HJNO May/Jun 2019

Healthcare Journal of NEW ORLEANS I  MAY / JUN 2019 65 For weekly eNews updates and to read the journal online, visit HealthcareJournalNO.com antibiotic use more efficient and more accurate in the patient’s progress toward recovery, while also decreasing production of resistant organ- isms, sometimes called“superbugs.” Reducing the time to treatment is exceed- ingly important in the case of patients with sep- sis, a life-threatening condition. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), sepsis happens when an infection already present in a person triggers a chain reaction in their body. Without timely treatment, sepsis can rapidly lead to tissue damage, organ failure, and death. North Oaks Health SystemAnnounces Entry Pay Rate Increase Effective March of 2019, minimum wage at North Oaks Health System has increased from $9 per hour to $12 per hour.The increase exceeds the federal (and Louisiana)minimumwage rate by more than 60 percent.  As North Oaks President/Chief Executive Officer Michele Sutton explained,the pay increase reflects a longstanding strategic decision to posi- tion the health system as a local market leader and outpace the federal minimum wage rate. Nearly 800 employees across the health system will receive an overall pay increase as a result of this initiative. “Retaining our dedicated employees and recruiting new talent to join us are paramount to our mission of improving lives,” Sutton said.“Our compensation practices reflect our appreciation for the hardwork of our employees and the differ- ence they make.” Ron Macaluso, chairman of North Oaks Board of Commissioners, said, “Our employees are the reason our health system has become a regional referral center worthy of the local, state and national accolades we continue to receive for innovation, safety, quality and patient expe- riences.” n her time at EJGH,she wouldwork in various nurs- ing positions to include unit director, administra- tive associate,assistant vice president,vice presi- dent,senior vice president,chief operating officer and nurse executive, and chief nurse executive. While at EJGH, she was able to decrease staff turnover, create an in-house nursing labor pool, envision and develop a Comprehensive Breast Center, Comprehensive Palliative Care Services, and the Center for Nursing Research. Under her leadership, EJGH became the first nurse magnet hospital in Louisiana in 2002. Following her tenure at EJGH, Janice began a consulting endeavor providing leadership, finan- cial guidance, and labor management for multi- ple facilities across the United States. In July of 2016,Janice began the next phase of her career at SBPH, where she would continue to provide lead- ership, labor management, andmentorship.Jan- ice was recently invited to be part of amentorship program for nurse leaders in Ochsner Health Sys- tem.She currently serves as an adjunct professor in the Masters of Healthcare Administration pro- gram at the University of New Orleans. STPH’s Laboratory TechnologyMakes Antibiotic Care Safer for Patients St. Tammany Parish Hospital has added two new technologies to its microbiology laboratory that reduce the time needed to identify causes of blood stream infections, enabling caregivers to improve the appropriate use of antibiotics for patients in the hospital, reducing their time to heal. “Polymerase Chain Reaction and Fluorescent In Situ Hybridization enable us in the lab to reduce the time to organism identification and subse- quent antibiotic therapy to three-to-seven hours once the blood culture has become positive,”Pam Pound, laboratory department head, explained. “Prior to our introduction of these technologies, it could take 48 to 72 hours to identify the organism causing the infection and which antibiotic would be the most effective treatment.” The hospital’s investment in technology ena- bles the lab staff to more quickly provide the clinician the information needed to place the patient on appropriate treatment,therebymaking by LSNA and join a group of talented profession- als who have forever shaped our profession,”said Kishner.“LSNA has recognized leaders and trail- blazers in the nursing profession for 18 years, and I’m thrilled to be a part of such a distinguished group of leaders.” Kishner has worked in healthcare for 45 years, many of which have been spent in teaching and leadership positions. Throughout her nursing career, she earned more than six degrees and multiple certifications. She has also received many recognitions, awards, and achievements, including LSNA Nightingale Nurse Administrator of theYear,American College of Healthcare Exec- utives (ACHE) Regent for State of Louisiana, New Orleans CityBusiness Women of the Year hono- ree, Great 100 Nurses, and ACHE Senior Career- ist Award. “I have known Janice professionally for over 25 years. In the past two years, I have had the pleas- ure of working with Janice as my Chief Clinical Officer,” said Kim Keene, CEO of SBPH. “I have seen firsthand the significant impact to the over- all nursing care provided at our hospital due to her leadership influence. Janice has elevated nurs- ing competencies by providing mentorship that defines purpose and engages the true profession- alism of nursing.” Kishner’s career began in Canada, where she ascended to a top nursing position just nine years after embarking on her career.In February of 1983, she continued her educational and professional career in Bossier City, as a staff nurse and unit coordinator beforemoving into her 30-year career at EastJefferson General Hospital (EJGH).During Janice Kishner