Archive for category: Frontpage Article

Retirees: Local 280 is hosting Esophageal Cancer Screenings on Monday, October 28 and Tuesday, October 29. Please see more information below and sign up for the screening.

Why Should I Get Screened?

Esophageal Adenocarcinoma (EAC) is the fastest growing cancer in the United States with a 733% increase in incidence in the past 40 years. EAC is the 7th leading cause of cancer death in men. It is a highly lethal cancer; the average time from diagnosis to death is ~13 months and the 5-year survival rate is only ~20%…but it can be prevented through screening.

Firefighters have a 62% greater risk of developing Esophageal Adenocarcinoma (EAC) and a 39% higher likelihood or dying from EAC. This is substantiated in multiple clinical papers and frequently referenced by the Firefighter Cancer Support Network. The Firefighter Cancer Support Network states that firefighters have an 80% greater likelihood of developing EAC than non-firefighters.

There is nothing “nice” about cancer, however the “nice” thing about EAC is that it has an established, diagnosable pre-cancerous condition called Barrett’s Esophagus (BE). EsoGuard can identify BE with a high degree of sensitivity and specificity, starting with methylation changes that occur during the earliest cellular changes all the way through to EAC. The goal is to find pre-cancer and effectively treat it with ablation therapies so that it never turns into cancer. EsoGuard provides a binary “yes or no” result, and patients with a positive result should go on for confirmatory upper endoscopy.

**This is not an annual screening, it is better to do it one time then not at all**  

EsoGuard is NOT an annual screening, it is better to be screened one time than never at all. If a firefighter’s risk factor profile changes in the 5-10 years after an initial negative screening result, a repeat screening is recommended. If someone over the age of 60 receives a negative screening result, there is no reason for that individual to be screened again.

TO GET SCREENED, PLEASE COMPLETE THE STEPS BELOW: 

1. 1. Google Forms – Risk Factor Questionnaire to determine eligibility for screening:
      https://forms.gle/gGEpLJ28tfG8kTjC9
   2. Sign Up Genius – Schedule your appointment:
      https://www.signupgenius.com/go/10C0A4FACA922ABF8CF8-51897238-esoguard

 For the day of the Screening test, please bring:

1. • Driver’s License and Medical Insurance card
   • Do NOT eat or drink 2 hours prior to the screening test. If needed, small sips of water are allowed leading up to the screening test.

BILLING POLICY/COST: (No out of pocket cost)

When this claim is submitted, a few things happen:

1. The patient will receive an explanation of benefits from their insurance provider. This is not a bill and it does not come from Lucid.
2. The patient may receive a Claims Notification Letter from Lucid. This letter requests authorization from the patient to go through the appeals process on their behalf. If the patient does not respond to this letter, Lucid may call the patient up to 2 times requesting authorization for appeal. If the patient ignores that letter and calls, it will not change anything with our policy.
3. Then three things can happen:- The insurance company pays the claim in full…no further action.- The insurance company denies the claim, even after appeal…we consider this claim fully adjudicated, no further action.- The insurance company pays a portion of the claim. In this situation, we are legally obligated to send an invoice for the patient responsibility, but we are not legally obligated to collect the patient responsibility…anything not covered by insurance will be written off. The patient will receive one invoice and one invoice only, and we do not utilize collections. This will be provided to everyone at the time of screening.

More than 70 Syracuse Retired Fire Fighters gathered at the Valley American Legion Post for the annual retirees picnic on June 19, 2024.

Change of Pace and Bob Brazell provided a delicious lunch. Retired Captain Charlie Sanborn (the original Charlie Sanborn) won the 50/50 and more than $500.00 was raised for the Ken Irving fund.

 

Register today for the 40th Annual SFD Golf Tournament on Monday, August 12 (C shift is working) at Pompey Club. Check-In opens at 8:30 AM with a shotgun start at 9:30 AM. All active and retired professional firefighters are welcome to attend. Captain & Crew format, $480 per team includes skins. Price includes golf, cart, lunch, dinner, awards, prizes, and beer/soda on course.

40th Annual SFD Golf Tournament – Registration Form

Saturday, February 3, 2024, marks the 85th anniversary of the deadly 1939 Collins Block Fire in Downtown Syracuse. We shall never forget our fallen members who perished in the line of duty. The call of duty continues, and our department continues to grow with the addition of our brave and dedicated new recruits.

I cordially invite you to join me, Mayor Walsh, and members of the Syracuse Fire Department as we honor the nine Syracuse firefighters who were killed in the Collins Block Fire and the 33 other Syracuse firefighters who have died in the line of duty. Class A uniforms are welcomed but not necessary.

The agenda for the day is as follows:

• 8:00 AM – Retiree and active members Meet and Greet with coffee and donuts at Park Central Presbyterian Church, located directly across the street from Firefighter’s Park at 504 E. Fayette St.
• 9:30 AM – The Collins Block Memorial Ceremony will occur at Fayette Firefighters Park.
• 10:00 AM – Recruit graduation ceremony for our current recruit class, held at Park Central Presbyterian Church.
• 11:15 AM – Brunch provided by Local 280.

Please join us in remembering our fallen firefighters and welcoming our newest additions to the Syracuse Fire Department. Please RSVP your attendance at cbalduzzi@syr.gov.

Sincerely,

Michael J. Monds
Chief of Fire

Collin Block Memorial Invitation Letter