February "Spirit of Women" Seminar - Lowering Blood Pressure and Cholesterol

Please join us for our monthly Spirit of Women presentation in February:

“A Little DASH Will Do You”
DASH (Dietary Approaches to Stop Hypertension) is a dietary plan developed by the National Institute of Health to aid in lowering blood pressure and cholesterol levels without the need for medication.

Wednesday, February 15, 2012
6 p.m.
Franciscan St. Margaret Health - Crown Point
1201 S. Main St., Crown Point
Marian Education Center
Presented by: Carol Bliznik, Registered Dietitian

For more information or to register, please call (800) 931-3322.

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Watch for dates for our March seminar: “Avoid a Brainwreck (Concussions)."

For more information about these events call (800) 931-3322.

To sign up for Spirit of Women, visit our webpage or fill out our online form on Facebook!

Video: Is Your Thyroid Making You Fat?

Dr. Krista Molina, Family Medicine, talks about the thyroid and discusses how thyroid conditions affect your body, including weight gain. This presentation was held at Omni Health & Fitness in Chesterton in January 2012...one of several Spirit of Women "Is Your Thyroid Making You Fat?" presentations that month across Northern Indiana.

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Watch for upcoming monthly seminars “A Little DASH (Dietary Approaches to Stop Hypertension) Will Do You” in February and “Avoid a Brainwreck (Concussions)” in March.

For more information about these events call (800) 931-3322. To sign up for Spirit of Women, visit our webpage or fill out our online form on Facebook!

Child Safety Drives Hospital, City Partnership

The Crown Point Community Foundation recently provided $5,000 toward a partnership between Franciscan St. Anthony Health - Crown Point and Crown Point Fire and Rescue for a Child Passenger Safety Program they share. The program educates parents on proper child car seat installation techniques. Certified technicians conduct four-hour safety clinics, taught by two technicians from fire and rescue.

Shown with a seat prior to it being installed in a vehicle are, from left, Luke Reed, Franciscan Alliance Regional Development associate; Sue Riester, Crown Point Community Foundation business manager; Mike Parks, Crown Point Fire and Rescue chief of training and safety; and Justin Gettler, a Crown Point firefighter/paramedic, who also is a safety seat technician. For more information on the program, call (219) 662-3248.

Day of Dance - For Your Health

Download a printable flyer

Dance!  Fun!  Music!  Health screenings!  Vendors!  Health education! It's what you can expect at Franciscan Alliance's Day of Dance for Your Health event.

Bring your friends and family to dance, learn simple ways to stay healthy, enjoy music and participate in health screenings.


Sunday, February 12, 2012
1 p.m. - 5 p.m.

Radisson Hotel at Star Plaza
800 East 81st Avenue
Merrillville, IN  46410
Get Directions

All are invited. Admission is FREE!

• Dance demonstrations and participation
  • Dance performances by Eclipse Performing Arts (Chesterton) and Premiere Dance Studio (Schererville)
  • Group instructions led by Omni Health & Fitness (featuring Body Vive and Zumba) and Premiere Dance Studio
• Health screenings
• Vendor's Bazaar
• Chef's Corner
  • Executive Chefs of the Radisson Hotel and Star Plaza
  • Featuring Chef Jillian Flathers (2nd runner-up on Season 8 of “Hell's Kitchen”) 
• Hors d'oeuvres
• Raffles
  • Win a Full Day Spa Retreat! ($379 value from Vanis Salon and Day Spa)
  • Win a Makeover! ($350 value from State of Mind Salon and Day Spa or Inspire Salon)

To register, call (800) 931-3322. Space is limited. Pre-registration required.

Latest Edition of Franciscan Focus is Here!

The Winter/Spring 2012 edition of the Franciscan Focus magazine is here!

In this issue:

• Against All Odds - Physician, staff credited for 'miracle' recovery
• Revamped Radiation - New equipment will bring latest technology, best results  
• Hospital News & Notes 
• Just Dance! - NWI residents will groove their way to health at "Spirit of Women" event

About the digital edition
Each page is viewable in an interactive, user-friendly format. As you read through the magazine, just click on the arrows to turn the pages and while you are on a specific page, you can…

• Print, bookmark, even make virtual notes on whatever strikes you. Just click on the Tools icon at the top.
• Share a page or selection of pages with your friends on Facebook, Twitter, email and other social networks, using the Share icon.
• Click on the links provided in articles to be taken directly to the corresponding website.

To get started, click on the "flipping pages" image or here.

We’d love to hear your feedback about Franciscan Focus! Feel free to email comments or questions to Julia.Huisman@franciscanalliance.org.

Auxiliary Donates $100,000 to Hospital; New Officers Sworn In

The Franciscan St. Anthony Health-Crown Point Auxiliary conducts numerous fund-raising events annually, proceeds of which are donated to the hospital each year to assist with providing services. Some $70,000 of the $100,000 presented to hospital president David Ruskowski, left, on Jan. 13 was raised by the gift shop alone. Shown with Ruskowski are Doris Paluszak, center, outgoing Auxiliary president; and Carolyn Mienbresse, 2012 president.

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Franciscan St. Anthony Health Auxiliary officers for 2012 each were presented candles to light to signify the importance of their duties during a swearing in ceremony Jan. 13. Shown, from left, are Carolyn Mienbresse, president; Mary Cavallini, third vice president; Virginia Mitchell, second vice president; Joel Hamers, treasurer; and Leanne Hoyle, secretary. Not pictured is Sharon McColley, first vice president.

What's Up with Infant Tylenol?

Happy January! Even though it does not feel like a real winter outside it is the season for colds and flu. If you have a child less than two years of age you may have noticed a change in over-the-counter products available for fever and pain relief. Earlier in 2011 the FDA mandated a change in manufacturing of acetaminophen, more commonly known by brand name Tylenol. In the past acetaminophen came in a high concentrated form for infant (80mg/0.8mL) and another form of a different concentration for older children (160mg/5mL). To decrease possible overdose or incorrect dosing the FDA wants all available acetaminophen to be the same concentration.

This decision however has caused great confusion for parents. The brand of Tylenol was also pulled off the market for many months - it has just returned. If you have looked on the pharmacy shelves you can easily get confused in the choices. How many brands are there? Generic, Triaminic, Pediacare, etc.? Does the med have just a fever reducer or also contain a cold medication?

Your health care provider should help you in this confusion. Even though the FDA has mandated the dosing change so all forms of liquid acetaminophen will be the same concentration, there are still some stores providing the higher concentration of the medication.


BEFORE YOU GIVE TYLENOL OR ACETAMINOPHEN TO YOUR CHILD LESS THAN TWO YEARS OF AGE CONFIRM THE DOSE AS DIRECTED FROM YOUR CHILD'S DOCTOR OR YOUR PHARMACIST.

Most of us pediatricians are reviewing the correct dose for our patients at every healthy check (if not, ask us and we will.). It will help us if you have the medication available to review. Remember, there are still two strengths available and your doctor needs to know what concentration you are using. Remember ibuprofen and acetaminophen are NOT the same medication. Some doctors do not advise ibuprofen until a certain age or weight.

Some other suggestions in dosing fever reducers:

• Use the measuring device that came with the product. Do NOT use a kitchen spoon to measure.
• Do NOT give a fever reducer to an infant under age 3 months without first speaking with a health care professional.
• Do NOT give more medicine or dose more often than is recommended.
• Unless directed by a health care professional never give fever reducer to a child who is taking other medication. Other medications may also contain acetaminophen.

I hope you and your family stay healthy this winter season. Keep covering your coughs (elbow technique is the best) and stay home if you are ill and with a fever.

Dr. Lisa Gold is a pediatrician practicing in Crown Point, Indiana, at North Point Pediatrics.