Celebrating our Physicians

Saint Anthony Medical Center celebrated the hard work and dedication of its 324 physicians on Doctor’s Day March 29.

There were breakfast and lunch servings of delicious and healthy food, beverages and conversation during the event, which took place in the Doctors Dining Room.

Thank you to all of our physicians!

Alpha Delta Kappa-Beta Epsilon Sorority makes heartfelt donation

It may not be Christmastime, but children treated in the Saint Anthony Medical Center Emergency Department will find their visits a little more fun and have a fond remembrance to take home.

Local members of Alpha Delta Kappa-Beta Epsilon Sorority recently collected and donated some 70 stuffed animals for the children to enjoy. The group is made up of teachers from schools in Northwest Indiana and in Chicago’s southern suburbs. The effort was spearheaded by Kathy Jones, a teacher at St. Ann Elementary School in Lansing. This marks the third consecutive year the group has made the donation to Saint Anthony.

Shown with some of the toys, from left, are Karen Walczak, ED-RN; Ryan Williams, ED EMT; Kathy Jones and Christine Terry, ED-RN.

Franciscanfit Mallwalkers program steps off again March 24

SSFHS-Westfield Southlake Mall join in monthly health improvement effort

HOBART - The Franciscanfit -- Steps to Good Health monthly Mallwalkers program, sponsored by Sisters of St. Francis Health Services Northern Indiana Region and Westfield Southlake Mall, is scheduled for 8 to 10 a.m. March 24.

The free program, which kicked off in January, offers charter memberships in the new club, formed in conjunction with the Westfield Walkers.

This month’s event will feature “Ask the Dietitian,’’ a nutrition-information presentation, by Dorothy Lindell, Saint Anthony Medical Center chief clinical dietitian. A question-and-answer session will follow her remarks. Body fat analysis screenings likewise will be available that day.

New members are welcome to register for the program, which takes place on the mall’s lower level, outside of JC Penney, on the fourth Wednesday of each month.

Regular walkers hours are 8 a.m. to 10 a.m. Mondays through Saturdays and 9 to 11 a.m. Sundays.

For more information about Franciscanfit, please call the SSFHS Northern Indiana Region Health Resource Center at call (1-800) 931-3322.

Young Saint Anthony patients warmed by donations

Binky Patrol delivers 40 homemade blankets to pediatrics/short stay

CROWN POINT - The Binky Patrol’s tour of duty brought three of its troops to Saint Anthony Medical Center recently on a mercy mission to warm hospitalized children.

Binky Patrol is a national volunteer organization that formed in 1996 in California. Members create small, homemade blankets, “binkies,’’ that can be sewed, crocheted or quilted and are used to help keep pediatrics patients and other children who receive them, more comfortable.

Three of the 20 members of the Jasper County Binky Patrol, based in Demotte, visited Saint Anthony, with area coordinators April Kortum, Sharon Boonstra and member Lois Bailey donating 40 blankets that were accepted by Lena De Jesus, RN, the hospital’s unit manager of short stay/pediatrics.

“These are just beautiful and I thank you so much. The children will love them,’’ De Jesus told the patrol.

“We do it to serve the Lord,’’ Kortum said, adding the local chapter was formed after “the Lord kept putting it in our heads to do this.’’

The Binky Patrol label, which is sewn onto the blankets, reads: “Binky Patrol – Comfortable Covers – Because I Care.’’

For more information on the Jasper County chapter, send e-mail to dakortum@netnitco.net.

For more information on the national chapter, visit binkypatrol.org.

‘Time is muscle’

SAMC Task Force improves heart attack treatment speed

When it comes to your health, Saint Anthony Medical Center gets to the heart of the matter
– and fast.

A report in the New England Journal of Medicine, based on a Yale University study, concluded that each 15-minute reduction from 150 to 90 minutes between the time a heart attack patient arrives until he or she is treated, was associated with 6.3 fewer deaths per 1,000 patients treated.

As Dr. Daniel Netluch, Saint Anthony chief of emergency services puts it, “Time is muscle.’’
Saint Anthony meets a 90-minute Door-to-PCI (emergency department arrival to percutaneous coronary intervention) time of 90 minutes or less that was developed by the American College of Cardiology, the American Heart Association and the Institute for Healthcare Improvement and is supported by the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services.

The procedure establishes or improves blood flow to the heart. The faster that task is achieved after the patient’s arrival, the better the chances of recovery. The risk for complications likewise is reduced. “The faster we can treat such cases, the less damage there is to the heart muscle. Also, there are fewer long-term issues,’’ adds Elaine McCracken, Saint Anthony Medical Center assistant vice president of operational quality and performance.

Saint Anthony has achieved a 100 percent Door-to-PCI compliance rate most months since establishment of a 14-member Lean Six Sigma Performance Improvement Team. The national average is 40 percent, according to the American Heart Association.

Members of the team, called the STEMI (heart attack) Task Force, implemented initiatives in April to improve the hospital’s performance. The 100 percent rate represents a 27 percent improvement in the hospital’s Door-to-PCI time.

Karin Kolisz, Saint Anthony vice president of clinical services, who is a member of the task force, as is McCracken, says teamwork is the reason for the program’s progress.

“Our success can be attributed to the extraordinary collaboration of our front-line staff in the Emergency Department, Catheterization Lab and EMS, including physicians, shift directors, nurses and technologists. “Recognizing that the earlier coronary intervention is provided, the fewer the number of patients who will lose their lives, our staff worked diligently to make the changes necessary to assure rapid treatment. Our staff was motivated not by national benchmarks, but rather by improving patient outcomes,’’ Kolisz said.

SAMC nurse heads national Filipino group’s local chapter

Lena De Jesus hopes to help unify colleagues throughout state

CROWN POINT - Saint Anthony Medical Center nurse Lena De Jesus is the 2010-11 president of the Philippine Nurses Association of America-Indiana chapter.

De Jesus, RN, who is Saint Anthony unit manager of short stay and pediatrics, has been with the hospital for 27 of her 36 years in the profession. She has been with the nurses association for 10 years, having served as a board member from 2004-08 and as president-elect in 2008-09.

The Lakes of the Four Seasons resident said she was honored to be elected president.
“The thought of being able to impact nurses and nursing through the PNAA gives me a feeling of self-fulfillment and joy. It is my hope that we unite our Northwest Indiana colleagues with our members from downstate to create a bigger and better Indiana partnership.’’

The PNNA, which formed more than 30 years ago, has 6,000 members in 37 states. The Indiana chapter, which was founded in Indianapolis in 1999, will host the national group’s 11th North Regional Conference April 16 to 18 at Blue Chip Casino and Spa in Michigan City.
Besides Indiana’s, the region comprises chapters from Michigan, Illinois, Ohio, Wisconsin and Missouri.

“This year’s conference is titled, ‘The Power of the PRISM: Touching Lives Through Nursing Excellence’ and is open to all nurses,’’ De Jesus said. “The PNAA’s mission is to unify Filipino nurses, promote professional growth and provide health information and educational services to the community.’’

Since its inception, the Indiana chapter has provided community wellness screenings and participated in several humanitarian and medical missions locally and in the Philippines. The chapter also has awarded nursing scholarships to several members, De Jesus said.

Among the conference speakers will be Carol Schuster, Saint Anthony vice president of patient services.

For more information, call De Jesus at (219) 310-1977, Manelita Dayon at (312) 451-7953, or visit www.pnaindiana.org.

New hospital IT system bolsters patient care services

Sisters of St. Francis Northern Indiana Region implements EpicCare

New health information technology acquired by Sisters of St. Francis Health Services Northern Indiana Region hospitals will help streamline patient care and clinical administration services.

Wisconsin-based Epic Systems Corp. will provide EpicCare, a program that offers comprehensive, integrated computer software to support all functions related to patient care. The service will be available at Saint Margaret Mercy hospitals in Dyer and Hammond, Saint Anthony Medical Center in Crown Point and Saint Anthony Memorial Health Centers in Michigan City. It also will be offered throughout the 13-hospital, Sisters of St. Francis Health Services Inc. system in Indiana and Illinois.

“Epic’s integrated suite of health care applications supports a large number of patient care functions,’’ said Gene Diamond, SSFHS Northern Indiana Region chief executive officer. “Working closely with the Epic team, our employees and physicians look forward to bringing this top-ranked system to Northwest Indiana where all our patients will benefit from the enhanced coordination of care it will enable us to provide.’’

Among areas where the EpicCare computer technology will be integrated include:
Patient medical records.
Medication administration, pharmacy tracking.
Operating room/surgery management.
Alverno Information Services clinical labs.
Medical imaging.
Emergency room documentation and patient tracking.
Cardiology and anesthesia.
Physician orders.
Hospital scheduling, registration and billing.

Other services, such as oncology, ophthalmology, ambulatory pharmacy and home health programs, are scheduled to be phased in later.

Sister Aline Shultz, SSFHS Northern Indiana Region corporate vice president of marketing and public relations, lauded implementation of the EpicCare system. “EpicCare is a well-integrated, seamless software tool that will greatly enhance our health care and patient services, affording for higher-quality outcomes using fewer resources.’’

Mishawaka-based Sisters of St. Francis Health Services Inc. is one of the largest health care systems in Indiana. The system’s health care ministry was established in 1875 and employs more than 18,000 individuals.

For more information, visit www.ssfhs.org.

Becoming a parent to a parent

SAMC, Franciscan Communities offer free program for caregivers

CROWN POINT - Parents worked hard and often made sacrifices to provide for us as we were growing up. Now, as they are growing older, we oftentimes must return the favor.
Saint Anthony Medical Center, Franciscan Communities and Franciscan Home Care are teaming to help those who help others.

A free caregiver education symposium, titled, “Sandwich Generation to Baby Boomer and Beyond – Managing the Health Care Process,’’ is scheduled from 1 to 4 p.m. April 25. It will provide attendees the chance to hear from local experts who understand the challenges associated with those who find themselves in that new role.

The program will take place in the Marian Education Center on the Saint Anthony Medical Center campus, 1201 S. Main St.

“Caregivers often feel overwhelmed when trying to manage their mounting responsibilities. This symposium aims to equip caregivers with the practical knowledge they need to create a better quality of life for themselves and the person receiving care,’’ said Catherine Grantner-Coltun, CEO of Franciscan Home Care Services and executive director of Franciscan Communities.
Having worked with thousands of caregivers throughout Northwest Indiana, we are proud to be a part of this premier event,’’ she added.

Sessions will include:
* Successful Strategies for Aging in the Home.
* Financing the Aging Process.
* Being a Parent to a Parent.
* Effective Medication Management.
* Urgent Care vs. Emergency Room – What’s the Difference?
* Benefits of Hospice and Palliative Care.

In addition, award-winning physician Dr. Kristine Teodori and Dr. Christine Araya-Osorio will present a keynote address titled, “Keys to Healthy Aging,’’ which will be followed by a question-and-answer session featuring all of the presenters.

Seating is limited and reservations are required. For more information, or to register, call 1-800-931-3322.