HJBR Jul/Aug 2021

44 JUL / AUG 2021  I  HEALTHCARE JOURNAL OF BATON ROUGE   Hospital Rounds and fitness programs. The clinic also offers refer- rals to bariatric surgery options. Interventional Spine and Pain Management Specialist Joins The NeuroMedical Center Team The NeuroMedical Center announced the asso- ciation of Jonathan D. Thompson, MD, in the practice of interventional spine and pain man- agement. Joining the region’s largest network of brain, spine, and nervous system experts, Thomp- son brings more than a decade of experience car- ing for the people of Louisiana and their acute and chronic pain conditions. Thompson is seeing patients in clinic in Hammond and Slidell. Thompson is trained in Neurostimulation, intra- thecal drug delivery, and radiofrequency thera- pies. He employs a multi-disciplinary approach to each patient to achieve the best physical function and quality of life. He takes pride in the time and accessibility he provides in caring for his patients. Born and raised in Louisiana, Thompson obtained a medical degree from LSU Health Sci- ences Center in New Orleans before completing a physical medicine and rehabilitation residency at LSU Health Sciences Center. Thompson fur- thered his medical training with a spine fellowship in interventional pain medicine at LSU. Thomp- son is dual board-certified in physical medicine and rehabilitation and interventional spine and pain medicine. “I am excited to join the highly respected team at The NeuroMedical Center,” said Thompson. “The NeuroMedical Center has long been rec- ognized as a pillar in the medical community and I am excited to be a part of this talented collec- tion of industry-leading neuroscience specialists.” Our Lady of the Lake Children’s Hospital Transforms the Imaging Experience for Kids The radiology department at Our Lady of the Lake Children’s Hospital is undergoing a color- ful transformation to provide patients a calming experience while having a scan completed. The idea was initiated by the hospital’s child life team after discovering how it could positively impact a child’s experience while receiving care. “As a child life specialist, I recognize that an experience for a child can change drastically just by incorporating distraction,” said Sharon Wes- berry, Our Lady of the Lake Children’s Hospital child life manager. “Our hospital is a whimsical and inviting place and we intentionally utilized a lot of the art to help patients through their experi- ence regardless of if they are staying overnight or just visiting us for the day. Transforming this expe- rience to help put kids and their families at ease is definitely one of my favorite highlights here!” With advanced equipment and methods designed especially for children, the specialized team of pediatric radiology experts at Our Lady of the Lake Children’s Hospital provide imaging ser- vices as an important part of the treatment plan. This includes CT machines that are commonly used when patients need scans of abdominal and lung areas, are experiencing headaches or may have a head or neck injury and many other condi- tions. It also includes x-ray machines that are used for things like broken bones, upper gastrointes- tinal studies, bladder and kidney issues, and bar- ium enemas. These experiences can sometimes be stressful for families and scary for children who often fear unfamiliar, noisy environments. “Our donors enthusiastically embraced the con- cept of how the colorful wraps can distract and calm our patients during procedures that can be scary or intimidating,” said Ann Marie Marmande, president, Our Lady of the Lake Foundation. After a patient checks in for radiology, they get a passport and the adventure begins. Walking into a radiology room, patients are greeted with custom Louisiana scenery and fun, friendly animal ambas- sadors. Children and their families are able to use their imaginations as a distraction from the proce- dure, and the radiology team is trained to use fun activities such as scavenger hunts and story time to help put kids at ease. At a cost of more than $300,000, these advance- ments are 100% funded through donations from local donors, physician partners, community stake- holders, and team members. “It’s amazing! The artist with Character Farms, hand sketched every design to custom fit both the room layout and each individual machine,” said Wesberry. Her team of child life specialists are experts in child development and are trained in how children respond to stressful environments and events. This exceptional team supports chil- dren and their families to help minimize stress and maximize coping using best practices to promote better outcomes. Woman’s MetabolicWeight Loss Clinic Offers Options for 2020’sWeight Gain According to a new study in JAMA Network Open, Americans gained nearly two pounds per month during 2020’s COVID-19 lockdown — that equates to a 20 pound average for many. Wom- an’s Hospital’s Metabolic Weight Loss Clinic, part of the hospital’s comprehensive weight loss pro- gram, offers individualized healthy weight options that include fitness, nutrition, and medications. Located at Woman’s Center for Wellness at the corner of Jefferson Highway and Bluebonnet, the new Woman’s Metabolic Weight Loss Clinic is led by Drake E. Bellanger, MD. Certified in obesity medicine, Bellanger works alongside a team of registered dietitians, certified health coaches, and fitness experts. The clinic offers medical weight loss solutions in a healthy lifestyle-focused setting. “Weight loss is not a one size fits all, so Wom- an’s is dedicated to helping our patients find the best individualized weight loss option utilizing the latest innovations in fitness, nutrition, medicine and surgery,” Bellanger said. “This location places patients in a setting that holds them accountable and supported throughout their entire journey and into weight loss maintenance.” Bellanger brings 25 years of experience in weight loss surgery and medicine and is board- certified in obesity medicine. Woman’s Metabolic Weight Loss Clinic offers physician-guided weight loss that includes lab tests to determine what medications may be appropriate and incorporates lifestyle interven- tions like nutrition counseling, medication therapy, Jonathan D. Thompson, MD