Franciscan St. Francis Health nurses honored for making a difference

INDIANAPOLIS – Making an enormous difference in the lives of patients with the extraordinary work they do every day, two registered nurses at Franciscan St. Francis Health have been recognized by patients for extraordinary caregiving.

Registered nurses, Dolores Grah and Shannon Bruce have been named the March 2013 recipients of the hospital’s DAISY Awards.

Bruce, a dialysis nurse at the Indianapolis campus, was nominated for the special things she does for her patients.

 “Shannon frequently does special things for her patients including giving Valentine’s Day cards, and most recently getting flowers for a patient to give to his wife on their anniversary,” explained the co-worker who nominated her. “I feel she goes out of her way for all of her patients and is quite deserving of this award.”

Grah, a critical care unit nurse at the Indianapolis campus, was nominated by a co-worker who felt she went above and beyond with a patient’s care. Dolores helped a patient in need outside her usual nursing duties.

 “She bathed layers of dirt off his body, lotioned his skin, washed his clothes and bought him a new pair of shoes,” wrote the co-worker.  “Dolores continually cares for patients in the most selfless, compassionate ways. She is an amazing servant of Christ.”

The DAISY Award for Extraordinary Nurses is a national program that honors the compassionate care and clinical excellence. Franciscan St. Francis localized the program in 2010 to recognize its nurses for their achievements.

The DAISY Award was established by the DAISY Foundation in memory of J. Patrick Barnes who died at 33 an auto-immune disease. His family was so impressed by the clinical skills, caring and compassion of the nurses who cared for him that they created this national award to say “thank you” to nurses everywhere. For more information, go to www.daisyfoundation.org.

To learn more about nursing careers and programs at Franciscan St. Francis, go to  http://sites.franciscanalliance.org/stfrancis/nursing.

‘Mammothon’ offers breast cancer screenings at 2 St. Francis Health locations May 10

INDIANAPOLIS – With early detection, diagnosis and treatment options, more patients are beating breast cancer, yet many women don’t seek annual mammography screenings for a variety of reasons.

Franciscan St. Francis Cancer Center is hosting its latest Mammothon from 6 a.m. to 7 p.m. Friday, May 10 at the Imaging Centers at the hospital’s Indianapolis (8111 S. Emerson Ave.) and Carmel (2188B N. Meridian St.) campuses. 

Both events offer extended screening hours and a variety of other activities designed to celebrate women’s health, making it more convenient for women to schedule one of the most important cancer screenings.

Mammograms are by appointment only and can be made by calling 855-837-8830. All major insurances are accepted. A primary care physician referral may be required.

Those scheduling a screening mammogram during the event will receive a free Vera Bradley^® gift. Also, participants will receive a free potted flower from Meijer.

The American Cancer Society estimates that more than 230,000 new cases of invasive breast cancer will be diagnosed in 2013. The survival rate has improved significantly because of screening mammograms and early detection.

In addition to clinical exams, the ACS recommends that women 40 and older should have a screening mammogram every year for as long as they are in good health.

Free hearty healthy classes offered by Franciscan St. Francis Health experts in May

INDIANAPOLIS – Prevention is the key to lowering your chances of developing a cardiovascular disease, such as heart disease, stroke or high blood pressure.

That’s why Franciscan St. Francis Heart Center is offering free “Ask-the-Doc” and “Change of Heart” classes this spring with the goal of improving the community’s health through education and prevention. Ask the Doc programs are presented by a dedicated team of independent and Franciscan St. Francis Health physicians. 

To register for these classes call 317-782-4422 or toll-free at 877-888-1777, or by visiting www.MyHeartCare.net.

On tap for the public in May:

Do you have a heart murmur?

Wednesday, May 15 at 6:30 p.m.

UnaVie Cardiology Center

2451 Intelliplex Dr. Shelbyville

Heart murmurs are caused by valves inside the heart that don’t close properly. Sometimes, people can live with heart murmurs a long time without any symptoms. But if the problem becomes more serious, the blood flow to the heart may be affected. Cardiovascular surgeon Marc Gerdisch, MD, an independent physician who chooses to practice at Franciscan St. Francis Health, will talk about new treatments and surgeries for heart valves, including ongoing research studies.

Change of Heart classes offered in May:

Savvy Shopping

Tuesday, May 7 at 6:30 p.m.

Southport Meijer

5325 E. Southport Road

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.

Fitness Tips

Thursday, May 9, 6:30 p.m.

Franciscan St. Francis Heart Center

8111 S. Emerson Ave.

Being fit is more than being thin.  Research shows that no matter what you weigh, increasing fitness helps your heart. Discover that exercise can be healthy and fun, and how to set up a schedule for yourself.

Healthy Dining Out Tips

Tuesday, May 14, 6:30 p.m.

Franciscan St. Francis Heart Center

8111 S. Emerson Ave.

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.

Cooking for 2

Thursday, May 16, 6:30 p.m.

Franciscan St. Francis Heart Center

8111 S. Emerson Ave.

As we get older, our health becomes more of a priority.  After the kids leave home, it can be challenging to scale back 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.  

Reduce Stress

Thursday, May 23, 6:30 p.m.

Franciscan St. Francis Heart Center

8111 S. Emerson Ave.

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 how to improve your health.

Franciscan St. Francis partners with WhatNext.com to assist cancer patients, caregivers

INDIANAPOLIS -- Franciscan St. Francis Health is using an innovative online approach to help those affected by cancer.

WhatNext.com, an online support network, matches patients according to their diagnosis, stage, and age; people going through the same specific journey can share firsthand insights, what to expect next, treatment options, side effects of treatment, and ways they have coped.

Franciscan St. Francis is the first hospital in Indiana to partner with What Next. Nationally, more than 10,000 have registered as users, more than 400 of them Hoosiers. Both are devoted to providing patients with connections and insights they require.

“A cancer diagnosis impacts not only the patient, but the entire family,” said Peter Garrett, MD, medical director of Franciscan St. Francis Cancer Center. “With What Next we are now able to uniquely provide cancer patients with access to insights and support that previously were hard to find.”

The motivation for What Next originated via its founder’s own experience with a family member’s journey through cancer treatment.

“People are trying to make sense of a whole universe of new and staggering volume of medical information at the same time they are trying to figure out what’s next and to stay emotionally strong,” said David Wasilewski. “Our site helps patients benefit from those who have been there.”

J. Leonard Lichtenfield, MD, deputy chief medical officer for the national office of the American Cancer Society weighs in about What Next in a recent article, For Cancer Patients, It's Not Just About What's Now But Also What's Next--And We Can Help Answer That Question and says,

“What Next is designed to bring people together...Based on a number of factors including diagnosis and disease status, the site aims to link people and help them share insights that may be of mutual interest, such as the side effects of a treatment, what to expect from treatment, and experiences with a shared cancer diagnosis. The proactive matching is what makes What Next different.”

One St. Francis Health colorectal cancer patient, Jayme W., shares her story with What Next in a video posted by the site that helps others learn from her experiences.

“For me, it’s all about getting that personal perspective, hearing it from somebody who’s been there, hearing it from somebody who’s done it,” says Jayme W.  It’s one thing to know your stuff. It’s one thing to know a textbook explanation of things. It’s another thing to have gone through it yourself.” 

Colonoscopy is the best tool to detect and prevent colorectal cancer

Franciscan St. Francis Health offers convenient screening times, free Prep Kits – and gas cards

INDIANAPOLIS – Colonoscopy. Mere thought of that word makes many squirm and uncomfortable.

But the reality is the procedure is performed under sedation and it’s the best tool to detect colon and rectal cancer in its early stages – and in many cases actually prevent the disease. A screening colonoscopy is recommended for men and women beginning at age 50, or sooner if there is a family history of colorectal cancer.

That’s why Franciscan St. Francis Health is offering unique colonoscopy screening events in May and June. Screenings will be performed by physicians from Franciscan Physician Network Kendrick Colon and Rectal Center, Indianapolis Gastroenterology and Hepatology and David Black, MD, LLC at Franciscan St. Francis Health – Indianapolis, 8111 S. Emerson Ave.

Those registering will be invited to attend a Prep Party a week before their appointment to receive a free prep kit containing the items they will need to prepare for their screening. During these events, they also can take advantage of free bone density screenings, cholesterol screenings, and refreshments.

After completion of their screening colonoscopy participants also will receive a free $10 gas card.

Most insurance plans are accepted and participants are reminded to contact their providers regarding copays and deductibles. Additionally, a referral from a primary care physician may be required.

Call 866-466-1458 to schedule a screening.