HJBR Mar-Apr 2019

36 MAR / APR 2019  I  Healthcare Journal of baton rouge   Healthcare Briefs She graduated summa cum laude from the Uni- versity of the Virgin Islands with a Bachelor of Sci- ence in Biology. She also served honorably as a commissioned officer in the United States Navy for five years. Ward completed a residency in internal medicine at Yale University, where she also completed fellowships in general cardiology, advanced heart failure/heart transplant, periph- eral vascular, and interventional cardiology. Ward is board-certified in internal medicine, cardiovascular disease, vascular medicine, endo- vascular medicine, and interventional cardiology. She is a member of the American Heart Associ- ation, the American College of Cardiology, and the Society for Cardiovascular Angiography and Interventions. Baton Rouge General’s Express Care Offers Hydration Therapy Hydration therapy, a popular wellness treat- ment for headaches, nausea, hangovers, dehy- dration, and athletic recovery, is now available at the hydration therapy lounge inside Baton Rouge General’s Express Care location on High- land Road, near LSU’s south gates. The treat- ments rapidly replenish fluids, electrolytes, and vitamins through an IV. “Studies show that IV therapy can help boost hydration and vitamin levels more rapidly than drinking or eating at home,” said Bonnie Smith, nurse practitioner at BRG Express Care. “That means people feel better faster and are able to get back to their normal lives sooner.” Patients can schedule an appointment online or just walk in. Five “cocktails” are currently available, each including a special combina- tion of fluids, medicine, electrolytes, and vita- mins, depending on a patient’s specific wants and needs. BRG’s experienced clinical staff will screen patients to help determine which hydra- tion therapy treatment is ideal. A small IV is then inserted in the patient’s arm so the fluids can be delivered directly into the bloodstream for imme- diate hydration. The full effect kicks in within a few hours post-treatment. During the 30-45 minute treatment, patients will relax in the private hydration lounge with free Wi-Fi, Amazon Alexa, a flat screen TV with access to Netflix, and a PlayStation. Hydration therapy is available for those over Louisiana Healthcare Connections Announces $2.9MNIHGrant for Type 2 Diabetes Study Louisiana Healthcare Connections announced the award of a five-year, $2.9 million grant to study the impact of unmet basic needs on the health outcomes of members with Type 2 dia- betes. Louisiana Gov. John Bel Edwards joined Louisiana Healthcare Connections CEO and Plan President Jamie Schlottman and Washington University Associate Professor Amy McQueen, PhD—co-principal investigator—to announce the award in Baton Rouge. Washington University in St. Louis was awarded the grant by the National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Disease (NIDDK) and will conduct the research in collaboration with the Envolve Center for Health Behavior Change and Louisiana Health- care Connections. The Envolve Center for Health Behavior Change is a cross-sector community-industry-academic healthcare partnership that advances health solu- tions to improve lives so that communities can thrive. Investigators will use observational meth- ods and data analysis to examine the type and number of basic needs experienced by Med- icaid members and how unmet needs impact health outcomes and healthcare utilization over time. Based on an initial pilot study that indi- cated a relationship between unmet basic needs and poor self-management skills required for healthy behaviors, the study will include a ran- domized trial of 500 Louisiana Healthcare Con- nections members with Type 2 diabetes to test the effectiveness and cost-effectiveness of pro- viding basic needs navigation as compared with standard care. Gov. Edwards said, “The impact of research funding represents a return on investment that improves health, saves lives, and drives growth. Thanks to Medicaid expansion, which I adopted immediately upon taking office, more people have healthcare coverage and are able to see a primary doctor, many for the first time. Dia- betes is a significant problem in our state, but as a result of expansion, nearly 11,000 Louisian- ans have been newly diagnosed and are receiv- ing treatment. This is exciting, and the more we learn about this disease, the more people we can help. I’m grateful for this opportunity and look- ing forward to the improved health outcomes for our people.” In her remarks, McQueen said that the adverse effects of unmet basic needs on health are clear. “We need effective, sustainable solutions that will improve people’s lives and their health. This study takes an important step toward meeting that goal.” “Insights gleaned from research on the impact of unmet basic needs in our diabetic popula- tion will give us a greater understanding of our members’ challenges and provide us with valu- able data with which to develop innovative approaches to improving health in Louisiana,” said Schlottman. CISWelcomes Dr. Charisse Ward to Baton Rouge Cardiovascular Institute of the South (CIS) wel- comes Dr. Charisse Ward, interventional cardiol- ogist, to its team at the CIS Baton Rouge clinic located at 8401 Picardy Avenue. Ward specializes in the diagnosis and preven- tion of cardiac and peripheral vascular disease. She has a focus on women’s health and the dis- parities in cardiovascular disease between men and women. Ward previously worked as an assistant profes- sor of interventional cardiology at Tulane Univer- sity School of Medicine in New Orleans, where she focused on complex coronary revascular- ization and the treatment of peripheral vascu- lar disease. She earned a doctorate from Boston University in Massachusetts and holds a Master of Public Health from Emory University in Atlanta, Georgia. Charisse Ward, MD