HJNO Jul/Aug 2026

64 JUL / AUG 2026  I  HEALTHCARE JOURNAL OF NEW ORLEANS Hospital Rounds Ochsner Health Expands Eat Fit Program Ochsner Health is expanding Ochsner Eat Fit options systemwide to make nutritious food eas- ier to find and more affordable across its facilities. Building on the long-standing Eat Fit initiative, the health system is increasing the visibility and avail- ability of Eat Fit menu items while offering quali- fying options at up to 50% off standard retail pric- ing and in some cases at cost. The initiative spans dining and retail spaces throughout Ochsner facilities, from cafés and micro-markets to beverage and food vending machines, ensuring that patients, employees, vis- itors, and guests can easily identify and choose Eat Fit options. Eat Fit sales in Ochsner cafeterias have increased by 75% systemwide, with several loca- tions seeing Eat Fit items account for as much as 33–36% of total cafeteria sales and continuing to grow. Increased purchases of Eat Fit-approved beverages led to a reduction of approximately 3,300 pounds of added sugar consumed in the third quarter of 2025 alone. To better understand the program’s long-term impact, Ochsner is partnering with researchers at Tulane University and Xavier University of Louisi- ana. Over the next three years, the research team will analyze purchase patterns and other data to evaluate how increased visibility, greater availabil- ity, and reduced pricing influence food choices in healthcare settings. STHS Announces Daisy, Sunflower Honorees The St. Tammany Health System Nursing Department announced the first-quarter 2026 win- ners of its Daisy Award for Extraordinary Nursing and the Sunflower Award, for demonstrated sup- port of the nursing mission. This quarter’s Daisy winners are: • Pamela Barabino, RN (Mother Baby); • Nila Dykes, RN (St. Tammany Health System Surgery Center); and • Kaitlyn Kusch, RN (Pediatric Emergency Department). This quarter’s Sunflower winners are: • Theresa James, certified nursing assistant; and • Callie O’Bryant, mobility tech. Terrebonne General Health SystemWelcomes Dylan Soderstrum, MD Emergency medicine physician, Dylan Soder- strum, MD, has joined Terrebonne General Health System. Soderstrum received a bachelor’s degree from Louisiana State University in Baton Rouge and a medical degree from Louisiana State University Health Science Center in New Orleans and com- pleted a residency in emergency medicine at the University of Virginia in Charlottesville. Soderstrum is board-eligible in emergency med- icine and a Stop the Bleed instructor. He received the Julia Pluckett Clinical Excellence Award during his residency at the University of Virginia. STHS Offering Next-Generation da Vinci 5 Surgical System St. Tammany Health System and Intuitive recently held a hands-on demonstration in the hospital lobby in Covington featuring the da Vinci 5 robotic surgical system. The event highlighted the hospital’s recent milestone of 500 procedures performed using the next-generation platform while offering live looks at the technology in action and interview opportunities with St. Tammany surgeons about the clinical benefits of advanced minimally inva- sive technology. Three LCMCHealth Hospitals Recognized for Maternal Health Excellence Three of LCMC Health’s hospitals, East Jeffer- son General Hospital, Touro, and West Jefferson Medical Center, have been recognized by national publications for excellence in maternity care. West Jefferson Medical Center (WJMC) has been recognized as “High Performing” in Mater- nity Care (Uncomplicated Pregnancy) by U.S. News & World Report for excelling in key quality metrics, including newborn complication rates, C-section rates in lower-risk pregnancies, and lac- tation support. Additionally, both East Jefferson General Hospi- tal (EJGH) and Touro have been named to News- week ’s America’s Best Maternity Hospitals 2026. This ranking identifies the leading 460 maternity hospitals across the United States. LakeviewHospital Adds NewDEXA Scanner Lakeview Hospital has added a new state-of- the-art DEXA scanner to its diagnostic Radiology Department offerings. The DEXA scanner allows clinicians to detect osteoporosis risk earlier and support healthy aging with greater precision. It also measures fat, muscle, and bone mass, pro- viding a comprehensive picture of overall health, making it valuable not only for patients moni- toring bone density, but for individuals focused on fitness, weight management, and metabolic health, as well as those using GLP-1 medications for weight loss. Athletes are now using this tech- nology to track progress and performance. Many medically necessary DEXA exams are covered by insurance with a physician’s order. For patients seeking body composition analysis or other non-covered uses, Lakeview Hospital offers a flat-rate self-pay option. LCMCHealth Creates Office of Advanced Practice LCMC Health has created a new Office of Advanced Practice. With this new office, for the first time, LCMC Health’s more than 1,000 advanced practice providers (AAPs), including nurse practitioners, physician assistants, and cer- tified registered nurse anesthetists, have a dedi- cated systemwide “home” designed to support professional development, operational alignment, clinical excellence, and strategic growth. Meghan Kirkland, PA-C, MBA has been selected to lead the Office of Advanced Practice. In her role, she is responsible for the strategic oversight, Dylan Soderstrum, MD