WNY employers and organizations are challenged to ‘Eat Well Live Well’

The Fall edition of the award-winning “Eat Well Live Well Challenge,” an employee wellness program promoted by the nonprofit Wellness Institute of Greater Buffalo, is right around the corner, and the Institute is inviting all Western New York employers and organizations to help promote healthier lifestyles.

This results-focused wellness program, provided by Wegmans Markets, challenges participants to increase their physical activity and make good nutrition choices. Together, these actions enable individuals to improve their health and lower their risk for unnecessary medical costs from chronic illnesses.

Healthier employees also benefit employers — and the communities they are located in — through improved workplace productivity and morale while positively impacting job retention and job creation.

“Participants are asked to do three simple things for eight weeks,” said Wellness Institute Executive Director Philip Haberstro (www.CreatingHealthyCommunities.org). “All employees have to do is use a pedometer to record their steps each day, record the number of cups of fruit and vegetables eaten each day, and aim to make at least one meal a day follow the health-promoting ‘half-plate guide.’ Participants may also track their blood pressure and weight if they so choose.”

Western New York statistics show that more than 60 percent of our adult population is insufficiently physically active and overweight, resulting in an increase in the number of diabetes cases. Obesity and physical inactivity account for 25 to 30 percent of several major cancers and put employees at greater risk of cardiovascular disease, including high blood pressure and stroke. All of these preventable chronic diseases increase community sickness care spending.

“That’s where Eat Well Live Well comes in,” added Haberstro. “The Eat Well Live Well Challenge is a proven health promotion program that requires a minimal amount of time and investment for a powerful return. Participants need only walking shoes, pedometers and the desire to be healthy! It’s a very simple, confidential and productive way to engage employees and family members to lead a healthier lifestyle. Employers from all sectors will discover that the program results in greater teamwork, builds camaraderie and complements existing efforts to manage health costs.”

To learn more about the Challenge, please enroll in one of the free upcoming informational sessions. These brief meetings will take place from 8:30 to 9:30 a.m. Thursday, Aug. 29, or Friday, Sept. 13. Participants need only attend one informational session, to be held at the Wegmans store at 651 Dick Road, Depew, in the corporate office conference room. Advance registration is required by calling 851-4052 or emailing beactive@city-buffalo.org. Up to two employees per organization may attend, and please note that space is limited.

The website www.eatwelllivewell.org, free for employers, employees and community organizations, offers user-friendly support and resources to help participants achieve their wellness goals.

“With more than 220,000 participants nationally, the Eat Well Live Well Challenge has received national recognition and a Certificate of Recognition for Outstanding Prevention Efforts from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services,” said Haberstro. “The Challenge has been successfully implemented for several years in the Buffalo-Niagara region, with participation from employers such as Rich Products, New Era Cap, American Red Cross, Walsh Insurance Group, M&T Bank, University at Buffalo, Town of Tonawanda Police and the Buffalo Public School System.”

Institute for Autism Research Receives $3.4 Million Grant

BUFFALO, NY – The Institute for Autism Research (IAR) at Canisius College is the recipient of a four year, $3.4 million research grant from the U.S. Department of Education Institute of Education Sciences (IES). It is the largest research grant ever awarded to Canisius College.

“The IAR is a leading center for innovative research and treatment programs for children on the autism spectrum,” says Richard A. Wall, PhD, interim vice president for academic affairs. “The new funding will allow the Institute to significantly expand on this and, at the same time, further the applied learning experiences and academic programming opportunities already available to undergraduate and graduate students. Canisius is grateful to the IES for its tremendous support.”

Established in 2009, the Institute for Autism Research is dedicated to better understanding autism and enhancing the lives of affected children. The hallmark of the neurological disorder is a pervasive deficit in social skills: children are socially withdrawn; they struggle to express their emotions; and are unable to read facial expressions in others. Additional impairments include narrow interests and obsessive routines. As children grow, their impairments often become more complicated, both behaviorally and emotionally, and may include problems such as depression and anxiety. Helping these children succeed academically and socially once they enter school is an area that has been largely overlooked.

The Institute for Autism Research will use the IES grant to evaluate the effectiveness of its newly-developed comprehensive school-based intervention program, schoolMAX, for elementary school children diagnosed with high-functioning autism spectrum disorders (HFASDs).

“The increasing number of students with HFASDs is posing a major intervention challenge to schools,” says Christopher Lopata, PsyD, co-director of the IAR and principal investigator on the IES grant. “This has led to a significant need for school-based interventions for students with HFASDs.”

SchoolMAX is a comprehensive treatment program that combines psychology with education to teach children appropriate social and communication skills and behaviors, and decrease their autism symptoms. Each treatment component targets a different impairment but the methodology is based on teaching specific skills and providing the students with multiple opportunities to practice the skills across the school day. Specifically designed activities that are fun in nature are also used for practicing skills with other students in natural settings.

Each time a child carries out a learned skill, the student receives immediate feedback to strengthen learning and the skill used is recorded on an individual daily note, or IDN. The IDNs document the student’s progress and which treatment strategies work best in the classroom. Parents also participate in parent education sessions and work with their children at home on specific skills.

Early pilot studies indicated that schoolMAX resulted in significant gains for children on the spectrum.

“Children demonstrated increased knowledge and use of social skills, a greater ability to read facial and emotional expressions in others, and a substantial decrease in the severity of autism spectrum disorder symptoms,” explainsMarcus Thomeer, PhD, co-director of the IAR and co-principal investigator on the grant.

SchoolMAX is an extension of the IAR’s summerMAX program, which was one of the first comprehensive treatment programs proven effective for children with high-functioning autism spectrum disorders. Children who participate in summerMAX consistently show vast improvements in their understanding of what social skills to use in a range of social situations, according to results from two randomized clinical trials. “Children are also more likely to engage in social interactions compared to those who do not receive treatment, and maintain their social gains after completing the five-week program,” adds Thomeer.

The IES grant will fully fund a cluster randomized controlled trial to evaluate the efficacy of the IAR’s schoolMAX program. The research project will take place in elementary schools throughout Western New York and involve 96 elementary students (grades 1-5), their teachers and parents over the course of four years. The grant will also fund a total of 25 undergraduate and graduate research assistants each year, for four years.

“The IAR is committed to training the next generation of researchers and practitioners so graduate and undergraduate students work closely with members of the IAR on a range of research and clinical projects,” says Lopata. “Not only do they gain critical research and clinical skills but they also have the opportunity to earn academic credits.”

The Institute for Autism Research was created at Canisius to continue leading-edge research on autism spectrum disorders. Housed in the newly-opened Science Hall, it provides researchers and affiliated faculty the facilities necessary to study and treat autism spectrum disorders in a collaborative manner. This is the second IES grant awarded to the researchers at the IAR. They previously received a three-year, $1.2 million research grant to develop and pilot test the comprehensive school-based intervention for children with high-functioning autism spectrum disorders.

For more information on the Institute for Autism Research, click here or contact the Office of Public Relations at (716) 888-2790.

Don’t stop protecting your skin, even if summer is coming to an end

Summer is coming to an end, but the risk for skin cancer is still present. Medical professionals suggest wearing a sunscreen of SPF 15 or higher every day and covering exposed skin, even in the fall months.

Skin cancer prevention is becoming increasingly important; rates of melanoma, the deadliest form of skin cancer, have increased by 800 percent among young women and 400 percent among young men in the U.S. in the last 40 years, according to the Skin Cancer Foundation.

“Skin cancer doesn’t only affect older people,” said Dr. Richard Vienne, vice president and chief medical officer with Univera Healthcare. ”Teenagers and young adults are at risk and need to take prevention seriously.”

One or more blistering sunburns in childhood or adolescence more than doubles a person’s chance of developing melanoma later in life. Yet half of young adults said they’ve been sunburned in the last year, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Less than 15 percent of high school students use a sunscreen of SPF 15 or higher when they’re outside for more than an hour on a sunny day, according to the Skin Cancer Foundation.

Take action to prevent sunburns and skin cancer by doing more than the minimum; simply applying sunscreen on summer beach or pool days is not enough. Skin needs to be protected during fall, winter and spring months as well.

The Skin Cancer Foundation recommends: 

• Using a water-resistant, broad spectrum (UVA/UVB) sunscreen with an SPF of 30 or higher when you’ll be outside for a long period of time.
• Applying sunscreen 30 minutes before going outside.
• Reapplying sunscreen after two hours of sun exposure, swimming or sweating. 
• Wearing UVA/UVB protective sunglasses and protecting your face with wide-brimmed hats.
• Seeking shade, especially midday. 
• Avoiding indoor tanning.

To learn more visit http://brand.univerahealthcare.com/infographics/skincancer.html to view our skin
cancer statistics and prevention.

School supply giveaway set for Independent Health Foundation’s East Side Good for the Neighborhood event

BUFFALO, N.Y. (July 29, 2013) – Free school supplies will be available at the Independent Health Foundation’s Good for the Neighborhood program from 5 to 6:30 p.m. Wednesday, Aug. 7, 2013, at Westminster Community Charter School, 24 Westminster Ave.

The free giveaway is available while supplies last at this month’s event, which is open to the public on a first-come, first-served basis. Attendees need not be members of Independent Health, but a child must be present to receive the free supplies.

The supply giveaway is part of a back-to-school theme at the Good for the Neighborhood event, which also includes activities for children, a free farmers’ market with fresh fruits and vegetables, a healthy cooking demonstration by the Westminster Kitchen and free healthy food samples. In addition, this event features free health screenings for blood pressure, glucose, cholesterol and body mass index, as well free vision screenings provided by Davis Vision.

Good for the Neighborhood brings health and wellness programs to residents in underserved areas to improve their health. The program is made possible in part by AstraZeneca and The John R. Oishei Foundation. For more information on this event, please contact the Independent Health Foundation at 635-4959.

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

Diabetes Center is Awarded by American Diabetes Association

The DiabetesCenter at the Women & Children’s Hospital of Buffalo joined the league of selected pediatric diabetes centers in the U.S. to be awarded Education Recognition by the American Diabetes Association (ADA).

While the DiabetesCenter has been accredited by the National Committee of Quality Assurance (NCQA), thereby providing a reliable indicator that our center is well-managed and delivers high quality care and service, there are new requirements for top centers to also be accredited by the ADA.

With its award, the ADA recognizes the DiabetesCenter at Women & Children’s Hospital of Buffalo for meeting the national standards for diabetes self-management education and expressed its confidence in our center’s effort, commitment and success in providing quality diabetes education.

This project was spearheaded by Dr. Indrajit Majumdar and made possible by our entire diabetes team, including the researchers who supplement our clinical providers and interact with patients on a daily basis.

The DiabetesCenter operates as a partnership between UBMD Pediatrics and Women & Children’s Hospital of Buffalo. The Center plays a key role in the Western New York community where over 900 children with Type 1 and Type 2 diabetes receive care. Although commonly thought of as an adult disease, Type 2 diabetes is now being diagnosed in children due in large part to the epidemic of childhood obesity.

The Center is the only pediatric hospital to have received the designation of the Diabetes Center of Excellence for Type 2 diabetes from the New York State Department of Health with a grant awarded between 2006 – 2011; followed by a New York State grant awarded in 2011 for Obesity Prevention.

The Division of Endocrinology/Diabetes is part of UBMD Pediatrics and is affiliated with the School of Medicine and Biomedical Sciences at the University at Buffalo. It provides comprehensive care to infants, children and young adults affected by diabetes or hormonal (endocrine) disorders. These include, but are not limited to: short stature, overweight, thyroid and adrenal conditions, disorders of pubertal development and sexual differentiation, bone health and disorders of calcium metabolism. The Division's mission is to deliver the best care to children with diabetes and endocrine disorders in Western New York and beyond, while bringing to them the latest in research development.

The DiabetesCenter is also a participant in TrialNet, an international study funded by multiple sources including the National Institutes of Health, whose main focus is to develop interventions that will prevent, delay and reverse the progression of Type 1 diabetes. For more information on TrialNet, please click on the following link: http://www.buffalo.edu/news/releases/2013/05/002.html

Center of Excellence Award for Advanced Life Support Care

Women & Children’s Hospital of Buffalo has the only ECMO program in Western New York for patients with serious heart and lung dysfunction

Women & Children's Hospital of Buffalo has been recognized by the Extracorporeal Life Support Organization (ELSO) as a Center of Excellence for medical advancement with Extracorporeal Membrane Oxygenation (ECMO), a therapy that provides support to patients with serious heart and lung dysfunction.

The ELSO award signifies a commitment to exceptional patient care. To the healthcare community, it also demonstrates an assurance of high quality standards, specialized equipment and supplies, defined patient protocols, and advanced education of all staff members.

Women & Children’s Hospital of Buffalo has the only ECMO program in Western New York fully recognized as a Center of Excellence by ELSO, an organization of healthcare professionals and scientists dedicated to the development and evaluation of novel therapies for support of failing organ systems. ELSO’s goal is to recognize and honor programs worldwide that reach the highest level of performance, innovation, satisfaction and quality with its Center of Excellence Award.

This is the third time that Women & Children’s Hospital of Buffalo has received the Center of Excellence distinction, having first received it in 2009.

The ELSO Award Committee noted an example that is beyond expectations of the ELSO guidelines as noteworthy. This example noted by ELSO is of the excellent use of the ELSO Registry data. The letter from ELSO about this Center of Excellence award stated, “You are to be congratulated on the work your center has done increasing the use of VV mode of ECMO therapy!”

The ECMO team consists of critical care physicians, pediatric surgeons, ECMO specialist nurses and respiratory therapists, and is supported by a diverse group of pediatric health care professionals. The team is led by Dr. Omar Al-Ibrahim, medical director of the ECMO & Apheresis Programs, Cathy Ducato, RN, ECMO coordinator, and Judy Murcko, RN, manager, Pediatric Intensive Care Unit (PICU).

The ECMO program supports the Regional Perinatal Center at Women & Children’s Hospital of Buffalo and has saved critical newborn infants born in Western New York with life-threatening respiratory failure.

The PICU at Women & Children's Hospital of Buffalo is a state-of-the-art, 20-bed multidisciplinary medical/surgical unit and the only unit of its kind in the surrounding eight counties delivering specialized pediatric care for the most critically sick and injured infants and children in Western New York, including those with extremely severe heart and lung dysfunction.

Report Warns of Child Poverty's Educational and Economic Consequences

(BHL) With more than one in five children living in poverty, the United States faces worsening educational, economic, and social consequences if nothing is done to address the problem, a new report published by the Educational Testing Service finds.

According to the report, Poverty and Education: Finding the Way Forward, the official poverty rate for children in the U.S. is 15 percent — the second highest among the thirty-five richest countries in the world — although the Supplementary Poverty Measure puts the rate at 22 percent, with 2.8 million children living in extreme poverty. Researchers estimate that such high poverty rates cost the country $500 billion a year in lower earnings, lost tax revenue, and other negative long-term effects.

The study found that poor children are more likely to be raised in single-parent families, are more likely to be exposed to tobacco smoke and lead, and are more likely to be food insecure. Moreover, environmental factors associated with poverty influence both the educational opportunities available to poor children and the outcomes they can be expected to achieve, while federal education programs designed to address the relationship between a child's economic status and his or her educational outcomes do little to counter-balance the inequities in local school finance systems. With that in mind, the report recommends more and equitable funding for public schools, expanding access to high-quality preschool education, reducing segregation by income and race/ethnicity, and recognizing the critical importance of high-quality teachers.

"While education has been envisioned as the great equalizer, this promise has been more myth than reality," said Bruce Baker, a Rutgers University Graduate School of Education professor and a co-author of the report. "Not only is the achievement gap between the poor and the non-poor twice as large as the achievement gap between black and white students, but tracked differences in the cognitive performances of students in every age group show substantial differences by income or poverty status. These differences undoubtedly contribute to the increasing stratification of who attends and graduates from college, limiting economic and social mobility and serving to perpetuate the gap between rich and poor."

Become a Chronic Disease Self Management Program Leader!

The NYS Quality Technical Assistance Program is hosting a Regional 4-day Chronic Disease Self Management Program Peer Leader Training in Erie County September 9, 10, 16 and 17 from 9am-4:30pm at OLV Senior Neighborhood, 55 Melroy Avenue, Lackawanna, NY 14218.

The Chronic Disease Self-Management Program is a workshop given two and a half hours, once a week, for six weeks, in community settings such as senior centers, churches, libraries and hospitals. People with different chronic health problems attend together. Workshops are facilitated by two trained leaders, one or both of whom are non-health professionals with chronic diseases themselves.

Subjects covered include: 1) techniques to deal with problems such as frustration, fatigue, pain and isolation, 2) appropriate exercise for maintaining and improving strength, flexibility, and endurance, 3) appropriate use of medications, 4) communicating effectively with family, friends, and health professionals, 5) nutrition, 6) decision making, and, 7) how to evaluate new treatments.

Each participant in the workshop receives a copy of the companion book, Living a Healthy Life With Chronic Conditions, 4th Edition, and an audio relaxation CD,Relaxation for Mind and Body.*

It is the process in which the program is taught that makes it effective. Classes are highly participative, where mutual support and success build the participants’ confidence in their ability to manage their health and maintain active and fulfilling lives.

To learn more about this program see https://nycdsmp.groupsite.com/main/summary

Understanding the Importance of Women's Heart Health

When:

Wednesday, August 21, 5:30pm – 7:30pm

Where:

Millennium Hotel, 2040 Walden Avenue, Cheektowaga, NY (map)

Description:

Join women’s heart physicians for a free dinner presentation on what women need to know about cardiac disease. The medical experts will discuss the latest in prevention, recognition and treatment of heart diseases that we face. Presenters include Mrinalini Meesala, MD, Laura Ford-Mukkamala, MD, Thomas Smith, MD and Diane Sutter, MD. Registration is required. To register, call Catholic Health’s HealthConnection at (716) 706-2112.

more details» copy to my calendar

Taking Athletic Performance to the Next Level

When:  

Monday, August 12, 5:30pm – 7:30pm

Where: 

Sisters of Charity Hospital, St. Joseph Campus, 1st Floor Community Room, 2605 Harlem Road, Cheektowaga, NY 14225 (map)

Description: 

Trainers and coaches – Are you using the latest research-based techniques to enhance training and performance, and reduce the risk of injury in your athletes? Join John Karpie, MD; previous Assistant Team Physician for the Boston Celtics and the Tufts University Football and Hockey teams for a special one-night seminar for coaches, trainers and community members. Dr. Karpie will discuss overuse injuries that side-line WNY athletes, what you can do to prevent injury, and how to enhance performance for your teams. Also, physical therapist Kira Kremer and athletic trainer Sean McGuire will speak on Sportsmetrics™, a unique six-week jump training program incorporating stretching, special plyometric exercises and weight training. Seating is limited. Please register today. Call HealthConnection at (716) 706-2112 or or click here to register online.