St. Francis Health-Mooresville selected as training site for prestigious orthopedics group

MOORESVILLE, Ind. – The Center for Hip & Knee Surgery at Franciscan St. Francis Health-Mooresville has been chosen as one of 13 training sites for The Hip Society’s 2013 Rothman-Ranawat Traveling Fellowship.

According to The Hip Society, the fellowship “fosters emerging thought-leaders” in orthopedics throughout the world and provides them “with an inspirational tour of state-of-the-art facilities offering exemplary surgical care of the hip joint throughout North America.”

Other sites include Rush University Medical Center in Chicago; Mayo Clinic, Rochester, Minn.; Hospital for Special Surgery, New York, N.Y.; the Rothman Institute, Philadelphia; and Massachusetts General Hospital in Boston.

The four fellows visiting the 13 sites will be at the Mooresville hospital April 3–4. They are Gregory Deirmengian, MD, of the Rothman Institute; Sumon Nandi, MD of New England Baptist Hospital in Boston; Henry Wynn Jones, MD, of Wrightington, Wigan and Leigh, NHS Foundation Trust, Wigan, Lancanshire, England; and Guoqiang Zhang, MD, Chinese PLA General Hospital, Beijing, China.

Founded in 1968, The Hip Society is a professional association dedicated to the pursuit of new knowledge and dissemination of advancements in clinical practice related to disorders of the hip. Society membership includes only a select group of approximately the top 100 surgeons in the United States in their respective fields.

John B. Meding, MD, and Michael E. Berend, MD, of the Center for Hip & Knee Surgery are current Hip Society members.

Grieving youth learn coping skills through Franciscan St. Francis Hospice program

INDIANAPOLIS – 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.

That’s why Franciscan St. Francis Hospice offers Caterpillar Kids, a support program that offers learning experiences for children ages 5 to 12.

“Children do grieve and they may express it differently than adults, but their feelings are as genuine and essential in healing,” said spiritual bereavement counselor Karla Riggs Norton. “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.”

St. Francis Hospice will offer its autumn Caterpillar Kids program Wednesdays, April 10, 17, 24, and May 1, 8 and 15. The free workshops meet 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.

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 317-528-2092 or 800-390-9915.

Free hearty healthy classes offered by Franciscan St. Francis Health experts

INDIANAPOLIS – Prevention is the key to lowering your chances of developing a cardiovascular disease, such as heart disease, stroke or high blood pressure.

That’s why Franciscan St. Francis Heart Center is offering free “Ask-the-Doc” and “Change of Heart” classes this spring with the goal of improving the community’s health through education and prevention. Ask the Doc programs are presented by dedicated team of independent and Franciscan St. Francis Health physicians. 

To register for these classes call 317-782-4422 or toll-free at 877-888-1777, or by visiting www.MyHeartCare.net.

How to protect yourself from stroke

Thursday, April 11, 6:30 p.m.

Franciscan St. Francis Heart Center (8111 S. Emerson Ave.)

Presented by Andrew Barksdale, MD

Dr. Barksdale 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 at a later date.

Why does it hurt to walk?

Wednesday, April 17 at 6:30 p.m.

Franciscan St. Francis Heart Center

Presented by Saeed Shaikh, MD

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. Shaikh, specializing in peripheral vascular disease, 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 following the talk.

Change of Heart classes offered in Spring 2013

Healthy Eating Starts Here

Tuesday, April 2, 6:30 p.m. at Franciscan St. Francis Heart Center

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!

Where’s the flavor?

Wednesday, April 3, 6:30 p.m. at Franciscan St. Francis – Mooresville

Tuesday, April 9, 6:30 p.m. at Franciscan St. Francis Heart Center

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

Fitness Tips

Monday, April 8, 6:30 p.m. at Franciscan St. Francis – Mooresville (1201 Hadley Road

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.

Savvy Shopping

Monday, April 15, 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.

Reduce Stress

Tuesday, April 16, 6:30 p.m. at Franciscan St. Francis Heart Center

Monday, April 29, 6:30 p.m. at Franciscan St. Francis – Mooresville

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!

Meatless Cooking Tips

Thursday, April 18, 6:30 p.m. at Franciscan St. Francis Heart Center

Reverse heart disease by eating more!  Adding more fiber and 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 Dining Out Tips

Wednesday, April 24, 6:30 p.m. at Franciscan St. Francis – Mooresville

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.

Quick meals at home

Tuesday, April 30, 6:30 p.m. at Franciscan St. Francis Heart Center

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.

Better outcomes for arthritic patients focus of St. Francis Health-sponsored seminar

INDIANAPOLIS – Physicians and other clinicians are poised to participate in the Joint Replacement Symposium: Evaluation and Treatment of the Arthritic Patient, sponsored by Franciscan St. Francis Health Center for Hip & Knee Surgery.

The conference will be held from 7:30 a.m. to 4 p.m., Wednesday, April 10, at the JW Marriott, 10 S. West St. in downtown Indianapolis.

The symposium offers an opportunity for physicians, nurses and allied health professionals to discuss and explore integrated approaches to the care and treatment of their patients with osteoarthritis. The goal of this event is to help foster the best experience possible for arthritic patients.

Renowned fellowship-trained orthopedic surgeons, who are members of Franciscan Physician Network, will focus on the latest developments in arthritis diagnosis and treatment — sharing their experience and research over the 27-year history of the Center for Hip & Knee Replacement. With more than 35,000 patients, the center has access to one of the largest joint-related databases in the world.

The Center today is recognized globally for its exceptional surgical outcomes, comprehensive patient follow-up, leading-edge research and technology development that have improved the quality of life for patients around the world.

The conference will explore current approaches in the diagnosis, treatment and management of arthritis. Topics will include: physical exam of the arthritic hip and knee; X-ray and MRI evaluation of hip and knee disease; non-operative management of arthritis (pills, shots, gels); surgical care of hip and knee osteoarthritis, including partial and total knee, and hip replacement techniques and outcomes; and research in total joint replacement, and many others.

The fee for the symposium is $50. To register or for more information, contact Marty Spitz at 317-834-9539 or martin.spitz@franciscanalliance.org.

Franciscan St. Francis Cancer Center symposium focuses on total patient care

Trump ‘Apprentice’ regular and writer/actor on tap for motivation presentations

INDIANAPOLIS –  From diagnosis to post-therapy care, a patient with cancer faces a daunting obstacle course of challenges and options. Orchestrating a comprehensive plan of treatment is paramount.

A fully integrated approach – including research leading to new treatments – is what experts at the Franciscan St. Francis Cancer Center have been forging with others in the medical community. And that is the impetus behind the 3rd annual Oncology Symposium, Friday, April 26.

“It’s vital to enhance the partnership between primary care and oncology practitioners,” said program moderator Peter Garrett, MD, the Center’s medical director and chair of the hospital’s Cancer Committee. “The symposium offers an opportunity for primary care physicians, nurses, oncologists and allied health professionals to discuss and explore integrated approaches to improving patient outcomes.”

Among the speakers and their topics that day:

·         Ben Tsai, MD, KendrickColon & Rectal Center – Advancements in colorectal surgery and research

·         Tim O’Donnell, MD, Franciscan Physician Network Plainfield Sports and Family Medicine – Integrative/complementary medicine and the effectiveness of treating cancer patients

·         Brian Sperl, MD, Indianapolis Gastroenterology and Hepatology – Advanced treatment of Barrett’s Esophagus

·         Luke Akard, MD, Indiana Blood and Marrow Transplantation – Treatment regimens for blood-related cancers

·         Eric Rubenstein, MD, and Sarah Ali, MD - Franciscan Physician Network Oncology & Hematology Specialists – Unraveling the cancer genome and how research can lead to new and effective therapies

·         Erika Rager, MD, Franciscan Physician Network Breast Specialists, and David Moore, MD, Franciscan Physician Network Gynecologic Oncology Specialists – Maintaining wellness and well-being after the diagnoses of female cancers

·         Nadeem Ikhlaque, MD, Franciscan Physician Network Oncology & Hematology Specialists, and Faisal Khan, MD, Center for Respiratory and Sleep Medicine – Advances in lung cancer evaluation and treatment

·         Michael Murphy, MD, Indiana Skin Cancer Center – The latest advances in the prevention, diagnosis and treatment of all types of skin cancer

Two other non-clinical speakers also are on deck to make presentations. Bill Rancic, the original Donald Trump Apprentice and co-host of Style Network’s Guiliana and Bill, will explain how he and his wife (Giuliana) coped with her experience with breast cancer.

Actor/comedian Mack Dryden , former staff writer for ABC’s Politically Incorrect with Bill Maher, will take a light-hearted approach in discussing topics ranging from his survival of cancer to his “terrifying stay” in an overseas prison.

To learn more about services and programs at Franciscan St. Francis Cancer Center, go to www.FranciscanStFrancis.org/cancer.