According to the American Cancer Society, mammograms are the most effective and valuable tool for early detection of breast cancer. Women age 40 and older should have a baseline screening mammogram every year.
Patients must be asymptomatic and have no prior history of breast cancer. Mammograms must be scheduled before Friday, May 31. Patients are responsible for payment in full at time of service. Acceptable payment includes cash, check, credit or debit card. No physician order required, but patients must provide their physician name at time of scheduling.
]]>“We understand the success of IU Health La Porte Hospital is linked to the health of the communities we serve,” said G. Thor Thordarson, president/CEO. “That’s why we’ve centered our 2013 Day of Community Service efforts around our commitment to wellness and outdoor activities.”
Volunteers will enjoy tranquil Caribbean steel drum music provided by Kent Arnsbarger, professional percussionist.
IU Health La Porte Hospital colleagues will join thousands of IU Health team members throughout the state May 17 to expand and enhance at least 20 trails and green spaces. Last year, IU Health employees across the state built 25 frames for Habitat for Humanity homes. The Day of Community Service is spearheaded by the IU Health Strength That Cares, employee-volunteer program, which currently has more than 10,600 team members.
Volunteers of all ages and abilities are needed. For more information, call Laura Gould at 219.326.2415.
]]>Dr. Tumuluri and partnering physician Dr. Arulandu are the only doctors in Northwest Indiana to have received this distinction.
This voluntary program recognizes Dr. Tumuluri for valuing quality healthcare delivery and the latest clinical protocols to ensure patients with diabetes receive the best care at the right time. To receive the honor, Dr. Tumuluri submitted data demonstrating he meets the program’s key diabetes care measures, including: blood glucose control, blood pressure control, cholesterol control, eye examinations, nerves and nervous system assessment as well as smoking and tobacco use cessation advice and treatment. These measures, according to NCQA, ensure people with diabetes receive quality care and are less likely to suffer complications such as heart attacks, stroke, blindness, kidney disease and amputations. For more information, visit ncqa.org.
Dr. Tumuluri is board certified in internal medicine. He welcomes patients at Indiana University Health La Porte Physicians Internal Medicine at Johnson Road, 7002 W. Johnson Rd. in La Porte. To schedule an appointment, call 219.325.0604 or 219.874.3700.
]]>The Auxiliary, in conjunction with the La Porte Hospital Foundation, gave the gifts through a philanthropic “wish list” generated by various departments within the hospital. Departments utilize the funds in purchasing clinical equipment and patient items.
IU Health La Porte Surgery Services, for example, received a total of $13,000. Monies helped purchase video fiberoptic laryngoscope equipment, which produces magnified HD images to aid anesthesiologists while preparing patients for surgery.
Director of Surgery Lisa Pinkstaff said, “The surgeons, anesthesiologists, colleagues and I are so grateful for the Auxiliary for their generosity. Because of them, we are able to purchase the latest clinical equipment. These gifts will not only help us do our jobs better, but will also create a safer, more positive experience for our patients.”
Other funded items included:
Auxiliary member and Philanthropy Committee Chairperson Marcia Morris said, “These gifts help the staff of IU Health La Porte Hospital take care of our community to keep us as healthy as possible. That’s what the Auxiliary is all about.”
The La Porte Hospital Auxiliary supports IU Health La Porte Hospital by providing volunteer services. The group generates its charitable revenues from a variety of sources including the Wishing Well Gift Shop, located just off the hospital’s main lobby, and various fundraisers conducted within the hospital. The philanthropic gifts help support the organization’s mission in making a positive difference in communities.
For more information or to become a volunteer, call 219.326.2338.
Pictured: Auxiliary Member Shirley Duerr presents a gift to Linda Satkoski, COO of IU Health La Porte Hospital.
]]>The event is free and registration is not required.
IU Health La Porte and Starke hospitals earned STAR certification in November 2012. The certification qualifies both hospitals to the services—a highly advanced cancer rehabilitation program helping survivors recover from the side effects and aftereffects of treatments.
Most of the services offered by the STAR (Survivorship Training and Rehabilitation) Program are covered by health insurance and are designed to rehabilitate survivors of all forms and stages of cancer. The program uses a multidisciplinary clinical approach, whereby a team of experts—rehabilitation medicine physicians, physical and occupational therapists, speech pathologists, dieticians, medical social workers and nurse practitioners—works with each patient on a personalized rehabilitation plan to increase strength and energy, alleviate pain and improve daily function and well-being.
STAR Program rehabilitation professionals can help with a wide variety of treatment-related conditions and their symptoms, including: pain, weakness, fatigue, shoulder problems, balance and gait problems, memory and concentration issues, swallowing and speech problems and lymphedema. Patients who have problems that they didn’t have before diagnosis, especially if they interfere with their ability to function or quality of life, are candidates for cancer rehabilitation.
For more information, call 855.214.3681.
]]>New and returning members included: Ed Gondeck, president; Nancy Batten, vice president; Ann McDermott, secretary; Mary Grott, treasurer; Nancy Dipert, fund development; and Bernita Liberatore, immediate past president.
Standing Committee Representatives included Marge Weber, by-laws, and Edward Weber, parliamentarian.
Special Committees included: Carol Taylor, nominating committee; Robert Burns, scholarship committee; and Marcia Morris, philanthropy.
All officers were voted into the positions unanimously by their peers.
The La Porte Hospital Auxiliary supports Indiana University Health La Porte Hospital by providing volunteer services. The group generates its charitable revenues from a variety of sources including the Wishing Well Gift Shop, located just off of the hospital’s main lobby, and through various fundraisers conducted within the hospital. The philanthropic gifts help support the organization’s mission in making a positive difference in communities.
For more information or to become a volunteer, call 219.326.2338.
]]>At least 40 million adult Americans suffer from sleep disorders. However, it is estimated nearly 85 percent of those individuals remain undiagnosed or untreated.
Sleep apnea is a common disorder involving abnormal pauses in breathing or extreme shallow breathing during sleep. These respiratory disruptions can last 10 seconds to a few minutes, and may occur multiple times within a rest period. Usually, when normal breathing resumes, the sleeper will snort or snore loudly. Other signs and symptoms of sleep apnea include:
The home sleep test is a device used to diagnose sleep apnea in the comfort of one’s home. The test measures breathing patterns, heart rate and oxygen levels during the night. In addition, the home test is significantly cheaper than traditional overnight testing in a sleep center, and is covered by most insurance plans with some plans covering in-home testing only.
Mindi Whittaker, a registered sleep technologist, recommended the home test to those looking for a more comfortable, convenient option. “If you’re snoring at night so loudly that you wake your partner, if you wake suddenly in the night due to shortness of breath or if you nearly fall asleep during work, watching TV or even driving,” Whittaker said, “we highly encourage you to talk to your doctor about a home sleep apnea test.”
Interested individuals should request the home sleep apnea test with a primary care physician. There is no wait time, and the test can be picked up at IU Health La Porte Sleep Services by appointment only. Staff will provide complete guidance and instructions. Individuals may drop off the test to the office the next day. Each test is reviewed by a physician with results forwarded to the primary care doctor within seven to 10 business days.
“Sleep disorders such as sleep apnea affect so many different areas of your health,” Whittaker said. “Sleep apnea, especially, puts a lot of stress on your heart because your heart has to work that much harder to get the oxygen flowing properly again.”
Upon diagnosis, IU Health La Porte Sleep Services assist patients into proper treatment. While treatment varies for each patient, sleep apnea usually requires usage of a CPAP machine to keep the airway open and allow for normal breathing patterns during sleep.
For more information or to make an appointment to pick up an in-home sleep apnea test, call 219.325.4633.
]]>LA PORTE, Ind.–All those administering immunizations, or those interested in learning more about vaccine preventable diseases, are invited to an educational session encompassing all aspects of immunization practices.
Immunizations from A–Z will take place Saturday, April 20 from 8 am to noon (Central time) at Indiana University Health La Porte Hospital, 1007 Lincolnway, in the Auditorium, lower level.
Topics included are:
The session will be conducted by Tracy Chiles of the Indiana State Department of Health. The training is recommended for NPs, RNs, LPNs, CNAs, MDs, MAs, PAs and faculty and students in the medical field. Cost is $10.
Registration deadline is Tuesday, April 16. For more information or to register, contact Lisa Huber at 219.326.2336 or lhuber@iuhealth.org.
]]>Wipperman assumed her new role earlier this month, and will provide further medical oversight to the program as well as assist in business development and client management. Just this January, IU Health Occupational Services acquired Wipperman Occupational Health—an independent occupational health clinic owned and operated by Dr. Wipperman, providing comprehensive occupational health and employee wellness programs to a wide range of employers located in South Bend and surrounding communities.
Dr. Wipperman, who is board certified in occupational and environmental medicine, has 30 years of experience in healthcare with more than 24 of those years in occupational medicine. She graduated from the IU School of Medicine and later completed her residency in family practice at IU Health Methodist Hospital in Indianapolis before moving to South Bend. She worked in emergency medicine, serving as the medical director of a regional urgent care center. Years later, Dr. Wipperman implemented an occupational health program for a local hospital system.
“Dr. Wipperman’s recent appointment only accents the consistent success of IU Health Occupational Services as we expand our range of resources for businesses,” said Mark Savage, director of the Northern Indiana region. “Her extensive experience and quality reputation greatly benefit our program and ultimately help make life easier for employers.”
The Wipperman clinic is one of four convenient IU Health Occupational Services locations in Northern Indiana dedicated to the well-being of the community’s workforce. Roughly one year prior to the Wipperman acquisition, the Michigan City clinic relocated to a leading edge facility within an IU Health office complex right off of Interstate 94. Previously, IU Health Occupational Services expanded into Porter County with a Valparaiso location.
“Recent growth with our clinics and on-site services has allowed IU Health Occupational Services to truly diversify the services we offer to partnering businesses,” Savage said. “The Wipperman clinic has specialized in working with many fire departments to provide annual medical surveillance and respiratory clearance exams in order to assure the continued health and safety of the firefighters. We look forward to Dr. Wipperman bringing this expertise to La Porte and Porter counties.”
IU Health Occupational Services is the state’s largest integrated system of independently managed occupational health clinics. Northern Indiana includes four convenient locations:
Services to foster a safe and healthy work environment include:
For more information or to set up an occupational health account in the Michigan City or South Bend area, contact Brian McKee at 219.561.3224 or bmckee@iuhealth.org. Employers in the remainder of La Porte County as well as all of Porter, Starke and Marshall counties may contact Daryle Keller at 219.405.4294 or dkeller@iuhealth.org.
]]>Dr. Arulandu has received this three-year status consecutively since 2006. He is the only physician in La Porte and Porter counties to have received this honor.
The program was designed to improve the quality of care patients with diabetes receive by recognizing physicians who deliver quality diabetes care, and by motivating other physicians to document and improve delivery of diabetes care. To receive the honor, Dr. Arulandu submitted data demonstrating he meets the program’s key diabetes care measures, including: eye exams, blood pressure tests, nutrition therapy and patient satisfaction, among others. These measures, according to NCQA, ensure people with diabetes receive quality care and are less likely to suffer complications such as heart attacks, stroke, blindness, kidney disease and amputations.
Dr. Arulandu is board certified in internal medicine and lipidology. He welcomes patients at Indiana University Health La Porte Physicians Primary Care at Johnson Road Internal Medicine, 7002 W. Johnson Rd. in La Porte. To schedule an appointment, call 219.325.0604 or 219.874.3700.
]]>