And a child shall lead them: Walk, events honor memories of lost infants

BEECH GROVE, Ind. – Franciscan St. Francis Health will host its 28th annual Walk to Remember Saturday, Oct. 12.

Hundreds of families from around central Indiana who have lost children through miscarriage, stillbirth or newborn death will come together to remember their babies in a service of music, poetry, reading of the infants' names, balloon and dove release .

The walk begins at 11 a.m. at Holy Name Catholic Church, 89 N. 17th St., and treks to nearby Sarah T. Bolton Park. The program lasts about 90 minutes, and participants are encouraged to bring blankets, folding chairs and a picnic lunch.

Franciscan St. Francis representatives also will be on hand to discuss ways to cope with losing a child and to explain the hospital’s Memories to Hold support group for grieving families.

For more information about Walk to Remember, call 317-528-5199 or visit franciscanstfrancis.org/women to register.

Danish film crew gets taste of how Franciscan St. Francis Health addresses obesity

Documentary explains how hospital and Weight Loss Center adapt to challenges

INDIANAPOLIS – Franciscan St. Francis Health’s Weight Loss Center (WLC) and its services will be the focus of a Danish Broadcasting Corporation (DR) documentary later this fall.

Terri Hohlt (l) demonstrates to Christine Feldthaus how a
specialized scale is used to treat wheelchair-bound patients.

A four-member film crew visited Franciscan St. Francis Health-Indianapolis Sept. 10 to get an up-front look at how its bariatric program helps obese patients achieve their weight loss goals and how to make healthier lifestyle choices. The documentary team also wanted to see how the hospital has adapted in accommodating obese patients.

DR’s interest in obesity in the United States and how the medical industry is adapting to that trend was spawned by a USA Today story which originally appeared in the Indianapolis Star late last year. The article featured  WLC program director Terri Hohlt and Paul Minnis, the hospital’s MRI imaging team leader.

Obesity is officially defined as having body fat above 32 percent of women and 25 percent for men; 30 percent and 25 percent for girls and boys, respectively. Nearly 80 million American adults and 12.5 million are obese, according to the Institute of Medicine, the health component of the National Academies.

In contrast, Denmark’s overall obesity rate is markedly lower at 11.5 percent, but is said to be steadily on the rise.

“No doubt, obesity has become a serious medical issue in our nation and particularly here in Indiana,” Hohlt told Christine Feldthaus, a well-known television personality in Denmark and a DR interviewer. “Our hospital recognized this early on and responded.”

Among the changes at Franciscan St. Francis has been the installation of wider doorways, reinforced commodes, patient beds and seating in waiting rooms and larger wheelchairs. Most of those changes have been subtle and blend in with the surroundings.

On the clinical side, the Indianapolis hospital uses vein viewers for better vascular access and a wide bore MRI scanner which can accommodate patients as heavy as 600 pounds.

More than a decade ago, advances made in weight loss surgery gained in popularity as the obesity trend escalated. Franciscan St. Francis responded by establishing a bariatric surgery and medically supervised weight loss program. It was among the first in the Indiana to be certified as a Center of Excellence from the American Society for Metabolic & Bariatric Surgery.

“A third of the cases I treat are bariatric procedures,” Jonathan Mandelbaum, MD, Franciscan Physician Network Indy Southside Surgical and surgical director of the bariatric program, explained when the news team visited with him in a vacant operating room suite. “Laparoscopic technology has kept pace and aids us greatly in treating our heaviest patients.”

Mandelbaum and his colleagues offer patients options such as gastric sleeve, gastric bypass, and Lap-Band surgeries, which are recommended for patients with a BMI of 40 or higher, or patients with a BMI of 35 and higher and who have other conditions such as diabetes or sleep apnea.

During their visit, the DR team also toured the Imaging Department and met with the post-surgical nursing staff, where some of the rooms have been fashioned to accommodate obese patients. They also met with a registered dietitian, who explained how she educates patients on eating habits and choices during weight loss and following surgical procedures.

The film documentary is expected nationally in Denmark and adjacent nations in November 2013.

To learn more about the programs and services at Franciscan St. Francis Health Weight Loss Center, visit its website at www.franciscanalliance.org/hospitals/indianapolis/services/weightloss/Pages/default.aspx.

Hohlt explains how the medical weight loss program works for new patients.

Feldthaus and DR producer Sine Ivic (l) discuss how to shoot footage
showing the challenges of using a large wheelchair.

Dr. Jon Mandelbaum demonstrates how special
 laparoscopic tools are used for bariatric surgery.

A third of Mandelbaum's cases are bariatric surgery patients.

A registered dietitian's wall at the Weight Loss Center gives patients food
for thought about their food selections. Audrey Peters, RD, told the Danish
film crew about how she counsels patients and helps with outreach activities.

THAT'S A WRAP: Terri Hohlt pauses for a snapshot with the Danish Broadcasting Corp. crew as their visit comes to an end. From right, Sine Ivic (field producer), Theis (videographer), Christine Feldthaus (host) and Dorothe Pedersen (production assistant).

Surgeon explains orthopedic, joint replacement therapies Sept. 12

BEDFORD, 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, Oct. 10, at Quality Inn & Suites (formerly Comfort Inn), 911 Constitution Ave. Light refreshments will be served, beginning at 6 p.m.

John Meding, MD, 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.

Franciscan St. Francis Health to offer free child safety seat inspections

INDIANAPOLIS – Franciscan St. Francis Health is encouraging parents and caregivers to have children’s safety seats inspected based on recommendations issued by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA).

That’s why the hospital is offering free inspections with certified technicians on hand to advise on the proper use of seats for youngsters. The first event is 11 a.m. to 2 p.m., Tuesday, Sept. 17 in the parking lot of Franciscan St. Francis Weight Loss Center (5230-A E. Stop 11 Road).

The event coincides with National Child Passenger Safety Week. If unable to visit the inspection sites, adults can arrange for free inspections by calling 317-528-5774.

“We want to help adults do their best to protect children,” said Sharilyn Wagner, RN, with Franciscan St. Francis’ car seat safety program. “It’s said that three-in-four child seats are not placed correctly. In the end, when it comes to the safety of your child, there is no room for mistakes.”

The hospital is partnering on the project with the Automotive Safety Program at the Indiana University School of Medicine (1-800-KID-N-CAR).

In motor vehicle crashes, car seats reduce the risk of fatal injury by 71 percent for children younger than 1 and by 54 percent for children 1 to 4 in passenger cars, according to data collected by NHTSA. In 2009 alone, 754 children, 12 or younger, were killed in motor vehicle traffic crashes while riding in passenger cars or light trucks.

And among those who were fatally injured, where restraint use was known, 42 percent were unrestrained. Many of these tragedies could have been prevented if the children were in the right restraint for their age and size.

The updated recommendations emphasize how important it is to keep children in each restraint type for as long as possible before moving them to the next type. For maximum child passenger safety, parents and caregivers should visit their local inspection station to ensure their children’s car seats are used properly. A list of child safety seat inspection stations can be found at www.preventinjury.org or by calling 1-800-KID-N-CAR.

Here’s what the NHTSA recommends:

Birth – 12 months: Your child under age 1 should always ride in a rear-facing car seat. There are different types of rear-facing car seats: infant-only seats can only be used rear-facing. Convertible and 3-in-1 car seats typically have higher height and weight limits for the rear-facing position, allowing you to keep your child rear-facing for a longer period of time.

1 – 3 years: Your child should remain in a rear-facing car seat until he or she reaches the top height or weight limit allowed by your car seat’s manufacturer. Once your child outgrows the rear-facing car seat, your child is ready to travel in a forward-facing car seat with a harness.

4 – 7 years: Keep your child in a forward-facing car seat with a harness until he or she reaches the top height or weight limit allowed by your car seat’s manufacturer. Once your child outgrows the forward-facing car seat with a harness, it’s time to travel in a booster seat, but still in the back seat.

8 – 12 years: Keep your child in a booster seat until he or she is big enough to fit in a seat belt properly. For a seat belt to fit properly the lap belt must lie snugly across the upper thighs, not the stomach. The shoulder belt should lie snugly across the shoulder and chest and not cross the neck or face.

Wagner further recommends that:

• Select a car seat based on your child’s age and size, and choose a seat that fits in your vehicle and use it every time.
• Always refer to your specific car seat manufacturer’s instructions; read the vehicle owner’s manual on how to install the car seat using the seat belt or LATCH system; and check height and weight limits.
• To maximize safety, keep your child in the car seat for as long as possible, as long as the child fits within the manufacturer’s height and weight requirements.
• Keep your child in the back seat at least through age 12.

For more information on Child Passenger Safety Week or to find your local car seat event, visit www.childseat.in.gov.

To learn more about the Child Passenger Safety Clinic at Franciscan St. Francis Health, go to http://www.franciscanalliance.org/hospitals/mooresville/services/women/pregnancy/Pages/car-seat-safety.aspx

Free heart healthy classes offered by Franciscan St. Francis Health experts in September

INDIANAPOLIS – Leg pain can be a result of poor blood flow to the legs through the arteries, or it can be from poor blood flow back to the heart, causing enlarged or varicose veins. 

Interventional cardiologist William Berg, MD, who specializes in peripheral vascular disease for Franciscan Physician Network Indiana Heart Physicians, will discuss the blood flow to and from the legs, signs and symptoms of arterial or venous disease and treatment options available.

Berg is the medical director at Franciscan St. Francis Health Heart Center and will lead discussion at “Ask the Doc,” 6:30 p.m., Thursday, Sept. 26 at Highpoint Orchard, 3321 Old US Highway 421 Greensburg.

Call 317-782-4422 to register for the above or below classes.

Franciscan St. Francis Health also will offer a variety of classes throughout September, including:

Healthy Eating

Tuesday, Sept. 3, 6:30 p.m. at the Franciscan St. Francis Health Heart Center, 8111 S. Emerson Ave.

Tuesday, Sept. 17, 6:30 p.m.  at Franciscan St. Francis Health-Mooresville, 1201 Hadley Road

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.

Heart Failure nutrition:  Why is salt so important?

Monday, Sept. 9, 4:30 p.m. at the Heart Center

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, our dietitian will talk about healthy food options that are low in sodium.  This class will provide you and your caregivers with valuable information about heart failure and how the right diet will help to manage your condition and symptoms.  Bring your family to this class.

Savvy Shopping

Monday, Sept. 9, 6:30 p.m. at Southport Meijer, 5325 E. Southport Road, Indianapolis

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.

Reduce Stress

Tuesday, Sept. 10, 6:30 p.m. at the Heart Center

Negative stress causes changes in lifestyle and behavior, which may lead to unhealthy choices.  Learn to identify the causes of stress in your life and techniques to decrease your stress which can improve your health.

Healthy Dining Out Tips

Wednesday, Sept. 18, 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.

Meatless Cooking Tips

Thursday, Sept. 19, 6:30 p.m. at the 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.

Cooking for 2

Tuesday, Sept. 24 at 6:30 p.m.

Franciscan St. Francis Heart Center, 8111 S. Emerson Ave. Indianapolis

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. 

Healthy Meals on a Budget

Wednesday, Sept. 25, 6:30 p.m. at Franciscan St. Francis-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.