HJBR Mar/Apr 2023

HEALTHCARE JOURNAL OF BATON ROUGE I  MAR / APR 2023 63 For weekly eNews updates and to read the journal online, visit HealthcareJournalBR.com technology as part of its sepsis learning health platform, aiding in the recognition and treatment of patients at Our Lady of the Lake Regional Med- ical Center’s Emergency Department. “Our Lady of the Lake Health is excited to have contributed to this breakthrough technology. This goes to our core mission as a Catholic health sys- tem to care for those most in need when they come into our emergency departments,” said Chuck Spicer, president of Our Lady of the Lake Health. “Cytovale’s innovative technology will help drastically decrease the number of sepsis-related deaths in hospital settings, and we are honored that, since day one, we have been a part of the research that led to this technology. It speaks to the expertise of our incredible research team at Our Lady of the Lake Health that we were able to provide key insights and on-site research work for the IntelliSep test.” Aaron DeWitt, MD, Named BRG- Mid City Chief Medical Officer Baton Rouge General (BRG) announced that it has named Aaron DeWitt, MD, as chief medical officer at the Mid City campus. Board-certified in internal medicine, DeWitt will oversee medical services and clinical strategy to ensure the hospi- tal continues to grow and meet the needs of the community. DeWitt was instrumental in the pro- cess of bringing acute care services back to the Mid City campus during the height of the COVID crisis. While working at BRG as a hospitalist since 2017, DeWitt has also taken on various leadership roles, including faculty member for BRG’s Internal Med- icine Residency Program, medical director for BRG’s skilled nursing unit, and medical director at local assisted living facilities and nursing homes. “Dr. DeWitt exemplifies our core values — integrity, hard work, compassion and a ‘say yes’ culture,” said Venkat Banda, MD, chief academic officer at BRG. “He has always had a special pas- sion for this hospital from his time here as a med- ical student and a resident, and we are all excited for him and our beloved Mid City.” DeWitt received a medical degree from the American University of the Caribbean and com- pleted BRG’s Internal Medicine Residency Pro- gram. He also holds a master’s degree in biomed- ical sciences from Mississippi College. DeWitt is a member of the American Medical Association, the American College of Physicians, and Psi Chi Medical Fraternity. OLOL Children’s Health, Children’s Hospital of NO Announce Affiliation Our Lady of the Lake Children’s Health and Chil- dren’s Hospital New Orleans announced an affilia- tion, beginning a new and pivotal chapter where the two leading providers of pediatric healthcare in Louisiana will partner to improve the health of children across Louisiana. “Sharing a passion for the well-being of chil- dren, Our Lady of the Lake Children’s Health and Children’s Hospital New Orleans have similar histories of innovation, accomplishment, and a steadfast commitment to the children and families across our communities,” said Chuck Spicer, pres- ident of Our Lady of the Lake Health. “By working together, we aim to make meaningful progress in improving child health outcomes, which here in Louisiana are among the worst in the nation. We believe that a healthier future for our children hap- pens together.” This month, agreement terms were finalized to establish the framework in which the two children’s hospitals will collaborate in the delivery of pediat- ric health services. The affiliation, which took effect Jan. 1, 2023, creates opportunities for immediate collaboration to improve access to and the qual- ity of pediatric healthcare in Louisiana. “Our affiliation offers new and exciting oppor- tunities for innovation,” said John R. Nickens IV, president and CEO of Children’s Hospital New Orleans. “We know that we can do more together. For example, we will be able to join forces in the recruitment of pediatric sub-specialists, reten- tion of top talent, and our commitment to build centers of excellence for pediatric care, close to home.” The pediatric affiliation is planned to develop over two phases, with phase one focused on enhancing pediatric activities in Baton Rouge and surrounding parishes. Children’s Hospital New Orleans will be responsible for day-to-day oper- ations of Our Lady of the Lake Children’s Health through a co-managed approach with committees comprised of board, physician, and other leaders across the two organizations. In phase two, the organizations will work together to create a statewide network for chil- dren’s specialty care, which will impact the life- long health of children and future generations of Louisianans. In recent years, both Children’s Hospital New Orleans and Our Lady of the Lake Children’s Health have made significant investments in the delivery of pediatric health services. Our Lady of the Lake Children’s Health has served the chil- dren of Louisiana and the southern region for more than 60 years. The $230 million children’s hospital, which opened in Baton Rouge in Octo- ber 2019, offers a full spectrum of comprehensive pediatric services with more than 300 pediatric providers, including 60 specialists, and growing to serve the region’s need for specialized pediat- ric care. Additionally, the network includes hospi- tal-based service in Monroe and Lafayette as well as at clinics throughout the region. Our Lady of the Lake has offered its own ACGME accredited pediatric residency since 2010. As Louisiana’s first freestanding children’s hos- pital, Children’s Hospital New Orleans has deliv- ered expert healthcare for children across Loui- siana and the Gulf South for more than 65 years. With a recently completed $300 million campus transformation, Children’s Hospital New Orleans provides the highest level of pediatric care in the state, backed by more than 600 pediatric-trained providers and specialists. Children’s Hospital New Orleans also offers a vibrant academic medical community through partnerships with LSU Health New Orleans and Tulane University School of Medicine, the only pediatric facility in Louisiana to incorporate two pediatric medical programs Aaron DeWitt, MD