Methodist Hospitals - Leading the way to better health.

The Methodist Hospitals, INC was the recipient of a Training Accelerated Grant (TAG) from the State of Indiana to help further the education of Nursing staff and promote retention. This is the focus of the grant. It will allow staff (nurses) to continue to work and go to school. The grant is one that the funds from the state are matched from the hospital. The state pays for the nurses education and Methodist pays for their shifts while they are in school. The nurse managers and nurse directors along with Maureen Buckley assisted in the selection and the criteria for recipients of the grant funds. The Methodist Hospitals, INC. is the only hospital that is a recipient of these grant funds. Other businesses and refineries in the area also received funds from this grant. The Methodist Hospitals, INC has been rewarded $140,000.00.

Covering Kids & Families of Indiana Community Leadership Award

Denise Dillard is the recipient of the 2008 Community Leadership Award presented by Covering Kids and Families of Indiana. She is the Vice President of Government & External Affairs with Methodist Hospitals in Gary, Indiana. Ms. Dillard has been a staunch supporter of Covering Kids & Families of Lake County for several years. Most recently, she has demonstrated her support by committing to develop and implement a plan of enrolling 10,000 Hoosiers in Lake County into Hoosier Healthwise and the Healthy Indiana Plan. Methodist Hospitals provides enrollment assistance and on site enrollment through their Financial Services Department.

Superintendent Dr. Anthony Lux along with a group of Merrillville High School students will present games, educational electronic games, computer laptops and storage shelves to the pediatric unit at Methodist Hospitals Southlake Campus on Tuesday, December 23 at 11 am.

Methodist Hospitals is pleased to announce the appointment of Tony Jones as Vice President Operations of The Methodist Hospitals, Inc.  The effective date of his employment will be November 10, 2008.

Methodist Hospitals is pleased to announce the appointment of Michele (Shelly) M. Major, MS as Chief Nursing Officer (CNO) of The Methodist Hospitals, Inc.  The effective date of her employment will be November 3, 2008.

Methodist Hospitals’ Board of Directors is pleased to announce the appointment of Ian E. McFadden, FACHE as President and Chief Executive Officer of The Methodist Hospitals, Inc.  The effective date of his appointment will be September 2, 2008.

Methodist Hospitals has been ranked 45th in the nation for Neurology and Neurosurgery in U.S. News’s 2008 publication of America’s Best Hospitals, accessible today online at www.usnews.com/besthospitals and on sale at newsstands Monday, July 14.

Methodist Hospitals is hosting free nutrition seminars for the general public. Class size is limited and registration is required.

Spring Spa Day, an event made possible through the efforts of the oncology services department at Methodist Hospitals and support through the Pink Ribbon Society, provides breast cancer patients and survivors an opportunity to be educated and pampered. This year’s event will be held on April 26, 2008 at Methodist Hospitals’ Center for Advanced Clinical Studies from 8:30 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. “We want this event to be a break from the stresses of being diagnosed or living with breast cancer. My goal is for these women to have a truly enjoyable experience, and understand that there is a network of people here that really care about them,” stated Marie Bates, Oncology Research Coordinator. The event focuses on physical & mental health, and gives attendees an opportunity to pamper themselves with services related to skin care, massage, fitness, and much more.

Editors Note: A 20 year anniversary celebration is being held at Methodist Northlake Campus in the South Pavillion Auditorium at 1:00 pm on Thursday, April 3 at 1 pm. Claude Watts will speak and physicians and staff will be honored for their committment and dedication. Media is invited to attend, please contact me if you plan on attending.

The Super Colon, an 8-foot tall, 20-foot long replica of a human colon, is headed to Methodist Hospitals Southlake Campus, March 19 - 20, 2008, as part of the Colon Cancer Awareness Event, Scope It Out, on March 19. The event includes 2 physician seminars and colon cancer risk assessments. The event starts at 5 pm, with the physician seminars starting at 6 pm. The Super Colon zigzags across the country serving as an educational tool to teach the importance of colorectal cancer screening. Colorectal cancer is 90 percent preventable and successfully treated 90 percent of the time, when detected early, yet it remains a leading cause of cancer deaths.

Following a rigorous on-site evaluation, the American College of Surgeons (ACOS) Commission on Cancer has granted the Cancer Program three-year accreditation, in recognition of the services provided and quality afforded. This accreditation comes with an even higher distinction of "Accreditation with Commendation", collecting nine out of a possible nine commendations for the program's commitment to excellence.

Selenia™ digital mammography from Hologic® has been added to the comprehensive diagnostic services dedicated to women and the early detection of breast cancer at Methodist Hospitals. Selenia incorporates revolutionary imaging technology that provides incredibly sharp images.

Methodist Hospitals in Northwest Indiana is holding its first Obesity Symposium on Saturday, February 23 at the Avalon Manor in Merrillville, Indiana. The objective of the symposium is to provide professional staff in the community with up to date information to assist in combating obesity in Indiana.

The American Heart Association is presenting Claude Watts, Jr, CEO/President, Methodist Hospitals with a special award to recognize Methodist Hospitals committment to the fight against heart disease and stroke in Northwest Indiana. The award will be presented at the AHA's Heart of Gold Ball held on Saturday, Feb 16 at the RAdisson Hotel in Merrillville.