Volunteers receive Most Valuable Team award

Franciscan Physicians Hospital congratulates its volunteers as the winners of this quarter’s MVT (Most Valuable Team) award.

This award is a Service Excellence initiative to honor those who demonstrate outstanding team services. The award is determined by previous winners; last quarter, the Outpatient Surgery Team won the award and nominated the volunteers this quarter. The winners have their picture taken and are on display in a large award board in the main lobby.

From assisting patients in the hallways to answering phones, guiding family members to their loved ones in pre-op and recovery, and helping with hospitality, there is nothing that the FPH volunteers cannot do to brighten someone’s day and add a valuable piece to our health care puzzle. Their generous dedication to helping others Makes a Difference!

THANK YOU, Volunteers, for your outstanding service here at Franciscan Physicians Hospital and for winning the MVT Award.

To learn more about volunteer opportunities with Franciscan Physicians Hospital and Franciscan Alliance, visit FranciscanAlliance.org/volunteer.

National Healthcare Decisions Day - Understanding Advance Directives

There may come a time when you or a family member is seriously injured or gravely ill. In the midst of shock and grief, you may be asked to make hard medical decisions. It is important for you to learn about Advance Directives, types and intensity of medical care, and to discuss the kind of treatment you feel comfortable with before you make those difficult decisions.

April 16 is National Healthcare Decisions Day…a time to bring awareness to the importance of advance care planning and communicating and documenting your healthcare decisions.

Understanding Advance Directives

Advance care directives allow patients to provide instructions about their preferences regarding the care they would like to receive if they develop an illness or a life-threatening injury and are unable to express their preferences. Advance care directives can also designate someone the patient trusts to make decisions about medical care if the patient becomes unable to make (or communicate) these decisions. This is called designating "power of attorney (for health care)."

Advance care directives can reduce:

• Personal worry
• Feelings of helplessness and guilt by family members
• Futile, costly, specialized interventions that a patient may not want
• Overall health care costs
• Legal concerns for everyone involved

Example of Advance Directives

• Verbal instructions. These are any decisions regarding care that are communicated verbally by an individual to health care providers or family members.
• Organ donation. This may be accomplished by completing an organ donation card and carrying it in your wallet. A second card may be placed with important papers (such as a living will, insurance papers, and so on).
• Living will. This is a written, legal document that conveys the wishes of a person in the event of serious illness. This document can speak for a patient who is unable to communicate. A living will may indicate specific care or treatment the person does or does not want performed under specific circumstances. A living will is not to be confused with a last will and testament that distributes assets after a person's death.
• Special medical power of attorney. A legal document that allows an individual to appoint someone else (proxy) to make medical or health care decisions, in the event the individual becomes unable to make or communicate such decisions personally.
• DNR (do not resuscitate) order. This states that CPR is not to be performed if your breathing stops or your heart stops beating. The order may be written by the person's doctor after discussing the issue with the person (if possible), the proxy, or family.

Recommendations

• In the event you choose to create a living will or special medical power of attorney, know specific state laws that may apply. Write the document to be consistent with your state's laws.
• If you have a living will or special medical power of attorney, provide copies for your family members and health care providers. Carry a copy with you in a wallet, glove compartment of a car, or similar location. If you have a planned admission to a hospital, take copies for the hospital to include in your medical chart and tell all medical personnel involved with your case about the documents.
• Consider the possibilities of the future, and plan ahead. Studies have shown that although the majority of people believe having some form of advance directive is a good idea, most people have not actually developed advance directives for themselves. Many people state that they want their families to make health care decisions. However, less than half of these people have ever discussed the issue and their specific desires with family members.
• These decisions can be changed at any time. However, if a living will is changed, everyone involved -- including family or proxies and all healthcare providers -- must be informed and new copies of instructions made and distributed.

The process of creating advance care directives may be difficult. It requires you to think about your priorities regarding quality of life and your death. Treatment options, and their possible influence on your quality of life, need to be fully understood and considered. Know the potential implications of choosing or refusing specific forms of care.

Discuss your wishes regarding advance care directives with your health care providers, family members, and friends. Review your wishes from time to time to remind everyone.

Source: A.D.A.M. Multimedia Encyclopedia

Pope’s decree of miracle paves way for beatification of Mother Maria Theresia Bonzel

On Wednesday, March 27, 2013, Pope Francis approved his first decrees from the Congregation for the Causes of Saints. Among them was a ‘Decree of Miracle’ acknowledging a miracle attributed to the intercession of the Venerable Servant of God, Mother Maria Theresia Bonzel, foundress of the Sisters of St. Francis of Perpetual Adoration.

This miraculous cure of a young boy from Colorado Springs, Colo. – who is now a young adult -- paves the way towards her beatification, which is scheduled to take place on Nov. 10, 2013, in Paderborn, Germany.

Mother Maria Theresia, was born on Sept. 17, 1830, in Olpe, Germany. She sought to combine the contemplative and active religious life through an unfailing commitment to Perpetual Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament and the works of mercy in the spirit of St. Francis of Assisi. Mother Maria Theresia died on Feb.6, 1905.

About the Sisters of St. Francis of Perpetual Adoration:
The Sisters of St. Francis of Perpetual Adoration continue to serve in education, health care, and other ecclesial ministries in Germany, the United States, the Philippines, and Brazil. In doing so, they follow in the footsteps of Jesus who spent His public life praying, teaching, healing and ministering to others. The Provincial House of the Immaculate Heart of Mary Province is located in Mishawaka, Ind. These Sisters serve in the Archdioceses of Chicago and Indianapolis, and the Dioceses of Fort Wayne-South Bend, Lafayette-in-Indiana, and Gary. The Sisters rejoice that this gift comes during their celebration of the 150th Jubilee of the Congregation and the Year of Faith. To learn more, go to http://www.ssfpa.org.

Caring for Carmelite Kids at Easter

Franciscan Physicians Hospital has a tradition of helping the children who live at St. Joseph’s Carmelite Home and this Easter is no exception. But, what started as a hospital committee project turned into a project completely driven by Facebook groups wanting to help.

Office supervisor and Franciscan employee, Brandy Egnatz, is part of the Service Excellence Committee at Franciscan Physicians Hospital and helped formulate the idea for the Easter basket donation. To make the most out of the project, she decided to write a post requesting donated Easter items in two different Facebook groups she belongs to. One post went to went to a group of over 3,000 northwest Indiana moms and the other was for the town of Lowell.

Egnatz coordinated the project when she started getting an outpouring of Facebook members who wanted to help in the mission.

“I told them what I was doing and I asked for donations. Then I bought the baskets and the next thing you know, I had everything to fill them!” Egnatz said. “I met the women to collect the donations and with the help of my mom, Vickie Loeber (whom is also a Franciscan employee) and my babysitter Kris Holsti, we filled the baskets”.

Delivery of the gifts took place Thursday March 14th, during which time a basket with each child’s name was provided. Baskets contained stuffed animals, candy, toys and books that were all age appropriate for each child. Over 65 baskets were made and delivered.

Egnatz commented on why this project was so important to her. “I just wanted the children to have something to open on Easter. I have three kids and couldn’t imagine them not having a basket to wake up to. I just wanted to make them happy”.

For information on supporting the mission of the St. Joseph’s Carmelite Home, visit www.carmelitehome.org or call (219)397-1085.

About the St. Joseph’s Carmelite Home

Since its establishment nearly 100 years ago, the Carmelite Home has been a refuge for neglected and abused children from birth to age 18. Known for having the highest outcomes in Indiana, children of the Carmelite Home are successfully integrated back into the community. The nonprofit organization for family and child services offers comprehensive care with a residential treatment center and emergency shelter so no child will be homeless.

MAMMOthon - Grab the girls and go!

You know MAMMOGRAMS are the best defense you and your best gal pals have against breast cancer.

Make an appointment for your next screening mammogram during the Franciscan Alliance MAMMOthon.

Chat it up with the girls. We have refreshments, prize drawings (chance to win an iPad mini!) and chair massages (availability limited). Make a day of it. Reserve your spot today!

MARCH 20

6 AM - 7 PM
FRANCISCAN ST. ANTHONY HEALTH
301 West Homer Street • Michigan City
Appointments: (219) 877-1980

APRIL 17

9 AM - 6:30 PM
FRANCISCAN HAMMOND CLINIC
A department of Franciscan Physicians Hospital
7905 Calumet Avenue • Munster
Appointments: (219) 836-3600
Physician referral required.

APRIL 19

7 AM - 7 PM
FRANCISCAN ST. MARGARET HEALTH
5454 Hohman Avenue • Hammond
Appointments: (219) 933-2635

APRIL 19

6 AM - 7:30 PM
FRANCISCAN ST. ANTHONY HEALTH
1201 S. Main Street • Crown Point
Appointments: (219) 757-6250

APRIL 25

7 AM - 7 PM
FRANCISCAN ST. MARGARET HEALTH
24 Joliet • Dyer
Appointments: (219) 933-2635

Most insurances accepted. Physician referral required only at the Franciscan Hammond Clinic location. A limited number of appointments are available.

Video: Spirit of Women - Day of Dance 2013

Feb. 10, 2013: Franciscan Alliance's second annual Day of Dance event, as part of our Spirit of Women campaign. More than 900 joined us at the Radisson Hotel at Star Plaza in Merrillville to "Get Their Dance On" and focus on women's health through a myriad of events, including dance instruction and performances, health screenings and discussions with local doctors.

This Winter - Bury Your Heart Attack Risk

It’s not uncommon to hear one say that another has a “cold heart.” This winter, Franciscan Physicians Hospital is providing some tips to keep you from having a “cold heart,” quite literally.

The combination of shoveling and typical winter temperatures causes a significant increase in heart attacks with heart attack deaths tripling among men 35 to 49 years old, says Daniel Forman, MD, Brigham and Women’s Hospital cardiologist.

With a heightened risk to you and your health in the winter season, it’s important to review the symptoms and signs of a heart attack so that you’re aware if you’re having one.
The American Heart Association lists these prominent symptoms that should be recognized and treated immediately:

• chest discomfort that lasts more than a few minutes or goes away and comes back
• discomfort in other areas of the upper body including the arms, neck, jaw, back, or stomach
• shortness of breath with or without discomfort
• other signs that include breaking out in a cold sweat, nausea or lightheadedness

Be aware of the signs and symptoms for the safety of you and your loved ones. Now take a look at some common tips from the American Heart Association to reduce the stress on your heart while shoveling snow.

• Don’t eat a heavy meal prior to or soon after shoveling. This puts an extra load on your heart.
• Take frequent breaks during shoveling so that you don’t overstress your heart.
• Use a small shovel or consider a snow blower.
• When possible, simply push the snow instead of lifting it.
• Learn the heart attack warning signs and listen to your body. Even if you’re not sure it’s a heart attack, have it checked out. Don’t wait more than five minutes to call 9-1-1.
• Don’t drink alcohol before or immediately after shoveling. Alcohol produces a sense of warmth and may cause an underestimation of the strain that the cold is having on your body.
• Consult your doctor prior to the first anticipated snowfall to assess your risk of heart attack.
• Know the dangers of hypothermia. Heart failure causes the most deaths in hypothermia, so be sure to dress warm.

Utilizing these tips will help you to avoid a heart attack from snow shoveling. Whenever possible, utilize alternate methods for removing snow such as plowing, snow blowing or asking a neighbor to help out. Minimizing the strain on your heart will minimize the risk your heart endures.