HJNO Nov/Dec 2021

62 NOV / DEC 2021  I  HEALTHCARE JOURNAL OF NEW ORLEANS Hospital Rounds patients receive the most evidence-based treat- ment guidelines to improve patient care and out- comes in the community it serves. This recogni- tion marks the sixth consecutive year Lakeview Regional has received these awards. “It is an honor to achieve these awards dur- ing such a trying year in healthcare,” said Hiral Patel, Lakeview Regional CEO. “Our commitment to our patients is unwavering, and the tools and resources provided by the Get With The Guide- lines program help us to monitor and measure our successes.” Thibodaux Regional Welcomes AimeeMoran, MD Thibodaux Regional Health System announced the addition of Aimee L. Moran, MD, family medi- cine practitioner, to the active medical staff. Moran is available to care for patients at Thibodaux Regional Family Medicine Clinic, located at 114 Highway 403 in Paincourtville, and 3928 Highway 70 South in Pierre Part. Moran received a medical degree from Loui- siana State University Health Sciences Center in New Orleans. She completed a residency in family medicine at East Jefferson General Hospital and Tulane University in Metairie. Moran is board-cer- tified by the American Board of Family Medicine. Ochsner Health Earns 2021 CHIMEDigital HealthMost Wired Recognition The College of Healthcare Information Manage- ment Executives (CHIME) announced that Och- sner Health earned 2021 CHIME Digital Health Most Wired recognition as a certified level eight out of 10. Ochsner was recognized in two catego- ries — acute and ambulatory care. Ochsner Lafayette General was also specifically recognized as a certified level nine in acute and ambulatory care. The CHIME Digital Health Most Wired pro- gram conducts an annual survey to assess how effectively healthcare organizations apply core and advanced technologies into their clinical and business programs to improve health and care in their communities. “Digital transformation in healthcare has accel- erated to an unprecedented level since 2020, and the next few years will bring a wave of innova- tion that empowers healthcare consumers and will astound the industry,” said CHIME President and CEO Russell P. Branzell. “The Digital Health Most Wired program recognizes the outstanding digital leaders who have paved the way for this imminent revolution in healthcare. Their trailblazing commit- ment to rapid transformation has set an example for the entire industry in how to pursue a leader- ship vision with determination, brilliant planning and courage to overcome all challenges.” “The CHIME Most Wired designation reinforces how we at Ochsner are innovating everyday to bring better technologies to give our patients better care,” said Laura Wilt, Ochsner Health sys- tem vice president and chief information officer. “It shows that we are at the forefront of transfor- mational healthcare.” LAOfficials, Healthcare Leaders Discussing Critical Funding Ochsner Health and LCMC Health are work- ing collaboratively with Louisiana Gov. John Bel Edwards and other national and state officials to discuss critical funding and federal support needs across the state. Top officials from Ochsner and LCMC Health joined Gov. Edwards in Washing- ton, D.C., to discuss critical recovery needs includ- ing funding to rebuild and strengthen the state’s healthcare infrastructure due to the continued COVID-19 pandemic and damage from Hurri- cane Ida. The delegation of healthcare leaders is meet- ing with Louisiana’s Congressional delegation, the White House, and the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services to request immediate federal financial assistance for hospitals directly impacted by Hurricane Ida. With hospitals and care teams stretched thin due to COVID-19 coupled with patient evacua- tions, severely damaged facilities and emergency pay and assistance for essential healthcare work- ers following Hurricane Ida, Louisiana hospitals are requesting federal funding to offset significant economic losses. Federal support for hospitals is critical to restoring healthcare services in the hard- est hit communities impacted by Hurricane Ida. “Louisiana has experienced tremendous chal- lenges and loss over the last eighteen months from COVID-19, Hurricane Ida and the seven hur- ricanes to make landfall along our coast last year. At Ochsner Health, we are working tirelessly to restore life-saving healthcare services to our com- munities and support our thousands of health- care heroes and community members rebuild. Together, with Governor Edwards, we implore our leaders to provide critical federal funding to our hospitals and build a stronger and healthier Louisiana,” said Warner L. Thomas, president and CEO, Ochsner Health. “Two public health and humanitarian crises collided at the same time this summer — the fourth surge of COVID-19 and Hurricane Ida. Our state and our health systems are strong, and we responded quickly to meet the needs of our employees and our community. We are laser focused on the short and long-term recovery of our state, and alongside the Governor will be advocating strongly for federal resources to sup- port these efforts as we navigate this challenging time for Louisiana. We are proud to lead the way for these critical resources to come to fruition,” said Greg Feirn, CEO of LCMC Health. Thibodaux Regional Health SystemWelcomes Akshit Sharma, MD Thibodaux Regional Health System announced the addition of Akshit Sharma, MD, interventional cardiologist, to the active medical staff. Sharma has joined the practice of Cardiovascular Insti- tute of the South, 1320 Martin Luther King Drive in Thibodaux. Sharma earned a Doctor of Medicine degree from Thanjavur Medical College, Tamil Nadu, India. He completed an internship and resi- dency in internal medicine at the University of Aimee L. Moran, MD