FEMM has begun an exciting new partnership with the Franciscan Health System in Indiana.
This partnership has deep roots in a tradition of innovative care. Franciscan Health was founded by the Sisters of St. Francis of Perpetual Adoration. The sisters have been a steady presence in Indiana since the late 1800s, when they founded St. Elizabeth Hospital in Lafayette.
Today, the Franciscan Health Network consists of 12 locations spanning Indiana and Illinois and is committed to providing healthcare that respects the dignity of the human person to everyone, no matter their financial means.
The Sisters have always been on the cutting edge of healthcare, whether it was conducting the first blood transfusion in the United States or pioneering standards of care for infants with prenatal substance exposure. They continue this tradition of pioneering new models of care by bringing FEMM to their hospital system.
Sister M. Emmanuel Kurtzweg, OSF, RN, is leading the integration of FEMM into the Franciscan Health Network. As Director of Mission of Franciscan Health in Michigan City, Sr. Emmanuel began researching more effective women’s healthcare. When she discovered FEMM, she knew it was exactly what she’d been looking for.
After attending the FEMM Medical Management Masterclass, Sr. Emmanuel came away impressed with FEMM’s model of care, from the research and clinical protocols to the resources and continuing education that FEMM offers providers.
“What I loved about FEMM was that it was made for the medical model,” Sr. Emmanuel says. “That’s what we were missing. I want all our doctors to be trained in this, and all of them to get to the root cause of women’s health and be more well-versed in reproductive endocrinology, which is very much missing from women’s health. FEMM offers that.”
Providers Love FEMM
Today, Franciscan has twelve doctors and mid-level providers who have completed the FEMM online training. After getting certified, they participated in live training days led by FEMM provider Dr. Danielle Koestner.
Dr. Vicky Sherman, an OB/GYN at Franciscan Health, was immediately impressed by the FEMM model. “FEMM aligns with everything I want to do with medicine that I haven’t been able to do,” she says.
For Dr. Sherman, FEMM is a refreshing change from the way she was traditionally taught to approach women’s health. For instance, she notes how in medical school, she was taught the standard of care for PCOS is to put women on the pill to mask their symptoms. She loves that FEMM gets to the why of a patient’s symptoms, offering a personalized rather than a one-size-fits-all approach to treatment and care. Dr. Sherman also appreciates how FEMM is for women of every age, whether they’re teens going through puberty, women in their reproductive years, or patients struggling with menopause.
Dr. Leena Aljobeh is another Franciscan Health provider now using FEMM in her practice.
“I very much appreciate the guidelines that the Reproductive Health Research Institute has offered on conditions such as PCOS, perimenopause, and menopause,” Dr. Aljobeh says. “Right now, I’m going through FEMM’s Ovarian Aging course and learning a lot about ovarian aging and progesterone, and how it affects cognitive function.”
Better Care for Patients
Franciscan Health is still in the early stages of integrating FEMM into its practice. However, there are already signs that it’s making a difference for patients.
Sr. Emmanuel recalls one woman who came into the office struggling with severe menopause symptoms, including lack of sleep. Previous doctors told this patient that her symptoms were normal and that there was nothing she could do about them.
When this woman came to Franciscan, a FEMM-trained doctor helped address the underlying health issues behind her symptoms. Franciscan Health was the first place to acknowledge her suffering, give her proper treatment, and walk with her through this big life transition. The patient broke down in tears because she was so grateful that her symptoms were finally taken seriously.
Another patient who had been struggling with infertility came to Franciscan Health. She was given a FEMM work-up, which identified several health issues the patient was unaware of. Once treated, she quickly was able to achieve pregnancy.
Dr. Aljobeh notes that many of her female patients have expressed appreciation that someone is finally listening to their concerns. “When we discuss their labs, the insight into their health is very beneficial, very validating and enlightening for a lot of women,” she says.
“I have a patient who we’re treating for insulin resistance, and she called me the other day to say that she has more energy now and can get through her day better thanks to the treatment she’s doing.”
Dr. Aljobeh is also recommending FEMM training to her fellow medical providers. As she puts it, “FEMM has a lot of research behind it. It’s a deeper look into women’s health and very comprehensive, and I really appreciate having that knowledge.”
Already, the integration of FEMM into Franciscan Health is changing patients’ experiences for the better. More women are getting access to the best research, education, diagnosis, and treatment—and improving their health as a result. We’re excited to be partnering with Franciscan Health to change the standard of care for women.
