New physician joins practice
A practice that serves southside residents has a new physicians.
Abhigyan Banka, MD, has joined Franciscan Physician Network Beech Grove Family Medicine.
Dr. Banka most recently was on staff with Windrose Health Network in Franklin. Dr. Banka earned his medical degree with an academic scholarship from Nanjing Medical University in the People’s Republic of China. He completed externships in urology and surgical intensive care with highest honors at Harvard Medical School in Boston. He later completed a residency and served as chief resident of family medicine at Atlanta Medical Center in Georgia.
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Southside doctors published in national journal
A cardiologist who practices in a southside hospital has been published in a national medical journal.
Dr. Marc Gerdisch, chief of cardiovascular and thoracic surgery and co-director of the Heart Valve Center at Franciscan Health Heart Center in Indianapolis, and senior partner with Cardiac Surgery Associates was a co-author on a paper regarding pre-surgery care and protocols that was published in JAMA Surgery.
Dr. Gerdisch has performed innovative surgical procedures for more than two decades and he specializes in heart valve operations. He also leads and participates in ongoing landmark research in next-generation heart valves and heart tissue regeneration.
Greenwood police officer named officer of the year
Master Officer Floyd Gipson was given the 2018 Capitol Police Officer of the Year Award.
Gipson has lived in Greenwood for over 40 years and is a 1978 graduate of Greenwood Community High School. In 1981, Gipson began working for the Whiteland Police Department until leaving in 1987 to work for his father’s company. In 2002 he was hired by the Indiana State Capitol Police, where he has diligently served for 17 years.
Gipson is also a Field Training Officer, certified Academy Instructor and of maintainer of the Personal Radiation Devices for the Section in which he maintains an instructor’s certification. Gipson is also the Capitol Police Section’s representative for the Indiana State Police Alliance.
White River Township fire adds officers, paramedics
The White River Township Fire Department recently added five full-time firefighters, six part-time firefighters and one part-time civilian EMT to their public safety roster.
New recruits are attending a monthlong orientation and hands-on training and are scheduled to begin later this month.
- New full-time hires include:
- Cody Lofland, Firefighter/EMT
- Kelcey McKenna, Firefighter/Paramedic
- Benjamin Rardin, Firefighter/EMT
- Dalton Watson, Firefighter/EMT
- Robert Yates, Firefighter/EMT
Part-time recruits include:
- Kaycie Hodge, Firefighter/Paramedic
- Brian-Michael Hutchinson, Firefighter/EMT
- Josh Ford, Civilian EMT
- Tyler Mauder, Firefighter/EMT
- Caleb Sulya, Firefighter/EMT
- Caroline Watkins, Firefighter/EMT
- Jared Wilson, Firefighter/EMT
Assisted living community in Franklin earns five star status
The Ohio Department of Health completed their annual survey at Otterbein Franklin and has granted them five star status.
The establishment received zero citations and was named a deficiency-free facility.
The survey is a CMS Quality Indicator Survey and is comprised of an entrance survey, facility tours, resident observation, clinical record review, preliminary investigations and interviews with residents and families.
These surveys look at every aspect of the nursing facility. Other items like observation of dining and kitchen areas, infection control practices, medication administration, dressing change observation, the review of the Medicare Demand Billing process, and staffing are all closely inspected.
Southside hospital offering stroke respite camp
Franciscan Health is offering a retreat for stroke patients and care givers.
The Retreat and Refresh Stroke Camp, organized by the Franciscan Health Stroke Center in collaboration with the Franciscan Health Foundation, will be May 31 through June 2 at Turkey Run State Park in Marshall.
The camp will be staffed by several hospital volunteers who will help with a full range of activities, including games, hiking/walking, drum circles, entertainment and swimming. Participants also will engage in discussion groups and be provided with various stroke resources.
For more information or to register for Stroke Camp, go to www.strokecamp.org or call 308-688-5450.
Greenwood chambers gives out awards
The Greater Greenwood Chamber celebrated its 65th anniversary by honoring companies and volunteers at its Annual Chamber Celebration in April.Â
The awards recognize remarkable construction, business achievement and volunteerism.
The awards and the winners are:
- Pride and Progress Award for Renovation: Indiana Members Credit Union Greenwood Branch
- Pride and Progress Award for New Construction: Franciscan Health at Stones Crossing
- Salute Award (less than 10 employees): 1-800 Water Damage of South Indianapolis
- Salute Award (10-49 employees): MashCraft Brewing Company
- Salute Award (50 or more employees): The Garrett Companies
- Ambassador of the Year: Abby Robertson, Director of Business Development, DiscountFilters.com
