HJNO Sep/Oct 2023

HEALTHCARE JOURNAL OF NEW ORLEANS I  SEP / OCT 2023 41 For weekly eNews updates and to read the journal online, visit HealthcareJournalNO.com indicate a deficit of adult psychiatrists available, with projected availability only meeting approxi- mately 50% of the demand. In Louisiana, 24% of women live in a parish considered a low-access area, and 9% live in a maternity care desert. An analysis of pregnancy-associated deaths in the state from 2016 to 2017 found a 91% increase in the risk of maternal mortality for women living in a maternity care desert. The funding will also support professional development and education for advanced prac- tice nursing clinical faculty and preceptors. The project will build upon and enhance current advanced practice nursing education and train- ing for mental health and substance use disorders supported by the $1.25 million HRSA Behavioral Health Workforce and Education and Training Grant, as well as the $3 million grant for the Clin- ical Nurse Educator Academy for Region 6 to LSU Health New Orleans School of Nursing. “HRSA funding of this grant will continue to support our nursing school’s efforts to meet the current health care advanced nursing practice workforce challenges while relieving some of our students’ financial burdens,” says Demetrius J. Porche DNS, PhD, ANEF, FACHE, FAANP, FAAN, professor and dean of LSU Health New Orleans School of Nursing. Potential students who need details and appli- cation information can email srive4@lsuhsc.edu. LDH: Protect Yourself Against Mosquito-Borne Diseases The Louisiana Department of Health (LDH) is reminding the public to take precautions against mosquito bites that can expose people to West Nile virus (WNV). During 2022, Louisiana experi- enced 41 West Nile neuroinvasive disease (NID) cases and seven deaths. West Nile virus is spread by mosquitoes and can cause illness in people and animals. While 80% of human cases are asymptomatic, many people can develop West Nile fever. Symptoms of West Nile fever, which is a flu-like illness, can include fever, headache, body aches, nausea, and/or rashes. A small percentage of people sickened by West Nile virus can develop a severe form of infection called West Nile neuroinvasive disease or West Nile encephalitis, which can result in hospitaliza- tion and death. Symptoms can include high fever, stiff neck, disorientation, muscle weakness, numb- ness, coma, and paralysis. These symptoms may last several weeks and carry the risk of death or permanent brain damage. Within the last two months, there have also been locally acquired cases of malaria reported in the southern US, four in Florida and one in Texas. No locally acquired malaria cases have been iden- tified in Louisiana at this time. However, compe- tent mosquito vectors are present in the state, creating the potential for local transmission. Malaria is a serious and potentially fatal disease. Symptoms can include fever, chills, headache, myalgias, fatigue, nausea, vomiting, and diarrhea. If not treated promptly, malaria may progress to a life-threatening stage in which mental status changes, seizures, renal failure, acute respiratory distress syndrome, and coma may occur. Terrebonne General | Mary Bird Perkins Cancer Center Launches Support Group for Patients Undergoing Treatment Terrebonne General | Mary Bird Perkins Can- cer Center has launched a new resource for all patients actively undergoing treatment. A can- cer support group is open to patients, regardless of diagnosis, and will meet on the third Wednes- day of each month, from 12 p.m. to 1 p.m. in the events room on the second floor of Terre- bonne General | Mary Bird Perkins Cancer Cen- ter. A Zoom link is available for patients wishing to attend the sessions virtually. The monthly cancer support group will offer patients a comfortable venue to discuss their diagnoses, treatments, side effects, and other cancer-related topics with those who also under- stand the journey with cancer. “Through this support group, patients will be able to lean on one another, address shared experiences, and find additional support and motivation,” said Amy Boudreaux, director, can- cer program, Terrebonne General | Mary Bird Per- kins Cancer Center. The sessions will be led by Megan Lasserre, patient navigator and social worker, Terrebonne General | Mary Bird Perkins Cancer Center. For additional information, call 985-857-8093, and ask to speak to a patient navigator. Thibodaux Regional Rehabilitation Center Earns CARF Re-Accreditation Thibodaux Regional Health System announced that its rehabilitation center has been re-accred- ited by CARF International for a period of three years for its inpatient rehabilitation services. This latest accreditation is the 11th consecutive three- year accreditation that the international accred- iting body has awarded to the center. Addition- ally, Thibodaux Regional Rehabilitation Center’s Stroke Specialty Program has been re-accredited for a three-year period. This accreditation decision represents the high- est level of accreditation that can be given to an organization and shows the organization’s sub- stantial conformance to the CARF standards. An organization receiving a Three-Year Accredita- tion has put itself through a rigorous peer review process. CARF is an independent, nonprofit accrediting body whose mission is to promote the quality, value, and optimal outcomes of services through a consultative accreditation process and continu- ous improvement services that center on enhanc- ing the lives of the persons served. Ochsner Health, Novant Health Announce Partnership to Expand Patient-Centered Senior Care Ochsner Health and Novant Health have signed a letter of intent to enter a collaborative partner- ship focused on expanding access to care across the southeastern United States for the 65-plus population. This unique approach to care delivery aims to meet the needs of adults 65 and over and provide benefits beyond medical care, including social support and wellness resources to care for the whole person. The partners plan to build 65 Plus clinics throughout the Southeast, giving older adult patients access to extended visits with their pri- mary care physician and a multidisciplinary team to design a customized care plan to meet indi- vidual needs. Each clinic will have several service offerings to encourage patients to live active, healthier lives well into their senior years. Beyond medical needs, 65 Plus clinics will offer a commu- nity environment with regular social events, fit- ness centers, health coaching, and more. n