HJBR Nov/Dec 2024

44 NOV / DEC 2024  I  HEALTHCARE JOURNAL OF BATON ROUGE   Healthcare Briefs communities they serve and help address a crit- ical healthcare shortage in the region,” said Reynold Verret, PhD, president, Xavier Univer- sity of Louisiana. “We are profoundly grateful to Mike Bloomberg and Bloomberg Philanthropies’ Greenwood Initiative for their bold vision and tre- mendous support which will accelerate our mis- sion to create a healthier, more equitable, more just future for the Gulf South and for the nation.” “Thank you to Michael Bloomberg and Bloom- berg Philanthropies’ Greenwood Initiative for their robust support of historically Black medi- cal schools’ work to address healthcare dispar- ities and underrepresentation in the medical field,” said Leonardo Seoane, MD, FACP, found- ing dean, Xavier Ochsner College of Medicine and FVP-chief academic officer, Ochsner Health. “These funds set the stage for a new HBCU medical school and propel the medical profes- sion forward by nurturing a new wave of doctors who genuinely reflect the societies they serve. This truly is an investment in a brighter, healthier future for America and is a catalytic investment for XOCOM and New Orleans.” “We are thrilled to receive this generous sup- port from Bloomberg Philanthropies that will help us bring our vision for XOCOM that much closer,” said Pete November, CEO, Ochsner Health. “The profound impact of this inaugural gift from Bloomberg Philanthropies will be deeply felt in New Orleans, the entire Gulf South, and across the nation as we launch the Xavier Ochsner Col- lege of Medicine.” Louisiana Healthcare Connections Encourages Flu Vaccination Louisiana Healthcare Connections is remind- ing Louisiana residents to get the influenza (flu) vaccine through its yearly Fluvention program. Because the flu virus varies each year and affects each person differently, it’s important to get the flu vaccine every year to protect yourself from this serious illness. It’s also important to get the shot before the flu spreads, ideally before the end of October. Louisiana’s Healthcare Connections Fluvention program offers free resources to help people understand the importance of the flu shot, the risks of flu season and other preventive measures. The initiative strives to increase flu vaccination rates and was recognized with the Health Infor- mation Award for its efforts to educate and empower families, communities and organiza- tions to take care of themselves each flu season. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), approximately 31 million Americans caught the flu virus last year. The flu vaccine has been shown to reduce the risk of ill- ness, hospitalization and even flu-related death. In a 2022 study, the flu vaccine was shown to reduce children’s risk of severe life-threatening influenza by 75%. Previous studies noted the flu vaccine prevented an estimated 7.5 million flu ill- nesses and an estimated 105,000 flu-related hos- pitalizations – for children and adults alike. “Vaccinations and good hygiene, like washing hands and coughing into your sleeve, are key to preventing the flu and staying healthy,” noted Louisiana Healthcare Connections Chief Medical Officer, Stewart Gordon, MD. “The flu shot takes a few weeks to offer full protection, so don’t delay getting your flu shot. Additionally, COVID-19 and Respiratory Syncytial Virus (RSV) will cause infec- tions this fall and winter, so speak with your doc- tor to learn more about which vaccines are rec- ommended for you.” Members can receive a flu vaccine at no cost through their doctor or a nearby pharmacy. While everyone should get the flu shot, the CDC notes it’s especially important for the following groups who are at higher risk for complications: • Pregnant women. • Children younger than age 5, but especially children younger than age 2. • People 65 years of age and older. • People of any age with certain chronic med- ical conditions. Doctors Grapple with How to SaveWomen’s Lives Amid ‘Confusion and Angst’ Over NewLouisiana Law By Lorena O’Neil Reprinted with permission from the Louisiana Illuminator , lailluminator.com. When a woman starts bleeding out after labor, every second matters. But soon, under a new state law, Louisiana doctors might not be able to quickly access one of the most widely used life-saving medications for postpartum hemorrhage. The Louisiana Illuminator spoke with several doctors across the state that voiced extreme con- cern about how the rescheduling of misoprostol as a controlled dangerous substance will impact inpatient care at hospitals. Misoprostol is pre- scribed in a number of medical scenarios — it’s an essential part of reproductive health care that can be used during emergencies, as well as for miscarriage treatment, labor induction, or intra- uterine device (IUD) insertion. But because it is used for abortion, misopros- tol has been targeted by conservatives in Louisi- ana — an unprecedented move for a medication that routinely saves lives. A controlled dangerous substance has extra barriers for access, which can delay care. “My fear is that someone could eventually die,” said Dr. Tara Morse, an OB-GYN who practices at Touro Infirmary in New Orleans. “And that’s not why we all went into medicine. Our goal is to pre- vent everything and be able to use every drug at our disposal.” Every hospital has its own system for obstet- ric hemorrhage care. Some use rolling carts or kits in birthing rooms with easily accessible med- ications and equipment in case of hemorrhage after delivery. Misoprostol is a pill often used in early stages of post-delivery bleeding, especially for patients with hypertension or asthma who might have adverse side effects from using other hemor- rhage medications that are usually administered by needles or an IV. Misoprostol is also used as a precautionary measure in case doctors think a patient is at risk for hemorrhaging. In May, Gov. Jeff Landry signed legislation reclassifying misoprostol and mifepristone as Schedule IV controlled dangerous substances, despite more than 200 doctors signing a letter against the measure. The law goes into effect on Oct. 1, and doctors and pharmacists are scram- bling to come up with postpartum hemorrhage policies that will comply with the law while still providing proper medical care for women. Some hospitals have already preemptively pulled misoprostol from their obstetric hemor- rhage carts and kits because controlled danger- ous substances need to be stored and accessed