HJBR Mar/Apr 2023

HEALTHCARE JOURNAL OF BATON ROUGE I  MAR / APR 2023 65 For weekly eNews updates and to read the journal online, visit HealthcareJournalBR.com • Allyson Boudreaux, MD, vice chief of staff. • Lin Dang, MD, secretary. • Kristin Chapman, MD, chair of OB-GYN clin- ical service. • Mindy Bowie, MD, chair of surgery. • Stuart LeBas, MD, chair of medicine. • Beverly Ogden, MD, chair of cancer clini- cal service. • D. Stephen Sanches, MD, chair of pediatric clinical service. Prairieville Family Hospital Joins Blue Cross Blue Shield of LA Provider Network Prairieville Family Hospital is now in-network, effective Jan. 1, 2023, for Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Louisiana members. The new contract is with Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Louisiana and its subsidiary HMO Louisiana, Inc. The plans included are Blue Cross PPO plans as well as HMO Louisiana, Inc. plans. “We look forward to being in-network with Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Louisiana. We want more people in our community to expe- rience the exceptional care our neighborhood hospital can provide to their families. Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Louisiana members will bene- fit from our compassionate healthcare team and concierge service,” said John McLean, MD, CEO of Prairieville Family Hospital. Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Louisiana is the first insurer that Prairieville Family Hospital has joined forces with to become a network provider. While the hospital accepts all insurance for emer- gency services and has cash payment options available, being in-network expands the options for Blue Cross members to be covered for all the services offered by Prairieville Family Hospital such as outpatient procedures, imaging, and labs. Members who have questions about how ser- vices are covered on their health plan can con- tact Blue Cross Customer Service at the number on their member ID card. Woman’s Launches First Exercise is Medicine Program in GBRArea Woman’s Hospital launched the Exercise is Med- icine (EIM) program, an evidence-based approach to fitness that enables participants to manage symptoms of chronic illness or disease as well as improve overall personal health. The program, located at Woman’s Center for Wellness on Jef- ferson Highway, is the first and only of its kind in the greater Baton Rouge area. Created by the American College of Sports Medicine, EIM is a global initiative spanning roughly 40 countries to promote exercise as a standard in clinical care. Woman’s EIM program provides a bite-sized, accessible approach to exer- cise with three levels to fit every person’s health needs. “This program truly is a miracle drug,” said Brooke Coogan, director of Woman’s Center for Wellness. “Physicians tell their patients to exer- cise, but so many people do not know where to begin. EIM will provide a starting point for those who want to improve their health by sitting less and moving more.” Individuals can sign up for the program on their own or through doctor referral. With virtual coaching options available, New Year’s resolu- tions are more attainable for people wanting to make a healthy change in 2023. EIM participants will improve personal fitness and learn that exer- cise can be as powerful as medicine in prevent- ing and treating a range of chronic diseases and medical conditions. Woman’s Center for Wellness is located at 9637 Jefferson Highway in Baton Rouge. To sign up for Exercise is Medicine or learn more about Woman’s Center for Wellness, call 225- 924-8300 or visit womans.org/locations/maps/ womans-center-for-wellness. n “Woman’s [Exercise is Medicine] program provides a bite-sized, accessible approach to exercise with three levels to fit every person’s health needs. ... Individuals can sign up for the program on their own or through doctor referral.”