HJBR Sep/Oct 2022

38 SEP / OCT 2022  I  HEALTHCARE JOURNAL OF BATON ROUGE   Healthcare Briefs Out of 60 applicants, 24 students were selected based on their application, essay, and letters of recommendation. Participants learned about nursing careers, infection control, therapeutic communication techniques, patient confidentiality, medication administration, wound care, and mental health. They will also participate in interactive sessions in the nursing skills lab and Simulated Education Teaching Hospital. Undergraduate and SETH fac- ulty facilitated each session. “The Future Nursing Camp is a great opportu- nity for high school students to experience the world of nursing. Our goal is to introduce partici- pants to the roles and skills of registered nurses. I anticipate this experience will help them make an informed decision about pursuing a career in nursing. In addition, this is a valuable recruit- ment opportunity. I hope this experience will pique their interest in nursing and FranU School of Nursing,” said Carla A. Harmon, associate pro- fessor director of nursing. CIS Uses Aveir Leadless Pacemaker Robert Drennan, MD, electrophysiologist at Cardiovascular Institute of the South (CIS), has used the Abbott Aveir VR Leadless Pacemaker to treat abnormal heart rhythm. The procedure took place in the catheterization laboratory at Baton Rouge General Medical Center on July 15. A leadless pacemaker is a small, battery-pow- ered device with no wires that sends mild, pain- less electrical signals to the heart to keep it in reg- ular rhythm. Manufactured by Abbott, the Aveir Leadless Pacemaker (LP) is the next evolution in leadless technology that has been designed for chronic retrieval using a dedicated retrieval cathe- ter. At just 38mm and smaller than a AAA battery, the Aveir‚ LP features twice the projected battery life at 10.3 years and brings fewer lead-related complications compared to transvenous pace- makers with wires. It also offers mapping capabil- ity prior to fixation to help reduce the number of repositioning attempts, and provides an expand- able platform to later support a dual chamber pacing system, once regulatory approved. “We want our patients to not only live longer, but better,” said Drennan. “This device offers many advantages to patients in need of a pacemaker, with fewer post-implant restrictions and no lead-related complications to give them a better quality of life moving forward. It also gives the patient and the physician the ability to upgrade as technology continues to advance.” LAHospital Association Announces Board Officers, Trustees The Louisiana Hospital Association (LHA) announced its 2022-2023 Board of Trustee offi- cers and newly-elected board members during its annual membership meeting on July 18. Greg C. Feirn, CPA, chief executive officer (CEO) of LCMC Health in New Orleans, will serve as the LHA Board of Trustees chair. He received the gavel from Jason E. Cobb, FACHE, CEO of Rapides Regional Medical Center in Alexan- dria, who will now serve as immediate past chair. Mary Ellen Pratt, FACHE, CEO of St. James Parish Hospital in Lutcher, will serve as the association’s chair-elect, and Rene J. Ragas, FACHE, president and CEO of Woman’s Hospital in Baton Rouge, was elected treasurer. In addition to the officers, the LHA Board of Trustees is composed of at-large and district trust- ees. Jerry A. “Jaf” Fielder II, SPHR, president and CEO of Willis-Knighton Health System in Shreve- port, and Kristin S. Wolkart, RN, FACHE, execu- tive vice president and system chief nursing offi- cer for the Franciscan Missionaries of Our Lady Health System in Baton Rouge, were elected as at-large trustees for a two-year term. Chris Fox, division president-facility based services for LHC Group in Lafayette, was re-elected to serve a sec- ond term as an at-large trustee. The following individuals were elected to serve a two-year term as district trustees: • Bayou District: Phyllis L. Peoples, president and CEO of Terrebonne General Health System in Houma. • Northshore District: Joan M. Coffman, FACHE, president and CEO of St. Tammany Health System in Covington. The following individuals were re-elected to serve a two-year term as district trustees: • Central District: Christopher “Chris” Karam, FACHE, senior vice president of group operations of CHRISTUS Health in Alexandria. • Northwest District: David C. Jones, admin- istrator and CEO of North Caddo Medical Center in Vivian. • Southeast District: Edgardo J. Tenreiro, FACHE, president and CEO of Baton Rouge General. Pictured from left to right are Mike Fernald, Abbott; Jim Overholt, Abbott; Beji George, Abbott; Marc Leber, Abbott; Dr. Robert Drennan, CIS electrophysiologist; Josh Jones, RT; Wyatt Stewart, RT; and Brandi Boren, RN, NP.