HJBR Jul/Aug 2021

HEALTHCARE JOURNAL OF BATON ROUGE I  JUL / AUG 2021 47 For weekly eNews updates and to read the journal online, visit HealthcareJournalBR.com in fetal therapy across North America and provide the best outcomes for patients using evidence- based practices and leading-edge technologies. “Dr. Moore is committed to the health of women and infants in our state,” said Barbara Griffith, MD, president and CEO of Woman’s Hos- pital. “His expertise in caring for high-risk preg- nant women and their babies, along with his ded- ication to Woman’s and our mission, make him an exceptional choice for this role. I look forward to the impact he will have in working with our med- ical staff and in bringing Woman’s into our new future.” Moore completed a medical degree at LSUHSC- Shreveport and an internship and Ob-Gyn resi- dency at University Medical Center in Jackson, Mississippi. He then went on to complete a fellow- ship in maternal-fetal medicine at Magee Wom- en’s Hospital at University of Pittsburgh Medical Center. Baton Rouge General Nationally Recognized for Infection Rate of Zero CAUTIs Baton Rouge General is one of nine hospitals in Louisiana and one of 332 hospitals nationwide to be nationally recognized by the Centers for Medi- care & Medicaid Services for having zero catheter- associated urinary tract infections (CAUTI). A catheter-associated urinary tract infection (CAUTI) is one of the most common infections a person can contract in the hospital and can increase the length of a patient’s stay by two to four days. Indwelling catheters, which are tubes inserted into the urethra, are the cause of this infection. Ochsner Hospital for Children Enrolls Children in Pfizer Phase 2/3 Investigational Vaccine Study Against COVID-19 Ochsner Hospital for Children announced its participation as a Pfizer Inc. and BioNTech SE study site for the Phase 2/3 global study of the investigational COVID-19 vaccine. Originally introduced in late July 2020 for adult volunteers ages 18-85 and November 2020 for adolescents ages 12-17, the Pfizer Phase 2/3 trial – with U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) emergency approval – is now seeking children volunteers ages 5-11, with the goal of enrolling children as young as 6 months old in the near future. The Phase 2/3 trial will enroll a total of more than 4,000 children globally with Ochsner enrolling as as many 75 participants. Ochsner is one of two locations in Louisiana to offer the study, and their research team is currently in the selection process for the 5-11-year-old age group. “Now that the vaccine has proven to be effective in adults, it is a natural next step in the research process to study the unique needs of younger individuals. A child’s immune system is different than an adult’s immune system, so it is critically important to have a study focused on the efficacy of the vaccine in this cohort,” said Julia Garcia- Diaz, MD. The Phase 2/3 trial is designed to obtain safety, immune response and efficacy data needed for regulatory review and is looking to deter- mine whether the vaccine produces an immune response and prevents COVID-19 in children ages 6 months through 11 years old. The study is placebo-controlled, meaning 25% of the partici- pants will be randomly assigned to receive pla- cebo, while others will receive the vaccine. Partici- pants will receive two doses three weeks apart and neither the patients nor the research investigators will know what they have received. The trial will continue for 18 more months, during which both groups will undergo blood draws to track the strength and duration of their immune response and to see if they are infected with COVID-19. For this current enrollment, partic- ipants must be in the age range of 5-11 years-old at the time of enrollment, and approved guard- ian consent. Six months after the second injection, all participants will be unblinded and those who received the placebo in the Phase 2/3 portion of the study will have the opportunity to be inocu- lated with the actual vaccine. If you or someone you know are interested in participating in COVID-19 research opportunities at Ochsner, email COVIDVaccine@ochsner.org . Associates in Pediatrics &Adolescent Medicine Joins Ochsner Health Associates in Pediatrics & Adolescent Medicine is joining Ochsner Health. Joining the Ochsner Baton Rouge team are pediatricians Rodger H. Elofson, II, MD, Dana A. Fakouri, MD, Brannon C. Perilloux, MD, and Lori M. Cook, MD. Located at 8040 Goodwood Blvd. in Baton Rouge, Associates in Pediatrics & Adolescent Medicine also sees patients in their Zachary office on Wednesday mornings. “We are so excited to welcome Associates in Pediatrics & Adolescent Medicine to the Ochsner team,” stated Eric McMillen, CEO, Ochsner Baton Rouge. “They have been very successful in cre- ating an excellent practice in the Baton Rouge region.” “We see numerous benefits to partnering with Ochsner,” said Perilloux. “Their emphasis on pri- mary care and pediatrics, the physicians both OB/ Gyns and pediatricians, and the infrastructure that they have built to enhance the care of newborns, infants, and children in the Baton Rouge area is quite impressive. At the end of the day, align- ing with Ochsner was the best decision for our practice, our new and existing patients and their families.” Elofson, Fakouri, Perilloux, and Cook will retain privileges at all local hospitals to care for children across the region. Their office staff and location will not change. Our Lady of the Lake Receives Second Designation as ACC HeartCARE Center of Excellence The American College of Cardiology (ACC) has once again recognized Our Lady of the Lake Regional Medical Center as a HeartCARE Center National Distinction of Excellence making it one of only two hospitals in Louisiana with this desig- nation. This is the highest recognition given by the ACC to hospitals and health systems that meet Cliff Moore, MD