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Hospital has his back

Posted on by Dakota Pike

First printed in the Albany Times Union

October 19, 2013

Dr. Jian Shen has a vision.

He has chosen Fulton and Montgomery counties to make it a reality.

“Even though it’s a small area, I feel I can really do something big,” Shen said.

Although the 42-year-old former molecular biologist has been a surgeon for less than three years, he is building a reputation for cutting-edge minimally invasive operations at Nathan Littauer Hospital in Gloversville and St. Mary’s Hospital in Amsterdam. He has performed several surgical “firsts” in the region, including the first robotic-assisted spine surgery, at Nathan Littauer, this summer.

And that’s the beginning. Shen’s goal is to create a “minimally invasive spine surgery destination” here, he said. He envisions patients from around the nation traveling to the region for the highest level of surgical care.

Sound far-fetched? Maybe. Medical “destinations” are typically large, long-established institutions with national reputations, like Minnesota’s Mayo Clinic, said Alwyn Cassil of the Washington, D.C.-based Center for Studying Health System Change.

But it’s also tough to discount Shen. In two and a half years, he has brought patients in from New York City, Florida, Texas and Tennessee. He is among fewer than 100 surgeons in the nation, he said, who do endoscopic surgery of the spine — correcting problems with tiny incisions and a camera that projects the body’s interior onto a screen.

After 1,300 minimally invasive spine surgeries, Shen said his patients have had no resulting serious complications, such as infections or spinal cord injuries.

“We did not make anybody worse,” Shen said. “We made lots of people better. We made lots of people pain-free.”

About 15 percent of people who come to Shen’s practice, Mohawk Valley Orthopedics, for back pain end up having surgery, Shen said. One of his best-known local patients is Alan Chartock, president and CEO of WAMC Northeast Public Radio.

After a year of incessant, debilitating back pain, Chartock traveled to the Hospital for Special Surgery in Manhattan, but left unconvinced about having a procedure there. He’d had Shen as a guest on WAMC’s call-in program, Vox Pop. Chartock says he liked the doctor because he spoke to him as an equal. Shen had also performed a successful surgery on Chartock’s friend. So Chartock decided to have his back surgery performed at Nathan Littauer.

Given a couple of surgical options, Chartock chose the less aggressive one, Shen said. It didn’t help him; soon afterward, Chartock was in pain again. So he returned for a second, more intensive operation.

“When I left, I had no pain, and I have had no pain since that time,” Chartock said. “I’m very grateful to Dr. Shen.”

But he recalled friends’ responses when he said he would have spine surgery in Gloversville.

“Each of them had said, ‘What, are you crazy?”’ Chartock said.

So why did Shen, who lives in Loudonville, choose to work in Fulton and Montgomery counties? His decision was fueled in part by interest in treating patients in an underserved community — and in part as a strategic career move.

“At a major medical center, I would be nobody,” Shen said. “I would say, ‘Get me a robot.’ It would take longer to approve. Here, I get it in a week.”

Nathan Littauer and St. Mary’s hospitals have each invested about $1.75 million in robotic equipment, microscopes and other technology to support Shen’s surgeries, the institutions’ CEOs said.

Nathan Littauer administrators believed the investment was necessary to attract a highly trained specialist to the area, where there was tremendous need for a back surgeon, said hospital President and CEO Laurence E. Kelly. Shen has had patients waiting to see him every week since he arrived.

“We took a big risk, and it’s worked out fine,” Kelly said.

Now the question is whether more spine surgeons can be lured to the region to work with the surgeon.

“I’m looking for partners right now,” Shen said, “because it’s getting so busy, I cannot handle it myself.”

chughes@timesunion.com • 518-454-5417 • @hughesclaire

Vitals

Dr. Jian Shen , 42

Born near Beijing

Lives in Loudonville

Married to Wencui Shen, father of 7-year-old Ivyann

Medical degree from Weill Cornell University Medical College

Spine surgery fellowship: University of California at San Francisco

Moved to the Capital Region in 2011

 

Profile

Dr. Jian Shen, 42

Born near Beijing

Lives in Loudonville

Married to Wencui Shen, father of 7-year-old Ivyann

Medical degree from Weill Cornell University Medical College

Spine surgery fellowship: University of California at San Francisco

Wellness Words March 2014

Posted on by Dakota Pike

HealthLink Littauer’s

WELLNESS WORDS

Submitted by Wendy Chirieleison, MS Ed

Community Health Educator

 

Eat Smart, Be Strong, Live Long!

It is essential to maintain a healthy and active lifestyle, especially as you get older.  Eating well and getting enough exercise can decrease older adults’ chances of getting chronic diseases, disabilities, and can increase life expectancy.  Many do not consider that entering older adulthood means facing new and unique challenges beyond a change in weight and appetite.

THE RECOMMENDATIONS

In September of 2011, the USDA released a new publication called “My Plate for Older Adults,” a chart which is a food pyramid style guide describing what older adults should be eating.  The chart specifies that ages 60-74 should be eating 2 ½ cups of vegetables, 1 ½ cups of fruits, 6 oz. grains (3 oz. should be whole grains), 5 oz. protein, and 3 cups of dairy each day.  The chart also gives examples for each food group, and states that the caloric intake should total 1,800 calories per day.

According to Tufts University, a school that focuses on nutrition, it is recommended that these calories consist of foods that are high in vitamins and minerals and low in salt, sugars, and fats, especially trans fats and saturated fats (Mayer 2011).  The My Plate chart also recommends physical activity such as walking, playing with your pet or grandchild, gardening, or another activity that you can enjoy with your friends (USDA 2011).

THE CHALLENGES

In preparing this My Plate chart, the USDA took into consideration some of the concerns older adults face while trying to eat a healthy diet, such as not getting the recommended amount of fruits, vegetables, and exercise each day;  ease of food preparation;  food costs;  access to certain foods;  and oral health problems, like difficulties in chewing and swallowing foods.

The Administration On Aging reports that oral health is the most overlooked issue related to poor health and nutrition in older adults.  Dry mouth, inflammation of the gums due to poorly fitting dentures, root decay, and gum disease are just some of the oral health issues that older adults experience.  Poor oral health affects nutrition because the digestive process begins at the time food enters the mouth.  Saliva contains important enzymes that begin breaking down foods as the teeth chew the food, making it manageable to swallow.  Poor oral health makes this process difficult.  About one-third of adults over age 65 have untreated tooth decay.  Severe gum disease can lead to chronic diseases such as diabetes, heart disease, stroke, and respiratory disease.

STRATEGIES TO OVERCOME CHALLENGES

  • Be sure to schedule regular appointments with your dentist.
  • Tell the dentist about your oral hygiene routine to be sure that you are doing everything you can to ensure proper oral hygiene.
  • When you plan your weekly menu, incorporate items listed in weekly sales flyers where you normally shop.
  • Take advantage of fresh produce when it is on sale.  If you can, blanch fresh vegetables (boil briefly and drain off excess water) and put them into freezer bags.
  • If you can not purchase fresh vegetables, opt for frozen.  Canned vegetables can contain sodium or other unwanted ingredients.
  • When preparing foods, consider making extras that you can freeze in divided containers.  Always label and date foods that go in the freezer to be sure of their freshness.
  • If you have a hard time exercising for 30 minutes at a time, break it up into two 15 minute or three 10 minute intervals.

For a free copy of My Plate For Older Adults or for more information, contact HealthLink Littauer at 736-1120.  You can e-mail us at healthlink@nlh.org, see our website at nlh.org, or visit our wellness center at 213 Harrison Street Ext. in Johnstown, Monday – Friday, 9 a.m. – 5 p.m.  We’re your community health & wellness service of Nathan Littauer Hospital and Nursing Home.

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