HJBR Nov/Dec 2024

64 NOV / DEC 2024  I  HEALTHCARE JOURNAL OF BATON ROUGE   Hospital Rounds Jonathan Hickson, MD, MPH, Joins Baton Rouge General Jonathan Hickson, MD, MPH, has joined Baton Rouge General (BRG) and will treat patients at its Livingston clinic. Board-certified in family medicine, Hickson received a medical degree from Boston Univer- sity School of Medicine and a Master of Public Health from Boston University School of Public Health. He then completed a family medicine res- idency at United Memorial Medical Center in Bat- avia, New York. BRG’s Livingston clinic is located at 13960 Flor- ida Blvd. Our Lady of the Lake Receives Joint Commission’s Gold Seal of Approval for Comprehensive Stroke Center Certification Our Lady of the Lake Heart and Vascular Insti- tute announced that it has earned The Joint Com- mission’s Gold Seal of Approval for Comprehen- sive Stroke Center Certification. As a Comprehensive Stroke Center of Excel- lence, the stroke center offers 24/7 care for clot retrieval and coiling procedures during hemor- rhagic stroke, setting it apart from other stroke programs in the region. The team’s average monthly “door to needle” clot-busting treat- ment time is under 30 minutes, among the fast- est times in the state. A specialized, 20-bed neu- rocritical care unit is staffed by nurses certified in stroke and critical care, ensuring tailored, expert care for individuals with stroke and neurological conditions throughout their recovery. Our Lady of the Lake Heart and Vascular Insti- tute was previously awarded the American Heart Woman’s Hospital Holds Ribbon-Cutting for Inpatient Mental Health Unit Woman’s Hospital celebrated the opening of the brand new Perinatal Mental Health Unit (PMHU) with a ribbon-cutting ceremony that included Woman’s President and CEO Rene Ragas, Gov. Jeff Landry, Louisiana Surgeon Gen- eral Ralph Abraham, MD, LDH Secretary Michael Harrington, state lawmakers, elected officials, and a host of hospital, community, and business lead- ers. Woman’s PMHU is Louisiana’s first inpatient mental health unit solely dedicated to serving the specialized needs of women who are pregnant, up to one year postpartum, or have suffered a preg- nancy loss within the last year. Patients will start being admitted in September. “Last year, we saw a concerning number of women being admitted to our hospital who were suffering from mental health challenges, and we realized there was an unmet need for inpatient care particularly for this group of women in our community,” said Woman’s President/CEO Rene Ragas. “Woman’s is the largest single-hospital delivery service in the state, and we understand the unique needs of caring for perinatal patients. This is an $8 million investment that has created nearly 40 new jobs and at its core is dedicated to producing better health outcomes for women in Louisiana. This unit will serve as a beacon of hope for healing, support, and empowerment.” One of only a few in the country, Woman’s PMHU will treat women ages 18 and older at any stage of their pregnancy, up to one year postpar- tum, or who have suffered a pregnancy loss within the last year and have a primary psychiatric diag- nosis may be eligible for admission by a physician. According to Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, maternal mental health conditions, such as anxiety, perinatal and postpartum depres- sion, and birth-related PTSD are among the most common complications of pregnancy and child- birth, affecting one in five women. Of those affected, 75% go untreated. Additionally, mental health conditions are a leading cause of maternal mortality in the United States. “Our mental health is just as important as our physical health. Through this brand new Perina- tal Mental Health Unit, Louisiana is leading the way for improving maternal mental health across our country.  I’d like to thank President and CEO Rene Ragas, the entire team at Woman’s Hospi- tal, Dr. Ralph Abraham, and Secretary Michael Harrington for recognizing the importance of addressing maternal mental health challenges, and ensuring it is a top priority here in Louisiana, “ said Gov. Landry. “Improving mental health outcomes is a top policy priority for the Louisiana Department of Health, and we recognize there is an unmet need for addressing mental health among women who are pregnant or have given birth within the past year,” said Abraham. “We are grateful to the lead- ership of Woman’s Hospital taking the initiative in creating Louisiana’s first inpatient mental health unit for pregnant and postpartum women. Creat- ing this unit sets an important example for Louisi- ana’s healthcare sector, signaling that investment in women’s mental health is also an investment in families and a commitment to creating a healthier and more hopeful Louisiana.” The inpatient unit features 9,130 square feet of indoor space along with a secure outdoor terrace that is 1,670 square feet. Patients will have their own private bedroom and bathroom that span 350 square feet. Each room is outfitted with a sin- gle bed, nightstand, television, desk, artwork, and rocking chair. Both individual and group therapies will be pro- vided including art, music, yoga, and more. A care team will be assigned to each patient and nutri- tious meals will be provided daily. The PMHU will serve up to 10 patients at any given time to ensure more individualized and personalized care. The unit will be staffed by a highly trained and com- prehensive care team of psychiatrists, dual trained nurses skilled in both obstetrical and psychiatric care, psychologists, social workers, nurse practitio- ners, specialty trained mental health technicians, and lactation consultants. In addition, the PMHU is supported by onsite OB-GYN doctors, and mater- nal-fetal medicine physicians. “Woman’s PMHU is unique in many ways includ- ing having private bedrooms for each patient. They will also be encouraged to spend time with their babies, when appropriate, which is going to be critical to their healing process” said Kelly Can- non, MD, director of inpatient psychiatry. Jonathan Hickson, MD, MPH