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INSIDE: SUMMER CAMP DIRECTORY FOR CHILDREN WITH SPECIAL NEEDS
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Health News You and Your Family Can Use
Infertility
Treatments
Offer Hope
for Couples
Autism in
2014:
Progress,
But No Clear
Answers
Senior Guide
Resources for Aging Parents, Home Care & More!
See pages 42-51
HOW TO
LIVE TO
BE 100
ADDICTION:
From Rehab
to Home
D E P A R T M E N T
LOCAL NEWS
INSURANCE
MEDICAL PROFILES
HEARING HEALTH
WOUND CARE
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Medical Profiles: FOR WOMEN OBSTETRICS AND GYNECOLOGY, page 14
PITTSBURGH INTEGRATIVE MENTAL HEALTH, page 16, eKIDZCARE HOME HEALTH AGENCY, page 40
Washington
100 Trich Drive, Ste. 2
Washington, PA 15301-5892
Main Office: 724-225-8657
1-800-828-(CAST)2278
Waynesburg
112 Walnut Ave., Ste. B
Waynesburg, PA 15370
724-225-8657
Charleroi
Charleroi Medical Plaza
1200 McKean Ave., Ste. 106
Charleroi, PA 15022
724-225-8657
McMurray
Physicians
Nine experienced Doctors, each specialized in specific
orthopaedic care & procedures.
5000 Waterdam Plaza Drive, Ste. 240
McMurray, PA 15317
724-941-0111
Pittsburgh
363 Vanadium Road
Pittsburgh, PA 15243
724-225-8657
Hospital
Now providing care at the new Advanced Surgical
Hospital located in Washington, PA.
Therapy
Advanced therapists & equipment for precise treatment
for all types of musculoskeletal ailments.
www.advancedorthopaedics.net
2 GUIDE
TO
GOOD HEALTH
www.guidetogoodhealth.com
Spring 2014
Greater
Access
and Convenience
for Highmark
Medicare
Members
www.guidetogoodhealth.com
PUBLISHER
Nancy Lammie
EDITORIAL MANAGER
Judy Gramm
ACCOUNT EXECUTIVE
Robert Gross
Barbara Levenson
Ann Ciotoli Soroka
Margie Wilson
By Amy N. Puntureri, R.Ph
F
or years, Highmark’s Medicare
Security Blue HMO and Freedom
Blue PPO members have purchased
their diabetic testing products and other items through mail order facilities only. In the beginning of November,
Giant Eagle Pharmacy was granted access to fill these and other Medicare B items at our retail stores. This is a great
opportunity for patients, allowing them to use their local pharmacies to get their products without having to use
mail order services.
Giant Eagle Pharmacy’s ability to medically bill patient’s Medicare Part B coverage for eligible items gives
Highmark members more choices in how to manage their healthcare, and in some cases lets them get all of their
medications and supplies from one single location. This coordination of care by a patient’s retail pharmacy can be
crucial for patient therapy success. Another benefit for these Medicare members is that they can receive fuelperks!®
on their out-of-pocket expenses.
In addition to diabetic testing supplies, Highmark Medicare members can also fill other prescription products at Giant Eagle Pharmacy, including inhaled nebulizer drugs, insulin used in
pumps, oral anticancer and anti-nausea drugs, methotrexate used for cancer therapy, and
immunosuppressant drugs for Medicare approved transplants.
Giant Eagle Pharmacy is proud to be the first retail pharmacy to be able to fill these medications for Highmark’s Security Blue HMO and Freedom Blue PPO members, and looks forward to
servicing Highmark’s Medicare community.
>
To learn more about Giant Eagle Pharmacy, visit GiantEagle.com/Pharmacy.
Spring 2014
www.guidetogoodhealth.com
Amy N. Puntureri
DESIGN & LAYOUT
JMC Graphics
[email protected]
(412) 835-5796
CONTRIBUTING WRITERS
Lisa Bianco
Vanessa Orr, Nancy Kennedy
Lois Thomson
WEB SITE DESIGNER
Keith Trageser
www.keithtrag.com
[email protected]
SUMMER ISSUE DEADLINES:
EDITORIAL: JUNE 2
AD MATERIAL: JUNE 13
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.
GUIDE
TO
GOOD HEALTH 3
Take Precautions this Summer to Avoid Skin Cancer
By Vanessa Orr
I
t’s hard to believe after this long winter,
but summer is actually on its way. And
while the warm temperatures and
sunny days make us happy, it’s important to
remember that the sun can also cause permanent damage if precautions aren’t
taken.
According to Dr. Dinakar Golla, a
board-certified plastic surgeon at
Washington Health System, most
people over the age of 60 should
expect to develop some type of skin
cancer at some point in their lives. “Skin
cancer is extremely prevalent and melanoma
rates are increasing; one in every 11 people
now has melanoma,” he explained. “Sun is
the main culprit; it is the #1 reason why people develop skin cancer, followed by unusual
heredity issues and exposure to carcinogens.”
There are three types of skin cancer: melanoma, which is the
most life-threatening; squamous cell, a fairly aggressive skin cancer,
and basal cell, which is very common and less dangerous. “It’s important to
see a doctor for anything that doesn’t heal, including areas that are red,
raised, bleeding or itching,” said Dr. Golla. “Changing moles are also at a
higher risk of melanoma.
“An important rule of thumb is to follow the letters ABCD—check for
asymmetry of moles, borders that are irregular, color that varies, and a diameter greater than .5 centimeters. All of these are indicators that it could be a
melanoma,” he added.
While skin cancer is a treatable disease, it’s important to recognize the
symptoms and get treatment immediately. “The sooner the better,” said Dr.
Golla, adding that most people who have one type of skin cancer develop
another type within two years, often in a different area of the skin.
While basal cell cancer will continue to get larger, it is rarely fatal.
However, both melanoma and squamous cell cancers have high a mortality
rate if the person is not treated. “The most likely reason that a person will
have serious consequences is if they neglect the areas that need to be evaluated,” said Dr. Golla. “Most surgeries can be done quickly and efficiently as
outpatient procedures with local anesthesia, and the patient can go home
the same day without any issues.”
As a board-certified plastic surgeon, Dr. Golla uses
specialized techniques to preserve the health and
“...most
appearance of patients suffering from skin cancer. “The most important thing to remember
people over the age
is that it’s a treatable disease if you catch it
of 60 should expect to
early,” he said. Dr. Golla also specializes in
cosmetic surgery including rhinoplasty,
develop some type of skin
blepharoplasty, face lifts, brow lifts, ear
cancer
at some point in their
surgery and facial implants; breast augmentation, reduction, lift and recon- lives. Skin cancer is extremely
struction; liposuction and abdomino- prevalent and melanoma rates
plasty, and reconstructive surgery.
To avoid developing skin cancer, Dr. are increasing; one in every
Golla advises people to avoid sunburn by
11 people now has
wearing SPF 30 or higher. “Earlier sunmelanoma.”
burns can cause damage to the skin that is
irreversible,” he said. “Tanning machines also
Dr. Dinakar Golla
have some link to skin cancer as well. Anything
with UVB light can damage the skin—it’s not as bad as
the sun, but it can still cause damage.”
>
To learn more about skin cancer or other cosmetic or
reconstructive procedures, call Dr. Golla’s office at
(412) 963-6677 or visit www.gollaplasticsurgery.com.
The office is located at 95 Leonard Avenue,
Suite 400, Washington, PA 15301.
Improve Your Health and Reduce
Your Risk of Serious Disease
S
tart a new fitness routine this spring and get healthier. Exercise is a
miracle drug, if you only take it. Just 30 minutes of exercise a few days
each week can give you so many great results:
• lower your risk of diabetes, stroke, high blood pressure, cancer
and osteoporosis
• improve the health and functioning of your heart
• maintain a healthy weight
• build muscle
• increase flexibility and balance
• reduce stress and keep depression at bay
• sleep better
You get even greater benefits when you combine aerobic exercise, such
as running or cycling, with strength-training.
>
4 GUIDE
TO
GOOD HEALTH
Healthtrax Fitness & Wellness in Bethel Park offers many ways to get
healthy through exercise. For more information, call (412) 835-0500
or visit www.healthtrax.com, choose Bethel Park, and get more information, class schedules, and directions.
www.guidetogoodhealth.com
Spring 2014
The Mediterranean Diet
By Claire Marshall, MS, RD, LDN
C
an you call something a
“diet” that doesn’t dictate a
strict eating regimen? Is
there an evidence-based healthy
lifestyle that you can model your
diet after?
The answer is, yes, when the diet
in question is the Mediterranean
diet. Both researchers and physicians seem to agree that this is a
plan that works. For those who follow the Mediterranean principles,
there’s positive feelings about a diet
that not only helps them lose
weight, but also keep it off. For
physicians, evidence seems to be
that persons on a Mediterranean
diet tend to live long, healthy lives
with lower risk of developing
chronic diseases.
The key to the Mediterranean diet
is that it is not a short-term eating
plan, but rather a way of life. The
combination of good nutrition and
physical activity is essential for a
long and healthy life. Moderation in
terms of food and alcohol consump-
Spring 2014
tion is also important. Choosing
nutritious foods is key.
The Mediterranean diet follows
simple principles. This diet is rich
in fruits, vegetables, whole grains,
nuts, beans and seeds that also provide micronutrients (antioxidants,
vitamins and minerals) that may
protect against conditions such as
cancer, heart disease, Alzheimer’s
disease and other conditions.
A simple way to follow the
Mediterranean diet is to take advantage of fresh, local whole foods that
are in season.
Some Simple Tips
• Add fruits and vegetables to
each meal.
• Buy foods in their raw form
rather than canned, boxed, or
frozen. The fewer ingredients, the
better.
• Opt for low-fat protein sources
– mostly fish, poultry, low-fat dairy,
or plant-based proteins.
• Incorporate whole grains, nuts,
legumes, and seeds to obtain a variety of nutrients.
The Mediterranean diet has a
dietary pattern that it recommends:
Eat mostly plant-based foods, limited amounts of animal protein, and
healthy sources of fat.
Know Your Limits
• Avoid large amounts of red
meats or full-fat dairy products,
which are high in saturated fat.
• Limit sweets, added sugar, and
foods that are high in calories with
limited nutritional benefit (such as
soda).
• Avoid excessive amounts of
processed, refined bread and grain
products.
• Choose heart healthy fats, like
extra virgin olive oil, instead of
butter or margarines that contain
trans-fat.
• Try to limit your alcohol intake
to one serving a day for women and
two daily for men. Alcohol, in moderation, has been associated with a
reduced risk of heart disease in
some research studies.
Healthy Fats
The Mediterranean diet stresses
consumption of plant-based fats.
Saturated fats and hydrogenated oils
(or, trans fats) are discouraged.
The primary source of fat in a
Mediterranean diet is olive oil. It
>
contains monosaturated fat, the
type of fat that can reduce LDL
cholesterol levels. Olive oils
labeled “extra virgin,” or “virgin,”
are the least processed forms and
contain the highest levels of the
protective plant compounds that
provide antioxidant effects.
Fatty fish – including mackerel,
lake trout, herring, sardines, albacore tuna and salmon – are rich
sources of omega-3 fatty acids that
are associated with decreased
chance of sudden heart attack and
help to moderate blood pressure.
As a general rule, the Mediterranean diet stresses making meal
times all about tasting and enjoying
your food. Eating meals as a family
on a regular basis is encouraged.
Enjoying red wine and other alcohol
should be done in moderation.
The important thing is that a
healthy lifestyle –
and not a shortterm diet – is
the key to
long-lasting
good health.
Claire Marshall, MS, RD, LDN, is a
Senior Health Coach at UPMC Health Plan.
For more information about health coaching,
visit upmchealthplan.com/health/coaching.html.
www.guidetogoodhealth.com
GUIDE
TO
GOOD HEALTH 5
Local News... Local News...
New St. Clair Urgent Care Promises
Excellent Care Delivered with Efficiency
By Nancy Kennedy
O
nly 50 minutes. That is the
average amount of time that
a patient spends at the new
St. Clair Urgent Care in Bethel Park.
Streamlined, efficient, comfortable and quick – those are the words
most frequently used by patients
who have experienced the sparkling
and spacious new Urgent Care, St.
Clair Hospital’s first. It provides
immediate medical care for problems that are not life-threatening
emergencies, but nevertheless
require professional attention, such
as sprains, simple fractures, animal
bites, minor burns, upper respiratory infections, cuts in need of suturing and urinary tract infections.
Staffed by board-certified physicians
and nurses experienced in emergency and critical care, the Urgent
Care brings a high level of clinical
expertise and the St. Clair Hospital
standard of excellence to this growing subspecialty of outpatient
ambulatory care.
Urgent care is not emergency
Pictured is the check-in desk at St. Clair Hospital’s
new Urgent Care Center in Bethel Park.
care, nor is it primary care. It’s a relatively new option for those times
when one needs to have an acute
problem assessed and treated, but
one’s own primary care doctor is
unavailable. It fills that gap and
meets a common need, for unscheduled care for adults and children
with minor problems that are not
serious enough to warrant a trip to
the hospital. It solves the problem
patients often face in off-hours and
Pictured is an exam room at the new Urgent Care
Center. Patients are typically seen within 15 minutes,
then treated and released in another 45 minutes.
on weekends, when they have a
problem that is causing discomfort
and creating anxiety, but doesn’t
seem serious enough for emergency
care. Rachel L. Schroer, D.O.,
Medical Director of St. Clair Urgent
Care, explains the difference. “In
urgent care, we treat people who
come in with a focused problem
that we are able to fix. Urgent care is
not a mini-emergency department;
we take care of urgent illnesses and
injuries. If a patient is more critically ill or needs higher level testing or
monitoring, such as with chest pain
or abdominal pain, they need to be
evaluated in an emergency room.”
Dr. Schroer is a graduate of Lake
Erie College of Osteopathic
Medicine. She completed a residency and is board-certified in family
medicine and transitioned into
urgent care after five years in private
practice. Urgent care is satisfying
and rewarding work, she says. “It’s
wonderful to be able to see a patient
quickly and resolve the problem
right away, and we see a broad range
of conditions. This facility is a great
work setting; we have top-of-theline technology and beautiful aesthetics. In addition to myself, the
other two physicians who work
here - Matthew S. Cooper, D.O., and
Ediri Montoya, M.D., - are boardcertified. Patients love the facility,
the excellent care and the convenience.”
At St. Clair Urgent Care, patients
are typically seen within 15 minutes, then treated and released in
another 45 minutes.
David Kish, R.N., Director of
Emergency Services and Patient
Logistics for St. Clair Hospital, manages St. Clair Urgent Care and cites
this efficiency as a top priority to
patients. “People appreciate the
effort we make to examine and treat
them as quickly as possible. They
know they’re getting top-notch care
from St. Clair physicians. This efficiency also applies to the process by
which we communicate to the primary care physician, via the electronic health record. The record, a
summary of the patients visit to our
Urgent Care, is customized to
urgent care services and can be
accessed by physicians in the St.
Clair Hospital system. It interfaces
electronically right into the Hospital
medical record or the physician
office record.”
St. Clair Urgent Care also facilitates continuity of care, Kish
explains. “The care provided here is
easily integrated into our primary
care network. We’ve had patients
with orthopedic injuries who were
able to be taken directly to the
orthopedic practice in the building.
This location in Suite 100 of the St.
Clair Hospital Outpatient Center –
Village Square is ideal; it means
‘one-stop shopping.’ There’s full service diagnostic imaging at the
Outpatient Center.”
St. Clair Urgent Care opened
January 13 in Village Square, just
across Fort Couch Road from South
Hills Village mall. This convenient
location offers plenty of free, valet
parking, and patients and their families have easy access to the
Outpatient Center’s café for food
and beverages.
>
To contact St. Clair Urgent
Care, call (412) 942-8800.
Urgent Care is open 9 a.m.
to 9 p.m. seven days a week
(9 a.m. to 5 p.m. on major holidays).
There is always a board-certified
physician, registered nurse and x-ray
technologist on site.
E-mail your news briefs to [email protected]
6 GUIDE
TO
GOOD HEALTH
www.guidetogoodhealth.com
Spring 2014
Local News... Local News...
Bariatric Surgeries Now Being Performed at Washington Health System
By Vanessa Orr
types of bariatric surgery. “Gastric bypass
surgery has the most staying power and its
data is the most reproducible,” said Dr.
Wilcox. “Patients will lose approximately 70
percent of their excess weight, though some
lose more. Sleeve gastrectomy is gaining in
popularity, but I think that’s mainly because it
doesn’t require as much experience on the
-Dr. Geoffrey H. Wilcox
part of the surgeon to perform this operation,
so more of them are being done. To do gastric
bypass laparoscopically takes a lot more training.”
Dr. Wilcox only recommends adjustable lap band for patients who are not
candidates for either of the other surgeries because the weight loss is not as
predictable. Both sleeve gastrectomies and gastric bypass surgeries work by
limiting the amount of food a person can eat, though gastric bypass also has
a malabsorption component which means that the body is not absorbing
certain sugars, fats, proteins or vitamins.
While there are few surgical risks to gastric bypass, there
are many benefits. “We’ve had patients who were taking
four or five pills a day to treat their diabetes, and by the
time they left the hospital, they didn’t need to take any
medications,” said Dr. Wilcox. Most patients spend two
days in the hospital after the surgery with 95 percent able
to go home on the second day.
“Patients will lose
approximately 70
percent of their excess
weight, though some
lose more.”
N
ow that winter is finally over, it’s time to
consider shedding some of those excess
clothes—as well as those excess pounds.
Beginning this year, Washington Health System
has begun offering gastric bypass surgery as well
as sleeve gastrectomy and adjustable lap banding.
These surgeries are being performed by Geoffrey
H. Wilcox, M.D., FACS, metabolic and bariatric
surgery director at Heritage Valley Sewickley, and
Michael D. Felix, M.D., FACS, metabolic and bariatric surgery director at
Jefferson Regional Medical Center, Washington Health System, and St. Clair
Hospital.
“Bariatric surgery is recommended for those patients who are technically
obese, which is defined by the government as having a BMI (body mass
index) of greater than 40,” explained Dr. Wilcox, who added that most
patients they see are approximately 100 pounds or more overweight.
“Candidates might also have a BMI between 35 and 40 with co-morbidities
and health problems such as sleep apnea, hypertension and diabetes.
“The main reason to have bariatric surgery is to get healthy; almost all of
the patients we see suffer from other conditions including degenerative joint
disease and diabetes,” he added. “Within the first month after the surgery,
patients report having more energy, are no longer short of breath, and are
able to do things like walk up the stairs again,” he added. “Within six
months, many of them are able to stop taking their medications and they
report that their knees no longer hurt.” On average, a person who has had
gastric bypass surgery loses eight to 12 pounds a month during the first year.
Candidates at Washington Health System can choose from three different
>
To learn more about bariatric surgery at Washington
Health System, call (412) 741-8862 or visit
www.hopebariatrics.com to watch an online seminar.
Dr. Michael D.
Felix
Duquesne to Launch New BSN Program
This Fall for Registered Nurses
D
uquesne University’s School
of Nursing is unveiling a
new program for the fall that
will make it easier for registered
nurses (RNs) to obtain a Bachelor of
Science in Nursing (BSN) degree.
Nationwide, nurses are licensed
to practice after passing the test for
the Registered Nurse (RN) credential. Frequently, RNs opt to earn
associate's degrees or a nursing
diploma at a hospital-administered
nursing school rather than devoting
four years to obtaining a BSN.
According to Dr. Mary Ellen
Glasgow, dean of the School of
Nursing, the timing for the new RNBSN program is ideal. National
trends - including an aging popula-
tion, the increased demand for
health care services through the
Affordable Care Act and the need to
improve health care outcomes - are
fueling the need for the program.
Glasgow added that a recent
report from the Institute of
Medicine (IOM), a congressionally
chartered but non-governmental
group of health care experts, made
recommendations about the nursing profession, including that 80
percent of the country’s nurses
should have a baccalaureate degree
by the year 2020.
The IOM is widely respected,
Glasgow said, and its recent report
emphasized that nurses who have a
BSN are much better equipped to
make decisions based on evidence.
She added that Pittsburgh is an ideal
place to launch an RN-BSN program
because only 33 percent of nurses in
the city have a BSN. The national
average is 50 percent.
Duquesne’s RN–BSN degree
requires 126 credits, which is the
same as its regular BSN program.
Every course will be offered online
and can be completed
in seven-and-a-half
weeks, a structure
that allows a student
to easily take six credits per semester.
“We're looking for
students who wish
Dr. Mary Ellen
will be offered in the program
to advance their eduGlasgow
through the School of
cation in a supportLeadership and Professional
ive environment,” said
Advancement. RN-BSN stuDr. Cindy Walters, the
dents will receive 60 transfer
RN-BSN coordinator
credits for their previous
and a former RN-BSN
lower-division nursing coursstudent.
es, and other college credits
Walters, an assistant
can be transferred as well.
clinical professor in
An RN-BSN program comthe nursing school,
plements Duquesne's mission,
said that because the
Dr. Cindy
Glasgow observed, because
program is online, it
Walters
the program's timeliness and
appeals to the adult
working nurse, who often works flexibility will attract a new group
around-the-clock shifts and on of students to Duquesne. “We have
weekends. Many of the potential created a program that honors
students, Walters added, may also what RNs have already accombe responsible for child rearing or plished," Glasgow said. "This prohave other family or caregiving gram will be a great way to diversify our student body and the nursresponsibilities.
All of the non-nursing courses ing profession."
The RN-BSN program is now accepting applications for the first class of students, which will begin matriculation in
Fall 2014. For more information, visit the Nursing School's RN-BSN website at www.duq.edu/nursing
Spring 2014
www.guidetogoodhealth.com
GUIDE
TO
GOOD HEALTH 7
Congress Likely to Change Veterans Affairs Benefits This Year
HEALTHCARE
PROFESSIONAL'S
CONFERENCE
SET FOR MAY 13
By Julian E. Gray
W
hile only a small percentage of the millions of veterans and their families use the Aid and
Attendance benefit offered by the Department of Veterans Affairs, it is clearly a vital program for those in need of medically related assistance with their daily activities. While this
program is financially "means" tested, there is currently no penalty for applicants who divest themselves of assets and subsequently applied for benefits.
A Senate bill was introduced into Congress in 2012 that imposed a three-year "look back" period
for uncompensated transfers prior to the filing of the VA application. The bill did not get traction,
but was replaced in 2013 by a new House bill that contains similar provisions (H.R. 2189). It appears
from the movement of this bill that legislation may be forthcoming in 2014 that will drastically affect
veterans and their family members who use the Aid and Attendance benefit.
Pension (aka Aid and Attendance) - The bill provides "that if a veteran eligible for a pension for
service or for a non-service-connected disability, or the spouse of such veteran, disposes of a resource
that was part of such veteran's estate for less than its fair market value within three years before
applying for such pension, the Secretary shall deny or discontinue the pension payment for months
beginning on the date of such disposition and ending when the uncompensated value of such
resource is reached."
This language appears to mean that the VA pension program will soon review financial transactions of an applicant much like the federal/state long-term care services program (i.e. nursing home
care). Given the budget constraints on government, it was inevitable that this gifting ability would
be restricted.
You can anticipate the VA looking to the rules used by the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid
Services, which currently imposes a five-year look-back period for asset transfers prior to application
for long-term care benefits.
A side effect of a proposed three-year look-back rule is that it may actually
delay the processing of VA claims.
Those wishing to take advantage of the present law may want to investigate
their options quickly.
>
To contact Julian Gray, Certified Elder Law Attorney,
call (412) 833-4400 or visit GrayElderLaw.com.
Julian Gray Associates will present the 2014
Western Pennsylvania Healthcare Professional's
Conference on Tuesday, May 13th, at the Doubletree
Hotel Green Tree. After the rave reviews from the
2013 program, the program has been extended to a
full day. The regional conference is intended for those
who work in the elder care field, in a clinical, administrative or academic capacity, and will offer CEU's for
nurses, social workers and nursing home and personal care home administrators.The conference will present sessions on the latest information on Avoiding ReHospitalizations, current changes in Medicare regulations, the most recent advances in dementia care, and
legal aspects regarding the new VA 3-year look back,
family support laws and understanding the POLST.
SPEAKERS INCLUDE:
• Joseph Angelelli, PhD. Director
Health Services Administration at RMU
• Bill McKendree, Director, Apprise
• Katherine Pearson, Esquire
• Rollin Wright, MD,
UPMC Benedum Geriatric Center
• Peg Chabala, Dementia Care, Asbury Heights
• Judith Black, M.D. Senior Medical Director,
Senior Markets, Highmark, Inc.
• Marian Kemp, RN Julian Gray, CELA,
Julian Gray Associates
To register, visit www.grayelderlaw.com
What You Need to Know About
Long-Term Care Insurance
By Anthony J. Camill, CLTC
WHAT IS LONG TERM CARE INSURANCE?
Insurance designed to cover long-term services and supports, including personal and custodial care in a variety of settings such as your home,
a community organization, or other facility.
WHAT IS THE PENNSYLVANIA PARTNERSHIP FOR LONG-TERM CARE?
To encourage residents to purchase long term care insurance Congress passed the Deficit Reduction Act of
2005 (DRA). The new law allows the consumers to benefit from asset protection through these partnership programs. All long term care insurance companies are not Pennsylvania Partnership Approved.
Long-term care insurance will allow the consumer to choose where they can receive care (assisted living facilities, personal care homes, home care, nursing homes). It’s importance to get a better understanding and get the
facts about your health care, and whether long-term care insurance is appropriate for your personal situation.
We are living longer lives than ever before. Improvements in health care and increase in longevity are guaranteeing more people will reach their 80’s than ever before.
As our longevity increases so too does our need for some type of care. Alzheimer’s disease is one of the major
reasons for consumers to pay attention, and is discussed more than it was twenty years ago.
DOES MEDICARE COVER MY LONG-TERM CARE COST?
Medicare covers only the highest level of care. This specific type of care can only be provided in a skilled nursing facility and after a hospital stay.
A failure to plan is a plan for failure. Circumstances can change tomorrow. It’s important
to speak with a specialist and determine whether long-term care insurance is right for you.
>
8 GUIDE
TO
GOOD HEALTH
For more information, you can reach Anthony J. Camill, Regional Marketing
Director for Western PA/NY Long Term Care Insurance Brokers, at
(412) 445-6171 or [email protected].
www.guidetogoodhealth.com
Spring 2014
UPMC's Doctors and Hospitals Accept ALL
Local Medicare Plans — Even Highmark's.
You’ve worked hard to reach retirement — a time when you can focus on the important things in life. And
staying healthy is key to doing what you’ve always wanted.
UPMC understands the importance of keeping a close relationship with your doctor. That’s why seniors will
never have to worry whether their UPMC doctors will accept their Medicare plan.
They will.
UPMC’s doctors and hospitals accept ALL local Medicare plans — even Highmark’s. And we’re committed
to accepting them for years to come.
Have questions? UPMC is always here to help. Just call our toll-free Senior Info Line at 855.946.8762.
Spring 2014
www.guidetogoodhealth.com
GUIDE
TO
GOOD HEALTH 9
Spring is Here (and So Are My Allergies!)
By Lauren D. Loya, M.D.
I
f you suffer with allergies, especially in the spring
and fall, you are an expert in misery! Most people do
one of two things: 1. use over-the-counter medications to alleviate the symptoms or 2. get tested and
subject themselves to painful, weekly allergy shots for
years. There is a third alternative: allergy drops.
An allergy is a reaction of your immune system to what are usually harmless, run-of-the-mill substances that most people's bodies don't perceive as
dangerous. The body over-reacts to the allergen. Histamine is released when
the body is exposed to the allergen and causes inflammation of the sinuses,
nose, mucus membranes of the eyes as well as other uncomfortable symptoms.
Allergy drops consist of natural allergens in a glycerin base – the same
vaccine that allergists use through injections. Like injection immunotherapy, allergy drops stimulate the immune system to protect against environmental airborne allergens without drug side effects. The drops can be selfadministered under the tongue without the risk of dangerous reactions
(such as anaphylactic shock).
• Approximately 55 percent of all U.S. citizens test positive to one or more
allergens.
• Allergies are the 6th leading cause of chronic disease in the United
States.
• Allergic rhinitis, or hay fever, is the reason for over 15 million doctor
office visits each year.
• People who suffer from sinusitis miss about 4 days of work each year
because of their illness.
• Allergic dermatitis (itchy rash) is the most common skin condition in
children younger than 11 years of age. The percentage of children diagnosed
with it has increased from 3% in the 1960s to 10% in the 1990s.
• If one parent has allergic disease, the estimated risk of a child to develop allergies is 48%; the child’s estimated risk grows to 70% if both parents
have a history of allergies.
Allergy Drops are medically proven based on protocols back by hundreds
10 GUIDE
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GOOD HEALTH
of medical studies and articles in top medical journals over the past 20
years. The drops can reverse symptoms and usually begin working within a
few months and sometimes within a few weeks. They can be
used in children as young as four and adults of all ages.
Frequently Asked Questions
1. Is it safe for patients to administer
the drops at home?
Yes. Patients are taught how to self-administer the
drops. The initial dose is administered in the physician’s office to
ensure the proper following of procedures.
2. Do the drops really work? What types of studies have been done?
There have been numerous scientific studies and medical articles in the
past decade that confirm the effectiveness of sublingual immunotherapy.
The World Health Organization reported in 1998 that “well designed studies employing high-dose sublingual-swallow immunotherapy provide evidence that this form of therapy may be a viable alternative to injections therapy in the treatment of allergic airway disease.”
3. Are allergy drops FDA-approved?
Allergy Vaccines are currently FDA-approved for injections only.
Although chemically the drops contain the same vaccines as allergy injections, providing them sublingually is considered “off-label” and therefore is
not FDA approved.
4. Are the allergy drops covered by insurance?
Since the drops are considered “off-label” they are not covered by insurance. However the office visits and testing may be covered depending on the
insurance plan.
5. Can I get my allergy drops from my regular pharmacy?
No. Allergy drops are considered a biological vaccine. It is not a drug that
must be processed by the liver or kidney. The drops work to build your
immune system. The drops are customized in a physician’s office.
>
For more information, visit www.PittsburghAllergy.net.
Dr. Lauren Loya of the Hormone Restoration Center, can be
reached at (412) 432-7909 or visit www.hormonecenter.net.
www.guidetogoodhealth.com
Spring 2014
Cross Training:
The Perfect Combination
for a Healthier Life
By Melissa Mattucci
Lindberg, M.S.
Exercise Physiology
W
hat is cross training? Simply stated,
cross training is the
combination of aerobic activities (running, swimming, biking) and resistance
training performed in an alternating
sequence to achieve an overall total body
workout. Commonly used by athletes, this training method allows individuals to train at higher
The Community &
intensity levels more frequently without the
Recreation Center
negative side effects that may result from repetlocated at 1551
itive exercise. It is important, however, that you
Mayview Road is open
do not let the term “athlete” deter you. Cross
to both Upper St. Clair
training, when done properly, can produce great
and surrounding comresults for anyone at any fitness level.
munity residents. For
There are many reasons one should consider
more information, visit
cross
training. First, the risk of overuse injuries
our website at
significantly decreases. Because the body experiwww.twpusc.org/crc/cr
ences a variety of training methods there is less
c-home or call (412)
muscle imbalance, and therefore, less injury.
221-1099.
Secondly, cross training diminishes the typical
boredom that is caused by the same, stagnant daily routine many people fall
into. Participants are much more likely to stay motivated by a program that
keeps him or her looking forward to a new activity. Lastly, since there is a
continuous change in activity, the body is always challenged. As a result,
your body works harder, and burns more calories; a significant component
in any weight loss (or maintenance) program.
Whether you are new to exercise or a seasoned athlete now is the time to
give cross training a try. At the Community & Recreation Center, we offer a
variety of high and low intensity group exercise classes on land and in the
water. We also provide personal training and private swim lessons for those
individuals interested in one on one instruction. No
matter what your age or fitness level, there is something
for everyone at the C&RC.
>
Melissa Mattucci Lindberg is Marketing/
Membership Services Supervisor at the Community
& Recreation Center at Boyce Mayview Park.
St. Clair Hospital Conducts
Free Skin Cancer Screening
St. Clair Hospital is sponsoring its annual FREE Skin Cancer
Screening from 6 to 7:45 p.m. Thursday, May 29 in Sipe Infusion Center,
Third Floor, St. Clair Hospital, 1000 Bower Hill Road, Mt. Lebanon.
Board-certified dermatologist Jason G. Whalen, M.D. and Nicole
Funt, MPAS-PA of Mt. Lebanon Dermatology will be performing targeted screenings. These screenings of suspicious areas are by appointment
only and space is limited.
The American Journal of Medicine states that only 16 percent of men
and 13 percent of women over the age of 50, the group with the highest
risk of developing melanoma, reported having a skin examination in the
past year.
Please register by calling 412.942.5082 between 8 a.m. and 4 p.m.
Mondays through Fridays.
Receive daily updates on local
events, health fairs and health
news you can use and more.
Spring 2014
www.guidetogoodhealth.com
GUIDE
TO
GOOD HEALTH 11
Dr. Scott Kauma
Infertility Treatments Offer Hope for Couples
A
s a reproductive endocrinologist and infertility specialist,
Scott W. Kauma, M.D., has
what he considers one of the best
jobs in the world. “I help turn couples into families,” he says. “It’s
wonderfully rewarding to be able to
help people realize their dream of
having a family.” Along with his colleagues, Dr. Kauma provides a full
spectrum of state-of-the-art infertility services for both men and women
at The Center for Fertility and
Reproductive Endocrinology, a subspecialty of the Department of OBGYN of Magee-Womens Hospital of
UPMC.
Reproductive endocrinology and
infertility (REI), he says, is an exciting field with tremendous advances
in recent times. “I’ve always been
deeply interested in how a fertilized
egg becomes an individual. The
process is fascinating. Clinically,
what we do in REI is look at that
process and correct problems, so
that people can have children. To
12 GUIDE
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GOOD HEALTH
“It’s wonderfully
rewarding to be able to
help people realize their
dream of having a family.”
-Scott W. Kauma, M.D.,
have a pregnancy, you need three
things: sperm, an egg and a means
for them to get together. The obstacles can be with any of those three
factors. Our main focus in REI is
infertility diagnosis and treatment;
we work with couples who have
experienced recurrent pregnancy
loss. The role of the reproductive
endocrinologist is to optimize the
opportunities for conception and
pregnancy to occur.”
About half of all conceptions
never make it to pregnancy, Dr.
Kauma explains. Research shows
that this is usually due to abnormalities in the chromosomes that keep
the fertilized egg from developing.
“They may make it to implantation,
but even then, 35-50% of implanted
embryos are lost. It’s actually a very
inefficient process, and as women
age, it becomes more difficult for
their bodies to get rid of extra chromosomes.”
Dr. Kauma says there are many
promising infertility treatment
advances on the horizon, including
research currently taking place on
animal models in which skin cells
are taken by biopsy and made into
stem cells. “It’s amazing. The skin
cells can actually become mature
sperm and eggs. This technology is
still in the research stages and will
be available in 30 years or so.”
Fertility preservation is also one
of Dr. Kauma’s areas of expertise. He
is Clinical Director of the Fertility
Preservation Program at Magee, a
multidisciplinary effort to protect
the reproductive capacity of women
and men of childbearing age who
have treatment for cancer. Chemotherapy, radiation and surgery can
compromise and even destroy fertility, but Magee’s physicians and
researchers have solutions that
greatly improve the odds that cancer
survivors can become pregnant or
father a child, by intervening before
cancer
treatment
begins.
Preservation of fertility can take
many forms, but the standard is cryopreservation (freezing) of eggs,
sperm, embryos and even ovarian or
testicular tissue. New technologies
are always being developed, and
Magee-Women’s Research Institute
is one of the leading centers for this
pioneering research.
A native of Wisconsin, Dr. Kauma
attended the School of Medicine and
Public Health at the University of
Wisconsin at Madison. He completed an OB-GYN fellowship at the
University of North Carolina –
Chapel Hill and spent the next 15
years at Virginia Commonwealth
University and the Medical College
of Virginia, where he served as a
www.guidetogoodhealth.com
professor of OB-GYN. In 2003, he
moved to Pittsburgh, to West Penn
Allegheny Health System, to launch
an In Vitro Fertilization (IVF) program there. The program was created in alliance with the Jones
Institute for Reproductive Medicine
of Eastern Virginia Medical School,
the first IVF program in the U.S. Dr.
Kauma is board-certified in both
OB-GYN and Reproductive Endocrinology.
This year, he moved to Magee,
where, he says, the research environment is exceptional. “Magee is
second to none for the quality of
care and ground breaking research
taking place here. It is one of the
top-funded research centers for
women’s health, and there is excellent work being done at Magee by
very smart people. When I was at
MCV, I did a lot of NIH-funded
research, while at West Penn I
focused on clinical care, teaching
and administration. Magee attracts
research-minded people, and I’m
happy to be there.”
Dr. Kauma is also happy to be in
Pittsburgh. “This is my favorite city.
It’s a hidden gem! There’s so much
to enjoy here, from sports to the
arts. I like to snow ski, water ski and
bike, and Pittsburgh has opportunities to do those things.”
Dr. Kauma is available to offer his
expert guidance to couples in the
south and west regions of greater
Pittsburgh at Magee-Womens
Specialty Services on Bower Hill
Road in Mount Lebanon. Magee
opened the outpatient center last
year to offer a convenient location
where women can receive obstetric
and gynecological specialty care in
high risk obstetrics, uro-gynecology, midlife health, infertility, gynecologic oncology, maternal fetal medicine and other gynecologic specialties.
>
Magee-Womens Specialty
Services offers woman-centered care in a convenient,
comfortable setting. Women
come to the outpatient center from as
far away as Erie, eastern Ohio and
West Virginia. Women’s Specialty
Services is located at 1082 Bower Hill
Road, Suite 125. For more information
or if you would like to make an
appointment, call (412) 429-3900.
Spring 2014
Dr. Karen Hacker
New Allegheny County Health
Department Director Sets Priorities
By Vanessa Orr
O
n September 3, 2013, Karen
Hacker, M.D., MPH, began
her tenure as the new director of the Allegheny County Health
Department, a role that seems well
suited to her abilities to bring
diverse groups together for the
greater good of the community.
“I would describe myself as a
coordinator and a convener,”
explained Dr. Hacker. “Our
resources are limited and the scope
of our work is large, so we will never
be able to solve problems with any
one organization. My goal is to get
all of the area’s organizations to
work together to find ways to effectively and efficiently deal with the
challenges that we face.”
Dr. Hacker was formerly the executive director of the Institute for
Community Health, a community
research organization within the
Cambridge Health Alliance (CHA),
where she also held the title of
senior medical director for public
and community health. Dr. Hacker
also served as an associate professor
in medicine at Harvard Medical
School and School of Public Health.
She received her undergraduate
degree from Yale University, her
medical degree from Northwestern
University and her master’s in Public
Health from Boston University.
"I knew that I wanted to be a doctor from a very young age,” said Dr.
Hacker, whose mother is a psychiatrist. “I wasn’t clear on what type of
doctor I wanted to be until college
and medical school, when I began
doing volunteer work with a lot of
different populations. At the time, I
had no idea what ‘public health’ was,
but I enjoyed working with different
cross-sections of the population,
especially adolescents—I felt like I
could make a difference within that
group.”
As a result, Dr. Hacker’s research
interests have focused on adolescent
risk and resiliency, child mental
health, and the social determinants
of immigrant health. She has led
efforts to incorporate behavioral
health screening into pediatric primary care and worked with communities on issues of substance abuse
and overdose prevention and youth
suicide. She has most recently been
involved in evaluating the transformation of safety net institutions into
accountable care organizations.
At the Allegheny County Health
Department, Dr. Hacker will be
Spring 2014
responsible for assessing and ensuring the health of the community.
“The department is responsible for
the health and wellness of the entire
community, which includes environmental health, such as air, water
and housing issues, as well as clinical programs, including those
focused on sexually transmitted diseases, tuberculosis, immunizations
and chronic diseases,” she
explained. “The department also
monitors the general health of the
public to identify hot spots or identify and contain infectious disease
outbreaks.”
One of Dr. Hacker’s first priorities
in her new position is to improve
the infrastructure of the health
department. “It needs a lot of work;
a lot of revitalization to bring it into
the 21st century,” said Dr. Hacker,
who has already added two deputies
and a chief epidemiologist to the
staff. “We also need to understand
the disparities in the county—racial,
economic and geographic—and
focus attention on those.”
Dr. Hacker also plans to concentrate on obesity prevention and
physical activity promotion, and to
continue to work on air quality
issues in the county. “As an outsider,
I face some challenges in getting to
know the environment, the players
and the dynamics,” she said of her
move to Pittsburgh. “I wasn’t born
and raised in this area, so that creates some advantages and disadvantages. I still need to learn the lay of
the land.
“There are numerous people
doing lots of things, so my hope is
that I can coordinate these groups so
that we are all moving in the same
direction,” she added. “Working
together, we can move the needle;
we can get some of these issues
resolved.”
>
To learn more about the
Allegheny County Health
Department, visit
www.achd.net or call
(412) 687-ACHD.
Welcoming New Patients:
Magee-Womens
Specialty Services
Magee-Womens Hospital has a wide range of specialty services
and world-class physicians right here in your neighborhood
to help women with a variety of conditions.
Gynecologic Oncology
State-of-the-art, compassionate, comprehensive care to
women who have gynecologic malignancies.
Reproductive Endocrinology and Infertility
Infertility services for males and females including advanced
reproductive technologies.
Minimally Invasive Gynecology
Experts in the field of minimally invasive surgery who use
the latest techniques to treat many gynecologic problems.
Midwives
Board-certified, independent health care practitioners,
licensed in the disciplines of both nursing and midwifery.
Maternal Fetal Medicine
Physician, nurse, and obstetric team specializing in high risk
pregnancies, and medical conditions that affect pregnancy.
Urogynecology
The Women’s Center for Bladder and Pelvic Health treat
women with disorders of the pelvic floor, including urinary
and fecal incontinence and pelvic organ prolapse.
For more information, or to schedule an appointment
with a Magee specialist near you, call 412-429-3900
or visit, UPMC.com/Magee.
Magee-Womens Specialty Services • 1082 Bower Hill Road, Suite 125
Affiliated with the University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine,
UPMC is ranked among the nation’s best hospitals by U.S. News & World Report.
www.guidetogoodhealth.com
GUIDE
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GOOD HEALTH 13
Dr. Roberta Renzelli-Cain and Dr. Merrideth Leggat
For Women Obstetrics and Gynecology Provides
Comprehensive Care for Women of Every Age
W
omen
experience
a
unique set of health
issues at each stage of
their lives. That’s why it’s important
for women to see a board-certified
OB/GYN specialist who understands
their changing needs and concerns.
At “For Women Obstetrics and
Gynecology,” Roberta Iris RenzelliCain, D.O., MHS, and Merrideth
Leggat, M.D., strive to meet the specific needs of each patient—from
adolescence through their childbearing years, then into mid-life and
beyond. Both Dr. Renzelli-Cain and
Dr. Leggat believe that an individualized, holistic approach to healthcare helps adolescent girls and
women stay healthy and enjoy a
higher quality of life.
“We feel that because every
woman is unique, her healthcare
should be, too,” said Dr. Leggat.
“Our practice offers services that are
tailored to the needs of each patient.
We think that approach helps
women achieve the best possible
outcomes.”
Adds Dr. Renzelli-Cain: “The
female body is an intricate system
and is interconnected in many ways.
A woman’s femininity is defined by
more than her reproductive organs.
We believe that it is important to
serve the full patient by caring for
the body, mind and spirit. Through
that balanced approach, we help
women to create wellness in their
lives.”
For Women Obstetrics and
Gynecology is a “one-stop shop”
that offers exams, lab tests and
screenings; wellness education; and
a wide array of treatment options.
When treating a disease or condition, Drs. Renzelli-Cain and Leggat
first try the latest medical therapies.
If surgery is necessary, they offer
minimally invasive surgical techniques that reduce pain and scarring
as well as speed up the recovery
process. Some of these surgical
options include endometrial lining ablation and
laparoscopic hysterectomy. For the convenience of patients,
many of these procedures can be performed without
hospitalization.
In addition
to offering
annual exams
and
routine
gynecologic care,
For Women
Obstetrics and
Gynecology
provides
specialized
services for
the following age groups:
Adolescent Years
• Abstinence education and
contraceptive options
• Adolescent healthcare and
education
• Disorders of puberty
• Eating disorders
• PCOS (polycystic ovarian
syndrome)
• Screenings for STDs
• Vaccinations
Childbearing Years
• Genetic counseling
• Infertility and pre-conception
counseling
• Management of medical issues
that coexist during a pregnancy
(e.g., diabetes, high blood pressure,
thyroid disease)
>
Pictured (l-r) Dr. Roberta Renzelli-Cain
and Dr. Merrideth Leggat
• Minimally invasive robotic
surgery
• Obstetric care, including
ultrasound, fetal non-stress
testing, lab draw and childbirth
classes
• Prenatal care and delivery
Mid-Life and
“Beyond” Years
• Breast health
• Genetic counseling
• Hormone replacement therapy
and menopausal care
• In-office procedures and
treatment for management of
abnormal PAP smears, heavy
menstrual bleeding and urinary
incontinence
• Management of incontinence
• Osteoporosis management
• Sexual dysfunction
• Weight management
For Women Obstetrics and Gynecology is located in the Outpatient
Care Center – Peters Township at 122 Gallery Drive, Suite 200, in
McMurray, PA. Appointments can be scheduled for Mondays, Noon to 8
p.m.; Wednesdays, 11 a.m. to 8 p.m.; Thursdays, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.; and
Fridays, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Evening appointments are also available.
Major insurance plans are accepted. For referrals or to schedule an
appointment, call (724) 260-7230.
Log on to www.guidetogoodhealth.com
for our Healthcare Directory.
Specializing In Treatment
For The
Incontinent Patients
159 Waterdam Road, Suite 120
McMurray, PA 15317
Tel: 724-942-1511 • Fax: 724-942-1513
14 GUIDE
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GOOD HEALTH
www.guidetogoodhealth.com
____________________
NovaCare Rehabilitation
offers a wide variety of
programs and services.
____________________
Judith Post, MPT, COMT
Physical Therapist • Center Manager
Spring 2014
Cynthia Cowie
Southwest Regional CEO
Recognized for Impactful Career
By Vanessa Orr
W
hen Cynthia Cowie first
entered the medical field,
she was looking for a
rewarding career that enabled her to
help people. Starting as a certified
nursing assistant (CNA), she went
on to earn her LPN (licensed practical nurse), RN (registered nurse)
and BSN (bachelor of science in
nursing) degrees, and now serves as
the CEO of Southwest Regional
Medical Center. Looking back at
her success, one thing is clear;
Cowie has never stopped focusing
on the people in her care.
“I always appreciated and understood science, and back when I was
making career decisions, the
options were limited for a female. If
you had a science background,
becoming a nurse was the best way
to enter the medical field,” she
explained. “I think what I liked best
about the field was that it gave me
the opportunity to impact and work
with a lot of people. Health care at
the bedside level is very rewarding.”
While raising two small children,
Cowie studied for an earned her
LPN and RN degrees, and later
earned her BSN from Waynesburg
Spring 2014
University. In 2004, she joined the
staff of Southwest Regional Medical
Center as the chief nursing officer,
which at the time, was a risky career
decision. “I came to the hospital
nine months prior to it being sold; it
was a community not-for-profit,
struggling financially to keep the
doors open,” she said.
In 2007, Cowie was named the
hospital’s CEO. During her tenure,
the hospital has enhanced and
added many new programs including the Center for Recovery and
Wellness behavioral health services,
the SRMC Wound Care and
Hyperbaric Center, private rooms
for patients, an enhanced emergency department and InstaCare
Urgent Care.
“Health care has changed massively since I first entered the field,
in areas ranging from improved
technology to increased learning
and proficiency in skills,” she
explained. “When I started, we were
working with a 2-slice CT scanner;
now you can actually purchase a
scanner with over 200-slice capabilities. Surgical technology practically
eliminates the need for making
large incisions that may cause
patients to have longer recoveries or
“Recognize that what you see
now or in the past will be very
different in the future; if you
think that health care will be this
way in 20 years, you’re in for a
rude awakening.”
complications. It’s like going from
the Stone Age to where we are
today.”
While working at a small, rural
community hospital has its challenges, Cowie says that she loves
working with employees and
patients. “I am a hands-on manager;
I’m very passionate about health
care and passionate about what I
do,” she said. “And being a Type ‘A’
personality probably doesn’t hurt.”
This passion has led to Cowie
being named to the Pennsylvania
Business Central’s Top 100 People of
www.guidetogoodhealth.com
2013. Recipients are selected based on
several factors including the impact they have had
on the business community, from
job creation and building improvements to fiscal growth or community involvement.
As a leader in the field, Cowie
encourages others to pursue a
career in the medical field, but she
cautions them as well. “Recognize
that what you see now or in the past
will be very different in the future; if
you think that health care will be
this way in 20 years, you’re in for a
rude awakening,” she said. “It’s a
very challenging field that you
shouldn’t enter into lightly.
“But if you’re still passionate
about health care—about learning,
caring and providing help to those
who need it, you will find that
sometimes your hard work is
rewarded—and that’s a great feeling.”
>
For more information,
call (724) 627-3101
or visit the website
www.southwestregionalmedical.com.
GUIDE
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GOOD HEALTH 15
Pittsburgh Integrative Mental Health, LLC
Packaging Your Wellness Under One Roof
Bodywork, Mindfulness and
udith Gusky, LPC, took a leap of
Meditation for Mental Health
faith in November of last year and
Sometimes the best way into the
put into motion a long-time dream.
emotions is through the body.
She shifted her mental health counselBodywork, such as CranioSacral
ing practice to an integrative model
Therapy, acupressure, massage, Reiki,
providing both traditional and alternaand variety of other techniques can
tive therapies for better mental health.
open the door to past trauma, chronic
Along with the switch came a new
depression, anxiety, and any number of
business name: Pittsburgh Integrative
emotional issues. Meditation pracMental Health (PIMH).
Judith Gusky
tices also can help quiet the mind and
Gusky no longer has to refer people
out for many specialized treatments. PIMH ser- relax the body enough to unearth the roots of
vices now include a broad range of options for deep emotional and psychic pain. Treatments
treatment of mind, body, and spirit—all under offered include:
• Light-touch massage
one roof.
• CranioSacral therapy
Although it is a client's choice to select his or
• Reiki
her preferred treatment, Gusky encourages
• Mindfulness practices
clients to consider the benefits of treatment from
• Deep relaxation meditation
multiple perspectives.
• Guided Imagery and Music (GIM)
PIMH’s integrative approach includes:
• Mental health counseling for a range of psySpirituality in
chological and emotional problems.
Mental Health Counseling
• Bodywork, music therapy, and meditaMany of the experiences we have throughout
tion/mindfulness techniques for emotional healing, stress relief, and management of chronic life are not definable in rational terms. They may
be moments of coincidence or serendipity or
conditions.
• Spiritual counseling for those experiencing a something more profound, such as a spiritual
spiritual crisis, past life memories, psychic abili- transformation. Society today tends to explain
ties, or extraordinary experiences that occur these things away as wishful thinking, exaggeration, or even mental illness. Spiritual explowhen a loved one has passed.
ration may be as important as delving into the
psyche to resolve painful emotional problems.
Mental Health Counseling
PIMH provides counseling and consultation Religious beliefs need not be a barrier to this
on a range of mental health issues for individu- kind of soul searching. Experience can tranals, couples, and families. GLBT clients are wel- scend beliefs without sacrificing the latter. It's
just a matter of following your intuition and letcome.
ting your inner voice come through. Issues and
• Grief
treatments include:
• Depression
• Past life memories in children
• Relationship problems
• Past life regression for adults
• Pregnancy loss
• Extraordinary experiences after a
• Anxiety
loved one's death
• Impulse control
• Embracing your psychic gifts
• Early life loss/trauma
• Understanding spiritual emergence/
• Stress
emergency
• Caretaker stress
• Coping after a Near-Death
• Life transitions
Experience (NDE)
• Seasonal depression
• Chronic illness/pain
For more information, visit our website
• Aging
at www.pimhservices.com or
• End-of-life
J
>
16 GUIDE
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call (412) 687-1234.
www.guidetogoodhealth.com
An Integrative
Treatment Case Study
A client comes to see a counselor after the
sudden loss of a loved one.The client saw her
partner gasping for his last breath and reaching
out as if in anguish. She is still horrified. She
regrets not having been able to save or comfort
him. Her life now feels mechanical and without
purpose. She is exhausted most of the time and
continues to isolate herself. She worries about
her health and her financial situation.
Grief is not mental illness. But it is deep mental,
emotional, and physical suffering that lingers. In an
integrative approach we consider three interrelated aspects of her story: 1) The horror and regret.
2) The absence of meaning and purpose. 3) Her
physical exhaustion and health concerns.
The first issue is treated from a spiritual angle.
“What did your partner’s reaching out signify to
you? Is it possible that he was reaching out to a
vision of something before him and that the look
was that of awe rather than anguish? The client’s
beliefs and experiences with matters of spirit are
explored. She finds comfort.
The second aspect of her story is the absence
of meaning and purpose in life.This is treated as
an existential question, rather than a mental
health concern. Meaning and purpose change with
loss.Yet, there is something that we know deep
within that has always had meaning; has always
guided us. We explore the threads of her life and
then consider how she may use what she discovers in a meaningful way. She finds hope and direction.
In the process of counseling and spiritual exploration, the client undergoes physical therapies and
energy healing that relieve the sense of fatigue
and heaviness that makes each day a burden. She
begins to regain energy and a sense of peace. She
feels more self-assured and less anxious about the
future. It is these treatments that help release
physical and energic restrictions in her body
brought on by emotional trauma.They contribute
to the client’s physical improvements and sense
that she is perhaps her own best authority on
healing and thriving. She finds renewed strength.
Spring 2014
call 412-364-8338
Spring 2014
www.guidetogoodhealth.com
For North Hills
GUIDE
GTGH414
TO
GOOD HEALTH 17
Wound Care
A Wound Care Patient’s
Remarkable Journey
Ohio Valley
General
Hospital's
Wound Care
Center staff
works together
to help treat
patients
like Joyce
Carney
(seated).
J
oyce Carney is one of the
healthiest 77 year olds around.
That’s what her doctors have
always told her. Which is why when
a sudden cyst-like wound broke out
on her arm about three years ago,
she was concerned. Unsure of what
exactly it was, Joyce tried to have it
removed by a surgeon. The wound
wouldn’t heal, and more started
popping up across her back and
down her arms, so she went to a
dermatologist.
“I felt drained, and tired. No one
knows what caused the sores, or
how to stop them from spreading,”
she said.
Joyce’s dermatologist sent her to
the Ohio Valley Wound Care Center,
where they tried to determine a
cause. The OVGH Wound Care
Center is one of the oldest and bestestablished practices in the region.
As a Healogics-managed center, they
are part of a nationwide network of
wound-healing specialists, and they
are used to treating wounds of all
kinds, from diabetic ulcers to traumatic injuries. But this case was different.
Debbie Cardillo, Clinical Manager
of the wound center said, “Joyce’s
case is unique. After months of tests
such as biopsies, x-rays, blood work
and different compounds of creams
and ointments, the wounds would
make progress but never completely
>
18 GUIDE
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GOOD HEALTH
heal.” It was then that Dr. Samina
Naseer, the Wound Care Center’s
Medical Director, talked with Joyce
about Pyoderma Gangrenosum. It is
a rare condition that causes ulcerlike sores to appear on your body.
While the medical field is puzzled as
to how this disorder starts in your
body, many believe it stems from the
immune system.
While continuing treatment at the
wound center, Dr. Naseer also keeps
in contact with Joyce’s dermatologist
on a regular basis.
“When doctors refer a patient to
us, we like to include them so we
can work together on treatment. We
even give them monthly updates on
how their patient is doing,” added
Cardillo.
Joyce has now been at the Wound
Care Center for months, and has
seen remarkable improvements to
her open wounds. She has not had a
new break out in several months.
While she may never know what
causes the sores to develop, or have
them heal completely, Joyce doesn’t
mind coming to the Wound Care
Center for treatment…she says they
treat her like family.
“They’re just so congenial. They
bend over backwards for me. They
even call me on the weekends after
a big treatment to see how I’m
doing. It’s just a nice feeling when
you come in.”
If you would like more information about getting help from Ohio
Valley General Hospital’s Wound Care Center, visit them online at
www.ohiovalleyhospital.org. The Wound Care Center has two convenient locations in Kennedy Township and Ohio Township. You can call
(412) 250-2600 to make an appointment at our Kennedy Township
Location, or (412) 847-7500 to reach our North Hills branch.
www.guidetogoodhealth.com
Spring 2014
Spring 2014
www.guidetogoodhealth.com
GUIDE
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GOOD HEALTH 19
Chronic Pain
Spinal Cord Stimulation
Lessens Symptoms of Pain
W
Whitehall
412-884-3500
Greentree
412-344-7744
Bethel Park
412-831-6050
Peters Township
724-941-3080
20 GUIDE
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GOOD HEALTH
hat started as a pinched
nerve from piggyback
rides with his daughter
became severe pain with no relief
for Jim Kinter, a Pittsburgh native.
Back surgery, which commonly
would relieve the growing pain in
his leg, instead gave him unbearable back pain. For years, this
meant sleepless nights, uncomfortable mornings, and a lot of tension
within his family.
In December of 2012, after trying
everything from nerve blocks to
opiates, Kinter decided to try one
last
option:
Spinal
Cord
Stimulation.
Spinal Cord Stimulation is a
reversible implant that provides
relief from consistent nerve pain. A
pulse generator, manufactured by
medical device companies such as
Boston Scientific, sends electrical
impulses to the brain that mask
pain signals. These tiny pulses, or
tingles, help manage-and relievethe burning, stabbing, and throbbing sensations chronic pain
patients’ experience. This action
helps manage-and relieve- the
aching in your body. It typically
works for people dealing with
chronic pain or severe discomfort in
their back and extremities.
At Ohio Valley General Hospital,
Pain Treatment Center physician
Ankur Gosalia, M.D., believes spinal
cord stimulation can help improve
your quality of life. “When we treat
your (leg) pain, your function tends
to get better. You’re able to use your
legs more easily.”
He and his partner, David
DeChellis, D.O., routinely see
patients for whom they recommend
and treat with Spinal Cord
Stimulation. When a patient is interested in the procedure, he or she
consults with the physicians to see if
it is right for them. The patient is
then given a temporary stimulator—
one attached outside of the body. If
the trial gives the patient at least a
50% increase in pain relief, they
move ahead by scheduling the
patient for an outpatient procedure
at Ohio Valley General Hospital. The
physicians continue to monitor the
patient’s stimulator-and their lessened pain- through follow-up
appointments.
To control the device once it’s
been implanted and in between
physician visits, a wireless remote
control that looks much like a smart
phone allows the wearer to adjust
the stimulator settings, which allow
www.guidetogoodhealth.com
Dr David DeChellis of Ohio
Valley General Hospital's Pain
Treatment Center discussing
pain treatment options.
the patient to adjust their settings to
levels that soothe their pain. The
rechargeable battery comes with a
12-year battery life and ensures you
never have to turn it off—something
Dr. DeChellis calls, “One of the
biggest breakthroughs in spinal cord
stimulation.” Jim Kinter agreed, “I
tried to turn mine off once. I lasted
about an hour. I’ll never do it
again!”
Kinter is more than happy with
the new lease on life Spinal Cord
Stimulation has provided him, and
his family.
“I feel twenty years younger.”
In fact, Kinter wished he had followed his physician’s advice to try
the implant years earlier. According
to Dr. Gosalia, Spinal Cord
Stimulation used to be an end of the
road procedure-after a patient tried
everything else. Now, physicians are
willing to try it much earlier in the
treatment plan.
“Why put a patient through years
of misery with opioids when they
have a problem that can be treated.”
In comparison to the cost of yearly medications, the procedure is
cost-effective. Most insurance companies will cover the cost of the
implant.
>
For more information, and to
find out if spinal cord stimulation is right for you, contact the Pain Treatment Center at
(412) 777-6400.
You can also learn more information
about the facility at the website
www.ohiovalleyhospital.org.
Spring 2014
REINVIGORATING EXPERIENCE
Rehab to Home in No Time
The best way to get better — and go home faster — is to follow doctor’s
orders. Our experienced physical rehabilitation experts do just that.
From individualized care plans created in concert with your physician to
a hospitality mindset, we’re here to help you get home faster.
Ask about our Prehab Services to get home even sooner!
Explore careers at
www.srcare.org/careers
Spring 2014
www.SrCare.org
Oakmont Campus t 1.877.740.2179
Washington Campus t 1.877.706.6610
www.guidetogoodhealth.com
GUIDE
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GOOD HEALTH 21
Mark Your Calendar
SW HealthCare
HealthCare Center:
The Best Kept Secret in the South Hills
By Angela Knauff
30 Years of Progressive
Healthcare Services and Counting
Through expertise and adaptability, SW HealthCare Center is staying
responsive to the needs of the local and surrounding communities it
serves. With a recent transfer of ownership from Southwestern Group
LTD to a new entity for operation, SW HealthCare Center LP, the new
operators are anxious to share their vision for the future including a focus
on our campus environment and services with new and innovative ideas
for customer service.
Joins Major Healthcare Initiative to
Prevent Avoidable Hospital Readmissions
Southwestern Nursing Care Center is pleased to announce its participation in the major healthcare initiative developed by the Centers for
Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) – preventing avoidable hospital
readmissions. The initiative brings hospitals, skilled nursing providers,
health plans, home health agencies and physician practices together that
coordinate and care for patients after a hospitalization. Southwestern
Nursing Care Center will be participating in the Quality Assurance and
Performance Improvement Program because not only can we help residents and families in our facility for short-term recovery or long-term
care, we will help make healthcare more affordable.
13 Years Enriching Lives, Transitional Senior Living
Southwestern Assisted Care Residence focuses on taking care of the
details while providing a helping hand when needed. Nearly one in every
five seniors hospitalized return to the hospital within 30 days.
Southwestern Assisted Care Residence offers the type of transitional support and services in preventing avoidable hospital readmissions in addition
to providing a worry free and maintenance free lifestyle for those who
seek that support.We blend tradition and charm with lovely suites and the
availability of support staff around the clock to provide assistance when
needed.
Exceptional Retirement Living,
18 Years of Lifestyle Satisfaction
Arrowood at Southwestern offers retirees a multitude of benefits
beyond the cost and worry of staying in your own home.All inclusive rent,
maintenance and worry free living, socialization, entertainment and peace
of mind. Not sure if you’re ready to make the decision to down size? Trial
Stays are available in the same well appointed apartments available for permanent residence and include our exceptional hospitality and superior
amenities. Arrowood at Southwestern makes retirement so much more
enjoyable.Ask any neighbor in our community.
Integral Role in Healthcare and Patient Satisfaction
Everyone in a local community benefits from a collaborative environment with direct access to our on campus multi-specialty physicians and
services, outpatient surgery center, restaurant access and ample parking.
Complimented by partnerships with physicians and other healthcare
providers located in the Southwestern Medical Office Building of the campus, partnering South Hill’s and surrounding
Pittsburgh providers, we cater to you.
Are you planning a Senior Expo, Health Fair,
Fundraising Event or Conference?
Call (412) 835-5796
or e-mail [email protected]
to see how we can help you promote your event.
22 GUIDE
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>
Stop by for a tour. We are taking a
new hands-on, team approach to our
services and would love to show them
off. Angela Knauff is Executive
Director, SW HealthCare Center.
You can reach Angela at (412)
469-6959. Visit us at the webste
www.southwesternhealthcare.com.
www.guidetogoodhealth.com
Spring 2014
Spring 2014
www.guidetogoodhealth.com
GUIDE
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GOOD HEALTH 23
Wigs Offer
New Options for
Hair Replacement
5 Common
Hair Problems
Women Face
What causes hair loss and
thinning hair for women?
By Lisa Bianco
A
t Greg Jockel Hair Colour Dezign in
Wexford, you’ll find the kind of excellent
salon services you’d expect: hair design,
hair color, manicures, pedicures, skin care and
even reflexology. But you may not be aware of a
service actually getting known these days by
word of mouth, when clients spread the word
among friends and family. What’s being referred
to is the growing reputation Greg Jockel salon is
building for its wig services. Delivered by professional wig consultant Carol Opalisky, Carol is a
licensed board-certified cosmetologist with
extensive training in the artistry of hair replacement and a more than 40 year career of running
upscale salons.
“Eighty percent of our wig customers are
word-of mouth referrals. And yes I do work with
lots of clients who are chemotherapy and cancer
patients. But about a quarter of my clients just
want to change their look. Some of my clients are
CEOs who need to attend an evening event and
want the option to throw on a wig to get ready
quickly. I have clients from age 4 to 99.” says
Carol. “For women who have lost their hair the
salon has a reassuring feel since it doesn’t look
like a clinic. There’s a private room in the back for
wig consulting.”
When asked what clients like in particular
about her manner, Carol is candid. “They like the
intimacy and privacy of our salon and the fact
that I give them real knowledge about wigs. I
share with them the tricks of the trade so to
speak.”
Carol recommends that chemotherapy patients
come to the salon before they've lost all their hair.
"That way I can duplicate their current color and
style," she asserts, and adds, "It's the best time to
get a wig."
For clients with alopecia areata who lose their
hair when the immune system mistakenly attacks
hair follicles, Carol often relies on photos, or
matches a wig based on the person's color and
complexion.
Once these clients receive their wigs, begin
wearing them and feel normal again Carol says
unequivocally, "It's life altering! They're so
incredibly relieved to feel pretty again. As women
it's really important for us to have our hair. Many
of my clients feared they would be stared at or
Unlike male pattern balding, female hair loss is
often caused by things other than DHT. Stress,
menopause, birth control, medication, changing
hormones, and the plethora of hair styling products women use are most of the cause.
What are the causes of dandruff?
“...I do work with lots of clients who are
chemotherapy and cancer patients. But
about a quarter of my clients just want to
change their look.” -Carol Opalisky
shunned if people saw them without hair. It's a
sad fact that our society is comfortable with men
going bald, but not women. These are the times
when I feel that I'm really helping people and it
reminds me of why I went into this kind of work."
Carol's extensive training in hair replacement
gives her a sharp eye for good wig construction,
and a thorough understanding of what makes a
quality wig. She deals mostly with synthetic wigs
in a high quality price range — between $250 to
$500. Human hair wigs turn out to be much more
pricey — with good quality starting at $800 to
$1000. "I look at the quality of the wig's cap, its
weft and durability, the quality of the hair... people want to wear a wig that doesn't even look like
a wig. High quality synthetic wigs fit the bill.
That's what I aim for. Plus synthetic wigs are so
much easier to care for. Once a month you shampoo with a wig shampoo and the style stays in.
Shake it out and it's ready to wear. Synthetic wigs
are easy care compared to human hair wigs which
must be treated just like human hair — with a
wash, set and blow dry."
With more than 40 years of salon experience
Carol has operated her own salon in State College
and Harrisburg. What started her off in the wig
business was her own mother's need for a wig 15
years ago after being hospitalized. This led to
Carol's decision to open a wig boutique. Her special interest and passion for hair replacement has
blossomed from there.
REMEMBER
to sign up
for your
subscription
No hair problem are as common as dandruff.
Dandruff is the appearance of scaly particles that
cling to the root of the hair. Some reasons for the
accumulation of dandruff are a poor diet, infection,
a slow rate of metabolism, or even stress.
How do split ends occur?
A split end happens when the end of the hair,
becomes dry and brittle and begins to split — usually caused by the various styling efforts woman’s
put their hair through.This includes over combing
or over brushing hair, giving your hair a perm time
and time again, improperly using heated hair appliances, constant coloring of hair, etc. Lack of conditioning can also go a long way in giving rise to split
ends.
Can any hair type suffer
from frizzy hair?
Yes, many women are cursed with frizzy hair.
This is due to dropping moisture levels in the hair
below normal levels. Too much hair brushing can
lead to this condition, as hereditary factors.
Can tap water contribute
to dull, gummy hair?
Often, hair can gum up after treatment.This can
be a big problem for women who want to style
their hair regularly. One of the causes of this condition is hard water that gets into the hair when
you wash it.
>
For more information about
Greg Jockel Hair Colour Dezign,
and wig services with Carol,
call the salon at (724) 934-0211,
or visit www.gregjockel.com.
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24 GUIDE
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www.guidetogoodhealth.com
Spring 2014
Non-Invasive Medical Imaging Available for Breast Screening
By Bethany Narey, Certified Clinical Thermographer
W
omen are being diagnosed with breast disease at younger ages. It
is imperative we have breast health screening options available to
younger women. The standardized age for a woman to receive a
mammogram is 40 years old, this leaves a potentially dangerous gap in
breast health care. Posing the question, is 25 the new 40? And what options
are out there?
Thermography
Digital infrared thermal imaging also known as thermography is a 15
minute non-invasive test of our bodies’ physiology. In short- thermography
studies how your body is functioning. The detection of disease is achieved
by displaying thermal abnormalities and patterns present in the body.
Thermography can aid in the detection of subtle physiologic changes that
accompany pathology, whether
it is cancer, fibrocystic disease,
an infection, or a vascular disease. Thermography is; radiation-free, painless, and requires
NO contact with the body
This makes thermography a
valuable procedure for alerting
your doctor to changes that
can early indicate early stage
dysfunction or disease.
centage of women under the age of 40 being diagnosed it is important to
have additions to our breast health screening. Thermography offers the
opportunity of earlier detection of dysfunction in any area of the body than
has been possible through self-examination, doctor examination, mammography, ultrasound, or x-ray alone. Thermography is not a stand-alone test.
When thermography and mammography are used together the best possible evaluation can be made.
>
We invite you to visit Health Enhancing
Thermography at our Ft. Couch. Bethel Park
location. Schedule an appointment and receive
15% off your first appointment. Call Health
Enhancing Thermography at 855-254-4328
or visit us online at www.heat-images.com.
Bethany Narey
LECOM.edu
Who Can Benefit?
All women can benefit from
thermography breast screening. However, it is especially
appropriate for women 23-55
whose denser breast tissue
makes it more difficult for
mammography to be effective.
Also for women of all ages who
do not want exposure to radiation, have implants, are fibrocystic, have had a mastectomy,
or are unable to undergo routine mammography. Thermography can provide a clinical
marker for a specific area of the
breast that needs particularly
close examination OR a general baseline for your overall
breast health.
Why Thermography?
Thermography can see activity and changes outside of
other tests such as mammography and ultrasound. Where
mammography looks for
anatomical changes or structure, thermography looks for
physiological changes or how
the body is functioning.
Medical doctors analyze heat
temperature differences and
patterns that indicate cell
change and vascular dysfunction. Thermography allows for
an earlier look at your breast
tissue and can potentially identify dysfunction before a structure has developed. Your doctor can then plan accordingly
and layout a program to further
diagnose and monitor your
health.
With 1 in 8 women developing breast disease and the per-
Spring 2014
MIND BODY SPIRIT
When mind, body and spirit work together. Truly together. The impossible becomes suddenly possible. This
is what we teach at LECOM. To see human potential taken to the next level and beyond. To prevent disease
and treat it. To give hope. It’s what can happen when you learn to truly believe in yourself; when mind, body
and spirit become one. This is the calling we can help you fulfill.
CAN YOU HEAR
Campuses in Erie and Greensburg, Pa.
and Bradenton, Fla.
www.guidetogoodhealth.com
THE CALLING?
GUIDE
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GOOD HEALTH 25
Chiropractic Health
What is Nerve Gliding
and Can It Help with
Diabetic Neuropathy
in the Feet?
Introducing Spinal
Decompression Therapy
By Dr. Amy M. Jennings
W
Ask Dr. Amy
e live in a compressed
world where we sit or
stand for the majority of
our days. Bulging discs, herniated
discs, degenerative disc disease,
pinched nerves, sciatica, and arm pain
or leg pain can often be attributed to
the spine asserting pressure on the
discs. Repetitive stress, poor posture
or bad body mechanics can cause vertebrae to compress the discs or to slip
out of alignment which then applies
pressure to the discs.
Compressed discs lead to two major
problems: a bulge or herniation pressing on a nerve; and brittleness of the
disc. The problem is often perpetuated
because the compressed disc restricts
the flow of nutrients to itself which is
necessary to heal.
Traditional treatments for compressed discs, depending on their severity, include chiropractic adjustments or surgery. Spinal Decompression
Therapy is an alternative FDA approved treatment option that has shown
excellent results and kept patients out of surgery. It is a non-invasive treatment that both your surgeon and chiropractor can agree on and recommend.
The decompression table applies a distraction force in between periods
of relaxation. This gently pulls and elongates the spine, which creates a
small vacuum between the vertebrae allowing the disc to come back into
shape. Over time these treatments have a cumulative effect on the discs,
allowing them to reshape, heal and get the proper flow of nutrients going
to fend off future injuries. This method of treatment is non-invasive and
has been shown to keep people from having costly surgeries.
>
Please e-mail questions to Dr. Amy Jennings at
[email protected], fax to (412) 283-1062,
or mail to 1010 Clifton Road, Bethel Park, PA 15102.
By George W. Kukurin, DC, DACAN
A
common complication of elevated blood sugar or diabetes is damage
to the nerves throughout the body. This is known as peripheral neuropathy and can produce debilitating pain, numbness and other distressing symptoms in patients.
Typically the symptoms of diabetic neuropathy start in the feet and
progress to the hands and other parts of the body. The sustained elevated
blood sugar found in diabetes causes damage and degeneration to the nerves
via a number of different metabolic pathways. Our knowledge about the
deranged metabolism that is the actual cause of diabetic nerve damage has
increased dramatically, unfortunately there are currently few, if any, medications specifically designed to treat the underlying cause of the condition.
For patients suffering with the symptoms of neuropathy associated with
diabetes, current treatment consists of strict blood glucose control and several drugs that may relieve the symptoms of diabetic neuropathy. Regrettably
the current state of treatment for most patients suffering from diabetic neuropathy is truly inadequate. But some new research showing that the nerves
in diabetic patients may become fixed, may offer hope to patients suffering
from neuropathy.
A technique called nerve gliding or sometimes called nerve flossing may
do the trick. Basically nerve gliding treatment seeks to mobilize fixed and
entrapped nerves to restore their normal motion. The technique consists of
gentle stretches applied across the fixated nerve. While the foot is stretched
the patient simultaneously will flex and extend the head and neck. This produces a “flossing” type motion on either side of the nerve fixation. Over time
this reciprocal nerve mobilization may break down adhesions and decompress the nerve. According to the theory of nerve gliding this type of nerve
mobilization may non-surgically decompress and restore motion to
entrapped nerves.
This means that, at least in theory, patients suffering from diabetic neuropathy could benefit from nerve gliding techniques applied to the feet and
legs. Because these techniques can mobilize the nerve with gentle stretches
and foot positioning they appear to be an exciting potential new treatment option for diabetic peripheral neuropathy patients. What is more they are non-surgical and
safe.
>
For more stories on chiropractic health,
log on to www.guidetogoodhealth.com
To receive our FREE monthly enewsletter,
email [email protected]
Dr. George W. Kukurin, Kukurin Chiropractic,
Acupuncture & Nutrition, can be reached
at (412) 381-4453 or visit
www.alt-compmed.com.
Chiropractic Care
Relief is right here in the Pittsburgh area.
Dr. Kukurin was named a Top Chiropractor by the
Consumers’ Research Council of America. He is listed in
Who’s Who in Medicine and Healthcare. With over
20 years experience using laser acupuncture, chiropractic
and science based nutritional therapies, the results
produced by his methods have been featured on local
TV newscasts, published in scientific journals, indexed
in the National Library of Medicine and have been
presented at medical conferences at Johns
Hopkins and the Peripheral Nerve Society.
Find help now call
Directory
Jennings Chiropractic
DR. AMY M. JENNINGS, D.C.
_________________________________
412.381.4453
“Gentle Healing Hands of Chiropractic”
KUKURIN CHIROPRACTIC, ACUPUNCTURE & NUTRITION
George W. Kukurin DC DACAN, Jason S. Franchi DC & Kristopher C. Adolph DC
2415 Sarah Street • Pittsburgh, PA 15203 • 412.381.4453 • www.alt-compmed.com
Preferred provider for most insurance plans including BCBS, UPMC, Cigna & more.
26 GUIDE
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Accept most Insurances
(UPMC, BC-BS,
Auto, Ect.)
1010 Clifton Road • Bethel Park, PA
412-283-1060
HOURS: Monday: 8:30 - 11:30 a.m. & 4 - 8 p.m. • Tuesday: 11 a.m. - 4 p.m.
Wednesday: 8:30 a.m. - 6 p.m. • Thursday: 4 - 8 p.m. • Friday: 10 a.m. - 3p.m. • Saturday: 8 - 11a.m.
www.guidetogoodhealth.com
Spring 2014
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Spring 2014
2. Right Outlook
HOW TO
LIVE TO
BE 100
De-Stress whenever possible -15 minutes a day can change us from
inflammation to anti-inflammation state in the body
3. Sense of Purpose
Can add 7 years of longevity. Ikigai - this is the Okinowan word for “the
reason for which you wake up in the morning” If we stop being purposeful
our lives may lose meaning.
By Susan Merenstein
T
here is no magic pill to
increase longevity as is evidenced by three main
areas of longevity in the world or Blue Zones where there are 10x the number of Centenarians as compared to other parts of the world.
Sixty-five-year-old ages 120 times faster than a 12-year-old. Best science
shows our lifespan capacity is 90 years. Average in the U.S. is 78 years.
America’s Blue Zone is Loma Linda California where the average lifespan
is 89 for women and 87 for men. They follow a Bible diet of green plants
and legumes, little meat and they treasure their Sanctuary Time which is
from sunset Friday to sunset Saturday.
During this time all work is halted, family time is of the utmost importance and they spend time walking in nature.
The ground zero of longevity are the Okinawan Islands (where the oldest
living female population live AND the largest disability free life expectancy
in the world). Also the Okinawans live 7 good years longer than the average American and have 1/5th the rate of breast and colon cancer and 1/6th
the rate of cardiovascular disease. They do have a word for “retirement.”
The Island of Sardinia 125 miles off the Italian coast (where the men live
longer than women and there is a wine with three times the polyphenol
antioxidant content of any wine in the world called Konenow).
MANTRAS OF LONGEVITY:
1. Move Naturally
Physical Activity - steady moving lifestyle with regular low intensity sustained physical activity and no conveniences. Walk - the only proven way to
stave off cognitive decline
Spring 2014
4. Eat/Drink Wisely
No diet ever works for more than 2% of the population.
• Colorful Plant-based diet
• Eliminate burdensome food (i.e. gluten, dairy, genetically modified)
• Organic/home grown - no pesticides, Aspartame, or other known
food poisons
• 80% rule - stop eating when 80% full - goes back to Confucius
saying that Okinawans abide by daily all of their lives.
5. Connection “Isolation Kills”
Family first and care for the elderly in the family - if an older person is
treated with respect and appreciation, life expectancy goes up 4-6 years.
Belong to a faith based community - this adds 4 - 14 years extra life
expectancy if one does it 4x a month
6. Balance Your Hormones
They are the foundation of health.
Fill your day with purpose, courage to follow your dreams, surround
yourself with your support team (family and friends), love and allow yourself to be loved, move and eat wisely, practice daily solitude when you hear God, be humble and grateful for
what you have!
>
Susan Merenstein, Pharmacist and Owner,
Murray Avenue Apothecary, can be reached at
(412) 421-4996. For more information, visit
www.maapgh.com, www.labnaturals.com,
www.yourgoddessroom.com.
www.guidetogoodhealth.com
GUIDE
TO
Susan Merenstein
GOOD HEALTH 31
“The service is free;
the patient pays only
for co-pays as usual.
The quality of service
makes Hometown
Pharmacy a “concierge
pharmacy.”
RxMap Helps Patients
Navigate a Clear,
Error-free Path through
Medication Regimens
By Nancy Kennedy
F
or anyone with a medical condition or chronic disease, the
right medication can make a
critical difference in their health,
safety and quality of life. But when
people with acute illnesses or
chronic conditions fail to improve,
despite appropriate medical treatment, the reason is often a complex
problem that perplexes healthcare
professionals: medication non-compliance, also called medication nonadherence. The term refers to the
failure or inability of patients to take
their prescribed medications as
directed, and it’s an enormous and
costly problem in the U.S. and
around the globe. In the U.S., the
problem is so widespread that it is
now a primary contributing factor
in medical complications of illness
and hospital re-admissions.
Medication non-compliance takes
many forms: taking too many, or too
few doses; taking them at the wrong
time, or under the wrong conditions; skipping or forgetting them;
or stopping the medication before
completing the prescribed number
of days. Often, non-compliance is
due to practical issues that present
obstacles for patients, explains
pharmacist Shawn Nairn, R.Ph.,
owner of Hometown Pharmacy in
the Green Tree Shop' n Save and
Hometown Pharmacy in Kuhn’s
Market on Banksville Road.
“Medication non-compliance is
not as simple as it may sound. It
isn’t that patients are simply refusing their medications, as the term
“non-compliance” seems to suggest;
rather, it’s that there are numerous
obstacles that keep patients from
adhering to their regimens. Nonadherence has many causes; some
are practical, while others are systemic, part of healthcare industry
policies and practices.”
For many patients, the most
immediate issue is cost. Co-payments, especially when one is taking multiple medications, can be
beyond the patient’s budget, especially if they are on a limited
income. For others, access to the
pharmacy may be a challenge, if
they are homebound and lacking in
support systems that might provide
transportation. Not every pharmacy
makes deliveries, and those who
live in rural areas may be far from
the nearest pharmacy. Sometimes,
the problem is with the medication
regimen itself. Patients with chronic
illnesses often take multiple medications, at all different times of the
day. “It can be a challenge to keep
track of it all and even to remember
what was already taken,” Nairn
says. This is not just a problem for
the elderly; young people can also
have a hard time keeping track of
their medications, as can parents
whose children have complex medication schedules. Busy schedules
and distractions can make anyone
forget to take a medication.
Another factor may be a lack of
understanding on the part of the
patient, about their condition or
their medication. “A knowledge
deficit is often an issue for patients.
They may not have received adequate patient education, or they
may have been given instructions at
a stressful time when they were
unable to absorb the information,
such as at discharge. They simply
don’t understand the importance,”
says Nairn.
Whatever the reason, failing to
take enough medication means that
one does not receive the full benefit
of the medication, and symptoms
may worsen. In the worst case scenario, this can be a matter of life and
death. Taking too much medication
can lead to overdose.
Fortunately, there are efforts
underway at many levels to address
-Shawn Nairn, R.Ph.
the problem, and one of the most
effective strategies is also one of the
most practical: the RxMap, a pill
packaging system that is designed to
assure compliance with multiple
medication regimens. “RxMap
means ‘medication adherence packaging.’ It organizes medications in
an easy-open bubble card that contains the pills and clear labels directing when they’re to be taken,” says
Nairn. “It’s completely individualized and physically easy to use.
There are no bottles, and no risk of
spilling the pills.”
The process could not be easier:
the patient or caregiver makes one
phone call to a pharmacist at
Hometown Pharmacy to enroll, and
the service then takes care of every
detail. The package of medication is
delivered monthly to the patient’s
home; the pharmacy takes care of
refills and changes, and communicates with the patient’s physician
directly. The patient’s only responsibility is to take the medications. The
service is free; the patient pays only
for co-pays as usual. The quality of
service makes Hometown Pharmacy
a “concierge pharmacy.”
Developed by MTS Medication
Technologies, RxMap simplifies and
facilitates medication adherence,
promotes patient safety and convenience, and offers caregivers peace
of mind. Most importantly, it keeps
patients healthy. When they are
taken correctly as prescribed, medications can be nearly miraculous.
They can lower blood pressure,
reduce inflammation, ease pain, lift
depression, correct imbalances and
perform countless other functions
that restore health, improve quality
of life, and even prolong the lives of
those who take them. RxMap is a
proven system that reduces the incidence of complications, emergencies and re-admissions due to medication non-compliance.
>
For more information or to
enroll, call (412) 539-1331
to speak with a Hometown
Pharmacy pharmacist.
Need Help Finding a Physician
or other Healthcare Provider?
Check out our Healthcare Directory online
at www.guidetogoodhealth.com.
32 GUIDE
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GOOD HEALTH
www.guidetogoodhealth.com
Spring 2014
Advertorial
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A Growing Threat
for Baby Boomers
Baby Boomers may be young at heart—
but they are also the group most at risk
for hepatitis C.
Hepatitis C is the leading cause of liver cancer, liver
transplants and death from liver disease. In fact, the
Centers for Disease Control urges anyone born between
1945 and 1965 to ask their physician for a hepatitis C
test. Hepatitis C-related deaths are on the rise, with
7,000 to 15,000 deaths attributed to the virus each year.
About 3 million people in the U.S. are living with the
infection, according to the CDC. Most of them don’t
know how or when they contracted the virus, which
is usually spread through contact with an infected
person’s blood. Intravenous drug use – even once – is
a risk factor. So is receiving a blood transfusion before
1992 or undergoing frequent dialysis.
Even if you don’t feel sick, you may still be infected.
Some people experience symptoms such as fever, joint
pain or dark-colored urine, but most hepatitis C cases
are asymptomatic. Only a simple, one-time blood test
can tell you for sure.
Quest Diagnostics, the world’s leading provider of
diagnostic testing, offers a comprehensive menu of
tests that can pinpoint exactly what type of hepatitis
virus you have. If you do test positive for the virus,
help is available. Treatment usually lasts about 6 to
9 months and is effective at preventing further liver
damage in the majority of patients.
Spring 2014
For more information on Hepatitis C virus screening,
visit QuestDiagnostics.com/HepC.
To schedule an appointment for your test at your nearest
Quest Diagnostics location, visit QuestDiagnostics.com.
When your doctor
orders blood work,
choose Quest Diagnostics.
• Prompt, caring service
• Appointments Encouraged;
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• Open early
• Trusted by physicians
To find a location or schedule an appointment:
QuestDiagnostics.com or
1-866-MYQUEST (1-866-697-8378)
www.guidetogoodhealth.com
GUIDE
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GOOD HEALTH 33
CHILDREN’S HEALTH
Outdoor Play for Children with Visual Impairment: The FUNdamentals
By Beth Ramella, M.Ed., TVI/COMS
I
offs with a bright, contrasting color. Tactile or
auditory maps are wonderful tools for those
who are unable to read print materials. Warning
tiles, sometimes called truncated domes, are
tiles with bright color contrast and bumpy patterns that allow cane users to identify such
spaces as the bottom of the slide, around the
base of the swings, or an opening in a platform.
But even without a budget for a total playground transformation, there are other ways to
make your outdoor play space more accommodating for kids with visual disabilities including:
• Use equipment with bright and contrasting
colors
• Add auditory elements such as chimes, sound
tubes or musical components
• Provide tactile stimulation with things such as
sand, water or large blocks
t is often said that play is a child's work, and it’s
true, all kids learn essential skills through play.
In addition to the physical benefits, research
indicates that children who play outdoors demonstrate better visual motor integration, imagination
and verbal and social skills.
Children, both visually impaired and sighted,
learn from naturally occurring, sensory adventures
such as splashing in a pond, popping bubbles or
picking flowers. Playgrounds, a traditional childhood favorite for outdoor play, are also a great spot
for children to build interpersonal relationships
while running, swinging and developing the social
A student and his teacher zoom down
concept of taking turns
the slide while playing in the adapted
The campus of the Western Pennsylvania School
Children’s Garden at the Western
for Blind Children, features outdoor play spaces
Pennsylvania School for Blind Children.
tailored for this meaningful type of learning. But
unfortunately, most neighborhood playgrounds are
For more information, contact Beth Ramella, WPSBC Director of
not accessible for children with visual impairments.
Outreach, at (412) 621-0100 or [email protected].
There are many ways in which playground activities and equipment can
be adapted for children with visual impairments. For a child who is visually impaired, choose a time when there are fewer children around and consider turning your trip to the playground into an obstacle course. Just as
their sighted peers, children with visual impairments should be encouraged
to develop physical strength, independence, motor skills and social interaction. Show your child how to climb, move and crawl over the equipment.
Some accessibility and safety features that benefit children who are blind
or visually impaired include highlighting the edges, railings, steps or drop
>
How to Help Your Child
Deal with Asthma
By Marianne Drevna, BS, LRCP
W
hether your child has
been newly diagnosed
with asthma or has dealt
with the condition for years, as a
parent, you may at times get frustrated with the lack of control over
medication changes and sudden
symptoms recurring.
Knowing the early warning signs
of an asthma attack helps you and
your child prepare to take control:
• Dry cough/wheeze
• Stuffy nose, watery eyes,
sneezing, itchy throat
• Tiredness
• Stomach ache or headache
• Shortness of breathe
• Fast heartbeat
• Tight chest
Proper education covering selfmanagement of asthma can make a
huge difference in your child’s ability to confidently live with asthma.
Children with exercise-induced
asthma can and should participate
in sports and other physical activities. Only in the most severe cases
are children not able to adequately
prepare for engaging in those types
of activities. Parents should also
make sure to reach out to the
school nurse, any sports coaches
and the physical education teacher
regarding a child’s asthma, so they
can make sure that the child takes
34 GUIDE
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www.guidetogoodhealth.com
the medication prescribed by his or
her physician prior to the activities
that set off asthma. In many cases,
using an inhaler prior to physical
activities can help significantly.
But, not all children suffer from
exercise-induced asthma. Some
children may suffer from asthma
resulting from infections, emotions, medications, sleep, household products, allergies (animals,
pollen, dust, mildew, or foods) or
irritants (cold air, strong odors,
weather changes or cigarette
smoke). If this is the case, it’s
important to be aware of where the
child will be throughout the day.
Get to know your child’s friends
and the friends’ parents to protect
your child from unwanted situations – something as simple as an
allergy to a family cat or dog at a
friend’s house could trigger the
symptoms of asthma.
Surprise reactions will undoubtedly happen from time to time, but
through consistent education and
compliance with your doctor’s
orders, symptoms can be much
more manageable.
>
Marianne Drevna is with
Breathe Pennsylvania.
For more information, call
1-800-220-1990, e-mail
[email protected] or
visit www.breathepa.org.
Spring 2014
Fight Childhood Obesity: Make Changes, Improve Lives
MAKE A PLEDGE TO BECOME A HEALTHIER FAMILY OVERALL. START NOW WITH THESE EASY TIPS:
1. Cut back on meals away from the home. Approximately 32% of
Americans caloric intake is consumed outside the home. This includes fast
food, take out and sit down restaurants. Foods consumed while dining out are
often higher in sodium, fat, cholesterol and calories.
2. Prepare more meals at home and dine together as a family. Silence the TV and enjoy
conversation. This is a great time for interaction. Turn off electronic devices and other distractions
during your meals for better portion control.
3.Allow your children to help during meal preparation or in choosing the foods for the
week. Make a game out of it. For example: each family member can choose one new food a week
to try and take responsibility to come up with a recipe or way the food can be incorporated so everyone tries it.
By Jacqueline Ely, RD, LDN
T
he obesity epidemic affects over one-third
of U.S. adults and on average 17% of children and adolescents age 2-19. Despite
ongoing research and education to combat this
problem, very minimal changes have occurred.
An article by the New York Times reported that
for the first time in two centuries the current generation of children in America may have a shorter life expectancy than their parents. Obese children have an increased risk of developing high
cholesterol and blood pressure, early heart disease, diabetes, bone problems and skin conditions.
It is never too late to make changes and
improve the health and wellbeing of the entire
family.
4. Replace all sugary beverages with water and milk. Eliminate soda, juices and other sweetened beverages. These drinks are “empty calories.” One can of soda typically contains 10 teaspoons
of sugar or more. Drinking high calorie beverages does not fulfill hunger pains the same way whole
foods do. Fill up on fruits, vegetables, whole grains and lean proteins, not beverages.
5. Get Moving! Children need a minimum of 60 minutes of play with moderate to vigorous activity every day. Take a walk as a family after dinner, give kids active toys such as bikes and kites, or
encourage kids to join sports groups or try a new activity.
>
For resources on how to help your family and children be healthy, check out
wrcameronwellness.org Kids Programs. Washington Health System Wilfred R.
Cameron Wellness Center offers kids’ activities such as Swimming Lessons, Hip
Hop Dance, Martial Arts, Nutritional Counseling, and Fit Kids Summer Camp
where children spend their summer days learning how to treat their bodies well, make
healthful choices, build self-confidence, and play as part of a team. For more information, call (724) 225-WELL (9355)
Jacqueline Ely
NOW ENROLLING!
SUMMER CAMP
Fit Kids Summer Camp – Begins June 16
Entering 1st Grade – 12 years old
Discover health and fitness in a fun environment
• Full-day, half-day, week, half-summer and full-summer options
• 8am – 5pm, Monday – Thursday, 7am drop-off available
• Physical activities, swimming, martial arts, music, art and FUN
• Kids Camp Questions? Please contact Emily Mahoney
724.250.5202
Health & Fitness Discovery Camp – Begins June 23
Ages 3 – Entering Kindergarten
VISIT US: 240 Wellness Way, Washington, PA 15301
(Route 19 and Manifold Road – behind the Ford dealership)
FOR MEMBERSHIP INFO: Contact Louise Schultz at
724.250.5208 or [email protected]
www.wrcameronwellness.org
Spring 2014
Explore physical activities in a fitness setting
• 9am – 12pm, Monday – Thursday
• Experienced School Teacher Instruction
• Fitness games for mobility and coordination, yoga, music, art,
social skills and teamwork
• Toddler Camp Questions? Please contact Rebecca Feist
724.250.5249
Check out weekly themes, a sample day, and
pricing online at www.wrcameronwellness.org
www.guidetogoodhealth.com
GUIDE
TO
GOOD HEALTH 35
CHILDREN’S HEALTH: AUTISM
Autism in 2014:
Progress, But No Clear Answers
Part One of a 3 Part Series
By Nancy Kennedy
A
pril is Autism Awareness
Month, a perfect time for a
“progress report” on autism,
its treatment and ongoing research
efforts to identify its’ origins. Much
progress is being made in autism
research and top-level researchers at
many universities and healthcare
institutions, including several in
Pittsburgh, are involved in unraveling the mysteries of autism, which
is believed to be a disorder of brain
development. But, the answers to
what the disorder actually is and
what causes it continue to be elusive.
Last month, the Centers for
Disease Control and Prevention
issued new figures on the prevalence of autism. The study was carried out in 11 states and revealed
that 1 in 68 children in the U.S. has
some form of autism, or autism
spectrum disorder (ASD). Although
the figures varied by geographic
region, they show that the prevalence of autism is increasing. In
2012, the national figure was 1 in 88
– thus the new figures represent a
30% increase. The data also revealed
that autism spectrum disorders are
nearly five times more common in
boys than girls, and more common
in white children than AfricanAmerican or Hispanic children.
In the Pittsburgh region, local
autism expert Luciana Randall,
executive director of the nonprofit
Autism Connection of Pennsylvania, formerly known as
ABOARD, agrees that there are no
clear answers, but she believes that
research is moving autism science
forward significantly. “The research
seems to point to a constellation of
factors, primarily genetic differences and environmental toxins,
and how they interact. We know
that environmental toxins can damage genes. We know that autism is a
disorder of the brain, and is not a
mental illness or intellectual condition. In autism, the brain is over
wired with nerves, creating a traffic
jam of signals. The brain has trouble
sorting it all out. Persons with
autism take in a lot of information
and process it differently; they can
feel bombarded and overwhelmed
by stimuli.”
Randall’s organization is focused
on providing supportive services to
children and adults with autism,
36 GUIDE
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Two young fans enjoy a special
performance of The Lion King
for children with autism.
and to their families, to help them
overcome the challenges of autism
and fulfill their potential. The
Autism Connection serves over
10,000 people, offering support
groups, conferences, a lending
library, and information and
resources on everything relevant to
autism, from getting a diagnosis,
learning about research studies,
dealing with insurance issues and
finding the best treatment and education for your child.
The Autism Connection of PA is
also is known for innovative, creative approaches to providing support. One is what Randall calls
“reverse inclusion” – meaning that
the organization brings people into
the autism world, letting them
experience things from the viewpoint of a person with ASD.
“Usually, we expect persons with
autism to try to adapt to our world
and our culture. Reverse inclusion
is the opposite – it’s about experiencing the autism culture and trying
to fit into it.”
The best recent example of this
came in the form of a special performance of Disney’s “The Lion King,”
performed in September at the
Benedum Theatre for an audience of
persons with ASD and their families. The performers, for a change,
had to adapt to the audience.
Special accommodations, such as
leaving the house lights up, eliminating strobes and reducing loud
noises, made the performance a
softer one, comfortable for those in
attendance who might otherwise
find such a show overwhelming.
>
To learn more about the
Autism Connection of
Pennsylvania, visit
www.autismofpa.org
Spring 2014
Parent Child Interaction Therapy Brings Joy Into a Family’s Home
A
bout 6 months ago, a family
telephoned Wesley Spectrum
Services in Pittsburgh, PA,
asking for help. Their child, Ben,
had been diagnosed at the age of 3
with Pervasive Developmental
Disorder, Not Otherwise Specified.
Pervasive Developmental Disorder
NOS is one of the Autism Spectrum
Disorders. It is characterized by
severe and pervasive impairment in
social interactions or communication skills.
Ben played with toys in a ritualistic fashion, had frequent temper
tantrums, and refused to do anything his mother and father asked.
He had poor relationships with
every member of his family and
with his classmates and teachers.
Ben and his family had been
receiving in-home services for the
past 3 years. The in-home services
had been helpful to the family in
establishing household routines and
family life was less disruptive, but
Ben’s mom was concerned that she
didn’t have a connection to Ben; He
didn’t want to be around her and
she felt rejected and a failure as a
mother. Ben’s mom came to us asking that we help Ben manage his
emotional outbursts and help the
family show their love for each
other. Ben’s dad was concerned that
Ben would not listen to what he was
told to do and was not disciplined
for his disobedience.
The family was referred to Parent
Changes in Early Intervention Eligibility What You Need to Know
By Deborah Uram, M.S. CCC/SLP
Child Interaction Therapy (PCIT).
PCIT is a behavior management
therapeutic technique for children
ages 2- 7 who demonstrate disruptive behaviors such as temper
tantrums, hitting and kicking, bolting from parents, and fighting with
siblings and peers. It uses live
coaching of parent and child in a
specially built playroom. The treatment focuses on changing the interactional patterns between the parent
and child through two phases of
treatment; enhancing parents’ relationship to their child during child
directed play and using consistent,
predictable discipline techniques
during parent directed interactions.
During the first session in the
playroom, Ben sat as far away from
his mother as possible. He refused
to allow her to touch the toys and
told her to get away from him. The
pain that caused was clearly seen in
the mother’s face. As the therapist
coached the mother in the use of
the positive interaction skills, the
child and mother moved closer to
each other so that by the end of the
session, the child’s and mother’s
cheeks were touching and they
were playing cooperatively and
happily together. Mom said that
she had not lovingly touched her
child in many years. As the sessions
went on, Ben looked forward to
coming to therapy with his mother
and played with her daily at home
as well. When the discipline techniques were introduced, Ben readily followed mom’s directives
exhibiting only one temper
tantrum in the 18 weeks of treatment and almost no temper
tantrums at home.
Following treatment, mom told
us “Where there was chaos and disruption in our home, there is now
happiness and cooperation. I
always loved my child and now I
like him as well. PCIT has changed
our family life.”
PCIT is offered by behavioral
health organizations throughout
the United States and in many other
countries as well. This evidenced
based treatment is highly effective
with children with disruptive
behaviors.
>
More information can be
found at www.pcit.org.
Please also feel free to contact Joyce Blackburn at
Wesley Spectrum for additional
information. Joyce can be reached at
[email protected] or
(412) 342-2340.
E
arly Intervention is a federal program that is managed differently
from state-to-state. Its purpose is to provide an opportunity for
children, birth-age three, who demonstrate a delay in development,
to receive supports that may reduce the need for special education and
related services in the future. Early Intervention under IDEA requires that
children be seen in their “natural environment”, which includes the home
and community-based settings.
In PA, children are found eligible for Early Intervention based upon a
25% delay in at least one developmental area (Communication,
Cognitive, Physical, Social/Emotional, Adaptive) OR a physical or mental
condition that could result in a developmental delay OR a qualified evaluator’s use of well-documented clinical opinion.
Once eligible, children can receive a variety of services, some of which
are: Speech Therapy, Occupational Therapy, Physical Therapy,
Developmental Therapy, Social Work, Hearing and Vision, all of which
are available at The Early Learning Institute (teli).
Until December, 2013, PA’s Early Intervention program found children
eligible in the five developmental areas plus subtest scores in
Communication (Receptive and Expressive) and Physical Development
(Fine and Gross Motor). Effective Dec. 13, 2013, The Office of Child
Development and Early Learning (OCDEL) changed the eligibility criteria and those individual subtest scores are no longer used to determine
eligibility. PA is still in compliance with federal law. Input was received
from parents, professionals and early intervention leaders.
The Early Learning Institute (teli) has been providing Early
Intervention services for children birth-age three for almost 30 years. If
your child is no longer eligible for Early Intervention due to the changes
in eligibility and you still have concerns about their development, contact
us.
>
Deborah Uram, M.S. CCC/SLP-L is the Director
of Out-Patient Speech & Occupational Therapy
services at The Early Learning Institute (teli)
and President of the Early Intervention Providers
Association of PA. For information on Early Intervention
or Outpatient therapies, call (412) 922-8322 ext. 12 or
visit www.telipa.org.
Spring 2014
www.guidetogoodhealth.com
GUIDE
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GOOD HEALTH 37
ACTIVITIES and SUMMER CAMPS... ACTIVITIES and SUMMER CAMPS...
SUMMER CAMPS
FIT KIDS SUMMER CAMP
and HEALTH & FITNESS
DISCOVERY CAMP
Washington Health System Wilfred
R. Cameron Wellness Center offers
several camps for children where children spend their summer days learning
how to treat their bodies well, make
healthful choices, build self-confidence,
and play as part of a team.
Fit Kids Summer Camp begins
June 16 for kids entering 1st Grade –
12 years old and is available for full-day,
half-day, half-summer and full-summer.
The children will discover health and
fitness in a fun environment and enjoy
physical activities, swimming, martial
arts, music, art and fun. For more information, contact Emily Mahoney at
(724) 250-5202 or log on to
www.wrcameronwellness.org.
The Health & Fitness Discovery
Camp begins June 23 for June 23 for
ages 3 through kindergarten. Children
explore variety of physical activities in
a fitness setting, including fitness games
for mobility and coordination, yoga,
music, and art. Social skills and teamwork is encouraged. The camp is held
9 a.m. – 12 p.m., Monday – Thursday.
For more information, contact Rebecca
Feist at (724) 250-5249 or visit
www.wrcameronwellness.org
SUMMER CAMPS
FOR CHILDREN
WITH SPECIAL
NEEDS
ACCLAIM PROGRAM
The Autism College and Community
Life Acclimation and Intervention
Model (ACCLAIM) of The Watson
Institute is specifically designed for college-bound teenagers with Asperger's
disorder and high-functioning autistic
disorder. The program focuses on the
development of skills necessary to succeed at college and includes therapeutic, learning, and social components.
Watson developed ACCLAIM to help
adolescents get a "preview" of college
prior to enrollment. The program is
intended to acclimate academically
capable candidates to campus life,
reducing the anxiety associated with a
major life transition, and developing the
social and organizational skills that are
requisites for success in college.
For more information, contact
Kristine Gorby at 412-749-2894 or
[email protected].
CAMP ACHIEVA
Weekends Camp Weekends are
offered through June 2014 for individuals of all ages with intellectual and
developmental disabilities. Locations
vary from month to month and
include Camp Fitch on the shores of
Lake Erie, Camp Guyasuta in
Pittsburgh, Oglebay in West Virginia,
Raccoon and Moraine State Parks.
Most weekends begin on Friday
evening and end Sunday afternoon.The
cost of the two-night weekend is $212.
Funding can be made by waiver, family
support service (FSS) or private pay. A
Camp ACHIEVA Registration form
must be completed and received one
month prior to attending a weekend.
The form will be kept on file for future
weekends.
Contact Karen Vodenichar at The
Arc of Beaver office at (724) 775-1602
x10 or [email protected] to
request a brochure, receive forms or
with questions.
ACHIEVA DAY CAMP
IN BEAVER COUNTY
Day Camp is a summer recreational
camp available to school age children
with intellectual and developmental
disabilities. The camp runs Monday Friday from 9 a.m. - 3 p.m. and is based
out of Brady's Run Park.
Swimming, crafts, hiking, fishing and
other outdoor activities are provided.
Transportation services are available
for children living at home with their
families in Beaver County.
Please contact Karen Vodenichar at
The Arc of Beaver office at (724) 7751602 x10 or via emailkvodenichar@
achieva.info to request a brochure,
receive forms or with questions.
BLIND & VISION
REHABILITATION SERVICES
SUMMER CAMP FOR TEENS
Blind & Vision Rehabilitation
Services of Pittsburgh’s Summer Youth
Program for students who are blind,
deaf blind or visually impaired will be
held June 30 through August 1, 2014.
This five-week summer Career and
Community Adjustment Program helps
students ages 16 through 21 transition
smoothly into work and adult life. For
information, call 412-368-4400 ext.
2246.
CAMP CAN DO
This special summer camp program
sponsored by the Pennsylvania
Commonwealth Division of the
American Cancer Society provides children with cancer the opportunity to
enjoy a traditional summer camp experience. Any child (age eight to 17) who
is or has been treated for cancer in
Pennsylvania or Delaware, or who lives
in Pennsylvania regardless of where
they receive treatment, is eligible to
attend Camp Can-Do. Two week-long
sessions are held each August at beautiful Mt. Gretna in Lebanon County.
Camp-Can-Do is provided free of
charge to cancer patients. For more
information, contact Cindy Gebhard at
(717) 533-6144 ext. 3071.
CAMP FROG
Sunday, July 6 through Saturday, July
12 at YMCA Camp Fitch, North
Springfield, PA (near Erie). Camp Frog
is a fully integrated week-long
overnight camp for children ages 8-17
(having completed 3rd grade but not
yet graduated high school) with a primary diagnosis of epilepsy. Camp Frog
staff includes a neurologist, nurse, and
specially trained counselors. Please call
for more information and eligibility
requirements 1-800-361-5880.
CAMP HUFF-N-PUFF
Camp Huff-n-Puff is a four-day
overnight camp adventure for children
aged 8-13 with asthma. Camp is held
each August at the Jumonville Camp
and Conference center in Hopwood,
PA. A dedicated group of volunteer
physicians, nurses, and respiratory
therapists work alongside camp counselors to ensure that all campers have
a safe and fun experience. Camp Huffn-Puff 2014 will be held August 7 - 10.
To register, visit www.healthylungs.org
or call (800) 220-1990.
CAMP STAT
The Summer Therapeutic Activities
for Teens (STAT) program of The
Watson Institute is specifically
designed for adolescents with
Asperger’s disorder and high-functioning autism.The program focuses on the
development of social competencies
and includes both therapeutic and
recreational components. Appropriate
candidates need to have the ability to
benefit from verbally based intervention methods.
STAT operates at The Watson
Institute's Sewickley, Sharpsburg, and
Upper St. Clair sites. Each program
runs for a period of four weeks.
For more information, contact Daryl
Ault at (412) 749-6425 or [email protected].
CAMP SUCCESS
Since its inception in 1999, Camp
Success has provided summer programming for low-income families who
have a child or children with special
needs. Camp Success accommodates
children ages 6-12 with physical, sensory, emotional, behavioral and cognitive
needs and their siblings.The Children’s
Institute remains committed to providing Camp Success free of charge to
families in need. For more information,
contact Amy Haid at (412) 420-2316
or [email protected].
CAMP WISP
The Watson Inclusive Summer
Program (WISP) is an inclusive therapeutic summer camp program for children with autism and related disorders.
WISP is a model inclusive summer
program that enables children with
autism to be integrated successfully
into typical summer camps with their
peers. The program operates in multiple sites, providing children with services near their own neighborhoods.
The program time and duration vary
according to the camp schedule.
Typically, a camp program lasts eight
weeks, from mid June to early August,
and runs from approximately 9:00 a.m.
to 4:00 p.m. Monday through Friday.
For more information about WISP,
contact Carolyn Belich at (412) 7492895 or [email protected].
CHATTERBOX EXPRESS
BASIC SOCIAL SKILLS
TRAINING
Chatterbox Express is a program to
help preschoolers through teenagers
(ages 6 to 14) build confidence and
express themselves effectively when
interacting with others.The program is
offered by the Department of
Audiology and Speech-Language
Pathology at Children’s Hospital of
Pittsburgh of UPMC. Sessions are held
at the Center for Independence in
Wexford and at Children’s South
Communications Disorders in Bethel
Park and is open to all children who
may be experiencing difficulties with
social communication, regardless of
diagnosis. More information is available
at (412) 692-5580 or www.chp.edu.
NEW STORY
SUMMER THERAPEUTIC
ACTIVITY CAMPS
New Story’s summer camp program
is designed to meet the needs of children with the most serious and complex behavioral challenges. New Story
offers social opportunities found at
other summer camps, but within a
therapeutic environment to help support each child’s continued growth and
development. New Story camps are
intended for children with an autism
spectrum disorder and children with
an intellectual disability and/or a mental health diagnosis. Summer therapeutic camps are located in the following
areas in Western PA: Indiana,
Greensburg, Dubois, Monroeville,
Cranberry Twp., and Mt. Lebanon. For
more information regarding New
Story Summer Camps, contact Sara
Woodward at (412) 373-5235 ext. 113,
by email [email protected],
or visit www.NewStory.com.
ON THE WEB: For more Activities and Summer Camps for Children, log on to www.guidetogoodhealth.com
38 GUIDE
TO
GOOD HEALTH
www.guidetogoodhealth.com
Spring 2014
CHILDREN’S HEALTH
Summer Camp:
An Experience to Remember
By Dr. Dana Monroe
S
ummer camp is a great
experience for both parents
and children. For parents,
it’s a milestone that helps in letting go. For the child, camp
encourages them to experience
independence in a new way.
As with any new experience
in your child’s life, it is important to communicate about
what is happening day to day. Communication is also key to keeping everyone (summer camp provider, school district, other professionals, etc.) on
the same path, and ultimately provide the best care for your child.
Finding the right camp is important, especially if your child has special
needs or a health condition. Choose a camp that offers activities related to
your child’s interests, and also has experienced and knowledgeable staff that
can meet your child’s needs.
The more you understand what the camp offers, the easier it is to prepare
your child for the exciting summer ahead. Before camp starts, ask any questions you or your child have about what to expect. Discuss safety precautions at the camp, special events that may take place and what daily activities are scheduled. It is important that camp offers an enriching program
that suits your child’s and your family’s needs.
As the school year comes to a close and the excitement builds for the
summer ahead make sure requirements are met prior to the first day of
camp such as:
• Appointments and/or documentation of physical exams, vaccines, etc.
• Make arrangements for prescription medication, dietary restrictions,
allergies or any agency services your child may receive.
• Transportation to and from camp.
• The items your child will need to bring on a daily basis, and what items
are not allowed at camp.
Remember camp is a chance for growth and new experiences. Your enthusiasm about camp will prepare your
child to be confident and excited about their summer
adventure.
>
Dr. Dana Monroe, Vice President and Chief
Operating Officer, New Story Western Region,
can be reached at [email protected]
or 1-877-622-7245.
NutraMetrix Offers Products for
Healthcare Practices and
Children with Special Needs
Wellness Products and Solutions
for Healthcare Practices
Jean McQuillin, R.N., is a registered nurse with a background in
pediatric nursing. She is also a consultant for nutraMetrix, a company that offers a comprehensive range of customized products
and services to support health care professionals whose clients
want to improve their own health or that of their families. nutraMetrix
is a division of Market America, a product brokerage company.
According to McQuillin, “We work with health care professionals to
help them integrate wellness solutions into their practices. But often
healthcare professionals don’t have the time or sometimes even the
information to provide wellness solutions. We provide a turnkey system including a nutraMetrix consultant to allow health care professionals to respond to their patient’s questions about wellness without taking time away from the services already offered by the practice. Our clients include physicians, dentists, chiropractors, podiatrists and other healthcare professionals.”
Products for Children With Special Needs
McQuillin has a passion for wellness and good
self-care. She believes that those concepts also
apply to children, including children with special
needs, such as those with autism spectrum disorder and cerebral palsy. Her company offers products that are safe and effective for children, and
many parents report that these products have
made a difference for their children.
“’Might-a-Mins Spectrum’ products are formulated for children
who need metabolic and neurological support, with appropriate
ingredients and dosages for children. They are specifically intended
for special needs children, such as those on the autism spectrum,
who often have gastrointestinal symptoms such as diarrhea, constipation, nausea and stomach pain,” McQuillin says. “Sometimes,
their bodies absorb nutrients poorly, or they may have difficulties
with eating. Our supplements are designed for efficient absorption;
95% of the product can be absorbed in five minutes. That’s the next
best thing to intravenous delivery.”
There are five products in the Might-a-Mins Spectrum” line,
including “Might-a-Mins Spectrum Isotonix OPC3”, which assists in
providing antioxidant defense, maintaining brain health, and supporting the production of neurotransmitters; Might-a-Mins Spectrum
Isotonix Digestive Enzymes, which promotes stomach comfort and
bowel regularity in children by enhancing enzymatic breakdown of
food so it can be more easily absorbed; Might-a-Mins Spectrum
Isotonix Multivitamin, to provide a strong micronutrient foundation;
Might-a-Mins Spectrum Probiotics (in chewable form), five carefully
selected bacterial strains – four lactobacilli strains and one streptococcus strain – each with a role to help support children’s health, to
help restore the normal gastrointestinal bacteria; and Might-a-Mins
Spectrum Essential Omega 3 (in liquid form) to support brain health
and immune function.
One mother, whose 4 1/2 year old son is autistic, has been giving
Spectrum isotonix to her son. “Two months of Spectrum supplements cleared up the rash he has had all his life. His eye contact
has improved. I am getting positive letters from his teacher on a regular basis. Most importantly, he is connecting and communicating
more with people. I believe that the Spectrum supplements are playing a crucial role in his
progress.”
For more information on NutraMetrix products,
contact Jean McQuillin at (412) 759-4199
or email [email protected].
For more information, visit www.nutraMetrix.com.
ADVERTORIAL
Spring 2014
www.guidetogoodhealth.com
GUIDE
TO
GOOD HEALTH 39
eKidzCare Home Health
Agency Provides Support,
Peace-of-Mind to Families of
Kids with Special Needs
By Vanessa Orr
T
aking care of a child with special needs can be a very
rewarding experience. It can
also be challenging at times, which
is why it’s important that parents are
able to find the help that they need.
eKidzCare, with offices in
Pittsburgh and Meadville, is a pediatric-focused, home health agency
that provides assistance to children with a range of health care needs
while providing peace-of-mind for parents.
“We provide the full spectrum of pediatric care from something as
simple as a ‘well baby’ visit to make sure that babies are eating and that
moms are doing okay, to private duty nursing for children with seizure
disorders or children who are ventilator-dependent,” explained Jennie
Ransom, director of eKidzCare’s Meadville office, adding that the staff’s
expertise extends to dealing with medically complex conditions including autism, cerebral palsy, cancer, congenital anomalies and tracheostomies. “We care for children from birth to age 21, whether they
requires a one-time visit or longer-term care.”
eKidzCare professionals also provide chemotherapy, infusion therapy
and wound therapy services, as well as serve as patient educators, teaching families how to perform injections or how to deal with conditions
such as diabetes. “We don’t operate on a numbers system—our patients
and their families are our families,” said Ransom. “We take care of
them—we know everyone by name.”
This personal relationship has made such an impact on families that
much of eKidzCare’s referrals are word-of-mouth. Hospitals, health
insurance companies and pediatricians also recommend the agency’s
services. “You have to be compassionate when dealing with pediatric
patients, especially when you’re providing home care,” said Ransom.
“Every family dynamic is different, so you have to be flexible—you have
to be willing to adapt to meet their needs.”
In addition to keeping children safe and well cared for, eKidzCare also
provides respite for their families. “Probably the most crucial thing that
we do is enable parents to keep on working,” said Ransom. “They are
able to go to work, knowing that they have qualified and competent
help in their homes to care for their children. It provides them with a
sense of security as well as allows things to go back to normal; when you
have a special needs child, life doesn’t stop.”
While most of eKidzCare’s staff works in individual homes, some
school districts also contract with the agency to take care of children
with special needs while they are in school
or on field trips. “Our nurses are also available to serve as school nurses on field trips; it
doesn’t require that there be children
with special needs,” added Ransom.
>
eKidzCare’s services are available to families and school districts from
Pittsburgh to Erie, and the agency accepts
most insurance plans. To learn more, call the
Pittsburgh office at (412) 324-1121 or the Meadville office
at (814) 807-1162 or visit www.ekidzcare.com.
40 GUIDE
TO
GOOD HEALTH
www.guidetogoodhealth.com
Spring 2014
Addiction... Addiction... Addiction
Power to the PARENTS:
From Rehab to Home:
Managing the Transition
Power to the Parents is a feature that appears in every issue of the Guide to Good Health to help
parents who are concerned about the widespread problem of young people and substance abuse.
If your child is using drugs or alcohol and you’re trying to deal with that, or if you’re working to prevent your child from using, you’ll find practical advice here from the expert professionals at Gateway
Rehabilitation Center. In this issue, Frank J. Salotti, M.S., Director of Outpatient Services at
Gateway Rehab Center, talks about how parents can best manage the transition to home after their
child has been in rehab.
For parents whose teenaged children have been in treatment for substance abuse in an inpatient setting, discharge can be a mixed blessing.
Parents may feel relieved that their son or daughter has completed a treatment program, but that is simply one stage in their journey as a family.
The next stage, the transition back to the home and school environment,
is a worrisome time for parents. What is the best way for parents to
approach this?
>
For more information about Gateway
Rehab, call 1-800-472-1177
or visit www.gatewayrehab.org.
Many parents are especially concerned about their child reuniting with
a former peer group, with whom they used drugs. How can the parent best
handle that?
Going back to school, seeing old friends that they used with, is clearly a
high-risk situation. Some schools have a Student Assistance Team, and parents can tell them what has been going on so that they can help monitor the
situation at school. This issue is a very uncomfortable one for both parents
and kids; kids are at an age when their friendships and peers matter so
There are so many challenges for families in this situamuch. But the old peer group can be dangerous when the kids come out
“They
tion. They worry about relapse, about the child’s socializing and returning to school, and about their own
may not have, or of rehab.
We encourage families to take the kids to 12-step meetings, to
relationship with their child. At Gateway Rehab, we
know of, available
search for one that has a lot of younger people so that the kids can
strongly encourage families to be involved while their
develop new relationships there. It’s best if the kids can develop a
child is receiving inpatient care, and to continue with
resources, so we
recovery-focused friendship. It’s not easy; lots of kids resist going.
outpatient treatment on some level. There are differhelp them find
Parents themselves should go to meetings, to Nar-anon or Al Anon.
ent levels of outpatient care, and the family should be
those.”
involved in outpatient treatment, in structured family
How do you give support to families through this process?
group activities. We also offer consultation for families
We recognize that parents are holding their breath when their kids come
outside of the group, and provide a lot of telephone support.
We help families develop a “cooperative agreement structure” before home, for many reasons. They feel alone with their fears and isolated by their
discharge that defines expectations and sets limits. Every family is unique; experiences. It’s tough to talk about this with friends and family, when they
we look at the family history and the parent’s greatest concerns and help feel so much shame, anger and fear. They may not have, or know of, availguide the family through this process, of setting and negotiating limits. able resources, so we help them find those.
Going to a group is encouraged because it “normalizes” the experience, in
Parents have to put it on the table.
the sense that they are likely to discover that their experience is not so rare.
They will see families going through the same thing, and they feel less alone.
What might some of those limits be?
The kids have to earn their parents trust again. That might mean that At group meetings like Al Anon and Nar Anon, you get personal support.
they have to give up their cell phone for a specified period of time, or trade
In general, how should parents act with their kids, after rehab?
the use of the cell phone for something. It may mean that parents delete
Be assertive without being harsh. Respect your child’s strength and let him
the contacts that are stored in the child’s cell phone and defriend them on
Facebook, to limit their access to dealers and peers who sold them drugs or her know that you’re proud of them for completing their rehab treatment.
in the past. It may mean a curfew. This is a lot to ask of kids: to give up Most likely, the parents, and other family members, have had some signifidrugs, friends, a lifestyle. It’s very hard for them and it’s hard for parents cant discord and mutual loss of trust with the child who has been in treatto insist on it. It’s really a matter of daily decision-making, and the rela- ment. It’s essential to have patience with the process of restoring trust; it can
take a long time.
tionship is the key.
They’ll thank you for
this second chance.
Get treatment now for drug and alcohol problems.
More than 20 locations throughout Western PA and Ohio including:
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UÊ
À>˜LiÀÀÞ
UÊ-œÕ̅ʭVÕÀÀ>Þ®
UÊ*i>Ã>˜ÌʈÃ
Spring 2014
www.guidetogoodhealth.com
www.GatewayRehab.org
1-800-472-1177
GUIDE
TO
GOOD HEALTH 41
Senior Guide
Western Pennsylvania Guide to Senior Living,
Home Care & Hospice
Can We Afford Senior Care?
By Karen Schaeffer
M
oney, and the cost of care, is always a
concern when an aging senior
requires care. Sadly, the discussion
about care needs and cost is often delayed or
avoided by the family. The presumed cost of
care whether it is, homecare, personal care or
nursing care, can frequently frighten a family
from any type of action. Delays in quality care
often compromise the safety and well-being of
the senior, so avoidance of the topic can prove
to be even more costly.
A generalized uneasiness is often present
when an adult child is forced to discuss money and care costs
with a parent. Often, adult children are frequently not privy to
their parent’s financial balance sheet, and make assumptions
that may not be accurate. Mom and Dad could have lived a modest life, and now have substantial savings and a comfortable
retirement income. A more extravagant couple could have spent
every penny they earned. Adult children are often surprised
when they take a first-time look at their parent’s financial situa-
42 GUIDE
TO
GOOD HEALTH
tion. Every personal balance sheet reveals the true ability to pay
for care—this truth can be either frightening or liberating as it
reveals limitations or advantages in senior care choices.
Clearly, the decision to hire senior care assistance must be
based on the needs and well-being of the senior. The cost of care
is always dependent upon the level of care needed, with the realization that care needs tend to grow and change over time. For
“After an informed
this reason a senior care consultant can help guide the family
discussion
with a
during this difficult and confusing time.
After a professional assessment, she can help educate the fam- senior care profesily about the true costs of care. She can instruct the family about sional, families may
federal funding options such as VA Benefits. She can dispel
be pleasantly surassumptions and rumors of hyper-inflated senior care costs, and
prised to discover
provide current pricing.
After an informed discussion with a senior care professional,
affordable care
families may be pleasantly surprised to discover affordable care options to enhance
options to enhance the quality of life of their loved one, and be
the quality of life of
moved to action.
>
Karen Schaeffer, Senior Care Consultant, can be reached
at (724) 933-7350 or visit www.ageanddignity.com.
www.guidetogoodhealth.com
their loved one, and
be moved to action.”
-Karen Schaeffer
Spring 2014
Do you want doctor, hospital, and
prescription drug coverage all in one
Medicare Advantage plan?
Toll-free: 1-877-381-3765, 8 a.m. to 8 p.m., Monday through Friday
TTY: 1-800-361-2629
www.upmchealthplan.com/medicare
UPMC for Life has a contract with Medicare to
provide HMO and PPO plans. Enrollment in
UPMC for Life depends on contract renewal.
Spring 2014
www.guidetogoodhealth.com
GUIDE
TO
GOOD HEALTH 43
Hospice Care:
What to Expect When
Your Loved One is at Home
By Jennifer Malko
A
main concern for most people faced with terminal illness is whether they’ll be able
to die wherever they call “home.”
Hospice care helps eliminate that
worry, making it possible for people
to spend their final moments of life
in their preferred surroundings.
Below are some important
questions and answers
about in-home hospice care:
TO
GOOD HEALTH
3.What role can family members have in patient care? Family
members play an important role by
providing personal care when hospice teams are not present. The hospice team does not “take over,”
rather they teach and support families so they can provide the best inhome care possible.
1. How will pain be managed?
Hospice is an end-of-life care option
tailored to the needs of each patient
and family. It includes expert pain
management while providing emotional and spiritual support. The
care is provided by interdisciplinary
teams of palliative care experts,
including physicians, nurses, home
health aides, social workers, chaplains, bereavement specialists and
volunteers.
4. What kind of spiritual and
emotional support do patients
and families receive? Many psychological, spiritual and emotional
aspects of end-of-life experiences
can be very difficult for patients and
their families. For that reason, hospice social workers and chaplains
have extensive training and experience in psychosocial counseling,
spiritual awareness, end-of-life
issues and bereavement.
2.What kind of assistance and
in-home care is available to
patients? Routine home care is
available in accordance to the
patient’s individualized plan of care.
Continuous care, during a brief period of crisis, can be available for up
5. What does hospice care
cost? Medicare pays for hospice services. Many states have established
Medicaid coverage for hospice, and
almost all private insurers and managed care plans provide coverage for
hospice care as well.
>
44 GUIDE
to 24 hours a day. When there are
questions or concerns after business
hours, families can often get immediate answers and help by calling an
after-hours service.
Jennifer Malko is Director of Market Development, VITAS Innovative
Hospice Care of Pittsburgh. For more information, contact VITAS
of Pittsburgh at (412) 799-2101 or visit www.VITAS.com.
www.guidetogoodhealth.com
Spring 2014
ARE YOU DIABETIC?
Steps to Help Manage Your Diabetes
Do you know that insurance
covers one pair of
shoes a year?
By Dr. Judith Black
M
ore than 25 million people in the United States are living with diabetes,
according to the American Diabetes Association. A large portion of this
number are seniors, with 27 percent of individuals who are 65 or older having diabetes. With statistics
this high and the risk of developing type 2 diabetes increasing with age, this should be a concern for all seniors.
Diabetes can lead to such serious complications as heart disease, stroke and kidney disease. Fortunately, you
can work with your doctor to develop a plan that will help you manage diabetes, or, if you don’t have it, avoiding it altogether. Exercising regularly and eating a well-balanced diet are a couple ways that will help you manage your diabetes. Another important piece of diabetes management is receiving regular screenings.
These tests will help you and your doctor catch any issues
early on and begin treatment. These include the following:
• Cholesterol Checkup: Blood tests will help monitor cholesterol and triglycerides. You should have this test
twice a year.
• A1C Test: This blood test monitors your average blood glucose level between the previous two to three
months. You should have your A1C checked at least twice a year.
• Kidney Function Test: Urine tests help ensure your kidneys are functioning correctly. Be sure to have this
test once each year.
• Retinal Eye Exam: This test, which is performed by an eye care specialist, helps to detect disease and prevent loss of vision. Make an appointment with your eye care specialist once a year.
In addition to your doctor, create a “diabetes care team” by enlisting the help of a registered
dietitian, diabetes educator and a family member or close friend. Managing diabetes will
become easier if you surround yourself with supportive individuals. Your doctor is your best
resource if you have any questions or concerns, but remember, your diabetes care team is there
to help when you need it, too.
>
Dr. Judith Black is Medical Director for Senior Markets at Highmark Inc. For more information about Highmark’s commitment to health and wellness, visit www.highmark.com.
Dr. Comfort
Diabetic
Shoes
Diabetic Shoes covered by
Insurance - Highmark,
UPMC and Medicare.
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We accept Medicare, Medicaid, Highmark, UPMC
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5944 Steubenville Pike
McKees Rocks, PA 15136
Phone (724) 218-1051
Fax (724) 218-1165
www.pittmedicalsupply.com
Home Health And Hospice Services
Proudly Serves Patients and Families in the following counties:
Allegheny, Beaver, Fayette, Washington, Westmoreland.
Also, Parts of: Butler and Greene.
1.888.266.8211
Spring 2014
www.guidetogoodhealth.com
GUIDE
TO
GOOD HEALTH 45
Family Hospice and Palliative Care
The Main Event(s)
By Barbara Ivanko
A
CONFUSED
ABOUT YOUR
MEDICATION?
• RxMap is a medication
compliance packaging system
designed to alleviate the
confusion out of taking multiple
daily doses of medication.
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 412-539-1331
to speak with one of our
RxMap pharmacists.
• 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.
• 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.
CALL
412-539-1331
2103 Noblestown Road,
Pgh, PA 15205
46 GUIDE
TO
GOOD HEALTH
side from our winter of
“polar vortexes,” the
last several months
have been pretty busy:
• Pittsburgh inaugurated a
new Mayor.
• The Grammys were telecast – and featured a Beatles
reunion, of sorts.
• Facebook celebrated ten
years on the web, with nearly
Thomas, pictured here with the French
1.2 billion users.
Consul, shared his “big event”
As these and other events
with Family Hospice.
take place, we find that life
goes on. No matter who gets
elected, no matter who wins a Grammy, life continues.
For the patients and families we serve at Family Hospice and Palliative
Care, big events are taking place all the time. And they’re much more important than awards or elections.
I think of Donna, a patient at our Family Hospice Inpatient Center in
Lawrenceville, who wanted to renew her marriage vows before she died. So,
with the help of our staff, a wedding ceremony was staged in the chapel,
complete with flowers. Thanks to Donna’s sharing spirit, the video of that
event may be found on our Family Hospice YouTube channel.
There’s Ann and Tim, a sister and brother who donated $1,000 to have
their father’s name placed on our Celebration of Life Wall in Mt. Lebanon.
They were so passionate about the care Dad received that they chose to give
back by honoring him permanently on a beautiful granite structure.
And there’s Thomas. A World War II veteran, he already had earned two
Purple Hearts, four Bronze Stars and a Presidential citation. Thanks to
Thomas’ service in Normandy and at the Battle of the Bulge, he was honored
a couple years back by the French government. He graciously allowed members of our staff to be on-hand when the French government presented him
with the prestigious “Legion d’ Honneur” medal.
The truth is, Family Hospice patients display their graciousness daily by
allowing us to be witness to - and participants in – these major life events.
As the world continues to swirl around us, I find myself grateful for what I
learn from our patients: that no wish is too small; that every event is meaningful and that it’s totally worth taking the time to stop and put it all into
perspective.
>
Barbara Ivanko, President and CEO of Family
Hospice and Palliative Care, may be reached at
[email protected] or (412) 572-8800.
Family Hospice and Palliative Care is a non-profit
organization serving nine counties in Western
Pennsylvania. More information at
www.FamilyHospice.com and
www.facebook.com/FamilyHospicePA.
Receive daily updates on local
events, health fairs and health
news you can use and more.
Eight out of every 10 couples
will have an individual
who requires long-term care.
ARE YOU FINANCIALLY PREPARED?
GO TO PAGE 8 FOR MORE INFORMATION
www.guidetogoodhealth.com
Spring 2014
LECOM Institute for Successful Aging Invests
in Patient Care Through 'Revolutionary' Device
AlterG Bionic Leg Helps Patients Walk Again
T
he Lake Erie College of Osteopathic Medicine’s
(LECOM) Institute for Successful Aging, a regional leader in the care of older adults, has begun
using a revolutionary new technology in the rehabilitation of its patients.
The Institute’s Inpatient Rehabilitation Unit (IRU) has
been using the AlterG Bionic Leg™, the world’s first
wearable, robotic mobility assistance device activated by
the patient’s intent to move. It gives patients with
impaired or diminished mobility resulting from illness or
injury the support and confidence to take the proverbial
next step.
“We’re excited to be the first health care provider in
northwestern Pennsylvania to treat patients with the
leading mobility assistance product,” said Danielle
Hansen, D.O., Associate Director of the LECOM Institute
for Successful Aging and Vice President of Acute Care
Services and Quality/Performance Improvement at
Millcreek Community Hospital. “It will be an important
complement to our existing treatment options.”
A 37-year-old man who had considerable weakness in
his left side after suffering his second stroke is the first
patient to be treated at the IRU with the AlterG device.
“Wearing the device on his left leg, the patient has been
able to walk progressively further and in more of a
straight line with each session,” said Shelly Mayes,
Director of Therapy for the IRU.
The AlterG Bionic Leg helps patients rebuild neuromuscular pathways and improves active motor learning
by providing functional strength and dynamic stability;
the leg facilitates increased neuroplasticity, thereby helping patients improve stance and gait. It is ideal for orthopedic physical therapy patients and those recovering
from nervous-system related injuries as well as stroke
victims and individuals with degenerative diseases.
The device was designed to be lightweight while also
providing the assistance needed to help patients more
actively participate in sit-to-stand, overground walking
and stair-climbing exercises. When the patient begins to
stand or ascend a stair, the software’s sensors detect the
weight shift and the knee angle changes; the device
applies assistive force to help lift the patient. When the
patient sits or goes down stairs, the device offers resistance to facilitate a smooth, controlled descent.
>
For more information about the LECOM Institute
for Successful Aging, call (814) 868-7850,
email [email protected] or visit
http://maerie.org/aging.php.
NEED HELP FINDING A DOCTOR, REHAB OR SENIOR LIVING FACILITY?
Check out our HEALTHCARE DIRECTORY at www.guidetogoodhealth.com
You’ll find the kind of healthcare - and people - you’re looking for!
Spring 2014
www.guidetogoodhealth.com
Patrick Beason, a physical therapy
assistant with the Lake Erie College
of Osteopathic Medicine’s Inpatient
Rehabilitation Unit, helps a stroke
victim learn to walk again with the
help of the AlterG Bionic Leg.
GUIDE
TO
GOOD HEALTH 47
Senior Living
Options
Presbyterian SeniorCare:
Respect Experience
Being an expert. That phrase
means something. It means showing a clear path to excellence that
builds trust in the experience of a
person or organization. It means
having in-depth and often unique
knowledge and experience in
what you do, and having the best
reputation for how you do it. It is
why you turn from a generalist to
a specialist when you want the
best.
At Presbyterian SeniorCare, our
singular focus for the past 86 years
has been to make aging easier. It’s
why we do what we do.
We are specialists in helping
older adults age with grace and
quality of life. How do we do this?
Through a continuum of services
and living options that provides
seniors with a level of comfort,
continuity, and choice in meeting
their needs and desires at whatever point they are in life’s journey.
The goal is to have a culture that
translates into a truly rewarding
daily life for residents and staff
alike. Whatever service, setting or
care you need - at-home, independent, personal care, skilled nursing,
Alzheimer’s care, short-stay rehabilitation and more - you’ll find the
respect and experience you
deserve at Presbyterian SeniorCare.
Respecting experience is not
just about our high-quality services
and reputation for helping older
adults live positively, it’s also about
us as an organization recognizing
and respecting the experiences,
talents and interests of each individual we are privileged to serve.
We do this every day through the
personalized services we offer
both in-home and on our campuses. And during the month of May,
we take extra time to celebrate
the lives of all of those we serve.
Every year since 1963, our
nation celebrates May as Older
Americans Month. It’s an opportunity to appreciate and embrace the
vitality and aspirations of older
adults and their contributions to
our communities. Take a few
moments during this special
month to reflect on the wisdom
and experiences of the older
adults who have inspired you, and
share your memories on the
Presbyterian SeniorCare Facebook
page. Be sure to check our
Facebook often, we’ll be sharing
plenty of touching stories the
entire month of May.
To learn more about the living and
care options at Presbyterian
SeniorCare, visit www.SrCare.org
or call 1-877-PSC(772)-6500.
ADVERTORIAL
48 GUIDE
TO
GOOD HEALTH
www.guidetogoodhealth.com
Spring 2014
“I’ve been so happy
since I came here.
I wouldn’t change a thing.”
-Dorothy York, retired flower show judge
At UPMC Senior Communities, we focus on improving and enriching each resident’s life. From independent living and
personal care, to assisted living and skilled nursing, we make every resident feel cared for and at ease. For more information
or to schedule a complimentary lunch and tour, call 1-800-324-5523, or visit UPMCSeniorCommunities.com.
Independent Living:
Personal Care:
Cumberland Woods Village – Allison Park Canterbury Place – Lawrenceville
Beatty Pointe Village – Monroeville
Sherwood Oaks* – Cranberry Twp.
Lighthouse Pointe Village at
Chapel Harbor – Fox Chapel
Assisted Living:
Hampton Fields Village – Hampton
Cumberland Crossing Manor – Allison Park
Strabane Trails Village – Washington
Seneca Manor – Penn Hills
Seneca Hills Village – Penn Hills
Strabane Woods of Washington – Washington
Vanadium Woods Village – Bridgeville
Weatherwood Manor – Greensburg
Sherwood Oaks – Cranberry Twp.
Skilled Nursing and Rehabilitation:
Canterbury Place* – Lawrenceville
Cranberry Place – Cranberry Twp.
Seneca Place – Penn Hills
Sherwood Oaks – Cranberry Twp.
Heritage Place – Squirrel Hill
Sugar Creek Station – Franklin
*Memory Care Also Available
No large up-front payment • Month-to-month or Lifecare contracts • Move-in specials
Spring 2014
www.guidetogoodhealth.com
GUIDE
TO
GOOD HEALTH 49
Outdoor Safety and Fall Prevention Tips
By Sharon Boschini
T
he Pennsylvania Long-Term
Care Commission recently
noted that the number of people
over the age of 85 is expected to grow
by 42% over the next decade while the
general population will grow by only
2%. Our focus in this country is shifting
to a concentration on the care and safety of our older population. Harvard
Medical School research has concluded
that the majority of illness and injury in
our growing senior population stems
from falling. Several reasons for this
“fall-epidemic” in the older population
are loss of traction, tripping, reflexes
are slower, changes in muscle mass,
diminished vision, taking more than 3
prescription medications, consuming
alcoholic beverages and non-acceptance of age related abilities.
With Spring upon us, outdoor safety for our older citizens is a major concern. Certainly, being outside is one of the best medicines for senior citizens,
especially after the recent long, hard winter. We all want to be assured that
the older members in our family are able to safely go outside and enjoy the
beautiful weather without the risk of falling or being hurt.
We can be proactive in assisting the elderly in our family to remain fallfree and safe when outdoors, by taking the following simple preventative
measures.
tshould fit well, be comfor
• Your loved one’s shoes
e.
f sol
able and have a slip-proo
in carrying their purchases
• Assist your loved ones
use.
from their car to their ho
for
or even ground or decks
el
lev
ain
int
ma
or
tall
Ins
•
decks should be
loved ones to walk on.
orways and on patios and
do
in
ks,
dec
on
s
rug
• Throw
ping hazards.
removed as they are trip
ed in place.
sturdy and securely fasten
is
ling
rai
all
• Make sure
k.
dar
be well lit at dusk and
material in place.
• Outdoor areas should
tive
lec
ref
and
ip
have nonsl
cell phone with
• Walking surfaces should
d
rge
keep a fully cha
ays
alw
uld
sho
es
on
ed
• Your lov
).
them (and a charger too
their car.
kit in their house and in
y
enc
erg
• Keep an em
An emergency kit should consisting of the following: a hat, sun block, bottle of water, flashlight, umbrella, list of current medications, copy of insurance cards, phone numbers for health care providers, brief current health
assessment with any current diagnoses, current photo, a snap towel (this is
activated with water and provides a cooling effect when it touches the skin)
and a first aid kit.
By following these safety tips, we can all enjoy the welcomed warmth and
beauty of the outdoors that Spring and Summer provide.
>
Sharon Boschini is Owner and Director of Visiting Angels of North
Hills Pittsburgh. For more information, call (412) 366-4860 or
(888) 235-1205 or visit www.visitingangels.com/northhills.
For more information on Senior Living Communities, visit the Guide To Good Health at www.guidetogoodhealth.com
50 GUIDE
TO
GOOD HEALTH
www.guidetogoodhealth.com
Spring 2014
HOME CARE/HOSPICE
Anova Home Health Care Services
Pittsburgh - 412-859-8801
Belle Vernon - 724-929-4712
www.anovahomehealth.com
Celtic Healthcare
1-800-355-8894 • celtichealthcare.com
Family Hospice & Palliative Care
1-800-513-2148 • www.familyhospice.com
Hospice Care of
The Washington Hospital
724-250-4500
www.washingtonhospital.org
Interim Health Care
800-447-2030
www.interimhealthcare.com
LIFE Pittsburgh Living Independence For The Elderly
All inclusive Health Plan providing medical
care, adult day, and home care at no cost to
qualified older adults who wish to remain
independent in their own homes.
412-388-8050
www.LIFEPittsburgh.org
Visiting Angels
800-365-4189
www.VisitingAngels.com
VITAS Innovative Hospice Care
1-877-647-1129 • VITAS.com
Spring 2014
SENIOR
RESOURCES
Visit www.guidetogoodhealth.com for more resources
HOME MODIFICATIONS
Safe Harbor Home Modifications &
Assistive Technologies, Inc.
412-862-1992 • www.safeharborusa.com.
HORMONES
The Hormone Restoration Center
412-432-7909 • www.hormonecenter.net
PATIENT ADVOCATE
Senior Assistance
Senior Assistance is a patient advocacy agency
providing, “Peace of Mind” to families by
helping them navigate the complex world of
healthcare. Our team of administrator, nurse,
therapist and social worker, work on behalf of
the family to assure the best healthcare possible both at home , hospital, or nursing home.
6414 Landview Rd., Pittsburgh
412-952-6944
www.seniorassistanceadvocate.com
PHARMACY
Giant Eagle Specialty Pharmacy
GiantEagle.com/Specialty-RX
RETIREMENT & SENIOR LIVING
Southwestern Assisted Care Residence
412-460-1099
www.southwesternhealthcare.com
UPMC Senior Communities
1-800-324-5523
UPMCSeniorCommunities.com
Hometown Pharmacy
Exclusively offering Rx Map
1-877-3RXMAPS • www.myrxmap.com
SENIOR PLACEMENT
Age & Dignity
724- 933-7350 • www.ageanddignity.com
The Medicine Shoppe Pharmacy
A part of the Allegheny County community
since 1993. Our main goal has always been,
and will continue to be a providing friendly,
professional pharmacy service with a smile.
Call us to get set up with free prescription
delivery today. 412-586-5410
www.medicineshoppe.com/1278
Senior Lifestyle Connections
724-787-7030
www.seniorhelpfree.com
Murray Avenue Apothecary
A Compounding & Wellness Pharmacy
412-421-4996 • www.MAAPgh.com
RETIREMENT & SENIOR LIVING
Arrowood at Southwestern
412-469-3330
www.southwesternhealthcare.com
Chartiers Manor
412-250-2020
The Devonshire® Mt. Lebanon
412-343-2200 • www.brookdaleliving.com
www.guidetogoodhealth.com
SKILLED NURSING
CARE & REHABILITATION
ManorCare Health Services –
Bethel Park - 412-831-6050
Greentree - 412-344-7744
McMurray - 724-941-3080
Whitehall - 412-884-3500
www.hcr-manorcare.com
Presbyterian SeniorCare
1-888-448-5779 • www.SrCare.org
Southwestern Nursing Care Center
412-466-0600
www.southwesternhealthcare.com
To be included in our
Senior Directory, call
(412) 835-5796
or e-mail [email protected]
GUIDE
TO
GOOD HEALTH 51
G
N
I
T
P
E
C
AC new
S
T
N
E
PATI
52 GUIDE
TO
GOOD HEALTH
www.guidetogoodhealth.com
Spring 2014
Featured Provider:
PLASTIC SURGEON: Dr. Dinaker Golla
Specialty: Board-certified plastic surgeon
Practice Name: Golla Center for Plastic Surgery
Years in Practice: 10
Education: Graduated summa cum laude and Phi Beta Kappa from
Boston University and magna cum laude from Boston University
School of Medicine. General surgery and then a fellowship in plastic
and reconstructive surgery at the University of Pittsburgh Medical
Center.
Why did you choose your specialty?
The variety of cases on all parts of the body.
What symptoms do patients ignore most?
Skin lesions.They think they will just go away on their own.
What advice do you wish patients would take seriously?
Treat your body as the most valuable possession you have.
What questions do patients most often ask? Can you make me look like a celebrity?
Tell us about your most compelling case.
A patient who neglected a skin cancer for years until it eroded through her chest. She was married and bled every night on her sheets, and she used to wash them so that her husband would
never know.
What innovations have changed treatment in your specialty?
Biologic material. I use these products in many things that I take care of, from hernias to wounds.
What is the biggest myth that you deal with and what is the truth?
Skin cancer is a big deal to take care of.The surgery takes 190 minutes and can be done without
anesthesia.
Spring 2014
www.guidetogoodhealth.com
GUIDE
TO
GOOD HEALTH 53
Visit www.guidetogoodhealth.com
for more local health resources
for you and your family
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.
Addiction
Gateway Rehab
1-800-472-1177
www.GatewayRehab.org
Audiology
Swift Audiology
724-222-9010
www.swiftaudiology.com
Careers In Healthcare
Duquesne University
School
of Nursing
412-396-4945
www.duq.edu/nursing
Lake Erie College of
Osteopathic Medicine
814-866-6641
www.lecom.edu
Children With Special Needs
eKidzCare
Pittsburgh: 412-324-1121
Meadville: 814-807-1162
www.ekidzcare.com
New Story
412-373-5235 Monroeville
724-463-9841 Indiana
www.newstory.com
Wesley Spectrum Services
412-342-2300
www.wesleyspectrum.org
Western Pennsylvania
School for Blind Children
1-800-444-1897
www.wpsbc.org
Chiropractic
Jennings Chiropractic
412-283-1060
Kukurin Chiropractic,
Acupuncture & Nutrition
George W. Kukurin DC DACAN,
Jason S. Franchi DC & Kristopher
C. Adolph DC
412-381-4453
www.alt-compmed.com
Diabetes Care
St. Clair Hospital
Diabetes Center
412-942-2151
www.stclair.org
Ear, Nose & Throat
Washington Ear, Nose & Throat
724-225-8995
www.washingtonent.net
Fitness Centers
Wilfred R. Cameron
Wellness Center
240 Wellness Way
Washington, PA 15301
724-225-WELL (9355)
www.wrcameronwellness.org
www.facebook.com/CameronWellness
70,000 square-foot facility featuring
state-of-the-art cardio and resistance
equipment, climbing wall, indoor
track, lap pool, therapy pool,
whirlpool, sauna, steam room, basketball court/gymnasium, spin/aerobics
studios.
Community & Recreation
Center at Boyce Mayview Park
412-221-1099
www.twpusc.org/crc/crc-home
HealthTrax® Fitness & Wellness
412-835-0500 •www.healthtrax.com
Hearing & Deaf Services
Center for Hearing & Deaf
Services, Inc.
412-281-1375 •www.hdscenter.org
Hormone Treatment
Hormone Restoration Center
412-432-7909
www.hormonecenter.net
Hospitals
Ohio Valley General Hospital
412-777-6161
www.ohiovalleyhospital.org
Southwest Regional
Medical Center
Waynesburg, PA
724-627-3101
www.sw-rmc.com
St. Clair Hospital
412-942-4000
www.stclair.org
The Washington Hospital
724-225-7000
www.washingtonhospital.org
Imaging
Health Enhancing
Thermography
1-855-254-4328 (HEAT)
www.heat-images.com
Insurance
UPMC Health Plan
www.upmchealthplan.com
Laboratory Testing
Quest Diagnostics
1-800-LAB-TEST (1-800-522-8378)
QuestDiagnostics.com
To be included in this Directory,
call (412) 835-5796
or email [email protected].
Long-Term Care Insurance
Anthony J. Camill
Long Term Care Insurance
412-445-6171
[email protected]
Medical Equipment
Eagle Medical
Equipment Corp
7937 Steubenville Pike, Oakdale
724-218-1051
www.pittmedicalsupply.com
Mental Health
SRMC Center for
Recovery and Wellness
130 Greene Plaza, Waynesburg
724-627-2756
Mental Health & Wellness
Pittsburgh Integrative
Mental Health
Judith Gusky, LPC
412-687-1234
www.mentalhealthoptions.info
Orthopedics
Advanced Orthopaedics
& Rehabilitation
1-800-828-CAST (2278)
www.advancedorthopaedics.net
Pain Relief
Ohio Valley
Pain Treatment Center
412-777-6400
www.ohiovalleyhospital.org
Pharmacy
Giant Eagle Specialty Pharmacy
GiantEagle.com/Specialty-RX
Hometown Pharmacy
Exclusively offering Rx Map
1-877-3RXMAPS
www.myrxmap.com
Medicine Shoppe Pharmacy
A part of the Allegheny County community since 1993. Our main goal
has always been, and will continue to
be a providing friendly, professional
pharmacy service with a smile. Call
412-586-5410 to get set up with free
prescription delivery today.
www.medicineshoppe.com/1278
Mission Pharmacy Services
1-877-758-2039
www.missionpharmacy.com
Physical and Spiritual Health
Westminster
Presbyterian Church
2040 Washington Road
Pittsburgh, PA 15241
412-835-6630
www.westminster-church.org
Westminster seeks to be a caring
community of faith committed to
bringing people to Christ and
developing their faith through
worshiping God together, teaching the
faith, and serving in mission.
Westminster Recreation &
Outreach Center (WROC)
wroc.westminster-church.org
WROC Mission: "To reach out to people for Jesus Christ and develop their
faith through recreational activities
and Christian fellowship."
Physicians
Washington Physician Hospital
Organization Provider Network
See pages 28-29
Preferred Primary
Care Physicians
Walter J. Robison, M.D.
Ashith Mally, M.D.
Stephanie Colodny, M.D.
724-941-8877
www.ppcp.org
Please make a note of our new
address in the St. Clair Outpatient
Center on Washington Rd
Spa Services
Spa Harmony
At the Wilfred R. Cameron
Wellness Center
240 Wellness Way
Washington, PA 15301
724-250-5238
www.spaharmony.org
www.facebook.com/spaharmonyCWC
Pamper yourself at Spa Harmony. We
offer an array of treatments and services including massage therapy,
acupuncture, reflexology, reiki, manicures/pedicures, waxing/sugaring,
skincare and body treatments.
Wigs
Greg Jockel Hair Colour Dezign
724-934-0211
www.gregjockel.com
Women's Health
For Women
724-884-0898
Magee-Womens
Specialty Services
412-429-3900
Woman's Specialty Boutique
K&J's Complete Woman
Bethel Park - 412-835-5093
Monroeville - 412-646-4661
Wound Care
LECOM Institute for
Advanced Wound Care &
Hyperbaric Medicine
814-863-3999
Radiology
Southwest Regional
Medical Center
SRMC Wound Care and
Waynesburg, PA
Hyperbaric Center
724-627-2622 • www.sw-rmc.com 220 Greene Plaza, Waynesburg
724-627-1600
Rehabilitation
ManorCare Health Services –
Ohio Valley General Hospital
Bethel Park - 412-831-6050
Wound Care Center
McMurray - 724-941-3080
412-250-2600
www.hcr-manorcare.com
www.ohiovalleyhospital.org
Novacare Rehabilitation
159 Waterdam Road, McMurray
724-942-1511
Physical, Occupational and Aquatic
Therapy. Incontinence Rehab.
Massage Therapy open to the public.
Presbyterian SeniorCare
1-888-448-5779 • www.SrCare.org
Murray Avenue Apothecary
A Compounding
& Wellness Pharmacy
412-421-4996 • MAAPgh.com
YourGoddessRoom.com
PittsburghsPetPhamarcy.com
Yoga & Pilates
Live Well Yoga & Pilates
At the Wilfred R. Cameron
Wellness Center
240 Wellness Way
Washington, PA 15301
724-225-WELL (9355)
www.wrcameronwellness.org
www.facebook.com/CameronWellness
Challenge your mind and body with
Yoga and Pilates Mat classes. For
beginners through the experienced
participant, classes range from Gentle
Yoga to Power Flow.
Visit www.guidetogoodhealth.com for More Local Health Resources for you and your family!
54 GUIDE
TO
GOOD HEALTH
www.guidetogoodhealth.com
Spring 2014
She‘ll thank you for
this second chance.
Get treatment now for drug and alcohol problems.
Inpatient programs available at our Main Campus.
Special programs for teens and adults ages 45+
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www.GatewayRehab.org
1-800-472-1177
Spring 2014
www.guidetogoodhealth.com
GUIDE
TO
GOOD HEALTH 55
^
RANKEDAMONGTHE 100TOP
®
OSPITALS IN THE NATION.
St. Clair Hospital has again been named among the nation’s 100 Top Hospitals.®
The annual award — now in its 21st year — ranked nearly 3,000 hospitals based on
an objective analysis of patient safety, clinical outcomes, patient satisfaction, and
value. St. Clair salutes its outstanding physicians
and employees for this prestigious achievement. To
learn more about this honor, please visit our website,
www.stclair.org.
1000 BOW E R H I L L R OA D
.
M T. L E B A N O N , P E N N SY LVA N I A 1 5 2 4 3
.
412.942.4000
.
WW W. S TC L A I R . O R G