Hundreds stepped off to lively Spirit of Women Day of Dance program

PLAINFIELD, Ind. – WTHR-13 Weekend Sunrise meteorologist Nicole Misencik served as host to over 500 hundred central Indiana women, their families and friends attending the 9^th Spirit of Women Day of Dance.

Day of Dance held Saturday, Feb. 25, at Primo West Banquet & Conference Center in Plainfield, is an annual event sponsored by Franciscan St. Francis Health. The event is a women’s focused event which promotes health and nutrition through dance, aerobic activities and education to help prevent heart disease.

Special guest, Jill Jayne, “Rock Star Nutritionist” got the crowd moving with memorable songs about the importance of nutrition, moving our body and being healthy. Dances included the Move Your Body rap, a flash mob and others. Jayne is a trained performer and musician and a registered dietician.

Jayne, who has shared the stage with First Lady Michelle Obama, has performed all over the county and internationally teaching parents and children the perfect harmony of food and activity through song and dance. Her strategy is to empower youngsters to make healthier choices.

Other live dance instruction included NIA, or neuromuscular integrative action, a low-impact fitness form, as well as several line dances instructed by The Dancing DJs. Free health screenings were also offered, including cholesterol, glucose, déjà heel scans and blood pressure.

“2012 Day of Dance exceeded our expectations,” said Michele Wood, manager of Women’s Health Services for Franciscan St. Francis. ““Working with Jill Jayne was exciting and innovative, Nicole Mikulski was delightful, and the Dancing DJs were a great package. Social media buzzed after the event as adults were applying Jill Jayne’s nutrition tips into their grocery shopping.”

To learn more about Franciscan St. Francis Health’s Women Services, Spirit of Women activities or future Day of Dance events, visit http://www.stfrancishospitals.org/women.

St. Francis Medical Group oncologist relocates practice in Franklin

FRANKLIN, Ind. – Subhash Sharma, M.D., of St. Francis Medical Group’s Oncology & Hematology Specialists, has relocated his practice.

He is now seeing patients at 1300 W. Jefferson St, Franklin, in the American Health Network building. He previously maintained an office at Johnson Memorial Hospital.

Dr. Sharma also sees patients at Franciscan St. Francis Cancer Center at 8111 S. Emerson Ave.

Board-certified in hematology, medical oncology and internal medicine, Dr. Sharma has been a principal investigator of many national cancer clinical trials. He has been widely published in medical journals.

A member of the American Society of Clinical Oncology, he earned his medical degree at Maulana Azad Medical School-Delhi University in India. He completed residency in Internal Medicine and fellowship in Hematology/Medical Oncology/Palliative Care at the Cleveland Clinic Foundation, Cleveland, Ohio.

He and his colleagues serve on Franciscan St. Francis Health’s multi-disciplinary teams, as well as collaborate with a network of other professionals to provide the most comprehensive cancer care available for the patients served in central Indiana.

For more information or to make an appointment with Dr. Sharma, call 317-859-5252.

To learn more about cancer care services at Franciscan St. Francis Health, go to http://www.stfrancishospitals.org/cancer.

Greenwood pediatricians affiliate with St. Francis Medical Group

GREENWOOD, Ind. – Gail L. Goettler, M.D., and Carol G. Johnson, M.D., have joined St. Francis Medical Group.

They have been in practice together since 1991. Their office is located at 1030 E. County Line Road, Suite B-2, Indianapolis.

Board-certified in pediatrics, Dr. Goettler received her undergraduate degrees in chemistry and biology at Wartburg College in Waverly, Iowa, and graduated summa cum laude. She earned her medical degree at the University of Iowa College of Medicine and completed an internship and residency at Methodist Hospital.

Dr. Johnson, board-certified in pediatrics, received her undergraduate degrees in recreation and park administration, and biology at Indiana University, earning high honors. She graduated from the IU School of Medicine and completed an internship and residency at Methodist. She holds an academic appointment with the IU School of Medicine.

Led by President Isaac J. Myers II, M.D., St. Francis Medical Group is a multidisciplinary group of physicians throughout central Indiana. These physicians offer a variety of primary care and specialty care services and all practice at Franciscan St. Francis Health.

To learn more about St. Francis Medical Group, go to www.stfrancisdoctors.org.

g� ` b l ��t 8P� recent press releases about our hospital system. If you're a journalist and would like to be added to our press release distribution list, please e-mail us.

MEDIA ADVISORY

BEECH GROVE, Ind. -- For nearly a century, the unwavering healing mission of Franciscan St. Francis Health-Beech Grove (1600 Albany St.) has been embodied by generations of clinical staff, employees and volunteers and their relationship with people in this community.

As the hospital prepares to consolidate its inpatient and other clinical services to its Indianapolis campus (March 12-16), a closing mass at Holy Name Catholic Church (across the street from the Beech Grove hospital) and other actitivies will be held 1:30 PM WEDNESDAY, FEB. 29. The Mass will include clergy from that church, Archdiocese of Indianapolis and the hospital, and others in the community.

Following Mass (approximately 3 PM), a closing service will be held at the hospital and a public viewing of a large-scale gallery show, featuring photography and memorabilia from the hospital's founding in 1914 through present day.

For more background on hospital consolidation, go to http://stfrancisnews.blogspot.com/2012/02/st-francis-health-beech-grove-er.html. More details about the gallery exhibit are at http://stfrancisnews.blogspot.com/2012/02/gallery-highlights-st-francis-healths.html.

Franciscan St. Francis Heart Center first hospital in Indiana to use stent for heart disease patients with diabetes

Dr. Carl Rouch performed the procedure Feb. 21 at the Franciscan St. Francis Heart Center-Indianapolis.

INDIANAPOLIS – The Franciscan St. Francis Heart Center is the first hospital in Indiana, and one of the first in the nation, to use a a newly approved medical device to open narrowed coronary arteries, even in heart disease patients with diabetes.

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved the new device –– the Resolute Integrity Drug-Eluting Stent (DES) from Medtronic –– on Feb. 17, and Carl Rouch, M.D., interventional cardiologist with St. Francis Medical Group Indiana Heart Physicians, performed the first procedure on Feb. 21. By using the Resolute Integrity DES, the heart disease patient with diabetes was able to forgo a more invasive approach, known as open-heart surgery, to prop open a narrowed artery. newly approved medical device to open narrowed coronary arteries, even in heart disease patients with diabetes.

The Resolute Integrity DES is the first and only heart stent to be FDA approved for treating patients with coronary artery disease (CAD) who also have diabetes. The new device has been shown in a global series of clinical studies to yield consistently strong performance in CAD patients with and without diabetes.

Approximately one-third of all patients –– an estimated 300,000 people in the United States –– who receive a stent each year have diabetes. Research shows that the nearly 26 million people in the United States who have diabetes are at a greater risk for developing CAD, and millions of Americans with both diabetes and CAD face an increased rate of heart attacks and strokes than patients without diabetes.

“The Resolute Integrity Drug-Eluting Stent represents a significant advance in the interventional treatment of coronary artery disease,” said William Berg, M.D., interventional cardiologist and medical director at Franciscan St. Francis Heart Center. “The device’s indication for CAD patients with diabetes in particular really distinguishes it from the alternatives.”

Caused by a buildup of fatty deposits, or plaque, in coronary arteries, CAD is the most common type of heart disease and the leading cause of death in the United States, killing almost half a million Americans each year.

Research shows that people with diabetes have a two- to three-fold increased risk for CAD and two- to four-fold higher CAD complication and death rates. Historically it’s been difficult to treat CAD patients with diabetes because they tend to have smaller coronary arteries and persistently elevated blood-sugar levels, which can increase the rate of procedural complications and long-term safety risks.

A stent is a tiny mesh cylinder designed to prop open a narrowed artery. A drug-eluting stent is coated with medication that is designed to prevent the artery from narrowing again; the drug gradually dissolves from the stent and into the arterial wall.

To treat CAD, stents are implanted in a minimally invasive procedure called percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI). Performed by an interventional cardiologist, the procedure involves the insertion of a tiny balloon into the vessel at the site of the narrowing. Crimped tightly on the end of the balloon is the stent. When inflated, the stent expands against the wall of the narrowed artery. With the stent expanded, the balloon is deflated and removed. The stent remains in

place, providing a scaffold to keep the artery open and restoring normal blood flow to the heart.

With one of the best heart attack survival rates of any hospital in Indiana, the Franciscan St. Francis Heart Center encompasses the entire continuum of care for heart and vascular patients.

In 2012, Franciscan St. Francis Heart Center—Indianapolis was recognized by HealthGrades as the number one program in Indiana for overall cardiac services and named one of America’s 100 best hospitals for cardiac care and coronary intervention.

In addition, St. Francis received five stars for heart attack treatment, coronary interventional procedures, heart valve repair and replacement surgery, cardiology services and heart failure treatment.

To learn more about the Franciscan St. Francis Heart Center, visit www.MyHeartCare.net.

More information about the Resolute Integrity DES is available at www.medtronicstents.com.

After reaching the narrowing in the artery, the

balloon inflates to expand the Resolute Integrity DES against the artery wall to keep the artery open and restore normal blood flow to the heart. (Graphic: Medtronic, Inc.)

“The Resolute Integrity Drug-Eluting Stent represents a significant advance in the interventional treatment of coronary artery disease.”

William Berg, M.D., interventional cardiologist and medical director, Franciscan St. Francis Heart Center

St. Francis Health surgeon explains orthopedic, joint replacement therapies March 7

BLOOMINGTON, Ind. – Hip and knee pain shouldn’t keep people from leading active and rewarding lives – and Franciscan St. Francis Health wants to show you how.

The St. Francis “Road Show” will be coming to town at 6:30 p.m., Wednesday, March 7, at the Bloomington–Monroe County Convention Center, 302 S. College Ave. In the spotlight is a hip and knee replacement seminar. A light buffet will be served at 6 p.m.

Michael E. Berend, M.D., will explain the latest procedures in joint replacement and arthritis treatments. He is a board-certified orthopedic surgeon specializing in adult reconstructive surgery and joint replacement.

Berend is a surgeon with the Center for Hip & Knee Surgery at St. Francis Health–Mooresville. The Center has been ranked No. 1 in Indiana for joint surgery five years in a row (2007-2011) by HealthGrades, one of the nation’s premier health care rating companies.

To register for this seminar, call St. Francis toll-free at 1-877-888-1777.

More information about the Center for Hip & Knee Surgery is at stfrancishospitals.org. Click the link in the center section of the home page.

St. Francis Health ortho surgeons spearhead medical mission to Nicaragua

MOORESVILLE, Ind. – The Operation Walk Mooresville medical and support team will be in Managua, Nicaragua, Feb. 26 through March 3 to provide hip and knee joint replacements and foot and ankle care for patients.

Operation Walk is a private, not-for-profit, volunteer medical services organization dedicated to providing surgical treatment to help patients affected by diseases of the hip and knee joints regain mobility and quality of life. The organization typically focuses on

developing countries, where individuals do not have access to total joint replacement procedures.

Amy Robertson, R.N., team coordinator for Operation Walk Mooresville, said team members always “worked so well together,” as well as with physicians and other medical staff in the country. “Of course, we couldn’t do any of this without the help of

Franciscan St. Francis Health and our sponsors,” she said.

“It is primarily in other countries that we are able to do God’s work and take care of those who might never have the chance to walk again,” said Merrill Ritter, M.D., who founded the Mooresville chapter in 2000 and the Center for Hip & Knee Surgery in 1986.

Operation Walk Mooresville has performed hundreds of free total joint replacements for patients in Nicaragua, Cuba and Guatemala. Each trip costs about $175,000, Ritter estimates. That covers transportation, cargo, shipping, medical supplies, medications and room and board. The cost of the donated implants and supplies and time given by medical staff members is additional.

Operation Walk personnel evaluate, treat and see patients through discharge. Operation Walk surgeons also educate in-country orthopedic surgeons, nurses and other health care professionals on advanced surgical techniques and treatments.

Former Beech Grove police chief now heads St. Francis Health security

INDIANAPOLIS – Richard Witmer has been appointed director of security and safety for Franciscan St. Francis Health.

Witmer oversees all aspects of the security operations at Franciscan St. Francis hospitals in Indianapolis, Mooresville and Beech Grove.

A resident of south side Indianapolis, he served in all areas during his 24-year career with the Beech Grove Police Department, including patrol, investigations, a member of the special response team and administration, and was appointed chief in 2006.

A Southport High School graduate, Witmer earned an associate’s degree at the University of Indianapolis. He also graduated from the Indiana Law Enforcement Academy and FBI National Academy, and has supervised and taught various police-related courses.

Witmer was honorably discharged from the Marine Corps after a three-year tour of duty at bases in Twentynine Palms, Calif., and North Carolina.

St. Francis Health Beech Grove ER readies for transition to Indy campus

Hospital consolidation of inpatient and other services on track for mid-March

INDIANAPOLIS – As Franciscan St. Francis Health moves forward with plans to consolidate inpatient operations from its Beech Grove to Indianapolis campus, the hospital’s Emergency Services will ensure a continuum of care to patients.

At 7 a.m., Monday, March 12, the Beech Grove Emergency Department (ED) at 1600 Albany St. will begin transitioning its services to the hospital’s Indianapolis facility at 8111 S. Emerson Ave. The Beech Grove ED will remain open to treat walk-in patients.

At 7 a.m., Friday, March 16, the Beech Grove ED will shut down entirely, after all its operations are fully integrated at the Indianapolis hospital.

“Local Emergency Medical Services organizations, ambulance services and other relevant medical groups and practices were notified of these changes earlier in the year,” said India Owens, director of Emergency Services. “Every effort is being undertaken to ensure the safety of all patients seeking care in our emergency departments.”

Beech Grove area residents with minor ailments also have the option of seeking treatment at St. Francis Medical Group After-Hours Clinic at 2030 Churchman Ave. Patients also can seek treatment at the After-Hours Clinic at 7855 S. Emerson Ave., Suite P.

Embracing the future of health care

The change in ED operations coincides with the centralization of Franciscan St. Francis’ Beech Grove inpatient care, other clinical programs and administrative support services to the Indianapolis hospital – just seven miles from Beech Grove. The implementation of the initiative, which was years in planning, began in 2007 when the hospital announced a $300 million expansion of its Indianapolis medical center.

With growing patient demand for services on the city’s far south side and landlocked from further growth in Beech Grove since the late 1980s, the hospital embarked to add 221 new inpatient beds to its existing 234 beds and to construct and renovate other clinical and non-clinical units.

“This initiative was undertaken with great deliberation and planning,” said Robert J. Brody, president and chief executive officer for Franciscan St. Francis. “Combining the two hospitals under one roof enables us to perform more efficiently, achieve cost-savings, eliminate duplication of services and further enhance the level of care our patients expect and deserve.”

Continued growth of the Indianapolis hospital has been commensurate with an ever-increasing need for services since the facility first opened in 1995. With the addition of more complex and advanced services and technology, Franciscan St. Francis attracts those located nearby as well as those who come from throughout the region. The campus’ geographic location – located near two Interstate 65 exits – makes it easily accessible and centrally located to more patients.

The consolidation of inpatient services was driven by another key factor.

“For nearly a decade, more than 90 percent of the care delivered at Beech Grove has been performed on an outpatient basis,” said Keith Jewell, senior vice president and chief operating officer, who has overseen the consolidation project. “This, combined with the myriad of other challenges, helps us to adapt accordingly to the ever-changing nature of health care in our area and proactively respond to national health care initiatives as they progress.”

And the two-phase project hasn’t been without challenges. As the national recession deepened in spring 2009, the hospital was forced to delay construction. But within months – and well ahead of other local hospitals’ whose building projects had been put on hold – the project resumed and continued at a steady pace.

In April 2011, Phase I came to fruition when the Franciscan St. Francis opened a new and larger emergency department, Wound Care Institute, new surgical suites, nursing administration and other new features to the six-story tower. Over the last several months, other clinical and administrative support units have migrated to the new facility, most notably with the opening of the new Franciscan St. Francis Cancer Center, which was dedicated Feb. 9.

Now the sights are set on mid-March and beyond.

“Our plans are solid and we’re adapting when changes are needed.” Jewell said. “We have worked closely with our managers, departments and units and they have provided tremendous support throughout the entire process.”

And for good reason: Moving a hospital – if only seven miles – requires a precise, intricate choreography.

Beech Grove: Foundation of healing

Founded in Beech Grove in 1914 by the Order of Sisters of St. Francis of Perpetual Adoration, St. Francis Hospital boasted 75 patient beds, two operating rooms and the latest in modern technology when it opened.

“We were invited to establish a health-care ministry in Beech Grove and with the help of local Catholic clergy found a location,” said Sister Marlene Shapley, vice president of mission services. “The hospital was founded on our fundamental belief that human needs should be met in a holistic manner.”

For many years, the St. Francis Health officials have worked diligently with Beech Grove elected officials, civic leaders and homeowners to determine the best possible reuses of the facilities and acreage. The hospital is also working with a national broker to market the campus to potential buyers.

Although inpatient and other services will move southward, the Sisters’ commitment to Beech Grove remains intact. Outpatient laboratory, physical therapy and radiology services will remain open at 1600 Albany St. at least through the fall.

Plans also call for the relocation of other clinical services within the Beech Grove community. Security will remain intact throughout the campus.

Additionally, the build-out on a new Franciscan St. Francis Health Immediate Care Center at Thompson Commons at 5210 E. Thompson Road in April, provides Beech Grove residents with another option in health care.

“For nearly a century, we have been a part of the Beech Grove and that community has been an important part of our family – and always shall be,” said Sister Marlene.

Chest Pain Center receives renewed accreditation

INDIANAPOLIS -- Franciscan St. Francis Health—Indianapolis has received a renewed three-year accreditation as a Chest Pain Center from the Society of Chest Pain Centers for exceeding quality-of- care measures in acute cardiac medicine.

The hospital received its first accreditation in 2005, the first hospital in greater Indianapolis to receive that designation.

Heart attacks are the leading cause of death in the United States. More than 1.2 million Americans will have a heart attack this year, and more than 2,000 people die of heart disease in the United States every day.

Call 911 if you experience any symptoms:

• Chest discomfort.

• Discomfort in other areas of the upper body.

• Shortness of breath with or without chest discomfort.

Breaking out in a cold sweat, nausea or light-headedness also are common symptoms.

To learn more about the cardiac services at Franciscan St. Francis Health, go to www.myheartcare.net.

St. Francis Health physician on deck to discuss heart rhythm disorders

INDIANAPOLIS – More than 2.2 million Americans have been diagnosed with atrial fibrillation (Afib), a serious heart rhythm problem that can lead to heart failure and stroke.

Robert Kinn, M.D., an electrophysiologist with St. Francis Medical Group Indiana Heart Physicians will discuss the symptoms, diagnosis and the latest treatments of Afib at an upcoming workshop, 6:30 p.m., Thursday, Feb. 23. The free event is at the Franciscan St. Francis Heart Center at at St. Francis Hospital-Indianapolis, 8111 S. Emerson Ave.

Afib is a condition where the heart beats irregularly at a high rate. Sometimes, people have it for years and have few side effects. Over time, however, and with age, it can worsen, causing lightheadedness, unexplained fatigue and shortness of breath.

If severe and left untreated, this condition can lead to stroke, a main cause of permanent disability.

The good news is there are many new medications, surgical procedures and devices that can manage afib. During this presentation, Kinn will explain what happens to a heart with afib and how cardiologists and surgeons work together at Franciscan St. Francis Heart Center to create individualized treatment plans for patients.

To register, call 317-782-4422, or toll free 1-877-888-1777.

To learn more about the cardiac services at Franciscan St. Francis Health, go to www.myheartcare.net.

TV weather reporter, ‘Rock Star Nutritionist’ to lead Day of Dance event

PLAINFIELD, Ind. – WTHR-13 Weekend Sunrise meteorologist Nicole Misencik will share more than weather forecasts later this month.

She will serve as host for hundreds of central Indiana women, their families and friends attending the 9^th Spirit of Women Day of Dance sponsored by Franciscan St. Francis Health.

Day of Dance steps off 9 a.m., Saturday, Feb. 25, at Primo West Banquet & Conference Center, 2353 E. Perry Road, Plainfield. The event, which continues through mid-afternoon, is for women of all ages, offering dancing and other aerobic activities which may help prevent heart disease.

Participants are encouraged to bring their children with them for a special jam session with “Rock Star Nutritionist” Jill Jayne, who has traveled the country extensively to promote health and wellness among schoolchildren. She has performed all over the country teaching parents and children the perfect harmony of food and activity through song and dance.

The annual event provides live dance demonstrations and instruction, music and a light vegetarian lunch. There will be several free health screenings offered, including cholesterol, glucose and blood pressure, as well as others.

Admission to Day of Dance is free, but advanced registration is strongly encouraged. To register, call 317-782-4422, or go to stfrancishospitals.org/women.

“Franciscan St. Francis Health is a proud member of Spirit of Women, a national network of hospitals dedicated to the overall health and well-being of women and their families,” said Michele Wood, R.N., who manages the hospital’s Spirit program.

To learn more about the Spirit of Women at Franciscan St. Francis Health, visit http://www.stfrancishospitals.org/women.

Gallery highlights St. Francis Health’s history, legacy in Beech Grove

Exhibit opens Feb. 9 and open to the public through March 10

BEECH GROVE, Ind. – Nearly a century of Franciscan St. Francis Health history and its impact within this community will soon be on display here for the public to view.

A Firm Foundation of Faith & Healing is the name of the photo exhibit which chronicles the mission and legacy of the hospital’s founding in Beech Grove in 1914 by the Sisters of St. Francis of Perpetual Adoration.

The exhibit opens Thursday, Feb. 9 with a VIP reception, but will be open to the public through March 10. The gallery is in the corridor of the main floor near St. Clare Chapel corridor of the Main (first) floor. Franciscan St. Francis – Beech Grove is located at 1600 Albany St.

“We were invited to establish a health-care ministry in Beech Grove near the turn of the century,” said Sister Marlene Shapley, vice president of Mission Services. “Two of our Sisters traveled by buggy from Lafayette – where a Franciscan hospital had been in operation since1876 – and with the help of local Catholic clergy found a location.

In 1914, the Sisters’ vision became a reality when St. Francis Hospital opened its doors with 75 patient beds and offering the latest medical technology available of that time.

“The hospital was founded on our fundamental belief that human needs should be met in a holistic manner,” Shapley said. “This mission has guided us for nearly a century of service to Beech Grove and south-central Indiana.”

The exhibit is a timeline of photos and other imagery. Visitors can stroll through the decades, seeing the faces of former Sisters, leaders, physicians, nurses and employees at work; the changing nature of medical care; and the myriad events which bolstered and further defined St. Francis’ growth at campuses operating today in Indianapolis and Mooresville.

“We encourage the public to visit us and enjoy images celebrating the dedication, humor, intelligence and expertise of those who worked here before us,” said Kelli Searles, director of Community Relations and Marketing, who has developed and overseen the project. “It is a celebration of our mission and a tribute to those many who have demonstrated that a hospital is more than just bricks and mortar.”

The exhibit was designed by Irongate Creative, an Indianapolis-based multimedia company.

The opening of the gallery sets the stage for the hospital’s consolidation of inpatient services and other programs at Franciscan St. Francis – Indianapolis (8111 S. Emerson Ave.), just seven miles south of Beech Grove. An expansion project has been under way at that campus since 2007 and is nearing completion.

To learn more about the consolidation, go http://indianapolis.stfrancishospitals.org/.

To learn more about the consolidation, go http://indianapolis.stfrancishospitals.org/.

Image gallery going up at Franciscan St. Francis Health-Beech Grove

Take a walk through St. Francis Health's century-long service in Beech Grove and the surrounding communities. An image-laden exhibit, A Firm Foundation of Faith & Healing, is being readied for public display along the hallways on the main floor at our hospital (1600 Albany St.). The exhibit opens Feb. 9 and continues through March 10.

Wounded Warriors scalp NFL Stars in gridiron showdown

Franciscan St. Francis Health co-sponsored a flag football game Feb. 1, pitting pitted members of the Wounded Warrior amputees against former NFL players. Check out our photos on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/FranciscanStFrancisHealth

Expanded St. Francis Cancer Center offers enhanced comprehensive services

Dedication slated for Feb. 8; public invited to preview facility Feb. 11

INDIANAPOLIS – Franciscan St. Francis Health-Indianapolis is on the cusp of completing its expansion of its south side Cancer Center, and the public will get a chance to get a sneak peek of the facility.

Plans are well under way for the formal unveiling of the St. Francis Cancer Center, which expands the facility from 20,000 to 90,000 square feet.

A formal ceremony is set for 1 p.m. to 4 p.m., Wednesday, Feb. 8 in the main lobby of the facility. The event will be highlighted with Father John Mannion, director of Spiritual Care Services, and Sister Marlene Shapley, vice president of mission services, leading the dedication. Other participants include hospital leadership, Cancer Center physicians and local civic leaders.

Also on tap at 10 a.m. to noon, Saturday, Feb. 11, current cancer patients and their families, and cancer survivors will tour the building in a private event. From noon to 3 p.m. that same day, Franciscan St. Francis Health employees and the public are invited to see what the new facility has to offer.

“These events signal yet another milestone in our ongoing consolidation of services and ongoing expansion on our Indianapolis campus,” said Robert J. Brody, Franciscan St. Francis president and chief executive officer. “The expanded Cancer Center brings together our oncology services in a multi-disciplinary environment to provide faster and more effective care for the patients we serve.”

Among the services and features at the facility:

• Outpatient bone marrow transplant clinic and supporting stem cell and histocompatibility laboratories
• 25-bay infusion center
• Medical offices for breast and gynecological oncology surgeons
• Increased medical office space for medical oncology/hematology
• Re-designed and expanded radiation oncology department
• Installation of advanced PET/CT imaging technology
• On-site location for the cancer research department
• Reflection/spiritual care room
• Patient resource center
• Oasis retail center for patients needing wigs and prostheses
• Conference center for accommodating support groups and educational sessions

A centerpiece of the facility is the two-story glass lobby and adjacent outdoor courtyard located in the center of the building, providing natural light and pleasant surroundings accessible to patients, families, visitors and staff.

“The courtyard will be a place for hope, comfort and calm,” said Shapley. “Its design symbolizes all that we hold dear in our mission to care for those with cancer and all life-threatening diseases.”

To learn more about Cancer Services at Franciscan St. Francis Health, go to http://www.stfrancishospitals.org/cancer.