HJBR May/Jun 2024

32 MAY / JUN 2024  I  HEALTHCARE JOURNAL OF BATON ROUGE   Healthcare Briefs cancer in an effort to reduce mortality in African Americans. “In communities across Louisiana, obesity is prevalent and we must educate as many people as possible on how it is a risk factor for breast and colorectal cancers in particular and its impact on cancer treatment outcomes,” said Renea Duf- fin, vice president, cancer support and outreach, Mary Bird Perkins Cancer Center. “Following the success of last year’s ‘Untie the Ribbons’ event, which focused on raising awareness of Triple Negative Breast Cancer among African Ameri- can women, we want to again highlight cancer trends and provide education on prevention to underserved populations.” Constance Blunt, MD, medical oncologist, Mary Bird Perkins Cancer Center, presented on the impact of obesity on breast and colorectal cancers. A frequent speaker at Cancer Center events, Blunt provides attendees with engaging and educational presentations that share Mary Bird Perkins’ various health equity initiatives in Baton Rouge and other markets. Stephanie Compton, PhD, RD, LDN, nutrition and cancer metabolism researcher, Pennington Biomedical Research Center, also hosted a conversation on obesity and cancer. Some Louisianans Struggle to Fill PrescriptionMedication According to a new report from HelpAdvisor. com, 16.9% of Louisiana residents have been unable to fill a prescription medication recently. That’s the highest percentage out of any state in the U.S. HelpAdvisor analyzed the most recent U.S. Cen- sus Bureau Pulse Survey data to determine where Americans are having the most difficulty filling a prescription during a 30-day period in Septem- ber and October of 2023. Here are the key findings from the report: • Nationally, 12.2% of Americans experienced difficulty filling a prescription (during the study period). • In total, 573,096 respondents from Louisi- ana said they were unable to fill a prescrip- tion recently (16.9%). • 31% of Louisiana residents have experi- enced negative health effects as a result of the shortage. Louisiana’s Chief Medical Officer Joe Kanter, MD, Resigns According to the Louisiana Department of Health, Joe Kanter, MD, Louisiana public health officer, has resigned from the post. Kanter has served in the position since January 2021, having replaced Jimmy Guidry, MD. Guidry served in the office for 24 years. Pete Croughan, MD, deputy LDH secretary, has been named interim state health officer. A highlight of Kanter’s leadership was his push toward vaccine drives among nursing home resi- dents and staff, who were among the hardest hit with COVID fatalities and serious illnesses early in the pandemic. Kanter continues to serve on the medical staff at University Health Center in New Orleans and as a faculty member at LSU Health Sciences Center and Tulane University School of Medicine. OLOL Robotic Surgery Institute Performs First Procedure Using Single Port Robot Our Lady of the Lake Robotic Surgery Institute began performing procedures using the new Da Vinci Single Port (SP) robot on Feb. 19. Surgeons use the technology to perform procedures via one single incision or opening in the body, pro- viding heightened precision and minimal impact on the patient. The SP contrasts with traditional surgery robots that require multiple ports of entry to the body by using one access point for all four instruments. Sagar Kansara, MD, Rula Mualla, MD, and Michael Dileo, MD, head and neck oncologic sur- geons, were the first to use the SP Robot in an operation at Our Lady of the Lake for a success- ful cancer resection at the base of the tongue. The patient is recovering and expected to quickly return to their everyday life. “Classic surgical techniques for excision of tongue base cancers are quite morbid,” said Kansara. “With the SP robot, we are able to gain surgical access to the oropharynx, a site which has been traditionally very challenging to treat.” Nurse Power Brunch: Essence Festival Edition set for July 5-6 In a celebration of nurse empowerment, Nurse Power Brunch returns in an Essence Festival Edition, led by founders Meisha Amia, MSN, RN, and Nicole Thomas, DNP, RN, CCM. Mark your calendars for July 5-6 for this event, which will be held at The Royal Sonesta New Orleans on Bourbon Street. Thomas said, “Nurses find, operate, and domi- nate in their power as a nurse.” This year’s theme, “Reimagining Nursing,” invites professionals to rediscover their strength and influence in the evolving landscape of healthcare. Founders Amia and Thomas have cultivated an event that transcends the ordinary, providing a platform for nurses to connect, learn, and seize opportunities. The two-day experience features food, network- ing opportunities, and education that transcends boundaries. There will be panel discussions, con- tent creation sessions, and the opportunity to forge meaningful connections. For more information and registra- tion, visit https://www.nursepowernetwork. com/2024nursepowerbrunch. CIS Performs Radial to Peripheral Procedure with AALA System Cardiovascular Institute of the South (CIS) inter- ventional cardiologists Satish Gadi, MD, and Amit Patel, MD, are the first in the United States to per- form a radial to peripheral procedure with Angio- dynamics Auryon Laser Atherectomy System in a hospital setting to treat peripheral artery disease in the legs. The procedure took place on Feb. 21 at Baton Rouge General. A radial to peripheral procedure is an inter- ventional procedure which goes through the wrist as opposed to the groin to get to the legs. The result is increased comfort to the patient, less bleeding, lower risk of complications, and a faster recovery and discharge. The Auryon Atherectomy System by Angiodynamics, Inc. uses laser technology to deliver powerful treat- ment for peripheral artery lesions and occlusions in the legs. It is the first laser atherectomy system to efficiently treat lesions of any type, severity, length, or location (above and below the knee), with minimal impact on vessel walls. It is the only system capable of delivering short, high-powered pulsed-laser energy to effectively treat peripheral artery disease while preserving the vessel wall. “The Auryon Radial Laser catheter is a great