St. Francis Health ER physician saluted for stellar patient care

INDIANAPOLIS – Chris J. Hartman, M.D., is the latest recipient of the Healing Hands Award presented by Franciscan St. Francis Health.

With his colleagues and support staff looking on Hartman recently received the award at a small ceremony at the hospital’s Indianapolis campus.

Awarded quarterly, the Healing Hands Award was established in 2010. Its goal is to recognize St. Francis physicians for excellence in clinical skills, patient relations, research, stewardship and their reflection of the hospital’s health-care ministry, values and mission.

Hartman was nominated by Randall Todd, M.D., St. Francis’ Emergency Department Medical Director. Of particular note was Hartman’s swift response to a call for assistance for a patient who went into cardiac arrest during surgery. He stabilized the patient and arranged for a quick transfer for care at the hospital’s catheterization lab.

“This action, no doubt, saved a patient during an intense situation,” said Christopher “Topper” Doehring, M.D., who, along with Todd presented the award to Hartman. “Dr. Hartman is a well-respected physician and is known for the top-notch care he provides to all of the patients he cares for in the emergency room.”

A Diplomate of the American Board of Emergency Medicine and National Board of Medical Examiners, Hartman has been affiliated with St. Francis since 1995. He has served as an emergency physician at Piedmont Medical Center and Riverview Urgent Care Center in North Carolina.

An honors graduate of the Indiana University School of Medicine, he completed his emergency medicine residency at Carolinas Medical Center, where he also served as a flight physician.

Hartman’s emergency medicine background began before earning his medical degree. He has served as a paramedic in Indianapolis, Elkhart and South Bend.

He holds various professional memberships and is past president of the American College of Emergency Physicians-Indiana chapter.

Hartman resides in Carmel with his wife, Kathleen, and their six children.

Dr. Hartman (second from right) is presented the award from left by Dr. Christopher "Topper" Doehring, Dr. Randy Todd and Jason Middleton, director of product and business development.

St. Francis Health-Mooresville offers free screenings for vascular disease, May 14

MOORESVILLE, Ind. – If you have pain or poor circulation in your legs, you may have peripheral vascular disease (PVD).

With PVD, the vessels that carry blood to the arms and legs become narrowed or clogged, sometimes causing pain. Many times, however, a person will experience no serious symptoms but still have PVD. It is common that adults with PVD either have or are at risk for heart disease.

Knowing that you have PVD brings you one step closer to benefiting from one or more current treatments.

That’s why Franciscan St. Francis Health is offering Legs for Life, a free screening program 7:30 a.m.-11:30 a.m., Saturday, May 14, at its Mooresville campus at

Symptoms of PVD include:

<!--[if !supportLists]-->· <!--[endif]-->Leg or hip pain when walking but stops when resting

<!--[if !supportLists]-->· <!--[endif]-->Numbness, tingling or weakness in legs

<!--[if !supportLists]-->· <!--[endif]-->Burning or aching pain in feet or toes when resting

<!--[if !supportLists]-->· <!--[endif]-->Sore on leg or foot that won’t heal

<!--[if !supportLists]-->· <!--[endif]-->Cold legs or feet

<!--[if !supportLists]-->· <!--[endif]-->Color change in skin of legs or feet

<!--[if !supportLists]-->· <!--[endif]-->Loss of hair on legs

To qualify for the free screening you must be 50 or older; not currently be under the care of a cardiologist or vascular surgeon; and have not attended a St. Francis Legs for Life screening in the past unless your symptoms have changed.

Registration is required. To make an appointment, call 317-782-4422, or toll-free at 877-888-1777.

1201 Hadley Road

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BLESSED & DEDICATED: April 2, 2011

Check out photos from this special event at http://www.facebook.com/home.php#!/FranciscanStFrancisHealth

Angelus Bell honors St. Francis Health heritage, rings in new era of care

INDIANAPOLIS – Surrounded by representatives of the Sisters of St. Francis of Perpetual Adoration, the Angelus Bell rang three times. Each ring echoed the Sisters’ medical ministry, which began in Beech Grove in 1914. And each ring heralded their continued commitment of embracing the future of providing health care to patients in central Indiana.

That poignant moment was a part of Franciscan St. Francis Health’s blessing and dedication ceremony of its Indianapolis Campus Expansion (ICE) project at 8111 S. Emerson Avenue. The April 5 event brought together the leadership of Franciscan St. Francis Health, Franciscan Alliance, Archdiocese of Indianapolis and the community officials.

“This is a special day, not just because we are celebrating the first phase of the opening of a new, state-of-the-art patient tower – but because we are setting a new standard of high-quality medical care for our patients and the communities we serve,” said Robert J. Brody, president and CEO for St. Francis Health.

It marked the completion of Phase I of ICE (basement and first two levels), which includes a new and larger emergency department, featuring 63 exam rooms arranged in strategic “pods” designed to provide more personalized care to patients. An imaging area and lab services also are located within the emergency department.

The current emergency room is scheduled to move from its existing location to the east side of the campus on April 13. On that date, too, 10 new surgical suites will be ready for patients, as will Wound Care Institute, nursing administration and Spiritual Care offices and other support services. A sprawling new cafeteria – Terrace Café – and kitchen also will open to the public.

The second and final phase of the project is slated for completion in May 2012, with floors three through sixth opening with 221 inpatient beds. Also, a new and expanded St. Francis Cancer Center – nearly quadrupling its current size – is expected to open in January that year on the west side of the campus.

The $265 million tower project broke ground in late 2007.

But the focus at the Indianapolis campus April 5 was of celebrating the hospital’s future and honoring its past. Twenty Sisters from St. Francis Health and others representing “sister” hospitals in the Mishawaka, Ind.-based Franciscan Alliance were on hand to participate in the ceremony.

“Throughout the years, its has always been our vision to make our Indianapolis campus the heart of our health-care ministry in central and south-central Indiana,” said Sister Jane Marie Klein, chair of the Franciscan Alliance Board of Trustees.

“But with all of the architecture, artwork and medical technology that surrounds us,” she continued, “we do not forget the true reason we are here today – to serve all who present themselves at our doors, regardless of their ability to pay.”

A special blessing and dedication is a staple for the opening of any new Franciscan St. Francis Health medical facilities – and the Archdiocese of Indianapolis’ newly appointed Auxiliary Bishop was there to officiate. The Most Rev. Christopher Coyne was joined by the Sisters near the Angelus Bell.

Three times it rang – the only occasion since 1975 when it was removed from the tower at the Beech Grove hospital for safekeeping. And the ringing of the 1,000-pound bell was followed by a swelling chorus of similar ringing from commemorative hand bells given to dedication visitors.

Coyne, assisted by Sister Marlene Shapley, vice president of mission services for St. Francis Health, then proceeded to visit new areas of the hospital with the sprinkling of Holy Water.

During the ceremonies, St. Francis Health was recognized by elected leaders. Indianapolis Mayor Greg Ballard and Greenwood Mayor Charles Henderson presented proclamations honoring the hospital’s service to their respective communities.

To learn more about Franciscan St. Francis Health Indianapolis Campus Expansion, go to http://indianapolis.stfrancishospitals.org.

Staff, families get slice of ICE

Franciscan St. Francis Health employees and their families were given the opportunity to see the new areas of the Indianapolis Campus Expansion project Saturday, April 2. On guided tours, they received an inside look at the pod layout of the new emergency department, surgery and recovery rooms, sample inpatient and intensive care unit rooms.

There were plenty of activities for all ages throughout the day. In a large tent near the main entrance, there was live music, games and prizes photo booths. And that rascally Indiana Pacers mascot, Boomer, made his rounds not only in the tent but at the main entrance and lower-level auditorium, where there were numerous activities for youngsters, including the music/video driven Dance Dance Revolution.

Visitors also sampled many of the good dishes prepared and served up by the St. Francis Food & Nutrition Department,

under the direction of Sean McKenzie. The spacious new dining area is called the Terrace Cafe, receiving its name from Sister Madeleine Schumaker's submitted entry in a naming contest held in late 2010.

An estimated 900 people attended the afternoon festivities.

The facility also will be officially blessed and dedicated at special ceremonies beginning at 2 p.m., Tuesday, April 5. Auxiliary Bishop Christopher J. Coyne of the Archdiocese of Indianapolis will officiate the formal blessing of the entire six-story facility.

As the hospital looks to its future, its rich heritage will be recalled at this event. Representatives of the Sisters of St. Francis of Perpetual Adoration will sound the Angelus bell for the first time in nearly four decades. Attendees also will receive a hand bell to commemorate the event. The bell was first erected in the tower at St. Francis Hospital in 1914, when the hospital established its health-care ministry in central Indiana.

St. Francis Sister leadership will sound the bell’s final toll before it is put into final retirement and prepared for future display. The Rev. Coyne also will make a poignant tour of the new facility, blessing various areas of it with Holy Water.

Among the many dignitaries expected to be on hand for this event are Indianapolis Mayor Greg Ballard and Greenwood Mayor Charles Henderson. Both are expected to present proclamations touting the campus expansion.

The Marian University Sacred Choir will provide special music during dedication events.

Photos by Gary Moore