The HIV Outpatient Program (HOP) Outreach Campaign wants to encourage people who are HIV positive but not receiving primary medical care to enter into primary care. The campaign is reaching out in numerous ways including radio and tv interviews with LSU HIV experts, radio spots, and ads in New Orleans area publications and on busses, bus shelters, and streetcars. To learn about HOP and its treatment programs for those living with HIV and AIDS, call 1-877-LSU-4-You or visit www.hopclinic.org.

The Diabetes Self-Management Education Program at W. O. Moss Regional Medical Center (WOMRMC) has been awarded recognition status from the American Diabetes Association (ADA) for its high-quality patient education services. ADA gives recognition status to programs that demonstrate they have a staff of knowledgeable health professionals who can provide state-of-the-art information on diabetes management to patients.

Anytime a community health fair is taking place, chances are good that the Community Outreach Team of the Earl K. Long Medical Center Mid City Clinic is in the mix. Hilda Bryant, the team’s supervisor and EKLMC health fair coordinator, strongly believes community outreach is part of her team’s mission. She receives telephone calls on a weekly basis for her team to participate in a health fair, whether for a church, community organization, or one of the local universities.

University Medical Center is holding the ribbon cutting for its new 5,000 square foot Ophthalmology Clinic Wednesday, December 2, 2009, at 10 a.m. The clinic is at 401 St. Julien Street, Lafayette, La. Clinic staff will make a short presentation about the UMC Ophthalmology Program and give tours of the new facility. “The expansion of our Ophthalmology Program is part of our ongoing commitment to providing quality healthcare to our community,” said Larry Dorsey, hospital administrator. “Our new outpatient clinic increases access for our patients while it strengthens our ophthalmology residency program.”

University Medical Center in Lafayette

As Acadiana institutions go, few have as big an impact on local life as University Medical Center in Lafayette. Fewer still have lived through so much uncertainty for so long. Officials at the hospital don't have much control over the mega-issues affecting health care at the national level, what shape health-care reform is likely to take or whether we'll have health-care reform at all. They don't have much to say in whether the federal government will relent and keep Louisiana's Medicaid costs from skyrocketing because of a funding formula anomaly. What they did last week was meet with local government officials, Chamber of Commerce members and the media to talk about exactly what is at stake.

Dr. Espinoza with healthy and cancerous human lungs

At the Leonard J. Chabert Medical Center’s Lung Cancer Awareness Day, a vivid show-and-tell with healthy and cancerous human lungs illustrated smoking’s debilitating effects. Dr. Andrea Girod Espinoza, Wendy Rotolo, BSN, and Wendy Detiveaux, smoking cessation counselor, all with LJCMC, and Chrishelle Stipe, with the American Lung Association, presented to an audience of patients, visitors, students, and hospital staff facts and figures on the dangers of smoking. Five LJCMC patients also told their stories of smoking and lung cancer. Smoking is the leading cause of lung cancer, yet 22.8 percent of the population of Terrebonne, Lafourche, St. Charles, St. Mary and Assumption parishes smoke. In Louisiana, 26 percent of those between 18 and 29 years of age smoke, and 20.6 percent of those 30 years of age and older smoke. In 2009, Louisiana will have about 3,650 new cases of lung cancer. About 2,700 people will die from the disease.

Jessica Parish cuts the big birthday cake for the celebration while employee Grace Moses samples the goods. Photo by Sylvia Schon/The Daily Star

Birthday cake, balloons, hot dogs and live music accompanied the smiles on Friday at Lallie Kemp Medical Center in Independence. The hospital has survived for 70 years as a vital service to parish residents despite numerous budget battles in Baton Rouge that at times threatened to close the doors of the only charity hospital in the area. “It’s exciting to be here for the 70th birthday and one of my jobs is to make sure there will be many more,” said Rep. John Bel Edwards. The hospital has a record of good outcomes, he noted. It employs 450 people and in the past year has handled 100,000 outpatient visits in the clinics and emergency rooms as well as 1,000 in-hospital stays.

Tony Pohlman and his wife, Wanda, with Dr. Norman McSwain (center), Trauma Director.

A ceremony recognizing the new designation was held October 29, 2009, at the Trauma Center in the Interim LSU Public Hospital, 2021 Perdido St., New Orleans, La. On hand for the ceremony was Tony Pohlman, a former patient of the Trauma Center, who celebrated the one-year anniversary of the Trauma-Center staff saving his life on October 29, 2008, after a motorcycle accident inflicted injuries so severe he received the Last Rites. “The recovery of Tony Pohlman is due to the expert staff of the trauma center,” said Dr. Norman McSwain, Trauma Director. “The team effort we employ is available to every patient we see. This effort is essential to comprehensive trauma care, and our care is second to none, nationally or internationally.”

The LSU Health System and LSU Bogalusa Medical Center have both been nominated in the “Best Place to Work” category of the annual 2009 Encore Louisiana competition to highlight the best that Louisiana has to offer. To vote, go to www.EncoreLouisiana.com.

Encore Louisiana received over 800 nominations for 10 Louisiana categories, such as top destinations and attractions, favorite festivals or restaurants, best places to visit with kids and grandkids or to learn something new, best neighborhoods or outdoor places, best shopping or volunteer opportunities, and best place to work.

Overseen by the Office of the Lieutenant Governor, Encore Louisiana promotes the development of Louisiana’s appeal as a residential destination for persons 50 or above.

James Offord, MOSS Maintenance, helps with the mercury initiative.

W.O. Moss Regional Medical Center has adopted and enacted through its Environment of Care Committee its Mercury-Based Products policy. This initiative has identified all forms of mercury at WOMRMC and limits or eliminates the use, storage, handling, and purchase of mercury-based products. Thermometers, thermostats, and gauges containing mercury have been safely removed and properly discarded. Fluorescent light bulbs have been recycled and replaced with eco-friendly bulbs. WOMRMC has an ongoing commitment to mercury elimination and randomly conducts site assessments assuring program compliance.

Dr. Juzar Ali

The LSU Health System has appointed Dr. Juzar Ali Medical Director of the Interim LSU Public Hospital (ILPH). A Professor of Medicine in the LSU Health Sciences Center New Orleans (HSC) School of Medicine, Dr. Ali holds the Russell C. Klein, M.D., LSU Alumni Professorship and is former Vice Chair of Medicine for Clinical Affairs in the LSU HSC School of Medicine Department of Medicine, Section of Pulmonary/Critical Care. He is the director of the LSU Tuberculosis Clinics and the OPH Region 1 Metro-Wetmore TB Clinics.

Pukar Ratti, MSChE, MSHCM, CIM, CCRP

Practically speaking, the occurrence of billing errors in clinical research is a burgeoning problem that may lead to the risk of becoming liable for civil/criminal penalties and the tarnished reputation of the research enterprise. The LJCMC Office of Research & Sponsored Projects has devised a 10-step model called BEST-WORM as a strong proactive approach, rather than a reactive approach, to alleviate the problems of billing errors and to provide much needed clarity to the labyrinthine billing process.

Behind clean glass, the American flag that flew over Houma's Charity hospital a year ago is torn and tattered. Rescued from a pole outside Leonard J. Chabert Medical Center in the days following Hurricane Gustav's Sept. 1 landfall in Terrebonne Parish, the flag was framed and unveiled Wednesday before a crowd of roughly 50 public officials, hospital staff and local residents.

Gov. Bobby Jindal and the heads of LSU and Tulane universities on Friday formally signed a power-sharing agreement that Jindal pledged opens the way for building a new public-private teaching hospital replacing the old Charity Hospital. Although some financing still needs to be nailed down, "the state is absolutely committed to moving forward to build this facility," Jindal said.

The latest LSU graduates of the Advisory Board Academy Fellowship are Mark Kellar, Director of Nursing Services, Bogalusa Medical Center (to the left); Laura Broadhurst, COO, Earl K. Long Medical Center; and Paul Wing, Laboratory Manager, W. O. Moss Regional Medical Center. The three graduated in Washington, D.C., on August 4, 2009. This prestigious fellowship program accelerates the readiness of emerging leaders of health and hospital systems so that they can assume senior management positions and be prepared to take on leadership roles when the opportunity presents itself.

U.S. Representative Bill Cassidy, MD, participated as a reader in Reach Out and Read at the LSU Mid City Pediatric Clinic of the Earl K. Long Medical Center. At all check-ups for patients from the ages of 6 months to 5 years, medical providers versed in the benefits of literacy development speak with parents about the importance of reading aloud to their children and give developmentally-appropriate books to their patients to take home. The clinic annually distributes at least 6,000 books as prescribed books to children during clinic visits—3,000 are given by clinic physicians and 3,000 by the dedicated volunteer readers at the clinic.

U.S. Representative Charlie Melancon participated as a reader in Reach Out and Read (ROR) at the Pediatric Clinic of Leonard J. Chabert Medical Center (LJCMC). Congressman Melancon serves Louisiana’s Third Congressional District. Michel Claudet, Terrebonne Parish president, also read. The event highlighted the year-round efforts of the LJCMC and ROR to promote crucial literacy skills with parents and their children. Last year LJCMC distributed 2,820 books as prescribed books to children during clinic visits.

The LSU Health Care Services Division (HCSD) Office of Communications and Media Relations received multiple honors from the Press Club of New Orleans in its 2009 annual journalism and public relations competition.

The LSU Health System today announced deployment of the first phase of LSU’s new Electronic Health Records (EHR) system designed to create a network of coordinated health care that is safer, more efficient, and less costly. GE Healthcare has been awarded a $12.5 million contract to create a filmless and paperless central database and radiology image repository for securely sharing patient imaging data among LSU’s 10 public hospitals and more than 500 clinics statewide.

The value of the highly integrated, well coordinated LSU system of health care is self evident. In less than two hours, beginning with Austin’s arrival at the LJCMC emergency department and diagnosis there and including an ambulance transport from Houma, Austin was in surgery in the trauma center. In both medical centers, highly trained and experienced personnel in a number of key departments, including pharmacy, anesthesia, neurosurgery, radiology, and trauma, played critical roles in a timely fashion.

When Dr. Cris Mandry of Baton Rouge leaves in the next week for his third National Guard tour in Afghanistan, he won’t be packing a stethoscope. Although his primary job is as director of the Department of Emergency Medicine at the LSU Earl K. Long Medical Center, Mandry’s military role is as a lieutenant colonel in Special Forces. If that seems remarkable, consider this: Mandry, 57, also is a member of the New Orleans Police Department SWAT team and was one of the first officers rescuing flood-trapped residents following Hurricane Katrina. Going to the front lines in the global conflict with Islamic terror groups is the latest chapter in an extremely active life.

Dr. James A. Birke, PT, Ph.D. , was honored with the Roger Pecoraro Lectureship from the American Diabetes Association (ADA) at the ADA’s 69th Scientific Sessions, the world’s largest diabetes meeting, in New Orleans, La.  Clinical researchers are selected for this award based on their outstanding contributions to the knowledge and treatment of the diabetic foot.

The Louisiana State Nurses Association (LSNA), District IV, presented professional achievement awards to five members of the University Medical Center nursing staff during the district’s annual Acadiana Celebrates Nursing program. The Louisiana State Nurses Association has 13 districts. District IV includes the parishes of Lafayette, St. Landry, St. Martin, Vermilion, Acadia, Evangeline, and Iberia.

All seven HCSD hospitals received 2008 Louisiana Hospital Quality Awards from the Louisiana Health Care Review (LHCR). Lallie Kemp Regional Medical Center, Leonard J. Chabert Medical Center, and University Medical Center received Gold Level awards. Only 26 hospitals in Louisiana received the gold level award.

The Louisiana Health Care Review (LHCR) presented to Dr. Theryll Johnson, with the Leonard J. Chabert Medical Center Ambulatory Care Clinic Family Practice, the 2008 Platinum Level Physician Quality Award, and to Dr. Mohammed S. Sarwar, with the W.O. Moss Regional Medical Center Diabetes Clinic, the 2008 Silver Level Louisiana Physician Quality Award for providing and improving the quality of diabetes health care for patients.

Louisiana State University and Our Lady of the Lake Regional Medical Center today agreed to a non-binding Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) that creates a public-private collaboration between the two organizations and outlines relocation of certain Baton Rouge based Graduate Medical Education programs to Our Lady of the Lake’s campus.

Please see attached letter from the Department of Civil Service approving the withholding of merit increases for Fiscal Year 2009/2010 as a layoff avoidance measure. No merit increases will be given to HCSD employees, either classified or unclassified during FY 09/10.

The Lallie Kemp Regional Medical Center (LKRMC) Outpatient Clinic has received Level III recognition status as a Physician Practice Connections®—Patient Centered Medical Home™ (PPC-PCMH) by the National Committee for Quality Assurance (NCQA). Only 9 practices in Louisiana and only 58 in the nation have achieved Level III.

The University Medical Center (UMC) Foundation presented its first annual awards for exemplary service to three UMC staff members at its Third Annual Jazz Brunch at La Carte.

Governor Bobby Jindal will be the keynote speaker at the opening and ribbon-cutting ceremony for the new LSU Health System North Baton Rouge Clinic, 5439 Airline Highway, Thursday, June 4, at 10:00 a.m. The clinic will provide quality comprehensive adult preventive care in a state-of-the-art facility, offering the best in primary care, cancer services, and women’s health.

About 45 employees of Dr. W.O. Moss Regional Medical Center participating in the Relay for Life collected over $3600.00 in donations, directly benefiting the American Cancer Society. All locally raised funds will remain in the community. Used for research, the funding also supports efforts to manage and cure cancer. 

University Medical Center in Lafayette has been named the 2009 Hospital of the Year for Respiratory Care for hospitals with less than 200 beds by the Louisiana Society for Respiratory Care (LSRC). The LSRC recognized University Medical Center for having highly qualified respiratory therapists (RTs) who possess high levels of competence and professionalism. UMC RTs work closely with the physicians to extend great care through accurate diagnosis and effective, individualized treatment. UMC RTs, physicians, and nurses work together as a team to bring outstanding care to the patients’ bedside for a safe and quick recovery. This team is committed to improving the respiratory status of all patients, one breath at a time.

The LSU Bogalusa Medical Center (BMC) Memphis Street Outpatient Clinic has received Level 1 recognition status as a Physician Practice Connections—Patient Centered Medical Home (PPC-PCMH) by the National Committee for Quality Assurance (NCQA). The clinic has met rigorous NCQA requirements to receive this recognition. This point of care provides ongoing preventive and early intervention health care to patients and coordinates specialized care with the LSU Bogalusa Medical Center when patients require it.

The LSU Bogalusa Medical Center (LSU BMC) Respiratory Therapy Department has earned Quality Respiratory Care Recognition (QRCR) from the American Association for Respiratory Care (AARC). The QRCR designation ensures quality respiratory care in a hospital and helps patients and families make informed decisions about the quality of the respiratory care services available at the institution of their choice.

The LSU Heath System Health Care Services Division (HCSD) has been actively planning for at least two years within its system of seven hospitals and clinics and with its state and federal partners for a pandemic flu outbreak and has maintained stockpiles of necessary medical supplies.  Additionally, LSU is currently engaging in the following activities:

LAFAYETTE — The University Medical Center (UMC) Respiratory Therapy Department has earned Quality Respiratory Care Recognition (QRCR) from the American Association for Respiratory Care (AARC). The QRCR designation ensures quality respiratory care in a hospital and helps patients and families make informed decisions about the quality of the respiratory care services available at the institution of their choice. 

HOUMA — Amerinet, a leading health care group purchasing organization, presented to Leonard J. Chabert Medical Center (LJCMC) in Houma, La., the first-ever Amerinet Healthcare Achievement Award. The award is in recognition of Amerinet member excellence, honoring those institutions that truly excel in reducing health care costs and improving health care quality.

The LSU Health System is launching a public information campaign to promote the availability of LSU community clinics and the HIV Outpatient Clinic to New Orleans area residents. The campaign, entitled “Quality Health Care Close to Home,” will include radio and television spots, public transit advertisements, and direct-mail pieces and will feature a central phone number for information on the clinics: 1-877-LSU-4YOU (1-877-578-4968).

Baton Rouge sufferers from arthritis are fortunate to have been the beneficiaries of 40 years of harmonious cooperation among the physicians of EKLMC, LSU Rheumatology, and the rheumatologists of Baton Rouge Clinic.

The desire of the HCSD to provide the highest quality leadership has resulted in four more HCSD staff graduating from the Advisory Board Academy Fellowship. They are Beverly Sheridan, BMC education, safety and facility services director (lower left); Angela Gooden, HQ executive projects coordinator; Nathan Daigrepont, HQ director of clinical projects (upper left); and Glenn Craig, UMC assistant hospital administrator.

Attorneys for the Louisiana Office of Facility Planning and Control (FP&C) and LSU assert the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) ignored its own rules and failed to fairly assess the cost of repairing hurricane damage at Charity Hospital in New Orleans. In an appeal of a proposed Project Worksheet payment for Charity, FP&C and LSU, citing eight errors, contend FEMA lacked “a reasonable factual basis” for rejecting the state’s claim for just under $492 million to replace the 70-year-old, teaching and research hospital.

Gail Gibson, RN, MN, CPM, received the highest award the American Academy of Certified Public Managers (AACPM) presents to a fellow of the academy, the 2008 Henning Award, for exemplifying the AACPM vision of world-class leadership and public sector management during and in the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina.  She is the director of maternal and child and medical surgical services for the Interim LSU Public Hospital. 

Connie Liuzza, director of nursing at Lallie Kemp Regional Medical Center; Dr. Dwayne Steele, director of pharmacy services, Interim LSU Public Hosital; Keith Verret, IT analyst, HCSD; Dr. Danny Jackson, HCSD pharmacy director; and Carolyn Kelly, assistant nursing director at Earl K. Long Medical Center, graduated from the prestigious Advisory Board Academy Fellowship.

LSU clinics throughout New Orleans have received recognition status as Physician Practice Connections—Patient Centered Medical Homes (PPC-PCMH) by the National Committee for Quality Assurance (NCQA), heralding a superior quality of health care at the clinics

The LSU Health Care Services Division (HCSD) has appointed Kathy Viator, DNS, RN, hospital administrator for Earl K. Long Medical Center (EKLMC) in Baton Rouge, La. “Dr. Viator has both the clinical and executive experience for leading the Earl K. Long Medical Center,” said Dr. Michael K. Butler, HCSD CEO.  “She has served in an exemplary fashion as the medical center has expanded to meet demands for its services and as it has responded in times of emergency, such as the arrival and destruction of Hurricane Gustav.” Dr. Viator, who has served as EKLMC acting hospital administrator since March 2007, has 30 years of experience in hospital management and health care.

Leonard J. Chabert Medical Center (LJCMC), in Houma, La., has received recognition status as a Physician Practice Connections—Patient Centered Medical Home (PPC-PCMH) by the National Committee for Quality Assurance (NCQA), heralding a superior quality of health care at LJCMC. “This recognition is another example of the superior health care that LSU provides to Louisiana citizens,” said Dr. Fred Cerise, LSU System Vice President for Health Affairs and Medical Education. ”

Earl K. Long Medical Center (EKLMC) and University Medical Center (UMC) have each received the 2009 Outstanding Patient Experience Award from HealthGrades, the nation’s leading independent healthcare ratings organization, for ranking in the top 15 percent nationally for exemplary service to patients. In fact, both far exceeded the top 15 percent. The percentile ranking for EKLMC was 3.32 and for UMC 3.71, placing both among the top four percent in the nation.

The twelfth annual LSU Health Care Services Division (HCSD) Health Care Effectiveness Forum, entitled “Medical Homes and Academic Health Systems: Fostering Excellence in Health Outcomes in the LSU Health System,” will be Tuesday, January 13, 2009, from 9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m., at the Baton Rouge Marriott, 5500 Hilton Avenue, Baton Rouge, La. The keynote speaker will be Dr. Atul Grover, who is assistant vice president and director of governmental relations of the Association of American Medical Colleges (AAMC).

Infection Control Today, a health-care journal for infectious disease professionals named Dr. Walter Campbell, Jr., to Who’s Who in Infection Prevention for 2008. Dr. Campbell is one of only eighteen practitioners selected for this award from nationwide nominations submitted by their infection control peers. Dr. Campbell directs the Lallie Kemp Regional Medical Center (LKRMC) Infection Control program, where he primarily treats patients with HIV/AIDS and hepatitis C.

Lallie Kemp Regional Medical Center (LKRMC) is pleased to announce that three LSU cardiologists are joining the LKRMC staff beginning January 1, 2009. Drs. Frederick Helmcke, Neeraj Jaim, and Vijayendra Jaligam have extensive clinical, teaching, and research experience at LSU and adhere to the same disease management outcome goals as LKRMC since LKRMC is part of the LSU Health System.

Lallie Kemp Regional Medical Center (LKRMC) is now a tobacco and smoke-free campus as of January 1, 2009. Through the Louisiana Rural Health Association’s Operation Against Smoking/Inhaling Secondhand Smoke (OASIS) initiative, which is designed to help adhere to the hospital’s commitment to become tobacco and smoke-free, LKRMC will be making every effort to support patients, families and staff with the implementation of this new policy.