HJBR Nov/Dec 2020

62 NOV / DEC 2020  I  HEALTHCARE JOURNAL OF BATON ROUGE   Hospital Rounds including surgical care, post-operative care, outpa- tient follow-up care, and patient education. BRG’s weight management and weight loss options include non-surgical, medically supervised nutrition counseling, and weight loss programs in addition to bariatric surgery. Ochsner Baton Rouge Named LSNA-LNF 2020 Hospital of the Year Ochsner Medical Center – Baton Rouge has been named the 2020 Hospital of the Year (Medium) by Louisiana State Nurses Association (LSNA) and Louisiana Nurse Foundation (LNF). This award recognizes a hospital that demon- strates recognition of professional nursing and innovation in leadership, within the past year, in the described licensed bed categories. “We are humbled to be named 2020 Hospital of the Year,” said Eric McMillen, chief executive offi- cer, Ochsner Baton Rouge. “2020 may be the most challenging year of our lives, but I’m proud of the way our team has stepped up.” Award criteria included: 1. Innovation through nursing leadership and management within the hospital, 2. Specific examples of organizational initiatives supportive of nursing practice, 3. Evidence of RN decision making and partici- pation in management decisions, 4. Examples of recognition of RN achievements within the organization, and 5. Recognition of support for nursing partici- pation in professional/community nursing organizations. “Nurses are the frontline caregivers at any hos- pital and I’m extremely proud to receive this acknowledgement from LSNA,” stated Dianne Teal, chief nursing officer, Ochsner Medical Cen- ter – Baton Rouge. “We always put patients first and that is the driving force behind our quality, safety, and patient engagement.” Woman’s Hospital Participates in NICURead-A-Thon Even the smallest child can benefit from some- one reading to them, including babies born pre- maturely. As part of Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) Awareness month, Woman’s Hospi- tal joined NICUs across the country to participate in a read-a-thon from Sept. 14-24. Reading helps babies with neuro-development and is a positive experience for families providing a sense of nor- malcy of being a parent, even when their child is facing medical challenges. “Between Woman’s NICU staff and families, we logged 170 reading sessions and handed out 215 books giving families a positive experience to reflect upon during such a stressful time,” said Leigh Townsend, NICU family support navigator. Every baby also received a Born to Read onesie. Boomers &Beyond Wellness Event to Offer Free Screenings inMid City Baton Rouge General (BRG) is hosting Boomers & Beyond, a free wellness event for ages 55 and up, on Oct. 24 from 8-11 a.m. at its Mid City cam- pus. Screenings can help determine a person’s risk for heart disease, cancer, diabetes, and other issues that can impact people’s lives as they age. Many of those conditions can also affect COVID- 19 outcomes, so it’s more important than ever that people know their risk and treat any issues promptly. “Baby boomers today are a lot different than generations past, with many still working and still active physically and in the community,” said Ven- kat Banda, MD, medical director at BRGMid City. “But many of these active boomers may not real- ize that an underlying issue could be creeping up, so the first step in staying healthy is knowing where you stand.” Screenings and tests available at the event include: • Blood pressure • Cholesterol • Glucose • Heart murmur screening • Hearing test • Vision screening • Grip strength and balance assessment • COVID antibody test WellCare will also be on hand for small group discussions on Medicare Basics. All participants are required to wear masks, and the event will be set up to follow social distanc- ing guidelines. It’s free to attend, but participants should reserve a spot at brgeneral.org or call (225) 763-4695. n