Deacon Dale Walsh presided over a blessing and dedication program for the new Franciscan St. Anthony Health-Michigan City Heart Center Oct. 1. The center offers one-stop, comprehensive, patient-centered services provided by a team of board-certified cardiologists, cardiothoracic surgeons, electrophysiologists and advanced practice nurses, all of whom have a track record of diagnosing, treating and preventing heart disease. Additionally, patient education services and support groups, such as a congestive heart failure clinic and smoking cessation program, are part of the center’s program.
It also offers transitional care visits for congestive heart failure patients who are being discharged, to assure, especially if the patient is high risk for readmission and/or has no primary care, that a physician is available to see them in a timely fashion after discharge. The center also assists patients with understanding chronic disease conditions, as well as understanding and compliance with medications and other treatment guidelines. It also provides a mechanism to track such patients over time for improvement in health status. Also shown at the ceremony are Lyn Stevens, far left, nurse practitioner; and, from left, Gene Diamond, Franciscan Alliance Northern Indiana Region CEO; James Callaghan, MD, hospital president; and Tina Sherrod, a Franciscan Physician Network supervisor. Besides Diamond and Dr. Callaghan, other speakers at the program included Sister Jane Marie Klein, chairperson of the Franciscan Alliance Board of Trustees; and Trish Weber, the hospital’s vice president of operations and chief nursing officer.
