Former Sagamore chief appointed VP of managed care contracting

INDIANAPOLIS – Gregory Yust has been named as vice president of managed care contracting at St. Francis Hospital & Health Centers.

He is responsible for coordinating managed care contracting efforts and payor relationships for the collective network of 13 hospitals in Indiana and Illinois owned and operated by the Sisters of St. Francis Health Services, Inc.

Yust comes to St. Francis from Sagamore Health Network, Inc., where he served as president and chief executive officer from 1997 until last January. At Sagamore, he headed the second largest managed care network in the state and was responsible for the long-range strategic planning and positioning of the company in the health-care marketplace.

“Greg established strong fiscal controls and ensured sound operational management that resulted in effective managed care services and products at Sagamore,” said Jay R. Brehm, executive vice president and regional chief financial officer at St. Francis. “He brings great insight and experience to his new role at St. Francis.”

From 1987 to 1997, Yust was vice president of managed care services at St. Vincent Hospital. He coordinated activities with medical staff representation and was responsible for developing the St. Vincent Care Management Organization.

Prior to that, Yust worked at Riverview Hospital in Noblesville as a controller, responsible for maintaining the hospital’s general ledger and associated accounting functions. From 1978 to September 1982, he performed accounting, financial and rate analyses for Blue Cross & Blue Shield of Indiana.

A certified public accountant, Yust earned a bachelor’s degree in accounting from Ball State University. He holds leadership and membership positions with several professional organizations, including the Hospital Financial Management Association.

An Indianapolis resident, Yust is married and has three children.

St. Francis, Johnson Memorial partnership focuses on imaging services

GREENWOOD, Ind. – St. Francis Hospital & Health Centers and Johnson Memorial Hospital, along with Radiology Associates of Indianapolis, have forged a partnership to provide high-quality imaging services to Greenwood and White River Township residents.

The recently established St. Francis-Johnson Memorial Imaging Center partnership was created to meet the growing diagnostic imaging needs in Johnson County and nearby areas with high-quality, clinically advanced care in a convenient and comfortable setting.

Located at 3147 W. Smith Valley Rd., the center offers a full range of radiological services, including computed tomography (CT) scans, magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), ultrasound, X-ray and laboratory services.

The center’s diagnostic testing rooms are designed with patient comfort in mind. The Imaging Center is the first in the state to offer ambient technology. When patients enter the CT scan suite, they can select soothing images that are projected on the walls and ceiling – complete with corresponding sounds.

The center is open Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. and Saturdays 8 a.m. to noon. Call 317-851-2888 to schedule an appointment. Walk-ins are also always welcome.
The facility formerly operated under the name of the St. Francis Imaging Center.

For more information about the St. Francis-Johnson Memorial Imaging Center go to www.stfrancisimagingcenter.com.

Physician brings varied experience to Kendrick Family Practice

MOORESVILLE, Ind. – Halina K. Harding, D.O., has established a practice at Kendrick Family Practice of St. Francis Medical Group.

She joins Gary Midla, D.O., and Donald McMahon, M.D., whose offices are located on the St. Francis Hospital-Mooresville campus.

Harding most recently was director of the Family Practice Residency Program at Westview Hospital and medical director of its Family Practice Training Clinic. She also was affiliated with Speedway Family Physicians.

From 1999 to 2000, she was in practice with Waikea Primary Care in Hilo, Hawaii, where she was involved in a full spectrum of family care, including admissions and intensive care. Prior to then, she held several leadership and clinical appointments with Grandview Hospital and Medical Center in Dayton, Ohio.

Harding earned her doctor of osteopathy at Michigan State University College of Osteopathic Medicine in 1987 and completed her residency at Oakland General Hospital, Madison Heights, Mich. She received her undergraduate degree in biology from Oakland University, Rochester, Mich.

Harding is certified by the American Osteopathic Board of Family Practice.

Kendrick Family Practice is at 1001 Hadley Road, Suite 101, Mooresville. For appointments, call (317) 831-9340.

Nurse assumes manager’s role at St. Francis Weight Loss Center

INDIANAPOLIS – Pamela A. Fugate, R.N., has been appointed manager of the St. Francis Weight Loss Center.

She comes to the center from Cooperative Managed Care Services of Indianapolis, where she was responsible for support nursing staff utilization of government and private health plans. Prior to that, she was a nurse in the emergency department at Community Hospitals of Indianapolis.

Fugate was an advance case manager for Anthem Blue Cross and Blue Shield from 2003 to 2005, and was previously served as director of quality assurance for Community Physicians of Indiana.

Fugate recently earned a master’s in nursing at Anderson University and is expected to complete a master’s in business administration from that institution in May. She received her bachelor’s degree in nursing at the Indiana University School of Nursing and an associate’s in medical assisting at Tampa College in Florida.

She holds memberships in several professional organizations and has received numerous academic and community service honors.

More information about the St. Francis Weight Loss Center and surgical procedures is at www.stfrancishospitals.org/Weightloss.

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.