Statler Center ready to start 2014 training schedule

The National Statler Center for Careers in Hospitality Service 

A Program of the Olmsted Center for Sight

As we near the end of 2013, we are gearing up for the start of the first National Statler Center training program in 2014.  While a few seats wait to be filled for our forty-fourth Statler class and twelfth STEC class, we are excited to welcome people from eight different states for the first round of our hospitality and contact center/customer service curriculum, beginning on January 15.

As a reminder, there are three more sessions to be offered in 2014, including a fall session to be held in Albany, NY, allowing for easy access to people in eastern New York State and into surrounding Mid-Atlantic and New England states.

Training Calendar 2014

 

Statler Hospitality Training Program                                               

Buffalo, NY   --      January 15-March 27                              
Buffalo, NY   --      April 30-July 10
Albany, NY   --       September 10-November 20

STEC Customer Service & Contact Center Program                    

Buffalo, NY   --      February 6-March 27
Buffalo, NY   --      May 22-July 10                             

Albany, NY   --       October 2-November 20

Openings exist for each of the upcoming programs. If you or someone you know would be able to take advantage of our unique training, NOW is a great time to contact us.

Go to “How to Apply for Enrollment” at www.StatlerCenter.org or contact Patrick Keyes at 716-888-4526 or PKeyes@StatlerCenter.org

As seen in the Buffalo News

Statler Grad Ray Zylinski, a newcomer to the Olmsted call center, notices an increase in the number of holiday calls.

Statler Grad Sterling Smalley, right. And Bruce Seals, left, take calls in Olmsted Contact Center. 

Counselors come from Utah to learn about Statler Center

A lot of effort is put into recruiting students and courting state counselors with the message of the National Statler Center’s unique training and placement efforts, including travel, tours, conference calls and more.

In early December, we were thrilled to welcome Steve Price and Everette Bacon all the way from Salt Lake City, UT, to Buffalo, the take part in a day long tour, orientation and conversation with the Statler Center staff about our program and what we can do to provide training for some of the blind and visually impaired residents of Utah. They first learned about our program during a visit from Renee DiFlavio over the summer – she made worthwhile detour during her westward vacation. Thanks to her presentation, important conversations paved the way for our colleagues in Utah to visit Buffalo!

The visit proved educational for both parties, and we anticipate hosting many future students from Utah. We hope this is the start of a long and fruitful relationship. To our new friends in Utah, we say Welcome to the Statler family!

Developing ties to an expanding community

One of the growing initiatives at the Olmsted Center for Sight and the National Statler Center is the effort to continue to heighten awareness of the important work that we do among the general population. Through fraternal, business, and social groups, members of the Olmsted and Statler Management team are out and about in the community to change our image from being the “best kept secret” in Buffalo to being a thriving part of the Western New York landscape.

If you work for a company that engages in philanthropic activity, or is looking for qualified entry-level workers and could accommodate hiring Statler Center graduates or people going through the Olmsted Center’s rehab training, come check us out and learn what we can do! Maybe your business can take advantage of our call center capacity to answer after-hours and weekend calls, or to help with volume – if so, arrange to see our call center operation and learn how we can help.

With such a vast and varying pool of services provided by OCS and the Statler Center, we encourage you to help us gain the recognition we continue to strive toward in the Western New York community. For more information, contact Chaunci Hinton at 716-888-4629 orCHinton@StatlerCenter.org. 

  

Disabled Veterans Eligible for Statler Training

The National Statler Center has been approved by the United States Department of Veterans Affairs to provide employment training and placement services for disabled veterans. With full support from Veterans Affairs, Statler encourages all disabled veterans to contact Patrick Keyes at Statler to discuss enrollment. Reach Patrick at (716-888-4526) or pkeyes@StatlerCenter.org and please spread this word to the disabled veterans you know.

 

 

Open House of “ECMC Surgical Center”

BUFFALO, NEW YORK; December 30, 2013—Erie County Medical Center (ECMC) Corporation today held an open house of the expansion of its operating rooms in the new ECMC Surgical Center, including two new state-of-the-art operating suites with related recovery and surgical service space. The operating suite is 25,000 square feet in size and includes two additional “shelled” operating rooms prepared for future expansion.

The ECMC Surgical Center is located on the first floor of the new Ambulatory Centerbuilding on the ECMC Health Campus. The new operating room suites in a separate building include the latest technology for minimally invasive procedures, on-site diagnostic pathology, pre-operative and post-operative private patient “bays,” and a PeriOptimum patient tracking system to communicate real-time patient status to families and the healthcare team.

The new suites are needed because of significant increases in ECMC’s surgical volume in recent years. This is specifically related to an increase in emergency room volume; consolidation of all Great Lakes Health transplantation programs for kidney and pancreas transplantation on the ECMC Health Campus; and an increase in surgical volume generated from the hiring of/partnering with new surgeons and physicians. ECMC has also seen significant surgical growth in orthopedics and has started a new plastic and reconstructive surgery service, including head and neck and breast cancer surgery.

“This opening completes one more exciting expansion as we continue to grow and provide the best patient experience for our community,” said ECMC CEO Jody L. Lomeo. “This expansion along with other developments on the ECMC Health Campus has accounted for more than $200 million in patient-focused capital improvements and investments on our Grider Street campus in the last few years.”

ECMC’s Outpatient Dialysis Center is also located on the ground floor of theAmbulatory Center building, and medical office space on the second and third floors is in the final phase of construction.

The Regional Center of Excellence for Transplantation and Kidney Care is now entering its third year of operation. Last February, ECMC dedicated the new Terrace View Long-Term Care Facility, moving the former Erie County nursing home from Alden to the ECMC Health Campus. In recent months, ECMC also completed a re-design of its front entrance roadways for more efficient traffic flow and an expansion of its parking facilities. Early in 2014, ECMC will open its all new Behavioral Health Center of Excellence on the ECMC Health Campus.

The home and the centers of excellence are part of a five-year, $200 million project on ECMC’s Health Campus that when complete will provide good-paying jobs and health-focused economic development centered on Buffalo’s East Side.

Transformation of ECMC’s Health Campus, which now has 550 beds and had 63,918 ER visits in 2012, actually began in June 2010. ECMC used $2.9 million to expand its Emergency Department, with eight new trauma exam rooms and two new trauma surgical suites within the medical center building. ECMC is already home to the state’s top-rated Adult Regional Trauma Center.

With an estimated overall economic impact on the region of $750 million, ECMC has not required any operating subsidy from the county since 2008.

What Bystanders Should Know About CPR and Why

Read an interview and watch the video published on MedPageToday.com featuring Chair UB Department of Medicne, Dr. Anne B. Curis,

Thomas O’Connor, MD, Anesthesiologist, Joins Invisionhealth

Board Certified Anesthesiologist Thomas O'Connor, will be joining InvisionHealth as their Chief of Anesthesiology on January 1, 2014. Dr. Tom O'Connor earned his Bachelor of Science degree from Notre Dame University and his medical degree from the State University of New York at Buffalo. His post-graduate training in internal medicine was at the Buffalo General Hospital and  in anesthesia at the Massachusetts General Hospital.

Dr. O'Connor served in the US Air Force as chief of anesthesia at MacDill AFB in Tampa, Florida. Since his return to Buffalo in 1976 he has served as chairman of anesthesia at three area hospitals including Kenmore Mercy where he continues to work as a staff anesthesiologist.

Dr. O'Connor  has served as principal investigator for several studies dealing with the prevention of post-operative nausea and vomiting and he  has presented his technique for management of the difficult airway at local and national meetings. 

In addition to the NY State and Erie County Medical Societies, Dr. O'Connor is a member of the Catholic Medical Association and the Society for Airway Management.

For more information regarding InvisionHealth, please visit www.invisionhealth.com or call 716-631-3555.

AMHERST MEALS ON WHEELS SUPPLYING ELDERLY & HOMEBOUND WITH EMERGENCY FOOD KITS FOR WINTER WEATHER AHEAD

Keeping Our Community Safe and Nourished During the Winter Months

Amherst, New York – Amherst Meals on Wheels (AMOW) has prepared and distributedemergency food kits to elderly and homebound clients in Amherst in preparation for winter weather. The kits contain a 3-day supply of food and have been given to clients for over 20 years. The food items were donated by the Williamsville East Field Hockey Team and from the Food Pantry at the Amherst Center for Senior Services. Members and staff at the center regularly donate food to the Food Pantry to keep it stocked.

In addition, AMOW provides the Town of Amherst Police and Engineering Departments with a supply of emergency kits to deliver during winter storms or power outages that include bottled water, a flashlight with batteries, hand warmers, a whistle, first aid supplies, emergency procedures brochure and a Winter Safety Information Guide.

When roads are closed and streets are impassable, AMOW puts their phone tree into action – contacting all of their 260 clients to check on them and be sure they have enough food and medicine. If a client is in need, AMOW contacts the Amherst Police and they then deliver a kit to the client’s home.

Amherst Meals on Wheels serves approximately 260 homebound, elderly or handicappedAmherst residents every weekday. Meals are prepared and packaged fresh each day at theAmherst Senior Center and delivered by a group of dedicated volunteers.

The program provides two nutritious meals a day, delivered directly to the recipient’s home, plus the reassurance of a volunteer’s friendly visit. Clients pay a nominal fee for this service, and Amherst Meals on Wheels relies upon fund-raising events to keep costs low. The agency welcomes all contributions and new volunteers.

For more information, please call Amherst Meals on Wheels at 636-3065. The AmherstSenior Center is located at 370 John James Audubon Parkway in Amherst.

Looking for a unique holiday gift idea? Check out the Museum of disAILITY for One-of-a-kind Gifts

Looking for that unique gift on your shopping list this holiday season? Look no further than the charming Museum Store located inside the Museum of disABILITY History.

The Museum Store offers merchandise made by individuals of People Inc. Day Habilitation programs. Individuals have created unique items such as silk scarves, wooden pens, jewelry, cement garden turtles, hand painted wine glasses and pillows. Each item is lovingly hand-made and no two items are the same. Holiday cards are also for sale with designs made by individuals served by People Inc.

Many items are now 50 percent off, including: Braille jewelry, Nike golf balls, scented candles and apparel. The Abandoned Asylums of New England coffee table book and 2014 calendar make great gifts for architecture and photography enthusiasts! Several different books are for sale, including children’s books from the Ivan the Invacar series.

In addition to the many hand-crafted and one-of-a-kind items from the Museum Store, the gift of a Museum of disABILITY History Membership makes an ideal gift for family and friends. There are five different levels of memberships, with each receiving a variety of perks.

Community members are encouraged to visit the Museum of disABILITY History to see the latest exhibits. All profits from the store benefit the Museum of disABILITY History’s educational outreach programs.

Gift wrapping is also available for only $1.00 per gift (five gifts per person). Customers can even bring in gifts that were bought from other places and staff will wrap them. The Museum Store is open in conjunction with the Museum gallery space, Monday through Saturday, from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., at 3826 Main Street in Buffalo.

People Inc. is a not-for-profit health and human services agency providing programs and services to more than 12,000 people with special needs, their families, and seniors throughout Western New York. Since 1971, People Inc. has assisted individuals to achieve greater degrees of independence and productivity.

The Museum of disABILITY History, a project of People Inc., is dedicated to the collection, preservation, and display of artifacts relating to the history of people with disabilities. The mission is to tell the story of the lives, triumphs, and struggles of people with disabilities as well as society’s reactions. The Museum of disABILITY History, located at 3826 Main Street in Buffalo, NY, offers educational exhibits, programs and activities that expand community awareness.

NY State of Health Enrollment Deadline Nears

Individuals who are planning to buy health coverage through the NY State of Health marketplace have until December 23^rd to do so if they want coverage to start on New Year’s Day.

Dec. 23, 2013, is the deadline for individuals to enroll in a health insurance plan in the marketplace for coverage to begin on Jan. 1, 2014. You can still enroll in a plan until the end of March, but coverage will start on or after Feb. 1, 2014.

NY State of Health at nystateofhealth.ny.gov is the online marketplace where you can shop, compare and enroll in a new health plan.

“It’s not too late for individuals to do their homework and enroll in a health plan that participates in the marketplace,” said Art Wingerter, president, Univera Healthcare. “So far, we’ve been impressed by the number of individuals who’ve researched their options and called us or used our online tools.”

In October and November, more than 3,000 people used the Univera Healthcare online tax credit calculator. About 6,000 individuals also visited the company’s online provider finder tool. Many individuals use the provider finder tool to determine whether their doctors and hospitals are part of the Univera Healthcare network. The health insurer’s call center daily handles hundreds of marketplace-related phone calls.

To research your options:
· Learn about health insurance. Watch videos or read up at http://www.youtube.com/user/Univerahealthcare, univerahealthcare.com/findcoverage, ornystateofhealth.ny.gov.

· See if you’re eligible for financial help. Your premium may be reduced if your household income is below 400 percent of the federal poverty level, which is $45,960 for individuals or $94,200 for a family of four. For help, go to chooseunivera.com/TCCalculator.

· Determine your health care needs. List your typical health services and costs in a given year. Use the list to pick a plan that fits your needs. If you go to the doctor a lot, for example, you may want a plan with lower copays for doctor visits.

· See which health plan works with your doctor. It can be costly to see a doctor, pharmacy or hospital that’s not in a health plan’s “network.” You may need to check this information with your provider or health insurer. For help, go to univerahealthcare.com/findprovider.

· Consider all costs. Consider all health plan costs, such as premiums, deductibles and copays.
Individuals who have marketplace-related questions, including inquiries about non-subsidized coverage, can call Univera Healthcare at 1-888-370-6947.

What's Behind Female Hair Loss?

Baldness is an issue most often associated with men, but women suffer from hair loss too. You may be surprised how prevalent this condition is. Hair loss can affect the entire body, and may be caused by genetics, side effects of medications, or due to physical or psychological ailments.

Research shows that as many as two-thirds of all women experience hair loss to some degree. You may notice strands of hair in the shower drain or caught in your hairbrush. It's normal to lose 50 to 100 hairs a day, but when hair falls out in clumps or thins conspicuously, it may indicate a more serious medical condition.

Joseph B. Neiman, M.D., of Neiman Dermatology and Hair Transplantation, says, “Hair production occurs in cycles, much like a garden. When the soil conditions aren’t perfect, the garden can’t thrive. The same is true for your scalp. Medications, illnesses, infections, or chemicals used on the head or body can disrupt the cycle causing hair to stop growing properly. Most often women age 50 and older notice hair loss, but it can happen at any age.”

According to Dr. Neiman causes of hair loss can include:

* Telogen effluvium (rapid shedding) occurs after pregnancy, major surgeries or drastic weight loss, causing hair to shift more quickly from the growing stage (anagen) to the shedding stage (telogen). Typically, women experiencing this will notice hair loss between six weeks to three months after a stressful event.

* Hypothyroidism (underactive thyroid); causes hair loss because, in addition to regulating your basal metabolic rate, the thyroid is responsible for growth of hair, skin and nails. Blood tests can be ordered to test for hypothyroidism.

* Anemia which is caused by iron deficiency, results in insufficient numbers of red blood cells to transport oxygen throughout the body. It can cause weakness, pale skin, fatigue, headaches, and hair loss. Increasing iron in the diet through leafy greens, fortified cereals and beans can help.

* Skin conditions present on the scalp may cause hair loss. Psoriasis, seborrheic dermatitis (dandruff) and fungal infections can affect the skin on the scalp, and, in turn, affect hair follicles. A physical exam of the scalp can determine scalp health.  A scalp biopsy may also help to determine the cause.

* Alopecia areata is an immune disease that affects about 2 percent of the American population and is characterized by small, round patches of hair loss.  It is recurrent and is often associated with other autoimmune diseases such as diabetes and vitiligo (pigment loss)

* Androgenetic alopecia or genetic hair loss may also be a cause.  If other women in your family have thinning hair most pronounced at the crown of the head or the front, you may have a higher risk than other women for losing hair.

* Beauty styling: Self-inflicted damage can lead to hair loss. Dyes, chemical treatments, styling tools and aides, and rough or aggressive brushing and/or blow drying can damage hair, causing breakage. Be gentle when toweling or styling hair to minimize hair loss.

Women experiencing hair loss can speak to a family doctor, who may suggest visiting a dermatologist who specializes in hair loss. Women can use wigs, hair extensions and other styling tricks to minimize the appearance of hair loss while they explore options in treatment.  Another method available that many women use to PERMANENTLY reverse the effects of hair loss is hair transplantation.  5-10% of all hair transplants are performed on women.  A free consultation by Dr. Neiman will determine if you are a good candidate for this procedure. 

To find out more about this or other treatments, contact Neiman Dermatology and Hair Transplantation at (716) 688-0020 or go to www.neimandermatology.com.

WNY Resource
Neiman Dermatology and Hair Transplantation

1140 Youngs Road

Williamsville, New York 14221

716.688.0020
www.neimandermatology.com

RPCI Appoints Two New Directors to Top Posts

BUFFALO, NY – Roswell Park Cancer Institute (RPCI) is pleased to announce the appointment of two directors to key positions in our clinical and business administrative staffs. Kara Eaton-Weaver has been promoted to Executive Director of RPCI’s Patient/Family Experience Department, and Harl Tolbert is the new Director of Technology Transfer and Commercial Development.

Eaton-Weaver will oversee the ongoing transformations throughout the Institute aimed at enhancing patient-centered care and the RPCI experience for all our patients and their families. Eaton-Weaver joined RPCI in 2008, working first as a Patient Advocate, and became Manager of Patient Relations in 2010. She has a bachelor’s degree in psychology from St. Bonaventure University and a master’s degree in counseling psychology from the University of Pennsylvania at Slippery Rock. Before coming to Roswell Park, she worked at Mellon Financial Corporation in Pittsburgh, Pa.; Sisters Hospital in Buffalo; the New York State Department of Health; and Goodwill Industries of Western New York.

“This position is an essential and critical part of RPCI’s quest to become a top 10 cancer center,” says Joyce Yasko, PhD, Chief Clinical Operations Officer. “Ms. Eaton-Weaver has the educational qualifications, experience, commitment and drive to achieve success in this role. We are fortunate to have a person with these characteristics as our Executive Director.”

As the new Director of Technology Transfer and Commercial Development, Tolbert will oversee the commercial development of research discoveries made at RPCI. Tolbert comes to Roswell Park from the University of Rochester, where he was Associate Director of Biological Sciences in the Medical Center’s Office of Technology Transfer. He brings extensive experience in licensing vaccines and therapeutics; developing and managing academic and industry collaboration; and soliciting, building and sustaining relationships with large pharmaceutical and biotech companies, start-ups, investors and research foundations.

Tolbert earned a master of science degree in animal sciences and a master of business administration degree from the University of Illinois. His past experience includes positions with Abbott Labs, in Chicago, and Pierce Biotechnology, one of the leading suppliers of antibody and protein research tools, in Rockford, Ill. He was Associate Director of Tulane University’s Office of Technology Transfer and Business Development prior to moving to Rochester.

“Mr. Tolbert has devoted his entire career to the biotechnology development industry,” says Michael Sexton, Esq., RPCI General Counsel and Chief Institute Operations Officer. “He served in leadership roles in the technology transfer offices at both the University of Rochester and Tulane University, both highly successful licensing institutions. We are fortunate to have an executive of Mr. Tolbert’s background and experience in charge of RPCI’s efforts to bring research discoveries to the clinic and the bedside, where they can have meaningful and far-reaching impact on patient lives.”

Operation Walk USA Restores Mobility for Uninsured Patients

While more than one million knee and hip replacements are performed in the U.S. each year, countless men and women continue to live with severe arthritic pain and immobility because they cannot afford joint replacement surgery.

Thanks to Operation Walk USA and a volunteer team of nurses and physicians at Kenmore Mercy Hospital, two local patients were able to receive a surgery on December 3 are on their way to active, productive lives.

Marcia O’Connor, age 53, of Lyndonville, and Melvin Bluhm, 56, of Orchard Park, were both chosen as the recipients of Operation Walk USA’s surgeries at Kenmore Mercy, the only hospital in Western New York to participate in the initiative.

Orthopedic surgeon, John Repicci, MD, DDS, the hospital’s former chief of Orthopedic Surgery, initially heard about Operation Walk USA through a number of professional outlets and realized it was a way he could help those in need.

“Regardless of circumstances, people in need should have relief from debilitating joint conditions and receive a new lease on life,” said Dr. Repicci. “This is the essence of Operation Walk USA.”

Bluhm, who previously worked as a HAZMAT specialist in the railroad industry, spent years kneeling and crawling under train cars. He eventually had surgery on both of his knees and is now on permanent disability. However, he continued to have pain in his left leg, which turned out to be a deteriorated hip.  Without insurance, he suffered with pain, using a cane or a walker to get around. Then one day, his family saw on the news that Kenmore Mercy and Operation Walk USA were looking for candidates for surgery. His mother, Genie Bluhm, calls the initiative, “Divine intervention. I had prayed for so long for his pain to be gone. And, along came this miracle.”  

O’Connor who is currently on disability due to pain caused from osteoarthritis is having her right hip replaced.  Over the past two years she has gone from using a cane to a walker. “Everything just fell into place,” O’Connor said. “I’m so thankful to Dr. Repicci and the hospital for making this happen.”

According to Dr. Repicci, both surgeries were successful. “Both patients were extremely appreciative. Through Operation Walk USA, we are able to give them their lives back.”

As part of Operation Walk USA, all aspects of treatment for both patients – including surgery, hospitalization and pre-and post-operative care – were provided at no cost to the patients.

In addition to Dr. Repicci, anesthesiologists Sudarshan Gulati, MD, and S. Thiruvannamalai, MD, and hospitalist David Serra, MD, donated their services, and Biomet donated the implants. 

“Kenmore Mercy Hospital prides itself on providing quality medical care to those we serve,” said James Millard, president and CEO at Kenmore Mercy Hospital. “The compassion and dedication of our associates and physicians allows us to provide that same medical care to needy patients identified through Operation Walk USA,” he added.

Through Operation Walk USA, more than 70 hospitals across the nation provided free hip and knee replacement surgery to patients in December.

Local pastor hopes to share his inspirational message across WNY

“Don’t let what you can’t do stop you from doing what you can.”

It’s a simple, yet powerful message. It’s also a message that Reverend Christopher Wylie has learned firsthand through a lifetime of overcoming a multitude of serious health issues and other seemingly insurmountable obstacles. And, it’s a message that he now hopes to share both in his churches and in the broader community as an inspirational speaker.

Born several weeks prematurely in Buffalo 45 years ago and given up for adoption by his birth parents, Wylie was diagnosed with cerebral palsy that has left the left side of his body in a severely weakened state. Growing up a fan of ice hockey, he would become an active participant in SABAH (Skating Association for the Blind and Handicapped). 

Complications from cerebral palsy would eventually lead to multiple back surgeries and knee issues that have caused him to rely heavily on the use of a wheelchair to get around town. Yet through it all, he never lost hope or his desire to be a productive member of society. His life is an incredible story of resilience and transformation.

Despite his physical limitations, Wylie’s work ethic and employment history are impressive, having worked for both HSBC Bank and The Buffalo News before finally, and reluctantly, accepting Social Security Disability due to his deteriorating health. It was around this same time that he put his future into the hands of God, enrolling in the United Theological Seminary at the Buffalo campus of Houghton College. So severe were his ailments at times that a couch had to be brought into the classroom so that Wylie could lie down during his classes. It was often the only way he could physically get through the lengthy sessions. 

Eventually, Wylie would work his way off Social Security Disability and become ordained in the United Methodist Church. His first assignment after ordination was at Pavilion United Methodist Church in Genesee County and Wyoming United Methodist Church in Wyoming County. He now serves at the Millville and Knowlesville United Methodist Churches in the Medina area. As minister, he is responsible for everything from day-to-day management and preparing sermons to performing Sunday services, weddings and funerals. 

“It’s not always easy to get around,” said Wylie, who is grateful for the support of his loving wife, Jennelle. “Do I look like everyone else getting around? No. Can it be difficult? Yes, no question. But that’s the message I want to get across to people — Each of us can overcome our obstacles to be our very best and become the most we can be.”

“Why do we look past people we perceive as being different than us?” Wylie asks. “Aren’t we all God’s children? Weren’t we all adopted into the family of God?”

Church Services are held each Sunday morning at 9:30 and 11 a.m. for Knowlesville and Millville United Methodist Churches, respectively. There are also special Christmas Eve services planned including Christmas music, video and an inspiring message titled, “God Comes Home for Christmas.” Worship for Christmas Eve begins at 5 p.m. for Knowlesville and 7 p.m. for Millville. 

 

To find out more about services, to contact Rev. Wylie or to schedule a speaking engagement for your company, church or organization, please call him at (585) 735-6685 or email cwylie98@aol.com.