HJNO Jul/Aug 2019

Healthcare Journal of NEW ORLEANS I  JUL / AUG 2019 63 For weekly eNews updates and to read the journal online, visit HealthcareJournalNO.com The Gift is an evidence-based designation pro- gram for Louisiana birthing facilities designed to increase breastfeeding rates and hospital success by improving the quality of maternity services and enhancing patient-centered care. The Gift Shin- ing Star designation indicates STPH’s excellence in meeting national and international quality mea- sures and standards of care. North Oaks Medical Center Reverified as Level II Trauma Center The American College of Surgeons (ACS) has reverified North Oaks Medical Center as a Level II Trauma Center through February of 2022, follow- ing an intense on-site evaluation earlier this year. North Oaks Medical Center first earned ACS verification as a Level II Trauma Center in 2016. ACS conducts a reverification survey every three years. Since becoming a trauma center in 2016, North Oaks has cared for nearly 5,000 trauma patients, according to Trauma Program Manager Tyler Brignac. “This achievement recognizes our team’s dedication to providing optimal care to injured patients,” said Trauma Program Medical Direc- tor Marquinn Duke, MD, FACS.  “From pre-hos- pital and emergency room care to surgical inter- vention, recovery, and rehabilitation, we offer a through the Louisiana Department of Health – Office of Public Health – Bureau of Family Health. Louisiana birthing facilities that achieve rigorous standards of performance in outcomes and partic- ipation as defined by the program are eligible for either Gift or Gift Shining Star designation. Birthing facilities are reviewed for their perfor- mance on specific maternity care practices and policies that are aligned with the evidence-based, internationally recognized Ten Steps to Success- ful Breastfeeding from the WHO/UNICEF Baby- Friendly Hospital Initiative. St. Tammany Parish Hospital earned the Baby Friendly designation in 2018. Additionally, LDH assesses hospitals for their degree of participation in quality improvement activities and implementation of available patient education materials. Policy development, educa- tion of staff, patient education, and provision of discharge resources for breastfeeding mothers are key components of the program. “We are thrilled to join the family of birthing facilities in the state that have received The Gift Shining Star designation,” said Cindy Ingram, director of women’s and children’s care at St. Tammany Parish Hospital. “This achievement demonstrates our team’s commitment to offer- ing quality, patient-centered care and highlights improvements our hospital has made to help pro- duce better outcomes for all mothers and infants.” that when they seek care at Tulane, they are going to get better, not worse,” said Jana Stonestreet, Tulane Health System’s chief nursing officer. “We work tirelessly to create an environment of care in which patient safety is paramount. I’m honored that this work is being recognized and what that means for our patients.” The Leapfrog Group is a national nonprofit orga- nization committed to improving health care qual- ity 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 per- formance in preventing medical errors, injuries, accidents, infections, and other harms to patients in their care. This is the second consecutive “A” safety rat- ing earned by Tulane Lakeside. Tulane Health Sys- tem’s other campuses – Tulane Medical Center in downtown New Orleans and Lakeview Regional Medical Center in Covington – both earned “B” safety ratings. Louisiana Department of Health Awards STPH The Gift Shining Star Louisiana Department of Public Health Gift Shining Star has conferred upon St. Tammany Parish Hospital its highest designation within The Gift program. The Gift is a quality improvement initiative and hospital designation program Below: The North Oaks Medical Center Trauma Program team and the first responders of Acadian AirMed Services celebrate the hospital’s reverification as a Level II Trauma Center during National Trauma Awareness Month in May.