Franciscan Alliance seeks volunteers for American Cancer Society study

Franciscan Alliance has intensified its war on cancer by becoming a local promotional sponsor of a national program aimed at curing the disease.

Franciscan Alliance's Northern Indiana Region has joined with the American Cancer Society's Department of Epidemiology and Surveillance Research, which is recruiting 300,000 adults nationwide, at least 400 of them locally, to volunteer for its Cancer Prevention Study-3.

"Because our current study population (of CPS-2) is aging, we must recruit a new study population for the next generation of research. This will pave the way to further advance our understanding of the lifestyle, environmental and genetic factors that cause and prevent cancer," the society says.

The first study began in 1959; the second in 1982. More than 2.5 million people have participated in the programs.
Some key findings of previous studies include:

• The effects of smoking and secondhand smoke, which led to the U.S. Surgeon General's warning labels on cigarettes, as well as numerous smoke-free legislation measures.
• The impact of obesity on the risk of cancer death.
• The link between aspirin use and lowering the risk of cancer death.
• The impact of air pollution on the heart and lungs, which led to stringent limitations on pollution proposed by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency.
  
  

Volunteers interested in enrolling in the new study may register online at www.cancer.org/nwindianacps3, or at enrollment events scheduled:

• Oct. 14, 11 a.m. to 3 p.m.:
  Merrillville Making Strides Against Breast Cancer Walk
  Hidden Lake Park
  6335 Broadway
  Merrillville
   
• Oct. 16,  4 to 8 p.m.:
  Franciscan Omni Health and Fitness - Schererville
  221 U.S. 41, Suite A
  Schererville
  
  
• Oct. 16, 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.:
  Woodland Cancer Care Center
  8955 W. 400 North
  Michigan City
  
  
• Oct. 18, 8 a.m. to noon:
  Franciscan Omni Health and Fitness - Chesterton
  810 Michael Drive
  Chesterton
  
  
• Oct. 18, 8 a.m. to noon:
  Southlake YMCA
  1450 S. Court St.
  Crown Point

• Oct. 19, 9 a.m. to 1 p.m.:
  Valparaiso Family YMCA
  1201 Cumberland Crossing
  Valparaiso
  
  

Volunteers must be between the ages of 30 and 65; can never have been diagnosed with cancer (not including basal or squamous cell skin cancer) and must be willing to make a long-term commitment to the study, which involves periodically completing follow-up surveys. Enrollment involves completing a lifestyle survey, signing a consent form, completing a brief written survey, providing a waist measurement and a blood sample.

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

Franciscan Physician Network expands to better serve patients in 3 states

Franciscan Alliance's Franciscan Physician Network has grown to include more than 260 doctors to serve patients in three states.

The expansion mostly includes physicians in more than 40 health centers and clinics in Indiana, southeast Cook County in Illinois and Berrien County in Michigan. Those facilities are under the auspices of Franciscan St. Anthony Health - Crown Point, Franciscan St. Anthony Health - Michigan City, Franciscan St. Margaret Health-Dyer and Hammond, and Franciscan Hammond Clinic and Franciscan Physicians Hospital, both in Munster.

"Franciscan Physician Network is the brand name of a regionally initiated and corporate-led effort to more closely align separate employed physician groups in the Franciscan Alliance Northern Indiana Region, as well as throughout Franciscan Alliance," said Gene Diamond, Northern Indiana Region CEO. "Franciscan Physician Network’s emphasis is on coordinating services to employed physicians and their offices, including, but not limited to, billing, contracting, recruiting, compensation and benefits."

Formation of the expanded Franciscan Physician Network officially took place in January.

Added Scott Bonnar, Franciscan Physician Network regional executive director, "Franciscan Physician Network is working to redesign care delivery. We are driven to provide the highest quality care in the region in a patient-centered and cost-effective way, with sensitivity to the high deductible health plans of our patients.

"We currently provide 42 clinic locations with two urgent care and three Franciscan ExpressCare locations to provide easy access to our service areas."

The Franciscan Physician Network sites also are enhancing their services through use of the EpicCare electronic medical records system, which provides physicians and patients faster access to information and a secure link between doctors' offices and hospitals.

Patients are able to access their medical records free of charge from physician offices and the hospitals through Epic's MyChart system, which also provides reference materials to help them understand their conditions and to answer questions. The system likewise allows patients to request or schedule physician appointments.

For more information on Franciscan Physician Network and a listing of physicians, visit: FranciscanDocs.org.

Follow Your Heart...

When you need heart care, how do you find the right provider? Throughout the region, physicians and patients alike turn to Franciscan Alliance. From minimally invasive procedures to open heart surgeries, they know Franciscan Alliance brings the best of technology and innovative advances. For the finest in heart care, simply follow your heart.

Senior Day at the Lake County Fair - August 6

Franciscan Alliance is a proud sponsor of Senior Citizens Day at the Lake County Fair, Lake County Fairgrounds in Crown Point.

Join us in the Seniors Tent on Monday, August 6, 9 a.m. to noon, for free health screenings and information including:

• Blood Glucose Testing/Finger Sticks (no fasting required)
• Blood Pressure Testing
• Body Fat Analysis
• Nutrition Information
• Senior Promise Program
• SHIIP
• Stroke Information
• Wound, Ostomy, Continence Information
• Rehabilitation Institute of Chicago

Also, in the Showcase Tent, come and check out these events:

• 9 a.m.: Goldtones
• 11 a.m.: Apple Peeling Contest
• 12 noon: Ladies' Red Hat Contest
• 7 p.m.: Rock & Roll Bingo

Hope to see you at the Fair!

Hospital, clinic to provide 24-hour care

Franciscan Hammond Clinic and Franciscan Physicians Hospital have teamed up to provide patients a convenient option for afterhours care.

Together they have developed the ‘Direct Admit Program’ allowing patients to be seen 24/7 when Urgent Care and physician offices are closed.

The process, utilizing night staff nurses at Franciscan Hammond Clinic, gives individuals needing care out of the emergency room where prolonged wait times can delay treatment.

Dr. Cynthia Sanders, medical director at Franciscan Hammond Clinic, states “Our Direct Admit program lets Franciscan Hammond Clinic patients avoid unnecessary trips to the ER, and having their complete medical history at our fingertips allows hospital and clinic staff to make quick and efficient decisions about their care.”

To be directly admitted an individual calls Franciscan Hammond Clinic after hours where they are connected to a night staff nurse. The nurse gathers the patient’s symptoms and contacts the on-call internal medicine physician.

If the symptoms warrant an admission, the physician will contact the Hospitalist at Franciscan Physicians Hospital. The Hospitalist can then review the patient’s chart and prepare for their arrival.

A Hospitalist is a physician whose practice emphasizes provision of care for hospitalized patients. Franciscan Physicians Hospital keeps a Hospitalist on-site twenty four hours a day, seven days a week.

During this time the nurse will call the patient back and assist them with coordination of transport to the hospital through an ambulatory provider, family member or friend.

Upon arrival the patient is admitted and seen by the hospitalist who can provide treatment and contact their primary care provider.

Patients receive care from Advanced Cardiac Life Support (ACLS) trained physicians as well as ambulatory transportation when necessary and minimal to no wait time.

The program will provide patients of Franciscan Hammond Clinic and Franciscan Physicians Hospital an added benefit of access to medical history through an Electronic Medical Record (EMR).

Through the EMR, clinical staff can review previous medical treatment, conditions, surgeries and testing, ultimately increasing the care received.

Tracey Franovich, vice president of operations and chief nursing officer at Franciscan Physicians Hospital, condones the new program.

“Our hospital and clinic leaders felt that a new, streamlined avenue was necessary to benefit our patients and treat their emergent needs in a setting where medical records and adequate staff are available at all times. This program is a solid step toward improved patient satisfaction and coordination of care.”

For more information or to reach a night staff nurse, call (219) 836-5800.

Free health screening fair set for August 4

The BIG SCREEN is coming!

Join us for our free health screening fair from 9 a.m. - 2 p.m., Saturday, August 4 at the Franciscan Hammond Clinic Specialty Center, 7905 Calumet Avenue, Munster.

Free screenings include (you must register for the following by calling 800-931-3322):

• Abdominal Aortic Aneurysm (requires fasting after midnight, August 3)
• Carotid Artery
• Hearing Screening
• Diabetes
• Bone Density

Registration is not necessary for the following free screenings:

• Scoliosis
• Blood Pressure

Also...come for the screenings...stay to meet Chicago White Sox pitchers Jesse Crain and Addison Reed! The Superior Ambulance Helicopter and District 1 Disaster Trailer will also be on campus.

Again...to register for screenings, call the Health Resource Center at (800) 931-3322.