Outpatient Surgery latest to be named Most Valuable Team

Congratulations to Outpatient Surgery for winning Franciscan Physicians Hospital’s Most Valuable Team award!

Outpatient Surgery is a great example of what MVT is all about. The staff in this department have gone above and beyond in their everyday jobs to make FPH a better place. Patients and other staff members alike have been positively affected by the Outpatient Surgery team. From the Friends in Need luncheon to the surprise Founders Circle donation, the employees in Outpatient Surgery have truly pulled together to Make a Difference.

Thank you, Outpatient Surgery. Way to go!

Blessing program celebrates merger of Medical Specialists, Franciscan Alliance

Check out video highlights from the blessing and commitment ceremony for Franciscan Medical Specialists in Munster, Indiana.



Medical Specialists, a longtime Northwest Indiana health care organization of 69 health care providers who offer a wide variety of primary and specialty care services, has joined Franciscan Alliance, which has four hospitals in Lake County and nine others in Indiana and in south suburban Chicago, as well as numerous offsite specialty centers and clinics.

Wishing you and your family a Holy Advent and a Blessed Christmas

“You have made us for Yourself, O Lord, and our hearts are restless until they rest in You.”
(St. Augustine)

Dear Friends,

In every cell of our body and in the DNA of our souls there is always an ache and longing for something yet to come. We long for becoming a better person, having better health and being in better shape, a better home, a better community, better financial performance. Entertainment industry thrives on our longing for becoming leaner or more beautiful, winning The Voice, X-Factor, American Idol, Next Top Model or the Super Bowl…  We ache in a way that often leaves us dissatisfied and restless inside.

The Season of Advent, which begins this coming Sunday, celebrates that human longing and restlessness. It asks us not to deny them, but to enter them, deepen them, widen them. Longing shapes our souls in many ways. Longing carves out a trough, creates a space within us where something new can be born, where God can be born.

And Christmas is God’s answer to that human longing and restlessness. But God’s answer didn’t exactly meet our expectation. What our world expects is a superstar, someone charismatic, someone rich and famous, a superhero, someone with extraordinary talent, sharpness and muscle-power to out-gun everyone. God’s answer to that: a baby lying helpless in the straw – Jesus, our Savior! Like a baby, God does not out-muscle anyone, outgun anyone, threaten anyone, or overpower anyone. Instead, the power of God revealed in Christmas is the power of a baby, nothing more, nothing less – innocence, gentleness, helplessness, a vulnerability that softens hearts, invites us in, has us hush our noise, teaches us patience, brings us love, joy and peace, and calls forth what’s best in us. Such is the way of God in re-birthing a New You, re-creating a Precious You in His image and likeness. This is the message of Christmas.

As we continue Baby Jesus’ healing ministry in our Franciscan tradition, may we serve each other and our patients with a renewed vigor of gentleness, love, compassion, patience, peace and joy. Wishing you and your family a Holy Advent and a Blessed Christmas.

MISSION AND SPIRITUAL CARE TEAM

'Be Dazzling' appeals to Spirit of Women

Marci Crozier, regional director of marketing and sales for Franciscan Omni Health and Fitness - Schererville, served as mistress of ceremonies for “Be Dazzling,” a free offering of Franciscan Alliance’s Spirit of Women program, a community health education effort, which took place Nov. 8 at Sand Creek Country Club in Chesterton. Nearly 300 people were on hand.

Attendees took advantage of health screenings for varicose veins, bone density, blood pressure and blood glucose. Health information also was offered at a Dessert with the Docs segment. A photo booth and professional bra-fitting were available, along with shopping, gifts and refreshments.

Hurricane Sandy Receives NWI Donations

Franciscan Physicians Hospital employees Mary Beth Kosiba, Kari Wall and Robin Rossner hit the road Monday, November 19 in a Uhaul/trailer combination filled with donations and equally important, hope, for victims of Hurricane Sandy.

Hospital employees head out with the Uhaul/trailer
combination, both filled with donations.

A multi-facility collection of needed items brought in massive donations from canned goods and pet food to diapers and hand sanitizer. At the donations close, rental of a larger trailer was required to transfer the seemingly endless items.

"Over eight million people were affected by Sandy," says Kosiba, manager of the hospitals Sleep Disorders Center. "The basics we take for granted, they now need to survive. We can't thank the public and employees enough for their generosity."

Traveling together, Kosiba, Wall and Rossner headed to St. Vincent DePaul, a non-profit assistance organization located in Cincinnati, Ohio, where items were transferred and taken to victims of Hurricane Sandy.

Donations filled the Uhaul from floor
to ceiling.

Natalie Reisen, community outreach specialist with Franciscan Physicians Hospital, organized the collection. 

"In the aftermath we saw lots of people pulling together," says Reisen. "The worst is over; now we can help those affected get their lives back on track."

Rossner, who works at the Sleep Disorders Center, was moved by the trip. 

"The trip was a wake up call for me. Next time I want to complain or feel that I need something, I can think about those people who are sleeping on cardboard boxes, barely able to provide for themselves without the essential resources to do so."

Donations weren't the only provision given by by hospital employees and donors. Lori Postma, PACU charge nurse at Franciscan Physicians Hospital, attended first-hand to help those in need.

Postma, who departed November 9th, assisted victims in conjunction with the Indiana Department of Homeland Security.

"I appreciate all that the hospital does to help it's employees flourish professionally and personally," states Postma. "It has always been important for me to earn my right to breathe and I thank the hospital for allowing me to follow my own mission."

November is National Healthy Skin Month!

We all have it. We all wash it. We all take efforts to feel our best inside of it. What is it? This time it's not your car, it's your skin! And November is National Healthy Skin month, a recognition that provides us the opportunity to give advice on maintaining your precious human hide.

The American Academy of Dermatology (AAD), along with Franciscan Alliance dermatologists, continually focus on helping people keep their skin healthy. While a wide variety of methods exist, lets concentrate on the simple ones.

Generally speaking, the first thing a person notices is your face. It's important to take care of your face whose skin is often very sensitive. The AAD offers the following advice for the best way to wash your face:

1) Use a gentle, non-abrasive cleanser that does not contain alcohol.

2) Wet your face with lukewarm water and use your fingertips to apply cleanser. Other items (washcloth, sponge) can irritate your skin.

3) Resist temptation to scrub your skin. Scrubbing can lead to irritation.

4) Rinse your skin with lukewarm water and pat dry with a soft towel.
5)Apply moisturizer if your skin is dry or itchy.

6) Limit washing to twice a day and after sweating. Perspiration irritates the skin, so it's important to wash it off as soon as possible.

The face may often be the focus of our skin care, but with winter upon us it's important to take care of our body in its entirety. Here's some winter skin care tips for you to keep in mind as the snow begins to fall!

-Seek a specialist. A dermatologist or esthetician can analyze your skin type, review your skin care regimen and give you sound advice on the skin care products you use.

-Moisturize more! Use an oil-based moisturizer rather than a water-based one because it will provide a protective layer over your skin that helps retain moisture.

-Utilize a humidifier. Furnaces and space heaters blow hot, dry air through your home. Humidifiers get more moisture into the air, which helps prevent your skin from drying out.

-Keep it cool in the bath! Extremely hot baths, while pleasant in their own time, break down lipid barriers in the skin which can lead to moisture loss.

Your local dermatologists are extensively trained on skin care, skin disease and skin care products. By utilizing their knowledge and expertise you can keep the quality of your skin at it's best.

For more information on skin care tips during this month of skin health, visit www.aad.org or visit the dermatologists at Franciscan Hammond Clinic! Make an appointment today by calling (219)836-5800!

Franciscan Omni Health’s Crozier receives Indiana Chamber Volunteer of the Year honor

Marci Crozier’s dedication to sharing her inspiring wellness journey and her work on behalf of the Wellness Council of Indiana earned her an Indiana Chamber of Commerce 2012 Volunteer of the Year award during a recent ceremony at the Indiana Convention Center.

Wellness is more than a way of life for Crozier – it’s a passion. When the Wellness Council of Indiana was established in the 1980s, she was an early contributor and volunteer. She’s spent nearly 30 years working at Franciscan Omni Health & Fitness - Schererville, currently as regional director of marketing and sales. After chronicling her nearly 80-pound weight loss on the popular NBC television show, The Biggest Loser, she began empowering others with the story of her path to physical and spiritual health at speaking engagements and to Wellness Council audiences.

“There’s a word many people to use to describe Marci – compassionate. Combined with her wellness knowledge and experience, the sky is truly the limit when it comes to making a positive impact on people’s lives,” says Indiana Chamber President Kevin Brinegar. “Her dedication to helping others improve their well-being is simply inspiring.”

Crozier said the recognition extends beyond her, to Franciscan Alliance.

“It was my privilege to accept this recognition on behalf of the Sisters of Saint Francis, each and every one of them, and our Franciscan Alliance organization. When you are surrounded by such compassionate people, it just seems natural to want to give back. I am grateful for the opportunities that my position at Franciscan Omni Health & Fitness has given me to encourage and motivate Northwest Indiana and the state of Indiana citizens to want to live a healthier lifestyle.”

Endless Improvement is Our Committment

Franciscan Physicians Hospital and Franciscan Hammond Clinic aren't slowing down as the year comes to an end. Rather, they're charging forward with the implementation of myriad improvements and programs to solidify the safest, most convenient care for our communities.

How are they doing this? It's safe to say there's very complex processes underway throughout these organizations. Lets start by looking at Franciscan Physicians Hospital and the efforts taking place in the hospital.

Franciscan Physicians Hospital has recently gone through a strategic hiring process to build a comprehensive, highly-skilled nursing structure. The structure was designed to ensure that all work taking place is being done under an umbrella of care and accountability. This structure includes a variety of nursing leaders, including:

• Five House Supervisors
• Nurse Manager
• Nurse Educator
• Director of Patient Services
• VP of Operations and Chief Nursing Officer

 Working under the direction of the president and vice president these 8 individuals provide an all encompassing approach to patient care through safety, satisfaction and overall hospital experience. But that's not all!

Hospital risk management and quality personnel recently finished the development and implementation of a discharge packet which takes into account the specifics of each patient's needs. The packet, which is broken down into easily navigable sections, is populated with the patient's specifics including diet, exercise, medicine and followup appointments.

Through the discharge packets patients are able to reference any information they need in one place, rather than searching through a variety of items. Once discharged the patient can relax knowing their care is still of the utmost importance to our physicians and staff.

Yet another advancement being made in the hospital is an implementation of the EPIC computer system, a process that will take several more months but will yield unprecedented results through streamlined workflow, simpler scheduling, enhanced customer service communications and more. Through EPIC we're continuing to bring convenience to you!

Franciscan Hammond Clinic is also improving the patient experience through the development of a Direct Admit Program. The program, formed in conjunction with Franciscan Physicians Hospital, allows patients to call the clinic at any time outside normal business hours and speak to a night staff nurse. The nurse will note the patient's symptoms and call a physician who can determine if the issue warrants a direct admit at the hospital. Through the program patients avoid emergency room waits and charges, ultimately improving their experience while getting them the care they need quickly.

Together hospital and clinic staff put forward creativity and dedication to the improvement of your care. Next time you need care, it's great to know that Franciscan Physicians Hospital and Franciscan Hammond Clinic are right here in Munster, ready to serve you and your loved ones!