New assistant medical director named at Indiana Heart Physicians

INDIANAPOLIS – David O. Kovacich, M.D., has been selected as assistant medical director of cardiovascular practices for St Francis Medical Group.

In that role, he will lead Indiana Heart Physicians (IHP), a group of 24 board certified cardiologists specializing in electrophysiology, echocardiography, nuclear cardiology, cardiac computed tomography and interventional cardiology. They are supported by nearly 150 physician assistants, nurses, medical technology staff and support personnel.

He will also have leadership responsibilities for Vascular Surgery Specialists, a practice of three board certified vascular surgeons that specialize in invasive and non-invasive surgical options for vascular disease and also offer a full gamut of vascular diagnostic testing.

Board-certified in cardiovascular disease, echocardiography, nuclear cardiology and internal medicine, Kovacich completed his fellowship, residency and medical school education at the Indiana University School of Medicine. He has been affiliated with IHP since 1994.

IHP, a St. Francis Medical Group practice, was established in 1978 under the direction of H.O. “Buzz” Hickman, M.D. In addition to its long-established relationship with St. Francis Hospitals and Health Centers, IHP also has affiliations with Morgan Hospital and Medical Center in Martinsville and Major Hospital in Shelbyville.

IHP integrated its services with St. Francis Medical Group and St Francis Hospital in August 2009.

Last year, nearly 70,000 patients were seen at IHP, including office visits, testing and procedures.

IHP physicians conduct most of their inpatient and procedural work at the St. Francis Heart Center, located on the Indianapolis hospital’s south campus at Emerson Avenue and Stop 11. The center is the home to the city’s first certified Chest Pain Evaluation Center, Midwest Heart Valve Center, vascular laboratory, and a national training site for catheterization lab procedures, carotid stent placement and endovascular repair.

IHP physicians also developed the landmark Emergency Heart Attack Response Team at the Heart Center, which significantly reduces response times for heart attack patients, improves their outcomes and reduces health care costs. The EHART protocol has received much acclaim in the medical world and has been adopted by hospitals throughout the world.

To learn more about the Indiana Heart Physicians, go to www.StFrancisDoctors.org.

St. Francis Inpatient Rehabilitation Center offers more patient-care options

BEECH GROVE, Ind. – The Inpatient Rehabilitation Center (IRC) at St. Francis Hospital & Health Centers is expanding to meet the growing needs for patient care in central Indiana.

The unit, which opened in 2005 with 16 beds, has faced increasing demand for acute inpatient rehabilitation beds to assist patients in maximiz­ing their independence and return­ing home.

“Acute rehabilitation provides a level of care and expertise which exceeds services available in other settings,” said Robert Kravitz, M.D., medical director for the center. “For example, the St. Francis program is one of the few acute rehabilitation programs with the ability to care for patients receiving dialysis or requiring remote telemetry.”

The expansion adds eight new private patient rooms, new therapy gyms, a nursing station and patient dining room. With a 24-bed pro­gram, St. Francis will be one of the larger rehabilitation programs in central Indiana.

The new eight beds have remote telemetry capability – technology that allows clinicians to monitor patients’ conditions at a central location.

The IRC provides intensive, inter­disciplinary rehabilitation (three hours of therapy a day by at least two disciplines). Patients include those who have had strokes, brain injuries, spinal cord injuries, orthopedic injuries, amputations and other orthopedic /neurological conditions.

“Many people don’t know that we are here,” said Program Director Annette Seabrook, M.P.T, M.H.A. “They don’t realize how many pa­tients are being discharged to other levels of care who may be better served in our inpatient rehabilita­tion program.”

The program exceeds national benchmarks for discharges to the community (more than 77 percent) as well as functional outcomes and average length of stay, Seabrook said.

To learn more about the Inpatient Rehabilitation Center call 317-782-6963.

























With CMO Dr. Alan Gillespie looking on, Dr. Christopher "Topper" Doehring takes a swing at a virtual golf shot via a Wii gaming device. It's one of the tools being used to help patients in recovery at the newly renovated Inpatient Rehabilitation Center. Both doctors and other St. Francis leaders were on hand for a June 16 open house showcasing the facility.

Photo by LeeAnn Abercrombie-Logan

St. Francis Lady Bluez soccer team hits high note with state championship

INDIANAPOLIS – While soccer fans across the globe have their sights on World Cup play in South Africa, one local team from the St. Francis Soccer Club (SFSC) is focusing on lofty goals, too.

The Lady Bluez notched a 1-0 win over Carmel United Elite 97 (girls, under 13 years) to win the 2010 U.S. Youth Soccer Indiana State Cup and the Indiana Challenge Cup. Kristen Bellinger gave Sam Dewey an assist for the winning goal with three minutes to play in the second half to defeat Carmel, ranked No. 3 in the nation and regional top seed.

The June 14 at Lawrence, Ind., victory propels the Lady Bluez to Dayton, Ohio, where they will play three championship teams from Ohio, Kentucky and North Dakota. If they win that pool, they will advance to a single-elimination bracket with a chance to play for the Region II Championship.

The 15-member team is led by coaches P.J. Orlando and Autumn McClatchy.

“This is the first ever State Cup Championship in the 12 year history of St. Francis Soccer Club,” said Steve Campbell, director of coaching and player development. “Obviously, we’re proud of the Lady Bluez’ accomplishments as we are all of the teams in our club.”

SFSC’s White Blaze (boys, under 12) also made it to the final four and Premier (boys, under 14) placed second in their division.

The club has 30 competitive travel teams, and serves more than 1,000 youngsters annually in recreational play. It also has an outreach program for developmentally disabled children and an adult co-ed league.

SFSC, sponsored by St. Francis Hospital & Health Centers, has playing fields at Arlington Ave. and Stop 11 Road on the city’s far south side. Registration for the fall recreational play is now under way. To register and to learn more about the St. Francis Soccer Club call 317-783-8849, or visit its Website at www.stfrancissoccer.com.

Photos by Amy Fistrovich

Patient parking changes as expansion begins at St. Francis Cancer Center

INDIANAPOLIS – Patient parking is poised to change temporarily to make way for expanding the St. Francis Cancer Center at 8111 S. Emerson Ave.

Beginning June 21, patients with appointments will receive priority parking in a designated area monitored by an attendant from 6 a.m. to 5 p.m., Monday through Friday. That area is near the center’s main entry (Entrance No. 4).

“Patients with frequent or recurring appointments will receive a parking pass from the Cancer Center allowing them unrestricted access to patient parking spaces,” said Kent Brumbaugh, executive director of St. Francis Cancer Services. “Construction will continue through early 2012 and parking will be limited during that time.”

Site preparations are set to get under way for a $34 million expansion of the center. The facility is adding 60,000-square feet – quadrupling its current size – providing more services to patients in central Indiana.

The project includes:

• an expanded breast center
• medical offices for breast and gynecological oncology surgeons
• increased medical office space for medical oncology/hematology
• outpatient bone marrow transplant clinic and supporting laboratories
• larger and improved medical infusion center
• PET CT department
• an on-site location for the cancer research department
• meditation chapel/spiritual room
• patient resource center
• an appearance center where patients can purchase wigs and prostheses
• a conference center for accommodating support groups and educational sessions.

Patients and caregivers having questions about parking can call 317-783-8918.

More information about St. Francis Cancer Center services and programs is at http://www.stfrancishospitals.org/cancer.

St. Francis writes new training prescription for pharmacy residency program

INDIANAPOLIS – Recognizing the need to meet the ever-changing roles and training of new pharmacists, St. Francis Hospital & Health Centers is expanding its residency program to include a post-graduate year two program.

The Pharmacy Residency program already includes a post-graduate year one program with the primary focus of general pharmacy practice. The overall curriculum includes advanced training in hematology/oncology, bone marrow transplantation, pediatrics/neonatology, pharmacy operations, practice management, internal and critical care medicine, and cardiology/critical care.

The post-graduate year two program will be specialized in infectious diseases. The resident will have the unique opportunity to work with infectious disease specialists, microbiology, infection control and antimicrobial stewardship.

Residents for the 2010-2011 program are Laura Marzotto, Pharm.D. (post-graduate year one), and Megan Fleming, Pharm.D. (post-graduate year two). Both earned their degrees at Butler University.

St. Francis offered pharmacy residency training from 1977 to 1982, but re-instated the program in 2009 to meet the growing industry needs. The program is directed by Christian Cheatham, Pharm.D., and Jill Leslie, Pharm.D.

“Our residents work with diverse patient populations in various practice settings,” said Susan Brown, director of Pharmacy Services. “In addition, residents can participate in the Indiana Residency Forum and the Pharmacy Resident Teaching Certificate Program.”

To learn more about the St. Francis Pharmacy Residency Program, go to www.stfrancishospitals.org/Careers/DesktopDefault.aspx?tabid=69.