Eat Well Live Well Challenge Plans Information Sessions

Participate in the Eat Well Live Well Challenge - Learn More!

Free Information sessions for employers or community organizations interested in participating in the Eat Well Live Well Challenge will take place from 9 to 10 a.m. Tuesday, Jan. 8 and Thursday, Jan. 17 in the corporate office conference room at the Wegmans store located at 651 Dick Road, Depew.

Promoted by the Wellness Institute of Greater Buffalo, the Challenge encourages employers and organizations to make a New Year “healthy choices resolution” by participating in the annual Eat Well Live Well Challenge. This results-focused wellness Challenge, provided by Wegmans Markets, empowers participants by increasing physical activity and making better nutrition choices. Together these actions enable individuals to improve their health and lower their risk for unnecessary medical costs from chronic illnesses.

“The Challenge is a proven wellness program that offers employers and community organizations a valuable opportunity to be proactive in improving health and health care cost management,” said Philip Haberstro, executive director of the nonprofit Wellness Institute of Greater Buffalo. More information about the Challenge can be found at www.eatwelllivewell.org.

Additionally, Eat Well Live Well training sessions will be held from 9:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. Friday, Feb. 1 or Friday, Feb. 15 at the Wegmans store located at 5275 Sheridan Drive, Williamsville. A complimentary healthy continental breakfast will be served.

Pre-registration for either the information or training session is required as space is limited. Attendance at an information session is optional; attendance at a training session is required for new participating employers. The training session will focus on how to successfully implement the Eat Well Live Well Challenge. Once launched, the Wellness Institute is available at no cost to participating employers to support their participation and ensure positive results. Visit www.CreatingHealthyCommunities.org to learn more about other Wellness Institute programs.

For information or to register for either an information or training session, please contact the Wellness Institute at 851-4052 or email BeActive@City-Buffalo.org.

Change Your Life With Operation 90 Days

Weight Loss, Group Personal Training and Healthy Competition

by Annette Pinder

This January Operation 90 Days will be in full force at the Jewish Community of Greater Buffalo (JCC) and Fitness Director, Ann Vorburger can't wait. Each year the JCC conducts this highly successful and popular program to help people fulfill their New Year's resolutions and get back on track.

Ann explains, "For three months, Personal Trainers work with small groups for one hour each week. Participants receive personal training, nutrition advice, and fitness homework. At the end of 90 days everyone feels transformed, and prizes are awarded to those teams with the best overall fitness results." Sound like a familiar TV show? It does to me, but what's great is -- it's at a fraction of the cost, and best of all, you don't have to do it alone!

But the JCC isn't just for small groups of people who want to challenge themselves to lose weight. There's one-on-one personal and Pilates training. Members can take advantage of over 50 classes like Tai Chi, aquatics, spinning, body pump, yoga, and zumba. There's something for every age group, and just about every physical condition. The JCC has invested $8 million dollars in renovations, $1 million dollars in new cardio equipment, and $150,000 in new playground equipment.

Ann is especially pleased about the facility's new theracycle self-propelled bike. She says, "It will be wonderful to help people with MS, Parkinson's, and those recovering from stroke or who have difficulty lifting their legs. The theracycle will help encourage personal training for special needs populations requiring this type of assistance."

For those over 65, the JCC is proud of Silver Sneakers™, the nation's leading fitness program, which includes free membership and participation in group fitness and aquatics classes. Ann says, "Silver Sneakers™ promotes social interaction with other members, as individuals take part in wellness and education lectures, special events and trips, or simply enjoying lunch or dinner at the Center Café."

Children at the JCC can take part in summer day camps, seasonal school break camps, early-release days, after-school programs, nursery school, field trips, kids' fitness, swimming, birthday parties, babysitting and more. Some JCC kids even learn how to swim by the age of two! And the new Storm Swim Club and Vacation Clinic for grades K-12 offers fun and healthy competition for children and their families.

The JCC's Getzville and Buffalo locations welcome new members. To learn more visit www.jccbuffalo.org. If you'd like to sign up for Operation 90 Days call Ann Vorburger at 204-2070 in Getzville and Bob Lajeunesse at 886-3172 in Buffalo. Oh, and in case you were curious -- the JCC is not just for those who are Jewish. In fact, nearly 65% of members are not Jewish, who enjoy meeting new people, sharing ideas, and having access to the Center 357 days a year.

WNY Resource:

The Jewish Community Center of Greater Buffalo, Inc. (JCC) is located on North Forest Road in Getzville (688-4033), and on Delaware Avenue in Buffalo (886-3145). Learn about the JCC's latest promotion featuring membership at a cost of $19.50 per month for the first six months available throughout January with a one year commitment.

Celebrate the New Year at First Night Buffalo

24^th annual drug- and alcohol-free event kicks-off New Year festivities downtown

BUFFALO, N.Y. (December 3, 2012) – Plans are underway for this year’s ultimate drug- and alcohol-free New Year’s Eve celebration Independent Health Foundation’s First Night Buffalo^®  from 5 to 10 p.m., Monday, Dec. 31, at the Buffalo Niagara Convention Center.

The Foundation and its sponsors gave a sneak peak of this year’s lineup at a press event Monday at the Buffalo Niagara Convention Center. The annual holiday family tradition, now in its 24th year in downtown Buffalo, offers family-friendly activities for all ages to ring in the New Year including rides and amusements including comedian and stuntman Wacky Chad, juggler Nels Ross, Terry Buchwald’s tribute to Elvis, Bubblemania, The Red Trouser Show, magician Wade Live, laser tag, costume characters, a toddler area, music and a grand finale balloon drop.

“Thousands of Western New York families have celebrated a drug and alcohol-free New Year’s Eve at First Night Buffalo for nearly 25 years,” said Carrie Meyer, executive director, Independent Health Foundation. “The Independent Health Foundation is pleased to continue presenting this fun, affordable and safe event every New Year’s Eve. We’ve got another great lineup of entertainment we think everyone will enjoy this year.”

“Independent Health is dedicated to engaging individuals and families in their own health and First Night Buffalo is the perfect time to consider making healthier choices for the New Year,” said Michael W. Cropp, M.D., president and chief executive officer, Independent Health.  “This annual drug- and alcohol-free tradition provides a healthy, positive and fun environment for families to start the New Year right. It’s been a mainstay event in Buffalo for nearly 25 years and we’re pleased to present this event each year with our dedicated sponsors and volunteers. We hope to see thousands of families at this year’s event.”

Tickets are now on sale at all area Wegmans locations for $8, which include all rides, attractions and activities. Children ages 2-years-old and under are free. Tickets are $10 at the door. Free parking is available for attendees at the Fernbach and Main Place Mall parking ramps thanks to the Buffalo Civic Auto Ramps, Buffalo Board of Parking.

“First Night Buffalo gives city residents and visitors an opportunity to ring in the New Year in a safe, sober and drug free environment right in the heart of downtown Buffalo,” said Mayor Byron Brown. “As an alternative to the traditional New Year’s Eve parties, First Night Buffalo is a great and healthy event for the entire family to attend. I applaud the leadership at the Independent Health Foundation for its continued effort to improve the health and wellbeing of our city by offering dozens of programs and events, including First Night Buffalo, that help people lead healthier lifestyles.”

For more information and a compelte schedule of events, visit the First Night Buffalo website at www.firstnightbuffalo.org, or call (716) 635-4959. Visit us on Facebook at facebook.com/IndependentHealthFoundation to see frequent updates on this year’s lineup.

First Night Buffalo is presented by the Independent Health Foundation and sponsored by Channel 7, Independent Health, M&T Bank, The Buffalo News, VSP Marketing Graphic Group, and Lamar.

Established in 1992, the Independent Health Foundation works to improve the health and well being of Western New York residents through awareness, prevention, education and other programs focused on community health priorities. For more information on the Foundation’s activities, visit www.independenthealth.com/foundation.

What Do Cherries and a Wonderful Destination Have in Common?

Tart Cherries – A Hot Super Fruit

at a Hot Western New York Destination

(FF) Ever wonder why cherries are a favorite for so many? Vivianne and Tom Szulist, owners of Singer Farm Naturals believe, "It's because our bodies actually crave cherries for the health benefits they give us."

Now more than ever, Americans are aware of health and nutrition and look to their diets as a means to get nutrients naturally. According to top trend forecasters, antioxidants remain a major indicator of health-promoting foods, with nine out of ten of adults aware of antioxidants, and one-third making a strong effort to consume more, according to the study “Mintel 2009; Multi-Sponsor Surveys, 2010.”

Known for their powerhouse of antioxidants, tart cherries have emerged as one of today’s hottest super fruits. Today there are more than 50 scientific studies specifically on tart cherries, and with the help of leading health expert Dr. Wendy Bazilian, DrPH, RD, the cherry industry recently launched “The Red Report,” a new scientific look at the power of tart cherries.

“The power of this Super Fruit is undeniable,” said Dr. Brazilian, who says, "It's amazing how far tart cherries have come over the last few years. Cherries have long been associated anecdotally with pain relief benefits, but today there's a strong and significant body of evidence backing that up.” Research indicates tart cherries may ease pain of arthritis and gout and emerging research suggests cherries may offer protection against heart disease, certain cancers, arthritis, gout, diabetes, memory loss, and more. The melatonin in tart cherries also helps maintain and improve sleep cycles. Some of the latest reports call out the tart cherry as ‘the’ Super Fruit to watch,” says Dr. Bazilian.

Tart cherries are available every day of the year in dried, frozen and juice forms. They can be a powerful way to boost fruit intake and meet current dietary recommendations of two daily fruit servings. Experts suggest consuming 1 to 2 servings of cherries daily can help provide some of the health benefits identified in the research. To learn more download The Red Report, where you can find recipes, tips, and learn more about the health benefits of cherries at www.choosecherries.com.

Much of this research was the impetus for Tom and Vivianne Szulist to restore their 1840s eco-barn, which has become home to their dried fruit products, cherry juice concentrate, 60 varieties of gourmet garlic, local farm-fresh goods, and unique gifts. The Szulists are passionate about the health benefits of the products they grow and sell and say they receive calls and orders from people all over the world who report that the addition of tart cherries has made a significant difference in their lives and in how they feel."

Singer Farm Naturals is one of Western New York's best kept secrets, and it is definitely a destination worth visiting. Not only will you be welcomed by a beautifully restored barn filled with all things cherries and garlic, but you will also find unique and beautiful holiday gifts. Best of all, you'll get a wonderful education from the Szulists about the importance of sustainability, the environment and why they work hard to operate in harmony with the wider world.

WNY Resource:

Singer Farm Naturals

6730 Lake Road
Appeton, NY 14008

716-778-7077

www.singerfarmnaturals.com

Independent Health Teams Up with Liazon

BUFFALO, NY – Dec 6, 2012 - Independent Health has begun offering its innovative health care plans through Liazon’s award-winning Bright Choices® Exchange to employers. Bright Choices helps employers control the escalating cost of health care benefits while giving employees greater benefits choices. The program will be available to customers in Western New York beginning immediately.

With Bright Choices, employers use a defined contribution funding strategy to provide each employee with a set amount of money to shop for coverage in the online exchange. Employees can then personalize their coverage to best fit their needs by choosing from a wide variety of benefits options. These options include multiple medical plans from Independent Health along with dental, vision, disability, life, critical illness, accident, wellness, telemedicine, legal services, HSAs, FSAs, and even pet insurance.

Independent Health is a leader and innovator in the health care market, building plans that encourage and reward employees for becoming more engaged and motivated to live healthier lifestyles. The plan options available through Bright Choices vary in premiums and member cost sharing while offering comprehensive benefits. Each of the plans includes a component that gives members a unique level of choice and control, such as out-of-pocket costs, or benefits based on their lifestyle, health care choices or provider preferences. All the plans are supported by Independent Health’s nationally recognized customer service.

“Independent Health shares Liazon’s philosophy that giving employees the power to customize their own benefits leads to greater engagement of people in their own health,” said David Donovan, Independent Health’s vice president of sales. “Independent Health has long believed that a high level of customer engagement and wide-ranging partnerships, such as this one with Liazon, are important components to achieving better quality and lower health care costs in the long run.” The Bright Choices Exchange with Independent Health plans is targeted to companies with 50 or fewer employees.

Bright Choices has been attracting the attention of employers since its launch in 2008 and now serves more than 2,000 businesses nationwide. One of the key reasons for its popularity with employees is the personalized shopping experience that follows a logical flow to help employees understand and select the best benefits for them. Bright Choices walks each user through a questionnaire about health, wealth, and personality in order to recommend the right benefits package for them and their families.

“Typically, small to medium sized organizations had limited to no choice when it came to selecting a health plan for their employees,” said Mark Mortenson, president and CEO of the Buffalo Museum of Science. The museum is one of the first customers to sign on to the Bright Choices Exchange with Independent Health plans. “With the Bright Choices program, I can offer my employees a choice of multiple plans to meet their individual needs instead of a ‘one-size-fits-all’ approach. It also brings in other benefits opportunities for our employees like dental, vision and additional life insurance.”

Bright Choices is available to businesses through select brokers. Contact Independent Health at 716-631-5392 to find out more.

About Independent HealthHeadquartered in Buffalo, Independent Health began operations in 1980 and has consistently been rated among the top health plans in the country for customer service and member satisfaction. Independent Health’s comprehensive portfolio of product and service offerings includes fully insured group products, individual plans, Medicare Advantage and Medicaid managed care plans, traditional indemnity insurance, consumer-directed plans, and self-funded administration. Independent Health's subsidiary companies include Pharmacy Benefit Dimensions, Reliance Rx, and Nova Healthcare Administrators, Inc. For more information, visit www.independenthealth.com.

About LiazonFounded in 2007, Liazon Corporation operates the market-leading private benefits exchange for small and mid-sized businesses. Its flagship product, the Bright Choices® Exchange, is an online benefits store that is changing the way employers and employees buy benefits. Bright Choices helps employers save money on their healthcare costs by setting predictable budgets while guiding employees to purchase better coverage of health, dental, vision, life and disability benefits. Liazon works with top national and regional insurance providers and supports more than 2,000 businesses nationwide. Liazon has offices in Buffalo, N.Y., New York City and Waltham, MA. To learn more about Liazon and the Bright Choices Exchange, go towww.liazon.com.

Note To EditorIndependent Health will be offering five plans through Bright Choices. The plans provide a range of monthly premiums and cost-sharing options.

FlexFit Select: Allow employees to choose their level of benefits based on lifestyle:

• FlexFit Select provides one plan, one premium, with two options: Family and Active (with variable copayments best suited to meet the lifestyle needs of the individual).

• Individuals and/or families receive a $250 credit that can be applied toward benefits like participating fitness centers, vitamins, acupuncture, massage therapy, yoga, tai chi, swimming lessons, soccer, after-school programs and more.

Empower (two options): Enables employees to choose their level of benefits based on their level of engagement and their approach toward healthy behaviors:

• Empower is one plan with two levels: Enhanced (lower out-of-pocket costs) and Standard (higher out-of-pocket costs).

• The plan rewards employees through lower out-of-pocket costs when they take necessary steps towards maintaining or working on a healthier lifestyle.

• Empower focuses on modifiable health risk factors including tobacco use, high body mass index and high blood pressure.

iDirect: Gives employees choice and control over their health care dollars:

• This consumer-directed health plan design gives members greater choice and control over their health care decisions, allowing employees to pay lower premiums and get the benefits they need while taking greater responsibility for their health care.

• iDirect is offered with a tax-savings Health Savings Account (HSA) to help offset out-of-pocket expenses and provide an avenue for long-term health care savings.

Passport Select: Offers employees greater choice and control over the use of in-network and out-of-network providers:

• Passport Plan Select provides employees with a balance of rich benefits and the convenience of predictable copayments once their plan deductible is fulfilled.

• Passport Plan offers high-quality coverage, along with enhanced out-of-area coverage.

Leg Pain from Pinched Nerves in Your Back

Leg Pain from Pinched Nerves in Your Back -- What Can You Do About It? Come to a FREE Seminar on August 21 to Learn More! 

Do you have back pain? Do you have leg pain? Come to a FREE Seminar on Minimally Invasive Spinal Procedures, presented by Board Certified Neurosurgeon, Eric Roger, MD, BSc, FRCS(C). You will have the opportunity to ask Dr. Roger questions. Sponsored by the Amherst Center for Senior Services, 370 John James Audubon Parkway, Amherst, NY 14228. FREE Refreshments will be served, Wednesday, August 21 at 5:00 p.m. RSVP to 636-3059. 

By Eric P. Roger, MD, BSc, FRCS(C)

Do your legs hurt when you walk? Do they feel better when you sit down? How about when you lean over a shopping cart? You may be suffering from spinal stenosis.

So what is spinal stenosis? Can something be done about it? First, you need to understand that you are not alone. Even more important, there may be a “quick fix” for your problem.

Spinal stenosis is a medical term that simply means “pinched nerves.” When your nerves are pinched in your back, you might think you would have back pain. The truth is that pinched nerves will hurt in your legs, and the pain will “run down the nerves.” Back pain is usually a result of arthritis, muscle spasm, pulled muscles, or another problem specifically in your back. You may have both.

Leg pain from pinched nerves (spinal stenosis) will hurt in one or both legs, and will typically be worse with standing and walking. The pain usually decreases when sitting down or bending forward. People often say that they can only walk short distances, and then need to sit down for a few minutes before walking again. People also say they are able to walk without leg pain when they lean over a shopping cart. This is because leaning over the cart helps open up the spine, taking pressure off the nerves.

There are many ways to help leg pain as a result of spinal stenosis. Mild medications can be helpful. Physical therapy or chiropractic care can also make a big difference. Epidural injections can give you several weeks to months of relief and really work quite well. If all these things don’t help, or helped initially but don’t work anymore, there may be a role for surgery. People are often scared of surgery, and rightly so. We now have very small surgeries, or procedures, that can be done under 30 minutes and allow you to go home the same day, that really work well to relieve the leg pain from pinched nerves. This is what many patients call the “spacer” surgery.

The “spacers” are little wedges we can place between the bones in your back to open up the space for the nerves. They don’t require any bony removal or actual work “on the nerves.” They take less than 30 minutes, and patients typically go home the same day or the next morning. They work great at relieving the leg pain. Over 300 patients in the Buffalo area have had great success with this small, “minimally invasive” procedure.

If your legs hurt when you walk, and get better when you sit down or bend forward (over a shopping cart), you may be suffering from spinal stenosis. An MRI would help us determine this, and we may be able to help you.

To make an appointment call 716-854-5700. Learn more at www.ericroger.com.

About the Author:

Erie Roger, MD, BSc, FRCS(C) is a board certified neurologist. He focuses on spinal diseases of the cervical, thoracic, and lumbar regions, and has special expertise is minimally invasive technologies and advanced spinal instrumentation.

Gelia Wins Global Finalist Award for Independent Health Campaign

NEW YORK (December 7, 2012) – Gelia, Western New York’s leading marketing communications agency, received a Global Finalist Award for its creative work on Independent Health’s consumer television advertising campaign at this year’s Global Awards® ceremony in New York on December 6.

Recognized in the medical service category of “Consumer: Video, Audio, Interactive Media - TV / Cinema Commercial”, Gelia and Independent Health was the only U.S.-based partnership honored for developing healthcare insurance advertising. 

In its eighteenth year, the Global Awards is an exclusive ceremony that grants “The World’s Best Healthcare Advertising™” for compelling, creative work on an international level. The Globals raise the bar from clever headlines and smart design to explore the emotional connections transmitted between the message’s creator and recipient.

Gelia worked together with Independent Health to effectively use member-based, compassionate stories to continue to differentiate the insurance company as a healthcare partner. A mix of television, radio and online advertising was used to communicate these personal vignettes.

The Global Awards are given to those who successfully produce intellectual and emotional attachment through communication, breaking through distance, language and culture barriers.  Countless entries were submitted from healthcare corporations, hospitals, advertising agencies, production companies and design studios all over the world that produce  materials for medical, pharmaceutical, and healthcare related products and services.

“Independent Health is one of the top health plans in the U.S., consistently achieving high ratings for customer service and member satisfaction,” said Jamey Phipps, Gelia president and CEO. “We designed our campaign to demonstrate how Independent Health has earned its reputation through the personal experiences of its members, and we are proud that the Global Awards has recognized the effectiveness and impact of our approach.”

Founded in 1961, Gelia is a full-service agency specializing in strategic marketing communications that drive integrated campaigns with measurable results. The agency supports a nationwide client base with strategic planning, advertising, public relations, new media, direct marketing, market research, and Web site architecture and design. With $53.4 million in annual capitalized billings, Gelia is headquartered in Williamsville, N.Y. and also operates offices in Peoria, Ill., Toledo, Ohio, and Detroit, Mich. More information is available at www.gelia.com.