Saint Francis Health Care

	CONTACT:	Robbie Schneider Community Relations Specialist (317) 782-7996 ext. 2996 Dec. 4, 2002 Robbie.Schneider@ssfhs.org

For Immediate Release

St. Francis Live Webcast Gives Patients Insight into Hip Replacement Surgery

Mooresville – For many with arthritis, winter weather can bring out the worst in aches and pains. While anti-inflammatory drugs can help some, for others more extreme measures may be needed.

Severe arthritis sufferers can learn more about their options for hip pain, and in particular, hip replacement, in a live Webcast from St. Francis Hospital & Health Centers Jan. 14. St. Francis Hospital and slp3D will broadcast a live Webcast a total hip replacement from 5 to 6 p.m. on Tuesday, Jan. 14, via www.StFrancisHospitals.org. Pre-registration will be available through the Web site beginning Dec. 13.

Merrill A. Ritter, M.D., internationally renowned specialist in total joint replacement surgery and founder of The Center for Hip and Knee Surgery, will perform the hip replacement live on the Internet. Ritter will be joined by Dr. Michael E. Berend, Dr. Philip M. Faris and Dr. E. Michael Keating, all of The Center for Hip and Knee Surgery. The three will discuss options for hip replacement and take questions via e-mail.

"I am very excited to be able to share this procedure with those who are struggling with unbearable joint pain," Ritter says." Learning about their options and seeing how relatively simple this hip replacement surgery is will ease the minds of many who are working with their doctors to find solutions."

Watching the Webcast requires a modem with a minimum connection speed of at least 28.8K, though speeds of 56K and greater are optimal. The minimum software required are RealPlayer and either Internet Explorer 5.0 or Netscape Navigator 4.6. RealPlayer may be downloaded free via the pre-registration page, which can be accessed through www.StFrancisHospitals.org beginning Dec. 13.

St. Francis Hospital & Health Centers, founded in 1914 by the Sisters of St. Francis of Perpetual Adoration, is one of the largest health care systems in Indiana, with three main facilities in Beech Grove, Indianapolis and Mooresville. St. Francis Hospital is part of a network of 10 growing hospital campuses in Indiana and Illinois owned and operated by the Sisters of St. Francis Health Services, Inc. SSFHS also co-owns two hospitals in Lafayette, Ind., with North Central Health Services, Inc.

Founded in 1881, St. Francis Hospital-Mooresville was built as a sanitaria for the treatment of colon and rectal disorders, but today has established itself as a nationally renown center for not only colon-rectal care, but for joint replacements as well. During the past two years, the medical staff at the Mooresville campus has grown from 85 to 160 physicians as an effort to provide high-quality specialty health care services.

St. Francis Hospital – Mooresville recently received a Five-Star rating in both total hip and total knee replacement from HealthGrades.com, an award-winning Internet service that objectively grades the performance of health care providers in the United States.

The orthopaedic specialists of the Center for Hip and Knee Surgery have helped thousands of people regain independence, mobility and freedom from pain. The Center opened in 1986 with a focus on total joint replacement and is known internationally as a leader in total joint replacement technology and outstanding orthopaedic care.

Based in West Hartford, Conn., slp3D, Inc. is an Internet broadcasting company that creates live and on-demand, video-based communications for clients in health care and education. slp3D’s solutions are based upon leading-edge technologies and enable business-to-business and business-to-consumer clients to capitalize on the expanding broadband, internet –based economy with live and on-demand video applications, integrated graphic presentations and real-time audience surveying. The company been chosen as one of INC Magazine’s top web companies for 2002 as part of the publication’s Annual Web Awards.

For more information about St. Francis Hospital & Health Centers, visit the Media Center section of the St. Francis Web site at media.StFrancisHospitals.org.