Couple Donates Rocking Chair in Daughter’s Memory

Shown with the rocking chair donated to the Franciscan St.
Anthony Health-Crown Point Neonatal Intensive Care Unit
are, from left: Kathy Podorsek, clinical director of The
Birth Place; Toni Gershman, patient care manager, The Birth Place;
Carla Huang, of Dyer; Patti Slager and T.J. Slager, of Cedar Lake;
Marilyn Derks, of Dyer; and Lori Kemp, a NICU nurse.

The Franciscan St. Anthony Health - Crown Point Neonatal Intensive Care Unit received a new rocking chair on Feb. 23 that was donated on behalf of Patti and T.J. Slager of Cedar Lake, who raised nearly $6,000 for the March of Dimes 2011 March for Babies walk campaign. Teams that raised more than $5,000 received the chairs, which could be donated to the hospital of their choice.

The Slagers and their loves ones formed Team Camryn, named for a daughter, who died of heart complications three years ago. They have another son, Brayden, 2.

"We chose St. Anthony because we love it here," T.J. Slager said. "Both our kids were born here and we plan to have the next one here, too."

His wife added they "love the nurses and the people" at the hospital.

When the couple learned St. Anthony had opened the NICU nearly a year ago, they decided to donate the chair, to help bring comfort to new parents and babies. Kathy Podorsek, clinical director of the hospital’s The Birth Place (obstetrics unit), said, "We are thankful to Camryn's Team for thinking of our patients' comfort. Our moms and dads will find the chair a relaxing place to hold and feed their babies."

Victor Garcia, March of Dimes Indiana Chapter-Northwest Division director, said six Northwest Indiana teams were represented in the May walk, three of which have decided to donate their chairs to Franciscan St. Anthony.

Video Recap: Day of Dance 2012

Feb. 12, 2012: Franciscan Alliance's first Day of Dance event, as part of our new Spirit of Women campaign. More than 700 attendees of all ages took part in a myriad events, including dance instruction and performances, health screenings, cooking demonstrations and a vendors bazaar - all meant to stress health during February, which is American Heart Month.

Enjoy!

Next Mallwalkers Event - Body Vive - Feb. 22

Join us Wednesday, February 22, for the FranciscanFit monthly Mallwalkers program at the Westfield Southlake Mall (JC Penney Court), 2109 Southlake Mall, Merrillville.

Topic: Body Vive

Blood Pressure Screenings will be available from 8 a.m. - 10 a.m.

From 9 a.m. - 10 a.m., instructors from Omni Health & Fitness present "Body Vive" - a low-impact, whole body cardio workout. All ages are welcome.

For more information, contact the Franciscan Alliance Health Resource Center at (800) 931-3322.

Franciscan Focus for iPhone, iPad and Android Users - Download Today!

Last week we announced the launch of our Franciscan Focus magazine app for the iPhone and iPad.

Now we are pleased to offer a free app for Android users!

Click on the links below to get Franciscan Focus "on the go" - mobile access to news and features about the best and latest services offered at the Franciscan Alliance Northern Indiana hospitals.

 

"Spirit of Women" Shines at Day of Dance Program

Franciscan Alliance's first Day of Dance program, as part of its new Spirit of Women campaign, kicked off with a bang at the Radisson Hotel at Star Plaza on Feb. 12, with more than 700 attendees of all ages taking part in myriad events, including dance, health screenings, including for blood pressure, blood glucose, body fat analysis, bone density, breast exam self-education, heart attack prevention, and foot, stroke and peripheral arterial disease testing.

Also offered were a chef's corner, vendors bazaar and other offerings meant to stress health during February, which is American Heart Month.

Among special guests were Maurice Basile, 90, and wife Helen Funk, 101, of Munster, who shared a special fox trot dance to a song done by Jimmy Durante. The couple have been married 14 years and "just love to dance." They also participate in programs offered in Hammond and in Highland. Both are cancer survivors who believe in living life to the fullest by staying active. They also have taken seven vacation cruises.

For more photos of the event, visit facebook.com/FranciscanNWI.

To become a Spirit of Women member and to register for monthly programs, call (800) 931-3322, or visit FranciscanAlliance.org/SpiritofWomen.

Franciscan Alliance hospitals in Northwest Indiana include, Franciscan St. Anthony Health-Michigan City, Franciscan St. Anthony Health-Crown Point, Franciscan St. Margaret Health-Dyer and Hammond and Franciscan Physicians Hospital in Munster.

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. Anthony 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!

Free Program on Care, Treatment of Athletes’ Shoulders

Join us for a free seminar "The Shoulder in Sport: The Care and Treatment of the Athletic Shoulder" on Thursday, February 16, 2012, 6:30 p.m.- 8 p.m., at Franciscan St. Anthony Health's Sports Medicine Institute (SMI) at Franciscan Point, 12800 Mississippi Parkway in Crown Point.

The seminar will focus on a variety of topics including:

• Functional and structural evaluation
• Treatment options
• Injury rehabilitation
• Return-to-play
• Injury reduction techniques
• Diagnostic ultrasound demonstration

Presenters include:

• Keith Pitchford, D.O., Orthopedic Surgery
• Timothy Mullaly, D.O., Sports Medicine
• Frank Eksten, Director, Athletic Development at SMI
• Jennifer Bradsky, Physical Therapy, SMI
• Tracy Hall, Certified Athletic Trainer, SMI

A question and answer session will follow the presentation. Refreshments will be served.

Registration is required. Please call (800) 931-3322 to reserve your place today!

New Radiation Oncology Center Brings Patients Latest Technology, Best Results

Dr. Abdul Khan, Franciscan St. Anthony Health-Crown Point
medical director of radiation oncology, discusses the capabilities
of the hospital’s new Burrell Radiation Oncology Center,
during a blessing and dedication program Feb. 1.

Franciscan St. Anthony Health-Crown Point offers patients the latest weapons in the war on cancer with the new Burrell Cancer Radiation Oncology Center. A blessing and dedication program was conducted Feb. 1 for the unit, which is the new home of a state-of-the-art Trilogy Linear Accelerator (View video below). The device utilizes microwave technology to make treatment of the potentially deadly disease faster, more efficient and more effective, with fewer side effects for patients.

"Trilogy will offer patients more precise and shorter treatment times and assure better comfort and outcomes. Stereotactic body and cranial treatments will address problems faster," said Abdul Khan, MD, Franciscan St. Anthony Health medical director of radiation oncology, adding, "We can treat smaller areas with high doses of radiation without damaging surrounding tissue, and minimize side effects."

Stereotactic capability allows for minimally invasive treatment that destroys cancer cells while sparing surrounding tissue.

The Trilogy system’s clinical benefits include:

• Allowing for highest dosage rates in shorter sessions.
• Faster treatment times.
• Tight alignments that target the smallest of lesions.
• Rapid arc and on-board imaging, which allows for verification of accuracy of the treatment site. 
• Ability to reposition patients quickly, accurately and remotely.
• Patient setups are fine-tuned with ultra-precise, on-board, cone beam CT scans.
• A Real-Time Vision System to verify patient positioning for Stereotactic Body Radiation Therapy and Stereotactic Radiation Surgery. Trilogy will be used in conjunction with a treatment CT simulator also located in the department.