HJBR Jul/Aug 2019

Healthcare Journal of Baton Rouge I  JUL / AUG 2019 57 For weekly eNews updates and to read the journal online, visit HealthcareJournalBR.com great recognition for the important work we do, but safe patients are our top priority."  Our Lady of the Lake joins St. Francis Medical Center and Our Lady of Lourdes Regional Medi- cal Center, all part of the Franciscan Missionaries of Our Lady Health System, in being recognized with a Leapfrog “A” for patient safety. Ochsner Baton Rouge Celebrates 1,000thPatient Enrolled in Digital HealthMonitoring During the week of April 1, Ochsner Baton Rouge enrolled its 1,000th patient into one of Ochsner’s digital health monitoring programs. Ochsner’s digital programs put smart technology in the hands of patients, providing medical teams with real-time data to deliver more responsive, effective, and convenient care. Due to new technology, innovationOchsner (iO), Ochsner’s innovation lab, creates solutions, such as the digital health monitoring programs, that help patients take greater control of their health. Programs currently available in the Baton Rouge area include Hypertension Digital Medicine (for patients with high blood pressure), Diabetes Dig- ital Medicine (for patients with type 2 diabetes) and Connected MOM (Maternity Online Monitor- ing) for expectant mothers. Using wireless devices, such as digital blood pressure cuffs, scales and glucose monitors, participants take readings from anywhere at any time, at home, at work, or on-the- go. These readings are transmitted in real-time directly to the patient’s Ochsner electronic medi- cal record for their dedicated care team to review. The team uses the data from the readings to pro- vide each patient with ongoing individualized life- style recommendations and medication adjust- ments, as needed, over the phone. Each month, patients receive a report that shares their progress towards their personal health goals. Ochsner’s O Bar technology specialists will assist each patient, for free, with the complete techni- cal setup and training on the devices. In addition, O Bar technology specialists and phone techni- cal support specialists are available on an ongo- ing basis to troubleshoot the devices, as needed. In Baton Rouge, Ochsner has two O Bar locations: inside Ochsner Health Center – O’Neal (16777 Medical Center Dr.) and Ochsner Medical Com- plex – High Grove (10310 The Grove Blvd.). "The use of technology to engage patients in their own well-being will be a significant part of healthcare in the future,” stated Richard Milani, MD, medical director of innovationOchsner and Ochsner’s chief clinical transformation officer. “Collecting data from patients’ daily lives gives us a more comprehensive picture of patient health and information to guide prevention recommen- dations and care and engages patients as active members of the healthcare team." A study of the Ochsner Digital Medicine pro- gram published in the American Journal of Med- icine (AJM) showed that after 90 days in the Dig- ital Medicine program, 71 percent of patients achieved blood pressure control compared with 31 percent of usual-care patients. Furthermore, excess sodium consumption decreased, and patient engagement increased in the Digital Med- icine group. These important changes in patient health and behaviors will lead to less strokes and heart attacks in the future. “These digital health monitoring programs are unique to Ochsner,” stated Eric McMillen, CEO, Ochsner Baton Rouge. “This technology allows our patients to take a more active role in the management of their health. Our physicians have these programs at their disposal to enroll patients who they think will benefit most from being part of the monitoring. I commend Tiffany Davis, MD, and Lee Montgomery, MD, as our physician cham- pions in Baton Rouge.” “My patients love it,” said Montgomery. “They are amazed at the level of care they receive, all from the comforts of their home. We are seeing better health outcomes, with fewer trips to the doctor.” Brad Reed, a patient of Davis, had trouble con- trolling his blood pressure even with the help of increased doses of fosinopril. “Being in the pro- gram has helped significantly,” said Reed. “Hav- ing a health coach and seeing your readings first- hand makes you accountable. My blood pressure is better, my medication dosage was cut in half, and taking my blood pressure at the kitchen table is better than having it done at the doctor’s office any day!” BRGNames Arts Council, Front Yard Bikes 2019 GrantWinners Baton Rouge General (BRG) announced that the winners of its 2019 Community Enhancement Award are the Arts Council of Greater Baton Rouge and Front Yard Bikes. Each organization will receive $25,000 per year, for three years. BRG’s Community Enhancement Award (CEA) supports organizations that positively impact the Baton Rouge community by addressing social determinants of health. The grant program started in 2018 when BRG selected HOPE Min- istries’ The Way to Work program. This year, the committee chose to split the grant between two recipients. “I’m a big fan of the work Front Yard Bikes is doing to train young people for long-term careers, and I also love how the Arts Council is promoting heart health with trails throughout the city,” said Edgardo Tenreiro, president and CEO of BRG. “Ultimately, we couldn’t choose between the two and decided to support them both.” Front Yard Bikes was selected for its youth devel- opment program in partnership with Cristo Rey Baton Rouge. “With workforce training, we can combat unemployment and incarceration rates, especially in a community with limited resources,” said Dustin LaFont, founder of Front Yard Bikes. BRG’s investment will support high school equivalency testing and job training for hundreds of young people between 14 and 22. The grant will fund apprentice training for four Cristo Rey students who will then assist instructors in certi- fying other young people in mechanics or weld- ing.  Both fields are in high demand in the Baton Rouge region. “Many young people in Baton Rouge encoun- ter enormous challenges to finish high school and then after high school graduation, to gain employment,” said Tenreiro. “We are proud to support Front Yard Bikes where these young people have the opportunity to learn a skill, the value of work, and a sense of self-worth and own- ership, giving them an incentive to earn their high school diploma and the skills to be meaningfully employed.” The Arts Council of Greater Baton Rouge was selected for its heART trails project, which will use existing infrastructure to develop heart-shaped walking trails throughout Baton Rouge. The trails use temporary art installations for way-finding and to celebrate local “Trailblazers.” BRG’s investment will allow for the design and installation of three