HJNO Jul/Aug 2019

Healthcare Journal of NEW ORLEANS I  JUL / AUG 2019 59 For weekly eNews updates and to read the journal online, visit HealthcareJournalNO.com onsite surveys from AABB (American Association of Blood Banks) and the College of American Pathologists (CAP). The laboratory has been CAP-accredited since 1996, and its blood bank has been AABB-accred- ited since 1974. AABB is a Maryland-based peer review assess- ment program. Accreditation through the pro- gram is voluntary and validates North Oaks’ com- mitment to the highest standards of excellence for blood transfusion activities. The AABB Accredita- tion Program contributes to the quality and safety of collecting, processing, testing, distributing and administering blood and cellular therapy prod- ucts. The basis for assessment is compliance with AABB standards, the Code of Federal Regulations and other federal guidance documents. The federal government recognizes the CAP accreditation process as being equal to or more stringent than its own inspection program. During the CAP accreditation process, inspectors exam- ine the laboratory’s records and the procedure quality controls of the preceding two years. CAP inspectors also examine staff qualifications, as well as the laboratory’s equipment, facilities, safety program and record, and overall management. “Successful CAP and AABB reaccreditation val- idate the high level of service and quality pro- vided by our team,” asserts Steven Ceulemans, laboratory director for North Oaks Health System. “These accreditations affirm that we are meeting the most current regulatory standards and qual- ity guidelines.” St. Bernard Parish Hospital CEONamed Healthcare Hero St. Bernard Parish Hospital (SBPH) CEO Kim Keene has been recognized as a Healthcare Hero by New Orleans CityBusiness. CityBusiness rec- ognizes 50 individuals working in the healthcare industry in southeast Louisiana annually. Honorees are selected based on professional achievement, community involvement, and testimonials and nominations from colleagues and patients. Keene was also recognized as a CityBusiness Woman of the Year in late 2018. “I’m truly honored to be recognized alongside physicians, nurses, and leaders that I have worked with and admire,” said Keene. “I am extremely proud to work alongside a talented, passionate in Louisiana, more than 2,000 people are on the waiting list.  Although organ donation is a life-saving gift, it is often misunderstood. Ochsner Health System breaks down five common myths associated with organ donation: Myth: I’m too old to be a donor. Fact: There’s no age limit to organ donation. To date, the oldest donor in the U.S. was age 93. What matters is the health and condition of your organs when you die.  Myth: I don’t think my religion supports donation. Fact: Most major religions in the United States support organ donation and consider donation as the final act of love and generosity toward others. Myth: If they see I’m a donor at the hospital, they won’t try to save my life. Fact: When you are sick or injured and admit- ted to a hospital, the one and only priority is to save your life. Period. Donation doesn’t become a possibility until all lifesaving methods have failed. Myth: Rich or famous people on the waiting list get organs faster. Fact: A national computer system matches donated organs to recipients. The factors used in matching include blood type, time spent waiting, other important medical information, how sick the person is and geographic location. Race, income, and celebrity are NEVER considered. Myth: Somebody could take my organs and sell them. Fact: Federal law prohibits buying and selling organs in the U.S. Violators can be punished with prison sentences and fines.  “Dispelling myths about organ donation is criti- cally important. Twenty-two people die unneces- sarily each day because there are too few organ donors,” said Ari Cohen, MD, MSc, FRCSC, FACS, abdominal transplant surgery head of the Ochsner Multi-Organ Transplant Institute. “While 95 per- cent of Americans are in favor of being a donor, only 58 percent are registered. We can make up the difference to help save and change the lives of those waiting.” North Oaks Laboratories Earn National Accreditations for Quality North Oaks Health System’s Laboratories recently earned accreditation renewals following Hospitals” found in the United States and the only hospital in southern Louisiana on the list. This is the latest of several accolades earned by the hospital for its quality care. Tulane Medi- cal Center was recently named a Top 50 Cardio- vascular Hospital by IBM Watson Health in its 2019 study of U.S. hospitals’ inpatient cardiology services. The hospital was also recognized as a 2018-19 High-Performing Hospital by U.S. News & World Report for its treatment of two of the region’s most serious health concerns – chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) and heart failure. Leapfrog Group Awards STPH another ‘A’ for Safety St. Tammany Parish Hospital was once again awarded an “A” from The Leapfrog Group dur- ing its spring 2019 Leapfrog Hospital Safety Grade review period. This marks the seventh consecutive grading period in which STPH has earned the highest safety rating. Rating periods occur every six months, in spring and fall. The designation recognizes STPH’s efforts to protect patients and deliver safe, high qual- ity healthcare. The Leapfrog Group is a national nonprofit organization committed to improving healthcare quality and safety for consumers and purchasers. The Safety Grade assigns an A, B, C, D, or F grade to hospitals across the country based on their performance in preventing medi- cal errors, injuries, accidents, infections, and other harms to patients in their care. “To be recognized nationally as an ‘A’ hospi- tal is an accomplishment the whole community should take pride in,” said Leah Binder, president and CEO of The Leapfrog Group. “Hospitals that earn an ‘A’ grade are making it a priority to protect patients from preventable medical harm and error. We congratulate hospital leaders, board mem- bers, staff, volunteers and clinicians who work so hard to earn this ‘A.’”  Ochsner Health System Addresses Five Common Organ DonationMyths According to Donate Life America and the Louisiana Organ Procurement Agency, more than 114,000 men, women, and children are cur- rently waiting for lifesaving organ transplants and