St. Francis Heart Center earns echocardiography national accreditation

INDIANAPOLIS – The St. Francis Heart Center has been awarded three-year accreditation with the Intersocietal Commission for the Accreditation of Echocardiography Laboratories (ICAEL).

The rating comes in the wake of an extensive peer-review by ICAEL physicians and sonographers, who evaluated all aspects of echocardiography laboratories and patient outcomes at St. Francis. The accreditation applies to the hospital’s Indianapolis, Beech Grove and Mooresville campuses where the echocardiography procedures are conducted.

The program is spearheaded by cardiologist Richard J. Shea, M.D., and Mary Ellen Stewart, technical director of echocardiography. Shea provided the oversight and medical direction for the St. Francis Medical Group’s accreditation at the Indiana Heart Physicians’ office several years earlier.

Echocardiography is a noninvasive diagnostic procedure that uses ultrasound to study structure and motions of the heart, and used to detect cardiac disease.

“This effort has been under way for nearly two years and is a testament to the quality and scope of the work performed at St. Francis,” said Michael Hertel, executive director of the St. Francis Heart Center. “The accreditation is highly regarded in the health-care industry and a distinguishing program characteristic.”

The ICAEL was incorporated in 1996 in response to the need for standardization and improvement of the quality of echocardiographic laboratories.

To learn more about programs and services at the St. Francis Heart Center, go to www.MyHeartCare.net.

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Temporary closure of Heart Center entrance

Beginning Aug. 2, the St. Francis Heart Center main entrance will temporarily close due to the inpatient construction construction. The Heart Center patient and visitor access will temporarily shift to the Women & Children’s Services entrance, located just south of the Heart Center. Heart Center staff and volunteers will be in the Women & Children’s Services lobby providing directions and assistance.

The entrance closure should only last 45 days or less, and we are working to ensure you continue to have convenient access to the Heart Center.

Parking remains available in both the Heart Center and Women & Children’s parking lots.

(Download a parking map.)

A free shuttle service is offered Monday through Friday from 4:45 a.m. to 9 p.m. To call the shuttle directly, please call 416-8725.

We apologize for any inconvenience the construction may cause and appreciate your cooperation during this time of transition. If you have any questions or concerns, please call 851-1580.

St. Francis surgeon, volunteers honored as ‘Heroes’ by business magazine

INDIANAPOLIS – A St. Francis cardiothoracic surgeon who pioneered the use of new technology to repair inner heart tissue and 10 volunteers who help families that have lost babies have been singled out by the Indianapolis Business Journal as "Health Care Heroes."
That recognition came today (March 5) at a ceremony/breakfast at the Conrad Indianapolis sponsored by IBJ.

Marc Gerdisch, M.D., was the winner in the Advancements in Health Category. He was cited for his work, advancing heart valve surgery through the use of Extracellular Matrix to modify and repair cardiac structures. The CorMatrix ECM is a unique biomaterial that harnesses the body’s innate ability to repair damaged heart tissue. Over time, it is replaced by the patients’ own tissue.

Gerdisch was the first in the world to perform procedures using the ECM inside the human heart. He is director of cardiothoracic surgery at the St. Francis Heart Center, a partner at Cardiac Surgery Associates, and co-director of the St. Francis Heart Valve Center.

Volunteers for the St. Francis Caring Companions program also were selected as finalists in the Volunteer category. They are: Anna Schmitt, Becky Cassenelli, Marian Diaz-Soto, Linzi Horsley, Christine Davis, Shalome Frye, Melanie Collings, Mary Mouradian, Teresa Kirchoff and Julie Jackson.

The purpose of Caring Companions is to support families at the time of miscarriage, stillbirth or newborn death. After becoming trained as certified Resolve Through Sharing caregivers, the women operate on 24-hour call schedule. When they are notified of an infant’s death, one or two Companions arrive at the hospital to provide support to the families sharing with them their own experiences of loss and hope.

The volunteers also help coordinate events that are so important to the ongoing healing process, such as Walk to Remember, Christmas Memorial, Infant Memorial service and Parents' Day.

This year’s recipients join other St. Francis-affiliated employees and programs recognized in the past as IBJ Health Care Heroes:

• John McIntyre, Ph.D. (finalist, 2009 and 2001)
• St. Francis Cord Blood Donation program (finalist, 2008)
• Jan Gaddis, R.N. (winner, 2006)
• Horace "Buzz" Hickman, M.D. (finalist, 2004)
• Carolyn Davis, R.N. (winner, 2002)
• Marcia Jenkins, R.N. (finalist, 2001).

To learn more about Gerdisch’s work visit http://www.cardiactissuerepair.net/. More information about St. Francis Caring Companions is at www.stfrancishospitals.org/women/DesktopDefault.aspx?tabid=103.

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St. Francis Heart Center offers low-cost cardiac risk screenings

INDIANAPOLIS -- Life Line Screening, the leading provider of community-based health screening services in the United States, is working with St. Francis Heart Center to offer important preventive screenings to the community.

These preventive screenings are noninvasive and use ultrasound to test for peripheral vascular disease, carotid artery disease, abdominal aortic aneurysm and osteoporosis. Knowing your risk of any of these conditions can help you and your physician determine what treatments to choose or preventive measures to take to lower your risks.

Upcoming screening dates and locations:

Feb. 2 – 9 a.m., Acton United Methodist Church, 5650 Senour Road, Indianapolis
Feb. 8 – 9 a.m., Souls Harbor Assembly of God, 8434 E State Road 267, Plainfield
Feb. 12- 9 a.m., Rocklane Christian Church, 4430 Rocklane Road, Greenwood
Feb. 16 – 9 a.m., Warren Township Government Center, 501 North Post Road, Suite B, Indianapolis
Feb. 24- 9 a.m., Miller's Senior Living Community, 225 West Harrison Street., Mooresville

The price for all four screenings is $129; individual tests are $45 each. Tests take about 45 minutes to complete and registration is required.

To make an appointment, call toll-free 800-779-6353.To learn more about the services and programs at the St. Francis Heart Center, go to www.stfrancishospitals.org/heart.

Indiana Heart Physicians joins forces with St. Francis Hospital

INDIANAPOLIS – The Indiana Heart Physicians, a leading internationally recognized cardiology practice, will integrate its services with St. Francis Hospital & Health Centers, effective Aug. 3, 2009.

Thirty years of industry-leading cardiac care to the residents of south central Indiana has taken a major step forward with the integration of Indiana Heart Physicians and St. Francis Hospital & Health Centers. This integration harnesses the expertise of both organizations and their ability to offer a wider range of cardiac and vascular services to patients in central Indiana.

“The health-care industry has clearly established the need to better manage our scarce resources and to do so with a continued focus on our customers overall health. This can only be achieved by collaborating across the entire care continuum and avoiding all unnecessary costs not associated with patient care,” said Keith Jewell, St. Francis senior vice president and chief operating officer.

“Fully integrating our organizations enables St. Francis and Indiana Heart Physicians to continue the high quality service customers have come to expect while also investing resources in applying the science and research that is transforming the delivery of cardiac care,” added Robert J. Brody, St. Francis president and chief executive officer.

IHP currently has 23 board-certified physicians specialized in the areas of electrophysiology, echocardiography, nuclear cardiology and interventional cardiology. They are supported by nearly 150 physician assistants, nurses, medical technology staff and support personnel.

“Indiana Heart Physicians has proudly served the south-central Indiana community for over 30 years and being fully integrated with St. Francis will only strengthen our ability to continue to provide the best possible cardiovascular care to the patients we serve,” said Jeff Christie, Indiana Heart Physicians’ managing partner.

IHP was established in 1978 under the direction of H.O. “Buzz” Hickman, M.D. In addition to its long-established relationship with St. Francis, IHP also has affiliations with Morgan Hospital and Medical Center in Martinsville and Major Hospital in Shelbyville.

Last year, nearly 70,000 patients were seen at IHP, including office visits, testing and procedures.

IHP physicians conduct most of their work at the St. Francis Heart Center, located on the Indianapolis hospital’s south campus at Emerson Avenue and Stop 11. The center is the home to the city’s first certified Chest Pain Evaluation Center, Midwest Heart Valve Center, vascular laboratory, and a national training site for catheterization lab procedures, carotid stent placement and endovascular repair.

IHP physicians also developed the landmark Emergency Heart Attack Response Team at the Heart Center, which significantly reduces response times for heart attack patients, improves their outcomes and reduces health care costs. The EHART protocol has received much acclaim in the medical world and has been adopted by hospitals throughout the world.

The hospital/physician integration is seemingly timely and reflects a part of the health care reform proposals being discussed nationally, St. Francis and IHP officials say.

To learn more about the Indiana Heart Physicians, go to www.ihpmd.org. More information about St. Francis Hospital & Health Centers is at www.stfrancishospitals.org.

St. Francis surgeon uses tissue regeneration technology to rebuild patients’ heart structures

INDIANAPOLIS – A surgeon at the St. Francis Heart Center is using a revolutionary technology that allows patients to rebuild their own cardiovascular tissue.
Marc Gerdisch, M.D., is using the CorMatrix Extracellular Matrix (ECM)™ to modify and repair cardiac structures, allowing heart tissue to re-grow inside the beating hearts of heart surgery patients. The CorMatrix ECM is a unique biomaterial that harnesses the body’s innate ability to repair damaged heart tissue. Over time, it is replaced by the patients’ own tissue.

"The use of this biomaterial is a major advancement in cardiac surgery and allows us to provide our patients with restoration of normal anatomic structures. It opens the door to a new level of cardiac tissue reconstruction," said Gerdisch, director of cardiothoracic surgery at the St. Francis Heart Center and a partner at Cardiac Surgery Associates.

In August 2007, Gerdisch, who specializes in complex heart valve surgery, became the first in the world to apply this technology inside the heart, repairing a congenital defect.

"Similar uses of the ECM followed, at our and other institutions," reported Gerdisch, who is co-director of the St. Francis Midwest Heart Valve Center. "Then, in March 2008, we performed the first enlargement of the path blood follows as it exits the heart using the CorMatrix ECM, in lieu of a prosthetic device, for a patient undergoing valve surgery.

The first mitral valve reconstruction using CorMatrix occurred at St Francis Heart Center as well, in October of 2008. Large defects had been created in a patient’s valve by infection. The valve was restored to normal function using CorMatrix patches, avoiding a valve replacement.
"We have been able to make similar repairs for other patients since," added Gerdisch.

The CorMatrix ECM is derived from porcine small intestines and is processed in a way that removes all cells, leaving the complex structural matrix intact. Once surgically implanted, it serves as a scaffold, allowing the patient’s cells to infiltrate and ultimately replace the ECM scaffold.

While the patient continues to heal, the matrix gradually is replaced as the body reinforces and remodels the tissue. In the past, tissue replacement has been limited by options for implantation.

Animal tissue implants are subject to calcium deposition and hardening, due to the body’s ability to recognize them as foreign. Synthetic material lacks the performance characteristics of tissue and causes an inflammatory response. ECM, however, leads to growth of functional tissue where scarring would normally be expected.

More information about how the ECM is being used at St. Francis Hospital & Health Centers is at http://www.cardiactissuerepair.net/.

About St. Francis Heart Center
Referring physicians wanting to learn more about heart valve surgery and Dr. Marc Gerdisch’s work with ECM can call toll-free at 1-866-237-0565. The St. Francis Heart Center is dedicated to providing our patients with the region's most comprehensive heart and vascular services. The commitment of our physicians to the prevention and cure of heart disease has led to innovative care, better outcomes and improved quality of life for patients. St. Francis created the Emergency Heart Attack Response Team protocol, which has revolutionized heart attack treatment in the United States and abroad. St. Francis has the only 24/7 comprehensive heart center in South Central Indiana, providing everything from angioplasty to heart valve repair. For more information, go to www.stfrancishospitals.org/heart.

About St. Francis Hospital & Health CentersSt. Francis Hospital & Health Centers has three main hospitals in Indianapolis, Beech Grove and Mooresville and operates a medical office building in Plainfield. St. Francis Hospital is part of a network of 13 growing hospital campuses in Indiana and Illinois owned and operated by the Mishawaka-based Sisters of St. Francis Health Services Inc., one of the largest health-care systems in Indiana. For more information, go to http://franciscanalliance.org/hospitals/indianapolis.

About CorMatrix® ECM Technology™CorMatrix Cardiovascular holds an exclusive license from Purdue University to research, develop, manufacture and market naturally occurring ECM™ products for cardiovascular applications. The company currently has U.S. clearance and European approval with a CE Mark for its ECM Technology as an implant for pericardial closure, and clearance in the U.S. for use in cardiac tissue repair. For more information, visit http://www.cormatrix.com/.


Media Contacts:
Joe Stuteville-St. Francis 317-782-7986 (office) Joe.Stuteville@ssfhs.org
Becky Soja-CorMatrix Cardiovascular 415-946-1080 (office) Bsoja@wcpglobal.com

St. Francis Hospital earns national recognition for heart failure treatment

INDIANAPOLIS – St. Francis Hospital & Health Centers was recognized for its achievement in implementing the American Heart Association’s/American Stroke Association’s programs to treat coronary artery disease, stroke and heart failure.

St. Francis received the Get With The Guidelines-Heart Failure Bronze Performance Achievement. The recognition also means that St. Francis attained an aggressive goal of treating patients for at least 90 days with 85 percent compliance to the core standard levels outlined by the AHA and American College of Cardiology secondary prevention guidelines for heart failure patients.

“The Get With The Guidelines is a quality improvement initiative that provides hospital staff with tools that follow proven evidence-based guidelines and procedures in caring for heart failure patients and to prevent future hospitalizations,” said Michael Hertel, executive director of the St. Francis Heart Center. “We are honored that our staff has been recognized for this achievement.”

Previously St. Francis received both the bronze and silver awards for its achievements in the area of coronary artery disease (acute myocardial infarction) from the AHA.

According to the GWTG-Heart Failure treatment guidelines, patients are started on aggressive risk reduction therapies such as cholesterol-lowering drugs, beta-blockers, ACE inhibitors, aspirin, diuretics and anticoagulants upon their arrival at the hospital. They also receive tobacco cessation and thyroid management counseling as well as referrals for cardiac rehabilitation before their discharge.

“Full implementation of national heart failure guideline-recommended care is a critical step in preventing recurrent hospitalizations and prolonging the lives of patients,” said Gregg C. Fonarow, M.D., national chairman of the GWTG Steering Committee and director of Ahmanson-UCLA Cardiomyopathy Center. “The goal of our program is to help hospitals like St. Francis implement appropriate evidence-based care and protocols to reduce disability and the number of deaths in these patients.”

According to the AHA, about 300,000 people annually suffer a recurrent heart attack, 5.2 million experience heart failure and 700,000 are stricken by stroke.

To learn more about the services provided at the St. Francis Heart Center, go to www.stfrancishospitals.org/Heart, or www.heartattackcare.org.

Heart Center offers free heart-healthy courses throughout May

NDIANAPOLIS – 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 a cardiovascular disease, such as heart disease, stroke or high blood pressure. St. Francis Heart Center is offering free classes, programs, health fairs and screenings throughout the month of May in an effort to improve the community’s health through education and prevention.

Starting May 4, nine “Change of Heart” and one “Ask the Doc” classes will be offered in the Indianapolis and Mooresville areas. 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, located on the southeast corner of St. Francis Hospital – Indianapolis, 8111 S. Emerson Ave. Attendees will learn from St. Francis health experts about navigating the grocery store for healthy foods, choosing healthy entrées when dining out and many more heart-healthy habits. Each Change of Heart classes and the Ask the Doc program is 1 to 1 ½ hours long

Registration is required. Call 317-782-4422 or register online at StFrancisHospitals.org/heart to start living a heart-healthy life today.
The St. Francis Heart Center offers nationally recognized cardiac care close to where you need it – on Indianapolis’ south side. Built on a 30-year history of cardiac and vascular care, St. Francis Heart Center is south central Indiana’s only full-service cardiovascular center.

See below for a detailed description of each course
Exercise Tips
Monday, May 4, at 6:30 p.m.
St. Francis Hospital – Mooresville, 1201 Hadley Road

Tuesday, May 12, at 6:30 p.m.
St. Francis Heart Center – Community Center, 8111 S. Emerson Ave.

Healthy Eating
Tuesday, May 5, at 6:30 p.m.
St. Francis Heart Center – Community Center, 8111 S. Emerson Ave.

Reduce Stress 102
Wednesday, May 6, at 6:30 p.m.
St. Francis Heart Center – Community Center, 8111 S. Emerson Ave.

Ask the Doc – “What is a Heart Murmur?”
Thursday, May 14, at 6:30 p.m.
St. Francis Hospital – Mooresville, 1201 Hadley Road

Dining Out
Tuesday, May 19, at 6:30 p.m.
St. Francis Hospital – Mooresville, 1201 Hadley Road

Healthy Cooking Tips
Wednesday, May 20, at 6:30 p.m.
St. Francis Heart Center – Community Center, 8111 S. Emerson Ave.

Meatless Cooking
Thursday, May 21, at 6:30 p.m.
St. Francis Heart Center – Community Center, 8111 S. Emerson Ave.

Healthy Shopping Tour
Tuesday, May 27, at 6:30 p.m.
Kroger – 8850 S. Emerson Ave.

Top 10 Nutrition Tips
Thursday, May 28, at 6:30 p.m.
St. Francis Heart Center – Community Center, 8111 S. Emerson Ave.

Change of Heart classes offered by the St. Francis Heart Center

Exercise Tips
Keep Your Ticker in Tip Top Shape! The human heart is a remarkable machine. And like all machines, the more care and maintenance it receives, the longer and better it will function. Incorporating regular exercise and proper diet into your lifestyle and avoiding unnecessary stress will not only keep healthy hearts in fine working order, but can even reverse heart disease. There are lots of little things that you can do every day that your heart will love you for. Learn how to setup a schedule for yourself!

Healthy Eating
For some, diets 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 your body. Do you know how much salt, fiber and sugar are in the foods you buy? This class offers the foundation for the remaining classes in the series.

Reduce Stress 102
Discover just how big an impact stress has on your heart health. Negative stress causes changes in lifestyle and behavior, which may lead to unhealthy behaviors. Managing stress is important to heart health because untreated stress increases other risk factors for heart disease, such as obesity, high blood pressure, high cholesterol, insomnia, depression, smoking and lack of exercise. Learn to identify the causes of stress in your life and how to improve your health! “Reduce Stress 102” is the second class in this series. This class is taught by James Nicolai, M.D., medical director of the Franciscan Center for Integrative Health.

Ask the Doc - “What is a Heart Murmur?”
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. However, if the problem becomes more serious, the blood flow to the heart may be affected. The nationally renowned cardiac surgeon, Marc Gerdisch, M.D., will answer your questions about the different treatment options for heart murmurs. Free valvular echo screening opportunity available if you attend this program.

Dining Out
Restaurant dining has become a way of life for most Americans. It's easy, fun, and a great way to socialize with family and friends. Just because you're following a structured eating plan doesn't mean you can't enjoy a nice meal out once in a while. Controlling calories when dining out is certainly challenging. You just need a little advance planning and some savvy ordering skills to stay on track when you're dining away from home. Learn how to make wise menu selections for a change of heart.

Healthy Cooking Tips
A heart-healthy lifestyle means more than choosing the right foods to eat. It is one of the most important steps for a person with heart disease. It's also important to prepare foods in a healthy way. Proper nutrition is essential to managing symptoms of heart disease and preventing further complications. Not only can proper diet help slow the artery-clogging process, but when combined with careful lifestyle modification, it may even stop or reverse the narrowing of arteries.

Meatless Cooking
Reverse heart disease by eating more! Going meatless just one day a week can lower your risk of heart disease, diabetes, stroke and cancer. Adding more fiber is easy with new products on the market. This class will help you with menu planning and recipes, and you’ll have the chance to sample food prepared during the session.

Healthy Shopping Tour
Shop for the health of it, but don't let the grocery aisles rile you. Does your head spin trying to figure out food labels like no carb, low carb and net carb? Are you confused by claims like no sugar added, light, low and fewer? Does your tongue get twisted trying to pronounce food label ingredients? Deciphering what's good for you doesn't have to raise your blood pressure. The St. Francis Heart Center and Kroger want to help simplify and de-stress the healthy food-buying experience.

Healthy Shopping Tours, led by a registered dietitian and/or certified health educator, help lessen the confusion and frustration experienced by many people who are trying to make healthy choices at the grocery store. Our dietitians and health educators understand how vital it is for you to learn how to choose correctly. Exercise is critical, but your diet determines your ability to lose weight, get fit and be healthy.

Our Top 10 Nutrition Tips
Are you too busy to eat well? Are you at risk for high blood pressure, heart disease, diabetes or prostate issues? Find out about nutrients you may have overlooked and foods associated with reducing risk. Whether you have one risk factor or many risk factors for heart disease, it’s never too late to start looking after your heart. The small changes that you make to your lifestyle and eating habits all add up to big improvements in your heart health, even if you already have some form of heart disease. St. Francis registered dieticians will reveal a top 10 nutrition tips for heart disease prevention.

And the beat goes on: St. Francis doc explains abnormal heart rhythms

INDIANAPOLIS – Ever wonder why some folks feel their heart racing and experience lightheadedness? It’s likely cause is irregular heart rhythms, and that’s the topic for the latest installment in the Ask-the-Doc series sponsored by the St. Francis Heart Center.

Electrophysiologist Robert Kinn, M.D., of Indiana Heart Physicians, will explain atrial fibrillation and other irregular heart rhythms and treatment choices 6:30 p.m., Thursday, Oct. 16. He also will discuss the latest minimally invasive options for patients.

Atrial fibrillation is the most common heart rhythm disturbance, affecting more than 2.3 million Americans.

The class, which is free to the public, will meet in the St. Francis Heart Center’s community center near entrance No. 1, 8111 S. Emerson Ave.

To register or for more information, call 317-782-4422, or go on-line at www.stfrancishospitals.org/heart and go to the “classes & events” link.

Cardiac Screening Center lauded for public health service

INDIANAPOLIS – The Cardiac Screening Center at St. Francis Hospital & Health Centers has been selected to receive the Tony and Mary Hulman Health Achievement Award from the Indiana Public Health Foundation, Inc.

The award, presented annually, is for business and industry in the field of Preventive Medicine and Public Health. The center will be recognized along with other recipients of the Indiana’s Premier Health Awards at a ceremony Thursday, Oct. 2, at the downtown Westin Hotel.

“We are very proud and excited to be the recipient of the Tony and Mary Hulman Health Achievement Award in the field of Preventive Medicine and Public Health,” said screening coordinator Scott Roberts. “Our Cardiac Screening Center has motivated many individuals to make lifestyle modifications to reduce their chances of experiencing cardiac and vascular disease.”

The Cardiac Screening Center, a component of the St. Francis Heart Center, offers a variety of low-cost screening packages to the public, all of which are designed to assess a patient’s risk for heart and vascular disease.

The center’s selection for the award marks the second year in a row that a St. Francis entity has received the Preventive Medicine and Public Health Award. In 2007, the Heart Center’s Emergency Heart Attack Response Team (EHART) was recognized for implementing a protocol that more effectively treats heart attack patients.

Led by Umesh Khot, M.D., a cardiologist with the St. Francis Heart Center and Indiana Heart Physicians, EHART has reduced the time until patients receive lifesaving care after coming to the emergency department with chest pain. Compared to the traditional approaches patients arrive at the cardiac catheterization lab sooner, have less heart damage and shorter hospital stays. In addition, the EHART protocol also reduced the costs of care.

The American Heart Association and the federal government recommend a door-to-balloon time of 90 minutes or less. At St. Francis, EHART has reduced the average door-to-balloon time to just 58 minutes. EHART is so effective that more than 242 hospitals in the United States and around the world have asked St. Francis to share the protocol.
More information about services offered at the Cardiac Screening Center is at www.stfrancishospitals.org/DesktopDefault.aspx?tabid=118.

Details about the Hulman Health Achievement Awards can be found at www.bagsandmorebypam.com.

Study probes lower dose drugs for artificial heart valve patients

INDIANAPOLIS – Chris Connelly was aware he would eventually need surgery to correct a calcified valve in his heart, but what he didn’t suspect was that he might be living on borrowed time.

While attending a recent heart health seminar at St. Francis Hospital & Health Centers, Connelly, a father of three, learned about a new Food and Drug Administration-approved clinical trial under way at the St. Francis Heart Center. He inquired and was accepted into the study.

The study tests the safety and effectiveness of using lower dosages of blood-thinning drugs in conjunction with the On-X heart valve, a device manufactured by On-X Life Technololgies of Austin, Texas.

The study is conducted by Cardiac Surgery Associates (CSA ) at St. Francis and other major heart centers nationally. The 33-year-old Connelly received an On-X valve and uses a home monitoring device to help control the anticoagulant therapy he is receiving.

“The On-X valve could become the first mechanical heart valve approved for use with lower doses of anticoagulants such as Coumadin (warfarin) or even antiplatelet therapy (aspirin and Plavix) alone,” said investigator Marc Gerdisch, M.D., CSA medical director and director of cardio-thoracic surgery at St. Francis Heart Center.

“Ultimately, this means a better quality of life for our patients,” Gerdisch added.

Anticoagulants are used to slow down or stop the formation of blood clots. When a prosthetic device replaces the native tissue cardiac valve, it introduces foreign material into the blood stream, which can stimulate clotting. Mechanical heart valves have been around for years but require lifetime coagulation therapy at high dosages.

Biologic tissue valves do not require anticoagulants, but typically require replacement after 8-15 years and therefore another operation.

What makes the On-X unique is its carbon-based material coating combined with superb blood flow performance and an innovative hinge design, allowing the device to perform more like a normal tissue valve.

Candidates seeking the requirements to participate in the study can call 317-851-2582.

To learn more about the services and programs at the St. Francis Heart Center, go to www.stfrancishospitals.org/Heart.

The sound and potential fury: Heart murmurs explained at free seminar

INDIANAPOLIS – That low whispering inside some human hearts may speak volumes about a person’s health.

At an upcoming “Ask the Doc” program sponsored by the St. Francis Heart Center on Tuesday, Sept. 30, cardiothoracic surgeon Marc Gerdisch, M.D., will explain why it is important to understand how heart valves cause murmurs and when it’s time to seek treatment. Gerdisch is the Medical Director of Cardiac Surgery Associates in Indianapolis.

Valves inside the heart that do not open or close properly cause heart murmurs. People can live with heart murmurs a long time without any symptoms. In fact, the heart can suffer considerable damage from heart valve disease, before symptoms become noticeable. Heart failure may result from longstanding or sudden onset of valve disease.

“A heart murmur does not necessarily signal a problem. Many murmurs are harmless. However, their relationship to the heart valves needs to be understood and frequently, they require follow-up to ensure that heart continues to function normally,” says Gerdisch, director of Cardio-thoracic Surgery at St. Francis Heart Center.

“Imaging the heart with sound waves, allows us to monitor the impact of valve disease on the heart and therefore treat it at the right time,” Gerdisch said. “There has been considerable innovation in heart valve treatment, including our ability to repair valves instead of replace them.”

The free, hour-long program starts at 6:30 p.m. at Greenwood Public Library, 310 S. Meridian St. To register, call 317-782-4422.

To learn more about the services and programs at the St. Francis Heart Center, go to www.stfrancishospitals.org/Heart.

Heart Center offers free heart-healthy courses throughout September

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 a cardiovascular disease, such as heart disease, stroke or high blood pressure. St. Francis Heart Center is offering free classes throughout the month of September in an effort to improve the community’s health through education and prevention.

Starting Sept. 2, nine free “Change of Heart” classes will be offered in the Indianapolis and Mooresville areas. Several of the classes will be held at the St. Francis Heart Center’s Community Center, located on the southeast corner of St. Francis Hospital – Indianapolis, 8111 S. Emerson Ave. Attendees will learn from St. Francis health experts about navigating the grocery store for healthy foods, choosing healthy entrées when dining out and many more heart-healthy habits. Each Change of Heart class is 1 to 1 ½ hours long.

Registration is required. Call 317-782-4422 or register online at StFrancisHospitals.org/heart to start living a heart-healthy life today.

The St. Francis Heart Center offers nationally recognized cardiac care close to where you need it – on Indianapolis’ south side. Built on a 30-year history of cardiac and vascular care, St. Francis Heart Center is south central Indiana’s only full-service cardiovascular center.

Change of Heart Class Schedule
See below for a detailed description of each course
Healthy Eating
Tuesday, September 2, at 6:30 p.m.
St. Francis Heart Center – Community Center, 8111 S. Emerson Ave,

Thursday, September 18, at 6:30 p.m.
St. Francis Hospital – Mooresville, 1201 Hadley Rd.

Reduce Stress
Wednesday, September 3, at 6:30 p.m.
St. Francis Heart Center – Community Center, 8111 S. Emerson Ave.

Healthy Cooking Tips
Tuesday, September 9, at 6:30 p.m.
St. Francis Heart Center – Community Center, 8111 S. Emerson Ave.

Dining Out
Thursday, September 11, at 6:30 p.m.
St. Francis Heart Center – Community Center, 8111 S. Emerson Ave.

Healthy Shopping Tour
Tuesday, September 16, at 6:30 p.m.
Kroger – Madison, 5911 Madison & Edgewood avenues

Meatless Cooking
Wednesday, September 24, at 6:30 p.m.
St. Francis Heart Center – Community Center, 8111 S. Emerson Ave.

Exercise Tips
Thursday, September 25, at 6:30 p.m.
St. Francis Heart Center – Community Center, 8111 S. Emerson Avenue

Detailed Descriptions for Change of Heart Classes offered by the St. Francis Heart Center

Healthy Eating
For some, diets 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 your body. Do you know how much salt, fiber and sugar are in the foods you buy? This class offers the foundation for the remaining classes in the series.
Reduce Stress
Discover just how big an impact stress has on your heart health. Negative stress causes changes in lifestyle and behavior, which may lead to unhealthy behaviors. Managing stress is important to heart health because untreated stress increases other risk factors for heart disease, such as obesity, high blood pressure, high cholesterol, insomnia, depression, smoking and lack of exercise. Learn to identify the causes of stress in your life and how to improve your health! “Reduce Stress 102” is the second class in this series. Both classes are taught by James Nicolai, M.D., medical director of the Franciscan Center for Integrative Health.

Healthy Cooking Tips
A heart-healthy lifestyle means more than choosing the right foods to eat. It is one of the most important steps for a person with heart disease. It's also important to prepare foods in a healthy way. Proper nutrition is essential to managing symptoms of heart disease and preventing further complications. Not only can a proper diet help slow the artery-clogging process, but when combined with careful lifestyle modification, it may even stop or reverse the narrowing of arteries.

Dining Out
Restaurant dining has become a way of life for most Americans. It's easy, fun, and a great way to socialize with family and friends. Just because you're following a structured eating plan doesn't mean you can't enjoy a nice meal out once in a while. Controlling calories when dining out is certainly challenging. You just need a little advance planning and some savvy ordering skills to stay on track when you're dining away from home. Learn how to make wise menu selections for a change of heart.

Healthy Shopping Tour
Shop for the health of it, but don't let the grocery aisles rile you. Does your head spin trying to figure out food labels like no carb, low carb and net carb? Are you confused by claims like no sugar added, light, low and fewer? Does your tongue get twisted trying to pronounce food label ingredients? Deciphering what's good for you doesn't have to raise your blood pressure. The St. Francis Heart Center and Kroger want to help simplify and de-stress the healthy food-buying experience.

Healthy Shopping Tours, led by a registered dietitian and/or certified health educator, help lessen the confusion and frustration experienced by many people who are trying to make healthy choices at the grocery store. Our dietitians and health educators understand how vital it is for you to learn how to choose correctly. Exercise is critical, but your diet determines your ability to lose weight, get fit and be healthy.

Meatless Cooking
Reverse heart disease by eating more! Going meatless just one day a week can lower your risk of heart disease, diabetes, stroke and cancer. Adding more fiber is easy with new products on the market. This class will help you with menu planning and recipes, and you’ll have the chance to sample food prepared during the session.

Exercise Tips
Keep Your Ticker in Tip Top Shape! The human heart is a remarkable machine. And like all machines, the more care and maintenance it receives, the longer and better it will function. Incorporating regular exercise and proper diet into your lifestyle and avoiding unnecessary stress will not only keep healthy hearts in fine working order, but can even reverse heart disease. There are lots of little things that you can do every day that your heart will love you for. Learn how to setup a schedule for yourself!

John W. Moore III joins Indiana Heart Physicians at St. Francis

INDIANAPOLIS – John “Trey” W. Moore III, M.D., has established a practice at the Indiana Heart Physicians at St. Francis Hospital & Health Centers.

Moore is board-certified in internal medicine and cardiovascular disease by the American Board of Internal Medicine and currently is in the process of completing certification in clinical cardiac electrophysiology.

He has privileges at St. Francis hospitals in Indianapolis, Beech Grove and Mooresville, and has courtesy privileges at Morgan County Hospital in Martinsville and William S. Major Hospital in Shelbyville.

Moore comes to St. Francis after completing cardiology and clinical cardiac electrophysiology fellowships at the University of Pittsburgh. He also completed a residency at the Indiana University School of Medicine, where he received his medical degree in 2000 and his undergraduate degree in physics in 1996.

He holds professional memberships in the American College of Cardiology, American Heart Association and the American Medical Association.

The Indiana Heart Physicians has served the residents of south central Indiana with the highest quality cardiovascular care since 1978. To learn more about IHP and its physicians and services, go to www.ihpmd.com

St. Francis Hospital participates in unique heart recovery clinical trial

INDIANAPOLIS – Heart attack patients and others with coronary conditions may benefit from a catheter-based pump device being evaluated in a clinical trial now under way at St. Francis Hospital & Health Centers.

The device is the Impella 2.5, developed by the Massachusetts-based Abiomed Inc. St. Francis is one of the few medical facilities to participate in the PROTECT II trial, the second Food and Drug Administration-approved trial for prophylactic preventive use of the device during non-emergent high-risk coronary intervention procedures.

“We are please to participate in the pivotal PROTECT II trial and we look forward to improving the treatment of high-risk patients,” said principal investigator William J. Berg, M.D., of the Indiana Heart Physicians and St. Francis Heart Center. “The Impella offers physicians a minimally invasive breakthrough technology in cardiac treatment and we’re excited to further demonstrate its effectiveness in this secondary trial.”

The current trial follows Abiomed’s previous PROTECT I trial, which yielded successful results for the ease-of-use and safety of the device, according to company officials.

The Impella 2.5, the world's smallest ventricular assist device (VAD), provides patients with up to 2.5 liters of blood flow per minute. It’s been used to treat more than 1,000 patients in Europe who have had heart attacks and cardiogenic shock, a condition in which a weakened heart cannot pump enough blood to meet the body’s needs.

The trial was approved earlier this year by institutional review board, which oversees all clinical investigations conducted at St. Francis Hospital & Health Centers.

To be eligible for the study, patients must have a left main lesion, only one remaining vessel open, or have triple vessel disease. They also must have a low ejection fraction (below 30 percent or 35 percent, depending on their other qualifying traits).

For more information about the trial, contact Kathy Lawson at 317-851-2582.

More details about the Abiomed’s Impella 2.5 device can be found at www.abiomed.com/products/impella.cfm.

The St. Francis Heart Center is a state-of-the-art facility and the only full-service cardiac and vascular care program on Indianapolis’ south side. For more information about its services go to www.stfrancishospitals.org/Heart.

Editors/Reporters: Still images and DVD B-roll are available

St. Francis cardiologist explains heart valves, murmurs, May 27

MOORESVILLE, Ind. – Have you or a family member been diagnosed with a heart murmur? Are you unsure about what that means?

At an upcoming “Ask the Doc” program sponsored by the St. Francis Heart Center on Tuesday, May 27, cardiothoracic surgeon Marc Gerdisch, M.D., will explain why it is important to understand how heart valves may cause murmurs and when it’s time to seek treatment.

Gerdisch is the medical director of Cardiac Surgery Associates in Indianapolis.

Heart murmurs are caused by valves inside the heart that do not 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.

Surgery, including heart valve repairs and valve replacement, can correct the condition and prevent heart failure.

The free, hour-long program starts at 6:30 p.m. at Swisher Center, St. Francis Hospital-Mooresville, 1201 Hadley Rd. To register, call 317-782-4422.

Nationally known expert on tap for Heart Center talk, April 9

INDIANAPOLIS – One of the nations’s leading experts on lifestyle modification and cardiovascular disease is the featured speaker of the Change of Heart program, sponsored by the St. Francis Heart Center.

Barry A. Franklin, Ph.D., director of Cardiac Rehabilitation at William Beaumont Hospital in Royal Oak, Mich., will discuss the effective ways people can incorporate exercise into their daily lives. He’s the co-author of Take a Load Off Your Heart and host of a national public television special bearing the same title.

Franklin, who earned a doctoral degree in physiology from Pennsylvania State University, will give his presentation at 7 p.m., Wednesday, April 9, at the St. Francis Heart Center’s Community Center, located at 8111 S. Emerson Ave., Entrance No. 1.

To register for the class, call 317-782-4422.

The Change of Heart class series is designed to teach heart-healthy habits and lifestyle changes. Class series are offered in the spring and fall and limited class selections in the summer.

St. Francis Heart Center offers low-cost cardiac, vascular and bone screenings

INDIANAPOLIS -- The St. Francis Heart Center is sponsoring LifeLine Screening for adults in March and April at several south-side locations.

These preventive screenings are noninvasive and use ultrasound to test for four conditions:

Peripheral artery disease, sometimes known as hardening of the arteries, is a blockage of the arteries that supply blood to the arms and legs. PAD—sometimes referred to as peripheral vascular disease, may lead to loss of limbs and may be an indicator of further cardiovascular problems.

Carotid artery disease occurs when there is a blockage in the arteries in the neck that supply blood to the brain. Carotid artery disease is the No. 1 cause of stroke, a leading cause of disability and death in the U.S.

Abdominal aortic aneurysm (AAA) is an enlargement in the lining of the artery that leads from the heart to the lower abdomen. Rupture of an AAA often results in sudden death.

Osteoporosis causes bones to weaken and become brittle and can lead to fractures. Usually, osteoporosis develops when you have low levels of calcium and other minerals in your bones.

Screenings dates and locations are:

March 20: Knights of Columbus, 695 Pushville Road, Greenwood
April 4: Ritter Avenue Free Methodist Church, 1645 N. Ritter Ave., Indianapolis
April 25: Grace Assembly of God, 6822 North U.S. 31, Whiteland

The price for all four screenings is $129. Individual tests are $45 each. Tests take about 45 minutes to complete.

Registration is required for these valuable screenings. To make an appointment, call toll-free at 1-800-324-1851.

Midwest Heart Valve Center offers unique, full spectrum of care to patients

INDIANAPOLIS – Research shows that if a person with a heart valve condition is followed on a regular basis by a specialist, treatment can prevent damage to the heart.

That’s the thrust behind the newly established Midwest Heart Valve Center – the only center in central Indiana where all the patients’ needs are met for heart valve disease, with specially trained physicians and staff experienced in the diagnosis, treatment, repair and replacement of heart valves.

The center pools the expertise of physicians at the St. Francis Heart Center, in collaboration with Indiana Heart Physicians and Cardiac Surgery Associates. The center’s day-to-day team is A. O. Akinwande, M.D.; Marc W. Gerdisch, M.D.; Mark A. Jones, M.D.; Monica Khot, M.D.; Umesh Khot, M.D., Irwin Labin, M.D.; Richard Shea, M.D.; Nicola Francalancia, M.D.; and Manesh Parikshak, M.D.

Valves are leaflets in the heart that allow for proper blood flow between heart chambers. Heart valve disease occurs when a valve either fails to open properly or fails to close completely. The sounds created by these abnormalities are commonly referred to as “murmurs.”

Services at the center include a multidisciplinary clinic at Indiana Heart, offering echocardiography, evaluation by heart valve specialists, patient education, and dental recommendations. Each patient leaves with a personalized care plan.

The American College of Cardiology Guidelines for Heart Valve Disease makes it clear that patients should be referred for repair of the mitral valve instead of replacement whenever possible.

St. Francis has ensured that people have access to these life extending treatments. Repair is the most frequently performed mitral valve surgery at St Francis.

According to St. Francis medical experts, it is easier to replace the valve, but when a person has a valve replacement, they have to deal with the long term risks of the replacement, including stroke, lifelong anti-coagulation for mechanical valves and valve deterioration for biologic valves. When surgery is timed properly and the valve is repaired, these issues are avoided and the person can be restored to a normal life expectancy.

Valve disease can cause damage to the heart before a person notices any symptoms. It is important that anyone with a valve that does not function normally is followed appropriately. The Midwest Heart Valve Center provides patients ongoing follow-up and care plan adjustments to ensure that their hearts remain healthy.

More information about the Midwest Heart Valve Center is at www.stfrancishospitals.org/heart. Those interested also can call toll-free, 1-877-788-2583.

St. Francis Heart Center surgeon uses ‘cool’ laser to treat arterial blockages

INDIANAPOLIS – A patient with severe peripheral artery disease has been successfully treated with a new minimally invasive procedure performed for the first time at the St. Francis Heart Center.

Cardiologist William J. Berg, M.D., recently performed the laser ablation procedure using a device developed by Spectranetics, a Colorado Springs-based manufacturer of cardiovascular treatment equipment.

Laser ablation is a procedure that eliminates blockages within peripheral arteries in a patient’s legs. It uses an excimer, or "cool" laser that produces pulsed bursts of light energy transmitted along flexible glass fibers encased in catheters. The device is easily passed through arteries and veins.

Light energy is then focused on the blockages and vaporizes them into tiny particles that are absorbed into the bloodstream. The procedure restores blood flow, thus saving limbs and improving patients’ overall health.

In contrast to the long recovery time required after bypass surgery, this new procedure is performed within one to two hours, followed by up to two days for recovery.

"Patients experience very little, if any, discomfort during the procedure," said Berg, a physician with Indiana Heart Physicians at St. Francis.

PAD is a cardiovascular disease that restricts or blocks blood flow in the legs. Arterial blockages, or hardening of the arteries, occur when plaque, thrombus or calcium builds up along artery walls. If left untreated it can lead to sores that do not heal, or heal slowly, potentially resulting in gangrene and amputation.

Those suffering from PAD are at increased risk for heart disease, aortic aneurysms and stroke. It’s estimated that 75 percent of people with PAD are currently undiagnosed.

More information about services available at the St. Francis Heart Center is at www.stfrancishospitals.org/Heart.

Information about Spectranetics is at www.spectranetics.com.