HJBR Mar/Apr 2024

48 MAR / APR 2024  I  HEALTHCARE JOURNAL OF BATON ROUGE   Hospital Rounds • Robert Koscick, MD, chair of cancer clini- cal service. • D. Stephen Sanches, MD, chair of pediatric clinical service. Ochsner Eat Fit Challenges Louisianans to Go # AlcoholFreeFor40 While celebrating Mardi Gras in Louisiana with parties and celebratory drinks may be fun, the increase in alcohol consumption during this time can take a toll on personal health. To encourage Louisianians to take a break from alcohol and pri- oritize healthy habits, Ochsner Eat Fit kicked off its ninth annual Alcohol Free For 40 Challenge on Feb. 15, the Thursday after Mardi Gras. Eliminating alcohol intake, even temporarily, can lead to better sleep, increased energy, and improved focus within those 40 days. On average, participants in the challenge lose four pounds of body fat, reduce cholesterol by 13 points, lower triglycerides by 28 points, and improve systolic blood pressure. This challenge provides participants with the resources, education, and support needed to abstain from alcohol and benefit from a “well- ness spring cleaning.” “With each new year, so many people are look- ing for a wellness refresh — whether mentally, physically or emotionally,” said Molly Kimball, RD, founder of Ochsner Eat Fit and Alcohol Free For 40. “Giving up alcohol for just 40 days is just one habit change, yet can have a tremendous impact on our mind, body, and spirit. The Alcohol Free For 40 Challenge gives us the opportunity to see and feel the benefits both inside and out.” The Alcohol Free For 40 Challenge is now open statewide with events in six regions: New Orleans, Baton Rouge, Northshore, Acadiana, Shreveport, and Monroe. Visit www.AlcoholFreeFor40.com to join the challenge. Woman’s Hospital Chief Quality Officer Recognized as Outstanding Alumnus by LSU School of Nursing Woman’s Hospital Chief Quality Officer Cathy Maher-Griffiths, DNS, RN, CPHQ, NEA-BC, RNC- OB, has been named an Outstanding Alumnus by the LSU School of Nursing. Maher-Griffiths was E.J. Kuiper Announced as NewPresident and CEO of FranciscanMissionaries of Our Lady Health System E.J. Kuiper will become the next president and CEO of Franciscan Missionaries of Our Lady Health System (FMOLHS) beginning in May, replacing Richard R. Vath, MD, who is retiring. Originally from the Netherlands, Kuiper received a Doctor of Physical Therapy from the University of St. Augustine in Florida and a Master of Science in health science and health services administration from Florida Gulf Coast University in Fort Myers. He is a fellow in the American College of Health- care Executives. Kuiper began his career as a physical therapist in Florida at a Hospital Corporation of America (HCA) and advanced to chief operating officer of the facility. He joins FMOLHS from CommonSpirit Health, where he served as CEO of the Midwest Division and was responsible for leading a division of 28 hospitals spanning four states. Prior to that role, he was CEO of the Illinois Division of Hospital Sisters Health System, which included 9 hospitals, a nursing college, and medical group. Woman’s Hospital Earns Guardian of Excellence Award for Patient Experience Woman’s Hospital earned the Press Ganey 2023 Guardian of Excellence Award for outstanding ser- vice in patient experience. This marks the ninth consecutive year Woman’s has been recognized by Press Ganey as one of the nation’s leaders in providing exceptional patient care. “Earning the Guardian of Excellence Award for inpatient experience recognizes the exceptional care patients receive at Woman’s. Our dedicated team works tirelessly to go above and beyond for every patient we serve. It’s an honor to have their hard work recognized with this award,” said Rene Ragas, president and CEO of Woman’s Hospital. Press Ganey, the leading Human Experience (HX) healthcare performance improvement com- pany, honors organizations that consistently per- form in the top 5% of healthcare facilities for patient experience, employee engagement, physician engagement, consumer experience, or clinical quality performance. Woman’s exceeds state and national averages in all of Press Ganey’s measurement categories. The Guardian of Excellence Award is among sev- eral accolades Woman’s earned in 2023, including “America’s Best In-State Employers” by Forbes; “Best Place to Work” by Modern Healthcare ; and “America’s Best Maternity Hospitals”, “America’s Best Cancer Hospitals”, “America’s Best In-State Hospitals,” and “World’s Best Hospitals” for gyne- cology and maternity care by Newsweek . Allyson Boudreaux, MD, Elected 2024 Chief of Staff of Woman’s Hospital Allyson Boudreaux, MD, FACOG, has been elected to a one-year term as chief of the medi- cal staff of Woman’s Hospital, the highest elected leadership position among the medical staff. Boudreaux is a board-certified OB-GYN whose duties include the coordination of clinical improve- ment activities as well as chairing the Medical Executive Committee. As chief of staff, she will also serve on the Woman’s Board of Directors. Boudreaux earned a doctorate from Louisiana State University School of Medicine in Shreveport and completed an OB-GYN residency at Vander- bilt University School of Medicine in Nashville. She is a fellow of the American College of Obstetrics and Gynecology and a practicing obstetrician and gynecologist with Louisiana Women’s Healthcare. Additional 2024 medical staff leadership at Woman’s includes: • Kristin Chapman, MD, vice chief of staff. • Theresa Brignac, MD, secretary. • Lin Dang, MD, chair of OB-GYN clinical service. • Mindy Bowie, MD, chair of surgery. • Stuart LeBas, MD, chair of medicine. Allyson Boudreaux, MD, FACOG