feet with Presbyterian SeniorCare,
call Rehabilitation Services in Oakmont at 866-797-6233
or in Washington at 866-797-6289.
Fall 2011
One Step...
closer to home.
When surgery, injury or illness involve a hospital stay, quality recovery
time is essential. Presbyterian SeniorCare is ready with short-term
rehabilitation services to help bridge the gap between hospital and home.
Presbyterian SeniorCare enhances the healing process by providing a
comfortable environment and nutritious meals. Full-time physical,
occupational, speech and recreational therapists work closely with
physicians and nurses to develop rehabilitation strategies focused on
personal success. We’re here to get you one step closer to home.
Get back on your feet with us.
Washington Campus – 1.866.797.6289 Oakmont Campus – 1.866.797.6233
Or visit us online at www.SrCare.org.
Fall 2011
www.SrCare.org
GUIDE
TO
GOOD HEALTH 41
REHABILITATION
99
%
Making the Most of
Physical Therapy
of our patients
would recommend
to someone else*
I’m one
of them!
—D. Kelly Agnew, MD
As a former patient and
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If you need a higher level
of rehabilitation care,
www.DemandHealthSouth.com
1.877.937.7342
+DUPDUYLOOH6HZLFNOH\
L
earning to walk again was
made possible for this former
HealthSouth patient who lost
his left leg and now relies on a prosthesis. Therapists at HealthSouth
realize the importance of returning
to normal daily living activities. By
partnering to find the right treatment plan, patients have the ability
to reach their maximum potential.
Wondering how to make physical therapy (PT) rehabilitation as
effective as possible?
After any injury or surgery, PT is
a must for a full recovery. Your therapist will help you retrain and restrengthen your muscles so that
you regain full or close to full use
again.
THESE TIPS WILL HELP
YOU GET THE MOST OUT
OF YOUR TIME IN THERAPY.
1. First, dress the part. You are
going to be stretching, moving, and
working during your sessions, so
wear loose fitting, comfortable
clothing and good shoes. Be sure
that your therapist can access your
injured area.
2. Next, make sure you and your
therapist have clearly defined goals
for your physical therapy rehabilitation. Do you need your pain to be
gone, or are you simply looking to
get back to work? Do you need to
be able to play sports again, or are
>
*According to an independent organization,
UDS, based on 2011 data.
42 GUIDE
TO
GOOD HEALTH
your daily activities a little tamer?
The answers to these questions will
enable your therapist to plan the
best possible treatment protocol to
meet your needs.
3. Give 100 percent at every session. This is the best possible way to
rehabilitate those muscles and ligaments that were injured. However, if
something you are doing causes
pain, be careful to explain that pain
to your therapist. Some pains are
fine and are part of the healing
process, but others are not. You do
not want to injure yourself further,
so be open and honest about any
pain you experience.
4. Your therapist will give you
exercises to do at home. Follow
these prescribed exercises to a “t,”
and ask any questions you have
when you go to your sessions. The
more religiously you do your exercises, the faster you will recover. Of
course, if anything is causing a
tremendous amount of pain, stop
doing that particular exercise until
you see your therapist.
Remember, when it comes to
physical therapy rehabilitation, you
will get as much out of the process
as you are willing to put in – the
harder you work, the faster you will
get better. If you want to be pain free
and back to your normal activities,
give yourself completely and totally
to your sessions.
If you would like to learn more or schedule outpatient
physical therapy, call HealthSouth at 1-877-937-7342.
Make sure to visit guidetogoodhealth.com
on Facebook and hit “Like”
Fall 2011
State of the Art, High Tech Rehabilitation
Comes to Western Pennsylvania
I
f you have been in a rehabilitation
center you have probably seen
patients using low-tech rehab
tools such as: Swiss balls, elastic
bands, wobble boards, and onedimensional weight lifting equipment.
These therapies can be effective but take
time, are inconsistent, and offer no feedback. Leading European Physicians,
Therapists,
and
experts
in
Biomechanics have designed and
developed the most state- of the- art functional rehabilita-
Multiple Sclerosis, Parkinson’ s disease, and many others.
SpineForce has been shown to improve muscle strength, stability, balance, coordination and flexibility. It can also be used by athletes to improve speed, agility, power, and range of motion.
Shown to be safe and effective for all ages, SpineForce also offers
a comfortable rehabilitation experience. Since there are only
about 100 SpineForce machines in the United States, Westwood
Spine and Joint Center is proud to bring this technology to
Western Pennsylvania.
Dr. Robert L.
Westwood
>
For more information, contact Dr. Robert L. Westwood,
Westwood Spine & Joint Center, Inc., at (724) 503-3004
or visit www.westwoodspineandjoint.com.
tion exercise equipment in
the world today. This technology is known as
SpineForce. SpineForce is
the only technology in the
world that has been
designed to three dimensionally
target
and
strengthen the 180 deep
spinal and core muscles.
The functional rehabilitation performed with
SpineForce utilizes the naturally occurring interaction between neurological
input and muscular performance. The oscillating
platform on the SpineForce
creates an instability that
challenges the sensory and
motor systems to react and
modify each other resulting in improved balance
and postural control.
Designed for progressive
work, from simple warmup exercises to intensive
muscular strengthening
and reconditioning, this
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technology is equipped
with highly perceptive sensors that precisely isolate
muscle groups to strengthen areas of weakness or
instability. SpineForce’s
visual response system
motivates and challenges
the patient’s proprioception, balance and coordination.
Patients have been effectively using SpineForce
rehabilitation technology
at Westwood Spine and
Joint Center. Some of the
conditions that can benefit
from this technology
include: low back pain
from disc herniations,
stenosis, back surgery,
sprains/ strains, stroke
symptoms, patients with
Fall 2011
GUIDE
TO
GOOD HEALTH 43
Your nervous system
is hard-wired
to your immune system.
So when you get an
adjustment, you raise
your immune
system-200-400%.
CHIROPRACTIC HEALTH
What is Chiropractic?
By Dr. Eugene Goldberg
C
hiropractic is a natural form of healing that
looks at the structure of the body in order to
improve the function of the body. Meaning
structure effects function. So therefore chiropractic
isn't just good for pain, but it's good for your overall
health, functioning and performance. What makes
chiropractic unique is the "chiropractic adjustment."
What we do is remove interference to the nervous system. You live your life through your nervous system.
Every cell, tissue, organ and muscle is controlled by
the master system-the nervous system. We correct
misalignments along your spine and there are no sideeffects. Only side-benefits. Meaning the patient gets
well!
If you have pain, pins and needles, numbness or
burning, it's usually due to a "pinched-nerve".
Therefore you need a chiropractic adjustment, to take
pressure off the nervous system, hence relief of the
symptom. Your nervous system is hard-wired to your
immune system. So when you get an adjustment, you raise your immune
system-200-400%.
We know that the body heals itself. How? By first removing the interference in the nervous system. Also diet, exercise, life-style and nutrition also
plays an important role for health and wellness. Life heals! We believe it is
better to have a spine free from interference versus a spine with interference.
We believe the body has an innate intelligence, which helps regulate the
,° /9-"
-7,/
$OCTOROF#HIROPRACTIC
#ERTIFIED 3PORTS 0HYSICIAN
#ERTIFIED 3TRENGTH #ONDITIONING 3PECIALIST
body to maintain health and homeostasis.
Did you ever hear of the expression: "Oh, he's just a bundle of
nerves?" Well it's true because if
you took all your nerves and laid
them end-to-end, they would go
around the globe-2 1/2 times! You
have 24 moveable vertebrae in your
back and in your spine, and if one
gets out of alignment, you can't
adjust yourself.
What makes chiropractic different and unique is that we take a
holistic approach to health.
Meaning we treat the whole person.
We believe that disease means disease, or not at ease. We find out
why, and we correct it through-chiropractic adjustments, diet, exercise, and
nutrition. We can actually adjust any joint in your
body, including your wrist, shoulder, knee, ankle
and TMJ. People don't realize that you don't lose
energy because you get old, but you get old because
you first lose your energy!
>
For more information or to make an
appointment, call Dr. Goldberg
Wellness Associates at
(412) 367-3778 or visit their
website at askdrgoldberg.com.
Chiropractic Care
ÇÓ{® nÇÎäÇää
-ORGANZA 2OAD 3UITE #ANONSBURG 0! WWWSOUTHPOINTECHIROPRACTICCOM
Directory
To be included in our Chiropractic Care Directory,
Call (412) 85-5796 or e-mail: [email protected]
▼
CHIROPRACTIC
▼
REHABILITATION
▼
Featuring SpineForce
Rehabilitation Technology
WELLNESS
WESTWOOD SPINE & JOINT CENTER, INC
1200 Ashwood Dr Suite 1203 • Canonsburg PA 15317
724-503-3004 • www.westwoodspineandjoint.com
The Cure for All Disease is to Just Get Healthy
s #OMBINING #HIROPRACTIC CARE WITH
CORRECTIVE EXERCISE ADVANCED FLEXIBILITY
TRAINING AND THERAPEUTIC MASSAGE TO
ELIMINATE PAIN
• Back Pain
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• TMJ
• Headaches
• Fibromyalgia
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Featuring: Gentle Chiropractic, Physical Therapy, Acupuncture,
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s 3PECIALTY EXERCISEPROGRAM FOR JOINT
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44 GUIDE
TO
GOOD HEALTH
Health and Wellness without a prescription.
To make an appointment, call (412) 367-3778
or visit our website at
www.askdrgoldberg.com.
Fall 2011
Can a Chiropractor Help With Concussions?
By Tyson Swigart
C
oncussions are now taken more seriously than ever in both professional and amateur sports as well amongst the general public.
Improved awareness of concussion symptoms and emphasis on
their significance has led to improved treatment outcomes for patients.
More importantly, concussion diagnosis has advanced to the point that
physicians, trainers, coaches, psychologists, even parents are actively
involved in preventing concussion recurrence. What was once a condition
that was dealt with almost exclusively by the team physician has become
a collaborative effort. The recent successful treatment of Pittsburgh
Penguin Sidney Crosby by a chiropractor demonstrates how chiropractors
are involved in the team approach to concussion treatment.
Understanding how chiropractic care can help treat concussions starts
with understanding the nature of the injury.
Concussion is also known as mild traumatic brain injury. However,
symptoms may be severe and linger for extended periods. Symptoms are
widely varied and may include headache, memory loss, vomiting, nausea,
dizziness, ringing of the ears, blurred vision and other symptoms.
Emotional and mood changes are common as well as an inability to concentrate. Loss of memory or consciousness is not necessarily a component of even serious concussions. Early diagnosis is important because
removal from activity is critical in reducing symptom duration and reoccurrence.
Although sports is a common cause of concussions in the United States,
falls and motor vehicle accidents contribute significantly to concussion
Ask our Experts
occurrence. These types of injuries will frequently bring patients to the
office of a chiropractor. Chiropractors receive extensive training in the
recognition of concussion due to the high incidence of this injury amongst
chiropractic patents. This is particularly true in those chiropractors who
have received post graduate certificates in sports medicine or neurology.
An often overlooked component of concussion treatment is the neck
injuries that frequently accompany the concussion. Neck injury symptoms can be very similar to concussion symptoms and can be impossible
to differentiate without the expert help of a doctor. Untreated conditions
of the cervical spine will often linger in the same fashion as concussions.
The most important thing to remember about concussions is that early
diagnosis is critical. If you have suffered a neck or head injury, consult
with a medical professional as soon as possible. Do not participate in
sports or other vigorous activity until you do so. Chiropractic physicians
are well trained in concussion diagnosis and should be involved in treating neck injuries that frequently accompany concussions. Delaying treatment of neck symptoms
until the concussion resolves is not advisable and
may impede recovery.
>
Questions?
McMurray OB/GYN Associates
Everett & Hurite Ophthalmic Association
Q:
How long does
Q: menopause
last?
Why does my
eyelid twitch and
is there anything I
can do to stop it?
Twitching of the eyelids,
called eyelid myokymia, is
very common and typically
not a serious problem. It can be
maddening, though! Often it is
associated with too little sleep,
Hall T. McGee, M.D.
and/or too much caffeine. Stress
seems to go along with those things too. Try focusing on good
sleep hygiene. Exercise is a great sleep aid! Limit your caffeine,
especially after noon. And don't worry, it will go away on its
own, although it can take a while.
There are rare conditions that would warrant seeing your ophthalmologist, though. For instance, if your eyes spontaneously
squeeze closed, either one eye or both, then you should see your
doctor.
For more information or to make an appointment with
Dr. Hall T. McGee, call Everett & Hurite Ophthalmic
Association at (800) 753-6800 or e-mail
[email protected]
E-mail your questions to
[email protected]
Fall 2011
Menopause occurs when a woman
stops having menstrual cycles for one
year. This happens through normal
changes in reproductive hormone systems. As
the egg supply ages, ovulation occurs less often
and hormone levels go up and down unevenly.
This can lead to changes in periods and other
symptoms. In time, estrogen and progesterone
levels drop enough that the menstrual cycle
stops.
William Mitsos, M.D.
Some medical treatments can cause periods
to stop early. Having the ovaries removed surgically, radiation therapy or
chemotherapy can also trigger early menopause.
In the U.S., the average age for menopause is 51, but every woman’s body
has its own timeline. Some women stop having periods in their mid 40’s.
Others continue well into their 50’s.
Perimenopause is the process of change that leads up to menopause. The
average length of perimenopause is 4 years. Again, the duration may vary
from as little as a few months to up to 10 years! It is during this time that
women may experience the symptoms of menopause. Many symptoms such
as hot flashes, irregular bleeding, fatigue, trouble sleeping and mood swings
eventually improve and go away. Other changes (vaginal dryness, bone loss)
will persist or even worsen.
It is important to see your doctor if any menopausal symptoms become
bothersome during this transition and to keep up with your annual exams to
address long term health issues such as screening for heart disease, cancer and
osteoporosis.
A:
A:
>
Dr. Tyson Swigart is founder and owner of
Southpointe Chiropractic and Fitness, 673
Morganza Road, Suite 105, Canonsburg. To
make an appointment or for more information,
you can reach Dr. Swigart at (724) 873-0700.
>
William Mitsos, M.D., McMurray OB/GYN Associates,
can be reached at (724) 942-5420 or visit
www.washingtonobgyn.net.
GUIDE
TO
GOOD HEALTH 45
Acupuncture and Cancer Care
NATURAL HEALTH
A
Self-Care with Reiki
By Philip Buttenfield, LCSW, JD
O
ne of the most basic and important rules of caring for others, a rule
that most of us unfortunately ignore, is that in order to take care of
others we must first take care of ourselves. By ignoring our own
needs, we actually impair our ability to be of help to those we care about.
Tending to our needs is not self-ish – it is self-care.
There are, of course, many ways to tend to ourselves. These range from
proper diet and exercise to more radical changes, such as making a career
change or ending a destructive relationship. Self-care includes seeing to
physical, emotional and spiritual well-being.
Reiki provides a way to tend to one’s needs on all these planes. Drawing
on the vast sea of energy from which all life derives its power, Reiki is a
broad spectrum modality, effective in applications ranging from treating
simple headaches to recovery from surgery and treatment of cancer. Reiki
treatment is non-invasive and does not interact with any medications.
Many psychological problems (including anxiety, adjustment disorder
and posttraumatic stress disorder), along with a surprising number of
medical conditions (e.g. hypertension, ulcers, heart attack and stroke), can
be caused by and react to stress. Alleviation of stress can relieve these conditions. Reiki treatments, even a brief “Reiki break”, have been shown to
reduce stress. For the busy individual, Reiki can be an invaluable ally.
As a spiritual practice, Reiki is compatible with all major religions. The
word “reiki” is a Japanese word signifying the union of universal and personal energies. Reiki practices include meditative forms that deepen the
practitioner’s connection with the energy field, improve mental focus,
ground the person and aid spiritual growth.
Now practiced across the globe, basic Reiki is easily learned in the space
of a weekend. It can be used to treat self and others. No special equipment
or talent is required. Reiki can be practiced anywhere, under any conditions. Regular Reiki treatments help to bring your body and mind into balance and keep them there. Reiki can help you stay in shape to help others.
>
Philip Buttenfield is a principal of Key
Stone Reiki, an association of independent
Reiki practitioners; see their website at
www.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].
cupuncture and TCM
have been used for
thousands of years to
maintain health and relieve
symptoms. Practitioners work
to treat imbalances in the
body's Qi, or vital energy, by
inserting fine, sterile needles at
specific acupoints.
Since acupuncture has few
side effects, it can be safely
used as a complement to conventional cancer treatments. In
fact, in many cancer cases, it's
recommended as a way to
reduce side effects. According
to the National Institutes of
Health, acupuncture has been
Acupuncturists (l-r) Xuan Maggie Liu, L.
found to be effective in relievAc, and Cheng Charlie Yang, L. Ac.
ing:
• Nausea
Remember to
• Vomiting
• Fatigue
always
• Post-surgical pain
communicate with
Acupuncture and TCM can also help
your health care
relieve stress, depression, and anxiety, which
can greatly improve your quality of life durproviders about
ing this challenging time.
these and any other
In addition to acupuncture, your practimedications you
tioner may also provide massage, acupressure, nutritional counseling, or an exercise
take in order to
program designed to help you stay as
avoid any drug
healthy as possible. We may also recommend herbal medicines or a vitamin suppleinteractions.
ment.
Remember to always communicate with your health care providers about
these and any other medications you take in order to avoid any drug interactions.
Acupuncture and TCM is treating the person, not just the disease.
Acupuncture practitioners take a holistic or whole-body approach to cancer care. This means that not only will your symptoms be considered, but
also your lifestyle, emotional state, and overall health. Your whole being will
be taken into account, not just the cancer. When you work with your practitioner to improve your health and relieve side effects, you are not only
helping yourself get the most from conventional treatments, you are taking
back control of your life.
– From Acupuncture Media Works
>
Certified
For more information, contact Chinese Acupuncture & Herbs Center,
LLC at (412) 563-3328 or [email protected]
or visit www.pittsburghacupuncture.com.
PAIN & STRESS MANAGEMENT
FREE CONSULTATION
KUNDALINI YOGA TEACHER
Margie Webb, RN, NCTMB, Licensed Massage Therapist
Experience Your Therapeutic Massage In A Serene Setting
Heather Ferri, master trained,
motivational speaker and life coach...
CLASSES AVAILABLE:
• Greentree location • Private in-home
• For corporations
To Register Call Heather at 412-276-2466
www.heatherferri.com
Gift Certificates
available for
all occassions
Ahhh a Massage
Ahhhamassage.com
Mon.- Thurs: 9-7; Fri. 9-5
Seen by Appointment Only
412-877-8569
Benefits from Massage Therapy
• Relief from Muscle Pain & Spasm
• Increase Flexibility – Range of Motion
• Improved Sleep & Concentration
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)
KEY
STONE
REIKI
www.keystonereiki.com
»Relieves Pain
»Accelerates Healing
»Reduces Stress
»Induces Deep Relaxation
»Increases Vitality
»Improves Mental Health
»Supports Addiction Withdrawal
»Enhances Other
Treatments & Therapies
For introductory, reduced rate: 412.805.6811 or [email protected]
46 GUIDE
TO
GOOD HEALTH
Fall 2011
Finding Yourself Through Personal Journaling
By Kelly Haywiser, LMT, RMT
• Keeping record of important dates and daily events
• Journaling our thoughts, fears, hopes, and desires
Writing it down makes everything real. It is a solid
place of reference. When I wrote down “I love walking in
nature and it makes me feel alive.” That statement
reminds me what is important, when life gets crazy.
Writing your problems down allows you to see things in
black and white. Your brain can play tricks on your memory of past events and a personal journal can clarify what
you were feeling or thinking at a specific time in your life.
How healing is that?
When journaling:
• Be honest with yourself
• Avoid self-editing and self-criticism
• Don’t limit yourself – Be Creative
• Date your work
• Try journaling daily even if it is 1 word.
There is no one right way
– There is only your way.
W
e have all heard the phrase “I’ve lost
myself”; whether it was through the
stresses of strained relationships, raising children, working long hours, caring for parents or just life. We get lost in the day-to-day
grind and before you know it, time has passed us
by. So you begin to ask yourself – “How do I stop
this current situation?” “Were my dreams and
aspirations real?”, “Am I still the same person I
use to be?”, “Who am I now?”, “Where do I
begin to find me?”
The path to finding yourself begins with –
writing it down. These questions are normally in
your head and we are usually so busy thinking
about what needs done right now that we don’t
have room in our heads to work on finding ourselves. So, start writing or typing in a Personal
Journal.
A Personal Journal is a notebook, diary, scrapbook, or computer file. It is personal because it is private and confidential.
Journals can be used for many things such as;
• Tracking our daily food intake and exercise program
• Keeping records of memorable dreams, ideas and inspirations
• Scrapbooking pictures, articles, and small mementos that we enjoy
>
To make an appointment, contact Kelly
Haywiser, LMT, RMT, Wellness Inventory
Coach at Holistic Approach 4 Life at
www.holisticapproach4life.com or call
(412) 221-0700.
THE FERRI HEALING ARTS AND YOGA CENTER
By Heather Ferri
T
his Healing Arts Center provides people the option to explore several different holistic approaches to taking care of and healing the
mind and body. The dance therapy sessions offer a child or adult
the training to learn a physical technique while exploring it from more of
a therapeutic frame of mind. I personally used tap dance to release my
emotions, voice my inner thoughts, and develop my spirit. I was blessed
to tap dance with many masters all over the world and listen to their
experiences in life by how they told their stories through their feet.
Sound, rhythm, and freedom in what you create is a wonderful healing
tool for those struggling with verbal communication, inability to change
patterns in life, and developing a sense of being grounded. In yogic philosophy tap dance can open and strengthen the first, second, and third
chakra by building an authentic foundation of self.
In the Kundalini Yoga practice, we offer group sessions, but have found
many people are investing their time in private sessions. Kundalini Yoga
works with the energy of the glandular system with a series of breath
techniques and the nervous system so that both hemispheres of the brain
perceive signals and can interpret them. Many clients come to me for specific health reasons: asthma, allergies, diabetes, cancer, imbalance of hormones, and weight issues. Other clients use the 5,000 medical meditations to work on depression, addictions, stress, and inability to create
changes in their lives. People may desire to tap into their soul. Religious
leaders in the community study this eastern science and meditation to
heighten their prayer practice. I work as a life-coach for those clients who
need to have a program designed for them that involves small aspects of
each skill in my professional career.
“If you want to learn something, read it. If you
want to understand something, write about it. If you
want to master something, teach it.” -Yogi Bhajan
>
To schedule private sessions call
(412) 276-2466. To receive a Fall class
schedule, e-mail a request to
[email protected].
START LIVING YOUR PERSONAL JOURNEY – TODAY!
Find Abundance, Balance, Joy and Happiness through Living a Holistic Lifestyle
- Life Coaching - Holistic Relaxation Massages
- Life Assessment - Energy Healing Therapies
- Personalized Wellness Plan
- Color/Sound Healing
DANIELLE D. THOMAS
Massage Therapist L.M.T.,PA., WV.
HOLISTIC APPROACH 4 LIFE
850 Boyce Road, Suite 10, Bridgeville, PA
412-221-0700 (Mon-Sat by appt)
www.holisticapproach4life.com
412-519-4566
KELLY HAYWISER
www.ddtmassage.com
Certified Wellness Inventory Coach
PA/FL Licensed Massage Therapist, Reiki Master Teacher
Pain Management Massage
Pregnancy-Manual Lymph Drainage
Myofascial Release • Swedish • Hot Stone • Chair
Chinese Acupuncture & Herbs Center
OPEN HOUSE SPECIAL
• Back/Neck Pain • Headaches/Migraines • Anxiety/Depression
• Infertility • IVF/IUI Support • Facial Rejuvenation
• Weight Control • And MORE
412-563-3328
1 hour - $50.00 • 1/2 hour - $25.00
One per person • Restrictions apply
Mt. Lebanon Professional Building, 20 Cedar Blvd. Suite 301, Mt. Lebanon, PA 15228 Cheng Charlie Yang, L. Ac
Xuan Maggie Liu, L. Ac
www.pittsburghacupuncture.com
Fall 2011
850 Boyce Road Suite 10 Bridgeville, PA 15017
M-F: 9-5 / Sat. and Evenings available
GUIDE
TO
GOOD HEALTH 47
Caregiver Solutions
Western Pennsylvania Senior & Boomer
Guide to Home Health Care & Wellness
Keep People in Your Life
Companionship Offers
Social and Health Benefits
H
umans are social begins. We need to share our needs, wants, loves,
fears, thoughts and experiences with other people. Social, physical
and emotional contact are essential to our everyday life.
As we age, these life-fulfilling forms of contact may be reduced by the
loss of loved ones. Also, health issues that limit mobility, lower energy levels and decrease mental acuity may make sustaining relationships much
more difficult. The result can be a loss of companionship, along with an
increase in isolation, that leads to stress, depression and/or loneliness. In
addition, there are studies that link the lack of social support to a greater
instance of dementia and to heart trouble.
To avoid these pitfalls, seniors (and their caregivers) should focus on
maintaining the life-fulfilling forms of contact and nurturing personal relationships .... as well as reestablishing them when they are lost.
Finding Camaraderie
As you get older, it can be more difficult to find new companions and fend
off loneliness. Here are some helpful "camaraderie" suggestions.
• Turn to family and reach out to friends.
• Look inside to your faith and participate at your church, temple or
mosque.
• Focus on common interests. Join activities, clubs and classes offered at
community and senior centers. And volunteer your services. There are plenty of organizations that would welcome you and your expertise.
• Get involved. Active participation in any of the above suggestions
increases the odds of people gravitation to you.
• Love a pet. Critters offer companionship and joy. Pet therapy can help
people who suffer with depression, dementia, etc.
• Assisted living can make it easier to meet new friends and visit with
them often.
Article provided by the Pittsburgh IntegraCare Communities: The Willows, The Pines
of Mount Lebanon, Newhaven Court at Clearview and Newhaven Court at Lindwood.
For more information, call (412 ) 341-4400 or visit www.integracare.com
FINANCIAL HEALTH
Avoiding Mistakes When Taking
Required Distributions from Retirement Plans
By Donald W. Angel, CFP®, AIF®
Table, which can be found on the IRS website (www.irs.gov), to
compute your required distribution. If your beneficiary is a
spouse who is more than 10 years younger, you may use the IRS
Joint Life and Last Survivor Expectancy Table, also on the IRS
website.
The IRS will not notify you of your required beginning date or
required minimum distribution. It is up to you to know. If you
do not comply, Uncle Sam will penalize you 50 percent of the
amount you should have removed plus any income taxes that
would have been due.
R
etrieving your savings from a retirement account can be
complicated, when considering tax issues, required annual withdrawals and a beneficiary's ability to access your
plan.
Distributions from non-Roth retirement plans must start by
April 1 after the year you turn 70-1/2. The IRS calls them
“required minimum distributions” – or RMDs. For example:
• If your 70th birthday is between January 1 and June 30, you
will reach age 70-1/2 that year, and you must take a distribution
by April 1 of the following year. This is called your required beginning date
(RBD).
• If you were born between July 1 and December 31, you won't reach age
70-1/2 until the next year, and you must take the first withdrawal in the following year. For subsequent years, you must take your distribution by
December 31.
The IRS has determined a required minimum withdrawal figure based on
either your life expectancy number or the joint life expectancy of you and
your beneficiary. The withdrawal factor is applied to your retirement plans
as valued on December 31 of the year prior to the distribution.
If your beneficiary is anyone other than a spouse who is more than 10
years younger than you, you will use the IRS Uniform Withdrawal Factor
48 GUIDE
TO
GOOD HEALTH
The opinions voiced in this material
are for general information only and are not intended to provide specific advice or
recommendations for any individual. To determine which investment(s) may be
appropriate for you, consult your financial advisor prior to investing.
>
Donald W. Angel, CFP®, AIF®, of Cottrill, Arbutina Wealth
Management Group of Peters Township, is a registered
representative with, and securities, financial planning and f
ee-bases services are offered through, LPL Financial, a
Registered Investment Advisor. Member FINRA/SIPC.
For a longer version of this column, visit
http://www.cottrillarbutina.com/wm/wm_archive.htm.
Fall 2011
When was the last time you
heard from your health plan?
At UPMC for Life, we don’t wait for you to call us – we call you.
As a UPMC for Life Medicare Advantage plan member, you’ll get a special team of Health Care
Concierges who are dedicated to answering your questions and helping you understand your
benefits. Our representatives will contact you by phone to welcome you to the program. They
also make personal calls to notify you of special events related to your benefits and to check on
you if we haven’t heard from you in a while.
Call us to learn more about UPMC for Life and our Medicare Advantage plan options.
Toll-free: 1-866-400-5076
8 a.m. to 8 p.m., seven days a week*
TTY/TDD: 1-800-361-2629
www.upmchealthplan.com/medicare
UPMC for Life is a Medicare Advantage organization with a Medicare contract. UPMC for Life is a product of
and operated by UPMC Health Plan, Inc., UPMC Health Network, Inc., and UPMC Health Benefits, Inc.
*From February 15 through October 14, we are available from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m., Monday through Friday, and
from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Saturday.
Y0069_11_548 File & Use 09/05/2011
Fall 2011
GUIDE
TO
GOOD HEALTH 49
CAREGIVERS CORNER
but get a good night’s sleep first.
Frequent friendly establishments – getting errands done while
socializing is a good boost to your spirit. If your friends all use a
local hairdresser, suggest a day when your appointments can
coincide. Have Mom’s hair done too, and suddenly you’ve had a
fun afternoon.
Enlist family and friends when you can! Not just your friends,
but Mom or Dad’s friends as well. They will likely appreciate the
opportunity to stay in touch and you can trust them - even if it’s
just for an hour while you go do some shopping.
Plug in fun additions to your daily routine. Incorporate his or
her hobbies or activities into your day.
• While you garden, Mom or Dad could paint, draw or color.
If you are caring for a youngster too, even better! Playing cards
or puzzles are also possibilities. Have your youngster read to
Gramma or Grampa.
• While you cook, put in dvd’s from Mom or Dad’s era and
allow some time for what they enjoy watching. Music from the
40’s will also entertain nicely!
• Bring out some pictures and try some new hobbies. Maybe he or
she would enjoy scrap-booking, or choosing the pictures for your
newest project.
Amidst all of the fun you’re having, only you can know what you do
and appreciate the sacrifices you make and the care you provide. Give
yourself credit for what you do, and know that you are a very special
person!
A Caregiver’s Work Is Never Done
By Christine Pringle
And you’ve heard it all before,
“Take time for yourself.”
“You need to take a break.”
“You can’t do it all alone.”
Read on for some tips on getting things done, and sneaking in
some fun.
Be a master prioritizer – be willing to make yourself a priority.
Determining what can wait till later can be a life saver. You have a
load of laundry that’s not going anywhere on its own, but you’re
feeling a bit run down. Listen to your body’s clues and go to bed
early, leave the laundry. Throw a load in in the morning if you must,
>
To learn more about SeniorLIFE, its services and qualifications,
contact SeniorLIFE Uniontown at (724) 434-LIFE or
1-877-998-LIFE(5433) or visit www.seniorlifeuniontown.com
or SeniorLIFE Washington at (724) 222-LIFE or
1-877-998-LIFE (5433) or visit www.seniorlifewashington.com.
Attention Caregivers! Your Health is at Risk!
By Diana Fletcher
There are many statistics that clearly outline all the health risks for you as
a caregiver. I want to bring you the good news.
You don’t have to be one of those sad statistics.
You have choices.
You cannot control what is happening to your loved one, but you can control what goes on with you.
You need to realize that you are important, you deserve to have a good life,
and you are not selfish or bad if you want that.
There are many things that can get in the way of self-care: You, the person
you are caring for, AND the perception that things cannot change.
Again, you may not be able to change the other person’s situation, but you
can change you. You can do this by choosing to take care of your needs. You
will end up taking even better care of your loved one.
I know it seems impossible to think about yourself on top of everything
else you have to do, but I want to make something very clear: You have a
right to be happy. You have a right to your own life.
>
Start with one change. That’s all. Just one.
Then in a few days, add another. Here are some
examples of small steps you can take:
• Ask a friend or neighbor to stay with your loved
one for a half hour while you go for a walk.
• Make sure you drink water all day, every day.
• Ask someone to sit with your loved one while
you eat an uninterrupted lunch.
• While your loved one sleeps, take a short nap or
sit quietly and do nothing. This is very restful and will give you renewed
energy. You will also think more clearly.
You get the idea. It’s the little things that make a big difference. A lot of little steps can change your life.
NOTE: Your loved one may not like the changes, but you need to focus on
the goal: to stay healthy and strong.
You are not bad or selfish for choosing to do this. You are a great caretaker who truly knows how to take care of someone – including yourself!
Diana Fletcher is the author of Happy on Purpose Daily Messages of Empowerment and Joy for Women, and Reduce Your Stress Month by Month
Stress Reducing Strategies. Her books are available on amazon.com in both print and Kindle versions.
They are also available on her website, www.dianafletcher.com. Diana can be reached through her website or (412) 612-5977.
Seniors want to stay in
the place they call home.
We can help.
In-Home Services
Free Consultation Provided
Licensed by the
PA Department of Health
homeinstead.com/greaterpittsburgh
50 GUIDE
TO
GOOD HEALTH
1.866.996.1087
Fall 2011
When Families
Battle Over
Caregiving
Issues, Older
Adults Often
Lose
Avoid Caregiver Burnout
By Adding Mystery to Your Day
By Lisa H. Jenkins, MSSA
W
F
amily caregiving doesn't typically run smoothly when brothers and sisters caring for seniors can't agree. In the U.S., three key factors will
influence whether relationships between the adult children will deteriorate and if quality of care will be compromised as a result, according to
research conducted for the Home Instead Senior Care® network.
Those factors are the adult children's ability to make important decisions
together; their ability to divide the caregiving workload; and their level of
teamwork.
"My impression is that parents end up getting help when their children
disagree, but I think the more common problem is that it's hard on senior
parents to know their children are in conflict," said Ingrid Connidis, Ph.D.,
sibling relationships expert from the University of Western Ontario. "I think
for most it's bad enough they already need the help of their children, but if
their situation is causing conflict it's especially tough,” said Connidis, who
worked with the Home Instead Senior Care network on the 50-50 RuleSM
public education program for sibling caregivers.
According to the website Caring.com,
family feuds often involve the following areas:
• Roles and rivalries dating to childhood. Mature adults often find that
they're back in the sandbox when their family gets together. This tendency
can grow even more pronounced under the strain of caregiving.
• Disagreements over an older adult's condition and capabilities. It's
common for family members to have very different ideas about what's wrong
with a loved one and what should be done about it.
• Disagreements over financial matters, estate planning, family inheritance and other practical issues. How to pay for a family member's care is
often a huge cause of tension.
• Burden of care. Experts say the most common source of discord among
family members occurs when the burden of caring for a senior isn't distributed equally.
Engaging parents in caregiving issues is important Dr. Connidis said, and
so are family meetings that involve a third party if necessary. A third-party
resource, particularly a professional such as a doctor or geriatric care manager, can provide an impartial voice of reason.
>
ill my husband be able to get out of bed today? Will I need to
call my parents to come take care of the kids? Will I get
everything done that needs done today? As a caregiver I
found that my thoughts were overrun with the negative anticipation of
the next crisis.
One day, I read an article in a women’s magazine about how adding
an element of mystery can spice up a relationship. Right now my relationship was fine, but my own life definitely needed some spice. How
could I add mystery to my life?
That Friday was my monthly self-proclaimed Donut Day. I would
treat myself to two donuts and a coffee for breakfast. For a year I had
been getting the same thing. This month I decided to spice things up a
bit. I asked the server to pick my donuts for me and then I turned my
back to the counter. She handed me my closed bag. The two minutes
that it took me to get from the counter to my car were very exciting.
What kind of donuts did she give me? Chocolate? Cream-filled?
Glazed? I couldn’t wait to open that bag!
Those turned out to be two of the most relaxing minutes I’d had all
week. To be thinking of something fun instead of something stressful
was wonderful. I arrived at work with a smile on my face instead of a
pounding headache.
My first attempt at adding mystery to my life was successful so I
decided to try again. In making plans to meet a friend for dinner I asked
her to pick the restaurant and only give me the address for my GPS.
When getting dressed one Saturday I had my daughter pick out a shirt
and then I based my outfit on it. I bought a crazy flavor of potato chips
that I had wanted to try and waited a couple of
days before opening the bag.
The negative anticipation is still there, but the
added spice of mystery provides this caregiver
with enough of a break to keep pushing ahead.
>
Lisa H. Jenkins, Special Programs Coordinator
for LIFE Pittsburgh, can be reached at (412)
388-8042 or [email protected].
For more information, contact Home Instead Senior Care
by visiting homeinstead.com/greaterpittsburgh.
Resources
The 50-50 RuleSM (www.solvingfamilyconflict.com)
The 40-70 Rule® (www.4070talk.com)
Caring.com (www.caring.com)
Home Instead Senior Care (www.homeinstead.com)
"Stages of Senior Care:Your Step-by-Step Guide to Making the Best Decisions"
(www.stagesofseniorcare.com)
PROVIDING
MEDICAL ALERT
SERVICES TO
THE COMMUNITY
FOR OVER 20 YEARS.
For more information, call 412.942.2080.
Fall 2011
GUIDE
TO
GOOD HEALTH 51
Advanced Directives at End-of-Life:
“I Wish We Would Have Planned Ahead”
By Randy Hebert, M.D.
A
dvance directives, also known as living wills, are
legal documents that tell your family, friends and
health care providers what type of care you would
accept or refuse at the end of life.
Though advance directives are becoming more common,
many people still have misconceptions about their use.
The case of Mr. Young (not his real name) is typical of
those we see at Forbes Hospice.
Mr. Young, age 70, suffered from coronary artery disease,
mild renal insufficiency, and diabetes. He developed an
upper respiratory infection that gradually worsened.
Doctors diagnosed him with pneumonia and admitted him
to the hospital.
His blood pressure soon dropped, and he was transferred
to the intensive care unit with an overwhelming infection.
When I met Mrs. Young, her husband had been in the intensive care unit for almost two weeks with
little signs of progress. He was on a respirator, getting multiple antibiotics, and receiving regular dialysis. Mrs. Young was distraught.
“I don’t know what to do. I’m hearing so many different things from different doctors in the hospital,” she said. “I don’t know what he (her husband) would want me to do; I wish we would have
planned ahead.”
She also asked more than once, “Why didn’t his doctors tell us we should fill
out a living will?”
While certainly not a panacea for all that ails end of life care, advance directives do help to maximize patients’ treatment preferences and help to alleviate the
families’ burden of making a decision.
>
Dr. Randy Hebert is Medical Director of Forbes Hospice
and Director of Palliative Care for West Penn Allegheny Health System.
He can be reached at (412) 325-7200.
MISCONCEPTION:
Patients who want to discuss
advance directives
will initiate these conversations.
FACT: Most patients with advance directives do so without discussing the issue with
their physicians. Yet, most patients want
physicians to initiate these conversations.
MISCONCEPTION:
Conversations about advance
directives are stressful.
FACT: Only 5 percent of patients
find these discussions difficult.
MISCONCEPTION:
Physicians know what their
patients’ beliefs are, even without
advance directives.
FACT: Physician estimates of their
patients’ treatment beliefs are not
much better than chance.
MISCONCEPTION:
Completion of advance directives
requires a lawyer.
FACT: Valid advance directives
do not need input from a lawyer.
Homecare • Hospice & Palliative Care • Rehabilitation Services
Geriatric Care Management • Living Assistance Services
Connecting
C
onne
necting H
Home and Health
H
www.celtichealthcare.com
52 GUIDE
TO
GOOD HEALTH
1-888-9-CELTIC
Fall 2011
When is Inpatient
Hospice An Option?
ADVERTORIAL
Guardian Angel Home
Care Services, Inc. on
Consumer Choice
By Debbie Kaylor, R.N., B.S.N.
T
he end-of-life experience is a journey filled with
difficult decisions for patients and their families.
When someone has an illness that no longer
responds to curative treatment or wishes to discontinue such treatment, hospice is an empowering choice
that provides comfort for patients and peace of mind
for families. Hospice care focuses not only on the physical care for a patient, but also on the psychosocial and
spiritual care for them and their family, and can be
delivered wherever a person calls home, such as in private homes, assisted living facilities, nursing homes,
hospitals, or inpatient hospice facilities.
Many people are familiar with at-home hospice care,
but this article will focus on when inpatient hospice
care is the best option. Inpatient care is for those times
when a patient’s symptoms become unmanageable at
home. This may include, but is not limited to, uncontrollable pain, uncontrollable nausea and vomiting,
unmanageable respiratory distress, or abrupt changes
in behavior causing severe agitation, disorientation, or
combative behavior. In cases like this, round-the-clock
nursing observation and care is the best option for the
patient and family. In the inpatient setting, nurses continually evaluate the status of patients and stay in contact with physicians to make immediate changes to the
patient’s plan of care with the goal of alleviating distressing symptoms and providing comfort. In addition
>
to the physical care of the patient, psychosocial and
spiritual care is a priority with them as well as with the
family. It is important to involve the family in all
aspects of care and in this setting; they are welcome to
be with the patient as often as they wish, even
overnight. Inpatient hospice care can be performed in
nursing homes and hospitals, but a newer option is an
inpatient hospice facility, a facility dedicated solely to
hospice patients and their families. Many patients are
able to return to their own home when their symptoms
and condition stabilize.
Inpatient hospice is not appropriate for everyone,
but it is a great option for some. The need for inpatient
hospice care is generally determined by your physician and the
hospice staff who work closely
to provide the best possible care
at such a difficult time.
Debbie Kaylor, Director, Customer Relations, VNA, Western Pennsylvania and
VNA Inpatient Hospice, can be reached at [email protected] or (724) 431-3283.
3
YEARS
HOSPICE
C A R E
As a discharge patient from a
hospital or rehab facility, it is
important to know that you have
the right to pick and choose who
you want to come into your home
to assist with your needs. Many
believe that because they have
been in a specific hospital or
facility, they are required to
continue using the same folks for
in-home care services. If you or
someone you know is in need of inhome care, please remember: it’s
your care, it’s your choice and it’s
your right! Don’t short yourself by
settling for what is right in front of
y o u. Explore your options and
make the best decision that is right
for you or your loved one. At
Guardian Angel Home Care
Serv i c e s, Inc., you will feel
confident with your choice. After
all, you deserve the best when it
comes to your care.
Make sure to visit
www.guidetogoodhealth.com on
Facebook and hit “Like”
Trusted by families and their
physicians for compassionate
Hospice & Palliative Care
services since 1981.
/URMULTIMILLIONDOLLAR
STATEOFTHEART HEALTHCARE FACILITY
%VERY DAY WE PROVIDE HEALTHCARE TO MORE FAMILIES IN THEIR HOMES THAN
JUST ABOUT ANYONE 7HETHER YOURE RECOVERING FROM SURGERY DISABLED
OR JUST NEED A LITTLE HELP TO MAINTAIN YOUR INDEPENDENCE OUR TRAINED
EXPERIENCED CAREGIVERS WILL COME TO YOUR HOUSE AND TAKE CARE OF YOU
/N A PARTTIME FULLTIME OR LIVEIN BASIS 7ERE )NTERIM (EALTH#ARE¤
ANDWEPROVIDEHEALTHCAREFORTHEPEOPLEYOULOVE'IVEUSACALL
To learn more about VNA Hospice & Palliative Care services,
visit our website at www.vna.com or call toll-free 877-862-6659.
Fall 2011
WWWINTERIMHEALTHCARECOM
GUIDE
TO
GOOD HEALTH 53
Making Change Manageable
By Rev. Samuel Blair
W
The region’s
most trusted
source for
care in
the home.
Liken Home Care’s goal is to provide superior service while
enhancing the independence, comfort, and dignity of our
clients. Our Companions, Aides, LPNs, and RNs have been helping
individuals at home for over 30 years in Western Pennsylvania with:
hy is change so hard? Perhaps it has to do with the fact that it
reminds us how little control of things we really have. Maybe it’s
because change happens at some of the most inopportune times. Or
maybe it’s hard to change even a bad reality, because we don’t know what that
new reality will be like? Perhaps, as author Marilyn Ferguson stated, “It’s not
so much that we’re afraid of change or so in love with the old ways, but it’s that
place in between that we fear.” When change happens to us, whether we see
it as welcome or not, it causes upheaval and loss. When we try and make
change happen in our lives, there is loss as well.
Change is inevitable, be it something desired and longed for or a shot out of
the blue. Being prepared for change can help make positive movements easier
when they need to happen, and also help deal with difficult changes when
they inevitably happen.
FIRST, try and make change manageable. Changes can seem monumental
and impossible at first, but if you can break that big change into manageable
steps it will become much more manageable. Think creatively and pace yourself. Small changes can make a big impact in time.
SECOND, remember that there are always choices and options. Too often
we limit our choices by writing them off as impossible before they are tried.
Not asking for help is the biggest mistake you can make handling change!
THIRD, and probably most important, is to be easy on yourself during
change. Don’t try and handle a big change without taking some other things
off your plate. Also, if things don’t work out as you hoped or planned, see this
as an opportunity, not a failure. Many of the biggest
successes came on the heels of several failures.
bathing, personal care, overnight care, mobility, meals, light house-
>
keeping, medication, and more.
Call for a free assessment and more information,
or visit our Web site:
412-816-0113
www.likenservices.com
Stairway Lift
A Difficult Trip: Managing a Loved One’s Care
By Dr. Judith S. Black
F
or many seniors, managing a health issue is like a visit to a foreign
country. The terminology may be unfamiliar and difficult to understand. The older health care “traveler” often receives complex directions about prescription medications and follow-up care, especially after
undergoing procedures. As a caregiver, you can take a page from a savvy
traveler’s handbook and serve as a qualified guide, or health care partner, to
organize and manage care, act as an advocate and assist in making the most
of the treatments and programs mapped out by health care providers.
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• Comfortable seat with height adjustment
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INNOVATIVE HELICAL DRIVE
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McKENNA LIFTS
412-916-8810
54 GUIDE
TO
GOOD HEALTH
Rev. Samuel Blair, MDiv, is a Chaplain and
Director of Spiritual and Bereavement Services
for Gateway Hospice. For more information
call Gateway Hospice’s Pittsburgh office at
1-877-878-2244 or (412) 536-2020 or the
North Charleroi office at (724) 483-2836.
HERE ARE THE FIRST STEPS IN YOUR ROADMAP:
• Learn all about your loved one’s medical condition, and the risks and
benefits of treatment choices, and what is likely to happen in the future.
• Review your loved one’s legal documents. At the very least, your loved
one should sign an advance directive and health care proxy if he or she
is able to do so. You may also need a durable power of attorney if your
loved one cannot pay the bills or make financial decisions.
• Make every effort to get other family members involved. Consider holding a family meeting.
• Find out what your loved one’s insurance does and does not pay for. Your
loved one might be eligible for some public programs, like Medicaid.
• Research what community and social programs are available to assist you
and your loved one.
• If you work or take care of small children, think about how you will manage these responsibilities in addition to care giving.
With these steps, you take the health care journey
together and help guarantee that your loved one’s
senior years are as rewarding as possible.
>
Dr. Judith Black, Medical Director for
Senior Markets at Highmark Blue Cross Blue
Shield, can be reached at (412) 544-3523
or [email protected].
Fall 2011
Choosing a Home Care Provider
By Karen Struble Myers, CFRE
W
hether a person has a disability or simply
needs a helping hand in order to remain in
their home, choosing a home care provider
can be a daunting task. For over 55 years,
accessAbilities has been guiding families through this
process. We know it is essential that a person feel
comfortable and safe with their caregiver.
When selecting a home care provider it is important
to do some research on the provider’s reputation, services, and quality.
HERE ARE SOME CONSIDERATIONS.
• How long has this provider been serving the community?
• Does this provider supply literature explaining its
services, eligibility requirements, fees, and funding
sources? An annual report and other educational
materials also can provide helpful information about
the provider.
• How does this provider select and train its
employees? Are background checks required?
• Does this provider consider the client’s needs in
developing a service plan?
• Does this provider assign supervisors to oversee
the quality of care clients are receiving in their homes?
If so, how often do these individuals make visits? Who
can the patient and his or her family members call
with questions or complaints? How does the agency
>
follow up on and resolve problems?
• How does the provider ensure that a client’s information remain confidential?
• Is the provider licensed to deliver home care services? Does the provider have any certifications?
• How does the provider monitor client satisfaction?
Some of the best sources for finding quality home
care are right in your community. Doctors, hospitals,
and state resources such as departments of health,
aging and social services can all provide information
on how to connect with a reputable home care agency.
These local resources, including your local county
Area Agency on Aging can provide you with a list of
accredited home care agencies and local assistance
programs in your area.
Family members, friends and co-workers are likely
to have either been in the same situation themselves,
or know of someone who has searched for home care
before. If so, try to find out as much as you can about
how they found the provider, and what their experience was like.
Home care is a wonderful way to help people be
their most independent. With a strong support system
in place and the daily assistance
of an excellent home care
provider, people are able to
enjoy the comforts of home well
into their golden years.
For more information on home care from accessAbilities, call
Karen Struble Myers at (724) 832-8272 or visit www.accessAbilities.org.
Home Care
Services
A Division of Gallagher Home Health Services
•
We’ll take care of you like family . . .
Skilled Nursing
•
Mental Health Nursing
because those are the values instilled in us by our Mom
•
Physical Therapy
Occupational Therapy
Speech Therapy
Social Work
Home Health Aides
Gallagher Home Care can provide you with the Medical or Non
Medical services you need to stay in your home safely. Over 5,000
people have trusted us to provide their care and you can too.
Care can be Provided in Hours, Visits or Shifts
• Personal Care
• Bathing, Dressing, Grooming, Toileting
• May include Companion & Homemaking Services
• Companions
• Medication Management
E-mail your Editorial
Submissions to
[email protected]
•
•
•
•
•
Homemaking
Private Duty Nursing or
Home Health Aides
PDA and VA Services
Long Term Care Insurances
Worker’s Compensation
•
•
•
•
Do you have questions?
Call us at
412-279-7800
For information on Gallagher Home Care Services contact:
Katie Poeschel, Director of Home Care Development
412-279-2257 • [email protected]
Or visit us at
www.Gallagherhhs.com
The Care She Needs to Continue to Live at Home
1-877-998-LIFE
www.seniorlifepa.com
Washington * Uniontown * Johnstown * Ebensburg * York
Fall 2011
GUIDE
TO
GOOD HEALTH 55
Family Hospice and Palliative Care
One Patient at a Time
By Rafael J. Sciullo, MA, LCSW, MS
E
ric received a call from a case manager at a local hospital, asking him
to visit a patient named Rose and her husband Tom. The family was
interested in hospice care. He quickly made an appointment to see the
patient and her husband later that day.
Eric is one of our Community Liaisons at Family Hospice and Palliative
Care. Our liaisons work with local health care professionals, patients and
families in providing a smooth transition to hospice when a patient is ready
to come onto our service.
Upon arriving at the hospital, Eric met with the palliative care nurse, Bev,
who explained Rose had received a lung transplant years ago and subsequently developed lung cancer. Her breathing was labored and she was
rapidly declining.
Eric entered the room, greeted Rose and Tom, and chatted for a few minutes. Tom tapped Rose on the leg and said “You rest a while, dear. I’m going
to talk with this gentleman about taking care of you.”
Eric, Bev and Tom went to discuss Rose’s situation. Bev told Tom what he
already knew, that Rose was actively dying and that the inevitable would
come within the next couple of days.
“I understand,” Tom said. “You see, Rose just wants to go home. And
that’s my priority, I want to get her home.”
“Then that’s what we’ll do”, Eric responded. “We’ll get her home today.”
This case is an example of hospice at work: respecting the patient’s wishes while providing comfort and compassion. Research by the National
Hospice Foundation shows that 80% of Americans say they wish to die
at home. Rose was no different.
Eric began to get the wheels in motion. While Bev printed him a list of
Rose’s prescription medications, Eric called our Family Hospice intake office
to arrange Rose’s transportation and first at-home visit that evening.
Rose died a couple days after she got home, with Tom by her side. She was
Alzheimer’s Care
Independent Living
SCHENLEY GARDENS
412-621-4200 • www.schenleygardens.com
UPMC SENIOR COMMUNITIES
1-800-324-5523 • upmcseniorcommunities.com
Beatty Pointe Village, Monroeville
Cumberland Woods Village, North Hills
Hampton Fields Village, Allison Park
Lighthouse Pointe Village, O’Hara Township
Seneca Hills Village, Penn Hills
Strabane Trails Village, Washington
Vanadium Woods Village, Scott Township
WOODSIDE PLACE
412-828-5600 • www.SrCare.org
Assisted Living
HAWTHORNE WOODS
791 Locust Avenue
Washington, PA 15301
724-222-1005
Contact: Joe Mastrangelo - [email protected]
VINCENTIAN VILLA RETIREMENT COMMUNITY
(MCCANDLESS)
412-364-6592 • www.vcs.org
SCHENLEY GARDENS
412-621-4200 • www.schenleygardens.com
Home Care/Home Health/Hospice
PRESBYTERIAN SENIORCARE
1-888-448-5779
www.SrCare.org
ANOVA HOME HEALTH CARE SERVICES, INC.
Pittsburgh - 412-859-8801
Belle Vernon - 724-929-4712
www.anovahomehealth.com
INTEGRACARE
The Pines of Mount Lebanon – Pittsburgh
The Residence at Willow Lane –
McKees Rocks
Willow Heights – McKees Rocks
Newhaven Court – Butler
Newhaven Court – Greensburg
www.IntegraCare.com
UPMC SENIOR COMMUNITIES
1-800-324-5523
upmcseniorcommunities.com
Canterbury Place, Lawrenceville
Cumberland Crossing Manor, North Hills
Seneca Manor, Penn Hills
Strabane Woods Manor, Washington
Weatherwood Manor, Greensburg
56 GUIDE
TO
GOOD HEALTH
CELTIC HEALTHCARE
1-800-355-8894 • celtichealthcare.com
FAMILY HOSPICE & PALLIATIVE CARE
1-800-513-2148
www.familyhospice.com
GALLAGHER HOME HEALTH SERVICES
412-279-7800
www.Gallagherhhs.com
Family Hospice’s community liaisons work with healthcare professionals
as well as families to provide education about hospice care
and assure patient’s wishes are met.
comfortable, not only by being pain-free, but by knowing she was where she
belonged.
Eric’s work to fulfill Rose’s wish is at the heart of our Family Hospice mission: to provide quality, compassionate care to those with a lift limiting illness and their families. This is accomplished by fulfilling patients’ wishes with dignity and respect.
It is accomplished every day, one patient at a
time.
>
Rafael J. Sciullo, MA, LCSW, MS, is President
and CEO of Family Hospice and Palliative Care
and Past Chairperson of the National Hospice
and Palliative Care Organization. He may be
reached at [email protected] or
(412) 572-8800 or visit www.familyhospice.com.
HICKORY HOME HEALTH L.L.C.
724-356-2260
HOME INSTEAD SENIOR CARE
1-866-996-1087
homeinstead.com/greaterpittsburgh
HOSPICE CARE OF THE WASHINGTON HOSPITAL
724-250-4500
www.washingtonhospital.org
INTERIM HEALTH CARE
800-447-2030 • www.interimhealthcare.com
LIKEN HEALTH CARE
412-816-0113
www.likenservices.com
SENIORLIFE
1-877-998-LIFE(5433)
Uniontown – 724-434-LIFE
www.seniorlifeuniontown.com
Washington – 724-222-LIFE
www.seniorlifewashington.com
VNA HOSPICE & PALLIATIVE CARE SERVICES
877-862-6659 • www.vna.com
Housing - Special Needs
VERLAND • 412-741-2375 • www.verland.org
Medical Alert Services
GATEWAY HOSPICE
412-536-2020 or 1-877-878-2244
www.GatewayHospice.com
ST. CLAIR HOSPITAL LIFELINE
412-942-2080
Outpatient Rehabilitation
GUARDIAN ANGEL HOME CARE SERVICES, INC.
412-492-8290
guardianangelinhomecare.com
VINCENTIAN REHABILITATION SERVICES
412-369-5150
www.vcs.org
SENIOR
RESOURCES
Personal Care
VINCENTIAN PERSONAL CARE (MCCANDLESS)
412-366-1039
www.vcs.org
Retirement & Senior Living
BAPTIST HOMES
412-563-6550 • www.BaptistHomes.org
PROVIDENCE POINT
412-489-3560 • www.providencepoint.org
RIVERMONT SENIOR APARTMENTS
412-422-6191
Skilled Nursing Care & Rehabilitation
MANORCARE HEALTH SERVICES – Bethel Park
412-831-6050
MANORCARE HEALTH SERVICES – McMurray
724-941-3080
www.hcr-manorcare.com
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
Fall 2011
Lifeline Keeps Seniors Safe
and in their Homes
W
Senior
Living
Options
Fall 2011
e never think that it is going to happen to us. One minute we are
going about our day, the next thing we know we are on the floor
wondering what just happened. Falls can happen to anybody, at
any time, at any age.
We’ve all heard the stories: my neighbor, my friend, my mother, my
father fell and couldn’t reach the phone. They lay on the floor for hours or
in some cases days, hoping that someone would find them.
Fortunately, some are discovered before it’s too late, but not all are so
lucky. Getting help quickly is critical for those who fall, or suffer a stroke
or a heart attack. The earlier treatment can be provided, the more likely
there will be a positive outcome.
We want to help seniors and those with other chronic medical conditions remain safely in their own homes for as long as possible.
St. Clair Hospital Lifeline provides its subscribers with fast access to help
24 hours a day, 365 days a year for about the cost of a cup of coffee a day.
It is an invaluable service for anybody who lives alone, or is at home by
themselves for some of the day. The optional Autoalert feature, which automatically summons help if a fall has been detected, provides an added layer
of protection if a subscriber falls and is not able to push the button. If a fall
has been detected, help is summoned automatically.
There are no long term contracts, so the service is suitable for those who
are recovering from surgery or other short term rehabilitation.
St. Clair Hospital Lifeline has been providing personal medical alert services to the residents of Allegheny and Washington counties for more than
20 years. Subscribing to the Lifeline service for yourself or for your loved
one will give you peace of mind- knowing that help will be available quickly in the event of a fall or other emergency.
>
For more information on St. Clair Hospital’s Lifeline
program and a special savings offer, contact Kathy Scarpaci
at (412) 942-2080 or [email protected].
GUIDE
TO
GOOD HEALTH 57
September 26 – 30,
2011, Baptist Homes and
Providence Point have
planned a full schedule of
activities and informational sessions that will
not only share residents
talent and know-how, but
provide new ideas
for living life fully.
SENIOR LIVING
Active Aging Week
Celebrated at Baptist Homes
Society Communities
A
ctive Aging Week, a national celebration sponsored by the
International Council on Active Aging (ICAA), takes place during
the last week of September. The theme for this year’s Active Aging
Week is “Expand your Experience.” According to ICAA, “Active aging
means living life as fully as possible. How well we age has much more to
do with how well we function, and a lot less to do with the years.”
When Baptist Homes Society staff sat down to plan special events for
Active Aging Week, they asked, “How can we expand our residents’ experiences?” It didn’t take long for them to find the answer: Let residents
demonstrate their interests and hobbies to each other!
The two communities, Baptist Homes and Providence Point, have very
active lifestyles. Through the residents’ participation in the many daily
and weekly activities, staff have discovered some of their special talents
and skills. From harmonica playing to rollerblading, knitting to painting,
and scrapbooking to dancing, the list of residents’ special talents grew
quickly.
Wellness Director Fabiana Cheistwer stated, “Many of our residents are
very active and involved. Active Aging Week is the perfect opportunity for
them to showcase their talents and expertise with those around them at
both communities!”
During the week of September 26 – 30, 2011, Baptist Homes and
Providence Point have planned a full schedule of activities and informational sessions that will not only share residents talent and knowhow, but provide new ideas for living life fully. In addition to activities
demonstrated by residents, Baptist Homes and Providence Point will
Providence Point community member Shirley
Stevens demonstrates portions of her regular
strength training routine for Fitness
Coordinator Jessica Higgs.
>
invite guest speakers and
area health and wellness
professionals. Jessica Higgs,
the fitness coordinator at
Providence Point, said,
“With the participation of
internal and external health
professionals and our residents, we will be able to
offer dance classes, music
concerts, self defense, brain
fitness, unique fitness classes, diabetes screening, Tai
chi, spirituality in aging,
drum circles, and much
more!!”
If you would like to visit Baptist Homes or Providence Point
during Active Aging Week to experience some of our activities,
call Sue Lauer at (412) 572-8308 or [email protected].
ENSURE YOUR LOVED ONE HAS
THE
highest quality OF CARE
Whether you need to make a decision quickly or want to plan ahead, your
best choices in life start with Baptist Homes Society. We offer a full range of
senior living and healthcare options at our two locations. Find the services
you want and the peace of mind you need. Call today.
• Independent Living
• Personal Care
• Memory Support
• Skilled Nursing
• Respite Care
• Short-term Rehabilitation
• Hospice Care
• Wellness Programming
Call to schedule a tour or learn more about Baptist Homes Society communities.
489 Castle Shannon Blvd.
Mt. Lebanon
500 Providence Point Blvd.
Scott Township
412-563-6550
412-489-3560
www.baptisthomes.org
www.providencepoint.org
Baptist Homes Society is a not-for-profit organization providing quality care for seniors of all faiths for more than a century.
58 GUIDE
TO
GOOD HEALTH
Fall 2011
World-Class Residences
from a Leader in World-Class Care
UPMC is known for its world-class care and now we’ve extended that expertise to independent and
assisted living options. UPMC Senior Communities offers retirement living as it should be, providing all
the comforts of home with care from UPMC that you’ve come to expect. Our warm and welcoming
environment makes residents at UPMC Senior Communities feel right at home.
To schedule a free lunch or to tour one of our beautifully designed residences, call 1-800-324-5523 or
visit UPMCSeniorCommunities.com.
Independent Living Residences
Beatty Pointe Village, Monroeville
Assisted Living Residences
Canterbury Place, Lawrenceville
Cumberland Woods Village, North Hills
Cumberland Crossing Manor,
North Hills
Hampton Fields Village, Allison Park
Lighthouse Pointe Village,
O’Hara Township
Seneca Manor, Penn Hills
Seneca Hills Village, Penn Hills
Weatherwood Manor, Greensburg
Strabane Woods Manor, Washington
Strabane Trails Village, Washington
Vanadium Woods Village,
Scott Township
Fall 2011
GUIDE
TO
GOOD HEALTH 59
SENIOR
HOUSING
(4 0(0
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&ORRESIDENTSYEARSOFAGEOROLDER
Fend Off Falls
Your Living Space and Personal Safety
F
alls are one of the leading problems facing an
older person. The latest
reports indicate that one of
every three persons aged 65
and over falls each year. Falls
are the leading cause of death
by injury. 87% of all fractures
among seniors are due to falls.
Half of all older people hospitalized for a fracture cannot
return home or live independently after their injury. Here
are some tips to help you prevent falls:
General Environment
2IVERMONTWASDESIGNEDFORINDEPENDENTSENIORS
0RICESSTARTASLOWASPERMONTHAND
RANGEFROMTOSQUAREFEET
!MENITIESINCLUDE
s#LOSETOPUBLICTRANSPORTATIONs!IRCONDITIONING
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s/FFSTREETPARKINGs/NSITELAUNDRY
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To be included in our NEW Senior
Housing section, call (412) 835-5796
or e-mail [email protected]
• Clear pathways of clutter
and electrical cords
• Firmly attach carpet and rugs, eliminate scatter or throw rugs.
• Use a raised seat and safety rails for toileting
• Rearrange furniture so they are not obstacles
• Install sturdy handrails on staircases
• Provide adequate lighting, especially on walkways, stairs; use a nightlight where possible; Keep a flashlight handy in the event of a power outage.
• Try to use only chairs with armrests for assistance when getting up and
down; do not use chairs with wheels.
• Have a slip-resistant rug next to your bathtub/shower; Use nonskid texture strips on shower floor
Lifestyle Changes
• Have your vision and hearing checked regularly
• Talk to your doctor/health care provider about your medications and
the side effects; Try to use one pharmacy to obtain your medications.
• Wear supportive, rubber-soled shoes. Shoes should have low, even
heels and firm shape. Be sure your slippers have a gripper sole to add stability.
• Use a cane or walker to help maintain your balance
• Maintain a regular exercise program to improve strength and tone; Ask
your doctor if you would benefit from home physical therapy or occupational therapy.
>
Article courtesy of Gallagher Home Health Services, providing Skilled
Nursing, Physical Therapy, Occupational Therapy, Social Services and
Home Health Aides as well as Private Duty Home Care Services.
For more information, call (412) 279-7800.
Schenley Gardens:
Pittsburgh’s Premier Memory Support Community Offers Support and Peace of Mind
H
as your loved one been diagnosed with Alzheimer’s or dementia?
Family caregiving at home can be an enormous responsibility and
affect the quality of life for the entire family.
Our memory support community at Schenley Gardens, The Penthouse,
was specifically designed to care for people who are diagnosed with
Alzheimer’s disease or other forms of dementia. Our structured, yet flexible
programming plan offers the privacy and dignity residents deserve along
with activities that allow someone to be as independent or socially engaged
as they want to be.
The Penthouse is a community unto itself, offering the services, amenities
and beauty of Schenley Gardens in one secure location. Each private handicap-accessible apartment includes 3 meals per day, personal laundry, housekeeping and personal care services. Our knowledgeable staff is able to assist
our residents with all forms of personal and social care. Our licensed nurses are on duty 24 hours a day and can manage care for higher acuity levels,
60 GUIDE
TO
GOOD HEALTH
thus providing a greater continuum of care. We also feature a fulltime onsite Community Director and dedicated nurse, activities programming and
Alzheimer’s Support Group.
Conveniently located in the heart of Oakland, close to the cultural district
and medical centers, Schenley Gardens represents the finest in senior living
communities. Our Personal Care Community also offers convenient amenities such as complimentary parking in our secure enclosed garage; a well
appointed library, common areas with fireplaces, exterior courtyards, terraces with gazebos and beauty salon/barber services. Schenley Gardens also
features a comprehensive Rehabilitation Center offering physical, occupational and speech therapy as well as our indoor warm water aquatic pool.
>
For more information about Schenley Gardens, contact
Sue Nichter, Director of Operations, at (412) 621-4200.
Fall 2011
MARK YOUR CALENDAR
Passavant Hospital Foundation Conference Center &
Legacy Theatre. For more information, contact Jean
Wagner at [email protected] or by calling (412)
367-6640.
October 1
ALZHEIMER’S ASSOCIATION’S
WALK TO END ALZHEIMER’S
Join us for the Alzheimer’s Association Memory Walk®
on Saturday, October 1 at the Pittsburgh Zoo & PPG
Aquarium. Visit www.alz.org/pa or call ((412) 261-5040 to
search for additional walk locations and information, to
start a team or to make a donation.
October 6
5TH ANNUAL SENIOR FAIR
State Rep. Matt Smith, D-Allegheny, announced that he
will hold his fifth Annual Senior Fair from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.
October 6 at The Galleria of Mt. Lebanon. More information is available at www.pahouse.com/MSmith.
October 11
PA BREAST CANCER COALITION ANNUAL
CONFERENCE
The PA Breast Cancer Coalition Annual Conference will
be held Tuesday, October 11, 2011 at Harrisburg Hilton.
Learn about cutting edge research and developments in
breast cancer detection, care and treatment. Use the day
to connect with nurses, medical professionals, advocates
and breast cancer survivors. You can also attend education workshops and learn more about breast cancer advocacy issues. For more information, visit the website
www.pabreastcancer.org.
October 15
SO YOU THINK YOU NEED TOTAL JOINT
REPLACEMENT? BEGIN YOUR JOURNEY TO
WELLNESS RIGHT HERE!
October 21
ABOARD FALL CONFERENCE
Join ABOARD to learn about “How Sensory Disorders
Impact the Cognitive, Behavioral and Communication
Skills of Individuals with Autism” on Friday, October 21, at
the Comfort Inn Conference Center, 699 Rodi Rd.. Visit
www.aboard.org to register, or call 1-800-827-9385.
The next Bone and Joint Health Series, now in its 10th
year, event, So You Think You Need Total Joint
Replacement? Begin Your Journey to Wellness Right
Here!, will be held on Saturday, October 15 at MageeWomens Hospital of UPMC. Admission is free, but
advance registration is required. Register today by calling
(412) 641-1924 or visiting www.boneandjointhealth.org. If
you would like to bring a BJHS event to your facility or location, contact Tom Hoffman at (412) 641-1924.
November 5
DIABETES EXPO
Visit the American Diabetes Association
EXPO/Pittsburgh on Saturday, November 5 at the David L.
Lawrence Convention Center and join the millions in the
fight to Stop Diabetes®. For more information contact Terri
Seidman at (412) 824-1181 ext. 4608 or [email protected].
October 17
ALZHEIMER’S ASSOCIATION
FALL 2011 CONFERENCE
The Alzheimer’s Association - Greater Pennsylvania
Chapter will hold their Fall 2011 Conference, “Living An
Active, Meaningful Life As We Age”, on Monday, October
17 at Four Points by Sheraton, Mars. Approved Continuing
Education Credits include: 6.0 Nursing Home Administrator
(Board of Nursing Home Administrators); 6.0 Personal
Care Home Administrators (DPW); 6.0 Activities (NCCAP);
6.2 Nursing (PSNA); 6.5 Social Work (Univ. of Pittsburgh).
For more information, contact Lois Lutz at (412) 261-5040.
NOVEMBER 5
MCMURRAY ROTARY CLUB CHARITY GALA
OCTOBER 17
GLIMMER OF HOPE’S FIGHT AGAINST
BREAST CANCER ON
November 6
KIDNEY WALK
The annual McMurray Rotary Club Charity Gala will be
held on November 5th at Rolling Hills Country Club.
Tickets are $55 each (no couples discount.) Limited seats
available. If interested in purchasing tickets, becoming a
corporate sponsor, or making a donation for the auction,
call Adam Provance at 724-884-5553 or visit the website
www.mcmurrayrotary.com.
Step up with family, friends and community members on
Sunday, November 6 for the 10th Annual Kidney Walk at
the Pittsburgh Zoo & PPG Aquarium, presented by the
National Kidney Foundation. Registration 7:00 - 8:30 a.m.
Prizes will be awarded to teams with the most walkers and
walkers who secure the most contributions. To register,
visit www.kidneywalk.org or call (800) 261-4115.
Join Heath and Katie Miller in the fight against breast
cancer at “A Glimmer of Hope” on Monday, October 17
from 7 – 11 p.m. at Bossa Nova, 7th Street, Pittsburgh. Mix,
meet and mingle with Pittsburgh Steeler Heath Miller #83
and many of his invited teammates. Ticket includes heavy
hors d’ouevres, cocktails, a white panel football for autographs and gift cards, as well as complimentary valet service. Proceeds benefit breast cancer study at MageeWomens Research Institute. Register online at www.symbolofthecure.com or call 800-454-6746 for tickets.
AUTISM
CONFERENCE
September 29
DIABETES SYMPOSIUM
For more events, visit our CALENDAR section
on our website at www.guidetogoodhealth.com
FOR PARENTS, EDUCATORS,
SOCIAL WORKERS AND THERAPISTS
Join the Advisory Board on
Autism and Related Disorders
for its Fall Conference
How Sensory Disorders Impact
the Cognitive, Behavioral and
Communication Skills of
Individuals With Autism
presented by
Kathleen E. Morris, MS, CCC/SLP
FRIDAY, OCTOBER 21, 2011 - 8:30 AM - 4 PM
COMFORT INN CONFERENCE CENTER
(PITTSBURGH EAST)
9:00 AM - 4:00 PM
DIABETES.ORG/EXPOPITTSBURGH
Continuing education credits available.
To register, visit www.aboard.org or call
1-800-827-9385
Since being founded as a nonprofit 501(c)(3) in 1996, ABOARD
has served thousands of Pennsylvania families confronted with
the challenges of Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD), as well as the
professionals who work with them.
ABOARD envisions a community where children, adolescents, and
adults with ASD achieve NO LESS than their maximum potential
in social, educational, and vocational environments.
Fall 2011
GUIDE
TO
GOOD HEALTH 61
D IRECTORY
In order to choose a health professional
who is right for you, you need information.
The following guide is a good place to start.
AQUA THERAPY
FINANCIAL PLANNING See page 48
MASTECTOMY & WIG BOUTIQUE
AHHH A SOFTUB
724-375-8667 • www.ahhhasoftub.com
CARDIOLOGY AND VASCULAR CARE
COTTRILL, ARBUTINA
WEALTH MANAGEMENT GROUP
Donald W. Angel, CFP®, AIF®
724-683-3455 • www.cottrillarbutina.com/wm
JEFFERSON CARDIOLOGY ASSOCIATION
412-469-1500 • www.jeffersoncardiology.com
FITNESS CENTERS
CAREERS IN HEALTHCARE
WILFRED R. CAMERON WELLNESS CENTER OF
THE WASHINGTON HOSPITAL
724-250-5228 • wrcameronwellness.org
K&J’S COMPLETE WOMAN
BREAST FORMS, BRAS, WIGS
A WOMAN'S SPECIALTY BOUTIQUE
Our selection and 20 years experience will help you
achieve a look that's right for you. Monroeville:
412-646-4661
Bethel Park: 412-835-5093
www.kjcompletewoman.com
LAKE ERIE COLLEGE OF
OSTEOPATHIC MEDICINE
814-866-6641 • www.lecom.edu
HEALTHTRAX® FITNESS & WELLNESS
1000 Higbee Drive, Bethel Park
(412) 835-0500 • www.healthtrax.com
CHILDREN WITH SPECIAL NEEDS
BLACKBURN’S
800-472-2440 • www.blackburnsmed.com
EAGLE MEDICAL EQUIPMENT CORP.
7937 Steubenville Pike, Oakdale
724-218-1051 • www.pittmedicalsupply.com
THE WELLNESS CENTER
Southwest Regional Medical Center
724-627-2511 • www.sw-rmc.com
NEW STORY
412-373-5235 Monroeville
724-463-9841 Indiana
www.newstory.com
STAIRLIFT
McKenna Lifts • 412-916-8810
HAIR LOSS
PACE SCHOOL
412-244-1900 • www.paceschool.org
THE EARLY LEARNING INSTITUTE
412-922-8322 • www.telipa.org
LASER ENHANCEMENTS
724-591-5670
NATURAL HEALTH See page 46
CHINESE ACUPUNCTURE & HERBS CENTER
412-563-3328
www.pittsburghacupuncture.com
HEALTHY LIVING
THE WATSON INSTITUTE
412-741-1800 • 866-893-4751
www.thewatsoninstitute.org
CHIROPRACTIC
DR. GOLDBERG WELLNESS ASSOCIATES
412-367-3778 • www.askdrgoldberg.com
MEDICAL EQUIPMENT
KELLY L. HAYWISER, LMT, RMT, CERTIFIED
WELLNESS INVENTORY COACH –
412-221-0700
www.holisticapproach4life.com
CONFLUENCE & HEALING
412-279-1115 • www.confluencehealing.com
412-788-1201 • holisticapproach4life.com
HOSPITALS
JUDI’S VITAMINS & HERBS
412-708-7328 • www.mynsp.com/jrobbins
CANONSBURG GENERAL HOSPITAL
1-877-284-2000 • www.wpahs.org
KEY STONE REIKI
412-727-1731 • www.keystonereiki.com
WESTWOOD SPINE & JOINT CENTER, INC.
724-503-3004
www.westwoodspineandjoint.com
SOUTHWEST REGIONAL MEDICAL CENTER
Waynesburg, PA
724-627-3101 • www.sw-rmc.com
NUTRITION AND LIFESTYLE ENHANCEMENTS
COSMETIC SURGERY
ST. CLAIR HOSPITAL
412-942-4000 • www.stclair.org
AMELIA PARE´, M.D.
724-941-8838 • amypare.com
THE WASHINGTON HOSPITAL
724-225-7000 • www.washingtonhospital.org
RADIANCE PLASTIC SURGERY
Lori Cherup, M.D., FACS
412-220-8181 • www.drcherup.com
INSURANCE
SOUTHPOINTE CHIROPRACTIC & FITNESS
Dr. Tyson Swigart • 724-873-0700
southpointechiropractic.com
DENTIST
DR. ROBERT LUTHER
412-788-6300 • www.pittsburghlaserdentist.com
PROGRESSIVE DENTAL SOLUTIONS
Dr. Michael F. Hnat • 724-942-5630
www.progressivedentalsolutions.com
UPMC HEALTH PLAN
1-866-400-5076 • www.upmchealthplan.com
LIFE COACHING
DIANA FLETCHER
724-733-7562 • www.dianafletcher.com
MASSAGE – THERAPEUTIC
MARGIE WEBB, RN, NCTMB, LMT
AHHH A MASSAGE
310 E. McMurray Rd, McMurray
412-877-8569 • www.ahhhamassage.com
DIABETES CARE See page 22-29
JOSLIN DIABETES CENTER
New Kensington – 724-367-2400
Monroeville – 412-858-4475
Bloomfield – 412-578-1724
wpahs.org
ST. CLAIR HOSPITAL DIABETES CENTER
412-942-2151 • www.stclair.org
JANET M. MCKEE,
CERTIFIED HOLISTIC HEALTH COUNSELOR
724-417-6695 • www.janetmckee.com
DANIELLE D. THOMAS, MASSAGE
THERAPIST L.M.T.,PA., WV.
412-519-4566 • ddtmassage.com
REMEMBER
to sign up
for your
subscription
OB/GYN
MCMURRAY OB/GYN ASSOCIATES
724-942-5420
OPHTHALMOLOGY
EVERETT & HURITE OPHTHALMIC ASSOCIATION
1.800.753.6800 • www.everett-hurite.com
ORTHODONTICS
GOOD ORTHODONTICS
111 Washington Street, 724-225-1114
22 Old Clairton Road, 412-655-4660
677 Washington Road, 412-344-4663
[email protected]
ORTHOPEDICS
ADVANCED ORTHOPAEDICS & REHABILITATION
1-800-828-CAST (2278)
www.advancedorthopaedics.net
SOUTH HILLS ORTHOPAEDIC
SURGERY ASSOCIATES
412-429-0880 or 888-817-2019
www.southhillsortho.com
PAIN RELIEF
CENTER FOR PAIN RELIEF
Jay L. Karpen, MD, DAAPM
McMurray, Monroeville,
Waterfront, Greensburg
724-942-5188
UPMC IMAGING SERVICES
1-800-533-UPMC • UPMC.com/WeSee
WEINSTEIN IMAGING ASSOCIATES
North Hills – 412-630-2649
Shadyside – 412-441-1161
South Hills – 412-440-6999
www.weinsteinimaging.com
REHABILITATION See page 40
PEDIATRICS
HEALTHSOUTH
1-877-937-7342
www.DemandHealthSouth.com
PEDIATRIC ALLIANCE, P.C.
12 different locations
www.pediatricalliance.com
MANORCARE HEALTH SERVICES –
BETHEL PARK
412-831-6050
PHARMACIES
MANORCARE HEALTH SERVICES – MCMURRAY
724-941-3080 • www.hcr-manorcare.com
GIANT EAGLE
GiantEagle.com
HOMETOWN PHARMACY
Exclusively offering Rx Map
1-877-3RXMAPS • www.myrxmap.com
PHYSICIANS
NOVACARE REHABILITATION
159 Waterdam Road, McMurray
724-942-1511
Physical, Occupational and Aquatic Therapy.
Incontinence Rehab. Massage Therapy
open to the public.
WASHINGTON PHYSICIAN HOSPITAL
ORGANIZATION PROVIDER NETWORK
See pages 31-34
Senior Resources See page 56
TRI-STATE NEUROSURGICAL
ASSOCIATES – UPMC
877-635-5234 • www.UPMC.com
ACCESSABILITIES, INC.
It’s about possibilities, not disabilities.
724-832-8272 • www.accessAbilities.org
PHYSICAL THERAPY
ORTHOPEDIC & SPORTS PHYSICAL THERAPY
ASSOCIATES, INC.
1-800-337-6452 • www.osptainc.com
PODIATRY
BEAVER VALLEY FOOT CLINIC
724-772-3668 • BVFootClinic.com
PITTSBURGH FAMILY FOOT CARE, P.C.
Dr. Karen Luther
Dr. Darlene N. Saheta
Dr. Wayne E. Clouse
Dr. Charles R. Dushack
724-941-9440 • www.pffcpc.com
PRIMARY CARE PHYSICIANS
PREFERRED PRIMARY CARE PHYSICIANS
Walter J. Robison, M.D.
Ashith Mally, M.D.
Stephanie Colodny, M.D.
Madhavi Davuluri, M.D.
724-941-8877 • www.ppcp.org
RADIOLOGY
IRG DIAGNOSTIC
McMurray • White Oak
1-888-474-8867 • www.mritest.com
SOUTHWEST REGIONAL MEDICAL CENTER
Waynesburg, PA
724-627-2622 • www.sw-rmc.com
SPECIAL NEEDS, ADULT & CHILDREN
VERLAND
412-741-2375 • www.verland.org
STAIRLIFT
McKenna Lifts • 412-916-8810
VEIN CENTER
ADVANCED VEIN CENTER
724-987-3220 • AdVeinCenter.com
JEFFERSON CARDIOLOGY ASSOCIATION
412-469-1500 • www.jeffersoncardiology.com
WEIGHT LOSS
ADVANCED LIPOSUCTION CENTER
724-987-3221 • AdLipoCenter.com
BODY BEAUTIFUL LASER MEDI-SPA
724-987-3221 • BBLMSpa.com
LASER ENHANCEMENTS
724-591-5670
YOGA
HEATHER FERRI
412-276-2466 • www.heatherferri.com
To be included in
this Directory, call
(412) 835-5796 or e-mail
[email protected]
LOW INTRODUCTORY PRICE OF $7.99. To receive your own copy direct mail,
send your check to Western Pennsylvania Guide To Good Health
2574 Oldfield Avenue, Pittsburgh, PA 15102.
Name: ________________________________________________________________________________________
Address: ______________________________________________________________________________________
City: __________________________________________
State:______________
Zip: ___________________
Phone:_________________________________________
E-mail:_______________________________________
Your thoughts on the GTGH/Story ideas: _________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________________________
62 GUIDE
TO
GOOD HEALTH
Fall 2011
Lifestyle Medicine: Treating the Cause
By Cynthia G. West, M.D.
W
ellness, healthy living, lifestyle – these are
buzzwords in healthcare today. Do they all
mean the same thing? No, they are not interchangeable. What do they mean? More importantly, what
do they mean to you?
Wellness is in vogue but often misunderstood. Several
decades ago, wellness meant preventing disease or injury
rather than treating results of illness or injury. For example, immunizations, cancer screenings, and seatbelts are
types of wellness as prevention. More recently, wellness still means prevention, but it can also mean health education or even using complimentary or
alternative therapies designed to achieve good health and well being. As a
result, we now speak of wellness practitioners, wellness clinics, wellness
programs and so on.
Healthy living suggests that someone is trying to make choices that will
result in good health. In this sense, it includes wellness measures, but it does
not insure that someone is yet in good health. Healthy living is the positive
end of a spectrum known as lifestyle.
Lifestyle is how we choose to live on a daily basis—the food we eat,
the exercise we do, the way we cope with stress. Eighty percent of
chronic disease is caused by poor lifestyle. Obesity gets the most attention but hypertension, diabetes, high cholesterol and certain cancers
are also related to lifestyle. Numerous studies link the effect of lifestyle
to diseases that “run in families”. Your family’s medical history is a predictor of conditions for which you are at risk. Consider your own
lifestyle and you will have a good idea of your chance of getting those
same diseases. The American Academy of Pediatrics is attempting to
battle the crisis of lifestyle that result in childhood obesity. But children
learn by imitation. Efforts to curb childhood obesity will be futile if
children do not have models of a healthy lifestyle to imitate.
Lifestyle medicine specializes in providing patients with the “how-to”
tool kit that enables patients to acquire the skills needed to modify their
lifestyle as a way to treat many chronic diseases.
If you have a lifestyle related disease, consider lifestyle intervention.
>
Dr. West can be reached at (724) 916-4529
or [email protected].
Coming soon.... Erie Guide To Good Health
For editorial or advertising information, e-mail [email protected] or call (412) 835-5796
Guide To Good Health
Directory
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• 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
• Vincentian Personal Care (McCandless) 412-366-1039
• Vincentian Villa Retirement Community (McCandless)
412-364-6592
• Vincentian Rehabilitation Services 412-369-5150
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.
•
•
•
•
DIANA FLETCHER CLC
Speaker • Author • Life Coach
[email protected] • www.dianafletcher.com
412-612-5977
Walter J. Robison, M.D.
Ashith Mally, M.D.
Stephanie Colodny, M.D.
Madhavi Davuluri, M.D.
Specializing In Treatment
For The
Incontinent Patients
5000 Waterdam Plaza, Suite 120
(724) 941-8877
www.ppcp.org
____________________________________________________________________________________________
All board certified Internal Medicine. • Additional location on 1039 Brookline Blvd, Pittsburgh.
Fall 2011
159 Waterdam Road, Suite 120
McMurray, PA 15317
Tel: 724-942-1511 • Fax: 724-942-1513
____________________
NovaCare Rehabilitation
offers a wide variety of
programs and services.
____________________
Judith Post, MPT, COMT
Physical Therapist • Center Manager
GUIDE
TO
GOOD HEALTH 63
LEADING TEC
Arthur D. Thomas, M.D.
H NOLOGY
Kevin P. Bordeau, M.D.
Next generation surgery, now at St. Clair.
Drs. Thomas and Bordeau are among a growing group of surgeons at St.Clair Hospital using
the da Vinci® Si, the world’s most advanced robotic-assisted surgery system. With this leading
edge technology, our surgeons perform complex procedures for prostate cancer and disorders
of the kidneys and pelvis, with smaller incisions and pinpoint precision. For patients, this
means less pain and scarring, faster recovery, and a quicker return to everyday life. For more
information, or to view a video of robotic-assisted surgery, visit www.stclair.org.
1000 BOWER HILL ROAD
. MT. LEBANON, PENNSYLVANIA 15243 . 412-942-4000 . WWW.STCLAIR.ORG
About Dr. Thomas–Arthur D.Thomas, M.D. earned his medical degree
at the University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine and completed a
residency in urology at the Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania.
Dr. Thomas is board certified by the American Board of Urology and
practices as part of The Center for Urologic Care, P.C.
About Dr. Bordeau–Kevin P. Bordeau, M.D. earned his medical degree
at Tufts University School of Medicine in Boston and completed a
residency in urology at the Eastern Virginia Medical School. Dr. Bordeau
is board certified by the American Board of Urology and practices as
part of Sholder & Bordeau Urologic Associates.

Fall - Western Pennsylvania Guide to Good Health

Transcription

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