INDIANAPOLIS – Cardiovascular disease is the leading cause of death in the United States, according to the American Heart Association.

Prevention is the key to lowering your chances of developing cardiovascular disease, which can lead to heart attack, stroke or high blood pressure. Franciscan St. Francis Heart Center is offering free classes and programs this spring to improve the community’s health through education and prevention.

All of the events are open and free to the public.

Several of the Change of Heart classes will be held at the St. Francis Heart Center’s Community Center, entrance #1 of St. Francis Hospital-Indianapolis, 8111 S. Emerson Ave. St. Francis-Mooresville, located at 1201 Hadley Road, also will host several of the events.

Registration is required. Call 317-782-4422 or register online at www.StFrancisHospitals.org/heart for these and many other classes throughout the spring.

Ask-the-doc’s include:

Why does it hurt to walk?

Wednesday, April 13, at 6:30 p.m.

St. Francis Heart Center

Presented by Donald Patterson, M.D., F.A.C.S.

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. Dr. Patterson, vascular surgeon with the St. Francis Medical Group, will discuss the blood flow to and from the legs, signs and symptoms of arterial or venous disease and treatment options available. Those attending may then sign up for a free peripheral vascular screening scheduled at a later date.

How to protect yourself from stroke

Thursday, April 21

6:30 p.m.

St. Francis Heart Center

Presented by William Berg, M.D., F.A.C.C.

Dr. Berg will talk about the importance of keeping the carotid artery leading to the brain free of plaque and disease, decreasing the risk for stroke. Class attendees may sign up for a free carotid artery screening on a date following the program.

Metabolic Syndrome: How does it fit in with heart disease?

Wednesday, April 27

6:30 p.m.

UnaVie Cardiology Center in Shelbyville

Presented by Anthony Bashall, M.D.

(special phone number to register is 317-421-1915)

Patients who are overweight, have diabetes and high cholesterol are at an even higher risk for cardiovascular disease. Each condition requires careful management but they all may lead to a heart attack. Cardiologist Tony Bashall, M.D., will share what patients and families need to know about their risk for cardiovascular disease and how to minimize that risk.

Treatment options for atrial fibrillation

Tuesday, May 3

6:30 p.m.

St. Francis Hospital—Mooresville, 1201 Hadley Road, Mooresville

Presented by John Moore,III, M.D.

Atrial fibrillation is a condition where the heart beats irregularly at a high rate. If severe, this condition can lead to heart attack, stroke or death. Cardiologist John Moore III, M.D., will discuss the current treatments for atrial fibrillation and who should be treated.

Heart Failure – Medication questions answered

Thursday, May 12

6:30 p.m.

St. Francis Heart Center

Presented by Polly Moore, M.D., F.A.C.C.

When a patient or family member is diagnosed with heart failure, it is a time of adjustment. There can be stress on families to understand the diagnosis and much time is devoted to learning about treatment. Patients are usually on multiple medications and families are there to help with administration. Cardiologist Polly Moore, M.D., will share what patients and families need to know about heart failure medications, how to monitor their condition and when to seek help.

Coronary calcium scoring – identifying cardiac risk

Tuesday, May 24

6:30 p.m.

St. Francis Heart Center

Presented by Ryan Daly, M.D., F.A.C.C., F.A.S.E.

Build-up of calcium in plaque in coronary arteries can cause heart attacks. Sometimes the plaque doesn’t completely block the artery but can break off causing a heart attack. Coronary calcium scoring is a high-tech way of finding the arteries with calcium build-up and is another way to identify your risk for heart disease. Dr. Daly will describe this test and answer your questions about heart attack risk factors. A special screening offer will be made to those who attend this class.

Change of Heart Classes

Heart Smart Dining

Tuesday, April 19, 6:30 PM at St. Francis - Mooresville

Tuesday, April 26, 6:30 PM 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.

Healthy Meals on a Budget

Monday, May 2, 6:30 PM at 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.

Exercise Tips for Your Heart

Monday, April 4 at 6:30 PM at St. Francis – Mooresville

Wednesday, May 18, 6:30 PM at St. Francis Heart Center

If you can’t find time to exercise or aren’t sure what the best exercise is for you, this class is for you. Discover that exercise can be healthy and fun. Learn how to set up a schedule for yourself.

Super Shopping

Wednesday, April 20 at 6:30 PM at the Heart Center

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. Two classes are in the grocery store at Meijer while the third class is in the classroom.

Healthy Eating

Wednesday, April 6, 6:30 PM at the Heart Center

Wednesday, May 4, 6:30 PM at the Heart Center

Diet’s don’t work! Learn about healthy lifestyles in this class. 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

Monday, April 11, 6:30 PM at St. Francis – Mooresville

Thursday, April 14, 6:30 PM at the Heart Center

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

Reduce Stress

Tuesday, April 5, 6:30 PM at Heart Center

Tuesday, May 10, 6:30 PM 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 how to improve your health.

St. Francis Health ortho surgeon explains arthritis, joint replacement in Carmel

CARMEL, Ind. – Hip, knee or shoulder pain shouldn’t keep people from leading active and rewarding lives – and Franciscan St. Francis Health wants to show you how.

The St. Francis “Road Show” will be coming to town at 6:30 p.m., Wednesday, May 4, at the Ritz Charles, 12156 N. Meridian St. In the spotlight is a free hip and knee replacement seminar. A light buffet will be served at 6 p.m.

Jeff Pierson, M.D., 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.

Pierson is a surgeon with the Center for Hip & Knee Surgery at St. Francis Health–Mooresville. The Center has been ranked No. 1 in Indiana for joint surgery five years in a row by HealthGrades, one of the nation’s premier health-care rating companies.

To register for this seminar, call St. Francis toll-free at 1-877-888-1777.

More information about the Center for Hip & Knee Surgery is at stfrancishospitals.org. Click the link in the center section of the home page.

St. Francis Health nurses offer extraordinary compassion in difficult situations

Monica Lee

INDIANAPOLIS – Two registered nurses at Franciscan St. Francis Health have been praised by patients and peers for above-and-beyond the call in care giving.

To that end, Beech Grove registered nurses Monica Lee and Traci Welsh have been named the March 2011 recipients of the hospital’s DAISY Awards.

Lee, who works in the oncology unit, was nominated by a colleague and family member of a former patient, respectively. The latter wrote: “Monica was extraordinary in caring for my uncle and her compassion helped everyone in his family be more comfortable and at peace through a difficult situation.”

Lee’s fellow nurse commented: “She clearly is a favorite nurse among our patients as well as being a strong clinician. Although in the infancy of her career as a nurse, she is a true professional and motivates our team.”

Welsh was nominated by a former patient, who had been hospitalized on her unit three times over the last four years.

“I have never met a nurse with her level of professionalism she showed to me and her fellow nurses,” the patient wrote. “She was never in a hurry when she came to my room to tend to me.”

The DAISY Award was established by the DAISY Foundation in memory of J. Patrick Barnes who died at 33 an auto-immune disease. His family was so impressed by the clinical skills, caring and compassion of the nurses who cared for him that they created this national award to say “thank you” to nurses everywhere. For more information, go to

www.daisyfoundation.org.

To learn more about nursing careers and programs at St. Francis, go to www.stfrancishospitals.org/nursing.

TRACI WELSH

St. Francis Medical Group appoints permanent clinical chief

INDIANAPOLIS – Paul E. Driscoll, M.D., has been selected as medical director for St. Francis Medical Group (SFMG). He had been serving in that position on an interim basis for several months.

Driscoll, who will oversee clinical operations of the 140-member group, joins SFMG President Isaac J. Myers II, M.D. in the leadership role.

Board-certified in family medicine, Driscoll has been affiliated with Franciscan St. Francis Health in many capacities since 1980, after completing his residency with the hospital. He has been in practice with Beech Grove Family Medicine since 1987 and a member of SFMG since 1994.

Driscoll, who chairs the St. Francis’ Department of Family Medicine, formerly was vice chair of SFMG’s Board of Managers and the hospital’s Physician IT Committee.

A U.S. Air Force veteran, Driscoll has chaired the Family Medicine Department on two occasions and served on the Board of Directors for St. Francis Health Network for several years.

A graduate of the University of Maryland School of Medicine, he has earned several academic and professional honors, including his selection as a Fellow with the American Academy of Family Physicians.

SFMG physicians offer a variety of primary care and specialty care services and all practice at Franciscan St. Francis Health facilities.

To learn more about St. Francis Medical Group, go to http://www.stfrancisdoctors.org/.

St. Francis cancer program earns stellar rating from American Cancer Society

INDIANAPOLIS – Franciscan St. Francis Health has received the 2010 Silver Five-Star Investor Award from the American Cancer Society (ACS), Great Lakes Division, Inc.

The award come by way of the society’s Workplace Solutions program, which recognizes work sites and employers who are active in fighting cancer on multiple fronts through the ACS programs and services.

To earn recognition as a Five-Star Investor, work sites must participate in a variety of ACS initiatives. The St. Francis Cancer Center is responsible for carrying the initiatives. Among the criteria to receive the award:

• Provide education and referrals to ACS
• Offer employee health plan for cancer care, including cancer screenings adhering to ACS guidelines
• Have tobacco-free worksite polices and offer tobacco cessation programs
• Encourage voluntarism with ACS

To learn more about services at St. Francis Cancer Center, go to http://stfrancishospitals.org/cancer.