CSU Pharmacy Students Expand Horizons

Franciscan Physicians Hospital teaches, learns

Vincent Williams and Debbie Ondimu

"This rotation has really opened my eyes. I'm enjoying the clinical aspect of the hospital," says Uzoamaka Adagbo, a sophomore pharmacy student at Chicago State University.

Adagbo is one of four second-year pharmacy students doing rotations at Franciscan Physicians Hospital. Students Virginia Diaz, Debbie Ondimu and Vincent Williams also work with the hospital’s director of pharmacy, Marva Cooksey, Ph.D., for their rotations.

As pharmacy students, they are required to complete two years of pre-pharmacy schooling, three years of pharmacy course work and one year of clinical rotations, before receiving their Doctor of Pharmacy degree.  With one year of course work left, their journey is well under way.

Virginia Diaz and Uzoamaka Adagbo

"The rotation at Franciscan Physicians Hospital has brought everything together in seeing how medications we work with affect patients," says Ondimu. Her rotation partner, Williams, agrees. "We talk about adherence in class, but in the hospital, we see that adherence equals effectiveness, which reduces the time inpatients are here."

Even with the latest technologies and electronic medical record, the atmosphere can be a challenge.

"If one thing is missing or one person fails, our job is compromised. That's why it's important that the whole picture come together to work efficiently in the hospital setting. Staff is exceptionally cognizant and supportive of that notion," notes Adagbo.

A high level of interaction between nursing, pharmacy, physicians and other health providers takes place within the hospital, notes Diaz. It's this interaction that provides the start-to-finish experience the students seek.

"Dr. Cooksey really teaches us the process of pharmacy operations from the starting point to the ending point. She interacts with just about everyone," states Diaz.

Says Cooksey, "I've been in the pharmacy business since 1983, having worked in retail, hospital, HMO, government and direct-mail settings. As such, my experience covers a range of bases and I enjoy teaching my students that they can be more than a one-setting pharmacist."

Despite a thorough approach to clinical management within the hospital, students are learning that barriers do still exist.

"In working with pharmaceutical drugs, we face barriers beyond the clinical spectrum -- things like having an interpreter when a patient speaks another language. We have to overcome that and make sure the interpreter says exactly what we're saying," says Adagbo. "That ensures the patient is taking the right medication at the right time."

The pharmacy student rotations are a two-sided mirror, with benefits reflected by the students’ knowledge and university-level research.

Diaz states, "We are constantly studying new pharmacy guidelines and we're always learning the newest medications and techniques at the university." Adagbo adds, "I feel that the staff learns things from us. It's a great way for everyone to benefit from the interaction."

Ondimu predicts great advancements for the group members, as they analyze operations and system development to better serve patients.

"I'm always thinking about what I can do, what I can change, to predict a better outcome. A lot of it is just processes, finding more efficient ways to manage the care."

Diaz adds, "People count on pharmacists for everything. That’s why we've chosen this field, to better serve patients both now and in the future."

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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.

Omni Health & Fitness Open House - March 18

Franciscan Omni Health and Fitness will host their annual Spring Open House on Sunday, March 18, from noon to 3 p.m. at the Chesterton location and from 1 p.m. to 5 p.m. at the Schererville location. Come "Catch the Spirit" as we celebrate at both facilities! We will be offering free tours of our state-of-the-art facilities, raffles for free memberships and prizes totaling over $1,000. Plus, the opportunity in our Grand Prize Raffle to win, a free Week at a Biggest Loser Fitness Ridge Resort. ($3,500 value!) Healthy refreshments and snacks are being provided by Radisson Hotel and Aquafina.

Brett Hoebel
Biggest Loser Season 11

Celebrity appearances by Brett Hoebel, Biggest Loser unknown trainer, Season 11, Jessica and Ramon contestants from Biggest Loser Season 12, and our local favorite celebrities: Courtney and Marci Crozier, contestants from Biggest Loser Season 11. Come out and experience a Group Personal Training Classes lead by Brett himself! The class will be offered at noon at our Chesterton facility (810 Michael Drive) and at 3 p.m. at the Schererville location (221 U.S. HWY 41, Suite A).  A Celebrity Meet & Greet will follow the GPT demo class at both locations. For a limited time, guests will have an opportunity to take photos and gather autographs.

The fun and excitement will not stop there. Omni will feature newly decorated Spirit of Women areas in both clubs. Guests will also be welcomed to stop in for a free Thin & Healthy's Total Solution Orientation being held at 1:15 p.m. and again at 2:15 p.m. at each facility and learn how this program has helped our members lose over 7200 pounds.

Omni Schererville will launch a new WATER IN MOTION class at 2 p.m. that members and guests are welcome to attend and participate in, so please remember to bring your suits!

Raffle drawings will conclude the day at both locations with winning entries being returned to the Grand Prize Drawing for a free one week stay at a Biggest Loser Fitness Ridge Resort to be held on Monday, March 19, at the Schererville location at 1 p.m. Celebrities Jessica and Ramon will pull the lucky winner.

March "Spirit of Women" Seminar - 10 Signs of Alzheimer's

"Know the 10 Signs of Alzheimer's: Early Detection Matters"

This introductory program provides an understanding of the difference between age-related memory loss and Alzheimer's disease.

For more information or to register, please call (800) 931-3322.


Wednesday, March 21, 2012
12:00 noon
Franciscan Physicians Hospital
701 Superior Ave.
Munster, Indiana
Third Floor Conference Room

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For more information about these events call (800) 931-3322. To sign up for Spirit of Women, visit franciscanalliance.org/SpiritofWomen and click your hospital or fill out our online form on Facebook!

Eating Right When Money's Tight - March 15

There are many ways to save money on the foods you eat.

Join Franciscan Hammond Clinic registered dietitian JoAnn Franczek as she provides tips on how to stretch your food dollars.

Thursday, March 15
6 p.m.
Franciscan Hammond Clinic - Specialty Center
3rd Floor Meeting Room
7905 Calumet Ave., Munster, Indiana

To register call (219) 836-3600 or (800) 279-8700.

Pediatric Sleep Services Now Offered

Pediatric sleep studies, entailing knowledge, screening, evaluation and treatment practices regarding sleep disorders in children, are often unspoken of.

According to Child Uplift, Inc., less than two percent of students with sleep disorders are identified, treated and corrected.

The Sleep Disorders Center of Franciscan Physicians Hospital, accredited by the American Academy of Sleep Medicine, is changing that silence for Northwest Indiana with a new location and pediatric evaluations introduced in February 2012.

Located in the second floor of what was previously Surgical Hospital of Munster, 7847 Calumet Ave., Munster, the Sleep Disorders Center provides a range of pediatric sleep disorders tests, along with their adult testing.

Sleep disturbances can represent highly common phenomena interfering with daily life and causing significant emotional, behavioral and cognitive dysfunction over time. Elevated occurrences of sleep problems in youth often coincide with medical conditions and psychiatric disorders.

Dr. Muhammad Najjar, medical director of the Sleep Disorders Center, states "approximately twenty five percent of all children experience some type of sleep problem at some point during childhood, ranging from short-term difficulties in falling asleep to more serious primary sleep disorders such as obstructive sleep apnea or narcolepsy."

Childhood sleep disorders, classified into the categories of dyssomnias, parasomnias and medical-psychiatric disorders, include sleep walking, bedwetting, narcolepsy, restless legs syndrome and others.

"Sleep is the only priority in our center," explains Najjar. "We have always aimed to be the best sleep disorders center in Northwest Indiana for adults and children by having a board certified physician and credentialed staff here full-time. We continue to be open seven days a week to address the sleep needs of Northwest Indiana in our new facility."

For more information, call the Sleep Disorders Center at (219) 836-7535.

Video Recap: Day of Dance 2012

Feb. 12, 2012: Franciscan Alliance's first Day of Dance event, as part of our new Spirit of Women campaign. More than 700 attendees of all ages took part in a myriad events, including dance instruction and performances, health screenings, cooking demonstrations and a vendors bazaar - all meant to stress health during February, which is American Heart Month.

Enjoy!