Surgeon Joins Franciscan Physician Network Orthopedic Specialists

INDIANAPOLIS, Indiana – Kelly C. Graner, MD, has established a practice with Franciscan Physician Network Orthopedic Specialists.

She joins a team of orthopedic surgeons, advanced care providers and other clinical staff whose offices are located at 5255 E. Stop 11 Road, Indianapolis. Board-eligible in orthopedic surgery, Dr. Graner specializes in the treatment of problems involving the hand, wrist, elbow and shoulder.

Dr. Graner recently completed an orthopedic hand and upper extremity fellowship at the Medical College of Wisconsin in Milwaukee and orthopedic surgery residency training at Beaumont Health System in Michigan.

Dr. Graner earned her medical degree at Ross University School of Medicine in Dominica, West Indies. She received her undergraduate degrees in biochemistry and Spanish at DePauw University in Greencastle.

A candidate member for the American Society for Surgery of the Hand (ASSH) and the Ruth Jackson Orthopaedic Society (RJOS), she held various leadership positions during her residency and medical school training.

To schedule an appointment with Dr. Graner, call (317) 528-4723.

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, visit FranciscanDocs.org.

Medicare Extravaganza Aims to Educate Seniors on Insurance Plans

INDIANAPOLIS, Indiana – Franciscan Insurance Services is hosting several Medicare Extravaganza events to help those on Medicare make informed decisions and the right Medicare Advantage plans for their health insurance needs by offering education on the plans direct from the insurance carriers.

Representatives from Humana Health Plan Inc., Anthem Blue Cross and Blue Shield and UnitedHealthcare/AARP will discuss their respective Medicare Advantage plans at the upcoming events.

“The presentations are held throughout the day, enabling the public to attend as many as they choose,” said Mindy King, director of Franciscan Insurance Services. “In doing so, people can make the best informed decisions during the annual Medicare enrollment period.”

The Medicare Extravaganzas will be from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. on the following dates:

Oct. 12, 13, 14 and Dec. 7

Education Services and Support Center

421 N. Emerson Ave.

Greenwood

(Each carrier presents three times at 8:30 a.m., 10 a.m. and 11:30 a.m.)

Nov. 3

Millers Merry Manor (Community Room)

259 W. Harrison St.

Mooresville

(Each carrier presents once - 8:30 a.m. – United Healthcare/AARP, 10 a.m. – Anthem Blue Cross Blue Shield and 11:30 a.m. Humana Health Plan)

Nov. 16

Hilton Garden Inn

5255 Noggle Way
Indianapolis

(Each carrier presents once - 8:30 a.m. – United Healthcare/AARP, 10 a.m. – Anthem Blue Cross Blue Shield and 11:30 a.m. Humana Health Plan)

All events in October are informational sessions only. Franciscan Insurance Services staff will be available to help participants complete their Medicare Advantage plan enrollment at the November and December events.

Registration is not required. For more information, call Franciscan Insurance Services at (317) 528-7770.

Free Heart-Healthy Classes Offered to Public throughout October

INDIANAPOLIS, Indiana – Franciscan Health Heart Center is offering free classes focused on cardiovascular health and wellness in October.

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

Ask the Doc programs offered for October

Dizzy Spells – What should I do?

Thursday, Oct. 13, 6:30 p.m.

Franciscan Health Heart Center (8111 S. Emerson Ave., Indianapolis)

Presented by Harry Genovely, MD

Have you ever fainted or passed out for no obvious reason?  Syncope is a temporary loss of consciousness and posture and is usually related to a temporary insufficient blood flow to the brain. Figuring out the cause can be a challenge and one of the possible causes could be your heart. Dr. Genovely will talk about syncope, how to identify the cause and what treatment options are available.

Do you have a heart murmur?

Tues, Oct.18, 6:30 p.m.

Monroe Convention Center (302 S College Ave., Bloomington)

Presented by Marc Gerdisch, MD

Refreshments served at 6 p.m.; program starts at 6:30 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 Dr. Marc Gerdisch will talk about new treatments and surgeries for heart valves, including ongoing research studies at Franciscan Health.  Bring your questions for our nationally and internationally renowned surgeon.

Aneurysms: Pay attention before it’s too late

Thursday, Oct. 27 at Noon

Decatur County Memorial Hospital (720 N Lincoln St, Greensburg)

Presented by Robert McCready, MD

Abdominal aortic aneurysms, also known as AAA, are uncommon but usually deadly.  They develop slowly and usually have no symptoms, but when the weakened walls of the artery collapse, there is little recourse.

That’s why knowing your risk for AAA is so important. In some cases, the condition is genetic, but if you smoke, have high blood pressure or cholesterol you may be at risk as well. Dr. McCready will discuss risks, symptoms and monitoring of AAA and how Medicare offers a free screening to qualified members age 65-75.

Change of Heart classes offered in Fall 2016

Savvy Shopping

Tuesday, Oct 4, 6:30 p.m. at Camby Meijer (10509 Heartland Blvd.)

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.

Cooking for 2

Wednesday, Oct 5 at 6:30 p.m. at Franciscan Health Heart Center

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. 

Fitness Tips

Tues, Oct 11 at 6:30 p.m. at Franciscan Health Mooresville (1201 Hadley Road)

Thurs, Oct 27 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.

Quick meals at home

Wed, Oct.19, 6:30 p.m. at Franciscan Health Mooresville

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.

Meatless Cooking Tips

Thursday, Oct. 20, 6:30 p.m. at the Franciscan Health Heart Center

Meatless meals may help you live longer. Adding more meatless meals to your diet is easy with new products now on the market. This class will help you with menu planning and recipes so you can incorporate more meatless meals into your daily life.

Healthy Meals on a Budget

Tues, Oct. 25, 6:30 p.m. at Franciscan Health Mooresville

As food prices climb and budgets get tight, smart purchases at the supermarket are important.  In this class, you will learn ways to stretch your food budget while still getting the nutrients you need.

Franciscan Health Weight Loss Center Earns National Reaccreditation

INDIANAPOLIS, Indiana – Patients seeking surgical treatment for severe obesity and its related conditions have a high-quality choice for receiving treatment from a nationally accredited program that meets the highest standards for patient safety and quality of care in the greater Indianapolis area.

They can receive care from Franciscan Health Weight Loss Center, which was recently reaccredited as a Comprehensive Center under the Metabolic and Bariatric Surgery Accreditation and Quality Improvement Program (MBSAQIP). This is a joint accreditation program of the American College of Surgeons and the American Society for Metabolic and Bariatric Surgery.

The MBSAQIP Standards ensure bariatric surgical patients receive a multidisciplinary program, not just a surgical procedure, which improves patient outcomes and long-term success. The accredited center offers preoperative and postoperative care designed specifically for their severely obese patients.

Led by Metabolic and Bariatric Surgery Directors Jonathan Mandelbaum, MD, and Hazem Shamseddeen, MD, Franciscan Health Weight Loss Center is committed to continuous improvement to bolster the structure, process and outcomes for patients.

To earn the MBSAQIP designation, Franciscan Health Weight Loss Center met essential criteria for staffing, training and facility infrastructure and protocols for care, ensuring its ability to support patients with severe obesity. The center also participates in a national data registry that yields semiannual reports on the quality of its processes and outcomes, identifying opportunities for continuous quality improvement.

An estimated 15.5 million Americans suffer from severe obesity, according to the National Institutes of Health, and the numbers continue to increase. Obesity increases the risks of morbidity and mortality because of the diseases and conditions commonly associated with it, such as type II diabetes, hypertension, and cardiovascular disease, among other health risks.

Metabolic and bariatric surgical procedures have proven to be effective in the reduction of chronic conditions related to severe obesity.

Electrophysiologist joins Franciscan Physician Network Indiana Heart Physicians

INDIANAPOLIS, Indiana – Tonye Teme, MD, has joined Franciscan Physician Network Indiana Heart Physicians.

He joins a team of highly regarded physicians, advanced practice providers and other clinicians, who provide care in Indianapolis, Franklin, Greensburg, Martinsville, Columbus, Mooresville, Shelbyville, Crawfordsville and Greencastle.

Dr. Teme is board-certified in internal medicine and echocardiography and board-eligible in general cardiology.  He most recently completed a fellowship in electrophysiology at Loyola University Medical Center in Chicago, where he also completed fellowship training in cardiology.

Dr. Teme received his undergraduate degree in biology from Purdue University and earned his medical degree from the Medical College of Wisconsin. He completed a residency in internal medicine at McGaw Medical Center of Northwestern University.

To schedule an appointment with Dr. Teme, 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, visit FranciscanDocs.org.

Being Mortal: Franciscan Health Offers Free Film Screening, Discussion

INDIANAPOLIS, Indiana -- Franciscan Health has partnered with the Indiana Coalition for Patient Safety and other local hospitals to bring free screenings and post-viewing discussions of the PBS Frontline film, Being Mortal.

Based on the best-selling book by Atul Gawande, MD, this documentary explores the hopes of patients and families facing terminal illness and their relationships with the physicians who treat them.

The discussion will focus on what matters most to patients and families who are facing difficult treatment decisions. 

“The goal of this project is to educate community members and stress the importance of having end-of-life conversations ahead of a medical crisis,” said David Mandelbaum, MD, medical director of Franciscan Health’s palliative care services and co-medical director, Franciscan VNS St. Francis Hospice.

Franciscan Health will host three screenings:

·        Monday, Oct. 24, 5 p.m.-7 p.m. – Franciscan Health Mooresville-Swisher Conference Room (1201 Hadley Road)

·        Tuesday, Oct. 25, 5 p.m.-7 p.m. – Franciscan Health Indianapolis-Auditorium (8111 S. Emerson Ave.)

·        Saturday, Nov. 5, 1 p.m.-3 p.m. – Franciscan Health Indianapolis-Auditorium

These events are free, and registration is not required. Refreshments will be served. 

For more information call, 317-528-7985.  

Physician establishes practice with Center Grove Family Medicine

INDIANAPOLIS, Indiana – Michael J. Mooney, MD, has joined Center Grove Family Medicine, a Franciscan Physician Network practice.

He joins a team of doctors who provide a wide range of convenient primary care services for infants through seniors in a comfortable environment.

Board-certified in Family Medicine, Dr. Mooney recently completed his residency training at Franciscan St. Francis Health.

Dr. Mooney received an undergraduate degree in chemistry with highest distinction from Indiana University and earned his medical degree at the Indiana University School of Medicine, where he was active in various clerkships, including radiology, psychiatry, neurology and family medicine.

A member of the Indiana State Medical Association and American Academy of Family Physicians, Dr. Mooney was active in recruiting programs during his residency and was a physician volunteer at the Indianapolis Women’s Half Marathon.

To schedule an appointment with Dr. Mooney, call 317-859-3737.

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, visit FranciscanDocs.org.

Physician Establishes Practice with Center Grove Family Medicine

INDIANAPOLIS, Indiana – Kami L. Mooney, MD, has joined Center Grove Family Medicine, a Franciscan Physician Network practice.

She joins a team of doctors who provide a wide range of convenient primary care services for infants through seniors in a comfortable environment.

Board-certified in Family Medicine, she recently completed her residency training at Franciscan St. Francis Health.

Dr. Mooney received undergraduate degrees in biology, chemistry and Spanish from Indiana University and earned her medical degree at the Indiana University School of Medicine.

A member of the Indiana State Medical Association and American Academy of Family Physicians, she was active as a volunteer and in community work during her academic career.

To schedule an appointment with Dr. Mooney, call 317-859-3737.

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, visit FranciscanDocs.org.

Franciscan Health Family Medicine Chief Elected to Prestigious Medical Society

INDIANAPOLIS, Indiana – Richard D. Feldman, MD, has been elected to membership in the Alpha Omega Alpha Honor (AOA) Medical Society-Indiana Chapter.

Dr. Feldman, longtime director of the Franciscan Health Family Medicine Residency Program, was elected because of his many years and contributions to graduate medical education and his journalistic work on behalf of public health issues, chapter officials said.

“This is one of the highest honors students, house staff and faculty can bestow on a colleague. Each year the chapter is allowed to select members of our alumni for this distinction,” wrote D. Craig Brater, MD, chapter president and former dean of the Indiana University School of Medicine, in the notification letter to Dr. Feldman.

This latest accolade comes in the wake of Dr. Feldman’s recent reappointment as a lay member of the Indiana General Assembly’s Interim Study Committee on Public Health, Behavioral Health and Human Services.

He has held several elected appointments with the Indiana Academy of Family Physicians (IAFP), the Indianapolis Medical Society and Indiana State Medical Association.

Dr. Feldman has been honored with a lifetime achievement award from the IAFP and the Indiana Public Health Foundation. In 2014, he received the Nikitas J. Zervanos Outstanding Program Director Award from the American Academy of Family Physicians and the Association of Family Medicine Residency Directors.

An Indianapolis resident, he has served as president of the IAFP and is past president of the Indiana Medical History Museum and the Indianapolis American Heart Association. Dr. Feldman served as Indiana State Health Commissioner (1997 to 2001) and he’s an editorial columnist for the Indianapolis Star.

Dr. Feldman, a native of South Bend, earned his medical degree from the IU School of Medicine in 1977 and completed his residency in family medicine at Franciscan Health in 1980. 

Support Program Helps Children, Teens Handle Grief in Loss of Loved Ones

INDIANAPOLIS, Indiana  – Consider the caterpillar: It builds a cocoon and remains safely ensconced until it transforms and emerges into a new life, one that takes flight.

Death is a part of the life cycle, and it’s especially difficult for children to grasp and make sense out of it, particularly when they lose a loved one. And that’s why Franciscan VNS St. Francis Hospice offers Caterpillar Kids, a support program that offers learning experiences for children ages 5 to 12.

Additionally, Teen Grief Support Group is offered to those from 13 to 18 years of age.

The dates for both programs from Sept. 14, Sept. 21, Sept. 28 and Oct. 5. The workshops, which are free, are from 4:30 p.m. to 6 p.m. Meetings are at Christ United Methodist Church, 8540 U.S. 31 South, one mile north of Greenwood Park Mall.

“Children do grieve and they may express it differently than adults, but their feelings are as genuine and essential in healing,” said Karla Riggs Norton, spiritual bereavement coordinator. “Caterpillar Kids brings children together in a safe, nurturing environment where they receive information about grief and learn healthy ways to cope with the death of a loved one.”

Led by staff trained in bereavement support for children, youngsters participate in storytelling, art projects, games and other sharing opportunities. Parents also are invited to participate in a concurrent session to assist them in supporting their children.

Registration is required. To register or for more information about Caterpillar Kids, call Karla Riggs Norton at 317-528-2636, or Jeff Hauersperger at 317 528-2099.