The Wright Center Supports Distribution of Overdose-Reversing Medicine To help reduce opioid-related deaths in the region, The Wright Center for Community Health is participating in a state-led initiative to distribute free overdose-reversing medication and other harm-reduction supplies. Individuals can receive naloxone kits – a potentially life-saving medicine that is approved by the U.S. Food & Drug Administration – and drug-checking strips by visiting The Wright Center for Community Health – Hawley, 103 Spruce St. The practice is open from 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday. It is not necessary to be a Wright Center patient or to provide ID. Similarly, people can get kits and supplies during business hours at the Wayne County Drug and Alcohol Commission office, 318 Tenth St., Honesdale. The commission has partnered with The Wright Center to assist in distributing the items and promoting training opportunities to ensure that people know how to properly use them. The Wright Center is one of many approved, community-based distribution sites, officially known as “recognized entities,” that will receive the supplies at no cost through the Pennsylvania Overdose Prevention Program (POPP). The program was launched in mid-2023 as a joint initiative between the Pennsylvania Commission on Crime and Delinquency and the Pennsylvania Department of Drug and Alcohol Programs. POPP offers multiple formulations of naloxone as well as drug-checking strips. The strips are designed to detect xylazine and fentanyl, potent substances that are sometimes mixed with other drugs and can increase the risk of overdose. “Naloxone is a life-saving medication that can reverse the effects of an opioid overdose,” said Scott Constantini, associate vice president of primary care and recovery services integration at The Wright Center for Community Health. “At this phase of the ongoing epidemic, it makes sense for more people to have naloxone kits in the event of an emergency with a family member, friend, coworker, or stranger. You never know when you can save a life.” Jeffrey Zerechak, director of the Wayne County Drug and Alcohol Commission, noted the epidemic’s hard-hitting impact on the Northeast region, especially in rural areas where treatment options might be limited and stigma prevents some people from seeking care. “We encourage anyone in Wayne County who needs help to please stop by our office or call us. Don’t wait any longer. Addiction is an illness that only gets worse over time.” The opioid epidemic, which has claimed the lives of about 14,000 Pennsylvanians in the past three years, continues to ravage communities and families. By increasing access to harm-reduction supplies, state health officials and others hope to limit fatalities and link more people who use drugs to effective treatment programs. Evidence suggests that providing access to naloxone does not lead to more or riskier drug use. Rather, people revived by the medication might find that the near-death experience serves as a wake-up call, compelling them to seek help and maintain recovery. The Wright Center for Community Health, a Scranton-based provider of whole-person primary health services, is committed to helping individuals with substance use disorder. The Wright Center became a state-designated Opioid Use Disorder Center of Excellence in 2016. Since then, it has provided outpatient addiction treatment and recovery services, including medication-assisted treatment, to thousands of people in Northeast Pennsylvania. To learn more about the services available through its Center of Excellence, call 570-230-0019 or visit TheWrightCenter.org/services/coe. For more information about naloxone access at The Wright Center for Community Health’s locations and other regional distribution sites, go to TheWrightCenter.org/naloxone-access. To connect with the Wayne County Drug and Alcohol Commission, visit its website or call 570-253-6022.
The Wright Center’s Alzheimer’s and Dementia Care Program Receives National Recognition The Wright Center for Community Health’s Alzheimer’s and Dementia Care (ADC) Program, based on the award-winning UCLA Program, is now listed in a national database of proven, effective dementia care programs. Best Programs for Caregiving, a partnership between the Benjamin Rose Institute on Aging and Family Caregiver Alliance, is a free, searchable, and interactive database that helps families and caregivers find the right program for their loved one with Alzheimer’s or dementia. The website includes descriptions of the program, whether it is offered in-person or online, information on providers, eligibility criteria, how to enroll, languages offered, and more. To see The Wright Center’s ADC Program listing, visit bpc.caregiver.org/caregivers/12/967. The Wright Center launched the ADC Program in 2020 to help patients and families navigate the medical, behavioral, and social needs associated with Alzheimer’s and other dementia diseases. Wright Center geriatricians, advanced practitioners, and dementia care specialists work closely with each patient’s primary care and referring physicians to develop a personalized care plan. The program also provides ongoing patient monitoring and round-the-clock access to assistance and advice so patients can avoid emergency department visits and hospitalizations. Go to TheWrightCenter.org/services/alzheimers-dementia or call 570-230-0019 for more information about the ADC Program. According to the Alzheimer’s Association 2023 Alzheimer’s Disease Facts and Figures report, 6.7 million people 65 and older live with Alzheimer’s dementia in the United States, including over 280,000 in Pennsylvania. The report says there were an estimated 404,000 family caregivers in Pennsylvania in 2022. “The Wright Center is very proud of the care we provide to patients and caregivers in this program,” said Nicole Lipinski, director of the geriatric service line. “It’s an honor to be listed in this database, especially as we continue to grow the program and provide patient-centered care for all participants.” The Wright Center for Community Health, headquartered in Scranton, operates 10 primary and preventive care practices in Northeast Pennsylvania, including a mobile medical and dental unit called Driving Better Health. Its locations offer integrated whole-person primary health services, meaning patients typically have the convenience of going to a single location to access medical, dental, and behavioral health care, as well as community-based addiction treatment and recovery services. For more information about The Wright Center’s integrated whole-person primary health services or for the nearest location, visit TheWrightCenter.org or call 570-230-0019.
The Wright Center Outlines Better Health Outcomes for Women The Wright Center: One of the things we notice in health care is that far too often women neglect their own well-being because they’re so focused on the needs of their children, their spouse, or their aging parents. So, it’s important to promote awareness campaigns like Women’s Health Awareness Month in May, which provides us with a terrific opportunity to stress the importance of women taking a proactive approach to their overall health. National Women’s Health Week occurs every year beginning on Mother’s Day and is led by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services’ (HHS) Office on Women’s Health. The theme for this year’s observance is “Empowering Women, Cultivating Health: Celebrating Voices, Wellness, and Resilience,” and is focused on empowering women to be proactive in their health journeys. Each day of the campaign spotlights a relevant women’s health topic. They are: Day 1 – May 12: Empowering Women in their Health Journey Day 2 – May 13: Safe Sexual Health Day 3 – May 14: Shining a Light on Maternal Mental Health Day 4 – May 15: Talk About It—Reducing Women’s Health Stigma Day 5 – May 16: Understanding Care is There Day 6 – May 17: Reproductive Health from Puberty to Menopause and Beyond Day 7 – May 18: Women and Heart Health Here at The Wright Center, we offer a variety of services that allow women to balance their own wellness with their many daily responsibilities. Our local primary and preventive care community health centers provide integrated whole-person primary health services that give patients the convenience of going to a single location to access all their physical, dental and behavioral health care needs. That’s why our patients are encouraged to make us their medical home. Our women patients can access such health services as regular gynecological checkups, pelvic and breast exams, cervical cancer screenings, well-woman visits, bone density testing, age-appropriate immunizations, Pap smears and HPV testing, STI testing and treatment, and hormonal testing. And to spare women – really all patients – from the needless suffering associated with preventable illness and many of today’s leading causes of death (heart attack, stroke and certain cancers among them), The Wright Center is increasingly focused on preventive care through our Lifestyle Medicine and Obesity Medicine programs. Our dedicated team of dieticians, counselors, and other professionals can help patients adopt a personalized care plan to manage – or outright avoid – chronic diseases. We accept almost all insurances, including Medicaid, Medicare and the Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP), plus private plans. If you’re uninsured, our enrollment assisters can help to educate you about the options and the sign-up process, and our sliding-fee discount program ensures high-quality whole-person primary health services are affordable and accessible for everyone, regardless of insurance status, ZIP code, or ability to pay. We’re proud to offer first-rate women’s health care, and we’ll continue to do all we can do to exceed that care in any way possible. Supriana Bhandol, M.D., a board-certified family medicine physician, serves as the associate program director and physician faculty in The Wright Center for Graduate Medical Education’s Regional Family Medicine Residency. Dr. Bhandol is accepting patients of all ages at The Wright Center for Community Health – Scranton, 501 S. Washington Ave.
The Wright Center Shares Health Column for National High Blood Pressure Education Month Below is a guest health column by The Wright Center’s Dr. Nirali Patel for National High Blood Pressure Education Month in May. By now, many of you are well aware of the dangers of hypertension or, as it’s more commonly known, high blood pressure, which affects roughly half of all Americans and is a major risk factor for heart disease and stroke. Thanks to the marvels of modern medicine, we now have drugs that significantly reduce the potential harms of high blood pressure. Still, too many people don’t realize they even have it, so fortunately, there are observances like May’s National High Blood Pressure Education Month, which the National Heart, Lung and Blood Institute (NHLBI) and other organizations use to promote myriad resources relevant to the subject. For those who don’t know, high blood pressure develops when blood flows through the arteries at an elevated level. Blood pressure consists of two numbers – systolic, the pressure when the ventricles pump blood out of the heart, and diastolic, the pressure between heartbeats when the heart is filling with blood. Blood pressure changes throughout the day based on activity. For most people, normal blood pressure is less than 120 over 80 millimeters of mercury (mm Hg), which is the systolic pressure reading over the diastolic pressure reading. That becomes high blood pressure with consistent systolic readings of 130 mm Hg or higher or diastolic readings of 80 mm Hg or higher. Unfortunately, the majority of people don’t experience symptoms related to high blood pressure until it’s already begun to cause serious health issues – and roughly 1 in 3 American adults aren’t aware they have it, according to the NHLBI. That’s why it’s extremely important that you get your blood pressure checked at least once a year. In addition to taking medications, you can make several lifestyle modifications to control or lower your blood pressure. Here are a few: Maintain a healthy weight: Excess weight often leads to hypertension and can also disrupt breathing during sleep, which also elevates blood pressure. Losing a few pounds can have a marked effect. Exercise: Regular physical activity can lower your blood pressure by 5 to 8 mm Hg, so aim for at least 30 minutes of moderate exercise daily. Eat better: A diet heavy on whole grains, fruits, vegetables, and low-fat dairy that’s low in saturated fat and cholesterol can lower high blood pressure by up to 11 mm Hg. Examples include the Dietary Approaches to Stop Hypertension (DASH) diet and the highly adaptable Mediterranean diet. Reduce salt intake: Decreasing your sodium consumption can improve heart health and reduce high blood pressure by about 5 to 6 mm Hg. The recommended daily amount is no more than 2,300 milligrams (mg), while 1,500 mg is ideal. Limit alcohol: Less than one drink a day for women or two drinks a day for men can help lower blood pressure by about 4 mm Hg. One drink equals 12 ounces of beer, 5 ounces of wine, or 1.5 ounces of 80-proof liquor. Quit smoking: Not surprisingly, smoking increases blood pressure. Quitting will not only lower your hypertension but improve your overall health. Get a good night’s sleep: Consistently poor sleep can raise your blood pressure. In fact, one of our internal medicine resident physicians at The Wright Center, Dr. Aayushi Sood, recently worked on a study that found that sleeping less than seven hours a night increased the risk of developing high blood pressure by 7% while sleeping less than five hours increased the risk by 11%. High blood pressure is serious business, but as we’ve clearly demonstrated here, many practical ways exist to contend with it. Be vigilant and be well. Nirali Patel, M.D., is board certified in internal medicine and obesity medicine, and is board eligible in geriatrics. Dr. Patel is accepting adult patients at The Wright Center for Community Health Scranton Practice. She also serves as associate program director of The Wright Center for Graduate Medical Education’s Geriatrics Fellowship Program and as core faculty of the Internal Medicine Residency Program.
The Wright Center for Patient & Community Engagement Receives 10,000 Pairs of Socks from Bombas The Wright Center for Patient & Community Engagement (PCE) received 10,000 pairs of warm, cozy socks from Bombas to distribute to people experiencing homelessness and hardship throughout the region. PCE, a subsidiary of The Wright Center for Community Health, focuses on improving access to health care while addressing the negative social and economic determinants of health that affect patients and community members, including food insecurity, homelessness, poverty, and access to education. Throughout the year, PCE hosts clothing giveaways at Wright Center for Community Health locations and community events. Additionally, it hosts regular food distributions, backpack and school supply giveaways, and provides transportation vouchers to patients who have difficulty getting to and from doctors’ appointments. The socks will be distributed to people experiencing homelessness, as well as residents who are experiencing financial hardship or emergency situations, according to Holly Przasnyski, director of The Wright Center for Patient & Community Engagement. “We’re thrilled to receive this generous donation from Bombas,” she said. “A pair of socks can be such a comfort.” Bombas is a comfort-focused, basic apparel brand with a mission to help those in need. The company was originally founded in 2013 because socks are the No. 1 most requested clothing item at homeless shelters. Underwear and T-shirts are No. 2 and No. 3, respectively. While the brand started with and is known for its extremely comfortable socks, Bombas used its expertise in comfort to launch into apparel with T-shirts in 2019 and, most recently, underwear in 2021. For every item purchased, a specially designed item is donated to someone at risk of or currently experiencing homelessness. To date, Bombas has donated over 100 million items. For more information about PCE, call 570.343.2383, ext. 1444, or visit TheWrightCenter.org/ patient-and-community-engagement.
The Wright Center for Community Health Names Director of Clinical Compliance The Wright Center for Community Health has named Bryan Finegan as the director of clinical compliance. An Olyphant resident, Finegan will ensure Wright Center employees adhere to all applicable laws, rules, regulations, and internal standard operating procedures and policies related to patient safety, emergency preparedness, and clinical operations and management. In addition to serving as an ambassador for The Wright Center’s mission both internally and externally, Finegan will consult with staff and leadership on best practices to improve medical care, health, safety, and patient and staff welfare. He will also lead the development and implementation of clinical compliance programs for all clinical sites in accordance with the National Committee for Quality Assurance and the U.S. Health Resources and Services Administration. Finegan has more than 25 years of experience in emergency medicine, most recently as an advanced emergency medical technician and a member of the management team for Pennsylvania Ambulance. He’s also worked as an emergency medical technician and dispatcher for Lackawanna Ambulance and a 911 dispatcher for Lackawanna County’s emergency services. The Wright Center for Community Health operates 10 primary and preventive care practices in Northeast Pennsylvania, including a mobile medical and dental unit called Driving Better Health. For more information about The Wright Center’s integrated whole-person primary health services or for the nearest location, visit TheWrightCenter.org or call 570-230-0019.
The Wright Center for Community Health Names VP of Strategic Marketing and Communications The Wright Center for Community Health named Bob Adcroft as vice president of strategic marketing and communications. Adcroft has four decades of experience in network TV, radio, digital, and print advertising. His skill set encompasses motivational leadership, strategic media planning, purchasing and negotiation, mentoring, and coaching. At The Wright Center, Adcroft will lead the development, planning, and implementation of a marketing and communications strategy integrating the approach across all service lines, initiatives, programs, and activities to advance the enterprise’s mission and vision. The Scranton native was inspired to pursue opportunities in the health care field after successfully fighting cancer in 2019. Five years ago, Adcroft underwent a successful bone marrow transplant at Memorial Sloan Kettering Hospital in New York City. The experience sparked his journey towards a healthier lifestyle and inspired him to seek opportunities to promote wellness initiatives and improve the local health care landscape. Adcroft is deeply familiar with Northeast Pennsylvania, having been a proud partner in a family-owned local franchise for more than 50 years. In 2019, he received the American Advertising Federation’s Silver Medal Award, which recognizes individuals who make significant contributions to the regional advertising market and advance industry standards, creative excellence, and social responsibility. He’s also the creator and host of the podcast, “Be Real Now,” which features special guests from around the region sharing their stories. For more information about The Wright Centers for Community Health and Graduate Medical Education, go to TheWrightCenter.org or call 570-230-0019.
The Wright Center Shares Kidney Transplant Story In observance of National Donate Life Blue and Green Day on Friday, April 12, The Wright Centers for Community Health and Graduate Medical Education is sharing the story of the Desouza family to raise awareness about the gift of organ donation and its impact on others. Patricia Desouza veered her car off the road as the caller’s words sunk in. By 5:30 a.m. on April 30, she needed to be at the Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania in Philadelphia for surgery to remove her kidney. Later that afternoon, a stranger would receive her life-changing gift. And there was more. A match also had been found for her eldest of three sons, 27-year-old Kenneth, who would undergo his own kidney transplant at the same hospital that afternoon — about a year after her husband, Larri, underwent the same transformative procedure at Geisinger Medical Center in Danville, Pennsylvania. Only a week had passed since her son had added his name to the United Network for Organ Sharing (UNOS) national transplant waiting list, joining more than 106,000 people, including 7,000 Pennsylvanians, in need of a donor. Of those, 87%, or 92,000 nationwide, need a kidney, facing an average wait of three to five years, according to the American Kidney Fund. From her car, Desouza, a Peckville section of Blakely small business owner, life coach, public speaker, and mentor who actively volunteers at the Peckville Assembly of God, thanked God for answering their prayers. Then the eight-year Wright Center for Community Health board member called her son to share the remarkable news. “He was like, ‘What? What? I don’t even know what to say,'” she recalls of their March 15 conversation. “He was in shock.” Although her kidney proved to be a suitable match for her son, the family of five remained steadfast in their belief that God would provide an even better match. “I reminded my son when he would get a little discouraged that man’s timing is not better than God’s timing,” says Desouza. The transplant will open doors for the talented musician who plays 10 instruments, manages a gas station, and volunteers at their church as a youth minister with his fiancee, Nicollette Gauthier. He looks most forward to those things often taken for granted in life, such as a good shower or enjoying his upcoming wedding without serious health concerns looming. Growing up, he contended with many health challenges and hospitalizations, including Type 1 diabetes, also known as juvenile diabetes, at age 12; and a kidney disorder called nephrotic syndrome, by his late teens. After an appointment with quintuple board-certified physician Dr. Linda Thomas-Hemak, the president and CEO of The Wright Centers for Community Health and Graduate Medical Education, her son received a proper diagnosis, treatment plan, and much-needed hope, says Desouza. “In the face of adversity, the Desouza family’s health journey embodies courage, resilience, faith, gratitude, and the profound impact of selfless, mutual giving,” says Dr. Thomas-Hemak. “Patricia’s and Kenneth’s upcoming surgeries stand not only as an awesome testament to medical marvels, but also to the power of humanity, as a beacon of love, hope, and compassion. Each step, each transplant, is a testament to the miracles that unfold when love, altruism, and generosity intertwine. Their story serves as a compelling reminder of the critical importance of organ donation, highlighting how one selfless act can profoundly transform the lives of others, embodying and honoring the essence of humanity’s interconnectedness.” Desouza and her husband also became patients of The Wright Center for Community Health. That’s also when things turned around for her husband, following a decline in his kidney functions, most likely from an extended use of gout medication. Under the care of his primary care physician, Dr. Jignesh Sheth, who serves as chief medical officer for The Wright Center for Community Health, he underwent preparations for gastric bypass surgery to aid in losing enough weight to undergo kidney transplant surgery. Following the successful reduction of his body mass index (BMI) post-surgery, he joined the national transplant list. Despite encountering multiple setbacks, he eventually found a suitable match and underwent a successful kidney transplant last spring. Freed from the constraints of his triweekly dialysis regimen, the transplant brought about a profound transformation in his life. He embraced newfound freedoms by joining a gym, traveling to their native Brazil, and even competing in track and field events. “We went through a lot of trials and tribulations,” says Desouza, reflecting on having both her son and husband undergoing dialysis simultaneously at home. “If I didn’t have God, I don’t know how I would have made it through.” The family plans to travel to Philadelphia the day prior to the surgeries and anticipates staying for up to two weeks. “I only have to stay one to two days,” Desouza says. “But my son has to stay 10 days to two weeks. For the first week, he will have appointments twice a week there. As a mother, I didn’t want to leave him. So we will stay.” Unsure who will receive her kidney, her son’s donor is from Wisconsin. “It was not even a decision for me to donate my kidney,” she says. “It was just a part of my life that I didn’t have to give a second thought. If you can live with one kidney, and make a difference in someone’s life, you just share what you have.”
The Wright Center for Graduate Medical Education Resident Physician to Present Study Bad news for night owls: Sleeping less than seven hours a night could increase the risk of developing high blood pressure over time, according to a new study by an Internal Medicine resident physician at The Wright Center for Graduate Medical Education. The study found that sleeping less than seven hours increased the risk of developing high blood pressure by 7%, and sleeping less than five hours increased the risk by 11%. Dr. Aayushi Sood, a third-year Internal Medicine resident physician in Scranton, Pennsylvania, worked primarily with Dr. Kaveh Hosseini, a cardiologist in Iran, and Dr. Rahul Gupta, an interventional cardiology fellow in Allentown, Pennsylvania, along with doctors in England and the United States, on the study, which took about five months to complete. The research team will present the findings at the American College of Cardiology’s (ACC) 73rd Annual Scientific Session & Expo in Atlanta, Georgia, on April 6-8. Using information from 16 studies conducted between January 2000 and May 2023, Dr. Sood and her fellow researchers evaluated hypertension, also known as high blood pressure, in more than 1 million people who were above the age of 18 years from six countries without any prior history of hypertension over a follow-up duration of 2.4 to 18 years. Several potential confounding factors could contribute to the link between less sleep and higher blood pressure, including lifestyle factors such as poor diet, physical inactivity, smoking, alcohol consumption, and psychological stressors. Those factors were not explicitly adjusted for in the study and could influence both sleep patterns and blood pressure, Dr. Sood said. “So often, not getting enough sleep is something we take lightly,” Dr. Sood said. “It’s something you should talk to your doctor about because it can affect your health.” Dr. Sood said more study is needed to understand the link between sleep and hypertension, and she is interested in pursuing further research. “There are a lot of different theories attached to this research topic,” she said. “It could be that the lack of sleep is stimulating the sympathetic nervous system. If you do not sleep enough, your body could be stressed, which can also make your blood pressure go up.” The native of Punjab, Northwest India, earned her medical degree from Washington University of Health & Science in San Pedro Town, Belize, in December 2019. After returning home to assist her parents, who are both physicians, in treating patients during the COVID-19 pandemic, she returned to the United States in July 2021 to begin her Internal Medicine Residency at The Wright Center for Graduate Medical Education in Scranton, Pennsylvania. This isn’t the first time she’s worked with other doctors across the world on medical research. “I believe that if you want to make a difference, you have to bring minds from all over the world together,” Dr. Sood said. “Everyone’s mind works differently, and each idea can bloom into something new.” The Wright Center for Graduate Medical Education is one of the nation’s largest HRSA-funded Teaching Health Center Graduate Medical Education Safety-Net Consortiums, with about 250 physicians in training. The Wright Center offers ACGME-accredited residencies in family medicine, internal medicine, physical medicine & rehabilitation, and psychiatry, as well as fellowships in cardiovascular disease, gastroenterology, and geriatrics. For information about The Wright Center for Graduate Medical Education, visit TheWrightCenter.org or call 570-866-3017.
The Wright Center Shares Tips for Stress Awareness Month Below is a health column written by Dr. Aditi Sharma, a psychiatrist at The Wright Center for Community Health, in which she provides tips to reduce and/or cope with stress in everyday life. We live in a world where many things can cause us great stress, whether it be things close to home (family, job, finances) or farther afield (politics, wars, global pandemics). Yes, it’s a lot to cope with, and over time it can be incredibly detrimental to our health, both mentally and physically. So, I’m happy there are awareness campaigns like National Stress Awareness Month. The annual observance focuses on combating the harmful effects of chronic stress. While stress is an unavoidable part of life and can be experienced in situations that are both positive and negative in prolonged form, it can lead to a variety of health issues, including fatigue, anxiety, depression, headaches, muscle tension, and, when it’s particularly serious, cardiovascular disease. But with some focus, stress can be managed in relatively simple ways, allowing us to live happier, healthier lives. Here are a few helpful stress-reduction tips you might consider: Improve your diet: Eat whole foods, and curtail or completely eliminate stimulants like caffeine, alcohol, and nicotine. Exercise: Increased exercise can lower your blood pressure, boost your endorphins and just make you feel a whole lot better, whether you join a gym or just go out for a walk or run a few times a week. Sleep more: Lack of sleep and the ensuing fatigue can lead to a plunge in overall well-being and eventually lead to increased anxiety and depression, so it’s important to establish a calming vibe every night before you go to bed – and to curtail your screen time significantly. Relax: In our go-go-go lives, simply taking time to relax can be difficult, but a daily regimen that includes meditation or mindfulness – or good, old-fashioned daydreaming – can substantially decrease stress levels. Prioritize your schedule: Cramming too much stuff into a day inevitably causes stress, so check off the things that need to be done before pursuing the smaller-scale items. Do something fun: Make time for enjoyable activities, such as hobbies, movies, concerts, dinners with friends, sporting events – really anything that puts you in a good mood. Talk to someone: Sometimes, the best de-stressor is just talking about your problems with a trusted family member, friend, colleague, or licensed professional therapist. Speaking of therapy, here at The Wright Center, stress prevention is a significant component of our behavioral health services for adults, children, and adolescents. Our first-rate team of experts can help you identify the causes of behavioral issues and provide solutions via comprehensive therapy services, psychological assessments, and psychiatric care. We also provide specialty services for children with severe mental illness as well as those who have experienced abuse or violence. Managing chronic stress is also a core mission of our Lifestyle Medicine practice, which works with individuals and families to improve their health and quality of life through lifestyle modifications such as stress relief techniques, eliminating tobacco use, improving diet, increasing physical activity, strengthening personal relationships and connections, and adjusting sleep habits. Our team is trained in conventional and lifestyle medicine and can work with you to create a personalized lifestyle self-care plan that’s sustainable for the long haul. I can confidently say that if you proactively work to reduce your stress levels, eventually, you’ll feel better mentally, physically, and emotionally. And you’ll improve your overall health – what could be better than that? Aditi Sharma, M.D., MPH, is a psychiatrist at The Wright Center for Community Health Scranton Practice. An alumna of The Wright Center for Graduate Medical Education Psychiatry Residency, she treats adults experiencing depression, anxiety, and other mental health conditions, providing consultations and evaluations to develop personalized behavioral health and medicinal care plans.
