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HEALTHCARE JOURNAL OF BATON ROUGE I  JUL / AUG 2020 19 For weekly eNews updates and to read the journal online, visit HealthcareJournalBR.com The program will help providers apply for var- ious benefits including small business loans, a paycheck protection plan, and various grants for which they may be eligible. This includes Feder- ally Qualified Health Centers (FQHCs), behavioral health providers, and community-based behav- ioral health organizations, Centers for Indepen- dent Living (CILs), and long-term service and sup- ports organizations operating on the front lines. This resource also helps providers explore additional funds through state offered loans and grants by working with nationally recognized healthcare consultants, organizations, state gov- ernment agencies, and former SBA executives. In addition to the online portal, provider partners will have access to webinars and one-on-one con- sulting with key experts. Healthcare providers who are in-network with Louisiana Healthcare Connections can visit https://www.centene.com/covid-19-resource-cen- ter/provider-assistance.html for more information. Radiology Business Management Association (RBMA) Presents TimBarrett of Radiology Associates as Fellow Tim Barrett, CPA, and CEO of Radiology Associ- ates has been presented as a fellow of Radiology Business Management Association. Each RBMA fellow candidate is judged accord- ing to his or her educational accomplishments, years of RBMA membership, professional service to RBMA, and contributions to the profession. The honor of fellow is considered a prestigious accomplishment, held in high regard by RBMA and its members. Louisiana Emergency Response Network Addresses Concerns on Stroke, Heart Emergencies The following Letter to the Editor was submit- ted by LERN leadership: We are concerned about a noticeable decline in hospital activations for stroke and STEMI (heart attack) across Louisiana because we suspect this decline is the result of understandable, but ill- advised, reluctance to seek immediate care due to worries and fears created by the COVID-19 pandemic. The coronavirus has disrupted our daily lives in many ways including how we access medical care. In recent weeks, physicians and hospitals have worked wisely with their patients to post- pone surgeries and routine medical services that could be safely rescheduled. That pause in care was necessary. However, some aspects of medical care cannot safely wait. Stroke and heart attack are two time- sensitive illnesses that require urgent attention – even during a pandemic. A delay in care for these conditions risks irreparable damage and often death. Patients and/or their families should imme- diately call 911 when experiencing these symp- toms. It could save a life. Stroke Symptoms: Sudden loss of balance and/ or eyesight, facial weakness or numbness, arm/ leg weakness or numbness, clumsiness, speech disturbance, or terrible headache Heart Attack Symptoms: Increasing chest pain or aching sensation in your chest or arms, short- ness of breath, nausea/indigestion/heartburn, cold sweat, fatigue, lightheadedness, or sudden dizziness Louisiana’s emergency services are prepared to respond to your call and our hospitals are prepared to rapidly provide the care you need, while protecting you from exposure to coronavi- rus. Every minute matters. Sheryl Martin-Schild, M.D., Medical Director of Neurology & Stroke for Touro Infirmary and New Orleans East Hospital , Louisiana Emer- gency Response Network (LERN), and Stroke Medical Director Christopher White, M.D., Chair of Medicine and Cardiology at Ochsner Medical Center Louisiana Emergency Response Network, (LERN), and STEMI Medical Director Study of Work, Lifestyle Changes Caused by COVID-19May Help Shape Public Health Policies A new study will examine how COVID-19 is affecting the health behaviors in of people world- wide, and the research could help influence local and national public health policies. Part of the study is a 15-minute online survey that includes questions about how COVID-19 has affected participants’ physical activity, diet, sleep, and well-being. With enough responses from individual cities in Louisiana, such as Baton Rouge and New Orleans, or even globally, such as New York or London, researchers could share hyper-local data with residents and policymakers. The data can be used to inform health policies and practices in those communities. “The idea for the study was really simple,” said Leanne Redman, PhD, professor and asso- ciate executive director for scientific education at LSU’s Pennington Biomedical Research Center. “As we have all become confined to our homes and neighborhoods under stay-at-home orders, our emails and social media accounts have been flooded with suggestions on how to maintain our normal habits or engage in new behaviors. The pandemic suddenly and drastically altered everything from how people work and attend school to managing stress and the time they spend looking at television, computer, and smart- phone screens, Redman said. Researchers hope to learn how those changes can be used improve our overall health. The study is designed to reach people all around the country and the globe. “We have used our social media accounts – Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and the NextDoor app – to share the survey link with family, friends and colleagues,” she said. “In the first week, the survey drew more than 3,000 responses. We hope it will reach thousands more.” LWCCAnnounces the Launch of the LWCC Foundation LWCC announced the formation of a pri- vate foundation, which will focus on the areas of health, wellness, and safety in the work- place, and its leading initiative, Louisiana Well Tim Barrett, CPA