You may have heard the controversial news this week that the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force (USPSTF) now recommends against routine screening mammography in women aged 40 to 49 years who are not at high risk for breast cancer.  Instead, the panel advises biennial screening mammography for women aged 50 to 74 years.

Even more, the USPSTF recommends against teaching breast self-examinations.

Several physicians weighed in on the matter in a Philadelphia Inquirer story on the benefits and risks of mammograms, including Louis Weinstein, chair of obstetrics and gynecology at Thomas Jefferson University.

"A lot of this is not new," said Dr. Weinstein to the Philadelphia Inquirer, in reference to the average risk of a 40-something woman dying from cancer compared to a 50-something woman. Dr. Weinstein doesn't encourage women in their 40s to get screening because he knows that "the majority of findings under 50 tend to be false positives."

Read the full "The mammogram storm: Benefits vs. risks" story on philly.com.

Feed your brain the foods it needs – and avoid the ones that may increase your risk.

Studies have shown that people who are obese in middle age face an increased risk of dementia in later life. The same holds true for individuals who have high blood pressure and high cholesterol.

To help reduce your risk of Alzheimer’s and other serious medical problems, adopt what the Alzheimer’s Association calls a “brain-healthy diet”:

• Cut your intake of foods that have a lot of fat and cholesterol.
• Choose dark-colored fruits and vegetables, which have the most antioxidants.
• Consume beneficial omega-3 fatty acids.
• In moderation, eat nuts – which are a great source of the antioxidant vitamin E.
• Consider vitamins. According to the Alzheimer’s Association, there is some indication that vitamin E, or vitamins E and C together, vitamin B12 and folate may help lower your risk of developing Alzheimer’s disease.

Doctors Daniel Monti and Anthony Bazzan of the Jefferson-Myrna Brind Center of Integrative Medicine were featured on Lifetime Television’s Health Corner on November 1 about their book The Great Life Makeover. In the piece, the doctors--along with two of their patients Bob and Beverly Kistler--explained how the middle years don't have to be a struggle and should actually be very fulfilling.

"These middle years, starting close to age forty, and through the 40s, 50s and 60s are great years and have the potential to be the best years, but there's issues that occur that often manifest themselves in decreased sexual function, problems with mood, weight distribution," says Dr. Monti.

"People can be comfortable starting anywhere in the book. You can start with making some dietary modifications. You can start with changing your activity level. But one thing everybody should start with is getting a snapshot in time of their current health status so they know and can think about their goals moving forward."

Lifetime Television has an audience of over 96 million in the United States.

You can view the segment now by visiting http://healthcorner.walgreens.com and clicking on Archive.

It will also air again on December 27, 2009 at 9:30 a.m. on Lifetime, so set your DVRs!

We are pleased to announce that Thomas Jefferson University Hospitals have been designated a Blue Distinction Center for Spine Surgery and a Blue Distinction Center for Hip and Knee Replacement.

The Department of Family and Community Medicine recently received word that its practice, Jefferson Family Medicine Associates, has achieved the highest recognition (Level 3) for Physician Practice Connections – Patient Centered Medical Home (PPC-PCMH) from the National Center for Quality Assurance (NCQA). The NCQA is a not-for-profit organization dedicated to improving the quality of healthcare nationwide.

This NCQA recognition is widely accepted as an indicator that an organization is well-managed and delivers high quality patient care and service. Less than 50 practices nationwide have received this NCQA designation, with roughly only half of those achieving a rating equivalent to Jefferson ’s.

“This is a very significant accomplishment for our group that has required a lot of effort and dedication from staff,” says Richard Wender, MD, Chair of the Department of Family and Community Medicine. “We believe that Jefferson is one of the first practices to receive a Level 3 rating that has a residency and student program embedded within it. We’re also the largest single site practice in the nation to achieve this status for its Pa tient-Centered Medical Home model.”

Join us for a free lunchtime program

Topic: The Medical Management to Weight Loss

Date: Thursday, November 12, 2009

Where: 925 Chestnut, 2nd floor conference room. Get Directions.

Speaker: Dr. Janine Kyrillos.

Time: 12:00 p.m. to 1:00 p.m.

You must register for this program. RSVP to 1-800-JEFF-NOW or online.

They say that laughter is the best medicine.

Jefferson family physician Richard Wender and several Jefferson med students were featured in a Philadelphia Inquirer story on the use of clowns and humor in medicine.

Dr. Wender said that he is "interested in humor as a way of communicating, of creating healing relationships. Humor is part of how both patients and clinicians cope."

Each Friday evening, a group of about a dozen Jefferson staff members try to spread cheer to hospital patients, families and medical staff, the Inquirer reported.

Read the full Philadelphia Inquirer story.

Depo-Provera, a contraception injection, has been reported to cause bothersome symptoms by women who have stopped taking the drug, according to an ABC News story. Some of these withdrawal symptoms include headaches, backaches and nausea.  

Dr. Louis Weinstein, head of obstetrics and gynecology at Thomas Jefferson University Hospital, said that it's hard to pinpoint what is causing these withdrawal symptoms. In the ABC News article, Dr. Weinstein is quoted as saying:

"It's like you don't know why your car won't start. Most of [the symptoms] have nothing to do with Depo-Provera. There may be a lot of other things going and to blame that on Depo-Provera is just not fair. We don't know."

Read the full ABC News story.

Dr. Marc Altshuler from the Department of Family and Community Medicine talks to BBC World Report on refugee clinics in the U.S.

Each year Jefferson’s refugee clinic treats hundreds of refugees from all around the world, some who have never been seen by a doctor before.

BBC World Report is heard by a global audience of approximately 18 million people every day.

Listen to the BBC World Report interview.

Attend a free comprehensive breast care update presented by the Jefferson Kimmel Cancer Center. Gordon F. Schwartz, MD, newly appointed Director of the Jefferson Breast Care Center, will discuss and answer your questions about the latest and best breast cancer diagnostic and treatment options.

When
Thursday, October 29, 2009

Time
6:00 – 8:00 p.m.

Where
Betty and Milton Katz Jewish Community Center
1301 Springdale Road, Cherry Hill, NJ 08003
Get Directions

To register or to make an appointment with a Jefferson physician, call 1-800-JEFF-NOW.

Dinner will be served.