HJNO Jul/Aug 2020

64 JUL / AUG 2020  I  HEALTHCARE JOURNAL OF NEW ORLEANS Hospital Rounds “We’re excited to partner with hospitals and health systems in our area on this important proj- ect,” said Dr. Jyotsna Fuloria, vice president of clinical research at University Medical Center, which is part of LCMC Health. “Our healthcare workers have been at the forefront of the New Orleans COVID-19 response. Participating in the HERO Registry is one of the many ways we are involved in researching questions and collecting data that will enable us to enhance our support of our people both in the near and distant future.” To learn more about the HERO Registry, visit https://heroesresearch.org. NewOrleans Healthcare Leader Named President of National Board Shelly Monks, FACHE, has been named presi- dent of the board of directors for the Alliance of Independent Academic Medical Centers (AIAMC). Monks’ two-year term commenced April 1. Monks is system vice president of academic affairs at Ochsner Health, located in New Orleans, and chief administrative officer for the University of Queensland, Ochsner Clinical School, also based in New Orleans. Before joining Ochsner Health, Monks was the senior vice president of professional and academic affairs at Parkland Health and Hospital System in Dallas. Monks was appointed to the AIAMC Board of Directors in 2010, and named vice president/ president-elect in 2018. AIAMC Executive Direc- tor Kimberly Pierce-Boggs said, “Ms. Monks’ ser- vice to the AIAMC has been exemplary, and we look forward to her continued leadership and vision. The breadth and depth of her experience across the continuum of medical education, as well as research, strengthen the AIAMC mission of innovative education and scholarship that drives exceptional patient care.” Monks shared, “I have had the privilege to work with and learn from smart, compassionate, and dedicated mentors and colleagues, many of whom were and are recognized as national lead- ers. It is with humility and respect that I look for- ward to contributing to the national academic medicine conversation as the president of the AIAMC. My goal is to ensure that our member organizations are supported as they continue to embrace their mission to guarantee all learners across the medical education continuum are well trained and prepared to deliver care to the com- munities they serve.” Tulane Neuroscience Center One of First in U.S. to Use NewAneurysmTreatment Tulane Medical Center is one of just eight hos- pitals selected by the manufacturer to initially use the FRED™ – or Flow Redirection Endoluminal Device. “The FRED™ is another tool that lets us avoid invasive, open-brain surgeries to treat aneu- rysms,” said Dr. John Nerva, who performed the procedure along with Dr. Aaron Dumont and Dr. Peter Amenta. “In this particular case, the FRED™ presented treatment options with less chance of stroke or other adverse effects than traditional treatments. I think we’re going to see that be the case with many other patients to come.” A brain aneurysm is an abnormal bulging or bal- looning of an artery in the brain caused by weak- ness in the vessel wall. These aneurysms fill with blood and can rupture, causing serious problems including, severe functional disability, cognitive loss, and even death. Often aneurysms that occur where one vessel splits to two can have a wide base and require a surgical solution, in which a physician performs brain surgery and blocks blood flow to the aneu- rysm. The FRED™ is instead deployed through a tiny catheter inserted in a patient’s leg that then travels up an artery and into the brain. There, it sits in the artery and diverts the blood flow from the aneurysm to keep it from rupturing. “When you can avoid an invasive brain surgery, you’ll typically see shorter recovery times, too,” Dr. Nerva said. “Our first patient went home the day after the procedure and is doing great.” Last year, Tulane Medical Center was also one of the first hospitals in the country to use the WEB™ Aneurysm Embolization System, which also pro- vides a less-invasive option for the treatment of aneurysms. Both options use just one device to treat challenging aneurysms that often require multiple implants, and they can reduce the time it takes to perform the procedure while also reduc- ing the amount of medication the patient requires afterward. Ochsner Develops Safe to Return Plans for Local Organizations Ochsner Health has developed a variety of Safe to Return plans to meet the needs of employers as they started their own risk mitigation planning to safely bring back their employees and customers. “There are many unknowns with COVID-19, but it is possible to protect employees and customers, and thus enable a safe return to business by fol- lowing certain safety measures and guidelines,” said Mark Muller, senior vice president of strat- egy and business development, Ochsner Health Ochsner Employer Solutions offers three com- prehensive Safe to Return plans. The solutions include, but are not limited to, on-site assess- ments and recommendations on how to create a safe work environment, such as: • On-site screening stations • Access to education • Signage and resources • On-site Virtual Employer Clinic, powered by TytoCare, so employees can see a doctor vir- tually without leaving the office. Ochsner is already working with various organi- zations—large and small—on these safe to return initiatives, including Stirling Properties, a Coving- ton-based commercial real estate company. Och- sner is currently onsite at the Pan American Life Center in downtown New Orleans, helping to safely transition hundreds of employees back to work across 28 stories and 674,000 square feet. Ochsner is also implementing safe to return plans at Loyola University New Orleans. Loyola’s needs include ensuring the health and safety of its entire campus, which includes classrooms, dor- mitories, dining halls, sporting venues, and other Shelly Monks, FACHE