Franciscan St. Francis Health appoints director for Emergency Services

INDIANAPOLIS – India J. Taylor Owens, R.N., has been selected as director Emergency Services at Franciscan St. Francis Health.

In that role, she is responsible for overall operations at the hospital’s emergency departments at Indianapolis, Beech Grove and Mooresville.

Owens most recently served as director for emergency services and emergency medical services operations at Indiana University Health West Medical Center in Avon. She has held related positions with hospitals in Hancock and Shelby counties, in addition to other nursing clinical specialties.

She received an associate’s degree in nursing at Indiana University (IU) and bachelor’s in nursing at Indiana Wesleyan University (IWU). Owens also earned a master’s of science in nursing administration at IU.

A resident of Fairland, she has been published in various professional journals.

Certified as a nurse executive and as an emergency nurse, she has held various academic appointments at the University of Indianapolis and currently is adjunct faculty at IWU. She also was the 2010 recipient of the Indianapolis Star Nurse of the Year Advancement of Nursing Award.

Owens has memberships in several professional organizations, including Sigma Theta Tau Alpha, Emergency Nurses Association (state and local chapters) and the Indiana State Nurses Association.

St. Francis Hospital appoints new director of Emergency Services

INDIANAPOLIS –Jason Kaufman, R.N., has been appointed director of Emergency Services at St. Francis Hospital & Health Centers.

Kaufman has worked in the emergency field at St. Francis for more than 13 years. In his new duties, he is responsible for the services at its Indianapolis and Beech Grove hospitals.

He most recently served as unit manager at the hospital’s Mooresville emergency department. He also was core triage educator of more than 200 emergency registered nurses at St. Francis’ three hospitals.

The Emergency Department at Mooresville far exceeded the predicted number of patients using its services when opened Oct.1, 2008. More than 31,300 patients visited the ED in its first year of operation – nearly twice what was originally projected.

A U.S. Air Force veteran, Kaufman earned his bachelor’s of science in nursing at Indiana University.

St. Francis Hospital-Mooresville opens Emergency Department Oct. 1

Hospital meets a critical need for residents in Mooresville and the surrounding areas

MOORESVILLE, Ind. – Whether it’s a sick child in the middle of the night, a serious sports injury or a sudden severe health issue, it’s important that high-quality emergency care is available nearby.

For residents in Mooresville and the surrounding areas, that service is now offered at the St. Francis Hospital – Mooresville Emergency Department, open Wednesday, at 8 a.m. Oct. 1.

The new Emergency Department is located near the campus’ main entrance at 1201 Hadley Road, adjacent to the hospital’s PromptMed urgent care facility, which treats about 20,000 patients a year.

The Emergency Department is staffed by 22 board-certified emergency physicians from Emergency Physicians of Indianapolis, several specialty physicians, three in-house hospitalists who facilitate patient admissions, and nurses trained in acute care and trauma situations. The new department features state-of-the-art equipment and includes 14 treatment rooms, two acute care rooms and a community room for emergency medical services professionals.

Emergency Department physicians and medical staff have access to wireless communication technology and bedside charting for improved caregiver communication and efficiency. The department is conveniently located near Radiology Services and the Intensive Care Unit.

The new Emergency Department also is an access point for St. Francis’ renowned Emergency Heart Attack Response Team (EHART) approach to cardiac care. The more quickly a patient showing signs of a heart attack is admitted into the hospital’s cardiac catheterization lab for treatment, the better the chances are for survival. EHART dramatically improves the hospital’s door-to- intervention time, which can mean a significant improvement in heart attack outcomes.

The opening of the Emergency Department is perhaps the community’s most highly anticipated element of the hospital’s recent $42 million expansion. In April of this year, the hospital opened:

• A new 34-bed orthopaedic inpatient unit;
• A 26-bed adult medical-surgical inpatient unit;
• An eight-bed Intensive Care Unit;
• Six new operating rooms with the latest in surgical technology, including a high-tech video and photography system in every operating room and laminar airflow and ultraviolet light technology for sterilization, which is critical in preventing infection;
• A new laboratory;
• An on-site office for Indiana Heart Physicians for expanded cardiac services; and
• An expanded main lobby gallery, which offers a coffee bar and gift shop.

With the expansion, the hospital grew from 258,000 square feet to nearly 400,000 square feet.

“The opening of the Emergency Department, which completes our recent major expansion, is the continuation of an eight-year investment in this hospital to address the health care needs of the growing northern Morgan, Hendricks and southwestern Marion counties,” said Robert J. Brody, president and chief executive officer, St. Francis Hospital & Health Centers. “It is our goal and mission to offer the best health care available right in this community, so the large number of area residents who have been leaving Morgan County to receive medical services get the care they need close to home.”

The Emergency Department is open 24 hours a day, seven days a week. PromptMed hours are 11 a.m. to 7 p.m.

St. Francis Hospital-Mooresville unveils its largest-ever campus expansion

New inpatient building is project’s highlight; Emergency Department prepares for fall opening

MOORESVILLE, IND. – Those who travel State Road 67 have noticed a significant change to the appearance of St. Francis Hospital-Mooresville over the past two years. The hospital, originally known as a renowned specialty hospital is completing its transition to a full-service community hospital with its largest-ever campus expansion. The new space will be open to patients on Monday, April 21.

As part of the $42 million expansion, the hospital adds a 34-bed orthopaedic inpatient unit, a 26-bed adult medical-surgical inpatient unit, an eight-bed Intensive Care Unit, six new operating rooms, a new laboratory and an on-site office for Indiana Heart Physicians for expanded cardiac services.

The hospital’s now larger main lobby gallery also features a coffee bar and gift shop. In total, the hospital has grown from 258,000 square feet to nearly 400,000 square feet during this expansion.

"Although St. Francis Hospital-Mooresville has been in a growth mode for the past several years, the completion of this stage of construction is the most significant to our patients because it will greatly enhance both health care services offered and the patient’s hospital experience," said Robert J. Brody, president and chief executive officer, St. Francis Hospital & Health Centers. "And what’s exciting is there are more enhancements to come.

"The expansion is the continuation of an eight-year investment in this hospital to address the health care needs of the growing northern Morgan, Hendricks and southwestern Marion counties," Brody added. "Our goal with this expansion is to offer the best health care available right in this community, so the large number of area residents who have been leaving Morgan County to receive medical services get the care they need close to home."

Enhancing the inpatient experience with modern private rooms
The new orthopaedic and adult inpatient nursing units offer private patient rooms, modern conveniences and the latest technology for patients and the medical team.

"Patients deserve and expect modern and peaceful environments during their hospital stay," said Keith Jewell, senior vice president and chief operating officer, St. Francis Hospital & Health Centers. "Our new private patient rooms were designed with both patients and their family members in mind, as we know that the support of loved ones is critical during the recovery process."

Each inpatient room is equipped with two flat-screen televisions, a sofa that converts to a bed for an overnight guest, a desk and wireless Internet connectivity. Additionally, careful consideration was given to the views from patient rooms, and two large rooftop gardens are visible from many of the rooms to help promote a healing environment.

Physicians and medical staff have access to wireless communication technology and bedside charting for improved caregiver communication and efficiency. Patient care stations are located outside patient rooms in addition to centralized nursing stations, enabling physicians and nurses to perform their responsibilities closer to the patient.

The hospital’s current inpatient units will be converted into a convent for the Sisters of St. Francis. The building that formerly housed the hospital’s operating rooms will be demolished this summer to create additional parking for the new medical office building that is under construction.

Offering the latest surgical technology
Six new surgery suites offer the latest in surgical technology, including a high-tech video and photography system in every operating room. The system is used for viewing X-rays during surgery; printing or copying photos to a CD, flash drive or to patients’ charts for later reference; and for teaching demonstrations and information-sharing with other physicians.

Additionally, the operating rooms are equipped with laminar airflow and ultraviolet light technology for sterilization, which is critical in preventing infection.

Planning continues for hospital’s future Emergency Department
A major piece of the hospital’s expansion is the development of an Emergency Department, scheduled to open in October 2008. St. Francis Hospital-Mooresville continues to recruit the full complement of physicians, specialists and nurses required to staff the future full-service Emergency Department.

‘We realize community members are eagerly awaiting the opening of our Emergency Department later this year," Jewell said. "Residents who live in northern Morgan County currently have to travel more than 15 miles to receive emergency services. When St. Francis Hospital-Mooresville’s Emergency Department opens later this year, it will provide community members high-quality emergency care close to home, as well as peace of mind."

The hospital continues to offer high-quality urgent care services through PromptMed, which treated almost 20,000 patients in 2007.

Hosting a grand opening celebration for community members
On Saturday, April 19, community residents are invited to St. Francis Hospital-Mooresville, located at 1201 Hadley Road, from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. for a sneak preview community health event. Attendees will have the opportunity to tour the new facility before it officially opens to patients and participate in nearly a dozen health screenings and demonstrations. The event will be held in the new main lobby gallery and inpatient building. The event is free and open to the public. Shuttle service is available.

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