HJBR Mar/Apr 2020

46 MAR / APR 2020  I  HEALTHCARE JOURNAL OF BATON ROUGE   Hospital Rounds contact Mayo Clinic specialists for second opin- ions on specific patient cases when they believe additional input will benefit their patients. • eBoards: Live video conferences enable BRG and the Clinic medical teams to review and dis- cuss complex cases with a Mayo Clinic multi- disciplinary panel and other doctors within the Mayo Clinic Care Network. • Healthcare Consulting: As a member of the Mayo Clinic Care Network, physicians can access Mayo’s extensive experience, knowl- edge, and subspecialty expertise to attain clini- cal, operational, and business goals. • Staff from BRG and the Clinic also can use patient education materials and access oppor- tunities for professional development and con- tinuous medical education. “When our four founding physicians started The Baton Rouge Clinic in 1946 they understood the value of physicians working together to improve patient care. And today, we continue to build upon that belief as we join the Mayo Clinic Care Network with Baton Rouge General,” says Ed Sil- vey, CEO of The Baton Rouge Clinic. “Our rela- tionship with Mayo Clinic gives our physicians access to Mayo Clinic research and resources – to treat patients close to home.” The hospital system was vetted together with Baton Rouge Clinic as part of the Mayo Clinic Care Network’s comprehensive evaluation pro- cess. This included on-site visits and an in-depth review of the organizations’ governance structure, clinical practice, and business practices, as well as its quality, safety, and service efforts. “We are pleased to welcome Baton Rouge Gen- eral and the Baton Rouge Clinic to the network,” said Dr. Ryan Uitti, medical director of the Mayo Clinic Care Network’s Southeast Region. “Both healthcare organizations have a long history of improving the health and well-being of the com- munity through dedicated, high-quality care. We look forward to working with Baton Rouge General and Baton Rouge Clinic, collaborating to complement specialty expertise and enhance locally provided care.” Mayo Clinic launched the Mayo Clinic Care Net- work in 2011. It has more than 40 member orga- nizations across the U.S. and in Asia, Mexico, and the Middle East. Mary Bird Perkins-Our Lady of the Lake Cancer Center Earns National Accreditation for Rectal Cancer Care As colorectal cancer rates across the country continue to rise, especially in people 50-years- old and under, Mary Bird Perkins – Our Lady of the Lake Cancer Center is enhancing its ability to provide a higher standard of care for those throughout the Gulf South diagnosed with this disease. The Cancer Center has announced that it has earned a three-year accreditation from the National Accreditation Program for Rectal Cancer (NAPRC), a quality program of the American Col- lege of Surgeons Commission on Cancer. “A team approach is the most effective way to diagnose and treat rectal cancer,” said Kelly Finan, MD, a colorectal cancer surgeon with Our Lady of the Lake Physician Group and chair of the rec- tal multidisciplinary team at Mary Bird Perkins – Our Lady of the Lake Cancer Center. “Through this NAPRC accreditation process, as a specialized team of doctors, we have made the commitment to review each and every patient before treatment begins to make sure we are providing the most comprehensive, effective care plan. It really allows us to offer the most individualized treatments and advances our rectal cancer treatment practices and protocols at every level.” Linda Lee, vice president of the Cancer Center, said that in order to achieve NAPRC accreditation, the multidisciplinary teammust include surgeons, medical and radiation oncologists, pathologists, radiologists, and other specialists. Genetic coun- seling is also a part of the process, especially if a patient has a family history of colorectal cancer. “Being one of only 15 cancer centers in the country to date to have received this recognition shows the level of dedication and talent that exists within the organization,” said Lee. “It’s a power- ful resource when you have brilliant cancer minds representing a plethora of specialties reviewing every aspect of a patient’s care; it truly sets the standard for a higher level of clinical expertise, which translates to better chances for a cure. As the only cancer center in Baton Rouge and Lou- isiana to achieve this accreditation, we are truly excited to be able to offer this exemplary care close to home.” To achieve NAPRC accreditation, a rectal cancer center demonstrates compliance with the NAPRC standards that emphasize programmanagement, clinical services, and quality improvement. Rectal centers seeking accreditation must be accredited by the Commission on Cancer and undergo a site visit every three years. The U.S. News and World Report   in 2019 ranked the Cancer Center’s colorectal surgery program as a high-performing site, based on a number of key quality indicators. Baton Rouge General Foundation Completes $10 Million RISE Campaign The Baton Rouge General Foundation announced that it has completed its RISE cam- paign, raising $10 million for the hospital and its patients. The public campaign launched last May. “We are very proud that not only did we meet this goal, we exceeded it,” said Erik Showalter, president of the Baton Rouge General Founda- tion. “Support from the RISE campaign means we can begin construction on the new Regional Burn Center, enhance our equipment and elevate the level of care provided to every patient who walks through our doors.” The campaign raised support in four areas of focus – the Regional Burn Center, Pennington Cancer Center, a new neighborhood hospital in Ascension Parish, and the Center for Health, which will include a new outpatient surgery center. The Foundation chose the name RISE for this cam- paign because it helps articulate the backbone of Baton Rouge General’s mission. In the early 1900s, when a train derailment downtown required an unprecedented level of response, Dr. T.P. Single- tary was there to “rise to the occasion,” and out of that emergency, Baton Rouge General was born. “RISE is more than a tagline, it’s a mantra for us and has been for more than 100 years,” said Show- alter. “This campaign has been that next step in our call to rise to the occasion and meet the ever- changing healthcare needs of our community.” Co-chaired by Robert Schneckenburger and Annette Barton, the RISE campaign garnered sup- port from hundreds of people across the com- munity including individuals, foundations, and corporations. “This was a true community effort in support of Baton Rouge General,” said Schneckenburger.