HJNO Jan/Feb 2021

32 JAN / FEB 2021  I  HEALTHCARE JOURNAL OF NEW ORLEANS   Healthcare Briefs • 19% increase in access to care for breast cancer; and a • 16% reduction in the delay of receiving care. The study also found that the increase in early- stage diagnoses was aided by the decrease in the number of people who were uninsured. “Improving health outcomes for all Louisian- ans is a top priority for the Department of Health, so it’s encouraging to have additional evidence that Medicaid expansion is working,” Phillips said. Gov. John Bel Edwards signed an executive order expanding the Medicaid program in the state on his first day in office. Expansion went into effect in July 2016 and has since boosted Louisi- anans’ access to medical care. LSUHealth TeamWins Best 2020 Radiology Image Award AuntMinnie.com awarded Bradley Spieler, MD, vice chairman of radiology research and associate professor of radiology, and Emma R. Schachner, PhD, associate professor of cell biology and anat- omy, at LSU Health New Orleans School of Med- icine the 2020 Best Radiology Image for their COVID-19 lung model project. Spieler and Schachner collaborated to cre- ate 3D models that clearly visualize the distribu- tion of COVID-19-related infection in the respira- tory system. They segmented contrast-enhanced thoracic CT scans into 3D digital surface models using the same scientific visualization program and techniques that the Schachner Lab uses for evolutionary anatomy research. Their work, com- plete with imagery and video, was published in BMJ Case Reports in August. “We believe our models help to better demon- strate the impact that coronavirus can have upon the lungs for not only healthcare professionals but also the public at large,” said Spieler. AuntMinnie.com has been called the largest and most comprehensive community website for medical imaging professionals worldwide. “Our aim is to take some of the most advanced 3D modeling methods from the evolutionary and anatomical sciences and apply them in creative ways to clinical questions in radiology,” noted Schachner. “Particularly those associated with COVID-19 and potentially other associated car- diopulmonary disorders moving forward.” The LSU Health New Orleans team is now designing follow-up studies to determine other uses for the models, such as providing an esti- mate of how long a patient may require inten- sive care or which patients may need a ventilator. “It is with great pride that we accept this award as it exemplifies the spirit of a collaborative approach to patient care between the clinical and basic sciences,” said Spieler. “Dr. Schachner and I champion a collective approach to health care and strive to bolster the promotion of such partnerships at LSU Health New Orleans and beyond.” Louisiana Department of Health Adds Antigen Tests to COVID-19 Dashboard The Louisiana Department of Health has begun incorporating antigen tests into the state’s COVID-19 reporting and dashboard. There are two different types of COVID tests – diagnostic tests and antibody tests. An antigen test is a type of diagnostic test. A diagnostic test can show if you have an active COVID-19 infection and should take steps to isolate yourself from oth- ers, and if your close contacts will need to quar- antine themselves to protect the larger commu- nity. In some settings an antigen test will need to be confirmed with a more accurate and definitive molecular/PCR test. The use of antigen tests in Louisiana has increased substantially over the past few weeks. On the COVID-19 dashboard, antigen tests are now included in Total Cases, which are then bro- ken down into Confirmed Cases (molecular/PCR) and Probable Cases (antigen). Antigen tests are also now included in Total Tests, which are simi- larly broken down so one can see which are anti- gen tests and which are PCR tests. It is important to note that at this time, PCR tests will continue to be the only type of test used to calculate percent positivity. This follows current best practices and the guidance of The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Additionally, the reporting of parish, region, and state percent positivity will be standardized as a weekly-cumulative metric throughout the dashboard. Testing for COVID-19 is a key tool in respond- ing to the pandemic. It provides vital information about who is likely to have active infection and when they should isolate to prevent the spread of the virus. Family Fall Feast Drive-By Food Giveaway Hosted at DCHCHiggins Location DePaul Community Health Centers (DCHC), formerly Daughters of Charity Health Centers, and Total Community Action, hosted its Family Fall Feast drive-by food giveaway on Nov. 14 at DCHC’s Higgins Health Center in New Orleans. Approximately 200 boxes of food were distributed. DCHCWorks to Curb Diabetes During the Pandemic Sylvia Denson, RN, diabetes programs coor- dinator and leader of the diabetes institute at DePaul Community Health Centers, reminded the community that November is Diabetes Aware- ness Month. Due to various factors, she reported seeing an increase in the number of people liv- ing with diabetes and persons deemed pre-dia- betic as the COVID-19 virus pandemic continues. “The coronavirus pandemic has greatly exposed the disparities we face in diabetes care. People living with diabetes are at a greater risk for poor outcomes when they contract the COVID-19 virus,” said Denson. “Diabetes can be prevented and controlled with small changes, when we have knowledge about the disease and support from healthcare providers and family members.” DCHC offers diabetes self-management classes and a diabetes prevention program for people who have a diagnosis of pre-diabetes or those who are at high-risk for developing diabetes. Denson offered the following tips the community may use to increase awareness about diabetes: • Ask your doctor to screen you for diabetes. • If the screen shows you are at high-risk for developing diabetes or have pre-diabetes, join a diabetes prevention class. • Slowly increase your physical activity to 30 minutes, 5 days a week. • Stay hydrated. Drink 8, 8 ounce glasses of water daily. • Increase your intake of non-starchy vegeta- bles, by 3 to 4 servings daily. • Seek help for and manage stress and depression immediately.