Thursday, January 28, 2010

2010 brings new, better services for patients, community

As an example of the compassionate care that is a trademark
of Saint Anthony Medical Center, Sister Renee Duplessis,
a chaplain in the Spiritual Care Services department,
prays with pre-surgery patient Laura Vucko, of Merrillville.



SAMC expands technology, offers more help for underprivileged

Saint Anthony Medical Center saw a productive 2009, despite economic challenges, and looks forward to expanding its services and boosting its spirit of compassionate care for patients and the community this year, President David Ruskowski says.

“Despite the challenges presented to us by the weak economy last year, Saint Anthony continued growing and raising the bar in offering quality care and technological advancements,” Ruskowski said, adding “In 2010, we will continue to make our high level of care more accessible to the communities we serve.’’

Ruskowski cites the anticipated May opening of a new complex to house the St. Clare Health Clinic and the Prenatal Assistance Program, both of which provide services to area underprivileged and uninsured residents, and a new home in June for the Franciscan Physicians Network Demotte Clinic, at the top of his list.

The Prenatal Assistance Program, which has served the community since 2002, had been housed at the former Crown Point Clinic, which lies on a 1.2-acre site at 1121 S. Indiana Ave., and is the site of the new complex. Prenatal is in a temporary location at Saint Anthony-North Point, 2050 N. Main St.

St. Clare, which has been in operation since 1996, is operating at 1000 S. Court St., until the new, $2 million complex is completed. Construction on the 7,500-square-foot-plus building began in October.

The new, joint complex also will include:
* A social services section where case workers can provide those in need with appropriate
resources.
* Conference rooms and reference areas to give patients information about options.
* A medication assistance program and medication area to provide a range of free services
and to help people understand their prescriptions.
* An expanded food pantry.

The new, 9,000-square-foot Franciscan Physician Network - Demotte Clinic at 200 3rd Court, SE, will be located about a mile south of the current site it has occupied since the 1990s at 417 N. Halleck St.

Better care, close-to-home

Patients also can look forward to close-to-home technological advancements at Saint Anthony
that will improve care and convenience. Jackie Katz, Saint Anthony director of imaging, outlined some of the programs and plans. “Our linear accelerator project, which will take about 18 months to complete, will be an expansion of cancer treatment and services. The area is going to be prepped for a new linear accelerator, which has new technology that will be able to reduce by half the time a patient is treated each day.’’

She added that area also will be prepped for future expansion to two linear accelerators.
“As cancer is expected to bypass heart disease in the near future as the number-one health issue in the U.S., Saint Anthony’s goal is to develop a comforting, yet high-tech environment in which to care for those patients,’’ Katz said.

A nuclear medicine camera evaluates cardiac, cancer, urology endocrine and orthopedic diseases.
“The expectation is that as our patient population ages, they will need to be evaluated for any one of these conditions so that follow-up treatment can be devised. The newer systems have better image resolution and can be upgraded to do single photo emission computed tomography studies,’’ Katz said, adding, “Radiation oncology and radiology are committed to providing excellent care with the assistance of advanced technology.’’


Capital Campaign effort makes new clinic complex possible

The Saint Anthony Medical Center Capital Campaign, which kicked off in February 2008 and is expected to continue until the end of this year, seeks to raise $4.5 million, including matching funds from a private donor, to fund construction of a new complex to house St. Clare Health Clinic and the Prenatal Assistance Program. The campaign so far has raised $2.85 million, which includes the matching funds. For more information on the campaign, contact Catherine Biller, regional development associate, at (219) 932-2300, ext. 34556. Campaign donations may be mailed to:
Saint Anthony Medical Center
1201 S. Main St.
Crown Point, IN 46307
Attention: David Ruskowski
President-Capital Campaign


Saint Anthony care recognized among America’s best

Saint Anthony Medical Center is 5-Star rated in 2010 for treatment of stroke for the eighth consecutive year, according to a comprehensive annual study by HealthGrades, the leading independent healthcare ratings organization.

In addition to its stroke care, Saint Anthony was recognized for quality performance in the area of orthopedics. Saint Anthony is 5-Star rated for hip fracture repair for the third consecutive year and ranks among the top 5 in Indiana for Overall Orthopedic Services.

The study annually assesses patient outcomes – mortality and complication rates – at virtually all of the nation’s nearly 5,000 nonfederal hospitals.

President David Ruskowski is pleased with the latest news from HealthGrades.
“These latest accomplishments, as recognized by HealthGrades, are examples of our continuing commitment to our patients. Nothing matters more to us than their treatment and recovery and their safety and comfort while they are in our care. We look forward to making even further strides and are honored by the national recognition we have received,” Ruskowski said.

Last year, Saint Anthony was a recipient of the 2009 Patient Safety Excellence Award and ranked among the top 5 percent in the nation for patient safety in the sixth annual HealthGrades Patient Safety in American Hospitals Study.

Franciscanfit program steps off successfully


More than 500 turn out for SSFHS-Westfield Southlake event

Sister Aline Shultz, corporate vice president of marketing and public relations for Sisters of St. Francis Health Services Northern Indiana Region, led the inaugural walk through Westfield Southlake Mall recently to kick off a new, free fitness program sponsored by SSFHS and the mall – an event that drew more than 500 participants.

Persons who became a charter member of Westfield Walkers received health-related benefits of the new program, Franciscanfit – Steps to Good Health, which stepped off in the JC Penney Court – lower level.

The program included:
* A presentation by Timothy Mullally, DO, who specializes in family practice-sports medicine.
* Free screenings for pulmonary function and pulse oximetry, blood glucose, blood pressure
and nutrition/body mass index.

Participants receive:
* Franciscanfit member kit with registration card.
* Fanny pack with water bottle.
* Pedometer.
* Heart healthy information.
* Discounts for mall retailers.
* Walking tips.

There also were giveaways and refreshments. The program will continue from 8 to 10 a.m. on the fourth Wednesday of each month (next session will be Feb. 24), with a free screening and a presentation on health, and registration availability, in the mall’s lower level, outside of JC Penney. The mall offers regular hours for walkers – 8 to 10 a.m. Mondays through Saturdays and 9 to 11 a.m. Sundays.

For more information on Franciscanfit, call our Health Resource Center at (800) 931-3322.

Tuesday, January 19, 2010

Saint Anthony Medical Center lymphedema session Jan. 27






Prevention and Management of Lymphedema will be the topic of a free program at 6 p.m. Jan. 27 in the Breast Care Center of Saint Anthony Medical Center.

The program will be presented by Lorraine Skolak, a nationally certified lymphedema specialist, and Joan Filipowski, MSN, RN, who will address how:
* Lymphedema can occur at any time following lymph node dissection.
* How simple lifestyle changes can help prevent the onset of lymphedema.
* How lymphedema can be controlled through self-management techniques.

The Breast Care Center is located on the third floor of the Burrell Professional Center, just southwest of Saint Anthony’s main entrance.

Seating is limited; registration is required. Call (219) 757-6368.







Friday, January 15, 2010

New Mall Walkers Progam Kicks-off January 27


SSFHS Northern Indiana Region hospitals
offer healthy steps


Area residents are invited to walk their way to better health through a new, free program offered by Sisters of St. Francis Health Services Northern Region hospitals that kicks off Jan. 27 at Westfield Southlake Mall.


Persons who become a charter member of Westfield Walkers will enjoy benefits of a new Franciscanfit Program that kicks off at 8 a.m. at the JC Penney Court in the mall’s lower level (enter through the doors between Penney’s and Carson’s on the mall’s south side).


The program will include:
* A presentation by Timothy Mullally, DO, who specializes in family practice-sports medicine.
* Free screenings for pulmonary function and pulse oximetry, blood glucose, blood pressure and nutrition/body mass index.


Walkers will receive:
* Franciscanfit member kit with registration card.
* Fanny pack with water bottle.
* Pedometer.
* Heart healthy information.
* Discounts for mall retailers.
* Walking tips.



There also will be giveaways and refreshments.


For more information, call (219) 757-6276.

Thursday, January 14, 2010

SAMC’s Web site has answers to health concerns

Interactive consumer health information from A.D.A.M.

Saint Anthony Medical Center is offering patients and the public yet another resource to help address health care needs and concerns.

The hospital’s Web site, http://www.stanthonymedicalcenter.com/, recently became home to A.D.A.M Interactive Health, which offers a plethora of information on topics relevant to visitors who want to get well and stay well.
The site offers the following A.D.A.M. products:
* Multimedia Encyclopedia
* Symptom Navigator
* In-Depth Reports
* Care Guides
* Health Centers – for heart, cancer, orthopedics, neurology, women, men, pediatrics, seniors
* Pregnancy Central
* Health Risk Assessment
* Decision Assist
* Wellness Tools
* Reuters Health News
* Drug Tools
Users can find information on a disease or condition, on how to prepare for a test or surgery, or to address emergencies resulting in injuries or poisoning.

Information also is offered on managing health conditions, such as allergies, arthritis, asthma, high blood pressure, high cholesterol, low back pain, weight loss, pregnancy or diabetes.
A.D.A.M.’s products provide information to help consumers live a healthy life: on heart care, nutrition, checkups, health calculators and exercise information. Besides at Saint Anthony, the information is available on the Web sites of all of the hospitals in the Sisters of St. Francis Health Services Inc. network.

“SSFHS is pleased with the decision to choose A.D.A.M. clinical content to enhance the Web sites of all of our facilities,’’ said Sister Aline Shultz, vice president of marketing and public relations.

“The A.D.A.M. medical encyclopedia and graphic animations help the informed health care seeker with accurate, understandable terms and descriptions of conditions, diseases, and treatments. We receive very positive feedback from patients and physicians about the A.D.A.M. tools they find on our site,’’ she added.

Atlanta-based A.D.A.M. was founded in 1990 to serve educational markets with resources for teaching and learning human anatomy and physiology. Today, the company’s Health Solutions are used on hundreds of hospital and healthcare Web sites across the U.S.

According to the company, its goal is to connect individuals to accurate and engaging health information, to help improve the overall quality of their health and their experience with the health care system.

Monday, January 11, 2010

EXPRESSCare to begin Sunday hours Jan. 24


No appointment needed; center treats non-life-threatening cases

Patients asked for it and soon they will have it.

Beginning Jan. 24, Saint Anthony Medical Center’s EXPRESSCare, which offers immediate treatment for non-life-threatening cases, will offer Sunday hours, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday hours will change to 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., effective Jan. 23. Monday through Friday hours remain 9 a.m. to 7 p.m.

“Patients asked for expanded hours. It took us two to three months to find the right people to expand the staff to assure we continue to provide the highest quality of care that the community expects,’’ said Dr. Daniel Netluch, Saint Anthony’s chief of emergency services.

Netluch said patient load at EXPRESSCare has tripled since it opened in August 2008 at Franciscan Point, Saint Anthony’s outpatient health complex, located at 12800 Mississippi Parkway (along U.S. 231, about one-half mile east of Interstate 65).

No appointment is needed at EXPRESSCare, which is staffed by board-certified Saint Anthony physicians and treats a variety of ailments, among them flu, colds, fevers, sprains and strains, nausea and lacerations. Physicians and Saint Anthony technicians rotate shifts between EXPRESSCare and the hospital Emergency Department.

Most insurance plans are accepted.

For more information, call (219) 662-5700.