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Maintaining Your Independence: A Doctor’s View on Palliative and Hospice Care

Maintaining Your Independence: A Doctor’s View on Palliative and Hospice Care

Maintaining Your Independence: A Doctor’s View on Palliative and Hospice Care As a doctor in our community, I spend a lot of time talking with patients just like you. I know that hearing words like "palliative care" or "hospice" can feel frightening. Many of us worry that these words mean we are giving up or losing our independence. I want to assure you that the exact opposite is true. These services are actually about taking... Read More »

LECOM Behavioral Health, Barber National Institute Take Coordinated Action to Strengthen Services

LECOM Behavioral Health, Barber National Institute Take Coordinated Action to Strengthen Services

ERIE, Pa. (April 13, 2026) – Barber National Institute and LECOM Behavioral Health announced today a coordinated realignment of behavioral health services, under which Barber National Institute will integrate select behavioral health services into its existing children, youth, and adult programs, while LECOM Behavioral Health will expand its role to continue community‑based behavioral health services currently provided by Barber National Institute, ensuring individuals and families have a clear path to care. Guided by Barber National... Read More »

Bone Up on Osteoporosis

Bone Up on Osteoporosis

"Osteoporosis is a disease that lowers bone mass and weakens bone tissue, explains Debra Spatz, DO, an osteopathic orthopedic physician. While it's often considered an older person's disease, it can strike at any age. Diet, Exercise and Lifestyle Dr. Spatz further explains that the most common injuries from the disease include hip, spine and wrist fractures. However, many of the contributing factors to this disease are preventable. For example, Dr. Spatz advises all of her...Read More »

Living in Fear: Anxiety Disorders

Living in Fear: Anxiety Disorders

Most people experience brief moments of fear just before a public speaking engagement or a first date. However, for 40 million adults suffering from anxiety disorders, feelings of fear and dread disrupt their lives for at least six months. Anxiety disorders impair social and occupational functioning, explains Mathew Sipple, D.O., an osteopathic psychiatrist from Erie, PA. Since it is not uncommon for anxiety disorders to occur in people who have pre-existing mental or physical illnesses,...Read More »

Muscle Cramp A Common Pain

Muscle Cramp A Common Pain

Has a muscle cramp ever woken you up in the middle of the night? Or stopped you in your tracks in the middle of an activity? If you're like most people, chances are your answer is yes. Muscle cramps, or "charley horses" as they are sometimes called, are extremely common and occur when muscles involuntarily contract and cannot relax. While it is not known exactly why muscle cramps develop, there are some proven methods for...Read More »

Food Allergies: Avoiding a Holiday Hazard

Food Allergies: Avoiding a Holiday Hazard

As holiday parties fill the calendar, many of us may forget or neglect to consider food allergies. With a staggering 2 percent of American adults and 8 percent of American children estimated to suffer from some form of a food allergy, carelessness toward ingredients can cause more discomfort than the visiting in-laws. Because allergic reactions to food could appear within minutes or up to two hours after consumption, it is important to understand what is...Read More »

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