NWI “Innovators of the Month” highlights Sam C. Terese, President and CEO, PCL Alverno; and Thomas P. Stefaniak Jr., Senior Judge, Lake County Superior Juvenile Court, both new Society Team Members. PCL Alverno was named Co-Recipient of the Chanute Prize for Team Innovation. This issue is for media serving Jasper, Lake, La Porte, Newton, Porter, Pulaski and Starke Counties. Each edition features inspiring stories of innovation from our “2014 – 2015 Class of Innovators.” The Society of Innovators is part of the Gerald I. Lamkin Innovation & Entrepreneurship Center of Ivy Tech Community College. For information, contact O’Merrial Butchee, Director, Gerald I. Lamkin Innovation & Entrepreneurship Center at (219) 981-4942, or John Davies, Assistant Director and Managing Director, The Society of Innovators of Northwest Indiana at (219) 981-1111, Ext. 2292.
PCL Alverno is Leader in Use of Technology for Effective Patient Care
PCL Alverno is changing the way microbiology is done in the United States, said Sam C. Terese, President and CEO of the Hammond-based laboratory. Thanks to new automated technology, this laboratory is able to identify organisms from 24 to 48 hours faster than conventional methods, he said. One of the largest integrated laboratories, PCL Alverno is jointly owned by hospital systems Franciscan Alliance and Presence Health. Over nearly two years, the laboratory that serves 2500 physicians and 27 hospital labs, has moved to the forefront of technology.
“Because we are able to generate lab results significantly faster, we are able to get relevant information to physicians sooner so they can make quicker, more accurate diagnosis and more effectively target patient treatments.” He added, “Given that doctors use a substantial amount of laboratory information to treat and diagnose patients, there is an imperative today that Alverno continues to innovate.”
A partnership initially with Siemens, which was later purchased by Beckman Coulter, resulted in multiple components of microbiology automation. First, the use of advanced robotics allows the manipulation of samples that assure both speed and consistency in results. A second component is “on line incubation” involving digital imaging in which cameras are checking plates for growth at much more frequent levels. Couple this with technology called MALDI-TOF, which identifies pathogens using lasers in seconds versus hours. In fact, the first clinical test in the U.S. using this suite of technology occurred at PCL Alverno.
“This is a leap forward for health care,” Terese said.
Lake County Youth Benefit from Unique Tattoo Removal Program
To give Lake County youth a second chance to eliminate ill-advised tattoos that can adversely impact their lives, the Lake County Superior Juvenile Court launched the Lake County Court Tattoo Removal Program. Influenced by a bad tattoo he received when he was 17, Senior Judge Thomas P. Stefaniak Jr. of the Lake County Superior Juvenile Court launched this first-in-the-state initiative with award-winning artist Donald Frey to give Lake County youth a second chance to remove inappropriate tattoos. In addition to being free for Lake County youth, this service is also available to adults at a discounted rate.
“This is not an anti-tattoo program,” Judge Stefaniak said. “Adults can make choices about tattoos that are appropriate for their lifestyles, but youngsters may make bad choices that can impact them socially or affect future job opportunities.”
Neither teens nor adults need to have cases before the court to be eligible. Lake County youth up to age 18 can have body art designs removed on their hands, faces and necks in a free service by laser removal donated by Frey, the owner of Bubaboo Arts, with shops in Hammond and Merrillville. Profanity, gang signs or unsightly body art can adversely impact a youngster’s life in ways he or she may not realize until they are older, Judge Stefaniak said. Since the program was launched in January 2014, nearly 100 youngsters and an indeterminate number of adults have benefited, Frey said. For details on eligibility, call Lenise Towarnicki, administrative assistant, at (219) 660-6964.