HJNO Jul/Aug 2020

HEALTHCARE JOURNAL OF NEW ORLEANS I  JUL / AUG 2020 61 For weekly eNews updates and to read the journal online, visit HealthcareJournalNO.com national level, St. Tammany Health System pro- vides the care that women value most, including easily accessible services, timely diagnosis, excep- tional care, and a true dedication to their commu- nity,” Founder and CEO of the Women’s Choice Award, Delia Passi said. Noting that women make more than 80 percent of healthcare deci- sions, Passi added, “The Women’s Choice Award makes it easier for her to trust her decision that she is choosing one of the best hospitals for her- self and her family.” Ochsner Releases New Employer Toolkit Ochsner Health release an employer toolkit to assist businesses with their return to work plans. The document serves as a guide to keep employers, their employees, and their families healthy, safe, and prepared. The updated toolkit is online at: • www.ochsner.org/coronavirus • www.ochsner.org/employer-solutions Ochsner Health Launches COVID-19 Prevalence Study to Determine Virus Spread Ochsner Health announced the launch of a COVID-19 prevalence study, which will collect data to determine the spread and impact of the virus in Orleans and Jefferson Parishes. The study will offer free COVID-19 and antibody testing to enrolled parish residents at various testing sites throughout the region. Led by Principal Investigator Amy Feehan, PhD, data from the study will be analyzed to determine how widespread the virus is in our community and which populations have been most impacted. This information will provide healthcare providers and leaders with more information about the novel virus. This is one of the first and most comprehensive prevalence studies in the country. Ochsner cur- rently has more than 30 clinical studies and trials for COVID-19 treatment underway. In April, Och- sner, along with BioInfoExperts, LLC, completed the first genomic sequences of COVID-19. “To support our community through this unprec- edented pandemic, we are putting resources into not only treating, but understanding the virus,” said Dr. Leonardo Seoane, chief academic officer, Ochsner Health. “Research and clinical studies being conducted across our organization will help our hospitals, businesses and local leaders recover and prepare for COVID-19’s ongoing impact.” “We are so grateful to partner with Ochsner Health on this study to help our parish and region better understand and recover from the impact of COVID-19,” said Jefferson Parish President Cyn- thia Lee Sheng. “We all know that increased test- ing is crucial to fighting this pandemic and we thank Ochsner for their resources and commit- ment to this process.” “Together with data from the 47,000 tests that Ochsner has already administered, this prevalence study represents a critical body of knowledge as we work to better understand, and eventually treat and prevent, COVID-19. It also demon- strates Ochsner’s national leadership in devel- oping and executing one of the first true prev- alence studies in the country, while at the same time participating in more than 30 clinical stud- ies and trials for COVID-19 treatment currently underway,” said Warner Thomas, president and CEO, Ochsner Health. “Working together with New Orleans Mayor LaToya Cantrell and Parish President Cynthia Lee Sheng, we are committed to fighting this disease, stopping the spread in our communities, and emerging stronger and health- ier than before.” Ochsner hopes to enroll at least 2,500 partici- pants in the study, representing a “mini Orleans and Jefferson Parish.” Residents of all races, eth- nicities, ages, and neighborhoods are encouraged to sign up online so the study can accurately rep- resent our community. Participants must be 18 years or older, a resident of Orleans or Jefferson Parish, or not have tested positive for COVID-19 previously. Individuals who have previously tested negative for COVID-19 are eligible. Testing sites are located throughout Orleans and Jefferson Parishes. Visit testnola.org or call (504) 703-8283 for more information, or to enroll. LakeviewRegional Physician GroupWelcomes Dr. Salvatore Buttaci Lakeview Regional Medical Center, a campus of Tulane Medical Center, announced the addition of Dr. Salvatore Buttaci, a board-certified inter- ventional cardiologist, to Lakeview Regional Phy- sician Group. Buttaci joined the practice in April and is currently offering virtual visits in addition to in-person office visits. “Dr. Buttaci’s 20 years of multidisciplinary experi- ence will vastly benefit our patients suffering from heart disease,” said Hiral Patel, Lakeview Regional CEO. “He will play a pivotal role in their diagno- sis, treatment, and outcomes, and we are proud to have him join our team.” Buttaci is board-certified in nuclear cardiology and is a registered physician in vascular ultrasound interpretation. He is also board-certified in endo- vascular and vascular medicine. Buttaci offers extensive experience in catheter-based treat- ments for heart diseases including procedures such as cardiac catheterization, Impella devices, peripheral artery disease (PAD/limb salvage) and stent placement, as well as other care for heart disease. He is a Healthgrades honor roll physician and fluent in Spanish and Italian. Buttaci graduated from Universidad De Los Andes and completed an internship at Rubio Hos- pital and Central Hospital in San Cristobal, Vene- zuela. He fulfilled a residency at Jackson Memorial Hospital at the University of Miami and a fellow- ship at Henry Ford Hospital in Detroit, Michigan. Lakeview Regional Physician Group, located at 101 Judge Tanner Blvd., provides services for adult, adolescent, and limited pediatric surgical needs. Antibody Testing for COVID-19 Available to Public St. Tammany Health System continues to offer COVID-19 antibody testing at diagnostic clinics in both Mandeville and Covington. No appointment is necessary, although patients will need a physician’s order and an activated MyChart account (STPH.org/MyChart ) to receive a result. This qualitative, validated test checks for COVID-19 IgG antibodies, which increase slowly after an infection (usually two to four weeks after onset) and will be present for a protracted period. Antibody tests are not used to diagnose COVID- 19 in patients with acute symptoms. Such patients should contact their primary care provider or call (985) 898-4001.