INSIDE PROGRESSAPRIL 2018

CONSTRUCTION UPDATES FOR WESTERN INDIANA FRANCISCAN HEALTH AND FRANCISCAN PHYSICIAN NETWORK FACILITIES

Preparing the final touches

Beth VanLaere (left) works with Claire Allen (middle) and Mitch Walters (right) on sorting supply dividers for the nurse servers on 3 West. Patients begin moving to the new West Tower on Wednesday, April 11.

The Infusion Center, currently located on 3 North at the East campus, will enable easier and more convenient access for patients when it relocates to the first floor of the West Tower on Monday, April 16. It will be renamed the Franciscan Health Cancer Center. Primary services to be provided at the center are blood transfusions, chemotherapy and hydration therapy.

“This center will afford us the opportunity to consolidate services for cancer patients, including on-site registration, pharmacy and space for meeting with the extended cancer care team,” states Heather Askren, oncology nurse practitioner and manager of Oncology Services. “This will be a one-stop place for our patients.”

Patients receive treatment for two to four hours at a time weekly or bi-weekly, often for many weeks. Comfort, convenience and privacy are priorities for the new center, which includes two private treatment rooms. Additionally, five treatment rooms, each with a functional room divider, will provide treatment “bays” for two patients in each room. “In each of the bays there is room for an additional chair, so our patients can have a loved one or friend visit with them during their treatment,” says Heather.

She adds the new and larger center will have improved amenities, including chemotherapy chairs complete with heat and massage capabilities. “Most cancer patients get cold,” she says. “We’ll have blanket warmers, too.” The outside wall of each treatment room will be made of glass from floor to ceiling, providing natural light. Patients can view the outdoor courtyard area, with bird feeders, during their treatment.

A courtesy meal will be available to patients whose treatment extends into a meal time, and a dietitian will be available if needed, at that time or any other time. A nourishment station, with coffee and tea, will also be available, and Heather notes guest meal trays can always be purchased for $7.

A consultation room for education or for

New Cancer Center to focus on patient convenience, comfort

One of the chemotherapy bays in the Cancer Center.

private meetings with the Palliative Care team is also a part of the center.

Pharmacy services, specifically for making cancer treatment medications, will be on-site. “We look forward to improved wait times for our patients because of a dedicated pharmacist and pharmacy tech,” says Heather.

Center staff includes six chemotherapy-trained nurses, and two are designated with the national oncology certification (OCN). The goal, says Heather, is for all the center’s nurses to be certified over the next two years. Other staff include Theresa Moller, infusion manager; Holly Cummins, lung and colon cancer patient navigator; and Joni Spears, breast cancer patient navigator. Patient navigators follow patients from as soon as possible after diagnosis throughout their treatment and care, assisting wherever needed, including finding appropriate community resources or taking patients to medical appointments.

The center will also house the practice of Dr. Taylor Ortiz, medical oncologist with Franciscan Physician Network. He and his staff will occupy four exam rooms and a nurse’s station. A financial counselor for patient consultation will also be situated inside this section of the center.

Additional physicians serving the center include Dr. Nancy DiMartino, Dr. Wael Harb, and Dr. Ajita Narayan.

The center will be open Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. A few parking spaces will be designated for cancer center patients close to the Visitors Entrance for their

The Franciscan Health Sleep Disorders Center will be part of a new Neurodiagnostic Lab in the West Tower. The Sleep Center will open for patients on Monday, April 23.

Joe Howe, director of Respiratory/Sleep and Neurodiagnostics, says he is looking forward to a new and more accommodating facility for patients. “Everything about the new center is designed to put patients at ease and help them to relax. Rooms will have high quality furnishings and linens, like a hotel," he says. “Yet, we hope they will feel very much at home.”

Patients will access the center through the Visitors Entrance. Once in the center, they will be taken to one of four private rooms and registered there. Each room will have a Sleep Number bed, television and full bathroom.

A patient lounge supplied with drinks and small snacks will be available for patients having nap tests during the day.

The center tests patients ages 6 and older. Most patients are referred to the center by their primary care physician. Joe notes more than 80 disorders, including insomnia, sleep apnea, narcolepsy and restless legs syndrome, can disturb sleep, reducing quality of life and impairing health.

Most patients arrive to the center between 7:30 and 8 p.m. The sleep study is conducted throughout the night when most normally sleep. The center also tests night shift patients during their normal sleeping pattern during the day.

“We also provide home sleep testing,” adds Joe. “Patients interested in this first come to the center, and our staff educates them how to do it at home and to borrow the equipment over night.”

Physicians serving the Sleep Disorders Center are Dr. Shahid Ahsan and Dr. Salim Abou Jaoude, both board certified sleep specialists. All staff are registered sleep technologists and many hold other credentials in either respiratory therapy or in the neurodiagnostic

Sleep Disorders Center, new Neurodiagnostics Lab will move to West Tower

field. The center is accredited by the American Academy of Sleep Medicine (AASM), one of the highest distinctions in the sleep disorder field; the Sleep Disorder Center has held this distinction since 1978.

The new sleep center will share space with a new Neurodiagnostic Area, which will have three patient testing rooms. Services included in this area are:

• Electroencephalography (EEG),• Continuous EEG Monitoring (cEEG),• Ambulatory Electroencephalography (AEEG),• Electromyography/Nerve Conduction

Velocity (EMG/NCV) and• Evoked Potentials-Visual/Auditory/

Somatosensory (EPs).

Larger treatment rooms in the Neurodiagnostics Lab (top) and larger sleep study rooms (bottom).

Learn about the West TowerAfter months of anticipation and watching the West Tower take shape, it will open very soon. Human Resources and Nursing Leadership hosted open forums for all staff and provided a presentation to the Shared Governance councils. The presentation gave an overview of each unit, some of the new features as well as introduced the pilot staffing model of a Float Pool specific to the 3rd floor. Click here to view the presentation.

Healthcare professionals open houseOn March 22, Nursing Leadership and Human Resources hosted an invitation-only event for area nurses, physical and occupational therapists and nursing students. During this time, guests were given a tour of the West Tower. Sessions

about resume writing and interview skills were also offered and well attended. We would like to give a special thanks to Tonn & Blank for clearing out the space early so we could host the event as well as Environmental Services for cleaning.

Staffing update for 3 WestNursing and Patient Care Coordinator positions are still available for 3 West. Current openings can be found at Jobs.FranciscanHealth.org. Interested candidates will need to submit an application to be considered. If you are interested in transferring, please let your current leader know that you are interested and make sure that you meet the eligibility requirements. If you have questions, please call Human Resources at (765) 502-4340.

HR Update

Palliative Care's three suites in a private hallway on 2

West (above). Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy treatment

areas (below). Outpatient Center treatment room (left).

You’re cordially invited to attend an open house for our new West Tower at Franciscan Health Lafayette East!

Please Join Us!

When: Monday, April 9, 2018 from 2:30 to 6 p.m.

Where: Franciscan Health Lafayette East campus, 1701 S. Creasy Lane, Lafayette, IN 47905Please enter through the Visitor Entrance or the North Entrance.

Refreshments and tours will be provided.

Expanded Outpatient Center

Sleep Disorders Center/Neurodiagnostics

Palliative Care suites

Medical/Surgical Unit

Medical/Surgical Overflow

Inpatient Rehab Center/Therapy

Advanced Wound Healing Center/

Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy

Franciscan Health Cancer Center/

medical offices

Services offered: With more than 100,000 square feet added onto the East campus, the new West Tower will house the following units:

Questions? Call (765) 502-4688

FranciscanHealth.org