Unit will boost care for babies; reduce stress for parents
A neonatal intensive care unit is scheduled to open in the fall at Saint Anthony Medical Center.
“This is something we have wanted for years,’’ said Carol Schuster, vice president of patient services, who has been with the hospital since 1976.
“With our number of annual deliveries now up to around 1,600, we are able to justify the need and better serve our parents and their babies,’’ Schuster added.
The 12-bed unit, slated to open in November, will be housed in the hospital’s maternity department, called The Birth Place. Staff will include neonatalogists and specially trained nurses.
The addition will help to reduce the number of infant transfers to other hospitals, which also will serve to reduce stress for parents, Schuster said. Currently infants who require special care are transferred to other hospitals, away from their mothers.
“The new unit will further demonstrate our commitment to Sisters of St. Francis Health Services’ Franciscan Values, such as that of compassionate concern, by allowing more of our babies and moms to remain together during such a meaningful time,’’ Schuster said.
The unit will be overseen by Angela Katzelis, clinical director of The Birth Place.
“This is a service we need,’’ Katzelis said. “We are in an area that will support the unit because of our location. We hope to attract more parents from Crown Point and surrounding communities and will be able to serve more high-risk moms.’’
Katzelis, who has spent much of her 14 years in the profession in labor and delivery units – including two years in the neonatal intensive care unit of Comer Children’s Hospital at the University of Chicago -- still regards childbirth as “an unbelievable miracle.’’
“The mothers don’t get any do-overs, so we try to make the experience memorable, loving and caring – a joyous time. When it sometimes doesn’t work out that way, we are caring and giving; we are there to support them.’’
Saint Anthony Medical Center is located at 1201 S. Main St.
For more information on The Birth Place, call (219) 757-6368.
Friday, May 14, 2010
Wednesday, May 12, 2010
21 SAMC nurses nominated for Florence Nightingale Award
Saint Anthony Medical Center celebrated National Nurses Week starting on May 6 and capped the observance on May 12, birthday of Florence Nightingale, by honoring a record number of 21 nurses who were nominated for the Florence Nightingale Award for 2010.
Carol Schuster, vice president of patient services (standing, far left), is shown with the group, who noted the day with refreshments and a recitation of the Nightingale Pledge. The nominees include (standing, from left) Bobbie Gettler, who is next to Schuster; Marni Japitana, Karen Eck, Debbie Voss, Cindi Peterson, Lynne Poloncak, Sandy Bigbie, Cassie Bass, Shannon Finchum, Penny Walden, Peg Donnowitz, Pam O’Leary and Brenda Ridder. Seated, from left, are Linda Holmes, Bernie Puplava, Karen Susdorf, Christy Demo and Alice Miniuk. Not pictured are nominees John Gardner, Janet Hamm and Sarah Laurinas. The award observance has taken place at Saint Anthony since 2005.
Carol Schuster, vice president of patient services (standing, far left), is shown with the group, who noted the day with refreshments and a recitation of the Nightingale Pledge. The nominees include (standing, from left) Bobbie Gettler, who is next to Schuster; Marni Japitana, Karen Eck, Debbie Voss, Cindi Peterson, Lynne Poloncak, Sandy Bigbie, Cassie Bass, Shannon Finchum, Penny Walden, Peg Donnowitz, Pam O’Leary and Brenda Ridder. Seated, from left, are Linda Holmes, Bernie Puplava, Karen Susdorf, Christy Demo and Alice Miniuk. Not pictured are nominees John Gardner, Janet Hamm and Sarah Laurinas. The award observance has taken place at Saint Anthony since 2005.
Tuesday, May 11, 2010
Public invited to open house for St. Clare Health Clinic
SAMC programs offer free services for underprivileged, uninsured residents
A public open house for Saint Anthony Medical Center’s new St. Clare Health Clinic will take place from 1 to 4 p.m. May 23 at the site, 1121 S. Indiana Ave.
Free health screenings, refreshments, giveaways and prizes will be available.
The new complex, which also will house the hospital’s Prenatal Assistance Program, will be available for phone services only May 26 and open on a regular schedule May 27. Construction on the 7,400-square-foot-plus building began in October. Project cost was approximately $2 million and was funded by the hospital’s Capital Campaign, which was launched in 2008 and will run through the end of this year.
“I want to thank all of the generous supporters of our Capital Campaign – the community members and business owners, such as our special supporter who is matching half of the funds we raise; our doctors, employees and everyone who has helped by pledging the funds to make this happen,’’ said David Ruskowski, hospital president.
The clinic and prenatal assistance programs offer free services to uninsured and underprivileged area residents. The prenatal program, which has served the community since 2002, had been housed at the former Crown Point Clinic, which lies on the 1.2-acre site where the new building stands. That clinic was demolished to make way for the new complex.
St. Clare, which has been in operation since 1996, most recently operated at 1000 S. Court St.
The new, joint complex includes:
* 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.
IF YOU GO
The St. Clare Health Clinic open house will offer free screenings for blood pressure, blood sugar, nutrition/body fat analysis and pulmonary function testing.
There also will be refreshments and giveaways. Attendees can enter to win:
* A State of Mind day spa package.
* One of two Omron automatic blood pressure units.
* A cancer screening package (one each for male and female).
* One of two full body massage packages.
* One of two sports physicals.
About St. Clare Health Clinic:
St. Clare Health Clinic is a primary care provider that offers nonemergency services to clients aged 18 to 64 with emphasis on:
* Prevention.
* Early detection.
* Patient education.
* Physical exams.
* Health screenings.
* Management of chronic illnesses, including asthma, arthritis, diabetes, heart disease, hypertension, medication assistance.
Services are provided by a more than 50-person, largely volunteer staff that includes Saint Anthony physicians and nurses, as well as nurse practitioners, offsite professionals and reception and support staff.
For more information, call (219) 663-2160.
About the Prenatal Assistance Program
Offerings include:
* Free pregnancy testing.
* Referral and assistance with accessing community and hospital resources.
* Nutritional and pregnancy-related education.
* Regular and supportive contacts during pregnancy.
* A clothing closet for expectant mother and baby needs.
For more information, call (219) 663-5349.
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 expand St. Clare Health Clinic and the Prenatal Assistance Program and to enhance other hospital services. The campaign so far has raised about $3 million, which includes the matching funds.
For more information on the campaign, or to donate, call Catherine Biller, regional development associate, at (219) 932-2300 ext. 34556.
A public open house for Saint Anthony Medical Center’s new St. Clare Health Clinic will take place from 1 to 4 p.m. May 23 at the site, 1121 S. Indiana Ave.
Free health screenings, refreshments, giveaways and prizes will be available.
The new complex, which also will house the hospital’s Prenatal Assistance Program, will be available for phone services only May 26 and open on a regular schedule May 27. Construction on the 7,400-square-foot-plus building began in October. Project cost was approximately $2 million and was funded by the hospital’s Capital Campaign, which was launched in 2008 and will run through the end of this year.
“I want to thank all of the generous supporters of our Capital Campaign – the community members and business owners, such as our special supporter who is matching half of the funds we raise; our doctors, employees and everyone who has helped by pledging the funds to make this happen,’’ said David Ruskowski, hospital president.
The clinic and prenatal assistance programs offer free services to uninsured and underprivileged area residents. The prenatal program, which has served the community since 2002, had been housed at the former Crown Point Clinic, which lies on the 1.2-acre site where the new building stands. That clinic was demolished to make way for the new complex.
St. Clare, which has been in operation since 1996, most recently operated at 1000 S. Court St.
The new, joint complex includes:
* 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.
IF YOU GO
The St. Clare Health Clinic open house will offer free screenings for blood pressure, blood sugar, nutrition/body fat analysis and pulmonary function testing.
There also will be refreshments and giveaways. Attendees can enter to win:
* A State of Mind day spa package.
* One of two Omron automatic blood pressure units.
* A cancer screening package (one each for male and female).
* One of two full body massage packages.
* One of two sports physicals.
About St. Clare Health Clinic:
St. Clare Health Clinic is a primary care provider that offers nonemergency services to clients aged 18 to 64 with emphasis on:
* Prevention.
* Early detection.
* Patient education.
* Physical exams.
* Health screenings.
* Management of chronic illnesses, including asthma, arthritis, diabetes, heart disease, hypertension, medication assistance.
Services are provided by a more than 50-person, largely volunteer staff that includes Saint Anthony physicians and nurses, as well as nurse practitioners, offsite professionals and reception and support staff.
For more information, call (219) 663-2160.
About the Prenatal Assistance Program
Offerings include:
* Free pregnancy testing.
* Referral and assistance with accessing community and hospital resources.
* Nutritional and pregnancy-related education.
* Regular and supportive contacts during pregnancy.
* A clothing closet for expectant mother and baby needs.
For more information, call (219) 663-5349.
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 expand St. Clare Health Clinic and the Prenatal Assistance Program and to enhance other hospital services. The campaign so far has raised about $3 million, which includes the matching funds.
For more information on the campaign, or to donate, call Catherine Biller, regional development associate, at (219) 932-2300 ext. 34556.
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