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2. welfare
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FALL / WINTER 2008
Child Life experts
reduce fear for
children and families
Memorial Hospital
Winner
www.qualityoflife.org
FdHDFA0839.indd 01
8/26/08 4:50:33 PM
FALL / WINTER 2008
Now Playing…
Child Life experts reduce fear for
children and families
CONTENTS
3-5 News Briefs
Scrambled Egg Burritos
Diet Dos
Bean Palooza
Celebrating a New Partnership
Mini-Medical School
Address Confidentiality Program
The RedZone
MMG Welcomes New Doctors
Expo for Women
A New Resource
6
6 Now Playing…
Responding to Risk
Child Life experts reduce fear for children and families
One woman’s passion
for early detection
7 Know the Warning Signs
Vicki Achor’s sister did, and saved her life
8-9 Responding to Risk
One woman’s passion for early detection
8-9
10 A View of the Future
New corneal transplant procedure transforms lives
Celebrating New Life
1a-8a Donors
A Thanksgiving Day miracle
Memorial Health Foundation recognizes its generous benefactors
11 Celebrating New Life
A Thanksgiving Day miracle
12-13 Memorial’s Health & Lifestyle Center
Making strides for a lifetime of health
14 A Nurse’s Instincts
11
15 Memorial Home Care’s 25th Anniversary
16-17 Pediatric Hospitalists
Pediatric
Hospitalists
A new standard of care for children
A new standard of
care for children
18 Your Best Defense
What you must know about colon cancer
19 Classes & Services
16-17
On the cover:
Certified Child Life Specialist Becky Emmert, teaches patients
what to expect from their upcoming surgery or procedure.
PULSE is a biannual publication of Memorial Health System. Memorial Health System is a community-owned health care system providing services for people and families throughout
Michiana. Philip A. Newbold, President & CEO; Cheryl Wibbens, M.D., Medical Director; Maggie Scroope, Print Publications Coordinator; Dayna Bammerlin, Designer; Kelley Taghon, Designer.
Memorial Health System, 615 N. Michigan St., South Bend, IN 46601. 574-647-6800, www.qualityoflife.org. Copyright © 2008 by McMurry. All rights reserved. Information in this publication
is not intended for the purpose of diagnosing or prescribing. Consult your physician before undertaking any form of medical treatment and/or advice contained in this publication. If you
are receiving multiple copies, need to change your mailing address or do not wish to receive this publication, please send your mailing label(s) and the updated information to McMurry,
1010 E. Missouri Ave., Phoenix, AZ 85014. 888-626-8779.
Memorial Health System • 574-647-6800
FdHDFA0839.indd 02
Printed on recycled paper
8/26/08 4:50:52 PM
Scrambled Egg Burritos
Whether for a tasty breakfast to kick off your day
Ingredients
a 10-inch nonstick skillet over medium-
or a satisfying meal for after work, these burritos
4 9-inch whole-wheat flour tortillas
low heat. Add chiles and cook, stirring,
deliver protein, complex carbohydrates and loads of
4 large eggs
for 1 minute. Add eggs and cook, stirring
vitamins and minerals. They’re sure to win fans for
∞⁄◊ teaspoon salt, or to taste
slowly with a wooden spoon or heat-
their taste—and for the simplicity and little time
Freshly ground pepper to taste
proof rubber spatula, until soft, fluffy
required to make them.
1 teaspoon extra-virgin olive oil
curds form, 1∞⁄∏ to 2∞⁄∏ minutes.
14-ounce can chopped green chiles
To serve, divide eggs evenly among
∞⁄∏ cup grated Cheddar or
the tortillas. Sprinkle each with about
Pepper Jack cheese
2 tablespoons cheese and roll up. Serve
2 cups salsa
with salsa and sour cream.
∞⁄¬ cup reduced-fat sour cream
Nutritional Information
Directions
Makes 4 servings; per serving: 328 calories,
Preheat oven to 350°F. Wrap tortillas in
5 g fat, 35 g carbohydrate, 18 g protein.
foil and heat in the oven for 5 to
in a medium bowl with a fork. Heat oil in
Diet Dos
Often, it’s preparation (or lack of it) that causes us to make poor food choices. Here are ideas
for next time a poor food choice stares you in the face.
!
WHEN YOU WANT THIS
REACH FOR THIS
SAVE
GAIN
low-fat flavored yogurt
nonfat plain yogurt
with applesauce or blueberries
20 grams of simple sugars
and resulting sugar crash
consistent blood
sugar levels; vitamins
and minerals from
real fruit
a can of tomato soup
homemade soup from cooked
tomatoes (2/3 c) and onion
(1 sliced), skim milk (1/2 c), garlic
(1 clove), whole-wheat flour
(1 tsp), butter (1 tsp), basil and
oregano to taste—all pureed
500 mg or more sodium
found in most processed
soups, artificial flavorings
and preservatives
vitamins, minerals
and antioxidants in
natural food
a bagel sandwich with
cream cheese and turkey
a turkey sandwich on whole
wheat bread with low-fat mayo
topped with tomatoes, cucumber
slices and sprouts
100 calories and
10 grams of fat
betacarotene and
vitamins C and E
from the vegetables;
consistent blood
sugar from whole
grains
TAKE CHARGE OF YOUR HEALTH!
Memorial’s Health Discovery Center offers free blood pressure, body fat, BMI,
weight and height screenings. Other services are also available for a small fee.
Call 574-647-6800.
Source/Photo: The American Diabetes Association
Cookbook from the Countryman Press/W.W. Norton
& Company Inc.
Bean
Palooza
Did you know that
many types of legumes
(such as black, pinto and
kidney beans and lentils) have
more antioxidants than other
foods, even some fruits?
Packed with complex carbohydrates, protein, fiber,
antioxidants, vitamins, phytochemicals (that help prevent
cancer) and minerals, beans
offer a serious nutritional
boost. Here are three ways
to eat more of them:
1
2
3
Include them in salads
and soups.
Enjoy a beans and rice
(preferably wild or brown
rice) night every week.
Make healthy yet delicious
burritos with whole grain
tortillas, beans, rice,
avocado, spinach, bell
peppers and salsa.
FALL / WINTER 2008 › www.qualityoflife.org
10 minutes. Blend eggs, salt and pepper
03
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8/26/08 4:51:24 PM
Celebrating a
New Partnership
PULSE › Memorial Health System › 574-647-6800
Memorial has joined the network of
more than
60 hospitals
in Indiana
who rely on
Indiana Blood
Center for blood and blood
components. The relationship ensures
Memorial will meet its patients’ need
for some 800 units of blood and
blood components each month as well
as provide access to 24-hour
physician counsel with transfusion
specialists, advanced blood
compatibility testing, Indiana’s bone
marrow registry and technical
education for lab and medical staff.
Mini-Medical School
For the 14th year, Memorial’s
Department of Medical Education
offered a series of lectures on the
hottest topics in medicine. Physicians
and university and medical school
professors presented on issues such
as the athletic steroid scandal, food
allergies, the Human Papillomavirus
and premenstrual syndrome. This
series, presented by Memorial Hospital
and the Indiana University School of
Medicine-South Bend, is free of
charge and open to the public.
Address
Confidentiality
Program
In 2007 alone, 75 deaths
were attributed to domestic
violence in Indiana. The
Office of the Indiana
Attorney General, along with
the support of local social
service organizations
including Memorial Hospital
of South Bend, assists
Christina Oleksak, R.N., prepares medications in the
victims of violence, stalking
RedZone on 11 South.
and sexual assault through a
new Address Confidentiality Program.
The program works in this manner:
Participants are assigned confidential
addresses. Mail received at these
addresses is sent to the Attorney
General’s office for processing. The
mail is then forwarded to the victims’
actual homes. Eligible persons must
have a protective order in place, be a
victim of domestic violence and fear
for their safety.
In spring 2008, Memorial Hospital
held a press conference announcing
the expansion of this program. Also in
attendance: Steve Carter, Attorney
General; Linda Baechle, executive
director of the YWCA of St. Joseph
County; Peter Morgan, executive
director of the Family Justice Center of
St. Joseph County; and Mike Dvorak,
St. Joseph County Prosecutor’s Office.
“While we hope there aren’t many
people in Indiana who need this
program, we are concerned that
there are many who could benefit
from this service,” says Attorney
General Steve Carter.
The RedZone
Safety. Efficiency. Innovation. These
are principles Memorial lives by.
It’s also an important part of the
Memorial culture to strive to make
Memorial even more safe and
efficient—to make this an even
better place to work.
Developed as a WOW! Project,
the team on 11 South imagined a
better way to ensure the safe and
timely delivery of medications. The
RedZone (a room with all of the
supplies to prepare medications)
allows for uninterrupted medication
preparation, helping to reduce
costly errors. No one is allowed to
disturb or interfere with anyone in
the RedZone.
“The RedZone has increased
efficiency, reduced the number of
medication errors, improved
patient safety, decreased noise in
the hallways and increased staff
satisfaction,” says Jennifer Pierce,
director of 11 South.
04
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8/26/08 4:51:50 PM
NEWS BRIEFS
Memorial Medical Group Welcomes New Doctors
If you’re looking for a family
doctor, or would like a
complete list of Memorial
Medical Group physicians,
please visit www.qualityoflife.org
and click on “Find a Physician.”
We would be glad to help you
and your family meet your
health care needs.
Melissa Asgaonkar, M.D.
Kate Dutkiewicz, M.D.
Jason Grove, DPM
Pediatric Hospitalist
Memorial Hospital
Pediatric Hospitalist
Memorial Hospital
Podiatry
Main Street Medical Group &
LaPorte Medical Group
Carol Luzzi, M.D.
Raman Mitra, M.D., Ph.D.
Rodolfo San Juan Jr., M.D.
Behavioral & Developmental
Pediatrics
Electrophysiology
Advanced Cardiovascular Institute
Family Medicine
LaPorte Medical Group
Memorial Medical Group is
an affiliate of Memorial
Health System.
Hildi Santo Tomás, popular designer
on TLC’s “Trading Spaces,” shared her
unique approach to interior design and
a woman’s wellbeing at the 2008
Expo for Women. The Expo attracted
hundreds of local women and families
to the Century Center for great health
information from Memorial’s Health
Pavilion, which included free breast
exams, and information from the
Memorial Regional Breast Care Center,
Weight Loss & Bariatric Surgery
Center, Sleep Disorders Center,
Regional Childbirth Center, the
Health Discovery Center and more.
This year’s Expo coincided with the
2008 Spirit of Women Awards.
Awards celebrating outstanding
contributions to our community were
received by Sandra Brown, M.D.,
(Health Care Award), Robin Clark
(Community Award) and Alexandra
Holderman (Youth Award).
Hildi Santo Tomás
joins Roxanne
Hamilton of
Memorial Home
Care in displaying
DNA artwork at
the 2008 Expo for
Women.
A New Resource
For 24-hour access to sign language
interpretation while at Memorial Hospital,
physicians and nonhearing patients can
now request Language Line® Video
Interpreting Service.
Similar to an IV pole, this system consists of
a TV monitor on a 4’ pole that can be
wheeled to any department. An off-site
sign interpreter can see the caregiver and
patient, as well as hear what our physicians,
nurses and staff are saying and sign back
their instructions to the patient. This system
provides instant access to certified
American Sign Language interpreters,
anytime, anywhere inside the hospital.
This system complements Memorial’s
Spanish and French interpreters and
translators and the telephonic
interpretation of 121 different languages
that is also available 24 hours a day. To
learn more, call 574-647-6796.
FALL / WINTER 2008 › www.qualityoflife.org
Expo for Women
05
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8/26/08 4:52:05 PM
Child Life experts reduce fear for children and families
A visit to the hospital can be scary for
anyone. For children, even a “routine”
hospitalization can feel stressful.
Child Life Specialists
work with children, their
families and the health
care team to:
• Ease a child’s fear with
therapeutic play
• Encourage support for children
undergoing tests, surgeries and
other procedures
• Advocate for family-centered care
• Coordinate special events
and entertainment
• Meet the needs of siblings
affected by a child’s
hospitalization
• Support families experiencing grief
• Provide education for parents
and members of the child’s
health care team
Source: Child Life Council
FdHDFA0839.indd 06
Certified Child Life Specialists (CCLS) use
their special skills to help ease the anxiety
of children and their families experiencing
health care or other life-altering events,
such as surgery or the illness or death of a
loved one. Memorial Children’s Hospital’s
Child Life program is the only one of its
kind in Northwest Indiana.
“We help children adjust to being in the
hospital by providing emotional and
developmental support to both them and
their families,” says Tracy Byler, CCLS,
Child Life program coordinator.
Child Life Specialists also recognize and
celebrate the important role of play in the
life of a child. Through therapeutic play,
children learn what may happen to them
and master their medical experiences.
Understanding that a child’s wellbeing
depends on the support of their family,
Child Life Specialists provide information,
support and guidance to parents, siblings,
and other family members. They also
play a vital role in educating caregivers,
administrators, and the general public
about the needs of children under stress.
“One of our main goals is to promote
normalcy to help kids feel control
over their situation,” says Alison Credi,
Certified Child Life Specialist.
Just two years since its inception, the
Child Life program at Memorial has
grown considerably. In fact, the team
welcomed their fourth specialist, Tina
Tropp. The team has helped provide
exceptional health care experiences to
children (from infants to 18 years of age)
and their families by providing specialized
services to patients in general pediatrics,
pediatric intensive care, radiology,
the emergency department, pediatric
hematology/oncology and the Newborn
Intensive Care Unit.
“We work closely with children and their
families to reduce anxiety and increase
understanding of their hospitalization
through teaching and medical play
activities,” says Becky Emmert, Certified
Child Life Specialist. “Child Life is an
important part of any child’s stay
here at Memorial.”
Memorial’s Child Life program appreciates the
generosity of the community to help provide
arts and crafts material, games, books, toys
and much more. If you would like to help,
please call 574-647-6334.
8/26/08 4:52:30 PM
(from left) Nancy Moore, R.N.;
Gerard Duprat, M.D.;
Kathleen Swanson, R.T.
Know the
Warning Signs
Vicki
Vicki Achor’s sister did,
and saved her life
Knowing the warning signs
of stroke—and acting
quickly—saves lives!
to be fully aware of stroke symptoms
and protocols, and you need to have
an interventional radiology team
capable of showing up quickly,
24 hours a day. This whole system
worked very well in this case.”
Her sister Vicki Achor, who had
been visiting for a few weeks, wasn’t
feeling well that day and had gone to
bed early. “I kept hearing something,”
recalls Coleman. “I followed the noise
to her bedroom door and opened it.
It was Vicki making a low sound, her
head was turned to the side and she
was staring behind the bed.”
Achor’s first step in this system was
to Memorial’s Leighton Emergency
Trauma Center. “My staff and I
quickly assessed the problem and
then attempted to ascertain if there
was an intervention that would
improve the outcome for this
patient,” says Emergency Physician
William Farrell, M.D. “Her outcome
speaks volumes for the team effort of
all who were involved.”
“I grabbed her hands and looked into
her eyes, and I just knew she had had
a stroke,” adds Coleman. She and her
son immediately called an ambulance.
“Her sister absolutely helped save
her life,” says Gerard Duprat,
M.D., interventional radiologist
and Memorial Hospital medical
staff president. “She recognized the
symptoms, called 911 and got her
here—fast.”
After assessment and treatment in
the ER, she received a CT scan and
was transferred to Interventional
Radiology. When Achor arrived she
could not speak and her right side
was paralyzed. A clot had formed in
her carotid artery, which then broke
into several pieces that traveled to her
brain, affecting her ability to move
and speak.
“The whole system worked together
terrifically to help produce this
outcome,” says Dr. Duprat. “The
family needs to know the warning
signs and call an ambulance
immediately, the ER physicians need
Dr. Duprat and his team performed
intracranial thrombolysis, a relatively
new procedure for stroke patients,
which delivers medication (tPA)
directly to the blood clot. The more
common procedure of delivering
FdHDFA0839.indd 07
medicine intravenously was not
recommended in this case because
Achor had recently undergone surgery
on her carotid artery, which placed her
at high risk for bleeding.
Within 24 hours of the procedure
she had recovered completely and
was able to walk unassisted. Without
this treatment it is unclear how much
function she would have regained.
“This patient recovered completely and
dramatically, due in part to the system
we have in place here at Memorial,
and the quick thinking of the patient’s
sister,” says Becky Castro, R.N., stroke
clinical nurse specialist.
“The doctors kept telling me that if it
wasn’t for my family’s response, we
may not have had the outcome that we
did,” says Coleman. “We were blessed
to have all the right people doing all the
right things at all the right times.”
FALL / WINTER 2008 › www.qualityoflife.org
For a self-professed “8 p.m. person,”
Nancy Coleman was up well past
her bedtime on March 30. “For some
reason, I was up really late that night,
which is odd for me, but it’s a good
thing I was,” says Coleman.
The Warning Signs of Stroke
• Sudden numbness, tingling, or weakness,
usually on one side of the body
• Sudden difficulty talking such as slurred
speech, garbled speech or sudden onset
of confusion
• Sudden change in vision
• Sudden loss of balance, lack of
coordination, falling down, dizziness,
nausea or vomiting
• Sudden severe headache (most people
say this is the worst headache of their life)
07
8/26/08 4:52:56 PM
Responding to
RISK
PULSE › Memorial Health System › 574-647-6800
One woman’s passion
for early detection
Like many men, Cheryl Guidi’s
husband never went out of his way
to see his doctor or schedule
physicals. But with gentle nudging
from his wife, it finally happened.
His next physical was scheduled and
was just a week away—when he
passed away from a sudden heart
attack.
WhatsMyRisk.org is a simple,
convenient way to access the
resources of Memorial’s experts,
all in the comfort of your own
home. By selecting from any of the
six choices, you can learn whether
you may be at risk for heart disease,
stroke, obesity, sleep disorders,
lung disease or diabetes.
More than most, Guidi, a central
intake coordinator at Memorial
Home Care, understands the
importance of knowing what’s
going on inside.
Answer all the questions as
truthfully as possible, press “Submit”
and nurses from the Health
Discovery Center take it from there.
Participants are then scheduled for a
free check up with a nurse educator,
who will take a brief health history,
perform some basic tests and offer
recommendations on next steps.
“Some people just don’t want to
know what’s happening inside their
bodies,” says Guidi. “But I always tell
people that it’s so much better to
know. Sometimes they can find
things that can be fixed!”
With a family history of diabetes,
heart disease and stroke, Guidi is
known as a “regular” at the free
health screenings offered by
Memorial’s Health Discovery
Center and was excited to learn
about Memorial’s newest early
detection campaign called
WhatsMyRisk.org.
“I think a lot of people may be
scared that they’ll be pressured
into something, or that they’re
committing to expensive tests,” says
Guidi. “But that’s definitely not the
case. It’s basically the nurse telling
you ‘here is what I see, and here is
what you can do about it.’ It’s then
up to you to take this information
and make it work for you.”
“It’s also been a great tool for my
physician,” says Guidi. “He took my
results and said we need to watch
this or that, let’s try to change this
and in three months we’re going to
follow up on that. He’s really using
these tools. In fact, he wishes more
of his patients could come to him
with this kind of information.”
In her husband’s memory,
Guidi has committed to educate
people about WhatsMyRisk.org.
From friends and coworkers to the
hundreds of people at Memorial
health fairs across the region, she
instructs anyone who will listen.
Guidi makes sure she takes
advantage of all the advanced
medical care available today, but in
the end, she and Memorial Health
System share the same philosophy:
that early detection and prevention
is always the best medicine.
“I wish more people would take
advantage of this wonderful free
service,” says Guidi. “Knowing your
risk can definitely save your life.”
Find out what’s going on inside
your body. Visit WhatsMyRisk.org
or call The Health Professionals at
574-647-6800 for Healthy Answers
from Nurses Who Know.
08
FdHDFA0839.indd 08
8/26/08 4:56:51 PM
WHAT’S YOUR RISK?
Find out with FREE health screenings and classes
at Memorial’s Health Discovery Center
For more than a decade, nurses at Memorial’s Health
Discovery Center have offered free blood pressure, weight,
BMI and cholesterol screenings. Free weight management
consultation, diabetes and other health information sessions
are also available with a nurse educator by appointment. Heel
scans for osteoporosis, blood glucose levels and other
screenings are also offered for a small fee.
Learn what’s really going on inside by signing up for a FREE
health assessment at Memorial’s Health Discovery Center.
This fall, sessions will include knee, hand, neck, foot, back
and skin cancer screenings. For dates and times, or to
register, call 574-647-6880.
Build your passion for early detection: visit WhatsMyRisk.org
or call The Health Professionals at 574-647-6800 for
Healthy Answers from Nurses Who Know.
Nurse educators offer free preventive health screenings at the
Health Discovery Center as part of a comprehensive plan to
make this the healthiest community it can be.
HEART DISEASE
•
DIABETES
•
STROKE
1
2
3
Visit WhatsMyRisk.org
4
5
A nurse will perform a brief health history
and further tests
•
OBESITY
•
LUNG DISEASE
•
SLEEP DISORDERS
If you’re found to be at risk, a Memorial
representative can contact you to set up
an appointment with a nurse educator if
you choose
Based on your results, you will be referred
to your family physician or a specialist.
If you do not have a physician, a nurse
can provide a referral
FALL / WINTER
WINTER 2008
2008
08 › www.qualityoflife.org
www.q
.qua
qua
ualiity
tyof
o liffee.o
orgg
Take the online risk assessment
and submit your answers
09
FdHDFA0839.indd 09
8/26/08 4:57:01 PM
Bruce H. Schwartz, M.D., examines
a patient at Bluth, Gerber &
Schwartz Eye Care.
A
VIEW
OF
THE
FUTURE
New corneal transplant procedure transforms lives
When you think of transplants,
kidneys, livers, waiting lists, heartwrenching decisions and stories
of generosity all come to mind.
Transplants are a source of life
and hope to many, and a source of
comfort, peace and giving to others.
It’s the ultimate gift.
PULSE › Memorial Health System › 574-647-6800
Many don’t know that of all transplant
surgeries performed today, corneal
transplants are by far the most
common, and the most successful. In
fact, ophthalmologists perform more
than 40,000 corneal transplants each
year in the United States.
“Corneal transplants are different
from other types of transplants
because basically everyone can be
a donor,” says Bruce H. Schwartz,
M.D., of Bluth Gerber & Schwartz
Eye Care. “For corneas, you don’t
need to be a match, that’s why it’s
so commonplace.”
For those who qualify, a corneal
transplant can be a great option.
Also known as a penetrating
keratoplasty (PK), a corneal
transplant involves the removal of
the central portion (called a button)
of the diseased cornea and suturing a
donor corneal button in its place. “We
basically punch out an 8 mm circle in
the center of the cornea and fill that
hole with a donated cornea and sew
it in place,” says Dr. Schwartz.
“This is a more recently developed
procedure that involves only
replacing the innermost layers of
the cornea rather than the whole
thing,” says Dr. Schwartz. Previously,
to replace the valuable endothelial
layer the whole central cornea was
replaced. With innovative techniques,
physicians are now able to replace
just the innermost layer.
Vision recovery for a standard
transplant can take 12 to 18 months.
Though very successful, there are
many drawbacks of PK. Because of
the stitches, astigmatism can limit
vision, with about 30 percent of
patients requiring hard contact lenses
to achieve optimal vision. The eye is
also weakened and vulnerable to the
slightest trauma. With its benefits and
drawbacks, PK has been the standard
of care for the past 50 years.
“The benefit is that the eye is much
stronger and stitches come out in
as soon as six weeks, because the
surgery is done through a cataractsized wound,” says Dr. Schwartz.
“Vision recovery is much faster
and the eyes are left stronger and
less vulnerable to trauma. I’ve had
patients who were seeing well two to
three weeks postsurgery.”
A NEW OPTION
“Nowadays it’s the procedure of
choice,” says Dr. Schwartz. “For
ideal candidates the results are
really amazing.”
THE WINDOW TO THE EYE
The cornea is the clear front of the
eye that covers the pupil and the
colored iris. Light is focused while
passing through the cornea, which
allows us to see. Like any other body
part, it can become damaged due to
infection, injury, scarring or genetics.
Keratoplasty (DSEK), which has
quickly become the procedure of
choice among corneal surgeons today.
For patients with damage to the
innermost layer of the cornea
(endothelium)—the most common
indication for transplant surgery—
there is a new procedure called
Descemet’s Stripping Endothelial
Want to learn more about this great new
option? Call Bluth, Gerber & Schwartz Eye
Care at 574-233-2114.
010
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8/26/08 4:57:18 PM
Celebrating
A Thanksgiving
a sg g Day
ay miracle
ac e
Shay Eiler perhaps had more to be
thankful for Thanksgiving Day 2007
than most. Pregnant with triplets,
Eiler was spending the day making
baby blankets with her family when
she missed a step on the stairs. “I
wasn’t paying attention, and I fell
down the basement steps,” says Eiler.
McKenna, Kaden and Zavier arrived
by Caesarian section 10 weeks early.
Ever calm and collected, she stood
up, dusted herself off and discovered
she wasn’t hurt. Nonetheless, she
called her doctor, Julie Platt, M.D.,
with Memorial Maternal Fetal
Medicine, who told her it would be
best to get checked out.
Eiler didn’t leave their side, staying
at Memorial’s Ronald McDonald
Family Room. When it wasn’t
available, nurses set Eiler up in a
patient room so she didn’t have to
leave her little ones.
Eiler packed herself up and drove
from LaPorte to the Memorial
Regional Childbirth Center in South
Bend. Dr. Platt decided it was best
to deliver the babies because two of
them were not behaving normally
and she was concerned that the
placentas had been disturbed.
“Ms. Eiler had done a beautiful job of
carrying the babies until Thanksgiving
Day. It was unfortunate that a set of
stairs precipitated her early delivery,”
says Dr. Platt.
“It all went very well,” says Eiler.
But because they were early, the
triplets remained at Memorial in the
Newborn Intensive Care Unit for
two months.
“I was there all day everyday,” she
says, adding that hospital staff and
the nurses, many of whom she still
keeps in contact with, supported
her. “I just didn’t want to leave.”
And because of the support of the
staff, Eiler says, “It could’ve been
stressful, but it wasn’t.”
Eiler says she discovered the same
thing three years before with the birth
of her oldest son Ethan. After Ethan
was born, he faced several health
issues, leaving the Eiler family in
search for the best health care for him.
After a bad experience at a hospital
closer to where the Eilers live, they
were referred to Navarre Pediatric
Group in Granger.
Eiler says most of her friends and
family thought she shouldn’t drive
from LaPorte to Granger for pediatric
services, but Eiler had another take
on it. “They’re always available,” she
says. “They’re always helpful. I can
call any time, and they never act like
you’re bothering them.”
And because of her experience
with Ethan, she knew the Memorial
Regional Childbirth Center was
where she wanted to have her
triplets. The Center handles all
types of deliveries, from high-risk to
natural births to water births with
certified midwives. “We knew right
away we wanted to come back to
Memorial,” Eiler says.
Memorial offers many outstanding
resources, services, and special touches
to celebrate your delivery. To learn more,
call 574-647-6800.
FALL / WINTER 2008 › www.qualityoflife.org
New Life
Left to right: Kaden (2 lbs., 13 oz.),
Zavier (3 lbs., 4 oz.) and McKenna
(3 lbs., 4 oz.). This is the first picture
of the triplets at home and all together.
011
FdHDFA0839.indd 011
8/26/08 4:57:26 PM
Memorial’s
Health & Lifestyle
Center
Making strides for
a lifetime of health
What makes a healthy community?
Memorial Hospital & Health System
has strived to answer that question for
many years. A thriving economy. Safe
neighborhoods. Affordable housing.
Arts and culture. Diversity. Engaged
citizens. A healthy community means
all of this, and more.
PULSE › Memorial Health System › 574-647-6800
Of course when most of us think about health, we think
physical health. At Memorial, that means accessible and
attainable physical health that lasts a lifetime.
Health is the Memorial Health & Lifestyle Center’s
number one priority for Memorial Team Members and
the greater community. For years, Memorial has led the
way in the development of innovative, communitybased programs that promote a healthier way of life in
South Bend and beyond.
WALKING THE WALK
“As far as fitness programs go, walking has a very high
rate of success,” says Alan Loyd, director of Memorial’s
Health & Lifestyle Center. “You’re more likely to stick
to a walking program than anything else.” That’s why
Memorial partnered with the American Heart
Association’s START! Moving campaign. With indoor
and outdoor Healthy Mile walking paths in and around
Memorial’s campus, START! gives people the
motivation and resources to get moving every day.
Murals line
beautiful, well-lit
stairwells, and
mile markers
guide walkers
through a
labyrinth of
hallways. “This
really is an
organization-wide
effort to make
fitness a priority,”
says Loyd.
Memorial Team
Member Cindy
Wolavka lost more
than 40 lbs. in the
six months since
Cindy Wolavka lost more than 40 lbs. in the
the program’s
first six months of the START! Program.
inception. “I’m
currently walking four miles before I start work, three
days per week,” says Wolavka. “I love the newfound
energy I feel and am so glad I added exercise to my
healthy journey.”
TAKING IT TO THE STREETS
The H&LC team also visits corporate staff meetings
across the region, presenting “Six Exercises We All
Can Do.” This unique 15-minute demonstration gives
workers a quick look at simple exercises that can help
keep them on track with their fitness goals, at home,
at work or on the road.
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8/26/08 4:57:42 PM
“The response to this program has
been tremendous,” says Loyd. “It’s a
great way for organizations to show
their employees they’re really
committed to their total wellbeing.”
Catering to our mature population,
H&LC fitness experts now staff
the health center at Holy Cross
Village’s André House, one of
Indiana’s premier continuing care
retirement communities.
“Our specialists help with personal
training and massage therapy, and
can answer questions,” says H&LC
Fitness Manager Elizabeth
McKinley. “We also offer group
exercise classes like yoga, lowimpact aerobics, stretching and
flexibility classes for all levels.”
An H&LC Young Professionals
discount offers those ages 21-39
easy access to a world class fitness
center that’s convenient before or
after work, or for a power lunch.
Those who bike to work downtown
can also sign up for a locker-roomonly membership to wash up in the
morning. “This is a new way we try
to make it easier for those who
choose to bike to work as part of a
healthy lifestyle,” says Loyd.
As the region’s only medically based
fitness center, the H&LC also
partners with Memorial Outpatient
Therapy Services to assist those
recovering from an injury or illness.
All this is in addition to the worldclass facility, personal training,
warm-water therapy and lap pools,
FixLinxx, Cybex weight equipment,
indoor walking/jogging track, free
weights, basketball/volleyball and
racquetball courts, whirlpool, steam
room and free covered parking.
Working out at Memorial’s Health &
Lifestyle Center is part of a healthy way
of life for Eddie Miller Jr.
“We wear many hats,” says
Loyd. “We try to make fitness
fun and accessible to as many
people as possible.”
25 YEARS OF FUN AND FITNESS
A record-breaking number of runners, walkers and volunteers
took part in Memorial’s Sunburst festivities this year in
whatever way they could—from handing out water to
marathoning, and everything in between.
Memorial encourages its Team Members to take part in this
popular community fitness event any way they can. As its
major sponsor, Memorial provides volunteers and financial and
marketing support—not to mention the 400-member-strong
corporate team this year.
Memorial also provides the walkers and runners with a worldclass medical team. “Our medical team for Sunburst is just
phenomenal,” says Alan Loyd, director of Memorial’s Health &
Lifestyle Center. “If you’re a runner, you can rest assured that
Memorial has done everything it can to make Sunburst one of
the safest races in the nation.”
FdHDFA0839.indd 013
Running the Numbers
Year
1984
2008
Total # of Participants
1,263
7,316
2008 Race
Marathon
Half Marathon
10K
5K
Fitness Walk
Family Walk
# of Participants
536 (winning time 2:30:31)
1,089
921
3,037
1,345
388
8/26/08 4:57:55 PM
A Nurse’s
Instincts
It was Friday, Jan. 2, and Memorial
Home Care Nurse Stacey Seitz,
R.N., had the day off. She was going
to spend the day with her family
having fun. But since getting up
that morning, she couldn’t stop
thinking about one of her patients,
a 4-month-old born with a
congenital abnormality of his heart.
The baby had been born
prematurely by a little more than
a month. After having open heart
surgery, he remained in an out-oftown hospital until after Christmas.
Such a little guy to have so
many problems.
PULSE › Memorial Health System › 574-647-6800
The surgery went well, but the baby
developed a blood clot in his right
leg and had to be watched closely
for complications. In order to keep
his blood from clotting, he was put
on a blood thinner.
The medication had to be given by
injection. The baby’s mom had been
taught how to give the injections
during his stay at the hospital. It can
be hard for parents to put a needle
into their tiny baby, but she had
done well. He also had a feeding
tube because he couldn’t feed well
on his own. His mom was coping
well with all the care her baby
needed and was supported by family
and friends.
But Stacey kept remembering the
vial of blood thinner she had seen
the day before at the baby’s home.
His mom was independent with
giving the medication, but
something kept nagging at Stacey.
The baby had been
sent home from
the hospital with
a pre-filled
syringe that read
“administer 0.3 ml
= 6mg.” His mom
used that pre-filled
syringe but then
she was to use the
vial that had been
sent for the other
injections.
Memorial Home Care Nurse Stacey Seitz, R.N., visits hundreds of
Although the vials patients each year, helping them lead the best quality of life in the
comfort of their own home.
came from
the family’s home to try and stop
an out-of-town
them from giving any more of the
home infusion pharmacy, Stacey
wrong dose.
decided to call the Director of the
Memorial Home Care Pharmacy,
Tyrone Armstead, RPh, and talk
to him about her concerns. She
described the vial she had seen,
and Tyrone confirmed her
suspicions and fears. The dose
was correct but the vial of
blood thinner was the wrong
concentration. It was a
concentration intended for an
adult—1,000 times stronger than
what a baby was supposed to get!
If the baby’s mom used that vial to
fill the syringe and give that dose
every 12 hours, he would have
been overdosed on blood thinner
and could have bled internally.
Stacey’s heart was in her throat. She
tried to call the family to tell them
not to give any more injections from
that vial but her calls wouldn’t go
through. Stacey couldn’t just sit
and wait for the phone to work, so
she drove more than 20 miles to
When Stacey arrived at their home,
she found that the baby had not yet
been given the morning dose of
blood thinner, but he had received
two injections the day before. Stacey
did a full assessment of the baby and
found him to be in no distress, but
she knew she had to get him
checked by a physician.
Stacey called the family’s out-oftown physician and he instructed
her to go to their local pediatrician
who could check him. They loaded
the baby into the car to go to the
doctor’s office immediately.
The doctor confirmed that all was
well, but only because of a nurse
who had good instincts and the
sense to follow up on them, even on
her day off. This is one example of
why we are so proud of the nurses
at Memorial Home Care.
014
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9/4/08 11:06:41 AM
We’ve come a long way, baby! Memorial Home
Care now enjoys 50,000 square feet of retail and
office space (left), compared with its more humble
beginnings in a house on Madison Street (right).
MEMORIAL HOME CARE’S
TH
25 ANNIVERSARY
Memorial Home Care (MHC) is
proud to have a rich heritage. Since
its inception in 1983, MHC has been
providing a steadily increasing array of
health care products and clinical
services in the home and community
setting. They started with a small
group of “road warriors” doing nursing
visits and relief staffing in 1983.
When Pam Conti started working for
Memorial Home Care in 1986, they
had already moved from a small office
in a medical complex into a building
of their own in downtown South
Bend. “My first office was a desk in the
hallway! It was a very tight fit, and I
had to hunch down in order to fit my
legs under the desk,” Pam says.
Celebrating their 25th anniversary this
November, Memorial Home Care
now employs more than 450 people
in the fields of nursing, therapy, home
health aides, homemakers, medical
equipment and supplies, oxygen
therapy, home infusion, retail
pharmacy, compounding pharmacy,
extended home medical staffing and
medical staffing.
Pam, her coworkers, and potential
employees need not worry about a
comfortable work environment
nowadays. Last year, Memorial Home
Care moved to its new 50,000-squarefoot location at 3355 Douglas Rd. in
South Bend. The new facility acts as
the foundation building as well as
serving their satellite operations in
LaPorte, Plymouth, Knox and the
Memorial Family & Mar Main
pharmacies in South Bend.
My first office was a
desk in the hallway! It
was a very tight fit, and
I had to hunch down in
order to fit my legs
under the desk. – Pam Conti
FdHDFA0839.indd 015
Speaking about this growth over
the years, Memorial Home Care
Vice President Greg Conrad says
“Our team is dedicated to helping
members of the communities we
serve achieve the best possible
quality of life. Our success begins with
our commitment to retaining and
developing experts in care giving; it is
achieved every day as we demonstrate
our values by providing that care with
respect, integrity, compassion and
excellence.” Their customers certainly
appreciate this dedication, since
Memorial Home Care now serves
more than 10,000 members of our
community each month.
8/26/08 4:58:24 PM
Pediatric Intensivist and Medical Director of Memorial’s
Pediatric Hospitalist Program Bunmi Okanlami, M.D.,
cares for 1-year-old Joel Hernandez-Martinez.
Pediatric
Hospitalists
A new standard of care for children
PULSE › Memorial Health System › 574-647-6800
All the inpatients of Kate Dutkiewicz, M.D., have her
undivided attention. Dr. Dutkiewicz works exclusively
with patients admitted to Memorial Children’s Hospital
through the hospital’s budding pediatric hospitalist
program. Pediatric hospitalists are medical doctors with
four years of medical school and at least three years of
pediatric residency training and work exclusively with
pediatric inpatients. “This raises the level of care for
children in the hospital,” says Dr. Dutkiewicz.
Hospitalists are in the hospital full-time instead of
having to split their time between their outpatient
practices and patients in the hospital, says George
Maher, D.O., medical director of Memorial Children’s
Hospital.
Dr. Maher says the Children’s Hospital will eventually
be staffed by hospitalists 24 hours a day, seven days a
week, 365 days a year. The pediatric hospitalist program
is currently staffed by four pediatricians: Dr. Maher,
Dr. Dutkiewicz, Melissa Asgaonkar, M.D., and Betsy
Rossow, M.D.
The concept of pediatric hospitalist programs is new
in the last 10 years, says Bunmi Okanlami, M.D., medical
director of Memorial’s Pediatric Intensive Care Unit and
the pediatric hospitalist program. These programs have
become more standard for adult patients, and Dr.
Dutkiewicz says pediatric hospitalist programs are
becoming a trend. Before coming to South Bend, she
practiced in Atlanta where there are three children’s
hospitals, all of which employed pediatric hospitalists.
“We have found an improvement in efficiency of
patient care because attending physicians are readily
available in-house to make decisions about care,”
says Dr. Okanlami.
Hospitalist programs in general were developed by
HMOs because the programs were thought to be less
expensive by helping patients leave hospitals sooner,
says Dr. Maher. Indeed, the average length of stay is
now lower, though not by much, he adds. But they
did discover other benefits that have caused hospitalist
programs to grow across the nation.
“The hospital is becoming more adept at caring for
higher acuity patients [patients who are very sick],” says
Dr. Maher.
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FdHDFA0839.indd 016
8/26/08 4:58:45 PM
This helps the care given by
hospitalists become standardized for
each child, adds Dr. Dutkiewicz.
Dr. Maher agrees. “We can get a
better handle on the best approaches
to certain conditions, which leads to
best practices,” he says. “We’re
standardizing care management
according to best practices.”
What this all boils down to for
pediatric patients and for primary
physicians is quality of life, says
Dr. Okanlami. Questions get
answered more quickly while
pediatric patients are in the hospital
and length of stay in the hospital
has been shortened, she adds.
On top of that, patients, who’ve been
promised they can leave the hospital
by a certain time, are able to leave on
time because they don’t have to
wait for their physician to get to
the hospital to discharge them.
“Patients also are given results to
laboratory and radiology tests more
quickly because the results don’t
have to be sent to their primary care
physician,” explains Dr. Dutkiewicz.
“Pediatric hospitalists also have more
direct access to other specialists,
consultants and medical libraries
in the hospital.”
“And perhaps most important of all,
pediatric hospitalists can drop
everything to check on a child,” says
Dr. Maher. “It’s much more difficult
for a patient’s primary care physician
to do that because they’re usually
taking care of outpatients at their
offices.”
“It’s about availability,” he says.
“Hospitalists are here so they can
see changes in patients and evaluate
them. And they are well-versed in
treating acutely ill children. And
that’s not available anywhere else
in the area.”
He says Memorial Children’s
Hospital is the only one in between
Indianapolis and Chicago to offer
a pediatric hospitalist program.
While the benefits for children are
clear, the program also helps their
pediatricians. Dr. Maher says the
pediatric hospitalist program is
optional for primary care physicians,
and Dr. Okanlami adds that many
pediatricians find it preferable to
take care of their own patients when
they are admitted into the hospital.
Memorial Children’s Hospital Medical
Director George Maher, D.O., with his
patient Katelyn Treesh.
But for those who do take
advantage of the hospitalist
program, they can rest easier
knowing their patients are being
attended to regularly. Dr. Okanlami
says, “Primary care physicians can
run their own offices more
efficiently because they don’t have
to visit patients in the hospital.”
“Further,” says Dr. Maher,
“hospitalists have taken over the
primary responsibility of training
resident doctors, offering better
supervision of those residents since
hospitalists are available in the
hospital day after day. It’s much
more structured because they always
have an attending physician at their
fingertips,” says Dr. Maher.
With the primary responsibility
of training residents, primary care
physicians can be relieved of the
duty and spend more time with
their own patients. “While not all
physicians are taking advantage of
the pediatric hospitalist program
now,” says Dr. Okanlami, “I
anticipate that more and more
will see the advantages and that
its use will increase over time.”
She admits that the pediatric
hospitalist program is not a moneymaking venture for Memorial
Children’s Hospital. Hospitals rarely
break even when it comes to
pediatric hospitalist programs.
“But the benefits of the pediatric
hospitalist program are not
measured in dollars and cents,” she
says. “It’s measured in the quality of
care. It’s a sacrifice of love.”
FALL / WINTER 2008 › www.qualityoflife.org
“Only really sick kids are admitted
to the hospital anymore,” says Dr.
Maher, which makes hospitalists
more adept at working with acute
patients because they’re helping
them all day, every day.
017
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8/26/08 4:58:57 PM
Your BEST Defense
What you
must know
about
colon cancer
The Inside
Tract
The American Cancer Society this
year issued new colon cancer
screening guidelines, adding two
less-intrusive methods as options.
One is CT colonography, which
T
PULSE › Memorial Health System › 574-647-6800
urning 50 brings rites of
passage: You can join AARP,
and it’s time to start screening for colon cancer. The second
could save your life.
“This is one of the few cancers
where the test we have can prevent the disease,” says Pankaj A.
Patel, M.D., a gastroenterologist at
Michiana Gastroenterology, Inc.
If the condition is caught early,
nearly all patients survive five years
and beyond. Just four in 10 cases are
caught at that stage, making colon
cancer the second leading cause of
cancer deaths in the U.S. Startlingly,
only about half of Americans 50 or
older have been tested.
We asked Dr. Patel to share his
expertise on colon cancer screening.
Here’s a summary:
Q
For people with average risk, what’s
the best defense?
Screening beginning at age 50. The
College of Gastroenterology recommends
a colonoscopy every 10 years. The ACS
recommends any of seven exams, ranging
from a fecal occult blood test to a
colonoscopy. Both groups agree that a
test is better than no test. The more invasive tests, such as the colonoscopy, offer
better chances for finding growths (or
polyps) before they become cancerous.
Q
How can a colonoscopy help?
It allows inspection of the entire colon
and on-the-spot removal of growths long
uses special X-rays to examine the
colon. No sedation or scope is
used, but you still have to take
laxatives, and air is used to widen
the colon. The second is a stool
DNA test, which looks for altered
cells in a stool sample. Both tests
would require a colonoscopy if
results are positive. For details on
ACS screening guidelines, go to
cancer.org.
before they become cancerous. Removal
of precancerous polyps reduces colon
cancer risk by 80 percent.
Q
What’s involved in a colonoscopy?
You take laxatives in preparation, then
for the procedure you are sedated. The
doctor (often a gastroenterologist)
inserts a tube attached to a video camera to inspect the colon.
Q
Why do some people avoid it?
Because it’s invasive, people believe it
will be painful. But sedation prevents
most discomfort.
Q
Does it require time off work?
Yes, patients probably will need
to take off a day from work and get
a ride home.
Q
Is it risky?
Risks are small. If a growth is removed,
bleeding may occur or the colon may be
nicked. You want someone who’s experienced. Ask about the doctor’s perforation rate; it should be less than one in
500 exams. Colonoscopies require years
of training to perform, and are best done
by a fellow-trained gastroenterologist. ■
EARLY START
Talk to your family doctor about
colonoscopy at your next visit. For
!
more information about colon cancer
or screenings, or for a referral to a
gastroenterologist, call The Health
Professionals at 574-647-6800.
018
FdHDFA0839.indd 018
8/26/08 4:59:14 PM
CLASSES & SERVICES
Memorial offers educational events, classes and screenings as part of our ongoing mission to build a
healthier community. Many programs are free and some have a nominal fee. For more information,
call the number provided or contact The Health Professionals at 574-647-6800 or 800-999-8890.
For additional information you can also visit www.qualityoflife.org.
Classes
Diabetes Education Classes
A free nutrition and lifestyle
management class for people with
diabetes. Open to anyone with
diabetes, their families and significant
others. Call 574-647-7700.
Lung Center
For Asthma: Free one-on-one
education for those with asthma. Call
574-647-7318 from 7:30 a.m. to
4 p.m. For COPD and other lung
problems: Call 574-251-0041,
Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday. All
other times, please leave a message
and a Lung Center representative will
get back to you.
Ortho Classes
Total hip, knee and shoulder
replacement classes available at no
charge. Call 574-647-3359 Monday
through Friday for availability.
Life Steps
A comprehensive weight
management program that
stresses the importance of diet,
physical activity and behavioral
modification techniques for weight
loss and maintenance. Classes
meet weekly for 14 weeks. $175.
Call 574-647-6880.
Group Fitness Classes
From yoga and Pilates to spinning
and zumba, group fitness classes
are offered Monday through
Saturday at the Health & Lifestyle
Center. Call Patty Thornton at
574-647-2663. View the current
schedule at http://qualityoflife.org/
hlc/ExerciseSchedule.pdf.
Support Groups
Arthritis Partnership
!
Meets on the second Thursday of
the month at 2 p.m. at the
Memorial Leighton Center. Call
Carol Langley at 574-234-1191.
Diabetes Support Group
Meets on the first and third Tuesday
of the month at 10 a.m. at the
Memorial Leighton Center. First
Tuesday includes an educational
program; third Tuesday includes a
support group. Participants are
welcome to bring a friend or family
member. Call Nan Monhaut at
574-647-7168.
FdHDFA0839.indd 019
Gynecological Cancer
Support Group
Meets on the second Wednesday of
the month at 5 p.m. at Memorial
Hospital. Please call Margaret
Umprovitch-Brown at 574-647-3140
for exact location and directions.
Mother Matters Support Group
Focuses on postpartum depression
and parenting responsibilities. Meets
on the second and fourth Monday of
the month from 7 to 8:30 p.m. in
the Family Education Center. Call
574-647-7800.
MS Support Group
Meets on the first Tuesday of the
month from 6:30 to 8 p.m. at Main
Street Medical Group. Call Gretchen
Cave at 574-675-9917.
Ostomy Support Group
Contact Sue Stelton at
574-647-3156 for details.
Parkinson’s Disease
Support Group
Meets on the first Wednesday of the
month at 1 p.m. at the Memorial
Leighton Center. Call Jim Banner at
574-291-4217.
2nd Wind Group (COPD)
A support group for individuals with
lung disease. Meets Tuesdays from
1:30 to 3 p.m. at the South Bend
Christian Reformed Church at
1855 N. Hickory Road. Call Jan
Cosby at 574-647-7178.
Women In Touch Cancer Support
Meets on the first Tuesday of the
month at 5:30 p.m. at the Memorial
Leighton Center. Call Kathy Johnson
at 574-647-6944 or Margaret
McKinney-Arnold at 574-647-6943.
For New Families
Advanced registration is required for
all classes unless noted otherwise. Call
574-647-6801. All classes are held in
the Family Education Center on the
third floor of Memorial Hospital.
Child/Infant CPR
This one-evening class meets the
American Red Cross guidelines in
child/infant CPR and safety. The class
meets the first Monday of every
month from 6:30 to 9:30 p.m. at
HealthWorks! Kids’ Museum.
Registration and payment is due two
weeks prior to class. Prices are
$30/person or $45/couple. Call
574-647-2680 for registration or
any questions.
Clases Para Un Embarazo
Saludable (Classes for a
Healthy Pregnancy)
En Español. Las mujeres
embarazadas tendrán oportunidad
de recibir información acerca del
proceso del embarazo y parto.
Llame a Mary Kay Gonzales, R.N.,
574-245-6835.
Complete Childbirth Prep
Families can choose between a
series of five classes, or a one-day
class on a Saturday called Lunch &
Learn. Topics include the normal
course of labor and birth, common
medical interventions and
relaxation techniques. A tour of
Memorial’s Regional Childbirth
Center is included.
When you sign up for Complete
Childbirth Prep, you will also be
able to attend our After Baby
Comes and Breastfeeding Basics
classes FREE. Cost is $75 for either
the five-session series or Lunch &
Learn. Pre-registration is required.
Breastfeeding Basics
This class will teach you how to
make nursing as easy as possible.
You’ll learn helpful tips to make the
nursing experience more rewarding
and give you the confidence to
handle early challenges.
This class is offered once a month
and alternates between “For Moms
Only” and “Dads Too.” Cost is $15 or
FREE with Complete Childbirth
Prep. Pre-registration is required.
After Baby Comes (ABC)
Have you ever wished your new
baby would come with an owner’s
manual? After Baby Comes will
help you focus on those first
couple of weeks after you give
birth. Learn proven techniques to
hold, soothe and care for baby.
Find out what physical and
emotional changes mom can
expect after delivery. Cost is $15 or
FREE with Complete Childbirth
Prep. Pre-registration is required.
Refresher
If you have taken previous childbirth
preparation classes, the one-evening
Refresher Course helps you and
your partner “catch up” on changes
and new options since your last
birth. A tour of Memorial’s Regional
Childbirth Center is included. Cost
is $20, and pre-registration is
required.
Sibling Prep
This one-time class helps kids ages
3 to 7 safely participate in baby care.
Topics include holding, safety, and
other important issues involved when
a new baby joins the family. The class
will also take a mini tour of
Memorial’s Regional Childbirth
Center. Cost is $10 per child, and
pre-registration is required.
VBAC/Cesarean
If you are planning a Cesarean birth
or a vaginal birth after a previous
Cesarean (VBAC), we offer a oneevening class just for you. The first
hour of class focuses on VBAC topics
such as physical and emotional
strategies to help you with the birth.
A tour of the labor, delivery and
surgical suites is next, followed by
information about Cesarean delivery.
Cost is $20, and pre-registration is
required.
Tours
Free tours are available twice each
month. Call The Health Professionals
or visit www.qualityoflife.org/services/
childbirth for tour days and times, or
for an up-to-date schedule of
classes.
To register, or for more information,
call The Health Professionals at
574-647-6800 or 800-999-8890.
Memorial’s Health Discovery Center
(HDC) offers free neck, hand,
back, knee, foot and skin cancer
screenings throughout the year.
Call 574-647-6880 for a schedule.
The HDC also offers FREE education
on all health concerns as well as
classes on menopause, arthritis,
osteoporosis and bio-identical
hormones, among others. Blood
pressure, weight, height, body fat and
body mass index are also available
for FREE. Bone density heel scans
are also offered for a small fee.
LifeSteps weight management,
arthritis and diabetes classes also
take place at the HDC. Call 574-6476880. Open Monday through Friday,
8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.
8/26/08 4:59:22 PM
Memorial Salutes
Women with Spirit
Congratulations to Memorial Hospital’s 2008 Spirit of Women award winners for their
outstanding community contributions, which have positively impacted the lives of others.
Sandra Brown, M.D.
Health Care Award Winner
Dr. Brown, a specialist in obstetrics
and gynecology, has devoted her
life to keeping women healthy. She
is a great role model—balancing
the art and science of medicine
every day. Dr. Brown’s courage and
strength has been an inspiration for
women throughout Michiana.
Robin Clark
Community Award Winner
Robin created, organized and
chaired the Kiwanis for Kids
Triathlon in LaPorte. The event
has grown larger each year and
has gained a wonderful reputation
both for the challenge it presents for
young people and for the positive
and motivating spirit that surrounds
the event. Robin’s efforts to make
her community a better place make
her “inspirational in many ways ...
and especially to women in the
community.”
Alexandra Holderman
Youth Award Winner
When she was five years old,
Alexandra “Ali” Holderman noticed
a teenage mother carrying a baby.
Ali couldn’t understand why the
baby didn’t have a coat and shoes
on because it was so cold outside.
What Ali started as a simple
project has evolved over the past
10 years into a major effort she
calls “Baby Bundles.” To date, Ali
has raised more than $40,000 and
has delivered thousands of baby
bundles to local organizations.
Non-Profit Org.
U.S. Postage
PAID
Memorial
Health System
615 N. Michigan Street
South Bend, Indiana 46601
FdHDFA0839.indd 020
8/26/08 4:59:34 PM
Memorial Salutes
Women with Spirit
Congratulations to Memorial Hospital’s 2008 Spirit of Women award winners for their
outstanding community contributions, which have positively impacted the lives of others.
Sandra Brown, M.D.
Health Care Award Winner
Dr. Brown, a specialist in obstetrics
and gynecology, has devoted her
life to keeping women healthy. She
is a great role model—balancing
the art and science of medicine
every day. Dr. Brown’s courage and
strength has been an inspiration for
women throughout Michiana.
Robin Clark
Community Award Winner
Robin created, organized and
chaired the Kiwanis for Kids
Triathlon in LaPorte. The event
has grown larger each year and
has gained a wonderful reputation
both for the challenge it presents for
young people and for the positive
and motivating spirit that surrounds
the event. Robin’s efforts to make
her community a better place make
her “inspirational in many ways ...
and especially to women in the
community.”
Alexandra Holderman
Youth Award Winner
When she was five years old,
Alexandra “Ali” Holderman noticed
a teenage mother carrying a baby.
Ali couldn’t understand why the
baby didn’t have a coat and shoes
on because it was so cold outside.
What Ali started as a simple
project has evolved over the past
10 years into a major effort she
calls “Baby Bundles.” To date, Ali
has raised more than $40,000 and
has delivered thousands of baby
bundles to local organizations.
Non-Profit Org.
U.S. Postage
PAID
South Bend, IN
Permit No. 72
615 N. Michigan Street
South Bend, Indiana 46601
FdHDFA0839.indd 22
8/26/08 4:59:51 PM