HJNO Nov/Dec 2019

Hospital Rounds including clinical care and quality, patient satis- faction, and staff engagement and recruitment. Kain currently serves as the vice president and associate chief nurse executive at Indiana Univer- sity Health, a 17-hospital academic healthcare sys- tem. Prior to that role, she served at the chief nurs- ing officer at two of the system’s facilities. “We are thrilled to have a nursing leader like Ruth joining our team,” said Randy Moresi, Tulane Health System’s interim CEO. “Her past experi- ence in a complex academic system similar to ours is extremely valuable. But we are even more excited by her ability and passion for promoting a culture of safety, reliability, and patient-centered care – qualities that make her the perfect fit for Tulane Health System.” Kain earned her nursing degree from Indiana University and a master’s degree in nursing from the University of Indianapolis. She is currently pur- suing a doctorate in organizational leadership from Indiana Wesleyan University. In 2018, Kain was awarded the Indiana Univer- sity Kokomo School of Nursing’s Nurse of Distinc- tion Award. She volunteers time with the Ameri- can Heart Association, the American Red Cross, and with medical missions. North Oaks Rehabilitation Hospital Appoints New Medical Director The North Oaks Rehabilitation Hospital Board of Managers announces its appointment of Phys- iatrist Rishi Pathak, MD, as medical director and chief-of-staff. As medical director, Pathak will provide guid- ance and leadership to the staff responsible for the hospital’s comprehensive medical rehabilita- tion services offered to maximize the functional independence and quality of life for each patient. As chief of staff, he will lead the hospital’s medi- cal staff and serve as a liaison between North Oaks Rehabilitation Hospital’s providers, administration, board of managers, and the North Oaks Health System Board of Commissioners. Pathak joined the North Oaks medical staff in the fall of 2018 as a provider with North Oaks Physical Medicine & Rehabilitation Clinic, in Hammond. He came to North Oaks from Johns Hop- kins Hospital at the Kennedy Krieger Institute in we have employed, our physicians can provide each patient with a personalized surgical experi- ence based on their specific diagnosis and anat- omy,” said K. Samer Shamieh, MD, medical direc- tor of Avala Hospital. It’s exciting to be able to offer this transformative technology across the orthopedic and spine service lines.” Ochsner Health SystemPartners with Local Organizations to Provide Critical Medical Supplies to the Bahamas Ochsner Health System partnered with local entrepreneur Sidney Torres, David Wills of United Medical Providers, government officials, and other local organizations to bring critical medical sup- plies to the Abaco and Grand Bahama islands that were devastated by Hurricane Dorian.  “Our thoughts and prayers go out to those affected by Hurricane Dorian. We know firsthand the devastation that a storm of this magnitude can bring, and our hearts are with all those impacted,” said Warner Thomas, president and CEO, Och- sner Health System. “During our time of need, we were grateful for the help that came from all around the world. Now it’s our turn to give back and we are proud to work closely with Sidney Tor- res and others to provide critical medical supplies to the areas with greatest need. This is the first step in providing immediate support and we will be working towards a more comprehensive plan to continue ongoing relief efforts.” Ochsner employees, executives, and staff ral- lied together to work with its supply chain depart- ment to gather necessary supplies. Seven pallets of supplies weighing more than 5,000 pounds were loaded to be assembled into triage kits that are being delivered via an 18-wheeler to South Florida. Items donated are to assist with infection control as flood waters recede, which can cause injuries and spread disease. This includes gloves, masks, sanitation items, bandages, and IV fluids. Torres will handle the logistics of transfer to cargo planes that will fly to the Bahamas. Tulane Health SystemNames Kain Chief Nursing Officer T ulane Health System has named Ruth Kain its new chief nursing officer. In her role, Kain will pro- vide strategic leadership for all nursing functions, on employee feedback gathered through a third- party survey, administered by research part- ner Energage, a provider of technology-based employee engagement tools. “It is an honor to be recognized as a Top Work- place in New Orleans, where there are so many choices in healthcare,” said Randy Moresi, Tulane Health System’s interim CEO. “The values our employees uphold – truth, compassion, account- ability, respect, and excellence – are the back- bone of our system. And when patients see happy employees, they are confident in the care they will receive.”  The anonymous survey measures several aspects of workplace culture, including alignment, execution, and connection, just to name a few. “This recognition is a true representation of our strong culture of family and trust,” said Hiral Patel, Lakeview Regional Medical Center’s CEO. “It honors our team’s commitment and dedication to providing the highest quality of care for each and every patient. And that commitment shows across all our departments and facilities.” Lakeview Regional won a Top Workplace des- ignation last year as a campus of Tulane Medi- cal Center. Additionally, Tulane Health System was named one of the area’s Best Places to Work by New Orleans CityBusiness in 2018. “Top Workplaces is more than just recogni- tion,” said Doug Claffey, CEO of Energage. “Our research shows organizations that earn the award attract better talent, experience lower turnover and are better equipped to deliver bottom-line results. Their leaders prioritize and carefully craft a healthy workplace culture that supports employee engagement.” Avala Exceeds 500 Robotic-Assisted Surgical Procedures in One Year Avala announced it has completed its 500th robotic-assisted surgery in just a year of introducing this surgical technology to the region. In 2018, Avala purchased three surgical robots— two Stryker Mako robots for total hip, total knee, and partial knee procedures, and one Globus Excelsius GPS robot for spine procedures. Avala is the only facility in Louisiana currently able to offer these robotic-assisted procedures under one roof. “With the advancements in robotic technology 60 NOV / DEC 2019  I  Healthcare Journal of NEW ORLEANS