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COMBaton Rouge General’s recently held its first “Love Your Heart Day” that offered attendees heart education and health checks. Nearly 300 vascular, blood pressure, body mass index and skin screenings were provided at the April event. A 13-foot tall interactive, walk-through exhibit called the Mega Heart gave participants an inside look at how the human heart functions and the signs of heart disease. Attendees also learned community CPR, observed exercise and cooking demos, and took part in games and art activities.
COMPANY NEWS
CVS Health has entered into a new clinical affiliation with Ochsner Health System to enhance access to affordable health care. Through the arragement, CVS Health will provide prescription and visit information to participating health care organizations though the integration of secured electronic health record systems such as Epic.
Ochsner Medical Center is now enrolling patients in a national study that determines the best treatment for carotid atherosclerotic stenosis—the asymptomatic narrowing of the carotid artery, a major artery that supplies oxygenated blood to the head and neck area—which increases the risk for stroke. The Carotid Revascularization and Medical Management for Asymptomatic Carotid Stenosis Study will compare intensive medical management with two common procedures associated with carotid atherosclerotic stenosis and is supported by the National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke of the National Institutes of Health. Ochsner Medical Center is the only hospital in a four-state region that will be participating in the study, which seeks participants across the United States and Canada.
Starmount Life Insurance Company and sister company, Always Care Benefits Inc., which provide group and individual dental insurance, have increased their national dental provider network by nearly 35% to 270,000 access points. The expansion includes general dentists and specialists across the country, providing insured members with more choices to access in-network dentists and receive discounts on dental services.
ACCREDITATION | CERTIFICATION
Alzheimer’s Services of the Capital Area has received the Standards for Excellence Institute’s Seal of Excellence for successfully completing its accreditation program. Alzheimer’s Services was reviewed by a peer review team, which examined the agency for compliance with the Standards for Excellence: An Ethics and Accountability Code for the Nonprofit Sector. Study areas included mission, strategy, leadership, legal compliance, ethics, finances, operations, resource development, public awareness, engagement and advocacy.
The Water Institute of the Gulf recently was certified as a Delft3D Modeling Center by Deltares, a leading independent research institute for matters relating to water, soil and the subsurface based in the Netherlands. The Water Institute is the first North American-based organization to receive such a certification. Complex coastal and deltaic areas require state of the art modeling to find solutions for challenges resulting from environmental changes and human intervention in natural processes. Delft3D is a world leading 3D modeling suite developed by Deltares to investigate hydrodynamics, sediment transport and morphology and water quality for fluvial, estuarine and coastal environments.
AWARDS | HONORS
Baton Rouge General Medical Center has earned national recognition for the second year in a row as a NICHE (Nurses Improving Care for Healthsystem Elders) facility for its ongoing commitment to excellence in caring for seniors. The hospital first earned an enhanced NICHE designation in 2013 by being receiving “Seniors Friendly” status last fall. Baton Rouge General offers comprehensive services for seniors, including skilled nursing care, inpatient and outpatient rehabilitation, behavioral health services, wellness classes, wound care and hyperbarics and patient navigator services.
The law firm of Kean Miller has received the Dutch Morial Award from the Louis A. Martinet Legal Society. The award, presented at the society’s annual scholarship gala, recognizes the firm’s commitment to diversity and inclusion in the legal profession. Accepting the award on behalf of the firm were Jason Brown, Edward Warner, Victor Suane Jr., Kristi Obafunwa and Jay Jalenak.
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Mona Laird-Rafeedie, CEO of Corporate Resources, has been named the American Business Women’s Association La Capital Chapter “Woman of the Year” for her dedication and involvement in the chapter. She is also the chapter’s president.
The Louisiana Legislative Women’s Caucus has announced the recipients of the Louisiana Legislative Women’s Caucus Foundation’s 2015 Women of Excellence Awards and Scholarships. Recipients from the Baton Rouge area are B. Ronnell Nolan, Health Agents for America, for business; Tiffany Stewart, Pennington Biomedical Research Center, for health care; Jennifer Barnes Maggio, The Life of a Single Mom Ministries, Louisiana Hero of Excellence; and The Cinderella Project, Non-Profit of Excellence.
Our Lady of the Lake Cancer Center recently received the 2014 Outstanding Achievement Award by the Commission on Cancer of the American College of Surgeons. The Cancer Center, Louisiana’s only facility to receive this recognition, has earned the award for two consecutive three-year survey cycles since 2011. In addition, the Cancer Center is one of only 75 U.S. health care facilities with accredited cancer programs to receive this national honor for surveys performed last year. The award acknowledges cancer programs that achieve excellence in providing quality care to cancer patients.
The Spine Hospital of Louisiana at The NeuroMedical Center has received five stars from the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services. According to CMS data, only 7% of the 3,500 Medicare-certified hospitals nationwide received the highest rating based on patient satisfaction and experience based on the Hospital Consumer Assessment of Healthcare Providers and Systems survey. In addition to being one of only two hospitals in the Greater Baton Rouge area and one of 17 in Louisiana to receive the top rating, the new data ranks The Spine Hospital of Louisiana as a Top 100 U.S. hospital, at No. 94.
APPOINTMENTS | MEMBERSHIPS
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Matthew Bailey, the managing partner of Walsh & Bailey, has been elected president of the Association of Defense Trial Attorneys. The organization is an exclusive, invitation only group of trial attorneys engaged in the defense of civil litigation throughout the United States, Canada, Puerto Rico and London.
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Sean Finan has been elected a new shareholder in the Baton Rouge office of Baker Donelson. Finan is a member of Baker Donelson’s health law group, where he focuses his practice on transactional and regulatory compliance matters for health systems, laboratories and pharmacies. Finan has been listed as a “Rising Star” by Louisiana Super Lawyers since 2013. He is a member of the Louisiana Hospital Association and is an active supporter of the Mary Bird Perkins Cancer Center and the Colon Cancer Coalition.
PHILANTHROPY | GRANTS
BASF has donated $25,000 to help fight childhood hunger in Ascension Parish as part of the company’s 150th anniversary co-creation and celebration efforts. The donation will provide Greater Baton Rouge Food Bank’s BackPack Program to 100 students for the 2015-2016 school year in Ascension Parish. Volunteer Ascension will help to coordinate volunteers to stuff the backpacks for 33 weeks and deliver them to students each week.
Dudley DeBosier hosted a celebration at its Baton Rouge office April 30 for National Pay It Forward Day. The personal injury law firm served free food from Taco de Paco and frozen yogurt from Geaux Yo to members of the community who stopped by the office at lunchtime.
LATTER & BLUM Inc. announced it has teamed up with the Brees Dream Foundation in support of the United Way’s “Be The Next One” campaign for disaster assistance and preparedness. Bob Merrick, chairman and CEO of Latter & Blum Inc., donated $75,000 to match Drew and Brittany Brees’ gift from the Brees Dream Foundation. The two gifts complete the United Way’s campaign goal of raising $1 million. The final donations will fund American Red Cross programs for St. John the Baptist Parish schoolchildren affected by Hurricane Isaac in 2012. The programs will help students learn how to identify safety hazards and develop coping skills for emergencies.
