Support program helps kids handle grief in loss of loved one

INDIANAPOLIS – Consider the caterpillar: It builds a cocoon and remains safe until it transforms and emerges into a new life, one that takes flight.

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. And that’s why Franciscan St. Francis Hospice offers Caterpillar Kids, a support program that offers learning experiences for children ages 5 to 12.

Hospice will offer its Spring Caterpillar Kids six-week program from April 6 to May 11. The workshops, which are free, are from 4:30 to 6 p.m. and run three consecutive Wednesdays with a one-week break, then resume for three additional sessions.

Meetings are at Christ United Methodist Church, 8540 U.S. 31 South, one mile north of Greenwood Park Mall.

“Children do grieve and they may express it differently than adults, but their feelings are as genuine and essential in healing,” said Karla Riggs Norton, spiritual bereavement coordinator. “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.”

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 Karla Riggs Norton at 317-859-2879.

More information about St. Francis Hospice is at www.stfrancishospitals.org/DesktopDefault.aspx?tabid=280.

St. Francis Weight Loss Center receives renewed bariatric surgery accreditation

INDIANAPOLIS – Franciscan St. Francis Health has been re-accredited as a Bariatric Surgery Center of Excellence® by the American Society for Metabolic & Bariatric Surgery.

The Center of Excellence designation recognizes surgical programs with a demonstrated track record of favorable outcomes in bariatric surgery.

“This national accreditation reaffirms the safety, support, quality care and positive outcomes for our patients,” said Jonathan Mandelbaum, M.D., surgical co-director at the St. Francis Weight Loss Center, where more than 1,100 surgical procedures have taken place since its opening in 2002.

The St. Francis Weight Loss Center was first accredited for bariatric surgery in 2007. The center offers comprehensive and compassionate care for individuals who are seeking surgical or physician-monitored solutions for weight control. The program provides a full range of bariatric care services to support patients throughout the entire process, including a thorough preoperative evaluation, free patient support groups, pre- and post-operative counseling, dietary counseling and a long-term follow-up plan to help patients commit to the lifestyle changes needed to achieve and maintain successful results.

The program at Franciscan St. Francis Health provides laparoscopic Roux-en-Y gastric bypass, gastric sleeve and gastric banding procedures to treat obesity by limiting the capacity for food intake.

To earn the designation, the St. Francis Weight Loss Center and Franciscan St. Francis Health underwent a rigorous process during which all aspects of the program’s surgical processes were closely examined and data on health outcomes was collected.

Faced with clinical evidence that the most experienced and best-run bariatric surgery programs have by far the lowest rates of complications, the ASMBS Centers of Excellence® program was created to recognize bariatric surgery centers that perform well and to help surgeons and hospitals continue to improve the quality and safety of care provided.

“Bariatric surgery is a last resort for morbidly obese patients, not a quick fix, and is effective when paired with such life-style changes as diet and exercise,” noted Steven M. Clark, M.D., surgical co-director, adding, “Surgery is just one component of the program. We also provide psychological evaluations, nutritional counseling, support groups and follow-up care that helps patients maintain a healthy lifestyle after surgery.”

Obesity has become a chronic national health issue, with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reporting that 64 percent of all U.S. adults are overweight or obese. Morbid obesity is correlated with life-threatening health conditions including heart disease, high blood pressure and diabetes. Bariatric surgery, when performed correctly, can help obese patients manage and often eliminate these conditions.

Recognized as an extremely serious disease affecting quality of life and increasing the risk of death, morbid obesity is characterized by individuals having a Body Mass Index greater than 40 which equates to about 80 pounds overweight for a female and 100 pounds overweight for a male.

The ASMBS Centers of Excellence® program was created to recognize bariatric surgery centers that perform well and to help surgeons and hospitals continue to improve the quality and safety of care provided.

To learn more about services at the St. Francis Weight Loss Center go to www.stfrancishospitals.org/weightloss.

St. Francis Health Day of Dance measures success with 1,200 busy feet

PLAINFIELD, Ind. – While some moms shared the experience with their daughters, others made it a girlfriends’ day out – and some even came alone. The 600 attending the Franciscan St. Francis Health’s Spirit of Women Day of Dance found all the right moves.

Sarah Fisher, professional race car driver, jump-started the Feb. 19 event into high gear by welcoming participants to the eighth annual Day of Dance sponsored by Franciscan St. Francis. She emceed the event and introduced dance instructors throughout the day.

Participants learned different types of dance ranging from Nia instructed by Robia Cora of Franciscan St. Francis to Zumba instructed by Karem Heath from Capitol Sports Fitness Center to a short warm-up routine by Indiana Pacers cheerleaders, the Pacemates. There also was belly dance, salsa and square dancing.

Although the event, which promotes exercise and healthy living, was targeted to women, men also joined in on the fun. Along with the dancing, free health screenings were offered by Franciscan St. Francis Heart Center.

“This Day of Dance event had significant WOW factors from the number of participants, the stage and our celebrity emcee. It was a spectacular day of dancing, laughter, friendship and fun all in the pursuit of better health and vitality," said Michele Wood, manager of St. Francis’ Spirit of Women program.” “We really enjoyed meeting new people in the community.”

More than 70 hospitals across the country sponsored Day of Dance in February as part of Spirit of Women, a network of hospitals nationwide committed to caring for women. The goal of the event is to offer an exciting and interactive way to get people moving through exercise that is creative, expressive and fun.

2012 Day of Dance is slated for Feb 25, 2012.

St. Francis Health to launch electronic medical records system of Epic proportions

$100 million conversion will improve patient outcomes, reduce paperwork, create more efficiency

INDIANAPOLIS – Franciscan St. Francis Health will implement a new electronic medical records system this weekend (Feb. 25-27) – a move that will more closely integrate patient care for its hospitals and physician practices.

“Health care in the United States is rapidly changing to a system where health care providers will be required to produce much higher quality outcomes using fewer resources, and where collaboration is vital in providing top-notch, efficient patient services,” said Keith Jewell, St. Francis Health’s senior vice president and chief operating officer.

Currently 32 St. Francis Medical Group physician practices and 128 physicians are on the Epic system, giving clinical access to recent patient health histories from more than 120,000 physician practice encounters when patients come to the hospital for care. Additionally, hospital medical records for the last seven years, including 8.4 million lab tests and 1.35 million radiology reports, have been imported into the system.

This technology will reduce paperwork, streamline workflows, reduce the risk of errors and maintain patient confidentiality.

When the transition is complete, the system will offer a single record among primary care and specialty practices through the St. Francis Medical Group, as well as services at St. Francis hospitals in Indianapolis, Beech Grove and Mooresville.

“When our patients arrive at the hospital, we’ll have instant access to their most recent health histories, helping our physicians and clinical staff make the most educated choices for their care,” said David Mandelbaum, M.D., who is leading physicians’ efforts for Epic’s implementation.

This partnership readies St. Francis Health to meet the challenges of health care reform, including a federal mandate to transition to electronic medical record systems.

The Epic electronic medical record system is part of a corporate-wide initiative for the Franciscan Alliance, a network of 13 hospital systems in Indiana and Illinois. St. Francis Health was chosen to lead the conversion a year ago.

Other Franciscan Alliance hospitals in Indiana and Illinois will convert to the electronic medical record system over the next two years. With an estimated cost of more than $100 million, the project is being partially funded through the Federal American Recovery and Reinvestment Act.

The Epic system is one of the most highly regarded electronic tools available in the health-care industry today. Several Epic clients have won the HIMSS Davies Award for their use of EpicCare to help improve patient safety, increase efficiency, and provide more cost-effective health care.

To learn more about the Franciscan St. Francis Health’s adoption of the new medical records system and what it means for patient care, visit stfrancishospitals.org/onechart.

Physician signs aboard newly established Center Grove Internal Medicine

INDIANAPOLIS – James L. Gahimer, M.D., a member of St. Francis Medical Group (SFMG), has established a practice with the newly created Center Grove Internal Medicine.

Board-certified and a Diplomat of the American Board of Internal Medicine, Dr. Gahimer has had previous positions with St. Francis, including the SFMG Physician Council, St. Francis Health Network Professional Services Committee and various clinical and teaching assignments.

He has held academic appointments with the Indiana University School of Medicine, where he completed his residency in internal medicine after earning his medical degree.

He previously served as drug safety consultant with T.L. Care Corp in Beech Grove, IN. Prior to that, he was a medical advisor in global product safety at Eli Lilly and Co.

A resident of Greenwood, Ind., Gahimer has lectured and published on a variety of medical topics.

Center Grove Internal Medicine is located at 362 Meridian Parke Lane, Greenwood. More information about the practice is at www.stfrancishospitals.org/SFMG/DesktopDefault.aspx?tabid=430.

St. Francis Medical Group is comprised of more than 140 primary and specialty care physicians all of whom practice at Franciscan St. Francis Health. To learn more go to www.stfrancisdoctors.org.