HJNO Sep/Oct 2020

64 SEP / OCT 2020  I  HEALTHCARE JOURNAL OF NEW ORLEANS Hospital Rounds joined Children’s Hospital in 2019 from Cincinnati Children’s Hospital--the # 3 ranked children’s hos- pital by U.S. News & World Report--where he was medical director of cardiology. “The growth of our Heart Center team has posi- tioned Children’s Hospital New Orleans to expand specialized pediatric cardiology services for chil- dren and families across the State of Louisiana and the Gulf South” says John R. Nickens IV, president and chief executive officer at Children’s Hospital New Orleans. “Dr. Pigula will bring a level of expe- rience and expertise in congenital heart surgery that is unmatched in our region.” Scott Promoted to North Oaks Director of Patient Services Edna Scott, MSN, RN, was promoted to director of patient services for North Oaks Medical Center.  Scott is a 29-year veteran North Oaks employee. She brings 15 years of supervisory experience to her new role helping to oversee the clinical care provided to patients across the health care continuum. In making the announcement, North Oaks Chief Nursing Officer Kirsten Riney affirms, “Edna brings a wealth of knowledge and experience to the nursing leadership team, and I look forward to working with her to engage our staff in the provision of high-quality, safe healthcare for our community.” Since 2017, Scott has served as nursing oper- ations manager for North Oaks Medical Center. Additional management experience includes ful- filling the roles of nursing support supervisor in 2016 and medicine unit coordinator for 10 years. She also worked in direct patient care as a charge nurse on the telemetry unit. While in nursing school, she gained experience as a nursing assis- tant, also on the hospital’s telemetry unit. Scott completed a master’s degree in nursing through the University of Phoenix based in Ari- zona. She earned bachelor’s degrees in nursing and business management from Southeastern Louisiana University. Warner Thomas, President and CEO of Ochsner Health, Named Trustee to American Hospital Association Board The American Hospital Association has elected eight new members to its board of trustees for three-year terms, beginning Jan. 1, 2021. The board of trustees is the highest policymaking body of the AHA and has ultimate authority for the governance and management of its directions and finances. Warner Thomas, president and CEO of Ochsner Health, was named as one of the new trustees. Prior to his current role, Thomas served as COO of Ochsner and COO of Ochsner Clinic Foundation. LCMCHealth’s Touro andWest JeffersonMedical Center Achieve Level 2 Geriatric Emergency Department Accreditation LCMC Health announced that Touro and West Jefferson Medical Center have achieved the silver standard Level 2 Geriatric Emergency Department Accreditation (GEDA) from The American College of Emergency Physicians, with support from The Gary and Mary West Health Institute and John A. Hartford Foundation. The GEDA accreditation recognizes those emergency departments that provide excellent care for older adults. Touro and West Jefferson Medical Center are the first hospitals in Louisiana to achieve this accreditation, the highest accreditation in the State for senior emergency care. To garner this, the hospitals’ emergency physicians and nurses have received specialized geriatric emergency care training that goes above and beyond emer- gency care, specializing in the needs of patients over 65 years of age. “LCMC Health is committed to ensuring our aging patients, families, and caregivers have access to high-quality medical care that ensures they are safe and well-cared for,” said Greg Feirn, CEO of LCMC Health. “Our hospitals are proud of the services we offer our senior population, which is a testament to the dedicated team we have in place that cares for this great group of patients, so deserving of healthcare with heart.” Touro and West Jefferson Medical Center have designed emergency care areas with seniors in mind. This includes: • Emergency room improvements include specialized hospital beds. The mattresses are designed to prevent bed sores and skin irritation, something that is common to senior patients. The beds can be lowered further to the ground to reduce the risk for fall and provide ease of mobility. • Special lighting has been installed, as well as large clocks and descriptive signage in the rooms, making it easier to read for patients and produce a more calming environment. • The flooring is designed to be slip proof, another fall prevention measure. • There is increased accessibility to mobil- ity aids, including canes, walkers, and wheelchairs. The special level of healthcare increases beyond the emergency room, as a senior care nurse navi- gator and dedicated case management person- nel ensure proper follow-up care during a subse- quent hospital stay and after discharge. “Senior care is a vital service for our aging pop- ulation, and Touro is honored to bring that service to our community,” said Manny Linares, president and chief executive officer at Touro. “Whether you are having a heart attack, a stroke, or you had a bad fall, our senior care emergency room is the best place to receive care. We know that Edna Scott, MSN, RN Warner Thomas