HJBR Jan/Feb 2020

HEALTHCARE JOURNAL OF BATON ROUGE I  JAN / FEB 2020 65 For weekly eNews updates and to read the journal online, visit HealthcareJournalBR.com pursuit of excellence. Whether it be through inter- disciplinary collaboration, team-based learning, a focus on every patient encounter or deploying best-practices, we never stop improving and inno- vating on behalf of the communities we serve.” The Leapfrog Group is a national nonprofit orga- nization committed to improving health care qual- ity and safety for consumers and purchasers. The Safety Grade assigns an A, B, C, D or F grade to hospitals across the country based on their per- formance in preventing medical errors, injuries, accidents, infections, and other harms to patients in their care. As part of its culture of safety, Our Lady of the Lake conducts daily interdisciplinary team hud- dles and weekly patient safety rounds that engage front line team members, physicians, and res- idents in quality and patient safety focused ini- tiatives. Patients and families are also involved through Patient and Family Advisory Councils where they provide feedback, partnership, and insight from their unique perspective. “We are pleased with this award and the asso- ciated recognition for the work currently being done, but our journey continues to focus on a supportive and blame-free environment that wel- comes every person to identify and contribute to patient safety,” said Chris Thomas, MD, Our Lady of the Lake Medical director of quality and patient safety. “Our top priority will always be excellent safe care for our patients.” Baton Rouge General Receives Another A for Patient Safety Baton Rouge General (BRG) again received an A for patient safety from the Leapfrog Group. Only 16 hospitals in Louisiana and two in East Baton Rouge Parish received an A rating in the fall report. This is the eighth year in a row for Baton Rouge General to receive an A from the Leap- frog Group. “Everyone at Baton Rouge General is obsessed with patient safety and zero harm,” said Edgardo Tenreiro, BRG’s CEO. “Another A from Leapfrog validates the tireless work on the part of more than 4,000 team members, from housekeepers and maintenance mechanics to physicians and nurses. Everyone plays an important safety role, and everyone is focused on the patient.” Leapfrog Group’s Hospital Safety Grades pro- gram reviews the outcomes and processes of more than 2,600 facilities across the country and generates a report card for each, with an A, B, C, D, or F letter grade, indicating the hospital’s overall performance in keeping patients safe from preventable harm and medical errors. Mary Bird Perkins, Gonzales Area Foundation Celebrate LiveWell Ascension Event More than 200 Ascension Parish residents took proactive measures to protect their health recently by participating in Mary Bird Perkins Cancer Cen- ter’s Live Well Ascension event at Jambalaya Park in Gonzales. In conjunction with the Gonza- les Area Foundation, for the third year in a row, screenings for five different types of cancer and other health screenings were available to attend- ees, free of charge, at the event. “The partnership between the Cancer Center and the Gonzales Area Foundation is critical to the success of Live Well Ascension,” said Johnnay Benjamin, director of early detection and educa- tion, Mary Bird Perkins. “Events of this magnitude require many resources. Everyone involved in the Foundation went above and beyond to make sure we reached as many people as possible, offer- ing comprehensive prevention and early detec- tion services in a fun, family-friendly environment.” Live Well cancer screenings included breast, prostate, skin, colorectal, and oral cavity, along with blood pressure and glucose checks. Partici- pants who received an abnormal finding are being assisted by a patient navigator to ensure neces- sary follow-up care is promptly provided. “The Gonzales Area Foundation is honored to help provide potentially life-saving services to the residents of Ascension Parish,” said DeEtte DeAr- mond, a founding member of the Gonzales Area Foundation. “The partnership with Mary Bird Per- kins is a great fit because we both feel strongly about ensuring area residents have access to the highest level of cancer care services. We thank the community for its support and we look forward to bringing Live Well Ascension to our friends, neigh- bors, and loved ones for years to come.” In addition to the health aspects of the event, Live Well Ascension included activities for the whole family at no cost. A highlight of this year’s event was Head Coach Nikki Fargas and the LSU Women’s Basketball team attendance and the ladies signing autographs, dancing with attend- ees, and playing with children. n MARY BIRD PERKINS LIVE WELL GROUP Pictured left to right: Darla Rye, Renea Duffin, DeEtte DeArmond, Mayor Barney Arceneaux, Johnnay Benjamin, Wendy Daigle and Melanie Boudreaux.