The following is a SSFHS/Anthem joint news release:
INDIANAPOLIS – Based on a ruling yesterday (March 30) from the Marion County Superior Court-Civil Division in Indianapolis, Anthem Blue Cross and Blue Shield will continue to recognize facilities operated by the Sisters of St. Francis Health Services (SSFHS) as in-network until the contracts between Anthem and SSFHS expire Sept. 1, 2009.
Although Anthem had sought to terminate the contracts early, the court ruling means that members of Anthem health plans can continue to receive in-network services at SSFHS facilities after May 1. The hospitals include St. Francis Hospital & Health Centers in Beech Grove, Indianapolis and Mooresville; St. Elizabeth Medical Center and Home Hospital in Lafayette; St. Clare Medical Center in Crawfordsville; St. Anthony Memorial Health Centers in Michigan City; St. Anthony Medical Center in Crown Point; St. Margaret Mercy Healthcare Center in Hammond and Dyer; and Franciscan Physicians Hospital in Munster.
The current Anthem-SSFHS contracts expire Sept.1, 2009.
But leaders from both organizations emphasized they are committed to continuing contracts talks and securing a new long-term agreement to ensure that Anthem-insured patients receive in-network benefits at the highest level of care at all SSFHS hospitals.
Tuesday, March 31, 2009
Monday, March 30, 2009
Study ranks St. Francis-Indianapolis among nation’s ‘100 Top Hospitals’
INDIANAPOLIS – The Thomson Reuters 100 Top Hospitals® National Benchmarks study has rated St. Francis Hospital-Indianapolis highly for its overall organization performance.
The study, which has been conducted annually since 1993, evaluates performance in nine areas: mortality, medical complications, patient safety, average length of stay, expenses, profitability, cash-to-debt ratio, patient satisfaction and adherence to clinical standards of care.
"We are continually looking at ways to improve our performance to better serve our patients at all of our hospitals," said Alan Gillespie, M.D., St. Francis’ chief medical officer. "We’re honored to be recognized by Thompson Reuters."
St. Francis, which also operates hospitals in Beech Grove and Mooresville, was one of only seven hospitals in Indiana to make the Thompson Reuters list.
"The 100 Top Hospitals winners raised the bar again this year, delivering a higher level of reliable care and greater value for their communities and payers," said Jean Chenoweth, senior vice president for performance improvement and 100 Top Hospitals programs at the Ann Arbor-based Thomson Reuters.
To conduct the 100 Top Hospitals study, Thomson Reuters researchers evaluated 3,000 short-term, acute care, non-federal hospitals. They used public information -- Medicare cost reports, Medicare Provider Analysis and Review (MedPAR) data, and core measures and patient satisfaction data from the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) Hospital Compare data set.
To read the full listing of hospitals, go to http://pressrelated.com/press-release-thomson-reuters-announces-100-top-hospitals-award-winners.html.
The study, which has been conducted annually since 1993, evaluates performance in nine areas: mortality, medical complications, patient safety, average length of stay, expenses, profitability, cash-to-debt ratio, patient satisfaction and adherence to clinical standards of care.
"We are continually looking at ways to improve our performance to better serve our patients at all of our hospitals," said Alan Gillespie, M.D., St. Francis’ chief medical officer. "We’re honored to be recognized by Thompson Reuters."
St. Francis, which also operates hospitals in Beech Grove and Mooresville, was one of only seven hospitals in Indiana to make the Thompson Reuters list.
"The 100 Top Hospitals winners raised the bar again this year, delivering a higher level of reliable care and greater value for their communities and payers," said Jean Chenoweth, senior vice president for performance improvement and 100 Top Hospitals programs at the Ann Arbor-based Thomson Reuters.
To conduct the 100 Top Hospitals study, Thomson Reuters researchers evaluated 3,000 short-term, acute care, non-federal hospitals. They used public information -- Medicare cost reports, Medicare Provider Analysis and Review (MedPAR) data, and core measures and patient satisfaction data from the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) Hospital Compare data set.
To read the full listing of hospitals, go to http://pressrelated.com/press-release-thomson-reuters-announces-100-top-hospitals-award-winners.html.
Sunday, March 29, 2009
New directors sign aboard St. Francis Healthcare Foundation
INDIANAPOLIS – Three local business and civic leaders have accepted appointments to the St. Francis Healthcare Foundation Board of Directors.
They are Robert Colin, Tom Morales and Travis Tucker. They join 30 other members who help guide fundraising efforts to help the needy, care for the dying, assure spiritual care, provide crisis support for patients and employees, encourage professional development for employees, and create a healthier community.
Colin is an audit partner with Deloitte & Touche, LLP, where he leads numerous public and private partnership ventures and has wide experience in corporate governance and mergers, acquisitions and divestitures. He has been active on several not-for-profit boards in the greater Indianapolis area, and he serves on the parish councils at Saints Francis and Clare and Our Lady of Greenwood.
Morales is chief executive officer of Morales Group Inc., a staffing placement firm that bridges the Indianapolis business community with the growing Hispanic population. He held several executive positions over the years, including positions at Procter & Gamble, Union Carbide and the Donaldson Corporation before launching the company that bears his name. Morales attends a non-denominational Christian church.
Tucker is a senior leasing and brokerage associate with BremnerDuke Healthcare Real Estate. In that role, he works closely with hospitals, physician practice groups and other clients to help meet their real estate needs. He worked closely with St. Francis Hospital & Health Centers to develop and manage medical office facilities near the hospital’s south side location. Tucker is a member of Indian Creek Christian Church.
The new members will serve three-year terms on the board of directors.
To learn more about the St. Francis Healthcare Foundation, go to www.stfrancishospitals.org/Foundation.
They are Robert Colin, Tom Morales and Travis Tucker. They join 30 other members who help guide fundraising efforts to help the needy, care for the dying, assure spiritual care, provide crisis support for patients and employees, encourage professional development for employees, and create a healthier community.
Colin is an audit partner with Deloitte & Touche, LLP, where he leads numerous public and private partnership ventures and has wide experience in corporate governance and mergers, acquisitions and divestitures. He has been active on several not-for-profit boards in the greater Indianapolis area, and he serves on the parish councils at Saints Francis and Clare and Our Lady of Greenwood.
Morales is chief executive officer of Morales Group Inc., a staffing placement firm that bridges the Indianapolis business community with the growing Hispanic population. He held several executive positions over the years, including positions at Procter & Gamble, Union Carbide and the Donaldson Corporation before launching the company that bears his name. Morales attends a non-denominational Christian church.
Tucker is a senior leasing and brokerage associate with BremnerDuke Healthcare Real Estate. In that role, he works closely with hospitals, physician practice groups and other clients to help meet their real estate needs. He worked closely with St. Francis Hospital & Health Centers to develop and manage medical office facilities near the hospital’s south side location. Tucker is a member of Indian Creek Christian Church.
The new members will serve three-year terms on the board of directors.
To learn more about the St. Francis Healthcare Foundation, go to www.stfrancishospitals.org/Foundation.
Friday, March 27, 2009
Get the facts on heart attacks from St. Francis cardiac expert
MOORESVILLE, Ind. – Every second counts when a life is threatened by a heart attack, the No. 1 cause of death in the United States, and stroke, the third leading cause.
There are ways to reduce the risk of heart attack and strokes such as knowing the warning signs and knowing how to respond quickly and properly. That’s why the St. Francis Heart Center is offering a special presentation 6:30 p.m., Monday, April 6, at St. Francis Hospital-Mooresville.
Michael Barron, M.D., of the Indiana Heart Physicians will explain what happens to the heart muscle during a heart attack and what long-term complications might result if treatment is delayed. He also will discuss the ways to reduce the risks of heart attack and other cardiovascular disease.
To register for this free program, call 317-782-4422, or register on-line at www.stfrancishospitals.org/heart.
St. Francis Hospital-Mooresville is located at 1201 Hadley Road.
There are ways to reduce the risk of heart attack and strokes such as knowing the warning signs and knowing how to respond quickly and properly. That’s why the St. Francis Heart Center is offering a special presentation 6:30 p.m., Monday, April 6, at St. Francis Hospital-Mooresville.
Michael Barron, M.D., of the Indiana Heart Physicians will explain what happens to the heart muscle during a heart attack and what long-term complications might result if treatment is delayed. He also will discuss the ways to reduce the risks of heart attack and other cardiovascular disease.
To register for this free program, call 317-782-4422, or register on-line at www.stfrancishospitals.org/heart.
St. Francis Hospital-Mooresville is located at 1201 Hadley Road.
‘Chemo brain’ symptoms explained at Mooresville cancer lecture
MOORESVILLE, Ind. – Cancer-related fatigue is the feeling of being tired physically, mentally and emotionally. It means having less energy to do the things cancer patients would normally do if they were not undergoing treatment.
"Chemotherapy patients may also experience cognitive problems while undergoing chemotherapy or even after chemotherapy has finished," said Nurse Practitioner Janice Leak, a nurse navigator with St. Francis Cancer Care Services. "This decline can be changes in your memory, attention or concentration. Patients can grow very frustrated with the symptoms of the so-called ‘chemo brain.’ "
Other factors that may contribute to chemo brain are aging, fatigue, depression, low blood counts, medications and stress. Managing fatigue can help with the symptoms.
Leak will deliver a special lecture 7 p.m., Monday, May 4, at St. Francis Hospital-Mooresville in Swisher Conference Room-East addressing the problems of chemo brain and how to deal with the condition.
The program – which is free to the public but registration is required – is geared for patients and caregivers.
St. Francis Hospital-Mooresville is located 1201 Hadley Road.
To register, call 317-782-4422 by Friday, May 1, or go to StFrancisHospitals.org/cancer for more information.
"Chemotherapy patients may also experience cognitive problems while undergoing chemotherapy or even after chemotherapy has finished," said Nurse Practitioner Janice Leak, a nurse navigator with St. Francis Cancer Care Services. "This decline can be changes in your memory, attention or concentration. Patients can grow very frustrated with the symptoms of the so-called ‘chemo brain.’ "
Other factors that may contribute to chemo brain are aging, fatigue, depression, low blood counts, medications and stress. Managing fatigue can help with the symptoms.
Leak will deliver a special lecture 7 p.m., Monday, May 4, at St. Francis Hospital-Mooresville in Swisher Conference Room-East addressing the problems of chemo brain and how to deal with the condition.
The program – which is free to the public but registration is required – is geared for patients and caregivers.
St. Francis Hospital-Mooresville is located 1201 Hadley Road.
To register, call 317-782-4422 by Friday, May 1, or go to StFrancisHospitals.org/cancer for more information.
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