New Milestones in Hospital Care - Memorial Hospital of South Bend

Fall/Winter 2007
New Milestones
in Hospital Care
• New core lab
• Blood center opens
• All private patient rooms
See
page 2
for your
chance to
win a
$25
gift card

Fall/Winter 2007
New Milestones in
Hospital Care
New core lab
Blood center opens
All private patient rooms
Surgical Artistry
A minimally invasive option
for gynecologic and
prostate surgeries
14
8-10
CONTENTS
3-7 News Briefs
People Movers cruise the halls
Memorial opens a Thoracic Oncology Clinic
Memorial Medical Group welcomed four new doctors in recent months
Local women tackle breast cancer in a new book
Memorial winner of NACHRI photo exhibit
Memorial named the 52 nd accredited Chest Pain Center in the nation
Animal-assisted therapy
Local women honored
The only accredited sleep center in the region
Plans for Memorial Children’s Hospital
8-10 New Milestones in Hospital Care
New core lab; Blood center opens; All private patient rooms
1a-8a Donors
Memorial Health Foundation recognizes its generous benefactors
11 Standing Tall
North Central Neurosurgery and Memorial partner on new facility
13
The Comforts
of Home
Memorial Home Care
expands into new location
12 Not Your Typical Fitness Center
The region’s only medically based fitness center continues to grow
13 Surgical Artistry
A minimally invasive option for gynecologic and prostate surgeries
14-15 The Comforts of Home
Memorial Home Care expands into new location
16 A New Way to Connect
CarePages offer online support for families
17 A Century of Care
100-year-old remembers her past, welcomes her future
14-15
18 A Good Friday Miracle at HealthWorks!
HealthWorks! employees think fast to save a life
19 Classes and Services
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www.qualityoflife.org/pulse.
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; Jennifer Warfel, Writer; Maggie Scroope, Print Publications Coordinator; Ryan Lafferty, Supervisor
Market Communications; Dayna Bammerlin, Designer; Jim Labuzienski, Art Director; Kris Hosbein, Creative Director. Memorial Health System, 615 N. Michigan St., South Bend, IN 46601.
574-647-6800, www.qualityoflife.org. Copyright © 2007 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.
2 Memorial Health System • 574-647-6800

News Briefs
Easy Cruising During Construction
People Movers cruise the halls
In order to facilitate easy access to the many levels of the hospital,
Memorial has begun a route of People Movers, a number of electric
golf carts, both inside the corridors and in the parking lots. Kreg Gruber,
executive vice president and chief operating offi cer of Memorial Hospital,
says, “During the surgical expansion, we realized that we were going
to have to do something to help people get to places within Memorial
Hospital, so we implemented the People Movers. We have received such
positive comments about the People Movers that they’re here to stay!”
Some concrete numbers about Memorial’s new surgical expansion:
Dirt excavation: 50,000 cubic yards
Total concrete poured: 10,800 cubic yards
Reinforcing steel: 2.51 million pounds
Water-carrying pipe: 55,000 linear feet (approximately 11.1 miles)
Electrical wire: 751,000 linear feet (approximately 142.2 miles)
Working hours: 304,591
Memorial Home Care employee Terry Mann gets
“people moving” around Memorial’s campus.
The Fast Track to Stopping Lung Cancer
Memorial opens a Thoracic Oncology Clinic
Lung cancer is an increasingly common diagnosis in the United
States, which is why a core team of South Bend physicians has
decided to work with Memorial Hospital of South Bend to launch
a new Thoracic Oncology Clinic. Memorial Hospital’s Chief Operating
Offi cer Kreg Gruber states, “This new, dedicated clinic will allow
fewer delays for patients moving from initial diagnosis to treatment,
as the specialists will come to the patient.”
The Thoracic Oncology Clinic, part of the Memorial Regional Cancer
Center, will be open for patients with suspected lung conditions.
Thoracic surgeon James Kelly, M.D., who has worked with other
specialists to develop this new model, will coordinate thoracic care
at the new clinic. Patients must fi rst be examined by their primary
care doctor and have a chest X-ray. If risk factors are present,
their physician can refer them to the clinic. Dr. Kelly explains, “As
primary care physicians see symptoms that might indicate lung
cancer, they can now refer their patients to the Thoracic Center
where the initial visit will be provided at no charge. This allows for
improved access to care in terms of timing and cost.”
For more information, contact The Health Professionals at
574-647-6800.
www.qualityoflife.org 3

News Briefs
MMG Welcomes New Doctors
Memorial Medical Group welcomed four new doctors in recent months
Sandra Cho, DPM, received her medical degree
from the William Scholl College of Podiatric
Medicine in Chicago, Ill., and completed her
surgical residency at Michiana Community
Hospital in South Bend. She is board-certifi ed
in foot surgery and is a fellow of the American
College of Foot and Ankle Surgeons. Dr. Cho is
practicing at Portage Medical Group.
Natalie Frentz, M.D., received her bachelor’s
degree from Butler University and her
doctorate from Indiana University. She
completed her residency at the Memorial
Family Medicine Residency in South Bend.
She practices the full spectrum of medicine,
particularly gynecological care, obstetrics
and pediatrics. Dr. Frentz is practicing at
Schwartz-Wiekamp Medical Group.
Jennifer Pennington, D.O., received her
bachelor’s degree from the University of Illinois
and her medical degree from the Chicago College
of Osteopathic Medicine. She completed
her residency at the Memorial Family Medicine
Residency in South Bend and is a member of
numerous national medical associations.
Dr. Pennington is practicing at Schwartz-
Wiekamp Medical Group.
Sara Syeda, M.D., received her bachelor’s
degree from the University of Illinois at Chicago
and her medical degree from the Medical
University of Silesia in Katowice, Poland. She
completed her residency at the Southern Illinois
University Family Practice Residency Program
and is a member of the American Academy
of Family Physicians. Dr. Syeda is practicing at
Schwartz-Wiekamp Medical Group MedPoint.
Underneath It All: Breast Cancer and Humor
Local women tackle breast cancer in a new book
With stories collected by four University of Notre Dame students,
a new book, Underneath it All: Breast Cancer and Humor, explores
the disease through a myriad of lenses: as survivors, caretakers and
family members. The book emphasizes that “the humor that results
after acceptance of cancer is a mature and powerful way to combat
fear and make the stark reality of cancer less intimidating.”
The book’s creators believe that “The women who used humor felt
increased optimism, camaraderie with their peers, support from
their companions and management over the relentless disease.
Find humor in whatever you can and we believe you will fi nd an effective
way to relieve the stresses of breast cancer.”
The book, edited by Kathryn Bouskill, Kathleen Carroll, Caroline Nally,
Stephanie Pelligra and Margaret McKinney-Arnold, R.N. (manager of the
Women in Touch Program) will be available at the University of Notre
Dame’s Hammes Bookstore and at Memorial Home Care Gallery after
the Aug. 11 signing.
4
Memorial Health System • 574-647-6800

News Briefs
Something to Smile About
Memorial winner of NACHRI photo exhibit
“What is a better image of customer satisfaction than a
baby’s smile?” asked Michelle Herrold, project director of
Memorial’s Children’s Hospital. She entered the photograph
of smiling Lacrisha Darnell, a baby born prematurely at
Memorial in 2005, in the National Association of Children’s
Hospitals and Related Institutions photo contest in 2006.
Of the more than 250 photos entered, Lacrisha’s photo,
taken by local photographer Marty Eby, was one of the 50
included in the organization’s traveling exhibit. The collection
is centered on the contest’s theme, “Focus on Quality,” and
is touring the country through 2008. Memorial hosted the
Top 50 in September at HealthWorks! Kids’ Museum during
South Bend’s Art Beat celebration and in other locations
throughout the hospital.
Memorial Receives Chest Pain Center Accreditation
Memorial named the 52 nd accredited Chest Pain Center in the nation
In June, the Society of Chest Pain Centers (SCPC)
honored Memorial Hospital with full
Cycle II accreditation as a Chest Pain Center.
Memorial earned full Cycle I accreditation
in 2004, and is the 52 nd accredited Chest
Pain Center in the nation.
More than 5 million Americans will visit
hospitals this year with chest pain. The goal of the
SCPC is to reduce the mortality rate of these patients by teaching
the public to recognize the early symptoms of a heart attack,
reducing the time it takes to receive treatment and increasing the
accuracy and effectiveness of treatment.
The SCPC’s approach allows physicians to reduce the time to
treatment during the critical early stages of a heart attack and
better monitor patients when it’s not clear whether they are having a
heart attack. This observation helps ensure that patients are neither
sent home too early nor needlessly admitted.
Memorial Hospital demonstrated its expertise and commitment to
world-class patient care by exceeding a wide array of stringent SCPC
criteria, which include:
• Assessing, diagnosing and treating patients quickly
• Seeking to improve processes and procedures
• Ensuring personnel competency and training
• Maintaining organizational commitment
• Having a functional design that promotes optimal patient care
• Supporting community outreach programs
www.qualityoflife.org
5

News Briefs
Paws-ing in Pediatrics
Animal-assisted therapy
“This is my angel,” says the young, visually impaired patient as she gives
Abby a pat on the head. This is the story that Clara Costello remembers
fi rst. She has been bringing her English Springer Spaniel, Abby, to visit the
patients at Memorial Children’s Hospital since October 2006, when Clara
and Abby completed extensive training to become certifi ed “Pet Partners”
through the Delta Society. Pet Partners is the only national registry that
requires volunteer training and screening of animal/handler teams. They
are proud of the fact that “both ends of the leash” are well-prepared to
offer patients an enjoyable experience during their visit.
Every week Memorial’s child life specialists explain the program to
patients, show them Abby’s picture, and ask if they would like to be
visited. The children love Abby, and their parents and the hospital staff
anxiously await her arrival as well. Alison Credi, CCLS, explains, “Abby
gives the kids a break from their hospital routine. A dog with a gentle
temperament like Abby gives unconditional love and affection; her calm
physical presence is contagious. Abby doesn’t care if you didn’t wash your
hair this morning, or if you lost it all three weeks ago. A dog like Abby is a
wonderful friend and a welcome visitor at Memorial Children’s Hospital.”
Clara and Abby Costello provide some pet therapy to pediatric patient
Brittney Kehr.
For more information on the Delta Society and the Pet Partners Program,
please visit www.deltasociety.org.
Spirit of Women Inspires
Local women honored
Memorial Hospital of South Bend honors three local women each year
with Spirit of Women Awards. The award recognizes women who do
extraordinary things for their communities, but who have received little
or no public recognition for their contributions. The local honorees’
profi les are then sent to the national Spirit of Women organization for
consideration in the national awards. The three women honored were
Anne Nania (youth category), Margaret McKinney-Arnold, R.N. (health
care provider category), and Marta Makielski (community category).
With a unique combination of grass roots efforts and national
resources, Spirit of Women is designed not only to help improve the
health of women of all ages, but to enhance their lives through fun,
friendship and personal enrichment. Through their participation,
more than 100 health care organizations across the country provide
a network of opportunities to come together and share ideas about
improving women’s lives.
If you know a woman you’d like to nominate, or for more information
about the Spirit of Women, visit www.spiritofwomen.com.
Anne Nania
As a nursing student at Purdue University,
Anne Nania traveled to Nicaragua to
provide immunizations to children in
underserved areas.
Margaret McKinney-Arnold, R.N.
Margaret McKinney-Arnold, R.N., works
with guests at South Bend’s Center for
the Homeless and provides counseling to
women battling breast cancer.
Marta Makielski
As “the heart and soul” of the school of
nursing at IUSB, Marta Makielski works
tirelessly for the good of students, health
care and the university.
6
Memorial Health System • 574-647-6800

Memorial Sleep Disorders Center
The only accredited sleep center in the region
News Briefs
The American Academy of Sleep Medicine (AASM) recently named the
Memorial Sleep Disorders Center an AASM-accredited organization.
This accreditation identifi es sleep medicine providers who offer the
highest quality of medical care for people with sleep disorders.
The Memorial Sleep Disorders Center helps diagnose sleep apnea
and narcolepsy, as well as numerous other sleep disorders. Sleep
disorders can contribute to a number of health issues, including stroke,
hypertension and heart disease. In addition, sleep deprivation is a
major factor in many motor vehicle accidents. In fact, a federal study
reported that 100,000 police-reported motor vehicle crashes annually
are caused by driver fatigue.
Memorial’s Sleep Clinic, available by physician referral, complements the
work done in the Sleep Disorders Center by offering patients consultation
with a sleep medicine professional to review their sleep problems.
Also of note, sleep problems are common in settings with a high
number of shift workers. Second- and third-shift workers are at an
increased risk for daytime drowsiness. It’s important that shift workers
be aware of the warning signs for sleep disorders—for their own
health, and for the health and safety of those around them.
If you think you or a loved one might benefi t from a sleep study, see
your doctor and ask whether a visit to the Memorial Sleep Disorders
Center may be right for you. For more information, call The Health
Professionals at 574-647-6800.
If you’re not sure if you have a sleep disorder, take Memorial’s
sleep quiz. Visit www.qualityoflife.org and click on “Take the
Sleep Quiz.”
Some Healthy Habits of Good Sleep
• Try not to go to bed unless you feel sleepy
• If you are not asleep after 20 minutes, get out of the bed
• Try to keep a regular sleep schedule, and try to avoid taking naps
• If you can, avoid reading, writing, eating, watching TV or talking
on the phone in bed
• Try not to drink caffeine after lunch
• Do not have alcohol or nicotine within six hours of your bedtime
• Avoid exercise late in the day
• Make your bedroom inviting for sleep (quiet, dark, appropriate
temperature)
A New Home
Plans for Memorial Children’s Hospital
Memorial Hospital is embarking on an exciting journey to
create a new facility for its children’s hospital. Memorial’s
vision for the children it serves is that they will be the
healthiest in the nation, and Memorial will be the national
model for excellence. With the recruitment of pediatric
subspecialists from across the nation, Memorial Children’s
Hospital will continue to fulfi ll its mission of helping every
child achieve his or her greatest healing potential.
Along with staff, physicians and administration, worldrenowned
health care architect Jonathan Bailey has created
the master plan for the new home of Memorial Children’s
Hospital. Plans now include a fi ve-story, 137,000-squarefoot
structure to be built between the surgery expansion
and the Centennial Medical Offi ce Building. Groundbreaking
is tentatively scheduled for late 2010 with completion
slated for 2012.
www.qualityoflife.org
7

New
Milestones
in Hospital Care
Every hospital has a unique culture and traditions surrounding its ser
Three exciting new changes have been approved this year, ushering
8
Lab Launch
One major change in the history
of care was the decision to open
Memorial’s first core laboratory.
More than 80 percent of American
hospitals operate their own laboratory
for common blood and urine testing.
For more than 94 years, Memorial
relied on the South Bend Medical
Foundation to provide these support
services on a contract basis. This
spring, when contract terms could not
be reached, Memorial administrators
worked with the hospital board and
medical executive committee to
review alternatives and the decision
was made to build and operate an
internal core laboratory.
With expert guidance from Hawaiibased
consulting firm Diagnostic
Laboratory Services, Memorial
opened its first core laboratory in
July. Approximately 50 new
employees came on board to help
build the program.
Along with Laboratory Director
Kathleen Braniff, M.T., (ASCP), MSA,
Vice President for Quality and Safety
Ken Anderson, D.O., Project Leader
Jonn Ragle, M.T., (ASCP), and Project
Coordinator Patrick Monahan, the lab
Memorial Health System • 574-647-6800
Ken Anderson, D.O.,
vice president for
quality and safety
planning team worked quickly and
efficiently to bring the dream of a
world-class laboratory and blood center
to fruition.
“All of us have reflected that when you
have a new piece of equipment go
online, you will encounter issues. When
Lab Facts: The Numbers
Jonn Ragle, M.T., (ASCP),
project leader
90 percent: The percentage of U.S.
hospitals that handle their core lab
testing in-house
250 units: Memorial’s goal for its
first blood drive
Patrick Monahan,
project coordinator
Kathleen Braniff, M.T., (ASCP),
MSA, laboratory director
you have new staff in training, you will
encounter issues. When you develop
and implement a new IS system, you
will encounter issues. We had all three
at the same time,” says Braniff.
“Many bumps in the road have been
related to process development during
290 units: The number of units
collected during Memorial’s first
blood drive
50: The approximate number of
new jobs created by the lab
47: Number of Indiana hospitals
served by the Indiana Blood Center

vices for patients and physicians.
in a new era of care at Memorial.
the transition to a Memorial lab,” she
adds. “From my vantage point, these
issues are being found and addressed in
record time.”
The first phase of the lab, scheduled
to open in early 2008, is temporarily
housed in the Centennial Medical
Office Building while the team
prepares permanent space on the
first floor of the Memorial Leighton
Heart & Vascular Center.
Memorial Vice President of Medical
Staff Affairs Cheryl Wibbens, M.D.,
worked closely on the lab project.
“Although the quality and service
provided by the South Bend Medical
Foundation was always excellent,
the price far exceeded national
benchmarks for the same service.
By building an in-house lab, we are
hoping to be able to better manage
the service and ultimately save several
million dollars, which we will transfer
on to our patients,” says Dr. Wibbens.
“As a community-owned hospital,
we have a responsibility to be good
stewards of our financial resources
while continuing to provide quality
clinical care,” she says.
Although the South Bend Medical
Foundation will not be providing
core lab services, Memorial will
continue to partner with Foundation
experts for reference lab tests and
pathology services.
Blood Center at Memorial
The second change this year was the
development of Memorial’s first blood
Alicia Garrison gives the gift of life at
Memorial’s first blood drive in June.
10 Reasons to Donate Blood
1. Blood transfusions save lives
2. There’s no substitute for human
blood
3. Every three seconds, someone
needs a blood transfusion
4. About 60 percent of the
population can donate blood,
yet less than 5 percent do
5. A pint of blood can help up to
three people
6. You’ll make your community a
safer place
7. It fulfills your desire to “give back”
8. You’ll receive a mini physical
9. You’ll learn your blood type
10. It’s safe, simple and it saves lives
center. When the South Bend Medical
Foundation chose not to continue to
provide blood collection and banking
services, Memorial announced a
partnership with the Indiana Blood
Center, which provides blood services
to 47 hospitals across the state.
Memorial Hospital’s Chief Operating
Officer Kreg Gruber talks about this
www.qualityoflife.org
9

new approach to blood banking: “As a
Level II trauma center we face
increasing need for blood and blood
products. Now that we’re partnering
with the Indiana Blood Center, we’re
excited about plans to increase the
overall blood donor pool here in our
region. Families who wish to designate
blood for a loved one can do that here
and all other donors will be helping
families where the greatest need exists
at any time.”
The blood drive took place in June
with outstanding support from
Memorial staff and physicians.
Regularly scheduled blood drives
throughout the year will include
on-site collection at Memorial and the
use of bloodmobiles throughout the
community.
Private Room Plan
One important question that comes
up daily in almost any hospital is the
question of private room availability.
In response, the development and
implementation of Memorial’s All-
Private Room Plan has been a steady
focus of Memorial’s Administration
over the past year.
Single-patient rooms
provide comfort and
privacy to Memorial’s
patients and families.
Possible Benefits of Private Patient Rooms
• Patients are more satisfied
• Potential to speed patient recovery and reduce hospitalization times
• Reduces noise, helping patients rest and heal faster
• Most patients prefer private rooms
• Patients may be more willing to talk openly with their caregivers
• Reduces the potential of misidentifying patients
• Decreases the chance that sick patients will transmit disease
• It’s a great way for hospitals to comply with federal privacy rules
Vice President of Nursing Connie
McCahill, R.N., is working with
clinicians, engineering staff and
construction teams to implement
the all-private room goal. McCahill
projects that by the end of the year,
85 percent of hospital departments
will offer private rooms. Memorial
will achieve its 100 percent goal in
2009 as renovations to medical
surgical units are completed.
“Since we want our patients and
families to have the best possible
experience in the hospital, private
room availability is crucial,” says
McCahill. “This also helps ensure privacy
of patient information and directly
supports healing by allowing
more opportunities for uninterrupted
sleep.”
10 Memorial Health System • 574-647-6800

Standing Tall
North Central Neurosurgery and Memorial partner on new facility
Back pain is a leading cause of
disability and it will affect 80 percent
of the U.S. population at some point
in their lives. Memorial’s response
to this problem? The new Memorial
Spine and Neuroscience Center
(MSNC). The goal of the MSNC,
which opened in June, “is to provide
an extremely focused level of care,
and reach for the very best patient
experience possible,” explains Steve
Smith, M.D., neurosurgeon at North
Central Neurosurgery (NCN) and
president of the MSNC board.
Memorial and NCN partnered on
the new facility, located on the fourth
floor of Navarre Medical Plaza.
Patients at the MSNC notice
a difference from the moment
they are admitted in the spacious
entryway. Each patient is under
the direct care of one nurse. Using
“primary care nursing,” the system
has multiple advantages: the patient
receives individualized attention;
communication flows directly between
patient, nurse and surgeon; and the
system is more personally satisfying
for team members and patients.
Plus, the approach to anesthesia and
surgery is pioneering. “From a care
standpoint, it really is a complete
redesign. Ten years ago, spinal surgery
took days in the hospital, now it can
take as little as three to five hours,” says
Mark Mason, administrator of NCN.
The anesthesia, handled by Michiana
Anesthesia Care, has a two-pronged
approach. They will work with the
surgeons on therapeutic injections,
as well as more general anesthesia
catering to outpatient procedures.
Dan Cooke, M.D., who is a staff
anesthesiologist and medical director
at the MSNC, explains that since
anesthesia can be a cause of extended
hospital stays, its use is localized and
effective. “The overall goal of the
facility is for patients to be able to
resume their normal lives as soon as
safely possible,” says Dr. Cooke.
The center will work with minimally
invasive surgery options to decrease
the size of incisions. The smaller the
incision, the quicker it heals. Patients
should expect fewer side effects, a
shorter healing period and a briefer
hospital stay.
Memorial Spine and Neuroscience Center
Project Team
Dan Cooke, M.D.,
anesthesiologist and
medical director
Robert Yount, M.D.,
neurosurgeon
Steve Smith, M.D.,
neurosurgeon
David Cockerill, M.D.,
neurosurgeon
The innovation is also structural.
Attention to patient care can be
found in every facet of the facility,
from its earth-tone décor and
innovative patient-centered floor
plan, to the windows in the operating
room—an unusual and welcome
addition for surgeons who appreciate
the natural light.
The space is comfortable and
comforting, modern and medical,
and, most importantly, it is a healing,
restorative place for patients.
The recovery area of Memorial’s Spine
and Neuroscience Center allows for fast,
comfortable healing and recovery.
Diane Maas,
vice president,
managed care
Cheryl Bloode,
clinical director
Mark Mason,
administrator of
North Central
Neurosurgery
Nancy Coleman, R.N.,
practice manager
www.qualityoflife.org
11

The region’s only
medically based fitness
center continues to grow
Not Your Typical
Fitness Center
Regardless of whether you
want to lose weight, reduce
cholesterol, improve athletic
performance or heal from an
injury, Memorial’s Health &
Lifestyle Center (H&LC) is
the perfect fit. The H&LC is
the region’s only medically
based fitness center.
Mark Lavallee, M.D., CSCS, FACSM,
is the director of the Memorial Sports
Medicine Institute just downstairs
from the H&LC where he is also the
medical director. As he explains, it’s
unique for a fitness center to have
doctors who are so close and so willing
to help the members—it’s one of the
advantages, especially for those who
join the center to recover from illness
or surgery.
“We’re medically based. Our staff
brings a higher level of expertise
and our safety measures are more
extensive,” says Alan Loyd, director
of the H&LC.
Health & Lifestyle Center personal trainer Bill
Frame gives extra support to Donna Anderson
during a personal training session.
Dr. Lavallee advises new members to
take advantage of the H&LC’s highly
trained and certified personal trainers.
He says, “People forget it’s a journey,
not a race. We look in the mirror and
make this determination to get in
shape and then we go too far, too fast
… We try and start up from where we
left off, say, in high school.”
To help members meet their personal
goals, the center is the only public
facility in the area to offer FitLinxx ® ,
a system that can electronically track
members’ workouts. FitLinxx will let
you know if you are going too fast,
or if you need to pick up the pace. A
summary can be sent to your personal
trainer, who can evaluate your
progress the next time you meet.
Loyd explains, “We’re helping people
achieve something they’re looking for
because everyone has a different goal.”
In addition to FitLinxx, there are
groups such as the 2 nd Winders—for
those with emphysema—and camps
for children struggling with their
weight.
“We play a larger role in the
community. We are trying to meet
more needs for more people,” Loyd
says of these varied offerings. And to
meet these needs, Loyd is planning
to “Simply grow. We will continue to
be cutting-edge and responsive to the
interests of our members.”
12 Memorial Health System • 574-647-6800

SurgicalArtistry
A minimally invasive option for gynecologic and prostate surgeries
If you enter a da Vinci operating
room during surgery, you may feel as
though you’ve stepped forward 50
years in time. After all, the surgeon is
poised behind the height of medical
technology: a surgical console that
controls a patient cart, complete with
not one, not two, but three arms and a
three-dimensional camera. A medical
assistant hovers about the patient,
changing tools on the machine
according to the surgeon’s directions.
The surgeon is engrossed in the
screen, viewing the 3-D image
projected in real time, as the
machine responds to every move of
his or her hands, encased in robotic
forceps. “The instruments mimic the
manipulation of the human hand and
wrist, which makes it easier to use,”
explains Ilana Kirsch, M.D., FACOG.
She has used the system for multiple
hysterectomies since February and
anticipates using it more regularly as
patients become increasingly aware of
its capabilities.
Memorial Hospital is the only
institution in the area to offer the
da Vinci system as a surgical option.
Unlike traditional surgery, which
requires a large incision, the system
allows for minimally invasive surgery
(MIS), which provides a better
view for the surgeons than even
conventional laparoscopy.
The advantages of MIS, such as
da Vinci, are numerous. While more
traditional “open” surgeries sometimes
require large incisions, MIS utilizes
smaller, carefully placed incisions for
the insertion of precision tools.
“The idea is that if we can convert a
surgery that would have been done
open into a da Vinci surgery, the
patients may recover faster and be in
less pain,” says Dr. Kirsch. After all,
the smaller the incision, the less time
the patient will need to heal. William
Stonehill, M.D., a Memorial urologist,
agrees that “the nice thing about the
da Vinci is that it’s the best surgical
option and it’s less invasive.”
As more doctors go through the
training process, more robotic MIS
options will be offered at Memorial.
“… patients may
recover faster and
be in less pain.”
–Ilana Kirsch, M.D.
Currently, approximately 10
Memorial doctors are trained,
most in the fields of gynecology and
urology. Dr. Kirsch explains that
the system lends itself especially to
gynecological surgeries because they
have traditionally been more laparoscopically
based and the conversion
to robotic MIS is more natural.
Jayne Mitton, R.N., the executive
director of surgical services, is
optimistic. “We’ve had much more
interest than we anticipated by the
specialists and we see it becoming
a vital part of our technology in the
coming years.”
www.qualityoflife.org
13

The Comforts
of Home
Memorial Home Care
expands into new location
14
Thirty years ago, home health care was
a promising field for hospitals across
the country, as many began to offer the
service. But over the past decade,
numerous hospitals reduced their
direct involvement to focus on other
types of care. Memorial, however,
seeing the increasing need and
opportunity in our community,
decided to pursue the expansion of
home care services. Memorial sought
and attained accreditation from The
Joint Commission, validating its
commitment to meet the highest
standards of quality, and recently
finished construction of the new Home
Care facility and Gallery. Rather than
an accessory to more traditional care,
home care is now a core component
of Memorial care options.
Memorial Home Care:
Making the Grade
• The Joint Commission accredited
• Home Health Agency license
from the Indiana Department
of Health
• Pharmacy license from the
Indiana Board of Pharmacy
and Drug Enforcement Agency
• Home Medical Equipment
Service Provider license from
the Indiana Board of Pharmacy
• Medicare and Medicaid certified
• Named to 2006 HomeCare Elite
as one of the top 25 percent of
agencies in the country
• Member of the Association
of Indiana Home Medical
Equipment Services and the
Indiana Association for Home
& Hospice Care
Memorial Health System • 574-647-6800
The nursing staff of Memorial Home Care provides expert medical care in the comfort of home.
While Memorial Home Care started
with a handful of visiting nurses in
1983, it now employs 450 people in
the fields of nursing, therapy, home
health aides, homemakers, medical
equipment and supplies, oxygen
therapy, home infusion, retail
pharmacy and medical staffing.
According to Greg Conrad, vice
president and general manager,
Memorial Home Care now serves
more than 10,000 individuals every
month in nine counties, from five
different locations. “We are proud to
extend the innovative, high quality
services and products our community
expects from Memorial into the place
people feel the most comfortable—
their home,” says Conrad.
This spring, Home Care moved to its
new 50,000-square-foot location at
3355 Douglas Road in South Bend.
The new facility, a national model of
excellence for home care companies,
serves as the foundation for home care
staffing, intermittent care services,
equipment and supplies, oxygen therapy,
home infusion, a health products
retail store, and all administrative and
financial support services. Memorial’s
Community Health Alliance also relocated
to this new facility. The main
branch serves satellite operations in
LaPorte, Plymouth, Knox and the Family
Pharmacy in downtown South Bend.
Memorial Home Care and its new
facility focus on creating a WOW!
experience—whether it’s the needs
of people who are suffering from
illnesses and require special care,
or those who wish to maintain a
healthy lifestyle through the latest
innovations in health care products.
“This building is really just a tool that
will allow our team of experts at
Home Care to better accomplish its

Inside the new Memorial Home Care Gallery
mission of creating health in our
communities. We are committed to
giving our people the best possible
environment from which they can
passionately serve all those entrusted
to our care,” says Conrad.
Oxygen therapy customer James
Zuber holds Memorial’s Home Care
team in the highest regard. Zuber’s
family hasn’t slowed down since his
lung transplant three years ago,
visiting Williamsburg, Va., and touring
the nation marketing his wife’s new
children’s book. “I use home care
delivery often, but I’m also on the
road a lot, so many times I pick up
traveling units at the store,” he says.
“The delivery people who drop off
oxygen are very considerate. They’re
always willing to go the extra mile,”
Zuber says. “The entire organization is
very customer-service oriented.”
A Balanced Approach to
Retail Home Care
Balance. It’s all about balance. Between
art and science. Between the needs of
those who are ill and those who are
healthy and simply need products that
will help them remain so. Balance is
embodied in the Memorial Home
Care Gallery, located in the new
Memorial Home Care facility on
Douglas Road in South Bend.
The science of DNA becomes unique
DNA and fingerprint art are now available
at the Memorial Home Care Gallery.
artwork when you have your own
sample re-created on an expansive
canvas. Examples of DNA and
fingerprint artwork grace the focal
wall of the new Gallery.
The Gallery is an innovative retail
location for many home care needs—
from wheelchairs to portable and
stationary oxygen to in-home
respiratory therapy for patients in
need of regular medical care. Those
who wish to maintain their health can
shop in the Gallery’s skin cancer
prevention center, which offers
products that provide extra protection
from the damaging sun, or browse the
ergonomic fashion accessories and
medical ID jewelry.
Throughout the year, the store will
host special community events and
screenings, providing expert care so
you can rest, heal and live well.
www.qualityoflife.org
15

A New Way
to Connect
CarePages offer online support for families
Imagine a family emergency. Your
father had a stroke. You spend eight
hours at the hospital. You haven’t
slept in two days, and your cell phone
is now staring at you in anticipation of
the 30 phone calls to loved ones you
need to make.
Now imagine a Web service—available
within the hospital or from home—
that you can securely update with the
click of a mouse, allowing you to keep
your loved ones informed with the
most accurate and timely information.
CarePages SM are free, personal, private
Web pages that family and friends
can check and update whenever a
loved one is facing illness at Memorial
Hospital. They incorporate pictures,
comments and, most importantly,
updates on the loved one’s healing
process as written by the page’s
administrator (usually a family
member) allowing everyone to have
the same, accurate information.
CarePages is a new service brought
to Memorial by Robert White, M.D.,
medical director of the Regional
Newborn Program in cooperation
with the Memorial Health Foundation
in an effort to give families the
capability to communicate without
the hassles of time zones, work
CarePages by the Numbers
Total Number of Members: 1,080
Total Number of Visits: 14,534
Total Number of Messages: 462
Total Number of Updates: 283
schedules and long-distance calls.
CarePages creates an online support
system that is available 24 hours a day,
365 days a year.
Plus, it reduces the calls made to
nurses’ stations on patient floors.
While a family may call for a status
update on their loved one, HIPAA
privacy regulations prohibit nurses
from sharing that information.
CarePages allows the communication
to flow directly from one family
member to another. Memorial is one
of 27 hospitals in Indiana affiliated
with the service.
Every CarePage has a link where
users can send a compliment to any
hospital caregiver who has helped
the patient. Users can also link to
the Auxiliary Gift Shop or the
hospital’s South Bend Chocolate
Café to send a gift, or link to the
Memorial Health Foundation to
learn more about charitable giving
in honor of a loved one.
Setting up a page for yourself or a
loved one is simple. Step-by-step
instructions are next to every
computer workstation in the hospital.
Information is also available from
Memorial Auxiliary volunteers and
in hospital departments. In order to
maintain security, only those invited
to the page are allowed access, and
everyone is required to set up a
username and password. CarePages
also provides 24-hour technical
support via a toll-free phone number.
16
Memorial Health System • 574-647-6800

A Century
of Care
100-year-old
remembers her past,
welcomes her future
Imogene Franklin welcomes
great-grandchildren Jenna and Jake.
She was visiting her newborn greatgrandchildren
in Memorial Hospital,
but Imogene (Murphy) Franklin
felt like a girl in her twenties as she
traveled the halls up to the Mother/
Baby Unit. As she passed by a display
case in the atrium, she stopped
in surprise as a faded photo of
doctors and nurses standing in front
of Epworth Hospital, Memorial’s
predecessor, caught her eye. Mrs.
Franklin smiled at the faces she
remembered from a time, 79 years
ago, when she was a student at the
Epworth Hospital Training School,
taught by the very men and women
in the photograph.
“I looked in the case and recognized
some of the people in that old photo,”
Mrs. Franklin says. “They were my
teachers, some of whom I haven’t
thought about for many, many years.”
Life moved quickly in those days—
Franklin, a native of Niles, Michigan,
began her schooling at Epworth
in 1925. Those same teachers she
recalled in the photo taught her
class of 13 students until their
1928 graduation.
“We had a lot of fun together and
there was always lots of laughter,” Mrs.
Franklin says. “The doctors and nurses
who we worked with were nice, but
firm. We would work from 7 a.m. to
7 p.m. and then have the nights to
ourselves. They were long hours, but
that was OK; we were young.”
Young and in love. Mrs. Franklin’s
cousin was also in the nursing program
and set her up with a friend of her
own beau. She and George Franklin
made an instant connection and were
married just two years after graduation.
Imogene Murphy in 1928
“Things were very different back then,”
Mrs. Franklin says. “We didn’t have
antibiotics, so we would use Epsom salt
compresses. We also weren’t allowed
to wear gloves. The hospital didn’t
approve of it.” Penicillin was discovered
in 1928, but her early years in the
medical field wouldn’t be impacted
by these revolutionary changes in
medicine for some time.
Mrs. Franklin passed the sight of the
new construction outside the Memorial
windows and rode the elevator to the
Mother/Baby Unit. The memories
kept flowing as she entered the room
with her family and the newborns. She
was surprised and pleased to see the
openness and contact allowed between
Carrie, her husband Leigh, their 2 1 / 2-
year-old daughter Megan, and the
babies, Jake and Jenna.
“She couldn’t believe the babies were
in the room with me,” says Carrie.
“When she was at Epworth, the babies
were behind glass in the nursery and
you couldn’t hold them right away.”
“It is so wonderful, the access the
family has to the babies,” says Mrs.
Franklin. “I’m so happy that Carrie
and the twins are doing well and
everyone is safe. It is just a blessing
to see the great-grandbabies.”
“Although the buildings have changed,
it is nice to know the quality of care
and the friendly, experienced staff still
remain,” says Mrs. Franklin. “I have a
lot of fond memories of Epworth and
Memorial and I’m honored to have
been trained here.”
www.qualityoflife.org
17

A Good Friday Miracle
at HealthWorks!
Dear Ms. Abram-Copenhaver,
My name is Kate Irving. My parents, 10-month-old son Bobby and I visited your
museum April 6, 2007. We had a wonderful time exploring HealthWorks! and we
were getting ready to leave when I noticed that my son was feeling a little warm. I
told my parents that I wanted to take him back to our hotel (as we were visiting from
out of town), but I wanted to change his diaper before we left. My mom and I took
him to the ladies’ room, and as I was about to lay Bobby down on the changing table,
he suddenly fell backwards in my arms. I steadied him, then looked down at his face.
His eyes had rolled back in his head and he wasn’t breathing.
My mom jumped into action, running from the bathroom and yelling for someone to
call 911. I ran after her, still clutching Bobby. As soon as I rounded the corner near the
reception desk, three of your employees took Bobby from me, laid him on the floor,
and began CPR. Meanwhile, another employee was on the phone with emergency
personnel. The three people working on Bobby eventually got him breathing again,
and kept him (and me) calm until the police and paramedics arrived. Bobby and I
were taken to Memorial Hospital, where he was diagnosed as having had a febrile
seizure caused by a spiking fever, which was, in turn, caused by an undiagnosed ear
infection. His temperature had gone from normal to 104 degrees in a matter of
minutes, and his body responded by seizing. The emergency room doctor told me that
this sort of seizure isn’t uncommon, and there won’t be any lasting damage. Bobby is
now on antibiotics for the ear infection, and doesn’t seem to be any worse for wear.
To say your employees acted amazingly under pressure doesn’t even begin to do them
justice. They were completely calm and professional, and obviously knew what to do
in this sort of situation. I wish I had gotten their names so that I could thank them
properly (not that I could ever thank them enough), but it didn’t occur to me at the
time. If you could please pass along my thanks, I would very much appreciate it.
Finally, I would like to say that my parents, husband and I have all been inspired to
take CPR classes geared toward infants and children. I wish that it hadn’t taken such a
dramatic event to show us how important such classes are, but we’ve learned from it
and now know how to react if it ever happens again.
Thank you—and your wonderful employees—so much for everything. They saved my
baby’s life, and I will be forever
grateful.
Very sincerely,
Kate Irving
HealthWorks! employees Tara Lafferty,
Matthew Michele, Sarah Seales and
Kate VanDamm worked together to save
the life of 10-month-old Bobby Irving.
18
Memorial Health System • 574-647-6800

Classes and Services
Memorial offers educational events, classes and screenings as part of its 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 574-647-7398
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 to spinning to Zumba,
group fitness classes are offered
seven days a week at the Health
& Lifestyle Center. Call Patty
Thornton at 574-647-2663.
View the current class schedule at
www.qualityoflife.org/hlc.
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.
Participants are welcome to bring
a friend or family member. Call
Nan Monhaut at 574-647-7168.
Gynecological Cancer
Support Group
Meets on the second Thursday of
the month at 5 p.m. at the Memorial
Leighton Center. Call Lori Crandall
at 574-647-3140.
Leukemia & Lymphoma
Support Group
Meets on the third Wednesday of the
month at 6 p.m. at the Memorial
Leighton Center. Call Brandee Flagg
at 574-647-7691.
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.
2 nd Wind Group (COPD)
A support group for individuals with
lung disease. Meets Tuesdays from
1:30 to 3 p.m. at the Memorial
Leighton Center. 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
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 $35/person or $45/
couple. Call 574-647-2680 to
register.
Preparing for Childbirth
Prepares couples for the childbirth
experience. $65/couple. Class size
is limited. Series of six classes.
Tour included. Call 574-647-6801.
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.
Lunch & Learn Prenatal Class
One-day intensive version of
Preparing for Childbirth. 9 a.m. to
5 p.m. on Saturdays offered once
or twice each month. $60/couple.
Class size is limited. Tour included.
Call 574-647-6801.
Childbirth Refresher Course
A one-evening review for those
who have previously taken a
childbirth preparation course.
$20/couple. Class size is limited.
Call 574-647-6801.
Sibling Orientation Class
Children between the ages of 3
and 7 learn about newborns and
how to participate in baby care.
$5/child. Class size is limited.
Call 574-647-6801.
Tours
Free tours of the Center for Mother
and Child Care at Memorial Hospital
are available throughout the year.
Call 574-647-6801.
Caesarean Birth Preparation
Class/VBAC
A one-time class for families
expecting a Caesarean delivery
or wanting a vaginal birth after a
Caesarean. Includes a tour. $20.
Call 574-647-6801.
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.
Parenting Your New Infant:
Birth to One Year
Make sense of the often confl icting
advice and research on sleep, feeding
and self-care. Receive valuable pointers
for predictable challenges in the fi rst
year. Offered quarterly $10/individual or
$15/couple. Call 574-647-6801.
Parenting a 12- to 24-month-old
Establish healthy habits for sleep,
eating and emotional regulation.
Receive thoughtful professional
advice for tackling changes in naps,
struggles over food and fussiness.
Offered quarterly. $10/individual or
$15/couple. Call 574-647-6801.
Prenatal Breastfeeding Class
Information on breastfeeding taught
by certified lactation consultants.
Offered monthly. $10/couple. Call
574-647-6801.
Winning Your Child’s Cooperation
A direct, holistic approach to child
guidance and discipline for parents of
children ages 2 to 12. This is a fi veclass
series offered quarterly. Early
registration is $80/person or $120/
couple. Limited scholarships are
available for this series. 574-647-7511.
ABC
A perfect class for mom, dad and
grandparents that focuses on the
basics of holding, soothing and
quieting a crying infant. Topics also
include home safety, and choosing a
pediatrician and childcare for your
baby. $10/couple. Classes offered
once a month. Call 574-647-6801.
The Health Discovery Center (HDC)
offers the following screenings:
cholesterol, blood sugar and heel
scans. Weight management and
smoking cessation programs are
also available. The HDC has FREE
classes on menopause, osteoporosis
and bio-identical hormones. Blood
pressure, weight, height, body fat
and body mass index are also free.
Please call 547-647-6880, open
Monday through Friday.
www.qualityoflife.org
19

Why
Weight?
Ballroom dancer, Steve Salata lost 205 lbs.
If You’re Ready to Take the First Step, We Can Help.
The Memorial Weight Loss & Bariatric Surgery Center is a unique
service offering both surgical and non-surgical options to meet
your specific weight loss needs. Services can include nutritional
counseling, behavior modification, exercise therapy, support
groups or surgery.
If you’re struggling with obesity, you know by now there’s no quick
fix. No magic formula. Staying healthy is a lifelong journey. Call
today at 574-647-6400 and let us help you with your next step.
Join us for a free information seminar and to meet members of
our clinical staff. We’ll review the risks and benefits of surgical
options (including Roux-en-y and the newly offered Lap Band
procedure), and answer any questions. Seminars will take place on:
• October 1 & 25 • November 5 & 23 • December 3 & 27
All Monday seminars start at 7 p.m. and Thursday seminars start
at 5 p.m. Seating is limited.
For seminar reservations, call 574-647-6400.
www.qualityoflife.org/bariatrics
Life-saving solutions for life-threatening weight gain.
Non-Profi t Org.
U.S. Postage
PAID
South Bend, IN
Permit No. 72
615 N. Michigan Street
South Bend, Indiana 46601