Local Researchers Helping Lead National Study Evaluating New Approach That Could Slow Progression of Alzheimer's Disease

NOBLE Study at Dent Neurologic Institute Could Offer Hope for People with Mild-to-Moderate Alzheimer's Disease

Buffalo, New York—Date—Today, Dent Neurologic Institute announced that it is participating in a new, national, Alzheimer's disease (AD) clinical research study evaluating the potential benefits of an investigational medicine when taken by people with mild-to-moderate AD who are already being treated with donepezil (Aricept). Entitled NOBLE, the trial is evaluating an investigational drug, T- 817MA, which may have the potential to modify the pace of the disease in those who are currently suffering with mild-to-moderate AD.

The advent of NOBLE comes at a time when the AD clinical research community is moving to prevention- oriented trials that don't include those already diagnosed with the disease. An estimated five million people in the U.S. already suffer from mild-to-moderate AD, with those numbers growing at an alarming rate. However, no new drug has been approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for the treatment of AD since 2003. The NOBLE study was launched to potentially help address this gap in treatment.

"The impact of Alzheimer's disease both for sufferers and their loved ones is staggering, and many people living with mild-to-moderate AD may feel left behind when it comes to options that could slow the pace of the disease," said Dr. Horacio Capote. "We are proud to take part in this important study to evaluate a treatment that may contribute to changing the game for people suffering with AD and their families in the future, and to advance the research around breakthrough therapy options for Alzheimer's disease."

AD develops when nerve cells in the brain no longer function normally, causing a change in one's memory, behavior and ability to think clearly. The NOBLE study will explore the potential of T-817MA, a neuroprotectant agent designed to protect against neuron loss. Neuroprotectants are used for many central nervous system disorders including stroke and Parkinson's disease.

During the mild-to-moderate stage, people with AD begin to show significant decline in cognitive function, from forgetfulness about one's personal history and becoming moody and withdrawn in social situations to an inability to identify the day of the week or where they are. As a result of this decline, sufferers with mild-to-moderate AD often require round the clock care.

In consultation with family caregivers, clinicians at Dent Neurologic Institute are now seeking eligible candidates for NOBLE. Potential volunteers should live with or be in regular contact with a partner or family caregiver who can assist with their consideration of participation and accompany them to study visits.

Dent Neurologic Institute is one of 50 centers nationally who will participate in the NOBLE Study. The study is sponsored by Toyama Chemical Co., Ltd., FUJIFILM Group, makers of T-817MA, and is being conducted by the Alzheimer's Disease Cooperative Study (ADCS), the largest Alzheimer's disease therapeutic research consortium in the United States. To be eligible to participate, people must be between 55 and 85 with mild-to-moderate Alzheimer's disease, have been taking donepezil (Aricept®) for at least 6 months, and have a study partner that has regular contact with the candidate and is able to attend study visits. For additional information on the NOBLE study, please visit: http://www.adcs.org/Studies/Noble.aspx

For additional information, contact: NOBLEStudy@mslgroup.com

Partners in Care Providing Free Mammograms To Uninsured this October

Statistics demonstrate that deaths from breast cancer could be avoided if cancer screening rates increased among women at risk. Tragically, deaths from this disease occur disproportionately among women who are uninsured or underinsured. To help change this rate, this October 4th Windsong Radiology Group in Williamsville, Neighborhood Health Center, Cancer Services Program of Erie County and the MASH Network’s We Care Transportation are combining resources to offer free mammograms to women ages 40 to 64 who are uninsured. Thanks to the providers at Neighborhood Health Center and nurse practitioner, Lucy Coady, free clinical breast exams will also be provided. Women who qualify for this program will have the opportunity to receive their mammogram findings from the radiologists that same day. Service does not end with the screening. The Cancer Services Program will cover the cost of additional testing and provide treatment options, at no cost, if needed.

These partners are coming together again this year to make a difference in the lives of the many uninsured women who have not had their recommended screening mammogram. Data shows that this life saving screening test is especially underused by women who have no regular source of healthcare and those women who have immigrated to the United States within the past 10 years.

To accommodate those who may need transportation, this year the MASH Network’s We Care Transportation will be providing scheduled transportation from the Neighborhood Health Center on Lawn Avenue to the Windsong Williamsville location at 55 Spindrift Drive.

“Community outreach is critical for the success of this event, and we are delighted to have the support of the Neighborhood Health Center and Windsong Radiology Group,” said Lisa Napier, Outreach Manager of Erie County’s Cancer Services Program. Early detection of breast cancer through a mammogram is crucial to increasing the effectiveness of treatment and/or a cure. Surprisingly even with the Affordable Care Act there are many women who still lack health insurance. These partners are assuring that these women will not be denied access to this life saving screening.

Participants must meet eligibility requirements and appointments are necessary. For more information and to schedule an appointment, contact Cancer Services Program of Erie County at (716) 858-7376.

Tom Golisano Makes Gift of $3.5 Million to Niagara Falls Memorial Medical Center to Build New Center for Community Health for People with Special Needs

Gift is Largest in Medical Center’s History

Niagara Falls Memorial Medical Center has received a $3.5 million gift, the largest in its history, from businessman and philanthropist Tom Golisano to support construction of an innovative new Golisano Center for Community Health.

The Center will provide comprehensive integrated health care services to adults with special needs and their families, breaking down barriers to care, preventing individuals from falling through the cracks and helping them live with dignity. It is believed to be one of the few centers of its kind in the country.

The gift was announced at a news conference at Niagara Falls Memorial Medical Center by Medical Center President and CEO Joseph A. Ruffolo and Golisano Foundation Director Ann M. Costello. The Golisano Foundation is one of the largest foundations in the United States dedicated exclusively to supporting programs that encourage and commit to inclusion, acceptance and opportunity for people with intellectual and developmental disabilities.

The Center will house a range of services and programs including primary care, mental health, Health Home care management, housing assistance, community outreach, satellite services, social services, health insurance enrollment, financial assistance counseling, wellness education and the training of healthcare professionals. The Child Advocacy Center of Niagara and Project Runway also will be located there.

“We are so very grateful to Mr. Golisano and the Golisano Foundation for their generous contribution and their commitment to our community here in Western New York,” said Medical Center President and CEO Joseph A. Ruffolo. “They can be confident that their investment will improve the quality of life for thousands of people who will walk through the doors of the Golisano Center for Community Health for many years to come.”

Ann Costello, Director of the Golisano Foundation said, “We are honored to help Niagara Falls Memorial Medical Center build this new center. People with special needs including intellectual and developmental disabilities have poorer health outcomes than those without disabilities. They have limited access to preventive and ongoing care, suffer with chronic conditions that go unmanaged and have a hard time finding caregivers willing to treat them.

“Memorial’s innovative approach to delivering health care will change that for our most vulnerable citizens. In this new center, people with special needs can access integrated primary care and other critical services at a single accessible location that leverages the resources of both a major medical center and community partners. Also important, health care providers will learn to care for people with special needs.

“This center is aligned with the Healthy Communities initiative launched by Special Olympics with a major gift from Tom Golisano in 2012. We hope the center will be a model for providers in other regions. We will be looking closely at this initiative to better understand the needs of people with intellectual and developmental disabilities in the Niagara and Erie County region to assess future support.”

“This commitment from the Golisano Foundation serves as such a strong endorsement for our incredible work in patient care – particularly for those underserved citizens most in need of our support,” said Memorial Medical Center Board Member and Development Committee Chair Judith Nolan Powell. “It also reinvigorates our mission to serve as a safety net health care provider for the Niagara Frontier. We are eternally grateful.”

Construction on the two-story 23,000-square-foot building is expected to begin in March 2015 and be completed by year’s end. It will be located on a shovel-ready parcel situated next door to Memorial’s ER1 Emergency Department and Heart Center of Niagara. A pedestrian walkway will connect Memorial’s ER1/Heart Center building directly to the Golisano Center for Community Health, helping to avoid unnecessary emergency room visits.

The new Golisano Center for Community Health will house:

· An integrated primary care and behavioral health center directly connected to Health Home care management services. The co-location of these vital services will dismantle traditional silos and provide a physical environment conducive for multidisciplinary teams to work together on the coordination of care for persons with special needs.

· A satellite office and client Self-Advocacy Center for Rivershore, Inc., an agency affiliated with People, Inc. that serves individuals living with disabilities. The service groups located at the Center will join forces with community agencies in helping persons living with disabilities tap into and utilize existing community resources, gain independence and achieve an improved quality of life.

· The YMCA Buffalo Niagara will play a prominent role in advancing the Center’s wellness and community health promotion agenda providing wellness education fitness training to at-risk persons including the developmentally disabled, individuals with chronic diseases and others who need special instruction to engage in physical exercise.

· The Center’s Learning Hub will work with area universities as a site for internships and other workforce development opportunities in emerging healthcare fields such as care coordination, navigation and care management. It will provide classrooms for wellness and health education training for community residents and their caregivers – with an eye toward enabling them to self-manage their health and well-being. The Learning Hub also will feature a Population Health Innovation Center that will identify clusters of individuals suffering from chronic diseases within specific geographic locations (referred to as “hot spotting”) and serve as an incubator for the development of community based healthcare strategies to address the needs within those targeted areas.

Memorial embarked on a transformation journey over four years ago, from a traditional hospital to a Center for Community Health in collaboration with many other providers and community agencies. The Medical Center is moving away from solely providing hospital-based episodic care to managing population health within the region, with a specific focus on a population with special needs that is far too often dependent on using hospital and emergency room resources.

“Our innovative, community-based, integrated service model, working in collaboration with many agencies, brings together healthcare, social support, wellness and education services tailored for an individual’s specific needs – to improve their quality of life while providing care in a more cost-effective community setting,” Ruffolo said. “The Golisano Center for Community Health accomplishes just that – it breaks down barriers and prevents individuals from falling through the cracks.”

Memorial’s investments in the city have been a catalyst for community renewal. The construction of the Heart Center and ER1, restoration of Schoellkopf Park and other medical center campus upgrades have been cited by many as the beginning of the comeback for this area. Construction of the Golisano Center for Community Health continues the development of the medical center’s 10th Street campus from Pine Avenue to Ferry Avenue.

“Our development of community-based integrated service models of care will have a huge impact on workforce development, creating new jobs in emerging health care fields,” Ruffolo added.

ECMC, Nurses Union Approve New Contract

Union and Hospital Administration work together to strengthen public hospital

BUFFALO, NY – Sept. 16, 2014 – Erie County Medical Center Corp. officials and NYSNA nurses today announced a new seven-year contract between the hospital and the New York State Nurses Association.

The New York State Nurses Association’s members in the bargaining unit at ECMC voted overwhelmingly to approve the contract for 2012-18 Monday.

The new deal replaces a contract that ran from Jan. 1, 2005 to Dec. 31, 2011. The new pact covers 913 nurses at ECMC, which includes Terrace View Long Term Care.

“Our nurses are the backbone of our model of care and we are very pleased that ECMC has a strong agreement with them,” said Richard C. Cleland, ECMC president, chief operating officer and interim CEO. “Our negotiations were positive and productive and we are very pleased that we have a long-term agreement with these crucial caregivers.

This agreement was fully supported by ECMCC and NYSNA.

“We’re pleased to have reached a fair agreement that helps us to continue to provide the very best care to our patients and recruit and retain skilled nurses,” said Dennis Robinson ECMC R.N, chair of the NYSNA bargaining unit. “Together, we are working to protect and strengthen our public hospitals and ensure that all patients in Erie County and throughout New York have access to quality health care.”

The new contract includes raises in each year and provides ECMC and NYSNA nurses with more avenues to work together on patient care issues. Among truly exciting provisions is the creation of a clinical ladder for employees.

The clinical ladder is designed to offer registered nurses an opportunity to participate in an incentivized professional enrichment program that will lead to advancement through a focus on quality patient care and satisfaction. The program is designed to develop nursing leaders now and for the future.

Fox Run Hosts Food Network Star Chef Jet Tila

Asian-cuisine authority brings flavor and flare to senior living community

Orchard Park, NY (September 12, 2014 ) –Morrison Senior Living, the leader in providing food, nutrition and hospitality services to the senior living industry, recently hosted a Celebrity Chef event with premiere retirement community Fox Run Orchard Park on September 8. The event included a live cooking demonstration and discussion featuring Food Network’sJet Tila, who has appeared on such shows as Chopped, Cutthroat Kitchen and Iron Chef America. Tila presented to more than 125 attendees, showcasing his Lo Mein and Mongolian Beef dishes.

The event, part of Morrison Senior Living’s Celebrity Chef Series, centers on bringing engaging culinary experiences to senior living communities across the country.

“For Fox Run, these types of interactive programs are core to our mission of providing residents with exceptional experiences,” said William Wlodarczyk, CEO at Fox Run Orchard Park. “Chef Jet’s energy and connectivity with our community made his appearance not only a hit, but a truly memorable and informative event for everyone.”

The Celebrity Chef Series presents the culinary talents and expertise of nationally known chefs across the country, bringing their renowned cuisine to retirement communities. Throughout 2014, a nationally celebrated chef is featured, sharing their passion for specialty ingredients and their favorite cuisine for which they have earned acclaimed status.

“Chef Jet, like all of our talented celebrity chefs, possesses the natural ability to captivate with his hands-on approach to healthy and flavorful cuisine,” said Morrison Senior Living President Kevin Svagdis. “Fox Run’s partnership on this event underscores their dedication to constantly evolve and deliver new programs that foster engagement and resident satisfaction.”

About Fox Run Orchard Park

Fox Run Orchard Park, a 54-acre retirement community located just outside of Buffalo, New York, is a Lifecare Community including 180 independent apartments and patio homes. The sprawling campus features on-site assisted living, memory care and skilled nursing to support community members of all stages of life. With 101 beds in the community’s health center, state-of-the-art dining, and health and wellness offerings, Fox Run Orchard Park is committed to care excellence and to providing outstanding experiences for its members. To learn more about Fox Run Orchard Park, please visit http://www.foxrunorchardpark.com/.

About Morrison Senior Living

Morrison Senior Living, a member of Compass Group®, is the nation’s only company exclusively dedicated to providing food, nutrition and hospitality services to the senior living industry. Morrison has over 150 registered dietitians, 200 executive chefs, 400 hospitality associates and 7,000 professional food service team members. Actively committed to fostering ways to enjoy great-tasting, healthy food through socially responsible practices and superior customer service, the Atlanta-based company serves more than 450 senior living clients in 41 states, including some of the largest and most prominent senior living communities in the United States. Visit www.MorrisonSeniorLiving.com for more information.

Deaf Awareness Week

Deaf Awareness Week is being celebrated from Saturday September 13 - Friday, September 19, and the Buffalo Deaf community will kick off the week at the Walden Galleria Mall from 10:00am - 2:0pm on September 13. The event will be located on the first floor, near the Apple Store inside the Mall.

Six organizations/clubs have reserved a table at this Saturday's DAW kickoff at the Walden Galleria Mall.

At 12:00pm, the official Deaf Awareness Week Proclamations will be ready by county and city officials.

Assembly member Crystal Peoples-Stokes, Buffalo City Comptroller Mark Schroeder, Mayor Brown's representative Francisco Guzmanand, Frank Cammarata - Director of Erie County Office of the Disabled (representing the County Executive) have all confirmed attendance. Mini sign language classes will be available and informational tables will be on display from local groups connected with the Deaf community here in Western New York.

Throughout the week, Deaf Access Services, St. Mary's School for the Deaf, and other organizations will be offering workshops, Open Houses, and even free American Sign Language classes!

The goal of Buffalo Deaf Awareness Week is to help connect the hearing and Deaf communities in Western New York, and offer insight about deaf culture, sign language and more.

It is an exciting time for the Deaf community in Western New York as Deaf Access Services is celebrating more than 30 years of existence! In addition, St. Mary's School for the Deaf is celebrating more than 160 years serving the deaf community in Western New York.

The full schedule for DAS is attached. Deaf Access Services is located at the Tri-Main Center (2495 Main Street, Buffalo, Suite 446)

Roswell Park Experts to Lead Live Video Web Chat on Ovarian Cancer

Live Video-Chat Monday, September 22, 6-7 PM

A multidisciplinary panel of experts from Roswell Park Cancer Institute (RPCI) will discuss the latest in ovarian cancer treatment, research and prevention during a live, interactive video web chat. Responding to audience questions, these passionate, field-leading experts will cover everything from early detection and genetic predisposition for the disease to resources for survivors and new discoveries in immunotherapy and personalized medicine that are translating into new hope for patients.

The panel of experts are:

Kunle Odunsi, MD, PhD, FRCOG, FACOG, Chair of the Department of Gynecologic Oncology, Executive Director of the Center for Immunotherapy and Co-Leader of the Tumor Immunology and Immunotherapy research program
Christopher Choi, PhD, an Assistant Professor of Oncology and Director of the Center for Immunotherapy Good Manufacturing Practice (GMP) Therapeutic Cell Production Facility
Mollie Hutton, MS, CGC, a Certified Genetic Counselor with the Clinical Genetics Service at Roswell Park. She identifies genetic factors associated with hereditary cancer syndromes and calculates increased familial risk.
Kirsten Moysich, PhD, MS, a Professor of Oncology in the Departments of Cancer Prevention and Control and Immunology

The online video chat will be accessible from the Roswell Park home page, roswellpark.org. Participants are encouraged to pre-register in order to pre-submit questions for our experts. Questions can also be submitted live during the event on Twitter (use hashtag #OvarianCancerTalk) or by posting a comment on facebook.com/RoswellPark.

Organizational Transformation Conference October 14th from 8:30am-4pm

Location: Samuel's Grande Manor, 8750 Main Street, Williamsville, NY 14214

Cost: $30 per person
Registration deadline is Tuesday, October 7th.

In this presentation, Dr. Tom Pomeranz will present a six point strategic approach to facilitate the organizational changes that are essential to survive these evolving and demanding expectations. Tom will discuss the importance of creating a sense of urgency among staff and board members as the fi rst step in the process. Further, Tom will detail how staff training and refocusing the organization's reward systems are essential in facilitating change. Perhaps the most important strategy this session will stress is the importance of management's role in modeling of the vision while creating new stories and symbols that support the paradigm shift.

Presented by DDAWNY and Parent Network of WNY

1st step: Register online Now!, 2nd Step: Payment
Pay online

Please select

1 Person $30.00 USD

Or by check

CHECK: Parent Network of WNY, NOTE: Organizational Transformation, Mail to: Parent Network c/o Peg Kovach, 1000 Main Street, Buffalo, NY 14202

People Inc. Orchard Senior Living Hosts Open House, Craft and Bake Sale Tours Available of Senior Living Apartments

People Inc. Orchard Senior Living Apartments will host an Open House, Craft and Bake Sale on Wednesday, September 17, 2014 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at 276 Waverly Street in Springville. Seniors in need of affordable housing and family members accompanying their loved ones are encouraged to attend to receive a tour and learn about income eligibility.

Many craft and bake sale items will be featured, including paintings, scarves, pies, cookies and much more! Attendees can meet with tenants, tour the building and learn about People Inc. Senior Living from expert staff. A hot dog lunch will be offered at 11 a.m.

For independent seniors age 62 or older, People Inc. Orchard Senior Living apartments include a living room, one bedroom, kitchen with appliances and accessible bathroom. Monthly rent is based on income and some utilities are included. Potential tenants need to meet both the federally mandated income and age requirements at the time of application. The exceptionally-maintained apartment building includes a furnished community room, laundry facilities, 24 hour on-call building services and group transportation to grocery stores. Service coordinators are available to provide connections to services as needed by tenants at no extra charge. For individuals who like to remain active, there are a variety of activities held throughout the year.

For more information on People Inc. Orchard Senior Living and its Open House event, call 716-592-4640.

People Inc. manages 18 senior apartment locations throughout Western New York providing affordable and safe housing for independent seniors age 62 and older who meet income requirements. For information about other locations, call 716-817-9090.

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.

Serenity at Schofield, A New Hospice Unit at Schofield Residence

An enhanced partnership with Schofield Residence and Hospice Buffalo, Inc. begins today with the opening of Serenity at Schofield, a new Hospice unit at Schofield Residence. The 10-bed unit is available to any hospice-eligible resident that is in need of 24-hour nursing care.

“Schofield is pleased that our partnership with Hospice Buffalo will provide a dedicated area for the comfort and care we will mutually provide,” said Edward Gray, president of Schofield Residence, a not for profit organization which began in 1910.

Rooms within Serenity at Schofield are uniquely designed to provide a nurturing, homelike environment for both patients and their families to enjoy.

“All Americans deserve quality care at the end of life – it's a fundamental part of living,”said Patricia Ahern, CEO of The Center for Hospice & Palliative Care. “We are honored to build upon our partnership with Schofield Residence, an organization of excellence that we have worked with for twenty-one years. Serenity at Schofield will allow patients in the advanced stages of illness to remain in familiar and supportive surroundings while receiving palliative (comfort-focused) care. Hospice Buffalo’s multidisciplinary team will work directly with Schofield’s team to provide additional medical care, emotional support, and guidance to patients and their families during this distressing time.”

Hospice care is focused on providing comfort and dignity to any person with an illness whose life expectancy is measured in months, rather than years. Clinical studies show hospice patients often live longer than those who do not receive hospice care. The Hospice team of physicians, nurse practitioners, nurses, medical social workers, and pastoral care chaplains are available around the clock to provide urgent visits as well as support. In addition, music and massage therapists, certified nursing assistants and trained hospice volunteers can provide important one to one support to enhance the well being of the resident with serious illness.

Serenity at Schofield features warm colors and new furniture with cozy recliners as well as a private family dining room, sunny atrium, and library.

Serenity at Schofield is the fourth dedicated Hospice unit in Erie County. Hospice Buffalo serves more than 500 patients a day in homes, hospitals, and home-like settings. It is the only licensed hospice program in Erie County and is certified by Medicare.

Community Volunteer Fair & Basket Auction October 11 at Amherst Senior Center

Over 20 Participating Organizations!

Amherst, NY – The Amherst Center for Senior Services is holding a Community Volunteer Fair & Basket Auction on Saturday, October 11, 2014 from 9:00 am – 12:00 noon. This is a great opportunity for all ages, from high school students to older adults, to learn about many different community organizations that are seeking volunteers.

Participating organizations as of September 9, 2014 include: Albright-Knox Art Gallery, Alzheimer’s Assoc. WNY, American Red Cross, Amherst Meals on Wheels, Amherst Public Libraries, Amherst Symphony Orchestra, Buffalo City Mission, Buffalo General Kaleida Health, Buffalo Niagara Heritage Village, Buffalo Niagara Int’l Airport, Buffalo Zoo, Catholic Charities, Center for Hospice & Palliative Care, Erie County RSVP, Food Shuttle of WNY, Habitat for Humanity Buffalo, Hearts & Hands, Montgomery Park, The Salvation Army, V.A. Medical Center and WNED/WBFO.

The event will also feature a Basket Auction with the drawing to be held at 11:30 am. Raffle holders need not be present to win. Live music by Friends of Harmony Quartet will take place at 10:30 am. In addition, the Audubon Café and Gift Shop will be open.

The Amherst Senior Center is located at 370 John James Audubon Parkway in Amherst, NY, behind the Audubon Library. For more information on Volunteer Fair inquiries, please call 636-3050 ext. 3126 or for Basket Auction inquiries ext. 3107.

Deaf Access Invitation to Learn Sign Language

Deaf Access Services (formally Deaf Adult Services) will be hosting American Sign Language (ASL) classes beginning on September 8. Classes run through December and are offered Mondays, Tuesdays, Wednesdays or Thursdays from 6pm – 8pm. Tuition costs are listed on their website – www.wnydas.org. Also, Deaf Awareness Week is September 13-19. Deaf Access Services will host two free classes at their office in the Tri-Main Center, 2495 Main Street, Suite 446. The first free class is for beginners on Tuesday September 16 from 4-5pm. The second class will be offered for intermediate level signers on Thursday September 18 from 4-5pm. To register, contact Stacey Allen via email sallen@wnydas.org or Shaun Chojnacki via phone 716-833-13637. For full-list of ASL classes or for more information about Deaf Access Services, please visit www.wnydas.org, Deaf Access Services is located at Tri Main Center, 2495 Main Street Suite 446, Buffalo, NY 14214

ECMC Living Transplant Program Resumes

UNOS approves opening after ECMC voluntarily suspended program

BUFFALO, NY – Sept. 5, 2014 – Erie County Medical Center today announced it resumed its living-donor program at the Regional Center of Excellence for Transplantation and Kidney Care. The United Network for Organ Sharing (UNOS) stated it will continue to monitor the program.

ECMC officials proactively suspended the living-donor program May 27 after the unrelated death of an organ donor. In the spring of 2013, a living donor successfully provided a transplant organ to a family member. About six months later, the donor died from an overdose of an illegal drug.

After conferring with the national United Network for Organ Sharing, the non-profit organization that regulates live organ donation in the United States, ECMC decided to briefly suspend living donor recoveries until the hospital and the network could review the matter.

ECMC alerted all potential living donors and potential recipients of living donor organs in writing about the suspension and through personal contact. Those patients had a choice of awaiting reactivation of living donor recoveries or transferring to another transplant program.

ECMC officials emphasized that all other transplant services at the Regional Center of Excellence for Transplantation and Kidney Care continued uninterrupted. Patients came for checkups, dialysis continued and other transplants from non-living donors took place.

“ECMC proactively decided to suspend living donor recoveries while a full investigation was completed and guidance from UNOS could be obtained,” said Richard C. Cleland, president/chief operating officer and interim chief executive officer, ECMC Corp. “We’re pleased that the program review is complete and we are cleared to resume the ECMC transplant program. This was a blip in an otherwise smoothly operated program at our transplant center, of which we are justifiably proud. Our families and patients can have every confidence in our outcomes and high level of service.”

P² COLLABORATIVE OF WESTERN NEW YORK ANNOUNCES ACCLAIMED COLUMNIST ELLEN GOODMAN AS KEYNOTE SPEAKER FOR ITS 2014 “CREATING A HEALTHIER COMMUNITY” CONFERENCE

The conference will take place October 9 at the Millennium Hotel Buffalo

West Seneca, N.Y. - P² Collaborative of Western New York will welcome acclaimed columnist Ellen Goodman as the keynote speaker for its 2014 “Creating a Healthier Community” Conference on October 9.

Ms. Goodman’s presentation, “Have You Had the Conversation?” will address how to discuss one’s wishes for end-of-life care. Her keynote address will open the conference to be held at Millennium Hotel Buffalo, 2040 Walden Ave., Cheektowaga, N.Y. Ms. Goodman is scheduled to speak from 9 a.m. to 10 a.m., with a question-and-answer session to follow, from 10 a.m. to 10:15 a.m.

“We are excited and honored to have a nationally known speaker like Ellen for this year’s P² Conference,” said Kate Ebersole, Director of Care Transformation and Community Health Improvement. “We consider the topic she is speaking on to be not only timely, but also essential to creating a healthier Western New York.”

Ms. Goodman, a Pulitzer Prize-winning, syndicated columnist and author, co-founded The Conversation Project in 2010. The Conversation Project’s goal is to encourage families, friends and medical practitioners to have frank discussions about end-of-life decisions.

Kathleen T. Grimm, M.D., of the Center for Hospice & Palliative Care Buffalo Niagara and co-chair, Community Health Worker Network of Buffalo, will continue the theme of end-of-life discussions, addressing local perspectives on the Conversation Project. Dr. Grimm will speak from 10:15 a.m. to 10:45 a.m.

The P² Collaborative conference will also feature the following presenters:

-       Thomas Workman, Ph.D., principal communication researcher, American Institute for Research (AIR), Washington, D.C.  Dr. Workman, who leads AIR’s Center for Patient and Consumer Engagement, will speak on the topic “Shared Decision-Making,”

-       Mindy Thompson Fullilove, M.D., Program Officer for New York State Department of Health, Diabetes Prevention,  and Lourdes Rodriquez, Dr.PH, a research psychiatrist at the New York State Psychiatric Institute and Program Officer at the New York State Health Foundation, will present on the topic “Urban Alchemy: Restoring Joy in America’s Sorted-out Cities.”

-       Open Buffalo, will present a panel discussion of “Community Building.” Open Buffalo, is a civic initiative to make major, long-term improvements in justice and equity; it is an unprecedented collaboration among a diverse group of partners; and it is one of three projects in the nation chosen for the Open Places Initiative of the Open Society Foundations.

Tickets are priced at a $125 each. For more information on the P² Collaborative 2014 conference, event speakers, the full schedule and ticket purchases, please visit www.p2wny.org.

###

About P² Collaborative:

The P² Collaborative of Western New York is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization dedicated to creating the healthiest community possible through regional convening, capacity building, and data services. We drive innovations in health and health care in the area by bringing together individuals, community-based organizations, primary care practices, hospitals, health plans and other unique partners to exponentially magnify their impact. We work with individuals and organizations across the eight counties of WNY (Allegany, Cattaraugus, Chautauqua, Erie, Genesee, Niagara, Orleans and Wyoming). For more information, visit www.p2wny.org.

                                   

CVS Caremark Announces Corporate Name Change to CVS Health to Reflect Broader Health Care Commitment

Company ends tobacco sales ahead of target date and launches comprehensive and uniquely personalized smoking cessation campaign 

Campaign for Tobacco-Free Kids lauds CVS Health for setting a “powerful example” and urges other retailers with pharmacies to stop selling tobacco

WOONSOCKET, R.I., September 3, 2014 — CVS Caremark Corporation (NYSE: CVS) announced today that it is changing its corporate name to CVS Health to reflect its broader health care commitment and its expertise in driving the innovations needed to shape the future of health.

“For our patients and customers, health is everything and CVS Health is changing the way health care is delivered to increase access, lower costs and improve quality,” announced Larry J. Merlo, President and CEO, CVS Health. “As a pharmacy innovation company at the forefront of a changing health care landscape, we are delivering breakthrough products and services, from advising on prescriptions to helping manage chronic and specialty conditions.”

CVS Health includes the company’s retail business, which continues to be called CVS/pharmacy; its pharmacy benefit management business, which is known as CVS/caremark; its walk-in medical clinics, CVS/minuteclinic; and its growing specialty pharmacy services, CVS/specialty. With 7,700 retail pharmacies, 900 walk-in medical clinics, a leading pharmacy benefits manager with nearly 65 million plan members, and expanding specialty pharmacy services, CVS Health enables people, businesses and communities to manage health in more affordable, effective ways.

“Each year, CVS Health touches more than 100 million people by playing an active, supportive role in each person’s unique health experience and in the greater health care environment,” said Merlo. “Consumers are increasingly taking control of their own health and, through our 26,000 pharmacists and nurse practitioners, we are helping people on their path to better health.”

CVS Health has a portfolio of programs to help people manage chronic disease and connects patients with pharmacists who help them stay on their prescribed medications. Digital capabilities are supplementing these programs to give customers a full view of their prescriptions. CVS Health’s Specialty Connect and Maintenance Choice programs integrate the company’s mail and retail capabilities, providing choice and convenience for patients. CVS Health is also forging strategic alliances with physicians and health plans through both CVS/pharmacy and CVS/minuteclinic to provide clinical support, medication counseling, chronic disease monitoring and wellness programs for their members.

As a further demonstration of its commitment to health, CVS Health also announced the end of tobacco sales at CVS/pharmacy as of September 3, nearly a month ahead of the previously targeted date of October 1. In February, the company announced that it would end the sale of cigarettes and tobacco products at its CVS/pharmacy stores, making CVS/pharmacy the first and only national pharmacy chain to take this step in support of the health and well-being of its patients and customers.

“Along with the start of CVS Health, the sale of cigarettes and tobacco products at CVS/pharmacy ends today. By eliminating cigarettes and tobacco products from sale in our stores, we can make a difference in the health of all Americans,” Merlo declared.

“The sale of tobacco in a retail pharmacy conflicts with the purpose of the health care services delivered there,” added Troyen A. Brennan, M.D., M.P.H., Chief Medical Officer, CVS Health. “Even more important, there is evidence developing that indicates that removing tobacco products from retailers with pharmacies will lead to substantially lower rates of smoking with implications for reducing tobacco-related deaths.”

Results of a new study from CVS Health, included in a Health Affairs blog, show that the enactment of policies to eliminate the sale of tobacco products at retailers with pharmacies in San Francisco and Boston was associated with up to a 13.3 percent reduction in purchasers of tobacco products.

“Today should mark a call to action by all retailers involved in health care,” said Matthew L. Myers, President, Campaign for Tobacco-Free Kids. “We urge other retailers with pharmacies to follow the powerful example set by CVS/pharmacy and end tobacco sales.”

In addition to removing cigarettes and tobacco products for sale, CVS Health kicked off a comprehensive and uniquely personalized smoking cessation campaign to help millions of Americans to quit smoking.

“Quitting smoking is one of the most important things you can do to improve your health and protect the health of your family, but quitting isn’t easy,” said Helena Foulkes, President, CVS/pharmacy.

The CVS Health smoking cessation program, designed with input from national experts, combines the efforts of CVS/pharmacy, CVS/minuteclinic and CVS/caremark to help smokers quit and includes four critical components: an assessment of the smoker’s readiness to quit, education to give smokers the information and tools they need to quit, medication support to help curb the desire to use tobacco and coaching to help individuals stay motivated and prevent relapses.

“We learned following our announcement in February that nearly everyone has a tobacco story and was eager to tell it,” Foulkes continued. “So, today we are launching a social campaign – #OneGoodReason – in which we are inviting everyone to share their personal stories of how smoking and tobacco use has affected their lives. Our hope is that through the sharing of these stories we can spark a movement that will make lasting improvements in health across our country.”

“Today, as CVS Health, we are tobacco-free, reinventing pharmacy and taking our place among leaders in the health care community,” Merlo concluded.

About CVS Health

CVS Health is a pharmacy innovation company helping people on their path to better health. Through our 7,700 retail pharmacies, 900 walk-in medical clinics, a leading pharmacy benefits manager with nearly 65 million plan members, and expanding specialty pharmacy services, we enable people, businesses and communities to manage health in more affordable, effective ways. This unique integrated model increases access to quality care, delivers better health outcomes and lowers overall health care costs. Find more information about how CVS Health is shaping the future of health at www.cvshealth.com.