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.

Franciscan St. Francis Health nurses honored with DAISY awards

INDIANAPOLIS – Franciscan St. Francis Health has two nurses whose acts of compassionate care and joyful service has sewn seeds of gratitude among their patients and colleagues.

For Bret Stevens and Mandy Watkins, nursing is far more than a career. It’s a calling that goes above and beyond the call of duty.

Stevens, an emergency department nurse at the Mooresville campus, was nominated by a co-worker for being far more than a great nurse and co-worker.

 “Bret stepped in, took control of the situation and cared for a little girl like a father would,” commented a co-worker.  “He was loving, patient, gentle and kind with her, and it was truly touching to see someone care about a patient so much. You might say he was a little girl’s guardian angel.”

Watkins, a critical care unit nurse at the Indianapolis campus, was nominated by a patient’s family member who wanted to offer her sincere thanks to Mandy.

“I found nurse Mandy to be an extremely competent, thorough, highly-trained, personable and caring individual,” said the patient’s family member, who nominated Watkins. “At age 67, I have never seen such complete care at any prior time in my life. It was as if it was an honor for her to serve my family.”

The DAISY Award for Extraordinary Nurses is a national program that honors the compassionate care and clinical excellence that our Franciscan St. Francis nurses bring to their patients every day.

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 Franciscan St. Francis, go to www.stfrancishospitals.org/nursing.

St. Francis Health-Mooresville offers free screenings for peripheral arterial disease

MOORESVILLE, IND – If you have poor circulation in your legs, causing pain when you walk or stand, it could be a sign of peripheral arterial disease (PAD), a condition that puts you at high risk for heart disease and stroke.

Franciscan St. Francis Health is again participating in Legs for Life, a free screening program for PAD. The screening will be 7:30 to 11 a.m., Saturday, April 20, at Franciscan St. Francis Health-Mooresville, 1201 Hadley Road, Indianapolis.

To qualify for the free screening, participants must be 50 or older, not currently under the care of a cardiologist or vascular surgeon and must not have attended a screening during the past four years unless their symptoms have changed.

Symptoms of PAD include:

• Leg or hip pain when walking but stops when resting
• Numbness, tingling or weakness in legs
• Burning or aching pain in feet or toes when resting
• Sore on leg or foot that won’t heal
• Cold legs or feet
• Color change in skin of legs or feet
• Loss of hair on legs

Registration is required. The screening takes about 15 minutes and includes a personal consultation with a physician or health care professional. To make an appointment, call 317-782-4422, or toll free at 877-888-1777.

Franciscan St. Francis Weight Loss Center employee to appear on ABC’s Katie Couric show March 25

Misty Wallace shared her story with an Indianapolis
 Star  reporting/photographry team.

Faith, forgiveness and redemption forge unlikely partnership to assist victims

INDIANAPOLIS – Two teenagers’ lives took drastic turns on that balmy October night in 1992 on the city’s southwest side.

Misty Wallace, a sports-active senior at Decatur High School with aspirations to attend college, was using a pay telephone outside a fast-food restaurant. After she hung up she saw a stranger rapidly moving toward her. Keith Blackburn, a high-school dropout, had only one aspiration at the time – to steal Wallace’s car.

Somehow, it took a deadlier twist.

He shot the 18-year-old in the face and left her for dead on the pavement. Wallace’s car had been idling while she was on the phone, but sputtered and died a few moments before Blackburn slipped behind its wheel. He was unable to restart it so he hopped into the passenger side of a waiting car, commandeered by an accomplice, and sped off into the night.

Wallace was hospitalized for several weeks fighting for her life. She later would go on with her life, having a family, earning certification as a medical assistant and joining the staff at Franciscan St. Francis Weight Loss Center. However, gnawing unanswered questions lingered.

Blackburn eventually was arrested, convicted and incarcerated in the state penitentiary. A few years into his sentence, he was guided and converted to Christianity by a cellmate. Nearly nine years after he pulled the trigger, he left prison with a new mission: to enter the seminary and become a chaplain with the Indiana Department of Corrections.

Wallace’s and Blackburn’s paths would cross again. In a random Facebook search nearly two years ago, Wallace located Blackburn. She eventually composed a message to him. And he wrote back.

Then they met. Eventually, the victim found the capacity to forgive her assailant. And his life was further transformed through her forgiveness.

“I went through all kinds of emotions over the past 20 years, until the past two years,” Wallace said. “I, of course, wanted to know -- ‘why me?  I’m still healing, yet I know I am a better person. Keith making his life changes has made it easier, but I was at a point in my life ready to forgive him.”

Wallace, who resides in Plainfield, Ind., and Blackburn now share their stories together in the program, Bridges to Life, designed to help victims work through their pain. The effort also is geared to inmates to understand more personally the impact of their actions.

Misty Wallace and Keith Blackburn recently sat down with Katie Couric (ABC’s “Katie” show) to discuss her experiences 21-year-long odyssey to find answers to that fateful night. The taped interview tentatively is scheduled to air 3 PM (EST), Monday, March 25 on local ABC affiliate, WRTV-6.

Surgeon gives back so that future orthopedic patients might benefit from care

MOORESVILLE, Ind. – Michael E. Berend, MD, of Franciscan St. Francis Health-Mooresville, understands that his role as a physician means sharing his expertise so that future patients who turn to orthopedic surgeons for care.

He recently was a featured presenter at the inaugural George S.E. Aitken, MD, Lectureship at Duke University on March 12-13. Berend, a Duke graduate and a member of the Franciscan Physician Network, provided a demonstration of partial knee replacement and spoke about “Giving Back to the Community: Life Beyond Duke.”

Berend spent 10 years in the Duke University orthopedic community. He completed medical school there in 1992 and his orthopedic residency in 1998. He spent one year in the Duke Orthopedic Laboratory.

He has been practicing at the Center for Hip and Knee Surgery in Mooresville for the past 14 years, specializing in hip and knee replacement and contributing to the clinical database of more than 35,000 joint replacement procedures.

He launched a biomedical engineering laboratory in Indiana at the Rose-Hulman Institute of Technology in Terre Haute, Ind., modeled after the Duke lab. The Rose-Hulman lab studies the interaction of hip and knee implants with underlying bone.

As a national and international leader in hip and knee reconstruction, Berend has published more than 80 peer reviewed papers and many book chapters. He has trained fellows at the center, many from the Duke Orthopedic Residency Program.

Berend has participated in 13 international joint replacement mission trips with Operation Walk in Cuba, Nicaragua, and Guatemala. He credits his experience at Duke for appreciating the importance of giving back and passing along knowledge and training to the next generation of surgeons. 

With this in mind, he and his brother, Keith, an orthopedic surgeon in Ohio, started the Emily S. Berend Adult Reconstruction Symposium, named after their mother. The symposium is a successful annual event at Duke.

Forecast calls for severe weather safety workshop at St. Francis Health

INDIANAPOLIS – Ever wondered what a funnel cloud looks like, or what cloud patterns might predict for upcoming weather? What about understanding better what you see on radar?

Dave Tucek, warning coordination meteorologist and public information officer for the Indianapolis National Weather Service, will present a Severe Weather Safety Workshop 8 a.m., Wednesday, March 20, in the Indianapolis campus Auditorium.

Tucek will share his experiences as well as information on how to keep yourself and others safe during severe weather. Light refreshments will be available. No registration is required and the event is free and open to the public.

Franciscan St. Francis Health — Indianapolis is located at 8111 S. Emerson Ave. To access the Auditorium, park in Zone 2 and enter Door 6, then follow signs for the auditorium (basement level).

For more information, contact Sarah Richardson at 317-528-7980 or sarah.richardson@franciscanalliance.org.  

Glick Eye Institute at Franciscan St. Francis Health-Mooresville to offer free glaucoma screenings

MOORESVILLE, IND.  -- Often called the “sneak thief of sight” because it slowly causes vision loss, glaucoma can rob a person of sight before a diagnosis is made. To raise awareness of the disease, which can occur without symptoms in up to 50 percent of affected patients, free glaucoma screenings will be offered from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. Saturday, March 16, at the Eugene and Marilyn Glick Eye Institute in the Medical Pavilion at Franciscan St. Francis Health-Mooresville

Ophthalmology residents and medical students from the Eugene and Marilyn Glick Eye Institute at the IU School of Medicine will provide the free glaucoma screenings in the clinic, Suite 103 of the Medical Pavilion, 1001 Hadley Road. The screenings are free and take about five minutes. They are being offered in conjunction with World Glaucoma Week, observed March 10-16 to raise awareness about the second most common form of blindness worldwide.

“Everyone over age 60 is at risk for glaucoma, but the risk is greater for African-Americans over age 40 and for Hispanics,” explained Louis B. Cantor, M.D., chairman of the Department of Ophthalmology at the Glick Eye Institute at the IU School of Medicine. Dr. Cantor, a glaucoma specialist, says everyone should have a baseline eye exam around age 40, the age at which diseases of the aging eye can begin to manifest.

Additional risk factors for glaucoma include:

·         Age

·         Having a family history of glaucoma

·         Having elevated eye pressure

·         Being farsighted or nearsighted

·         Having previous eye injuries

·         Having other health problems such as diabetes

Dr. Cantor says glaucoma can lead to blindness if left untreated; that is why screenings are so important. Patients who are diagnosed in the early stages of the disease often are treated with surgery, eye drops or both. Those treatments might slow or halt progression of the disease and stave off blindness.

“We hope Mooresville area residents will come by for a free screening and visit our new clinic in the Franciscan St. Francis Medical Pavilion,” Dr. Cantor said. “We offer a full range of eye care services at this location, including an optical shop.”

Glaucoma is the second most common cause of blindness worldwide, according to the World Glaucoma Association. It is estimated that 4.5 million people are blind due to glaucoma - this number is expected to rise to 11.2 million by 2020.

The Glick Eye Institute is conducting several research studies to learn more about glaucoma and how the disease and be treated.

Information about the screening and the Glick Eye Institute is available at www.glick.iu.edu; more information about World Glaucoma Week is available at http://www.facebook.com/WGWeek

Franciscan St. Francis Health, Beech Grove Fire Department forge EMS training program

READY TO ROLL: EMT Matt Bennett and Paramedic Linda Rund check in
for Medic 101's first day of service.   Photo courtesy of Beech Grove Fire Dept.

BEECH GROVE, Ind. – Time is of the essence when emergency medical care is needed – and this community’s needs will be better served thanks to a partnership between Franciscan St. Francis Health and the Beech Grove Fire Department (BGFD).

A new preceptor program, “Medic 101,” broadens the clinical experience of Emergency Medical Technician and Paramedic students undergoing training through the hospital’s Emergency Medical Services Education Department.

“The preceptor program will provide the city of Beech Grove with an additional ambulance during peak demand times, and because the ambulance is staffed by St. Francis employees, the students experience continuity of hospital mission, vision, and high quality education in the field,” said Vicki Rush, EMS education coordinator for Franciscan St. Francis. “Adding this new service in Beech Grove demonstrates our continuing commitment to serve this community’s health care needs.”

The ambulance is a fully operational at the advanced life support level and provides emergency care just like any other ambulance; Medic 101 has its own primary response area within Beech Grove and the surrounding community, working alongside the Indianapolis Fire Department and Indianapolis Emergency Medical Services.

Franciscan St. Francis long has partnered with area EMS and fire departments to provide clinical experiences for the hospital’s EMT and Paramedic students.

“It affords our education program an opportunity to exceed the accreditation requirements regarding preceptors and field education. In the end this results in excellent patient care and provides a focus on customer service,” Rush said.

Employees were hired in one of two capacities: Preceptors are Paramedics who function as clinical educators for students and provide primary patient care. Vehicle operators are EMTs who are responsible for the safe and competent operation of the ambulance and its equipment. They also provide patient care as needed. 

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.

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

Treatment optionsfor atrial fibrillation (A-fib)

Thursday, March 7 at 6:00 p.m.

Decatur County Memorial Hospital

720 N. Lincoln St.  Greensburg

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 Vijay Rao, MD will discuss the current medical and surgical treatments for atrial fibrillation and who should be treated.

CoronaryCalcium Scoring – identifying cardiac risk

Thursday, March 14 at 6:30 p.m.

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

Coronary arteries can become blocked with calcium-containing plaque that can cause heart attacks.  Coronary calcium scoring is a high-tech way of detecting calcium build-up in the arteries and identifies your risk for heart disease. Ryan Daly, MD, will describe this test and answer your questions about other heart attack risk factors.  A special screening offer will be made to those who attend the class.

Is my blood pressure too high?

Wednesday, March 27, 6:30 p.m.

Franciscan St. Francis Health–Mooresville, 1201 Hadley Road

Do you know what your blood pressure is? Do you know what it should be? New guidelines recommend aiming for below 120/80, ideally 115/70. Learn how high blood pressure affects not only the heart but also other vital organs. Irwin Labin, MD, will share steps you can take to lower your blood pressure, including diet, weight loss, exercise and medication. No more excuses: learn how you can lower pressure starting today, with the advantages lasting a lifetime.

Do you have a heart murmur?

Wednesday, May 15 at 6:30 p.m.

UnaVie Cardiology Center, 2451 Intelliplex Dr.  Shelbyville

Heart murmurs are caused by valves inside the heart that don’t close properly. Sometimes, people can live with heart murmurs a long time without any symptoms. But if the problem becomes more serious, the blood flow to the heart may be affected. Cardiovascular surgeon Marc Gerdisch, MD, an independent physician who chooses to practice at Franciscan St. Francis, will talk about new treatments and surgeries for heart valves, including ongoing research studies at Franciscan St. Francis Health.

Change of Heart classes: Spring 2013

Cooking for 2

Thursday, March 21, 6:30 p.m. at Franciscan St. Francis Heart Center

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. 

Fitness Tips

Thursday, March 28, 6:30 p.m. at Franciscan St. Francis Heart Center

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.

Healthy Dining Out Tips

Tuesday, March 12, 6:30 p.m. at Franciscan St. Francis 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 Eating Starts Here

Wednesday, March 6, 6:30 p.m. at Franciscan St. Francis Heart Center

Tuesday, March 19, 6:30 p.m. at Franciscan St. Francis–Mooresville

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 Meals on a Budget

Wednesday, March 20, 6:30 p.m. at Franciscan St. Francis Heart Center

Tuesday, March 26, 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.

Savvy Shopping

Wednesday, March 13, 6:30 p.m. at Southport Meijer

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. 

Franciscan Physician Network cardiac nurse saluted as ‘Health Care Hero’ by IBJ

Jean Hafley (front, wearing red) is congratulated on her award by IHP's (from left: Carolyn
 Smith and Drs. Harry Genovely, Mark Jones, Michael Barron and Polly Moore.

INDIANAPOLIS – Jean Hafley, LPN, is among the recipients honored as Health Care Heroes by the Indianapolis Business Journal for her commitment to patient care and long-time nursing career at Franciscan PhysicianNetwork Indiana Heart Physicians (IHP).

Hafley was the winner in the “non-physician” category and was recognized for her crusading work as an advocate for heart failure patients and their families.

The IBJ’s 2013 Health Care Heroes Awards breakfast was held earlier today (March 1) at the Conrad. This annual program recognizes individuals and organizations in the health care industry that make significant strides in health care improving the health and well-being of the community. 

She came to IHP in 2001 and began growing the services of the Heart Failure Care Clinic under the directorship of cardiologists specializing in heart failure. 

“Her commitment to the clinic is endless. Jean devotes large amounts of time to teaching patients and families about their new and chronic diagnosis of heart failure,” said Mary Benjamin, practice operations executive at Franciscan Physician Network. “Throughout the day she teaches about nutrition, salt restrictions and learning to manage the diagnosis. She can also be found lending an ear or a consoling shoulder to emotional family members coping with end-of-life issues.”

Hafley began her career as a volunteer “Candy Striper” and later earned her license practical nurse certification. She worked in the area of geriatrics and later joined Franciscan St. Francis Health as a bedside nurse. She then shifted to the outpatient setting working at the first heart failure clinic in Indiana within the cardiology practice of John C. Bailey, MD. 

“Hours after the office has closed for the day, Jean is often at her desk making phone calls,” Benjamin noted in her nomination letter for Hafley. “She checks to see how patients are feeling and making sure they are compliant with their medications. She has a genuine interest in their care, and patients feel as if Jean is a part of their extended family.”

Hafley’s recognition is not the first time a Franciscan staff member has been Health Care Heroes limelight. Click here to see who those recipients were.