HJNO Sep/Oct 2024

64 SEP / OCT 2024  I  HEALTHCARE JOURNAL OF NEW ORLEANS Hospital Rounds • Ochsner LSU Health St. Mary Medical Center. • Ochsner Medical Center West Bank.** • Our Lady of the Angels Hospital. • Rapides Women’s and Children’s Hospital.** • St. Tammany Health System.** • Touro Infirmary LCMC Health. • West Jefferson Medical Center LCMC Health.** • Woman’s Hospital. *indicates a newly designated Birth Ready facility **indicates a facility that enhanced their Birth Ready Designation to Birth Ready+ To achieve designation, birthing hospitals met criteria in five dimensions, including implemen- tation of policies and procedures to improve rec- ognition and response to clinical causes of severe maternal morbidity, promoting patient partner- ship, and addressing health disparities and equity. Birthing hospitals that have achieved Louisiana Birth Ready+ Designation have met a higher threshold of compliance and achievement of the requirements. Newsweek Names St. Tammany Parish Hospital among Best in State, Nation Newsweek has named St. Tammany Health Sys- tem’s flagship St. Tammany Parish Hospital one of the best hospitals in America and the fourth-best hospital in the state of Louisiana, according to its recently released 2024 rankings. It is the only Northshore hospital and one of only 17 Louisiana hospitals to make the list. “We at St. Tammany Health System have long strived to deliver world-class healthcare close to home for our Northshore neighbors, and this recognition proves yet again that we are keeping good on that promise,” STHS President and CEO Joan Coffman said. “I am grateful to Newsweek for this honor and to our team of 3,000-plus com- passionate healthcare professionals who make it their mission every day to live our mission and to exemplify our established Culture of Caring.” Newsweek ’s ranking of America’s Best In-State Hospitals recognizes the nation’s 600 leading hos- pitals and health systems. Visit the program website to learn more at https://www.ochsner.org/ventures/funds. n of the hospitals awarded designation have been working with the LaPQC over the last several years to improve outcomes for mothers and their new- borns in the state of Louisiana. One hospital achieved the Birth Ready designa- tion this year for the first time: St. Francis Medical Center (Monroe). All other hospitals listed below were re-accredited as part of the annual review and renewal process. “Birthing hospitals across Louisiana are work- ing hard to ensure the safe and equitable delivery of care to Louisiana families,” said Veronica Gil- lespie-Bell, MD, medical director of the LaPQC. “Quality improvement teams in birthing hospitals are persevering through the current challenges in healthcare, including staff shortages, to make sure their processes are resilient and consistent in order to see improved outcomes.” The following Louisiana birthing hospitals have achieved Birth Ready Designation: • Christus Ochsner Lake Area Hospital. • Christus Shreveport-Bossier – Highland Medical Center. • Christus St. Frances Cabrini Hospital. • Iberia Medical Center. • Lake Charles Memorial Hospital for Women. • Lakeside Hospital LCMC Health. • Ochsner American Legion Hospital. • Ochsner LSU Health Monroe. • Slidell Memorial Hospital. • St. Francis Medical Center.* • Terrebonne General Health System. • Thibodaux Regional Health System. • West Calcasieu Cameron Hospital. • Willis-Knighton South and the Center for Women’s Health. The following Louisiana birthing hospitals have achieved Birth Ready+ Designation: • Baton Rouge General Hospital.** • East Jefferson General Hospital LCMC Health. • Lakeview Hospital LCMC Health. • Lane Regional Medical Center. • North Oaks Health System. • Ochsner Baptist Medical Center. • Ochsner Lafayette General Medical Center.** • Ochsner Medical Center Baton Rouge.** • Ochsner Medical Center Kenner.** • Ochsner St. Anne Hospital.** Management Program provided by the ASOA in partnership with Yale University School of Man- agement and The Aspen Institute Socrates Pro- gram Winter Institute. Clark is a Blue Cross Blue Shield Foundation Health Fellow and an active member of numerous organizations. “We are thrilled to welcome Monique as our new Director of Physician Practice Services,” said Phyllis Peoples, president and CEO. “She brings a wealth of knowledge and experience in build- ing and maintaining strong relationships with phy- sician practices. Under her leadership, our prac- tices will continue to grow, always keeping quality patient care as our top priority.” “I look forward to learning from and growing with my fellow colleagues. I am very impressed by the teamwork and patient-centered atmosphere that resonates throughout Terrebonne Gen- eral Health System,” says Monique Clark. “I am excited to utilize my talents and skillset to contrib- ute to the continued growth of this organization.” LDHRecognizes 32 Birthing Hospitals Achieving LA Birth Ready Designation The Louisiana Department of Health (LDH) and the Louisiana Perinatal Quality Collabora- tive (LaPQC) recognized 32 hospitals that have achieved Louisiana Birth Ready or Birth Ready+ Designation for committing to practices that improve quality and outcomes for women giv- ing birth. “Hospitals have a critical role to play in the health of our mothers giving birth,” said Ralph Abraham, MD, secretary for the Louisiana Depart- ment of Health. “I congratulate all of the hospi- tals who have been granted this designation, and express my thanks for the hard work being done to ensure every woman can have a safe, dignified birth in Louisiana. It is also important to acknowl- edge the leadership of our Bureau of Family Health, which strives every day to improve mater- nal health outcomes.” The LaPQC, which is a program within the Office of Public Health’s Bureau of Family Health, began the Louisiana Birth Ready Designation in 2021. Hospitals receive this honor through a rigorous application and review process by the LaPQC Birth Ready Designation committee. Applica- tions are reviewed and renewed annually. Many