HJBR Jan/Feb 2025

HEALTHCARE JOURNAL OF BATON ROUGE I  JAN / FEB 2025 35 For weekly eNews updates and to read the journal online, visit HealthcareJournalBR.com Corporation will enhance the effectiveness of its food distribution program in DeSoto Parish by installing a commercial, energy- efficient freezer to receive and distribute frozen foods through its food pantry and food delivery programs. • Food Bank of Northeast Louisiana will expand its Feeding Seniors food distribu- tion programs to ensure that 6,000 seniors monthly have access to proper nutrition throughout a 12-parish area with the Senior Grocery Box Program via drive-through dis- tributions and home delivery as well as pro- viding 225 seniors with SNAP application assistance. Louisiana Healthcare Connections will also ded- icate an additional $50,000 to funding at least 25 targeted, specific investments of $2,000 or less over the next year. “As we continue to foster health equity, Lou- isiana Healthcare Connections is committing $200,000 to empower local nonprofits, healthcare providers, and schools, leveraging their impact in the community,” notes CEO and Plan President Jamie Schlottman. “By prioritizing initiatives stra- tegically aligned with our mission of care through- out the state, we strive to create a healthier, more equitable future for all Louisiana families.” For more information, visit www.louisianahealth connect.com/grants. Bird Flu Found in Second ‘Backyard Flock’ in Louisiana by Greg LaRose, Louisiana Illuminator , Decem- ber 19, 2024 A second case of avian influenza, also known as the bird flu, has been detected in a backyard flock in southwest Louisiana, the state Department of Agriculture and Forestry reported Thursday. Earlier this week, the state’s first backyard avian flu case was reported in northwest Louisi- ana. State officials have not identified the type of birds involved in either case but said it involves a non-commercial, “non-poultry” flock, just like the instance reported Monday. The agriculture department has not provided the size of either flock, but it did say that the other potentially exposed birds in Northwest Louisiana were “depopulated” to limit spread of the virus. There has also not been a response to a question about what comprises a “non-poultry” flock. Infectious disease experts say the active strain of avian flu, H5N1, is highly viral, with most of its spread taking place between wild and domestic birds. The flu has also shown up in cattle that have come into contact with infected birds, which can spread the disease through their saliva, mucus and droppings. So far, 61 people have tested positive for H5N1, and the large majority have not encountered seri- ous symptoms. Louisiana’s first and only human case, diagnosed last week, is considered the first “severe” case, according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. That unidenti- fied person contracted the flu from a bird, offi- cials said. None of Louisiana’s poultry or dairy farms have reported avian flu cases. Nationally, the out- break has affected 865 herds through 16 states this year and nearly 124 million poultry through- out 49 states, according to the U.S. Department of Agriculture. Trump Announces Healthcare Cabinet Picks President-elect Donald Trump recently announced his nomination of Robert F. Kennedy Jr. as the United States Secretary of Health and Human Services (HHS) and Mehmet Oz, MD, as leader of the Centers for Medicare and Medic- aid Services (CMS). “For too long, Americans have been crushed by the industrial food complex and drug compa- nies who have engaged in deception, misinfor- mation, and disinformation when it comes to pub- lic health,” Trump wrote. “The safety and health of all Americans is the most important role of any Administration, and HHS will play a big role in helping ensure that everybody will be protected from harmful chemicals, pollutants, pesticides, pharmaceutical products, and food additives.” Kennedy, a longtime critic of pharmaceutical and food industries, has stirred controversy with his stance on vaccines and medical freedom. As the founder of Children’s Health Defense, he has advocated for greater scrutiny of vaccines and other public health mandates, drawing both sup- port and criticism across the political spectrum. Oz, a cardiothoracic surgeon and television personality, has been tapped to head CMS, the federal agency overseeing Medicare and Med- icaid. Trump’s vision for CMS under Oz includes modernizing the programs to ensure financial sustainability, combating fraud and inefficien- cies, and empowering patients to make more informed health decisions. Marty Makary, MD, has been nominated for FDA Commissioner. Makary’s focus will be restor- ing scientific rigor and expediting drug approvals. Janette Nesheiwat, MD, has been nominated for the position of surgeon general. Nesheiwat will lead public health efforts. All nominations are set to face Senate review. Tulane to Lead CDC Center for Public Health Emergency Preparedness Across South Central U.S. The Celia Scott Weatherhead School of Public Health and Tropical Medicine at Tulane Univer- sity joins Harvard, Johns Hopkins, Columbia, and six other universities as the site of one of a series of new regional centers the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention is establishing around the country to help regions better prepare for future pandemics and other public health emergencies. The Region 6 Center for Health Security and Response Readiness will address critical gaps in crisis preparedness in public health systems across Louisiana, Arkansas, New Mexico, Okla- homa, Texas, and 68 federally recognized tribal nations. Funded by a $4 million, five-year CDC grant, it is one of 10 regional centers to be estab- lished nationwide with the goal of advancing and implementing new evidence-based strategies and interventions. Acadian Air Med Names Maranda Granger as Chief Flight Nurse Acadian Air Med has announced that Maranda Granger is the company’s new chief flight nurse. Granger holds 16 years of ICU and ER nursing experience and a background in education, along with Air Med operational knowledge. She joined Acadian Air Med as a registered nurse in Octo- ber 2019. Since then, she has worked at multi- ple Air Med bases throughout the program, and has been a flight line supervisor for the past two years. During her tenure at Air Med, Granger has