HJNO Nov/Dec 2020

56 NOV / DEC 2020  I  HEALTHCARE JOURNAL OF NEW ORLEANS Hospital Rounds Thibodaux Regional Health SystemOpens Innovative Acuity Adaptable Critical Care Unit Thibodaux Regional Health System announced that its new 30-bed acuity adaptable Critical Care Unit (CCU) is now open. This innovative patient care unit is the only one of its kind in Louisiana. When the coronavirus pandemic began in early March, public health officials forecast a surge in the number of expected COVID-19 patients. Thibodaux Regional was proactive and responded to this sense of urgency and need by investing in the technology, people, processes, facilities, equipment, and supplies needed to create a new, state of the art CCU. “We are the only five-star hospital in Louisiana and a top quality care provider by national stan- dards, but we want to continue to improve,” said Greg Stock, CEO, Thibodaux Regional. “This innovative critical care unit will result in better clin- ical quality, lower costs, and an improved patient experience—all of which we already excel in.” The new CCU was designed and constructed to function as an acuity adaptable unit, which is an evidenced-based patient care model that allows the patient to remain in the same room while the level of care provided changes from intensive care (Level I) to step down (Level II) as the patient’s con- dition warrants. This care model enables staff to provide seamless comprehensive care. Featuring technology such as remote monitor- ing systems, physicians and staff are able to view patients’ vital signs and EKG rhythms in real time. Each patient room has bedside monitoring that is also linked with the medical record as an added safety measure for medication administration and documentation. The unit has private rooms with plenty of nat- ural lighting and the option to close doors and blinds, allowing for greater privacy once a patient no longer requires constant monitoring. Dedi- cated negative pressure rooms are available for COVID patients. PretermBaby Born at 22Weeks Heads Home fromTulane Lakeside Russell William Appold Jr. is a miracle baby and a fighter. This week, Russell Jr., who was born at only 22 weeks, earned the title of the youngest gestational-age baby to graduate from the Tulane Lakeside Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU). Russell Jr. came into the world at Tulane Lake- side Hospital on May 22, 2020, more than four months before his scheduled due date. He weighed just 16 ounces. Neonatal specialists were in the birthing room to immediately offer life-sav- ing intervention. That was the beginning of a long journey for baby Russell and his family. Survival rates of extremely premature infants like Russell Jr. have improved greatly in the last decade. A study published in 2018 found that approximately 38% of babies born at 22 weeks survived and were discharged to home. Over 18 weeks, Russell Jr. fought for his life and slowly made progress. His lungs matured and his breathing improved. He gained weight and was able to sustain a stable body temperature on his own. His parents, Natasha Williams and Russell Appold, were often at his side in the NICU, help- ing to care for him, hold him, and give skin-to- skin contact. “He was so small he could fit in my hand,” Rus- sell Appold Sr. said. “But now he’s a chunky baby.” Russell Jr. and his parents left the Tulane Lake- side NICU in grand style on Oct. 1, with a parade through the hospital. Baby Russell’s car seat was tucked into a decorated wagon, and his mother donned a crown as his father waved a jeweled scepter in a parade through the Tulane Lakeside Hospital halls. Thibodaux Regional Health SystemProvides COVID-19 Testing for Nicholls Athletes Thibodaux Regional Health System has teamed up with Nicholls State University Athletics to pro- vide on-going COVID-19 testing for its student- athletes, coaches, and staff. Thibodaux Regional performed over 250 initial tests in an effort to help the football, volleyball, cross-country, and soccer teams begin practice in a safe manner. “We realized we needed to secure testing after the NCAA mandate was released. We can’t thank Thibodaux Regional Health System enough for providing the COVID-19 test for each athlete required on such short notice,” said Tim Rebowe, Nicholls head football coach. “Not only did Thibodaux Regional provide us with testing, but were able to deliver results in an expedited manner. We are so thankful for our partnership with them.” TGMC Expands Cardiac Catherization and Electrophysiology Services Terrebonne General Medical Center (TGMC) is expanding their cardiology services with a new catheterization lab (Cath Lab) and an expanded electrophysiology room (EP) to accommodate growing patient volumes. With the additional cath lab, TGMC will offer a total of four state-of-the-art rooms. Each lab is equipped with the latest technology, including the Alphenix Dual Plane for flexibility and patient safety by Canon Medical Systems USA, Inc. The technology will provide physicians and medical personnel with superior imaging allow- ing clinicians to see fine details during complex interventional procedures such as stent position- ing, wire and catheter navigation through the stent struts, and observation of stent deployment. A separate EP Room will be built to accom- modate the growing patient volume and will be equipped with the world’s first high definition detector, the Alphenix Core + and Alphenix Hi- Def Detector from Canon Medical Systems USA. With this addition, which is expected to be com- pleted in October of 2020, TGMC will be the only facility in the region to offer a dedicated EP lab. Electrophysiology is the study of the heart’s elec- trical system which is used to diagnose irregu- lar heartbeats or arrhythmia. These procedures, done in partnership with Cardiovascular Insti- tute of the South (CIS), such as cardiac ablations, treat heart rhythm disorders without the need for medication. These procedures are less invasive and performed in an outpatient setting, leading to quicker recoveries and better outcomes for patients. TGMC is the only facility in the region to offer advanced cardiac electrophysiology to treat an irregular heartbeat. Tulane Lakeside Named one of Newsweek ’s Best Physical Rehabilitation Centers Tulane Lakeside Hospital’s inpatient rehabilita- tion unit has been recognized as part of News- week ’s inaugural list of Best Physical Rehabilitation Centers 2020. This award is presented by News- week and Statista Inc.