State Sen Robert Ortt, chairman of the Senate’s Mental Health and Developmental Disabilities Committee, is praising the passage of two laws that will assist people with autism and other developmental disabilities.

One of the new laws requires the state to establish new screening guidelines for autism spectrum disorders (ASD) in children under four years old. Screening is a way to detect a disorder, such as autism, before the onset of symptoms. Previously, there had been no standardized screening approach for the early identification of autism, Ortt said.

Recent studies indicate that early detection and treatment have proven to be highly beneficial for the well-being of children who are on the autism spectrum, and thanks to this legislation, established and consistent screening guidelines will now be in place, he said.

“This will make certain that all parents and children, regardless of where they are tested, receive the most effective and beneficial methods that medical providers have to offer,” Ortt said.

The second new law creates a new optional identification card to help improve communication with people who have developmental disabilities. The new optional identification cards can be given to law enforcement or other first responders in an emergency and convey important details, such as potential difficulties with interpersonal communication or physical contact, or an inability to respond verbally, as well as additional contact information.

“Creation of an official document with consistent language, appearance, and application standards will improve the ability of individuals with developmental disabilities across the state to effectively communicate important information about their diagnoses,” Ortt said.

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Photo by Ginny Kropf: Jessica Downey, left, and Cindy Perry with Community Partners at Orleans Community Health display a poster board with information on prediabetes. Community Partners is offering classes in Medina and Albion on identifying those at risk and the prevention of type 2 diabetes.

Orleans Community Health’s Community Partners is offering a free 16-week workshop that has proven to help prevent or delay type 2 diabetes, according to Cindy Perry, director of outreach, education and marketing at Community Partners.

“Just making small changes in diet and exercise can be beneficial,” Perry said. “Exercise, which can just be cleaning house, can make a big difference.”

The Prevent T2 Lifestyle Change workshops will be offered at locations in Albion and Medina.

The Albion location will be at the Orleans County Health Department, with classes from 9 to 10 a.m., beginning Sept. 26.

In Medina, the classes are scheduled from 6 to 7 p.m. at Community Partners, 200 Ohio St. (Medina Memorial Hospital).

Trainers (or coaches) will be Perry and Jessica Downey.

“We are offering a night class to accommodate people who have careers during the day,” Downey said.

Individuals will learn skills to make lasting lifestyle changes, including healthy eating, adding physical activity to their lives, managing stress and staying motivated.

A study conducted by the Center for Disease Control showed that nine out of 10 people don’t know they have prediabetes, and those who took part in a structured lifestyle change program cut their risk of developing type 2 diabetes by 58 percent (71 percent for people over 60).

The study was so successful, it was discontinued ahead of time, Perry said.

In a previous program sponsored by Community Partners, one participant lowered her A1c from 6.3 to 5.7, which is the very bottom of the pre-diabetes range. She also lost seven percent of her body weight.

“My goal was to prevent diabetes and lower my A1c,” said the woman, who asked to be identified only as Anna. “It is possible to achieve positive results. It does take dedication and isn’t always easy, but it is definitely worth it. The class really helped me to become healthier. I enjoyed the interaction from the other participants, and we helped each other to stay on track and remain motivated.”

The impact of taking this program can last for years to come, Perry said. After 10 years, people who complete the program are one-third less likely to develop type 2 diabetes.

To register for the program, call 798-9541 or e-mail NDPP@orleanscountyny.gov.

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Press Release, Gov. Andrew Cuomo

Governor Andrew M. Cuomo today announced that 100 percent of all New York State public colleges at The State University of New York and The City University of New York will have a food pantry or stigma-free food access for students in need by the end of the fall semester.

The accomplishment will make New York the first state in the nation to have such a comprehensive program to combat student hunger. Currently, as classes begin, nearly 90 percent of SUNY and CUNY campuses offer these services as part of the Governor’s “No Student Goes Hungry Program.”

“Hunger should never be a barrier for those seeking to achieve their dreams of a higher education,” Governor Cuomo said. “New York is proud to be the first state in the nation to require every public campus to have a food pantry, ensuring that our students have all they need on the path to success.”

In his 2018 State of the State address, the Governor announced a five-point plan to combat hunger for students in kindergarten through college. The plan seeks to provide healthy, locally-sourced meals to the almost one million children in New York who do not have access to the adequate nutrition they need. As part of that plan, the Governor tasked SUNY and CUNY with the establishment of physical food pantries on campus or stigma-free access to free food.

“Food insecurity can affect anyone, including the students enrolled in our campuses,” said SUNY Chancellor Kristina M. Johnson. “Under the Governor’s leadership and with incredible support from all 64 SUNY campuses and partnerships across the state, we are quickly changing not only the conversation about hunger on our campuses, but how we support our students in critical need. Together, we are providing needed nutrition, ending the stigma around food insecurity, and helping ensure no student is forced to drop out because of limited access to the healthy food they need.”

In 2018, directly following the Governor’s announcement, SUNY created a Food Insecurity Task Force, drawing members from a broad spectrum of constituencies, including students; staff; faculty; auxiliary food service providers; food bank associations; civic organizations; and community and philanthropic organizations, to study the issue of food insecurity on college campuses and recommend the necessary changes and best practices to alleviate this serious issue to date.

In addition to the expansion of and access to food pantries, the task force’s efforts have helped establish and grow innovative intervention programs on SUNY campuses, including mobile food trucks, local farm crop sharing, a subsidized on campus grocery store, and programming that allows students to “pay” a campus parking ticket in food donations to an on-campus pantry.

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U.S. has more pregnancy-related deaths than any other developed country

Press Release, U.S. Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand

Courtesy of Kirsten Gillibrand’s Office – Maternal deaths per 100,000 live births

WASHINGTON, DC – With maternal mortality rates on the rise across the country and New York State, U.S. Senator Kirsten Gillibrand on Tuesday announced the Modernizing Obstetric Medicine Standards (MOMS) Act, new legislation that would help prevent women from suffering from medical complications or dying before, during, and after childbirth.

The United States has more pregnancy-related deaths than any other developed country in the world, particularly among black women. Each year it is estimated that there are at least 50,000 women who experience a complication during childbirth, and according to an NPR and ProPublica report, for every woman who dies in childbirth in the US, there are 70 women who nearly die.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) estimates that 60 percent of these deaths and complications are preventable. Hospitals often lack the funding necessary for supplies and proper training to implement standards to prevent complications and deaths arising from pregnancy and childbirth.

“Our state has one of the highest maternal mortality rates in the country, and our country has the highest maternal mortality rate in the industrialized world,” Gillibrand said. “It’s even worse for black women, who are three to four times more likely to die from pregnancy-related complications than white women. This is completely unacceptable and largely avoidable, and it’s a crisis that we can and must solve now.”

Kirsten Gillibrand

The MOMS Act would help reduce maternal deaths and complications in the United States by providing funding to states and hospitals to develop and implement standardized maternal safety best practices, in conjunction with the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), to prevent and respond to complications arising from pregnancy and childbirth.

New York State has one of the highest maternal mortality rates in the country, and over the past decade, the state has experienced a 60 percent increase in maternal mortality. To date, in August 2018, the rate of maternal mortality in New York State is 20.9 maternal deaths per 100,000 live births. In New York City, where half of the state’s births take place, there have been 22.6 maternal deaths per 100,000 live births so far this year. Racial disparities are also very evident, especially with black women, who are three to four times more likely to die from complications arising during or after childbirth. In New York City, black women are 12 times more likely to die from complications arising during or after childbirth.

“This much-needed legislation would help our hospitals monitor all mothers before, during, and after they give birth for preventable but potentially fatal conditions like hemorrhage and preeclampsia, and it would provide them with the federal funding they need to purchase supplies to implement new procedures and effectively treat patients,” Gillibrand said. “We need to protect and value mothers, and I urge my colleagues to join me in supporting this legislation to address the urgent crisis of maternal mortality and help end racial disparities in our health care system.”

The MOMS Act is cosponsored by Senators Cory Booker (D-NJ) and Kamala Harris (D-CA). This legislation would address the problem of maternal mortality by providing new funding to hospitals with obstetrics and gynecology practices that want to improve their response to pregnancy-related and pregnancy-associated complications by implementing standardized best practices.

Specifically, the MOMS Act would do the following:

• Promote and update maternal safety standards and best practices for hospitals: The MOMS Act would expand the Alliance for Innovation on Maternal Health (AIM) Program at HHS to develop new and update existing standardized maternal safety best practices and to provide technical assistance to states and hospitals to voluntarily implement such standards to prevent maternal mortality and morbidity.

• Create a grant program to help states and hospitals implement the standardized maternal safety best practices developed by AIM: The grant funding would be used to further develop, purchase the necessary supplies for, and conduct training to fully implement the new best practices for preventing maternal death and complications. Funding would be prioritized for hospitals serving low-income, at-risk, and rural populations.

• Improve the CDC Pregnancy Mortality Surveillance System to include reports from state Maternal Mortality Review Committee (MMRC) investigations of pregnancy-related and pregnancy-associated deaths.

• Direct the CDC to provide technical assistance to State MMRCs to review pregnancy-related and pregnancy-associated complications.

Gillibrand’s legislation is supported by Moms Rising, the Black Mamas Matter Alliance, the American College of Obstetrics and Gynecologists, and the Association of Maternal and Child Health Programs. Gillibrand is also a cosponsor of the Maternal Care Access and Reducing Emergencies Act (S. 3363), which would authorize two new grant programs to address the racial disparities in maternal care; the Maternal Health Accountability Act of 2017 (S. 1112), which would provide funding to states and Indian tribes to establish a new, or support the work of an existing, MMRC; and the Quality Care for Moms and Babies Act (S. 2637), which would create new ways to measure the quality of existing maternity and infant care provided through Medicaid and the Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP).

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Tony and Laura Sidari say young children are especially vulnerable

Photo by Tom Rivers

ALBION – The Albion Rotary Club this morning presented a check for $2,670 to the Leon Sidari Memorial Fund, which will be used by Orleans Community Health to promote flu vaccinations and also for the annual Breakfast with Santa at Medina Memorial Hospital.

Leon’s Fund was established as a non-profit organization in memory of Leon Sidari, who was 4 ½ when he died on Christmas, two days after getting the flu. Leon is the son of Albion natives Laura (Lyman) Sidari and Tony Sidari. They are both medical doctors who were based in San Antonio for six years before recently moving to Dayton, Ohio.

The Sidaris have been in Albion recently visiting family and friends. Pictured, from left, includes, Cindy Perry, Rotary golf tournament organizer and director of education, wellness and marketing for Orleans Community Health’s Community Partners; Cameron Sidari, 9 months; Laura Sidari; Tristan Sidari, 2; Tony Sidari; and Karen Sawicz, president of the Albion Rotary Club.

Leon Sidari

The funds from Rotary were raised during a July 19 golf tournament. The Sidaris are directing those funds to Orleans Community Health, which will be promoting flu shots in the community. Medina Memorial Hospital also has an annual breakfast with Santa and some of the golf tournament proceeds will go towards that event. Leon enjoyed Christmas and loved to give away presents.

“He was a fantastic kid,” his mother said. “We had a lot of hopes and dreams for him.”

The memorial fund in Leon’s name promotes flu shots and also has money to be given to help children with medical problems at Christmas time.

Laura and Tony said their son was very healthy and started showing flu symptoms on Dec. 23. Within 48 hours he died despite the efforts of a medical team at the hospital.

Leon had been vaccinated for the flu in prior years and was due for a flu shot soon after Christmas. He died from the strain of the virus called H3N2.

The Sidaris say young, healthy children can be ravaged by the flu. They are encouraging all children, 6 months or older, to be vaccinated.

Parents should have the children vaccinated every year to build their immunity in fighting off the flu, the Sidaris said. They urge children to be vaccinated early in the flu season in September or October.

“The flu shot reduces the risk of severe complications,” Tony said this morning at Hoag Library, where he and his wife accepted a ceremonial check from the Rotary Club.

Tony and Laura grew up together in Albion, attending the same preschool. Tony graduated from Albion in 2003 with Laura finishing Albion a year later. They were in the marching band together. They started dating at Cornell University.

They both earned licenses as medical doctors with Laura working as a psychiatrist and Tony as a rheumatologist. They are both in the Air Force.

Tony is the son of Lori Murek of Albion and Paul Sidari, who lives near Boston, Massachusetts. Laura is the daughter of Nathan and Gail Lyman, who now live in Ithaca.

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Photos by Tom Rivers

MURRAY – Th eighth annual Madisonation golf tournament was Sunday at Hickory Ridge Country Club. The tournament started in honor of Madison Muckle of Albion. She is pictured at right with her father Kevin Muckle, who organizes the annual event.

Proceeds from the tournament this year are being directed to Natalie Morley, 6, (left) and her mother Ariel Riddick of Lockport. Natalie is fighting cancer for the second time. She just endured a year of radiation and will be checked in October to see if the cancer is gone.

Natalie starts first grade today in Kenmore. She has been fighting stage 3of Embryonal Rhabdomyosarcoma Cancer, a soft tissue tumor. Her mother is optimistic the cancer is gone.

Muckle has been organizing the tournament for several years. He said he is grateful for the people who helped his daughter get through 2 ½ years of cancer treatments. On April 10 she reached the five-year mark of being cancer free.

Muckle of Batavia said he is very thankful for his daughter and her success in overcoming cancer. Madison, 10, starts fifth grade next week at Albion.

Mr. Muckle works as a traveling sales rep for a medical equipment company. He works on the golf tournament each year for about four months, lining up sponsors, raffle donations and golfers.

Scott Flick of Flicktures created this artwork of Bills rookie quarterback Josh Allen. There were many memorabilia items at the auction for players from the Buffalo Bills, Sabres and New York Yankees.

There were about 100 golfers on Sunday and the banquet was attended by about 160 people.

In the past the tournament has benefitted Camp Good Days, the Ronald McDonald House, the Make-A-Wish Foundation or other local families with a child fighting cancer.

Muckle met with Natalie and her mother and decided the funds this year should help Natalie’s family.

“She is a great kid,” he said.

Muckle was connected to Natalie’s family through a social worker at Roswell Park Cancer Center in Buffalo.

The tournament raised $7,000. That will help with out-of-pocket medical costs, gas, parking, food and other expenses.

Muckle thanked the many supporters for the tournament.

“Looking out and seeing all of these people is an emotional thing,” he said. “We do this because we want to give back.”

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Press Release, U.S. Sen. Charles Schumer

Photo by Tom Rivers: Albion firefighters battle a garage fire on Jan. 2, 2016 on South Clinton Street.

U.S. Senate Minority Leader Charles E. Schumer announced that as an amendment to the upcoming FY2019 Health and Human Services (HHS) minibus appropriations bill, the U.S. Senate passed $1 million in FY2019 funding for the national firefighter cancer registry.

Schumer explained that in June of this year, Congress passed legislation that would establish a specialized national firefighters’ cancer registry to be managed by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Schumer has long fought for this critical registry that would improve collection capabilities and activities related to the nationwide monitoring of cancer incidence among all firefighters, both career and volunteer. Schumer called the Senate passing funding for this registry a big step in the right direction, and vowed to see the funding through Congress and signed into law.

“Firefighters risk their lives every day, exposing themselves to harmful toxins and pollutants, and charging into extreme danger,” Schumer said. “We owe it to these courageous men and women to ensure that if they fall ill, they receive first-rate medical care and treatment.”

According to a five-year study conducted by the National Institute of Occupational Safety and Health, there are twice as many firefighters in the U.S. with malignant mesothelioma, a rare type of cancer caused by exposure to asbestos, when compared to the general population. The same study also found that firefighters have an increased risk of death from lung cancer and leukemia as compared to the general population.

“That’s why I was so proud to lead the effort to pass this bill and support this funding for the first-ever national firefighter cancer registry,” Schumer said. “The Senate took a big step in getting this vital program up and running. This registry, which I’ve long supported, will help researchers track, treat, and eventually prevent firefighters being stricken by cancer. I’ll always work tirelessly on behalf of our first responders, and vow to see this funding through Congress and signed into law.”

Schumer explained that firefighters are exposed to a range of harmful toxins when responding to emergency situations, often as a result of the noxious flame retardants and other chemicals that are used in everyday items, from furniture to clothing, and to even children’s toys. Experts and scientists have repeatedly sounded the alarm on the danger of these toxic chemicals because they have been found to cause developmental delays in children from long-term exposure in addition to rare cancers in firefighters when these products burn and the toxins become airborne.

Schumer said research has indicated that there is a strong connection between firefighting and an increased risk for several major cancers, including testicular, stomach, multiple myeloma and brain cancers. However, there has never been a long-term registry put in place that could be used to track the potential connections between firefighting and incidences of cancer.

Schumer, therefore, said this national firefighter cancer registry is of the utmost importance, so experts and researchers can more effectively monitor nationwide trends and incidences of cancer among firefighter – both career and volunteer. Schumer said such a registry would help medical professionals more effectively identify and treat cancer in firefighters over the long-term.

Specifically, this national firefighter cancer registry will do the following:

• First, this registry will compile in one place the epidemiological information submitted by healthcare professionals related to cancer incidence among firefighters.

• Second, it will make anonymous data available to public health researchers so that they would have access to the comprehensive datasets that will allow them to expand this groundbreaking research.

• Third, this registry will improve our understanding of cancer incidence as the registry grows, which could potentially lead to the development of advanced safety protocols and safeguards for the firefighters on the front lines each day.

• Finally, this legislation will allow for increased collaboration between the CDC and epidemiologists, public health experts, clinicians and firefighters through regular and consistent consultations to improve the effectiveness and accuracy of the registry.

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Press Release, GCASA

BATAVIA – The Genesee/Orleans Council on Alcoholism and Substance Abuse (GCASA) is very pleased to announce that the Opioid Treatment Program (OTP) will open on August 13. This will allow patients to receive methadone to treat their addiction.

GCASA has been providing Medication Assisted Treatment since 2004. Like many other diseases such as heart disease or diabetes, patients require medication to treat their medical conditions.  Dr. Matthew Fernaays, GCASA’s medical director, has prescribed naltrexone and buprenorphine for patients for several years, with great success for some patients. But they don’t work for all patients. With the opening of the OTP, he will be able to prescribe methadone to treat a patient’s addiction, increasing access to appropriate treatment services for residents in Genesee, Orleans, and Wyoming counties.

“The ability to provide methadone treatment in our rural area will help so many people in our community,” said Kathy Hodgins, Senior Services Director at GCASA. “Those who are unable to drive to Buffalo or Rochester daily will be able to access the care they need to treat their addiction right here in Batavia. This is huge for our community.”

Methadone is highly regulated and monitored. Licenses were obtained by NYS Office of Alcoholism and Substance Abuse Services (OASAS), the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), and Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA).

Research shows that most communities with similar programs have decreased rates of crime because people are able to get the help they need, instead of having to steal to maintain their drug use.

GCASA is very excited to be able to offer this treatment to help fight the opioid crisis.

“We want to see people in recovery,” said John Bennett, GCASA executive director. “We are working hard to fill in the gaps that currently exist in treatment services. We know that there are many pathways to recovery and we are grateful to be able to provide another path with methadone.”

GCASA has been serving Genesee and Orleans Counties for over 40 years. Services include prevention education and outpatient and residential treatment for individuals with substance use disorders; and an employee assistance program.

For more information, please call 585-343-1124 or visit gcasa.net.

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BATAVIA – The police chief who has developed an outreach program for people fighting opioid addictions will be the featured speaker on July 18 during the next Genesee-Orleans-Wyoming Opioid Task Force.

Peter Volkmann is the police chief for the Village of Chatham in Columbia, County. He developed “Chatham Cares 4 U” initiative in which any person can request help for opioid addiction and a treatment bed will be arranged with transportation guaranteed.

The Genesee-Orleans-Wyoming Opioid Task Force meets from 10 a.m. to noon on July 18 at GCC, One College Road in Batavia.

Chatham has been recognized as “the safest village” in New York State. But that hasn’t spared the community from the opioid epidemic.

Volkmann is also a faculty member for the International Critical Incident Stress Foundation in Ellicott City, MD and has been featured as an expert on stress for Dateline (NBC), Discovery Channel, MSNBC, and Law Enforcement Television Network (LETN). He will share how one small rural community has been an agent of change when addressing the opioid crisis.

Chief Volkmann will be available after the presentation to answer individual questions.

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Pettit and Bedard look to further transform Orleans and Genesee health departments

Press Release, Orleans and Genesee County Health Departments

Paul Pettit, Public Health Director for the Genesee and Orleans County Health Departments, will work to transform the role of public health in Genesee and Orleans Counties as part of the third cohort of The Kresge Foundation’s Emerging Leaders in Public Health initiative.

Kresge’s Emerging Leaders in Public Health was designed to provide public health leaders of county and local health departments to build additional knowledge and skills the challenges public health professionals face in their communities. The initiative is designed to develop local public health leaders in pairs and each pair includes the health officer and a future leader from the public health agency.

As a team, Paul Pettit and Brenden Bedard, Deputy Director / Director of Community Health Services for Genesee and Orleans County Health Departments, will be asked to challenge and support each other while building skills and competencies together.

“Public health leaders are valuable assets to our communities,” said Dr. Phyllis Meadows, senior advisor to The Kresge Foundation’s Health Program and the Emerging Leaders in Public Health lead. “Leaders in this program will have the opportunity to create meaningful and lasting change in their agencies that will positively impact those they serve.”

During the program, Pettit and Bedard will participate in an action-oriented program focused on the design and implementation of a transformative concept that shifts or expands the capacity of their local department.

They will also receive a grant up to $125,000 as well as coaching and technical assistance to evolve their ideas into action.

“We are excited to be a part of this national program,” stated Pettit. “Our project will be based on the development of a comprehensive telehealth program in Genesee and Orleans Counties to address our provider capacity and access issues.”

Pettit and Bedard join 19 other teams from across the country selected to participate in the third cohort of Emerging Leaders in Public Health. Collectively, the 20 health departments represented by cohort leaders serve nearly 10 million community members in communities across the country.

“This is a unique opportunity for our two rural counties to be on a national platform,” stated Bedard. “Not only will we be working on our project but have the opportunity to share strengths and challenges with other local health departments across the nation.”

The team will also join a growing community of public health leaders supported by The Kresge Foundation. Since 2015, 64 public health leaders have been trained through Emerging Leaders in Public Health. With the addition of Cohort III, Kresge meets its goal of providing leadership development and resources to more than 100 local, public health leaders across the country so that they can approach public health in a new way.

About The Kresge Foundation

The Kresge Foundation was founded in 1924 to promote human progress. Today, Kresge fulfills that mission by building and strengthening pathways to opportunity for low-income people in America’s cities, seeking to dismantle structural and systemic barriers to equality and justice. Using a full array of grant, loan, and other investment tools, Kresge invests more than $160 million annually to foster economic and social change. For more information visit kresge.org.

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Provided photos: Mary Ann Pettibon, Oak Orchard Health chief executive officer, is pictured with Mike Andriatch, Vice President for Advancement for The College at Brockport during a reception for Pettibon on June 19 at the college.

BROCKPORT – The Board of Directors of Oak Orchard Health hosted the community at a welcome reception last week in honor of its new CEO, Mary Ann Pettibon. The event took place at the College at Brockport.

The reception allowed members of local, state and federal government, as well as business owners, other health care professionals, representatives from the college and Brockport Central School, and other community members to meet Ms. Pettibon and learn more about her and about Oak Orchard Health.

Karen Watt of Albion, chairwoman of the board, delivered opening remarks and educated the guests on the complex process of finding and hiring the right person to be the CEO of a Federally Qualified Health Center like Oak Orchard. Besides the standard hiring process, CEO candidates must pass federal requirements as well. Ms. Pettibon comes to Oak Orchard with outstanding qualifications, and the Board of Directors is delighted to have her as the new CEO.

Retiring CEO Jim Cummings introduced Ms. Pettibon to the guests, mentioning what a wonderful transition period they have had working together the last month and a half.  He officially retires at the end of June.

Pettibon kept her remarks brief but expressed her delight at being chosen to lead the organization.  “I am energized by Oak Orchard’s passionate Board of Directors and their experienced staff, and I look forward to moving the organization ahead to the next level.”

Oak Orchard Board Chair Karen Watt with guest, Lisa Franclemont, who is coordinator of Cancer Services of Genesee and Orleans.

Pettibon comes to Oak Orchard with an Executive MBA from the University of Pittsburgh, Katz School of Business, and almost 20 years of health care administration experience in Ohio and Pennsylvania – including roles as a CEO and COO in Federally Qualified Health Centers in Ohio.

Not only well versed in the management and operations of a multi-million dollar health care facility, Pettibon has also authored grants in which she secured almost $2 million in funding for her organization. Her experience includes primary medical care, dental care, and behavioral health care along with substance abuse and pharmacy operations.

Pettibon is drawn to health care in the rural setting because she knows how patients in the rural areas struggle with access to quality medical care.

“Caring for the whole person is critical,” she said. “We have to offer integrated, coordinated care, including transportation, assistance with housing, health education … and continue to work toward breaking down barriers to quality health care that our rural population faces.”

Oak Orchard Health is one of 1,250 Federally Qualified Health Centers in the country. These centers provide primary health care to over 30 million people.

At Oak Orchard Health, the organization saw more than 21,000 people with just under 66,000 total visits in 2017 to the Oak Orchard sites in Warsaw, Hornell, Albion, Lyndonville and Brockport, as well as the mobile dental unit that sees children in Orleans County schools. Oak Orchard staff also go to farm worker living sites for important screenings and inoculations, Watt said.

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Press Release, Gov. Andrew Cuomo

Governor Andrew M. Cuomo last week announced an aggressive Lyme and tick-borne disease control plan to control tick populations on public lands, increase public awareness and access to available data, and create a working group to participate in a Lyme disease summit this summer.

To implement this plan, the Governor has directed the Department of Health, Department of Environmental Conservation, and the Office of Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation to collaborate in order to target priority counties and public lands with the highest risk of tick exposure and Lyme disease. Tick season has started in many areas of the state and will continue through November.

“Lyme disease and other tick-borne illnesses are a major threat to the health and wellbeing of New Yorkers, and we are taking aggressive actions to help stop the spread of these disease,” Governor Cuomo said. “With this control plan, New York is making a major commitment to research, awareness, and prevention of this public health crisis to keep New Yorkers safe and free of these preventable diseases.”

Tick Control Methods

Tick control methods will include strategic application of eco-friendly tick control treatments on parkland in the Hudson Valley, Capital Region, and Southern Tier where the public is at the highest risk of tick exposure and Lyme disease. Additionally, the state will expand the use of 4-Poster “tickicide” deer treatment feeding stations that help to control ticks spread by white-tailed deer. While the deer feed on corn at the station, treated rollers brush insecticide against the animal’s neck, head, and ears where many adult ticks tend to feed. The stations are already successfully in use in certain areas on Long Island, including Robert Moses State Park and Connetquot River State Park.

Due to rodents also being largely responsible for infecting ticks with Lyme disease, the state will expand use of commercial products to combat the spread of illness by rodents. This includes the deployment of tubes filled with permethrin-treated cotton balls which mice use for nesting material, which kills the ticks in their early larval stage when they attach to mice. The state will also expand its usage of the Tick Control System, a small box that attracts rodents. When an animal enters the box, it receives a low dose of fipronil, which is the active ingredient in many treatments used to eliminate ticks on dogs and cats. The state will also conduct aggressive routine maintenance of vegetation areas at these parks to minimize potential exposure of visitors to ticks.

Expanded Education and Outreach

Beginning immediately, participating agencies will develop a campaign focused on deploying information about tick-borne disease and prevention, specifically targeting high-risk groups such as hunters and hikers. DEC will expand its website to include a tick-borne disease page featuring information relevant to anglers, hunters, trappers, hikers, and those who enjoy outdoor recreation in New York. This page will also be linked with DOH’s website.

In addition, DEC will coordinate with 1,600 sporting license issuing agents across the state to distribute information and material on ticks and tick-borne diseases, and will utilize agencies’ mailing lists and electronic newsletters to keep thousands of outdoor enthusiasts informed. OPRHP will also distribute information and materials to hunters through their hunting permit program and make information available to visitors, and will continue to post metal tick warning signs on state lands and parks.

Expanded Data Access

DOH will post current and retrospective tick collection and testing results to Health Data NY, opening up the data to the public. This information was previously only shared with local health departments and state park managers to aid in their education and prevention campaigns. Given the considerable interest in this information from providers, researchers and advocates, the Department will now make this information more readily available to the general public.

Research and Evaluation

Tick-borne diseases, particularly Lyme disease, are among the fastest growing infectious diseases in the United States. However, diagnosing Lyme disease can be particularly difficult. Patients with Lyme disease can present a number of possible symptoms, which can wane over time, and be easily confused with hundreds of other diseases. The Governor has directed the Department of Health to pursue private research partnerships to develop a better diagnostic test, which can ultimately lead to more effective treatments.

Working Group and Summit

Governor Cuomo has directed the Department of Health to establish a new working group on Lyme and other tick-borne diseases comprised of representatives from professional organizations, academic institutions, and local health departments. The working group will join participating state agencies at a one-day summit, to be held this summer, to review New York State’s current initiatives and make policy recommendations on actions that New York State can take in the next one to three years to advance prevention, diagnostics, and other best practices.

New York State Health Commissioner Dr. Howard Zucker said, “These new initiatives complement the Department’s renowned research efforts and aggressive actions to better inform and better protect New Yorkers from tick-borne illnesses. I commend Governor Cuomo for this commitment and for instituting bold new control measures to help limit the spread of these diseases and protect public health.”

Tick Prevention Tips

• While hiking, working, or spending time in wooded areas: Wear long pants and long-sleeved shirts to protect against ticks other biting insects

• Check for ticks every two to three hours while outdoors and brush off any ticks before they attach.

• Perform a full body check multiple times during the day, as well as at the end of the day to ensure that no ticks are attached.

• Consider use of repellents containing DEET, picaridin, or IR3535, following label instructions

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Press Release, Genesee and Orleans County Health Departments

Genesee and Orleans County Health Departments were recently notified each county would receive $30,500 in New York State Department of Health’s ongoing Local Health Department Performance Incentive Initiative.

This is the fourth year of the program which NYSDOH chose to focus on improving performance in chronic disease prevention for the fall 2016 to June 2017 timeframe.

Although chronic disease has surpassed communicable disease as the leading cause of death and disability in the United States, public health activities to prevent chronic disease may be less established for some local health departments.

The 2016 Performance Incentive initiative encouraged LHDs to strengthen those efforts and meet related standards established by the Public Health Accreditation Board. In addition to improving chronic disease prevention activities, this year’s Incentive Program exposed LHDs to the process of submitting documentation for full PHAB accreditation.

This incentive program is voluntary and 41 local health departments participated, completing the initiative by submitting all the required documentation during the performance period.

All participating counties received a $5,000 base award and a total of 20 LHDs received a base award and additional incentive award based on the scoring of their submission. The incentive awards ranged from $25,500 to $60,500 based on county population size. Of the 17 small counties that participated, eight were awarded the full incentive funding which included Genesee and Orleans counties.

“I am pleased with the efforts the staff in both counties put forth while participating in the Incentive Program and to be recognized by receiving the maximum award,” said Paul Pettit, director of Genesee and Orleans County Health Departments. “It also gave our staff an opportunity to see the process used to eventually apply for national accreditation in the future.

Pettit said the health departments in Genesee and Orleans are looking at options for spending the grant.

“All funds are to be spent to support costs associated with Article 6 eligible services / state aid-eligible,” he said.  “These funds will help support several different public health projects over the next year.”

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