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."

Back to School: What's in your child's lunch box?

It’s no secret that school lunch in America has its issues. Kids get the option of choosing pizza, fries, and chocolate milk on almost a daily basis. Although the kids may not have an issue with eating these foods every day, it can be very damaging to their health and development.

The nutritional standards for schools are improving, yet sugar laden and fattening options are still readily available in the school cafeteria. Many would say that the answer is to pack your child’s lunch from home. And although this may be healthier, it could be an even worse option as far as nutritional value is concerned if you buy the wrong foods.

Knowing what is truly healthy and what isn’t is the key. Picking up sugary snacks, fattening snack crackers, fruit in heavy syrup and sports drinks to pack in a lunch is comparable to buying flavored milk, fried potato chips, and a cookie at a school cafeteria. Baked snacks, low sodium lunch meat, whole grain breads, fruit, veggies, and real fruit juice are much more viable options when packing your child’s lunch.

Childhood obesity is still a major issue in the US. According to the CDC, childhood obesity has more than tripled in the past 30 years in America. Although in some cases genetics may play a role, most cases of childhood obesity occur from lack of exercise and poor food choices.

Setting a good example at home of what to eat will show your child that eating healthy is “the norm”. If children are getting nutritious meals while at home, choosing healthy options at school will be less difficult for your children. Almost every food distribution company is jumping on board with making America healthier and most brands now have a low sugar, low fat, lite, low sodium, or fat free option.

Here are some "tips to enforce good health" for your kids as they start the new school year:

• Encourage them to expand their horizons by offering incentives for trying new foods

• Try to fix a new meal at home that is appealing to kids like homemade baked chicken tenders instead of frozen or fried options

• Start reading the back of labels for how much sugar, sodium, and fat is in what you are feeding your children

• Eat healthier yourself -- Monkey see, monkey do!

• Take your child grocery shopping with you and let them pick out one of their favorite things to pack in their lunches

• Have your child bring home their school lunch calendar and go over it with them as to what options would be the best for each day

• Make a list of your child’s favorite foods and think of what healhtier options may be comparable

Educating your child from an early age on what healthy foods can do for you and what unhealthy foods will do to you should be a fundamental lesson from home. Whether your child chooses to buy lunch at school or brown bag it, having your child know what healthy options consist of is just as important as getting their homework done.

If you’d like to learn more about childhood obesity, please visit our Franciscan Physicians Hospital Health Library by clicking HERE.

Franciscan Physicians Hospital

701 Superior Avenue, Munster, IN 46321

(219) 922-4200

(866) 614-1777

Car Wash for Carmelite

Franciscan Physicians Hospital’s Service Excellence Committee will host a fundraising car wash Friday, July 20, from noon to 5 p.m. at the hospital, 701 Superior Avenue in Munster.

The car wash is donation-based and all proceeds will go to the St. Joseph’s Carmelite Home in East Chicago. The Carmelite Home is a residential treatment center for abused, neglected and abandoned children.

For more information, call Andrew Mullins at (219) 922-4200, ext. 5346.

Myths vs. Facts: What is true about cancer?

Different myths about cancer have existed as long as the illness itself. Different information from the internet, word of mouth, and other forms of media scares us into believing false claims about cancer and what causes it. Before worrying too much about your health, let’s take a closer look at some of the more popular cancer myths that exist.








Myth: Cancer is contagious.

Fact: You cannot “catch” cancer from someone who has it through any kind of physical contact. However, there are some contagious viruses that can affect the risk of developing cancer. Some of them include Hepatitis B, Hepatitis C, and the Human Papillomavirus (HPV).



Myth: Injuries can cause cancer later in one’s life.

Fact: This myth dates back to the 1920’s when doctors still had their suspicions about cancer being caused by trauma. The truth is, an injury is almost never the cause of cancer. Sometimes a tumor is discovered on a patient when they are visiting the doctor for an unrelated injury. But the injury itself did not cause the tumor. In a few rare cases, very severe injuries had increased cancer risk which is why this myth still circulates.



Myth: Deodorant and Antiperspirants can cause breast cancer.

Fact: According to the National Cancer Institute, there is no evidence proving that these products can cause cancer. Some have suggested that deodorant and antiperspirant contain harmful components that can be absorbed into your skin. Yet, these have not been proven to cause cancer. If you are concerned with this, you can choose products that do not contain these chemicals.




Myth: Pollution causes the greatest risk of lung cancer.

Fact: Although dirty air does contribute to lung cancer, the greatest risk of lung cancer is smoking. Smoking or being exposed to secondhand smoking, your risk of getting cancer in life is higher than anyone living in a polluted area. It is estimated that 87% of people with lung cancer is a result of smoking or exposure to smoking.





Before you believe what you hear from peers or read on the internet, check with your doctor about the validity to rumors about cancer. It is important to know your risks and further your knowledge about cancer, however believing everyday misconceptions can cause unnecessary worry about your health.

Should you or a loved one require oncology or hematology services, The Franciscan Oncology Center provides relief not only through personal understanding, but through the timely ability to see patients. The Franciscan Oncology Center is here to understand and care for patient’s individual needs and answer any questions that you may have. For more information call 219-922-4081.

Franciscan Alliance Employees Aid Tornado Relief

Local emergency responders from two Franciscan Alliance Northern Indiana Region hospitals joined tornado recovery efforts in southern Indiana March 9 to 15.

Lori Postma, deputy planning section chief for the District 1 Team, is a firefighter with the Lake Township Volunteer Fire Department and serves as medical care branch director for Franciscan Physicians Hospital.

Dustin Godbey, finance administration section chief for the District 1 Team, is a registered nurse with Franciscan St. Anthony Health-Michigan City.

Postma, Godbey and nine others were deployed March 9, following an Incident Management Team alert March 2 to assist in tornado response, relief and recovery efforts in the Henryville area of Clark County.

Primary mission of the District 1 team is to support on-scene incident command posts and serve as a multi-agency coordination center for response, recovery and relief efforts. The Northwest Indiana team worked as a mobile unit, supporting the Clark County emergency-management personnel.

Operation priorities included cleanup, relief for victims and communities, support for the safety and well-being of victims, volunteers and for responders in affected areas, and for management of donations and volunteers.

District 1 includes Lake, Porter, LaPorte, Jasper and Newton counties. Team members are from all areas of public safety, emergency management and response.

Franciscan Physicians Hospital Cares for Kids

MUNSTER | Dec. 19 marked the last St. Joseph’s Carmelite Home fundraising luncheon at Franciscan Physicians Hospital in 2011. Luncheons were held throughout the month of December.

As part of annual support efforts for the children, hospital employees raised $4,000, with all proceeds going to the home. Contributions came from luncheons, payroll deductions and donations.

“My staff is always very considerate towards the children of the Carmelite Home. Supporting them has been a part of our facility’s mission for some time, but we all see the importance now more than ever with the budget crisis they’re facing,” says hospital president Barb Greene.

Physicians and staff generally give presents at Christmas time, but with state funding cuts leaving the home in desperation, a collection was taken instead.

Sister Maria Giuseppe, provincial superior of the Carmelite Home, states “funding cuts have been our biggest struggle over the last year. State funding covers about 70% of our costs, which leaves quite a gap in providing for the children we care for.”

July 2, 2013, will mark the one hundred year anniversary of the E. Chicago Carmelite Home location. Further budget cuts are anticipated in the coming year.

“We cannot express our appreciation to Franciscan Physicians Hospital and the Franciscan Alliance for caring about our children in this great time of need,” says Sr. Giuseppe. “We thank them for allowing us to continue Christ’s ministry in our community.”

To support the Carmelite Home in E. Chicago, send a donation to 4840 Grasselli St., E. Chicago, IN, 46312, or come by in person.

Further support to the Carmelite Home and the community at large will continue to come from Franciscan Physicians Hospital, now a wholly owned, not-for-profit member of the Franciscan Alliance. The hospital, located at 701 Superior Ave. in Munster, holds a number of supportive outreach programs throughout the year.

To learn more, visit online at www.franciscanphysicians.org.

Brandy Egnatz, Service Excellence Member, gives the $4,000 check to Sr. Maria Giuseppe

Franciscan Physicians Offering Free Mammograms

Franciscan Physicians Hospital received $6,750 from the Indiana Breast Cancer Awareness Trust (IBCAT) to provide 100 free screening mammograms for underinsured and uninsured area women. Screenings are done at the Franciscan Hammond Clinic Specialty Center, 7905 Calumet Ave., Munster.


Franciscan Hammond Clinic Specialty Center, 7905 Calumet Ave., Munster

The grant, which will not cover the entire cost of the mammography screening, is available Jan. 1 to Dec. 31, 2012. Financial assistance will be provided by Franciscan Physicians Hospital to supplement the cost of the mammograms.

The hospital currently provides roughly 5,100 mammograms per year and is partnering with Franciscan Hammond Clinic to identify women who would not otherwise be able to afford a screening.

Participants will complete a survey that indicates possible barriers to testing, such as financial, education, social and cultural, among others. The information is integrated into the program planning to refine the process for overcoming barriers.

The project, developed by IBCAT, the Indiana Breast Cancer Awareness Trust, aims to identify and resolve potential and actual barriers for women attempting to obtain regular screenings. Franciscan Physicians Hospital will assist by providing more than 500 women education on breast cancer through multiple educational offerings throughout 2012.

Dr. Cynthia Sanders, vice president of medical affairs at Franciscan Physicians Hospital, states, ”Both organizations are honored to be recipients of this grant. We plan to make it go a long way toward ensuring that this very important, life-saving service is available to women who might otherwise be unable to have the studies done.”


Mammography Screening Machine

For more information about health events and screenings, contact Franciscan Hammond Clinic at (219) 836-5800.

About Breast Cancer

More than 39,000 women in the U.S. are expected to die in 2011 from breast cancer. According to the Susan G. Komen foundation, death rates have been decreasing since 1990 due to treatment advances, detection through screening and increased awareness. According to A.D.A.M. Total Health, roughly 12% of women will develop invasive breast cancer in their lifetime.

Franciscan Physicians Receives Community Safety Award!

On November 17, Franciscan Physicians Hospital received one of three Community Safety Awards for their work in emergency preparedness.

The awards were given by the Lake County Local Emergency Planning Committee, which serves as the liaison between industry and the local community and is accountable to the State of Indiana’s Emergency Response Commission.

A plaque of recognition, given by the LEPC, is located in the hospital’s west lobby.

The District 1 Hospital disaster drills took place on September 24, 2011. The full-scale exercise is designed to test the operational capability of multiple response functions, such as resource coordination, mental health, continuity of operations and risk communication.

Franciscan Physicians Hospital utilized volunteer participants, staged as patients, to simulate a variety of medical conditions relevant to the specific mocked disaster. The September drill scenario involved the detonation of a dirty bomb in three geographic locations in Northwest Indiana.

“We worked hard to ensure that our staff and physicians were prepared for a real life disaster, which was displayed during the scenario played out on September 24,” says Lori Postma, RN and medical care branch director at Franciscan Physicians Hospital.

Barb Greene, hospital president, states, “I’m very proud of our team for executing the plan in full detail as they’ve been trained to do. I am confident that in the face of a real disaster, their expertise and organization would prove successful in protecting our patients and staff to the fullest of their capabilities.”

Kevin Doolin, LEPC president, presents Lori Postma with the hospital's Community Safety Award.  

Disaster Training: Going Full Scale to Prepare for the Future

On September 24th, 2011, Franciscan Physicians Hospital will take part in a full-scale exercise plan that simulates a disaster, providing hospital participants with experience, knowledge and coordination to handle a large influx of patients should such a disaster occur.

The Federal Office of the Assistant Secretary for Preparedness and Response (ASPR) requires that emergency preparedness exercises be built on the Homeland Security Exercise and Evaluation Program (HSEEP). The exercise is designed to test the operational capabilities of multiple response functions, such as resource coordination, mental health, continuity of operations and risk communication.

The purpose and scope of this operation is to address hospital response elements to a massive surge in patients resulting from multiple detonations of radiological explosive devices in Northwest Indiana. Multiple hospitals and agencies across the District will coordinate and communicate response actions in a live, functional environment.

Five objectives exist for Franciscan Physicians Hospital:
1. Redundant Communications
2. Effective implementation of the Hospital Incident Command System
3. Surge Response, coordinating a massive surge of patients
4. Procedures to support family reunification
5. Mutual aid response for decontamination

To further the seriousness of this staged emergency, Franciscan Physicians Hospital will utilize mock "patients" that simulate a variety of medical conditions relevant to the specific mocked disaster. Each hospital will provide patient role play cards to the mock "patients" to act out various roles.

In planning the scenario for this exercise event, participants are asked to accept the details of the scenario, even if exact timing of the exercise does not correspond to the timing of events as they would actually occur. All hospitals participating in this exercise will be evaluated for their performance against the objectives and tasks set forth by the controllers.

Franciscan Physicians Hospital has employees trained at the state-level to provide direction and communication should a disaster ever occur. Several employees and administrators are trained twice a year through the Indiana State Department of Health and the Lighthouse Readiness Group.

Franciscan Companion Newsletter Receives Bronze in International Design Competition!

Franciscan Physicians Hospital is proud to announce that they are the recipients of a bronze award in the magazine category from Summit International Awards. Moran Design, of Hammond, IN, handles the layout, design, and distribution of the newsletter. They submitted it for the 2011 award competition. Thousands of submittions poured in from 22 countries with the Hammond design firm scoring among the very best with their creative entries.

The "Franciscan Companion" is a quarterly newsletter written and edited by FPH employees Andrew Mullins, PR & Marketing Coordinator, and Janet Rolley, Executive Assistant. The full color, family-oriented magazine features short articles centered around living a healthy, happy life. It also works to highlight healthcare services, community organizations, and fun facts, providing a well-rounded, friendly magazine.

Janis Moran, owner of Moran Design in Hammond, states "Receiving an award from Summit International, a permier arbiter of creative excellence, is truly a coveted honor due to its prestige worldwide. Our entries were creative opportunities for us, with the goal of fostering effective communications for out client-it's what we like to do."

Moran Design, a veteran in the industry, provides state-of-the-art graphic design, advertising, marketing, Web design, copywriting, photography and public relations services.

Summit International Awards, celebrating it's 17th year, is an organization dedicated to furthering excellence in the marketing communications industry. It administers three distinguished advertising and marketing award competitions throughout the year with the goal of raising the awareness of companies and individuals who have the creative and marketing talent to go beyond the ordinary.

"Winning a Summit Creative Award is a significant accomplishment," says Jocelyn Luciano, executive director for Summit International Awards. "The combination of our excellent judges and the tough judging criteria ensures that only deserving entries receive Summit recognition."

Franciscan Physicians Hospital offers a special thanks to Moran Design for their exceptional work in the design industry. Their ability to implement various themes and factors into a concept, while maintaining the goal and directive of the piece, sets them apart from the norm. The hospital truly appreciates all of the work they do.

To view the award, click here!

Glaucoma: The Blinding Truth

This January is Glaucoma Awareness Month, and Franciscan Physicians Hospital is here to provide you with some important information about the disease and how you can stay alert toward its occurrence. Dr. Karen Briggs, DO, brings us the following beneficial information.

What is glaucoma?
"Glaucoma is a disease of potential blindness. It is the #2 cause of blindness in the U.S. and the #1 cause in African American patients. Glaucoma is an elevation of pressure in the eye that destroys the optic nerve. The elevation of pressure causes minimized blood flow to the eye. The damaged nerve eventually kills the other nerves."

How long does glaucoma take to have a detrimental effect on an individual's vision?
"Each person is different. There are different types of glaucoma and depending on the individual, it progresses at different rates."

How many people in the U.S. have glaucoma, roughly?
"They figure that one in fifty people have it and don't even know. The number one age group is non-Hispanic white females above 80. The Hispanic population has emerged as especially susceptible to glaucoma. The chance of Latino individuals becoming blind is now equal to that of African American individuals. Macular Degeneration risk is the same as well."

What is the average age for acquiring glaucoma?
"Glaucoma can come on at any age, which is the problem. The misconception is that glaucoma only affects the elderly population. Patients should be screened much sooner than they often are. You should always have your eye pressure checked when you have an eye exam. Not every place takes eye pressure readings, which can be a mistake."

What are some early symptoms of glaucoma?
"Primary glaucoma, the most common form, has no symptoms until the patient has suffered such severe nerve damage that their side vision is affected. The goal in the United States is to catch that before it happens and the disease speeds up. Also, primary glaucoma has no pain, so it can't be physicially detected in the patient."

Can glaucoma be prevented?
"No, there is no prevention at this time."

How does someone with glaucoma treat the condition?
"in the U.S. the first role of treatment is eye drops."

What is considered normal eye pressure?
"Eye pressure below 21 with no nerve damage is considered normal. Unfortunately, there is a form of low tension glaucoma. People with this type have eye pressure in the normal range, yet they still face damage."

How is glaucoma diagnosed?
"Family history comes first. After risk and prevalence from family history is assessed, we take the eye pressure by dilating the patient and looking at their optic nerve. Nearly 50% of glaucoma is missed if you dilate the patient and don't take the eye pressure. Pressure can be normal at the doctors office, but it can also fluctuate from the time of day and from day to day. After assessing the patient's eyes, they determine if there is damage or not. If so, they do visual fields to determine side vision and many doctors now do nerve fiber analysis to measure the thickness of the nerves. They compare results with averages from age, sex and race."

How long does glaucoma treatment last?
"Each patient is different but almost always it's the rest of the patient's life. If surgery is successful, patients can stay off eye drops for a while, but they will eventually be back on them due to digression of the condition."

What are the risks and side effects associated with treatment?
"one of the risks associated with treatment is medication. Medications can cause increased pigmentation of the iris, dryness of the eye, and beta blockers can cause breathing problems in patients with asthma and COPD. Depression and slow heart rate can also occur. Patients have to be very forward about their medical history so that there aren't any confrontations."

As glaucoma treatment and research continues to expand, so does the knowledge of physicians at Franciscan Physicians Hospital. Dr. Briggs is exceptionally knowledged in glaucoma diagnosis and treatment. A special thanks to Dr. Briggs for the information she provided!

FPH President Named a Top Leader in the Hospital and Healthcare Industry

Becker's review recently released the "52 Women Hospital & Healthcare Leaders" list. It comes as no surprise to those who know her that Barbara Greene, Franciscan Physicians Hospital President, was included among the top women leaders in the hospital and healthcare industry.

Members of the list were selected for their accomplishments in leading healthcare and hospital organizations, including improvement of patient care, development of relationships between providers and facilitation of organizational growth.

Each featured woman was lauded by her colleagues for contributing significant value to the healthcare industry.

To create the list, the editorial team at Becker's Hospital Review accepted nominations for the most influential women in healthcare through the Becker's Hospital Review website and weekly online newsletters.

After several months of collecting nominations and researching the background of each nominee, the editorial team narrowed the contenders to a list of 50 top women leaders. Becker's Hospital Review repeats this process annually to ensure an up-to-date compendium.

Leaders do not pay and cannot pay to be included on this list.

Becker's Hospital Review is a Chicago-based publication focusing on hospital and healthcare news and business advice. The primary audience for the publication is hospital executives and healthcare industry leaders.

Congratulations Barb for all the hard work and contributions you make to Franciscan Physicians Hospital. Your recognition is well earned!

Award Winning Care - Franciscan Physicians Hospital Earns Top Ratings

HealthGrades, the nation’s leading independent health care ratings organization, published a study today finding that the Sisters of Saint Francis Health Services Inc. Northern Indiana Region hospitals are recipients of top national and state rankings, as well as 5-Star ratings, signifying performance above the national average for cardiac, orthopedic, pulmonary, gastrointestinal and critical care.

The nation’s nearly 5,000 hospitals were all included in the study, which examined mortality rates and complication rates from government data from 2007, 2008 and 2009.

Top-performing hospitals had dramatically lower mortality rates than other hospitals, according to the study. For the 17 procedures and diagnoses for which HealthGrades analyzed mortality rates, patients at top hospitals had a 72 percent lower chance of dying when compared with the lowest-performing hospitals, and a 53 percent lower chance of dying when compared to the U.S. national average.

Across all procedures in which complications were studied, there was an 80 percent lower chance of experiencing one or more complications in a 5-star rated hospital compared to a 1-star rated hospital.

Saint Margaret Mercy hospitals in Hammond and Dyer, Saint Anthony Memorial Health Centers in Michigan City, Saint Anthony Medical Center of Crown Point and Franciscan Physicians Hospital in Munster were recognized by HealthGrades for superior patient outcomes across a broad spectrum of clinical areas.

“The latest ratings confirm that we’re headed in the right direction, thanks to the tireless work of our physicians and employees, who renew their unwavering commitment to high-quality patient care every day. I salute them,’’ said Gene Diamond, Northern Indiana Region CEO.

He added Sisters of Saint Francis Health Services supports all efforts to make quality outcomes available to communities in the Northern Indiana Region and is pleased to announce receipt of the following HealthGrades 2011 awards.

Cardiac Care

Saint Margaret Mercy - Hammond

• Best in Region* and Only Specialty Excellence Award Recipient for Overall Cardiac Services in 2011 (*Gary, IN division as defined by the federal government’s office of Management and Budget).
• Best in Region* and Only Specialty Excellence Award Recipient for Cardiac Surgery for the second consecutive year, 2010-2011 (*Gary, IN division as defined by the federal government’s office of Management and Budget).
• Recipient of the Cardiac Care Excellence Award in 2011.
• Recipient of the Cardiac Surgery Excellence Award for two consecutive years (2010-2011).
• Ranked among the top 10 percent in the nation for Overall Cardiac Services in 2011.
• Ranked among the top 10 percent in the nation for Cardiac Surgery for two consecutive years.
• Ranked among the top 10 in Indiana for Overall Cardiac Services for three years in a row (2009-2011).
• Ranked among the top 5 in Indiana for Cardiac Surgery for two straight years (2010-2011).
• Ranked among the top 5 in Indiana for Cardiology Services in 2011.
• 5-Star rated for Coronary Bypass Surgery for two Years in a row (2010-2011).
• 5-Star rated for Treatment of Heart Attack in 2011.
• 5-Star rated for Treatment of Heart Failure for four straight years (2008-2011).

Saint Margaret Mercy - Dyer

• Ranked among the top 10 in Indiana Overall Cardiac Services in 2011.
• Ranked among the top 10 in Indiana for Cardiology Services five years in a row (2007-2011).
• 5-Star Rated for Treatment of Heart Failure five years in a Row (2007-2011).

Franciscan Physicians Hospital - Munster

• 5-Star rated for the Treatment of Heart Failure three consecutive years (2009-2011.

Orthopedic Services

Saint Margaret Mercy - Dyer

• Ranked among the top 10 in Indiana for Spine Surgery in 2011.
• 5-Star rated for Spine Surgery in 2011.
• 5-Star Rated for Back and Neck Surgery (except Spinal Fusion) in 2011

Saint Anthony Medical Center - Crown Point

• 5-Star rated for Hip Fracture Repair four straight years (2008-2011).
  

Pulmonary Care

Saint Margaret Mercy - Hammond

• Recipient of the Pulmonary Care Excellence Award three straight years (2009-2011).
• Ranked among the top 10 percent in the nation for Overall Pulmonary Services three consecutive years (2009-2011).
• Ranked among the top 10 in Indiana for Overall Pulmonary Services three consecutive years (2009-2011).
• 5-Star rated for Overall Pulmonary Services three consecutive years (2009-2011).
• 5-Star rated for Treatment of Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease For 3 Years in a Row (2009-2011).
• 5-Star rated for Treatment of Pneumonia four straight years (2008-2011).
  

Saint Margaret Mercy - Dyer

• 5-Star rated for Treatment of Pneumonia three years in a row (2009-2011).
  

Franciscan Physicians Hospital

• 5-Star rated for treatment of Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease.

Critical Care

Saint Anthony Memorial Health Centers

• Ranked Among the top 10 in Indiana for Critical Care in 2011.
• 5-Star rated for Treatment of Respiratory Failure in 2011.

Gastrointestinal Services

Saint Anthony Medical Center

• Ranked among the top 10 in Indiana for GI Services three years in a row (2009-2011).
• Ranked among the Top 10 in Indiana for GI Surgery three years in a row (2009-2011).
• 5-Star rated for GI Surgery three straight years (2009-2011).
• 5-Star rated for Treatment of Bowel Obstruction two years in a row (2010-2011).
• 5-Star rated for Cholecystectomy three straight years (2009-2011).

Saint Margaret Mercy - Hammond

• Five-Star rated for Treatment of GI Bleed in 2011.

The Thirteenth Annual HealthGrades Hospital Quality in America study, the largest annual report of its kind, analyzed patient outcomes from nearly 40 million Medicare hospitalization records over a three-year period.

HealthGrades’ hospital ratings are the leading objective, actionable quality measures based solely on clinical performance made available to the public.

HealthGrades Hospital Quality Ratings
HealthGrades rates hospitals independently based on data that hospitals submit to the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid services, part of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. No hospital can opt in or out of being rated, and no hospital pays to be rated.

For 26 procedures and medical treatments, HealthGrades issues star ratings that reflect the mortality and complication rates for each category of care. Hospitals receiving a 5-star rating have mortality or complication rates that are below the national average, to a statistically significant degree. A 3-star rating means the hospital performs as expected. One-star ratings indicate the hospital’s mortality or complication rates in that procedure or treatment are statistically higher than average. Because the risk profiles of patient populations at hospitals are not alike, HealthGrades risk-adjusts the data to allow for equal comparisons.

More information on today’s HealthGrades study, including the complete methodology, can be found at http://www.healthgrades.com/.

About Sisters of St. Francis Health Services Inc.
The Sisters of St. Francis of Perpetual Adoration began its mission in the United States with the founding of St. Elizabeth Medical Center in Lafayette, Indiana in 1875, and over the course of more than 125 years, Sisters of St. Francis Health Services, Inc., has grown into a leading 13-hospital Midwest healthcare system with 11 hospitals in Indiana and two hospitals in Illinois covering four regions.