Franciscan Healthcare - Munster Web Site

Wednesday, March 30, 2011

Celebrating Our Physicians - Happy Doctors Day

We celebrate our physicians today, March 30 - National Doctors Day!

Franciscan Alliance salutes the hundreds of physicians who make its award-winning Northwest Indiana hospitals, St. Anthony Health - Michigan City, St. Anthony Health - Crown Point, St. Margaret Health Hammond and Dyer and Franciscan Physicians Hospital in Munster, and its numerous community clinics, among the best anywhere.

Thanks to our physicians' tireless, selfless and dedicated efforts, our hospitals continue to grow in stature and in quality with patient care and service the top priorities. If you work with a doctor, or see one in the hallway, in the elevator, or even in the parking lot of one of our facilities, take the time to say, "Happy Doctors Day" and offer a smile and a handshake.

We are grateful for all they do – for our loved ones and for each patient who depends on us for care.

Tuesday, March 29, 2011

Fighting Springtime Illness!

Most folks know how essential preventative maintenance is to a car or home. Without it, you're likely to incur large and unnecessary costs that could have otherwise been avoided. The same is said for each and every person's health.

Franciscan Physicians Hospital wishes to extend the following tips and information from Hospitalist Dr. John Szymczak to you for preventing illness this spring.

Dr. Szymczak states, "Some common illnesses we see in the spring include influenza, colds, hay fever and allergies, sinusitis, and upper respiratory tract infections, which often progress to pneumonia."

In consideration of why these illnesses occur, Dr. Szymczak says, "People are overworked and overstressed, and this leads to a weak immune system. Often times, people have increased contact with sick individuals during the warmer weather, and there is also increased humidity in the air. Combine these factors with the increased spread of mold and pollen, and this causes more spreading of infections."

To help prevent these illnesses, Dr. John suggests the following: "It's very important that you wash your hands often, and try to sneeze or cough into your shirt so that you don't spread infection yourself. Flu generally tapers off in March and April, but people with COPD and asthma have an increased risk for illness, so they should be extra cautious. Always maintain a healthy diet, eat regular healthy meals and exercise often. A combination of these measures will help you stay healthy."

Other suggestions from Dr. Szymczak include eating lots of fruits and vegetables that are rich in antioxidants, eating fish with omega-3 fatty acids (as long as you're medically permitted), eating green leafy vegetables such as broccoli and spinach, and maintaining an overall healthy lifestyle. Dr. Szymczak strongly suggests that people stay hydrated and avoid excessive alcohol intake.

Utilize these tips to help you and your family stay healthy this year. Remember, preventative maintenance on your body starts with you!

For more information on avoiding sickness and eating healthy, visit our online health library!

Thursday, March 24, 2011

The Triangle of Precision

Healthcare reform is upon us, and with the need to expand resources and limit spending, hospitals look toward administration and physicians to streamline the work done in their organizations.

Doing their part through Franciscan Physicians Hospital are Drs. Mark Kevin, MD in internal medicine, Sheldon Lewis, MD in internal medicine, and Anil Ranginani, MD in cardiology. These doctors work closely together to save lives in the Northwest Indiana region.

The process of treatment and healing for patients is often a long and challenging road. Drs. Lewis, Kevin and Ranginani challenge each other to dissipate communication barriers and improve the healing process for their patients.

Several systems allow these individuals to streamline their communicative efforts. Dr. Lewis, director of the Hospitalist program at FPH, notes, "We use CPSI, FPH's electronic medical record, to admit patients. We check off the orders that are needed, at which point the primary internist will call a consultant for assistance, if necessary."

Dr. Kevin notes that his work through the Hammond Clinic allows use of several computer programs. Communication through these programs helps coordinate the procedures and care taking place at FPH. "We keep close contact in regards to the patients," says Dr. Kevin. "Ranginani, Lewis and I discuss issues in terms of making sure things run in a timely and caring fashion."

Dr. Ranginani notes that consistent contact is always maintained, ensuring each patient is cared for directly. "We use many channels to communicate including page, text, email and phone calls. The severity of the situation determines the method of communication." He adds that "ease of communication expedites patient care. We communicate well and have a high level of confidence in each other in the quality of care we provide."

"While one of the biggest challenges is hands on discussion about the patient, it's also one of the most important aspects of what we do. The ease of communication and coordination of care allows us to quickly share our expertise and get the patient the care they need. There is a high comfort level knowing that we have immediate contact with each other, and with specialists in many medical areas," adds Dr. Lewis.

These three physicians are consistent in providing top-level health care. Their understanding of communication necessity is exemplified through the coordination of care they give to each and every patient.

"Between all of our actions, we're following the patient from beginning to end to make sure they recover to the fullest of their ability," notes Dr. Lewis.

Wednesday, March 16, 2011

FranciscanFit Mallwalkers Program Set for March 23

To help celebrate the new season, “Put Some Spring in Your Step’’ with a healthier diet will be the presentation topic for the next Franciscanfit -- Steps to Good Health monthly Mallwalkers program.

The free program, sponsored by Franciscan Alliance hospitals in northern Indiana and Westfield Southlake mall, is scheduled for 8 to 10 a.m. March 23.

The public is invited to attend a 9 a.m. presentation of the program theme offered by Joe Mishlove, a registered dietitian at Franciscan St. Anthony Health - Crown Point. Mishlove will share healthy diet advice, recipes and products to help users trim calories and increase nutrients in daily meals.

Blood glucose screenings will be provided by Angela Schoof (laboratory phlebotomist) and Sandy Walden (hospital point of care coordinator), both of Franciscan St. Anthony Health - Michigan City.

New Mallwalkers 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, call (800) 931-3322.

Other Franciscan Alliance hospitals in northern Indiana include Franciscan Physicians Hospital, LLC in Munster and St. Margaret Health - Dyer and Hammond.

Tuesday, March 15, 2011

Food Safety Preparation

It's important to cook food thoroughly and in a sanitized area, as we all know. But, do you know how to prepare that food, maintain that sanitized area and control the time and temperature? Franciscan Physicians Hospital offers the following tips to assist you in your cooking endeavors!

  • Be sure to use different utensils and cutting boards to keep ready-to-eat and raw foods separate.
  • Clean and sanitize all work surfaces and equipment after each task. Be especially cautious when working with potentially hazardous foods like raw chicken.
  • Prepare your raw and ready-to-eat food items at different times of the day. Consider making one portion of a meal in the morning, clean your utensils, and finish the rest in the afternoon.
  • Control time and temperature: foodborne illness-causing microorganisms are known to grow and multiply at temps between 41 degrees F. and 135 degrees F. This is known as the "danger zone."
  • Be sure to refrigerate food if you interrupted during preparation. This will reduce its time in the temperature "danger zone."
  • Rinse canned fruit with water if it's canned in heavy syrup.
  • Don't let grease or other heavy substances build up around your cooking area. These can trap dirt and germs.
  • Check your refrigerator temperature. It should be 40 degrees or less.
  • Before refrigerating a hot dish, let it cool down. Putting it in the fridge hot causes other items to be heated.

Utilizing these tips can help prevent foodborne illness. For more advice on cooking and food safety, visit the U.S. Food and Drug Adminstration site.

Monday, March 7, 2011

Heart Healthy Eating

Eating heart healthy foods can lead to lower cholesterol, blood pressure, minimized heart disease and an abundance of other benefits. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, heart disease is the number one cause of death for both men and women.

Utilizing the following tips for eating "heart healthy" can help prevent future problems with your cardiovascular system. By looking at your food consumption in categories, you can simplify keeping track of the foods you eat.

Meat, Poulty & Fish: Choose lean cuts of meat with fat trimmed like beef round, sirloin, or chuck; lamb-leg, arm loin and rib; pork tenderloin, leg or shoulder; all types of trimmed veal, except ground; poultry without skin; fish and shellfish.

Work to decrease your consumption of prime grade, fatty cuts of meat, goose, organ meats, sausage, bacon and hot dogs.

Dairy Products: Choose 2 servings a day (3 if pregnant or breast feeding) of skim milk, 1% milk, low-fat buttermilk or low-fat evaporated milk.

Choose low-fat yogurt, low-fat soft cheeses like cottage or farmer

Choose cheeses labeled with no more than 2-6 grams of fat.

Work to decrease your consumption of whole milks, cream, half & half, cream cheese, sour cream, and high-fat cheeses like brie, Swiss, American, mozzarella, feta, cheddar and muenster.

Breads, Cereals, Pasta, Rice, Beans: Choose breads like whole wheat, white, pumpernickel, rye, pitas, bagels, English muffins, sandwich buns, dinner rolls and rice cakes.

Choose low-fat crackers like matzo, bread sticks, rye krisp and saltines.

Choose hot and most cold dry cereals. Check labels for fat and cholesterol content.

For pasta, choose plain noodles, spaghetti and macaroni.

Any grain rice is good, and for dried peas and beans, choose split peas, black-eyed peas, chick peas, kidney beans, navy beans, lentils and soybeans.

Work to decrease your consumption of croissants, butter rolls, sweet rolls, and danish pastries.
Also decrease consumption of snack crackers like cheese crackers, butter crackers or any with saturated fat.

You'll further benefit by decreasing your consumption of granola-type cereals, pasta and rice prepared with cream, butter or cheese sauces and egg noodles.

Fats & Oils: Choose unsaturated vegetable oils, corn, olive, peanut, canola, safflower, sesame and soybean. Also choose margarine or shortening made with unsaturated fats listed above.

Utilize mayonnaise and salad/low-fat dressings made with unsaturated fats.

Decrease your consumption of high-fat frozens, high-fat cakes including pound and frosted, store-bought pies and most candy.

Also work to avoid potato and corn chips prepared with saturated fat, buttered popcorn and high-fat beverages like frappes, milkshakes, floats and eggnog.

Utilize these tips to help lower your risk for heart disease today! For more information on healthy eating habits, visit our A.D.A.M. health content!

Friday, March 4, 2011

Colorectal Cancer - Early Detection Saves Lives!

March is Colorectal Cancer Awareness Month. Colon cancer screening can detect polyps and early cancers. Such screening can detect changes that can be treated before symptoms develop. Regular screenings may decrease deaths and prevent pain caused by colorectal cancer.

Several tools may be used, either alone or in combination, to screen for colon cancer:
  1. The first method is stool tests that examine your bowel movements to check for blood. Polyps in the colon and smaller cancers often cause small amounts of bleeding that cannot be seen with the naked eye. The most common one used is the fecal occult blood test (FOBT). Newer stool tests are called the fecal immunochemical test (FIT) and stool DNA test (sDNA).

  2. The second method is a sigmoidoscopy exam. This test uses a flexible small scope to look at the lower part of your colon. Because it only looks at the last one-third of the large intestine (colon), it may miss some cancers. Most health care providers recommend that the stool test and sigmoidoscopy be used together.

  3. The third method is a colonoscopy exam. A colonoscopy is similar to a sigmoidoscopy, but it allows the entire colon to be viewed. You will usually be mildly sedated during a colonoscopy.
SCREENING RECOMMENDATIONS FOR AVERAGE-RISK PEOPLE
There is not enough evidence to determine which screening method is best. Discuss with your doctor which test is most appropriate for you.

Beginning at age 50, both men and women should have a screening test. Some health care providers recommend that African Americans begin screening at age 45.

Screening options for patients with an average risk for colon cancer:

A test called capsule endoscopy (swallowing a small, pill-sized camera) is also being studied, but it is not yet recommended for standard screening at this time.

SCREENING RECOMMENDATIONS FOR HIGHER-RISK PEOPLE
People with certain risk factors for colon cancer may need earlier (before age 50) or more frequent testing.

More common risk factors are:
  • A family history of inherited colorectal cancer syndromes, such as familial adenomatous polyposis (FAP) or hereditary nonpolyposis colorectal cancer (HNPCC)

  • A strong family history of colorectal cancer or polyps. This usually means first-degree relatives (parent, sibling, or child) who developed these conditions younger than age 60.

  • A personal history of colorectal cancer or polyps

  • A personal history of chronic inflammatory bowel disease (for example, ulcerative colitis or Crohn's disease)

Screening for these groups of people is more likely to be done using colonoscopy.

Recently there has been interest in several new screening tests for colon cancer, including checking DNA in stool samples and the fecal immunochemical test (FIT).

Source: ADAM Total Health

Thursday, March 3, 2011

Family Values: Bringing Back the Bond

Families are the stronghold of society and they help define who we are as individuals. As we face an unprecedented amount of choices and situations everyday, it's imperative that we remember our values. By instilling the moral and ethical values we hold dear into those we love, we're striving to make the world a better place.

At Franciscan Physicians Hospital, we demonstrate our organizational values patterned after St. Francis of Assissi (who was devoted to Christ-like care)through our patient care and how we treat visitors and co-workers.

Family traditions help hold families together. In our society, we often long for less chaos and a slower pace. Some of the staff at FPH provide the following family traditions as ideas for you and your loved ones to consider doing:

Judy Elwood, EAP therapist, says "Go on a yearly camping trip. This creates time when the family is together by themselves. Do anything that promotes laughter and fun together. Family is important because it gives us the opportunity to love and be loved."

Sharron Catania, human resources director, says "once a year, at the end of the year, we go around the table and we make a list of what we've accomplished as both individuals and family that entire year. We keep going in a circle until there's no more left and we normally get at least a page full of accomplishments. It makes us reflect on what we've done as a family and what we've done individually."

Dennis Goulet, IT manager, says "growing up we had family gatherings on the weekends that were beyond belief with so many cousins running around my grandmother's farm. We all pitched in and shared everything. When I was a teen I woke one summer night to our home engulfed in smoke. Everything was lost but we knew we had grandma's house next door. It was amazing to see family, friends and neighbors come together in the rebuilding. These are things that are important and I'm thankful to share them with my young family."

Rosa Alvarado, administrative assistant, says "I insist on family dinners without any cell phones in the dining room. That way the kids can't be texting or peeking at the phone trying to read their messages. I've also taught my boys to put down their cell phones when they're with family or friends. If you're talking to someone, that person is much more important than a text. Human communication is more important than technology and technology is not a good excuse for rudeness or replacement for a smile."

Kathy Radinovic, financial analyst, says "we go boating often. Every year in June, right after school is out, we go to our time share in Marco Island. We always drive there which gives us time to bond."

Lisa Leckrone, risk management director, says "It's a Christmas tradition for us to decorate the tree together every year. We each put on our own ornaments and drink hot chocolate."

The employees of Franciscan Physicians Hospital hope that their family value thoughts can be of assistance to you and your loved ones this year. With warm weather just around the corner, it's the perfect opportunity to get out and about with those you love!