HJNO Mar/Apr 2023

HEALTHCARE JOURNAL OF NEW ORLEANS I  MAR / APR 2023 37 For weekly eNews updates and to read the journal online, visit HealthcareJournalNO.com addressed. • 64.2% correctly recalled inpatient treatment. • 50.9% correctly recalled post-discharge treatment plans. • 43.4% correctly recalled medication changes. Whiteboards were the most frequently used facilitator (96.2%), yet their content was rated least helpful for retaining care information. Patients suggested several areas for improvement, includ- ing prioritizing bedside pen and paper along with updating whiteboards with diagnostic and thera- peutic information. “Patient education and engagement is consid- ered a key component of transitional care efforts, leading to the development of standardized dis- charge instructions and patient-centered dis- charge tools,” said Blair P. Golden, MD, MS, and Karen Okrainec, MD, MSc, FRCPC, in an accom- panying editorial. “Health systems must proac- tively address disparities that exist with regard to patient and caregiver engagement surrounding care transitions, in addition to broader structural determinants of health that have been shown to contribute to health outcomes.” USDA Proposes Reducing Sugar, Salt in School Meals New nutrition standards announced by the U.S. Department of Agriculture propose school lunches with less sugar and salt, starting in the 2025-2026 school year. Limits would impact sugary foods, including sweetened cereals, flavored milks, and yogurt. The ultimate goal is to restrict added sugars to less than 10% of total calories a week for school meals. "Many children aren’t getting the nutrition they need, and diet-related diseases are on the rise. Research shows school meals are the healthiest meals in a day for most kids, proving that they are an important tool for giving kids access to the nutrition they need for a bright future," said Agri- culture Secretary Tom Vilsack in a release. "By proposing to limit the amount of added sugars in school meals for the first time ever, the USDA is taking a major step toward helping chil- dren achieve a more nutritious diet and better health," the American Heart Association said in a statement. "Added sugars are a significant source of excess calories, provide no nutritional value, and may cause weight gain and increased risk for cardiovascular disease, diabetes, and other chronic health conditions." Also in the proposed rules, sodium would be restricted to stay within current recommenda- tions that kids 14 and older consume less than 2,300 milligrams per day. Eventually, sodium con- tent would be reduced in school meals by 30% by fall 2029. LA State Nurses Association Issues Statement on Fraudulent Nursing Degree Schemes The Department of Justice, U.S. Attorney’s Office Southern District of Florida, recently announced that 25 defendants were charged in a scheme to sell and obtain fraudulent nursing degrees for the purpose of obtaining a license and practicing as a nurse. Louisiana State Board of Nursing CEO/Executive Director Karen C. Lyon, PhD, MBA, APRN-CNS, NEA, stated, “As of January 27, 2023, three individuals on the FBI list have connections to Louisiana. Louisiana State Board of Nursing staff acted swiftly in respond- ing to each of these individuals and is committed to safeguarding the life and health of citizens of Louisiana by assuring persons practicing as Reg- istered Nurses and Advanced Practice Registered Nurses are competent and safe.” Louisiana State Nurses Association (LSNA) Pres- ident Ecoee Rooney, DNP, RN, AFN-C, NPD-BC, SANE-A, DF-AFN stated, “As a nurse I am dis- appointed to learn of this deceitful endeavor to defraud. These types of fraudulent schemes, while few, and far between, have exponential impact on the profession of nursing. Ultimately, it will be patients who suffer the greatest impact in an already overburdened health system. We are grateful for a strong and positive relationship with Louisiana State Board of Nursing and are grateful for their transparency and action. We encourage organizations, academic and prac- tice, to rely on LSBN and the Department of Jus- tice OIG to provide reliable accounts of the story as it develops.” LSNA Executive Director Ahn- yel Burkes, DNP, RN-BC, NEA-BC, stated, “This fraudulent act is not a reflection of the integrity of the nursing profession or the code of ethics which guides our profession. LSNA commends the Louisiana State Board of Nursing and others for their prompt actions to continue protecting our communities.” For more than two decades, the public has rated the honesty and ethical standards of nurses as the highest among all evaluated profession- als. U.S. Department of Health & Human Services Special Agent Omar Pérez Aybar stated in a news conference, “To date, we have not learned of, nor uncovered, any evidence of patient harm stem- ming from these individuals potentially providing services to patients.” Louisiana nurses are encouraged to contact the Louisiana State Board of Nursing, 225-755-7500 or lsbn@lsbn.state.la.us with any concerns about a colleague’s ability to practice safely and com- petently. Formal complaints should be submit- ted online using the LSBN complaint portal, lsbn. boardsofnursing.org/complaint. DCHC to Provide Free Dental Screenings on Give Kids A Smile Day DePaul Community Health Centers (DCHC) will offer free dental screenings with the return of Give Kids A Smile Day on March 4 at the Car- rollton health center, 3201 South Carrollton Ave., from 8 a.m.-noon. Free dental screenings, avail- able on a first-come-first-served basis for children ages 1 to 10 years old, include complimentary flu- oride treatments. Additionally, children will enjoy face painting, balloon art, story time, characters, and lots of giveaways. Previous Give Kids A Smile events at DCHC attracted more than 250 peo- ple, so attendees are asked to arrive as early as possible. Give Kids A Smile was launched nationally by the American Dental Association in 2003. Since that time, more than five million underserved children have received free oral health services. Nationwide, services are provided by approxi- mately 10,000 dentists annually, along with 30,000 other dental team members. Henry Schien, a worldwide provider of medical and dental sup- plies, is the sponsor. Ochsner Health Opens Clearview Medical Complex inMetairie Ochsner Health leaders joined with Jeffer- son Parish officials to celebrate the opening of