HJBR Nov/Dec 2022

HEALTHCARE JOURNAL OF BATON ROUGE I  NOV / DEC 2022 41 For weekly eNews updates and to read the journal online, visit HealthcareJournalBR.com Cancer Fund launched its mobile screening van, which offered cancer screenings and education to people in the community. Over the past decade, the Mauti Cancer Fund has provided funding and support that have translated into thousands of individual screen- ings, the vast majority along the Northshore and Bayou Region. These free screenings are open and available to anyone in the community — especially to those who are traditionally under- served or may not have access to health insurance coverage. Community screening events provide an opportunity for early cancer detection, and if an abnormality is found, Mary Bird Perkins naviga- tors guide the patient through next steps. Our Lady of the Lake Physician GroupWelcomes Louis Hebert, MD Our Lady of the Lake Physician Group wel- comes Louis Hebert, MD, as an otolaryngology specialist serving the Northshore. Located in Slidell, Hebert is an ear, nose, and throat (ENT) doctor with more than 38 years of experience in otologic conditions and procedures. Hebert is accepting new patients and accepts most insurance plans at the Our Lady of the Lake Physician Group ENT clinic at 2050 Gause Blvd. East, Suite 200, in Slidell. After receiving a bachelor’s degree from Nich- olls State University, Hebert obtained a medi- cal degree specializing in otolaryngology at LSU School of Medicine in New Orleans. Hebert is board-certified in otolaryngology from the Amer- ican Board of Otolaryngology - Head and Neck Surgery. He is a member of the Louisiana State Medical Society, St. Tammany Parish Medical Society, and several other national organizations. Louisiana Primary Care Association Awarded $2.2M to Address HealthcareWorkforce Shortages in Rural Delta Region The Louisiana Primary Care Association has been awarded $2.2 million to bolster training, education, and programming to address health- care professional shortages in Louisiana’s Delta Region. This four-year grant, offered by the Delta Region Rural Health Workforce Training Program, will support professionals and students working in medical coding and billing, claims processing, information management, and clinical documen- tation. The funding will also be used to support recruitment, formal training, certification, and placement of students in community health cen- ters in a time of critical staffing shortages. The Louisiana Primary Care Association (LPCA) represents 39 federally funded, private, nonprofit, and public community health centers across Lou- isiana that serve over 465,000 patients annually. LPCA promotes community-based health services through advocacy, education, and collaboration with community partners. Currently, 16 of LPCA’s member community health centers are operating over 70 sites in the rural parishes of Louisiana’s Delta Region cov- ered under the Workforce Training Program. These health centers provide comprehensive primary and preventative healthcare services to low-income and underserved communities. These services can include health screenings, dental ser- vices, behavioral health and substance use ser- vices, patient care coordination, and more. Through innovative partnerships with the Loui- siana Technical Community College System, Cen- tral Louisiana Ahead Health Education Center, and the Louisiana Rural Health Association, LPCA will leverage this funding to support a variety of credentialing programs, including certified pro- fessional coder, certified coding associate, and healthcare access. The certifications will prepare students to enter careers with livable wages and serve to address the critical labor market short- age affecting thousands who rely on local com- munity health centers. “This grant funding will allow us to engage stu- dents in community health and expand on the incredible work of health centers in the Delta Region,” said LPCA Executive Director Gerrelda Davis. “These centers are serving over 200,000 patients every year and, with this grant, they stand to deliver the highest quality of care to even more communities in need.” For more information on the Delta Region Rural Health Workforce Training Program grant, contact LPCA’s Training & Development Manager, Yvette W. Merritt, MPH, at ymerritt@lpca.net or call (225) 927-7662, ext. 204. Louisiana Healthcare Connections Encourages Flu Vaccination With flu season right around the corner, Louisi- ana Healthcare Connections is again encouraging Louisiana residents to get the flu vaccine through its yearly Fluvention program. Up to 11% of Americans catch the flu virus each year, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). The flu vaccine has been shown to have many benefits including reduced risk of illness, hospitalization, and even flu-related death. Louisiana Healthcare Connections’ Fluvention program offers free resources to help people understand the importance of the flu shot, the risks of flu season, and other preventive mea- sures. The initiative strives to increase flu vac- cination rates overall with special attention for high-risk populations by delivering targeted mes- saging through multiple touchpoints including mailers, phone calls, texting, and local events. “To help protect against the flu, we encourage people to schedule their flu shot appointments as soon as possible,” said Louisiana Healthcare Connections Chief Medical Officer Stewart Gor- don, MD. “While it may seem early, it takes two weeks after getting the shot for the antibodies that protect against the flu to fully develop, so it’s best to act early.” Louisiana Healthcare Connections has been supporting Louisiana residents since 2011 with its Medicaid plan. For more information about Louisiana Healthcare Connections’ Fluvention program and other healthcare support, visit LouisianaHealthConnec.com/Flu. n Louis Hebert, MD