Latest news with #NorthwestHealth
Chicago Tribune
a day ago
- Health
- Chicago Tribune
Northwest Health surgeons tout benefits of increase in robotic surgeries
With estimates that roughly 15% of all surgeries use robots, an open house Tuesday afternoon at Northwest Health Porter in Valparaiso was a timely opportunity for the public to try out the technology for themselves. The three-part DaVinci 5 Robotic System has been in use at the hospital for the past month. Bryttney VanGoethem of LaPorte rearranged her schedule so she could see it in person. 'My grandma is getting surgery done,' she said. 'We found out she has colon cancer.' General surgeon Jeremy Luedtke, whom the family will be meeting with in the coming weeks, has been using the DaVinci for the past three weeks and has experience with other robotic systems as well. He uses the robot for colon cancer surgery as well as inguinal hernia and gall bladder removal surgeries. He said the benefits are considerable, from less pain and recovery time to speed of surgery and lower cost. Luedtke said the robot, which is fully operated in real time by the surgeon, is generally less disruptive of tissue than human hands. 'I always joke with my patients. I say, 'Look at my hand,'' he says, splaying his meaty fingers. 'That amount of tissue manipulation (by the robot) reduces pain.' The DaVinci is a three-part system made up of a console at which the surgeon sits and manipulates the instruments via controllers; cameras and a screen fitted to the face; a tower that coordinates various cameras and insufflation, which is the filling of body cavities with gas so the surgeon has room to work and can see the interior of the body; and the robot, which is comprised of four arms. Many instruments can be fitted on the arms for a variety of surgical needs, though two of them are always used for insufflation and cameras. 'I have pared down the number of instruments that I use because it helps with setup and cost-saving,' Luedtke said. To highlight the improvement in recovery time patients can expect with robotic surgery, Luedtke gives an inguinal hernia repair as an example. A traditional surgery would require at least eight weeks of recovery with the patient restricted to lifting less than 10 pounds while being sent home with 30 narcotic painkillers. Robotic surgery reduces recovery time to four weeks with a lifting limit of 20 pounds and only three narcotic pills. 'A lot of times people are not even filling them,' Luedtke said of the drug. VanGoethem got a chance to sit at the console and control the robotic arms. It's a technology that was developed by NASA in the late '70s, Luedtke said. 'It was really neat,' VanGoethem said of the experience. Ten-year-old Addison Martin, of Valparaiso, got to try out the robot her dad, surgeon Andrew Martin, uses for general and bariatric surgeries at Northwest Health's Porter and LaPorte campuses. 'It was fun because it's like video games,' she said. Andrew Martin has been performing surgeries with robotics for the past five years. He said he employs robots in 60% of his surgeries. 'The things that we can use it for, we do, because it helps with patient recovery,' he said. 'We're still operating the robot. It's not like it's an autonomous thing.' There are some circumstances where robotics are contraindicated in surgery, such as when a patient has had many other surgeries that resulted in too much scar tissue, or cannot tolerate being under full anesthesia. James Fastero, clinical sales manager with DaVinci maker Intuitive Surgical, said the Porter campus has been using the DaVinci XI model since 2014. He said the indication of use has grown over the last 10 to 15 years for robotics in soft tissue surgeries. Fastero said robotic surgery is equal to or has surpassed laproscopic surgery frequency. The 'wristed' instrumentation of the robot is considered more agile than the 'straight stick' design of laproscopic devices. He said robotic surgery is more widespread in Northwest Indiana than people realize. The benefits don't stop with the patient, but also apply to the surgeon. 'They (the surgeons) can sit down. They can be more comfortable. They can have better vision and better instruments,' he said. Medical schools are also on board, turning out new doctors ready to hit the ground sitting down at those robotic consoles for many future surgeries. Fastero said 80% of all residency fellows complete their training with some experience on robots.
Yahoo
22-07-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
Family welcomes triplets at Northwest Arkansas hospital
JOHNSON, Ark. (KNWA/KFTA) — A family welcomed triplets at the Willow Creek Women's Hospital in Johnson on May 22. According to a press release from Northwest Health, Hannah and Dustin, along with their son Liam, added three more to the family: Laken, 3 pounds, 13 ounces and 17 inches; Ivy, 4 pounds, 11 ounces and 18 inches; and Oakley at 4 pounds, 5 ounces and 17 inches. Both parents have twins in their family histories. 'We thought there was a chance at twins, but not triplets,' Hannah said. Hannah says the babies' older brother is starting to accept the family's future with triplets and helps take care of them. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. Solve the daily Crossword
Chicago Tribune
21-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Chicago Tribune
STEM-A-Thon is all fun and games for Boys & Girls Club members
From robots to a live version of Angry Birds, about 200 Boys & Girls Clubs members from throughout Lake and Porter counties got to try their hand at STEM activities Monday. 'They're learning something and may not even realize it, they're having so much fun,' Boys & Girls Clubs of Northwest Indiana President and CEO Mike Jessen said. New this year at the second annual STEM-Thon was a chance to use a real surgical robot brought by Northwest Health. No one was operated on at Urschel Pavilion in downtown Valparaiso; the kids – grades 3 and up – got to test their manual dexterity in guiding the robotic instrument. Violinnie, an East Chicago club member, said her video gaming experience helped her control the robotic device well. Other groups, including Urschel Laboratories and the Valparaiso and Portage high school robotics clubs, also offered ways to interact with robots. Urschel's Esmerelda Torres was one of 50 volunteers at the event, guiding the kids as they raced robots across a playing field and spun the robots' heads 360 degrees. 'You may think it's easy, but it's a 360-degree control,' Torres said. 'It's fun. I like how it moves. It's kind of hard to control,' said Benjamin, a member of the Duneland club. 'You get to control it and make it do fun stuff.' Benjamin's brother Nolan, who also attends the Duneland club, enjoyed it when the robots collided. He found it easier to control, he said. The high school robotics teams allowed kids to use the robots the teams use in competitions. The kids also used claw bots to stack cones, testing their manual dexterity at the controls. The teams also set up three coding stations to allow kids to experience coding at a very basic level. Jonathan, a member of the VHS team, said the kids had to solve some errors intentionally included to advance the robots through the maze. James Kirk, a VHS robotics teacher, said it's important for kids to keep up with the progression of technology. Then there's the fun factor: 'Who doesn't want to play with robots?' Outside Urschel Pavilion, in front of Central Park Plaza's Northwest Health amphitheater, United Rentals volunteers helped students use a giant slingshot to shoot balls at a stack of cardboard boxes to see if they could knock them down, a game reminiscent of Angry Birds. No actual birds were involved. Little changes in the altitude of the slingshot make a big difference in the outcome, United Rentals representative Aishling Wigmore said. 'United Rentals likes to give back,' Wigmore said as she rattled off a long list of charities the company supports. 'We're big believers in giving back and teaching the community.' One of the other games involves shooting foam balls out of plastic pipes with various bends included as kids assembled them. Izayah, a member of the Portage club, enjoyed the game. 'I was trying to make it go really high,' he said, as others chased the balls flying far and wide. Marina Kirova, director of education and academic programming, is the architect of the event. 'It's teamwork, definitely, because all of our departments in this organization work together,' she said. Planning began soon after last year's event. 'This is not meant to teach kids in the moment,' she said, but to show them that STEM – science, technology, engineering and mathematics – principles are in play in everyday life.' Signs at each table explained the concept behind each game, but Kirova doubted all the kids read them. They were too busy having fun. STEM experiences came naturally to Kirova. She's accustomed to finding screws, wires and other odds and ends in her pockets at the end of the day, the detritus from working with kids on STEM activities. When she was young, Kirova wanted to be a doctor. 'If I couldn't do it, at least now I can show it to someone else. At least they can do it,' she said as she discussed the Northwest Health exhibit. Kirova works with the Portage High School robotics team as a judge adviser. 'In the last 10 years, they always get to the world competition and win some kind of award,' she said. Jessen said the event is a fun end-of-summer activity. It's mid-July, but school starts in August in many communities. 'The goal is to bring all these kids together from our 10 different clubs' and let them interact with each other, Jessen said. The STEM-A-Thon allows the kids to learn and sparks their interest 'with a heavy, heavy dose of having some fun,' he said. 'They're engaged, they're listening, they're really respectful.' The event lasted four hours, 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. 'Hopefully, they'll be well educated and tired from the fun they've had' on the bus ride back to their home club, Jessen said. Summer is a busy time for the clubs. Kids can be there as long as 11.5 hours a day, from 6:30 a.m. to 6 p.m. Staff work hard to make sure their time at the club is interesting and fun. 'What I hear from the kids is they don't want to go home. They're excited to stay at the club,' he said.
Yahoo
06-04-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
Business news: Valpo U's MBA program lauded
The practitioners with Crown Point OB/GYN are now part of Franciscan Physician Network and are accepting new patients, according to a release. The practice includes physicians and nurse practitioners including Dr. Nicole Cataldi, Dr. Mary Eileen McCormack and nurse practitioners Amy Marciniak and Abigail Reardon. Cataldi attended Midwestern University Chicago College of Osteopathic Medicine in Downers Grove, Illinois. McCormack also attended medical school at Midwestern University Chicago College of Osteopathic Medicine and completed her residency at Cook County Hospital in Chicago. Marciniak earned her Master of Science degree in nursing from Purdue University Northwest in Hammond while Reardon earned her Master of Science degree in nursing from Olivet Nazarene University in Bourbonnais, Illinois. Franciscan Physician Network Obstetrics and Gynecology is located at 800 W. Burrell Drive in Crown Point. Call 219-663-9913. Northwest Health has released its annual Community Benefit Report. The health system provided care to thousands of area residents in 2024, with 884,700 patient encounters across its network of physician offices and other outpatient sites of care, according to a release. In addition to delivering healthcare, Northwest Health's impact totaled an estimated $422,387,000 overall benefit for the region in 2024, the release said. Northwest Health's five emergency rooms provided care in more than 83,000 patient encounters each year, the release said, and provided $57 million in charity and uncompensated care and provided resources to help patients in need of secure medications and medical support devices, the release said. Northwest Health is one of the area's larger employers with a payroll of $284.7 million, the release said. In addition to supporting the local economy through jobs, Northwest Health paid $54.2 million in taxes in 2024, the release said. Dr. Lynn Vattathara, a family medicine physician, is now part of the Franciscan Physician Network and is accepting patients in Cedar Lake, according to a release. Vattathara attended medical school at St. George's University School of Medicine in Grenada, West Indies. He completed his residency in family medicine at Arnot Ogden Medical Center in Elmira, New York, a release said. Vattathara's clinical interests include dermatology, nutrition and fitness, preventative medicine and public health, sports physicals and minor sports injury management. He is accepting new patients at the Cedar Lake Health Center, 6831 W. 133rd Ave. Call 219-374-5970. Valparaiso University's annual Valpo Day, a spirited celebration of the University's mission, that brings together supporters in a day of activities, competition and philanthropy, is planned for April 9, a release said. As VU's largest fundraising event of the year, Valpo Day highlights what it means to be a beacon of light in the community and a champion of the university's legacy, the release said. The university encourages community members to take part in the celebration by visiting the campus as well as sharing Valpo memories using in #ProudToBeValpo, visiting local businesses or making a gift to support university programs. To learn more, visit Valparaiso University has been honored as the top institution in the region for earning an MBA, receiving the 'Best University to Obtain an MBA' award from Northwest Indiana Business Magazine's 2025 Best of Business Awards, a release said. This recognition is based on reader survey responses evaluating the leading business schools across seven categories. The award is one of several acknowledgments Valpo's MBA program has earned for its excellence and impact. Valpo's MBA program prepares students for leadership with a values-driven approach, emphasizing ethical decision-making and global awareness. This 'triple-bottom line' perspective encourages graduates to consider social, environmental, and financial impacts in their careers, the release said. For more information about the Valpo MBA program, visit
Chicago Tribune
06-04-2025
- Health
- Chicago Tribune
Business news: Valpo U's MBA program lauded
Four join Franciscan Crown Point OB/GYN The practitioners with Crown Point OB/GYN are now part of Franciscan Physician Network and are accepting new patients, according to a release. The practice includes physicians and nurse practitioners including Dr. Nicole Cataldi, Dr. Mary Eileen McCormack and nurse practitioners Amy Marciniak and Abigail Reardon. Cataldi attended Midwestern University Chicago College of Osteopathic Medicine in Downers Grove, Illinois. McCormack also attended medical school at Midwestern University Chicago College of Osteopathic Medicine and completed her residency at Cook County Hospital in Chicago. Marciniak earned her Master of Science degree in nursing from Purdue University Northwest in Hammond while Reardon earned her Master of Science degree in nursing from Olivet Nazarene University in Bourbonnais, Illinois. Franciscan Physician Network Obstetrics and Gynecology is located at 800 W. Burrell Drive in Crown Point. Call 219-663-9913. Report: Northwest Health treated more than 884K patients in '24 Northwest Health has released its annual Community Benefit Report. The health system provided care to thousands of area residents in 2024, with 884,700 patient encounters across its network of physician offices and other outpatient sites of care, according to a release. In addition to delivering healthcare, Northwest Health's impact totaled an estimated $422,387,000 overall benefit for the region in 2024, the release said. Northwest Health's five emergency rooms provided care in more than 83,000 patient encounters each year, the release said, and provided $57 million in charity and uncompensated care and provided resources to help patients in need of secure medications and medical support devices, the release said. Northwest Health is one of the area's larger employers with a payroll of $284.7 million, the release said. In addition to supporting the local economy through jobs, Northwest Health paid $54.2 million in taxes in 2024, the release said. Physician joins Franciscan Health in Cedar Lake Dr. Lynn Vattathara, a family medicine physician, is now part of the Franciscan Physician Network and is accepting patients in Cedar Lake, according to a release. Vattathara attended medical school at St. George's University School of Medicine in Grenada, West Indies. He completed his residency in family medicine at Arnot Ogden Medical Center in Elmira, New York, a release said. Vattathara's clinical interests include dermatology, nutrition and fitness, preventative medicine and public health, sports physicals and minor sports injury management. He is accepting new patients at the Cedar Lake Health Center, 6831 W. 133rd Ave. Call 219-374-5970. Valparaiso University to celebrate Valpo Day on April 9 Valparaiso University's annual Valpo Day, a spirited celebration of the University's mission, that brings together supporters in a day of activities, competition and philanthropy, is planned for April 9, a release said. As VU's largest fundraising event of the year, Valpo Day highlights what it means to be a beacon of light in the community and a champion of the university's legacy, the release said. The university encourages community members to take part in the celebration by visiting the campus as well as sharing Valpo memories using in #ProudToBeValpo, visiting local businesses or making a gift to support university programs. To learn more, visit Valparaiso University MBA program recognized Valparaiso University has been honored as the top institution in the region for earning an MBA, receiving the 'Best University to Obtain an MBA' award from Northwest Indiana Business Magazine's 2025 Best of Business Awards, a release said. This recognition is based on reader survey responses evaluating the leading business schools across seven categories. The award is one of several acknowledgments Valpo's MBA program has earned for its excellence and impact. Valpo's MBA program prepares students for leadership with a values-driven approach, emphasizing ethical decision-making and global awareness. This 'triple-bottom line' perspective encourages graduates to consider social, environmental, and financial impacts in their careers, the release said. For more information about the Valpo MBA program, visit
