Join us now on Pinterest!

First Facebook, then Twitter...and now Franciscan Alliance - Northern Indiana has joined the social world known as Pinterest => http://www.pinterest.com/FranciscanNWI.

Join us as we share a collection of health tips and tools, infographics, videos and more. It's just another fun, engaging way to showcase our mission! Happy Pinning!

And remember...you can always:

• Find Us on Facebook: facebook.com/FranciscanNWI
• Follow Us on Twitter: twitter.com/FranciscanNWI
• Watch Us on YouTube: youtube.com/FranciscanNWI

Staying Connected During the Holiday Season and Beyond

Submitted by Jamie Monday, Clinical Therapist with the Employee Assistance Program of Franciscan Alliance - Northern Indiana Region

You walk into a restaurant and you notice a couple seated near you. And you observe that they really are not enjoying this opportunity to be together, because one is patiently waiting for the other to stop talking or texting on the cell phone.

It’s not that technology is inherently bad. It actually helps us connect with people in many positive ways. However, our electronic communication has become an easy way to escape genuine communication. Our ability to connect easily through the web, social media and through cell phones is causing many of us to forget the importance of conversation in developing strong relationships.

Through our relationships we experience laughter, companionship, teamwork, friendship, stress-relief, support, a sense of belonging, love, the list goes on and on. Investing in our relationships is crucial.

During this holiday season when you are spending time with family and friends practice working on interactions with each other that promote face-to-face communication. Boundaries like the ones below help establish a strong family value: When you’re with someone, that relationship is your priority!

Setting Boundaries for Mobile Technology:

1. No Devices at the dinner table - Dinner time should be reserved for conversation.
2. No phones at restaurants - We all need to find time daily to disconnect from all the information and reconnect with our families. Maybe even leave your cell phones in the car.
3. No texting someone when you’re both at home or in the same room - Don’t laugh it happens all the time!
4. No texting or talking about really important issues over the phone - This should be done face-to-face unless it is something that can’t wait. You can’t fully understand what that person really means unless you hear the tone of voice or see their face and a lot can be taken the wrong way.
5. Regulate use of devices on vacations - Set limits that force the family to interact with each other.

Find Us on Facebook!

Stay connected with all the northern Indiana hospitals of Franciscan Alliance on Facebook!

As a fan, you will receive the latest hospital news, breaking health news, videos, service line promotions, events and regular updates from St. Anthony Health in Crown Point and Michigan City, St. Margaret Health in Hammond and Dyer and Franciscan Physicians Hospital in Munster.

Our Facebook page also integrates links to our online Health Resources, Twitter updates, YouTube vidoes and our latest Blog posts.

We want this to be an engaging source for sharing information and conversing with the communities we serve as we continue to strive to provide the best overall care to our patients and their families.

"Like" us today @ facebook.com/FranciscanNWI!

And remember…you can also connect with us via Twitter (@FranciscanNWI) and YouTube (youtube.com/FranciscanNWI).

Latest Edition of Franciscan Focus is Here!

The Fall/Winter 2011 edition of the Franciscan Focus magazine is here!

In this issue:

• Treat Your Ticker - A proactive approach to heart health 
• Open Heart Surgery - Putting fear to rest 
• Hospital News & Notes
• Girls Just Wanna Have Fun - Introducing “Spirit of Women“

About the digital edition
Each page is viewable in an interactive, user-friendly format. As you read through the magazine, just click on the arrows to turn the pages and while you are on a specific page, you can…

• Print, bookmark, even make virtual notes on whatever strikes you. Just click on the Tools icon at the top.
• Share a page or selection of pages with your friends on Facebook, Twitter, email and other social networks, using the Share icon.
• Click on the links provided in articles to be taken directly to the corresponding website.

To get started, click on the "flipping pages" image or here.

We’d love to hear your feedback about Franciscan Focus! Feel free to email comments or questions to Julia.Huisman@franciscanalliance.org.

Check Out Our New Digital Newsletter - Franciscan Focus

Welcome to the inaugural issue of the Franciscan Focus magazine!

About the magazine
In this issue you will learn about the best and latest services offered at the Franciscan Alliance northern Indiana hospitals. You’ll also find information on events at our facilities as well as health advice from our very own experts.

About the digital edition
Each page is viewable in an interactive, user-friendly format. As you read through the magazine, just click on the arrows to turn the pages and while you are on a specific page, you can…

• Print, bookmark, even make virtual notes on whatever strikes you. Just click on the Tools icon at the top.
• Share a page or selection of pages with your friends on Facebook, Twitter, email and other social networks, using the Share icon.
• Click on the links provided in articles to be taken directly to the corresponding website.

To get started, click on the "flipping pages" image or here.

We’d love to hear your feedback about Franciscan Focus! Feel free to email comments or questions to Julia.Huisman@franciscanalliance.org.