MMG News

Wednesday, 11/18/09 at Ireland Road Medical Group, 1815 E. Ireland Road, South Bend, 4:00-7:00 p.m., (located on the north side of Ireland Road, between Ironwood and York Roads), and

Tuesday, 11/24/09 at Schwartz-Wiekamp Medical Group, 4630 Vistula Road, Mishawaka, IN, also 4:00-7:00 p.m., (located south of Penn High School on the corner of Bittersweet and Vistula Roads).

The vaccine will be available to any patient of Memorial Medical Group who are considered high risk of complications from contracting H1N1 which are:

• Pregnant Women,
• Family members and caregivers of children under 5 months of age,
• Health Care personnel,
• Persons between the ages of 6 months and 24 years old,
• Adults over 65 years old,
• and people ages of 25 through 64 years of age who are at higher risk for 2009 H1N1 because of chronic health disorders or compromised immune systems* (see list below).

*listed Chronic conditions are as follows:

• Asthma or other chronic pulmonary diseases, including cystic fibrosis,
• Hemodynamic ally significant cardiac disese,
• Immunosuppressive disorders or therapy,
• HIV infection,
• Sickle cell anemia and other hemoglobinpathies,
• Diseases requiring long-term aspirin therapy, including juvenile idiopathic arthritis or Kawasaki disease,
• Chronic renal dysfunction,
• Chronic metabolic disease, including mellitus, or,
• Any condition that compromises respiratory function or handling of secretions, or can increase the risk for aspiration, such as cognitive dysfunction, spinal cord injuries, seizure disorders, or other neuromuscular disorders.

Please bring your ID and your insurance card.

Continue to watch our website for future dates and locations.

If you have a vaccination book/record, please bring it with you and we will log this vaccine information for you.

Please print and complete the attached two consent forms for each individual that will be receiving the H1N1 vaccine at this walk-in clinic

H1N1 Flu Vaccine Update

H1N1 Flu Vaccine Update/Availability

Who will be recommended to receive the 2009 H1N1 vaccine?

CDC’s Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP) has recommended that certain groups of the population receive the 2009 H1N1 vaccine when it first becomes available, currently 180 million doses are being prepared. These target groups include:

• pregnant women
• people who live with or care for children younger than 6 months of age
• healthcare and emergency medical services personnel
• persons between the ages of 6 months and 24 years old
• and people ages of 25 through 64 years of age who are at higher risk for 2009 H1N1 because of chronic health disorders or compromised immune systems.

Memorial Medical Group does not expect that there will be a shortage of 2009 H1N1 vaccine. Initially, however, we only received the Intranasal Flu Mist vaccine in a limited quantity. In this setting, the CDC is recommending that the following target groups receive the vaccine before others:

• children 2 years through 24 years of age (Flu mist not indicated for less than 2 years old)
• people who live with or care for children younger than 6 months of age
• health care and emergency medical services personnel with direct patient contact.

The CDC and the Indiana State Department of Health recognize the need to assess supply and demand issues at the local level. The CDC further recommends that once the demand for vaccine for these target groups has been met at the local level, programs and providers should begin vaccinating everyone from 6 months of age through 64 years. Current studies indicate the risk for infection among persons age 65 or older is less than the risk for younger age groups. Therefore, as vaccine supply and demand for vaccine among younger age groups is being met, programs and providers should offer vaccination to people over the age of 65.

To learn more…..

Or for current updates on the 2009 H1N1 influenza virus, please visit the Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) website: http://cdc.gov/h1n1flu

A free community service, sponsored by the United Way is the National Call Line for H1N1, simply dial 211 for general information.

The Indiana State Department of Health also has a website: http://www.in.gov/flu

The Indiana State Department of Health also offers a toll-free line that is open from 8:15 a.m. – 4:45 p.m., Monday through Friday, at 877-826-0011.

Memorial Medical Group has begun to receive limited supply of the H1N1 Flu vaccine. Currently we are immunizing those patients that are in the target groups (listed above), as they come in for their appointments. We are hopeful we will continue to receive weekly shipments of the H1N1 vaccine.

You should not receive the 2009 Intranasal Flu Mist Vaccine if:

• You have an allergy to eggs, or any other substance in the vaccine,
• You are pregnant,
• You have a weakened immune system,
• You have any chronic medical conditions (i.e. lung disease, heart disease, asthma, kidney or liver disease, diabetes, anemia or other blood disorders),
• You are a child with asthma or wheezing problems,
• You have a nerve or muscle discorder that make it difficult to swallow,
• You are in close contract with a person with SEVERLY weakened immune system, or
• You are a child on long-term aspirin therapy.

Memorial Medical Group is now offering the H1N1 vaccine at all office locations, please contact your local office to schedule your appointment today.

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention provides up to date information on the H1N1 Influenza Virus

H1N1 Flu (Swine flu)

What is 2009 H1N1 (swine flu)?

2009 H1N1 (referred to as “swine flu” early on) is a new influenza virus causing illness in people. This new virus was first detected in people in the United States in April 2009. This virus is spreading from person-to-person worldwide, probably in much the same way that regular seasonal influenza viruses spread. On June 11, 2009, the World Health Organization (WHO) signaled that a pandemic of 2009 H1N1 flu was underway.

Why is 2009 H1N1 virus sometimes called “swine flu”?

This virus was originally referred to as “swine flu” because laboratory testing showed that many of the genes in this new virus were very similar to influenza viruses that normally occur in pigs (swine) in North America. But further study has shown that this new virus is very different from what normally circulates in North American pigs. It has two genes from flu viruses that normally circulate in pigs in Europe and Asia and bird (avian) genes and human genes. Scientists call this a "quadruple reassortant" virus.

To learn more, or for current updates on the 2009 H1N1 influenza virus, please visit the Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) website: http://cdc.gov/h1n1flu

A free community service, sponsored by the United Way is the National Call Line for H1N1, simply dial 211 for general information.

Memorial Medical Group is excited to announce that Med Point at Main Street Medical Group now has expanded their hours to 24-Hours/Day, 7 days a week.

Main Street Med Point is now open 24-Hours/day, 7 days a week.

Main Street Medical Group's Med Point location offers immediate care, anytime of the day or night, for minor medical emergencies that can't wait for an appointment. If your condition requires a follow-up visit, we will schedule an appointment with your regular Memorial Medical Group physician.

Memorial Neighborhood Health Center, Southeast, now offers Colonoscopies at a discounted fee for the uninsured.

The mission of Memorial Neighborhood Health Center is to provide comprehensive affordable, quality health services for people of all ages, regardless of their ability to pay. We are committed to making this the healthiest community.

Therefore, as part of our mission, the Southeast Clinic is offering screening colonoscopies to patients that have no insurance at a discounted fee. We also offer colonoscopy screenings for those with insurance, please talk to your primary care physician for a referral.

Please call the Southeast Clinic at 574-647-1400 for more information about this service, and to schedule your appointment today!

To learn more about what a colonoscopy is please visit this very informative web site: http://www.colonoscopy.info

Drs. Ali, Halleran and Pessanha to Join MACI.

Memorial Advanced Cardiovascular Institute proudly welcomes Drs. Omar Ali, Sean Halleran and Breno Pessanha to the MACI team, in early Fall 2009.

They join an outstanding team of Physicians, Nurses and Staff in providing the highest quality care to the South Bend community.

Omar Ali, M.D., Interventional Cardiology

Breno Pessanha, M.D., Noninvasive Cardiology

Dr. Pessanha received his Medical Degree from Federal Fluminense University in Niteroi, Brazil. He completed his Residency in Internal Medicine at Federal University of Rio de Janeiro and continued his education at University of Illinois at Chicago at Michael Reese Hospital and at George Washington University Medical Center in Washington, D.C. He also completed a Fellowship in Cardiology at George Washington University Medical Center.

MACI offers the latest in Cardiovascular Care and Testing

Memorial Medical Group (MMG) welcomed Electrophysiologist Raman Mitra, M.D., Ph.D., FACC, to the Memorial Advanced Cardiovascular Institute (MACI), offering the latest in cardiovascular care and testing, such as stress echo, treadmill and echocardiography, all designed around patients and their families.

Memorial Medical Group also proudly welcomed cardiologists: Andrew Fiedler, M.D., FACC and Daniel Meng, M.D., Ph.D., FACC, Sean Halleran, M.D., and Omar Ali, M.D. have joined Dr. Mitra in the new Memorial Advanced Cardiovascular Institute. In October 2009, Dr. Breno Pessanha will also join the MACI group. Daniel Tom, NP, rounds out the MACI Team, providing excellent care of our patients and their families. Renovations on the new MACI location are now completed and they have just moved into their new location.

Dr. Travis Casper, a Memorial Medical Group Family Medicine Physician

Memorial Medical Group welcomed Travis Casper, M.D. in August 2010, to Portage Medical Group.

Travis Casper, M.D. received his bachelor's degree from Cedarville University in Ohio before pursuing his medical degree from the University of Toledo. He joined the Memorial Hospital Family Medicine Residency Program in 2007 and we are pleased he is continuing his career at Portage Medical Group.

Dr. Casper is certified in neonatal resuscitation, advanced cardiac life support and advanced life support for obstetrics. He is also a member of the American Academy of Family Physicians and American Medical Association.

To schedule an appointment with Dr. Casper, please call (574)647-4530.

New MMG Pediatrician - August, 2010

Memorial Medical Group welcomed Daniel M. Kinney, M.D., in August 2010 to Navarre Pediatric Group, 100 Navarre Place.

Daniel M. Kinney, M.D. received his medical degree from Indiana University School of Medicine and completed his pediatric residency at Advocate Lutheran General Children's Hospital in Park Ridge, IL.

Dr. Kinney is a member of the American Academy of Pediatrics and has received the Faculty Teaching Award for Outstanding Resident in Pediatrics from Chicago Medical School.

To schedule an appointment with Dr. Kinney, at Navarre Pediatrics, 100 Navarre Place, please call (574)647-4540.

New MMG Physician - August, 2010

Memorial Medical Group welcomed Andy Shull, M.D. in August 2010.

Andy Shull, M.D., received his bachelor's degree from the University of Memphis, medical degree from the University of Tennessee, and master's degree in public affairs from Indiana University.

Since 2006, he has been with the Memorial Family Medicine Residency Program, and he will joined Memorial Neighborhood Southeast Clinic in August, 2010.

He is cretified by the American Board of Family Medicine and is a member of numerous groups, including the American Academy of Family Physicians and Indiana State Medical Association. He also performs office based surgeries, including screening colonoscopies, and has a special interest in obstetric care. Dr. Shull is a regular volunteer at community events.

To schedule an appointment with Dr. Shull, please call (574)647-1400.

An Expansion of Truly Historic Proportions

The Surgical Suites at Memorial Hospital of South Bend

Memorial's largest expansion in its 113-year history is well underway. The surgical suite replacement project will increase capacity to 13 major surgery suites, with room for expansion as needed.

Rooms can accommodate all types of surgeries from the most complex to the most common, including: cardiovascular cases, orthopedics, neurosurgery, trauma, and daVinci robotic surgery.

Memorial Hospital administrators developed this project to accommodate yearly increases in surgical cases. Memorial President and CEO Philip Newbold stated, "We are now performing close to 14,000 surgeries a year and we're outgrowing our existing space which was last renovated in 1980. This extensive project will allow us to accommodate a 53% increase in surgical cases to keep up with the increased demand for specialized care."

Click here to learn more.