HJBR Mar/Apr 2022

HEALTHCARE JOURNAL OF BATON ROUGE I  MAR / APR 2022 59 For weekly eNews updates and to read the journal online, visit HealthcareJournalBR.com Bethany Mensink, DO palliative care, oncology infusion, and Our Lady of the Lake Physician Group (OLOLPG) Medical Oncology. This care was previously received in the Mary Bird Perkins building but administered by Our Lady of the Lake. To aid patients in a smooth transition to this new location on the Our Lady of the Lake campus, can- cer patients enter at the newly designated Our Lady of the Lake Cancer Institute entrance at 7777 Hennessy Blvd, parking lot C. They are greeted at the entrance by guest services who will guide them to the location(s) of their appointment(s). “We are excited for our patients to receive qual- ity care in these beautifully constructed spaces. Special care was given to each space to ensure that both providers and cancer patients have everything they need along their cancer journey,” shared Daniel Nuss, MD, FACS, transitional chief of Our Lady of the Lake Cancer Institute. In preparation for the move, Our Lady of the Lake Cancer Institute held an event on Dec. 16, 2021, in which the new spaces were blessed by Rev. Donatus Ajoko and dedicated to serving the area’s cancer patients. Cancer Institute team members attended the blessing, which was held in each of the new spaces —Our Lady of the Lake Cancer Institute imaging center, the non-oncol- ogy infusion center, palliative care center, and the 6th floor of medical plaza 2, which is the new OLOLPG Medical Oncology offices and oncol- ogy infusion center. The newly renovated facilities will be the home of the Cancer Institute until the freestanding facility is constructed. The Institute is expected to break ground in 2022 and will be a destination for cancer care in the Gulf South Region. Our Lady of the Lake Acquires NewProperty in Rouzan TNDCommunity Our Lady of the Lake announced the acquisition of property located in the Rouzan TND Commu- nity for the future home of an Our Lady of the Lake Physician Group (OLOLPG) practice. The 1.85 acres property will be used for an Our Lady of the Lake Physician Group clinic offering both adult primary care physicians and pedia- tricians, along with a complement of diagnostic capabilities. The clinic is planned to be an approx- imate 16,500 square feet. Baton Rouge General, Mary Bird Perkins Announce Partnership Baton Rouge General’s Pennington Cancer Cen- ter (BRG) and Mary Bird Perkins Cancer Center announced the completion of an agreement to expand and enhance cancer care resources in the Greater Baton Rouge area, effective immediately. “Baton Rouge General’s commitment to can- cer care aligns with Mary Bird Perkins’ mission to improve survivorship and lessen the burden of cancer, so we are excited to be a part of their medical community,” said Todd Stevens, presi- dent and CEO, Mary Bird Perkins Cancer Center. “This is a collaborative relationship that extends existing physical, technological, and professional resources.” The organizations remain independent but will share technology and collaborate on clini- cal programs like clinical trials, nutrition, rehabil- itation, support groups, and medical oncology, while connecting patients with enhanced treat- ment options. Whether patients choose to receive care at Mary Bird Perkins or Baton Rouge Gen- eral, linked electronic medical record systems will streamline treatments and communication. Depending on patients’ needs and preferences, they can receive care from either organization, or both, as some medical oncologists will rotate between facilities. As part of the partnership, a new infusion clinic has been completed at BRG’s Bluebonnet cam- pus. It offers patients a variety of amenities includ- ing 36 infusion bays and two private infusion rooms, each with heated infusion chairs that are specially designed for tablet use. Also, an infu- sion center pharmacy is located within the treat- ment space, which will expedite the process of treating patients. Mary Bird Perkins recently announced a partner- ship with OneOncology, the national platform for independent oncology practices. The access to clinical trials and electronic health records Mary Bird Perkins will enjoy from working with OneOn- cology will now be extended to patients at Baton Rouge General. Ochsner Opens New Health Center in Frost Ochsner Baton Rouge has opened Ochsner Health Center – Livingston, located just off Inter- state-12 in Frost. This site, at 29437 S. Frost Road, was previously occupied by RKM Primary Care. Ochsner invested $475,000 on renovating and upgrading the facility. It features eight exam rooms and approximately 4,000 square feet of space. In addition to seeing patients in Hammond, Kaci Watts, MD, will treat patients at this new location Bindu Betapudi, MD Scott Robertson, MD