HJNO Mar/Apr 2024

64 MAR / APR 2024  I  HEALTHCARE JOURNAL OF NEW ORLEANS Hospital Rounds births — all of which point to healthier outcomes for patients. BDC+ designated facilities also exhibited an average savings of 21% for maternity care. Ochsner Health Named One of America’s GreatestWorkplaces for Diversity by Newsweek Newsweek and Plant-A Insights Group, a mar- ket data research firm, named Ochsner Health one of America’s Greatest Workplaces for Diversity in 2024. This is the second consecutive year Ochsner Health has received this recognition. The Newsweek survey of over 220,000 individu- als included representation at more than 1.5 mil- lion companies in America. Ochsner earned five out of five stars on the large company category score list. Newsweek utilized a scoring process to deter- mine the most diverse companies. It involved a thorough examination of publicly available data, interviews with HR professionals, and an anony- mous online survey conducted among a diverse group of employees at companies in the U.S. Respondents shared insights into corporate cul- ture, working environments, and other aspects of their own companies and other familiar compa- nies. Winning companies represent 78 industries, including large companies with more than 5,000 employees and mid-size companies with more than 1,000 employees but fewer than 5,000. “Diversity, equity and inclusion are a part of who we are at Ochsner Health. Celebrating what makes every culture and person unique is important to creating an inclusive place to work and receive care," Tracey Schiro, executive vice president, chief people and culture officer, Och- sner Health. "We continue to work together to enhance our established programs, best practices, and resources for diversity, equity, and inclusion, making Ochsner a great place to work for all.” “Diversity is a widely discussed topic — and it remains a crucial factor as people look for an employer or a business partner. Newsweek and market-data research firm Plant-A Insights are proud to introduce ‘America’s Greatest Work- places for Diversity 2024,’ highlighting compa- nies that are committed to offering diverse and inclusive work environment,” said Nancy Cooper, global editor in chief, Newsweek . UniversityMedical Center Announces Senior Leadership Additions University Medical Center New Orleans (UMC) announced additions to its leadership team. John R. Nickens, IV has been appointed as CEO of UMC. Nickens, who demonstrated exemplary leadership as the interim CEO for UMC, transi- tioned into the permanent role after just one month. Nickens will continue to serve as the pres- ident of the LCMC Health Hospital Services. In this dual capacity, he will oversee academic facil- ities, including Children's Hospital New Orleans and East Jefferson General Hospital, fostering collaboration and service excellence within the broader health system. Prior to his current role, Nickens spent five years as CEO of Children’s Hos- pital New Orleans. Allison Guste has been named the chief nurs- ing officer (CNO) of UMC. Guste, also the LCMC Health vice president of Nursing and Clinical Ser- vices, will serve in a dual role. In a brief stint of serving as interim CNO of UMC, Guste estab- lished critical processes and built lasting relation- ships with UMC nurses, leaders, and the extended team. She began her LCMC Health career as an emergency department nurse tech at Touro more than 18 years ago before transitioning to the out- patient cardiology clinic. Tom Patrias is the newly appointed chief oper- ating officer (COO) of UMC. Patrias, with a distin- guished track record as the CEO of Tulane Med- ical Center and Lakeside Hospital, brings vast leadership experience to the role. C.J. Marbley, chief operating officer and chief nursing officer at New Orleans East Hospital (NOEH), will expand his role to serve as the vice president of Nursing Services at UMC. At NOEH, Marbley oversees nursing, ancillary services, hos- pital operations, and leads outreach efforts in con- necting the hospital with the New Orleans East community and the city. “I am proud of the cohesive leadership team we’ve built to guide University Medical Center towards operational excellence and dedicated service to our community. With strong leaders driving positive change, we will continue inte- grating hospital services to enhance the experi- ences of our patients,” said Greg Feirn, CEO of LCMC Health. n John R. Nickens, IV Allison Guste Tom Patrias C.J. Marbley