HJNO May/Jun 2023

HEALTHCARE JOURNAL OF NEW ORLEANS I  MAY / JUN 2023 63 For weekly eNews updates and to read the journal online, visit HealthcareJournalNO.com Cian, the Be SMART volunteer leader in Louisi- ana. “Together, we’ll work to keep our kids and communities safe from the dangers of unsecured firearms.” Visit chnola.org/besmart or besmartforkids.org/ Louisiana for more information about upcom- ing biometric gun lock giveaways, tools, and resources. Terrebonne General Health SystemEarns 2023 CNOR Strong Designation Terrebonne General Health System announced that it has recently earned the Certified Periop- erative Nurse (CNOR) Strong designation from the Competency & Credentialing Institute (CCI). The Terrebonne General Surgery Department exceeds the national average for certified surgi- cal nurses by more than 25%, with 75% of surgical nurses achieving CNOR certification and being nationally certified in their specialty. “We are proud of our nurses who have worked toward this certification,” said Phyllis Peoples, president and CEO. “Their commitment to improving their knowledge and skills allows us to provide a higher level of exceptional healthcare for our surgical patients.” The CNOR certification allows nurses to dem- onstrate their commitment to exceptional patient safety and adhere to current standards in their field of practice. Earning the CNOR is a mark of distinction and demonstrates a commitment to upholding the highest standards in patient safety. Research shows that nurses who earn the CNOR credential have greater confidence in their clin- ical practice. Teams of CNOR-certified nurses who have mastered the standards of perioper- ative practice have been correlated to improved outcomes in surgical patients. SMH, Ochsner Name Claire Chitwood as Chief Operating Officer Slidell Memorial Hospital (SMH) and Ochsner Health welcomed Claire Chitwood as divisional chief operating officer in January. Chitwood sup- ports both Slidell Memorial Hospital and Ochsner Medical Center – North Shore. Chitwood is a senior healthcare executive with more than 20 years’ experience working in a vari- ety of operational roles within physician organi- zations, clinics, and hospitals. She brings a foun- dation in healthcare technology and operations that includes responsibility for human resources, ancillary services, plant operations, and physician recruitment and contracting. Her background includes being a strategic partner to adminis- trative and clinical leadership. Her varied and multi-faceted exposure has also provided her in-depth knowledge in the areas of finance and compliance. Chitwood most recently served as the senior vice president/chief administrative officer for Phelps Health, a county-owned, 242-bed com- munity hospital with several clinics serving a 6-county area in Rolla, Missouri. There, she served a year-long appointment as a transitional leader; Phelps was going through a transition, and Chit- wood was responsible for uniting the hospital and medical group, developing a strategy and culture to bring them together as one organiza- tion. She was instrumental in creating service lines, revised physician and provider contracts, and cre- ated retention and recruitment strategies for the organization. Prior to her position at Phelps, Chitwood was chief operating officer at Granger Medical Clinic in Utah. She was responsible for operations within all clinical sites, lab and imaging, environmental Terrebonne General Health System received a $75,000 donation from The Foundation for Terrebonne General to purchase a mobile care clinic. Pictured at the check presentation are, left to right, John Rogers, Foundation treasurer; Mike Fakier, Terrebonne General Board member; Angelique Barker, Terrebonne General Board chair; Rev. Robert Ross, Terrebonne General Board member; Mary Chauvin, Foundation vice chair; Phyllis Peoples, Terrebonne General president and CEO; Bernadette Pickett, Terrebonne General Board member; Elmy Savoie, executive director, Foundation for Terrebonne General; Jay Walker, Foundation chair; Paul Labat, Foundation Board member; and Diane Yeates, chief operating officer, Terrebonne General Health System. Claire Chitwood