Franciscan St. James Classic Golf Outing Raises $111,000

Frankfort resident, Sylvia Kemp honored with hospital's Courage Award

 

OLYMPIA FIELDS, IL – July 10, 2012 – The Franciscan Alliance St. James Health Foundation raised $111,000 at its annual Franciscan St. James Classic on Wednesday, June 20.

"This year's Classic was the most successful in its 12-year history," said foundation executive director, Terrence Sykes. "The funds raised at this year's Classic will support the installation of a third digital mammography unit, which will enable Franciscan St. James to serve up to 22,000 area women each year."

The Classic will also provide funding to support the hospital's Multiple Sclerosis support group, MS Mission Possible.

The golf outing was held at Odyssey Country Club in Tinley Park. It was followed by dinner, silent auctions and an awards ceremony at Odyssey Country Club.

The Franciscan St. James Courage Award, sponsored by VITAS Innovative Hospice Care, was presented to Frankfort resident, Sylvia Kemp.

 "Since being diagnosed with Multiple Sclerosis, Sylvia has risen to the challenges posed by the disease with great resolve and courage," said Sykes. "Most recently, she partnered with Franciscan St. James board chairman, Terry Brown to create a new MS support group."

MS Mission Possible, which meets at the hospital's Olympia Fields campus on the second Wednesday of each month, has grown into one of the Chicago area's largest, most active support groups for MS patients and their families.

"We are grateful to all those within the community who supported this event, as well as to the Franciscan St. James doctors, nurses and staff who helped make the 2012 Classic a success," Sykes said.

Franciscan St. James Classic sponsors include Dr. Krishnan Srinivasan; Chicago Office Technology Group; Cassiday Schade, LLP; Hepler Room LLC; METT Therapy Services; and the Franciscan St. James Health Medical Staff Office.

For more information about the Franciscan Alliance St. James Health Foundation, call 708-747-4000, ext. 5470, or visit www.stjameshospital.org.           

# # #

Media contact:      Michael Shepherd

                              708-756-1000, ext. 3455
Michael.Shepherd@FranciscanAlliance.org

Franciscan St. James Achieves New Status as Accredited Chest Pain Center

Rigorous evaluation reveals that hospital meets strict care standards for treating patients who may be experiencing heart attack 

CHICAGO HEIGHTS, IL, May 22, 2012 | The Society of Chest Pain Centers (SCPC) announced that both Franciscan St. James Health campuses have received its Chest Pain Center Accreditation, which recognizes that the hospital has achieved a higher level of expertise in treating patients who arrive with symptoms of heart attack.

To become an Accredited Chest Pain Center, Franciscan St. James engaged in rigorous evaluation by SCPC for its ability to assess, diagnose, and treat patients who may be experiencing a heart attack.

This accreditation means that Franciscan St. James has established processes that meet strict criteria aimed at reducing the time from onset of symptoms to diagnosis and treatment, treating patients more quickly during the critical window of time when the integrity of the heart muscle can be preserved, and monitoring patients when it is not certain that they are having a heart attack to ensure that they are not sent home too quickly or needlessly admitted to the hospital.

The Franciscan St. James Chicago Heights campus is an Accredited Chest Pain Center. The hospital's Olympia Fields campus is an Accredited Chest Pain Center with Percutaneous Coronary Intervention (PCI), or angioplasty.

"People tend to wait when they think they might be having a heart attack, and that's a mistake," said Franciscan St. James president, Seth Warren. "The average patient arrives in the emergency department more than two hours after the onset of symptoms, but what they don't realize is that the sooner a heart attack is treated, the less damage to the heart and the better the outcome for the patient."

Heart attacks are the leading cause of death in the United States, with 600,000 people dying annually of heart disease. More than five million Americans visit hospitals each year with chest pain. SCPC's goal is to significantly reduce the mortality rate of these patients by teaching the public to recognize and react to the early symptoms of a possible heart attack, reduce the time that it takes to receive treatment, and increase the accuracy and effectiveness of treatment.

Franciscan St. James' state-of-the-art healthcare encompasses the entire continuum of care for the heart patient and includes such focal points as dispatch, Emergency Medical System, emergency department, catheterization lab, the hospital's quality assurance plan, and its community outreach program. By becoming an Accredited Chest Pain Center, Franciscan St. James has enhanced the quality of care for the cardiac patient and has demonstrated its commitment to higher standards.

"These accreditations should assure the communities we serve that patients who come to Franciscan St. James with chest pain consistently receive quality care from an experienced team of experts," Warren said.

About the Society of Chest Pain Centers

The Society of Chest Pain Centers (SCPC) is an international not-for-profit organization that focuses on transforming cardiovascular care by assisting facilities in their effort to create communities of excellence that bring together quality, cost and patient satisfaction. As the only cross-specialty organization, SCPC provides the support needed for individual hospitals and hospital systems to effectively bridge existing gaps in treatment by providing the tools, education and support necessary to successfully navigate the changing face of healthcare.   For more information on SCPC, accreditation and certification opportunities, visit http://www.scpcp.org/, or call toll free 1-877-271-4176.

 # # # #

Media contact:      Michael Shepherd

                              708-756-1000, ext. 3455
Michael.Shepherd@franciscanalliance.org

Philanthropy Provides Vital Support for Local Hospitals

For many hospitals, a significant amount of funding comes through the work of their foundations. Fundraising performed by foundations not only has a direct impact on the institution, but the community as a whole by enabling hospitals to do more and be more for their patients.

For example, the Franciscan St. James Community Foundation annual golf outing has made the purchase of additional mammogram machines possible. These machines enable us to provide potentially life-saving mammography services to thousands of area women each year.

In healthcare, were faced with declining reimbursements, changing technologies, and the rising costs of caring for the community. The more funds area hospitals can raise philanthropically through our Foundations, the better able we are to continue our missions.

Going forward, I think foundations will play an even larger role than they already do. Many unknowns in the healthcare industry are putting hospital administrators across the country in a very difficult position when it comes to planning – how to balance what services they deliver with the resources required to offer those services. Effective philanthropy efforts can give administrators the ability to provide the kind of care the public deems important and necessary.

People everywhere want to know that there is local healthcare expertise and technology in their communities, so that they can feel comfortable and confident receiving care. In the Southland, many people think they must venture into Chicago for quality healthcare. Philanthropic donations allow communities to make that local expertise and technology accessible for all residents.

Supporting your local hospital is critically important and necessary for individuals and the community as a whole. When considering whether or not to give, remember that we never know when an emergency situation is going to happen. And when one does happen, we often don't get to choose where we're going.

Financial donations have a big impact because they allow the institution to put dollars where they are most needed. Sometimes donors may indicate specific intentions, which allows them to help finance something that has particular meaning to them.

Planned giving and estate planning includes vehicles such as charitable gift annuities, charitable remainder trusts, and LEED trusts. Like many hospitals, Franciscan St. James is fortunate to have corporate partners who will donate "in kind" gifts.

Not all donating is monetary. People can make an invaluable contribution by giving their time. Auxiliary volunteers bring an untold cost benefit to their institutions that is deeply needed and highly valued. 

I think it's important for people to realize that people working in philanthropic endeavors such as the Foundation uphold standards as directed by the Association of Fundraising Professionals (AFP) and the Association of Healthcare Philanthropy (AHP). We take our work very seriously, doing what is right for the institution and our donors; letting them see the impact of their donations and making sure what happens, happens in the right way. 

The single largest fundraising event of the year for Franciscan St. James is the Gala, which will be held on September 22 at the Hilton Towers on Michigan and Balbo.

This celebration of our mission features fantastic entertainment and will honor some community members and physicians. For more information on attending or sponsorship opportunities, you are invited to call 708-747-4000, extension 5470.

Terrence Sykes is the Executive Director of the Franciscan Alliance St. James Health Foundation. Franciscan St. James is a member of the Southland Health Alliance.

Franciscan St. James Physician Pioneers New Procedure for Cases Where Cancer Spread to the Spine

CHICAGO HEIGHTS, IL, June 6, 2012 | Dr. Amar Shah, a Franciscan St. James Health interventional radiologist, completed a new spinal tumor treatment to provide bone stability and reduce pain for a patient whose cancer spread to the spine.

This is the first time this treatment, Radio Frequency Spinal Ablation (RFA), has been performed for painful spinal metastatic disease in the south and southwest suburbs. In fact, it has been performed just 42 times previously in the entire U.S.

When cancer cells spread to other organs or body structures, it is said to have metastasized. Spinal metastasis is common in patients with cancer. The spine is the third most common site for cancer cells to metastasize, following the lung and the liver. It can cause symptoms ranging from back pain to bowel/bladder problems and paralysis.

According to the American Cancer Society, when a cancer travels to the spine from other parts of the body, it can weaken the bones often resulting in fractures. Spinal metastatic disease can hamper a patients ability to maintain your regular activities and lifestyle, and as those tumors grow the may press on or dislodge the adjacent spinal cord.

“RFA therapy delivers more rapid pain relief and improves the quality of life for late stage cancer patients,” Dr. Shah said. “While other treatments, such as External Beam Radiation, require up to six weeks of treatment, RFA can provide pain relief in a single treatment.”

While RFA therapy can treat end-stage cancer patients who seek pain control and quality of life, it can also be used for patients seeking a cure of their primary cancers. It can potentially achieve more rapid pain relief, enabling the patient to stay on chemotherapy and focus on battling their primary cancer.

“RFA therapy can benefit patients who must stay on chemotherapy to fight their primary cancers,” Dr. Shah said. “It will preclude the need interrupt chemotherapy when undergoing radiation due to systemic toxicity.”

Radiation oncologists often have trouble getting patients in pain to lay still for radiation therapy. When that severe pain is successfully addressed, patients are more comfortable and more able to be successfully treated.

# # # #

Media contact:      Michael Shepherd

                              708-756-1000, ext. 3455
Michael.Shepherd@franciscanalliance.org

Type 2 Diabetes Occurring at Younger Ages

For years, Type 2 diabetes most commonly developed in patients around age 40 and up. We are now seeing a steady increase in prediabetes and Type 2 diabetes in adolescents aged 10 to 19. The major culprit? Childhood obesity.

The incidence of childhood obesity has tripled over the last 30 years, bringing with it an increase in associated diseases including Type 2 diabetes, heart disease, and arthritis. For the first time in two centuries, this generation of children may have a shorter life expectancy than their parents. We can no longer ignore the effect poor diet and lack of exercise is having on our children.

It is now protocol for doctors to order blood glucose screenings for obese children. At the Franciscan St. James Center for Diabetes, we are seeing many more young prediabetic patients, whose glucose levels are higher than normal range, but not high enough to be considered Type 2 diabetes.

Eating excessive portion sizes and consuming large amount of calories contribute to weight gain that forces the pancreas to work much harder to keep the glucose levels normal.

Even things perceived as healthy, such as fruit juices, contribute to the problem, with kids drinking over-sized portions of these sugar-filled beverages. Additionally, today’s children are much more sedentary. So, they’re not burning the calories off.

When I counsel young patients at the Center for Diabetes, their parents are present. I explain that the entire family must become involved in the shift to leading a healthier lifestyle. Family participation keeps the child from feeling singled out or punished, and builds in positive reinforcement.

Here are some basics I share with my young patients and their parents:

Physical Activity is Key

Kids require 60 minutes of physical activity each day. Unfortunately, some schools offer gym only twice each week. Especially at this time of year, I encourage kids to go outside, run and play with friends, shoot baskets – anything that involves movement. In addition to traditional team sports, swimming, tennis, and track are great ways to get exercise.

Today, we drive our kids everywhere. Whenever possible, they should walk or ride their bicycles instead.

Planning family activities and getting into an active routine together is an important, positive step. Long walks along the many south suburban walking paths and parks provide a perfect opportunity to catch up with each other’s lives.

Practice What You Preach

The entire family needs to be on board with dietary changes, with parents taking the lead. It’s easy to pick up a quick meal and eat in front of the television. But if we pay closer attention and make the effort to change, the rewards are many.

Begin by eliminating the availability of sugar-filled drinks and high calorie snacks at home. We can’t expect kids to resist these ready temptations, especially when other family members are indulging in front of them.

Local schools have done an excellent job of replacing high calorie, high sugar snacks and beverages in vending machines with water, calorie free drinks and healthier lower calorie snack options. As a community, we must recognize the epidemic that’s occurring and be more diligent about paying attention to what our kids eat and drink.

Changing the way we think about food and physical activity begins in the family. It really is a lifelong journey. If we can make changes early, it will to pay off now and in the long run.

Cheryl Boss, CNP, is a Diabetes Nurse Practitioner at the Franciscan St. James Center for Diabetes. Franciscan St. James Health is a member of the Southland Health Alliance.

Mammograms and Self-Exams are Women's Best Friends

One in eight women will be diagnosed with breast cancer at some point in her life. Fortunately, breast cancer mortality is on a continued decline, which has been attributed to early detection and improvements in treatment.

The earlier we detect cancer, the more treatable it is and the greater the probability of a better outcome. Catching it in the early stages makes breast conservation therapy more likely, meaning the patient can be treated with a lumpectomy versus a mastectomy.

 

The most important things a woman can do to improve her odds against breast cancer are to perform regular self-exams, go for regular check-ups with her internist or gynecologist and, past the age of 40, have yearly mammograms. From the age of 20, women are advised to have a clinical breast exam performed by a healthcare practitioner at least every three years. After reaching 40, this should be done annually.

The combination of performing self-exams and having annual mammograms is important because self-exams may detect something before it’s time for an annual visit. Sometimes women ignore an abnormality found during a self-exam and put off seeing their doctor. It can’t be over-stressed that anything even slightly suspicious should be brought to a doctor’s attention.

Another potentially dangerous practice is to put off having an annual mammogram. Screening mammography has been proven to save lives. In fact, most doctors agree that mammograms save many thousands of lives every year. Women who have higher risk factors should talk to their doctors about having mammograms before turning 40.

The Digital Difference

Many places now offer the additional technology of digital mammography, including the Breast Center at Franciscan St. James Hospital. Because digital mammograms are electronically stored, they can be analyzed by both computers and radiologists.

Unlike film mammograms, digital images can be manipulated to improve clarity and visibility. And because they are stored electronically, they are easy to access and retrieve as well as easier to share with other health care professionals.

A 2005 study found that digital mammography detected up to 28 percent more cancers than film mammography in women younger than 50 years of age, premenopausal women, perimenopausal women and women with dense breasts.

Understanding Risk Factors

Some factors that predispose women to breast cancer cannot be changed. For one, the risk increases as women get older. Most advanced cases of the disease are found in women past the age of 50. Having a close relative who has had breast, uterine, ovarian or colon cancer is another factor. Some women are genetically predisposed to breast cancer.

Women whose menstrual cycle started before the age of 12 or lasted past the age of 55 are also at increased risk. Never having children or who having a first child after the age of 30 can also increase the risk for breast cancer. Receiving hormone replacement therapy with estrogen for several years or longer is another factor that places women at a higher risk.

Be Proactive

In addition to performing self-exams, having clinical exams and going for mammograms, there are other steps that women can take to decrease the likelihood of developing breast cancer. Maintaining a healthy weight and exercising regularly are two positive steps to take. Breastfeed if possible and limit alcohol intake. Drinking more than one or two glasses of alcohol a day may increase the risk for breast cancer.

Having a mammogram takes very little time and provides potentially life-saving benefits. At the Breast Center at Franciscan St. James, most women are in and out very quickly. That’s a small sacrifice for the safety and peace of mind a mammogram can offer.

Paul Mullarkey, MD, is the Director of Breast Imaging at the Franciscan St. James Health Comprehensive Cancer Institute. Franciscan St. James is a member of the Southland Health Alliance.

The Second Leading Cause of Cancer Deaths is Also Preventable

Colorectal cancer is the second leading cause of cancer deaths in the United States among men and women combined. Yet, with regular screenings, this form of cancer is highly preventable.

Many people hesitate seeing a colorectal specialist out of fear or embarrassment. But symptoms such as bleeding, pain or change in bowel habits should never be ignored.

Approximately 140,000 new cases of colorectal cancer will be diagnosed this year, and 50,000 people will die from the disease. Incorrectly thought of as being a “man’s disease,” almost half of these deaths will be women. The particular tragedy of this is that no one should have to suffer from colorectal cancer.

Screening Methods

There are several acceptable screening methods to detect the disease. A Fecal Occult Blood Test can detect hidden blood in the stool. Using a flexible sigmoidoscope, a visual examination of the rectum and lower portion of the colon can be performed in the doctor’s office. But the preferred method by far is still the colonoscopy, because it allows for removal of polyps as part of the procedure.

A polyp is a growth of abnormal cells that begin in the lining of the colon. Removing them is important because almost all colorectal cancers begin as benign, non-cancerous polyps. Polyp removal during a colonoscopy is a way that patients and physicians may take a proactive approach to defeating colorectal cancer.

The colonoscopy procedure itself is very short, taking just 20 minutes. Patients are given intravenous medication that minimizes discomfort and, in fact, most remember little or nothing of the procedure.

Some people inquire about virtual colonoscopies. Generally reserved for patients who have had unsuccessful colonoscopies, a virtual colonoscopy employs CT technology to perform a radiographic examination of the colon. As with a colonoscopy, a prior colon cleansing is required.

The virtual colonoscopy entails the insertion of a rectal catheter and air insufflation without sedation. Should polyps be identified, the patient must still undergo a colonoscopy for their removal. Currently, virtual colonoscopies are not covered by insurance companies as a routine screening exam. 

Surgical Advances

When colorectal cancer is detected, surgery is almost always required, sometimes in conjunction with radiation and chemotherapy. Most patients will not require a colostomy. Minimally invasive laparoscopy has had a great impact in the field of colorectal surgery. Patients benefit from less pain, smaller incisions, and generally a faster recovery than those who have traditional operations.

Newer techniques employed by colorectal surgeons to treat lower rectal cancers can often save the sphincters of patients who would have needed permanent colostomies in the past. While robotic surgery has begun to have some impact in the treatment of rectal cancer, recovery times and incision sizes are not yet improved using this method over the standard laparoscopic colorectal surgery.

Heed Your Risk Factors

The risk of developing colorectal cancer increases with age. By age 50, all men and women are at risk. Certain other factors may lower the at-risk age.

People with a personal or family history of colorectal cancer or polyps, ovarian, endometrial or breast cancer, and inflammatory bowel disease should be screened before age 50.

When detected and treated early, between 80 and 90 percent of colon cancer patients recovery fully. But diagnosed in the later stages, the cure rate drops to 50 percent or less.

In the fight against colorectal cancer, knowledge truly is power. Regular screenings give every one of us the ability to help eliminate this very preventable disease.

Scott A. Brill, MD, FACS, FASCRS, is an independent board-certified colon and rectal surgeon who chooses to practice at the Franciscan St. James Center for Colon and Rectal Surgery in Olympia Fields. Franciscan St. James Health is a member of the Southland Health Alliance.

Franciscan St. James sponsoring Frankfort Wellness Fair

OLYMPIA FIELDS, IL, JANUARY 23, 2012 Franciscan St. James Health is pleased to announce that it is again the exclusive participating sponsor of the 9th annual ”Frankfort Wellness Fair” to be held on Saturday, February 4 from 9:00 AM to Noon at Founders Center, 140 Oak Street in downtown Frankfort.

Sponsored by the Village of Frankfort and the Frankfort Park District, the Frankfort Wellness Fair is free to the public.

In addition to free refreshments, giveaways and raffles, the Frankfort Wellness Fair will include informational exhibits that focus on prevention and awareness. Franciscan St. James and WellGroup HealthPartners staff will offer free screenings for blood glucose/cholesterol, blood pressure, pulmonary (spirometry), osteoporosis and body mass index. Attended may also receive free flu shots, while supplies last.

Franciscan St. James physicians will be available throughout the day to address healthcare questions in their area of specialty.

The Frankfort Wellness Fair will also feature healthy cooking demonstrations and four free Educational Medical Presentations:

9:15 a.m. Starting an Exercise Program for a Healthier Heart
Presented by Michael Ward, MD
Family and Sports Medicine
Dr. Ward will discuss the importance of a balanced exercise program to meet your cardiovascular and lifestyle needs.

10:00 a.m. Simple Treatments Options for Heavy Menstrual Cycles
Presented by Mari Ann Herbert, DO
Learn quick, safe and simple procedures that have proven to help control heavy menstrual bleeding without hormones or hysterectomy.

10:15 a.m. Diabetes: Your are in the Driver’s Seat
Presented by Kelly Devine Rickert, Registered Dietician
WellGroup Health Partners
Learn about the diet and lifestyle changes you can make to prevent or control Type-2 diabetes.

10:45 a.m. COPD Awareness
Presented by Robert Kemp, MD
Internal Medicine, Pulmonary Disease
Dr. Kemp will explain how your lungs work, and how to reduce your risk of Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD), and improve your respiratory health.

“The Wellness Fair is a great opportunity for all ages to start 2012 with a healthy approach that hopefully continues throughout the year,” said Frankfort Mayor, Jim Holland. “In addition to the preventative screenings, demonstrations and educational information, there are many exhibits to enjoy. I invite everyone to get a jump start on a healthy new year by visiting our Wellness Fair on February 4th.”

“Franciscan St. James Health is proud to, once again, be the Frankfort Wellness Fair’s exclusive participating sponsor,” said Franciscan St. James President, Seth Warren. “It is entirely consistent with our mission to deliver quality healthcare to the communities we serve.”

For further information and details, visit the Village of Frankfort website at http://www.villageoffrankfort.com/ under calendar of events

Media contact: Michael Shepherd
708-756-1000, ext. 3455
Michael.Shepherd@franciscanalliance.org

Franciscan St. James Health to Benefit from Chicago Auto Show First Look for Charity

OLYMPIA FIELDS, IL – January 4, 2011 The Franciscan Alliance Foundation, St. James Health announced today it will, once again, participate in the annual Chicago Auto Show First Look For Charity, on Thursday, February 9, 2012, at McCormick Place.

First Look for Charity is the benevolent black-tie event held the evening before the Chicago Auto Show opens to the public. The event annually raises approximately $2 million for 18 Chicago area charities. Franciscan St. James Health is among those 18 charities.

This is the third of a nine-year commitment that the Chicago Auto Show has made to Franciscan St. James.

“We are grateful to Dennis Bauer, of Arnie Bauer Cadillac Buick GMC, for bringing this opportunity to St. James,” said Michael Bruni, St. James vice president of external affairs. “It has raised significant resources for technology advancements to better serve our patients in the south and southwest suburbs.”

Rock band, Blues Traveler will enliven the show floor brimming with 1,000 new vehicles, some on display for the first time ever. Singer/harmonicist John Popper leads the quintet known for his extended jamming style in live performances. The band’s best-known single, “Run-Around,” is Billboard magazine’s all-time longest-charting radio single.

To top it all off, two attendees will win the keys to a 2012 Cadillac Escalade and a 2012 Cadillac SRX. Guests will enjoy abundant hors d’oeuvres, champagne, wine, soft drinks and desserts at the nation’s largest auto show.

For tickets and more information call (708) 747-4000, ext. 5470, or visit www.chicagoautoshow.com/firstlook.
# # # # #

Media contact: Michelle Jimenez 708-747-4000, ext. 5470
michelle.jimenez@franciscanalliance.org

Franciscan St. James Health Centennial Gala

More than 1,300 attendees join hospital as it honors the Sisters of St. Francis of Perpetual Adoration.

Olympia Fields, IL, November 1, 2011 Franciscan St. James Health’s recent Centennial Gala at the Navy Pier Grand Ballroom in Chicago raised a record $545 thousand.

More than 1,300 community and hospital supporters attended the Gala, which also celebrated the hospitals 100th anniversary. Proceeds from the Gala will be used for technology improvements at the hospital.

The highlight of the Centennial Gala was the presentation of the Centennial pillar Award to the Sisters of St. Francis of Perpetual Adoration, who opened St. James as a 50-bed hospital in 1911. Franciscan St. James Health now has campuses in Chicago Heights and Olympia Fields, as well as facilities throughout the south and southwest suburbs. The Sisters have operated Franciscan St James Health without interruption since it opened 100 years ago.

25 Sisters from the 14 Franciscan Alliance hospitals in Illinois and Indiana were on hand for this special evening.

Many sponsors played a significant role in the success of the evening. Among them are Chicago Office Technology Group, Jerry and Joan Colangelo, Southwest Anesthesia Consultants, Dr. and Mrs. Krishnan Srinivasan, Consultants in Pathology and Franciscan St. James Health Medical Staff Office.

James & Sons Fine Jewelers and Arnie Bauer Cadillac also participated with grand prizes for the raffle with the donation of a one-carat diamond and a Cadillac CTS Coupe, respectively.

For more information about St. James Health or the Foundation, call 708-747-4000 x5470.

Cardinal marks St. James’ century of service

BY HANNAH KOHUT Correspondent November 1, 2011 9:18PM

The pews of St. Agnes Catholic Church in Chicago Heights were packed Tuesday morning for a celebration a century in the making. The “honoree” was St. James Hospital, which is marking its 100th anniversary this year. Presiding was Cardinal Francis George, archbishop of the Chicago Archdiocese.

“This is the beginning of a new century,” George said at a Thanksgiving Mass to mark the success of the hospital, which is across a parking lot from the church. Nearly 200 people attended the Mass to hear the Cardinal speak about the history of the hospital, 1423 Chicago Road.

“It’s a wonderful hospital that has served the people of Chicago Heights and the surrounding suburbs well for so long,” George said. “I hope that as we redo the health system in our country that we will have a system that respects conscience, that respects Catholic identity like places like St. James.

“It makes it a wonderful place of healing, and I’m very grateful that I can celebrate this anniversary with everyone today.”

St. James Hospital chief executive Seth Warren said it was an honor to have George take part in the celebration.

“It’s great that he, a very busy man, took time away from his day to come and honor us with his presence; it’s very impressive,” Warren said. “It’s incredible that the sisters, 100 years ago, started on this endeavor, and 100 years later it’s still going strong.

“The hospital has been a place of employment for many people over the generations, a location for those who are hungry and for those in need, particularly in the early part of the (20th) century with all the factories,” Warren said. “It’s been a beacon in good times and in bad.”

The Sisters of St. Francis of Perpetual Adoration opened what then was a 50-bed hospital on Thanksgiving Day in 1911 in Chicago Heights, according to hospital officials. St. James since has grown into a two-campus health care system with another hospital at 20201 Crawford Ave. in Olympia Fields.

In keeping with its mission, St. James provides millions of dollars in free health care annually for the indigent as well as spiritual and emotional support to the community, hospital officials said.

Thanks for voting us #1!

The doctors, nurses, staff and volunteers at Franciscan St. James Health thank the readers of the SouthtownStar for voting us the south suburbs’ Best Hospital. Over the past 18 months, we have redoubled our efforts to continued improvements in patient satisfaction and the overall quality of our care. In that time, St. James Health has earned some high-profile distinctions, including the 2010 Press Ganey Top Improver Award. But this award is even more meaningful, because it comes from the people we have been serving for 100 years.

Thanks to our doctors, nurses and staff for making Franciscan St. James Health the south suburbs’ best hospital.

Franciscan St. James Classic Golf Outing Raises $70,000

The Natalie Bauer (posthumously) and the Bauer and Barnes families presented with the Lynn Panici Courage Award

OLYMPIA FIELDS, IL – July 12, 2011 – Franciscan St. James Health Community Foundation raised $70,000 at its annual St. James Classic on Wednesday, June 22.

The golf outing was held at Odyssey Country Club in Tinley Park or Ravisloe Country Club in Homewood.  It was followed by dinner, live and silent auctions and an awards ceremony at Odyssey Country Club.

Proceeds benefit technical advances in the early detection and treatment of breast cancer.  In its 11th year, the Classic began as a grass roots effort by family and friends of Lynn (Baumgartner) Panici, a Chicago Heights native and Mokena resident who lost her life in 2000 to breast cancer, at age 34. 

The Lynn Panici Courage Award, which is presented to an individual or family who embodies the courage and spirit demonstrated by Lynn Panici, was awarded at the St. James Health Classic. This year’s Courage Award was presented, posthumously, to Natalie Bauer and to the Bauer and Barnes families.

 “As a wife and devoted mother, Natalie fought courageous battles against five illnesses, which ultimately took her life,” said Franciscan St. James director of development, Michelle Jimenez. “Although her medical complications were demanding, the Frankfort resident’s love and passion for the world remained, and was mirrored by the love of her family.”

As part of the hospitals Centennial Celebration, Anthony Panici, of Mokena, was also recognized for his vision in initiating this important fundraising event.

“To date, the St. James Health Classic has netted $500,000 for the Comprehensive Cancer Institute at St. James Health, where more an 12,000 digital mammograms are performed annually” Jimenez added.

Sponsors of the St. James Classic include JDM Steel Service, Inc.; Vitas Innovative Hospice; the Bauer family; and Chicago Office Technology Group.

For more information about St. James’ Patricia A. Joyce Comprehensive Cancer Institute, call 708-747-4000 or visit www.stjameshospital.org.      

# # #

Media contact:   

Michelle Jimenez

708-747-4000, ext. 7424
michelle.jimenez@franciscanalliance.org

“Hidden Angels” Turn Healthcare Dreams Into Realities

Mike Bruni

When lying in a hospital bed or undergoing a test that uses sophisticated equipment, most of us don’t stop to think about how that bed or equipment wound up at the hospital. The average person would be surprised to learn that many components of our care are funded, at least in part, by donations from the community.

Community members are often the “hidden angels” in a hospital room, supporting their local non-profit hospital out of a shared commitment to that hospital’s mission and values. In her book, The Greater Good, author Claire Gaudiani posits that 41 percent of all hospital beds are funded by citizen generosity. For some, charitable giving provides a way to give back or become a more active participant in the community’s well-being. Still others are passionate about research and helping the physicians and hospitals find new ways to treat and ultimately cure illnesses.

Charitable giving impacts in all kinds of medical institutions today. It supports programs and projects, advances research and technology, and funds equipment purchases. That’s why it is important that hospitals reach out and make their needs known and in order to advance their initiatives. Through the efforts of hospital foundations, such as the Franciscan St. James Community Foundation, individuals, corporations and other foundations find opportunities to support a specific institution.

The work of foundations is essential to funding of projects that could otherwise not be funded through general revenue. Foundations generally solicit donations in one of three ways: event fundraising, asking individuals or organizations to invest in a specific vision, or planned gifts and estate planning.

Through event fundraising, hospitals host large parties, such as the annual St. James fundraising gala held every October. Proceeds from The Gala have contributed to enhancing technology at St. James Health, as well as providing services and technology to individuals who couldn’t otherwise afford them.  The proceeds for this year’s event will go directly to buying approximately 100 new hospital beds.  While that may not sound like a lot, state-of-the-art hospital beds cost $5,000 a piece…that’s an investment of $500,000 funded by the community.

Individual donations are frequently solicited to support a specific area of need. People will invest in a vision, often one that they feel passionate about. More than 70 percent of U.S. healthcare contributions come from individual donors including patients, employees, physicians and board members.

In reaching out to business community, hospital foundations are most often not asking for one-time gifts, but are seeking to forge long-term partnerships to advance their mission. The economy has, understandably, impacted corporate philanthropic efforts. As a consequence, they ask hard questions to ensure they are making a wise investment. In forming corporate relationships, hospitals are held to high standards that hold the institution accountable for proving that they are providing safe, quality, effective care. Such arrangements ultimately serve to raise the bar, making hospitals better and stronger.

Planned gifts and estate planning can have a significant impact on advancing a hospital’s mission. Sometimes just one individual can reshape the level of care provided. Locally, the estate of Patricia A. Joyce is an excellent example, whose generosity enabled St. James Health to build the state-of-the-art Patricia A. Joyce Comprehensive Cancer Institute in Olympia Fields.

As hospitals throughout the country feel the pinch of slow and reduced reimbursement rates, philanthropic support will shape the future of healthcare. And as healthcare reforms are initiated, the impact of charitable contributions on a hospital’s ability to advance its mission will become more and more relevant. Foundations will become increasingly vital to funding those “above and beyond” projects that contribute to the quality of care.

The 2011 Franciscan St. James Health Gala will celebrate the hospital’s 100^th anniversary on Saturday, October 22, at Navy Pier in Chicago. To learn more about The Gala, or other ways to support the Franciscan St. James Community Foundation, call 708-747-4000, ext. 7424.

Michael Bruni is Vice President of External Affairs at Franciscan St. James Health.

Franciscan St. James Health partners with Alsip Home & Nursery to hold Ladies Night Out event on June 24

Friday night event in Frankfort combines entertainment and information to help raise money for Franciscan St. James Community Foundation.

OLYMPIA FIELDS, IL – June 15, 2011 – Franciscan St. James Health and Alsip Home & Nursery will host a Ladies Night Out event in Frankfort on Friday, June 24.

Ladies Night Out, which will feature live home and garden demonstrations, raffles and free refreshments, will be held at the Alsip Home & Nursery location at 20601 LaGrange Road in Frankfort from 6:00 p.m. to 10:00 p.m.

Franciscan St. James Health physicians and staff will also offer free health screenings and mini-seminars. St. James Health physicians will also be available for Ask-The-Physician sessions, in which attendees are invited to ask healthcare questions in personal one-on-one sessions.

Ladies Night Out will also feature exhibits by other local businesses and organizations, including Bella Fiori Flower Shop, Cancer Support Center, D’Marie Salon & Day Spa, Energy Nutrition, Hairspray, Melanie Johnson Independent Beachbody Coach, Mindful Movements Health and Fitness Studio, My Sister’s and Me Boutique and Parmesans Wood Stone Pizza & Catering.

“Alsip Home & Nursery is delighted to help the Franciscan St. James Community Foundation to raise funds to promote wellness in our area,” said Alsip Home & Nursery president, Kris Shepard. “As a locally-owned business, we feel that it is our duty to support organizations like the Franciscan St. James Community Foundation to improve the quality of life in the community.”

Admission to the Ladies Night Out event is free.

Proceeds for select sale items will be donated to the Franciscan St. James Community Foundation by Alsip Home & Nursery.

# # #

Media contact:
Michael Shepherd
708-756-1000, ext. 3455
Michael.Shepherd@franciscanalliance.com

St. James Health Classic set for June 22

Annual Golf outing and dinner in memory of Lynn Panici and others touched by cancer to be held at Odyssey and Ravisloe Country Clubs

OLYMPIA FIELDS, IL – June 8, 2011 –Franciscan St. James Community Foundation will hold its annual St. James Health Classic golf outing on Wednesday, June 22.

Golfers will have the option to play at Odyssey Country Club in Tinley Park or Ravisloe Country Club in Homewood. Golf will be followed by dinner at Odyssey Country Club.

This event is held in memory of Lynn (Baumgartner) Panici, a Chicago Heights native and Mokena resident who lost her life to breast cancer in 2000. It funds support services for children who lose parents to cancer and equipment for the early detection of breast cancer.

The Lynn Panici Courage Award, which is presented to an individual or family who embodies the courage and spirit demonstrated by Lynn Panici, is awarded at the St. James Health Classic. This year’s Courage Award will be presented, posthumously, to Natalie Bauer and to the Bauer and Barnes families.

 “As a wife and devoted mother, Natalie fought courageous battles against four life-threatening illnesses, which ultimately took her life,” said St. James director of development, Michelle Jimenez. “Although her medical complications were demanding, her love and passion for the world remained, and was mirrored by the love of her family.”

As part of the hospitals Centennial Celebration, Anthony Panici, of Mokena, will also be recognized for his vision in initiating this important fundraising event.

“To date, the St. James Health Classic has netted almost $500 thousand for the Comprehensive Cancer Institute at St. James Health,” Jimenez added. “More than 12,000 digital mammograms are performed each year using equipment obtained with these funds.”

sponsors of the St. James Classic include JDM Steel Service, Inc.; Vitas Innovative Hospice; the Bauer family; and Chicago Office Technology Group.

This event is open to the public. Call 708-747-4000, ext. 5470, to obtain tickets or additional information.

# # #

Media contact:     

Michelle Jimenez, 708-747-4000, ext. 7424

michelle.jimenez@franciscanalliance.org

Franciscan St. James Health to again serve as UIC Wound Conference satellite site

OLYMPIA FIELDS, IL – June 6, 2011 St. James Health again to serve as satellite site for the University of Illinois-Chicago (UIC) Wound Conference

The Inaugural Meeting of the American College of Wound Healing and Tissue Repair (ACWHTR) will take place in Chicago on August 4 and 5, 2011 and will be co-hosted by the UIC Department of Surgery and the Angiogenesis Foundation. This two-day, scientific and educational program will gather leading researchers, clinicians, and government officials in a unique, interactive setting. The first meeting will be unlike traditional wound meetings in both content and venue. The UIC conference venue provides an academic setting, and includes live cases from both the operating room and wound clinics as part of its agenda. Friday afternoon tours of the UIC Robotic Surgery Laboratory and the Center for Comprehensive Wound and Disease Management at St. James Health are also part of the program.

Dr. William Ennis, Director of The Center for Comprehensive Wound and Disease Management at St. James Health, will be the conference co-chair.

Franciscan St. James Health served as the satellite site for the Wound Symposium in 2009, with more than 100 attendees being transported from the conference to view its Wound Care practice and facility.

In addition to his position at Franciscan St. James, Dr. Ennis is the Chief of the Section of Wound Healing and Tissue Repair at the University of Illinois at Chicago. He is a founder of the American College of Wound Healing and Tissue Repair and past president of the Association for the Advancement of Wound Care (AAWC). Dr. Ennis has been in the field for over 20 years and has published over 75 articles, abstracts, and chapters on wound healing and tissue repair.

# # # # #

Consult a travel clinic before your next trip abroad

If you’re planning to travel abroad, the first item on your itinerary should be a stop at a travel medicine clinic. The Centers for Disease Control (CDC) recommends such a visit four to six weeks prior to your expected date of departure.

Travel is not without risk, especially to developing countries whether for business, pleasure or visiting family and relatives.

According to World Tourism Organization in 2007, there were 903 million international tourist arrivals and over 400 million travelers to developing countries.  There is no doubt that global travel by U.S. citizens has increased, especially among recent immigrants going back to their home countries with their children to visit family and friends.

In 2004, 46% of U.S. international air travelers comprised those visiting friends and relatives.  Of 100 thousand travelers visiting developing countries for a month or more, 50 thousand will develop some health problem.

Common health problems associated with travel include:  travel diarrhea, respiratory problems, skin disorders, fever and trauma.  Many of these health problems are preventable and the risk of exposure to some of these can be reduced for a well-informed traveler.

As a physician, I will advise all travelers to consult with a Travel Medicine Specialist.  The Travel Medicine Specialist helps the traveler with understanding travel related health risk to help them prepare for their trip.
The initial goal of the pre-travel consultation recommended by the CDC is to determine potential health risks facing the traveler based on his/her medical history, travel destination, mode of travel, itinerary of destination, purpose of travel and season of travel.

A travel clinic has access to the most accurate, up-to-date information on what diseases exist in every country, including the latest outbreaks. A Travel Medicine Specialist will communicate these risks to the traveler in ways that empowers and informs.  A plan for mitigating and reducing the identified risks is then made, which may include vaccine administration, prescription of medications to prevent diseases, such as malaria, or treat conditions that arise during travel, such as diarrhea.  Finally, an informed traveler is a safe traveler.

A Travel Medicine Specialist can offer safeguards on how to reduce your chances of developing diseases that are present at your destination. No vaccine or preventative medicine is going to be 100 percent effective, so you still need to exercise caution in exposing yourself to various things.

Your visit with a Travel Medicine Specialist will also include instruction about how to eat foods and drink water safely to decrease your risk for typhoid, traveler’s diarrhea and other maladies in addition to how to deal with jet lag and motion sickness. Upon your return home, if you feel as if you may have contracted something on your trip, you can return to the Travel Medicine Specialist for post-travel evaluation and if need be, treatment.

Whether you are traveling for work, pleasure, missionary projects, or other reasons, being protected against disease can help you make the most of the experience. For your own information, check out the CDC website at http://www.cdc.gov/. Call a full service travel clinic, such as Franciscan St. James Health’s International Travel Clinic at 708-503-3222, in order to be fully prepared for your trip.

Kanayo K. Odeluga, MD, is an internal medicine and occupational medicine physician at the St. James Occupational and Environmental Health Centers. Franciscan St. James Health is a member of the Southland Health Alliance.

Franciscan St. James Health presents Centennial Health Fair on Saturday, June 4.

Event celebrating Franciscan St. James Health’s 100th Anniversary to be held at Prairie State College.

CHICAGO HEIGHTS, IL – MAY 26, 2011 Franciscan St. James Health will host its Centennial Health Fair Saturday, June 4, from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. at Prairie State College in Chicago Heights.

The event, which is free and open to the public, is part of St. James Health’s yearlong celebration marking 100 years since the Sisters of St. Francis of Perpetual Adoration were invited to the south suburbs and opened St. James Hospital.

In addition to giveaways and raffles, the Centennial Health Fair will feature free screenings and informational exhibits by St. James Health physicians and staff, including blood pressure screening, blood glucose and cholesterol screening, osteoporosis screening and pulmonary screening.

A feature of the Centennial Health Fair will be “Ask the Physician” sessions hosted by St. James Health and WellGroup HealthPartners’ doctors. Attendees are encouraged to bring their healthcare questions to family medicine physicians, Roy Bardwell, DO, and William Campbell, DO; obstetrics and gynecology specialist, Allan Ruby, MD; and urologist, Shahrokh Kayhan, MD.

Other exhibits will focus on cancer prevention, heart health, pain management, joint replacement, sports injuries/therapy, bariatric surgery, home health care and diabetes awareness.
Local community groups, including CEDA, South Suburban Family Shelter and the Rich Township Food Pantry, will also participate in the Centennial Health Fair.

The Centennial Health Fair will be held in the Prairie State College Atrium at 202 S. Halsted, Chicago Heights. Attendees are invited to park for free in Lot A, and access the event at the southeast corner of the campus.

# # # # #

Media contact:
Michael Shepherd
708-756-1000, ext. 3455

A Boutique with a Difference

Lynn's Boutique

Located in the Comprehensive Cancer Institute (CCI) at Franciscan St. James Olympia Fields campus, Lynn’s Boutique specializes in items for women who have survived or are living with breast and other cancers. Among the boutique’s abundant and varied inventory are inspirational and gift items, plaques, angels, watches, t-shirts and other clothing, turbans, breast prostheses, and bras.

The boutique offers bra and prosthesis fittings by appointment on Mondays and Wednesdays from 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Certified bra fitter Norene DeLaurentis helps her customers find the perfect fit. “I’ve been doing this for 28 years and Lynn’s Boutique is my favorite. It is absolutely a woman’s dream – feminine, welcoming and friendly with no ‘medical’ feel,” said Norene.

With plenty of sizes and styles of bras and prostheses, Lynn’s Boutique has something for everyone, including balance forms to fill the area left by lumpectomy procedures. After taking measurements, Norene tries different form shapes to arrive at the best look for each patient. She explains, “The main reason to wear a breast form is balance. Weight has been removed and should be replaced to help avoid things like backaches, arm problems or lymphedema if lymph nodes have been involved.” Norene also fits women who have had reconstructive surgery to help them find a bra that works to balance out the two sides.

Lynn’s Boutique bills insurance for breast cancer patients. Medicare allows for one prosthesis every two years and six to 12 bras a year. “I advise patients to start with a couple of styles and wear them for a while to find out how they are going to feel,” Norene said.

Women who have not had surgery, including St. James employees, also take advantage of Norene’s bra-fitting skills. A surprising 80 percent of women are wearing the wrong size bra. Ill-fitting bras not only create visible disadvantages, they are uncomfortable. Adds Norene, “No matter what, we can always fit the ladies.”

Lynn’s Boutique was established in memory of Lynn Panici, who was lost to breast cancer at the age of 34. Staffed by volunteers, it is open Monday through Wednesday from 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. and Thursday afternoons. With more volunteers, they are hoping to add Friday hours. Conveniently located inside the breast center, the boutique is just behind the mammogram waiting room. Franciscan St. James CCI is located in the 3900 building on the Olympia Fields campus at 20201 South Crawford.