Panel to discuss ‘Appropriate Use of Mammography As A Screening Tool’ on Dec. 3

A panel consisting of area health care providers and advocacy groups will present “Appropriate Use of Mammography As A Screening Tool” at 6:30 p.m. on Thursday, Dec. 3 at the Kathryn Weil Center for Education.

Thomas L. Summer, M.D., Lafayette Surgical Clinic and the St. Elizabeth Breast Center, will address the new guidelines that were issued on Nov. 16 by the United State Preventive Services Task Force. Madelyn G. Lefranc, M.D., of the St. Elizabeth Breast Center, will discuss the American College of Radiology’s guidelines. Stacy Rogers, associate director of the Wabash Valley Chapter of the American Cancer Society, will also talk about the importance of mammograms. A question and answer session will follow the presentations.

The program will be held at the Kathryn Weil Center for Education, located inside the Medical Arts Building at 415 N. 26th St., Suite 400 in Lafayette on the campus of Home Hospital.

This program is free, but registration is required. To register or for more information, call the Kathryn Weil Center for Education at (765) 449-5133.

December community education opportunities

‘Trusting What Your Tummy Tells You’ is December ‘Lunch and Learn’ topic
Cindy Modlin Adams, R.N., RN, MSN, ANP-BC, a certified adult nurse practitioner with St. Elizabeth Regional Health, will present “Trusting What Your Tummy Tells You” at the December “Lunch and Learn.”

Modlin Adams will discuss how your digestive system works and why a healthy digestive system is so important; common digestive disorders; their symptoms, causes and risk factors, and medical and non-medical ways to prevent/treat disorders.

Attendees will be eligible for a drawing of a gift certificate for a free dinner provided by Dream Dinners, which is a Spirit of Women business reward partner.

“Lunch and Learn” is a monthly program offered by the Kathryn Weil Center for Education – this session will be held from 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. on Thursday, Dec. 3.

Lunch is available for $6 at 11:30 a.m. with the free educational program starting at noon. This special program will also include information from St. Elizabeth Regional Health’s Food and Nutrition Services on healthy holiday snacks and meals; and free colorectal screening kits from St. Elizabeth Regional Health’s Oncology Services. The program will be held at the Kathryn Weil Center for Education located inside the Medical Arts Building at 415 N. 26th St., Suite 400 in Lafayette on the campus of Home Hospital.

Seating is limited and reservations are required; reservations must be received by Tuesday, Dec. 1. To register or for more information, call the Kathryn Weil Center for Education at (765) 449-5133.

New Moms Tea programs for December
The Kathryn Weil Center for Education and the Spirit of Women continue to offer new and expecting moms in the area an opportunity to learn in a relaxed environment.

The New Moms Tea meets weekly at 1:30 p.m. on Thursdays at the Kathryn Weil Center for Education, located inside the Medical Arts Building at 415 N. 26th St., Suite 400 in Lafayette on the Home Hospital campus.

Upcoming topics and speakers for November include:
• Dec. 3: “Gestational Diabetes: Will It Come Back Later?” by Jennifer Anderson, R.D., St. Elizabeth Diabetes Center.
• Dec. 10: “Sex and the New Mom” by Catherine Sam, M.D., an OB/GYN with the Women’s Clinic.
• Dec. 17: “Looking Ahead: St Elizabeth East Women’s Center Services” by Pam Smith R.N., St. Elizabeth Regional Health.

Following each educational program, moms will have an opportunity to discuss breastfeeding concerns with a lactation counselor from St. Elizabeth Regional Health.

The Kathryn Weil Center for Education and St. Elizabeth Regional Health are members of the Spirit of Women, a national coalition of hospitals and health care providers that pledge to provide the highest standards of excellence in women’s health, education and community outreach.

All sessions are free, but registration is required and can be made by calling the center at (765) 449-5133.

Cholesterol screenings scheduled at Kathryn Weil Center for Education
The Kathryn Weil Center for Education will offer cholesterol screenings by appointment on Thursday, Dec. 10 at the center. The price is $30 and registration is required. The screening includes checking total cholesterol, HDL, total cholesterol/HDL ratio, triglycerides, LDL and glucose levels. Fasting is recommended as it provides more accurate results, but not required. You are encouraged to drink water prior to your test; black coffee and black tea are also acceptable. A staff member will discuss your individual results.

The Kathryn Weil Center for Education is located on the fourth floor of the Medical Arts Building, 415 N. 26th St., Suite 400 in Lafayette on the campus of Home Hospital. For more information or to schedule your screening, call the center at (765) 449-5133.

Kathryn Weil Center for Education schedules basic tuberculosis course
The Kathryn Weil Center for Education will offer a basic tuberculosis course from 8:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. on Thursday, Dec. 17. Cost for this program is $60, which is non-refundable.

This course teaches participants how to identify populations to be tested and how to administer, read and record the Mantoux Skin Test.

The Kathryn Weil Center for Education is located in the Medical Arts Building, 415 N. 26th St., Suite 400 on the campus of Home Hospital.

For more information or to register, call the Kathryn Weil Center for Education at (765) 449-5133.

Kathryn Weil Center for Education offering community safety and parent education classes
The Kathryn Weil Center for Education is offering community safety and parent education classes in December. Courses include:
• Parent education classes (in classrooms or online);
• Public CPR;
• CPR/AED (automated external defibrillator); and
• First aid classes.

The Kathryn Weil Center for Education is located in the Medical Arts Building, 415 N. 26th St., Suite 400 on the campus of Home Hospital.

For more information or to register, call the Kathryn Weil Center for Education at (765) 449-5133 or visit www.ste.org/kwce.

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St. Elizabeth School of Nursing Alumni Association announces annual Outstanding Alumni Award

Marsha Clarke, R.N., of Fishers, Ind., is the recipient of the 2009 St. Elizabeth School of Nursing Alumni Association’s Outstanding Alumni Award.

Clarke received the award during the alumni association’s annual luncheon on Oct. 31 at the Best Western Lafayette Executive Plaza and Conference Center in Lafayette.

Clarke, a member of the class of 1996, currently works as an eligibility nurse consultant for the Indiana State Department of Health’s Children’s Special Health Care Services.

In addition to working for the state, she is currently enrolled at Christian Theological Seminary in Indianapolis, working on her master’s degree in divinity. Clarke is also enrolled in St.Vincent Health’s clinical pastoral educational program at Saint John’s Health System in Anderson.

In 2007, Clarke received the state’s Governor’s Award for her ongoing efforts to go beyond personal job expectations to meet the needs of Indiana’s most vulnerable residents.

In addition to her diploma in nursing from St. Elizabeth in 1996, Clarke received a bachelor’s degree in environmental health in 1993 and a master’s degree in liberal arts from Purdue University in 2000. She worked at the Indiana Veteran’s Home in West Lafayette in 2000. In 2001 Clarke became a public health nurse surveyor for nursing homes for the Indiana State Department of Health. In 2005, Clarke transferred to the Family and Social Service Administration to work as a welfare nurse consultant for the Division of Aging, where she provided individuals with home and community based, housing and medical services.

In addition to working for the state of Indiana, she is an active volunteer with various health-related committees of Indiana Black Expo, the Indiana Minority Health Program and the Indiana Division of Aging program.

Previous recipients include:

• 2003: Helen Wortman, Class of 1947.
• 2004: Thelma Neal, Class of 1955.
• 2006: Judith Gudeman, Class of 1954.
• 2007: Jean Eberhard, Class of 1952.
• 2008: Eleanor Kay Mirich, Class of 1958.

The St. Elizabeth School of Nursing was established in 1897 and is the only hospital-based school of nursing remaining in Indiana. For more information on the school, please visit www.steson.org.

St. Elizabeth Regional Health home health agencies ranked among top 500 of home health providers in country for 2009

Home Hospital Home Health and St. Clare Home Health Care – both divisions of St. Elizabeth Regional Health – have been named to 2009 HomeCare Elite’s Top 500 Agency listing, a compilation of the most successful Medicare-certified home health care providers in the United States. This annual review identifies the top 500 agencies, ranked by an analysis of performance measures in quality outcomes, quality improvement and financial performance.

“Our staff members have worked incredibly hard over the past few years to accurately collect patient data and to use that data to improve our care models so that we can in turn improve clinical outcomes for our patients,” said Bea Lamb, R.N., MBA, regional director of Home Hospital Home Health Care and St. Clare Home Health Care. “I am proud to see our efforts produce measurable positive results and I thank each and every staff member for their hard work on behalf of our patients.”

The HomeCare Elite is the only performance recognition of its kind in the home health industry. The HomeCare Elite is provided by OCS, Inc., the leading provider of health care informatics and DecisionHealth, publisher of home care’s most respected independent newsletter Home Health Line.

Home Hospital Home Health Care and St. Clare Home Health Care serve Benton, Carroll, Clinton, Fountain, Montgomery, Putnam, Tippecanoe, Warren and White counties and can be reached by calling (765) 449-5046 or (765) 362-5114.

St. Elizabeth Orthopaedic Center to host free seminar on ‘New Advances in Total Joint Replacements’

The St. Elizabeth Orthopaedic Center will host a free seminar, “New Advances in Total Joint Replacements” on Thursday, Nov. 12 from 6:30 to 7:30 p.m. at the Kathryn Weil Center for Education.

Michael E. Highhouse, M.D., a board certified orthopaedic surgeon with Lafayette Orthopaedic Clinic, will speak on the latest advances in total joint replacements and care. The presentation will be followed by a question and answer session where guests will have the opportunity to ask questions about the procedures and rehabilitation options that are available in the Greater Lafayette area.

This seminar is free but registration is required. Please call the Kathryn Weil Center for Education at (765) 449-5133 to reserve your spot by Tuesday, Nov. 10. The Kathryn Weil Center for Education is located on the fourth floor of the Medical Arts Building, 415 N. 26th St., Suite 400 in Lafayette on the campus of Home Hospital.