HJBR Jul/Aug 2024

HEALTHCARE JOURNAL OF BATON ROUGE I  JUL / AUG 2024 63 For weekly eNews updates and to read the journal online, visit HealthcareJournalBR.com the first voluntary designation program of its kind in the state, encouraging organizations and indi- viduals to make small, healthy lifestyle changes in spaces where Louisiana residents spend most of their time. The WellSpot designation program began in 2014 and has designated WellSpots in every parish. “With WellSpot, we are creating a culture of health and wellness at Ochsner,” said Yvens Laborde, MD, Ochsner chief community medical officer. “We find that many people want to make healthy choices, but they don’t always have those options in places like work or school. WellSpot is crucial because it encourages organizations to provide healthier choices. Even small changes in a community can add up quickly.” Ochsner’s WellSpot designation is based on numerous benchmarks and programs benefiting employees and the wider community, including: • Ochsner Eat Fit, which provides easy-to- access, real-world education on wellness and nutrition. • Serving as a statewide leader on a tobacco- free policy and smoking cessation. • Comprehensive worksite wellness. • Breastfeeding friendly policies. • Baby Friendly Hospital Initiative. • Chronic disease prevention screening. • Healthy menus for cafeterias. • Community-based obesity prevention. Additional benchmarks include culturally and linguistically appropriate services, diabetes self- management education, team-based care imple- mentation, and designation under the state’s Gift program for improving breastfeeding rates at birthing facilities. Our Lady of the Lake Reaches Milestone for Chronic COPD Procedure Our Lady of the Lake Health recently completed more than 60 successful bronchoscopic lung vol- ume reduction (BLVR) procedures. BLVR is a revolutionary, minimally invasive pro- cedure to assist patients with difficulty breathing due to severe COPD/emphysema. The one-time procedure uses the first FDA-approved endobron- chial valve designed to help COPD/emphysema patients breathe easier without major surgery. BLVR can improve the quality of life for patients by allowing them to breathe easier, be less short of breath, and be more active and energetic. It utilizes one-way valves that are inserted during a simple bronchoscopy that requires no cutting or incisions. During the procedure, an average of four small valves are placed in a patient’s airways to block off the diseased parts of the lungs where air gets trapped, called hyperinflation. This per- mits the healthier parts of the lungs to expand and take in more air, allowing patients to breathe easier and have less shortness of breath. Ochsner Medical Center-BR Earns Acute Stroke Ready Certification fromJoint Commission Ochsner Medical Center - Baton Rouge has earned The Joint Commission’s Gold Seal of Approval and the American Stroke Associa- tion’s Heart-Check mark for Acute Stroke Ready Certification. The designation means OMC-Baton Rouge meets The Joint Commission’s designation for readiness to treat patients who experience severe stroke. To achieve certification, OMC-Baton Rouge underwent a rigorous, unannounced onsite visit. During the visit, a team of Joint Commis- sion reviewers evaluated compliance with numer- ous certification standards, including a stream- lined process for emergency treatment, patient education, and protocols that improve patient outcomes. Joint Commission standards are developed in consultation with healthcare experts and pro- viders, measurement experts and patients. The reviewers also conduct onsite observations and interviews. “Patient access to high quality stroke care is crucial because every moment matters during a stroke,” says Aldo Russo, MD, Ochsner Baton Rouge regional medical director. “This certifica- tion from the Joint Commission is especially crit- ical since Louisiana unfortunately has one of the highest rates of stroke incidence in the country. It’s part of our commitment to provide the best stroke care possible for the capital region.” Ochsner partners with more than 50 partici- pating hospitals throughout Louisiana and Mis- sissippi in the Telestroke Program. By using tele- medicine, the program enables experts from participating facilities to consult immediately with Ochsner’s vascular neurologists around the clock to determine the best treatment options for stroke patients. LDHRecognizes 32 Birthing Hospitals Achieving Louisiana Birth Ready Designation The Louisiana Department of Health (LDH) and the Louisiana Perinatal Quality Collabora- tive (LaPQC) recognized 32 hospitals that have achieved Louisiana Birth Ready or Birth Ready+ Designation for committing to practices that improve quality and outcomes for women giv- ing birth. “Hospitals have a critical role to play in the health of our mothers giving birth,” said Ralph Abraham, MD, secretary for the Louisiana Depart- ment of Health. “I congratulate all of the hospi- tals who have been granted this designation, and express my thanks for the hard work being done to ensure every woman can have a safe, dignified birth in Louisiana. It is also important to acknowl- edge the leadership of our Bureau of Family Health, which strives every day to improve mater- nal health outcomes.” The LaPQC, which is a program within the Office of Public Health’s Bureau of Family Health, began the Louisiana Birth Ready Designation in 2021. Hospitals receive this honor through a rigorous application and review process by the LaPQC Birth Ready Designation committee. Applica- tions are reviewed and renewed annually. Many of the hospitals awarded designation have been working with the LaPQC over the last several years to improve outcomes for mothers and their new- borns in the state of Louisiana. One hospital achieved the Birth Ready designa- tion this year for the first time: St. Francis Medical Center (Monroe). All other hospitals listed below were re-accredited as part of the annual review and renewal process. “Birthing hospitals across Louisiana are working hard to ensure the safe and equitable delivery of care to Louisiana families,” said Veronica Gillispie- Bell, MD, medical director of the LaPQC. “Quality improvement teams in birthing hospitals are per- severing through the current challenges in health- care, including staff shortages, to make sure their processes are resilient and consistent in order to