HJNO Nov/Dec 2019

Healthcare Journal of NEW ORLEANS I  NOV / DEC 2019 65 For weekly eNews updates and to read the journal online, visit HealthcareJournalNO.com received numerous awards and honors includ- ing the Michael C. Perry Endowed Fellowship Outstanding Fellow Award and Christiana Care Health System Diamond Award for Patient Care. Children’s Hospital, Ronald McDonald House Partner to Expand Family Housing Children’s Hospital New Orleans and Ronald McDonald House Charities of South Louisiana (RMHC-SLA) announced plans to jointly fund a new, expanded family housing space on the Chil- dren’s Hospital campus. The $6 million project will expand the current Ronald McDonald House New Orleans program, bringing much needed hous- ing to families from across the state and region whose children receive vital medical services in New Orleans. Upon completion of renovations to the new housing facilities, RMHC-SLA will relocate its cur- rent 15-bedroom home located at 4403 Canal Street to the new space, which nearly doubles the available accommodations for families with an additional nine family rooms. “Ronald McDonald House Charities of South Louisiana keeps families close to each other and the medical care their child needs, by providing free accommodations for the family,” said Cheryl Egan, president of RMHC-SLA’s Board of Direc- tors. “For a sick child, having family nearby is criti- cal to the healing process. We are thrilled that the joint effort with Children’s Hospital will allow us to provide on-campus housing while nearly dou- bling our impact for families traveling to our area for pediatric medical care.” Ronald McDonald House Charities provides a home-away-from-home for families of seriously ill children and provides programs that give com- fort, compassion, and care to children and their families. The renovation of the future home of Ronald McDonald House New Orleans is part of a mas- sive campus expansion project at Children’s Hos- pital that reflects a $300 million investment. Over the coming months, Children’s Hospital and RMHC-SLA will work together to formalize plans for the joint family housing initiative with construction slated to begin in 2020. n According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, every year 40,000 babies are born with congenital heart defects. Depending on the severity of the defect, doctors can repair some con- ditions through diagnostic and interventional car- diac procedures, including structural heart repairs performed in a cath lab. These minimally invasive procedures are done without opening a patient’s chest. Instead, a cardiologist accesses the heart by inserting a thin plastic tube called a catheter into a patient’s blood vessels in the leg or neck.  “Ochsner is investing in the health and wellbeing of our tiniest patients. This offering further solidifies us as a leading destination for cardiac care in the region – both for pediatric and adult patients,” said Ivory Crittendon III, MD, senior physician, pediatric cardiology, Ochsner Hospital for Children. Construction of the new Pediatric Interventional Cardiology Lab began in December of 2018 and lasted eight months. Caffey, Inc. served as the architect and contractor. The opening of the new cath lab is one of many investments Ochsner has made to expand cardiac care systemwide. Earlier this year, Ochsner Health Center – Kenner opened a second cath lab, expanding its capacity to serve cardiac patients in Jefferson, St. John the Baptist, and St. James Parishes. Thibodaux Regional Welcomes Drs. Devabhaktuni and Khokhar toMedical Staff Thibodaux Regional Health System announced the addition of Dr. Venkata Devabhaktuni, psychia- trist, to the active medical staff. His office is located at Thibodaux Medical Clinic, 931 N. Canal Boule- vard in Thibodaux. Dr. Omer Khokhar, hematologist-medical oncol- ogist, is also joining the active medical staff. He has joined Thibodaux Regional Oncology Clinic located in Thibodaux Regional’s Cancer Center. Devabhaktuni received a medical degree from Guntur Medical College in Guntur, Andhra Pradesh, India. He completed a psychiatric resi- dency program at the University Health Sciences/ Chicago Medical School in North Chicago, Ill. Khokhar received a medical degree from Lahore Medical and Dental College in Pakistan. He com- pleted an internal medicine residency as well as a fellowship in hematology and oncology at the University of Missouri in Columbia, Mo. Khokhar East and Trinity Health) and significant experience in municipal and private debt issuances and stra- tegic transactions. “I am confident that Jenny has the skills and commitment to navigate our dynamic and com- plex health system,” said Gregory Feirn, CEO, LCMC Health. “She is an exceptional leader with relevant experience to help move us forward.”  Barnett-Sarpalius most recently served as senior vice president and CFO for Cancer Treatment Centers of America, where she was responsible for system-wide operational financial oversight including strategic financial planning, budgeting, capital management, revenue cycle, and treasury and debt management. In 2012, Philadelphia Business Journal named her CFO of the Year for a large company. She was also named by Becker’s Hospital Review as “130 Women Hospital and Health System Leaders to Know.” “I am excited about returning home to Louisi- ana and becoming part of the LCMC Health fam- ily,” said Barnett-Sarpalius. A native of Lake Charles, Louisiana, Jenny earned a Bachelor of Science in Accounting from Louisiana State University. She is a member of the Health- care Financial Management Association and the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants. Ochsner Expands Cardiac Care with NewPediatric Interventional Cardiology Lab Ochsner Health System has opened a new Pedi- atric Interventional Cardiology Lab (cath lab) at its flagship campus Ochsner Medical Center – New Orleans. The new cath lab is now ready to serve Ochsner’s smallest and most complex cardiac patients and further enhances Ochsner’s capabili- ties to provide high quality care for heart patients of all ages. The 1,250 square foot space was designed with pediatric patients in mind. It features a special dose tracking system to reduce radiation exposure to pediatric patients along with a Cannon Alphe- nix Biplane – an imaging apparatus outfitted with two cameras that rotate simultaneously, leading to better visibility of the tiniest hearts. Addition- ally, patients can watch cartoons and other kid- friendly videos on a monitor while being prepped in the room for procedures.