HJNO Jan/Feb 2025

HEALTHCARE JOURNAL OF NEW ORLEANS I  JAN / FEB 2025 63 For weekly eNews updates and to read the journal online, visit HealthcareJournalNO.com Health. At Bollinger, we share Ochsner’s commit- ment to community, innovation, and resilience, and I’m excited to bring my experience in these areas to support Ochsner’s growth and contin- ued impact delivering exceptional healthcare to communities across the Gulf Coast,” said Bor- delon. “I look forward to working alongside the leaders on the Board as well as Ochsner’s system leaders to continue the legacy created 82 years ago to improve the health and wellness of our community.” The Ochsner Health Board of Directors is led by its chair, Andrew Wisdom, and now consists of 15 community leaders with expertise in a vari- ety of business interests including legal services, insurance, real estate, banking, wealth manage- ment, and energy. The board will include 10 Och- sner senior physician leaders who are elected or appointed by their senior physician peers. CIS & IMCAre First in Acadiana to Use NewDissolvable Esprit System to Treat Artery Disease Below the Knee Cardiovascular Institute of the South (CIS) and Iberia Medical Center (IMC) are the first in Aca- diana to use the new FDA-approved Esprit BTK (Below the Knee) Everolimus Eluting Resorbable Scaffold System, a first-of-its-kind dissolvable stent to treat chronic limb-threatening ischemia in the lower legs. The first procedure was performed by CIS interventional cardiologist Krishna Nagen- dran, MD, on November 19 in the newly reno- vated cath lab at IMC. Manufactured by Abbott, the Esprit BTK System is implanted during a minimally-invasive proce- dure and is designed to keep tibial arteries open while delivering the drug Everolimus to facili- tate vessel restoration and protect against future blockages. The system provides support for about three years and then dissolves, as it is made of material similar to sutures or stitches. Previously, there were no stents or drug-coated balloons in the U.S. that were FDA-approved for use below-the-knee. The standard of care has been balloon angioplasty, where a small balloon is inserted via a catheter to the open the vessel and restore blood flow. However, blockages treated with balloon angioplasty have mixed short- and long-term results, and in some cases, vessels become blocked again. Chronic limb-threatening ischemia is a late stage of peripheral artery disease, referring to vascular disease in the legs. Symptoms may include pain- ful cramping during exercise, sores, numbness, coldness, discoloration or a weak pulse in the foot or leg. Those with symptoms should consult with their cardiologist. Terrebonne General Health SystemHonored by CHIME Terrebonne General Health System has earned the CHIME Digital Health Most Wired recogni- tion by the College of Healthcare Information Management Executives (CHIME). Terrebonne General was recognized with a certified Level 8 Achievement for acute and ambulatory care. Some of the innovations that Terrebonne General was recognized for include offering EPIC and pro- viding MyChart, as well as the Terrebonne Con- nect Bar, which pairs patients with technology. Terrebonne General distinguished itself by rank- ing above peers in critical categories such as ana- lytics and data management, population health, infrastructure, and patient engagement. The survey evaluates the adoption, integration, and impact of technologies across healthcare orga- nizations, from early-stage adopters to industry leaders. "It is an honor to be recognized with the CHIME Digital Health Most Wired Award for the fourth consecutive year. This acknowledgment is a true testament to Terrebonne General's unwavering commitment to offering the latest innovations and technologies to better serve our community," said Phyllis Peoples, president and CEO. St. Tammany Parish Hospital Earns ‘A’ Grade for Patient Safety For the 18th consecutive grading period, St. Tammany Health System’s flagship St. Tam- many Parish Hospital has earned an “A” grade for patient safety for fall 2024 from the Leapfrog Group, an independent healthcare watchdog organization. “We earn a dizzying number of awards and rec- ognitions here at St. Tammany Health System. This one, though, is easily among the most important simply because it speaks to our team’s collective dedication to one of our foundational principles: to deliver efficient, compassionate service for every patient, every touch, every time,” said St. Tammany Health System President and CEO Joan Coffman. Ochsner Health Hospitals, Partners Recognized for Patient Safety Numerous Ochsner Health hospitals and part- ners have earned a Fall 2024 “A” Hospital Safety Grade from The Leapfrog Group, an independent national nonprofit watchdog focused on patient safety. Leapfrog assigns general hospitals across the country grades based on more than 30 perfor- mance measures reflecting errors, accidents, inju- ries, and infections, as well as the systems hospi- tals have in place to prevent them. Ochsner Health hospitals and partners awarded an “A” Hospital Safety Grade Fall 2024 include: • Leonard J. Chabert Medical Center, Houma. • Ochsner St. Mary, Morgan City. • Ochsner LSU Health – St. Mary Medical Cen- ter, Shreveport. • Ochsner Medical Center – Kenner, Kenner. • Ochsner Medical Center – New Orleans, New Orleans. • Ochsner Medical Center – West Bank Cam- pus, Gretna. • Slidell Memorial Hospital East, Slidell. • St. Charles Parish Hospital, Luling. “At Ochsner, patients are our top priority, and their safety is paramount. The Leapfrog ‘A’ grade directly results from the skill, dedication and com- passion demonstrated by our teammembers, and these hospitals serve as models for our system. Their commitment to excellence and the wellbe- ing of our patients is exemplary,” said Robert Hart, MD, chief physician executive, Ochsner Health and president, Ochsner Clinic. Terrebonne General Health SystemCardiology earns Echocardiography Reaccreditation by IAC Terrebonne General Health System is announced the reaccreditation by the Intersoci- etal Accreditation Commission (IAC) for echocar- diography. Echocardiography is used to assess different areas of the heart and can detect heart