HJNO Jul/Aug 2019

Healthcare Journal of NEW ORLEANS I  JUL / AUG 2019 57 For weekly eNews updates and to read the journal online, visit HealthcareJournalNO.com Patel is responsible for directing patient safety and quality in the organization. He will serve as a liaison to the medical staff and work closely to engage UMC’s academic partners in the strategic initiatives that further UMC’s mission. “We’re excited to welcome Dr. Patel to Univer- sity Medical Center New Orleans at an exciting time for our organization,” said Paolo Zambito, UMC’s interim CEO. “We’re continuing to grow and expand our services to benefit our patient population and the New Orleans region. Dr. Patel is an energetic leader who will bring great insight and experience to University Medical Center.” Before being appointed chief medical officer/ vice president of medical affairs at Saint Louis Uni- versity Hospital, he served as the hospital’s Interim chief medical officer, infection control officer, and director of antibiotic stewardship. St. Bernard Parish Hospital Holds Inaugural Family- FriendlyWellness Expo St. Bernard Parish Hospital (SBPH) held the St. Bernard Parish Wellness Expo, which offered health screenings, cooking demonstrations, and fun activities for the entire family. The event was held at 8000 West Judge Perez Drive in Chalmette. To address major contributors to chronic dis- ease and to provide safety education, SBPH pro- vided the following: • Body mass index (BMI) • Blood pressure • Skin cancer checks • Blood mobile • Diabetes education • Smoking cessation education • SBPSO D.A.R.E. • Ambulance Tours • SBFD smoke house. With a focus on health and wellness for all ages, the expo featured live fitness demonstrations, including yoga and Zumba, an obstacle course, a petting zoo, and science, technology, engineer- ing and math (STEM) activities. Cooking demon- strations presented by Ochsner Health System provided instruction on cooking healthy and bal- anced meals the whole family can enjoy.  “As the health and wellness leader of our parish, we are proud to be able to provide a free, educa- tional event for our community to learn how we can incorporate changes, big and small, into our daily lifestyles that can make all of the difference in our long-term health. Instilling these habits early in some of our youngest community members will help to lower the number of chronic diseases we see in generations moving forward,” said Kim Keene, CEO, St. Bernard Parish Hospital. The Ochsner Digital Medicine team will also be on site demonstrating how Innovation Ochsner’s programs put smart technology in the hands of the patients and provide medical teams with real- time data. The team will also be showcasing and facilitating registration for MyOchsner, an online tool where patients can book appointments, view records and test results, message providers, and more. The St. Bernard Parish Wellness Expo is sup- ported by The Meraux Foundation, Valero Meraux Refinery, The Lorio Dauterive St. Bernard Patient Assistance Fund, and GNOF ExxonMobil Fun. Tulane Neuroscience Center First in Region to Use Innovative AneurysmTreatment The Tulane Neuroscience Center’s neurosurgery team became the first in the Gulf South region to successfully deploy an innovative new treatment for brain aneurysms, just two months after it was approved for use in the United States by the Food and Drug Administration. “This new procedure really changes the land- scape of how we treat these types of aneurysms,” said Dr. Aaron Dumont, who performed the pro- cedure along with Drs. Peter Amenta and John Nerva. “These are typically treated with an inva- sive brain surgery. Now, we have a new, minimally invasive technique that is much safer and more efficient. The procedure took 20 minutes, the patient went home the next day, and he’s doing great.” A brain aneurysm is an abnormal bulging or bal- looning of an artery in the brain caused by weak- ness in the vessel wall. These aneurysms fill with blood and can rupture, causing serious problems including severe functional disability, cognitive loss, and even death. Often aneurysms that occur where one vessel splits to two can have a wide base and require a surgical solution, in which a physician performs brain surgery and blocks blood flow to the aneu- rysm by applying a small metal clip to its base. The WEB™ Aneurysm Embolization System deployed at Tulane Medical Center uses a cath- eter to insert a small device in a patient’s leg that then travels up an artery and into the brain. There, the device expands into a tiny basket with ultra- fine wires braided together. This mesh stabilizes the aneurysm and prevents it from rupturing. “This has been used in Europe for quite some time, and it has had really excellent results there,” Dumont said. “We are thrilled to be among the first to offer it to patients here in the United States.” This new device also provides several advan- tages when compared to traditional procedures like the use of endovascular stents, Dumont added. The WEB™ system uses just one device to treat challenging aneurysms that often require multiple implants, he said, and it may reduce the time it takes to perform the procedure while also reducing the amount of medication the patient requires after the procedure. Children’s Hospital New Orleans, OLOL Children’s Health Collaborate to Advance Pediatric Surgical Heart Care The two largest providers of pediatric healthcare in Louisiana are joining together to provide fam- ilies even more access to innovative and quality healthcare. Children’s Hospital New Orleans and Our Lady of the Lake Children’s Health recently signed a letter of intent to create a regional pedi- atric cardiovascular surgical healthcare delivery network. The parties will align expertise and resources to expand access to specialized pediatric Nirav Patel, MD