HJBR May/Jun 2019

40 MAY / JUN 2019  I  Healthcare Journal of baton rouge   Healthcare Briefs “The approach was developed based on the learnings from existing healthcare rating systems as well as public-facing systems that rate products and services ranging from restaurants to refriger- ators. In healthcare, where this information can lit- erally be the difference between life and death, the public can access data on hospitals, nursing homes, and many other provider types, but not yet addiction treatment services,” said Samantha Arsenault, director of National Treatment Quality Initiatives at Shatterproof. “By collecting this data and making it transparent, we aim to align mar- ket forces with evidence-based addiction treat- ment.” The rating system will make information about the quality of care available to consum- ers, providers, referral sources, policymakers, and payers.  Upon successful completion of the two-year pilot, sustained implementation will continue in the pilot states, in addition to a phased expan- sion across the country. LAHealthcare Connections Offers Course to Treat Opioid-Use Disorder Physicians in Louisiana have the opportunity to become buprenorphine-waivered to treat Opi- oid-Use Disorder (OUD) through an online edu- cational course offered by Louisiana Healthcare Connections. The course will be conducted by the American Society of Addiction Medicine (ASAM). Buprenorphine is the first at-home therapy to treat OUD and offers great potential for expand- ing treatment, according to The New England Journal of Medicine. It also has been proven to be a clinically effective therapy for OUD in pop- ulations, including pregnant women. This train- ing opportunity will support Louisiana Healthcare Connections’ efforts to increase the state’s num- ber of buprenorphine-waivered clinicians. “Louisiana has one of the highest opioid over- dose rates in the nation, and the number of new and refilled opioid prescriptions in our state far exceeds the national average,” said Stewart Gor- don, MD, Louisiana Healthcare Connections chief medical officer. “Buprenorphine has been identi- fied as a clinically-effective, in-home therapy for opioid use disorder, and we are pleased to help connect physicians in our state to the training they need to become waivered for this therapy.” Physicians will receive four hours of online train- ing at their own pace and four hours of live, inter- active training. The live training will be held from 8:30 a.m.-1 p.m. in St. Louis, Missouri; the live training may be attended remotely by streaming it to a device, on the four dates below: March 29, 2019 (already held) June 28, 2019* Sept. 13, 2019* Nov. 8, 2019* Dates marked with an asterisk feature curric- ulum designed for women’s health providers in partnership with the American College of Obste- tricians and Gynecologists (ACOG). Physicians who complete the training will receive Continuing Medical Education (CME) credits, a copy of the ASAM National Practice Guidelines, a reference guide, and other clini- cal resources. There is no cost to participate in the training. For more information about the course, or to register to attend, physicians may visit www.Lou- isianaHealthConnect.com/ASAMtraining. Benjamin Boudreaux is NeuroMedical Center Clinic’s NewChief Executive Officer The NeuroMedical Center Clinic announced Benjamin Boudreaux is its new chief executive officer. Boudreaux succeeds former CEO, Nancy M. Kelly, who held the clinic’s top leadership role for 33 years before retiring in late 2018. Boudreaux was selected as the new CEO fol- lowing a comprehensive national search led by the clinic’s board of directors. He brings more than 15 years of senior healthcare administration and operations to the role, including nine years as executive vice president of business development for the Cardiovascular Institute of the South (CIS). In this role, Boudreaux was engaged with devel- oping new practice locations, expanding services, physician recruitment, and hospital contracting relations. Prior to that role, Boudreaux served as CIS’s Practice Administrator where he oversaw the administrative and healthcare activities for several clinics across Southern Louisiana and Mississippi. “Ben Boudreaux brings a proven track record of healthcare leadership and exudes a clear dedica- tion to The NeuroMedical Center’s mission,” said neurosurgeon and president of The NeuroMedi- cal Center Clinic, Dr. Gregory L. Fautheree. “We look forward to having Ben’s expertise and pas- sion focused on our organization.” As CEO, Boudreaux will provide overall lead- ership and direction for the organization with an emphasis on physician/medical staff relations, strategic partnerships, and enhancing availabil- ity and access of neurological services through- out South Louisiana. “It is truly an honor to serve the great commu- nities of Louisiana as The NeuroMedical Center Clinic’s new CEO,” said Boudreaux. “Over the past 40 years, The NeuroMedical Center has set the bar as the region’s leading provider of world-class neurological care. I look forward to contributing to the great work of our physicians, staff, and leaders past to further advance access to high-quality neurological care and services in South Louisiana.” 2019 Health Summit Focuses on Solutions to Improve Louisiana’s LowHealth Ranking Public health professionals and individuals invested in the well-being of Louisianans gath- ered at Pennington Biomedical Conference Cen- ter for the 2019 Health Summit: Working Together for Louisiana’s Children and Families. Local, state, and nationally recognized public health profes- sionals led discussions on healthcare obstacles facing children and families in Louisiana, and helped attendees develop plans on how to bring about changes in policy and practices which will better the quality of life in Louisiana.   “Louisiana has a history of struggling with well- ness. Recent health reports have listed Louisiana’s Benjamin Boudreaux