HJNO Jan/Feb 2025

64 JAN / FEB 2025  I  HEALTHCARE JOURNAL OF NEW ORLEANS Hospital Rounds and made recommendations for the award win- ners. The selection criteria for the nominations include the following: • Feedback from the nation of Black doctors who recommended hospitals they trust to provide care for their families. • Quality of Care and Patient Satisfaction Scores. • Representation of persons of color and women in senior leadership roles. • Initiatives that positively impact urban communities. • Supplier diversity and procurement margins. • Commitment to equitable care for the Black community. • Presence of a Chief Equity/Diversity Officer within the organization. “BDO continues to deliver on the promise to make every Black family as healthy as possible with our 2025 Best Hospitals for Black America listing,” said Chief Marketing Officer Derrick Lane. “As a nation, the importance of recognizing hos- pitals that deliver exemplary care to Black families address a critical need in our healthcare system: ensuring Black patients receive equitable, high- quality care in hospitals with positive outcomes.” Ochsner Health Honored by CHIME The College of Healthcare Information Manage- ment Executives (CHIME) has recognized Och- sner Health for achieving Level 9 for the acute and ambulatory survey selection. “This award underscores our mission to bring new technologies and high-quality digital solu- tions to our community while prioritizing the use of technology to give our physicians and clinicians more time to focus on patient care,” said Amy Trainor, MHA, RN, chief information officer, Och- sner Health. Among the almost 48,000 facilities represented, Ochsner Health is distinguished in critical cate- gories such as analytics and data management, population health, infrastructure, and patient engagement. The survey evaluates technologies' adoption, integration, and impact across health- care organizations, from early-stage adopters to industry leaders. n disease or signs of serious conditions. There are many factors that contribute to an accurate diag- nosis based on echocardiography. The training and experience of the sonographer perform- ing the procedure, the type of equipment used, and the quality assessment metrics each facility is required to measure all contribute to a positive patient outcome. IAC accreditation is a "seal of approval" that patients can rely on as an indica- tor of consistent quality care and a commitment to continuous improvement. Terrebonne General Health System Cardiology has been granted a three-year term of accredita- tion by the Intersocietal Accreditation Commis- sion (IAC) in echocardiography in the area(s) of adult transthoracic and adult transesophageal. "We are incredibly proud to receive this reac- creditation from IAC," said Phyllis Peoples, pres- ident and CEO. "It reflects a legacy of expertise spanning more than four decades of partnership between Terrebonne General and CIS." Terrebonne General Health SystemRecognized for Hospital Safety Terrebonne General Health System earned an “A” Hospital Safety Grade from The Leapfrog Group, a national nonprofit watchdog that sets standards for excellence in patient care, for the third consecutive term. Leapfrog assigns an “A,” “B,” “C,” “D” or “F” grade to general hospitals across the country based on over 30 national per- formance measures reflecting errors, accidents, injuries, and infections, as well as the systems hos- pitals have in place to prevent harm. "I am incredibly proud of the Terrebonne Gen- eral healthcare team for achieving this remarkable national recognition, which reflects the excep- tional safety and quality of care we provide to our patients daily," said Phyllis Peoples, president and CEO of Terrebonne General. "Our team is dedi- cated to delivering medical excellence and com- passionate care to every patient we serve." UniversityMedical Center New Orleans Named ARecipient of the 2025 Best Hospital for Black America Award By Blackdoctor.org The 2025 Best Hospitals for Black America was recently announced by national leader in Black health and wellness, BlackDoctor.org (BDO), and University Medical Center is honored to be included. This prestigious distinction recog- nizes hospitals that provide exceptional care to Black patients, an achievement of significance in today’s healthcare landscape. What’s different this year is BDO asked 1,000 U.S. Black doctors one important question as part of the selection crite- ria: “Which hospitals do you trust most with pro- viding quality and equitable care for your family members?” Representatives from UMC plan to attend the official award ceremony on Jan. 23, 2025, right here in New Orleans at Tulane University. “New Orleans takes pride in celebrating and embracing its rich diversity, and UMC is equally proud to reflect the vibrant community we serve,” said UMC CEO John Nickens. “As the region’s only safety net hospital and Level 1 Trauma Cen- ter, UMC will always provide exceptional care to all patients, regardless of background or circum- stance. We recognize that racial disparities in healthcare often create barriers for Black patients, but at UMC, we are steadfast in our commitment to breaking down these barriers and ensuring every patient receives the compassionate, high- quality care they deserve.” “It’s no longer enough to have DE&I measures alone within our health systems, as it’s getting confusing, so BlackDoctor.org cut to chase this year and got personal with Black doctors to ask them who they trust most to care for their fam- ilies,” said BlackDoctor.org CEO Reggie Ware. “This is an historic moment for our country and our organization, and we plan to support sharing hospitals’ best practices, so care improves overall in the U.S. for the Black community. The dispari- ties in healthcare that affect Black communities are well-documented, and it is imperative to identify and promote hospitals that are making substantial strides in addressing these issues. By highlighting these institutions, we can guide patients to facil- ities where they are more likely to receive more compassionate and effective care." According to BDO, this list will play a fundamen- tal role in driving further conversations on how to eliminate healthcare disparities that continue to disproportionately impact Black patients. Advi- sory board members, who are not employed by BlackDoctor.org, reviewed the selection criteria