BATON ROUGE –Mikah Sheridan Thompson, MD will be joining the Kirk’s Kids Pediatric Unit at Baton Rouge General as a Pediatric Hospitalist.

 

Dr. Thompson is currently completing her Pediatric Residency with Louisiana State University School of Medicine at Children’s Hospital in New Orleans. She joins Dawn R. Marcelle, MD, MPH, FAAP, Medical Director for Kirk’s Kids Inpatient Pediatric Unit, along with Monica Ash and Rebecca Bokun, nurse practitioners.

 

Dr. Thompson completed her student observations at the General and is a native of Baton Rouge.

 

SHREVEPORT — Louisiana consumers can compare the costs and quality of hospitals, nursing homes and health plans, with a new Web site launched by the state health department.

 

The site, at www.HealthFinderLA.gov, also allows for comparisons of prices for the 100 most commonly prescribed drugs in the state.

 

Gov. Bobby Jindal, at a news conference in Shreveport, said Louisiana is one of four states to have such an online comparison tool, which he said will help improve accountability and health outcomes.

 

“There is nothing more important to consumer rights than the right to know about the level of care they are being provided,” said state Health and Hospitals Secretary Alan Levine, in a statement.

 

At the Jindal administration’s urging, lawmakers in 2008 passed the “Consumer’s Right to Know Act” by Sen. Willie Mount, D-Lake Charles, backing the creation of the Web site and authorizing the data collection.

 

Among the measures compared on the site are mortality rates, readmission rates, complication rates for procedures, patient safety rates, satisfaction scores and performance for care related to heart attacks, pneumonia and surgical care.

 

The site contains data from most of the state’s hospitals and nursing homes, along with the state’s Medicaid program and 1,040 pharmacies statewide.

 

A spokeswoman for the health department said the site costs $500,000 annually to maintain.

 

Lafayette, LA – Dr. M. Maitland DeLand, FACR, FACRO, FASLMS, CEO of OncoLogics Inc., was appointed by Governor Bobby Jindal to the Louisiana Medical Care Advisory Committee (MCAC) for Louisiana’s Medicaid program. The MCAC is the governing body that oversees the administration and direction of Louisiana’s Medicaid program.

 

The MCAC is charged with the important and difficult task of overseeing Louisiana’s Medicaid program, which is responsible for providing healthcare and services to nearly 1 in 4 Louisiana residents who are below the poverty line. Recent cuts in the matching funds provided by the US Federal Government create huge challenges for the MCAC as they attempt to provide the healthcare services for a significant portion of Louisiana residents. These challenges represent a significant portion of the annual Louisiana State fiscal budget and an enormous concern of Governor Jindal and his staff.

 

Until its recent meeting on January 21, 2010, the MCAC last met six years ago, prior to Hurricane Katrina’s devastation of New Orleans and Southeast Louisiana.

 

FRANKLIN — Parker Templeton, CEO of Franklin Foundation Hospital, is pleased to announce the distinction of being the only facility in St. Mary Parish which has the approval from Louisiana State Board of Nursing to provide Continuing Education credits. On January 20, 2010, The Louisiana State Board of Nursing (LSBN) granted Franklin Foundation Hospital full approval status for Continuing Education Providership. Jennifer Wise, Chief Nursing Officer and Joseann DeWitt, Clinical Resource Manager represented Franklin Foundation Hospital at the meeting held at the LSBN office in Baton Rouge. The Providership is granted for two year periods and requires a request for continuance.

 

With this approval, Franklin Foundation Hospital will now be able to provide licensed nurses, respiratory therapists and other healthcare professionals the opportunity to obtain Continuing Education credits required by their respective licensing boards. The purpose of Continuing Education courses is to provide healthcare professionals opportunities to engage in activities which contribute to continued competence in their area of practice. This includes activities which will update knowledge and skills as well as prepare nurses for practice in a different area of nursing. Franklin Foundation Hospital is committed to ensuring that their nursing staff, as well as staff representing other disciplines, maintain the highest level of competency and are continuously updated on changes related to patient care and nursing practice. With the recent development of being granted status as a Continuing Education Provider, Franklin Foundation Hospital can effectively provide staff immediate information related to current trends in healthcare.

 

In keeping with the hospital’s commitment to promoting the highest standard of care to patients in the region, Franklin Foundation Hospital will not only provide Continuing Education credit opportunities to their own employees, but also to other healthcare facilities in the area. Anyone interested in Continuing Education opportunities may contact the Clinical Resource Manager, Joseann DeWitt, RN, MSN, BC at 337-355-1328.

 

BATON ROUGE — Lake After Hours, located in Baton Rouge, Denham Springs and Hammond, has received the Certified Urgent Care designation which distinguishes it as a true urgent care center. The clinic provides patients with walk-in, extended-hour medical attention with licensed providers for a large scope of medical conditions and has met all of the Urgent Care Association of America’s established criteria.

 

The health care environment is changing and it is becoming more and more important for patients to understand their treatment options. Urgent care is a convenient and viable option for medical conditions that cannot wait for a scheduled appointment with a primary care physician. Lake After Hours accepts unscheduled, walk-in patients during all hours of operation.

 

When a medical condition cannot be handled by a patient’s regular doctor – such as unexpected cuts, burns, sprains or fractures that do not require a visit to the emergency department, Lake After Hours is equipped with x-ray, laboratory services and a licensed provider is always available to perform minor procedures like casting and suturing.

 

Urgent care fills the gap between primary care and hospital emergency rooms, offering increased convenience and cost savings.

 

With its certification, Lake After Hours and the Urgent Care Association of America demonstrate their commitment toward providing patients with access to appropriate levels of care.

 

Lake After Hours was formed more than eleven years ago and is affiliated with Our Lady of the Lake Regional Medical Center. Lake After Hours operates seven urgent care locations which include Lake After Hours Perkins, Lake After Hours O’Neal, Lake After Hours Drusilla, Lake After Hours Central, Lake After Hours Denham Springs, Lake After Hours Highland and Lake After Hours Hammond. For more information on Lake After Hours visit www.lakeafterhours.com.

 

BATON ROUGE - The Louisiana Health Care Quality Forum announced on Tuesday the appointment of Cindy Munn as the organization’s Executive Director, effective February 1.

 

The announcement was made following a two month national search by the Quality Forum’s Board of Directors and a designated search committee. Munn will be the organization’s second Executive Director, following Shannon Robshaw who resigned in October 2009.

 

The Executive Director leads professional staff and manages the daily operations of the organization, assuring ongoing support for healthcare improvement missions such as quality measurement, medical home development, and outreach and education. In addition, Munn will oversee health information technology and exchange planning, implementation and technical assistance programming. Before appointment as Executive Director, Munn served as chair of the Louisiana Health Care Quality Forum’s Health Information Technology Committee. She is currently a member of the Louisiana Department of Health and Hospitals Rural Health Care Pilot Program Steering Committee.

 

Munn has more than 25 years of experience in health care leadership and operations management, most recently as vice president of care management at the Baton Rouge General Medical Center. Munn holds a bachelor’s of science degree in medical technology from Louisiana State University in Baton Rouge, Louisiana, and a master’s of health administration degree in health services administration from the University of St. Francis in Joliet, Illinois. 

 

The Louisiana Health Care Quality Forum is the State-designated entity to apply for Health Information Technology Grants made available under the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009. A private, not for profit organization, the Quality Forum’s mission is to lead evidence-based, collaborative initiatives to improve the health of Louisiana citizens. 

 

The NeuroMedical Center Clinic opened its newest Neurosurgery Satellite Clinic in St. Francisville, La. on Feb. 10, 2010. Adult and Pediatric Neurosurgeon Scott W. Soleau, M.D. with The NeuroMedical Center Clinic in Baton Rouge will see neurosurgery patients at this location twice a month. He specializes in complex spinal surgeries and all other neurosurgical procedures involving the brain, spine, and nervous system.

 

Dr. Soleau has been with The NeuroMedical Center Clinic since 2005. He earned his medical degree from the University of Virginia and completed his internship in general surgery and residency in neurosurgery at the University of Utah. In addition, he completed a pediatric neurosurgical fellowship at the University of Alabama at Birmingham and a neurosurgical spine fellowship at the Medical College of Wisconsin. Dr. Soleau is board-eligible with the American Board of Neurological Surgery.

 

The NeuroMedical Center Clinic closed their Neurosurgery Satellite Clinic in Vidalia, La. in January 2010. Dr. Soleau has served this community for many years and says that, “It has been both a pleasure and a privilege to serve the Vidalia Community.” He anticipates continued care for the Vidalia area community from the new satellite office in St. Francisville.

 

The St. Francisville office location is 10292 Gould Dr., St. Francisville, LA 70775 (office building behind West Feliciana Parish Hospital). The St. Francisville Neurosurgery Clinic will be held two days a month. Dr. Soleau will also continue to see patients during the week at his Baton Rouge office (10101 Park Rowe Avenue) located off Bluebonnet Blvd. and Perkins Road inside Perkins Rowe.Patients can schedule an appointment by calling the appointment line at (800) 468-8345 or (225) 768-2050.

 

The NeuroMedical Center is the region’s largest team of experts solely focused on specialized care for the brain, spine, and nervous system including surgery and rehabilitation. It is located in Baton Rouge, La., and has over 25 physicians specializing in neurosurgery, neurology, neuropsychology, physical medicine, rehabilitation/pain medicine (physiatry), and neuroradiology. For over three decades, The NeuroMedical Center has been committed to delivering patients the most advanced neurological treatment and care available.

 

Lafayette General Medical Center Announces Comprehensive Cancer Treatment and Research Center

Lafayette General Medical Center announces the formation of the state’s newest comprehensive cancer center, the Cancer Center of Acadiana at Lafayette General. Medical oncologists, Dr. Michael Cain, Dr. Deborah Johnson, Dr. Paulette Blanchet and Dr. Victoria Panelli, join Lafayette General Medical Center to create a Center devoted to the diagnosis, treatment and research of cancer.

 

“In addition to treating cancer, the Cancer Center of Acadiana at Lafayette General will be concentrating on prevention and early detection, genetic testing and counseling for inherited cancer risks” says Dr. Michael Cain, the Center’s medical director. “Our eventual plan is to become involved in research, so we can be part of the long-term vision of finding a cure for cancer. The Center will also treat hematology disorders, including both benign and malignant blood conditions.”

 

Cain adds, “Our mission is to create a patient-centered experience; caring for the whole person and not just treating the disease.”

 

“Every one of our patients will meet with a multidisciplinary team of experienced cancer professionals in medical oncology, including an oncology-educated dietician and social worker,” says Craig Ortego, administrative project leader of the Cancer Center of Acadiana. “After meeting with the care team, each patient will receive a personalized treatment plan to include a powerful combination of advanced up-to-date treatments integrated with supportive complementary medicine therapies.”

 

Located at 1211 Coolidge Boulevard, the Center will encompass 18,000 square feet on the first floor of the Burdin Riehl Medical Office Building. Renovation is underway, with an opening date slated for June 1, 2010. The Center will offer a laboratory, pharmacy, infusion center, and the services of a dietician and social worker.

 

Lafayette General’s Radiation Oncology and CyberKnife Center will remain in place on the main campus. The infusion section of the Center will continue to provide outpatient services for patients with non-malignant diseases such as blood transfusions or IV antibiotics. The services will be offered to all patients in the community and surrounding parishes.

 

“When a family member is diagnosed with cancer, what type of care would you want for a loved one?” says David Callecod, president and CEO at Lafayette General Medical Center. “We feel the medical knowledge, innovative techniques and therapies necessary to fight cancer are here for you at Lafayette General Medical Center. We are proud to announce the Cancer Center of Acadiana.”