Franciscan St. Francis Health responds to Supreme Court decision on health care legislation

June 28, 2012

Today’s Supreme Court decision regarding the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act is landmark.

While significant, this ruling does not alter the steadfast goals of Franciscan St. Francis Health, which focus on quality treatments and safety for our patients, providing more access to affordable medical care, and finding new ways to operate our hospitals more efficiently.

Certainly, we will continue to work with and encourage policymakers to reform our nation’s overall health care delivery system, particularly in reducing the number of uninsured and underserved. In the end, virtually every segment of our society pays in some way for those who cannot afford health care.

We treat all patients seeking care at our hospitals in Indianapolis, Mooresville and Carmel, regardless of their ability to pay. That has been our mission for nearly a century and will continue to guide Franciscan St. Francis Health.

If nothing else, in the two years since the passage of PPACA, it has forced our entire nation – from Capitol Hill to Main Street – to enter into a critical conversation about the future of health care delivery and affordability. This dialogue must continue and lead to lasting solutions.

Robert J. Brody

President & Chief Executive Officer

Franciscan St. Francis Health

Franciscan St. Francis Health is a member of Franciscan Alliance, which has 14 hospitals in Indiana and Illinois. Franciscan Alliance provides care for more than 2.9 million outpatient visits and more than  100,000 inpatient discharges every year with the most effective medical treatments and innovative technology. Franciscan Alliance, one of the largest Catholic health care systems in the Midwest, employs 18,200 co-workers and has more than 3,300 affiliated physicians – both primary care and specialists – serving nearly 4 million people in the system’s service areas. To learn more about Franciscan Alliance and Franciscan St. Francis Health, go to www.franciscanalliance.org and www.stfrancishospitals.org.

St. Francis Auxiliary awards scholarships to local student volunteers

Recipients, from left: Christine Mackenzie, Stephanie Hamilton,
Meagan Fuller, Kyle Miller and Janit Pandya.

By Samantha Johansen

For Franciscan St. Francis Health

INDIANAPOLIS – Five hard-working volunteers are heading to college, thanks in large part to scholarships awarded to them by the St. Francis Auxiliary.

With their families and friends looking on, each of the students received $1,000 scholarships at a ceremony and luncheon June 13 at Franciscan St. Francis Health-Indianapolis.

“St. Francis Auxiliary is pleased to present scholarships to these teens, who have contributed to the Franciscan mission and values throughout the school year,” said Auxiliary President Paula Curseaden. 

The recipients are:

Christine Mackenzie of Mooresville. Since 2010, she has volunteered more than 246 hours at the Impact Center. She plans to attend Indiana University Purdue University Indianapolis (IUPUI) and enter its radiography program.

Stephanie Hamilton of Indianapolis. She has been a volunteer for more than a year at the Indianapolis campus and has logged 152 hours of service. She will attend IUPUI and study nursing.

Janit Pandya of Greenwood. A volunteer since 2009, He has served 207 hours, largely in the neonatal intensive care unit at the Indianapolis hospital. He intends to pursue a degree related to medicine at Indiana University.

Meagan Fuller of Mooresville. She has accumulated more than 300 hours as a greeter at the information desk at the Mooresville facility. She will attend Hanover College and major in biology and pre-med studies.

Kyle Miller of Greenwood. He has logged 108 hours volunteering in the labor and delivery unit at the Indianapolis campus. He will attend IU and major in biology.

“I’m honored and humbled I was selected for this scholarship, I will definitely put it to use, to further my education,” said Pandya.

Since 2007, the Auxiliary has awarded $30,000 in scholarships to deserving young volunteers.

The Auxiliary is a component of the Franciscan Alliance Foundation–St. Francis Health. It helps the foundation to advance its mission of caring for terminally ill patients and assuring spiritual care and crisis support for patients and employees. It also provides professional development for employees and with the goal of promoting healthier communities.  

Auxiliary members also serve as volunteers in a variety of areas at Franciscan St. Francis Health’s three hospitals.

To learn more about the St. Francis Healthcare Foundation, go to www.stfrancishospitals.org/foundation.

Samantha Johansen majors in journalism at Indiana University-Bloomington. She is an intern with the Community Relations and Marketing Department at Franciscan St. Francis Health.

Gemba kaizen: Where value is created and customers are valued

“Gemba is the place where service is created and provided, and how you

 interact with your customers... In hospitals, for example, it can mean

 improving patient flow [from admissions to treatment to discharge].

 Your patients look to you for care. You create value.”

 Business process guru shares myriad messages with St. Francis Health audience

INDIANAPOLIS – When detectives in Japan flock to a crime scene, they refer to it as gemba, meaning “the real place” – and situation requiring a solution. But the term also applies to hospitals, factory floors and construction sites, any place where work is done.

“Gemba is the place where service is created and provided, and how you interact with your customers,” said Maasaki Imai, “In hospitals, for example, it can mean improving patient flow [from admissions to treatment to discharge]. Your patients look to you for care. You create value.”

That’s one of the messages that Imai, an internationally acclaimed management consultant who has championed the gemba kaizen business approach, delivered to Franciscan St. Francis Health employees and representatives from other hospitals during his visit to the south-side hospital June 13.

The kaizen philosophy is used by many health care organizations – including Franciscan St. Francis – government, banking, and industries around the globe. It was implemented in Japan in the wake of World War II, largely influenced by visiting U.S. business experts who were enlisted to help rebuild the shattered Japanese economy.

 

Kaizen’s premise is that small changes, occurring at various levels and in coordination, lead to better customer service, more efficient work and reduction in waste. Imai established the Kaizen Institute in 1986 to help Western companies introduce kaizen concepts, systems and tools.

Imai met with visitors after the seminar and signed free
copies of his latest book, Gemba Kaizen: A Commonsense,
Low-Cost Approach to Management.

Gemba kaizen embraces the skills of a whole organization, encouraging and rewarding employee contributions and understanding even the smallest improvements will create greater value over time. When used in the workplace, the process promotes activities which continually improve all functions, and involves all employees from the executive suites to front-line workers.

“It is the moral obligation of any organization’s leadership to apply lean principles and to constantly find ways to make improvements on their products,” Imai said. “When a problem exists, leaders must go to the source of the problem, take temporary countermeasures to fix it on the spot, discover the root causes of the problem, and implement standards to prevent future trouble.”

Imai cited General Motors as an example of how large corporations often fall short by not fostering activities which continually improve their way of doing business and encouraging its workforce to participate in process improvements

"GM's top management never applied a lean approach to business, much to its detriment," said Imai. "Even after your government bailed it out, nothing has changed at GM."

St. Francis Health CEO Bob Brody was among
the seminar participants.

Imai’s visit was part of his five-city U.S. tour. He is the author of several books, including Gemba Kaizen: A Commonsense, Low-Cost Approach to Management.

 

He selected Franciscan St. Francis for a visit because of the hospital’s steady application of kaizen principles to bolster the system’s health-care mission and goals. Since 2007, tens

of thousands of suggestions and changes have been implemented with an estimated savings of more than $4 million.

New valet parking offers convenience to St. Francis Health patients, visitors

INDIANAPOLIS – Franciscan St. Francis Health is providing free valet parking to patients and visitors to its Indianapolis Campus Outpatient Center.


The service is available 7 a.m.-6 p.m., Monday through Friday, near the entrance of the Center, located at 8111 S. Emerson Ave.

It is recommended for those seeking imaging, lab, endoscopy, wound care, outpatient surgery and care at the hospital’s Breast Center.

“This reinforces our commitment to provide easier access to our service and addresses any concerns about where to park, especially during inclement weather,” said Terri Ruff, director of Imaging Services. “The addition of valet parking also responds to the tremendous growth of services and volume at our Indianapolis hospital.”

Young scientists graduate from clinical lab program

By SAMANTHA JOHANSEN
For Franciscan St. Francis Health


INDIANAPOLIS – Five students have graduated from the Franciscan St. Francis Health Clinical Laboratory Science Program and are poised to embark upon new careers.


The 2012 graduates and specialty field majors are:

Lyndi Gable, Purdue University (BS in public health in 2011). She’s the daughter of Jack and Anne Gable of Peru, Ind.


Brittany Jackson, Purdue University (BS in public health and epidemiology in 2011). Her parents are Mark and Barb Jackson of Kokomo.

Danielle Trowbridge, Ashley Robinson, Aaron Mang,
 Brittany Jackson and Lyndi Gable. 

Aaron Mang, Indiana State University (BS in biology in 2012). His parents are Paul and Sharon Mang of Greensburg.


Ashley Robinson, Franklin College (BS in biology and pre-optometry in 2011). Her parents are Roderick and Hyacinth Garrison of Indianapolis.


Danielle Trowbridge, Ball State University (BS in medical technology). She’s the daughter of Vince and Lena Roby (and the late Tracey Roby) of Greenwood.
The graduates were recognized for their achievements June 7 at hospital ceremonies.


The Franciscan St. Francis Health Clinical Laboratory Science Program (formerly known as the St. Francis School of Medical Technology) is affiliated with several colleges and universities across the Midwest.


The program, which is a division of the hospital’s clinical laboratory, was established in 1967 and is dedicated to preparing professional medical technologists with the theoretical and practical training to serve as active members of the health care team in clinical laboratory science.


More than 335 students have graduated from the program since its inception.
Medical technology involves conducting a wide range of laboratory tests for the detection, diagnosis, treatment and study of diseases. Clinical laboratory scientists work closely with pathologists and other specialists to ensure the accuracy of diagnoses.


More information about the Franciscan St. Francis Health Clinical Laboratory Science Program is at s at www.stfrancishospitals.org/Labs/DesktopDefault.aspx?tabindex=1&tabid=25.

Women’s Center gets facelift; open house showcases new look, services

MOORESVILLE, Ind. – Long known for its array of services to Morgan County and the surrounding area, the Women’s Center at Franciscan St. Francis Health-Mooresville has completed a renovation offering a fresh and new environment for its patients.

The Women’s Center will celebrate these changes with an open house 3:30 p.m. to 6 p.m., Tuesday, June 26. Visitors will have the opportunity to tour the newly renovated lobby, doctors’ offices and the Cherished Beginnings obstetrics unit.

They also can meet with physicians who work at the center: G. Alan Von Stein, MD, of Women’s Health & Gynecologic Surgery; Erika Rager, MD, MPH, a surgeon with Breast Specialists; and Glenn Dobbs, DO, of Southside OB/GYN, an independent group which chooses to practice at Franciscan St. Francis Health.

Refreshments will be provided by 3 Days in Paris, and door prizes will be awarded, including the chance to win a Kindle Fire®.

Located at 1201 Hadley Road, Franciscan St. Francis Health-Mooresville offers variety of clinical and outreach programs. The hospital is best known for the outstanding Kendrick Colon & Rectal Center and the top-ranked Center for Hip & Knee Surgery.

In 2008, it expanded to become a full-service hospital, adding the first emergency department in northern Morgan County, an intensive care unit, heart care and new inpatient units with beside charge and wireless communication technology to improve patient care. The hospital’s surgery suites feature the latest advancements, including laminar airflow and ultraviolet lighting to reduce infections.

The hospital also offers cancer treatment, physical therapy, lab and imaging services, cardiac and respiratory care, a Wound Care Institute, sleep disorders program and a Women’s Center for obstetric and gynecological services.

To learn more, go to http://www.stfrancishospitals.org/desktopdefault.aspx?tabid=68.

Harp therapy strikes soothing chord of healing, restoration for hospital patients

INDIANAPOLIS – For more than 13 years, Tami Briggs has used a unique medical tool in her quest to help alleviate hospital patients’ pain and enhance their healing and restoration.

A pioneer in the harp therapy field, Briggs blends powerful stories and practical tips with live musical examples showing how the harp and therapeutic music can change the medical environment, especially how patients experience illness and death. This Minneapolis musician will soon be sharing her techniques with clinical staff and patients at Franciscan St. Francis Health.

Briggs will demonstrate her “Sounds of Healing: Therapeutic Music in the Health Care Setting” in two Nursing Grand Rounds presentations, Tuesday, June 26 at the hospital’s Indianapolis campus, 8111 S. Emerson Ave. Nurses will earn education credits, learning the key benefits of using music at the hospital/hospice bedside: Comfort, pain distraction, relaxation and anchoring.

She also will perform for patients in a designated floor unit on June 27. Briggs will wrap up her visit on June 28 for patients and staff at Franciscan St. Francis Cancer Center. The latter event is open to the public and gets under way at 6:45 p.m.

In 1999, Briggs founded Musical Reflections, whose mission is to provide products and services to enhance and support the healing journey. She is certified by the International Harp Therapy Program and has played the instrument at the bedside of hundreds of hospital and hospice patients.

A national speaker, Briggs delivers what her Web site describes as “experiential programs that are inspiring, motivating, and encouraging, but also deeply peaceful and relaxing – a much-needed ‘commodity’  in our fast-paced world.”

Briggs also has written books about her chosen field and has recorded 13 CDs focused on relaxation, comfort, healing and sleep.

To learn more about how Tami Briggs Harp Therapy works, go to http://www.musicalreflections.com/video-clips/.

More information about nursing programs and careers at Franciscan St. Francis Health can be found at http://www.stfrancishospitals.org/nursing/.

Franciscan St. Francis Health surgeon explains arthritis, joint replacement therapies July 12

JEFF PIERSON

CARMEL, 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 Franciscan St. Francis “Road Show” will be coming to town at 6:30 p.m., Thursday, July 12, at the Ritz Charles, 12156 N. Meridian St. In the spotlight is a hip and knee replacement seminar. A light buffet will be served at 6 p.m.

Jeff Pierson, 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.

Pierson is a surgeon with the Center for Hip & Knee Surgery at St. Francis Health–Mooresville. His offices are located at 12188 N. Meridian St., next door to the Ritz Charles.

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.

College-bound students get financial boost from St. Francis Auxiliary

INDIANAPOLIS – Five area college-bound students have been named recipients of scholarships awarded by the St. Francis Auxiliary.

They were awarded $1,000 scholarships each based on their academic performances, community service and their volunteer commitment at Franciscan St. Francis Health’s Indianapolis and Mooresville hospitals. The recipients are:

Christine Mackenzie of Mooresville. Since 2010, she has volunteered more than 246 hours at the Impact Center. She plans to attend Indiana University Purdue University Indianapolis (IUPUI) and enter its radiography program.

Stephanie Hamilton of Indianapolis. She has been a volunteer for more than a year at the Indianapolis campus and has logged 152 hours of service. She will attend IUPUI and study nursing.

Janit Pandya of Greenwood. A volunteer since 2009, he has served 207 hours, largely in the neonatal intensive care unit at the Indianapolis hospital. He intends to pursue a degree related to medicine at Indiana University.

Meagan Fuller of Mooresville. She has accumulated more than 300 hours as a greeter at the information desk at the Mooresville facility. She will attend Hanover College and major in biology and pre-med studies.

Kyle Miller of Greenwood. He has logged 108 hours volunteering  in the labor and delivery unit at the Indianapolis campus. He will attend IU and major in biology.

The students will be presented with their scholarships at a luncheon Wednesday, June 13 at the Indianapolis campus.

“We are proud of these students and what they have accomplished,” said Paula Curseaden, St. Francis Auxiliary president, “and we wish them the best as they pursue higher education and their career goals.”

Since 2007, the Auxiliary has awarded $30,000 in scholarships to deserving young volunteers.

The Auxiliary is a component of the Franciscan Alliance Foundation–St. Francis Health. It helps the foundation to advance its mission of caring for terminally ill patients and assuring spiritual care and crisis support for patients and employees. It also provides professional development for employees and with the goal of promoting healthier communities.  

Auxiliary members also serve as volunteers in a variety of areas at Franciscan St. Francis Health’s three hospitals.

To learn more about the St. Francis Healthcare Foundation, go to www.stfrancishospitals.org/foundation.

Globally renowned business expert to visit Franciscan St. Francis Health

MAASAKI IMAI

INDIANAPOLIS – Maasaki Imai has earned reputation helping organizations and businesses around the world to develop quality management processes through an approach called kaizen, a Japanese word meaning “continuous improvement” and “change for the better.”

This Japanese consultant is visiting Franciscan St. Francis Health-Indianapolis on Wednesday, June 13, for one of only five sites he will visit during his U.S. tour. Imai will emphasize the importance of leadership in effecting positive changes and discuss his newly released 2^nd edition of Gemba Kaizen: A Commonsense, Low-Cost Approach to Management.

 

The half-day event gets under way at 8 a.m. in the hospital auditorium, located at 8111 S. Emerson Ave. To register go to www.kaizen.com/events/imaitour2012.

 

Originating in Japan in the ashes of World War II, the kaizen philosophy is used by many health care organizations, government, banking, and myriad industries around the globe. Its premise is that small changes, occurring at various levels and in coordination, lead to better customer service, more efficient work and reduction in waste.

 

When used in the workplace, the process promotes activities which continually improve all functions, and involves all employees from the CEO to front-line workers.

 

Imai established the Kaizen Institute in 1986 to help Western companies introduce kaizen concepts, systems and tools. That same year, he published his book on Japanese management, Kaizen: The Key to Japan's Competitive Success. This best-selling book has since been translated into 14 languages.

 

“Mr. Imai selected our hospital because of its steady and successful application of kaizen, which has strengthened our health care mission and goals,” said Joe Swartz director of business transformation.

 

Franciscan St. Francis Health adopted kaizen in 2007. Tens of thousands of suggestions and changes have been implemented since that time; 4,000 were submitted last year alone. In those five years, kaizen has saved St. Francis’ three hospitals in excess of $4 million.

 

“The most important thing is that kaizen has engaged all our staff members to make improvements that are good for themselves, good for their respective departments, good for our patients and their families, good for the hospital and good for our community,” said Swartz, who along with Mark Graban wrote Healthcare Kaizen: Engaging Front-Line Staff in Sustainable Continuous Improvements.