Franciscan St. Francis Health recognized for quality clinical outcomes

Report says hospitals also rank high nationally in patient safety, patient experience

INDIANAPOLIS – Franciscan St. Francis Health’s hospitals in Indianapolis and Mooresville have been recognized for clinical excellence by Healthgrades, an online resource which helps consumers search, compare and connect with physicians and hospitals.

Specifically, the two Franciscan St. Francis hospitals were lauded for patient safety and with both facilities ranking among the Top 5 percent in the Nation for Patient Safety, according to Healthgrades. 

 

Franciscan St. Francis in Indianapolis was also recently announced as recipient of the Healthgrades Distinguished Hospital Award for Clinical Excellence for the 3^rd consecutive year (2012-2014), placing the hospital among the Top 5 percent of hospitals in the nation for overall care.  Franciscan St. Francis in Indianapolis is also the only hospital in Indiana recognized by Healthgrades as a national leader for Overall Clinical Excellence, Patient Safety, and Patient Experience. 

This achievement and other new findings in American Hospital Quality Outcomes 2014: Healthgrades Report to the Nation, which evaluates hospital performance at more than 4,500 hospitals nationwide for 31 of the most common inpatient procedures and conditions.

“Our physicians, surgeons, nurses and support staff continually work to improve clinical processes while using their extensive knowledge, experience and skills to ensure better outcomes and superior care for our patients,” said Robert. J. Brody, president and chief executive officer for Franciscan St. Francis. “Their hard work has resulted in this national recognition.”

The new report highlights the disparity in hospital performance for specific conditions and procedures and the impact that this variation may have on health outcomes. For example, from 2010-2012, if all hospitals as a group, performed similarly to hospitals receiving 5-stars as a group, on average 234,252 lives could potentially have been saved and 157,418 complications could potentially have been avoided.

A 5-star rating indicates that Franciscan St. Francis Health’s hospitals achieved clinical outcomes that are better than expected when treating the condition or conducting the procedure being evaluated.

 “As American policy-makers focus more intently on ways to lower healthcare costs and improve quality, patients are being asked to assume more responsibility for their healthcare decisions – from selection of their health plan to the associated network of physicians and hospitals,” said Evan Marks, executive vice president of strategy and informatics. “Since all hospitals do not perform equally in all procedures, patients can have confidence that by selecting a physician associated with a hospital that has achieved recognition by Healthgrades, they can potentially improve outcomes and reduce costs.”

Franciscan St. Francis Health’s achievement comes in the wake of other accolades from Healthgrades.

Last October, the Indianapolis and Mooresville hospitals were recognized for clinical excellence in a variety of patient care and medical specialties and rated among the nation’s top 5 percent for clinical outcomes in Cardiac Services. Read more here.

More information on the American Hospital Quality Outcomes 2014: Healthgrades Report to the Nation, including the complete methodology, can be found at www.healthgrades.com/quality.

Franciscan Alliance Foundation St. Francis Health appoints new board members

INDIANAPOLIS – The Board of Directors of Franciscan Alliance Foundation St. Francis Health has announced its election of new members to leadership positions for 2014.

The board appointed Steven J. Beck, managing director of Geneva Capital Group, as chair for a third consecutive year. Brian Biehn, president and CEO of Van Valer HVAC-Plumbing-Electrical, was appointed vice chair and Michael Combs, bank officer and market manager for National Bank of Indianapolis was appointed secretary.

Both Biehn and Combs joined the foundation board in 2013, along with Tom Spencer, president of Meridian Management Corp.

“Franciscan Alliance Foundation St. Francis Health is fortunate to have such leadership, talent and devotion to our mission,” said Robert J. Brody, president and CEO of Franciscan St. Francis Health. “The Foundation is well positioned to bring increased resources to the hospital to advance innovative projects to improve patient care.”

Franciscan Alliance Foundation St. Francis Health is a not-for-profit, philanthropic organization established in 1995 for the purpose of raising funds in support of the programs and services provided by Franciscan St. Francis Health.

New physician establishes new practice with Rehabilitation Specialists

INDIANAPOLIS – Sachin A. Mehta, MD, has joined Franciscan Physician Network Rehabilitation Specialists.

Board-certified in physical medicine and rehabilitation, he most recently served as medical director of the brain injury, post-concussive syndrome and rehabilitation programs at Marianjoy Medical Group, Wheaton, Ill.

Dr. Mehta holds memberships with the International Brain Injury Association, American Association of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, Association of Academic Physiatrists, American Medical Association and International Spine Intervention Society.  He has been published widely in professional and academic journals.

He received an undergraduate degree in biology at Lehigh University (Pennsylvania) and earned his medical degree from the Indiana University School of Medicine, where he completed a residency in physical medicine and rehabilitation. He also completed an internship at Riverside Methodist Hospital in Ohio.

At Rehabilitation Specialists, Dr. Mehta specializes in providing nonsurgical treatments for disorders associated with disability with a focus on improving function and quality of life and decreasing pain. The practice is located at 8051 S. Emerson Ave., Suite 250, on the Franciscan St. Francis Health Indianapolis campus.

To make an appointment with Dr. Mehta, call 317-528-8494.

Franciscan Physician Network is a multidisciplinary group of physicians throughout central Indiana. These physicians offer a variety of primary care and specialty care services and all practice at Franciscan St. Francis Health.

To learn more about Franciscan Physician Network, visit FranciscanDocs.org.

Mooresville funeral home’s Facebook ‘likes’ benefits Hospice House project

MOORESVILLE, Ind.  – End-of-life care is an emotional and deeply personal odyssey for patients and their families, who often find themselves strapped to find the desired resources needed to comfortably complete life’s journey. They will soon have a new place to turn to for the support they need at the Franciscan St. Francis Hospice House in Indianapolis.

That project has just received another boost from Carlisle Branson Funeral Service & Crematory of Mooresville. In its quest to reach 1,000 followers on its Facebook site, the funeral home will donate $1 for every “like” it registers to the Hospice House campaign from now until Valentine’s Day.

“We appreciate Carlisle Branson’s willingness to help us with our project,” said Greg Williamson, executive director for Franciscan Alliance Foundation St. Francis Health. “The Hospice House complements the exceptional hospice and palliative care services we have provided to thousands of families in south-central Indiana for more than 20 years.”

Foundation officials last fall plans to break ground on the facility later this spring. It will be located on the Franciscan St. Francis Health campus, 8111 S. Emerson Ave.

To learn more about the Hospice House and to view images, click here.

Franciscan Alliance Foundation St. Francis Health is a not-for-profit, philanthropic organization established in 1995 for the purpose of raising funds in support of the programs and services provided by Franciscan St. Francis Health.

Temporary visitor restrictions announced as flu cases surge

Temporary policy goes into effect Jan. 22, other measures bolstered

INDIANAPOLIS – With the escalation of H1N1 flu-related cases being reported nationally and at hospitals and other medical offices throughout Indiana, Franciscan St. Francis Health is working closely with the Marion County Health Department and Indianapolis Coalition for Patient Safety.

To lower the risk of exposure to our patients, employees and visitors, Franciscan St. Francis and other Indianapolis-area hospitals will implement a temporary visitor policy and take other proactive measures at our hospitals at Indianapolis, Mooresville and Carmel, effective Wednesday, Jan. 22.

Visitor restriction action plan

Our action plan includes:

Tier 1 Visitor Policy (least restrictive)

·         Restricting visitation to immediate family as identified by patient and patient’s designated support person.

·         Restricting visitors under 18 years of age who are not seeking medical care or are parents of pediatric patients.

·         Restricting those with symptoms suggestive of influenza.

There have been some questions about what constitutes immediate family members. They are specifically defined as: Only parents (including those under the age of 18) and step-parents, grandparents, spouses and domestic partners, and including pastoral/spiritual care staff and the patient’s designated support person. The only exceptions to the policy are special cases, such as visiting with patients where death may be imminent.

Other measures Franciscan St. Francis Hospitals will take:

·         Display signage describing visitation policy to public.

·         Ensure that all access points are well stocked with disposable masks and hand sanitizers.