Ochsner Magazine

chsner fall 2 01 6

your guide to health and wellness

HEART OF GOLD

Four-year-old Logan Waguespack can now live life to the fullest, thanks to Ochsner’s expert pediatric cardiologists

Inside: Ochsner’s Flight Care team brings swift care to patients near and far (page 10). Advances in concussion care make a vital difference to young athletes (page 12). A nonsurgical procedure banishes unwanted fat (page 15).

> complimentary issue <

Welcome

DEAR FRIENDS,

It is in Ochsner’s DNA to lead. As an organization, we consistently find new ways to innovate, yet we never lose sight of our mission to always take a collaborative and patientcentric approach.

In this issue of Ochsner, we share examples of how we put our philosophy into action. A story about our Pediatrics Department reveals how a team of specialists works together to change and save the lives of our littlest patients. One of these is Logan Waguespack, who was treated at Ochsner for a cardiac condition while still a newborn. This year, he turned 4 years old, and instead of asking for gifts, he and his family decided to raise funds for Ochsner Hospital for Children. Such generosity is offered in the same spirit of compassion and caring that Ochsner shows to all of its patients.

SAVE THE DATE! 2017 King Cake Festival | A Family-Friendly Festival to Benefit Babies & Children at Ochsner

We are also proud to introduce readers to our heroic Flight Care team, which flies locally, nationally and even internationally to transport critically ill patients

Celebrate a slice of sweet local history with the fourth annual King Cake Festival, which brings together the best bakers in the Gulf

to Ochsner. Its efforts ensure that patients receive

South. Vote for your favorite king cake to win the People’s Choice

quality care in the timeliest manner possible and help

Award and join in the Gladiator Games, featuring the Family Fun

to bridge the communities that Ochsner serves.

Run and Fitness Challenge. The FREE event also features live music

Additionally, the cutting-edge work being led by

by local musicians and other family activities.

Aaron Karlin, MD, illustrates how seriously we all must take the risk for and treatment of concussion,

➜

January 29, 2017 | Champions Square

an often-complex condition that frequently affects athletes of all ages.

I would also like to call special attention to our leadership and staff in the Baton Rouge region, who demonstrated exemplary resilience, professionalism and service during the recent unprecedented flooding.

As always, I am very proud of who we are at our core.

In the spirit of little Logan Waguespack and all of

www.ochsner.org

the generous donors to Ochsner, we say thank you.

WE’D LIKE TO HEAR FROM YOU!

We continue to make healthcare in Louisiana and the

please send comments to magazine@ochsner.org.

region better because of your tireless support.

Copyright © 2016 by Ochsner Health System. Ochsner is published as a community service and is not intended for the purpose of diagnosing or prescribing.

Warner L. Thomas President and CEO Ochsner Health System

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Cover: Daymon Gardner

The Scoop

(A Little) Salt Does a Body Good New research suggests that very low sodium intake can be harmful to your heart

Wonder Pets Four-legged friends bring comfort and healing help to patients Man’s best friend can be more than just a furry companion; dogs also can double as animal therapists, helping people with health problems ranging from depression to cancer. According to the National Institutes of Health, studies have shown a correlation between the presence of friendly animals and the reduction of high blood pressure, stress and elevated heart rates. The most popular therapy animal, dogs are a huge part of the New Orleans Visiting Pet Program (VPP) at Ochsner.

Former heart transplant patient Emily Sanchez says that visits from her favorite dogs, JJ, Mozart and Betty Boop, made all the difference during her stay at Ochsner.

These days, an anti-salt mantra seems to be the norm, but a new study suggests that too little salt may be harmful for certain people.

The study, published this spring in the scientific journal Lancet, followed over 130,000 people for an average of four years, looking at salt intake in relation to heart health. Although current guidelines recommend 2.3 grams of sodium per day, researchers found that people without hypertension who consumed less than 3 grams elevated their likelihood of heart disease by 26 percent compared with those who ate 4 or 5 grams a day. Even those with high blood pressure were affected by too little salt; people with hypertension who ate more than 7 grams per day increased their heart risk by 23 percent, while those eating less than 3 grams increased it by 34 percent.

According to Andrew Mente, the lead author of the study, low sodium intake helps lower blood pressure, but “it also has other effects, including adverse elevations of certain hormones, which may outweigh any benefits.”

“The key question is not whether blood pressure is lower with very low salt intake,” Mente wrote. “Instead, it is whether [a low-sodium diet] improves health.”

Now a sophomore in college, Sanchez still thinks fondly of the VPP program. “Those visits kept me going,” she says. “I was in the hospital for three months straight, but I always looked forward to Fridays, when the dogs would visit.”

For more information on VPP, visit www.ochsner.org/magazine.

WHAT MAKES A GOOD THERAPY DOG: • Attitude: Dogs must be loving and calm. Too much energy can be hazardous in a medical setting.

• Obedience: No one wants an out-of-control pooch in a hospital. Therapy animals must obey their owner’s every command.

• Socialization: Dogs need to have a good attitude with everyone they visit.

fall 2016

3

The Scoop

HELPING HANDS Practicing proper hand hygiene can help reduce your risk of infection Hand hygiene is perhaps the easiest and most effective way for patients to stay healthy and prevent the spread of infection. But hand hygiene is important for everyone in a healthcare setting, not just patients.

Patients are encouraged to ask their healthcare providers to practice hand hygiene.

Providers are often busy throughout the day and sometimes forget to properly

Soda Standoff Which soft drink is actually worse for you?

By virtue of the word “diet,” low-calorie soda can automatically seem like the healthier alternative to sugary soft drinks. But there is a growing debate about whether this is the case.

Opponents of diet soft drinks argue that artificial sweeteners might be more detrimental to your body in the long run, while others respond that there is no evidence to back this theory. Let’s look at the cons of both sides.

REGULAR SOFT DRINKS: • Have more calories, sugar and caffeine • Increase your risk of diabetes and heart disease • Erode your teeth • Pack on the pounds (a 12-ounce serving a day can equal a weight gain of up to 5 pounds a year) DIET SOFT DRINKS: • May cause calcium loss • Can lead to glucose intolerance • Increase risk of vascular events • Don’t equal a slimmer body (zero calories do not actually mean no weight gain) Clearly, there are problems with drinking both regular and diet soda. The only way to avoid the bad side effects is to skip soda altogether.

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wash their hands. By holding your doctors and nurses accountable, you are helping yourself avoid unnecessary complications from possible infections. If you’re nervous to speak up, rest assured that providers’ first priority is to keep you healthy, and they are happy to comply if you request that they wash their hands.

Patients should also stay attuned to hand hygiene when visiting a hospital or clinic. During your visit, wash or disinfect your hands regularly, especially before eating or preparing food, or after touching your face or using the restroom.

The Scoop

INGREDIENTS: • 1 large egg • 5 ounces skim milk • 1½ cups whole-wheat pastry flour • 2½ teaspoons baking powder • Pinch of salt • 4 tablespoons natural, nonglycemic, granular sugar (such as Swerve) • 4 tablespoons vegan butter or coconut oil • ½ cup Parmesan cheese INSTRUCTIONS: Preheat oven to 425°F. Mix egg and milk together in a small bowl and set aside. Mix flour, baking powder, salt and sugar, and sift into a large mixing bowl. Cut cold butter into small cubes and add to flour mixture. Add Parmesan cheese and mix all ingredients together until texture is like cornmeal.

Add egg/milk mixture to the flour mixture, leaving 2 ounces of egg/milk mixture for basting biscuits. Incorporate into the flour mixture with a fork until it becomes a dough.

Place dough on floured cutting board, fold over two to three times, and press into a round disk about 1 inch thick. Using a small biscuit cutter, cut out 12 biscuits and place on a cookie sheet.

Bake for 10 to 12 minutes until lightly browned, and immediately place in a breadbasket and cover with a towel to keep moist and warm.

Breakfast Sandwich YUM! Molly Kimball, RD, registered dietitian with Ochsner Fitness Center, recommends this healthy and delicious sandwich biscuit, which you can make ahead of time to feed a brunch crowd. Fill with healthy proteins and veggies of your choice! (makes 12 biscuits)

SUGGESTED FILLINGS: Scrambled egg, egg white, chicken, turkey sausage patty, low-sodium ham, vegetables Recipe courtesy of Ben McLaughlin, Swerve Marketing Coordinator

fall 2016

5

Pediatric Care

Caring for the Littlest Patients Ochsner Hospital for Children changes and saves young people’s lives every day

L

ogan Waguespack was just 3

otolaryngologists and other advanced

weeks old and weighed barely

pediatric specialists examined the

5 pounds—and he was fighting for

baby and ran tests to determine why he

his life with every heartbeat. “Our son was in trouble,” says his mother, Nicki

Meanwhile, NICU staff supported

Waguespack, 39, of Metairie. “Logan

the new family in their bonding efforts.

was born with four large holes in his

“The nurses were wonderful, helping

heart. He wasn’t growing. He was pale

me and my husband, Eric, feed and hold

and so weak.”

Logan,” says Nicki, who is a Certified

Born at Ochsner Medical Center in

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wasn’t thriving.

Medical Dosimetrist in the department

July 2012, Logan spent his first weeks in

of Radiation Oncology at Ochsner.

the medical center’s Level III neonatal

“Eric was the first to do skin-to-skin

intensive care unit (NICU)—one of

kangaroo care with Logan; I think it’s

the few NICUs in Louisiana offering

one reason they’re so close today. The

care from a full range of pediatric

nurses encouraged me to pump breast

specialists and subspecialists for

milk and to get rest. We could call them

critically ill newborns. Cardiologists,

any time and even check in the middle

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Daymon Gardner

of the night, watching Logan on our home computer because there was a webcam over his bassinet.”

But an echocardiogram revealed that Logan’s overworked heart was failing. “There was a hole in the top of his heart and a hole in the bottom of his heart. An extra blood vessel that usually closes shortly after birth had stayed open, too,” explains pediatric cardiologist Thomas W. Young, MD. “These defects meant Logan’s lungs were filling with fluid. Every breath took all of his energy.” The baby needed open-heart surgery immediately.

In a 10-hour procedure, a pediatric cardiac surgeon repaired Logan’s tiny heart, which was no bigger than a walnut. Hospital staff brought regular updates from the operating room. At last, Nicki and Eric could see their son again. “Logan’s room in the pediatric intensive care unit was very quiet, dim and temperature-controlled; everything was calm and serene so that his heart rate wouldn’t go up,” Nicki says. “We couldn’t even pick him up at first. It helped that we had seen the room beforehand, so we knew what to expect. The bed was all made up and his name was on the door. Those caring details made us feel better.”

Best of all, Logan was soon thriving.

His skin turned rosy pink. He gained weight, smiled and one day began reaching for the mobile spinning above his bed. “At last, he was growing and developing like any newborn,” Nicki says. “It was wonderful.” The couple brought Logan home on Aug. 23, their wedding anniversary. Four years later, Today, Logan Waguespack is thriving, thanks to the advanced care he received at Ochsner.

Logan is a healthy, happy little boy who

fall 2016

7

loves to swim, play ball and entertain

of children’s health specialists. No

for Ochsner Health System. “The

his baby brother, Jude. “Ochsner

wonder Ochsner Hospital for Children

depth and breadth of care provided by

saved Logan’s life and is keeping us all

and Ochsner Health System’s pediatric

Ochsner Hospital for Children and our

healthy,” Nicki adds.

services are the first choice of families

related services are unparalleled.”

throughout the New Orleans area, COMPREHENSIVE CHILDREN’S HEALTHCARE, CLOSE TO HOME

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across the Gulf South and beyond.

“From routine child care delivered

Ochsner’s pediatric cardiology service is nationally recognized and recently welcomed to the staff

Advanced pediatric specialists in

by our primary care pediatricians

pediatric cardiothoracic surgeon

more than 30 disciplines. World-class

to the most complex cases requiring

Benjamin Peeler, MD, FACS, formerly

medical facilities in a hospital just for

collaboration by teams of advanced

Chief of Pediatric and Adult Congenital

children. Deeply caring staff who are

specialists, Ochsner delivers the

Cardiac Surgery at Levine Children’s

ready to help kids and families thrive.

highest-quality healthcare for babies,

Hospital in Charlotte, North Carolina.

A kids-only emergency room. Plus two

children and adolescents,” says

Level III NICUs, a pediatric intensive

William M. Lennarz, MD, MMM, FAAP,

distinctions, including being the first

care unit, and 14 satellite offices staffed

FAAEM, System Chair of Pediatrics

in the Gulf South to perform pediatric

with pediatricians and a wide range

and an Associate Medical Director

heart and liver transplants, the first

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The health system holds many

Pediatric Care

“The depth and breadth of care provided by Ochsner Hospital for Children and our related services are unparalleled.”

—WILLIAM M. LENNAR Z, MD, MMM, FA AP, FA AEM, S YS TEM CHAIR OF PEDIATRIC S AND A SSO CIATE MEDIC AL DIREC TOR FOR O CHSNER HE ALTH S YS TEM

and orthopedics to spine surgery,

health. “The night before Logan’s

hematology/oncology and craniofacial/

surgery, they gave us a room at the

cleft palate surgery. “Children get

hospital’s hotel so we could get some

better care when specialists can

sleep and be back early,” Nicki says.

consult easily with each other and with

“The staff works with us in scheduling

a family’s primary care pediatrician.”

Logan’s follow-up appointments; we

The pediatric craniofacial program

have his annual well visit and his

is just one example. “Our healthcare

heart checkup on the same day. And

practitioners are located right here

convenient hours mean we can see

at Ochsner, allowing for true team

doctors after work and after school.

collaboration,” says Daniel R. Bronfin,

When I was pregnant with Jude, the

MD, Medical Director, Ochsner

team performed extensive, detailed

Craniofacial Team. “Children with

ultrasound studies of his heart to

congenital anomalies of the face

allay our fears. Logan adores his baby

in Louisiana to perform pediatric

and neck are seen by eight different

brother.”

valve replacement surgery and the

specialists on the same day, followed by

fourth in the United States to have

the team working together to develop

celebrated his fourth birthday at a New

ECMO (extracorporeal membrane

a detailed diagnosis and treatment

Orleans-area spray park, laughing

oxygenation)—a bypass support system

plan that calls on the expertise of

with friends as they dashed through

that provides oxygen for children with

craniofacial and oral surgeons; a

water jets on a hot Saturday afternoon.

severe breathing or heart problems.

neurosurgeon; and specialists in

Instead of presents, Logan and his

dentistry, otolaryngology, audiology,

family asked guests to make donations

genetic counseling and more.”

to the Adair Carey Pediatric Cardiology

“From rare brain tumors and leukemia to heart conditions and organ transplants, we offer a level of pediatric

Same-day appointments, evening

In July 2016, Logan Waguespack

Fund at Ochsner Hospital for Children.

care unmatched in Louisiana and more

and weekend hours, and help

“We wanted to give back by helping

advanced capabilities than any other

coordinating multiple doctor visits

other families,” Nicki says.

children’s hospital in New Orleans,”

make things easy for families.

says Thomas Harris Jr., Vice President

The Waguespacks’ experience

of Pediatrics at Ochsner. Pediatric

illustrates the strength of Ochsner’s

specialties range from gastroenterology

commitment to every facet of a child’s

➜ To learn more, visit www.ochsner. org/magazine.

fall 2016

9

High-Flying Care Ochsner Flight Care takes to the skies to provide help in remote areas—even across the world

hospital to another while maintaining treatment en route. In the past couple of years, however, Ochsner Flight Care has expanded significantly, adding the ability to serve as first responders and provide air support to ambulance crews on 911 calls.

“There were so many underserved areas that really needed our services,”

W

says Jeffrey Kuo, MD, Medical Director hen a cement truck ran off a

of Ochsner Flight Care. “We have large

says Ian Nygren, Director of Ochsner

areas of land without many hospitals.

in Hancock County, Mississippi, local

Flight Care. “Our team extricated him

If someone is injured by a bad accident

emergency medical services (EMS) took

from the truck, did a rapid sequence

in St. Charles Parish, it may be 45 to

the call and an ambulance started up.

intubation, and were able to stabilize

50 minutes by ambulance to a trauma

But dispatchers called Ochsner’s Flight

him and transport him directly to a

center.”

Care team at the same time due to the

trauma center.”

bridge into an embankment

accident’s remote location and the

Today, calls like these are a daily

Ochsner Flight Care added a fourth helicopter to its fleet in mid-August,

victim’s need for the fastest possible

occurrence for Ochsner Flight Care.

and it also has airplanes for long-

medical care. Within 16 minutes, a

For nearly 30 years, the program

distance medical transport around the

helicopter crew landed in a nearby field

focused primarily on interfacility

country and abroad. The crews have

and ran to the scene.

transport, moving patients from one

bases at three airfields, and together

“Our fixed-wing aircraft give us the ability to respond anywhere in the world, so we can start providing Ochsner’s high quality of care hours before they reach the hospital.”

— IAN NYGREN, DIREC TOR OF O CHSNER FLIGHT C ARE

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“Local EMS hadn’t even arrived yet,”

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The recent addition of a fourth helicopter has allowed Ochsner Flight Care to expand its ability to serve patients throughout the region and beyond.

Flight Care

majority of our pilots are ex-military

The Ochsner Flight Care team provides swift, lifesaving help.

who have flown into much hairier situations than we ever experience.”

Ochsner Flight Care’s helicopter fleet has an immediate response radius

“There were so many underserved areas that needed our services. If someone is injured by a bad accident in St. Charles Parish, it may be 45 to 50 minutes by ambulance to a trauma center.”— JEFFRE Y KU O, MD, MEDIC AL DIREC TOR OF O CHSNER FLIGHT C ARE

of 275 miles from Ochsner Medical Center in New Orleans. Beyond that, airplanes extend its reach considerably.

“We commonly support transplant services from far-reaching places,” Nygren says. “And our fixed-wing aircraft give us the ability to respond anywhere in the world, so we can start providing Ochsner’s high quality of care hours before they reach the

they take about 100 calls per month,

write and implement early-launch

serving a large swath of the Gulf Coast.

protocols,” Nygren says. These early-

“On the overwhelming majority of

launch protocols mean 911 dispatchers

local physician from Lafayette who

our calls, the patients don’t end up at

automatically launch an Ochsner

had traveled to South Africa to see the

Ochsner,” Dr. Kuo says. “We fly to the

Flight Care team along with an

World Cup with his son and daughter.

closest facility that can accommodate

ambulance when a call meets certain

“A drunk driver hit them on the

the patient.”

criteria, as did the cement truck

sidewalk. The daughter was killed, and

hospital.”

Nygren recalls the tragic case of a

accident. “It takes six to eight minutes

the son had a traumatic brain injury,”

much more than flying ambulances,

for us to get in the air, so if we wait

Nygren says. “They needed to get back

though. “A standard ALS [advanced life

until EMS is on the scene, we’re already

to the United States for care here.”

support] ambulance has one paramedic

behind,” he adds.

After picking up the patient and the

The Flight Care helicopters are

while our crews include registered

Another vital part of that

father, the Ochsner Flight Care team

nurses with ER and ICU training,” Dr.

relationship with ground-based first

was able to provide vital care during

Kuo says. “On top of that, we can bring

responders is teaching them how to

the 22-hour flight from South Africa to

more equipment—blood products, for

create landing zones in the field. “We

a rehab facility.

example—that ambulances can’t carry.”

offer landing zone training, and that

Such an extraordinary case goes

has the added benefits of letting us

to show how valuable a service like

service, Ochsner Flight Care works

bond with fire departments and local

Ochsner Flight Care is—and how it

closely with dispatchers, first

EMS so they know and trust us,” Dr.

further sets Ochsner apart from other

responders and hospitals throughout

Kuo explains. “But there are times we

hospitals, Nygren adds. “Not too many

the Gulf Coast region. “A large part is

get there first, and our pilots work as a

places have that capability.”

working with local EMS to develop,

team to look for safe landing sites. The

To operate effectively as a public

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11

Sports Medicine

Coming Back From Concussion

“I could feel the improvement. I’m 100 percent back to what I was before my concussion.”

— ABBY DE SP OSITO

Ochsner’s specialized concussion program offers young athletes advanced care

W

hen a soccer ball struck 15-year-

Concussion Management Program

old Abby Desposito in the

at Ochsner. “We have six physicians

head during a game, the crowd was

who specialize in concussion

shocked. “But she got right up and

management,” says Dr. Karlin. “All

didn’t miss a beat,” says her mom,

of them are fellowship-trained in

Christine. “So we thought, ‘Well, she

sports medicine, sports neurology or

took a hit to the head, but she’s fine.’ ”

traumatic brain injury.”

Four days later, Abby started getting

Reviewing Abby’s ImPACT test

headaches. “I couldn’t focus,” she says.

helped him confirm a concussion.

“My headache was so bad, and the

“A concussion is a traumatic brain

light was bothering me.”

injury,” he says. “The neurons are

She was given an ImPACT test at

injured. It’s like an old-time telephone

school, which evaluates neurocognitive

switchboard, the kind you put the

functioning. “Her trainer said it was

pegs in. And someone comes in with a

painful to watch her,” Christine says.

baseball bat and smashes it.”

“Her scores were negatives.”

Christine took Abby to see Aaron Karlin, MD, Director of the

Those pegs correspond to four groups of symptoms—physical (headaches, balance problems),

cognitive (memory and concentration problems, slow reaction times), sleep problems, and emotional changes. A concussion may cause some or all of these symptoms.

A concussion won’t appear on a CAT scan or MRI, as it is a functional injury to the brain. “Those scans only

Concussion Symptoms

take pictures of the switchboard,” Dr. Karlin says. “This is damage to

PHYSICAL

COGNITIVE

EMOTIONAL

SLEEP

➜ Headache

➜ Confusion

➜ Irritability

➜ Insomnia

➜ Dizziness

➜ Mental

➜ Sadness

➜ Fatigue

➜ Nausea/vomiting

➜ Poor

➜ Nervousness

➜ Drowsiness

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fogginess

memory

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the wiring.” In addition to ImPACT testing, doctors consider persistence of symptoms, test balance and examine neurological function.

Dr. Karlin put Abby on physical

Daymon Gardner

KNOWING THE SIGNS OF CONCUSSION After 17-year-old Elliott Kelly suffered a head injury playing rugby, he started struggling in math class, but his family blamed it on normal teenage distraction. “We were still operating on the old assumption that if you didn’t get knocked out, then it wasn’t a very bad injury,” says his mother, Callie. However, when Elliott got hit in the head during a soccer game five months later and began experiencing balance problems, Callie sought immediate help. “Elliott may still have had symptoms from the first injury that had never healed,” says Aaron Karlin, MD, Director of the Concussion Management Program. “That likely made him more susceptible.”

Concussion symptoms include headache, nausea, dizziness, balance issues, extreme emotions, double vision, forgetfulness, personality changes, sensitivity to light and sleep disturbances. Anyone with these symptoms after suffering a hit should see a doctor right away.

Thankfully, once Elliott gave his brain a rest, he made a full recovery.

“I am so grateful to Dr. Karlin and the program,” Callie says.

Tyler and Abby Desposito

and cognitive rest. “He said that I

12-year-old son, Tyler, had collided

for reducing physical and cognitive

should stay off my phone,” she says.

with another boy while playing

strain, and within a few weeks, he

“I should only watch TV in 30-minute

basketball. “We were in the ER for four

started feeling better. “I don’t have

increments. You also need to get

hours, and Tyler repeated the same

any symptoms anymore,” Tyler says.

normal hours of sleep.”

loop of five or six questions the whole

“I started playing baseball about four

time,” Christine says. “It was scary.”

or five weeks after the injury.”

Abby followed Dr. Karlin’s instructions, and it paid off. At her

“Every concussion is different,”

With Abby and Tyler feeling like their

fourth post-injury ImPACT testing, her

Dr. Karlin says. “When I saw Tyler a

old selves, the family is happy to have

scores returned to her baseline.

few days after his visit to the ER, he

the struggles behind them. As Christine

was still having headaches and was

says, “Dr. Karlin knows his stuff.

says. “I’m 100 percent back to what I

“I could feel the improvement,” she

sensitive to light and noise. He was

Everyone seems to be back to normal.”

was before my concussion.”

having difficulty with his coordination,

But that is not the end of the Desposito family’s story. Just as Abby recovered, Christine learned that her

and his balance worsened with just a 60-second aerobic challenge.”

➜ To learn more, visit www.ochsner. org/magazine or call 866-624-7637.

Dr. Karlin gave Tyler guidelines

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Glimpses

People and Places On Sept. 13, Ochsner Hospital for Children hosted a surprise visit from Tim Hightower of the New Orleans Saints to delight young patient Megan Penny.

Plus, a recent health fair provided vital screenings to the community.

Top: Megan Penny, an avid Saints fan, with her uncle, Bubba. Middle: Pennyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s friend Carra Cintron, surprise visitor Tim Hightower of the New Orleans Saints and Penny. Bottom: Craig Lotterman, MD, and Penny.

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L E F T C O L U M N : E L I Z A B E T H L A FA R G U E P H O T O G R A P H Y

Above and below: In partnership with the Second Baptist Church, Ochsner recently presented a community health fair complete with free glucose screenings and cooking demonstrations by Top Box Foods.

Wellness

Battle of the Bulge CoolSculpting, a high-tech nonsurgical procedure, eliminates unwanted fat

N

o surgery. No anesthesia. No needles. No downtime. In just one hour, a noninvasive procedure called CoolSculpting

can contour away those love handles or other stubborn bulges.

“I hear, ‘It sounds too good to be true,’ all the time,” says Virginia Halligan, RN, of the Sculpting Center of New Orleans in Metairie, which offers the procedure. The center was created

by Robin Bone, MD, a board-certified OB-GYN and a member of Lakeside Women’s Group, recently acquired by Ochsner.

CoolSculpting is FDA–approved, and both Halligan and Dr. Bone have received specialized training.

During the procedure, a vacuum applicator is applied to the pocket of fat. “Controlled cooling is delivered for 60 minutes,” Halligan says. “The fat cells are cooled to the point that they are programmed for apoptosis, which is cell death. Your body recognizes that [those cells are] not needed anymore, and they will be excreted out of your body as waste.” There is no damage to skin or other tissue, and the discomfort is minimal.

The first step is to get a free assessment to create your individualized treatment plan. CoolSculpting is a fat-reduction procedure—not a weight-loss procedure—so it’s most effective for those who are close to their ideal weight but have bulges that won’t reduce with diet and exercise. “I like to set realistic goals for what the procedure can do and what it cannot,” Halligan says.

Side effects may include soreness, tenderness and numbness.

“I call all patients three days after their treatment to check in on them,” she says. “Nine times out of 10, they say, ‘I’m a little sore, but nothing out of the ordinary.’ ” It takes three months to see the full permanent results. “As long as you maintain your weight, the fats cells eliminated through CoolSculpting won’t return,” Halligan says.

“ As long as you maintain your weight, the fats cells eliminated through CoolSculpting won’t return.”

—VIRGINIA HALLIG AN, RN, SCULP TING CENTER OF NE W ORLE ANS

➜ To learn more, visit www.ochsner.org/magazine or call 504-309-9456.

fall 2016

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Body & Soul

Trends in Training As fans of Jane Fonda’s workout videos can attest, fitness fads come and go. The latest gym time trends focus on form over flash— making them more likely to stand the test of time.

The Shape of Things Shaping our lives, our bodies, our kids and even our minds is an ever-evolving process that has different results for each of us. There isn’t one right way or perfect form, but being mindful about leading a compassionate life is key to happiness.

• Body-weight training uses minimal equipment and focuses on the basics of fitness, making it possible to squeeze in workouts even with little space or time.

• High-intensity interval training involves short bursts of intense activity followed by a brief period of rest. With this extreme routine, you can exercise for less than 30 minutes at a time and still get results.

• Functional fitness conditions your muscles to work together, mixing strength training and balance exercises to make everyday tasks easier.

Health on the Job Ochsner’s Corporate Wellness Program brings medical screenings to the worksite With today’s demanding workweeks, it’s increasingly difficult to find a spare moment for healthy activities such as exercise, relaxation and visits to the doctor. Enter Ochsner’s Corporate Wellness Program, which provides on-site screenings, health and wellness seminars, and information for employees who have limited time outside of work but still want to make wellness a priority. Ochsner will also offer its expertise to help corporate clients design an effective wellness program that best meets the company’s needs and drives employee engagement. Ochsner’s Corporate Wellness Program is an approved on-site screening provider for several major insurance companies, and the screenings are covered as a wellness benefit for little or no out-ofpocket costs to participants and employers. For more information, call Sam Voelkel at 504-842-1474 or email samuel.voelkel@ochsner.org.

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Prescription for Wellness Ochsner’s Medical Fitness Program supports healthy lifestyles Whether you are dealing with a chronic condition, recovering from a disease or simply trying to improve your overall health, Ochsner’s Medical Fitness program offers a guiding hand on your road to wellness. Develop a fitness plan with a personal trainer that is tailored to your needs and meet with a dietitian for a one-hour nutrition counseling session.

“We’ll look over your diet and help you with what to eat, how much and how often,” says Ochsner nutritionist Rebecca Miller, MPH, RD, LDN. “We’ll work closely with you, and factor in your medical conditions.”

The program also includes a 30-day free membership to any Ochsner Fitness Center location (with discounted fees after the first month) and access to group classes and pools. Talk to your physician first to obtain a referral. To learn more, call 504-842-9551 or vist www.ochsner.org/magazine.

Getting Your Estate in Shape It’s hard to contemplate mortality, but the end is inevitable for everyone. Putting advance thought into estate plans is both practical and necessary.

It will ease loved ones through a difficult process and allow you to help your family, friends and any charitable organizations with meaningful places in your life. To receive the free pamphlet “How to Use Your Will to Make a Difference,” email craig.bardell@ochsner.org or call 504-842-6585.

/ “I can do things you cannot, you can do things I cannot;

together we can do great things.”—Mother Teresa

FORCE OF HABIT Ochsner’s Change the Kids, Change the Future™ campaign promotes good patterns for the next generation Ochsner’s innovative Change the Kids, Change the Future™ program is designed to encourage positive decision-making among the children of Louisiana–one of the states ranked highest in obesity. The effort began in 2001 with the I Can Do It! program, which helped kids at risk for obesity adopt more active routines. Since then, Ochsner has expanded the campaign with initiatives that range from fully functioning medical offices at schools to student cooking programs. Ochsner has partnered with Jefferson Parish Public Schools to put these projects into action, working particularly closely with John Ehret and Alfred Bonnabel Magnet Academy high schools to develop wellness councils and engage students in healthy eating practices.

Bonnabel earned a National Healthy Schools Silver Award in 2015 in recognition of its Smart Snacks guidelines for school foods, use of fresh produce from the school garden, and encouragement of wellness activities for the staff and student body. For more information, contact Ochsner’s Community Outreach Program at communityoutreach@ochsner.org.

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Navigation Tips Schedule your next appointment

OCHSNER ON CALL Connecting with your Ochsner healthcare team has never been easier. For non-life-threatening issues, call Ochsnerâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s free 24/7 nurse care line and speak with a registered nurse, who will help determine the best care options for you. Ochsner On Call provides nurse triage, appointment booking, health education and advisory services.

To speak to one of our specially trained nurses, call 800-231-5257 or 504-842-3155.

Online

STAY CONNECTED â&#x17E;&#x153;

Just call, click or tap!

1 Set up a MyOchsner account at www.myochsner.org.

2 Book appointments online at www.ochsner.org/schedule.

3 Like us on Facebook at www.facebook.com/ochsnerhealthsystem.

4 Follow us on Twitter at www.twitter.com/ochsnerhealth.

5 See our photos on Instagram at www.instagram.com/ochsnerhealth.

6 Check ER wait times at www.ochsner.org/chooseER. 7 Bookmark www.ochsner.org on your tablet or smartphone to contact us on the go.

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At a Glance

Hello, Health!

Myth vs. Reality

Don’t miss Hello Health, Ochsner’s healthcare seminar series for the entire community. Ochsner physicians and local healthcare experts discuss relevant health topics and medical trends.

Visit www.ochsner.org/hellohealth to find seminars near you or for the television schedule. To register, call 855-312-4189 (toll-free) Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.

The truth about some common health misconceptions MYTH: Exercise is effective only if you sweat.

REALITY: Contrary to popular belief, working up a sweat doesn’t necessarily mean you’re exercising hard. That’s because sweating is your body’s way of cooling itself down. It’s possible to “feel the burn” without breaking

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a sweat through light exercises such as a long walk or light-to-moderate weight training.

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MYTH: It’s better to stand at work than to sit.

REALITY: While sitting too much is bad for

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your health, the solution is not simply to stand

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more. In fact, studies have found that standing

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all day can lead to problems such as lower back pain and cardiovascular issues. The key

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is to get moving—conduct meetings while

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By creating a dynamic work lifestyle, you’ll

walking, take the stairs instead of the elevator. avoid the complications of excessive standing (or sitting) while using more muscle groups,

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leading to a healthier workday.

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MYTH: Eating six small meals a day instead of the traditional three can help you lose weight.

REALITY: Studies have shown there are no benefits from eating more often in smaller

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quantities. Although eating more frequently Answer 3 4

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can help you feel less hungry between meals, making it less likely you’ll overindulge later, it’s not how many times you eat that’s important but what you eat. Whether you eat three meals or six meals, fill your plate with fruits and veggies; whole grains; and lean proteins such as chicken, fish and quinoa.

Sources: Mayo Clinic, National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health

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Non-Profit Org. U.S. Postage

PAID

New Orleans LA Permit No. 1324

1514 Jefferson Hwy Jefferson, LA 70121

A Celebration of Care BENEATH THE DOME & UNDER THE STARS

GALA DATE:

PATRON NIGHT:

Friday, November 11, 2016

Wednesday, November 9, 2016

AT THE MERCEDES-BENZ SUPERDOME

AT CLUB XLIV IN CHAMPIONS SQUARE

When it’s fourth down, and you feel as if you can’t go any further, you look to your teammates—those who have shared your pain as well as your victories— for support. It’s in these moments that they provide the strength needed to help you take one more step. “Together we can do this,” you think to yourself. And you begin to believe it. ­— • —

As we come together to celebrate the many miracles taking place each day at Ochsner, we remember those who face their own fourth downs in their battle against cancer. ­­— • —

We stand with them as a reminder that they are never alone.

For more information, visit www.moonlightandmiracles.org.