INDIANAPOLIS - Indiana University Health is now the official sports medicine and sports performance provider for Indianapolis-based Andretti Autosport®, based on a newly formed agreement between the two organizations.

Through the multi-year agreement, IU Health will provide Andretti Autosport with sports performance coaches to train staff and pit crew on a weekly basis in coordination with performance race partner PitFit Training, sports medicine specialists to perform in-season injury evaluations and certified athletic trainers who will travel with the championship racing team for select IZOD IndyCar Series events taking place throughout North America, including major racing events in Detroit, Houston and Toronto.

IU Health will also provide on-site sports medicine services for Andretti Autosport drivers, including Marco Andretti, James Hinchcliffe, E.J. Viso and reigning IndyCar champion Ryan Hunter-Reay at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway during the month of May.

In addition, IU Health will provide Andretti Autosport's executives, employees and their spouses with access and discounts to all adult fitness programs hosted at its Carmel-based IU Health Sports Performance facility.

"This agreement brings our nationally ranked health system together with a nationally renowned champion racing organization to enhance performance, prevent and treat injuries, and improve safety," said Scott Handlon, business director of IU Health Orthopedics and Sports Medicine. "Now, Andretti Autosport athletes and staff have access to our Olympic-level training facility, expert training staff and our comprehensive, medically integrated training program here at IU Health Sports Performance."

At IU Health Sports Performance, nationally certified specialists customize sport-specific strength and conditioning programs that combine medically integrated sports performance training and sports science to help athletes and active individuals maximize their speed, agility and power while reducing their risk of injury.

"We are really excited about this partnership with IU Health Sports Performance," said said Doug Bresnahan, vice president of marketing partnerships for Andretti Autosport. "So much effort goes into preparing our race cars for optimum on-track performance and we now have a partner that can bring that same level of focus and attention into maximizing our team's overall fitness level, health and wellbeing. As an organization, it's in our DNA to seek continual self-improvement and IU Health Sports Performance will help us accomplish this across every facet of our company."

For more information about IU Health Sports Performance or PitFit Training, please call: 317.848.JUMP (5867) or visit: www.iuhealth.org/sportsperformance.

About Indiana University Health
Named among the “Best Hospitals in America” by U.S. News & World Report for 15 consecutive years, Indiana University Health is dedicated to providing a unified standard of preeminent, patient-centered care. A unique partnership with Indiana University School of Medicine – one of the nation’s leading medical schools – gives our highly skilled physicians access to innovative treatments using the latest research and technology.

About Andretti Autosport
Based in Indianapolis and led by racing legend Michael Andretti, Andretti Autosport fields multiple entries in the IZOD IndyCar Series. Andretti Autosport also campaigns multiple cars in Firestone Indy Lights, the Pro Mazda Championship and in the USF2000 National Championship. The company boasts four IZOD IndyCar Series championships (2004, 2005, 2007 and 2012), two Firestone Indy Lights titles (2008 and 2009), one USF2000 championship (2010) and has won the Indianapolis 500 twice (2005 and 2007). For more information, please visit AndrettiAutosport.com.

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• In 24 months, it has served up more than 150 tons of fresh produce, which, in terms of tomatoes, equates to enough of the fruit to fill every seat of the Lucas Oil Stadium and the Indianapolis Motor Speedway nearly four times over.

• It has also achieved nearly 35,000 sales transactions, distinguishing it as one of the most successful mobile produce programs in the country. That growth is evidence of the tangible difference the program is making in the lives of those in need.

“IU Health is committed to pursuing innovative strategies focused on improving overall public health and well-being,” says Robin Eggers, director of IU Health Community Outreach & Engagement. “By bringing fresh and affordable produce directly to our neighbors, Garden on the Go® is helping to address one of the leading causes of chronic diseases – an unhealthy diet.”

Only two percent of Marion County residents eat the recommended four daily servings of fruits and five of vegetables, contributing to Indiana’s high obesity rate. Garden on the Go® customers, meanwhile, credit the program with helping to increase their family’s consumption of fruits and vegetables, according to survey data. That’s vital, since evidence suggests that a produce-rich diet may shield against obesity and myriad chronic diseases. In fact, research suggests that getting more fruits and vegetables each day protects the ticker, with each extra portion lowering the risk of heart disease by four percent.

Additional Facts:

• Garden on the Go® is among the nation’s only mobile fresh produce markets to be launched by a healthcare organization.

• The average Garden on the Go® purchase is $7—which can buy a pound of green beans, a pound of tomatoes, a pound of bananas, three pounds of potatoes, a bunch of greens, a head of lettuce, a couple of apples and a couple of oranges. Not only is the produce affordable—it’s high-quality.

• Anyone—regardless of residency or income—can shop at Garden on the Go®, which accepts cash, credit cards, and food stamps (SNAP/EBT).

Throughout the program's anniversary week, several elected officials and senior leaders from the Marion County Health Department will be stepping out in support of Garden on the Go® with visits to several stops, including:

May 6
12 p.m. – Dr. Virginia Caine, director, Marion County Health Department
Goodwin Plaza Apartments (601 W. St. Clair St., Indianapolis)

4:30 p.m. – Councilor Marilyn Pfisterer
Mary Rigg Neighborhood Center (1920 Morris St., Indianapolis)

May 9
12 p.m. – Councilor Jeff Miller
Southeast Community Services (901 Shelby St., Indianapolis)

2:30 p.m. – State Rep. Vanessa Summers, Councilor Vop Osili
Flanner House (2424 Martin Luther King Jr. Drive, Indianapolis)

May 10
2:30 p.m. – Councilor Vop Osili
Indiana Avenue Apartments (825 Indiana Ave, Indianapolis)

Any media interested in arranging Garden on the Go® stop visits and interviews, including with shoppers to see how the truck has positively affected their health, please contact Lindsay Lyon in advance at 317-989-7163.

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About Indiana University Health Named among the “Best Hospitals in America” by U.S. News & World Report for 15 consecutive years, Indiana University Health is dedicated to providing a unified standard of preeminent, patient-centered care. A unique partnership with Indiana University School of Medicine – one of the nation’s leading medical schools – gives our highly skilled physicians access to innovative treatments using the latest research and technology.

INDIANAPOLIS - Hut, hut, hike! Riley Hospital for Children at Indiana University Health and Andrew Luck, quarterback of the Indianapolis Colts, are kicking off their landmark "Change the Play" initiative-a novel program designed to empower kids to take charge of their health and wellness.

Change the Play, developed by Riley at IU Health experts in partnership with Luck, launched online on Monday, April 15, with eight weekly challenges that give kids the know-how they need to make positive fitness, nutrition and health choices-both now and in the future.

Each week, Luck will roll out a new challenge at http://iuhealth.org/changetheplay. All of the challenges include a fitness and nutrition component, along with expert health advice. They are as follows:

•    Week 1: Ready, Set, Stretch Challenge
•    Week 2: Mindful Mornings Challenge
•    Week 3: H2GO Challenge
•    Week 4: Power Up Challenge
•    Week 5: Chill Out Challenge
•    Week 6: Dart & Dash Challenge
•    Week 7: Game Changer Challenge
•    Week 8: Be The QB Challenge

"As a leading children's hospital, we feel it's our responsibility to not only care for the health of the patients within our walls, but to improve the health and wellness of all kids," said Dr. Jeff Sperring, Riley at IU Health President and Chief Executive Officer. "Together with Andrew, we are giving children the tools they need to make healthier choices every day."

Parents are encouraged to sign their kids up for the free, Web-based program.For eight Hoosier families, that simple mouse-click will be the ticket to an in-person meeting with Luck at the Indiana Farm Bureau Football Center in July.

"Thanks to my parents, I learned at an early age what a difference a healthy lifestyle can make," said Luck. "With Change the Play, I want to kick-start a movement that inspires kids to be the quarterback of their own health."

Change the Play is a minimum four-year partnership and will include programs such as sports performance camps, educational tools for kids and Luck speaking engagements.

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About Riley Hospital for Children at Indiana University Health For more than 85 years, Riley at IU Health has been one of the nation's leading children's hospitals. Each year, Riley at IU Health provides compassionate care, support and comfort to 215,000 inpatients and outpatients from across Indiana, the nation and the world. Part of Indiana University Health, Riley at IU Health enjoys a unique partnership with the Indiana University School of Medicine, which gives our highly skilled physicians access to innovative treatments using the latest research and technology. Discover the strength at rileyhospital.org.

Signage will be placed along main routes to Riley Hospital for Children at Indiana University Health to guide visitors through detours, which are detailed in this map.

We apologize for the inconvenience. If you have any questions, please call the Riley Information Desk at 317.944.4807.

Because flu activity has continued to decrease, visitor restrictions implemented at Riley Hospital for Children at Indiana University Health during the recent flu epidemic have been lifted. However, per its usual policy during respiratory viral season, the Riley Neonatal Intensive Care Unit at IU Health will not be allowing visits by anyone younger than 18, except parents, until viral season ends, typically in April.

The visitor restriction policy was originally implemented by all Indianapolis area hospitals on Jan. 18 at the recommendation of the Marion County Health Department after flu activity reached its highest level since 2009. Because children can be at greater risk of serious flu complications, Riley at IU Health made the decision to continue limiting visitors to its facilities after Feb. 8, when the restrictions were lifted at Indiana University Health Methodist, Saxony and University hospitals, and the IU Health Simon Cancer Center.

Indiana University Health Orthopedics and Sports Medicine, one of the nation’s top orthopedics programs according to U.S.News and World Report, recently entered into an agreement with the Indiana Hand to Shoulder Center, one of the largest centers of its kind in the United States. Together, they will combine resources to provide adults and children with specialized orthopedic care of the hand, wrist, elbow and shoulder that spans the spectrum from elective to emergency surgeries.

“This collaboration enables us to provide our patients with a full spectrum of care for any condition of the bones, joints or muscles – from head to foot and, now, from shoulder to fingertip,” said Lisa Brandt, system vice president of IU Health Orthopedics and Sports Medicine, a nationally ranked program that provides comprehensive joint, bone, spine and muscle care for adults and children.

Through the collaboration, specialists from the Indiana Hand to Shoulder Center will provide professional medical, outpatient clinic and surgical services for patients at IU Health Methodist Hospital who have injuries and conditions involving the upper extremities – hand, wrist, elbow and shoulder. A few of the center’s specialists currently occupy a space at the downtown Indianapolis hospital where they host clinic appointments for patients seeking consultation.

The agreement also joins the Indiana Hand to Shoulder Center specialists with the orthopedic trauma team at the Level I Trauma Center at IU Health Methodist Hospital, one of the nation’s busiest trauma centers. Beginning April 1, Indiana Hand to Shoulder Center surgeons will rotate on-call 24/7 coverage to provide emergency services to people who come to the trauma center with upper extremity injuries.

“For over 40 years, the mission of the Indiana Hand to Shoulder Center has been to provide world-class shoulder, elbow, wrist and hand care to our community and beyond,” said Robert M. Baltera, M.D., managing partner, Indiana Hand to Shoulder Center. “We are excited about the opportunity to offer our expertise to patients within the IU Health system.”

About Indiana University Health
Named among the “Best Hospitals in America” by U.S.News & World Report for 15 consecutive years, Indiana University Health is dedicated to providing a unified standard of preeminent, patient-centered care. A unique partnership with Indiana University School of Medicine – one of the nation’s leading medical schools – gives our highly skilled physicians access to innovative treatments using the latest research and technology.

About the Indiana Hand to Shoulder Center
The Indiana Hand to Shoulder Center, formerly known as the Indiana Hand Center, began in 1971 as a private hand surgery practice located near downtown Indianapolis. The Indiana Hand to Shoulder Center is committed to excellence in the treatment of the hand, as well as the wrist, elbow, and shoulder. Its physicians are patent-holders, authors, university professors, fellowship-trained and clinic instructors – all of whom have treated patients from across Indiana and throughout the United States. Now located on the northwest side of the city, the Indiana Hand to Shoulder Center is the largest free-standing facility of its kind in the world.

Indiana University Health Orthopedics and Sports Medicine, one of the nation’s top orthopedics programs according to U.S.News and World Report, recently entered into an agreement with the Indiana Hand to Shoulder Center, one of the largest centers of its kind in the United States. Together, they will combine resources to provide adults and children with specialized orthopedic care of the hand, wrist, elbow and shoulder that spans the spectrum from elective to emergency surgeries.

“This collaboration enables us to provide our patients with a full spectrum of care for any condition of the bones, joints or muscles – from head to foot and, now, from shoulder to fingertip,” said Lisa Brandt, system vice president of IU Health Orthopedics and Sports Medicine, a nationally ranked program that provides comprehensive joint, bone, spine and muscle care for adults and children.

Through the collaboration, specialists from the Indiana Hand to Shoulder Center will provide professional medical, outpatient clinic and surgical services for patients at IU Health Methodist Hospital who have injuries and conditions involving the upper extremities – hand, wrist, elbow and shoulder. A few of the center’s specialists currently occupy a space at the downtown Indianapolis hospital where they host clinic appointments for patients seeking consultation.

The agreement also joins the Indiana Hand to Shoulder Center specialists with the orthopedic trauma team at the Level I Trauma Center at IU Health Methodist Hospital, one of the nation’s busiest trauma centers. Beginning April 1, Indiana Hand to Shoulder Center surgeons will rotate on-call 24/7 coverage to provide emergency services to people who come to the trauma center with upper extremity injuries.

“For over 40 years, the mission of the Indiana Hand to Shoulder Center has been to provide world-class shoulder, elbow, wrist and hand care to our community and beyond,” said Robert M. Baltera, M.D., managing partner, Indiana Hand to Shoulder Center. “We are excited about the opportunity to offer our expertise to patients within the IU Health system.”

About Indiana University Health
Named among the “Best Hospitals in America” by U.S.News & World Report for 15 consecutive years, Indiana University Health is dedicated to providing a unified standard of preeminent, patient-centered care. A unique partnership with Indiana University School of Medicine – one of the nation’s leading medical schools – gives our highly skilled physicians access to innovative treatments using the latest research and technology.

About the Indiana Hand to Shoulder Center
The Indiana Hand to Shoulder Center, formerly known as the Indiana Hand Center, began in 1971 as a private hand surgery practice located near downtown Indianapolis. The Indiana Hand to Shoulder Center is committed to excellence in the treatment of the hand, as well as the wrist, elbow, and shoulder. Its physicians are patent-holders, authors, university professors, fellowship-trained and clinic instructors – all of whom have treated patients from across Indiana and throughout the United States. Now located on the northwest side of the city, the Indiana Hand to Shoulder Center is the largest free-standing facility of its kind in the world.

The new app allows users to:

• Lead healthier lives by selecting from a list of physician-approved healthier habits to incorporate into their daily routine, such as eating 4-5 servings of vegetables and fruits a day or getting 7-8 hours of sleep a night
• Customize their own healthy habits
• Track their progress over 21 days
• Share their progress with friends via social media (i.e., Facebook and Twitter)
• Receive push notifications to help motivate and maintain those healthy habits

“We know friends and family members often have a big impact on our health habits – for better or worse,” said Dr. Yazid Fadl, IU Health cardiologist. “With the popularity of social media and smartphone apps, My Healthy Habits is another creative way to encourage others to also adopt healthy habits by letting them follow their friends’ progress online.”

Many wellness apps cater to those who are already relatively fit. For example, there are apps geared toward helping train experienced runners for participating in a marathon. My Healthy Habits, on the other hand, caters to everyone from those wanting to take that first step toward living a healthier life to those looking to add just a few more healthy habits. That difference has already caught the attention of several individuals, including Indiana Pacers head coach Frank Vogel, who endorses the app.

“The Indiana Pacers and I support any initiative to get Hoosiers moving, and My Healthy Habits is a creative, homegrown app that change lifestyles with the click of a button,” Vogel said.

Leaders with the American Heart Association are also excited to see what kind of an impact such an app can have on lifestyle changes.

“American Heart Association research shows that as much as 80 percent of heart disease is preventable,” said Dan Krajnovich, chairman of the board for the Indianapolis American Heart Association. “The My Healthy Habits app will be a valuable tool for people to start making small changes to their exercise and diet that can prevent heart disease and lead to a longer, healthier life. We’re proud to work with IU Health on this effort.”

In addition, My Healthy Habits is part of both IU Health’s efforts to meet the needs of the state and to care for Hoosiers outside its hospitals’ walls through its larger social media efforts. In June, IU Health was the first health system in the state to live-tweet a surgery on Twitter; in October and November, IU Health physicians live-tweeted about breast cancer and asthma with followers on Twitter.

To download the app, visit the iTunes store and search for “My Healthy Habits.”

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About Indiana University Health Named among the “Best Hospitals in America” by U.S. News & World Report for 15 consecutive years, Indiana University Health is dedicated to providing a unified standard of preeminent, patient-centered care. A unique partnership with Indiana University School of Medicine – one of the nation’s leading medical schools – gives our highly skilled physicians access to innovative treatments using the latest research and technology.

About the American Heart Association The American Heart Association is the nation’s oldest and largest voluntary health organization dedicated to fighting heart disease and stroke. Our mission is to build healthier lives by preventing, treating and defeating these diseases – America’s No. 1 and No. 4 killers. We fund cutting-edge research, conduct lifesaving public and professional educational programs, and advocate to protect public health. To learn more or join us in helping all Americans, call 1-800-AHA-USA1 or visit heart.org.

Pierson, who lives in a food desert, is just one of the more than 1.3 million Hoosiers who benefited from IU Health’s community benefit in 2011. IU Health invested more than $496 million into the community through various programs – including Garden on the Go – according to an annual report filed with the Internal Revenue Service today.

“The fact that it’s bringing fruits and vegetables for the price they have, you can’t beat it,” said Pierson. “It’s the best thing to happen here in a long time.”

When subtracting the community benefit from hospitals that joined the IU Health system in 2011, the total amount increased 12 percent from 2010. The $496 million figure doesn’t account for “other investments,” including community-building activities, unreimbursed costs of Medicare and bad debt that add another nearly $200 million to the total. In all, the amount of community benefit and other investments from IU Health in 2011 adds up to more than three times the cost of building Bankers Life Fieldhouse.

The report highlights “community benefit” and “other investments.” The IRS requires non-profit health systems to file such a report each year. In 2011, Highlights from IU Health’s 2011 report are below:

Community benefit includes (2011 investment in parentheses):

• Charity care ($143.1 million, or 3 percent of net patient revenue for the system)
• Unreimbursed costs of Medicaid and other government programs ($234.7 million)
• Community benefit operations and health improvement services ($17.7 million)
• Health professions education ($61.6 million)
• Subsidized health services ($14.4 million)
• Research ($18.9 million across 2,300 clinical trials and studies)
• Financial and in-kind contributions ($5.7 million)

"IU Health has a long-standing tradition of ensuring all Hoosiers have access to quality healthcare and of investing in the communities we serve across the state,” said Ron Stiver, senior vice president for Engagement and Public Affairs, IU Health. “2011 was no exception, with significant investments inside and outside of the walls of our facilities to improve the health of our patients and communities." 

Other 2011 community benefit highlights:

• IU Health employees served as mentors to more than 200 pre-kindergartners across the state in kindergarten readiness camps, which resulted in an average 3-point increase on test scores and 11 percent increase among Indianapolis Public Schools participants.
• IU Health partnered with the Indianapolis Parks Foundation and Indy Parks to form Indy Urban Acres, an 8-acre organic urban farm where all produce goes to local food pantries.  In 2011, staff harvested 1,400 pounds of produce, which provided more than 7,000 servings of vegetables to food pantries.
• Provided financial assistance to more than 60,000 patients.

A copy of the 2011 Community Benefit report is now available at iuhealth.org/getstrong. To schedule an interview with an IU Health leader, please contact Kristofer Karol at 317.962.4589.

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About Indiana University Health Named among the “Best Hospitals in America” by U.S. News & World Report for 15 consecutive years, Indiana University Health is dedicated to providing a unified standard of preeminent, patient-centered care. A unique partnership with Indiana University School of Medicine – one of the nation’s leading medical schools – gives our highly skilled physicians access to innovative treatments using the latest research and technology.

Read the entire article at indystar.com.