HJNO Jan/Feb 2024

HEALTHCARE JOURNAL OF NEW ORLEANS I  JAN / FEB 2024 65 For weekly eNews updates and to read the journal online, visit HealthcareJournalNO.com —where he was Director of Pharmacy Operations, in charge of more than 600 locations.” Terrebonne General Pharmacy is now open Monday-Friday from 8 a.m.-5 p.m. and offers over-the-counter medications and curbside ser- vice along with many other items. St. Tammany Health System Named Among Nation’s Best for Maternity Care St. Tammany Health System’s flagship St. Tam- many Parish Hospital has been named to U.S. News & World Report’ s list of the nation’s Best Hospitals for Maternity Care for 2023-2024. In developing its rankings, the publication eval- uated the labor and delivery care units at 680 U.S. hospitals, with a specific focus on patients with uncomplicated pregnancies. St. Tammany was deemed a high-performing hospital, with an “excellent” rate at minimizing avoidable C-sections and at avoiding earlier-than- recommended deliveries. Other areas in which it was singled out for dis- tinction included the availability of private rooms, an on-site neonatal intensive care unit, childbirth classes, breast-feeding support, and perinatal screening and services. Ochsner Announces Chief CommunityMedical Officer Ochsner Health announced that Yvens Laborde, MD, has been named chief community medical officer for the medical system. In this new role, Laborde is driving Ochsner’s comprehensive com- munity strategy to promote health equity and fur- ther align initiatives under Healthy State, a col- laborative effort with government, nonprofit, and business organizations to promote health and wellness in Louisiana. Laborde will deepen his work with Ochsner’s community outreach and community health part- ners to develop and implement programs focused on improving health and wellness in local commu- nities. He will also develop programs to train and educate students and healthcare professionals on the principles and practices of health equity and social drivers of health and wellness. Laborde has been instrumental in Ochsner’s community and global health efforts since joining the health system in 1995 as an internal medicine physician. Most recently, he served as the medi- cal director of global and community health and led local, regional, and global efforts focused on improving health outcomes around the world. He served as physician advisor during Hurri- cane Ida emergency response efforts; supported the Community Health Needs Assessment; led humanitarian relief efforts following devastating natural events in Haiti, Dominican Republic, and Bahamas; and orchestrated outreach during the COVID-19 pandemic to reinforce equitable vac- cine and testing in the community. Terrebonne General Health SystemReceives Designation from IDSA Terrebonne General Health System has been awarded the Antimicrobial Stewardship Center of Excellence designation by the Infectious Diseases Society of America. The designation recognizes Terrebonne General for creating a stewardship program led by infectious diseases-trained phy- sicians and pharmacists that advance science in antimicrobial resistance. Terrebonne General has also achieved standards aligned with evidence- based national guidelines, such as the IDSA- Society for Healthcare Epidemiology of America guidelines and Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s Core Elements. A total of 177 pro- grams nationwide have received the designation since the program’s launch in 2017. “I’m proud of our Antimicrobial Stewardship team for achieving this recognition. Meeting the high standards set by the IDSA aligns with our goals and is a true testament to our ongoing efforts of improving antibiotic medication use,” said Phyllis Peoples, president and CEO. Ochsner Health, Team Gleason Partner to Enhance Healthcare for ALS Patients Ochsner Health and Team Gleason announced a partnership to enhance healthcare, clinical research and care, technology, and equipment solutions and other resources for those living with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) and other neu- rological disorders. With this partnership, Och- sner and Team Gleason combine their expertise to bring patients a continuum of care experience that delivers evaluations, treatments, teaching and training, and innovative equipment and technol- ogy, supporting the shared mission of increasing independence and quality of life to those suffering from ALS and other neurological diseases. The collaboration includes multiple components aimed at bringing together Ochsner’s clinical ser- vices and innovation capabilities and Team Glea- son’s innovative care solutions and other support services to provide ALS patients with continued purpose and independence. The TeamGleason Assistive Technology Lab will be built in the recently announced Robert J. and Debra H. Patrick Neuroscience Center, a destina- tion care center for neurologic diseases. This lab is specifically designed to replicate at-home living spaces to help patients facing ALS and other neu- rogenerative conditions learn how to use cutting- edge equipment and technology for increased independence, mobility, communication, and safety. Speech language pathologists and occu- pational therapists will guide patients and their caregivers in the lab, finding solutions and tech- nology to meet their specific needs, as well as pro- viding ongoing education and resources through- out their ALS journey. The Team Gleason Foundation will relocate its office to Benson Tower, allowing the team to work alongside Ochsner Ventures, innovationOchsner (iO), and the Ochsner Connected Health teams, enhancing collaborative opportunities. The Ben- son Tower location, located in BioDistrict New Orleans, allows for Team Gleason to continue to expand its resources to meet the growing need for their specialized care services. Team Gleason’s new home is in the heart of the city’s BioDistrict, a hub for biomedical job growth and investments. Ochsner, home to Ochsner Neuroscience Insti- tute, one of the nation’s leading neurology and neurosurgery programs, announced a transfor- mational gift to create the Robert J. and Debra H. Patrick Neuroscience Center in late 2022. Upon completion in 2026, the Patrick Neurosci- ence Center will be the only freestanding major neuroscience facility of its kind between Houston and Atlanta. The center will include a multi-spe- cialty early onset dementia clinic, expand patient education and caregiver support, and include a state-of-the art neurological rehabilitation center with an integrative therapies program for brain health. n