Bogalusa – The American Lung Association (ALA) in Louisiana has named the Asthma Program at LSU Bogalusa Medical Center (BMC) in Bogalusa, La., an Asthma Center of Excellence. The LSU BMC Asthma Program is only the second program in Louisiana with this designation.

GONZALES — Haley Tosspon of Natchez, Miss., spent most of Saturday shopping, but the new mom took time to have her baby's car seat inspected to make sure it was installed properly. After it was inspected by certified technicians with the Louisiana Passenger Safety Task Force at the Interim LSU Public Hospital, Tosspon learned she and her husband had installed the seat wrong, a common mistake made by parents, said Trooper Bryan Zeringue, a spokesman for Louisiana State Police Troop C.

HOUMA — Employees of the LSU Hospital System are rallying to help grieving families at their sister hospital in Houma after two Leonard J. Chabert employees were killed and two others critically injured in a crash blocks away from the hospital.

Throughout November and December, LSU hospitals have put on numerous fundraisers, from bake sales to 500-person plate lunch benefits, aimed at raising money for Chabert's Employee Assistance Fund. The fund was created to help offset medical, funeral and living expenses for the families of the four Chabert employees involved in the crash.

Lake Charles – In celebration of the fiftieth anniversary of the opening of the W. O. Moss Regional Medical Center, the hospital has assembled a collection of more than 300 recipes in "Eat Well, Cook Often – W. O. Moss Regional Medical Center 50th Anniversary Cookbook." Professionally published in a gold and purple ring binder, the book has nine categories including soups, breads, main dishes and desserts. It has recipes from employees and friends of the hospital and special classic recipes from Moss' first cookbook, which was published in 1988. The book is a project of the Moss Service Auxiliary. Proceeds from the sale of the book go to the Community Assistance Fund, which helps patients with transportation costs, medication co-pays and other healthcare needs. The book is available for $15. Call 337.475.8334 to get your copy.

Cathy Hughes, The Times-Picayune -- Continuing the expansion of primary health care services in post-flood New Orleans, the Louisiana State University System has opened a full-service health clinic at the new L.B. Landry High School in Algiers. The new health center is the successor to two temporary Algiers clinics that were among more than 90 sites supported by a $100 million federal grant that Congress approved after Hurricane Katrina to rebuild the primary care system. But the L.B. Landry facility stands apart as the first full-blown community clinic that is based in a school, a nascent model that public health and education officials hailed Wednesday as an example for the future of American health care infrastructure.

Numerous acts of kindness at Lallie Kemp Regional Medical Center in Independence will help ease the suffering of grieving families a hundred miles away in Houma. On Friday, October 15, four Leonard J. Chabert Medical Center employees were in a tragic traffic accident. Lalisa Robinson and Samantha Marcel were killed. Sandra (Kay) Brunet and Kara James received severe injuries. All four worked in the Chabert Medical Records Department. They had gone out to lunch for Boss's Day when the accident occurred. Employees of a public hospital are always mindful of the less fortunate. Now, at Chabert, tragedy has entangled four of its families in emotional, financial and personal turmoil. Families must make up for lost income. The consequences are monumental.

Independence -- Lallie Kemp Medical Center employees helped raise $9,195 for the American Cancer Society's "Relay for Life," on November 13, at North Oaks Park in Hammond, taking home second place in this fundraiser to fight cancer. Over the past few months, the Lallie Kemp Fighting Tigers sponsored several "cupcake mania" bake sales and raffles, sold the "Fight Dat" t-shirts and even held a garage sale to help raise money.

Lake Charles – W. O. Moss Regional Medical Center (WOMRMC), Lagrange High School ROTC and the Lake Charles Fire Department dedicated new American and Louisiana State flags for the hospital. The old flags had performed admirably for a number of years, withstanding the test of time and two hurricanes.

State Representative John Bel Edwards convened a community meeting at Lallie Kemp Regional Medical Center on Monday, November 1, to discuss the importance of LKRMC to the region as the state faces healthcare budget cuts in the upcoming legislative session and a changing national healthcare landscape. More than 125 people attended the meeting, which included speakers from LKRMC and LSU Health executive staff, the legislative delegation and the Northshore community. Representative Edwards, joined by Senator Ben Nevers other members of the legislative delegation, expressed their support for the hospital and pledged to defend the hospital against any possible budget cuts in the session, which begins in April of next year.

Kurt Scott, LSU Bogalusa Medical Center CEO, was joined by Dr. Richard Friend, Program Director of the LSU HSC Rural Family Medicine Residency at BMC, and Brian Jakes, CEO of the Southeast Louisiana Area Health Education Center, at the press conference announcing the $3.12 million grant for this residency program.

As part of the new federal health care overhaul that President Barack Obama signed in March, Louisiana State University's health care division will receive a five-year $3.12 million grant to expand its Bogalusa training program for primary care physicians. The award is a component of the Obama administration's strategy to address the national shortage of primary care physicians. The problem is particularly acute in many rural and inner cities, and it is projected to get worse; existing physicians are retiring at a faster pace than new physicians are graduating, and demand will increase in 2014 when an estimated 32 million people will need care with the new law's expansion of Medicaid and opening of insurance exchanges marketing private policies.

The Tangipahoa Parish Nurses Association (TDNA) has recognized Brinette Thompson, RN, as being one of the best in her profession. Only eight nurses received this honor. Ms. Thompson is Emergency Room Supervisor at Lallie Kemp Regional Medical Center. The TDNA Board of Directors paid tribute to each of the honorees for their exceptional service to the nursing profession and to the Tangipahoa community at the annual "Tangi's Top Nurses Awards Gala." Read about Ms. Thompson's accomplishments on page 14 of the current issue of "Pelican News," the official publication of the Louisiana State Nurses Association.

Houma – Pukar Ratti, MSChE, MSHCM, CIM, CCRP, FACMPE, has become a Fellow in the American College of Medical Practice Executives (ACMPE). He is Department Head/Research Coordinator for the Office of Research & Sponsored Projects at Leonard J. Chabert Medical Center (LJCMC).

Ratti is one of only seven ACMPE Fellows in Louisiana and the only one in LSU Health.

Independence – First Guaranty Bank recently contributed $1,000 to the Lallie Kemp Foundation in support of its upcoming gala. Every year, the LKRMC Foundation Board of Trustees hosts its primary fundraiser, The Lallie Kemp Foundation Gala. This year's gala will be at Michabelle Inn and Restaurant, 1106 South Holly Street, in Hammond, on Saturday, October 9,, 2010, from 8 p.m. to 12 a.m.

– Leonard J. Chabert Regional Medical Center (LJCMC) recently held a ribbon-cutting ceremony for the opening of its new Palliative Care Suite on the fourth floor Medicine Unit. Furnished to resemble a secure home atmosphere, the Palliative Care Suite has a soothing design and comfort items, such as a sleeper sofa for the patient's family and music.

Baton Rouge – The Innovations section on the website of the National Association of Public Hospitals and Health Systems (www.naph.org) highlights the LSU HCSD disease management and population health programs led by the Health Care Effectiveness Team.

This NAPH Featured Innovation was adapted from an article Dr. Michael Kaiser, CMO, HCSD, first wrote for the eQ Health newsletter, "Quality Insider." It discusses the importance of common management and operational structures that have led to significant improvement in the process and outcomes measures at the seven HCSD hospitals. This year, each hospital received an award for quality improvement from eQHealth Solutions. Click here for the article.

Baton Rouge – The new LSU website “Five Years After Katrina and Rita” commemorates the heroism and dedication of LSU Health staff during the 2005 storm season.

In the storm’s aftermath, LSU staff in New Orleans stayed steady, remaining for five days with their patients while conditions rapidly deteriorated. Despite the loss of power, flooded hospitals, and dwindling supplies, staff met the crisis with the highest professional standards.

Outside of New Orleans, LSU hospitals in Bogalusa, Independence, Baton Rouge, Houma, Lafayette, Lake Charles, and Alexandria were involved in the response to the catastrophe. They received patients, staff, and residents from New Orleans though the storm inflicted damage in varying degrees to most of these hospitals.

Within a month, Hurricane Rita created its own havoc, inflicting widespread damage and forcing patient evacuations. LSU staff again responded with the utmost professionalism.

Looking back, the website sections “Our Story” and “Our Hospitals” portray the ordeal of that hurricane season. Looking forward, the section “Our Future” links to the website of the new LSU-affiliated University Medical Center (UMC), www.newhospital.org. The design for UMC is nearing completion. Its opening will place UMC among the first rank of academic medical centers.

The University Medical Center Foundation has named Dr. Mark Stellingworth its 2010 Physician of the Year and Francis “Frank” Conde, RN, its 2010 Nurse of the Year. Each year the Foundation honors a member of the medical staff and a member of the nursing staff for outstanding service to UMC.

Baton Rouge -- LSU Health received two first-place awards and one second-place award in the Press Club of New Orleans' fifty-second annual journalism and public relations awards competition. In the Radio PSA category, Dr. Charles Zewe, LSU System Vice President for Communications and External Affairs, and Marvin McGraw, Director of the LSU Health Care Services Division (HCSD) Office of Communications and Media Relations, received the first place award for "Austin Irwin." The PSA describes the comprehensive and highly coordinated emergency healthcare and surgery that the Leonard J. Chabert Medical Center in Houma, La., and the Interim LSU Public Hospital (ILH) in New Orleans provided to a twelve-year-old boy after he sustained a traumatic brain injury. Dr. Zewe and McGraw also won the second place award in the same category for "Senator Reggie Dupre." The PSA highlights the lifesaving emergency surgery and extensive healthcare then Senator Reggie Dupre received at Leonard J. Chabert Medical Center.

Amy Donovan, RN, (left) and Cindy Arabie, C-FNP, adhere to high standards at the CHF Clinic. Click photo to enlarge.

Lake Charles -- The Congestive Heart Failure Clinic at the W.O. Moss Regional Medical Center has received the Gold Plus Award for the Get With The Guidelines-Heart Failure (GWTG-HF) Program for 2010. The clinic is under the direction of Cindy Arabie, C-FNP, and Amy Donovan, RN, Clinical Coordinator. The Gold Plus Award is an advanced level recognition presented to hospitals for their compliance with the quality measures of the GWTG HF Program. The GWTG-HF Program addresses in-hospital initiation of the American Heart Association/American College of Cardiology guideline-recommended prevention therapies in patients hospitalized with heart failure.

Employees and the physician’s group of W. O. Moss Regional Medical Center raised over $4,000 in the Relay for Life for research and assistance to manage and cure cancer. All funds raised locally stay locally and go directly to the American Cancer Society. About 45 employees, volunteers, and others from the community, all walking for the cause, participated on the WOMRMC teams. The WOMRMC team also competed in the volleyball tournament and won the first place trophy.

The Diabetes Education and Wellness Program at Leonard J. Chabert Medical Center (LJCMC) in Houma, La., has received renewal Education Recognition from the American Diabetes Association (ADA). The ADA Education Recognition Program is the leading quality assurance mechanism for diabetes self-management programs across the country and identifies programs for their performance and quality. With the guidance of a program with this recognition, a patient can assume a major part of diabetes management, preventing minor issues from becoming major and possibly avoiding hospitalization. “This recognition acknowledges that the program at Chabert continues to be of the highest quality,” said Rhonda Green, LJCMC Hospital Administrator. “It provides patients with the information and training they need to live healthy lives.”

The June 2010 issue of Research Brief features the sterling performance of the Lallie Kemp Regional Medical Center (LKRMC) on the Hospital Consumer Assessment of Healthcare Providers and Systems (HCAHPS). The article “NAPH Members Continue to Improve on Key Quality Measures” reports that LKRMC scored among the top 25 hospitals in the nation (the top 10 percent nationally) for the measure “staff always explained about medications.” This stellar score was consistent with the overall performance of LKRMC, which was “in the top 25 percent of hospitals nationally for seven other measures,” according to the article.

By a number of measures, the LSU/Mid-City Clinic’s first annual Health Fair and Open House at the clinic’s main campus, 1401 North Foster Drive, in Baton Rouge, was a success. Agencies from around the city teamed up with clinic staff to bring education, information and screenings to about 400 people who attended this free event, which was open to the public.

July marks both the fiftieth anniversary of the Dr. Walter Olin Moss Regional Medical Center and the one-year anniversary of WOMRMC as a tobacco-free facility. Celebrations began July 1 with a tobacco-free anniversary party to encourage patients, staff, and visitors to kick the habit. Built to serve Southwest Louisiana including Allen, Beauregard, Calcasieu, Cameron, Jefferson Davis and other adjacent parishes, the four-story Lake Charles Charity Hospital, the city’s first hospital devoted to indigent care, began accepting patients in July 1960.

The Summer 2010 Health Care Effectiveness Meeting will be Tuesday, July 13, 2010, at the Holiday Inn South, 9940 Airline Highway, in Baton Rouge. The meeting will feature breakout sessions for disease specific and improvement project teams and system updates. Registration begins at 8 a.m.

For the complete schedule of the day’s events, click here.

University Medical Center (UMC) has received the HealthGrades 2010/2011 Outstanding Patient Experience Award. UMC is one of only eight hospitals in Louisiana with this recognition, which honors institutions providing the best patient experience in the nation.

UMC earned the award because it ranked in the top 10 percent of the 3,775 hospitals that participated in the annual Hospital Consumer Assessment of Healthcare Providers and Systems Survey (HCAHPS). “The award recognizes the high-quality work of our staff on all levels on a daily basis,” said Larry Dorsey, UMC Hospital Administrator. “Day in and day out, their dedication to their patients, to their profession, and to UMC has resulted in UMC receiving this award. We have an excellent staff.”

For the second year in a row, University Medical Center (UMC) in Lafayette has been named the 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 UMC for having highly qualified respiratory therapists (RRTs) who possess high levels of competence and professionalism and a well coordinated RT department available around the clock at UMC. “The ongoing recognition of the UMC Respiratory Therapy Department by experts outside of UMC speaks to the high level of care that our RT Department provides,” said Larry Dorsey, UMC Hospital Administrator. “Our RT Department also has a superior facility, which allows them to provide the best possible care.”

VA Secretary Eric Shinseki addresses the gathering prior to the groundbreaking ceremorny. (click to enlarge)

A model of the new VA hospital. (click to enlarge)

From The Times-Picayune -- Veterans Affairs Secretary Eric Shinseki officially launched construction of a new veterans medical complex in Mid-City this morning, promising retired, active and future military service men and women that the New Orleans facility will serve them for generations to come. "We are keeping faith with those who have kept faith with us," said Shinseki, a retired Army general who began his military service in Vietnam and rose to become U.S. Army chief of staff. "New Orleans is one of those great cities of America ... and of the world. We are proud to be part of your city." The $800 million complex is slated to open in 2013, almost eight years after Hurricane Katrina damaged the VA hospital in the downtown medical district. That facility currently houses limited clinic operations, while the VA has contracted with Tulane Medical Center to provide hospital care.

With a history of hurricanes hitting the state and now the Gulf oil catastrophe, Louisianians know disaster first hand, but the 7.0 magnitude earthquake that hit Haiti in January pushed the impoverished nation beyond the breaking point. Five months later, Haiti still welcomes outside aid, so from June 25 through July 11, two teams of medical professionals and volunteers from around the nation will be in Haiti for medical relief work.

A small electrical fire caused some tense moments at the Earl K. Long Medical Center Monday morning, but no one was injured. The fire, which was contained to an elevator building on the roof, caused smoke to enter the elevator shafts and the common areas on each floor. Patients and employees were ordered to shelter-in-place, which means that medical staff is required to stay with patients, and no one is allowed to enter or leave the hospital except first responders. A preliminary investigation reveals that a motor operating one of the elevators overheated and caused the fire. Following an inspection by the Louisiana State Fire Marshall’s office, the hospital resumed normal operations at 11:30 am.

District IV of the Louisiana State Nurses Association recently celebrated its twelfth annual Acadiana Celebrates Nurses program in recognition of National Nurses Week. Of the 25 top nurses in the district honored at the event, six are at University Medical Center. The following are those at UMC who were selected.

Gary Curtis, CEO, eQHealth Solutions (left), was on hand to congratulate Kurt Scott, LSU BMC Administrator, Jill Breazeale, Performance Improvement Coordinator, Cindy Ingram, Quality Resource Director, Anthony Pham, MD, Medical Director, and Sue Sihvonen, Quality Improvement Specialist.

All seven hospitals of the LSU Health Care Services Division received Hospital Quality Awards from eQHealth Solutions, the Medicare Quality Improvement Organization for Louisiana, for improving the quality of their patients’ healthcare. LSU Bogalusa Medical Center received the Platinum Level 2009 Louisiana Hospital Quality Award. It is the highest level attainable and indicates that LSU BMC achieved significant clinical quality improvement in all clinical topics applicable for its inpatient population. LSU BMC is one of only 28 hospitals in the state to receive this honor.

EKLMC employees raised nearly $7,100 for the American Heart Association.

About 125 employees of Earl K. Long Medical Center raised money for and participated in the annual Capital Area Heart Walk at the Nicholson Exchange near the LSU campus. The event is a fundraiser for the American Heart Association. Murphy Haydel, RN supervisor of the Cath Lab and chairperson for the event, said that EKLMC employees donated $7,095 to the association. To boost donations, employees also had bake sales and sold t-shirts. After the walk, EKLMC employees and their families were treated to a delicious jambalaya dinner, thanks to Missy Pinson, administrative supervisor of the EKLMC operating room, and her husband, Bob Pinson.

The seven hospitals of the LSU Health Care Services Division exceeded national and regional averages on an annual basis in the HCAHPS (Hospital Consumer Assessment of Healthcare Providers and Systems) survey summarizing inpatient perspectives on the general quality of hospital services. This national, standardized, publicly reported survey compares the quality of hospitals on a regional and national basis. Most impressive is that University Medical Center, Lallie Kemp Regional Medical Center and Leonard J. Chabert Medical Center scored statistically significantly above the national and/or regional averages in all composite and individual survey items.

The LSU Health System has been voted a "Best Place to Work" in the annual Encore Louisiana competition to highlight the best that Louisiana has to offer. LSU Bogalusa Medical Center was a nominee in this category as well.

The McKernan Law Firm of Baton Rouge donated two 42-inch flat-screen televisions to the Emergency Department waiting area of the Earl K. Long Medical Center. John Germany, RN, EKLMC director of nursing, below one of the tv’s in this photo, expressed his appreciation for the donation in a recent tv interview.

Photo by CLAUDETTE OLIVIER / AMERICAN PRESS

Lake Charles Junior League members Suzanne Cameron, left, and Diane LeBlanc, dressed as Dr. Seuss characters, help Chalkley Leach apply a temporary tattoo. In honor of Theodore “Dr. Seuss” Geisel’s 106th birthday, the league partnered with the Louisiana Reach Out and Read Coalition to read to children visiting the W.O. Moss Regional Medical Center’s Pediatric Center.

Staff of the LSU North Baton Rouge Clinic has created the gaily decorated Tree of Life in the clinic lobby as an enduring symbol of hope, renewal and growth for its newborn and oncology patients. Ornaments on the tree contain photos of clinic patients, visible reminders of the good work the staff performs. “We celebrate our newborn babies. Photos of their little faces decorate our tree alongside photos of our brave oncology patients,” said Jeanie Gremillion, LPN, who was an impetus in developing the tree for the clinic. “Their struggles to come into this world are not unlike our cancer patient’s struggles in their determination to live.”

Louisiana will get $474.4 million for storm-related damage to Charity Hospital, and that decision by a federal arbitration panel is a gigantic step forward for New Orleans' recovery. FEMA and the state have been at a stalemate over this crucial recovery project for years, with the agency claiming that the hospital had only suffered $124 million in damage from flooding and the state insisting that the facility suffered more than 50 percent damage and was entitled to the full replacement cost of $492 million.

A federal arbitration panel awarded the state $474.7 million for damages Charity Hospital incurred during Hurricane Katrina, according to Marvin McGraw, LSU Health Sciences spokesman.

The thirteenth annual LSU Healthcare Effectiveness Forum recognized achievements of hospitals throughout the LSU Health Care Services Division (HCSD). The Leonard J. Chabert Medical Center Infection Prevention and Control Program received the TRRRAQSSS Award for its hospital improvement project “Reducing Surgical Site Infections Through Basic Practices.”

Dr. Kathy Viator, Hospital Administrator of the Earl K. Long Medical Center (EKLMC), presented to Sergeant Willie Stewart, of the East Baton Rouge Parish Sheriff’s Office (EBRPSO), a certificate of recognition for bravery and service to the medical center for his actions on November 24, 2009, when he acted to ensure the safety of EKLMC patients, visitors, and staff. Sergeant Stewart noticed a woman that day in the EKLMC parking lot acting oddly after she had been instructed earlier in the day to leave the hospital grounds. When Sergeant Stewart approached the woman, she jumped into her car and refused his repeated requests to get out of the car. He saw bottles of alcohol in the car and an elderly passenger.