HJBR May/Jun 2024

48 MAY / JUN 2024  I  HEALTHCARE JOURNAL OF BATON ROUGE   Hospital Rounds needs of women,” says Foundation for Woman’s President Keila Stovall. The 2024 Executive Committee includes: • Celton Hayden, Jr., chair. • Tom Yura, chair-elect. • Sarah Grace Brooks, secretary. • Adam Foy, treasurer. • Cathy Giering, past-chair The 2024 Board of Trustees includes: • Chris Ciesielski. • John P. Everett. • Patricia Felder. • Rose Marie Fife. • Greg Gelpi, MD. • Ruthie Golden. • Kimberly Lewis. • Gabriella St. Amant. • Erin Monroe Wesley. • Rene Ragas, FACHE, president and CEO, Woman’s. Our Lady of the Lake Reaccredited for Metabolic, Bariatric Surgery Our Lady of the Lake Regional Medical Center and Our Lady of the Lake Ascension have been reaccredited under the Metabolic and Bariatric Surgery Accreditation and Quality Improvement Program (MBSAQIP), a joint quality program of the American College of Surgeons (ACS) and the American Society for Metabolic and Bariatric Sur- gery (ASMBS). MBSAQIP is a comprehensive, nationwide sur- gical quality program aimed at ensuring the safe and effective performance of metabolic and bar- iatric surgery. Surgical outcomes focus on weight loss and the treatment of obesity-related dis- eases, such as diabetes, sleep apnea, and others. Research shows accredited centers experience lower complications and better outcomes than that of non-accredited facilities. Ascension Parish Government, OLOL Hold Ribbon Cutting Our Lady of the Lake Health and Ascension Par- ish Government held a ribbon cutting on March 19 to officially reintroduce the Ascension Par- ish Health Unit and Ascension Counseling Cen- ter as part of the Healthy Ascension community endeavor agreement signed between the two last year. Our Lady of the Lake Plants Pinwheels to Raise Awareness for Child Abuse PreventionMonth Our Lady of the Lake recognized Child Abuse Prevention Month by joining the community to plant pinwheels in support the annual awareness campaign. “The pinwheel garden planted at Our Lady of the Lake Children’s Hospital is a visual reminder that we all play a role in ensuring happy and healthy childhoods for children everywhere,” Jon- athan Brouk, president of Our Lady of the Lake Children’s Health said. “This Child Abuse Aware- ness Month, their presence represents the impor- tance of creating safe and nurturing environments for all of Louisiana’s children to grow and thrive.” Pinwheels for Prevention is part of a national movement to change the way people think about child abuse prevention. The campaign empha- sizes the importance of learning about healthy child development, reinforcing positive parent- ing practices, and acting on behalf of children and families in our communities. Blue is the des- ignated color to bring awareness to child abuse prevention, and the pinwheel is the official symbol of the month-long observance. The blue and sil- ver pinwheels represent the happy, healthy child- hoods all children deserve. Child Abuse Prevention Month serves as an important reminder of the year-round need to protect and support those most vulnerable in our community. If you suspect child abuse or neglect, immediately call the Louisiana Child Abuse Hot- line at (855) 452-5437 or the National Child Abuse Hotline at (800) 4-A-Child. Best Practices for Supporting those Experiencing Homelessness More than 800 adults in Baton Rouge are cur- rently unhoused, living on the streets and in shel- ters. Providing quality medical care to this popu- lation can be extremely challenging because they are often seen as “treatment resistant.” James O’Connell, MD, president of Boston Health Care for the Homeless Program, is nation- ally recognized for his compassionate approach to addressing the medical needs of the homeless. “Doctor Jim,” as his patients call him, brought his 35 years of experience to give our medical com- munity new insights on how to most effectively address the medical needs of these patients. Members of the community attended a conti- nental breakfast followed by “Sheltering Hope: A Compassionate Exploration of Homelessness” on March 6 at the Marriott in Baton Rouge. Our Lady of the Lake Children’s Hospital Opens Hogs for the Cause Family Support Home The Hogs for the Cause Family Support Home officially opened with a ribbon cutting ceremony at Our Lady of the Lake Children’s Hospital on Feb. 22. Known as the “Hogs House,” the family support home serves as free on-campus housing for families from outside of Greater Baton Rouge who have a child receiving ongoing care at the hospital. Our Lady of the Lake Children’s Hospital serves children from every parish in Louisiana, in addition to 44 of 50 states, the District of Columbia, and Puerto Rico. While most patients come from the Greater Baton Rouge region, more than 13,000 families travel 30 miles or more to seek care. The average length of stay in the hospital is five days, with many children visiting routinely due to com- plex medical conditions. Those families living out- side of the Greater Baton Rouge region are now eligible to stay at the home. The home was made possible by a $2.25 mil- lion pledge from Hogs for the Cause coupled with community and in-kind donations. It is within walk- ing distance from the hospital’s campus and fea- tures 12 rooms, recreational spaces with games and activities, a communal dining lounge, guest kitchen, laundry room, backyard, and other amenities. Foundation forWoman’s Board of Trustees Elects Officers, Announces Celton Hayden, Jr., 2024 Board Chair Foundation for Woman’s Board of Trustees announced it has elected officers to serve for the 2024-2025 year. Celton Hayden, Jr., chief execu- tive officer of CC’s Coffee House, will serve as the board chair. Hayden has served as a member of the Foundation’s board since 2015. “Celton is a visionary leader committed to increasing the capacity of Foundation for Wom- an’s to invest in the most vital community health