WWW.LIFETIMEHEALTH.ORG • BUFFALO

NEWS

SUMMER 2006

Physical Therapy Now at Mosher! (see back page)

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IS THERE SUCH A THING AS A

Safe Tan?

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raving a tan but fearing skin cancer? Consider using a self-tanner to achieve the look of sun-kissed skin. According to the Journal of the American Academy of Dermatology, it’s best to choose self-tanners with a dye called dihydroxyacetone (DHA). These lotions offer the safest and most effective way to get a tan. DHA reacts with proteins to brown the skin’s surface. As skin sheds, the color fades. Products containing DHA work best on people with naturally golden-toned skin. Apply these self-tanners every few hours until you have the color you want. Then, reapply every one to four days to maintain the tan. For best results: Exfoliate your skin before applying the self-tanner. Use it sparingly on knees, elbows and ankles. Just remember: They won’t prevent burning. Some self-tanners contain sunscreen, but protection only lasts a few hours. Use a regular sunscreen before heading out into the sun. “Tanning without proper protection is detrimental to your skin. Even with sunscreen, regular use of tanning parlors or extensive exposure to sun will increase your risk of skin cancer and lead to wrinkles later on,” said Brett Shulman, MD, boardcertified dermatologist for Lifetime Health Medical Group. Dr. Shulman recommends staying away from tanning parlors altogether, and using an all-day sunscreen that is both waterproof and sweat proof. ■

inside this issue:

3 AfterHours Instead of the ER 4 State of Relaxation 5 A Rainbow for Good Health

President’s Message to You

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Cynthia Ambres, MD

oes the idea of getting an appointment the day you call, even for routine care, sound appealing to you? Then we have good news. Lifetime Health Medical Group has implemented “advanced access” for you. This will allow you to receive care at the time of your choice— whether today, or in three weeks. Now you can see your doctor on the same day that you get sick, or schedule a future appointment that best fits your busy life. Advanced access is an innovative approach to “doing today’s work today.” This is unlike many traditional approaches to primary care, where doctors come into each day with a full schedule, sometimes even with double-booked patients and past work yet to complete. This results in longer

wait times for you and the inability to see your doctor at the time you need. In contrast to traditional models, advanced access is designed to accommodate patients. No matter when you need an appointment, we strive to make one available to you through advanced access. With our health centers in western New York and Rochester actively practicing this initiative, we can address your healthcare needs in a convenient, timely manner. Like many other goals worth achieving, advanced access takes constant work to reach and maintain. Our providers utilize a variety of smart strategies to do so. One of these strategies is combining appointments when possible to get more done in one visit, instead of making you come back for

Extreme Makeover—Health Center Edition If you’ve been inside Lifetime Health Medical Group’s centers recently, you may have noticed the buildings are sporting a new look! New signage is going up in entrances, exits and lobbies to add a personal, welcoming touch to the centers. Joseph C. Wilson Health Center in Rochester and Amherst University Health Center in western New York were the first to receive the makeover. The “face-lifts” also include improved directional signage. “We want our patients to feel welcome when they enter our centers, and the new signage helps us in this effort,” said Dr. Cynthia Ambres, President, Lifetime Health Medical Group.

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a future appointment. Not only does this offer you convenience and save you time, but it also increases your doctor’s availability in the future. We also can provide some information by phone to optimize your doctor’s availability and avoid unnecessary travel for you. The care providers at Lifetime Health Medical Group work in teams. Each team assigned to your care consists of a doctor, a nurse practitioner, a registered nurse and a patient service representative. If for any reason your physician is unavailable, we will offer you an appointment with one of your team members. Our staff is committed to innovative care, including initiatives like advanced access. Access to quality care when you need it! Now that’s an idea we can all embrace. ■

On the Go and Injured? AfterHours Instead of the ER amily outings are a staple of summer fun. You do your best to be safe, but sometimes injuries or illnesses still occur. So as you are out and about this summer, keep your medical care options in mind. When your primary care physician’s office is closed, and an injury doesn’t merit waiting hours in the emergency room, you can take advantage of AfterHours Medical Care. You will pay less than an emergency room visit—typically your office visit co-pay— and receive the care you need much more quickly. When you or your child needs urgent, but not emergency care, AfterHours can provide quality treatment for minor injuries and illness, including cuts, sprains, simple fractures, minor lacerations, earaches, fever and minor burns. AfterHours

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Lifetime Health Medical Group Welcomes New Provider David Brauer, MD, will join Lifetime Health Medical Group on August 1, in the primary care practice at the West Seneca Health Center. Dr. Brauer joins Dr. Ed Kim and Dr. Lisa Forehand in this practice. Dr. Brauer will be accepting new patients. He completed medical school and his residency at the University at Buffalo School of Medicine and Biomedical Sciences. He earned his undergraduate degree in biology and chemistry from Valparaiso University in Indiana. Dr. Brauer now lives in Amherst with his wife and new baby.

Medical Care is open on evenings, weekends and holidays to give you the care you need, when you need it. No appointments are necessary; simply walk in to one of the locations below for treatment. ■

Visit us at one of our two AfterHours locations: Amherst University Health Center 1185 Sweet Home Road Amherst

West Seneca Health Center 120 Gardenville Parkway West West Seneca

A reminder: AfterHours Medical Care at the Mosher Health Center is closed for the summer. Sessions will resume in the fall. For more information, please call 716/656-4355. lifetime health | buffalo | summer 2006

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dangling pocket watch and a man saying, “You are getting sleepy.” But clinical hypnosis does not put you to sleep or under the control of the hypnotist. Self-hypnosis is a proven alternative therapy meant to manage stress, quit bad habits, improve self-confidence, control pain and much more. Gregg Broffman, MD, a primary care physician with Lifetime Health Medical Group, helps us understand how selfrelaxation impacts our overall health. “We all practice stress-relieving activities. We just may not recognize that we are doing it,” said Dr. Broffman. “For example, self-hypnosis occurs naturally when we are engrossed in a good movie or book.”

Learning Stress-Relieving Tactics

State of Relaxation You’ve been stuck in traffic for what seems like an hour. You’re late for a meeting with an important client, and the congestion shows no signs of letting up.

For more information about clinical hypnosis, visit The American Society of Clinical Hypnosis at www.asch.net.

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efore you unleash a bout of road rage, consider an alternative method of coping: self-relaxation techniques.

Self-Hypnosis Can Reduce Stress When you find yourself in stressful situations like the one above, self-hypnosis, or self-relaxation, can help. When many of us think about hypnosis, we envision a

The self-hypnosis learning process has four parts. The first part identifies self-hypnosis as an altered state of consciousness, intentionally putting your mind in a different place. Part two involves learning techniques like breathing and muscle relaxation. The third part requires concentration on a focal point or a repeated phrase, as is done with a mantra in meditation, to achieve the trance state. You also can envision a place where you feel comfortable and relaxed, called an “island of relative stability.” The final aspect of self-hypnosis is the most difficult to explain. Once we are relaxed, we can use ideas, thoughts and images called hypnotic suggestions to help improve how our body functions physiologically. Dr. Broffman recommends incorporating formal stress reduction time into your schedule, as well as using self-relaxation techniques when stressful situations arise. ■

Jefferson Avenue Medical Office Receives Award for Civic Contributions The Jefferson Avenue Medical Office was a recipient of the 2006 Civic Empowerment Award, which honors groups and citizens that successfully collaborate to solve civic challenges in the community. The medical office, located at 4

1490 Jefferson Avenue on the east side of Buffalo, was recognized for bringing convenient access to primary care to a medically underserved neighborhood. The Buffalo Niagara All America City Committee, which presents the awards,

honored Lifetime Health Medical Group and other recipients at a community celebration dinner, held in May 2006. AfterHours Medical Care was honored for this award in 2004.

A Rainbow for Good Health ummer is the perfect time to celebrate the delicious and healthy benefits of fruits and vegetables. Latest research shows that phytochemicals—compounds associated with the coloring in fruits and vegetables—protect against aging and reduce the risk of cancer and heart disease. Some examples include: ■ blueberries for heart health ■ ripe red tomatoes for prostate health ■ yellow pineapple for a healthy immune system ■ orange sweet potatoes for healthy vision ■ green asparagus for more heart health. The list is endless!

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Creating a Rainbow Create a rainbow as you choose colorful fruits and vegetables. Fruits and vegetables also are low in calories and packed with great health potential. Here are some quick tips: ■ Put your favorite fruits and vegetables on your shopping list, and try new ones, too! Keep them handy. Make bags of “to-go” fruits and vegetables. ■ Make colorful and creative salads: Red peppers, greens, carrots, juicy ripe lifetime health | summer 2006

tomatoes, fresh broccoli and cauliflower, onions and asparagus—just to name a few! ■ Enjoy your local farmer’s markets. ■ Soups are simple and savory—enjoy chilled or warm. ■ Try smoothies! Use fresh or frozen fruit, ice, low-fat or skim milk and blend well. Add a scoop of soy protein powder for a quick energy-rich snack or a mini-meal.

Other Ideas and Recipe Sources Here are more resources for ideas and recipes: ■ www.cce.cornell.edu ■ www.5aday.com ■ www.aicr.org ■

Spinach and Strawberry Salad Serve this with grilled chicken and wholegrain rolls and you will have a delicious heart-healthy meal rich in antioxidants and folic acid! Salad • 1 pkg 8 oz fresh spinach • 1 small red onion sliced • 1 pint strawberries, rinsed and sliced Dressing • 1 tbsp sugar • 1 tbsp red wine vinegar • 1 tsp poppy seeds • 4 cup plain yogurt • 3 tbsp light mayo Combine dressing ingredients in a small bowl. Place the spinach and sliced red onion in a large bowl. Add dressing to the salad and serve on four plates. Garnish with the sliced strawberries. Each serving contains: 100 calories; 12 g carbohydrate; 2 g protein; 5 g fat; 0 mg cholesterol; 140 mg sodium Recipe from the Nutrition and Diabetes Education Department, Lifetime Health Medical Group Contact the Lifetime Health Medical Group Nutrition Department at 716/568-2346 in Buffalo, or 585/336-4886 in Rochester for more information. For a color-coded chart of fruits and vegetables, visit www.lifetimehealth.org, under the Latest News section on our home page.

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Physical Therapy Moves to the City!

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n May 17, Lifetime Health Medical Group introduced its new Mosher Physical Therapy center to the downtown Buffalo community. Located in the William E. Mosher Health Center at 899 Main Street, the new suite

is open for patient care Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays, 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. The center provides comprehensive treatment for musculoskeletal conditions, such as back and neck pain, shoulder and knee dysfunction, postsurgical rehabilitation and more. “Paul Bruschini, PT, is an expert in treating mechanical spine conditions and orthopedic rehabilitation,” said Don Brown, PT, DPT, manager of physical therapy. “We are proud to bring him to the downtown community.” Prior to the opening, the availability of outpatient physical therapy services in downtown Buffalo was very limited. City residents now have a convenient location to receive rehabilitative care. Mayor Byron Brown and Legislative District Leader Antoine Thompson were among the guests at the ribbon-cutting ceremony. “We share a mutual goal with Lifetime Health to

Now Accepting Independent Health! We are pleased to announce that Independent Health members can once again utilize all of Lifetime Health Medical Group’s full-service health centers. Call 716/205-WELL for more information or to meet your new doctor. If you love being a patient of Lifetime Health, share the information with a friend!

serve the downtown community,” said Mayor Brown. “By opening Mosher Physical Therapy, there will be greater access for city residents to the many services that Lifetime Health can offer, in a more centralized fashion.” ■ Most major insurance plans accepted. Call 716/656-4034 for an appointment.

NEWS

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NEWS from Lifetime Health Medical Group is published by the Marketing and Public Relations Department of Lifetime Health Medical Group. We welcome any comments or ideas you may have about the contents of this publication. Cynthia Ambres, MD, MS, President Cynthia Eberl, Director of Marketing and Public Relations Writers and Contributors: Cynthia Eberl, Stacy VanBlarcom and Wendy Borden NEWS from Lifetime Health Medical Group is published by Lifetime Health Medical Group to provide general information. Reproduction without permission is strictly prohibited. No material in this issue may be reproduced without written permission from Lifetime Health Medical Group. The intent of the newsletter is not to promote any form of medical treatment, nor is it meant to replace the advice of healthcare professionals. Note: Lifetime Health Medical Group does not endorse any of the medications or products mentioned in this publication. Any trade names listed are for easy identification only. All material in this publication is provided for information only and should not be construed as medical advice or instruction. Please discuss any major changes in your diet or activity level with your healthcare provider. © 2006 Lifetime Health Medical Group. All Rights Reserved.