HJBR Jul/Aug 2024

64 JUL / AUG 2024  I  HEALTHCARE JOURNAL OF BATON ROUGE   Hospital Rounds see improved outcomes.” The following Louisiana birthing hospitals have achieved Birth Ready Designation: • Christus Ochsner Lake Area Hospital. • Christus Shreveport-Bossier – Highland Medical Center. • Christus St. Frances Cabrini Hospital. • Iberia Medical Center. • Lake Charles Memorial Hospital for Women. • Lakeside Hospital LCMC Health. • Ochsner American Legion Hospital. • Ochsner LSU Health Monroe. • Slidell Memorial Hospital. • St. Francis Medical Center.* • Terrebonne General Health System. • Thibodaux Regional Health System. • West Calcasieu Cameron Hospital. • Willis-Knighton South and the Center for Women’s Health. *indicates a newly designated Birth Ready facility The following Louisiana birthing hospitals have achieved Birth Ready+ Designation: • Baton Rouge General Hospital.** • East Jefferson General Hospital LCMC Health. • Lakeview Hospital LCMC Health. • Lane Regional Medical Center. • North Oaks Health System. • Ochsner Baptist Medical Center. • Ochsner Lafayette General Medical Center.** • Ochsner Medical Center Baton Rouge.** • Ochsner Medical Center Kenner.** • Ochsner St. Anne Hospital.** • Ochsner LSU Health St. Mary Medical Center. • Ochsner Medical Center West Bank.** • Our Lady of the Angels Hospital. • Rapides Women’s and Children’s Hospital.** • St. Tammany Health System.** • Touro Infirmary LCMC Health. • West Jefferson Medical Center LCMC Health.** • Woman’s Hospital. **indicates a facility that enhanced their Birth Ready Designation to Birth Ready+ To achieve designation, birthing hospitals met criteria in five dimensions, including implemen- tation of policies and procedures to improve rec- ognition and response to clinical causes of severe maternal morbidity, promoting patient partner- ship, and addressing health disparities and equity. Birthing hospitals that have achieved Louisiana Birth Ready+ Designation have met a higher threshold of compliance and achievement of the requirements. State Lawmakers Declare May 1 as Maternal Mental Health Awareness Day Woman’s Hospital announced that Governor Jeff Landry issued a proclamation declaring May 1 as Maternal Mental Health Awareness Day in Louisiana. In addition, Senator Patrick McMath has authored Senate Resolution 75, and Repre- sentative Dustin Miller has authored House Reso- lution 188 to do the same. According to the Cen- ters for Disease Control, maternal mental health conditions are among the most common com- plications of pregnancy and childbirth, affecting one in five women. Suicide is one of the leading causes of maternal mortality and accounts for 20 percent of postpartum deaths. Woman’s Hospi- tal President and CEO Rene Ragas was joined by Louisiana Department of Health Secretary Ralph Abraham, MD, and members of their staff at the State Capitol today as the resolutions were pre- sented in both chambers. “Woman’s is the largest single hospital provider of maternity care for women in Louisiana, and we take our responsibility to address all aspects of perinatal health seriously,” said Woman’s Hospi- tal President and CEO Rene Ragas. “We know how serious mental health conditions can be for mothers during and after pregnancy. It includes everything from anxiety, prenatal and postpartum depression. This fall, Woman’s will open a 10-bed inpatient perinatal mental health unit that will be the only one of its kind in Louisiana and only one of four in the entire country. It will be integral to the healing process for mothers who are suffering. We want to raise awareness about the importance of this issue and are grateful to Governor Landry, Senator McMath, and Representative Miller for understanding the need and joining us in help- ing to bring hope and healing to mothers, chil- dren, and families.” “LDH appreciates the addition of this critical service dedicated to addressing maternal men- tal health at Woman’s Hospital,” said Abraham. “Mental health has been a long-standing chal- lenge in Louisiana, and we know that lack of access to mental health treatment and care are often linked to poorer outcomes, particularly for those who have been exposed to traumatic events. Moms in Louisiana have their own men- tal health needs as they navigate motherhood, which is why LDH is committed to improving men- tal health treatment for moms and other caregiv- ers, especially in the critical year after a child is born. Looking forward, LDH is designing pro- grams to address moms’ most pressing mental health needs, especially around substance use dis- order and post-partum depression.” n Mental Health Day