HJBR Jul/Aug 2021

HEALTHCARE JOURNAL OF BATON ROUGE I  JUL / AUG 2021 27 For weekly eNews updates and to read the journal online, visit HealthcareJournalBR.com also accounts for approximately 7,200 deaths in our state every year, according to the Louisiana Department of Health and Hospitals. Our 21.9% adult smoking rate contributes significantly to our state’s continually, dismal health status, which costs the state $1.89 billion dollars annu- ally in healthcare expenditures and $2.49 billion in lost productivity. Many smokers report that they want to quit, but this task has proven to be harder among minority communities. According to recent data, 55.6% of American Indians/Alaska Natives report that they want to quit. This rate is low compared to 72.8% of African Americans, 67.5% of whites, 69.6% of Asians, and 67.4% of Hispanics who want to quit. With one year left to this free cessation program, the Smoking Cessation Trust strongly encourages Louisiana’s minority populations and all eligible smokers who started smoking cigarettes by Sept. 1, 1988, to take full advantage of the free prod- ucts and services the Trust provides. The Smoking Cessation Trust, in addition to its work with numerous statewide health providers, has registered more than 114,000 eligible Loui- siana smokers with the message that quitting is one of the best things they can do for their health, their families, and their finances. For more information or to apply for the free products and services provided by the Trust, visit www.smokefreela.org ; call locally toll-free at 855-259-6346. Can theWWProgramHelp People with Type 2 Diabetes? Can the WW (formerly known as Weight Watch- ers) program help people with type 2 diabetes control their blood sugar? Scientists at Pennington Biomedical Research Center expect the six-month Vital research study to help answer the question. “Successfully managing type 2 diabetes requires building healthy habits, such as following a healthy diet and working a little physical activ- ity into your daily routine,” said John Apolzan, MD, director of the clinical nutrition and metab- olism laboratory and principal investigator. “Our study will evaluate a new WW program for indi- viduals with type 2 diabetes, which includes a per- sonalized food plan and an app to help people stay on track.” “Diabetes, if left unchecked, can lead to a num- ber of other health issues, including heart dis- ease and kidney disease,” Pennington Biomedi- cal Executive Director John Kirwan said. “Finding solutions that help our residents live healthier lives by better managing chronic conditions like type 2 diabetes is one of the research center’s highest priorities.” Pennington Biomedical plans to recruit at least 50 people between the ages of 18 and 70 who have been diagnosed with type 2 diabetes and who are overweight or have obesity (a BMI of 27-50). Participants will need to have access to an iPhone with internet access. If they qualify for the study, volunteers will receive six months of access to the WW pro- gram, with weekly virtual workshops led by a WW coach. The workshops last 30 to 60 minutes and cover a new topic each week related to build- ing healthy habits, the skills to support behavior change, check-ins to discuss the previous week, and a group discussion. To qualify for the Vital study, send an email to clinicaltrials@pbrc.edu . Cancer Services Names Nancy Gosserand NewDirector Nancy Gosserand has been named the direc- tor of Cancer Services. Formerly clinical prac- tice manager, Medical Oncology, LLC, located within Mary Bird Perkins – Our Lady of the Lake Cancer Center, Gosserand is now responsible for the oversight of Cancer Services’ day-to-day operations. “Nancy’s ability to practice servant leadership, as well as display a broad range of knowledge across all organizational aspects has always been a hallmark of her career,” said Camille Conaway, board of managers member, Cancer Services. “The organization is thrilled to welcome her aboard our team, as we know she will represent the organization with dedication and passion, always putting our clients first.” Gosserand spearheaded the first customer ser- vice survey and training video for Our Lady of the Lake Physician Group, was responsible for the start-up of various clinics, accepted the role of the first hospital-based clinic manager, and was oper- ations director of eight surgical clinics. Employed by Our Lady of the Lake Physician group for more than 21 years, Gosserand was the 2017 recipient of the Customer Service Award by the Head and Neck Center, and she was the 2005 and 2010 recipient of the Spirit Award for employee satisfaction. A native of Biloxi, Mississippi, Gosserand attended University of Southwestern Louisiana. Water Access Bill Passes House Education Committee The Louisiana House Education Commit- tee passed a bill that would require newly con- structed public school buildings and those undergoing major renovations to be equipped with water bottle filling stations. House Bill 132, sponsored by Rep. Vincent J. Pierre (D-Lafayette), passed favorably as amended and now heads to the full House for further consideration. The American Heart Association says the policy would help improve access to free, clean drinking water in schools. In addition to supporting healthy bodies, water positively impacts children’s cog- nitive performance, particularly their short-term memory. Water bottle filling stations in schools can nearly triple how much water students drink at lunch time. “Long before the pandemic, systemic chal- lenges have contributed to disparities that impede some people from living long, healthy lives,” says Ashley Hebert, Louisiana government relations director for the American Heart Associ- ation. “COVID-19 has highlighted the inequities many Louisianans face on a daily basis. All chil- dren, no matter where they live or what grade they are in, deserve to go to a school that pro- vides clean drinking water at no cost. We hope Nancy Gosserand