Moving Beyond: Helping cancer patients go forward after the chaos of treatment

Father of late Butler University basketball player, WTTV-4 meteorologist to speak

INDIANAPOLIS, Indiana – Treating cancer can be a rocky ride of radiation treatments, chemotherapy and surgeries. And returning to a normal life after the battle presents other challenges.

Franciscan St. Francis Health and Cancer Support Community Central Indiana are introducing Moving Beyond, a cancer survivorship program. It blends a unique and holistic approach, combining physical, emotional, mental and spiritual health components for survivors, loved ones and caregivers.

Moving Beyond is a free 12-week program and offers classes beginning in March and continuing throughout the year. They will be held in the Cancer Center’s second floor conference rooms at 8111 S. Emerson Ave., Entrance 4.

Dates and times are:

Session 1: Tuesdays, March 1 – May 17, 6 p.m. – 8 p.m.

Session 2: Thursdays, March 3 – May 19, 1:30 p.m. – 3:30 p.m.

Session 3: Tuesdays, June 7 – Aug. 23, 6 p.m. – 8 p.m.

Session 4: Thursdays, June 9 – Aug. 25, 1:30 p.m. – 3:30 p.m.

Session 5: Tuesdays, Sept. 6 – Nov. 29, 6 p.m. – 8 p.m.

Session 6: Thursdays, Sept. 8 – Dec. 1, 1:30 p.m. to 3:30 p.m.

Each week focuses on a different topic to meet the needs of cancer survivors and caregivers. Participants will receive weight management and fitness tool kits, and learn the benefits of exercise, relaxation techniques, healthy meal planning and easy meal preparation.

To register, visit FranciscanStFrancis.org/MovingBeyond, or call 317-528-1412.

In an effort to increase awareness of Moving Beyond, Franciscan Alliance Foundation Central Indiana is hosting a breakfast event Thursday, April 28 at Indianapolis Museum of Art’s Deer Zink Events Pavilion (4000 Michigan Road).

Curt Smith, the father of Butler basketball player Andrew Smith who succumbed to cancer earlier this year will be a guest speaker. Also slated to speak is Chris Wright, meteorologist for WTTV-4.

The program gets under way at 7:30 a.m. and provides visitors with details on how the unique survivorship program works and how it meets the physical, mental and spiritual healthcare needs.

For more information about the event and ticket information, call 317-528-8949.

Free heart-healthy classes offered to public throughout April

INDIANAPOLIS, Indiana – Franciscan St. Francis Heart Center is offering free classes focused on cardiovascular health and wellness in April.

To register for any of the classes, call 317-782-4422 or go online at MyHeartCare.net to see the full listing of spring classes. Seating is limited for these events. The classes include:

How does blood pressure affect my heart?
Mon, April 4, 6:30 p.m.
Franciscan St. Francis Health–Mooresville, 1201 Hadley Road
Presented by Harry Genovely, MD

Do you know what your blood pressure is? Do you know what it should be? Learn how high blood pressure affects not only the heart but also other vital organs. Dr. Genovely will share steps you can take to lower your blood pressure, including diet, weight loss, exercise and medication. No more excuses: learn how you can lower pressure starting today, with the advantages lasting a lifetime.

HeartScan - Identifying cardiac risk

Tues, April 12, 6:30 p.m.

Heart Center, 8111 S. Emerson Ave.

Presented by Babu Doddapaneni, MD

Coronary arteries supply blood to your heart and can become blocked with calcium-containing plaque which can cause heart attacks.  Coronary calcium scoring, or HeartScan, is a high-tech way of detecting calcium build-up in the arteries and identifying your risk for heart disease.  Our cardiologist will describe this test and answer your questions about other heart attack risk factors.

Do you have a heart murmur?

Tues, Apr 26, 6:30 p.m.

YMCA at CityWay, 426 S. Alabama St.

Refreshments served at 6:00 p.m.

Presented by Marc Gerdisch, MD

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. Dr. Gerdisch will talk about new treatments and surgeries for heart valves, including ongoing research studies here at St. Francis. Participants will have the opportunity to sign up for a free echocardiogram screening following the program.

Change of Heart classes offered in April 2016:

Fitness Tips

Tuesday, April 5 at 6:30 p.m. at Franciscan St. Francis Heart Center

Thursday, April 28 at 6:30 p.m. at the Heart Center

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

Cooking for 2

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

Franciscan St. Francis Health-Mooresville

As we get older, our health becomes more of a priority.  After the kids leave home, it can be challenging to scale back our cooking, so dining out seems like an easy option.  In this class, learn how it really is cheaper and healthier to cook at home for two. 

Savvy Shopping

Wednesday, April 13, 6:30 p.m. at Camby Meijer, 10509 Heartland Blvd., Camby

With all the new and changing products on the shelves, grocery shopping can be overwhelming.  Walk with us through the grocery store and 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

Thursday, April 14, 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 Cooking Tips

Tuesday, April 19, 6:30 p.m. at Franciscan St. Francis-Mooresville

Wednesday, April 27, 6:30 p.m. at Franciscan St. Francis Heart Center

Healthy cooking leads to a healthy life.  Adding herbs and spices to your cooking increases the flavor and enjoyment of the meals.  Learn how to choose the right ingredients that pump up the nutritional value and flavor of your favorite recipes in this class.  Recipe substitutions and cooking techniques will be discussed.

Quick meals at home

Thursday, April 21, 6:30 p.m. at CityWay

Some days, we just don’t have the time – or the desire – to spend a lot of time in the kitchen.  But that doesn’t mean we need to sacrifice eating well at home.  Learn how to fix quick and easy nutritious meals you and your family can enjoy.

Orthopedic surgeon to explain joint replacement therapies April 18

GREENWOOD, Indiana – 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.

The Center for Hip & Knee Surgery (CHKS) will present a free seminar about arthritis and hip and knee replacement at 6 p.m., Monday, April 18, at Jonathan Byrd’s, 100 Byrd Way, Greenwood. Light refreshments will be served.

Richard Jackson, MD, will explain the latest procedures in joint replacement and arthritis treatments. A member of the Midwest Center for Joint Replacement, Dr. Jackson is an independent physician on the medical staff with Franciscan St. Francis Health-Mooresville.

To register, call 1-877-888-1777.

Now observing its 30^th year of service, CHKS was founded by Merrill Ritter, MD, and the Center became one of the first orthopedic centers of excellence in the United States. Since then, its surgeons have performed more than 40,000 total joint replacements and has become one of the leading centers of its kind in the world.

Learn more about the Center at http://www.franciscanalliance.org/hospitals/mooresville/services/orthopedics/hip-and-knee-surgery/pages/default.aspx.

Family physician establishes practice with Columbus Primary & Specialty Care

COLUMBUS, Indiana – Rebecca A. Payton, MD, has joined Columbus Primary & Specialty Care, a practice of Franciscan Physician Network.

Dr. Payton joins E. Doug Poplin, MD, MPH; and Megan L. Brock, PA, whose offices are located at 123 2nd St., Columbus.

Board-certified in family medicine, she most previously served with Schneck Family Care of Jennings County (North Vernon, Indiana). Prior to that she was affiliated with Novapex LLC and  Hendricks Occupational Medicine (Plainfield, Indiana). Dr. Payton also was a solo family medicine practitioner in Nevada.

A Columbus native and resident, she received an undergraduate degree in microbiology from Indiana University, where she later earned her medical degree. Dr. Payton completed an internship and residency at St. Mark’s Hospital in Salt Lake City.

To schedule an appointment with Dr. Payton, call 812-342-3339.

Franciscan Physician Network is a division of the Mishawaka, Indiana-based Franciscan Alliance. To learn more about network primary and specialty care services in central Indiana, go to FranciscanDocs.org.

Surgeon poised for Far East visit to share, learn ortho surgery techniques

MOORESVILLE, Indiana – Culture, language and 12,000 miles might separate this Hoosier town and China, but they pose no barrier in the quest to provide a continuum of care for orthopedic patients wherever they might reside.

That’s one of the reasons why surgeon Robert A. Malinzak, MD, is among a team of experts traveling to the Far East March 25 to April 2. They will participate in lectures with orthopedic physicians at Chinese hospitals and a similar institution in Bangkok, Thailand.

“More than anything, this is an opportunity to share ideas – to teach and learn from one another,” said Dr. Malinzak, a member of Franciscan Physician Network Joint Replacement Surgeons (JRSI) at Franciscan St. Francis Health-Mooresville. “Sharing our findings with professionals in our common field enables us to change and improve patient outcomes for years to come.”

As the only orthopedic surgeon on his team, Dr. Malinzak will teach at hospitals and lecturing at various locations.

Dr. Malinzak, who practices at the internationally recognized Center for Hip & Knee Surgery (CHKS), said much of their discussions will focus on partial knee, total knee and hip replacement procedures. Studies suggest that implant technology such as partial knee implants provide more natural motion and faster recovery times for patients.

“Ultimately, our goal is to find ways to deliver better and safer care to our patients and to improve the quality of their lives,” said Dr. Malinzak, who has led collaborative teams between the JRSI Research Foundation, CHKS and the Orthopaedic Biomedical Engineering Laboratory at Rose Hulman Institute of Technology.

This isn’t the first time the orthopedic surgeon has traveled abroad to share his expertise. He has participated in several Operation Walk medical missions alongside CHKS founder Merrill A. Ritter, MD, to treat patients with orthopedic disorders.

Dr. Malinzak, who joined CHKS in 2004 after completing a fellowship in joint reconstruction and sports medicine, was inducted last fall into the European Hip Society, a prestigious, nonprofit scientific association based in Innsbruck, Austria. The organization focuses on advancements in hip surgery, traumatology of the hip, prosthetic surgery, biomechanics and basic science topics relating to the hip.

A Fellow in the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons, Dr. Malinzak also has been widely published in professional medical journals and holds editorial leadership roles with Current Orthopaedic Practice and Journal of Arthroplasty. He is the lead author of a peer-reviewed book, First Aid for the Orthopaedic Boards.

In 2012, he was honored with his selection for the Knee Society John N. Insall Travelling Knee Fellowship. Each year, four physicians are selected and visit elite medical centers such as the CHKS to learn about the latest innovations in orthopedic surgery. 

More recently, Dr. Malinzak has been invited to participate in the Global Oxford Knee Masters Symposium in the United Kingdom next fall. This gathering brings together surgeons, engineers and faculty who have contributed to the continued success of the Oxford Mobile Bearing Partial Knee Replacement implant device. 

Founded in 1986, CHKS became one of the first orthopedic centers of excellence in the United States. Since then, CHKS surgeons have performed more than 40,000 total joint replacements and has become one of the leading joint replacement centers in the world.

Anthem delivers top recognition to Franciscan St. Francis Health’s maternity program

INDIANAPOLIS, Indiana – When Ava Bentley became the first baby born in Marion County on New Year’s Day, she was being cared for at a hospital on the brink of earning national accolades for its maternity care.

Franciscan St. Francis Health-Indianapolis recently was recognized as a Blue Distinction Center for Maternity Care® by Blue Cross Blue Shield Association. This distinction means the hospital met nationally established criteria by demonstrating expertise in delivering quality specialty care, safely and effectively.

The Blue Distinction program focuses on both vaginal and cesarean delivery treatment provided by acute care inpatient facilities, routine obstetrical services and follow-up care. Further, it is an important  tool for helping Blue members make better informed decisions about where to seek specialty care.

“This designation validates the phenomenal work of our women’s health providers and their ongoing commitment to deliver the highest level of care to our patients,” said James Callaghan, MD, president and CEO. “We are proud of this achievement.”

Nearly 48,000 infants have been born at Franciscan St. Francis Health since 1995, when the Women & Children’s Center (WCC) was consolidated at the 8111 S. Emerson Ave. campus.

Meanwhile, the $37 million expansion and renovation of the Women & Children’s Center is nearing completion and fully opening this spring, with a public grand opening celebration scheduled from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m., Saturday, April 30. Among the project additions now open to patients:

·        Wellness Suite: Massage therapy, acupuncture, maternal fetal medicine/genetic counseling, and pelvic health and rehabilitation and genetics.

·        Neonatal Intensive Care Unit: This renovation added 24 private suites. It is the only Level III NICU in south-central Indiana.

·        Post Partum and Newborn Nursery Unit: Our new, 34-suite unit is built on the principle of providing exceptional patient care in a family-friendly environment, where mom, dad and baby can room together.​ 

Other highlights images and videos about the renovation project can be found HERE.

Cardiologist establishes practice with Indiana Heart Physicians

INDIANAPOLIS, Indiana – Daniel G. Walsh, MD, has joined Indiana Heart Physicians (IHP), a practice of Franciscan Physician Network.

He joins a team of highly noted physicians, advance care providers and other clinicians, who provide care to patients in Indianapolis, Franklin, Greensburg, Martinsville, Mooresville, Shelbyville and Greencastle.

Board-certified in cardiovascular disease, Dr. Walsh most previously was affiliated with Cardiology Associates of Birmingham (Bingham Farms, Michigan). He also was on staff at Beaumont Hospital (Royal Oak, Michigan).

Dr. Walsh was an honors graduate of Georgetown University, receiving a degree in biology. He earned his medical degree from Cornell University Medical College (New York) and completed an internship and residency in internal medicine at the University of Michigan Medical Center, where he later completed a fellowship in cardiology.

He held various academic appointments including Internal Medicine Instructor in the Section of Emergency Services at the University of Michigan.

Widely published in professional journals, he is a Fellow in the American College of Cardiology and a Diplomate in the American Board of Cardiology.

To schedule an appointment with Dr. Walsh, call 317-893-1900.

Franciscan Physician Network is a division of the Mishawaka, Indiana-based Franciscan Alliance. To learn more about network primary and specialty care services in central Indiana, go to FranciscanDocs.org.

Hospital-hosted event offers health sciences career info to students

MOORESVILLE, Indiana – The healthcare industry is ever-evolving and so are its many opportunities for youngsters who may consider careers in that field.

Franciscan St. Francis Health-Mooresville will host the Health Sciences Career Forum Wednesday, April 20 at 1201 Hadley Road.

The event is geared towards middle school students and their parents. Here’s what they can expect:

·        Career education and information booths

·        Demonstrations of clinical technology and panel discussions by hospital staff

·        Giveaways, door prizes and refreshments

Representatives from Ivy Tech, University of Indianapolis, Franklin College and University of St. Francis will be on hand to discuss what programs their institutions offer.

The event will be from 5 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. and is located inside the hospital’s main entrance.

To register, call 574-540-6904 or click HERE.  

Psychiatrist joins inpatient staff at Franciscan St. Francis Health

INDIANAPOLIS, Indiana – Christopher J. Dull, MD, JD, has joined Franciscan Physician Network and will serve as a psychiatric liaison to clinicians who provide care to inpatients at Franciscan St. Francis Health-Indianapolis.

He joins Beth A. Johnson, MD, and they work with patients having a primary medical diagnosis and whose accompanying psychiatric symptoms complicate their care. This liaison service was developed in 2015 based on data showing that many patients discharged each year have a secondary psychiatric diagnosis.

Dr. Dull most previously served as medical director of the geropsychiatry unit at Sumner Regional Medical Center in Nashville, Tennessee and Skyline Medical Center. He was the owner of Hopeways, an addiction psychiatry practice in Franklin, Tennessee.

A Diplomate with the American Board of Psychiatry and Neurology, he received an undergraduate degree in Spanish literature from the University of Michigan and earned his medical degree from Vanderbilt University School of Medicine and law degree from the Indiana University School of Law in Indianapolis.

Dr. Dull completed an internship in internal medicine and residency training in psychiatry at The Johns Hopkins Hospital in Baltimore.

Dr. Dull has been the recipient of many academic and professional honors, including Psychiatrist of the Year (National Alliance of Mental Illness-Nashville) and recipient of the Frist Humanitarian Award for Skyline Medical Center.

Franciscan Physician Network is a division of the Mishawaka, Indiana-based Franciscan Alliance. To learn more about network primary and specialty care services in central Indiana, go to FranciscanDocs.org.

Mooresville orthopedic surgeon poised for retirement after lengthy career

There's travel in the future for Dr. Faris and his wife Cindy.

MOORESVILLE, Indiana – For more than three decades, he has helped restore the mobility and the quality of life for thousands of patients suffering from joint disorders and injuries. Now, he is preparing for new journeys beyond the operating room.

Philip M. Faris, MD, is retiring March 9, capping a long-time career with the prestigious Center for Hip & Knee Surgery (CHKS) at Franciscan St. Francis Health-Mooresville. He also is a member of the Joint Replacement Surgeons of Indiana, a practice of Franciscan Physician Network.

On the eve of his retirement, Dr. Faris was honored by colleagues, staff and family at a ceremony held at the Mooresville hospital.

“As one of the first orthopedic surgeons to work at the Center, Dr. Faris came to Mooresville in 1987 to work alongside its founder, Dr. Merrill Ritter, as well as Dr. Michael Keating,” said Peter J. Murphy, senior vice president and COO for Franciscan St. Francis-Mooresville. “And just as we will soon celebrate the great strides the Center has made in the past three decades, today we focus our thoughts on all that Phil has accomplished throughout his time here. To say that he has been a leader in the field of orthopedics is an understatement.”

Dr. Faris has performed 2,393 hip replacements and 4,285 knee replacements at the Mooresville hospital.

CEO Dr. James Callaghan was among those on hand
 to honor Dr. Faris and recall his career.

“Dr Faris’ high school sports knee injury played a role in leading him to a lifelong engagement with orthopedic surgery and fitness,” said James Callaghan, MD, president and CEO for Franciscan St. Francis Health.  “His continued athletic and fitness activities have provided a good example of a healthy lifestyle to our patients and employees alike.”

Certified by the American Board of Orthopaedic Surgery, Dr. Faris often has said it was the clinical care he received from those injuries is what inspired him to pursue a medical career.

Dr. Faris received his undergraduate degree at Ball State University (BSU), where he was named MVP for the school’s football during his senior year. He earned his medical degree from the Indiana University School of Medicine and completed an internship and residency at Indiana University Hospital.

Dr. Faris went on the complete a fellowship in total knee replacement surgery at the Hospital for Special Surgery in New York City, where he studied under the late John Insall, MD, whose landmark work in knee surgery has been internationally recognized.

Widely published in professional journals and a frequent presenter of orthopedic topics, Dr. Faris has been the recipient of numerous awards from organizations, including the Arthritis Foundation, BSU Athletic Hall of Fame and BSU Distinguished Alumni.

Dr. Faris also has travelled three times to Operation Walk destinations, working as a not-for-profit volunteer, providing free surgical treatments for patients in developing countries and in the United States.

CHKS surgeons perform about 2,500 joint replacements each year treating patients from all over the Midwest, the nation and the world and instructing hundreds of surgeons in the latest techniques and methods for implantation of joint implants. 

Temporary visitor restrictions implemented March 11 as flu surges

INDIANAPOLIS, Indiana -- With the escalation of flu-related cases citywide, Franciscan St. Francis Health and other area hospitals are working closely with the Marion County Health Department and Indianapolis Coalition for Patient Safety.

To lower the risk of exposure to our patients, employees and visitors, Franciscan St. Francis will implement a temporary visitor policy and take other proactive measures at its Indianapolis, Mooresville and Carmel hospitals and Franciscan Surgery Center, effective Friday, March 11.

The temporary visitor policy is:

• Only immediate family as identified by patient and patient's designated support person.
  
  
• No visitors under 18 years of age unless they are seeking medical care or are parents of pediatric patients.

• No visitors with symptoms suggestive of influenza.

"This extra line of protection is needed right now in order to reduce the risk of exposing patients, visitors and hospital staff to the flu virus," said Marion County Public Health Department Director Dr. Virginia Caine. "Influenza is a contagious virus that can cause significant illness and, in certain cases, lead to hospitalization or death."

We apologize for any inconvenience to families; however, this policy is to protect the health of patients at our hospitals.

Visitors should call the Franciscan St. Francis Health hospital they plan to visit before arriving with any questions about the restrictions. Indianapolis 317-528-5000; Mooresville  317-831-1160; Carmel 317-705-4500; and Franciscan Surgery Center  317-528-5900. 

Franciscan St. Francis Health hosts National Healthcare Decisions Day events, April 15

INDIANAPOLIS, Indiana – Who do you want to speak for you and make healthcare decisions when you are unable to do so?

Advance directives are documents you can complete to protect your rights, determine your medical treatment and help your family and doctor understand your wishes about your health care.

That’s why Franciscan St. Francis Health is hosting events from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m., Friday, April 15 to educate the public about the importance of having advance health care directives. The locations are:

·        Franciscan St. Francis Health-Carmel (main lobby) 12188-B N. Meridian St.

·        Franciscan St. Francis Health-Mooresville (main lobby) 1201 Hadley Road 

·        Franciscan St. Francis Health-Indianapolis (Terrace Café) 8111 S. Emerson Ave.

·        Greenwood Park Mall, Rejuvenation Station (near front of Sears) 1251 U.S. 31

The events coincide with the National Health Care Decisions Day, designed to raise awareness about the importance of advance care planning.

Click here to learn more about advance directives and related issues. 

Franciscan St. Francis Health among nation’s 100 Top Hospitals

2016 study says Indy hospital achieved highest standards for patient care, management

INDIANAPOLIS, Indiana – Franciscan St. Francis Health-Indianapolis has been named one of the nation’s 100 Top Hospitals® by Truven Health Analytics™, a provider of data-driven analytics and solutions to improve the cost and quality of healthcare.

This marked the third time Franciscan St. Francis was recognized by Truven Health and the hospital was the only one in the Indianapolis metropolitan area to earn the 100 Top Hospitals distinction. Only two other Indiana hospitals were on the list.

The Truven Health 100 Top Hospitals® study identifies hospitals and leadership teams that provide the highest level of value to their communities, based on a national balanced scorecard measuring overall organizational performance across 11 key analytic measures including patient care, operational efficiency and financial stability. The study has been conducted annually since 1993.

“This is a tremendous honor, and we are pleased to receive this recognition,” said James Callaghan, MD, Franciscan St. Francis Health’s president and CEO. "It attests to the collaborative efforts and dedication of our physicians and staff, all of whom deliver extraordinary care and outcomes for the patients we are privileged to serve.”

The study shows that if all hospitals in the United States performed at the level of this year's winners:

• More than 104,000 additional lives could be saved.
• Nearly 48,400 additional patients could be complication-free.
• $2 billion in inpatient costs could be saved.
• The average patient stay would decrease by half a day.

“The 2016 100 Top Hospitals award winners represent the highest national standards in hospital care and management. They set the benchmarks for peers around the country to follow,” said Jean Chenoweth, senior vice president at Truven Health Analytics.  “Hospitals in three out of the five report groups actually reduced overall expenses year over year while improving patient outcomes – exactly the results that the entire industry hopes to attain.”

Truven Health researchers evaluated close to 3,000 short-term, acute-care, nonfederal hospitals. 100 Top Hospitals researchers use risk-adjusted methodologies to analyze public information, including Medicare cost reports, Medicare Provider Analysis and Review data, and core measures and patient satisfaction data from the Centers for Medicare and Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services’ Hospital Compare reports.

Hospitals do not apply, and winners do not pay, to market the 100 Top Hospitals study.

The winning hospitals were announced in the Feb. 28, 2016, edition of Modern Healthcare magazine.  More information on this study and other 100 Top Hospitals research is available at 100tophospitals.com. 

Sleepless in Central Indiana? Events awaken public to healthier options

INDIANAPOLIS, Indiana – Does getting a good night’s sleep seem like a distant dream? Franciscan St. Francis Health Sleep Disorders Center wants to open your eyes to treatment.

The Sleep Center is hosting two events to coincide with the annual World Sleep Day observances. Free sleep assessments will be offered at:

Greenwood Park Mall Franciscan Rejuvenation Station (next to Sears) – 9 a.m. to noon, Wednesday, March 9.

Beech Grove Central Elementary School (64 N. 10^th Ave.) – 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Saturday, March 12.

Franciscan St. Francis sleep experts will be on hand to answer questions about sleep disorders and demonstrate how a CPAP (continuous positive airway pressure) device works and helps people with sleep apnea.

he Sleep Center, which is accredited by the Accreditation Commission for Health Care, includes a team of doctors and nurses across a spectrum of specialties, all dedicated to providing the excellent care our patients need to regain their quality of life.

To learn more about sleep disorders and sleep testing at Franciscan St. Francis Health click HERE.

World Sleep Day is an annual event to celebrate the importance of good sleep hygiene and to bring attention to issues such as sleep medicine, education and research. It is organized by the World Association of Sleep Medicine.

Neurosciences administrative director selected by Franciscan St. Francis Health

INDIANAPOLIS, Indiana – Annette Seabrook, MPT, MHA, has been appointed administrative director of neurosciences for Franciscan St. Francis Health.

She has served as the interim director of neurosciences the last five months. In her new role, she will oversee the day-to-day operations of the hospital’s neurosciences programsm, including sleep, spine, stroke and inpatient rehabilitation.

Seabrook began her service with Franciscan St. Francis in 2010 as the program director for the hospital’s inpatient rehabilitation center, where she was responsible for operational leadership. She lalso ed an initiative that garnered the hospital’s first specialty accreditation by the Commission for Accreditation of Rehabilitation Facilities, including the first Stroke Specialty Program accreditation.

A board-certified Fellow of the American College of Healthcare Executives (ACHE), Seabrook worked at other rehabilitation hospitals in Indianapolis and Chicago before joining Franciscan Alliance.

Seabrook, a licensed physical therapist, received her undergraduate degree from Augustana College (Illinois) and earned a master’s degree in physical therapy at Hahnemann University in Philadelphia. She later earned a master of health administration degree at Indiana University Purdue University-Indianapolis.

Among her many professional associations, she holds current memberships with the Indiana Healthcare Executive Network, Indiana Regent Advisory Council in Indiana for ACHE, National Spinal Cord Injury Association and is the chair of the Indiana Hospital Association Rehabilitation Task Force.

An Indianapolis resident, Seabrook also helped spearhead the creation of the Indiana General Assembly legislation to establish the Indiana Spinal Cord and Brain Injury Research.