International surgeons to learn from Franciscan St. Francis Health ortho experts

MOORESVILLE, Ind. – An international panel of orthopedic surgeons is coming to Franciscan St. Francis Health-Mooresville to observe and discuss advancements made in knee replacement surgery and therapies.

They will be learning the latest techniques in knee replacement surgery from physicians who are members of Franciscan Physician Network Joint Replacement Surgeons, the practice group affiliated with the Center for Hip & Knee Surgery at the Mooresville campus.

Four international candidates selected for the John N. Insall Travelling Fellowship, sponsored by The Knee Society, will visit the hospital Oct. 22-24. They are

Duncan Jacks, MD., Royal Jubilee Hospital, Victoria, British Columbia, Canada; Mislav Jelic, MD, Clinical Hospital Center Zagreb, University of Zagreb, Zagreb, Croatia; Jianhao Lin, MD, Peking University People’s Hospital, Beijing, China; and Fabio Orozco, MD, Rothman Institute, Thomas Jefferson University Hospital, Philadelphia.

“Members of this prestigious group were selected for their surgical skills and research, and we are honored to host them at our center to learn about the work we perform,” said Michael Berend, MD, an orthopedic surgeon with the center, a Knee Society member and an Insall Fellow himself in 2004. “To be one of only 10 centers in the world to host the fellowship is a great honor for us. We hope to share with them many of the latest surgical techniques we have developed at the center.”

Other Knee Society members at the Mooresville center are Drs. John B. Meding, Philip M. Faris and E. Michael Keating. The center’s Robert Malinzak, MD, was chosen as an Insall fellow last year.

The Mooresville center is recognized in the United States and the world as a premier center for joint replacement surgery.

For more information about the Center for Hip & Knee Surgery, visit centerforhipandkneesurgery.org. 

Hospice House will be only comprehensive inpatient facility on Indy’s south side

 Fundraising milestone enables groundbreaking at Franciscan St. Francis Health-Indianapolis

INDIANAPOLIS – End-of-life care is an emotional and deeply personal odyssey for patients and their families, who often find themselves strapped to find the desired resources needed to comfortably complete life’s journey. They will soon have a new place to turn to for the support they need.

A long-awaited milestone was reached at the 46^TH annual Chrysanthemum Ball (Sept. 28) hosted by Franciscan St. Francis Health, when it announced a significant funding goal had been achieved so that it might move forward with its Hospice House project.

“For the last two years we have aggressively ramped up our campaign to build a free-standing hospice facility, complementing the exceptional home hospice and palliative care services that we have provided for more than two decades to 4,000 families in south-central Indiana,” said Robert J. Brody, president and chief executive officer for Franciscan St. Francis. “Tonight, I am pleased to share with you that thanks to the matching dollars from Franciscan Alliance we now have sufficient funds to break ground on Hospice House in spring 2014.”

Brody also praised hospital employees and physicians for their contributions, which amounted to nearly $3 million given the match, provided by the Mishawaka, Ind.-based Franciscan Alliance.

“As one of our core values states, ‘The gift of life is so valued that each person is cared for with such joy, respect, dignity, fairness and compassion so that he or she is aware of being loved’,” said Sister Jane Marie Klein, OSF, chairperson of Franciscan Alliance Board of Trustees, who was present for the announcement. “Whether nursing a patient back to health or caring for them through the dying process – our system carries on Christ’s healing and teaching ministries.”

Franciscan values and its mission certainly have fueled the Hospice House project.

“Continuing Christ’s ministry in our Franciscan tradition is the overarching purpose of the Franciscan Alliance Foundation,” said Sister Aline Shultz, OSF, vice president of development, marketing and public relations for Franciscan Alliance. “Achieving this fundraising goal is a testament to our commitment to finish the campaign in its entirety and to serve patients and families in a way consistent with our values.”

Total gifts, pledges and matching funds are propelling the campaign to its estimated $12 million total cost. Campaign leaders added that much work remains on raising the final $3 million to cover all the costs of construction and to establish a small endowment to sustain Hospice House well into the future.

“This is a night to celebrate because without you there would be no Hospice House,” said Steven J. Beck, who chairs Franciscan Alliance Foundation St. Francis Health. “But with your support, hundreds of families for whom hospice care in the home is not an option, will now receive compassionate end-of-life care in a peaceful, comfortable residential setting.”

CHAPEL

COMMON AREA FOR FAMILIES

PATIENT ROOM

PRAYER GARDEN

Surgeon explains orthopedic, joint replacement therapies Oct. 24

PLAINFIELD, Ind. – You can overcome hip and knee pain and get back to leading an active and rewarding life — and Franciscan St. Francis Health wants to show you how.

Franciscan St. Francis Health will present an arthritis and hip and knee replacement seminar at 6:30 p.m., Thursday, Oct. 24, at The Palms (formerly Primo West), 2353 E. Perry Road, Plainfield. Light refreshments will be served, beginning at 6 p.m.

Philip Faris, M.D., will explain the latest procedures in joint replacement and arthritis treatments. He is a board-certified orthopedic surgeon specializing in adult reconstructive surgery and joint replacement.

Faris is a surgeon with Franciscan Physician Network Joint Replacement Surgeons, the practice group affiliated with the Center for Hip & Knee Surgery at St. Francis Health–Mooresville, recognized in the United States and the world as a premier center for joint replacement surgery..

To register for this seminar, call Franciscan St. Francis toll-free at 1-877-888-1777.

More information about the Center for Hip & Knee Surgery is at CenterForHipAndKneeSurgery.org.

Senior Promise health fair offers variety of services, resources at Oct. 4 event

An estimated 600 people attend each annual Fall Health Festival, the
 largest event of its kind geared for seniors.

INDIANAPOLIS – Senior Promise is hosting its 20^th annual Fall Health Festival, Friday, Oct. 4, at The Atrium Banquet Hall, 3143 E. Thompson Road.

The annual event, which is from 9 a.m. to noon, is free and geared for those 50 and older; people with diabetes and their caregivers; and those seeking community resources for seniors and people with disabilities. There’s adequate parking at the wheelchair-accessible facility.

The festival offers the opportunity to not only learn about up to date changes in the medical field, undergo health screenings and learn of new area resources, but it also offers the occasion to stay connected and in touch. 

“This popular yearly event is one of the highlights of the Senior Promise program benefits.  Each year it attracts about 600 participants who are interested in bettering their health,” said Jeanelle Regal, Senior Promise director.

The festival offers information on a variety of medical topics and health screenings, including cholesterol, blood pressure, oral cancer, balance assessment, vision, diabetes foot, and lung/air capacity.

The Visiting Nurse Service at St. Francis will be on hand to offer flu and pneumonia shots which are covered to those receiving Medicare Part B or having Anthem Blue Cross and Blue Shield health insurance. The flu vaccine is $30 and pneumonia vaccine is $70 for non-Medicare enrollees and non-Part B Medicare beneficiaries.

This year’s health fair will include a blood drive and visit from emergency medical technicians from Indianapolis Emergency Medical Services, who will talk with guests about personal safety and assist in filling out free emergency medical information forms. 

New to this year’s fair will be a blood drive. The Indiana Blood Center’s mobile unit will be onsite for blood donations. If you have questions about your eligibility to donate, call Indiana Blood Center at 317-916-5150 or email eligibility@indianablood.org.

 

Launched in 1987, Senior Promise is a program based at Franciscan St. Francis Health-Indianapolis, provides its 22,000-plus members a variety of meaningful services and benefits for people age 50 and older throughout the year.

For more information about Senior Promise, call 317-528-6660.

A-fib, dizzy spells, heart healthy classes on the menu for public

INDIANAPOLIS – It’s back to school in October and Franciscan St. Francis Heart Center has a full slate of free classes for the public.

Cardiologist John Moore III, MD, will lead a course on treatment options for atrial fibrillation. It begins at 6:30 p.m., Tuesday, Oct. 8 at the Heart Center (8111 S. Emerson Ave.). A-fib, as it is commonly called, is a condition where the heart beats irregularly at a high rate. If severe, it can lead to a heart attack, stroke or death

And what about people with dizzy spells? Harry Genovely, MD, will discuss syncope, a condition causing temporary loss of consciousness and posture, which usually is related to a temporary insufficient blood flow to the brain. Determining the cause can be a challenge, and one of the possible sources is a disorder in the heart. This class takes place on Thursday, October 24 at 6:30 p.m. at the Heart Center.

A third course also will tackle heart failure and its signs and symptoms, medication and nutrition. Genovely will lead the discussion and talk about what needs to be done to say healthy in the home for someone diagnosed with heart failure and how to manage it. This class is ideal not only for patients but their families. The class is 4:30 p.m., Monday, Oct. 14 at the Heart Center.

Call 317-782-4422 to register for any of these classes.

The Heart Center also offers a variety of health and wellness courses, including:

Cooking for 2

Tuesday, Oct. 29 at 6:30 p.m.  at Franciscan St. Francis Health – Mooresville (1201 Hadley Road)

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

Tuesday, Oct. 1 at 6:30 p.m. at Franciscan St. Francis Health – Mooresville

Wednesday, Oct. 9 at 6:30 p.m. at the 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

Wednesday, Oct. 16, 6:30 p.m. at 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.

Healthy Meals on a Budget

Wednesday, Oct. 23, 6:30 p.m. at the Heart Center

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.

  

Quick meals at home

Wednesday, Oct. 2, 6:30 p.m.  at the 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.

Reduce Stress

Wednesday, Oct. 30, 6:30 p.m. at the Heart Center

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 techniques to decrease your stress which can improve your health.

Savvy Shopping

Tuesday, Oct.  22, 6:30 p.m. at Camby 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.