Long-time critical care physician presented with Healing Hands Award

Dr. Braverman (center) accepts the award from Dr. Doehring at the
ceremony. Joining them is Dr. Braverman's wife, Elaine.

INDIANAPOLIS – Gerald L. Braverman, MD, easily could have retired from practicing medicine a few years ago, but he has shown no sign of slowing his pace as a critical care physician.

In fact, Braverman, a member of Indiana Internal Medicine Consultants for 35 years, hasn’t missed a beat in caring for patients at Franciscan St. Francis Health, where he directs the intensive care unit.

That dedication and many other factors is what led to his selection as the latest recipient of the quarterly Healing Hands Award. With his colleagues, friends and wife, Elaine, looking on, Braverman was presented with the award today (Oct. 31) at a special reception hosted at the south side hospital.

“Dr. Braverman’s professionalism, vast knowledge and demeanor in dealing with his patients and their families are unmatched in compassion and quality,” said Christopher “Topper” Doehring, MD, vice president of medical affairs for Franciscan St. Francis. “He garners the utmost respect from his colleagues and the staff who work with him.”

Several letters of commendation accompanied his nomination for the award, many describing him as a teacher, mentor and friend. As one nominator put it, “Dr. Braverman is one of the cornerstones at our hospital. He has awesome, powerful healing hands!”

In accepting the award, the self-effacing physician jokingly quipped, “When I told Elaine that I was going to be the recipient of this, she immediately asked me if the Helping Hands recognition applied to how much I help out around the house.”

Board-certified in internal medicine and critical care, Braverman has been affiliated with Franciscan St. Francis since 1978.

Braverman received his undergraduate degree at Dickinson College in Pennsylvania and earned his medical degree from the Jefferson Medical College in Philadelphia. He completed an internship at Conemaugh Valley Memorial Hospital in Pennsylvania and later served as chief resident in the Department of Medicine at the Indiana University School of Medicine.

He is a member of the American Medical Association, Indiana State Medical Association, Society of Critical Care Medicine and the Marion County Medical Society.

The Healing Hands Award recognizes Franciscan St. Francis physicians for excellence in clinical skills, patient relations, research, stewardship, and reflection of the hospital’s health care care ministry, values and mission.

Franciscan St. Francis Health-Carmel adds da Vinci surgical system

CARMEL, Ind. – The latest in robotic surgery technology has been introduced at Franciscan St. Francis Health-Carmel.

The da Vinci^® Si^™ surgical system has several unique features designed to provide additional clinical benefits and efficiency in the operating room, many of which translate to better outcomes for benefits. They include:

·         Enhanced 3D, high-definition vision of the operative field with up to 10 times magnification

·         Superior visual clarity of tissue and anatomy

·         Surgical dexterity and precision far greater than even skilled human hands

“These technological advancements provide our surgeons with unparalleled precision, dexterity and control,” said Stephen Wheatley, director of the Carmel hospital. “Those advantages enable use of a minimally invasive approach for many complex surgical procedures. We believe the new features of the da Vinci Si will help us provide the best possible outcomes and supports our commitment to provide our community access to the latest advancements in minimally invasive surgery.”

The da Vinci can be used for a multitude of procedures. Initially, the Carmel hospital’s da Vinci will be used primarily in gynecological procedures, with plans to expand into general surgery such as gallbladder removal, as well as urologic procedures. Procedures offered now include diagnostic laparoscopy, hysterectomy (uterus removal), myomectomy (removal of uterine fibroids), surgical treatment of endometriosis, pelvic reconstruction, treatment of pelvic malignancies, salpingectomy (removal of a Fallopian tube), oophorectomy (ovary removal) among others.

Continuing its 100-year legacy of service in central Indiana, Franciscan St. Francis Health has brought to Carmel a range of inpatient and outpatient services in one location, designed to meet the community’s health care needs both now and into the future.

Franciscan St. Francis-Carmel, located at 12188-B N. Meridian St., offers easy access to treatment and procedures that can be done on an outpatient basis or that require a short inpatient stay.

Patients no longer have to drive to various locations for imaging, lab work, physical therapy and other services. Wait times are shorter, and ample parking is close to the door. 

Variety of heart health and wellness classes offered throughout November

INDIANAPOLIS – Franciscan St. Francis Heart Center is offering a full range of free classes focused on cardiovascular health and wellness throughout November.

Call 317-782-4422 to register for any of the classes, which include:

Heart medications: What do they do?

Thursday, Nov. 7 at 6:30 p.m.

Franciscan St. Francis Health-Mooresville, 1201 Hadley Road

When a patient or family member is diagnosed with heart failure, it is a time of adjustment.  There can be stress on families to understand the diagnosis and much time is devoted to learning about treatment. Taking heart medicine is critical to living a productive life but understanding them is even more important. Cardiologist Michael Barron, MD, will share what patients and families need to know about heart medications, how to monitor their conditions and when to seek help.

Do you have a heart murmur?

Tuesday, Nov. 12 at 6:30 p.m.

Hotel Indigo

400 Brown St, Columbus

Refreshments served at 6:00 p.m.

Heart murmurs are caused by valves inside the heart that don’t close properly. Sometimes, people can live with heart murmurs a long time without any symptoms. But if the problem becomes more serious, the blood flow to the heart may be affected. Cardiothoracic surgeon

Marc Gerdisch, MD, will discuss new treatments and surgeries for heart valves, including ongoing research studies here at Franciscan St. Francis.

Understanding heart failure: Medications 101

Monday, Nov. 11, 4:30 p.m. at Franciscan St. Francis Heart Center

8111 S. Emerson Ave.

Living with a heart failure diagnosis can be overwhelming, but the staff of Franciscan St. Francis Heart Center is here to help.  In this class, a pharmacist will provide you and your caregivers with valuable information about heart failure medicines and answer any of your questions. 

How to protect against stroke

Charles Kiell, MD

Monday, Nov.18 at 6:30 p.m.

UnaVie Cardiology Center

2451 Intelliplex Dr., Shelbyville

Special registration number 317-421-1916

Charles Kiell, MD, vascular surgeon at Franciscan St. Francis Heart Center, will discuss the importance of keeping the carotid artery leading to the brain free of plaque and disease, decreasing the risk for stroke. Class attendees may sign up for a free carotid artery screening at a later date.

Savvy Shopping

Monday, Nov.4 at 6:30 p.m. at Southport Meijer, 5325 E. Southport Road

With all the new and changing products on the shelves, grocery shopping can be overwhelming.  Learn where to find the healthy foods and how to avoid packaging tricks commonly used to market foods.  Discover how food labels make you a smarter shopper.

Healthy Eating

Tuesday, Nov. 5, 6:30 p.m. at the Heart Center

Healthy eating leads to a healthy life!  Find out how much a “serving” is and how to manage a healthy weight.  Discover how fats, carbohydrates and protein affect our body.  Do you know how much salt, fiber and sugar are in the foods you buy?  This class offers the foundation for a healthy future.

Healthy Dining Out Tips

Wednesday, Nov. 6, 6:30 p.m. at the Heart Center

Americans eat nearly half their meals away from home.  How can you control what you eat when you don’t cook for yourself?  Learn how to make wise menu selections and eat smart while dining out.

Winter Fitness Tips

Thursday, Nov. 14 at 6:30 p.m. at Heart Center

Being fit is more than being thin.  Research shows that no matter what you weigh, increasing your fitness helps your heart.  Discover that exercise can be healthy and fun.  Learn how to set up a schedule for yourself.

Flavorful food for the holidays

Tuesday, Nov. 19, 6:30 p.m. at Franciscan St. Francis-Mooresville, 1201 Hadley Road

Wednesday, Nov. 20, 6:30 p.m. at the Heart Center

Don’t blow your good eating and dining habits this season!  Learn how to manage the holiday feasting and celebrations with herb and spice options to add flavor to your traditional recipes.

Healthgrades: Franciscan St. Francis Health achieves stellar ratings

Annual report highlights cardiovascular care and other clinical care areas

INDIANAPOLIS – Franciscan St. Francis Health’s hospitals in Indianapolis and Mooresville today (Oct. 22) were recognized for clinical excellence in a variety of patient care and medical specialties and rated among the nation’s top 5 percent for clinical outcomes in Cardiac Services.

That’s the assessment of an extensive study conducted by Healthgrades, the nation’s leading health care rating organization. The Healthgrades study annually assesses patient outcomes – mortality and complication rates – at virtually all of the nation’s nearly 4,500 non-federal hospitals.

Specifically, the Healthgrades recognition includes:

Franciscan St. Francis Health Indianapolis:

One of Healthgrades America’s Best 100 Hospitals for Cardiac Care in 2014
One of Healthgrades America’s Best 100 Hospitals for Cardiac Surgery in 2014   
One of Healthgrades America’s Best 100 Hospitals for Coronary Intervention in 2014
One of Healthgrades America’s Best 100 Hospitals for Critical Care in 2014

Recipient of Healthgrades:

Cardiac Care Excellence Award in 2014

Cardiac Surgery Excellence Award in 2014

Coronary Intervention Excellence Award in 2014

Top 5 percent in Nation for Overall Cardiac Services in 2014

Top 5 percent in Nation for Cardiac Surgery in 2014

Top 5 percent in Nation for Coronary Interventional Procedures in 2014

Top 10 percent in Nation for Cardiology Services in 2014

Five-Star Recipient for Coronary Bypass Surgery in 2014

Five-Star Recipient for Valve Repair and Replacement Surgery for three years in a row (2012-14)

Five-Star Recipient for Coronary Interventional Procedures for three years in a row (2012-14)

Five-Star Recipient for Treatment of Heart Attack in 2014

Gastrointestinal

Five Star Recipient for Esophageal/Stomach Surgeries for three years in a year (2012-14)

Five-Star Recipient for Colorectal Surgeries for three years in a row (2012-14)

Critical Care

Recipient of Healthgrades Critical Care Excellence Award in 2014

Top 5 percent in Nation for Critical Care in 2014

Five-Star Recipient for Treatment of Sepsis for two years in a row (2013-14)

Five-Star Recipient for Treatment of Respiratory Failure in 2014

Five-Star Recipient for Treatment of Diabetic Emergencies in 2014

Franciscan St. Francis Health Mooresville:

Pulmonary

Five-Star Recipient for Treatment of Pneumonia for three years in a row (2012-14)

Gastrointestinal

Five-Star Recipient for Treatment of Bowel Obstruction in 2014

###

What the ratings mean
The achievements are part of findings released today in American Hospital Quality Outcomes 2014: Healthgrades Report to the Nation, which demonstrates how clinical performance differs dramatically between hospitals and the impact that this variation may have on health outcomes. For example, from 2010-2012, if all hospitals as a group, performed similarly to hospitals receiving 5-stars as a group, on average 234,252 lives could potentially have been saved and 157,418 complications could potentially have been avoided.

A 5-star rating indicates that Franciscan St. Francis Health-Indianapolis and Franciscan St. Francis Health - Mooresville’s clinical outcomes are better than expected when treating the condition or conducting the procedure being evaluated. More information on today’s Healthgrades study, including the complete methodology, can be found at www.healthgrades.com.

About Franciscan St. Francis Health
With hospitals in Indianapolis, Mooresville and Carmel, Franciscan St. Francis Health is a member of the Franciscan Alliance, one of the largest Catholic health care systems in the Midwest with 13 growing hospitals throughout Indiana and Illinois. The Franciscan Alliance serves a geographic area with a population of 3.7 million people, provides care for nearly 3 million outpatient visits and completes more than 100,000 inpatient discharges every year. To learn more about Franciscan Alliance go to www.franciscanalliance.org.

About Healthgrades

Healthgrades is America's most trusted, independent source of physician information and hospital quality outcomes. Healthgrades online properties are the nation's leading destination for physician search and empower more than 170 million consumers annually to make informed healthcare decisions.

MDwise Marketplace open enrollment now under way at Franciscan Alliance hospitals

INDIANAPOLIS – MDwise Marketplace is part of the Health Insurance Marketplace created under the Affordable Care Act and offers a new way to buy health insurance.

Administered by the federal government in Indiana and available in 45 counties, open enrollment began Oct. 1 and health coverage can start for participants as soon as Jan. 1, 2014.

MDwise has Indiana’s top ranked hospitals and physicians in network and it includes the 13 hospitals of Franciscan Alliance.  For more information, call toll free at 1-855-417-5615, or visit its website at MDwiseMarketplace.org.

 MDwise customer service can provide language translation services.

Following are MDwise enrollment events dates and times at Franciscan St. Francis Health-Indianapolis, located at 8111 S. Emerson Ave.

Classroom 1

Friday, Oct. 25, 5 p.m.-8 p.m.                                   

Saturday, Nov, 2, 9 a.m.-Noon

Saturday, Nov. 16, 9 a.m.-Noon

Friday, Nov. 22, 5 p.m.-8 p.m.                                              

Saturday, Nov. 23, 9 a.m.-Noon

Friday, Dec. 13, 5 p.m.-8 p.m.                                               

Surgeon explains orthopedic, joint replacement therapies Nov. 14

GREENWOOD, Ind. – You can overcome hip and knee pain and get back to leading an active and rewarding life — and Franciscan St. Francis Health wants to show you how.

Franciscan St. Francis Health will present an arthritis and hip and knee replacement seminar at 6:30 p.m., Thursday, Nov. 14, at Jonathan Byrd’s, 100 Byrd Way, Greenwood. Light refreshments will be served, beginning at 6 p.m.

John Meding, 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.

Meding is a surgeon with Franciscan Physician Network Joint Replacement Surgeons, the practice group affiliated with the Center for Hip & Knee Surgery at St. Francis Health–Mooresville, recognized in the United States and the world as a premier center for joint replacement surgery..

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

More information about the Center for Hip & Knee Surgery is at CenterForHipAndKneeSurgery.org.

Monumental Kids Movement promotes healthy habits among IPS students

INDIANAPOLIS – The Indianapolis Monumental Marathon (IMM) has become the state's largest and fastest marathon, and now, it has added an initiative to improve the health and well-being of youth in the Indianapolis community.

The IMM, whose annual race is presented by Franciscan St. Francis Health, recently launched the Monumental Kids Movement, a nine-week running program to help area youth begin to focus on an active and healthy lifestyle.

The biweekly youth running program will culminate with participants running in the IMM 5K on Saturday, Nov. 2. (Race time for the 5K is 8:20 a.m., starting at Washington and Senate at the Indiana State Capitol) Students who participate in at least 75 percent of the sessions held at select Indianapolis Public Schools will receive free entry into the race. The program's two main goals are educating the participants on exercise, proper diet and healthy living; and engaging young people in intentional and on-going giving and serving for the good of the community.

“As a not-for-profit race, the Indianapolis Monumental Marathon has always been about more than just a fun race for the running community,” said Blake Boldon, executive director. “We want to make an impact on our community, and we’re very excited to be working directly with Indianapolis youth to help them understand the value of healthy choices and the role that distance running can play in a healthy life.”

The IMM isn't alone in its efforts to launch the Monumental Kids Movement. Official collaborative partners include Indianapolis Public Schools, Indiana University-Purdue University Indianapolis (IUPUI), Medals4Mettle and the Youth Philanthropy Initiative of Indiana.

Currently, 17 Indianapolis Public Schools (IPS) have pledged to participate in the program, including, Frederick Douglass School #19, James A. Garfield School #31, Eleanor Skillen School #34, William McKinley School #39, James Whitcomb Riley School #43, Riverside School #44, Louis B. Russell Jr. School #48, Clarence Farrington School #61, Raymond F. Brandes School #65, Mary E. Nicholson School #70, Carle Wilde School #79, Ernie Pyle School #90, George S. Buck School #94, Jonathon Jennings School #109. Paul I. Miller School #114, Center for Inquiry #302, and Francis W. Parker Montessori School #356. Additionally the Challenge Foundation Academy is participating.

Each program is led by a faculty member from the participating elementary school, and receives staffing assistance from fellow faculty members and students from IUPUI who are enrolled in a first-year seminar class through the Indiana University School of Physical Education and Tourism Management.

Throughout the program, enrolled youth will achieve measurable outcomes in the areas of health, education and philanthropy. One of the main goals is completion of the IMM 5K. The 2013 goal is 1,000 "graduates" who complete the program and the 5K race, while improving their physical fitness, learning how to lead a healthy lifestyle, and giving back to their community.

The IMM has donated over $400,000 in the past five years to support public education.

Through partnerships with Medals4Mettle and the Youth Philanthropy Initiative of Indiana, participants will be encouraged to donate their finishers’ medals as awards to patients in Riley Hospital for Children at Indiana University Health.

In addition to the support provided by IMM and its partner organizations, the Monumental Kids Movement has also received substantial support from community leaders and politicians, who are pleased with the effort to improve the health and welfare of Indianapolis youth.

Indianapolis Mayor Greg Ballard led the way with his support.

"Communities that provide the means for active lifestyles have healthier residents,” said Ballard. “I am happy to see the combined focus on exercise, diet and community-oriented activities. The Monumental Kids Movement is a great way to involve Indianapolis youth in positive activities that get them out to enjoy our beautiful city."

In addition to the Monumental Kids Movement, the IMM supports and funds other charities. The IPS Education Foundation, College Summit and the Simon Youth Foundation all are beneficiaries of the Indianapolis Monumental Marathon.

“This partnership allows Simon Youth Foundation the opportunity to continue to make great strides in helping at-risk students achieve their dreams of graduating from high school,” said Michael Durnil, President and CEO, Simon Youth Foundation. “With the phenomenal support we’ve received from the running community, we are able to ignite hope in students and spark their passion for education.”

To view a video on some of IMM’s community partners, visit http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hAlKYJSmEDU 

New Environmental Services chief selected at Franciscan St. Francis Health

INDIANAPOLIS – Melvin L. Garrett has been appointed director of Environmental Services for Franciscan St. Francis Health.

Garrett has been a manager in that department for five years. He succeeds Margaret Ferry, who recently announced her retirement after 26 years of service.

Before coming to Franciscan St. Francis, he was manager of Environmental Services at Ball Memorial Hospital in Muncie and held similar roles with other industries in Central Indiana.

Board-certified in hazard control management, Garrett has led and participated in various hospital-related environmental services training programs.

A member of the International Executive Housekeeping Association, Garrett is a veteran of the Indiana National Guard and a resident of Anderson.

Franciscan St. Francis Health physician to be in Arthritis Foundation spotlight

INDIANAPOLIS – Philip Faris, MD, an orthopedic surgeon with the Center for Hip & Knee Surgery at Franciscan St. Francis Health-Mooresville, will be the Arthritis Foundation’s honoree at its annual Bone Bash on Saturday, Oct. 26, at The Indiana Roof Ballroom.

  

Each year at this Halloween fundraising gala, the foundation honors an orthopedic surgeon for his or her efforts to "fix" what arthritis so often steals from its victims, mobility.

   

The Bone Bash raises funds for the Arthritis Foundation in support of ongoing research about the disease  and its disastrous effects on the body. The event features a live and silent auction, dinner, dancing, games and a costume contest. More than 500 people attend, most of them in the orthopedic field.

    A native Hoosier, Faris, a member of Franciscan Physician Network,  graduated from Madison Heights High School in Anderson where he lettered in four sports before tearing his ACL, MCL and medial meniscus playing football his senior year. He underwent three surgeries to correct it.

   

“That injury and the care I received were what made me want to become a physician,” Faris said. “That care allowed me to play four years of college football.”

   

Faris played cornerback and wide receiver at Ball State University where he lettered in the sport three years running. He was named All Conference three years and MVP his senior year. He was named to Ball State’s Athletic Hall of Fame in 1990 and then honored with the Distinguished Alumni award in 2004.

  

He later completed his medical degree and orthopedic residency at the Indiana University School of Medicine. He completed a fellowship in total knee replacement at the Hospital for Special Surgery in New York where he worked with the legendary Dr. John Insall.

   

Faris has been with the Mooresville hospital for more than 25 years, specializing in knee and hip replacement surgery. He is an honorary member of Alpha Omega Alpha, a professional medical organization that recognizes excellence in the profession of medicine.

   

More information on the Bone Bash is available at bonebashindy.com.

New executive selected to lead Franciscan St. Francis Health-Mooresville

MOORESVILLE, Ind. – Peter J. Murphy has been appointed senior vice president and chief operating officer for Franciscan St. Francis Health-Mooresville.

In that role, Murphy will be responsible for overseeing all operations at the 116-bed Mooresville facility, which is one of three hospitals in the Central Indiana Region of Franciscan Alliance. The other two facilities are Franciscan St. Francis-Indianapolis and Franciscan St. Francis-Carmel. Franciscan Alliance is a Catholic health-care system based in Mishawaka, Ind., which owns and operates 11 hospitals in Indiana and two hospitals in Illinois.

He most previously served as founder and president of KM Global Solutions, Inc., a management company specializing in personal health record software development, hospital/physician revenue opportunity support, pain management services and destination health care service development. He also served as president of Legacy Health Consulting and myPHI.

Murphy is not new to Franciscan Alliance. He served as chief executive officer for Franciscan St. James Health in Illinois. During his 18-year tenure, he oversaw the acquisition of what is now known as Franciscan St. James-Olympia Fields and its integration with the Chicago Heights campus. He led facility design efforts of a 400,000-square-foot expansion that earned the national distinction as a Top 10 Most Innovative Facility.

His focus on quality at Franciscan St. James led to national recognition by HealthGrades with its Distinguished Award for Clinical Excellence and by Solucient as a Top 100 Cardiovascular Hospital. 

“As a former Franciscan Alliance employee and a person committed to community service, Peter is grounded in our health system’s mission and values,” said Robert J. Brody, president and chief executive officer for Central Indiana Region. “He brings an intimate knowledge of what it takes to drive organizational excellence and will play a key role in leading our Mooresville campus.”

Murphy received his undergraduate degree from St. Louis University and earned his master’s in health care administration from Washington University School of Medicine. He is a Diplomate in the American College of Healthcare Executives and holds memberships in several professional and civic organizations.

Located at 1201 Hadley Road, Franciscan St. Francis-Mooresville is a full-service hospital and serves residents in Morgan County and surrounding area. It offers the only emergency department in northern Morgan County. The campus also is home to the internationally recognized Center for Hip & Knee Surgery and the renowned Kendrick Colon and Rectal Center

Franciscan St. Francis-Mooresville Emergency Department celebrates 5 years of serving patients

Hospital meeting critical need for residents in Mooresville and surrounding areas

MOORESVILLE, Ind. – Whether it’s a sick child in the middle of the night, a serious sports injury or a sudden severe health issue, residents of Morgan and southern Hendricks counties are turning to the area’s newest emergency department, celebrating its fifth anniversary this month.

The Emergency Department at Franciscan St. Francis Health-Mooresville has served more than 132,000 patients since it opened on Oct. 1, 2008. Since that time, the unit has grown from 14 treatment rooms to 25 and from three nurses on duty to eight. It also includes two trauma rooms and a community room for emergency services personnel.

“The number of people we are treating underscores just how badly such a service was needed in this community,” said Nathan Lowder, manager of the Mooresville Emergency Department. “We had heard of this need from many community leaders prior to our opening the ED, and since then, the response from residents has been extremely positive. While we wish no one would ever need emergency services, we’re glad we’re nearby when they do.”

Lowder recalled that opening day they expected 25 patients but had 70 people come in for care.

Lowder credits the ED’s success in large part to the staff. “We work hard to recruit and train wonderful staff,” he said. “If you work in this ED, you’ve got to be compassionate and dedicated to patient care, in addition to being well trained. You can teach procedures and protocols, but you can’t teach compassion. That has to be there already.”

Lowder noted it also helps that wait times at the Mooresville ED are generally shorter than at other area hospitals.

The Emergency Department is staffed with 60 health professionals, including board-certified emergency physicians from Emergency Physicians of Indianapolis, several specialty physicians, nurses trained in acute care and trauma situations, and in-house hospitalists (internal medicine physicians) who facilitate patient admissions.

The department is an access point for Franciscan St. Francis’ renowned Emergency Heart Attack Response Team, and ED staff is trained in hazardous materials decontamination and crisis management.

Located just south of the main hospital entrance, the Emergency Department is open 24 hours a day, seven days a week.

The opening of the Emergency Department was the culmination of the hospital’s 2008 expansion to address the health care needs of the growing northern Morgan, Hendricks and southwestern Marion counties.

“Franciscan St. Francis – Mooresville has built on its foundation as a renowned specialty hospital – known for excellence in orthopedics, colon and rectal care, women’s services and many other areas – to become a full-service hospital, addressing all the health care needs of our community,” said Robert J. Brody, president and chief executive officer for Franciscan St. Francis.

In the same year the Emergency Department opened, the hospital grew from 258,000 square feet to 400,000, adding:

·         A new 34-bed orthopedic inpatient unit

·         A 26-bed adult medical-surgical inpatient unit

·         An eight-bed Intensive Care Unit

·         Six new operating rooms with the latest in surgical technologies;

·         A new laboratory

·         An on-site office for Indiana Heart Physicians for expanded cardiac services

Franciscan St. Francis-Mooresville and its sister hospitals in Indianapolis and Carmel are among the 13 hospitals operated by the Mishawaka, Ind.-based Franciscan Alliance. 

Franciscan St. Francis Health is first in Indiana to earn carotid artery stenting accreditation

INDIANAPOLIS – Franciscan St. Francis Health announced today that it has been fully accredited for carotid artery stenting by the Accreditation for Cardiovascular Excellence (ACE), becoming the only hospital in Indiana and the second in the world to earn this distinction.

The accreditation means that Franciscan St. Francis health is dedicated to upholding the highest standards of quality care, maintaining best practices as recommended by nationally accepted practice guidelines and meeting nationally accepted gold standards.

ACE reviewed five areas of the Franciscan St. Francis program including its facility, personnel, quality assurance, patient indications and patient outcomes. In total, the program was assessed on 65 standards.

“Advancing quality standards is of utmost importance in our field to maintain excellence of care in cardiovascular procedures for the patients we serve throughout Indiana,” said William Berg, MD, medical director and interventional cardiologist at Franciscan St. Francis Heart Center. “By seeking ACE Carotid Artery Stenting accreditation, Franciscan St. Francis Health has shown that it has an uncompromising commitment to provide safe, high-quality care.”

ACE is a nationally renowned independent organization sponsored by the Society for Cardiovascular Angiography and Interventions and the American College of Cardiology, two leading professional cardiovascular organizations. Implemented to supplement existing quality improvement programs, the ACE Carotid Artery Stenting accreditation promotes uniform benchmarks and improves appropriate utilization via an independent, third-party evaluation of facilities and practices.

Carotid artery stenting treats carotid artery stenosis, a condition that occurs when the main arteries in the neck supplying blood to the brain become narrowed. Over time, fatty deposits and plaque can severely narrow or completely block flow to the brain, resulting in a stroke – the third cause of death and disability in the United States.

Risk factors for carotid artery disease include:

•       

Current or former smoker

•        Abnormal cholesterol, including high total cholesterol or low HDL (<40mg dl="" o:p="">

•        Diabetes

•        Family history of stroke, aneurysm or circulation disorders

•        High blood pressure or are being treated for high blood pressure

Vascular patients at Franciscan St. Francis are treated by a multidisciplinary team of physicians and medical staff including expert vascular surgeons, interventional and non-invasive cardiologists and interventional radiologists.

“Our interventional cardiologists have extensive experience in performing minimally invasive interventions, such as stenting, with utmost safety and state of the art technology to treat carotid artery disease and prevent strokes,” Charles Kiell, MD, medical director of Vascular Services at Franciscan St. Francis Health. “These procedures allow patients to experience a faster recovery and less time in the hospital.”

Franciscan St. Francis Heart Center has one of the region’s most robust and comprehensive heart and vascular programs to treat the most complex cardiovascular conditions and has amassed numerous awards and accreditations for its services. More information on the Franciscan St. Francis Heart Center awards and its Vascular Screening Program is available at MyHeartCare.net. 

Mooresville nurses plant goodwill in their care for patients

DANA MATTHEWS

MOORESVILLE, Ind. – Franciscan St. Francis Health has two registered nurses whose acts of compassionate care and joyful service have sewn seeds of gratitude among their patients and colleagues.

For Tammy Like and Dana Matthews, nursing is far more than a career; it’s a calling that goes above and beyond the call of duty.

Like, an emergency room nurse at the Mooresville hospital, was nominated by a colleague who credited her for exemplifying compassionate care and making a difference in a patient’s life.

“Tammy gave extraordinary nursing care today and listened with great compassion,” said a fellow nurse. “Tammy exemplified joyful service and a passionate respect for life.”

Matthews, also an emergency room nurse at the Mooresville hospital, was nominated by a colleague for her calm, compassionate way with a patient.

TAMMY LIKE

“Dana’s compassionate and calming tone in a situation truly saved a life and deserves a Daisy,” she wrote.

The DAISY Award for Extraordinary Nurses is a national program that honors the compassionate care and clinical excellence that Franciscan St. Francis nurses bring to their patients every day.

The DAISY Award was established by the DAISY Foundation in memory of J. Patrick Barnes who died at 33 of an auto-immune disease. His family was so impressed by the clinical skills, caring and compassion of the nurses who cared for him that they created this national award to say “thank you” to nurses everywhere. For more information, go to www.daisyfoundation.org.