HJBR May/Jun 2021

32 MAY / JUN 2021  I  HEALTHCARE JOURNAL OF BATON ROUGE   Healthcare Briefs comfort is also enhanced. During an interfacility transport, the Airvo can be used on patients who are able to breathe on their own but are at high risk for respiratory dis- tress, including those with congestive heart fail- ure (CHF), respiratory syncytial virus (RSV), pneu- monia, influenza, pulmonary viral infections or other pulmonary conditions as directed by their physicians. “We are excited to bring new technology and new devices like the Airvo to our Critical Care Transport ambulances. These ambulances are equipped with the most advanced lifesaving devices for a range of treatments, and are staffed with CCT paramedics who undergo additional training,” said Acadian Ambulance Chief Medi- cal Officer Chuck Burnell, MD. Acadian Ambulance is one of the largest ambu- lance services in the nation, offering emergency and non-emergency transportation to areas in Louisiana, Texas, Mississippi and Tennessee. They are employee-owned and accredited by the Commission on Accreditation of Ambulance Services. Local EMS Professional Recognized for 30 Years of Service Allan Lambert, an instructor with the National EMS Academy, was recently recognized by the National Registry of Emergency Medical Tech- nicians for achieving 30 consecutive years of national EMS certification. This distinction is an honor held by few EMS professionals. To maintain his status as a nationally registered EMT, Lambert completed, on a biennial basis, the most comprehensive recertification program for EMS professionals in America. Lambert was nationally registered as an EMT in 1989 and has been serving the Baton Rouge and capitol area community since 2012 as an EMS educator. Prior to this position, Lambert worked as the deputy state EMS director for the State of Louisiana. Vance Albaugh, MD, Named Assistant Professor of Metabolic Surgery Vance L. Albaugh, MD, has been named assis- tant professor of metabolic surgery at Penning- ton Biomedical Research Center. “The addition of Dr. Albaugh further strength- ens an already world-class team of physicians and researchers at Pennington Biomedical’s Bariat- ric and Metabolic Institute,” said John Kirwan, PhD, executive director of the research center. “His expertise in metabolic and bariatric surgery and his extensive experience with metabolic syn- drome, fatty liver disease, obesity, and diabetes aligns perfectly with Pennington Biomedical’s mis- sion to discover the triggers of chronic disease and will benefit patients and researchers.” Albaugh earned a bachelor’s degree in biology at Coastal Carolina University, a PhD in physiology at Penn State University, and a medical degree at Penn State College of Medicine. In addition to a postdoctoral fellowship at Vanderbilt University Medical Center in surgi- cal metabolism and metabolic surgery, Albaugh managed the bariatric surgery core within the Mouse Metabolic Phenotyping Center at Vander- bilt University. He also served as associate col- lege advisor for the school’s Medical Scientist Training Program. Most recently, Albaugh was a teaching fellow at Cleveland Clinic where he also completed train- ing in advanced laparoscopic and bariatric sur- gery. He remains an active member on the edi- torial board of Surgery for Obesity and Related Diseases . Urologist Joins Our Lady of the Lake Physician Group Our Lady of the Lake Physician Group Urol- ogy welcomed Jason Bridges, MD, to its team. Bridges, a board-certified urologist, is trained in the treatment of the urinary tract for men and women, as well as the male reproductive system. Bridges provides comprehensive solutions for urinary incontinence and overactive bladder, as well as options for minimally invasive procedures, including laparoscopic surgery and robotic sur- gery options. He received an undergraduate degree in kine- siology from Rice University in Houston, where he was a varsity player in track and field and bas- ketball. He went on to receive a medical degree and completed a urology residency training from the University of Mississippi School of Medicine in Jackson, Mississippi. He is experienced in tra- ditional, minimally invasive, and robotic surgeries. Our Lady of the Lake Physician Group Urol- ogy also offers minimally invasive procedures for benign prostate enlargement, nephrec- tomy, kidney stone treatment and pelvic floor reconstruction. Our Lady of the Lake Physician Group Urology is located at 1014 West St. Clare Boulevard, Suite 3000 in Gonzales. CIS Uses Bioconvertible Filter for Pulmonary EmbolismPrevention Cardiovascular Institute of the South (CIS) is using the bioconvertible filter for pulmonary embolism prevention. The leading cause of preventable mortality in U.S. hospitals, pulmonary embolism is a condi- tion in which one or more arteries in the lungs become blocked by a blood clot. The use of IVC filters is commonly used in patients with con- traindications to anticoagulation therapy — for example, those who have been injured or who are at high risk of bleeding — or patients with a high risk of embolism occurrence. However, the benefit of this new filter manufactured by Boston Scientific is that it is bioconvertible. It filters for 60 days and then the absorbent filament opens up to leave an unobstructed lumen, eliminating the need for a retrieval procedure, and reducing the risk of potential complications and risks from long-term filters. Capital City Family Health Receives Grant to Implement Telehealth Solutions Last year, Centene, the parent company of Louisiana Healthcare Connections, and the Jason Bridges, MD