HJBR Jan/Feb 2024

60 JAN / FEB 2024  I  HEALTHCARE JOURNAL OF BATON ROUGE   Hospital Rounds The profiles of all the winners are featured in the Oct. 16, 2023, print issue of Modern Healthcare and online at ModernHealthcare.com. Newsweek : Children’s Hospital NORanks Among Best Pediatric Hospitals Children’s Hospital New Orleans is the only chil- dren’s hospital in Louisiana and the Gulf South to be ranked among the World’s Best Specialized Hospitals for Pediatrics by Newsweek for the third year in a row. The ranking program features the top 200 hospitals for pediatrics worldwide, and Children’s Hospital New Orleans ranked #60 in the world, and #32 in the United States for the 2024 rankings, which were published last month. Addi- tionally, Children’s Hospital New Orleans has been deemed a “3 Year Champion” of Newsweek ’s rankings programs, being recognized consecu- tively since the recognition was first published in 2021. “It is an honor to be part of Newsweek ’s World’s Best Specialized Hospitals for Pediatrics ranking program, and to see our team’s hard work real- ized,” said Children’s Hospital New Orleans Pres- ident and CEO, Lucio A. Fragoso. “This is a truly extraordinary accomplishment that reflects our ongoing commitment to provide the best possi- ble care for kids right here in Louisiana.” Each year, Newsweek’s ranking methodology becomes more detailed and rigorous, continu- ing to raise the standard of what comprises The World’s Best Specialized Hospitals, and this year was no exception. Newsweek , working with the research firm Statista, invited tens of thousands of healthcare providers, workers, and hospital lead- ers from over 20 countries to provide primary and secondary recommendations via an online survey on Newsweek.com. A global board of renowned medical experts then reviewed and validated the results. The rankings are compiled by Newsweek to help patients and their families know which hos- pitals have the most accomplished physicians, diagnosticians and advanced technology to offer the highest level of care. Additionally, for the first time, Newsweek has introduced new rankings for America’s Best Chil- dren’s Hospitals in seven specialties, and Chil- dren’s Hospital New Orleans has one specialty ranked in the top 25 and three others ranked Ochsner Health, Chevron Partner for Smoking Cessation Program Chevron and Ochsner Health continue to offer their Lung Cancer Awareness, Education, and Prevention Program for a third consecutive year thanks to a $50,000 donation from Chevron. The program will be offered in Jefferson Parish for the first time and continue to reach community members in St. Tammany, East Baton Rouge, West Baton Rouge, Ascension, St. Charles, Terrebonne, and Lafourche parishes. This initiative launched in November 2021 in St. Tammany Parish. Since then, the two organizations have worked together to improve resources and education around smoking cessation and over- all lung health. “We are grateful to partner with Chevron on this critical program for a third year,” said Leonardo Seoane, MD, executive vice president and chief academic officer, Ochsner Health. “With their sup- port, we plan to continue to draw attention to the dangers of tobacco use, including smoking and vaping, while working to lower smoking rates in Louisiana, thereby empowering our community members with the resources to make healthier choices.” As part of the Lung Cancer Awareness, Edu- cation and Prevention Program, a public service announcement will air on television throughout communities within the program locations. It will highlight the story of Caitlin Hunter, a Chevron employee and Northshore native, who lost two family members to lung cancer. Chevron’s funding also supports the following program initiatives: • Encouraging low-dose CT scans to detect and diagnose lung cancer early to signifi- cantly increase the chance of survival. • Educating high school students about the dangers of vaping and smoking and how to access smoking cessation resources. • Teaching how to recognize stressors and triggers that lead to smoking habits and providing cessation tools to change behav- ior by managing stress differently. The high school education program will include a lunch-and-learn component for parents pre- sented by Chevron Wellness Staff in observance of Lung Cancer Awareness Month. “Chevron is proud to partner with Ochsner Health on this important campaign,” said Caitlin Hunter, corporate affairs representative for Chev- ron’s Gulf of Mexico Business Unit. “I am hopeful that sharing this unique story about my experi- ences with lung cancer will change the course of someone’s life and inspire both smokers and non- smokers to get screened. I am really proud to be an ambassador for this initiative.” Ochsner’s smoking cessation program combines counseling with medications to create a personal- ized treatment plan. If you or a loved one is interested in these life- saving services like smoking cessation or want to learn more about the program, visit Ochsner.org/ quit to schedule an appointment. Woman’s Hospital’s Renada Deschamp Recognized as a 2023 Top Diversity Leader Woman’s Hospital’s Senior Vice President of Health Equity and Inclusion, Chief Diversity Offi- cer Renada Deschamp has been named to the 2023 class of Top Diversity Leaders by Modern Healthcare . The program honors the top diverse healthcare executives and organizations influenc- ing policy, care delivery, and public health, and promoting diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) in their organizations and the healthcare industry. “Renada is a passionate advocate for inclusivity. Through her leadership, Woman’s has advanced equitable practices to benefit both our patients and employees. I can think of no one more deserving of this honor than Renada,” said Rene Ragas, president and CEO of Woman’s Hospital. Deschamp has spent the majority of her career in healthcare fostering leadership and talent development and driving DEI initiatives. She holds a Master of Public Administration and Bachelor of Political Science from Southern University and is an active member of the community, volunteer- ing as a board member for YWCA Greater Baton Rouge. She is also part of the 2024 Go Red for Women executive cabinet, a member of Baton Rouge Area Diversity Officers Council, Circle of Red, and a national member of Society for Human Resource Management. Presented annually, Modern Healthcare’s Top Diversity Leaders program honors healthcare leaders who exemplify a commitment to meaning- ful DEI while advancing community health equity.