HJBR Jan/Feb 2020

HEALTHCARE JOURNAL OF BATON ROUGE I  JAN / FEB 2020 43 For weekly eNews updates and to read the journal online, visit HealthcareJournalBR.com Hepatitis C screening recommendations The Louisiana Department of Health recom- mends that every Louisianan be screened at least once in their lifetime, and perhaps more if they are at higher risk for the infection. In addition, the CDC offers these guidelines for hepatitis C screening: • Were born from 1945 – 1965 • Received donated blood or organs before 1992 • Have ever injected drugs, even if it was just once or many years ago • Have certain medical conditions, such as chronic liver disease and HIV or AIDS • Have abnormal liver tests or liver disease • Have been exposed to blood from a person who has hepatitis C • Are on hemodialysis • Are born to a mother with hepatitis C Walmart screening locations Free hepatitis C screenings are available in the pharmacies of the following stores: • Caddo Walmart: 929 S. Pine St.,Vivian • Evangeline Walmart: 891 E. LaSalle St., Ville Platte • Iberia Walmart: 1205 E. Admiral Doyle Dr., New Iberia • Lafourche Walmart: 4858 HIGHWAY 1, Raceland • West Carroll Walmart: 705 S. Constitution Ave., Oak Grove • Tangipahoa Walmart: 1200 W. Oak St., Amite • Ouachita Walmart: 1840 McKeen Place, Monroe • Livingston Walmart: 34025 LA HIGHWAY 16, Denham Springs • St. Landry Walmart: 2310 S. Union Street, Opelousas • St. Mary Walmart: 1002 LA HWY 70, Morgan City.  BRG School of Nursing Graduates 38 NewNurses  Thirty-eight new nurses recently graduated from Baton Rouge General’s School of Nurs- ing (SON), joining the more than 1,000 talented nurses who have completed BRG’s program since 1984. The graduates received their diplomas after two years of general education, detailed nursing courses, and hands-on experience with sea- soned practitioners. After receiving their diplo- mas, graduates take the registered nurse license exam (NCLEX-RN) to be licensed by the Louisi- ana State Board of Nursing (LSBN). “Our graduates are well prepared to deliver excellent patient care, which often means caring for patients at their most vulnerable moments,” said SON Director Linda Markey, PhD, MSN, RN. “Nursing requires outstanding charac- ter, dedication, and oftentimes sacrifice, and we are very proud to have these new nurses answer the call to serve the community.” During the ceremony, a number of honors were presented to students: • Garnie Belvin Eggars Award: Jacob Oubre • Award for Scholastic Achievement: Abby Hudson • Excellence in Medical-Surgical Nursing I: Mon- ica Doiga • Excellence in Medical-Surgical Nursing II: Allie Kapera • Excellence in Maternal-Child Nursing: Amber Collins • Excellence in Mental Health Nursing: Jennifer Hodges • Excellence in High Acuity Nursing: Lindsey Davis • Florence Nightingale Award: Monique Cole • Award for Student Excellence: Kalleigh Flucke  Most of BRG’s new graduates begin their careers at Baton Rouge General in telemetry, oncology, and on medical and surgical units. After entering nursing, many graduates have gone on to earn bachelors, masters, and doc- torate degrees, and many work in management or leadership positions, or as nurse practitioners and educators. Frequently recognized by the LSBN for its 100% first-time pass rate on the NCLEX-RN, the BRG School of Nursing has maintained an over- all pass rate above 95% throughout its 35-year history. The class, pictured to left to right, is back row, Devynn Reeves, Monica Doiga, Staci Angeletti, Nydia Johnson, Jennifer Hodges, Kane Loupe, Vance Lapeyrolerie, Kalleigh Flucke, Marlyn Voiselle, Shelby McManus, Shayla Grayer, Amelia Holden, Elizabeth Buhler, and Jessica Lee; mid- dle row, Allie Kapera, Jhena Boudreaux, Lindsey Davis, Kayla Thompson, Ebony LaMott, Ashley Dupree, Jacob Oubre, Monique Cole, Jeanesse Hilario, Abby Gogarty, Amber Collins, Madison Richardson, Brittney Savoy, and Kayla Ander- son; and front row, Shea Guidroz-Landry, Brooke Piper, Brooke Chidester, Sarah Patty, Tamekka Grant, Abby Hudson, Claudia Arceneaux, Sarah Sheets, Michelle Bond, and Gabrielle Hurdle. Louisiana Department of Health, Walmart Collaborate to Offer Free Hepatitis C Screenings The Louisiana Department of Health (LDH) announced a new collaboration with Walmart to advance the state’s goal of eliminating hep- atitis C in Louisiana by 2024. LDH and Walmart will work together to implement a pilot pro- gram in 10 Walmart stores to offer free hepatitis C screenings at the pharmacy for people who are at risk, along with in-store education and aware- ness. The free screenings are offered from 2 – 6 p.m. each Wednesday in-store until Feb. 1, 2020. The screening consists of a finger stick test, conducted in a private space within the Walmart pharmacy, that can detect the presence of hep- atitis C virus (HCV) antibodies, indicating previ- ous or current exposure to the virus.  If someone has a reactive test, the individual will be referred to their primary care provider, or a local provider if the patient does not have a primary care pro- vider, for additional screening and treatment if appropriate. Individuals will be referred to providers who accept private and public insurance, as well those who treat the uninsured. Individuals will also be provided information about hepatitis C and its effects on the liver, as well as referred to HepCuredLA.org for additional resources. Dr. Rebekah Gee, secretary of the Louisiana Department of Health, said Walmart is provid- ing leadership that will help the State meet its ambitious goals of population-level screening and hepatitis C elimination. “By partnering with Walmart, we are trying to make it as easy as possible for people to get screened for this virus and then get treated,” she explained. “We also recently announced a part- nership with Asegua Therapeutics that makes the medicine to cure hepatitis C widely available to the State without increasing our costs.”