HJNO Sep/Oct 2023

HEALTHCARE JOURNAL OF NEW ORLEANS I  SEP / OCT 2023 39 For weekly eNews updates and to read the journal online, visit HealthcareJournalNO.com medicine and technology to improve the diag- nosis and treatment of vascular conditions, reduc- ing morbidity, mortality, cost, and amputations. Upcoming one-day regional meetings are sched- uled in Atlantic City, New Jersey; Fort Lauderdale and Tampa, Florida; Lafayette, Louisiana; Chi- cago; St. Louis; and Meridian, Mississippi. The dates for the NCVH 25th Annual Conference are May 28-31, 2024, in New Orleans. Regional event attendees can receive an on-site discount for the annual conference by registering at the regional events. Joan Coffman is Chair of Vizient Southern States Board of Directors St. Tammany Health System President and CEO Joan M. Coffman, FACHE, has been appointed to serve as chair of the board of directors of Vizient Southern States, an alliance of not-for-profit healthcare providers. Coffman’s two-year term runs through spring 2025. Thibodaux Regional Health SystemOpens Cardiology Clinic in Assumption Parish Thibodaux Regional Health System announced the opening of its cardiology clinic in Assump- tion Parish. The establishment of a cardiology clinic with highly trained cardiologists and staff is another way that Thibodaux Regional is providing quality heart and vascular care utilizing the latest treat- ments and state-of-the-art technology close to home. Thibodaux Regional Cardiology Clinic is located at 2595 Highway 1 in Labadieville. LDHReleases Report on Heat- Related Illness, Hospitalizations As Louisiana begins to experience high sea- sonal temperatures, the Louisiana Department of Health (LDH) is reminding residents that extreme heat is dangerous and can be fatal. Extreme heat can be particularly dangerous after hurricanes. Of the 65 deaths attributed to hurricanes Delta, Zeta, Laura, and Ida, 22 were due to heat. An LDH report covering the years before those hurricanes also found that an aver- age of nearly 3,000 people in Louisiana are hos- pitalized or treated in emergency departments annually due to heat-related illness. The report, “Heat-Related Illness in Louisiana: Review of Emergency Department and Hospi- talization Data from 2010-2020,” was created to provide communities with accurate and reliable data on the impacts of extreme heat. Prepared by LDH’s Occupational Health & Injury Surveil- lance Program, the report also found disparities in heat-related illness, with men and Black residents being disproportionately affected. Men accounted for more than 80% of all cases. Heat is an occupational hazard, and men are more likely than women to work in outdoor, physically demanding occupations such as con- struction, agriculture, landscaping, and utilities. Black Louisiana residents had higher rates of hospitalizations. Parishes with the highest rates of workers with heat-related illness were clustered in North Lou- isiana. Hospitalizations also increased with age. Older adults are more likely to have chronic health conditions such as diabetes and cardio- vascular disease that put them at higher risk for heat-related illness. The report is part of a five-year, CDC program funded through 2026 that aims to protect Lou- isiana workers and communities from the dan- gers of heat through data, research, collabora- tion, and education. Symptoms of heat-related illnesses Exposure to extreme heat can lead to heat stress resulting in heat-related illness. Heat- related illness occur when the body cannot cool itself enough to maintain a normal temperature. Heat illness occurs along a spectrum; recognizing the signs is important for prevention. • Symptoms of heat exhaustion can include muscle pain or spasms; cold, pale, clammy skin; tiredness or weakness and dizziness; and headache and fainting. • If you’re experiencing these symptoms, move to a cool place and loosen your clothes, put a cool, wet cloth on your body or take a cool bath, and sip water. You should seek medical attention for heat exhaustion if you’re throwing up and/or if your symptoms last longer than one hour. • Symptoms of heat stroke can include a high body temperature; hot and red or dry or damp skin; fast, strong pulse; dizziness; nau- sea or vomiting; confusion; and fainting or loss of consciousness. • If someone is experiencing heat stroke, call 911 right away, move the person to a cooler place, loosen clothes, and cool the person quickly by wetting or applying ice to the neck, armpits, and groin areas. Do not give the person anything to drink. Ways to stay safe • Air conditioning is the strongest protection against heat-related illness. Exposure to air conditioning even for a few hours a day will reduce the risk of heat-related illness. • Drink plenty of fluids. Don’t wait until you’re thirsty. Avoid alcohol, caffeine, and sugary drinks. • Limit outdoor activity to morning and eve- ning hours. • Stay in the shade. • Check on people who live alone, especially the elderly. LDH is also offering free training for healthcare providers, public health workers and students, and outdoor workers. These programs discuss heat exposure and its impact on health. For more information on these programs, contact Alicia Van Doren, MD, at avandoren@tulane.edu. Ochsner Cancer Institute Earns Three-Star Rating from Society of Thoracic Surgeons The Ochsner Cancer Institute has earned a dis- tinguished three-star rating from the Society of Thoracic Surgeons (STS) for its patient care and lung cancer resection (lung lobectomy) outcomes. The three-star rating, which denotes the highest category of quality, places the Ochsner Cancer Joan M. Coffman, FACHE