HJBR Mar-Apr 2019

56 MAR / APR 2019  I  Healthcare Journal of Baton Rouge   Hospital Rounds According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor, in 2017, approximately 3.6 percent of hourly workers in Louisiana—nearly 40,000 people—earned at or below the federal minimum wage of $7.25 per hour. In 2017, Ochsner conducted a compre- hensive environmental assessment of employee needs, which included data from the larger Louisiana landscape and direct input from its stakeholders. “People are our most important asset. As the largest private employer in Louisiana, we under- stand our responsibility to be a great place to work for those who have chosen careers at Och- sner,” said Warner Thomas, CEO and president, Ochsner Health System. “Although Ochsner was already well above the current Louisiana mini- mum wage, we wanted to do more. We are com- mitted to growing jobs and to offering new and innovative programs that provide financial well- ness, workforce development, and lifelong learn- ing opportunities to our own team and to those who want to join us.” “Over the last five years, we’ve seen the organi- zation grow tremendously to support the health- care needs of local communities and patients across the Gulf South. It is important to improve the overall financial wellbeing of our employees, and the board is proud to support this initiative,” said Andy Wisdom, board chairman, Ochsner Health System. Cardiovascular Institute of the South Treats PAD fromWrist Interventional cardiologists at Cardiovascular Institute of the South are performing radial-to- peripheral interventional procedures for the treat- ment of peripheral arterial disease (PAD). Runnels Fourth GraderWins Ochsner Holiday Card Contest Kendall Eastman-Stuart, a fourth grader at Run- nels Elementary, was in the school’s drama room watching a play with her class when her name was called by Runnels’ elementary assistant prin- cipal, Beth Golden. It might have been an “uh- oh” moment, but instead, Kendall was called to the stage to receive an award. Kendall was named the overall grand-prize win- ner of the 2018 Ochsner Holiday Card Contest. As a result of her win, her mixed media drawing of a Christmas tree in soft pastel colors appeared on the official Ochsner Baton Rouge holiday card and poster. At Runnels School to present Kendall with her award were Ochsner Baton Rouge CEO Eric McMillen, Community Outreach Project Manager Heidi Howat Wendt, and Ollie the Ochsner mas- cot. They presented her with a framed poster of the card with her name and school printed on the front, a cookie cake to share with her classmates, an Ollie stuffed animal, and a drawing kit to fur- ther encourage her interest in art. “I look forward to this fun event every year,” said McMillen. “The kids are really excited to see Ollie and this shows Ochsner’s commitment to our community. Kendall is a terrific young artist and we are proud to display her work.” Also, at school for the presentation were Kend- all’s dad, John Eastman-Stuart, her grandmother, Georgia Eastman, and her art teacher, Burgundy Brumfield.  “Our students always enjoy participating in the contest sponsored by Ochsner,” said Runnels Head of School Marcia Mackay. “We are thrilled that this year Kendall’s card was chosen as the overall winner. I know it meant a great deal to her and her family this holiday season.” Stan Shelton named SVP/ Chief Strategy Officer of Woman’s Hospital Stan Shelton has been named senior vice pres- ident/chief strategy officer of Woman’s Hospital. In his role, Shelton will lead strategy development and execution at Woman’s. His responsibilities also include assessment of the competitive land- scape for business opportunities and implemen- tation of the master campus plan. Shelton joined Woman’s in August of 1989 as director of human resources and was successively promoted to senior vice president of planning, development, and construction in March 2007. He was responsible for the replacement hospital project and currently oversees strategic campus development, as well as facilities management. Other major projects completed under his leader- ship include developing a comprehensive cancer center for women in partnership with Mary Bird Perkins-Our Lady of the Lake Cancer Center, and the subsequent design and construction of the Breast and GYN Cancer Pavilion; the negotiation of the agreement for BASIS to operate a char- ter school on Woman’s campus; and the develop- ment of Materra, Woman’s mixed use real estate project. Shelton received an undergraduate degree in business administration from LSU in 1980 and a Master of Science in Organization Development from Pepperdine University in 1996. He is a 2005 graduate of Leadership of Greater Baton Rouge and a 2014 graduate of Louisiana Leadership. He currently serves on the board of BASIS Baton Rouge and previously served on the boards of Health Care Centers in Schools, Family Services of Greater Baton Rouge, and the Westminster/ Pine Park Civic Association. Ochsner Health System to Boost MinimumWage Rate by 48 Percent Ochsner Health System announced a minimum wage increase from $8.10 per hour to $12 per hour, which has been effective since January 20, 2019. This initiative will increase overall annual pay to more than 1,200 employees across the health system. Stan Shelton Satish Gadi, MD