Franciscan Hospice House

Franciscan Health broke ground Monday for a new medical office building in St. John with a blessing by The Most Rev. Robert McClory, bishop of the Diocese of Gary.

The two-story, 82,881-square-foot building is being built by Tonn and Blank Construction at 10323 Wicker Ave. It will house an ExpressCare, primary care and specialty physician offices, diagnostic imaging, CT, MRI, ultrasound and laboratory services.

“Franciscan Health has proudly served the St. John community and its residents for decades,” said Franciscan Health Crown Point President and CEO Daniel McCormick, MD. “With this exciting new project, we are eager to enhance patient access by providing a convenient location that houses multiple services, further supporting our regional healthcare approach.”

A Franciscan Health medical office building with the same footprint and services broke ground last week in Valparaiso. Both of the new medical office buildings’ construction projects are scheduled to be complete by the end of 2026.

Join us in congratulating the October 2023 Nursing Cohort at Franciscan Health Indianapolis on their graduation. We wish you much success in your career!

A heart and lung scan revealed a surprising find for Judith. Despite her healthy habits, she was shocked to hear about a lung cancer diagnosis. “I had no symptoms, nothing,” she said.
Today, thanks to robotic bronchoscopy at Franciscan Health, she is back to walking outside and spending time with her children watching her grandchildren participate in high school sports.

Breathe Easier With Robotic Bronchoscopy Judith learned that while she had no problems with her heart, her provider found a nodule in her lungs through a robotic bronchoscopy. Learn more.

COPD is a leading cause of death in the United States, affecting 16 million Americans.

Although there is no cure, doctors can help you treat COPD symptoms and improve your quality of life.

https://www.franciscanhealth.org/conditions-and-services/pulmonary-and-respiratory-medicine/copd-chronic-obstructive-pulmonary-disease

"Andre was monitoring a behavioral health patient when the patient suddenly attacked him. He sustained various injuries. While being evaluated in the emergency room for his injuries, his coworkers became concerned and wanted to speak with him. I informed the staff that he was being evaluated and asked them to consider his privacy."

"Andre overheard the exchange and said it was ok for his coworkers to see him. After the coworkers stepped away, I apologized for what had happened to him in the room with the patient. He looked at me and told me that the patient is a kid who is having a mental breakdown and he feels bad for his patient. Andre explained that it was unfortunate, but this can happen with mental health. He explained that he cares for the mom, hoping they will get the help he needs. At that moment, I was blown away at his compassion and composure for the person who had just attacked him. I want to recognize Andre for his outstanding attitude, professionalism and caring nature."

Congratulations to Bee Award recipient Andre McKeithen, Behavioral Health Tech at Franciscan Health Olympia Fields. Thank you for being excellent every day!

Heading into tonight's state volleyball championships, Faith Christian School of Lafayette Indiana has a not-so-secret weapon: Franciscan Health athletic trainer Taka Sakamoto.
Without Sakamoto's gentle hands, midfield Abigail Sprunger said the school's recent athletic success isn't possible.
"I couldn't imagine doing it without him," she told the Journal & Courier.

Faith Christian volleyball and girls soccer's secret weapon? Trainer Taka Sakamoto Faith Christian girls volleyball and soccer players are on a historic playoff run. The reason? Head trainer Taka Sakamoto.

Celebrating the dedication and excellence of Dr. Frederick Lane, , a colon and re**al surgeon with Franciscan Physician Network Indiana Colon & Re**al Specialists. As a committed colon and re**al surgeon, he recently won the Franciscan Health Healing Hands Award. His 35-years of compassionate service at Franciscan has truly touched the lives of many.

Cheers to Dr. Lane and the many more years of healthcare excellence to come.

Franciscan Health Indianapolis is dressing up newborns for their very first . Loving parents in the Indianapolis location are keeping things exciting while waiting for their loved ones to come home. From mermaids to french fries, check out the absolutely adorable Halloween costume themes.

Images used for artistic purposes only and does not promote safe sleep according to AAP recommendation.

“Megan sent me a proposal to create a moment makers committee for the NICU earlier this year before we moved into the new hospital. She wanted to create a committee for our unit that would focus on staff and family engagement/experience. She welcomed multiple other staff members in the unit to join the committee but has continued to be at the heart of it."

"She decorates our unit for every holiday and season to bring cheer and allow families the opportunity to celebrate with their infants and not miss out on those opportunities. She has created many photoshoot ideas to send to the social media team to promote our NICU and prints copies of the photos for the families as keepsakes. She also made crafts/keepsakes for the parents for Mother's Day and Father's Day. The NICU can be a really scary and unexpected place for a family but Megan goes out of her way on a daily basis to provide support to our families and help them celebrate all the little things. Megan exemplifies what it means to have Franciscan spirit.”

Congratulations to Megan Bernth, RN, the Franciscan Health Crown Point Spirit Award Winner for October. Thank you for going above and beyond and sharing our Franciscan Mission and Values in your work.

While the adorable newborns at the Franciscan Health Crown Point NICU are looking stylish for Halloween, the NICU team at Crown Point made sure to keep the theme going. See several photos of the staff showing off signs and props that match the spooky season.

Daylight Saving Time comes to a close on Sunday. Check out these tips for resetting to your normal sleep rhythm.

https://www.franciscanhealth.org/community/blog/daylight-saving-time-ends-tips

First Halloween, first milestone! Check out our adorable newborns at the Franciscan Health Crown Point NICU dressed up for their debut Halloween celebration. From mini football players to pampered spa-goers, we're keeping the spirit joyful as eager parents await the arrival of their little ones home. Hit ❤️ if you think these are the cutest costumes you've seen!

Images used for artistic purposes only and does not promote safe sleep according to AAP recommendation.

Don't miss this opportunity to help support our patient assistance fund in south-suburban Chicago in the Franciscan Heath Foundation's silent auction.
Bid on experiences like:
✔️ Chicago White Sox
✔️ Chicago Symphony Orchestra
✔️ Medinah Golf Experience
✔️ Chicago Bulls vs. Pacers
✔️ Escape to Cabo San Lucas
✔️ And more!
Bidding is live through Nov. 8. Check it out: https://bit.ly/4fov46F

On sick days, many feel like eating a comfort food and going to sleep. Still, for people with diabetes, balancing your blood sugar and reducing the risk of health issues can be a challenge when ill. Learn what to eat when you're sick and when it's time to call your doctor. https://www.franciscanhealth.org/community/blog/diabetes-sick-days

Franciscan Health broke ground Tuesday for a new medical office building in Valparaiso with a blessing by The Most Rev. Robert McClory, bishop of the Diocese of Gary.

The two-story, 82,881-square-foot building is being built at the southeast corner of State Roads 2 and 49. The location, which is scheduled to be complete by the end of 2026, will house an ExpressCare, primary care and specialty physician offices, diagnostic imaging, CT, MRI, ultrasound and laboratory services.

“Franciscan Health has been serving Valparaiso and the surrounding communities for many years with ExpressCare, Working Well, diagnostic imaging, primary care and physician specialists,” Franciscan Health Michigan City President and CEO Dean Mazzoni said. “We are excited to be significantly expanding our presence in Valparaiso with this project. We will soon be offering increased access to high quality Franciscan services, renowned for delivering healthcare with joy, compassion and love, in one convenient location.”

"Take every opportunity that knocks on your door because that's how I got to where I am," said Agnes Najger, manager of inpatient pharmacy services at Franciscan Health Munster. "I never expected to be in a pharmacy manager role, but I felt God speaking to me. Taking that leap of faith into something unknown has made all the difference.

"I started here in 2015 as a PGY I pharmacy resident, I did that for a year at our Hammond location. And then, after that one year of pharmacy residency, I took on a job as a clinical pharmacist here at the Munster campus."

She explained that her role as a manager can require several skill sets.

"As a manager, each day is about making sure the department is running smoothly," Najger said. "This includes making sure that we have enough medications in stock to treat our patients, handling problems, budgeting, managing our staff and just a lot of meetings."

Najger explained why she gained an interest in pharmacy services.

"I've always been a science person," Najger said. "I knew I wanted to go into medicine, but I didn't necessarily want to deal with people's bodies and bodily fluids. I wanted to stay more hands-off yet make an impact directly on patients. Here, I can apply that love for science directly to building up knowledge about medications."

Najger shared that what she loves most about her role is her team.

"We have wonderful people in the pharmacy and it feels like one giant family," Najger said. "Everybody's very open with each other. They all help each other out without even asking. My team can visit my office anytime they want without fear of speaking up. I love all the relationships that I have built here over the last 10 years."

Stressed about the upcoming election? You're not alone. A new poll from the American Psychological Association shows that nearly 7 in 10 of us are worried about the upcoming election. How to take control of your stress: https://franciscanhealth.org/community/blog/stress-anxiety-rocky-election-cycle